hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Peace Corps Volunteers Health, Safety, and Security Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2454
Sponsor: Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: AIDS (Disease)
Advice and consent of the Senate
Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Africans
Americans in foreign countries
Armed Forces and National Security
Asia
Classified defense information
Communicable diseases
Computer security measures
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal justice information
Dismissal of employees
Due process of law
Employee benefit plans
Employee health benefits
Employee selection
Executive reorganization
Federal employees
Federal officials
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Grievance procedures
Health
Health surveys
Human immunodeficiency viruses
Identification of criminals
Inspectors general
Labor and Employment
Law
Legislation
Medical screening
Medical tests
Occupational health and safety
Ombudsman
Peace Corps
Personnel records
Presidential appointments
Recruiting of employees
Salaries
Science, Technology, Communications
Security clearances
Social Welfare
Surveys
Term limits
Volunteer workers
Western Hemisphere
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Peace Corps Volunteers Health, Safety, and Security Act of 2004 - Amends the Peace Corps Act to establish in the Peace Corps the Office of the Ombudsman of the Peace Corps, which shall administer complaints or concerns regarding services or support provided by the Peace Corps to its volunteers, including matters respecting: (1) safety and security; (2) due process, including processes relating to separation from the Peace Corps; (3) benefits and assistance; (4) medical or other health-related assistance; and (5) access to files and records.
 
Establishes the Office of Safety and Security of the Peace Corps, which shall be responsible for safety and security activities of the Peace Corps, including background checks, volunteer, staff, and facilities safety, and information technology security.
 
Requires specified reports respecting Peace Corps: (1) medical services; (2) volunteer assignment; and (3) employment duration.
 
Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to provide for the appointment of an Office of Inspector General for the Peace Corps.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5953-5954)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Servant Retirement Protection Act

Bill: 108-s-2455
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Civil service retirement
Government Operations and Politics
Labor and Employment
Old age, survivors and disability insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Public Servant Retirement Protection Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to repeal the current windfall elimination provisions (which reduce Social Security benefits of retirees who paid into the Social Security system for part of their careers and who also receive a government pension from work in the public sector not covered by Social Security) and to replace them with a formula that treats non-Social Security earnings as if they were Social Security earnings for the purpose of calculating lifetime earnings for certain individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5954-5955)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2456
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agricultural subsidies
Animals
Capital gains tax
Commerce
Department of Agriculture
Disaster relief
Droughts
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Excise tax
Farm income
Farmers
Federal aid to Indians
Fisheries
Floods
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Income tax
Law
Livestock
Losses
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Minorities
Native Americans
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Tax deductions
Tax deferral
Tax exclusion
Tax penalties
Taxation
Trusts and trustees
Water Resources Development
Weather

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide: (1) emergency financial assistance to agricultural producers who have incurred qualifying 2003 and/or 2004 crop losses due to weather or related conditions; and (2) payments to livestock producers who have incurred 2003 and/or 2004 losses in an emergency-designated county, with set-asides for the American Indian livestock program. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to involuntary conversion rules to: (1) permit the replacement of livestock with other farm property in the case of drought, flood, or other weather-related conditions (such provision currently applies only to cases of soil or other environmental contamination); and (2) extend the replacement period for livestock sold on account of weather related conditions. 
 
Allows an individual engaged in an eligible farming or commercial fishing business a deduction for any taxable year of up to 20 percent of taxable income attributable to the eligible farming or commercial fishing business paid in cash by the taxpayer to a Farm and Ranch Risk Management Account (FFARRM Account). Includes non-exempt FFARRM distributions in the taxpayer's gross income, and subjects to a special ten percent surtax distributions not made within five years of contribution. Prohibits FFARRM distributions from being used to overcapitalize any fishery. Establishes a tax on excess contributions, but exempts the taxpayer from the tax on certain prohibited transactions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill entitled "Nuclear Waste Cleanup Act".

Bill: 108-s-2457
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Energy
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Licenses
Nuclear facilities
Radioactive wastes
Reactor fuel reprocessing
South Carolina
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Nuclear Waste Cleanup Act - Declares that, with respect to material stored at a Department of Energy (DOE) site at which activities are regulated by the State of South Carolina, high-level radioactive waste does not include radioactive material resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel that the Secretary of Energy determines: (1) does not require permanent isolation in a deep geologic repository for spent fuel or highly radioactive waste; (2) has had highly radioactive radionuclides removed in accordance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission-reviewed criteria; and (3) in the case of material derived from storage tanks, is disposed of in a facility (including a tank) within South Carolina.
 
Exempts from this Act any such material transported from South Carolina. 
 
Authorizes DOE to implement any action authorized by a State-approved closure plan or State-issued permit in existence on the date of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6067-6068)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5935)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Nevada Mining Townsite Conveyance Act

Bill: 108-s-2458
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Claims
Commemorations
Historic sites
History
Land transfers
Law
Mining claims
Nevada
Residence requirements

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Nevada Mining Townsite Conveyance Act - Sets forth procedures for the conveyance of certain mining townsites. Defines a mining townsite as real property in the counties of Esmeralda and Nye, Nevada, that is owned by the Federal Government but upon which improvements have been constructed because of a mining operation on or near the property, if such improvements were undertaken based on the belief that: (1) the property had been or would be acquired by the entity operating the mine; or (2) the person who made the improvement had a valid claim for acquiring the property.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management, to convey, without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to certain mining townsites to the county in which each site is located. Directs, if a valid interest is proven in a site under Nevada law, the county receiving such site to reconvey the property to the person or persons with such interest. Requires, for a claim to be valid, the claimant to have occupied the relevant mining townsite for at least 15 years immediately before the enactment of this Act.
Provides for the protection of historic and cultural resources on conveyed townsites. Subjects conveyances under this Act to valid existing rights.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5956)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5955-5956)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
21st Century Federal Pell Grant Plus Act

Bill: 108-s-2462
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, John [R-VA]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economic security
Economics and Public Finance
Engineering
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Higher education
Language and languages
Mathematics
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
21st Century Federal Pell Grant Plus Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Federal Pell Grant Plus program that increases, to double the amount calculated for the student, the Federal Pell Grant for those students who pursue programs of study in engineering, mathematics, science, or foreign languages. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5982)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5980-5982)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Tax Code Termination Act

Bill: 108-s-2463
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Collection of accounts
Economic growth
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Job creation
Labor and Employment
Married people
Saving and investment
Social Welfare
Social security taxes
Tax rates
Taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Tax Code Termination Act - Mandates the termination of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 after December 31, 2009, except for self-employment taxes, Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes, and Railroad Retirement taxes. 
 
Declares that any new Federal tax system should be a simple and fair system that: (1) applies a low rate to all Americans; (2) provides tax relief for working Americans; (3) protects the rights of taxpayers and reduces tax collection abuses; (4) eliminates the bias against savings and investment; (5) promotes economic growth and job creation; and (6) does not penalize marriage or families. 
 
Requires that the new Federal tax system be approved by Congress in its final form by July 4, 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act

Bill: 108-s-2464
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accreditation (Medical care)
Advertising
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Damages
Drug industry
Drugs
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic commerce
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grants-in-aid
Health counseling
Injunctions
Interactive media
Internet
Interstate commerce
Law
Liability (Law)
Licenses
Parties to actions
Pharmacies
Pharmacists
Science, Technology, Communications
State laws
Telephone
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act or the Ryan Haight Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to prohibit any person from dispensing a prescription drug pursuant to a sale if: (1) any part of the sales transaction for the drug is conducted through an Internet site; and (2) such site fails to meet specified requirements regarding inclusion of a page (and links thereto) providing the identities and licensing information of the seller, pharmacists, or medical consultants.
 
Prohibits a person from selling or dispensing a prescription drug if: (1) the purchaser communicated with the person through the Internet; (2) the purchaser did not have a valid prescription when the communication began; (3) the person provided for the involvement of a practitioner; (4) the practitioner issued a prescription for the drug that was purchased; (5) the person knew that no qualifying medical relationship existed (defines &quot;qualifying medical relationship&quot; as requiring an in-person medical evaluation); and (6) the person received payment.
 
Allows States to bring civil actions against a person for violations of this Act.
 
Prevents Internet providers from being held liable for dispensing or selling prescriptions drugs on account of another person's activities.
 
 Includes the dispensing or selling of a prescription drug in violation of this Act as a prohibited act under the FFDCA.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award a grant or contract to the National Clearinghouse on Internet Prescribing to identify and report Internet sites that violate Federal or State laws concerning the dispensing of drugs.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5983-5984)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Todd Rode Act

Bill: 108-s-2465
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Customs administration
Drug abuse
Drug law enforcement
Drug traffic
Evidence (Law)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Forfeiture
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Imports
Law
Searches and seizures
Smuggling

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Prevention of the Illegally [sic] Importation of Controlled Substances Act of 2004 or the Todd Rode Act - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to require a shipment of controlled substances that is imported into the United States in violation of the Act and that has a value of less than $10,000 to be seized, summarily forfeited to the United States, and destroyed. Declares that: (1) provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regarding the disposition of refused articles do not authorize the delivery of the substances pursuant to the execution of a bond; and (2) the substances may not be exported.
 
Authorizes the seizure and destruction of such controlled substances without notice to the importer, owner, or consignee of the substances involved. Requires appraisal of such substances only to the extent sufficient to document that the substances are subject to this Act. Requires that procedures promulgated under this Act be designed toward the goal of ensuring that a substantial majority of shipments of such substances are identified, seized, and destroyed.
 
Prohibits controlled substances from being destroyed to the extent that the Attorney General determines that the substances should be preserved as evidence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5983-5984)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2466
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Anesthetics
Civil actions and liability
Communication in medicine
Damages
Electronic government information
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Federal preemption
Fetus
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publications
Health education
Informed consent (Medical law)
Internet
Law
Licenses
Medicaid
Medical associations
Medical records
Pain
Physicians
Pregnant women
Punitive damages
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
State laws
Web sites
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require an abortion provider, before beginning any abortion of a pain-capable unborn child (defined as an unborn child who has reached a probable stage of development of 20 weeks after fertilization), to: (1) make a specified statement to the pregnant woman that Congress has determined that there is substantial evidence that the process will cause the unborn child pain, and that the mother has the option of having pain-reducing drugs administered directly to the child; (2) provide to the woman an Unborn Child Pain Awareness Brochure (unless she waives receipt) and an Unborn Child Pain Awareness Decision Form; and (3) obtain on the form the woman's signature and her explicit request for or refusal of the administration of drugs to the child. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop the brochure and form.
 
Makes such provisions inapplicable to a provider in the case of a medical emergency. Requires the provider to certify that a medical emergency exists. Sets penalties for false statements.
 
Establishes penalties for willfully failing to comply with this Act, including civil penalties, medical license suspension, or both. Authorizes: (1) specified officials to bring suit in Federal court; and (2) private rights of action by a parent or guardian of a woman who is an unemancipated minor. Requires each State and State medical licensing authority to promulgate procedures for the revocation or suspension of a provider's license upon a court finding that the provider has violated this Act. Subjects a State that fails to implement such procedures to loss of Medicaid funding.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6443-6444)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5985-5986)
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to clarify the calculation of per-unit costs payable under expiring annual contributions contracts for tenant-based rental assistance that are renewed in fiscal year 2004.

Bill: 108-s-2467
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Cost of living adjustments
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to housing
Government Operations and Politics
Housing authorities
Housing subsidies
Public housing
Rental housing

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Amends the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 to revise the per-unit cost calculation for expiring tenant-based rental assistance contracts under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
National Historic Preservation Act Amendments Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2469
Sponsor: Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO]
Introduced: 2004-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Accounting
Authorization
Commemorations
Economics and Public Finance
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal employees
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial services
Fund raising
Gifts
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Governors
Grants-in-aid
Historic sites
History
Personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
National Historic Preservation Act Amendments Act of 2004 - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) to: (1) modify membership and quorum requirements for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (2) allow agencies or private entities, other than the Department of the Interior, to provide financial and administrative services to the Council by agreement; (3) authorize the Council to solicit additional property, facilities, and services; (4) authorize the Council to enter into cooperative agreements with any Federal agency that administers an NHPA grant or assistance program to improve program administration; and (5) authorize the Council to evaluate the effectiveness of such programs and make recommendations for improvement to agency heads, the President, and Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-08
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 108-638.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate