United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2002
Water Supply Technologies Act of 2002 - Establishes within the Department of Energy a Water Supply Technologies Program consisting of an arsenic removal program, a desalination program, a water and energy sustainability program, and a water supply security program. Directs the Secretary of Energy to appoint a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water Supply Technologies to head the Program. Authorizes the Deputy Assistant Secretary to enter into contracts with specified groups. Directs the Deputy Assistant Secretary to: (1) grant the American Water Works Association Research Foundation a contract to develop and demonstrate innovative arsenic removal technologies; (2) in conjunction with the Commissioner of Reclamation, carry out the desalination program in accordance with the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2002; (3) collaborate with various specified groups in carrying out the water and energy sustainability program, which shall include development of advanced modeling and decision analysis tools; and (4) grant the American Water Works Association Research Foundation a contract to carry out the water supply security program in conjunction with the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security with the goal of developing systems to provide early warning of potentially hazardous contaminants in municipal water systems. Authorizes the Secretary to accept in-kind contributions to help carry out the Program. Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to allow extensions of the time limits for water systems to comply with a maximum containment level or treatment technique under specified circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2002
Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, including the counties of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Taos, New Mexico. Designates Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, Inc., as the management entity that shall develop and submit a management plan including recommendations for conservation, funding, management, development, and interpretation of the Area. Bars the use of Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical and financial assistance.
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
Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937, for purposes of determining low-income housing assistance eligibility based upon median income or income ceilings, to consider Los Alamos County, New Mexico, as: (1) an area separate from the Santa Fe metropolitan statistical area; (2) part of such area with respect to such determinations for those parts of the Santa Fe metropolitan area that does not include Los Alamos County; and (3) a difficult development area for purposes of the low-income housing credit.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Nuclear Nonproliferation Act of 2002 - Extends through FY 2013 the authority of a program for testing and improving the responses of Federal, State, and local governments to emergencies involving nuclear, radiological, chemical, or biological weapons and related materials. Directs the Administrator for Nuclear Security to carry out a program on technology for protection from nuclear or radiological terrorism. Authorizes the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to: (1) expand the International Materials Protection, Control, and Accounting program of the Department of Energy to include countries outside the Russian Federation and the independent states of the former Soviet Union; and (2) provide technical assistance to the Secretary of State in assisting other nuclear weapons states (countries) to review and improve their nuclear materials safeguards programs. Directs the Secretary to: (1) build on efforts to accelerate the conversion or return to the country of origin of all weapons-usable nuclear materials located in research reactors and other facilities outside the country of origin; and (2) establish a program on the protection, control, and accounting of materials usable in radiological dispersal devices. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a program to pursue, with the Russian Federation and any other nation that possesses highly enriched uranium, options for blending such uranium so that the uranium's concentration of U-235 is below 20 percent. Authorizes the Secretary to assist the Russian Federation with its plutonium disposition program. Authorizes the Secretary to pursue in appropriate international areas options for accelerating programs to improve domestic export control programs for materials, technology, and expertise relating to the construction or use of a nuclear or radiological dispersal device. Requires the Secretary to work cooperatively with the Russian Federation to update and improve the Joint Action Plan for materials protection, control, and accounting programs. Provides for the utilization of Department of Energy national laboratories and sites in support of Federal, State, or local antiterrorism activities.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2002
National Drought Preparedness Act of 2002 - Establishes the National Drought Council which shall: (1) develop a national drought policy action plan; (2) evaluate Federal drought-related programs; (3) coordinate and prioritize enhancement of the national drought monitoring network; and (4) provide for the development of a drought information delivery system, drought planning models, and drought preparedness plans. Terminates the Council eight years after enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of the National Drought Council to establish the National Office of Drought Preparedness. Establishes within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the Drought Assistance Fund, which shall be used to: (1) assist State, local, tribal, and critical service entities with drought-related activities; and (2) expand the technology transfer of drought and water conservation strategies. Requires: (1) the Director to publish guidelines for administering a national technical and financial drought assistance program; and (2) the Director, the Secretaries of Agriculture, the Interior, and the Army, and other appropriate Federal agency heads to implement integrated drought preparedness plans. Authorizes States, Indian tribes, local governments, and regional, water providers to develop and implement drought preparedness plans. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the Director of FEMA to reimburse States for qualifying costs incurred in prepositioning wildfire suppression resources.
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 · 8 May 2002
Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize qualified law enforcement officers (including qualified retired officers) carrying the photographic identification issued by the governmental agency for which the individual is, or was, employed as a law enforcement officer, notwithstanding State or local laws, to carry a concealed firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Specifies that this Act shall not be construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that: (1) permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed firearms on their property; or (2) prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on any State or local government property, installation, building, base, or park.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2002
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) small business participation is vital to U.S. defense and should play an active role in assisting the military, Federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and State and local police to combat terrorism through the design and development of innovative products; and (2) Federal, State, and local governments should aggressively seek out and purchase innovative technologies and services from, and promote research opportunities for, American small businesses to help in homeland defense and the fight against terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2002
TRIO Education Access Act of 2002 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide definitions of different campus and different population for purposes of Federal TRIO programs for disadvantaged students.
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 · 11 April 2002
Senior Nutrition Act of 2002 - Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to make a person who is at least 60 years old eligible for the commodity supplemental food program (program) if such person: (1) is eligible for the food stamp program; or (2) has a household income that is not more than 185 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. Authorizes permanent program appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2002
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to expend up to $50 million for a fiscal year in Cooperative Threat Reduction funds to prevent proliferation of nuclear, chemical and other weapons outside the former Soviet Union, where allocation of such funds is currently limited to. Specifies that such expenditures may occur if determined that certain projects or activities will assist the United States in dealing with critical emerging proliferation threats or in achieving long-standing nonproliferation goals. Determines that such funds may go only to equipment, goods and services and cannot be spent directly on a project or activity. Directs the President to include in a given year's budget a request for funds distributed under the Act during the last fiscal year with a description of what projects would otherwise have been funded. Sets a time frame for the Secretary to inform Congress of what funds will be used for. Contains a provision for emergency distribution of funds to meet a critical emerging proliferation threat or a nonproliferation goal that requires such allocation. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the advisability of establishing one or more new cooperative threat reduction programs to account for projects or activities for which emergency distribution of funds were distributed under the Act or that were funded under the Act two years in a row.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2002
Indian Financing Act Amendments of 2002 - Amends the Indian Financing Act of 1974 to permit the development of a secondary market in guaranteed loans made under such Act through loan transfer. Authorizes loan transfer (currently limited to sale or assignment), in whole or in part, both guaranteed and unguaranteed portions. Requires that the Secretary of the Interior be notified of such transfers. Allocates responsibility on the guarantee agreement, for servicing, and as the secured creditor of record after such transfers according to whether such portion/loan is guaranteed or unguaranteed. Requires the Secretary to provide for the central registration of transferred loans/loan portions through a fiscal transfer agent. Permits pooling of such transferred loans/loan portions.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2002
Designates March 8, 2002, as International Women's Day. Reaffirms the Senate's commitment to ending discrimination and violence against women, ensuring their safety and welfare, and pursuing policies that guarantee their basic rights both in the United States and in the world. Calls upon the U.S. people to observe International Women's Day with appropriate programs and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2002
Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to include the Southwest Passage Initiative for Regional and Interstate Transportation Corridor (or SPIRIT Corridor) that passes through Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas as a high priority corridor on the National Highway System.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2002
Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to exclude for a two-year period certain basic housing allowances of a member of the uniformed services from determination of the eligibility of the member's child for free and reduced price meals.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2002
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to make a grant to the Hubbard Museum of the American West in Lincoln County, New Mexico, to pay a share of the cost of expanding that museum.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2002
Old Spanish Trail Recognition Act of 2002 - Amends the National Trails System Act to designate the Old Spanish National Historic Trail (extending from Sante Fe New Mexico, to Los Angeles, California, that served as a major trade route between 1829 and 1848) as a National Historic Trail.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2002
Charity Aid, Recovery, and Empowerment Act of 2002 (CARE Act of 2002) - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, concerning charitable giving, to, among other things: (1) allow a charitable giving deduction to individuals not itemizing; (2) permit tax free distributions from IRA accounts for charitable purposes; and (3) increase the cap on corporate charitable contributions. Sets forth provisions concerning the treatment of nongovernmental providers of social services. Provides expedited procedures for obtaining tax exempt status. Provides financial for support nongovernmental community based organizations for, among other things: (1) grant writing, legal, program development, and management assistance; (2) capacity building; and (3) delivering assistance. Amends Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provisions of the Social Security Act (SSA) to restore State authority to transfer up to ten percent of TANF funds to carry out State programs under SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services). Amends title XX to restore funds to States and territories for FY 2003 and 2004. Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to provide for maternity group homes and evaluation of such homes. Savings for Working Families Act of 2002 - Permits a qualified financial institution, qualified nonprofit organization, or Indian tribe to establish one or more qualified individual development account programs. Defines such an account as an account established for an eligible individual (income based) as part of a qualified individual development account program (matched individual and entity savings accounts for qualifying educational, first-time home purchase, or business expenses). Provides matching funds through a tax credit.
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 · 20 December 2001
United States/Mexico Border Health Improvement Act of 2001- Creates programs to improve health care for the residents of the United States-Mexico Border Area, which is considered to be United States territory within 100 kilometers of Mexico. Includes the following: (1) formation of an Office of Border Health to monitor health care delivery to Border Area residents and award grants to eligible entities and programs seeking to improve health care to such residents; (2) creation of a National Border Health Databank by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as a Border Health Surveillance Network within the CDC to grants for development of border health epidemiology training programs; (3) authorizing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to Southwestern border States or localities for increasing resources available for community water fluoridation; and (4) creation of a United States Hispanic Nutrition Education and Research Center at a regional academic health center. Amends the Public Health Service Act by directing the Secretary to: (1) award grants to eligible entities to open community health centers in medically underserved parts of the Border Area; (2) initiate a higher education loan repayment program and recruit National Health Service Corps members to provide health services for Border Area residents in exchange for participation in the program; and (3) set aside certain grant funds for any State that proposes to increase screening of Border Area residents for breast and cervical cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2001
Public Transit Authority Pilot Procurement Authorization Act of 2001 - Directs the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the Department of Transportation to carry out a pilot program to facilitate and accelerate procurement of certain buses by State, local, and regional authorities in cases where Federal funds form the majority of the funding for the procurement. Directs the General Services Administration (GSA) to reopen bids for companies to supply such vehicles to relevant State, local, and regional authorities. Directs that not later than December 31, 2003, the GSA and the FTA shall publish a multiple award schedule which shall allow affected State, local, and regional authorities, Federal agencies or other ordering entities to acquire such vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2001
Economic Security and Recovery Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an additional first year 20 percent depreciation allowance for property which has a recovery period of 20 years or less, is water utility property, or computer software and which was acquired after September 10, 2001, and before September 11, 2004, and is placed in service before January 1, 2005. Provides for a payroll tax holiday period for the period beginning after November 30, 2001, and ending before January 1, 2002. Provides for a program of temporary emergency unemployment benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2001
White House Commission on National Military Appreciation Month Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should establish the White House Commission on National Military Appreciation Month to make recommendations to the President on the proclamation of National Military Appreciation Month to be celebrated in May of each year; and (2) any such Commission should be composed of specified members. Expresses the sense of Congress that if such Commission is established, the President should also establish the Spirit of America Alliance to assist the Commission: (1) in the planning, organization, and conduct of an annual White House Conference on National Military Appreciation and other similar events; (2) in the promotion of the observance of such Month and other military commemorative events through appropriate means, subject to any guidelines developed by the Commission; (3) in the establishment of necessary incentives for Federal, State, and local governments and private sector entities to sponsor and participate in programs initiated by the Commission or the Alliance; (4) in the evaluation of the effectiveness of efforts by the Commission and the Alliance in carrying out this Act; and (5) by the performance of any other related duties that are assigned by the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2001
Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to designate the National Foreign Affairs Training Center as the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2001
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add provisions granting additional authorities to the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning bioterrorism preparedness and responding to public health emergencies. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a plan which includes the development of specific criteria enabling measurements to be made of the progress made at the national, State, and local levels toward achieving the national goal of bioterrorism preparedness. Requires the maintenance of an adequate national pharmaceutical stockpile of vaccines (including a smallpox vaccine), therapies, and medical supplies for use at the Secretary's discretion in the event of a biological threat or attack or other public health emergency. Expands the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a coordinated network of public health laboratories to assist with the detection of and response to a biological threat or attack. Provides for the appointment of an Assistant Secretary for Emergency Preparedness who shall head the Office for Emergency Preparedness. Provides for a National Disaster Medical System to provide appropriate health and social services to respond to a public health emergency, if the Secretary activates the System. Provides for enhanced regulatory control of biological agents and toxins. Establishes a State Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Block Grant Program to improve State and local preparedness and response capabilities. Amends the Clayton Act to provide for a limited antitrust exemption with respect to the development of new countermeasures against bioterrorism. Requires, under the Public Health Service Act, the development of a crisis communications and education strategy with respect to bioterrorist threats to the food supply. Expands animal and plant health inspection service activities and authorities. Amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to expand the authority of the Food and Drug Administration with respect to food presenting a serious threat to humans or animals. Requires the registration of food manufacturing, processing, and handling facilities. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize existing authorities to expand Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service programs to protect the food supply of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2001
Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 - Directs the Attorney General to waive Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) personnel limits. Authorizes appropriations for INS, Border Patrol, United States Customs Service, and consular personnel, training, facilities, and security-related technology. Provides for machine-readable visa fees. Directs U.S. law enforcement and intelligence entities to share alien admissibility- and deportation-related information with INS and the Department of State. Directs the President to develop and implement an interoperable law enforcement and intelligence data system (with name-matching and linguistic capacity) for visa, admissibility, or deportation determination purposes. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to require a consular officer issuing a visa to provide INS with an electronic version of the alien's visa file prior to the alien's U.S. entry. Sets forth technology standard and interoperability requirements respecting development and implementation of the integrated entry and exit data system and related tamper-resistant, machine-readable documents containing biometric identifiers. Directs the Secretary of State (Secretary) to: (1) establish a Terrorist Lookout Committee at each U.S. mission in which there is a consular post; and (2) provide consular staff with visa screening training. Prohibits the admission of an alien from a country designated to be a state sponsor of terrorism until a determination has been made that such individual does not pose a risk to the United States. Conditions participation in the visa waiver program upon a country's timely reporting to the United States of its stolen blank passports. Requires the Attorney General to enter stolen passport identification numbers into the interoperable data system.. Directs the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the Commissioner of INS to study the feasibility of establishing a North American Perimeter National Security Program (United States, Canada, Mexico), including consideration of alien preclearance and preinspection. Amends the Act to require commercial aircraft or vessels arriving at, or departing from, the United States to provide immigration officers with specified passenger and crew manifest information. Authorizes such provisions' extension to land carriers. Requires electronic manifest transmission by a specified date. Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to revise and specify vessel prearrival message requirements. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Attorney General to develop an electronic means of verifying and monitoring the foreign student information program, including aspects of documentation and visas issuance, and registration and enrollment. Increases student data requirements. Specifies information required for foreign student visa applications. Sets forth transitional monitoring requirements, including a requirement that an educational institution report student failure to enroll information to INS. Provides for INS and Department of State review of institutions authorized to enroll foreign students and exchange visitors. Amends Federal law to treat INS immigration inspectors as law enforcement officers for Federal retirement purposes. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to extend the deadline for presentation of biometric border crossing identification cards. Directs: (1) the Comptroller General to determine the feasibility of requiring each nonimmigrant alien to report annually to INS respecting his or her address and employer's address; and (2) the Secretary and INS to study alternative approaches to international electronic data cooperation.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 2001
Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act of 2001 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000, to include in the optional Medicaid eligibility category for such illnesses Indian women with breast or cervical cancer who are eligible for health services under a medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2001
Class Action Fairness Act of 2001 - Establishes a consumer class action bill of rights, including provision for: (1) judicial review and approval of noncash settlements; (2) protection against loss by class members because of payments to class counsel; (3) a prohibition against court approval of a proposed settlement providing for greater payments to class members because they are located in closer geographic proximity to the court; (4) a prohibition against court approval of a proposed settlement providing for payment of a greater share of the award to a class representative serving on behalf of a class; (5) standardized settlement notification information; and (6) specific requirements regarding proposed settlement notifications to Federal and State officials. Grants the district courts original jurisdiction of any civil action in which the matter in controversy exceeds $2 million, exclusive of interest and costs, and is a class action in which any member of a class of plaintiffs is: (1) a citizen of a State different from any defendant; (2) a foreign state or a citizen or subject of a foreign state and any defendant is a citizen of a State; or (3) a citizen of a State and any defendant is a foreign state or a citizen or subject of a foreign state. Lists exceptions, such as where a class action brought by shareholders solely involves a claim concerning a covered security or relating to the internal governance of a corporation. Sets forth procedures for removal of interstate class actions to U.S. district court and for review of orders remanding class actions to State courts. Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to report to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees on class action settlements.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2001
Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to set the conversion factor (update) for payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule for 2002 at 0.9 percent less than the conversion factor for 2001. Declares that this conversion factor and a specified update adjustment factor for a year after 2002 shall be applied as if this Act had not been in effect. Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to study and report to Congress on replacing the use of the sustainable growth rate as a factor in determining the update for such payments with a factor that more fully accounts for changes in the unit costs of providing physicians' services.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2001
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add provisions granting additional authorities to the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning bioterrorism preparedness and responding to public health emergencies. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a plan which includes the development of specific criteria enabling measurements to be made of the progress made at the national, State, and local levels toward achieving the national goal of bioterrorism preparedness. Requires the maintenance of an adequate national pharmaceutical stockpile of vaccines (including a smallpox vaccine), therapies, and medical supplies for use at the Secretary's discretion in the event of a biological threat or attack or other public health emergency. Expands the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a coordinated network of public health laboratories to assist with the detection of and response to a biological threat or attack. Provides for the appointment of an Assistant Secretary for Emergency Preparedness who shall head the Office for Emergency Preparedness. Provides for a National Disaster Medical System to provide appropriate health and social services to respond to a public health emergency, if the Secretary activates the System. Provides for enhanced regulatory control of biological agents and toxins. Establishes a State Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Block Grant Program to improve State and local preparedness and response capabilities. Amends the Clayton Act to provide for a limited antitrust exemption with respect to the development of new countermeasures against bioterrorism. Requires the development of a crisis communications and education strategy with respect to bioterrorist threats to the food supply. Expands animal and plant health inspection service activities and authorities. Directs the Secretary to expand the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to: (1) increase inspections to ensure the safety of the food supply; and (2) improve linkages between the Agency and other regulatory agencies of the Federal Government, the States, and Indian tribes with shared responsibilities. Provides for food manufacturing, processing, and distribution biosecurity, agricultural biosecurity and biosecurity upgrades at the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. Requires the registration of food manufacturing, processing, and handling facilities. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize existing authorities to expand Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service programs to protect the food supply of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2001
Nuclear Energy Electricity Supply Assurance Act of 2001 - Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 2001 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to extend the indemnification authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regarding licensees and nonprofit educational institutions. Makes such authority permanent with respect to Department of Energy (DOE) contractors. Revises guidelines governing: (1) licensee insurance premiums; and (2) liability and indemnification limits. Limits any civil penalty for a tax-exempt nonprofit contractor, subcontractor, or supplier to the amount of the performance fee paid by the Secretary. Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to add two Assistant Secretaries of Energy to serve, respectively, as Director of: (1) the Office of Science; and (2) the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology. Instructs the Secretary of Energy to establish or continue certain programs including: (1) specified nuclear energy research and technology programs; (2) investments to increase electricity capacity at commercial nuclear plants; (3) continued domestic capability for uranium mining, conversion, and enrichment industries; and (4) university nuclear engineering education research and infrastructure. Amends the USEC Privatization Act to prohibit the Secretary from selling surplus natural uranium and conversion services through 2006. Requires the sale of uranium hexaflouride. Authorizes the Secretary to place the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant into cold standby condition for a five-year period. Mandates a program to: (1) demonstrate the NRC Early Site Permit process; (2) evaluate opportunities for completion of partially constructed nuclear plants; (3) assess opportunities for Generation IV reactors; and (4) research potential licensing issues associated with new reactor technologies and designs. Declares electricity generated by a nuclear plant to be an environmentally preferable product. Conditions Federal funding for a domestic or international organization that supports electricity production facilities upon inclusion of emission-free electricity production facility projects that use nuclear fuel. Establishes the Office of Spent Nuclear Fuel Research to implement a research and development regarding treatment, recycling, and disposal of high-level nuclear radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct advanced fuel recycling technology research and development to promote electrometallurgical technology as a proliferation-resistant alternative to aqueous reprocessing; and (2) establish the Advanced Accelerator Applications Program. Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to: (1) revise certain commercial license requirements; (2) repeal restrictions pertaining to foreign ownership of commercial licensees; and (3) grant firearms and arrest authority to employees of NRC licensees.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2001
Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to identify specified routes in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico as part of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor of the National Highway System.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2001
Veterans' Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act of 2001 - Establishes a Veterans' Memorial Restoration Fund to repair, restore, and maintain veterans' memorials. Provides criminal and civil penalties for desecrating veterans' memorials. States that a veterans cemetery shall be treated as a site for which a supplemental guide sign may be placed on any Federal-aid highway.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2001
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to increase the discretionary spending limits for FY 2002. Provides a new allocation to the appropriations committees for FY 2002. Increases the recommended levels of total new budget authority and budget outlays for FY 2002. Limits the adjustments for emergency discretionary spending required in certain sequestration reports under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Excludes from such adjustment limit emergency funding in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in preparing the final pay-as-you-go and deficit sequestration reports, to change any balance of direct spending and receipts legislation for FY 2002 so as to eliminate any balances resulting from legislation enacted prior to the date of the enactment of this Act. Repeals the mechanism for congressional implementation of an increase of FY 2002 discretionary spending limits and the Senate defense firewall prohibiting consideration of any legislation that exceeds specified limits for defense and non-defense discretionary spending.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2001
Farm and Ranch Equity Act of 2001 - Amends specified Acts to extend and revise agricultural and related programs with respect to: (1) commodities and price supports; (2) conservation; (3) agricultural trade; (4) nutrition; (5) agricultural credit; (6) rural development; (7) agricultural research, extension, and education; (8) forestry; (9) energy; and (10) agricultural security.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2001
Unity in Service to America Act (USA Act) - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to require the Points of Light Foundation, after obtaining the guidance of the heads of appropriate Federal agencies, such as the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, to: (1) make an estimate of the number of victims killed as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; (2) compile a list of the name of each victim, including the State in which the victim resided; and (3) identify approximately the estimated number of community-based national and community service projects that meet certain eligibility requirements, and name each project in honor of a victim after obtaining the permission of the victim's family and the entity carrying out the project. Directs the Foundation to name projects that advance the goals of unity, and improving the quality of life in communities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2001
Technology Talent Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Director of the National Science Foundation to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education to increase the number of students studying and receiving associate's or bachelor's degrees in established or emerging fields within science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Provides that an institution receiving such a grant shall be known as a National Science Foundation Science and Engineering Talent Expansion Center.
![Official portrait of Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000407_200.jpg)