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Bill· HRH.R. 4974 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Post 9/11 Health Protection Act of 2004 - Establishes in the Treasury the September 11 Emergency Personnel Trust Fund. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase by one percent the tax imposed on adjusted gross income that exceeds $1,000,000 for married individuals filing jointly or that exceeds $500,000 in any other case. Appropriates amounts equal to the taxes received because of such increase to the Fund. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to award from such Fund grants or cooperative agreements to specified programs, including one established by the New York City Fire Department, to carry out screening and clinical examinations and long-term health monitoring for covered individuals, including emergency service personnel, clean up workers, and residents affected by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in New York City. Limits such monitoring to 20 years and 40,000 individuals. Allows the Secretary to establish a similar program for those affected by the September 11, 2001, Pentagon attack. Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health to conduct or support diagnostic or treatment research for certain adverse health conditions considered to be associated with the terrorist attacks.
Bill· HRH.R. 4938 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Stealth Lobbyist Disclosure Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat as a tax-exempt political organization for purposes of the disclosure and other requirements applicable to such organizations (with certain modifications) any coalition or association that is identified as a client on any registration filed under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 and that is not a political organization. Requires any such coalition or association to notify the Secretary of the Treasury of: (1) its existence within 72 hours after one of its lobbyists makes an initial contact; and (2) any change in membership within 72 hours. Requires such notice to include a general description of the business or activities of each member of the coalition or association and the amount reasonably expected to be contributed by each member toward coalition or association activities of influencing legislation. Imposes a penalty tax for failure to give required notices. Exempts from the disclosure requirements imposed by this Act: (1) public charities and other tax-exempt organizations which have substantial exempt activities other than lobbying; and (2) members of a coalition or association who contribute less than $2,000 per year for lobbying activities.
Bill· HRH.R. 4939 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
America Saving for Personal Investment, Retirement, and Education Act of 2004, or the ASPIRE Act of 2004 - Establishes a KIDS Account Fund (KIDS) in the Treasury. Establishes within the KIDS Account Fund a Kids Investment and Development Savings Account (KIDS Account). Provides that a U.S. citizen born after December 31, 2005, and under 18 years of age, whose modified adjusted gross income is below the applicable national median adjusted gross income amount, is eligible to contribute to such account and to receive a matching Federal contribution. Establishes the KIDS Account Fund Board to establish a default investment program under which, in a manner similar to a lifecycle investment program, sums in each KIDS Account are allocated to investment funds in the KIDS Account Fund based on the amount of time before the account holder attains the age of 18. Subjects the Board to the same statutory composition requirements, duties, and responsibilities as the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, to develop programs to promote the financial literacy of account holders of KIDS Accounts.
Bill· HRH.R. 4912 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Affordable College Tuition Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit to allow a credit for 50 percent of higher education expenses without dollar limitation. Eliminates: (1) the two-year limitation on the credit; (2) the denial of the credit for students convicted of a felony drug offense; and (3) the modified adjusted gross income limitation on the credit.
Bill· HRH.R. 4937 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Stealth Lobbyist Disclosure Act of 2004 - Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to redefine the term "client" with respect to coalitions and associations on whose behalf a lobbyist must file a registration. Provides that, in the case of a coalition or association that employs or retains other persons to conduct lobbying activities, each of the individual members of the coalition or association, and not the coalition or association itself as under current law, is the client for whom a registration must be filed. Makes an exception for certain tax-exempt associations and for certain members of a coalition or association if the amount reasonably expected to be contributed by such member toward specific legislation-influencing activities of the coalition or association is less than $1,000 per any semiannual period.
Bill· HRH.R. 4895 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Individual Social Security Investment Program Act of 2004 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to add a new part B (Individual Social Security Investment Program) to change Social Security into a system of individual accounts where workers born on or after January 1, 1950, who have elected to participate in the new part B program have ownership of and control over the investment of their retirement funds in various investment vehicles: (1) Tier I Investment Fund; (2) Tier II Investment Fund; and (3) Tier III Investment Accounts. Allows participating workers choosing the individual account option to have 100 percent of their redirected Social Security contribution for the calendar year (6.2 percent of the sum of the total wages paid to, and self-employment income derived by, the participant) deposited into the Tier I Investment Fund. Provides for transfer of any amount held in the Tier I Investment Fund into the Tier II Investment Fund, and for an individual's first election of a Tier III investment account once the total balance of the Tier II account exceeds the minimum deposit balance of $10,000. Directs the Executive Director to establish and maintain a part B totalization account for each participant. Provides that workers choosing the individual account under the Tier II option with a variety of investment options, with the initial default option set at 60 percent stocks, and 40 percent bonds. Provides for retirement distributions, including purchase of annuities. Provides that workers who choose the individual account option shall receive a recognition bond, redeemable upon reaching retirement age, based on the accrued value of their lifetime to date benefits. Establishes in the executive branch of the Government an Individual Unvestment Board to administer the program established under this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from income taxation any fund created, account established, or annuity under part B of title II of the Social Security Act, unless subject to taxes on unrelated business income of charitible organizations. Excludes from the gross income of a distributee or payee: (1) any fund or account distribution or any annuity payment; or (2) the value of a recognition bond issued to a participant, or the proceeds from its sale or redemption. Amends SSA title II to provide that, except with respect to determination of disability insurance benefits, a participant shall not be credited with wages or self-employment income under part B of SSA title II. Provides for the maintance of adequate balances in the Social Security trust funds.
Bill· HRH.R. 4975 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Pay Back America Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a per passenger tax on covered international voyages of commercial passenger vessels. Establishes the Caribbean Ports and Infrastructure Protection Trust Fund (Caribbean Fund) and the Water and Marine Wildlife Protection Trust Fund (Wildlife Fund) in the Treasury. Appropriates to those funds a percentage of the above-referenced taxes. Authorizes the Secretary of of the Treasury to make specified payments from the Caribbean Fund to the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Barbados, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Anguilla, Bermuda, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Requires amounts in the Wildlife Fund to be used for ocean waste cleanup or enforcement of restrictions on ocean dumping. Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue regulations requiring cruise vessels entering U.S. ports or places to have: (1) posted notice that passengers may report illegal dumping from the vessel by calling a toll-free number; and (2) included such notice on each ticket sold. Prohibits: (1) vessels from entering U.S. ports or places absent properly functioning pollution prevention equipment or compliance with notice requirements; (2) false entries in a vessel's oil record book or record of shore-side disposal; (3) operation of cruise vessels in U.S. foreign or domestic commerce that fail to comply with notice requirements. Requires biannual inspections of vessels.
Bill· HRH.R. 4899 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Sustainable Drug Pricing Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into agreements with the manufacturers of brand name prescription drugs for four-year terms to establish a maximum wholesale price for such drugs. Defines brand name prescription drugs as FDA-approved prescription drugs with market exclusivity. Requires such agreements to specify a liquidated penalty that is sufficient to deter violations for failure to maintain substantial compliance. Allows the Secretary to notify the Secretary of the Treasury that there is no longer an effective agreement in place if such a penalty is not paid. Requires the Secretary to monitor prices to ensure compliance. Allows the Secretary to require manufacturers entering into such agreements to cooperate with such monitoring and to allow the Secretary access to relevant financial records. Requires the Secretary to establish the Advisory Panel on Drug-Price Negotiations to advise the Secretary on establishing prices. Requires the Panel to provide the Secretary with recommended drug prices for 25 drugs that the Panel considers important to the public health and for an additional 25 drugs that are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to disallow: (1) a deduction for advertising, promotion, or marketing of brand name prescription drugs without a qualified pricing agreement in effect for the entire taxable year; and (2) a foreign tax credit for such drugs manufactured by the taxpayer without a qualified pricing agreement in effect for the entire taxable year.
Bill· HRH.R. 4997 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Fiscally Responsible Family Tax Relief Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2005: (1) the $1,000 (per child) child tax credit amount; (2) the increased standard deduction for married taxpayers; and (3) the increased ceilings for the 15 and ten percent tax brackets for married taxpayers. Eliminates the reduction in the refundability (15 to ten percent) of the child tax credit. Includes combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of calculating the refundable portion of the child tax credit. Sets forth a uniform definition of "child" for purposes of applying certain tax provisions, including the dependent care credit, the child tax credit, and the deduction for personal exemption for dependents. Sets forth rules for the application of the economic substance doctrine. Increases penalties for promoting abusive tax shelter transactions. Proposes new restrictions on tax shelter activities, including increased disclosure requirements, denial of a tax deduction for interest on underpayments attributable to undisclosed tax shelter transactions, and denial of privilege for communications relating to certain tax shelter transactions. Proposes restrictions on corporate tax shelters, including: (1) a limitation on the transfer or importation by a corporation of built-in losses; (2) the repeal of special rules for Financial Asset Securitization Investment Trusts (FASITS); and (3) expansion of the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to deny tax benefits related to tax shelter transactions. Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) to extend the authority for certain customs user fees through September 30, 2013.
Bill· HRH.R. 4961 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Medicaid Act of 2004 - Amends the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 to extend the temporary freeze of the Federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) for certain States (continuing the FY 2003 FMAP through each calendar quarter of FY 2004, and the FY 2004 FMAP for each calendar quarter of FY 2005 if the FY 2005 FMAP would otherwise be less than the FY 2004 FMAP). Amends the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 to increase the FMAP: (1) by 2.95 percentage points for the last two calendar quarters of FY 2003 and the first three calendar quarters of FY 2004; and (2) by 1.60 percentage points for the last calendar quarter of FY 2004 and each calendar quarter of FY 2005. Increases by 5.9 percent the ceiling on Medicaid payments to specified territories for the last two calendar quarters of FY 2003 and the first three calendar quarters of FY 2004. Increases such ceiling by 2.52 percent for the last calendar quarter of FY 2004 and each calendar quarter of FY 2005. .
Bill· HRH.R. 4931 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Intelligent Vehicle Highway Safety Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction from gross income for the cost, up to $1,000, of qualified intelligent vehicle systems property. Defines "qualified intelligent systems property" as any device installed by a motor vehicle manufacturer to enhance the safety or security of a driver, passenger, or load by, among other things, warning or informing a driver of dangerous driving conditions or by actively monitoring and adjusting driver workload. Terminates the deduction after 2010. Exempts intelligent vehicle systems properties from the first $5,000 of the excise tax on heavy trucks and trailers sold at retail.
Bill· HRH.R. 4921 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Water Conservation Incentive Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable tax credit for the cost of qualified water conservation property installed in a principal residence and which has a useful life of at least five years. Defines "qualified water conservation property" to include smart dual or multi program irrigation clocks, low-flow shower heads, ultra low-flush toilets, and high-efficiency clothes washing machines. Limits the amount of such credit to $1,000 for a taxable year. Allows certain small business employers (100 or fewer employees) a business tax credit for ten percent of the cost of qualified water conservation property installed in or in connection with such employer's principal place of business.
Bill· HRH.R. 4901 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
National Enterprise Zone Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize: (1) the governor of a State or U.S. territory or the Mayor of the District of Columbia to nominate by written application one or more enterprise zones for consideration by the Secretary of the Treasury; and (2) any resident of an enterprise zone, including estates, trusts, and corporations (other than S corporations), to elect an alternative income tax based upon National Enterprise Zone taxable income. Sets forth: (1) procedures for applications and eligibility criteria for designating an enterprise zone, including population, poverty, and unemployment rate requirements; and (2) rules for determining National Enterprise Zone taxable income for individuals and corporations residing in such a Zone. Requires all jurisdictions seeking enterprise zone designations to be in substantial compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and certain tax laws.
Bill· HRH.R. 4965 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Nuclear Black-Market Elimination Act - Authorizes the President to prohibit, for at least three years, any transaction or dealing by a U.S. person or within the United States with any foreign person or entity that the President determines sells, transfers, brokers, finances, assists, delivers or otherwise provides or receives, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act: (1) nuclear enrichment or reprocessing equipment, materials, or technology to any country for which an additional protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency for the application of safeguards is not in force, or to any country that the President determines is developing, constructing, manufacturing, or acquiring a nuclear explosive device; or (2) designs, equipment, or specific information to assist in the development, construction, manufacture, or acquisition of a nuclear explosive device by a non-nuclear weapon state. Authorizes the President to provide assistance for up to three years under the Arms Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as well as a drawdown of defense equipment and services under the latter Act, to any country that cooperates with the United States and U.S. allies to prevent the transport and transshipment of items of proliferation concern in its national territory or airspace or in vessels under its control or registry. Prohibits the United States from transferring any excess defense article that is a vessel or aircraft to a country that has not provided written assurances that it will support and assist U.S. efforts to interdict items of proliferation concern. Prohibits the President from providing, in any fiscal year, more than 75 percent of U.S. assistance to Pakistan unless Pakistan meets certain requirements, including fully sharing with the United States all information relevant to the A.Q. Khan proliferation network, and providing full access to A.Q. Khan, his associates, and any material that bears upon their activities and contacts. Provides for a national security waiver of such requirements, but prohibits its exercise in two successive fiscal years. Requires the President to: (1) identify proliferation network host countries to appropriate congressional committees; and (2) suspend all arms sales licenses to such countries.
Bill· HRH.R. 4945 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Rural Economic Development and Opportunities Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include rural area residents among members of a targeted group for purposes of the work opportunity credit for a five-year period.
Bill· HRH.R. 4915 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2004
Small Investment Tax Relief Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a noncorporate taxpayer a tax exclusion for up to $100,000 of the gain from the sale of exchange of certain publicly traded small business stock held for more than one year.
Bill· SS. 2709 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2004
National Reforestation Act of 2004 - Increases, from $30 to $90 million, the amount that can be transferred to the Reforestation Trust Fund by the Secretary of the Treasury in any fiscal year. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to obligate sums in the Trust Fund for reforestation treatment to restore appropriate forest cover on forest land derived from the public domain that is capable of growing trees and that is a moderate fire intensity area or high fire intensity area or that has been severely affected by a nonfire natural disturbance event if the need for the treatment is identified in a specified report on herbicides and pesticides and the treatment occurs within five years of: (1) if there is no harvest activity following the wildfire or the nonfire natural disturbance event, a wildfire or a nonfire natural disturbance event; (2) if a regeneration harvest is the final cut in a stand in a disturbed area, the regeneration harvest; or (3) if a salvage harvest is the final cut in a stand in a disturbed area, the salvage harvest. Allows the Secretary of Agriculture, in addition to amounts authorized from the Trust Fund, to obligate up to ten percent of the sums the Secretary expends annually from the Trust Fund to supplement expenditures of the Forest Service to enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities to conduct research to promote or enhance reforestation.
Bill· HRH.R. 4886 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2004
Health Credits Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable tax credit for up to $3,000 of the cost of health insurance for a taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse and dependents ($1,000 for individuals). Phases out the credit for individual taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes in excess of $15,000 ($25,000 for taxpayers with family coverage). Disqualifies taxpayers who participate in an employer-subsidized health plan, who qualify for certain Federal benefit programs or medical savings account tax deductions, who are incarcerated, or who are not present in the United States for at least 183 days during the year. Permits participation in individual or group health plans, health care coverage purchasing pools, high risk pools, or State buy-in programs. Requires plans to offer annual and lifetime maximum benefits of at least $700,000 and limits deductibles to $5,000 for self-only coverage and $10,000 for family coverage. Requires informational returns from providers of health insurance who receive payments from individuals receiving a tax credit under this Act. Imposes criminal penalties on any individual who knowingly misuses Department of the Treasury identifiers to convey the false impression of association with, or approval or endorsement by, the Department of the Treasury of any insurance products or group health coverage in connection with the tax credit for health insurance provided by this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a program for making advance payments of credit amounts to providers of qualified health insurance for individuals receiving a tax credit under this Act.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 739 (108th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2004
Waives a specified requirement of rule XIII with respect to a reported resolution providing for consideration or disposition of the conference report on H.R. 1308 (Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act of 2003).
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 735 (108th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2004
Waives points of order against the consideration of the conference report on H.R. 4613 (FY 2005 Department of Defense appropriations).
Bill· SS. 2689 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2004
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal provisions of the low income housing tax credit requiring a bond to cover recapture amounts from the disposition, prior to a 15-year compliance period, of a building (or interest therein) eligible for the credit. Provides for a three-year statute of limitation (from the end of the compliance period) for assessing a recapture deficiency. Requires owners of buildings eligible for the low income housing tax credit to file informational returns with the Secretary of the Treasury upon the occurrence of a recapture event and to provide persons who are named in such returns with specified information. Imposes penalties for failure to file required returns.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 732 (108th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2004
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4837) making appropriations for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 730 (108th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2004
Waives points of order against the consideration of the conference report on H.R. 2443 (Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2003).
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 731 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2004
Waives a specified requirement of rule XIII to provide for consideration or disposition of the conference report on H.R. 1308 (Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act of 2003).
Law· HRH.R. 4850 (108th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2004
District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2005 - Makes appropriations to the District of Columbia for FY 2005, including amounts for the Federal payments: (1) for District of Columbia Resident Tuition Support; (2) for emergency planning and security costs in the District; (3) to District of Columbia Courts; (4) for Defender Services in District of Columbia Courts; (5) to the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (including transfer of funds); (6) to the DC Water and Sewer Authority; (7) to the Department of Transportation in the District for the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative; (8) to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; (9) for capital development in the District; (10) for a DC Public School library enhancement program; (11) for the Family Literacy Program; (12) for foster care improvements in the District; (13) to the Chief Financial Officer of the District; and (14) for a DC Public School improvement program. Appropriates specified sums out of the District's general fund and/or other funds for the current fiscal year for: (1) operating expenses (with limitations); (2) governmental direction and support; (3) economic development and regulation; (4) public safety and justice; (5) the public education system (including transfer of funds); (6) human support services (including transfer of funds); (7) public works; (8) the Cash Reserve; (9) repayment of certain loans and interest; (10) payment of interest on short-term borrowing; (11) principal and interest payments on the District's Certificates of Participation, issued to finance the ground lease underlying the building located at One Judiciary Square; (12) refunds and the payment of legal settlements or judgments that have been entered against the District government; (13) the John A. Wilson Building; (14) workforce investments; (15) certain non-departmental agency costs; (16) the Emergency Planning and Security Fund; (17) a Tax Increment Financing Program; (18) equipment lease operating; (19) the Emergency and Contingency Reserve Fund; (20) the Family Literacy Program; (21) the Pay-As-You-Go Capital funds in lieu of capital financing; (22) the Pay-As-You-Go Contingency Fund; (23) revised revenue estimate contingency priority; (24) the Water and Sewer Authority; (25) the Washington Aqueduct; (26) the Stormwater Permit Compliance Enterprise Fund; (27) the Lottery and Charitable Games Enterprise Fund; (28) the Sports and Entertainment Commission; (29) the District of Columbia Retirement Board; (30) the Washington Convention Center Enterprise Fund; (31) the National Capital Revitalization Corporation; (32) the University of the District of Columbia; (33) the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund; (34) the Other Post Employee Benefits Trust Fund; (35) the DC Public Library Trust Fund; and (36) capital outlay (including rescissions).
Bill· HRH.R. 4852 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2004
Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY 2005. Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an interagency Homeland Security Information Requirements Board to oversee the process for establishing homeland security requirements and collection management for homeland security information. Establishes within the Directorate for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection a National Cybersecurity Office. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) submit annual budget request information for the Directorate of Science and Technology; (2) conduct an assessment of the development of national capabilities in homeland security science and technology to address basic scientific research needs; and (3) establish a program to award grants to institutions of higher education for professional development programs in cybersecurity. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements or partnerships with U.S. allies in the war on terrorism that have extensive experience in counterterrorism activities. Directs the Secretary to establish a program to enhance public safety interoperable communications at all levels of government. Provides for the establishment of a homeland security technology and equipment transfer program. Establishes the Liberty Shield Award for Innovation and Excellence in Critical Infrastructure Protection. Urges the DHS Homeland Security Operations Center to increase on-site participation of representatives from private sector critical infrastructure sectors. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and distribute critical infrastructure protection awareness and education materials for emergency response providers; (2) ensure that DHS terrorism preparedness exercises and related information and training meet specified requirements; (3) establish a program supporting the development of mutual aid systems for terrorism and emergency preparedness and response; (4) develop a domestic emergency national preparedness goal, a comprehensive national biodefense strategy, a comprehensive national strategy to mitigate the radiological and nuclear threat, and a plan to ensure enhanced cooperation and interoperability of maritime and airborne homeland security assets; (5) initiate a pilot program of expedited inspection at designated ports of entry away from U.S. ports; (6) submit budget request information for DHS's information technology-related spending organized by directorate and critical mission area; and (7) keep each appropriate congressional committee informed of DHS activities. Establishes the Director of the U.S. Secret Service as an officer of DHS.
Bill· HRH.R. 4859 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2004
Child Support Improvement Act of 2004 - Amends parts A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) and D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) modify the rule requiring assignment of support rights as a condition of receiving TANF; (2) increase child support payments to families; (3) revise child support distribution rules; (4) ban the recovery of Medicaid (SSA title XIX) costs for the birth of children for whom support rights have been assigned; and (5) change from mandatory to discretionary the authority of States to retain certain support rights assignments after a certain date (thus giving them the option to discontinue such assignments), and allow to remain assigned any rights assigned before enactment of this Act to a State to support obligations accruing before the date a family first receives TANF (thus giving States the option to discontinue such assignments). Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to provide for: (1) a decrease in the amount of child support arrearage triggering passport denial; (2) use of the tax refund intercept program to collect past-due child support on behalf of children who are not minors; (3) garnishment of compensation paid to veterans for service-connected disabilities in order to enforce child support obligations; and (4) revised interstate enforcement. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to specified congressional committees on the procedures States use to locate custodial parents for whom child support has been collected but not yet distributed. Provides for the use of new hire information to assist in the administration of unemployment compensation programs under SSA title IV part D. Amends Federal money and finance law to modify Federal debt collection practices. Amends SSA title IV part D to provide for the maintenance of technical assistance and Federal Parent Locator Service funding. Provides for the electronic disbursement of child support payments to families. Allows States to expand their State disbursement unit to create a centralized payment location for all child support wage withholding. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations to implement the medical support performance measure developed under the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring the State of Texas to apply for a waiver from applicable requirements to continue to operate the State's program for monitoring and enforcement of a child support court order without the necessity of a written application.
Bill· HRH.R. 4851 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2004
Social Security Personal Savings Guarantee and Prosperity Act of 2004 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide for the establishment of a voluntary, personal Social Security investment program under a new part B (Personal Social Security Savings Program) where a participating individual is able to invest in tax free personal accounts in a way that is similar to the way Federal employees invest in the Thrift Savings Program. Establishes in the Treasury the Social Security Personal Savings Fund, with personal Social Security savings accounts for deposit of the redirected Social Security contributions of participating individuals as mechanisms for crediting to such individuals amounts held in the Tier I Investment Fund, the Tier II Investment Fund, and Tier III Investment Options, also hereby established. Prescribes rules for personal Social Security savings annuity and other distributions. Establishes in the executive branch of the Government a Personal Social Security Savings Account Board to administer the new part B program. Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for adjustment of primary insurance amounts in relation to deposits made to personal Social Security accounts. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund amounts equal to the recapture of corporate tax on account yields and of Government savings over baseline. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt the Social Security Personal Savings Fund and each Tier III Investment Option from income taxation. Subjects a personal Social Security savings account to taxes imposed on unrelated business income of charitable, etc. organizations. Excludes from a distributee's gross income any qualified distribution from amounts credited to a personal Social Security savings account from the Social Security Personal Savings Fund or held in a Tier III Investment Option. Creates in the Treasury the Self-Liquidating Social Security Transition Fund for the deposit of OASDI trust fund surplus for the preceding year. Amends SSA to provide for accounting for the OASDI program and the individual Social Security investment program. Amends SSA title VII to prescribe the budgetary treatment of the Social Security trust funds, the Social Security Personal Savings Fund, and taxes on self-employment income and FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions) taxes.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 724 (108th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2004
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4850) making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005.
Bill· SS. 2680 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2004
Financial Accountability Expansion Act of 2004 - Amends Federal law governing financial statements of Federal agencies to: (1) repeal the authority of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to exempt certain executive small-sized executive agencies from submitting annual financial statements; and (2) instruct OMB to notify the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) which executive agencies have size or budgetary limitations that do not support the internal preparation of a mandated financial statement. Directs the Secretary to: (1) prepare such financial statements or contract for their preparation; and (2) contract with independent auditors to audit them. Amends the Accountability of Tax Dollars Act of 2002 to make technical and conforming amendments to reflect this Act. Directs OMB to require each Federal entity that is not currently required to prepare an independently audited annual financial statement to submit one prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing principles.
Bill· SS. 2662 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004
SUTA Dumping Prevention Act of 2004 - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to administration of unemployment taxes and benefits. Revises SSA title III (Grants to States for Unemployment Compensation Administration) to require State unemployment compensation laws, as a condition of State eligibility for such grants, to provide for transfer of unemployment experience upon transfer or acquisition of a business. Directs the Secretary of Labor to study and report to Congress on State implementation of such requirement. Revises SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disclose information on individuals and their employers in the National Directory of New Hires to a State agency that, for purposes of administering a Federal or State unemployment compensation law, transmits such individuals' names and Social Security account numbers to the Secretary. Requires such disclosure only to the extent that it would not interfere with effective operation of the part D program.
Bill· SS. 2671 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004
State Fiscal Relief Act of 2004 - Amends the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 to extend the temporary freeze of the Federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) for certain States (continuing the FY 2003 FMAP through each calendar quarter of FY 2004, and the FY 2004 FMAP for each calendar quarter of FY 2005 if the FY 2005 FMAP would otherwise be less than the FY 2004 FMAP). Amends the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 to increase the FMAP: (1) by 2.95 percentage points for the last two calendar quarters of FY 2003 and the first three calendar quarters of FY 2004; and (2) by 1.26 percentage points for the last calendar quarter of FY 2004 and each calendar quarter of FY 2005. Increases by 5.9 percent the ceiling on Medicaid payments to specified territories for the last two calendar quarters of FY 2003 and the first three calendar quarters of FY 2004. Increases such ceiling by 2.52 percent for the last calendar quarter of FY 2004 and each calendar quarter of FY 2005. Amends SSA title XIX, with respect to the transitional increased Federal matching rate for increased administrative costs, to require a specified minimum increase for administrative expenditures that would not be incurred but for enactment of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. Sets $1.2 billion as the cap on the total amount of additional Federal funds expended as a result of this Act with respect to such administrative expenditures between October 1, 2004, and the later of either: (1) April 1, 2006; or (2) the end of the first fiscal year quarter that begins on or after the date on which benefits are first provided under the voluntary prescription drug benefit program under SSA title XVIII (Medicare) part D.
Bill· SS. 2666 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005 - Makes FY 2005 appropriations for the Senate for: (1) expense allowances; (2) representation allowances for the Majority and Minority Leaders; (3) salaries of specified officers, employees, and committees (including the Committee on Appropriations); (4) agency contributions for employee benefits; (5) inquiries and investigations; (6) the U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control; (7) the Offices of the Secretary and of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate; (8) miscellaneous items; (9) the Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account; and (10) official mail costs. Makes FY 2005 appropriations for salaries and/or expenses of: (1) the Joint Economic and Taxation Committees; (2) the Office of the Attending Physician; (3) the Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office; (4) the preparation of statements of appropriations; (5) the Capitol Police; (6) the Office of Compliance; (7) the Congressional Budget Office; (8) the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), including for the care and operation of Capitol buildings and grounds, the Senate office building, the Capitol power plant, the Library of Congress buildings and grounds, the Capitol Police buildings and grounds, the Botanic Garden; and (9) the Capitol Visitor Center. Appropriates funds for: (1) the Library of Congress for salaries and expenses, the Copyright Office, Congressional Research Service, and Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; (2) the Government Printing Office (GPO) for congressional printing and binding (including transfer of funds); (3) GPO for the Office of Superintendent of Documents (including transfer of funds); (4) a payment to the Government Printing Office Revolving Fund; (5) the Government Accountability Office for salaries and expenses; and (6) a payment to the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund.
Bill· SS. 2675 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt certain small business taxpayers from the requirements of using the accrual method of accounting and of using inventories. Allows such taxpayers to use a cash method of accounting if they meet the gross receipts test and are not engaged in farming as a corporation. Increases the amount of the gross receipts test to $10 million (currently, $5 million) and permits an annual inflation adjustment of that amount. Amends the Social Security Act to require State unemployment compensation laws to: (1) permit an employer to transfer its unemployment compensation risk experience to an acquiring business unless such transfer is made solely or primarily to enable the acquiring business to obtain a lower rate of unemployment contribution; and (2) provide for meaningful civil and criminal penalties for transfers made in violation of State unemployment compensation law. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disclose to State unemployment compensation agencies information from the National Directory of New Hires to assist States in administering an unemployment compensation program under Federal or State law. Provides penalties for the improper disclosure or misuse of information by State agency officers or employees.
Bill· HRH.R. 4840 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004
Tax Simplification for America's Job Creators Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend for two additional years (through 2007): (1) the increased expensing (up to $100,000) of small business assets; (2) the increase (to $400,000) in the cost limitation for property eligible for expensing; and (3) the inflation adjustments for the increased expensing amount and the limitation amount. Allows an inflation adjustment, beginning in 2004, of the $5 million gross receipts test amount used to determine eligibility for the cash method of accounting. Repeals or amends certain expired or inoperative provisions of the Code. Enacts a savings provision to prevent changes in tax liability resulting from repeals or amendments made by this Act for periods ending after its enactment date.
Bill· HRH.R. 4841 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004
Tax Simplification for Americans Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide that an individual shall be treated as attaining an age on the date of the anniversary of such individual's birth which corresponds to such age; (2) rename "head of household" filing status as "single head of household;" and (3) increase to $100,000 (with annual inflation adjustments after 2004) the income limit for use of tax forms 1040EZ and 1040A. Repeals or amends certain expired or inoperative provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Enacts a savings provision to prevent changes in tax liability resulting from repeals or amendments made by this Act for periods ending after enactment of this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 4849 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004
Retirement Security for Life Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an exclusion from gross income for 50 percent of the amount otherwise includible in gross income as guaranteed payments from certain annuity or life insurance contracts. Limits the amount of such exclusion to $20,000 in any taxable year. Provides for an inflation adjustment of the $20,000 limitation beginning in 2006.
Bill· HRH.R. 4845 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004
Medicare Corporate Accountability Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose upon employers an excise tax on the termination of prescription drug benefits to retirees who attained age 65 before the termination of benefits and whose employment terminated before the enactment of this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer tax revenues raised by this Act to the Medicare Prescription Drug Account.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 720 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2004
Expresses the disapproval of the House of Representatives of the agreement establishing totalization arrangements between the Social Security systems of the United States and Mexico.
Bill· SS. 2655 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2004
Water and Energy Efficient Appliances Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business tax credit for the production of certain water and energy efficient appliances (i.e. dishwashers, clothes washers, and refrigerators). Sets the amount of the credit based upon certain energy and water efficiency ratings. Terminates the credit after 2010.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 715 (108th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2004
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4818) making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005.
Bill· SS. 2642 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2004
Smuggled Tobacco Prevention Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require all packages of tobacco products to carry a unique legibly printed serial number by which the Secretary of the Treasury can identify the manufacturer or importer and the location and date of manufacture or importation. Requires tobacco products sold on Indian reservations to be labeled as such. Requires a person to post a bond with the Secretary in order to export tobacco products. Requires a tobacco wholesaler to have a permit and to maintain certain records. Requires export warehouse proprietors to file certain reports with the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into certain tobacco related information exchange agreements with foreign countries. Establishes new criminal offenses relating to the distribution of tobacco products. Raises the $1,000 civil penalty for violations relating to tobacco products to $10,000. Amends the Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act to: (1) expand the applicability of such Act from cigarettes only to tobacco products (cigars, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco, and roll-your-own tobacco); (2) define a "contraband tobacco product" as a quantity of tobacco product that is equivalent to or more than 2,000 cigarettes (currently, 60,000) which bear no evidence of the payment of applicable State tobacco taxes and that is possessed illegally; and (3) establish new unlawful acts. Allows a State tobacco tax authority to bring a civil action in U.S. district court for the collection of State cigarette taxes. Prohibits retaliation against employees (whistleblowers) who provide information in contraband tobacco cases. Provides for administrative and judicial remedies for such whistleblowers.
Bill· HRH.R. 4819 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2004
Essential Waterways Operations and Maintenance Act of 2004 - Makes available for each fiscal year to the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, for operations and maintenance of essential waterways (in addition to amounts otherwise made available for operations and maintenance), five percent of the amount of duties collected during the preceding fiscal year on articles transported by vessel unladen for purposes of entering the customs territory of the United States. Defines an "essential waterway" as a waterway that: (1) the Secretary of the Army determines provides service to one of the 25 highest ranked U.S. ports in terms of total tonnage of cargo transported through the port; (2) the Secretary of Energy determines is a critical component of the U.S. energy infrastructure; (3) the Secretary of Homeland Security determines provides service to at least one militarily and economically strategic port; or (4) the Secretary of Transportation determines provides service to at least one commercially strategic port.
Bill· HRH.R. 4820 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2004
Smuggled Tobacco Prevention Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require all packages of tobacco products to carry a unique legibly printed serial number by which the Secretary of the Treasury can identify the manufacturer or importer and the location and date of manufacture or importation. Requires tobacco products sold on Indian reservations to be labeled as such. Requires a person to post a bond with the Secretary in order to export tobacco products. Requires a tobacco wholesaler to have a permit and to maintain certain records. Requires export warehouse proprietors to file certain reports with the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into certain tobacco related information exchange agreements with foreign countries. Establishes new criminal offenses relating to the distribution of tobacco products. Raises the $1,000 civil penalty for violations relating to tobacco products to $10,000. Amends the Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act to: (1) expand the applicability of such Act from cigarettes only to tobacco products (cigars, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco, and roll-your-own tobacco); (2) define a "contraband tobacco product" as a quantity of tobacco product that is equivalent to or more than 2,000 cigarettes (currently, 60,000) which bear no evidence of the payment of applicable State tobacco taxes and that is possessed illegally; and (3) establish new unlawful acts. Allows a State tobacco tax authority to bring a civil action in U.S. district court for the collection of State cigarette taxes. Prohibits retaliation against employees (whistleblowers) who provide information in contraband tobacco cases. Provides for administrative and judicial remedies for such whistleblowers.
Bill· HRH.R. 4821 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2004
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business tax credit for up to ten percent of the wages paid to nonimmigrant H-2A workers (temporary agricultural workers).
Bill· HRH.R. 4825 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2004
Excess War Profits Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an additional tax of 15 percent of taxable income attributable to contracts with the United States specifically for goods or services for the war in Iraq. Exempts amounts received by members of the U.S. Armed Forces or Federal employees for their services from such tax.
Bill· HRH.R. 4809 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2004
Investment Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2004 - Makes permanent the reduction in taxes on dividends and capital gains enacted by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.
Bill· HRH.R. 4796 (108th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2004
Employee Stock Ownership Plan Promotion and Improvement Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) treat certain distributions by S corporations to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) as deductible dividends; (2) exempt deductions for ESOP dividends from corporate alternative minimum tax adjustments based on adjusted earnings and profits; (3) allow deferral of the recognition of gain for certain sales to ESOP's sponsored by any domestic corporation, including S corporations; (4) allow reinvestment of ESOP stock proceeds eligible for nonrecognition of gain in certain mutual funds; (5) modify certain ESOP stock ownership rules; and (6) allow early distributions from an ESOP for higher education expenses and first-time homebuyer purchases without penalty.
Bill· HRH.R. 4786 (108th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2004
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide a grant of up to $500,000 in any fiscal year to an entity to assist it in preparing, submitting, or otherwise supporting a petition to the Bureau of Acknowledgement and Recognition in the Department of the Interior for recognition or rerecognition of such entity as an Indian tribe.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 710 (108th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2004
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4766) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005.