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Statement on the Capture of Saddam Hussein
Posted by Michelle Stein on December 14, 2003
The following statement is attributed to Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26): "The victory we have today cannot be denied. The news is heralded around the world. Saddam Hussein, the terrorist dictator of innocent Iraqis and millions of others is brought to justice. "America's commitment to hunting down every last terrorist continues. Through difficulties in battles and rebuilding, our resolve in Iraq has made this day possible. Our troops pursued him down, and their mission was accomplished. Today, throughout our country, and indeed the world at-large, there is broad recognition that our forces are experts. They will remain focused on our mission and will get the job done. "And let us not forget who Saddam is. I have seen the mass graves within the country of Iraq. I have witnessed the deplorable conditions of the hospitals juxtaposed against the opulence of his palaces. It was only a matter of time until we caught him and thwarted the plans of those insurgents that wished for his reprisal. "Make no mistake. There will be more danger; there will be more fighting, but we will be victorious. Today we have won a battle, and we will win the war. "Prayers, from millions, are answered today with the capture of Saddam Hussein. In less than a year since the coalition forces went into Iraq to wrestle it free from decades of oppression by Hussein, the dictator has now been caught. I consider this day not only a blessing but also a triumph. Proof that good will always overcome evil. I am thankful to my God, our President and our brave troops who fight valiantly for our freedom and the freedom of suppressed people around the globe. "We completed our mission; we have forever removed Saddam Hussein."
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H.R. 2673 - Consolidated Appropriations, FY2004 Bill
Posted by on December 8, 2003
H.R.2673
Burgess voted YES

Title:Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bonilla, Henry [TX-23] (introduced 7/9/2003) Cosponsors: (none) Committees: House Appropriations House Reports: 108-193; Conference Reports: 108-401 Related Bills: H.RES.473, H.R.1950, H.R.2660, H.R.2765, H.R.2799, H.R.2800, H.R.2861, H.R.2989, S.925, S.1356, S.1426, S.1427, S.1583, S.1584, S.1585, S.1589 Latest Major Action: 12/8/2003 Conference report agreed to in House. Status: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 242 - 176 (Roll no. 676). Note: H.R. 2673, the FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations bill, covers Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-State, District of Columbia, Foreign Operations, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-Treasury, VA-HUD, and Miscellaneous Appropriations and Offsets. A Senate cloture vote to end conference report debate is scheduled for 1/20/2004. Text [pdf] of conference report as printed in the 11/25/2003 Congressional Record, Book II. Funding tables [pdf] as printed with House debate in the 12/8/2003 Congressional Record. Page Guide to the conference report. Highlights of the conference report, posted by the House Appropriations Committee. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 7/9/2003--Introduced. Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 - Makes FY 2003 appropriations for the: (1) Department of Agriculture; (2) Food and Drug Administration; (3) Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and; (4) Farm Credit Administration. Specifies certain uses and limits on or prohibitions against the use of funds appropriated by this Act.
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H.RES. 474 - Relating to a question of the privileges of the House
Posted by on December 8, 2003
H.RES.474
Burgess voted YES

Title: Relating to a question of the privileges of the House. Sponsor: Rep Pelosi, Nancy [CA-8] (introduced 12/8/2003) Cosponsors: (none) Latest Major Action: 12/8/2003 House floor actions. Status: On motion to table the measure Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 207 - 182 (Roll no. 677).
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Burgess Hosts Science Committee Field Hearing on Nanotechnology
Posted by Michelle Stein on December 5, 2003
Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. hosted an official House Science Committee Field Hearing at the University of North Texas. The field hearing was on nanotechnology. The meeting convened both academicians and individuals from industry to discuss what lies ahead in nanotechnology research and development. Representing the Committee: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. - officiated Congressman Ralph Hall - Minority Member Dr. Rick Reidy, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, University of North Texas. Dr. Reidy has a Ph.D. in Metals Science and Engineering from Penn State University and B.A. in Chemistry/Biochemistry from Rice University. Before joining the University of North Texas, he worked on nanoporous films for chemical weapons detection at the US Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command, Aberdeen, MD. He is currently developing nanostructured materials and processing methods for semiconductor applications supported by the National Science Foundation, Texas Instruments, and International Sematech. Dr. Da Hsuan Feng, Vice President for Research and Graduate Education, University of Texas, Dallas. Dr. Feng has a doctorate degree in Theoretical Physics from the University of Minnesota. Since coming to UTD, he has worked to rapidly build the research breath and depth of the University to make it a major international research university. Dr. Feng is responsible for recruiting much of UTD’s nanoscience researchers. Dr. Ron Elsenbaumer, Vice President for Research, University of Texas, Arlington. Dr. Elsenbaumer has a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a B.S. from Purdue University. His primary research interests include developing new conductive polymer compositions and developing quantitative group additivity principles for constructing conjugating conductive polymers with predictable optical, electrical, and electrochemical properties. Mr. Chris Gintz, CEO, NanoHoldings LLC. Mr. Gintz is a well-known designer, marketer and executive in the computer industry, whose experience spans the semiconductor, software and hardware businesses. He is the inventor of the Compaq LTE notebook computer concept and, since 1995, he has been a force behind the incorporation of software technology into school curriculums across the United States. Dr. John Randall, Chief Technology Officer, Vice President of Research, Zyvex Corporation. Dr. Randall has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Houston. He has over twenty years of experience in micro- and nanofabrication. He joined Zyvex in March of 2001 after fifteen years at Texas Instruments where he worked in high resolution processing for integrated circuits, MEMS, and quantum effect devices. Prior to working at TI, Dr. Randall worked at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory on ion beam and x-ray lithography.
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Congressman Burgess Hosts 1st Annual 26th District Transportation Summit
Posted by Michelle Stein on December 4, 2003
Congressman Michael C. Burgess hosted the 1st Annual 26th Congressional District Transportation Summit at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young (R-AK) was the special guest. In addition to Congressman Burgess' remarks, local tranportation officials provided presentations:
North Central Texas Council of Governments: Michael Morris, Transportation Director
Denton County: John Polster, Transportation Consultant, Denton County
Tarrant County: Glen Whitley, Commissioner, Tarrant County Commission
Collin County: Ron Harris, Judge
Why the summit was convened: The increase in traffic and congestion over the past three decades is a result of unpredictable population and employment growth experienced in North Texas. With ever-increasing demands on our transportation system for both local mobility and international trade transportation improvements, it is essential that North Texas’ voice be heard in Washington, DC, as the Congress considers the future of our nation's surface transportation systems. Chairman Don Young will be our guest as we learn about the transportation infrastructure successes and needs in the 26th District. The Chairman will also discuss the importance of the transportation reauthorization bill to Texas.
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Congressman Burgess Announces Service Academy Nominations
Posted by on December 2, 2003
U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess is pleased to announce that thirty-one young men and women from the 26th District of Texas have been selected as his Class of 2008 nominees to the United States Service Academies. If selected, the nominees will enter during the summer of 2004 "I am very impressed by the high caliber of candidates that applied to my office; the selection process was very competitive," said Burgess. "Each of these students has a strong record of academic performance and community service, and I am proud to nominate them to attend our nation’s service academies. If selected to attend their respective academies, I know that each of them will perform admirably and serve honorably as officers in our country’s military services." The individuals, and the academies to which they have been nominated, are: U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY Ryan Brankin* of Southlake - Forest Trail Academy Homeschool Christopher Carus of Bedford – Trinity HS in Euless, Lauren Eanes* – The Colony HS Michael Jennings* - Grapevine HS Zachary Neal* - Newman Smith HS in Carrollton Andrew Pham – Frisco HS Heather Shirley – Ponder HS Brian Smith – Creekview HS in Carrollton John Stanford – Carroll HS in Southlake Zachary Watson – Colleyville Heritage HS U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland Trevor Aldridge – Flower Mound HS Christopher Beckwith* - The Colony HS Rodney Brown* of Bedford - Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas Lauren Eanes* – The Colony HS Jamie Howe of Flower Mound – Texas Academy of Math & Science at the University of North Texas in Denton Paul Humm of McKinney - Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas Jimmy Jones – Flower Mound HS Christopher Montague of Southlake – Carroll HS in Southlake Robert Samples of Bedford – Covenant Christian Academy in Colleyville Ty Strang - Carroll HS in Southlake U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado Christopher Beckwith* - The Colony HS Thomas Coker of Colleyville – Grapevine HS Lane Garman of Colleyville – Grapevine HS Joshua Martz – Argyle HS Christopher Mathews – Trinity HS in Euless Courtney Mitchell – Flower Mound HS Zachary Neal* - Newman Smith HS in Carrollton Rudy Pearce – McKinney HS Chris Pulcini* of Colleyville – Grapevine HS Jessica Tutini* of Argyle – Liberty Christian School in Denton U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point, NY Rachel Allen – Frisco HS Ryan Brankin* of Southlake - Forest Trail Homeschool Academy Christin Brodie – Flower Mound HS Rodney Brown* of Bedford - Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas Zachary Goff – Flower Mound HS Michael Jennings* - Grapevine HS Nicholas Klein of Flower Mound – Argyle HS Zachary Neal* - Newman Smith HS in Carrollton Chris Pulcini* of Colleyville – Grapevine HS Jessica Tutini* of Argyle – Liberty Christian School in Denton *Denotes that the student has been nominated for more than one academy. If chosen by more than one school, student will have to choose between academies.
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Congressman Burgess Gives Doctor’s Stamp to Medicare
Posted by Michelle Stein on November 25, 2003
The following statement is attributed to Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.: Washington, DC – “We have reached an historic moment in the history of health care. With an agreement on Medicare reform and a prescription drug plan, we provide immediate relief for seniors and a long-term benefit that will improve their health.” “I know this agreement takes into account the cost that younger generations of Americans will be faced with in the future. We will minimize the impact of future increases in spending by infusing competitive principles into the Medicare program as well as creating new consumer-based health care accounts.” “Immediate relief is available to seniors under this package. Starting next spring, seniors will have the ability to enroll in a discount drug card program. With these discount cards, all seniors could save anywhere between 10 and 25% on the cost of their prescription medications.” “Congress rose to the challenge of modernizing Medicare. We recognized it was a necessity, and we will continue our oversight. For the first time in a federal program, Congress has added a cost containment measure. The current monstrosity that is our Medicare program would bankrupt itself in the near future if these crucial adjustments to improve the program were not made. We needed to build a foundation from which we could work to refine the program and make it ready for the 21st Century. “No action” was not an option.” “Congress will remain accountable and engaged in Medicare reform for years to come thereby ensuring it is remaining a viable, worthy program. This bill exists because both sides of the aisle and both chambers understand that improving Medicare is essential.” “This Medicare bill is the future of health care in our nation.”
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Erasing the Mistakes of the Past: Reforming Medicare for the 21st Century
Posted by Michelle Stein on November 22, 2003
Erasing the Mistakes of the Past: Reforming Medicare for the 21st Century An op-ed by Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26)
The U.S. Congress is on the verge of correcting a problem that has existed since Medicare was created in 1965. Four decades have passed since the inception of Medicare, and seniors still have no comprehensive drug benefit. As a physician, I would see how this impacted my patients on a daily basis. My Medicare patients would split pills or completely ignore my course of treatment because the cost of the prescription medications they needed were too high, and Medicare didn’t cover their cost. They had the ability to see me because Medicare would cover the cost of the doctor visit. But if prescription drugs were involved, because of a gaping hole in the program that can only be classified as “typical government,” they would often be unable to follow my recommended course of treatment due to a lack of drug coverage. This President and this Congress have had the courage to stand up and do what is right by correcting this gross oversight by helping millions of seniors pay for prescription drugs. The Medicare bill gives seniors immense purchasing power to meet their prescription drug needs, and indeed, all of their health needs. The prescription drug discount card will reduce the costs of prescription drugs by as much as 25%, and for some low-income seniors will provide an annual $600 subsidy for prescriptions drugs. The drug benefit alone will cover most drug costs for nearly half of seniors enrolled in Medicare, with minimal financial participation on the part of the beneficiary. Additionally, the bill would authorize consumer-based accounts dedicated to their holder’s health and well-being. Health Savings Accounts, which are authorized by this bill, allow individuals and families to put money, tax-free, into an investment type account dedicated to their medical costs. These accounts will give younger Americans the ability to save for the future medical expenses and give older Americans the ability to soften the financial strain of costly procedures or long term care insurance. By shifting Medicare to a more consumer-focused program, we improve beneficiaries’ health outcomes and make the program more accountable to the American taxpayer. There have been those that criticize this groundbreaking proposal before Congress as an attempt to privatize Medicare. Some have said that this bill will force seniors into HMOs. This is simply not true. The private market has been intimately involved in the Medicare program since day one. When President Johnson signed Medicare into law in 1965, he was asking hundreds of thousands of doctors, and their private practices and hospitals, to participate in this government program. The program then depended on the private market to provide a network of providers to care for seniors—the program today depends on the private market to provide that same care. Because the delivery of health care is so much more complex today that it was back in 1965—with a complex array of specialty providers, physician networks, insurance companies, pharmaceutical benefit managers, and mail order pharmacies—it would be irresponsible for the U.S. Congress to NOT rely on this same network that provides care everyday to millions of Americans when reforming how Medicare covers senior Americans. As for the claim that seniors will be forced into HMOs, the truth is that, under this bill, seniors will have more options to meet their health needs then they currently do. Under this proposal, seniors would certainly have the option to receive care through an HMO. But they would also have the option to receive their care through a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), or if they like traditional Medicare, they can stay right were they are. The bill improves the choices available to seniors—it doesn’t limit them. Our work is far from done once this bill is passed. More work needs to be done to infuse more market-based principles into this government run program. More work will need to be done to improve the program so it not just focuses on covering as many Americans as possible, but actually improving their health. Congress will remain accountable and engaged. Medicare is a program that will need continual supervision throughout the years to ensure it is remaining a viable, worthy program. We will continue our oversight and responsibility on Medicare for future generations. This Medicare bill is the future of health care in our nation.
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H.R. 1 - Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003
Posted by on November 22, 2003
H.R.1
Burgess voted YES

Title:An act to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a voluntary prescription drug benefit under the medicare program and to strengthen and improve the medicare program, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Hastert, J. Dennis [IL-14] (introduced 6/25/2003) Cosponsors: 20 Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Ways and Means Conference Reports: 108-391 Related Bills: H.RES.299, H.RES.463, H.R.2473, H.R.2596, S.1 Latest Major Action: 12/8/2003 Became Public Law No: 108-173 [Text, PDF] Note: The House Ways and Means Committee has posted the text of the conference report. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 6/25/2003--Introduced. Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) under which each individual who is entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) or enrolled under Medicare part B (Supplemental Medical Insurance) is entitled to obtain qualified prescription drug coverage. Authorizes the individual to elect to enroll: (1) in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan (replacing the current Medicare+Choice plans under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice)); (2) in an enhanced fee-for-service (EFFS) plan; or (3) in a prescription drug plan (PDP) if the individual is not enrolled in an MA-EFFS plan (a Medicare Advantage plan and an EFFS plan). Establishes a Medicare Prescription Drug Trust Fund. Outlines standard coverage benefit packages for FY 2006. Includes for the standard package an annual deductible of $250, and requires insurers to cover 80 percent of enrollees drug costs up to the initial coverage limit of $2,000. Requires enrollees to cover all costs between $2,001 and $3,500, and Medicare to cover the entire cost once the beneficiary has reached the $3,500 catastrophic out-of-pocket threshold. Prescribes a formula for adjustment of: (1) such deductible and annual limits for inflation; and (2) such catastrophic limit for each enrollee in a PDP or in an MA-EFFS Rx plan (an MA-EFFS plan which provides qualified prescription drug coverage) whose adjusted gross income exceeds $60,000. Establishes a competitive bidding process for negotiating the terms and conditions of PDP sponsors. Provides for full premium subsidy and reduction of cost-sharing for individuals with incomes below 135 percent of the Federal poverty level. Contains subsidy payments for qualifying entities to promote the participation of PDP and MA-EFFS Rx plan sponsors. Sets out: (1) a new Medicare prescription drug discount card and assistance program under the Medicare program; and (2) requirements for combating waste, fraud, and abuse under Medicare. Makes a number of other changes with regard to Medicare: (1) part A concerning rural health care, inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility services, and hospices; (2) part B concerning physicians services and other services; and (3) part A and B concerning home health services, direct graduate medical education, and voluntary chronic care improvement. Establishes the Medicare Benefits Administration in the Department of Health and Human Services. Amends SSA title XVIII part F (Miscellaneous) (currently part D) to include a number of regulatory, contracting, and administrative changes, such as the: (1) coordination of educational funding; (2) transfer of responsibility for Medicare appeals; (3) provision of expedited access to judicial review of Medicare appeals; (4) recovery of overpayments; and (5) revision of reassignment provisions. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) with regard to: (1) the 30-month of Food and Drug Administration approval for any new drug in certain circumstances; and (2) forfeiture of the 180-day marketing exclusivity period by the first new drug applicant to a subsequent applicant. Provides for manufacture, marketing, or sale agreements between a generic drug applicant and a brand name drug applicant, subject to Federal Trade Commission review. Amends the FFDCA to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations permitting pharmacists, wholesalers, and individuals to import prescription drugs from Canada into the United States, subject to specified conditions.
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S. 877 - Reduction of SPAM Bill
Posted by on November 22, 2003
S.877 Burgess voted YES
Title:A bill to regulate interstate commerce by imposing limitations and penalties on the transmission of unsolicited commercial electronic mail via the Internet. Sponsor: Sen Burns, Conrad R. [MT] (introduced 4/10/2003) Cosponsors: 22 Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Senate Reports: 108-102 Related Bills: S.480 Latest Major Action: 12/8/2003 Cleared for White House. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 10/22/2003--Passed Senate, amended. (There are 2 other summaries) Title I: Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 - Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 or the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 - (Sec. 102) Sets forth the determination of Congress that: (1) there is a substantial government interest in regulation of unsolicited commercial electronic mail (spam); (2) senders of spam should not mislead recipients as to the source or content of such mail; and (3) recipients of spam have a right to decline to receive additional spam from the same source. (Sec 104) Amends the Federal criminal code to subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both any person who: (1) accesses a protected computer without authorization and intentionally initiates the transmission of multiple commercial electronic mail messages from or through such computer; (2) uses a protected computer to relay or retransmit multiple messages, with the intent to deceive or mislead recipients or any Internet access service as to the origin of such messages; (3) falsifies header information in multiple messages and intentionally initiates the transmission thereof; (4) registers, with false identifying information, for five or more electronic mail accounts or online user accounts or two or more domain names and intentionally initiates the transmission of multiple messages from such accounts or domain names; or (5) falsely represents the right to use five or more Internet protocol addresses and intentionally initiates the transmission of multiple messages from such addresses. Allows for: (1) higher penalties in the case of offenses committed in furtherance of any felony or if the defendant has previously been convicted for conduct involving the transmission of multiple messages or unauthorized access to a computer system; and (2) the forfeiture of property obtained from such an offense and equipment, software, or other technology used to commit such an offense. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend sentencing guidelines to provide appropriate penalties for such violations. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) spam has become the method of choice for those who distribute pornography, perpetrate fraudulent schemes, and introduce viruses, worms, and Trojan horses into personal and business computer systems; and (2) the Department of Justice should use all existing law enforcement tools to investigate and prosecute those who send bulk commercial e-mail to facilitate the commission of Federal crimes. (Sec. 105) Sets forth protections against spam that include: (1) a prohibition against false or misleading transmission information; (2) a prohibition against deceptive subject headings; (3) mandatory inclusion of a return address or a comparable mechanism in commercial electronic mail; (4) a prohibition against transmission of spam after objection (including a prohibition against transferring or releasing an email address after an objection); (5) mandatory inclusion in spam of information identifying the message as an advertisement or solicitation, notice of the opportunity to decline to receive further unsolicted messages from the sender, and the sender's physical address; (6) a prohibition against initiating transmission of spam to a protected computer, or assisting in the origination of such message through the provision of addresses, if the person knows or should have known that the recipient's address was obtained from an Internet website or proprietary online service that included a notice that the operator will not provide addresses for initiating unsolicited messages; (7) a prohibition against using automated means to register for multiple email accounts for the transmission of spam; and (8) a prohibition against relaying or retransmitting an unsolicited message that is unlawful under this section. Requires a person, when initiating commercial electronic mail containing sexually oriented material, to provide labels warning of such content. Provides criminal penalties for violations. (Sec. 106) Prohibits: (1) promoting a business by the use of email containing false or misleading transmission information; and (2) enforcement against third parties, with exceptions. (Sec. 107) Confers enforcement powers for violations of this Act upon the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), designated Federal agencies, and States. Allows for the award of aggravated damages in certain cases. Permits a provider of Internet access service adversely affected by a violation of this Act to bring a civil action. Sets forth a maximum civil penalty of $1 million for knowing and willful violations of this Act. (Sec. 109) Directs the FTC to submit to: (1) specified congressional committees a plan and timetable for establishing a nationwide marketing Do-Not-E-mail registry; and (2) Congress a report of the effectiveness and enforcement of provisions of this Act. (Sec. 111) Directs the FTC to submit to specified congressional committees reports that set forth: (1) a system for rewarding those who supply information about violations of this title; and (2) a plan for requiring spam to be identifiable from its subject line. Title II: Realtime Writers Act - (Sec. 201) Training for Realtime Writers Act of 2003 - (Sec. 203) Directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to make competitive grants to eligible entities to promote training and placement of individuals, including individuals who have completed a court reporting training program, as realtime writers providing closed captioning in video programming. Sets forth priorities for the awarding of such grants. Limits grants to $1.5 million for a two-year period. Outlines application requirements and authorized uses of such funds. (Sec. 206) Requires annual reports during such period from each eligible entity to the NTIA on the use of grant amounts and on best practices for increasing the number of individuals who are trained, employed, and retained in employment as realtime writers. (Sec. 207) Authorizes appropriations.
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