hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Bill: 108-s-1815
Sponsor: Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2003-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Congress
Congressional tributes
Health
Names
Utah
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: 
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the George E. Whalen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14390)
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the building located at 15 Henry Street in Binghamton, New York, as the "Kevin J. Tarsia Federal Building and United States Courthouse".

Bill: 108-s-1816
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2003-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Congress
Congressional tributes
Courthouses
Crime and Law Enforcement
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Law enforcement officers
Names
New York State

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: 
Designates the building located at 15 Henry Street in Binghamton, New York, as the Kevin J. Tarsia Federal Building and United States Courthouse.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include influenza vaccines in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

Bill: 108-s-1817
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2003-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Claims
Compensation (Law)
Government liability
Health
Influenza
Law
Liability (Law)
Vaccination
Vaccines

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include influenza vaccines in the definition of taxable vaccine.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Law Enforcement Officers Due Process Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1818
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2003-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Disciplining of employees
Dismissal of employees
Economics and Public Finance
Employee rights
Federal aid to law enforcement
Government Operations and Politics
Labor and Employment
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Law Enforcement Officers Due Process Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to law enforcement agencies (agencies) that: (1) have in effect an administrative process or an existing procedure that complies with officer rights requirements; or (2) certify that they will establish, within two years, an administrative process that complies with such requirements.
Requires the administrative process to require that an agency that investigates an officer for matters which could reasonably lead to disciplinary action provide recourse for the officer that includes: (1) access to any existing administrative process established by the employing agency prior to disciplinary action; and (2) the right to a hearing before a fair and impartial board or hearing officer, to be represented by an attorney or other officer at such officer's expense, to confront any witness testifying against such officer, and to record all meetings.
Permits the immediate suspension with pay of an officer: (1) whose continued presence on the job is considered to be a substantial and immediate threat; (2) who refuses to obey a direct order issued in conformance with the agency's written and disseminated rules and regulations; or (3) who is accused of committing an illegal act.
Makes this Act inapplicable to an agency if the Attorney General determines that such agency has in effect an established civil service system, agency review board, grievance procedure, or personnel board which meets or exceeds the minimum standards set forth in this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Central Nevada Rural Cemeteries Act

Bill: 108-s-1819
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2003-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Easements
Forest roads
Land transfers
Land use
Law
National forests
Nevada
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: 
Central Nevada Rural Cemeteries Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land to Lander County, Nevada, and the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land to Eureka County, Nevada, for continued cemetery use.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 108-490.
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S13910-13911)
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13910)
action_date: 2003-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Continuity of Congress Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1820
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2003-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Congressional elections
Congressional reorganization
Congressional voting
Constitutional amendments
Emergency Management
House of Representatives
Law
Senate
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: 
Continuity of Congress Act of 2003 - Authorizes the legislature of each State to enact laws declaring who shall serve in the place of members of the House of Representatives and/or the Senate in the event that one-fourth of either or both Houses of Congress are killed or incapacitated.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14032-14033)
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955, to authorize the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation to lease tribally-owned land on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation for 1 or more interstate gas pipelines.

Bill: 108-s-1823
Sponsor: Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT]
Introduced: 2003-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Energy
Federal-Indian relations
Gas pipelines
Indian economic development
Indian lands
Infrastructure
Law
Leases
Minorities
Montana
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: 
Permits (under specified conditions) the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation to lease to the Northern Border Pipeline Company tribally-owned land on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation for one or more interstate gas pipelines.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S140043)
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14043)
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Intersections Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1825
Sponsor: Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH]
Introduced: 2003-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Science, Technology, Communications
Technological innovations
Traffic accidents and safety
Traffic signs and signals
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: 
Safe Intersections Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to set penalties for the sale to unauthorized users, and the unauthorized possession, of a mobile infrared transmitter (i.e., a device or mechanism that emits infrared signals with the purpose of changing a traffic signal), in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14043)
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Dandini Research Park Conveyance Act

Bill: 108-s-1826
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2003-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: College administration
Colleges
Community colleges
Higher education
Land transfers
Nevada

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Dandini Research Park Conveyance Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada all right, title, and interest of the United States in specified land located in Washoe County, Nevada, patented to the University of Nevada under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act. 
 Requires the Board of Regents to pay the net proceeds of any sale of such land to the Secretary for use by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-05
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 108-575.
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S14044)
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14043-14044)
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act to remove the requirement that processors be members of an agency administering a marketing order applicable to pears.

Bill: 108-s-1827
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2003-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Commerce
Department of Agriculture
Food industry
Frozen food
Fruit
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
Marketing orders
Produce trade

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: 
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to eliminate pear marketing order requirements that: (1) processors be members of an agency administering a marketing order; and (2) processor and producer agency representation be equal respecting a marketing order for canned or frozen pears.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1828
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2003-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Child sexual abuse
Civil actions and liability
Compensation for victims of crime
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Court records
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
DNA
Data banks
Directories
Economics and Public Finance
Employee training
Evidence (Law)
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal aid to research
Forensic chemistry
Forensic medicine
Forensic scientists
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Health
Identification of criminals
Indian law enforcement
Indian women
Judicial officers
Labor and Employment
Laboratories
Law
Legal aid
Legal education
Legal services
Limitation of actions
Medical education
Medical laboratories
Military law
Minorities
Missing persons
Negligence
Obstruction of justice
Parole
Performance measurement
Physical examinations
Police training
Prisoners
Prosecution
Quality control
Rape
Research and development
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Sex crimes
Social Welfare
State laws
Toxicology
Victims of crimes
Violence
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: 
Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003 - Rape Kits and DNA Evidence Backlog Elimination Act of 2003 - Amends: (1) the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to reauthorize the Act; (2) the DNA Identification Act of 1994 (Identification Act) to expand the scope of DNA samples to be included in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS); and (3) the Violence Against Women Act to authorize grants to increase the availability of legal assistance to victims of dating violence.
 
DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2003 - Amends the Identification Act to require that CODIS include only information on DNA identification records and analyses that are prepared by laboratories that: (1) have been accredited by a nationally recognized nonprofit professional association of forensic scientists within two years; and (2) undergo external audits at least every two years that demonstrate compliance with specified standards.
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants for: (1) DNA training and education; (2) sexual assault forensic examination programs; (3) research and development; (4) using DNA technology to identify missing persons; and (5) tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions.
 
Expands and reauthorizes the Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program.
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to States, local governments, and tribal governments to eliminate forensic science backlogs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S14046-14050)
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14044-14046)
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Better Eating for Better Living Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1829
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2003-11-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Child nutrition
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Federal aid to education
Milk
Nutrition policy
Nutrition surveys
Nutritionally induced diseases
School lunch program
Social Welfare
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-06
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 20.5 cents per meal (from 10.5 to 31). 
 
 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: 2003-11-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand income averaging to include the trade or business of fishing.

Bill: 108-s-1831
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2003-11-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Fisheries
Income tax
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Tax administration
Tax deductions
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide that income averaging for farmers and fisherman will not increase their alternative minimum tax liability; and (2) permit income averaging for fishermen.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Senator Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1832
Sponsor: Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD]
Introduced: 2003-11-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Coinsurance
Commemorations
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Congressional tributes
Discrimination in insurance
Discrimination in medical care
Employee health benefits
Ex-Members of Congress
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Health insurance
Health maintenance organizations
Health services administration
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Managed care
Medical economics
Mental health services
Names
Quality of care
Senate
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: 
Senator Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit certain employee group health plans or related insurances providing both medical-surgical and mental health benefits from imposing mental health treatment limitations or financial requirements unless comparable limitations and requirements are imposed upon medical-surgical benefits. States that the foregoing shall not be construed as requiring a group health plan (or related insurance) to: (1) provide any mental health benefits; (2) prevent the medical management of mental health benefits; or (3) require the provision of specific mental health services, except to the extent that failure to provide such services would result in a disparity between the coverage of mental health and medical-surgical benefits.
 
Exempts specified small employers from such requirements.
Requires that, in the case of a group health plan that offers a participant or beneficiary two or more benefit package options, the coverage requirements shall be applied separately with respect to each such option.
Provides that, in the case of a plan or insurance providing in-network mental health benefits, out-of-network mental health benefits need not be provided at parity to medical-surgical benefits, as long as in-network mental health benefits are provided at parity with medical-surgical benefits and the plan or insurance provides reasonable access to in-network providers and facilities. 
Requires a General Accounting Office study of such requirements' effects upon health insurance costs, access, and quality and a cost estimation of extending such requirements to the treatment of substance abuse and chemical dependency.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5730, S5731, S5732-5733)
action_date: 2003-11-07
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 382.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to waive time limitations in order to allow the Medal of Honor to be awarded to Gary Lee McKiddy, of Miamisburg, Ohio, for acts of valor while a helicopter crew chief and door gunner with the 1st Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War.

Bill: 108-s-1834
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2003-11-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Army
Congress
Congressional Medal of Honor
History
Military history
Military personnel
Vietnamese Conflict

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Authorizes and requests the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Gary Lee McKiddy of Miamisburg, Ohio, for acts of valor while serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, notwithstanding otherwise application time limitations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S14178)
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14178)
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the effective period of the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 (18 U.S.C. 922 note) for 10 years.

Bill: 108-s-1835
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2003-11-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Air piracy
Airports
Aviation safety
Congress
Firearms
Firearms control
Security measures
Sunset legislation
Transportation and Public Works
X-rays

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: 
Extends by ten years the ban on undetectable firearms under the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 (which makes it illegal to manufacture, import, possess, or transfer a firearm that is not detectable by walk-through metal detectors or airport x-ray machines).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14178)
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Legal Expense Equity Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1836
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2003-11-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Civil procedure
Damages
District courts
Evidence (Law)
Legal fees

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: 

 

 

 
Legal Expense Equity Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize parties in civil diversity litigation to serve written settlement offers on an adverse party at any time not less than 10 days before trial.
 
Authorizes the court, at any time before judgment is entered, to exempt from settlement any claim that presents a novel and important question of law or fact that substantially affects nonparties. Voids all settlement offers made by the parties with respect to such exempted claims.
 
Authorizes an offeror whose proposed settlement was declined by an offeree to file a petition with the court seeking payment by the offeree of costs and fees, including attorney's fees, from the date of the last settlement offer by either party if the ultimate judgment or order is not more favorable to the offeree than the proposed settlement. Requires the court to order payment by the offeree in such circumstances unless requiring payment would be manifestly unjust.
 
Limits attorney's fees ordered under this Act to: (1) the actual attorney's fees incurred by the offeree in connection with the claim; or (2) if no such cost was incurred due to a contingency fee agreement, a reasonable cost that would have been incurred by the offeree absent a contingency fee agreement.
 
States that this Act does not apply to claims seeking equitable remedies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-11-06
text: Introduced in Senate