United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2003
Child and Adult Care Food Program Improvements Act of 2003 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to revise requirements for the child and adult care food program. Revises requirements relating to: (1) the eligibility of private organizations; (2) the supplement reimbursement rate for tier II family or group day care homes; (3) the administrative reimbursement rate for family or group day care home sponsoring organizations in rural areas; and (4) management support. Provides for temporary redefinitions of: (1) tier I family or group home in rural areas; and (2) at-risk school children in rural areas. Revises the program for at-risk school children to add Oregon, New York, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Iowa, and Indiana to the limited list of States in which institutions are to receive reimbursement. (Continues the current listing of Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Delaware, Michigan, and two unspecified States.) Allows emergency shelters to claim reimbursement for resident children not more than 18 years of age. (The current limit is 12.)
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2003
School Breakfast Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NLSA) to revise requirements for the school breakfast program. Revises severe need assistance under CNA to provide that eligible schools are entitled to receive a specified meal reimbursement rate (eliminating an alternative lesser payment of the operating costs of the breakfast program). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, under CNA, to make competitive startup and expansion grants to State educational agencies to assist eligible schools in initiating and expanding school breakfast programs. Provides for commodity assistance for the school breakfast program (in addition to current provisions for commodity assistance for the school lunch program under NLSA). Directs the Secretary, under NLSA, to make grants to State agencies for pilot projects to provide free breakfasts to high school students, without regard to family income. Requires the Secretary to approve for project participation high schools under the jurisdiction of up to six nominated school food authorities selected so as to: (1) target projects toward such authorities that have the highest percentage of students eligible for free or reduced price meals under the school lunch or breakfast program and the lowest percentage of students that receive such meals; and (2) equitably distribute projects among urban and rural high schools.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2003
Summer Food Service Program Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to revise requirements for the summer food service program for children. Provides for a temporary redefinition of rural areas in which poor economic conditions exist. Revises requirements relating to payments to service institutions for operating expenses and administrative costs. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive startup grants to ten States to assist eligible service institutions in initiating summer food service program sites.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Healthy Children Learn Act - Amends the Head Start Act to authorize early Head Start and Head Start programs to carry out asthma, vision, and hearing screening programs. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary Of Health and Human Services to award grants to local educational agencies for asthma, vision, hearing, and other health screening programs for public school children. States that nothing under any law relating to a program that provides health benefits coverage for children and including the payment limitation known as the "free care rule" shall be construed as prohibiting or restricting assistance for children receiving asthma, vision, hearing, or other health screening tests.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Women and Children in Conflict Protection Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) develop a strategy for the protection of women and children who are affected by a complex humanitarian emergency (a situation occurring outside the United States and caused by armed conflict, natural disaster, food shortage, or state-sponsored harassment or persecution, which results in a significant number of refugees, internally displaced persons, or other civilians requiring urgent basic humanitarian assistance) (emergency); and (2) designate coordinators to implement such strategy. Requires such coordinators to: (1) maintain and disseminate a database of information on gender-based violence or exploitation of children during an emergency; (2) assist embassies and consular posts in responding to such risks; and (3) establish a gender-based violence or exploitation reporting and monitoring system for U.S. diplomatic missions and consular posts. Prohibits any State Department refugee or migration assistance from being provided to an organization that has failed to adopt a code of conduct regarding the protection of beneficiaries of humanitarian assistance that incorporates six core principles (established herein) against sexual exploitation and abuse as recommended by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Requests all national, multilateral, and nongovernmental agencies to review and revise their administrative, management, and employment practices in refugee and displaced persons camps. Requires each coordinator to: (1) ensure that U.S.-funded organizations that respond to an emergency have the necessary resources to address the specific health needs of women affected by the emergency; and (2) identify an organization or individual to facilitate the coordination and implementation of such activities. Directs the Secretary to urge the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to work with nongovernmental organizations to design and implement a model whistleblower system under which humanitarian workers, refugees, and internally displaced persons can report instances of gender-based violence or exploitation of children. Requires: (1) the State Department to work with certain entities to ensure that, in situations of long-term displacement, refugees and internally displaced persons are granted work permits and other documentation to enable them to generate legitimate income; and (2) a report from the Secretary on the development of protection initiatives for the prevention of gender-based violence and exploitation of children. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement programs to assist communities that have been affected by an emergency and former combatants (women or children affiliated with an armed group); and (2) report on all current programs to assist nations to reconstitute civilian police authority and capability following an emergency. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance to promote the security of, provide equal access to basic services for, and safeguard the human rights and dignity of civilian women and children who are refugees, displaced persons, or inhabitants of areas affected by an emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Declares that the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, Sikh-Americans, and South Asian-Americans, should be protected. Condemns bigotry and acts of violence against such people and calls upon local, State, and Federal law enforcement authorities to prevent and investigate and prosecute such bias-motivated crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Syria Accountability Act of 2003 - Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) Syria should halt support for terrorism, withdraw armed forces from Lebanon, stop develpment of ballistic missiles and biological and chemical weapons, and halt imports and transshipments of Iraqi oil; (2) Lebanon and Syria should enter into bilateral negotiations for peace with Israel; and (3) the United States should continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Lebanon only through private and international organizations until the Government of Lebanon asserts sovereignty over its borders. Declares U.S. policy that Syria: (1) will be listed as a state sponsor of terrorism until it stops supporting terrorism; (2) is in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 520 through its continued occupation of Lebanese territory; and (3) has violated Resolution 661 by purchasing oil from Iraq. Declares that restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty is in the U.S. national interest. Requires the President, unless the President certifies that Syria does not support international terrorist groups or allow them to maintain facilities in Syria, has withdrawn all security personnel from Lebanon, has ceased the development of ballistic missiles and biological and chemical weapons, and is no longer violating Resolution 661, to: (1) prohibit the export to Syria of specified defense articles or services and items on the Commerce Control List; and (2) impose two or more of specified sanctions (including prohibiting U.S. exports to, or U.S. businesses investments or operations in, Syria). Authorizes the President to provide development assistance to Syria and Lebanon if the President: (1) makes that certification; (2) determines that progress has been made toward negotiating peace agreements between Israel, Syria, and Lebanon; and (3) determines that Syria is strictly respecting Lebanon's sovereignty.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Supports Act of 2003 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to mandate State Medicaid plan coverage of community-based attendant services and supports for certain Medicaid-eligible individuals. Outlines provisions for: (1) an enhanced Federal medical assistance percentage for ongoing activities of early coverage States that enhance and promote the use of community-based attendant services and supports; and (2) increased Federal financial participation for certain expenditures incurred by the State for the provision of community-based attendant services and supports. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) award grants to eligible States which have established a Consumer Task Force to assist the State in its development of real choice systems change initiatives; and (2) conduct a demonstration project for the purpose of evaluating service coordination and cost-sharing approaches with respect to the provision of community-based services and supports to non-elderly dually eligible individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 100,000 $5 gold coins and 500,000 $1 silver coins, which shall be emblematic of the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia (the first permanent English settlement in America). Provides for a $35 per coin surcharge for the $5 dollar coins and $10 per coin for the $1 dollar coins. Directs the Secretary to distribute: (1) 50 percent of the surcharges to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of Virginia to support programs to promote the understanding of the legacies of Jamestown; and (2) 50 percent to sustain the ongoing mission of preserving Jamestown, to enhance national and international educational programs, to improve infrastructure and archeological research activities, and to conduct other programs to support the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown. States that entities specified for such purposes are the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, the President of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and the Chairman of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Amends the Federal Law Enforcement Pay Reform Act of 1990 to revise the special pay adjustments for (percentage differentials payable to) Federal law enforcement officers in specified consolidated metropolitan statistical areas. Includes Capitol Police as law enforcement officers under such Act. Directs the Office of Personnel Management: (1) to study and report to Congress on the need for, and the potential benefits to be derived from, the establishment of a separate pay, evaluation, and promotion system for Federal law enforcement officers; (2) if it considers it to be appropriate, to implement a demonstration project to determine whether a separate system for such officers would result in improved Federal personnel management; and (3) to submit to Congress its evaluation of the system tested under the demonstration project and recommendations as to whether that system should be continued or extended to other Federal law enforcement officers. Eliminates the limitation on the aggregate of basic pay and premium pay with respect to availability pay for Federal criminal investigators.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime that: (1) constitutes a crime of violence under Federal law or a felony under State or Indian tribal law; and (2) is motivated by prejudice based on the race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim or is a violation of the hate crime laws of the State or tribe. Directs the Attorney General to give priority for assistance to crimes committed by offenders who have committed crimes in more than one State and to rural jurisdictions that have difficulty covering the extraordinary investigation or prosecution expenses. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to assist State, local, and Indian law enforcement officials with such extraordinary expenses. Directs the Office of Justice Programs to: (1) work closely with funded jurisdictions to ensure that the concerns and needs of all affected parties are addressed; and (2) award grants to State and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Prohibits specified offenses involving actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to study and provide sentencing enhancements for adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes. Amends the Hate Crimes Statistics Act to require the crime data to be collected and published by the Attorney General to include data about crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on gender.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Commends government employees for their outstanding contributions and honors those who have given their lives in service to their country. Encourages efforts to promote public service careers at all levels of government.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2003
Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2003 - Prohibits the President from regulating or prohibiting travel to or from Cuba by U.S. citizens or legal residents, or any of the transactions ordinarily incident to such travel relating to: (1) accompanied personal baggage; (2) payment of living expenses and the acquisition of personal-use goods or services; (3) travel arrangements; (4) nonscheduled air, sea, or land voyage transactions, (such provision does not permit the carriage of articles other than accompanied baggage into Cuba or the United States); and (5) normal banking transactions. States that such provision does not: (1) restrict presidential authority in time of war or armed hostilities between the United States and Cuba, or of imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of U.S. travelers; and (2) authorize U.S. importation of personal consumption goods acquired in Cuba.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2003
Renewable Energy Investment Act of 2003 - Requires each retail electric supplier to submit annually to the Secretary of Energy renewable energy credits according to a prescribed annual percentage of the supplier's total amount of kilowatt-hours of nonhydropower electricity sold to consumers during the previous calendar year. Requires each retail electric supplier during a calendar year to generate a specified percentage of nonhydropower electricty by renewable energy sources, escalating from five percent during calendar 2006 through 2009 by five percent increments during subsequent five-year periods up to twenty percent in calendar 2020 and beyond. Directs the Secretary to establish a program to issue, monitor the sale or exchange of, and track renewable energy credits. Authorizes any entity that is issued or has acquired a renewable energy credit to sell or exchange it. Requires the Secretary to sell credits at prices determined by a certain formula. Subjects to a civil penalty a retail electric supplier who does not submit the requisite renewable energy credits. Authorizes the Secretary to distribute receipts from sales to the States in order to promote State renewable energy production and use.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2003
Drug Competition Act of 2003 - Sets filing requirements for a generic drug applicant that has submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) and a brand name drug company that enter into an agreement, before a drug enters the market, regarding: (1) the manufacture, marketing, or sale of the brand name or the generic drug; or (2) the 180-day semi-exclusivity period referred to in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as it applies to such ANDA or any other ANDA based on the same brand name drug. Requires each such party to file such agreement and any related agreements with the Assistant Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Makes an exception for agreements that solely concern purchase orders for raw material supplies, equipment and facility contracts, or employment or consulting contracts. Requires such agreements to be filed not later than ten business days after the date they are executed. Exempts any such information or documentary material filed from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Prohibits such information or material from being made public, except as relevant to any administrative or judicial action or proceeding. Subjects an applicant or company to a civil penalty of up to $11,000 for each day such entity fails to comply with this Act, recoverable in a civil action brought by the United States or the FTC. Authorizes a U.S. district court to order compliance and grant equitable relief.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2003
Requests the President to issue a proclamation: (1) designating May 1, 2003, as National Child Care Worthy Wage Day; and (2) calling on people to observe that day by honoring early childhood educators and programs in their communities and by working together to resolve the early childhood educator compensation crisis.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 500,000 one dollar coins which shall be emblematic of the warrior ethos of the United States Marine Corps. Requires all surcharges from the sale of the coins to be paid to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation for construction of the Marine Corps Heritage Center.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 - Amends the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) to replace the National Museum Services Board with a National Museum and Library Services Board, established in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Requires the IMLS Director to: (1) ensure coordination with certain activities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and other Federal activities; and (2) conduct and publish analyses of the impact of museum and library services. Revises requirements for annual national awards to outstanding libraries and museums that have made significant contributions in service to their communities. Entitles subchapter C of MLSA as the Museum Services Act. Amends the Library Services and Technology Act to provide for: (1) an increased portion for administrative costs; (2) an increased alternative minimum allotment to States under certain conditions; (3) State plans once every five years, as determined by the IMLS Director; (4) additional uses of grants to States for library programs; and (5) recruitment of library and information science personnel under the program of national leadership grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Amends the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Act with respect to contributions and membership. Amends the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act to increase maximum limits on liability amounts. Renames the Capital Children's Museum in Washington, D.C., the National Children's Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Non-Homeland Security Mission Performance Act of 2003 - Requires the Under Secretary of each entity within the Department of Homeland Security that performs non-homeland security functions to report to the Secretary of Homeland Security and specified congressional committees on its performance of such functions, with an emphasis on examining the continuing performance level. Requires new entities that are transferred to the Department and that perform such functions to submit such reports for a five-year period. Directs the Comptroller General to monitor, evaluate, and report to specified congressional committees on the implementation of this Act. Directs the Department, in required annual performance reports, to clarify, describe, and evaluate the performance of homeland and non-homeland security functions.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Economic Security Act of 2003 - Amends the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUCA) to extend the TEUCA program through November 30, 2003, with a phaseout period through February 28, 2004. (The TEUCA program provides: (1) an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits (TEUC) to jobless workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits; and (2) another additional 13 weeks of benefits (TEUC-X), for a total of 26 additional weeks, for such workers in high unemployment States.) Entitles eligible individuals in all States to a total of 26 weeks of TEUC compensation (13 weeks beyond the current 13 weeks). Makes such additional benefits also available to individuals who exhausted their TEUC benefits before January 1, 2003. Provides for a transition period of continuing payments to individuals with amounts remaining in their TEUC account, for weeks beginning before December 31, 2003. Directs the Secretary of Labor to deem second tier benefit amounts deposited in an individual's account (TEUC-X amounts, which currently provide an extra 13 weeks of benefits in high-unemployment States) as deposited in such account, by reason of the amendments made by this Act, as single tier benefit amounts (TEUC amounts, the basic benefits in all States). Sets forth requirements relating to applicability of this Act to those who have exhausted their benefits under TEUCA, as well as to current beneficiaries. Provides for a program of temporary enhanced regular unemployment compensation (TERUC). Modifies eligibility requirements for regular compensation, where applicable for purposes of benefits under this Act, to: (1) set an alternative base period ending at the close of the most recently completed calendar quarter; and (2) allow individuals to seek less than full-time work or not accept full-time work. Sets forth program requirements for Federal-State agreements, formulas for determining weekly benefits, nonreduction and coordination rules, payments to States, and financing. Applies program agreements to weeks of unemployment: (1) beginning after the date on which such an agreement is entered into; and (2) ending before July 1, 2004. Revises TEUCA to provide for coordination with TERUC .
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Naturalization and Family Protection for Military Members Act of 2003 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act respecting naturalization through service in the armed forces to: (1) reduce the required service from three years to two years; (2) prohibit the imposition of a naturalization fee; and (3) qualify the Selective Reserve of the Ready Reserve for such benefits. Provides for overseas naturalization proceedings for members of the armed forces. Retains immediate relative status for the alien spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen who died from injury or disease incurred while serving honorably on active military service. (Requires petition filing within two years of such death.) States that an application for status adjustment by the alien spouse, child, or parent of an alien member of the armed forces who was granted service-related posthumous citizenship may be adjudicated as if the death had not occurred. (Requires application filing prior to such death.) Treats the spouse, child, or parent of a lawful permanent resident who was granted service-related posthumous citizenship as a valid petitioner for immediate family status. (Requires parent filing within two years of such death.) Permits such aliens to apply for permanent resident status adjustment. Waives specified grounds of inadmissibility.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2003 - Amends the the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding religious observance in the workplace to declare that for an employer's accommodation of an employee's religious observance or practice to be considered reasonable, it must remove the conflict between employment requirements and the employee's religious observance or practice. Deems as an unlawful employment practice an employer's refusal to permit an employee to use leave of general usage to remove the conflict solely because the leave will be used to accommodate the religious observance or practice of the employee.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
American Hospital Preservation Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) restore the full market basket percentage increase applied to payments to hospitals for inpatient hospital services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries starting in FY 2004, and for FY 2005 and each subsequent fiscal year as well; (2) ensure the full market basket update for any fiscal year after FY 2005; and (3) restore the reimbursement factor for indirect medical education payments to teaching hospitals to the FY 2002 level for FY 2005 and each subsequent fiscal year, after providing for an increase in such factor from current levels for FY 2004.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2003 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to include primary and secondary preventative medical strategies, treatment, and services, including genetic counseling and testing, for individuals who have Sickle Cell Disease as medical assistance under the Medicaid program. Directs the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration to conduct a demonstration program for the development and establishment of systemic mechanisms, including a National Coordinating Center, to improve the prevention and treatment of Sickle Cell Disease.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Amends the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Act to require the Commission to: (1) study a possible rededication (currently redesignation) of the Lincoln Memorial; and (2) recommend to Congress a plan to carry out its duties. Makes a current final report an interim report and adds a final report due no later than April 30, 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for a gradual reduction of copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under the Medicare program (from 50 percent to the standard 20 percent) by 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Microbicide Development Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the Office of AIDS Research to expedite the development of a Federal strategic plan for the conduct and support of microbicide research. Requires the Director of such office to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of all appropriate institutes and components of the National Institutes of Health with respect to research on the development of microbicides to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Requires the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to establish within the Vaccine and Prevention Research Program of the Division of AIDS in the Institute, a branch charged with carrying out microbicide research and development. Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fully implement the Centers' five-year topical microbicide agenda to support microbicide research and development. Directs the Office of HIV/AIDS of the Agency for International Development, in conjunction with other offices within AID, to fully implement AID's microbicide agenda to support the development of microbicides, and facilitate wide-scale introduction once microbicide products are available.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Sunshine in Iraq Reconstruction Contracting Act of 2003 - Directs the head of an executive agency that enters into a contract for the repair, maintenance, or construction of infrastructure in Iraq without full and open competition to publish in the Federal Register or Commerce Business Daily and otherwise make available to the public: (1) the amount of the contract and a brief description of its scope; (2) a discussion of how the agency identified, and solicited offers from, contractors, together with a list of the contractors solicited; and (3) the justification for using procedures other than those that provide for full and open competition. Allows an agency head to withhold from publication and disclosure certain classified documents and to redact classified parts of a document before publication and disclosure, but requires the full information to be made available to specified congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Child Safety Lock Act of 2003 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer from selling, delivering, or transferring a handgun without a locking device to any person other than a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer, with exceptions for law enforcement and governmental entities. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall be construed to create a cause of action against any firearms dealer or any other person for civil liability, or establish any standard of care. Makes evidence regarding compliance or noncompliance with this Act inadmissible in a proceeding of any court, agency, board, or other entity, except with respect to an action to enforce this Act. Sets forth civil penalties (in addition to any administrative penalties) for related violations, including suspension or loss of license. Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a consumer product safety standard for locking devices.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Community Development Homeownership Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a community homeownership tax credit based upon an applicable percentage of each qualified residence's eligible basis. Makes such credit available to residences (including factory built homes) located: (1) in a census tract with a median gross income not exceeding 80 percent of the greater area or statewide median gross income; (2) in a rural area; (3) on an Indian reservation; or (4) in an area of chronic economic distress. Prohibits a buyer's income from exceeding 80 percent (70 percent for families of less than three) of the area gross median income and requires owner occupancy. Specifies that the aggregate homeownership credit dollar amount which a homeownership credit agency (an "agency") may disburse is the portion of the "State homeownership credit ceiling" (the "ceiling") allocated to such agency. Allows "unused homeownership credit carryovers" to be allocated among qualified States. Sets aside up to 90 percent of a State's ceiling for certain housing projects in which a qualified nonprofit organization owns an interest and materially participates in the given project's development and operation throughout the credit period. Requires allocation of credit to residences to be in accordance with a "qualified allocation plan" of the agency issuing credit. Lists certain specified criteria such a plan must include and specifies that the plan must be approved by the governmental unit of which such agency is a part.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Recognizes the historical significance of February 19, 1942, the date President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which restricted the freedom of Japanese, German, and Italian Americans and legal resident aliens through required identification cards, travel restrictions, seizure of personal property, and internment. Expresses support for recognizing a National Day of Remembrance to increase public awareness of those imposed restrictions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2003
Requires the Director of the Office of Domestic Preparedness of the Department of Homeland Security to allow any State to request approval to reallocate funds received pursuant to the State Homeland Security Grant Program among the four specified categories of equipment, training, exercises, and planning. Requires the Director to approve such requests in accordance with the State plan and any other relevant factors as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2003
Fair Pay Act of 2003 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin. (Allows payment of different wages under seniority systems, merit systems, systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production, or differentials based on bona fide factors that the employer demonstrates are job-related or further legitimate business interests.) Prohibits the discharge of or any other discrimination against an individual for opposing any act or practice made unlawful by this Act, or for assisting in an investigation or proceeding under it. Directs courts, in any action brought under this Act for violation of such prohibition, to allow expert fees as part of the costs awarded to prevailing plaintiffs. Allows any such action to be maintained as a class action. Directs the EEOC to: (1) undertake studies and provide information and technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning effective means available to implement this Act; and (2) carry on a continuing program of research, education, and technical assistance with specified components related to the purposes of this Act. Makes conforming amendments relating to congressional and executive branch employees to the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 and the Presidential and Executive Office Accountability Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2003
Early Treatment for HIV Act of 2003 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to give States the option of providing Medicaid coverage for certain low-income HIV-infected individuals. Provides States taking advantage of this option with an enhanced Federal Medicaid match.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2003
Mortgage Insurance Fairness Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the deduction of premiums for mortgage insurance. Provides for the phaseout of such deduction based on income.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2003
Requests the President to designate April 11, 2003, as National Youth Service Day. Commends the contributions of American youth and encourages the cultivation of a common civic bond among young people dedicated to serving their neighbors, their communities, and the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2003
Increases, for months occurring during FY 2004 and thereafter, the rates of basic educational assistance for members of the Selected Reserve. Prohibits any rate increase during FY 2004 and 2005 based on adjustments to the Consumer Price Index.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2003
Pension Benefits Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code) to protect pension benefits of employees in defined benefit (DB) plans, and to ensure that age discrimination laws are applied to conversions to cash balance plans and other such plans that are hybrids of DB's and defined contribution plans. Requires ERISA, the Code, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1967 to be applied and administered without regard to certain proposed regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury that relate to reductions of accruals and allocations because of the attainment of any age, and to application of nondiscrimination cross-testing rules to cash balance plans. Amends ERISA and the Code to protect certain DB plan participants from forced conversions to hybrid DB plans by plan amendments which change the way the accrued benefit to participants or beneficiaries are expressed and which reduce the rate of future benefit accrual of one or more participants. Requires employers, at the time such amendment takes effect, to provide employees who have attained 40 years of age or 10 years of service with certain notices and an election upon retirement to receive benefits as determined either under the plan in effect at time of retirement or under the plan in effect immediately before the plan amendment. Sets forth a formula to determine when a plan amendment adopted by a large (100 or more participants) DB plan shall be treated as wearing away accrued benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2003
Automobile Fuel Efficiency Improvements Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal transportation code to phase in an increase in average fuel economy standards: (1) from 25 miles per gallon for passenger automobiles manufactured between model years 1984 and 2006 to 40 miles per gallon for those manufactured after model year 2014; and (2) from 17 miles per gallon for non-passenger automobiles manufactured between model years 1984 and 2006 to 27.5 miles per gallon for those manufactured after model year 2014. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe such standards for non-passenger automobiles at least 18 months before the beginning of each model year after model year 2015. Revises the definitions of automobile and passenger automobile, increasing the weight standards and seating capacity. Increases the civil penalties for violations of fuel economy standards. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) report biennially to Congress on the quality of the automobile fuel economy testing for all currently available automobile technologies; and (2) provide for the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center to study what practicable automobile fuel economy testing process provides the most accurate measures of actual automobile fuel economy in highway use, in urban use, and in combined highway and in urban use. Directs the Secretary to prescribe: (1) a revised testing procedure for accurately measuring the actual automobile fuel economy of each automobile model, based on the latter study; and (2) amended average fuel economy standards taking into account improved accuracy in their calculation resulting from use of such procedure. Amends the Federal transportation code to revise requirements for the fleet average fuel economy standards for U.S. executive agency automobiles, both passenger and non-passenger. Directs the President to prescribe regulations that require a specified minimum number of exceptionally fuel-efficient vehicles leased or bought by U.S. executive agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2003
Crime Victims Assistance Act of 2003 - Amends: (1) the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 to require a responsible official to arrange for a victim to receive reasonable protection from a suspected offender, to consult with a victim prior to a detention hearing, and to consider the victim's views about any contemplated plea agreement; (2) the Federal criminal code to require the judicial officer to inquire regarding the victim's views on detention; and (3) Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to prohibit the court from entering a judgment upon a guilty plea without inquiring regarding the victim's views. Provides for expanded victim's rights regarding standing to attend the trial and rights at sentencing. Specifies victim rights regarding notice of sentence adjustment, executive clemency, and the death of the offender in custody. Directs the Attorney General to promulgate regulations to enforce victims' rights and to establish and carry out pilot programs regarding victims' rights. Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize grants for: (1) state-of-the-art systems for notifying crime victims of important dates and developments; (2) restorative justice programs; (3) interdisciplinary coordinated service programs for crime victims; and (4) the extension of services to victims with special communication needs. Modifies provisions regarding the formula for Crime Victims Fund distributions. Directs that any limitation on spending from the Fund included in the President's budget or enacted in appropriations legislation for FY 2004 or any subsequent fiscal year not be scored as discretionary savings.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2003
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to: (1) require the Office for State and Local Government Coordination within the Department of Homeland Security to be headed by a Director of State and Local Government Coordination who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; (2) transfer the Office for Domestic Preparedness from the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security to the Office for State and Local Government Coordination; (3) remove the requirement that the Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and (4) require such Director to report directly to the Director of State and Local Government Coordination.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2003
Tax Incentives for Fuel Efficient Vehicles Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the (automotive) gas guzzler manufacturer excise tax to: (1) increase the weight of a covered automobile to12,000 pounds; (2) revise the excise tax table, including the addition of a model-year calculation criteria; (3) revise the exception to such coverage, including elimination of the exception based upon nonpassenger treatment under specified Department of Transportation rules; and (4) apply such provisions to sales after October 31, 2005. Establishes a highly fuel-efficient automobile credit for taxpayer purchases of a new passenger or nonpassenger automobile (as defined by this Act) that exceeds specified fuel economy ratings. Applies such credit to vehicles placed in service after October 31, 2005.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2003
Calls for: (1) recognition of private organizations and health care providers for promoting awareness and research on scleroderma; (2) greater awareness of the symptoms of scleroderma and contributions to the fight against it; (3) the National Institutes of Health to continue to take a leadership role in research efforts regarding the fight against scleroderma and to allow for broad dissemination of the information learned from such research; and (4) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to consider additional methods to improve disease surveillance of scleroderma.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2003
Fair and Independent Federal Judiciary Act of 2003 - Increases salaries for justices of the Supreme Court and for district court and other specified judges. Repeals Federal law that requires specific congressional authorization for salary increases for Federal judges and Supreme Court justices. Modifies provisions regarding survivor annuity benefits, including to increase the notification period for survivor annuity coverage for a judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Directs the President to appoint members to the Citizens' Commission on Public Service and Compensation pursuant to the Federal Salary Act of 1967. Amends the Federal judicial code to: (1) establish within the Treasury a Judicial Education Fund for the payment of necessary expenses incurred by a judge or justice in attending a private judicial seminar approved by the Board of the Federal Judicial Center; and (2) require each justice, judge, and magistrate of the United States to maintain a list (to be made available to the public) of all financial interests that would require disqualification. Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to promulgate regulations to prohibit the solicitation or acceptance of anything of value in connection with a private judicial seminar, with exceptions. Requires a judge to avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety. Makes the prohibition against behaving with impropriety applicable to both the professional and personal conduct of a judge. Prohibits a judge from holding membership in any organization, except for religious or fraternal organizations, that practices discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, or national origin.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2003
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2003 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend through FY 2007 the authorization of appropriations for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program (a matching grant program which helps State, tribal, and local jurisdictions purchase armor vests for use by law enforcement officers).
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Clean Diamond Trade Act -Directs the President to prohibit the importation into, or exportation from, the United States of any rough diamond, from whatever source, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). Prescribes criteria for waiver of such prohibition. Directs the President to require the appropriate Government agency to conduct annual reviews of the standards, practices, and procedures of any entity in the United States that issues Kimberley Process Certificates for the exportation from the United States of rough diamonds to determine whether they accord with the KPCS. Makes the importing authority under this Act the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the exporting authority the Bureau of the Census. Declares that the Congress supports the policy that the President take appropriate steps to promote and facilitate the adoption of the KPCS by the international community. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violation of this Act. Authorizes the President to direct the appropriate Federal agencies to make available technical assistance to countries seeking to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Urges the President to work with Participants to strengthen the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme through the adoption of measures for: (1) sharing statistics on rough diamonds production and trade; and (2) monitoring the effectiveness of the KPCS in stemming trade in diamonds whose importation or exportation is not controlled through the KPCS. Urges the executive branch to continue to: (1) keep and publish statistics on imports and exports of rough diamonds; (2) make them available for analysis by interested parties and by Participants; and (3) take a leadership role in negotiating a standardized methodology among Participants for reporting such statistics. Declares the sense of Congress that the President should establish a Kimberley Process Implementation Coordinating Committee to coordinate the implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Residential, Farm, Ranch, and Small Business Wind Energy Systems Act of 2003 or the Small Wind Energy Systems Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer an annual credit for 30 percent of the cost of installing a qualified residential wind turbine. Limits such credit to $1,000 for each kilowatt of capacity. (Excludes swimming pools or any storage medium which has a function other than a storage function.) Allows an annual business credit for installation of a qualifying wind turbine on a farm, ranch, or small business. Limits such credit to the smaller of: (1) 30 percent of basis, including installation; or (2) $1,000 for each kilowatt of capacity.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Blind Empowerment Act of 2003 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to increase, by specified increments over five years, the level of earnings demonstrating the ability of a blind person to engage in substantial gainful activity for purposes of determining disability insurance benefit payments.
![Official portrait of Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000563_200.jpg)