United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2003
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a former member of the United States Senate. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on March 26, 2003, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator Moynihan.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2003
Commends and supports the efforts and leadership of the President, as Commander in Chief, in the conflict against Iraq. Commends, and expresses the gratitude of the Nation to all members of the United States Armed Forces (whether on active duty, in the National Guard, or in the Reserves) and the civilian employees who support their efforts, as well as the men and women of civilian national security agencies who are participating in the military operations in the Persian Gulf region, for their professional excellence, dedicated patriotism and exemplary bravery. Commends and expresses the gratitude of the Nation to the family members of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and civilians serving in operations against Iraq who have borne the burden of sacrifice and separation from their loved ones. Expresses the deep condolences of the Senate to the families of brave Americans who have lost their lives in this undertaking, over many years, against Iraq. Joins all Americans in remembering those who lost their lives during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1991, those still missing from that conflict, including Captain Scott Speicher, USN, and the thousands of Americans who have lost their lives in terrorist attacks over the years, and in the Global War on Terrorism. Expresses sincere gratitude to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his government for their courageous and steadfast support, as well as gratitude to other allied nations for their military support, logistical support, and other assistance in the campaign against Saddam Hussein's regime.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2003
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Prohibits any qualified civil liability action from being brought in any State or Federal court and requires pending actions to be dismissed. Defines such an action to: (1) include an action brought against a manufacturer or seller of a firearm, ammunition, or a component of a firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, or against a trade association of such manufacturers or sellers, for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm; and (2) exclude an action brought against persons who transfer a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime; an action brought against a seller for negligent entrustment or negligence per se; an action in which a manufacturer or seller of a firearm willfully violated a State or Federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the firearm and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought; an action for breach of contract or warranty in connection with the purchase of the firearm; or an action for physical injuries or property damage resulting directly from a defect in design or manufacture of the firearm when used as intended.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2003
Investment in America Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the credit for increasing research activities. Increases the alternative incremental credit rates. Provides an alternative credit for qualified research expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2003
Pharmacy Education Aid Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to permit payments of up to $35,000 on behalf of an individual (recipient) for the repayment of pharmacy education loans for each year the recipient serves in a health care facility with a critical shortage of pharmacists. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make payments to recipients to offset tax liability. Requires repayment to the Federal Government by recipients who fail to maintain acceptable levels of academic standing, are dismissed for disciplinary reasons, voluntarily terminate their programs, or fail to provide health services in accordance with their commitments after their academic program is completed. Permits a waiver of liability under specified circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to establish student loan programs to increase the number of faculty at schools of pharmacy. Directs each school in which such a program is established to pay at least one-ninth of the Federal capital contributions. Caps loans from such programs to individual students at $35,000 annually. Requires, upon completion of specified employment requirements as a faculty member, that an amount up to 85 percent of loans (plus interest thereon) from such a program be canceled, with the Federal Government reimbursing the school for its proportionate share of the canceled amount. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants or contracts to qualifying pharmacy schools for computer-based pharmaceutical education systems.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2003
Family Opportunity Act of 2003 or Dylan Lee James Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) give States the option of allowing families of disabled children to purchase Medicaid coverage for them; and (2) provide for treatment of inpatient psychiatric hospital services for individuals under age 21 under waivers allowing for payment of part or all of the cost of home or community-based services. Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to make appropriations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for special projects of regional and national significance for development and support of family-to-family health information centers. Amends SSA title XIX to provide for the restoration of Medicaid eligibility to certain Supplemental Security Income (SSA title XVI) beneficiaries under age 21.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2003
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2003 - Makes changes to the health care liability system, including compensation for injured patients and other issues arising out of health care law suits. Requires a suit to be brought within three years of the date of the manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers or should have discovered the injury, whichever occurs first. Specifies exceptions, and rules for actions brought by minors. Sets forth requirements and permissible recovery amounts for compensating patient injury, including: (1) the full amount of economic loss without limitation; (2) noneconomic damages as specified; and (3) a fair share rule. Requires the court to supervise payment-of-damage arrangements, limiting contingency fees. Provides for a reduction in damage awards by the amount of collateral source benefits to which a claimant is entitled, less any insurance premiums or payments made to obtain such benefits. Limits the availability of punitive damages, requiring clear and convincing evidence of malicious intent to injure or a deliberate failure to avoid substantially certain, unnecessary injury. Prohibits any demand for punitive damages from being included in a health care lawsuit as initially filed. Prohibits the award of punitive damages for products that comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, absent material and knowing misrepresentation by those submitting required approval or clearance information to the FDA. Authorizes periodic payment of future damages to claimants. Excludes suits for vaccine-related death or injury from the requirements of this Act if otherwise covered under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Preempts any Federal or State law unless such law imposes greater protections from liability, loss, or damages for a health care provider, a health care organization, or for the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, marketer, promoter, or seller of a medical product.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Invest in the U.S.A. Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a U.S. corporation doing business abroad to elect to have its foreign earnings taxed in the United States for one year at a rate equal to 5.25 percent of the excess qualified foreign distribution and the amount attributable to such corporation as controlled foreign-earned dividends in lieu of being taxed under alternative minimum tax or corporate rates, if dividends received are reinvested in the United States in an approved plan. Limits foreign tax credits with respect to dividends taxed at such 5.25 percent rate.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Housing Bond and Credit Modernization and Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the required use of certain principal repayments on mortgage subsidy bond financings to redeem bonds; (2) modify the purchase price limitation under mortgage subsidy bond rules based on median family income; and (3) define the term "area median gross income" for low-income housing credit projects.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2003
Biodefense Improvement and Treatment for America Act - Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to entitle eligible individuals to payment by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for medical items and services to treat covered injuries caused by covered countermeasures against smallpox. Subjects cases of death and total disability to a separate payment structure. Project Bioshield Act of 2003 - Permits the Secretary to conduct and support research and development with respect to biomedical countermeasures. Directs the Secretary, on an ongoing basis, to assess threats of use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents and procure biomedical countermeasures to such threats. Allows the Secretary to declare a national emergency under specified conditions and authorize the release of a drug or device intended solely for use in an emergency. Improved Vaccine Affordability and Availability Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to: (1) develop and disseminate information concerning certain diseases and their vaccines, including bacterial meningitis and hepatitis A and B; and (2) maintain a six months supply of prioritized vaccines. Revises provisions governing the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, including provisions regarding: (1) equitable relief; (2) derivative petitions; and (3) an extension of the statute of limitations. Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions concerning the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund, including to expand compensated loss for injury or death to include related loss. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to contract with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science to conduct an ongoing, comprehensive review of new scientific data on childhood vaccines.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2003
Coal Energy Research Development and Demonstration Act of 2003 - Instructs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) perform an assessment that identifies cost and performance goals of technologies permitting continued cost-competitive use of coal for electricity generation, as chemical feedstocks, and as transportation fuel in 2007, 2015, and the years after 2020; and (2) implement a technology research, development, and demonstration program to facilitate production and generation of coal-based power through methods and equipment under designated statutes. Prescribes conditions and criteria for the authorization of appropriations for a clean coal power initiative program. Instructs the Secretary to award competitive, merit-based grants to universities for the establishment of Centers of Excellence for Energy Systems of the Future. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish income tax credits for investment in and for production from a qualifying advanced clean coal technology facility. Prescribes guidelines for the treatment of persons not able to use the entire credit relating to clean coal technology.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) establish an interagency task force on organ donation and research; (2) award grants to carry out studies and demonstration projects to increase organ donation and recovery rates; (3) establish a public education program; and (4) support model curricula to train health care and other professionals in issues surrounding organ donation. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants: (1) to qualified organ procurement organizations to establish programs to coordinate their efforts with hospitals; and (2) for reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses incurred by individuals toward making living organ donations. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to: (1) develop scientific evidence supporting increased donation and improved recovery, preservation, and transportation of donated organs ; and (2) support efforts to develop a uniform clinical vocabulary and technology and to enhance the skills of the organ procurement workforce. Directs the Secretary to contract with the Institute of Medicine to evaluate: (1) existing organ donation practices; and (2) living donation practices and procedures. Requires the Secretary to establish: (1) an advisory committee to study and report to Congress on existing organ donor registries; and (2) and maintain a registry of living organ donors.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a bronze medal to commemorate organ donors and their families. Makes any organ donor, or the family of any organ donor, eligible for the medal. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to direct the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to arrange for medal presentation to eligible individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2003
State Water Sovereignty Protection Act - Directs the United States, when it seeks to appropriate water or acquire a water right in a State, to be subject to all procedural and substantive laws of that State relating to its water rights and uses. Gives consent to join the United States in any State proceeding relating to the allocation or use of a water right. Subjects management and control of water in a State to the laws of such State. Delegates to each State the authority to regulate water. Allows the United States to exercise management and control of water in a State only in compliance with that State's laws. Subjects the United States to the imposition of costs and fees in a proceeding to the same extent as a private person.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2003
Arming Cargo Pilots Against Terrorism Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that a flight deck crew member of a cargo aircraft should be armed with a firearm to defend such aircraft against attacks by terrorists that could use the aircraft as a weapon of mass destruction or for other terrorist purposes. Amends Federal transportation law to authorize the training and arming of flight deck crew members (pilots) of all-cargo air transportation flights to prevent acts of criminal violence or air piracy.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2003
American History and Civics Education Act of 2003 - Directs the Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to award competitive grants to nonprofit educational institutions to establish: (1) Presidential Academies for Teaching of American History and Civics to offer workshops for teachers of American history and civics; and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics to offer workshops for outstanding students of American history and civics. Directs the NEH Chairperson to award a grant to an organization for the creation of a national alliance of elementary school and secondary school teachers of American history and civics.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2003
Declares that the Senate strongly disapproves of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Newdow v. U.S. Congress and the decision of the full court not to reconsider the case en banc. Authorizes and instructs the Senate Legal Counsel either to seek to intervene in the case to defend the constitutionality of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, or if unable to intervene, to file an amicus curiae brief in support of such constitutionality.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2003
Accountant, Compliance, and Enforcement Staffing Act of 2003 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to except from the competitive service all accountant, economist, and securities compliance examiner positions in the Securities and Exchange Commission. Declares that an employee in the competitive service whose position becomes excepted shall be considered as continuing in the competitive service as long that employee continues to be employed in that position.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2003
Organic Restoration Act of 2003 - Amends the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2003, to repeal the provision permitting a farm to be certified as organic with respect to livestock produced on such farm if it uses non-organically produced feed under certain cost-based circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2003
Calls upon the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to: (1) continue its reporting on the human rights situation in the Republic of Cuba; and (2) request a visit to Cuba to review and report to the international community on the human rights situation there. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and his newly appointed personal representative to vigorously pursue the implementation of the 2002 Resolution regarding the situation of human rights in Cuba. Calls upon the European Union to: (1) build upon its recognition of Cuban dissidents; and (2) request to visit Cuba to review the human rights situation there and report on it to the international community. Calls upon human rights organizations throughout the world to issue statements of solidarity with the Cuban human rights activists, political dissidents, prisoners of conscience, independent journalists, and other Cubans seeking to secure their internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2003
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician or other individual from knowingly performing a partial-birth abortion, except when necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury. Defines a "partial-birth abortion" as an abortion in which the person performing the abortion: (1) deliberately and intentionally vaginally delivers a living fetus until, in the case of a head-first presentation, the entire fetal head is outside the mother's body, or, in the case of a breech presentation, any part of the fetal trunk past the navel is outside the mother's body; and (2) performs the overt act, other than completion of delivery, that kills the partially delivered living fetus. Authorizes the father, if married to the mother at the time of the abortion, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus, if the mother is under 18 years of age, to obtain specified relief in a civil action, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion. Authorizes a defendant accused of an offense under this Act to seek a hearing before the State Medical Board on whether the physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother. Prohibits the prosecution of a woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed for conspiracy to violate this Act or under provisions regarding punishment as a principal or an accessory or for concealment of a felony.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2003
Death Tax Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to permanently repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, effective January 1, 2005.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2003
Compassion and Personal Responsibility Act - Amends title IV part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF)) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) extend through FY 2008 family assistance grants to eligible States; (2) replace the current bonuses to reward States for a decrease in illegitimacy ratio with competitive Healthy Marriage Promotion grants; (3) replace bonuses to reward high performance States with bonuses to States to reward employment achievement; (4) repeal authority for Federal loans to State welfare programs; and (5) revise work participation requirements for State grants. Promotion and Support of Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage Act of 2003 - Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to authorize Federal grants to public and nonprofit community entities (including religious organizations and Indian tribal organizations) for projects and activities designed to test the effectiveness of various approaches to promoting responsible parenting through a fatherhood program. Caring for Children Act of 2003 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to extend the authorization of appropriations through FY 2008 and to revise requirements for State programs for child care services. Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to revise child support collection requirements to: (1) prescribe guidelines for Federal matching funds for limited pass through of child support payments to families receiving TANF; (2) decrease the amount of child support arrearage that will trigger passport denial; (3) provide for use of the tax refund intercept program to collect past-due child support on behalf of children who are not minors; and (4) limit garnishment of compensation paid to veterans for Service-connected disabilities in order to enforce child support obligations. Eliminates the limitation placed upon the number of: (1) States that may be granted waivers to conduct demonstration projects on the same topic; and (2) waivers that may be granted to a single State for demonstration projects. Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to require the Commissioner of Social Security to review State agency blindness and disability determinations before any action is taken to implement them in order to identify those most likely to be incorrect. Grants the States authority to require participation in an individual rehabilitation plan or risk being deemed ineligible for supplemental security income. Prescribes requirements for State demonstration projects to coordinate multiple public assistance and workforce development programs for working individuals and families. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a State food assistance block grant demonstration project. Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) and title XIX (Medicaid) to extend: (1) the duration of appropriations for an abstinence education program; and (2) the Medicaid transitional medical assistance program. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to declare that nothing prevents a State from operating separate eligibility verification systems or imposing work requirements as conditions of participation in the Food Stamp Program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2003
State and Local Government Participation Act of 2003 - Amends the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to require Federal officials, prior to making environmental impact statements on proposed actions and legislative proposals, to obtain the comments of Federal and State agencies and county and local governments (currently, Federal agencies) which have jurisdiction or special expertise with respect to involved environmental impacts.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal specified occupational taxes relating to distilled spirits, wine, and beer. Revises recordkeeping requirements for wholesale and retail liquor dealers. Makes it unlawful for any liquor dealer (except one selling beer exclusively) to purchase distilled spirits from any person other than a specified wholesale liquor dealer.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2003
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Improvement Act - Amends Public Health Service Act provisions regarding the National Foundation for Biomedical Research. Modifies the provision concerning funding for the Foundation to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to transfer $500,000 to the Foundation annually from amounts appropriated to NIH.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2003
Small Business Drought Relief Act of 2003 - Amends the Small Business Act to include within the definition of "disaster," for purposes of disaster loans provided to small businesses through the Small Business Administration (SBA), droughts and below average water levels in the Great Lakes or any other U.S. body of water that supports commerce by small businesses. Authorizes such loan assistance for farm- and nonfarm-related small businesses affected by droughts. Limits the amount that may be used during fiscal year 2003 to provide drought disaster loans to non-farm related concerns. Requires the SBA to respond in writing to a State Governor regarding its determination concerning the provision of disaster loan assistance within 30 days after receiving such Governor's certification that small businesses in that State have suffered economic injury as a result of a disaster.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2003
Family Time and Workplace Flexibility Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide workplace flexibility options for: (1) time-and-a-half compensatory time off; (2) biweekly work programs (allowing up to ten hours more than 40 hours of work in one week and correspondingly less in the other); and (3) flexible credit hour programs (allowing employees to work extra time to accrue flexible credit hours to reduce the hours worked on a subsequent day in a week). Requires, with respect to such compensatory time, biweekly work, and flexible credit hour programs, that employee participation be voluntary, and that collective bargaining agreements be honored. Sets forth: (1) procedures for employer discontinuance of, or employee withdrawal from, certain of such programs; and (2) prohibitions against coercion. Amends the Federal bankruptcy code to grant third priority (allowed unsecured claims for wages, salaries, or commissions) in bankruptcy proceedings to claims relating to compensatory time off. Amends the Congressional Accountability Act to provide congressional employees with such options for compensatory time, biweekly work, and flexible credit hours programs.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2003
Declares that the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy shall not dissuade or discourage this Nation from venturing ever farther into space. Restates the commitment to exploring the planets and celestial bodies of our solar system and beyond. Expresses condolences to the families of the seven astronauts and to friends and allies in Israel over the loss of Colonel Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli in space.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2003
Authorizes the President to present a gold medal in recognition of Jackie Robinson's contributions to the Nation to his family. Calls for designation of a national day recognizing Robinson's accomplishments.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2003
Grand Teton National Park Land Exchange Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire specified State lands within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park by donation, purchase, or exchange for specified Federal lands of equal value in Wyoming. Requires the acquired lands to become part of the Park.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2003
Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize qualified law enforcement officers (including certain qualified retired officers) carrying the photographic identification issued by their governmental agency, notwithstanding State or local laws, to carry a concealed firearm. Provides that such authorization shall not supersede State laws that: (1) permit private entities to prohibit the possession of concealed firearms on their property; or (2) prohibit the possession of firearms on State or local government property. Excludes from the definition of "firearm" any machine gun, firearm silencer, or destructive device.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to involuntary conversion rules, to extend the replacement period for livestock sold on account of weather related conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2003
Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect, compile, and disseminate information regarding trauma care and emergency medical services, and, in so doing, to give special consideration to the needs of rural areas. Removes provisions dealing with a National Clearinghouse on Trauma Care and Emergency Medical Services. Modifies provision pertaining to grants to improve trauma care in rural areas to allow the Secretary to make grants to entities to improve care by increasing communication and coordination with State trauma systems. Amends provisions concerning matching funds for modifications of the trauma care part of State emergency services plans, including to modify the matching requirements to not less than $1 for each $1 of Federal funds in the third year of payments and not less then $2 for each $1 of Federal funds in the fourth and fifth years. (Currently, the amount is set at not less than $1 for each $1 of Federal funding in the second year and not less than $3 for each $1 of Federal funding in the third year and subsequent years.) Amends requirements with respect to carrying out the purpose of allotments, including to require a State plan for emergency medical services to coordinate planning for trauma systems with State disaster emergency planning and bioterrorism hospital preparedness planning. Requires States to submit to the Secretary the trauma care part of their emergency services plans in FY 2004 and in following years in order to receive Federal allotments to support the modification of such part. Directs the Secretary to enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, or another appropriate entity, to conduct a study on the state of trauma care and trauma research.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2003
Safe and Fair Deposit Insurance Act of 2003 - Insurance Funds Merger Act of 2003 - Mandates that the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund be merged into the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) established by this Act. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) to establish the DIF. Mandates that all assessments against insured depository institutions by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) be deposited into the DIF. Authorizes the FDIC to borrow from the Federal home loan banks funds necessary for DIF use. Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2003 - Amends the FDIA to: (1) prohibit an undercapitalized insured depository institution from accepting employee benefit plan deposits; (2) increase Federal insurance coverage (including an inflation adjustment); and (3) include retirement accounts and municipal deposits within such coverage. Requires the FDIC Board of Directors to designate the reserve ratio applicable to the DIF. Prohibits the Board from modifying its information collection requirements if such modification is done solely to change assessment risk classifications and results in placing greater regulatory or reporting burdens upon an insured depository institution. Allows credits based upon past contributions to the DIF.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2003
Amends Federal aviation law to require a background check of alien flight school applicants without regard to the maximum certificated weight of the aircraft for which they seek training. (Currently, a background check is required for aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or more.) Exempts from such requirement any alien who: (1) has earned a Federal Aviation Administration type rating in an aircraft; or (2) holds a current pilot's license that allows the person to fly an aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds. Requires the Secretary of Transportation and the Attorney General to report jointly to specified congressional committees on the effectiveness of the background check requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2003
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit any person or entity, in or affecting interstate commerce, from knowingly: (1) performing or attempting to perform human cloning; (2) participating in such an attempt; (3) shipping or receiving an embryo produced by human cloning or any product derived from such an embryo; or (4) importing such an embryo. Sets forth criminal and civil penalties. Provides that nothing in this Act restricts areas of scientific research not specifically prohibited above, including research in the use of nuclear transfer or other cloning techniques to produce molecules, DNA, cells other than human embryos, tissues, organs, plants, or animals other than humans. Directs the General Accounting Office to assess the need for amendment of such prohibition, including through: (1) a discussion of new developments, the need for somatic cell transfer to produce medical advances, current public attitudes and prevailing ethical views concerning its use, and potential legal implications of somatic cell transfer research; and (2) a review of any technological developments that may require technical changes to such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2003
Guaranteeing a United and Resolute Defense Act of 2003 or GUARD Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide funds to the governor of a State who submits, and receives approval of, a plan for the use of personnel and equipment of the State's National Guard in homeland security activities. Provides authorizes uses of such funding, including: (1) pay, allowances, and clothing; (2) equipment and facilities operation and maintenance; and (3) procurement of related services.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2003
Declares open to locatable mineral development for bentonite mining certain withdrawn lands in Big Horn County, Wyoming. Permits the Secretary of the Army to close such land upon determination that closure is required by reason of a national emergency or for the purpose of national defense or security.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2003
Medicaid Safety Net Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to increase the allowed Federal Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotment in "extremely low-DSH" States from one percent to three percent of the State's Medicaid program costs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2003
Declares Ashley Ross Fuller to be eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permit any qualified broadband expenditure which is paid or incurred by the taxpayer to be treated as an expense which is not chargeable to capital account; and (2) any expenditure so treated to be allowed as a deduction. Defines terms and sets forth rules.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2003
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey, without consideration and subject to valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a specified parcel of land to the town of Frannie, Wyoming. Reserves any oil and gas rights for the United States. Revokes a special use permit and two Secretarial Orders issued by the Commissioner of Reclamation with respect to the land.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2003
Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2003 - Provides that: (1) any person who engages in conduct that violates specified provisions of the Federal criminal code, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or specified articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (conduct constituting certain Federal violent crimes), and thereby causes the death of, or bodily injury to, a child who is in utero, shall be guilty of a separate offense (but prohibits imposition of the death penalty for such offense); and (2) the punishment for that separate offense shall be the same as that provided under Federal law for that conduct had that injury or death occurred to the unborn child's mother. Directs that if the person engaging in the conduct thereby intentionally kills or attempts to kill the unborn child, that person shall be punished as provided under the Federal criminal code for intentionally killing or attempting to kill a human being. Bars prosecution under this Act: (1) for conduct relating to an abortion for which the consent of the pregnant woman has been obtained or for which such consent is implied by law in a medical emergency; (2) for conduct relating to any medical treatment of the pregnant woman or her unborn child; or (3) of any woman with respect to her unborn child.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2003
Authorizes the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in calculating the Federal cost for guaranteeing small business loans under the Small Business Act during FY 2003, to use the most recently approved subsidy cost model and methodology in conjunction with the program and economic assumptions, and historical data included in the FY 2003 budget. Requires the Small Business Administration, after written notification to Congress, to implement the validated, OMB-approved subsidy rate for FY 2003, using this model and methodology.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2003
National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2003 - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend through 2003: (1) the authority under which the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may issue notes and other obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purpose of carrying out the national flood insurance program; (2) the authority to enter into new flood insurance contracts; (3) requirements for carrying out emergency implementation of the flood insurance program; and (4) the authorization of appropriations for carrying out studies under the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2003
Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide: (1) emergency financial assistance to agricultural producers who have incurred qualifying 2001 or 2002 crop losses due to weather or related conditions; and (2) payments to livestock producers who have incurred 2001 and 2002 losses in an emergency-designated county. Permits producers with qualifying losses in both years to elect to receive payments in either, but not both, of such years. Makes producers ineligible for crop disaster assistance if they did not: (1) get Federal crop insurance for insurable commodities; and (2) file required paperwork and pay related fees for noninsurable commodities. Sets forth waiver provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003
Fair Contracts for Growers Act of 2003 - Allows the use of arbitration to resolve a controversy as provided for under a livestock or poultry contract only if, after the controversy arises, both parties consent. Directs an arbitrator to provide to the parties to a written explanation of the factual and legal basis for an award.
![Official portrait of Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/e000285_200.jpg)