hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To provide for the establishment of a Center for Scientific and Technical Assessment.

Bill: 108-hr-4670
Sponsor: Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12]
Introduced: 2004-06-23 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Communication in science
Congress
Congressional agencies
Congressional information resources
Congressional publicity
Congressional reorganization
Congressional reporting requirements
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Policy sciences
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: 
Establishes: (1) a Center for Scientific and Technical Assessment to provide timely advice to Congress on scientific and technical aspects of public policy issues, administered by a Director; and (2) a Technical Assessment Board to provide guidance to the Director to ensure that the Center provides timely and useful responses to congressional requests.
 
Authorizes the Director to appoint, with the approval of the Comptroller General, a Deputy Director. Prohibits the Director and Deputy Director from engaging in any other business, vocation, or employment, or (except with the Comptroller General's approval) holding any office in, or acting in any capacity for, any organization, agency, or institution with which the Center makes any contract or other arrangement under this Act.
 
Permits: (1) any Member of Congress to make requests to the Board that the Center conduct an investigation and report to the requester, within a specified time period, on any matter relating to scientific and technical assessment (and sets priorities for requests); and (2) the Director to establish an advisory panel as necessary to support each technical assessment report.
 
Requires each report to be subject to peer review before delivery to the committee or Member requesting it. Provides for public release of unclassified reports, subject to a delay of up to two weeks at the request of the Board or a Member.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-12-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2168-2169)
action_date: 2004-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5139)
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
Iraqi Women and Children's Liberation Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4671
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
Introduced: 2004-06-23 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administration of justice
Child health
Children's rights
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Constitutions
Credit
Crime and Law Enforcement
Decision making
Democracy
Dictators
Economic assistance
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Ethnic groups
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign leaders
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Human rights
Immigration
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Judges
Labor and Employment
Law
Legislators
Middle East and North Africa
Minorities
Nongovernmental organizations
Police
Police training
Political participation
Political parties
Recruiting of employees
Refugees
Security measures
Subcontractors
War relief
Women
Women in business
Women in public life
Women's education
Women's employment
Women's health
Women's organizations
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: 
Iraqi Women and Children's Liberation Act of 2004 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should ensure that women and children in Iraq benefit from the liberation of Iraq; (2) women of all ethnic groups in Iraq should be included in the economic and political reconstruction of Iraq; and (3) the Government of Iraq should adhere to internationally accepted standards on human rights and rights of women and children.
 
Authorizes the President to provide assistance for: (1) education and health care for Iraqi women and children living in Iraq or living as refugees in other countries; and (2) enhancement of political participation, economic empowerment, civil society, and personal security of women in Iraq. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should ensure that such assistance is: (1) provided in a manner that protects and promotes the human rights of all people in Iraq, utilizing indigenous institutions and nongovernmental organizations, especially women's organizations; and (2) conditioned on the government of Iraq making continued progress toward internationally accepted standards of human rights and the rights of women. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
To amend part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prohibit the comparative cost adjustment (CCA) program from operating in the State of Rhode Island.

Bill: 108-hr-4672
Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J. [D-RI-1]
Introduced: 2004-06-23 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Commerce
Competitive bidding
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Health insurance
Health maintenance organizations
Insurance premiums
Managed care
Medical economics
Medical fees
Medicare
Metropolitan areas
Rebates
Rhode Island
Social Welfare
Urban affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: 
Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to prohibit the Medicare comparative cost adjustment program from operating in Rhode Island.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2004-07-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2004-06-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2004-06-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
Opt Out of ID Chips Act

Bill: 108-hr-4673
Sponsor: Rep. Kleczka, Gerald D. [D-WI-4]
Introduced: 2004-06-23 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Consumer education
Consumer protection
Identification devices
Radio
Restrictive trade practices
Retail trade
Science, Technology, Communications
Warning labels

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: 
Opt Out of ID Chips Act - Requires the Federal Trade Commission to promulgate a rule making it an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act to sell at retail any product containing a radio frequency identification device (RFID) unless: (1) the product conspicuously displays a label stating that it contains an RFID capable of tracking the product and transmitting unique information before and after purchase; (2) the label notifies the customer of the right to have the RFID removed or permanently disabled at the time of purchase; and (3) the customer is provided with the option of having the RFID removed or permanently disabled at the time of purchase.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1224-1225)
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
To prohibit the return of persons by the United States, for purposes of detention, interrogation, or trial, to countries engaging in torture or other inhuman treatment of persons.

Bill: 108-hr-4674
Sponsor: Rep. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-7]
Introduced: 2004-06-23 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Detention of persons
Directories
Extradition
Human rights
Judicial review
Law
Nongovernmental organizations
Police questioning
Prison violence
Prisoners of war
Prisoners' rights
Punishment
Torture
Treaties

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: 
Directs the Secretary of State to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, every six months, a list of each country where torture or degrading treatment is commonly used in interrogation and detention. Prohibits, with specified waiver authority, the transfer of a person in U.S. custody to such a country. 
 
States that such prohibition shall not be construed to apply to the legal extradition of a person under a bilateral or multilateral extradition treaty if, prior to extradition, that person has recourse to a U.S. court to challenge the extradition on the basis that there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture or degrading treatment in the requesting country.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1291)
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1225)
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to increase the quantity of T-shirts that may receive duty-free treatment during the 1-year period beginning October 1, 2003.

Bill: 108-hr-4675
Sponsor: Rep. Myrick, Sue Wilkins [R-NC-9]
Introduced: 2004-06-23 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Caribbean area
Clothing
Free trade
Imports
Latin America
Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: 
Amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to increase from ten million to 12 million the quantity of T-shirts that may receive duty-free treatment during the one-year period beginning October 1, 2003. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Introduced in House
To name the lake known as Falls Lake in North Carolina after United States Senator Jesse Helms.

Bill: 108-hr-4677
Sponsor: Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3]
Introduced: 2004-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Congress
Congressional tributes
Ex-Members of Congress
Lakes
Names
North Carolina
Senate
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: 
Designates the lake known as Falls Lake and located in North Carolina as Jesse Helms Lake.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
To bar certain additional restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba.

Bill: 108-hr-4678
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Jim [D-FL-11]
Introduced: 2004-06-24 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Caribbean area
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Cuba
Department of the Treasury
Families
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Freight
Government Operations and Politics
Latin America
Law
Licenses
Money
Right to travel
Sanctions (International law)
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: 
Prohibits additional Cuban travel restrictions to be placed on per-diem allowances, family visits, accompanied baggage, and household remittances.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
Displacement Prevention Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4679
Sponsor: Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2004-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Affordable housing
Apartment houses
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Eviction
Federal aid to housing
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Housing for the aged
Housing for the disabled
Housing subsidies
Landlord and tenant
Low-income housing
Moderate income housing
Mortgage guaranty insurance
Mortgages
Nonprofit organizations
Rent
Rental housing
Residential rehabilitation
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: 
Displacement Prevention Act of 2004 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants to maintain the affordability of low- and moderate-income housing to: (1) property owners for property rehabilitation; (2) nonprofit organizations for multifamily property acquisitions; and (3) owners of covered multifamily properties in strong rental markets. Sets forth eligibility provisions, including extension of affordability restrictions.
 
Prioritizes property assistance based upon the: (1) termination date of Federal assistance; (2) number of low-income residents; and (3) extent to which owner assurances of affordability restrictions will exceed periods provided for by this Act.
 
Directs the Secretary to make enhanced housing vouchers (under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937) available to eligible families upon the termination date of an assisted multifamily housing project. Defines such families as: (1) a low-income family; (2) a moderate-income elderly or disabled family; or (3) a family residing in a low vacancy area.
 
Requires the owner of an assisted multifamily housing project who intends to alter or terminate affordability restrictions to notify the Secretary, appropriate State and local entities, and each tenant. Stipulates that failure to so notify shall prevent the owner from tenant eviction or rent increase until one year after provision of such notification.
 
Requires specified compliance reviews.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-08-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
Tribal Labor Relations Act

Bill: 108-hr-4680
Sponsor: Rep. Hayworth, J. D. [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2004-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Commerce
Federal-Indian relations
Industrial relations
Labor and Employment
Minorities
Minority business enterprises

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: 
Tribal Labor Relations Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that Indian tribes and organizations owned, controlled, or operated by Indian tribes are not considered employers for purposes of such Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
Prescription Drug Price Comparison for Savings Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4681
Sponsor: Rep. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD-3]
Introduced: 2004-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Business records
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Data banks
Electronic government information
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Internet
Medicaid
Pharmacies
Prescription pricing
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Web sites
Zip code

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: 
Prescription Drug Price Comparison for Savings Act of 2004 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and maintain an Internet website using the information supplied by participating pharmacies to allow an individual to compare for each zip code the usual and customary prices for a range of strengths and quantities of covered outpatient drugs sold by retail pharmacies that receive Medicaid payments.
 
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to direct States to: (1) require a participating pharmacy, concurrent with filling a prescription for an individual receiving assistance under Medicaid, to report to the State its zip code and the usual and customary price for the covered outpatient drug as of the date the prescription is filled; and (2) submit this information to the Secretary to enable the Secretary to post monthly updates on the website.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4682
Sponsor: Rep. Castle, Michael N. [R-DE-At Large]
Introduced: 2004-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cytology
Department of Health and Human Services
Donation of organs, tissues, etc.
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to research
Genetic research
Genetics
Government Operations and Politics
Human embryology
In vitro fertilization
Informed consent (Medical law)
Law
Medical ethics
Medical research
Research grants
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: 
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells if: (1) the stem cells were derived from human embryos donated from in vitro fertilization clinics for the purpose of fertility treatment and were in excess of the needs of the individuals seeking such treatment; (2) the embryos will never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded; and (3) such individuals donate the embryos with written informed consent and receive no financial or other inducements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
Neighbors in Need Act

Bill: 108-hr-4684
Sponsor: Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3]
Introduced: 2004-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Income tax
Interest
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Labor statistics
State finance
Tax administration
Tax exclusion
Tax returns
Taxation
Unemployment
Unemployment insurance
Withholding tax

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: 
Neighbors in Need Act - Amends the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUCA) to provide a program extension for States experiencing high unemployment.
 
Amends the Social Security Act to require: (1) increases and decreases in the earnings credited to State accounts when States meet or fail to meet funding goals; and (2) restriction of interest-free advances to State accounts in the Unemployment Trust Fund to States which meet funding goals.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) suspend the tax on individual unemployment compensation for 2004 and 2005; (2) allow certified States to elect to collect Federal unemployment taxes under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA); and (3) require States to distribute to unemployed individuals State-specific information packets explaining unemployment insurance eligibility conditions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4685
Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2004-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative procedure
Birds
Cost effectiveness
Department of the Interior
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic data interchange
Electronic government information
Federal-state relations
Fees
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Hunting
Identification devices
Law
Licenses
Migratory bird conservation
Science, Technology, Communications
Sports and Recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: 
Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2004 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a three-year pilot program under which up to 15 States authorized by the Secretary may issue electronic migratory bird hunting and conservation stamps. 
 
Requires implementation of the program no later than one year after the beginning of the first full Federal migratory waterfowl hunting seasons after enactment of this Act and continuation of the program for three such seasons.
 
Prohibits a State's participation in the program absent the Secretary's approval of an application providing details of the State's electronic stamp process. 
 
Requires the Secretary to publish: (1) deadlines for the submission of State applications; (2) eligibility requirements for program participation; and (3) criteria for selecting States for the program.
 
Directs the Secretary to require participating States to: (1) provide an actual (paper) stamp to each individual to whom the State sells an electronic stamp by the date on which the electronic stamp expires; and (2) collect and transmit to the Secretary electronic stamp revenue and customer information.
 
Authorizes participating States to charge a reasonable fee to cover program costs.
 
Sets forth requirements for electronic stamps.
 
Authorizes termination of a State's participation in the program by the Secretary, upon written notice, for violations of the terms of an approved application or by the State.
 
Requires the Secretary to evaluate and report on the pilot program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-30
text: Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
action_date: 2004-06-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-24
text: Introduced in House