hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Rural Community Hospital Assistance Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-942
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2003-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Ambulances
Ambulatory care
Coinsurance
Debt
Disabled
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Finance and Financial Sector
Home care services
Hospital care
Hospital rates
Hospitals
Housing and Community Development
Long-term care
Medical economics
Medical fees
Medicare
Mental health services
Nurses
Physicians' assistants
Rehabilitation of the disabled
Rural health
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Rural Community Hospital Assistance Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) provide for establishment of the rural community hospital (RCH) program; (2) remove certain barriers to establishment of distinct part units by RCH and Medicare critical access hospital (CAH) facilities; (3) revise the CAH program; and (4) provide for coverage of costs for emergency room on-call physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5490)
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Renewable Energy Investment Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-944
Sponsor: Sen. Jeffords, James M. [I-VT]
Introduced: 2003-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Agricultural wastes
Agriculture and Food
Alternative energy sources
Auditing
Biomass energy
Cellulose
Commerce
Consumer education
Economics and Public Finance
Electric power production
Electric utilities
Electric utility rates
Energy crops
Energy research
Environmental Protection
Farm manure
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Geothermal resources
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grain
Grants-in-aid
Heating
Hydroelectric power
Hydrogen
Indexing (Economic policy)
Landfills
Legumes
Lumber trade
Methane
Municipal solid waste
Ocean energy resources
Plants
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Rebates
Refuse as fuel
Right-of-way
Science, Technology, Communications
Solar energy
Sugar
Technological innovations
Transportation and Public Works
Trees
Wind power
Wood

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: 
Renewable Energy Investment Act of 2003 - Requires each retail electric supplier to submit annually to the Secretary of Energy renewable energy credits according to a prescribed annual percentage of the supplier's total amount of kilowatt-hours of nonhydropower electricity sold to consumers during the previous calendar year.
 
Requires each retail electric supplier during a calendar year to generate a specified percentage of nonhydropower electricty by renewable energy sources, escalating from five percent during calendar 2006 through 2009 by five percent increments during subsequent five-year periods up to twenty percent in calendar 2020 and beyond.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a program to issue, monitor the sale or exchange of, and track renewable energy credits.
 
Authorizes any entity that is issued or has acquired a renewable energy credit to sell or exchange it. Requires the Secretary to sell credits at prices determined by a certain formula.
 
Subjects to a civil penalty a retail electric supplier who does not submit the requisite renewable energy credits. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to distribute receipts from sales to the States in order to promote State renewable energy production and use.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5491-5492)
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5491)
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to improve the process for adjusting the rates of pay for members of the uniformed services.

Bill: 108-s-945
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2003-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congress and military policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost of living adjustments
Economic conditions
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Gross national product
Indexing (Economic policy)
Law
Military pay

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Requires the monthly rates of basic military pay to be adjusted effective January 1 of each year. (Currently, such rates are adjusted whenever the General Schedule (GS) of Compensation for Federal employees is adjusted.)
Requires equal annual pay percentage increases for all military personnel to be based on percentage increases in the Employment Cost Index (currently on GS adjustments). Increases percentage adjustments by one-half percent for FY 2004 through 2006.
Requires new annual rates of pay to be published in the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations.
Directs the President, upon determining that annual pay adjustments would be inappropriate because of national emergency or serious economic conditions, to prepare and transmit to Congress a plan for an alternative pay adjustment. Requires the President to consider under such plan the impact that the alternative adjustment would have on the Government's ability to recruit and retain well-qualified individuals for the armed forces.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5493)
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5493)
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Drug Competition Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-946
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2003-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Antitrust law
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Drug approvals
Drug industry
Federal Trade Commission
Fines (Penalties)
Freedom of information
Generic drugs
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health
Independent regulatory commissions
Injunctions
Law
Marketing
Pharmaceutical research
Research and development
Restrictive trade practices
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Drug Competition Act of 2003 - Sets filing requirements for a generic drug applicant that has submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) and a brand name drug company that enter into an agreement, before a drug enters the market, regarding: (1) the manufacture, marketing, or sale of the brand name or the generic drug; or (2) the 180-day semi-exclusivity period referred to in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as it applies to such ANDA or any other ANDA based on the same brand name drug. Requires each such party to file such agreement and any related agreements with the Assistant Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Makes an exception for agreements that solely concern purchase orders for raw material supplies, equipment and facility contracts, or employment or consulting contracts. Requires such agreements to be filed not later than ten business days after the date they are executed.
Exempts any such information or documentary material filed from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Prohibits such information or material from being made public, except as relevant to any administrative or judicial action or proceeding.
Subjects an applicant or company to a civil penalty of up to $11,000 for each day such entity fails to comply with this Act, recoverable in a civil action brought by the United States or the FTC. Authorizes a U.S. district court to order compliance and grant equitable relief.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5493-5494)
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Housing Assistance for Needy Families Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-947
Sponsor: Sen. Allard, Wayne [R-CO]
Introduced: 2003-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative procedure
Affordable housing
Armed Forces and National Security
Auditing
Block grants
Building laws
Civil actions and liability
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Federal aid to housing
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Home ownership
Homeless
Housing authorities
Housing for the aged
Housing for the disabled
Housing statistics
Housing subsidies
Law
Low-income housing
Performance measurement
Poverty
Public housing
Relocation
Rent
Rental housing
Social Welfare
Standards
Veterans' benefits
Welfare eligibility
Welfare recipients
Welfare waivers
Working poor

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Housing Assistance for Needy Families Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to States for tenant-based rental and first-time homeownership housing. Directs a recipient State to provide such assistance through block grants.
Bases family eligibility for such assistance upon income and non-receipt of section 8 assistance (under the Housing Act of 1937), with a temporary waiver for a family currently receiving section 8 tenant-based or voucher assistance.
Sets forth program provisions, including assistance portability.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Drug Company Gift Disclosure Act

Bill: 108-s-948
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2003-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Drug industry
Electronic government information
Fines (Penalties)
Gifts
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Health
Hospitals
Internet
Law
Marketing
Nursing homes
Pharmacies
Pharmacists
Physicians
Rebates
Sales promotion
Science, Technology, Communications
Trade secrets

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Drug Company Gift Disclosure Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require drug manufacturers, packers, and distributors to disclose to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs the value, nature, and purpose of: (1) gifts made to covered health entities in connection with marketing activities; and (2) cash rebates, discounts, or any other financial consideration to any pharmaceutical benefit manager in connection with marketing activities. Makes such information available to the public, but retains the confidentiality of trade secrets. Establishes civil penalties for violations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5494-5495)
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Overseas Military Facility Structure Review Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-949
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2003-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces abroad
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Federal advisory bodies
Governmental investigations
International Affairs
Military construction operations
Security clearances

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Overseas Military Facility Structure Review Act of 2003 - Establishes the Commission on the Review of the Overseas Military Facility Structure of the United States to: (1) study matters relating to the military facility structure of the United States overseas; and (2) report review results to the President and Congress, including a proposal for an overseas basing strategy to meet current and future mission requirements of the Department of Defense.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5495)
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Older Americans Prescription Drug Tax Relief Act

Bill: 108-s-951
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, John [R-VA]
Introduced: 2003-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Drugs
Health
Income tax
Medicare
Prescription pricing
Social Welfare
Tax credits
Tax refunds

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Older Americans Prescription Drug Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income-based credit ($1,000 maximum per eligible individual) for the purchase of outpatient prescription drugs not covered by Medicare or insurance by persons eligible for Medicare.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5597)
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-952
Sponsor: Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2003-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Health and Human Services
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Employee rights
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to health facilities
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Grievance procedures
Higher education
Hospital care
Hospitals
Hours of labor
Labor and Employment
Law
Medical personnel
Medical residents
Medicare
Physicians
Quality of care
Sleep disorders
Social Welfare
Surveys
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require a participating hospital that uses the services of postgraduate trainees to limit their working hours to specified schedules.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations to monitor and supervise postgraduate trainees assigned patient care responsibilities as part of an approved medical training program, as well as to assure patient quality care.
Prescribes whistleblower protections for employees who in good faith report violations of working hour limits.
Makes appropriations to the Secretary to provide for additional payments to hospitals for their reasonable additional, incremental costs of compliance with this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5599-5600)
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5598-5599)
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, to provide special pay for board certified Federal Employees who are employed in health science positions, and for other purposes.

Bill: 108-s-953
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2003-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil service reform
Health
Labor and Employment
Law
Licenses
Medical personnel
Salaries

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: 
Entitles board certified Federal employees in health services positions to special pay.
 
 Sets forth the rates of special pay, based on years of service, and provides for annual inflation adjustments .


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-20
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce,  and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to provide for the protection of electric utility customers and enhance the stability of wholesale electric markets through the clarification of State regulatory jurisdiction.

Bill: 108-s-954
Sponsor: Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL]
Introduced: 2003-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commerce
Department of Energy
Electric utilities
Electric utility rates
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Resale price maintenance
Retail trade
Wholesale trade

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: 
Amends the Federal Power Act to deny the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) jurisdiction over bundled retail sales of electric energy or to compel the unbundling of rates for bundled retail sales of electric energy. Defines bundled retail sales as sales of electric energy to retail customers in which generation, transmission, distribution, and other services necessary to supply electric energy are sold as a single delivered service by a single seller, acting under the regulatory jurisdiction of a State commission.
 
Directs FERC to ensure that certain load-serving entities shall be entitled to use either transmission facilities or rights to firm transmission service to meet their service obligations to their customers or to their existing wholesale contractual obligations before the transmission capacity is made available for other uses. 
 
States that if a service obligation or contractual obligation is transferred to another load-serving entity, the successor shall be entitled to use the transmission facilities or firm transmission rights associated with such transfer. 
 
Declares that a transmitting utility shall not be considered to be engaging in undue discrimination or preference if it reserves transmission capacity to meet certain service obligations or firm long-term wholesale contractual obligations.
 
Prescribes cost allocation guidelines for an applicant seeking seeking interconnection of facilities or transmission service.
 
Declares that a standard market design rule shall not be effective except to the extent it is: (1) approved by Congress in a law enacted after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) consented to in writing by the pertinent State Commission. Defines a standard market design rule as: (1) one promulgated by FERC pursuant to a specified proposed rulemaking; or (2) any rule or order of general applicability addressing transmission access or market design in which FERC asserts jurisdiction over the transmission component of bundled retail sales of electric energy or requires the transfer of ownership, operation, or control of transmission facilities to a regional transmission organization, independent transmission provider, or similar organization.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5600)
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Volunteer Pilot Organization Protection Act

Bill: 108-s-955
Sponsor: Sen. Allen, George [R-VA]
Introduced: 2003-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Aircraft pilots
Aviation insurance
Aviation safety
Finance and Financial Sector
Liability (Law)
Licenses
Nonprofit organizations
Social Welfare
Torts
Transportation and Public Works
Volunteer workers

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Volunteer Pilot Organization Protection Act - Amends the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 to exempt from liability a nonprofit volunteer pilot organization that flies for public benefit, its staff members, and its volunteers for harm caused by a volunteer while flying, in furtherance of the purpose of the organization, an aircraft for which the volunteer was properly licensed and individually insured.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Testing Flexibility Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-956
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2003-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational accountability
Educational tests
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Families
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
School districts
Secondary education
Social Welfare
State education agencies

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Student Testing Flexibility Act of 2003 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to direct the Secretary of Education to grant waivers of certain annual testing and assessment requirements to States and local educational agencies (LEAs) if they demonstrate that they have: (1) significantly closed the achievement gap between certain groups of students; or (2) exceeded their adequate yearly progress for two or more consecutive years.
Requires States and LEAs receiving such waivers to use ESEA annual assessment funds for educational activities which they determine will improve the academic achievement of students attending public elementary schools and secondary schools that fail to make adequate yearly progress. Prohibits such States and LEAs from using such funds to pay a student's private school costs.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9025)
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5602)
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5600-5601)
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Flight Attendant Certification Act

Bill: 108-s-957
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2003-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Airline employees
Aviation safety
Department of Transportation
Emergency Management
Employee training
Flight crews
Government Operations and Politics
Labor and Employment
Law
Licenses
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: 
Flight Attendant Certification Act - Amends Federal taransportation law to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to prescribe standards for cabin crew training and certification.
 
Requires all new and existing cabin crew members to be certified by the Administrator after successful completion of an air carrier's training program consisting of: (1) initial and emergency training; (2) air carrier specific training related to aircraft types and operator's certificate; and (3) submission by the air carrier to the Administrator confirming such completion.
 
Declares that the Administrator shall be prohibited from granting an air carrier a waiver of cabin crew training requirements or an exemption from any part of such requirements.
 
Requires a cabin crew member, to qualify for a cabin crew certificate, to successfully: (1) complete the training requirements established by the Administrator, including all initial, air-carrier specific training, emergency, transition, differences, recurrent, and requalification training; (2) complete the cabin security and self-defense training requirements established by the Transportation Security Administrator; and (3) perform the assigned duties of a cabin crew member and complete the approved proficiency check, under the supervision of a certified instructor or supervisor, for not less than five hours of initial operating experience.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5602-5603)
action_date: 2003-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate