hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to designate the facility of the Untied States Postal Service located at 255 North Main Street in Jonesboro, Georgia, as the "S. Truett Cathy Post Office Building".

Bill: 108-s-1596
Sponsor: Sen. Miller, Zell [D-GA]
Introduced: 2003-09-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Congress
Congressional tributes
Georgia
Government Operations and Politics
Names
Postal facilities
Restaurants

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: 
Designates the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 255 North Main Street in Jonesboro, Georgia, as the S. Truett Cathy Post Office Building.

action_date: 2004-06-07
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 255 North Main Street in Jonesboro, Georgia, as the S. Truett Cathy Post Office Building.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-07
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 572.
action_date: 2004-06-07
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Collins without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2004-06-07
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Collins without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Homestead Preservation Act

Bill: 108-s-1597
Sponsor: Sen. Allen, George [R-VA]
Introduced: 2003-09-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Dislocated workers
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to housing
Finance and Financial Sector
Government lending
Housing and Community Development
Interest rates
Mortgages

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: 
Homestead Preservation Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a program of low-interest loan (residential) mortgage assistance to eligible persons who are separated from their employment.
 
Limits assistance to 12 months, and requires repayment within five years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11250)
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11249-11250)
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Comptroller General to carry out a study to determine the feasibility of undertaking passenger rail transportation security programs that are similar to those of foreign countries.

Bill: 108-s-1598
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2003-09-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
East Asia
Emergency Management
Europe
European Union
Governmental investigations
International Affairs
Japan
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Railroads
Security measures

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: 
Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the passenger rail transportation security programs in Japan, members of the European Union, and other foreign countries in order to identify effective rail transportation security measures in use in their rail transportation systems, including innovative measures and screening procedures determined effective.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11250-11251)
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study of the feasibility of implementing a program for the full screening of passengers, baggage, and cargo on Amtrak trains, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-s-1599
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2003-09-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost effectiveness
EBB Terrorism
Finance and Financial Sector
Freight
Governmental investigations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Railroad terminals
Railroads
Security measures

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: 
 Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) study and report to specified congressional committees on the cost and feasibility of requiring security screening for all passengers, baggage, and mail, express, and other cargo on Amtrak trains; and (2) as part of such study conduct a pilot program of random security screening of passengers and baggage at five of the ten busiest passenger rail stations served by Amtrak and at up to five additional geographically distributed rail stations served by Amtrak.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11251)
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Indian Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1600
Sponsor: Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [R-CO]
Introduced: 2003-09-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of the Interior
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to Indians
Federal-Indian relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Law
Legislation
Minorities
Performance measurement
Planning-programming-budgeting
Strategic planning

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: 
Indian Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a uniform method, criteria, and procedures for determining, analyzing, and compiling the program and service assistance needs of Indian tribes and Indians.
 
Requires Federal agencies to conduct Indian needs assessments to determine the actual needs of tribes and Indians eligible for programs and services administered by such departments and agencies. 
Directs the Secretary to develop a uniform method, criteria, and procedures for compiling, maintaining, keeping current, and reporting to Congress all information concerning: (1) annual Federal expenditures for programs and services for which Indians are eligible; (2) services or programs specifically for the benefit of Indians; and (3) methods of delivery of services and funding. 
Requires Federal departments and agencies responsible for providing services or programs to or for the benefit of tribes or Indians to: (1) file annual Indian program evaluations with specified congressional committees; and (2) publish annual listings in the Federal Register of all agency programs and services for which Indian tribes may be eligible. 
Directs the Secretary to file a strategic plan for the coordination of Federal assistance for Indians.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11251-11252)
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11251)
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Introduced in Senate
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Extension Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1602
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2003-09-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Claims
Compensation (Law)
Compensation for victims of crime
Crime and Law Enforcement
EBB Terrorism
Families
International Affairs
September 11, 2001
Survivors' benefits
Terrorism
Victims of terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: 
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Extension Act of 2003 - Amends the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 to extend the deadline for filing a claim to December 31, 2004.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11254)
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill the amend title 18 of the United States Code, to prohibit the unauthorized use of military certificates, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-s-1603
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2003-09-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional Medal of Honor
Forgery
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Military medals, decorations, etc.
Sentences (Criminal procedure)

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: 
Amends the Federal criminal code to (1) apply the prohibition against knowingly manufacturing or selling any military decoration or medal without authorization to any certificate or similar document awarding such a decoration or medal; (2) increase the penalty for violating such prohibition to two years' imprisonment; and (3) increase the penalty with respect to a Congressional Medal of Honor to five years' imprisonment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-29
text: Star Print ordered on the bill.
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Terrorist Penalties Enhancement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1604
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2003-09-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Capital punishment
Conspiracy
EBB Terrorism
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Grants-in-aid
Homicide
International Affairs
Licenses
Life imprisonment
Murder
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: 
Terrorist Penalties Enhancement Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that any person who, in the course of committing a terrorist offense, engages in conduct that results in the death of a person, shall be punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or life.
 
Includes &quot;terrorist offenses resulting in death&quot; among the aggravating factors for homicide which are used in determining whether a death sentence is justified.
 
Denies Federal benefits to any individual who is convicted of a Federal crime of terrorism, for any term of years or for life.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR 9/9/2003 S11240-11241)
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Introduced in Senate
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11240)
A bill to authorize major medical facility projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services initiative and to satisfy Department of Veterans Affairs requirements on natural disasters, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-s-1605
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL]
Introduced: 2003-09-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Authorization
Building construction
Construction costs
Disasters
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Florida
Health
Nevada
Puerto Rico
Veterans' hospitals

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: 
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out the following major medical facility projects, in specified amounts: (1) construction of a health care facility at a location selected by the Secretary in East Central Florida, as part of the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) initiative; (2) improvements at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to bring that facility into compliance with the CD-54 Natural Disasters Directive; and (3) construction of a health care facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of the CARES initiative.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR 9/11/2003 S11352)
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 9/11/2003 S11352)
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Pretrial Detention and Lifetime Supervision of Terrorists Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1606
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2003-09-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assassination
Detention of persons
EBB Terrorism
Imprisonment
International Affairs
Kidnapping
Parole
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: 
Pretrial Detention and Lifetime Supervision of Terrorists Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for pretrial detention for anyone who commits an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries (terrorist act) if the Attorney General certifies that the offense appears by its nature or context to be: (1) intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or affect a government's conduct by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnaping; or (2) involved in or related to domestic or international terrorism. 
 
Deletes a requirement that the commission of a terrorist act must have resulted in, or created a foreseeable risk of, death or serious bodily injury to another person in order to qualify for a period of supervised release of any term of years or life.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR 9/11/2003 S11353)
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 9/11/2003 S11353)
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Homeowners' Insurance Availability Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1607
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2003-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Apartment houses
Auctions
Auditing
Building laws
Commerce
Condominium (Housing)
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Cooperative housing
Disaster insurance
Earthquakes
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Federal advisory bodies
Fires
Floods
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Housing and Community Development
Hurricanes
Income tax
Indexing (Economic policy)
Insurance companies
Insurance premiums
Law
Property insurance
Reinsurance
Restrictive trade practices
State laws
Tsunamis
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: 
Homeowners' Insurance Availability Act of 2003 - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to implement a reinsurance coverage program available only through contracts for reinsurance coverage purchased at regional auctions.
 
States that the purpose of the program is to improve: (1) the availability of homeowners' insurance for the purpose of facilitating the pooling, and spreading the risk, of catastrophic financial losses from disasters; and (2) the solvency of the homeowners' insurance markets.
 
Prescribes implementation guidelines that include establishment: (1) in the Treasury of the Disaster Reinsurance Fund; and (2) of a National Commission on Catastrophe Risks and Insurance Loss Costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Anti-Terrorism Protection of Mass Transportation and Railroad Carriers Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1608
Sponsor: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]
Introduced: 2003-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Air piracy
Airports
Americans in foreign countries
Armed Forces and National Security
Assassination
Biological warfare
Conspiracy
Destruction of property
EBB Terrorism
Electronic surveillance
Environmental Protection
Federal installations
Firearms
Fraud
Infrastructure
International Affairs
Kidnapping
Labor and Employment
Law
Mass rapid transit
Railroad employees
Railroad freight operations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
Violence
Warrants (Law)
Weapons of mass destruction
Wiretapping

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: 
Anti-Terrorism Protection of Mass Transportation and Railroad Carriers Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit specified attacks and acts of violence against mass transportation systems and against railroad carriers, including derailing a train, placing a biological agent or toxin in or near a mass transportation vehicle, setting fire to a terminal, committing an act with intent to cause serious bodily injury to a railroad employee, and conveying false information concerning an attempt to commit such a crime. Lists circumstances resulting in aggravated offenses. Sets penalties for violations.
 
Authorizes: (1) the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications in cases involving domestic or international terrorism and involving other specified offenses (such as violence at international airports, an attack on a Federal facility with a firearm, and conspiracy to harm persons or property overseas); and (2) the use of an emergency pen register or trap and trace device in cases involving domestic or international terrorism or conspiratorial activities threatening the national security interest.
 
Modifies the definition of: (1) &quot;Federal crime of terrorism&quot; to include an offense that appears by its nature or context to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnaping; and (2) &quot;international terrorism&quot; to include listed actions that appear &quot;by their nature or context&quot; to be intended to intimidate, influence, or affect governmental conduct.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Defined Benefit Pension Plan Reform Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1610
Sponsor: Sen. Bayh, Evan [D-IN]
Introduced: 2003-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Annuities
Blue collar workers
Commerce
Defined benefit pension plans
Depreciation and amortization
Employee rights
Financial crises
Financial services
Financial statements
Income tax
Investments
Losses
Mortality
Tax deductions
Taxation
Valuation
White collar workers

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: 
Defined Benefit Pension Reform Plan of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) concerning minimum funding standards for pension plans to: (1) permit a multiemployer plan to elect to use an emergency investment loss method (as defined), starting in the first plan year in which there is an emergency investment loss; and (2) establish separate mortality tables for blue-collar and white-collar workers which may be used in lieu of the current table.
 
Amends the Code to modify the full-funding limitation for purposes of the deduction limits on employer pension contributions.
 
Amends ERISA to require notification of participants and beneficiaries of plan terminations by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11418-11419)
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the establishment of a commission to conduct a study concerning the overtime regulations of the Department of Labor.

Bill: 108-s-1611
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2003-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Labor
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Law
Standards
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: 
Establishes the Commission on Overtime Regulations. 
 
Directs the Commission to study, develop recommendations, and report by July 30, 2004, on issues relating to the modernization of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), to promote clarity and compliance. Requires such study to include assessments of various impacts of proposed changes to regulations relating to such provisions.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to ensure that the effective date for any proposed changes to such regulations is at least 60 days after such report is submitted to the Secretary, the appropriate congressional committees, and the public.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11420-11421)
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11419-11420)
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Independent Film and Television Production Incentive Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1613
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2003-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Commerce
Fringe benefits
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Motion pictures
Tax credits
Tax incentives
Television industry
Television programs
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: 
United States Independent Film and Television Production Incentive Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish an annual tax credit for 25 percent of up to the first $25,000 of qualified wages paid or incurred per qualified U.S. independent film and television production. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate