hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Defense Production Act Reauthorization of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1738
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2003-10-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Authorization
Business records
Civil-military relations
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Defense budgets
Defense contracts
Defense industries
Defense procurement
Department of Defense
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Governmental investigations
Health
Industrial capacity
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
International Affairs
International competitiveness
Military electronics
Minority business enterprises
Nuclear warfare
Presidential powers
Public health
Radiation
Science, Technology, Communications
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-15
text: Defense Production Act Reauthorization of 2003 - Amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to extend its expiration date and authorization of appropriations through FY 2004. 
Authorizes the President, under such Act, to: (1) correct the industrial shortfall for radiation-hardened electronics to the extent that such action does not cause the aggregate outstanding amount of all such actions to exceed $200 million; and (2) obtain information in order to perform industry studies assessing capabilities of the U.S. industrial base to support the national defense. 
Defines &quot;critical infrastructure.&quot; 
Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the House Financial Services Committee on the extent to which contracts entered into under such Act during the one-year period after the enactment of this Act have been contracts with minority- and women-owned businesses. 
States as the policy of Congress that the President shall designate the Secretary of Commerce to lead an interagency team to: (1) negotiate with foreign nations the elimination of offset arrangements, industrial participation, or similar arrangements in defense procurement; (2) make recommendations for modifications of memoranda of understanding with respect to such arrangements, pending their termination; and (3) notify the United States Trade Representative if a foreign country pursues a policy of offset or similar arrangements in connection with the purchase of defense equipment or supplies.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S12621-12622)
action_date: 2003-10-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Trade in Pouch Tuna Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1739
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2003-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Brunei
Cambodia
East Asia
Free trade
Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Tariff
Thailand
Tuna
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: 
Fair Trade in Pouch Tuna Act of 2003 - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to eliminate tariffs on pouch tuna imported from member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), excluding the Union of Myanmar, up to the quantity of such duty-free imports from beneficiary nations of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Anthrax Victims Fund Fairness Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1740
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2003-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Anthrax
Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Claims
Compensation (Law)
Compensation for victims of crime
EBB Terrorism
International Affairs
Law
September 11, 2001
Terrorism
Victims of terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: 
Anthrax Victims Fund Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 to provide compensation for victims of a terrorist-related laboratory-confirmed anthrax infection in the United States during the period beginning on September 13, 2001, through November 30, 2001, on the same basis as compensation is provided to victims of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes on September 11, 2001.
 
States that a claimant under this Act waives the right to file a civil action in any Federal or State court for damages sustained in the incident, except against a knowing participant in any conspiracy to commit any terrorist act. Exempts from such waiver any civil action to recover a collateral source obligation based on contract.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 10/17/2003 S12739-12741)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Higher Education Loan Plan Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1742
Sponsor: Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [R-CO]
Introduced: 2003-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to education
Federally-assisted loans
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government lending
Higher education
Interest
Student loan funds

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: 
Higher Education Loan Plan Act of 2003 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for variable interest rates on student (Stafford) loans, consolidation loans (which currently have fixed rates), and parent (PLUS) loans.
 
Revises formulas for determining such variable interest rates for student loans, consolidation, loans, and parent loans based on the bond equivalent rate for 91-day Treasury bills and specified additional percentages. 
 
Caps at specified levels interest rates for new loans during an interim period from October 1, 1998, up to the enactment of this Act. Caps the interest rates for new loans on or after such enactment date for: (1) student loans and consolidation loans at 7.75 percent; and (2) parent loans at 8.5 percent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR 10/17/2003 S12741-12742)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 10/17/2003 S12741)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Prisoner of War/Missing in Action National Memorial Act

Bill: 108-s-1745
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2003-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: California
Cemeteries and funerals
Commemorations
Missing in action
Monuments and memorials
Prisoners of war
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Prisoner of War/Missing in Action National Memorial Act - Designates the memorial to former prisoners of war and members of the armed forces missing in action that is under construction at Riverside National Cemetery, California, as the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action National Memorial.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-22
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 10/17/2003 S12744-12745)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 339 Hicksville Road in Bethpage, New York, as the "Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building".

Bill: 108-s-1746
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2003-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Congress
Congressional tributes
Fire fighters
Government Operations and Politics
New York City
New York State
Postal facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Designates the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 339 Hicksville Road in Bethpage, New York, as the Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building.
action_date: 2003-10-27
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Designates the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 339 Hicksville Road in Bethpage, New York, as the Brian C. Hickey Post Office Building. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-18
text: Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration:  CR S15090)
action_date: 2003-10-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 328.
action_date: 2003-10-27
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Collins without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2003-10-27
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Collins without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2003-10-22
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the regulation of all contact lenses as medical devices, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-s-1747
Sponsor: Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH]
Introduced: 2003-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Commerce
Contact lenses
Medical supplies
Product safety

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: 
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to regulate all contact lenses as medical devices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR 10/17/2003 S12745)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 10/17/2003 S12745)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Presidential Sites Improvement Act

Bill: 108-s-1748
Sponsor: Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH]
Introduced: 2003-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Architecture and the disabled
Building construction
Commemorations
Construction costs
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Federal advisory bodies
Grants-in-aid
Historic sites
History
Maintenance and repair
Presidential residences
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: 
Presidential Sites Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to award grants to owners or operators of Presidential sites for major maintenance and improvement projects. Defines &quot;Presidential site&quot; as a site related to a President of the United States that has national significance, is open to the public, and is owned or operated by a State or private institution, organization, or person. 
 
Establishes the Presidential Site Grant Commission to review applications for grants and to make recommendations for the awarding of grants under this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 108-600.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR 10/17/2003 S12746)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 10/17/2003 S12745-12746)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Prevent Identity Theft From Affecting Lives and Livelihoods (PITFALL) Act

Bill: 108-s-1749
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2003-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Bank accounts
Civil actions and liability
Collection of accounts
Commerce
Consumer credit
Consumer protection
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Damages
Debtor and creditor
Electronic funds transfers
Fees
Financial institutions
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Identity theft
Injunctions
Law
Legal fees
Liability (Law)
Liens
Parties to actions
Police records
Science, Technology, Communications
State courts
Victims of crimes

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: 
 Prevent Identity Theft From Affecting Lives and Livelihoods (PITFALL) Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to provide nonliability for victims of identity theft following issuance of a no-fault letter by a State agency upon completion of its investigation into the matter. 
 
Cites duties of a creditor with respect to other creditors and credit reporting agencies following receipt of such State-issued no-fault letter.
 

 
Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit a consumer reporting agency from including or maintaining information concerning any transaction involved in the identity theft with respect to which such no-fault letter has been issued. 
 
Cites duties of a consumer reporting agency with respect to other creditors and credit reporting agencies following receipt of such State-issued no-fault letter. 
 
Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to set forth the duties of a debt collector following receipt of such a State-issued no-fault letter.
 
Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to shield a person from liability for any electronic fund transfer with respect to which such no-fault letter has been issued. 
 
Cites duties of a financial institution following receipt of such State-issued no-fault letter.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 10/17/2003 S12746-12747)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Better Eating for Better Living Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1750
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2003-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Child nutrition
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Families
School lunch program
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: 
Better Eating for Better Living Act of 2003 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to revise school lunch programs with respect to reimbursement rates, nutrition guidelines, milk guidelines, and funds for nutrition education and training.
 
Amends NLSA to increase the reimbursement rate for school lunches by ten cents per meal (from 10.5 to 20.5). 
 
 Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to evaluate nutrition guidelines for school meals, and issue any necessary revised guidelines, every five years.
 
 Revises milk guidelines. Requires schools, at a minimum, to offer students a choice of low fat or nonfat fluid milk. Allows schools, in addition, to offer any other varieties of fluid milk that are: (1) consistent with expressed preferences of the student population; and (2) reasonably equivalent in calcium, protein, vitamin A, and vitamin K content and cost.
 
Amends CNA to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Secretary specified amounts of funds for implementing and administering nutrition education and training programs. Requires grants to each State from such amounts to be: (1) based on a rate of 1/2 cent per average daily number of meals served; and (2) allocated among State, district, and school food service and health education authorities, as determined by the Secretary. Sets a minimum grant amount.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR 10/17/2003 S12747-12748)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 10/17/2003 S12747)
action_date: 2003-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area Act

Bill: 108-s-1752
Sponsor: Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA]
Introduced: 2003-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Commemorations
Conservation of natural resources
Cultural property
Environmental Protection
Georgia
Historic sites
History
Land use
Mountains
Natural areas
Nature conservation
Outdoor recreation
Sports and Recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area in Georgia. Designates the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance as the Area's management entity. Requires the Alliance to develop a management plan for the Heritage Area and to implement that plan following approval by the Secretary of the Interior.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Farm-to-Cafeteria Projects Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1755
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2003-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural education
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Family farms
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Grants-in-aid
School lunch program
Social Welfare
State finance
WIC program

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: 
Farm-To-Cafeteria Projects Act of 2003 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to make competitive grants to private nonprofit entities and educational institutions to establish and carry out Farm-to-Cafeteria projects to improve access to local foods in schools and institutions receiving funds under NSLA and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) (except the special supplemental program for women, infants, and children (WIC), which already has a WIC Farmers Market Nutrition program). 
 
Requires the Secretary, in selecting such projects, to give preference to ones designed to: (1) procure local foods from small and medium-sized farms to provide foods for school meals; (2) support nutrition education activities or curriculum planning incorporating school children's participation in farm and agriculture education projects; and (3) develop a sustained commitment to farm-to-cafeteria projects in the community by linking schools, agricultural producers, parents, and other community stakeholders.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer a specified amount, at the beginning of each of FY 2003 through 2007, to the Secretary to carry out this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S12846)
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12845-12846)
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Stability and Fairness Act

Bill: 108-s-1756
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]
Introduced: 2003-10-17 in the Senate
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 trust funds
Insurance premiums
Interest
Labor and Employment
Labor contracts
Labor unions
Law
Managed care
Medical economics
Pension funds
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Retiree health benefits
Small business
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-17
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: 2003-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S12846-12849)
action_date: 2003-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Currency Harmonization Initiative through Neutralizing Action Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1758
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2003-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: China
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Countervailing duties
Currency devaluation
East Asia
Foreign exchange
Governmental investigations
Nontariff trade barriers
Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-20
text: 
Currency Harmonization Initiative through Neutralizing Action Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to annually analyze the exchange rate policies of the People's Republic of China, and to impose additional tariffs, if necessary, to equalize any currency manipulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8186-8188)
action_date: 2003-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-10-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12889)
action_date: 2003-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce the holding period to 12 months for purposes of determining whether horses are section 1231 assets.

Bill: 108-s-1759
Sponsor: Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY]
Introduced: 2003-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Animals
Capital gains tax
Commerce
Depreciation and amortization
Horses
Income tax
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-20
text: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce from 24 to 12 months the holding period used to determine whether horses are section 1231 (property used in the trade or business and involuntary conversions) assets.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate