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 · 19 June 2002
International AIDS Treatment and Prevention Act of 2002 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), to carry out HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and related activities in countries with or at risk for severe HIV epidemic. Requires particular attention to resource constrained countries and the use of indigenous capacity to the degree practicable. Authorizes support and assistance relating to: (1) HIV prevention services, including post exposure prophylaxis and a safe blood supply; (2) HIV/AIDS care and treatment services, linked to prevention services; (3) infrastructure and training, including the availability of health care facilities; and (4) HIV/AIDS treatment protocols. Creates grant programs for: (1) clinical education and training in the delivery of HIV/AIDS care and treatment services; (2) activities to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; and (3) research on innovative microbicide concepts. Requires the coordination of Department of Health and Human Services programs by the Director of the Office of International Affairs. Extends the tuberculosis prevention program, to be coordinated with the activities under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Administrator of AID, to carry out workplace-based HIV/AIDS prevention and education programs in at-risk, constrained countries, with emphasis on protections against discrimination and creating supportive environments for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2002
Commends the soldiers and airmen of the Pennsylvania National Guard for their exemplary service to the United States in the war against terrorism and other recent deployments.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2002
Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2002 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide criteria to determine whether an employer has committed an unlawful employment practice by failing to provide a reasonable accommodation to the religious observance or practice of an employee. Deems an accommodation to be reasonable if it removes the conflict between employment requirements and the religious observance or practice of the employee. Declares that an employer shall be considered to commit an unlawful employment practice if the employer refuses to permit the employee to utilize leave of general usage to remove such a conflict solely because the leave will be used to accommodate the employee's religious observance or practice.
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
Calls for Americans to observe a national moment of remembrance at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day, 2002, for members of the armed forces and civilian national security agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2002
United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2002 - Requires the President to establish a comprehensive, integrated, five-year strategy to combat the global spread of HIV and AIDS. Requires the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop a comprehensive plan to empower women to protect themselves against the spread of HIV/AIDS. Establishes within the Department of State a presidentially appointed Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally. Authorizes the United States to participate in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and increases financial assistance for vaccine contributions. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to conclude an agreement with the Paris Club of Official Creditors and other specified multilateral development institutions to modify the Enhanced HIPC Initiative with respect to debt cancellation for eligible countries. Authorizes the President to provide assistance and coordination between international organizations for the global prevention, treatment, monitoring, and control of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Requires the President to establish a program to demonstrate the feasibility of facilitating services of American health care professionals in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world severely affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Requires the Secretary of Defense to expand the Department of Defense program of HIV/AIDS prevention educational activities in sub-Saharan African countries. Requires the Administrator of USAID to establish a program of assistance that would demonstrate the feasibility of providing care and treatment to orphans, other children, and young people affected by HIV/AIDS in foreign countries. Sets forth principles for U.S. firms operating in countries affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2002
Training for Realtime Writers Act of 2002 - Directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to make grants to up to 20 eligible entities to promote training and placement of individuals, including individuals who have completed a court reporting training program, as realtime writers providing closed captioning in video programming. Limits grants to a two-year period and a maximum amount of $1 million.
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 · 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 · 1 May 2002
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Saudi Arabia should: (1) immediately dissolve its "martyrs" fund (designed to fund acts of violence or to compensate families of Palestinian suicide bombers); (2) fulfill its commitment to combat violence and terrorism; and (3) eliminate the funding of terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2002
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish that certain individuals fleeing prosecution or confinement shall not be allowed OASDI benefits. Forbids OASDI benefits from being distributed to individuals violating probation or parole under State or Federal law. Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to furnish any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer, upon the written request, with the current address, social security number, and photograph (if applicable) of any individual who receives a benefit under SSA title II, if the officer furnishes the Commissioner with the individual's name and other identifying information the Commissioner requires to establish the individual's unique identity.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2005, the duty on 3-[(4 Amino-3-methoxyphenyl) Azo] benzene sulfonic acid and its monosodium salts.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2005, the duty on 2,5-bis-[(1,3-Dioxobutyl) amino] benzene sulfonic acid.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2005, the duty on p-Aminoazobenzene-4-sulfonic acid and its monosodium salt.
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
Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of 2002 - Directs Secretary of Education to: (1) develop and publish instructional materials accessibility standards for the national electronic file format to be used by publishers of instructional materials in the preparation of electronic files suitable for efficient conversion into specialized formats; (2) establish a National Instructional Materials Accessibility Advisory Committee to provide technical expertise and guidance in creating such national electronic file format; (3) periodically review and amend such standards to reflect technological advances or changes; and (4) establish a National Instructional Materials Access Center. Requires State educational agencies, as a condition for receiving Federal financial assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to develop and implement statewide plans and make contracts with publishers to ensure that instructional materials for classroom use in elementary and secondary schools are made available in specialized formats to individuals who are blind or have other print disabilities at the same time such materials are provided to individuals without such disabilities. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities to provide or improve their capacity to prepare or obtain instructional materials in specialized formats, including the national electronic format. Provides for enforcement of rights of children and parents under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 2002
Declares that the Senate: (1) stands in solidarity with Israel as it takes necessary steps to provide security to its people by dismantling the terrorist infrastructure in the Palestinian areas; (2) remains committed to Israel's right to self-defense; and (3) will continue to assist Israel in strengthening its homeland defenses. Condemns Palestinian suicide bombings. Demands that the Palestinian Authority fulfill its commitment to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in the Palestinian areas. Urges: (1) all Arab states, particularly Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to declare their unqualified opposition to all forms of terrorism, particularly suicide bombing, and to act in concert with the United States to stop the violence; and (2) all parties in the region to pursue vigorous efforts to establish comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
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
Debt Relief Enhancement Act of 2002 - Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to commence efforts immediately within the Paris Club of Official Creditors, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other appropriate multilateral development institutions to modify the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative so that the amount of debt stock reduction approved for a country eligible for debt relief shall be sufficient to reduce, by a specified deadline, the net present value of the outstanding public and publicly guaranteed debt of the country, and the annual payments due, to levels determined according to certain formulae. Prohibits conditioning any such debt cancellation on an agreement by an impoverished country to implement or comply with policies that deepen poverty or degrade the environment. Prescribes other specified conditions and prohibitions with respect to country eligibility. Requires any country otherwise eligible to receive debt cancellation under the modifications to the Initiative made by this Act to agree to: (1) ensure that the financial benefits of debt cancellation are applied to programs to combat HIV/AIDS and poverty; and (2) implement transparent and participatory policymaking and budget procedures, good governance, and effective anticorruption measures. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the options and costs associated with expanding debt relief under the Initiative to poor countries not eligible for inclusion in it.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2002
Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Act of 2002 - 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 2003 through 2015 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 · 18 April 2002
Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Program Act of 2002 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to: (1) change from mandatory to discretionary a State's authority to adjust or recover medical assistance correctly paid on behalf of an individual who has received (or is entitled to receive) benefits under a long-term care insurance policy; and (2) repeal the grandfather date for cases to which such adjustment or recovery authority shall not apply. (Thus applies such exception to all State plans meeting specified requirements, and permits additional States to enter into long-term care partnerships to promote the use of long-term care insurance.)
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 · 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 · 21 March 2002
Removes, for months beginning on or after October 1, 2002, the requirement that qualifying offsetting legislation be enacted before a member or former member of the armed forces may be paid military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation concurrently without deduction. Repeals, as of such date, a special compensation program for certain severely disabled military retirees.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2002
Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Federal Government, and any State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance, from discriminating against any health care entity because (in addition to current prohibited reasons) the entity refuses to provide coverage of, or pay for, induced abortions. Expands the definition of "health care entity" to include (in addition to physicians) other health professionals, a hospital, a provider sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance plan, and any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2002
Retirement Security Advice Act of 2002 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to allow prohibited transaction exemptions under specified conditions to: (1) a fiduciary adviser's providing certain investment advice to an employee benefit plan or to a participant or beneficiary of such plan; (2) sale, acquisition, or holding of securities or other property (including any lending of money or other extension of credit associated with these) pursuant to such advice; and (3) direct or indirect receipt of fees or other compensation by the fiduciary adviser or an affiliate in connection with providing such advice. Qualifies the following as such fiduciary advisers if they satisfy applicable laws: (1) registered investment advisers; (2) banks; (3) insurance companies; (4) registered broker-dealers; (5) affiliates of such entities; or (6) employees, agents, or registered representatives of such entities. Requires fiduciary advisers to keep for six years records necessary to determine whether the conditions of the exemption have been met. Requires such a fiduciary adviser to disclose: (1) fees or other compensation it receives relating to the provision of investment advice or a resulting sale or acquisition of securities or other property, including from third parties; (2) any interest it has and its affiliates have in any security or other property recommended, purchased, or sold; (3) any limitation placed on its ability to provide advice; (4) the advisory services offered; (5) that it is acting as a fiduciary of the plan in connection with the provision of such advice; and (6) any information required to be disclosed under applicable securities laws. Requires such disclosure to be: (1) written to be understandable by the average plan participant; and (2) maintained in currently accurate form. Allows any such investment advice provided to participants or beneficiaries to be implemented only at their direction. Requires the terms of the transaction to be at least as favorable to the plan as an arm's length transaction would be. Requires to be reasonable any compensation received by the fiduciary adviser and its affiliates in connection with any transaction. Requires such a fiduciary adviser to provide the plan sponsor a written acknowledgment that it is acting as a fiduciary of the plan. Exempts from the duty to monitor the specific investment advice given by the fiduciary adviser a plan sponsor or other fiduciary that arranges for a fiduciary adviser to provide investment advice to participants and beneficiaries, if certain conditions are met under this Act. Declares that the plan sponsor or other fiduciary retains the duty of prudent selection and periodic review of the fiduciary adviser. Allows plan assets to be used to pay for the expenses of providing investment advice to participants and beneficiaries.
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 · 13 February 2002
Commends Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson for: (1) moving to make State Children's Health Insurance Program resources available to States to care for unborn children and pregnant mothers; and (2) recognizing pregnant mothers and unborn children as deserving of concern about their health and well-being.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2002
Charity Aid, Recovery, and Empowerment Act of 2002 (CARE Act of 2002) - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, concerning charitable giving, to, among other things: (1) allow a charitable giving deduction to individuals not itemizing; (2) permit tax free distributions from IRA accounts for charitable purposes; and (3) increase the cap on corporate charitable contributions. Sets forth provisions concerning the treatment of nongovernmental providers of social services. Provides expedited procedures for obtaining tax exempt status. Provides financial for support nongovernmental community based organizations for, among other things: (1) grant writing, legal, program development, and management assistance; (2) capacity building; and (3) delivering assistance. Amends Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provisions of the Social Security Act (SSA) to restore State authority to transfer up to ten percent of TANF funds to carry out State programs under SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services). Amends title XX to restore funds to States and territories for FY 2003 and 2004. Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to provide for maternity group homes and evaluation of such homes. Savings for Working Families Act of 2002 - Permits a qualified financial institution, qualified nonprofit organization, or Indian tribe to establish one or more qualified individual development account programs. Defines such an account as an account established for an eligible individual (income based) as part of a qualified individual development account program (matched individual and entity savings accounts for qualifying educational, first-time home purchase, or business expenses). Provides matching funds through a tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2002
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001 - Prohibits any person or entity, in or affecting interstate commerce, from knowingly: (1) performing or attempting to perform human cloning; (2) participating in such an attempt; (3) shipping or receiving an embryo produced by human cloning or any product derived from such embryo; or (4) importing such an embryo or product. Directs the General Accounting Office to assess the need for amendment of such prohibition, including through: (1) a discussion of new developments, the need for somatic cell transfer to produce medical advances, current public attitudes and prevailing ethical views, and potential legal implications; and (2) a review of technological developments.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2002
Calls for establishment of a National Importance of Health Care Coverage Month to promote education and awareness of available health care coverage options and to inform those eligible for public insurance programs about program access.
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 · 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 · 8 December 2001
Designates the lobby of the James A. Byrne United States Courthouse located at 601 Market Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Edward R. Becker Lobby.
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 · 7 November 2001
United States Consensus Council Act of 2001 - Establishes the United States Consensus Council to: (1) promote and advance programs based on consensus building as a complement to the current deliberative processes used by Congress and the executive branch in addressing national public policy issues; (2) enter into formal and informal relationships with other public and private institutions for purposes not inconsistent with this Act; (3) receive referrals from Congress, the President, executive departments, agencies, private groups, or organizations that request the Council's expertise in building a consensus on a particular public policy issue; (4) coordinate with, and make referrals to and receive them from, other consensus building instrumentalities of the United States, including the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution or the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; and (5) develop and apply assessment plans for reviewing such referrals.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2001
Sugar Program Reform Act - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act with respect to the sugar program to: (1) reduce sugarcane loan rates through crop year 2004; (2) revise the sugar beet loan rate; (3) eliminate nonrecourse loans; and (4) eliminate sugar price supports after crop year 2002. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to repeal sugar and crystalline fructose marketing quota and allotment provisions. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985, beginning after the 2000-2001 quota year, to direct the President to use all available authority to ensure that U.S. market raw sugar shall be available at not more than the higher of the world sugar price or the U.S. loan rate.
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