jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2011-09-14 00:00:00

Expanding Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to increase from: (1) 9 to 12 years the authorized period of developmental assistance for participating small businesses under the small business and capital ownership and development program, and (2) 5 to 8 years the authorized period for participation in the transitional stage of such program. Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a program to provide technical business assistance to small businesses no longer eligible to participate in federal procurement contracts through the SBA, such assistance to be provided for the two-year period following such eligibility. Increases from 5% to 8% annually the goal of federal procurement contracts let to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Requires the Comptroller General to study, and report to Congress on, the activities of the five most and least successful federal agencies with respect to meeting small business federal procurement contracting goals.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2011-09-15 00:00:00

Small Business Administration Express Loan Extension Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 to extend through September 27, 2012 (under current law, until September 27, 2011) a temporary increase from $350,000 to $1 million in the maximum loan amount under the Express Loan Program of the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-09-15 00:00:00

Startup Expansion and Investment Act - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to revise an exception to rules prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that require the annual reports of certain publicly traded securities issuers to contain: (1) an assessment of the issuer's internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting, and (2) an attestation to such assessment by each registered public accounting firm that prepares or issues an audit report for the issuer. Permits an issuer to elect not to provide such an assessment and attestation if the issuer: (1) has a total market capitalization for the relevant reporting period of less than $1 billion; and (2) is not subject to the annual reporting requirement under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or has been subject to such requirement for a period fewer than 10 years. (Current law exempts issuers with an aggregate worldwide market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by its non-affiliates of below $75 million, as of the last business day of the issuer's most recently completed second fiscal quarter.) Requires an issuer electing not to provide such assessment and attestation to disclose that decision in its next annual report.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2011-09-15 00:00:00

Small Business Opportunity Expansion Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to increase the government-wide goal for awards to small businesses from 23% to 24% of the total value of all federal prime procurement contracts and subcontracts awarded in a fiscal year.  Increases from: (1) 3% to 4% the goal for award to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and (2) 5% to 6% the goal for award to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and by women.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2011-09-15 00:00:00

Small Business Administration 504 Loan Refinancing Extension Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 to extend through September 27, 2013 (under current law, through September 27, 2012) the authority for Small Business Administration (SBA) refinancing of small business debt not involving business expansion under the SBA's local development business loan program.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2011-09-20 00:00:00

Requires at least 10% of funds made available for high-speed rail corridor planning and development projects to be expended through small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (disadvantaged business enterprises). Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), however, if this requirement will prevent the satisfactory completion of a project because of a lack of competitive bids by disadvantaged business enterprises, to reduce the percentage for the project to the extent necessary to ensure its satisfactory completion. Requires the Secretary to establish minimum uniform criteria for recipients of high-speed rail corridor project funds to use in certifying small business concerns as disadvantaged business enterprises. Expresses the sense of Congress that the federal government should continue to encourage participation by veteran-owned small businesses in federal contracting and procurement opportunities and federally-funded projects, including the small business programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other federal agencies.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2011-09-21 00:00:00

Give Credit to Main Street Act of 2011 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish and carry out a program of making loans directly to small businesses in operaton for at least two years. Limits loan amounts to the lesser of 10% of annual business revenues or $500,000.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2011-10-06 00:00:00

Small Business Freedom of Commerce Act of 2011 - Allows a small business operating in the United States to elect to be exempt from any federal rule or regulation issued on or after January 20, 2009. Requires the small business to notify the federal agency that issued the rule or regulation that it has elected such exemption, and makes the exemption effective 30 days after such notification. Requires an exempt small business to: (1) label any product affected by the exemption as no longer subject to such rule or regulation, and (2) include in any communication relating to the affected product or activity a notice that it is no longer so subject. Provides penalties for small business noncompliance with such requirements. Prohibits a small business from electing to be exempt from a rule or regulation issued by the Department of Defense (DOD) or Homeland Security (DHS) if the Secretary of Defense or Homeland Security has determined that the rule or regulation is necessary for U.S. security.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2011-10-13 00:00:00

Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to exclude as a small business, for purposes of meeting federal agency contracting goals with small businesses, any small business (or subsidiary thereof) that is publicly traded, or any business (or subsidiary thereof) with more than 50% non-U.S. citizen ownership. Requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to notify the head of each federal department or agency regarding this Act and its amendments, and the department or agency head to then notify its contractors. Directs the Administrator to: (1) publish a report regarding federal prime contracts awarded to businesses identified as small businesses for purposes of achieving small business contracting goals; and (2) establish procedures to ensure that the Central Contractor Registration database provides an adequate warning regarding criminal penalties for misrepresenting the status of a small business or person in order to obtain federal contracts. Provides for enforcement of complaints about the classification of a business for such purposes.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-10-14 00:00:00

Small Company Job Growth and Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to revise the small issuer exemption from the requirement that each registered public accounting firm that prepares or issues the audit report for a securities issuer attest to, and report on, the issuer's management assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. Specifies that this requirement shall not apply to an issuer that has a total public float for the relevant reporting period of less than $350 million. Prohibits this Act from being construed to relieve or exempt an issuer from the internal control reporting and assessment requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or from its requirement that officers of the issuer certify certain annual and quarterly reports.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2011-10-14 00:00:00

Small Business Investment Company Modernization Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase the maximum amount of outstanding leverage that the Small Business Administration (SBA) is authorized to make available to any one small business investment company (SBIC), as a condition to the SBA's purchase or guarantee of debentures or participating securities issued by certain licensed SBICs, if a majority of the managers of a company are experienced in managing at least one such SBIC. Increases the maximum leverage amount for such SBICs to the lesser of: (1) 300% of such company's private capital, or (2) $200 million. (Current law, subject to exceptions, prohibits the maximum amount of such leverage from exceeding the lesser of 300% of private capital or $150 million for any SBIC.) Increases to $350 million (currently, $225 million) the maximum amount of outstanding leverage that may be made available to two or more SBICs that are commonly controlled and not under capital impairment. Prohibits the material capital impairment of one licensed company in a group under common control from reducing the maximum amounts of outstanding leverage that is made available to the other licensed companies in that group.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2011-10-26 00:00:00

Protect Small Business Jobs Act of 2011 - Requires a federal agency, before imposing any sanction on a small business for any violation of a rule or pursuant to an adjudication, to: (1) notify the small business that it may be subject to a sanction at the end of a six-month grace period following such notification; (2) defer any further action for the six-month period (allowing an additional three-month period upon application by the small business demonstrating reasonable good-faith efforts to remedy the violation or other conduct giving rise to the violation); (3) make a further determination at the end of the applicable grace period as to whether the small business would still be subject to the sanction; and (4) upon a negative determination, waive the sanction.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2011-11-16 00:00:00

Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to meet the annual goal outlined under the Small Business Act for participation in federal procurement contracts by small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2011-11-29 00:00:00

Requires at least 10% of the amounts made available for any program under the jurisdiction of the Federal Railroad Administration to be expended through small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-12-12 00:00:00

Investing in America's Small Businesses Act of 2011 - Amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to require the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund to make grants to community development financial institutions to enable such institutions to establish a loan-loss reserve fund to defray the costs of a small business loan program. Defines "small business loan program" as a program in which a community development financial institution offers loans to small businesses that: (1) are made in amounts up to $25,000, (2) have no prepayment penalty, and (3) meet any affordability requirements established by Administrator of the Fund. Requires a community development financial institution to provide non-federal matching funds equal to 50% of the amount of any grant received. Prohibits the use of such grants to make direct loans to small businesses. Permits a community development financial institution to use such a grant to: (1) help recapture a portion or all of a defaulted loan made under its small business loan program, and (2) designate and utilize a fiscal agent for services the agent normally provides. Requires the Fund to make technical assistance grants to community development financial institutions to create, support, or maintain such a program.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-12-13 00:00:00

Small Business Access to Capital Act of 2011 - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to revise the small issuer exemption from the requirement that each registered public accounting firm that prepares or issues the audit report for a securities issuer attest to, and report on, the issuer's management assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. Specifies that this requirement shall not apply to an issuer that has a total public float for the relevant reporting period of less than $1 billion. Prohibits this Act from being construed to relieve or exempt an issuer from the internal control reporting and assessment requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or from its requirement that officers of the issuer certify certain annual and quarterly reports.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2011-12-20 00:00:00

Small Business Reform Act of 2011 or Not Too Small to Succeed in Business Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to extend from: (1) 9 to 11 years the period that a small business may receive developmental assistance under the Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development Program (Program), and (2) 5 to 7 years the period that such a small business may spend in the Program's transitional stage. Allows small businesses that previously completed the 9-year period, above, and that satisfy net worth requirements applicable to continued eligibility after initial Program admission, to participate for an additional two years. Sets net worth limits for individual Program participants at: (1) $750,000, for Program admission; (2) $2.25 million, for continued Program participation after admission; and (3) $500,000 adjusted gross income, for Program admission and continued eligibility. Provides that, if the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) graduated a small business from the Program prior to the enactment of this Act on the basis that the small business did not meet standards relating to economic disadvantage and the small business now meets such standards, the small business may participate in the Program for 11 years less any period of previous participation.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2012-01-18 00:00:00

Small Business Growth and Federal Accountability Act of 2012 - Prohibits a federal department or agency not meeting its fiscal year goal for awarding procurement contracts to small businesses from expending, for procurement, more than 90% of the amount expended in the fiscal year with respect to which that department or agency did not meet the goal. Allows such a department or agency, in attempting to meet such goal, to give procurement preference to a small business.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2012-01-27 00:00:00

SBA Loan Paperwork Reduction Act of 2012 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to carry out a Small Loan Advantage Program in the same manner as, and as a replacement for, the SBA Small Loan Advantage loan initiative. (Under the loan initiative, SBA lenders make partially guaranteed, lower-dollar small business loans which often benefit businesses in underserved areas or markets.) Makes pilot program loan guarantee percentage limits inapplicable to the Small Loan Advantage Program.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2012-01-31 00:00:00

Government Efficiency through Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to raise from 23% to 25% the governmentwide prime contract award goal for participation by small business concerns and to make the governmentwide subcontract participation award goal 40% for such businesses. Revises percentage goals for awards to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, qualified HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) small businesses, small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and small businesses owned by women (small business categories). Requires the small business procurement goals established by the head of each federal agency participating in federal procurement contracts to: (1) be in the same format as the goals established by the President; (2) address both prime contract and subcontract awards; and (3) meet or exceed the government-wide goals for each small business category. Requires each agency head to: (1) consult with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in establishing agency goals, and (2) develop a plan for achieving agency goals. Revises requirements concerning information required to be included in annual reports from: (1) agency heads to the Administrator concerning the extent of small business participation in that agency's procurement contracts; and (2) the Administrator to the President and Congress on whether individual agency goals were achieved, as well as reasons for any failure to achieve such goals. Requires, in the latter reports, information concerning the number and dollar amounts of prime contracts awarded to small businesses owned by an Alaska Native Corporation. Requires training programs established for the development of federal senior executives to include training with respect to federal procurement requirements, including those under the Small Business Act. Prohibits the granting of sabbaticals or incentive awards to a senior executive whose agency did not achieve its small business procurement contracting and subcontracting goals in the preceding fiscal year.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2012-01-31 00:00:00

Small Business Advocate Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act (the Act) to require the Director of the Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (established in each federal agency having procurement powers) to be compensated at least at the GS-15 rate and allows such position to be compensated at up to a Senior Executive Service level. Includes as additional duties of each Director: (1) reviewing and advising on decisions to convert an activity performed by a small business to an activity performed by a federal employee; (2) providing advice and comments on acquisition strategies, market research, and justifications related to small business; (3) providing training to small businesses and contract specialists; (4) carrying out exclusively the duties enumerated under the Act and, while Director, not holding any other title, position, or responsibility, except as necessary to carry out such duties; and (5) reporting annually to the congressional small business committees on the provision of small business and contract specialist training. Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to require the Small Business Procurement Advisory Council to: (1) conduct reviews of each Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to determine compliance with Small Business Administration (SBA) requirements, (2) identify best practices for maximizing small business utilization in federal contracting, and (3) report annually to the small business committees on such reviews and best practices.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2012-02-02 00:00:00

Subcontracting Transparency and Reliability Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to prohibit a small business receiving a guaranteed loan through the Small Business Administration (SBA) from expending more on subcontractors than: (1) 50% of the loan amount received, in case of a contract for services other than construction; (2) 85%, in the case of a contract for general construction; (3) 75%, in case of a contract for construction by a special trade contractor; and (4) 50%, in the case of a contract for supplies (other than from a regular dealer in such supplies). Requires the small business, in case of a contract for supplies from a regular dealer, to supply the product of a domestic small business manufacturer or processor, unless the SBA grants a waiver. Authorizes the SBA Administrator to: (1) modify the above percentage limits when necessary to reflect conventional industry practices; and (2) establish a subcontractor percentage limit for contracts not covered by (1) through (4), above. Provides penalties for violations of such limits. Requires each subcontracting plan submitted to federal agencies to contain assurances that the offeror or bidder will: (1) report on subcontracting activities throughout the life of the contract, and (2) cooperate with any study or survey required by the federal agency or SBA to determine the extent of compliance with the subcontracting plan. Directs the Administrator to ensure that the federal subcontracting reporting system to which such reports are submitted is modified to notify the Administrator, the appropriate contracting officer, and the appropriate Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization if an entity fails to submit a required report. Makes such failure a breach of contract for which appropriate action may be taken. Provides that if an agency procurement center or commercial market representative determines that a subcontracting plan fails to provide the maximum practicable opportunity for small businesses to participate, such representative may delay acceptance of the plan for a 30-day period for plan alteration. Allows a federal agency to convert a function from performance by a small business to performance by a federal employee only if: (1) the agency has made publicly available the procedures for such a decision, and (2) the procedures require such decisions to be reviewed by the appropriate Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and procurement representative.