hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
International Remittance Consumer Protection Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2868
Sponsor: Sen. Sarbanes, Paul S. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2004-09-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Automated clearing houses
Automated teller machines
Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Credit unions
Department of the Treasury
Economic assistance
Economic statistics
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic funds transfers
Electronic government information
English language
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Reserve System
Federal preemption
Fees
Financial institutions
Financial services
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign exchange
Foreign loans
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
International Affairs
Language and languages
Law
Licenses
National Credit Union Administration
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: 
International Remittance Consumer Protection Act of 2004 - Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to require a remittance transfer provider to: (1) clearly and conspicuously make specified disclosures in writing and in a form that the consumer may keep to each consumer requesting a remittance transfer; and (2) make such disclosures in English and in the same languages principally used by the remittance transfer provider, or its agents at that office, if other than English.
 
Prescribes error resolution guidelines and remedies governing remittance transfer errors.
 
Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to publish electronically on each business day the foreign currencies dollar exchange rate.
 
Subjects a remittance transfer provider to liability for violations committed by its agents or subsidiaries.
 
Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to empower Federal Credit Unions to: (1) provide remittance transfers to persons in the field of membership; and (2) to cash checks and money orders for such persons for a fee. 
 
Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to work with the Federal reserve banks to expand the use of the automated clearinghouse system for remittance transfers to foreign countries.
 
Requires certain Federal banking agencies to provide guidelines to financial institutions regarding the offering of low-cost remittance transfers and no-cost or low-cost basic consumer accounts, as well as agency services to remittance transfer providers.
 
Requires such agencies and the Secretary to assist the Financial Literacy and Education Commission in improving the financial literacy and education of consumers who send remittances.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10065-10067)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10063-10065, S10067-10068)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Combat Meth Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2869
Sponsor: Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO]
Introduced: 2004-09-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Attorneys general
Child health
Computer software
Computers
Criminal investigation
Data banks
Drug abuse
Drug abuse prevention
Drug abuse treatment
Drug law enforcement
Drug traffic
Drugs
Drugs and youth
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Environmental Protection
Equipment and supplies
Evidence (Law)
Families
Federal aid to child health services
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal-state relations
Federal-territorial relations
Government Operations and Politics
Hazardous wastes
Health
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Interstate relations
Labor and Employment
Laboratories
Law
Law enforcement officers
Legal education
Mandatory sentences
Medical records
Medication abuse
Methamphetamine
Nonprofit organizations
Police
Police training
Prosecution
Public prosecutors
Recidivists
Recruiting of employees
Rural crime
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
State laws
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: 
Combat Meth Act of 2004 - Directs the Attorney General to carry out a program to provide grants to qualified States (i.e., those which had more than 200 methamphetamine lab seizures in 2003 and that provide a specified mandatory minimum sentence for possession and/or distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine or 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine) to combat methamphetamine abuse, focusing on the prosecution of repeat offenders.
 
Authorizes funds to provide training to: (1) State and local prosecutors and law enforcement agents for investigation and prosecution of methamphetamine offenses; and (2) State law enforcement personnel at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Clandestine Laboratory Training Facility in Quantico, Virginia.
 
Amends: (1) the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the public safety and community policing grant program to authorize the use of grant funds to hire personnel and purchase equipment to assist in enforcing and prosecuting methamphetamine offenses and in cleaning up methamphetamine-affected areas; and (2) the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to local governments and nonprofit private entities to provide treatment for methamphetamine abuse. 
 
Directs the Attorney General to allocate funds for the hiring and training of special assistant U.S. attorneys. Authorizes the Attorney General, acting through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, to award grants to States to establish methamphetamine precursor monitoring programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue certificates of documentation with appropriate endorsements for employment in the coastwise trade for the vessels LOBSTAR and SARA BELLE.

Bill: 108-s-2870
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2004-09-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Ships

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: 
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue certificates of documentation with appropriate endorsements for employment in the coastwise trade for the vessels LOBSTAR and SARA BELLE.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Human Trafficking and Smuggling Penalty Enhancement Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2871
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2004-09-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Aliens
Capital punishment
Child sexual abuse
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Death
Families
Fines (Penalties)
Forced labor
Homicide
Immigration
International Affairs
Kidnapping
Labor and Employment
Prostitution
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sentencing guidelines
Slavery
Smuggling
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: 
Human Trafficking and Smuggling Penalty Enhancement Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for enhanced penalties, including the death penalty, for slavery.
 
Modifies alien smuggling prohibitions under the Immigration and Nationality Act to cover engaging in specified actions with knowledge that the violator is acting in reckless disregard of the fact that a person is an alien. Prohibits bringing or attempting to bring an alien to the United States at a place other than a designated port of entry or a place designated by the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, regardless of: (1) whether the alien received prior official authorization to enter the United States; (2) whether the person bringing the alien intended to violate any criminal law; or (3) any future official action which may be taken with respect to that alien. Prohibits the commission of an offense with knowledge or reason to believe that the alien unlawfully brought to or into the United States has engaged in or intends to engage in terrorist activity.
 
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and related policy statements to implement this Act and to reflect the serious nature of the offenses and penalties referred to in this Act, the growing incidence of alien smuggling, and the need to deter, prevent, and punish such offenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10068-10069)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Agricultural Business Security Tax Credit Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2872
Sponsor: Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY]
Introduced: 2004-09-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agribusiness
Agricultural chemicals
Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Costs
Environmental Protection
Income tax
Pesticides
Security measures
Tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: 
Agricultural Business Security Tax Credit Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a retailer of agricultural products or a manufacturer, formulator, or distributor of food-use pesticides a business tax credit for up to 50 percent of the cost of protecting certain hazardous chemicals or food-use pesticides from unauthorized access. Sets an annual limit on such credit of $2 million and a per facility limitation of $50,000 (reduced by credits received for the five prior taxable years).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10069)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Initiative 911 Act

Bill: 108-s-2874
Sponsor: Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2004-09-30 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Authorization
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Capital budgets
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
International broadcasting
President and foreign policy
Reprogramming of appropriated funds
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: 
Initiative 911 Act - Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to authorize the President to direct any department, agency, or other U.S. entity to furnish the Broadcasting Board of Governors with necessary assistance to provide international broadcasting activities with a surge capacity to support U.S. foreign policy objectives during a crisis abroad. 
 
Defines &quot;surge capacity&quot; as the financial and technical resources necessary to carry out broadcasting activities in a geographical area during a crisis.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10070-10071)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10069-10070)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Introduced in Senate
American Hospital Preservation Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2876
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2004-09-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education
Higher education
Hospital rates
Hospitals
Medical education
Medicare
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: 
American Hospital Preservation Act of 2004 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to revise the indirect medical education adjustment percentage in order to eliminate reductions in payments to hospitals. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10071)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2877
Sponsor: Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH]
Introduced: 2004-09-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Debtor and creditor
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government lending
Higher education
Interest rates
Labor and Employment
Mathematics
Recruiting of employees
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Special education
Student loan funds
Subsidies
Tax-exempt securities
Teacher education
Teacher supply and demand
Teachers

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: 
Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act of 2004 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to: (1) reduce certain special allowance payments to holders of student loans; and (2) provide for additional amounts of student loan forgiveness for certain elementary or secondary school teachers of mathematics, science, or special education.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10072)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10071-10072)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Winnemem Wintu Tribe Clarification and Restoration Act

Bill: 108-s-2879
Sponsor: Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [R-CO]
Introduced: 2004-09-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: California
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to Indians
Federal-Indian relations
Gambling
Indian lands
Minorities
Sports and Recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: 
Winnemem Wintu Tribe Clarification and Restoration Act - Restores Federal recognition to the Winnemem Wintu Indian Tribe of California.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10074)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10074)
action_date: 2004-09-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Medical Device Competition Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2880
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2004-10-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Antitrust law
Business ethics
Commerce
Competition
Conflict of interests
Consumer discounts
Contracts
Cost control
Department of Health and Human Services
Government Operations and Politics
Hospitals
Labor and Employment
Law
Medicaid
Medical economics
Medical ethics
Medical personnel
Medical supplies
Medicare
Occupational health and safety
Physicians
Rebates
Restrictive trade practices
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: 
Medical Device Competition Act of 2004 - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act with respect to competition in the medical device and hospital supply industries.
 
Adds a new requirement to the criteria for exemption from criminal penalties for illegal remunerations accorded to any amount paid by a vendor of goods or services to a person authorized to act as a purchasing agent for a group of individuals or entities who are furnishing services reimbursed under a Federal health care program. Requires, in addition to a written contract specifying the amount to be paid, and service provider disclosure of the amount received from a vendor, that: (1) the contracting, business, and ethical practices of the purchasing agent be not inconsistent with regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (2) the purchasing agent be certified to be in compliance with such regulations; and (3) the amount to be paid the purchasing agent does not exceed a total of three percent of the purchase price of the goods or services provided by that vendor.
 
Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations specifying the contracting, business, and ethical practices of an authorized purchasing agent that are contrary to antitrust law and competitive principles, to ethical standards, or to the goal of ensuring that products necessary for proper patient care or worker safety are readily available to physicians, health care workers, and patients.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10264-10265)
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10263-10264)
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to clarify that State tax incentives for investment in new machinery and equipment are a reasonable regulation of commerce and not an undue burden on interstate commerce, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-s-2881
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2004-10-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital investments
Commerce
Equipment and supplies
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Interstate commerce
Machinery
State taxation
Tax credits
Tax incentives

Summary:
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: 
Authorizes a State to provide to any entity a tax or fee credit or other tax incentive for investment in new machinery or equipment. Provides that any such action taken by a State shall be considered to be a reasonable regulation of commerce and shall not be considered to impose an undue burden on interstate commerce or to otherwise impair, restrain, or discriminate against interstate commerce.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to make the program for national criminal history background checks for volunteer groups permanent.

Bill: 108-s-2882
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2004-10-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child safety
Criminal justice information
Data banks
Employee selection
Families
Fingerprints
Government Operations and Politics
Identification of criminals
Labor and Employment
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Volunteer workers
Youth services

Summary:
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: 
Amends the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003 (PROTECT Act) to eliminate the limit (18 months) on the duration of the Child Safety Pilot Program (provides for the processing of 100,000 10-fingerprint check requests from specified volunteer organizations through the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System).

action_date: 2004-10-01
text: 

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

 
Amends the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003 (PROTECT Act) to eliminate the limit (18 months) on the duration of the Child Safety Pilot Program (provides for the processing of 100,000 10-fingerprint check requests from specified volunteer organizations through the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-11-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10276-10277; text as passed Senate: CR S10276)
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S10276-10277; text as passed Senate: CR S10276)
action_date: 2004-10-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to build capacity at community colleges in order to meet increased demand for community college education while maintaining the affordable tuition rates and the open-door policy that are the hallmarks of the community college system.

Bill: 108-s-2885
Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2004-10-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Books
Building construction
Commerce
Community and school
Community colleges
Computers
Construction costs
Continuing education
Curricula
Economics and Public Finance
Educational technology
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Labor supply
Laboratories
Maintenance and repair
Periodicals
Recruiting of employees
School buildings
School libraries
Science, Technology, Communications
Teacher education
Teacher supply and demand
Teaching materials

Summary:
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: 
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a community college capacity-building grant program.
 
Directs the Secretary of Education to award such grants, on a competitive basis, to individual community colleges or consortia of community colleges to meet capacity challenges.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10367-10368)
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10367)
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income certain hazard mitigation assistance.

Bill: 108-s-2886
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2004-10-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disaster relief
Emergency Management
Flood damage prevention
Income tax
Tax exclusion
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income hazard mitigation payments received under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act or the National Flood Insurance Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10368)
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10368)
action_date: 2004-10-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to improve the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program.

Bill: 108-s-2887
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2004-10-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Authorization
Day care
Department of Education
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federal aid to education
Foreign students
Government Operations and Politics
Graduate education
Higher education
Immigration
Poverty
Social Welfare
Students

Summary:
action_date: 2004-10-05
text: 
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise provisions for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program of campus-based child care.
 
Increases the minimum CCAMPIS grant to an institution of higher education from $10,000 to $30,000. 
 
Expands eligibility to participate in CCAMPIS to graduate and professional students, international students, and students from families with certain low-incomes that do not qualify for Federal Pell Grants (as well as, currently, students eligible for Pell Grants).
 
 Extends and increases the amount of the authorization of appropriations for CCAMPIS.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-10-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10438)
action_date: 2004-10-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10461-10465)
action_date: 2004-10-05
text: Introduced in Senate