VELAZQUEZ, NYDIA M. (a Representative from New York)
Amendments
Dept. of Homeland Security: establish (H.R. 5005), H5698 [25JY]
Federal employees: establish an exchange program between the Government and the private sector to improve information technology management (H.R. 3925), H1156 [9AP], H1177 [10AP]
INS: replace with the Agency for Immigration Affairs (H.R. 3231), H1655 [25AP]
Appointments
Conferee: H.R. 4546, Dept. of Defense appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction, H5987 [26JY]
Bills and resolutions cosponsored
Africa: recognize the importance of inheritance rights of women (see H. Con. Res. 421), H3668 [18JN]
Agriculture: prohibit transfer or marketing of nonambulatory cattle, sheep, swine, horses, mules, or goats (see H.R. 1421), H141 [5FE]
———provide protections for farmers and ranchers that may be harmed economically by genetically engineered seeds, plants, or animals and ensure fairness in dealings with certain biotech companies (see H.R. 4812), H2944 [22MY]
Alaska: provide additional protections for National Forest System lands (see H.R. 2908), H3775 [20JN]
Alfonse M. D'Amato U.S. Courthouse, Central Islip, NY: designate (see H.R. 4006), H1002 [19MR]
Animal Welfare Act: strengthen enforcement of animal fighting provisions (see H.R. 5268), H7019 [3OC]
Armed Forces: express remorse and make amends for former Dept. of Defense policy providing for involuntary separation of female members who became pregnant while in service (see H.R. 5447), H7929 [15OC]
———provide for a Korea Defense Service Medal to be issued to members who participated in Korea after the Korean War (see H.R. 1935), H1533 [23AP]
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: congressional disapproval of rule that lowers the Medicaid upper payment limit for non-State owned or operated hospitals (see H.J. Res. 92), H2471 [14MY]
Children and youth: access of disadvantaged children to dental services (see H.R. 3659), H7895 [10OC]
———establish national policy on youth development (see H.R. 17), H6419 [19SE]
———provide access to early care and education so the families can work and children can receive quality custodial care (see H.R. 3524), H781 [7MR]
China, People's Republic of: human rights violations (see H. Con. Res. 68), H4498 [10JY]
———persecution of Falun Gong practitioners (see H. Con. Res. 188), H5195 [23JY] (see H. Con. Res. 447), H7895 [10OC]
Colleges and universities: permit States to determine residency standards for higher education purposes and cancel removal and adjust status of certain long-term resident alien students (see H.R. 1918), H5195 [23JY]
———recognize contributions of Hispanic-serving institutions (see H. Res. 561), H6777 [26SE]
Contraceptives: establish a public education and awareness program relative to emergency contraception (see H.R. 3887), H1769 [30AP]
———require equitable coverage of drugs, devices, and services under health insurance plans (see H.R. 1111), H201 [6FE]
Courts: assign liability for injury caused by genetically engineered organisms (see H.R. 4816), H2944 [22MY]
———establish domestic violence court systems from amounts available for grants to combat violence against women (see H.R. 4091), H1533 [23AP]
———make certain sentencing safety valve provisions retroactive (see H.R. 765), H2661 [20MY]
———waive certain defenses to legal claims brought by workers participating in the Bracero Program (see H.R. 4918), H3513 [12JN]
Crime: make grants to train sexual assault nurse examiners and other personnel handling sexual assault cases, establish minimum standards for forensic evidence collection, and carry out crime scene DNA analysis (see H.R. 2874), H1674 [25AP]
———provide grants for public information campaigns to educate racial and ethnic minorities about domestic violence (see H.R. 4089), H1533 [23AP]
Cruz, Roberto: tribute (see H. Res. 576), H7738 [9OC] (see H. Res. 612), H8732 [13NO]
Dept. of HHS: support research on ovarian cancer screening tests and encourage coverage of effective techniques by health care programs and plans (see H. Con. Res. 385), H2472 [14MY]
Dept. of HUD: reauthorize the HOPE VI Program for revitalization of severely distressed public housing (see H.R. 5499), H7019 [3OC]
Dept. of Justice: establish an Office of Children's Services (see H.R. 1904), H1154 [9AP]
Dept. of the Interior: implement final rule to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway, and Grand Teton National Park, and snowplane use in Grand Teton National Park (see H.R. 5044), H4324 [27JN]
Dept. of Veterans Affairs: improve judicial review of administrative decisions (see H.R. 4018), H6060 [4SE]
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: reauthorize temporary mortgage and rental payments program (see H.R. 5378), H6250 [12SE]
Disasters: modify terms of the community disaster loan program (see H.R. 5523), H6982 [2OC]
Drugs: concentrate Federal resources on the prosecution of major drug offenses (see H.R. 1978), H2101 [2MY]
Education: assist States in establishing a universal prekindergarten program (see H.R. 3912), H1284 [11AP]
———constitutional amendment on the right to a quality public education (see H.J. Res. 31), H7895 [10OC]
———provide educational opportunities for all students in State public school systems (see H.R. 5346), H7929 [15OC]
———provide for the purchase of textbooks and establishment of the Textbook Recycling Program (see H.R. 4951), H6085 [5SE]
FDA: grant authority to regulate tobacco (see H.R. 1097), H2471 [14MY]
Federal aid programs: provide housing assistance to domestic violence victims (see H.R. 3752), H366 [13FE]
Federal employees: amend the definition of a law enforcement officer to include certain positions relative to retirement benefits (see H.R. 1841), H6693 [25SE]
———increase the Government contribution for Federal employee health insurance (see H.R. 1307), H3453 [11JN]
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: amend relative to the development of products for rare diseases (see H.R. 4014), H1533 [23AP]
Fish and fishing: recover depleted fish stocks and promote the long-term sustainability of marine fisheries (see H.R. 2570), H1769 [30AP]
Food: ensure safety of genetically engineered foods (see H.R. 4813), H2944 [22MY]
———ensure that efforts to address world hunger through the use of genetically engineered animals and crops actually help developing countries and peoples while protecting human health and the environment (see H.R. 4815), H2944 [22MY]
———require foods containing known allergens to bear labeling that states that fact and the names of the allergens (see H.R. 4704), H2355 [9MY]
———require labels on food that contains, or is produced with, a genetically engineered material (see H.R. 4814), H2944 [22MY]
Food Stamp Act: improve nutrition assistance for working families and the elderly (see H.R. 2142), H5998 [26JY]
Foreign policy: support aspirations of the Tibetan people to safeguard their distinct identity (see H.R. 1779), H2735 [21MY]
Forest Service: protection of certain roadless areas (see H.R. 4865), H3228 [5JN]
Forests: ban clearcutting and logging on certain Federal lands to strengthen protection of native biodiversity (see H.R. 5279), H5995 [26JY]
Health: increase assistance to developing nations with high levels of infectious disease and premature death (see H.R. 1269), H7738 [9OC]
———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (see H. Con. Res. 99), H834 [12MR]
———reauthorize health centers program and National Health Service Corps (see H.R. 3450), H834 [12MR]
———reduce adolescent pregnancy, HIV rates, and other sexually transmitted diseases (see H.R. 3469), H1674 [25AP]
Health care professionals: provide programs to improve nurse retention, the nursing workplace, and the quality of care (see H.R. 4654), H2356 [9MY]
Height, Dorothy I.: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 4531), H6303 [17SE]
Hispanic Americans: provide programs and activities to improve health (see H.R. 5449), H6927 [1OC]
Hospitals: provide emergency contraceptives to women who are survivors of sexual assault (see H.R. 4113), H3928 [25JN]
Human rights: condemn the practice of execution by stoning (see H. Con. Res. 351), H2608 [16MY]
Immigration: eligibility of certain aliens suffering from domestic abuse for Federal aid programs (see H.R. 2258), H3292 [6JN]
———provide permanent resident status for certain long-term resident workers and college-bound students and modify the worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants in order to promote family unification (see H.R. 5600), H7892 [10OC]
———restore fairness to immigration law (see H.R. 3894), H779 [7MR]
Insurance: coverage of colorectal cancer screening (see H.R. 1520), H284 [12FE]
Interstate commerce: prohibit transport of horses for the purpose of slaughter or horse flesh for human consumption (see H.R. 3781), H1620 [24AP]
Iron and steel industry: remedy certain injurious effects of steel imports by protecting benefits of steelworkers and retirees and strengthening the U.S. steel industry (see H.R. 4646), H2165 [7MY]
John A. (Jack) Shea Post Office Building, Lake Placid, NY: designate (see H.R. 3797), H3297 [10JN]
Law enforcement officers: adjust percentage differentials payable to Federal law enforcement officers in certain high-cost areas (see H.R. 3794), H781 [7MR]
———exclude availability pay for criminal investigators from the limitation on premium pay and modify levels of special pay for Federal officers in certain cities (see H.R. 4763), H6061 [4SE]
Medal of Honor: provide for use of gold in metal content (see H.R. 1294), H230 [8FE]
Medicaid: improve access to advanced practice nurses (see H.R. 3594), H79 [24JA]
———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (see H.R. 3612), H4767 [16JY]
Medicare: coverage of oral anticancer drugs (see H.R. 1624), H6171 [10SE]
———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (see H.R. 3626), H1533 [23AP]
———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits and improve the Medicare+Choice program (see H.R. 4000), H6172 [10SE]
———improve outpatient vision services (see H.R. 2484), H4069 [26JN]
———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas, determine rural areas based on population density, and require the use of recent data in determining payment adjustments (see H.R. 3545), H5453 [24JY]
———pay ambulance suppliers the full costs of providing such services (see H.R. 3109), H3453 [11JN]
———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (see H.R. 3236), H3453 [11JN]
———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), H2101 [2MY]
Mental health: provide for equal insurance coverage of benefits unless comparable limitations are imposed on medical and surgical benefits (see H.R. 4066), H2019 [1MY]
Mining and mineral resources: modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands (see H.R. 4748), H6926 [1OC]
———reclamation of abandoned hardrock mines (see H.R. 4078), H3292 [6JN]
National Park Service: snowmobile regulations (see H.R. 1465), H7738 [9OC]
Native Americans: clarify citizenship eligibility for certain members of the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona (see H.R. 2348), H2356 [9MY]
New Windsor, NY: recognize and support efforts to develop the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor (see H. Con. Res. 399), H6983 [2OC]
New York: recognize effects of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and express the commitment of the House of Representatives to rebuild (see H. Res. 338), H104 [29JA]
Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act: provide certain nationals an opportunity to apply for adjustment of status (see H.R. 348), H6129 [9SE]
NIH: establish Office of Rare Diseases (see H.R. 4013), H1620 [24AP]
Peter J. Ganci, Jr., Post Office Building, Farmingdale, NY: designate (see H.R. 5336), H6084 [5SE]
Pipelines: inclusion of Armenia in all oil and gas pipeline routes built in the South Caucasus region (see H. Con. Res. 162), H688 [5MR]
Presidential Records Act: establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionality based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records (see H.R. 4187), H2235 [8MY]
Public buildings: require that certain procedures are followed in Federal buildings when a child is reported missing (see H.R. 5475), H6776 [26SE]
Public Health Service Act: amend relative to pharmacy health professions programs (see H.R. 2173), H4326 [27JN]
Public utilities: establish programs for electric energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, and universal and affordable service (see H.R. 3037), H1620 [24AP]
Public welfare programs: provide access to tools to stimulate employment (see H.R. 4236), H2165 [7MY]
———provide racial equity and fair treatment under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see H.R. 4669), H2164 [7MY]
Santiago E. Campos U.S. Courthouse, Santa Fe, NM: designate (see H.R. 5083), H4424 [9JY]
Senior citizens: modify the eligibility criteria for supplemental foods provided under the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (see H.R. 5107), H4932 [18JY]
Small business: improve small business advocacy (see H.R. 4231), H1333 [16AP]
———issue postage stamp in commemoration of small business concerns (see H. Con. Res. 480), H6559 [24SE]
———provide incentives for investment (see H.R. 5258), H5994 [26JY]
Social Security: permit States the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 1143), H3562 [13JN]
Space policy: preserve peaceful uses of space by prohibiting space-based weapons and the use of weapons to destroy orbiting objects in space (see H.R. 3616), H2662 [20MY]
Syria: halt support for terrorism, end occupation of Lebanon, stop development of weapons of mass destruction, and cease illegal importation of Iraqi oil (see H.R. 4483), H6060 [4SE]
Taxation: allow a U.S. independent film and television production wage credit (see H.R. 3131), H2356 [9MY]
———increase expensing limits of small businesses for new business investment and equipment (see H.R. 4087), H1152 [9AP]
———modify unrelated business income limitation on investment in certain debt-financed properties (see H.R. 4706), H2355 [9MY]
———prevent corporations from avoiding the U.S. income tax by reincorporating in a foreign country (see H.R. 3884), H4931 [18JY]
———prevent corporations from exploiting tax treaties to evade U.S. income tax (see H.R. 4993), H5453 [24JY]
———treatment of damages and back pay received on account of, and expenses incurred in asserting any claim of employment discrimination (see H.R. 840), H8023 [16OC]
Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act: extend and expand (see H.R. 5089), H4497 [10JY]
Terrorism: anniversary of terrorist attacks (see H. Con. Res. 464), H6229 [11SE]
Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, New York, NY: designate (see H.R. 5717), H8731 [13NO]
Tobacco products: combat illicit trafficking of tobacco products (see H.R. 5264), H5994 [26JY]
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century: provide highway infrastructure investment at the guaranteed funding level (see H.R. 3694), H524 [14FE]
U.N.: provide for permanent guidelines for voluntary U.S. contributions to the U.N. Population Fund (see H.R. 5293), H6251 [12SE]
Veterans: allow certain veterans with service-connected disabilities to travel on military aircraft (see H.R. 440), H6250 [12SE]
———permit concurrent receipt of military retired pay with service-connected disability benefits (see H.R. 303), H1003 [19MR]
———provide housing loan benefits for the purchase of residential cooperative apartment units (see H.R. 1808), H1769 [30AP]
Williams, Serena: tribute (see H. Res. 94), H4767 [16JY]
Williams, Venus: tribute (see H. Res. 94), H4767 [16JY]
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), H79 [24JA]
Bills and resolutions introduced
Clothing industry: provide access to information about sweatshop conditions (see H.R. 4768), H2607 [16MY]
Construction industries: tribute to companies who donated labor, funds, and supplies to rebuild the Pentagon's roof (see H. Con. Res. 424), H3859 [24JN]
Higher Education Act: expand and extend the eligibility of Hispanic-serving institutions for assistance (see H.R. 4928), H3514 [12JN]
Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act: facilitate the use of certain assistance made available for self-help housing providers (see H.R. 3767), H523 [14FE]
Medicaid: require HMO's and other managed care plans providing medical assistance to beneficiaries to pay for assistance by health centers in federally-assisted housing for the elderly (see H.R. 3949), H833 [12MR]
New York, NY: foster economic development through involvement of small businesses in procurements relative to the improvement and reconstruction of the area damaged by terrorist attacks (see H.R. 4960), H3668 [18JN]
Senior citizens: establish the Silver Scholarship program to provide transferable educational awards to older individuals who perform certain volunteer services (see H.R. 3837), H655 [4MR]
Small business: authorize grants and other assistance to promote the redevelopment of certain remediated sites (see H.R. 4586), H1619 [24AP]
———reduce Federal paperwork requirements (see H.R. 4710), H2355 [9MY]
Remarks
Agency for Immigration Affairs: Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services establishment of pilot initiatives to eliminate the backlog in benefit application processing, H1655 [25AP]
Armed Forces: authorize use against Iraq (H.J. Res. 114), H7317 [9OC]
Brooklyn Chinese-American Association: anniversary of Eighth Avenue Senior Center, E1764
Construction industries: tribute to companies who donated labor, funds, and supplies to rebuild the Pentagon's roof (H. Con. Res. 424), H3901 [25JN]
Dept. of Homeland Security: establish (H.R. 5005), H5698 [25JY]
———small business procurement goals, H5698 [25JY]
Digital Tech Corps Act: set aside a percentage of private sector training assignments for small businesses, H1177 [10AP]
Eximbank: reauthorize (H.R. 2871), H1786
Federal employees: establish an exchange program between the Government and the private sector to improve information technology management (H.R. 3925), H1177 [10AP]
INS: replace with the Agency for Immigration Affairs (H.R. 3231), H1655 [25AP]
Medicare: establish voluntary outpatient prescription drug coverage program and modernize and reform payments and the regulatory structure (H.R. 4954), consideration (H. Res. 465), H4172 [27JN]
Ming Pao Daily News (publication): anniversary, E579
Mink, Patsy T.: tribute (H. Res. 566), H6894 [1OC]
National Federation of Puerto Rican Pioneers, Inc.: anniversary, E859
Public welfare programs: reauthorize and improve block grants to States for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (H.R. 4737), H2587 [16MY]
Small business: improve small business advocacy (H.R. 4231), H2786 [21MY]
———reduce Federal paperwork requirements (H.R. 4710), E758
Remarks in House relative to
Leave of absence: granted, H6040 [4SE], H6125 [9SE]
Tributes
Counihan, Eileen, E1248
Smith, Paul, H6376