datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2720
To authorize appropriations for State programs and activities for the 
restoration of the Great Lakes, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 14, 2003
Mr. EMANUEL (for himself, Mr. REYNOLDS, Mr. KIRK, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. 
LIPINSKI, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. KENNEDY of 
Minnesota, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Mr. CHOCOLA, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. 
MURTHA, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. KLECZKA, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Ms. 
SLAUGHTER, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. HOEFFEL, and Mr. ENGLISH) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Re-
sources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To authorize appropriations for State programs and activities 
for the restoration of the Great Lakes, and for other 
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Great Lakes Restora-
tion Financing Act of 2003’’.
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2725
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program 
for the rehabilitation, preservation, or improvement of railroad track. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 15, 2003
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska (for himself, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. QUINN, and Ms. 
CORRINE BROWN of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to establish 
a grant program for the rehabilitation, preservation, or 
improvement of railroad track.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Railroad Track Mod-
ernization Act of 2003’’. 
SEC. 2. CAPITAL GRANTS FOR RAILROAD TRACK. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 223 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2724
To amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit the use of any informa-
tion in any consumer report by any credit card issuer that is unrelated 
to the transactions and experience of the card issuer with the consumer 
to increase the annual percentage rate applicable to credit extended 
to the consumer, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 14, 2003
Mr. SANDERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit the 
use of any information in any consumer report by any 
credit card issuer that is unrelated to the transactions 
and experience of the card issuer with the consumer 
to increase the annual percentage rate applicable to cred-
it extended to the consumer, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Credit Bait and Switch 
Prevention Act’’.
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2721
To amend the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940 to provide 
certain relief under that Act for members of the reserve components 
who are attending postsecondary educational institutions when called 
or ordered to active duty. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 14, 2003
Mr. MICHAUD (for himself and Mr. EVANS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940 
to provide certain relief under that Act for members 
of the reserve components who are attending postsec-
ondary educational institutions when called or ordered 
to active duty.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. RELIEF UNDER THE SOLDIERS’ AND SAILORS’ 
CIVIL RELIEF ACT OF 1940 RELATING TO STU-
DENT LOANS. 
Section 206 of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief 
Act of 1940 (50 U.S.C. App. 526) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘No obligation’’; 
(2) by designating the second sentence as sub-
section (c); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a), as des-
ignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to stu-
dent loans, including student loans under title IV of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.), 
student loans under any other Federal student loan pro-
gram, or any other student loan.’’.
Æ
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2722
To amend title 49, United States Code, to allow additional transit systems 
greater flexibility with certain mass transportation projects. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 14, 2003
Mr. PITTS (for himself, Mr. OTTER, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. BURGESS, Ms. 
HOOLEY of Oregon, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. ENGLISH, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. 
GILCHREST, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. FRANK
of Massachusetts, Mr. 
HOSTETTLER, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi, Mr. BEREUTER, 
Mr. SIMPSON, and Mr. HASTINGS of Florida) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure 
A BILL 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to allow additional 
transit systems greater flexibility with certain mass 
transportation projects.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Transit System Flexi-
bility Protection Act of 2003’’.
SEC. 2. GENERAL AUTHORITY. 
Section 5307(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘200,000.’’ and inserting 
‘‘360,000. The Secretary may make grants under this sec-
tion to a transit system to finance the operating cost of 
equipment and facilities for use in mass transportation in 
an urbanized area with a population of more than 360,000 
if such transit system operates less than 100 buses on 
fixed route service during peak service hours.’’.
Æ
as of the date of the enactment of the Railroad Track 
Modernization Act of 2003. 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants provided under this 
section shall be used to implement track capital projects 
as soon as possible. In no event shall grant funds be con-
tractually obligated for a project later than the end of the 
third Federal fiscal year following the year in which the 
grant was awarded. Any funds not so obligated by the end 
of such fiscal year shall be returned to the Secretary for 
reallocation. 
‘‘(e) EMPLOYEE PROTECTION.—The Secretary shall 
require as a condition of any grant made under this sec-
tion that the recipient railroad provide a fair arrangement 
at least as protective of the interests of employees who 
are affected by the project to be funded with the grant 
as the terms imposed under section 11326(a), as in effect 
on the date of the enactment of the Railroad Track Mod-
ernization Act of 2003. 
‘‘(f) LABOR STANDARDS.—
‘‘(1) PREVAILING WAGES.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that laborers and mechanics employed by 
contractors and subcontractors in construction work 
financed by a grant made under this section will be 
paid wages not less than those prevailing on similar 
construction in the locality, as determined by the
Secretary of Labor under the Act of March 3, 1931 
(known as the Davis-Bacon Act; 40 U.S.C. 276a et 
seq.). The Secretary shall make a grant under this 
section only after being assured that required labor 
standards will be maintained on the construction 
work. 
‘‘(2) WAGE RATES.—Wage rates in a collective 
bargaining agreement negotiated under the Railway 
Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) are deemed for 
purposes of this subsection to comply with the Act 
of March 3, 1931 (known as the Davis-Bacon Act; 
40 U.S.C. 276a et seq.). 
‘‘(g) STUDY.—The Secretary shall conduct a study 
of the projects carried out with grant assistance under this 
section to determine the public interest benefits associated 
with the light density railroad networks in the States and 
their contribution to a multimodal transportation system. 
Not later than March 31, 2005, the Secretary shall report 
to Congress any recommendations the Secretary considers 
appropriate regarding the eligibility of light density rail 
networks for Federal infrastructure financing. 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Transportation $350,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2004 through 2006 for carrying out this section.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The item relating 
to chapter 223 in the table of chapters of subtitle V of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘223. CAPITAL GRANTS FOR RAILROAD TRACK .......................... 22301’’.
Æ
TITLE III—OCCUPATIONAL SAFE-
TY 
AND 
HEALTH 
INDE-
PENDENT REVIEW OF OSHA
CITATIONS ACT
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Occupational Safety
and Health Independent Review of OSHA Citations Act
of 2004’’.
SEC. 302. INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
Section 11(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 660) is amended by adding the
following at the end thereof: ‘‘The conclusions of the Com-
mission with respect to all questions of law that are sub-
ject to agency deference under governing court precedent
shall be given deference if reasonable.’’.
TITLE IV—OCCUPATIONAL SAFE-
TY AND HEALTH SMALL EM-
PLOYER ACCESS TO JUSTICE
ACT
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Occupational Safety
and Health Small Employer Access to Justice Act of
2004’’.
HR 2728 PCS 
take to reduce the information collection burden imposed 
on small business concerns, consistent with section 
3520(c)(1) of this chapter. The Director shall include the 
results of the review in the annual report that the Director 
submits under section 3514 of this chapter for fiscal year 
2006.’’. 
SEC. 504. REPEAL OF EXEMPTIONS FROM PAPERWORK RE-
DUCTION ACT, ETC. 
(a) REPEALS.—The following provisions of the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 
107–171) are repealed: 
(1) Subparagraphs (A) and (C) of section 
1601(c)(2). 
(2) Section 1601(c)(3). 
(3) Section 2702(b)(1)(A). 
(4) Section 2702(b)(2)(A). 
(5) Section 2702(c). 
(6) Subparagraphs (A) and (C) of section 
6103(b)(2). 
(7) Section 6103(b)(3). 
(8) Subparagraphs (A) and (C) of section 
10105(d)(2). 
(9) Section 10105(d)(3).
SEC. 404. APPLICABILITY OF REVERSION TO ALASKA RAIL-
ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY PROPERTY. 
Section 610(b) of the Alaska Railroad Transfer Act 
of 1982 (45 U.S.C. 1209(b)) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(b)’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2)(A) The State-owned railroad may convey all 
right, title, and interest of the State in any land within 
the right-of-way to a third party in exchange for other 
land that, in substitution for the land conveyed, is to be 
utilized as part of the right-of-way if the continuity of the 
right-of-way corridor for transportation, communications, 
and transmission purposes is provided by such use of the 
substituted land. 
‘‘(B) The provisions of this section that require rever-
sion shall apply to the substituted land, as of the effective 
date of the exchange of that land in a transaction author-
ized by subparagraph (A), as fully as if the substituted 
land had been rail properties of the Alaska Railroad as 
of January 13, 1983.
‘‘(C) Upon the conveyance of land in a transaction 
authorized by subparagraph (A), any reversionary interest 
in the land under this section shall terminate.’’.
Æ
SEC. 402. AWARD OF ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29
U.S.C. 651 and following) is amended by redesignating
sections 32 through 34 as sections 33 through 35 and in-
serting the following new section after section 31:
‘‘SEC. 32 AWARD OF ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS.
‘‘(a) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS.—An employer
who—
‘‘(1) is the prevailing party in any adversary
adjudication instituted under this Act, and
‘‘(2) had not more than 100 employees and a
net worth of not more than $7,000,000 at the time
of the adversary adjudication was initiated,
shall be awarded fees and other expenses as a prevailing
party under section 504 of title 5, United States Code,
in accordance with the provisions of that section, but with-
out regard to whether the position of the Secretary was
substantially justified or special circumstances make an
award unjust. For purposes of this section the term ‘ad-
versary adjudication’ has the meaning given that term in
section 504(b)(1)(C) of title 5, United States Code.
‘‘(b) PROCEEDINGS.—An employer who—
‘‘(1) is the prevailing party in any proceeding
for judicial review of any action instituted under this
Act, and
‘‘(1) Neither the United States, nor any agent, 
employee, or officer thereof, shall be immune or ex-
empt from any process or sanction of any State or 
Federal Court with respect to a violation of the sub-
stantive and procedural requirements of subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(2) No agent, employee, or officer of the 
United States shall be personally liable for any civil 
penalty under any Federal, State, or local law con-
cerning underground storage tanks with respect to 
any act or omission within the scope of the official 
duties of the agent, employee, or officer, provided 
that an agent, employee, or officer of the United 
States shall be subject to any criminal sanction (in-
cluding, but not limited to, any fine or imprison-
ment) under any Federal or State law concerning 
underground storage tanks. 
‘‘(d) EXEMPTIONS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President may exempt 
any underground storage tank of any department, 
agency, or instrumentality in the executive branch 
from compliance with Federal or State requirements 
with respect to underground storage tanks if he de-
termines it to be in the paramount interest of the 
United States to do so.
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2728
To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to provide for 
adjudicative flexibility with regard to an employer filing of a notice 
of contest following the issuance of a citation by the Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 15, 2003
Mr. NORWOOD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 
to provide for adjudicative flexibility with regard to an 
employer filing of a notice of contest following the 
issuance of a citation by the Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Occupational Safety 
and Health Small Business Day in Court Act of 2003’’.
HR 2728 PCS 
TITLE III—OCCUPATIONAL SAFE-
TY 
AND 
HEALTH 
INDE-
PENDENT REVIEW OF OSHA 
CITATIONS ACT 
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Occupational Safety 
and Health Independent Review of OSHA Citations Act 
of 2004’’. 
SEC. 302. INDEPENDENT REVIEW. 
Section 11(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health 
Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 660) is amended by adding the 
following at the end thereof: ‘‘The conclusions of the Com-
mission with respect to all questions of law that are sub-
ject to agency deference under governing court precedent 
shall be given deference if reasonable.’’. 
TITLE IV—OCCUPATIONAL SAFE-
TY AND HEALTH SMALL EM-
PLOYER ACCESS TO JUSTICE 
ACT 
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Occupational Safety 
and Health Small Employer Access to Justice Act of 
2004’’.
SEC. 2. CONTESTING CITATIONS UNDER THE OCCUPA-
TIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT. 
(a) CITATION.—The second sentence of section 10(a) 
of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 
U.S.C. 659(a)) is amended by inserting ‘‘(unless such fail-
ure results from mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excus-
able neglect)’’ after ‘‘assessment of penalty’’. 
(b) FAILURE TO CORRECT.—The second sentence of 
section 10(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 659(b)) is amended by inserting ‘‘(un-
less such failure results from mistake, inadvertence, sur-
prise, or excusable neglect)’’ after ‘‘assessment of pen-
alty’’.
Æ
1B 
Union Calendar No. 276
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2728
[Report No. 108–487] 
To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to provide for 
adjudicative flexibility with regard to an employer filing of a notice 
of contest following the issuance of a citation by the Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 15, 2003
Mr. NORWOOD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
MAY 13, 2004
Additional sponsors: Mr. BOEHNER, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. 
HOEKSTRA, Mr. KELLER, Mr. KLINE, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. ISAKSON, 
Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. SCHROCK, Mr. AKIN, Mr. GERLACH, Mr. CHOCOLA, 
Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mr. TOOMEY, Mr. BEAUPREZ, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. 
DEMINT, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of 
Texas, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. MCKEON, Mr. PAUL, Mr. 
OTTER, and Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina 
MAY 13, 2004
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic] 
A BILL 
To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 
to provide for adjudicative flexibility with regard to an
employer filing of a notice of contest following the 
issuance of a citation by the Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Occupational Safety 
and Health Small Business Day in Court Act of 2003 
2004’’. 
SEC. 2. CONTESTING CITATIONS UNDER THE OCCUPA-
TIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT. 
(a) CITATION.—The second sentence of section 10(a) 
of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 
U.S.C. 659(a)) is amended by inserting ‘‘(unless such fail-
ure results from mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excus-
able neglect)’’ after ‘‘assessment of penalty’’. 
(b) FAILURE TO CORRECT.—The second sentence of 
section 10(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 659(b)) is amended by inserting ‘‘(un-
less such failure results from mistake, inadvertence, sur-
prise, or excusable neglect)’’ after ‘‘assessment of pen-
alty’’.
Union Calendar No. 276
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2728
[Report No. 108–487] 
A BILL 
To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 to provide for adjudicative flexibility with 
regard to an employer filing of a notice of contest 
following the issuance of a citation by the Occu-
pational Safety and Health Administration. 
MAY 13, 2004
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed
I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2729
To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to provide for 
greater efficiency at the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 15, 2003
Mr. NORWOOD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 
to provide for greater efficiency at the Occupational Safe-
ty and Health Review Commission.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Occupational Safety 
and Health Review Commission Efficiency Act of 2003’’. 
SEC. 2. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW 
COMMISSION. 
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 12 of the Occupational 
Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 661) is amend-
ed as follows:
(1) In subsection (a), by striking the word 
‘‘three’’ and inserting in lieu thereof, the word 
‘‘five;’’ and inserting before the word ‘‘training’’ the 
word ‘‘legal’’. 
(2) In subsection (b) by striking all after the 
words ‘‘except that’’ and inserting in lieu thereof, 
‘‘the President may extend the term of a member to 
allow a continuation in service at the pleasure of the 
President after the expiration of that member’s term 
until a successor nominated by the President has 
been confirmed to serve. Any vacancy caused by the 
death, resignation, or removal of a member before 
the expiration of a term, for which he or she was ap-
pointed shall be filled only for the remainder of such 
expired term. A member of the Commission may be 
removed by the President for inefficiency, neglect of 
duty, or malfeasance in office. 
(3) Subsection (f) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(f) The Chairman of the Commission is authorized 
to delegate to any panel of three or more members any 
or all of the powers of the Commission. For the purpose 
of carrying out its functions under this chapter, 3 mem-
bers of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, except
that 2 members shall constitute a quorum for any sub-
panel designated by the Chairman under this subsection.’’. 
(b) NEW POSITIONS.—Of the two vacancies for mem-
bership on the Commission created by this section, one 
shall be filled by the President for a term expiring on April 
27, 2006, and the other shall be filled by the President 
for a term expiring on April 27, 2008.
Æ
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) Leave under this section for the purpose of do-
nating blood may not be granted to an employee— 
‘‘(1) on more than 4 occasions in a calendar 
year; or 
‘‘(2) in an amount greater than 1 day for each 
donation.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) SECTION HEADING.—The heading for sec-
tion 6327 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 6327. Absence in connection with serving as a 
bone-marrow, organ, or blood donor’’. 
(2) ANALYSIS.—The analysis for chapter 63 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 6327 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘6327. Absence in connection with serving as a bone-marrow, organ, or blood 
donor.’’. 
Æ