hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Fair Playing Field Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3786
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2010-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Contracts and agency
Department of the Treasury
Employment taxes
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: 
Fair Playing Field Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the classification of workers for employment tax purposes, to: (1) repeal the prohibition against issuance of regulations and guidance by the Secretary of the Treasury on workers' employment tax status (i.e., as an employee or as an independent contractor) enacted by the Revenue Act of 1978; (2) direct the Secretary to issue regulations and other guidance to clarify the proper employment status of workers for employment tax purposes; (3) prohibit a retroactive assessment of employment tax, except with respect to certain skilled workers, for tax periods after December 31, 1978, and before a specified reclassification date for worker misclassifications, unless the taxpayer had no reasonable basis for not treating a worker as an employee; (4) require taxpayers who hire independent contractors on a regular and ongoing basis to provide such contractors with notice of their federal tax obligations, the labor and employment law protections that do not apply to them, and their right to seek a status determination from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); and (5) eliminate reduced penalty provisions for failure to withhold income taxes for taxpayers who lack a reasonable basis for treating a worker as other than an employee (i.e., as an independent contractor).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7135-7136)
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Upstate Works Act

Bill: 111-s-3787
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2010-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Agricultural practices and innovations
Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Capital gains tax
Computers and information technology
Economic development
Employment and training programs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental technology
Government lending and loan guarantees
Income tax credits
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Manufacturing
Rural conditions and development
Securities
Small business
State and local finance
Technology transfer and commercialization
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: 
Upstate Works Act - Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to: (1) direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program to provide grants to states to establish revolving loan funds to provide loans to small and medium-sized manufacturers to finance the cost of reequipping, expanding, or establishing manufacturing facilities in the United States to produce clean energy technology and energy efficient products or of reducing the energy intensity or greenhouse gas production of a manufacturing facility; and (2) include as an activity of Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology (known as the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Centers) the establishment of a clean energy manufacturing supply chain initiative.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a 50% tax credit for investment in value-added agricultural property; (2) allow a credit for 50% of the cost of property used to furnish broadband services in rural areas; (3) extend through 2019 the period for designation of empowerment zones and renewal communities; (4) expand the eligibility criteria for enterprise zone businesses and the use of tax-exempt enterprise facility bonds; and (5) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to award grants to state or local governments or nonprofit entities for the purpose of making businesses aware of benefits of empowerment zones and renewal communities. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to award grants to improve job skills necessary for employment in specific industries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Geothermal Energy Investment Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3788
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2010-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: 
Geothermal Energy Investment Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow through 2016 a 30% energy tax credit for investment in geothermal energy property. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7136)
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7136)
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that persons having seriously delinquent tax debts shall be ineligible for Federal employment.

Bill: 111-s-3790
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2010-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: 
Amends federal civil service law to make an individual who has a seriously delinquent tax debt ineligible to be appointed, or to continue serving, as a federal employee.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 564.
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7136-7137)
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require Members of Congress to disclose delinquent tax liability, require an ethics inquiry, and garnish the wages of a Member with Federal tax liability.

Bill: 111-s-3791
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2010-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Members of Congress
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: 
Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require Members of Congress to include in their annual financial disclosure reports the amount of any delinquent tax liability owed to the United States or any state or local government entity.
 
Requires the appropriate congressional ethics committee to open an inquiry immediately into the tax delinquency of that Member to determine: (1) his or her total delinquent tax liability and reason for such delinquency; (2) whether the Member has a plan to eliminate it; and (3) whether it has reflected poorly on Congress.
 
Requires such Member to arrange with the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to have his or her salary reduced by an amount appropriate to pay the taxes owed to the United States within a reasonable time period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 565.
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7136-7137)
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Gulf Coast Restoration Act

Bill: 111-s-3792
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2010-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Accidents
Advisory bodies
Alabama
Aquatic ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Florida
Government trust funds
Gulf of Mexico
Louisiana
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Mississippi
Oil and gas
Water quality
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: 
Gulf Coast Restoration Act - Establishes the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, which shall: (1) consult with, and provide recommendations to, the Chair of the Task Force regarding approval of State Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Plans submitted by the governors of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi providing for restoration activities the Gulf Coast ecosystem adversely impacted by the blowout and explosion of the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon on April 20, 2010; (2) coordinate scientific and other research associated with restoration of such ecosystem; and (3) submit an annual report to Congress that summarizes the Plans approved by the Chair. 
 
Establishes in the Treasury the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Fund. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit into the Fund sums equal to not less than 80% of any amounts collected by the United States as penalties, settlements, or fines under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) in relation to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting hydrocarbon releases into the environment. Makes the Fund available for the conservation, protection, and restoration of the Gulf Coast ecosystem in accordance with approved Plans.
 
Requires the governors of such states to: (1) submit a Plan to the Chair by July 1, 2011; and (2) solicit local input and provide for public participation in the development of the Plan. 
 
Requires the Chair to disburse amounts from such Fund to such a state for which the Chair has approved a Plan only for: (1) projects and activities for the conservation, protection, or restoration of coastal areas, including wetlands; (2) mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources; (3) planning assistance and the administrative costs of complying with this Act; and/or (4) implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Taxpayer Advocacy and Government Accountability Promotion Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3795
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2010-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Contracts and agency
Department of the Treasury
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax rates
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Medicaid
Public contracts and procurement
Real estate business
Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax reform and tax simplification
User charges and fees
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: 
Taxpayer Advocacy and Government Accountability Promotion Act of 2010 or the TAX GAP Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend requirements for the reporting of payments to governmental units; (2) require information reporting of rental income from real estate; (3) require additional information on tax returns relating to mortgage interest; (4) expand information reporting requirements for bank accounts, non-interest bearing deposits, and electronic filings by paid tax preparers; (5) impose a continuous levy on federal contractors for tax liabilities and on payments made to Medicaid providers or suppliers; and (6) increase penalties for failure to file correct information returns, failure to file correct payee statements, and for intentional disregard of information reporting requirements.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) revise Schedule C of tax form 1040 (self-employment income) to require reporting of additional gross receipts and expense information by sole proprietors; and (2) report to Congress on efforts to improve voluntary compliance by sole proprietors.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make an apology payment to a taxpayer for any action or inaction by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that has caused the taxpayer excess expense or undue burden. Excludes the amount of any such apology payment from taxpayer gross income.
 
Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress: (1) a study of whether the IRS has sufficient capacity to incorporate expanded information reporting requirements; (2) a report on taxpayer assistance and tax simplification; (3) a study to quantify the effect of tax penalties; (4) comprehensive and detailed reports on a strategy for reducing the tax gap; (5) a study on revenue increases and costs with respect to tax gap legislation; and (6) reports on worker misclassification (e.g., employees classified as independent contractors). 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Health Improvement Councils Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3796
Sponsor: Sen. Bayh, Evan [D-IN]
Introduced: 2010-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: 
Community Health Improvement Councils Act of 2010 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a program for the creation of State Health Improvement Technical Assistance Centers and Community Health Improvement Councils to improve community health through local innovation. Defines &quot;Community Health Improvement Council&quot; to mean a locally driven, private, nonprofit entity that serves as the neutral convener for engaging providers and insurers and that fully engages patients and citizens in coordinating and improving the health care delivery system through community-wide education programs to promote healthier lifestyles, improve local or regional health status, clinical outcomes, and reductions in the growth in medical spending and health disparities through various approaches.
 
Requires the Secretary to award competitive grants to five eligible entities to establish State Health Improvement Technical Assistance Centers, each of which shall: (1) establish up to four Community Health Improvement Councils; (2) provide technical assistance to such Councils; and (3) report on improvements in local and state health status, clinical outcomes, reductions in medical spending growth, and health care disparities.
 
Requires the Secretary, in awarding grants, to give preference to entities that: (1) demonstrate the capacity to attract private sector or local government funding to ensure fiscal sustainability; (2) address significant health disparities; (3) demonstrate coordination or collaboration across governmental and nongovernmental sectors; (4) are committed to promoting full transparency of all deliberations of the Technical Assistance Centers and Community Health Improvement Councils; and (5) are independent from government and the financial self-interest of health care and purchasers stakeholders.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Education for All Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3797
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2010-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
International organizations and cooperation
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: 
Education for All Act of 2010 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to state that it is U.S. policy to work with foreign countries and international and civil society organizations to achieve universal basic education by: (1) assisting developing countries and nongovernmental and multilateral organizations to provide all children with a quality basic education; and (2) promoting education as the foundation for communities' development. 
 
Directs the President to develop a comprehensive U.S. strategy to promote quality universal basic education by 2015. 
 
Authorizes the President to provide funds and other assistance to qualifying foreign countries to create the policies, processes, and infrastructure to develop national basic quality education plans. 
 
Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish within the Department of State a Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Provide Basic Education Assistance who shall have primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all U.S. government resources and international activities to promote quality universal basic education.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-3801
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2010-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child health
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: 
Makes a child eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) eligible for such care until the child's 26th birthday, regardless of the child's marital status.
 
Makes such provision inapplicable before January 1, 2014, to a child who is eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored health care plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7177-7178)
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7177)
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7177)
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
S Corporation ESOP Promotion and Expansion Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3803
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2010-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Corporate finance and management
Department of the Treasury
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Income tax deductions
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Securities
Small business
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: 
S Corporation ESOP Promotion and Expansion Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend to all domestic corporations, including S corporations, provisions allowing deferral of tax on gain from the sale of employer securities to an S corporation-sponsored employer stock ownership plan (ESOP); (2) allow a tax deduction for interest incurred on loans to S corporation-sponsored ESOPs for the purchase of employer securities; and (3) transfer liability for payment of estate tax on transfers of employer securities to an S corporation-sponsored ESOP from the estate executor to the ESOP.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the S Corporation Employee Ownership Assistance Office to foster increased employee ownership of S corporations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Katie Sepich Enhanced DNA Collection Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3805
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2010-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Evidence and witnesses
Law enforcement administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: 
Katie Sepich Enhanced DNA Collection Act of 2010 - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to assist states with costs associated with the implementation of minimum or enhanced DNA collection processes. Defines such processes for the purpose of this Act. Awards bonus payments to states that have implemented and used an enhanced DNA collection process. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7210)
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
American Security and Freedom Fuels Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3807
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2010-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Aviation and airports
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Motor fuels
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: 
American Security and Freedom Fuels Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of liquid fuel suitable for use as an aviation fuel or aviation fuel blend and that: (1) is domestically produced; (2) is a synthetic fuel or derived from biomass; (3) is produced in a manner that does not primarily compete with food stocks; and (4) meets the regulatory standards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for renewable fuels standards pursuant to the Clean Air Act. Limits each contract to a 20-year period, and prohibits contract options. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on performance under each such contract.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2010-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Farm Credit Expansion Act

Bill: 111-s-3808
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2010-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Disaster relief and insurance
Family relationships
Government lending and loan guarantees

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-21
text: 
Farm Credit Expansion Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand eligibility for Farm Service Agency operating loans, farm ownership loans, conservation loans, and emergency loans. 
 
Deems specified embedded entities (an entity owned wholly or in part by another entity) eligible for farm ownership and operating loans. 
 
Deems specified operating-only entities eligible for farm ownership loans.
 
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to determine that an entity that is an owner-operator or operator meets the direct ownership loan requirement if it is owned in whole or in part by other entities and each individual that is an owner of the family farm involved has an ownership interest in each of the other entities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2010-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate