jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-06-25 00:00:00

Cuban Military Transparency Act

This bill prohibits a U.S. person from engaging in any financial transaction with or transfer of funds to:

 the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba or the Ministry of the Interior of Cuba (or any of their subdivisions); a senior member of such Ministries; any agency, instrumentality, or other entity that is more than 25% owned, or that is operated or controlled by, such a Ministry; or any individual or entity for the purpose of avoiding a prohibited financial transaction or transfer of funds that is for the benefit of that individual or entity. Such prohibitions shall not apply to:

 the sale to Cuba of agricultural commodities, medicines, and medical devices; a remittance to an immediate family member; assistance in furtherance of democracy-building efforts for Cuba; payments in furtherance of the lease agreement or other financial transactions necessary for maintenance and improvements of the military base at Guantanamo Bay; or customary and routine financial transactions necessary for the maintenance or regular duties of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, including outreach to the pro-democracy opposition. A person that violates or attempts to violate such prohibitions shall be subject to specified penalties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The Department of State rewards program under the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 shall include rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual responsible for or aiding in the February 1996 attack on the aircraft of U.S. persons in international waters by the Cuban military.

The Attorney General shall seek to coordinate with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to pursue the location and arrest of U.S. fugitives in Cuba, including current and former members of the Cuban military.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-07-08 00:00:00

South Sudan Peace Promotion and Accountability Act of 2015

This bill states that Congress: (1) recognizes that there has been a failure of leadership in South Sudan that has left South Sudanese civilians in a protracted state of suffering, and that the United States stands in solidarity with the people of South Sudan as they call for peace; and (2) urges all parties in the conflict to cease all violence and work towards a negotiated settlement through diplomacy and reconciliation.

Specified sanctions imposed on individuals related to South Sudan shall remain in effect until the President certifies to Congress that such sanctions are no longer necessary.

Nothing in this Act may be construed to limit the President's authority to impose additional sanctions.

The President shall transmit to Congress a strategy to guide future U.S. engagement with South Sudan.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-07-16 00:00:00

Belarus Democracy and Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2015

This bill requires that all U.S.-imposed sanctions with respect to Belarus remain in effect until the President certifies to Congress that the government of Belarus has met specified conditions under the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004.

The President shall include the Joint Stock Company Belaruskali and the Joint Stock Company Belarusian Potash Company on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-07-28 00:00:00

Cuba Trade Act of 2015

This bill repeals or amends current laws restricting trade with Cuba.

The prohibition on assistance to Cuba, and the President's authority for the embargo on Cuba, under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 are eliminated.

The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 is amended to eliminate:

 presidential authority to impose sanctions against Cuban trading partners, restrictions on transactions between U.S.-owned or controlled firms and Cuba, limitations on direct shipping between Cuban and U.S. ports, and restrictions on remittances. The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 is amended to eliminate:

 the enforcement of an economic embargo of Cuban provisions, and the prohibition on indirect financing of Cuba. The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 is amended to:

 remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism subject to agricultural and medical export restrictions; eliminate the prohibition on U.S. assistance, including foreign assistance, export assistance, and any credit or guarantees being made available for exports to Cuba; eliminate the prohibition against a U.S. person's providing payment or financing terms for sales of agricultural commodities or products to Cuba; prohibit the United States from providing any foreign assistance to Cuba or any financial assistance, loans, loan guarantees, extension of credit, or other financing for exports to Cuba; and eliminate the prohibition on the U.S. entry of merchandise that is of Cuban origin, is or has been located in or transported from or through Cuba, or is made or derived in whole or in part of any article which is the growth, produce, or manufacture of Cuba. The federal government may not obligate or expend any funds to promote trade with or develop markets in Cuba, except through certain commodity promotion programs.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-07-28 00:00:00

This bill states that Iran is unjustly holding at least three U.S. citizens, Jason Rezaian, Saeed Abedini, and Amir Hekmati, and possibly Robert Levinson, as hostages.

The President is authorized to take necessary action to detain non-diplomatic officials of the government of Iran: (1) in the United States, and (2) in any other country whose government provides the United States with prior authorization to take such actions.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-10-06 00:00:00

Cuba Agricultural Exports Act

This bill amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to exempt from prohibitions against U.S. assistance to Cuba any exports under the market access program, the export credit guarantee program, and the foreign market development cooperator program, including any federal commodity promotion program obligations or expenditures of funds.

This exemption shall not apply if the U.S. assistance recipient would be an entity controlled by the Cuban government, including the armed forces, the Ministry of the Interior, or any subdivision of either governmental entity.

A person subject to U.S. jurisdiction may invest in the development of an agricultural business in Cuba if the Department of State and the Department of Agriculture jointly determine that the agricultural business:

 is not controlled by the government of Cuba, including the armed forces, the Ministry of the Interior, or any subdivision of either governmental entity; and does not traffic in property of persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction which was confiscated by Cuba on or after January 1, 1959. Certain language limiting financing of agricultural sales to Cuba is repealed.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-10-08 00:00:00

This bill changes the current discretionary authority to a requirement that the President impose sanctions under the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 with respect to the provision of specialized financial messaging services to the Central Bank of Iran and other sanctioned Iranian financial institutions. This requirement may not be waived.

Sanctions are expanded to include, in the case of an alien who is a senior executive or member of the board of directors of a person that provides such messaging services, visa denial and exclusion from the United States, and revocation of any visa or other documentation.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: Immigration
Date: 2015-10-23 00:00:00

Ending Special National Origin-Based Immigration Programs for Cubans Act of 2015

This bill expresses the sense of Congress that Cuban nationals should be treated under the same immigration rules as nationals of other countries with which the United States has diplomatic relations and should not receive preferential treatment.

The bill repeals P.L. 89-732, which provides for the adjustment of Cuban citizens or nationals to lawful permanent resident status in the United States.

No funds, resources, or fees made available to the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, or to any other federal agency, including deposits into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account, may be used to implement or administer any of the policy changes set forth in the 2007 memorandum from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement entitled "Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program."
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-12-15 00:00:00

IRGC Sanctions Act

This bill amends the Arms Export Control Act, the Export Administration Act of 1979, and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require congressional approval of any rescission of a determination that a country is a state sponsor of terrorism.

The Trade Act of 1974 is amended to prohibit a U.S. person from knowingly engaging in any financial transaction with or transfer of funds to:

 Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or any IRGC subdivision; any person that is an agent, alias, front, instrumentality, or affiliate of any such entity; any person owned or controlled by such an entity or such a person; any natural person who is a representative, official, or senior member of any such entity; or any person for the purpose of avoiding a financial transaction with, or transfer of funds to, such an individual or entity, or for the benefit of such an individual or entity. The President shall exercise specified authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to carry out this Act, except that the President shall:

 not issue any general license authorizing, or otherwise authorize, any prohibited activity; or require any U.S. person seeking to engage in a prohibited financial transaction or transfer of funds to submit a written request to the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Congressional approval shall be required to remove any person added to the Office's list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons pursuant to this Act.

A person that violates prohibited activities shall be subject to specified penalties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The President shall establish and update a watch list of persons that:

 meet certain criteria under this Act and are not included on the Office's list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons, and are Iranian persons that meet specified criteria under this Act and have been removed from the Office's list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons in accordance with the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The President may remove a person on the watch list under specified conditions.

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is amended to require securities issuers to report to the Securities Exchange Commission any transaction prohibited by this Act.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-12-15 00:00:00

Quarantining the Ayatollah's State-Sponsored Aggression and Militancy (QASSAM) Act

This bill directs the President to block all property and property interest transactions of an entity that is U.S-located or controlled by a U.S. person if it is at least 20% owned by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), regardless of whether the entity itself is included on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control.

 Treasury shall establish and publish in the Federal Register a list of each entity with respect to which the IRGC:

 owns any interest that is less than 20%; or does not own any interest but maintains a presence on the board of directors or otherwise influences the entity's actions, policies, or personnel decisions. The Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 is amended to express the sense of Congress that the United States should support any state or local government that for moral, prudential, or reputational reasons divests from, or prohibits the investment of its assets in, any person that engages in investment or business activities with the IRGC or IRGC-related companies, as long as the IRGC is subject to U.S. economic sanctions.

A state or local government may adopt and enforce specified divestment or investment prohibition measures. It is the sense of Congress that a state or local government should not adopt such a measure against a person unless it has made every effort to avoid erroneously targeting such person.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-12-16 00:00:00

Azerbaijan Democracy Act of 2015

This bill prohibits the issuance of any visa to, and requires denial of entry to the United States of, any alien who:

 holds a position in the senior leadership of the government of Azerbaijan, or is an immediate family member of such person; through his or her business dealings with such senior leadership derives significant financial benefit from policies or actions, including electoral fraud, human rights abuses, or corruption, that undermine democratic institutions or impede the transition to democracy in Azerbaijan; or is a member of any branch of the security, judicial, or law enforcement services of Azerbaijan and has participated in the persecution or harassment of independent media or journalists, human rights defenders, opposition groups, or religious groups. The Department of State shall revoke any existing visas of such ineligible aliens.

The visa and entry prohibitions shall not apply to a government official of Azerbaijan seeking U.S. entry to participate in talks related to resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

It is the sense of Congress that:

 no loan, credit guarantee, insurance, or financing assistance be extended by any U.S. agency to the government of Azerbaijan, except for the provision of humanitarian goods and agricultural or medical products; and no funds available to the Trade and Development Agency should be available for activities of the Agency in or for Azerbaijan. It is also the sense of Congress that the President should block all property and interests in property that:

 are owned by any member of the senior leadership of the government of Azerbaijan, by any family member, or by any person who through his or her business dealings with such persons derives significant financial benefit from policies or actions that undermine Azerbaijan's democratic institutions; and are or come within the United States, or that are or come within the possession or control of any U.S. person. Activities prohibited by reason of the blocking of property and interests in property should include payments or transfers of any property, or any transactions involving the transfer of anything of economic value by any U.S. person to any person whose assets are blocked.

It is the sense of Congress that the President should continue to seek the support of other countries, particularly European countries, for a multilateral strategy to further the purposes of this Act.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-02-03 00:00:00

State Sanctions Against Iranian Terrorism Act

This bill amends the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to specify that a state may, in addition to limiting investment in Iran's energy sector, prohibit or limit any person from engaging in specified investment activities in Iran. A state may also enter into interstate compacts to prohibit or limit such financial activities.

Enforcement of such measures may include the imposition of disclosure and transparency requirements.

 The description of "investment activities" is revised to: (1) reduce the threshold for financial involvement from $20 million to $10 million; and (2) include, in addition to the energy sector, involvement in a business enterprise in Iran, including an entity owned or controlled by the Iranian government.

The bill declares that a state or local government measure authorized pursuant to the Act is: (1) authorized and not preempted by any federal law or regulation, or any policy, agreement, or exercise of waiver authority of the executive branch; and (2) is consistent with U.S. federal policy, including U.S. foreign policy.

A state or local government may enforce a measure adopted before the enactment of this Act that: (1) provides for the divestment of state or local assets from, or prohibits the investment of those assets in, any person that engages in investment activities in Iran or other business activities in Iran identified in the measure; or (2) prohibits or limits any person from engaging in investment activities in Iran.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2016-02-10 00:00:00

Combating BDS Act of 2016

This bill authorizes a state or local government to adopt and enforce measures to divest its assets from, or prohibit investment of its assets in: (1) an entity that such government determines, using credible information available to the public, engages in a commerce or investment-related boycott, divestment, or sanctions activity targeting Israel; or (2) an entity that owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, such an entity. Such government shall provide written notice to such an entity before applying such a measure.

Such a measure by a state or local government is not preempted by any federal law or regulation. The bill applies to measures adopted by a state or local government before, on, or after the date of this Act's enactment.

The bill amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to prohibit any person from bringing any civil, criminal, or administrative action against any registered investment company, or any officer or employee thereof, based solely upon such company divesting from, or avoiding investing in, securities issued by persons that such company determines, using credible information available to the public, engage in commerce or investment-related boycotts, divestments, or sanctions activities targeting Israel.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Date: 2016-02-12 00:00:00

Non-Discrimination of Israel in Labeling Act

This bill requires that, for purposes of marking imported articles and containers under the Tariff Act of 1930, every article of origin from the geographical area known as the West Bank (or its container) imported into the United States shall include the words:

 "West Bank" in the case of an article of an area in the West Bank not administered by Israel; and "Israel," "Made in Israel," or "Product of Israel" in the case of an article of an area in the West Bank administered by Israel. Every article of origin from the geographical area known as the Gaza Strip (or its container) imported into the United States shall include the words "Gaza" or "Gaza Strip."

Neither the Department of the Treasury nor any other federal department or agency may prohibit the use of any of such markings for purposes of satisfying the Tariff Act of 1930.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-03-02 00:00:00

Displaced Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries and Iran Act

This bill directs the President to report annually to Congress on actions the Department of State and other relevant federal departments and agencies have taken in the preceding year regarding resolution of the issue of Jewish refugees from Arab countries and Iran.

The report shall include a description of:

 actions in bilateral and multilateral fora to address the issue of rights for Jewish refugees from Arab countries; and measures to help ensure that the interests of Jews displaced from Arab countries and Iran and of all refugees displaced as a result of the Arab-Israeli conflict, including Arabs, Jews, Christians, and other groups, are considered in any final settlement of the Middle East refugee question that is part of any comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-03-17 00:00:00

Justice Before Commerce Act of 2016

This bill states that it is U.S. policy to expect the Cuban government to extradite all known U.S. fugitives back to the United States.

No federal funds may be used to accept commercial flight plans for travel between the United States and Cuba until Cuba extradites to the United States the last known fugitive from justice from the United States who is in Cuba.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-03-23 00:00:00

Comprehensive Strategy to Destroy ISIL Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Defense and the Department of State to jointly develop and submit to Congress a strategy to destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and its affiliates.

The Director of National Intelligence shall assess for Congress:

 the willingness and capabilities of coalition members and allies to defeat ISIL and its affiliates; the presence of ISIL or its affiliates in countries other than Syria, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, and Afghanistan; prevention of radicalization of citizens of regional countries by ISIL and its affiliates; the number of foreign fighters joining ISIL and its affiliates and tactics to prevent further recruitment; and significant U.S. intelligence gaps concerning ISIL and its affiliates and the ability of the United States to carry out a regional strategy to defeat ISIL and its affiliates.
Topic: International Affairs — Specific Country
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2016-04-11 00:00:00

No Dollars for Iran Act

This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from issuing a license under any law, including the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, that would permit a person to conduct offshore dollar clearing outside of the U.S. financial system for transactions that would involve or benefit the government of Iran or any Iranian person.