<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<billStatus>
  <version>3.0.0</version>
  <bill>
    <number>627</number>
    <updateDate>2023-01-15T21:48:58Z</updateDate>
    <updateDateIncludingText>2023-01-15T21:48:58Z</updateDateIncludingText>
    <originChamber>House</originChamber>
    <originChamberCode>H</originChamberCode>
    <type>HR</type>
    <introducedDate>2003-02-05</introducedDate>
    <congress>108</congress>
    <committees>
      <item>
        <systemCode>hsvr00</systemCode>
        <name>Veterans' Affairs Committee</name>
        <chamber>House</chamber>
        <type>Standing</type>
        <subcommittees>
          <item>
            <systemCode>hsvr03</systemCode>
            <name>Health Subcommittee</name>
            <activities>
              <item>
                <name>Referred to</name>
                <date>2003-02-20T15:56:15Z</date>
              </item>
            </activities>
          </item>
        </subcommittees>
        <activities>
          <item>
            <name>Referred to</name>
            <date>2003-02-05T20:12:20Z</date>
          </item>
        </activities>
      </item>
      <item>
        <systemCode>hsif00</systemCode>
        <name>Energy and Commerce Committee</name>
        <chamber>House</chamber>
        <type>Standing</type>
        <subcommittees>
          <item>
            <systemCode>hsif14</systemCode>
            <name>Health Subcommittee</name>
            <activities>
              <item>
                <name>Referred to</name>
                <date>2003-02-14T19:44:04Z</date>
              </item>
            </activities>
          </item>
        </subcommittees>
        <activities>
          <item>
            <name>Referred to</name>
            <date>2003-02-05T20:12:25Z</date>
          </item>
        </activities>
      </item>
    </committees>
    <actions>
      <item>
        <actionDate>2003-02-20</actionDate>
        <committees>
          <item>
            <systemCode>hsvr03</systemCode>
            <name>Health Subcommittee</name>
          </item>
        </committees>
        <sourceSystem>
          <code>1</code>
          <name>House committee actions</name>
        </sourceSystem>
        <text>Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.</text>
        <type>Committee</type>
      </item>
      <item>
        <actionDate>2003-02-14</actionDate>
        <committees>
          <item>
            <systemCode>hsif14</systemCode>
            <name>Health Subcommittee</name>
          </item>
        </committees>
        <sourceSystem>
          <code>1</code>
          <name>House committee actions</name>
        </sourceSystem>
        <text>Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.</text>
        <type>Committee</type>
      </item>
      <item>
        <actionDate>2003-02-05</actionDate>
        <text>Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.</text>
        <type>IntroReferral</type>
        <actionCode>H11100</actionCode>
        <sourceSystem>
          <code>2</code>
          <name>House floor actions</name>
        </sourceSystem>
        <committees>
          <item>
            <systemCode>hsif00</systemCode>
            <name>Energy and Commerce Committee</name>
          </item>
        </committees>
      </item>
      <item>
        <actionDate>2003-02-05</actionDate>
        <text>Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.</text>
        <type>IntroReferral</type>
        <actionCode>H11100-A</actionCode>
        <sourceSystem>
          <code>9</code>
          <name>Library of Congress</name>
        </sourceSystem>
      </item>
      <item>
        <actionDate>2003-02-05</actionDate>
        <text>Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.</text>
        <type>IntroReferral</type>
        <actionCode>H11100</actionCode>
        <sourceSystem>
          <code>2</code>
          <name>House floor actions</name>
        </sourceSystem>
        <committees>
          <item>
            <systemCode>hsvr00</systemCode>
            <name>Veterans' Affairs Committee</name>
          </item>
        </committees>
      </item>
      <item>
        <actionDate>2003-02-05</actionDate>
        <text>Introduced in House</text>
        <type>IntroReferral</type>
        <actionCode>Intro-H</actionCode>
        <sourceSystem>
          <code>9</code>
          <name>Library of Congress</name>
        </sourceSystem>
      </item>
      <item>
        <actionDate>2003-02-05</actionDate>
        <text>Introduced in House</text>
        <type>IntroReferral</type>
        <actionCode>1000</actionCode>
        <sourceSystem>
          <code>9</code>
          <name>Library of Congress</name>
        </sourceSystem>
      </item>
    </actions>
    <sponsors>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S001004</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Strickland, Ted [D-OH-6]</fullName>
        <firstName>TED</firstName>
        <lastName>STRICKLAND</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>OH</state>
        <district>6</district>
        <isByRequest>N</isByRequest>
      </item>
    </sponsors>
    <cosponsors>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>B000420</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Berry, Marion [D-AR-1]</fullName>
        <firstName>MARION</firstName>
        <lastName>BERRY</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>AR</state>
        <district>1</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>B001234</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Baca, Joe [D-CA-43]</fullName>
        <firstName>JOE</firstName>
        <lastName>BACA</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>43</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>B000944</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH-13]</fullName>
        <firstName>Sherrod</firstName>
        <lastName>Brown</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>OH</state>
        <district>13</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>C001044</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Carson, Brad [D-OK-2]</fullName>
        <firstName>BRAD</firstName>
        <lastName>CARSON</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>OK</state>
        <district>2</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>H000627</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22]</fullName>
        <firstName>MAURICE</firstName>
        <lastName>HINCHEY</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NY</state>
        <middleName>D.</middleName>
        <district>22</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>I000026</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Inslee, Jay [D-WA-1]</fullName>
        <firstName>JAY</firstName>
        <lastName>INSLEE</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>WA</state>
        <district>1</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>J000284</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH-11]</fullName>
        <firstName>STEPHANIE</firstName>
        <lastName>JONES</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>OH</state>
        <middleName>TUBBS</middleName>
        <district>11</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>L000553</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. LaTourette, Steven C. [R-OH-14]</fullName>
        <firstName>STEVEN</firstName>
        <lastName>LATOURETTE</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>OH</state>
        <middleName>C.</middleName>
        <district>14</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>L000480</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-18]</fullName>
        <firstName>NITA</firstName>
        <lastName>LOWEY</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NY</state>
        <middleName>M.</middleName>
        <district>18</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>M000312</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-3]</fullName>
        <firstName>JAMES</firstName>
        <lastName>MCGOVERN</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>MA</state>
        <middleName>P.</middleName>
        <district>3</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>N000147</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]</fullName>
        <firstName>ELEANOR</firstName>
        <lastName>NORTON</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>DC</state>
        <middleName>HOLMES</middleName>
        <district>0</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>P000583</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-14]</fullName>
        <firstName>RON</firstName>
        <lastName>PAUL</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>TX</state>
        <district>14</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S000033</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT-At Large]</fullName>
        <firstName>Bernard</firstName>
        <lastName>Sanders</lastName>
        <party>I</party>
        <state>VT</state>
        <district>0</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S000044</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Sandlin, Max [D-TX-1]</fullName>
        <firstName>MAX</firstName>
        <lastName>SANDLIN</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>TX</state>
        <district>1</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>W000738</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6]</fullName>
        <firstName>LYNN</firstName>
        <lastName>WOOLSEY</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>6</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S001153</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Solis, Hilda L. [D-CA-32]</fullName>
        <firstName>HILDA</firstName>
        <lastName>SOLIS</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <middleName>L.</middleName>
        <district>32</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S000248</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Serrano, Jose E. [D-NY-16]</fullName>
        <firstName>JOSE</firstName>
        <lastName>SERRANO</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NY</state>
        <middleName>E.</middleName>
        <district>16</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>W000413</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Whitfield, Ed [R-KY-1]</fullName>
        <firstName>EDWARD</firstName>
        <lastName>WHITFIELD</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>KY</state>
        <district>1</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>P000034</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]</fullName>
        <firstName>FRANK</firstName>
        <lastName>PALLONE</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NJ</state>
        <district>6</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>N000081</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Ney, Robert W. [R-OH-18]</fullName>
        <firstName>BOB</firstName>
        <lastName>NEY</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>OH</state>
        <district>18</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>A000022</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5]</fullName>
        <firstName>GARY</firstName>
        <lastName>ACKERMAN</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NY</state>
        <middleName>L.</middleName>
        <district>5</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>B001230</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI-2]</fullName>
        <firstName>Tammy</firstName>
        <lastName>Baldwin</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>WI</state>
        <district>2</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>M000404</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7]</fullName>
        <firstName>JIM</firstName>
        <lastName>MCDERMOTT</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>WA</state>
        <district>7</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>M000689</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Mica, John L. [R-FL-7]</fullName>
        <firstName>JOHN</firstName>
        <lastName>MICA</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>FL</state>
        <middleName>L.</middleName>
        <district>7</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>G000551</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]</fullName>
        <firstName>Raúl</firstName>
        <lastName>Grijalva</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>AZ</state>
        <middleName>M.</middleName>
        <district>7</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>F000392</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Frost, Martin [D-TX-24]</fullName>
        <firstName>MARTIN</firstName>
        <lastName>FROST</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>TX</state>
        <district>24</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>C001038</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-7]</fullName>
        <firstName>JOSEPH</firstName>
        <lastName>CROWLEY</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NY</state>
        <district>7</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>M001143</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]</fullName>
        <firstName>BETTY</firstName>
        <lastName>MCCOLLUM</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>MN</state>
        <district>4</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>K000113</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J. [D-RI-1]</fullName>
        <firstName>PATRICK</firstName>
        <lastName>KENNEDY</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>RI</state>
        <middleName>J.</middleName>
        <district>1</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>C001037</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA-8]</fullName>
        <firstName>MICHAEL</firstName>
        <lastName>CAPUANO</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>MA</state>
        <middleName>E.</middleName>
        <district>8</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>C000794</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Costello, Jerry F. [D-IL-12]</fullName>
        <firstName>JERRY</firstName>
        <lastName>COSTELLO</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>IL</state>
        <middleName>F.</middleName>
        <district>12</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>R000577</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Ryan, Timothy J. [D-OH-17]</fullName>
        <firstName>TIMOTHY</firstName>
        <lastName>RYAN</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>OH</state>
        <middleName>J.</middleName>
        <district>17</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-12</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>D000191</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]</fullName>
        <firstName>PETER</firstName>
        <lastName>DEFAZIO</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>OR</state>
        <middleName>A.</middleName>
        <district>4</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-12</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>A000014</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Abercrombie, Neil [D-HI-1]</fullName>
        <firstName>NEIL</firstName>
        <lastName>ABERCROMBIE</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>HI</state>
        <district>1</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-12</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>B000208</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Bartlett, Roscoe G. [R-MD-6]</fullName>
        <firstName>ROSCOE</firstName>
        <lastName>BARTLETT</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>MD</state>
        <middleName>G.</middleName>
        <district>6</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-13</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>B000490</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [D-GA-2]</fullName>
        <firstName>SANFORD</firstName>
        <lastName>BISHOP</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>GA</state>
        <middleName>D.</middleName>
        <district>2</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>C000714</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]</fullName>
        <firstName>JOHN</firstName>
        <lastName>CONYERS</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>MI</state>
        <district>14</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>D000096</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]</fullName>
        <firstName>DANNY</firstName>
        <lastName>DAVIS</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>IL</state>
        <middleName>K.</middleName>
        <district>7</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>G000280</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [R-VA-5]</fullName>
        <firstName>VIRGIL</firstName>
        <lastName>GOODE</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>VA</state>
        <middleName>H.</middleName>
        <district>5</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>H001033</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Hart, Melissa A. [R-PA-4]</fullName>
        <firstName>MELISSA</firstName>
        <lastName>HART</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>PA</state>
        <middleName>A.</middleName>
        <district>4</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>K000009</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]</fullName>
        <firstName>MARCY</firstName>
        <lastName>KAPTUR</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>OH</state>
        <district>9</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>L000043</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Lampson, Nick [D-TX-9]</fullName>
        <firstName>NICK</firstName>
        <lastName>LAMPSON</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>TX</state>
        <district>9</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>N000179</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-38]</fullName>
        <firstName>GRACE</firstName>
        <lastName>NAPOLITANO</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <middleName>F.</middleName>
        <district>38</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>P000149</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10]</fullName>
        <firstName>DONALD</firstName>
        <lastName>PAYNE</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NJ</state>
        <middleName>M.</middleName>
        <district>10</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>R000011</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3]</fullName>
        <firstName>NICK</firstName>
        <lastName>RAHALL</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>WV</state>
        <middleName>J.</middleName>
        <district>3</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S001151</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Schrock, Edward L. [R-VA-2]</fullName>
        <firstName>EDWARD</firstName>
        <lastName>SCHROCK</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>VA</state>
        <middleName>L.</middleName>
        <district>2</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S001154</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9]</fullName>
        <firstName>Bill</firstName>
        <lastName>Shuster</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>PA</state>
        <district>9</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>T000193</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]</fullName>
        <firstName>BENNIE</firstName>
        <lastName>THOMPSON</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>MS</state>
        <district>2</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-02-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>O000085</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Olver, John W. [D-MA-1]</fullName>
        <firstName>JOHN</firstName>
        <lastName>OLVER</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>MA</state>
        <middleName>W.</middleName>
        <district>1</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-03-06</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S001143</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Souder, Mark E. [R-IN-3]</fullName>
        <firstName>MARK</firstName>
        <lastName>SOUDER</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>IN</state>
        <middleName>EDWARD</middleName>
        <district>3</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-03-06</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>M000590</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. McNulty, Michael R. [D-NY-21]</fullName>
        <firstName>MICHAEL</firstName>
        <lastName>MCNULTY</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NY</state>
        <middleName>R.</middleName>
        <district>21</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-03-06</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>W000314</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19]</fullName>
        <firstName>ROBERT</firstName>
        <lastName>WEXLER</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>FL</state>
        <district>19</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-03-06</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>O000159</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Owens, Major R. [D-NY-11]</fullName>
        <firstName>MAJOR</firstName>
        <lastName>OWENS</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NY</state>
        <middleName>R.</middleName>
        <district>11</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-03-06</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>N000015</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-2]</fullName>
        <firstName>RICHARD</firstName>
        <lastName>NEAL</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>MA</state>
        <middleName>E.</middleName>
        <district>2</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-03-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>L000558</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Lucas, Ken [D-KY-4]</fullName>
        <firstName>KEN</firstName>
        <lastName>LUCAS</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>KY</state>
        <district>4</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-03-26</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>L000560</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]</fullName>
        <firstName>RICK</firstName>
        <lastName>LARSEN</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>WA</state>
        <district>2</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-04-03</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>W000207</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Watt, Melvin L. [D-NC-12]</fullName>
        <firstName>MELVIN</firstName>
        <lastName>WATT</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NC</state>
        <district>12</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-04-03</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>R000053</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15]</fullName>
        <firstName>CHARLES</firstName>
        <lastName>RANGEL</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NY</state>
        <middleName>B.</middleName>
        <district>15</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-04-07</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>D000482</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-14]</fullName>
        <firstName>MIKE</firstName>
        <lastName>DOYLE</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>PA</state>
        <district>14</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-04-07</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>G000309</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Gordon, Bart [D-TN-6]</fullName>
        <firstName>BART</firstName>
        <lastName>GORDON</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>TN</state>
        <district>6</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-04-30</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S000344</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-27]</fullName>
        <firstName>BRAD</firstName>
        <lastName>SHERMAN</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>27</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-05-14</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>R000486</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-34]</fullName>
        <firstName>LUCILLE</firstName>
        <lastName>ROYBAL-ALLARD</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <district>34</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-05-19</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>L000557</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]</fullName>
        <firstName>JOHN</firstName>
        <lastName>LARSON</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CT</state>
        <middleName>B.</middleName>
        <district>1</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-06-25</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S000364</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Shimkus, John [R-IL-19]</fullName>
        <firstName>JOHN</firstName>
        <lastName>SHIMKUS</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>IL</state>
        <middleName>M.</middleName>
        <district>19</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-07-09</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>B001238</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Rep. Ballance, Frank W.,  Jr. [D-NC-1]</fullName>
        <firstName>Frank</firstName>
        <lastName>Ballance</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>NC</state>
        <middleName>W.</middleName>
        <district>1</district>
        <sponsorshipDate>2003-11-05</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
    </cosponsors>
    <policyArea>
      <name>Armed Forces and National Security</name>
    </policyArea>
    <subjects>
      <legislativeSubjects>
        <item>
          <name>Coinsurance</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Cost of living adjustments</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Drugs</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Families</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Finance and Financial Sector</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Health</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Labor and Employment</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Medicaid</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Medical economics</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Social Welfare</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Survivors' benefits</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Veterans' medical care</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Veterans' pensions</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Welfare eligibility</name>
        </item>
      </legislativeSubjects>
      <policyArea>
        <name>Armed Forces and National Security</name>
      </policyArea>
    </subjects>
    <summaries>
      <summary>
        <versionCode>00</versionCode>
        <actionDate>2003-02-05</actionDate>
        <actionDesc>Introduced in House</actionDesc>
        <updateDate>2006-11-28T17:35:40Z</updateDate>
        <text><![CDATA[Veterans' Prescription Drug and Surviving Spouses Assistance Act of 2003 - Suspends, for five years, the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the required copayment for medication furnished to veterans on an outpatient basis for the treatment of non-service-connected disabilities.<p>Increases the maximum annual rates of pensions for surviving spouses of war veterans. Amends the Social Security Act to exclude the amount of such rate increases from a surviving spouse's income for purposes of Medicaid (title XIX) eligibility.]]></text>
      </summary>
    </summaries>
    <title>Veterans' Prescription Drug and Surviving Spouses Assistance Act of 2003</title>
    <titles>
      <item>
        <titleType>Display Title</titleType>
        <title>Veterans' Prescription Drug and Surviving Spouses Assistance Act of 2003</title>
      </item>
      <item>
        <titleType>Official Title as Introduced</titleType>
        <title>To amend title 38, United States Code, to suspend for five years the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the copayment amount in effect for medication furnished by the Secretary on an outpatient basis for the treatment of non-service-connected disabilities and to provide an increase in the maximum annual rates of pension payable to surviving spouses of veterans of a period of war, and for other purposes.</title>
        <billTextVersionName>Introduced in House</billTextVersionName>
        <billTextVersionCode>IH</billTextVersionCode>
      </item>
      <item>
        <titleType>Short Titles as Introduced</titleType>
        <title>Veterans' Prescription Drug and Surviving Spouses Assistance Act of 2003</title>
      </item>
    </titles>
    <textVersions>
      <item>
        <type>Introduced in House</type>
        <date>2003-02-05T05:00:00Z</date>
        <formats/>
      </item>
    </textVersions>
    <latestAction>
      <actionDate>2003-02-20</actionDate>
      <text>Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.</text>
    </latestAction>
  </bill>
  <dublinCore xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
    <dc:format>text/xml</dc:format>
    <dc:language>EN</dc:language>
    <dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights>
    <dc:contributor>Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress</dc:contributor>
    <dc:description>This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.</dc:description>
  </dublinCore>
</billStatus>
