jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Bill 113-HR-4392 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Energize Emerging Opportunities Act - Directs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to amend regulations regarding criteria qualifying certain registered commodity pool operators for exemption from requirements for specified risk disclosures, performance disclosures, periodic reporting, annual reporting, and recordkeeping.

Alters one criterion for qualification for such exemptions currently granted to: (1) registered commodity pool operators who sell participations in a pool solely to qualified eligible persons in an offering which qualifies for exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and (2) certain banks registered as commodity pool operators in connection with a pool that is a collective trust fund whose securities are exempt from registration under the Securities Act.

Repeals the current additional criterion for such banks that the securities must be offered or sold, without marketing to the public, solely to qualified eligible persons. Replaces such criterion with one stating simply that the securities must be sold solely to qualified eligible persons. (Thus, eliminates the requirement that such securities be offered or sold without marketing to the public, and so allows such marketing.)

Repeals the current prerequisite for exemption of interests in a commodity pool from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 that such interests be offered and sold without marketing to the public in the United States. Requires such interests, instead, simply to be offered and sold pursuant to specified requirements for exempted transactions. (Thus, also eliminates the requirement that such interests be offered and sold without marketing to the public in the United States, and so allows such marketing.)
Bill 113-HR-4554 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Restricted Securities Relief Act of 2014 - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise specified regulations to: (1) reduce from six to three months the holding period for restricted securities issued by an issuer that is, and has been for at least 90 days immediately before the sale, subject to certain reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) permit a securities issuer with no or nominal operations and no or nominal non-cash assets that has ceased to be such an issuer to sell its securities two years after filing with the SEC a Form 8-K stating that it is no longer an issuer with no or nominal operations and no or nominal non-cash assets.

Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to exempt from any state or local registration or qualification requirements any security offered or sold in compliance with specified conditions for private resales of securities to institutions.
Bill 113-HR-4565 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Startup Capital Modernization Act of 2014 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 (Act) to increase from $5 million to $10 million the maximum aggregate amount of securities exempt from its purview due to either the small amount involved, or the limited character of the public offering.

Preempts state requirements governing securities registration, documentation, and offerings in connection with small issues related to small company capital formation.

Declares that this Act shall have no impact on state enforcement authority over the unlawful conduct of issuers, intermediaries, or custodians who are exempt from federal registration requirements under the Act.

Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to exempt certain small issues from its securities registration requirements if the issuer: (1) has filed audited financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and (2) is in compliance with all periodic disclosures required by the SEC.

 Exempts from prohibitions relating to interstate commerce and the mails any transaction where: (1) each purchaser is an accredited investor; and (2) if the securities are offered by means of any general solicitation or general advertising, the seller verifies that the purchaser is an accredited investor.

Denies such an exemption to transactions where the seller is: (1) either an issuer, its subsidiaries or parent; (2) a dealer; or (3) an underwriter acting on behalf of the issuer, its subsidiaries, or parent, which receives compensation from the issuer with respect to such sale.
Bill 113-HR-4568 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Small Business Freedom to Grow Act of 2014 - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise Form S-1 so that a smaller reporting company may incorporate by reference in a registration statement filed on that form any documents it files with the SEC after the registration statement's effective date.

Directs the SEC to revise Form S-3 so as to permit securities to be registered pursuant to General Instruction I.B.1. of the form if either: (1) the aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant is $75 million or more, or (2) the registrant has at least one class of common equity securities listed and registered on a national securities exchange.

Requires the SEC to remove a certain listing and registration requirement from General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3.
Bill 113-HR-4569 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Disclosure Modernization and Simplification Act of 2014 - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue regulations permitting issuers to submit a summary page on annual and transition report form 10-K if each item on that page cross-references electronically or otherwise the material contained in form 10-K to which the item relates.

Requires the SEC to revise regulation S-K (Standard Instructions for Filing Forms under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975) in order to:

 reduce the burden on smaller issuers, including emerging growth companies, accelerated filers, and smaller reporting companies (while still providing all material information to investors); eliminate duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or unnecessary provisions; and for which o further study under this Act is necessary to determine the efficacy of such revisions. Directs the SEC to study ways to: (1) modernize and simplify requirements in regulation S-K, and (2) evaluate information delivery and presentation methods as well as explore methods to discourage repetition and disclosure of immaterial information.

Requires the SEC to issue a proposed rule to implement any recommendations it makes to Congress based on the study.
Bill 113-HR-4570 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Private Placement Improvement Act of 2014 - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise the filing requirements of Regulation D to require an issuer that offers or sells securities in reliance upon a certain exemption from registration (for limited offers and sales without regard to the dollar amount of the offering [Rule 506]) to file, no earlier than the date of first sale of such securities, a single notice of sales containing the information required by Form D for each new offering of securities.

Prohibits the SEC from: (1) requiring the issuer to file any notice of sales containing the information required by Form D except for this single notice; (2) conditioning the availability of the Rule 506 exemption upon the filing of a Form D or similar report; or (3) requiring issuers to submit written general solicitation materials in connection with a limited offering subject to Rule 506, except when it requests such materials pursuant to specified authority.

Directs the SEC to revise a specified rule, regarding a Rule 506 offering of a private fund, to characterize as an accredited investor a "knowledgeable employee" of that private fund or the fund's investment adviser.

Prohibits the SEC from extending to private funds the requirements governing investment company sales literature.
Bill 113-HR-4571 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise regulations to require an issuer to furnish investors with additional specified disclosures regarding compensatory benefit plans if the aggregate sales price or amount of securities sold during any consecutive 12-month period exceeds $20 million (currently $5 million).

Directs the SEC to index that aggregate sales price or amount for inflation every 5 years.
Bill 113-HR-4697 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Small-Cap Access to Capital Act - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise its definition of a well-known seasoned issuer to: (1) reduce from $700 million to $250 million the dollar amount of the issuer's worldwide market value of outstanding voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates, and (2) prohibit an emerging growth company from qualifying as a well-known seasoned issuer.
Bill 113-HR-4757 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Taxation

Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to private activity bond financing for first-time farmers, to: (1) increase from $450,000 to $509,600 (adjusted annually for inflation) the amount of bond proceeds that may be used by a first-time farmer to acquire land for farming purposes, (2) repeal the limitation on the use of bond proceeds for used farm equipment, and (3) modify the definition of "substantial farmland" to determine farm size by reference to the average (instead of median) size of a farm in the county in which the farm is located.
Bill 113-HR-4915 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Helping Angels Lead Our Startups Act or the HALOS Act - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to amend Regulation D (governing the limited offer and sale of securities without registration under the Securities Act of 1933) to make the prohibition against general solicitation or general advertising inapplicable to events with specified kinds of sponsors (including angel investor groups not connected to broker-dealers or investment advisers) where:

 presentations or communications are made by or on behalf of an issuer, the advertising does not refer to any specific offering of securities by the issuer, the sponsor does not engage in certain activities (such as offering investment recommendations or advice to attendees), and no specific information regarding a securities offering is communicated (other than that the issuer is in the process of offering or planning to offer securities, including the type and amount of securities being offered).
Bill 113-HR-4996 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Energy Markets Emergency Act - Directs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to use its authority (including emergency powers) to: (1) to curb immediately the role of excessive speculation in any contract market within its jurisdiction on or through which energy futures or swaps are traded; and (2) eliminate excessive speculation, price distortion, sudden or unreasonable fluctuations, or unwarranted changes in prices, or other unlawful activity that is causing major market disturbances that prevent the market from accurately reflecting the forces of supply and demand for energy commodities.
Bill 113-HR-5442 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Corporate Transparency and Accountability Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require each issuer of a security required to file an annual or quarterly report to disclose in that report: (1) the issuer's total pre-tax profit during the period covered, and (2) the total amount paid by the issuer in state and federal taxes during that period.
Bill 113-HR-5471 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 Amends the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to revise the treatment of affiliate transactions that may be exempt from clearing requirements to authorize such an exemption only if the affiliate enters into the swap to hedge or mitigate the commercial risk of the person that is not a financial entity (as under current law), provided that an appropriate credit support measure or other mechanism must be used if the hedge or mitigation of commercial risk is addressed by entering into a swap with either: (1) a swap dealer or major swap participant, or (2) a security-based swap with a security- based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant.
Bill 113-HR-5490 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Wall Street Accountability Through Sustainable Funding Act - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to impose fees to recover the cost of the appropriation to the CFTC for the fiscal year.

Requires the fees to be imposed on each agreement, contract, or transaction that is a contract of sale of a commodity for future delivery, an option, or a swap.

Permits the CFTC to exempt contracts, agreements, or transactions from the fee if the exemption is consistent with: (1) the public interest; (2) the equal treatment of contract markets, derivatives clearing organizations, and market participants; and (3) the operation of a nationwide market system.

Establishes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Reserve Fund in the Treasury and requires the CFTC to impose and collect an additional fee to be deposited into the Fund. Permits the CFTC to obligate amounts in the Fund for long-term investments in information technology and unexpected expenses. Limits the balance in the Fund to $50 million.
Bill 113-HR-5833 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Taxpayer Protections Against Abusive Seizures Act - Requires notice of a right to request a court hearing to each person whose property is seized or restrained because of an alleged violation of the prohibition against structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements.

Requires the seized or restrained property to be returned, if the person requests a court hearing within 14 days after receiving such notice, unless within 14 days of that request the court holds an adversarial hearing and finds probable cause to believe that such a violation exists.
Bill 113-S-410 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Taxation

Wall Street Trading and Speculators Tax Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a .03% excise tax on the purchase of a security if: (1) such purchase occurs or is cleared on a trading facility located in the United States, or (2) the purchaser or seller is a U.S. person.

Defines "security" to include: (1) stocks, partnership interests, notes, bonds, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness; (2) interests in a derivative financial instrument (i.e., any option, forward contract, futures contract, or any similar financial instrument) and (3) any notional principal contract.

Exempts from such tax: (1) initial issues of securities; (2) any note, bond, debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness which is traded on a trading facility located in the United States and has a fixed maturity of not more than 100 days; and (3) securities traded pursuant to certain lending arrangements. Makes such tax applicable to transactions by controlled foreign corporations and payable by its U.S. shareholders.

Allows an offset against such tax for contributions to certain tax-favored accounts, including tax-exempt retirement plans, Archer medical savings accounts, health savings accounts, and qualified tuition plans and Coverdell education savings accounts.
Bill 113-S-652 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Securities Litigation Attorney Accountability and Transparency Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933 to require plaintiff and plaintiff's attorney in any private securities class action to disclose in sworn certifications filed with the complaint: (1) any direct or indirect payment, or promise of such, by the attorney (or an affiliated person) to the plaintiff (or any affiliated person), beyond the pro rata share of any recovery received by the plaintiff; (2) the nature and terms of any legal representation provided by such attorney (or an affiliated person) to such plaintiff (or an affiliated person), other than the representation of the plaintiff in the private action; and (3) any contribution made during the five-year period preceding the filing date of the complaint by such attorney (or an affiliated person) or any political action committee controlled by such attorney, to any elected official with real or apparent authority to retain counsel for such plaintiff or to select or appoint, influence the selection or appointment of, or oversee any individual or group of individuals with that authority.

Requires the court, in exercising its discretion over the approval of lead counsel, to employ a competitive bidding process as one of the criteria in the selection and retention of counsel for the most adequate plaintiff in a class action, unless the court determines on the record that such a process is not feasible.

Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) study fee awards to lead counsel in securities class actions during the seven-year period preceding the enactment of this Act; and (2) determine the effective average hourly rate for lead counsel in such actions, including lead counsel perquisites such as travel and accommodation.
Bill 113-S-716 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Government operations and politics

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Amends the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (STOCK Act) with respect to mandatory public, on-line reporting of financial disclosure statements by congressional staff and executive branch officers and employees.

Applies mandatory public, on-line reporting of financial disclosure statements only to Members of Congress, congressional candidates, the President, the Vice President, and executive branch officers at levels I and II of the Executive Schedule who require nomination by the President and confirmation by the Senate.

Extends until January 1, 2014, the deadline for:

 the Secretary, the Sergeant at Arms, and the Clerk to develop systems to enable the electronic filing of financial disclosure reports as well as their on-line public availability; the Director of the Office of Government Ethics to develop such systems for financial disclosure forms filed by covered executive branch officials. Repeals: (1) the prohibition against requiring a login to search or sort the data contained in the publicly available financial disclosure systems, and (2) the requirement that a login protocol with the name of the user be utilized by a person downloading data contained in the reports.
Bill 113-S-742 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Taxation

Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to 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).

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the S Corporation Employee Ownership Assistance Office to foster increased employee ownership of S corporations.

Amends the Small Business Act to define "ESOP business concern" and allow such a concern to continue to qualify for loans, preferences, and other programs under such Act.
Bill 113-S-824 — Domestic Commerce / Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector

Shareholder Protection Act of 2013 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require that any solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any security of an issuer: (1) describe the specific nature (to the extent known) and total amount of expenditures proposed for political activities for the forthcoming fiscal year but not yet authorized by a vote of the issuer's shareholders, and (2) provide for a separate shareholder vote to authorize such proposed expenditures.

Prohibits an issuer from making an expenditure for political activities in any fiscal year unless: (1) such expenditure is of the nature of those proposed by the issuer according to the requirements of this Act, and (2) authorization for such expenditure has been granted by votes representing a majority of outstanding shares.

Deems a violation of this requirement to be a breach of the fiduciary duty of the officers and directors who authorized such expenditure. Subjects officers and directors who authorize the expenditure without prior shareholder authorization to joint and several liability to any shareholder or class of shareholders for the amount of such expenditure.

Requires certain institutional investment managers to disclose annually in mandatory reports how they voted (proxies) in certain shareholder votes.

Prohibits any person from bringing any civil, criminal, or administrative action against an institutional investment manager, or any of its employees, officers, or directors, based solely upon the investment manager's decision to divest from, or not to invest in, securities of an issuer because of expenditures for political activities made by that issuer.

Requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to direct the national securities exchanges and national securities associations to prohibit the listing of any equity security of an issuer whose corporate bylaws do not expressly provide for a vote of the issuer's directors on any individual expenditure for political activities in excess of $50,000. Requires an issuer to make public, within 48 hours, the individual votes of the directors regarding any such expenditure.

Directs the SEC to: (1) require issuers to disclose expenditures for political activities made during the preceding quarter and the individual votes by board members authorizing such expenditures, and (2) make such reports publicly available through the SEC website.

Requires the SEC to make annual assessments of the compliance by public corporations and their management with the reporting and disclosure requirements of this Act, and the Comptroller General (GAO) to evaluate periodically the effectiveness of SEC oversight of these requirements.