hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Veterans' Prescription Drug Reform Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1112
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Armed Forces and National Security
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Drugs
Pharmacies
Physicians
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: 
Veterans' Prescription Drug Reform Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to allow pharmacies of the Department of Veterans Affairs to dispose medications pursuant to a valid prescription written by a private practicioner to any veteran who is on a waiting list for a first appointment with the Department for medical services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S6994-6995)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6994)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Improved Access to Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1113
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Coinsurance
Finance and Financial Sector
Imaging systems in medicine
Medical economics
Medical tests
Medicare
Osteoporosis
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Women
X-rays

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Improved Access to Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate cost-sharing under Medicare for bone mass measurements, thus making the Federal payment 100 percent.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Kidney Disease Educational Benefits Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1114
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Health education
Kidney diseases
Medical fees
Medical personnel
Medicare
Nurses
Physicians
Social Welfare
Social work

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Kidney Disease Educational Benefits Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide coverage for kidney disease education services furnished upon the managing physician's referral to an individual with kidney disease who will require dialysis or a kidney transplant. Requires such services to impart comprehensive information regarding management, prevention, and options for treatment of kidney disease, and to ensure that such individuals have the opportunity to participate actively in the choice of therapy.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1115
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Armed Forces and National Security
Asbestos
Cancer
Ceramics
Child health
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer education
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental health
Environmental research
Environmental technology
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to health facilities
Federal aid to research
Fibers
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Hazardous wastes
Health
Health education
Health information systems
Housing and Community Development
Imports
Labor and Employment
Law
Lung cancer
Lung diseases
Manufacturing industries
Medical research
Medical screening
Medical tests
Minerals
Occupational health and safety
Pain
Preventive medicine
Product safety
Refuse and refuse disposal
Research centers
Research grants
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Thermal insulation
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: 
Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2003 - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to: (1) study and describe the current state of science concerning the human health effects of exposure to asbestos and other durable fibers; and (2) make recommendations for uniform systems for asbestos exposure standards and protocols for detecting and measuring asbestos. 
 
Directs the Administrator to establish an Asbestos Policies Panel to study asbestos and other durable fibers.
 
Directs the Administrator to study the status of the manufacture, processing, distribution, ownership, importation, and disposal of asbestos-containing products and contaminant-asbestos products.
 
Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations within one year which prohibit the manufacturing, processing, or distributing of asbestos-containing products, subject to limited exemption upon petition.
 
Requires the disposal of asbestos-containing products within three years, except as specified.
 
Requires the Administrator to establish a public awareness program concerning the dangers posed by these products and vermiculite insulation.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand research programs on diseases caused by asbestos exposure, particularly mesothelioma, asbestosis, and pleural injuries.
 
Establishes and funds mesothelioma disease research and treatment centers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S6997-6999)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6995-6997)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Great Lakes Water Quality Indicators and Monitoring Act

Bill: 108-s-1116
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Authorization
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Ecological research
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental monitoring
Federal aid to research
Federal aid to water pollution control
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Great Lakes
Information networks
Pollution measurement
Science, Technology, Communications
Water pollution control
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Great Lakes Water Quality Indicators and Monitoring Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to direct the Great Lakes National Program Office of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and implement a set of science-based indicators of water quality and related environmental factors in the Great Lakes, including accumulated toxic pollutants.
Requires continued monitoring and data collection to help identify emerging problems.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7000)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6999-7000)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Settlement Encouragement and Fairness Act

Bill: 108-s-1117
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Congress
Government Operations and Politics
Legal fees
Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Settlement Encouragement and Fairness Act - Defines "prevailing party" for any Act of Congress, any agency ruling, regulation, or interpretation, or any judicial or administrative rule that provides for the recovery of attorney's fees, to include, in addition to a party who substantially prevails through a judicial or administrative judgement or order or an enforceable written agreement, a party whose pursuit of a non-frivolous claim or defense was a catalyst for a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the opposing party that provides any significant part of the relief sought.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7000-7001)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1118
Sponsor: Sen. Jeffords, James M. [I-VT]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Canada
Commemorations
Commerce
Cultural property
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Historic sites
History
International Affairs
International cooperation
Lakes
New York State
Outdoor recreation
Sports and Recreation
Tourism
Transportation and Public Works
Vermont
Water Resources Development
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Act of 2003 - Establishes the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership within the States of Vermont and New York.
Directs the Partnership's management entity, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, to develop a management plan for the Partnership (for the Secretary of Interior's approval) that includes: (1) recommendations for funding, managing, and developing the Partnership; (2) a description of activities to be carried out by public and private organizations to protect the Partnership's resources; (3) an assessment of the organizational capacity of the Program to achieve the goals for implementation; and (4) recommendations for collaboration with Canada and the Province of Quebec in implementing this Act.
Authorizes the Program to enter into partnerships with, and make grants to, various public and private entities to carry out this Act. Allows the Secretary to provide assistance to carry out this Act.
Prohibits the Program from using Federal funds made available by this Act to acquire real property or any interest in real property.
Prohibits Federal assistance under this Act after 15 years after its enactment.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7001-7002)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7001)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify the eligibility of certain expenses for the low-income housing credit.

Bill: 108-s-1119
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Commerce
Construction costs
Fees
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Low-income housing
Professional fees
Real estate development
Social Welfare
Tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include associated development costs in the basis of any building which is part of a low-income housing project when calculating the low-income housing credit.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7004)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7003-7004)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms Reorganization Act

Bill: 108-s-1120
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Agriculture in foreign trade
Commerce
Department of Commerce
Economics and Public Finance
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
International competitiveness
Small business
Trade adjustment assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: 
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms Reorganization Act - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish in the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce an Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance to assist the Secretary of Commerce in carry out his or her responsibilities with respect to the provision of trade adjustment assistance to firms that have been adversely affected by import competition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7004)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7004)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Tribal Transportation Program Improvement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1122
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Authorization
Bicycles
Bridges
Department of Transportation
Drug abuse
Drunk driving
Economics and Public Finance
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to transportation
Government Operations and Politics
Highway maintenance
Highway planning
Housing and Community Development
Indian economic development
Indian lands
Infrastructure
Law
Minorities
Pedestrians
Railroad safety
Right-of-way
Road construction
Roads and highways
Rural economic development
Scenic byways
Seat belts
Traffic accidents and safety
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation safety

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Tribal Transportation Program Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to authorize appropriations for Indian reservation roads under the Federal Lands Highways Program through FY 2009. 
Requires the Secretary to establish a Federal lands highway program demonstration project for Indian reservation roads and highway bridges located on Indian reservations. 
Declares that an Indian tribe or tribal organization eligible to participate in an Indian reservation road program shall be eligible to receive advance construction funds for for projects on the program system. 
Prohibits the deduction from any funds available for tribal transportation purposes of any related Bureau of Indian Affairs administrative expenses. 
Establishes in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Governmental Affairs. 
Requires the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Joint Indian Reservation Roads Coordinating Committee. 
Requires that a tribal scenic byways component be carried out within the national scenic byways program. 
Requires the Secretary to carry out a program to provide to eligible Indian tribes competitive grants for use in establishing tribal transportation safety programs. 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue grants to Indian tribes to establish rural transit programs on reservations or other land under tribal jurisdiction.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 108-122.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1124
Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Cost of living adjustments
Veterans' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2003 - Increases the authorized allowance for burial and funeral expenses for deceased veterans who: (1) at the time of death were in receipt of veterans' disability compensation or veterans' pension benefits; or (2) were veterans of any war or were discharged or released from active military service for a service-connected disability and for whom there is no next of kin or sufficient resources to cover funeral and burial costs.
Increases the burial plot allowance for veterans who, at the time of death, were receiving hospital or nursing home care in or through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Authorizes the annual adjustment of such allowances based on increases in the Consumer Price Index.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7010-7011)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7010)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Native American Small Business Development Act

Bill: 108-s-1126
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Alaska
Business education
Capital
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Contracts
Cost accounting
Counseling
Department of the Interior
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Entrepreneurs
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to Indians
Federal officials
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial statements
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign trade promotion
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
Government paperwork
Government procurement
Government publicity
Hawaiians
Housing and Community Development
Indian economic development
Indian lands
Indigenous peoples
Job creation
Labor and Employment
Law
Marketing
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
Minority employment
Native Americans
Nonprofit organizations
Profit
Science, Technology, Communications
Small Business Administration
Small business
Social Welfare
State government-Indian relations
Teaching materials

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Native American Small Business Development Act - Amends the Small Business Act to establish within the Small Business Administration (SBA) the Office of Native American Affairs, headed by an Assistant Administrator, to implement SBA programs for the development of business enterprises by Native Americans (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians). Requires the Office to assist Native American entrepreneurs to: (1) start, operate, and grow small businesses; (2) develop management and technical skills; (3) seek Federal procurement opportunities; (4) increase Native American employment opportunities; and (5) increase Native American access to capital markets.
Requires the SBA to provide financial assistance to tribal governments, tribal colleges, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Alaska Native corporations to create Native American business centers. Requires each business center to conduct five-year projects for business education aid to such entities. Requires each assistance applicant to submit a five-year plan on proposed assistance and training activities.
Establishes a four-year pilot program under which the SBA is authorized to award Native American development grants to provide culturally-tailored business development training and related services to Native Americans and Native American small businesses.
Establishes a four-year pilot program under which the SBA shall award at least three American Indian Tribal Assistance Center grants to establish joint projects to provide culturally-tailored business development assistance to prospective and current owners of small businesses on or near tribal lands.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7012-7015)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7011-7012)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair and Impartial Rights (FAIR) for Medicare Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1127
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law judges
Administrative remedies
Department of Health and Human Services
Law
Medicare
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Fair And Impartial Rights (FAIR) for Medicare Act of 2003 - Places within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) any administrative law judge (ALJ) performing functions in the Medicare appeals process. Directs the Secretary of HHS to ensure the independence of such ALJ's according to specified criteria. Requires that they be placed in an administrative office organizationally and functionally separate from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Prohibits any individual who is not a duly appointed ALJ from performing ALJ functions in the Medicare appeals process.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7017)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7016-7017)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Involuntary Bankruptcy Improvement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1128
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy courts
Commerce
Consumer credit
Court records
Debtor and creditor
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Law

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Involuntary Bankruptcy Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends Federal bankruptcy law to direct the court, upon motion of an individual debtor, to: (1) dismiss an involuntary bankruptcy petition that contains a materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement; and (2) expunge from court records all records and references pertaining to such petition. 
Authorizes the court, following such dismissal, to enter an order prohibiting all consumer reporting agencies from making any consumer report containing information regarding either the petition itself, or the case commenced by the filing of such petition.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7019)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7018-7019)
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate