hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area Act

Bill: 108-s-1330
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2003-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Commemorations
Economics and Public Finance
Grants-in-aid
Historic sites
History
Mountains
Sports and Recreation
Trails

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: 
Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area Act - Establishes the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area in Alaska.
 
Requires: (1) the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Board of Directors of the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Corridor Communities Association; and (2) the Association to develop a management plan for the Heritage Area. Prohibits the Association from using funds appropriated to carry out this Act to acquire real property.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8566-8567)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8565-8566)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to clarify the treatment of tax attributes under section 108 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for taxpayers which file consolidated returns.

Bill: 108-s-1331
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2003-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Affiliated corporations
Commerce
Corporate debt
Corporation taxes
Income tax
Tax credits
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that if a taxpayer is a member of an affiliated group of corporations which files a consolidated return, the tax attributes concerning reduction of tax attributes and exclusion from gross income by reason of discharge of indebtedness shall be the aggregate tax attributes of such group.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8567)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8567)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Educational, Regulatory Reform, and Contracting Improvement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1332
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2003-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law judges
Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Collection of accounts
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Dental care
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug therapy
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government publicity
Hospital care
Hospital personnel
Hospital rates
Judicial review
Labor and Employment
Law
Legislation
Medical economics
Medical technology
Medicare
Nursing homes
Occupational health and safety
Ombudsman
Physicians
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Security Administration
Social Welfare
Supreme Court decisions
Terminal care

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: 
Medicare Education, Regulatory Reform, and Contracting Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to: (1) coordination of educational funding; (2) transfer of responsibility for Medicare appeals; (3) provision of expedited access to judicial review of Medicare appeals; (4) recovery of overpayments; and (5) revision of reassignment provisions.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the access of health care providers and beneficiaries under the Medicare program to judicial review of the actions of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the effects of the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Shalala v. Illinois Council on Long Term Care, Inc., on such access.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8729)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8568-8569)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the treatment of certain expenses of rural letter carriers.

Bill: 108-s-1333
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2003-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Government Operations and Politics
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Motor vehicles
Postal service
Tax deductions
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit rural mail carriers to treat qualified vehicle expenses in excess of reimbursements as miscellaneous itemized deductions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8570)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8569-8570)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Long-Term Care and Retirement Security Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1335
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2003-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Caregivers
Commerce
Consumer protection
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Excise tax
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Flexible benefit plans
Health
Income tax
Indexing (Economic policy)
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Long-term care
Long-term care insurance
Medical economics
Social Welfare
Standards
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Tax penalties
Tax returns

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Long-Term Care and Retirement Security Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a deduction (based on years of continuous coverage) for eligible long-term care insurance premiums for a taxpayer, spouse, and dependents, including accelerated deduction percentages for persons who are 55 years old; and (2) long-term care insurance to be offered under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements. 
Allows an income-adjusted (limited) credit for eligible individuals with long-term care needs.
Sets forth specified requirements for qualifying long-term care insurance contracts.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8571-8572)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8570-8571)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to allow North Koreans to apply for refugee status or asylum.

Bill: 108-s-1336
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2003-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: East Asia
North Korea
Refugees
Right of asylum

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Considers North Korean nationals not to be nationals of South Korea for purposes of refugee or asylee status.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8573)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe, Efficient Automobile Travel to Better Ensure Lives in Transit (SEATBELT) Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1337
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2003-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Transportation
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Seat belts
State laws
Traffic accidents and safety

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: 
Safe, Efficient Automobile Travel to Better Ensure Lives in Transit (SEATBELT) Act of 2003 - Amends Federal highway law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) make a two-year grant to each State that has in effect a primary enforcement safety belt use law; and (2) carry out a program for making safety belt usage award grants to eligible States. States as purposes of the latter grant program to: (1) increase the national seat belt usage percentage; and (2) reward States that maintain a seat belt usage rate above 85 percent or demonstrate an increase in such rate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8574)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8573-8574)
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to decrease the matching funds requirement and authorize additional appropriations for Keweenaw National Historical Park in the State of Michigan.

Bill: 108-s-1338
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2003-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Authorization
Commemorations
Department of the Interior
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Historic sites
History
Michigan
National parks

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: 
Decreases the matching funds requirement and increases the authorization of appropriations for certain funding for Keweenaw National Historical Park. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8729)
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for appropriate overtime pay for National Weather Service employees who perform essential services during severe weather events.

Bill: 108-s-1339
Sponsor: Sen. Breaux, John B. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2003-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Aviation safety
Department of Commerce
Federal employees
Hours of labor
Labor and Employment
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Salaries
Transportation and Public Works
Weather
Weather forecasting

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Provides an overtime hourly rate of pay of one and one-half times the hourly rate of basic pay, and provides that all such pay shall be premium pay, for an employee of the National Weather Service who occupies a GS-14 nonmanagerial position that involves: (1) duties that are critical to the immediate daily operation of the forecast and warning responsibilities of the Service and that directly affect public and aviation safety; and (2) overtime work that is usually unscheduled due to the vicissitudes of severe weather and is therefore unusually taxing. 
Exempts such an employee from the limitation on aggregate pay, including premium pay, for a pay period.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-08-01
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce,  and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize additional judgeships in the middle and southern districts of Florida, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-s-1340
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL]
Introduced: 2003-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Congress
District courts
Florida
Government Operations and Politics
Judges
Presidential appointments

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: 
Directs the President to appoint: (1) two additional permanent district judges for the middle district of Florida and four additional permanent district judges for the southern district of Florida; and (2) one additional temporary judge for the middle district of Florida (and directs that the first vacancy in the office of district judge in that district occurring ten years or more after the confirmation date of that judge not be filled).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas, as the "Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center".

Bill: 108-s-1341
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2003-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Congress
Congressional tributes
Health
Names
Surgeons
Texas
Veterans' hospitals

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Houston, Texas, as the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Graton Rancheria Restoration Act to give the Secretary of the Interior discretion regarding taking land into trust.

Bill: 108-s-1342
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2003-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: California
Federal-Indian relations
Gambling
Indian lands
Minorities
Sports and Recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: 
Amends the Graton Rancheria Restoration Act to specify that no land taken into trust for the benefit of the Graton Rancheria Tribe of California shall be construed to satisfy the terms of an exception in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to the prohibition of gaming on lands acquired by the Secretary of the Interior after October 17, 1988 as: (1) part of a settlement of a land claim; (2) the initial reservation of an Indian tribe acknowledged by the Secretary under the Federal acknowledgment process; or (3) Indian tribe lands that are restored to Federal recognition.
 
Changes from mandatory to discretionary the Secretary's authority to accept real property located in Marin or Sonoma County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Tribe after the property is transferred to the Secretary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8732)
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8729-8732)
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Equal Treatment of Pensions and Bankruptcy Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1343
Sponsor: Sen. Edwards, John [D-NC]
Introduced: 2003-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy courts
Civil actions and liability
Collection of accounts
Commerce
Corporation directors
Debtor and creditor
Estates (Law)
Executives
Labor and Employment
Law
Liens
Tax-deferred compensation plans
Taxation
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: 
Equal Treatment of Pensions and Bankruptcy Act of 2003 - Amends Federal bankruptcy law to authorize the
 bankruptcy trustee to avoid a transfer of a debtor's interest in property to any trust or similar arrangement to
 fund supplemental retirement benefits or other deferred compensation for the benefit of an insider or other
 management employee made on or within one year before the bankruptcy petition filing date.
 
Authorizes the bankruptcy court, upon request of a party in interest or a committee of creditors, to allow such
 party or committee to commence and prosecute specified proceedings if the trustee either consents, or fails to
 commence such proceedings, and if the court finds that doing so is in the best interest of the estate and for the
 benefit of the estate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Money Wire Improvement and Remittance Enhancement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1344
Sponsor: Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2003-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advertising
Checks
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer education
Credit unions
Electronic funds transfers
English language
Financial institutions
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign exchange
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
International banking
Language and languages
Science, Technology, Communications
User charges

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: 
Money Wire Improvement and Remittance Enhancement Act of 2003 (or the Money WIRE Act of 2003) - Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to require that the following disclosures be prominently displayed on the premises of a money transmitting business which initiates an international money transfer for a consumer: (1) the exchange rate used in connection with such transaction; (2) the exchange rate prevailing at a major financial center of the foreign country whose currency is involved in the transaction; (3) all commissions and fees charged in connection with such transaction; and (4) the exact amount of foreign currency to be received by the recipient in the foreign country, which shall be disclosed to the consumer before the transaction is consummated.
 
Requires that such disclosures be prominently revealed in advertisements and receipts used by the business, and in the same language as that principally used by the business to advertise, solicit, or negotiate, at that office, if other than English. 
Requires the Federal banking agencies and the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to Congress on the need for fee disclosures for money wire transmissions. 
Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to authorize Federal credit unions to: (1) sell, to persons in the field of membership, negotiable checks (including travelers checks), money orders, and other similar money transfer instruments; and (2) cash checks and money orders for persons in the field of membership for a fee. (Currently these transactions are reserved for credit union members only.)

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8733-8734)
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8732-8733)
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Ferry Transportation Enhancement Act

Bill: 108-s-1345
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2003-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alcohol as fuel
Alternative energy sources
Biomass energy
Commerce
Compressed natural gas
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Data banks
Department of Transportation
Diesel motor
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electric vehicles
Electronic government information
Energy
Environmental Protection
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to air pollution control
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Federal aid to transportation
Fuel cells
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Liquefied natural gas
Maintenance and repair
Marine engines
Marine terminals
Motor vehicle pollution control
Passenger ships
Public-private partnerships
Research and development
Research centers
Science, Technology, Communications
Shipbuilding
Traffic congestion
Transportation research

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: 
Ferry Transportation Enhancement Act - Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to authorize appropriations for FY 2004 through 2009 for construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities.
 
Amends Federal highway law to make ferry maintenance (currently, only terminal) facilities eligible for Federal funding.
 
Amends Federal transportation law to include ferries within the Federal clean fuels program.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) establish a Ferry Joint Program Office to coordinate Federal programs affecting ferry boat and facility construction, maintenance, and operation, and to promote ferry service as a component of the Nation's transportation system; (2) maintain a national ferry database containing ferry routes, vessels, passengers and vehicles carried, funding sources, and related information; and (3) make grants to an institution of higher education to establish a National Ferry Transportation Institute for research, development, training programs, etc. relating to U.S. ferry transportation systems. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8734-8735)
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Sectoral Market Assessment for Regional Training Enhancement and Revitalization Act

Bill: 108-s-1346
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2003-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Commerce
Curricula
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grants-in-aid
Labor supply
Labor unions
Public-private partnerships
Regional economic development
Skilled labor
Strategic planning
Surveys
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Sectoral Market Assessment for Regional Training Enhancement and Revitalization Act - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Labor to make skills gap capacity grants to States to assist local boards and regional consortia, through certain partnerships, to make: (1) strategic sectoral skills gap assessments; (2) strategic skills gap action plans; and (3) strategic training capacity enhancement seed grants to providers of training services.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8736-8737)
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8735-8736)
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to provide for training service and delivery innovation projects.

Bill: 108-s-1347
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2003-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Distance education
Education
Educational technology
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Health
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: 
Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to include, among authorized demonstration and pilot projects, targeted innovation projects that improve access to and delivery of employment and training services. 
 
Emphasizes projects that incorporate advanced technologies to help connect individuals to information and tools to upgrade their skills. Includes projects that link individuals to opportunities for self-guided learning. Gives priority to projects that provide: (1) technology directly to eligible training recipients to reach information about training opportunities and content; (2) for conducting of online eligibility determinations for Federal and State training programs, and directing individuals to appropriate area programs; and (3) high-quality employment and training services information integrated with delivery of information regarding other social services and health care programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8737)
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8735-8736)
action_date: 2003-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate