lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2009-04-01 00:00:00

Mortgage and Rental Disaster Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide temporary assistance in the form of mortgage or rental payments to or on behalf of individuals and households who, as a result of financial hardship caused by a major disaster, have received written notice of dispossession or eviction from a residence because of a foreclosure of mortgage or lien, cancellation of sales contract, or lease termination, entered into before such disaster. Defines such a "financial hardship" to include: (1) the loss of employment or significant income because a job, a business, or a business interest was located in a disaster area; or (2) suffering financially because of travel restrictions or station or road closures affecting residents of such area.Restricts eligibility for such assistance to individuals or households who have an adjusted gross income of not more than $75,000 ($100,000 for individuals or households who resided in an area with a high cost of living). Directs the President to adjust the limits annually to reflect inflation. Allows assistance to be provided for the duration of the period of financial hardship caused by the disaster, not to exceed 18 months. Requires recipients determined to be ineligible to return the full amount of assistance to the government.Makes this Act applicable to any major disaster declared on or after October 21, 2007.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2009-04-01 00:00:00

Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Act of 2009 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to increase the maximum amount of assistance available to individuals and households to $50,000 (the current limit is $25,000) with respect to a single major disaster. Authorizes the President to increase the amount for an individual or household residing in a state with a high cost of living. Prohibits an individual or household whose adjusted gross income was more than $100,000 during the most recent taxable year before the applicable major disaster from receiving such assistance. Makes this Act applicable to any major disaster declared on or after October 21, 2007.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2009-04-02 00:00:00

National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring Program Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish within the United States Geological Survey (USGS) a National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring Program, consisting of a national volcano watch office and data center, to oversee and coordinate the activities of USGS regional volcano watch and data centers. Sets forth as Program purposes: (1) to monitor and study volcanic activity throughout the United States at a level commensurate with the threat; and (2) to warn and protect people and property from harm. Requires the Secretary to prepare a management plan for the Program, which shall include: (1) annual cost estimates of operating the Program and updating the data collection, monitoring, and analysis systems; (2) annual standards and performance goals; and (3) recommendations for establishing or enhancing partnerships with state agencies or universities. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements or partnerships under which state agencies or universities are designated as volcano observatory partners for the Program. Directs the Secretary to coordinate activities under this Act with the heads of relevant federal agencies, including the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). Authorizes the Secretary to establish a competitive grant program to support research and monitoring of volcanic activities in furtherance of this Act.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2009-04-23 00:00:00

Catastrophe Obligation Guarantee Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to guarantee holders of debt against loss of principal or interest, or both, on debt issued by eligible state programs designed to: (1) promote the availability of private capital to provide liquidity and capacity to state catastrophe insurance (specifically, residential property insurance and reinsurance) programs; and (2) expedite the payment of claims under such programs and better assist financial recovery from significant natural catastrophes. Limits the total principal amount of debt obligations guaranteed by the Secretary to: (1) $5 billion for eligible state programs that cover earthquake peril; and (2) $20 billion for eligible state programs that cover all other perils. Makes appropriations to satisfy debt guarantee commitments. Requires the Secretary, upon request of an eligible state program, to provide such debt guarantees. Requires an eligible state program to show to the Secretary's satisfaction that covered insured losses in the state are likely to exceed the program's available cash resources, as calculated on the date of the event. Prescribes requirements for eligible state programs. Pledges the full faith and credit of the United States to the payment of all guarantees issued under this Act.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Labor and employment
Date: 2009-05-12 00:00:00

Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit any employee from being terminated, demoted, or discriminated against in the terms or conditions of employment because the employee is absent or late as a result of serving as a volunteer firefighter or providing volunteer emergency medical services as part of a response to an emergency or major disaster. Excludes absences for which the employee: (1) is absent for more than 14 days per calendar year; (2) responds to an emergency or major disaster without being officially deployed in accordance with a coordinator national deployment system; or (3) fails to provide written verification within a reasonable period of time. Allows employers to: (1) reduce the employee's regular pay for such time as the employee is absent; and (2) require the employee to provide written verification from the supervising Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state, or local official that such employee responded in an official capacity at a specified time and date. Requires such an employee to make a reasonable effort to notify his or her employer that he or she may be absent or late. Gives such an employee a private cause of action for discrimination which violates this Act.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2009-05-20 00:00:00

Deems: (1) certain activity in a coastal high hazard area to be an eligible use of assistance under provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act regarding hazard mitigation and repair, restoration, and replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina, Rita, Gustav, or Ike; and (2) any new construction or substantial improvements to structures under such an activity involving critical actions to not be required to elevate to the 500-year floodplain if it would be impracticable. Makes this Act applicable to any assistance under such Act relating to a major disaster declared on or after August 28, 2005, relating to such hurricanes.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2009-06-18 00:00:00

Emergency Management Assistance Compact Grant Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Amends the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 to authorize appropriations for Emergency Management Assistance Compact grants for FY2010-FY2012.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Health
Date: 2009-06-24 00:00:00

James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health the World Trade Center Health Program (WTC program) to provide: (1) medical monitoring and treatment benefits to eligible emergency responders and recovery and cleanup workers who responded to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; and (2) initial health evaluation, monitoring, and treatment benefits to residents and other building occupants and area workers who were directly impacted and adversely affected by such attacks. Requires the WTC program administrator to: (1) implement a quality assurance program; (2) establish the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee; (3) establish the WTC Responders Steering Committee and the WTC Community Program Steering Committee; (4) provide for education and outreach on services under the WTC program; (5) provide for the uniform collection of data related to WTC-related health conditions; (6) conduct research on physical and mental health conditions that may be related to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center; and (7) extend and expand arrangements with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to provide for the World Trade Center Health Registry. Authorizes the administrator to make grants to the Department to address mental health needs relating to the terrorist attacks. Amends the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act to: (1) make individuals eligible for compensation under the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 for harm as a result of debris removal; and (2) extend the deadline for making a claim for compensation.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2009-07-09 00:00:00

Local Disaster Contracting Fairness Act of 2009 - Prohibits the head of an executive agency from entering into an agreement for debris removal or demolition services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts unless the agreement specifies that: (1) all of the work under the contract will be performed by the prime contractor or one or more subcontractors at one tier under the contract; (2) any work performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors, except to the extent that local subcontractors are not available to perform any such work; (3) the prime contractor will act as the project manager or construction manager for the contract; and (4) the prime contractor has primary responsibility for managing all work under the contract and is to be paid a certain percentage of the overall value of the contract as sole compensation for assuming the risk associated with such responsibility. Requires the agency head, in entering into an agreement for debris removal or demolition services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts, to give preference in the source selection process to each offeror who certifies that any work that is to be performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2009-07-09 00:00:00

Natural Disaster Fairness in Contracting Act of 2009 - Requires agencies, in entering into a contract to procure property or services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts, to use specified competitive procedures.Allows agencies to enter into a contract to procure property or services in connection with such reconstruction efforts using other than full and open competition only upon the written approval of the President or the President's designee. Requires congressional notification when procedures other than full and open competitive procedures are to be used. Instructs agencies that enter into a contract for the procurement of property or services in connection with such reconstruction efforts through the use of other than full and open competitive procedures to publish in the Federal Register or Federal Business Opportunities and otherwise make available to the public specified information concerning the contract seven days before it is finalized. Permits the use of noncompetitive procedures by agencies when: (1) a contract will be performed within a six-month period; and (2) the need for the property or services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the government would otherwise be seriously injured.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-07-21 00:00:00

Catastrophe Savings Accounts Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to create tax-exempt catastrophe savings accounts (CSAs). Allows tax-free distributions from CSAs to pay expenses resulting from a presidentially declared major disaster. Limits CSA balances to: (1) $2,000 (for individuals with homeowner insurance deductibles of not more than $1,000); and (2) the lesser of $15,000 or twice a homeowner's insurance deductible (for individuals with deductibles of more than $1,000).
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Date: 2009-07-21 00:00:00

National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2009 - Requires the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, in collaboration with the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), to establish a National Hurricane Research Initiative to: (1) improve understanding and prediction of hurricanes and other tropical storms; (2) develop infrastructure that is resilient to the forces associated with such storms; (3) mitigate the impacts of hurricanes on coastal populations, the coastal built environment, and natural resources; and (4) provide training for the next generation of hurricane researchers and forecasters. Directs the Under Secretary to: (1) develop a five-year implementation plan for the Initiative, ensure that such plan is reviewed by specified agencies within 18 months after enactment of this Act, and revise such plan every five years to address findings of the National Hurricane Research Task Force; (2) establish objectives for hurricane research; (3) carry out a series of national workshops and conferences to address hurricane-related research questions; (4) facilitate the establishment of a public Internet website for the Initiative; and (5) submit to Congress a coordinated annual report for the Initiative. Requires the Under Secretary to: (1) establish a National Hurricane Research Task Force to facilitate and coordinate the efforts of federal agencies and eligible entities in support of the Initiative; (2) carry out a hurricane research program; and (3) seek to enter into an agreement with the National Research Council of the National Academies to carry out an independent review of the Initiative. Requires the NSF Director to establish a program to award grants for hurricane research.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-07-21 00:00:00

Policyholder Disaster Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow insurance companies (other than life insurance companies) to make tax deductible contributions to a tax-exempt policyholder disaster protection fund established by this Act for the payment of policyholders' claims arising from certain catastrophic events, such as windstorms, earthquakes, fires, or floods.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2009-11-05 00:00:00

Small Business Administration Disaster Recovery and Reform Act of 2009 - Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to submit to the congressional small business committees recommendations for improvements to the Gulf Coast disaster loan refinancing program. Extends for 24 additional months the authorized loan assistance term for small businesses affected by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita and participating in the SBA small business and capital ownership development program. Allows the Administrator to declare a disaster with respect to small businesses that installed defective drywall manufactured in China, for purposes of qualification for SBA disaster loan assistance. Amends the Small Business Act to increase authorized assistance under the SBA's: (1) pioneer business recovery program (formerly the expedited disaster assistance loan program); and (2) disaster loan assistance program. Authorizes the Administrator to guarantee loans made under an approved state bridge loan program. Requires the Administrator to report on: (1) regional outreach on disaster assistance programs; (2) coordination of economic injury disaster declarations; and (3) coordination between SBA and Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster programs. Directs the Administrator to ensure that disaster recovery needs unmet by federal and private sources are not overlooked by the SBA in determining duplication of benefits for disaster victims.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-11-20 00:00:00

Amends the Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 to extend through 2010 provisions of such Act allowing residents of the Midwestern disaster area to: (1) use amounts from tax-exempt retirement accounts without a tax penalty to purchase a new principal residence or repair an existing one; (2) recontribute amounts withdrawn for such purposes to such accounts; and (3) exclude from gross income income resulting from a cancellation of mortgage indebtedness incurred in such disaster area.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2009-12-10 00:00:00

Emergency Response Act of 2009 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to redefine "major disaster" as any natural disaster (including pandemics), act of terrorism, or other manmade disaster (under current law, any natural catastrophe) in any part of the United States that, in the determination of the President, causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance to supplement the efforts and resources of states, local governments, and disaster relief organizations. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate a representative to lead a working group with national organizations that represent state, local, and tribal government interests to prepare best practice recommendations for facilitating the flow of public health information to state fusion centers and the greater homeland security community.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2009-12-10 00:00:00

Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to dedicate at least $30 billion out of amounts made available to implement the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in order to purchase troubled assets from community depository institutions under the Public-Private Investment Program. Directs the Comptroller General, the Special Inspector General for TARP, and the Congressional Oversight Panel to report to Congress their evaluations and findings on the status and performance of such assistance. Directs the chairperson of the board of directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Secretary to report to Congress on the status of the Legacy Loans program, including: (1) barriers to attracting greater numbers of banks and investors to participate; (2) a detailed summary of all proposals being considered to address existing barriers and expand participation in the program; and (3) specific proposals to attract greater participation of community depository institutions.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2009-12-10 00:00:00

Federal Supply Schedules Usage Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to provide for the use of federal supply schedules by the American National Red Cross and other qualified organizations (as described in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act) in furtherance of purposes determined to be appropriate to facilitate emergency preparedness and disaster relief. Prohibits use of such authority to purchase supplies for resale. Requires all uses of federal supply schedules to be in accordance with the ordering guidance provided by the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to include among permitted uses of federal supply schedules by state or local governments the procurement of goods or services to facilitate disaster preparedness or response.Specifies that the budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled "Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation" for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-12-23 00:00:00

Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Extension Act of 2009 - Amends the Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 or the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2010 certain tax provisions related to disaster relief, including: (1) credits to holders of disaster area tax credit bonds; (2) increased disaster zone education tax benefits; (3) penalty-free distributions from tax-exempt retirement plans for disaster-related expenses; (4) authority to adjust the tax status of taxpayers in a disaster area; (5) deductibility of losses, including net operating losses, attributable to federally declared disasters; (6) expensing of disaster-related capital expenditures; (7) waiver of mortgage revenue bond requirements; and (8) accelerated depreciation of nonresidential real property or residential rental property located in a disaster area.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2010-02-04 00:00:00

Taxpayer Fairness Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) impose a 50% tax on bonuses, including retention bonuses, exceeding $400,000 paid in 2009 to employees of financial institutions (including the Federal National Mortgage Association [Fannie Mae] and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation [Freddie Mac]) that received $5 billion or more in emergency economic assistance from the federal government; and (2) limit the business tax deduction for such bonuses to 50% of the amount of such bonuses.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2010-03-01 00:00:00

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to prohibit the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from updating a flood plain area or a flood risk zone in a geographic area that meets the following conditions: (1) the area is intended to be protected by a levee that the Army Corps of Engineers determines has a design deficiency; (2) the entity responsible for the repair of such levee has implemented a repair plan that has been developed by the Corps or a professional licensed engineer and approved by the Corps or FEMA, that is based on sufficient and reasonably current design data that accurately reflects the condition of such levee and other flood protection facilities in the area, that will provide protection from the 1% annual chance flood for the area, and that includes an adequate financing mechanism; and (3) each state or local government with jurisdiction over any portion of the geographic area has implemented a surveillance and operations plan to provide for timely alerts and immediate remedial action when significant underseepage or potential failure occurs, has an evacuation plan, and has implemented an outreach and communication plan to advise occupants of potential flood risks, the opportunity to purchase flood insurance, and the consequences of failure to purchase insurance. Exempts a geographic area if the Director: (1) determines that the area is protected by a system that provides protection from the 1% annual chance flood; or (2) has suspended the updating of flood plain areas or flood risk zones in such area in accordance with this Act for seven consecutive years.