December 5, 2008
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House

H.R. 125, Office of Technology Assessment Reestablishment Act
Sponsor: Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J.
Introduced: Jan. 7, 2003
Committee: House Science
Description: H.R. 125 would re-establish the congressional Office of Technology Assessment, which lawmakers eliminate in 1995, the year Republicans regained complete control of Congress for the first time in four decades. In existence for 23 years, the office advised lawmakers and committees on science and tech issues and encouraged the movement toward electronic publishing. Under the bill, the office would be authorized at $20 million annually for six years.
H.R. 183, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y.
Introduced: Jan. 7, 2003
Committee: House Administration
Description: H.R. 183 would allow House members to donate used computer equipment to public elementary and secondary schools of the lawmakers' choice.
H.R. 2948, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I.
Introduced: July 25, 2003
Committee: House Administration
Description: H.R. 2948 would require a study on the merits of creating an electronic communications system to let Congress continue its work during national emergencies. The General Accounting Office, National Academy of Sciences and Librarian of Congress would conduct the study, which would examine the costs of building a secure computer system so lawmakers could vote and communicate off Capitol Hill if necessary. No more than $800,000 could be spent on the work.
H.J. Res. 58, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.
Introduced: May 22, 2003
Committee: House Financial Services
Description: H.J. Res. 58 would invoke a rarely used congressional veto to overturn Treasury Department rules that permit U.S. financial institutions to accept cards issued by foreign governments as proof of identification. The rules apply to the controversial “matricula consular” cards issued by Mexico. Congressional foes of using those cards for ID purposes argue that doing so could let potential terrorists funnel money into the United States, in part because of the lack of a central database in Mexico to track the people who are given the cards.
H. Res. 43, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Green, R-Wis.
Introduced: Jan. 29, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H. Res. 43 would require the House clerk to post all lobbying registrations and reports on the official House Web site. The reports would include where lobbyists are working, what issues they are following, who they have as clients and how much money they are spending on lobbying. Anyone seeking such information currently must submit a written request for a specific lobbyist’s disclosure reports by mail or visit Washington to see it on paper personally. Wisconsin Republican Mark Green, the sponsor of the measure, introduced a similar bill while in the Wisconsin Legislature and succeeded in getting such state lobbying information on the Internet.
H. Res. 78, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.
Introduced: Feb. 13, 2003
Committee: House Transportation and Infrastructure
Description: H. Res. 78 would express Congress’ support for firemen, policemen and other “first responders” to emergencies at the state and local levels.
H. Res. 156, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich.
Introduced: March 20, 2003
Committee: House Transportation and Infrastructure
Description: H. Res. 156 seeks to draw attention to the technologies that comprise "intelligent transportation systems" (ITS). The systems rely on technology to try to reduce traffic congestion, improve driver safety, provide information for travelers, facilitate emergency response and evacuation, and ensure the security of critical infrastructure, among other things. The resolution would express the House's support for the work of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Caucus in Congress, which tries to educate lawmakers and their staff on ITS projects, and seeks the expansion of ITS.
H. Res. 212, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y.
Introduced: May 1, 2003
Committee: House Energy and Commerce
Description: H. Res. 212 would express the House’s opposition to the FCC’s plan to revise its media-ownership rules. The plan, penned by FCC Chairman Michael Powell, would allow media companies to own newspapers and television stations in the same city, ending a 28-year ban on the practice, and to reach up to 45 percent of the national audience. In June 2003, the FCC approved the rules change in a split vote, but House and Senate lawmakers moved quickly to overturn the ruling, either by denying funds to the FCC to implement the change or by using an obscure congressional veto power. A similar resolution H. Res. 218, was introduced.
H. Res. 218, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y.
Introduced: May 6, 2003
Committee: House Energy and CommerceE
Description: H. Res. 218 would express the House’s opposition to the FCC’s plan to revise its media-ownership rules. The plan, penned by FCC Chairman Michael Powell, would allow media companies to own newspapers and television stations in the same city, ending a 28-year ban on the practice, and to reach up to 45 percent of the national audience. In June 2003, the FCC approved the rules change in a split vote, but House and Senate lawmakers moved quickly to overturn the ruling, either by denying funds to the FCC to implement the change or by using an obscure congressional veto power. A similar resolution, H. Res. 212, was introduced.
H. Con. Res. 59, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas
Introduced: Feb. 27, 2003
Committee: House Science
Description: H. Con. Res. 59 would recognize the achievements and contributions of black scientists, mathematicians and inventors, and reserve a day to honor them.
H. Con. Res. 88, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J.
Introduced: March 11, 2003
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: H. Con. Res. 88 would express Congress' view that the Children's Internet Protection Act is constitutional as it applies to public libraries. The act requires libraries that receive federal money to incorporate Internet filters aimed at blocking access to online pornography and obscenity. The American Library Association, library patrons, Web publishers and others, however, have asked the Supreme Court to overturn the law.
H. Con. Res. 98, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn.
Introduced: March 18, 2003
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H. Con. Res. 98 would express Congress' support for a trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan. The resolution notes that Taiwan was admitted to the World Trade Organization in 2002, a move that reduced Taiwanese tariffs and started the process to open the nation's markets to foreign investments. The measure also notes that Taiwan is the world's largest producer of information technology hardware and ranks first in the production of computer notebooks, computers, monitors, motherboards and scanners.
H. Con. Res. 124, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.
Introduced: March 27, 2003
Committee: House Ways and Means
Description: H. Con. Res. 124 would express Congress’ opinion that the United States should maintain a healthy trade relationship with South Korea despite tension over Korea's subsidization of Hynix Semiconductor, a firm based in that country that also competes in the United States. The resolution would urge the U.S. Commerce secretary to review the facts regarding Hynix's restructuring and avoid taking any action that might threaten American jobs or future investment in Hynix's facility in Oregon, the home state of Democrat Peter DeFazio, the measure’s sponsor. Oregon Republican Gordon Smith introduced a Senate companion resolution, S. Con. Res. 29.
H. Con. Res. 132, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky.
Introduced: March 31, 2003
Committee: House Energy and Commerce
Description: H. Con. Res. 132 would urge Americans to support the National SAFE KIDS Campaign to prevent unintentional childhood injuries. The campaign's programs include online safety. The group has partnered with America Online, which donated $500,000 in space on its Internet service for announcements to promote the campaign’s Web site.
H. Con. Res. 219, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas
Introduced: June 12, 2003
Committee: House Energy and Commerce
Description: H. Con. Res. 219 would express Congress' opinion on the need to raise awareness and public education of safety on the Internet. The resolution also would endorse the idea of National Internet Safety Month in June.
H. Con. Res. 279, Untitled
Sponsor: Rep. Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich.
Introduced: Sept. 15, 2003
Committee: House Science
Description: H. Con. Res. 279 would recognize the 30th anniversary of the American Association for the Advancement of Science congressional fellowship program. More than 800 people have been granted the fellowships since 1973. The measure would reaffirm Congress’ commitment to support the use of science in governmental decision-making via the fellowship program. The House adopted the resolution by voice vote Oct. 28, 2003.

Senate

S. 1874, Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act
Sponsor: Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis.
Introduced: Nov. 17, 2003
Committee: Senate Rules and Administration
Description: S. 1874 would require Senate candidates to file their campaign-finance reports electronically. Under the bill, the information would have to publicly posted on the Internet and by other means within 48 hours of receipt. While House candidates already file their campaign finances electronically, Senate candidates still submit the data on paper.
S. Res. 34, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.
Introduced: Jan. 29, 2003
Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works
Description: S. Res. 34 would express the Senate’s support for policemen, firemen and other emergency “first responders” considered to be at the front lines in defending the nation against terrorist attacks and responding to any attacks.
S. Res. 54, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Introduced: Feb. 11, 2003
Committee: Senate Rules and Administration
Description: S. Res. 54 would make Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports and other internal research materials available online under the same guidelines that those materials are printed and made publicly available. CRS currently provides its research online but only to congressional staff and lawmakers. A report by the Project On Government Oversight concludes that providing the public with online access to CRS materials could spur greater public participation in policy debates.
S. Res. 173, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Introduced: June 17, 2003
Committee: Senate Rules and Administration
Description: S. Res. 173 seeks to curb "pork-barrel spending," or money reserved for specific projects in lawmakers’ districts, as part of the annual appropriations process. The measure would revise Senate rules governing debate of spending bills by, among other things, making it a violation to earmark spending for specific programs that benefit individuals or jurisdictions. Many such projects these days involve technology for homeland security and other purposes.
S. Res. 159, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark.
Introduced: June 4, 2003
Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Description: S. Res. 159 would decry the FCC for “unreasonable haste” and a lack of public input in approving changes to the rules on media ownership. The non-binding resolution would specifically condemn a change that lets media conglomerates own more outlets, arguing that doing so will result in homogenous news coverage and will hinder media diversification.
S. Con. Res. 11, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho
Introduced: Feb. 27, 2003
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. Con. Res. 11 would express Congress’ opinion that South Korea has violated trade commitments by supplying financial aid to Hynix Semiconductor. The firm has been accused of flooding the market for computer chips and thus hurting U.S. firms like Micron Technology, which is in the home state of bill sponsor Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. The resolution also calls on South Korea to cease its bailout of the firm and for the U.S. Commerce Department and president to take action to stop the bailout. A related bill, S. 492, also was introduced.
S. Con. Res. 29, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore.
Introduced: March 25, 2003
Committee: Senate Finance
Description: S. Con Res. 29 would express Congress’ opinion that the United States should maintain a healthy trade relationship with South Korea despite tension over Korea's subsidization of Hynix Semiconductor, a firm based in that country that also competes in the United States. The resolution would urge the U.S. Commerce secretary to review the facts regarding Hynix's restructuring and avoid taking any action that might threaten American jobs or future investment in Hynix's facility in Oregon, the home state of Republican Gordon Smith, the measure’s sponsor. Oregon Democrat Peter DeFazio introduced a companion House resolution, H. Con. Res. 124.
S. Con. Res. 77, Untitled
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Sessions R-Ala.
Introduced: Oct. 28, 2003
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Description: S. Con. Res. 77 would express Congress’ support for the vigorous enforcement of federal obscenity laws. The resolution is particularly concerned with the spread of obscenity via the Internet. The Senate adopted the measure by voice vote Nov. 22, 2003.

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