Budget

A bill to improve the calculation of the Federal subsidy rate with respect to certain small business loans, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2003

Authorizes the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in calculating the Federal cost for guaranteeing small business loans under the Small Business Act during FY 2003, to use the most recently approved subsidy cost model and methodology in conjunction with the program and economic assumptions, and historical data included in the FY 2003 budget. Requires the Small Business Administration, after written notification to Congress, to implement the validated, OMB-approved subsidy rate for FY 2003, using this model and methodology.

Linda M. Springer, of Pennsylvania, to be Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget, vice Mark W. Everson.

United States · United States Senate · 9 January 2003

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend future reductions of the highest income tax rate if there exists a Federal on-budget deficit.

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2003

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that if there exists a Federal on-budget deficit income tax rate reductions in the highest rate shall be suspended until it is determined that such a deficit does not exist.

A resolution commending Dan L. Crippen for his service to Congress and the Nation.

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2003

Commends Dr. Dan L. Crippen for his service to the country and the Senate as Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

To require any amounts remaining in a Member's Representational Allowance at the end of a fiscal year to be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction or to reduce the Federal debt.

United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2003

Requires any amounts appropriated for a Representational Allowance for a Member of the House of Representatives which remain after all payments are made under such Allowance to be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction or, in fiscal years for which there is no Federal budget deficit, to reduce the Federal debt.

Health Care Coverage Assistance for the Unemployed Act of 2003

United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2003

Health Care Coverage Assistance for the Unemployed Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish an emergency health coverage assistance program to provide premium assistance for qualified individuals for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) continuation coverage under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Allows a State to elect to provide temporary Medicaid coverage under title XIX of the Social Security Act for individuals who are: (1) eligible for unemployment benefits; (2) not eligible for COBRA continuation coverage; and (3) not covered under a group health plan, health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.

National Invasive Species Council Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2003

National Invasive Species Council Act - Declares that no Federal agency may authorize, fund, or carry out any action that would likely cause or promote the introduction or spread of an invasive species in the United States or any other location, unless the agency head determines that: (1) the benefits outweigh the potential harm to the environment, economy, or human health; and (2) all feasible and prudent measures to minimize the risk or harm will be taken. Requires the Council for Environmental Quality, in conjunction with the National Invasive Species Council, to develop guidelines for such measures. Establishes within the executive branch the National Invasive Species Council to ensure that Federal agency efforts concerning invasive species are coordinated, effective, complementary, and cost-efficient. Requires the Council to develop a National Invasive Species Management Plan that details and recommends performance-oriented goals. Requires the Council to create the Invasive Species Advisory Committee to provide information and advice for consideration by the Council. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to prepare and submit to Congress and the Council a yearly budget analysis and summary of all Federal programs relating to invasive species.

Electing chairmen of certain standing committees of the House.

United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2003

Designates majority membership on the House Committees on Agriculture, on Appropriations, on Armed Services, on the Budget, on Education and the Workforce, on Energy and Commerce, on Financial Services, on Government Reform, on House Administration, on International Relations, on the Judiciary, on Resources, on Science, on Small Business, on Standards of Official Conduct, on Transportation and Infrastructure, on Veterans' Affairs, and on Ways and Means.

Electing certain ranking minority members to standing committees.

United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2003

Designates minority membership on the House Committees on Agriculture, on Appropriations, on Armed Services, on the Budget, on Education and the Workforce, on Energy and Commerce, on Financial Services, on Government Reform, on International Relations, on the Judiciary, on Resources, on Science, on Small Business, on Transportation and Infrastructure, on Veterans' Affairs, and on Ways and Means.

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend future reductions of income tax rates if the Social Security surpluses are used to fund such tax rate cuts.

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that if there exists a Federal on-budget deficit income tax rate reductions shall be suspended until it is determined that such a deficit does not exist.

A bill to extend certain budgetary enforcement to maintain fiscal accountability and responsibility.

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to extend Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) requirements. Extends congressional supermajority enforcement requirements in the Senate. Exempts direct spending or revenue effects resulting in net deficit reduction enacted pursuant to reconciliation since the beginning of that same calendar year from PAYGO points of order enforcement in the Senate. Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress and the President should negotiate and agree on the appropriate discretionary spending levels and extend the statutory discretionary spending caps for 2003 and beyond as early as possible.

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced budget and protect Social Security surpluses.

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Provides that any surplus of receipts over outlays of the Social Security trust funds shall not be counted, and any deficit of receipts relative to outlays of the Social Security trust funds shall be counted, and must be completely offset by a surplus of all other receipts over all other outlays. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each House by rollcall vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.

Comprehensive Homeland Security Act of 2003

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Comprehensive Homeland Security Act of 2003 - First Responders Partnership Grant Act of 2003 - Sets forth a grants program to support homeland security activities of States, local governments, and Indian tribes public safety officers, including terrorism prevention and response. Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Act of 2003, or the "SAFER Act of 2003" - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to authorize the Secretary of Labor to make grants to eligible entities to pay for the Federal share of hiring career firefighters. Nuclear Security Act of 2003 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to establish a Task Force on Nuclear Infrastructure Security (Task Force) to examine the protection of sensitive nuclear facilities from potential terrorist threats. Instructs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to promulgate regulations based upon task force recommendations. Directs the President to establish the Nuclear Infrastructure Antiterrorism Team to protect the perimeter of sensitive nuclear facilities against threats . Amends the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to established in the (NRC) the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response. Establishes within such Office the Security Response Unit. Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to authorize employees of NRC licensees to carry weapons. Instructs the Task Force to: (1) evaluate the security of sensitive radioactive material against security threats; and (2) recommend actions for the maximum practicable security against security threats. Rail Security Act of 2003 - Authorizes appropriations for Amtrak, conditioned upon Secretary of Transportation approval of an Amtrak plan that targets security, rehabilitation and upgrades, and engineering and financial considerations. Sets forth criteria governing a mandatory assessment of rail transportation security risks. Wastewater Treatment Works Security and Safety Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to mandate that vulnerability assessments and attendant emergency response plans be submitted to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to address immediate and urgent security needs. Amends the Public Health Service Act to instruct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to implement the National Smallpox Vaccination Program. Establishes in the Treasury an Information Technology Fund to provide expenditures for information technology and related services for Federal agencies. Prescribes guidelines under which a record pertaining to the vulnerability of and threats to critical infrastructure that is furnished voluntarily to the Department of Homeland Security shall not be made available either to the public or to other Federal agencies under the Freedom of Information Act. Prescribes responsibilities of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for the interoperability of information systems. Instructs the Secretary of State to implement a program to secure, consolidate, or eliminate, radiological and nuclear materials and waste located outside the United States that are determined to present a potential threat. Instructs the President to implement a program to improve border security and strengthen export controls in Russia and other designated areas in order to decrease the potential for the spread of weapons of mass destruction and related materiel. Intelligence Community Leadership Act of 2003 - Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to establish an Office of the Director of National Intelligence to assist the Director of National Intelligence. Confers responsibility upon the Directorate for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (Department of Homeland Security) for consolidating law enforcement information with assessments and warnings relating to foreign intelligence from the Director of Central Intelligence's Counterterrorist Center. Chemical Security Act of 2003 - Instructs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations designating certain combinations of chemical sources and substances of concern as high priority categories based on the severity of the threat posed by an unauthorized release from the chemical sources. Subjects violations of such regulations to civil and criminal penalties. Providing Reliable Officers, Technology, Education, Community Prosecutors, and Training in Our Neighborhoods Act of 2003, or "PROTECTION Act" - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize financial and technical assistance to designated law enforcement programs, including religiously-affiliated organizations and rural law enforcement programs.

To make the repeal of the estate tax permanent.

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Amends title IX (Compliance with Congressional Budget Act) of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-16) to repeal the sunset provisions applicable to title V (Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes) of such Act. (Makes estate tax repeal permanent.)

Budget Fraud Elimination Act of 2003

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Budget Fraud Elimination Act of 2003 - Redefines the public debt to exclude intragovernment obligations and reduces the public debt ceiling. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to establish biennial budgeting. Makes conforming amendments, including requirements for government strategic and performance plans. Creates a special transition period for the 109th Congress. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to state that certain emergency legislation shall not be extended in the baseline. Establishes emergency criteria. Spending Accountability Reserve Act of 2003 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish a spending accountability reserve ledger to credit any reductions in new budget authority in an appropriation bill. Adjusts the respective appropriation allocation and discretionary spending limits downward accordingly. Enhanced Rescissions Act of 2003 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to propose at any time the rescission of any budget authority he identifies as wasteful spending. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to extend the budget enforcement mechanisms of discretionary spending limits (caps) and pay-as-you-go (Paygo). Provides for treatment of extraneous appropriations in omnibus appropriation measures. Amends the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund to provide for accrual funding of pensions and retirement pay for Federal employees and Uniformed Services Personnel. Provides accrual funding of retirement benefits for Federal employees covered by the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System, the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Retirement System, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Retirement System, and the Coast Guard Military Retirement Fund. Provides for the accrual funding of post-retirement health benefits costs.

Social Security and Medicare Lock-box Act of 2003

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Social Security and Medicare Lock-box Act of 2003 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate, until there is both a social security and Medicare solvency certification by the Boards of Trustees of the social security and Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Funds, respectively, to consider: (1) any concurrent budget resolution that would use any portion of the baseline budget surpluses; or (2) any legislation or amendment if the enactment of such legislation or amendment would use any portion of such surpluses. Defines "baseline budget surplus" as the sum of the on- and off-budget surpluses contained in the most recent baseline budget projections by the Congressional Budget Office at the beginning of the annual budget cycle and no later than the month of March. Establishes conditions under which a portion of such surpluses is determined to be used in the case of legislation affecting revenues or direct spending or an appropriations bill.

To repeal limitations under the Home Investment Partnerships Act on the percentage of the operating budget of an organization receiving assistance under such Act that may be funded under such Act.

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, with respect to housing education and organizational support assistance and other support for State and local housing strategies, to repeal the limitation of an affordable housing contract under such support programs to 20 percent of a contracting organization's operating budget.

Permanent Death Tax Repeal Act of 2003

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Permanent Death Tax Repeal Act of 2003 - Amends title IX (Compliance with Congressional Budget Act) of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-16) to repeal the sunset provisions applicable to title V (Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes) of such Act.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the "luxury tax" on beer, enacted in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, which doubled previous excise levels.

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to decrease the excise tax on beer.

Death Tax Permanency Act of 2003

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Death Tax Permanency Act of 2003 - Amends title IX (Compliance with Congressional Budget Act) of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-16) to repeal the sunset provisions applicable to title V (Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes) of such Act. (Makes estate tax repeal permanent.) States that such amendments shall take effect as if included in section 901 of such Act.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation.

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Constitutional Amendment - Requires that prior to each fiscal year, the Congress and the President agree on an estimate of total receipts for that fiscal year by enactment into law of a joint resolution. Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires that the Congress provide by law for the repayment in the ensuing fiscal year of outlays that exceed actual receipts for a given year. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each House by rollcall vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect.

Medicare Payment Restoration and Benefits Improvement Act of 2003

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Medicare Payment Restoration and Benefits Improvement Act of 2003 - Revises requirements with regard to title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA): (1) part A concerning rural health care, inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility services, and hospices; (2) part B concerning physicians' and other services; and (3) part A and B concerning home health services, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC), and other specified matters. Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) (M+C) of SSA title XVIII to: (1) provide for equalizing payments between fee-for-service and Medicare+Choice; and (2) specialized Medicare+Choice plans for special needs beneficiaries. Amends: (1) the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to provide for extension of the social health maintenance organization demonstration project; and (2) the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to provide for extension of municipal health service demonstration projects. Amends SSA title XVIII part E (Miscellaneous) (previously part D) to include a number of regulatory reduction, contracting, and administrative changes.

Adopting rules for the One Hundred Eighth Congress.

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2003

Adopts the rules of the House of Representatives for the 107th Congress as the rules of the House for the 108th Congress, with amendments regarding: (1) Speaker succession; (2) repeal of the Speaker's term limit; (3) declaration of an emergency recess; (4) staff access to the House Floor; (5) a Rules Committee Member on the Budget Committee; (6) associate and professional staff of the Appropriations Committee; (7) postponement of votes in committee; (8) the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct; (9) joint referral; (10) dynamic scoring in Ways and Means Committee reports; (11) use of personal electronic equipment on the Floor; (12) accounting for vacancies in House membership; (13) proceedings during a call of the House; (14) five-minute voting in series; (15) prohibition on limitation amendments in a general appropriation bill for the administration of taxes and tariffs; (16) motions to instruct during conference; (17) a fiduciary relationship exemption for physicians; (18) perishable food as a gift; (19) a gift ban exemption for charity travel; and (20) automatic increases in the statutory limit on public debt. Continues from the 107th Congress: (1) certain budget enforcement mechanisms; and (2) House Concurrent Resolution 353 (budget "deeming" resolution) until a conference report establishing a budget for FY 2004 is adopted. Waives Rule X, clause 5(d) to allow extra subcommittees for the Committees on Armed Services, International Relations, and Transportation and Infrastructure. Reserves the first ten numbers for bills (H.R. 1 through H.R. 10) for assignment by the Speaker to such bills as he may designate when introduced during the first session. Makes motions to suspend the rules in order on Wednesdays through the second Wednesday in April. Establishes the Select Committee on Homeland Security.