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Another Voice in the Prescription Drug Debate
Posted by on July 7, 2004
As a doctor and Member of Congress, I am often asked my opinion on the debate on drug reimportation. I have, from the beginning of my time in office, urged my colleagues to use caution and reason when approaching this issue. Several complicated and interconnected issues dominate this situation: trade relations, patient safety, drug costs and government regulation, just to name a few.
Some the House of Representatives believe that if Americans had the ability to purchase their drugs from Canada or Mexico or Europe or Mars that the United States market would adjust to reflect the importation of cheaper medicines. Let us be clear: foreign countries place price controls on their prescription drugs. This means that the drugs purchased by Canadian citizens may be priced lower than that which an American citizen will pay for the same compound because of that government's artificial market intervention. If an American citizen purchases a drug from a Canadian pharmacy, it may be cheaper. But by permitting the reimportation of drugs into this country, we effectively allow the importation of foreign price controls in the United States market as well. This would be shortsighted and run counter to the free market system that is established in this country. If drug reimportation becomes the established policy in this country, the United States would in essence be allowing foreign governments to set the prices for American businesses.
If we truly believe in the power of the free market, we should remove the market distortion of foreign price controls, a market distortion which ensures that America's seniors and America's uninsured pay the highest prices for their medications. And what happens in countries that have adopted price controls? Pharmaceutical companies and biotech companies have left in droves. According to a report by the Directorate General Enterprise of the European Commission, European drug multinationals have increasingly relied on sources of research capabilities and innovation located in the United States. Because of the stranglehold of regulation in European countries, including price controls on pharmaceuticals, Europe is lagging behind in its ability to generate, organize, and sustain innovative processes that are increasingly expensive and organizationally complex. The United States biotech industry in the last decade has had a meteoric rise; but we would place a chill on the industry's development, the number of jobs it creates and the revenue it produces if we allowed foreign drug prices to stymie its growth. More importantly, if we inject foreign drug price controls into the United States, you will see less innovation in this very promising new field of science.
Underlying all of the complex economic and trade issues is one that ultimately impacts us all, and that is patient safety. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) exists to protect American consumers from dangerous substances that may be in the food we eat for nourishment or the pharmaceuticals that we take to cure our ills. Only our FDA in this country can assure the safety of drugs for American citizens.
The FDA investigated in November 2003 four major United States mail facilities and found over 1,700 unreliable reimported drugs. These drugs either had not been approved by the FDA, had been recalled, required special storage conditions, required close physician monitoring or contained addictive controlled substances.
We owe it to every American to ensure their drugs are safe. Americans often take for granted the safety measures in place that have prevented bad drugs from getting to market. Allowing drug reimportation from foreign countries would only be a signal to foreign drug counterfeiters that it is open season on the health and safety of American citizens. Make no mistake; these foreign counterfeiters are very clever. I could relate to you stories from my own medical practice from a few years ago where patients had what might be politely described as therapeutic misadventures by the ingestion of drugs, which were imported, illegally, from Mexico.
I know some will say that we can rely on Canada, but in September 2003, the U.S. Customs Service randomly checked mail shipments of foreign drugs to U.S. customers and found that 88 % of the medications were unapproved. Of those, only 15.8 % of the drugs acquired by Customs came from Canada. The rest were from India, Thailand, the Philippines and other countries.
Others recognize that it is not simply a matter of cost, but of safety. The White House still remains firm against drug reimportation. The Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson understands safety comes first; he has said he will not certify drug reimports as “safe.” And as Chairman of the House Policy Subcommittee on Health, I will continue to stress the need for free market drug pricing and the motto of safety first.
We should remember the admonition of a long-ago physician, to first do no harm. In my duty as the Congressman of the 26th District of Texas, I will heed that advice.
H.Con.Res 410 Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Posted by on July 6, 2004
H.CON.RES.410
Passed 379-0 Burgess voted YES
Title:Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and recognizing the Marshall Islands as a staunch ally of the United States, committed to principles of democracy and freedom for the Pacific region and throughout the world.
Sponsor: Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] (introduced 4/30/2004) Cosponsors: 17
Committees: House International Relations; Senate Foreign Relations
Latest Major Action: 7/12/2004 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
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SUMMARY AS OF:
7/12/2004--Passed Senate, without amendment. (There are 2 other summaries)
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on July 6, 2004. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
States that Congress: (1) recognizes the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and (2) recognizes the Republic of the Marshall Islands as a staunch ally of the United States, committed to principles of democracy and freedom for the Pacific region and throughout the world.
H.R. 4663 - Spending Control Act of 2004
Posted by on June 25, 2004
H.R.4663
Failed 146-268 Burgess voted YES
Title: To amend part C of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to establish discretionary spending limits and a pay-as-you-go requirement for mandatory spending.
Sponsor: Rep Nussle, Jim [IA-1] (introduced 6/23/2004) Cosponsors: (none)
Committees: House Budget
Related Bills: H.RES.692
Latest Major Action: 6/25/2004 Failed of passage/not agreed to in House. Status: On passage Failed by recorded vote: 146 - 268 (Roll no. 318).
H.Res. 691 - Congratulating the Interim Government of Iraq on its forthcoming assumption of sovereign authority in Iraq
Posted by on June 25, 2004
H.RES.691
Passed 352-57 Burgess voted YES
Title:Congratulating the Interim Government of Iraq on its forthcoming assumption of sovereign authority in Iraq.
Sponsor: Rep Hyde, Henry J. [IL-6] (introduced 6/23/2004) Cosponsors: 3
Committees: House International Relations; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/25/2004 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 352 - 57 (Roll no. 319).
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SUMMARY AS OF:
6/25/2004--Passed House, without amendment. (There is 1 other summary)
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
States that the House of Representatives: (1) congratulates the Interim Government of Iraq on its forthcoming assumption of sovereign authority in Iraq; (2) offers its continued support to the people and government of Iraq as they deal with the consequences of decades of misrule by the former regime of Saddam Hussein; (3) expresses its gratitude to the U.S. armed forces for their ongoing valiant service to their country and commitment to the highest ideals and traditions of the American people; (4) expresses its gratitude to the families of U.S. armed forces personnel, especially the families of those who have lost loved ones in Operation Iraqi Freedom and of those wounded in the service of their country; (5) expresses its condolences to the families of the innocent Iraqis who have been killed or wounded during the conflict, including those who were victimized by the illegal and terrorist tactics of the enemy; (6) expresses its gratitude to the Coalition forces, the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Iraqi Governing Council, the current Iraqi cabinet and government officials, and the many international bodies and voluntary organizations which have come to the aid of the people of Iraq; (7) offers its continued support to the U.S. armed forces, civilians associated with the United States Government, Coalition forces, and Iraqi security forces; (8) calls on the international community to promote the welfare of the Iraqi people by rendering, in addition to the generous assistance provided by the American people and, in varying degrees, by some nations, immediate assistance to the Iraqi people in the reconstruction of their nation; (9) reaffirms that the U.S. armed forces operating in Iraq after June 30, 2004, will remain under the full authority and control of their American commanders; and (10) urges the people of the United States and of other countries to celebrate the restoration of Iraqi freedom.
HR 4614 - Appropriations bill FY2005, Energy and Water Development
Posted by on June 25, 2004
H.R.4614
Passed 370-16 Burgess voted YES
Title:Making appropriations for energy and water development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Hobson, David L. [OH-7] (introduced 6/18/2004) Cosponsors: (none)
Committees: House Appropriations; Senate Appropriations
House Reports: 108-554
Related Bills: H.RES.694
Latest Major Action: 7/6/2004 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
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SUMMARY AS OF:
6/25/2004--Passed House, amended. (There are 2 other summaries)
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2005 - Title I: Department of Defense - Civil - Makes FY 2005 appropriations for: (1) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (civil functions of the Department of the Army pertaining to rivers and harbors, flood control, shore protection, and aquatic ecosystem restoration); (2) general investigations (collection and study of basic information pertaining to rivers and harbors, flood control, shore protection, storm damage reduction, and related projects); (3) construction (river and harbor, flood control, shore protection, storm damage reduction, and related projects); (4) flood damage reduction for the Mississippi River alluvial valley below Cape Girardeau, Missouri; (5) operation and maintenance of existing river and harbor, flood and storm damage reduction, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and related projects; (6) administration of laws pertaining to regulation of navigable waters and wetlands; (7) clean up of contamination at U.S. sites resulting from work performed as part of the Nation's early atomic energy program; (8) general administration and related civil works functions in the headquarters of the Corps, the offices of the Division Engineers, the Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity, the Institute for Water Resources, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, and the Corps Finance Center; and (9) the Office of Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).
(Sec. 101) Limits funds for agreements proposed for execution by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works or the Corps under specified project authorities to credits and reimbursements per project not to exceed $10 million in each fiscal year, and total credits and reimbursements for all applicable projects not to exceed $50 million in each fiscal year.
(Sec. 102) Prohibits the use of appropriated funds by the Corps to support activities related to the proposed Ridge Landfill in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
(Sec. 103) Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to demonstrate or implement any plans divesting or transferring any Civil Works responsibilities of the Corps to other Government agencies without specific direction in a subsequent Act of Congress.
(Sec. 104) Prohibits the use of appropriated funds by the Corps to support activities related to the proposed Indian Run Sanitary Landfill in Sandy Township, Stark County, Ohio.
Title II: Department of the Interior - Makes FY 2005 appropriations for: (1) activities authorized by the Central Utah Project Completion Act, with specified funds deposited into the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Account; (2) the Bureau of Reclamation; (3) management, development, and restoration of water and related natural resources and related activities, including participation in fulfilling related Federal responsibilities to Native Americans; (4) programs, plans, habitat restoration, and acquisition provisions of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act; and (5) policy and administration in the Office of the Commissioner, the Denver office, and offices in the five regions of the Bureau.
(Sec. 201) Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to determine the final point of discharge for the interceptor drain for the San Luis Unit until the Secretary of the Interior and the State of California have developed a plan which conforms to California water quality standards approved by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in order to minimize any detrimental effect of the San Luis drainage waters. Declares that the costs of the Keterson Reservoir Cleanup Program and the San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program shall be classified as reimbursable or nonreimbursable and collected until fully repaid. Makes any future obligations by the United States relating to drainage for that Unit fully reimbursable by Unit beneficiaries pursuant to Federal reclamation law.
(Sec. 202) Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to pay the salaries and expenses of personnel to purchase or lease water in the Middle Rio Grande or the Carlsbad Projects in New Mexico unless such purchase or lease complies with specified statutory purchase requirements.
Title III: Department of Energy - Makes FY 2005 appropriations for: (1) the Department of Energy (DOE) for the purchase, construction, and acquisition of plant and capital equipment, and other expenses necessary for energy supply activities in carrying out the purposes of the Department of Energy Organization Act, including the acquisition or condemnation of real property and the purchase of up to nine passenger motor vehicles for replacement and one ambulance; (2) the purchase, construction, and acquisition of plant and capital equipment and other expenses necessary for non-defense environmental management site acceleration completion activities; (3) uranium enrichment facility decontamination and decommissioning, remedial actions, and other specified activities; (4) non-defense environmental services activities that indirectly support the accelerated cleanup and closure mission at environmental management sites; (5) science activities; (6) salaries and expenses for departmental administration, including the hire of passenger motor vehicles and official reception and representation expenses, subject to specified limitations; and (7) the Office of Inspector General.
Makes FY 2005 appropriations for: (1) the purchase, construction, and acquisition of plant and capital equipment and other incidental expenses necessary for atomic energy defense weapons activities; (2) such expenses for atomic energy defense nuclear nonproliferation activities; (3) naval reactors; (4) the Office of the Administrator in the National Nuclear Security Administration; (5) atomic energy defense site acceleration completion activities; (6) defense-related environmental services activities; (7) atomic energy defense, other defense activities, and classified activities; and (8) nuclear waste disposal activities, including the acquisition of real property or facility construction or expansion (i.e., the Yucca Mountain nuclear repository).
Makes FY 2005 appropriations for: (1) the Bonneville Power Administration Fund; (2) operation and maintenance of power transmission facilities and marketing electric power and energy, subject to specified funding for the Southeastern, Southwestern, and Western Area Power Administrations; (3) operation, maintenance, and emergency costs for the hydroelectric facilities at the Falcon and Amistad Dams; and (4) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
(Sec. 301) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated for FY 2005 or any previous fiscal year to make payments for a "noncompetitive management and operating contract" (i.e., a contract that was awarded more than 50 years ago without competition for the management and operation of Ames Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory) unless the Secretary of Energy has published in the Federal Register and submitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees a written notification, with respect to each such contract, of the Secretary's decision to use competitive procedures for the award of the contract, or to not renew the contract, when the term of the contract expires. Makes this provision inapplicable to an extension for up to two years of a noncompetitive management and operating contract, if the extension is for purposes of allowing time to award competitively a new contract, to provide continuity of service between contracts, or to complete a contract that will not be renewed.
Prohibits, for all management and operating contracts other than those listed above, the use of appropriated funds to award a management and operating contract, or a significant extension or expansion to an existing management and operating contract, unless such contract is awarded using competitive procedures or the Secretary of Energy grants a waiver (on a case-by-case basis) to allow for such a deviation. Prohibits the Secretary from delegating the authority to grant such a waiver. Requires the Secretary to report to the congressional Appropriations Committees at least 60 days before a contract award for which the Secretary intends to grant such a waiver, notifying them of the waiver and setting forth, in specificity, the substantive reasons why the Secretary believes the requirement for competition should be waived for this particular award.
(Sec. 302) Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to: (1) develop or implement a workforce restructuring plan that covers DOE employees; or (2) provide enhanced severance payments or other benefits for DOE employees under the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1993 (NDAA).
(Sec. 303) Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to augment the funds made available for obligation by this or any other appropriations Act for FY 2005 or any previous fiscal year for severance payments and other benefits and community assistance grants under NDAA unless DOE submits a reprogramming request subject to approval by the appropriate congressional committees.
(Sec. 304) Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to prepare or initiate Requests For Proposals for a program that has not been funded by Congress.
(Sec. 305) Allows: (1) the unexpended balances of prior appropriations provided for activities in this Act to be transferred to appropriation accounts for such activities established pursuant to this title; and (2) balances so transferred to be merged with funds in the applicable established accounts and thereafter accounted for as one fund for the same time period as originally enacted.
(Sec. 306) Denies the use of any funds for the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration to enter into any agreement to perform energy efficiency services outside the Bonneville service territory without certification that such services are not available from private sector businesses (except services provided internationally).
(Sec. 307) Directs DOE to ensure broad public notice of the availability of a user facility, and to employ open competition in selecting a partner for such a facility.
(Sec. 308) Permits the Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration to authorize the manager of a covered nuclear weapons research, development, testing, or production facility to engage in research, development, and demonstration activities with respect to the engineering and manufacturing capabilities at such facility, to maintain and enhance its capabilities. Provides that no more than two percent of the amount allocated each fiscal year for national security programs to a "covered nuclear weapons facility" (i.e., the Kansas City Plant, Kansas City, Missouri; the Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; the Pantex Plant, Amarillo, Texas; the Savannah River Plant, South Carolina; and the Nevada Test Site) may be used for these activities.
(Sec. 309) Deems funds appropriated by this or any other Act, or made available by the transfer of funds in this Act, for intelligence activities to be specifically authorized by Congress for purposes of the National Security Act of 1947 during FY 2005 until the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2005.
(Sec. 310) Prohibits the use of funds to select a site for a Modern Pit Facility during FY 2005.
(Sec. 311) Prohibits the use of funds to finance laboratory directed research and development activities at DOE laboratories on behalf of other Federal agencies.
(Sec. 312) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to use any license, approval, or authorization for the export, re-export, transfer, or re-transfer of nuclear materials and equipment or sensitive nuclear technology, and nuclear-related items on the Commerce Control List, to any country whose government has been identified by the Secretary of State as engaged in state sponsorship of terrorist activities, with exceptions and subject to waivers under specified circumstances.
Title IV: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 2005 for: (1) the Appalachian Regional Commission; (2) the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board; (3) Delta Regional Authority; (4) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (5) the Office of the Inspector General; and (6) the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
Title V: General Provisions - (Sec. 501) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated by this Act to influence congressional action on legislation or appropriation matters pending before Congress, with exceptions.
(Sec. 502) Prohibits the transfer of funds made available in this Act to any instrumentality of the Government, except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this or any other appropriation Act.
(Sec. 503) States that none of the funds made available in this Act may be used to deny requests for the public release of the following documents or evidence obtained through or in the Western Energy Markets: (1) Enron Investigation; (2) the California Refund case; (3) the Anomalous Bidding Investigation, or (4) the Physical Withholding Investigation.
Texas Business Group Honors Rep. Burgess for Pro-Job Votes
Posted by Michelle Stein on June 24, 2004
Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess was selected as a Federal Fighter for Free Enterprise award by the Texas Association of Business (TAB). The award, the first from TAB, recognizes 17 Texas lawmakers who consistently voted for a pro-job, pro-Texas agenda in the first session of the 108th Congress.
“Congressman Burgess is an exceptional lawmaker who understands the concerns of employers," said TAB President Bill Hammond. "Everyday, he supports pro-employer legislation that has led to new jobs created, economic growth and greater opportunities for Texans."
TAB has traditionally limited the Fighter for Free Enterprise award to state legislators, but is expanding it to include Texas congressional leaders who represent the best in Texas—those who are committed to creating more good paying jobs and who fight the good fight on key issues like tax relief, trade and health care reform. The scoring is based on how Members of Congress from Texas voted on a wide spectrum of business issues and was assessed by three national groups in which TAB is an active member and who have a presence in Washington, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Federation of Independent Business.
“I am honored to receive this award for my pro-job votes in Congress,” replied Rep. Michael Burgess upon hearing the news of the award. “Promoting a health economy, career growth and free enterprise is one of my main objectives in Congress.”
“This scorecard gives Texans a clear idea where lawmakers stand on the issues that matter most to Texas employers and their employees,” said Hammond.
Among the key votes counted were votes approving the $350 billion Jobs and Growth Tax Relief package, the Singapore and Chile free trade agreements, and the most sweeping overhaul of Medicare since the program's creation in 1965.
H.Res. 676 - Recognizing and honoring the 40th anniversary of congressional passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Posted by on June 24, 2004
H.RES.676
Passed 414-1 Burgess voted YES
Title:Recognizing and honoring the 40th anniversary of congressional passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Sponsor: Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] (introduced 6/15/2004) Cosponsors: 43
Committees: House Judiciary; House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2004 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 1 (Roll no. 304).
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SUMMARY AS OF:
6/24/2004--Passed House, without amendment. (There is 1 other summary)
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Recognizes and honors the 40th anniversary of passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
H.R. 4635 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part III
Posted by on June 23, 2004
H.R.4635
Passed 418-0 Burgess voted YES
Title:To provide an extension of highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a law reauthorizing the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.
Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 6/22/2004) Cosponsors: 3
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Ways and Means; House Resources; House Science
Latest Major Action: 6/30/2004 Became Public Law No: 108-263 [Text, PDF]
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SUMMARY AS OF:
6/30/2004--Public Law. (There are 3 other summaries)
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part III - Amends the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003 to extend through July 31, 2004, authorizations for Federal highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, and Federal transit programs.
(Sec. 2) Extends the off-system bridge set-aside through July 31, 2004.
Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) to extend to July 31, 2004, certain advanced authorizations from the Highway Trust Fund.
Revises the amount of obligation limitation that is to be distributed by the Secretary of Transportation.
Sets a cap upon the total amount of obligation authority distributed through July 31, 2004.
Prohibits a State from obligating after July 31, 2004, any funds for any Federal-aid highway program project until the date of enactment of a law reauthorizing the Federal-aid highway program.
(Sec. 3) Amends the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003 to make specified funds available from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) for administrative expenses of the Federal-aid highway program for FY 2004.
(Sec. 4) Amends TEA-21 to extend through July, 31, 2004, the authorization of appropriations under TEA-21 for: (1) Federal lands highways (Indian reservation roads, public lands highways, park roads and parkways, and refuge roads); (2) national corridor planning and development and coordinated border infrastructure programs; (3) construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities (including set-asides for such projects that are a part of the National Highway System in Alaska, New Jersey, and Washington State); (4) the national scenic byways program; (5) the value pricing pilot program; (6) highway use tax evasion projects; (7) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Highway Program; (8) safety grants; (9) the transportation and community and system preservation pilot program; (10) transportation infrastructure finance and innovation; (11) surface transportation research; (12) the technology deployment program; (13) training and education; (14) the Bureau of Transportation Statistics; (15) Intermodal Transportation System standards, research, operational tests, development, and deployment; (16) university transportation research; (17) metropolitan planning; (18) the Territories of Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; (19) the Alaska highway program; (20) Operation Lifesaver; (21) the bridge discretionary program; (22) interstate maintenance; (23) recreational trails administrative costs; and (24) railway-highway crossing hazard elimination in high speed rail corridors.
Extends through July 31, 2004, the authorization of appropriations for skills training and on-the-job training to implement a specified nondiscrimination program.
(Sec. 5) Extends through July 31, 2004, the authorization of appropriations for highway safety programs, including: (1) seat belt safety incentive grants; and (2) prevention of intoxicated driver incentive grants.
(Sec. 6) Amends the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act to extend funding for the National Outreach and Communications Program through July 31, 2004. Extends through the same date the authorization of apportionments for qualified projects under the Clean Vessel Act of 1972.
Amends Federal maritime law to increase the authorization of appropriations for personnel and activities expenses of the Coast Guard directly related to the national recreational boating safety program.
(Sec. 7) Extends through July 31, 2004, the authorization of allocations and apportionments for Federal transit programs, including: (1) fixed guideway modernization (earmarking amounts to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities); (2) formula grants (earmarking amounts for the Alaska Railroad for improvements to its passenger operations, bus and bus facilities grants, transportation services to elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities, financial assistance for urbanized areas and other than urbanized areas, and intercity, fixed route over-the-road bus service); (3) capital programs; (4) planning; (5) research (earmarking amounts for rural transportation assistance, transit cooperative research programs, the National Transit Institute, and national planning and research programs), including university transportation research; (6) carrying out certain administrative provisions by the Secretary of Transportation; (7) the job access and reverse commute program; (8) the rural transportation accessibility incentive program; (9) urbanized area formula grants; (10) the fuel cell bus and bus facilities program; (11) the advanced technology pilot project; (12) projects for new fixed guideway systems and extensions to existing systems; and (13) the New Jersey urban core project.
(Sec. 8) Amends TEA-21 to extend through July 31, 2004, the authorization of appropriations for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration programs, including: (1) certain highway safety programs; (2) highway safety research and development (R&D); (3) occupant protection incentive grants; (4) alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures incentive grants; and (5) the National Driver Register.
(Sec. 9) Amends the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003 to extend through July 31, 2004, the authorization of appropriations for: (1) administrative expenses of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; (2) the motor carrier safety assistance program; (3) information systems and commercial driver's license grants; and (4) continuation of a crash causation study.
(Sec. 10) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend until August 1, 2004, the authorization for the use of the HTF and the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, including the sport fish restoration account and the boat safety account.
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