hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
National Drought Preparedness Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-802
Sponsor: Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Animals
Army Corps of Engineers
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Disaster insurance
Disaster relief
Droughts
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to water resources development
Federal-Indian relations
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Fire prevention
Forest fires
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Grants-in-aid
Hydrology
Infrastructure
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Interstate relations
Land use
Law
Minorities
National forests
Planning
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Science, Technology, Communications
Technology transfer
Water Resources Development
Water conservation
Water quality
Water supply
Watersheds
Weather

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: 
National Drought Preparedness Act of 2005 - Establishes in the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture the National Drought Council which shall develop a comprehensive National Drought Policy Action Plan, evaluate and coordinate Federal drought-related programs, establish and improve the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), and undertake public awareness activities. Terminates the Council eight years after enactment of this Act.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish the National Office of Drought Preparedness to assist the Council.
 
Establishes in the Treasury the Drought Assistance Fund, which shall be used to pay the cost of technical and financial assistance to States, Indian tribes, local governments, watershed groups, and critical service providers for: (1) drought preparedness plans and drought mitigation; (2) expanding the technology transfer of drought and water conservation strategies and innovative water supply techniques; (3) developing post-drought evaluations and recommendations; and (4) supplementing the costs of implementing NIDIS-related actions undertaken pursuant to this Act.
 
Directs the Secretary to issue related implementing guidelines, including special requirements applicable to interstate watersheds.
 
Requires Federal agencies to develop and implement drought preparedness plans. Authorizes States, Indian tribes, local governments, watershed groups, and regional water providers to develop and implement such plans. 
 
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse States for costs of prepositioning wildfire suppression resources.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3675-3679)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3675)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
HEART Act

Bill: 109-s-803
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Alcoholism
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Coinsurance
Commerce
Discrimination in insurance
Discrimination in medical care
Drug abuse
Drug abuse treatment
Employee health benefits
Finance and Financial Sector
Health insurance
Labor and Employment
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: 
Help Expand Access to Recovery and Treatment Act of 2005 or the HEART Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a group health plan or group health coverage that provides both medical and surgical benefits and substance abuse benefits from imposing treatment limitations or financial requirements on the substance abuse treatment benefits unless similar limitations or requirements are imposed for medical and surgical benefits. Excludes such requirements for plans and coverage for small employers and for cases in which the application of such requirements results in an increase in the cost under the plan of at least one percent. 
 
Applies such requirements to health insurance coverage offered in the individual market.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3680-3682)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3680)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Options for Investors through United States Certified Coins Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-804
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Coins and coinage
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Individual retirement accounts
Investments
Labor and Employment
Tax exclusion
Tax-deferred compensation plans

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: 
Options for Investors through United States Certified Coins Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit holders of individual retirement accounts or individually-directed pension plans to invest in coins which: (1) are certified by an independent, third-party grading service; (2) are, or were at any time, legal tender in the United States; and (3) are traded on a nationally recognized electronic coin trading network or listed by an independent coin wholesale reporting service. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Offshore Infrastructure Emergency Relief Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-805
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Continental shelf
Disaster relief
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: 
Offshore Infrastructure Emergency Relief Act of 2005 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to add the outer Continental Shelf to the definition of &quot;United States&quot; under that Act, thus authorizing inclusion of the outer Continental Shelf in presidentially declared disaster areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a traumatic injury protection rider to servicemembers insured under section 1967(a)(1) of such title.

Bill: 109-s-806
Sponsor: Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Blind
Burns
Defense budgets
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Government life insurance
Health
Insurance premiums
Paralysis
Paraplegia
Speech disorders
Trauma care
Veterans' medical care
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: 
Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to require that a member insured under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program be automatically issued a traumatic injury protection rider that will provide a payment of up to $100,000 per event if the member, while so insured, sustains a traumatic injury that results in: (1) a loss of sight, limbs, movement, speech, or hearing; (2) certain burns; or (3) a coma or the inability to carry out certain daily living activities. Provides coverage exceptions, including attempted suicide or self-inflicted injury, committing or attempting to commit a felony, being legally intoxicated, or willful misconduct. Provides specific payment amounts with respect to each type of injury or loss.
 
Requires the payment, while a member is serving on active or reserve duty, of premiums for such additional coverage.
 
Terminates such coverage upon separation from the Armed Forces.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3682-3683)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3682)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Enhanced Safety from Wildfire Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-807
Sponsor: Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Forest fires
Forest health
Government liability
Law
Logging
Lumber trade
National forests
Negligence

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: 
Enhanced Safety from Wildfire Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 with respect to fires that spread from forested Federal lands onto nonfederal lands and cause injuries or property loss. Assumes Federal responsibility for injuries or property loss resulting from such fires under the Federal Tort Claims Act and other Federal law pertaining to the United States as a defendant in District Court. Provides for exceptions in certain cases, including if: (1) the nonfederal land exceeds 6,400 acres and is being used for commercial timber production (unless the nonfederal land was being managed to achieve or maintain condition class 1 health status immediately before the fire); (2) the Federal land is a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; or (3) the Federal land comprises less than 6,400 acres and is not contiguous to other Federal lands. States that Federal responsibility will apply in the case of injuries or property loss from a fire originating on National Forest System or Bureau of Land Management lands administered under the authorities of the O&C Sustained Yield Act of 1937 and that comprise less than 6,400 acres. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3683)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to encourage energy conservation through bicycling.

Bill: 109-s-808
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Bicycles
Bikeways
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost effectiveness
Energy
Energy conservation
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Marketing
Science, Technology, Communications
Transportation research

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Establishes within the Department of Transportation the Conserve by Bicycling Program under which the Secretary of Transportation shall establish up to ten geographically dispersed pilot projects designed to conserve energy resources by encouraging the use of bicycles in place of motor vehicles. 
Directs the Secretary to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to Congress on the feasibility of converting motor vehicle trips to bicycle trips.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3684)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3683-3684)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act

Bill: 109-s-809
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Confidential communications
Consumer education
Damages
Dismissal of employees
Drugs
Employee selection
Fines (Penalties)
Injunctions
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal fees
Limitation of actions
Medical records
Medical supplies
Pharmacies
Pharmacists
Punitive damages
Religion
Religious liberty
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: 
Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require any pharmacy receiving prescription drugs or prescription devices in interstate commerce to: (1) ensure that any in stock prescription that one pharmacist refuses to fill on the basis of a personal belief is filled by another pharmacist employed by the pharmacy without delay; (2) ensure that any individual who presents a prescription for an item that is not in stock which one pharmacist refuses to order on the basis of a personal belief is immediately informed that the product can be ordered by the pharmacy and to order such product without delay; and (3) not employ any pharmacist who engages in any conduct with the intent to prevent or deter an individual from filling a valid prescription, including refusing to return a prescription form, refusing to transfer a prescription, or subjecting the individual to humiliation or harassment.
 
Provides that this Act does not require the pharmacy to keep any particular product in stock nor does it apply with respect to a product for a health condition if the pharmacy does not keep in stock any product for such condition.
 
Sets forth civil penalties. Allows a private cause of action for a violation of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3685-3686)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3685)
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
SAFE-ID Act

Bill: 109-s-810
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Affiliated corporations
Bank records
Business records
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Contractors
Damages
Department of Health and Human Services
Discrimination in insurance
Discrimination in medical care
Federal Trade Commission
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial institutions
Financial services
Financial statements
Fines (Penalties)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign corporations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health
Health care industry
Identification devices
Independent regulatory commissions
International Affairs
Law
Liability (Law)
Medical records
Names
Nonprofit organizations
Right of privacy
Social Welfare
Social security numbers
Subcontractors

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: 
Safeguarding Americans From Exporting Identification Data Act or the SAFE-ID Act - Prohibits business enterprises from disclosing personally identifiable information regarding U.S. residents to any branch, affiliate, subcontractor, or unaffiliated third party located in a foreign country unless: (1) the business enterprise provides notice of privacy protections and complies with safeguards described in specified Federal laws; (2) the consumer is given the opportunity to object prior to such disclosure; and (3) the consumer is given an explanation of how to exercise the nondisclosure option.
 
Prohibits: (1) health care businesses from terminating existing relationships with consumers to avoid objections to disclosure; and (2) business enterprises from discriminating against otherwise qualified consumers of financial products or health care services due to such objections.
 
Makes business enterprises that knowingly and directly transfer personally identifiable information to foreign entities liable to persons suffering damages due to the misuse of that information. Authorizes injured parties to file civil actions for violations of the information transmission provisions of this Act.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise existing regulations to require covered entities that outsource protected health information to a foreign country to include certain information relating to outsourcing in such entity's privacy protection notices. Amends the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to require the inclusion of similar information in privacy protection notices for consumers of financial services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Flat Tax Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-812
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Campaign funds
Charitable contributions
Checkoff
Coal
Commerce
Corporation taxes
Cost of living adjustments
Custody of children
Disabled
Divorce
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Energy
Estate tax
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Flat-rate tax
Gift tax
Government Operations and Politics
Government trust funds
Health
Home ownership
Housing and Community Development
Housing finance
Income tax
Indexing (Economic policy)
Inheritance tax
Interest
Labor and Employment
Lobbying
Miners
Mortgages
Pension funds
Presidential elections
Retiree health benefits
Separation (Law)
Sheltered workshops
Social Welfare
Tax deductions
Tax returns
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: 
Flat Tax Act of 2005 - Replaces the income tax with a flat tax of 20 percent of taxable earned income of individual taxpayers. Defines &quot;taxable earned income&quot; as the excess of earned income (wages, salaries, professional fees) over a standard deduction, a deduction for cash charitable contributions, and a deduction for home mortgage interest. Sets forth definitions and special rules for surviving spouses, heads of household, and dependents.
 
Imposes a flat tax of 20 percent on business taxable income. Defines &quot;business taxable income&quot; as gross active income (other than investment income) reduced by: (1) the cost of business inputs (cost of specified goods, services, travel, and entertainment expenditures); (2) employee compensation; and (3) the cost of personal and real property used in business activities. Disallows a deduction from gross active business income for purchases of goods and services provided to employees or owners and certain lobbying and political expenditures.
 
Repeals: (1) estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes; (2) financing of presidential election campaigns provisions; and (3) coal industry health benefits provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3742-3747)
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3736-3737)
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower prices for medicare prescription drugs.

Bill: 109-s-813
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Drug industry
Government Operations and Politics
Medicare
Pharmacies
Prescription pricing
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to prescription drug plans to repeal the prohibition against: (1) interference by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and prescription drug plan sponsors; and (2) the Secretary's requiring a particular formulary or instituting a price structure for the reimbursement of covered Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) drugs. Grants the Secretary authority similar to that of other Federal entities that purchase prescription drugs in bulk to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of covered part D drugs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3747)
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3747)
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-814
Sponsor: Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY]
Introduced: 2005-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Coal
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Energy
Energy development
Energy supplies
Environmental Protection
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Inventories
Mining royalties
Reclamation of land
Rent
Sulphur dioxide
Surety and fidelity

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: 
Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 2005 - Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from requiring a surety bond or any other financial assurance to guarantee payment of deferred bonus bid installments regarding any coal lease issued on a cash bonus bid to certain lessees or successors in interest having a history of timely payments of noncontested coal royalties and advanced coal royalties in lieu of production (where applicable) and bonus bid installment payments.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to establish a mining plan period of more than 40 years upon a determination that the longer period: (1) will ensure the maximum economic recovery of a coal deposit; or (2) is in the interest of the orderly, efficient, or economic development of a coal resource. 
 
Repeals the 160-acre limitation placed upon coal leases. 
 
Revises the statutory formula for the payment of advance royalties. Extends from ten years to twenty years the lease term for which advance royalties may be accepted in lieu of the condition of continued operation.
 
Eliminates the deadline for submission of a coal lease operation and reclamation plan.
 
Requires the Secretary to review and identify for Congress coal assessments on public lands and the restrictions or impediments to development of those resources.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a 15-year applicable recovery period for depreciation of certain electric transmission property.

Bill: 109-s-815
Sponsor: Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY]
Introduced: 2005-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Corporation taxes
Depreciation and amortization
Electric power transmission
Energy
Income tax
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a 15-year recovery period for the depreciation of certain property used in the transmission at 69 or more kilovolts of electricity for sale.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3748)
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3748-3749)
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate