hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Rural Renaissance Act II of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1253
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2005-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Affordable housing
Alcohol as fuel
Alternative energy sources
Biomass energy
Bonds
Broadband
Community facilities
Diesel motor
Distance education
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electric power distribution
Elementary and secondary education
Energy
Energy facilities
Environmental Protection
Farm manure
Finance and Financial Sector
Health
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Refuse as fuel
Rural economic development
Rural health
Rural housing
Science, Technology, Communications
Tax credits
Telemedicine
Telephone
Waste water treatment
Water Resources Development
Water treatment plants
Wind power

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-15
text: 
Rural Renaissance Act II of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow holders of rural renaissance bonds a nonrefundable tax credit of 25 percent of the annual credit amount as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Defines &quot;rural renaissance bond&quot; as any bond issued by a nonprofit cooperative lender that is used for capital expenditures for qualified projects in rural areas, including projects for water or waste treatment, affordable housing, community facilities (e.g., hospitals, fire and police stations, nursing facilities, etc.), rural utility infrastructure, broadband technology, and rural teleworks.
 
Sets forth rules for maturity limitations, arbitrage, and expenditures, including a requirement that 95 percent of the proceeds from the sale of a bond issue be spent on qualified projects within five yeas from the date of a bond issuance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6662-6664)
action_date: 2005-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on nitrocellulose.

Bill: 109-s-1254
Sponsor: Sen. Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC]
Introduced: 2005-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Cellulose
Nitrates
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2009, the duty on cellulose nitrate (nitrocellulose, including collodions).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Generating Opportunity by Forgiving Educational Debt for Service Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1255
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2005-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Federal aid to education
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Income tax
Iraq compilation
Labor and Employment
Old age, survivors and disability insurance
Recruiting and enlistment
Recruiting of employees
Scholarships
Social Welfare
Social security taxes
Student loan funds
Tax exclusion
Tax exemption
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Generating Opportunity by Forgiving Educational Debt for Service Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income student loan repayments by the federal government on behalf of federal employees and members of the Armed Forces on active duty. Exempts such repayments from social security taxes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6742)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6742)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify that persons may bring private rights of actions against foreign states for certain terrorist acts, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-1257
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Appellate procedure
Armed Forces and National Security
Bombings
Civil actions and liability
Claims
Compensation for victims of crime
Crime and Law Enforcement
Damages
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign agents
Foreign leaders
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability (International law)
Iran
Jurisdiction
Law
Lebanon
Liens
Marines
Middle East and North Africa
Peacekeeping forces
Punitive damages
State-sponsored terrorism
Terrorism
Torts
Victims of terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Amends the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 (FSIA) to require that a foreign state designated as a state sponsor of terrorism under specified laws, or an official, employee, or agent of such a foreign state, shall be liable to a U.S. national for the national's personal injury or death caused by acts of that state or official, employee, or agent acting within the scope of his or her duties.
 
Provides that the removal of a foreign state from designation as a state sponsor of terrorism shall not terminate such a cause of action arising during the period of designation.
 
 Authorizes U.S. courts to exercise jurisdiction over such actions for money damages under an FSIA provision concerning acts of torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, hostage taking, and material support for such acts. Mandates that property interests of foreign states, or agencies or instrumentalities of foreign states, against which judgment is entered pursuant to such provision are subject to attachment execution.
 
Requires foreign states to be held vicariously liable for the actions of their officials, employees, or agents.
 
Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VCA) to modify the definition of &quot;victim&quot; for purposes of compensation under that Act. Requires the transfer of VCA funds to carry out an order appointing Special Masters in the matter of Peterson, et al. v. The Islamic Republic of Iran. 
 
Revives previously dismissed causes of action that would be cognizable under this Act by retroactively tolling the applicable statute of limitations from the date of initial filing to 60 days after enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6747)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6746-6747)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the building located at 493 Auburn Avenue, N.E., in Atlanta, Georgia, as the "John Lewis Civil Rights Institute".

Bill: 109-s-1258
Sponsor: Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA]
Introduced: 2005-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil rights workers
Congress
Congressional tributes
Georgia
House of Representatives
Members of Congress
Names
Research centers

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Designates the building located at 493 Auburn Avenue, N.E., in Atlanta, Georgia, as the &quot;John Lewis Civil Rights Institute.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6748)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6747-6748)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Employment and Transition Services Act

Bill: 109-s-1259
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2005-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Compensation (Law)
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Counseling
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Iraq compilation
Labor and Employment
Law
Social Welfare
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' employment
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Veterans Employment and Transition Services Act - Extends through 2009 (currently, 2004) a requirement for annual reports from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Congress on equitable relief provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans and their dependents following a loss of benefits because of Department administrative error.
 
Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to carry out a program to facilitate access of representatives of military and veterans' service organizations and agencies to provide preseparation counseling and services to members of the Armed Forces who are scheduled for discharge, release from active duty, or retirement. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a similar program for facilitating the access of such representatives to provide information and counseling to veterans on the care, benefits, and services offered through the Department.
 
Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to ensure that preseparation counseling is provided by personnel and offices that are not responsible for encouraging service members to reenlist.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-07-28
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Provisions of measure incorporated into measure S. 1235, as amended, ordered to be reported.
action_date: 2005-06-23
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Common Sense Indian Gambling Reform Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1260
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2005-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Federal-Indian relations
Gambling
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Indian lands
Indian law enforcement
Land use
Minorities
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sports and Recreation
State government-Indian relations

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Common Sense Indian Gambling Reform Act - Amends the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act with respect to: (1) consultation with state, local, and tribal governments; (2) tribal gaming ordinances; (3) investigation and approval of the involvement in a gaming activity; and (4) changing use of Indian land.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Higher Education Simplification and Deregulation Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1261
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2005-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: College costs
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic data interchange
Environmental Protection
Federal aid to education
Financial disclosure
Gifts
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Graduate education
Higher education
Laboratories
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Student aid
Student loan funds
Students
Voter registration

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Higher Education Simplification and Deregulation Act of 2005 - Amends Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise requirements relating to: (1) student access to financial aid; and (2) regulating student aid programs of institutions of higher education (IHEs).
 
 Provides for: (1) simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in an EZ FAFSA form, as well as electronic applications, and reapplications; (2) a system of early financial aid information; (3) revised processes for students with special circumstances; (4) eligibility verification; (5) year-round Pell Grants; (6) flexible loan limits for year-round study; (7) an annual listing of IHEs that are best buys in specified categories; (8) eliminating requirements to demonstrate financial need for certain types of graduate education assistance; (9) electronic voter registration; (10) review of regulatory and reporting requirements for student financial aid programs; (11) developing different environmental, health, and safety standards for research and teaching laboratories and facilities at IHES than for industrial facilities; (12) accelerated negotiated rulemaking; (13) compliance and master calendars; (14) exempting nonprofit IHEs from certain default management plan and eligibility and certification procedures; (15) renewing provisions relating to loan disbursement; and (16) IHE foreign gift or contract disclosure reports to be made available to the public rather than filed with the Secretary of Education.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6748-6751)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Save America's Biotechnology Innovative Research Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1263
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2005-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commercialization
Employee stock options
Entrepreneurs
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Industrial research
Joint ventures
Labor and Employment
Law
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications
Small Business Administration
Small business
Technological innovations
Venture capital

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Save America's Biotechnology Innovative Research Act of 2005 or SABIR Act - Amends provisions of the Small Business Act relating to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (a program under which a portion of a Federal agency's research or research and development funds are reserved for award to small businesses) to require a small business, in order to be SBIR-eligible, to have no more than 500 employees and be one of the following; (1) at least 51 percent owned and controlled by individuals or eligible venture capital companies who are U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens; (2) not more than 49 percent owned and controlled by a single eligible venture capital company; (3) at least 51 percent owned and controlled by another business that is itself at least 51 percent owned and controlled by U.S. Citizens or permanent resident aliens; or (4) a joint venture in which each entity meets one of these ownership requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6759)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6758-6759)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act

Bill: 109-s-1264
Sponsor: Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2005-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Clinical trials
Communication in medicine
Contraceptives
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Federal aid to health facilities
Government Operations and Politics
Health counseling
Health education
Higher education
Hospitals
Preventive medicine
Prisoners
Rape
Sexually transmitted diseases
Students
Victims of crimes
Women
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act - Prohibits any federal funds from being provided to a hospital unless the hospital meets certain conditions related to a woman who is a victim of sexual assault, including that the hospital: (1) provides the woman with accurate and unbiased information about emergency contraception; (2) offers emergency contraception to the woman; (3) provides the woman such contraception at the hospital on her request; and (4) does not deny any such services because of the inability of the woman to pay.
 
Prohibits any hospital from receiving federal funds unless such hospital provides to survivors of sexual assault, regardless of ability to pay: (1) an assessment of the individual's risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections; (2) advice concerning significantly prevalent infections for which effective post-exposure prophylaxis exists and for which the deferral of treatment either would significantly reduce treatment efficacy or would pose substantial risk to the individual's health; and (3) such prophylactic treatment for infections, upon request.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6760-6761)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6759-6760)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Gearing Up for Academic Success Act

Bill: 109-s-1267
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2005-06-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Curricula
Dropouts
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational accountability
Educational counseling
Elementary and secondary education
Federal aid to education
Higher education
Scholarships
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Teacher education

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: 
Gearing Up for Academic Success Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize and revise Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP).
 
Revises fund allocation to provide, under certain conditions, for formula grants to states and competitive grants to partnerships. Requires partnerships, through a cohort approach, to provide activities designed to ensure: (1) secondary school completion and college enrollment of students at risk of dropping out; and (2) systemic changes in schools, so future cohorts of children will benefit. Requires such activities to include: (1) enrollment in college preparation curricula; (2) professional development for college preparation course instructors; and (3) curriculum development. Requires states to provide: (1) policy leadership to promote college readiness of students, especially those at risk of dropping out and those who are economically disadvantaged; and (2) services to promote coordination and information sharing among grantees.
 
Eliminates authority for a scholarship program component and for 21st Century Scholar Certificates.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6764-6766)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6763-6764)
action_date: 2005-06-16
text: Introduced in Senate
SAVE LIVES Act

Bill: 109-s-1268
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2005-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative procedure
Auctions
Cable television
Canada
Commerce
Consumer education
Economics and Public Finance
Electronics
Electronics industry
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Employee training
Environmental Protection
Families
Federal Communications Commission
Federal preemption
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Governmental investigations
Grants-in-aid
Grocery trade
Income tax
Independent regulatory commissions
International Affairs
International cooperation
Labeling
Labor and Employment
Latin America
Law
Licenses
Mexico
Postal facilities
Recycling of waste products
Rescue work
Retail trade
Standards
State laws
Tax credits
Taxation
Television
Television and children
Television broadcasting
Television frequency allocation
Television programs
Television relay systems
Television stations

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-20
text: 
Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement to Improve Vital Emergency Services Act or SAVE LIVES Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to extend through December 31, 2008 (currently, 2006) the termination date for television broadcast licenses that authorize analog television service. Repeals provisions authorizing analog service extensions in limited circumstances. Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take specified actions within specified deadlines for the final television channel assignment of full-power broadcast television stations authorized for digital service.
 
Provides deadlines for the auction of recovered analog spectrum to be used for providing public emergency services.
 
Directs the FCC to distribute to eligible persons analog-to-digital signal converter devices.
 
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a grant program to provide enhanced interoperability of communications equipment for first responders.
 
Provides certain consumer education requirements regarding the transition to digital television service.
 
Authorizes, with a sunset, temporary digital-to-analog signal conversion for certain cable television subscribers.
 
Directs the: (1) Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to study establishing a nationwide recycling program for electronic waste; and (2) FCC to complete certain pending proceedings relating to conversion to digital television and related matters.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9974)
action_date: 2005-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6828-6831)
action_date: 2005-06-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6828)
action_date: 2005-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Pest Management and Fire Suppression Flexibility Act

Bill: 109-s-1269
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2005-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Chemicals
Commerce
Emergency Management
Fire prevention
Forest management
Labeling
Law
Licenses
Nonpoint source pollution
Pest control
Pesticide regulation
Pesticides
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Water pollution control
Weeds

Summary:
action_date: 2005-06-20
text: 
Pest Management and Fire Suppression Flexibility Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to state that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shall not require a permit under the national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES), or require a State to mandate such a permit, for: (1) the proper use of a pesticide that is registered or otherwise approved for use under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; and (2) the use by or in cooperation with the Federal or State government of a fire retardant, chemical, or water for fire suppression, control, or prevention in accordance with relevant Federal guidelines; (3) silvicultural activities except for specified point source activities; and (4) the use of biological control organisms for the prevention, control, or eradication of plant pests or noxious weeds pursuant to specified provisions of the Plant Protection Act.
 
Redefines &quot;point source&quot; to exclude from the term those public health protection, pest management, and silvicultural activities excluded from NPDES permit requirements under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2005-06-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6831)
action_date: 2005-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate