Memorandum from Mark to Shelley Berkley, DC and District Staff, March 4, 2003, regarding proposed legislation including National Renewable Energy Lands Act (3 pages)

Memo To: Shelley, DC and District Staff From: Mark Date: March 4, 2003 Subject: Proposed Legislation to Introduce before the April Recess (six weeks) Renewables * Reintroduce the National Renewable Energy Lands Act which promotes the development and use of renewable energy on public lands (needs 3-4 weeks development time). * Reintroduce the Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Act with Congressman Rick Larsen to establish a loan guarantee program for renewable energy source facilities (2-4 weeks). Yucca Mountain (The majority of our effort on the Yucca Mountain fight will be devoted toward oversight ^nd (investigation of the Yucca Mountain Project as well as appropriations measures. ) * Reintroduce the 21st Century Science for Nuclear Waste Disposal Act. This bill is Rep. Berkley's comprehensive solution to the nuclear waste problem. The bill would redirect the Nuclear Waste Fund into the research, development, and utilization of risk-decreasing technologies for the onsite storage and eventual reduction of radiation levels of nuclear waste (needs 1-2 weeks development time). * Reintroduce the Nuclear Waste Terrorist Threat Assessment and Protection Act. This bill is Rep. Berkley's comprehensive solution to safeguard the Yucca Mountain Project from terrorist attacks. The bill would stop the Yucca Mountain Project from moving forward unless it was deemed safe. However, the bill also sets virtually impossible requirements on the government to ensure safety (needs 1-2 weeks development time). * Introduce legislation to mandate more realistic nuclear waste cask testing and safety standards (2-3 months). Health * Introduce a "doctor supportable" medical malpractice bill designed to lower insurance rates for doctors and keep doctors from fleeing southern Nevada (1 week - 1 year). * Reintroduce the Medicare Regulatory Fairness Act with Cong. Toomey. The bill will help protect doctors from HCFA's unfair regulations in the Medicare program (1-2 months). * Reintroduce legislation to support preventive care for osteoporosis to build up bone density in women (1-2 months). * Reintroduce the Medicare Osteoporosis Measurement Act (1-6 weeks). * Introduce legislation to maintain the upper payment limits for hospitals at 100% (1-2 months). Education * Reintroduce the National Student Dropout Prevention and Recovery Act which establishes the model school dropout prevention grant program and the national school dropout prevention grant program and increases funding for dropout prevention (needs 2 weeks development time). * Reintroduce the After School Education and Anti-Crime Act to significantly expand local after school programs to improve academic and social outcomes for students and reduce both juvenile crime and the risk that youth will become victims of crime by providing productive activities during after school hours (needs 1-2 weeks development time). Miscellaneous * Reintroduce the National Children's Memorial Flag Day Resolution memorializing children dying of preventable causes and urging society to better protect children for the future (1-2 weeks).