zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Middle East and North Africa Transition and Development Act - States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) support a democratic transition in the Middle East and North Africa, including Egypt and Tunisia; and (2) increase economic prosperity in that region through financial investment and technical assistance and by utilizing the resources of appropriate multilateral development banks. States that U.S. negotiating objectives to expand the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (Bank) resources for countries in the Middle East or North Africa should be to seek: (1) specified lending criteria for loans or other Bank assistance for countries of activity (countries provided with Bank resources for loans or other assistance), and (2) establishment of a Bank mechanism to ensure that countries of activity not committed to multiparty democracy and market economics do not benefit from Bank resources. Urges the Secretary of the Treasury to use U.S. influence to: (1) oppose the approval of a loan or other Bank assistance to a country of activity in the Middle East or North Africa that does not meet specified criteria, and (2) seek the Bank's adoption of clear standards for the graduation of countries of activity that have substantially achieved required transition objectives. Amends the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the Bank to subscribe to additional shares of Bank stock. Authorizes appropriations for such purpose. Amends the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 to: (1) revise candidate country criteria, and (2) permit a country that no longer meets the requirements for being a candidate country because of per capita income changes in a fiscal year to maintain such candidate status during such fiscal year and the next three fiscal years.

Date: 2011-07-19
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
No More IMF Bailouts Act - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to repeal authority to: (1) provide certain loans to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including loans related to the New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB); (2) increase the U.S. quota in the IMF; and (3) approve the sale of IMF gold. Prohibits U.S. loans to the IMF for assistance to any European Union (EU) member state: (1) until the ratio of the total outstanding public debt of each member state to its gross domestic product (as of the end of the most recent fiscal year of the member state ending in the preceding calendar year) is not more than 60%; or (2) for any new credit or liquidity facility, or any new special purpose vehicle, related to European financial stability. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the IMF to use U.S. influence to oppose any IMF financing: (1) to any EU member state until the ratio of the total outstanding public debt of each member state to its gross domestic product (as of the end of the most recent fiscal year of the member state ending in the preceding calendar year) is not more than 60%; or (2) for any new credit or liquidity facility, or any new special purpose vehicle, related to European financial stability. Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress should not approve legislation to implement the December 15, 2010, vote of the IMF Board of Governors to double the U.S. quota in the IMF.

Date: 2011-12-08
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Stop Mergers, Acquisitions, and Risky Takeovers Supplied by American Labor and Entrepreneurship Act of 2013 or the SMART SALE Act of 2013 - Requires any person, company, institution, or other entity engaged in interstate commerce that owns, licenses, or otherwise holds an interest in a federally-funded technology, or to which federal energy research and development funding has been obligated by a federal agency (covered entity), to notify the Secretary of Energy (DOE) not later than seven days after entering into negotiations for any proposed or pending merger, acquisition, takeover, or other transfer that could result in control of such covered entity by: (1) the government of the Peoples's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or a country that is a state sponsor of terrorism or that provides sanctuary to a foreign terrorist organization; (2) a citizen of such a country who owes permanent allegiance to such country; or (3) a corporation or other legal entity which is 50% owned by a citizen of such a country.

Date: 2013-01-14
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Centennial Monetary Commission Act of 2013 - Establishes the Centennial Monetary Commission to: (1) examine how U.S. monetary policy since the creation of the Federal Reserve Board in 1913 has affected the performance of the U.S. economy in terms of output, employment, prices, and financial stability over time; (2) evaluate various operational regimes under which the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee may conduct monetary policy in terms achieving the maximum sustainable level of output and employment and price stability over the long term; and (3) recommend a course for U.S. monetary policy going forward.

Date: 2013-03-14
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Conditioning Economic Assistance and Support to Egypt Act or CEASE Act - Prohibits specified U.S. economic assistance and opposes World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance to the government of Egypt unless the President certifies to Congress that the government of Egypt: (1) has implemented legal reforms to protect political, economic, and religious freedoms and human rights; (2) is demonstrating a commitment to free and fair elections; (3) is implementing all measures in the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty; (4) is taking action to eliminate smuggling networks, destroy tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, and combat terrorism in the Sinai; (5) in consultation with the Department of Defense (DOD), has produced an analysis of Egypt's current security needs; and (6) has lifted restrictions in law and practice on the work and funding of Egyptian and international nongovernmental human rights and democracy organizations.

Date: 2013-06-27
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Centennial Monetary Commission Act of 2013 - Establishes the Centennial Monetary Commission to: (1) examine how U.S. monetary policy since the creation of the Federal Reserve Board in 1913 has affected the performance of the U.S. economy in terms of output, employment, prices, and financial stability over time; (2) evaluate various operational regimes under which the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee may conduct monetary policy in terms achieving the maximum sustainable level of output and employment and price stability over the long term; and (3) recommend a course for U.S. monetary policy going forward.

Date: 2014-01-06
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Global Health Innovation Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to report annually for four years to Congress regarding:

 the extent to which global health innovations include drugs, diagnostics, devices, vaccines, electronic and mobile health technologies, and related behavior change and service delivery innovations; how innovation has advanced USAID's commitments to achieving an HIV/AIDS-free generation, ending preventable child and maternal deaths, and protecting communities from infectious diseases; how goals are set for health product development in relation to USAID's health-related goals; how USAID is leveraging U.S. investments to achieve greater impact in health innovation, developing and introducing affordable global health products, and increasing health innovations in the development pipeline; how USAID is coordinating with other federal departments and agencies in support of global health product development; and how USAID is coordinating and aligning global health innovation activities between the Global Development Lab, the Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact, and the Bureau for Global Health.

Date: 2015-05-05
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Global Development Lab Act of 2016

(Sec. 3) This bill establishes in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) the United States Global Development Lab, the duties of which shall include:

 increasing the application of science, technology, innovation, and partnerships to develop new solutions to end extreme poverty; discovering and testing innovations to increase cost effectiveness and support U.S. foreign policy and development goals; leveraging the expertise and resources of businesses, nongovernmental organizations, science and research organizations, and universities to increase program impact; and supporting USAID missions and bureaus in applying science, technology, innovation, and partnership approaches to decision making, procurement, and program design. USAID may (1) provide innovation incentive awards; and (2) use certain funds for each of FY2017-FY2021 to employ up to 30 individuals on a limited term basis.

(Sec. 4) "Innovation incentive award" means the provision of funding on a competitive basis that: (1) encourages the development of solutions for a particular, well-defined problem relating to the alleviation of poverty; or (2) helps identify and promote a broad range of ideas and practices facilitating third party development of an idea or practice.

Date: 2015-11-04
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
This bill amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to direct the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to oppose any proposed IMF loan to a country about which an IMF staff analytical report finds no high probability that the country's public debt is sustainable in the medium term (currently, only if the proposed loan is not likely to be repaid in full).

The President may waive this requirement for purposes of U.S. national security interests.

Date: 2016-03-22
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Terrorist Asset Seizure Reform Act of 2016 

This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to require each financial institution to transfer annually to it all amounts of interest it has paid on certain frozen bank accounts, which shall be deposited into the Confiscated Assets Fund establish by this bill.

With respect to certain frozen assets of a foreign terrorist organization or a specially designated terrorist, including a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, at the time an asset is frozen or otherwise blocked (or within six months of enactment of this bill for an asset already frozen or blocked) Treasury shall:

 publish a public notice that the asset is being frozen or otherwise blocked, and give the owner of the asset and other interested parties one year to challenge such freezing or blocking. If the asset remains frozen or otherwise blocked after a year, Treasury shall require the financial institution holding the frozen asset to transfer it to Treasury.

Treasury shall:

 deposit all money received under such asset confiscation requirements into the Confiscated Assets Fund, and sell any non-monetary assets received under the bill and deposit the proceeds into the Fund. Treasury shall establish the Confiscated Assets Fund, which shall be made available to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make grants under the Urban Area Security Initiative (for assisting high-risk urban areas in preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of terrorism).

The Government Accountability Office shall study how Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control can better track frozen assets, manage data related to them, and improve reporting to Congress about them across all sanctions programs the Office of Foreign Assets Control administers.

Date: 2016-05-23
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill amends the International Financial Institutions Act to require the Department of the Treasury to: (1) instruct the U.S. Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support the use of the IMF's administrative budget for technical assistance that strengthens the capacity of IMF members to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism; and (2) report, within one year, on the effectiveness of such assistance, on the efficacy of U.S. efforts to achieve such policy goal, and on any further actions needed.

Date: 2016-06-14
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Global Development Lab Act of 2016

This bill establishes in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) the United States Global Development Lab, whose duties shall include:

 increasing the application of science, technology, innovation and partnerships to develop new solutions to end extreme poverty; discovering and testing development innovations to increase cost effectiveness and support U.S. foreign policy and development goals; leveraging the expertise, resources, and investment of businesses, nongovernmental organizations, science and research organizations, and universities to increase program impact and sustainability; utilizing innovation-driven competitions to expand the number and diversity of solutions to development challenges; and supporting USAID missions and bureaus in applying science, technology, innovation, and partnership approaches to decision making, procurement, and program design.

Date: 2016-03-03
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Combating Global Corruption and Ensuring Accountability Act of 2016

This bill directs the the Department of State to: (1) submit an annual report describing the status of corruption in foreign countries and assessing each country's anti-corruption efforts; and (2) annually publish on a publicly accessible website a four-tiered ranking based upon a government's efforts to comply with the minimum anti-corruption standards prescribed in the bill.

The bill states that a government is complying with such standards if it:

 has enacted and judicially enforces laws, and has established structures and practices, that prohibit corruption; prescribes punishment for grand corruption that is commensurate with the punishment for serious crimes; prescribes punishment for petty corruption that provides a sufficient deterrent and reflects the nature of the offense; and is making sustained anti-corruption efforts. The State Department shall, prior to the obligation of any foreign assistance (except acute humanitarian and disaster assistance) to a tier 3 or tier 4 country:

 conduct a corruption risk assessment and create a corruption mitigation strategy for all foreign assistance programs to that country, require the inclusion of anti-corruption clauses for all foreign assistance contracts and grants, require disclosure of the beneficial ownership of all entities receiving foreign assistance funding, and establish a mechanism for investigating allegations of misappropriated foreign assistance funds or equipment. The State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development shall consolidate existing reports with anti-corruption components into one online, public platform.

The State Department and the Department of Defense shall submit a strategy that details (1) how the U.S. government will incorporate corruption risk assessments during security sector assistance with foreign security forces, and (2) how security sector assistance will improve security sector governance.

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) identifying the true beneficial owners of companies formed in the United States or abroad and the property that has been removed from a country in connection with corrupt activities is an important part of combating corruption; and (2) the President should develop a comprehensive approach to requiring such beneficial ownership information for companies formed in the United States or abroad.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: International Affairs (International Finance)
Subject: International affairs
Extends through FY2008 the availability of certain supplemental social services block grant funding under title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes the Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission to review Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and make comprehensive recommendations to sustain the solvency and stability of these programs for future generations.

Date: 2007-04-24
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Aiding Social Services in States Temporarily Act of 2008 - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to increase FY2008 funding for the social services block grant program.

Date: 2008-01-23
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Climate Change Rebate Act of 2008 - Requires that 35% of the total value of greenhouse gas emission allowances created by federal legislation limiting such emissions be auctioned each year to finance the purposes of this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain low-income taxpayers a refundable tax credit for energy cost increases attributable to carbon regulation (climate change tax credit).Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) formulate and administer a Climate Change Rebate Program to provide monthly rebates based on energy cost increases to low-income families and families receiving federal assistance; (2) establish a schedule and standards to implement such Program.Requires receipts from the auction of greenhouse gas emission allowances to be used equally for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program under the Energy Conservation and Production Act.

Date: 2008-09-27
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession of social work. Directs the Commission to study and report to Congress on issues facing the social work profession, including: (1) fair market compensation, high social work educational debt, social work workforce trends, knowledge development, and social work safety; and (2) state-level social work licensure policies and reciprocity agreements for providing services across state lines.Authorizes the Secretary to award various grants to eligible entities and individuals to support demonstration programs related to research, workplace improvements, education, training, and programs of excellence.Directs the Secretary to: (1) contract with a national social work research entity to serve as a coordinating center and clearinghouse for information on activities under the demonstration program; and (2) develop and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the social work profession. Designates March of 2008, and of each succeeding year, as National Social Work Awareness Month.

Date: 2008-04-15
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Social Security Tax Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a cost-of-living adjustment after 2009 to the base amounts used to determine the amount of social security benefits includible in gross income for income tax purposes.

Date: 2009-01-14
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Taxation
Positive Alternatives Act - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to allow the use of TANF funds for alternative-to-abortion services, including: (1) information or counseling that promotes childbirth instead of abortion; and (2) other services designed to assist a woman to carry her unborn child to term.

Date: 2009-01-22
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals who have attained age 60 or are disabled an exemption from income and employment taxes for real property tax abatements received under a state or local program in which such individuals have provided services in exchange for such abatements.

Date: 2009-04-30
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Taxation
Young Children's Social Security Number Protection Act of 2009 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to direct the Commissioner of Social Security to issue a new Social Security number to a child in cases where confidentality has been compromised by reason of theft of related documentation.

Date: 2009-06-04
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
SSI Savers Act of 2010 - Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to: (1) increase resource limits for aged, blind, or disabled individuals who do not have an eligible spouse; (2) require an inflation adjustment for such individuals, regardless of whether a spouse is eligible; (3) provide a limited exclusion from resources of certain deferred compensation and education savings arrangements; (4) set forth income rules imputing income from certain deferred compensation arrangements; and (5) eliminate the requirement that SSI recipients apply for periodic payments from certain deferred compensation arrangements.

Date: 2010-03-24
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Seniors Protection Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to disburse a $250 payment to recipients of Social Security, SSI (Supplemental Security Income under title XVI of the Social Security Act), railroad retirement benefits, and veterans disability compensation or pension benefits if no cost-of-living adjustment is payable in 2011.

Date: 2010-07-30
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Child Welfare Workforce Improvement Act - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to: (1) direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to the Secretary and Congress on child welfare staff; and (2) to direct the Secretary to treat as necessary for proper and efficient state administration all state expenditures for training the child welfare workforce. Allows funds from private nonprofit educational institutions to be considered as the state's share in claiming federal reimbursement for such expenditures, without regard to certain requirements. Establishes a competitive child welfare workforce improvement demonstration program to assist eligible entities in developing and implementing child welfare workforce improvement plans to help facilitate implementation of the essential components of an effective child welfare workforce, throughout the child welfare continuum, from preventing child abuse and neglect through ensuring and supporting permanent families for children, in order to meet the needs of the children and families served by that workforce. Requires an eligible entity to ensure that the responsible state agency establishes a Child Welfare Workforce Quality Improvement Task Force.

Date: 2009-12-04
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Seniors Protection Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to disburse a $250 payment to recipients of Social Security, SSI (Supplemental Security Income under title XVI of the Social Security Act), railroad retirement benefits, and veterans disability compensation or pension benefits if no cost-of-living adjustment is payable in 2011. Allows a tax credit for $250 ($500 in the case of a joint return if both spouses are eligible) for certain federal, state, and territorial retirees.

Date: 2011-07-19
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Repeals the program of block grants to states for social services under title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act.

Date: 2012-09-19
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Social Enterprise Ecosystem and Economic Development Commission Act of 2012 or the SEEED Commission Act of 2012 - Establishes the Commission on the Advancement of Social Enterprise to examine and make recommendations on ways the federal government can support and utilize social enterprises. Requires the Commission to: (1) establish criteria for identifying social enterprises for purposes of federal programs, and (2) identify opportunities for the federal government to engage social enterprises in creating jobs and strengthening local economies.

Date: 2012-09-21
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply employment and self-employment taxes to remuneration up to the contribution and benefit base and to remuneration in excess of $250,000.

Date: 2011-09-14
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Taxation
Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the recruitment for, and retention, research, and reinvestment in, the profession of social work.

Directs the Commission to study and report to Congress on issues facing the social work profession, including: (1) fair market compensation, high social work educational debt, social work workforce trends, translating social work research to practice, and social work safety; and (2) state-level social work licensure policies and reciprocity agreements for providing services across state lines. Requires such study to assess the professional capacity of the social work workforce to serve and respond successfully to the increasing biopsychosocial needs of individuals, groups, and communities in certain areas, including aging and child welfare.

Terminates the Commission 30 days after it submits such report within 18 months of its first meeting.

Authorizes the Secretary to award: (1) workplace improvement grants to eligible entities and individuals to address workplace concerns for the social work profession, including caseloads, compensation, social work safety, supervision, and working conditions; and (2) research grants, education and training grants, and community-based programs of excellence grants.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) contract with a national social work entity to serve as a coordinating center and clearinghouse for information on activities funded under the grants, and (2) develop a multi-media outreach campaign and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the social work profession.

Date: 2013-04-10
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Control Unlawful Fugitive Felons Act of 2013 - Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI), VIII (Special Benefits for Certain World War II Veterans), and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to prohibit from receiving benefits under those titles any individual who is the subject of: (1) an outstanding arrest warrant for a felony, or (2) an outstanding arrest warrant for violating a condition of prohibition or parole imposed under federal or state law.

Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to furnish any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer, upon written request, with the current address, Social Security number, and photograph of any recipient of title VIII benefits if the officer furnishes the Commissioner with the individual's name and other identifying information as reasonably required to establish the individual's unique identity, and notifies the Commissioner that: (1) the individual is fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, or the individual is violating a condition of probation or parole; and (2) the location or apprehension of such individual is within the officer's official duties.

Date: 2013-06-18
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Philanthropic Facilitation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) expand the definition of, and requirements relating to, "program-related investments" made by private foundations to for-profit entities to further certain charitable purposes; (2) allow a judicial determination (i.e., declaratory judgment) as to whether investments in any entity qualify as program-related investments; (3) require expanded reporting by for-profit entities that receive program-related investments of their gross income, expenses, disbursements, and other information; and (4) allow public inspection of any petition seeking a determination that an investment by a private foundation is a program-related investment and of any information reported by organizations receiving program-related investments.

Date: 2013-07-25
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Taxation
Social Security Fraud and Error Prevention Act of 2014 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to appropriate from the Social Security Trust Funds to the Social Security Administration for each fiscal year beginning FY2015 amounts for specified fraud and error prevention activities. Prescribes a formula for the calculation of such amounts, which include fines and civil monetary penalties recovered.

Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to: (1) report to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a plan for conducting fraud and error prevention activities; (2) take any necessary actions to ensure that cooperative disability investigations (CDI) units have been established for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories; (3) conduct quality reviews in certain cases with respect to decisions in connection with the application for benefits under this title and SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI), in a sufficient number to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and other guidance issued by the Commissioner; (4) report annually to Congress the total number of cases selected for such quality review, the number of such cases in which a decision is remanded, and the number of such cases in which a decision is modified or reversed; and (5) report annually to Congress on the number of work-related continuing disability reviews conducted.

Allows the Commissioner to submit a combined annual report to specified congressional committees of certain information relating to disability benefits.

Increases civil and criminal penalties for specified persons in positions of trust in certain cases of fraud, and requires inflation adjustments every four years for certain civil penalties.

Prohibits the Commissioner, in making any determination with respect to whether an individual is or continues to be under a disability, from considering (except for good cause) any evidence furnished by a physician or other health care provider who has been barred from practice or has been assessed a penalty for the submission of false evidence.

Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to repeal program integrity adjustments after FY2014 to budget authority for continuing disability reviews and redeterminations.

Date: 2014-02-26
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Seniors' Identity Protection Act of 2014 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prohibit the use of Social Security account numbers on identification cards issued by the U.S. government in connection with benefits under SSA titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), and XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP).

Declares the sense of Congress that private entities should not use Social Security account numbers as a method identifying individuals on documents made available to the public or on personal identification cards.

Date: 2014-06-11
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Social Impact Bond Act - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services and Elder Justice) of the Social Security Act to add a new part C (Social Impact Bonds).

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to seek proposals from states or local governments for social impact bond projects which produce measurable, clearly defined outcomes that result in social benefit, such as employment for the unemployed, high school graduation, and reduction of teen and unplanned pregnancies as well as incidences of child abuse and neglect. Requires applications to include a feasibility study, funded under this Act, which contains specified information.

Requires the Secretary to decide whether to enter into such a contract within six months after receiving an application.

Makes appropriations for 10 years to carry out this Act.

Requires independent evaluation of a state or local government social impact bond project.

Establishes the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds.

Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to require the appropriate federal financial supervisory agency to consider, in assessing and taking into account the record of a financial institution in meeting the credit needs of its entire community, its investments in social impact bond projects.

Date: 2014-06-18
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Seniors' Access to Social Security Act of 2014 - Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to continue to make available at Social Security Administration field offices Social Security number printouts through at least July 31, 2015, and benefit verification letters through at least September 30, 2015.

Date: 2014-06-25
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Amends title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, Administrative Simplification) of the Social Security Act to exempt from manufacturer transparency reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) any transfer of value to a covered recipient of: (1) peer-reviewed journals, journal reprints, journal supplements, and medical textbooks that directly benefit patients or are intended for patient use; and (2) anything of value to a physician if it is intended solely to provide continuing medical education.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Health
Children's Savings Accounts Offer Parents Plenty of Reasons to Understand and Invest in Tuition Yearly Act or the CSA OPPORTUNITY Act - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct a state receiving a TANF grant to disregard the value of any interest in, or distribution from, a qualified tuition program, as well as the value of a child's savings account, in determining individual or family TANF eligibility or the amount or type of assistance.

Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to exclude from an individual's resources for SSI eligibility or benefit purposes the value of any interest in, or distribution from, a qualified tuition program as well as the value of a child's savings account.

Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to exclude any child's savings accounts from resources for eligibility and benefit purposes under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly the food stamp program).

Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to exclude from household income any child's savings accounts from resources for eligibility and benefit purposes under the low-income home energy assistance program.

Prescribes penalties for noncompliance.

Date: 2014-12-03
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the recruitment for, and retention, research, and reinvestment in, the profession of social work.

Directs the Commission to study and report to Congress on issues facing the social work profession, including: (1) fair market compensation, high social work educational debt, social work workforce trends, translating social work research to practice, and social work safety; and (2) state-level social work licensure policies and reciprocity agreements for providing services across state lines. Requires such study to assess the professional capacity of the social work workforce to serve and respond successfully to the increasing biopsychosocial needs of individuals, groups, and communities in certain areas, including aging and child welfare.

Terminates the Commission 30 days after it submits such report within 18 months of its first meeting.

Authorizes the Secretary to award: (1) workplace improvement grants to eligible entities and individuals to address workplace concerns for the social work profession, including caseloads, compensation, social work safety, supervision, and working conditions; and (2) research grants, education and training grants, and community-based programs of excellence grants.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) contract with a national social work entity to serve as a coordinating center and clearinghouse for information on activities funded under the grants, and (2) develop a multi-media outreach campaign and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the social work profession.

Date: 2013-05-21
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Pay for Performance Act - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services and Elder Justice) of the Social Security Act to add a new part C (Social Impact Pay for Performance Contracts).

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to publish in the Federal Register a request for proposals from states or local governments for social impact pay for performance contract projects which produce measurable, clearly defined outcomes that result in social benefit, such as employment for the unemployed, high school graduation, and reduction of teen and unplanned pregnancies as well as incidences of child abuse and neglect. Requires applications to include a feasibility study, funded under this Act, which contains specified information.

Requires the Secretary to decide whether to enter into such a contract within six months after receiving an application.

Requires independent evaluation of a state or local government social impact pay for performance contract project.

Makes appropriations for 10 years to carry out this Act.

Establishes the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Pay for Performance Contracts.

Authorizes the Comptroller General (GAO) to audit the activities of any state, local government, or nongovernment that receives funds under this Act.

Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to require the appropriate federal financial supervisory agency to consider, in assessing and taking into account the record of a financial institution in meeting the credit needs of its entire community, its investments in social impact pay for performance contract projects.

Date: 2014-07-30
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Improving Access to Social Security Services Act - Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prohibit the Commissioner of Social Security from imposing any reduction in public access on a Social Security Administration field or hearing office without a public comment period meeting specified deadlines, including at least one public hearing.

Requires each field office to provide services necessary for: (1) Social Security number printout services until August 1, 2015, and (2) benefit verification letter services until October 1, 2015.

Directs the Commissioner to conduct an outreach campaign to notify Social Security beneficiaries and other interested parties of plans to phase out such services and their online availability.

Requires each office that ceases to offer, or reduces the availability of, such services to give notice to key local organizations whose members or patrons may be affected by such cessation or reduction.

Requires the Commissioner to establish a system providing live-chat assistance for online users of the Administration website.

Directs the Commissioner to establish: (1) a process whereby an eligible individual may apply for a reduction or waiver of Administration service fees, and (2) an automated notification system to alert Social Security beneficiaries of changes made to their information for direct deposit to a financial institution of their Social Security benefits.

Prohibits any person from displaying another individual's Social Security number to the general public without the individual's affirmatively expressed consent, or selling or purchasing that number without such consent.

Directs the Attorney General to study all uses of Social Security numbers permitted, required, authorized, or excepted under any federal law.

Prohibits any person from obtaining an individual's Social Security number for purposes of locating or identifying the individual with the intent to physically injure, harm, or use the identity of the individual for any illegal purpose.

Amends SSA title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) to prescribe criminal sanctions for the knowing and willful display, sale, or purchase of a Social Security number without meeting the prerequisites for consent.

Extends to any electronic communication the prohibitions, subject to criminal penalties, relating to references to Social Security or Medicare.

Authorizes a private cause of action in state court for injunctive relief or up to $500 in actual damages by any individual aggrieved by a violation of this Act or any of its amendments.

Subjects any person the Attorney General determines has violated any provisions of this Act to a civil penalty of up to: (1) $5,000 for each violation, and (2) $50,000 if the violation has occurred with such frequency as to constitute a general business practice.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Amends title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, Administrative Simplification) of the Social Security Act to exempt from manufacturer transparency reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services any transfer of value to a covered recipient of: (1) peer-reviewed journals, journal reprints, journal supplements, conference reports, and medical textbooks that directly benefit patients or are intended for patient use; and (2) anything of value to a physician if it is intended solely to provide continuing medical education.

Date: 2015-01-13
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Health
Social Impact Partnership Act 

 Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services and Elder Justice) of the Social Security Act to add a new part C (Social Impact Partnerships).

Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to publish in the Federal Register a request for proposals from states or local government for social impact partnership projects which produce measurable, clearly defined outcomes that result in social benefit, such as employment for the unemployed, high school graduation, and reduction of teen and unplanned pregnancies as well as incidences and adverse consequences of child abuse and neglect. Requires applications to include a feasibility study, funded under this Act, which contains specified information.

Requires the Director to decide whether to enter into such a contract within six months after receiving an application.

Requires independent evaluation to determine whether the state or local government project has met an outcome specified in the contract in order for such governments to receive outcome payments.

Makes appropriations for 10 years to carry out this Act.

Establishes the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Partnerships.

Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to require the appropriate federal financial supervisory agency to consider, in assessing and taking into account the record of a financial institution in meeting the credit needs of its entire community, its investments in social impact partnership projects.

Date: 2015-03-04
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare
Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young Jr., Social Work Reinvestment Act

 This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide independent counsel to Congress and the Secretary on policy issues related to recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession of social work.

The Commission shall study issues facing the social work profession, including: (1) fair market compensation, high educational debt, social work workforce trends, translating social work research to practice, and social work safety; and (2) state-level social work licensure policies and reciprocity agreements for providing services across state lines. The Secretary is directed to award grants to four eligible entities, including at least two agencies of state or local governments, to assist them in carrying out a workplace improvement program to address concerns for the social work profession.

The Secretary shall also award grants to: (1) 25 social workers who hold a doctoral degree in social work for postdoctoral research in social work, (2) 20 eligible institutions of higher education to support the recruitment and education of social work students in advanced degree programs and the professional development of social work faculty, and (3) six eligible covered entities to test and replicate effective social work interventions.

The Secretary shall contract with a national social work entity that serves as a coordinating center to: (1) engage in activities to build on the efforts of the National Association of Social Workers National Center for Workforce Studies; (2) collect, coordinate, monitor, and distribute data and information on best practices and findings regarding grant-funded activities; (3) report to the Secretary recommendations on the need to recruit new social workers, retain current social worker, conduct social worker research, and reinvest in the profession of social work; and (4) select research topics to further the goals of this Act.

The Secretary must develop and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the social work profession.

Date: 2015-03-16
Topic: Social Welfare (General)
Subject: Social welfare