hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to early retirement benefits, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-607
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2005-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Commerce
Corporate mergers
Corporate reorganizations
Early retirement
Pension funds
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: 
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect pro rata shares of employees' subsidized early retirement benefits in cases of corporate mergers and acquisitions where the successor employer does not continue to maintain the pension plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2522)
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to create an independent office in the Department of Labor to advocate on behalf of pension participants, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-608
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2005-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Labor
Employee rights
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Law
Legislation
Ombudsman
Pension funds
Public-private partnerships

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: 
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish an Office of Pension Participant Advocacy, with a Pension Participant Advocate, in the Department of Labor.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2522-2523)
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Prenatally Diagnosed Condition Awareness Act

Bill: 109-s-609
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2005-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adoption
Birth defects
Child development
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Communication in medicine
Communication in science
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Data banks
Directories
Down's syndrome
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Epidemiology
Families
Family services
Fetus
Genetic counseling
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Grants-in-aid
Health counseling
Health education
Health information systems
Health surveys
Hereditary diseases
Imaging systems in medicine
Internet
Life expectancy
Maternal health services
Medical records
Medical statistics
Medical tests
Patients' rights
Quality of life
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Telephone
Vital statistics
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: 
Prenatally Diagnosed Condition Awareness Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through either the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to authorize and oversee certain activities relating to Down syndrome or other prenatally diagnosed conditions, including the awarding of grants, contracts or cooperative agreements to: (1) collect, synthesize, and disseminate current scientific information; and (2) coordinate the provision of, and access to, supportive services for patients affected, which shall include a telephone hotline, an information clearinghouse, peer-support programs, and registries of families willing to adopt children affected by such conditions.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of CDC, to provide assistance to State and local heath departments to integrate the results of prenatal testing into State-based vital statistics and birth defects surveillance programs.
 
Requires a health care provider to provide certain information to a patient who receives a positive test result from a prenatal test for such a condition, including: (1) up-to-date scientific information concerning the life expectancy, clinical course, and intellectual and functional development and treatment options for a fetus diagnosed with, or a child born with, such conditions; and (2) referrals to supportive service providers.
 
 Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit a report to Congress concerning the effectiveness of current health care and family support programs serving as resources for the families of children with disabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2982-2983)
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a small agri-biodiesel producer credit and to improve the small ethanol producer credit.

Bill: 109-s-610
Sponsor: Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO]
Introduced: 2005-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural wastes
Agriculture and Food
Alcohol as fuel
Commerce
Diesel motor
Energy
Energy crops
Environmental Protection
Income tax
Oils and fats
Refuse as fuel
Small business
Tax credits
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the tax credit for biodiesel used as fuel to include a credit for the production of agri-biodiesel fuel equal to 10 cents for each gallon produced. Limits: (1) the amount of qualified agri-biodiesel production of a producer to 15 million gallons for any taxable year; and (2) eligible producers to those with a productive capacity not exceeding 60 million gallons.
 
Revises the small ethanol producer tax credit to: (1) expand the eligibility of small ethanol producers for the credit; (2) exclude the credit from the definition of passive activity credit; and (3) exclude credit amounts from inclusion in gross income.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2523-2524)
action_date: 2005-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Medical Services Support Act

Bill: 109-s-611
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2005-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Communication in medicine
Community health services
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency communication systems
Emergency medicine
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to health facilities
Federal-Indian relations
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Health information systems
Health planning
Indian medical care
Minorities
Native Americans
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: 
Emergency Medical Services Support Act - Requires the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, to establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services to improve coordination and enhance support of emergency medical services (EMS).
 
Establishes a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council to make recommendations on EMS topics to the Committee.
 
Requires the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to provide administrative support to both the Committee and the Council.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-22
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2646)
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to award the Combat Medical Badge or another combat badge for Army helicopter medical evacuation ambulance (Medevac) pilots and crews.

Bill: 109-s-612
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Ambulances
Commemorations
Health
Helicopters
Military medals, decorations, etc.
Military medicine
Military personnel

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Army to award the Combat Medical Badge, or establish and award a badge to be known as the Combat Medevac Badge, for Army helicopter medical evacuation ambulance (Medevac) pilots and crews. Makes qualifying service effective beginning June 25, 1950.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2647-2648)
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Steel Industry National Historic Site Act

Bill: 109-s-613
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Bridges
Commemorations
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cultural property
Historic sites
History
Industrial buildings
Iron and steel industry
Land transfers
Landscape protection
National parks
Pennsylvania
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Steel Industry National Historic Site Act - Establishes the Steel Industry National Historic Site in Pennsylvania as a unit of the National Park System.
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire by donation specified property for inclusion within such Site.
 Requires the Secretary to prepare and submit to specified congressional committees a general management plan for the Site.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2648)
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Prescription Drugs Assistance Act

Bill: 109-s-614
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Coinsurance
Commerce
Dental care
Drugs
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Health
Medical economics
Medicare
Prescription pricing
Social Welfare
Vaccination
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: 
Veterans Prescription Drugs Assistance Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish such drugs and medicines as may be ordered on prescription of a duly licensed physician as specific therapy in the treatment of any illness or injury suffered by each veteran who is receiving additional compensation or allowance due to a service-connected disability, or increased pension as a veteran of a period of war, by reason of being permanently housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance.
 
Allows any Medicare-eligible veteran to elect to be furnished by the Secretary, on an outpatient basis, such drugs and medicines as ordered on prescription of a duly licensed physician as specific therapy for any illness or injury suffered by the veteran. Requires such election to last for a calendar year and to be irrevocable. Allows for election renewal. Requires appropriate information to be furnished to each veteran prior to such election.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to administer immunizations to voluntary eligible veterans in connection with the provision of care in any Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility.
 
Provides for appropriate copayments for the drugs and medicines received by veterans under authority of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-09
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-217.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2648-2649)
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Montgomery GI Bill Revitalization Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-615
Sponsor: Sen. Dayton, Mark [D-MN]
Introduced: 2005-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Compensatory education
Cost of living adjustments
Disabled
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Higher education
Income
Labor and Employment
Law
Licenses
Military discharges
Military pay
Scholarships
Secondary education
Student loan funds
Technical education
Veterans' education
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Montgomery GI Bill Revitalization Act of 2005 - Amends Federal basic educational assistance provisions (the Montgomery GI Bill) to authorize enhanced educational assistance to a member of the armed forces who, after September 30, 2005: (1) first enters on active duty; (2) reenlists or continues to serve on active duty; (3) serves a continuous period of active duty of four years; or (4) serves and is discharged or released for a service-connected disability, at the convenience of the Government (after serving at least 42 months of such duty), or due to a reduction in force. Limits to 36 months the period for such enhanced assistance. Requires the payment of educational expenses under such program. Provides: (1) a monthly stipend for approved programs of education; and (2) tutorial assistance. 
Repeals, with respect to such assistance: (1) a required monthly reduction in pay for individuals who do not elect to participate in such assistance program; (2) a provision authorizing individuals to elect not to receive such assistance; (3) the requirement that participants complete the requirements of a high school diploma or equivalency certificate prior to the end of their initial obligated period of service in order to be eligible to receive such assistance; and (4) provisions limiting an individual's opportunity to withdraw an election not to enroll in such assistance program.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Secretary of the Army to carry out the dredging project, Menominee Harbor, Menominee River, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Bill: 109-s-617
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2005-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Civil engineering
Cost effectiveness
Dredging
Finance and Financial Sector
Harbors
Infrastructure
Inland water transportation
Michigan
Navigation
Rivers
Water Resources Development
Wisconsin

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Army to carry out a previously deauthorized navigation project at Menominee Harbor and River, Michigan and Wisconsin, at full Federal expense, regardless of whether the benefits of the project exceed the estimated costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2652-2653)
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom From Union Violence Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-618
Sponsor: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]
Introduced: 2005-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault
Commerce
Conspiracy
Extortion
Interstate commerce
Labor and Employment
Labor disputes
Larceny
Picketing
Prosecution
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Transportation and Public Works
Violence

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Freedom From Union Violence Act of 2005 - Amends the Hobbs Act to authorize imposition of a fine of up to $100,000, 20 years imprisonment, or both for: (1) obstructing, delaying, or affecting commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by robbery or extortion (or attempting or conspiring to do so); and (2) threatening physical violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to interfere with commerce by threats or violence. 
Makes provisions regarding any such interference inapplicable to conduct that: (1) is incidental to otherwise peaceful picketing during the course of a labor dispute; (2) consists solely of minor bodily injury, or minor damage to property, or threat or fear of such minor injury or damage; and (3) is not part of a pattern of violent conduct or of coordinated violent activity. Subjects such conduct to prosecution only by the appropriate State and local authorities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Fairness Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-619
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2005-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Civil service retirement
Government Operations and Politics
Labor and Employment
Old age, survivors and disability insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: 
Social Security Fairness Act of 2005 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to repeal: (1) Government pension offset requirements applicable to husband's and wife's insurance benefits, widow's and widower's insurance benefits, and mother's and father's insurance benefits with respect to OASDI payments; and (2) windfall elimination requirements with respect to computation of an individual's primary insurance amount.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2653)
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-620
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2005-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Ammunition
Assault weapons
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Drug abuse
Drug traffic
Firearms control
Governmental investigations
Identification devices
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Violence

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: 
Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal criminal code to reinstate, for ten years, the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act's assault weapons ban to prohibit the manufacture, transfer, or possession of a semiautomatic assault weapon or a large capacity ammunition feeding device. Specifies models and features of banned weapons. 
 
Sets forth exceptions to such ban, including: (1) firearms or devices lawfully possessed under Federal law on the date of enactment of this Act; (2) certain firearms, replicas, or duplicates listed in an appendix as they were manufactured on October 1, 1993; (3) any firearm that is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action and that has been rendered permanently inoperable or that is an antique firearm; (4) any semiautomatic rifle that cannot accept a detachable magazine that holds more than five rounds of ammunition; (5) any semiautomatic shotgun that cannot hold more than five rounds in a fixed or detachable magazine; and (6) firearms manufactured for, transferred to, or possessed by a Federal, State, or local government agency or for law enforcement.
 
Requires the serial number of any weapon or device manufactured after enactment of this Act to clearly show the date of manufacture.
 
Directs the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on the effects of this Act on violent and drug trafficking crime.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2654-2655)
action_date: 2005-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the 15-year recovery period for the depreciation of certain leasehold improvements.

Bill: 109-s-621
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]
Introduced: 2005-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Depreciation and amortization
Income tax
Leases
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the 15-year recovery period for the depreciation of qualified leasehold improvement property (property held and improved by a lessor).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2736)
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2735-2736)
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Restoration of Freedom of Information Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-622
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2005-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Confidential communications
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Freedom of information
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Law
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: Restoration of Freedom of Information Act of 2005 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to prohibit a record pertaining to the vulnerability of and threats to critical infrastructure that is furnished voluntarily to the Department of Homeland Security from being made available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act if: (1) the provider would not customarily make the record available to the public; and (2) the record is designated and certified by the provider as confidential and not customarily made available to the public. Prohibits other Federal agencies in receipt of such a record furnished to the Department from making the record publicly available. Allows a provider to withdraw the confidential designation of a record at any time.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2737-2738)
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2736-2737)
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Secretary of Interior to convey certain land held in trust for the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah to the City of Richfield, Utah, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-623
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2005-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Indian lands
Land transfers
Minorities
Native Americans
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey specified land held by the United States in trust for the Paiute Indian tribe of Utah to the city of Richfield, Utah.
 
Specifies that the conveyance shall be subject to the following conditions: (1) the Secretary shall ensure that the terms of the sale have been approved by a tribal resolution; (2) consideration given by the city for such property shall be not less than the property's appraised fair market value; (3) the city shall pay all costs related to the conveyance; and (4) proceeds from the conveyance shall be given immediately to the tribe.
 
Makes land acquired in trust for the tribe after February 17, 1984, part of the tribe's reservation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2738-2739)
action_date: 2005-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate