MASCARA, FRANK (a Representative from Pennsylvania)

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Armed Forces: improve Montgomery GI Bill benefits by improving and expanding educational assistance programs (see H.R. 320), H162 [31JA]

———increase basic pay (see H.R. 2310), H3807 [28JN]

———provide for a Korea Defense Service Medal to be issued to members who participated in Korea after the Korean War (see H.R. 1935), H2956 [6JN]

———restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services (see H.R. 179), H1925 [3MY]

———revise rules on retirement payments to former spouses (see H.R. 1983), H4949 [31JY]

Army: close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation and establish a joint congressional task force to assess the education and training needs for Latin American military personnel (see H.R. 1810), H10966 [20DE]

Aviation: improve security (see H.R. 3110), H6779 [12OC]

———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. 2955), H6260 [3OC]

Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission: establish (see H.R. 2362), H3802 [28JN]

Birds: prohibit interstate movement of live birds, for the purpose of fighting, to States in which animal fighting is lawful (see H.R. 1155), H1558 [24AP]

Cemeteries and funerals: allow State placement of supplemental guide signs for veterans cemeteries on Federal-aid highways (see H.R. 2521), H8732 [29NO]

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

Chicago, IL: expand aviation capacity (see H.R. 3479), H10065 [13DE]

Children and youth: establish an international infant and child nutrition and education program (see H.R. 1700), H5455 [6SE]

Civil rights: improve remedies for discrimination in the payment of wages based on sex (see H.R. 781), H4541 [24JY]

Coal: develop and implement advanced clean coal technology programs and provide tax incentives to encourage the retrofitting, repowering, or replacement of coal-based electricity generating facilities (see H.R. 2323), H4541 [24JY]

Coal miners: issue commemorative postage stamp (see H. Con. Res. 245), H6458 [9OC]

Congress: hold joint session in New York, NY (see H. Con. Res. 249), H10055 [12DE]

Congressional Gold Medal: award posthumously to officers, emergency personnel, and governmental employees who responded to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (see H.R. 3054), H7718 [1NO]

Courts: give U.S. district courts jurisdiction over competing State custody determinations (see H.R. 2688), H4948 [31JY]

CPSC: promulgate a consumer product safety standard for each durable infant or toddler product (see H.R. 3283), H10355 [18DE]

Crime: provide Federal assistance to States and local jurisdictions to prosecute hate crimes (see H.R. 1343), H4541 [24JY]

Dept. of Energy: establish a Natural Gas Reserve (see H.R. 245), H167 [31JA]

Dept. of HUD: increase mortgage loan limits for multifamily housing mortgage insurance (see H.R. 1629), H2998 [7JN]

Dept. of the Interior: study the suitability and feasibility of designating Camp Security located in York County, PA, as a unit of the National Park System (see H.R. 3038), H6379 [4OC]

Dept. of Transportation: establish a grant program for the rehabilitation, preservation, or improvement of railroad track (see H.R. 1020), H1346 [29MR]

———give certain workers who lost jobs as a result of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, priority in hiring for aviation-related security positions (see H.R. 3067), H7592 [31OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify compensation standards for Persian Gulf Conflict veterans suffering from certain undiagnosed illnesses (see H.R. 612), H959 [19MR]

———enhance outreach programs to more fully inform surviving spouses and dependents of available benefits and provide dedicated staff to assist in obtaining those benefits (see H.R. 336), H163 [31JA]

———establish a national cemetery for veterans in the Valley Forge National Historic Park (see H.R. 1237), H1188 [27MR]

———furnish headstones or markers for the marked graves of certain individuals (see H.R. 1351), H1408 [3AP]

———provide benefits to children of Vietnam-era veterans for diseases associated with parental exposure to a herbicide agent (see H.R. 1541), H1718 [1MY]

———provide grants for toll-free telephone number to provide information and assistance to veterans (see H.R. 1435), H1484 (see H.R. 1435), H1493 [4AP]

———revise computation of retirement annuities for part-time employees (see H.R. 2182), H3807 [28JN]

Diseases: expand research activities relative to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (see H.R. 717), H1346 [29MR]

———extend issuance of special postage stamps to fund breast cancer research (see H.R. 2725), H5488 [10SE]

———increase research, treatment, and public education of Lyme disease (see H.R. 1254), H5406 [5SE]

———increased support and funding to combat juvenile diabetes (see H. Con. Res. 36), H399 [14FE]

———ovarian cancer research programs (see H.R. 326), H162 [31JA]

———provide for an awareness program and a study on a rare form of breast cancer (see H.R. 3186), H7529 [30OC]

District of Columbia: establish a memorial to the victims of terrorist attacks on the U.S. (see H.R. 2982), H7960 [8NO]

Drugs: distribution chain of prescription drugs (see H.R. 68), H3805 [28JN]

Edward N. Cahn Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Allentown, PA: designate (see H.R. 558), H444 [27FE]

EPA: establish a grant program to support research on critical infrastructure protection for water supply systems (see H.R. 3178), H8248 [15NO]

———reinstate revised drinking water standards for arsenic (see H.R. 1413), H1482 (see H.R. 1413), H1492 [4AP]

Federal contracts: ensure public accountability, efficient delivery of services, reasonable cost savings, and prevention of unwarranted expenses (see H.R. 721), H828 [8MR]

Federal employees: amend the definition of a law enforcement officer to include certain positions relative to retirement benefits (see H.R. 1841), H2849 [25MY]

Federal firefighters: establish presumptive disability benefits for certain diseases and disabilities (see H.R. 2163), H4010 [12JY]

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: provide greater access to affordable pharmaceuticals (see H.R. 1862), H6137 [2OC]

Financial institutions: prohibit financial holding companies and national banks from engaging, directly or indirectly, in real estate brokerage or real estate management activities (see H.R. 3424), H10967 [20DE]

Firearms: protect manufacturers and sellers in the firearms and ammunition industry from restrictions on interstate or foreign commerce (see H.R. 2037), H3358 [20JN]

Flag—U.S.: constitutional amendment to prohibit desecration (see H.J. Res. 36), H2680 [23MY]

Foreign trade: amend trade laws to address import crises (see H.R. 1988), H3358 [20JN]

Government regulations: require peer review of scientific support data (see H.R. 281), H1190 [27MR]

Health: emphasize the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation, and support National Donor Day (see H. Con. Res. 31), H624 [1MR]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (see H.R. 526), H2334 [17MY] (see H.R. 2563), H4541 [24JY]

Health care professionals: alleviate nursing profession shortage by improving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (see H.R. 1436), H4949 [31JY]

———help solve the nursing shortage in hospitals and continuing care settings (see H.R. 1897), H4541 [24JY]

Higgins, Andrew Jackson: posthumous awarding of Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 2078), H2955 [6JN]

Higgins Industries: award Congressional Gold Medal to World War II-era employees (see H.R. 2078), H2955 [6JN]

Higher Education Act: make certain student loan interest rate formulas permanent (see H.R. 2781), H5928 [21SE]

History: celebrate anniversary of William Penn's Charter of Privileges, the Liberty Bell, and the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence (see H. Con. Res. 254), H7592 [31OC]

Homeless: improve programs for veterans (see H.R. 936), H929 [14MR]

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

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act: authorizing appropriations (see H.R. 737), H2022 [8MY]

Infrastructure: invest funds to restore the economy and to enhance security of transportation and environmental facilities (see H.R. 3166), H7308 [24OC]

Insurance: prohibit use of genetic information in determining coverage or premiums (see H.R. 602), H324 [13FE]

Intermountain Dairy Compact: congressional consent (see H.R. 1827), H2147 [14MY]

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

Iron and steel industry: encourage use of domestic steel in rebuilding and military efforts following attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H. Con. Res. 234), H6459 [9OC]

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

Italian Americans: eliminate negative and unfair stereotyping and present in a more balanced and positive manner by the entertainment industry (see H. Con. Res. 141), H2679 [23MY]

King, Martin Luther, Jr. and Coretta Scott: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 2723), H8338 [16NO]

Law enforcement officers: exempt from State laws prohibiting the carrying of concealed handguns (see H.R. 218), H4949 [31JY]

LIHEAP: encourage the release of funds to individuals affected by the terrorist attacks (see H. Res. 300), H8746 [30NO]

Medicaid: clarify that Native American women eligible for coverage under Indian health plans are eligible for optional breast and cervical cancer coverage (see H.R. 1383), H8248 [15NO]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (see H.R. 600), H2142 [10MY]

Medicare: coverage for qualified World War II Filipino veterans (see H.R. 594), H444 [27FE]

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

———eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas (see H.R. 975), H874 [13MR]

———improve outpatient vision services (see H.R. 2484), H6137 [2OC]

———increase reimbursement for screening mammography services and funding for additional radiology residents and radiologic technologists (see H.R. 1354), H7718 [1NO]

———increase the payment amount for inpatient hospital services and freeze the reduction in payments to hospitals for indirect costs of medical education (see H.R. 1556), H4949 [31JY]

———reductions in prescription drug prices (see H.R. 1400), H1482 (see H.R. 1400), H1491 [4AP]

———standardize payment amounts for inpatient hospital services (see H.R. 1609), H4949 [31JY]

Mental health: establish regional centers to help States, local governments, and other organizations develop activities and services to assist persons with persistent mental illnesses (see H.R. 2363), H7128 [17OC]

———issue commemorative postage stamp to raise autism awareness (see H. Res. 108), H1345 [29MR]

Mexico: compliance of Mexico-domiciled trucks operating in the U.S. with certain safety and environmental regulations (see H. Res. 152), H2711 [24MY]

Minimum wage: level (see H.R. 665), H396 [14FE]

National Guard: provide more equitable civil service retirement and retention provisions for technicians (see H.R. 513), H2848 [25MY]

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

National security: develop local emergency response plans that provide a defined and unified response to terrorist attacks and other catastrophes (see H.R. 3161), H7217 [23OC]

Native Americans: clarify citizenship eligibility for certain members of the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona (see H.R. 2348), H4725 [26JY]

NIH: expand and intensify research regarding Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (see H.R. 3014), H6458 [9OC]

Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact: reauthorize (see H.R. 1827), H2147 [14MY]

Northern Mariana Islands: labeling, minimum wage, tariff, and immigration requirements relative to textile industry (see H.R. 2661), H4724 [26JY]

Oil Region National Heritage Area: establish (see H.R. 695), H397 [14FE]

Outer Continental Shelf: use of oil and gas production royalties to establish a fund for outdoor conservation and recreation needs (see H.R. 701), H1664 [27AP]

Pacific Northwest Dairy Compact: congressional consent (see H.R. 1827), H2147 [14MY]

Paterno, Joe: tribute (see H. Res. 276), H7591 [31OC]

Patriotism: mint coins in commemoration of the Spirit of America and to establish the Victims of September 11th Fund (see H.R. 3244), H7909 [7NO]

Pensions: reform (see H.R. 10), H927 [14MR]

Petroleum: prohibit the exportation of Alaskan North Slope crude oil (see H.R. 660), H395 [14FE]

Political campaigns: ethics reform and contribution limits (see H.R. 380), H444 [27FE]

Postal Service: amend pay policies and schedules and fringe benefit programs for postmasters (see H.R. 250), H325 [13FE]

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

———treatment of cooperative mailings by nonprofit organizations (see H.R. 1169), H4009 [12JY]

Railroads: modernize financing of railroad retirement system and provide enhanced benefits to employees and beneficiaries (see H.R. 1140), H1191 [27MR]

Rural areas: promote and improve access to health care services (see H.R. 2157), H4541 [24JY]

Safety: authorize grants to improve security on over-the-road buses (see H.R. 3429), H9077 [6DE]

Senior citizens: establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits (see H.R. 2035), H7529 [30OC]

September 11th Victim Compensation Fund: expand to include individuals diagnosed with anthrax (see H.R. 3194), H7719 [1NO]

Smithsonian Institution: establish National Museum of African American History and Culture (see H.R. 1718), H4541 [24JY]

Social Security: choice of benefit payment method for certain workers affected by changes in benefit computation rules (see H.R. 97), H443 [27FE]

———choice of benefit payment method relative to computation rule application to workers attaining age 65 in or after 1982 (see H.R. 853), H828 [8MR]

———computation system for benefits relative to spouses' or surviving spouses' Government pensions (see H.R. 664), H395 [14FE]

———disregard State annuities paid to blind veterans in the determination of SSI benefits (see H.R. 844), H2281 [16MY]

———earnings test for blind individuals (see H.R. 498), H508 [28FE]

———eliminate benefit penalties to individuals receiving pensions from noncovered employment (see H.R. 848), H2142 [10MY]

———level of benefit payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (see H.R. 1464), H1485 (see H.R. 1464), H1495 [4AP]

———restrict application of windfall elimination provisions to certain individuals (see H.R. 1073), H2082 [9MY]

Southern Dairy Compact: congressional consent (see H.R. 1827), H2147 [14MY]

Steel Industry National Historic Park: establish (see H.R. 635), H2022 [8MY]

Taxation: allow a credit to holders of qualified bonds issued by Amtrak (see H.R. 2329), H3711 [27JN]

———allow an income tax credit to holders of bonds issued to finance land and water reclamation of abandoned mine land areas (see H.R. 3218), H9239 [11DE]

———allow investments by certain retirement plans in principal residences of children and grandchildren of participants who are first-time homebuyers (see H.R. 2308), H5456 [6SE]

———allow tax credit to businesses who employ members of the military Reserves and a comparable credit to self-employed military Reserve participants (see H.R. 394), H4113 [17JY]

———allow use of principal repayments to issue additional mortgages and modify price limitations under the mortgage revenue bond program and change income limit for housing credit program (see H.R. 951), H3466 [21JN]

———clarify credit for producing fuel from a nonconventional source (see H.R. 3352), H8732 [29NO]

———expand incentives for construction and renovation of public schools (see H.R. 1076), H2889 [5JN]

———extend tax credit for production of fuel from a nonconventional source (see H.R. 794), H3150 [13JN]

———first-time homebuyers tax credit (see H.R. 1773), H5406 [5SE]

———provide a refundable credit for education and training of developmentally disabled children (see H.R. 2339), H3864 [10JY]

———provide a shorter recovery period for the depreciation of certain leasehold improvements (see H.R. 1030), H2712 [24MY]

———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), H4541 [24JY]

———treatment of expenses in connection with services as a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces (see H.R. 968), H1489 [4AP]

———treatment of flexible spending arrangements relative to long-term care insurance (see H.R. 831), H2142 [10MY]

———treatment of loan payments received under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (see H.R. 1401), H2680 [23MY]

Terrorism: improve Federal efforts to prepare for, and respond to, terrorist attacks (see H.R. 525), H5927 [21SE]

———issue commemorative postage stamp to assist families of victims of attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H.R. 2905, 2907), H5925 [21SE]

———tribute 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. Con. Res. 232), H6702 [11OC]

Turkey: end restrictions on freedoms and human rights of the enclaved people of Cyprus (see H. Con. Res. 269), H10173 [17DE]

Veterans: add diabetes mellitus to the list of service-connected diseases (see H.R. 862), H647 [6MR]

———establish a comprehensive program for the testing and treatment of the hepatitis C virus (see H.R. 639), H3465 [21JN]

———increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for certain surviving spouses (see H.R. 548), H1925 [3MY]

———issue commemorative postage stamp honoring Purple Heart recipients (see H. Con. Res. 104), H2142 [10MY]

———permit concurrent receipt of military retired pay with service-connected disability benefits (see H.R. 303), H400 [14FE] (see H.R. 609), H650 [6MR]

———repeal computation system that reduces annuity for surviving spouses at age 62 relative to Social Security offset (see H.R. 1232), H2998 [7JN]

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

Volunteer firefighters: remove civil liability barriers surrounding donating fire equipment to volunteer fire companies (see H.R. 1919), H5928 [21SE]

Voting: establish a grant program to provide assistance to States for modernizing and enhancing voting procedures and administration (see H.R. 3295), H8565 [28NO]

———protect voting rights (see H.R. 1170), H5339 [2AU]

Water: authorize appropriations for municipal construction grant program for wastewater treatment (see H.R. 1751), H4541 [24JY]

———authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds (see H.R. 1750), H4541 [24JY]

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), H5406 [5SE]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Medicare: extend coverage of immunosuppressive drugs to cases of transplants not paid for under the program (see H.R. 3032), H6379 [4OC]

Letters

Condolences to the families of victims of terrorist attacks: Ringgold High School, Monongahela, PA, E2124 [16NO]

Remarks

Armed Forces: authorize use against those responsible for hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (H.J. Res. 64), H5673 [14SE]

Eximbank: funding relative to loan guarantees made to the Iron Business Corp. of Benxi Iron & Steel (Group) Co., Ltd., H4442 [24JY]

FedEx Ground: American Trucking Association President's Trophy for Safety Excellence recipient, E1544 [3AU]

Foreign operations, export financing, and related programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2506), H4442 [24JY]

Gosai, Kamlesh: Country Doctor of the Year award recipient, H8889 [5DE]

Imperial, PA: tribute to West Allegheny High School football team, H10358 [19DE]

Monongahela, PA: tribute to Ringgold High School's banner of support for the families of victims of terrorist attacks, E2124 [16NO]

Perryopolis, PA: tribute to Frazier High School contribution to America's Fund for Afghan Children, E1967 [31OC]

Rochester, PA: tribute to Rochester High School football team, H10358 [19DE]

Seton Hill College: tribute to National Education Center for Women in Business, H10225 [18DE]

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), H5573 [11SE]

———tribute 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 (H. Con. Res. 232), H8862 [5DE]

Votes: position on missed, E2080 [14NO]

Washington, PA: tribute to Washington High School football team, H10358 [19DE]

Remarks in House relative to

Leave of absence: granted, H8131 [13NO]

Special order: granted, H8947 [5DE], H10353 [18DE], H10906 [19DE]

Tributes

Shuster, Representative, H137 [31JA]

Starzl, Thomas E., E474 [28MR]

Wilson, Mitzie, H10058 [13DE]