United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2003
Declares the sense of the Senate that: (1) the visit of the Dalai Lama to the United States in September 2003 is warmly welcomed; (2) the Dalai Lama should be recognized and congratulated for his consistent efforts to promote dialogue to peacefully resolve the Tibet issue and to increase the religious and cultural autonomy of the Tibetan people; and (3) all parties to the current discussions should be encouraged by the Government of the United States to deepen these contacts in order to achieve the aspirations of the people of Tibet for genuine autonomy and basic human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2003
Congratulates Lance Armstrong and the United States Postal Service Team on their victory in the 2003 Tour de France. Commends the unwavering commitment to cancer awareness and survivorship demonstrated by Armstrong.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2003
Authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to represent the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and Senator Orrin G. Hatch in the case of Wagner v. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, et. al.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include construction as a "qualified purpose" for the spending of a "qualified zone academy bond" (95 percent of such bond proceeds must be spent on a "qualified purpose"). Allows the credit retained by a regulated investment company for its holding of a zone academy bond to be distributed to the company's shareholders. Permits such credits to be stripped.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2003
(NOTE - S.1940 & S.1483, unlike H.R.2210, do not provide for State demonstration programs that allow States to administer their allotment of Federal Head Start funds.) Head Start Coordination and School Readiness Act - Amends the Head Start Act to reauthorize through FY 2008 and revise Head Start programs. Requires expanded coordination and collaboration among Head Start and other agencies. Requires States that receive Head Start quality improvement and collaboration grants (currently collaboration grants) to establish: (1) State Head Start Quality Improvement and Collaboration Offices; and (2) State advisory councils on collaboration on early care and education activities for children. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue regulations requiring Head Start agencies to implement certain policies and procedures for enrollment of eligible homeless children. Revises requirements for the Secretary's designation of Head Start agencies, as well as those for quality standards. Requires annual Head Start program self-assessments, reports, and improvement plans. Requires Head Start agencies to have: (1) a program meeting all quality standards; (2) capacity to serve eligible children with scientifically based curricula and other interventions and support services that promote school readiness; (3) outreach to schools, local educational agencies (LEAs), local businesses, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, museums, and libraries; and (4) coordination with LEAs, particularly on ways to increase participation of underserved populations. Revises requirements for Early Head Start grant programs to include: (1) consideration of homeless infants and toddlers; (2) migrant and seasonal Head Start programs; (3) grants to applicants in communities which have experienced a large percentage increase in limited English proficient (LEP) children and families; and (4) professional development to increase program participation for underserved populations. Establishes increased staff qualification requirements for Head Start programs. Requires individuals receiving financial assistance under the Act to pursue a degree to qualify as Head Start staff to: (1) teach or work in a Head Start program for at least three years after receiving the degree; or (2) repay the assistance received. Requires every Head Start agency and program to create a professional development plan for employees providing direct services to children. Establishes programs to: (1) attract and retain high-quality Head Start classroom teachers; and (2) improve literacy in Head Start programs. Directs the Secretary to contract with the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of the National Research Council and the Board on Testing and Assessments of the National Academy of Sciences to establish expert, independent panels to study, report, and make recommendations on: (1) the assessment of school readiness in young children; and (2) the Head Start reporting system.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2003
Overtime Compensation Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from promulgating any regulation that has the effect of exempting from FLSA overtime compensation requirements (which limit maximum hours at regular compensation) any employee who is not otherwise exempted under regulations in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. Provides that such prohibition does not bar the Secretary from reducing the number of employees who are exempt from such overtime compensation requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2003
Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Act - Amends the Head Start Act to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants of at least five years duration to Tribal Colleges and Universities to: (1) implement education programs that include tribal culture and language and increase the number of associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees in early childhood education and related fields that are earned by Indian Head Start agency staff members, parents of children served by such an agency, and members of the tribal community involved; (2) develop and implement such programs in technology-mediated formats; and (3) provide technology literacy programs for Indian Head Start agency staff members and children and families of children served by such an agency.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act Amendments Act of 2003 - Amends the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 to revise the accounting duties of the Secretary of the Interior with respect to the daily and annual balances of all monies or proceeds derived from trust assets and funds held in trust by the United States for the benefit of an Indian tribe or an individual Indian. Requires an annual audit only for accounts with over $1,000 in trust funds, but for accounts with less than $1,000, only statistical sampling audit procedures of all such accounts grouped separately. Specifies minimum additional responsibilities of the Secretary. Allows an Indian tribe to use authority granted to the tribe under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to manage Indian trust funds and trust assets without terminating the trust responsibility of the Secretary or the trust status of the funds and assets. Replaces the current Office of Special Trustee for American Indians with a Deputy Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs to: (1) oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (2) carry out all duties currently assigned to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs; and (3) oversee all Indian trust fund and trust asset matters, and consult with Indian tribes and individual trust asset and trust fund account holders. Establishes within the Office of the Secretary the Office of Trust Reform Implementation and Oversight, headed by such Deputy Secretary, to supervise and direct day-to-day activities concerning such assets or funds, including providing accurate inventories, revenue postings, monthly statements, and annual audits. Establishes a Commission for Review of Indian Trust Fund Management Responsibilities to assess the fiduciary and management responsibilities of the Federal Government with respect to Indian tribes and individual Indian beneficiaries
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the committee of conference between the Senate and House of Representatives on H.R. 1308 should agree to a conference report before the August recess; (2) any conference report on H.R. 1308 should contain the provisions in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1308 concerning the refundability of the child tax credit; (3) any conference report on H.R. 1308 should contain the provisions in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1308 concerning the availability of the child tax credit for military families; (4) any conference report on H.R. 1308 should contain the provisions in the Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act of 2003; and (5) any conference report on H.R. 1308 should contain provisions to fully offset its cost.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2003
Expresses: (1) appreciation for the accomplishments of our Korean War veterans; (2) commitment to the ideals of freedom, peace, and democracy on the Korean Peninsula; and (3) commitment to preserving the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Korean War and to educating future generations about their achievements.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2003
Relief for Working Families Tax Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (the Code), with respect to the child tax credit, to: (1) accelerate the increase from the 10 percent to the 15 percent rate; and (2) reduce the marriage penalty. Provides for a uniform definition of child in the Code. Establishes special tax provisions applicable to the uniformed services and the Foreign Service, including an extension of time to exclude gain from the sale of a principal residence, exclusion from income of certain death gratuity benefits, extending combat zone filing rules to contingency operations, excluding certain dependent care assistance from income, and the deduction overnight travel expenses for National Guard and Reserve members. Provides tax relief for families of the Columbia Space Shuttle by making the tax relief provisions applicable to terrorist attack victims applicable to the Columbia Space Shuttle. Suspends the tax-exempt status of a designated terrorist organization. Establishes IRS service user fee authority through September 30, 2013. Revises IRC expatriation tax provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2003
Sales Tax Equity Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit taxpayers an election to deduct State and local sales taxes in lieu of State and local income taxes. Sets forth rules for use in applying the economic substance doctrine, including defining economic substance doctrine. Establishes and modifies penalties concerning tax shelters. Revises provisions concerning corporate governance and executive compensation. Revises expatriation provisions. Revises other provisions concerning: (1) foreign source income and foreign pension plans; (2) partnership loss transfers; and (3) tax-exempt insurance companies.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2003
Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2003 - Amends title IV part B (Child-Welfare Services) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States to support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using networks of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care. Authorizes a grant award directly to a political subdivision if the subdivision serves a substantial number of foster care youth. Prescribes program implementation guidelines, including: (1) application requirements; (2) training; (3) screening; (4) educational requirements; (5) Federal and non-Federal share of funds for the Program; (6) considerations in awarding grants; and (7) use of funds. Sets forth a maximum grant amount to be awarded to a State or political subdivision. Authorizes the Secretary to award a competitive grant to an eligible entity to establish a National Hotline Service or Website to provide information to individuals interested in becoming mentors to youth in foster care. Instructs the Secretary of Education to implement a program to provide for the discharge or cancellation of the Federal student loan indebtedness of an eligible mentor.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2003
Authorizes: (1) employees of Senator Allard's office from whom testimony or the production of documents may be required to testify and produce documents in the cases of State of Colorado v. Carrie Ann Hoppes, Andrew M. Bennett, Christopher J. Friedman, Andrew Jonathan Tirman, Carolyn Elizabeth Bninski, Melissa Noelle Rossman, Rachael Esther Kaplan, except concerning matters for which a privilege should be asserted; and (2) the Senate Legal Counsel to represent such employees in connection with the testimony and document production.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2003
Access to Medical Treatment Act - Permits any individual to be treated by a health care practitioner with any medical treatment that the individual desires (including a treatment that is not approved, certified, or licensed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services) if: (1) the practitioner agrees to treat the individual; and (2) the administration of such treatment does not violate licensing laws. Declares that health care practitioners may/shall (sic) provide any method of treatment to such an individual if certain requirements are met. Requires a practitioner to report: (1) administering such treatment and discovering it to be a danger to an individual; and (2) the positive effects of an unconventional medical treatment for a life-threatening medical condition. States that nothing in this Act shall in any way adversely affect the distribution or sale of dietary supplements.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2003
Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to permit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to register a Canadian pesticide that: (1) has not been previously disapproved; (2) is identical or substantially similar in composition to a comparable domestic pesticide already registered; and (3) is registered in Canada by the registrant (or affiliate) of the comparable domestic pesticide. Requires the Administrator to obtain the confidential statement of formula for the pesticide to determine if it is in fact identical or substantially similar to a comparable domestic pesticide. Stipulates that any Canadian pesticide the Administrator registers must bear an approved label which completely covers the original Canadian label. Prohibits actions in Federal court against: (1) the Administrator acting as a registering agency for damages resulting from the use of a product registered under this Act; or (2) registrants for damages resulting from adulteration or compositional alterations of such a product if the registrant could not reasonably have knowledge of such adulteration or alterations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2003
Rural Universal Service Equity Act of 2003 - Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the need to reform the high cost support mechanism (with respect to universal telephone service) for rural, insular, and high cost areas. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in calculating Federal universal service support for eligible telecommunications carriers that serve such areas, to revise its support mechanism for high cost areas to provide support to each wire center in which the incumbent local exchange carrier's average cost per line exceeds the national average by such amount as the FCC determines appropriate for the purpose of ensuring the equitable distribution of universal service support throughout the United States. Requires: (1) the FCC to ensure that no State receives less Federal support than it would have received, up to ten percent of the total support distributed, under the FCC's previous support mechanism; and (2) the total amount of support for all States to be equal to the total support calculated under the support mechanism in existence before enactment of this Act. States that nothing in this Act shall affect the support provided to rural telephone companies.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2003
American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 500,000 one dollar silver coins in commemoration of disabled American veterans, which shall be emblematic of the design selected by the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. Requires: (1) all sales of the coins to include a ten dollar per coin surcharge; and (2) the surcharges received to be paid to the Foundation to establish an endowment to support the construction of an American Veterans' Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2003
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of Congress, a gold medal to Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. (posthumously) and his widow Coretta Scott King in recognition of their service to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2003
Provides that a health insurance contract shall not be made or a health insurance plan approved under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program which does not offer to Medicare eligible enrollees prescription drug benefits the actuarial value of which is at least equal to the actuarial value of such benefits which are offered to enrollees under a plan generally. Directs the Office of Personnel Management to establish processes and methods for determining the actuarial value of prescription drug benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2003
Expresses the condolences of the Senate on the death of the Honorable J. Strom Thurmond, former Senator and President Pro Tempore Emeritus from South Carolina.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2003
Commends General Eric Shinseki (the U.S. Army's 34th Chief of Staff who retired from active military duty in June 2003 after 37 years of service) for his dedication to service and for his lifetime of commitment to excellence.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit rural mail carriers to treat qualified vehicle expenses in excess of reimbursements as miscellaneous itemized deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that if a taxpayer is a member of an affiliated group of corporations which files a consolidated return, the tax attributes concerning reduction of tax attributes and exclusion from gross income by reason of discharge of indebtedness shall be the aggregate tax attributes of such group.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2003
United States Agricultural Products Market Access Act of 2003 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to direct the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to identify those foreign countries that: (1) deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. agricultural products or apply standards for the importation of U.S. agricultural products that are not related to public health concerns or cannot be substantiated by reliable analytical methods; and (2) are determined by the USTR to be priority foreign countries. Limits the identification of priority foreign countries to those that engage in the most onerous or egregious acts which have the greatest adverse impact on the relevant U.S. products. Provides that if available information indicates that such action is appropriate, the USTR may at any time: (1) revoke the identification of any foreign country as a priority foreign country; or (2) identify any foreign country as a priority foreign country. Provides funding for additional staff for the Office of the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs and Office of the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Monitoring and Enforcement. Requires the U.S. Trade Representative to initiate an investigation (without waiting for a petition by an interested person) regarding any act, policy, or practice of a priority foreign country identified under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2003
Conservation Reserve Program Tax Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat conservation reserve program payments as real estate rentals and thus excluded from consideration in self-employment net earnings. Amends the Social Security Act to treat such payments similarly for purposes of old, age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2003
Collaborative Forest Health Act - Permits the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior (the Secretaries) to find that a proposed hazardous fuels reduction project that meets certain criteria shall not require an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement. Directs the Secretaries to identify projects implemented under this section through a collaborative framework to reduce hazardous fuels. Sets a limit of 20 million acres for projects implemented under this section (not including the existing hazardous fuels reduction program). Prohibits, except in extraordinary circumstances, timber sales and log skidding machines in at-risk communities and the nearby vicinities and in certain municipal watersheds. Excludes the provisions of this Act relating to expedited planning and implementation from applying to certain Federal lands. Directs the Secretaries to take certain actions to ensure that the agencies are implementing projects pursuant to this Act that reduce the risk of unnaturally intense wildfires and improve forest health. Directs the Secretaries to expend at least 70 percent of the hazardous fuels operations funds provided annually only on projects in at-risk communities and nearby vicinities or within municipal watersheds. Directs the Secretaries to jointly: (1) establish a commission to complete an assessment of the positive or negative impacts and effectiveness of projects implemented under this section; (2) earmark funds for the conduct of a systematic information gathering program on certain insect types that have caused large-scale damage to forest ecosystems; and (3) disburse funds to reduce the risk of wildfire to structures and restore burned areas on tribal lands. Allows the Secretaries to make cost-share grants to various entities for the removal, transport, and disposal of hazardous fuels around homes and properties.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2003
Authorizes: (1) Carol Carpenter (a staff member in the office of Senator Judd Gregg) to provide testimony in the case of State of New Hampshire v. Donald Johnson, except concerning matters for which a privilege should be asserted; and (2) the Senate Legal Counsel to represent her in connection with such testimony.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2003
Downed Animal Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations to provide for the humane treatment, handling, and disposition of nonambulatory livestock by a covered entity, including a requirement that nonambulatory livestock be humanely euthanized. Provides that an entity shall: (1) not move nonambulatory livestock while such livestock is conscious; and (2) humanely euthanize such livestock. Prohibits an establishment covered by the Federal Meat Inspection Act to pass nonambulatory livestock through inspection. Defines "covered entity," and "humanely euthanize."
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2003
Daniel Patrick Moynihan Global Affairs Institute Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award a grant to Syracuse University to establish an endowment fund to support a Daniel Patrick Moynihan Global Affairs Institute. Requires the University, to be eligible for such grant, to designate the global affairs institute within the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs as the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Global Affairs Institute.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2003
Seniors Safety Act of 2003 - Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend Federal sentencing guidelines: (1) to include the age of a crime victim as an enhancement factor; and (2) with respect to health care benefit program fraud. Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) provide increased penalties for fraud which results in serious injury or death; and (2) set penalties for fraud in relation to retirement arrangements. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish procedures regarding telemarketing fraud, including referrals of complaints for potential law enforcement action. Provides for the blocking or termination of telephone service associated with telemarketing fraud. Includes within Federal injunctive authority against fraudulent actions certain offenses under the Social Security Act relating to false claims and illegal kickback schemes involving Federal health care programs. Amends the Social Security Act to: (1) authorize the Attorney General to bring an action to enforce such authority; and (2) extend certain anti-fraud safeguards to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Nursing Home Resident Protection Act of 2002 - Provides civil penalties for violations that affect the health, safety, or care of individuals in a residential health care facility and result in significant harm. Amends the Controlled Substances Act to state that a defendant may not use property subject to criminal forfeiture to satisfy a restitution order, with an exception. Prohibits: (1) the use of bankruptcy proceedings to shield illegal gains from false claims brought against the Government; and (2) the debt arising from such illegal gains from being discharged in bankruptcy proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2003
Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Secretary of Education and the appropriate congressional committees on proposed changes to the tables used in the Federal Needs Analysis Methodology to determine a student's expected family contribution for the award year 2004-2005 under general provisions for student assistance of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Requires such study to examine the impact of such changes on students to ensure that they are not adversely affected. Amends HEA to direct the Secretary to consult with the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance before publishing any notice or promulgating any regulation with respect to updated tables to be used in such needs analysis.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2003
Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Secretary of Education and the appropriate congressional committees on proposed changes to the tables used in the Federal Needs Analysis Methodology to determine a student's expected family contribution for the award year 2004-2005 under general provisions for student assistance of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Requires such study to examine the impact of such changes on students to ensure that they are not adversely affected. Amends HEA to direct the Secretary to consult with the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance before publishing any notice or promulgating any regulation with respect to updated tables to be used in such needs analysis.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2003
Authorizes the President to present to Dr. Dorothy Height (President of the National Council of Negro Women) a congressional gold medal in recognition of her many contributions to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Designates the years 2004 and 2005 as Years of Foreign Language Study, during which foreign language study is promoted and expanded in elementary and secondary schools, institutions of higher learning, business, and government programs.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2003
Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 - Prohibits the importation into the United States of any article that is a product of Burma (Myanmar) until the President determines and certifies to Congress that Burma has taken certain democratic and counternarcotics actions. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to direct any U.S. financial institution holding funds of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of Burma or the assets of individuals who hold senior positions in the SPDC or its political arm, the Union Solidarity Development Association, to report those assets to the Office of Foreign Assets Control and take such action as may be necessary to secure them. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive director to each appropriate international financial institution to oppose any extension of a loan or financial or technical assistance to Burma until the requirements of this Act are met. Authorizes the President to deny visas and entry into the United States to the former and present leadership of the SPDC or the Union Solidarity Development Association. Urges the Secretary of State to use all appropriate fora, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and Asian Nations Regional Forum, to encourage other states to restrict financial resources to the SPDC and Burmese companies while offering support to Burma's democratic movement, including the National League for Democracy and Burma's ethnic groups. Authorizes the President to assist Burmese democracy activists dedicated to nonviolent opposition to the regime in their efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards to assure the safety and accuracy of medical imaging or radiation therapy. States that such standards shall include licensure or certification, accreditation, and other requirements determined by the Secretary. Exempts the standards from applying to physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Requires individuals prior to performing or preparing such imaging or therapy to have successfully completed a national exam approved by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to certify private nonprofit organizations or State agencies as approved bodies with respect to the accreditation of educational programs or the administration of examinations if such organizations or agencies meet certain standards and give certain assurances. Allows the Secretary to withdraw approval from an approved body. Permits the Secretary to develop alternative standards for rural areas if such action is needed to assure access to quality medical imaging.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
YMCA Healthy Teen Act - Directs the Attorney General to award a grant to the YMCA of the USA to make subgrants to local YMCAs for programs to promote healthy living among teenage youth.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2003
Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 - Prohibits the importation into the United States of any article that is a product of Burma (Myanmar) until the President determines and certifies to Congress that Burma has taken certain democratic and counternarcotics actions. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to direct any U.S. financial institution holding funds of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of Burma or the assets of individuals who hold senior positions in the SPDC or its political arm, the Union Solidarity Development Association, to report those assets to the Office of Foreign Assets Control and take such action as may be necessary to secure them. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive director to each appropriate international financial institution to oppose any extension of a loan or financial or technical assistance to Burma until the requirements of this Act are met. Authorizes the President to deny visas and entry into the United States to the former and present leadership of the SPDC or the Union Solidarity Development Association. Urges the Secretary of State to use all appropriate fora, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and Asian Nations Regional Forum, to encourage other states to restrict financial resources to the SPDC and Burmese companies while offering support to Burma's democratic movement, including the National League for Democracy and Burma's ethnic groups. Authorizes the President to assist Burmese democracy activists dedicated to nonviolent opposition to the regime in their efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2003
Encouraging Work Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the work opportunity credit permanent. Modifies such credit by: (1) repealing the requirement that a "qualified ex-felon" be a member of a low-income (as specified) family; (2) increasing the maximum age for eligibility of food stamp recipients to 40 years; (3) redefining the term "vocational rehabilitation referral"; (4) adding "long-term family assistance recipients" (as defined) to the definition of "targeted groups"; and (5) increasing the maximum allowable credit for employment of long-term family assistance recipients. Repeals the separate welfare-to-work credit.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2003
Rural Provider Equity Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), the Public Health Service Act, and other Federal law with respect to rural health care, especially: (1) physician reimbursement; (2) rural health clinics and community health centers; (3) home health services; (4) air and ground ambulance services; (5) mental health care accessibility; and (6) rural health services research. Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income any loan payments under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Provides for virtual pharmacist consultation service demonstration projects.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 2003
Working Taxpayer Fairness Restoration Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the refundability of the child tax credit, to accelerate the increase to the 15 percent rate. Limits, to fair market value immediately following a transaction, the importation of net built-in loss by a corporation. Prohibits an allocation of any decrease in the adjusted basis of partnership property to stock in a corporation which is a partner in the partnership. Repeals part V (Financial Asset Securitization Investment Trusts) of subchapter M (Regulated Investment Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts). Expands the definition of a disqualified debt instrument with respect to deduction disallowance on certain debt instruments of corporations. Expands the authority to disallow deductions, credits, or other allowances under provisions disallowing such benefits due to acquisitions made to evade or avoid income tax. Amends provisions affecting passive foreign investment companies to state that the term "qualified portion" (of a shareholder's holding period) does not include any period if there is only a remote likelihood of an inclusion in gross income under subpart F (Controlled Foreign Income). Adds to the definition of the term "real estate investment trust" by stating that such term includes a corporation, trust, or association which is not a controlled entity. Directs the Secretary to establish a program requiring the payment of user fees, until September 30, 2013, for: (1) requests to the Internal Revenue Service for ruling letters, opinion letters, and determination letters; and (2) other similar requests.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2003
National Museum of African American History and Culture Act - (Sec. 4) Establishes within the Smithsonian Institution (SI) the National Museum of African American History and Culture, to be operated as a center for scholarship and a location for museum training, public education, exhibits, and collection and study of items and materials relating to the life, art, history, and culture of African Americans that encompass the period of slavery, the era of reconstruction, the Harlem renaissance, the civil rights movement, and other periods of the African American diaspora. (Sec. 5) Establishes the National Museum of African American History and Culture Council to: (1) advise and assist the SI Board of Regents on Museum planning, design, construction, operation, and budgets; and (2) have responsibility and authority with respect to the Museum's collections and work, subject to the Board of Regents' general policies. (Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary of SI to appoint a Director to manage the Museum. (Sec. 7) Establishes the Office of Education and Liaison Programs within the Museum to work with educational institutions and museums throughout the Nation. Requires the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services to establish specified grant, scholarship, internship, and fellowship programs relating to African American museums. (Sec. 8) Directs the Board of Regents to select the Museum's site from one of four specified sites on or adjacent to the national mall. Requires the Board of Regents to pay costs of planning, design, and construction of the Museum on the chosen site as follows: 50 percent from Federal funds and 50 percent from non-Federal sources. (Sec. 9) Provides for Congressional Budget Act compliance by declaring that authority under this Act to enter into contracts or to make payments shall be effective in any fiscal year only to the extent provided in advance in an appropriations Act, except that mounts made available under section 11 of this Act shall remain available until expended. (Sec. 10) Directs the Council and the Board of Regents, in carrying out their duties under this Act, to consider the reports and plans submitted by the National Museum of African American History and Culture Plan for Action Presidential Commission under the National Museum of African American History and Culture Plan for Action Presidential Commission Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-106). (Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations in a specified amount for FY 2004, and in necessary amounts for subsequent fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2003
Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a plan for the prevention, control, and management of hepatitis C virus (HCV), which shall include strategies for education and training, surveillance and early detection, and research. Requires the Secretary to conduct a biennial assessment of the plan. Directs the Secretary to support the development of voluntary State, local, and tribal HCV testing programs and counseling. Provides for the vaccination of individuals infected with HCV against hepatitis A and B and other infectious diseases. Directs the Secretary to support the establishment and maintenance of HCV surveillance databases and to establish and support a Hepatitis C Clinical Research Network. Allows the Secretary to award grants to States, political subdivisions of States, Indian tribes, or non-profit entities that have special expertise relating to HCV, to carry out activities under this Act. Directs the Director of the National Institutes of Health to establish a Liver Disease Research Advisory Board.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2003
Children's Dental Health Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States to improve dental services to children enrolled in Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to establish a grant program to expand the availability of primary dental care services in medically underserved areas. Authorizes retention bonuses for eligible dental officers of the Indian Health Service. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of HRSA and the Director of the Indian Health Service, to establish demonstration projects to increase access to dental services for children in underserved areas. Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) an oral health initiative to reduce disparities in oral health; and (2) Chief Dental Officers for Medicaid and SCHIP, HRSA, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Requires the Director of the CDC to collect data on dental, craniofacial, and oral health. Requires the Secretary to identify populations at high risk for early childhood caries (tooth decay) and to develop prevention programs. Revises the eligibility requirements for the school-based dental sealant program to include Indian tribes. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the CDC, to award grants to States and Indian tribes to improve their basic capacity to improve the oral health of children and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2003
Hispanic Health Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Social Security Act to provide incentives for States to grant title XIX (Medicaid) and title XXI (SCHIP) coverage to parents and pregnant women. Grants automatic enrollment of children in State child health assistance who are born to title XXI parents. Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to permit States and localities to provide certain health care benefits to aliens that current law prohibits States and localities from granting. Amends Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid) to make children enrolled in SCHIP eligible for the pediatric vaccine distribution program. Latina Adolescent Suicide Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program for the prevention of Latina adolescent suicides. Patient Navigator, Outreach, and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize: (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration; (2) the Director of the National Cancer Institute; and (3) the Director of the Indian Health Service to make grants for model programs to provide services for cancer and chronic diseases to individuals of health disparity populations. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to make grants to Hispanic-serving health professions schools to carry out programs to recruit Hispanic individuals to enroll in and graduate from the schools. Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend the programs of the Office of Minority Health. Directs the heads of certain agencies within the public health service to establish individual offices of minority health. Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services an Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2003
Authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to represent the United States Senate, Emily J. Reynolds, Secretary of the Senate, and William H. Pickle, Senate Sergeant at Arms, in the case of Judicial Watch, Inc. v. United States Senate, et al.
![Official portrait of Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000064_200.jpg)