jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2008-09-25 00:00:00

Small Business Lending Market Stabilization Act of 2008 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), to the extent that the cost is offset by appropriations, to collect no fees currently charged by: (1) the SBA to borrowers and lenders under the SBA's 7(a) loan program (SBA-guaranteed general business loans to small businesses); and (2) development companies under SBA's 504 loan program (local business development loans). Directs the Administrator to reimburse development companies for waived fees. Increases maximum limits on SBA loans made to small businesses under the Small Business Act and on loans made to development companies under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. Authorizes a small business whose SBA loan includes the acquisition of a facility or construction of a new facility to lease up to 50% of the space in such facility. Permits certain borrowers to refinance a limited amount of their preexisting debt through a new 504 loan. Directs the SBA to establish an optional business size standard for certain small business loan applicants. Allows the SBA to use weighted average rates when pooling loans for sale on the secondary market. Directs the SBA to provide lenders at least one alternative loan interest rate to the prime rate.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2008-11-19 00:00:00

HUBZone Improvement Act of 2008 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) correct and update the map used by the SBA to identify HUBZones (historically underutilized business zones) and to ensure that it is updated on a more frequent basis; (2) develop and implement guidance for determining whether an applicant is a qualified HUBZone small business; (3) establish a date for elimination of the backlog of applications for recertification as a qualified HUBZone small business; (4) ensure that the SBA eliminates the backlog by such date; (5) establish and implement a time period for completing a recertification; and (6) develop and implement plans to assess the effectiveness of the HUBZone program.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-01-09 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2009: (1) the increased ($250,000) expensing allowance for depreciable business assets; and (2) the additional 50% depreciation allowance for certain types of investment property (bonus depreciation).
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Law
Date: 2009-01-09 00:00:00

Small Business Liability Reform Act of 2009 - Allows punitive damages against a small business only if the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that conduct carried out by the defendant with a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of others was the proximate cause of the harm that is the subject of the action. States that in any civil action against a small business: (1) each defendant shall be liable only for the amount of noneconomic loss allocated to that defendant in direct proportion to the percentage of responsibility of that defendant for the harm caused to the plaintiff; and (2) the court shall render a separate judgment against each defendant describing such percentage of responsibility. Excepts from such liability limitations specified misconduct of a defendant.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-01-09 00:00:00

Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act to make small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans eligible for the award by the Small Business Administration (SBA) of small business development grants in the same manner as small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-01-14 00:00:00

Opportunity for Family Farms and Small Businesses Act of 2009 - Makes permanent the provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) that repeal the estate and generation skipping transfer taxes and that make reductions in the gift tax. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase to $200,000 and make permanent the expensing allowance (i.e., a tax deduction in the current taxable year) for depreciable business assets; (2) increase the threshold for phaseout of such allowance to $800,000 (the cost basis of property placed in service); (3) allow an inflation adjustment to the expensing and threshold amounts after 2009; (4) make permanent the right of a taxpayer to revoke an election to expense business assets; (5) make permanent the inclusion of certain computer software as property eligible for expensing; and (6) allow self-employment health insurance costs as a deduction in determining net self-employment income.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-01-15 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the restrictions on the tax deduction for the travel expenses of a taxpayer's spouse, dependent, or other individual accompanying the taxpayer on business travel.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-01-15 00:00:00

Increases, for one year after the enactment of this Act, the authorized level of participation (financing) by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in certain SBA-guaranteed loans made to small businesses.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Health
Date: 2009-02-04 00:00:00

Small Business Cooperative for Healthcare Options to Improve Coverage for Employees (CHOICE) Act of 2009 or the Small Business CHOICE Act of 2009 - Provides for the establishment and governance of Fully Funded Small Business Health Insurance cooperatives, which are small businesses that form a captive insurance company chartered in a qualified state to provide excess claims coverage insurance that meets certain qualifications to its members. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish an independent commission on Fully Funded Small Business Health Insurance Cooperatives to: (1) promote the development of such cooperatives; (2) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding minimum capital requirements; and (3) conduct oversight of such cooperatives.Exempts such cooperatives from certain state laws, rules, regulations, or orders, including any that would: (1) prohibit the establishment of a cooperative; (2) impose any material requirements, procedures, or standards on a cooperative that are not generally applicable to other entities engaged in a substantially similar business; or (3) discriminate against a cooperative or any of its members. Preempts any state law that conflicts with, hinders, poses an obstacle to, or frustrates the purpose of this Act.Sets forth provisions governing the provision of claims information, including protected health information, from health insurance issuers to cooperatives.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the small business CHOICE tax credit for small employers for costs related to providing qualified employer-subsidized health coverage for employees and their families. Disallows such a credit unless the employee offers a qualified small business wellness program to covered employees and family members.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-02-10 00:00:00

Declares that this Act is enacted pursuant to the constitutional power granted to Congress to regulate commerce. Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to allow a secondhand seller to sell, offer for sale, or distribute a product or substance that is not in conformity with a consumer product safety rule relating to lead in children's products or to currently-required labeling for children's products. Defines "secondhand seller" to include: (1) a consignment or thrift shop; (2) an individual who uses the Internet, a yard sale, or other casual means; or (3) a person who sells such a product at an auction to benefit a nonprofit organization. Delays by six months each required step down in the allowed lead level in children's products. Applies this change as though it had taken effect on August 15, 2008.Prevents a specified requirement for third-party children's product safety testing from going into effect before August 9, 2009. Applies this change as though it had taken effect on August 15, 2008.Relieves a manufacturer from the requirement to test or certify a product regarding lead content if the manufacturer has tested and certifies each component of the product.Prohibits either the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or any state attorney general from initiating an enforcement proceeding under the Consumer Product Safety Act or the Federal Hazardous Substances Act regarding product certification and labeling and children's products containing lead until 30 days after the issuance of final rules, regulations, or guidance.Requires the CPSC to waive any civil penalty for a good faith first violation of a prohibition under the Act.Requires the CPSC to develop, publish, and distribute a guide to assist small enterprises in complying with the requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Act and other Acts enforced by the CPSC.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-02-11 00:00:00

Eagle Employers Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer certified as an Eagle employer by the Secretary of the Treasury a tax credit for one percent of such employer's taxable income. Defines an " Eagle employer" as any taxpayer who: (1) maintains its headquarters in the United States; (2) pays at least 60% of the health care premiums of its employees; (3) maintains or increases the number of its full-time workers in the United States relative to its full-time workers outside of the United States; (4) provides full differential salary and insurance benefits for all National Guard and Reserve employees called to active duty; and (5) provides its employees with a certain level of compensation and retirement benefits.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-03-12 00:00:00

Securing Equity for the Economic Development of Low Income Areas Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), in selecting companies to participate in the New Markets Venture Capital Program (Program), to select at least one company from each geographic region of the SBA. Requires (current law authorizes) the Administrator to make grants to such companies to be used for loans to new-market small businesses, and to guarantee debentures issued by such companies. Establishes the Office of New Markets Venture Capital, headed by a Director, to administer the Program. Revises the definition of "low income geographic area" for Program eligibility purposes. Requires a study by the SBA's Chief Counsel for Advocacy on the availability of equity capital in low-income urban and rural areas. Authorizes operational assistance grants to conditionally approved companies.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-03-16 00:00:00

Amends the Business Opportunity Development Reform Act of 1988 to repeal the small business competitiveness demonstration program (the testing of innovative small business procurement methods and procedures).
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-03-17 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase in taxable years beginning in 2009, 2010, or 2011: (1) the limit on the tax deduction for trade or business start-up expenditures from $5,000 to $20,000; and (2) the threshold amount for reducing such limit.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-03-26 00:00:00

Small Business Microloan Modernization Act of 2009 - Amends provisions of the Small Business Act regarding the Microloan program (a program administered by the Small Business Administration [SBA] to provide small-scale loans to startup, newly established or growing small businesses for working capital or the acquisition of materials, supplies, or equipment) to: (1) require the SBA Administrator to establish a process under which a lender provides to the major credit reporting agencies information about the borrower that is relevant to credit reporting (such as loan payment activity); (2) remove the requirement that Microloan loans be short-term only; (3) revise Microloan intermediary eligibility requirements; (4) increase from $7,500 to $10,000 the limit for loans made to intermediaries that will receive a reduced interest rate; (5) increase from 25% to 35% of grant funds received by Microloan intermediaries the amount that may be used to provide information and technical assistance to small businesses that are prospective borrowers; and (6) include disabled entrepreneurs and small business owners under the Microloan program.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-03-26 00:00:00

Responsible Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Makes permanent the repeal of the estate tax. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase to $500,000 the maximum expensing allowance for depreciable business assets; (2) allow first-year expensing of manufacturing and agricultural property; (3) allow a 20% tax deduction for qualified small business income; (4) allow a deduction from self-employment income for health insurance, health savings account contributions, and simplified employee pension plan contributions; and (5) increase the limit on the tax deduction for contributions to a simplified employee pension plan.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-04-01 00:00:00

Payroll Tax Holiday Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate employment and self-employment taxes between the enactment of this Act and January 1, 2010, for small business owners who employ 50 or fewer employees.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-04-01 00:00:00

Amends the Small Business Act relating to the women's business centers program to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) disburse funds to a women's business center (center) no later than one month after its application is approved; (2) annually publish on the SBA website information on the financing of each center; (3) establish a standardized process to communicate with centers regarding program administration matters; and (4) notify each center of the opportunity for notice and comment on proposed program rules. Replaces the five-year projects for the benefit of small businesses owned and controlled by women with a three-tiered program of five-year (first tier), three-year (second tier), and three-year (third tier) projects, with each tier commencing after the previous tier is being completed. Allows the maximum award of assistance ($150,000) for first-tier projects that possess the capacity to train existing or potential business owners in the fields of green technology, clean technology, or energy efficiency. Revises matching funds requirements for all projects. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the SBA to: (1) establish center performance measures; and (2) require each center to submit an annual funding and strategies plan. Amends the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 to require the National Women's Business Council to perform studies of: (1) the impact of the 2008-2009 financial markets crisis on women-owned businesses; and (2) the use of SBA programs by women-owned businesses. Authorizes appropriations for the Council for FY2010-FY2011. Includes under criteria for the selection of project participants whether the applicant has the capacity to train existing or potential business owners in the fields of green technology, clean technology, or energy efficiency.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-04-01 00:00:00

Amends the Small Business Act relating to the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure that SCORE: (1) carries out a plan to increase the proportion of small business mentors from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and reports annually to the Administrator on plan implementation; (2) establishes benchmarks for evaluating its activities and volunteers; and (3) establishes a mentoring program of one-on-one advice to small businesses from qualified counselors. Requires the Administrator to carry out a networking program through SCORE that provides small businesses with the opportunity to make business contacts in their industry or geographic region. Renames the Service Corps of Retired Executives as SCORE. Eliminates the Active Corps of Executives. Authorizes appropriations for SCORE for FY2010-FY2011.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-04-01 00:00:00

Expanding Entrepreneurship Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act relating to small business entrepreneurial development programs (programs) to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) develop and submit to Congress a plan for using the programs as a catalyst for job creation for FY2010-FY2011; (2) promulgate a rule to develop and implement a data collection process covering all programs; (3) report to Congress on opportunities to foster coordination, limit duplication, and improve delivery under the programs; (3) after public comment, establish and make available a database of providers of entrepreneurial development services; (4) designate at least one staff member in each SBA district office as a community specialist with full-time responsibility working with such providers to increase coordination with federal resources; and (5) publish a design for a Web-based portal that provides comprehensive information on the programs and, after public comment, establish such portal. Prohibits the Administrator from conducting any pilot program for a period of more than three years if the pilot program conflicts with or uses the resources of any of the entrepreneurial development programs.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-04-01 00:00:00

Small Business Development Centers Modernization Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act relating to small business development centers (SBDCs) (centers established through the Small Business Administration [SBA] to provide advisory, operational, and technical assistance to small businesses) to: (1) require institutions of higher education that are provided SBDC grants to be accredited; (2) require SBDC employee hirings to be at the sole discretion of an SBDC without input or approval from SBA officers or employees; (3) eliminate a matching funds requirement with respect to SBDC grant programs conducted in areas in which a disaster has occurred; and (4) allow grant distributions with respect to two or more SBDCs located in the same state only when no applicant has applied to serve the entire state. Directs the Administrator to establish SBDC grant programs for: (1) access to credit and capital; (2) procurement training and assistance; (3) green entrepreneurs training; (4) main street stabilization; and (5) small manufacturers transition (business change or reorganization) assistance. Limits grants to $300,000 per entity ($250,000 with respect to the latter two programs). Authorizes appropriations under each program for FY2010-FY2011. Prohibits funds recovered under an SBDC program through fees assessed to small business clients from being considered matching funds. Authorizes appropriations for the SBDC program for FY2010-FY2011.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-04-02 00:00:00

Healthy Workforce Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a 50% tax credit for the costs of providing employees with a qualified wellness program. Defines "qualified wellness program" as a program that is certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and that consists of a health awareness and education component, a behavioral change component, and a supportive environment component. Terminates such credit after 2017. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to institute an outreach program to inform businesses about the availability of such wellness program tax credit.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-04-30 00:00:00

Temporary Employees Franchise Improvement Act of 2009 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), in determining whether a franchisee is affiliated with a franchisor in the temporary employee services industry (industry), to: (1) continue to apply historically considered affiliation factors; (2) promulgate necessary rules and regulations to determine affiliation in a manner consistent with the Small Business Act; and (3) consider the processing of payroll and billing by a franchisor as customary and common practice in the industry that does not provide probative weight on affiliation, to the extent that temporary staffing personnel are interviewed, hired, trained, assigned, and subject to discharge by the franchisee.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-05-07 00:00:00

Minority Small Business Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act to consider an individual with a net worth of less than $1.5 million as eligible for participation in a Small Business Administration (SBA) program providing grants to small businesses owned and controlled by economically disadvantaged individuals. Allows a small business to receive SBA developmental assistance under the program for the entire period of an SBA-guaranteed loan. Redefines the term "bundled contract" to mean a contract or order entered into to meet procurement requirements that are consolidated in a bundling of contract requirements, without regard to its designation by the procuring agency or whether a study of the effects of the solicitation on civilian or military personnel has been made, subject to exceptions. Expands the definition of "bundling of contract requirements." Makes the revised and expanded definitions inapplicable to contracts for construction services under $65 million or under $5 million for all other types of contracts. Increases from: (1) 23% to 25% the government-wide small business procurement contract goal; and (2) 5% to 10% the government-wide procurement goal for small disadvantaged businesses and women-owned businesses. Limits the number of categories for which a small business may qualify under such goals. Requires a report from the Comptroller General to Congress on disparities in the awarding of federal contracts to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, small businesses, and other businesses.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2009-05-14 00:00:00

Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to require federal contracting officers to use purchases of goods or services through the federal supply schedules for the purpose of meeting the government-wide goal for participation by small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.