United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2001
Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health, to develop a list of approved drugs for which: (1) there is no patient or market exclusivity protection; and (2) additional pediatric safety and effectiveness studies are needed. Directs the Secretary to award contracts to entities with appropriate experience for pediatric clinical trials of such drugs. Establishes a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contract process for related labeling changes. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to: (1) eliminate the user fee waiver for pediatric supplements to a human drug application; (2) provide priority status for pediatric supplements; (3) include neonates within the definition of pediatric studies; (4) provide for dissemination of pediatric supplement information; and (5) set forth requirements for the additional six-month exclusivity period for new or already-marketed pediatric drugs. Directs the Secretary to establish an Office of Pediatric Therapeutics within the Office of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, which shall coordinate all FDA pediatric activities.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2001
American Hospital Preservation 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, to: (1) increase (restore the full) market basket update for inpatient prospective payment services hospitals; and (2) maintain the indirect medical education adjustment percentage at 6.5 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2001
Child Tax Credit Expansion and Equity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a phased-in increase ($1,000 as of 2006) of the child tax credit. Makes such credit partially refundable. Provides for coordination with Federal means-tested programs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2001
Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants to public or nonprofit private entities for the development and operation of not more than eight consortium centers (each such center shall be known as a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Center of Excellence) for the conduct of multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research on environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2001
National Museum of African American History and Culture Act of 2001 - Establishes within the Smithsonian Institution the National Museum of African American History and Culture, to be operated as a center for scholarship and a location for museum training, public education, exhibits, and collection and study of items and materials relating to the life, art, history, and culture of African Americans form slavery and the era of reconstruction to the Harlem renaissance, the civil rights movement, and beyond. Establishes the National Museum of African American History and Culture Council. Requires the Council to appoint a Director to manage the Museum. Authorizes the Council to plan, design, reconstruct, renovate, and expand the Arts and Industries Building to house the Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2001
Recognizes and acknowledges the 50th anniversary of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and its achievement and service to the United States. Reaffirms commitment for the next 50 years to support research, education, and technological advancement and discovery through the NSF, the premier scientific agency in the Federal Government.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2001
Automobile Fuel Economy Act of 2001 - Sets forth certain increased average fuel economy standards for certain light trucks, automobiles (up to 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight), and certain classes of vehicles in the Federal fleet that are manufactured or purchased after specified dates.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2001
Extends through September 30, 2015 (currently September 30, 2007) the eligibility of certain former members of the Selected Reserve for veterans' housing loans.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2001
Clean Efficient Automobiles Resulting From Advanced Car Technologies (CLEAR ACT) Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an annual alternative motor vehicle credit equal to the sum of: (1) the new qualified fuel cell motor vehicle credit; (2) the new qualified hybrid motor vehicle credit; and (3) the new qualified alternative fuel motor vehicle credit. Sets forth credit termination dates. Extends and revises the credit for qualified electric vehicles. Makes leased vehicles eligible for the credit. Allows (through 2007) an alternative fuel retail sales credit of 50 cents per gallon to a qualifying retailer. Extends and revises the deduction for certain clean fuel vehicles and refueling property. Allows (through 2007) a credit for the installation of residential or retail clean-fuel vehicle refueling property.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2001
Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to double from 12 to 24 the number of months allowed for vocational educational training that are counted as a work activity under TANF.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2001
Designates April 2001 as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Encourages individual and collective efforts that reflect the vision of a Nation where: (1) no sexual assault victim goes un-served or ever feels there is no path to justice; and (2) citizens work toward eliminating all forms of sexual violence.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2001
Retirement Security and Savings Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) with respect to pensions. (All the following are amendments to the Code, except where the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, ERISA, is mentioned.) Increases: (1) annual dollar Individual Retirement Account (IRA) contribution limits; and (2) benefit and contribution limits, with indexes for inflation. Amends the Code and ERISA to deem certain voluntary employee contributions to accounts and annuities as IRAs rather than pension plans. Provides for tax-free distributions from IRAs for charitable purposes. Modifies adjusted gross income limits for Roth IRAs. Revises requirements relating to: (1) plan loans for subchapter S owners, partners, and sole proprietors; and (2) specified top-heavy rules. Provides that elective deferrals shall not be taken into account for purposes of limits on certain plan contributions. Repeals specified coordination requirements for deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations. Revises certain deduction limits for stock bonus and profit sharing trusts and for defined contribution plans. Provides for optional treatment of elective deferrals as after-tax contributions. Establishes nonrefundable tax credits for elective deferrals and IRA contributions. Establishes refundable tax credits for: (1) qualified pension plan contributions of small employers; and (2) the pension plan startup costs of small employers. Allows individuals age 50 or older to make additional contributions to an applicable employer plan (section 401(k) or similar plan). Sets forth requirements relating to equitable treatment for contributions of employees to defined contribution plans. Provides for faster vesting of certain employer matching contributions under the Code and ERISA. Revises: (1) minimum distribution rules; and (2) requirements relating to tax treatment of division of section 457 plan benefits upon divorce. Sets forth provisions: (1) relating to hardship distributions; and (2) for waiver of a tax on nondeductible contributions for domestic or similar workers. Permits, under certain conditions, rollovers: (1) from and to various types of plans; (2) of IRAs into workplace retirement plans; and (3) of after-tax contributions in an exempt trust. Sets forth a hardship exception to the 60-day rule. Sets forth requirements for treatment of forms of distribution available under transferor and transferee plans under the Code and ERISA. Revises restrictions on distributions, including the same desk exception. Allows trustee-to-trustee transfers to purchase permissive service credit with respect to governmental defined benefit plans. Allows employers to disregard rollovers for purposes of cash-out amounts, under retirement plan provisions of the Code. Revises minimum distribution and inclusion requirements for section 457 plans. Repeals, for plan years beginning in 2004 and following years, the current liability full funding limit under the Code and ERISA. Revises maximum contribution deduction rules, and applies them to all defined benefit plans. Allows an employer, in determining the amount of nondeductible contributions for any taxable year, to elect not to take into account any contributions to a defined benefit plan except to the extent they exceed the full-funding limitation. Makes certain compensation limitations for defined benefit plans inapplicable to governmental and multiemployer plans. Prohibits combining or aggregating a multiemployer plan with any other plan maintained by the employer for the purpose of applying such limitations. Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to protect the investment of employee contributions to 401(k) plans by providing that specified requirements apply to elective deferrals for plan years beginning after December 31, 1998. Requires that pension benefit statements be furnished annually (once every three years for defined benefit plans) or on request. Establishes an excise tax for certain prohibited allocations of stock in an S corporation ESOP. Provides for automatic rollovers of certain mandatory distributions. Establishes an excise tax for the failure of a defined benefit plan or an individual account plan (except governmental, church, and other specified plans), subject to minimum funding standards to meet specified notice requirements, under the Code and ERISA, for plan amendments which significantly reduce benefit accruals. Revises Code and ERISA requirements relating to timing of plan valuations. Allows applicable dividends of ESOPs to be reinvested without loss of dividend deduction. Repeals a transition rule relating to certain highly compensated employees under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to modify specified regulations with respect to certain plan participation by employees of tax-exempt entities. Treats the provision of certain retirement planning services by an employer for an employee as a de minimis fringe benefit to the extent it is not treated as a working condition fringe. Directs the Secretary to provide simplified annual filing requirements for retirement plans with assets below a specified amount, if they cover: (1) one participant (an owner and spouse); or (2) fewer than 25 employees. Directs the Secretary to continue to update and improve the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System, or any successor program. Repeals a multiple use test. Allows certain alternative ways of satisfying nondiscrimination, coverage, and line of business rules. Exempts plans maintained by any governmental entity from certain nondiscrimination rules. Directs the Secretary to modify specified regulations relating to the notice and consent period regarding distributions. Directs the Secretary to study and report on pension coverage and preretirement use of benefits. Revises ERISA provisions relating to: (1) annual report dissemination; (2) the National Summit on Retirement Savings; (3) missing participants; (4) Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) reduction of premiums for new plans of small employers and of additional premiums for new and small plans; (5) PBGC authority to pay interest on premium overpayment refunds; (6) substantial owner benefits in terminated plans; (7) civil penalties for breach of fiduciary responsibility; and (8) benefit suspension notices. Prescribes time requirements for plan amendments or annuity contract amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2001
Better Nutrition for School Children Act of 2001 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to prohibit the sale, donation, or service without charge of foods of minimal nutritional value on school grounds during the time of service under the school breakfast program under CNA or the school lunch program the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) review Federal, State, and local laws, policies, and practices relating to the sale, donation, or service without charge of foods of minimal nutritional value on school grounds during a covered period of the school day before service under the school lunch program (excluding the time of school breakfast program service); and (2) taking specified factors into consideration, promulgate related regulations, which may include Federal (or allowance of State or local) prohibition against provision of such foods during such covered period on all or part of school grounds.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2001
Holocaust Victims Tax Fairness Act of 2001 - Excludes from gross income and from adjusted gross income computations which consider excluded income (including Social Security benefits) specified restitution payments received by persons (or heirs) persecuted for racial or religious reasons by Nazi Germany, its allied or controlled countries, or any other Axis regime. Excludes such payments from eligibility and benefits determinations for purposes of Federal or federally assisted means-tested programs.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2001
Opposes the elimination of Saturday home and business mail delivery and calls on the U.S. Postal Service to take all of the necessary steps to assure that six-day home and business mail delivery not be reduced.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2001
Eliminate Colorectal Cancer Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require coverage of colorectal cancer screening according to certain guidelines by a group health plan, a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage, and a health insurance issuer in the individual market. Directs the Secretaries of Labor and of Health and Human Services to ensure coordination in the implementation and enforcement of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2001
Extends, for an additional 20 years, the effective period of the consent of Congress to the interstate compact relating to the restoration of Atlantic salmon to the Connecticut River Basin and creating the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the activities of the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission through FY 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2001
Nursing Employment and Education Development Act (the NEED Act) - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for the nursing workforce development student loan repayment program and permit the service required by such program to be performed in a skilled nursing facility, in a home health agency, in a public health department, or in a nurse-managed health center. Provide for a Nurse Corps Scholarship program to provide scholarships to individuals seeking nursing education in exchange for service from such individuals in a critical nursing shortage area upon completion of such education, a public awareness and education campaign encouraging pursuit of the nursing profession, an area health education centers program to develop models of excellence for nurses, community nurse outreach grants, educational assistance for nurses from diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds, career ladder program grants for nurses, nurse training grants, nurse internship and residency grants, a fast-track nursing faculty loan program, a stipend and scholarship program to encourage individuals to seek advanced nursing degrees, and a National Commission on the Nursing Crisis.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2001
Amateur Sports Integrity Act - Athletic Performance-Enhancing Drugs Research and Detection Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish a program to support research into the use of performance-enhancing substances by athletes, and methods of detecting their use. Requires the Director to: (1) consider research proposals involving performance-enhancing substances banned from use by competitors in events sanctioned by organizations such as the International Olympic Committee, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball. Requires the Director in carrying out such program to: (1) fund research on the detection of naturally-occurring steroids, such as testosterone, and other testosterone precursors (e.g., androstendione), and other substances, such as human growth hormone and erythropoietin for which no tests are available but for which there is evidence of abuse or abuse potential; (2) fund research that focuses on population studies to ensure that tests are accurate for men, women, all relevant age, and major ethnic groups; and (3) not fund research on drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, phencyclidine, marijuana, morphine/codeine, and methamphetamine/amphetamine. Requires the Director to develop a grant program to fund educational substance abuse prevention and intervention programs related to the use of such banned performance-enhancing substances by high school and college student athletes. Amends the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to make it unlawful for a governmental entity to sponsor, operate, advertise, promote, license, or authorize by law or compact, or for a person, to sponsor, operate, advertise, or promote, a lottery, sweepstakes, or other betting, gambling, or wagering scheme based on a competitive game at the Summer or Winter Olympics, a competitive game in which high school or college athletes participate, or a performance of high school or college athletes in a competitive game.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2001
Stem Cell Research Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to permit the Secretary of Health and Human Services to only conduct, support, or fund research on human embryos for the purpose of generating embryonic stem cells and utilizing stem cells that have been derived from embryos in accordance with the provisions of this Act. Makes it unlawful for any person receiving Federal funds to knowingly acquire, receive, or otherwise transfer any human embryos for valuable consideration if such action affects interstate commerce. Directs the Secretary, in conjunction with the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to issue guidelines expanding on the rules governing human embryonic stem cell research to include rules that govern the derivation of stem cells from donated embryos under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2001
Nurse Reinvestment Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for nurse education training payments to qualified entities. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to temporarily increase the matching rate for Medicaid nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the exclusion from gross income of amounts received under the National Nursing Service Corps Scholarship Program. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) develop and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the nursing profession, highlight the advantages and rewards of nursing, and encourage individuals from diverse communities and backgrounds to enter the nursing profession; and (2) award grants to designated eligible educational entities in order to increase the number of nurses. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes a National Nurse Service Corps Scholarship program that provides scholarships to individuals seeking nursing education in exchange for service by such individuals in areas with nursing shortages. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Artist-Museum Partnership Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a fair market value (determined at time of contribution) deduction for charitable contributions of literary, musical, artistic, scholarly compositions, or the copyright created by a qualifying donor. Exempts certain non-personal letters and memoranda from such treatment. Limits such increased deduction to the donor's artistic adjusted income (as defined by this Act).
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2001
Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to increase benefits to railroad employees and their beneficiaries and to revise financing of the pension part (tier II) of the railroad retirement system. Establishes a Railroad Retirement Trust Fund and a Railroad Retirement Investment Trust to manage and invest Fund assets. Abolishes the Railroad Retirement Supplemental Annuity Account and provides for transfer of its funds to the Fund. Provides for transfer to the Fund of certain portions of the Railroad Retirement Account and of Social Security Equivalent Benefit account funds. Transfers to the disbursing agent from the Dual Benefits Payments Account the amount necessary to make dual benefit payments. Requires the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to calculate the ratio of assets to benefits to determine annual tier II tax rates for employers, employee representatives, and employees. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt the Fund from taxation. Repeals a supplemental annuity tax that railroad employers pay to finance a benefit for long-time rail employees. Provides for adjustments to railroad employers, employee representatives, and employee tier II tax rates.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2001
Housing Bond and Credit Modernization and Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the required use of certain principal repayments on mortgage subsidy bond financings to redeem bonds; (2) modify the purchase price limitation under mortgage subsidy bond rules based on median family income; and (3) define the term "area median gross income" for low-income housing credit projects.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2001
Rural Rental Housing Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, directly or through specified intermediaries, to provide rural rental housing assistance. Gives priority to very low-income families, low-income communities, communities lacking affordable rental housing, or certain other applicants.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2001
Transportation Tax Equity and Fairness Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the special fuel excise tax on railroads and inland waterway transportation. Subjects diesel fuel used in trains to the additional tax for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2001
Health Care Consumers Assistance Fund Act - Directs: (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Health Care Consumer Assistance Fund for State grants to provide consumers with health insurance information, assistance, and referrals; and (2) States, from such amounts, to establish health care consumer assistance offices.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2001
Authorizes units and members of the National Guard to conduct and participate in small arms competitions and athletic competitions if such activities are relevant to the performance of military duties or military readiness. Allows amounts appropriated for the National Guard to be used for expenses incurred by Guard members engaging in such activities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2001
Grants the consent of Congress to the International Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut and the Provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2001
Better Education for Students and Teachers Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to revise title I as Better Results for Disadvantaged Children (currently Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards). Revises title I part A with respect to: (1) yearly testing and assessments of student performance; (2) Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards; (3) identification of schools for improvement and corrective actions; (4) public school choice options under certain conditions; (5) reporting to parents and the public on school performance and teacher quality; (6) State reservation of funds for school improvement; (7) formulas relating to Basic, Concentration, Targeted, and Education Finance Incentive Grants; and (8) eligibility requirements for schoolwide programs. Revises title I to: (1) reauthorize the William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Program; (2) establish Reading First and Early Reading First initiative programs; (3) reauthorize 21st Century Learning Centers; and (4) establish a program for Comprehensive School Reform. Dropout Prevention Act - Establishes a program for School Dropout Prevention. Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to revise and reauthorize provisions for education for homeless children and youth. Revises title II, Teachers, to: (1) replace the current Eisenhower Professional Development and Class-Size Reduction programs; and (2) establish a part A Teacher Quality formula grant program for States and LEAs to support various similar activities to improve elementary and secondary school teaching. Sets forth requirements relating to such State and LEA activities and performance objectives. Includes among authorized national teacher activities, administered by the Secretary, support for: (1) professional development for school leaders; (2) teachers seeking advanced certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; (3) the Troops-to-Teachers program recruiting military retirees into teaching; and (4) a program supporting transition to teaching by mid-career professionals. Establishes a part B Mathematics and Science Partnerships program involving SEAs, higher education mathematics or science departments, and LEAs. Reauthorizes the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Math and Science Education. Establishes the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology grants program. Replaces various current ESEA title III technology for education programs with a title II part C State and Local Programs for Technology Use in Classrooms, with formula grants to States to provide competitive grants to LEAs. Teacher Mobility Act - Establishes a National Panel on Portability of Teacher Pensions and Credentials. Sets forth as a new title III, Education for Limited English Proficient and Recent Immigrant Pupils (transferring and revising specified current law). Revises and reauthorizes the Bilingual Education Act to: (1) consolidate certain programs; (2) require yearly assessment of English proficiency of students served; (3) eliminate a funding cap for non-bilingual programs under instructional services grants; and (4) set priorities in making grants to certain applicants. Reauthorizes the Foreign Language Assistance and Emergency Immigrant Education programs. Revises title IV, Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities, to: (1) authorize assistance for hiring drug prevention and school safety program coordinators in schools; (2) require participating schools to assess drug and violence problems, set measurable goals, use a research-based prevention framework for programs, and conduct evaluations; (3) include among uses of funds drug testing, locker searches, and training in threat and crisis management and identification and response to troubled and violent youth. Redesignates current ESEA requirements that States enact and enforce laws mandating a one-year school expulsion for any student bringing a weapon to school. Amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to allow certain funds to be used for nationwide background checks of employees. Pro-Children Act of 2001 - Redesignates current ESEA prohibitions against smoking within any indoor facility used for providing education or related services. Sets forth as title V, Public School Choice and Flexibility, and eliminates current parts B and C provisions for Women's Educational Equity and for Assistance to Address School Dropout Problems. Sets forth part A, Public School Choice, to: (1) reauthorize provisions for public Charter Schools and for Magnet Schools assistance; and (2) establish a Public School Choice program. Sets forth part B, Flexibility, to redesignate and reauthorize certain ESEA provisions, including: (1) waivers of requirements; and (2) Innovative Education Program Strategies. Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 2001 - Reauthorizes, under part B Flexibility, ESEA provisions for Education Flexibility Partnerships. Rural Education Achievement Program - Reauthorizes, under part B Flexibility, ESEA provisions for a Rural Education Initiative, with grants for small rural schools and for low-income and rural schools. Access to High Standards Act - Establishes as ESEA title V part E, Advanced Placement (AP) Programs to provide 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. Sets forth a new title VI, Parental Involvement and Accountability, authorizing Parental Information and Resource Centers (currently under the Goals 200: Educate America Act). Sets forth part B, Improving Academic Achievement, which: (1) authorizes various education performance awards for States and schools; and (2) penalizes States that fail to achieve progress in certain educational assessments by reducing administrative funds under ESEA formula grant programs. Reauthorizes and revises title VII Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native Education. Repeals the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, and the following ESEA titles: (1) X, Programs of National Significance, including the Fund for the Improvement of Education and programs for gifted and talented children, arts in education, inexpensive book distribution, civic education, Ellender fellowships, urban and rural education assistance, and the national writing project; (2) XI, Coordinated Services; (3) XII, School Facilities Infrastructure Improvement, a program of grants for school construction and renovation; (4) XIII, Support and Assistance Programs to Improve Education, including comprehensive regional assistance centers, the national diffusion network, Eisenhower regional mathematics and science education consortia, and technology-based technical assistance; and (5) XIV, some general provisions. Authorizes an independent evaluation grant to the Board on Testing and Assessment of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2001
Long-Term Care and Retirement Security Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a deduction (based on years of continuous coverage) for eligible long-term care insurance premiums for a taxpayer, spouse, and dependents, including accelerated deduction percentages for persons who are 55 years old; and (2) long-term care insurance to be offered under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements. Allows an income-adjusted (limited) credit for eligible individuals with long-term care needs. Sets forth specified requirements for qualifying long-term care insurance contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2001
Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime that: (1) constitutes a crime of violence under Federal law or a felony under State or Indian tribal law; and (2) is motivated by prejudice based on the race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim or is a violation of the hate crime laws of the State or tribe. Directs the Attorney General to give priority for assistance to crimes committed by offenders who have committed crimes in more than one State and to rural jurisdictions that have difficulty covering the extraordinary investigation or prosecution expenses. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to assist State, local, and Indian law enforcement officials with such extraordinary expenses. Directs the Office of Justice Programs to: (1) work closely with funded jurisdictions to ensure that the concerns and needs of all affected parties are addressed; and (2) award grants to State and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Prohibits specified offenses involving actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to study and provide sentencing enhancements for adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes. Amends the Hate Crimes Statistics Act to require the crime data to be collected and published by the Attorney General to include data about crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on gender.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2001
Work Opportunity Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permanently extend the work opportunity credit; (2) permanently extend the temporary incentives for employing long-term family assistance recipients; and (3) redefine the term "qualified food stamp recipient" to raise the upper age limit from 25 to 51.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2001
No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2001 - States that notwithstanding any other provision of law, the community of American citizens who are residents of the District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall have full voting representation in the Congress. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax exemption to District of Columbia residents for years during which such residents do not have full voting representation in the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to increase from one year to five years the maximum imprisonment for knowing and willful prohibited transactions aggregating $25,000 or more during a calendar year. Extends the statute of limitations from three to five years. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to: (1) promulgate a guideline, or amend an existing guideline, for penalties under FECA and related election laws; and (2) submit to Congress an explanation of any such guidelines and any legislative or administrative recommendations regarding enforcement. Amends FECA to extend the prohibition against campaign contributions by foreign nationals to domestic subsidiaries of foreign nationals, unless the subsidiary can demonstrate through a reasonable accounting method that it has sufficient funds other than those given or loaned by its foreign national parent from which the contribution or donation is made. Extends to donations the prohibition against contributions in the name of another.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2001
Recognizes May 15, 2001, as Peace Officers Memorial Day, in honor of Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2001
Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to grant States the option of covering certain categories of eligible women and child resident aliens under the Medicaid and SCHIP programs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2001
Nutrition Assistance for Working Families and Seniors Act of 2001 - Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to make legal immigrants eligible for food stamp program benefits. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 respecting the food stamp program to: (1) increase standard income deductions; (2) increase the minimum household allotment; (3) increase the transitional benefits period; (4) provide for personnel training, a toll-free information number, pilot programs for inter-program application and verification, and Internet and telephone participation; (5) provide grants for partnerships and technology to enhance program access, including outreach to families with low program participation, or participating in (or unable to participate in) the temporary assistance for needy families program. Amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to authorize additional appropriations for emergency food assistance commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2001
Relief, Equity, Access, and Coverage for Health (REACH) Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow as a limited refundable credit the amount paid for qualified health insurance; and (2) provide for the payment, by the Secretary of the Treasury, to an individual's health insurer of an amount equal to an individual's qualified health insurance credit advance amount. Amends the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) provisions of the Social Security Act to provide that, in the case of a targeted low-income child who is eligible for child health assistance and whose parent is eligible for the refundable health insurance costs tax credit, payment may be made to a State for payment by the State to a health insurance issuer that receives advance payment of such credit on behalf of the parent of an amount equal to the estimated cost of providing the child with child health assistance, subject to stated conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2001
Violence Against Women Office Act - Establishes in the Department of Justice a Violence Against Women Office. Provides that the Office shall: (1) have jurisdiction over all matters related to administration, enforcement, coordination, and implementation of all responsibilities of the Attorney General or the Department of Justice related to violence against women, including formula and discretionary grant programs authorized under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994; and (2) be solely responsible for coordination with other offices or agencies of administration, enforcement, and implementation of the programs, grants, and activities under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2001
Disapproves and nullifies the rule submitted by the United States Agency for International Development relating to the restoration of the Mexico City Policy (which denies funding to any organization that uses its own funds to provide or promote abortion services overseas).
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2001
Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 - Establishes the Commission on Voting Rights and Procedures to study: (1) election technology and systems; (2) ballot design and uniformity; (3) ballot and polling place access; (4) voting systems capacity and election administration efficiency; (5) voter registration and maintenance of voter rolls; (6) alternative voting methods; (7) voter intimidation; (8) accuracy of voting, election procedures, and election technology; (9) voter education; (10) election personnel and volunteer training; (11) implementation of provisions of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act on registration and voting by absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters in elections for Federal office; (12) establishment of the date on which such elections are held as a Federal or a State holiday and on establishment of modified polling place hours; and (13) Federal assistance to State and local authorities to improve the administration of elections for Federal office. Directs the Commission to develop specific recommendations, consistent with certain uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration requirements under this Act, regarding: (1) best practices in voting and election administration; (2) Federal assistance to State and local authorities to improve administration of Federal elections; (3) increased voter registration, accuracy of voter rolls, and participation and inclusion of legal voters, and (4) improved voter education and training of election personnel. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to approved State, territory, and locality applicants to pay the Federal share of the costs of activities to: (1) improve, acquire, or replace voting equipment or technology and improve the accessibility of polling places; (2) implement new election administration procedures to increase voter participation and reduce disenfranchisement, such as "same-day" voter registration procedures; (3) educate voters concerning voting procedures, voting rights or voting technology, and to train election personnel; and (4) implement Commission recommendations. Specifies certain uniform and nondiscriminatory requirements each voting system used in an election for Federal office must meet with regard to election technology and administration. Outlines requirements for provisional voting and sample ballot mailings to voters. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in an appropriate district court to enforce the requirements of this Act for election technology and administration through the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Justice.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Clean Power Act of 2001 - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to achieve specified reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, and mercury from powerplants (electric generation facilities with a nameplate capacity of 15 megawatts or greater that use a combustion device to generate electricity for sale) by January 1, 2007. Sets forth additional compliance requirements for outdated powerplants.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2001
Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2001 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act, respectively, 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. Exempts specified small employers from such requirements. Requires a General Accounting Office study of such requirements' effects upon health insurance costs, access, and quality.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2001
Bipartisan Renewable, Efficient Energy with Zero Effluent (BREEZE) Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend, for five years, the credit for producing energy from wind.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Social Services Block Grant Restoration Act of 2001 - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to restore the authority of States to transfer up to ten percent of TANF funds to carry out State programs pursuant to SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services). Amends SSA title XX to: (1) restore funds to States and territories for FY 2001 and 2002 and each fiscal year thereafter; and (2) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to compile information on State activities carried out under SSA title XX and report it annually to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2001
Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act of 2001 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Department of Defense should field currently available weapons, other technologies, tactics, and operational concepts that provide suitable alternatives to anti-personnel mines and mixed anti-tank mine systems; and (2) the United States should end its use of such mines and join the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to make permanent (currently terminates on October 23, 2003) the prohibition on the transfer of anti-personnel landmines. Directs the President to establish an interagency working group to develop a comprehensive plan for expanded mine action programs, including victim rehabilitation, social support, and economic reintegration.
![Official portrait of Sen. Jeffords, James M. [I-VT]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/j000072_200.jpg)