zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Audit the Pentagon Act of 2015 

This bill establishes consequences if the Department of Defense (DOD) fails to obtain an audit with an unqualified opinion of its financial statements. The bill provides additional authorities and flexibility if DOD obtains an audit.

If DOD obtains the audit, the bill provides that the financial statements are no longer covered by specified reporting requirements. The bill also authorizes DOD to transfer and reprogram specified funds.

If DOD fails to obtains an audit for FY2016, the bill establishes additional qualifications for the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and other specified DOD financial management officials. The bill also permits the Deputy Secretary of Defense to prescribe additional duties and powers for the officials.

If DOD does not obtain an audit for FY2018, the bill: (1) cancels the transfer authority provided by this Act, (2) establishes a Chief Management Officer to be responsible for the management and administration of DOD, and (3) transfers jurisdiction of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service from DOD to the Department of the Treasury.

For failing to obtain an audit for fiscal years after FY2017, the bill cancels the reprogramming authority provided by this Act and prohibits DOD from using funds for certain weapons, weapons systems, or platforms being acquired as a major defense acquisition program.

The bill requires DOD to amend acquisition guidance to place specified restrictions and limitations on the procurement of certain Enterprise Resource Planning business systems.

Date: 2015-02-02
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 

This bill authorizes FY2016 appropriations and sets forth policies regarding the military activities of the Department of Defense (DOD) and military construction. The bill authorizes appropriations, but does not provide budget authority for discretionary programs, which is included in subsequent appropriations legislation.

The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for Procurement; Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; Operation and Maintenance; the Revolving and Working Capital Funds; the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction; Defense-Wide Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities; the Defense Inspector General; the Defense Health Program; and Overseas Contingency Operations.

The bill also authorizes the FY2016 personnel strengths for active duty and reserve forces and sets forth policies regarding military personnel, compensation and other personnel benefits, health care, acquisition policy and management, DOD organization and management, civilian personnel matters, and matters relating to foreign nations.

Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 

The bill authorizes appropriations and sets forth policies regarding military construction for the Army, Navy, Air Force, defense agencies, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program, and Guard and Reserve Forces facilities. The bill also authorizes appropriations for base realignment and closure activities.

Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 2015 

The bill establishes a Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission and sets forth procedures for the closure and realignment of certain military installations in the United States.

Date: 2015-04-28
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Defense Acquisition Workforce Human Capital Management Improvement Act of 2016

This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) strategic workforce plan to include information on the use of certain special hiring authorities by the military departments and the defense agencies, and a description of the additional authorities required to enhance DOD's civilian employee workforce.

DOD shall transmit to Congress each report submitted to DOD by the military departments and the heads of the defense agencies relating to the strategic workforce plan.

Date: 2016-01-21
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 

This bill authorizes FY2017 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation.

The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for:

 Procurement; Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; Operation and Maintenance; Working Capital Funds; the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction; Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities; the Defense Inspector General; the Defense Health Program; the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and Overseas Contingency Operations. The bill also authorizes the FY2017 personnel strengths for active duty and reserve forces and sets forth policies regarding:

 military personnel, compensation and other personnel benefits, health care, acquisition policy and management, DOD organization and management, civilian personnel matters, and matters relating to foreign nations. Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2016 

The bill establishes paid parental leave for certain federal and congressional employees.

Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 

The bill authorizes FY2017 appropriations and sets forth policies for Military Construction, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program, and Base Realignment and Closure Activities.

Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 2016 

This bill establishes a process and an independent commission for considering the closure and realignment of certain U.S. military installations.

Date: 2016-04-19
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Alternatives to Licensing that Lower Obstacles to Work Act of 2016 or the ALLOW Act

This bill declares, for purposes of establishing an individual's authorization to engage in an occupation on a military installation located on federally-owned land, that the federal government endorses occupational licenses and certifications granted by a state (including the District of Columbia [DC]), regardless of whether the installation is located in the issuing state or DC, provided that:

 the license or certification is not expired, revoked, or suspended by the issuing state; and there are no outstanding enforcement actions against the individual brought by the licensing board or certifying authority for that occupation in the issuing state. District of Columbia Occupational Licensing Reform Act

The bill declares DC policy regarding occupational licensing laws.

The bill establishes an Office of Supervision of Occupational Boards in the office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, or another appropriate DC government agency, to be responsible for exercising active supervision over each occupational licensing board to ensure compliance with occupational licensing policy.

The bill prescribes procedures for the Office's review, approval, or rejection of occupational licensure actions before their adoption.

The DC Council shall establish a legislative committee to analyze occupational regulations and review any proposed legislation to impose or modify an occupational regulation to ensure compliance.

An individual may engage in a lawful occupation without being subject to occupational regulations that are arbitrary or unnecessary and substantially burdensome.

The DC government and its boards may not require an occupational license, certification, or registration for a person, or impose any other occupational regulation that imposes a substantial burden on a person, unless:

 the government has an important interest in protecting against present and recognizable harm to public health, safety, or welfare; and the regulation is substantially related to achievement of that interest. Any person providing tour guide services for a fee at certain national parks and memorials shall not be required to obtain a license, certification, or permit to provide those services.

Date: 2016-07-12
Topic: Defense (General)
Subject: Commerce
Southeast Crescent Authority Act of 2007 - Establishes a Southeast Crescent Authority for all parts of the following southeastern states not eligible for assistance from the Appalachian Regional Commission or the Delta Regional Authority: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Directs the Authority to perform various functions, including: (1) formulating plans and programs to spur economic development, and approving grants to states and public and nonprofit entities toward that end; (2) establishing priorities in a development plan for the region; (3) supporting local development districts, and creating them where they do not exist; and (4) encouraging private investment in the region. Permits the Authority to request and receive federal, state and local government personnel as employees. States that Authority grants for infrastructure development may be made only to state or local governments. Permits Authority grants for job training, employment-related education, business development, assisting severely distressed and poor areas, or for other purposes in accordance with this Act. Allows the Authority to designate annually: (1) distressed counties; and (2) isolated areas of distress in nondistressed counties. Directs the Authority to garner public participation in the development, revision, and implementation of its plans and programs.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Working Families Wage and Access to Health Care Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to incrementally increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25. Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for establishment and governance of association health plans (AHPs), which are group health plans whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations, and which meet certain ERISA certification requirements. Establishes the Association Health Plan Fund to be used by the Secretary of Labor to make payments to an insurer to maintain coverage for a plan, if there is a reasonable expectation that, without such payments, claims would not be satisfied by reason of termination of coverage. Requires the Secretary to establish a Solvency Standards Working Group. Allows a state to impose a contribution tax on an association health plan, if the plan commenced operations in such state after the date of enactment of this Act. Preempts any state law that may preclude a health insurance issuer from: (1) offering health insurance coverage in connection with a certified AHP; or (2) offering health insurance coverage of the same policy type to other employers operating in the state which are eligible for coverage under such AHPs, whether or not such other employers are participating employers in such plan. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2011 the increased expensing allowance for small business assets. Revises the definition of "qualified restaurant property" to eliminate the requirement that improvements to restaurant property must be placed in service more than three years after the original building is placed in service.

Date: 2007-01-09
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Health
A Living Wage, Jobs for All Act - Declares that Congress affirms the basic economic rights and responsibilities under the 1944 "Economic Bill of Rights," while updating and extending it to include: (1) certain rights to decent jobs, income security for individuals unable to work for pay, a decent living for farm families, freedom from monopolies, decent housing, adequate health services, Social Security in old age, sickness, accidental injury, and unemployment, and education and work training; and (2) certain other rights relating to collective bargaining, a safe working environment, information on trends in pollution sources and products and processes that affect the well-being of workers throughout the world, voting and campaigning, and personal security. Requires corporations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to disclose fully in annual reports the impact of their activities on environmental quality and on the rights of other stakeholders, including employees, consumers, and communities. Requires each state to require all state-chartered corporations to submit such annual reports. Directs the Attorney General to establish a computerized registration program of all corporations found guilty of violating a federal or state law. Authorizes the President to deny federal contracts, loans, or loan guarantees to non-compliant corporations. Requires federal agencies and commissions, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, to help establish and maintain conditions under which all adult Americans may freely exercise the economic rights specified in 1944 and in this Act. Prohibits federal agencies or commissions from promoting recession, stagnation, or unemployment to reduce wages or inflation. Directs the President to establish a full employment framework for the annual budget submitted to Congress that meets specified goals for: (1) quality of life and environment; (2) responsible, sustainable growth; (3) unemployment reduction; and (4) human rights. Requires the Joint Economic Committee to oversee actions under this Act and submit an annual Concurrent Resolution on Economic Policy setting forth its proposed employment goals.

Date: 2007-02-14
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
National Commission on Financial Collapse and Recovery Act of 2008 - Establishes in the legislative branch the National Commission on the Financial Collapse and Recovery of 2008 to study and report to the President and Congress on the facts, circumstances, and causes relating to the collapse of the financial markets and financial institutions that occurred during 2008, along with recommendations for corrective measures to prevent such failures in the future.

Date: 2008-09-25
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Homeownership, Manufacturing, and Economic Growth Act or the HOME Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring income, excise, and alternative minimum tax (AMT) provisions and expand other individual and business-related tax incentives. Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to undertake certain initiatives to help small businesses and imposes restrictions on litigation deemed frivolous. Extends through 2009 certain expiring tax provisions affecting individual and business taxpayers, including: (1) tax credits for nonbusiness energy property, residential energy efficient property, increasing research activities, Indian employment, railroad track maintenance, energy efficient appliances, and investment in new markets; (2) tax deductions for educational expenses, state and local sales taxes, food and book inventories, and energy efficient commercial buildings; (3) tax-free distributions from retirement accounts for individuals ordered to active duty and for making charitable contributions; (4) mortgage revenue bond financing for veterans; (5) accelerated depreciation for qualified leasehold and restaurant improvements, motorsports racing track facilities, and business property on Indian reservations; (6) the increased AMT exemption amount; (7) authority for issuance of qualified zone academy bonds; (8) tax incentives for investment in the District of Columbia; (9) income and excise tax credits for alternative fuels, including biodiesel and ethanol fuel from coal; and (10) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) authorities for disclosing information relating to terrorist activities, combined employment tax reporting, and undercover operations.Makes permanent tax provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.Reduces the maximum corporate income tax rate to 25%.Requires the SEC to take certain actions to assist businesses, including reviews of its rulemaking processes and of the impact of excessive litigation.Allows use of mortgage revenue bonds for refinancing subprime loans. Allows a tax credit for the purchase of residences facing foreclosure.Amends the Truth in Lending Act to expand disclosure requirements for mortgage loans. Sets forth provisions relating to lawsuits against small businesses deemed frivolous and places restrictions on attorney fees and scientific testimony in federal civil cases.

Date: 2008-02-29
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Taxation
Financial Aid Form Simplification and Access Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise the process of applying for student assistance. Revises requirements for the simplified needs test to take into account dislocated workers and recipients of means-tested federal benefits. Directs the Secretary of Education to develop and use a simplified paper application form of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), to be called the EZ FAFSA, for students who meet the requirements of the automatic zero expected family contribution. Requires the Secretary to: (1) phase-out the paper form (the long form or full FAFSA) for students who do not meet the requirements for a EZ FAFZA; and (2) produce, distribute, and process common forms in electronic format, including a simplified electronic application form on the Internet. Directs the Secretary to make every effort to provide students with early information about potential financial aid eligibility, both through a widely disseminated printed form and the Internet or other electronic means. Directs the Secretary to make special efforts to notify: (1) students who qualify for specified means-tested federal benefits of their potential eligibility for a maximum federal Pell Grant; and (2) middle school and secondary school students of the availability of student financial assistance. Requires the Secretary to contract for or establish a toll-free telephone service to provide an application mechanism and timely and accurate information to the general public. Increases dependent and independent students' income protection allowances, excluded in determining their need for aid. Revises requirements for the determination of independence by students with special circumstances, and provides for electronic applications tailored to their situation. Excludes certain untaxed education benefits and savings distributions from student need determinations. Sets forth asset attribution rules for qualified education benefits. Revises the purposes of the independent Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to reflect this Act.

Date: 2007-03-20
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Education
Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action to address, and report to the President and Congress on, the nation's long-term fiscal imbalances, including those attributable to the Medicare and Social Security programs and the gap between their projected revenues and expenditures.Provides for expedited legislative consideration of Task Force recommendations.

Date: 2007-09-18
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
TARP and ARRA Reporting and Waste Prevention Act - Requires each public or private entity to provide a detailed report to the Secretary of the Treasury upon either: (1) receipt or redistribution of any funds under title I (Troubled Asset Relief Program [TARP]) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA); or (2) entering into a contract for projects or services funded by TARP or ARRA. Requires a public or private entity that redistributes any TARP or ARRA funds to another public or private entity to give the redistributee notice that: (1) such funds are a redistribution of either TARP funds or ARRA funds; and (2) the redistributee may be required to report to the Secretary. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) establish a database to hold all such reported information; (2) make the database information available to the public on the website recovery.gov; and (3) establish a national toll-free telephone hotline number for the public to report waste, fraud, or abuse related to either TARP or ARRA funds. Sets forth whistleblower protections. Amends ARRA to require the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, if it requests that an inspector general conduct or refrain from conducting an audit investigation, to make such request available to the public on the website recovery.gov.

Date: 2009-03-12
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax credit for increasing research activities; and (2) increase the amount of such credit for taxpayers who earn more than 50% of their gross receipts from domestic production activities.

Date: 2009-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Taxation
Securing America's Future Economy Commission Act or SAFE Commission Act - Establishes the Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission to develop legislation designed to address: (1) the unsustainable imbalance between long-term federal spending commitments and projected revenues; (2) increases in net national savings to provide for domestic investment and economic growth; (3) the implications of foreign ownership of federally issued debt instruments; and (4) revision of the budget process to place greater emphasis on long-term fiscal issues. Requires the Commission to: (1) develop one or two methods for estimating the cost of legislation as an alternative to the current Congressional Budget Office (CBO) method; and (2) hold at least one town-hall style public hearing within each federal reserve district. Requires the Commission to submit a legislative proposal to Congress and the President. Authorizes the President to submit to Congress an alternative proposal. Authorizes the Committee on the Budget of either chamber to publish its own alternative proposal in the Congressional Record. Sets forth procedures for consideration of such legislation. Requires CBO to prepare a long-term cost estimate and have it published in the Congressional Record as expeditiously as possible whenever requested to do so by the Commission, the President, or the chairman or ranking minority member of the Committee on the Budget of either chamber.

Date: 2009-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Financial and Economic Literacy Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award formula matching grants to states or partnerships between states, experienced nonprofit providers of financial and economic literacy education, and experienced nonprofit providers of teacher training in such fields. Requires grantees to use 25% of the grant funds to: (1) develop financial and economic literacy standards and assessments for at least three grade levels; (2) create teacher training programs to embed financial and economic literacy education into core academic subjects; and (3) evaluate the impact such education has on students' financial and economic literacy. Requires the remaining grant funds to be used for subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) or partnerships between LEAs and community organizations, local businesses, or other educational entities to implement such financial literacy activities, including student assessments and teacher training. Directs the Secretary to maintain a Financial and Economic Literacy and Economic Education Clearinghouse of best practices, tools, and instructional materials that are aligned with voluntary nationally recognized curriculum standards in such areas. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) or partnerships between IHEs, experienced nonprofit providers of financial and economic literacy education, and experienced nonprofit providers of teacher training in such fields for activities that increase student knowledge in consumer, economic, and personal financial concepts.

Date: 2009-03-19
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Education
Financial Markets Commission Act of 2009 - Establishes in the legislative branch the Financial Markets Commission to: (1) examine all causes, domestic and global, of the current financial and economic crisis in the United States, including the collapse of major financial and commercial firms and the deterioration of the credit and housing markets; and (2) investigate the role in the crisis, if any, of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), nationally recognized statistical rating organizations, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), trading facilities for commodities and self-regulatory organizations, the federal banking agencies, any financial or commercial corporation, partnership, or entity, and any other governmental or non-governmental entity. Requires the Commission to: (1) report its findings and recommendations to the President and Congress; and (2) refer to the U.S. Attorney General and any appropriate state attorney general any person that the Commission finds may have violated federal laws in relation to the crisis.

Date: 2009-05-05
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Auto Dealers' Pension Fairness Act of 2009 - Requires the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry to report to Congress on the closing of vehicle dealerships in connection with the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings for Chrysler Corporation and General Motors Corporation in 2009. Declares that during a specified period no withdrawal liability to a multiemployer pension benefit plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), in connection with bankruptcy proceedings commenced in 2009, may be imposed on any contributing sponsor by reason of the closing of a Chrysler or General Motors vehicle dealership the sponsor owned or operated. Declares further that any payment of existing withdrawal liability imposed before such period as a result of a dealership closure shall not be payable.

Date: 2009-06-10
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Labor and employment
Automobile Dealer Economic Rights Restoration Act of 2009 - Prohibits any automobile manufacturer (manufacturer) in which the federal government has a financial or ownership interest from depriving an automobile dealer (dealer) of its economic rights under a dealer agreement. Requires the manufacturer to assume (or assign to a successor) each agreement in existence before the commencement of a federal bankruptcy case by the manufacturer. Directs any such manufacturer, if a valid dealer agreement is not assumed or assigned, to require the new entity created in the bankruptcy case to enter into a new agreement, under the same terms.

Date: 2009-06-10
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Taxpayer Repayment Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to develop, and provide Congress with, a strategy and timeline for financial institutions to repay Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds.

Date: 2009-06-11
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to allow recipients of Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds to repay such funds if they will be well capitalized after such repayment, as determined by the federal banking agency having supervisory authority over such recipients. Eliminates the requirement that the Secretary of the Treasury liquidate warrants associated with repaid TARP funds at the current market price.

Date: 2009-06-16
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
American Commercial Ethanol Fairness Act of 2009- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax credit for alcohol used as fuel to include ethanol used in tetra ethyl ortho silicate (TEOS) production. Allows taxpayers a credit for 45 cents per gallon of alcohol which is ethanol used in the production of TEOS. Requires that the TEOS be manufactured in the United States and sold in a trade or business of the taxpayer.

Date: 2009-07-16
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Taxation
Taxpayers' Assets Recoupment Act of 2009 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to: (1) terminate the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) upon enactment of this Act; (2) require that TARP repayments and profits be deposited into a certain account in the Treasury to pay down the national debt; and (3) require each financial institution receiving TARP funds to report biannually on how it is using them.

Date: 2009-12-16
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Buy American Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Buy American Act to: (1) extend through FY2013 the requirement for federal agencies to report to specified congressional committees on the amount of agency acquisitions from entities that manufacture products outside the United States; (2) apply such Act to executive, legislative, and judicial branch agencies; and (3) require articles to be treated as made substantially all from articles mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States if the cost of the domestic components exceeds 75% of the total cost of all components. Prohibits federal agencies from determining that: (1) it would not be in the public interest to enter into a contract subject to Buy American requirements after a solicitation of offers notice for such contract is published; (2) the cost of acquiring products manufactured in the United States is unreasonable unless such acquisition would increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25%; or (3) an article is not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of satisfactory quality unless the agency has determined that domestic production cannot be initiated without significantly delaying the project and that a substitutable article is not available from a company in the United States. Requires agencies: (1) to give preference in the procurement process to a company that manufactures the solicited product in the United States if such company's bid is substantially the same as a bid made by a non-U.S. manufacturer or such company is the only one that manufactures the product in the United States; (2) to exclude costs related to the startup of a project from a domestic bid; (3) to apply Buy American requirements without regard to whether products to be acquired are for use outside the United States if they are not needed on an urgent basis or if they are acquired on a regular basis; (4) in determining whether to grant a public interest waiver of Buy American requirements, to consider any predicted significant decrease in domestic employment to be against the public interest; and (5) to publish waivers requested and waivers granted on a publicly available website. Directs: (1) the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to ensure that Buy American requirements apply to component projects that have been disaggregated from a larger project for purposes of avoiding applicability of such requirements to the larger project; and (2) the Comptroller General to report to Congress recommendations to be used in determining whether acquiring articles mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States would be inconsistent with the public interest. Requires this Act to be applied in a manner consistent with U.S. obligations under international agreements.

Date: 2009-12-16
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009 (FERA) to require the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to submit a preliminary report on the current financial and economic crisis in the United States by June 15, 2010.

Date: 2010-01-13
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Erasing our National Debt Through Accountability and Responsibility Plan Act of 2010 - Terminates the authorities granted the Secretary of the Treasury under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions. Lowers the public debt limit by the amount of all TARP assistance repaid by recipients on or after the enactment of this Act, along with dividends, profits, or other funds paid to the Government based on such assistance.

Date: 2010-02-02
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Act of 2010 - Requires the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Social Security, and the Secretaries of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury (agency head), in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to: (1) identify existing federal laws and regulations that may impede the ability to decrease waste, fraud, and abuse of funds appropriated to their agencies; and (2) develop appropriate performance metrics to measure success in decreasing waste, fraud, and abuse. Directs each agency head, in developing performance metrics, to: (1) ensure that such metrics accurately demonstrate the effectiveness of specified programs and activities in decreasing waste, fraud, and abuse; (2) provide estimates for points of diminishing returns on the funds provided under this Act to increase program integrity efforts; (3) identify optimal baselines for each of the metrics developed and appropriate methods to measure variations from such baselines; and (4) set performance targets for each of FY2012-FY2020. Requires each agency head to make appropriate accommodations for innovation and development to address the program integrity efforts for programs and activities identified by this Act. Requires: (1) each agency head to submit an interim and final report to Congress at specified intervals and to publish in the Federal Register and make available on the agency website the performance metrics set forth in the final report; and (2) the Director of OMB to report annually measuring success in decreasing waste, fraud, and abuse of funds appropriated to an agency.

Date: 2010-05-20
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Protecting Against Indebting our Descendants through Fully Offset Relief (PAID FOR) Temporary Extension Act of 2010 - Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 with respect to the state-established individual emergency unemployment compensation account (EUCA). Extends the final date for entering a federal-state agreement under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program through July 7, 2010. Postpones the termination of the program until December 11, 2010. Amends the Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families Act to extend until July 7, 2010: (1) federal-state agreements increasing regular unemployment compensation payments to individuals; and (2) requirements that federal payments to states cover 100% of EUC. Amends the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 to exempt weeks of unemployment between enactment of this Act and December 11, 2010, from the prohibition in the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 against federal matching payments to a state for the first week in an individual's eligibility period for which extended compensation or sharable regular compensation is paid if the state law provides for payment of regular compensation to an individual for his or her first week of otherwise compensable unemployment. (Thus allows temporary federal matching for the first week of extended benefits for states with no waiting period.) Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to extend through June 30, 2010, premium assistance for COBRA (health insurance continuation benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) benefits. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend through June 30, 2010, the 0% update to the conversion factor in the Medicare physican payment computation. Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 to extend the use of 2009 poverty guidelines through June 30, 2010. Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from publishing updated poverty guidelines for 2010 until after such date. Amends the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2010 to extend through June 30, 2010, the national flood insurance program. Amends the ARRA to extend through June 30, 2010, the small business loan guarantee program. Makes appropriations for the program as well as for the cost of certain loan guarantee fee reductions and eliminations. Rescinds pro rata the unobligated balance of each amount appropriated or made available under ARRA (except under title X: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs of division A), so that the aggregate amount of such rescissions equals $13 billion to offset the net increase in spending resulting from this Act.

Date: 2010-05-28
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Economic Fair Treatment and Job Creation Act of 2010 - Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to revise the prohibition against the use by any state or local government or private entity of funds made available in that Act for any golf course to prohibit such use for any golf course: (1) which is private; and (2) to the extent such funds are not for job creation and workforce diversification relating to such golf course. Requires any entity that uses such funds for a golf course to: (1) submit to the Comptroller General a report which describes baseline data on existing jobs and diversity of the golf course and related businesses and provides detailed information on jobs created; and (2) institute a diversity plan for the golf course and related businesses and establish objective conduct for recruiting women, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and individuals with disabilities for entry, mid-management, and senior executive positions. Requires the Comptroller General to report on the use of any funds for golf courses as a result of this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove commercial golf courses from property for which specified Gulf Opportunity Zone tax benefits are not available.

Date: 2010-07-27
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Labor and employment
Bring Jobs Back to America: Strategic Manufacturing & Job Repatriation Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to create a comprehensive national manufacturing strategy to increase overall domestic production, create private sector jobs, and identify emerging technologies to strengthen American competitiveness and comparative advantages. Requires the Secretary to: (1) identify U.S. firms maintaining facilities and jobs outside the United States; and (2) establish multiple Repatriation Task Forces to promote repatriation (return of a job or facility from a foreign country location to a U.S. location) in accordance with established targets for job repatriation and manufacturing growth. Establishes the American Economic Security Commission to study and report to Congress on policy relating to American competitiveness and technology-based planning to bolster it. Directs the Secretary, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, to study and report to Congress on the impact and feasibility of a tax incentive to encourage firms to repatriate jobs back to the United States. Amends federal patent law to revise requirements regarding the publication of patent applications. Requires abstracts (short summaries of inventions) included with patent applications (instead of the patent applications themselves, as under current law) to be published 18 months after the earliest filing date of the application. Repeals certain requirements relating to: (1) submission of a redacted copy of an application; and (2) procedures to prevent protest and pre-issuance opposition to the grant of a patent. Requires the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to give priority to the examination of a patent application by an institution of higher education or a patent holding company affiliated with such an institution.

Date: 2010-07-29
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Commerce
Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to provide loans to manufacturers to help finance the cost of: (1) re-equipping, expanding, or establishing (including applicable engineering costs) a manufacturing facility in the United States to produce clean technology products and the significant component parts of those products; and (2) improving the energy efficiency of the industrial processes of the manufacturers other than through the production of products and component parts. Applies such loans to: (1) facilities and equipment placed in service before December 30, 2012; and (2) costs that were incurred from this Act's enactment to December 30, 2020. Requires the Secretary to: (1) implement a program to provide up to $50 billion in loans to eligible individuals and entities for such costs; and (2) give priority to those facilities that are located in regions with the highest unemployment rates. Authorizes the Secretary to provide awards or loans to facilities that are idle. Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to: (1) increase from 30% to 80% the portion of the manufacturing facility and engineering integration costs to be awarded under the advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program; (2) require the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer $1 billion to carry out such program; and (3) require the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer $10 billion on October 1 of 2009, 2010, and 2011 to carry out the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants program (specifies how such funds are to be allocated). Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to include a Clean Energy Service Corps program among the types of national service programs eligible for assistance under such Act. Amends the Workforce Investment Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer $625 million to carry out the energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program.

Date: 2009-01-13
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Energy
American Shipping Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal shipping investment withdrawal tax rules; and (2) allow U.S. corporate shareholders an election to deduct dividends attributable to foreign base company shipping income received from a controlled foreign corporation.

Date: 2009-08-06
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Taxation
Reevaluate and Redirect the Stimulus Act of 2010 - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to provide Congress a list of: (1) programs that have unobligated stimulus funds provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA), including the amounts; and (2) such ARRA stimulus funds that the Director recommends be redirected toward more effective programs either to assist displaced workers or to spur job creation in 2010, with a breakdown of such amounts that could be reprogrammed by program.

Date: 2010-02-02
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
National Competitiveness and Innovation Strategy Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to complete a comprehensive study of the economic competitiveness and innovative capacity of the United States. Requires the Secretary to establish: (1) a process for obtaining public comments; and (2) an Innovation Advisory Board to advise the Secretary with respect to the conduct of the study. Directs the Secretary to develop, based on the study, a national 10-year strategy for strengthening the innovative and competitive capacity of the federal government, state and local governments, institutions of higher education, and the private sector.

Date: 2010-07-20
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Commerce
National Commission on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2011 - Establishes in the legislative branch the National Commission on American Recovery and Reinvestment. Requires the Commission to: (1) investigate and make findings on the number of jobs saved or created as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and (2) make recommendations on changes that could be made to such Act to save or create more jobs as well as steps that could be taken to prevent the improper payment of funds allocated under it.

Date: 2011-01-05
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Stimulus Repeal Act - Repeals the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Restores provisions amended or repealed by such Act and rescinds all unobligated balances of the budgetary authority made available in such Act.

Date: 2011-02-09
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
National Emergency Employment Defense Act of 2011 - Replaces Federal Reserve notes with United States Money. Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to originate United States Money to address any negative fund balances resulting from a shortfall in available government receipts to fund government appropriations. Subjects to criminal and civil penalties any person who creates or originates United States Money by lending against deposits through "fractional reserve banking." Prohibits borrowing by the Secretary or by any federal agency or department, independent establishment of the executive branch, or any other instrumentality of the United States (other than a national bank, federal savings association, or federal credit union) from any source other than the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to begin to retire all outstanding instruments of U.S. indebtedness by payment in full of the amount legally due the bearer in United States Money. Prescribes requirements for the entry of United States Money into circulation. Directs the Secretary to purchase all net assets in the Federal Reserve System, including the Federal reserve banks. Requires return to any member bank in the form of United States Money of any reserves held by any Federal reserve bank. Establishes: (1) the Monetary Authority to establish monetary supply policy and monitor the nation's monetary status, (2) the Bureau of the Federal Reserve to administer the origination and entry into circulation of United States Money, (3) the Emergency Board to recommend to Congress when a national emergency requires the President to issue a certification of emergency for the exercise of authority by the Monetary Authority as lender of last resort, and (4) a revolving loan fund in the Treasury for relending to banking institutions. Sets forth a conversion process to replace fractional reserve banking with the lending of United States Money. Sets a ceiling on interest rates. Requires the Monetary Authority to instruct the Secretary to disperse monetary grants to states for public infrastructure, education, health care and rehabilitation, pensions, and paying for unfunded federal mandates. Directs the Secretary to make recommendations to Congress for payment of a tax-free Citizens Dividend to all U.S. citizens residing in the United States in order to provide liquidity to the banking system at the commencement of this Act, before governmental infrastructure expenditures have had a chance to work into circulation. Prescribes requirements for federal funding of education programs, coverage of any deficits in Social Security Trust Fund account, a universal health care plan, resolution of aspects of the mortgage crisis, and a program of interest-free lending of United States Money to state and local governmental entities.

Date: 2011-09-21
Topic: Macroeconomics (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance