zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
This bill directs the Department of State to: (1) develop a strategy to obtain membership status for India in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, including participation in related meetings, working groups, activities, and mechanisms; and (2) urge APEC member states to support India's membership.

Date: 2016-04-27
Topic: Foreign Trade (Trade Agreements)
Subject: International affairs
This bill authorizes the President to extend nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of Kazakhstan.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Foreign Trade (Trade Agreements)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
One Strike and You're Out! Act of 2007 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to exempt a tenant in public housing or housing assisted under the section 8 rental assistance program from the eviction for criminal or drug-related criminal activity provisions if such activity was engaged in by a member under the tenant's control and the tenant: (1) is elderly or disabled; (2) did not know and should not have known of the activity; or (3) the tenant or member of household was the victim of the criminal activity. Requires public housing agencies to report annually on the number of such evictions.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Housing and community development
Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 50 percent of the costs of reducing lead hazards in U.S. homes built before 1960 in which certain low-income children less than six years of age and women of child-bearing age reside. Allows a maximum credit of $3,000 for lead abatement costs and $1,000 for the cost of interim lead control measures.

Date: 2007-10-22
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Taxation
Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2008 - Amends the Housing Act of 1959 regarding project rental assistance for supportive housing for the elderly. Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to adjust the annual amount of a contract for project rental assistance to provide for reasonable project costs. Directs the Secretary to delegate review and processing of selected capital advance projects to a state or local housing agency meeting specified criteria. States that owner deposits shall be used only to cover operating deficits during the first three years of operations and shall not be used to cover construction shortfalls or inadequate initial project rental assistance amounts. Allows a national private nonprofit organization that owns multiple housing projects assisted under such Act to satisfy the local governing board requirement by having a local advisory board to its national governing board. Requires the Secretary to permit an owner of assisted housing to give a preference in tenant selection to the homeless elderly. Amends the American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000 to revise requirements governing: (1) prepayment of debt for project-based rental housing assistance programs; (2) use of unexpended amounts; and (3) use of project residual receipts. Sets forth requirements governing senior preservation rental assistance contracts in order to: (1) prevent displacement of elderly project residents in the case of refinancing or recapitalization; and (2) further project preservation and affordability. Directs the Secretary to carry out a demonstration program to sell to state housing finance agencies portfolios of mortgages associated with loans related to supportive housing for the elderly. Expands the definition of assisted living facility with respect to grants for conversion of elderly housing to such facilities. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 with respect to rental assistance on behalf of a family that uses an assisted living facility as a principal place of residence. Provides that a family may be required at the time it initially receives such assistance to pay rent in an amount exceeding 40% of its monthly adjusted income. Prohibits the Secretary from imposing conditions that restrict the use of sale or refinancing proceeds, or require the filing of a financial report, in connection with a sale or refinancing of a multifamily housing project, or the transfer of an assistance contract on such a property, that requires HUD approval unless such condition is: (1) expressly authorized by an existing contract between the Secretary and the project owner; or (2) a general condition for new financing with a mortgage insured by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to establish and operate a national senior housing clearinghouse.

Date: 2008-03-07
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Housing and community development
Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2008 - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (the Act) to revise requirements for supportive housing for persons with disabilities. (Retains authority to provide such assistance to private nonprofit organizations to expand the supply of such housing.) Repeals the authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide tenant-based rental assistance directly to eligible persons with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations for such assistance under section 8 (rental voucher program) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 for persons with disabilities in FY2009. Modifies project rental assistance contract requirements, including renewal of, and increases in, annual contract amounts. Requires initial contracts with the sponsor of a project assisted with any low-income housing tax credit or with any tax-exempt housing bonds to have an initial term of up to 360 months and to provide funding for 60 months. Revises the requirement that all units in housing assisted by capital advances and project rental assistance contracts be made available for occupancy by very low-income persons with disabilities for at least 40 years. Requires the Secretary, within 30 days of issuing certain capital advances for multifamily projects (except group homes or independent living facilities), to delegate review and processing of such projects to a state or local housing agency meeting specified criteria. Revises tenant selection procedures. Requires a lease between a tenant and a housing owner to be for at least one year. Revises the application of cost limitations developed by the Secretary to supportive housing. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such limitations. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish a minimum percentage of capital advances per fiscal year for multifamily projects; and (2) carry out a project rental assistance competitive demonstration program to expand the supply of supportive housing for non-elderly adults with disabilities and with extremely low-incomes or for extremely low-income households that include at least one disabled person. Requires the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the program's adequacy and effectiveness in assisting households of persons with disabilities.

Date: 2008-09-25
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Housing and community development
Home Energy Assistance Targeted for Seniors Act - Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to rename it the Low-Income and Senior Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981. Redefines low-income households as households with incomes which do not exceed that of state median income, with at least 50% of the household income attributable to persons who are at least 65 years old.

Date: 2009-02-23
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Energy
Establishes in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) a program to provide up to five grants, on a need and competitive basis, to eligible nonprofit organizations for start-up and ongoing operational costs associated with providing specialized housing and social services for qualified relatives, age 65 or older, who are raising a child of which they are not a parent either by blood or marriage.

Date: 2011-09-15
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Housing and community development
Senior Veterans Housing Assistance Act of 2011 - Allows an occupancy preference for very low-income elderly veterans in dwelling units in any supportive housing project for the elderly that: (1) is provided assistance by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and (2) is, or would be located on, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) property or is subject to a VA enhanced use lease.

Date: 2011-12-01
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Housing and community development
Elder Care Tax Credit Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the tax credit for dependent care expenses for parents (or ancestors of such parents) of the taxpayer who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care, regardless of whether such a parent has the same principal place of abode as the taxpayer for more than one-half of the taxable year.

Date: 2012-01-24
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Taxation
Home-Based Health Services Training and Employment Act of 2012 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a pilot program to make grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the training of public housing residents as home health aides and providers of home-based health services to enable them to provide covered home-based health services (i.e., services for which medical assistance is available under a state Medicaid plan or for which financial assistance is available under this Act) to residents of: (1) public housing who are elderly, disabled, or both; and (2) federally-assisted rental housing who are elderly,disabled, or both, subject to criteria that the Secretary may establish. Authorizes the use of grant funds: (1) to establish or maintain and carry out a program to train public housing residents to provide covered home-based health care services to elderly and disabled public housing residents and to elderly and disabled residents of federally-assisted rental housing, (2) for the transportation and child care expenses of public housing residents in training, and (3) for the administrative expenses of carrying out such a program.Provides that for any resident of public housing who is trained as a home health aide or as a provider of home-based health services under the program, any income received for providing covered home-based health services shall apply towards eligibility for benefits under federal housing programs as specified, based on length of time following completion of the training.

Date: 2012-03-20
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Housing and community development
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the low-income housing tax credit, to qualify for such credit low-income housing units that are available to individuals who have attained the age of 62 and whose incomes are 140% or less of the income limitation required for occupants of such housing units.

Date: 2012-08-02
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Taxation
Shelter Our Servicemembers Act - Directs the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to jointly establish a two-year pilot program of grants to nonprofit organizations to provide elderly homeless veterans with non-transitional housing. Authorizes the Secretaries to award two grants of up to $25 million each under the program. Allows recipients to use such grant to: (1) purchase real property to provide up to 200 homeless veterans with non-transitional housing, and (2) refurbish or renovate such property.

Makes eligible for such housing veterans of at least 55 years of age who: (1) have been continuously homeless for a year or more or, during the last three years, had at least four separate periods of living on the streets, in an emergency shelter, or a combination thereof; and (2) have a condition that limits their ability to work or perform activities of daily living. Directs the VA Secretary to provide case management for elderly veterans receiving such assistance.

Date: 2013-04-24
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Generational Residences and Nurturing Dwellings Act or GRAND Act - Establishes in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) a program to provide need-based assistance for each fiscal year, made available on a competitive basis, to up to five eligible nonprofit organizations to expand the supply of specialized housing and social services for qualified elderly relatives, age 60 or older, who are raising a child of which they are not a parent either by blood or marriage.

Provides such assistance in the form of:

 financing for the construction, reconstruction, moderate or substantial rehabilitation, or acquisition of a structure or a portion of a structure to be used as specialized housing in accordance with the program; tenant-based rental (voucher) assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937 for use only by qualified relatives who are raising a child and are eligible for such assistance for rental of a dwelling unit that qualifies as specialized housing; elderly housing project rental assistance under the Housing Act of 1959 in connection with dwelling units that qualify as specialized housing and are made available for occupancy only by qualified relatives who are raising a child and are eligible for occupancy in such housing; and help with ongoing operational expenses of any specialized housing, including costs of supportive services required for such housing.

Date: 2013-11-14
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Housing and community development
This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a rental assistance and supportive housing program, in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), for the benefit of Indian veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness and who are residing on or near Indian areas.

 Rental assistance shall be: (1) made available to recipients eligible for housing assistance block grants under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996; and (2) awarded based on need, administrative capacity, and any other HUD funding criteria.

Date: 2015-11-10
Topic: Housing (Elderly)
Subject: Housing and community development
Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish the Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Program under which scholars and secondary, undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries (excluding countries with observer status or that support international terrorism) would attend U.S. schools or universities, participate in activities designed to promote a greater understanding of U.S. values and culture. Sets forth program elements. Directs the Secretary to monitor the program's effectiveness. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should work with CARICOM countries to establish an educational exchange program under which U.S. secondary and higher education students study in CARICOM countries. (Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to establish a program to provide educational development assistance for CARICOM countries by: (1) enhancing teacher training; (2) strengthening curriculum and instructional materials; and (3) assisting improvements in school management and public administration of education. Directs the Secretary to monitor the program's effectiveness. (Sec. 6) States that to the maximum extent possible the programs under this Act should be implemented through private funding and through partnerships with appropriate U.S. organizations, institutions, and corporations. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees on implementing plans for such programs. (Sec. 8) Authorizes FY2008-FY2012 appropriations.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
United Nations Voting Accountability Act of 2007 - Prohibits providing U.S. assistance (as defined by this Act) to a country that opposed the U.S. position in the United Nations. Authorizes the Secretary of State to (temporarily) exempt a country from such prohibition if since the beginning of the most recent session of the General Assembly there has been a fundamental change in the country's leadership and policies so that the country will no longer oppose the U.S. position in the United Nations. Authorizes the President to exempt a country from such prohibition for national security reasons.

Date: 2007-05-24
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act of 2007 or GROWTH Act of 2007 - Targets assistance for women in developing countries with respect to: (1) microenterprises; (2) small and medium enterprises; (3) private property rights and land tenure security; (4) employment access; (5) trade benefits; (6) exchanges with U.S. entrepreneurs; (7) Millennium Challenge Account assistance; and (8) indigenous women's organizations. Directs the Secretary of State to establish the Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive (GROWTH) Fund to enhance economic opportunities for very poor, poor, and low-income women in developing countries with a focus on: (1) increasing women-owned enterprise development; (2) increasing property rights for women; (3) increasing women's access to financial services; (4) increasing women in leadership in implementing organizations, such as indigenous nongovernmental organizations, community-based organizations, and regulated financial intermediaries; (5) improving women's employment benefits and conditions; and (6) increasing women's ability to benefit from global trade.

Date: 2007-07-10
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to prohibit the President from revoking any waiver of the competitive need limitation in effect, on or after June 20, 2007, with respect to an article from a beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of Preferences program unless certain conditions are met.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Social Investment and Economic Development for the Americas Act of 2007 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity in Western Hemisphere countries. Establishes within USAID the Western Hemisphere Economic Investment and Development Advisory Committee which shall: (1) serve as a link among the U.S. government, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and other interested parties; and (2) review projects funded under this Act. Amends the Inter-American Development Bank Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Director at the Bank to use U.S. influence to urge the Bank to establish a Social Investment and Economic Development Fund for the Americas to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the size of the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity in Western Hemisphere countries. Authorizes appropriations for payment to the Inter-American Development Bank of arrears owed by the United States to the Multilateral Investment Fund.

Date: 2007-09-27
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
New Partnership for Development Act of 2007 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the President to provide for the duty-free treatment of articles (without quantitative limitation) from qualified beneficiary countries that have been designated: (1) a least developed country (except Myanmar and Sudan); and (2) a sub-Saharan African country. (Effectively, providing an additional trade preference program for least developed countries.) Prohibits designation of a country as a qualified beneficiary country, and terminates such country's eligibility for preferential treatment, if it has: (1) not adopted and enforced certain human rights and fair labor practices; (2) failed to make progress to eliminate trade barriers and to establish a market-based economy and the rule of law; and (3) engaged in gross violations of internationally-recognized human rights. Prescribes requirements regarding: (1) rules of origin; (2) significant apparel suppliers; and (3) safeguards against the transshipment of textiles and apparels. Imposes additional duties, under specified conditions, on certain agricultural safeguard goods. Expresses the sense of Congress: (1) concerning the importance of the Generalized System of Preferences program; and (2) that preferential treatment provided under this Act can be improved if India, the People's Republic of China, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries provide market access similar to that provided under this Act. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to establish: (1) an Office of Trade and Competitiveness for Least Developed Countries within the U.S. Agency for International Development; and (2) a workforce competitiveness program for least developed countries. Establishes an Aid for Trade Fund.

Date: 2007-10-18
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the International Development Association Act to authorize U.S. participation in, and authorizations of appropriations for, U.S. contributions to: (1) the 15th replenishment of the resources of the International Development Association; and (2) the 11th replenishment of the resources of the African Development Fund.

Date: 2008-06-19
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to contribute to a Fund to promote accelerated deployment in developing countries of technologies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Requires that such Fund be established and administered by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). Amends the the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary to seek to ensure that each multilateral development bank adopts and implements greenhouse gas accounting in analyzing the benefits and costs of all projects for which bank funding is sought.

Date: 2008-06-19
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Stop Very Unscrupulous Loan Transfers from Underprivileged Countries to Rich, Exploitive Funds Act or the Stop VULTURE Funds Act - Prohibits: (1) any U.S. person from engaging in sovereign debt profiteering, or any person engaging in sovereign debt profiteering in the United States; and (2) any U.S. court from issuing a summons, subpoena, writ, judgment, attachment, or execution in aid of a claim which would further sovereign debt profiteering. Sets forth: (1) required court disclosures in actions involving collection of sovereign debt; and (2) related responsibilities of the Secretary of the Treasury.

Date: 2008-08-01
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Microfinance Capacity-Building Act of 2008 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide grants to eligible private non-profit microfinance institution networks that provide direct financial services (including credit, savings, insurance, remittances and cash transfers) to the poor and very poor in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries.

Date: 2008-09-18
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to contribute to a Clean Technology Fund to promote accelerated deployment in developing countries of technologies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Requires that such Fund be established and administered by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).Prohibits the Fund from providing more than approximately 15% of Fund resources to any one country. Sets forth requirements for a country to be eligible for support from the Fund, which shall be used to cover the incremental costs of deploying clean energy technologies that result in substantial and additional reductions from baseline greenhouse gas emissions.Prohibits the Fund from providing support for any new coal-fired electricity generation facility unless certain requirements are met.Requires transparency in all aspects of the governance of the Fund.Directs the Secretary to: (1) direct the U.S. representative to oppose any proposal that would result in the Fund failing to meet the requirements of this Act; (2) encourage all the multilateral development banks to apply environmental assessment procedures in their consideration of Fund proposals; and (3) ensure that the Fund complements the International Clean Energy Foundation.Amends the the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary to seek to ensure that multilateral development banks: (1) adopt and implement greenhouse gas accounting in analyzing the benefits and costs of all projects for which bank funding is sought; and (2) expand their activities supporting climate change mitigation.

Date: 2008-09-26
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Millennium Challenge Compact Improvement Act (MCIA) - Amends the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 to authorize under specified circumstances: (1) Millennium Challenge Compacts in excess of five years; and (2) concurrent Compacts. States that assistance may be provided through a Compact with a country individually and/or through a Compact with two or more countries in the same geographic region collectively. Sets forth provisions regarding suspension or termination of regional Compacts.

Date: 2008-09-26
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
International Emergency Economic Powers Enhancement Act - Amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to increase: (1) the civil penalty for violations of such Act from $50,000 to the greater of $250,000 or twice the amount of the transaction that is the basis of the violation; and (2) the criminal penalty from $50,000 to up to $1 million.

Date: 2007-06-13
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act of 2007 or GROWTH Act of 2007 - Targets assistance for women in developing countries with respect to: (1) microenterprises; (2) small and medium enterprises; (3) private property rights and land tenure security; (4) employment access; (5) trade benefits; (6) exchanges with U.S. entrepreneurs; (7) Millennium Challenge Account assistance; and (8) indigenous women's organizations. Directs the Secretary of State to establish the Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive (GROWTH) Fund to enhance economic opportunities for very poor, poor, and low-income women in developing countries with a focus on: (1) increasing women-owned enterprise development; (2) increasing property rights for women; (3) increasing women's access to financial services; (4) increasing women in leadership in implementing organizations, such as indigenous nongovernmental organizations, community-based organizations, and regulated financial intermediaries; (5) improving women's employment benefits and conditions; and (6) increasing women's ability to benefit from global trade.

Date: 2007-09-19
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the African Development Fund Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the Fund to contribute to the 11th replenishment of the resources of the Fund. Authorizes appropriations.

Date: 2008-06-19
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United Nations Human Rights Council should: (1) be a body that upholds the ideals enumerated in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights; (2) allow full participation by Israel in Council operations; and (3) be made up of countries that hold regular democratic elections, permit freedom of expression, and have a credible civil society. Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should not support the Council, and should withhold financial support for the Council until meaningful human rights reforms are carried out. Directs the Secretary of State to withhold from a U.S. contribution to a regularly assessed biennial U.N. budget an amount equal to the percentage of such contribution that the Secretary determines would be allocated by the United Nations to the Council.

Date: 2009-05-12
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Strategy and Effectiveness of Foreign Policy and Assistance Act of 2009 - Directs the President to report to Congress regarding: (1) the organizational structures of the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and other foreign affairs agencies; and (2) the extent to which the organizational structures of such departments and agencies and U.S. foreign assistance programs, budget plans, personnel decisions, and diplomacy are related to long-term U.S. security strategy. Directs the President to take actions necessary to integrate the following offices and bureaus into a single Department office to be known as the Office of Long-Term Planning and Resource Management: (1) the Office of Policy Planning, the Office of Resource Management, and the Office of the Director of Foreign Assistance of the Department of State; and (2) the Bureau of Budget/Performance/Accountability of USAID.

Date: 2009-05-13
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Social Investment and Economic Development for the Americas Act of 2010 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and working with governments and civil society in the Americas (the countries of North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean), to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity. Directs the Secretary of State to establish an advisory group to consider the feasibility of establishing a public-private Fund for Social and Economic Development in the Americas. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) assistance to Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico; (2) debt and equity financing for a Microfinance Growth Fund for the Americas; (3) the Fund for Social and Economic Development in the Americas; and (4) USAID for labor and environmental capacity building activities relating to the implementation of trade promotion agreements.

Date: 2009-12-16
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2009 - Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury, within the Paris Club of Official Creditors, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and other defined international financial institutions, to: (1) provide for debt cancellation of eligible low-income countries to such institutions and to the United States; (2) ensure that the provision of debt cancellation to such countries is not followed by a reduction in the provision of any other development assistance; and (3) encourage such countries' governments to allocate at least 20% of their national budgets towards poverty-alleviation programs. Directs the Secretary to begin efforts to: (1) promote greater transparency within such institutions; (2) establish a responsible lending framework; and (3) ensure that debt cancellation to eligible low-income governments is subject only to specified conditions. Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to: (1) audit the debt portfolios of previous governments in countries such as South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo where there is significant evidence that onerous or illegal loans were made to the government; and (2) report to Congress.

Date: 2009-12-16
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
European Bailout Protection Act - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to: (1) prohibit U.S. loans to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance to any European Union (EU) member state until the ratio of the total outstanding public debt of each member state to its gross domestic product (as of the end of the most recent fiscal year of the member state ending in the preceding calendar year) is not more than 60%; and (2) direct the Secretary of the Treasury to oppose any IMF loans to member states until all member states are in compliance with such debt ratio.

Date: 2010-05-13
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act of 2009 or GROWTH Act of 2009 - Targets assistance for women in developing countries with respect to: (1) microenterprises; (2) small and medium enterprises; (3) private property rights and land tenure security; (4) employment access; (5) trade benefits; (6) exchanges with U.S. entrepreneurs; and (7) Millennium Challenge Account assistance. Directs the Secretary of State to establish the Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive (GROWTH) Fund to enhance economic opportunities for very poor, poor, and low-income women in developing countries with a focus on: (1) increasing women-owned enterprise development; (2) increasing property rights for women; (3) increasing women's access to financial services; (4) increasing women in leadership in implementing organizations as well as financial service providers; (5) improving women's employment benefits and conditions; and (6) increasing women's ability to benefit from global trade. Directs the Secretary, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to: (1) provide support for tracking indicators on women's employment, property rights, access to financial services, and enterprise development; and (2) ensure foreign assistance project proposals include capacity building and technical assistance for local, indigenous, nongovernmental, organizations and community-based organizations dedicated to addressing the needs of women and women's organizations.

Date: 2009-07-09
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to: (1) prohibit U.S. loans to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance to any European Union (EU) member state until the ratio of the total outstanding public debt of each member state to its gross domestic product (as of the end of the most recent fiscal year of the member state ending in the preceding calendar year) is not more than 60%; and (2) direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the IMF to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose any IMF loans to member states until all member states are in compliance with such debt ratio.

Date: 2010-05-18
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to repeal authority to: (1) provide certain loans to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including loans related to the New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB); (2) increase the U.S. quota in the IMF; and (3) approve the sale of IMF gold. Rescinds related appropriations.

Date: 2011-06-23
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Microenterprise Empowerment and Job Creation Act of 2011 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations through FY2016 for: (1) assistance for programs in developing countries to increase the availability of credit, savings, and other services to microfinance and microenterprise clients lacking full access to capital, training, technical assistance, and business development services; and (2) microenterprise development credits. Expands targeted assistance services for such microfinance and microenterprise clients. Reduces the annual fiscal year amount available for the office of microenterprise development's central funding program. Revises targeted assistance requirements for sustainable poverty-focused programs. Sets forth microfinance programs procurement policies.

Date: 2011-07-13
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Supporting Economic and National Security by Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Multilateral Development Banks Act - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act, the Inter-American Development Bank Act, the African Development Bank Act, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Act to authorize the U.S. Governors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, the African Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to vote for specified increases in the capital stock of the respective Banks. Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors at such Banks to initiate discussions to advocate and promote efforts to: (1) require the government of each country receiving adjustment or budget support loans to demonstrate transparent budgetary processes before loan or grant approval, (2) provide greater public disclosure of loan documents of the respective bank, and (3) use technology to make available to the public data about projects carried out using Bank financing as well as about programs of the respective Bank. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors at the respective Banks to initiate discussions in order to advocate and promote efforts to: (1) implement best practices in domestic laws and international conventions against corruption for whistleblower and witness disclosures, as well as protections against retaliation for internal and lawful public disclosures by Bank employees and others affected by Bank operations; and (2) implement specified anti-corruption procedures. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors at the respective Banks to advocate and promote efforts to: (1) maintain strong procurement standards that maintain international competitive bidding for projects funded by the respective Bank; and (2) maximize broad U.S. and international participation in accordance with sound procurement practices, including transparency, broad international competition, established standards and documentation for bidding and bid evaluation, and cost-effective results for the borrowers. Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Inter-American Development Bank to: (1) oppose any loan to the government of Argentina (other than one that serves basic human needs); and (2) initiate discussions with other Executive Directors at the respective Bank to advocate and promote vigorously efforts to encourage Argentina to normalize relations with its official and private creditors and elsewhere in the international community, including in its dealings with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, the Paris Club, the Financial Action Task Force, and the International Monetary Fund.

Date: 2011-10-13
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to direct the President to determine, and report to Congress, whether the Central Bank of Iran has assisted: (1) Iran's development of chemical, biological, nuclear, or ballistic weapons; (2) Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); or (3) a financial institution whose property or property interests are subject to sanctions in connection with Iran's proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or support for international terrorism. Directs the President, if the Bank has engaged in any of such acts, to: (1) prohibit the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent or payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that has knowingly conducted any financial transaction with the Bank; and (2) freeze and prohibit all property and property interest transactions of such institution if the property and property interests are in the United States, come within the United States, or come within the possession or control of a U.S. person. Applies such provisions to: (1) financial transactions begun on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, and (2) financial transactions for petroleum or petroleum product purchases through the Bank begun 180 days or more after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2011-11-16
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to direct the President to: (1) prohibit the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent or payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that has knowingly conducted any financial transaction with the Central Bank of Iran; and (2) freeze and prohibit all property and property interest transactions of such institution if the property and property interests are in the United States, come within the United States, or come within the possession or control of a U.S. person. Prohibits such sanctions' imposition if the transaction was for the sale of food, medicine, or medical devices to Iran. Applies such provisions to: (1) financial transactions begun on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, and (2) financial transactions for petroleum or petroleum product purchases through the Bank begun 180 days or more after the date of the enactment of this Act. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions for reasons of national security.

Date: 2011-11-22
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, upon a determination by the President that it is in the U.S. national interest to support assistance for Burma, to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at any international financial institution to vote in favor of assistance for Burma. Directs the President to provide Congress with written notice of any such determination. Requires that prior to the President making such determination the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury shall consult with Congress regarding assistance for Burma by an international financial institution, and the national interests served by such assistance. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at each international financial institution to not vote in favor of assistance to Burma until at least 15 days have elapsed from the date on which the President has provided Congress with the required notice.

Date: 2012-09-19
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Mekong River Protection Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to oppose the provision of any loan or financial or technical assistance for the construction of hydroelectric dams or electricity transmission systems in the Mekong River Basin unless the Secretary submits a related report providing certain assurances with respect environmental protection, public health, economic effect, and resettlement concerns to Congress. Defines "World Bank" as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association.

Date: 2011-03-09
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Title I: Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund - Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund Act - Authorizes the President to establish or designate a private, nonprofit organization (the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund) to promote: (1) the Egyptian private sector and joint U.S.-Egyptain ventures, (2) good corporate governance and transparency in Egypt, and (3) security through job creation and the creation of an Egyptian middle class. Title II: Tunisian-American Enterprise Fund - Tunisian-American Enterprise Fund Act - Authorizes the President to establish or designate a private, nonprofit organization (the Tunisian-American Enterprise Fund) to promote: (1) the Tunisian private sector and U.S.-Tunisian joint ventures, (2) good corporate governance and transparency in Tunisia, and (3) security through job creation and the creation of a Tunisian middle class. Authorizes the President to make grants to carry out a Fund's purposes provided that the Fund agrees to: (1) end its reinvestment cycle not later than December 31, 2021, unless the Secretary of State determines that the Fund should be extended; (2) ensure that grant funds are not provided to or through any individual, private or government entity, or educational institution that advocates, or engages or has engaged in money laundering or terrorist activity; or (3) return any remaining funds to the the U.S. Treasury to be used to reduce U.S. debt. Sets forth reporting requirements. States that the Funds' Boards of Directors should adopt the best practices and procedures used by Enterprise Funds, including those for which funding has been made available pursuant to the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989.

Date: 2011-03-17
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Foreign-Held Debt Transparency and Threat Assessment Act - Expresses the sense of Congress about the growing federal debt of the United States, the increasing U.S. dependence on foreign creditors like the People's Republic of China, whose holdings could give China a tool with which to manipulate U.S. policymaking (including with respect to Taiwan) and pose a direct threat to the national economy and national security. Directs the President to report quarterly to certain congressional committees on the risks posed by foreign holdings of U.S. debt instruments, and make such report public on the Internet. Directs the President to formulate, report to the appropriate congressional committees, and implement a plan of action to reduce an unsustainable level of risk to an acceptable and sustainable level, in a manner that results in a reduction in federal spending, in any case in which the President makes specified determinations that a foreign country's holdings of U.S. debt instruments pose an unacceptable risk to long-term national security or economic stability of the United States.

Date: 2011-05-19
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance