zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by states or local governments. Directs the Federal Labor Relations Authority (Authority) to determine whether state law provides specified rights and responsibilities for public safety officers, including: (1) granting public safety employees the right to form and join a labor organization which excludes management and supervisory employees, and which is, or seeks to be, recognized as the exclusive bargaining agent for such employees; and (2) requiring public safety employers to recognize and agree to bargain with the employees' labor organization. Requires the Authority to issue in accordance with the public safety employee rights and responsibilities regulations establishing collective bargaining procedures for public safety employers and employees in states that do not substantially provide for such rights and responsibilities. Directs the Authority , in such cases, to: (1) determine the appropriateness of units for labor organization representation; (2) supervise or conduct elections to determine whether a labor organization has been selected as an exclusive representative by a voting majority of the employees in an appropriate unit; (3) resolve issues relating to the duty to bargain in good faith; (4) conduct hearings and resolve complaints of unfair labor practices; and (5) resolve exceptions to arbitrator's awards. Grants a public safety employer, employee, or labor organization the right to seek enforcement of such Authority regulations and orders through appropriate state courts. Prohibits public safety employers, employees, and labor organizations from engaging in lockouts, sickouts, work slowdowns, or strikes. Provides that existing collective bargaining units and agreements shall not be invalidated by this Act.

Date: 2007-10-01
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Citizenship Processing Backlog Reduction Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the application of provisions relating to annuities and pay on reemployment or any similar legal provision under a government retirement system on a case-by-case basis for an annuitant reemployed on a temporary basis if: (1) such waiver is necessary due to an emergency involving a direct threat to life or property or other unusual circumstances; or (2) the annuitant is employed in a position that provides assistance to the Secretary with a substantial backlog of naturalization petitions or assistance for processing petitions filed from January 31-July 30, 2007.Provides that an annuitant as to whom such a waiver is in effect shall not be considered an employee for purposes of any government retirement system.Terminates the Secretary's authority under this Act regarding naturalization petitions on January 1, 2009. Prohibits an annuitant to whom such a waiver applies from being so employed after January 1, 2010.

Date: 2007-12-11
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Immigration
Repeals specified exceptions to rights of certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees to engage in collective bargaining. Requires a final decision of the VA with respect to the review of an adverse personnel action against a VA employee to be issued not later than 60 days after such action has been appealed. Subjects such decision to judicial review in the appropriate U.S. District Court or, if the decision is made by a labor arbitrator, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Date: 2008-04-07
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from taking any administrative action for one year to finalize or otherwise implement provisions contained in the proposed rule published on December 28, 2007, relating to the Department of Appeals Board established in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including provisions allowing the Secretary to review, amend, or reverse Board decisions.

Date: 2008-04-10
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Health
Contractors and Federal Spending Accountability Act of 2008 - Requires the Administrator of General Services to establish and maintain on a General Services Administration (GSA) website for use by officials of all federal agencies a database of information regarding the integrity and performance of persons awarded federal contracts and grants. Requires the database to include information on such persons for the last five years regarding: (1) any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding resulting in payment of a monetary fine, penalty, reimbursement, restitution, damages, or settlement of $5,000 or more to the federal or a state government; and (2) each contract and grant terminated due to default; (3) each suspension and debarment; (4) each federal and state administrative agreement signed in a proceeding that could have led to a criminal conviction or a finding of liability; and (5) each federal determination that such a person is not a responsible source under the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act. Requires disclosure of such information by applicants for grants or contracts exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. Requires the Administrator to require: (1) notification of any covered person when information relevant to the person is entered into the database; and (2) an opportunity for such person to append comments to such information.Requires agency officials to: (1) review such database prior to awarding a contract or grant; and (2) document why a prospective awardee against whom a judgment or conviction for similar offences has been rendered more than once within any three-year period is considered presently responsible. Sets forth the role of the Interagency Committee on Debarment and Suspension, including to: (1) determine the agency responsible for initiating proceedings; (2) facilitate cooperative efforts among agencies in the suspension and debarment system; and (3) report to Congress on improvements to and each agency's activities in such system. Allows federal agencies, commissions, or organizations not currently participating in the federal suspension and debarment system to participate. Requires the Administrator to report to Congress on all databases that include information about federal contracting and grants and on creating a centralized federal contracting and grant database.

Date: 2008-04-24
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
OPEC Accountability Act - Requires the President to initiate consultations with Indonesia, Kuwait, Nigeria, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Saudi Arabia to seek their elimination of any action that: (1) limits the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product; (2) sets or maintains the price of any such product; or (3) otherwise is an action in restraint of trade with respect to such products when such action constitutes an act, policy, or practice that is unjustifiable and burdens and restricts U.S. commerce. Requires the U.S. Trade Representative to: (1) initiate World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute proceedings if the consultation is not successful with respect to any such country; and (2) take appropriate action regarding the country under U.S. trade remedy laws.

Date: 2008-05-06
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 to state that for purposes of alien inadmissibility based upon terrorist-related grounds the African National Congress (ANC) shall not be considered to be a terrorist organization on the basis of any act or event that occurred before the date of enactment of such Act. Authorizes the Secretary of State (after consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security) or the Secretary of Homeland Security (after consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General) to determine, in such Secretary's sole unreviewable discretion, that inadmissibility based upon specified criminal convictions or terrorist activities shall not apply to an alien with respect to activities undertaken in opposition to apartheid rule in South Africa. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security should exercise such authority in appropriate instances to exempt the anti-apartheid activities of aliens who are current or former officials of the government of the Republic of South Africa. Directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of National Intelligence, to ensure that databases used to determine U.S. admissibility are appropriately updated.

Date: 2008-05-06
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: International affairs
Armed Forces Housing Security Act - Increases the maximum loan guaranty amount for certain veterans' housing loans guaranteed through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review and streamline the process for guaranteeing veterans' home loans for the purchase of condominiums. Repeals the veterans' home loan fee. Authorizes the Secretary to provide loans to veterans to refinance loans of up to 100% (currently 90%) of the value of the dwelling or farm residence securing the loan. Allows the VA to guarantee refinanced loans not previously guaranteed by the VA. Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to extend from 90 days to one year after completion of military service the grace period against the sale, foreclosure, or seizure of a defaulted mortgage. Prohibits a member of the Armed Forces from waiving such protection. Specifically applies such protection to members (regular and reserve) serving on active duty as part of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom (covered member), and their dependents. Provides protections against loan owners or insurers for loan servicers who implement qualified loan modifications or workout plans for covered members and their dependents. Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide financial services counseling relating to a mortgage and mortgage foreclosure to a veteran, covered member, and their dependents.

Date: 2008-05-07
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
United States Postal Service Financial Relief Act of 2009 - Reduces the amount the United States Postal Service must pay into the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund by September 30, 2009, from $5.4 billion to $1.4 billion.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2009 or the No FEAR Act of 2009 - Amends the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, or No FEAR Act of 2002, to require a federal agency, after receiving a final finding of discrimination, to arrange with the Department of the Treasury for a two-year schedule for reimbursing the Judgment Fund for its payment to a federal employee, former federal employee, or applicant for federal employment who has prevailed in an anti-discrimination or whistle blower protection complaint.Requires a federal agency to: (1) give written notification of the federal employee rights and protections available to any employee of a contractor receiving more than half of its annual gross revenues from federal contracts; and (2) notify its employees annually of the agency's Internet site.Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report annually to specified congressional and executive entities on the total costs incurred for processing and litigating cases involving prohibited personnel practices.Requires each federal agency to establish performance goals reflective of its efforts to implement such Act.Specifies the No FEAR Institute as a source of training and counseling for federal employees regarding their rights and remedies under antidiscrimination, retaliation, and harassment, as well as whistleblower protection laws.Prescribes disciplinary action an agency must take against a culpable official in: (1) a case in which the official's discriminatory or retaliatory acts have contributed to a loss of life or limb or any other substantial diminishment of an employee's mental or physical health; or (2) other cases of discrimination.Prescribes monetary penalties for each week an agency failed to take action against employees who falsify evidence in a proceeding under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.Requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and any agency that becomes aware of a criminal violation to refer the matter to the Department of Justice for prosecution when agency officials are found liable for intimidating or harassing employees that testify before Congress.Directs the Comptroller General to ensure that a No FEAR Oversight Office is created within GAO.Sets the liability limits for federal workplace discrimination cases under Title VII at $300,000 per each claim or alleged violation.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Stop the Congressional Pay Raise Act - Declares that no automatic pay adjustment shall be considered to have taken effect in FY2010 in the rates of basic pay for Members of Congress under the General Schedule (thus eliminating the pay adjustment for Members for such fiscal year).

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Congress
Congressional Pay Reform Act of 2009 - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to eliminate automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress. Requires the annual rate of pay for Members of Congress to be the rate payable as of the enactment of this Act, until such rate is adjusted following recommendations by the President under the Federal Salary Act of 1967 (or under any other law). Requires any bill or resolution, or its amendment, providing for any increase in such payable rate (other than a pay adjustment recommended by the President under the Federal Salary Act of 1967) to be adopted by the House of Representatives or the Senate only by a recorded vote so as to reflect the vote of each Member.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Congress
Repeals the requirement that federal, state, and local governmental entities withhold 3% of payments due to vendors providing goods and services to such entities.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Taxation
Delay Congressional Pay Raise Act - Declares that no automatic pay adjustment shall be considered to have taken effect in FY2010 in the rates of basic pay for Members of Congress under the General Schedule (thus eliminating the pay adjustment for Members for such fiscal year).

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Congress
Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to eliminate automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress.

Date: 2009-01-08
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Congress
Foreign Service Overseas Pay Equity Act of 2009 - Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to: (1) extend comparability pay adjustments to Foreign Service members assigned abroad; and (2) amend the death gratuity computation payable to surviving dependents of Foreign Service employees who die from injuries sustained in the performance of duty abroad.

Date: 2009-01-09
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: International affairs
Stop the Congressional COLA Act - Declares that no automatic pay adjustment shall be considered to have taken effect in FY2010 in the rates of basic pay for Members of Congress under the General Schedule (thus eliminating the pay adjustment for Members for such fiscal year).

Date: 2009-01-09
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Congress
Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to eliminate automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress.

Date: 2009-01-15
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Congress
Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009 - Allows federal employees to substitute any available paid leave for any leave without pay available for either the: (1) birth of a child; or (2) placement of a child with the employee for either adoption or foster care. Makes available (subject to specified requirements) for any of the 12 weeks of leave an employee is entitled to for such purposes: (1) four administrative weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth or placement involved; and (2) any accumulated annual or sick leave. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to promulgate regulations to increase the amount of paid parental leave available to such an employee to a total of eight administrative workweeks, based on the consideration of: (1) the benefits to the federal government, including enhanced recruitment and employee retention; (2) the cost to the government; (3) trends in the private sector and in state and local governments; (4) the federal government's role as a model employer; and (5) the impact of increased paid parental leave on lower-income and economically disadvantaged employees and their children. Amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow the same substitution for covered congressional employees, Government Accountability Office (GAO) employees, and Library of Congress employees. Counts certain service by an employee of the executive branch, Congress, GAO, or the Library of Congress while on active duty as a member of the National Guard or Reserves as service for that branch or agency for purposes of determining such employee's eligibility to take or substitute leave as provided under this Act.

Date: 2009-01-22
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Family Building Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to require a group health plan that provides coverage for obstetrical services to include coverage for non-experimental treatment of infertility that is deemed appropriate by a participant or beneficiary and the treating physician. Requires coverage for assisted reproductive technology only if certain conditions are met. Prohibits a group health plan from taking specified actions to avoid the requirements of this Act. Applies such requirements to health insurance coverage offered in the individual market and coverage offered through Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) plans.

Date: 2009-01-26
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Health
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) modify the exemption from the 10% penalty for premature distributions from governmental employee benefit plans to qualified public safety employees to eliminate the restriction that such plans be defined benefit plans; and (2) exempt from tax penalties certain periodic payments made to qualified public safety employees before the enactment of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (i.e., August 17, 2006).

Date: 2009-01-27
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to eliminate automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress.

Date: 2009-01-28
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Congress
FERS Redeposit Act - Allows each individual who has returned to government service and who has received a refund of retirement contributions under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) or any other retirement system established for federal employees covering service for which such individual may be allowed credit under FERS to deposit the amount that was so received, with interest, to the credit of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. Allows deposits in one or more installments. Disallows the recapture of credit for service covered by the refund until such a deposit is made.

Date: 2009-02-03
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Over-Classification Reduction Act - Requires the Archivist of the United States to promulgate regulations to prevent the over-classification of information. Requires the Inspector General of each federal agency that employs an individual with original or derivative classification authority to randomly audit classified information from each agency component with employees that have classification authority. Directs the Archivist: (1) to require, at the time of classification of information, personal identifiers or unique agency identifiers of the individual applying classification markings, including the individual's agency, office, and position, to appear on the information; (2) when implementing the security education and training program pursuant to specified executive orders, to integrate training about the prevention of over-classification of information, the proper use of classification markings, the consequences of over-classification, and the lessons learned from implementation of the regulations; and (3) to implement a detailee program to detail federal agency personnel, on a nonreimbursable basis, to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for training.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Limit Executive Compensation Abuse Act - Limits the annual compensation of any employee of a financial institution or other entity that receives funds under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) established under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to the amount of compensation paid to the President of the United States.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Improved Financial and Commodity Markets Oversight and Accountability Act - Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to include the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as establishments the Inspector Generals of which shall be appointed by the President. Applies existing pay requirements under the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 to the Inspectors General of such entities. Permits such Inspectors General to select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as necessary and to obtain services of experts or consultants.Authorizes such Inspectors General to subpoena records and testimony necessary in the performance of their assigned functions.Requires the heads of those entities to: (1) take action to address deficiencies identified by their Inspector General; or (2) certify to both Houses of Congress that no action is necessary or appropriate.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to equalize and increase to $230, with a cost-of-living adjustment after 2009, the tax exclusion for both transportation and parking fringe benefits. Extends such benefits to federal employees.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Taxation
Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2009 - Provides that: (1) specified diseases, including heart disease, lung disease, tuberculosis, hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and specified cancers, of federal employees in fire protection activities shall be presumed to be proximately caused by such employment; (2) the disability or death of such an employee due to such a disease shall be presumed to result from personal injury sustained while in the performance of duty; and (3) such presumptions may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence. Defines an "employee in fire protection activities" as a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, ambulance personnel, or hazardous material worker, who: (1) is trained in fire suppression; (2) has the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; (3) is engaged in the prevention, control, and extinguishment of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility of his or her job.Directs the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to examine the implementation of this Act and appropriate scientific and medical data related to the health risks associated with firefighting and to report to Congress on: (1) an analysis of the injury claims made under this Act; (2) an analysis of the available research related to the health risks associated with firefighting; and (3) recommendations for any administrative or legislative actions necessary to ensure that those diseases most associated with firefighting are included in the presumption created by this Act.

Date: 2009-02-10
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Requires the total service of an employee who retires eligible for an annuity under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) (currently, an employee who retires on an immediate FERS annuity from the position of a registered nurse with the Veterans Health Administration), or who dies leaving a survivor entitled to benefits, to include the employee's days of unused sick leave for annuity computation purposes. Provides that those days will not be counted in determining average pay or annuity eligibility.

Date: 2009-02-10
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 2009 - Provides for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by federal agencies. Authorizes such an individual to file a complaint with the Special Counsel. (Under current law, such individual may only file a complaint with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs). Directs the Special Counsel to investigate and attempt to resolve any complaint so filed. Requires the Special Counsel, if unable to resolve a complaint, to notify the complainant of: (1) the results of the investigation; and (2) the complainant's entitlement to proceed with the enforcement of such rights through referral to the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Date: 2009-02-13
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
CSRS Retirement Repayment Technical Correction Act of 2009 - Exempts repayments of Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) refunds made between October 1, 1990, and February 28, 1991, from the requirement that they include interest in order to receive retirement credit for the service covered. Makes such exemption effective as if included in the enactment of the Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1990.

Date: 2009-02-24
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to study and report to the Secretary of Homeland Security and specified congressional committees on the functions and capabilities of the Civil Air Patrol to support the homeland security missions of state, local, and tribal governments and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Requires the Comptroller General to review the process by which the Civil Air Patrol may provide assistance to the Secretary, other federal agencies, and states to support homeland security missions, including by providing: (1) aerial reconnaissance or communications capabilities for border security; (2) capabilities for collective response to an act of terrorism, natural disaster, or other man-made event by assisting in damage assessment and situational awareness, conducting search and rescue operations, assisting in evacuations, or transporting time-sensitive medical or other materials; or (3) assistance in the exercise and training of departmental resources responsible for the intercept of aviation threats to designated restricted areas. Directs the Comptroller General's report to include assessments of: (1) the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of using Civil Air Patrol assets; and (2) whether current mechanisms for requesting support from the Civil Air Patrol are sufficient. Requires the Secretary to analyze the study and report to the committees any recommendations for action that could affect DHS's organization and administration.

Date: 2009-02-25
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Emergency management
Part-Time Federal Employees Equity Act of 2009 - Exempts a federal employee's part-time service performed before April 7, 1986, from proration requirements for purposes of annuity computation under the Civil Service Retirement System.

Date: 2009-02-25
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Public Servant Retirement Protection Act of 2009 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to repeal the current windfall elimination provision (WEP) (that reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who also have pension benefits from employment not covered by Social Security) for individuals first performing non-covered service beginning one year after enactment of this Act. Establishes a new formula for the treatment of non-covered earnings in determining Social Security benefits. Applies such formula to individuals subject to the current WEP if the benefit under the new formula would be higher.

Date: 2009-02-26
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Social welfare
Declares Executive Order 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency," to be null and void. Prohibits the use of funds for the promulgation or enforcement of an executive order that creates an entitlement to services provided in a language other than English.

Date: 2009-02-26
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 - Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009 - Requires the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to provide for: (1) automatic enrollment in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) at a specified default percentage (between 2% and 5%) of basic pay of anyone appointed, transferred, or reappointed to a position in which that individual is eligible to contribute to TSP; (2) the inclusion in TSP of a qualified Roth contribution program and (3) the addition of a self-directed investment window under TSP, if it would be in the best interests of participants, limited to low-cost, passively-managed index funds that offer diversification. Requires the total service of an employee who retires eligible for an annuity under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) or who dies leaving a survivor entitled to benefits, to include the employee's days of unused sick leave for annuity computation purposes. Exempts a federal employee's part-time service performed before April 7, 1986, from proration requirements for purposes of annuity computation under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). District of Columbia Court, Offender Supervision, Parole, and Public Defender Employees Equity Act of 2009 - Entitles any individual who is treated as a federal employee under CSRS or FERS to have certain qualifying District of Columbia service included in calculating that individual's creditable federal service for specified purposes, including annuity eligibility. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow federal annuitants and members of the Armed Forces to elect to exclude retirement plan distributions for health insurance and long-term care premiums from gross income.

Date: 2009-03-03
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2009 or the Non-Foreign AREA Act of 2009 - Revises federal employee locality-based comparability payments provisions to include U.S. territories and possessions, including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, within a pay locality. Sets forth maximum rates of pay for Senior Executive Service (SES) personnel in such areas. Revises the calculation of allowances based on living costs and conditions of environment for pay of employees stationed outside the continental United States or in Alaska to apply it only to areas designated as of December 31, 2009. Provides a formula for adjustment of such rate using a transition schedule for calendar years 2010-2012. Requires adjustment of special rates of pay determined to be necessary to obtain or retain the services of persons specified by statute in such a cost-of-living area in accordance with regulations to be prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under this Act. Allows a temporarily raised limitation on the amount of special rates during the transition period of January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2012. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to pay disparities and locality areas for federal positions located in Alaska, Hawaii, or a U.S. territory. Defines "covered employees" for purposes of this Act, including employees who were eligible, before enactment, to be paid a cost-of-living allowance (COLA) but not a locality-based comparability payment. Describes application of this Act to postal employees. Allows an employee subject to this Act's transition schedule who retires from service during the period from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2012, to elect to have any COLA paid during that period considered as basic pay for purposes of annuity computation.

Date: 2009-03-03
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Air Force Depot Workers Fairness Act - Authorizes federal civilian employees of the U.S. Air Force Depots at Tinker ALC in Oklahoma, Ogden ALC in Utah, and Warner Robbins ALC in Georgia to earn compensatory time for irregular or occasional overtime work at a rate that is one and one-half times the amount of time spent in such work instead of overtime pay, wage-board overtime pay, or Sunday rates.

Date: 2009-03-09
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Healthcare Enhancement for Local Public Servants Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend eligibility for tax-free distributions from governmental employee benefit plans for health and long-term care insurance to any retired state or local public employee (currently, limited to retired public safety officers); (2) provide for a tax deduction of such distributions rather than an exclusion from gross income; (3) allow nonitemizing taxpayers to claim such tax deduction; and (4) allow an annual inflation adjustment to the $3,000 distribution limit beginning after 2009.

Date: 2009-03-10
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an additional 60% income tax on bonuses exceeding $10,000 paid to employees of businesses in which the federal government has an ownership interest of 79% or more.

Date: 2009-03-16
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Taxation
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) pursue every legal means to stay or recoup incentive bonuses and retention payments paid by American International Group, Inc. (AIG) to its executives and employees after September 16, 2008; (2) prohibit payments or other federal assistance to AIG unless current AIG executives and employees return to the Treasury any incentive bonuses and retention payments paid to them after September 16, 2008; and (3) require any financial institution that has received any assistance under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and that has not repaid such assistance in full within two weeks after the enactment of this Act to submit to the Secretary for approval plans for making any incentive bonuses or retention payments to its executives or employees and any contracts that require such payments.

Date: 2009-03-18
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Income Equity Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) deny employers a tax deduction for payments of excessive compensation to any full-time employee (i.e., compensation for services exceeding the greater of 25 times the lowest compensation paid to any other employee or $500,000); and (2) require such employers to file a report with the Secretary of the Treasury on excessive compensation (as defined by this Act) paid to their employees. Defines "compensation" to include wages, salary, deferred compensation, retirement contributions, options, bonuses, property, and other forms of compensation.

Date: 2009-03-18
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to eliminate automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress.

Date: 2009-03-18
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Congress
TARP Wage Accountability Act - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to prohibit financial institutions that have received more than $10 billion under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) from increasing the compensation of any of their officers, directors, or employees for a fiscal year by a percentage greater than the federal civil service pay increase for such fiscal year.

Date: 2009-03-18
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Fairness and Simplification Act - Limits state taxation of the wages or other remuneration of any employee who performs duties in more than one state to: (1) the state of the employee's residence; and (2) the state in which the employee is present and performing employment duties for more than 30 days. Exempts from the definition of "employee" for purposes of this Act a professional athlete or entertainer or certain public figures.

Date: 2009-04-27
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Taxation
Federal Law Enforcement Pension Adjustment Equity Act of 2009 - Amends the Law Enforcement Pay Equity Act of 2000 to apply a prohibition against treatment as an increase in salary, for purposes of increased annuitant pension benefits, of the conversion of positions and members of the U.S. Park Police and the Secret Service Uniformed Division to a new salary schedule, and the associated initial adjustments in basic pay rates, with respect to any payment made before January 1, 2009. (Thus permits cost-of-living adjustments in pension benefits for annuitants of the U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division for payments made through calendar 2008.)

Date: 2009-04-30
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Lieutenant Colonel Dominic "Rocky" Baragona Justice for American Heroes Harmed by Contractors Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to include, with respect to any contract for work to be performed outside the United States that is approved and financed by the U.S. government, requirements that: (1) the contractor consent to in personam jurisdiction over the contractor by the federal courts with respect to any suit alleging serious bodily injury of a member of the Armed Forces, civilian government employee, or U.S. citizen employee of a company performing work for the government, or any civil or criminal suit brought by the government alleging wrongdoing associated with the performance of the contract; and (2) a contractor awarded a contract with a value of $5 million or more that does not maintain a U.S. office designate an agent in the United States for service of process in such a suit. Requires a contractor to consent to federal court jurisdiction in any civil or criminal action commenced between September 11, 2001, and the date of enactment of this Act as a condition of entering into any contract with the U.S. government, or receiving payment for performing any activity under such a contract, on or after the date of enactment of this Act. Requires the Director to amend FAR to provide that a U.S. government contractor may be debarred or suspended from contracting for: (1) evading service of process in such a suit; or (2) refusing or failing to appear before a federal court in a matter brought against the contractor by the U.S. government or a U.S. citizen or national in connection with contract performance.

Date: 2009-05-12
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
More Transparent and Honest Communications with American Workers Reform Act of 2009 - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act to revise requirements for estimates of potential old-age insurance benefits in Social Security account statements eligible individuals may request. Directs the Commissioner of Social Security, in any case in which the projections of future levels of receipts and disbursements of the Social Security Trust Funds indicate that the balance in the Funds may become insufficient to pay benefits in full when due, to indicate in benefits estimates the percentage reduction in payment level that could result without intervening enactment of remedies by Congress. Requires Social Security account statements also to: (1) estimate projected benefits for each eligible individual, assuming the current earnings rate and assuming, in the alternative, retirement at age 62, at the applicable normal retirement age, and at age 70; and (2) set forth a separate schedule of such estimated projected benefits reflecting any percentage reduction in the case of each retirement alternative which would occur after the future date of Trust Fund insufficiency.

Date: 2009-05-14
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Social welfare
Amends the Federal Law Enforcement Pay Reform Act of 1990 to revise the special pay adjustments for federal law enforcement officers in specified consolidated metropolitan statistical areas. Includes Capitol Police as law enforcement officers under such Act. Eliminates the limitation on premium pay for federal criminal investigators.

Date: 2009-05-21
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Special Agent Samuel Hicks Families of Fallen Heroes Act - Authorizes the head of the concerned agency to pay the transportation (including one privately owned motor vehicle) and moving expenses attributable to a change of residence within the United States of the immediate family of a covered employee, including any federal law enforcement officer, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employee, or customs and border protection officer, who dies as a result of personal injury sustained while in the performance of duties, as well as expenses of preparing and transporting the remains of the deceased to the place where the family will reside following the employee's death (or another appropriate place for interment). Prohibits duplicative payment of such expenses. Declares that no determination made under this Act shall be deemed relevant to or be considered in connection with any workers compensation claim under which compensation may be provided on account of death or personal injury, nor shall any determination made with respect to any such claim be deemed relevant to or be considered in connection with any request for payment of expenses under this Act.

Date: 2009-06-04
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Requires the pay schedules and rates to be used for purposes of any determination of pay for a federal employee serving at Joint Base McGuire/Dix/Lakehurst to be the same as if such employee were serving in the pay locality, wage area, or other area or locality that includes Ocean County, New Jersey.

Date: 2009-06-04
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Administrative Law Judges Retirement Act of 2009 - Sets forth separate provisions for government and employee contributions, annuity eligibility requirements (ten years of service and age 60), early retirement, and annuity computation (2.5% and 1.7%, respectively, of average pay for each year of service) for administrative law judges under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS).

Date: 2009-06-12
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Sets a maximum age limit of 40 years for an original appointment to a position as a federal law enforcement officer in the case of individuals who have been discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions. Increases the age at which such an individual must be separated from service as an officer to 60 years of age, with an authorized exemption until age 63.

Date: 2009-06-19
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Includes an unmarried dependent child who is under 25 years of age (currently, under age 22) or incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability that existed before age 25 (currently, before age 22) as a member of a federal employee's family who is eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Date: 2009-06-19
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Federal Employee Accountability Act of 2009 - Repeals provisions: (1) authorizing a federal employee representing an exclusive representative in the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement official time for such purpose during the time such employee otherwise would be in a duty status; and (2) requiring the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to determine whether any employee participating for, or on behalf of, a labor organization in any phase of proceedings before it shall be authorized official time for that purpose.

Date: 2009-07-17
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Federal Internship Improvement Act - Directs the head of each federal agency operating an internship program to: (1) appoint an internship coordinator within the agency; and (2) make publicly available on the Internet such coordinator's name and contact information and information regarding application procedures and deadlines for the program. Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to: (1) make publicly available on the Internet links to the websites where such information is displayed; and (2) establish and maintain a centralized electronic database that contains the names, contact information, and relevant skills of individuals who have completed or are nearing completion of an internship program and are currently seeking full-time federal employment. Authorizes agencies to make noncompetitive appointments leading to conversion to term, career, or career-conditional employment of individuals who have completed an internship program. Permits an intern appointed to term employment to subsequently be converted noncompetitively to a career or career-conditional appointment before the term appointment expires. Directs each agency to report to OPM annually on its internship program.

Date: 2009-07-20
Topic: Government Operations (Employees)
Subject: Government operations and politics