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Year-End Report
H.Res.558 - Welcoming the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and for other purposes.
Posted by on March 29, 2004
H.Res.558 Welcoming the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and for other purposes. Vote: 422-2 Burgess voted YES Title:Welcoming the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bereuter, Doug [NE-1] (introduced 3/11/2004) Cosponsors: 20 Committees: House International Relations Latest Major Action: 3/30/2004 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 422 - 2 (Roll no. 99). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 3/30/2004--Passed House, amended. States that the House of Representatives: (1) welcomes the accession of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); (2) reaffirms that NATO's enlargement enhances United States and North Atlantic area security; (3) agrees that NATO's enlargement should be open to membership by any European democracy that meets NATO membership criteria and whose admission would further the principles of the Washington Treaty of 1949 and enhance North Atlantic area security; and (4) recommends that NATO heads of state and government, meeting in Istanbul on June 28 and 29, 2004, should review the enlargement process, including the applications of Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia, at a summit meeting to be held no later than 2007.
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Rep. Burgess Votes on Budget to Strengthen Economy and Lower Deficit
Posted by Michelle Stein on March 25, 2004
Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) today voted in favor of the House Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 Budget Resolution (H.Con.Res. 393). The FY 05 Budget strengthens our national security, grows our economy and creates opportunity for every American—all while maintaining strict fiscal control. Specifically, the House budget demonstrates Republicans' commitment to our troops by increasing defense spending by 7.1 percent and increases Department of Homeland Security funding by 9.5 percent over last year. It also allows for up to $50 billion for our continuing efforts to establish peace and democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House budget cuts the deficit in half in four years by focusing on Americans’ priorities and spending funds wisely. As a fiscal conservative, Congressman Burgess supports a return to a balanced budget as soon as possible. The FY 2005 House Budget Resolution continues to support policies that promote job creation and economic growth. It assures that there are no tax increases for American families over the next five years by preserving the expiring tax relief provisions from the President's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. These tax cuts translate to extra dollars for families to spend or to invest in our growing economy. Additionally, this bill will keep at-bay job-destroying tax increases. It also provides for House-passed tax legislation that encourages charitable giving. Through continued funding of health care, education, senior retirement programs, veterans’ benefits and other important programs, the budget demonstrates our commitment to a better life for all Americans. Specifically, the budget increases total veterans spending by $1.2 billion beyond the President's request in fiscal year 2005. Congress has increased funding for veterans’ needs by nearly 50 percent in just the last five years and increased funding for veterans’ medical needs by 75% since 1995. “I worked diligently to increase the funds dedicated to veterans in the budget resolution,” stated Congressman Michael Burgess, “We must never forget the dedication and sacrifices of our veterans. This bill is a step in the right direction, but we must do more.” Additionally, the House Budget Resolution creates special deficit-neutral reserve funds to help manage legislative initiatives to provide health insurance for the uninsured, health insurance for disabled children and survivor benefits for widows of retired military. As is typical in the budget process, several individual groups set forth their alternative budgets. The Republican Study Committee’s (RSC) alternative would reduce Non-Security Discretionary spending by 1% compared to last year's level (savings of approximately $6.1 billion in the first year); reduce the rate of growth of non-Social Security mandatory spending by 1%, entitlement programs could be exempted (a savings of approximately $7.7 billion in the first year compared to the Budget Committee); create "Family Budget Protection Accounts" that allow Congress to redirect savings achieved during the appropriations process or by formula changes to tax relief or deficit reduction at the end of the fiscal year; and express the Sense of Congress regarding overall Budget Process Reform. Congressman Michael Burgess voted in favor of the stronger RSC budget which would have sped-up the process for lowering the deficit, but ultimately, the RSC plans did not pass. “I was hopeful that the RSC budget, which brought aggressive ideas to fiscal discipline, deficit reduction and budget process reform would pass,” commented Rep. Burgess. “In the end, I believe the budget, as passed, is sound policy and will ultimately balance the budget and lower our national deficit. We are moving in the right direction.”
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H.R. 3786 - Bureau of Engraving and Printing Security Printing Act of 2004
Posted by on March 25, 2004
H.R. 3786 To authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to produce currency, postage stamps, and other security documents at the request of foreign governments on a reimbursable basis. Vote: 422-2 Burgess voted YES Title:To authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to produce currency, postage stamps, and other security documents at the request of foreign governments on a reimbursable basis. Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (by request) (introduced 2/10/2004) Cosponsors: 1 Committees: House Financial Services; Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/29/2004 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 3/25/2004--Passed House, without amendment. ( (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Bureau of Engraving and Printing Security Printing Act of 2004 - (Sec. 2) Amends Federal monetary law relating to engraving and printing currency and security documents to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to produce currency, postage stamps, and other security documents for foreign governments if: (1) the Secretary determines that such production will not interfere with engraving and printing needs of the United States; and (2) the Secretary of State determines that such production would be consistent with the foreign policy of the United States. (Sec. 3) Sets forth procurement and reimbursement guidelines.
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H.R. 2993 - District of Columbia and United States Territories Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act
Posted by on March 25, 2004
H.R. 2993 To provide for a circulating quarter dollar coin program to honor the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes. Vote: 411-14 Burgess voted YES Title:To provide for a circulating quarter dollar coin program to honor the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] (introduced 9/3/2003) Cosponsors: 6 Committees: House Financial Services; Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Latest Major Action: 3/29/2004 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 3/25/2004--Passed House, without amendment. (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) District of Columbia and United States Territories Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act - Amends Federal law to provide for the issuance of redesigned quarter dollars in 2009 honoring the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Prohibits such design from bearing the head and shoulders portrait or bust of any person, living or dead, or any portrait of a living person. Provides for: (1) flexibility of inscription placement; (2) design selection by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with the chief executive of the District of Columbia or the Territory, and the Commission of Fine Arts, and review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee; (3) treatment as numismatic items; (4) participation by District or territorial officials, artists from the District of Columbia or Territory, engravers of the United States Mint, and members of the general public; and (5) issuance as silver coins.
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H.Con.Res.393 - Budget Appropriations, FY2005 resolution (identified by CRS)
Posted by on March 25, 2004
H.Con.Res.393 Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2005 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2004 and 2006 through 2009. FINAL VOTE: 215-212 Burgess voted YES *Spratt of South Carolina Substitute Amendment, as Modified FAILED BY A VOTE OF 194-232 Burgess voted NO *Hensarling of Texas Substitute Amendment FAILED BY A VOTE OF 116-309 Burgess voted YES *Stenholm of Texas Substitute Amendment FAILED BY A VOTE OF 183-243 Burgess voted NO *Cummings of Maryland Substitute Amendment FAILED BY A VOTE OF 119-302 Burgess voted NO Title:Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2005 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2004 and 2006 through 2009. Sponsor: Rep Nussle, Jim [IA-1] (introduced 3/19/2004) Cosponsors: (none) Committees: House Budget House Reports: 108-441 Related Bills: H.RES.574, S.CON.RES.95 Latest Major Action: 3/25/2004 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 215 - 212 (Roll no. 92). Note: On 3/29/2004, the House inserted the provisions of H.Con.Res. 393 in S.Con.Res. 95 and agreed to S.Con.Res. 95. See S.Con.Res. 95 for further action. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 3/25/2004--Passed House, without amendment. (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) Sets forth the congressional budget for the Government for FY 2005, including the appropriate budgetary levels for FY 2004 and for FY 2006 through 2009. Title I: Recommended Levels and Amounts - (Sec. 101) Lists recommended budgetary levels and amounts for FY 2004 through 2009 with respect to: (1) Federal revenues; (2) new budget authority; (3) budget outlays; (4) deficits (on-budget); (5) debt subject to limit; and (6) debt held by the public. (Sec. 102) Lists the appropriate levels of new budget authority and outlays for specified major functional categories for FY 2004 through 2009. Title II: Reconciliation and Report Submission - (Sec. 201) Requires recommendations of changes in law within its jurisdiction sufficient to reduce revenues and increase or reduce (as indicated) the total level of outlays by specified amounts to the House Committee on the Budget by the following Committees: (1) Agriculture; (2) Education and the Workforce; (3) Energy and Commerce; (4) Government Reform; and (5) Ways and Means. Requires the House Committee on the Budget to report to the House a reconciliation bill carrying out all such recommendations without any substantive revision. Requires the House Committee on Ways and Means to report a budget reconciliation bill that consists of changes in laws within its jurisdiction sufficient to reduce revenues by not more than $13.182 billion for FY 2005 and by not more than $137.580 billion for FY 2005 through 2009. Provides that if such reconciliation bill does not increase the deficit for such fiscal years above the permitted levels, the chairman of the House Committee on the Budget (Chairman) may revise the reconciliation instructions to permit the Committee on Ways and Means to increase the level of direct spending outlays, make conforming adjustments to the revenue instruction to decrease the reduction in revenues, and make conforming changes in allocations to the Committee on Ways and Means and in budget aggregates. (Sec. 202) Requires the House Committee on Armed Services to report to the House Budget Committee on its findings that identify $2 billion in savings from activities determined to be a low priority to the successful execution of current military operations, or to be wasteful or unnecessary to national defense. Requires the identified funds to be reallocated to programs and activities that directly contribute to enhancing the combat capabilities of the U.S. military forces with an emphasis on force protection, munitions, and surveillance capabilities. Directs the Chairman to insert the report by the Committee on Armed Services in the Congressional Record by May 21, 2004. Title III: Reserve Funds and Contingency Procedure - Subtitle A: Reserve Funds for Legislation Assumed in Budget Aggregates - (Sec. 301) Authorizes the Chairman, if the House reports legislation that provides health insurance for the uninsured, to make the appropriate adjustments in allocations and aggregates to the extent such measure is deficit neutral in FY 2005 and for FY 2005 through 2009. (Sec. 302) Authorizes the Chairman, if the Committee on Energy and Commerce reports legislation that provides medicaid coverage for children with special needs (the Family Opportunity Act), to make the appropriate adjustments in allocations and aggregates to the extent such measure is deficit neutral in FY 2005 and for FY 2005 through 2009. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the Chairman, if the Committee on Armed Services reports legislation that increases survivors' benefits under the Military Survivors' Benefit Plan, to make the appropriate adjustments in allocations and aggregates to the extent such measure is deficit neutral resulting from a change other than to discretionary appropriations in FY 2005 and for FY 2005 through 2009. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the Chairman, for any bill, including a bill that provides for the safe importation of FDA-approved prescription drugs or places limits on medical malpractice litigation, that has passed the House in the first session of the 108th Congress and, after the adoption of this resolution, is acted on by the Senate, enacted by Congress, and presented to the President, to make the appropriate adjustments in the allocations and aggregates to reflect any resulting savings from any such measure. Subtitle B: Contingency Procedure - (Sec. 311) Authorizes the Chairman, if the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reports legislation that provides new budget authority for accounts in the highway transit categories in specified amounts and the amount of excess is offset by reductions in mandatory outlays from the Highway Trust Fund or an increase in receipts appropriated to such Fund, to revise committee allocations, aggregates, and allocations of budget authority and outlays in this resolution by the amount provided in such legislation. Authorizes the Chairman to increase the allocation of outlays and appropriate aggregates for FY 2004 or 2005 for a House Committee by the amount of outlays corresponding to such obligation limitations if such committee reports legislation establishing obligation limitations in excess of $40.116 billion for FY 2004 or $41.204 billion for FY 2005 but an amount up to such limit was offset under this subtitle for programs, projects, and activities within the highway and transit categories, and if legislation has been enacted that satisfies specified conditions of this subtitle. Title IV: Budget Enforcement - (Sec. 401) Sets forth prohibitions on advance appropriations in the House. Allows advance appropriations for FY 2006 or 2007 for specified accounts identified in the joint explanatory statement accompanying this resolution, but only in an aggregate of up to $23.568 billion in new budget authority. (Sec. 402) States that if legislation is reported that makes supplemental appropriations for FY 2005 for contingency operations related to the global war on terrorism, or for any emergency requirements, then the resulting new budget authority, new entitlement authority, outlays, and receipts shall not count for certain purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 for the provisions of such measure that are designated as making appropriations for such contingency operations. Requires the committee report and any accompanying managers' statement, if legislation is designated as an emergency requirement, to explain the manner in which it meets specified emergency criteria, including a threat to life, property, or the national security that is sudden, quick, unforeseen, unpredictable, and temporary in nature. Requires the committee to cause the explanation to be printed in the Congressional Record in advance of floor consideration if such legislation is to be considered by the House without being reported. Deems an emergency that is part of an aggregate level of anticipated emergencies, particularly when normally estimated in advance, as not unforeseen. (Sec. 403) Requires all House budgetary legislation, as well as the joint explanatory statement accompanying the conference report on any concurrent resolution on the budget, to include in its estimated levels of new budget authority and total outlays, or allocations, any discretionary amounts provided for the Social Security Administration. Title V: Sense of the House - (Sec. 501) Expresses the sense of the House that, in order to enact legislation to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse to ensure the efficient use of taxpayer dollars, authorizing committees should actively engage in oversight utilizing: (1) the plans and goals submitted by executive agencies pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993; and (2) the performance evaluations submitted by such agencies (that are based upon the Program Assessment Rating Tool which is designed to improve agency performance). Expresses the sense of the House that: (1) all Federal programs should be periodically reauthorized and funding for unauthorized programs should be level-funded in FY 2005 unless there is a compelling justification; (2) committees should submit written justifications for earmarks and should consider not funding those most egregiously inconsistent with national policy; (3) the FY 2005 budget resolution should be vigorously enforced and legislation should be enacted establishing statutory limits on appropriations and a PAY-AS-YOU-GO rule for new and expanded entitlement programs; and (4) Congress should make every effort to offset nonwar-related supplemental appropriations. (Sec. 502) Expresses the sense of the House that authorizing committees should: (1) systematically review all means-tested entitlement programs and track beneficiary participation across programs and time; (2) enact legislation to develop common eligibility requirements for such programs, accurately rename them, and coordinate program benefits in order to limit to a reasonable period of time the Government dependency of means-tested entitlement program participants; (3) evaluate the costs of, and justifications for, nonmeans-tested, nonretirement-related entitlement programs; and (4) identify and utilize resources that have conducted cost-benefit analyses of participants in multiple means- and nonmeans-tested entitlement programs to understand their cumulative costs and collective benefits.
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Rep. Burgess Addresses Key North Texas Transportation Needs in Mark-Up
Posted by Michelle Stein on March 24, 2004
Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, the only Texas Republican Congressman on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, considered the six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill (H.R. 3550) during the full committee mark-up. The committee substituted a 900-page "manager's amendment" for the introduced bill and then considered committee members’ amendments. The manager's amendment downsized the bill by about $100 billion to $275 billion moving it closer in-line with the transportation reauthorization proposals of the Senate ($318 billion) and the White House ($259 billion). Congressman Michael Burgess continued his lobbying efforts to ensure that North Texas receives much-needed transportation dollars. Several key concepts Burgess stressed during committee negotiations were included in the manager’s amendment. Title I, Section 1501 includes his concept of the RAPID Act (H.R. 2864), which allows highways to be constructed in commonsense increments as they are needed by streamlining the design-build process. Introduced with Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Congressman’s “Borders-Corridors” legislation (H.R. 2220) and concepts, which provides allocations to states and metropolitan planning organizations for constructing corridors of national significance, economic growth, and international or interregional trade was included in Title I, Sections 1301 and 1302. Currently, Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s SHARE legislation, which works to bring a higher rate of return on transportation dollars for donor states like Texas, is still being debated amongst House and Committee Leadership. Congressman Burgess is working with both House and Committee Leadership to ensure Texas receives its fair share by imposing a 95% rate of return. “The United States has benefited greatly from having a strong transportation network, but we are approaching a crossroads,” stated Congressman Michael Burgess. “I hope that our work on transportation reauthorization is one step closer to finding solutions to this impending problem. I believe H.R. 3550 is bringing us closer to our policy goals in North Texas to achieve our region’s goal of efficient, seamless transportation corridors and combat congestion.” Congressman Burgess was successful in securing three New Starts transit designations for North Texas until Title III, Section 3037. The designations include Denton County Transportation Authority, Fixed Guideway Project; Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Beltline to DFW Airport; and Fort Worth Trinity Railway Express Commuter Rail Extension. Rep. Michael Burgess has several key District priority projects included in the committee’s bill which total over $45 million for North Texas. From committee, the bill will go to the House floor for a vote and then onto a conference committee where a final bill will be finalized. All projects and bill language are subject to change. Project Descriptions - Dollars *Widen from 4 to 6 lanes I-35E from Lake Lewisville to Loop 288 $14 million *Widen US 380 West from 2 to 4 lanes from the Denton, Texas city limits to western Denton County line $5 million *Relocation of FM 156 at Alliance Airport $5 million *Add shoulders to FM 156 from Ponder, Texas to Krum, Texas $4 million *Widening FM 423 $8 million *SH 114/SH 170 in South Denton County $2.5 million *SH 114/SH 121 “Funnel Project” – Preliminary Engineering Study $4 million *Tower 55 CMAQ Congestion and Preliminary Engineering Study (in coordination with Congresswoman Kay Granger) $2.5 million *FM 2499, Section 4 $1 million *Improvements to I-35E/I-635 Interchange $1 million
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H.R. 3926 - Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act
Posted by on March 24, 2004
H.R. 3926 To amend the Public Health Service Act to promote organ donation, and for other purposes. Vote: 414-2 Burgess voted YES Title:To amend the Public Health Service Act to promote organ donation, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bilirakis, Michael [FL-9] (introduced 3/10/2004) Cosponsors: 8 Committees: House Energy and Commerce Latest Major Action: 4/5/2004 Became Public Law No: 108-216 [Text, PDF] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 3/10/2004--Introduced. Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award: (1) grants for reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses and incidental nonmedical expenses incurred by individuals toward making living organ donations; (2) peer reviewed grants, or enter into contracts, for studies and demonstration projects to increase organ donation and recovery rates; (3) grants to States for organ donor awareness, public education and outreach activities, and programs designed to increase the number of organ donors within the State; and (4) matching grants to qualified organ procurement organizations and hospitals to establish programs coordinating organ donation activities to increase the rate of organ donations for such hospitals. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish a public education program to increase awareness about organ donation and the need to provide for an adequate rate of donation; (2) support the development and dissemination of educational materials to inform health care professionals about organ, tissue, and eye donation issues; and (3) report on the ethical implications of proposals to increase cadaveric donation. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to: (1) develop scientific evidence supporting increased donation and improved recovery, preservation, and transportation of donated organs; and (2) support research and dissemination of findings to develop a uniform clinical vocabulary, apply technology to support organ procurement organizations, enhance the skills of the organ procurement workforce, and assess specific organ recovery, preservation, and transportation technologies. Authorizes the Secretary to establish mechanisms to evaluate the long-term effects associated with living organ donations.
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H.Res. 522 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there is a critical need to increase awareness and education about heart disease and the risk factors of heart disease among women.
Posted by on March 24, 2004
H.Res. 522 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there is a critical need to increase awareness and education about heart disease and the risk factors of heart disease among women. Vote: 420-0 Burgess voted YES (BURGESS IS AN ORIGINAL COSPONSOR) Title:Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there is a critical need to increase awareness and education about heart disease and the risk factors of heart disease among women. Sponsor: Rep Snyder, Vic [AR-2] (introduced 2/10/2004) Cosponsors: 58 Committees: House Energy and Commerce House Reports: 108-440 Latest Major Action: 3/24/2004 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): 420 - 0 (Roll no. 77). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 3/24/2004--Passed House, without amendment. (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Declares the sense of the House of Representatives that there is a critical need to increase awareness and education about heart disease and the risk factors for heart disease among women. Commends First Lady Laura Bush and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in their vital campaign to raise public awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of American women. Recognizes that the more women become cognizant of the scourge of heart disease and how to prevent it, the more likely they can make sound lifestyle changes to help reduce their chances of getting heart disease.
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H.R. 3873 - Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act
Posted by on March 24, 2004
H.R. 3873 To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide children with access to food and nutrition assistance, to simplify program operations, to improve children's nutritional health, and to restore the integrity of child nutrition programs, and for other purposes. Vote: 419-5 Burgess voted YES Title:To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide children with access to food and nutrition assistance, to simplify program operations, to improve children's nutritional health, and to restore the integrity of child nutrition programs, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] (introduced 3/2/2004) Cosponsors: 49 Committees: House Education and the Workforce; Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry House Reports: 108-445 Latest Major Action: 3/25/2004 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 3/24/2004--Passed House, amended. Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to reauthorize various programs, including the national school lunch and breakfast, child and adult care food, after-school snack, summer food service, and special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). Revises requirements relating to eligibility for and access to such programs. Title I: Ensuring Access to Child Nutrition Programs - (Sec. 101) Reauthorizes, without any termination date, the exclusion of military housing allowances from consideration as income in determining eligibility for free or reduced price lunches. (Sec. 102) Includes as automatically eligible for free lunches and breakfasts, provided documentation has been provided to the local educational agency (LEA): (1) children or youth defined as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; (2) youth served under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act; and (3) a migratory child as defined under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). (Sec. 103) Includes as eligible for severe need assistance additional payments, under the school breakfast program of CNA, those new schools drawing their attendance from schools receiving such assistance. Entitles schools eligible for such assistance to receive a specified meal reimbursement rate. (Repeals the entitlement of such schools to the lesser of such meal reimbursement rate or their breakfast program operating costs.) (Sec. 104) Extends through FY 2008 the summer food pilot projects and the summer food service program for children. Allows nonprofit organizations to participate in such programs. Makes eligible for such programs, in additional to States already meeting certain criteria, the three States with the highest percentage of households determined annually by the Secretary to be food insecure with hunger. (Sec. 105) Revises the child and adult care food program. Extends indefinitely the period during which private day care providers with at least 25 percent of served children eligible for free and reduced price lunch are eligible to participate. Extends, from three years to five years, the period of a tier classification of a family or group day care home. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary) to issue regulations requiring States to develop and use a standard form of agreement between each family or group day care sponsoring organization and the family or group day care homes participating in the program. Extends through FY 2006 the period during which the Secretary is required to reserve funds for providing training and technical assistance to States to improve program management and oversight. Authorizes the Secretary or a State agency to disregard any overpayment to an institution if the total overpayment does not exceed a collection cost amount consistent with other disregards, except where there is evidence of a violation of criminal law or civil fraud law. Increases from 12 to 18 the maximum age of children eligible to be served program meals while residing at emergency shelters. Directs the Secretary, in conjunction with States and participating institutions, to examine the feasibility of reducing paperwork under the program. (Sec. 106) Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a research organization to collect and disseminate a review of best practices to assist schools in addressing existing impediments at the State and local level that hinder the growth of the school breakfast program. Requires the review to describe model breakfast programs and offer recommendations for schools to overcome obstacles, such as length of school day, bus schedules, and potential increases in costs. (Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary to support a demonstration program in rural areas of the State of Pennsylvania under the terms and conditions for summer food service programs for children in service institutions, but with a different threshold for determining areas in which poor economic conditions exist. Requires the State agency to report on the effect of such demonstration on program participation in rural areas. (Sec. 108) Sets forth a seamless summer administration waiver, which allows service institutions that are public or private nonprofit school food authorities to administer summer or school vacation food service under the provisions of the school lunch and school breakfast programs, except as determined by the Secretary. Requires reimbursements to such institutions in accordance with applicable provisions of such programs, as determined by the Secretary. (Sec. 109) Provides for a year-round community child nutrition program pilot, limited to certain service institutions that are private nonprofit organizations located in California and that operate specified types of year-round programs. Allows such institutions to be reimbursed for up to three meals and two supplements per child for any day for which services are being offered at such institution. Requires such institutions to be reimbursed for the full cost of food service operations, not including administrative costs. Title II: Improving Program Quality and Integrity - (Sec. 201) Revises eligibility and certification requirements for free and reduced price lunches. Directs the Secretary to base income eligibility guidelines on nonfarm income poverty guidelines issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Requires applications and related descriptive materials for free and reduced price lunches to be distributed at least annually to parents and guardians in clear and understandable format and language. Requires descriptive material to contain: (1) only the income levels for reduced price lunches, and an explanation that lower income levels may mean eligibility for free lunches; and (2) notice that WIC participants in the program are eligible for free or reduced price lunches. Allows applications to be submitted by an adult of the household: (1) as a single application for all children in the household; and (2) electronically if the filing system meets confidentiality standards. Directs LEAs to verify information in a sample of approved applications, with variations in such samples according to specified formulae based non-response rates. Sets forth verification provisions for: (1) substitutions of applications chosen to be verified, including substitute criteria in emergencies; (2) direct verification, including use of public agency records; and (3) plain, understandable language in communications to parents regarding verification. Provides for direct certification of children as eligible for free meals, without further application, based on: (1) their being in households receiving assistance under the food stamp program or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program under title IV part A of the Social Security Act; or (2) their documented status as a migratory children, as defined under ESEA. Sets forth privacy protections. Prohibits requiring LEAs to submit free and reduced price meal policy statements to State agencies after the initial submission unless there is a substantive change in such policy. (Sec. 202) Requires, with certain exceptions, a child's eligibility for free and reduced price lunches to remain in effect from the date of approval for the current school year until the beginning of school in a subsequent school year, or as otherwise specified by the Secretary. (Sec. 203) Transfers responsibility for local administration of school lunch and breakfast programs from local school food authorities (LSFAs) to LEAs (including appropriate entities determined by the Secretary in cases of private nonprofit school food authorities). (Sec. 204) Makes LEAs, as well as LSFAs, responsible for program compliance and accountability. (Sec. 205) Includes technology and information management systems among authorized uses of funds paid for State administrative expenses for the school lunch, school breakfast, and fluid milk programs. Directs the Secretary to give priority consideration to States that will use reallocated State administrative expense funds for technology and information management improvements. (Sec. 206) Raises the amount of the minimum State administrative expense grant, and guarantees that such a grant shall not be less than the one received in a previous fiscal year. (Sec. 207) Permits eligibility for special assistance to be determined district-wide, as an alternative to determining it on an individual school basis. (Sec. 208) Directs the Secretary to develop and distribute training and technical assistance materials relating to administration of school meals programs. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer specified amounts to the Secretary at the beginning of each of FY 2005 through 2008. Authorizes the Secretary to use such funds to: (1) provide training and technical assistance related to administrative practices to improve program integrity and administrative accuracy to State educational agencies (SEAs), LSFAs, and LEAs; (2) assist SEAs in reviewing administrative practices of LSFAs of school food authorities; and (3) develop and distribute training and technical assistance materials relating to administration of school meals programs. Establishes additional administrative and performance review requirements for selected LSFAs and LEAs that have demonstrated high levels of or high risks for administrative errors. Directs SEAs, where such a selected LSFA or LEA fails to meet performance criteria established by the Secretary, to: (1) require such entity to develop and carry out a plan of corrective action; (2) provide technical assistance; and (3) conduct a follow-up review. Authorizes the Secretary require the SEA to recover funds that were expended in error and use them to improve program integrity and administrative accuracy. Requires States to submit for the Secretary's approval only substantive changes of their plans for use of administrative expense funds. Requires such plans to describe how technology and information management systems will be used for specified purposes. Requires States to provide annual training and technical assistance in administrative practices, emphasizing requirements established under this Act. Requires the Secretary to assist the State or provide such training and technical assistance or directly. Authorizes the Secretary or the State to contract with a third party conducting such activities. Requires each LSFA or LEA to insure that an individual conducting or overseeing such administrative procedures receives such training at least annually. Authorizes the Secretary to assist States in carrying out State training and administrative reviews of selected LSFAs and LEAs with excessive error rates. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer a specified amount to the Secretary at the beginning of FY 2005 and each fiscal year thereafter for such purposes. Title III: Promoting Nutrition Quality and Preventing Childhood Obesity - (Sec. 301) Requires LEAs participating in school meals programs to establish local school wellness policies with: (1) goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities; (2) nutrition guidelines for all foods sold on school campus during the school day in order to promote health and reduce obesity; (3) a plan to ensure policy implementation, including designating persons with operational responsibility; (4) involvement of parents, students, and representatives of the LSFA, school board, school administrators, and public; and (5) guidelines for reimbursable school meals not less restrictive than applicable regulations and guidance issued by the Secretary for the school breakfast and school lunch programs. (Sec. 302) Revises the system of nutrition education grants to SEAs to provide assistance to State agencies, schools, and nonprofit entities for the Team Nutrition Network (TNN) program and other nutrition education projects that improve student understanding of healthful eating patterns, the quality of school meals, and access to local foods in schools and institutions operating programs under NSLA and CNA. Establishes TNN to: (1) promote the Nation's schoolchildren's health through nutrition education, physical fitness, and other activities supporting healthy lifestyles for children based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans; (2) provide assistance to States to develop Statewide, comprehensive, and integrated nutrition education and physical fitness programs; and (3) provide training and technical assistance to States, school and community nutrition programs, and child nutrition food service professionals. Requires State TNN Coordinators to: (1) administer and coordinate a comprehensive integrated statewide nutrition education program; and (2) coordinate efforts with the Food and Nutrition Service and State agencies responsible for children's health programs. Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with an independent nonpartisan science-based research organization to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the TNN initiative and to identify best practices in certain activities. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance for the following types of three-year pilot projects: (1) to States on a competitive basis for State TNN Coordinators to create model nutrition education and physical fitness programs for school students; and (2) to not more than 100 LEAs, at least one per State, to promote healthy eating habits and increase physical fitness among school students. Authorizes the Secretary to provide: (1) technical assistance to SEAs to improve school meal quality; and (2) technical assistance and competitive matching grants to schools and nonprofit entities to improve access to local foods in schools and institutions. (Sec. 303) Includes fruits and vegetables among the foods to be emphasized in commodity distribution. (Sec. 304) Requires schools to serve milk in a variety of fat contents. Permits substitute nutritionally-equivalent nondairy beverages to be reimbursable, if a note is provided from a medical authority or the child's parent or guardian. Prohibits schools or institutions participating in the school lunch program from restricting sale or marketing of fluid milk products y the school or a school-appproved person at any time or place on the school premises or at any school-sponsored event. (Sec. 305) Extends the period during which weighted averages are not required to be used in nutrient analysis of foods under the school lunch program, if school food authority has an equivalent nutrient analysis system. Authorizes the Secretary to waive the requirement that State agencies use weighted averages in a nutrient analysis in a review of an LSFA not using nutrient standard menu planning, in cases where an alternative analysis would be adequate. (Sec. 306) Directs the Secretary, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, to promulgate rules, based on Federal nutrition guidelines, to increase the presence of whole grains in foods offered in school nutrition programs under NSLA and CNA. (Sec. 307) Revises fruit and vegetable pilot program requirements to direct the Secretary to make available fresh and dried fruits and fresh vegetables to 25 schools in each of four additional States and one Indian reservation, with an emphasis on low-income schools. Title IV: Improving the Women, Infants, and Children Program - (Secs. 401 and 402) Revises WIC program (under CNA) definitions of: (1) nutrition education to include child development and physical activity; and (2) supplemental foods to provide for consideration of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans. (Sec. 403) Revises certification requirements for WIC program participation to allow: (1) a State to certify breastfeeding women for up to one year or until they stop breastfeeding, whichever is earlier; (2) a local agency to waive the physical presence requirement for infants under eight weeks of age; (3) acceptance and processing of vendor applications outside of established time-frames under special circumstances; and (4) applicants or participants to reschedule appointments to apply or be recertified. (Sec. 404) Directs the Secretary to: (1) promulgate a rule updating the prescribed supplemental foods available through the WIC program, within six months of receiving the review of the WIC food package undertaken by the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine in September 2003; and (2) beginning in 2013, and at least every ten years thereafter, conduct scientific reviews of supplemental foods available in the WIC program and recommend changes to reflect nutrition science, current public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns. (Sec. 405) Requires State agencies to notify vendors in writing of violations, unless the notification would compromise an investigation. Authorizes State agencies to round up to the next whole can of infant formula to ensure all infants receive the full-authorized nutritional benefit, under contracts awarded under bid solicitations made on or after October 1, 2004. (Sec. 406) Directs the Secretary to partner with communities, State and local agencies, employers, health care professionals, and the private sector to build a supportive breastfeeding environment for women participating in the program to support the breastfeeding goals of the Healthy People 2010 initiative. (Sec. 407) Revises WIC program competitive bidding provisions to require infant formula: (1) rebate invoices to provide reasonable estimates or actual counts of numbers of units sold to program participants; and (2) bid solicitations amounts to be adjusted on a cent-by-cent basis according to changes in the lowest national wholesale truckload price. (Sec. 408) Authorizes demonstration projects, in up to ten local sites, to evaluate inclusion of fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables, to be made available through private funds, as an addition to supplemental food provided under the WIC program. (Sec. 409) Sets forth additional requirements relating to consideration of price levels of retail stores for participation in the WIC program. Requires State agencies to: (1) evaluate vendor applicants based on their shelf prices or on the prices they bid for supplemental foods, which may not exceed their shelf prices; and (2) establish price limitations on amounts to be paid vendors for supplemental foods, to ensure that prices are competitive and that limitations do not result in inadequate participant access by geographic area. Allows: (1) exclusion of pharmacy vendors that supply only exempt infant formula or medical foods that are eligible under the program; and (2) vendor peer group competitive price requirements and price limitations to reflect reasonable estimates of varying costs of acquisition of supplemental foods. Prohibits State agencies from authorizing retail food stores to provide incentive items or other free merchandise to program participants if funds from this program were used to purchase such items or merchandise. (Sec. 410) Revises WIC program provisions for management information systems to require: (1) States to comply with certain standards for electronic benefit systems; and (2) the Secretary to implement a national Universal Product Code Database for use by all State agencies. (Sec. 411) Requires participating vendors in the WIC program to purchase infant formula from a State-maintained list of approved manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers. (Sec. 412) Prohibits State alliances from exceeding 200,000 infant participants (except alliances with such numbers as of October 2003). Allows any State agency serving under 5,000 participants, or any Indian Tribal Organization, to request to join any State alliance. (Sec. 413) Increases from one to three percent the maximum portion of nutrition services and administration funds a State may expend during the subsequent fiscal year for allowable expenses incurred during a fiscal year. (Sec. 416) Extends through FY 2008 the authorization of appropriations for: (1) the WIC program; (2) WIC nutrition services and administrative funds; and (3) WIC farmers' market nutrition program. Title V: Reauthorization, Miscellaneous Provisions, and Effective Date - (Sec. 501) Revises requirements relating to training and technical assistance under NSLA, CNA, and other federally-assisted feeding programs. (Sec. 502) Directs the Secretary to develop policy and establish procedures regarding the purchase, distribution, notice of consumption, and provision of information regarding irradiated foods in Federal school meals programs. (Sec. 503) Expresses the sense of Congress that Federal resources provided under NSLA and CNA dedicated to child nutrition should support the most effective programs within the Federal agency that is most capable of assisting children in nutritional need. Encourages elimination of initiatives that are duplicative of other Federal efforts, particularly those that are duplicative of programs conducted under NSLA and CNA. (Sec. 504) Extends through FY 2008 the authorization of appropriations for: (1) State administrative expenses (CNA); (2) the commodity distribution program (NLSA and the Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987); (3) purchases of locally produced foods (NSLA); (4) training, technical assistance, and the food service management institute (NSLA); and (5) compliance and accountability (NLSA).
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H.Con.Res. 189 - Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and supporting an International Geophysical Year-2 (IGY-2) in 2007-08.
Posted by on March 24, 2004
H.Con.Res. 189 Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and Supporting an International Geophysical Year-2 (IGY-2) in 2007-08 Vote: 420-3 Burgess voted YES Title:Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and supporting an International Geophysical Year-2 (IGY-2) in 2007-08. Sponsor: Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] (introduced 5/21/2003) Cosponsors: 1 Committees: House Science; Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation House Reports: 108-422 Latest Major Action: 3/25/2004 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 2/18/2004--Reported to House, amended. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) endorse the concept of a worldwide International Geophysical Year-Two (IGY-2) for the 2007-2008 time frame (the 50th anniversary of the IGY of 1957-1958); (2) require the Director of the National Science Foundation and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to initiate interagency and international inquiries and discussions that explore the opportunities for a worldwide IGY-2 in such time frame, emphasizing activities dedicated to global environmental research, education, and protection; and (3) report to Congress within six months after adoption of this resolution on the steps taken to carry it out, including possible activities and organizational structures for an IGY-2.
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