United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2025
Declares that the collective bargaining agreement between the Association of Commuter Rail Employees and the Metro-North Railroad shall be extinguished upon the merger of the Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road. Deems employees of the entity resulting from such merger to be covered under the appropriate collective bargaining agreement of the Long Island Rail Road in compliance with the Railway Labor Act. Subordinates the appropriate seniority roster of Metro-North Railroad employees to the seniority roster of Long Island Rail Road employees. Subjects all disputes arising from the application of this Act to the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board.
United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2025
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to accelerate the effective date for the expansion of the adoption tax credit and the adoption assistance programs by one year, to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Tax Administration Reform Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) revise collection procedures concerning the review of installment agreements for partial collection; (2) extend the time allowed to return property wrongfully levied; and (3) provide for a study of liens and levies. Increases funding for low-income tax clinics. Revises tax administration provisions to provide for the termination of the employment of an IRS employee upon a final administrative or judicial determination of misconduct. Permits the Tax Court to apply the doctrine of equitable recoupment to the same extent as in other Federal courts. Limits the right to appeal a levy determination to the Tax Court (currently, a U.S. district court may have jurisdiction). Provides a 15-day delay in due date for electronically filed individual income tax returns. Revises confidentiality requirements concerning: (1) the disclosure upon oral request of either spouse of collection activities with respect to a joint return; (2) compliance by contractors; (3) standards for requests for and consents to disclosure; and (3) notice to taxpayer of an administrative determination that a return was unlawfully inspected; and (4) expanded disclosure in emergency circumstances. Makes additional miscellaneous amendments including: (1) requiring an evaluation of alternative, technological means of communicating with taxpayers; (2) authorizing regulations for the conduct of enrolled agents; (3) charging fees to the IRS by the Financial Management Service; and (4) procedures concerning Treasury auctions. Revises penalty and interest provisions concerning the treatment of penalties for failure by an individual to pay estimated income tax (converted to interest charge). Excludes interest on overpayments of tax from gross income. Abates interest on all erroneous refunds. Waives certain penalties for first-time unintentional minor errors. Revises and increases the penalty for filing a frivolous tax return.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Tongass Rain Forest Protection Act - Designates all roadless areas in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, including Duke Island, as the Tongass Rainforest Nature Preserve. Requires native animal and plant species within the Preserve to be protected in their natural and wild state. Prohibits activities in the Preserve that disturb native animal or plant species or their habitats, including the construction of roads or structures, logging, mining, and the use of any mechanized vehicle or equipment. Designates all of Duke Island and the Duke Inventoried Roadless Area as the Duke Island Trumpeter Swan Wilderness Area. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire: (1) inholdings in the Tongass National Forest from willing sellers; and (2) an inholding of exceptional importance for biological or scenic reasons through eminent domain at full fair market value.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025
Requires each executive agency with procurement authority to: (1) take specified steps to ensure substantial participation in Federal advertising procurements by minority businesses; (2) develop a long-term comprehensive plan for implementing such requirement; and (3) assess efforts to increase the utilization of minority businesses in the advertising industry as prime contractors and subcontractors. Amends the Small Business Act to require current small business procurement contracting and subcontracting goals with the Government to apply separately to small businesses in the advertising industry. Directs the Administrators of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and General Services (GSA) to expand inclusion on GSA schedules of small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and other minority businesses in the advertising industry and to provide greater opportunities for such businesses to participate in orders under such schedules. Requires each executive agency to submit to the SBA Administrator for review any proposed bundling of contract requirements which includes Federal advertising requirements. Directs the Secretary of Commerce and the SBA Administrator to jointly carry out a feasibility study to determine the appropriateness of establishing an awards program for executive agencies for increasing minority business opportunity in Federal advertising procurement.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to revise the direct loan minimum interest rate determination for low-income limited resource borrowers.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2025
Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to revise the rule for redistribution and extended availability of FY1998 and 1999 allotments to States, permitting and extending retention of half of the FY 2000 allotment, and permitting and extending retention of half of the FY 2001 allotment.
United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2025
Peace Corps Charter for the 21st Century Act - Amends the Peace Corps Act to require all recruiting of volunteers to be undertaken primarily by the Peace Corps. Amends reporting requirements for the Director of the Peace Corps. Requires the Director to report to Congress at least once per year on various topics, which shall include any recommendations for improving coordination of development projects between the Peace Corps and international or host country voluntary service organizations. Requires the Director to report to Congress on: (1) student loan forgiveness programs; and (2) initiatives that the Peace Corps intends to pursue with eligible countries where the presence of Peace Corps volunteers would facilitate a greater understanding that a universe exists of commonly shared human values and aspirations. Authorizes and strongly urges the Director to utilize the services of returned Peace Corps volunteers having language and cultural expertise, including those who may have served previously in countries with substantial Muslim populations, in order to open or reopen Peace Corps programs in such countries. Requires the Director to develop a training program for all Peace Corps volunteers in the education, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases. Increases from $125 to $275 for each month of satisfactory service the readjustment allowance for returned Peace Corps volunteers. Directs the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service to award grants to private nonprofit corporations for the purpose of enabling returned Peace Corps volunteers to carry out programs and projects to forward Peace Corps goals.
United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2025
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to extend the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to allow tobacco-related farm reconstitutions in lieu of lease and transfer of allotments and quotas.
United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2025
Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend through 2003: (1) the authority under which the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may issue notes and other obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purpose of carrying out the national flood insurance program; and (2) the authority to enter into new flood insurance contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2002 - Requires the President to establish a comprehensive, integrated, five-year strategy to combat the global spread of HIV and AIDS. Requires the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop a comprehensive plan to empower women to protect themselves against the spread of HIV/AIDS. Establishes within the Department of State a presidentially appointed Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally. Authorizes the United States to participate in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and increases financial assistance for vaccine contributions. Authorizes the President to provide assistance and coordination between international organizations for the global prevention, treatment, monitoring, and control of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Requires the President to establish a program to demonstrate the feasibility of facilitating services of American health care professionals in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world severely affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Requires the President, acting through the Administrator of USAID, to establish a program of assistance that would demonstrate the feasibility of providing care and treatment to orphans, other children, and young people affected by HIV/AIDS in foreign countries. Sets forth principles for U.S. firms operating in countries affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Offering People True Insurance Options Nationwide Act of 2002 - Directs the Office of Personnel Management to administer a health insurance program that offers Federal employees health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
National Institute of Standards and Technology Authorization Act of 2002 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for: (1) Scientific and Technical Research Services activities of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the Measurement Standards Laboratories and the Malcomb Baldrige National Quality Program; and (2) Industrial Technology Services activities of NIST for the Advanced Technology Program and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program; and (3) Construction of Research Facilities activities. Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to remove the one percent limit on NIST funds the Director of NIST is authorized to expend for awards of research fellowships and other financial assistance to students. Establishes the Baldrige National Quality Program within NIST to administer the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and to perform research and outreach activities to assist quality and performance improvement efforts. Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to: (1) increase the number of Malcolm awards; and (2) include not-for-profit organizations as qualifying organizations. Modifies NIST Act provisions regarding the Advanced Technology Program, including by authorizing: (1) the Secretary to aid U.S. joint research and development (R&D) ventures led by institutions of higher education or other nonprofit research organizations; and (2) the Secretary, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology, and the Director to enter into contracts with experts to analyze the need for or value of joint ventures in specific technical fields. Authorizes: (1) the Secretary, when entering into procurement contracts or financial assistance agreements to carry out collective R&D initiatives, to limit eligibility to nonprofit organizations; and (2) the Director to retain building use and depreciation surcharge fees for maintenance and repair of NIST facilities. Repeals provisions requiring the Director to establish a non-energy inventions program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2026
Protection of Family Farmers and Family Fishermen Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal Bankruptcy Code to reenact Chapter 12, Adjustment of Debts of a Family Farmer with Regular Annual Income (thus reinstating permanently family farmer bankruptcy relief). Provides periodic adjustments for inflation of the debt limit for family farmers. Cites circumstances under which the claim of a governmental unit that arises from the disposition of a farm asset used in the debtor's farming operation shall be treated as an unsecured claim not entitled to priority. Increases from $1.5 million to $3.237 million the maximum aggregate debt that permits a farming operation to qualify as a family farming operation for debt adjustment purposes. Decreases from 80 percent to 50 percent the minimum percentage of aggregate, noncontingent liquidated debts arising out of such a farming operation. Repeals the requirement that a family farmer and spouse receive over 50 percent of income from farming operations in the year before a bankruptcy petition is filed. Prohibits: (1) retroactive assessment of disposable income; and (2) post-confirmation modification of a bankruptcy plan that would increase the amount of payments that were due before such modification. Requires debtor's consent for post-confirmation increase in payments. Extends Chapter 12 coverage to family fishermen whose aggregate debts do not exceed $1.5 million, of which at least 80 percent of aggregate noncontingent, liquidated debts arise out of a commercial fishing operation.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Stronger Tobacco Warning Labels to Save Lives Act - Amends the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act and the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986 to make it unlawful for any person to manufacture, package, or import for sale or distribution within the United States any cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products unless there is, in accordance with the specified requirements of this Act, a warning label on the upper portion of the front panel of the cigarette package (such as a carton) or on the principal display panel of the smokeless tobacco package. Lists, in the amendments to each Act, certain statements, at least one of which a warning label on a package must contain. Specifies label requirements for advertisements. Requires the rotation of labels for both packages and advertisements in accordance with a Federal Trade Commission approved plan.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Renewal Community Tax Benefit Improvement Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code concerning the renewal community employment credit to permit employers in a renewal community to also qualify by employing residents of certain other renewal communities (within the same State).
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Caregivers Access to Health Insurance Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add a new title, Health Care Coverage for Caregivers, the purpose of which shall be to provide funds to States to enable them to: (1) expand the availability of health insurance coverage to those individuals involved in providing care for children, the disabled, and the elderly; and (2) provide incentives to attract and retain quality caregivers. Makes a State ineligible for Federal payments under this Act unless it has submitted to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary has approved a plan setting forth how the State will use the assistance to provide health insurance or health care assistance to eligible caregivers consistent with the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Contract With Investors - Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to repeal the sunset provisions of such Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) accelerate individual income tax rate reductions; (2) accelerate the repeal of estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes; (3) reduce maximum capital gains tax rates for individuals; (4) increase capital loss limitations for individuals; (5) accelerate contribution increases for certain retirement plans; (6) increase the age for mandatory retirement and pension plan distributions; and (7) exclude from gross income dividends received by individuals from domestic, publicly traded C corporations, with exceptions. Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should: (1) pass legislation to safeguard workers' pension and retirement accounts; (2) modernize international tax provisions to permit U.S. companies to better compete internationally; (3) repeal outdated regulatory burdens on U.S. investors and companies; (4) enact tort reform; and (5) simplify the Federal tax code and reduce the cost recovery periods for businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat earnings on contributions to tax-deferred savings accounts as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Social Security Preservation Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to add a part B (Investment-Based Social Security) outlining a new program to allow any individual born on or after January 1, 1953, who is employed by a covered employer or who is self-employed, and certain other individuals requesting and granted an eligibility waiver, to elect to receive social security benefits from a portion of their wages that have been contributed to designated social security savings accounts for employees (SAFE accounts) for investment, with a total monthly benefit guaranteed to be not less than the monthly benefit promised under the current program under OASDI, redesignated as part A (Debt-Based Social Security). Permits investing employees to use the money in their accounts to purchase a social security savings annuity for eligible retirees (SAFER annuity) to pay benefits promised under the current system plus a bonus for participating in the new system. Treats any SAFE account generally in the same manner as an individual retirement plan. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a reduction of FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) resulting from the investment-based social security system under part B. Amends the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to establish in the executive branch a Social Security Investment Board to oversee administration of the new program. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to estimate and transfer to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund each fiscal year an amount equal to the annual savings of the Federal Government resulting from investment-based social security under new part B. Exempts SAFE account and SAFER annuity investments from Federal corporate income taxes. Requires the Secretary, from the surplus in the total U.S. budget, or from that portion of Federal revenues directly attributable to the surplus income of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, to reimburse the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund in an amount equal to the amounts transferred to SAFE accounts under part B. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) with respect to discretionary spending limits to provide an overall cap for FY 2003 through 2009. Amends the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to extend enforcement provisions through FY 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Internet Gambling Licensing and Regulation Commission Act - Establishes the Internet Gambling Licensing and Regulation Study Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the existing legal framework governing Internet gambling and the issues involved with the licensing and regulation of Internet gambling. Includes within the matters to be studied by the Commission: (1) a review of existing laws governing various forms of wagering over the Internet; (2) assessments of the impact of Internet gambling with respect to problem gambling, the availability of gambling to minors, and its susceptibility to money laundering by terrorists or criminal enterprises; (3) the potential of regulatory measures to minimize adverse impacts of Internet gambling; (4) federalism issues; and (5) the problems of unregulated international Internet wagering and Federal options in seeking international cooperation. Requires the Commission to issue proposed changes to Federal laws and regulations providing for the licensing and regulation of Internet gambling in the United States which: (1) preserve the prerogatives of States and tribal sovereignty; (2) include measures to minimize adverse impacts of Internet gambling and to eliminate the disparate treatment of various forms of Internet gambling (with an exception); (3) provide for the appropriate taxation of Internet gambling enterprises (comparable to land-based gambling); (4) provide for the licensing of enterprises both within and outside of the United States; (5) remain consistent with U.S. goals, principles, and obligations in other international negotiations governing electronic commerce; and (6) include measures to discourage, prohibit, or prevent U.S. citizens from wagering with unlicensed Internet gambling operations outside the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2025
Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend through 2004: (1) the authority under which the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may issue notes and other obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purpose of carrying out the national flood insurance program; and (2) the authority to enter into new flood insurance contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2002 - Requires the President to establish a comprehensive, integrated, five-year strategy to combat the global spread of HIV and AIDS. Requires the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop a comprehensive plan to empower women to protect themselves against the spread of HIV/AIDS. Establishes within the Department of State a presidentially appointed Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally. Authorizes the United States to participate in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and increases financial assistance for vaccine contributions. Authorizes the President to provide assistance and coordination between international organizations for the global prevention, treatment, monitoring, and control of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Requires the President to establish a program to demonstrate the feasibility of facilitating services of American health care professionals in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world severely affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Requires the President, acting through the Administrator of USAID, to establish a program of assistance that would demonstrate the feasibility of providing care and treatment to orphans, other children, and young people affected by HIV/AIDS in foreign countries. Sets forth principles for U.S. firms operating in countries affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Martin Luther King, Jr., Records Collection Act of 2002 - Directs the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to commence establishment of a collection of all Government records relating to the life and assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Requires the Archivist of the United States to: (1) ensure the physical integrity and original provenance of all records; (2) prepare and publish a subject guidebook and index to the collection which will be available to the public and searchable electronically; and (2) enter into an agreement with an entity outside NARA for the establishment of a secondary location for a portion of the collection. Requires each Government office having possession or control of related records to: (1) identify and organize its records and prepare them for transmission to the Archivist; and (2) review, identify, and organize each related record in its custody or possession for disclosure to the public, review by the Review Board (established by this Act), and transmission to the Archivist. Sets forth grounds for postponement of public disclosure of related records. Establishes the Records Review Board to consider and render decisions on a Government office determination to seek to postpone disclosure. Authorizes the Board to request the Attorney General to petition any court to release information or physical evidence relevant to King's life or assassination that is held under court seal. Creates a private right of action for individuals aggrieved by a violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2025
Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend through 2004: (1) the authority under which the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may issue notes and other obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury for the purpose of carrying out the national flood insurance program; (2) the authority to enter into new flood insurance contracts; (3) requirements for carrying out emergency implementation of the flood insurance program; and (4) the authorization of appropriations for carrying out studies under the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Authorizes the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in calculating the Federal cost for guaranteeing small business loans under the Small Business Act during FY 2003, to use: (1) the most recently approved subsidy cost model and methodology in conjunction with the program and economic assumptions; and (2) historical data included in the FY 2003 budget. Requires the Small Business Administration (SBA), after written notification to Congress, to implement the validated, OMB-approved rate for FY 2003. Amends the Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act, 2002 to allow funds appropriated to the SBA for emergency expenses to also be used for such loan guarantee subsidies.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2025
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to entitle certain local educational agencies (LEAs) to certain payment amounts under Impact Aid programs: (1) relating to Federal acquisition of real property; and (2) for basic support for eligible federally-connected children. (Current law makes such LEAs eligible for such payments up to specified maximum amounts.) Revises the formula for calculating weighted student units for Impact Aid payments to LEAs for federally-connected children. Extends the authorization of appropriations for: (1) construction and school modernization payments for certain LEAs, including ones with high percentages of children living on Indian lands or children of military parents; and (2) facilities maintenance payments for certain schools located on military bases and serving military dependent children. Makes appropriations for payments in each fiscal year to LEAs under Impact Aid programs: (1) relating to Federal acquisition of real property; and (2) for basic support for eligible federally-connected children.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2026
Provides for the treatment of Chief Judge Richard T. Haik of the western district of Louisiana as a judicial official entitled to benefits under provisions regarding annuities for survivors of certain judicial officials.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Ready to Educate All Children Act of 2002 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive matching grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to establish partnerships with high poverty local educational agencies or high poverty schools (local partners) to establish or enhance a clinically-based elementary or secondary school teacher training program. Requires an IHE receiving such a grant to: (1) establish a partnership with a local partner to establish or enhance such a program; (2) facilitate a partnership among the IHE's departments to ensure that future teachers are prepared to teach; and (3) implement a project-based assessment. Requires such IHE also to use grant funds for at least three activities listed. Makes a student who participates in a program funded under this Act eligible for student assistance under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 during the student's fifth year of study for a teaching degree (if such clinically-based program is a teaching-degree study requirement).
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Paul Wellstone Early Educator Loan Forgiveness Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise the student loan forgiveness program for child care providers to include preschool teachers. Requires such teachers to: (1) have received at least an associate's degree, and be working toward or have already received a bachelor's degree, in early childhood education; and (2) work for an eligible preschool program provider to prepare the children for transition to kindergarten.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Communities Combating College Drinking and Drug Use Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to make matching grant allotments to applicant States to enhance or establish statewide coalitions to reduce the usage of drugs and alcohol by college students both on campus and in the surrounding community at large. Requires such a statewide coalition to be formed in cooperation with at least half of the institutions of higher education within the State, and with local communities, nonprofit groups, community anti-drug or anti-alcohol coalitions, and other substance abuse prevention groups within the State.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2026
Fort Donelson National Battlefield Expansion Act of 2002 - Revises the boundary of Fort Donelson National Battlefield to include Fort Donelson National Cemetery in Stewart County, Tennessee, and Fort Heiman and any associated land in Calloway County, Kentucky. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire from a willing seller eligible land for inclusion in the Battlefield. Limits the total area of the Battlefield to 2,000 acres. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into a memorandum of understanding to provide for the cooperative protection and interpretation of Fort Henry and any other Civil War resources in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area that are associated with the campaign to capture Fort Donelson.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2026
Settlement Encouragement and Fairness Act - Defines "prevailing party" for any Act of Congress, any agency ruling, regulation, or interpretation, or any judicial or administrative rule that provides for the recovery of attorney's fees, to include, in addition to a party who substantially prevails through a judicial or administrative judgement or order or an enforceable written agreement, a party whose pursuit of a non-frivolous claim or defense was a catalyst for a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the opposing party that provides any significant part of the relief sought.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Nuclear Waste Transportation Security Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a program for the transportation safety of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel (waste and fuel) taking into consideration terrorist threats and other potential emergencies. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States and local and tribal governments for activities to enhance the security of transporting nuclear waste, including emergency response. Directs the Secretaries of Transportation and Energy, in establishing routes for the transportation of nuclear waste through a State, to jointly consult with the State's chief executive officer regarding preferred or alternative routes. Requires the executive officer to be given 7 days' prior notice of any such transportation. Specifies requirements for particular shipments. Prohibits nuclear waste from being transported by vessel in the inland waters of the United States or the Great Lakes. Requires renewal every three years of a hazmat employee's certification of training to handle waste and fuel. Provides training grants for hazmat employees and instructors. Enhances civil penalties for violations in the transportation of waste and fuel. Requires: (1) a program of outreach regarding response to accidents, attacks, or other emergencies involving the transportation of waste and fuel; (2) a study regarding effects on public health of such transportation; and (3) a comprehensive program of testing the physical integrity and suitability of the packages used for such transportation. Requires the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board to evaluate the validity of any activities undertaken by the Secretary or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with respect to the transportation of waste or fuel.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Federal Death Care Inspection and Disclosure Act - Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services the position of Coordinator of Funeral, Burial, and Disposition Services, to: (1) survey existing State laws pertaining to the death care industry; and (2) formulate standards specifying the elements of an effective system for registering, inspecting, and monitoring the handling and disposition of human remains by funeral homes and other death care providers. Requires the Coordinator to: (1) award Federal assistance grants to State agencies that regulate death care providers; and (2) establish minimum standards and requirements governing State regulation of funeral homes and other death care providers. Sets forth deceptive trade practices, including funeral provider practices that: (1) fail to make timely price disclosures regarding funeral goods and services; (2) fail to give an itemized written statement for retention to a purchaser of funeral goods or funeral services at the conclusion of the discussion related to such goods and services and prior to providing any services beyond taking possession of a deceased human body for authorized embalming; (3) make specified misrepresentations; (4) condition goods and services upon the purchase of other goods and services; and (5) provide embalming services without prior approval. Prohibits unsolicited telephone offers or door-to-door direct offers to sell funeral goods, services, crematory services, interment rights, or other cemetery and memorialization goods and services. Sets forth consumer protections with respect to certain cash advance prohibitions and requirements, and preneed and prepaid funeral service transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Children's Vision Improvement and Learning Readiness Act of 2002 - Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to States for the purposes of: (1) providing comprehensive eye examinations for children, with priority to go to children under nine years old; and (2) developing and disseminating educational materials with regard to the need and benefits of comprehensive eye examinations for children. Directs the Secretary to coordinate the grant program, as appropriate, with other Federal and State programs that provide services to children. Prohibits a grant from being made unless the State involved agrees not to make payments from the grant for any item or service for which payment has been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made, with respect to such item or service by an entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis or under any of the following: (1) any State compensation program; (2) an insurance policy; or (3) any Federal or State health benefits program. Requires a State to submit an annual evaluation of the operations and activities carried out under a grant to the Secretary. Requires a State to submit an application to the Secretary in order to receive a grant, which shall include a plan for the use of the grant.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2025
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a demonstration program of student loan forgiveness for highly qualified attorneys who: (1) work for State or local government, or nonprofit private, entities on behalf of low-income families or individuals in the family or domestic relations court systems; and (2) have trained and worked in areas including juvenile justice, truancy, child abuse or neglect, adoption, domestic relations, child support, paternity, or others which State law determines to be in the field of family or domestic relations law.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Stable Transitions in Education for Armed Services' Dependent Youth Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a five-year demonstration program for competitive matching grants to eligible State educational agencies (SEAs) for subgrants to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish and maintain high quality military charter schools as independent public elementary or secondary schools in areas of greatest need. Requires the commander of each military installation served by such a school to establish a nonprofit corporation or an oversight group to provide the applicable LEA with oversight and guidance regarding the day-to-day operations of the school. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award at least four grants in each fiscal year to establish or improve innovative credit enhancement initiatives that assist military charter schools in acquiring, constructing, and renovating facilities. Requires such grants to be made to eligible entities, which may be a public entity such as a military installation, a private nonprofit entity, or a consortium of those two types of entities. Includes among requirements for military charter schools: (1) an admissions policy providing for at least 60 percent and at most 80 percent military dependent students, except where such percentages are impossible to maintain because of the demographics of the area around the military installation; (2) an intensive high-quality program including practices relating to the academic-passport concept to ease transitions for mobile students; and (3) a curriculum aligned with State student performance standards which may incorporate a curriculum from the Department of Defense Education Activity.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2026
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the U.S. admission of aliens supporting international child abductors and relatives of such abductors until the child is surrendered to the legal custodian and such child and custodian are permitted to return to the United States or the custodian's residence. (Currently such prohibition applies to relatives of abductors.) Expands the scope of "relatives" to include cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and grandparents. Includes the spouse of the abducted child within such prohibition. Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) identify inadmissible aliens supporting child abductors and relatives of abductors; and (2) provide notice, upon request, to custodial parents and guardians if such an alien has been authorized to enter the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2025
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to carry out a demonstration program of student loan forgiveness for child welfare workers employed by child protection agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define " major food allergen" as any of the following: milk, eggs, fish, Crustacea, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans. Includes spices, flavorings, colorings, or incidental additives that are or intentionally contain a major food allergen. Requires food that is not a raw agricultural commodity, and that is, or intentionally bears or contains, a major food allergen, to state that information on its label by January 1, 2006. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give priority to increasing the number of inspections under the Act to ensure that foods comply with practices to reduce or eliminate cross-contact with major food allergen residues and to ensure that major food allergens are properly labeled on foods. Sets forth reporting requirements. Requires the Secretary to contract with the Institute of Medicine to conduct a review of the science relating to glutens in food and celiac disease, and to issue a report to the Secretary and Congress on its findings. Directs the Secretary to issue a proposed rule followed by a final rule to define, and permit use of, the term "gluten-free" on the labeling of foods. Directs the Secretary, in the Conference for Food Protection, as part of its cooperative activities between the States under the Public Health Service Act, to pursue certain revisions of the Food Code to provide guidelines for preparing allergen-free foods in food establishments. Requires the Secretary to include assistance relating to the use of different modes of treatment for and prevention of allergic responses to foods when he or she provides technical assistance relating to trauma care and emergency medical services under the Public Health Service Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2025
Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to revise the rule for redistribution and extended availability of FY1998 and 1999 allotments to States, permitting and extending retention of half of the FY 2000 allotment, and permitting and extending retention of half of the FY 2001 allotment.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Safe Highways and Roads Act of 2002 - Amends the Clear Air Act to permit the use of emissions estimates from motor vehicles and necessary emissions reductions contained in a submitted State implementation plan if an approved implementation plan is not available. Deems the estimates adequate if the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency does not act within 90 days. Permits a transportation project to proceed during a conformity lapse of the applicable plan or improvement program if it was included in the first three years of the most recent conforming plan and program and its design concept and scope has not significantly changed. Requires the Administrator to revise criteria and procedures for determining plan, program, and project conformity.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
T'uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area Act - Establishes the T'uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Area (the "Area") within the Cibola National Forest and the Sandia Mountain Wilderness in New Mexico. Recognizes and protects in perpetuity the Pueblo of Sandia's rights and interests in such Area. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary), acting through the Forest Service, to continue to administer the Area as National Forest System lands. Sets forth the rights and interests of the Pueblo in such Area, including free and unrestricted access for traditional and cultural uses (except as they conflict with the Wilderness Act and Federal wildlife protection laws). Requires the United States to compensate the Pueblo as if it held fee title interest in the affected portion if Congress: (1) diminishes the Wilderness and National Forest designation of the Area by authorizing a prohibited use in all or any portion of it; or (2) permanently denies the Pueblo access for any traditional and cultural uses in all or any portion of the Area. Limits the Pueblo's rights and interest in the Area to exclude certain activities, including any right to sell, grant, lease, convey, encumber or exchange lands in the Area. Specifies allocation of criminal and civil jurisdiction over such Area among the Pueblo, New Mexico, and the United States. Extinguishes all Pueblo claims not specifically recognized within this Act. Declares that the Pueblo, the County of Bernalillo, New Mexico, and any person who owns or has owned property inside the exterior boundaries of the Area, and incurred cost as a result of participating in the case of Pueblo of Sandia v. Babbitt, may apply for reimbursement.
United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2025
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation and subject to specified cost-sharing requirements, to provide financial assistance and otherwise participate in the planning, design, and construction of the Yuma East Wetlands Project along the Colorado River in the vicinity of Yuma, Arizona. Lists as project purposes: (1) restoration of wetlands and riparian habitat; (2) revegetation of riparian areas; and (3) providing river access and opportunities for recreation and environmental education. Prohibits the use of Federal funds to pay operation and maintenance costs associated with the Project, except those directly attributable to the responsibilities of the Secretary for long-term environmental restoration on the Colorado River.
United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2025
Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide that any waiver which relates to the provision of assistance under a State TANF plan which would otherwise expire in the period that begins on September 30, 2002, and ends on September 30, 2003, shall expire on the later of the date that is one year after the date the waiver would otherwise expire or one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Foreign Tax Credit Revenue Enhancement Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to state that refunded accrued taxes relating to the foreign tax credit don't need to be redetermined by the Secretary of the Treasury if the refund was a result of a court determination that the imposed tax is unlawful.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 2025
Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2002 - Amends Federal bankruptcy law governing: (1) conversion of bankruptcy petitions; (2) abusive creditor practices; (3) domestic support obligations; (4) consumer protections, including protection of personally identifiable information; (5) measures to discourage bankruptcy abuse, including reduction of the homestead exemption for fraud; (6) guidelines for general and small business bankruptcies, including appointment of a committee of retired employees; (7) bankruptcy data dissemination and bankruptcy tax provisions; (8) ancillary and other cross-border cases to incorporate the Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency; and (9) financial contracts and transfers entered into with an insolvent insured depository institution before its conservatorship or receivership. Reenacts Chapter 12, Adjustment of Debts of a Family Farmer with Regular Annual Income. Brings family fishermen within the purview of Federal bankruptcy protection. Prescribes guidelines for insolvent health care businesses and related patients' rights. Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal Judicial Code to mandate appointments for additional temporary bankruptcy judgeships in designated States. (This provision does not appear in H.R. 5745, as inserted in H.R. 333). Prescribes additional consumer credit disclosures, including open end credit plans and introductory rates.