hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Energy Savings Performance Contracts Amendments Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-658
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Electric power production
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Equipment and supplies
Federal installations
Federal office buildings
Fuel consumption
Government Operations and Politics
Government vehicles
Infrastructure
Maintenance and repair
Transportation and Public Works
Water Resources Development
Water conservation
Water supply

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: 
Energy Savings Performance Contracts Amendments Act of 2003 - Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA) to: (1) repeal the termination dates governing the authority to enter into energy savings performance contracts (thus extending such authority indefinitely); (2) allow as an approved benefit ancillary to an energy savings contract or energy savings performance contract providing for energy savings through construction of replacement facilities those savings resulting from reduced operation and maintenance costs at such facilities; and (3) authorize the Secretary of Defense and the heads of other interested Federal agencies to enter into a pilot program for energy savings performance contract investments in non-building energy efficiency improvement projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3997)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3996-3997)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

Bill: 108-s-659
Sponsor: Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Ammunition
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Crime and Law Enforcement
District courts
Firearms
Firearms injuries
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Jurisdiction
Liability (Law)
Products liability
Retail trade
State courts
Torts
Trade associations

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Prohibits any qualified civil liability action from being brought in any State or Federal court and requires pending actions to be dismissed. Defines such an action to: (1) include an action brought against a manufacturer or seller of a firearm, ammunition, or a component of a firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, or against a trade association of such manufacturers or sellers, for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm; and (2) exclude an action brought against persons who transfer a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime; an action brought against a seller for negligent entrustment or negligence per se; an action in which a manufacturer or seller of a firearm willfully violated a State or Federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the firearm and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought; an action for breach of contract or warranty in connection with the purchase of the firearm; or an action for physical injuries or property damage resulting directly from a defect in design or manufacture of the firearm when used as intended.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4169)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3998-3999
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3997-3998)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Economic Opportunity Protection Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-660
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commerce
Consumer credit
Federal preemption
Government Operations and Politics
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: 
Economic Opportunity Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to repeal the protection from Federal preemption currently granted to any provision of State law enacted after January 1, 2004 that states explicitly that it is intended to supplement the FCRA and give greater protection to consumers than is provided under Federal statute. (Thus permits Federal preemption of more stringent State consumer protection laws.)
 
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-661
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commuting
Federal employees
Fringe benefits
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Tax exclusion
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase (to $190) and equalize the transportation and parking fringe benefits exclusion. Provides equal benefits to Federal employees.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3999)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend to Nepal certain preferential treatment with respect to apparel articles.

Bill: 108-s-662
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Clothing
Nepal
South Asia
Tariff preferences

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Allows certain apparel articles that are imported directly into the customs territory of the United States from Nepal during FY 2004 through 2005 to enter free of duty and free of any quantitative limitations as if they were articles of a lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, if Nepal has satisfied specified requirements.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4001)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4000-4001)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of the Pottawatomi Nation in Canada for settlement of certain claims against the United States.

Bill: 108-s-663
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Canada
Government liability (International law)
Indian claims
International Affairs
Law
Minorities

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified sum to the Pottawatomi Nation in Canada in settlement and full satisfaction of certain claims.
Excludes such payment from the provisions of the Indian Tribal Judgment Funds Use or Distribution Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4002)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4001-4002)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Investment in America Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-664
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Corporation taxes
Income tax
Research and development tax credit
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Investment in America Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the credit for increasing research activities. Increases the alternative incremental credit rates. Provides an alternative credit for qualified research expenses.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4004)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4002-4004)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Tax Empowerment and Relief for Farmers and Fishermen (TERFF) Act

Bill: 108-s-665
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural conservation
Agricultural cooperatives
Agricultural production
Agriculture and Food
Alcohol as fuel
Animals
Charitable contributions
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Cooperative societies
Disaster relief
Dividends
Droughts
Emergency Management
Energy
Environmental Protection
Excise tax
Farm income
Farmers
Feeds
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial statements
Fisheries
Fishing boats
Floods
Food industry
Food relief
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Income tax
Inventories
Judicial opinions
Judicial review
Law
Leases
Livestock
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marketing of farm produce
Minimum tax
Old age, survivors and disability insurance
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Rent
Social Welfare
Social security taxes
Soil conservation
Stocks
Tax administration
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Tax deferral
Tax exclusion
Tax penalties
Tax returns
Tax-exempt organizations
Tax-exempt securities
Trusts and trustees
Unrelated business income tax
Water Resources Development
Weather

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: 
Tax Empowerment and Relief for Farmers and Fishermen (TERFF) Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow certain commercial farming and fishing businesses a tax deduction for cash contributions (up to 20 percent of taxable income) to a Farm, Fishing, and Ranch Risk Management Account (FFARRM Account); (2) exempt agricultural bonds from private activity bond volume caps; (3) allow individuals a tax deduction for charitable contributions of food (currently restricted to C corporations); (4) extend income averaging to fishermen (currently allowed for farmers) and exclude income averaging for farmers and fishermen from the computation of the alternative minimum tax; (5) modify cooperative marketing rules to include value-added processing involving animals; (6) permit farmer cooperatives to seek declaratory judgments with respect to their tax-exempt status; and (7) allow the allocation of the small ethanol tax credit amounts to patrons of tax-exempt cooperatives. 
Amends the Code and title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to exclude certain rental income and conservation reserve program payments from the self-employment tax. 
 
Provides that dividends on the capital stock or other proprietary capital interests of tax-exempt cooperatives shall not reduce the net earnings of such cooperatives. 
 
Modifies involuntary conversion rules to extend from two to four years the replacement period for livestock sold due to drought, flood, or other weather-related conditions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4006-4009)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4005-4006)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to strengthen payment limitations for commodity payments and benefits.

Bill: 108-s-667
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agricultural credit
Agricultural subsidies
Congress
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Economics and Public Finance
Family farms
Finance and Financial Sector
Government lending
Law
Marketing of farm produce

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to reduce maximum annual direct and counter-cyclical commodity payments to $20,000 and $30,000, respectively. Revises limitation provisions for marketing loan gains, loan deficiency payments, and commodity certificate transactions, and establishes an annual combined limitation of $87,500 for such payments.
Doubles payment limitations for single farming operations. Limits an individual to a combined annual payment of $275,000.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4017-4018)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4017)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Care Quality Incentive Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-668
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Appropriations
Authorization
Block grants
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Day care
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
Federal aid to Indians
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Indian children
Internet
Minorities
Poor children
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Surveys

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Child Care Quality Incentive Act of 2003 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to revise requirements relating to child care payment rates.
Requires States to conduct market rate surveys, at least once every two years, to determine their child care payment rates under the block grant program, including cost-of-living adjustments and consideration of variations in localities, children's ages, and types of services.
Establishes a program of incentive grants to States and Indian tribes to improve the quality of, and access to, child care by increasing child care payment rates. Makes separate appropriations for such incentive grants in specified amounts for FY 2004 through FY 2008 (prohibiting use of block grant funds for such incentive grants).
Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make an annual incentive grant payment to an eligible State only if the State has conducted a statistically valid survey of the market rates for child care services in the State within the two years before it submits an application containing information on such survey and the State's plans to increase its child care payment rates. Requires an eligible State that receives such a grant to make priority use of its funds to increase significantly (up to the 100th percentile of the market rate survey) the rate of reimbursement to providers for subsidized child care (with any remaining funds to be used to improve the quality of child care services). Requires a State matching contribution of at least 20 percent of incentive grant program activity costs.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4019-4020)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4018-4019)
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Support Distribution Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-669
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2003-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aid to dependent children
Armed Forces and National Security
Block grants
Child support
Collection of accounts
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Garnishment
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health
Immigration
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Maternal health services
Medicaid
Passports
Social security numbers
Social work
State employees
Tax refunds
Taxation
Unemployment
Veterans' disability compensation
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Child Support Distribution Act of 2003 - Amends title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise requirements for: (1) denial of assistance to families that do not assign certain support rights to the State; and (2) the distribution of child support collected by States on behalf of children receiving certain welfare benefits.
Reduces from $5,000 to $2,500 the amount of child support arrearage which shall trigger denial of a passport.
Revises requirements for the use of the tax refund intercept program to collect past-due child support on behalf of non-minor children.
Prohibits garnishment of certain compensation for a service-connected disability paid to a former member of the Armed Forces for: (1) alimony; or (2) child support less than 60 days in arrears. Permits no more than 50 percent of such compensation to be garnished to pay for such child support.
Provides for mandatory review and adjustment of child support orders for families receiving TANF.
Requires the Secretary to disclose new hire information to a State to assist in the administration of unemployment compensation programs.
Provides for a payment rate increase to States for short term training of staff of State-licensed or State-approved child welfare agencies providing services.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 95  Seventh Street in San Francisco, California, as the 'James R. Browning United States Courthouse'.

Bill: 108-s-670
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2003-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: California
Congress
Congressional tributes
Courthouses
Law
Names

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Designates the U.S. courthouse located at 95 Seventh Street in San Francisco, California, as the James R. Browning United States Courthouse.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4169)
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Mandatory Prison Work and Drug Testing Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-672
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2003-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Arts, Culture, Religion
Cable television
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Correctional institutions
Department of Justice
Drug abuse
Drug testing
Economics and Public Finance
Electronics
Equipment and supplies
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal law enforcement officers
Government Operations and Politics
Labor and Employment
Local employees
Motion pictures
Pornography
Prison administration
Prison labor
Prisoners' rights
Prisons
Science, Technology, Communications
Sexual abstinence
State employees
Tobacco
Video games
Video tape recording

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Mandatory Prison Work and Drug Testing Act of 2003 - Amends the Crime Control Act of 1990 to require inmates confined in Federal prisons to engage in: (1) work for not less than 50 hours weekly; (2) job training; and (3) educational and life skills preparation study. Allows the services of inmates to be made available to nonprofit entities.
Prescribes the portions of an inmate's earned wages to be allocated to offset the cost of incarceration, for victim restitution, to be held for the inmate until release in a non-interest bearing account, to be paid directly to the inmate for mandatory expenses and daily basic needs while incarcerated, and to be distributed to certain States and local jurisdictions.
Requires: (1) the establishment of a zero tolerance policy for drug use in the Federal prison system, including random drug testing of inmates and prison employees, routine sweeps for contraband, and residential drug treatment programs for all inmates; and (2) the Bureau of Prisons to ensure that Federal prisoners do not use or possess tobacco, possess or view sexually explicit materials, possess televisions (unless provided by the prison for group viewing), listen to music containing violent or certain other types of lyrics, view cable television which is not educational, and engage in sexual activity.
Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to direct the Attorney General to make incentive grants to eligible States and local governments to establish drug-free prisons and jails.
Requires the Bureau of Prisons to place in a shock incarceration program any person who is sentenced to a term of imprisonment (current law permits program placement for a consenting person sentenced to imprisonment for 12 to 30 months).

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4169-4170)
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Building Better Health Centers Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-673
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2003-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Building construction
Capital investments
Clinics
Construction costs
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to health facilities
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Leases
Medical supplies

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Building Better Health Centers Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide loan guarantees or make grants to eligible health centers for expansion, new construction, or equipment purchase or lease.
Makes certain unexpended funds appropriated for FY's 1997 and 1998 under the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts of 1997 and 1998, which were made available for loan guarantees for loans made by non-Federal lenders for building costs associated with medical facilities owned and operated by health centers, available for loan guarantees under this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4170-4171)
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
America's National Maritime Museum Designation Act

Bill: 108-s-674
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2003-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Animals
Armed Forces and National Security
Arts, Culture, Religion
Colleges
Commemorations
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Federal aid programs
Higher education
Historic sites
History
Maine
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine transportation
Maryland
Massachusetts
Merchant ships
Military bases
Museums
Navy
New York City
New York State
North Carolina
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Shipbuilding
Virginia
Whaling
Wisconsin

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: America's National Maritime Museum Designation Act - Amends the National Maritime Heritage Act of 1994 to: (1) revise the designation of museums composing the America's National Maritime Museum; and (2) designate specified new museums to be museums of the America's National Maritime Museum.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4171-4172)
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate