hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Fairness for America's Soldiers in Higher Education Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-863
Sponsor: Sen. Edwards, John [D-NC]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces reserves
Collection of accounts
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to education
Federally-assisted loans
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Higher education
Interest
Military personnel
National Guard
Scholarships
Student loan funds
War

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Fairness for America's Soldiers in Higher Education Act of 2003 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise title IV student loan and grant assistance repayment provisions with respect to individuals who serve on active duty during a war or national emergency.
Exempts students who withdraw from higher education institutions to serve on active duty during a war or national emergency from requirements to repay certain title IV grant assistance.
Defers repayments of principal, and directs the Secretary of Education to make interest payments, on specified types of student loans during a war or national emergency when a borrower is: (1) a member of a regular component on active duty, and receives specified compensation; (2) on active duty, regardless of the location at which such active duty service is performed; or (3) on full-time National Guard duty under a call to active service for a period of more than 30 consecutive days to respond to a national emergency.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5190)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5189-5190)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard and Reserves Child Care Relief Act

Bill: 108-s-864
Sponsor: Sen. Edwards, John [D-NC]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Afghanistan
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces abroad
Armed forces reserves
Block grants
Day care
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Guardian and ward
Iraq
Middle East and North Africa
Military dependents
Military operations
Military pay
Military personnel
National Guard
South Asia

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: National Guard and Reserves Child Care Relief Act - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make child care assistance grants to parents or guardians of dependents of members of the Armed Forces, or reserve components of the Armed Forces, to cover periods when such members are on active duty in, or in support of, specified military operations.
Requires an eligible parent or guardian to: (1) have primary responsibility for the care of one or more such dependents; and (2) reside permanently at a location at least 50 miles from the nearest military installation of the Department of Defense (DOD) with available child care facilities and programs, and from the nearest available child development center or family child care home receiving DOD funds.
Covers the following military operations: (1) Operation Enduring Freedom; (2) Operation Iraqi Freedom; (3) Operation Noble Eagle; or (4) any successor operation of the U.S. Armed Forces to those three operations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5190-5191)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5189-5190)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act

Bill: 108-s-865
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Auctions
Commerce
Competitive bidding
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Costs
Economics and Public Finance
Federal Communications Commission
Federal budgets
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
Government lending
Government paperwork
Government property
Government spending reductions
Government trust funds
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Licenses
Radio spectrum allocation
Radio stations
Relocation
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act - Amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to revise provisions concerning the reallocation of spectrum from governmental to commercial users.
Mandates that any Federal entity that operates a Government station assigned within specified bands of frequencies and that incurs relocation costs due to reallocation to non-Federal use receive reimbursement from the Spectrum Relocation Fund established in this Act. Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to notify the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at least 18 months prior to commencement of any auction of eligible frequencies. Requires NTIA to: (1) notify the FCC of estimated relocation costs at least six months prior to the commencement of any such auction; and (2) submit to specified congressional committees and the Comptroller General a copy of cost estimates and time lines for relocation.
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the FCC: (1) in designing competitive bidding under such auctions, to have as an objective the recovery of 110 percent of the estimated relocation costs; (2) prescribe methods by which the total cash proceeds from any auction equals at least 110 percent of such costs; and (3) prohibit the FCC from concluding any auction under which such goal is not reached. Authorizes the FCC to grant a license for the advance use of eligible frequencies pending an auction, on the condition that the licensee cannot cause harmful interference to the Federal entity until the entity's authorization has been terminated.
Establishes the Fund. Exempts the Fund from sequestration under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Provides the basis for loans or other extensions of credit made from the Telecommunications Development Fund (established under prior law).

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5191)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Safety Lock Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-866
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Accident prevention
Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Child safety
Commerce
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Consumer education
Emergency Management
Families
Fines (Penalties)
Firearms
Firearms control
Firearms injuries
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Health
Imports
Independent regulatory commissions
Judicial review
Law
Licenses
Product safety
Retail trade
Safety measures
Standards
Storage

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Child Safety Lock Act of 2003 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer from selling, delivering, or transferring a handgun without a locking device to any person other than a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer, with exceptions for law enforcement and governmental entities.
Specifies that nothing in this Act shall be construed to create a cause of action against any firearms dealer or any other person for civil liability, or establish any standard of care.
Makes evidence regarding compliance or noncompliance with this Act inadmissible in a proceeding of any court, agency, board, or other entity, except with respect to an action to enforce this Act.
Sets forth civil penalties (in addition to any administrative penalties) for related violations, including suspension or loss of license.
Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a consumer product safety standard for locking devices.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5192-5193)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5191-5192)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Restoration Amendments Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-868
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Animals
Arts, Culture, Religion
Boats and boating
Environmental Protection
Federal-Indian relations
Fishery management
Fishing
Forest conservation
Forest products
Forests, forestry, trees
Hunting
Indian lands
Law
Licenses
Mining claims
Minorities
Oregon
Outdoor recreation
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sports and Recreation
Timber sales
Transportation and Public Works
Tribes and tribal system
Water Resources Development
Water rights
Wildlife conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Restoration Amendment Act of 2003 - Amends the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Restoration Act to require that Coos Tribal Forest be held in trust by the Federal Government for the use and benefit of the Consolidated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians (Tribe).
Requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, to develop a resource management plan for the Coos Tribal Forest.
Requires the Tribe to establish a separate account for watershed restoration purposes.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-30
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 108-522.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5193-5194)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Assure Access to Mammography Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-869
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Federal aid to education
Governmental investigations
Higher education
Hospital care
Hospital rates
Hospitals
Mammography
Medical education
Medical fees
Medical residents
Medical screening
Medical tests
Medicare
Nursing homes
Physicians
Social Welfare
Women
Women's health
X-rays

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Assure Access to Mammography Act of 2003 - Provides that, with respect to payment for a screening or diagnostic mammography furnished to a Medicare beneficiary, the amount of payment made to a hospital-based facility in which such screening or diagnostic mammography is performed during the applicable period is equal to 200 percent of the amount of payment that would otherwise apply under the Medicare fee schedule established under title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to the technical component of such screening or diagnostic mammography. Provides for not counting certain radiological residents against graduate medical education limitations.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an arrangement with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to the Secretary on Medicare reimbursement for gender-specific services.
Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to study and report to Congress on Medicare reimbursement for screening services.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5194)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Northern Ireland Peace and Reconciliation Support Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-872
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Authorization
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Depressed areas
Development credit institutions
Economic assistance
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Ethnic relations
Europe
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Human rights
Ireland
Labor and Employment
Mediation
Minorities
Northern Ireland
Peace
Peace treaties
Police training
Police-community relations
United Kingdom

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: 
Northern Ireland Peace and Reconciliation Support Act of 2003 - Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should continue to contribute to the International Fund for Ireland to support much needed programs in economically depressed areas of Northern Ireland as such programs remain very important to accomplishing the objectives of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986; (2) the United States should support an expansion of reconciliation projects funded by the International Fund as a way to promote peace and economic stability in Northern Ireland; and (3) the International Fund should support programs such as those mentioned by this Act.
 
Amends the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986 to authorize certain appropriations for FY 2004 and 2005 for U.S. contributions to the Fund. Authorizes the use of such contributions to fund programs to: (1) enhance relations between communities and between police officers and the communities served by such officers; (2) promote human rights training for police officers; (3) enhance peaceful mediation in neighborhoods of continued conflict; and (4) promote training programs to enhance the new district partnership police boards recommended by the Commission into Policing for Northern Ireland established by the Agreement Reached in the Multi-Party Negotiations in Belfast on April 10, 1998 (Good Friday Agreement).
 
Declares the sense of Congress that at least 20 percent of such authorized appropriations for each such fiscal year should be used to carry out such programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Energy Catalysis Research and Development Act

Bill: 108-s-873
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Authorization
Catalysis
Department of Energy
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications
Technology transfer

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: 
Department of Energy Catalysis Research and Development Act - Instructs the Secretary of Energy, through the Director of the Office of Science, to establish a research and development program in catalysis science meeting certain criteria.
 

 
Directs the National Academy of Sciences to review and report triennially on the program and on gains made in the fundamental science of catalysis, as well as progress made towards developing new fuels for energy production, material fabrication processes and global warming reduction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5198-5199)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5198)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-874
Sponsor: Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Blood transfusions
Case management
Child health
Communication in medicine
Community health services
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Continuum of care
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Families
Federal aid to child health services
Federal aid to health facilities
Genetic counseling
Government Operations and Politics
Health education
Health insurance
Higher education
Medicaid
Medical education
Medical screening
Medical tests
Medically uninsured
Nursing education
Poor children
Preventive medicine
Sickle cell anemia
Social Welfare
Stroke

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2003 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to include primary and secondary preventative medical strategies, treatment, and services, including genetic counseling and testing, for individuals who have Sickle Cell Disease as medical assistance under the Medicaid program.
Directs the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration to conduct a demonstration program for the development and establishment of systemic mechanisms, including a National Coordinating Center, to improve the prevention and treatment of Sickle Cell Disease.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-02-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1508-1509)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5200-5201)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5199-5200)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Development Homeownership Tax Credit Act

Bill: 108-s-875
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Community development
Cost of living adjustments
Depressed areas
Economics and Public Finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Home ownership
Housing and Community Development
Housing authorities
Income tax
Indexing (Economic policy)
Indian housing
Infrastructure
Liens
Low-income housing
Minorities
Nonprofit organizations
Rental housing
Residential rehabilitation
Rural housing
Social Welfare
Tax credits
Tax returns
Tax-exempt organizations
Urban affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Community Development Homeownership Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a community homeownership tax credit based upon an applicable percentage of each qualified residence's eligible basis.
Makes such credit available to residences (including factory built homes) located: (1) in a census tract with a median gross income not exceeding 80 percent of the greater area or statewide median gross income; (2) in a rural area; (3) on an Indian reservation; or (4) in an area of chronic economic distress. Prohibits a buyer's income from exceeding 80 percent (70 percent for families of less than three) of the area gross median income and requires owner occupancy.
Specifies that the aggregate homeownership credit dollar amount which a homeownership credit agency (an "agency") may disburse is the portion of the "State homeownership credit ceiling" (the "ceiling") allocated to such agency. Allows "unused homeownership credit carryovers" to be allocated among qualified States. Sets aside up to 90 percent of a State's ceiling for certain housing projects in which a qualified nonprofit organization owns an interest and materially participates in the given project's development and operation throughout the credit period.
Requires allocation of credit to residences to be in accordance with a "qualified allocation plan" of the agency issuing credit. Lists certain specified criteria such a plan must include and specifies that the plan must be approved by the governmental unit of which such agency is a part.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5201-5203)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Sunshine in Iraq Reconstruction Contracting Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-876
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Classified defense information
Commerce
Competitive bidding
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Construction industries
Government contractors
Government publicity
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Maintenance and repair
Middle East and North Africa

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sunshine in Iraq Reconstruction Contracting Act of 2003 - Directs the head of an executive agency that enters into a contract for the repair, maintenance, or construction of infrastructure in Iraq without full and open competition to publish in the Federal Register or Commerce Business Daily and otherwise make available to the public: (1) the amount of the contract and a brief description of its scope; (2) a discussion of how the agency identified, and solicited offers from, contractors, together with a list of the contractors solicited; and (3) the justification for using procedures other than those that provide for full and open competition.
Allows an agency head to withhold from publication and disclosure certain classified documents and to redact classified parts of a document before publication and disclosure, but requires the full information to be made available to specified congressional committees.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-28
text: Star Print ordered on the bill.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5203-5204)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5203)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Economic Stimulus Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-879
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Commerce
Corporation taxes
Depreciation and amortization
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Motion pictures
Transportation and Public Works
Video tape recording

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Economic Stimulus Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the special depreciation allowance (under the accelerated cost recovery system) to: (1) increase the depreciation for qualifying property acquired after enactment of this Act; (2) include qualifying motion picture film or videotape; and (3) extend the qualifying placed-in-service date, with a special provision for transportation property.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5209)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5208-5209)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-881
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2003-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Housing and Community Development
Labor and Employment
Medical fees
Medicare
Pay equity
Physicians
Rural health
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish a minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services furnished under the Medicare program.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5209-5210)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5209)
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate