hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Highway Funding Equity Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-762
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2005-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Appalachia
Bridges
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Federal aid to transportation
Government trust funds
Highway finance
Highway maintenance
Highway planning
Highway use tax
Infrastructure
Interstate highway system
Metropolitan areas
Motor vehicle pollution control
Road construction
Sports and Recreation
Taxation
Traffic congestion
Trails
Transportation planning
Urban affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: 
Highway Funding Equity Act of 2005 - Amends Federal highway law to revise Federal highway minimum guarantee requirements.
 
Requires the Secretary of Transportation, for each of FY 2005 through 2009, to allocate among the States amounts sufficient to ensure that the percentage for each State of the total apportionments for the fiscal year for certain Federal-aid highway programs (including the basic minimum guarantee under this Act) equals or exceeds 95 percent of the ratio that the estimated gas tax payments attributable to highway users in the State paid into the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) bears to such payments attributable to highway users in all States (with a specified exception for any State having a population density of less than 50 individuals per square mile).
 
Provides for: (1) the programmatic distribution of funds above $2.8 billion for certain Federal-aid highway programs; (2) the apportionment of the remainder of funds to the States; and (3) required adjustments where the sum of State percentages exceeds 100 percent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3485)
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3484-3485)
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Welded Rail and Tank Car Safety Improvement Act

Bill: 109-s-763
Sponsor: Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND]
Introduced: 2005-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Transportation
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Law
Railroad engineering
Railroad equipment
Railroad safety
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Steel

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: 
Welded Rail and Tank Car Safety Improvement Act - Directs the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to: (1) require each track owner using continuous welded rail (CWR) track to include in the plan filed with the FRA procedures to improve the identification of cracks in rail joint bars; (2) instruct FRA track inspectors to obtain the most recent CWR program of a railroad and require them to use those programs when conducting track inspections; (3) establish a program to review CWR joint bar inspection data from railroads and FRA track inspectors periodically; (4) validate a predictive model to quantify the relevant dynamic forces acting on railroad tank cars under accident conditions; and (5) initiate a rulemaking to develop and implement appropriate design standards for pressurized tank cars.
 
Requires the FRA to: (1) conduct a comprehensive analysis to determine the impact resistance of the steels in the shells of pressure tank cars constructed before 1989; and (2) establish a program to rank the cars according to their risk of catastrophic fracture and separation, and implement measures to eliminate or mitigate such risk.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3486-3487)
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3486)
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserving Access to Affordable Drugs Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-764
Sponsor: Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2005-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Commerce
Drugs
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Health insurance
Health maintenance organizations
Managed care
Medicaid
Medicare
Prescription pricing
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: 
Preserving Access to Affordable Drugs Act of 2005 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, at the option of the State operating it, to act as the authorized representative for any part D eligible individual residing in the State who is enrolled in the Program in order to select one or more preferred prescription drug plans to enroll such an individual, so long as the individual is afforded the authority to decline such enrollment.
 
Revises the declaration that the coordination requirements for plans providing prescription drug coverage shall not impair or prevent a prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsor or Medicare Advantage (MA) organization from applying cost management tools (including differential payments) under its own methods of operation. Declares further that a PDP sponsor or MA organization may not require a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program or an RX plan to apply such cost management tools when coordinating benefits.
 
Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to repeal current requirements governing the coordination of prescription drug benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3487-3488)
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7487)
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Math and Science Incentive Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-765
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, John [R-VA]
Introduced: 2005-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Armed Forces and National Security
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economic security
Economics and Public Finance
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Engineering
Engineers
Federal aid to education
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government lending
Higher education
Interest
Labor and Employment
Mathematics
Rating of employees
Recruiting of employees
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Scientists
Secondary education
Student loan funds
Teacher education
Teacher supply and demand
Teachers
Technical education
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: 
Math and Science Incentive Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a program of assuming the obligation to pay up to $10,000 of interest on certain student loans under the Higher Education Act of 1965, for certain borrowers who agree to serve for five years as: (1) teachers of science, technology, engineering or mathematics at an elementary or secondary school; or (2) mathematics, science or engineering professionals.
 
Requires that selection of program participants from among eligible applicants be based on: (1) U.S. national security, homeland security, and economic security needs; and (2) the applicant's academic record or job performance. Allows other factors to be considered in such selection.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3488)
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-766
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Damages
Emergency Management
Equipment and supplies
Federal preemption
Fire departments
Good samaritan laws
Government Operations and Politics
Liability (Law)
Negligence
Rescue work
Social Welfare
State laws
Surplus government property
Torts
Transportation and Public Works
Trucks
Volunteer workers

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act of 2005 - States that a person (including a governmental or other entity) who donates fire control or fire rescue equipment to a volunteer fire company shall not be liable for State or Federal civil damages for personal injuries, property damage or loss, or death caused by the equipment after the donation. 
Waives such liability protection if: (1) the person's act or omission causing the injury, damage, loss, or death constitutes gross negligence or intentional misconduct; or (2) the person is the manufacturer of such equipment. 
Preempts State law unless such law provides additional protection from liability.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3488-3489)
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
National Food and Agricultural Science Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-767
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2005-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural innovations
Agricultural research
Agriculture in foreign trade
Animals
Biomass energy
Capital investments
Colleges
Commerce
Developing countries
Diet
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Energy
Energy security
Environmental Protection
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to research
Food safety
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Hunger
International Affairs
International competitiveness
Livestock
National Science Foundation
New products
Nutrition
Obesity
Petroleum
Plant fibers
Plant protection
Plants
Research and development facilities
Research centers
Research grants
Rural economic development
Science, Technology, Communications
Sustainable agriculture

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: 
National Food and Agricultural Science Act of 2005 - Establishes: (1) in the National Science Foundation (NSF) a Division of Food and Agricultural Science, which shall be administered by a Director of Food and Agricultural Science; and (2) in the Division, a Standing Council of Advisors. 
 
States that the Division's sole function shall be to award grants to promote complementary, fundamental agricultural research to: (1) individual scientists; (2) single and multi-institutional research centers; and (3) private and public sector entities, including the Department of Agriculture, the Foundation, or other Federal agencies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3490-3491)
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3489-3490)
action_date: 2005-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Compliance Assistance Enhancement Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-769
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2005-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Electronic government information
Government Operations and Politics
Government publications
Government publicity
Government regulation
Internet
Law
Regulatory impact statements
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: 
Small Business Compliance Assistance Enhancement Act of 2005 - Amends the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 to require an agency to prepare a compliance guide to assist small entities in complying with a Federal rule or group of related rules for which an agency is required to prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis whenever an agency determines that a Federal rule or group of rules will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3558)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3557-3558)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Workforce Health Improvement Program Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-772
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2005-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Employee health benefits
Executive compensation
Fees
Fringe benefits
Health
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Physical fitness
Sports and Recreation
Sports facilities
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: 
Workforce Health Improvement Program Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of employees: (1) the value of any on-premises employer-provided athletic facility; and (2) fees, dues, or membership expenses paid to an athletic or fitness facility by an employer for its employees, but not exceeding $900 per employee per year.
 
Allows employers a tax deduction for fees, dues, or membership expenses paid to an athletic or fitness facility. Limits the amount of such deduction to $900 per employee per year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Extremely Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-773
Sponsor: Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2005-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Bridges
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Damages
Department of Homeland Security
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
Emergency Management
Employee training
Environmental Protection
Explosives
Fines (Penalties)
Flammable materials
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal fees
Police training
Radioactive wastes
Railroad employees
Railroad engineering
Railroad equipment
Railroad safety
Railroad terminals
Rescue work
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Terrorism
Transportation of hazardous substances
Wage restitution
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: 
Extremely Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to prescribe regulations that coordinate the efforts of Federal, State, and local agencies to prevent terrorist acts and respond to emergencies that may occur in connection with the transportation by rail of extremely hazardous materials. Defines extremely hazardous material as material that is toxic by inhalation, extremely flammable, highly explosive, a high-level radioactive waste, or otherwise designated by the Secretary.
 
Requires the Secretary, in prescribing the regulations, to compile a list of area of concern communities, including those through or near which the rail transportation of extremely hazardous materials poses a serious risk to the public health and safety.
 
Directs the Secretary to prescribe by regulation standards for ensuring the safety and physical integrity of pressurized rail tank cars used to transport extremely hazardous materials.
 
Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the safety and security of, and the threat posed by acts of terrorism to, the transportation by rail of extremely hazardous materials.
 
Sets forth whistleblower protections for persons involved in the transportation of extremely hazardous materials. Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3561-3562)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3560-3561)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-774
Sponsor: Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY]
Introduced: 2005-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Economics and Public Finance
Government trust funds
Health
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Medicare
Old age, survivors and disability insurance
Railroad retirement plans
Social Welfare
Social security beneficiaries
Tax exclusion
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the 85 percent maximum tax rate on Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits enacted by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. Appropriates, from the general fund, to the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund amounts equal to the reduction in revenues resulting from this repeal.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3562)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 123 W. 7th Street in Holdenville, Oklahoma, as the "Boone Pickens Post Office".

Bill: 109-s-775
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2005-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Commerce
Congress
Congressional tributes
Energy
Government Operations and Politics
Names
Oklahoma
Petroleum industry
Postal facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 123 W. 7th Street in Holdenville, Oklahoma, as the "Boone Pickens Post Office."
action_date: 2005-08-02
text: 

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

 
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 123 W. 7th Street in Holdenville, Oklahoma, as the "Boone Pickens Post Office." 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-08-02
text: Became Public Law No: 109-51.
action_date: 2005-08-02
text: Became Public Law No: 109-51.
action_date: 2005-08-02
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2005-08-02
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2005-07-29
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2005-07-29
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2005-07-25
text: Cleared for White House.
action_date: 2005-07-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2005-07-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6395)
action_date: 2005-07-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6395)
action_date: 2005-07-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 775.
action_date: 2005-07-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6395)
action_date: 2005-07-25
text: Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2005-06-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
action_date: 2005-06-29
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2005-06-29
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2005-06-29
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S7551)
action_date: 2005-06-29
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S7551)
action_date: 2005-06-29
text: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7550-7551)
action_date: 2005-06-29
text: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7550-7551)
action_date: 2005-06-22
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3562-3563)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 109-51
Federal Aviation Safety Security Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-776
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2005-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Air traffic
Aviation safety
Commerce
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Privatization

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: 
Federal Aviation Safety Security Act of 2005 - Declares that functions performed by air traffic control specialists at Federal Aviation Administration flight service stations are inherently governmental functions, and must be performed by Federal employees. Voids any action taken pursuant to the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 to include such functions on certain annual Federal agency lists (submitted to the Office of Management and Budget) of government activities performed by Federal Government sources for an agency that are not inherently governmental functions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3563)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3563)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-778
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2005-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drugs
Medicaid
Medical fees
Medicare
Pharmacies
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: 
Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2005 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prohibit any payment to a pharmacy unless it ensures: (1) that each valid prescription is filled without unnecessary delay or other interference, consistent with the normal timeframe for filling prescriptions; and (2) that, if the prescribed item is not in the pharmacy's stock, the pharmacy will order such item without unnecessary delay or, if the patient prefers, will transfer the prescription to a local pharmacy of the patient's choice or return the prescription to the patient, at the patient's request.
 
Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to require any pharmacy that provides services to any individual eligible for medical assistance to comply with the requirements of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3564)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat controlled foreign corporations established in tax havens as domestic corporations.

Bill: 109-s-779
Sponsor: Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND]
Introduced: 2005-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Corporation taxes
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign corporations
Income tax
Tax shelters
Taxation of foreign income

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat certain controlled foreign corporations created or organized under the laws of a tax-haven country as domestic corporations for tax purposes. Sets forth a list of &quot;tax-haven countries&quot; and grants the Secretary of the Treasury authority to remove or add a country from such list. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure.
action_date: 2006-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S409)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3564-3565)
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate