hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To allow beach maintenance and grooming of certain areas.

Bill: 108-hr-2687
Sponsor: Rep. Stupak, Bart [D-MI-1]
Introduced: 2003-07-09 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Beaches
Department of Defense
Environmental Protection
Government Operations and Politics
Great Lakes
Lakes
Law
Licenses
Maintenance and repair
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Michigan
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Refuse and refuse disposal
Shore protection
Sports and Recreation
Trails

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Army, through the Chief of Engineers, to conduct a rulemaking proceeding for issuance of a general permit in Michigan to allow beach maintenance and grooming for the Great Lakes Systems and Lake Saint Clair in the area below the ordinary high-water mark and above the water's edge. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to repeal authorities relating to H1-B visas for temporary workers.

Bill: 108-hr-2688
Sponsor: Rep. Tancredo, Thomas G. [R-CO-6]
Introduced: 2003-07-09 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Admission of nonimmigrants
Alien labor
Aliens
Labor and Employment
Skilled labor
Temporary employment
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to repeal H-1B visa (temporary/specialty worker) and related authorities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Introduced in House
Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area Act

Bill: 108-hr-2689
Sponsor: Rep. Taylor, Gene [D-MS-4]
Introduced: 2003-07-09 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Archaeology
Arts, Culture, Religion
Commemorations
Cultural property
Environmental Protection
Historic sites
History
Indian lands
Land use
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Minorities
Mississippi
Nature conservation
Outdoor recreation
Sports and Recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area Act - Establishes, in the State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, and assigns the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources to serve as the Area's coordinating entity (the entity). Directs the entity to develop and submit to the Secretary of the Interior a management plan for the Area. States elements that the plan shall contain, including recommendations for: (1) the conservation and development of the Area's resources; and (2) educational and interpretive programs.
Directs the Secretary to approve or disapprove of the plan. Directs the entity to periodically review the plan and to submit amendments for approval.
Allows the entity to make grants to and provide technical assistance to tribal and local governments and other public and private entities to further the development and implementation of the plan. Directs the entity to perform certain functions in carrying out this Act, including to: (1) assist local and tribal governments and non-profits in various ways; and (2) make available to the Secretary for audit all records relating to the expenditure of funds and any matching funds.
Sets forth things this Act shall not do, including that it shall not restrict an Indian tribe from protecting cultural or religious sites on tribal land.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-14
text: Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
action_date: 2003-07-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Introduced in House
Child PACT Act

Bill: 108-hr-2694
Sponsor: Rep. Ferguson, Mike [R-NJ-7]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Computer literacy
Computer software
Computers
Education
Educational technology
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Enterprise zones
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Higher education
Nonprofit organizations
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Surplus government property
Teacher education
Urban affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Profiting from Access to Computer Technology (PACT) Act - Child PACT Act - Directs each Federal agency to: (1) safeguard and identify educationally useful Federal equipment that it no longer needs or that has been declared surplus; (2) transfer such equipment, either directly or through the General Services Administration (GSA), to educational recipients or nonprofit refurbishers; and (3) encourage employees with computer expertise to assist in providing maintenance and technical support for the recipients of such equipment, connecting school classrooms to the Internet, and helping teachers to learn to use computers to teach.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
To designate Pennsylvania State Route 60 and United States Routes 22 and 30 as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-hr-2695
Sponsor: Rep. Hart, Melissa A. [R-PA-4]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Interstate highway system
Pennsylvania
Roads and highways
Traffic signs and signals

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Designates a certain segment of Pennsylvania State Route 60 and a segment of U.S. Routes 22 and 30 as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways as Interstate Route 376.
 
 Redesignates Interstate Route 279 from Interstate Route 79 east to Interstate Route 376 at Point State Park, Pennsylvania, as Interstate Route 376/279.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
Caring Family Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2697
Sponsor: Rep. Barrett, J. Gresham [R-SC-3]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Age
Caregivers
Chronically ill
Disabled
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health
Income tax
Married people
Physicians
Tax deductions
Tax exemption
Tax returns

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Caring Family Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an additional exemption for dependents, residing with the taxpayer, with long-term care needs who are over the age of 60.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
Health Insurance Certificate Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2698
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Michael [R-FL-9]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Authorization
Department of Health and Human Services
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government insurance
Grants-in-aid
Health insurance
Health insurance continuation
Income
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Medical economics
Medically uninsured
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Health Insurance Certificate Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program for the issuance to eligible individuals of health insurance certificates to be applied towards the cost of qualified health insurance coverage for such individuals and family members. Declares that no certificate shall be issued to a family member who is covered under the eligible individual's qualified health insurance coverage. Prohibits more than one certificate from being used for any one person. States that a certificate may be used for a spouse and up to two other family members. 
 
Excludes an individual from counting as an eligible individual if such individual is eligible to be covered under any of specified medical programs (not counting Cobra continuation coverage).
 
Declares that in no case shall the value of a certificate be applied towards an amount that exceeds 70 percent of the premium for coverage for a given period or 70 percent of an employee's premium for coverage under a group health plan.
 
Sets forth procedures for calculating the value of certificates. Sets forth rules to cover certificates used to purchase coverage in group health plans.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend funding for the operation of State high risk health insurance pools.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Patient Access to Drugs for Rare Diseases Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2700
Sponsor: Rep. Cox, Christopher [R-CA-48]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Ambulatory care
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Drugs
Governmental investigations
Hemophilia
Hospital rates
Medicare
Orphan drugs
Overhead costs
Pharmacies
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Medicare Patient Access to Drugs for Rare Diseases Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the methodology by which payment for orphan drugs and biologicals is made under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department (OPD) services.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on payment for orphan drugs and biologicals and blood clotting factors for individuals with hemophilia in the OPD setting, including recommendations for either continuing or discontinuing the exclusion of such drugs and biologicals from payment under Medicare. 
 
Provides for a moratorium on decreases in payment rates for orphan drugs and biologicals and blood clotting factors for certain individuals with hemophilia.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2003-07-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend to additional military retirees with service-connected disabilities the special compensation authority provided for certain retirees with combat-related disabilities.

Bill: 108-hr-2701
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Jo Ann [R-VA-1]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disabled
Labor and Employment
Military pensions
Retired military personnel
Veterans' disability compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Removes the requirement that a service-connected military retiree's disability must be combat-related in order for such retiree to be eligible for special compensation through the Department of Defense.
 
Reduces from 60 to 50 percent the disability rating required in order to be eligible for such compensation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-08-15
text: Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
action_date: 2003-08-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Total Force.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
Farmland Protection Program Challenge Grant Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2703
Sponsor: Rep. Gerlach, Jim [R-PA-6]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation
Conservation easements
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Farm lands
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Land transfers
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Farmland Protection Program Challenge Grant Act of 2003 - Amends the Farm Security Act of 1985 to obligate at least 15 percent of farmland protection funds for cost-share grants to support eligible State agencies, county, and one or more eligible entities to purchase conservation easements whose title shall be held by the entity rather than the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
Ferry Transportation Enhancement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2704
Sponsor: Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alcohol as fuel
Alternative energy sources
Biomass energy
Commerce
Compressed natural gas
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Data banks
Department of Transportation
Diesel motor
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electric vehicles
Electronic government information
Energy
Environmental Protection
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to air pollution control
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Federal aid to transportation
Fuel cells
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Liquefied natural gas
Maintenance and repair
Marine engines
Marine terminals
Motor vehicle pollution control
Passenger ships
Public-private partnerships
Research and development
Research centers
Science, Technology, Communications
Shipbuilding
Traffic congestion
Transportation research

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Ferry Transportation Enhancement Act of 2003 - Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to authorize appropriations for FY 2004 through 2009 for construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities.
 
Amends Federal highway law to make ferry maintenance (currently, only terminal) facilities eligible for Federal funding.
 
Amends Federal transportation law to include ferries within the Federal clean fuels program.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) establish a Ferry Joint Program Office to coordinate Federal programs affecting ferry boat and facility construction, maintenance, and operation, and to promote ferry service as a component of the Nation's transportation system; (2) maintain a national ferry database containing ferry routes, vessels, passengers and vehicles carried, funding sources, and related information; and (3) make grants to an institution of higher education to establish a National Ferry Transportation Institute for research, development, training programs, etc. relating to U.S. ferry transportation systems. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
Providing Our Support to Troops Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2705
Sponsor: Rep. Lucas, Ken [D-KY-4]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Air cargo
Armed forces abroad
Government Operations and Politics
Military operations
Military personnel
Postal service
Transportation and Public Works
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
 

 
Providing Our Support to Troops Act of 2003 - Allows personal correspondence or certain parcels to be mailed free of postage if such matter is: (1) sent from within an area served by a U.S. post office; (2) addressed to an active-duty member of the armed forces or a civilian authorized to use postal services at military installations who holds a position or performs a function in support of military operations; and (3) addressed either to such an individual at a military post office established in an overseas area where the armed forces are engaged in operations involving armed conflict against a hostile foreign force, or to an individual who is hospitalized for a disease or injury resulting from service in such an area.
 
Prohibits the free mailing privilege for any mail matter containing any advertising.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
To clarify the treatment of tax attributes under section 108 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for taxpayers which file consolidated returns.

Bill: 108-hr-2706
Sponsor: Rep. McCrery, Jim [R-LA-4]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Affiliated corporations
Commerce
Corporate debt
Corporation taxes
Income tax
Tax credits
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that if a taxpayer is a member of an affiliated group of corporations which files a consolidated return, the tax attributes concerning reduction of tax attributes and exclusion from gross income by reason of discharge of indebtedness shall be the aggregate tax attributes of such group.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
Public Safety Officers Flag Act

Bill: 108-hr-2710
Sponsor: Rep. Taylor, Charles H. [R-NC-11]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Crime and Law Enforcement
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Fire fighters
Flags
Health
Law enforcement officers
Medical personnel
Paramedical personnel
Police

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Public Safety Officers Flag Act - Directs: (1) the Secretary of Homeland Security to furnish a flag to drape the casket of each public safety officer killed in the line of duty; and (2) the flag to be given to the officer's next of kin after the burial.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
Student Loan Fairness Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2711
Sponsor: Rep. Wu, David [D-OR-1]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Commerce
Consumer education
Debtor and creditor
Economics and Public Finance
Federally-guaranteed loans
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government paperwork
Higher education
Interest rates
Student loan funds

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Student Loan Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise student aid requirements for consolidation loans.
 
Repeals a prohibition against refinancing consolidation loans.
 
Allows borrowers to select lenders of consolidation loans. Requires lenders and institutions to provide certain information on consolidation loans to applicants.
 
Revises interest rates on consolidated and reconsolidated loans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
Emergency Directed Rail Service Act

Bill: 108-hr-2712
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Commerce
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Federal aid to transportation
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Indemnity
Infrastructure
Insurance premiums
Law
Liability (Law)
Maintenance and repair
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
Railroad abandonments
Railroad commuting traffic
Railroad freight operations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroads
Transportation insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Emergency Directed Rail Service Act - Amends Federal transportation law to authorize the Surface Transportation Board, in order to promote commerce and service to the public, to direct the continued operation of freight or commuter rail passenger transportation operations in case of a failure caused by a cessation of service by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). 
 
Directs the Board to provide funding (including the payment of increased insurance premiums) to support such operations.
 
States that in the case of a failure of existing freight or commuter rail passenger transportation operations caused by cessation of service by Amtrak , the Board may not direct a rail carrier to undertake specified activities to continue operations unless: (1) the Board first affirmatively finds that the rail carrier is operationally capable of conducting the directed service in a safe and efficient manner; and (2) funding for such directed service is provided in advance in appropriations Acts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/11/2003 E1448)
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Mai Thi Thuy Nuong.

Bill: 108-hr-2713
Sponsor: Rep. Stupak, Bart [D-MI-1]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Makes Mai Thi Thuy Nuong eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident of the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act, upon payment of the required visa fees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House