jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2009-05-18 00:00:00

Veterans Small Business Verification Act - Provides that application by a veteran small business owner for inclusion in a database of veteran-owned small businesses maintained by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall constitute permission for the Secretary to verify information included in the application. Provides that, if the Secretary receives an application from an individual whose status as a veteran cannot be verified, the Secretary may not include that small business in the database until the Secretary receives sufficient information to verify such status. Prohibits a small business from being listed in the database until the Secretary has verified that: (1) the small business is owned and controlled by veterans; and (2) when an owner indicates that the small business is owned and controlled by a veteran with a service-connected disability, the person is a veteran with a service-connected disability.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-05-19 00:00:00

Generating Reinvestment Opportunities with America's Small Businesses Act of 2009 or the GROW America's Small Businesses Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow certain small businesses (generally, businesses with $12 million or less in gross receipts for a taxable year) to defer payment of income tax by making four equal installments over a specified two-year period; (2) extend such deferral period to three years for small businesses that increase employment and maintain salary levels of employees called to duty as members of the Ready Reserve/National Guard; and (3) establish tax-exempt GROW Accounts to provide financing and tax relief for such small businesses. Requires the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the applicability and impact of this Act.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-05-21 00:00:00

Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act of 2009 - 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: Commerce
Date: 2009-06-08 00:00:00

Rural Technology Development and Outreach Act - Amends provisions of the Small Business Act relating to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to organizations to: (1) conduct outreach efforts to increase participation in such programs; and (2) provide application, entrepreneurial, and business skills support to prospective program participants. Requires organizations receiving such funds to direct activities toward small businesses: (1) located in areas that are underrepresented in SBIR and STTR programs; or (2) owned and controlled by women, service-disabled veterans, and minorities. Directs the Administrator to establish an advisory board to carry out authorized activities. Provides a two-year period for each grant award. Requires federal agencies, in making SBIR and STTR grant awards, to prioritize applications so as to increase the number of recipients from rural areas. Directs each federal agency conducting an SBIR program to: (1) receive consent to identify the small business applicant to appropriate local and state economic development organizations; and (2) encourage partnerships between SBIR awardees and prime contractors, venture capital investment companies, business incubators, and larger businesses for the purpose of facilitating the progress of SBIR awardees to the third phase of the program.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-06-09 00:00:00

Commercializing Small Business Research and Development Act - Amends the Small Business Act to state as the policy of Congress that Small Business Administration (SBA) research and development (R&D) programs should focus on promoting R&D of projects governed by commercial business plans which have significant potential to produce products or services for the marketplace or for acquisition by federal agencies. Includes energy-related and rare disease-related research topics as deserving special consideration under Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program research topics. Includes nanotechnology-related topics within authorized research topics under the SBIR Program and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. Requires each federal agency that is required to have an SBIR program and that awards annually $5 billion or more in procurement contracts to establish, for FY2010 and thereafter, annual goals for the commercialization of projects funded by SBIR awards. Directs each federal agency required to conduct an SBIR program to establish a commercialization program that supports the progress of SBIR awardees to the third (final) phase. Provides funding for such commercialization programs.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2009-06-12 00:00:00

Requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish and carry out a program for providing education and resources to small business concerns that assists them in: (1) understanding the dangers and identification of phishing; (2) training employees to understand those dangers and identification; and (3) determining methods to protect such concerns from phishing.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-06-19 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small manufacturers a tax credit for their computer hardware and software expenses. Limits such credit to the lesser of 50% of such expenses or $35,000. Terminates such credit after 2011.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2009-06-23 00:00:00

Department of Transportation Bonding Assistance Authority Act of 2009 - Replaces the mandate for the Minority Resource Center to provide bonding assistance to disadvantaged business enterprises. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Minority Resource Center, to prescribe, guarantee, and enter into commitments to guarantee a surety against loss resulting from a small business concern's breach of a bond that is required for it to bid on or perform a transportation project contract, pay on the contract, or serve as a prime contractor or subcontractor on such contract. Authorizes the Secretary to indemnify such a surety up to 90% of any loss sustained by it in avoiding or attempting to avoid a breach of a bond guaranteed under this Act. Requires the Secretary to establish a program under which not more than five selected states may carry out: (1) the activities of the Secretary with respect to issuing surety guarantees; as well as (2) the activities of sureties to assist eligible small business concerns.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-06-24 00:00:00

Small Business Health Information Technology Financing Act - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to guarantee up to 90% of the amount of a loan, up to specified loan amounts, to a small business health professional to be used for the acquisition and installation of health information technology for the professional's medical practice. Defines the term "health information technology" to mean computer hardware, software, and related technology that supports the meaningful electronic health record use requirements of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and is purchased by an eligible professional to aid in the provision of health care, including electronic medical records, but excludes information technology whose sole use is financial management, maintenance of inventory of basic supplies, or appointment scheduling. Sets loan limits at $350,000 for an individual professional and $2 million for a group of affiliated professionals. Authorizes the Administrator to impose a guarantee fee on such borrowers, but prohibits any service, processing, or other fees. Allows such loans for a period of not less than one year or more than three years. Authorizes appropriations.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-06-26 00:00:00

Small Business Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small business owners to obtain loans, through 2011, from their simplified employee pension accounts for business purposes. Requires such loans to be repaid within two years.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-07-07 00:00:00

Small Business Health Care Affordability Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small employers (generally, employers of 50 or fewer employees) and their employees tax credits for health insurance costs.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-07-17 00:00:00

Qualified Personal Service Corporations Clarification Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the criteria for determining whether a corporation is a qualified personal service corporation. Includes within the definition of qualified personal service corporation a qualifying corporation substantially all of whose stock is held by certain former employees (thus permitting such corporation to use the cash method of accounting).
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-07-28 00:00:00

Amends the Small Business Act to allow the head of an executive agency, in complying with a preference under any law for contracting with a small business owned and controlled by veterans or service-disabled veterans, to consider only a small business verified (or waiting to be verified) in the small business database maintained by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). Requires such agency head, when any prime contract requires the contractor to comply with such preference, to require the prime contractor, in awarding subcontracts, to consider only small business concerns that are verified in that database.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-09-09 00:00:00

Small Business Lending Promotion Act of 2009 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to carry out the Community Express Program in the same manner as the SBA's Community Express Pilot Program was carried out on September 8, 2009.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-10-06 00:00:00

Enhanced New Markets and Expanded Investment in Renewable Energy for Small Manufacturers Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to require (under current law, authorizes) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to participate in the new markets venture capital program (program) (a program under which investment companies provide capital financing to small businesses). Requires the Administrator, in selecting companies for program participation, to approve at least one company from each SBA geographic region. Provides for new market capital venture investment in, as well as operational assistance to, small businesses located in low-income geographic areas and engaged primarily in manufacturing. Makes the SBA definition of "low-income geographic area" the same as the definition of "low-income community" under the Internal Revenue Code. Expands SBA operational assistance to conditionally-approved companies. Directs the Administrator to grant each such company two years to satisfy capital and other requirements for such assistance. Provides: (1) a streamlined application process for new market venture capital companies; and (2) a simplified formula for operational assistance grants. Increases amounts allocated for investment in small businesses located in low-income geographic areas and engaged primarily in manufacturing. Redesignates (thereby expanding) the SBA's renewable fuel capital investment program as the renewable energy capital investment program. Makes such program permanent (currently a pilot program). Makes eligible under such program all small businesses (under current law, only smaller enterprises). Requires (under current law, authorizes) the Administrator to participate in such program. Increases amounts allocated for operational assistance grants for renewable energy purposes.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-10-06 00:00:00

Small Business Credit Expansion and Loan Markets Stabilization Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish and carry out: (1) a program to provide support to SBA regional, district, and branch offices to assist small lenders not participating in the SBA Preferred Lenders Program to participate in other programs for assistance to small businesses under the SBA 7(a) general business loan program; (2) a rural lending outreach program; and (3) a lender training program for new and existing lenders. Makes permanent (currently pilot programs): (1) the SBA's Community Express Program; and (2) a program for reduced fees for veteran participation loans. Reduces restrictions with respect to borrower leasing of space constructed with the proceeds of an SBA-guaranteed loan. Directs the Administrator to establish and permit a lender making a 7(a) loan to use an alternative loan size standard based on factors including a business's maximum tangible net worth and average net income. Prohibits more than 10% of SBA-guaranteed loans in a fiscal year from being awarded as part of a pilot program. Provides additional pilot program dollar limitations. Prohibits pilot programs (other than existing ones) from exceeding three years in duration. Authorizes the Administrator to provide loans to cooperatives, under specified conditions. Directs the Administrator to establish: (1) a capital backstop program, under which the Administrator collects information from a small business to determine the creditworthiness and repayment ability of a small business attempting to secure an SBA-guaranteed loan; and (2) a process for providing such information to participating lenders. Prohibits the Administrator from applying any application, processing, or approval standard to a loan for the purpose of financing goodwill, unless such standard applies to all 7(a) loans. Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish an independent SBA appellate process for reviewing material determinations affecting a lender or investment company participating or applying to participate in an SBA program; and (2) appoint an SBA ombudsman. Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to extend and expand certain loans made available to small businesses. Increases certain SBA loan limits. Revises real estate appraisal requirements with respect to SBA loans secured by commercial property.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-10-06 00:00:00

Amends the Small Business Act with respect to the HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) program to authorize (under current law, requires) a contracting opportunity to be awarded under the program on the basis of competition restricted to qualified HUBZone small businesses if the contracting officer expects that not less than two qualified HUBZone small businesses will submit offers and that the award can be made at a fair market price.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-10-07 00:00:00

Small Business Microlending Expansion Act of 2009 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan program (small-scale loans to start-up, newly established, or growing small businesses for working capital or the acquisition of materials, supplies, or equipment) to direct the SBA Administrator to establish a process under which an intermediary making a Microloan loan provides relevant borrower information to the major credit reporting agencies. (Sec. 3) Removes the requirement that such loans be short-term only. (Sec. 4) Increases eligibility for Microloan program participation to include intermediaries with at least one full-time employee with not less than: (1) three years of experience making microloans to startup, newly established, or growing small businesses; or (2) one year of experience providing intensive marketing, management, and technical assistance to borrowers. (Sec. 5) Increases from: (1) $750,000 to $1 million the loan limit to an intermediary in the first year of participation; and (2) $3.5 million to $7 million the loan limit for the remaining years of participation. (Sec. 6) Increases from 25% to 35% of grant funds received the maximum amount that may be used by an intermediary to provide information and technical assistance to small business borrowers. (Sec. 7) Allows intermediaries that receive grants to establish a program that provides technical assistance to young entrepreneurs in establishing or operating a small business, or in securing financing, in the area served by the intermediary. (Sec. 8) Increases from $7,500 to $10,000 the maximum loan amount to a small business borrower that will qualify for a reduced interest rate from the intermediary. (Sec. 9) Directs the Administrator to submit annually to the congressional small business committees specified information with respect to the Microloan program, including participating intermediaries and borrowers, and the marketing, management, and technical assistance provided. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to intermediaries for reducing interest rates charged to Microloan borrowers (interest assistance grants). (Sec. 11) Authorizes the Administrator to make Microloan technical assistance grants, direct loans, and interest assistance grants for FY2010-FY2011, and authorizes appropriations for such loans and grants.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-10-07 00:00:00

Small Business Early-Stage Investment Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish and carry out a program to provide equity investment financing to support early-stage small businesses in the following targeted industries: (1) agricultural technology; (2) energy technology; (3) environmental technology; (4) life science; (5) information technology; (6) digital media; (7) clean technology; (8) defense technology; and (9) photonics technology. Directs the Administrator to make grants to participating investment companies under the program and limits to $100 million the aggregate amount of all grants made to a participating investment company under the program. Requires, as a condition of receiving a grant under the program, all of the investments of participating investment companies to be in small businesses, and at least 50% to be in early-stage small businesses in the targeted industries. Directs the Administrator to monitory participant compliance with such requirements. Establishes a separate Treasury fund for such grants. Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits funds appropriated for such purpose from being used for a congressional earmark.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Small Businesses
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-10-07 00:00:00

Job Creation and Economic Development Through CDC Modernization Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act to provide FY2010-FY2011 authorized program levels for guarantees of debentures made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the certified development company (CDC) program under such Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (SBIA). Rewrites the provisions of title V (Loans to State and Local Development Companies) of the SBIA. Permits only CDCs certified by the SBA Administrator to issue debentures. Defines a CDC and outlines requirements necessary for CDC certification, including having no more than 200 employees, being nonprofit, in good standing in the state(s) in which it is operating, and maintaining a Board of Directors. Provides CDC operational requirements, including avoidance of conflicts of interests by a CDC, its officers, employees, and contractors. Authorizes CDCs to service and package SBA-guaranteed loans to small businesses. Requires CDCs to carry out economic development activities by providing long-term financing to small businesses in urban and rural areas through the issuance of debentures. Allows a CDC to apply for status as an accredited CDC after meeting CDC operational standards and additional standards prescribed by the Administrator, including being a CDC for at least 12 months, and having the ability to process, close, and service SBA-guaranteed loans to small businesses. Allows a CDC to apply for status as a premier CDC upon meeting additional standards prescribed by the Administrator, including establishment of a loan loss reserve sufficient to protect against the risk of loss on SBA-guaranteed debentures. Establishes a Bureau of Premier Certified Development Company Lender Oversight in the SBA's Office of Lender Oversight. Directs the Administrator to permit accredited or premier CDCs to engage in multistate loan or debenture issue operations, under certain conditions. Authorizes the Administrator to guarantee the payment of principal and interest on debentures issued by CDCs, under certain terms and conditions. Prohibits CDCs from issuing debentures unless the project funded creates or preserves jobs, improves the economy of the locality, or meets one or more specified economic development public policy goals. Provides project funding requirements, including rules for debentures funding projects in low-income areas. Directs the Administrator to sell to private investors debentures issued by CDCs. Allows for the pooling of debentures for such purposes. Revises provisions concerning CDC foreclosure and liquidation of defaulted loans. Names the program created by SBIA title V the CDC Economic Development Loan Program. Requires the Administrator to study and review the small business optional size standard set forth under the Code of Federal Regulations for eligibility of a small business for financing under SBIA title V. Sets forth an interim alternative size standard.