lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2016-09-22 00:00:00

Louisiana Flood and Storm Devastation Tax Relief Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify several tax provisions and rules for individuals and businesses affected by storms and flooding in Louisiana.

The bill applies to the area with respect to which a major disaster has been declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act:

 before September 3, 2016, by reason of severe storms and flooding occurring in Louisiana during August of 2016; and before April 21, 2016, by reason of severe storms and flooding occurring in Louisiana during March and April of 2016. For individuals and businesses in the specified Louisiana storm and flood disaster area, the bill modifies tax provisions and rules regarding: (1) early withdrawals of retirement funds; (2) employment-related tax credits; (3) charitable contributions; (4) and various tax deductions, exclusions, and credits related to losses and recovery from the storms and flooding.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2016-09-28 00:00:00

Repeatedly Flooded Communities Preparation Act

 This bill amends the National Flood Insurance Act to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to require communities participating in the national flood insurance program that have adopted land use control measures to: (1) analyze and map areas in which are located structures and public or nonprofit facilities that have been repetitively damaged by flooding; and (2) develop a community-specific plan for addressing continuing flood risks and make the plan, updates, and reports on progress in reducing flood risk publicly available.

FEMA shall provide sanctions upon communities that fail to comply with the requirements of this bill or to make sufficient progress in reducing the flood risks to areas repeatedly damaged by floods.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2016-12-05 00:00:00

Flood Insurance Reimbursement Standards Transparency Cap Profits Act of 2016 or the FIRST Cap Profits Act of 2016

This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the property and casualty insurance companies participating in the "Write Your Own" (WYO) flood insurance program under the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Biggert-Waters Act) to implement and comply with the program's oversight and expense reimbursement requirements within one year after enactment of this bill. (The WYO program is a cooperative undertaking between the insurance industry and the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration that allows participating property and casualty insurance companies to write and service standard flood insurance policies.)

The Biggert-Waters Act is amended to require FEMA to prohibit reimbursements to WYO insurers from exceeding 110% of the aggregate amount of the insurer's actual expenses for selling, writing, and servicing flood insurance policies and adjusting flood claims on behalf of the National Flood Insurance Program.

The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 is amended to require courts to award litigation costs to plaintiffs who prevail in civil actions for fraud or misrepresentation by an insurance company participating in the WYO program.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2015-01-06 00:00:00

Local Disaster Contracting Fairness Act of 2015

 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 will 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: Taxation
Date: 2015-01-07 00:00:00

Investment Savings Access After Catastrophes Act of 2015

 Defines "Hurricane Isaac disaster area" for purposes of this Act as any parish or county of Louisiana or Mississippi in an area in which a major disaster has been declared before September 10, 2012, under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by reason of Hurricane Isaac.

Provides for tax preferences in the Hurricane Isaac disaster area, including: (1) suspension of limitations on the tax deduction for personal casualty losses, (2) an extension of the carryback period for net operating losses, and (3) tax-free distributions from a retirement plan made on or after August 26, 2012, and before September 11, 2014, to an individual whose principal place of abode on August 26, 2012, was located in the Hurricane Isaac disaster area and who sustained an economic loss due to Hurricane Isaac.

Rescinds unobligated funds in an amount equal to the reduction in revenues resulting from the enactment of this Act.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2015-02-12 00:00:00

Fire-Damaged Home Rebuilding Act of 2015

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to allow local variances for certain residential structures substantially damaged by a fire or other disaster, not including a flood, in a covered area having special flood hazards.

Permits state or local authorities, upon making certain determinations, to grant a variance from compliance with certain mandatory adequate land use and control measures to allow repair and restoration of an eligible structure to its pre-damaged condition without elevation of the structure.

Includes among such determinations that: (1) the repaired and restored structure will be located on the same site as it was before being substantially damaged, and (2) the number of floors of the restored structure will not exceed the number of floors of the original structure.

Restricts the maximum number of such variances to 10 for a covered area during any calendar year.

Prohibits the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from either: (1) finding that land use and control measures are inadequate or inconsistent with the comprehensive criteria for land management and use because they permit granting the variances identified under this Act; or (2) suspending an area or subdivision from participation in the national flood insurance program, or placing it on probation, because its land use and control measures provide for such variances.

Prohibits the chargeable flood insurance premium rate for a residential structure granted a variance under this Act from being lower than the rate that otherwise would apply if such structure had not been substantially damaged by a fire or other disaster (except a flood) and repaired and restored pursuant to the variance.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Date: 2015-02-23 00:00:00

Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015

 This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2021 the Tsunami Warning and Education Act.

The tsunami warning systems for the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and for the Atlantic Ocean are consolidated into a single warning system. The system must support international tsunami forecasting and warning efforts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must support or maintain tsunami warning centers to support the national warning system and develop uniform operational procedures for the centers. Warning centers are given additional responsibilities, including maintaining a fail-safe warning capability and an ability to perform back-up duties for each other.

The tsunami hazard mitigation program must provide for: (1) technical and financial assistance; (2) activities to support the development of regional hazard and risk assessments; (3) activities to promote preparedness in at-risk ports and harbors; and (4) dissemination of guidelines and standards for community planning, education, and training products, programs, and tools.

The tsunami research program must develop the technical basis for validation of tsunami maps, models, and forecasts.

NOAA no longer has to operate an International Tsunami Information Center to improve tsunami preparedness for Pacific Ocean nations.

NOAA must: (1) designate an existing working group to serve as the Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel to provide advice on matters regarding tsunami science, technology, and regional preparedness; (2) maintain a coordinating committee to assist in the national tsunami hazard mitigation program; and (3) develop formal outreach activities to improve tsunami education and awareness and foster the development of resilient communities.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2015-03-03 00:00:00

Disaster Assistance Fairness and Accountability Act of 2015

Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from taking any actions to recoup from a recipient assistance provided in relation to a major disaster declared by the President on or after January 1, 2012, if: (1) the recipient's application was made in good faith and provided accurate information and the receipt of such assistance could reasonably have been expected by the recipient, or (2) the receipt of such assistance occurred more than three years before FEMA first notifies the recipient of FEMA's intent to recoup.

Requires FEMA, in carrying out a recoupment of disaster assistance that is not prohibited under this Act, to provide documentation that demonstrates that the recipient did not apply in good faith with accurate information or could not reasonably have expected to receive such assistance.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2015-03-26 00:00:00

Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Act of 2015

Requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to amend the rules concerning the factors it considers when evaluating a governor's request for a major disaster declaration to provide that, with respect to the evaluation of the need for public assistance: (1) specific weighted valuations shall be assigned to the estimated cost of the assistance (10%), localized impacts (40%), insurance coverage in force (10%), hazard mitigation (10%), recent multiple disasters (10%), programs of other federal assistance (10%), and economic circumstances (10%); and (2) FEMA shall consider the economic circumstances of both the local economy of the affected area (including the local assessable tax base and local sales tax, median income, and poverty rate) and the state economy (including the unemployment rate).

Requires such rules to provide that, with respect to the evaluation of the severity, magnitude, and impact of the disaster and the evaluation of the need for assistance to individuals: (1) specific weighted valuations shall be assigned to concentration of damages (20%), trauma (20%), special populations (20%), voluntary agency assistance (10%), insurance (20%), average amount of individual assistance by state (5%), and economic considerations (5%); and (2) FEMA shall consider the economic circumstances of the affected area (including the local assessable tax base and local sales tax, median income, and poverty rate).

Makes such rules applicable to any disaster for which a governor requested a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and was denied on or after January 1, 2012.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2015-04-27 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

Emergency Information Improvement Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include broadcasting facilities within the definition of a "private nonprofit facility" that provides essential services of a governmental nature to the general public, and to include broadcast and telecommunications within the definition of "critical services" provided by such a facility, for purposes of eligibility for certain disaster assistance.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-04-30 00:00:00

Small Business Tax Certainty and Growth Act of 2015 

Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should undertake comprehensive tax reform to make the tax system fairer and simpler and to promote economic growth.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the increased tax deductions for business start-up expenditures, organizational expenditures, and organization and syndication fees; (2) allow the cash accounting method for businesses whose gross receipts do not exceed $10 million (currently, $5 million); (3) exempt businesses whose gross receipts do not exceed $10 million from the requirement to use inventories; (4) make permanent a $500,000 allowance for expensing business assets, including computer software; (5) extend for one year the additional depreciation allowance for business assets (bonus depreciation); and (6) make permanent the 15-year straight-line depreciation allowance for qualified leasehold improvement, restaurant, and retail improvement property.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2015-05-04 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on June 25, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) modernize the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to help ensure that under all conditions the President, federal agencies, and state, tribal, and local governments can alert and warn the civilian population in areas endangered by natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters or threats to public safety; and (2) implement such system to disseminate timely and effective warnings.

Directs FEMA to: (1) establish common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures for the system; (2) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, and multiple communication technologies and to alert, warn, and provide equivalent information to individuals with disabilities, access and functional needs, or limited English proficiency; (3) ensure that specified training, tests, and exercises for such system are conducted and that the system is resilient, secure, and can withstand external attacks; and (4) conduct public education efforts and a general market awareness campaign about the system.

Requires the system to: (1) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public, provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible, and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (2) promote local and regional public and private partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; (3) provide redundant alert mechanisms; and (4) protect individual privacy.

Requires FEMA to make available on its public website and submit to Congress an annual report of the performance of the system.

Directs FEMA to establish the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee to develop and submit recommendations for an integrated public alert and warning system to the National Advisory Council, which shall report the recommendations it approves to agencies represented on the Subcommittee and to specified congressional committees. Terminates the Subcommittee not later than three years after this Act's enactment.

Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for FY2016-FY2018.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Date: 2015-05-07 00:00:00

National Laboratory Technology Maturation Act of 2015

 Requires the Department of Energy to establish the National Laboratory technology maturation program to make grants of up to $5 million per fiscal year to National Laboratories to increase the successful transfer of technologies licensed from National Laboratories to small businesses by providing a link between an innovative process or technology and a practical application with potential to be successful in commercial markets.

Requires grant recipients to use the funds to provide vouchers of up to $250,000 each to small businesses that hold a technology license from a National Laboratory to pay the cost of providing assistance from its scientists and engineers to assist in the development of the licensed technology and further develop related products and services until they are market-ready or sufficiently developed to attract private investment.

Requires a National Laboratory that awards a voucher to carry out such a project to: (1) establish a procedure to monitor interim progress of the project toward commercialization milestones, and (2) discontinue providing such funding or assistance if it determines that a project is not making adequate progress toward such milestones under the procedure.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-05-07 00:00:00

Small Business Start-up Savings Accounts Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for tax-exempt Small Business Start-up Savings Accounts to pay for trade or business expenses, including the purchase of equipment or facilities, marketing, training, incorporation, and accounting fees. Allows annual contributions to such accounts up to $10,000. Sets forth rules for the tax treatment of contributions to and rollovers from such accounts, similar to rules governing individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-05-11 00:00:00

Helping Our Middle-Class Entrepreneurs Act or the HOME Act

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. Provides for an inflation adjustment to the standard deduction amount in calendar years beginning after 2015.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2015-05-12 00:00:00

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

HUBZone Revitalization Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to redefine HUBZones (historically underutilized business Zones) eligible for certain assistance to include a qualified disaster area (a specified census tract or nonmetropolitan county located in a major declared disaster area or in an area where a catastrophic incident has occurred).

A qualified disaster area shall be treated as a HUBZone for 5 years after it has been declared a major disaster area or for 10 years after a catastrophic incident has occurred within it.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide the Small Business Administration with any data it needs to verify a small business's eligibility for the HUBZone small business loan program.

(Sec. 3) HUBZones shall now also include areas that can be used by small businesses whose principal offices are located in base closure HUBZones, with at least 35% of their employees residing in:

 a HUBZone, a census tract in which the base closure HUBZone is wholly contained, a census tract that intersects the boundaries of the base closure HUBZone, or census tract contiguous with these census tracts. This bill also amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 to extend HUBZone eligibility assistance for base closure areas from five years to eight years after their closure.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2015-05-20 00:00:00

Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2015

This bill amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to give access to and manage the distribution of U.S-owned surplus property, including foreign excess personal property returned to a state for handling as surplus property, to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the SBA and the head of the state agency for surplus properties.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2015-05-21 00:00:00

Microloan Act of 2015

This bill amends the Small Business Act to revise requirements for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan Program (direct loans to eligible intermediaries for making fixed interest rate microloans to startup, newly established, or growing small businesses).

The bill repeals the authority for each intermediary to expend certain grant amounts to: (1) provide information and technical assistance to small businesses that are prospective borrowers, and (2) enter into third party contracts to provide technical assistance.

The bill also repeals minimum allocation requirements and authority to redistribute portions of remaining microloan funds in the third quarter.

It is the sense of Congress that the SBA should promote the Microloan Program to encourage entrepreneurs to use it.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2015-06-25 00:00:00

Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act

This bill amends the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 to make technical amendments to requirements for flood insurance under either the federal program or private flood insurance.

"Private flood insurance" shall include any policy issued by an insurance company eligible as a nonadmitted insurer to provide flood insurance in the state or jurisdiction where the property to be insured is located.

The flood insurance program under the Act, including both private and federal flood insurance, shall extend to Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.

The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 is amended to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to consider any period during which a property was continuously covered by private flood insurance to be a period of continuous insurance coverage.