hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums.

Bill: 109-s-484
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, John [R-VA]
Introduced: 2005-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Annuities
Armed Forces and National Security
Federal employees
Finance and Financial Sector
Flexible benefit plans
Government Operations and Politics
Government employees' health insurance
Health
Income tax
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Managed care
Medical economics
Military medicine
Military pensions
Retired military personnel
Retiree health benefits
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit: (1) Federal civilian and military retirees to pay Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and TRICARE supplemental premiums on a pretax basis (i.e., exclude premiums from gross income); and (2) a tax deduction (available to itemizers and nonitemizers) for TRICARE supplemental premiums or enrollment fees. 
Directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the option of paying FEHBP and TRICARE supplemental premiums on a pretax basis is available to Federal civilian and military retirees for the first open enrollment period beginning not less than 90 days after the enactment of this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1875)
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1875)
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of the Navy to procure helicopters under the VH-3D presidential helicopter fleet replacement program that are wholly manufactured in the United States.

Bill: 109-s-486
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2005-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Buy American
Defense contracts
Defense procurement
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Military helicopters
Military transportation
Navy
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: 
Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from entering into a contract for the procurement of a helicopter under the VH-3D presidential helicopter replacement program unless the contract requires the helicopter to be wholly manufactured in the United States from parts wholly manufactured in the United States.
 
Provides that if a contract entered into after December 31, 2004, and before the date of enactment of this Act does not meet such requirements, the Secretary shall terminate such contract.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1876)
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1875-1876)
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide leave for members of the Armed Forces in connection with adoptions of children, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-487
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE]
Introduced: 2005-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Adoption
Department of Defense
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Military dependents
Military leave

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: 
Entitles a member of the Armed Forces who is adopting a child in a qualifying child adoption to 21 days of leave, to be used in connection with such adoption. Allows only one member per family to such leave.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Commercial Truck Highway Safety Demonstration Program Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-488
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2005-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government statistics
Highway finance
Interstate highway system
Maine
Traffic accidents and safety
Trucking
Trucks

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: 
Commercial Truck Highway Safety Demonstration Program Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a program to demonstrate the effects on the safety of the highway network in Maine of permitting operation on the Interstate System highways within the State of a vehicle that weighs over 80,000 pounds, that consists of a three-axle tractor unit hauling a single trailer or semitrailer, and that does not exceed any vehicle weight limitation applicable under Maine law.
 
Waives highway funding reduction relating to weight of vehicles using Interstate System highways with respect to vehicles allowed pursuant to this program. 
Provides for program termination and for the responsibilities of the State of Maine, including: (1) submitting a plan to the Secretary of Transportation; (2) establishing a highway safety committee; and (3) collecting data on the net effects of the operation of such vehicles on safety.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1876)
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Consent Decree Fairness Act

Bill: 109-s-489
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2005-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Consent decrees
Evidence (Law)
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Injunctions
Judicial compensation
Limitation of actions
Local officials
State officials

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: 
Federal Consent Decree Fairness Act - Authorizes State or local governments and related officials sued in their official capacity to file a motion to modify or vacate a consent decree upon the earlier of: (1) four years after the consent decree is originally entered; or (2) in the case of a civil action in which a State is a party or in which a local government is a party and the surrounding State is not a party, the expiration of the term of office of the highest elected State or local government official authorizing the consent decree.
 
Places the burden of proof with respect to such motions on the party originally filing the action to demonstrate that continued enforcement is necessary to uphold a Federal right.
 
Nullifies consent decrees pending a ruling on a motion to modify or vacate if the court fails to rule on such motion within 90 days of filing.
 
Addresses compensation and termination of special masters overseeing consent decrees.
 
Makes this Act applicable to all consent decrees regardless of: (1) the date on which the final order of a consent decree is entered; or (2) whether any relief has been obtained before enactment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-07-19
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-181.
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1877)
action_date: 2005-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to work with the State of New York to ensure that a segment of Interstate Route 86 in the vicinity of Corning, New York, is designated as the "Amo Houghton Bypass".

Bill: 109-s-490
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2005-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Congress
Congressional tributes
Ex-Members of Congress
House of Representatives
Interstate highway system
Names
New York State
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: 
Designates the three-mile segment of Interstate Route 86 between the interchange of Interstate Route 86 with New York State Route 15 in the vicinity of Painted Post, New York, and the interchange of Interstate Route 86 with New York State Route 414 in the vicinity of Corning, New York, as the &quot;Amo Houghton Bypass.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Christopher Kangas Fallen Firefighter Apprentice Act

Bill: 109-s-491
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Apprenticeship
Emergency Management
Families
Fire fighters
Social Welfare
Survivors' benefits
Volunteer workers
Workers' compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: 
Christopher Kangas Fallen Firefighter Apprentice Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the definition of &quot;firefighter&quot; for purposes of death benefit provisions to include fire department members regardless of age, status as an apprentice or trainee, or related duty restrictions. Makes this Act applicable to deaths and injuries which occur on or after May 4, 2002.

action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 

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

 
Christopher Kangas Fallen Firefighter Apprentice Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the definition of &quot;firefighter&quot; for purposes of death benefit provisions to include fire department members regardless of age, status as an apprentice or trainee, or related duty restrictions. Makes this Act applicable to deaths and injuries which occur on or after May 4, 2002.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 128.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Specter without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Specter without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1932)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Water: Currency for Peace Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-492
Sponsor: Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN]
Introduced: 2005-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: AIDS (Disease)
Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Commerce
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Cooperative societies
Counterpart funds
Developing countries
Economic assistance
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Employee training
Environmental Protection
Environmentally induced diseases
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Health education
Human immunodeficiency viruses
Infrastructure
International agencies
International cooperation
Investment guaranty insurance
Labor and Employment
Nongovernmental organizations
Potable water
President and foreign policy
Preventive medicine
Public-private partnerships
Sewage disposal
Small business
Technical assistance
Water Resources Development
Water pollution control
Water supply

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: 
Safe Water: Currency for Peace Act of 2005 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide: (1) assistance, including health information and education, to advance good health and promote economic development by improving the safety of water supplies, expanding access to safe water and sanitation, promoting sound water management, and promoting better hygiene; and (2) such assistance (including well drilling and maintenance) using local currency payments under title I of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954.
 
Authorizes the President to establish a five-year clean water infrastructure development program. Provides for: (1) congressional consultation; (2) partial loan guarantee assistance; and (3) priority to projects sponsored by or significantly involving U.S. small businesses or cooperatives. 
 
Directs the Secretary of State to implement a foreign assistance strategy to promote economic development by expanding access to safe water and sanitation, promoting sound water management, and improving hygiene.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1932-1934)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1885-1887, S1887-1888)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase teacher familiarity with the educational needs of gifted and talented students, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-493
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2005-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Curricula
Economics and Public Finance
Educational accountability
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Federal aid to education
Gifted children
Higher education
Special education
Teacher education

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: 
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include teacher quality enhancement programs relating to the needs of gifted and talented students among authorized uses of title II grants for States and partnerships.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1934-1935)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Darfur Accountability Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-495
Sponsor: Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2005-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Alien property
Arabs
Armed Forces and National Security
Armistices
Arms control
Arms sales
Bank records
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil War
Commerce
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crimes against humanity
Diplomats
Displaced persons
Economic assistance
Embargo
Energy
Ethnic relations
Evidence (Law)
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Genocide
Government Operations and Politics
Government officials
Government ownership
Government paperwork
Human rights
Immigration
International agencies
International cooperation
International courts
International military forces
International relief
Law
Military aviation
Minorities
Peace negotiations
Peace treaties
Peacekeeping forces
Petroleum industry
President and foreign policy
Prosecution
Refugees
Regionalism (International organization)
Sanctions (International law)
Sudan
United Nations
Violence
Visas
War crimes
War relief

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: 
Darfur Accountability Act of 2005 - Directs the President to: (1) freeze the assets of persons (and family members) named by the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur to the United Nations (UN) Secretary General as perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Darfur, Sudan, and report such assets to the Office of Foreign Assets Control; (2) deny visas and entry to such persons, and to anyone the President determines has been, is, or may be involved in such activities in Darfur; and (3) report the names of such persons to the appropriate congressional committees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1941-1942)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1938-1940)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
PILT and Refuge Revenue Sharing Permanent Funding Act

Bill: 109-s-496
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2005-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Authorization
Department of the Interior
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Payments in lieu of taxes
Revenue sharing
Taxation
Wildlife refuges

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: PILT and Refuge Revenue Sharing Permanent Funding Act - Provides permanent funding for the Bureau of Land Management's payment in lieu of taxes program (PILT) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's refuge revenue sharing program.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1944)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1943-1944)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Broadband Rural Revitalization Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-497
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2005-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Antennas
Broadband
Cable television
Capital investments
Commerce
Communication satellites
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cooperative societies
Corporation taxes
Department of Commerce
Department of the Treasury
Depreciation and amortization
Economics and Public Finance
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government paperwork
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Internet
Law
Lease and rental services
Quality of life
Rural conditions
Rural economic development
Science, Technology, Communications
Strategic planning
Tax deductions
Tax returns
Tax-exempt organizations
Telecommunication industry
Telecommunication systems
Telephone
Television relay systems
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: 
Broadband Rural Revitalization Act of 2005 - Establishes within the Department of Commerce, the Rural Broadband Office for the coordination of all Federal Government resources relating to the expansion of broadband technology into rural areas. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress supporting full funding of the loan program for rural electrification established by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow for expensing of broadband expenditures for rural communities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1944-1946)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1943-1944)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Interstate Transmission Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-498
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2005-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Canada
Capital investments
Commerce
Depreciation and amortization
Electric power production
Electric power transmission
Electric utilities
Electric utility rates
Energy efficiency
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal advisory bodies
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Independent regulatory commissions
Infrastructure
International Affairs
Interstate commerce
Latin America
Law
Mexico
Standards
Tax deductions
Taxation
Trade negotiations
Water Resources Development
Water supply

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: 
Interstate Transmission Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Power Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to: (1) establish incentive-based rate treatments for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce by any public utility in order to ensure reliability and to decrease the cost of delivered power by reducing transmission congestion; and (2) provide for incentives to each transmitting utility or electric utility that joins a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) or Independent System Operator.
 
Prescribes guidelines for open nondiscriminatory access by unregulated transmitting utilities.
 
Prohibits FERC from requiring an unregulated transmitting utility to transfer control or operational control of its transmitting facilities to an RTO or any other Commission-approved independent transmission organization designated to provide nondiscriminatory transmission access.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat electric transmission property treated as 15-year property.
 
Repeals the requirement for FERC prior authorization of the disposition of public utility facilities.
 
Grants FERC jurisdiction over Electric Reliability Organizations certified by FERC to establish and enforce reliability standards for the bulk-power system.
 
Exempts Hawaii and Alaska from application of this Act.
 
Prescribes guidelines governing the obligations of electric utilities to provide electric service to either end-users or to a distribution utility (native load service obligation).
 
Specifies conditions under which FERC is required to approve a voluntary transmission pricing plan containing criteria for determining the person or persons that will be required to pay for any construction of new transmission facilities or expansion, modification or upgrade of transmission facilities, or new generator interconnection.
 
Authorizes FERC to promote voluntary development of regional transmission organizations, independent transmission providers, and similar organizations in order to enhance electric energy transmission in interstate commerce.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1946-1950)
action_date: 2005-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate