115 S1717 IS: Corporate Transparency Act of 2017
U.S. Senate
2017-08-02
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II115th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1717IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESAugust 2, 2017Mr. Wyden (for himself and Mr. Rubio) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsA BILLTo amend title 31, United States Code, to ensure that persons who form corporations or limited
			 liability companies in the United States disclose the beneficial owners of
			 those corporations or limited liability companies, in order to prevent
			 wrongdoers from exploiting United States corporations and limited
			 liability companies for criminal gain, to assist law enforcement in
			 detecting, preventing, and punishing terrorism, money laundering, and
			 other misconduct involving United States corporations and limited
			 liability companies, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Corporate Transparency Act of 2017. 2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
 (1)Nearly 2,000,000 corporations and limited liability companies are being formed under the laws of the States each year.
 (2)Very few States obtain meaningful information about the beneficial owners of the corporations and limited liability companies formed under their laws.
 (3)A person forming a corporation or limited liability company within the United States typically provides less information to the State of incorporation than is needed to obtain a bank account or driver's license and typically does not name a single beneficial owner.
 (4)Criminals have exploited the weaknesses in State formation procedures to conceal their identities when forming corporations or limited liability companies in the United States, and have then used the newly created entities to commit crimes affecting interstate and international commerce such as terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, tax evasion, securities fraud, financial fraud, and acts of foreign corruption.
 (5)Law enforcement efforts to investigate corporations and limited liability companies suspected of committing crimes have been impeded by the lack of available beneficial ownership information, as documented in reports and testimony by officials from the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Government Accountability Office, and others.
 (6)In July 2006, a leading international anti-money laundering organization, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (in this section referred to as the FATF), of which the United States is a member, issued a report that criticizes the United States for failing to comply with a FATF standard on the need to collect beneficial ownership information and urged the United States to correct this deficiency by July 2008. In December 2016, FATF issued another evaluation of the U.S., which found that little progress has been made over the last ten years to address this problem. It identified the lack of timely access to adequate, accurate and current beneficial ownership information as a fundamental gap in U.S. efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist finance.
 (7)In response to the 2006 FATF report, the United States has repeatedly urged the States to strengthen their incorporation practices by obtaining beneficial ownership information for the corporations and limited liability companies formed under the laws of such States.
 (8)Many States have established automated procedures that allow a person to form a new corporation or limited liability company within the State within 24 hours of filing an online application, without any prior review of the application by a State official. In exchange for a substantial fee, 2 States will form a corporation within 1 hour of a request.
 (9)Dozens of Internet Web sites highlight the anonymity of beneficial owners allowed under the incorporation practices of some States, point to those practices as a reason to incorporate in those States, and list those States together with offshore jurisdictions as preferred locations for the formation of new corporations, essentially providing an open invitation to criminals and other wrongdoers to form entities within the United States.
 (10)In contrast to practices in the United States, all 28 countries in the European Union are required to have formation agents identify the beneficial owners of the corporations formed under the laws of the country.
 (11)To reduce the vulnerability of the United States to wrongdoing by United States corporations and limited liability companies with hidden owners, to protect interstate and international commerce from criminals misusing United States corporations and limited liability companies, to strengthen law enforcement investigations of suspect corporations and limited liability companies, to set minimum standards for and level the playing field among State incorporation practices, and to bring the United States into compliance with its international anti-money laundering standards, Federal legislation is needed to require the collection of beneficial ownership information for the corporations and limited liability companies formed under the laws of such States.
			3.Transparent incorporation practices
			(a)Transparent incorporation practices
 (1)In generalChapter 53 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5332 the following new section:

						5333.Transparent incorporation practices
							(a)Reporting requirements
 (1)In generalNot later than the beginning of fiscal year 2019, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue regulations requiring each corporation and limited liability company formed in a State that does not have a formation system described under subsection (b) to file with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network such information as the corporation or limited liability company would be required to provide the State if such State had a formation system described under subsection (b).
 (2)Disclosure of beneficial ownership informationBeneficial ownership information reported to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be provided by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network upon receipt of—
 (A)a civil or criminal subpoena or summons from a State agency, Federal agency, or congressional committee or subcommittee requesting such information;
 (B)a written request made by a Federal agency on behalf of another country under an international treaty, agreement, or convention, or an order under section 3512 of title 18 or section 1782 of title 28 issued in response to a request for assistance from a foreign country; or
 (C)a written request made by a financial institution, with customer consent, as part of the institution’s compliance with due diligence requirements imposed under the Bank Secrecy Act (Public Law 91508; 84 Stat. 1114), the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 10756; 115 Stat. 272), or other applicable Federal or State law.
 (3)LimitationIn issuing regulations pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not require such information to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
								(b)Formation system
 (1)In generalWith respect to a State, a formation system is described under this subsection if it meets the following requirements:
 (A)Identification of beneficial ownersExcept as provided in paragraphs (2) and (4), and subject to paragraph (3), each applicant to form a corporation or limited liability company under the laws of the State is required to provide to the State during the formation process a list of the beneficial owners of the corporation or limited liability company that—
 (i)except as provided in subparagraph (F), identifies each beneficial owner by— (I)name;
 (II)current residential or business street address; and (III)a unique identifying number from a non-expired passport issued by the United States or a non-expired driver’s license issued by a State; and
 (ii)if the applicant is not the beneficial owner, provides the identification information described in clause (i) relating to the applicant.
 (B)Updated informationFor each corporation or limited liability company formed under the laws of the State— (i)the corporation or limited liability company is required by the State to update the list of the beneficial owners of the corporation or limited liability company by providing the information described in subparagraph (A) to the State not later than 60 days after the date of any change in the list of beneficial owners or the information required to be provided relating to each beneficial owner;
 (ii)in the case of a corporation or limited liability company formed or acquired by a formation agent and retained by the formation agent as a beneficial owner for transfer to another person, the formation agent is required by the State to submit to the State an updated list of the beneficial owners and the information described in subparagraph (A) for each such beneficial owner not later than 10 days after date on which the formation agent transfers the corporation or limited liability company to another person; and
 (iii)the corporation or limited liability company is required by the State to submit to the State an annual filing containing the list of the beneficial owners of the corporation or limited liability company and the information described in subparagraph (A) for each such beneficial owner.
 (C)Retention of informationBeneficial ownership information relating to each corporation or limited liability company formed under the laws of the State is required to be maintained by the State until the end of the 5-year period beginning on the date that the corporation or limited liability company terminates under the laws of the State.
 (D)Information requestsBeneficial ownership information relating to each corporation or limited liability company formed under the laws of the State shall be provided by the State upon receipt of—
 (i)a civil or criminal subpoena or summons from a State agency, Federal agency, or congressional committee or subcommittee requesting such information;
 (ii)a written request made by a Federal agency on behalf of another country under an international treaty, agreement, or convention, or section 1782 of title 28;
 (iii)a written request made by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; or (iv)a written request made by a financial institution, with customer consent, as part of the institution’s compliance with due diligence requirements imposed under the Bank Secrecy Act (Public Law 91508; 84 Stat. 1114), the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 10756; 115 Stat. 272), or other applicable Federal or State law.
 (E)NoticeThe State discloses clearly and conspicuously that the beneficial ownership information collected under the formation system may be provided to the entities described in subparagraph (D), pursuant to the requirements of such subparagraph.
 (F)No bearer share corporations or limited liability companiesA corporation or limited liability company formed under the laws of the State may not issue a certificate in bearer form evidencing either a whole or fractional interest in the corporation or limited liability company.
									(2)States that license formation agents
 (A)In generalNotwithstanding paragraph (1), a State described in subparagraph (B) may permit an applicant to form a corporation or limited liability company under the laws of the State, or a corporation or limited liability company formed under the laws of the State, to provide the required information to a licensed formation agent residing in the State, instead of to the State directly, if the application under paragraph (1)(A) or the update under paragraph (1)(B) contains—
 (i)the name, current business address, contact information, and licensing number of the licensed formation agent that has agreed to maintain the information required under this subsection; and
 (ii)a certification by the licensed formation agent that the licensed formation agent has possession of the information required under this subsection and will maintain the information in the State licensing the licensed formation agent in accordance with State law.
 (B)States describedA State described in this subparagraph is a State that maintains a formal licensing system for formation agents that requires a formation agent to register with the State, meet standards for fitness and honesty, maintain a physical office and records within the State, undergo regular monitoring, and be subject to sanctions for noncompliance with State requirements.
 (C)Licensed formation agent dutiesA licensed formation agent that receives beneficial ownership information under State law in accordance with this paragraph shall—
 (i)maintain the information in the State in which the corporation or limited liability company is being or has been formed in the same manner as required for States under paragraph (1)(C);
 (ii)provide the information under the same circumstances as required for States under paragraph (1)(D); and
 (iii)perform the duties of a formation agent under paragraph (3). (D)Termination of relationship (i)In generalExcept as provided in clause (ii), a licensed formation agent that receives beneficial ownership information relating to a corporation or limited liability company under State law in accordance with this paragraph and that resigns, dissolves, or otherwise ends a relationship with the corporation or limited liability company shall promptly—
 (I)notify the State in writing that the licensed formation agent has resigned or ended the relationship; and
 (II)transmit all beneficial ownership information relating to the corporation or limited liability company in the possession of the licensed formation agent to the licensing State.
 (ii)ExceptionIf a licensed formation agent receives written instructions from a corporation or limited liability company, the licensed formation agent may transmit the beneficial ownership information relating to the corporation or limited liability company to another licensed formation agent that is within the same State and has agreed to maintain the information in accordance with this section.
 (iii)Notice to StateIf a licensed formation agent provides beneficial ownership information to another licensed formation agent under clause (ii), the licensed formation agent providing the information shall promptly notify in writing the State under the laws of which the corporation or limited liability company is formed of the identity of the licensed formation agent receiving the information.
 (3)Certain beneficial ownersIf an applicant to form a corporation or limited liability company or a beneficial owner, officer, director, or similar agent of a corporation or limited liability company who is required to provide identification information under this subsection does not have a non-expired passport issued by the United States or a non-expired driver’s license or identification card issued by a State, each application described in paragraph (1)(A) and each update described in paragraph (1)(B) shall include a certification by a formation agent residing in the State that the formation agent—
 (A)has obtained for each such person a current residential or business street address and a legible and credible copy of the pages of a non-expired passport issued by the government of a foreign country bearing a photograph, date of birth, and unique identifying information for the person;
 (B)has verified the name, address, and identity of each such person; (C)will provide the information described in subparagraph (A) and the proof of verification described in subparagraph (B) upon request under the same circumstances as required for States under paragraph (1)(D); and
 (D)will retain the information and proof of verification under this paragraph in the State in which the corporation or limited liability company is being or has been formed until the end of the 5-year period beginning on the date that the corporation or limited liability company terminates under the laws of the State.
									(4)Exempt entities
 (A)In generalA formation system described in paragraph (1) shall require that an application for an entity described in subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (d)(2) that is proposed to be formed under the laws of a State and that will be exempt from the beneficial ownership disclosure requirements under this subsection shall include in the application a certification by the applicant, or a prospective officer, director, or similar agent of the entity—
 (i)identifying the specific provision of subsection (d)(2) under which the entity proposed to be formed would be exempt from the beneficial ownership disclosure requirements under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3);
 (ii)stating that the entity proposed to be formed meets the requirements for an entity described under such provision of subsection (d)(2); and
 (iii)providing identification information for the applicant or prospective officer, director, or similar agent making the certification in the same manner as provided under paragraph (1) or (3).
 (B)Existing entitiesOn and after the date that is 2 years after the effective date of the amendments to the formation system of a State made to comply with this section, an entity formed under the laws of the State before such effective date shall be considered to be a corporation or limited liability company for purposes of, and shall be subject to the requirements of, this subsection unless an officer, director, or similar agent of the entity submits to the State a certification—
 (i)identifying the specific provision of subsection (d)(2) under which the entity is exempt from the requirements under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3);
 (ii)stating that the entity meets the requirements for an entity described under such provision of subsection (d)(2); and
 (iii)providing identification information for the officer, director, or similar agent making the certification in the same manner as provided under paragraph (1) or (3).
 (C)Exempt entities having ownership interestIf an entity described in subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (d)(2) has or will have an ownership interest in a corporation or limited liability company formed or to be formed under the laws of a State, the applicant, corporation, or limited liability company in which the entity has or will have the ownership interest shall provide the information required under this subsection relating to the entity, except that the entity shall not be required to provide information regarding any natural person who has an ownership interest in, exercises substantial control over, or receives substantial economic benefits from the entity.
									(c)Penalties
 (1)In generalIt shall be unlawful for— (A)any person to affect interstate or foreign commerce by—
 (i)knowingly providing, or attempting to provide, false or fraudulent beneficial ownership information, including a false or fraudulent identifying photograph, to a State or licensed formation agent under State law in accordance with this section;
 (ii)willfully failing to provide complete or updated beneficial ownership information to a State or licensed formation agent under State law in accordance with this section; or
 (iii)knowingly disclosing the existence of a subpoena, summons, or other request for beneficial ownership information, except—
 (I)to the extent necessary to fulfill the authorized request; (II)as authorized by the entity that issued the subpoena, summons, or other request; or
 (III)as prescribed by a State; or (B)in the case of a formation agent, knowingly failing to obtain or maintain credible, legible, and updated beneficial ownership information, including any required identifying photograph.
 (2)Civil and criminal penaltiesIn addition to any civil or criminal penalty that may be imposed by a State, any person who violates paragraph (1)—
 (A)shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000; and (B)may be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 3 years, or both.
 (d)DefinitionsFor the purposes of this section: (1)Beneficial ownerThe term beneficial owner—
 (A)means a natural person who, directly or indirectly— (i)exercises substantial control over a corporation or limited liability company; or
 (ii)has a substantial interest in or receives substantial economic benefits from the assets of a corporation or limited liability company; and
 (B)does not include— (i)a minor child;
 (ii)a person acting as a nominee, intermediary, custodian, or agent on behalf of another person; (iii)a person acting solely as an employee of a corporation or limited liability company and whose control over or economic benefits from the corporation or limited liability company derives solely from the employment status of the person;
 (iv)a person whose only interest in a corporation or limited liability company is through a right of inheritance, unless the person also meets the requirements of subparagraph (A); or
 (v)a creditor of a corporation or limited liability company, unless the creditor also meets the requirements of subparagraph (A).
 (2)Corporation; limited liability companyThe terms corporation and limited liability company— (A)have the meanings given such terms under the laws of the applicable State;
 (B)include any non-United States entity eligible for registration or registered to do business as a corporation or limited liability company under the laws of the applicable State;
 (C)do not include any entity that is, and discloses in the application by the entity to form under the laws of the State or, if the entity was formed before the date of the enactment of this section, in a filing with the State under State law—
 (i)a business concern that is an issuer of a class of securities registered under section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78l) or that is required to file reports under section 15(d) of that Act (15 U.S.C. 78o(d));
 (ii)a business concern constituted or sponsored by a State, a political subdivision of a State, under an interstate compact between 2 or more States, by a department or agency of the United States, or under the laws of the United States;
 (iii)a depository institution (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813));
 (iv)a credit union (as defined in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752)); (v)a bank holding company (as defined in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841));
 (vi)a broker or dealer (as defined in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c)) that is registered under section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o);
 (vii)an exchange or clearing agency (as defined in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c)) that is registered under section 6 or 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78f and 78q–1);
 (viii)an investment company (as defined in section 3 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–3)) or an investment advisor (as defined in section 202 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b–2)), if the company or adviser is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or has filed an application for registration which has not been denied, under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–1 et seq.) or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b–1 et seq.);
 (ix)an insurance company (as defined in section 2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a–2));
 (x)a registered entity (as defined in section 1a of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1a)), or a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity pool operator, or commodity trading advisor (as defined in section 1a of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1a)) that is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission;
 (xi)a public accounting firm registered in accordance with section 102 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7212);
 (xii)a public utility that provides telecommunications service, electrical power, natural gas, or water and sewer services, within the United States;
 (xiii)a church, charity, or nonprofit entity that is described in section 501(c), 527, or 4947(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, has not been denied tax exempt status, and has filed the most recently due annual information return with the Internal Revenue Service, if required to file such a return;
 (xiv)any business concern that— (I)employs more than 20 employees on a full-time basis in the United States;
 (II)files income tax returns in the United States demonstrating more than $5,000,000 in gross receipts or sales; and
 (III)has an operating presence at a physical office within the United States; or (xv)any corporation or limited liability company formed and owned by an entity described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii), (xiii), or (xiv); and
 (D)do not include any individual business concern or class of business concerns which the Secretary of the Treasury, with the written concurrence of the Attorney General of the United States, has determined in writing should be exempt from the requirements of subsection (a), because requiring beneficial ownership information from the business concern would not serve the public interest and would not assist law enforcement efforts to detect, prevent, or punish terrorism, money laundering, tax evasion, or other misconduct.
 (3)Formation agentThe term formation agent means a person who, for compensation— (A)acts on behalf of another person to assist in the formation of a corporation or limited liability company under the laws of a State; or
 (B)purchases, sells, or transfers the public records that form a corporation or limited liability company.
									.
 (2)RulemakingTo carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General of the United States, may issue guidance or a rule to—
 (A)clarify the definitions under section 5333(d) of title 31, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1); and
 (B)specify how to verify beneficial ownership information or other identification information for purposes of such section 5333, including whether the verification procedures specified in section 5333(b)(3) should apply to all applicants under section 5333(b)(1) or whether such verification process should require the notarization of signatures.
 (3)Conforming amendmentsTitle 31, United States Code, is amended— (A)in section 5321(a)—
 (i)in paragraph (1), by striking sections 5314 and 5315 each place it appears and inserting sections 5314, 5315, and 5333; and (ii)in paragraph (6), by inserting (except section 5333) after subchapter each place it appears; and
 (B)in section 5322, by striking section 5315 or 5324 each place it appears and inserting section 5315, 5324, or 5333. (4)Table of contentsThe table of contents of chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5332 the following:
					Sec. 5333. Transparent incorporation practices..
 (5)Restrictions on public accessA State may— (A)restrict public access to all or any portion of the beneficial ownership information provided to the State as described under section 5332 of title 31, United States Code, as added by this Act; and
 (B)by statute, regulation, order, or interpretation adopted or issued by the State after the date of enactment of this Act, provide for public access to all or any portion of such information.
 (6)No duty of verificationThis Act and the amendments made by this Act do not impose any obligation on a State to verify the name, address, or identity of a beneficial owner whose information is submitted to such State under section 5333 of title 31, United States Code, as added by this Act.
				(b)Funding authorization
 (1)In generalTo carry out section 5333 of title 31, United States Code, during the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, funds shall be made available to each State to pay reasonable costs relating to compliance with the requirements of such section.
 (2)Funding sourcesTo protect the United States against the misuse of United States corporations and limited liability companies with hidden owners, funds shall be provided to each State to carry out the purposes described in paragraph (1) from one or more of the following sources:
 (A)Upon application by a State, and without further appropriation, the Secretary of the Treasury shall make available to the State unobligated balances described in section 9703(g)(4)(B) of title 31, United States Code, in the Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund established under section 9703(a) of title 31, United States Code.
 (B)Upon application by a State, after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, and without further appropriation, the Attorney General of the United States shall make available to the State excess unobligated balances (as defined in section 524(c)(8)(D) of title 28, United States Code) in the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund established under section 524(c) of title 28, United States Code.
					(3)Maximum amounts
 (A)Department of the TreasuryThe Secretary of the Treasury may not make available to States a total of more than $30,000,000 under paragraph (2)(A).
 (B)Department of JusticeThe Attorney General of the United States may not make available to States a total of more than $10,000,000 under paragraph (2)(B).
 (4)RulemakingNot later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General shall, jointly, issue regulations setting forth the procedures for States to apply for funds under this subsection, including determining which State measures should be funded to assess, plan, develop, test, or implement relevant policies, procedures, or system modifications.
 (c)Compliance ReportNothing in this section or the amendments made by this section authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to withhold from a State any funding otherwise available to the State because of a failure by that State to comply with section 5333 of title 31, United States Code. Not later than the end of the 42-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report—
 (1)identifying which States obtain beneficial ownership information as described in such section 5333; (2)with respect to each State that does not obtain such information, whether corporations and limited liability companies formed under the laws of such State are in compliance with such section 5333 and providing the specified beneficial ownership information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; and
 (3)whether the Department of the Treasury is in compliance with such section 5333 and, if not, what steps it must take to come into compliance with this section.
 (d)Federal contractorsNot later than the first day of the first full fiscal year beginning at least 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy shall revise the Federal Acquisition Regulation maintained under section 1303(a)(1) of title 41, United States Code, to require any contractor who is subject to the requirement to disclose beneficial ownership information under section 5333 of title 31, United States Code, to provide the information required to be disclosed under such section to the Federal Government as part of any bid or proposal for a contract with a value threshold in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold under section 134 of title 41, United States Code.
			(e)Anti-Money laundering obligations of formation agents
 (1)In generalSection 5312(a)(2) of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (A)in subparagraph (Y), by striking or at the end;
 (B)by redesignating subparagraph (Z) as subparagraph (AA); and (C)by inserting after subparagraph (Y) the following:

 (Z)any person who, for compensation— (i)acts on behalf of another person to form, or assist in formation of, a corporation or limited liability company under the laws of a State; or
 (ii)purchases, sells, or transfers the public records that form a corporation or limited liability company; or.
					(2)Deadline for anti-money laundering rule for formation agents
 (A)Proposed ruleNot later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General of the United States and the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, shall publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register requiring persons described in section 5312(a)(2)(Z) of title 31, United States Code, as amended by this subsection, to establish anti-money laundering programs under subsection (h) of section 5318 of that title.
 (B)Final ruleNot later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall publish the rule described in this subsection in final form in the Federal Register.
 (C)ExclusionsAny rule promulgated under this subsection shall exclude from the category of persons involved in forming a corporation or limited liability company—
 (i)any government agency; and (ii)any attorney or law firm that uses a paid formation agent operating within the United States to form the corporation or limited liability company.
						4.Studies and reports
 (a)Other legal entitiesNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report—
 (1)identifying each State that has procedures that enable persons to form or register under the laws of the State partnerships, trusts, or other legal entities, and the nature of those procedures;
 (2)identifying each State that requires persons seeking to form or register partnerships, trusts, or other legal entities under the laws of the State to provide information about the beneficial owners (as that term is defined in section 5333(d)(1) of title 31, United States Code, as added by this Act) or beneficiaries of such entities, and the nature of the required information;
 (3)evaluating whether the lack of available beneficial ownership information for partnerships, trusts, or other legal entities—
 (A)raises concerns about the involvement of such entities in terrorism, money laundering, tax evasion, securities fraud, or other misconduct; and
 (B)has impeded investigations into entities suspected of such misconduct; and (4)evaluating whether the failure of the United States to require beneficial ownership information for partnerships and trusts formed or registered in the United States has elicited international criticism and what steps, if any, the United States has taken or is planning to take in response.
 (b)Effectiveness of incorporation practicesNot later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to the Congress a report assessing the effectiveness of incorporation practices implemented under this Act and the amendments made by this Act in—
 (1)providing law enforcement agencies with prompt access to reliable, useful, and complete beneficial ownership information; and
 (2)strengthening the capability of law enforcement agencies to combat incorporation abuses, civil and criminal misconduct, and detect, prevent, or punish terrorism, money laundering, tax evasion, or other misconduct.


109 HR 5216 IH: Preservation of Records of Servitude, Emancipation, and Post-Civil War Reconstruction Act of 2006
U.S. House of Representatives
2006-04-27
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5216
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 27, 2006
Mr. Lantos (for himself, Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Owens, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Snyder, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Payne, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Capuano, Mrs. Christensen, Mrs. McCarthy, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Taylor of Mississippi, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Towns, Ms. Norton, Mr. Foley, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Meeks of New York, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Ms. Watson, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Scott of Georgia, Mr. Clay, and Mr. Berman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

A BILL
To require the establishment of a national database in the National Archives to preserve records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction and to provide grants to State and local entities to establish similar local databases.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Preservation of Records of Servitude, Emancipation, and Post-Civil War Reconstruction Act of 2006.
2.Establishment of national database
(a)In generalThe Archivist of the United States shall preserve relevant records and establish, as part of the National Archives, an electronically searchable national database consisting of historic records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction, including the Southern Claims Commission Records, Freedmen’s Bureau Records, Records of the Freedmen’s Bank, Slave Impressments Records, Slave Payroll Records, Slave Manifest, and others, contained within the agencies and departments of the Federal Government to assist African Americans and others in conducting genealogical and historical research.
(b)MaintenanceThe database established under this section shall be maintained by the National Archives or an entity within the National Archives designated by the Archivist.
3. Grants for establishment of State and local databases
(a)In generalThe National Historical Publications and Records Commission of the National Archives shall provide grants to States, colleges and universities, and genealogical associations to preserve records and establish electronically searchable databases consisting of local records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction.
(b)MaintenanceThe databases established using grants provided under this section shall be maintained by appropriate agencies or institutions designated by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
4.Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated—
(1)$5,000,000 to implement section 2; and
(2)$5,000,000 to provide grants under section 3.


109 HR 3237 IH: To suspend temporarily the duty on 2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxy-acetic acid, di-methylamine salt.
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-07-12
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3237
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 12, 2005
Mr. Buyer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL
To suspend temporarily the duty on 2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxy-acetic acid, di-methylamine salt.

1.2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxy-acetic acid, di-methylamine salt
(a)In generalSubchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:

9902.14.02 2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxy-acetic acid, di-methylamine salt (CAS No. 2039–46–5) (provided for in subheading 2921.19.60)FreeNo changeNo changeOn or before 12/31/2008.
(b)Effective dateThe amendment made by subsection (a) applies to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the date of the enactment of this Act.


 SCON 33 ENR: Providing for a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 195.
U.S. Senate
2018-01-22
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of America2d SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the third day of January, two thousand and
			 eighteenS. CON. RES. 33IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJanuary 22, 2018Agreed toCONCURRENT RESOLUTIONProviding for a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 195.

 That in the enrollment of the bill H.R. 195, the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall make the following corrections:
 (1)Insert before section 1 the following:  AFEDERAL REGISTER PRINTING SAVINGS ACT OF 2017. (2)In section 1, strike Act and insert division.
 (3)Insert before section 2002 the following:  154(a)Employees furloughed as a result of any lapse in appropriations which begins on or about January 20, 2018, shall be compensated at their standard rate of compensation, for the period of such lapse in appropriations, as soon as practicable after such lapse in appropriations ends.
 (b)For purposes of this section, employee means: (1)a Federal employee;
 (2)an employee of the District of Columbia Courts;
 (3)an employee of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia; or (4)a District of Columbia Government employee.
 (c)All obligations incurred in anticipation of the appropriations made and authority granted by this division for the purposes of maintaining the essential level of activity to protect life and property and bringing about orderly termination of Government functions, and for purposes as otherwise authorized by law, are hereby ratified and approved if otherwise in accord with the provisions of this division.
 155.(a)If a State (or another Federal grantee) used State funds (or the grantee’s non-Federal funds) to continue carrying out a Federal program or furloughed State employees (or the grantee’s employees) whose compensation is advanced or reimbursed in whole or in part by the Federal Government—
 (1)such furloughed employees shall be compensated at their standard rate of compensation for such period;
 (2)the State (or such other grantee) shall be reimbursed for expenses that would have been paid by the Federal Government during such period had appropriations been available, including the cost of compensating such furloughed employees, together with interest thereon calculated under section 6503(d) of title 31, United States Code; and
 (3)the State (or such other grantee) may use funds available to the State (or the grantee) under such Federal program to reimburse such State (or the grantee), together with interest thereon calculated under section 6503(d) of title 31, United States Code.
 (b)For purposes of this section, the term State and the term grantee shall have the meaning as such term is defined under the applicable Federal program under subsection (a). In addition, to continue carrying out a Federal program means the continued performance by a State or other Federal grantee, during the period of a lapse in appropriations, of a Federal program that the State or such other grantee had been carrying out prior to the period of the lapse in appropriations.
 (c)The authority under this section applies with respect to any period in fiscal year 2018 (not limited to periods beginning or ending after the date of the enactment of this division) during which there occurs a lapse in appropriations with respect to any department or agency of the Federal Government which, but for such lapse in appropriations, would have paid, or made reimbursement relating to, any of the expenses referred to in this section with respect to the program involved. Payments and reimbursements under this authority shall be made only to the extent and in amounts provided in advance in appropriations Acts..
 (4)Insert after section 2002 the following:  2003.For the purposes of division D of Public Law 115–56, the time covered by such division shall be considered to include the period which began on or about January 20, 2018, during which there occurred a lapse in appropriations..
 (5)Amend the title so as to read: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes.Secretary of the SenateClerk of the House of Representatives