hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Affirming that the intent of Congress in passing the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was to allow hunting and fishing on public lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System and declaring that the purpose of reserving certain lands as public lands is to make them available to the public for reasonable uses.

Bill: 108-hconres-382
Sponsor: Rep. Vitter, David [R-LA-1]
Introduced: 2004-03-11 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Congress
Fishing
Hunting
Legislation
Outdoor recreation
Sports and Recreation
Wildlife refuges

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: 
Expresses that: (1) in passing the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Congress demonstrated its clear intent to allow hunting and fishing on public lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System (the System); (2) the intent of Congress has not changed in any way since such Act was enacted, and any assumptions to the contrary are misguided and misinterpret the clear intent of Congress; and (3) the general purpose of reserving certain lands as public lands, including lands within the System, is to make them available to the public for reasonable uses, which include hunting, fishing, other wildlife-dependent sports, and other outdoor purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: Introduced in House
Expressing the sense of Congess concerning the well-being of members of the Armed Forces and calling on the Department of Defense to do its utmost to see that deployed military personnel have the best force protection equipment the Nation can make available, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-hconres-383
Sponsor: Rep. Meehan, Martin T. [D-MA-5]
Introduced: 2004-03-11 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Armed forces abroad
Bombings
Defense budgets
Economics and Public Finance
Explosives
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Middle East and North Africa
Military and naval supplies
Military occupation
Military operations
Military vehicles
Reprogramming of appropriated funds
South Asia

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the well-being of deployed U.S. armed forces is of paramount importance; (2) the Department of Defense (DOD) should do its utmost to see that such personnel have the best force protection equipment available; (3) DOD and the military departments should increase the ability of currently unarmored vehicles that are deployed forward under Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom to resist improvised explosive devices; and (4) DOD should immediately release to the military departments all funds that have been authorized and appropriated, but not released, for defeating such improvised explosive devices and mitigating their effect on vehicles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces.
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: Introduced in House
Calling for the removal of all restrictions from the public, the press, and military families in mourning that would prohibit their presence at the arrival at military installations in the United States or overseas of the remains of the Nation's fallen heroes, the members of the Armed Forces who have died in Iraq or Afghanistan, with the assurance that family requests for privacy will be respected.

Bill: 108-hconres-384
Sponsor: Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15]
Introduced: 2004-03-11 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Armed forces abroad
Cemeteries and funerals
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Families
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Middle East and North Africa
Military bases
Military dependents
Military operations
Right of privacy
South Asia
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: 
Resolves that all restrictions should be removed from the public, the press, and military families in mourning that would prohibit their presence at the arrival at military installations in the United States or overseas of the remains of members of the U.S. armed forces who have died in Iraq or Afghanistan, with the assurance that family requests for privacy will be respected.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Total Force.
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: Introduced in House
Calling on the President to negotiate a bilateral security agreement with the Iraqi Governing Council before June 30, 2004.

Bill: 108-hconres-385
Sponsor: Rep. Skelton, Ike [D-MO-4]
Introduced: 2004-03-16 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces abroad
Crime and Law Enforcement
Insurgency
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Law
Middle East and North Africa
Military agreements
Military command and control
Military occupation
Military personnel
Privileges and immunities
Prosecution

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should use all means at his disposal to negotiate a bilateral security agreement with the Iraqi Governing Council before June 30, 2004; and (2) any such agreement should maintain maximum freedom of action for United States commanders to defeat insurgent elements in Iraq and to restore security throughout Iraq, and provide protections against local prosecution of United States Armed Forces personnel, consistent with other bilateral status-of-forces agreements. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Congratulating the United States Air Force Academy on its 50th Anniversary and recognizing its contributions to the Nation.

Bill: 108-hconres-386
Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Heather [R-NM-1]
Introduced: 2004-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Air force
Anniversaries
Armed Forces and National Security
Colorado
Congress
Congressional tributes
Education
Higher education
Military education
Officer personnel
Service academies

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: 
Congratulates the United States Air Force Academy on its 50th Anniversary.
 
Acknowledges the continued excellence of the Academy and its critical role in the defense of the United States.
 
Recognizes the outstanding service to the Nation that graduates from the Academy have provided.

action_date: 2004-03-30
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Congratulates the United States Air Force Academy on its 50th Anniversary.
 
Acknowledges the continued excellence of the Academy and its critical role in the defense of the United States.
 
Recognizes the outstanding service to the Nation that graduates from the Academy have provided.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 0 (Roll no. 103). (text: CR H1693)
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 0 (Roll no. 103).(text: CR H1693)
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1712-1713)
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 386.
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1693-1695)
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Mrs. Wilson (NM) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Total Force.
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the current policy on bids for agricultural food tenders in Iraq.

Bill: 108-hconres-387
Sponsor: Rep. John, Christopher [D-LA-7]
Introduced: 2004-03-17 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Agriculture in foreign trade
Food relief
Foreign Trade and International Finance
International relief
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Middle East and North Africa

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-17
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that U.S. agricultural products should be prioritized during any consideration of food aid and commercial tenders to Iraq, and that this sentiment should be included in any upcoming Memorandum of Understanding or other policy decision regarding agricultural food tenders among the World Food Program, the Iraq Ministry of Trade, and/or the Coalition Provisional Authority.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2004-03-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-17
text: Introduced in House
Condemning the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/14 (December 8, 2003) which requests the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to render an advisory opinion concerning the international legal consequences arising from Israel's construction of a security fence in parts of the West Bank, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-hconres-390
Sponsor: Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arab-Israeli conflict
Armed Forces and National Security
Democracy
EBB Terrorism
Foreign leaders
Government Operations and Politics
International courts
Israel
Land transfers
Law
Middle East and North Africa
Palestinians
Peace negotiations
Political violence
President and foreign policy
Presidential messages
Security measures
Terrorism
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
States that Congress: (1) condemns the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/14 (December 8, 2003) which requests the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to render an advisory opinion concerning the international legal consequences arising from Israel's construction of a security fence in parts of the West Bank; (2) deplores the use of the International Court of Justice by the United Nations General Assembly for political purposes that only do harm to the credibility of the General Assembly and the Court, and threaten to impede international and United States efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; (3) commends the Administration for its leadership in opposing the manipulation of the International Court of Justice into a political forum for denunciation of Israel and its legitimate self-defense; (4) expresses the continued commitment of the United States to Israel's right to exist as a Jewish democratic state, its security and its right of self-defense, including the right to build a security fence as a direct consequence of more than three years of Palestinian terrorism; (5) condemns the ongoing failure of the Palestinian leadership to take action to cease all violence and terrorism against Israel and to instead pursue misguided political alternatives to the Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, democratic reform, and direct peace negotiations; and (6) reiterates support for the President's June 2002 speech setting out the conditions necessary for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for the achievement of a negotiated two-state solution based on United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), and 1397 (2002) calling for the exchange of territory for peace, direct negotiations between the parties, and the immediate cessation of all violence. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5773)
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
Expressing the sense of Congress concerning the well-being of members of the Armed Forces and calling on the Department of Defense to do its utmost to see that deployed military personnel have the best force protection equipment the Nation can make available, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-hconres-391
Sponsor: Rep. Meehan, Martin T. [D-MA-5]
Introduced: 2004-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Armed forces abroad
Bombings
Defense budgets
Economics and Public Finance
Explosives
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Middle East and North Africa
Military and naval supplies
Military occupation
Military operations
Military vehicles
Reprogramming of appropriated funds
South Asia

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-18
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the well-being of deployed U.S. armed forces is of paramount importance; (2) the Department of Defense (DOD) should do its utmost to see that such personnel have the best force protection equipment available; (3) DOD and the military departments should increase the ability of currently unarmored vehicles that are deployed forward under Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom to resist improvised explosive devices; and (4) DOD should immediately release to the military departments all funds that have been authorized and appropriated, but not released, for defeating such improvised explosive devices and mitigating their effect on vehicles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2341-2342)
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces.
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
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of Citizens Bank, the Nation's oldest continuously operating minority-owned bank, and honoring the many contributions of the Nation's minority-owned banks.

Bill: 108-hconres-394
Sponsor: Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5]
Introduced: 2004-03-23 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Anniversaries
Commerce
Congress
Congressional tributes
Finance and Financial Sector
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
Tennessee

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: 
Declares that Congress: (1) congratulates the Citizens Savings Bank & Trust of Nashville, Tennessee, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the bank, for its dedication and service to the people of Tennessee; (2) recognizes the vital role the Nation's minority-owned banks have played in providing financial services and resources to minority individuals and businesses, particularly in communities that have been underserved by other institutions; and (3) honors the Nation's minority-owned banks for their historic and continuing contributions to the economic and social well-being of the communities they serve.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E427-428)
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Introduced in House
Honoring Donald J. Smith for his commitment to providing housing and economic assistance opportunities to Los Angeles-area low-income families.

Bill: 108-hconres-395
Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-35]
Introduced: 2004-03-23 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: California
Congress
Congressional tributes
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Home ownership
Housing and Community Development
Housing authorities
Housing finance
Labor and Employment
Local officials
Low-income housing
Public housing
Social Welfare
Welfare work participation

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: 
States that Congress recognizes and honors Donald J. Smith for his commitment to providing housing and economic assistance opportunities to Los Angeles-area low-income families.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
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
Supporting the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence and encouraging units of local government, States, and school districts to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, teachers, and school employees from discrimination and harassment.

Bill: 108-hconres-396
Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-17]
Introduced: 2004-03-25 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Discrimination in education
Discrimination in employment
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Homosexuality
Labor and Employment
Local laws
School districts
School personnel
Secondary education
Sex discrimination
Sexual harassment
Sexual orientation
Special days
State laws
Students
Teachers

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: 
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence (designated April 21, 2004, a day on which participating students vow to remain silent for a full day to bring attention to the harassment and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, teachers, and school employees).
 
Encourages: (1) each unit of local government and each State to adopt laws to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, teachers, and school employees from discrimination and harassment; and (2) each school district in the United States to protect such individuals from discrimination and harassment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.
action_date: 2004-04-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2004-03-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Introduced in House
Providing for the acceptance of a statue of Sarah Winnemucca, presented by the people of Nevada, for placement in National Statuary Hall, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-hconres-397
Sponsor: Rep. Gibbons, Jim [R-NV-2]
Introduced: 2004-03-25 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Authors and authorship
Capitol (Washington, D.C.)
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil rights workers
Congress
Congressional tributes
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Federal-Indian relations
History
Indian education
Indian women
Minorities
Native Americans
Nevada
Sculpture
Teachers
West (U.S.)
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: 
Accepts in the name of the United States the statue of Sarah Winnemucca furnished by the people of Nevada for placement in the U.S. Capitol.
 
Extends the thanks of Congress to the people of Nevada for providing this commemoration of one of the most eminent persons from Nevada. 
Authorizes the State of Nevada to use the Rotunda of the Capitol on a date mutually agreed to by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader of the Senate for a presentation ceremony for the statue. 
Declares that the statue shall be displayed in the Rotunda of the Capitol for up to six months, after which time it shall be moved to its permanent location in National Statuary Hall.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Introduced in House
Urging the President to provide encouragement and support for the ratification, establishment, and financing of a tribunal for the prosecution of surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime.

Bill: 108-hconres-399
Sponsor: Rep. Millender-McDonald, Juanita [D-CA-37]
Introduced: 2004-03-25 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Cambodia
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crimes against humanity
East Asia
Economic assistance
Genocide
International courts
Law
Prosecution
Treaties
United Nations
War crimes

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: 
Urges the President to provide encouragement and support for the ratification, establishment, and financing of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea for the prosecution of surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-25
text: Introduced in House
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States flag flown over the United States Capitol should be lowered to half-mast one day each month in honor of the brave men and women from the United States who have lost their lives in military conflicts.

Bill: 108-hconres-400
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Lincoln [D-TN-4]
Introduced: 2004-03-29 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Capitol (Washington, D.C.)
Congress
Congressional tributes
Flags
Iraq compilation
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-29
text: 
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. flag flown over the U.S. Capitol should be lowered to half-mast one day each month in honor of the men and women from the United States who have lost their lives in military conflicts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2004-03-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-29
text: Introduced in House