Declares that Congress commends the employees of the National Weather Service for their extraordinary dedication and hard work during Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne, especially: (1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane Center, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and National Data Buoy Center; (2) the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida; (3) the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the 403rd Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi; (4) the Hurricane Liaison Team; (5) the National Ocean Service; and (6) the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service. Declares that Congress commends the Southern, Eastern, and Central Region Weather Forecast Offices of San Juan, Miami, Tampa Bay, Key West, Melbourne, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Atlanta, Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Morristown, Charleston, Morehead City, Wilmington, Wakefield, Taunton, Lake Charles, New Orleans, Jackson, Nashville, and Houston for their extraordinary dedication and hard work during such Hurricanes. Declares that Congress: (1) commends the employees of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, especially the Hurricane Research Division; (2) thanks the commercial and media meteorologists for their contributions in disseminating the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts and warnings to the public; and (3) expresses its support for the ongoing hard work and dedication of all who provide accurate and timely hurricane forecasts.

Resolution· SRESS.Res. 458 (108th)passed

A resolution congratulating the SpaceShipOne team for achieving a historic milestone in human space flight.

United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2004

Congratulates the SpaceShipOne team (winner of the Ansari X Prize by being the first privately funded space vehicle to depart from and safely return to Earth twice within two weeks), led by Bert Rutan and test pilots Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie, for their historic achievement in human space flight.

Bill· SS. 2952 (108th)referred

Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2004

Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act - Amends Federal transportation law to establish, and replace the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) with, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), which shall be headed by an Administrator appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Establishes in RITA an Office of Intermodalism. Transfers the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to RITA. Establishes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in the Department of Transportation (DOT), headed by an Administrator with professional experience in pipeline safety, hazardous materials safety, or other transportation safety, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Requires the Director of the Office of Intermodalism to develop a plan to improve the national intermodal transportation system. Revises sanitary food transportation requirements to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish procedures for transportation safety inspections in order to identify suspected incidents of contamination or adulteration of food, meat, and poultry products and to train DOT personnel in the appropriate use of the procedures. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to notify the Secretaries of HHS and of Agriculture of instances of potential food contamination or adulteration of a food identified during transportation safety inspections. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of HHS to require shippers, motor vehicle or rail vehicle carriers, receivers, and other persons engaged in the transportation of food to use sanitary transportation practices prescribed by the Secretary of HHS to avoid the adulteration of food.

Bill· SS. 2942 (108th)referred

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that combat pay be treated as earned income for purposes of the earned income credit.

United States · United States Congress · 7 October 2004

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow combat zone compensation (otherwise excludable from gross income) to be treated as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit.

Bill· SS. 2889 (108th)open

American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2004

American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in celebration of the recovery of the bald eagle, in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the placement of the bald eagle on the endangered species list under such Act, to mint and issue not more than: (1) 100,000 $5 gold coins; (2) 500,000 $1 silver coins; and (3) 750,000 half dollar coins. Directs that the design of the coins be emblematic of the bald eagle and its history, natural biology, and national symbolism. Requires that sales of the coins include a surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin, $10 for the $1 coin, and $3 for the half dollar coin, which shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee to: (1) establish an interest-bearing endowment called the American Eagle Fund as a permanent source of support for the care, monitoring, maintenance, and recovery of the bald eagle and its habitat in the United States; (2) make annual grants to Federal, State, and private eagle restoration, protection, and enhancement projects; (3) administer the Fund in an annual amount not to exceed the lesser of ten percent of the annual income of the Fund or $250,000; and (4) provide financial support for capital projects and for continuation and expansion of the Foundation's efforts to educate the American people about the bald eagle.

Resolution· SRESS.Res. 420 (108th)passed

A resolution recommending expenditures for an appropriate visitors center at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site to commemorate the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School.

United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2004

Expresses the sense of the Senate with respect to recommending expenditures for the construction of an appropriate visitor center at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site in Arkansas to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School.

Bill· SS. 2743 (108th)referred

Veterans Eye Treatment Safety (VETS) Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004

Veterans Eye Treatment Safety (VETS) Act of 2004 - Allows eye surgery at a Department of Veterans Affairs facility or under contract with the Department to be performed only by a licensed medical doctor, licensed doctor of osteopathy, or licensed dentist whose practice is limited to oral or maxillofacial surgery.

Resolution· SRESS.Res. 407 (108th)passed

A resolution designating October 15, 2004, as "National Mammography Day".

United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004

Designates October 15, 2004, as National Mammography Day.

Bill· SS. 2653 (108th)referred

Reducing Crime and Terrorism at America's Seaport Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2004

Reducing Crime and Terrorism at America's Seaports Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) entry by false pretenses to a secure area of a seaport; (2) knowingly failing to obey an order to heave to by an authorized Federal officer; (3) forcibly interfering with an authorized law enforcement action or providing false information during a boarding; and (4) willfully disabling a passenger vehicle. Sets penalties for knowingly and intentionally: (1) placing in U.S. navigable waters a device or substance likely to destroy or damage a vessel or its cargo or likely to interfere with safe navigation or maritime commerce; (2) discharging or releasing into U.S. navigable water or onto an adjoining shoreline any substance that would endanger human life, health, or welfare or the marine environment; and (3) transporting aboard any vessel explosive, biological, chemical, or radioactive or nuclear material to be used to commit terrorism. Sets penalties for: (1) knowingly transporting aboard any vessel a terrorist or terror suspect; (2) willfully causing destruction of a vessel or maritime facility; and (3) imparting or conveying false information concerning an attempt made to commit certain criminal acts Expands the scope of a prohibition against theft of interstate or foreign shipments. Increases penalties for stowaways on vessels or aircraft. Prohibits bribery affecting port security. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to increase penalties for noncompliance with manifest requirements and to expand the scope of those requirements to cover any responsible party, including non-vessel operating common carriers.

Bill· SS. 2647 (108th)open

Fritz Hollings National Ocean Policy and Leadership Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2004

National Ocean Policy and Leadership Act - Specifies a national ocean policy. Re-establishes (what already exists under Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), administered by the Administrator, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Directs the Administrator to report biennially to Congress on the status and condition of the Nation's ocean and atmospheric environments, including current and foreseeable trends in the quality, management and utilization of such environments and their effects on the social, economic, ecological, and other requirements of the Nation. Establishes in the Executive Office of the President a Council on Ocean Stewardship, which shall coordinate ocean and atmospheric activities among the Federal agencies. Establishes a Presidential Panel of Advisers on Oceans and Climate. Directs the President to submit to Congress recommendations for the transfer of relevant oceanic or atmospheric programs, functions, and associated resources to NOAA from other Federal agencies.

Bill· SS. 2648 (108th)referred

Ocean Research Coordination and Advancement Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2004

Ocean Research Coordination and Advancement Act - Establishes: (1) a National Ocean Science Committee (Committee); (2) a Subcommittee on Ocean Education; and (3) an Ocean Research and Education Advisory Panel. Directs the Chair of the National Science and Technology Council to develop a National Strategy for Ocean Science, Education, and Technology. Establishes a National Ocean Partners Program that identifies and carries out ocean science partnerships among Federal agencies, States, private industries, and other members of the ocean science community. Establishes an interagency ocean and coastal education program to improve public awareness, understanding and appreciation of the role of the oceans in meeting our Nation's economic, social and environmental needs. Establishes a National Ocean Science and Technology Scholarship Program to recruit and prepare students for careers with Federal agencies represented on the Committee. Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to: (1) develop an integrated research plan for NOAA; (2) establish and maintain an interagency marine ecosystem research program; and (3) develop support and coordinate education activities that meet certain program goals and that enhance public awareness of the science, service, and stewardship missions of NOAA.