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 · 2 June 2003
Abrupt Climate Change Research Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and carry out a scientific research program on abrupt climate change. Lists as purposes of the program: (1) to develop a global array of terrestrial and oceanographic indicators of paleoclimate in order to sufficiently identify and describe past instances of abrupt climate change; (2) to improve understanding of thresholds and nonlinearities in geophysical systems related to the mechanisms of abrupt climate change; (3) to incorporate such mechanisms into advanced geophysical models of climate change; and (4) to test the output of such models against an improved global array of records of past abrupt climate changes.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 2003
Working Taxpayer Fairness Restoration Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the refundability of the child tax credit, to accelerate the increase to the 15 percent rate. Limits, to fair market value immediately following a transaction, the importation of net built-in loss by a corporation. Prohibits an allocation of any decrease in the adjusted basis of partnership property to stock in a corporation which is a partner in the partnership. Repeals part V (Financial Asset Securitization Investment Trusts) of subchapter M (Regulated Investment Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts). Expands the definition of a disqualified debt instrument with respect to deduction disallowance on certain debt instruments of corporations. Expands the authority to disallow deductions, credits, or other allowances under provisions disallowing such benefits due to acquisitions made to evade or avoid income tax. Amends provisions affecting passive foreign investment companies to state that the term "qualified portion" (of a shareholder's holding period) does not include any period if there is only a remote likelihood of an inclusion in gross income under subpart F (Controlled Foreign Income). Adds to the definition of the term "real estate investment trust" by stating that such term includes a corporation, trust, or association which is not a controlled entity. Directs the Secretary to establish a program requiring the payment of user fees, until September 30, 2013, for: (1) requests to the Internal Revenue Service for ruling letters, opinion letters, and determination letters; and (2) other similar requests.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2003
Veterans Prescription Drugs Assistance Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish such drugs and medicines as may be ordered on prescription of a duly licensed physician as specific therapy in the treatment of any illness or injury suffered by each veteran who is receiving additional compensation or allowance due to a service-connected disability, or increased pension as a veteran of a period of war, by reason of being permanently housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance. Allows any Medicare-eligible veteran to elect to be furnished by the Secretary, on an outpatient basis, such drugs and medicines as ordered on prescription of a duly licensed physician as specific therapy for any illness or injury suffered by the veteran. Requires such election to last for a calendar year and to be irrevocable. Allows for election renewal. Requires appropriate information to be furnished to each veteran prior to such election. Authorizes the Secretary to administer immunizations to voluntary eligible veterans in connection with the provision of care in any Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility. Provides for appropriate copayments for the drugs and medicines received by veterans under authority of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2003
Women's Small Business Programs Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Small Business Act to add specified responsibilities of the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Women's Business Ownership (Office), including the development of programs and services for women-owned businesses that provide goods or services in the areas of manufacturing, technology, professional services, travel and tourism, international trade, and Federal Government contract business development. Authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to award Women's Business Center grants for three-year projects for the benefit of small businesses owned and controlled by women. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) contract authority; (2) a matching funds requirement; and (3) application requirements, including submission of a three-year plan for grant use. Amends the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 to authorize the National Women's Business Council to enter into cosponsorship agreements with public and private entities to carry out its duties. Establishes within the Council the Committee on: (1) Manufacturing, Technology, and Professional Services; (2) Travel, Tourism, and International Trade; and (3) Federal Procurement and Contracting. Establishes subcommittees with the same names within the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise, as well as a Policy Advisory Group.Requires the Deputy SBA Administrator to serve during vacancies in the position of chairperson of the Interagency Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Fishing Quota Act of 2003 - Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to require the Regional Fishery Management Councils and the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) or his designee, when developing a limited access system for fisheries to achieve optimum yield, to take into account: (1) the conservation requirements of this Act with respect to fisheries; and (2) the fair and equitable distribution of a public resource. Authorizes the establishment of a fishing quota system in a fishery management plan or amendment prepared by any Regional Fishery Management Council or the Secretary. Specifies fishing quota system: (1) requirements the Councils and Secretary must ensure that any proposal meet; (2) right, tittle, and interest scope and limitations; (3) eligibility requirements; (4) duration; and (5) referendum procedures. Prohibits approval or implementation by the Secretary of any fishery management plan (or amendment) unless it has been approved by more than two-thirds of those voting in a referendum among eligible permit holders. Authorizes the Secretary to approve and implement a program submitted by a Council which reserves up to 25 percent of the fees collected from fisheries for costs related to the management and enforcement of fishing quota programs for issuance of obligations that aid in financing the: (1) purchase of fishing quotas by small vessel fishermen; and (2) first-time purchase of fishing quotas by entry level fisherman. Requires the National Research Council to provide an independent review, every five years, of the effectiveness of fishing quota systems conducted in Federal fisheries. Requires the Secretary to issue regulations which establish requirements for a fishing quota system.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) changes to athletics policies issued under Title IX (of the Education Amendments of 1972) would contradict the spirit and intent of the mandate to provide equal opportunities in athletics; (2) current Title IX athletics policies (as set forth in the regulations issued in 1975) and the Department of Education's 1979 Policy Interpretation (as clarified in the 1996 Clarification of Intercollegiate Athletics Policy Guidance) should remain unchanged and be enforced vigorously to eliminate the continuing discrimination against women and girls in athletics; and (3) if the Department of Education changes the current Title IX athletics policies, Congress will respond with legislation to restore such policies and preserve the right to equal opportunities in athletics.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
National Cancer Act of 2003 - Provides a comprehensive Federal effort relating to treatments for and the prevention of cancer. Amends the Public Health Service Act to fund prevention, detection, and treatment programs of the National Cancer Institute, including translational cancer research (research needed to transform scientific discoveries into approaches and products to treat and cure cancer). Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a research grant program to fund projects that seek to develop cancer treatments that target cancer cells. Addresses issues of cancer care, including: (1) clinical trial participation; (2) workforce needs; (3) cancer survivorship; (4) cancer care guidelines; (5) the supply of researchers; (6) a colorectal cancer screening demonstration program; and (7) an Institute of Medicine study on whether to provide medical coverage under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to certain cancer patients. Directs the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to submit to Congress a plan outlining steps to accelerate the process for reviewing and approving new cancer drugs and treatments. Requires health insurance plans covered by the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide: (1) coverage for clinical trials; (2) coverage of cancer screening, including tobacco and nutrition counseling and genetic testing; and (3) patient access to benefit information. Addresses issues of managing physicians and quality of care for cancer patients covered by such plans, including designating a lead managing physician. Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to make grants for: (1) model programs to provide services for cancer and chronic diseases to individuals of health disparity populations; and (2) patient navigators for managing such care of such individuals.
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 · 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 · 13 May 2003
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit health discrimination on the basis of genetic information or services. Defines genetic information as genetic tests of an individual or family member or occurrence of a disease or disorder in family members used to predict risk of disease in asymptomatic or undiagnosed individuals. Defines genetic services as health services provided for genetic education and counseling. Prohibits group health plans or health insurers offering group coverage from using genetic information to impose enrollment restrictions or adjust group premiums. Prohibits requests for genetic testing or results except as necessary for treatment, payment, or health care operations. Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit such discrimination in coverage offered in the individual market. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue final regulations, coordinating with the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Labor through an interagency memorandum of understanding. Makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or training program to discriminate against an individual or deprive such individual of employment opportunities because of genetic information. Prohibits the collection of genetic information except where necessary to monitor the effects of toxic substances in the workplace when authorized by the employee, or as required by law. Requires genetic information to be treated as part of an individual's confidential medical record, limiting disclosure to the individual, the family, health researchers, or as required by law or court order. Grants enforcement powers to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2003
Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Service Act of 2003 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from permitting any license for a commercial television broadcast station to be granted, transferred, or assigned to any party if such action would result in that party owning, operating, controlling, or having a cognizable interest in stations which have an aggregate national audience reach exceeding 35 percent. Requires any party currently having licenses in excess of such limit to divest as necessary to comply with such limit within one year.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2003
Access to Cancer Therapies Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend Medicare coverage to all oral drugs prescribed for use as an anticancer agent for a medically accepted indication.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2003
Transit in Parks Act (or the TRIP Act) - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop cooperative relationships with the Secretary of the Interior providing for: (1) technical assistance in alternative transportation; (2) interagency and multidisciplinary teams to develop Federal land management agency (the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Bureau of Land Management) alternative transportation policy, procedures, and coordination; and (3) the development of procedures and criteria relating to the planning, selection, and funding of qualified planning or capital projects carried out in or in the vicinity of any federally owned or managed park, refuge, or recreational area that is open to the general public and implementation and oversight of the program of projects in accordance with this Act. Sets forth requirements with respect to departmental cost sharing, financing, and selection of qualified projects. Requires projects of more than $25 million to be carried out through a full funding agreement. Requires the qualified participants of such projects to prepare a project management plan.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants to public or nonprofit private entities for the development and operation of not more than eight consortium centers (each such center shall be known as a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Center of Excellence). States that the centers shall conduct multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research on environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer.
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
Treatment of Children's Deformities Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code to set standards requiring that group and individual health insurance and group health plans provide coverage for treatment of a minor child's congenital or developmental deformity or disorder due to trauma, infection, tumor, or disease.
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
Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime that: (1) constitutes a crime of violence under Federal law or a felony under State or Indian tribal law; and (2) is motivated by prejudice based on the race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim or is a violation of the hate crime laws of the State or tribe. Directs the Attorney General to give priority for assistance to crimes committed by offenders who have committed crimes in more than one State and to rural jurisdictions that have difficulty covering the extraordinary investigation or prosecution expenses. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to assist State, local, and Indian law enforcement officials with such extraordinary expenses. Directs the Office of Justice Programs to: (1) work closely with funded jurisdictions to ensure that the concerns and needs of all affected parties are addressed; and (2) award grants to State and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Prohibits specified offenses involving actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to study and provide sentencing enhancements for adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes. Amends the Hate Crimes Statistics Act to require the crime data to be collected and published by the Attorney General to include data about crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on gender.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2003
IDEA Full-Funding Act of 2003 - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to revise and reauthorize part B programs of education of all children with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for part B for FY 2004 through 2013, and in necessary amounts for FY 2014 and thereafter. (Provides phased-in increases of funding designed to reach a promised 40 percent Federal share of funding by FY 2011.) Makes appropriations in specified amounts for part B for FY 2004 through 2013. Provides an exception to local educational agency (LEA) maintenance of effort requirements under part B. Repeals certain provisions relating to LEA treatment of Federal funds as local funds under part B.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2003
Over-the-Road Bus Security and Safety Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to private operators of over-the-road buses for specified system-wide security improvements to their operations, including the reimbursement of extraordinary security-related costs incurred since September 11, 2001. Requires: (1) an applicant private operator of over-the-road buses to submit to the Secretary a security improvements plan; and (2) an applicant for a grant for security improvements within a terminal owned and operated by an entity other than the applicant to demonstrate to the Secretary that the applicant has coordinated such improvements for the terminal with the entity. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees an assessment of the over-the-road bus security grant program.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 500,000 one dollar coins which shall be emblematic of the warrior ethos of the United States Marine Corps. Requires all surcharges from the sale of the coins to be paid to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation for construction of the Marine Corps Heritage Center.
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
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to allow up to 20 percent of a grant made to a State or local government for the purchase of equipment for homeland security or counterterrorism activities to be used for preparedness activities, including planning, training, and exercises. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow a State to use a grant made for a specific homeland security activity for another homeland security activity, if the alternative use is consistent with the State plan and approved by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
American Hospital Preservation Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) restore the full market basket percentage increase applied to payments to hospitals for inpatient hospital services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries starting in FY 2004, and for FY 2005 and each subsequent fiscal year as well; (2) ensure the full market basket update for any fiscal year after FY 2005; and (3) restore the reimbursement factor for indirect medical education payments to teaching hospitals to the FY 2002 level for FY 2005 and each subsequent fiscal year, after providing for an increase in such factor from current levels for FY 2004.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Emergency Contraception Education Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to develop and disseminate to the public information on emergency contraception. Requires that the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to develop and disseminate to health care providers information on emergency contraception. Requires that the information disseminated to health care providers include at a minimum: (1) information describing the use, safety, efficacy, and availability of emergency contraception; (2) a recommendation regarding its use in appropriate cases; and (3) information explaining how to obtain copies of information from the CDC.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a broadband credit equal to the sum of: (1) the current generation broadband credit; plus (2) the next generation broadband credit. Defines: (1) the current generation broadband credit for any taxable year as ten percent of the qualified expenditures incurred with respect to qualified equipment providing current generation broadband services to qualified subscribers and taken into account with respect to such taxable year; and (2) the next generation broadband credit for any year as twenty percent of the qualified expenditures incurred with respect to qualified equipment providing next generation broadband services to qualified subscribers and taken into account with respect to such taxable year.
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
Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for a gradual reduction of copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under the Medicare program (from 50 percent to the standard 20 percent) by 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Assure Access to Mammography Act of 2003 - Provides that, with respect to payment for a screening or diagnostic mammography furnished to a Medicare beneficiary, the amount of payment made to a hospital-based facility in which such screening or diagnostic mammography is performed during the applicable period is equal to 200 percent of the amount of payment that would otherwise apply under the Medicare fee schedule established under title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to the technical component of such screening or diagnostic mammography. Provides for not counting certain radiological residents against graduate medical education limitations. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an arrangement with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to the Secretary on Medicare reimbursement for gender-specific services. Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to study and report to Congress on Medicare reimbursement for screening services.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Microbicide Development Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the Office of AIDS Research to expedite the development of a Federal strategic plan for the conduct and support of microbicide research. Requires the Director of such office to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of all appropriate institutes and components of the National Institutes of Health with respect to research on the development of microbicides to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Requires the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to establish within the Vaccine and Prevention Research Program of the Division of AIDS in the Institute, a branch charged with carrying out microbicide research and development. Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fully implement the Centers' five-year topical microbicide agenda to support microbicide research and development. Directs the Office of HIV/AIDS of the Agency for International Development, in conjunction with other offices within AID, to fully implement AID's microbicide agenda to support the development of microbicides, and facilitate wide-scale introduction once microbicide products are available.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Intermediate Sanctions Compensatory Revenue Adjustment Act of 2003 (ISCRAA) - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose on the collecting attorney: (1) in each excess fee transaction a tax equal to five percent of such fee; and (2) in any case in which such tax is imposed and the excess fee involved is not corrected within the taxable period, a tax of 200 percent of the excess fee involved. Defines: (1) collecting attorney; (2) excess fee transaction; and (3) taxable period. Authorizes Tax Court declaratory judgments with respect to excise taxes on excess fee transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 or CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 - Sets forth the determination of Congress that: (1) there is a substantial government interest in regulation of unsolicited commercial electronic mail ("spam"); (2) senders of spam should not mislead recipients as to the source or content of such mail; and (3) recipients of spam have a right to decline to receive additional spam from the same source. Amends Federal criminal law to subject to a fine or imprisonment any person who initiates the transmission to a protected computer of a spam message with knowledge and intent that it contains header information that is materially false or misleading. Sets forth protections against spam that include: (1) a prohibition of false or misleading transmission information; (2) a prohibition of deceptive subject headings; (3) mandatory inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in unsolicited commercial electronic mail; (4) a prohibition of transmission of spam after objection; (5) mandatory inclusion of identifier, opt-out, and physical address in spam; and (6) a prohibition against initiating transmission to a protected computer of an unlawful, unsolicited commercial electron mail message, or to assist in the origination of such message through the provision of addresses, with knowledge or reckless disregard as to whether the recipient's address was obtained from an Internet website or proprietary online service or from a proprietary online service that included a notice that the operator will not provide addresses for initiating unsolicited messages. Confers enforcement powers for violations of this Act upon the Federal Trade Commission, designated Federal agencies, and States. Permits a provider of Internet access service adversely affected by a violation of this Act to bring a civil action. Sets forth a maximum civil penalty of $1.5 million for knowing and wilful violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Program to protect the environmental integrity of undeveloped coastal and estuarine areas. Authorizes the Secretary to make program grants to coastal States, except to ones that have lost less than one percent of their wetlands to development or conversion to other land uses, for the purpose of acquiring property interests. Prohibits any more than 75 percent of the grant funding from being derived from Federal sources. Authorizes the Secretary to provide $5 million for a regional watershed protection demonstration project that: (1) leverages land acquisition funding from other Federal conservation or acquisition programs; (2) involves partnerships with Federal, State, and non-governmental entities; (3) creates conservation corridors; (4) protects habitats under imminent threat of development or conversion; (5) provides water quality protection for areas under the National Estuarine Research Reserve program; and (6) provides a model for future regional watershed protection projects. Reserves 15 percent of program funds for acquisitions benefitting the National Estuarine Research Reserve. Specifies that when property is acquired under this program: (1) title will be held by the grant recipient; (2) property will be managed consistent with the purpose of the program; and (3) funds will be returned to the Secretary if the property is sold, exchanged, or divested. Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to allow the Secretary to enter into contracts or other arrangements with other Federal agencies (including interagency financing of Coastal America activities) as well as any other qualified person for the purposes of carrying out technical assistance and research to support coastal zone management. (Current law allows the Secretary to enter into such arrangements only with any qualified person).
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Ratifies and approves all action in the line of duty by, and all Federal agency actions in relation to, a de facto officer of the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who was appointed or promoted to that office without Presidential action and without the advice and consent of the Senate. Authorizes the President to appoint or promote such a de facto officer as a corps officer for a period ending not later than180 days after enactment of this Act, without change in the grade currently occupied in a de facto capacity.
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 · 10 April 2003
Small Business Investment Company Capital Access Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the definition of "acquisition indebtedness" specified debt-financed indebtedness incurred by a small business investment company.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2003
Commemorates the loss of the U.S.S. Thresher on April 10, 1963. Urges the Secretary of the Army to erect a memorial in Arlington National Cemetery honoring the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher and all U.S. submariners who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2003
Independent Office of Advocacy Act of 2003 - Amends the Small Business Act regarding the establishment of the Office of Advocacy to: (1) require each annual budget submitted by the President to include a separate statement of the amount of appropriations requested for such Office; (2) require the Office to recommend methods for the delivery of financial assistance to women-owned businesses, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals or veterans, and businesses designated as HUBZone small businesses, and evaluate the efforts of Federal agencies and the private sector in assisting such businesses; (3) require the Office to make recommendations and submit specified reports concerning issues and regulations affecting small business and any necessity for corrective action; and (4) require the Office to evaluate the efforts of the Federal Government and private industry to assist small businesses owned by veterans and service-disabled veterans. Requires the SBA to provide appropriate administrative support to the Office. Requires the Chief Counsel to report annually to the President and specified congressional committees on agency compliance with Federal regulatory analysis requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2003
Health Care Access and Rural Equity Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to make a variety of changes with regard to rural health care and such matters as: (1) urban and rural standardized payment amounts under the Medicare inpatient hospital prospective payment system (PPS); (2) disproportionate share hospital (DSH) adjustment for rural hospitals; (3) payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals; (4) adjustment to the Medicare inpatient hospital PPS wage index to revise the labor-related share of such index; (5) treatment of certain sole community hospitals to limit the decline in payment under the PPS for hospital outpatient department services; (6) the critical access hospital program; and (7) permanent treatment of certain physician pathology services under Medicare. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish and use alternative guidelines for geographic reclassification of certain hospitals located in sparsely populated States. Amends the Public Health Service Act to give the Secretary the authority to make and guarantee loans from the loan fund to any rural entity for projects for capital improvements. Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for a five-year extension of the authorization for appropriations for certain Medicare rural grants.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a taxpayer who owns and operates a shipyard to elect to use the completed contract accounting method with respect to an qualified naval construction contract (more than 24 months in duration).
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Clean Diamond Trade Act -Directs the President to prohibit the importation into, or exportation from, the United States of any rough diamond, from whatever source, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). Prescribes criteria for waiver of such prohibition. Directs the President to require the appropriate Government agency to conduct annual reviews of the standards, practices, and procedures of any entity in the United States that issues Kimberley Process Certificates for the exportation from the United States of rough diamonds to determine whether they accord with the KPCS. Makes the importing authority under this Act the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the exporting authority the Bureau of the Census. Declares that the Congress supports the policy that the President take appropriate steps to promote and facilitate the adoption of the KPCS by the international community. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violation of this Act. Authorizes the President to direct the appropriate Federal agencies to make available technical assistance to countries seeking to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Urges the President to work with Participants to strengthen the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme through the adoption of measures for: (1) sharing statistics on rough diamonds production and trade; and (2) monitoring the effectiveness of the KPCS in stemming trade in diamonds whose importation or exportation is not controlled through the KPCS. Urges the executive branch to continue to: (1) keep and publish statistics on imports and exports of rough diamonds; (2) make them available for analysis by interested parties and by Participants; and (3) take a leadership role in negotiating a standardized methodology among Participants for reporting such statistics. Declares the sense of Congress that the President should establish a Kimberley Process Implementation Coordinating Committee to coordinate the implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2003
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow, through December 31, 2008, a limited credit for energy-efficient building property. Defines such property as a fuel cell power plant that: (1) generates electricity using an electrochemical process; (2) has an electricity-only generation efficiency greater than 30 percent; and (3) generates at least 0.5 kilowatt of electricity, using an electrochemical process. Allows, through December 31, 2008, a limited credit to an individual for nonbusiness energy-efficient building property (U.S. residential property) expenditures.
![Official portrait of Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000663_200.jpg)