114 S687 IS: American Dream Accounts Act
U.S. Senate
2015-03-10
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.

II114th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 687IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 10, 2015Mr. Coons (for himself and Mr. Rubio) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo authorize the establishment of American Dream Accounts.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the American Dream Accounts Act.2.FindingsCongress finds the following:(1)Only 9.8 out of every 100 individuals from low-income families will graduate from an institution of higher education before reaching the age of 24.(2)Lack of knowledge about how to apply to, and pay for, an institution of higher education is a barrier for many low-income students and students who would be in the first generation in their families to attend an institution of higher education.(3)According to Public Agenda, most young adults give secondary school counselors fair or poor ratings for advice about attending an institution of higher education, including advice about how to decide what institution of higher education to attend, how to pay for higher education, what careers to pursue, and how to apply to an institution of higher education.(4)More than 1,700,000 students fail to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and about one-third of such students would qualify for a Federal Pell Grant.(5)During the last 2 decades, costs of attending institutions of higher education have increased dramatically, but need-based financial aid has not kept pace with such increasing costs.(6)In the 1990–1991 school year, the maximum Federal Pell Grant covered 45 percent of the average cost of attendance at a public 4-year institution of higher education (including tuition, fees, room, and board), but in the 2010–2011 school year, the maximum Federal Pell Grant covered only 34 percent of such cost.(7)Parental and youth college savings are strong predictors of a youth’s expectations about attendance at an institution of higher education.(8)Only 32 percent of parents who earn less than $35,000 a year are saving for their child’s education at an institution of higher education.(9)According to the Center for Social Development, wilt occurs when a young person who expects to graduate from a 4-year institution of higher education has not yet attended such institution by the ages of 19 to 22.(10)Children who have savings dedicated for attendance at an institution of higher education are 4 times more likely to attend a 4-year institution of higher education and avoid wilt.3.DefinitionsIn this Act:(1)American dream accountThe term American Dream Account means a personal online account for low-income students that monitors higher education readiness and includes a college savings account.(2)Appropriate committees of congressThe term appropriate committees of Congress means the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, as well as any other Committee of the Senate or House of Representatives that the Secretary determines appropriate.(3)Charter schoolThe term charter school has the meaning given such term in section 5210 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7221i).(4)College savings accountThe term college savings account means a trust created or organized exclusively for the purpose of paying the qualified expenses of only an individual who, when the trust is created or organized, has not obtained 18 years of age, if the written governing instrument creating the trust contains the following requirements:(A)The trustee is a Federally insured financial institution, or a State insured financial institution if a Federally insured financial institution is not available.(B)The assets of the trust will be invested in accordance with the direction of the individual or of a parent or guardian of the individual, after consultation with the entity providing the initial contribution to the trust or, if applicable, a matching or other contribution for the individual.(C)The assets of the trust will not be commingled with other property except in a common trust fund or common investment fund.(D)Any amount in the trust that is attributable to an account seed or matched deposit may be paid or distributed from the trust only for the purpose of paying qualified expenses of the individual.(5)Dual or concurrent enrollment programThe term dual or concurrent enrollment program means a program of study—(A)provided by an institution of higher education through which a student who has not graduated from high school with a regular high school diploma (as defined in section 200.19(b)(1)(iv) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section was in effect on November 28, 2008) is able to earn postsecondary credit; and(B)that shall consist of not less than 2 postsecondary credit-bearing courses and support and academic services that help a student persist and complete such courses.(6)Early college high school programThe term early college high school program means a formal partnership between at least 1 local educational agency and at least 1 institution of higher education that allows participants, who are primarily low-income students, to simultaneously complete requirements toward earning a regular high school diploma (as defined in section 200.19(b)(1)(iv) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, as such section was in effect on November 28, 2008) and earn not less than 12 transferable credits as part of an organized course of study toward a postsecondary degree or credential.(7)Eligible entityThe term eligible entity means—(A)a State educational agency;(B)a local educational agency, including a charter school that operates as its own local educational agency;(C)a charter management organization or charter school authorizer;(D)an institution of higher education or a Tribal College or University;(E)a nonprofit organization;(F)an entity with demonstrated experience in educational savings or in assisting low-income students to prepare for, and attend, an institution of higher education;(G)a consortium of 2 or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F); or(H)a consortium of 1 or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) and a public school, a charter school, a school operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or a tribally controlled school.(8)Institution of higher educationThe term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).(9)Local educational agencyThe term local educational agency has the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).(10)Low-income studentThe term low-income student means a student who is eligible to receive a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).(11)ParentThe term parent has the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).(12)Qualified expensesThe term qualified expenses means, with respect to an individual, expenses that—(A)are incurred after the individual receives a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; and(B)are associated with attending an institution of higher education, including—(i)tuition and fees;(ii)room and board;(iii)textbooks;(iv)supplies and equipment; and(v)Internet access.(13)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.(14)State educational agencyThe term State educational agency has the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).(15)Tribal College or UniversityThe term Tribal College or University has the meaning given such term in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).(16)Tribally controlled schoolThe term tribally controlled school has the meaning given such term in section 5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2511).4.Grant program(a)Program AuthorizedThe Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable such eligible entities to establish and administer American Dream Accounts for a group of low-income students.(b)ReservationFrom the amounts appropriated each fiscal year to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall reserve not more than 5 percent of such amount to carry out the evaluation activities described in section 7.(c)DurationA grant awarded under this Act shall be for a period of not more than 3 years. The Secretary may extend such grant for an additional 2-year period if the Secretary determines that the eligible entity has demonstrated significant progress, based on the factors described in section 5(b)(11).5.Applications; priority(a)In GeneralEach eligible entity desiring a grant under this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.(b)ContentsAt a minimum, the application described in subsection (a) shall include the following:(1)A description of the characteristics of a group of not less than 30 low-income public school students who—(A)are, at the time of the application, attending a grade not higher than grade 9; and(B)will, under the grant, receive an American Dream Account.(2)A description of how the eligible entity will engage, and provide support (such as tutoring and mentoring for students, and training for teachers and other stakeholders) either online or in person, to—(A)the students in the group described in paragraph (1);(B)the family members and teachers of such students; and(C)other stakeholders such as school administrators and school counselors.(3)An identification of partners who will assist the eligible entity in establishing and sustaining American Dream Accounts.(4)A description of what experience the eligible entity or the partners of the eligible entity have in managing college savings accounts, preparing low-income students for postsecondary education, managing online systems, and teaching financial literacy.(5)A demonstration that the eligible entity has sufficient resources to provide an initial deposit into the college savings account portion of each American Dream Account.(6)A description of how the eligible entity will help increase the value of the college savings account portion of each American Dream Account, such as by providing matching funds or incentives for academic achievement.(7)A description of how the eligible entity will notify each participating student in the group described in paragraph (1), on a semiannual basis, of the current balance and status of the college savings account portion of the American Dream Account of the student.(8)A plan that describes how the eligible entity will monitor participating students in the group described in paragraph (1) to ensure that the American Dream Account of each student will be maintained if a student in such group changes schools before graduating from secondary school.(9)A plan that describes how the American Dream Accounts will be managed for not less than 1 year after a majority of the students in the group described in paragraph (1) graduate from secondary school.(10)A description of how the eligible entity will encourage students in the group described in paragraph (1) who fail to graduate from secondary school to continue their education.(11)A description of how the eligible entity will evaluate the grant program, including by collecting, as applicable, the following data about the students in the group described in paragraph (1) during the grant period, or until the time of graduation from a secondary school, whichever comes first, and, if sufficient grant funds are available, after the grant period:(A)Attendance rates.(B)Progress reports.(C)Grades and course selections.(D)The student graduation rate, as defined in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(vi) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(C)(vi)).(E)Rates of student completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090).(F)Rates of enrollment in an institution of higher education.(G)Rates of completion at an institution of higher education.(12)A description of what will happen to the funds in the college savings account portion of the American Dream Accounts that are dedicated to participating students described in paragraph (1) who have not matriculated at an institution of higher education at the time of the conclusion of the period of American Dream Account management described in paragraph (9), including how the eligible entity will give students this information.(13)A description of how the eligible entity will ensure that participating students described in paragraph (1) will have access to the Internet.(14)A description of how the eligible entity will take into consideration how funds in the college savings account portion of American Dream Accounts will affect participating families' eligibility for public assistance.(c)PriorityIn awarding grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give priority to applications from eligible entities that—(1)are described in subparagraph (G) or (H) of section 3(7);(2)serve the largest number of low-income students;(3)in the case of an eligible entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 3(7), provide opportunities for participating students described in subsection (b)(1) to participate in a dual or concurrent enrollment program or early college high school program at no cost to the student or the student's family; or(4)as of the time of application, have been awarded a grant under chapter 2 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–21 et seq.) (commonly referred to as the GEAR UP program).6.Authorized activities(a)In GeneralAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall use such grant funds to establish an American Dream Account for each participating student described in section 5(b)(1), that will be used to—(1)open a college savings account for such student;(2)monitor the progress of such student online, which—(A)shall include monitoring student data relating to—(i)grades and course selections;(ii)progress reports; and(iii)attendance and disciplinary records; and(B)may also include monitoring student data relating to a broad range of information, provided by teachers and family members, related to postsecondary education readiness, access, and completion;(3)provide opportunities for such students, either online or in person, to learn about financial literacy, including by—(A)assisting such students in financial planning for enrollment in an institution of higher education;(B)assisting such students in identifying and applying for financial aid (such as loans, grants, and scholarships) for an institution of higher education; and(C)enhancing student understanding of consumer, economic, and personal finance concepts;(4)provide opportunities for such students, either online or in person, to learn about preparing for enrollment in an institution of higher education, including by providing instruction to students about—(A)choosing the appropriate courses to prepare for postsecondary education;(B)applying to an institution of higher education;(C)building a student portfolio, which may be used when applying to an institution of higher education;(D)selecting an institution of higher education;(E)choosing a major for the student's postsecondary program of education or a career path; and(F)adapting to life at an institution of higher education; and(5)provide opportunities for such students, either online or in person, to identify skills or interests, including career interests.(b)Access to American Dream Account(1)In generalSubject to paragraphs (3) and (4), and in accordance with applicable Federal laws and regulations relating to privacy of information and the privacy of children, an eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall allow vested stakeholders, as described in paragraph (2), to have secure access, through an Internet website, to an American Dream Account.(2)Vested stakeholdersThe vested stakeholders that an eligible entity shall permit to access an American Dream Account are individuals (such as the student's teachers, school counselors, school administrators, or other individuals) that are designated, in accordance with section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g, commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974), by the parent of a participating student in whose name such American Dream Account is held, as having permission to access the account. A student's parent may withdraw such designation from an individual at any time.(3)Exception for college savings accountAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall not be required to give vested stakeholders, as described in paragraph (2), access to the college savings account portion of a student's American Dream Account.(4)Adult studentsNotwithstanding paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), if a participating student is age 18 or older, an eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall not provide access to such participating student's American Dream Account without the student's consent, in accordance with section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g, commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974).(5)Input of student informationStudent data collected pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(A) shall be entered into an American Dream Account only by a school administrator or the designee of such administrator.(c)Prohibition on use of student informationAn eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall not use any student-level information or data for the purpose of soliciting, advertising, or marketing any financial or non-financial consumer product or service that is offered by such eligible entity, or on behalf of any other person.(d)Prohibition on the use of grant fundsAn eligible entity shall not use grant funds provided under this Act to provide the initial deposit into a college savings account portion of a student's American Dream Account.7.Reports and evaluations(a)In generalNot later than 1 year after the Secretary has disbursed grants under this Act, and annually thereafter until each grant disbursed under this Act has ended, the Secretary shall prepare and submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress, which shall include an evaluation of the effectiveness of the grant program established under this Act.(b)ContentsThe report described in subsection (a) shall—(1)list the grants that have been awarded under section 4(a);(2)include the number of students who have an American Dream Account established through a grant awarded under section 4(a);(3)provide data (including the interest accrued on college savings accounts that are part of an American Dream Account) in the aggregate, regarding students who have an American Dream Account established through a grant awarded under section 4(a), as compared to similarly situated students who do not have an American Dream Account;(4)identify best practices developed by the eligible entities receiving grants under this Act;(5)identify any issues related to student privacy and stakeholder accessibility to American Dream Accounts;(6)provide feedback from participating students and the parents of such students about the grant program, including—(A)the impact of the program;(B)aspects of the program that are successful;(C)aspects of the program that are not successful; and(D)any other data required by the Secretary; and(7)provide recommendations for expanding the American Dream Accounts program.8.Eligibility to receive Federal student financial aidNotwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds that are in the college savings account portion of a student's American Dream Account shall not affect such student's eligibility to receive Federal student financial aid, including any Federal student financial aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), and shall not be considered in determining the amount of any such Federal student aid.9.Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.


115 HCON 17 IH: Honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 108th anniversary.
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-02-01
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.

IV115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. CON. RES. 17IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 1, 2017Mr. Al Green of Texas (for himself, Ms. Adams, Ms. Bass, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Brown of Maryland, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Clay, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Evans, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Hastings, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Jeffries, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mrs. Lawrence, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Lee, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. McEachin, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Moore, Ms. Norton, Mr. Payne, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Richmond, Mr. Rush, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. Sewell of Alabama, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Veasey, Ms. Maxine Waters of California, Mrs. Watson Coleman, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryCONCURRENT RESOLUTIONHonoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the
			 occasion of its 108th anniversary.

 Whereas the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), originally known as the National Negro Committee, was founded in New York City on February 12, 1909, the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, by a multiracial group of activists who met in a national conference to discuss the civil and political rights of African-Americans;
 Whereas the multiracial founders of the NAACP were a distinguished group of leaders in the struggle for human rights, including Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. DuBois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villard, and William English Walling;
 Whereas the NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United States; Whereas the NAACP National Headquarters is located in Baltimore, Maryland;
 Whereas the mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination;
 Whereas the NAACP is committed to achieving its goals through nonviolence; Whereas the NAACP advances its mission through reliance upon peaceful protest, the petition, the ballot, and the courts, and has been persistent in the use of legal and moral persuasion, even in the face of overt and violent racial hostility;
 Whereas the NAACP has used political pressure, marches, demonstrations, and effective lobbying to serve as the voice, as well as the shield, for minorities in the United States;
 Whereas after years of fighting segregation in public schools, the NAACP, under the leadership of Special Counsel Thurgood Marshall, won one of its greatest legal victories in the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954);
 Whereas in 1955, NAACP member Rosa Parks was arrested and fined for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, an act of courage that would serve as the catalyst for the largest grassroots civil rights movement in the history of the United States;
 Whereas the NAACP was prominent in lobbying for the passage of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, and 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, César E. Chávez, Barbara C. Jordan, William C. Velásquez, and Dr. Hector P. Garcia Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006, and the Fair Housing Act, laws that ensured Government protection for legal victories achieved;
 Whereas in 2005, the NAACP launched the Disaster Relief Fund to help hurricane survivors in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Florida, and Alabama to rebuild their lives;
 Whereas in the 110th Congress, the NAACP was prominent in lobbying for the passage of H. Res. 826, whose resolved clause expresses that the hanging of nooses is a horrible act when used for the purpose of intimidation and which under certain circumstances can be criminal, this conduct should be investigated thoroughly by Federal authorities, and any criminal violations should be vigorously prosecuted;
 Whereas in 2008, the NAACP vigorously supported the passage of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007, a law that puts additional Federal resources into solving the heinous crimes that occurred in the early days of the civil rights struggle that remain unsolved and bringing those who perpetrated such crimes to justice;
 Whereas the NAACP has helped usher in the new millennium by charting a bold course, beginning with the appointment of the organization’s youngest President and Chief Executive Officer, Benjamin Todd Jealous, and its youngest female Board Chair, Roslyn M. Brock;
 Whereas under their leadership, the NAACP has outlined a strategic plan to confront 21st century challenges in the critical areas of health, education, housing, criminal justice, and environment;
 Whereas, on July 16, 2009, the NAACP celebrated its centennial anniversary in New York City, highlighting an extraordinary century of Bold Dreams, Big Victories with a historic address from the first African-American President of the United States, Barack Obama;
 Whereas, as an advocate for sentencing reform, the NAACP applauded the passage of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–220; 124 Stat. 2372), a landmark piece of legislation that reduces the quantity of crack cocaine that triggers a mandatory minimum sentence for a Federal conviction of crack cocaine distribution from 100 times that of people convicted of distributing the drug in powdered form to 18 times that sentence;
 Whereas in 2011, the NAACP led the charge to defend the constitutional right to vote and to protect that right for all citizens of the United States, whether they be seniors, young voters, the poor, or from minority communities;
 Whereas in 2013, the NAACP signed a historic Memorandum of Agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to put mechanisms in place to ensure that the needs of underrepresented communities are more fully integrated into future plans for disaster preparedness;
 Whereas in 2014, the NAACP was a leader in the effort to strengthen the Voting Rights Act and protect the principle of one person, one vote;
 Whereas in 2014, the NAACP released its groundbreaking report Born Suspect on racial profiling by law enforcement in the United States, which highlighted the problem of racial profiling experienced by individuals of color and communities of color; and
 Whereas in 2016, the NAACP led the charge in raising awareness about and challenging voter suppression laws in Federal court across the Nation: Now, therefore, be it

 That— 1.Short titleThis resolution may be cited as the Original NAACP Resolution of 2017.
 2.Honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleCongress— (1)recognizes the 108th anniversary of the historic founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and
 (2)honors and praises the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its anniversary for its work to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic rights of all persons.


		I
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 572
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			January 15, 2009
			Mr. Ellsworth (for
			 himself and Mr. Towns) introduced the
			 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
			 Reform

		A BILL
		To prohibit the awarding of a contract or grant in excess
		  of the simplified acquisition threshold unless the prospective contractor or
		  grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that
		  the contractor or grantee has no seriously delinquent tax debts, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Contracting and Tax Accountability Act
			 of 2009.
		2.Governmental
			 policyIt is the policy of the
			 United States Government that no Government contracts or grants should be
			 awarded to individuals or companies with seriously delinquent Federal tax
			 debts.
		3.Prohibition on
			 awarding of contracts to delinquent Federal debtorsSection 3720B of title 31, United States
			 Code, is amended—
			(1)in the section
			 heading, by adding at the end or contracts;
			(2)by adding at the
			 end the following:

					(c)(1)Unless this subsection is waived by the
				head of a Federal agency, a person who has a seriously delinquent tax debt
				shall be proposed for debarment from any contract awarded by the Federal
				Government.
						(2)The head of any Federal agency that
				issues an invitation for bids or a request for proposals for a contract in an
				amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (as defined in section
				4(11) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 401(11)) shall
				require each person that submits a bid or proposal to submit with the bid or
				proposal a form—
							(A)certifying that the person does not
				have a seriously delinquent tax debt; and
							(B)authorizing the Secretary of the
				Treasury to disclose to the head of the agency information limited to
				describing whether the person has a seriously delinquent tax debt.
							(3)The Secretary shall make available to
				all Federal agencies a standard form for the certification and authorization
				described in paragraph (2).
						(4)Not later than 270 days after the
				date of enactment of this subsection, the Federal Acquisition Regulation shall
				be revised to incorporate the requirements of this subsection.
						(5)For purposes of this
				subsection:
							(A)The term contract means a
				binding agreement entered into by a Federal agency for the purpose of obtaining
				property or services, but does not include—
								(i)a contract designated by the head
				of the agency as assisting the agency in the performance of disaster relief
				authorities; or
								(ii)a contract designated by the head
				of the agency as necessary to the national security of the United
				States.
								(B)(i)The term
				person includes—
									(I)an individual;
									(II)a partnership; and
									(III)a corporation.
									(ii)A partnership shall be treated as a
				person with a seriously delinquent tax debt if such partnership has a partner
				who—
									(I)holds an ownership interest of 50
				percent or more in that partnership; and
									(II)who has a seriously delinquent tax
				debt.
									(iii)A corporation shall be treated as a
				person with a seriously delinquent tax debt if such corporation has an officer
				or a shareholder who—
									(I)holds 50 percent or more, or a
				controlling interest that is less than 50 percent, of the outstanding shares of
				corporate stock in that corporation; and
									(II)who has a seriously delinquent tax
				debt.
									(C)(i)The term seriously
				delinquent tax debt means an outstanding debt under the Internal Revenue
				Code of 1986 for which a notice of lien has been filed in public records
				pursuant to section 6323 of such Code.
								(ii)Such term does not include—
									(I)a debt that is being paid in a
				timely manner pursuant to an agreement under section 6159 or section 7122 of
				such Code; and
									(II)a debt with respect to which a
				collection due process hearing under section 6330 of such Code, or relief under
				subsection (a), (b), or (f) of section 6015 of such Code, is requested or
				pending.
									.
			4.Prohibition on
			 awarding of grants to delinquent Federal debtors
			(a)In
			 generalThe head of any Executive agency that offers a grant in
			 excess of an amount equal to the simplified acquisition threshold (as defined
			 in section 4(11) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C.
			 401(11)) may not award such grant to any person unless such person submits with
			 the application for such grant a form—
				(1)certifying that
			 the person does not have a seriously delinquent tax debt; and
				(2)authorizing the
			 Secretary of the Treasury to disclose to the head of the Executive agency
			 information limited to describing whether the person has a seriously delinquent
			 tax debt.
				(b)Release of
			 informationThe Secretary shall make available to all Executive
			 agencies a standard form for the certification and authorization described in
			 subsection (a)(2).
			(c)Revision of
			 regulationsNot later than 270 days after the date of the
			 enactment of this section, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
			 shall revise such regulations as necessary to incorporate the requirements of
			 this section.
			(d)Definitions and
			 special rulesFor purposes of this section:
				(1)Person
					(A)In
			 generalThe term person includes—
						(i)an
			 individual;
						(ii)a
			 partnership; and
						(iii)a
			 corporation.
						(B)Treatment of
			 certain partnershipsA partnership shall be treated as a person
			 with a seriously delinquent tax debt if such partnership has a partner
			 who—
						(i)holds an ownership
			 interest of 50 percent or more in that partnership; and
						(ii)who
			 has a seriously delinquent tax debt.
						(C)Treatment of
			 certain corporationsA corporation shall be treated as a person
			 with a seriously delinquent tax debt if such corporation has an officer or a
			 shareholder who—
						(i)holds
			 50 percent or more, or a controlling interest that is less than 50 percent, of
			 the outstanding shares of corporate stock in that corporation; and
						(ii)who
			 has a seriously delinquent tax debt.
						(2)Executive
			 agencyThe term executive agency has the meaning
			 given such term in section 4 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act
			 (41 U.S.C. 403).
				(3)Seriously
			 delinquent tax debt
					(A)In
			 generalThe term seriously delinquent tax debt means
			 an outstanding debt under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for which a notice
			 of lien has been filed in public records pursuant to section 6323 of such
			 Code.
					(B)ExceptionsSuch
			 term does not include—
						(i)a debt that is
			 being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement under section 6159 or
			 section 7122 of such Code; and
						(ii)a debt with respect to which a collection
			 due process hearing under section 6330 of such Code, or relief under subsection
			 (a), (b), or (f) of section 6015 of such Code, is requested or pending.


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1736
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			October 1, 2009
			Mr. Lautenberg (for
			 himself, Mr. Brownback,
			 Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Landrieu, Mr.
			 Menendez, Mr. Feingold,
			 Mr. Schumer, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr.
			 Reid) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
			 referred to the Committee on the
			 Judiciary

		A BILL
		To provide the spouses and children of aliens who
		  perished in the September 11 terrorist attacks an opportunity to adjust their
		  status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
		  residence.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 September 11 Family Humanitarian
			 Relief and Patriotism Act of 2009.
		2.Adjustment of
			 status for certain victims of terrorism
			(a)Adjustment of
			 statusThe status of any
			 alien described in subsection (b) may be adjusted by the Secretary of Homeland
			 Security to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, if the
			 alien—
				(1)applies for such adjustment not later than
			 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act;
				(2)is not inadmissible to the United States
			 under paragraph (2) or (3) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality
			 Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)), or deportable under paragraph (2) or (4) of section
			 237(a) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)); and
				(3)not later than the date on which the
			 application under paragraph (1) is submitted, satisfies any applicable Federal
			 tax liability by establishing that—
					(A)no such tax
			 liability exists; or
					(B)all outstanding
			 liabilities have been paid.
					(b)Aliens eligible
			 for adjustment of status
				(1)In
			 generalThe benefit provided under subsection (a) shall apply to
			 any alien who—
					(A)was, on September
			 10, 2001, the spouse, child, unmarried son, or unmarried daughter of an alien
			 who died as a direct result of the terrorist activity conducted against the
			 United States on September 11, 2001;
					(B)was deemed to be a beneficiary of, and by,
			 the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 (49 U.S.C. 40101);
			 and
					(C)made a proffer of information to the
			 Secretary of Homeland Security between April 24, 2008, and August 15, 2008, in
			 connection with a request for immigration relief.
					(2)ExceptionAn alien shall not be provided any benefit
			 under this section if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that the
			 alien has willfully made a material misrepresentation or material omission in
			 the proffer of information described in paragraph (1)(C).
				(c)Work
			 authorizationThe Secretary
			 of Homeland Security may authorize an alien who has applied for adjustment of
			 status under subsection (a) to engage in employment in the United States during
			 the pendency of such application.
			(d)ConstructionNothing in this section shall be construed
			 to limit the existing authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security on the
			 date of the enactment of this Act to require any form or other submission of
			 information or to perform any background or security check for the purpose of
			 determining the admissibility, or eligibility under this section, of any
			 alien.
			(e)Waiver of
			 regulationsNot later than 6
			 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland
			 Security shall issue guidance to carry out this section. The Secretary shall
			 not be required to promulgate regulations before implementing this
			 section.
			(f)No offset in
			 number of visas availableAt
			 the time an alien is granted the status of having been lawfully admitted for
			 permanent residence under this section, the Secretary of State shall not be
			 required to reduce the number of immigrant visas authorized to be issued under
			 title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
			(g)Definitions
				(1)Applicable
			 Federal tax liability definedIn this section, the term applicable
			 Federal tax liability means liability for Federal taxes, including
			 penalties and interest, owed for any year for which the statutory period for
			 assessment of any deficiency for such taxes has not expired.
				(2)Incorporation by
			 referenceExcept as otherwise
			 specifically provided in this section, the definitions used in the Immigration
			 and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) (excluding the definitions
			 applicable exclusively to title III of such Act) shall apply in the
			 administration of this section.


 HR 4240 ENR: To designate the facility of the United

U.S. House of Representatives
0
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
		One Hundred Tenth Congress of the United States of
		  America
		At the Second SessionBegun and held
		at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand
		and eight
		H. R. 4240

		AN ACT
		To designate the facility of the United
		  States Postal Service located at 10799 West Alameda Avenue in Lakewood,
		  Colorado, as the Felix Sparks Post Office
		  Building.

		1.Felix Sparks Post Office
			 Building
			(a)DesignationThe facility of the United States Postal
			 Service located at 10799 West Alameda Avenue in Lakewood, Colorado, shall be
			 known and designated as the Felix Sparks Post Office
			 Building.
			(b)ReferencesAny reference in a law, map, regulation,
			 document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred
			 to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the Felix
			 Sparks Post Office Building.

			Speaker of the House of Representatives.

			Vice President of the United States and President of the
			 Senate.