Education

Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2004

Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise provisions regarding Federal assistance for programs to reduce suicide among children and adolescents. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award grants or cooperative agreements to: (1) develop and implement State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies in schools, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance abuse programs, mental health programs, foster care systems, and other child and youth support organizations; (2) support public organizations actively involved in State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies and in the development and continuation of such intervention and prevention strategies; (3) collect and analyze data on State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention services that can be used to monitor the effectiveness of such services and for research, technical assistance, and policy development; and (4) assist eligible entities in achieving their targets for youth suicide reductions. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator, to award a grant or contract to establish the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Requires the Secretary to award grants to institutions of higher education to expand mental and behavior health services to students, to provide such services, and to develop best practices for the delivery of such services.

High-Performance Green Buildings Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2004

High-Performance Green Buildings Act - Directs the Administrator of General Services to create, within the General Services Administration (GSA), and appoint an individual to, a position to establish and oversee the Office of High-Performance Green Buildings within GSA. Directs the Office to establish an interagency steering committee. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants to State and local educational agencies for use in: (1) providing technical assistance for and assisting implementation of the EPA's Tools for Schools Program; and (2) the development of State-level school environmental quality plans. Requires the EPA Administrator to develop school site acquisition guidelines that: (1) take into account the special vulnerability of children to chemical exposure where the potential for site contamination is assessed; (2) include an analysis of means for maximizing transportation choices. Requires the EPA Administrator, in partnership with the Secretary of Education, to carry out an education research program in support of the education-related provisions of this Act. Directs the Comptroller General to review the budget process and develop and submit to Congress an implementation plan for life-cycle costing that identifies and incorporates cost savings that accrue from high-performance green buildings. Requires the Office to establish guidelines for, and carry out, specified demonstration projects at Federal buildings and universities to contribute to the research goals of the Office.

A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the World Year of Physics.

United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2004

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of the World Year of Physics, as designated by the General Assembly of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. Encourages: (1) the people of the United States to observe such Year as a special occasion for giving impetus to education and research in physics; (2) the Secretary of Energy, all science-related organizations, the private sector, and the media to highlight and give enhanced recognition to the role of physics in social, cultural, and economic development; and (3) the Secretary and all people involved in physics education and research to take additional steps to ensure that support for physics continues and that physics studies continue to attract an adequate number of students. Calls on the Secretary to lead and coordinate Federal activities to commemorate the World Year of Physics.

National Guard and Reservists Education Benefits Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2004

National Guard and Reservists Education Benefits Act - Requires the Secretary of Education to carry out a program of block grants to States (defined to include U.S. territories and the District of Columbia) to pay tuition and fees for undergraduate studies at public institutions for members of the Selected Reserve. Excludes from the block grant program those members of the Selected Reserve who participate in other specified educational assistance programs. Requires the chief executive officer of each State wishing to receive block grant funds to submit an annual certification that the State will: (1) use such funds to defray the cost of undergraduate tuition and fees for members of the Selected Reserve; (2) return any unused funds to the Secretary according to the reconciliation process set forth in this Act; and (3) comply with the reporting requirements of this Act. Sets forth an allotment scheme for block grant funds that requires allotments to reflect the ratio of Selected Reserve members in the receiving State to Selected Reserve members in all States. Establishes minimum allotments.

Teacher Professional Development Institutes Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2004

Teacher Professional Development Institutes Act - Amends the the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a program for Teachers Institutes (TIs). Requires a TI to: (1) be a partnership or joint venture between or among one or more institutions of higher education (IHEs) and one or more local educational agencies (LEAs) serving a significant low-income population; and (2) use collaborative seminars to enhance subject matter and participants' teaching resources. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to: (1) award grants to TIs to establish and operate TIs; and (2) provide technical assistance to LEAs and IHEs to prepare to establish and to operate TIs.

ESRD Modernization Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2004

ESRD Modernization 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 provide for an annual update mechanism under the Medicare end stage renal disease (ESRD) program to adjust the payment rates for changes in input prices and inflation. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish demonstration projects to: (1) increase public awareness about the factors that lead to chronic kidney disease, how to prevent it, how to treat it, and how to avoid kidney failure; and (2) enhance surveillance systems and expand research to better assess the prevalence and incidence of chronic kidney diseases. Requires the Secretary to establish demonstration projects to enable individuals with ESRD to develop self-management skills. Provides for Medicare coverage of kidney disease patient education services. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish demonstration projects to evaluate how blood flow monitoring affects the quality and cost of care for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD; (2) provide appropriate incentives to improve the home dialysis benefit for individuals on behalf of whom payment may be made; (3) enter into an arrangement with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate the barriers to increasing the number of individuals with ESRD who elect to receive home dialysis services under the Medicare program; (4) review the surgical procedures and evaluate whether to include in such procedures the full range of dialysis access procedures and to revise such units to reflect evaluation findings; (5) review the relative value units under Medicare that are applicable with respect to physicians' services for vascular access procedures and revise them to reflect accurately the difficulty of such procedures; and (6) establish demonstration projects under which the Secretary shall evaluate methods that improve the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the impact of the temporary codes for nephrologists' services applicable under the fee schedule for physicians' services.

No Child Left Behind Appropriations Support Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2004

No Child Left Behind Appropriations Support Act of 2004 - Makes a supplemental appropriation for the Department of Education for FY 2004 to carry out this Act. Directs the Secretary of Education to make payments in additional amounts to each local education agency (LEA) that receives a lesser amount of funds for FY 2004 than it received for FY 2003 under subpart 2 (Allocations) of part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies) of title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Requires such payments to equal the difference between the amount the LEA would otherwise receive for FY 2004 and the amount the LEA received in FY 2003.

Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2004

Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2004 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to replace the program of assistance to disadvantaged children in Asia with a program of assistance for orphans and vulnerable children in developing countries. Authorizes the President to provide assistance (grants, international organization contributions, or governmental assistance) for orphans and other vulnerable children in developing countries for: (1) basic care; (2) HIV/AIDS treatment, including mental health services; (3) school food programs; (4) education and employment training assistance; and (5) protection of inheritance rights. Establishes within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) an Office for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children. Provides assistance priority for countries with specified HIV levels among women and high-risk groups.

No Child Left Behind Appropriations Support Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2004

No Child Left Behind Appropriations Support Act of 2004 - Makes a supplemental appropriation for the Department of Education for FY 2004 to carry out this Act. Directs the Secretary of Education to make payments in additional amounts to each local education agency (LEA) that receives a lesser amount of funds for FY 2004 than it received for FY 2003 under subpart 2 (Allocations) of part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies) of title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Requires such payments to equal the difference between the amount the LEA would otherwise receive for FY 2004 and the amount the LEA received in FY 2003.

To amend the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to include bullying and harassment prevention programs.

United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2004

Amends the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to: (1) include bullying and harassment under the definition of violence; and (2) provide for programs to address and prevent bullying and harassment.

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3598) to establish an interagency committee to coordinate Federal manufacturing research and development efforts in manufacturing, strengthen existing programs to assist manufacturing innovation and education, and expand outreach programs for small and medium-sized manufacturers, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2004

Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3598) to establish an interagency committee to coordinate Federal manufacturing research and development efforts in manufacturing, strengthen existing programs to assist manufacturing innovation and education, and expand outreach programs for small and medium-sized manufacturers.

Mercury Health Advisory Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2004

Mercury Health Advisory Act of 2004 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs jointly to develop fish consumption advisories for methyl-mercury in fish. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) prepare and distribute to health professionals (and others upon request) a consumer's mercury advisory notice regarding the health risks of fish consumption; and (2) establish a toll-free number for individuals who desire additional information. Requires the Administrator to prepare and distribute to specified State entities and applicants for fishing licenses (and others upon request) a consumer's guide to mercury, including a health advisory for the consumption of recreationally-caught fish. Requires the Secretary to work with States and other entities to: (1) develop and distribute standardized advisories, including consumption advisories and health warnings, regarding the presence of methyl-mercury in seafood; and (2) design and implement a related national public education program. Directs the Commissioner to resume the Food and Drug Administration's seafood methyl-mercury monitoring sampling program. Requires the Secretary, within one year of enactment of this Act, to finalize the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point assessment to determine whether methyl-mercury exposure through fish consumption is a public health hazard.

DSHEA Full Implementation and Enforcement Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2004

DSHEA Full Implementation and Enforcement Act of 2004 - Makes appropriations for FY 2005, and authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2009: (1) to carry out the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the amendments made by DSHEA, and all applicable regulatory requirements for dietary supplements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and (2) for expanded research and development of consumer information, including information on safety and beneficial effects, of dietary supplements by the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to: (1) fully and appropriately use such funds to regulate dietary supplements; and (2) report annually on DSHEA implementation and enforcement.

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants to local educational agencies to encourage girls to pursue studies and careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.

United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2004

Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a program for Getting Our Girls Ready for the 21st Century (Go Girl). Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to, and contracts and cooperative agreements with, local educational agencies to provide subgrants to elementary and secondary schools for services that: (1) encourage the ongoing interest of girls in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology; and (2) prepare girls to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers in those fields.

Literacy, Education, and Rehabilitation Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2004

Literacy, Education, and Rehabilitation Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to allow a prisoner serving a term of imprisonment of more than one year (other than life imprisonment) to receive credit beyond time already served of up to 60 days each year, in addition to any credit received for satisfactory behavior, for earning a certificate of completion in, or for participating in or teaching, a designated program which benefits prisoners or the Bureau. Includes specified educational and vocational, treatment, or work and developmental programs. Requires the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to establish the number of days of credit a prisoner may be awarded considering the difficulty, time required, responsibility expected, and rehabilitative benefits of the program. Makes any person sentenced to a term of imprisonment under the Attorney General's custody eligible for the credits, including prisoners transferred from foreign countries. Directs the Bureau to assure that a prisoner spends a reasonable part of the last portion (currently, the last ten percent) of the term of imprisonment to be served under conditions that will afford the prisoner a reasonable opportunity to prepare for reentry into the community.

Enhancing America's Guard and Reserve Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2004

Enhancing America's Guard and Reserve Act - Entitles a Federal employee who is a member of a reserve component to receive the difference in pay between military compensation and civilian compensation during periods of active duty exceeding 30 days. Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to reimburse States or local governments for 50 percent of the civilian compensation paid by such governments to equalize military and civilian pay. Increases the reimbursement rate to 100 percent if active duty extends beyond nine months. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish an active-duty reserve component employee credit for employers who provide compensation to employees on active duty. Modifies age and service requirements for receipt of retired pay for non-regular service. Permanently extends authority for certain TRICARE benefits for members of reserve components. Makes permanent the extended time period during which members of the Armed Forces separated from active duty may seek transitional health care (repealing time limits set forth in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 and the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan). Increases the amount of basic educational assistance for members of reserve components under the Montgomery GI Bill and indexes such payments to the cost of higher education. Prohibits the termination of educational assistance for a member's failure to participate satisfactorily in required training due solely to a call to active duty. Authorizes the limited use of telecommuting to satisfy inactive-duty training. Requires the Secretary of Defense to give Selected Reserve members eligibility for travel on Department of Defense aircraft on a space-available basis.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an exclusion from gross income for student loan payments made by an employer on behalf of an employee.

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2004

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an exclusion from gross income of student loan payments made for an employee by an employer. Imposes upon such an employer a tax for failure to make comparable payments on certain education loans of employees.

Dietary Supplement Regulatory Implementation Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2004

Dietary Supplement Regulatory Implementation Act of 2004 - Makes appropriations for FY 2005, and authorizes appropriations for FY 2006 through 2009: (1) to carry out the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the amendments made by DSHEA, and all applicable regulatory requirements for dietary supplements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and (2) for expanded research and development of consumer information, including information on safety and beneficial effects, of dietary supplements by the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to: (1) fully and appropriately use such funds to regulate dietary supplements; (2) report annually on DSHEA implementation and enforcement; (3) carry out programs to educate health professionals and consumers on the safety and health benefits of the dietary supplements, including the potential for interactions of dietary supplements and drugs (using specified funds authorized by this Act); and (4) establish a system for the requirements for the reporting of serious adverse experiences associated with the use of a dietary supplement received by the manufacturer, packer, or distributor whose name appears on the label of the product. Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids.

Kiron Kanina Skinner, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the National Security Education Board for a term of four years, vice Herschelle S. Challenor, to which position she was appointed during the last recess of the Senate.

United States · United States Senate · 24 June 2004

Sudden Oak Death Syndrome Control Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2004

Sudden Oak Death Syndrome Control Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct sudden oak death syndrome programs of: (1) research, monitoring, and treatment; (2) management and fire prevention; and (3) outreach and education. Expresses the sense of Congress that agency communication at all governmental levels is required for program effectiveness. Directs the Secretary to meet and consult regularly with Federal, State, tribal, and local government officials to exchange program information.

Health Care Reform Expedited Procedures Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2004

Health Care Reform Expedited Procedures Act of 2004 - Requires, within 30 calendar days after the commencement of the first session of a Congress, the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, the chairs of the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Ways and Means, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the House each to introduce a bill to provide universal health care coverage for the people of the United States. States that these bills may be introduced by request, but only one qualified bill may be introduced by each such individual within a Congress. Authorizes the ranking minority party member of a committee, if the chair fails to introduce the bill within the 30-day period, to introduce a bill that will qualify for the expedited procedure provided in this Act. Qualifies a bill if: (1) its title reads "to reform the system of the United States and to provide insurance coverage for all Americans;" and (2) it reaches the goal of providing health care coverage to 95 percent of Americans within ten years. Sets forth procedures for consideration of such legislation in both chambers.

Improving Access to Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2004

Improving Access to Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to States for programs for: (1) assistive technology (AT), with required uses of funds for State financing systems to increase access to and funding for AT devices and services, and for device demonstrations, loans, reutilization, training, and technical assistance; and (2) AT-related protection and advocacy services. Authorizes competitive grants for AT-related: (1) supplementary activities; (2) national projects, including research and public awareness; (3) State training, technical assistance, data collection, and reporting; and (4) updating of the National Public Internet Site. Authorizes an assessment of the AT industry. Directs the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration to administer this Act. Repeals the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.

Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Act

United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2004

Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Act - Establishes the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor to: (1) recognize the important contributions made to American culture and history by African-Americans known as the Gullah/Geechee who settled in the coastal counties of South Carolina and Georgia; (2) assist State and local governments and public and private entities in South Carolina and Georgia in interpreting the story of the Gullah/Geechee and preserving Gullah/Geechee folklore, arts, crafts, and music; and (3) assist in identifying and preserving sites, historical data, artifacts, and objects associated with the Gullah/Geechee for the benefit and education of the public. Establishes the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission to assist Federal, State, and local authorities in the development and implementation of a management plan for specified lands and waters. Directs the Commission to establish one or more Coastal Heritage Centers at appropriate locations within the Heritage Corridor.

Fairness in Veterans Education Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2004

Fairness in Veterans Education Act of 2004 - Eliminates reductions in basic pay applicable to eligibility for basic educational assistance for veterans under the Montgomery GI Bill.

Mississippi River Protection and Restoration Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2004

Mississippi River Protection and Restoration Act of 2004 - Amends the Upper Mississippi River Management Act of 1986 to: (1) allow interagency agreements under such Act between the Secretary of the Army (the Secretary) and the Secretary of the Interior to provide for maintenance of completed projects on Federal lands; (2) direct the Secretary to establish an independent science (currently, technical) advisory committee; (3) require such committee to include scientists, hydrologists, and engineers and to review and provide public comment on project criteria, selection, and sequencing; and (4) direct the Secretary to develop a system to rank proposed projects. Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to: (1) increase the authorization of appropriations; (2) make project costs a Federal responsibility; (3) require a non-Federal sponsor to share 35 percent of the cost of projects constructed on private land; and (4) authorize the Secretary to share the cost of riverfront projects. Establishes the Upper Mississippi Trust Fund and a charitable and nonprofit corporation to administer funds and gifts. Authorizes the use of Trust funds for aquatic and floodplain habitat restoration, riverfront revitalization, and administrative costs. Directs the Science Advisory Board to annually review projects proposed by the Board of Trustees. Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) at the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi, a program to coordinate monitoring and research in the Mississippi River Basin; and (2) a consortium of universities to demonstrate the full range of wetland values and functions, to reduce nutrient loadings to the Gulf of Mexico, and to sequester carbon.

Health Care Assurance Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2004

Health Care Assurance Act of 2004 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to: (1) develop a target actuarial value for standard health care coverage offered by any plan or group or individual health insurance coverage; (2) specify how premiums for health care coverage are to be set; and (3) require health plans and issuers to disclose rating practices. Sets forth provisions governing the operation (including premium setting and enrollment) of qualified small employer purchasing groups, qualified association plans, church plans, multi-employer plans, plans maintained by rural electric cooperatives, and plans maintained by rural telephone cooperatives. Requires small employers to offer, but not contribute to, standard health care coverage. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose taxes on the failure of specified health insurance plans to comply with this Act. Sets forth provisions regarding "continuation coverage" (COBRA), including regarding deductibles, terminating coverage, length of coverage, and coverage of dependent children. Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) revise the definition of an eligible ''low-income child'' to mean a child whose family income is at or below 233 percent (currently, 200 percent) of the poverty line; and (2) authorize States to extend SCHIP coverage to include health care assistance for low-income parents and pregnant women. Increases the authorized appropriations for the Account for Medicare Integrity Program. Requires the Secretary to provide for reporting systems, training, education, and a national database to reduce medical errors. Establishes the Trust Fund for Medical Treatment Outcomes Research to be funded using taxes related to health insurance policies. Sets forth provisions regarding information technology, including regarding how the use of such technology can be encouraged. Requires the Secretary to educate the public about health care choices and to develop ways to improve advance directives and living wills. Amends the title XVIII (Medicare) of the SSA to increase the reimbursement rate for physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists. Requires the Secretary to establish programs to recruit high school or college students to careers in general medicine.

Higher Education Sustainability Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2004

Higher Education Sustainability Act of 2004 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to eligible institutions of higher education to establish university sustainability centers to develop and implement integrated environmental, economic, and social sustainability programs through administrative and operational practices as well as multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach.

Iraqi Women and Children's Liberation Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2004

Iraqi Women and Children's Liberation Act of 2004 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should ensure that women and children in Iraq benefit from the liberation of Iraq; (2) women of all ethnic groups in Iraq should be included in the economic and political reconstruction of Iraq; and (3) the Government of Iraq should adhere to internationally accepted standards on human rights and rights of women and children. Authorizes the President to provide assistance for: (1) education and health care for Iraqi women and children living in Iraq or living as refugees in other countries; and (2) enhancement of political participation, economic empowerment, civil society, and personal security of women in Iraq. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should ensure that such assistance is: (1) provided in a manner that protects and promotes the human rights of all people in Iraq, utilizing indigenous institutions and nongovernmental organizations, especially women's organizations; and (2) conditioned on the government of Iraq making continued progress toward internationally accepted standards of human rights and the rights of women.

HeLP America Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2004

Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention America Act or the HeLP America Act - Sets forth provisions for the establishment of, and incentives for, preventive health programs. Provides for: (1) a program to make free fresh fruits and vegetables available in schools; (2) establishment of a local school wellness policy; (3) healthy school nutrition environment incentive grants; and (4) school mental health program grants. Healthy Workforce Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for: (1) a wellness program credit; and (2) an income exclusion for employer-provided off-premises health club services. Provides for grants to promote individual and community health, to prevent the incidence of chronic disease, and to implement Living Well With a Disability Programs. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) develop enhanced standards for the design of roads and intersection controls to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety; and (2) implement public health surveillance measures to address mental and behavioral health needs. Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Secretary to: (1) regulate tobacco products (through the Food and Drug Administration); and (2) establish the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee. Sets forth tobacco product standards and registration, recordkeeping, reporting, manufacturer and importer user fee, labeling, advertising, and marketing requirements. Requires vending machines and certain restaurants to provide nutritional information on each food offered, including the number of calories. Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to allow the Secretary to prohibit the advertising of certain foods in participating schools. Disallows deductions for certain tobacco-related advertising and marketing expenses. Provides for national and local campaigns to reduce the use of tobacco products. Allows the Secretary to impose penalties on the tobacco industry for failure to achieve specified goals to reduce youth smoking. Amends the Social Security Act to provide for the coverage of certain counseling and screening services, including for substance use, diet, exercise, clinical depression, anxiety, and cessation of tobacco use. Establishes the Help (Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention) America Trust Fund to fund smoking cessation efforts and other efforts required by this Act. Directs the Secretary to conduct research on obesity prevention, treatment, and control with regard to the effectiveness of physical activity and dietary counseling. Revises provisions concerning tax shelters, including defining economic substance and adding or increasing the penalty for certain types of tax shelter activity.

Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2004

Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 - Appropriates funds for FY 2005 for the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military personnel; (2) operation and maintenance (O&M) (including for overseas contingency operations, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, environmental restoration, overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid, and former Soviet Union threat reduction); (3) procurement (including for shipbuilding and conversion and purchases under the Defense Production Act of 1950); (4) research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E); (5) revolving and management funds; (6) DOD medical and health care programs; (7) chemical agents and munitions destruction; (8) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (9) the Office of the Inspector General; (10) the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund; (11) the Intelligence Community Management Account; and (12) the National Security Education Trust Fund. Specifies authorized, restricted, and prohibited uses of appropriated funds. Rescinds specified funds from various accounts under prior defense appropriations Acts. Reduces the total amount appropriated in this Act in order to: (1) reflect savings from revised economic assumptions; (2) reflect certain cash balance and rate stabilization adjustments; (3) limit excessive growth in the procurement of advisory and assistance services; (4) reflect excessive unobligated balances; and (5) limit excessive growth in travel and transportation expenses. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for: (1) approving or licensing the sale of the F-22 advanced tactical aircraft to any foreign government; (2) RDT&E, procurement, or deployment of nuclear armed interceptors of a missile defense system; or (3) the Terrorism Information Awareness Program (with an exception). Appropriates additional funds for the Iraq Freedom Fund, to be used only to support operations in Iraq or Afghanistan. Allocates such funds among specified accounts. Authorizes the use of O&M funds for specified activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, including supporting U.S. military and security forces, assistance to the New Iraqi Army and the Afghan National Army, and providing humanitarian and reconstruction assistance.

Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2004

Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently Act of 2004 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a national education and information campaign to promote awareness among health care practitioners and the general public with respect to the importance of early detection and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Childhood Obesity Reduction Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2004

Childhood Obesity Reduction Act - Establishes a Congressional Council on Childhood Obesity to engage in the following activities to encourage every U.S. elementary and middle school to develop and implement a plan to reduce and prevent obesity, promote improved nutritional choices, and promote increased physical activity: (1) work with outside experts to develop the Congressional Challenge to Reduce and Prevent Childhood Obesity; (2) develop and maintain a website on best practices for reducing and preventing childhood obesity; (3) assist schools in establishing goals for the healthy reduction and prevention of childhood obesity; (4) consult and coordinate with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and other Federal initiatives that are conducting activities to reduce and prevent childhood obesity; (5) reward elementary schools, middle schools, and local educational agencies promoting innovative, successful strategies; (6) provide information to secondary schools; and (7) designate model plans for reducing and preventing childhood obesity that are submitted by schools as Congressional Challenge winners. Establishes the National Foundation for the Prevention and Reduction of Childhood Obesity as a nonprofit private corporation to support and carry out activities to prevent and reduce childhood obesity, including by: (1) establishing a fund to provide endowments for positions within the Council and the Department of Health and Human Services associated with reducing childhood obesity; (2) evaluating model plans used by schools; and (3) making Challenge awards to schools and local agencies for developing and implementing such plans. Requires creation of a committee to incorporate the Foundation under State laws, establish its policies and bylaws, provide for its initial operation, and appoint members of its board of directors.

Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2004

Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a national education and information campaign to promote awareness among health care practitioners and the general public with respect to the importance of early detection and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005

United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2004

Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 - Appropriates funds for FY 2005 for the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military personnel; (2) operation and maintenance (including for the Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer Account, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, environmental restoration, overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid, and former Soviet Union threat reduction); (3) procurement (including for shipbuilding and conversion, and purchases under the Defense Production Act of 1950); (4) research, development, test and evaluation; (5) revolving and management funds; (6) the Defense Health Program; (7) chemical agents and munitions destruction; (8) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (9) the Office of the Inspector General; (10) the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund; (11) the Intelligence Community Management Account; and (12) the National Security Education Trust Fund. Specifies authorized, restricted, and prohibited uses of appropriated funds. Rescinds specified funds from various accounts under prior defense appropriations Acts. Reduces by specified amounts the total amount appropriated in this Act to: (1) reflect savings attributable to efficiencies and management improvements in the funding of miscellaneous or other contracts in military departments; (2) reduce cost growth in information technology development and modernization; (3) reflect cash balance and rate stabilization adjustments in DOD Working Capital Funds and the DOD Transportation Working Capital Fund; (4) reflect savings from revised economic assumptions; (5) reflect savings attributable to the offsetting of payments to contractors for the collection of unpaid taxes owed to the United States; and (6) reduce amounts budgeted in anticipation of the application of non-statutory funding set-asides. Appropriates additional funds, to be designated for overseas contingency operations, for DOD for: (1) military personnel; (2) operation and maintenance; (3) the Iraq Freedom Fund; (4) procurement (including National Guard and reserve equipment); (5) revolving and management funds; and (6) the Defense Health Program. Appropriates additional funds, with the same designation, for the Department of State for diplomatic and consular programs, embassy security, international disaster and famine assistance, and migration and refugee assistance. Authorizes the use of DOD funds for specified activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, including supporting U.S. military and security forces, combating terrorism, and providing humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. Reaffirms U.S. policy against the torture of prisoners of war and detainees.

NASA Authorization Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2004

NASA Authorization Act of 2004 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2009 to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for: (1) the International Space Station (ISS); (2) space shuttle; (3) space flight support; (4) transportation systems; and (5) human and robotic technology. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2009 to NASA for the following programs: (1) space science; (2) earth science; (3) biological and physical research; (4) aeronautics technology; and (5) education. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2009 to NASA for the: (1) Office of Inspector General; and (2) Technical Engineering Authority. Directs the Administrator of NASA to: (1) establish an agency-wide lessons-learned and best practices program to ensure availability of lessons learned and best practices to NASA's employees; (2) establish within NASA a Technical Engineering Authority; (3) provide the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance direct line authority over Space shuttle safety organization and independent funding; (4) reorganize the Space Shuttle Integration Office to ensure integration of all Space Shuttle program elements; (5) recertify Space shuttle orbiters for operation prior to any operations beyond 2010; (6) establish a program to upgrade Space shuttle and ISS engineering drawing systems; and (7) submit plans for launching assembly elements, crew, and supplies to the ISS from 2010 through 2014. Prohibits the return of the Space shuttle program to launch until all safety recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board report identified as "Return to Flight" tasks have been completely satisfied. Directs the Administrator to establish a program to implement an initiative to explore the solar system and beyond. Instructs the Administrator to: (1) report on all activities and funding that support human missions to the Moon and the planet Mars; (2) submit a system requirements document for the conduct of such a mission to the Moon by 2014 and eventually to Mars; (3) submit a life cycle cost estimate for a manned mission to the Moon and annual revised estimates; (4) develop a commercialization plan to support the human missions to the Moon and Mars; and (5) develop an assessment of private sector capability to support the manned missions to the Moon and Mars. Requires program managers for major systems of the solar system exploration initiative specified above to submit quarterly reports on the total life cycle costs for such systems. Sets forth stop-loss provisions for 15 and 25 percent cost overruns. Directs NASA to report on opportunities for international cooperation from all space faring nations on a human mission to the Moon and Mars. Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish a Technology Transfer and Licensing Office within the solar system exploration initiative program and develop a technology transfer plan; (2) submit a plan for robotic lunar missions to the Moon within three years; (3) submit a legal review and interpretation of the laws and treaties governing space exploration and the possible ownership of resources on the Moon and Mars; and (4) establish a NASA Engineering School for NASA employees and contractors. Directs the NASA Chief Financial Officer to report on NASA's ability to improve its financial management. Directs the Administrator to: (1) transmit a plan for future space vehicle launches; and (2) establish an Industry Advisory Board to review opportunities for the private sector to invest in and take advantage of activities at NASA. Sets forth provisions for implementation of a pilot program for reduction in the waiting period between publication of notice of a proposed contract action and release of the solicitation for procurements conducted by NASA for certain non-commercial acquisitions with a total value in excess of $100,000, but not more than $5 million, including options. Allows the Administrator to relinquish to a State all or part of U.S. jurisdiction over lands or interests under the Administrator's control in that State. Authorizes the Administrator to carry out the Centennial Challenge Program to award prizes to stimulate innovation in research, technology development, and prototype demonstration that have the potential for application to the performance of NASA activities. Directs the Administrator to conduct a NASA-wide assessment to identify and define areas of cultural and organizational changes and to develop a plan to: (1) create a culture that promotes effective communication and encourages expression of dissenting views; (2) increase NASA's focus on human elements management and organizational development; (3) develop procedures for leadership, management, and employee training and skill development; and (4) create a system of checks and balances to ensure NASA's technical and safety standards. Authorizes the Administrator to provide to NASA civilian and military personnel stationed outside the United States allowances and benefits comparable to those provided to officers and employees of the Foreign Service. Requires the Administrator, within 60 days after the National Academy of Sciences issues its study on the future of the Hubble Space Telescope, to submit a plan on the future of the telescope. Creates the position of Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs in NASA. Instructs the Administrator to report on the advisability of establishing a charitable and non-profit corporation to encourage private gifts for, or in connection with, NASA and to further the public's knowledge of the Earth and space. Directs the Administrator to: (1) implement a near-Earth object survey program to detect, track, and catalog the characteristics of near-Earth asteroids and comets of 100 meters or more in diameter in order to assess the threat of such objects striking Earth; (2) submit a plan for the development and demonstration of technologies that result in specified commercial aircraft performance characteristics; (3) submit a feasibility study for the development and demonstration of technologies to enable overland flight of supersonic civil transport aircraft; and (4) establish a scholarship program for full-time graduate students in Masters degree programs in aeronautical engineering to have the opportunity for paid employment at one of the NASA Centers engaged in aeronautics research and development.

Teacher Professional Development Institutes Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2004

Teacher Professional Development Institutes Act - Amends the the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a program for Teachers Institutes (TIs). Requires a TI to: (1) be a partnership or joint venture between or among one or more institutions of higher education (IHEs) and one or more local educational agencies (LEAs) serving a significant low-income population; and (2) use collaborative seminars to enhance subject matter and participants' teaching resources. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to: (1) award grants to TIs to establish and operate TIs; and (2) provide technical assistance to LEAs and IHEs to prepare to establish and to operate TIs.

No Child Left Behind Fairness Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2004

No Child Left Behind Fairness Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Education to require local educational agencies (LEAs) and State educational agencies (SEAs) to give schools and LEAs, respectively, an opportunity to request a review of a determination that they did not make adequate yearly progress (AYP) for the 2002-2003 school year. Sets forth standards for such reviews, providing for consideration of subsequent regulations and guidance applicable to AYP determinations under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Prohibits the Secretary, an SEA, or an LEA, with respect to subsequent determinations of whether a school is subject to school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring as a result of not making AYP, from taking into account a 2002-2003 non-AYP determination that was revised under this Act if the school received a final determination of AYP for such school year.

A bill to amend the Tribally Controlled Colleges or University Assistance Act and the Higher Education Act to improve Tribal Colleges and Universities, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2004

Revises the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978 and related Federal education law to include: (1) reauthorization of programs for grants to tribally controlled colleges or universities and for renovation; (2) a definition of Indian student; (3) an accreditation requirement; (4) various specified colleges and universities, such as the Bay Mills Community College and the Blackfeet Community College, as a tribal college or university; (5) distance learning as an authorized activity; and (6) loan repayment or cancellation for individuals who teach in tribal colleges or universities. Navajo Nation Higher Education Act of 2004 - States that Congress authorizes Dine College to receive all Federal funding and resources under this Act and other laws for the operation, improvement, and growth of the College. Authorizes the College to expend money received under this Act to undertake all renovations and repairs to its infrastructure. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on all capital projects and facility needs. Repeals the Navajo Community College Act.

Advance Directives Improvement and Education Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2004

Advance Directives Improvement and Education 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 provide for Medicare coverage of end-of-life planning consultations. Requires a service provider, Medicare Advantage organization, or prepaid or eligible organization to give effect to an advance directive executed outside the State in which it is presented, even one that does not appear to meet the formalities of execution, form, or language required by the State in which it is presented, to the same extent as such provider or organization would give effect to an advanced directive that meets such requirements. Permits a provider or organization to decline to honor such a directive if the provider or organization can reasonably demonstrate that it is not an authentic expression of the individual's wishes concerning his or her health care. Makes such advance directive requirements applicable under Medicaid, title XIX of the Social Security Act. Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for grant programs to increase awareness of advance directive planning issues. Directs the Secretary to conduct a national public education campaign to: (1) raise public awareness of the importance of planning for care near the end of life; (2) improve the public's understanding of the various situations in which individuals may find themselves if they become unable to express their health care wishes; (3) explain the need for readily available legal documents that express an individual's wishes, through advance directives (including living wills, comfort care orders, and durable powers of attorney for health care); and (4) educate the public about the availability of hospice care and palliative care. Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a national, toll-free, information clearinghouse as well as clearinghouses that the public may access to find out about State-specific information regarding advance directive and end-of-life decisions. Requires General Accounting Office studies and reports on end-of-life planning issues.

Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2004

Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services: (1) to develop and implement a National Arthritis Action Plan; and (2) acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to conduct, support, and promote the coordination of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases research. Requires the Secretary to award grants to: (1) support arthritis-specific research projects at the Centers for Prevention Research by the CDC; (2) support State comprehensive arthritis control and prevention programs and public health surveillance, prevention, and control activities; and (3) assist in the implementation of a national strategy for arthritis control and prevention. Requires the Secretary to coordinate a national education and outreach program on arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Requires the Secretary to establish an Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases Interagency Coordinating Committee to: (1) improve coordination of Federal research activities related to arthritis and rheumatic diseases; and (2) convene a summit to provide a detailed overview of such current Federal research. Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health to expand and intensify juvenile arthritis research and related programs, including by awarding grants to establish new research programs. Allows the Secretary, acting through the Director of the CDC, to award grants to support the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on juvenile arthritis. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the CDC, to support the development of a National Juvenile Arthritis Patient Registry to collect data for follow-up studies regarding the prevalence and incidence of juvenile arthritis, as well as capturing information on evidence-based health outcomes related to specific therapies and interventions. Requires the Secretary to promote and support pediatric rheumatology training, including by allowing the Secretary to establish a loan repayment program. Requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the economic impact of arthritis in the workplace.

Protecting Railroads against Enemy Efforts through Modernization, Planning, and Technology Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2004

Protecting Railroads against Enemy Efforts through Modernization, Planning, and Technology Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security, to develop a national railroad transportation security plan that identifies threats and vulnerabilities to the Nation's railroads and provides a plan for increased security. Directs the Secretary to develop prioritized recommendations for improving railroad security, including: (1) the security of rail tunnels and bridges and other rail infrastructure and facilities; (2) deployment of equipment to detect explosives and hazardous chemical, biological, and radioactive substances; (3) installation of redundant and backup systems to ensure continued operation in the event of a terrorist attack; and (4) deployment of surveillance equipment. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to railroads, hazardous materials shippers, owners of rail cars used in transportation of hazardous materials, universities, colleges, and research centers, and State and local governments for reimbursement of costs incurred to prevent or respond to acts of terrorism, sabotage, or other railroad security threats. Authorizes the Secretary to procure fire and life-safety improvements to the tunnels on the Northeast Corridor in New York, New York, Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Directs the Secretary to review existing Department of Transportation (DOT) rail regulations to identify areas in which those regulations need to be revised to improve railroad security.

No Child Left Behind Fairness Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2004

No Child Left Behind Fairness Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Education to require local educational agencies (LEAs) and State educational agencies (SEAs) to give schools and LEAs, respectively, an opportunity to request a review of a determination that they did not make adequate yearly progress (AYP) for the 2002-2003 school year. Sets forth standards for such reviews, providing for consideration of subsequent regulations and guidance applicable to AYP determinations under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Prohibits the Secretary, an SEA, or an LEA, with respect to subsequent determinations of whether a school is subject to school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring as a result of not making AYP, from taking into account a 2002-2003 non-AYP determination that was revised under this Act if the school received a final determination of AYP for such school year.

Montgomery GI Bill for the 21st Century Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2004

Montgomery GI Bill for the 21st Century Act - Reduces, for purposes of certain student financial aid computations, the expected family contribution for individuals receiving educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) by an amount equal to the statutory reduction in basic pay or voluntary separation incentives for such individuals. Authorizes enrollment in the MGIB basic educational assistance program by certain individuals who participated in or were eligible to participate in the post-Vietnam era veteran's educational assistance program. Provides for commencement of the ten-year delimiting period for the receipt of certain training program benefits by veterans, survivors, and dependents upon commencement of such training. Makes MGIB educational benefits available for payment of fees associated with national admissions exams and national exams for credit at institutions of higher education. Increases the maximum loan guarantee amount for veterans seeking assistance under the Veterans Administration home loan guaranty program by indexing that amount to the Freddie Mac conforming loan limit, adjusted annually.

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of health care, rehabilitation, and related services to veterans suffering from trauma relating to a blast injury, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2004

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to establish and operate at least one, but not more than three, centers for research, education, and clinical activities on blast injuries. Requires the Secretary to designate a center or centers upon the recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health subject to specified requirements and findings. Requires the official within the central office of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) responsible for blast injury matters to establish a peer review panel to assess the scientific and clinical merits of proposals for the designation of centers. Authorizes clinical and scientific investigation activities at each center to compete on a priority basis for the award of funds from amounts appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical and prosthetics research. Requires the Under Secretary for Health to ensure that useful information produced by the centers is disseminated throughout the VHA. Gives responsibility for supervising operation of the centers to the official within the central office of the VHA responsible for blast injury matters. Requires the Secretary to designate at least one center no later than January 1, 2005. Directs the Secretary to submit reports on center activities to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees.

Accutane Safety and Risk Management Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2004

Accutane Safety and Risk Management Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to withdraw approval within 30 days for the sale of drugs that contain isotretinoin as an active ingredient, including Accutane. Allows the Secretary to approve subsequent supplemental applications for such drugs subject to certain restrictions, including safety reporting. Requires that distribution of such drugs be limited, including by: (1) allowing distribution only directly from manufacturers to pharmacists; (2) requiring pharmacists to register, receive education on side effects, dispense only those prescriptions from physicians at certified treatment centers, and file a statement of compliance; (3) developing educational materials for patients, including monthly questionnaires for patients to monitor the development of adverse side effects; (4) requiring patients to register, receive counseling on the drug, sign a statement providing informed consent for treatment, and undergo appropriate tests; and (5) limiting prescriptions to a 30-day supply with no refills. Specifies conditions for a clinic to be certified as a treatment center for a drug containing isotretinoin, including requiring each practitioner to meet certain conditions, such as requirements for registration, an agreement to prescribe in accordance with this Act, and reporting of adverse events. Requires the Secretary to monitor the distribution of such drugs to determine whether the drug is being distributed in accordance with this Act. Requires manufacturers and distributors of isotretinoin to report any information on adverse events associated with the drug to the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to conduct and support studies to explore the effects of isotretinoin on the central nervous system and behavior, including depression, suicide, and violent behavior.

Department of Defense Office of the Victim Advocate Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2004

Department of Defense Office of the Victim Advocate Act of 2004 - Establishes an Office of the Victim Advocate within the Office of the Secretary of Defense to assist victims of sexual misconduct and interpersonal violence occurring among members of the Armed Forces or between members of the Armed Forces and family members and partners. Requires the Director of the Office to carry out specified coordination, evaluation and review, policy, and education and training functions, and to submit to the Secretary an annual report assessing the current state of affairs within military departments relative to interpersonal violence and sexual misconduct. Requires the Secretary to transmit the Director's report to Congress with additional comments.

Full-Service Community Schools Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2004

Full-Service Community Schools Act of 2004 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to: (1) eligible entities to assist public elementary or secondary schools to function as full-service community schools; and (2) State collaboratives to support development of full-service community school programs. Requires such schools to: (1) participate in community-based efforts to coordinate educational, developmental, family, health, and other comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships; and (2) provide access to such services to students, families, and the community. Gives local grant priority to entities that: (1) will serve at least one school eligible for schoolwide programs under specified provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and more than one full-service community school as part of a community or districtwide strategy; and (2) demonstrate a record of effectiveness in integrating at least three of various qualified services. Establishes a Full-Service Community Schools Advisory Committee.

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of a scholarship fund to make tuition grants available to eligible former students who were denied an education in Prince Edward County, Virginia, when the public schools closed rather than comply with the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education.

United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2004

Expresses the sense of the Congress that the State of Virginia should provide the necessary resources to establish and maintain a scholarship fund to make tuition grants available to eligible former students who were denied an education in Prince Edward County, Virginia, when the public schools there closed rather than comply with the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education.

Iraqi Women and Children's Liberation Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2004

Iraqi Women and Children's Liberation Act of 2004 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should ensure that women and children in Iraq benefit from the liberation of Iraq; (2) women of all ethnic groups in Iraq should be included in the economic and political reconstruction of Iraq; and (3) the Government of Iraq should adhere to internationally accepted standards on human rights and rights of women and children. Authorizes the President to provide assistance for: (1) education and health care for Iraqi women and children living in Iraq or living as refugees in other countries; and (2) enhancement of political participation, economic empowerment, civil society, and personal security of women in Iraq. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should ensure that such assistance is: (1) provided in a manner that protects and promotes the human rights of all people in Iraq, utilizing indigenous institutions and nongovernmental organizations, especially women's organizations; and (2) conditioned on the government of Iraq making continued progress toward internationally accepted standards of human rights and the rights of women.

Children's Hospitals Education Equity and Research (CHEER) Act of 2004

United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2004

Children's Hospitals Education Equity and Research (CHEER) Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make payments through FY 2010 (currently, through FY 2005) to children's hospitals for costs associated with operating approved graduate medical resident training programs.