hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Overtime Rights Protection Act

Bill: 109-s-223
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2005-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Labor
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Hours of labor
Indexing (Economic policy)
Law
Salaries
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2005-01-31
text: 
Overtime Rights Protection Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to prohibit from having any force or effect any portion of a rule promulgated on April 23, 2004, that has the effect of exempting from FLSA overtime compensation requirements (which limit maximum hours at regular compensation) any employee who would not otherwise be exempted if regulations in effect on March 31, 2003, remained in effect. Reinstates that portion of such regulations that would prevent such an employee from being exempt. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to increase, in a specified manner, the minimum salary level for the exemption for executive, administrative, and managerial occupations from FLSA overtime compensation requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S673-674)
action_date: 2005-01-31
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S673)
action_date: 2005-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Continuing Care for Recovering Families Act

Bill: 109-s-224
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement
Families
Health insurance continuation
International Affairs
Married people
September 11, 2001
Terrorism
Victims of terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Continuing Care for Recovering Families Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to allow spouses and children of victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to purchase or continue to purchase health insurance coverage, under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), if they elect to do so during a 120-day period beginning on the date when this Act is enacted or on the date when they lose their COBRA coverage, whichever is later. Requires such elected coverage to continue for such eligible individuals unless they are otherwise covered or are eligible under Medicare.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S740)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Improved Vaccine Supply Act

Bill: 109-s-226
Sponsor: Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Drug industry
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government procurement
Health planning
Vaccines

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Improved Vaccine Supply Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to develop a plan for the purchase, storage, and rotation of a six-month supply of vaccines routinely recommended for children and adults.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) fully implement the plan; and (2) require manufacturers of vaccines included in such supply to provide at least one year notice of a discontinuance of the manufacture of a vaccine.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S741-742)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S741)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Ernesto Guillen.

Bill: 109-s-227
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Declares, for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Ernesto Guillen to be held and considered to have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence as of the date of enactment of this Act upon payment of any necessary visa fees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Men's Health Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-228
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Health and Human Services
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Men

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Men's Health Act of 2005 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the Office of Men's Health to coordinate and promote the status of men's health in the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-10-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11993)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Railroad Crossing and Hazardous Materials Transport Safety Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-230
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Civil actions and liability
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Data banks
Department of Transportation
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal aid to transportation
Federal employees
Federal officials
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government statistics
Governmental investigations
Highway finance
Law
Negligence
Railroad engineering
Railroad equipment
Railroad freight operations
Railroad safety
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Traffic accidents and safety
Traffic signs and signals
Transportation of hazardous substances
Video tape recording

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Railroad Crossing and Hazardous Materials Transport Safety Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a review of the safety of all highway-rail grade crossings in the United States and to submit to Congress a priority list of highway-rail grade crossings most in need of safety improvements.
 
Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Secretary to maintain a national database of information on the safety of highway-rail grade crossings in the United States, including accident and other safety-related incident information.
 
Requires the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to investigate the cause of each fatal accident that occurs at a highway-rail grade crossing.
 
Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations for improving the safety, maintenance, and surveillance of highway-rail grade crossings.
 
Establishes in the FRA the position of Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration for Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety.
 
Increases civil penalties for violations of requirements related to: (1) highway-rail grade crossing safety; and (2) transportation of hazardous materials.
 
Sets forth requirements calling for: (1) the removal of railroad cars from service for public health and safety protection; (2) age limits for railroad cars transporting hazardous materials; (3) provision of hazardous material lists by railroad carriers to State homeland security coordinators; (4) replacement of manual railroad track switches most in need of maintenance and upgrades; (5) deployment of positive train control systems; and (6) the development of dynamic tank car standards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Caring for Children Act

Bill: 109-s-233
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Auditing
Child care workers
Child development
Child health
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Day care
Disabled
Distance education
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Employee benefit plans
Employee training
Federal aid to education
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Grants-in-aid
Health
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Preschool education
Scholarships
School-age child care
Small business
Social Welfare
Teacher education
Working poor

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Caring for Children Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities to develop: (1) distance learning child care training technology infrastructures; and (2) model technology-based training courses for child care providers and child care workers, to be provided through distance learning programs made available through the infrastructure. Requires, to the maximum extent possible, that such grants be awarded in regions with the fewest training opportunities for child care providers.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a demonstration program of competitive grants to States to help them provide funds to encourage the establishment and operation of small business employer-operated child care programs. Requires a State to give priority for such assistance to applicants that desire to form a consortium to provide child care in an area where such care is not generally available or accessible. Allows such consortia to include businesses, nonprofit agencies or organizations, local governments, or other appropriate entities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S743-744)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S743)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Majan Jean.

Bill: 109-s-234
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Declares Majan Jean to be eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Nevada National Forest Land Disposal Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-235
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency Management
Fire fighters
Forest fires
Land transfers
Maintenance and repair
National forests
Nevada
Parks
Sports and Recreation
Trails
Water Resources Development
Water districts

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Nevada National Forest Land Disposal Act of 2005 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to sell any right, title, or interest of the United States in and to certain parcels of National Forest System lands in Carson City and Douglas County, Nevada. Declares that the Secretary and the relevant unit of local government shall jointly decide whether land is to be offered for sale under this Act. Sets forth percentages of the gross proceeds from sales under this Act that shall be earmarked for: (1) the State of Nevada general education program; (2) the Carson Water Subconservancy District in Nevada; (3) the fund established in the Sisk Act, to be used for land sales costs and for the development and maintenance of parks, trails, and natural areas in specified Nevada counties; and (4) the Minden Interagency Dispatch Center in Minden, Nevada. 
Declares that the lands authorized to be sold under this Act shall not be subject to specified Federal law pertaining to property management.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-11
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 109-104.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Critical Access to Clinical Lab Services Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-236
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Hospital rates
Medical laboratories
Medical tests
Medicare
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Critical Access to Clinical Lab Services Act of 2005 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide that clinical diagnostic laboratory services furnished by a critical access hospital shall be treated as being furnished as part of outpatient critical access services without regard to whether: (1) the individual for whom the services are furnished is physically present in the critical access hospital at the time the specimen is collected; (2) such individual is registered as an outpatient on the records of, and receives such services directly from, the critical access hospital; or (3) payment is available for such services under the fee schedule established for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S744-745)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Pay to Play Reform Protection Act

Bill: 109-s-237
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Campaign funds
Commerce
Construction industries
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government ethics
Highway finance
Infrastructure
Public corruption
Road construction
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Pay to Play Reform Protection Act - Amends Federal highway law regarding requirements for the letting of a contract for the construction of Federal-aid highway project by or under the supervision of a State transportation department. Declares that nothing in such requirements prohibits a State from enacting a law or issuing an order that limits the amount of money an individual doing business with a State agency for a Federal-aid project may contribute to a political campaign.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S745)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S745)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Economic Investment Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-238
Sponsor: Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural credit
Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Farm lands
Finance and Financial Sector
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Interest
Mortgages
Rural housing
Savings and loan associations
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Rural Economic Investment Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income interest received by a bank or savings association that is insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act on a loan secured by agricultural real estate or by a leasehold mortgage on agricultural real estate (real property used for agricultural production or certain single family rural residences).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-239
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Defense procurement
Drug industry
Drugs
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Health insurance
Medicare
Medigap
Military medicine
Prescription pricing
Social Welfare
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2005 - Directs the Comptroller General to review and report to Congress on the retail cost of prescription drugs in the United States during 2000 and 2003, and through April 1, 2006, with an emphasis on the prescription drugs most utilized for individuals age 65 or older.
 
Requires the Comptroller General to conduct an ongoing study that compares the average retail cost in the United States for each of the 20 most utilized prescription drugs for individuals age 65 or older with: (1) the average prices at which private health plans, the Department of Defense under the Defense Health Program, and the Department of Veterans Affairs acquire each such drug; and (2) the average negotiated price for each such drug that eligible beneficiaries have access to under a Medicare prescription drug plan providing only basic prescription drug coverage.
 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to include in the comparative plan information for beneficiaries under new Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) a comparison of average aggregate prescription drug plan beneficiary costs and savings with such costs for a beneficiary with no prescription drug plan.
 
Repeals the prohibition against interference by the Secretary with the negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and prescription drug plan sponsors, as well as the requirement of a particular formulary to institute a price structure for the reimbursement of Medicare part D covered drugs. Authorizes the Secretary instead, like other Federal entities that purchase prescription drugs in bulk, to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of covered part D drugs.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S745-746)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Military Reservist Tax Credit Act

Bill: 109-s-240
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces reserves
Commerce
Income tax
Iraq compilation
Labor and Employment
Manufacturing industries
Replacement workers
Self-employed
Small business
Tax credits
Temporary employment
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Small Business Military Reservist Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) certain small business employers (50 or fewer employees) and small manufacturers (100 or fewer employees) a tax credit for a percentage of the differential between the average daily civilian compensation and average daily military pay and allowances of their military reservist employees who are called to active duty; (2) such employers a tax credit for the hiring of temporary replacement employees; and (3) self-employed military reservists a comparable tax credit for a percentage of the differential between their average daily self-employment income and their average daily military pay and allowances. 
 
Denies a tax credit: (1) to employers who fail to comply with employment or reemployment rights of military reservists; and (2) for employees who are called to active duty for training.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S747-749)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that funds received as universal service contributions and the universal service support programs established pursuant to that section are not subject to certain provisions of title 31, United States Code, commonly known as the Antideficiency Act.

Bill: 109-s-241
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Appropriations
Arts, Culture, Religion
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Educational facilities
Elementary and secondary education
Finance and Financial Sector
Internet
Libraries
Telecommunication rates
Telephone rates

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: 
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make Federal provisions which prohibit the obligation or expenditure of funds either in excess of appropriated amounts or in violation of sequestration orders under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1986 inapplicable to: (1) any amount collected or received as Federal universal service contributions; or (2) the expenditure or obligation of amounts attributable to such contributions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-11
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-39.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S749)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Abrupt Climate Change Research Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-245
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2005-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Atmosphere
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Environmental Protection
Environmental research
Federal aid to research
Geophysical prediction
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oceanographic research

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Abrupt Climate Change Research Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and carry out a scientific research program on abrupt climate change. Lists as purposes of the program: (1) to develop a global array of terrestrial and oceanographic indicators of paleoclimate in order to sufficiently identify and describe past instances of abrupt climate change; (2) to improve understanding of thresholds and nonlinearities in geophysical systems related to the mechanisms of abrupt climate change; (3) to incorporate such mechanisms into advanced geophysical models of climate change; and (4) to test the output of such models against an improved global array of records of past abrupt climate changes.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S750-751)
action_date: 2005-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate