United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Family Planning State Empowerment Act of 2001 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to give States the option to elect to: (1) make available family planning services and supplies furnished to eligible individuals of child-bearing age to any individual whose family income does not exceed the greater of 185 percent of the income official poverty line applicable to a family of the size involved or the specified eligibility income level; and (2) extend the postpartum period for provision of family planning services and supplies.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Commercial Truck Safety Pilot Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a three-year pilot program to improve commercial motor vehicle safety in the State of Maine. Declares that during such period: (1) the State of Maine shall not lose its apportionment of Federal-aid highway funds by reason of noncompliance with Federal vehicle weight limitations applicable to the use of certain combination vehicles weighing over 80,000 pounds on any covered highway (that portion of the highway on the Interstate System within the State of Maine that was not exempt from Federal vehicle weight limitations as of the day before enactment of this Act); and (2) combination vehicles consisting of a three-axle tractor unit hauling a single trailer or semitrailer that exceed 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight and that were permitted to use non-Interstate System highways in Maine under State vehicle weight laws as of the date of the establishment of the pilot program shall be permitted to use such highway. Provides such waiver of limitations shall become permanent unless the Secretary determines it has resulted in an adverse impact on highway safety.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2001
Conservation Tax Incentives Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income 50 percent of any gains from the sale to eligible entities for conservation purposes of specified land or an interest in land or water.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2001
Child Care Affordability for Federal Employees Act - Permits executive agencies to use appropriated funds (available for salaries and expenses) to provide child care in Federal or leased facilities, or through contracts, for civilian employees. Requires amounts used to be applied to improve the affordability of child care for lower income employees.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2001
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to report semiannually to Congress on changes in the budget and staffing of each Navy installation that occur as a result of the Navy regionalization program. Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify the congressional defense committees 30 days in advance of any modification of the budget, staffing, or functional area of responsibility of an installation by reason of such program; and (2) report on each Navy installation affected by the program. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should ensure that: (1) the allocation of funds and staff within each region of the program is distributed equally among the various installations in that region; and (2) no single installation becomes the focal point for funding or staffing.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2001
United States Independent Film and Television Production Incentive Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a tax credit for 25 percent of up to the first $25,000 of qualified wages paid or incurred by an employer with respect to employees in any qualified U.S. independent film and television production during a taxable year. Increases the credit to 35 percent if the production is located in an area eligible for designation as a low-income community or eligible for designation by the Delta Regional Authority as a distressed county or isolated area of distress.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2001
Mortgage Cancellation Relief Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from individual gross income the discharge of certain qualified residential indebtedness.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2001
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the week of November 11 through 17, 2001, should be designated as National Veterans Awareness Week for the purpose of emphasizing education efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2001
Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to convey to the Ports and Marine Division of the Department of Transportation of the State of Maine for economic development purposes all U.S. rights and interests to the Petroleum Terminal at Mack Point, Searsport, Maine, which served former Loring Air Force Base and Bangor Air National Guard Base, in exchange for a lease to the Air Force of approximately one acre of the real property conveyed constituting the Aerospace Fuels Laboratory.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2001
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001 - Amends Federal postal law to provide that any limitation in the Semipostal Authorization Act relating to whether more than one semipostal (a postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service, at a premium, in order to help provide funding for a national public interest) may be offered for sale at the same time, shall not apply to the breast cancer research special stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Extends the Service's authority to issue such stamps through July 29, 2008. Revises the differential amount of the special rate of postage for the breast cancer research stamp to not less than 15 percent of the regular first-class rate (currently, not to exceed 25 percent of first-class). Requires the special rate to be evenly divisible by five.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2001
Provides medical and dental care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) and TRICARE (a Department of Defense managed care program) for active and reserve military personnel called to or retained in active duty in support of a contingency operation for up to one year (currently 30 days) after their release from such duty.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2001
FamilyCare Act of 2001 - Renames the State Children's Health Insurance program (SCHIP) under title XXI of the Social Security Act (SSA) as the FamilyCare program to provide for: (1) FamilyCare coverage of parents under Medicaid (SSA title XIX) as well as under new SSA title XXI; (2) optional FamilyCare coverage of parents of targeted low-income children; (3) automatic eligibility for FamilyCare coverage of children born to a parent on Family Care assistance; (4) optional coverage of legal immigrants and of children through age 20 under Medicaid and FamilyCare; (5) application of simplified FamilyCare procedures under Medicaid; (6) increased welfare-to-work transition (from six to 12 months) under Medicaid; (7) elimination of the 100 hour rule and other SSA title IV part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) related eligibility restrictions under Medicaid; (8) limitations on specified conflicts of interests under Medicaid and FamilyCare; (9) increased FamilyCare allotment for FY 2002 through 2004; and (10) authority to pay Medicaid expansion costs from the FamilyCare appropriation. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program to award demonstration grants to States to allow them to demonstrate the effectiveness of innovative ways to increase access to health insurance through market reforms and other innovative means. Authorizes the Secretary to award demonstration grants to a limited number of States to conduct innovative programs designed to improve outreach to homeless individuals and families under specified programs for the homeless (including Medicaid and FamilyCare) with respect to enrollment of such individuals and families and the provision of services under such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2001
Railroad Track Modernization Act of 2001 - Amends Federal rail transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program of capital grants to class II and class III railroads (or with the concurrence of such railroads, to a State or local government) to rehabilitate, preserve, or improve railroad track (including roadbed, bridges, and related track structures) used primarily for freight transportation to a standard ensuring that it can be operated safely and efficiently and accommodate 286,000 pound rail cars. Authorizes the Secretary to also make grants to supplement direct loans or loan guarantees (including for paying credit risk premiums, lowering rates of interest, or providing for a holiday on principal payments) for projects primarily benefitting non-class I freight railroad carriers. Sets forth certain employee protection and prevailing wage requirements with respect to projects financed by such grants. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on such projects to determine the public interest benefits associated with the light density railroad networks in the States and their contribution to a multimodal transportation system.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2001
Includes as a basis for establishing the inability of a veteran to defray the expenses of necessary medical care the criterion that such veteran (or any part of such veteran's family) is eligible for treatment as a low-income family for the area in which the veteran resides under provisions of the United States Housing Act of 1937.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2001
Designates the month of September as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Declares that the Federal Government has a responsibility to: (1) raise awareness about the importance of screening methods and treatment of prostate cancer; (2) increase research funding that is commensurate with the burden of the disease so that the causes of, and improved screening, treatments, and a cure for, prostate cancer may be discovered; and (3) continue to consider ways for improving access to, and the quality of, health care services for detecting and treating prostate cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2001
Child Care Facilities Financing Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to eligible intermediaries to deposit into child care revolving funds for technical and financial assistance to eligible recipients to pay the Federal matching share of costs of acquisition, construction, or improvement of center-based or home-based child care facilities or equipment, or for the improvement of related management and business practices.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2001
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers, Farmers, Communities, and Firms Act of 2001 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to revise requirements with respect to: (1) agreements between the United States and States for the provision of certain services for workers adversely affected by import competition; (2) certification of eligibility of a group of adversely affected workers for trade adjustment assistance; (3) payment of, and certain limitations on, trade adjustment allowances to such workers; (4) training programs for such workers; and (5) the maximum amount of job search and relocation allowances payable to an adversely affected worker. Provides for the eligibility certification of adversely affected secondary workers for trade adjustment assistance. Defines "adversely affected secondary worker" as a worker who is employed at a downstream producer (a firm that performs additional, value-added production processes to articles produced by another firm) or a supplier (a firm that produces component parts for the production process for articles). Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a 50 percent refundable tax credit for COBRA continuation coverage premiums. Reauthorizes the trade adjustment assistance program for firms adversely affected by import competition. Revises program eligibility requirements. Reestablishes trade adjustment assistance for communities adversely affected by import competition. Authorizes: (1) such communities, because of import competition, to develop strategic plans for economic adjustment and diversification; and (2) the award of grants to carry out economic development projects under such plans. Authorizes a group of agricultural commodity producers to petition the Secretary of Agriculture for a certification of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance. Sets forth certain eligibility requirements for the payment of such assistance to agricultural commodity producers adversely affected by import competition.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the tax credit for expenditures for providing access to disabled individuals to half the cost, between $250 and $35,250, of modifications enabling inter-city buses to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2001
Seniors Prescription Insurance Coverage Equity (SPICE) Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish a voluntary Seniors Prescription Insurance Coverage Equity (SPICE) program. Establishes the Seniors Prescription Insurance Coverage Equity Office in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to be administered by a Board, under which all eligible Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the SPICE program shall be entitled to obtain SPICE prescription drug coverage. Provides for financial assistance to enable Medicare beneficiaries to obtain enrollment coverage, with such assistance varying depending upon beneficiary income. Creates the SPICE Prescription Drug Account in the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund to pay for SPICE benefits. Directs the SPICE Board to develop an Employer Incentive Program to encourage employers to provide adequate prescription drug benefits to retired individuals. Outlines rules for the offering of SPICE coverage under Medicare+Choice plans under SSA title XVIII part C. Provides for SPICE Medigap (Medicare Supplemental) policies. Directs the HHS Secretary to contract with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to assess the practicality and viability of establishing a Medigap policy that only provides SPICE coverage. Directs the SPICE Board to conduct a demonstration project to increase the use of Personal Digital Access Technology in prescribing covered outpatient drugs for eligible Medicare beneficiaries receiving SPICE coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2001
Requires the Federal share of all design and construction costs associated with modifying a pump station intake structure and discharge line to prevent ice from interfering with pump operation at the Fort Fairfield, Maine, flood control project to be 100 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2001
Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs Act of 2001 - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to any State-conducted demonstration project approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services before January 1, 2001, that waives compliance with, or makes inapplicable, certain State plan requirements for establishing an outpatient prescription drug program for residents of the State not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under Medicaid (SSA title XIX). Provides that any expenditures by the State for covered outpatient drugs under the demonstration project will be treated as payments under the State Medicaid plan for covered outpatient drugs for purposes of a rebate agreement, regardless of whether such expenditures are offset or reimbursed, in whole or in part, by rebates received under such an agreement. States that such expenditures are consistent with the objectives of the Medicaid program and are to be considered amounts expended for medical assistance in the form of prescribed drugs under the State Medicaid plan. Makes certain Medicaid requirements inapplicable to any enrollment fees, premiums, deductions, copayments, cost sharing, or similar charges imposed upon individuals participating in the demonstration project.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2001
Dairy Consumers and Producers Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to include Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania within the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact. Eliminates: (1) the Compact's termination date; and (2) certain restrictive authority respecting non-Compact milk. States that only Ohio may join such Compact. Eliminates and revises specified provisions regarding Compact implementation, duration, restricting authority, and Commodity Credit Corporation compensation. States that Congress consents to the Southern Dairy Compact entered into by Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. States that only Florida, Nebraska, and Texas may join such Compact. Limits price regulatory authority to Class I fluid milk unless otherwise consented to by the Congress. Provides for Commodity Credit Corporation compensation. Sets forth the Southern Dairy Compact. States that Congress consents to: (1) the Pacific Northwest Dairy Compact proposed for California, Oregon, and Washington; and (2) the Intermountain Dairy Compact proposed for Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. Limits price regulatory authority to Class I fluid milk. Provides for Corporation compensation. States that such Compacts shall be the same as the Southern Dairy Compact with specified differences.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2001
Motor Vehicle Franchise Contract Arbitration Fairness Act of 2001 - Provides that whenever a motor vehicle franchise contract provides for the use of arbitration to resolve a controversy arising out of or relating to the contract, arbitration may be used to settle the controversy only if both parties consent in writing after such controversy arises. Requires the arbitrator to provide the parties with a written explanation of the factual and legal basis for the award.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2001
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States: (1) at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission, should remain firmly opposed to commercial whaling, should initiate and support efforts to ensure that all activities conducted under reservations to the Commission's moratorium or sanctuaries are ceased, should oppose the lethal taking of whales for scientific purposes unless it is specifically authorized by the Scientific Committee of the Commission, should seek the Commission's support for specific efforts by member nations to end illegal trade in whale meat, and should support the permanent protection of whale populations through the establishment of whale sanctuaries in which commercial whaling is prohibited; (2) at the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, should oppose all efforts to reopen international trade in whale meat or to downlist any whale population; and (3) should make full use of all appropriate diplomatic mechanisms, relevant international laws and agreements, and other appropriate mechanisms to implement these goals.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2001
States that the Senate: (1) recognizes the tragedy of the AIDS pandemic in human terms, as well as its economic, political and social effects; (2) supports the formation of a Global AIDS and Health Fund, and urges the Administration to encourage other nations to contribute; (3) calls for financial and other assistance from the United States, other nations, and international and private organizations; and (4) urges international assistance programs to emphasize science-based best practices and prevention the context of comprehensive care and treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Transit in Parks Act (or the TRIP Act) - Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop cooperative relationships with the Secretary of the Interior providing for: (1) technical assistance in mass 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) 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 and the qualified participants of such projects to prepare a project management plan.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that steps should be taken to ensure that every member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and such member's family have health care benefits that are adequate to: (1) ease the member's transition from civilian to full-time military life during a mobilization; (2) minimize the adverse effects of a mobilization on the member's ability to provide adequate health care to his or her family; and (3) improve readiness and retention in the Selected Reserve. Directs the Secretary of Defense to contract with a federally funded research and development center to study the health care benefit needs of such members and their families and to issue a report that shall include recommended options for extending health care benefits under the Defense Health Program or the Federal Employee Health benefits program to cover such members.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
Increases, for FY 2002 through 2004, the rates of veterans' basic educational assistance. Prohibits any rate increase during such period based on adjustments to the Consumer Price Index.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2001
Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to transfer to: (1) the Secretary of the Interior administrative jurisdiction over specified property at the Naval Security Group Activity, Winter Harbor, Maine concurrently with the reversion of administrative jurisdiction over other specified property from the Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of the Interior; and (2) the State of Maine, or any political subdivision or tax-supported agency therein, the former facilities of such Security Group Activity, except for the property transferred above. Requires the Secretary to maintain the facilities to be transferred until the earlier of the date of transfer or September 30, 2003. Authorizes the Secretary to lease such property to any appropriate entity in the interim. Requires reimbursement to the Secretary for the costs of any environmental assessment, study, or analysis. Directs the Secretary of Defense to transfer to the Secretary of the Interior specified amounts for: (1) the development of a research and education center at Acadia National Park, Maine; and (2) operation and maintenance activities there. Directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide financial assistance to Winter Harbor in each of FY 2002 through 2004 as reimbursement for costs incurred in making water and sewage system improvements for the benefit of the Group Activity there.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be issued by the Postal Service to honor the members of the armed forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart; and (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued within one year after the adoption of this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2001
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) reducing crime in public housing should be a priority; and (2) the successful Public Housing Drug Elimination Program should be fully funded.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2001
Rural Health Care Improvement Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for: (1) payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals; (2) revision in the Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment adjustment for rural hospitals equalizing DSH payment amounts; (3) a single, standardized amount under the Medicare inpatient hospital prospective payment system (PPS); (4) treatment of certain physician pathology services; and (5) one-time opportunity of critical access hospitals to return to the Medicare inpatient hospital PPS. Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to establish: (1) a capital infrastructure revolving loan program under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services may make described loans to any rural entity for projects for capital improvements from the loan and loan guarantee fund under PHSA; (2) a high technology acquisition grant and loan program under which the Secretary may award grants and make loans to any eligible entity for any costs incurred by the entity in acquiring eligible equipment and services for improving the quality of health care in rural areas; and (3) a program of grants to eligible entities under which the Secretary shall award such grants to public or nonprofit private entities to establish telehealth resource centers for the health care needs of individuals in rural areas. Amends SSA title XVIII concerning: (1) rural health clinics and Medicare reimbursement; and (2) exclusion of certain rural health clinic services and federally qualified health center services from the Medicare PPS for skilled nursing facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit: (1) Federal civilian and military retirees to pay Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and TRICARE supplemental premiums on a pretax basis; and (2) a deduction (available to itemizers and nonitemizers) for TRICARE supplemental premiums and enrollment fees.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2001
Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to convey any or all (currently, all) right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Cutler, Maine.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2001
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide crop year 2000 market loss assistance to apple producers. Establishes a quantity limit, but stipulates that there shall be no payment nor gross income eligibility limitations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2001
Designates the second Sunday in the month of December as National Children's Memorial Day and the last Friday in the month of April as Children's Memorial Flag Day.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2001
Reforestation Tax Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction to a taxpayer who has a qualified timber gain in an amount equal to the qualified percentage of such gain. Decreases the amortization period for reforestation expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2001
Korea Defense Service Medal Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to issue a campaign medal, to be known as the Korea Defense Service Medal, to each member who served in the Republic of Korea or its adjacent waters after July 27, 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2001
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal provisions: (1) providing for the reduction in certain deductions of mutual life insurance companies; and (2) relating to distributions to shareholders from pre-1984 policyholders surplus accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2001
Veterans Road to Health Care Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay the travel expenses of a veteran whose travel is in connection with treatment or care for a non-service-connected disability at a non-Department of Veterans Affairs facility if the treatment or care: (1) is provided upon the recommendation of Department medical personnel; and (2) is not available at the Department facility at which the recommendation is made. Requires the Secretary, in calculating travel expenses under the Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program, to utilize the current Federal mileage reimbursement rates for the use on official business of privately owned vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2001
Commemorates the loss of the U.S.S. Thresher and her gallant crew of sailors and civilians on April 10, 1963. Urges the Secretary of the Army to erect a memorial in Arlington National Cemetery to the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher, and to all U.S. submariners who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2001
Child Passenger Protection Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a safety standard for booster seats used in passenger motor vehicles as a form of child restraint. Directs the Secretary to complete a rulemaking proceeding to amend certain Code of Federal Regulations motor vehicle safety standards in order to: (1) require each seat belt assembly in the rear seats of a passenger motor vehicle to be a lap and shoulder belt assembly; and (2) apply such requirement to passenger motor vehicles beginning after the production year in which such regulations are prescribed in compliance with the implementation of a certain phase-in schedule. Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to extend the occupant protection incentive grants program for a two-year period. Amends Federal transportation law to authorize the Secretary to make: (1) a basic grant to any State that enacts a child restraint law by October 1, 2003; and (2) a supplemental grant to any such State if the child restraint law is an enhanced child restraint law. Sets forth certain grant requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2001
Calls for the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee of the U.S. Postal Service to recommend and the Postmaster General to issue a commemorative postage stamp to honor Dr. Edgar J. Helms (founder of Goodwill Industries, Inc.).
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2001
Federal Reformulated Fuels Act of 2001- Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the use of the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund to: (1) carry out corrective actions regarding releases of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) that present a risk to human health, welfare, or the environment; and (2) conduct inspections, issue orders, or bring actions under the underground storage tank regulation program. Amends the Clean Air Act to authorize any State for which a waiver is in effect allowing application of State motor vehicle emissions standards to impose a control on any fuel or fuel additive for the purpose of water quality protection. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the use of MTBE in motor fuel within four years of this Act's enactment. Authorizes a State Governor, upon notification of the Administrator, to waive oxygen content requirements for reformulated gasoline sold or dispensed in the State. Considers gasoline that complies with all other requirements for reformulated gasoline other than those regarding oxygen content to be reformulated gasoline. Requires regulations to: (1) ensure that toxic air pollutant emissions reductions achieved under the reformulated gasoline program are maintained in such States; and (2) establish performance standards. Requires the Administrator to: (1) conduct tests to determine health and environmental effects of fuels and additives and a separate study on the effects of ethyl tertiary butyl ether and other ethers; and (2) publish an analysis of air quality changes resulting from implementation of this Act. Eliminates the waiver permitting higher Reid Vapor Pressure limitations for fuel blends containing ethanol. Allows State implementation plan revisions that apply conventional gasoline prohibitions to nonclassified areas. Authorizes grants to MTBE merchant producers to assist in conversion of production facilities to the production of other fuel additives.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2001
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2001 - Authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard for: (1) operation and maintenance; (2) acquisition and construction; (3) research and development; (4) retired pay; (5) environmental compliance; and (6) bridge alteration or removal. Authorizes: (1) the Coast Guard end-of-year strength for active duty personnel and its average military training student loads; (2) appropriations for Coast Guard operation of the LORAN-C system; (3) the Secretary of Transportation to accept for Coast Guard drug interdiction activities up to seven PC-170 patrol craft from the Department of Defense; (4) suspension of retired pay of a service member or former member who willfully remains outside the United States to avoid criminal prosecution or civil liability; (5) compensatory absence from duty for military Coast Guard personnel serving at isolated duty stations in certain circumstances; (6) the Coast Guard to provide fishing vessel safety training; (7) conveyance and 30-year lease-back of the Naval Reserve Pier property in Portland, Maine, to the Gulf of Maine Aquarium Development Corporation; and (8) a student pre-commissioning assistance program. Adds the Secretary of Transportation (when the Coast Guard is not operating under the Department of the Navy) to the required members of the Board of Governors of the United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO). Extends specified Coast Guard housing authorities. Allows a promotion selection board to recommend officers of particular merit for placement at the top of the list of selectees. Amends the Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act to revise requirements regarding the waters on which vessels, dredges, and floating plants must carry a radiotelephone. Prohibits the Coast Guard from planning or implementing decommissioning of icebreaking vessels until replacements have been procured. Exempts certain passenger vessel service personnel from a requirement that a vessel employee have a merchant mariner's document. Extends time for recreational vessel and associated equipment recalls. Renames and extends the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee. Extends: (1) the Houston-Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee; (2) the Lower Mississippi River Waterway Advisory Committee; (3) the Navigation Safety Advisory Council; (4) the Towing Safety Advisory Committee; and (5) the National Boating Safety Advisory Council. Requires the Coast Guard to: (1) study existing local harbor safety coordinating committees regarding cooperation with interested groups, organizational models, technological assistance, and recurring resources; and (2) test the feasibility of expanding the harbor safety committee concept to ceratin small and medium-sized ports. States that Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service pilots shall not be liable for damages related to their official assistance unless such assistance constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct. Amends the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 to repeal certain endorsement revocation authority.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2001
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2001 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or local governments. Directs the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to determine whether State law provides specified rights and responsibilities for public safety officers, including: (1) granting public safety employees the right to form and join a labor organization which excludes management and supervisory employees, and which is, or seeks to be, recognized as the exclusive bargaining agent for such employees; and (2) requiring public safety employers to recognize and agree to bargain with the employees' labor organization. Requires the FLRA to issue regulations establishing collective bargaining procedures for public safety employers and employees in States that do not substantially provide for such rights and responsibilities. Directs the FLRA, in such cases, to: (1) determine the appropriateness of units for labor organization representation; (2) supervise or conduct elections to determine whether a labor organization has been selected as an exclusive representative by a majority of the employees in an appropriate unit; (3) resolve issues relating to the duty to bargain in good faith; (4) conduct hearings and resolve complaints of unfair labor practices; and (5) resolve exceptions to arbitrator's awards. Grants a public safety employer, employee, or labor organization the right to seek enforcement of such FLRA regulations and authority through appropriate State courts. Prohibits public safety employers, employees, and labor organizations from engaging in lockouts or strikes, or sickouts, work slowdowns, or other actions designed to compel agreement to a proposed contract which will measurably disrupt the delivery of emergency services.
![Official portrait of Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000663_200.jpg)