jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-07-06 00:00:00

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

Iran Accountability Act of 2016

This bill prescribes requirements for mandatory sanctions with respect to:

 Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), its agents, and persons or entities it owns; Mahan Air; Iran's support of terrorism and money laundering; Iran's human rights abuses; certain Iranian individuals, including the Supreme Leader of Iran and the President of Iran; persons who conduct transactions with or on behalf of certain Iranian individuals; persons that support or are involved in Iran's ballistic missile program; and financial institutions that engage in certain transactions on behalf of persons involved in human rights abuses or that export sensitive technology to Iran. The Department of the Treasury must establish and publish in the Federal Register an IRGC watch list.

The bill prescribes prohibitions against Iran's access to the U.S. financial system.

The bill authorizes the Department of State to provide assistance to individuals and entities working in Iran to promote the rule of law and economic opportunity.

The Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act of 1992 is amended to cover ballistic missiles and related technology.

The President is directed to: (1) designate within the State Department a Special Coordinator on Human Rights and Democracy in Iran; and (2) report on U.S. citizens, including dual citizens, detained by Iran or related groups.

The bill requires Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Voice of America to increase programing services to Iran.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-07-07 00:00:00

U.S.-Israel Partnership to Hold Iran Accountable Act

This bill authorizes the Department of State to establish a joint commission with Israel to address Iranian compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The commission should:

 support professional dialogues to detect and respond to JCPOA violations by Iran; coordinate subcabinet level political discussions on contingency responses to such violations and responses to Iran's destabilizing, non-nuclear activities, including missile launches, support for terrorism, and human rights violations; and coordinate technical discussions among the State Department, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Energy, and counterpart Israeli ministries on technical aspects of JCPOA implementation. The bill expresses the sense of Congress that:

 Israeli officials who are counterparts to specified U.S. officials should be appointed as commission members; the President should ensure commission participation by senior officials in the Executive Office of the President and counterparts in the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel; and the Department of Defense should conduct joint military planning with Israel based on commission-identified contingency scenarios, such as responding to the detection of a covert Iranian enrichment facility, new Iranian weaponization efforts, or other clear indicators that Iran has begun a nuclear weapon breakout.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-07-11 00:00:00

Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2016

(Sec. 3) This bill states that is U.S. policy to support: (1) the rule of law and an independent judiciary and electoral council in Nicaragua; (2) independent pro-democracy organizations in Nicaragua; and (3) free, fair, and transparent elections under international and domestic observers in Nicaragua in 2016 and 2017.

(Sec. 4) The President shall instruct the U.S. executive director at each international financial institution to use U.S. influence to oppose any loan for the government of Nicaragua's benefit, other than for basic human needs or to promote democracy, unless the Department of State certifies that Nicaragua is taking effective steps to: (1) hold elections overseen by credible domestic and international electoral observers, (2) promote democracy and an independent judiciary system and electoral council, (3) strengthen the rule of law, and (4) respect the right to freedom of association and expression.

 The Department of the Treasury shall submit a report assessing: (1) the effectiveness of international financial institutions in enforcing applicable program safeguards in Nicaragua, and (2) the effects of specified election and fiscal transparency matters in Nicaragua on long-term prospects for positive development outcomes there.

(Sec. 5) The President shall direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States to use U.S. influence to advocate for an Electoral Observation Mission to be sent to Nicaragua in 2016 and 2017.

(Sec. 6) The bill provides that Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development should prioritize foreign assistance to the people of Nicaragua to assist civil society in democracy and governance programs, including human rights documentation.

(Sec. 7) The State Department shall report on the involvement of senior Nicaraguan government officials, including members of the Supreme Electoral Council, the National Assembly, and the judicial system, in acts of public corruption or human rights violations in Nicaragua.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2016-07-11 00:00:00

No U.S. Financing for Iran Act

TITLE I--IRAN FINANCING PROHIBITION

(Sec. 101) This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from authorizing U.S. financial institution transactions in connection with the export or re-export of commercial passenger aircraft to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

(Sec. 102) Any transaction authorized by Treasury before enactment of this bill is revoked.

TITLE II--NO EX-IM ASSISTANCE FOR TERRORISM

No Ex-Im Assistance for Terrorism Act

(Sec. 202) This bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to prohibit the Export-Import Bank from guaranteeing, insuring, extending credit, or participating in the extension of credit in connection with the export of U.S. goods or services sought by:

 the Government of Iran, an entity owned or controlled by it, an entity created under Iranian law, or a foreign subsidiary of such an entity; an entity involving the Government of Iran, owned or controlled by the Government of Iran, created under Iranian law, or a foreign subsidiary of such an entity; or a non-U.S. entity that, in the last five-years, has leased or sold aircraft to the Government of Iran, or a subsidiary or controlling parent of such a non-U.S. entity. The Bank must cancel approved financing if it finds that such financing has facilitated the export, sale, or lease of an aircraft to the Government of Iran or a related entity and must seek immediate recovery of any amount it has provided in connection with the transaction.

TITLE III--SUNSET

(Sec. 301) This bill shall cease to be effective 30 days after the President certifies to Congress that the Government of Iran has ceased support for acts of international terrorism.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Date: 2016-07-11 00:00:00

No Ex-Im Assistance for Terrorism Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to prohibit the Export-Import Bank from guaranteeing, insuring, extending credit, or participating in the extension of credit in connection with the export of U.S. goods or services sought by:

 the Government of Iran, an entity owned or controlled by it, an entity created under Iranian law, or a foreign subsidiary of such an entity; an entity involving the Government of Iran, owned or controlled by the Government of Iran, created under Iranian law, or a foreign subsidiary of such an entity; or a non-U.S. entity that, in the last five-years, has leased or sold aircraft to the Government of Iran, or a subsidiary or controlling parent of such a non-U.S. entity. The Bank must cancel approved financing if it finds that such financing has facilitated the export, sale, or lease of an aircraft to the Government of Iran or a related entity and must seek immediate recovery of any amount it has provided in connection with the transaction.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2016-07-11 00:00:00

This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from issuing a license for the export or re-export of commercial passenger aircraft to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Treasury shall submit an annual report to Congress:

 stating whether any U.S. financial institution is involved with the sale or lease of commercial passenger aircraft to Iran by a non-U.S. manufacturer; and containing a description of the risks related to repayment, money laundering, and the financing of terrorism faced by U.S. financial institutions that are involved in such transactions.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-07-12 00:00:00

Preventing Iranian Destabilization of Iraq Act of 2016

This bill declares it shall be the policy of the United States to impose sanctions with respect to terrorist organizations and foreign countries, including the government of Iran, that threaten the peace or stability of Iraq.

The bill directs the President to impose sanctions to block transactions in property and interests in property in the United States of, and the Department of State or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deny admissions into the United States or revoke the visa of, any foreign person that State or DHS determines:

 has knowingly committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, violence that threatens the peace or stability of Iraq or that undermines economic reconstruction, political reform, or humanitarian efforts in Iraq; has knowingly materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, any such act; or is owned or controlled by, or has acted on behalf of, a foreign person that has carried out any such act or activity. Such admissions-related sanctions shall not apply if a person's admission is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations or other applicable international obligations.

The President may waive the application of sanctions under this bill for up to 90 days if the President provides prior certification that the waiver is vital to U.S. national security interests.

The sanction provisions of this bill shall cease to be effective on January 1, 2022.

It is the sense of Congress that the government of Iran has committed acts of violence, and poses a significant risk of committing further acts of violence, that threaten the peace or stability of Iraq.

The bill directs the President to determine whether specified Iranian officials are responsible for engaging in acts or activities described in this bill and, if so, to impose admissions-related sanctions on such officials.

The President must report, every 180 days for 5 years, on Iranian activities in Iraq, including Iran's support for Iraqi militias or political parties.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2016-07-12 00:00:00

Stop U.S. Support for State Sponsors of Terrorism Act

(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from issuing a license for the export or re-export of commercial passenger aircraft to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

(Sec. 3) Treasury shall submit an annual report to Congress:

 stating whether any U.S. financial institution is involved with the sale or lease of commercial passenger aircraft or aircraft spare parts to Iran by a non-U.S. manufacturer, and whether any such involvement is with respect to such aircraft or spare parts comprising 10% or more U.S. content; and containing a description of the risks related to repayment, money laundering, and the financing of terrorism faced by U.S. financial institutions that are involved in such transactions. (Sec. 4) The Export-Import Bank shall report annually to Congress on the use of Bank assistance for such transactions.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-07-14 00:00:00

Determination of Russia-Iran Weapons Transfer Act of 2016

This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the sale or transfer of an advanced integrated air defense system to Iran constitutes the sale or transfer of a destabilizing type of advanced conventional weapons system to Iran.

The President shall: (1) notify Congress within 15 days of receiving credible information that any advanced integrated air defense system has been sold or transferred to Iran; and (2) within 30 days of such notification, determine whether the sale or transfer meets sanction imposition requirements and, if so, determine whether to impose or waive sanctions.

 Upon determining that such sale or transfer is not subject to sanctions, the President shall submit a report on the specific reasons for such determination.

Imposed sanctions shall terminate 30 days after the President certifies that Iran and all Iranian-owned or controlled-entities: (1) are not in possession of the system for which sanctions were imposed; and (2) have not transferred such system to a foreign terrorist organization or to a country whose government has repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-07-14 00:00:00

Secure the Northern Triangle Act

This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the United States must address the violence and humanitarian crisis resulting in the elevated numbers of unaccompanied children, women, and refugees from the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) arriving at the southwestern border of the United States.

The bill authorizes appropriations for the United States Strategy for Engagement in Central America.

Funds are made available for combating criminal violence and corruption and advancing economic development.

The President shall designate a senior official to coordinate federal and international efforts to strengthen the rule of law and economic prosperity in Central America.

The Millenium Challenge Corporation may fund concurrent compacts for regional integration.

The Department of State shall submit a three-year strategy to secure international and regional support for the Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall expand law enforcement partnership efforts in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico to combat human smuggling and trafficking.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and DHS shall expand collaborative programs aimed at human smugglers and traffickers targeting Central American children and families.

The bill provides for: (1) increased sanctions against foreign narcotics traffickers and their foreign supporters operating in Central or South America; (2) increased resources for, and expedited processing under, the Central American Minors (CAM) program; and (3) strengthening the capacity of Mexico and other regional countries to provide asylum and global resettlement.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services shall perform record checks of prospective sponsors prior to placing an unaccompanied alien child with a sponsor.

DHS shall: (1) monitor unaccompanied alien children after placement, and (2) provide funds to states for criminal registry and child abuse searches of prospective sponsors.

The Department of Education shall provide funds to eligible school districts for unaccompanied alien children.

 A local educational agency shall: (1) ensure that unaccompanied alien children in the area are immediately enrolled in school following placement, and (2) remove enrollment and participation barriers.

DHS shall: (1) ensure that legal orientation programs are available for all DHS-detained aliens, and (2) consult with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to develop a child-centered repatriation process.

DOJ may appoint or provide legal counsel to individuals in immigration proceedings and shall appoint legal counsel for children and vulnerable individuals in such proceedings.

DOJ shall increase the number of immigration judges and Board of Immigration Appeals attorneys.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-09-06 00:00:00

No Ransom Payments Act of 2016

This bill prohibits the President from paying final judgments, awards, or compromise settlements to Iran using specified Department of Treasury funds (specified funds) until the President certifies that: (1) Iran has returned any money from such funds paid to it by the United States after January 1, 2016, (2) Iran has satisfied all outstanding judgments against it awarded to U.S. plaintiffs by U.S. courts, and (3) individuals taken hostage and held for 444 days following the U.S. Embassy seizure in Iran on November 4, 1979, have been compensated from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

The President must certify before providing or authorizing payment of any funds to Iran that: (1) the funds will not be used to support international terrorism, and (2) Iran or Iran-supported groups are not unjustly detaining U.S. citizens.

The President, within 60 days after enactment of this bill, shall impose property transaction and U.S. entry sanctions against any Iranian person:

 involved in the kidnapping or unjust detention of a U.S. citizen on or after March 9, 2007; that engages, or attempts to engage, in an activity or transaction that materially contributes to such kidnapping or unjust detentions; and owned or controlled by such a person, acting on behalf of such a person, or providing support for such a person. The Director of National Intelligence shall report within 60 days on whether funds paid to Iran by the United States after January 1, 2016, have been used by Iran to support international terrorism.

The President and U.S. government officers shall not:

 make a payment to a government or person to secure the release of unjustly detained U.S. citizens (a payment to assist arrested U.S. citizens is excluded from such prohibition), or use specified funds to make any payment to a state sponsor of acts of international terrorism (a specific payment or a specific payee is excluded from such prohibition if Congress has passed a joint resolution waiving the application of such prohibition).
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-09-07 00:00:00

Victims Before Ransom Act

This bill prohibits the use of funds by the United States to make a payment to the government of Iran or an Iranian national relating to the settlement of any claim before the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal until the President certifies to Congress that Iran has paid all compensatory damages awarded to a U.S. person or entity in a final judgment of a federal or state court arising from an act of international terrorism for which the government of Iran was determined not to be immune from the court's jurisdiction.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-09-12 00:00:00

Halt Arms and Promote Peace in South Sudan Act

This bill expresses the sense of Congress with respect to the civil war in South Sudan.

The bill: (1) requires a validated license to export dual use goods or technology to South Sudan, and (2) prohibitis issuing an export license to South Sudan for any item on the United States Munitions List.

The bill provides that the Department of State should seek to engage with relevant institutions to impose coordinated asset blocking and travel ban sanctions on persons who have violated a cease fire in South Sudan or who knowingly transferred arms to any party to hostilities in that country.

The President shall direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use U.S. influence to seek: (1) imposition of targeted sanctions against all parties to hostilities in South Sudan, and (2) an arms embargo against the government of South Sudan and all other parties to hostilities in that country.

Upon making a determination that a cease fire exists and progress toward implementing the agreement is being made, the State Department shall: (1) develop a strategy to strengthen food security in South Sudan, (2) assess South Sudan's participation in the Feed the Future initiative, and (3) facilitate South Sudan's participation in the Power Africa and the Trade Africa programs.

The President shall report on: (1) the imposition of such sanctions, and (2) activities and finances of persons supplying arms to South Sudan.

The State Department shall report on: (1) progress towards peace in South Sudan, and (2) atrocities committed during the civil war in South Sudan.

The Department of the Treasury shall determine whether South Sudan is a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-09-12 00:00:00

Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act of 2016

This bill provides for retroactive calculation as of October 7, 2001, (the start of combat operations in Afghanistan) of qualifying active duty or active service days as a member of the Ready Reserve in order to reduce the eligibility age for receipt of retired pay for non-regular service.

The current calculation date is January 28, 2008.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-09-15 00:00:00

Taiwan Travel Act

This bill states that it should be U.S. policy to permit: (1) high-level Taiwanese officials to enter the United States under respectful conditions and to meet with U.S. officials, including officials from the Department of State and the Department of Defense; and (2) the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, and any other instrumentality established by Taiwan, to conduct official business in the United States.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-09-28 00:00:00

This bill amends the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 to extend through FY2022 the authorization for the President to: (1) provide grants that promote democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and development of a market economy in North Korea; (2) take actions to increase the availability of non-government controlled information inside North Korea; and (3) provide assistance to support organizations or persons that provide humanitarian assistance to North Koreans who are outside of North Korea without the permission of the Government of North Korea.

The bill extends through 2022 annual reporting requirements on: (1) such actions by the President; (2) activities of the Special Envoy for North Korean human rights issues; (3) U.S. Agency for International Development activities to promote U.S. humanitarian assistance to North Koreans inside and outside of North Korea and improvements in humanitarian transparency, monitoring, and access inside North Korea; and (4) the number of North Koreans seeking refugee status or political asylum in the United States.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-11-14 00:00:00

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

Iran Sanctions Extension Act

(Sec. 2) This bill extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 through December 31, 2026.