hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Buy American Improvement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1480
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2003-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Buy American
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Electronic government information
Export controls
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign corporations
Government contractors
Government procurement
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Internet
Manufacturing industries
Science, Technology, Communications
Subcontractors
Technology transfer
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: 
Buy American Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Buy American Act to: (1) prohibit Federal agencies from making a determination that it would not be in the public interest to enter into a contract subject to Buy American requirements after a procurement notice for such contract is published; and (2) provide that Buy American requirements shall apply without regard to whether products are acquired for use outside the United States if they are not needed on an urgent basis or if they are acquired on a regular basis (but requires an analysis of the difference in costs of such products from manufacturers inside and outside the United States before a contract is entered).
 
Requires Federal agencies to: (1) give preference in the procurement process to a company that manufactures the solicited product in the United States if such company's bid is substantially the same as a bid made by a non-U.S. manufacturer or such company is the only company that manufactures the product in the United States; and (2) report annually on agency acquisitions from entities that manufacture products outside the United States. 
 
 Prohibits an agency head from making any determination that articles to be procured are not available from domestic sources without conducting a study that determine that domestic production cannot be initiated to meet procurement needs and that a comparable product is not available from a company in the United States.
 
Defines a product as made &quot;substantially all&quot; from domestic components when the cost of such components exceeds 75 percent. 
 
Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress with recommendations for defining &quot;unreasonable cost&quot; and &quot;inconsistent with the public interest&quot; for purposes of applying waivers of Buy American requirements. 
 
Prohibits an agency from entering a contract with a foreign entity that involves giving such entity information that would facilitate the manufacture of a dual-use item on the Commerce Control List unless approval has been obtained in accordance with the Export Administration Act of 1979. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9119-9120)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10143-10144)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10142-10143)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Congressional Responsibility for Immigration Act

Bill: 108-s-1481
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2003-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Admission of nonimmigrants
Aliens
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Law

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: 
Congressional Responsibility for Immigration Act - Makes trade authorities procedures of the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 and the Trade Act of 1974 inapplicable to any bill implementing a trade agreement between the United States and any other country if the bill contains any provision relating to U.S. immigration laws or the entry of aliens. Requires the Senate, upon an appropriate point of order, to cease consideration of an implementing bill that violates such requirement. Provides Senate procedures for waivers and appeals of such a point of order.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10144-10145)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10144)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the reduction in the deductible portion of expenses for business meals and entertainment.

Bill: 108-s-1482
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2003-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Corporation taxes
Costs
Expense accounts
Income tax
Recreation
Sports and Recreation
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the 50 percent income tax deduction for business meal and entertainment expenses and replace it with an increasing percentage from 68 percent in calendar 2001 up to 80 percent in calendar 2003 and thereafter.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10145)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10145)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Citizens' Protection in Federal Databases Act

Bill: 108-s-1484
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2003-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Data banks
Electronic government information
Government Operations and Politics
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: 
Citizens' Protection in Federal Databases Act - Directs the Attorney General, the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Treasury, and the Directors of Central Intelligence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to submit to specified congressional committees and make available to the public a written report detailing any use by the agency, or by any national security, intelligence, or law enforcement element under that agency's jurisdiction, of databases that were obtained from or remain under the control of a nonfederal entity, or that contain information that was acquired initially by another Federal agency for purposes other than national security, intelligence, or law enforcement. Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds by those agencies on the procurement of or access to any commercially available database unless that report has been submitted within 60 days.
 
Sets forth report requirements, including information on contracts entered into for the use of, access to, or analysis of databases that were obtained from a nonfederal entity for specified purposes..
 
Prohibits any Government entity, officer, or employee from conducting a search or other analysis of a database for national security, intelligence, or law enforcement purposes based solely on a hypothetical scenario or supposition of who may commit a crime or pose a threat to national security.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10150-10151)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10149-10150)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Overtime Compensation Protection Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1485
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2003-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Labor
Employee rights
Government Operations and Politics
Hours of labor
Law
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: 
Overtime Compensation Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from promulgating any regulation that has the effect of exempting from FLSA overtime compensation requirements (which limit maximum hours at regular compensation) any employee who is not otherwise exempted under regulations in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. Provides that such prohibition does not bar the Secretary from reducing the number of employees who are exempt from such overtime compensation requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to award the Combat Medical Badge or another combat badge for Army helicopter medical evacuation ambulance (Medevac) pilots and crews.

Bill: 108-s-1487
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2003-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Ambulances
Commemorations
Health
Helicopters
Military medals, decorations, etc.
Military medicine
Military personnel

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Army to award the Combat Medical Badge, or establish and award a badge to be known as the Combat Medevac Badge, for Army helicopter medical evacuation ambulance (Medevac) pilots and crews. Makes qualifying service effective beginning June 25, 1950.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10152)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10152)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Native American Entrepreneurs Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1488
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2003-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Commerce
Economics and Public Finance
Entrepreneurs
Federal aid to Indians
Housing and Community Development
Indian economic development
Labor and Employment
Minorities
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: 
Native American Entrepreneurs Act of 2003 - Amends the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, through the Office of Native American Affairs, to establish a Native American entrepreneurs program to provide grants to qualified organizations to provide training and technical assistance to disadvantaged Native American entrepreneurs who are seeking to start their own small business.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10153)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Bob Hope Arlington Honors Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1489
Sponsor: Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [R-CO]
Introduced: 2003-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces abroad
Arts, Culture, Religion
California
Cemeteries and funerals
Entertainers
Motion pictures
Radio
Science, Technology, Communications
Television

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: 
Bob Hope Arlington Honors Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Army to permit the burial of Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope of California, an honorary veteran of the armed forces, in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, upon the request of his family.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10267)
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Tobacco Market Transition Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1490
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2003-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural production
Agricultural subsidies
Farm production quotas
Tobacco

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: 
Tobacco Market Transition Act of 2003 - Amends, and repeals, specified agricultural Acts to eliminate tobacco quota and price support programs, including no net cost provisions.
 
Adds a new subtitle, Subtitle E: Tobacco Assistance, to title III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 which requires the Secretary of Agriculture to make transition payments to each tobacco quota holder (generally, an owner of a farm, as of July 1, 2002, for which a basic tobacco marketing or farm acreage allotment for quota tobacco was established for the 2002 tobacco marketing year under a marketing quota program).
 
Requires the Secretary to make direct payments to a traditional producer of tobacco (a person that, for at least one of the 2000, 2001, or 2002 tobacco marketing years, was actively engaged in the production of tobacco marketed, or considered planted, under a marketing quota and shared in the risk of producing the tobacco).
 
Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) a permanent advisory board, the Tobacco Quality Board; (2) a permanent advisory board for each kind of tobacco, a Production Board; and (3) an acreage limitation program for each crop of each kind of tobacco.
 
Directs the Secretary, during any consecutive 4-week period of a marketing year in which the world price for the crop of a kind of tobacco exceeds the average domestic price for such tobacco, to make market stability payments available to active producers of such tobacco.
 
Directs the Secretary to make grants: (1) to eligible States for the Federal share of carrying out economic development initiatives in impacted counties (counties in which tobacco producers have sustained a reduction in gross receipts from the sale of tobacco for a base period); and (2) to colleges and universities in eligible States to conduct research to assist tobacco producers to diversify so as to reduce or eliminate reliance on tobacco production (or to promote alternative uses of tobacco or enhance the quality of tobacco produced), and to foster development of economically viable new agricultural technologies and enterprises for rural communities.
 
Establishes in the Commodity Credit Corporation a revolving trust fund to carry out this subtitle. Deposits into the Fund an annual assessment (imposed by this Act) on each tobacco product manufacturer and tobacco product importer that sells tobacco products in domestic U.S. commerce.
 
Sets forth tobacco stocks and no net cost transition provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-02
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 264.
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Workforce Health Improvement Program Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1491
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2003-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Employee health benefits
Fees
Fringe benefits
Health
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Physical education and training
Sports and Recreation
Sports facilities
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Workforce Health Improvement Program Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend nontaxable fringe benefit coverage to qualifying off-premises fitness or athletic club services provided by an employer. Permits an employer deduction for such club dues.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10268)
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Tax Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1493
Sponsor: Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA]
Introduced: 2003-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Sales tax
State taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Fair Tax Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal subtitle A (Income Taxes), B (Estate and Gift Taxes), and C (Employment Taxes) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Imposes a tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services. Sets the tax rate at 23 percent for the calendar year 2005. Sets the rate, for years after 2005, at the combined sum of the general revenue rate (14.91 percent), the old-age survivors and disability rate, and the hospital insurance rate.
Sets forth provisions concerning, among other things; (1) imports and exports; (2) definitions; (3) credits and refunds; (4) a "family consumption allowance"; (5) Federal and State cooperative tax administration; (6) administrative matters; (7) collections, appeals, and taxpayer rights; (8) special rules (hobbies, gaming, government purchases, non-profits, and etc.); (9) financial intermediation services; and (10) additional matters.
Sets forth provisions concerning the: (1) phase-out of administration of repealed taxes; (2) administration of other taxes (establishes an Excise Tax Bureau and a Sales Tax Bureau); and (3) sales tax inclusive social security benefits indexation.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10269)
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the special 5-year carryback of certain net operating losses to losses for 2003, 2004,  and 2005.

Bill: 108-s-1494
Sponsor: Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY]
Introduced: 2003-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Income tax
Losses
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the five-year carryback of certain net operating losses to 2003, 2004, and 2005 losses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10269)
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit the consolidation of life insurance companies with other companies.

Bill: 108-s-1495
Sponsor: Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY]
Introduced: 2003-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Antitrust law
Commerce
Competition
Life insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include life insurance companies as an "includible corporation" for purposes of filing consolidated tax returns.
Permits an affiliated group which includes at least one domestic insurance company that elects to file a consolidated return rather than pay tax under certain life insurance provisions to use a phased-in percentage of insurance company net operating loss in determining its own taxable income. (Permits unused loss carryover.) 
Provides for: (1) subsidiary stock basis adjustment; and (2) waiver of the five-year reconsolidation waiting period for certain formerly includible corporations which became nonincludible as a result of becoming a subsidiary of a nonincludible life insurance company.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10269-10270)
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1496
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2003-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Cancer
Communication in medicine
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Health and Human Services
Directories
Economics and Public Finance
Epidemiology
Executive reorganization
Families
Federal aid to health facilities
Federal aid to research
Government Operations and Politics
Health education
Health planning
Health surveys
Medical research
Medical tests
Minorities
Minority health
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Preventive medicine
Quality of care
Research grants
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: 
Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to include demonstration, education, and other programs concerning cancer survivorship among the activities of the National Cancer Institute (Institute) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 
 
Requires the Director of NIH, acting through the Director of the Institute, to: (1) expand and coordinate NIH activities related to cancer survivorship; and (2) establish an Office on Survivorship within the Institute. Creates the position of Associate Director for Survivorship.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, to study the health challenges associated with cancer survivorship and carry out projects and interventions. Requires the Secretary to make grants for the monitoring and evaluation of cancer care and survivorship.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10270-10271)
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10270)
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Our Democracy, Our Airwaves Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1497
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2003-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Campaign funds
Checkoff
Congress
Congressional elections
Democratic Party
Government Operations and Politics
Law
License agreements
Political parties
Politicians
Presidential elections
Press and politics
Radio in politics
Republican Party
Tax returns
Taxation
Television in politics

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: 
Our Democracy, Our Airwaves Act of 2003 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the lowest unit charge for radio or television broadcast time to a national committee of a political party acting on behalf of a candidate for public office. Prohibits a licensee of a broadcasting station, except under circumstances beyond its control, from preempting the use of such station by an eligible candidate or political committee who has paid for such use. Requires audits of stations to ensure the provision of broadcasting advertising time for political candidates. Provides minimum time requirements for candidate- or issue-centered broadcasts by stations.
 
Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish and administer a voucher program for the purchase of airtime for political advertisements on radio and television broadcast stations by eligible candidates and political party committees as certified by the FCC. Provides maximum voucher amounts for both candidates and political committees. Allows such vouchers to be used exclusively for the purchase of airtime; but allows the transfer of vouchers between a political party and a candidate and vice versa. Requires the FCC to redeem all vouchers accepted by such stations. Provides for voucher expiration. Directs the FCC to establish the Political Advertising Voucher Account and to collect and deposit into it an annual spectrum use fee based on a percentage of a station's gross revenues. Directs the FCC to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a standardized form for use by broadcasting stations to record and report the purchase of advertising time by or on behalf of a candidate for nomination for election, or for election, to Federal elective office.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10272-10275)
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10272)
action_date: 2003-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate