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Bill· SS. 1256 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Puerto Rico Karst Conservation Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire land in or immediately adjacent to the Karst Region of Puerto Rico for the purpose of protecting and managing the tropical forest areas of the Region, with particular emphasis on water quality and protection of the aquifers. Authorizes the Secretary to use funds from the Puerto Rico Karst Conservation Fund (established by this Act) as well as funds under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978, the Forest Legacy Program, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Requires these lands to be managed in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978. Makes all lands in such region eligible for inclusion in the Forest Legacy Program.
Bill· HRH.R. 2447 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2003
Establishes the Federal Interagency Task Force to Promote the Benefits, Safety, and Potential Uses of Agricultural Biotechnology to improve interagency cooperation and to disseminate scientific information on the benefits, safety, and potential uses of biotechnology.
Bill· HRH.R. 2416 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2003
Paleontological Resources Preservation Act - Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture (the Secretaries) to: (1) manage and protect paleontological resources on Federal land using scientific principles and expertise; and (2) develop plans for inventorying, monitoring, and deriving the scientific and educational use of such resources. Directs the Secretaries to establish a program to increase public awareness about the significance of paleontological resources. Prohibits a person from collecting a paleontological resource from Federal land without a permit issued under this Act by one of the Secretaries. Authorizes the Secretaries to allow casual collecting of common invertebrate and plant paleontological resources for scientific, educational, and recreational uses, without a permit, on certain Federal lands where not inconsistent with laws governing management of such lands and this Act. Recognizes as valid permits issued before enactment of this Act. Prohibits: (1) excavating, removing, or altering a paleontological resource located on Federal lands, except in compliance with this Act; (2) exchanging or receiving such a resource, if the person knew or should have known such resource to have been illegally removed from Federal lands; (3) selling or purchasing a paleontological resource, if the person knew or should have known such resource to have been illegally removed from Federal lands; or (4) making or submitting false records, accounts, or identification of any paleontological resource excavated or removed from Federal lands. Imposes criminal penalties for violating this Act. Sets forth requirements for the assessment of civil penalties by the Secretaries for violations of any prohibitions contained in regulations or permits issued under this Act. Requires any recovered amounts to be available for use: (1) to protect or restore the paleontological resources and sites which were the subject of the action, or to acquire sites with equivalent resources and to protect, monitor, and study the resources and sites; (2) to provide educational materials to the public about paleontological resources and sites; and (3) as a reward. Requires that information on the nature and specific location of a paleontological resource that requires a permit under this Act or other Federal law be withheld from the public, including under the Freedom of Information Act, except under specified conditions. Declares that no permit is required by this Act for the casual collecting of rocks and minerals on National Forest System lands for personal use.
Bill· HRH.R. 2431 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2003
Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force Establishment Act of 2003 - Establishes the National Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force to: (1) coordinate activities to implement the National Plan (published jointly by the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, and entitled "Plan for Assisting States, Federal Agencies, and Tribes in Managing Chronic Wasting Disease in Wild and Captive Cervids," dated June 26, 2002) in cooperation with State, regional, local, tribal, college, and university and non-governmental partners; (2) plan and host an annual national public conference to review progress made in implementing the Plan; and (3) develop an annual cross-cutting budget to specify sufficient levels of appropriations necessary to implement it.
Bill· HRH.R. 2397 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2003
Upper White Salmon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified portions of the White Salmon River, Washington, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop and administer the comprehensive management plan required by the Act for the designated sections of the River in accordance with that portion of the preferred alternative of the Forest Service Wild and Scenic River Study Report and Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper White Salmon River dated July 7, 1997, addressing only those sections.
Bill· SS. 1208 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2003
Amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to establish in the Forest Service the Suburban and Community Forestry and Open Space Program, which shall provide cost-share grants to preserve private forest land and contain suburban sprawl. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to authorize a requesting State to permit a qualifying organization to acquire one or more conservation easements to carry out the Forest Legacy Program in such State.
Bill· HRH.R. 2395 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2003
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide alternative grazing arrangements on National Forest System land to a person with a System grazing permit if such permittee's grazing privileges will be limited by implementation of the guidelines for the willow flycatcher and the Yosemite Toad (contained in the Record of Decision of the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment). States that such guidelines shall not apply in 2003 for grazing activities for which the Secretary is unable to provide alternative arrangements in specified allotments on the Humboldt-Toiyabe, Lassen, Plumas, Tahoe, Stanislaus, and Sierra National Forests. Authorizes the Secretary to provide certain environmental exclusions for such alternative grazing arrangements without first administratively establishing an applicable category of excluded actions.
Bill· SS. 1202 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
Meat and Poultry Products Traceability and Safety Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act, respectively, to direct that cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules and other equines, and poultry presented for slaughter for human consumption, and the carcasses or parts of carcasses and the meat and food products of those animals, shipped in interstate commerce be identified in a manner that enables the Secretary of Agriculture to trace: (1) each animal to any location at which the animal was held at any time before slaughter; and (2) each carcass or part of a carcass and food product forward from slaughter through processing and distribution to the ultimate consumer. Authorizes the Secretary to prohibit or restrict entry to a slaughtering establishment of an animal not so identified. Directs the Secretary to establish a traceability system for all stages of production, processing, and distribution of meat and meat food products and poultry and poultry food products.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 160 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
States that the Senate calls on the Federal Government to actively pursue a unified approach to strengthen and promote the national policy on aquaculture.
Bill· HRH.R. 2363 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
Right Start Act of 2003 - Extends and increases authorizations of appropriations for: (1) the Head Start Act; (2) State entitlements to funding for child care, under Social Security Act (SSA) provisions for block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF); and (3) services to low-income families through the social services block grant under SSA. Increases set-aside portion of funds for child care quality under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act - IMPACT Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to address issues of overweight and obesity. Expands certain existing grant programs for health professional training to include the treatment of overweight and obesity. Creates grant programs at the local level to promote increased physical activity and improved nutrition. Expands an existing coordinated school health program to include grants for the development of programs which focus on healthy lifestyle, including balanced diet and physical activity. Authorizes the collection and analysis of data concerning the fitness levels of children and youth. Requires a study of the food and nutrition assistance programs run by the Department of Agriculture to determine how they can be improved or altered to help prevent obesity and overweight. Requires an evidence report study on the effectiveness of weight reduction programs. Permits the use of preventive health and health services block grants for community education programs which promote healthy eating and exercise habits. Creates a Medicare demonstration project to reduce obesity and other chronic disease risks in older Americans. Makes grants available to local healthcare delivery systems for overweight and obesity treatment and prevention demonstration programs. Provides grants and contracts for a national youth media campaign to change children's health behaviors. Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act - Family Income to Respond to Significant Transitions Insurance Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to make grants to a State or local government to pay for the Federal share of the cost of carrying out projects that assist families by providing wage replacement for eligible individuals responding to caregiving needs resulting from the birth or adoption of a son or daughter or other family caregiving needs. Family and Medical Leave Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) to extend coverage to employees at worksites where the employer employs at least 25 (currently 50) employees at the worksite and within 75 miles of that worksite. Amends FMLA and Federal civil service law to entitle to leave those employees who must address the effects of domestic violence. Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2003 - Permits the Office of Personnel Management to contract with one or more employing agencies to conduct a demonstration project that provides paid leave for eligible individuals who are responding to caregiving needs resulting from the birth or adoption of a son or daughter or other family caregiving needs. Requires the leave to last for at least six weeks during a 12-month period. Time for Schools Act of 2003 - Amends FMLA to allow employees covered by such Act to take up to 24 hours, during any 12-month period, of school involvement leave to participate in: (1) an academic activity of their child's school, such as a parent-teacher conference or an interview for a school; or (2) literacy training under a family literacy program. Amends Federal civil service law to provide the same school involvement leave allowance for Federal employees.
Bill· HRH.R. 2369 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act - Identifies roadless areas within the National Forest System set forth in specified documents as National Forest Inventoried Roadless Areas, and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to manage such Areas to maintain their roadless character.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 261 (108th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2003
States that the House of Representatives supports the efforts of organizations such as Second Harvest to provide emergency food assistance to hungry people in the United States, and encourages all Americans to provide volunteer services and other support for local antihunger advocacy efforts and hunger relief charities, including food banks, food rescue organizations, food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters.
Bill· SS. 1187 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2003
At-Risk Consumer Protection Through Food Safety Labeling Act - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to define and establish at-risk consumer labeling requirements for a "ready-to-eat poultry product," and a "ready-to-eat meat product." Defines "at-risk consumer" to include pregnant women. Exempts from such requirements: (1) a producer with a scientifically validated Listeria monocytogene control program for low- and higher-risk products; and (2) a distributor whose purchasing specifications or suppliers are in compliance with such requirements. Deems a ready-to-eat product as misbranded if required to, but not having, such labeling.
Bill· SS. 1172 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2003
Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act (or the IMPACT Act) - Amends the Public Health Service Act to address issues of overweight, obesity, and eating disorders. Expands an existing grant program for training for health profession students to include the treatment of overweight, obesity, and eating disorders. Creates a grant program for training for health professionals in such areas. Creates grant programs at the local level to promote increased physical activity and improved nutrition (in place of current law, which provides for grants to promote childhood nutrition and physical activity). Targets partnerships with businesses, schools, senior centers, day care facilities and other institutions. Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to give priority in awarding grants to recipients who provide matching contributions. Permits the Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to provide technical assistance to grantees. Allows the Secretary, acting through the National Center for Health Statistics, to provide for the collection and analysis of certain data, including data collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Permits the Secretary to: (1) make grants to States, public entities, and nonprofits to further the collection and analysis of such data; and (2) provide technical assistance to such grantees. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to request that the Institute of Medicine conduct a study or contract for a study on the food and nutrition programs run by the Department of Agriculture. Permits the use of preventive health and health services block grants for community education programs which promote healthy eating and exercise habits. Establishes reporting requirements with regard to: (1) obesity research; and (2) the national campaign to change children's health behaviors and reduce obesity.
Bill· HRH.R. 2304 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2003
Establishes procedures for resolving the status of Federal land in Barry and Stone County, Missouri, which is claimed by private property owners based on land surveys subsequent to the Public Land Survey System land surveys upon which the original land patents were issued. Directs the appropriate Secretary (the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of Agriculture), upon receiving notification of a boundary conflict from a qualifying claimant, to: (1) convey and quitclaim all right, title, and interest of the United States in the overlapping land; or (2) if there are Federal interests in such land, to confirm Federal title to it and retain it in Federal management, while compensating the qualifying claimant. Establishes rules for the treatment of preexisting conditions, existing reservations, and existing rights and uses.
Bill· HRH.R. 2302 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2003
Protection of Family Farmers Act of 2003 - Amends the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, as amended, to extend until January 1, 2004, the reenactment of chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code (Adjustment of Debts of a Family Farmer with Regular Annual Income) (thereby extending family farmer bankruptcy relief). Makes this Act effective as of July 1, 2003 (the previous expiration date).
Law· SS. 1167 (108th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 2003
Establishes procedures for resolving the status of Federal land in Barry and Stone County, Missouri, which is claimed by private property owners based on land surveys subsequent to the Public Land Survey System land surveys upon which the original land patents were issued. Directs the appropriate Secretary (the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of Agriculture), upon receiving notification of a boundary conflict from a qualifying claimant, to: (1) convey and quitclaim all right, title, and interest of the United States in the overlapping land; or (2) if there are Federal interests in such land, to confirm Federal title to it and retain it in Federal management, while compensating the qualifying claimant. Establishes rules for the treatment of preexisting conditions, existing reservations, and existing rights and uses. Requires any qualifying claimant to file for resolution of a boundary conflict within 15 years of the enactment of this Act.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 154 (108th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2003
Supports and applauds the Administration's efforts on behalf of the Nation's farmers, challenging the long-standing, unwarranted moratorium imposed by the European Union (EU) on the approval of agricultural biotechnology products. Encourages the President to continue to press this issue at the G-8 Summit in Evian, France, on June 1 through 3, 2003.
Bill· SS. 1103 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction and Enforcement Act - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act, respectively, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) prescribe initial and final pathogen performance standards for raw meat and raw poultry, and meat and poultry products processed in establishments inspected under such Acts; (2) identify, and publish a list of, such pathogens; (3) initiate pathogen surveys to determine existing levels of meat and poultry contamination; (4) perform microbial compliance testing at such establishments, and prohibit non-complying establishments from labeling such products as "inspected and passed "; and (5) report on the scientific feasibility of establishing health-based performance standards for pathogens in raw meat and meat products. Directs the Secretary to establish a National Advisory Committee for Microbiology Criteria for Foods. Directs the Secretary to enforce Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System requirements and other sanitation requirements in any official establishment. Authorizes the Secretary to prohibit non-complying establishments from labeling any meat or meat product, or poultry or poultry product, as "inspected and passed."
Bill· SS. 1111 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide alternative grazing arrangements on National Forest System land to a person with a System grazing permit if such permittee's grazing privileges will be limited by implementation of the guidelines for the willow flycatcher and the Yosemite Toad (contained in the Record of Decision of the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment). States that such guidelines shall not apply in 2003 for grazing activities for which the Secretary is unable to provide alternative arrangements in specified allotments on the Lassen, Plumas, Tahoe, Stanislaus, and Sierra National Forests. Authorizes the Secretary to provide certain environmental exclusions for such alternative grazing arrangements without first administratively establishing an applicable category of excluded actions.
Bill· HRH.R. 2203 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction and Enforcement Act - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act, respectively, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) prescribe initial and final pathogen performance standards for raw meat and raw poultry, and meat and poultry products processed in establishments inspected under such Acts; (2) identify, and publish a list of, such pathogens; (3) initiate pathogen surveys to determine existing levels of meat and poultry contamination; (4) perform microbial compliance testing at such establishments, and prohibit non-complying establishments from labeling such products as "inspected and passed "; and (5) report on the scientific feasibility of establishing health-based performance standards for pathogens in raw meat and meat products. Directs the Secretary to establish a National Advisory Committee for Microbiology Criteria for Foods. Directs the Secretary to enforce Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System requirements and other sanitation requirements in any official establishment. Authorizes the Secretary to prohibit non-complying establishments from labeling any meat or meat product, or poultry or poultry product, as "inspected and passed."
Bill· HRH.R. 2273 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Unsafe Meat and Poultry Recall Act - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to: (1) require a person (other than a household consumer or other exempted person) who believes a meat or poultry product he or she transports, stores, or distributes is adulterated or misbranded to notify the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) direct the Secretary, upon a determination of a public health risk from such adulteration or misbranding, to permit the person to voluntarily provide notification, cease distribution, and recall such product; and (3) authorize the Secretary, in the case of noncompliance, to take such actions, as well as providing consumer notification.
Bill· HRH.R. 2270 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Farm Commodity Fair Labeling Act of 2003 - Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 with respect to country of origin labeling provisions to: (1) extend coverage to poultry products (chicken or turkey) and muscle cuts and ground meat from goats; (2) extend United States country of origin coverage to goats and poultry products; and (3) exempt a retailer from the September 30, 2004, consumer notification requirement if a covered commodity is derived in whole or in part from an animal born, or likely born, before October 1, 2004, but whose birthdate is not readily identifiable.
Bill· HRH.R. 2227 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Obesity Prevention Act - Amends the National School Lunch Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Education (ED), to award competitive grants to: (1) up to 20 State educational agencies for model nutrition education and physical fitness programs for elementary and secondary school students; and (2) up to 100 local educational agencies (LEAs), at least one per State, for pilot projects to promote healthy eating habits and increase the physical fitness of such students. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make grants to encourage States to implement plans to carry out activities to assist obese children or children at risk of becoming obese. Requires a State, in order to receive such a grant, to: (1) have a State child health plan which provides satisfactorily for certain activities under the children health insurance program of the Social Security Act; and (2) agree to make available at least 15 percent in non-Federal matching funds. Establishes a Commission on Obesity Treatment and Prevention to oversee research, policy formation, and other activities of the Federal Government regarding the prevention and treatment of obesity. Directs the Secretary of HHS, in consultation with the Secretary of ED, to establish programs of: (1) President's Health and Fitness Awards for elementary and secondary schools; and (2) President's Health and Fitness Teacher Achievement Awards for teachers, coaches, or related personnel and the LEAs that employ them.. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to include nutrition and health education programs in authorized local activities of 21st century community learning centers' programs before- and after-school and during summer recess.
Bill· HRH.R. 2266 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to provide that the established use and occupancy of lands and maintenance or replacement of facilities and structures for commercial recreation services at Stub Creek on the Salmon River in Idaho shall continue to be authorized, subject to such reasonable regulation as the Secretary of Agriculture deems appropriate, including rules that would provide for termination for non-compliance and, if terminated, reoffering the site through a competitive process.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 252 (108th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2003
Supports and applauds the efforts of the Administration on behalf of the Nation's farmers and sound science by challenging the long-standing, unwarranted moratorium imposed in the European Union on agriculture and food biotech products. Encourages the President to continue to press this issue at the G-8 Summit in June 2003.
Bill· HRH.R. 2188 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
Safety Net Extension Act - Amends the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUCA) to: (1) extend the TEUCA program through November 30, 2003, with a phaseout period through February 28, 2004; and (2) provide eight additional weeks of TEUC benefits to those who have exhausted theirs before enactment of this Act. Amends the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 to revise the formula for the extended benefits trigger. Amends the Social Security Act to require: (1) increases and decreases in the earnings allocated to State accounts when States meet or fail to meet funding goals; and (2) interest-free advances to State accounts in the Unemployment Trust Fund to be restricted to States which meet funding goals. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) suspend the tax on individual unemployment compensation for 2003 and 2004; (2) allow certified States to elect to collect Federal unemployment taxes, under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA); and (3) require States to distribute to unemployed individuals State-specific information packets explaining unemployment insurance eligibility conditions. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to: (1) extend the authorizations of appropriations for adjustment assistance for workers, for firms, and for farmers; and (2) require delegation to the International Trade Administration of all functions, powers, and duties to carry out the program of adjustment assistance for firms (with the exception of such program for small firms, which continues to be delegated to the Small Business Administration).
Bill· HRH.R. 2181 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2003
Farming Flexibility Act of 2003 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 with respect to oilseed base acres to: (1) deem the planting, prevented planting, or production of fruits or vegetables to be the same as the planting, prevented planting, or production of oilseeds for purposes of oilseed base acre calculations; and (2) permit fruit or vegetable production on oilseed base acres, except that direct payments and counter-cyclical payments for oilseeds shall be reduced by an acre for each acre planted to a fruit or vegetable.
Bill· HRH.R. 2169 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2003
National Forest Protection and Restoration Act - Prohibits commercial logging and timber sales (with specified exceptions) on Federal public lands, with a two-year phase-out for existing contracts. Provides for payment of relinquished contracts. Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to each: (1) establish a National Heritage Restoration Corps to restore (and monitor) such lands to their natural pre-logging condition; and (2) develop National Heritage Restoration Plans and related standards for regional ecological restoration and monitoring. Sets forth provisions respecting forest fire and hazardous fuel reduction. Provides for worker retraining of eligible persons whose jobs have been lost due to terminated timber and logging contracts. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make training grants, including grants for job search and relocation. Sets forth fund allocation provisions, including amounts for an Environmental Protection Agency investigation of non-wood paper and construction alternatives. Amends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to make permanent certain education, transportation, and public purpose payments to States and counties containing Federal land. Authorizes a private right of action for violations of this Act.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 239 (108th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2003
Sets forth the rule for the consideration of H.R. 1904 (healthy forests restoration).
Law· HRH.R. 2119 (108th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2003
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to lease to North Carolina certain Federal lands, improvements, equipment, and resource materials at the Oxford Research Station in Granville County, North Carolina.
Bill· HRH.R. 2141 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2003
Mineral Exploration and Development Act of 2003 - Sets forth guidelines for mineral exploration and development on public domain lands. Declares, under certain conditions, that holders of mining claims executed under this Act have the exclusive right of possession and use of the claimed land for mineral activities. Subjects existing and/or future unpatented mining claims, mill sites, and tunnel sites, with specified exceptions, to an annual claim maintenance fee payable to the Secretary of the Interior in lieu of the assessment work requirement contained in the general mining laws and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Exempts from the mandated fee any claimants holding ten or fewer mining claims who elect to perform the assessment work. Requires locators of unpatented mining claims, mill sites, and tunnel sites located after this Act's enactment to pay a location fee. Establishes penalties against holders of mining claims for noncompliance with this Act. Requires: (1) a permit, with exceptions, to engage in mineral activities on Federal land that may cause a disturbance of surface resources; (2) an operations permit to carry out any activity greater than casual use; (3) denial of permits to persons who are in violation of this Act; and (4) operation and reclamation standards. Establishes the Abandoned Locatable Minerals Mine Reclamation Fund in the Treasury. Amends the Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 and the National Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 to revise the Secretary of Agriculture's responsibilities within the scope of this Act. Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture to establish and collect user fees from persons subject to this Act's requirements. Repeals the Building Stone Act and the Saline Placer Act. Applies this Act to beneficiation and processing of non-Federal minerals on Federal lands.
Bill· HRH.R. 2086 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2003
Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2003 - Amends the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control Policy through FY 2008. Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to report to the President annually on which countries are major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries and whether each has cooperated fully with the United States. Establishes within the Office a U.S. Interdiction Coordinator. Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, Homeland Security, and Defense to submit, annually, specified information regarding illegal drug cultivation and manufacturing on Federal lands, drug seizures, and patrol hours. Modifies provisions regarding the National Drug Control Strategy. Requires the Director to annually submit to Congress a description of a national drug control performance measurement system. Dawson Family Community Protection Act - Requires the Director to ensure that at least $1 million is used in high intensity drug trafficking areas with severe neighborhood safety and illegal drug distribution problems. Directs that the Director act through the Chief Scientist (currently, through the Director of Technology) in undertaking specified counter-drug technology assessment center-related activities. Repeals provisions regarding the President's Council on Counter-Narcotics, the Parents Advisory Council on Youth Drug Abuse, drug interdiction, and the Special Forfeiture Fund. Requires the Director to conduct a national media campaign to reduce and prevent illicit drug abuse among young people. Designates the Partnership for a Drug Free America to serve as the primary outside strategic advisor to the campaign.
Bill· SS. 1054 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2003
Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to accelerate: (1) the expansion of the 10 percent bracket for married taxpayers filing jointly; (2) scheduled individual income tax rate reductions; (3) the increase in the standard deduction for joint filers to twice that of single filers; (4) the increase in the 15 percent bracket for joint filers to twice that of single filers; (5) the increase to the $1,000 child tax credit. Increases, for individuals, the alternative minimum tax exemption amounts. Increases the expensing allowance, the phaseout limit, and provides for inflation adjustments. Excludes a limited amount of dividend income from gross income. Sets forth rules for use in applying the economic substance doctrine, including defining economic substance. Establishes and modifies penalties concerning tax shelters. Revises provisions concerning corporate governance and executive compensation. Revises IRC expatriation tax provisions. Revises a variety of provisions, including: (1) establishing a program requiring the payment of IRS user fees; (2) including any vaccine against hepatitis A under the manufacturer's excise tax; (3) permitting the IRS to enter into qualified tax collection contracts; and (4) permitting the amortization of intangibles by sports franchises; (5) increasing the historic rehabilitation credit for certain low-income housing for the elderly; and (6) providing for the reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens. Authorizes appropriations, through December 31, 2004, to States for: (1) improving education or job training, health care services, transportation or other infrastructure, and law enforcement or public safety; and (2) maintaining essential government services. Provides for increased Medicaid payments to States through December 31, 2004. Revises provisions concerning small business, including provisions concerning: (1) modifying the debt-financed property provisions; and (2) repealing the special occupational taxes on producers and marketers of alcoholic beverages. Revises provisions concerning agriculture, including provisions concerning: (1) the application of capital gain treatment to outright sales of timber; and (2) patronage dividends of cooperatives. Sets forth: (1) specified simplification provisions; and (2) sunset provisions.
Bill· SS. 1044 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2003
Captive Supply Reform Act - Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 respecting livestock producer-packer forward contracts to: (1) require the inclusion of fixed dollar amount base pricing and public bidding; (2) prohibit formula pricing; (3) limit individual contract size; and (4) exclude from the definition of "formula price" futures-based prices and base adjustments resulting from factors outside packer control.
Bill· SS. 1036 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2003
Chronic Wasting Disease support Act of 2003 - Defines "chronic wasting disease" as a transmissible disease of the nervous system afflicting deer and elk. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop a grant program to allocate funds to the State agency responsible for wildlife management to develop and implement long-term management strategies to address such disease. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a computer modeling program to predict the spread of chronic wasting disease in deer and elk. Directs the Secretary of the Interior (through the U.S. Geological Survey) and the Secretary of Agriculture (through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) to conduct surveillance and monitoring programs on Federal lands to identify: (1) the rate of infection in wild herds of deer and elk; (2) the cause and extent of the spread of the disease; and (3) areas promoting the disease. Directs the Secretary of Interior to develop and maintain a web site that displays surveillance and monitoring program data and modeling information. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) develop guidelines for the collection of animal tissue samples, and a protocol for assessing samples in the laboratory; (2) develop a program for the inspection of laboratories conducting chronic wasting disease tests; (3) provide for the upgrading of Federal laboratories approved to process such samples; and (4) expand and accelerate research on the disease through the Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research grant program. Requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and of the Interior to enter a cooperative agreement for the purpose of coordinating actions and disbursing funds authorized under this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 2057 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2003
Chronic Wasting Disease Support for States Act of 2003 - Defines "chronic wasting disease" as a transmissible disease of the nervous system afflicting deer and elk. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish and maintain the official national database for surveillance and monitoring data regarding chronic wasting disease. Makes the database available to Federal and State agencies, Indian tribes, foreign governments, institutions of higher education, and international wildlife authorities. Directs the Secretary of the Interior (through the U.S. Geological Survey) and the Secretary of Agriculture (through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) to develop surveillance and monitoring programs to identify: (1) the rate of infection; (2) the cause and extent of the spread of the disease; and (3) areas promoting spread of the disease. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to allocate funds to State and tribal agencies for developing and implementing disease management strategies based upon: (1) the relative scope of incidence of the disease; (2) expenditures on disease management; (3) comprehensive and integrated programs for disease management between wildlife and agricultural agencies; and (4) rapid response to outbreaks. Directs the Secretary of the Interior (through the U.S. Geological Survey) to expand and accelerate research on the disease. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture: (1) to provide for the upgrading of Federal laboratories approved to process samples from the surveillance and monitoring programs; and (2) expand and accelerate research on the disease through the Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research grant programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 2054 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2003
Amends the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act to permit funds to be held in the food security commodity trust for such time as the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be appropriate.
Bill· SS. 1022 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2003
Child and Adult Care Food Program Improvements Act of 2003 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to revise requirements for the child and adult care food program. Revises requirements relating to: (1) the eligibility of private organizations; (2) the supplement reimbursement rate for tier II family or group day care homes; (3) the administrative reimbursement rate for family or group day care home sponsoring organizations in rural areas; and (4) management support. Provides for temporary redefinitions of: (1) tier I family or group home in rural areas; and (2) at-risk school children in rural areas. Revises the program for at-risk school children to add Oregon, New York, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Iowa, and Indiana to the limited list of States in which institutions are to receive reimbursement. (Continues the current listing of Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Delaware, Michigan, and two unspecified States.) Allows emergency shelters to claim reimbursement for resident children not more than 18 years of age. (The current limit is 12.)
Bill· SS. 1020 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2003
School Breakfast Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NLSA) to revise requirements for the school breakfast program. Revises severe need assistance under CNA to provide that eligible schools are entitled to receive a specified meal reimbursement rate (eliminating an alternative lesser payment of the operating costs of the breakfast program). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, under CNA, to make competitive startup and expansion grants to State educational agencies to assist eligible schools in initiating and expanding school breakfast programs. Provides for commodity assistance for the school breakfast program (in addition to current provisions for commodity assistance for the school lunch program under NLSA). Directs the Secretary, under NLSA, to make grants to State agencies for pilot projects to provide free breakfasts to high school students, without regard to family income. Requires the Secretary to approve for project participation high schools under the jurisdiction of up to six nominated school food authorities selected so as to: (1) target projects toward such authorities that have the highest percentage of students eligible for free or reduced price meals under the school lunch or breakfast program and the lowest percentage of students that receive such meals; and (2) equitably distribute projects among urban and rural high schools.
Bill· SS. 1021 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2003
Summer Food Service Program Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to revise requirements for the summer food service program for children. Provides for a temporary redefinition of rural areas in which poor economic conditions exist. Revises requirements relating to payments to service institutions for operating expenses and administrative costs. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive startup grants to ten States to assist eligible service institutions in initiating summer food service program sites.
Bill· SS. 1003 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to provide that the established use and occupancy of lands and maintenance or replacement of facilities and structures for commercial recreation services at Stub Creek on the Salmon River in Idaho shall continue to be authorized, subject to such reasonable regulation as the Secretary of Agriculture deems appropriate, including rules that would provide for termination for non-compliance and, if terminated, reoffering the site through a competitive process.
Bill· SS. 999 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Highlands Stewardship Act - Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to establish the Highlands Stewardship Area in the Highlands region (an area encompassing nearly 2,000,000 acres extending from eastern Pennsylvania through New Jersey and New York to northwestern Connecticut (the Highlands States)). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish: (1) within the Department of Agriculture the Office of Highlands Stewardship to advise the Secretaries and the Governors of the Highlands States on priorities for projects carried out with financial or technical assistance under this Act, land conservation partnership projects, Highlands region research, policy and education initiatives necessary to implement the findings of the Highlands Regional Study (conducted by the Forest Service in 1990) and the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Assessment Update (conducted by the Service in 2001), and to implement the strategies of the study, the update, and other studies in consultation with the Highlands States; and (2) the Highlands Stewardship Area Work Group to assist with such implementation. Authorizes the Office to provide financial and technical assistance to an eligible entity to carry out a project to protect, restore, preserve, promote, or interpret natural, agricultural, historical, cultural, or recreational resources of the Area. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, from among proposed land conservation partnership projects submitted by the Governors of the Highlands States, to annually designate those projects that are eligible to receive financial assistance under this Act.
Bill· SS. 1007 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Better Nutrition for School Children Act of 2003 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to revise nutritional requirements for the school breakfast program under CNA and the school lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to base regulations for the school breakfast and lunch programs on sound nutritional science. Authorizes the Secretary, through such Federal regulations, to prohibit the sale of certain competitive foods in food service facilities or areas during the time of school breakfast or school lunch program service (by eliminating a provision of current law that bars such regulations from prohibiting such sale of competitive foods approved by the Secretary during such time). Requires Federal regulations relating to service of foods in schools participating in the breakfast or lunch programs to apply throughout the entire school, including the school grounds, until the end of the time of service of food under the school lunch program. Directs the Secretary, in promulgating such regulations, to consider: (1) the nutritional needs of students in various grade levels; (2) the proximity of any area where foods of minimal nutritional value may be sold, donated, or served without charge to the food service facilities or areas; (3) the extent to which students will likely substitute consumption of foods of minimal nutritional value for other food served in participating schools; and (4) the benefits to a school of permitting the sale, donation, or service without charge of foods of minimal nutritional value, including the extent to which the proceeds of such sales inure to the benefit of a school or an organization of students approved by a school.
Bill· SS. 996 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Commodity Distribution Act of 2003 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to revise requirements relating to the level of commodity purchases under the school lunch program. Requires a specified portion of such program assistance to be in the form of commodity assistance. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from using commodities provided under the authority of any other Act to meet such program requirement for the school year.
Law· HRH.R. 1964 (108th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Highlands Stewardship Act - Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to establish the Highlands Stewardship Area in the Highlands region (an area encompassing more than 2,000,000 acres extending from eastern Pennsylvania through New Jersey and New York to northwestern Connecticut (the Highlands States)). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish: (1) within the Department of Agriculture the Office of Highlands Stewardship to advise the Secretaries and the Governors of the Highlands States on priorities for projects carried out with financial or technical assistance under this Act, land conservation partnership projects, Highlands region research, policy and educational initiatives necessary to implement the findings of the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study (conducted by the Forest Service in 1990) and the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study: 2002 Update (conducted by the Service), and to implement the strategies of the study, the update, and other studies in consultation with the Highlands States; and (2) the Highlands Stewardship Area Work Group to assist with the implementation of the study and update strategies. Authorizes the Office to provide financial and technical assistance to an eligible entity to carry out a project, consistent with the stewardship goals and conservation strategies articulated in the study and update, to protect, restore, preserve, promote, or interpret natural, agricultural, historical, cultural, or recreational resources of the Area. Directs: (1) the Governors of the Highlands States, with input from pertinent units of local government, the public, the Office, and the Work Group, to jointly identify land conservation projects that shall be proposed for Federal financial assistance and submit them to the Secretary of the Interior; and (2) such Secretary to annually designate those projects that are eligible to receive financial assistance under this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 1990 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2003
Family Dairy Farmer Preservation Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out counter-cyclical income support programs for dairy producers in participating States through September 30, 2011. Limits individual or entity payments to 550,000 pounds of milk per month. Sets forth the following participating States: (1) Alabama; (2) Arkansas; (3) Connecticut; (4) Delaware; (5) Georgia; (6) Kansas; (7) Kentucky; (8) Louisiana; (9) Maine; (10) Maryland; (11) Massachusetts; (12) Mississippi; (13) Missouri, (14) New Hampshire; (15) New Jersey; (16) New York; (17) North Carolina; (18) Oklahoma; (19) Pennsylvania; (20) Rhode Island; (21) South Carolina; (22) Tennessee; (23) Vermont; (24) Virginia; and (25) West Virginia. Provides that the Governor of another State may designate the State as a participating State by notifying the Secretary. Makes participating producers ineligible for national dairy market loss payments. Directs the Secretary to establish five Regional Dairy Districts, each of which to be administered by a Regional Dairy Board. Establishes in the Treasury a National Dairy Producers Trust Fund, to be funded by specified processor payments and counter-cyclical payments from the Secretary. States that if the Secretary determines that the Commodity Credit Corporation has incurred additional milk price support costs as a result of overproduction in a District due solely to the operation of the counter-cyclical income support program, the Board of that District shall reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for such costs.
Bill· SS. 995 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2003
Child Nutrition Initiatives Act of 2003 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to revise, reauthorize, establish, and provide funding for certain nutritional and educational programs. Amends NSLA to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary) to establish a program of incentives for healthier schools, under which a school or institution receiving funds for meals under NSLA or CNA may receive an increase in the reimbursement rate if it implements a plan for improving the nutritional value of meals consumed there by increasing the consumption of fluid milk, fruits, and vegetables, under criteria established by the Secretary. Requires such increased reimbursements to be not less than two and not more than ten cents per meal, to reflect additional costs incurred. Amends NSLA to direct the Secretary to make competitive grants to nonprofit entities and educational institutions to establish and carry out Farm-to-Cafeteria projects that may include the purchase of equipment, the procurement of foods, and the provision of training and education activities, in order to improve access to local foods in schools and institutions receiving funds under NSLA and CNA (except the special supplemental program for women, infants, and children (WIC) which already has a WIC Farmers Market Nutrition program). Makes appropriations for Farm-to-Cafeteria projects (through transfers of specified amounts by the Secretary of Treasury). Amends CNA to revise requirements for school breakfast and related programs to increase the required minimum amount payable for State administrative expenses, and to adjust such amount for inflation. Reauthorizes appropriations for State administrative expenses. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the WIC program should be fully funded. Reauthorizes appropriations for the WIC program, including funds for nutrition services and administration. Makes appropriations for the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition program (through transfers of specified amounts by the Secretary of Treasury). Makes appropriations for the Nutrition Education and Training (NET) program (through transfers of specified amounts by the Secretary of Treasury). Increases the required minimum amount for an NET grant to a State.
Law· HRH.R. 1904 (108th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 - Permits the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System lands, and the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, to plan and conduct hazardous fuels reduction projects (fuels projects) on specified types of Federal lands. Directs the Secretary concerned to give priority to fuels projects that provide for the protection of communities and watersheds. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to make grants: (1) to improve the commercial value of forest biomass to produce electric energy, sensible heat, transportation fuels, or substitutes for petroleum-based products; and (2) to offset the cost of projects to add value to biomass. Amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to permit the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service, to provide assistance to State foresters and officials for the purpose of expanding State forest capacities and activities to address watershed issues on non-Federal forested lands and potentially forested lands. Directs the Secretary concerned to establish an accelerated program to plan, conduct, and promote comprehensive and systematic information gathering on bark beetles. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the healthy forests reserve program within the Forest Service for the purpose of protecting, restoring, and enhancing degraded forest ecosystems to promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species as well as improve biodiversity and enhance carbon sequestration. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a comprehensive plan to inventory, monitor, characterize, assess, and identify forest stands and potential forest stands in specified locations. States that issues to be addressed shall include: (1) the early detection, identification, and assessment of environmental threats; and (2) the loss or degradation of forests.
Bill· HRH.R. 1907 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2003
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to declare that certain funds reserved for technical assistance for the Farmland Protection Program, the Grassland Reserve Program, and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program shall be available only for the conservation program from which the funds were reserved and not for other specified programs.