BAKER, RICHARD H. (a Representative from Louisiana)
Amendments
Depts. of Veterans Affairs and HUD, and sundry independent agencies: making appropriations (H.R. 4635), H4675 [19JN]
Foreign operations, export financing, and related programs: making appropriations (H.R. 4811), H5956 [12JY]
Analyses
Housing-Related Government-Sponsored Enterprises Regulation Consolidation and Improvement (H.R. 3703), E198
Bills and resolutions cosponsored
Abortion: provide grants for State programs to provide pregnant women with alternatives to abortion (see H.R. 2901), H50 [27JA]
———provide that the inferior courts do not have jurisdiction to hear partial-birth abortion-related cases (see H.R. 3691), H510 [16FE]
Armed Forces: declare the American GI as the ``Person of the Century'' for the 20th century (see H. Con. Res. 282), H2013 [10AP]
———improve Montgomery GI Bill benefits by improving and expanding educational assistance programs (see H.R. 4268), H2336 [13AP]
Boy Scouts: tribute (see H. Con. Res. 384), H7723 [18SE]
Census: limit penalties for refusing or neglecting to answer decennial census questions beyond those necessary for enumeration of the population (see H.R. 4154), H2239 [12AP]
China, Republic of: accession to the World Trade Organization (see H. Con. Res. 262), H1629 [30MR]
———congratulations on elections and reaffirmation of U.S. commitment to security and democracy (see H. Con. Res. 292), H1407 [23MR]
———elections (see H. Con. Res. 272), H921 [9MR]
———U.N. participation (see H. Con. Res. 390), H8201 [26SE]
Computers: prevent the use of certain bank instruments for Internet gambling (see H.R. 4419), H2905 [10MY]
———require schools and libraries to install and use Internet filtering or blocking technology to be eligible for Federal funds for computers (see H.R. 4600), H4120 [8JN]
Consumers: require disclosure of terms of rental-purchase agreements (see H.R. 1634), H3925 [6JN]
Courts: establish legal standards and procedures for the fair, prompt, inexpensive, and efficient resolution of asbestos exposure personal injury claims (see H.R. 1283), H511 [16FE]
———provide for equitable treatment of governmental and private plaintiffs in certain civil actions (see H.R. 2597), H4817 [21JN]
Dept. of Defense: deny educational assistance funds to local educational agencies that deny access to secondary school students for military recruiting purposes (see H.R. 4660), H5169 [26JN]
Dept. of Justice: appointment of an independent counsel to investigate whether officials from the People's Republic of China tried to illegally influence the 1996 Presidential election (see H.R. 5161), H7871 [19SE]
Dept. of Transportation: prohibit action to finalize, implement, or enforce a rule relative to the hours of service of drivers for motor carriers (see H.R. 4511), H4675 [19JN]
Dept. of Veterans Affairs: establish presumption of service connection for certain chronic symptoms of Persian Gulf Conflict veterans (see H.R. 2697), H50 [27JA]
———reaffirm and clarify duty of the Secretary to administer laws which assist claimants for benefits (see H.R. 4864), H6471 [18JY]
Diseases: address problems associated with polycystic kidney disease (see H. Res. 537), H11195 [25OC]
———increased support and funding to combat juvenile diabetes (see H. Con. Res. 321), H4036 [7JN]
Drugs: clarify application of Federal controlled substances laws in States that authorize medical use of marijuana and other drugs (see H.R. 4802), H5655 [29JN]
———combat manufacture, traffic, import, and export of methamphetamine (see H.R. 4248), H2238 [12AP]
Education: increase amount of loan forgiveness for teachers (see H.R. 3880), H3813 [24MY]
———support teachers (see H. Res. 492), H2655 [8MY]
———tribute to Catholic schools (see H. Res. 409), H90 [31JA]
EPA: ensure changes to the rule on water quality standards total maximum daily load program are subjected to public and congressional review (see H.R. 4922), H7212 [27JY]
———repeal rule on water quality standards total maximum daily load program (see H.J. Res. 105), H6470 [18JY]
Fair Housing Act: amend (see H.R. 2836), H922 [9MR]
Fair Labor Standards Act: prohibit issuance of a certificate for subminimum wages for individuals with impaired vision (see H.R. 3540), H5436 [28JN]
FCC: clarify service obligations of noncommercial educational broadcast stations (see H.R. 4201), H2607 [4MY]
———follow normal rulemaking procedures in establishing additional requirements for noncommercial educational television broadcasters (see H.R. 3525), H48 [27JA]
FDA: establish restrictions relative to the qualifications of physicians prescribing the abortion drug known as RU-486 (see H.R. 5385), H8799 [4OC]
Federal Water Pollution Control Act: improve implementation (see H.R. 4502), H5241 [27JN]
FHA: require partial rebates of mortgage insurance premiums to certain mortgagors upon payment of their FHA-insured mortgages (see H.R. 4795), H7212 [27JY]
Financial institutions: repeal authority of the FDIC and the FRS Board of Governors to impose examination fees on State depository institutions (see H.R. 3900), H921 [9MR]
Firearms: prohibit funding to give or withhold a preference to a seller of firearms or ammunition relative to an agreement on enhanced safety of handguns and pistols (see H.R. 4257), H5037 [22JN]
Gonzalez, Henry B.: tribute (see H. Con. Res. 445), H12095 [14DE]
Government: separation of powers between Congress and the President (see H.R. 2655), H50 [27JA]
Health: emphasize the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation, and support National Donor Day (see H. Con. Res. 247), H254 [8FE]
Higgins, Andrew Jackson and family: award Congressional Gold Medals (see H.R. 4384), H2605 [4MY]
Higgins Industries: award Congressional Gold Medal to World War II-era employees (see H.R. 4384), H2605 [4MY]
Investments: establish regulatory framework for over-the-counter derivative instruments operating under Federal banking agencies and clarify legality of certain transactions involving such derivatives (see H.R. 4203), H1956 [6AP]
Korean War: anniversary (see H.J. Res. 86), H165 [1FE]
Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.: grant Federal charter (see H.R. 1671), H7723 [18SE]
Law enforcement officers: clarify procedures and conditions for the award of matching grants for the purchase of armor vests (see H.R. 4033), H1407 [23MR]
———ensure confidentiality of personnel records or personal information (see H.R. 3694), H3926 [6JN]
Medicaid: establish a new prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (see H.R. 2341), H6470 [18JY]
———waive disproportionate share hospital designation for certain rural hospitals relative to obstetrician requirements (see H.R. 4793), H5654 [29JN]
Medicare: designate certain diabetes educators as certified providers for purposes of outpatient diabetes education services (see H.R. 3003), H575 [29FE]
———improve methodology for the calculation of Medicare+Choice program payment rates (see H.R. 4951), H7002 [25JY]
———revise inflation update factor used in making payments to prospective payment system hospitals (see H.R. 3576), H632 [1MR] (see H.R. 3580), H2905 [10MY]
———waive waiting period for coverage and provide coverage of drugs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (see H.R. 353), H5084 [23JN]
Middle East: condemn current level of violence between Israelis and Palestinians (see H. Con. Res. 426), H10257 [18OC]
———prohibit U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority if a Palestinian state is declared unilaterally (see H.R. 4976), H7933 [20SE]
National Apprenticeship Act: ensure that applications relating to apprenticeship programs are processed in a fair and timely manner (see H.R. 4781), H5435 [28JN]
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Engineering: establish (see H.R. 1795), H4817 [21JN]
Occupational Safety and Health Act: require changes in the bloodborne pathogens standard (see H.R. 5178), H7992 [21SE]
———waive applicability to employment performed in an employee's residence (see H.R. 3518), H2239 [12AP]
Olympic games: mint commemorative coins to support the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games and U.S. Olympic Committee programs (see H.R. 3679), H509 [16FE]
Pensions: reform (see H.R. 1102), H6354 [17JY]
Pope John Paul II: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 3544), H1120 [16MR]
Postal Service: issue a semipostal in order to afford the public a convenient way to contribute to funding for the establishment of the World War II Memorial (see H.R. 4492), H3813 [24MY]
Power resources: establish a commission to review and explore ways for the U.S. to become energy self-sufficient (see H.R. 4035), H1675 [3AP]
———establish and implement competitive, environmentally sound, and job creating oil and gas leasing program for the Coastal Plain (see H.R. 2250), H2340 [13AP]
Racial relations: recognize the significant contribution the Birmingham Pledge has made in fostering racial harmony and reconciliation (see H.J. Res. 102), H4784 [20JN]
Railroads: enhance competition between rail carriers (see H.R. 2784), H2239 [12AP]
———modernize financing of railroad retirement system and provide enhanced benefits to employees and beneficiaries (see H.R. 4844), H6600 [19JY]
———protection of train employees (see H.R. 3091), H455 [15FE]
Reagan, Ronald and Nancy: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 3591), H253 [8FE]
Rural areas: provide funds for automatic external defibrillators and the training of individuals in advanced cardiac life support (see H.R. 4953), H7002 [25JY]
Small business: establish minimum standards of fair conduct in franchise sales and franchise business relationships (see H.R. 3308), H255 [8FE]
Smithsonian Institution: mint coins in commemoration of the National Museum of the American Indian (see H.R. 4259), H4121 [8JN]
Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act: rename as the ``McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act'' (see H.R. 5417), H9504 [6OC]
Tariff: prevent circumvention of the sugar tariff-rate quotas (see H.R. 5423), H9504 [6OC]
Taxation: allow a refundable credit for health insurance costs (see H.R. 4113), H5656 [29JN]
———allow certain deductions for school bus owner-operators (see H.R. 4050), H1163 [21MR]
———allow credit for elementary and secondary school teachers who provide classroom materials (see H.R. 4025), H1477 [28MR]
———allow credit to businesses who employ military reservists and a comparable credit to self-employed military reservists, and restore deductions for services performed by military reservists (see H.R. 3915), H5656 [29JN]
———allow small business employers a credit for certain expenses for long-term training of employees in highly skilled small business trades (see H.R. 1824), H373 [14FE]
———allow tax-free rollovers of amounts in one qualified State tuition program to another qualified State tuition program for the same beneficiary (see H.R. 3674), H1120 [16MR]
———constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds majority on the passage of legislation increasing taxes (see H.J. Res. 94), H1957 [6AP]
———exclude from unrelated business taxable income amounts set aside by a volunteer fire department for purchasing equipment (see H.R. 3168), H3172 [16MY]
———exempt State and local political committees from certain notification and reporting requirements applicable to political organizations (see H.R. 5265), H8406 [27SE]
———expand incentives for the construction and renovation of public schools (see H.R. 1760), H1077 [15MR]
———full deduction of health insurance costs for self-employed individuals (see H.R. 980), H4484 [14JN]
———incentives for education (see H.R. 254), H632 [1MR]
———incentives to ensure timely and equitable access to the Internet over current and future generations of broadband capability (see H.R. 4728), H10036 [17OC]
———increase annual limitation on nondeductible contributions and adjust for inflation the amount of deductible contributions to individual retirement accounts (see H.R. 1322), H255 [8FE]
———increase lifetime learning credit for secondary teachers returning to school for additional training (see H.R. 638), H632 [1MR]
———provide tax credit for elementary and secondary school teachers (see H.R. 937), H165 [1FE]
———provide tax incentives to enhance long-term care and convene a National Summit on Long-Term Care (see H.R. 4498), H3412 [18MY]
———remove mandatory withdrawal requirements for individual retirement accounts (see H.R. 252), H1412 [27MR]
———repeal excise tax on telephone use and other communications services (see H.R. 3916), H2013 [10AP]
———repeal modification of capital gains tax payments relative to small businesses sold on the installment sales method (see H.R. 3594), H758 [8MR]
———terminate Internal Revenue Code (see H.R. 4199), H1956 [6AP]
———treatment of adoption expenses (see H.R. 531), H6777 [24JY]
———treatment of computers provided to employees for personal use (see H.R. 4274), H3523 [22MY]
———treatment of depreciation of computers and peripheral equipment (see H.R. 1560), H5036 [22JN]
———treatment of education individual retirement accounts relative to elementary and secondary school expenses (see H.R. 7), H574 [29FE]
———treatment of tax-exempt bond financing of certain electrical output facilities (see H.R. 721), H209 [2FE]
Television: ensure local service to small, rural markets by satellite providers (see H.R. 3615), H339 [10FE]
Terrorism: improve Federal efforts to prepare for, and respond to, terrorist attacks (see H.R. 4210), H4121 [8JN]
Veterans: require employers to give employees who are members of reserve components leave of absence to participate in an honor guard for veterans' funerals (see H.R. 284), H7723 [18SE]
Veterans Health Administration: improve personnel system (see H.R. 5109), H7723 [18SE]
Volunteer firefighters: remove civil liability barriers surrounding donating fire equipment to volunteer fire companies (see H.R. 4736), H7281 [6SE]
Water pollution: exempt discharges from certain silviculture activities from permit requirements of the national pollutant discharge elimination system (see H.R. 3625), H1852 [5AP]
Water Resources Research Act: reauthorize grants for water resources research and technology institutes (see H.R. 4132), H2512 [3MY]
Bills and resolutions introduced
Friedman, Milton: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 4672), H4590 [15JN]
Housing: consolidate and improve the regulation of the housing-related Government-sponsored enterprises (see H.R. 3703), H572 [29FE]
Mental health: issue commemorative postage stamp to raise autism awareness (see H. Res. 458), H1763 [4AP]
Taxation: extend filing period for credits or refunds (see H.R. 4204), H1956 [6AP]
Remarks
Angola, LA: Louisiana State Penitentiary hospice program recipient of the American Hospital Association Circle of Life Award, E691
Commodity Exchange Act: reauthorize and amend to promote legal certainty, enhance competition, and reduce systemic risk in markets for futures and over-the-counter derivatives (H.R. 4541), H10447
Foreign operations, export financing, and related programs: making appropriations (H.R. 4811), H6016 [13JY]
Housing: consolidate and improve the regulation of the housing-related Government-sponsored enterprises (H.R. 3703), E197
Louisiana State University: tribute to baseball team, E1164
Mental health: issue commemorative postage stamp to raise autism awareness (H. Res. 458), E514
Panama Canal: negotiate new agreement relative to the presence of U.S. Armed Forces, H6016 [13JY]
Tributes
Jacobsen, Robert, E1166
Morrison, James H., H7071 [26JY]
Reynolds, Aiden and Shelly, E514