United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2002
Rural Health Training Incentive Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award a three-year grant to the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho joint medical school (WWAMI) to recruit and train family physicians in rural areas. Authorizes expansion of such program to other geographic areas for regional schools with a rural area training track of at least two months.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2002
Requires the Secretary of the Interior: (1) to conduct a survey investigation of the conditions along the lakeshores of Spirit Lake and Twin Lakes in Idaho; (2) to resurvey the original meander lines along the lakeshores, using the results of such survey; (3) upon acceptance and approval of such surveys, to prepare a recordable disclaimer of interest with land descriptions, using the lot or tract numbers of any lands omitted due to gross error or fraud by the original surveyor and lands lying outside the record meander lines as shown on the survey plats; and (4) to record such disclaimer of interest simultaneously with the filing of the surveys.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Fremont-Madison Conveyance Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Cross Cut Diversion Dam, the Cross Cut Canal, and the Teton Exchange Wells to the Fremont-Madison Irrigation District in Idaho for: (1) the lesser of the net value of any remaining obligations owed to the United States by the District for those facilities or $280,000; and (2) up to $40,000 of the administrative costs of the conveyance. Requires the Secretary, as a condition of such conveyance, to comply with any applicable requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Directs the Secretary to increase the number of acres in the District that are eligible to receive water from the Minidoka and Teton Basin Projects to reflect the number of acres within the District. Extends a specified water service contract between the Secretary and the District until the conditions of this Act are fulfilled.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2002 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide criteria to determine whether an employer has committed an unlawful employment practice by failing to provide a reasonable accommodation to the religious observance or practice of an employee. Deems an accommodation to be reasonable if it removes the conflict between employment requirements and the religious observance or practice of the employee. Declares that an employer shall be considered to commit an unlawful employment practice if the employer refuses to permit the employee to utilize leave of general usage to remove such a conflict solely because the leave will be used to accommodate the employee's religious observance or practice.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Arming Pilots Against Terrorism and Cabin Defense Act of 2002 - Amends federal law to direct the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to establish a program to: (1) deputize volunteer qualified pilots of commercial cargo or passenger aircraft as Federal flight deck officers; and (2) provide training, supervision, and equipment for such officers. Authorizes flight deck officers to carry firearms and to use force, including lethal force, when they judge the security of an aircraft is at risk. Shields air carriers from liability for damages in Federal or State court arising out of the actions or omissions of a flight deck officer defending a plane from criminal violence or air piracy. Shields flight deck officers from liability except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Directs the Under Secretary to prescribe requirements for an air carrier cabin crew training program and its instructors. Shields an air carrier liability for actions or omissions of training instructors or cabin crew in defending an aircraft. Shields training instructors and cabin crew from liability except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Directs the Under Secretary to form an Aviation Crew Self-Defense Division within the Transportation Security Administration to develop and implement the program for training cabin crew members. Directs the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to study and report to Congress on whether possession of a nonlethal weapon by a member of an air carrier's cabin crew would aid the flight deck crew in combating air piracy and criminal violence on commercial airlines.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Chronic Wasting Disease State Support Act of 2002 - Defines "chronic wasting disease" as a transmissible disease of the nervous system afflicting deer and elk. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a modeling program to predict the spread of the disease. Directs the Secretary of the Interior (through the U.S. Geological Survey) to conduct a surveillance and monitoring program on Federal lands to identify: (1) the rate of infection in wild herds of deer and elk; (2) the cause and extent of the spread of the disease; and (3) areas promoting the disease. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop and maintain a web site that displays surveillance and monitoring program data and modeling information. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop: (1) guidelines for the collection of animal tissue samples; (2) a protocol to be used in the assessment of samples in the laboratory; and (3) a program for the inspection of laboratories conducting chronic wasting disease tests. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) to develop a program to identify: (1) the rate of infection in captive herds of deer and elk; (2) the cause and extent of the spread of the disease; and (3) areas promoting the disease. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture: (1) to provide for the upgrading of Federal laboratories approved to process samples from the surveillance and monitoring programs.; and (2) expand and accelerate research on the disease through the Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research grant program. Requires the Secretaries to enter a cooperative agreement and develop a grant program to allocate funds to State agencies responsible for wildlife management to develop and implement long term strategies to address the disease.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Calls for Americans to observe a national moment of remembrance at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day, 2002, for members of the armed forces and civilian national security agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for aggravated identity theft. Prescribes a sentence of: (1) two years imprisonment for knowingly transferring, possessing, or using, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person during and in relation to specified felony violations (including felonies relating to theft from employee benefit plans and to various fraud and immigration offenses), in addition to the punishment provided for such felony; and (2) five years imprisonment for knowingly taking such action during and in relation to specified felony violations pertaining to terrorist acts, in addition to the punishment provided for such felony. Bars probation for any person convicted of such violations. Provides for consecutive sentences, subject to specified limitations. Expands the existing identify theft prohibition to: (1) cover possession of a means of identification of another with intent to commit specified unlawful activity; (2) increase penalties for violations; and (3) include acts of domestic terrorism within the scope of a prohibition against facilitating an act of international terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2002
DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2002 - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) survey each law enforcement jurisdiction to assess the backlog of DNA testing of rape kit samples and other sexual assault evidence; and (2) make grants to eligible entities to carry out sexual assault examiner training and certification, develop sexual assault examiner programs, acquire or improve forensic equipment, and train law enforcement personnel in the handling of sexual assault cases. Amends the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to: (1) ensure that DNA testing and analysis of samples from rape kits and non-suspect cases are carried out in a timely manner; (2) reauthorize grants; (3) authorize local governments to apply for and receive grants; (4) direct the Attorney General to give priority in awarding grants to a State or local governmental unit that has a significant rape kit or non-suspect case backlog; (5) expand the scope of DNA samples subject to privacy protections; and (6) authorize appropriations to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the collection and use of DNA identification information from certain Federal offenders. Amends: (1) the Federal criminal code and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to authorize "John Doe" DNA indictments for sexual abuse (allows describing a person as an unknown individual who has a particular DNA profile if the identity of the accused or defendant is unknown); and (2) the DNA Identification Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations to the FBI to carry out a redesign of the Combined DNA Index System.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2002
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the Senate should consider legislation to comprehensively modernize the Medicare Program under which beneficiaries will be offered more choices including outpatient prescription drug coverage; and (2) this legislation should ensure that the Medicare Program's financial solvency is preserved and protected, and permit beneficiaries to choose from a variety of coverage options (including multiple competing, private insurance plans).
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2002
Transparent and Enhanced Criteria Act of 2002 - Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to add the following to the selection criteria for the 2005 round of defense base closures and realignments: (1) force structure and mission requirements through 2020; (2) the availability and condition of facilities, land, and associated airspace; (3) considerations regarding ranges and airspace; (4) force protection; (5) costs and effects of relocating critical infrastructure; (6) homeland security requirements; (7) State or local support for a continued presence by the Department of Defense; (8) applicable lessons from previous rounds of closures and realignments; and (9) anticipated savings and other benefits. Requires the Secretary, at the time of publishing such criteria, to publish the formula proposed to be used in assigning weight to each criterion in making recommendations for closures or realignments in 2005.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2002
Expresses profound gratitude for the faithful service provided by flight attendants to make air travel safe and honors their courage and dedication. Supports all flight attendants who continue to display heroism on a daily basis, as they had been doing before, during, and after September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Federal Agency Protection of Privacy Act - Requires Federal agencies: (1) when publishing a general notice of proposed rulemaking for any proposed rule or for an interpretative rule involving the internal revenue laws, to prepare, make available for public comment, and publish an initial analysis describing the rule's impact on the privacy of individuals; and (2) when promulgating the final rule, to prepare, make publicly available, and publish a final privacy impact analysis that includes a summary of the significant issues raised by and changes made pursuant to public comments on the initial analysis. Requires the head of an agency promulgating a rule that may have a significant privacy impact on individuals or on a substantial number of individuals to use specified techniques to assure that individuals have been given an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking. Requires each agency to: (1) carry out a periodic review of promulgated rules that have such impact to determine whether each such rule can be amended or rescinded in a manner that minimizes such impact while remaining in accordance with applicable statutes; (2) carry out such review in accordance with a plan that provides for the review of each rule every ten years after the rule was published as a final rule; and (3) publish annually a list of the rules to be reviewed. Sets forth provisions governing judicial review of agency compliance with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Medicare Skilled Nursing Beneficiary Protection Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the prospective payment system for skilled nursing facility services for determining updates for FY 2003 and for FY 2004 and subsequent fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2002
Public Lands Planning and Management Improvement Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to conduct no more than two levels of planning for Federal lands (lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and lands in the National Forest System) comprised of: (1) multi-use planning in the form of resource management plans for designated planning units; and (2) site-specific or area-specific planning for management activities. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Public Lands Monitoring Fund and the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Forest Lands Monitoring Fund. Requires the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service, in developing resource management plans, to ensure that the plan is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction of habitat of critical species. Repeals renewable resource program provisions of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resource Planning Act of 1973. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to contract with private persons and entities to perform service to achieve land management goals for the Federal lands. Sets forth provisions regarding fees, an exemption from strict liability for the recovery of fire suppression costs, and access to adjacent non-Federal lands. Directs: (1) the Secretary of the Interior to maintain a special fund regarding salvage sales of forest products; and (2) the Secretaries to jointly conduct a study of the effectiveness of fuels hazard treatment strategies and methods in the reduction of risk of private property losses from catastrophic fires.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Forest Service and other Federal land management agencies should, among other specified actions, fully implement the Western Governors Association's Collaborative Ten-year Strategy for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment, as signed August 2001, to reduce the overabundance of forest fuels that place these resources at high risk of catastrophic wildfire; (2) the Departments of Agriculture and of the Interior should immediately prepare for public review a national prescribed fire strategy for public lands; and (3) such strategy should be incorporated into any regulatory land use planning programs that propose the use of prescribed fire as a management practice.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2002
National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2002 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct 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), the Association for Small Business Development Centers (Association), and Federal compliance partnership programs. 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; and (4) technical assistance. Directs the Administrator to act as the repository of and clearinghouse for data and information submitted by Centers. Requires the Administrator, giving substantial weight to the Association's recommendations, to select the Center programs of two States from each of ten groups of States for participation in the pilot program. Provides privacy requirements applicable to Centers, a consortium of Centers, or any Center contractor or agent with respect to regulatory compliance assistance provided to small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2002
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Saudi Arabia should: (1) immediately dissolve its "martyrs" fund (designed to fund acts of violence or to compensate families of Palestinian suicide bombers); (2) fulfill its commitment to combat violence and terrorism; and (3) eliminate the funding of terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2002
Broadband Regulatory Parity Act of 2002 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe regulations to ensure that: (1) all broadband services and broadband access services are subject to the same regulatory requirements (or no such requirements); (2) all providers of such services are subject to the same regulatory requirements with respect to such services and the facilities and equipment used to provide such services; and (3) the above requirements are met without increasing current regulatory requirements with respect to such services, facilities, or equipment. Prohibits such services and related facilities and equipment from being subject to the jurisdiction of any State. Requires each incumbent local exchange carrier to provide all Internet service providers with the telecommunications necessary for the provision of broadband access service to subscribers at just and reasonable rates.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2002
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a deduction from adjusted gross income of up to $500, whether a taxpayer itemizes or not, for certain expenses in connection with the determination, collection, or refund of any tax.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Amends the Organic Act establishing the Department of Commerce to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish and maintain a list of each person that notifies the Secretary that it is a manufacturer or seller that is: (1) licensed to engage in interstate or foreign commerce of a firearm (including antique firearm) or ammunition product; or (2) is a trade association representing such manufacturers or sellers. Declares that any lawful conduct carried out by a manufacturer or seller in interstate or foreign commerce of a firearm or ammunition product, or lawful conduct carried out by a trade association in the course of representing such manufacturers or sellers, shall not be the basis for imposing a restriction on such commerce (the award of civil damages, equitable relief, or any other specified limitation) as a result of harm caused by the criminal or other unlawful misuse of such firearm or ammunition product by any other person.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2002
Railroad Competition, Arbitration, and Service Act of 2002 - Amends Federal transportation law to declare the primary objectives of U.S. rail transportation policy with respect to rail carrier competition, reasonable rates, and consistent and efficient rail transportation service for shippers. Requires arbitration of certain rail rate, service, and other disputes according to specified procedures. Prohibits the Surface Transportation Board from issuing a railroad construction and operation certificate authorizing a specified activity, or exempting from certificate requirements an activity involving a railroad line interest transfer by a Class I rail carrier to a Class II or III rail carrier, if the activity directly or indirectly would result in a restriction of: (1) the ability of the Class II or Class III rail carrier to interchange traffic with other carriers; or (2) competition between or among rail carriers in the region affected by the activity in a manner or to an extent that would violate Federal antitrust laws. Prescribes a process for review of any alleged restriction. Authorizes any person who uses or seeks to use rail service for major train load shipments to or from a facility that has physical access solely to one rail carrier to request, according to a specified procedure, that rail service for such shipments be provided by an existing Class I, Class II, or Class III rail carrier, or a new rail service meeting certain requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 2002
Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Adjustment Act of 2002 - Provides incremental increases in the rates of educational assistance provided to veterans' survivors and dependents, including for full- and part-time courses, correspondence courses, special restorative training, and apprenticeship training. Entitles an eligible person who first files a claim for such assistance after enactment of this Act to assistance for up to 36 (currently 45) months. Increases the annual aggregate amount available to State educational approving agencies for the reimbursement of administrative expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 2002
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to guarantee adjustable rate mortgages for veterans eligible for housing loan benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (replaces provisions that directed the Secretary to carry out a demonstration project to guaranty loans in a manner similar to the manner in which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development insured adjustable rate mortgages under the National Housing Act). Includes within such guaranteed mortgages hybrid adjustable rate mortgages (mortgages whose interest rates are adjusted after as few as three years) which do not correspond to a specified national interest rate index approved by the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 2002
Declares that the Senate: (1) stands in solidarity with Israel as it takes necessary steps to provide security to its people by dismantling the terrorist infrastructure in the Palestinian areas; (2) remains committed to Israel's right to self-defense; and (3) will continue to assist Israel in strengthening its homeland defenses. Condemns Palestinian suicide bombings. Demands that the Palestinian Authority fulfill its commitment to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in the Palestinian areas. Urges: (1) all Arab states, particularly Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to declare their unqualified opposition to all forms of terrorism, particularly suicide bombing, and to act in concert with the United States to stop the violence; and (2) all parties in the region to pursue vigorous efforts to establish comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Requires former reserve enlisted personnel (currently, only former active-duty enlisted personnel) entitled to monthly retired pay to receive an additional ten percent of such pay if, during their reserve service, such personnel were credited by the Secretary of the military department concerned with extraordinary heroism in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income compensation for "covered service" in the U.S. military. Defines "covered service" as service outside the United States in a permanent change of station for which travel, transportation, and housing of dependents at Government expense would generally not be authorized under policies of the Secretary concerned, except in the case of service in such an assignment for which such travel, transportation, and housing is actually authorized as an exception to the applicable policy.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Program Act of 2002 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to: (1) change from mandatory to discretionary a State's authority to adjust or recover medical assistance correctly paid on behalf of an individual who has received (or is entitled to receive) benefits under a long-term care insurance policy; and (2) repeal the grandfather date for cases to which such adjustment or recovery authority shall not apply. (Thus applies such exception to all State plans meeting specified requirements, and permits additional States to enter into long-term care partnerships to promote the use of long-term care insurance.)
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 2002
Terrorism Victim's Access to Compensation Act of 2002 - Expresses the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States: (1) to use the blocked assets of state sponsors of acts of terrorism (including their agencies and instrumentalities) under the control of the Secretary of the Treasury to pay court-ordered judgments and awards made to U.S. nationals harmed by such acts; and (2) to provide equal access to all U.S. victims of state-sponsored terrorism who have secured judgments and awards in Federal courts against state sponsors of terrorism, and assure that those judgments and awards be paid from such blocked assets. Makes such assets available for the satisfaction of judgments against terrorist parties. Prescribes guidelines for a Presidential waiver upon determination on an asset-by-asset basis that a waiver is necessary in the national security interest.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2002
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 · 15 April 2002
Declares that Congress, on behalf of the American people, extends its birthday greetings and best wishes to Lionel Hampton (the first black musician to perform for a presidential inauguration and regarded internationally as one of the greatest jazz musicians of all times) on the occasion of his 94th birthday.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2002
Makes Ed W. Freeman of Boise, Idaho, eligible retroactively, for months beginning with November 1965 and ending with June 2001, for the special pension provided in conjunction with the award of the Medal of Honor.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2002
Emergency Agricultural Assistance Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide market loss assistance payments, at the applicable FY 2000 payment rate, to owners and producers on a farm that are eligible for a final FY 2002 production flexibility contract payment. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance for: (1) soybeans and oilseeds; (2) quota or additional peanuts; (3) honey; (4) wool and mohair; (5) cottonseed; (6) commodity purchases, including school nutrition program commodities; (7) pulse crops (chickpeas, lentils, dry peas); and (8) tobacco. Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to extend loan deficiency payment eligibility through crop year 2002 for contract commodity producers who are not eligible for marketing assistance loans. States that for the 2001 crop a producer who is eligible for loan deficiency payments but loses beneficial interest in the covered crop shall be eligible for such payments as of the date of loss. Directs the Secretary to make payments in lieu of loan deficiency payments for crop year 2002 to producers who: (1) elect to use wheat, grain sorghum, barley, or oats acreage for livestock grazing; and (2) agree to forgo any other harvesting of such crops on such acreage. States that such acreage shall be ineligible for Federal crop insurance. Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to extend milk price supports. Directs the Secretary to provide livestock feed assistance to producers affected by 2001 or 2002 disasters. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance for: (1) the conservation reserve program; (2) the wetlands reserve program; (3) the environmental quality incentives program; and (4) the farmland protection program. States that funds shall be obligated and expended only during FY 2002 to carry out this Act and its amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2002
Removes, for months beginning on or after October 1, 2002, the requirement that qualifying offsetting legislation be enacted before a member or former member of the armed forces may be paid military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation concurrently without deduction. Repeals, as of such date, a special compensation program for certain severely disabled military retirees.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2002
Rural Health Care Facility Improvement Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a loan guarantee program for rural health facilities. Defines rural health facility to include the following facilities found in rural areas: health clinics, critical access hospitals, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, health centers, federally qualified health centers, and nursing homes. Covers the purchase of new and the repair of existing infrastructure and technology. Sets forth loan limits. Entitles the United States to subrogation and makes such loan guarantees incontestable. Authorizes the Secretary to take such action as may be necessary to prevent a default, subject to the requirements of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990. Permits the Secretary to foreclose, as specified.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2002
Veterans Benefits and Pensions Protection Act of 2002 - Includes as a prohibited assignment of veterans' benefits any agreement entered into by a beneficiary under which another person acquires for consideration the right to receive any compensation, pension, or dependency and indemnity compensation of such beneficiary. Provides criminal penalties for violations. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct an outreach program to inform veterans and other potential recipients of such compensation or pension of the prohibition against the assignment of such benefits, including information on various schemes to evade the prohibition and means of avoiding such schemes.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2002
Buffalo Soldier Commemoration Act of 2002 - Authorizes the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a memorial to honor the Buffalo Soldiers (African-American soldiers). Establishes in the Treasury a fund to be used by the Commission to pay the expenses incurred in establishing such memorial. Authorizes the head of any agency to provide to the Louisiana State Museum appropriate military artifacts to memorialize, and educate the public regarding, the contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers.
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
Pension Plan Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 with respect to retirement plans to, among other things: (1) require plans to offer at least four different investment options, including three options which do not involve the acquisition or holding of qualifying employer securities or qualifying employer real property; (2) prohibit plans from requiring employees to invest employee contributions in employer securities; (3) permit employees to divest plan assets 90 days following allocation of employer securities or property when the employee has a 100 percent nonforfeitable right to the employee's accrued benefit derived from employer contributions; (4) require plans to provide specified quarterly statements; (5) set standards concerning investment advice provided by fiduciary advisors; (6) require plans to provide 30 days notice before a blackout period (a temporary limitation on the ability of a plan participant who has met minimum participation requirements to transfer nonforfeitable accrued benefits from investment in employer securities to another investment option); and (7) prohibit corporate executives from trading securities or derivatives during a blackout period. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit an independent public accountant that performs for an entity an auditing service required under the securities laws, rules, or regulations from providing to such entity any other service not directly related to the performance of the auditing service.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2002
Sound Science for Endangered Species Decisionmaking Act of 2002 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to direct the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) give greater weight to scientific and commercial data that is empirical or that has been field-tested or peer-reviewed in determining that a species is an endangered or threatened species; and (2) promulgate regulations that establish criteria for data to be used as the basis of such a determination. Prohibits the Secretary from determining that a species is endangered or threatened unless the determination is supported by data obtained by observation of the species in the field. Requires the Secretary to accept, acknowledge receipt of, and include in the rule-making record of such a determination data collected by landowners through observation of the species on the land. Requires the Secretary to publish with the notice of a proposed regulation a description of additional scientific and commercial data that would assist in the preparation of a recovery plan, invite any person to submit such data, and describe the steps for acquiring additional data. Directs the Secretary: (1) to solicit recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences and develop a list of qualified reviewers to participate in independent scientific review actions; (2) before any proposed action becomes final, to appoint from such list three individuals who shall report on the scientific information and analyses on which such action is based; and (3) to include such report in the official record of the proposed action. Requires the Secretary, in consulting with each Federal agency and the affected States to insure that any agency action is not likely to jeopardize any endangered or threatened species or destroy the species' habitat, to: (1) consider information provided by such States; and (2) provide any person who has sought authorization or funding from a Federal agency for an action the opportunity to submit, discuss, and receive information relevant to the draft biological opinion.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2002
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001 - Prohibits any person or entity, in or affecting interstate commerce, from knowingly: (1) performing or attempting to perform human cloning; (2) participating in such an attempt; (3) shipping or receiving an embryo produced by human cloning or any product derived from such embryo; or (4) importing such an embryo or product. Directs the General Accounting Office to assess the need for amendment of such prohibition, including through: (1) a discussion of new developments, the need for somatic cell transfer to produce medical advances, current public attitudes and prevailing ethical views, and potential legal implications; and (2) a review of technological developments.
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.
![Official portrait of Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000858_200.jpg)