United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2002
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to extend the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to allow tobacco-related farm reconstitutions in lieu of lease and transfer of allotments and quotas.
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 · 8 October 2002
Southern Campaign of the Revolution Heritage Area Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating specified South Carolina counties, and, possibly, North Carolina sites, as the Southern Campaign of the Revolution Heritage Area.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2002
Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq - Expresses support for the President's efforts to: (1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions applicable to Iraq; and (2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion, and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions. Authorizes the President to use the U.S. armed forces to: (1) defend U.S. national security against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and (2) enforce all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq. Directs the President, prior to or as soon as feasible (but not later than 48 hours) after exercising such authority, to make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that: (1) reliance on further diplomatic or peaceful means alone will not achieve the above purposes; and (2) acting pursuant to this resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization for use of the armed forces, consistent with requirements of the War Powers Resolution. Requires the President to report to Congress at least every 60 days on matters relevant to this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2002
Rural Community Revitalization and Transition Act - Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make tobacco transition payments to qualifying quota owners and active growers of covered tobacco (Flue-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, Fire-cured tobacco, dark-air cured tobacco, and Virginia sun-cured tobacco). Establishes in the Treasury a tobacco farmer trust fund to carry out such program. Expresses the sense of Congress that such payments should be afforded capital gains treatment. Sets forth payment determination provisions for tobacco investment protection payments, including: (1) historic quota production for Flue-cured and Burley tobacco, and for Fire-cured, dark air-cured, and Virginia sun-cured tobacco; (2) counter-cyclical payments for Flue-cured tobacco, and for Burley, dark-air cured, Virginia sun-cured, and Fire-cured tobacco; and (3) direct payments for Flue-cured tobacco, and Burley and other tobacco. Authorizes the establishment of the Center for Agricultural Innovation which shall be located at a land-grant college or university in a traditional quota State, and shall: (1) coordinate work among land-grant colleges and universities in the Southeast to facilitate development, evaluation, and implementation of new agricultural technologies and enterprises for rural communities; and (2) give priority to developing technologies and enterprises in tobacco-dependent communities. Establishes in the Department of Agriculture the Tobacco Advisory Board. Terminates marketing quotas for certain types of tobacco. Repeals provisions regarding: (1) Burley tobacco acreage allotment; (2) mandatory sale of Burley and Flue-cured tobacco acreage allotments and marketing quotas; (3) sale or lease of acreage allotments; and (4) farm poundage quotas for certain types of tobacco. Revises provisions regarding: (1) national marketing quota; (2) apportionment of national marketing quota; (3) lease and transfer of acreage allotments; and (4) acreage-poundage quotas.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2002
Supports the goals and ideas of a day of tribute to all firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Recognizes the important mission of the Fallen Firefighters Foundation in assisting family members to overcome the loss of their fallen heroes.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2002
Recognizes the 100th anniversary of the 4-H Youth Development Program, and commends such program for service to the youth of the world. Designates October 6, 2002, through October 12, 2002, as National 4-H Youth Development Program Week.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2002
Designates the month of September 2002 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 methods for screening, treating, and curing 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 · 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 · 10 September 2002
Comprehensive Child Protection Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal judicial code to establish within the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) a National Crimes Against Children Response Center which shall develop a national response plan model that provides a comprehensive, rapid response plan to report crimes involving the victimization of children and protects children from future crimes. Sets forth the duties of the Director of the FBI with respect to that mission, including: (1) development of a national strategy; (2) creation of regional rapid response teams; and (3) outreach efforts to raise awareness and educate communities. Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to direct that the release of information under a State sex offender registration program include the maintenance of an Internet site containing such information that is available to the public. Directs the Crimes Against Children section of the Department of Justice to create a national Internet site that links all State Internet sites established under this Act. Increases from 25 to 30 years the statute of limitations for child abuse offenses. Makes the confidential marital communication privilege and the adverse spousal privilege inapplicable in Federal proceedings where a spouse is charged with a crime against a child of either spouse or against a child under the custody or control of either spouse. Increases penalties for sex offenses. Directs the Attorney General to appoint a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Crimes Against Children.
United States · United States Congress · 3 September 2002
National AMBER Alert Network Act of 2002 - Requires the Attorney General to assign an AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice to act as the national coordinator of the AMBER Alert communications network regarding abducted children. Requires the coordinator to: (1) seek to eliminate gaps in the network; (2) work with States to encourage the development of additional network elements and to ensure regional coordination; and (3) act as the nationwide point of contact for network development and for regional coordination of alerts on abducted children through the network. Directs the Coordinator to: (1) notify and consult with the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning each child abduction for which an AMBER Alert is issued; and (2) establish minimum standards for the issuance of alerts and for the extent of their dissemination (limited to the geographic areas most likely to facilitate the recovery of the abducted child). Requires the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants to States for the development or enhancement of notification or communications systems along highways for alerts and other information for the recovery of abducted children. Includes among permissible activities the development or enhancement of electronic message boards, and the placement of additional signage, along highways. Directs the Attorney General to provide grants to States for the development or enhancement of programs and activities for the support of AMBER Alert communications plans.
United States · United States Congress · 3 September 2002
Declares Jaya Gulab Tolani and Hitesh Gulab Tolani to be considered to have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act upon payment of the required visa fees.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2002
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park Act of 2002 - Establishes Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park in South Carolina as a unit of the National Park System to preserve, maintain, and interpret the nationally significant historical values and cultural resources associated with the forts. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands within Park boundaries. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to provide for the interpretation of historical events and activities that occurred in the vicinity of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie, including: (1) the Battle of Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776; (2) the bombardment of Fort Sumter by Confederate forces on April 12, 1861; (3) the development of the U.S. coastal defense system; and (4) the lives of the free and enslaved workers who built and maintained, the soldiers who defended, and the prisoners held at, the forts. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) repair, paint, remove hazardous substance from, and improve the condition of the Charleston Light; (2) make improvements to the Light only to the extent necessary to provide utility service and maintain the existing structures and historic landscape; and (3) transfer to the Secretary of the Interior administrative jurisdiction over and management of the Light for inclusion in the Park.
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 · 17 July 2002
Death Penalty Integrity Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize an individual who, after trial, was convicted of a Federal crime and is serving a term of imprisonment as a result, to file a motion for the performance of forensic DNA testing on evidence that was secured in relation to the investigation or prosecution but not subject to DNA testing because the technology was not available at the time of trial. Prohibits the Government from destroying certain biological evidence over a 60 month period. Declares that no statute of limitations shall extend to any person identified by means of a DNA database prior to identification. Directs the Attorney General to establish a system for reporting and tracking motions for DNA testing. Authorizes appropriations to defray State costs associated with post-conviction DNA testing. Amends: (1) the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 regarding the definition of "qualifying Federal offense"; (2) the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to include juveniles in CODIS (the Combined DNA Indexing System); (3) the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 to authorize grant awards to States for training of counsel representing defendants charged with capital offenses in State and local courts; and (4) the code and the Controlled Substances Act to prohibit an attorney who has been disciplined relating to a criminal case, or where that attorney has been found to have rendered ineffective assistance of counsel in another criminal case, from being eligible to represent an accused.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2002
Small Business Drought Relief Act - Amends the Small Business Act to include drought within its definition of disaster (thus qualifying small businesses suffering economic harm from droughts for assistance under such Act).
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2002
Designates the week of November 10-16, 2002, as National Veterans Awareness Week to emphasize educational programs for elementary and secondary school students regarding the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.
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 · 18 June 2002
Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act of 2002 or RAVE Act - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to prohibit knowingly leasing, renting, or using, or intentionally profiting from, any place (as well as opening, maintaining, leasing, or renting any place, as provided under current law), whether permanently or temporarily, for the purpose of manufacturing, storing, distributing, or using a controlled substance. Subjects violators to: (1) a civil penalty of the greater of $250,000 or twice the gross receipts derived from each violation; and (2) declaratory and injunctive remedies. Authorizes the court to apportion the penalty between multiple violators, but makes each violator jointly and severally liable. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and consider amending the Federal sentencing guidelines for offenses involving gamma hydroxybutyric acid to provide for increased penalties. Authorizes appropriations to the Drug Enforcement Administration for: (1) a Demand Reduction Coordinator in each State; and (2) educating youth, parents, and other interested adults regarding drugs associated with raves.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2002
Authorizes the President to award on behalf of Congress a gold medal to Joseph De Laine, Jr., to honor posthumously his father, Rev. Joseph Anthony De Laine (civil rights activist), for his contributions to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2002
Men's Health Act of 2002- Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the Department of Health and Human Services the Office of Men's Health to coordinate and promote the status of men's health in the United States.
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 · 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 · 22 May 2002
Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act - Amends Federal law to direct the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to establish a program to: (1) deputize qualified volunteer pilots of passenger aircraft as Federal flight deck officers; and (2) provide training, supervision, and equipment for such officers. Directs the Under Secretary to authorize 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.
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
Directs the Secretary of Energy to submit to Congress a plan for the construction and operation at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, of a mixed-oxide fuel facility for converting weapons-grade plutonium to a mixed-oxide fuel for use in commercial nuclear power reactors. Provides a construction schedule and production deadline dates, with the goal of achieving facility construction by January 1, 2009, and of processing 34 metric tons of plutonium into mixed-oxide fuel by January 1, 2019. Requires: (1) the Secretary to submit corrective action plans if the schedule and deadlines are not met; (2) the removal or disposal of unprocessed plutonium from the Site if the schedule and deadlines are not met; and (3) payment to South Carolina of economic and impact assistance associated with not meeting the schedule and deadlines. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress: (1) a plan to address the failure to complete the planned removal or disposal; and (2) a report on the removal of the facility upon completion of operations. Requires the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board to study and report to Congress and the Secretary on the adequacy of the K-Area Materials Storage Facility and related facilities at the Savannah River Site for the storage of defense plutonium and related materials in connection with the plutonium disposition program.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2002
Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) conducting or attempting to conduct human cloning; or (2) shipping the product of nuclear transplantation in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of human cloning. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to restrict practices not expressly prohibited. Prescribes civil and criminal penalties for violations and subjects any real or personal property derived from or used to commit a violation to forfeiture. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require research involving nuclear transplantation to be conducted in accordance with certain Federal standards for the protection of human subjects.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2002
Anti-counterfeiting Amendments of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit trafficking in an "illicit authentication feature." Defines that term to mean an authentication feature that: (1) without the authorization of the respective copyright owner, has been tampered with or altered so as to facilitate the reproduction or distribution of a phono-record, a copy of a computer program, a copy of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, or documentation or packaging, in violation of the rights of the copyright owner; (2) is genuine, but has been distributed, or is intended for distribution, without the authorization of the respective copyright owner; or (3) appears to be genuine but is not. Authorizes a copyright owner who is injured by a violation of this Act or is threatened with injury to bring a civil action in an appropriate U.S. district court. Sets forth remedies for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2002
Workplace Integrity Act of 2002 - Amends Federal labor-management and employee relations provisions to allow official time to be granted only to allow an employee representing an exclusive representative to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement (current law) or to: (1) present or process a grievance on behalf of another employee in the bargaining unit; (2) be present during a grievance proceeding involving such an employee; (3) take part in any proceedings approved by the agency; or (4) present a grievance under a negotiated grievance procedure. Limits the total amount of official time that may be granted to not more than 25 percent of the total amount of time the employee would otherwise be in duty status. Requires annual reports on the use of official time from the Office of Personnel Management.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2002
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the suspension, through December 31, 2005, of duty on P-Nitro Toluene-O-Sulfonic Acid.