January 16, 2003 (Thursday)
- President Bush visits the University of Scranton in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, to give a speech on medical liability reform amidst major medical malpractice in northeastern Pennsylvania. Bush criticized state attorneys for "frivolous lawsuits", vowing to decrease excessive jury awards and propose a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages. The president later paid a visit to Scranton's Mercy Hospital.
- US Senator Russ Feingold introduces a bill to halt the Information Awareness Office and Total Information Awareness pending a review of privacy issues involved. The US Congress attempting to suspend an internal Department of Defense project is a highly unusual step.[1]
- UN weapons inspectors in Iraq stated that they found empty rocket warheads, designed to carry chemical warfare agents, at the Ukhaider Ammunition Storage Area.
- The Space Shuttle Columbia launches on its last mission STS-107. It disintegrated on re-entry 16 days later.
- ^ "Pentagon database plan hits snag on Hill - CNET News". News.com.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2012-02-11.