The 108th Congress adjourned on December 8 after completing action on legislation to overhaul the nation’s intelligence system. Other major accomplishments of the 108th Congress include a Medicare prescription drug benefit, tax cut extensions for middle income families, and a new global HIV/AIDS program.
WPI published a FY2005 Appropriations Summary on November 24. This At-A-Glance summary contains all other legislative action affecting women and families that occurred in the 108th Congress.
The 109th Congress convenes on January 4, 2005.
Actions Completed
Abortion Restriction: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-105) to prohibit “partial-birth abortions” (October 2003).
Adoption Promotion: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-145) to reauthorize payments to states to promote adoption (December 2003).
Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA): Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-274) to modify and extend provisions of AGOA (P.L. 106-200) through September 30, 2015 (July 2004).
After-School Programs: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 809/S. Res. 456) supporting the goals and ideals of “Lights On Afterschool!” (October 2004).
AMBER Alert: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-21) to create a nationwide AMBER Alert system to locate missing children (April 2003). The legislation included a number of other provisions aimed at curbing crimes against children, including a minimum 20-year sentence for kidnapping, elimination of the statute of limitations for child abduction and sex crimes, mandatory life imprisonment for twice-convicted child sex offenders, denial of pre-trial release for those who are accused of raping or kidnapping children, discretionary authority for judges to require up to a lifetime of supervision for sex offenders, an expansion of the use of wiretaps by law enforcement personnel investigating child sex crimes, and reinstatement of a ban on virtual pornography.
Barbara Kennelly Post Office: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-119) designating a postal facility in Hartford, Connecticut, as the “Barbara B. Kennelly Post Office Building” (November 2003).
Birth Defects: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-154) to reauthorize and expand the Birth Defects Prevention Act (P.L. 105-168) (December 2003).
Boys and Girls Clubs of America: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-344) to reauthorize the Boys and Girls Clubs of America through FY2010 (October 2004).
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Con. Res. 414/S. Res. 349/S. Con. Res. 102) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (May 2004).
Burma: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 768/S. Res. 431) calling on the United Nations Security Council to immediately consider and take appropriate action to respond to the growing threat that the ruling State Peace and Development Council in Burma poses to the Southeast Asia region and to the people of Burma (September 2004/October 2004).
Child and Spousal Abuse Prevention: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-36) to extend programs aimed at preventing child abuse and family violence, and protecting and treating abused children (June 2003).
Child Care in the Military: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-375) to authorize $26 million in FY2005 for child development centers at the Department of Defense through the FY2005 defense authorization bill (October 2004).
Child Nutrition Programs: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-265) to reauthorize child nutrition programs through FY2008 (June 2004).
Contracting: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-136) to require the Secretary of Defense to commission a study on the use of small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and women-owned businesses in the U.S. efforts to rebuild Iraq. The provision was included in the defense authorization bill (November 2003). The legislation also included a provision to restrict the bundling of Department of Defense contracts that unreasonably disadvantage small businesses.
DNA Analysis: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-405) to improve the collection and analysis of DNA for criminal prosecutions. The legislation also grants specific rights to all victims of federal crimes (October 2004).
Dorothy Height Gold Medal: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-162) granting a congressional gold medal to Dr. Dorothy Height (December 2003).
E-mail Spam: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-187) making it a federal crime to send fraudulent or deceptive e-mail spam (December 2003).
Fatherhood: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 66/S. Res. 379) protecting, promoting, and celebrating fatherhood (June 2004).
Financial Literacy: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-159) to reauthorize the Fair Credit Reporting Act (P.L. 104-208). Included in that measure was a provision to establish a Financial Literacy and Education Commission to improve federal financial literacy and education programs in the United States (December 2003).
Financial Literacy Month: Both the Senate and House approved resolutions (S. Res. 316/H. Res. 578) supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month (March 2004/April 2004).
Food Distribution in Schools: Congress approved a resolution (S. Con. Res. 114) calling on the administration to work with the United Nations to expand programs distributing food in schools to hungry and malnourished children (July 2004).
FY2004 Budget Resolution: Congress completed action on the FY2004 budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 95) on April 11, 2003. The resolution provided for $784.5 billion in discretionary funding in FY2004, the same amount requested by the President (April 2003).
Global HIV/AIDS Prevention: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-25) to authorize $3 billion each year from FY2004 through FY2008 for global HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria programs (May 2003).
Health Savings Accounts: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-173) to establish tax-free, employer-sponsored Health Savings Accounts. The provision was included in a bill to provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit (December 2003).
Higher Education Act: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-366) to extend the Higher Education Act of 1965 through FY2005 (October 2004).
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Congress approved legislation (H.R. 1350) to reauthorize IDEA (P.L. 105-17) through FY2011 (November 2004).
Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA): Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-365) to reauthorize the MQSA through FY2007 (October 2004).
Medicaid Funding: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-27) to provide $20 billion in aid to cash-strapped states, half of which would go toward increasing the federal share of Medicaid costs (May 2003). The provision was included in the 2003 tax bill.
Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-214) to make technical corrections to the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-250) (April 2004).
Mental Health Parity: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-197) extending for one year a law requiring insurers to impose equitable lifetime limits for mental and physical health benefits (December 2003).
Microenterprise: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 3818) to improve the results and accountability of microenterprise development assistance programs (February 2004). (December 2004).
Middle Class Tax Relief: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-311) to extend a number of tax credits included in the 2001 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (P.L. 107-16) (October 2004). The legislation extends the $1,000 child tax credit for five years through 2009, extends tax relief for married couples through 2010, extends through 2010 the 10 percent bracket’s income limits, extends alternative minimum tax relief for one year through 2005, extends a $2,400 tax credit for employers who hire individuals currently receiving welfare or food stamp benefits, and extends an “above-the-line” tax deduction for teachers for the first $250 of out-of-pocket spending on school supplies.
National Charter Schools Week: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 600/S. Res. 351) congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrators for their ongoing contributions to education (May 2004).
National Health Center Week: Both the Senate and House approved resolutions (S. Res. 357/H. Res. 646) designating the week of August 8 through August 14, 2004, as “National Health Center Week” (July 2004/August 2004).
National Mentoring Month: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 491/S. Res. 294) requesting the President to designate the month of January 2004 as “National Mentoring Month” (February 2004).
National Runaway Prevention Month: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 805/S. Res. 430) to promote greater public awareness of effective runaway prevention programs (October 2004).
North Korea: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-333) authorizing humanitarian assistance to combat human rights violations in North Korea (October 2004).
Patsy Mink Post Office: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-57) designating a post office in Hawaii as the “Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building” (July 2003).
Pediatric Research Equity: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-155) to require new applications for the Food and Drug Administration to investigate a drug or product’s safety for children (December 2003).
Prescription Drug Coverage for Medicare Beneficiaries: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-173) to provide a prescription drug benefit to Medicare beneficiaries (December 2003).
Prison Rape: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-79) to reduce the incidence of prison rape (September 2003).
Rosie the Riveter: Both the Senate and House approved resolutions (S. Con. Res. 103/H. Con. Res. 413) honoring the contributions of women, symbolized by “Rosie the Riveter,” who served on the home front during World War II (May 2004/June 2004).
Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Youth: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-96) to extend a program aiding runaway, homeless, and missing youth (October 2003).
Sexual Assault: Congress approved a resolution (S. J. Res. 8) recognizing the importance of raising awareness and encouraging the prevention of sexual assault in the United States (April 2003/June 2003).
Sexual Harassment and Violence in the Military: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-375) requiring the secretary of defense to provide a proposal for changes regarding sexual offenses in the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Manual for Courts Martial. The legislation also expands the mission of the Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the military service academies. Under its new name, the “Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services” will examine sexual assaults in the military and report to Congress on its findings and recommendations. Finally, the legislation requires the secretary of defense to develop a comprehensive policy for the prevention of, and response to, sexual assaults involving members of the Armed Forces, based on the recommendations of the task force. The provisions were included in the defense authorization bill (October 2004).
Sexual Trauma Counseling for Veterans: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 3936) to permanently authorize a VA program that provides counseling for veterans who were victims of sexual trauma during their military service (November 2004).
Small Business Administration (SBA) Reauthorization: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 4818) to reauthorize the SBA and its programs through September 30, 2006 (November 2004).
St. Louis Gateway Arch: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-348) to authorize the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, to be illuminated by pink lights in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October 2004).
State Justice Institute: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 2714) to reauthorize the State Justice Institute through FY2008 (October 2004).
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP): Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-74) to extend the availability of SCHIP funds allocated to states for FY1998-1999 through FY2004 and to permit 50 percent of unexpended FY 2000 and 2001 SCHIP allotments to be used in FY 2004 and 2005 (August 2003).
Stoning: Both the House and the Senate approved resolutions (H. Con. Res. 26/S. Con. Res. 26) condemning the punishment of execution by stoning (March 2003/May 2003).
Student Loans: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-409) to increase the amount of loan forgiveness for math, science, and special education teachers who teach in schools in low-income areas (October 2004).
Sudan: Congress approved legislation (S. 2781) to authorize humanitarian assistance to end the genocide in the Sudan and to facilitate peace negotiations in the region (December 2004).
Sudan Genocide: Both the House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Con. Res. 467/S. Con. Res. 133) declaring that the atrocities committed in the Darfur region of Sudan constitute genocide (July 2004).
Trafficking in Women and Children: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-193) to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386) through FY2005 (December 2003).
Unborn Victims of Violence: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-212) to create a separate offense if an individual kills or injures an “unborn child” while committing a federal crime against a pregnant woman (April 2004).
Video Voyeurism: Congress approved legislation (S. 1301) to make it a federal crime to knowingly videotape, film, or photograph an improper image of another individual (December 2004).
Welfare: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-308) to extend the 1996 welfare reform law (P.L. 104-193) through March 31, 2005 (September 2004).
Youth Suicide Prevention: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 108-355) to authorize grants for state suicide prevention programs (October 2004).
Outstanding Issues
Adoption Tax Credit: The House approved a bill (H.R. 1057) that would make permanent the adoption tax credit that was included in the 2001 Economic Growth and Tax Reconciliation Act (P.L. 107-16) (September 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Association Health Plans (AHPs): The House approved legislation (H.R. 660) designed to make health care more affordable for small businesses by establishing AHPs (June 2003). The Senate did not consider similar legislation; however, a committee hearing was held on the subject (February 2003).
Bankruptcy Reform: The House approved a bill (S. 1920) that would overhaul the nation’s bankruptcy laws (January 2004). The bill included several provisions important to women and their families, including a provision pertaining to the payment of alimony and child support and a provision that would have allowed a debtor to legitimately claim as necessary expenses incurred to maintain the safety of the debtor and the debtor’s family from domestic violence. The Senate approved the bill in November 2003.
Broadcast Indecency: The House approved legislation (H.R. 3717) that would raise the Federal Communications Commission fine for any incident of indecency (March 2004). The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved its version of the bill (S. 2056) in March. The Senate included the text of its bill in the FY2005 defense authorization bill (S. 2400), but the language was dropped during conference.
Breast Cancer Stamp: The House approved a bill (H.R. 1385) that would reauthorize the breast cancer research stamp through FY2006 (January 2004). Language extending authorization for the stamp through 2005 was included in the conference report for the FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-199).
Charitable Giving: Both the Senate and House approved legislation (S. 476/H.R. 7) that would provide tax incentives to encourage charitable giving by individuals and corporations (April 2003/September 2003). Senate Democrats blocked a motion to send the bill to conference with the House in October 2003.
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved a bill (S. 880) to reauthorize the CCDBG (April 2003). The House included reauthorization of the program in its welfare reform bill (H.R. 4) in February 2003.
Child Support: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation (S. 1609) that would penalize legal immigrants and foreign visa applicants who are delinquent in child support payments in the United States or their countries of origin (May 2004). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Child Tax Credit: The House approved a bill (H.R. 4359) that would make permanent the $1,000 child tax credit that was included in the 2001 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (P.L. 107-16) (May 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Children with Disabilities: The Senate approved legislation (S. 622) that would allow states to extend Medicaid coverage to disabled children whose families currently do not qualify under the federal program (May 2004). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG): The House approved a bill (H.R. 3030) to reauthorize the CSBG through FY2009 (February 2004). The Senate approved its version of the bill (S. 1786) in February.
Compensatory Time: The House Education and the Workforce Committee approved legislation (H.R. 1119) that would allow private sector employees to choose paid time off as compensation for working overtime (April 2003). Although the bill was scheduled for floor action, it was pulled just prior to consideration. The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA): The House approved a bill (H.R. 3313) that would bar all federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, from hearing cases concerning the constitutionality of DOMA (July 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Department of Justice Reauthorization: The House approved legislation (H.R. 3036) that would reauthorize the Department of Justice through FY2006 (March 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Dependent Care Assistance: The House approved a bill (H.R. 4372) that would allow employees to transfer up to $500 in unused benefits in a cafeteria plan or flexible spending arrangement (FSA) to the following year’s FSA for dependent care assistance. (June 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Elder Abuse: The Senate Finance Committee approved legislation (S. 333) that would authorize funding for grants to research elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation (September 2004). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Elder Falls: The Senate approved legislation (S. 1217) designed to prevent elder falls (November 2004). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Family Movie Act: The House approved a bill (H.R. 4077) that would exempt from copyright protection and trademark laws technology and software designed to filter out unwanted audio and video content on a DVD or videotape for individual consumers (September 2004). The Senate approved a similar bill (H.R. 2391) in December.
Foster Care: The House approved a bill (H.R. 4504) that would provide incentives for states to expedite the safe placement of foster and adoptive children across state lines (October 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
FY2005 Budget Resolution: Congress failed to complete action on the FY2005 budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 95) this year. The House approved the conference report for the budget resolution on May 19, but the Senate never considered the conference report (May 2004). The resolution would have provided $818.9 billion in FY2005, $4.1 billion below the administration’s request.
Genetic Discrimination: The Senate approved legislation (S. 1053) that would prohibit employers and health insurance companies from discriminating against applicants based on genetic information (October 2003). The House did not consider similar legislation; however, a committee hearing was held on the subject (July 2004).
Head Start Reauthorization: The House approved legislation (H.R. 2210) that would reauthorize the Head Start program (July 2003). The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved similar legislation (S. 1940) in October 2003.
Health Disparities: The House approved a bill (H.R. 918) that would improve the prevention, early detection, and treatment of chronic diseases among health disparity populations (October 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Health Savings Accounts: The House approved legislation (H.R. 4279) that would allow employees to transfer up to $500 in unused benefits in a flexible spending arrangement (FSA) to the following year’s FSA or to a health savings account (May 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Human Cloning: The House approved a bill (H.R. 534) that would prohibit human cloning (February 2003). The Senate did not consider similar legislation, although two committee hearings were held on the subject (March 2003).
Immigrant Children: The Senate approved legislation (S. 1129) that would set standards for the treatment of unaccompanied alien children (October 2004). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Indian Family Violence: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1601) that would reauthorize the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act (P.L. 101-630) (September 2004). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Indian Health Care Improvement Act: The House Resources Committee approved legislation (H.R. 2440) that would reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (P.L. 94-437) (September 2004). The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved its version of the bill (S. 556) in September.
Latin America: The House International Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere approved legislation (H.R. 3447) that would establish the United States Social Investment and Economic Development Fund for the Americas (May 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Medical Liability: The House approved a bill (H.R. 4280) that would limit noneconomic medical malpractice awards and attorneys’ fees (May 2004). The Senate considered legislation (S. 2061/S. 2207) that would limit medical malpractice awards and attorneys’ fees in lawsuits against obstetricians-gynecologists and emergency and trauma center personnel, but Senate Democrats blocked consideration of both bills (February 2004/April 2004).
Mexico City Policy: During consideration of legislation (S. 925) to reauthorize the State Department, the Senate agreed to an amendment that would overturn the Mexico City policy, which bars overseas nongovernmental organizations that receive U.S. aid from using their own money to perform abortions or to lobby foreign governments on abortion policy. However, the bill was pulled from the floor prior to a vote on final passage (July 2003).
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA): The House approved legislation (H.R. 4660) that would reauthorize additional assistance under the MCA (July 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
National Women’s History Museum: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1741) to provide a site for the National Women’s History Museum in the District of Columbia (November 2003). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Obesity: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1172) aimed at combating the growing problem of obesity (December 2003). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Orphans and Vulnerable Children: The House approved legislation (H.R. 4061) that would provide assistance for orphans and other vulnerable children in developing countries (June 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Overtime Pay: The Senate approved a bill (S. 2975) that would block the Department of Labor from implementing its rule on overtime pay (October 2004). The House did not consider similar legislation. Both the House and Senate included language in their FY2005 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bills (H.R.5006/S. 2810) that would have blocked implementation of the overtime rule; however, the provisions were dropped in conference (November 2004).
Pension Reform: The House Ways and Means Committee approved legislation (H.R. 1776) that would accelerate the increases in contribution limits for 401(k) pension plans and IRAs, in addition to a series of other reforms (July 2003). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Personal Reemployment Accounts: The House approved a bill (H.R. 444) that would create personal reemployment accounts of up to $3,000 for workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits (June 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Prescription Drug Coverage for Federal Retirees: The House approved legislation (H.R. 2631) that would ensure that the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program provides federal retirees with the same prescription drug benefit as it currently provides to federal employees (July 2003). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Poverty Reduction and Prevention: The Senate approved a bill (S. 1786) that would reauthorize programs aimed at poverty reduction and prevention (February 2004). The bill would reauthorize for eight years the Assets for Independence Act (P.L. 105-285), a program intended to help low-income families save money for home purchases, college tuition, and small business capitalization. The measure also would reauthorize the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program through 2010. The House did not consider similar legislation.
Respite Care: The Senate approved legislation (S. 538) that would provide assistance to unpaid family caregivers (April 2003). The House did not consider similar legislation.
Same-Sex Marriage: Both the Senate and House considered amendments to the Constitution (H. J. Res. 106/S. J. Res. 40) stating that “Marriage in the United States shall consist of the union of a man and a woman,” but neither body garnered the two-thirds vote required to approve a constitutional amendment (July 2004/September 2004).
Sex Offender Registry: The Senate approved legislation (S. 2154) to make public the National Sex Offender Registry (November 2004). The House did not consider similar legislation.
State Department Authorization: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a bill (S. 2144) that would reauthorize the State Department through FY2005 (March 2004). The House approved its version of the bill in July 2003.
Stroke Research and Prevention: The House approved legislation (H.R. 3658) that would create an education and information campaign to promote stroke prevention and increase the number of patients who seek immediate treatment (June 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Tax Relief for Married Couples: The House approved legislation (H.R. 4181) that would make permanent certain provisions in the 2001 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (P.L. 107-16) (April 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Teacher Recruitment and Retention: The House approved legislation (H.R. 2211) that would provide incentives for teachers in subjects with teacher shortages namely math, science, and special education to teach in “high-need” schools (July 2003). The Senate did not consider a similar measure.
Ten Percent Tax Bracket: The House approved a bill (H.R. 4275) that would extend indefinitely the 10 percent bracket’s income limits that were included in the 2001 Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (P.L. 107-16) (May 2004). The Senate did not consider similar legislation.
Unemployment Benefits: The House approved legislation (H.R. 3030) that would authorize funding for a six-month extension of unemployment compensation benefits through the Community Services Block Grant program (February 2004). During consideration of a corporate tax bill on May 11, the Senate failed to approve an amendment that would have provided up to 13 weeks of additional unemployment benefits for jobless workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits.
Vocational Education: The House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved a bill (H.R. 4496) to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act (P.L. 105-332) (July 2004). The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved its version of the bill (S. 2686) in September.
Welfare Reform: In April, Senate Democrats blocked action on legislation (H.R. 4) to reauthorize programs under the 1996 welfare law (P.L. 104-193). A GOP leadership effort to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 4 fell short of the 60 votes necessary to limit debate (April 2004).
Workforce Investment Act: The House approved a bill (H.R. 1261) to reauthorize the WIA (May 2003). The Senate later approved its version of the bill (S. 1627) in November 2003.
