hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Safer Truck Act

Bill: 108-hr-1248
Sponsor: Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-14]
Introduced: 2003-03-12 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Government Operations and Politics
Highway finance
Motor buses
Motor vehicle safety
State laws
Trucking
Trucks
Weights and measures

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Safer Truck Act - Amends Federal highway law to authorize a State to allow a single unit truck or bus without a trailer to operate on the Interstate System while carrying up to 20 metric tons (44,080 pounds) of cargo, packaging, and load securement materials regardless of the overall weight of the vehicle, its axle weights, or weight of its safety and energy conservation devices if: (1) the cargo is evenly distributed in a compartment or combined compartments at least 40 feet long; (2) the overall height of the vehicle and cargo does not exceed the width of the wheelbase; (3) the axles are positioned at the extreme ends of the vehicle; and (4) the gross weight and certified empty weight of the vehicle (including detachable cargo compartments) are marked conspicuously on the front of the vehicle in contrasting three-inch or taller letters and numbers.
Amends Federal transportation law to revise certain commercial motor vehicle width limitations on vehicles operating on the Interstate System and on Federal-aid highways to exclude from width calculations with respect to such limitations any safety devices that reduce the possibility of death and injury, if such devices fit entirely within the legal travel lanes of all roads upon which the vehicle operates.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
Freedom From Unnecessary Litigation Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1249
Sponsor: Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-14]
Introduced: 2003-03-12 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Commercial arbitration
Damages
Finance and Financial Sector
Health
Health insurance
Income tax
Insurance premiums
Law
Medical economics
Medical malpractice
Surgery
Tax credits
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Freedom From Unnecessary Litigation Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a credit for the cost of insurance purchased to cover the costs of a negative outcome from surgery; and (2) exclude from gross income medical malpractice awards granted in binding arbitration.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1860)
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E437-438)
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
Former Insurance Agents Tax Equity Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1250
Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Paul [R-WI-1]
Introduced: 2003-03-12 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Earnings
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Insurance agents
Labor and Employment
Self-employed
Social Welfare
Social security taxes
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Former Insurance Agents Tax Equity Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act with respect to the exemption from the self-employment tax for certain termination payments received by former insurance agents. Repeals the requirement that the amount of such a payment not depend to any extent on length of service or overall earnings from services performed for the former insurance company.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E445-446)
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1251
Sponsor: Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13]
Introduced: 2003-03-12 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Awards, medals, prizes
Coins and coinage
Congress
Congressional tributes
Donation of organs, tissues, etc.
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Gifts
Government trust funds
Health
Health information systems
Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc.

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a bronze medal to commemorate organ donors and their families.
Makes any organ donor, or the family of any organ donor, eligible for the medal.
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to direct the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to arrange for medal presentation to eligible individuals.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology.
action_date: 2003-03-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2003-03-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2003-03-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2003-03-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E438-439)
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
E-Rate Termination Act

Bill: 108-hr-1252
Sponsor: Rep. Tancredo, Thomas G. [R-CO-6]
Introduced: 2003-03-12 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Arts, Culture, Religion
Commerce
Consumer discounts
Education
Educational technology
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal Communications Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Internet
Law
Libraries
Secondary education
Telecommunication industry
Telecommunication rates
Telephone

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: E-Rate Termination Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to repeal provisions requiring: (1) telecommunications carriers to provide universal telecommunications and information services to elementary and secondary schools and libraries at rates less than those charged for similar services to other parties; and (2) the Federal Communications Commission to enhance the access of such schools and libraries to advanced telecommunications and information services.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
Common Sense Preble's Conservation Act

Bill: 108-hr-1253
Sponsor: Rep. Tancredo, Thomas G. [R-CO-6]
Introduced: 2003-03-12 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Animals
Biological research
Department of the Interior
Ecological research
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Landowners
Law
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientists
Wildlife conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Common Sense Preble's Conservation Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that, in any case in which the Secretary of the Interior is required to use the best scientific and commercial data available with respect to determining whether the Preble's meadow jumping mouse is an endangered or threatened species, the Secretary: (1) in evaluating comparable data, shall give greater weight to scientific or commercial data that are empirical or have been field-tested or peer-reviewed; and (2) shall include data regarding population numbers of the species.
Prohibits the Secretary from determining that the Preble's meadow jumping mouse is an endangered or threatened species unless the determination is supported by data obtained by observation of the species in the field.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) accept and acknowledge receipt of data regarding the status of that species that is collected by an owner of land through observation of the species on the land, and include the data in the rule-making record compiled for any determination that the species is an endangered or threatened species; (2) solicit recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences and develop and maintain a list of qualified reviewers to participate in independent scientific review of actions; and (3) appoint randomly from among the list, before any action becomes final, three qualified individuals who shall review and report to the Secretary on the scientific information and analyses on which the proposed action is based.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-18
text: Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
Truth in Electricity Trading Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1254
Sponsor: Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2]
Introduced: 2003-03-12 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Accounting
Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Business records
Commerce
Contracts
Crime and Law Enforcement
Data banks
Department of Energy
Electric power
Electric power transmission
Electric utilities
Electric utility rates
Electronic government information
Energy prices
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Marketing
Restrictive trade practices
Science, Technology, Communications
Wholesale trade

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Truth in Electricity Trading Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Power Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to promulgate rules establishing an electronic information system to provide the Commission and the public access to information that facilitates price transparency and participation in markets subject to its jurisdiction, including the availability and market price of wholesale electric energy and transmission services.
Prohibits contracts for round trip trading of electricity. Increases civil and criminal penalties for Federal Power Act violations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
Truth in Electricity Revenue Reporting Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1255
Sponsor: Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2]
Introduced: 2003-03-12 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting
Commerce
Contracts
Electric power
Electric utilities
Electric utility rates
Energy
Financial statements
Information disclosure (Securities law)
Restrictive trade practices
Securities fraud
Wholesale trade

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Truth in Electricity Revenue Reporting Act of 2003 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit the fraudulent recording of revenue from round trip electric power sales.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-12
text: Introduced in House
Indigent Veteran Remembrance Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1256
Sponsor: Rep. Evans, Lane [D-IL-17]
Introduced: 2003-03-13 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Commemorations
Homeless
Housing and Community Development
Monuments and memorials
Poverty
Social Welfare
Veterans' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Indigent Veteran Remembrance Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program for the placement of a unique memorial each year in four cemeteries in the United States to honor the service in the armed forces of veterans who at their time of death were homeless or indigent.
Requires the Secretary to carry out such program in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1258
Sponsor: Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-3]
Introduced: 2003-03-13 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Army
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congress and military policy
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Curricula
Democracy
Department of Defense
Due process of law
Education
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Human rights
International Affairs
Latin America
Law
Military assistance
Military education
Military training
Service academies

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Army to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (Institute). Repeals statutory authority for the Institute. Prohibits any training or education facility from being established in the Department of Defense (DOD) for Latin American military personnel for ten months.
Establishes a joint congressional task force to assess appropriate education and training for DOD to provide to military personnel of Latin American nations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
Public Safety and Protection Investment Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1259
Sponsor: Rep. Weller, Jerry [R-IL-11]
Introduced: 2003-03-13 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air pollution control
Armed Forces and National Security
Cameras
Closed-circuit television
Commerce
Computer crimes
Computer security measures
Computer software
Computers
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime prevention
Depreciation and amortization
EBB Terrorism
Electronic surveillance
Electronics
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Environmental Protection
Equipment and supplies
Identification devices
Income tax
Indoor air pollution
Industrial buildings
International Affairs
Office buildings
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Tax deductions
Terrorism
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Public Safety and Protection Investment Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow businesses to expense the costs of purchasing and installing qualifying security devices.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
National AMBER Alert Improvement Act

Bill: 108-hr-1262
Sponsor: Rep. Foley, Mark [R-FL-16]
Introduced: 2003-03-13 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child safety
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Department of Justice
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Executive reorganization
Families
Family services
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal officials
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Information networks
Informers
Internet
Kidnapping
Labor and Employment
Missing children
Police communication systems
Police training
Posters
Prosecution
Radio broadcasting
Science, Technology, Communications
Signs and signboards
Standards
Technological innovations
Traffic signs and signals
Transportation and Public Works
Victims of crimes
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: National AMBER Alert Improvement Act - Directs the Attorney General to establish an AMBER Alert Coordinator position to: (1) establish guidelines to ensure AMBER Alert (a communication network designed to facilitate the recovery of abducted children) plans are consistent throughout the United States; and (2) develop a prototype of protocols for each child recovery plan from initial contact through family reunification.
Directs the Coordinator to make available to agencies and organizations implementing an AMBER Alert plan throughout the country: (1) training and educational programs which are updated regularly to ensure compliance with new tools, technologies, and resources; and (2) informational material, including brochures, videos, posters, and web sites to support and supplement training and educational programs.
Directs the Coordinator to: (1) make available to any State or local agency or organization involved with the AMBER plan program monitoring, annual evaluation, and plan testing; (2) establish an advisory group to assist agencies or organizations that do not participate in the AMBER plan; and (3) establish a program to provide States with grants to implement new technologies which improve AMBER Alert communications.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
Code Adam Act

Bill: 108-hr-1263
Sponsor: Resident Commissioner Acevedo-Vila, Anibal [D-PR-At Large]
Introduced: 2003-03-13 in the House
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Child safety
Congress
Congressional office buildings
Courthouses
Crime and Law Enforcement
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Federal employees
Federal installations
Federal office buildings
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Kidnapping
Law
Missing children
Parking facilities
Science, Technology, Communications
Transportation and Public Works
Victims of crimes

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Code Adam Act - Requires each Federal building that is open to the public to have in place procedures for locating a child who is missing in that building.
Requires the head of each executive agency, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the House Office Building Commission, and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate to direct employees to assist any parent, guardian, or teacher whose child is missing in a Federal building by instituting and enforcing procedures that include: (1) obtaining a detailed description of the child and activating a "Code Adam" alert; (2) escorting the parent, teacher, or guardian to the door to help identify the child; (3) monitoring building exits; (4) requiring all persons with children to exit through a designated entrance; (5) searching the building and contacting local law enforcement if the child isn't found; (6) calling 911 and notifying the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; and (7) preparing a report of the incident.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2003-03-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2003-03-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2003-03-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Backlog Reduction Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1264
Sponsor: Rep. Baca, Joe [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2003-03-13 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Claims
Continuing education
County politics and government
Data banks
Department of Veterans Affairs
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electronic government information
Employee training
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grants-in-aid
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Law
Local employees
Overhead costs
Science, Technology, Communications
Veterans' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Backlog Reduction Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) identify the current backlog of veterans' claims for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs and to categorize those claims; and (2) identify claims that need further development and refer them to a geographically appropriate County Veterans Service Office. Allows veterans' claims to be submitted to County Veterans Service Officers (in lieu of the Department) and authorizes the Officers to fully develop such claims. Requires appropriate information sharing between the Department's Benefits Delivery Network and the Offices.
Requires funding provided by this Act to be allocated to States based on their respective populations of veterans and allocates such funds to the appropriate Office. Prohibits Federal funding from exceeding 50 percent of the costs of Office operations. Allows funding to be used to establish Officer programs in States that do not have one.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1240)
action_date: 2004-04-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E617)
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-13
text: Introduced in House