lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2012-07-13 00:00:00

Liquidity Enhancement for Small Public Companies Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from proposing, adopting, maintaining, or enforcing any rule, regulation, policy, or procedure that bars a national securities exchange from implementing a program under which either the exchange, an entity that lists securities on a national securities exchange, an entity determined appropriate by the SEC, or any other entity determined appropriate by a national securities exchange provides financial incentives to market makers that adhere to standards of market quality established by the rules of the exchange. Prohibits a registered national securities association from adopting, maintaining, or proposing any rule, regulation, policy, or procedure that bars a national securities exchange from implementing a program under which the securities of an issuer determined appropriate by the SEC for listing on a national securities exchange provides financial incentives to market makers that adhere to standards of market quality established by the exchange.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2012-07-19 00:00:00

Fostering Innovation Act - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to redefine "accelerated filer" with respect to issuers of securities required to meet accelerated deadlines for filing their Form 10-Q quarterly reports. Requires the SEC to include among accelerated filers any issuers of securities that have: (1) annual revenues in excess of $100 million, and (2) an aggregated worldwide market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of between $250 million and $700 million.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2012-07-25 00:00:00

Investment Adviser Examination Improvement Act of 2012 - Declares the sense of Congress that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should increase the number and frequency of examinations of investment advisers. Amends the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to direct the SEC to collect an annual fee from investment advisers subject to SEC inspection or examination to defray the cost of such inspections and examinations. Exempts certain state-regulated investment advisers from the requirement to pay an annual fee. Prescribes a fee calculation formula. Requires the SEC to make the formula publicly available on its website along with the factors used to reach the fee determination. Requires the Comptroller General to audit biennially the use of such fees, SEC reviews of the fee formula, and any adjustments to it. Makes such fees available to the SEC, without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation, to pay costs associated with inspecting and examining investment advisers.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2012-09-21 00:00:00

Credible Ratings Act of 2012 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require the annual internal controls report of each nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to contain a certification that the NRSRO monitors the credit ratings it issues, at least quarterly, in order to ensure that they are as accurate as possible based upon the NRSRO's procedures and methodologies as furnished to the SEC.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2012-11-29 00:00:00

Markets and Trading Reorganization Act - Establishes the Securities and Derivatives Commission as an independent regulatory commission. Directs such Commission to establish three principal divisions: (1) a Markets and Trading Division with oversight of market conduct and utilities, the conduct of market professionals, and self-regulatory organizations with regard to such market professionals, including related examination functions; (2) an Issuers and Financial Disclosures Division with oversight of the issuance of securities, including investment companies and related rules and examinations; and (3) an Enforcement Division responsible for the enforcement of all Commission rules. Transfers to the Commission all functions and personnel of: (1) the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and (2) the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Grants the Commission fee and funding authority.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2012-12-05 00:00:00

Postpones until April 15, 2013, the effective date of the requirement under the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (STOCK Act) that the Secretary of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives ensure that financial disclosure forms filed by congressional officers and employees be made available to the public on the respective official Senate and House websites within 30 days after filing. Postpones until the same date the effective date of the requirement that the President ensure that financial disclosure forms filed by executive branch employees are publicly available on appropriate official websites of executive branch agencies within such period. Excludes from these effective date postponements the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, congressional candidates, and any officer occupying a position listed under Level I and Level II of the Executive Schedule having been nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. (Thus maintains September 30, 2012, as the effective date of the requirement that such individuals make their financial disclosure forms available to the public.)
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2012-12-20 00:00:00

Equitable Treatment of Investors Act - Amends the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 to revise the definition of "net equity." Bases the determination of net equity, the positions, options, and contracts of a customer reported to the customer as held by the debtor, and any indebtedness of the customer to the debtor, upon: (1) the information contained in the last statement issued by the debtor to the customer before the filing date; and (2) any additional written confirmations of the customer's positions, options, contracts, or indebtedness received after such last statement but before the filing date. Makes an exception to this requirement when a debtor's recorders indicate a higher value. Requires determination of the customer's net equity using the debtor's books and records instead of the customer's last statement when the debtor's books and records indicate that the net value of a customer's positions, options, and contracts reported to the customer as held by the debtor, and any indebtedness of the customer to the debtor, is greater than the customer's net value as calculated on the basis specified by this Act. Prohibits reliance on the final statement of the debtor to customer, however, if the customer: (1) knew the debtor was involved in fraudulent activity with respect to any of its customers which reasonably indicated a fraud adversely affecting a substantial number of customers; or (2) as a registered broker, dealer, or investment adviser under specified securities laws, or a person required to be so registered, knew, or should have known, that the debtor was involved in a fraudulent activity and did not notify the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or law enforcement personnel. Prohibits a trustee in bankruptcy in a liquidation proceeding from recovering any property transferred by the debtor to a customer before the filing date unless, at the time of such transfer, the customer meets the same criteria regarding actual or constructive knowledge of the debtor's involvement in fraudulent activity. Prescribes alternative methodologies for allocation of customer property to customers by a trustee in a liquidation proceeding. Requires public notice and comment as a prerequisite to court approval of a proposed allocation methodology. Transfers from the SIPC to the SEC authority to nominate to a court persons for appointment as trustee for the liquidation of a debtor's business and as attorney for the trustee. Prohibits a trustee from serving in multiple liquidations if the trustee is currently serving as such under this Act for the liquidation of the business of another debtor. Sets forth requirements for trustee and attorney compensation. Requires the SIPC to issue quarterly public reports on its payments to the trustee, as well as all other costs in connection with the liquidation proceeding. Prescribes the timing of: (1) SIPC advances, and (2) payments to customers.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-03-10 00:00:00

Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regarding registration of securities to modify the registration threshold for an issuer that is either a bank or a bank holding company as well as for an issuer that is neither a bank nor a bank holding company. Raises from $1 million to $10 million the threshold for total assets of an issuer that requires registration of a certain class of equity security. Divides the holding threshold that requires registration of such a class of equity security, however, into: (1) 2,000 holders of record if the issuer is a bank or a bank holding company, and (2) 500 holders of record if the issuer is neither. Requires termination of a security registration in the case of a bank or a bank holding company if the the number of holders of record of the class of security is reduced to less than 1,200. Directs the Chief Economist and the Director of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to study and make a cost-benefit analysis of shareholder registration thresholds.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Economics and public finance
Date: 2011-03-17 00:00:00

Building and Upgrading Infrastructure for Long-Term Development - Establishes the American Infrastructure Financing Authority (AIFA) as a wholly-owned government corporation, headed by a Chief Executive Officer and managed by a Board of Directors, which shall provide direct loans and loan guarantees to facilitate transportation, water, or energy infrastructure projects. Requires infrastructure projects assisted under this Act to have costs that are reasonably anticipated to equal or exceed $100 million ($25 million for rural infrastructure projects). Sets forth special requirements for infrastructure projects in rural areas. Establishes an Office of Rural Assistance to provide technical assistance in the development and financing of rural infrastructure projects. Establishes an Office of Special Inspector General to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of the business activities of AIFA. Prohibits financial assistance from AIFA for any private project for which no public benefit is created. Sets forth terms for loans or loan guarantees for infrastructure projects and for the repayment of such loans. Requires an annual independent audit of AIFA finances. Requires the Chief Executive Officer of AIFA to: (1) establish fees with respect to loans and loan guarantees that are sufficient to cover AIFA's administrative costs, and (2) take actions to make AIFA a self-sustaining entity, with administrative and federal credit subsidy costs fully funded by fees and risk premiums on loans and loan guarantees. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2012 the exemption from alternative minimum tax (AMT) for tax-exempt private activity bonds.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-05-11 00:00:00

Amends the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to exempt from specified margin requirements: (1) swaps in which one of the counterparties is neither a swap dealer nor a major swap participant, (2) certain investment funds, (3) specified regulated entities, and (4) a commodity pool. Exempts from such margin requirements, also, any swaps or security-based swaps entered into before the date on which final rules are required to be promulgated or published under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010, respectively.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2011-05-17 00:00:00

Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 2011 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the small issuer exemption from interest expense allocation rules for financial institutions to: (1) permanently increase from $10 million to $30 million the annual limit on the amount of tax-exempt obligations that a small issuer may issue, and (2) allow an inflation adjustment to such increased limit amount after 2011.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-06-15 00:00:00

End Excessive Oil Speculation Now Act of 2011 - Directs the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to establish speculative position limits: (1) in any registered trading entity on or through which crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, or heating oil futures or swaps are traded that are equal to the position accountability levels or position limits established by the New York Mercantile Exchange (Exchange); and (2) that are equal to the position accountability levels or position limits established by such Exchange upon the aggregate number or amount of positions in contracts based upon the same underlying commodity that may be held by any person (including any group or class of traders) for each month across specified contracts, transactions, and swap contracts. Directs the Chairman to: (1) establish margin requirements of 12% for speculative swaps and futures trading in crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and heating oil; (2) require each bank holding company, investment bank, hedge fund, or swaps dealer trading energy futures or swaps for its own benefit, or on behalf of, or as counterparty to, an index fund, exchange traded fund, or other noncommercial participant, to register with the CFTC as a noncommercial participant and be subject to position limits and margin requirements under this Act. Exempts bona-fide hedge trading from such position limits and margin requirements. Expresses the sense of Congress that, if finalized, the proposed position limits for derivatives that the CFTC included in a specified notice of proposed rulemaking do not fulfill the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to diminish, eliminate, or prevent excessive speculation.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2011-06-27 00:00:00

National Domestic Preparedness Consortium Enhancement Act of 2011 - Requires the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium to include the SUNY (State University of New York) National Center for Security and Preparedness.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-07-20 00:00:00

Maintaining Agency Direction on Financial Fraud Act - Prohibits any interpretive guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which relates to "Commission Guidance Regarding Disclosure Related to Climate Change" from taking effect with respect to any person on or after February 2, 2010. Prohibits the SEC from issuing interpretive guidance: (1) with respect to disclosures related to climate change after this Act's effective date; and (2) that would establish any requirements with respect to the content of or format for any disclosures related to climate change voluntarily submitted by any entity to the SEC after such date. Prohibits the SEC from initiating any civil or administrative action or proceeding pertaining to disclosures related to climate change after this Act's enactment and terminates any such actions or proceedings that are pending. Prohibits this Act from being construed to: (1) prohibit the SEC from issuing interpretive guidance with respect to disclosures related to non-anthropogenic or natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods; or (2) terminate an administrative action or proceeding pertaining to such disclosures.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-09-12 00:00:00

Small Company Capital Formation Act of 2011 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to exempt from its regulation a class of securities for which the aggregate offering amount of all securities offered and sold within the prior 12-month period in reliance on such exemption is between $5 million and $50 million, subject to specified terms and conditions. Limits such an exemption to equity securities, debt securities, and debt securities convertible or exchangeable to equity interests, including any guarantees of such securities. Authorizes the SEC to: (1) require an issuer of such exempted class of securities to make periodic disclosures available to investors regarding the issuer, its business operations, its financial condition, and its use of investor funds; and (2) provide for the suspension and termination of such a requirement with respect to that issuer. Requires the SEC to: (1) review and increase biennially such offering amount limitation, as appropriate; and (2) report to certain congressional committees on its reasons for not increasing the amount if it determines not to do so. Treats as a covered security with respect to a transaction exempt from registration requirements pursuant to a rule or regulation adopted under this Act any such security offered or sold: (1) on a national securities exchange, or (2) to a qualified purchaser. Directs the Comptroller General to study the impact of state laws regulating securities offerings (Blue Sky laws) on offerings made under Regulation A (which specifies the terms and conditions of exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933).
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-09-22 00:00:00

Financial Regulatory Responsibility Act of 2011- Prohibits a federal financial regulatory agency from issuing notices of proposed or final rulemakings unless specified analyses have been included in them. Prohibits an agency from publishing a notice of final rulemaking if it determines that the quantified costs are greater than the quantified benefits. Requires an agency to make available on its public website sufficient information about the data, methodologies, and assumptions underlying its analyses so that its analytical results are capable of being substantially reproduced. Requires the chief economist of an agency, within five years after publication in the Federal Register of a notice of final rulemaking, to report to certain congressional committees on the economic impact of the subject regulation, including its direct and indirect costs and benefits. Requires each federal agency to develop, report to certain congressional committees, and post on its public website a plan to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal existing regulations so as to make the agency's regulatory program more effective or less burdensome in achieving its regulatory objectives. Authorizes judicial review for a person adversely affected or aggrieved by a regulation. Establishes the Chief Economists Council to report to certain congressional committees on activities of the financial regulatory agencies. Requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to report separately to certain congressional committees their plans for subjecting to the requirements of this Act the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, and registered national securities associations on the one hand, and registered futures associations on the other.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-11-02 00:00:00

Democratizing Access to Capital Act of 2011 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to exempt from its prohibitions against use of interstate commerce and the mails for sale (or delivery after sale) of unregistered securities, including unregistered security-based swaps, any transactions involving the issuance of securities through a crowdfunding intermediary, whether or not the transaction involves a public offering, for which: (1) the aggregate annual amount raised through the issue of the securities during any 12-month period by an incorporated entity formed under state law is $1 million or less, and (2) individual investments in the securities are limited to a maximum aggregate annual amount of $1,000. (Crowdfunding is a method of capital formation where groups of people pool money, typically composed of very small individual contributions, and often via internet platforms, to invest in a company or otherwise support an effort by others to accomplish a specific goal.) Sets forth criteria for the crowdfunding exemption. Amends the Securities Act of 1934 to exclude: (1) persons holding crowdfunded securities under this Act from application of the 500-to-750 shareholder "held of record" criterion for a class of equity security subject to mandatory registration, and (2) crowdfunding intermediaries from regulation under such Act as "brokers" or "dealers." Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to preempt state law with respect to regulation of crowdfunded securities. Subjects crowdfunding intermediaries, however, to state authority to investigate and bring enforcement actions with respect to fraud, deceit, or unlawful conduct in connection with securities or securities transactions. Limits authority to impose fees on crowdfunded securities to: (1) the securities commission of the issuer's state of organization, or (2) any state in which purchasers of 50% or greater of the aggregate amount of the issue are residents.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Securities & Commodities
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2011-11-08 00:00:00

Private Company Flexibility and Growth Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to change the thresholds for total assets and for class of equity security holders of record which trigger the requirement for a securities issuer to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Increases the total assets threshold from $1 million to $10 million, and the class of equity security holders of record threshold from 500-750 to 2,000 persons. Declares that, with respect to such registration requirement, the definition of "held of record" does not include securities held by persons who received them pursuant to an employee compensation plan in transactions exempted from specified registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (exempt transactions). (Thus exempts securities held such persons from registration requirements.) Directs the SEC to: (1) revise the definition of "held of record" in accordance with this Act, and (2) adopt safe harbor provisions issuers can follow to determine whether holders of securities have received securities pursuant to an employee compensation plan in an exempt transaction. Requires termination of the registration of a class of security of a bank or bank holding company, and subjects to automatic suspension the related duty to file supplementary and periodic information with the SEC, if the number of holders of record of such class of security is reduced to less than 1,200 persons. Excludes from the identity of municipal advisor (subject to registration requirements) any person appointed to or volunteering on a board, commission, committee, or similar function of a municipal entity. Exempts also from registration requirements any banks, including agencies or branches of a foreign bank.