United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2002
Congratulates the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, on its bicentennial anniversary. Recognizes it as an outstanding leadership development institution that upholds and promotes the highest virtues of American society. Commends all those who have led and taught at the Academy for inculcating its graduates with moral, ethical, and intellectual values and skills that are the foundations for the dedicated service so honorably given by those graduates to the Army, the Nation, and friends of freedom and liberty around the world for 200 years.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2002
Designates March 2, 2002, as Read Across America Day. Honors Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) for his success in encouraging children to discover the joy of reading. Encourages parents to read with their children for at least 30 minutes on Read Across America Day in honor of Dr. Seuss and in celebration of reading.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2002
Supports the goals and ideas of National Donor Day. Encourages all Americans to learn about the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation and to discuss such donation with their families and friends.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2002
Freedom's Way National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Freedom's Way National Heritage Area encompassing 36 communities in Massachusetts and six communities in New Hampshire that have made important and distinctive contributions to the national character of America.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2002
Expresses the sense of the Senate, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its establishment, that the Elderly Nutrition Program is of great importance to the health and well-being of participants, is well-run, and continues to achieve its objectives on behalf of the senior citizens it serves. Declares that the Senate: (1) expresses appreciation for the daily work of all the individuals, including volunteers, who administer the program at the local level; and (2) recognizes the importance of the present and future health and well-being of the millions of senior citizens across the Nation, including the maintenance of their independence and dignity.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2001
Nurse Reinvestment Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to permit the service required by the Nursing Workforce Development Student Loan Repayment program to be performed in a nursing home, in a hospice, in a home health agency, in a nurse-managed health center, or in a public health department, in addition to facilities where such service may currently be performed. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a National Nurse Corps Scholarship program to provide scholarships to individuals seeking nursing education in exchange for service from such individuals in critical nursing shortage areas or facilities upon completion of such education. Sets forth eligibility, application, payment, and reporting requirements. Requires the Secretary to award grants to schools of nursing and/or health care facilities to develop and support: (1) educational outreach programs to encourage entry into the profession, targeting primary, secondary, and other schools, the disadvantaged, underrepresented minorities, and underserved rural and urban communities; (2) career ladder programs; (3) gerontology curriculum and competencies and efforts to encourage long-term care nursing services for the elderly as a career choice; (4) nurse internship and residency programs; and (5) demonstrations of models and best practices in nursing care, including retention strategies. Requires the Secretary to develop and administer a comprehensive national multi-media public education campaign to encourage pursuit of the nursing profession. Includes grants for similar State campaigns. Requires the Secretary to award grants to area health education centers to develop models of excellence for nurses or expand existing school mentoring programs to include one for nurses. Establishes for advanced degree nursing students: (1) a fast-track nursing faculty loan program, providing loan forgiveness in exchange for teaching services; and (2) a scholarship and stipend program. Establishes a National Commission on the Recruitment and Retention of Nurses to make innovative and creative recommendations concerning recruitment, retention, and advancement.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2001
Terrorist Victims' Courtroom Access Act - Directs the trial court, in order to permit victims of crimes associated with the September 11, 2001, terrorist acts to watch proceedings in the criminal case against Zacarias Moussaoui, to order closed circuit televising of the proceedings to convenient locations, including Northern Virginia, Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Newark, San Francisco, for viewing by victims who have a compelling viewing interest but are unable to travel to the location of the trial. Applies relevant provisions of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 to the televising of court proceedings under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2001
Medicare+Choice Consumer Protection Act of 2001 - Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for continuous open enrollment and disenrollment in Medicare+Choice plans; (2) permit enrollment in the Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap) program when Medicare+Choice plans reduce benefits or when a provider leaves a Medicare+Choice plan; and (3) limit Medicare+Choice cost-sharing.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2001
Airport Security Personnel Protection Act - Amends the Aviation and Transportation Security Act to establish a special rule granting transitional employment eligibility, upon a specified certification by the Attorney General, to qualified lawful permanent resident alien airport security screeners until their naturalization process is completed. Directs the Attorney General to expedite the naturalization process for such screeners.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2001
Fair International Labor Standards in Trade and Investment Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor, through the International Labor Affairs Bureau, to promote fair international standards in trade and investment by: (1) representing the United States in the International Labor Organization (ILO), supporting ILO activities, and consulting with organizations that represent employers and employees in ILO; (2) providing bilateral and multilateral technical assistance to enable developing countries in particular to implement core labor standards, strengthen governmental capacity to enforce national labor laws and protect internationally recognized worker rights, and develop policies to assist workers who are adversely affected by shifts in trade and investments flows, structural adjustments, and macroeconomic changes within national economies and the global economy; (3) providing bilateral aid to foreign countries to eliminate abusive child labor and other trade and investment-related worker rights violations and to support workforce development programs to foster broad-based, equitable, and sustainable economic development in recipient countries; (4) compiling and reporting annually to Congress on the extent to which each foreign country that has a trade and investment agreement with the United States protects the free exercise of internationally recognized worker rights as required under U.S. law, and promotes core labor standards as embodied in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work; (5) conducting research and analysis on the relationship between internationally recognized worker rights and core labor standards and the conduct of international, trade, commerce, and investment and related trends; and (6) making grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to carry out such functions.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2001
Recognizes and honors the National Guard on the 365th anniversary of the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony militia and recognizes the critical importance of the National Guard to U.S. national security. Salutes members of the National Guard for their service on September 11, 2001, and their continued role in homeland defense and military operations against the al Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Expresses support for providing the National Guard with necessary resources to ensure its continued readiness.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2001
Congratulates Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on a half century of effort in promoting democratic values, particularly freedom of the press and freedom of expression in certain areas of the world. Recognizes such organization's major contribution to the growth of democracy throughout the world and its continuing efforts to advance vital U.S. interests in building a more peaceful, democratic, free, and stable world community.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2001
Use NICS in Terrorist Investigations Act - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to authorize the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to access National Instant Check System (NICS) audit log records for the purpose of responding to an inquiry from any Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency in connection with a civil or criminal law enforcement investigation. Requires firearms transaction records relating to the person or the transfer to be destroyed consistent with the Attorney General's responsibility to ensure privacy of the system and to prevent system fraud and abuse, but in no fewer than 90 days after the date on which the firearms licensee first contacts the system with respect to the transfer, if the receipt of the firearm would not violate such Act. Directs: (1) the Department of Justice (DOJ), including the FBI, during the period that such records are maintained, to make such records available to the Department of the Treasury (DOT), including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, for the purpose of conducting system audits to detect fraud and misuse, and to protect the privacy and security, of the system; and (2) DOT to maintain and destroy those records in accordance with all statutory requirements imposed on DOJ.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2001
White House Commission on National Military Appreciation Month Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should establish the White House Commission on National Military Appreciation Month to make recommendations to the President on the proclamation of National Military Appreciation Month to be celebrated in May of each year; and (2) any such Commission should be composed of specified members. Expresses the sense of Congress that if such Commission is established, the President should also establish the Spirit of America Alliance to assist the Commission: (1) in the planning, organization, and conduct of an annual White House Conference on National Military Appreciation and other similar events; (2) in the promotion of the observance of such Month and other military commemorative events through appropriate means, subject to any guidelines developed by the Commission; (3) in the establishment of necessary incentives for Federal, State, and local governments and private sector entities to sponsor and participate in programs initiated by the Commission or the Alliance; (4) in the evaluation of the effectiveness of efforts by the Commission and the Alliance in carrying out this Act; and (5) by the performance of any other related duties that are assigned by the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2001
American Field Service Recognition Act of 2001 - Considers as active duty, for purposes of veterans' benefits eligibility, service performed before August 15, 1945, by enlisted members of the American Field Service ambulance corps who reported for overseas duty during World War II and were honorably discharged. Authorizes the award of a campaign or service medal for such service.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2001
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add provisions granting additional authorities to the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning bioterrorism preparedness and responding to public health emergencies. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a plan which includes the development of specific criteria enabling measurements to be made of the progress made at the national, State, and local levels toward achieving the national goal of bioterrorism preparedness. Requires the maintenance of an adequate national pharmaceutical stockpile of vaccines (including a smallpox vaccine), therapies, and medical supplies for use at the Secretary's discretion in the event of a biological threat or attack or other public health emergency. Expands the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a coordinated network of public health laboratories to assist with the detection of and response to a biological threat or attack. Provides for the appointment of an Assistant Secretary for Emergency Preparedness who shall head the Office for Emergency Preparedness. Provides for a National Disaster Medical System to provide appropriate health and social services to respond to a public health emergency, if the Secretary activates the System. Provides for enhanced regulatory control of biological agents and toxins. Establishes a State Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Block Grant Program to improve State and local preparedness and response capabilities. Amends the Clayton Act to provide for a limited antitrust exemption with respect to the development of new countermeasures against bioterrorism. Requires, under the Public Health Service Act, the development of a crisis communications and education strategy with respect to bioterrorist threats to the food supply. Expands animal and plant health inspection service activities and authorities. Amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to expand the authority of the Food and Drug Administration with respect to food presenting a serious threat to humans or animals. Requires the registration of food manufacturing, processing, and handling facilities. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize existing authorities to expand Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service programs to protect the food supply of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 2001
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) conducting or attempting to conduct human cloning; (2) shipping the product of nuclear transplantation for the purpose of human cloning in the United States or elsewhere; and (3) using funds made available under Federal law for any such activity. Authorizes the Attorney General to commence a civil action to enjoin a violation. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to restrict areas of biomedical and agricultural research or practices not expressly prohibited, including nuclear transplantation to produce human stem cells or to create nonhuman animals. Subjects to forfeiture any real or personal property derived from or used to commit a violation. Directs the Attorney General, upon request, to render binding advisory opinions regarding the applicability of such prohibition with respect to specific research projects or practices. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should cooperate with foreign countries to enforce mutually supported restrictions on such prohibited activities. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require research involving nuclear transplantation to be conducted in accordance with applicable Federal standards for the protection of human subjects.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2001
Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 - Directs the Attorney General to waive Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) personnel limits. Authorizes appropriations for INS, Border Patrol, United States Customs Service, and consular personnel, training, facilities, and security-related technology. Provides for machine-readable visa fees. Directs U.S. law enforcement and intelligence entities to share alien admissibility- and deportation-related information with INS and the Department of State. Directs the President to develop and implement an interoperable law enforcement and intelligence data system (with name-matching and linguistic capacity) for visa, admissibility, or deportation determination purposes. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to require a consular officer issuing a visa to provide INS with an electronic version of the alien's visa file prior to the alien's U.S. entry. Sets forth technology standard and interoperability requirements respecting development and implementation of the integrated entry and exit data system and related tamper-resistant, machine-readable documents containing biometric identifiers. Directs the Secretary of State (Secretary) to: (1) establish a Terrorist Lookout Committee at each U.S. mission in which there is a consular post; and (2) provide consular staff with visa screening training. Prohibits the admission of an alien from a country designated to be a state sponsor of terrorism until a determination has been made that such individual does not pose a risk to the United States. Conditions participation in the visa waiver program upon a country's timely reporting to the United States of its stolen blank passports. Requires the Attorney General to enter stolen passport identification numbers into the interoperable data system.. Directs the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the Commissioner of INS to study the feasibility of establishing a North American Perimeter National Security Program (United States, Canada, Mexico), including consideration of alien preclearance and preinspection. Amends the Act to require commercial aircraft or vessels arriving at, or departing from, the United States to provide immigration officers with specified passenger and crew manifest information. Authorizes such provisions' extension to land carriers. Requires electronic manifest transmission by a specified date. Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to revise and specify vessel prearrival message requirements. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Attorney General to develop an electronic means of verifying and monitoring the foreign student information program, including aspects of documentation and visas issuance, and registration and enrollment. Increases student data requirements. Specifies information required for foreign student visa applications. Sets forth transitional monitoring requirements, including a requirement that an educational institution report student failure to enroll information to INS. Provides for INS and Department of State review of institutions authorized to enroll foreign students and exchange visitors. Amends Federal law to treat INS immigration inspectors as law enforcement officers for Federal retirement purposes. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to extend the deadline for presentation of biometric border crossing identification cards. Directs: (1) the Comptroller General to determine the feasibility of requiring each nonimmigrant alien to report annually to INS respecting his or her address and employer's address; and (2) the Secretary and INS to study alternative approaches to international electronic data cooperation.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2001
Delays until at least January 1, 2003, any changes in Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) regulations that modify the Medicaid upper payment limit for services of non-State government-owned or operated hospitals.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 2001
Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act of 2001 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000, to include in the optional Medicaid eligibility category for such illnesses Indian women with breast or cervical cancer who are eligible for health services under a medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 2001
Post Terrorism Mental Health Improvement Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to include training and response plans for mental health needs arising out of a disaster within existing mental health services demonstration projects. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to public entities in areas directly affected by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to address long-term mental health needs. Permits grantees to enter into contracts with private, nonprofit entities and utilize existing providers. Requires such grants to support outreach and supplemental treatment activities. Permits the Secretary to waive otherwise applicable restrictions on supplemental funding for disaster-related scientific research projects. Extends through FY 2005 the program assisting local communities in assisting children to deal with violence.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2001
Conservation Assistance and Regional Equity Act - Provides assistance for specialty crop cost-of-production insurance. Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to revise the farmland protection program. Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to increase funding for assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Amends specified Acts to extend and revise: (1) the environmental quality incentives program, including livestock production and other program assistance; (2) the wildlife habitat incentives program; (3) the wetlands reserve program; (4) the conservation reserve program; (5) the private grazing land conservation program; and (6) State marketing programs, including grants for market development. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish: (1) a grassland reserve and enhancement program; (2) a water conservation program through the enrollment of eligible land for the temporary or permanent acquisition of water or water rights from eligible sellers; and (3) a conservation security program to promote soil, water, wetland, air, farm, wildlife, and flora conservation practices. Establishes in the Treasury the Organic Agriculture Research Trust Fund. Authorizes the creation in the Department of Agriculture of a National Organic Research Endowment Institute. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Farmland Stewardship Enhancement Program to integrate Department of Agriculture and State, local, and tribal agriculture and forestry conservation efforts. Sets forth: (1) conservation program performance review and evaluation provisions; and (2) State conservation fund allocations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2001
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should increase foreign assistance spending by at least 25 percent per year for the next five years, with the goal of reaching an amount equal to or exceeding three percent of the Federal budget by 2010. Calls for the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to: (1) conduct a top-to-bottom evaluation of current foreign assistance efforts to evaluate effectiveness; and (2) work with private voluntary organizations, foundations, and corporations to identify areas where increased targeted foreign assistance could help reduce poverty and to promote equitable economic growth and the development of democratic institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2001
Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to set the conversion factor (update) for payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule for 2002 at 0.9 percent less than the conversion factor for 2001. Declares that this conversion factor and a specified update adjustment factor for a year after 2002 shall be applied as if this Act had not been in effect. Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to study and report to Congress on replacing the use of the sustainable growth rate as a factor in determining the update for such payments with a factor that more fully accounts for changes in the unit costs of providing physicians' services.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2001
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add provisions granting additional authorities to the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning bioterrorism preparedness and responding to public health emergencies. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a plan which includes the development of specific criteria enabling measurements to be made of the progress made at the national, State, and local levels toward achieving the national goal of bioterrorism preparedness. Requires the maintenance of an adequate national pharmaceutical stockpile of vaccines (including a smallpox vaccine), therapies, and medical supplies for use at the Secretary's discretion in the event of a biological threat or attack or other public health emergency. Expands the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a coordinated network of public health laboratories to assist with the detection of and response to a biological threat or attack. Provides for the appointment of an Assistant Secretary for Emergency Preparedness who shall head the Office for Emergency Preparedness. Provides for a National Disaster Medical System to provide appropriate health and social services to respond to a public health emergency, if the Secretary activates the System. Provides for enhanced regulatory control of biological agents and toxins. Establishes a State Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Block Grant Program to improve State and local preparedness and response capabilities. Amends the Clayton Act to provide for a limited antitrust exemption with respect to the development of new countermeasures against bioterrorism. Requires the development of a crisis communications and education strategy with respect to bioterrorist threats to the food supply. Expands animal and plant health inspection service activities and authorities. Directs the Secretary to expand the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to: (1) increase inspections to ensure the safety of the food supply; and (2) improve linkages between the Agency and other regulatory agencies of the Federal Government, the States, and Indian tribes with shared responsibilities. Provides for food manufacturing, processing, and distribution biosecurity, agricultural biosecurity and biosecurity upgrades at the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. Requires the registration of food manufacturing, processing, and handling facilities. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize existing authorities to expand Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service programs to protect the food supply of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2001
Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to place limitations on the mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work in certain providers of services.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2001
Military Homeowners Equity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to state that members of the Uniformed or Foreign Services on qualified official extended duty shall be considered to be using already owned and used property as a principal residence for purposes of determining exclusion of gain upon such residence's sale.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2001
Captive Exotic Animal Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for knowingly transferring, transporting, or possessing a confined exotic animal for purposes of allowing the killing or injuring of that animal for entertainment or the collection of a trophy.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2001
Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail Study Act of 2001 - Amends the National Trails System Act to designate the Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail (a system of trails and potential trails extending southward approximately 180 miles through western Massachusetts on the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, across central Connecticut on the Metacomet Trail and the Mattabesett Trail, and ending at Long Island Sound) for study for potential addition to the National Trails System.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2001
Enhanced Border Security Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of State (Secretary), the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Commissioner), and the Director of Central Intelligence to submit a congressional report, and develop a plan and an interoperable intelligence data system (with the Attorney General), for the identification and provision of law enforcement and intelligence information needed by the Department of State and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to screen visa and admissions applicants. Directs the Attorney General to waive INS personnel limits. Authorizes appropriations for INS, Border Patrol, United States Customs Service, and consular personnel, training, and security-related technology. Provides for machine-readable visa fees. Directs the Secretary and the Commissioner to study the costs and implementation alternatives of a Perimeter National Security Program, which shall include: (1) the feasibility of establishing a North American National Security Cooperative (Canada, Mexico, and the United States); and (2) alien preclearance and preinspection programs. Directs: (1) the Commissioner to expeditiously implement the port of entry integrated entry and exit data system; and (2) the Secretary to provide Foreign Service officers with visa screening training. Requires international commercial air carriers arriving in the United States to: (1) provide specified passenger manifest information; and (2) develop procedures for electronic transmission of such information. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to include among the data required to be collected on foreign students and exchange visitors information on such alien's dates of entry and enrollment commencement and termination. Sets forth related reporting provisions, including the requirement that an institution of higher education report to the INS concerning an alien student's failure to enroll. Prohibits the admission of an alien from a country designated to be a state sponsor of terrorism until appropriate clearances are conducted on such individual. Requires the INS to periodically review institutions authorized to enroll foreign students and exchange visitors. Amends Federal law to treat INS immigration inspectors as law enforcement officers for Federal retirement program purposes. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to extend the deadline for presentation of biometric border crossing identification cards.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2001
Nurse Reinvestment Act - 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. 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.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2001
Equal Access to Care Act of 2001 - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act to prohibit the use of Federal funds to provide payments under a Federal health care program to any health care provider who charges a membership or any other extraneous or incidental fee to a patient, or requires a patient to purchase an item or service, as a prerequisite for the provision of an item or service.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2001
Nurse Retention and Quality of Care Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible health care facilities to carry out demonstrations of models and best practices in nursing care in order to develop strategies for nurse retention. Requires such demonstrations to promote nurse satisfaction, communication, collaboration in decision-making, professional advancement, and high quality care.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2001
Unity in Service to America Act (USA Act) - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to require the Points of Light Foundation, after obtaining the guidance of the heads of appropriate Federal agencies, such as the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, to: (1) make an estimate of the number of victims killed as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; (2) compile a list of the name of each victim, including the State in which the victim resided; and (3) identify approximately the estimated number of community-based national and community service projects that meet certain eligibility requirements, and name each project in honor of a victim after obtaining the permission of the victim's family and the entity carrying out the project. Directs the Foundation to name projects that advance the goals of unity, and improving the quality of life in communities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2001
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations directing the Department of Transportation (DOT), agencies within DOT, and private companies contracted to provide aviation-related security to give first priority in hiring airport and aircraft security employees to individuals who: (1) were employed before September 11, 2001, in a security-related position at an airport, by an air carrier, at a facility near to an airport, in providing transportation to or from an airport, or in other employment directly related to commercial aviation; (2) have been laid off, terminated, released, or otherwise lost their jobs as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; and (3) are qualified for those positions or for training programs needed to qualify for such positions.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2001
Health Care Safety Net Amendments of 2001 - Reauthorizes the health centers program under the Public Health Service Act (PHSA). Includes within: (1) "required primary health services" appropriate cancer screening (currently, screening for breast and cervical cancer), specialty referral when medically indicated, and specified housing-related services; and (2) "additional health services" the detection and remediation of lead exposures. Authorizes the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to award grants for translation services for clients with limited English proficiency. Rewrites PHSA provisions regarding rural health. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Rural Health Policy to: (1) award rural health network development grants to promote the development of integrated health care networks; and (2) award grants for the planning and implementation of small health care provider quality improvement activities. Telehealth Grant Consolidation Act of 2001 - Establishes in HRSA an Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. Provides for telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs. Provides grants, in medically underserved areas, for: (1) improved emergency medical services; (2) mental health services delivered via telehealth; and (3) the establishment of statewide school-based health center networks. Reauthorizes and rewrites PHSA provisions regarding the National Health Service Corps program. Prohibits an entity to which a Corps member is assigned from denying requested health services and discriminating in the provision of services because an individual is unable to pay. Establishes a Healthy Communities Access program to help coordinate services for uninsured and under-insured. Amends the Social Security Act to provide exemptions from copayment and deductible requirements for rural health clinics.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2001
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should make a substantial new investment this year in bioterrorism preparedness and response, including: (1) improving State and local preparedness capabilities, hospital response capabilities, disaster response medical systems, and the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile program; (2) upgrading the capabilities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); (3) targeting research for therapeutics and vaccines for bioterrorist agents and food safety activities; and (4) increasing international cooperation in securing biological agents, increasing surveillance, and retraining biological warfare specialists.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2001
Second Chance Homes Promotion Act of 2001 Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants on a competitive and matching-funds basis to enable eligible entities to establish, expand, or enhance a community-based, adult-supervised group home that provides mothers age 23 or under and their children with a supportive and supervised living arrangement in which such mothers are required to learn parenting skills, including child development, family budgeting, health and nutrition, and other skills to promote their long-term economic independence and the well-being of their children.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2001
Social Security Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to repeal: (1) pension offset provisions applicable to husband's and wife's insurance benefits, widow's and widower's insurance benefits, and mother's and father's insurance benefits with respect to Old-Age and Survivors insurance benefit payments; and (2) windfall elimination provisions with respect to computation of the primary insurance amount of an individual.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) a National Character Counts Week should be established to promote character education; and (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to embrace the elements of character identified by their local schools and communities such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, and honesty.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2001
American Small Business Emergency Relief and Recovery Act of 2001 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make disaster loans to a small business concern that has been directly affected and suffered or is likely to suffer substantial economic injury as the direct result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, including injury due to closure or suspension of its business for national security purposes by the Federal Government. Authorizes the SBA, during the year after enactment of this Act, to make loans to small business concerns that have suffered or are likely to suffer economic harm to or disruption of operations as a result such attacks. Waives guarantee fees and increases the guarantee percentage on such loans for one year after the enactment of this Act. Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to: (1) waive development company debenture guarantee loan fees for financings made after enactment of this Act for one year; and (2) authorize small business investment companies to issue leverage to assist small business concerns adversely impacted by the terrorist attacks. Amends the Small Business Act to authorize special, individualized assistance to small business concerns adversely impacted by the terrorist attacks through the following programs; (1) small business development centers; (2) Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE); (3) microloan program (women, low-income, veterans, minority); and (4) women's business center program. Directs the Office of Advocacy of the SBA to conduct annual studies on the impact of the events of September 11, 2001, on small business concerns, and the effects of assistance provided under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2001
Declares that, in the quest to identify, locate, and bring to justice the perpetrators and sponsors of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the civil rights and liberties of all Americans, including Sikh-Americans, should be protected. Condemns bigotry and acts of violence or discrimination against any Americans, including Sikh-Americans. Calls upon local and Federal law enforcement authorities to: (1) work to prevent hate crimes against all Americans; and (2) prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all those who commit hate crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2001
Puppy Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to: (1) include among humane standards for animal treatment provisions respecting socialization of dogs to facilitate contact with other dogs and people, and breeding initiation and frequency of female dogs; (2) revise temporary license suspension provisions; and (3) establish mandatory suspension provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the definition of rural airports with respect to the air transportation tax to provide that, for purposes of determining whether or not there were fewer than 100,000 departing commercial passengers, passengers departing on a segment of less than 100 miles shall not be taken into account.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2001
Displaced Workers Assistance Act - Authorizes certain groups of workers who have become totally or partially separated (or threatened with total or partial separation) from employment with the airline industry as a result of reductions in service by an air carrier or closure of an airport due to a terrorist action or security measures to petition the Secretary of Labor for a certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance (similar to trade adjustment assistance under the Trade Act of 1974). Provides certain benefits (employment services, job training, and readjustment allowances) to eligible workers meeting certain eligibility requirements. Provides eligible workers who do not meet certain requirements for State unemployment compensation with a limited readjustment allowance under this Act. Provides for payment of premiums for COBRA health care continuation coverage of eligible workers. Authorizes a State to elect to provide medical assistance under its Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act for eligible workers who are not eligible for COBRA health care continuation coverage, and who are uninsured.
![Official portrait of Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/k000105_200.jpg)