hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
First-Time Homebuyers' Tax Credit Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1175
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2003-06-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Home ownership
Housing and Community Development
Housing finance
Income tax
Tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-03
text: First-Time Homebuyers' Tax Credit Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an income-based, one-time tax credit for first-time homebuyers of ten percent of a principal residence's purchase price ($3,000 maximum credit, $6,000 maximum credit for joint filers); (2) allow transfer of such credit (within 30 days of transfer application) as payment towards related downpayment and closing costs; and (3) apply the credit to purchases made on or after January 1, 2003, and before January 1, 2010, and to binding contracts made between such dates, and in which the residence is occupied before July 1, 2011.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7254-7255)
action_date: 2003-06-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7251-7254)
action_date: 2003-06-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Appalachian Development Highway System Completion Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1176
Sponsor: Sen. Byrd, Robert C. [D-WV]
Introduced: 2003-06-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alabama
Appalachia
Appalachian Regional Commission
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Federal-state relations
Georgia
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government trust funds
Highway finance
Housing and Community Development
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Kentucky
Maryland
Mississippi
New York State
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Regional economic development
Road construction
Rural economic development
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-03
text: 
Appalachian Development Highway System Completion Act of 2003 - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for the Appalachian development highway system program for each of FY 2004 through 2009. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to apportion such funds among the States based on the latest available cost-to-complete estimate for the system, prepared by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
 
Authorizes a State, upon notice to the Secretary, to lend any amount of contract or obligation authority available to it pursuant to the apportionment to any other State that is eligible for such an apportionment for use for eligible activities with respect to the system.
 
Provides that whenever an apportionment is mad e , the Secretary shall deduct an amount (not to exceed two-fifths of one percent of the sums made available) determined to be appropriate to administer provisions concerning the program and to make transfers to the Commission to pay the costs of administrative activities associated with the system.
 
Removes the system from minimum guarantee provisions under Federal highway law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2003-06-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7255-7257)
action_date: 2003-06-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Endangered Species Funding Act

Bill: 108-s-1178
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2003-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Authorization
Compensation (Law)
Ecological surveys
Economics and Public Finance
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Environmental monitoring
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Government trust funds
Grants-in-aid
Land transfers
Law
Planning

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Endangered Species Funding Act - Requires the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, to deposit into the Cooperative Endangered Species Fund of the Treasury all amounts necessary to implement and comply with the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Encouraging Work Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1180
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2003-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Age
Agricultural labor
Agriculture and Food
Aid to dependent children
Cash welfare block grants
Commerce
Crime and Law Enforcement
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Enterprise zones
Ex-offenders
Families
Food stamps
Government Operations and Politics
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Railroad employees
Social Welfare
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Transportation and Public Works
Urban affairs
Vocational rehabilitation
Wages
Welfare recipients

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Encouraging Work Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the work opportunity credit permanent.
Modifies such credit by: (1) repealing the requirement that a "qualified ex-felon" be a member of a low-income (as specified) family; (2) increasing the maximum age for eligibility of food stamp recipients to 40 years; (3) redefining the term "vocational rehabilitation referral"; (4) adding "long-term family assistance recipients" (as defined) to the definition of "targeted groups"; and (5) increasing the maximum allowable credit for employment of long-term family assistance recipients.
Repeals the separate welfare-to-work credit.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2981-2982)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7387-7389)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Youth Financial Education Act

Bill: 108-s-1181
Sponsor: Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2003-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Business education
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer credit
Consumer education
Curricula
Economic theory
Economics and Public Finance
Educational accountability
Educational innovations
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Nonprofit organizations
Personal budgets
Saving and investment
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Teacher education
Teachers
Teaching
Teaching materials
Youth

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: 
Youth Financial Education Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to allot grants to State educational agencies to provide funds to local educational agencies and public schools for personal financial literacy education programs for students in kindergarten through grade 12, and for professional development programs to prepare teachers and administrators for such financial education.
 
Directs the Secretary to make a grant to or contract with an entity with substantial financial education experience for a national clearinghouse for instructional materials and information on model financial education programs and best practices.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7389-7390)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7389)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2002

Bill: 108-s-1182
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2003-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alien property
Burma
Child labor
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Democracy
Development credit institutions
Dissenters
Drug abuse
Drug traffic
East Asia
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Embargo
Ethnic groups
Expropriation
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign leaders
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Human rights
Immigration
Import restrictions
International cooperation
Labor and Employment
Minorities
Political parties
Political prisoners
President and foreign policy
Recognition (International law)
Religion
Religious liberty
Sanctions (International law)
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 - Prohibits the importation into the United States of any article that is a product of Burma (Myanmar) until the President determines and certifies to Congress that Burma has taken certain democratic and counternarcotics actions. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements.
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to direct any U.S. financial institution holding funds of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of Burma or the assets of individuals who hold senior positions in the SPDC or its political arm, the Union Solidarity Development Association, to report those assets to the Office of Foreign Assets Control and take such action as may be necessary to secure them.
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive director to each appropriate international financial institution to oppose any extension of a loan or financial or technical assistance to Burma until the requirements of this Act are met. 
Authorizes the President to deny visas and entry into the United States to the former and present leadership of the SPDC or the Union Solidarity Development Association. 
Urges the Secretary of State to use all appropriate fora, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and Asian Nations Regional Forum, to encourage other states to restrict financial resources to the SPDC and Burmese companies while offering support to Burma's democratic movement, including the National League for Democracy and Burma's ethnic groups.
Authorizes the President to assist Burmese democracy activists dedicated to nonviolent opposition to the regime in their efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4822-4824)
action_date: 2003-06-18
text: Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7393-7394)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7390-7391)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Internet Freedom Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1183
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2003-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Censorship
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Computer security measures
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of State
Executive reorganization
Freedom of association
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Human rights
Information technology
Internet
Political persecution
Science, Technology, Communications
Technological innovations
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Global Internet Freedom Act of 2003 - Establishes in the International Broadcasting Bureau the Office of Global Internet Freedom to develop and implement a comprehensive global strategy to combat state-sponsored and state-directed Internet jamming and persecution of those who use the Internet. Requires an annual report from the Office to Congress on the status of state interference with Internet use and of U.S. efforts to counter such interference. 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should: (1) denounce governments that restrict, censor, ban, and block access to information on the Internet; (2) direct the U.S. Representative to the United Nations to submit a resolution condemning such actions; and (3) deploy technologies aimed at defeating state-directed Internet censorship and the persecution of those who use the Internet.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7394-7395)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Holocaust Victims' Assets, Restitution Policy, and Remembrance Act

Bill: 108-s-1184
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2003-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Art
Arts, Culture, Religion
Bank accounts
Compensation for victims of crime
Computer matching
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Cultural property
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Education
European American ethnic groups
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Financial statements
Foundations
Germany
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Higher education
History
International Affairs
International claims
Jewish holocaust (1939-1945)
Judaism
Museums
Nazism
Painting
Presidential appointments
Religion
Reparations
Research
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
War crimes
World War II

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Holocaust Victims' Assets, Restitution Policy, and Remembrance Act - Establishes the National Foundation for the Study of Holocaust Assets to: (1) serve as a centralized repository for research and information about Holocaust-era assets; (2) create tools to assist individuals and institutions to determine the ownership of Holocaust victims' assets and to enable claimants to obtain the speedy resolution of their personal property claims; and (3) work with private sector institutions to develop and promote common standards and best practices for research and information gathering on Holocaust-era assets.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7395-7397)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7395)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Provider Equity Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1185
Sponsor: Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY]
Introduced: 2003-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Ambulances
Ambulatory care
Clinics
Communication in medicine
Community health services
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Drugs
Education
Federally-guaranteed loans
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Health facilities
Higher education
Home care services
Hospitals
Housing and Community Development
Licenses
Marriage counseling
Medical economics
Medical education
Medical fees
Medical personnel
Medical research
Medicare
Mental health services
Nurse practitioners
Nursing
Nursing homes
Paramedical personnel
Pharmacies
Physicians
Rural health
Scholarships
Social Welfare
Student loan funds
Terminal care facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Rural Provider Equity Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), the Public Health Service Act, and other Federal law with respect to rural health care, especially: (1) physician reimbursement; (2) rural health clinics and community health centers; (3) home health services; (4) air and ground ambulance services; (5) mental health care accessibility; and (6) rural health services research.
Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance).
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income any loan payments under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.
Provides for virtual pharmacist consultation service demonstration projects.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7397-7400)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7397)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Backlog Reduction Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1186
Sponsor: Sen. Edwards, John [D-NC]
Introduced: 2003-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Claims
Continuing education
County politics and government
Data banks
Department of Veterans Affairs
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electronic government information
Employee training
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grants-in-aid
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Law
Local employees
Overhead costs
Science, Technology, Communications
Veterans' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Backlog Reduction Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) identify the current backlog of veterans' claims for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs and to categorize those claims; and (2) identify claims that need further development and refer them to a geographically appropriate County Veterans Service Office. Allows veterans' claims to be submitted to County Veterans Service Officers (in lieu of the Department) and authorizes the Officers to fully develop such claims. Requires appropriate information sharing between the Department's Benefits Delivery Network and the Offices.
Requires funding provided by this Act to be allocated to States based on their respective populations of veterans and allocates such funds to the appropriate Office. Prohibits Federal funding from exceeding 50 percent of the costs of Office operations. Allows funding to be used to establish Officer programs in States that do not have one.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
At-Risk Consumer Protection Through Food Safety Labeling Act

Bill: 108-s-1187
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2003-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Bacteria
Commerce
Department of Health and Human Services
Food safety
Foodborne diseases
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health
Labeling
Law
Meat inspection
Poultry
Pregnancy
Standards
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: At-Risk Consumer Protection Through Food Safety Labeling Act - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to define and establish at-risk consumer labeling requirements for a "ready-to-eat poultry product," and a "ready-to-eat meat product." Defines "at-risk consumer" to include pregnant women. Exempts from such requirements: (1) a producer with a scientifically validated Listeria monocytogene control program for low- and higher-risk products; and (2) a distributor whose purchasing specifications or suppliers are in compliance with such requirements.
Deems a ready-to-eat product as misbranded if required to, but not having, such labeling.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7401-7402)
action_date: 2003-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans' Survivor Benefits Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1188
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2003-06-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Appellate procedure
Claims
Death
Department of Veterans Affairs
Estates (Law)
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Judicial review
Labor and Employment
Law
Limitation of actions
Married people
Parents
Parties to actions
Survivors' benefits
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' pensions

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: 
Veterans' Survivor Benefits Act of 2003 - Repeals the limitation (benefits due and unpaid for not to exceed two years) on the accrued benefits required to be paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs upon the death of a veteran or other beneficiary. Provides that, upon the death of a child claiming benefits as a child of a Vietnam veteran, such benefits shall be paid to the surviving parents.
 
Authorizes the substitution of any of the following parties in the case of a veteran's claim for benefits provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs when the original claimant dies while the claim is pending: (1) the surviving spouse; (2) the custodian of a surviving minor or incapable child; (3) a child between 18 and 21 years of age pursuing a program of education; (4) a dependent parent; or (5) in the case of the death of a child claiming benefits as a child of a Vietnam veteran, a surviving parent.
 
Authorizes the substitution of the above eligible parties in cases pending before a U.S. Circuit Court or the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Fair Accountability Includes Resources Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1189
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2003-06-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Appropriations
Continuing education
Department of Education
Economics and Public Finance
Educational accountability
Educational planning
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Paraprofessional school personnel
Rating of teachers
School administration
School choice
School districts
Secondary education
Teacher education
Teachers

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: 
Federal Fair Accountability Includes Resources Act of 2003 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to defer certain Federal mandates under ESEA amendments made by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLBA) if the Federal Government fails to make specified minimum appropriations for provisions related to such mandates.
 
Prohibits any school or local educational agency (LEA) from being identified for or subject to certain requirements of school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring, for any year for which appropriations are less than 95 percent of specified amounts in each of FY 2003 through 2007 to carry out ESEA title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs).
 
Authorizes any State educational agency (SEA) to defer commencing, suspend implementing, or modify (but not cease developing) certain SEA and LEA requirements for teachers and paraprofessionals, for one year for each year for which appropriations are less than a specified amount for FY 2002, and such amount adjusted for inflation for each subsequent fiscal year, to carry out ESEA title II (Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals) part A (Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund) subparts 1 through 4 (Grants to States; Subgrants to LEAs; Subgrants to Eligible Partnerships; Accountability).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Introduced in Senate