zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit funds from being dispersed to a country that denies or unreasonably delays the acceptance of its citizens, nationals, or residents who have been ordered removed under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) from the United States. Amends INA to prohibit visa issuance to citizens, nationals, or residents of such country unless: (1) the country is in full compliance with travel document requirements under this Act; or (2) Congress waives such prohibition. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress every three months listing countries that deny or delay such repatriation. Imposes assistance and visa prohibitions on a listed country that does not issue appropriate travel documents for such aliens. Authorizes presidential waiver of such assistance and visa prohibitions.

Date: 2008-03-05
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: Immigration
Quadrennial Foreign Affairs Review Act - Directs: (1) the Secretary of State to submit every four years to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations a quadrennial foreign affairs and Department of State review; and (2) the Foreign Affairs Panel to submit to the Secretary a report responding to such review. Directs the Secretary to establish every four years a nonpartisan independent National Foreign Affairs Panel, which shall terminate 30 days after submission of its report.

Date: 2009-01-13
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Free Speech Protection Act of 2009 - Allows any U.S. person against whom a lawsuit for defamation is brought in a foreign country on the basis of the content of any speech by that person that has been published, uttered, or otherwise disseminated primarily in the United States to bring an action in a U.S. district court against any person who, or entity which, brought the suit, if the speech at issue in the foreign lawsuit does not constitute defamation under U.S. law. Allows the award of treble damages if it is determined by a preponderance of the evidence that the person or entity bringing the foreign lawsuit intentionally engaged in a scheme to suppress rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution by discouraging publishers or other media from publishing, or by discouraging financial supporters from employing, retaining, or supporting the research, writing, or other speech of an individual.

Date: 2009-03-04
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: Law
Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of State, with the assistance of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, to provide Congress with an "Annual Report on the Status of Freedom of the Press Worldwide." Sets forth Report provisions. Directs the Secretary to administer a grant program to promote freedom of the press worldwide, which shall be administered by the Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor as part of the Human Rights Democracy Fund.

Date: 2009-04-01
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Global Online Freedom Act of 2009 - Makes it U.S. policy to: (1) promote the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media; (2) use all appropriate instruments of U.S. influence to support the free flow of information without interference or discrimination; and (3) deter U.S. businesses from cooperating with Internet-restricting countries in effecting online censorship. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should seek international agreements to protect Internet freedom; and (2) some U.S. businesses, in assisting foreign governments to restrict online access to U.S.-supported websites and government reports and to identify individual Internet users, are working contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require assessments of electronic information freedom in each foreign country. Establishes in the Department of State the Office of Global Internet Freedom (OGIF). Directs the Secretary of State to annually designate Internet-restricting countries. Prohibits, subject to waiver, U.S. businesses that provide to the public a commercial Internet search engine, communications services, or hosting services from locating, in such countries, any personally identifiable information used to establish or maintain an Internet services account. Requires U.S. businesses that collect or obtain personally identifiable information through the Internet to notify the OGIF and the Attorney General before responding to a disclosure request from an Internet-restricting country. Authorizes the Attorney General to prohibit a business from complying with the request, except for legitimate foreign law enforcement purposes. Requires U.S. businesses to report to the OGIF certain Internet censorship information involving Internet-restricting countries. Prohibits U.S. businesses that maintain Internet content hosting services from jamming U.S.-supported websites or U.S.-supported content in Internet-restricting countries. Authorizes the President to waive provisions of this Act: (1) to further the purposes of this Act; (2) if a country ceases restrictive activity; or (3) if it is the national interest of the United States.

Date: 2009-05-06
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Ambassador's Fund for Strategic Exchanges Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of State to establish in the Voluntary Visitors Division of the Office of International Visitors in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs the Ambassador's Fund for Strategic Exchanges to bring political, economic, civil society, and other leaders to the United States for short-term exchange visits in order to advance U.S. strategic goals. Authorizes appropriations.

Date: 2009-06-19
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to expand the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices to include: (1) a description of the status of freedom of the press in each country reviewed in the report; (2) identification of countries in which there were violations of freedom of the press; and (3) in countries where there are particularly severe violations of freedom of the press, whether such governments participate in or condone such violations and the actions such governments have taken to preserve the safety and independence of the media and ensure the prosecution of individuals who attack or murder journalists.

Date: 2009-10-01
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Combating Anti-Semitism Act of 2010 - Amends the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004 to revise substantive and periodic reporting provisions. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide that the Office to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism shall be headed by the Ambassador at Large for Monitoring and Combating anti-Semitism. (The Office is currently headed by the Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating anti-Semitism.) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to include in Foreign Service officer training after January 1, 2012, instruction on anti-Semitism and on legal and law enforcement issues relevant to monitoring and combating anti-Semitism.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 to reauthorize the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy through October 1, 2010.

Date: 2009-09-25
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to expand the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices to include: (1) a description of the status of freedom of the press in each country reviewed in the report; (2) identification of countries in which there were violations of freedom of the press; and (3) whether governments in countries in which there are severe violations of freedom of the press participate in or condone such violations, and actions that such governments have taken to preserve the safety and independence of the media and to ensure the prosecution of individuals who attack or murder journalists.

Date: 2009-10-01
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2010 - States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law throughout the Western Hemisphere; and (2) support the principles expressed in the Charter of the Organization of American States, the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and other fundamental instruments of democracy. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Organization of American States (OAS) should be the primary multilateral diplomatic entity for regional dispute resolution and promotion of democratic governance and institutions. Directs the Secretary of State to submit a multiyear strategy to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs that: (1) outlines an approach to the OAS that encourages the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards, provides for a budgeting process that prioritizes mandates, and encourages transparent hiring practices; and (2) reflects inputs and coordination from other executive branch agencies. Directs the Secretary to report to such committees regarding OAS progress in: (1) implementing International Public Sector Accounting Standards and transparent and merit-based human resource and hiring standards; and (2) adopting the practice of soliciting member quotas to be paid on a quarterly basis in order to improve operating budget consistency.

Date: 2010-03-08
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Enhancing Quality Assistance and Leadership and Improving Transparency for Women Act or the EQUALITY Act - Establishes in the Office of the Secretary of State the Office for Global Women's Issues which shall be headed by an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. Establishes in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the Women's Development Advisor who shall coordinate USAID efforts to integrate gender in foreign assistance design, strategy, and programs. Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to report to Congress regarding U.S. government financial assistance to further international economic, social, and legal development for women and girls.

Date: 2010-03-22
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
International Documentary Exchange Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Secretary of State to make grants to U.S. filmmakers and nongovernmental organizations that use independently produced documentary films to promote a better understanding of the United States among individuals in other countries.

Date: 2010-06-17
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse a member of a veterans' service organization or other organization approved by the Secretary for transportation and other appropriate expenses incurred in connection with the voluntary provision of a funeral honors detail at the funeral of a veteran, including when requested by a funeral home.

Date: 2011-02-18
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Secretary of State to carry out, in cooperation with the government of India, the Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative comprised of educational, scholarly, and professional exchange programs.

Date: 2011-09-23
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2012 - Directs the President to establish guidelines regarding the establishment of measurable goals, performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for U.S. foreign assistance. Requires such guidelines to provide direction to federal departments and agencies that administer U.S. foreign assistance relating to: (1) resource monitoring, (2) project and program evaluation, and (3) analysis of findings and generalizations and their applicability to proposed project and program design. Requires: (1) each appropriate federal department or agency to begin using such guidelines within one year after their establishment, and (2) the President to submit a related report to Congress within 18 months. Directs the President to require the Secretary of State to establish and maintain an Internet website to make publicly available comprehensive and accessible information on U.S. foreign assistance programs on a country-by-country and program-by program basis. Authorizes a department or agency to use up to 5% of its foreign development assistance funds for activities under this Act.

Date: 2011-10-12
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Transparent Rules Allow Direct Exporting for Small Businesses and Jobs Act or TRADE for Small Businesses and Jobs Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Agriculture to collect information on foreign tariff and non-tariff laws, regulations, and practices affecting exports of U.S. goods and services and U.S. agricultural commodities, respectively. Requires both Secretaries to make such information available to U.S. exporters on the Export.gov website.

Date: 2012-05-07
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act - Establishes the Commission on Americans Living Abroad which shall conduct a study of how federal laws and policies affect U.S. citizens living abroad, including civilians and members of the Armed Forces. Terminates the Commission upon submission of a final report to Congress.

Date: 2012-08-01
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Global Partnerships Act of 2012 - Sets forth provisions regarding global poverty and related matters, including: (1) reduction of global poverty; (2) acceleration of economic growth; (3) micro enterprise and small and medium enterprise assistance; (4) food security; (5) child survival and maternal health; (6) combating disease; (7) family planning and reproductive health; (8) education; (9) the environment; (10) safe water, sanitation, and housing; (11) gender equality; (12) democratic governance; and (13) humanitarian and disaster assistance. Sets forth provisions regarding advancing peace and mitigating conflict, including: (1) peacekeeping and related missions, (2) strategies and assessments, and (3) organizations and personnel. Sets forth provisions regarding human rights and democracy, including: (1) violence against women and girls, (2) the rule of law, and (3) child protection. Sets forth provisions regarding strategic partnerships, including: (1) the Economic Support Fund, (2) security partnership assistance, (3) drawdown authority, (4) defense article loans and stockpiling, (5) foreign military financing, (6) international military education and training, (7) excess defense article transfers, (8) cooperative project agreements, (9) foreign military sales, (10) arms export controls, (11) defense article leases and retransfers, (12) enforcement and monitoring of arms sales, (13) congressional review of arms sales, and (14) land mines and cluster munitions. Sets forth provisions regarding transnational threats, including: (1) nuclear, missile, and chemical and biological nonproliferation; and (2) counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism authorities. Sets forth provisions regarding the global environment, including: (1) debt-for-nature exchanges, and (2) commercial debt-for-nature exchanges. Sets forth provisions regarding trade and investment, including: (1) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), (2) the United States Trade and Development Agency, and (3) enterprise funds. Sets forth provisions regarding strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and congressional notification. Sets forth provisions regarding policy restrictions and special authorities with respect to: (1) human rights; (2) non-proliferation; (3) narcotics; (4) terrorism, including in the Middle East; (5) trade and commerce; and (6) policy authorities. Sets forth provisions regarding organization, management, and human resources, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Revises specified provisions of the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003, the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962, and the Fulbright-Hays Act.

Date: 2012-12-11
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
International Tax Competitiveness Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) treat foreign corporations that are managed, directly or indirectly, within the United States as domestic corporations for U.S. income tax purposes; (2) make certain royalty income and income from intangibles received from a controlled foreign corporation subject to U.S. taxation; and (3) revise the tax treatment of property other than stock (i.e., boot) received in connection with a corporate reorganization to provide that such property shall be treated as a taxable dividend.

Date: 2011-07-14
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: Taxation
United States Job Creation and International Tax Reform Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the taxation of foreign income, to allow: (1) a 95% tax deduction for the foreign source portion of dividends that a domestic corporation receives from a controlled foreign corporation of which it is a U.S. shareholder, (2) domestic corporations to treat gain on the sale or exchange of stock of a foreign corporation held for at least one year as dividends eligible for the 95% tax deduction, (3) a 50% tax deduction for the foreign intangible income of a domestic corporation, and (4) a U.S. shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation to elect a 70% tax deduction for certain amounts received from such a corporation. Includes certain low-taxed foreign income as subpart F income (e.g., certain passive income, insurance income, foreign-base company income, income from countries subject to international boycotts, illegal bribes, kickbacks, and similar payments, and income from countries where the United States has severed diplomatic relations). Makes permanent exemptions from treatment as subpart F income for: (1) certain payments of dividends, interest, rents, and royalties received from a related controlled foreign corporation; and (2) active financing income. Modifies rules relating to the foreign tax credit to create a separate income category for foreign intangible income. Accelerates the effective date of the worldwide interest allocation rules to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012 (currently, after December 31, 2020).

Date: 2012-02-09
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: Taxation
Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2012 - Directs the President to establish guidelines regarding the establishment of measurable goals, performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for U.S. foreign assistance. Requires such guidelines to provide direction to federal departments and agencies that administer U.S. foreign assistance on developing the range of activities relating to: (1) resource monitoring, (2) project and program evaluation, and (3) analysis of findings and generalizations and their applicability to proposed project and program design. Requires within one year: (1) each appropriate federal department or agency to begin using such guidelines, and (2) the President to submit a related report to Congress. Directs the President to require the Secretary of State to establish and maintain an Internet website to make publicly available comprehensive and accessible information on U.S. foreign assistance programs. Requires any cost of implementing this Act to be offset through the elimination of initiatives, positions, and programs within a federal department or agency administering foreign assistance, as determined by the Secretary of State and the head of each federal department or agency in consultation with Congress.

Date: 2012-06-19
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of State to conduct a review every four years of U.S. diplomacy and development for the next four-year period (quadrennial diplomacy and development review) which shall include: (1) recommendations regarding the long-term diplomacy and development policy and strategic framework of the United States; (2) U.S. diplomatic priorities; and (3) guidance on the related programs, assets, capabilities, budget, policies, and authorities of the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Provides for interagency consultations in the conduct of the diplomacy and development review. Requires each diplomacy and development review to: (1) delineate the U.S. national diplomacy and development policy and strategic framework; (2) prioritize critical national diplomacy and development areas, capabilities, and resources; (3) describe interagency cooperation and preparedness of relevant federal assets; (4) describe the roles of international organizations and multilateral institutions in advancing U.S. diplomatic and development objectives; (5) identify the necessary budget plan; and (6) assess the organizational alignment and management mechanisms of the Department and USAID with the national diplomacy and development policy and strategic framework. Authorizes the Secretary to establish within the Department an Office of Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review. Urges the Secretary to apprise the Foreign Affairs Policy Board on an ongoing basis of the work undertaken in the quadrennial diplomacy and development review.

Date: 2012-06-26
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act - Establishes the Commission on Americans Living Abroad which shall conduct a study of how federal laws and policies affect U.S. citizens living abroad, including civilians and members of the Armed Forces.

Terminates the Commission upon submission of a final report to Congress.

Date: 2013-02-08
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Prioritizing Debt Reduction in U.S. Foreign Assistance Act of 2013 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the growing federal debt jeopardizes U.S. national security and economic stability, and (2) paying money owed to America's major foreign debt holders is a better use of American taxpayer dollars than providing such debt holders with foreign assistance.

Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit, with specified exceptions, assistance to any country whose government holds more than $500 billion in U.S. Treasury securities.

Directs the Secretary of State to report to Congress on the provision of U.S. foreign assistance to countries whose governments hold U.S. Treasury securities.

Date: 2013-07-25
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on November 18, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) Amends the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 to extend through FY2018 requirements that: (1) the Inspectors General of the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors, of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) jointly develop oversight plans to combat global HIV/AIDS.

(Sec. 3) Extends through September 30, 2019, the requirement that the Global AIDS Coordinator complete an annual study of treatment providers.

Requires that the 2013-2018 studies include: (1) a plan for conducting cost studies of U.S. assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to combat HIV/AIDS in each partner country, and (2) an expenditure analysis by partner country.

Defines "partner country" as a country with a minimum U.S. government investment of HIV/AIDS assistance of at least $5 million in the prior fiscal year.

(Sec. 4) Extends through FY2018: (1) the 33% cap on U.S. contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; (2) the requirement that 20% of Fund contributions be withheld unless the Fund meets certain transparency requirements; and (3) the requirement to withhold from Fund contributions an amount equal to the amount expended by the Fund to the government of each country that supports international terrorism.

(Sec. 5) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise the annual HIV/AIDS report requirements.

Requires the report to describe program evaluations completed during the reporting period, including whether all completed evaluations have been published on a publicly available Internet website, and whether any of them did not adhere to the common evaluation standards of practice.

 Directs the Global AIDS Coordinator to publish on a publicly available Internet website by February 1, 2014, the common evaluation standards of practice.

(Sec. 6) Extends through FY2018 the 10% funding set-aside for orphans and other children affected by, or vulnerable to, HIV/AIDS.

 Extends through FY2018 the requirement that more than half of the amounts appropriated for bilateral global HIV/AIDS assistance be expended for: (1) antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS, (2) clinical monitoring of HIV-seropositive people not in need of antiretroviral treatment, (3) care for associated opportunistic infections, (4) nutrition and food support for people living with HIV/AIDS, and (5) other essential HIV/AIDS-related medical care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Date: 2013-09-24
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Azores Cooperative Initiative Program Act

This bill authorizes the Department of State to establish the Azores Cooperative Initiative Program to provide bilateral cooperation, expertise, and resources to design and implement solutions to the provisions of the 1995 United States-Portugal Agreement on Cooperation and Defense in areas of science, technology, education, environment and agriculture in order to further Luso-American relations.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
This bill prohibits the Department of State from obligating or expending any funds to hire a contractor to deliver interactive, professional training seminars for senior-level officials on effective congressional testimony and briefing skills.

The bill also rescinds any unobligated balances of funds for such purposes.

Date: 2016-03-23
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Preventing Investment in Terrorist Regimes Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the rules that apply to income derived from foreign countries designated as sponsors of international terrorism or with whom the United States does not have diplomatic relations.

The bill: (1) disallows a foreign tax credit for taxes paid to any country on income derived from one of the countries subject to the rules, (2) denies a deduction for the disallowed foreign tax credits, (3) doubles the tax rate on income derived from the countries subject to the rules, (4) and expands the definition of income derived from the countries.

The bill also eliminates the authority of the President to waive the denial of foreign tax credits with respect to taxes paid or accrued to a country that the Department of State has designated as a foreign country that repeatedly provides support for international terrorism. (Under current law, a waiver is permitted if the President determines that it is in the national interest of the United States and will expand trade and investment opportunities for U.S. companies in the country.)

Date: 2016-06-21
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: Taxation
Reclamation of War Powers Act

This bill prohibits funds made available for the U.S. Armed Forces from being obligated or expended for the introduction of the Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, in the absence of: (1) a declaration of war; (2) specific statutory authorization; or (3) a national emergency created by an attack or imminent threat of attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Armed Forces.

Funds may be obligated or expended for the introduction of Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where involvement in hostilities is imminent, by reason of a national emergency for only 60 days.

It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any legislation that would make funds available in violation of such provisions.

The President shall, in the case of a declaration of war or specific authorization for such use of the Armed Forces, report to Congress every 90 days on:

 an analysis of the threat; the specific objectives to be achieved and justification for such objectives; and a description of the scope and duration, cost, and likelihood of success of such use of the Armed Forces. The President shall submit such a report in the case of an introduction of the Armed Forces by reason of a national emergency within 48 hours of, and again not later than 60 days after, such introduction.

The War Powers Resolution and specified other prior authorizations for the use of the Armed Forces are repealed.

Date: 2016-12-05
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Improving Department of State Oversight Act of 2015

This bill grants competitive status for appointment to a position in the competitive service for which the employee is qualified to any employee of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGRI) who was not terminated for cause, and who completes at least 12 months of service at any time before the termination of the SIGRI on October 5, 2013.

The Secretary of State shall certify to Congress that the Department of State has made reasonable efforts to ensure the integrity and independence of the Office of the Inspector General Information Technology systems.

Each State Department entity under the Foreign Service Act of 1980 shall report within five business days to the Inspector General (IG) any allegations of:

 program waste, fraud, or abuse; criminal or serious misconduct on the part of a Department employee at the FS-1, GS-15, GM-15 level or higher; criminal misconduct on the part of any Department employee; and serious, noncriminal misconduct on the part of any individual who is authorized to carry a weapon, make arrests, or conduct searches (such as conduct that would constitute perjury or material dishonesty, warrant suspension as discipline for a first offense, or result in loss of law enforcement authority). No State Department entity with concurrent jurisdiction over such matters, including the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, may initiate an investigation without first reporting the allegations to the IG.

A State Department entity that initiates an investigation of such a matter must fully cooperate with the IG, unless the IG authorizes an exception.

Date: 2015-06-08
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Interior Improvement Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Indian Reorganization Act to expand the definition of Indian to include members of Indian tribes that were federally recognized after June 18, 1934. Trust acquisitions by the Department of the Interior for tribes recognized after June 18, 1934, are ratified and confirmed.

(Sec. 3) Indian tribes and individual Indians may apply to Interior to have off-reservation land taken into trust for the benefit of that tribe or individual. An application must include specified information, including a description of the need for the proposed acquisition and the purpose for which the property is to be used.

Interior must publish these applications and notify jurisdictions contiguous to land included in an application.

Interior must encourage applicants to enter into cooperative agreements with contiguous jurisdictions. An application with a cooperative agreement is automatically approved if Interior does not make a decision on the application within a specified number of days.

In making a decision on an application that does not include a cooperative agreement, Interior must determine whether anticipated impacts on contiguous jurisdictions have been mitigated and consider whether contiguous jurisdictions failed to work in good faith to reach an agreement with the applicant.

Date: 2015-07-28
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: Native Americans
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2017

This bill directs the Department of State to: (1) submit to Congress a U.S. strategy and implementing plan for combating sexual exploitation and abuse in U.N. peacekeeping operations, and (2) designate a country as a "peacekeeping abuse country of concern" if indications are that personnel from its U.N. peacekeeping contingent have engaged in acts of sexual exploitation. The State Department may withhold specified assistance from a foreign security unit that has engaged in such acts.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall conduct a study of the formula and methods by which the U.N. assesses member states for financial support to peacekeeping operations.

Not more than 85% of the annual U.S. contributions to the U.N., its agencies, or the Organization of American States may be obligated until the State Department certifies that specified whistle blower protections have been implemented.

U.S. funding may not be made available for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) until the State Department certifies that UNHRC participation is in the U.S. national interest.

Foreign Service administrative provisions are set forth, including provisions regarding: (1) overseas housing, (2) locally employed staff, (3) a lateral entry pilot program, (4) annuitant reemployment, (5) disciplinary action for unsatisfactory leadership during a security incident, (6) a personal services contractor pilot program, (7) limited appointments, and (8) diversity.

The State Department may establish employee exchange programs with foreign government or international entities that permit employees to be assigned to a State Department position.

The bill modifies the passport and visa fee structures.

The State Department shall: (1) conduct a review of all human rights dialogues, and (2) provide each Tier 2 Watch List country with a copy of the annual Trafficking in Persons Report and information pertinent to such country's designation.

The bill expresses: (1) the sense of Congress with respect to foreign cyber security threats, and (2) the sense of the Senate with respect to the release of internationally adopted children from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The State Department may authorize its uniformed guards to protect buildings and areas within the United States for which it provides protective services.

Date: 2016-05-17
Topic: International Affairs (General)
Subject: International affairs
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) convey to Park City, Utah, two parcels of property located in Park City that are currently under the management jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and known as the White Acre and Gambel Oak properties; and (2) offer for sale two specified parcels of property located in Park City that are currently under the management jurisdiction of the BLM. Requires all proceeds derived from the sale of such parcels to be deposited in the Federal Land Disposal Account established under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act.

Date: 2007-02-06
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to convey to the Danville Area Community College of Vermilion County, Illinois, specified real property of the Illiana Health Care System of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Date: 2007-02-08
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Amends the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 to extend deadlines for development of a five-year strategic plan for the geologic mapping program and for appointment of the advisory committee. Removes from program objectives the development of a geophysical- and geochemical- map database. Directs that mapping priorities be based in part on the needs of the Department of the Interior land management agencies.Modifies the composition of the advisory committee and increases the number of members on such committee. Requires the advisory committee, at the request of the President, the President's designee, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, or the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, to provide an overview report on the quality, utility, and appropriateness of geologic maps (including maps of geologic hazards) used or disseminated by federal agencies for regulation or land-use planning. Directs that the national geologic map database include all maps developed with funding provided by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, including under the federal, state, and education components.Authorizes appropriations for each of FY2008 through FY2017. Increases the percentages allocated for the state and education components.

Date: 2008-01-29
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a multipurpose cadastre of federal real property (an inventory of real property of the federal government) to assist with federal land management, resource conservation, environmental protection, and use of real property. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cost-sharing agreements with states to include any non-federal lands in a state in such cadastre. Limits the federal share of any such agreement to 50% of the total cost to a state for the development of the cadastre of the non-federal lands in the state. Requires the Secretary to submit a report on: (1) existing real property inventories or any components of any cadastre; (2) consolidation of inventories and components; (3) the use of existing inventories and components of any cadastre; (4) the cost savings that will be achieved; and (4) recommendations for legislation.

Date: 2008-03-05
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
(Sec. 1) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to extend for one year the Secretary of State's authority to waive Foreign Service annuitant salary and full-time employment pension restrictions respecting assignment to: (1) consular posts with a substantial visa application backlog; and (2) Iraq and Afghanistan. (Sec. 2) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to permit rest and recuperation travel for Foreign Service members and family members to U.S. territories, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Specifies that required leave based upon continuous service abroad may be taken in the United States or its territories, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Current law refers to the United States, its territories and possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.) (Sec. 3) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to specify that the Secretary may pay the subsistence expenses of Department of State special agents on authorized protective missions at or away from their duty stations. (Sec. 4) Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to extend grant authority for Radio Free Asia for one year. (Sec. 5) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to extend for one year the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program under which U.S. citizens or aliens are hired as personal services contractors, without regard to Civil Service and classification laws.

Date: 2008-07-10
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: International affairs
Battle of Camden Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a special resource study of the site of the Battle of Camden, South Carolina, and of Historic Camden, South Carolina, to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating such sites as a unit or units of the National Park System.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Permits the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Indiana, to make acquisitions to the boundaries of the Lakeshore from units of state or local government by satisfaction of delinquent state or local taxes.

Date: 2009-03-17
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Withdraws specified land located in Coconino and Gila Counties, Arizona (covered land), from all forms of: (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials. Grants the Secretary of the Interior exclusive jurisdiction with respect to covered land to manage each reclamation project carried out on such land in accordance with the Arizona Water Settlements Act. Requires that Secretary and the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District to ensure the compliance of each activity carried out at the C.C. Craigin Dam and Reservoir with applicable federal law. Authorizes that Secretary to contract with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to carry out specified management activities on covered land that does not conflict with, or adversely affect, the operation, maintenance, or repair of the Dam, including the management of recreation, wildland fire activities, public conduct and law enforcement, and cultural and other resources. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, to carry out the operation, maintenance, and repair of the Dam, to authorize employees of the Department of the Interior and the District to use certain roads under Forest Service jurisdiction. Prohibits requiring any such individual from applying for or possessing a permit, license, or other similar document as a condition for authorization to use any such road. Requires the Department and the District to comply with applicable federal law.

Date: 2009-04-01
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to convey specified public lands in Mohave County, Arizona, to the Arizona Game and Fish Department to permit the Department to use such lands as a public shooting range. Instructs the Secretary to require the Arizona Game and Fish Department to pay all survey costs and other administrative costs necessary for the preparation and completion of any patents of, and transfer of title to, those lands.

Date: 2009-04-27
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Public Lands Rehabilitation and Job Creation Act - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for FY2010 to: (1) the Department of the Interior for National Park Service operations and construction; (2) the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service for capital improvement and maintenance road projects; and (3) the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for highway infrastructure investment.

Date: 2009-12-11
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, and other federal law to provide that: (1) any person who knowingly violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of such an Act or any regulation issued under such an Act concerning the management, use, and protection of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, National Park System lands, National Wildlife Refuge lands, and National Forest lands shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, subject to fine and/or imprisonment as provided under federal criminal law; and (2) any person who otherwise violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of such an Act or any regulation issued under such an Act concerning the management, use, and protection of such lands shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor, subject to fine and/or imprisonment as provided under federal criminal law. Permits requiring persons adjudged guilty of a: (1) Class B misdemeanor on BLM or National Park System lands to pay all costs of the proceedings; and (2) a Class A or Class B misdemeanor on National Wildlife Refuge or National Forest lands to pay all costs of the proceedings. Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, and other federal law to set a minimum fine of $500 for certain fire usage violations on BLM, National Park System, and National Forest lands.

Date: 2010-02-04
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Federal Real Property Disposal Enhancement Act of 2011- Requires the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) to: (1) issue guidance for federal agency real property plans, including recommendations on how to identify and dispose of excess properties, evaluate disposal costs and benefits, and prioritize disposal decisions based on agency missions and anticipated future need for holdings; (2) report to specified congressional committees annually for five years after 2011 on agency efforts to reduce their real property assets; (3) assist agencies in the identification and disposal of excess real property; and (4) establish and maintain a database of all federal real property under the custody and control of all executive agencies, other than property excluded for reasons of national security. Sets forth agency duties with respect to its properties, including maintaining adequate inventory controls and reporting excess property to the Administrator. Includes among the amounts the Administrator is authorized to obligate from proceeds from the disposition of excess real property: (1) amounts to pay the costs related to identifying and preparing properties to be reported excess by another agency; and (2) amounts to pay the costs associated with the reversion, custody, and disposal of reverted real property. Revises requirements for federal agency retention of proceeds from the transfer or sale of excess real property. Provides that requirements under the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act for the use of public buildings and real property to assist the homeless shall not apply in FY2011and FY2012 to certain non-excess federal buildings or real property selected for demolition. Requires the head of each federal agency to divert at least 50% of construction and demolition materials and debris by the end of FY2015.

Date: 2011-03-17
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Homeowner Tax Fairness Act of 2011- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the standard tax deduction for real property taxes available to taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize their deductions; and (2) repeal the $500 limitation on such deduction. Makes this Act applicable to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2009.

Date: 2011-04-06
Topic: Public Lands (General)
Subject: Taxation