zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require a proxy, consent, or authorization for a shareholder meeting occurring on or after January 1, 2009, to permit a separate shareholder vote to approve executive compensation. States that such shareholder vote shall not be binding on the board of directors, nor construed: (1) as overruling a board decision; (2) to create or imply additional fiduciary duty by such board; and (3) to restrict or limit shareholder ability to make proposals for inclusion in proxy materials related to executive compensation. Requires proxy solicitation material for a shareholder meeting occurring on or after January 1, 2009, concerning disposition of substantially all of an issuer's assets, to disclose compensation agreements or understandings with the principal executive officers of either the issuer or acquiring issuer regarding any type of (golden parachute) compensation which: (1) relates to such disposition; and (2) has not been subject to a shareholder vote. Provides that proxy solicitation material containing such executive compensation disclosures shall require a separate shareholder vote to approve such agreements or understandings. States that such shareholder vote shall not be binding on the board of directors, nor construed: (1) as overruling a board decision; (2) to create or imply additional fiduciary duty by such board; and (3) to constrain shareholder ability to make proposals for inclusion in proxy materials related to executive compensation.

Date: 2007-04-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Hedge Fund Registration Act of 2007 - Amends the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 with respect to the exemption from registration requirements of an investment adviser who: (1) during the preceding 12 months has had fewer than 15 clients; (2) does not hold himself out generally to the public as an investment adviser; and (3) does not act as one to any registered investment company or a company which has elected to be a business development company. Revises such exemption to specify, in addition to these criteria, that during the preceding 12-month period the investment adviser: (1) had assets under management of not more than $50 million; and (2) did not manage the assets of more than 15 investors, whether individually, in a pooled investment vehicle, or otherwise.

Date: 2007-05-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Close the Enron Loophole Act - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to provide that it applies to an agreement, contract, or transaction in an exempt commodity that is executed or traded on an electronic trading facility that is an energy trading center.Prohibits any person from entering into an agreement, contract, or transaction for future delivery of an energy commodity that is not a spot sale of cash commodity or a sale of a cash commodity for deferred shipment or delivery on or through an energy trading facility that is not registered as such with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Sets forth registration criteria.Requires CFTC to ensure that the position limits and accountability levels applicable to contracts in an energy commodity listed for trading on a designated contract market and similar contracts in the same energy commodity listed for trading on an energy trading facility: (1) prevent price manipulation, excessive speculation, price distortion, and disruption of the delivery or cash-settlement process; and (2) are on a parity with each other and are applied in a functionally equivalent manner.Requires CFTC to take necessary action to direct an energy trading facility or a designated contract market to require a person who has exceeded an applicable position limit or accountability level in an energy commodity to limit, reduce, or liquidate any position to prevent or reduce the threat of price manipulation, excessive speculation, price distortion, or disruption of the delivery or cash-settlement process.Sets forth provisions concerning the provision of information and records about energy trading contracts to CFTC.Revises provisions concerning the prohibition on energy contracts designed to defraud or mislead, including by prohibiting any person from cheating or defrauding another person in connection with any contract of sale of any commodity in interstate commerce or for future delivery that is made subject to the rules of a designated contract market for or on behalf of any such person (currently the provisions prohibit members of registered entities, correspondent agents, or employees of members from such actions.)Requires CFTC to issue a rule regarding the requirements for an application for registration for an energy trading facility.

Date: 2007-09-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Discount Pricing Consumer Protection Act - Amends the Sherman Act to declare that any contract, combination, conspiracy, or agreement setting a minimum price below which a product or service cannot be sold by a retailer, wholesaler, or distributor violates the Act.

Date: 2007-10-30
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Commerce
Emission Allowance Market Transparency Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate regulations to facilitate price transparency in markets for the sale of emission allowances (any allowance, credit, or other permit issued for use in offsetting the emissions of any pollutant by an individual or entity), including regulations to provide for the timely dissemination of information regarding the availability and prices of emission allowances with respect to the Administrator, state regulatory authorities, buyers and sellers of emission allowances, and the public. Directs the Administrator to use information and services provided by publishers and providers of trade processing services to the maximum extent practicable.Prohibits: (1) knowingly providing to the Administrator false information relating to the price or quantity of emission allowances sold, purchased, transferred, banked, or borrowed with the intent to fraudulently affect the data; (2) using, in connection with the purchase or sale of an emission allowance, any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance in contravention of regulations prescribed to protect the public interest or consumers; or (3) cheating or defrauding another market participant, client, or customer. Directs the Administrator to monitor trading to prevent false reporting, manipulation, and fraud.Requires the Administrator, to prevent excessive speculation, to adopt limitations on: (1) the quantity of trading transactions allowed and the positions that may be held in any emission allowance market; and (2) emission allowance auctions. Sets penalties for violations.

Date: 2007-12-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Environmental protection
Authorizes specified Senate Restaurants employees who are employees of the Architect of the Capitol on the date of enactment of this Act and who become employees of a contractor under a food services contract to elect to continue coverage of federal benefits, including retirement benefits, life and health insurance, annual and sick leave balances and accrual rates, and transit subsidies, after operations of the Senate Restaurants are contracted to be performed by a private business concern.Prohibits the basic pay of such an employee from being reduced below the rate paid to that employee on the day before operations are transferred.Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to prescribe regulations to provide for the continuity of benefits.Sets forth provisions concerning severance pay and voluntary separation incentive payments to, and early retirement by, such employees.

Date: 2008-05-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Congress
Oil Trading Transparency Act - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to address the kind of case in which the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) grants or considers granting relief to a foreign board of trade from the requirement that it become a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility, or other registered entity with respect to an energy commodity physically delivered in the United States. Requires the CFTC, before granting or considering such relief, to determine that the foreign board of trade: (1) applies comparable principles or requirements regarding daily publication of trading information and position limits or accountability levels for speculators as apply to a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility, or other registered entity trading energy commodities physically delivered in the United States; and (2) provides information to the CFTC regarding the extent of speculative and nonspeculative trading in the energy commodity that is comparable to the information the CFTC determines necessary to publish a Commitment of Traders report for such a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility, or other registered entity.

Date: 2008-05-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Securities Litigation Attorney Accountability and Transparency Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933 to require plaintiff and plaintiff's attorney to provide sworn, signed certifications that identify any actual or promised payment by the attorney to the plaintiff, beyond the plaintiff's pro rata share of any recovery.Requires similar plaintiff and plaintiff's attorney certifications regarding: (1) legal representations; (2) contributions; and (3) conflicts of interest.Requires the court, in exercising discretion over the approval of lead counsel, to employ a competitive bidding process as one of the criteria (unless the court determines that such a process is not feasible). Instructs the Comptroller General to study and report to certain congressional committees on average hourly fees in securities class actions.

Date: 2008-05-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Policing United States Oil Commodities Markets Act of 2008 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to require a covered market or facility to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as a designated contract market and be subject to each rule established and regulation promulgated by the CFTC. Defines "covered market or facility" as a contract market or electronic trading facility: (1) that operates one or more trading terminals within the United States; (2) on which there is transacted or facilitated any agreement, contract, or transaction that serves as a price discovery function for any energy commodity delivered in the United States; and (3) that is regulated by a foreign regulatory agency.

Date: 2008-06-12
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
End Oil Speculation Act of 2008 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to direct the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to eliminate manipulation and excessive speculation on petroleum futures markets by investigation, regulation, and rulemaking, while distinguishing between: (1) transactions by commercial producers and purchasers (as well as counterparties) involving actual physical petroleum products for future delivery ("legitimate hedge trading"); and (2) all other trading. Instructs the CFTC to review and: (1) revoke or modify prior action regarding certain transactions, participants, or petroleum futures market activity that is not a legitimate hedge trade; and (2) consider revoking results of prior actions that have the effect of limiting, reducing, or eliminating the full applicability of position limits on trading that is not legitimate hedge trading, or the filing of any report or data regarding a trade or trader. Directs the CFTC to set margin requirements of at least 25% for any trading that is not legitimate hedge trading. Directs the CFTC to subject to its regulation any person engaging in a petroleum futures market activity in any location unless and until the activity occurs in a market or exchange whose regulations are substantially identical to CFTC regulations and are fully enforced. Requires the CFTC to ensure that petroleum futures market participant activities are fully and accurately disclosed. Instructs the CFTC to convene a working group of international regulators to develop uniform international oversight to protect petroleum futures markets from excessive speculation and other specified practices that pose systemic risks.

Date: 2008-06-24
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Commodity Speculation Reform Act of 2008 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to prohibit the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from issuing a no action letter to any foreign board of trade that lists a contract whose price settles on the price of a contract traded on an exchange regulated by the CFTC, unless the foreign board provides the CFTC with information and data accessibility comparable to those provided the CFTC by entities under its jurisdiction. Directs the CFTC to: (1) promulgate regulations to establish and enforce speculative position limits for qualifying commodities, a methodology for aggregating specified positions, and information reporting rules to facilitate monitoring and enforcement of speculative position limits and over-the-counter commodity derivatives; and (2) appoint at least 100 additional full-time employees to assist in carrying out such requirements. Prohibits a person from holding or controlling a position, separately or in combination, net long or net short, for the purchase or sale of a commodity for future delivery or, on a futures-equivalent basis, any option, or an over-the-counter commodity derivative that exceeds CFTC speculative position limits. Instructs the CFTC to study and report to certain congressional committees regarding: (1) trends in speculative activity relating to metals; and (2) possible extension of CFTC authority to cover trading of metals.

Date: 2008-07-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Dayton Aviation National Historical Park Expansion Act - Amends the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to provide for the acquisition and inclusion of the following additional sites in the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park: (1) Hawthorn Hill, Oakwood, Ohio; and (2) the Wright Company factory and associated land and buildings, Dayton, Ohio. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a cooperative agreement with one or more partners, including the Wright Family Foundation, to operate and provide programming for Hawthorn Hill and charge reasonable fees to defray park operation and programming costs.

Date: 2008-07-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Over-the-Counter Swaps Speculation Limit Act - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to direct the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to impose aggregate position limits on positions held on registered entities, foreign boards of trade, and each large over-the-counter transaction or class of large over-the-counter transactions that it determines to be appropriate in protecting the price discovery function of contracts under its jurisdiction.Sets forth requirements for development and imposition of aggregate position limits. Authorizes the CFTC to exempt a large over-the-counter transaction or class of large over-the-counter transactions from any aggregate position limit it has developed and imposed if it determines that the transaction is a bona fide hedging transaction. Declares such aggregate position limits applicable to the net sum of the like positions held by a person on or in: (1) registered entities; (2) foreign boards of trade; and (3) over-the-counter commodity derivatives. Authorizes the CFTC to impose a civil penalty for violations of requirements of this Act.

Date: 2008-10-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Transparency in Corporate Filings Act - Amends the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, with respect to mandatory public disclosures in either registration statements, prospectuses, reports, or broadcasts, to authorize the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to provide that a disclosure form, periodic report, or document need not be filed if the SEC has otherwise prescribed another means for public disclosure of such information (such as on a website).Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to authorize the SEC to: (1) permit or require one or more alternative means of public disclosure (such as on a website) in lieu of, or in addition to, filing with the SEC or transmitting to security holders a registration statement, prospectus, application, report, account, record, or other document; and (2) determine whether any information so disclosed shall be deemed filed or transmitted under the Act.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to: (1) reinstate rule 10a-1 (the uptick rule) governing short sales of securities; (2) rescind the prohibition against applying certain price tests to short sales; and (3) reinstate price test restrictions that applied to short sales of securities prior to SEC action in a specified proceeding on June 28, 2007.

Date: 2009-01-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the tax deduction for dividends received by a U.S. corporation from a controlled foreign corporation to: (1) extend the applicability of such provisions to taxable years beginning after FY2008; and (2) reduce such deduction for corporations that do not maintain certain employment levels.

Date: 2009-01-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Taxation
Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue guidance on the interpretation of the fair value accounting standards set forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), including the SEC interpretation and application of FASB Statement Number 157. Requires the SEC to report to specified congressional committees on any FASB actions taken relating to the SEC recommendations submitted to Congress on December 30, 2008.

Date: 2009-01-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Hedge Fund Adviser Registration Act of 2009 - Amends the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to repeal the exception to the registration requirement for any investment adviser who: (1) during the preceding twelve months has had fewer than 15 clients; and (2) neither holds himself or herself out generally to the public as an investment adviser, nor acts an an investment adviser to any registered investment company or any business development company. (Thus requires such private investment advisers to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC].)

Date: 2009-01-27
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Hedge Fund Study Act - Instructs the President's Working Group on Financial Markets to study and report to certain congressional committees on the hedge fund industry. Requires the study to analyze: (1) the changing nature of hedge funds and what characteristics define a hedge fund; (2) the growth of hedge funds within financial markets; (3) the growth of pension funds investing in hedge funds; (4) whether hedge fund investors are able to protect themselves adequately from the risk associated with their investments; (5) whether hedge fund leverage is effectively constrained; and (6) the potential risks hedge funds pose to financial markets or to investors.

Date: 2009-01-27
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Commission on Financial Crisis Accountability Act of 2009 - Establishes the Commission on Financial Crisis Accountability to study and report to Congress on the U.S. financial system. Requires the Commission to examine the current financial crisis, its causes, and its impact on the federal deficit and tax revenues.

Date: 2009-01-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Let Wall Street Pay for Wall Street's Bailout Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require securities trading facilities to pay an excise tax on a specified percentage of the value of securities and commodities transactions sufficient to recoup the net cost of carrying out the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Date: 2009-02-13
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an enhanced tax deduction for losses sustained from a fraudulent Ponzi-type scheme; (2) extend the carryback period for net operating losses attributable to such schemes; (3) waive certain limitations on the charitable tax deduction for contributions to charities with losses from fraudulent Ponzi-type schemes; and (4) restore the gift tax unified credit for gifts of an interest in a fraudulent Ponzi-type scheme. Defines "fraudulent Ponzi-type scheme" as any fraudulent investment operation that provides investors with returns that are derived substantially from investments made by other investors rather than from profits.

Date: 2009-02-24
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Taxation
Money Market Fund Parity Act of 2009 - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise, according to specified requirements, rules relating to net capital, custody and use of customers' securities, and certain underwritings to provide for: (1) treatment of securities issued by qualified money market funds comparable with the treatment under those rules of other low-risk securities and deposits; and (2) the expanded use of securities issued by qualified money market funds for financing by brokers and dealers.

Date: 2009-02-24
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise regulations relating to "asset-backed securities" to define an "NRSRO asset-backed securities" subset, which shall: (1) be the only asset-backed securities for which a credit rating agency may register and issue ratings as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO); and (2) be restricted to securities representing interests in pools of assets whose performance can be evaluated based on a documented history of predictable performance of similar assets, and which are contained in structures which also have a documented history of predictable performance. Requires the revision of such regulations to include a list of the classes of securities approved as NRSRO asset-backed securities. Prescribes an approval process for NRSRO asset-backed securities classes, including approval standards. Requires an NRSRO to: (1) review annually all ratings issued and outstanding in obligor categories for which it has registered; (2) formally affirm, upgrade, downgrade, or remove ratings based on such review; and (3) provide the SEC with full access to models, documentation, assumptions and performance data upon request, answer all questions posed by the SEC, and cooperate with any SEC investigation. Directs the SEC to determine whether ratings are issued with the expectation of meeting aggregate historical loss and default standards for given ratings levels across all categories for which a credit rating agency has registered.

Date: 2009-02-25
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Stock Market Recovery Act of 2009 - Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to: (1) reinstate rule 10a-1 (the "uptick rule," which prevents new short sales of a company's stock while its share price is falling); (2) rescind rule 201 of regulation SHO (which declares any short sale price test inapplicable to short sales in any security); and (3) reinstate price test restrictions that applied to short sales of securities before SEC action in a specified proceeding entitled "Regulation SHO and Rule 10a-1," adopted June 28, 2007. Directs the SEC to suspend the application of mark-to-market accounting principles with respect to any class or category of transaction necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors.

Date: 2009-03-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to exclusive federal registration of nationally traded securities, to exclude from exclusive federal regulation, and thus permit state regulation of, certain securities anyone of specified securities exchanges has listed (or authorized for listing) in a tier or segment for uncovered securities, according to standards for designating such a tier or segment the exchange has adopted.

Date: 2009-03-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Credit Rating Agency Transparency and Disclosure Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to instruct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to promulgate rules that: (1) require nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs), with respect to their determination of credit ratings for structured securities, to disclose the information they require from originators, issuers, and underwriters regarding the collateral underlying such securities; (2) establish procedures to disseminate information about processes used by such originators, issuers, and underwriters to assess the accuracy and integrity of their data and fraud detection; and (3) require each NRSRO to maintain on a publicly accessible Internet site the historical default rates of all classes of financial products it has rated.

Date: 2009-03-11
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Federal Municipal Bond Marketing Support and Securitization Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to consult with each other for the purpose of: (1) finding solutions for the grave effects of the current financial crisis on the markets for municipal securities; and (2) cooperating in authorized activities to alleviate such effects on those markets. Directs the Secretary to establish a program to: (1) purchase municipal securities; (2) issue securities backed by pools of municipal securities; and (3) provide credit enhancement or guarantees for municipal securities. Authorizes the Federal Financing Bank to: (1) make commitments to purchase and sell any municipal security issued under a specified plan approved by the Secretary; (2) guarantee repayment of principal and interest on any municipal security issued under a plan approved by the Secretary; and (3) issue and sell instruments representing interests in a pool of municipal securities purchased by the Bank. Prohibits the purchase or guarantee of a municipal security under this Act unless the Secretary has approved, prior to its issuance, the method, source, and timing of financing, as well as all terms and conditions. States that municipal securities sold by the Secretary or the Bank under this Act, and instruments issued by the Secretary or the Bank that represent pools of municipal securities, may be insured as to the payment of principal or interest by the Secretary or the Bank, respectively. Authorizes the Board to establish a credit facility to provide financial resources for the purchase of municipal securities by federal reserve banks or member banks or other persons.

Date: 2009-03-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to suspend, for mandatory reports submitted after January 1, 2008, application of mark-to-market accounting provided in Statement 157 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

Date: 2009-04-02
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Municipal Bond Fairness Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require each registered nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NSRO) (credit rating agency) to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to: (1) establish and maintain credit ratings with respect to securities and money market instruments designed to assess the risk that investors in such instruments may not receive payment in accordance with their terms of issuance; and (2) define clearly any rating symbol and apply it consistently. Permits an NSRO to use or consider the following when assessing the risk that an investor in a security or money market instrument will not receive repayment in accordance with the terms of issuance: (1) additional credit factors that it has documented and disclosed; (2) credit factors that are unique to municipal securities that are not backed by the issuer's full faith and credit; or (3) an additional credit rating symbol to distinguish ratings of a certain type of security or money market instrument from ratings of any other types. Prohibits the SEC from imposing any requirement that prevents an NSRO from establishing ratings that are complementary to such mandatory ratings and that are created to measure a discrete aspect of risk. Directs the SEC to establish performance measures to consider when deciding whether to initiate a review concerning whether an NSRO has failed to adhere to its procedures and methodologies for issuing ratings.

Date: 2009-05-21
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Municipal Advisers Regulation Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to make it unlawful for a person not associated with a municipal financial adviser to make use of the mails or means of interstate commerce to act as a municipal financial adviser unless such person is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a municipal financial adviser in accordance with this Act. Defines "municipal financial adviser" as a person who, for compensation, engages in the business of: (1) providing advice to a municipal securities issuer with respect to issuance of securities, investment of proceeds from such securities, the hedging of risks associated with such securities, or preparation of disclosure documents; (2) assisting a municipal securities issuer in selecting or negotiating guaranteed investment contracts or other investment products; or (3) assisting a municipal securities issuer in the primary offering of securities not involving a public offering. Provides requirements concerning sanctions (including revocation of registration), fair practices, compliance with standards of operational capability, and the fiduciary duty of such an adviser.

Date: 2009-05-21
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Compliance, Examinations, and Inspections Restructuring Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to vest the inspections and examinations authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in those administrative divisions or offices to which the SEC has delegated its administrative responsibilities. Requires the subject of an SEC inquiry or inspection to be notified in writing at least every 120 days regarding the status of an ongoing proceeding. Requires an SEC administrative division or office to obtain permission to conduct a sweep examination in the same manner and subject to the same procedures as SEC enforcement divisions or offices must follow in conducting a formal investigation or inquiry of registered entities. Instructs the Chairman of the SEC to appoint an Ombudsman with respect to any problems resulting from SEC regulatory activities. Expresses the sense of Congress that the SEC should develop and publish guidelines setting forth explicitly the benefit to either an issuer of securities or a registered entity if it self-reports an apparent violation of law, and subsequently becomes the respondent in an SEC civil injunctive action or administrative proceeding regarding the matter that was self-reported.

Date: 2009-05-21
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Fixed Indexed Annuities and Insurance Products Classification Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to include within the class of securities exempt from its coverage any insurance or endowment policy or annuity contract or optional annuity contract: (1) whose value does not vary according to the performance of a separate account; and (2) which satisfies standard nonforfeiture laws or similar requirements of the applicable state, Territory, or District of Columbia at time of issue or, in the absence of applicable standard nonforfeiture laws or requirements, satisfies the Model Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance or Model Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Individual Deferred Annuities, or any successor model law, as published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Declares without force or effect Rule 151A promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 16, 2009, and entitled "Indexed Annuities and Certain Other Insurance Contracts."

Date: 2009-06-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Support Investment Protection for Customers Reform Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities Investor Protection Act to increase from $100,000 to $250,000 (with inflation adjustments) the amount of an investor's net equity claim for cash that the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) (a nonprofit, nongovernment, membership corporation funded by its broker-dealer members) insures in the event the investor's broker-dealer becomes insolvent. Increases the federal line of credit available to the SIPC. Increases from $150 to $1,000 the minimum annual assessment paid by SIPC members. Allows the SIPC to appoint itself or one of its employees as trustee, without regard to the amount of liabilities to unsecured general creditors and to subordinated lenders involved, if there appear to be fewer than 5,000 (currently 500) customers of a broker-dealer member facing liquidation. Prohibits SIPC advances to the insiders of failed or failing broker-dealers. Raises the aggregate customer claim limit on the SIPC's authority to use the direct payment procedure rather than instituting a liquidation proceeding with regard to failed or failing members. Increases the maximum fine imposed on SIPC members that engage in certain prohibited acts. Establishes civil liability and criminal penalties for misrepresentations of SIPC membership or protection. Creates, within the Office of Inspector General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a Commission on International Financial Fraud to study the potential structure of, and benefits of establishing, an international financial court and process for the adjudication of financial fraud cases.

Date: 2009-06-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Shareholder Empowerment Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to prohibit national securities exchanges and associations from listing the securities of any issuer unless, to the extent permitted by state law, such issuer requires: (1) the election of directors who receive the majority of votes in uncontested elections or a plurality of votes in contested elections; and (2) directors who are not reelected to offer to tender their resignations. Directs the SEC to: (1) require issuers to identify and provide security holders with an opportunity to vote on director candidates who have been nominated by holders of at least 1% of the issuer's voting securities for at least two years, provided security holders have nominated fewer than a majority of the directors then authorized to serve; (2) prohibit brokers from voting securities on an uncontested election to the board of directors without having received specific instructions from the securities' beneficial owners; and (3) requires listed issuers, to the extent possible, to have an independent chairman of their board of directors who has not served as an executive of the issuer. Requires any proxy or consent or authorization for an annual or other meeting of a securities issuer to permit a separate shareholder vote on executive compensation, though such vote shall not be binding on its board of directors. Directs the SEC to direct the national securities exchanges and national securities associations to prohibit: (1) issuers from retaining advisors in negotiating executive employment or compensation agreements that are not independent or are protected from liability by such issuers; (2) the listing of issuers that do not have a (clawback) policy of recovering executive payments that were unearned due to fraud, faulty financial statements, or some other cause; and (3) the listing of issuers that provide severance payments to senior executives who are terminated for poor performance. Directs the SEC to require additional disclosure of specific performance targets issuers use in determining a senior executive's eligibility for bonuses, equity, and incentive compensation.

Date: 2009-06-12
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Enhanced S.E.C. Enforcement Authority Act - Amends the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the Investment Company Act of 1940 to declare that, in any action or proceeding instituted under such Acts by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a U.S. district court for any judicial district, subpoenas issued by or on behalf of the court to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documents or tangible things (or both) may be served in any other district (thus granting the SEC nationwide service of process). States that such subpoenas may be served and enforced without application to the court or a showing of cause. Denies application to subpoenas so issued of the requirement of Rule 45 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that, on timely motion, the issuing court quash or modify any subpoena that requires a person who is neither a party nor a party's officer to travel more than 100 miles from where that person resides, is employed, or regularly transacts business in person (except that the person may be commanded to attend a trial by traveling from any such place within the state where the trial is held).

Date: 2009-06-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Equal Treatment of Covered Bonds Act of 2009 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to include a covered bond as a qualified financial contract with an insured depository institution, if it was entered into before appointment of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver for the institution, where a person has the right to cause the contract's termination, liquidation, or acceleration upon such an appointment. Defines such a bond as a nondeposit recourse debt obligation of an insured depository institution, with a term to maturity of at least one year, which is secured by specifically identified assets which are performing in accordance with the terms of the contracts which created the assets. Declares federal banking agency regulations inapplicable to any covered bond unless they are prescribed jointly by the Secretary of the Treasury, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, and the Board of Directors of the FDIC.

Date: 2009-06-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Securities Law Technical Corrections Act of 2009 - Makes technical corrections to the following Acts: (1) the Securities Act of 1933; (2) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (3) the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; (4) the Investment Company Act of 1940; and (5) the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Amends the following statutes to make conforming amendments for the repeal of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA): (1) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (2) the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; (3) the Investment Company Act of 1940; and (4) the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Date: 2009-06-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Credit Default Swap Prohibition Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to grant the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulatory jurisdiction over any security-based swap agreement, including authority to issue, interpert, and enforce rules and orders in a manner that imposes prophylactic measures against fraud, manipulation, or insider trading. Defines credit default swap as: (1) a swap agreement that protects a party to it against the risk of a loss of value because of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event or contingency specified in the agreement relating to a security, loan, or other reference asset; and (2) such other forms of credit risk protection as the SEC may, by rule, prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors. Authorizes the SEC to require registration of any security-based swap agreement. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to declare it unlawful for any person to enter into a credit default swap agreement or contract.

Date: 2009-07-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Derivative Trading Accountability and Disclosure Act - Establishes within the Department of the Treasury the Office of Derivatives Supervision (Office) to: (1) implement this Act and oversee the registration of derivatives traders; (2) coordinate with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in developing comprehensive, standardized regulations for derivatives transactions; and (3) facilitate information exchange among specified agencies regarding the development of derivatives regulations. Makes it unlawful for any unregistered derivatives trader to make use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce to effect any transactions in, or to induce or attempt to induce the purchase or sale of any type of derivative. Prescribes registration requirements for derivatives traders. Grants the SEC and CFTC authority to: (1) issue separate proposed regulations imposing specified requirements governing trading in the derivative instruments over which each Commission has jurisdiction; (2) impose civil penalties; (3) issue cease and desist orders; and (4) order an accounting and disgorgement. Requires the Office to invite representatives of the SEC, the CFTC, regulators of domestic and foreign boards of trade, and other experts, to participate in a working group of international regulators to review international standards in order to evaluate international regulations regarding harmonization of substantive commodities and securities regulation for economically equivalent instruments.

Date: 2009-07-22
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Investor Advisory Committee Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to establish the Investor Advisory Committee to advise and consult with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on: (1) regulatory priorities and issues regarding new products, trading strategies, fee structures, and the effectiveness of disclosures; (2) initiatives to protect investor interest; and (3) initiatives to promote investor confidence in the integrity of the marketplace. States that the SEC is not required to accept, agree, or act upon the findings or recommendations of the Committee.

Date: 2009-07-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Lowering Oil Price Speculation for Infrastructure Dedicated to Economic Development Act of 2009 or the LOPSIDED Oil Prices Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) impose an excise tax on transactions in oil futures and options, to be paid by the trading facility on which the transactions occur or the buyer of the transactions; (2) require withholding of such tax; and (3) deposit revenues from the tax into the Highway Trust Fund. Exempts from such tax certain commercial oil traders and bona fide hedging transactions.

Date: 2009-07-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Taxation
Senior Investor Protections Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to authorize the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to impose, in addition to any other civil penalty, a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for each violation that is directed toward, targets, or is committed against a person who at the time of the violation is age 62 or older. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to ensure that guideline offense levels and enhancements appropriately punish criminal violations of the securities laws against seniors.

Date: 2009-09-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
American Small Business Innovation Act - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to require (under current law, authorizes) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to participate in the new markets venture capital program (a program under which investment companies provide capital financing to small businesses). Requires a report from the Administrator to Congress evaluating the success of the new markets venture capital program (program). Requires the Administrator, in selecting companies for program participation, to approve at least one company from each SBA geographic region. Requires each conditionally approved company engaged primarily in development of and investment in small manufacturers to raise at least $3 million in capital for such purposes from private investors. Directs the SBA's Chief Counsel for Advocacy to study the availability of equity capital in low-income urban and rural areas. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to conditionally-approved companies for participation in the program. Revises the program's operational assistance grant formula. Reauthorizes appropriations to fund debenture guarantees and for operational assistance grants. Establishes the Office of Angel Investment, headed by a Director, to provide support for the development of angel investment opportunities for small businesses. Requires the Director to establish and carry out a program to provide financing to approved angel groups. Establishes an Angel Investment Fund. Requires the Director to establish and maintain a searchable database to assist small businesses in identifying angel investors. Requires the Director to establish and carry out a program to make grants for the development of new or existing angel groups and to increase awareness and education about angel investing.

Date: 2009-09-30
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Securities & Commodities)
Subject: Commerce