United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2001
Provides that the certification of cooperation of Mexico with U.S. counterdrug efforts shall not be required in FY 2001 in order that certain limitations on bilateral and multilateral development assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 shall not apply to Mexico in FY 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2001
Repeals the 3,500 unit limitation on the total number of Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) units that may be maintained by the military departments. Allows regular or reserve retired National Guard and reserve officer personnel to serve as JROTC administrators and instructors.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2001
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Coin Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue one-dollar silver coins emblematic of the human rights legacy and leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2001
Home Health Payment Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, to eliminate a specified 15 percent reduction in cost and per beneficiary limits with respect to payment rates for home health services under the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS). Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to increase payment by ten percent for home health services furnished in a rural area on or after April 1, 2001; but prohibits the Secretary from reducing the standard PPS amount (or amounts) applicable to such services furnished during a period to offset the payment increase resulting from such requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2001
Family Opportunity Act of 2001 or Dylan Lee James Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) give States the option of allowing families of disabled children to purchase Medicaid coverage for such children; and (2) provide for treatment of inpatient psychiatric hospital services for individuals under age 21 under waivers allowing for payment of part or all of the cost of home or community-based services. Authorizes a State to apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for approval of a demonstration project to provide Medicaid coverage of up to a specified maximum number of children with a potentially severe disability. Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to make appropriations to the Secretary for special projects of regional and national significance for development and support of family-to-family health information centers. Amends SSA title XIX to provide for the restoration of Medicaid eligibility to certain SSI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSA title XVI) beneficiaries under age 21.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2001
Airline Customer Service Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to increase Department of Transportation (DOT) resources allocated to providing: (1) airline passenger consumer protection and related services; and (2) oversight and enforcement of laws and regulations that provide protection for air travelers. Amends Federal aviation law to require each large air carrier to incorporate the provisions of the Airline Customer Service Commitment executed by the Air Transport Association on June 17, 1999, in its contract of carriage. Requires each large air carrier to institute the following specified practices, including to: (1) include fares available at the air carrier's ticket offices and airport ticket service counters (including notifying customers that lower fares may be available on the Internet) when quoting the lowest fare available to passengers; (2) disclose, without being requested, the on-time performance and cancellation rate for a chronically-delayed or canceled flight whenever a customer makes a reservation or purchases a ticket; (3) establish a plan with respect to passengers who must unexpectedly remain overnight during a trip due to flight delays, cancellations, or diversions; (4) establish a customer service quality assurance and performance measurement system; (5) establish realistic targets for reducing chronically-delayed and canceled flights; (6) establish a toll-free telephone number that passengers may use to check on the status of checked baggage that was not delivered on arrival at the passenger's destination; (7) monitor its efforts to improve services provided to passengers with disabilities and special needs; and (8) if it has a frequent flyer program, make available to the public a comprehensive report of frequent flyer redemption information in their customer literature and annual reports. Provides for improved DOT statistics with respect to missing passenger baggage and chronically delayed or canceled flights. Requires the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking to amend DOT regulations to: (1) establish a uniform check-in deadline and to require air carriers to disclose their policies on how such deadlines apply to passengers making connections; and (2) increase the maximum amount of denied boarding compensation for passengers denied boarding involuntarily (bumped).
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2001
Farm, Fishing, and Ranch Risk Management Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual involved in an eligible farming or commercial fishing business to make a deductible contribution up to 20 percent of his or her farming or fishing taxable income to a Farm, Fishing, and Ranch Risk Management Account (FFARRM Account). States that: (1) Account distributions may not be used to add capacity or contribute to the overcapitalization of any fishery; (2) Account contributions shall not reduce self-employment net earnings; (3) Account distributions (other than income attributed to the Account) shall be includible in gross income, including deposits not distributed within five years.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2001
Military Retirees Survivor Benefits Protection Act of 2001 - Amends Federal provisions concerning military annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) to: (1) increase the SBP annuity for beneficiaries age 62 or older from 35 to 55 percent of the base amount of military retired pay; and (2) repeal the Supplemental Survivor Benefit Plan program.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2001
AMT and Tax Deduction Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) the State and local income tax deduction against the alternative minimum tax; and (2) the deduction of State and local general sales taxes in lieu of State and local income taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2001
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Education Act - Authorizes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc., to construct a temporary education center for educating people about the Memorial. Requires the center to remain for ten years, after which Congress may reevaluate the continuing need for the center. Sets forth conditions for the use of excess coin funds under the United States Veterans Commemorative Coin Act of 1993 in the construction of such center, including that the Fund provide detailed information with respect to the use of such funds.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2001
High-Speed Rail Investment Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit (to be included in gross income as interest) to holders of qualified Amtrak bonds issued by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. Requires, with exceptions, State matching contributions for qualifying projects, which shall be used to redeem project-specific bonds, and if amounts remain, to fund other projects or bonds. Treats such contributions as tax-exempt facility bonds. Eliminates, for tax exemption for purposes, the governmental ownership requirement for mass commuting facility bonds. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to allocate bond funds for Alaska Railroad issuances. Requires the Corporation to annually submit a multi-year capital spending plan.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2001
Providing Annual Pap Tests to Save Women's Lives Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend coverage of screening pap smears and screening pelvic exams to annual examinations regardless of whether a woman is of childbearing age or at high-risk.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should establish an international education policy to enhance national security and significantly further U.S. foreign policy and global competitiveness. Lists policy objectives, including invigorating citizen and professional international exchange programs, ensuring that college graduates have knowledge of a second language and of a foreign area, and capturing 40 percent of the international student market for the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit tax-free distributions from an individual retirement account made directly to a qualified charitable organization, trust, fund, or annuity.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
Declares that Congress: (1) recognizes the valor, commitment, and sacrifice that Army nurses have made throughout our nation's history; (2) commends the Army Nurse Corps for 100 years of selfless service; and (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Army Nurse Corps on February 2, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2001
Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2001 - Permits retired members of the armed forces with service-connected disabilities to be paid both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation. Repeals a special compensation program for certain severely disabled military retirees.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2001
Academic Achievement for All Act (Straight A's Act) - Allows States a certain type of flexibility in combining and using specified Federal elementary and secondary education formula program funds for State education priorities and programs, in exchange for being held accountable for meeting, in a five-year period, certain performance goals which they propose. Allows States to opt to enter into such a performance agreement with the Secretary of Education, under which provisions of law relating to specified eligible programs shall not apply to the State, with certain exceptions. Requires such States to provide parents, teachers, and local schools notice and opportunity to comment on any such proposed performance agreement before submission to the Secretary. Includes under the terms of such agreements requirements relating to: (1) use of such funds to improve student achievement; (2) an accountability system; (3) performance goals and measures, and student academic achievement data; (4) fiscal responsibilities; (5) civil rights; (6) private school student and staff participation; (7) State financial participation; and (8) annual reports. Lists such eligible programs, under various provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Department of Education Appropriations Act of 1999, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, and the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2001. Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) within-State distribution of funds; (2) local participation; (3) limitations on State and local educational agency administrative expenditures; (4) performance review and penalties; (5) renewal of performance agreements; (6) achievement gap reduction rewards; and (7) availability of annual State reports to specified congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2001
Campaign Finance Reform and Disclosure Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit contributions to candidates for political office by any non-U.S. citizen, regardless of whether he or she is a permanent U.S. resident. Limits to 40 percent of total contributions acceptance of out-of-State and out-of-Congressional District contributions by Senate and House of Representatives candidates. Limits reimbursement from campaigns for contributions by Senate candidates and their immediate families. Restricts the use of campaign funds by Senate candidates for personal purposes. Limits congressional use of the franking privilege. Modifies multicandidate political committee (PAC) contribution limits, and requires that such limit be indexed annually. Prohibits a political party committee from accepting contributions conditioned on their use on behalf of a particular candidate. Exempts communications between a political party and members of the political party from specified spending limitations. Excludes from the definition of contribution any State or local political party committee payments for certain State and local activities. Amends the National Labor Relations Act to revise the rights of employees relating to the payment and use of labor organization dues to require an employee's written consent to the use or assignment of any portion of such dues for purposes unrelated to collective bargaining, contract administration, or grievance adjustment. Provides for expedited Supreme Court review of constitutional issues of this Act or any amendment made by it.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2001
Amends Federal presidential elections and vacancies law to: (1) establish 9 p.m., Central Standard Time, as the single poll closing time for presidential general elections; and (2) allow the States of Alaska and Hawaii to open polling places for such an election during the day preceding election day. Amends Federal presidential elections and vacancies law and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act with regard to voting by absentee ballots cast by uniformed and overseas citizens in presidential general elections.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2001
State Criminal Alien Assistance Program II and Local Medical Emergency Reimbursement Act - State Criminal Alien Assistance Program II Act of 2001 - Amends the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 to provide for the reimbursement of States for indirect costs of incarcerating illegal aliens. Defines such costs as: (1) court costs, county attorney costs, and non-trial criminal proceedings; (2) indigent defense; and (3) unsupervised probation costs. Provides for the reimbursement of States for costs of incarcerating juvenile aliens. Provides that reimbursement of States for incarcerating illegal aliens and certain Cuban nationals shall be allocated to give special consideration for any State that: (1) shares a border with Mexico or Canada; or (2) has a large number of undocumented aliens. Authorizes appropriations for allotments to States to be paid to local governments, hospitals, and other providers for emergency health services provided to undocumented aliens. Provides special consideration for providers: (1) in a border county with Mexico or Canada; or (2) in an area with a large number of undocumented aliens.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be issued by the U.S. Postal Service in honor of the U.S.S. Wisconsin and all those who served aboard her; and (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a postage stamp be issued.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2001
Southwest Border Judgeship Act of 2001 - Directs the President to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, specified: (1) permanent judgeships (five additional district judges for the southern district of California, one additional district judge for the district of New Mexico, one additional district judge for the southern district of Texas, and two additional district judges for the western district of Texas); and (2) temporary judgeships (four additional district judges for the district of Arizona, three additional district judges for the southern district of California, one additional district judge for the district of New Mexico, and one additional district judge for the Western district of Texas).
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2001
SBP Benefits Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends Federal provisions concerning the military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) to adjust the basic SBP annuity amount for surviving spouses age 62 or over of former military personnel to: (1) 35 percent of the retired pay of the decedent, for months beginning on or before the enactment of this Act (current law); (2) 40 percent of such pay, for months beginning after such date and before October 2004; (3) 45 percent, for months beginning after September 2004; and (4) 55 percent, for months beginning after September 2011. Adjusts similarly the authorized percentage amounts of SBP supplemental annuity authorized for such spouses. Directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure appropriate adjustments in the computation of retired pay deductions for such supplemental annuities made necessary by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
United States Cruise Vessel Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate of documentation with a temporary coastwise endorsement for an eligible foreign-built cruise vessel to operate in domestic itineraries in the transportation of passengers in the coastwise trade between U.S. ports if such vessel meets certain requirements, including that: (1) the operator of the vessel promises that any repairs to it will be performed in a U.S. shipyard; and (2) such operator, with a specified exception, executes a contract with one or more U.S. shipyards for the construction of two or more cruise vessels with a total combined berth or stateroom capacity equal to at least that of the operator's vessel to which a certificate of documentation has been issued. Terminates the coastwise endorsement for an eligible cruise vessel 24 months after the delivery date for the replacement vessel(s) for such eligible vessel. Authorizes the operator of an eligible cruise vessel that has been issued a certificate of documentation, or a cruise vessel that has been constructed under contract, to place such vessel under foreign registry. Prohibits eligible cruise vessels operating in domestic itineraries from operating as a ferry, regularly carrying for hire both passengers and vehicles or other cargo, or operating between or among the Hawaiian Islands. Directs the Secretary to give priority to U.S.- built cruise vessels over other eligible foreign-built cruise vessels in a comparable market that have been issued a certificate of documentation if the Secretary, after notice and an opportunity for public comment, determines that the employment in the coastwise trade of an eligible foreign-built cruise vessel will adversely affect the coastwise trade business of any person operating a vessel not documented under this Act. Makes special provision for vessels carrying passengers for hire into Glacier Bay or other National Park Service areas.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to implement the oil and gas pipeline safety improvement recommendations in the Department of Transportation (DOT) Inspector General's Report (RT-2000-069). Requires each operator of a natural gas transmission pipeline and of a hazardous liquid pipeline, or, in the case of an intrastate pipeline facility operator, the appropriate State regulatory agency, to submit to the Secretary a plan designed to enhance the qualifications of pipeline personnel and reduce the likelihood of accidents and injuries. Amends Federal pipeline safety law to require the Secretary to issue regulations requiring operators of such pipelines to: (1) evaluate the risks to their pipeline facilities in environmentally sensitive areas and high-density population areas; and (2) adopt and implement a program for integrity management that reduces the risk of incident in those areas. Revises the public education program requirements for gas pipeline facility owners or operators, including specified items. Applies such requirements to owners or operators of a hazardous liquid pipeline facility. Requires an operator of a gas transmission or hazardous liquid pipeline facility to initiate and maintain liaison with the State emergency response commissions, and local emergency planning committees in the areas of pipeline right-of-way, established under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 (or, in the absence of a committee, local fire, police, and other emergency response agencies) in each State in which it operates. Increases from $25,000 to $500,000 the civil penalty for each facility operator failure to: (1) mark accurately the location of pipeline facilities in the vicinity of a demolition, excavation, tunneling, or construction; or (2) comply with safety standards, prepare and carry out an inspection and maintenance plan, allow access to records, or allow required entries or inspections. Increases the maximum civil penalty for a related series of violations from $500,000 to $1 million. Authorizes the Secretary, if a State pipeline safety program certification is accepted, to make an agreement authorizing a State authority to: (1) participate in the oversight of interstate pipeline transportation, including a plan for the State authority to participate in special investigations involving incidents or new construction, as well as (subject to specified requirements) other activities involving interstate pipeline transportation; or (2) assume additional inspection or investigatory duties. Requires any owner or operator of a hazardous liquid pipeline facility to report to the Secretary each release to the environment greater than five gallons of the hazardous liquid or carbon dioxide. Requires the Secretary, as part of the DOT research and development program, to direct research attention to the development of alternative technologies: (1) to expand the defect detection capabilities of internal inspection devices; (2) to inspect pipelines that cannot accommodate internal inspection devices available on the date of enactment; and (3) to develop innovative techniques measuring the structural integrity of pipelines. Sets forth whistle blower protections prohibiting discrimination by pipeline operators or contractors or subcontractors against employees who: (1) provide information, directly or indirectly, to the employer or the Federal Government about any alleged violation of Federal law or regulations relating to pipeline safety; (2) file a related Federal proceeding; or (3) testify or otherwise assist or participate in such a proceeding. Directs the DOT Inspector General to analyze and report to specified congressional committees on whether DOT assessment of pipeline fines and penalties are an effective deterrent for reducing safety risks. Authorizes the Secretary to study how best to preserve environmental resources in conjunction with maintaining pipeline rights-of-way.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Drug Free Borders Act of 2001 - Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for the United States Customs Service for: (1) noncommercial and commercial operations; (2) the air and marine interdiction program; (3) Customs Service automation modernization; and (4) the construction, improvement, and expansion of Customs Service facilities. Earmarks amounts for: (1) the acquisition and deployment of narcotics detection equipment (including maintenance and support of such equipment, training of personnel, new technologies, and certain internal management improvements) along the United States-Mexico border, the United States-Canada border, and the Florida and the Gulf Coast seaports; (2) additional new agents, inspectors, and canine enforcement officers (including, as deemed necessary, import specialists, entry specialists, intelligence analysts, and other administrative and support personnel) along such borders; and (3) Phase One and Phase Two of the Air and Marine Modernization Plan (air and marine drug interdiction operations). Directs the President to submit a plan for funding the acquisition and operation by the Customs Service of tethered aerostat radar systems currently operated by the Department of the Air Force and scheduled for replacement in FY 2002. Revises Federal customs provisions to provide for the appointment of the Commissioner of the Customs Service to a term of five years (with successive five year appointments thereafter). Directs the Commissioner to establish, within the Office of Internal Affairs of the Customs Service, an internal compliance program designed to enhance the performance of the Customs Service mission to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, and in particular, implementation of the Customs Modernization Act. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise certain country of origin marking requirements with respect to imported articles to subject any person who destroys, removes, alters, or obliterates such mark to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Access to High Standards Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish Advanced Placement (AP) programs of assistance to increase the access of low-income students to AP high school courses and AP tests to earn advanced placement and credits at institutions of higher education. Directs the Secretary of Education to award grants to: (1) State or local educational agencies (SEAs or LEAs) for activities to expand access for low-income individuals to AP incentive programs; (2) SEAs for subgrants to LEAs (especially those that serve high concentrations of low-income students, rural areas, and would not have such online access without assistance) to provide students with on-line AP courses; and (3) SEAs for AP incentive programs to reimburse low-income individuals for all or part of AP test fees.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Meeting America's Investment Needs in Small Towns Act of 2001- Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to prescribe a formula for periodic adjustments to the maximum amount of deposit insurance coverage ($100,000), including an inflation adjustment.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Direct Graduate Medical Education Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, to establish a floor for the locality adjusted national average per resident amount of direct graduate medical education (DGME) payments during FY 2003 through 2006.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Open and Accountable Campaign Financing Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to revise reporting requirements, including: (1) changing from quarterly to monthly the additional reports required to be filed with regard to the principal campaign committee of a candidate for the House of Representatives or the Senate in any calendar year during which there is a regularly scheduled election for which such candidate is seeking nomination or election; (2) requiring a national committee of a political party to file the same monthly reports designated for all political committees other than authorized committees of a candidate; and (3) directing the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to make report information available on the Internet and at FEC offices. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a licensee to maintain and make available for public inspection a complete record of certain requests to purchase broadcast time that are related to legally qualified candidates. Amends FECA to require the FEC to develop, and provide at no cost, software for filing FEC reports. Limits to $60,000 the aggregate amount (indexed for inflation) of soft money per calendar year, per contributor that a national committee of a political party, a congressional campaign committee of a national party, or an entity directly or indirectly established, financed, maintained, or controlled by such committee may accept. Increases individual, political committee, and multicandidate political committee contribution limits. Revises indexing provisions. Increases Senate candidate contribution limits for national party committees and senatorial campaign committees. Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit solicitation of soft money in Federal buildings by an officer or employee of the United States. Amends FECA to provide for the indexing of certain penalty and other amounts under enforcement provisions. Outlines provisions for filing of Senate reports with the FEC.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Marriage Tax Penalty Elimination Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise standard deduction amounts and individual income tax rate bracket amounts, including providing that amounts for married filing jointly categories shall be twice that of amounts for single filers.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Careers to Classrooms Act of 2001 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a Careers to Classrooms program. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to States for: (1) teacher recruitment, education, training, referral, placement, and retention activities to place eligible individuals as certified teachers in public schools through State-approved alternative certification programs; (2) stipends for eligible individuals enrolled in programs who agree to seek certification through teacher certification programs in that State and teach in a high-need school in that State, with preference for those individuals needing such assistance; (3) grants to high-need elementary or secondary schools to offset the teacher mentoring, alternative certification, and other direct costs associated with accepting eligible individuals under this Act; (4) grants to accredited institutions of higher education to develop alternative certification programs, with preference given to programs tailored to eligible individuals; and (5) other activities determined by the State to be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Requires preference for such grants to be given to States that have developed, or are developing, alternative certification programs that: (1) rapidly place quality certified teachers into the classroom; (2) emphasize subject matter content; and (3) lead to the certification and placement of a large number of teachers in relation to the number of public elementary school and secondary school teachers in the State.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2001
Military Voting Rights Act of 2001 - Amends the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 to require that a person who is absent from a State in compliance with military or naval orders shall not, solely by reason of that absence, for purposes of voting for an office of the United States or of a State, be deemed to have: (1) lost a residence or domicile in that State; (2) acquired a residence or domicile in any other State; or (3) become resident in or a resident of any other State. Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to require States, with respect to elections for State and local offices, to permit absentee voting by uniformed services members.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2000
Expresses the sense of Congress that it is in the interest of justice and fairness that the United States put forth its best efforts to facilitate discussions designed to resolve all issues between former members of the U.S. armed forces who were prisoners of war forced into slave labor for the benefit of Japanese companies during World War II and the private Japanese companies who profited from their slave labor.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2000
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should bring about compliance with the 1944 treaty on water utilization in order that the full requirement of water shall be available for U.S. use during the next full crop season; and (2) the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission should work to bring about full compliance with such treaty and should not accept any water debt or deficit repayment plan that does not provide for the full repayment of water owed.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2000
Peace Through Negotiations Act of 2000 - Declares it to be U.S. policy to oppose the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state, to withhold diplomatic recognition of any Palestinian state that is unilaterally declared, and to encourage other countries and international organizations to withhold diplomatic recognition of any Palestinian state that is unilaterally declared. Sets forth certain measures that shall be applied in the event that a Palestinian state is unilaterally declared, including: (1) to make it unlawful for the government of any unilaterally declared Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), or any successor entities to establish an office in the United States; (2) to bar of U.S. assistance to the government of any unilaterally declared Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority (or to any successor entity), and any programs or projects in the West Bank or Gaza (except humanitarian assistance); (3) to withhold a specified percentage of the U.S. contribution to any international organization that recognizes a unilaterally declared Palestinian state; and (4) to oppose such state's membership in any international financial institution or the extension by such institution of any loan or other financial assistance to it. Authorizes the President to suspend, for one year, the application of a specified number of such measures provided he determines and certifies to specified congressional committees that such suspensions are in the national security interests of the United States or the application of such measures would significantly hinder the prospects for a negotiated peace agreement in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2000
Freedom to Fish Act - Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prohibit any fishery management plan prepared by a Regional Fishery Management Council or the Secretary of Commerce from establishing areas closed to recreational fishing unless: (1) there is a clear indication that recreational fishermen are the cause of a specific conservation problem and that less severe conservation measures will not adequately provide for conservation and management of the affected stocks of fish; (2) the closed area regulation includes specific measurable criteria to determine the conservation benefit of the closed area on such fish and provides a timetable for periodic review of the continued need for the closed area; (3) the closed area is no larger than that which is supported by the best available scientific information; or (4) provision is made to reopen the closed area to recreational fishing whenever any such condition that was the basis of the closure no longer exists. Amends the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to direct the Secretary to provide such a Council with the opportunity to propose and revise all regulations applicable to fishing within designated marine sanctuaries according to the standards and procedures of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Requires such regulations, upon approval by the Secretary, to apply within the exclusive economic zone and allows them to be applied within a State, with the approval of the State's Governor or pursuant to the Secretary's authority under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2000
Commends the men and women of the 49th Armored Division of the Texas Army National Guard for their contributions to the success of the Multinational Stabilization Force in Bosnia- Herzegovina. Expresses gratitude for the sacrifices made by those men and women, their families, and their civilian employers in support of U.S. peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia- Herzegovina.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2000
Honors the members of the crew of the U.S.S. COLE who died or were wounded as a result of the terrorist attack on such ship in Aden, Yemen on October 12, 2000. Extends sympathy to their families. Commends the ship's crew for their heroic damage control efforts. Condemns the attack as an unprovoked and cowardly act of terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2000
National Rural Development Partnership Act of 2000 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish the National Rural Development Partnership composed of the National Rural Development Council (established by this Act) and State and rural development councils (authorized by this Act). Includes among Partnership purposes: (1) enhancement of State and local rural development capacities; and (2) engagement of Federal, State, local, tribal, and private and nonprofit sectors in such efforts. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for State rural development council matching requirements. Terminates the Partnership five years after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2000
Welcomes the constitutional transition of power in Mexico on December 1, 2000. Congratulates the Mexican people and their elected representatives for this historic change. Expresses the intent of the Senate to continue to work cooperatively with Mexican authorities to promote the health and welfare of U.S. and Mexican citizens endangered by international drug trafficking, use, and production. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the incoming new governments in both Mexico and the United States must develop and implement a counter-drug program that more effectively addresses the official corruption, increase in drug traffic, and lawlessness that has resulted from illegal drug trafficking, and that a one-year waiver of the requirement that the President certify Mexico is warranted to permit both new governments time to do so.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2000
Commends the city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, for its successful conduct of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games and congratulates the U.S. Olympic Team for its outstanding accomplishments there.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2000
Calls for: (1) Congress and the executive branch to communicate directly with elected and appointed top Taiwanese officials; and (2) the United States to end restrictions on high-level visits by Taiwanese officials to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2000
Medicare Access to Digital Mammography Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise requirements for payments and standards for screening mammography that pertain to the limit for screening mammography performed in 1991 to: (1) specify the screening mammography performed in 1991 as nondigital; (2) establish a separate limit for digital screening mammography performed in 2001 and thereafter; and (3) replace the current reduction of limit provision with a provision for adjustment of limit (up or down), requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make at least annual reviews (currently, reviews from time to time) on the appropriateness of such applicable limits and make adjustments accordingly.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2000
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Education Act - Authorizes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc., to construct a temporary education center for educating people about the Memorial. Requires the center to remain for ten years, after which Congress may reevaluate the continuing need for the center. Requires the Fund, in designing the center, to consult with the Commission on Fine Arts.
![Official portrait of Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h001016_200.jpg)