United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2002
Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to award a grant to Neighborhood House of St. Paul, Minnesota, to finance the construction of a new community center in St. Paul, to be known as the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2002
Captive Wildlife Safety Act - Amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to define "prohibited wildlife species" as any live lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar. Declares it a prohibited act for any person to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any prohibited wildlife species. Exempts from this prohibition licensed zoos, circuses, accredited sanctuaries, federally-licensed breeders, State entities (universities, wildlife rehabilitators or veterinarians), any incorporated humane society, animal shelter, or society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, persons transporting prohibited wildlife species to any such facility, and specified related organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2002
Emergency Communications and Competition Act of 2002 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to assign licenses in the 12.2 -12.7 gigahertz band for the provision of fixed terrestrial communications services. Prohibits: (1) granting such a license if operations would interfere with direct broadcast satellite service; or (2) such licenses from being used for the provision of personal communications or terrestrial telephony service. Requires licensees to begin providing services within five years after the license is granted. Requires each licensee to: (1) disseminate Federal, State, and local Emergency Alert System warnings to all subscribers; (2) provide immediate access of its services for national security and emergency preparedness personnel; and (3) adhere to all FCC-established access requirements, including the carriage of local television station signals, access for political candidates, and public interest programming and services. Directs the FCC to: (1) establish boundaries for license recipients that conform to existing television markets; and (2) redesignate the Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service as the Terrestrial Direct Broadcast Service.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, should conduct or support research on the effectiveness of medical screening techniques for ovarian cancer, including the use of proteomic patterns in blood serum in combination with other techniques. Requires a report to Congress and the inclusion of such technique in Federal health care programs and group and individual health plans if it proves effective.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2002
Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a church to participate or intervene in a political campaign and maintain its tax-exempt status as long as such participation is not a substantial part of its activities. Prohibits anything in this Act from being construed to permit any disbursements for electioneering communications which are impermissible under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2002
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should issue a proclamation designating the fourth Sunday of each September as National Good Neighbor Day.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2002
Water Quality Investment Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) to increase the limit on amounts authorized for grants for development of waste management plans and sewage treatment works to serve Indians. Revises State water pollution control revolving fund provisions concerning: (1) project eligibility; (2) loan payments and subsidization; (3) community development conditions; (4) priorities; (5) strategies for technical, managerial, operations, maintenance, and capital investments and sustaining compliance with applicable laws; (6) project restructuring conditions; (7) technical assistance for small treatment works; (8) competitive bidding; (9) funding; and (10) intended use plans and progress reports. Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to revise State revolving loan fund provisions concerning: (1) project restructuring conditions; (2) intended use plans; (3) uses of assistance; (4) community development conditions; (5) additional authorized activities; (6) loan subsidization for disadvantaged users; (7) capital improvement needs surveys; (8) competitive bidding; and (9) funding. Includes technology assessment among the responsibilities of small public water system technology assistance centers and imposes review requirements. Extends funding for university-based environmental finance centers. Amends FWPCA and SDWA to allow a Governor to reserve and transfer a specified percentage of capitalization grants made under each Act between the water pollution control and drinking water treatment revolving funds. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a demonstration program to promote technological innovations and alternative approaches to water quality management or water supply and to reduce municipalities' FWPCA and SDWA compliance costs. Directs the National Academy of Sciences to study public water system and treatment works rate structures of selected communities. Directs the Administrator to identify ways to streamline and improve the application and review process for the provision of assistance from State water pollution and drinking water revolving funds. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, to: (1) assess the state of the Nation's water resources; and (2) coordinate a process to develop and publish a list of water resource research priorities focusing on monitoring and improving the quality of information available to water resource managers and a process to develop an effective system to communicate water resource information.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2002
Clear Skies Act of 2002 - Amends the acid deposition control provisions of the Clean Air Act with respect to emissions limitations and allowances programs for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury by: (1) revising the allowance system and associated transfer, tracking, permit, compliance plan, and penalty requirements, including those for auctions; and (2) establishing new emissions limitations and trading programs (including implementation of a separate sulfur dioxide scheme for States in the Western Regional Air Partnership). Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) promulgate performance standards (limiting emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and mercury) for new boilers, integrated gasification combined cycle plants, and combustion turbines; and (2) conduct a comprehensive research and environmental assessment program to enhance understanding of health and environmental effects of particulate matter and mercury and to demonstrate the efficacy of emission reductions under this Act. Excludes the following units from consideration as major emitting facilities or major stationary sources (or parts thereof) for purposes of compliance with provisions concerning prevention of significant deterioration of air quality and plan requirements for nonattainment areas: (1) those that are subject to the performance standards of this Act; or (2) those with properly operated and maintained equipment to limit particulate matter emissions or subject to a permit under an applicable implementation plan that provides a specified particulate matter emissions limitation and that use good combustion practices to minimize carbon monoxide emissions. Requires States to ensure in implementation plans that: (1) in an attainment or unclassifiable area, any emissions increase from the construction or modification of an affected unit will not result in exceeding a national ambient air quality standard; and (2) in a nonattainment area, the emissions increase will not interfere with a program to assure the achievement of such a standard. Provides for designation of transitional areas under implementation plans and states requirements for emissions inventories, the attainment of standards by the end of 2015, and penalties for not meeting the eight-hour ozone or fine particles standard.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2002
Homeland Security Act of 2002 - Establishes a Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as an executive department of the United States, headed by a Secretary of Homeland Security who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. States that the primary mission of DHS is to: (1) prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; (2) reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism; and (3) minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery, from terrorist attacks that occur within the United States. Includes as DHS's primary responsibilities: (1) information analysis and infrastructure protection; (2) chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and related countermeasures; (3) border and transportation security; (4) emergency preparedness and response; and (5) coordination (including the provision of training and equipment) with other executive agencies, with State and local government personnel, agencies, and authorities, with the private sector, and with other entities. Creates: (1) a Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, who shall be the Secretary's first assistant for purposes of details; (2) an Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection; (3) an Under Secretary for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Countermeasures; (4) an Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security; (5) an Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response; (6) an Under Secretary for Management; and (7) not more than six Assistant Secretaries. Establishes an Inspector General (to be appointed under the Inspector General Act of 1978), and requires the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Director of the Secret Service as well, to assist the Secretary in the performance of his functions. Transfers to the Secretary the functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of specified entities, including: (1) the National Communications System of the Department of Defense; (2) the select agent registration enforcement programs and activities of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); (3) the Plum Island Animal Disease Center of the Department of Agriculture (DOA); (4) certain programs and activities of the Department of Energy, such as those specified for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; (5) the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury (DOT); (6) the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice (DOJ); (7) DOA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; (8) the Coast Guard; (9) DOT's Transportation Security Administration; (10) the Federal Protective Service of the General Services Administration; (11) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (12) the National Domestic Preparedness Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; (13) HHS' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness; (14) HHS' Strategic National Stockpile; and (15) the United States Secret Service. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a human resources management system for DHS. Establishes in the Department of Defense a National Bio-Weapons Defense Analysis Center.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2002
Declares that it should be U.S. policy to seek a genuine democratic government in Iran that will restore freedom to the Iranian people, abandon terrorism, and live in peace and security with the international community.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2002
Expresses the sense of the Senate that pets should be protected from spring and summertime diseases and illnesses caused by ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas through the use of protective products and regular visits to the veterinarian.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2002
Calls for the Government of the United Kingdom to enter into negotiations with the Government of Greece to facilitate the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece before the Olympics in 2004.
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 · 26 June 2002
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify that church employees and persons treated as church employees under the Code are eligible for the exclusion for qualified tuition reduction programs of charitable educational organizations.
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
Designates June 24, 2002, through July 24, 2002, as French Heritage Month (Le Mois De L'Heritage Francais), encompassing the celebration of La Fete St. Jean Baptiste and the commemoration of Bastille Day.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2002
First Responder Terrorism Preparedness Act of 2002 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to establish in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the Office of National Preparedness, headed by an Associate Director appointed by the President, to coordinate and build viable terrorism preparedness and response capability at all levels of government. Requires the Associate Director to designate a FEMA officer or employee in each of FEMA's ten regions to serve as the Office contact for the States in that region. Requires the Director of FEMA (Director), acting through the Office, to establish a program to provide assistance to enhance the ability of State and local first responders to respond to incidents of terrorism. Requires that not less than 75 percent of the assistance granted each State be provided to local governments and entities within the State. Requires the Director to provide each urban search and rescue task force a grant to pay the costs of operations. Authorizes the Director to provide an additional discretionary grant to pay for equipment, training, transportation, expansion of the task force, incident support teams and the costs of operations in excess of the funds provided. Permits the Director to establish any additional task forces as long as the 28 original task forces are able to deploy at least two fully functional teams simultaneously.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
Working Toward Independence Act of 2002 - Amends title IV (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to reauthorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to award state family assistance grants. Authorizes States to use grants for healthy marriage promotion activities and requires the Secretary to make bonus grants to each State that has achieved formulated employment goals. Revises requirements for the consideration of certain child care expenditures in determining State compliance with contingency fund requirements. Revises State work participation requirements, incorporating a 40-hour work week standard. Revises requirements for the use of TANF grants. Repeals the Secretary's authority to make loans to State welfare programs and revises State work participation requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to develop TANF performance measures. Makes appropriations for research, demonstrations, and technical assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to public and nonprofit community entities for demonstration projects to test the effectiveness of various approaches to create a Fatherhood Program. Permits States the option to make TANF programs mandatory partners with one-stop employment training centers. Reauthorizes funding for State child care entitlement programs and revises State requirements for child support payments. Amends SSA title XI (General Provisions) to eliminate specified limitations on the Secretary's authority to approve demonstration projects and grant waivers. Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to require the Commissioner of Social Security to review State agency blindness and disability determinations. Authorizes the administering Secretary to authorize innovative State demonstration projects involving individual programs, or integrating multiple public assistance, employment security, and other programs to support working families. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require the Secretary to establish a program to make grants to States to provide food assistance and funds to operate employment and training programs for needy individuals. Extends abstinence education funding and reauthorizes transitional medical assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2002
Commends Mr. Ken Curran and Mr. George McAvoy for their exemplary service on behalf of the taxpayers of New Hampshire and the United States in the construction of the Interstate Route 93 causeway at Moore Dam in Littleton, New Hampshire.
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 · 4 June 2002
American Land Sovereignty Protection Act - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980 to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from nominating any non-federal property for inclusion on the World Heritage List unless the Secretary: (1) publishes a proposed nomination in the Federal Register and conducts required hearings; (2) considers natural resources in the area, as well as the impact that inclusion would have on existing and future property uses; (3) determines that commercially viable uses of the property and adjacent property within ten miles will not be adversely affected by inclusion; and (4) submits a report to Congress describing the necessity of such inclusion and proposing legislation authorizing such nomination. Requires the Secretary to object to inclusion of property on the World Heritage in Danger list unless the Secretary: (1) submits such report to Congress; and (2) is specifically authorized to assent to such inclusion by an Act of Congress. Prohibits any Federal official from nominating property for designation as a Biosphere Reserve unless the Secretary of State: (1) publishes such proposed nomination and conducts required hearings; (2) makes the same considerations and submits the same type of report as required of the Secretary for inclusion on the World Heritage List and the nomination is specifically authorized by an Act of Congress. Requires such Secretary to object to such a designation unless such report is submitted and such Secretary is specifically authorized to assent to such inclusion by an Act of Congress. Provides transitional provisions for property so designated before the enactment of this 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
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 · 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 · 13 May 2002
POPs and PIC Implementation Act of 2002 - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to prohibit (subject to certain exemptions and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs Convention)) the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use, or disposal of a POPs chemical substance or mixture. Defines "POPs chemical substance or mixture" as the following: (1) aldrin; (2) chlordane; (3) DDT; (4) dieldrin; (5) endrin; (6) heptachlor; (7) hexachlorobenzene; (8) mirex; (9) PCBs; and (10) toxaphene. Requires a certification statement to accompany each POPs substance or mixture distributed in commerce. Prohibits (subject to certain exemptions and the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP)) the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, or use of certain LRTAP POPs chemical substances or mixtures. Establishes procedures for information collection by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Requires international cooperative efforts by EPA. Subjects exports of substances or mixtures regulated under this Act to TSCA. Imposes penalties for export and import violations. Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to provide for the regulation of POPs pesticides (the substances listed in Annex A or B to the POPs Convention and with respect to which any applicable provision of the Convention has entered into force under paragraph 4 of Article 22) and LRTAP POPs pesticides, including through registration and exemptions, controls on imports and exports, international cooperative efforts, certification statements, and notice and recording by the Administrator.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2002
Transparent and Enhanced Criteria Act of 2002 - Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to add the following to the selection criteria for the 2005 round of defense base closures and realignments: (1) force structure and mission requirements through 2020; (2) the availability and condition of facilities, land, and associated airspace; (3) considerations regarding ranges and airspace; (4) force protection; (5) costs and effects of relocating critical infrastructure; (6) homeland security requirements; (7) State or local support for a continued presence by the Department of Defense; (8) applicable lessons from previous rounds of closures and realignments; and (9) anticipated savings and other benefits. Requires the Secretary, at the time of publishing such criteria, to publish the formula proposed to be used in assigning weight to each criterion in making recommendations for closures or realignments in 2005.
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 · 2 May 2002
Recognizes the American Society of Civil Engineers on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of its founding and encourages it to continue its tradition of excellence in service to the profession of civil engineering and to the public. Commends the many achievements of the Nation's civil engineers.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2002
Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of any funds available to any Federal department or agency for FY 2003 for support of: (1) the Palestinian Authority (PA), any entity supported by it, or any successor thereof; or (2) any private, voluntary organization for projects related to the PA or located in Palestine that would otherwise be undertaken by it. Terminates this prohibition upon certification by the President that neither the PA nor any entity supported by it has engaged in planning or carrying out any terrorist act for the preceding six months. Includes as "support" for purposes of this Act direct and indirect support, whether financial or otherwise, including support for the Holst Fund of the World Bank and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
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 · 30 April 2002
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a deduction from adjusted gross income of up to $500, whether a taxpayer itemizes or not, for certain expenses in connection with the determination, collection, or refund of any tax.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2002
Post-Abortion Support and Services Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (Institute), to expand and intensify research and related activities of the Institute with respect to post-abortion depression and post-abortion psychosis. Requires the Director of NIH to also address the physical side effects of having an abortion, including infertility, excessive bleeding, cervical tearing, infection, and death. Requires the Director of the Institute to: (1) coordinate NIH activities related to post-abortion conditions; (2) conduct or support research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, post-abortion conditions; and (3) conduct a national longitudinal study to determine the incidence and prevalence of cases of post-abortion conditions, and the symptoms, severity, and duration of such cases, toward the goal of more fully identifying the characteristics of such cases and developing diagnostic techniques. Requires the Secretary to make grants of up to $100,000 per fiscal year to provide for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with post-abortion depression or post-abortion psychosis.
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 · 25 April 2002
Calls upon European governments to: (1) acknowledge the anti-Semitic character of the attacks on Jewish institutions in cities across Europe in the last 18 months as violations of human rights and to utilize their law enforcement tools to investigate the crimes and punish the perpetrators; (2) decry the rationalizing of attitudes and attacks against Jews as merely a result of popular frustration with the Middle East conflict; and (3) take measures to protect and ensure the security of Jewish citizens and institutions. Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) Congress and the Administration must raise this issue in bilateral contacts; (2) the State Department's Annual Country Reports on Human Rights should document this phenomenon worldwide; and (3) the Commission on International Religious Freedom should continue to document and report on this phenomenon.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2002
Amends Federal law to prohibit the collection of tolls from vehicles and military equipment owned by the Department of Defense for the use of any toll facility (toll highway, bridge, or tunnel on a public road, or toll ferry boat operating on a route classified as a public road) when the vehicle or military equipment is under the actual physical control of a uniformed member of the Armed Forces.
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
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 · 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 · 22 March 2002
Prohibits any toll from being collected from any military vehicle or equipment owned by the Department of Defense for the use of any toll highway, bridge, tunnel, or ferry when such vehicle or equipment is under actual physical control of a member of the armed forces. Requires any such toll facility, during a period of national emergency declared by the President and upon request of the Secretary of Defense, to reserve a toll lane for the exclusive use of such vehicles or equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2002
Environmental Policy and Conflict Resolution Advancement Act of 2002 - Amends the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental and Native American Public Policy Act of 1992 to authorize appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008 for the Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund. Requires a specified amount to be used for grants or other arrangements to pay for services provided in a neutral manner relating to, and to support the participation of non-Federal entities in, environmental conflict resolution proceedings involving Federal agencies.