United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that if a taxpayer is a member of an affiliated group of corporations which files a consolidated return, the tax attributes concerning reduction of tax attributes and exclusion from gross income by reason of discharge of indebtedness shall be the aggregate tax attributes of such group.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2003
Condemns and deplores the incommunicado detention of Dr. Yang Jianli by the People's Republic of China, and the lack of due process afforded him. Calls for his immediate and unconditional release. Declares the sense of the Senate that the United States should: (1) make the immediate release of Dr. Yang Jianli by the Government of the People's Republic of China a top priority of U.S. foreign policy; (2) continue to make every effort to assist Dr. Yang Jianli and his family while discussions of his release are ongoing; (3) ensure that the Government of the People's Republic of China understands that the detention of U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens, and the infliction of human rights violations on these groups, is not in the interests of the Government of the People's Republic of China; (4) reiterate its deep concern regarding the continued imprisonment of Dr. Yang Jianli and other U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens whose human rights are being violated; and (5) engage in discussions with the Government of the People's Republic of China regarding the legal status and immediate humanitarian needs of these U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2003
Emergency Protection for Iraqi Cultural Antiquities Act of 2003 - Authorizes the President to exercise his authority under the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act to implement emergency import restrictions with respect to any archaeological or ethnological material of Iraq as if Iraq were a State Party under that Act (but makes certain limitations under that Act inapplicable, including that the State Party must have requested the President to act). Terminates such authority upon the earlier of one year after the President certifies to Congress that the normalization of relations between the United States and the Iraqi Government has been established or September 30, 2004.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2003
Strengthen AmeriCorps Program Act - Revises the manner in which the Corporation for National and Community Service approves, and records obligations relating to, national service positions under the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes and which make collegiate housing and infrastructure improvement grants to continue to be treated as tax-exempt organizations so long as all of the active members of the recipient organization are full-time students at the college or university with which the recipient organization is associated.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2003
Medicare Adult Day Services Alternative Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for Medicare coverage of substitute adult day care services.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2003
Reaffirms support for the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Anticipates the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 on November 4, 2003. Encourages the people and Government of the United States to rededicate themselves to ending genocide.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2003
Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 - Prohibits the importation into the United States of any article that is a product of Burma (Myanmar) until the President determines and certifies to Congress that Burma has taken certain democratic and counternarcotics actions. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to direct any U.S. financial institution holding funds of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of Burma or the assets of individuals who hold senior positions in the SPDC or its political arm, the Union Solidarity Development Association, to report those assets to the Office of Foreign Assets Control and take such action as may be necessary to secure them. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive director to each appropriate international financial institution to oppose any extension of a loan or financial or technical assistance to Burma until the requirements of this Act are met. Authorizes the President to deny visas and entry into the United States to the former and present leadership of the SPDC or the Union Solidarity Development Association. Urges the Secretary of State to use all appropriate fora, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and Asian Nations Regional Forum, to encourage other states to restrict financial resources to the SPDC and Burmese companies while offering support to Burma's democratic movement, including the National League for Democracy and Burma's ethnic groups. Authorizes the President to assist Burmese democracy activists dedicated to nonviolent opposition to the regime in their efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
Safety Net Hospital Pharmacy Access Act of 2003 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to exclude inpatient prices charged to certain high-volume disproportionate share hospital (DSH) safety net providers from the Medicaid "best price" rule. (Thus allows such providers to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to receive deeper discounts on the prices of inpatient drugs. Currently such entities are able to receive discounts only on outpatient drugs because of a specified Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services interpretation of the "best price" exemption under the Medicaid drug rebate program.) Applies to any such drug purchased for inpatient use certain auditing and recordkeeping requirements under the Public Health Service Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2003
Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 - Prohibits the importation into the United States of any article that is a product of Burma (Myanmar) until the President determines and certifies to Congress that Burma has taken certain democratic and counternarcotics actions. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to direct any U.S. financial institution holding funds of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of Burma or the assets of individuals who hold senior positions in the SPDC or its political arm, the Union Solidarity Development Association, to report those assets to the Office of Foreign Assets Control and take such action as may be necessary to secure them. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive director to each appropriate international financial institution to oppose any extension of a loan or financial or technical assistance to Burma until the requirements of this Act are met. Authorizes the President to deny visas and entry into the United States to the former and present leadership of the SPDC or the Union Solidarity Development Association. Urges the Secretary of State to use all appropriate fora, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and Asian Nations Regional Forum, to encourage other states to restrict financial resources to the SPDC and Burmese companies while offering support to Burma's democratic movement, including the National League for Democracy and Burma's ethnic groups. Authorizes the President to assist Burmese democracy activists dedicated to nonviolent opposition to the regime in their efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2003
Encouraging Work Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the work opportunity credit permanent. Modifies such credit by: (1) repealing the requirement that a "qualified ex-felon" be a member of a low-income (as specified) family; (2) increasing the maximum age for eligibility of food stamp recipients to 40 years; (3) redefining the term "vocational rehabilitation referral"; (4) adding "long-term family assistance recipients" (as defined) to the definition of "targeted groups"; and (5) increasing the maximum allowable credit for employment of long-term family assistance recipients. Repeals the separate welfare-to-work credit.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2003
National Museum of African American History and Culture Act - (Sec. 4) Establishes within the Smithsonian Institution (SI) 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 that encompass the period of slavery, the era of reconstruction, the Harlem renaissance, the civil rights movement, and other periods of the African American diaspora. (Sec. 5) Establishes the National Museum of African American History and Culture Council to: (1) advise and assist the SI Board of Regents on Museum planning, design, construction, operation, and budgets; and (2) have responsibility and authority with respect to the Museum's collections and work, subject to the Board of Regents' general policies. (Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary of SI to appoint a Director to manage the Museum. (Sec. 7) Establishes the Office of Education and Liaison Programs within the Museum to work with educational institutions and museums throughout the Nation. Requires the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services to establish specified grant, scholarship, internship, and fellowship programs relating to African American museums. (Sec. 8) Directs the Board of Regents to select the Museum's site from one of four specified sites on or adjacent to the national mall. Requires the Board of Regents to pay costs of planning, design, and construction of the Museum on the chosen site as follows: 50 percent from Federal funds and 50 percent from non-Federal sources. (Sec. 9) Provides for Congressional Budget Act compliance by declaring that authority under this Act to enter into contracts or to make payments shall be effective in any fiscal year only to the extent provided in advance in an appropriations Act, except that mounts made available under section 11 of this Act shall remain available until expended. (Sec. 10) Directs the Council and the Board of Regents, in carrying out their duties under this Act, to consider the reports and plans submitted by the National Museum of African American History and Culture Plan for Action Presidential Commission under the National Museum of African American History and Culture Plan for Action Presidential Commission Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-106). (Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations in a specified amount for FY 2004, and in necessary amounts for subsequent fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
Medicare Renal Dialysis Payment Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for an update in the renal dialysis composite rate.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2003
Cuba Transition Act of 2003 - Directs the the Secretary of State to designate, within the Department of State, a coordinator responsible for designing an overall strategy to coordinate specified preparations for a transition in Cuba that targets economic, political and financial developments. Authorizes the Secretary to designate specified funds to be provided to the Organization of American States (OAS) for: (1) Inter-American Commission on Human Rights activities relating to the situation of human rights in Cuba; (2) the funding of an OAS emergency fund for the deployment of human rights observers, election support, and election observation in Cuba; and (3) scholarships for Cuban students attending colleges, universities, or other educational programs in member states of the OAS. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should begin consultation with: (1) governments of other Western Hemisphere countries regarding a transition in Cuba; and (2) international partners and governments regarding a multilateral diplomatic and financial support program for response to a transition in Cuba. Authorizes the President to furnish assistance and provide other support for individuals and independent nongovernmental organizations to support specified democracy-building efforts for Cuba. Authorizes appropriations to the President to establish a fund to provide assistance to a transition government in Cuba.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2003
Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 2003 - Amends the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUCA) to extend the TEUCA program through November 30, 2003, with a phaseout period through February 28, 2004 . (The TEUCA program provides: (1) an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits (TEUC) to jobless workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits; and (2) another additional 13 weeks of benefits (TEUC-X), for a total of 26 additional weeks, for such workers in high unemployment States.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2003
Iran Democracy Act - Declares that it is the policy of the United States to support full democracy in Iran. Directs the Broadcasting Board of Governors to: (1) require the head of Radio Farda to develop programming for Radio Farda after consulting with certain groups; and (2) ensure that a significant percentage of that programming is devoted to discussing democratic change in Iran, including a certain internationally-monitored democratic referendum in Iran. Requires the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) at the Department of State and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the Department of State to provide grants to appropriate entities to create and maintain websites, translate and distribute books, videos, documents, and other materials on democracy, rule of law, and free market economics. Authorizes the MEPI and the ECA to award grants to certain eligible entities to fund programs and activities to promote a democratic referendum in Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2003
Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 2003 - Amends the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUCA) to extend the TEUCA program through November 30, 2003, with a phaseout period through February 28, 2004. (The TEUCA program provides: (1) an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits (TEUC) to jobless workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits; and (2) another additional 13 weeks of benefits (TEUC-X), for a total of 26 additional weeks, for such workers in high unemployment States.)
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2003
Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Act - Establishes a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission to plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities appropriate to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. Requires the Commission to award a grant in each of FY 2004 through 2016 to: (1) the U.S. Civil War Center at Louisiana State University, Louisiana; and (2) the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2003
Amends rule XXII (Precedence of Motions) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to authorize a cloture motion on a nomination requiring the advice and consent of the Senate after such nomination has been pending before the Senate for at least 12 hours. Outlines procedures and limitations on the debate of the nomination after cloture is invoked. Provides that if the Senate fails to invoke cloture on a pending nomination, subsequent cloture motions may be made with respect to the same nomination. Makes it out of order to file subsequent cloture motions on any nomination, except by unanimous consent, until the previous motion has been disposed of. Reduces the affirmative vote (three-fifths, or 60 out of 100) required to invoke cloture on such nomination by three votes on the motion and by three additional votes on each succeeding motion, until the affirmative vote is reduced to a number equal or less than an affirmative vote of a majority of the Senators duly chosen and sworn and after that, a simple majority.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2003
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should provide adequate funding to protect the integrity of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2003
Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2003 - Provides that: (1) any person who engages in conduct that violates specified provisions of the Federal criminal code, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or specified articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (conduct constituting certain Federal violent crimes), and thereby causes the death of, or bodily injury to, a child who is in utero, shall be guilty of a separate offense (but prohibits imposition of the death penalty for such offense); and (2) the punishment for that separate offense shall be the same as that provided under Federal law for that conduct had that injury or death occurred to the unborn child's mother. Directs that if the person engaging in the conduct thereby intentionally kills or attempts to kill the unborn child, that person shall be punished as provided under the Federal criminal code for intentionally killing or attempting to kill a human being. Bars prosecution under this Act: (1) for conduct relating to an abortion for which the consent of the pregnant woman has been obtained or for which such consent is implied by law in a medical emergency; (2) for conduct relating to any medical treatment of the pregnant woman or her unborn child; or (3) of any woman with respect to her unborn child.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) everyone in the United States should have a decent home; (2) Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives should demonstrate the importance of volunteerism; (3) Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Habitat for Humanity, and contributing organizations, should sponsor and construct two homes in the Washington, D.C., metro area each as part of the "Congress Building America" program; and (4) these and other future occasions should be used to emphasize the importance of providing decent homes for all of the people in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Syria Accountability Act of 2003 - Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) Syria should halt support for terrorism, withdraw armed forces from Lebanon, stop develpment of ballistic missiles and biological and chemical weapons, and halt imports and transshipments of Iraqi oil; (2) Lebanon and Syria should enter into bilateral negotiations for peace with Israel; and (3) the United States should continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Lebanon only through private and international organizations until the Government of Lebanon asserts sovereignty over its borders. Declares U.S. policy that Syria: (1) will be listed as a state sponsor of terrorism until it stops supporting terrorism; (2) is in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 520 through its continued occupation of Lebanese territory; and (3) has violated Resolution 661 by purchasing oil from Iraq. Declares that restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty is in the U.S. national interest. Requires the President, unless the President certifies that Syria does not support international terrorist groups or allow them to maintain facilities in Syria, has withdrawn all security personnel from Lebanon, has ceased the development of ballistic missiles and biological and chemical weapons, and is no longer violating Resolution 661, to: (1) prohibit the export to Syria of specified defense articles or services and items on the Commerce Control List; and (2) impose two or more of specified sanctions (including prohibiting U.S. exports to, or U.S. businesses investments or operations in, Syria). Authorizes the President to provide development assistance to Syria and Lebanon if the President: (1) makes that certification; (2) determines that progress has been made toward negotiating peace agreements between Israel, Syria, and Lebanon; and (3) determines that Syria is strictly respecting Lebanon's sovereignty.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt from certain child labor restrictions the employment, inside or outside of businesses where machinery is used to process wood products, of individuals between ages 14 and 18 who are exempt, by statute or judicial order, from compulsory school attendance beyond the eighth grade. Permits such youth employment if the individual: (1) is supervised by an adult relative or by an adult member of the same religious sect or division; (2) does not operate or assist in the operation of power-driven woodworking machines; (3) is protected from wood particles or other flying debris within the workplace by a barrier appropriate to such potential hazard or by maintaining a sufficient distance from machinery in operation; and (4) is required to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to excessive levels of noise and sawdust.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 100,000 $5 gold coins and 500,000 $1 silver coins, which shall be emblematic of the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia (the first permanent English settlement in America). Provides for a $35 per coin surcharge for the $5 dollar coins and $10 per coin for the $1 dollar coins. Directs the Secretary to distribute: (1) 50 percent of the surcharges to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of Virginia to support programs to promote the understanding of the legacies of Jamestown; and (2) 50 percent to sustain the ongoing mission of preserving Jamestown, to enhance national and international educational programs, to improve infrastructure and archeological research activities, and to conduct other programs to support the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown. States that entities specified for such purposes are the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, the President of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and the Chairman of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Amends the Federal Law Enforcement Pay Reform Act of 1990 to revise the special pay adjustments for (percentage differentials payable to) Federal law enforcement officers in specified consolidated metropolitan statistical areas. Includes Capitol Police as law enforcement officers under such Act. Directs the Office of Personnel Management: (1) to study and report to Congress on the need for, and the potential benefits to be derived from, the establishment of a separate pay, evaluation, and promotion system for Federal law enforcement officers; (2) if it considers it to be appropriate, to implement a demonstration project to determine whether a separate system for such officers would result in improved Federal personnel management; and (3) to submit to Congress its evaluation of the system tested under the demonstration project and recommendations as to whether that system should be continued or extended to other Federal law enforcement officers. Eliminates the limitation on the aggregate of basic pay and premium pay with respect to availability pay for Federal criminal investigators.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Essential Air Service Eligibility Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends Federal transportation law to revise eligibility requirements with respect to the provision of essential air service subsidies to communities in the 48 contiguous States to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from providing such assistance to a community that is less than 70 miles from the nearest hub airport or requires a rate of subsidy per passenger in excess of $200, unless such community is greater than 210 miles from the nearest hub airport. Repeals specified provisions of Federal laws with respect to such eligibility requirements. Authorizes a community in which the Secretary has eliminated subsidies or terminated subsidy eligibility (between September 30, 1993, and the enactment of this Act) under specified Federal laws to request the Secretary to review such action. Requires the Secretary after receiving a request for a review to: (1) determine whether the community would have been subject to such elimination of subsidies or termination of eligibility under the distance requirements provided in this Act; and (2) issue a final order with respect to the eligibility of such community for essential air service subsidies under the amended requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 - Amends the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) to replace the National Museum Services Board with a National Museum and Library Services Board, established in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Requires the IMLS Director to: (1) ensure coordination with certain activities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and other Federal activities; and (2) conduct and publish analyses of the impact of museum and library services. Revises requirements for annual national awards to outstanding libraries and museums that have made significant contributions in service to their communities. Entitles subchapter C of MLSA as the Museum Services Act. Amends the Library Services and Technology Act to provide for: (1) an increased portion for administrative costs; (2) an increased alternative minimum allotment to States under certain conditions; (3) State plans once every five years, as determined by the IMLS Director; (4) additional uses of grants to States for library programs; and (5) recruitment of library and information science personnel under the program of national leadership grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Amends the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Act with respect to contributions and membership. Amends the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act to increase maximum limits on liability amounts. Renames the Capital Children's Museum in Washington, D.C., the National Children's Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
United States Consensus Council Act of 2003 - Establishes the United States Consensus Council to develop and conduct processes to build consensus on national policy issues. Authorizes the Council to: (1) enter into formal relationships with other institutions; (2) identify particular public policy issues for which the Council's expertise would be useful in building a consensus; (3) coordinate with, make referrals to, and receive referrals from other conflict or dispute resolution instrumentalities, including the United States Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution or the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; and (4) develop and apply criteria for determining whether the Council will enter into a consensus-building process on a particular issue. Vests Council powers in a Board of Directors. Prohibits any Director from being a Federal officer or employee, including a Member of Congress. Provides for a Council President appointed by the Board. Prohibits the Council from engaging in lobbying activities or being a client.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Deposit Insurance Fairness and Economic Opportunity Act - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to direct the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to distribute in the form of a dividend any excess amounts remaining from semiannual assessments imposed upon insured depository institutions (excess deposit insurance funds). Defines excess amounts as the amount of funds exceeding 1.40 percent of the total estimated deposits insured by theBank Insurance Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Oil Region National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Oil Region National Heritage Area in Pennsylvania. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to enter into a compact with the Oil Heritage Region, Inc. (the management entity for the Area) to carry out this Act. Bars the use of funds under this Act to acquire real property. Directs the Secretary, in cooperation with the Historic American Building Survey and the Historic American Engineering Record, to conduct studies to document the industrial, engineering, building, and architectural history of the Area.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2003 - Amends the the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding religious observance in the workplace to declare that for an employer's accommodation of an employee's religious observance or practice to be considered reasonable, it must remove the conflict between employment requirements and the employee's religious observance or practice. Deems as an unlawful employment practice an employer's refusal to permit an employee to use leave of general usage to remove the conflict solely because the leave will be used to accommodate the religious observance or practice of the employee.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2003 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to include primary and secondary preventative medical strategies, treatment, and services, including genetic counseling and testing, for individuals who have Sickle Cell Disease as medical assistance under the Medicaid program. Directs the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration to conduct a demonstration program for the development and establishment of systemic mechanisms, including a National Coordinating Center, to improve the prevention and treatment of Sickle Cell Disease.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Northern Ireland Peace and Reconciliation Support Act of 2003 - Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should continue to contribute to the International Fund for Ireland to support much needed programs in economically depressed areas of Northern Ireland as such programs remain very important to accomplishing the objectives of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986; (2) the United States should support an expansion of reconciliation projects funded by the International Fund as a way to promote peace and economic stability in Northern Ireland; and (3) the International Fund should support programs such as those mentioned by this Act. Amends the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986 to authorize certain appropriations for FY 2004 and 2005 for U.S. contributions to the Fund. Authorizes the use of such contributions to fund programs to: (1) enhance relations between communities and between police officers and the communities served by such officers; (2) promote human rights training for police officers; (3) enhance peaceful mediation in neighborhoods of continued conflict; and (4) promote training programs to enhance the new district partnership police boards recommended by the Commission into Policing for Northern Ireland established by the Agreement Reached in the Multi-Party Negotiations in Belfast on April 10, 1998 (Good Friday Agreement). Declares the sense of Congress that at least 20 percent of such authorized appropriations for each such fiscal year should be used to carry out such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Child Custody Protection Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit transporting a minor across a State line to obtain an abortion and thereby abridging the right of a parent under a law in force in the State where the minor resides requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision. Makes an exception if the abortion was necessary to save the life of the minor. Specifies that neither the minor transported nor her parent may be prosecuted or sued for a violation of this Act. Makes it an affirmative defense to a prosecution for, or to a civil action based on, such a violation that the defendant reasonably believed that before the minor obtained the abortion, the parental consent or notification or judicial authorization that would have been required had the abortion been performed in the State where the minor resides, took place. Authorizes any parent who suffers harm from a violation to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action. Defines "parent" to include a guardian, legal custodian, or person standing in loco parentis who has care and control of the minor, and with whom the minor regularly resides, who is designated by such law as a person to whom notification, or from whom consent, is required.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Community Development Homeownership Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a community homeownership tax credit based upon an applicable percentage of each qualified residence's eligible basis. Makes such credit available to residences (including factory built homes) located: (1) in a census tract with a median gross income not exceeding 80 percent of the greater area or statewide median gross income; (2) in a rural area; (3) on an Indian reservation; or (4) in an area of chronic economic distress. Prohibits a buyer's income from exceeding 80 percent (70 percent for families of less than three) of the area gross median income and requires owner occupancy. Specifies that the aggregate homeownership credit dollar amount which a homeownership credit agency (an "agency") may disburse is the portion of the "State homeownership credit ceiling" (the "ceiling") allocated to such agency. Allows "unused homeownership credit carryovers" to be allocated among qualified States. Sets aside up to 90 percent of a State's ceiling for certain housing projects in which a qualified nonprofit organization owns an interest and materially participates in the given project's development and operation throughout the credit period. Requires allocation of credit to residences to be in accordance with a "qualified allocation plan" of the agency issuing credit. Lists certain specified criteria such a plan must include and specifies that the plan must be approved by the governmental unit of which such agency is a part.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2003
Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 to modify the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Restoration and Protection Program. Permits the non-Federal share to include or be totally comprised of in-kind services. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program for technical and financial assistance to local governments and organizations implementing cooperative tributary basin strategies which address habitat issues of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2003
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 a plan recommending agencies and programs that should be realigned or eliminated and proposing implementing legislation. Directs the President to: (1) establish a systematic method for assessing the effectiveness and accountability of agency programs; and (2) submit to the Commission assessments of not less than half of the programs that use such method. Prohibits the implementation of such method until it has been reviewed and accepted by the Commission, which shall consider such assessments submitted. Requires the President to identify common performance measures for programs having similar functions and provide the Commission with data on such measures.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2003
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Nutrient Removal Assistance Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide grants to States and municipalities to upgrade municipal wastewater treatment plants of a specified capacity and located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed with nutrient removal technologies.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2003
Mortgage Insurance Fairness Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the deduction of premiums for mortgage insurance. Provides for the phaseout of such deduction based on income.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2003
Medicare Innovation Responsiveness Act of 2003 - Amends part D (Miscellaneous Provisions) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) prescribe criteria for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use in making national coverage determinations; (2) direct the Secretary to establish a Council for Technology and Innovation within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to coordinate coverage, coding, and payment processes with respect to new technologies and procedures under Medicare in order to expedite patient access to new technologies and therapies; and (3) revise the Medicare coverage determination appeals process. Directs the Secretary to establish a process that provides for the assignment of inpatient hospital codes for new medical services and related technologies as of April 1 of each year. Requires the Secretary to establish a process for the assignment of Health Care Financing Administration Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II codes each calendar quarter for new medical services and technologies. Amends SSA title XI to provide that, if the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics has not made a recommendation to the Secretary before April 1, 2003, with respect to the adoption of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) as a standard for the reporting of inpatient hospital services, the Secretary may adopt ICD-10-PCS as such a standard without receiving such a recommendation. Revises requirements for the use of internal and external data for annual adjustments to the inpatient hospital prospective payment system (PPS) and outpatient hospital PPS. Provides for limitation on use of foreign payer data in determining Medicare payment amounts. Revises requirements for the recognition of the costs of new medical services and technologies under the inpatient hospital PPS. Establishes requirements for any agreement or contract to perform the function of making local coverage determinations. Modifies requirements for the use of carriers for administration of benefits with respect to national inherent reasonableness determinations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2003
American Dream Downpayment Act - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to participating jurisdictions for downpayment assistance to low-income, first-time home buyers; and (2) make the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 inapplicable to such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2003
Declares the sense of Congress about historic locations specifically set apart for religious purposes (holy sites). Declares that: (1) holy sites around the world, particularly in the Israeli and Palestinian region, should be protected from desecration and any other violation; (2) the freedom of access of members of the various religions to the holy sites sacred to them should not be hindered; (3) to assure the safety of American citizens, the holy sites currently under the sovereignty of the State of Israel should remain under Israeli protection, and that all holy sites in the region remain open to visitors of all faiths; (4) the Department of State should continue to warn and protect Americans overseas at holy sites and regions of historical and religious significance; and (5) we should condemn all violence directed against holy sites.
![Official portrait of Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000059_200.jpg)