United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2002
Tobacco Livelihood and Economic Assistance for Our Farmers Act of 2002 - Amends, and repeals, specified agricultural Acts to eliminate tobacco quota and price support programs, including no net cost provisions. Sets forth transition provisions, including provision of compensation to eligible quota holders. Continues Federal crop insurance for tobacco producers. Directs: (1) the Secretary of Agriculture to establish in the Department of Agriculture the Tobacco Quality Board; and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to assess fees on tobacco product manufacturers and importers that sell tobacco products in U.S. domestic commerce. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to extend Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority to tobacco products, with exceptions for certain health-or disease treatment-related uses. Sets forth provisions respecting: (1) adulterated and misbranded tobacco products; (2) required health information; (3) registration and recordkeeping; (4) control of tobacco products; (5) performance standards; (6) remedies; (7) premarket review; (8) judicial review; (9) reduced risk tobacco products; (10) access and marketing restrictions; (11) mandatory disclosures; (12) testing; and (13) examinations and investigations. Amends the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act and the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986, respectively, to revise cigarette and smokeless tobacco labeling and advertising warning provisions. Amends the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act to: (1) revise the definition of "cigarette"; and (2) direct the Secretary to determine whether cigarette labeling and advertising shall be required to provide tar, nicotine, and other smoke constituent information.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2002
Medicare Telehealth Validation Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) the Social Security Act to expand access to telehealth services (professional services furnished via a telecommunications system, including the asynchronous transmission of health care information in single or multimedia formats) under the Medicare program: (1) beyond the demonstration program conducted in Alaska or Hawaii; (2) by increasing the types of originating sites, including skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities; and (3) by encouraging States to adopt provisions allowing for multistate practitioner licensure across State lines. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, to make grants to expand health care services in rural and medically underserved areas through the use of telehealth. Requires the Joint Working Group on Telehealth to include representatives of rural and medically underserved areas.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Reaffirms: (1) the language of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, including the phrase "one Nation under God"; and (2) the national motto "In God we trust."
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act of 2002 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revoke any broadcast station license or construction permit for: (1) willful and repeated unfair or deceptive acts or practices that significantly hinder or prevent the broadcast of programming or content produced, promoted, or created by a person independent of the licensee or permittee; or (2) conviction or final adjudication of an antitrust unfair trade practice violation regarding concert venues or promotion. Directs the FCC to prescribe regulations which address: (1) improperly influencing the sale of satellite cable programming or content to any other radio station or unaffiliated concert venue, or of any song, work, or sound recording, programming, concert performance, or concert promotion to persons not affiliated with the licensee, permittee, or affiliate thereof; (2) discrimination against unaffiliated musicians or content providers; and (3) the making of exclusive contracts with musicians or providers which prevent other licensees or permittees from obtaining programming or content from such musicians or providers. Requires the FCC to: (1) designate for hearing any radio broadcasting application that would result in the applicant owning, operating, or controlling radio stations having a national audience reach exceeding 60 percent; (2) review the use of privately-controlled audience measurement systems for the determination of local markets of radio stations; (3) modify its rules concerning attributable interests in radio stations and limitations on local marketing agreements; and (4) prohibit the licensee of any radio station from using its control over broadcasting matter to extract money or other valuable consideration from a record company, artist, concert promoter, or related entity.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Designates the week of November 10-16, 2002, as National Veterans Awareness Week to emphasize educational programs for elementary and secondary school students regarding the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2002
Declares that the Senate strongly disapproves of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Newdow v. U.S. Congress. Authorizes and instructs the Senate Legal Counsel to seek to intervene in the case to defend the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2002
Calls upon the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend to the Postmaster General that a commemorative postage stamp be issued in 2003 to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2002
Teacher Paperwork Reduction Act of 2002 - Directs the Comptroller General to study the causes of the paperwork burden of special education teachers and report to Congress with recommendations for reducing it. Requires the Department of Education, along with State and local educational agencies, to reduce such burden by at least 50 percent within 18 months. Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to make mediation mandatory (currently voluntary) for all legal disputes related to Individual Education Programs. Directs the Department to use certain appropriations under IDEA part D to award grants to: (1) conduct research to determine best practices for successful mediation; and (2) provide mediation training support services.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2002
Medicare Outpatient Prescription Drug Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish: (1) a Medicare Outpatient Prescription Drug Benefit Program under new part D; (2) a Prescription Drug Account in the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund; and (3) a Medicare Prescription Drug Advisory Committee. Provides for: (1) part D benefits under Medicare+Choice plans under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice); and (2) Medicare cost-sharing and other assistance for low-income individuals but only as it relates to benefits provided under new part D. Revises Medicare supplemental insurance policy (Medigap) benefit packages to conform to changes made by this Act, eliminating obsolete policies with no grandfathering. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to Congress on the feasibility and advisability of: (1) establishing a uniform format for pharmacy benefit cards provided to beneficiaries; and (2) developing systems to transfer electronically prescriptions under such program from the prescriber to the pharmacist. Requires the Comptroller General to conduct an ongoing study and analysis of the program established under this Act, especially: (1) the extent to which the competitive bidding process under it fosters maximum competition and efficiency; and (2) the savings to the Medicare program resulting from it, including the reduction in the number or length of hospital visits. Expands the membership and duties of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC).
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2002
Authorizes the President to award on behalf of Congress a gold medal to Joseph De Laine, Jr., to honor posthumously his father, Rev. Joseph Anthony De Laine (civil rights activist), for his contributions to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that there should be established a National Community Health Center Week for the week beginning on August 18, 2002, to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2002
Amends the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make a grant to an eligible historically black college or university for the preservation and/or restoration of a building or structure listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places if the grantee agrees to provide funds derived from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to 30 percent (currently, a matching amount) of the total cost of the project. Authorizes additional appropriations for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2002
Congratulates: (1) the Government and people of Colombia for the successful completion of democratic elections held on May 26, 2002; (2) President-elect Alvaro Uribe Velez and Vice President-elect Francisco Santos Calderon; and (3) Colombian President Andres Pastrana for his commitment to democracy. Commends all Colombian citizens and political parties for working together to take risks for democracy, to pursue national reconciliation, and to strengthen democratic traditions. Supports Colombian attempts to: (1) ensure democracy, national reconciliation, and economic prosperity; (2) support human rights and the rule of law; and (3) abide by all the essential elements of representative democracy. Encourages such Government and people to continue: (1) their struggle against narcotics and terrorism; and (2) to promote the professionalism of the Colombian Armed Forces and National Police and judicial and legal reforms. Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to encouraging and supporting democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and peaceful development throughout the Americas.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2002
Honors the U.S. Marines killed in action or beheaded in captivity on Makin and Kwajalein Atolls during World War II and calls for provision of a site for a monument to the Marine Raiders in Arlington National Cemetery.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2002
American Dream Downpayment Act - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to participating jurisdictions for downpayment assistance to low-income, first-time home buyers. Amends the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996 to authorize appropriations for the self-help housing homeownership program. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to extend, and authorize appropriations for, the HOPE VI program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2002
Ballistic Imaging Evaluation and Study Act of 2002 - Directs the Attorney General to enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences to study the effectiveness of ballistic imaging technology. Prohibits a State from using Federal funds for ballistic imaging technology until the NRC report is transmitted to Congress. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, at a State's request, to waive such prohibition upon a showing that the use would be in the national interest.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to expand activities addressing inflammatory bowel disease, emphasizing genetic, animal model, and clinical research. Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a national program of prevention and epidemiology concerning such disease, addressing its prevalence and public and professional awareness. Directs the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science to study public and private insurance standards for coverage of inflammatory bowel therapies. Directs the General Accounting Office to study problems inflammatory bowel disease patients have applying for disability insurance benefits under the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Arming Pilots Against Terrorism and Cabin Defense Act of 2002 - Amends federal law to direct the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to establish a program to: (1) deputize volunteer qualified pilots of commercial cargo or passenger aircraft as Federal flight deck officers; and (2) provide training, supervision, and equipment for such officers. Authorizes flight deck officers to carry firearms and to use force, including lethal force, when they judge the security of an aircraft is at risk. Shields air carriers from liability for damages in Federal or State court arising out of the actions or omissions of a flight deck officer defending a plane from criminal violence or air piracy. Shields flight deck officers from liability except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Directs the Under Secretary to prescribe requirements for an air carrier cabin crew training program and its instructors. Shields an air carrier liability for actions or omissions of training instructors or cabin crew in defending an aircraft. Shields training instructors and cabin crew from liability except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Directs the Under Secretary to form an Aviation Crew Self-Defense Division within the Transportation Security Administration to develop and implement the program for training cabin crew members. Directs the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to study and report to Congress on whether possession of a nonlethal weapon by a member of an air carrier's cabin crew would aid the flight deck crew in combating air piracy and criminal violence on commercial airlines.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Declares that, if the Federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) for a State for FY 2002 is less than the FMAP for FY 2001, the FY 2001 FMAP shall be substituted for the State's FMAP for the third and fourth calendar quarters of FY 2002. Declares similarly that if a State's FY 2003 FMAP is less than the FY 2002 FMAP, the FY 2002 FMAP shall be substituted for each calendar quarter of FY 2003. Requires each eligible State for the third and fourth calendar quarters of FY 2002 and each calendar quarter of FY 2003 to have its FMAP increased by 1.0 percentage point. Mandates a specified Medicaid payment cap increase for territories. Prohibits application of the FMAP increases for a State under this Act with respect to: (1) disproportionate share hospital payments under Medicaid; and (2) payments under SSA titles IV and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP). Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services), for the purpose of providing State fiscal relief allotments to States and territories in accordance with a specified table, to make appropriations to be available for obligation by the State through June 30, 2004, and for expenditure by the State through September 30, 2004.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2002
National Drought Preparedness Act of 2002 - Establishes the National Drought Council which shall: (1) develop a national drought policy action plan; (2) evaluate Federal drought-related programs; (3) coordinate and prioritize enhancement of the national drought monitoring network; and (4) provide for the development of a drought information delivery system, drought planning models, and drought preparedness plans. Terminates the Council eight years after enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of the National Drought Council to establish the National Office of Drought Preparedness. Establishes within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the Drought Assistance Fund, which shall be used to: (1) assist State, local, tribal, and critical service entities with drought-related activities; and (2) expand the technology transfer of drought and water conservation strategies. Requires: (1) the Director to publish guidelines for administering a national technical and financial drought assistance program; and (2) the Director, the Secretaries of Agriculture, the Interior, and the Army, and other appropriate Federal agency heads to implement integrated drought preparedness plans. Authorizes States, Indian tribes, local governments, and regional, water providers to develop and implement drought preparedness plans. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the Director of FEMA to reimburse States for qualifying costs incurred in prepositioning wildfire suppression resources.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2002
Work and Family Act of 2002 - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to: (1) work participation rates; (2) child care funding; (3) competitive grants for public-private partnerships to provide educational opportunities for TANF recipients; (4) transitional jobs programs; and (5) prohibition against displacement of public employees by TANF recipients. Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) with respect to: (1) optional State media campaigns promoting responsible fatherhood; (2) a national marriage and responsible fatherhood information clearinghouse; and (3) policy reviews and demonstration projects to coordinate services for low-income, noncustodial parents. Amends SSA title IV part A with respect to: (1) a ban on stricter TANF eligibility criteria for two-parent families; and (2) court-supervised employment programs for noncustodial parents with a history of nonpayment of child support. Provides for teen pregnancy prevention grants and a national teen pregnancy prevention resource center. Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) to direct the Secretary to establish a national goal of reducing teen pregnancy by at least 25 percent by January 1, 2013. Revises requirements for assignment of support rights to the State and child support distribution. Provides for demonstration projects involving establishment and enforcement of child support obligations by public non-SSA title IV part D child support enforcement agencies. Provides for: (1) a decrease in the amount of child support arrearage triggering passport denial; (2) use of the tax refund intercept program to collect past-due child support on behalf of children who are not minors; and (3) garnishment of compensation paid to veterans for service-connected disabilities in order to enforce child support obligations. Reauthorizes and extends State family assistance grants, supplemental grants for population increases, and grants for Indian tribes. Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to restore funding for the social services block grant. Provides for: (1) a one year extension and revision of the transitional medical assistance program under SSA title XIX (Medicaid); and (2) optional coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid program and SSA title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP).
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2002
Designates October 13 through 19, 2002, as National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week. Commits to increasing the quality of life for individuals with cystic fibrosis by promoting public knowledge and understanding in a manner that will result in earlier diagnoses, more fund raising efforts for research, and increased levels of support for cystic fibrosis sufferers and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2002
Expresses profound gratitude for the faithful service provided by flight attendants to make air travel safe and honors their courage and dedication. Supports all flight attendants who continue to display heroism on a daily basis, as they had been doing before, during, and after September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies Act - Establishes the Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies to: (1) evaluate executive agencies and their programs; and (2) submit to Congress and the President a plan with recommendations of the agencies and programs that should be realigned or eliminated and proposed implementing legislation. Sets forth provisions governing congressional consideration of such legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2002
Federal Agency Protection of Privacy Act - Requires Federal agencies: (1) when publishing a general notice of proposed rulemaking for any proposed rule or for an interpretative rule involving the internal revenue laws, to prepare, make available for public comment, and publish an initial analysis describing the rule's impact on the privacy of individuals; and (2) when promulgating the final rule, to prepare, make publicly available, and publish a final privacy impact analysis that includes a summary of the significant issues raised by and changes made pursuant to public comments on the initial analysis. Requires the head of an agency promulgating a rule that may have a significant privacy impact on individuals or on a substantial number of individuals to use specified techniques to assure that individuals have been given an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking. Requires each agency to: (1) carry out a periodic review of promulgated rules that have such impact to determine whether each such rule can be amended or rescinded in a manner that minimizes such impact while remaining in accordance with applicable statutes; (2) carry out such review in accordance with a plan that provides for the review of each rule every ten years after the rule was published as a final rule; and (3) publish annually a list of the rules to be reviewed. Sets forth provisions governing judicial review of agency compliance with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2002
Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize qualified law enforcement officers (including qualified retired officers) carrying the photographic identification issued by the governmental agency for which the individual is, or was, employed as a law enforcement officer, notwithstanding State or local laws, to carry a concealed firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Specifies that this Act shall not be construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that: (1) permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed firearms on their property; or (2) prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on any State or local government property, installation, building, base, or park.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2002
National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2002 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a pilot program to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small businesses through participating Small Business Development Centers (Centers). Requires the Administrator to enter into arrangements with participating Centers to provide: (1) access to regulatory information and resources; (2) training and education activities; (3) confidential counseling to owners and operators of small businesses regarding compliance with Federal regulations; (4) technical assistance; and (5) partnerships with Federal compliance programs. Requires the Administrator, giving substantial weight to the recommendations of the majority of the Centers, to select the Center programs of two States from each of ten groups of States for participation in the pilot program. Provides grant limits. Terminates the pilot program four years after disbursement of the first grant. Provides privacy requirements applicable to Centers, a consortium of Centers, or any Center contractor or agent with respect to regulatory compliance assistance provided to small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2002
Fair Advertising and Increased Research Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit any drug manufacturer from taking a tax deduction for expenditures relating to the advertising, promoting, or marketing of any FDA prescription drug to the extent the aggregate amount of such expenditures exceeds the manufacturer's aggregate research and development expenditures. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to estimate amount of additional tax revenues raised by enforcement of the Act, to be allocated to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2002
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) conducting or attempting to conduct human cloning; or (2) shipping the product of nuclear transplantation in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of human cloning. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to restrict practices not expressly prohibited. Prescribes civil and criminal penalties for violations and subjects any real or personal property derived from or used to commit a violation to forfeiture. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require research involving nuclear transplantation to be conducted in accordance with certain Federal standards for the protection of human subjects.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2002
Broadband Regulatory Parity Act of 2002 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe regulations to ensure that: (1) all broadband services and broadband access services are subject to the same regulatory requirements (or no such requirements); (2) all providers of such services are subject to the same regulatory requirements with respect to such services and the facilities and equipment used to provide such services; and (3) the above requirements are met without increasing current regulatory requirements with respect to such services, facilities, or equipment. Prohibits such services and related facilities and equipment from being subject to the jurisdiction of any State. Requires each incumbent local exchange carrier to provide all Internet service providers with the telecommunications necessary for the provision of broadband access service to subscribers at just and reasonable rates.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Amends the Organic Act establishing the Department of Commerce to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish and maintain a list of each person that notifies the Secretary that it is a manufacturer or seller that is: (1) licensed to engage in interstate or foreign commerce of a firearm (including antique firearm) or ammunition product; or (2) is a trade association representing such manufacturers or sellers. Declares that any lawful conduct carried out by a manufacturer or seller in interstate or foreign commerce of a firearm or ammunition product, or lawful conduct carried out by a trade association in the course of representing such manufacturers or sellers, shall not be the basis for imposing a restriction on such commerce (the award of civil damages, equitable relief, or any other specified limitation) as a result of harm caused by the criminal or other unlawful misuse of such firearm or ammunition product by any other person.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2002
Prescription Drug Price Parity for Americans Act - Amends provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act set forth in the Medicine Equity and Drug Safety Act of 2000 to: (1) direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations permitting pharmacists and wholesalers to import Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prescription drugs from Canada (currently, from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa, the countries in the European Union and the European Free Trade Association, or other countries designated by the Secretary); and (2) exclude an infused or intravenously injected drug or a drug that is inhaled during surgery. Prohibits discrimination in the sale of prescription drugs by manufacturers to pharmacists or wholesalers, requiring: (1) terms as favorable as those provided to foreign purchasers; and (2) full access to drugs permitted to be imported. Continues the requirement that exported donated prescription drugs may only be reimported by the manufacturer. Permits the Secretary to waive the prohibition against importing a prescription drug or device on a case-by-case basis, particularly those from Canada that are FDA-approved and for limited personal use. Requires a study and report by the: (1) Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences on the regulatory compliance of importers of drugs; and (2) Comptroller General on how drug prices were affected.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 2002
Medicare Equity for Veterans Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize the Secretaries of Health and Human Services (HHS) and of Veterans Affairs (VA), under a new Medicare Subvention Project for Veterans, to establish a demonstration project under which the HHS Secretary shall reimburse the VA Secretary from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for Medicare health care services furnished to targeted Medicare-eligible veterans who volunteer for such project. Requires the demonstration project to be conducted at up to ten sites jointly designated by the Secretaries. Directs the VA Secretary to establish and operate coordinated care health plans to provide benefits to the enrolled veterans consistent with the program under SSA title XVIII part C (Medicare+Choice).
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Arafat Accountability Act - Expresses the support of Congress for the President's efforts to achieve comprehensive peace in the State of Israel. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should urge an immediate and unconditional cessation of all terrorist activities and the commencement of a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians; (2) the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) should immediately surrender to Israel for detention and prosecution those Palestinian extremists wanted by Israel for the assassination of Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Zeevi; and (3) Yasser Arafat and the PLO must take immediate and concrete action to publicly condemn all acts of terrorism, confiscate and destroy the infrastructures of terrorism, and end (and urge all Arab nations to end) financial support for terrorism. Prohibits the Secretary of State (Secretary) and the Attorney General, respectively, from issuing a visa or admitting to the United States any member of the PLO or official of the PA. Permits the President to waive this prohibition in the national security interest of the United States. Directs the Secretary to prohibit the operation of a PLO or PA office in the United States from carrying out any function other than those carried out prior to the Oslo Accords. Requires the Secretary to impose travel restrictions on the senior official of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine. Requires the Secretary and the Attorney General to identify and freeze United States assets of the PLO, the PA, and Yasser Arafat. Requires the President to report to specified congressional committees on PLO terrorist activities.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Requires former reserve enlisted personnel (currently, only former active-duty enlisted personnel) entitled to monthly retired pay to receive an additional ten percent of such pay if, during their reserve service, such personnel were credited by the Secretary of the military department concerned with extraordinary heroism in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income compensation for "covered service" in the U.S. military. Defines "covered service" as service outside the United States in a permanent change of station for which travel, transportation, and housing of dependents at Government expense would generally not be authorized under policies of the Secretary concerned, except in the case of service in such an assignment for which such travel, transportation, and housing is actually authorized as an exception to the applicable policy.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Syria Accountability Act of 2002 - Prohibits the President from exporting any item on the United States Munitions List or Commerce Control List of dual-use items in the Export Administration Regulations, providing any U.S. assistance to U.S. businesses with respect to investment or other activities, or conducting Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Trade Development Agency programs in or with respect to Syria. Directs the President to impose two or more specified sanctions against Syria. Requires maintenance of such prohibition and sanctions until the President certifies that Syria meets specified requirements, including that it: (1) does not support international terrorist groups; (2) has withdrawn all of its military personnel from Lebanon: (3) has ceased the development and deployment of ballistic missiles and biological and chemical weapons; and (4) is no longer in violation of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 661 and subsequent relevant resolutions.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2002
Children's Safe Sleepwear and Burn Prevention Act of 2002 - Prohibits the Consumer Product Safety Commission from enforcing or enacting a flammability standard for infants' and children's sleepwear that: (1) exempts certain garments (including diapers); or (2) includes as part of any definition of children's sleepwear a standard based on the intent of the manufacturer or retailer. Instructs the Commission to provide a functional definition of children's sleepwear for ages 0 through seven years, including certain children's clothing used with some regularity as sleepwear.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 2002
Terrorism Victim's Access to Compensation Act of 2002 - Expresses the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States: (1) to use the blocked assets of state sponsors of acts of terrorism (including their agencies and instrumentalities) under the control of the Secretary of the Treasury to pay court-ordered judgments and awards made to U.S. nationals harmed by such acts; and (2) to provide equal access to all U.S. victims of state-sponsored terrorism who have secured judgments and awards in Federal courts against state sponsors of terrorism, and assure that those judgments and awards be paid from such blocked assets. Makes such assets available for the satisfaction of judgments against terrorist parties. Prescribes guidelines for a Presidential waiver upon determination on an asset-by-asset basis that a waiver is necessary in the national security interest.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 2002
Rural Hospital Access and Improvement Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend the authorization for appropriations through FY 2007 for rural hospital flexibility grants with respect to rural health care plans, rural health networks, critical access hospitals, rural emergency medical services, and assistance to eligible small rural hospitals in meeting the costs of implementing Medicare-required data systems.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2002
Constitutional Amendment - Grants victims of violent crime the rights: (1) to reasonable and timely notice of any public proceeding involving the crime and of any release or escape of the accused; (2) to not be excluded from such public proceeding and reasonably to be heard at public release, plea, sentencing, reprieve, and pardon proceedings; and (3) to adjudicative decisions that consider the victim's safety, interest in avoiding unreasonable delay, and just and timely claims to restitution from the offender. Prohibits any restriction of such rights except as dictated by a substantial interest in public safety or the administration of criminal justice, or by compelling necessity.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2002
Reversing the Expatriation of Profits Offshore Act - Sets forth the following conditions in which a foreign incorporated entity shall be treated as an inverted domestic corporation for purposes of taxation: (1) if such an entity acquires substantially all properties held by a domestic corporation or substantially all of the properties constituting a trade or business of a domestic partnership; (2)at least 80 percent of the stock (by vote or value) is held by former shareholders (or partners, in the case of a partnership) of the domestic corporation or partnership (with certain exceptions); and (3) if the "expanded affiliated group" lacks substantial business activities in its country of origin compared to its total activities. Sets specific rules covering "inversion gains" of certain "acquired entities" and party transactions of such entities not covered by the above provisions, including: (1) that taxable income of "inversion gains" of such entities cannot be offset; (2) that tax credits shall not be permitted to be used against tax on "inversion gains" of such entities; and (3) that such entities submit to the Secretary of the Treasury an annual prefiling, advance pricing, or other agreement specified by the Secretary. Establishes penalties for failure to make such agreements. Modifies limitation on interest deduction for such entities. Invalidates certain transfers of liabilities deemed to be aimed at avoiding the Act. Increases scope under which the Secretary may act to modify reinsurance agreements to take account of the amount of taxable income of each party. Defines "acquired entities, "inversion gain," and "expanded affiliated group."
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2002
Home Health Modernization Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to provisions regarding conditions on payments for services and payments of claims of service providers, as amended by Federal law commonly referred to as the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act. Declares that no individual shall be disqualified from being considered confined to the home for any non-medical absence (including, as currently, any absence to attend a religious service), without regard to whether the absence is infrequent or of relatively short duration.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2002
Rural Electromagnetic Spectrum Access Act of 2002 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in order to facilitate the deployment of wireless based services in rural areas, when more than one license is available within a single block of electromagnetic spectrum, to award at least one such license for a rural service area or similarly sized geographic area. Requires the FCC, for each class of licenses or permits granted through the use of a competitive bidding process, to establish a competitive bidding methodology which avoids excessive concentration of licenses and includes as licensees small businesses, rural telephone companies, and businesses owned by members of minority groups and women. Directs the FCC to: (1) conduct biennial studies on the availability of wireless services in rural areas; (2) design systems of competitive bidding by rural areas; and (3) facilitate the deployment of wireless services in rural areas by license recipients.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2002
Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise the payment for certain Federally qualified health center (FQHC) services furnished to an individual enrolled with a Medicare+Choice organization under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice), allowing for supplemental reimbursement, among other changes. Amends Medicare+Choice to add additional Medicare+Choice contract requirements. Amends SSA title XI with respect to criminal penalties for acts involving Federal health care programs, particularly illegal remunerations (kickbacks). Exempts from the prohibition against such remunerations any remuneration: (1) between a FQHC (or an entity controlled by such a health center) and a Medicare+Choice organization pursuant to a specified written agreement; and (2) between a certain kind of public or nonprofit private health center entity and any individual or entity providing goods, items, services, donations, loans, or a combination, to such health center entity pursuant to an agreement, if such agreement produces a community benefit that will be used by the health center entity to maintain or increase the availability or accessibility, or enhance the quality, of services provided to a medically underserved population served by the health center entity. Amends Medicare to provide for coverage of additional FQHC services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards relating to the exception for health center entity arrangements to specified anti-kickback penalties.
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