datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
the National Uniformity for Food Act of 2004, the no-
tification or food safety requirement shall remain in 
effect in accordance with subparagraph (C) of para-
graph (3), and the time periods and provisions speci-
fied in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such paragraph 
shall apply in lieu of the time periods and provisions 
specified in subsection (c)(3) (but not the time periods 
and provisions specified in subsection (d)(2)). 
‘‘(3) ACTION ON PETITIONS.— 
‘‘(A) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 270 
days after the date of enactment of the National 
Uniformity for Food Act of 2004, the Secretary 
shall publish a notice in the Federal Register 
concerning any petition submitted under para-
graph (2) and shall provide 180 days for public 
comment on the petition. 
‘‘(B) TIME PERIODS.—Not later than 360 
days after the end of the period for public com-
ment, the Secretary shall take final agency ac-
tion on the petition. 
‘‘(C) ACTION.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—With respect to a 
State that submits to the Secretary a peti-
tion in accordance with paragraph (2), the 
notification or food safety requirement in-
(iii) home mortgage interest pay-
ments, and 
(iv) contributions to qualified IRAs. 
(6) CREDIT FOR FICA PAYROLL TAXES PAID.—
The amount of tax due is reduced by the payroll tax 
that is—
(A) in the case of an employee, withheld 
from wages, or 
(B) in the case of a corporation or other 
business, paid by the employer. 
(c) CONCEPTS AND STRUCTURE OF NEW TAX SYS-
TEM.—
(1) GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE SIMPLIFIED 
USA
TAX
SYSTEM.—The Simplified USA Tax is 
based on the following principles: 
(A) National wealth and well-being depend 
on the work, skill, and savings and investment 
of people.
(B) Businesses are people and their capital 
working together.
(C) Capital makes people more productive. 
(D) Everyone benefits from a growing 
stock of national savings which in turn allows 
for a growing stock of physical and human cap-
ital.
State from establishing, enforcing, or continuing in effect 
a requirement relating to—
‘‘(1) freshness dating, open date labeling, grade 
labeling, a State inspection stamp, religious dietary 
labeling, organic or natural designation, returnable 
bottle labeling, unit pricing, or a statement of geo-
graphic origin; or 
‘‘(2) a consumer advisory relating to food sanita-
tion that is imposed on a food establishment, or that 
is recommended by the Secretary, under part 3–6 of 
the Food Code issued by the Food and Drug Adminis-
tration and referred to in the notice published at 64 
Fed. Reg. 8576 (1999) (or any corresponding similar 
provision of such a Code). 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In section 403A and this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘requirement’, used with respect to 
a Federal action or prohibition, means a mandatory 
action or prohibition established under this Act or the 
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (15 U.S.C. 1451 et 
seq.), as appropriate, or by a regulation issued under 
or by a court order relating to, this Act or the Fair 
Packaging and Labeling Act, as appropriate. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘petition’ means a petition sub-
mitted in accordance with the provisions of section 
10.30 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, con-
taining all data and information relied upon by the 
petitioner to support an exemption or a national 
standard.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 403A(b) of 
such Act (21 U.S.C. 343–1(b)) is amended by adding after 
and below paragraph (3) the following: 
‘‘The requirements of paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 
403B(c) shall apply to any such petition, in the same man-
ner and to the same extent as the requirements apply to 
a petition described in section 403B(c).’’.
Union Calendar No. 475
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2699
[Report No. 108–770] 
A BILL 
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act to provide for uniform food safety warning 
notification requirements, and for other purposes. 
OCTOBER 8, 2004
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed
109
Acquisition Regulation applies to contracts under 
this title. 
‘‘(b) CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(1) USE OF COMPETITIVE PROCEDURES.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
laws with general applicability to Federal acqui-
sition and procurement or in subparagraph (B), 
the Secretary shall use competitive procedures 
when entering into contracts with medicare ad-
ministrative contractors under this section, tak-
ing into account performance quality as well as 
price and other factors.
‘‘(B) RENEWAL OF CONTRACTS.—The Sec-
retary may renew a contract with a medicare 
administrative contractor under this section 
from term to term without regard to section 5 
of title 41, United States Code, or any other 
provision of law requiring competition, if the 
medicare administrative contractor has met or 
exceeded the performance requirements applica-
ble with respect to the contract and contractor, 
except that the Secretary shall provide for the 
application of competitive procedures under 
such a contract not less frequently than once 
every five years.
duct and document security response evaluations at 
each designated nuclear facility to assess the ability 
of the private security force of the designated nu-
clear facility to defend against applicable design 
basis threats. 
‘‘(3) SECURITY EXEMPTION.—The Commission 
may suspend activities under this section if the Com-
mission determines that the security response eval-
uations would compromise security at any des-
ignated nuclear facility in accordance with a height-
ened threat level. 
‘‘(4) ACTIVITIES.—The security response eval-
uation shall include force-on-force exercises that sim-
ulate the security threats consistent with the design 
basis threats applicable to the designated nuclear fa-
cility. 
‘‘(5) PERFORMANCE CRITERIA.—The Commis-
sion shall establish performance criteria for judging 
the security response evaluations. 
‘‘(6) CORRECTIVE ACTION.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—When any of the per-
formance criteria established under paragraph 
(5) are not satisfied—
‘‘(i) the licensee or certificate holder 
shall promptly correct any defects in per-
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2700
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise the methodology 
by which payment for orphan drugs and biologicals is made under pro-
gram prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department 
services under the Medicare Program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 10, 2003
Mr. COX (for himself, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. ISSA, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. BOUCHER, 
Mr. BERMAN, and Mr. POMEROY) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to 
the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revise 
the methodology by which payment for orphan drugs 
and biologicals is made under program prospective pay-
ment system for hospital outpatient department services 
under the Medicare Program.
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 ‘‘Medicare Patient Ac-
cess to Drugs for Rare Diseases Act of 2003’’.
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2701
To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend to additional military 
retirees with service-connected disabilities the special compensation au-
thority provided for certain retirees with combat-related disabilities. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 10, 2003
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend to addi-
tional military retirees with service-connected disabilities 
the special compensation authority provided for certain 
retirees with combat-related disabilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to continue the process 
of enactment, through an incremental approach, of the 
elimination of the requirement, in the case of a retired 
member of the uniformed services who has a service-con-
nected disability, of the offset of that member’s military
retired pay by the amount of disability compensation that 
member receives from the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs, with the eventual goal of providing for such a mem-
ber full concurrent receipt of the member’s retired pay and 
veterans’ disability compensation. 
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF SPECIAL COMPENSATION PAYMENT 
AUTHORITY FOR MILITARY RETIREES WITH 
SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES. 
(a) REPEAL OF LIMITATION TO COMBAT-RELATED 
DISABILITIES.—Section 1413a of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘combat-related’’ each place it 
appears in subsection (a), (b), (c), and (d); and 
(2) in subsection (e)—
(A) by striking ‘‘COMBAT-RELATED’’ in 
the subsection heading; 
(B) by striking ‘‘combat-related’’ in the 
matter preceding paragraph (1); and 
(C) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) A service-connected disability that is rated 
as not less than 50 percent disabling—
‘‘(A) by the Secretary concerned, as of the 
date on which the member is retired from the
uniformed services, under criteria prescribed by 
the Secretary of Defense; or 
‘‘(B) by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—(1) The heading of 
such section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1413a. Special compensation for certain disabled 
uniformed services retirees ’’. 
(2) The item relating to such section in the table of 
sections at the beginning of such section is amended to 
read as follows:
‘‘1413a. Special compensation for certain disabled uniformed services retirees.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to payments of spe-
cial compensation under section 1413a of title 10, United 
States Code, as amended by subsection (a), payable for 
months beginning after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
Æ
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2703
To reserve a small percentage of the amounts made available to the Secretary 
of Agriculture for the farmland protection program to fund challenge 
grants to encourage the purchase of conservation easements and other 
interests in land to be held by a State agency, county, or other eligible 
entity, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 10, 2003
Mr. GERLACH (for himself and Mr. ENGLISH) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To reserve a small percentage of the amounts made available 
to the Secretary of Agriculture for the farmland protec-
tion program to fund challenge grants to encourage the 
purchase of conservation easements and other interests 
in land to be held by a State agency, county, or other 
eligible entity, and for other purposes.
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 ‘‘Farmland Protection 
Program Challenge Grant Act of 2003’’.
SEC. 
2. 
ADDITIONAL 
TITLE-HOLDING 
OPTION 
UNDER 
FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM. 
Section 1238I of the Farm Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3838i) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) OPTION FOR TITLE TO BE HELD BY ELIGIBLE 
ENTITY.—
‘‘(1) RESERVATION OF FUNDS; PURPOSE.—Of 
the funds made available under section 1241(a)(4) 
for fiscal year 2003 and thereafter to carry out this 
section, the Secretary shall use not less than 15 per-
cent to make grants to support cooperative efforts 
by an eligible State agency, a county, and one or 
more other eligible entities to purchase conservation 
easements and other interests in eligible land under 
subsection (a), the title to which will be held by an 
eligible entity rather than the United States. 
‘‘(2) COST
SHARING.—Notwithstanding sub-
section (c)(1), the share of the cost of purchasing a 
conservation easement or other interest in eligible 
land borne by the United States under this sub-
section shall not exceed 25 percent. The State agen-
cy involved in the purchase shall contribute 25 per-
cent of the purchase price, the county involved in the 
purchase shall contribute 25 percent of the purchase 
price, and the other eligible entities involved in the
purchase shall contribute 25 percent of the purchase 
price. 
‘‘(3) PROHIBITION ON USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—
Federal funds made available under this subsection 
may not be used by grant recipients for administra-
tive purposes.’’.
Æ
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2706
To clarify the treatment of tax attributes under section 108 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 for taxpayers which file consolidated returns. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 10, 2003
Mr. MCCRERY (for himself, Mr. MCINNIS, and Mr. MATSUI) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To clarify the treatment of tax attributes under section 108 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for taxpayers 
which file consolidated returns.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. CLARIFICATION OF THE TREATMENT OF TAX 
ATTRIBUTES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 108(b) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to reduction of tax at-
tributes) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) AFFILIATED
GROUPS.—If the tax-
payer is a member of an affiliated group of cor-
porations which files a consolidated return 
under section 1501, the tax attributes described 
in paragraph (1) shall be the aggregate tax at-
tributes of such group. The Secretary shall pre-
scribe such regulations as may be necessary 
under section 1502 to carry out the purposes of 
this paragraph.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to discharges of indebtedness 
occurring after June 25, 2003, except that discharges of 
indebtedness under any plan of reorganization in a case 
under title 11, United States Code, shall be deemed to 
occur on the date such plan is confirmed.
Æ
‘‘(II) any property owned or in 
the possession of a licensee or certifi-
cate holder that—
‘‘(aa) is significant to the 
common defense and security; or 
‘‘(bb) is being transported to 
or from a facility described in 
clause (i); and 
(III) any other activity of a li-
censee or certificate holder, subject to 
the requirements of the Atomic En-
ergy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et 
seq.), that is significant to the com-
mon defense and security; 
‘‘(ii) for a facility or material licensed 
or certified under the Atomic Energy Act 
of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.)—
‘‘(I) developing contingency plans 
for dealing with threats, thefts, and 
sabotage; and 
‘‘(II) monitoring, reviewing, and 
evaluating security and safeguards; 
‘‘(iii) recommending upgrades to in-
ternal accounting systems for special nu-
clear and other materials licensed or cer-
United States, whether a foreign govern-
ment or any other person; 
‘‘(ii) a type of threat falling under the 
responsibility of a State or local govern-
ment; or 
‘‘(iii) a type of threat the defense 
against which the Commission determines 
should be the responsibility of a licensee or 
certificate holder; 
‘‘(B) coordination of Federal, State, and 
local security efforts to protect against terrorist 
or other criminal attacks at designated nuclear 
facilities; 
‘‘(C) the adequacy of planning to protect 
the public health and safety in the event of a 
terrorist attack against a designated nuclear fa-
cility, including—
‘‘(i) matters relating to the adequacy 
of emergency planning zones; 
‘‘(ii) matters relating to the adequacy 
and coordination of Federal, State, and 
local emergency planning and other meas-
ures; and
(b) GRANTS.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretaries $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 to award 
as grants under section 2(d). 
(c) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretaries $25,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2010 to carry out the 
program of demonstration projects under section 3.
Amend the title to read as follows: ‘‘A bill to provide 
for an assessment of the extent of the invasion of Salt 
Cedar and Russian Olive on lands in the Western United 
States and efforts to date to control such invasion on 
public and private lands, including tribal lands, and to di-
rect the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Agriculture, to carry out a demonstra-
tion program to address any shortcomings in current con-
trol efforts, and for other purposes.’’.
Union Calendar No. 244
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2707
[Report No. 108–424, Part I] 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretaries of the Interior and Agri-
culture, acting through the U.S. Forest Service, 
to carry out a demonstration program to assess 
potential water savings through control of Salt 
Cedar and Russian Olive on forests and public 
lands administered by the Department of the In-
terior and the U.S. Forest Service. 
FEBRUARY 24, 2004
Reported from the Committee on Resources with 
amendments 
FEBRUARY 24, 2004
Referral to the Committee on Agriculture extended for a 
period ending not later than February 24, 2004
FEBRUARY 24, 2004
Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the 
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the 
Union and ordered to be printed
‘‘(4) CONSOLIDATION LOANS.—With respect to 
any consolidation loan under section 428C for which 
the application is received by an eligible lender on or 
after October 1, 1998, and before January 1, 2004, 
the applicable rate of interest shall be at an annual 
rate on the unpaid principal balance of the loan that 
is equal to the lesser of—
‘‘(A) the weighted average of the interest 
rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the 
nearest higher one-eighth of 1 percent; or 
‘‘(B) 8.25 percent. 
‘‘(5) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall de-
termine the applicable rate of interest under this 
subsection after consultation with the Secretary of 
the Treasury and shall publish such rate in the Fed-
eral Register as soon as practicable after the date of 
determination. 
‘‘(l) INTEREST RATES
FOR NEW LOANS
ON
OR 
AFTER JANUARY 1, 2004.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(h), with respect to any loan made, insured, or guar-
anteed under this part (other than a loan made pur-
suant to section 428B or 428C) for which the first 
disbursement is made on or after January 1, 2004, 
the applicable rate of interest shall, during any 12-
(i) Section 3(c) of the Voting Accessibility for the El-
derly and Handicapped Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ee–1(c)) is 
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Federal Elec-
tion Commission’’ and inserting ‘‘Federal Election 
Administration’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Federal Elec-
tion Commission’’ and inserting ‘‘Federal Election 
Administration’’. 
SEC. 205. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—This title and the amendments 
made by this title shall take effect on the date that is 6 
months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) TERMINATION OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION COM-
MISSION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of, or 
amendment made by, this Act, the members of the Federal 
Election Commission shall be removed from office on the 
date described in subsection (a).
Æ
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘State Justice Institute
Reauthorization Act of 2004’’.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 215 of the State Justice Institute Act of 1984
(42 U.S.C. 10713) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
‘‘SEC. 215. There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out the purposes of this title, $7,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. Amounts ap-
propriated for each such year are to remain available until
expended.’’.
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
(a) STATUS OF INSTITUTE.—Section 205(c) of the
State Justice Institute Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10704(c))
is amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(3) The Institute may purchase goods and services
from the General Services Administration in order to carry
out its functions.’’.
(b) STATUS AS OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE
UNITED STATES.—Section 205(d)(2) of the State Justice
Institute Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10704(d)(2)) is amended
by inserting ‘‘, notwithstanding section 8914 of such title’’
after ‘‘(relating to health insurance)’’.
be allocated equally among the remaining 22 VISNs 
before implementation of the new formula.
Æ
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2710
To ensure that a flag is furnished to drape the casket of each public safety 
officer killed in the line of duty. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 10, 2003
Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To ensure that a flag is furnished to drape the casket of 
each public safety officer killed in the line of duty.
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 ‘‘Public Safety Officers 
Flag Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FLAG FURNISHED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS 
KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity shall furnish a flag to drape the casket of each public 
safety officer killed in the line of duty.
(b) FURNISHING AFTER BURIAL.—After the burial 
of such a public safety officer, the flag so furnished shall 
be given to the officer’s next of kin. If no claim is made 
for the flag by the next of kin, it may be given, upon re-
quest, to a close friend or associate of the deceased officer. 
If a flag is given to a close friend or associate of the de-
ceased officer, no flag shall be given to any other person 
on account of the death of such officer. 
(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘public 
safety officer’’ means an individual serving a public agency 
in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as 
a law enforcement officer, as a firefighter, or as a member 
of a rescue squad or ambulance crew.
Æ
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2711
To permit refinancing of Federal student consolidation loans, and to permit 
students freedom to select a student loan consolidator. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 10, 2003
Mr. WU (for himself, Mr. SIMMONS, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. BRADY 
of Pennsylvania, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. CLAY, Mr. FARR, Mr. FILNER, Mr. 
RAHALL, Mr. FORD, Mr. PETRI, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, 
Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. GOODE, Mr. BOU-
CHER, Mr. SANDLIN, Ms. LEE, Mr. OWENS, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. 
ETHERIDGE, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. UDALL of Colo-
rado, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. SHAYS, Ms. 
BALDWIN, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. RYAN of 
Ohio, Mr. RUSH, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. RAN-
GEL, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Mr. TERRY, Mr. PETERSON 
of Minnesota, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. HOLT, Mr. ISRAEL, Mrs. JONES of 
Ohio, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. ROSS, Ms. WATSON, Mr. MOORE, 
and Mr. GRIJALVA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To permit refinancing of Federal student consolidation loans, 
and to permit students freedom to select a student loan 
consolidator.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,