hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Au Pair Program Expansion Act

Bill: 108-hr-3998
Sponsor: Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Alien labor
Arts, Culture, Religion
Caregivers
Cultural relations
Department of State
Disabled
Education
Educational exchanges
Exchange of persons programs
Foreign students
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Household workers
Immigration
Labor and Employment
Law
Social Welfare
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
Au Pair Program Extension Act - Directs the Secretary of State to establish a pilot program under which current Department of State-designated au pair program sponsors may place foreign nationals in positions that require in-home independent living services to an adult with disabilities rather than child care services. (Terminates such pilot program not earlier than five years after the date it begins.) 
 
Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) define in-home independent living services to include only home support services such as personal care, homemaker services, and performance of routine household chores, and to exclude medical care or other services to be delivered by licensed health professionals or under the direction of a physical or occupational therapist; (2) ensure that all cultural exchange and educational aspects of the existing au pair exchange programs are unimpaired; and (3) establish standards to ensure that pilot program participants receive appropriate training. Authorizes the Secretary to expand the age range of pilot program candidates.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
District of Columbia National Guard College Access Act

Bill: 108-hr-4000
Sponsor: Rep. Hobson, David L. [R-OH-7]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: College costs
District of Columbia
Education
Federal aid to education
Higher education
National Guard
Scholarships
Student aid
Student loan funds

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
District of Columbia National Guard College Access Act - Amends Federal armed forces provisions to authorize the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide financial assistance to an eligible member of the District of Columbia National Guard for expenses while enrolled in an approved institution of higher education in a degree, certificate, or other program leading to a recognized educational credential at such institution. Requires such members, in order to be eligible, to: (1) be such a member for at least 12 consecutive months preceding commencement of the assistance; (2) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at such an institution; and (3) if already enrolled, maintain satisfactory progress in a course of study in accordance with requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Prohibits assistance amounts from exceeding $2,500 per academic year and $12,500 altogether.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Total Force.
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to use the Agricultural Research Service to conduct research regarding the likelihood and risks of the transfer between animal species of the proteinaceous infectious particles, known as prions, that cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-hr-4001
Sponsor: Rep. Latham, Tom [R-IA-4]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural research
Animal diseases
Animals
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Brain diseases
Cattle
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to research
Feeds
Health
Livestock
Medical research
Poultry
Science, Technology, Communications
Swine
Veterinary medicine

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct research through the Agricultural Research Service regarding the likelihood and risks of the inter-animal species transfer of the proteinaceous infectious particles (prions) that cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Directs the Service to study the risks associated with feeding livestock by-products to other animals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
No Qualified Teacher Left Behind Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4002
Sponsor: Rep. Matheson, Jim [D-UT-2]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Authorization
Continuing education
Department of Education
Economics and Public Finance
Educational accountability
Educational planning
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Labor and Employment
Rating of teachers
Recruiting of employees
Rural education
School districts
Secondary education
Teacher education
Teacher supply and demand

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
No Qualified Teacher Left Behind Act of 2004 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) with respect to teacher qualifications.
 
Revises the definition of highly qualified teacher, in the case of middle or secondary school teachers who are new to the profession. 
 
Includes consideration of any professional development being pursued, in determining such qualifications for elementary, middle, or secondary school teachers who are not new to the profession.
 
Provides for rural school districts: (1) an extension of a deadline for having highly qualified teachers; and (2) an authorization of additional appropriations for grants for teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development.
 
Revises requirements for qualified teachers under ESEA title I part A (I-A) programs for disadvantaged students to: (1) apply only to teachers of core subjects; and (2) eliminate reference to the proportion of inexperienced teachers.
 
Requires all ESEA grantees, whether under I-A or not, to meet specified qualification deadlines for all teachers of core subjects whom they employ.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
FOSTER Act

Bill: 108-hr-4003
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-7]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child welfare
College costs
Compensatory education
Dropouts
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational accountability
Educational counseling
Educational statistics
Families
Federal aid to education
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial services
Foster home care
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Mentoring
Social Welfare
Student aid
Student enrollment
Student housing
Student-administrator relationships
Youth services

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
Foster Opportunities for Success Through Higher Education Reform - FOSTER Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish a program of foster care youth outreach and housing services.
 
Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to institutions of higher education to provide: (1) technical assistance and supportive services to foster care youth who are prospective students to prepare for, enter, and remain in such institutions; and (2) basic housing during the regular academic school year, including interim housing during regular periods of dormitory closing other than summer break, for those foster care youth living in college dormitories. Requires program coordination with: (1) the John H. Chafee foster care independence program under the Social Security Act; and (2) TRIO and GEAR UP programs under HEA.
 
Revises HEA financial need analysis to provide fair treatment for foster care youth. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
Health Information Independence Act

Bill: 108-hr-4004
Sponsor: Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-14]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Commerce
Cost control
Deceptive advertising
Department of Health and Human Services
Dietary supplements
Dismissal of employees
Drugs
Economics and Public Finance
Evidence (Law)
Executive reorganization
Federal employees
Fees
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Health
Judicial review
Labeling
Labor and Employment
Law
Natural foods
Preventive medicine
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientists

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
Health Information Independence Act - Prevents the Federal Government from restricting the distribution of a dietary supplement or other nutritional food because the manufacturer makes health claims unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if: (1) the product has a label clearly stating that its health claims are not FDA-approved; (2) the FDA lacks evidence establishing probable cause that the claims contain misleading information posing a threat to the safety and well-being of those who use the product. Requires an independent review of a determination by the FDA that there is such probable cause.
 
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to extend certain food nutrition labeling requirements to dietary supplements. Requires nutrition labels to include the relationship of a nutrient to the prevention, treatment, or cure of a disease.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to solicit independent scientific reviewers from the university community to review, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding particular health claims, based on the scientific evidence available. Excludes health claims only if they are unsupported by credible scientific evidence and no disclaimer could eliminate potentially misleading connotations. Makes recommendations of such reviewers binding on the Secretary and reviewable only by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Requires costs of this program to be offset against the operating budget of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E391)
To exempt certain animal identification information from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

Bill: 108-hr-4005
Sponsor: Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [D-MN-7]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Animals
Cattle
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Confidential communications
Federal preemption
Freedom of information
Government Operations and Politics
Identification devices
Law
Livestock
State laws
Trade secrets

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
Exempts certain information obtained through the livestock identification system from Freedom of Information Act disclosure. States that such information: (1) shall not be released, nor considered to be in the public domain; and (2) shall be considered privileged and confidential commercial information. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to release such information if: (1) related to disease or pest threats to livestock; (2) related to certain actions by the Secretary; and (3) needed for public health and public safety purposes. 
 
Directs the Secretary to release such information to: (1) a requesting livestock owner; (2) the Attorney General for law enforcement purposes; (3) the Secretary of Homeland Security for national security purposes; (4) a court of competent jurisdiction; and (5) a foreign government if necessary to trace livestock threatened by disease or pest.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census.
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
Captive Supply Reform Act

Bill: 108-hr-4006
Sponsor: Rep. Pomeroy, Earl [D-ND-At Large]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices
Animals
Cattle
Commerce
Competition
Contracts
Livestock
Meat packing industry
Restrictive trade practices
Swine

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Captive Supply Reform Act - Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 respecting livestock producer-packer forward contracts to: (1) require the inclusion of fixed dollar amount base pricing and public bidding; (2) prohibit formula pricing; (3) limit individual contract size; and (4) exclude from the definition of "formula price" futures-based prices and base adjustments resulting from factors outside packer control.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
action_date: 2004-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow amounts in a health flexible spending arrangement that are unused during a plan year to be carried over to subsequent plan years or deposited into certain health or retirement plans.

Bill: 108-hr-4007
Sponsor: Rep. Royce, Edward R. [R-CA-40]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Annuities
Employee health benefits
Flexible benefit plans
Health
Income tax
Individual retirement accounts
Labor and Employment
Medical economics
Medical savings accounts
Tax exclusion
Tax-deferred compensation plans

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit up to $500 of unused health benefits to be carried forward to the next year of a health or retirement plan or arrangement, or to be contributed to a health savings account or a qualified retirement plan, without affecting the status of such plan or arrangement as a tax-exempt employee benefit cafeteria plan. Sets forth rules for the tax treatment of contributions to such plans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Thomas W. Sikes and Wellington Trade, Inc., doing business as Containerhouse.

Bill: 108-hr-4009
Sponsor: Rep. Norwood, Charles W. [R-GA-9]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Claims

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified sum to Thomas W. Sikes and Wellington Trade, Inc., doing business as Containerhouse, in full satisfaction of claims against the United States for damages sustained in connection with a 1991 government contract for the purchase and delivery of certain ocean freight containers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the approval of any drug that infringes the right to life, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-hr-4013
Sponsor: Rep. Gingrey, Phil [R-GA-11]
Introduced: 2004-03-23 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Drug approvals
Drugs
Suicide

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: 
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from approving an application for a drug whose intended use would infringe the right to life, including a drug intended to assist with suicide or induce an abortion. Deems past approved applications for such drugs to be withdrawn and deems such drugs to be adulterated. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Introduced in House
To award a congressional gold medal to Brian Lamb.

Bill: 108-hr-4014
Sponsor: Rep. LaHood, Ray [R-IL-18]
Introduced: 2004-03-23 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Broadcast journalism
Broadcasting of legislative proceedings
Congress
Congressional gold medals
Government Operations and Politics
Reporters and reporting
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: 
Authorizes the President to award to Brian Lamb, on behalf of Congress, a congressional gold medal in recognition of his contributions to the Nation in establishing C-SPAN, C-SPAN II, C-SPAN III, C-SPAN.org, and C-SPAN Radio as the network record for American political life.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology.
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Introduced in House
Halloween Safety Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4015
Sponsor: Rep. Rothman, Steven R. [D-NJ-9]
Introduced: 2004-03-23 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Federal Communications Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Radio stations
State laws
Time

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Halloween Safety Act of 2004 - Amends the Uniform Time Act of 1966 to provide that daylight savings time shall end on the first Sunday of November each year (currently, the last Sunday of October).

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text of measure as introduced:  CR 3/18/2004 E406)
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E406)
Allied Health Professions Reinvestment Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4016
Sponsor: Rep. Stearns, Cliff [R-FL-6]
Introduced: 2004-03-23 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Ambulatory care
Billboards
Chronically ill
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Cost effectiveness
Cost of living adjustments
Curricula
Demography
Department of Health and Human Services
Distance education
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Educational statistics
Educational technology
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to health facilities
Finance and Financial Sector
Geriatrics
Government Operations and Politics
Graduate education
Health surveys
Higher education
Home care services
Hospitals
Interest
Interest rates
Internet
Labor and Employment
Managed care
Medical education
Medical statistics
Mentoring
Newspapers
Nursing homes
Paramedical personnel
Part-time employment
Public service advertising
Quality of care
Radio broadcasting
Recruiting of employees
Scholarships
School administration
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Student loan funds
Teacher education
Teacher supply and demand
Teachers
Television broadcasting
Vocational guidance

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: 
Allied Health Professions Reinvestment Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the allied health professions, highlight the advantages and rewards of those professions, and encourage individuals to enter those professions.
 
 Allows the Secretary to award grants to: (1) support similar State and local advertising campaigns; (2) improve the education, practice, and retention of allied health professionals through specified activities; and (3) develop and implement programs and initiatives to train and educate allied health professionals in providing geriatric care.
 
Permits the Secretary to provide scholarships for the cost of tuition in exchange for students agreeing to serve as allied health professionals at health care facilities with critical shortages of such persons for not less than one year for each year of scholarship received.
 
Allows the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to enter into an agreement with any higher education institution for the establishment and operation of a student loan fund to increase the number of qualified allied health professions faculty.
 
 Directs the Secretary to establish the Council on Health Profession Education in the Health Resources and Service Administration to monitor the status of the allied health professions workforce and make annual reports to Congress.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Introduced in House