hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Financial Aid Simplification Act

Bill: 108-hr-2956
Sponsor: Rep. McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [R-CA-25]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Elementary and secondary education
Federal aid to education
Food stamps
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Higher education
Internet
Labor and Employment
Scholarships
School lunch program
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Student aid
Student employment
Welfare recipients

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: 
Financial Aid Simplification Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to study and report to specified congressional committees on the feasibility of simplifying the need analysis methodology for all Federal student financial assistance programs and the process of applying for such assistance through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
 
Requires the Secretary of Education within one year after the report's submission to initiate a redesign of the FAFSA
 
Revises eligibility requirements for filing of a simplified FAFSA to allow, as an alternative to not being required to file an income tax return, that the student's parents or the student (and the student's wife, if any) received benefits under a means-tested Federal benefit program.
 
Directs the Secretary to make special efforts, in conjunction with State efforts, to: (1) notify students and their parents who qualify for a free lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, the Food Stamps program, or other such programs of their potential eligibility for a maximum Pell Grant; and (2) disseminate such informational materials as necessary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-08-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on telephone and other communications services.

Bill: 108-hr-2957
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Gary G. [R-CA-42]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Excise tax
Science, Technology, Communications
Telephone

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal Subchapter B (Communications) of Chapter 33 (Facilities and Services) of Subtitle D (Miscellaneous Excise Taxes).

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 31, United States Code, to allow certain State and local tax debt to be collected through the reduction of Federal tax refunds.

Bill: 108-hr-2958
Sponsor: Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Child support
Collection of accounts
Department of the Treasury
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Income tax
Law
Local taxation
State taxation
Tax refunds
Tax returns

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: 
Amends Federal law to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to reduce a Federal tax refund by the amount necessary to satisfy a past-due, legally enforceable tax obligation owed to either a State or local governmental entity which has given notice to the Secretary of such debt.
 
Requires such governmental entities to notify the person owing the tax obligation by first-class mail that the State or local government proposes to take such action.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with regard to Internal Revenue Service disclosures to State and local government agencies requesting refund offsets for such past-due tax obligations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-08-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, 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: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, 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: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, 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: 2003-07-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1636, E1658)
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to include podiatrists as physicians for purposes of covering physicians services under the Medicaid Program.

Bill: 108-hr-2959
Sponsor: Rep. Nethercutt, George R., Jr. [R-WA-5]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Medicaid
Medical fees
Physicians
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: 
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to include podiatrists as physicians in order to cover their services under the Medicaid program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-08-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
Firefighters Affordable Housing Act

Bill: 108-hr-2961
Sponsor: Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-8]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Federally-assisted loans
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Fire fighters
Home ownership
Housing subsidies
Insurance premiums
Interest
Mortgage guaranty insurance
Mortgage interest rates
Mortgages
Social Welfare
Volunteer workers

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: 
Firefighters Affordable Housing Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide mortgage assistance to qualified volunteer firefighters. Ends such assistance upon termination of: (1) use as primary residence; or (2) firefighter duties within ten years of the mortgage's execution.
 
Amends the National Housing Act to provide for one percent downpayments (and deferral and reduction of up-front premium) for Federal Housing Administration mortgage loans for qualified professional firefighters to purchase homes within the jurisdictions of their employing public fire service or rescue or ambulance agency. (Requires the mortgagor to not have had an ownership interest in a principal residence within such jurisdiction during the 12-month period ending upon the mortgage's insurance.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-08-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
Federal Wildland Firefighter Emergency Response Compensation Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2963
Sponsor: Rep. Pombo, Richard W. [R-CA-11]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil service retirement
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Emergency Management
Federal employees
Fire fighters
Fire prevention
Forest fires
Labor and Employment
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: 
Federal Wildland Firefighter Emergency Response Compensation Act of 2003 - Entitles a wildland firefighter employed by the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior to compensation for the entire period of time such firefighter is engaged in officially ordered or approved duties in responding to a wildland fire or other emergency. Limits such compensation, for any 24-hour period, to the sum of 16 times the firefighter's hourly rate of basic pay, and eight times the firefighter's overtime hourly rate of pay. 
 
Treats wildland firefighter compensation received pursuant to this Act as basic pay for Federal retirement pay purposes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-08-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
Conservation Tax Incentives Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2964
Sponsor: Rep. Portman, Rob [R-OH-2]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Animals
Capital gains tax
Charities
Environmental Protection
Environmental protection groups
Finance and Financial Sector
Foundations
Habitat conservation
Income tax
Land transfers
Nature conservation
Open space lands
Outdoor recreation
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Social Welfare
Sports and Recreation
Stocks
Tax exclusion
Water Resources Development
Water conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Conservation Tax Incentives Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income 50 percent of any gains from the sale to eligible entities for conservation purposes of specified land or an interest in land or water.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
Highway Trust Fund Recovery Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2965
Sponsor: Rep. Portman, Rob [R-OH-2]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alcohol as fuel
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Excise tax
Government trust funds
Highway finance
Methanol
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Highway Trust Fund Recovery Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to transfer all excise taxes imposed on alcohol fuels to the Highway Trust Fund.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2967
Sponsor: Rep. Ramstad, Jim [R-MN-3]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation
Disciplining of employees
Dismissal of employees
Due process of law
Election candidates
Employee rights
Evidence (Law)
Federal preemption
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government employee unions
Government employees' political activities
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Grievance procedures
Injunctions
Judicial opinions
Labor and Employment
Law
Law enforcement officers
Leave of absence
Local employees
Local laws
Personnel records
Police
Police brutality
Police corruption
Police questioning
Police-community relations
Polygraphs
Right of privacy
Right to counsel
Self-incrimination
Sound recording and reproducing
State employees
State laws
Subpoena
Witnesses

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2003 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to set forth the due process rights, including procedures, that shall be afforded a law enforcement officer (officer) who is the subject of an investigation or disciplinary hearing.
Declares that an officer shall not be: (1) prohibited from engaging in political activity or be denied the right to refrain from engaging in such activity, except when on duty or acting in an official capacity; and (2) prohibited from being a candidate for an elective office or from serving in such elective office solely because of the officer's status as an officer, with exceptions.
Requires that: (1) each agency adopt and thereafter comply with a written complaint procedure that meets specified requirements; and (2) an investigation based on a complaint from outside the agency commence not later than 15 days after receipt of the complaint by the agency employing the officer against whom the complaint has been made, or any other agency charged with investigating such complaint.
Directs that any officer who is the subject of an investigation be notified of the investigation 24 hours before the commencement of questioning. Establishes rights of officers before and during questioning, including the right to counsel. Requires questioning to be conducted at reasonable hours. Prohibits an officer from being compelled to submit to the use of a lie detector.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
Biotechnology Future Investment Expansion Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2968
Sponsor: Rep. Reynolds, Thomas M. [R-NY-26]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting
Capital gains tax
Clinical trials
Commerce
Corporate debt
Corporate finance
Corporate reorganizations
Corporation taxes
Drug industry
Finance and Financial Sector
Health
Income tax
Investments
Losses
Pharmaceutical research
Science, Technology, Communications
Tax credits
Tax exclusion
Tax incentives

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: 
Biotechnology Future Investment Expansion Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that in the case of a biomedical research corporation, any owner shift involving a five-percent shareholder which occurs as the result of a qualified investment during the testing period shall be treated as occurring before the testing period. (Thus not counting toward net operating loss and tax credit carryover limitations.)
 
Defines: (1) &quot;biomedical research corporation&quot; as a domestic corporation not in bankruptcy which has a drug or biologic in certain clinical trials; and (2) &quot;qualified investment&quot; as a stock acquisition in a biomedical research corporation acquired in cash at its original issue.
 
Requires a biomedical research corporation to meet a five-year expenditure test with respect to any qualified investment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
United States Employee Ownership Bank Act

Bill: 108-hr-2969
Sponsor: Rep. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT-At Large]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Bank examination
Bank loans
Bank management
Business education
Commerce
Community development banking
Conferences
Cooperative societies
Credit insurance
Decision making
Department of the Treasury
Economics and Public Finance
Employee ownership
Executive reorganization
Federal officials
Federally-guaranteed loans
Fees
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Grants-in-aid
Industrial relations
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Law
Losses
Nonprofit organizations
Profit sharing
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: 
United States Employee Ownership Bank Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the United States Employee Ownership Bank in order to foster increased employee ownership and participation in company decision-making
 throughout the United States.
 
Lists among the Bank's duties providing loans to enable employees to purchase a business through an employee stock ownership plan or eligible worker-owned cooperative that is at least 51 percent employee-owned. 
 
States that such loans are subordinated to the interests of all other creditors, loan guarantees, and technical assistance programs. 
 
Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to provide that in assessing and taking into account the record of a financial institution, the appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency may consider as a factor capital investments, loans, loan participation, technical assistance, financial advice, grants, and other ventures undertaken by the institution to support or enable manufacturing employees to establish employee stock ownership plans or eligible worker owned cooperatives that are at least 51 percent employee-owned plans or cooperatives.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-08-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
To authorize the disinterment from the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France, of the remains of Private First Class Alfred J. Laitres, of Island Pond, Vermont, who died in combat in France on December 25, 1944, and to authorize the transfer of his remains to the custody of his next of kin.

Bill: 108-hr-2970
Sponsor: Rep. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT-At Large]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Army
Cemeteries and funerals
Europe
Families
France
History
Military personnel
Survivors' benefits
Veterans' benefits
World War II

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Directs the Secretary of the Army and the American Battle Monuments Commission to authorize: (1) the next of kin of the late Alfred J. Laitres to disinter his remains from the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France; and (2) the transfer of custody of such remains to such next of kin. Prohibits the use of Federal funds for such disinterment and transfer.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-08-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
Rural Economic Growth Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2972
Sponsor: Rep. Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Apprenticeship
Building construction
Commerce
Community colleges
Construction costs
Cost of living adjustments
Curricula
Dislocated workers
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Employee training
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Grants-in-aid
Higher education
Income tax
Indexing (Economic policy)
Industry-university relations
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Internal migration
Investment tax credit
Job creation
Labor and Employment
Maintenance and repair
Nonprofit organizations
Performance measurement
Real estate development
Real estate investment
Regional planning
Rural economic development
Small business
Social Welfare
Subsidiary corporations
Tax credits
Tax penalties
Tax returns
Taxation
Transportation and Public Works
Valuation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: 
Rural Economic Growth Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a rural investment tax credit of 50 percent of the present value of new buildings (including rehabilitation projects) and 50 percent of the present value of existing buildings.
 
Makes a qualified rural employee a member of a targeted group for purposes of the work opportunity credit.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to award grants to eligible entities offering career training to residents of rural areas to assist such entities to improve the job skills necessary for employment in specific industries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
Commercial Fishermen Safety Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2973
Sponsor: Rep. Simmons, Rob [R-CT-2]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Equipment and supplies
Fishing boats
Income tax
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine safety
Tax credits
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Commercial Fishermen Safety Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited fishing safety equipment credit to commercial fisherman for the purchase of qualified fishing safety equipment.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1654)
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
Keep America Secure Act

Bill: 108-hr-2974
Sponsor: Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-28]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Buy American
Computer software
Crime and Law Enforcement
Defense procurement
Department of Defense
Department of Homeland Security
Electronics
Equipment and supplies
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government procurement
International Affairs
Military and naval supplies
Military communications
Military electronics
Military technology
Science, Technology, Communications
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Keep America Secure Act - Prohibits the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security from purchasing any equipment that contains electronic components that are not manufactured in the United States. Allows the Secretary concerned to waive this prohibition where its application would be inconsistent with the public interest or would result in unreasonable costs to the Department of Defense or Homeland Security.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-08-15
text: Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1632)
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House