Defence

Guard and Reserve Readiness and Retention Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2004

Guard and Reserve Readiness Retention Act of 2004 - Makes eligible for retired pay non-regular service reserve personnel who obtain the following age and years of reserve service: (1) 60 and 20; (2) 59 and 22; (3) 58 and 24; (4) 57 and 26; (5) 56 and 28; (6) 55 and 30; (7) 54 and 32; and (8) 53 and 34. (Currently, only those obtaining 60 years of age with 20 years of such service are eligible.) Removes the requirement that members of the Selected Reserve and the Individual Ready Reserve may be eligible for benefits under TRICARE (a Department of Defense managed health care program) only if such members: (1) are eligible unemployment compensation recipients; or (2) are not eligible for health care benefits under any employer-sponsored health benefits plan. Makes such eligibility permanent (currently terminates December 31, 2004). Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay the applicable premium to continue in force any qualified health plan coverage for a reserve member (and his or her dependents) while the member is serving on active duty pursuant to a call or order issued during a war or national emergency declared by the President or Congress. Requires the continuation of COBRA coverage during such period. Prohibits simultaneous coverage under both the qualified health plan and TRICARE.

Immediate and Full Repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2004

Immediate and Full Repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax Act of 2004 - Amends Federal military retired pay provisions to: (1) repeal a required a phase-in, during the period beginning on January 1, 2004, and ending on December 31, 2013, of the full concurrent receipt by qualified individuals of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation; and (2) include as a qualifying disability, for purposes of eligibility for such concurrent payments, a service-connected disability (or combination of service-connected disabilities) rated at not less than ten (currently 50) percent by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2004

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2004 - Provides that, if there is a deficit in a fiscal year, then: (1) any pay adjustment (including a cost of living adjustment) for Members of Congress scheduled to take effect in the succeeding calendar year shall be null and void; and (2) rates of pay for Members shall be reduced by a specified percentage, but not below zero. Specifies the mandatory pay rate reduction at: (1) five percent, for the first year; or (2) ten percent, for any consecutive subsequent year that expenditures exceed revenues. Specifies conditions for restoration of the original pay rate, together with otherwise scheduled adjustments. Vests authority in the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to make determinations of whether or not a deficit exists in any fiscal year. States that, in making any such determination, the Director shall exclude any budget outlays which directly relate to a military conflict that lasts over 30 days or that is in direct response to a terrorist attack on the United States.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide that certain trust funds are outside the budget of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2004

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits the receipts (including attributable interest) and outlays of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, Disability Insurance, Hospital Insurance, and Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds, the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, and the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund from being counted as receipts or outlays of the United States.

Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2004

Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly benefit of $1,000 to certain honorably-discharged veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946 (or to their survivors). Includes service in the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service. Exempts benefits paid under this Act from taxation.

Immediate and Full Repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2004

Immediate and Full Repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax Act of 2004 - Amends Federal military retired pay provisions to: (1) repeal a required a phase-in, during the period beginning on January 1, 2004, and ending on December 31, 2013, of the full concurrent receipt by qualified individuals of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation; and (2) include as a qualifying disability, for purposes of eligibility for such concurrent payments, a service-connected disability (or combination of service-connected disabilities) rated at not less than ten (currently 50) percent by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

To require the Secretary of Defense to reimburse members of the Armed Forces who participated in the Department of Defense Rest and Recuperation Leave program for travel expenses incurred by or on behalf of such members before the program was expanded to include domestic travel.

United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2004

Directs the Secretary of Defense to reimburse members of the armed forces who participated in the Department of Defense Rest and Recuperation Leave program during the period beginning on September 15, 2003, and ending on December 18, 2003, for travel expenses incurred by the member (or family members on behalf of the member) to travel to or from a designated embarkation point before the program was expanded to include a domestic travel component.

John J. Young, Jr., of Virginia, to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, vice Michael W. Wynne.

United States · United States Senate · 23 January 2004

A bill to limit Department of Defense contracting with firms under investigation by the Inspector General of the Department of Defense.

United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2004

Prohibits any official of the Department of Defense (DOD) from entering into a contract with, or otherwise procuring any property or services from, a person under investigation by the DOD Inspector General, unless the selection of such person for such contract or procurement is made with full and open competition. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition when determined necessary to U.S. national security interests, requiring at least 15 days' advance notification to Congress.

Domestic Defense Fund Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2004

Domestic Defense Fund Act of 2004 - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to award grants to States, units of local government, and Indian tribes for homeland security development. Requires grant awardees, among other requirements, to develop a homeland security plan identifying both short- and long-term homeland security needs. Provides authorized uses of grant assistance, including: (1) funding additional law enforcement, fire, and other emergency response resources and equipment; and (2) improving cyber and infrastructure security. Requires one percent of grant funds to be reserved for Indian tribes. Requires 70 percent of grant funds to be allocated among metropolitan cities and urban counties based on the Secretary's calculations of various infrastructure vulnerabilities and threats such as proximity to international borders, nuclear or other energy facilities, air, rail or water transportation, and national icons and Federal buildings. Requires the remaining percentage to be allocated among the States for use in non-qualifying communities (not a metropolitan city, urban county, or Indian tribe). Requires certifications and annual reports with respect to grant uses. Provides for grant reallocations for failure to comply with use requirements. Allocates funds to States, regional cooperations, and units of local government for: (1) homeland defense planning; (2) increased security through additional first responder personnel; (3) purchasing and refurbishing protective equipment for such personnel; (4) the development and maintenance of Statewide training facilities and homeland security best practices clearinghouses; and (5) the development and maintenance of communications systems that can be used between and among first responders, including law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical personnel. Allocates funds for discretionary grants to high-threat, high-density urban areas, and for the protection of critical infrastructure. Earmarks funds for a flexible emergency assistance fund for States and local governmental units that incur extraordinary homeland security costs. Directs the Department of Homeland Security to develop national homeland security preparedness, first responder training, and equipment standards, and best practices for the use of funds authorized and allocated under this Act. Mandates a ten percent matching funds requirement from grant recipients.

Egyptian Counterterrorism and Political Reform Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2004

Egyptian Counterterrorism and Political Reform Act - Prohibits military assistance to Egypt unless the President determines and certifies to Congress that it is in the national security interests to provide assistance for a given fiscal year. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) funds that would have been provided for military assistance should be given in the form of economic support fund assistance and not used by the armed forces of Egypt; (2) the President should certify the establishment of procedures to ensure access by the Comptroller General to appropriate financial information in order to review the use of these funds; and (3) the agreement among the United States, Egypt, and Israel to decrease the overall amount of U.S. foreign assistance for both countries should continue.

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2004

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits Federal expenditures (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding revenues (except those derived from borrowing) for any fiscal year unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress provides for a specific excess of expenditures over revenues by a rollcall vote. Authorizes Congress to waive such prohibition when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.

Requesting the President and directing the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Attorney General to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents in the possession of the President and those officials relating to the disclosure of the identity and employment of Ms. Valerie Plame.

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2004

Requests the President to transmit to the House of Representatives (House), within 14 days of the adoption of this resolution, all documents in the possession of the President relating to the disclosure of the identity of Ms. Valerie Plame as an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency during the period beginning on May 6, 2003, and ending on July 31, 2003. Directs the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Attorney General to each transmit to the House, within such 14 days, all documents in possession of such officials relating to such disclosure during such period.

Medicare's Equitable Drugs for Seniors Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2004

Medicare's Equitable Drugs for Seniors Act of 2004 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to repeal provisions prohibiting the Secretary of Health and Human Services from: (1) interfering with the negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and prescription drug plan sponsors; and (2) requiring a particular formulary to institute a price structure for the reimbursement of covered Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) drugs. Grants the Secretary instead, in order to ensure that beneficiaries enrolled under prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans pay the lowest possible price, authority similar to that of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other Federal agencies and departments that purchase prescription drugs in bulk to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of covered Medicare part D drugs, consistent with the requirements and in furtherance of the goals of providing quality care and containing costs under such part.