United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2002
Veterans Health Care Funding Guarantee Act of 2002 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) make available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for programs, functions, and activities of the Veterans Health Administration for FY 2004 120 percent of the amount obligated during FY 2002; and (2) adjust the amount provided after FY 2004 based on the number of enrolled veterans and the number of others eligible for and provided care and the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index. Repeals, as of October 1, 2003, requirements for the prior congressional approval of funding for Department major medical facilities projects or leases.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2002
Small Business Drought Relief Act - Amends the Small Business Act to include drought within the definition of "disaster" for purposes of disaster loans provided to small businesses through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Authorizes such loan assistance for farm- and nonfarm-related small businesses affected by droughts. 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 · 17 July 2002
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that neither the U.S. Constitution nor any State constitution shall be construed to protect child pornography (defined as visual depictions by any technological means of minor persons, whether actual or virtual, engaged in explicit sexual activity).
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2002
Child Support Enforcement Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (relating to the deduction for bad debts) to allow a custodial parent to claim unpaid child support payments as a deduction. Bars a delinquent debtor from filing an amended return in any subsequent year to reflect the subsequent payment of unpaid child support. Includes unpaid child support in the gross income of the delinquent debtor. Precludes taxpayer information regarding child support payments from serving as a basis for selecting an individual's tax return for general audit.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2002
Canceling Loans to Allow School Systems to Attract Classroom Teachers Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional amounts of student loan forgiveness for certain teachers. Directs the Secretary of Education, in making such additional repayments, to give priority to teachers of special education in elementary and secondary schools.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2002
Textile and Apparel Recognition Act - Calls upon the President to: (1) ensure enforcement of U.S. trade laws with respect to trade practices resulting in harm to the U.S. textile and apparel industry; (2) ensure enforcement of international trade agreements with respect to the U.S. textile and apparel industry, including existing safeguard remedies available under the World Trade Organization and the North American Free Trade Agreement; (3) ensure enforcement of existing quota and tariff regulations to prevent further illegal circumvention of the U.S. textile import restraint program; (4) deny requests from trading partners of the United States for unilateral liberalization by the United States of its textile and apparel market other than that provided for under existing international trade agreements; and (5) implement strategies to open foreign markets to provide equitable access for goods exported by the U.S. textile and apparel industry. Directs the President when conducting negotiations to enter into trade agreements with other countries to take into account potential foreign currency devaluations so that such countries do not receive the benefit of reduced tariffs while at the same time making their exports more cost-competitive on the international market through such currency devaluations. Requires the President to report annually to Congress on the ability of the U.S. textile manufacturing sector to compete with the textile industry in other countries when foreign currencies are devalued.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2002
Teacher Tax Relief Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $250 to $500 the maximum above-the-line deduction allowed for classroom supply expenses incurred by elementary and secondary school teachers, effective after December 31, 2001. Expands such deduction to include qualified professional development expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Fire-Safe Cigarette Act of 2002 - Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to set a deadline for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue a rule implementing the consumer product safety standard prescribed by this Act to reduce the risk of fire from cigarettes. Prescribes testing methodology. Authorizes the Commission to regulate the ignition propensity of cigarette paper for roll-your-own tobacco products when it sets such standards. Instructs the Commission to include in such standard a proscription against the stockpiling of cigarettes to which the fire safety standards will apply. Denies the Commission any jurisdiction over tobacco or tobacco products.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Rev. Joseph A. De Laine Congressional Gold Medal Act - Authorizes the President to present on behalf of Congress a gold medal to Joseph De Laine, Jr., to honor posthumously his father, Rev. Joseph Anthony De Laine (civil rights activist), in recognition of Reverend De Laine's contributions to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2002
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the first article of amendment to the U.S. Constitution shall not be construed to prohibit the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2002
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Pledge of Allegiance, including the phrase "One Nation, under God," reflects the historical fact that a belief in God permeated the founding and development of our Nation; (2) the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals's ruling is inconsistent with the U.S. Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence that the Pledge and similar expressions are not unconstitutional expressions of religious belief; (3) such phrase should remain in the Pledge; and (4) the Ninth Circuit should agree to rehear this ruling en banc in order to reverse this constitutionally infirm and historically incorrect ruling.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that it opposes the ruling of a Federal appeals court that the Pledge of Allegiance is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion and cannot be recited in schools, because the Pledge is a deeply embedded symbol of our Nation and the freedoms we hold so dear.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2002
Securing America's Freedom through Enforcement Reform Act of 2002 (SAFER Act) - Sets forth provisions, and amends specified Acts, with respect to: (1) prevention and punishment of alien smuggling, and transporting and harboring of aliens; (2) border patrol increases; (3) use of the military along the border; (4) visas, including the visa waiver program, and consular interviews of applicants; (5) alien terrorist removal, deportability, and asylum requests; (6) alien criminal removal; (7) alien human rights violator removal, deportability, and bar to status adjustment, including criminal penalties for reentry and aiding human rights violators to enter the United States; (8) document security (birth certificates, drivers licenses, social security cards); (9) employment eligibility verification; (10) increased Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) investigative personnel, (11) expedited exclusion; (12) criminal and civil penalties for improper entry of aliens; (13) voluntary departure; (14) detention facilities; (15) removal proceedings; (16) establishment of a Federal election-related Citizenship Verification Program; (17) establishment of an Office of Citizenship; (18) treatment of nationals of state sponsors of terrorism; (19) refugee admissions, and extended family and employment preferences; (20) elimination of diversity immigrant program; (21) temporary protected status; (22) designation of foreign terrorist organizations; (23) foreign students; (24) INS attorneys; (25) alien proof of identity; and (26) information on foreign crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002 - 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 that is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury. 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 · 17 June 2002
Equity in Education Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify that church employees and persons treated as church employees under the Code are eligible for the exclusion for qualified tuition reduction programs of charitable educational organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2002
Fed Up Higher Education Technical Amendments of 2002 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), and the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, to make various technical revisions that incorporate the results of the Fed Up Initiative to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers to access to student aid programs. Revises the definition of institution of higher education (IHE) to include one that admits as regular students those who have been home-schooled (as well as high school graduates or those with equivalency certificates), thus providing that such home-schooled students are eligible for HEA student aid. Makes students attending nonprofit foreign veterinary schools eligible for the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) student loan program if the school does not meet certain requirements, but only if: (1) it was certified as eligible by the Secretary of Education; and (2) students complete their clinical training at an approved veterinary school in the United States. Allows IHEs to make mandatory reports on teacher preparation program quality by electronic means. Eliminates a requirement that new forbearance agreements between lenders and borrowers be in writing; but requires lenders to notify borrowers of their terms. Allows financial aid professionals to use professional judgment in reevaluating the student financial need of a ward of the court. Requires students withdrawing from an IHE to return only HEA title IV grant aid amounts exceeding 50 percent of the total (if more than $50). Permits Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) to apply for Federal HSI grants without waiting two years between applications. Authorizes the use of HEA title VII funds for: (1) Federal scholarship aid to low-income and minority students for summer institutes to prepare for law school; and (2) Thurgood Marshall Fellowships to attend law school. Provides that an IHE is in compliance with requirements to provide students with certain information, including voter registration material, if it does so through an e-mail message or an Internet address. Extends through September 30, 2003, HEA exemptions, for IHEs having low student loan default rates, from requirements that the disbursement of loan proceeds be: (1) in multiple installments; and (2) delayed for 30 days after classes start for first-time undergraudate borrowers.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Southern Campaign of the Revolution Heritage Area Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating specified South Carolina counties, and, possibly, North Carolina sites, as the Southern Campaign of the Revolution Heritage Area.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth that a plan or other arrangement shall not cease to count as a cafeteria plan solely because qualified benefits under such plan include a health flexible spending arrangement under which not more than $500 of unused health benefits may be carried forward to the next year or paid as compensation. Sets forth rules for determining whether or not such benefits shall be included or excluded from income.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2002
Urges the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend to the Postmaster General that a commemorative postage stamp be issued by the U.S. Postal Service each year in honor of Veterans Day.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2002
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. States that neither this Constitution or the constitution of any State, nor State or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2002
Date Certain Tax Code Replacement Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2005; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2005. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Establishes the National Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification to review: (1) the present structure and provisions of the Code; (2) whether the tax systems of other countries could provide more efficient and fair methods of funding government revenue requirements; (3) whether the income tax should be replaced with a tax imposed in a different manner or on a different base; and (4) whether the Code can be simplified, absent wholesale restructuring or replacement. Requires a Commission report to Congress on review results, with recommendations for Code reform and simplification. Terminates the Commission 90 days after such report. Authorizes appropriations (with interim funding). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be approved by Congress in its final form before July 4, 2005, and, if not, Congress should be required to vote to reauthorize the Code.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Fairness in Sentencing Act of 2002 - Disapproves Amendment number 4 of the "Amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines, Policy Statements, and Official Commentary," submitted by the United States Sentencing Commission to Congress on May 1, 2002, and provides that it shall not take effect to the extent it: (1) amends provisions setting forth the base offense level for unlawfully manufacturing, importing, exporting, or trafficking of drugs to provide that the base offense level shall not be more than level 30 if the defendant receives a mitigating role adjustment; and (2) instructs the court to apply the appropriate mitigating role adjustment to reduce the defendant's base offense level.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act - Prohibits an agent from: (1) directly or indirectly recruiting or soliciting a student athlete to enter into an agency contract by giving false or misleading information or making a false promise or representation or by providing anything of value to the athlete before entering into such a contract; (2) entering into an agency contract with a student athlete without providing the required disclosure document; or (3) predating or postdating an agency contract. Requires an agent, in conjunction with the signing of an agency contract, to provide to the athlete a separate disclosure document that includes notice that if the athlete signs the contract he or she may lose eligibility to compete as a student athlete in that sport. Requires the student athlete to sign such document before signing the agency contract. Treats a violation of this Act as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act. Authorizes civil actions by State attorneys general under specified circumstances. Requires the agent and the athlete, within 72 hours after entering into an agency contract or before the next athletic event in which the athlete may participate, whichever occurs first, to provide notice to the educational institution that the athlete has entered into an agency contract. Grants an educational institution a right of action against an agent for damages caused by such agent's failure to provide such notice. Expresses the sense of Congress that States should enact the Uniform Athlete Agents Act of 2000 drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws to protect student athletes and the integrity of amateur sports from unscrupulous sports agents.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2002
Directs the Secretary of Energy to submit to Congress a plan for the construction and operation of a mixed-oxide fuel fabrication facility (for converting plutonium to a fuel for use in commercial nuclear power reactors) at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina. Requires annual reports on plan implementation and on progress in meeting obligations of the United States Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement of September 2000. Requires appropriate corrective actions to be taken to meet plan requirements. Requires the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board to conduct a study of the adequacy of the K-Area Materials Storage Facility at the Savannah River Site for the storage of defense plutonium and related materials in connection with a specified plutonium disposition program.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2002
Home Health Nurse and Patient Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) Task Force to study and report to the Secretary and Congress on the comprehensive assessment of patients to determine whether: (1) the number of assessments required during an episode of care or the number of questions asked during each assessment should be decreased to eliminate redundant and uninformative clinical information; (2) a uniform data collection standard is needed to ensure that patients who are not Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act (SSA)) or Medicaid (SSA title XIX) beneficiaries receive the same quality of care as Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries; and (3) OASIS data should be collected from Medicaid beneficiaries who are not Medicare beneficiaries. Directs the Secretary to promulgate a regulation revising the data collection requirements under the OASIS standard used as part of the comprehensive assessment of patients to: (1) make use of such requirements optional for patients of home health agencies who are not Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries; and (2) eliminate such requirements for any home health agency patient to whom only personal care services are furnished. Requires the Secretary to review each regulation relating to the demand billing process for individuals who are both Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to determine whether it may be conducted in a manner that is efficient, allows for determination of Medicare coverage of home health services and expedient claims submission, and does not adversely affect Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries or home health agencies in determination of whether Medicare payment may be made for an item or service. Directs the Secretary to establish the Claims Review and Audit Task Force to study and report to the Secretary and Congress on the processes and policies used to review medical claims submitted by home health agencies and on other specified matters. Provides for the implementation of Task Force recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2002
National Homeland Security and Combating Terrorism Act of 2002 - Establishes the Department of National Homeland Security to: (1) develop policies and plans for homeland security; (2) develop a National Strategy for Combating Terrorism and Homeland Security Response to counter terrorist threats; (3) plan, coordinate, and integrate Government border security, critical infrastructure protection, and emergency preparedness activities and act as the focal point regarding crises and emergency planning and response; (4) annually update a Federal response plan for homeland security and emergency preparedness; and (5) implement a coordinating center with representatives from other Federal agencies with security responsibilities. Transfers to the Department the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Customs Service, specified portions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service responsible for law enforcement and border management, the Coast Guard, the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office, the National Infrastructure Protection Center and the National Domestic Preparedness Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a specified portion of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture. Establishes: (1) within the Department Directorates of Prevention, Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Emergency Preparedness and Response and an Office of Science and Technology; (2) an Acceleration Fund for Research and Development of Homeland Security Technologies; (3) within the Executive Office of the President the National Office for Combating Terrorism; (4) a National Combating Terrorism and Homeland Security Council; and (5) a National Homeland Security Panel. Requires development of an annual consolidated proposed National Terrorism Prevention and Response Program Budget.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2002
Workers' Bill of Rights - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to add provisions relating to: (1) an employer's recognition of a labor organization as representative of workers for collective bargaining and other purposes; (2) limitation on dues collection; (3) membership right to vote on a contract before a strike is called; (4) penalties for causing recognition of an unelected labor organization; (5) secret ballot election; (6) the lifting of a bar against an election once an existing contract has been in effect for one year or more; (7) majority deauthorization of union security agreements; and (8) enforcement of limits on dues agreements. Amends the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 to include coverage of employers, or groups or associations of employers, that receive Federal funds. Gives employees who are not union members, but who are core dues payers, the same right as any union member to participate in any vote that concerns a strike or wages, benefits, or working conditions. Revises provisions relating to availability of information. Allows a trusteeship (for authorization control of a union) to be authorized only after a fair hearing either before the executive board or another body provided by the constitution and bylaws of the labor organization. Requires a labor organization to show by clear and convincing proof that the continuation of the trusteeship is necessary for an allowable purpose. Amends the Clayton Act to provide that nothing shall make it lawful for any two or more labor organizations to enter into an agreement that restrains an employee's ability to select a collecting bargaining representative.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2002
Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of 2002 - Directs Secretary of Education to: (1) develop and publish instructional materials accessibility standards for the national electronic file format to be used by publishers of instructional materials in the preparation of electronic files suitable for efficient conversion into specialized formats; (2) establish a National Instructional Materials Accessibility Advisory Committee to provide technical expertise and guidance in creating such national electronic file format; (3) periodically review and amend such standards to reflect technological advances or changes; and (4) establish a National Instructional Materials Access Center. Requires State educational agencies, as a condition for receiving Federal financial assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to develop and implement statewide plans and make contracts with publishers to ensure that instructional materials for classroom use in elementary and secondary schools are made available in specialized formats to individuals who are blind or have other print disabilities at the same time such materials are provided to individuals without such disabilities. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities to provide or improve their capacity to prepare or obtain instructional materials in specialized formats, including the national electronic format. Provides for enforcement of rights of children and parents under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Syria Accountability Act of 2002 - Prohibits the President from exporting any item on the United States Munitions List or Commerce Control List of dual-use items in the Export Administration Regulations, providing any U.S. assistance to U.S. businesses with respect to investment or other activities, or conducting Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Trade Development Agency programs in or with respect to Syria. Directs the President to impose two or more specified sanctions against Syria. Requires maintenance of such prohibition and sanctions until the President certifies that Syria meets specified requirements, including that it: (1) does not support international terrorist groups; (2) has withdrawn all of its military personnel from Lebanon; (3) has ceased the development and deployment of ballistic missiles and biological and chemical weapons; (4) is no longer in violation of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 661 and subsequent relevant resolutions; (5) has made substantial progress in negotiations aimed at a peace agreement with Israel and a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon; and (6) is respecting the sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon as required under UN Security Council Resolution 520. Authorizes the President to provide development assistance to Syria and Lebanon if these six requirements are met.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2002
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt State and local committees of candidates and of political parties from specified notification requirements. Exempts certain "exempt State or local political organizations" from specified reporting requirements. Defines "exempt State and local political organizations." Modifies characteristics of political organizations obligated to complete an informational return, such that specified political organizations with $25,000 or more in annual gross receipts must file, as well as "exempt state and local political organizations" with annual gross receipts of $100,000 or more. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to review the components of such returns. Authorizes the Secretary to waive certain penalties for notification and reporting violations. Obligates political organizations to inform the Secretary whether they plan to seek exemptions from financial or informational returns.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2002
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each House. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2002
Declares that Congress expresses its deepest gratitude for the service of the District of Columbia Army National Guard in protecting Congress and increasing security around the Capitol complex. Congratulates the National Guard and Capitol Police on the fine work they have done to increase security around the Capitol grounds since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2002
Working Toward Independence Act of 2002 - Amends title IV part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act to amend State work participation requirements. Revises work or alternative self-sufficiency requirements for a parent or caretaker receiving TANF assistance. Directs States to establish for each recipient family a family sufficiency plan (in lieu of the currently required State Individual Responsibility Plans). Authorizes States to design activities and develop methods for monitoring and reviewing such plans. Revises State plan requirements and directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to establish TANF performance measures. Requires the Secretary to make bonus grants to each State that has achieved formulated employment goals. Caring for Children Act of 2002 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to specify consumer education information States are required to collect and disseminate. Requires States to certify to child care service quality and demonstrate: (1) child care services coordination; (2) encouragement of partnerships with private and other public entities; and (3) how the State is addressing child care for children with special needs. Specifies State required activities to improve the quality of child care services and authorizes States to determine family income level eligibility requirements for such services. Authorizes the Secretary, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education to authorize innovative State demonstration projects involving individual programs, or integrating multiple public assistance, workforce development, and other programs to support working families.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2002
Floyd D. Spence Organ Coordination Improvement Act- Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to assist qualified organ procurement entities in carrying out programs to coordinate the activities of eligible hospitals that relate to seeking organ donations, in order to increase the rate of organ donations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2002
Permits one additional advance refunding of certain tax-exempt bonds, of which the net proceeds are used to finance the costs of electric generation, transmission, or distribution assets owned by the issuer or by a consortium of State or local governments which includes the issuer. Sets certain conditions the bonds must meet to qualify for the advance refunding.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2002 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit certain employee group health plans or related insurances providing both medical-surgical and mental health benefits from imposing mental health treatment limitations or financial requirements unless comparable limitations and requirements are imposed upon medical-surgical benefits. States that the foregoing shall not be construed as requiring a group health plan (or related insurances) to: (1) provide any mental health benefits; (2) prevent the medical management of mental health benefits; or (3) require the provision of specific mental health services, except to the extent that failure to provide such services would result in a disparity between the coverage of mental health and medical-surgical benefits. Exempts specified small employers from such requirements. Requires that, in the case of a group health plan that offers a participant or beneficiary two or more benefit package options, the coverage requirements shall be applied separately with respect to each such option. Provides that, in the case of a plan or insurance providing in-network mental health benefits, out-of-network mental health benefits need not be provided at parity to medical-surgical benefits, as long as in-network mental health benefits are provided at parity with medical-surgical benefits and the plan or insurance provides reasonable access to in-network providers and facilities. Requires a General Accounting Office study of such requirements' effects upon health insurance costs, access, and quality and a cost estimation of extending such requirements to the treatment of substance abuse and chemical dependency.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2002
Encourages employers who employ members of the National Guard or reserves to provide a pay differential benefit and an extension of employee benefits while such members serve on active duty, and commends employers who already provide such benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2002
Housing Affordability for America Act of 2002 - Amends specified housing-related Acts with respect to: (1) home investment partnerships; (2) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance for single and multifamily housing, and health care facilities; (3) supportive housing for elderly and disabled families; (4) section 8 rental housing assistance; (5) public housing; (6) Hope VI revitalization assistance; (7) homeless housing programs; (8) Native American housing; (9) housing impact analysis; (10) community development block grants; (11) housing counseling programs; (13) housing opportunities for persons with AIDS; and (14) Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) guarantee fees.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2002
Cancelling Loans to Allow School Systems to Attract Classroom Teachers Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for additional amounts of student loan forgiveness for certain teachers of: (1) mathematics and science in secondary schools; and (2) special education in elementary and secondary schools.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2002
Tobacco Livelihood and Economic Assistance for Our Farmers Act of 2002 - Amends, and repeals, specified agricultural Acts to eliminate tobacco quota and price support programs, including no net cost provisions. Sets forth transition provisions, including provision of compensation to eligible quota holders. Continues Federal crop insurance for tobacco producers. Directs: (1) the Secretary of Agriculture to establish in the Department of Agriculture the Tobacco Quality Board; and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to assess fees on tobacco product manufacturers and importers that sell tobacco products in U.S. domestic commerce. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to extend Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority to tobacco products, with exceptions for certain health-or disease treatment-related uses. Sets forth provisions respecting: (1) adulterated and misbranded tobacco products; (2) required health information; (3) registration and recordkeeping; (4) control of tobacco products; (5) performance standards; (6) remedies; (7) premarket review; (8) judicial review; (9) reduced risk tobacco products; (10) access and marketing restrictions; and (11) mandatory disclosures. Amends the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act and the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986, respectively, to revise cigarette and smokeless tobacco labeling and advertising warning provisions. Amends the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act to direct the Secretary to determine whether cigarette labeling and advertising shall be required to provide tar, nicotine, and other smoke constituent information.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2002
Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2002 - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to revise requirements for child abuse prevention and treatment grants, with special emphasis on: (1) community-based organizations; (2) linkages between child protective services agencies and health care, mental health care, and developmental services; and (3) children with disabilities or serious health-related problems who are victims of abuse or neglect. Amends the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 with respect to infant abandonment prevention grants and family support programs for child abuse and neglect prevention. Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 to direct the Secretary to research and report to the appropriate congressional committees about adoption outcomes and the factors affecting them. Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to: (1) revise requirements for State demonstration grants; (2) authorize an extended duration of a national domestic violence hotline grant; and (3) extend the authorization of appropriations for demonstration grants for community initiatives and for transitional housing assistance grants.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2002
Schoolchildren's Health Protection Act - Amends the General Education Provisions Act to prohibit Federal education funding (from programs for which the Secretary or Department of Education has administrative responsibility) to any State or local educational agency that provides to an unemancipated minor, at an elementary or secondary school, postcoital emergency contraception (e.g. the "morning-after pill") or a prescription for such contraception.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2002
Museum and Library Services Act of 2002 - Amends the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) and the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) to extend authorizations of appropriations and revise programs under such Acts. Amends MLSA to establish the National Museum and Library Services Board, within the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). (Eliminates a National Museum Services Board.) 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 (Public Law 107-110), and other Federal activities; and (2) conduct and publish analyses of museum and library services impact. Revises requirements for annual national awards to outstanding libraries and museums that have made significant contributions in service to their communities. Includes specified entities under the term museum, for MLSA purposes. Revises museum services activities. Amends LSTA 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. Repeals requirements under the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Act relating to Commission responsibilities to: (1) advise the IMLS Director; and (2) meet with the National Museum Services Board, which is eliminated by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2002
Congratulates the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, on its bicentennial anniversary. Recognizes it as an outstanding leadership development institution that upholds and promotes the highest virtues of American society. Commends all those who have led and taught at the Academy for inculcating its graduates with moral, ethical, and intellectual values and skills that are the foundations for the dedicated service so honorably given by those graduates to the Army, the Nation, and friends of freedom and liberty around the world for 200 years.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2002
Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2002 - Mandates the merger of the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund into the Deposit Insurance Fund. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) and the Federal Credit Union Act to: (1) increase the amount of deposit insurance coverage; (2) couple such increase with an inflation adjustment; and (3) double the amount of deposit insurance for certain retirement accounts. Amends the FDIA to increase the amount of deposit insurance coverage for municipal deposits. Expands the range of authorized investments for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to include Federal agency obligations or comparable obligations authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury. Repeals: (1) independent treatment of each deposit insurance fund with respect to assessments and designated reserve ratio; (2) minimum risk-based assessments for certain at-risk deposit insurance funds; (3) limitations on assessments on deposit insurance funds that fail to meet the designated reserve ratio; and (4) the special rule for recapitalizing undercapitalized funds. Instructs the FDIC Board of Directors to establish annually a designated reserve ratio that falls within a prescribed range. Replaces refund guidelines with rebates to insured depository institutions that are predicated upon DIF balances in excess of specified percentages. Instructs the FDIC to establish a Deposit Insurance Fund Restoration Plan to ensure adequate reserves whenever the actual ratio in the DIF falls below certain criteria. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on FDIC administrative structure, expenses, and certain activities, and further possible changes to the deposit insurance system.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2002
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to set forth conditions for exemption of employees who are construction engineering and design professionals from minimum wage and overtime compensation requirements. Includes among such conditions specified types of: (1) professional education, licensing, certification, or work experience; (2) duties; and (3) services provided.
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