hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to provide for the continuation of higher education through the conveyance of certain public lands in the State of Alaska to the University of Alaska, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-293
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2005-02-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Colleges
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Education
Energy
Environmental Protection
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Higher education
Indian lands
Judicial review
Land transfers
Law
Legislation
Mineral reserves
Minorities
National forests
Natural areas
Nature conservation
Petroleum reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: Entitles the University of Alaska to select up to 250,000 acres of Federal lands or interests in lands in or adjacent to Alaska as a land grant and directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the University the Federal lands selected and approved in accordance with this Act. Sets forth requirements regarding permissible and impermissible selections. 
Requires as a condition of the grant that the University relinquish to the Secretary certain land holdings.
 
Allows the University, after receiving evidence of ownership from the State, to additionally select up to 250,000 acres of Federal lands or interests in or adjacent to Alaska to be conveyed as a matching grant for any lands received from the State after February 1, 2005.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to strengthen the restrictions of the importation from BSE minimal-risk regions of meat, meat byproducts, and meat food products from bovines.

Bill: 109-s-294
Sponsor: Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT]
Introduced: 2005-02-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agriculture in foreign trade
Animals
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Canada
Cattle
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Agriculture
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Import restrictions
Law
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: 
Applies the Code of Federal Regulations as amended by the final rule issued by the Secretary of Agriculture on January 4, 2005 (and any successor regulations) restricting importation from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) minimal-risk regions of meat and edible products from ruminants only to meat, meat byproducts, and meat food products derived from a bovine that is slaughtered at less than 30 months of age.
 
Provides that if the Secretary, in consultation with appropriate officials in such a minimal risk region, determines that the region is in full compliance with a ruminant feed ban and other BSE safeguards, the Secretary: (1) shall report to specified congressional committees on the determination; and (2) may promulgate regulations to allow such rules to apply to meat, meat byproducts, and meat food products derived from a class of bovines in the region that is determined by the Secretary by the regulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize appropriate action if the negotiations with the People's Republic of China regarding China's undervalued currency are not successful.

Bill: 109-s-295
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2005-02-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: China
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Countervailing duties
Currency devaluation
East Asia
Foreign exchange
Government Operations and Politics
International Affairs
International competitiveness
President and foreign policy
Restrictive trade practices
Summit diplomacy
Trade negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: 
Imposes an additional duty of 27.5 percent on Chinese goods imported into the United States unless the President submits a certification to Congress that the People's Republic of China (PRC) is no longer manipulating the rate of exchange and is complying with accepted market-based trading policies.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to negotiate with the PRC to ensure a process that leads to a market-based system of currency valuation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize appropriations for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-296
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2005-02-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Authorization
Department of Commerce
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
High technology
Manufacturing industries
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: 
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for FY 2005 through 2008.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S992)
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S991)
action_date: 2005-02-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Montserrat Immigration Fairness Act

Bill: 109-s-297
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2005-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Alien labor
Aliens
Caribbean area
Department of Homeland Security
Deportation
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Illegal aliens
Immigrants
Labor and Employment
Latin America
Law
Married people
Montserrat
Parents
Refugees
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: 
Montserrat Immigration Fairness Act - Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to grant lawful permanent resident status to certain nationals of Montserrat previously granted temporary protected status in the United States (and specified family members).
 
Authorizes aliens previously ordered excluded, deported, or removed, or ordered to depart voluntarily, to apply for adjustment of status under this Act.
 
Requires the Secretary to provide work authorization and related documentation to principal aliens seeking the benefits of this Act.
 
Directs the Secretary to provide specified administrative review procedures for such aliens and their qualifying family members.
 
States that the granting of adjustment of status for principal aliens under this Act shall not reduce the number of available immigrant visas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the reduction in the deductible portion of expenses for business meals and entertainment.

Bill: 109-s-298
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2005-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Corporation taxes
Costs
Expense accounts
Income tax
Recreation
Sports and Recreation
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the income tax deduction for business meals and entertainment expenses from 50 percent to 70 percent in calendar year 2005, 75 percent in 2006, and 80 percent in 2008 and thereafter.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1051)
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1050-1051)
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Investor in Iran Accountability Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-299
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2005-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: American investments
Commerce
Crime and Law Enforcement
Energy
Energy industries
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign investments
Foreign trade policy
Gas industry
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
International Affairs
International cooperation
Internet
Investors
Iran
Labor and Employment
Middle East and North Africa
Mutual funds
Natural gas
Nuclear power
Pension funds
Petroleum industry
Sanctions (International law)
Science, Technology, Communications
State-sponsored terrorism
Terrorism
Trade negotiations
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: 
Investor in Iran Accountability Act of 2005 - States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) enforce existing U.S. economic sanctions against Iran, including sanctions imposed under the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 on persons who make certain investments that contribute to Iran's ability to develop its petroleum and natural gas resources; (2) make available to the public information regarding a U.S. or U.S.-controlled person who maintains any energy sector investment in Iran; and (3) seek international cooperation in enforcing economic sanctions against Iran and in prohibiting any investment in Iran until Iran ceases to support international terrorism. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to publish and update in the Federal Register, and make available on the Department of the Treasury's website, lists of specified U.S. or U.S.-controlled persons, foreign persons, investment companies, and pension plans that maintain investments in the Iranian energy sector.
 
Directs the President to undertake negotiations with the government of a foreign country to prohibit any investment in the Iranian energy sector by any person controlled by that foreign country. 
 
Extends the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1052-1053)
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1051-1052)
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Rural Home Health Payment Fairness Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-300
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2005-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Home care services
Housing and Community Development
Medical fees
Medicare
Rural health
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: 
Medicare Rural Home Health Payment Fairness Act of 2005 - Amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to provide for a two-year extension of the temporary Medicare payment increase for home health services furnished in a rural area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1053)
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt certain employment as a member of a local governing board from social security coverage.

Bill: 109-s-303
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2005-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Government Operations and Politics
Local officials
Old age, survivors and disability insurance
Social security eligibility
Social security taxes
Tax exemption
Taxation
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act to exempt from social security taxes remuneration paid to any elected or appointed member of the general governing board of any political subdivision of a State if such remuneration is not more than $1,000 and is paid for service performed on or after January 1, 2006. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Sportsmanship in Hunting Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-304
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2005-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Animals
Arrest
Environmental Protection
Exotic animals
Fines (Penalties)
Forfeiture
Hunting
Protection of animals
Searches and seizures
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sports and Recreation
Warrants (Law)
Wild animal trade

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: 
Sportsmanship in Hunting Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit knowingly transferring, transporting, or possessing a confined exotic animal for purposes of allowing the killing or injuring of that animal for entertainment or the collection of a trophy. Provides that such prohibition shall not apply to the killing or injuring of an exotic animal in a State or Federal natural area reserve undertaking habitat restoration.
 
Permits any person authorized by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to: (1) arrest without warrant any person who violates this Act in the presence or view of the arresting person; (2) execute any warrant or other process issued by an officer or court of competent jurisdiction to enforce this Act; and (3) with a search warrant, search for and seize any animal taken in violation of this Act. 
Declares that any animal seized shall be held by the Secretary of the Interior or a U.S. marshal and, upon a defendant's conviction, be forfeited to the United States and disposed of by the Secretary. 
Permits the Director to use by agreement the personnel and services of any other Federal or State agency to enforce this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1055-1056)
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1055)
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of the Interior Volunteer Recruitment Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-305
Sponsor: Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2005-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Department of the Interior
Employee selection
Federal employees
Federal-Indian relations
Geology
Government Operations and Politics
Indian lands
Irrigation
Minorities
Native Americans
Recruiting of employees
Social Welfare
Surveying
Volunteer workers
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: 
Department of the Interior Volunteer Recruitment Act of 2005 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to recruit, train, and accept, without regard to the civil service laws, the services of individuals, contributed without compensation as volunteers, to assist with or facilitate the activities administered by the Secretary through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Office of the Secretary.
 
Prohibits: (1) the Secretary, in accepting the services of volunteers, from permitting the use of volunteers in law enforcement, in regulatory and enforcement work, in policy-making processes, or to displace any employee; and (2) volunteer services authorized by this Act from being conducted on private property unless the officer or employee charged with supervising the volunteer obtains from the property owner appropriate consent to enter the property. Authorizes the Secretary to accept the services of a volunteer in hazardous duty only if the Secretary determines that the volunteer is skilled in performing hazardous activities. Directs the Secretary to ensure that an appropriate U.S. officer or employee provides adequate and appropriate supervision of each individual that volunteers under this Act.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to provide for services and costs incidental to the use of volunteers under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-03-08
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 109-19.
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1056)
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
MILC Extension Act

Bill: 109-s-307
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural subsidies
Commerce
Dairy industry
Government Operations and Politics
Milk

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: 
MILC Extension Act - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend contract authority for national dairy market loss payments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1058)
action_date: 2005-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Risk-Based Homeland Security Funding Act

Bill: 109-s-308
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2005-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
International Affairs
Revenue sharing
Risk
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: 
Risk-Based Homeland Security Funding Act - Requires all homeland security grants related to terrorism prevention and preparedness to be awarded based strictly on an assessment of risk, threat, and vulnerabilities as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Prohibits such grant funds from being used for general revenue sharing.
 
Excludes specified grant programs from coverage under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1373)
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1117-1118)
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1117)
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the disposition of unused health benefits in cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements.

Bill: 109-s-309
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2005-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee health benefits
Flexible benefit plans
Health
Health insurance
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Medical savings accounts
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit up to $500 of unused health benefits in a plan or other arrangement that provides for a health flexible spending arrangement to be carried forward to the next year of such health flexible spending arrangement or be contributed to a health savings account without affecting the status of such plan or arrangement as a tax-exempt employee benefit cafeteria plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1119)
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1119)
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Early Treatment for HIV Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-311
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2005-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: AIDS (Disease)
American Samoa
Government Operations and Politics
Guam
Human immunodeficiency viruses
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Medicaid
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
Social Welfare
Territories (U.S.)
Virgin Islands
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: 
Early Treatment for HIV Act of 2005 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to give States the option of providing Medicaid coverage for certain low-income HIV-infected individuals. Provides States taking advantage of this option with an enhanced Federal Medicaid match. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-06-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5486-5487)
action_date: 2005-02-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1602-1603)
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1122-1123)
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1119-1122)
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Local Community Radio Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-312
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2005-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Federal Communications Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Licenses
Radio broadcasting
Radio spectrum allocation
Radio stations

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: 
Local Community Radio Act of 2005 - Repeals provisions in the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, that required the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) modify rules authorizing the operation of low-power FM radio stations to prescribe minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels; (2) prohibit applicants who have engaged in the unlicensed operation of any station from obtaining a low-power FM license; and (3) conduct a program to test whether low-power FM radio stations will result in harmful interference to existing FM radio stations if minimum distance separations for third-adjacent channels are not required.
 
Requires the FCC to modify its rules to eliminate third-adjacent minimum distance separation requirements between specified stations.
 
Requires the FCC to retain rules that provide third-adjacent channel protection for full-power noncommercial FM stations that broadcast radio reading services via a subcarrier frequency from potential low-power FM station interference.
 
Requires the FCC when licensing FM translator stations to ensure: (1) that licenses are available to both FM translator stations and low-power FM stations; and (2) that such decisions are made based on the needs of the local community.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1123-1124)
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1123)
action_date: 2005-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate