hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in New London, Connecticut, as the "John J. McGuirk Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic".

Bill: 108-s-1242
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2003-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Armed Forces and National Security
Clinics
Congress
Congressional tributes
Connecticut
Health
Names
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in New London, Connecticut, as the John P. McGuirk Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Gun Trafficking Penalties Enhancement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1243
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2003-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms control
Organized crime
Sentences (Criminal procedure)

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: 
Gun Trafficking Penalties Enhancement Act of 2003 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to increase the maxiumum term of imprisonment for: (1) selling or otherwise disposing of a firearm or ammunition knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the recipient is prohibited from owning a firearm or ammunition (such as a fugitive, drug addict, person who has been committed to a mental institution, or an individual subject to a court order restraining stalking an intimate partner); (2) traveling from any State or foreign country into another State and acquiring, transferring, or attempting to acquire or transfer a firearm to engage in certain illegal conduct; (3) transferring a firearm, knowing it will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime; and (4) illegally engaging in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms.
 
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to raise the base offense level for interstate firearms trafficking and increase the punishment for related violations.
 
Includes illegal firearms trafficking within the scope of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.


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

Bill: 108-s-1246
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Charities
Colleges
Education
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Student activities
Student housing
Students
Tax deductions
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: 
Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes and which make collegiate housing and infrastructure improvement grants to continue to be treated as tax-exempt organizations so long as all of the active members of the recipient organization are full-time students at the college or university with which the recipient organization is associated.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Women's Business Centers Preservation Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1247
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Authorization
Economics and Public Finance
Entrepreneurs
Grants-in-aid
Nonprofit organizations
Small business
Social Welfare
Women
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Women's Business Centers Preservation Act of 2003 - Amends the Small Business Act to increase from 30.2 to 36 the percentage of funds authorized for FY 2003 for the Women's Business Centers program that must be used for a sustainability pilot program under which the Small Business Administration awards grants to private nonprofit organizations for providing counseling, training, and other business assistance to women entrepreneurs.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Women's Business Centers Preservation Act of 2003 - Amends the Small Business Act to increase from 30.2 to 36 the percentage of funds authorized for FY 2003 for the Women's Business Centers program that must be used for a sustainability pilot program under which the Small Business Administration awards grants to private nonprofit organizations for providing counseling, training, and other business assistance to women entrepreneurs.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7860-7861; text as passed Senate: CR S7861; text of measure as introduced: CR S7836)
action_date: 2003-06-12
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 S7860-7861; text as passed Senate: CR S7861; text of measure as introduced: CR S7836)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
TRICARE Retirees Opportunity Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1249
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Finance and Financial Sector
Insurance premiums
Medical economics
Medicare
Military medicine
Retired military personnel
Retiree health benefits
Social Welfare
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: The TRICARE Retirees Opportunity Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) waive the part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) late enrollment penalty for certain military retirees who enroll by December 31, 2004; and (2) provide a special part B enrollment period for such retirees.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7837)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to deauthorize portions of a Federal channel in Pawtuxet Cove, Rhode Island.

Bill: 108-s-1251
Sponsor: Sen. Chafee, Lincoln [R-RI]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Coastal zone
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to water resources development
Infrastructure
Navigation
Rhode Island

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: 
Deauthorizes specified portions of the project for navigation in Pawtuxet Cove, Rhode Island.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1252
Sponsor: Sen. Dayton, Mark [D-MN]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accident insurance
Civil service retirement
Domestic partners
Families
Federal employees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government employees' health insurance
Government employees' life insurance
Health
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Survivors' benefits
Tax exclusion
Taxation
Workers' compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: 
Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2003 - Entitles domestic partners of Federal employees to benefits available to spouses of Federal employees. Specifies certifications required for benefit eligibility, filing requirements regarding partnership dissolution, and confidentiality requirements. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend to domestic partners under this Act the tax exemption for employer contributions to accident and health plans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-20
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Financial Management, the Budget, and International Security.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Stay-At-Home Parents' Tax Credit Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1253
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Day care
Families
Parent and child
Tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: 
Stay-At-Home Parents' Tax Credit Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide within the dependent care credit a minimum credit of $200 per month for stay-at-home parents with one or more qualifying individuals under the age of six at any time during the year. 
 
Allows: (1) the dependent care credit to be taken against the minimum tax; and (2) a carryforward of any unused dependent care credit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7839)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7838-7839)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Vocational and Technical Entrepreneurship Development Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1254
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Curricula
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Entrepreneurs
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
Government paperwork
Labor and Employment
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Small business
Technical education
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Vocational and Technical Entrepreneurship Development Act of 2003 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish a program under which the Administrator shall make grants to, or may enter into cooperative agreements with, State small business development centers to provide, on a statewide basis, technical assistance to secondary schools, or to post-secondary vocational or technical schools, for the development and implementation of curricula designed to promote vocational and technical entrepreneurship.
Provides for the minimum amount of a grant to not be less than $200,000.
Directs the association of small business development centers to act as an information clearinghouse regarding vocational and technical entrepreneurship education programs.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7839)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1255
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Associations, institutions, etc.
Business education
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Counseling
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic data interchange
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government regulation
Grants-in-aid
Law
Regulatory impact statements
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Small Business Administration
Small business
Social Welfare
Telephone

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2003 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a pilot program to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small businesses through participating Small Business Development Centers (Centers). Requires the Administrator to enter into arrangements with participating Centers to provide: (1) access to regulatory information and resources; (2) training and education activities; (3) confidential counseling to owners and operators of small businesses regarding compliance with Federal regulations; (4) technical assistance; and (5) partnerships with Federal compliance programs. 
Requires the Administrator, giving substantial weight to the recommendations of the majority of the Centers, to select the Center programs of two States from each of ten groups of States for participation in the pilot program. Provides grant limits. Terminates the pilot program four years after disbursement of the first grant.
Provides privacy requirements applicable to Centers, a consortium of Centers, or any Center contractor or agent with respect to regulatory compliance assistance provided to small businesses.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7839-7840)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Puerto Rico Karst Conservation Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1256
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Aquifers
Conservation of natural resources
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Federal-territorial relations
Forest conservation
Government trust funds
Infrastructure
Land banking
Land use
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Puerto Rico
Tropical forests
Water supply
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: 
Puerto Rico Karst Conservation Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire land in or immediately adjacent to the Karst Region of Puerto Rico for the purpose of protecting and managing the tropical forest areas of the Region, with particular emphasis on water quality and protection of the aquifers.
 
 Authorizes the Secretary to use funds from the Puerto Rico Karst Conservation Fund (established by this Act) as well as funds under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978, the Forest Legacy Program, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
 
 Requires these lands to be managed in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978.
 
Makes all lands in such region eligible for inclusion in the Forest Legacy Program.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7840-7841)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Payment for Quality and Value Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1257
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Governmental investigations
Health insurance
Managed care
Medical economics
Medicare
Quality of care
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Medicare Payment for Quality and Value Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish demonstration projects to improve care provided to Medicare beneficiaries with high-volume and high-cost conditions and for which payment is made under Medicare. Directs the Secretary to increase payments under Medicare to health care providers in low-cost high-quality States that adhere to quality standards identified by the Secretary. Defines a low-cost high-quality State as a State meeting certain cost and quality efficiency standards.
Directs the Secretary to accept proposals for projects in low-cost high-quality States from entities planning to include multiple public and private payers and a majority of practicing physicians in the State.
Allows the Secretary to waive compliance with such requirements of the Medicare program to the extent and for the period necessary to conduct demonstration projects under this Act.
Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences under which the Institute shall conduct a study on clinical outcomes, performance, and quality of care under the Medicare+Choice program under the Social Security Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7841-7842)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend the minimum medicare deadlines for filing claims to take into account delay in processing adjustments from secondary payor status to primary payor status.

Bill: 108-s-1259
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2003-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Medicare
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend the minimum Medicare claims filing deadlines to account for any delay in processing adjustments from secondary to primary payor status.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Economic Investment Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1263
Sponsor: Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE]
Introduced: 2003-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural credit
Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Farm lands
Finance and Financial Sector
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Interest
Mortgages
Rural housing
Savings and loan associations
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: 
Rural Economic Investment Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income interest received on loans secured by agricultural real estate (real property used for agricultural production, or certain single family rural residences).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7881-7882)
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to limit the applicability of the annual updates to the allowance for State and other taxes in the tables used in the Federal Needs Analysis Methodology for the award year 2004-2005, published in the Federal Register on May 30, 2003.

Bill: 108-s-1265
Sponsor: Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2003-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative procedure
College costs
Families
Federal aid to education
Higher education
Law
Standards
Students
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: 
Prohibits reducing the amount of Federal student assistance for which a student is eligible in the award year 2004. Declares that the annual updates, published in the Federal Register on May 30, 2003, to the allowance for State and other taxes in the tables used in the Federal Needs Analysis Methodology to determine a student's expected family contribution for the award year 2004-2005 under the Higher Education Act of 1965 shall not apply to a student to the extent such updates will reduce such assistance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to award a congressional gold medal to Dr. Dorothy Height, in recognition of her many contributions to the Nation.

Bill: 108-s-1266
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2003-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Blacks
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil rights workers
Congress
Congressional gold medals
Minorities
Women
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: Authorizes the President to present to Dr. Dorothy Height (President of the National Council of Negro Women) a congressional gold medal in recognition of her many contributions to the Nation.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2003-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for a study to ensure that students are not adversely affected by changes to the needs analysis tables, and to require the Secretary of Education to consult with the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance regarding such changes.

Bill: 108-s-1268
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2003-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative procedure
College costs
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Education
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Higher education
Law
Standards
Students

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: 
Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Secretary of Education and the appropriate congressional committees on proposed changes to the tables used in the Federal Needs Analysis Methodology to determine a student's expected family contribution for the award year 2004-2005 under general provisions for student assistance of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Requires such study to examine the impact of such changes on students to ensure that they are not adversely affected.
 
Amends HEA to direct the Secretary to consult with the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance before publishing any notice or promulgating any regulation with respect to updated tables to be used in such needs analysis.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Professional Employer Organization Workers Benefits Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1269
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2003-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting
Administrative procedure
Commerce
Department of the Treasury
Economics and Public Finance
Employee benefit plans
Employee health benefits
Employment agencies
Excise tax
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health
Health insurance
Health insurance continuation
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Labor contracts
Law
Life insurance
Partnerships
Personnel records
Professions
Social Welfare
Social security taxes
Surety and fidelity
Tax administration
Tax credits
Tax penalties
Tax returns
Tax-deferred compensation plans
Tipping
Unemployment insurance
User charges
Withholding tax

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: 
Professional Employer Organization Workers Benefits Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish provisions concerning certified professional employer organizations, including: (1) defining such organizations; (2) employment taxes and such organizations; and (3) employee benefits of such organizations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7928-7931)
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7927-7928)
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate