hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Suburban Core Opportunity, Restoration, and Enhancement (SCORE) Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1024
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2005-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Affordable housing
Agriculture and Food
Architecture
Arts, Culture, Religion
Auditing
Block grants
Citizen participation
Commemorations
Commerce
Community development
Construction costs
Corporation taxes
Depreciation and amortization
Depressed areas
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Farm lands
Federal aid to housing
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial statements
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Grants-in-aid
Historic sites
Housing finance
Income tax
Industrial buildings
Infrastructure
Job creation
Labor and Employment
Land transfers
Local finance
Local laws
Marketing
Mass rapid transit
Metropolitan areas
Minimum tax
Nature conservation
Open space lands
Parks
Pedestrians
Property tax
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Public meetings
Real estate appraisal
Real estate development
Recreation areas
Recruiting of employees
Retail trade
Shopping centers
Sports and Recreation
Strategic planning
Streets
Suburbs
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Taxation
Transportation and Public Works
Urban planning

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: 
Suburban Core Opportunity, Restoration, and Enhancement (SCORE) Act of 2005 - Defines &quot;SCORE project area&quot; as any area that: (1) is ineligible for renewal community designation under the Internal Revenue Code (the Code); (2) is not smaller than a census-designated place; and (3) includes some of the following, proximity to existing development and infrastructure (including mass transit), substandard or underutilized residential, commercial, and industrial properties, or an economically obsolescent regional mall (Greyfield mall), has an average housing cost-burden of at least 50 percent of gross income, or a 30 percent higher than average commercial vacancy rate.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to: (1) designate SCORE project areas from among local government entity-designated areas; (2) make SCORE project area planning and revitalization grants. Requires a local government grantee to establish a SCORE Reinvestment Fund.
 
Sets forth provisions respecting housing units, businesses, and economic development projects in SCORE project areas that are receiving community development block grant funds.
 
Amends the Code to: (1) include SCORE project areas within the work opportunity tax credit; and (2) permit an additional first-year depreciation amount for certain SCORE project area residential real property or residential rental property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to exempt the natural aging process in the determination of the production period for distilled spirits under section 263A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Bill: 109-s-1027
Sponsor: Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY]
Introduced: 2005-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting
Agriculture and Food
Alcoholic beverages
Commerce
Costs
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Inventories
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from determination of the production period for distilled spirits any period allocated to the natural aging process for purposes of determining whether a taxpayer can expense, rather than capitalize, interest costs paid or incurred during the production period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Personnel Financial Services Education Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1028
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2005-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Casualty insurance
Commerce
Consumer education
Counseling
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial services
Government life insurance
Insurance
Investments
Life insurance
Marketing
Military dependents
Military education
Military pay
Military personnel
Military promotions
Military training
Payroll deductions
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: 
Military Personnel Financial Services Education Act of 2005 - Provides financial services and life insurance consumer education for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses, which shall be provided as a component of initial entry and recurring training. (Such training shall include information on financial services marketing practices that are particularly prevalent at a military installation and vicinity.)
 
Provides financial services counseling for members of the Armed Forces, and upon request, for their spouses. Requires a full-time trained counselor at installations with at least 750 assigned personnel, and other counseling at smaller installations.
 
Requires counselors to provide members or spouses with information on Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance when providing information on private sector life insurance. Prohibits E-1 through E-4 members to pay for private sector insurance through pay allotments without a written certification of counseling.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5159-5160)
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5158-5159)
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Accessing College through Comprehensive Early Outreach and State Partnerships Act

Bill: 109-s-1029
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2005-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Charities
Colleges
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational accountability
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Higher education
Mentoring
Scholarships
Social Welfare
Student aid

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: 
Accessing College through Comprehensive Early Outreach and State Partnerships Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to replace the current special leveraging educational assistance partnership program with a program of allotments to enable states to: (1) expand and enhance partnerships with institutions of higher education, early information and intervention, mentoring, or outreach programs, private corporations, philanthropic organizations, and other interested parties to carry out specified activities and provide coordination and cohesion among federal, state, and local governmental and private efforts providing financial assistance to help low-income students attend college; (2) provide need-based grants for college access and increased college persistence to eligible low-income students; (3) provide early notification to low-income students of their eligibility for financial aid; and (4) encourage increased participation in early information and intervention, mentoring, or outreach programs.
 
Requires partnerships for the award of grants between a state agency and: (1) at least one public and one private degree granting institution of higher education located in the state; and (2) new or existing early information and intervention, mentoring, or outreach programs also located in the state. Permits partnerships with philanthropic organizations located in, or which provide funding in, the state, as well as private corporations located in, or doing business in, the state. 
 
Requires different federal shares of program costs and different amounts of grants awarded in partnerships with institutions of higher learning: (1) serving less than a majority of students in the state; and (2) serving the majority of students in the state.
 
Requires annual early notification of low-income students of their potential eligibility for student financial assistance. Prescribes minimum eligibility requirements for such students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5161-5163)
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5160-5161)
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Electric Reliability Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1031
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2005-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Canada
Delegation of powers
Department of Energy
Electric power production
Electric power transmission
Electric utilities
Energy security
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal advisory bodies
Fines (Penalties)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Independent regulatory commissions
International Affairs
Latin America
Law
Licenses
Mexico
Standards
Trade agreements

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: 
 Electric Reliability Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Power Act to extend Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdiction for purposes of approving reliability standards and enforcing compliance with this Act over a FERC-certified electric reliability organization (ERO), a regional entity, and users, owners, and operators of a bulk-power system. 
 
Prescribes procedural guidelines for: (1) certification as an ERO; (2) filing of reliability standards; and (3) imposition of penalties by either an ERO or FERC for noncompliance with this Act.
 
Requires an ERO to file with FERC for approval of any proposed rule or rule change.
 
Urges the President to negotiate international agreements with the governments of Canada and Mexico to provide for effective compliance with reliability standards and the efficacy of the ERO in the United States, Canada or Mexico.
 
Requires an ERO to assess periodically the reliability and adequacy of the interconnected bulk-power system in North America.
 
Directs FERC to establish a regional advisory body upon the petition of at least two-thirds of the States within a region that have more than one-half of their electric loads served within the region.
 
Exempts Alaska or Hawaii from the coverage of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5168)
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Seaport Multiyear Security Enhancement Act

Bill: 109-s-1032
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2005-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Harbors
Infrastructure
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
International Affairs
Marine safety
Marine terminals
Port authorities
Security measures
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: 
United States Seaport Multiyear Security Enhancement Act - Authorizes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to make grants to seaports to enhance security if the TSA determines that the grant will improve security at a seaport or improve the efficiency of the seaport without lessening security.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5168-5169)
action_date: 2005-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Environmentally Responsible Windpower Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1034
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2005-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Animals
Armed Forces and National Security
Birds
Coastal zone
Commemorations
Electric utility rates
Energy facilities
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Federal-local relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Historic sites
History
Interstate relations
Landscape protection
Local laws
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Migratory bird conservation
Military bases
Offshore structures
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sea birds
Wildlife conservation
Wind power

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-13
text: 
Environmentally Responsible Windpower Act of 2005 - States that an onshore and above-water wind turbine project must file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) its Local Approval Authorization (a resolution of approval or denial from the local governing body and local senior executive) prior to FERC issuance of its Exempt-Wholesale Generator Status, Market-Based Rate Authority, or Qualified Facility rate schedule. Prohibits FERC from issuing any of them to a wind project if the local authorities deny the siting of the project.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5194)
action_date: 2005-05-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5191-5194)
action_date: 2005-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Teacher Retention Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1036
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2005-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces reserves
Economics and Public Finance
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Family leave
Federal aid to education
Fringe benefits
Housing and Community Development
Labor and Employment
National Guard
Rural education
Teacher salaries
Teacher supply and demand

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: 
Rural Teacher Retention Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a five-year pilot program of making allotments to applicant rural local educational agencies for: (1) one-time signing bonuses of up to $2,000 for teachers who begin employment with them on or after enactment of this Act; and (2) bonuses of up to $3,000 to qualified teachers who work in them for at least three consecutive years (or nonconsecutive years under certain circumstances).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Mutual Fund Transparency Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1037
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2005-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Brokers
Commerce
Conflict of interests
Ethics
Fees
Financial statements
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Information disclosure (Securities law)
Investment advisers
Investors
Law
Mutual funds
Sales promotion
Securities fraud
Securities industry
Securities regulation
Stockholders
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: 
Mutual Fund Transparency Act of 2005 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require broker disclosure in writing to open-end company (mutual fund) purchasers of the amount of any compensation due the broker in connection with the purchase transaction from any sources.
 
Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require that brokerage commissions as an aggregate dollar amount and percentage of assets paid by a mutual fund company be included in any disclosure of the fees and expenses that may be payable by the holder of the securities of such company.
 
Revamps independent mutual fund board of directors membership to reduce from 60 percent to 25 percent the permissible number of interested persons serving on the board. Prohibits an interested person from being board chairman. Specifies conditions an interested person must meet to service as a board member.
 
Directs the SEC to issue final rules defining an interested person who is a &quot;significant service provider,&quot; including the investment adviser and principal underwriter of a registered investment company.
 
Requires the SEC to study and report to Congress on: (1) financial literacy among mutual fund investors; and (2) mutual fund advertising.
 
Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require broker disclosure to each purchaser of investment company shares in a mutual fund transaction of the compensation the broker receives, in dollars and as as a percentage of assets.
 
Requires each national securities association to issue rules requiring a broker that provides individualized investment advice to a person to: (1) have a fiduciary duty to that person; (2) act solely in the best interests of that person; and (3) fully disclose all potential conflicts of interest and other material information before the investment advice is first provided, and at least annually thereafter.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7487-7488)
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5222-5223)
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5221-5222)
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Farming Flexibility Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1038
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2005-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Acreage allotments
Agricultural subsidies
Fruit
Vegetables

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: 
Farming Flexibility Act of 2005 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, with respect to direct and counter-cyclical payments, to: (1) permit a producer to reduce a covered commodity base acreage by electing to plant such acres with fruits or vegetables for processing; (2) require such election to be made annually; and (3) provide that if a farm's base acreage is recalculated, such fruit or vegetable production shall be considered the same as the planning, prevented planting, or production of the covered commodity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Gas Price Reduction Through Increased Refinery Capacity Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1039
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2005-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Corporation taxes
Depreciation and amortization
Energy
Income tax
Petroleum refineries
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: 
Gas Price Reduction Through Increased Refinery Capacity Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to elect to expense (i.e., deduct in the current taxable year) the cost of qualified refinery property placed in service before January 1, 2012, or under a binding construction contract before January 1, 2008. Requires that such refinery meet specified production levels and comply with all applicable environmental laws
 
Classifies petroleum refining property as five-year property for depreciation purposes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5224-5225)
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Credit Card Minimum Payment Notification Act

Bill: 109-s-1040
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2005-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commerce
Consumer credit
Consumer education
Credit cards
Interest
Retail trade

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: 
Credit Card Minimum Payment Notification Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act regarding disclosures required with each billing cycle under an open end consumer credit plan to require a credit card issuer to include in specified type a written statement in the following form: &quot;Minimum Payment Warning: Making only the minimum payment will increase the interest you pay and the time it takes to repay your balance.&quot;
 
Prescribes additional three-line statements disclosing the length of time it will take to pay off balances and the final cost to the consumer of interest rates charged.
 
Requires disclosure of a toll-free telephone number to obtain an estimate in person rather than a recording of the time to repay the balance making only minimum payments and the total amount of those payments.
 
Directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish a detailed table illustrating the approximate number of months that it would take and the approximate total cost to repay an outstanding balance if the consumer pays only the required minimum monthly payments and if no other additional charges or fees are incurred on the account.
 
Exempts from such disclosure requirements any billing cycle in which: (1) the account agreement requires a minimum payment of not less than 10% of the outstanding balance; and (2) finance charges are not imposed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5225-5228)
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Alfredo Plascencia Lopez and Maria Del Refugio Plascencia.

Bill: 109-s-1041
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2005-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: 
Makes Alfredo Plascencia Lopez and Maria Del Refugio Plascencia each eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident of the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act, upon payment of the required visa fees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5228-5229)
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5228)
action_date: 2005-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Pledge Protection Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1046
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2005-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Allegiance
Appellate courts
Constitutional law
District courts
Government Operations and Politics
Judicial review
Jurisdiction
Oaths
Supreme Court

Summary:
action_date: 2005-05-17
text: 
Pledge Protection Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal judicial code to deny jurisdiction to any Federal court, and appellate jurisdiction to the Supreme Court, to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance or its validity under the Constitution. Makes this limitation inapplicable to: (1) any court established by Congress under its power to make needful rules and regulations respecting the territory of the United States; or (2) the Superior Court of the District of Columbia or the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate