zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Protecting American Jobs and Exports Act - Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States through FY2021.

Extends through FY2021 and gradually increases (with a specified exception) the Bank's aggregate outstanding loan, guarantee, and insurance authority.

Extends through FY2021 Bank authority to provide financing for the export of nonlethal defense articles or services whose primary end use will be for civilian purposes.

Date: 2014-06-24
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Incentivizing Foreign Investment to Upgrade America's Infrastructure Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt a qualified foreign pension fund from taxation of gain or loss from, or tax withholding requirements on, the disposition of U.S. real property interests. Defines "qualified foreign pension fund" as any trust, corporation, or other organization or arrangement that: (1) is created or organized outside the United States; (2) is established to provide employee retirement or pension benefits; (3) does not have a single participant or beneficiary with a right to more than 5% of its assets; (4) is subject to regulation and tax reporting requirements in the country in which it is established or operates; and (5) is provided favorable tax treatment by the laws of the country in which it is established or operates.

Date: 2014-07-29
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Putting America First Corporate Tax Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include in subpart F income (income of a controlled foreign corporation earned outside the United States that is not tax deferred): (1) a shareholder's pro rata share of the average of certain U.S. and foreign property held by a controlled foreign corporation as of the close of each quarter of a taxable year, and (2) the income of a controlled foreign corporation derived from any foreign country.

Date: 2014-09-10
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Real Estate Investment and Jobs Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase from 5% to 10% the allowable ownership interest in real estate investment trust (REIT) stock for purposes of tax exemptions allowed by the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) relating to foreign investment in U.S. real property interests; (2) require a U.S. real property holding corporation to make its status readily accessible and publicly available; (3) require brokers who sell an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation to deduct and withhold 10% on the amount realized from the sale, with specified exceptions; (4) include regulated investment companies (RICs) and real estate investment companies (REITs) in the definition of U.S. real property interests; and (5) deny dividends derived from RICs and REITs a tax deduction for the U.S. source portion of dividends from certain foreign corporations.

Date: 2014-09-16
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Pay What You Owe Before You Go Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the recapture in subpart F income (i.e., income of a controlled foreign corporation earned outside the United States which is not tax deferred) the accumulated deferred foreign income of such corporation (i.e., the undistributed earnings of the controlled foreign corporation over its undistributed U.S. earnings) for its last taxable year.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Infrastructure and Global Tax Competitiveness Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the taxation of earnings and profits of a deferred foreign income corporation, to: (1) make such earnings and profit subject to taxation in the last taxable year prior to January 1, 2015, (2) reduce the rate of tax on such earnings and profits by allowing an exemption of 75%, and (3) allow such corporations to elect to pay such tax in eight installments.

Establishes the American Infrastructure Fund to provide assistance to states, local governments, and other public and private entities for investment in public infrastructure projects.

Appropriates tax revenues from this Act to the Highway Trust Fund.

Establishes the Highway Trust Fund Solvency Commission to propose recommendations and legislation for achieving long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.

Establishes an 18-month deadline for the enactment of legislation that reforms the international tax system by eliminating the incentive to hold earnings in low-tax jurisdictions.

Sets forth provisions for the reform of the international tax system (to be effective if reform legislation is not enacted by the 18-month deadline established by this Act), including provisions relating to subpart F income and insurance income, gains and losses from the sale or exchange of stock in controlled foreign corporations, limitations on the foreign tax credit, and the tax treatment of previously deferred foreign income.

Date: 2014-12-11
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Fair Tax for Repatriation Act - Declares that the federal tax on U.S. corporations earning profits abroad shall be a flat 5%. Makes the Department of the Treasury responsible for administering and enforcing such tax.

Date: 2014-12-11
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the taxation of the foreign-source income of domestic corporations, to: (1) eliminate the deferral of tax on the foreign-source income of U.S. corporations for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013, (2) deny the foreign tax credit to large integrated oil companies that are dual capacity taxpayers, (3) limit the offset of the foreign tax credit to income that is subject to U.S. tax, and (4) treat foreign corporations managed and controlled in the United States as domestic corporations for U.S. tax purposes.

Date: 2013-02-07
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Offshoring Prevention Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include in foreign base company income, for purposes of determining the foreign trade income of controlled foreign corporations, imported property income. Defines "imported property income" as, with certain exceptions, income attributable to property manufactured outside of the United States and imported for sale into the United States. Provides for a separate application of limitations on the foreign tax credit for imported property income.

Date: 2013-03-14
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Protect American Investments Act of 2013 - Prohibits a U.S.-based company, entity, or person from paying a financial transaction tax imposed by a foreign country on any covered financial transaction. Defines "covered financial transaction" as a financial transaction occurring on a U.S. exchange or over-the-counter within the United States, notwithstanding the nationality of the issuer of such security or the residence of any party to the transaction.

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) promulgate regulations or other guidance to carry out this Act; (2) not assist any foreign government in collecting any excise tax, related penalty, or related judgment on any covered financial transaction; and (3) apply provisions of the Convention Between the United States of America and the Government of the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion With Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital to exempt covered financial transactions.

Date: 2013-06-27
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat United States cruise industry income as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States (thus subjecting such income to U.S. income taxation). Defines "United States cruise industry income" as income attributable to a voyage of a commercial passenger cruise vessel (a passenger vessel having berth or stateroom accommodations for at least 250 passengers) that extends over 1 or more nights and during which passengers embark or disembark the vessel in the United States. Prohibits any tax exemption or reduced tax rate under any U.S. treaty with respect to United States cruise industry income.

Date: 2013-08-01
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose restrictions on foreign jurisdictions or financial institutions operating in the United States that are of primary money laundering concern or that significantly impede U.S. tax enforcement.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to:

 expand reporting requirements for U.S. persons who hold an interest in a passive foreign investment company; establish a rebuttable presumption against the validity of transactions by institutions that do not comply with reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act; treat certain foreign corporations managed and controlled primarily in the United States as domestic corporations for tax purposes; require tax withholding agents and financial institutions to report certain information about beneficial owners of foreign-owned financial accounts; treat swap payments sent offshore as taxable U.S. source income; and impose additional requirements for third party summonses used to obtain information in tax investigations that do not identify the person with respect to whose liability the summons is issued (i.e., John Doe summons). Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to: (1) require corporations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to report annually, on a country-by country basis, on employees, gross revenues, payments made to governments, and other financial information; and (2) impose a fine for failure to disclose any holdings or transactions involving equity or debt instruments known to involve a foreign entity that would otherwise be subject to disclosure requirements.

Makes investment advisers and persons engaged in forming new business entities subject to anti-money laundering requirements.

Imposes new restrictions on U.S. corporations and other entities with foreign income with respect to: (1) tax deductions allocable to deferred foreign income, (2) the recalculation of foreign income taxes, (3) intangible property transferred overseas, (4) tax evasion activities by U.S. corporations reincorporating in a foreign country, and (5) loans to U.S. shareholders from controlled foreign corporations.

Date: 2013-09-19
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Keeping Jobs in America Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program to award grants to states that are recruiting high-value jobs (e.g., manufacturing, software publishing, and computer system design jobs that pay a higher than average wage). Allows the use of grants to issue forgivable loans to entities that employ not fewer than 50 full-time employees in high-value jobs and that are deciding whether to locate in rural and distressed areas.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) grant business taxpayers a tax credit for up to 20% of insourcing expenses incurred for eliminating a business located outside the United States and  relocating it within the United States, and (2) deny a tax deduction for outsourcing expenses incurred in relocating a U.S. business outside the United States. Requires an increase in the taxpayer's employment of full-time employees in the United States in order to claim the tax credit for insourcing expenses.

Extends through 2017 the additional allowance for depreciation of business property (bonus depreciation) and the election to accelerate the alternative minimum tax credit in lieu of bonus depreciation. Makes permanent: (1) the increased $500,000 expensing allowance for depreciable business property and qualified real property, and (2) the new markets tax credit.

Date: 2014-07-29
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act

Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to impose restrictions on foreign jurisdictions or financial institutions operating in the United States that are of primary money laundering concern or that significantly impede U.S. tax enforcement.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to:

 expand reporting requirements for U.S. persons who hold an interest in a passive foreign investment company; establish a rebuttable presumption against the validity of transactions by institutions that do not comply with reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act; treat certain foreign corporations managed and controlled primarily in the United States as domestic corporations for tax purposes; require tax withholding agents and financial institutions to report certain information about beneficial owners of foreign-owned financial accounts; treat swap payments sent offshore as taxable U.S. source income; and impose additional requirements for third party summonses used to obtain information in tax investigations that do not identify the person with respect to whose liability the summons is issued (i.e., John Doe summons). Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to: (1) require corporations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to report annually, on a country-by country basis, on employees, gross revenues, payments made to governments, and other financial information; and (2) impose a fine for failure to disclose any holdings or transactions involving equity or debt instruments known to involve a foreign entity that would otherwise be subject to disclosure requirements.

Makes investment advisers and persons engaged in forming new business entities subject to anti-money laundering requirements.

Imposes new restrictions on U.S. corporations and other entities with foreign income with respect to: (1) tax deductions allocable to deferred foreign income, (2) the recalculation of foreign income taxes, (3) intangible property transferred overseas, (4) tax evasion activities by U.S. corporations reincorporating in a foreign country, and (5) the interest expense tax deduction of certain subsidiaries of foreign corporations with excess domestic indebtedness.

Modifies rules for the taxation of inverted corporations (i.e., U.S. corporations that acquire foreign companies to reincorporate in a foreign jurisdiction with income tax rates lower than the United States) to provide that a foreign corporation that acquires the properties of a U.S. corporation or partnership after May 8, 2014, shall be treated as an inverted corporation and thus subject to U.S. taxation if, after such acquisition: (1) it holds more than 50% of the stock of the new entity (expanded affiliated group), or (2) the management or control of the new entity occurs primarily within the United States and the new entity has significant domestic business activities.

Date: 2015-01-13
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Offshoring Prevention Act

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include in foreign base company income, for purposes of determining the foreign trade income of controlled foreign corporations, imported property income. Defines "imported property income" as, with certain exceptions, income attributable to property manufactured outside of the United States and imported for sale into the United States. Provides for a separate application of limitations on the foreign tax credit for imported property income.

Date: 2015-01-13
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Infrastructure 2.0 Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the taxation of earnings and profits of a deferred foreign income corporation, to: (1) make such earnings and profit subject to taxation in the last taxable year that ends before the enactment of this Act; (2) reduce the rate of tax on such earnings and profits by allowing an exemption of 75% (equal to a tax of 8.75% of repatriated earnings and profits); and (3) allow such corporations to elect to pay such tax in eight installments.

Establishes the American Infrastructure Fund to provide assistance to states, local governments, and other public and private entities for investment in public infrastructure projects.

Appropriates tax revenues from this Act to the Highway Trust Fund.

Establishes the Highway Trust Fund Solvency Commission to submit recommendations and proposed legislation for achieving long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. Sets forth congressional procedures for the expedited consideration of a bill containing such legislation.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a regional infrastructure accelerator pilot program to assist public entities in developing infrastructure projects.

Establishes a deadline of 18 months after the enactment of this Act for the enactment of legislation that reforms the international tax system by eliminating the incentive to hold earnings in low-tax jurisdictions. Imposes a tax on repatriated offshore corporate earnings upon the expiration of the deadline.

Sets forth provisions for the reform of the international tax system (to be effective if reform legislation is not enacted by the 18-month deadline established by this Act), including provisions relating to subpart F income and insurance income, gains and losses from the sale or exchange of stock in controlled foreign corporations, limitations on the foreign tax credit, and the tax treatment of previously deferred foreign income.

Date: 2015-01-30
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Permanent Active Financing Exception Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the subpart F foreign personal holding company income exemption for income that is derived in the active conduct of a banking, financing, or similar business, as a securities dealer, or in the conduct of an insurance business.

Date: 2015-02-12
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Permanent CFC Look-Through Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax rule exempting dividends, interest, rents, and royalties received or accrued from certain controlled foreign corporations by a related entity from treatment as foreign holding company income (thus permitting tax deferral of such income).

Date: 2015-03-18
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act 

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the taxation of the foreign-source income of domestic corporations, to:

 eliminate the deferral of tax on the foreign-source income of U.S. corporations for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015; deny the foreign tax credit to large integrated oil companies that are dual capacity taxpayers; limit the offset of the foreign tax credit to income that is subject to U.S. tax; treat foreign corporations managed and controlled in the United States as domestic corporations for U.S. tax purposes; limit the tax deduction of the interest expense of a U.S. corporation that is a member of a financial reporting group (i.e., a group that prepares consolidated financial statements according to generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards); and revise rules for the taxation of inverted corporations (i.e., U.S. corporations that acquire foreign companies to reincorporate in a foreign jurisdiction with income tax rates lower than the United States) to provide that a foreign corporation that acquires the properties of a U.S. corporation or partnership after May 8, 2014, shall be treated as an inverted corporation and thus subject to U.S. taxation if, after such acquisition it holds more than 50% of the stock of the new entity (expanded affiliated group).

Date: 2015-04-14
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax on nonresident alien individuals, to: (1) make permanent the tax exemption for interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends received from a regulated investment company, and (2) expand the categories of interest-related dividends for which a tax exemption is allowed.

Date: 2015-04-29
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Real Estate Investment and Jobs Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from 5% to 10% the stock ownership threshold in a real estate investment trust for purposes of exempting proceeds from dispositions of such stock from withholding requirements under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (FIRPTA). Exempts from FIRPTA withholding requirements U.S. real property interests held by: (1) a qualified foreign pension fund created or organized outside the United States, or (2) any entity all of the interests of which are held by a qualified foreign pension fund.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2015

 Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to jurisdiction of courts in the United States over foreign manufacturers that import products into the United States.

Directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (with respect to drugs, devices, cosmetics, and biological products), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (with respect to consumer products), and the Environmental Protection Agency (with respect to chemical substances, new chemical substances, and pesticides) to require foreign manufacturers and producers of such products (or components used to manufacture them), in excess of a minimum value or quantity, to establish a registered agent in the United States authorized to accept service of process on their behalf for the purpose of any state or federal regulatory proceeding or civil action in state or federal court.

Deems a foreign manufacturer or producer of products covered under this Act that registers an agent to consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state or federal courts of the state in which the agent is located for the purpose of any civil or regulatory proceeding.

Requires any person who imports into the United States a covered product manufactured or produced outside the United States to provide to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) a declaration that to the best of the person's knowledge, with respect to the importation of each covered product, the foreign manufacturer or producer of the product has registered an agent in the United States. Directs the CBP Commissioner to prescribe related regulations.

Subjects an importer who fails to provide or files a false declaration to certain penalties. Requires the Department of Agriculture and the FDA jointly to study the feasibility and advisability of requiring foreign producers of food distributed in commerce to establish a registered agent in the United States who is authorized to accept service of process on behalf of such producers for the purpose of all civil and regulatory actions in state and federal courts.

Requires the head of each agency cited in this Act similarly to study feasible and advisable methods of requiring foreign manufacturers or producers of component parts of covered products distributed in U.S. commerce to establish registered agents in the United States for purposes of such service of process.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Law
Aviation Screening Contractor Reform and Accountability Act 

This bill prohibits subsidiaries of foreign-owned companies from performing security screening at commercial airports and establishes additional requirements for private screening companies.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) must not:

 contract with private screening companies that are U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies or have compromised covert security testing, permit the screening to be performed by a subcontractor, or provide funding to any company that provides screening services at an airport in excess of the required amount. Private screening companies must:

 provide the right of first refusal to federal or private sector employees who are performing screening at an airport when a contract is awarded; and report to the TSA regarding security breaches, retention rates of employees, adverse employment actions, and customer complaints. The TSA must use Government Accountability Office (GAO) guidance to compare the costs of overseeing private companies with using federal employees for screening, enhance monitoring of the performance of private screening companies, and require companies to train employees on handling sensitive information.

Each airport must notify passengers if screening is conducted by a contractor and provide contact information for reporting complaints.

The GAO must conduct annual covert testing of airports that use private screening companies.

The TSA must establish a process for confidentially reporting deficiencies, waste, or vulnerabilities with respect to private screening services. The companies must not retaliate against individuals who report this information, refuse to engage in illegal activities, or testify during government proceedings.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Stop Outsourcing and Create American Jobs Act of 2015 

This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to develop and publish a list of countries that are tax havens for corporations.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the penalties on corporations for: (1) underpayment of tax involving an undisclosed foreign financial asset located in a tax haven country; (2) reportable transaction understatements involving transactions in a tax haven country; and (3) fraud, tax evasion, or false statements involving transactions in a tax haven country.

The bill: (1) grants a preference in the award of federal contracts to contractors who have not engaged in outsourcing, and (2) defines "outsourcing" as the laying off of a U.S. worker from a job and the hiring or contracting for the same job to be performed in a foreign country.

Revenues generated by this Act must be set aside for the reduction of the public debt.

Date: 2015-10-22
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Putting America First Corporate Tax Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the definition of subpart F income (i.e., income of a controlled foreign corporation earned outside the United States that is not tax-deferred) to include income of a controlled foreign corporation derived from any foreign country. This modification is applicable to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
This bill expressly prohibits the Department of the Treasury from collecting from a U.S. person or transmitting to any foreign jurisdiction any country-by-country report (CbCR) information of any U.S. person for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2017. CbCR information is used by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to develop its Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan to increase the transparency of transfer pricing practices and other tax transactions of multinational business enterprises.

Treasury must: (1) suspend the transmittal of CbCR information of any U.S. person to a foreign jurisdiction if it determines that such jurisdiction is abusing BEPS master file documentation requirements or failing to safeguard the confidentiality of information required in the master file, and (2) report to the congressional tax committees on allegations or reports received concerning the abuse of master file documentation requirements and any actions taken with respect to such allegations.

Date: 2015-12-18
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
EB-5 Integrity Act of 2016

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the EB-5 (alien investor) regional center program.

A regional center shall operate within a defined geographic area, and shall be consistent with the purpose of concentrating pooled investment within such area.

The bill prescribes job creation requirements.

 Alien investor capital may not be used to purchase municipal or any other publicly-available bonds.

Approved regional centers must give advance notice to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of significant proposed changes to their organizational structure, ownership, or administration, which must then be approved by DHS.

A commercial enterprise associated with a regional center shall file an application with, and obtain approval from, DHS for each investment offering to aliens seeking alien investor classification.

 Approval of a business plan shall be binding on future adjudication except in cases of fraud, criminal misuse, public or national security, or major errors of law or fact.

The bill expands regional center annual statement reporting requirements.

The bill also prohibits regional center involvement for persons who have committed certain crimes, human trafficking, controlled substance trafficking, espionage, or terrorist activity. DHS shall suspend or terminate designation of any regional center, or the participation of any new commercial enterprise or job-creating entity, that knowingly involved such a person.

Only a U.S. national or lawfully admitted permanent resident may be involved with a regional center.

A regional center shall monitor and supervise all offers, purchases, and sales of securities made by associated parties to ensure compliance with U.S. securities laws.

The bill establishes the EB-5 Integrity Fund in the Treasury, and prescribes specified fees to be collected from each regional center.

 Direct and third party promoters must: (1) comply with DHS rules and standards and federal or state securities laws, (2) register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and (3) meet other specified requirements.

 The bill prescribes fund source and gift restrictions.

DHS shall deny or revoke the approval of a business plan application with any investment or business arrangement that: (1) presents a threat to public safety or national security; or (2) presents a significant risk of criminal misuse, fraud, or abuse.

An alien investor shall demonstrate that the required capital and any administrative funds were obtained from a lawful source and through lawful means.

If a regional center or regional center associated commercial enterprise has its designation or participation terminated for reasons relating to fraud or other specified offenses, any associated person, including an alien investor, who was a knowing participant shall be permanently barred from future program participation.

DHS employees may not give specified preferential treatment to any organization or individual in connection with any aspect of the EB-5 regional center investor visa program.

Date: 2016-02-10
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Immigration
United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2016

This bill requires a business that employs 50 or more call center employees, excluding part-time employees, or 50 or more call center employees who in the aggregate work at least 1,500 hours per week, exclusive of overtime, to notify the Department of Labor at least 120 days before relocating such center outside of the United States. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day.

Labor must make publicly available a list of all such employers that relocate a call center. It may remove from the list an employer that has relocated the call center from a location outside the United States to a location inside the United States.

Employers must remain on the list for up to three years after each relocation. An employer is ineligible for federal grants or federal guaranteed loans for five years after being added to the list, except where the employer demonstrates that a lack of such loan or grant would threaten national security, result in substantial job loss in the United States, or harm the environment. Federal or state executive agencies or military departments, when awarding a civilian or defense-related contract, must give preference to a U.S. employer that does not appear on the list.

Businesses that initiate or receive a customer service communication must require each of their employees or agents participating in the communication to disclose their physical location at the beginning of each such communication unless all involved employees or agents are located in the United States. The bill exempts any communication: (1) initiated by a consumer if the consumer knows or reasonably should know that the employee or agent is located outside the United States, or (2) related to the provision of emergency services. Upon request, businesses must transfer a customer to a customer service agent who is physically located in the United States.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may exclude certain classes or types of business entities or customer service communications from the requirements of this Act under exceptionally compelling circumstances. The bill sets forth authority for the FTC to enforce against violations.

Date: 2016-02-24
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Commerce
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax on nonresident alien individuals, to expand the categories of interest-related dividends for which a tax exemption is allowed.

Date: 2016-05-10
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Foreign Business Bribery Prohibition Act of 2016

This bill amends the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) to authorize private rights of action against persons that violate the FCPA's anti-bribery provisions, which prohibit giving things of value to foreign officials or political parties for purposes of obtaining or retaining business. A person that violates the FCPA's anti-bribery provisions shall be liable for up to treble damages to a securities issuer, domestic business concern, or U.S. person damaged by the violation.

A plaintiff must prove an FCPA anti-bribery violation by the defendant that: (1) prevented the plaintiff from obtaining or retaining business, and (2) assisted the defendant in obtaining or retaining such business.

Date: 2016-06-09
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Commerce
American Job Creation and Investment Promotion Reform Act of 2016

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise EB-5 (alien immigrant investor) provisions, including regional center program provisions.

The bill prescribes E-B5 requirements regarding: (1) fund sources; (2) threats to the national interest; and (3) fraud, misrepresentation,and criminal misuse.

Future program participation is barred for a person who knowingly participated in conduct that caused a program center's termination.

The EB-5 regional center program is extended through September 30, 2021.

EB-5 investors must be at least 18 years old.

The bill: (1) provides initial conditional permanent resident status for an alien investor (and the investor's spouse and children), and (2) sets aside 2,000 EB-5 visas for aliens who invest in rural areas and 2,000 EB-5 visas for aliens who invest in priority urban investment areas.

A regional center shall operate within a defined geographic area and shall be consistent with the purpose of concentrating pooled investment within such area.

The bill prescribes job creation requirements.

Approved regional centers must give advance notice to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of significant proposed changes to their organizational structure, ownership, or administration.

U.S. nationals are included in the minimum of 10 U.S. persons for whom an EB-5 project must provide employment.

Only a U.S. national or lawfully admitted permanent resident may be involved with a regional center.

A regional center shall monitor and supervise all offers, purchases, and sales of securities made by associated parties to ensure compliance with U.S. securities laws.

The bill establishes the EB-5 Integrity Fund.

The bill prescribes fund source and gift restrictions.

Minimum investment amounts are increased.

The bill authorizes concurrent filing of EB-5 petitions and applications for adjustment to conditional lawful permanent resident status.

Date: 2016-09-12
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Immigration
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt premiums paid on non-cash-value property and casualty insurance policies from taxes to enforce reporting on certain foreign accounts.

Date: 2016-09-22
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
EB-5 Integrity Act of 2015

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the EB-5 (alien investor) regional center program.

A regional center shall operate within a defined geographic area, and shall be consistent with the purpose of concentrating pooled investment within such area.

The bill prescribes job creation requirements.

 Alien investor capital may not be used to purchase municipal or any other publicly-available bonds.

Approved regional centers must give advance notice to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of significant proposed changes to their organizational structure, ownership, or administration, which must then be approved by DHS.

A commercial enterprise associated with a regional center shall file an application with, and obtain approval from, DHS for each investment offering to aliens seeking alien investor classification.

 Approval of a business plan shall be binding on future adjudication except in cases of fraud, criminal misuse, public or national security, or major errors of law or fact.

The bill expands regional center annual statement reporting requirements.

The bill also prohibits regional center involvement for persons who have committed certain crimes, human trafficking, controlled substance trafficking, espionage, or terrorist activity. DHS shall suspend or terminate designation of any regional center, or the participation of any new commercial enterprise or job-creating entity, that knowingly involved such a person.

Only a U.S. national or lawfully admitted permanent resident may be involved with a regional center.

A regional center shall monitor and supervise all offers, purchases, and sales of securities made by associated parties to ensure compliance with U.S. securities laws.

The bill establishes the EB-5 Integrity Fund in the Treasury, and prescribes specified fees to be collected from each regional center.

 Direct and third party promoters must: (1) comply with DHS rules and standards and federal or state securities laws, (2) register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and (3) meet other specified requirements.

 The bill prescribes fund source and gift restrictions.

DHS shall deny or revoke the approval of a business plan application with any investment or business arrangement that: (1) presents a threat to public safety or national security; or (2) presents a significant risk of criminal misuse, fraud, or abuse.

An alien investor shall demonstrate that the required capital and any administrative funds were obtained from a lawful source and through lawful means.

If a regional center or regional center associated commercial enterprise has its designation or participation terminated for reasons relating to fraud or other specified offenses, any associated person, including an alien investor, who was a knowing participant shall be permanently barred from future program participation.

DHS employees may not give specified preferential treatment to any organization or individual in connection with any aspect of the EB-5 regional center investor visa program.

Date: 2015-12-17
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Immigration
United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2016

This bill requires a business that employs 50 or more call center employees, excluding part-time employees, or 50 or more call center employees who in the aggregate work at least 1,500 hours per week, exclusive of overtime, to notify the Department of Labor at least 120 days before relocating such center outside of the United States. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day.

Labor must make publicly available a list of all such employers that relocate a call center. It may remove from the list an employer that has relocated the call center from a location outside the United States to a location inside the United States.

Employers must remain on the list for up to three years after each relocation. An employer is ineligible for federal grants or federal guaranteed loans for five years after being added to the list, except where the employer demonstrates that a lack of such loan or grant would threaten national security, result in substantial job loss in the United States, or harm the environment. Federal or state executive agencies or military departments, when awarding a civilian or defense-related contract, must give preference to a U.S. employer that does not appear on the list.

Businesses that initiate or receive a customer service communication must require each of their employees or agents participating in the communication to disclose their physical location at the beginning of each such communication unless all involved employees or agents are located in the United States. The bill exempts any communication: (1) initiated by a consumer if the consumer knows or reasonably should know that the employee or agent is located outside the United States, or (2) related to the provision of emergency services. Upon request, businesses must transfer a customer to a customer service agent who is physically located in the United States.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may exclude certain classes or types of business entities or customer service communications from the requirements of this Act under exceptionally compelling circumstances. The bill sets forth authority for the FTC to enforce against violations.

Date: 2016-02-25
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Commerce
Corporate Inverters Earnings Stripping Reform Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose limitations on the tax deduction for interest paid by corporations which are designated as applicable entities (i.e., members of an expanded affiliated group which includes a surrogate foreign corporation which is not treated as a domestic corporation). Such an entity may not claim a tax deduction for interest that exceeds 25% of its adjusted taxable income and may not carry forward interest which is paid or accrued during the first year in which such entity becomes an applicable entity.

The bill requires an applicable entity to file an annual application for an approval agreement (i.e., a prefiling, advance pricing, or other agreement involving a related-party transaction) with the Internal Revenue Service during the 10-year period after it becomes an applicable entity.

Date: 2016-03-10
Topic: Foreign Trade (Private Investments)
Subject: Taxation
Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2007 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to propose the cancellation (line item veto) of any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, item of direct spending, limited tariff benefit, or targeted tax benefit. Sets forth requirements for the President's transmittal to Congress of a special message regarding a proposed cancellation. Dedicates any cancellation only to deficit reduction or increase of a surplus. Provides for adjustment of: (1) committee allocations resulting from such rescission; and (2) applicable limits, as appropriate, under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of a proposed rescission. Expresses the sense of Congress that no President or any executive branch official should condition the inclusion or exclusion, or threaten to condition the inclusion or exclusion, of any proposed cancellation in any special message under this Act upon any vote cast or to be cast by any Member of either chamber.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Commission on Unfair Tax Breaks and Subsidies, or CUTS Act of 2007 - Establishes the Commission on Unfair Tax Breaks and Subsidies to: (1) examine federal programs and tax laws and identify which ones provide inequitable federal subsidies; (2) review such subsidies; and (3) report to Congress. States that this Act is not intended to result in the creation of new programs or taxes. Requires the Commission to limit: (1) its activities to reviewing programs or tax laws as of the enactment of this Act with the goal of ensuring fairness and equity in its operation and application; and (2) its recommendations to the termination or reduction of payments, benefits, services, or tax advantages, rather than the termination of federal agencies or departments.

Date: 2007-02-07
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to: (1) use the National Science and Technology Council as a forum for coordination and collaboration among federal agencies in developing best practices for the support of advanced research instrumentation and facilities at academic institutions; (2) encourage the development of centralized programs for the support of advanced research instrumentation and facilities at all federal research agencies that sponsor research at academic institutions; and (3) develop and implement policies for federal support for advanced research instrumentation and facilities as described in this Act. Requires such forum to also provide advice to the Director in developing those policies.

Date: 2007-02-15
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Earmark Accountability and Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to propose the cancellation (line item veto) of any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, item of direct spending, or targeted tax benefit. Sets forth requirements for the President's transmittal to Congress of a special message regarding a proposed cancellation. Dedicates any cancellation only to deficit reduction or increase of a surplus. Provides for adjustment of: (1) committee allocations resulting from such rescission; and (2) applicable limits, as appropriate, under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of a proposed rescission. Expresses the sense of Congress that no President or any executive branch official should condition the inclusion or exclusion, or threaten to condition the inclusion or exclusion, of any proposed cancellation in any special message under this Act upon any vote cast or to be cast by any Member of either chamber. Amends Rule XXII (House and Senate Relations) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to declare that any earmark that was not committed to conference by either chamber in their disagreeing votes on a measure shall be considered out of scope under such Rule. Amends Rule XIII (Calendars and Committee Reports) to prohibit floor consideration of a report by the Committee on Rules on a rule or order to waive the three-day layover requirement of Rule XIII or Rule XXII, except when agreed to by two-thirds of the Members voting, a quorum being present.

Date: 2007-03-07
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance