jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Social Welfare — Volunteer Associations
Subject: Labor and employment
Date: 2016-04-26 00:00:00

21st Century American Service Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income any AmeriCorps educational awards provided under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.

The bill establishes within the Corporation for National and Community Service the 21st Century National Service Program Implementing Taskforce, which shall develop a 21st Century National Service Program to notify 18-year olds of opportunities to serve in a voluntary national service program.

The Taskforce shall develop a 10-year strategic implementation plan for the 21st Century National Service Program and publish it on the Corporation website.

The Corporation shall establish, with a certain number of participating states, a national service college compact pilot program under which eligible individuals may use an educational award to attend a public institution of higher education for a two- or four-year program of instruction, or a career or technical education program, at no additional charge.

 An eligible individual shall be one who completes successfully or agrees to complete:

 two required terms of full-time national service in an approved national service position for purposes of eligibility for two educational awards; and at least one calendar year of employment with a federal, state, or local government entity or a nonprofit organization. The Corporation and a state participating in the national service compact shall jointly select the individual eligible to receive an educational award for attending a public institution of higher education in the state.
Topic: Social Welfare — Volunteer Associations
Subject: Social welfare
Date: 2016-07-14 00:00:00

America's Call To Improve Opportunities Now for National Service Act or the ACTION for National Service Act

This bill amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to reestablish the Corporation for National and Community Service as an independent executive agency called the National and Community Service Administration.

An individual who successfully completes a term of full-time national service shall be entitled to a national service educational award equal to twice the amount of tuition for the institution of higher education where the individual is enrolled, not to exceed twice the average in-state tuition. Current law limits the award's value to the maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant that an individual is eligible to receive in the aggregate.

Within the administration, the bill establishes an interagency working group to evaluate specified issues related to: (1) eligibility for tuition and student loan repayment assistance with regard to participation in certain national or volunteer service programs, (2) the advisability of granting federal hiring preference to certain volunteer program participants, and (3) methods for increasing the participation of seniors in national service programs.

The National Service Foundation, a nonprofit corporation established by the bill, shall accept and administer gifts made in connection with the administration.

The bill expresses support for the authorization of appropriations sufficient to provide, within 10 years, volunteer service opportunities for at least 1 million volunteers in full-time national service annually.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude AmeriCorps educational awards from gross income.
Topic: Social Welfare — Volunteer Associations
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-09-15 00:00:00

Sam Farr Peace Corps Enhancement Act

This bill increases the monthly pay rate for Peace Corps volunteers.

The Peace Corps shall provide initial medical care to a former volunteer for a service-related condition for 180 days after termination of service, which may be extended under specified circumstances.

The bill grants the government jurisdiction over, and imposes penalties upon, persons who commit certain crimes outside of the United States against a volunteer.

The bill sets forth provisions regarding the use of mefloquine and other anti-malaria drugs, including appropriate medical officer training.

The Peace Corps Act is amended to authorize the designation of a position as a critical management support position if the position requires specialized technical or professional skills and knowledge of Peace Corps operations. An appointment may not exceed five years.

The President shall ensure that each overseas post has appropriate medical services, including by detailing to such a post the licensed medical staff of other U.S. agencies.

Each volunteer applicant shall be provided with information regarding crime and health risks and volunteer satisfaction with respect to the country in which the applicant has been invited to serve.

The Office of Victim Advocacy in Peace Corps headquarters is made permanent.

The bill: (1) expands membership of the Sexual Assault Advisory Council from 8 to up to 14 members, (2) requires at least one council member to have mental health field expertise, (3) extends the council through October 1, 2023, and (4) requires the council to establish an email address to permit volunteers and former volunteers to communicate directly and confidentially with the council.

The President shall conduct annual volunteer surveys through September 30, 2023 (currently through September 30, 2018).

The Inspector General of the Peace Corps may hire an expert, consultant, or organization without regard to certain daily salary requirements.
Topic: Social Welfare — Volunteer Associations
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2016-09-22 00:00:00

TechCorps Act

This bill requires the Office of Personnel Management to establish and maintain a database of job vacancies across the government relating to information technology (IT). The database shall be published on the USA Jobs website and describe such vacancies as TechCorps-eligible positions.

The National and Community Service Act of 1990 is amended to direct the Corporation for National and Community Service to enter into an agreement with a federal agency to carry out a TechCorps program, under which:

 individuals apply to service as TechCorps members prior to or after graduating from a program of study at an institution of education leading to a degree or certificate relating to IT, individuals are recruited by their last academic year in such a program, TechCorps members commit to employment with the federal agency in an IT-related job for at least two years, and individuals accepting such employment shall be TechCorps members for up to four years. The Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended to provide that a borrower of a loan under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program shall be eligible to defer payments for any period during which the borrower is serving as a TechCorps member. The Department of Education shall carry out a program of canceling a specified amount of the loan obligation amount of borrowers who serve as TechCorps members for at least two years and are not in default.

The Government Accountability Office shall study and report to Congress on projected staffing needs for IT-related jobs in government over the next 10 years.
Topic: Social Welfare — Volunteer Associations
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-02-05 00:00:00

Notice for Organizations That Include Charities is Essential (NOTICE) Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary of the Treasury to notify any tax-exempt organization, not later than 300 days after such an organization fails to file its annual tax return or other required information for two consecutive years, that: (1) the Internal Revenue Service has no record of its return or information for two consecutive years, and (2) a penalty will occur if the organization fails to file its return or information by the next filing deadline. Allows the reinstatement of the tax-exempt status of such an organization without the requirement of an application if: (1) the organization demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that it did not receive the notice required by this Act, and (2) it files an annual return or required information for the current year.
Topic: Social Welfare — Volunteer Associations
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-04-14 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Notice for Organizations That Include Charities is Essential (NOTICE) Act

(Sec. 2) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Department of the Treasury to notify any tax-exempt organization, not later than 300 days after such an organization fails to file its annual tax return or other required information for 2 consecutive years, that: (1) the Internal Revenue Service has no record of its return or information for 2 consecutive years, and (2) a penalty will occur if the organization fails to file its return or information by the next filing deadline. Allows the reinstatement of the tax-exempt status of such an organization without the requirement of an application if: (1) the organization demonstrates to the satisfaction of Treasury that it did not receive the notice required by this Act, and (2) it files an annual return or required information for the current year. Makes this Act applicable to notices and returns required to be filed after December 31, 2014.
Topic: Social Welfare — Volunteer Associations
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-04-15 00:00:00

Fair Treatment for All Gifts Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction from the taxable amount of gifts for gifts made to specified tax-exempt organizations, including: (1) social welfare organizations; (2) labor, agricultural, and horticultural organizations; and (3) business leagues, chambers of commerce, real-estate boards, boards of trade, and professional football leagues.
Topic: Social Welfare — Volunteer Associations
Subject: Housing and community development
Date: 2015-05-14 00:00:00

Amends the Truth in Lending Act with respect to the compensation of fee appraisers to state that, in the case of an appraisal for which the appraiser voluntarily does not receive a fee, the appraiser is not, and shall not be construed to be, with respect to the donated appraisal, a fee appraiser subject to appraisal independence requirements.
Topic: Social Welfare — Volunteer Associations
Subject: Law
Date: 2015-06-25 00:00:00

Volunteer Organization Protection Act of 2015

Amends the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 to expand liability protections to volunteer nonprofit organizations for harm caused by an act or omission of a volunteer on behalf of the organization.

Prohibits such liability protections from applying if the organization: (1) would be liable under laws governing the direct or vicarious liability of organizations, and (2) expressly authorized the specific conduct constituting the act or omission.

Bars such an organization from liability for harm caused by the organization, or a volunteer acting on its behalf, if the act or omission was at the request of, or pursuant to an authorization by, the federal government, a state government, or another governmental subdivision, provided that: (1) the requesting or authorizing governmental entity would have been immune from suit or from liability in damages if the entity had engaged in the act or omission itself or through an employee, agent, or independent contractor; or (2) any governmental employee, agent, or contractor who had engaged in the act or omission on behalf of the requesting or authorizing governmental entity would have been immune from suit or from liability in damages by virtue of immunity extended to individual governmental actors.

Prohibits punitive damages from being awarded against a volunteer nonprofit organization for the actions of a volunteer within the scope of the volunteer's responsibilities to the organization unless the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the organization itself expressly authorized the volunteer's action with a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed.

Sets forth factors to be considered to determine whether a nonprofit organization is presumed to be a volunteer nonprofit organization.
Topic: Social Welfare — Volunteer Associations
Subject: Housing and community development
Date: 2015-09-28 00:00:00

This bill amends the Truth in Lending Act to deem mortgage appraisal services donated by a fee appraiser to an organization eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions to be customary and reasonable.
Topic: Agriculture — R&D
Subject: Agriculture and food
Date: 2007-05-02 00:00:00

National Institute of Food and Agriculture Act of 2007 - Establishes within the Department of Agriculture the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which shall be an agency composed of a Director (who shall be an agricultural researcher and scientist) and a Standing Council of Advisors. Authorizes the Director to establish standing committees. Requires the Director to establish: (1) an Office of Advanced Science and Application which shall monitor national needs and advances in research to identify problems for which solutions are realistically achievable through research; (2) an Office of Scientific Assessment and Liaison which shall monitor programs and expenditures; and (3) an Office of Scientific Personnel which shall assess the number of, and need for additional, agricultural scientists in the United States. Directs the Institute to provide grants to support and promote the highest quality of fundamental agricultural research, including grants to fund research proposals submitted by: (1) individual scientists; (2) research centers composed of a single institution or multiple institutions; and (3) other individuals and entities from the private and public sectors, including Department and other federal researchers.
Topic: Agriculture — R&D
Subject: Agriculture and food
Date: 2007-05-21 00:00:00

Creating Research Extension and Teaching Excellence for the 21st Century Act of 2007 or CREATE-21 Act of 2007 - Establishes the National Institutes for Food and Agriculture, which shall be located in Washington, DC. Transfers specified authorities of the Department of Agriculture and other authorities to the Institutes. Sets forth organizational and funding provisions. Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to repeal authority for the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board. Eliminates specified funding provisions respecting agricultural research at 1890 land-grant colleges. Extends and revises specified agricultural programs, including research, extension, and education programs. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program to provide fellowships for scientific training in the United States to individuals from eligible countries who specialize in agricultural education and research and extension.
Topic: Agriculture — R&D
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2007-06-14 00:00:00

Allows the state of Idaho, notwithstanding provisions of the First Morrill Act, to: (1) invest and manage earnings and proceeds derived from land granted for use as an agricultural college in accordance with the standards applicable to a trustee under Idaho law; (2) deduct from earnings and proceeds generated from granted land any expenses that a trustee is authorized to deduct pursuant to Idaho law; and (3) use earnings and proceeds generated by the granted land for any uses and purposes described in that Act without regard to limitations prohibiting the state from exceeding 10% on the purchase of land and from purchasing, erecting, preserving, or repairing buildings.
Topic: Agriculture — R&D
Subject: Agriculture and food
Date: 2007-03-22 00:00:00

National Institute of Food and Agriculture Act of 2007 - Establishes within the Department of Agriculture the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which shall be an agency composed of a Director (who shall be a scientist) and a Standing Council of Advisors. Authorizes the Director to establish standing scientific committees. Requires the Director to establish: (1) an Office of Advanced Science and Application which shall monitor national needs and advances in research to identify problems for which solutions are realistically achievable through research; (2) an Office of Scientific Assessment and Liaison which shall monitor programs and expenditures; (3) an Office of Scientific Personnel which shall assess the number of, and need for additional, agricultural scientists in the United States. Directs the Institute to provide grants to support and promote the highest quality of fundamental agricultural research, including grants to fund research proposals submitted by: (1) individual scientists; (2) research centers composed of a single institution or multiple institutions; and (3) other individuals and entities from the private and public sectors, including Department and other federal researchers.
Topic: Agriculture — R&D
Subject: Agriculture and food
Date: 2007-06-26 00:00:00

Pollinator Protection Act of 2007 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Research Service, for: (1) personnel, facilities improvement, and additional research at Department of Agriculture Bee Research Laboratories; (2) research on honey bee physiology, insect pathology, insect chemical ecology, and honey and native bee toxicology at other Department facilities in New York, Florida, California, Utah, and Texas; and (3) research to identify causes and solutions for Colony Collapse Disorder, with specified amounts for research at the Agricultural Research Services in Beltsville, Maryland, and Tucson, Arizona. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary, through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, for research grants to investigate: (1) honey bee immunology, genomics, biology, ecology, and bioinformatics; (2) pollination biology; and (3) the effects of genetically modified crops, insecticides, herbicides, parasites, and fungicides on honey bees and other beneficial insects and pollinators.
Topic: Agriculture — R&D
Subject: Energy
Date: 2009-01-06 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of Energy to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to: (1) develop recommendations for evaluation measures and criteria for programs under this Act; and (2) evaluate the feasibility of prize and best practices award programs as tools to promote self-powered farms. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a research and technology grant program for self-powered farm development; (2) establish an award program for up to 30 state agricultural research programs for self-powered farm demonstrations; (3) provide low-cost revolving loans and loan guarantees for the commercial application of energy or other technologies that will contribute to establishing self-powered farms, with preference given to applicants who propose to meet their energy needs from biobased feedstocks or other renewable farm-produced energy sources; and (4) enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences for a review of the programs under this Act.
Topic: Agriculture — R&D
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2009-12-16 00:00:00

National Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish an Office of Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture in the National Marine Fisheries Service at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) headquarters and at satellite offices in each of NOAA's regional fisheries offices. Requires the Office to establish a Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture Advisory Board. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish and maintain in the Office an aquaculture database; and (2) make the database available to the public but protect proprietary information of owners and operators of offshore aquaculture facilities. Requires, for permit issuance, a regional programmatic environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) for each Regional Fishery Management Council and a separate environmental review under NEPA. Prohibits engaging in offshore aquaculture without a permit under this Act and authorizes the Secretary to issue such permits. Requires the Secretary to: (1) assess application and annual fees with respect to such permits that are sufficient to pay the costs of issuing, monitoring, and enforcing such permits; and (2) assess resource rental fees to recover from permittees a reasonable portion of the value of the use under the permits of ocean resources held in public trust. Directs the Secretary to establish and conduct a research program to guide the sustainable development of offshore aquaculture, including regarding: (1) industry expansion that ensures ecological sustainability and functional ecosystems and fisheries; and (2) cost-effective solutions to environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Requires a related competitive, peer-reviewed grant program. Prohibits permit issuance: (1) for a species having a fishery management plan under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act) or in a Regional Fishery Management Council's jurisdiction unless all relevant Councils recommend approval; or (2) if opposed by the nearest coastal state. Regulates the relationship of this Act to the Magnuson Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act. Regulates the assessment and liability for natural resource damages associated with offshore aquaculture.
Topic: Agriculture — R&D
Subject: Agriculture and food
Date: 2010-04-29 00:00:00

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to make grants to states and tribal governments to support the domestic maple syrup industry through the promotion of related research, education, natural resource sustainability, and marketing, as well as the expansion of maple-sugaring activities.