BILIRAKIS, MICHAEL (a Representative from Florida)

Appointments

Conferee: S. 1438, Dept. of Defense appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction, H7097 [17OC]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Animals: improve enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act as it applies to commercial dog breeders (see H.R. 3058), H10910 [19DE]

Arlington National Cemetery: reform burial eligibility requirements for certain veterans and their dependents (see H.R. 3423), H9076 [6DE]

Armed Forces: authorize the award of a Cold War service medal to members who served honorably during the Cold War era (see H.R. 2165), H4113 [17JY]

———restore certain education benefits of reservist and active duty servicemembers participating in military action against Afghanistan (see H.R. 3240), H7908 [7NO]

———restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services (see H.R. 179), H650 [6MR]

———tribute to U.S. servicemen who died in the terrorist bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia (see H. Con. Res. 161), H3519 [25JN]

Aviation: provide assistance for employees who are separated from employment due to reductions in service by air carriers and airport closures caused by terrorist actions or security measures (see H.R. 2946), H6380 [4OC]

Birds: prohibit interstate movement of live birds, for the purpose of fighting, to States in which animal fighting is lawful (see H.R. 1155), H1411 [3AP]

Budget: establish 2-year cycle (see H.R. 981), H875 [13MR]

CERCLA: exempt small businesses from certain liability (see H.R. 1831), H2182 [15MY]

Charity Accountability Board: establish (see H.R. 3192), H8339 [16NO]

China, People's Republic of: withdraw normal trade relations status (see H.R. 1467), H1485 (see H.R. 1467), H1495 [4AP]

China, Republic of: endorse and obtain observer status at the World Health Assembly summit in Switzerland (see H.R. 2739), H8421 [27NO]

———membership in international institutions (see H. Con. Res. 219), H5455 [6SE] (see H. Res. 221), H5338 [2AU]

———participation in WHO (see H.R. 428), H219 [7FE]

Citizenship: restrict citizenship of individuals based solely on birth in the U.S. (see H.R. 190), H4352 [19JY]

Communications Act: increase penalties for common carrier violations (see H.R. 1765), H2022 [8MY]

Congress: hold joint session in New York, NY (see H. Con. Res. 249), H8339 [16NO]

Congressional Gold Medal: award posthumously to passengers and crew of United Airlines flight 93 in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H.R. 2917), H8843 [4DE]

Cuba: assist internal opposition and further help the Cuban people to regain their freedom (see H.R. 1271), H1294 [28MR]

Dept. of Defense: use of facilities as polling places for Federal, State, and local elections (see H.R. 2006), H2710 [24MY]

Dept. of Education: provide specific waiver authority to respond to conditions in the national emergency declared by the President (see H.R. 3086), H6700 [11OC]

Dept. of HHS: antimicrobial resistance activities in the interagency public health action plan (see H.R. 1771), H2081 [9MY]

———establish an Office on Men's Health (see H.R. 632), H394 [14FE]

Dept. of Labor: impose limitations on the wage that an employer is required to pay an H-2A nonimmigrant agricultural worker (see H.R. 2457), H6458 [9OC]

Dept. of the Interior: conduct special resource study on the inclusion of Virginia Key Beach, FL, in the National Park System (see H.R. 2109), H10966 [20DE]

———establish the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site (see H.R. 400), H1116 [22MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: authorize construction projects for the purpose of improving, renovating, and updating VA patient care facilities (see H.R. 811), H621 [1MR]

———establish emergency medical preparedness centers (see H.R. 3253), H7958 [8NO]

———make service dogs available to disabled veterans and make various other improvements in health care benefits (see H.R. 2792), H6505 [10OC]

———make various improvements to veterans benefits programs (see H.R. 2540), H4215 [18JY]

Diseases: expand research activities relative to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (see H.R. 717), H398 [14FE]

———extend issuance of special postage stamps to fund breast cancer research (see H.R. 2725), H5333 [2AU]

Education: establish and expand programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (see H.R. 100, 101), H224 [7FE]

Electric power: provide that no electric utility shall be required to enter into a new contract or obligation to purchase or to sell electricity or capacity (see H.R. 381), H877 [13MR]

Employment: provide effective training and education programs for displaced homemakers, single parents, and individuals entering nontraditional employment (see H.R. 2489), H4008 [12JY]

Firearms: permit States to provide reciprocal treatment for carrying of certain concealed firearms by nonresidents (see H.R. 950), H8842 [4DE]

———protect and enforce the right to obtain and use firearms for security, self-defense, and other legitimate purposes (see H.R. 31), H1556 [24AP]

Flag—U.S.: constitutional amendment to prohibit desecration (see H.J. Res. 36), H876 [13MR]

———encourage displaying of the flag in response to hijacking and crashing of aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H. Con. Res. 225), H5616 [13SE]

Florida: prohibit offshore drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf (see H.R. 1631), H1659 [26AP]

Gambling: expand and modernize the prohibition against interstate gambling (see H.R. 3215), H9078 [6DE]

Health: authorize grants to carry out organ recovery rate improvement programs in eligible hospitals (see H.R. 953), H2023 [8MY]

———establish Dept. of Defense and Dept. of Veterans Affairs demonstration project on the integrated management of health care resources (see H.R. 2667), H4779 [27JY]

———improve access to health care services for uninsured and low-income individuals in medically under served areas (see H. Res. 87), H877 [13MR]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (see H.R. 2315), H3618 [26JN]

Homeless: improve programs for veterans (see H.R. 2716), H6702 [11OC]

Housing: provide affordability and ensure a competitive North American market for softwood lumber (see H. Con. Res. 45), H507 [28FE]

Insurance: coverage of long-term care services (see H. Con. Res. 37), H399 [14FE]

Iran and Libya Sanctions Act: extend authorities (see H.R. 1954), H2677 [23MY]

Iron and steel industry: provide certain safeguards relative to the domestic steel industry (see H.R. 808), H621 [1MR]

Joseph W. Westmoreland Post Office Building, Jay, FL: designate (see H.R. 2240), H3619 [26JN]

Karekin II: tribute (see H. Con. Res. 139), H2571 [22MY]

Labor unions: protect the free choice of individual employees relative to participation in labor organizations (see H.R. 1109), H3863 [10JY]

Languages: repeal Executive order on providing access to Federal programs and activities for persons with limited English proficiency (see H.R. 969), H6458 [9OC]

Law enforcement officers: exempt from State laws prohibiting the carrying of concealed handguns (see H.R. 218), H112 [30JA]

Marjory Williams Scrivens Post Office, Miami, FL: designate (see H.R. 364), H443 [27FE]

Medicaid: delay changes in regulations that modify upper payment limit for non-State government-owned or operated hospitals (see H.R. 3360), H9078 [6DE]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (see H.R. 600), H323 [13FE]

Medicare: designate certain diabetes educators as certified providers for purposes of outpatient diabetes education services (see H.R. 1645), H5704 [14SE]

———provide regulatory relief, appeals process reforms, contracting flexibility, and education improvements (see H.R. 3046), H6379 [4OC]

———provide regulatory relief and contracting flexibility (see H.R. 3391), H8842 [4DE]

Mental health: issue commemorative postage stamp to raise autism awareness (see H. Res. 108), H2023 [8MY]

National Day of Remembrance: designate (see H. Con. Res. 230), H5928 [21SE]

National Guard: tribute to members who were killed in the aircraft crash in south-central Georgia (see H. Con. Res. 47), H649 [6MR]

National Health Center Week: establish (see H. Con. Res. 179), H3805 [28JN]

National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day: add to the list of days on which the flag should be especially displayed (see H.R. 2675), H4862 [30JY]

National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week: designate (see H. Con. Res. 59), H1411 [3AP]

NATO: endorse further enlargement (see H.R. 3167), H7719 [1NO]

———recommend the integration of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (see H. Con. Res. 116), H2890 [5JN]

Patriotism: mint coins in commemoration of the Spirit of America and to establish the Victims of September 11th Fund (see H.R. 3244), H9078 [6DE]

Petroleum: condemn gasoline price-gouging following hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H. Res. 238), H5704 [14SE]

Pipelines: inclusion of Armenia in all oil and gas pipeline routes built in the South Caucasus region (see H. Con. Res. 162), H4353 [19JY]

Postal Service: guidelines for renovation, relocation, closing, or consolidation of post offices (see H.R. 1861), H2279 [16MY]

Public Health Service Act: amend relative to the shortage of medical laboratory personnel (see H.R. 1948), H2570 [22MY]

Reagan, Ronald: tribute (see H.J. Res. 7), H166 [31JA]

Ronald W. Reagan Post Office Building, Melbourne, FL: designate (see H.R. 395), H218 [7FE]

SBA: authorize loans to small businesses and certain other businesses that suffered substantial economic injury as a result of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H.R. 3230), H8249 [15NO]

Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance: increase amount paid to survivors of certain members of the Armed Forces who died in the performance of duty (see H.R. 1015), H956 [15MR]

Social Security: computation system for benefits relative to spouses' or surviving spouses' Government pensions (see H.R. 664), H444 [27FE]

———ensure entitled entities comply with certain regulations providing for the electronic exchange of health information (see H.R. 3323), H8843 [4DE]

Sports: make antitrust laws applicable to the elimination or relocation of Major League Baseball franchises (see H.R. 3288), H10966 [20DE]

Taxation: allow a refundable credit for education expenses of children receiving or eligible to receive free or reduced price school meals (see H.R. 316), H224 [7FE]

———allow a tax credit for certain energy-efficient property (see H.R. 2206), H3202 [14JN]

———constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds majority on the passage of legislation increasing taxes (see H.J. Res. 41), H1115 [22MR]

———encourage stronger mathematics and science programs at elementary and secondary schools (see H.R. 102), H224 [7FE]

———permit churches and other houses of worship to engage in political campaigns (see H.R. 2357), H4949 [31JY]

———provide tax-exempt status for organizations created by a State to provide property and casualty insurance coverage for property (see H.R. 1789), H2082 [9MY]

———provide that ancestors or lineal descendants of members of the Armed Forces shall be taken into account in determining tax-exempt status of veterans' organizations (see H.R. 1754), H3203 [14JN]

———reduce estate and gift tax rates (see H.R. 42), H26 [3JA]

———reduce marriage tax penalty by adjusting the income tax rate brackets, standard deduction amounts, and earned income tax credit and allow nonrefundable credits against certain tax liability (see H.R. 6), H952 [15MR]

———repeal estate and gift taxes (see H.R. 8), H926 [14MR]

———repeal excise tax on telephone use and other communications services (see H.R. 236), H224 [7FE]

———repeal limits on the deduction for interest on education loans and increase income threshold for the phase out of such deduction (see H.R. 436), H4428 [23JY]

———treatment of adoption expenses (see H.R. 622), H393 [14FE]

———treatment of depreciation of computers and other technological equipment, software, and certain auction-acquired telecommunications licenses (see H.R. 2981), H6135 [2OC]

———treatment of expenses in connection with services as a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces (see H.R. 968), H1660 [26AP]

———treatment of flexible spending arrangements relative to long-term care insurance (see H.R. 831), H4009 [12JY]

———treatment of the sale of a principal residence by a member of the Armed Forces while on official extended duty (see H.R. 356), H1346 [29MR]

———treatment of the sale of a principal residence by a member of the uniformed services or Foreign Service (see H.R. 1596), H2712 [24MY]

Terrorism: establish a partnership between the Depts. of Veterans Affairs and Defense to develop education and training programs on medical responses to consequences of terrorist attacks (see H.R. 3254), H7958 [8NO]

———improve the ability of the U.S. to prepare for and respond to a biological threat or attack (see H.R. 3448), H9239 [11DE]

———issue commemorative postage stamp to assist families of victims of attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H.R. 2907), H5928 [21SE]

Turkey: claim of sovereignty over islands and islets in the Aegean Sea (see H. Con. Res. 97), H1487 (see H. Con. Res. 97), H1499 [4AP]

———end restrictions on freedoms and human rights of the enclaved people of Cyprus (see H. Con. Res. 269), H8133 [13NO]

Veterans: change effective date for paid-up coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan (see H.R. 699), H650 [6MR]

———improve educational assistance programs, expand transition assistance and outreach programs, increase burial benefits, and provide family coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (see H.R. 801), H828 [8MR]

———increase educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (see H.R. 1291), H1343 [29MR]

———increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for certain surviving spouses (see H.R. 548), H412 [26FE]

———issue commemorative postage stamp honoring Purple Heart recipients (see H. Con. Res. 104), H1487 (see H. Con. Res. 104), H1499 [4AP]

———permit concurrent receipt of military retired pay with service-connected disability benefits (see H.R. 609), H393 [14FE]

Vietnam Veterans Memorial: authorize design and construction of a temporary education center (see H.R. 510), H650 [6MR]

Voting: guarantee the right of military personnel to vote when serving away from home and extend voter registration and absentee ballot protections for such personnel to State and local elections (see H.R. 1377), H3260 [19JN]

———require States to find convincing evidence of fraud before rejecting ballots submitted by absent military voters and direct the Dept. of Defense to develop an electronic voting plan for such voters (see H.R. 311), H224 [7FE]

World War I: honor commitment to U.S. aviators who lost their lives flying for France by appropriating sufficient funds to restore the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial (see H. Con. Res. 160), H3150 [13JN]

World War II: preserve certain Federal court actions relative to Japanese companies compensating former prisoners of war used as slave labor (see H.R. 1198), H1346 [29MR]

Bills and resolutions introduced

AMVETS: amend charter (see H.R. 3214), H7717 [1NO]

Aviation: air carrier requirements for explanations of flight delays, cancellations, and diversions (see H.R. 571), H322 [13FE]

Cyprus: membership in European Union (see H. Con. Res. 164), H3259 [19JN]

EPA: provide additional authority to the Office of Ombudsman (see H.R. 1431), H1483 (see H.R. 1431), H1493 [4AP]

Families and domestic relations: prohibit Federal financial assistance to individuals who are delinquent in child support payments (see H.R. 866), H648 [6MR]

Health: reauthorize health centers program and National Health Service Corps (see H.R. 3450), H9239 [11DE]

Immigration: establish a temporary moratorium on and improve procedures for the issuance of nonimmigrant student visas and enhance procedures for admission at U.S. ports of entry (see H.R. 3181), H7529 [30OC]

Medicare: specify the update for physician fee schedule payments and conduct a study on replacing the use of the sustainable growth rate as a factor in such update (see H.R. 3351), H8420 [27NO]

Members of Congress: modify law providing a permanent appropriation for compensation (see H.R. 1166), H1112 [22MR]

Pensions: exclude the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund from the Federal budget (see H.R. 572), H322 [13FE]

Public Health Service: promote organ donation (see H.R. 624), H394 [14FE]

Public Health Service Act: amend relative to health professions programs regarding the field of nursing (see H.R. 3487), H10066 [13DE]

Radio: ensure the availability of spectrum to amateur radio operators (see H.R. 817), H621 [1MR]

Taxation: allow designation of income tax refunds for use in NIH biomedical research programs (see H.R. 1340), H1407 [3AP]

———allow tax credit to businesses who employ members of the National Guard or Ready Reserve (see H.R. 424, 426), H219 [7FE]

———allow taxpayers to designate income tax refunds for use in medical research conducted through the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (see H.R. 1673), H1859 [2MY]

———employer credit for the hiring of displaced homemakers (see H.R. 867), H648 [6MR]

Terrorism: tribute to relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H. Con. Res. 259), H7718 [1NO]

Veterans: continuation of dependency and indemnity compensation for the surviving spouse of a veteran if such spouse remarries after a certain age (see H.R. 1108), H1011 [20MR]

———improve benefits for former POWs (see H.R. 3430), H9077 [6DE]

———permit concurrent receipt of military retired pay with service-connected disability benefits (see H.R. 65), H26 [3JA] (see H.R. 303), H202 [6FE]

Poems

``Lady Liberty Still Stands Tall,'' Kenneth E. Webster, E1705 [24SE]

Remarks

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2330), H3920 [11JY]

Armenia: anniversary of genocide, H1518 [24AP]

Canada: tribute for support following the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, E1942 [30OC]

China, Republic of: observance of National Day, E1841 [10OC]

———participation in WHO (H.R. 428), H2169 [15MY]

———tribute for support following the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, E1841 [10OC], E1862 [12OC]

Corporations: encourage contributions to faith-based organizations (H. Con. Res. 170), H3817 [10JY]

Cyprus: independence anniversary, E1843 [10OC]

———tribute for support following the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, E2223 [7DE]

———Turkish occupation, E1463 [27JY]

Dept. of Defense: authorizing appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction (H.R. 2586), H5781 [20SE]

———authorizing appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction (S. 1438), H10078 [13DE]

Dept. of HHS: revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations (H.R. 3504), H10485 [19DE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: authorize construction projects for the purpose of improving, renovating, and updating VA patient care facilities (H.R. 811), H1141 [27MR]

———make various improvements to veterans benefits programs (H.R. 2540), H4905 [31JY]

Diseases: expand research activities relative to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (H.R. 717), H5955, H5957 [24SE]

———increase public awareness of tuberous sclerosis (H. Con. Res. 25), H8766, H8767 [4DE]

FDA: reallocation of funding to the Office of Generic Drugs to evaluate and review potential patent abuses, H3920 [11JY]

Greek Independence Day—A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy: observance, H979 [20MR]

Health: emphasize the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation, and support National Donor Day (H. Con. Res. 31), H668 [7MR]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), H5197 [2AU]

Health care facilities: community health centers funding, E479 [28MR]

Medicare: provide regulatory relief and contracting flexibility (H.R. 3391), H8797, H8798 [4DE]

Mental health: increase awareness of autism spectrum disorder, support programs for research and improved treatment, and improve training for health care professionals (H. Con. Res. 91), H1680 [1MY]

National Guard: tribute to members who were killed in the aircraft crash in south-central Georgia (H. Con. Res. 47), H679 [7MR]

National Hansen's Disease Programs Center: designate (H.R. 2441), H8768, H8769 [4DE]

National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week: designate (H. Con. Res. 59), H1363 [3AP]

Pharmaceuticals: improve safety and efficacy for children (H.R. 2887), H8101 [13NO]

———improve safety and efficacy for children (S. 1789), H10212 [18DE]

Public Health Service: promote organ donation (H.R. 624), H672, H673, H675 [7MR]

Public Health Service Act: amend relative to health professions programs regarding the field of nursing (H.R. 3487), H10487, H10488 [19DE]

Reagan, Maureen: tribute (H.J. Res. 60), H8770 [4DE]

Red Ribbon Week: support goals (H. Con. Res. 84), H5963 [24SE]

Science: allow the cloning of certain human tissues for research purposes, H4939 [31JY]

———prohibit the cloning of humans (H.R. 2505), H4939 [31JY]

Service Corps of Retired Executives: tribute, E192 [14FE]

Social Security: ensure entitled entities comply with certain regulations providing for the electronic exchange of health information (H.R. 3323), H8774 [4DE]

Terrorism: condemn and respond to hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (H.J. Res. 61), H5521 [11SE]

———improve the ability of the U.S. to prepare for and respond to a biological threat or attack (H.R. 3448), H9212 [11DE]

———tribute to relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (H. Con. Res. 259), H9159 [11DE]

Turkey: human rights violations, E1463 [27JY]

Veterans: improve educational assistance programs, expand transition assistance and outreach programs, increase burial benefits, and provide family coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (H.R. 801), H1132 [27MR]

———permit concurrent receipt of military retired pay with service-connected disability benefits, H5781 [20SE], H10078 [13DE]

Vitiligo Awareness Month: observance, E409 [21MR]

Votes: position on missed, H658 [7MR], H854 [13MR]

Remarks in House relative to

Leave of absence: granted, H7216 [23OC]

Special order: granted, H874 [13MR], H1009 [20MR], H1186 [27MR], H1405 [3AP], H1551 [24AP], H4214 [18JY], H4631 [25JY]

Statements

Armenian Genocide: Several World Leaders and Prominent Political Figures, H1518 [24AP]

Texts of

H. Con. Res. 25, increase public awareness of tuberous sclerosis, H8766 [4DE]

H.J. Res. 60, tribute to Maureen Reagan, H8770 [4DE]

H.R. 2441, National Hansen's Disease Programs Center, H8769 [4DE]

Tributes

Solomon, Gerald B.H., H7706 [1NO]

Webster, Kenneth E., E1705 [24SE]