hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to exempt preparation for high-skill, high-demand jobs from participation and time limits under the temporary assistance for needy families program.

Bill: 108-s-2256
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2004-03-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aid to dependent children
Cash welfare block grants
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Higher education
Job hunting
Labor and Employment
Skilled labor
Vocational and technical education
Wages
Welfare work participation

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: 
Revises the mandatory work requirements of part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act with respect to the limitation on the number of persons in a State who may be treated as engaged in work by reason of participation in educational activities. Removes two-parent families from the formula for such limitation. Creates an exception to the limitation for education in preparation for sector-specific, high-skill occupations to meet employer demand. 
 
Defines sector-specific, high-demand, high-skill occupation to meet employer demand as an occupation that: (1) has been identified by the State workforce investment board or by the State agency administering the State TANF program as within State needs with regard to current and projected employment opportunities in specific industry sectors; (2) requires occupational training; and (3) provides a wage of at least 75 percent of the State median hourly wage.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2257
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2004-03-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Commerce
Drug industry
Drugs
Finance and Financial Sector
Insurance premiums
Medical economics
Medicare
Prescription pricing
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: 
Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2004 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as added by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for each year beginning with 2006, to: (1) offer one or more Medicare operated prescription drug plans nationally that offer qualified prescription drug coverage and access to negotiated prices, while allowing the plan to offer supplemental prescription drug coverage in the same manner as other qualified prescription drug coverage offered by other prescription drug plans; and (2) enter into negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers to reduce the purchase cost of covered Medicare part D drugs for eligible part D individuals, and encourage the use of more affordable therapeutic equivalents.
 
Requires the monthly beneficiary premium charged under such a plan to be uniform nationally. Makes the premium for months in 2006 $35. Bases the premium for months in succeeding years on the average monthly per capita actuarial cost of offering the Medicare operated prescription drug plan for the year involved, including administrative expenses. Allows for adjustment of such premium amount in case of supplemental prescription drug coverage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Summer Operations and Services (SOS) Relief and Reform Act

Bill: 108-s-2258
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2004-03-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Admission of nonimmigrants
Alien labor
Aliens
Delegation of powers
Fraud
Governmental investigations
Labor and Employment
Law
Temporary employment
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: 
Summer Operations and Services (SOS) Relief and Reform Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt from the FY 2004 numerical limitation applicable to H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) nonimmigrant visas any alien admitted to the United States on an H-2B visa within the prior two years.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to delegate to the Secretary of Labor any authority to investigate fraud or misrepresentation on the part of an alien or employer in connection with H-2B visas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3368)
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Flag Protection Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2259
Sponsor: Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND]
Introduced: 2004-03-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Commemorations
Destruction of property
Fines (Penalties)
Flags
Government Operations and Politics
Government property
Larceny
Public Lands and Natural Resources
State laws
Violence

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: 
Flag Protection Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal criminal code to revise provisions regarding desecration of the flag to prohibit: (1) destroying or damaging a U.S. flag with the primary purpose and intent to incite or produce imminent violence or a breach of the peace; or (2) stealing or knowingly converting the use of a U.S. flag either belonging to the United States or on lands reserved for the United States and intentionally destroying or damaging that flag.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3369)
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3368-3369)
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare DSH Payments for Puerto Rico Hospitals Fairness Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2260
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2004-03-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Hospital care
Hospital rates
Medically uninsured
Medicare
Puerto Rico
Social Welfare
Supplemental security income program
Welfare recipients

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: 
Medicare DSH Payments for Puerto Rico Hospitals Fairness Act of 2004 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to include consideration of additional Medicare low-income patient populations served by Puerto Rico hospitals in the calculation of Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments for prospective payment system hospitals in Puerto Rico. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3370)
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3369)
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the establishment of campaign medals to be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who participate in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Bill: 108-s-2262
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2004-03-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Armed forces abroad
Commemorations
International Affairs
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Middle East and North Africa
Military medals, decorations, etc.
Military occupation
Military operations
South Asia
Terrorism
War

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: 
Directs the President to establish separate campaign medals to recognize service by members of the armed forces in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3458)
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3457-3458)
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create Lifetime Savings Accounts.

Bill: 108-s-2263
Sponsor: Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY]
Introduced: 2004-03-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Annuities
Bank accounts
Cost of living adjustments
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Education savings accounts
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial statements
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Higher education
Income tax
Indexing (Economic policy)
Individual retirement accounts
Labor and Employment
Law
Saving and investment
Tax exclusion
Tax exemption
Tax penalties
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to create a tax-exempt trust to be known as a &quot;Lifetime Savings Account&quot; for the benefit of an individual taxpayer or his beneficiaries. Allows an individual taxpayer to make cash contributions up to $5,000 each year to such trusts. Prohibits: (1) investment of trust assets in life insurance contracts; and (2) commingling of trust assets with any other property except in a common trust or investment fund. Provides for an annual cost-of-living adjustment to the contribution amount.
 
Excludes from gross income distributions from such a trust. Allows tax-free rollovers to a trust from: (1) another account of the trust beneficiary if the rollover from such other account is completed within 60 days of the date of distribution; (2) from a Lifetime Savings Account of the spouse of the trust beneficiary if the rollover from the spouse's account is completed within 60 days of the date of distribution; (3) from a qualified state tuition plan or a Coverdell education savings account before January 1, 2006.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Eliminate Colorectal Cancer Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2265
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2004-03-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Colon cancer
Commerce
Consumer education
Employee health benefits
Finance and Financial Sector
Health insurance
Labor and Employment
Medical screening
Medical tests
Retiree health benefits
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: 
Eliminate Colorectal Cancer Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require a group health plan and an insurer offering group health coverage to provide screening for colorectal cancer to individuals who are age 50 or over or at high risk for colorectal cancer. Specifies the type of screening and the frequency of screening required.
 
Allows State laws providing greater protection than that provided by this Act. 
 
Applies the same requirements to health insurance coverage offered in the individual market.
 
Requires the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate their rules, regulations and enforcement policies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3459-3460)
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Women's Business Center Safeguard Act

Bill: 108-s-2266
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2004-03-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Congress
Economics and Public Finance
Entrepreneurs
Fund raising
Grants-in-aid
Nonprofit organizations
Small business
Social Welfare
Sunset legislation
Women
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: 
Women's Business Center Safeguard Act - Amends the Small Business Act with respect to the women's business centers program to provide Small Business Administration funding authority for nonprofit organizations conducting projects for the benefit of small businesses owned and controlled by women. Increases from 30 to 54 the percentage of appropriated women's business center funds to be used during FY 2004 for sustained women's business center projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3461)
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3460-3461)
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Women's Sustainability Recovery Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2267
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2004-03-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Congress
Economics and Public Finance
Entrepreneurs
Fund raising
Grants-in-aid
Nonprofit organizations
Small business
Social Welfare
Sunset legislation
Women
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: 
Women's Sustainability Recovery Act of 2004 - Amends the Small Business Act with respect to the women's business centers program to provide Small Business Administration funding priorities for FY 2004 for nonprofit organizations conducting projects for the benefit of small businesses owned and controlled by women. Increases from 30 to 48 the percentage of appropriated women's business center funds to be used during FY 2004 for pilot project sustainability grants. Terminates the provisions of this Act on October 1, 2004.

action_date: 2004-04-29
text: 
Women's Sustainability Recovery Act of 2004 - Amends the Small Business Act with respect to the women's business centers program to provide Small Business Administration funding priorities for FY 2004 for nonprofit organizations conducting projects for the benefit of small businesses owned and controlled by women. Increases from 30 to 48 the percentage of appropriated women's business center funds to be used during FY 2004 for pilot project sustainability grants. Terminates the provisions of this Act on October 1, 2004.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2004-04-29
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S4721)
action_date: 2004-04-29
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S4721)
action_date: 2004-04-29
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4719-4721)
action_date: 2004-04-29
text: Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2004-04-29
text: Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3461)
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Environmental Enforcement and Security Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2269
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2004-04-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement
Crisis management
Data banks
EBB Terrorism
Economics and Public Finance
Employee training
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental law enforcement
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal aid to water pollution control
Federal aid to water resources development
Federal employees
Federal law enforcement officers
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
Local employees
Police training
Potable water
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
State employees
Terrorism
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: 
Environmental Enforcement and Security Act of 2004 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase the number of special agents assigned to the EPA's criminal enforcement program, with a specified number of those agents to be assigned to homeland security and protective service duties.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to assign special agents from the program to: (1) support crisis management and consequence management activities during terrorist attacks; (2) support the anti-terrorism and counter-terrorism efforts of the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice; and (3) provide protective service duties.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to provide grants to improve the security of drinking water systems against terrorist attacks. 
 
Requires the Administrator to provide for the operation of the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center at no cost to subscribers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3568-3569)
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Children's Vaccine Access Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2272
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2004-04-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Clinics
Commerce
Drug industry
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Indian medical care
Medicaid
Medical economics
Minorities
Native Americans
Prices
Social Welfare
Vaccination
Vaccines

Summary:
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: 
Children's Vaccine Access Act of 2004 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to: (1) expand the pediatric vaccine distribution program to include coverage for children administered a vaccine at a public health clinic (including an Indian health clinic); (2) repeal the price cap for pre-1993 vaccines; and (3) authorize the Secretary to sell the stockpiled vaccines to public health departments or back to manufacturers as the Secretary determines appropriate. Requires proceeds received from such sales to be available to the Secretary only for the purpose of procuring pediatric vaccines stockpiles and to remain available until expended.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3572)
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3571-3572)
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Introduced in Senate
21st Century Citizen Soldier Benefits Act

Bill: 108-s-2274
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2004-04-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces reserves
Cemeteries and funerals
College administration
College costs
Colleges
Commerce
Consumer credit
Debtor and creditor
Education
Families
Federal employees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Higher education
Income tax
Interest rates
Labor and Employment
Military leave
Military pensions
National Guard
Salaries
Students' rights
Survivors' benefits
Tax credits
Taxation
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' education
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: 
21st Century Citizen Soldier Benefits Act - Amends Federal law relating to the Armed Forces to provide for expanded and improved benefits for members of the National Guard and Reserves who are called or ordered to active duty, with respect to retired pay, burial, education, and other mobilization benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3575-3579)
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Railroad and Mass Transportation Public Protection Program Act

Bill: 108-s-2276
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2004-04-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Animals
Armed Forces and National Security
Cameras
Crime and Law Enforcement
Dogs
EBB Terrorism
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic surveillance
Explosives
Federal aid to transportation
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Infrastructure
International Affairs
Law enforcement officers
Mass rapid transit
Motor buses
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
Police
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Railroad terminals
Railroads
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Terminals (Transportation)
Terrorism
Transportation safety
Video tape recording

Summary:
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: 
Railroad and Mass Transportation Public Protection Program Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to Amtrak, other rail carriers, and mass transportation providers for improvements to the security of the rail and mass transportation system within the United States. Directs that such grants be used to increase the law enforcement presence, the number of explosives detection canine units, and the surveillance equipment at rail and bus stations
 
.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3582)
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Act of November 2, 1966 (80 Stat. 1112), to allow binding arbitration clauses to be included in all contracts affecting the land within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation.

Bill: 108-s-2277
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2004-04-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Arizona
Commerce
Commercial arbitration
Contracts
Federal-Indian relations
Indian lands
Law
Leases
Minorities

Summary:
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: 
Amends specified Federal law to allow binding arbitration clauses to be included in all contracts, including leases (as under current law), affecting the land within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation.

action_date: 2004-07-19
text: 

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

 
Amends specified Federal law to allow binding arbitration clauses to be included in all contracts, including leases (as under current law), affecting the land within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-20
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2004-07-20
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2004-07-20
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2004-07-19
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S8427)
action_date: 2004-07-19
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S8427)
action_date: 2004-07-19
text: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8427)
action_date: 2004-07-19
text: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8427)
action_date: 2004-06-16
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3582-3583)
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Introduced in Senate