datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1891
To amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit liability for the effects of emissions, 
and emission byproducts, resulting from or caused by an act of nature, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2003
Mr. PAUL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judi-
ciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit liability for the 
effects of emissions, and emission byproducts, resulting 
from or caused by an act of nature, and for other pur-
poses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. LIABILITY UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ACT. 
Section 307 of the Clean Air Act is amended by add-
ing the following new subsection at the end thereof: 
‘‘(i) A State, and any political subdivision thereof, or 
Tribe shall not be held liable under this Act for the effects
of emissions into the atmosphere, and any byproducts of 
such emissions, that result from or are caused by an act 
of nature, including volcanic eruptions and dust storms; 
accident; war; terrorism; or fires that occur beyond its ju-
risdiction related to land clearing, agriculture and ecologi-
cal restoration and management.’’.
Æ
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1892
To provide authorizations of appropriations for the global initiative to end 
the continuing menace of polio. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2003
Mr. PAYNE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Inter-
national Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide authorizations of appropriations for the global 
initiative to end the continuing menace of polio.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ending Polio in Our 
Time Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Polio has caused millions of casualties 
through history, paralyzing millions and killing un-
told numbers of others. 
(2) Polio remains a public health threat in to-
day’s world, despite being easily preventable by vac-
cination. 
(3) Polio is now contained to seven countries, 
with the distinct possibility that it can be once and 
forever extinguished as an affliction on mankind 
within five years by ensuring the vaccination of all 
children in these countries under the age of five. 
(4) A Global Polio Eradication Initiative exists 
that seeks to once and forever end polio as an ill-
ness, which includes efforts underway by the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention. 
(5) The United States has the capacity to act 
to speed the eradication of polio by assisting in the 
targeting of its few remaining reservoirs. 
SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR POLIO ERADICATION ACTIVITIES. 
For the purpose of carrying out global polio eradi-
cation activities through the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$275,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 and 2005.
Æ
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1894
To prohibit the implementation of discriminatory precertification requirements 
for the earned income tax credit. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2003
Mr. RANGEL (for himself, Mr. STARK, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. CARDIN, 
Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. KLECZKA, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. NEAL of 
Massachusetts, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. 
SANDLIN, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, and Ms. DELAURO) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To 
prohibit 
the 
implementation 
of 
discriminatory 
precertification requirements for the earned income tax 
credit.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress hereby finds that: 
(1) Current law authorizes the Internal Rev-
enue Service to impose additional earned income tax 
credit eligibility requirements, such as the current 
recertification program, only in cases in which a tax-
payer has made prior improper claims of the earned 
income tax credit. 
(2) The Internal Revenue Service is planning to 
implement 
an 
earned 
income 
tax 
credit 
precertification program that differs from what is 
authorized under current law in that it would apply 
to taxpayers who fall within broad categories even 
though they made no prior improper claims for the 
credit. 
(3) There is no precedent in the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 for denying or delaying a tax re-
fund that is apparently properly claimed on a tax re-
turn merely because the taxpayer meets a certain 
profile. 
(4) The proposed earned income tax credit 
precertification program is an affront to our sense of 
fairness because compliant taxpayers are treated dif-
ferently solely by reason of differing family struc-
tures or relationships and solely by reason of the 
fact that they are claiming a tax benefit designed to 
assist the working poor. 
(5) No other family-related tax benefit, such as 
the dependency exemption or child tax credit, is sub-
ject to such a precertification requirement; and there 
is no such precertification requirement for abusive
tax shelters purchased by corporations or for tax 
benefits claimed by higher income individuals. 
SEC. 
2. 
PROPOSED 
EARNED 
INCOME 
TAX 
CREDIT 
PROFILING NOT PERMITTED. 
The Internal Revenue Service shall not implement 
any system of precertification for the earned income tax 
credit that applies to taxpayers who have not made prior 
improper claims unless such a system is hereafter specifi-
cally authorized by law.
Æ
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1895
To amend Federal crime grant programs relating to domestic violence to 
encourage States and localities to implement gun confiscation policies, 
reform stalking laws, create integrated domestic violence courts, and 
hire additional personnel for entering protection orders, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2003
Mr. ROTHMAN (for himself, Mr. HOLT, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PALLONE, Ms. 
CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. WEXLER, Ms. KILPATRICK, Ms. 
SLAUGHTER, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. CROWLEY, 
Mr. MCNULTY, Ms. BALDWIN, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. 
SERRANO, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. 
MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Ms. LINDA T. SA´NCHEZ of California, Mr. 
DOGGETT, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, and Mr. CUMMINGS) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend Federal crime grant programs relating to domestic 
violence to encourage States and localities to implement 
gun confiscation policies, reform stalking laws, create 
integrated domestic violence courts, and hire additional 
personnel for entering protection orders, and for other 
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
†
HR 1904 EAS
(4) to expand educational opportunities by re-
warding individuals who participate in the Public
Land Corps with an increased ability to pursue high-
er education or job training.
SEC. 602. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) ALASKA
NATIVE
CORPORATION.—The term
‘‘Alaska Native Corporation’’ means a Regional Cor-
poration or Village Corporation, as defined in section
101(11) of the National and Community Service Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511(11)).
(2) CORPS.—The term ‘‘Corps’’ means the Public
Land Corps established under section 603(a).
(3) HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.—The term ‘‘Ha-
waiian home lands’’ means that term, within the
meaning of the National and Community Service Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.).
(4) INDIAN LANDS.—The term ‘‘Indian lands’’
has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12511).
(5) 
SECRETARIES.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretaries’’
means—
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior.
†
HR 1904 EAS
(A) the State of Connecticut;
(B) the State of New Jersey;
(C) the State of New York;
(D) the State of Pennsylvania; and
(E) any agency or department of any High-
lands State.
(3) 
LAND
CONSERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘land conservation partnership
project’’ means a land conservation project located
within the Highlands region identified as having high
conservation value by the Forest Service in which a
non-Federal entity acquires land or an interest in
land from a willing seller for the purpose of perma-
nently protecting, conserving, or preserving the land
through a partnership with the Federal Government.
(4) NON-FEDERAL ENTITY.—The term ‘‘non-Fed-
eral entity’’ means any Highlands State, or any
agency or department of any Highlands State with
authority to own and manage land for conservation
purpose, including the Palisades Interstate Park
Commission.
(5) STUDY.—The term ‘‘study’’ means the New
York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study con-
ducted by the Forest Service in 1990.
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1897
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the inclusion in 
gross income of social security benefits. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2003
Mr. WEINER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal 
the inclusion in gross income of social security benefits.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Senior Citizens Tax 
Elimination Act’’. 
SEC. 2. REPEAL OF INCLUSION IN GROSS INCOME OF SO-
CIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 86 of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 (relating to social security benefits)
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) TERMINATION.—This section shall not apply to 
any taxable year beginning after the date of the enactment 
of this subsection.’’
(b) SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUNDS HELD HARM-
LESS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—There are hereby appro-
priated (out of any money in the Treasury not other-
wise appropriated) for each fiscal year to each fund 
under the Social Security Act or the Railroad Re-
tirement Act of 1974 an amount equal to the reduc-
tion in the transfers to such fund for such fiscal 
year by reason of section 86(g) of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986. 
(2) NO TAX INCREASES.—It is the sense of the 
Congress that tax increases will not be used to pro-
vide the revenue necessary to carry out paragraph 
(1).
Æ
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1898
To amend the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to extend 
energy assistance to households headed by certain senior citizens. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2003
Mr. WEINER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act 
of 1981 to extend energy assistance to households headed 
by certain senior citizens.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Home Energy Assist-
ance Targeted for Seniors Act’’. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS. 
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 
1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.) is amended—
(1) in the heading of title XXVI, by inserting 
‘‘AND SENIOR’’ after ‘‘LOW-INCOME’’; 
(2) in section 2601, by inserting ‘‘and Senior’’ 
after ‘‘Low-Income’’; 
(3) in section 2603—
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(7) 
through (11) as paragraphs (8) through (12), 
respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (6) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(7) The term ‘‘low-income household’’ includes 
a household described in section 2605(b)(2)(C).’’; 
(4) in section 2604(d)(2), by striking ‘‘(A) and 
(B)’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘(A), (B), 
and (C)’’; 
(5) in section 2605(b)—
(A) in paragraph (2)—
(i) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (A); 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (B); and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) households with incomes which do not 
exceed an amount equal to the State median in-
come, with at least 50 percent of the household 
income attributable to persons who are at least 
65 years old;’’; 
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘clauses 
(2)(A) and (2)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘subpara-
graphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (2)’’; 
and 
(C) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘clause 
(2)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraphs (B) or 
(C) of paragraph (2)’’; 
(6) in section 2607A(b), by inserting ‘‘and sen-
ior’’ after ‘‘to the low-income’’; and 
(7) in section 2607B(a)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and 
senior’’ after ‘‘low-income’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘fami-
lies’’ and inserting ‘‘households’’. 
SEC. 3. CONFORMING REFERENCES. 
Any reference in Federal law or regulations to the 
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 or to 
the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program shall 
be deemed to be a reference to the Low-Income and Senior 
Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 or to the Low-In-
come and Senior Home Energy Assistance program, as 
appropriate.
Æ
‘‘(ii) a hospital that provides durable 
medical equipment (as described in sub-
paragraph (A)(i)) or prosthetics, orthotics, 
or supplies (as described in subparagraph 
(A)(ii)) to an individual as incident to an 
emergency room visit by such individual. 
‘‘(b) STANDARDS
AND REQUIREMENTS.—In con-
ducting the site inspection pursuant to subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall ensure that the site being inspected is in 
full compliance with all the conditions and standards of 
participation and requirements for obtaining medicare bill-
ing privileges under this title. 
‘‘(c) TIME.—The Secretary shall conduct the site in-
spection for an applicable provider prior to the issuance 
of a provider number to such provider. 
‘‘(d) TIMELY REVIEW.—The Secretary shall provide 
for procedures to ensure that the site inspection required 
under this section does not unreasonably delay the 
issuance of a provider number to an applicable provider.’’. 
(b) BACKGROUND CHECKS.—Title XVIII of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) (as amended 
by subsection (a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
‘‘BACKGROUND CHECKS 
‘‘SEC. 1898. (a) BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIRED.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary shall
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 189
To waive certain prohibitions with respect to nationals of Cuba coming to 
the United States to play organized professional baseball. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 7, 2003
Mr. SERRANO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on 
the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To waive certain prohibitions with respect to nationals of 
Cuba coming to the United States to play organized 
professional baseball.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Baseball Diplomacy 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. REMOVAL OF CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS. 
(a) RESTRICTION ON EMBARGO AUTHORITY.—The 
authorities of section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961, those authorities under section 5(b) of the Trad-
ing with the Enemy Act that were being exercised with 
respect to Cuba on July 1, 1977, as a result of a national 
emergency declared before that date, and are being exer-
cised on the date of the enactment of this Act, and section 
203 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 
may not be exercised to regulate or prohibit—
(1) those transactions permitted under section 
515.571 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, by 
or on behalf of a Cuban national who enters the 
United States from Cuba on a visa issued by the 
State 
Department 
under 
section 
101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act for the purpose of playing organized pro-
fessional baseball; and 
(2) a Cuban national described in paragraph 
(1) from returning to Cuba with the earnings made 
in playing organized professional baseball. 
(b) RESTRICTION ON IMMIGRATION AUTHORITY.—
The authority contained in section 212(f) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act may not be used to deny a visa 
described in subsection (a)(1) to a Cuban national for the 
purpose of playing organized professional baseball. 
(c) INAPPLICABILITY OF OTHER RESTRICTIONS.—
This section applies notwithstanding section 102(h) of the
Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) 
Act of 1996. 
SEC. 3. DURATION OF VISA. 
A visa described in section 2(a)(1)—
(1) shall permit the alien to whom the visa is 
issued to remain in the United States only for the 
duration of the baseball season; and 
(2) need not be renewed for subsequent entries 
into the United States for the duration of a valid 
contract entered into between the alien and the pro-
fessional baseball team with which the alien played 
in the preceding baseball season.
Æ
(2) SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION.—As part of
a request to renew a preliminary injunction granted
regarding an authorized hazardous fuels reduction
project, the parties shall present the court with an
update on any changes that may have occurred dur-
ing the period of the injunction to the forest or
rangeland conditions that the authorized hazardous
fuels reduction project is intended to address.
(3) CONGRESSIONAL
NOTIFICATION.—In the
event of the renewal of a preliminary injunction re-
garding an authorized hazardous fuels reduction
project, the Secretary concerned shall submit notice
of the renewal to the Committee on Resources and
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
(c) EXPEDITIOUS COMPLETION
OF JUDICIAL RE-
VIEW.—Congress intends and encourages any court in
which is filed a lawsuit or appeal of a lawsuit concerning
an authorized hazardous fuels reduction project to expe-
dite, to the maximum extent practicable, the proceedings
in such lawsuit or appeal with the goal of rendering a final
determination on jurisdiction, and if jurisdiction exists, a
human life and property in the interface community
or intermix community.
(3) Condition class 3 or condition class 2 Fed-
eral lands located in such proximity to a municipal
water supply system, or to a perennial stream feed-
ing a municipal water supply system, that a signifi-
cant risk exists that a fire disturbance event would
have substantial adverse effects on the water quality
of the municipal water supply, including the risk to
water quality posed by erosion following such a fire
disturbance event.
(4) Condition class 3 or condition class 2 Fed-
eral lands identified by the Secretary concerned as
an area where windthrow or blowdown, or the exist-
ence or threat of disease or insect infestation, pose
a significant threat to forest or rangeland health or
adjacent private lands.
(5) Federal lands not covered by paragraph (1),
(2), (3), or (4) that contain threatened and endan-
gered species habitat, but only if—
(A) natural fire regimes on such lands are
identified as being important for, or wildfire is
identified as a threat to, an endangered species,
a threatened species, or its habitat in a species
recovery plan prepared under section 4 of the
†
151
HR 1904 EAS
TIONAL
PARK
SYSTEM; ENFORCEMENT.—The
Secretary’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘$500’’ and inserting
‘‘$10,000’’; and
(C) by inserting after the first sentence the
following: ‘‘In the case of a rule or regulation
issued under this subsection regarding the use of
fire by individuals on such lands, if the violation
of the rule or regulation was the result of reckless
conduct and occurred in an area subject to a
complete ban on open fires, the fine may not be
less than $500.’’.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such section is
further amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘He may also’’ the first
place it appears and inserting the following:
‘‘(b) SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES.—The Sec-
retary of the Interior may’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘He may also’’ the second
place it appears and inserting ‘‘The Secretary
may’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘No natural,’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(c) LEASE
AND PERMIT AUTHORITIES.—No nat-
ural’’.
†
152
HR 1904 EAS
(c) NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS.—The eleventh
undesignated paragraph under the heading ‘‘SURVEYING
THE PUBLIC LANDS’’ of the Act of June 4, 1897 (16 U.S.C.
551), is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘$500’’ and inserting ‘‘$10,000’’;
and
(2) by inserting after the first sentence the fol-
lowing: ‘‘In the case of such a rule or regulation re-
garding the use of fire by individuals on such lands,
if the violation of the rule or regulation was the result
of reckless conduct and occurred in an area subject to
a complete ban on open fires, the fine may not be less
than $500.’’.
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘An Act to improve
the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Sec-
retary of the Interior to conduct hazardous fuels reduc-
tion projects on National Forest System lands and Bu-
reau of Land Management lands aimed at protecting
communities, watersheds, and certain other at-risk lands
from catastrophic wildfire, to enhance efforts to protect
watersheds and address threats to forest and rangeland
health, including catastrophic wildfire, across the land-
scape, and for other purposes.’’.
Attest:
Secretary.
‘‘(A) to build and strengthen watershed 
partnerships that focus on forested landscapes 
at the local, State, and regional levels; 
‘‘(B) to provide State forestry best-man-
agement practices and water quality technical 
assistance directly to nonindustrial private for-
est landowners; 
‘‘(C) to provide technical guidance to land 
managers and policy makers for water quality 
protection through forest management; 
‘‘(D) to complement State and local efforts 
to protect water quality and provide enhanced 
opportunities for consultation and cooperation 
among Federal and State agencies charged with 
responsibility for water and watershed manage-
ment; 
‘‘(E) to provide enhanced forest resource 
data and support for improved implementation
and monitoring of State forestry best-manage-
ment practices. 
‘‘(3) IMPLEMENTATION.—The program of tech-
nical assistance shall be implemented by State for-
esters or equivalent State officials. 
‘‘(c) WATERSHED
FORESTRY
COST-SHARE
PRO-
GRAM.—