hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To require the General Accounting Office to conduct an investigation of the high price of college textbooks.

Bill: 108-hr-3567
Sponsor: Rep. Wu, David [D-OR-1]
Introduced: 2003-11-20 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: College costs
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Higher education
Price discrimination
Price policy
Textbooks

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-20
text: 
Directs the Comptroller General to investigate and report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the cost of college textbooks in the United States; and (2) whether the same textbooks are being sold outside the United States at a substantially lower cost.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-01-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
action_date: 2003-11-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2003-11-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-20
text: Introduced in House
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act

Bill: 108-hr-3568
Sponsor: Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government trust funds
Job hunting
Labor statistics
Part-time employment
State laws
Unemployment
Unemployment insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act - Amends the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUCA) to: (1) extend the TEUC program; (2) provide for additional weeks of TEUC benefits; (3) revise unemployment rate triggers for TEUC benefit periods; and (4) provide for regular unemployment compensation for certain individuals based on part-time work or an alternative base period.
 
Extends the TEUC program through weeks of unemployment ending before July 1, 2004. Provides a phase-out period for individual payments up to weeks beginning after December 31, 2004.
 
Increases to 26 weeks an eligible individual's TEUC payments. Provides for an additional seven weeks of payments, for a total of 33 weeks, for individuals in high-unemployment States (TEUC-X). (Current law provides 13 weeks of regular TEUC payments, with an additional 13 and total 26 in TEUC-X States.)
 
Revises requirements for determining TEUC-X States, using certain triggers based on insured unemployment rates and on total unemployment rates.
 
Establishes a program of payments to States to provide regular unemployment compensation benefits for individuals who otherwise would be ineligible because: (1) the base period does not count wages earned in the most recently completed calendar quarter; or (2) the individuals seek or are available for less than full-time work. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
To prohibit the closure or realignment of inpatient services at the Aleda E. Lutz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Saginaw, Michigan, as proposed under the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services initiative.

Bill: 108-hr-3570
Sponsor: Rep. Kildee, Dale E. [D-MI-5]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Hospital care
Michigan
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from carrying out the closure or realignment of inpatient services at the Aleda E. Lutz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Saginaw, Michigan, as proposed under the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) initiative.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-01-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
San Juan Island National Historical Park Boundary Addition Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3571
Sponsor: Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Boundaries
Commemorations
Historic sites
History
Islands
Land transfers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
National parks
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
San Juan Island National Historical Park Boundary Addition Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the property known as Mitchell Hill in the State of Washington for the San Juan Island National Historic Park. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-08
text: Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
action_date: 2003-12-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3575
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Parole
Prison violence
Prisoners
Violence

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to direct the Bureau of Prisons, pursuant to a good time policy, to release a prisoner who has served one half or more of his or her term of imprisonment if that prisoner: (1) has attained age 45; (2) has never been convicted of a crime of violence; and (3) has not engaged in any violation, involving violent conduct, of institutional disciplinary regulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide a new subheading for certain log forwarders used as motor vehicles for the transport of goods for duty-free treatment consistent with other agricultural use log handling equipment.

Bill: 108-hr-3576
Sponsor: Rep. Nussle, Jim [R-IA-1]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Agricultural machinery
Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Logging
Lumber trade
Motor vehicles
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Tariff
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for duty-free treatment for certain log forwarders (as well as parts) with cranes, designed for off-highway use, which are used as motor vehicles for the transport of goods.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
Victims Tax Fairness Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3580
Sponsor: Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income
Income tax
Law
Legal fees
Tax deductions
Torts

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Victims Tax Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) include in gross income amounts awarded to or received by the taxpayer, whether by suit or agreement, on account of nonphysical personal injury which are designated for attorneys' fees and costs; and (2) allow a deduction for attorneys' fees and costs awarded to or paid by the taxpayer, whether by suit or agreement, on account of nonphysical personal injury.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
Small Business Bankruptcy Venue Relief Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3581
Sponsor: Rep. Baker, Richard H. [R-LA-6]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy courts
Civil procedure
Commerce
Debt
Debtor and creditor
Finance and Financial Sector
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Small Business Bankruptcy Venue Relief Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal judicial code to require a bankruptcy trustee to commence a proceeding against a small business concern only in the district in which the defendant resides if the proceeding is intended to avoid prohibited preferential transfers to or for the benefit of certain non-insider small business creditors for an antecedent non-consumer debt.
 
Defines small business as a commercial or business concern having fewer than 25 full-time employees as of the date on which the proceeding commenced.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
action_date: 2003-11-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2440)
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
Every Child is Created Equal Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3582
Sponsor: Rep. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI-2]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Compensatory education
Disabled
Discrimination against the disabled
Discrimination in education
Discrimination in employment
Economics and Public Finance
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Illiteracy
Labor and Employment
Minorities
Racial discrimination
Religion
Religious liberty
School districts
Secondary education
Sex discrimination
Special education
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Every Child is Created Equal Act of 2003 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require school improvement plans to include a statement that providers of supplemental educational services (SES), as recipients of Federal funds, are subject to certain ESEA civil rights provisions that prohibit discrimination. Requires SES providers, as recipients of Federal funds, to meet all applicable Federal, State, and local health, safety, and civil rights laws. 
 
Prohibits construing anything in ESEA provisions for SES as permitting discrimination based on religion with respect to employment or provision of services.
 
Requires SES providers to serve all eligible students, including students with disabilities and limited English proficient students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-01-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish an independent panel to assess the homeland security needs of the National Capital Region.

Bill: 108-hr-3583
Sponsor: Rep. Bartlett, Roscoe G. [R-MD-6]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
District of Columbia
EBB Terrorism
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Interstate highway system
Maryland
Metropolitan areas
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
Urban affairs
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish an independent panel to assess the homeland security needs of the National Capital Region. Requires the panel to: (1) determine whether the definition of National Capital Region used by the Department of Homeland Security should be modified to include additional areas, including jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia along Interstate Routes 270, 95, and 66; and (2) determine whether those jurisdictions should be taking actions to prepare for a terrorist attack in the Region, including the construction of necessary facilities, and if so, to make recommendations for appropriate funding. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security (Select).
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Stability and Fairness Act

Bill: 108-hr-3586
Sponsor: Rep. Cantor, Eric [R-VA-7]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Auditing
Authorization
Coal
Collective bargaining
Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Energy
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government trust funds
Insurance premiums
Interest
Labor and Employment
Labor contracts
Labor unions
Law
Liability (Law)
Managed care
Medical economics
Miners
Mining engineering
Pension funds
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Retiree health benefits
Small business
Surety and fidelity
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Stability and Fairness Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize appropriations from the U.S. Treasury to the Combined Fund to: (1) pay any benefit or administrative costs of unassigned beneficiaries of the Combined Fund remaining after the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund transfers; and (2) eliminate any annual deficit in any premium account of the Combined Fund as certified by the Trustees of the Combined Fund. Requires an annual audit of the Combined Fund by the Comptroller General. Provides for the appointment of two trustees by the Secretary of the Treasury to the board of the Fund. 
 
Makes other related revisions, including: (1) modifying premiums; (2) providing for refunds to certain operators; and (3) reductions in annual health benefit premiums to the Fund in the event of a surplus. 
Redefines a coal wage agreement as: (1) the 1988 agreement, meaning the collective bargaining agreement between the settlors which became effective on February 1, 1988; and (2) the coal wage agreement, meaning the 1988 agreement and any predecessor to the 1988 agreement.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to give priority in the issuance of immigrant visas to the sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans who are or were naturalized citizens of the United States, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-hr-3587
Sponsor: Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-2]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Asian American ethnic groups
East Asia
Families
Guerrilla warfare
History
Immigrants
Military dependents
Philippines
Visas
World War II

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to give family- or employment-based immigrant visa priority to the children, sons, or daughters of Filipino World War II veterans who were naturalized as U.S. citizens under the Immigration Act of 1990.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E447-448)
action_date: 2003-12-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.
action_date: 2003-11-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2413)
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3588
Sponsor: Del. Christensen, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Commerce
Community development
Community health services
Community organization
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Health and Human Services
Economics and Public Finance
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to health facilities
Federal-local relations
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Health planning
Housing and Community Development
Infrastructure
Minorities
Minority health
Public-private partnerships
Territories (U.S.)
Urban affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate a community as a health empowerment zone if a participating community partnership: (1) requests such designation; and (2) demonstrates that the community is a community of color experiencing disproportionate disparities in health status and health care.
 
 Directs the Secretary to make: (1) grants to community partnerships of private and public entities to establish health empowerment zone programs to assist individuals, businesses, schools, minority health associations, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, health care clinics, and foundations in a health empowerment zone that are seeking to improve the health or environment of minority individuals and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health status and health care; (2) at least one grant in a health empowerment zone in a U.S. territory or possession; and (3) establish a health empowerment zone coordinating committee for each zone.
 
Directs the Secretary, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide assistance for such programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2003-11-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E22403-2404)
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
Technology Education Incentive Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3590
Sponsor: Rep. Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [D-AL-5]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business and social problems
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Engineering
Governmental investigations
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Mathematics
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Teacher supply and demand
Teachers
Volunteer workers
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Technology Education Incentive Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a volunteer education services credit for qualified employee services. Defines such services as any service furnished by an employee of the taxpayer if: (1) the services are performed at a qualified K-12 school; (2) the services are related to science, mathematics, or engineering education at grades K-12 at a qualified K-12 school; (3) the employee receives no additional compensation for performing such services and the employer receives no compensation for such services; and (4) the services are determined by the qualified K-12 school to be valuable to the school in providing education in grades K-12 in the areas of science, mathematics, or engineering.
 
Requires a study concerning such credit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
Pharmacy Education Aid Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3591
Sponsor: Rep. Cubin, Barbara [R-WY-At Large]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Armed Forces and National Security
College teachers
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost effectiveness
Crime and Law Enforcement
Demography
Drug therapy
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Federal aid to education
Finance and Financial Sector
Higher education
Hospitals
Income tax
Indian medical care
Labor and Employment
Loan defaults
Medicaid
Medical education
Medical residents
Medically uninsured
Military hospitals
Military medicine
Minorities
Pharmacists
Prisons
Recruiting of employees
Scholarships
Social Welfare
Student loan funds
Taxation
Teacher education
Teacher supply and demand
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Pharmacy Education Aid Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to permit payments of up to $35,000 on behalf of a qualifying individual with a pharmacy degree for the repayment of pharmacy education loans for each year (two-year minimum) that such person serves in a health care facility with a critical shortage of pharmacists. Provides for: (1) additional tax liability payments; (2) financial need preference; and (3) Federal repayment for recipient breach of agreement unless otherwise waived. 
 
Directs the Secretary to make payments of up to $35,000 on behalf of a qualifying individual with a pharmacy degree or in the final year of such study for the repayment of pharmacy educational loans for each year (two-year minimum) that such person serves as a faculty member at a school of pharmacy which provides assistance to: (1) medically underserved areas; (2) prisons; (3) veterans or the armed forces; (4) the Indian Health Service; or (5) a disproportionate share hospital under the Social Security Act .


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2003-11-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2418-2419)
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to condition receipt of funds under part A of title V of such Act by a State on the State requiring successful completion of courses in American history and American government as a prerequisite to high school graduation, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-hr-3592
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Jim [D-FL-11]
Introduced: 2003-11-21 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Civics education
Economics and Public Finance
Elementary and secondary education
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
History
Secondary education

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require, as a condition of eligibility to receive funds for innovative programs under ESEA title V part A, a State educational agency or an outlying area to make courses in American history and American government a prerequisite for regular public secondary school graduation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-01-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Introduced in House