hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Improved Access to Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1345
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Coinsurance
Finance and Financial Sector
Imaging systems in medicine
Medical economics
Medical tests
Medicare
Osteoporosis
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Women
X-rays

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Improved Access to Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2005 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate cost-sharing under Medicare for bone mass measurements, thus making the Federal payment 100 percent. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Low-Cost Alternatives to Payday Loans Act

Bill: 109-s-1347
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Charities
Checks
Commerce
Community development banking
Consumer credit
Economics and Public Finance
Grants-in-aid
Loans
Social Welfare
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Low-Cost Alternatives to Payday Loans Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to award demonstration project grants (including multi-year grants) to eligible entities to provide low-cost, small loans to consumers that will provide alternatives to more costly, predatory payday loans.
 
Includes within eligible entities: (1) a tax exempt charitable (501(c)(3)) organization; (2) a federally insured depository institution; and (3) a community development financial institution.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-02-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1530-1531)
action_date: 2005-10-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11437)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR 7/1/2005 S7830-7831)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/1/2005 S7829-7830)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1348
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil procedure
Confidential communications
Court records
Discovery (Law)
Evidence (Law)
Government Operations and Politics
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2005 - Amends the federal judicial code to prohibit a court from entering an order restricting the disclosure of information obtained through discovery, approving a settlement disagreement that would restrict such disclosure, or restricting access to court records in a civil case, unless the court has found that: (1) such order would not restrict the disclosure of information which is relevant to the protection of public health or safety; or (2) the public interest in the disclosure of potential health or safety hazards is outweighed by a specific and substantial interest in maintaining the confidentiality of the information, and the requested protective order is no broader than necessary to protect the privacy interest. Prohibits any party from requesting, as a condition for the production of discovery, that another party stipulate to an order that would violate this Act. 
Prohibits a court from: (1) approving or enforcing an order prohibited under this Act, or any provision of an agreement between parties to a civil action, that restricts a party from disclosing information to any federal or state agency with authority to enforce laws regulating an activity relating to such information; or (2) enforcing any provision of a settlement agreement that prohibits a party from disclosing that a settlement was reached or the terms of the settlement, other than the amount paid, or from discussing a case or evidence that involves matters related to public health or safety, except where the court finds that the public interest in disclosure of potential health and safety hazards is outweighed by a confidentiality interest.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/1/2005 S7831)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Video Choice Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1349
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Cable television
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Common carriers
Competition
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Customer service
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Educational television
Elementary and secondary education
Federal Communications Commission
Federal preemption
Fees
Franchises (Retail trade)
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Independent regulatory commissions
Interactive media
Law
Local laws
Nondiscrimination provisions
Public broadcasting
Restrictive trade practices
Right of privacy
Right-of-way
State laws
Telecommunication industry
Telecommunication rates
Television broadcasting
Television programs
Television relay systems
Television stations
Transportation and Public Works
User charges

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Video Choice Act of 2005 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit a competitive video services provider (CVSP) from being required to obtain a franchise in order to provide any video programming, interactive on-demand services, other programming services, or any other video services in an area in which the CVSP has any right or authority to access public rights-of-way independent of any cable franchise obtained pursuant to any federal, state, or local law. Makes the CVSP be subject to the payment of fees (with limits) to a local franchising authority based on the gross revenue of the CVSP in that area.
 
Prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or any state or political subdivision thereof from regulating the rates or any other aspect of the services provided by a CVSP.
 
Makes current franchise agreements entered into between a franchising authority and a CVSP exempt from this Act for the term of such agreement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR 7/1/2005 S7832)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/1/2005 S7831-7832)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Wireless 411 Privacy Act

Bill: 109-s-1350
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Affiliated corporations
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Contracts
Data banks
Directories
Fees
Identification devices
Right of privacy
Telecommunication industry
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Wireless 411 Privacy Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit a provider of commercial mobile services, or any affiliate or agent of such provider (provider), from including the wireless telephone number (wireless number) of any subscriber in any wireless directory assistance service (WDAS) database unless the provider: (1) provides a conspicuous, separate notice to the subscriber of the right not be listed in any WDAS; and (2) obtains express prior listing authorization from such subscriber, and that authorization has not been withdrawn.
 
Requires a provider to remove the wireless number of any subscriber from a WDAS upon request of that subscriber and without subscriber cost. Provides limited circumstances under which a provider may connect a calling party from a WDAS to a commercial mobile service subscriber.
 
Prohibits a telecommunications carrier from disclosing in billing information provided to customers wireless numbers of subscribers who have indicated a preference to their provider for not having their wireless number disclosed.
 
Prohibits a provider from publishing (listing) in any form, selling, or otherwise distributing the contents of any WDAS database unless the provider: (1) notifies the subscriber of the right not to be listed; and (2) obtains express prior authorization for listing from such subscriber, and that authorization has not been withdrawn.
 
Prohibits a provider from charging a subscriber for the exercise of any rights under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR 7/1/2005 S7834)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/1/2005 S7833-7834)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Cold War Medal Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1351
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cold War
Commemorations
History
International Affairs
Military medals, decorations, etc.

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Cold War Medal Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned, upon application, to issue Cold War service medals to military personnel who served honorably during the Cold War era (September 2, 1945, through December 26, 1991).

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-11-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12806)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR 7/1/2005 S7834-7835)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Improved Workplace and Community Transition Training for Incarcerated Youth Offenders Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1352
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Correctional institutions
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economics and Public Finance
Educational accountability
Families
Federal aid to education
Higher education
Juvenile delinquency
Labor and Employment
Literacy programs
Rehabilitation of criminals
Vocational guidance

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Improved Workplace and Community Transition Training for Incarcerated Youth Offenders Act of 2005 - Amends the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 to authorize the Secretary of Education to establish performance objectives and reporting requirements necessary to assess program effectiveness for state correctional education agencies receiving grants for transition training for incarcerated youth offenders.
 
Requires grant applications to describe specific performance objectives and evaluation methods that the state agency will use, including: (1) specific and quantified student outcome measures that are referenced to outcomes for non-program participants with similar demographic characteristics; and (2) measures of program completion, knowledge and skill attainment, attainment of and success in employment, and recidivism. Requires descriptions of how the proposed programs will consider or utilize technology.
 
Directs each state agency receiving a grant to: (1) report annually to the Secretary on the results of the evaluations and additional performance objectives and on evaluation methods as necessary to document the attainment of performance objectives; and (2) expend on each participating eligible student for an academic year not more than the maximum federal Pell grant for such year, which shall be used for tuition, books, essential materials, and related services such as career development, substance abuse counseling, parenting skills training, and health education.
 
Makes youth offenders age 35 (currently, 25) or younger eligible for participation. Allows related services to continue for up to one year after release from confinement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-07-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/1/2005 S7835)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
ALS Registry Act

Bill: 109-s-1353
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Epidemiology
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to health facilities
Government Operations and Politics
Health information systems
Health surveys
Medical statistics
Nervous system diseases
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
ALS Registry 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: (1) develop a system to collect data on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); and (2) establish a national registry for the collection and storage of ALS data.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to establish the Advisory Committee on the National ALS Registry to study and make recommendations to the Secretary concerning: (1) the development and maintenance of the registry; (2) the type of information to be included; (3) the manner in which data is to be collected; (4) the use and availability of such data; and (5) the collection of information about diseases and disorders that primarily affect motor neurons that are considered essential to furthering the study and cure of ALS.
 
Allows the Secretary, acting through the Director, to award grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, public or private nonprofit entities for the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on ALS.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to: (1) identify, build upon, expand, and coordinate among existing data and surveillance systems, surveys, registries, and other federal public health and environmental infrastructure wherever possible; and (2) provide for public access to an electronic national database that accepts data from state registries, health care professionals, and others as recommended by the Advisory Committee in a manner that protects personal privacy.
 
Requires the Secretary to ensure that epidemiological and other types of information is made available to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Veterans Affairs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR 7/1/2005 S7836-7837)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/1/2005 S7836)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction and Enforcement Act

Bill: 109-s-1357
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Animals
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Agriculture
Federal advisory bodies
Food safety
Foodborne diseases
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Health
Health surveys
Labeling
Law
Meat
Meat inspection
Meat packing industry
Performance measurement
Poultry
Public health
Standards
Surveys

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction and Enforcement Act - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act, respectively, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to prescribe: (1) surveys to determine foodborne pathogen contamination levels for raw meat and raw poultry, and meat and poultry products processed in establishments inspected under such Acts; (2) public health goals; and (3) initial and final pathogen reduction performance standards to reduce pathogen contamination and achieve public health goals.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) identify, and publish a list of, such pathogens; (2) initiate pathogen surveys to determine existing levels of meat and poultry contamination; (3) establish public health goals and objectives to achieve foodborne illness reduction; and (4) report on the scientific feasibility of establishing health-based performance standards for pathogens. 
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a National Advisory Committee for Microbiology Criteria for Foods.
Directs the Secretary to enforce Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System requirements and other sanitation requirements in any official establishment. Authorizes the Secretary to prohibit non-complying establishments from labeling any meat or meat product, or poultry or poultry product, as "inspected and passed."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/1/2005 S7850-7851)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Restore Scientific Integrity to Federal Research and Policymaking Act

Bill: 109-s-1358
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Censorship
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Conflict of interests
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Decision making
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
Electronic government information
Federal advisory bodies
Federal employees
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government ethics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Internet
Law
Public corruption
Research
Research ethics
Social science research
Web sites
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Restore Scientific Integrity to Federal Research and Policymaking Act - Prohibits a federal employee from engaging in: (1) tampering with the conduct of federally funded scientific research or analysis; (2) censorship of findings of such research or analysis; or (3) directing the dissemination of scientific information known by the directing employee to be false or misleading. Sets forth a penalty for violations of such prohibition. 
 
Includes under prohibited personnel practices the taking or failing to take, or threatening to take or failing to take, a personnel action with respect to any employee because of: (1) the development or dissemination, within the scope of employment, of scientific research or analysis that the employee reasonably believes to be accurate and valid; (2) any disclosure of information by an employee or applicant which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences an abuse of authority, including but not limited to, tampering with the conduct of federally funded scientific research or analysis, censoring the findings of such research or analysis, or directing the dissemination of scientific information known by the directing employee to be false or misleading.
 
Sets forth requirements relating to federal scientific advisory committees. States that all appointments to such committees shall be made without regard to political affiliation, unless required by federal statute.
 
Directs each federal agency to determine a peer review process that is appropriate for the agency's functions and needs. Prohibits &quot;The Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review&quot;, issued on December 16, 2004, from applying to any agency that has established its own peer review process. Prohibits the Office of Management and Budget from taking any action to discourage an agency from determining and establishing a peer-review process appropriate for its needs.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to provide annual reports regarding scientific integrity. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/1/2005 S7851-7852)
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Retirement Savings and Security Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1359
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Annuities
Civil service retirement
Cost of living adjustments
Defined contribution plans
Department of the Treasury
Employee health benefits
Finance and Financial Sector
Flexible benefit plans
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Health insurance
Income tax
Individual retirement accounts
Investments
Law
Life insurance
Minorities
Native Americans
Pension funds
Saving and investment
State employees
Tax credits
Tax exclusion
Tax refunds
Tax-deferred compensation plans
Taxation
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Retirement Savings and Security Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permit tax-exempt retirement and employee benefit plans to include an automatic contribution arrangement; (2) revise the income limits for the tax credit for retirement savings contributions and extend such credit through 2010; (3) permit the contribution of up to $500 of unused health benefits under a health flexible spending arrangement to a qualified retirement plan or a deferred compensation plan; (4) permit direct payment of tax refunds to individual retirement accounts; and (5) exclude from gross income certain lifetime annuity payments; and (6) extend to six months the period for distributing excess contributions to qualified pension plans without penalty.
 
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to: (1) allow for certain retirement plan rollovers and annuity distributions; (2) treat Indian tribal pension plans as tax-qualified governmental plans; and (3) allow for changes in pension plan investment options. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Domestic Partner Health Benefits Equity Act

Bill: 109-s-1360
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accident insurance
Domestic partners
Employee health benefits
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Health
Health insurance
Income tax
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Medical economics
Railroad retirement plans
Self-employed
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion
Transportation and Public Works
Unemployment insurance
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Domestic Partner Health Benefits Equity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to certain employer-provided health care benefits, to provide for the treatment of domestic partners on an equal basis with spouses and dependents by designating as a dependent any individual who is an eligible beneficiary under an employer's health care benefits plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Crystal Meth Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1361
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2005-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug abuse
Drug traffic
Mandatory sentences
Methamphetamine
Sentences (Criminal procedure)

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: 
Stop Crystal Meth Act of 2005 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to lower the threshold quantities of mixtures or substances containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine to which penalties for controlled substances violations apply.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate