United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2004
SCHIP Expansion Act of 2004 - Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) make all uninsured children eligible for SCHIP; (2) prohibit the State from excluding a child who has access to high cost coverage under a group health plan or health insurance coverage from being treated as a targeted vulnerable child under SCHIP; (3) increase Federal financial participation under SCHIP and Medicaid for States with simplified enrollment and renewal procedures for children, regardless of their family income; (4) provide for an increase in funds under SCHIP and Medicaid for outreach strategies for children; (5) increase funding for SCHIP; (6) prohibit payments to a State with an enrollment cap (or related procedures) which has not exhausted its available allotments; and (7) provide for the application of Medicaid managed care requirements to States under SCHIP.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2004
Expresses the grateful thanks of the Nation to the more than 16 million individuals who served in the Army, Army Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine in World War II and to the millions of Americans on the home front who contributed to the war effort. Recognizes the dedication of the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on May 29, 2004, as an occasion to acknowledge and pay tribute to those members of the Armed Forces who served in World War II, who are known collectively as the Greatest Generation.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2004
Medicare Assurance of Rx Transitional Assistance Act of 2004 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for the automatic enrollment of Medicare Savings Program (MSP) beneficiaries under SSA title XIX (Medicaid) in the interim prescription drug discount program and the transitional assistance program, making them eligible for the $600 per year in low-income discount card assistance without requiring a separate enrollment process.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2004
Expresses the sense of the Senate that legislation should be enacted by December 31, 2006, to provide every individual in the United States with the opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage that is the same as, or better than, the health insurance coverage available to members of Congress, at the same or lower rates.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2004
Commends all Americans serving nobly abroad. Condemns the despicable acts at Abu Ghraib prison and joins with the President in expressing apology for the humiliation suffered by the prisoners in Iraq and their families. Urges: (1) the Government of the United States to take appropriate measures to ensure that such acts do not occur in the future; and (2) that all individuals responsible for such acts be held accountable. Expresses the belief that the appropriate Senate committees and the President should conduct a full investigation of the abuses alleged to have occurred at Abu Ghraib.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2004
Amends the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 to: (1) provide for the establishment of additional Boys and Girls Clubs of America; and (2) ensure that such facilities are in operation by January 1, 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2004
Amends the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to prohibit a U.S. court from recognizing, enforcing, or otherwise validating the assertion of rights, including treaty rights, by an individual (currently, by a designated Cuban national) of a mark, trade name, or commercial name that was used in connection with a business or assets that were confiscated unless the original owner of such mark or name, or their bona fide successor, has expressly consented thereto. Makes such prohibition applicable only if the individual asserting the rights knew or had reason to know at the time of of acquiring the rights asserted that the mark or name was the same or substantially similar to the mark or name used in connection with the business or assets that were confiscated.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2004
Nontraditional Student Success Act - Authorizes and appropriates specified funds for Federal Pell grants under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), including increasing maximum grant amounts for academic years 2005-2006 through 2009-2010, after a specified reduction from the academic year 2003-2004 level for academic year 2004-2005. Amends the HEA to revise the requirements for the allowance of two Pell grants during a single award year to allow the student to be enrolled full-time in a certificate (or, as currently, a degree) program. Requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register each academic year a revised table of income protection allowances. Excludes the earned income tax credit (EITC) from financial aid determinations. Authorizes the Secretary to select institutionsof higher education, or systems or consortia of such institutions, for voluntary participation in a Nontraditional Students Demonstration Program, strictly monitored by the Department of Education, to test the effectiveness of providing expanded financial assistance to: (1) less than half-time students for not more than three terms over the duration of the students' course of study; and (2) students in compressed, modular, or other alternative schedules. Directs the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible institutions for the purposes of improving remedial education. Increases minimum grant amounts for the Federal TRIO programs. Permits student support services and educational opportunity centers to include career and academic (as well as personal) counseling provided by assigned counselors. Makes awards under the Early Intervention and College Awareness Program for six years. Requires services under the Program provided in a cohort approach to be provided through the first year of attendance at a postsecondary education institution to students in the participating grade level. Requires the continuing system of mentoring and advising under an early intervention program to be provided to eligible students through the first year of attendance at a postsecondary education institution. Authorizes appropriations for the Program through FY 2010. Authorizes FY 2005 appropriations for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program of campus-based child care services for low-income parents in postsecondary education. Directs the Secretary to establish a website and brochures for providing outreach about financial aid and education tax credits that targets employers, one-stop centers, Head Start centers, and other appropriate locations. Includes among the activities for which grants to Hispanic-serving institutions, as well as grants from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, may be used the introduction of reforms to customize remedial education, including English language instruction, to help students move rapidly from remedial courses into core courses and through program completion. Revises requirements for Special Programs for Students Whose Families Are Engaged in Migrant and Seasonal Farmwork to: (1) specify childcare and transportation among the essential supportive services which may be provided by the high school equivalency program; and (2) authorize appropriations through FY 2010 for both the high school equivalency program and the college assistance migrant program. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from 20 to 50 percent the Lifetime Learning income tax credit, specify that it is for qualified higher education expenses, but reduce the credit limit from $10,000 to $4,000 per year. Makes a portion of the credit refundable. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a program for making advance payments to eligible educational institutions of such credits on behalf of certified individuals in an amount equal to such a credit for the year.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2004
Visa Waiver Program Compliance Amendments of 2004 - Amends the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act to extend to November 30, 2006: (1) the date on or after which visa waiver program participants must comply with technology standards requiring machine-readable, tamper-resistant passports that include biometric and document authentication identifiers; and (2) the deadline for the Secretary of Homeland Security to install equipment to read such passports at all U.S. ports of entry.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2004
Restore Elector Confidence in Our Representative Democracy Act of 2004 or the RECORD Act of 2004 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each voting system used in an election for Federal office to: (1) produce an individual voter-verifiable paper record of the vote that shall be made available for inspection and verification by the voter at the time the vote is cast; and (2) provide the voter with an opportunity to correct any error made by the system in the voter-verifiable paper record before the permanent voter-verified paper record is preserved. Requires the permanent voter verified paper record to be preserved within the polling place for later use in any manual audit. Makes such paper record the official record used for any recount. Requires the voting system accessible for individuals with disabilities, including nonvisual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, to meet the requirements of this Act by using a mechanism that separates the function of vote generation from the function of vote casting without requiring the voter to view or handle paper. Requires each State to ensure that election officials are instructed on the right of any individual who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, other disability, or inability to read or write to be given assistance by a person chosen by that individual under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Prohibits any voting system from: (1) containing or using any software that does not disclose any source code, object code, and executable representation; or (2) using any wireless communication device. Requires any electronic voting system to: (1) use only software and hardware certified by laboratories accredited by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC); and (2) meet specified security standards. Requires each State and jurisdiction to: (1) meet the requirements of this Act in time for the November 2004 Federal general election; or (2) use a paper ballot voting system in such election. Directs the EAC, beginning with the November 2004 Federal general election, and immediately following the election, to conduct random unannounced manual mandatory recounts of the voter-verified records in two percent of the jurisdictions in each State and with respect to two percent of the ballots cast by uniformed and overseas voters. Directs the EAC to study, test, and develop best practices to enhance accessibility and voter-verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities. Requires the EAC to make certain payments to assist States in paying for implementation of the voter-verification and audit capacity requirements of this Act. Requires the EAC to report to Congress on: (1) a proposed security review and certification process for all voting systems used in Federal elections; and (2) operational and management systems applicable to such elections. Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to provide security consultation services to States and local jurisdictions on the administration of Federal elections.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2004
Salutes Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), a chartered veterans service organization, during Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Week of April 11 through 17, 2004. Encourages all Americans to acknowledge and express appreciation for the PVA's contributions to both disabled veterans and all other Americans with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2004
States that Congress: (1) condemns the Government of the Republic of Sudan for its attacks, and for its failure to stop militia attacks, on innocent civilians in the Darfur region of Sudan, and demands that the Government of the Republic of Sudan take actions to cease such attacks; (2) calls on the international community to condemn such attacks and demand their cessation; (3) urges Sudan to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Darfur; and (4) urges the President to direct the United States Representative to the United Nations to seek an official investigation into whether Sudan has committed crimes against humanity in Darfur.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2004
Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act of 2004 - Amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to provide, beginning on October 1, 2003, and for each of the seven succeeding one-year periods, duty-free treatment for certain apparel items wholly assembled or knit-to-shape in Haiti if the President certifies to Congress that Haiti: (1) has established or is progressing toward specified political, economic, and social reforms; (2) does not engage in activities that undermine U.S. security or foreign policy; and (3) does not engage in gross violations of human rights or activities in support of international terrorism. Provides for such provisions' retroactive application to certain entries.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2004
Medicare DSH Payments for Puerto Rico Hospitals Fairness Act of 2004 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to include consideration of additional Medicare low-income patient populations served by Puerto Rico hospitals in the calculation of Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments for prospective payment system hospitals in Puerto Rico.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2004
Save Summer Act of 2004 - Increases the FY 2004 numerical limit on H-2B nonimmigrants (temporary nonagricultural workers) from 66,000 to 106,000. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide the House and Senate Judiciary Committees with information on: (1) the numbers of aliens granted H-2B status or terminated from H-2B status, on a quarterly basis; and (2) the countries of origin, occupations of, and compensation paid to aliens granted H-2B status, the number of aliens terminated from such status, and the number of aliens provided such status during both the fiscal year reported and the preceding fiscal year, on an annual basis.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2004
Drug Discount Card Improvement Act of 2004 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to require negotiated prices to reflect at least 90 percent of all (currently, take into account) negotiated price concessions for beneficiaries under the new Medicare prescription drug discount card and transitional assistance program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2004
Restoring the Everglades, an American Legacy Act of 2004 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to carry out the project for the ecosystem restoration, water supply, flood control, and protection of water quality, Indian River Lagoon-South, Florida, and the project for the ecosystem restoration, Southern Golden Gate Estates, Collier County, Florida, at specified costs, after the Chief of Engineers has issued favorable reports for the projects.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2004
Designates the week of March 7 through 13, 2004 as National Patient Safety Awareness Week. Requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe the week with appropriate programs and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2004
Declares that the Senate: (1) expresses the outrage and shock of the people of the United States over the terrorist attacks that occurred in and around Madrid, Spain on March 11, 2004; (2) joins with President Bush in expressing its deepest condolences and pledges to remain shoulder to shoulder with the people of Spain in the war on terrorism; (3) expresses its strong solidarity with the people of Spain during their difficult hour, and its deep condolences to the families of the victims of these despicable terrorist attacks; (4) calls on all nations to join with the United States in condemning the monstrous attacks on the innocent people of Spain and in attempting to identify the perpetrators of the attacks and bring them to account; (5) expresses its readiness to consult with representatives of King Juan Carlos, President Jose Maria Aznar, the Spanish government, the Spanish Cortes, and other public authorities about joint efforts to combat terrorism more effectively; (6) commends the United States Embassy in Madrid for its prompt offers of assistance to the Government of Spain, and for its efforts to determine the welfare and whereabouts of United States citizens who may have been affected by the terrorist attacks; and (7) urges the executive branch to continue to provide all possible assistance to Spain in order to identify and bring to account the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks that occurred on March 11, 2004, in Madrid and of other terrorist attacks against the people of Spain.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2004
HRIFA Improvement Act of 2004 - Amends the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 (HRIFA) to remove document fraud as a ground of inadmissibility for qualifying Haitians who apply for adjustment of status under HRIFA. Requires determinations regarding derivative status for the children of such qualifying Haitians to be made using the age of the child as of the date of enactment of this Act. Authorizes parents or guardians of children seeking derivative status to file an adjustment application on the child's behalf if the child is physically present in the United States on the date of filing. Permits qualifying Haitians seeking benefits pursuant to this Act to file new status adjustment applications and motions to reopen. Extends to those who file such new applications or motions the same protection from exclusion, deportation, removal, or enforcement of a voluntary departure order as currently applies to HRIFA beneficiaries.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2004
Restore the Apalachicola River Ecosystem Act or the RARE Act - Modifies the project for navigation, Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, and the project for the West Point Reservoir, Chattahoochee River, Georgia, to: (1) deauthorize the channel between the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near Apalachicola to Jim Woodruff Dam near Chattahoochee; and (2) authorize the Secretary of the Army to develop a comprehensive plan to restore the Apalachicola River basin with the goal of reestablishing the ecological integrity of the Apalachicola River basin ecosystem.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2004
Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to prohibit the Medicare comparative cost adjustment program from operating in Florida.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2004
Internet Tax Ban Extension and Improvement Act - Amends the Internet Tax Freedom Act to extend the ban on State taxation of Internet access and on multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce until November 1, 2005. Makes such tax ban inapplicable to a tax on Internet access that was generally imposed and enforced prior to October 1, 1998, if, before that date, the tax was authorized by statute and either: (1) a provider of Internet access services had a reasonable opportunity to know that an agency has interpreted and applied such tax to Internet access services; or (2) a State or political subdivision generally collected such tax on charges for Internet access. Applies the same rule for a tax on Internet access that was generally imposed and enforced as of November 1, 2003. Changes the definition of "Internet access service" to exclude telecommunications services (current law), except to the extent such services are purchased, used, or sold by an Internet access provider to connect a purchaser of Internet access to the Internet access provider. Changes the definition of "tax on Internet access" to: (1) mean a tax on Internet access regardless of whether such tax is imposed on a provider of Internet access or a buyer of Internet access and regardless of the terminology used to describe the tax; and (2) exclude a tax levied upon or measured by net income, capital stock, net worth, or property value. Permits subjecting Internet access charges to taxation if they are aggregated with telecommunications service charges and the provider cannot identify them from regular business records.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2004
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase: (1 ) the amount of the Hope Scholarship income tax credit to 100 percent of tuition and related expenses up to $2,500, and (2) the number of years for which the credit can be claimed from two to four years. Makes such credit and the Lifetime Learning credit refundable. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a program for making advance payments of Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning income tax credit amounts to schools for the benefit of the taxpayer. Requires a taxpayer for whom an advance payment is made to file specified informational returns.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2004
Congressional Access to the CMS Chief Actuary Act of 2004 - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to require the Chief Actuary in exercising the duties of his or her office to provide the committees of jurisdiction of Congress with independent counsel and technical assistance with respect to the programs under SSA titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), and XXI (Children's Health Insurance). Authorizes the Chief Actuary to provide Congress directly with reports, comments on, and estimates of, the financial effects of potential legislation, and other actuarial information related to such programs. Prohibits any officer or agency of the United States from requiring the Chief Actuary to submit such reports, comments, estimates, or other information to any U.S. officer or agency for approval, comments, or review before submitting them to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2004
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2004 should not include project earmarks; (2) if earmarked projects are included, the projects should be included within the funding that a State would otherwise receive so as not to penalize other States; and (3) any earmarked projects should be included in the funding equity provisions of the next surface transportation Act so that the projects do not adversely affect the rate of return that a State receives from its contributions to the Highway Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 2004
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) carry out a demonstration project to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing for priorities in scheduling appointments for health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs in accordance with the Department's Waiting Time for Appointments goals (30-30-20) of 2000 and the provisions of the Veterans Health Administration directives entitled Priority for Outpatient Medical Services and Inpatient Hospital Care (VHA Directive 2002-059) and Priority Scheduling for Outpatient Medical Services and Inpatient Hospital Care for Service Connected Veterans (VHA Directive 2003-062); (2) select three Veterans Integrated Service Networks for the project and ensure that the project is carried out in urban, rural, and highly rural areas; (3) schedule each appointment under the project at a Department facility unless the cost is unreasonable or medical or other reasons necessitate an appointment at a non-Department facility. Requires the Secretary to report to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs in the Senate and the House of Representatives annually on waiting times of veterans for Department health care appointments.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2004
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to Rocco A. Trecosta a specified sum for compensation for back pay not received for service as a Department of Defense Overseas Dependent Schools employee between April 14, 1966, and June 30, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2004
Amends the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 to require the Secretary of the Interior to convey 1,054 acres of land to the South Florida Water Management District in exchange for land located in the Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area. Requires that the use of the conveyed land by the District be compatible with the purposes of the C-111 project, including restoration of the Everglades natural system. (The C-111 Spreader Canal project modifies the existing water management system to restore historic freshwater flows to areas of the Everglades National Park and to maintain existing flood protection for surrounding areas.)
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2004
Amends the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 to extend through January 10, 2005 (currently May 27, 2004), the date for submission of the final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Earmarks specified funds made available for FY 2004 for the National Foreign Intelligence Program for transfer to the Commission for Commission activities.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2003
Defense of Medicare and Real Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in applying risk adjustment factors in a budget neutral manner to payment to Medicare+Choice organizations under part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), to assure that such factors, in the aggregate, take into account the actuarial characteristics of the entire Medicare population, and not merely the population of individuals enrolled under a Medicare+Choice plan. Requires the Secretary to provide for adjustment of payment rates to such organizations so that they reflect only the payment rate relating to 100 percent fee-for-service payment. Eliminates the Medicare Advantage (MA) Regional Plan Stabilization Fund established under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. Repeals cost containment provisions of such Act. Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare), as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to: (1) provide for phased-in elimination of the coverage gap; (2) eliminate discriminatory treatment of employer plans; (3) allow Medicaid wrap-around for dual-eligibles (persons eligible for Medicare and full Medicaid benefits, including drugs); (4) eliminate the assets test; and (5) eliminate Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plans from the meaning of qualifying prescription drug plans (PDPs) with respect to the choice of a minimum of two qualifying plans a SSA title XVIII part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) eligible individual shall be allowed to choose between. Prohibits any formulary from being established or applied under the new Medicare prescription drug program under SSA title XVIII part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) unless the classes and categories used under it are specified by the Secretary. Allows certain Medigap Rx policies that provide wrap-around prescription drug coverage to be sold, issued, and renewed. Directs the Secretary to provide for appropriate adjustments in payments to PDP sponsors under SSA title XVIII part D, and to MA organizations offering MA-PD plans under SSA title XVIII part C, to assure that premiums of part D eligible individuals under PDPs and under MA-PD plans are not increased as a result of this Act. Phases out the phased-down State contribution with respect to the Federal phase-in of the costs of premiums and cost-sharing subsidies for dual eligibles. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Medicine Equity and Drug Safety Act of 2000, to: (1) direct the Secretary to promulgate regulations permitting pharmacists and wholesalers to import Health Canada-approved prescription drugs from Canada; and (2) exclude an infused or intravenously injected drug, or a drug that is inhaled during surgery. Requires that a Canadian exporter: (1) register with the Secretary its name and place of business (including the place of business of each warehouse and establishment); (2) export only prescription drugs that have been approved by Health Canada and meet all requirements of Canadian law; (3) permit inspections by the Secretary (including inspections of all records, especially financial records) of each warehouse and establishment of the Canadian exporter; and (4) pay an inspection fee to the Secretary on a semiannual basis not to exceed five percent of the total price of prescription drugs exported by the Canadian exporter to the United States under the regulations (which fees the Secretary shall use solely to inspect the warehouses and establishments of Canadian exporters and to monitor imports of prescription drugs at ports of entry). Requires that each prescription drug imported under the regulations be imported directly from a Canadian exporter through a limited number of ports of entry (at which the Secretary shall monitor such imports). Prohibits discrimination in the sale of prescription drugs by manufacturers to pharmacists, wholesalers, or Canadian exporters, requiring: (1) terms as favorable as those provided to foreign purchasers; and (2) full access to drugs permitted to be imported. Continues the requirement that exported donated prescription drugs may only be reimported by the manufacturer. Permits the Secretary to waive the prohibition against importing a prescription drug or device on a case-by-case basis, particularly those from Canada that are FDA-approved and for personal use, not resale. Amends SSA title XVIII, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to give the Secretary the authority similar to that of other Federal entities that purchase prescription drugs in bulk to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of covered Medicare part D drugs in order to ensure that beneficiaries enrolled under PDPs and MA-PD plans pay the lowest possible price. Amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to repeal the authorization and tax deduction under the Internal Revenue Code for Health Savings Accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2003
Medicare Prescription Drug Price Reduction Act - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title IV of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to give the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority to negotiate prices in contracts with manufacturers of covered Medicare part D drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2003
Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to provide for an extension of time for States to request payments for activities to improve administration of elections and for replacement of punch card or lever voting machines. Repeals the exemption of the Election Assistance Commission from certain Government contracting requirements (thus requiring the Commission to advertise for proposals for purchases and contracts for supplies or services). Revises audit capacity requirements to require the voting system to produce a voter-verified paper record suitable for a manual audit equivalent or superior to that of a paper ballot box system. Requires the voting system to provide a mechanism for voter-verification of results with respect to individuals with disabilities which separates the function of vote generation from the function of vote casting, but does not require the use of paper. Requires instruction of election officials in the rights of the disabled to vote with the assistance of an aide of their selection under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Requires the Commission to study and develop best practices to enhance accessibility and voter-verification mechanisms for disabled voters. Accelerates the deadline for compliance with voting systems standards from January 1, 2006, to the regularly scheduled November 2004 general Federal election. Requires each State and jurisdiction unable to meet such deadline to receive a paper voting system at Commission expense that shall be deemed compliant with such standards for use in the November 2004 general election. Requires Federal certification of technological security of voter registration lists. Directs the Commission to: (1) conduct manual mandatory surprise recounts of the voter-verified records of each election for Federal office (and, at State or local option, of elections for State and local office) in .5 percent of the jurisdictions in each State and .5 percent of the overseas jurisdictions in which voter-verified records are preserved in accordance with this Act immediately following each general election for Federal office; and (2) promptly publish the results of those recounts.
United States · United States Congress · 24 November 2003
Tax Shelter Transparency and Enforcement Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise provisions concerning tax shelters, including to: (1) set forth rules for use in applying the economic substance doctrine, including defining economic substance; (2) impose penalties on individuals who fail to include on any return or statement required information regarding reportable transactions; (3) impose a penalty of 40 percent (20 percent, if there has been adequate disclosure) of the understatement for a noneconomic substance transaction understatement; (4) direct a material advisor, with respect to any reportable transaction, to make a return describing the transaction, its potential tax benefits, and other information prescribed by the Secretary; (5) penalize an individual for making a statement with respect to certain tax statements (deductions, credits, and etc.) that an individual knows is false or fraudulent as to any material matter at the rate of 50 percent of the gross income derived from such activity; (6) authorize appropriations for the purpose of carrying out tax law enforcement to combat tax avoidance transactions and other tax shelters, including the use of offshore financial accounts to conceal taxable income; (7) permit the Secretary of the Treasury, in prescribing regulations governing the tax liability of an affiliated group of corporations making a consolidated return, to prescribe rules applicable to corporations filing consolidated returns that are different from other provisions concerning consolidated returns that would apply if such corporations filed separate returns; (8) require corporate tax returns to include a declaration by the chief executive officer (CEO), under penalty of perjury, that the return complies with the Internal Revenue Code and that the CEO was provided reasonable assurance of the accuracy of all material aspects of the return; (9) limit the basis of certain corporate property acquired by the issuance of stock or as paid-in surplus and for which there is the importation of net built-in loss to the property's fair market value immediately after the transfer of such property; and (10) repeal part V (Financial Asset Securitization Investment Trusts) of subchapter M (Regulated Investment Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts).
United States · United States Congress · 24 November 2003
Bipartisan Patient Protection Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) with respect to health care coverage. Provides for patient protection and quality care standards for individual and group health plans under PHSA and ERISA. Applies such standards, as well, to: (1) all Federal health care programs, as defined under the Social Security Act; and (2) the Federal employee health benefits program. Requires group health plans and health insurance issuers providing health insurance coverage to have approved utilization review programs, claims procedures, and appeal procedures concerning claims denials. Sets forth provisions concerning group health plans and health insurers and the provision of certain advice and care, including: (1) emergency care; (2) obstetric and gynecological care; (3) specialists care; (4) prescription drugs; (5) participation in approved clinical trials; and (6) health plan information. Restricts interference by health plans and insurers with the doctor-patient relationship. Prohibits health plans and insurers from discriminating against a licensed health care professional with respect to participation or indemnification. Sets forth limitations on certain class action litigation and other actions. Makes certain civil remedies available. Declares that courts should consider the loss of a nonwage earning spouse or parent as an economic loss to be fully compensated in certain ERISA cases. Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) men and women battling life-threatening, deadly diseases, including advanced breast or ovarian cancer, should have the opportunity to participate in a federally approved or funded clinical trial; (2) a child battling a rare cancer should be allowed to go to a cancer center capable of providing high quality care for that disease; and (3) every patient who is denied care by a health maintenance organization or other health insurance company should have a fair, speedy, and impartial appeal to a review organization that has not been selected by the health plan.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2003
Support Our Health Care Providers Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to services in rural areas, inpatient hospital services, physician services, preventive services, certain demonstrations and studies, home health services, graduate medical education (GME), chronic care improvement, regulatory and contracting reform, education and outreach, appeals and recovery, as well as specified aspects of the Medicaid program under title XIX. (S. 1926 is identical, except with respect to any provider cuts or premium increases, to titles IV through VII of the conference report of H.R. 1, the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003, which became Public Law 108-173 on December 8, 2003. It excludes titles I (Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit), II (Medicare Advantage), III (Combatting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse), XI (Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals), and XII (Tax Incentives for Health and Retirement Security) of the conference report of H.R. 1.)
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2003
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human and Human Services to establish a National Commission on Digestive Diseases, which shall: (1) study the incidence, duration, and mortality rates of digestive diseases, as well as their social and economic impacts; (2) evaluate public and private facilities and resources (including trained personnel and research activities) for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of such diseases; (3) identify related disease management programs (including biological, behavioral, nutritional, environmental, and social programs); and (4) develop a long-range plan for the use and organization of national resources to effectively deal with digestive diseases. Terminates the Commission 30 days after submission of its final report.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2003
Tax Relief Extension Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend provisions concerning: (1) parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits; (2) the credit for electricity produced from certain renewable resources; (3) the work opportunity credit; (4) the welfare-to-work credit; (5) the taxable income limit on percentage depletion for oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties; (6) qualified zone academy bonds; (7) the cover over tax on distilled spirits; (8) the deduction for corporate donations of computer technology; (9) the credit for qualified electric vehicles; (10) the deduction for clean-fuel vehicles and certain refueling property; (11) the deduction for certain expenses of school teachers; (12) the availability of medical savings accounts; (13) the expensing of environmental remediation costs; (14) the expansion of the work opportunity tax credit to the New York Liberty Zone; (15) the temporary special rules for taxation of life insurance companies; (16) certain tax incentives for investment in the District of Columbia; (17) the combined employment tax reporting program; (18) transfers of excess pension assets to retiree health accounts; and (19) IRS user fees. Adds to the definition of taxable vaccines any vaccine against hepatitis A and any trivalent vaccine against influenza.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2003
Saudi Arabia Accountability Act of 2003 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of Saudi Arabia must immediately and unconditionally: (1) provide complete, unrestricted, and unobstructed cooperation to the United States in the investigation of terror groups and individuals; (2) close permanently all organizations in Saudi Arabia that fund, train, incite, encourage, or in any way aid and abet terrorism anywhere in the world; (3) end all funding for terror organizations outside Saudi Arabia ("offshore terror organizations"); and (4) block all funding from private Saudi citizens and entities to Saudi-based or offshore terror organizations. Directs the President to certify to Congress that the Government of Saudi Arabia is fully cooperating with the United States in investigating and preventing terrorist attacks, has closed permanently all Saudi-based terror organizations, has ended funding for any offshore terror organization, and has made all efforts to block funding from private Saudi citizens and entities to offshore terror organizations. Requires the President to prohibit certain exports to Saudi Arabia and restrict travel of certain Saudi diplomats if the President cannot certify that the Government of Saudi Arabia has taken the measures required by this Act to combat terrorism. Allows the President to waive such sanctions if the President determines that it is in the national security interest to do so.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2003
Deplores the development by Iran of a nuclear weapons program and the failure of the Government of Iran to report material, facilities, and activities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in contravention of its obligations under Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Concurs with the conclusion of the Department of State that Iran is pursuing a program to develop nuclear weapons. Calls on the President to use all appropriate means to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, with particular attention to the needs of the IAEA for information and access, including information concerning gas centrifuges and the conduct of uranium conversion experiments. Calls on Russia to suspend all nuclear cooperation with Iran until Iran fully complies with a specified IAEA resolution, with particular attention to spent fuel. Calls on the United Nations Security Council to consider immediately the passage of a Security Council resolution or the taking of other actions that may be necessary to impose diplomatic and economic sanctions against Iran if it fails to meet its obligations to the IAEA. Calls on the Government of Iran to cease all efforts to acquire nuclear fuel cycle capabilities and to end the enrichment and processing of uranium until it is able to provide specific, verifiable assurances that it is not engaged in a clandestine nuclear weapons program.
United States · United States Congress · 11 November 2003
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Veterans Day 2003 shall be commemorated with appropriate tributes to all veterans of the U.S. armed forces, especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2003
Repudiates the damaging rhetoric of the outgoing prime minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Calls upon President George W. Bush to condemn these sentiments when the President and the prime minister meet to attend the meeting in Bangkok of the leaders of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2003
Streamlined Sales and Use Tax - Grants the consent of Congress to the November 12, 2002, Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. Expresses the sense of Congress that such Agreement provides sufficient simplification and uniformity to warrant Federal authorization to States that are parties to the Agreement to require remote sellers to collect and remit the sales and use taxes of such States and of local taxing jurisdictions of such States. States that the purpose of this Act is to effectuate that limited authority, and not to grant additional authority unrelated to the accomplishment of that purpose. States that once 10 States comprising at least 20 percent of the total population of all States imposing a sales tax have petitioned for membership under the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, have been found to be in compliance with the Agreement pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, have become Member States under the Agreement, and the necessary operational aspects of the Agreement have been implemented, any Member State under the Agreement is authorized, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to require all sellers not qualifying for the small business exception provided by this Act to collect and remit sales and use taxes with respect to remote sales to purchasers located in such State. Establishes minimum simplification requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 2003
Medication Errors Reduction Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to eligible hospitals and skilled nursing facilities for costs related to purchasing, leasing, developing, and implementing standardized clinical health care informatics systems designed to improve patient safety and reduce adverse events and health care complications resulting from medication errors. Gives special consideration to eligible entities serving a large number of Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) eligible individuals. Reserves a certain percentage of grant funds for rural hospitals. Terminates grant authority on September 30, 2013.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2003
Domestic Partner Health Benefits Equity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to health insurance, to provide for the treatment of domestic partners on an equal basis with spouses by designating as a dependent any individual who is an eligible beneficiary under an employer's health insurance plan.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2003
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2003 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities (including employment agencies, labor organizations, and training programs). Prohibits related retaliation and coercion. Declares this Act inapplicable to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's domestic partner. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from: (1) collecting statistics on sexual orientation from covered entities; and (2) compelling covered entities to collect such statistics. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) an order or consent decree for a violation of this Act that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares this Act inapplicable to: (1) religious organizations; (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Prohibits the imposition of affirmative action for a violation of this Act. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for remedies to the same extent as under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2003
Puerto Rico Economic Stimulus Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make residents of Puerto Rico eligible for the earned income credit; and (2) allow the refundable portion of the child tax credit to residents of Puerto Rico with less than three children. Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social Security Act to make the provisions of such title applicable to residents of Puerto Rico.
![Official portrait of Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000352_200.jpg)