zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Make It At Home Act

It is the sense of Congress that it shall be the goal of the Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with the Secretaries of the military services, to ensure the management of the manufacturing workload of the military arsenals to maintain critical capabilities and ensure cost efficiency and technical competence in peacetime, while preserving the ability to provide an effective and timely response to mobilizations, national defense contingency situations, and other emergent requirements.

The Secretary shall report to Congress on the equipment, weapons, weapons systems, components, subcomponents, and end-items purchased from foreign entities and identify: (1) those items which could be manufactured in U.S. military arsenals or military depots to meet such goals, as well as (2) a plan for moving that workload into U.S. military arsenals or depots.

Date: 2015-04-28
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Preserving National Guard Combat Readiness Act of 2015

This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 to eliminate certain authority of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army to prepare for and transfer up to 48 AH-64 Apache helicopters from the Army National Guard to the regular Army.

Date: 2015-05-01
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Drone Reform Act

Prohibits operations involving the use of an armed unmanned aerial vehicle from being carried out under the authority of federal agency other than the Department of Defense (DOD).

Defines "unmanned aerial vehicle" (UAV) as an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft, including drones, unmanned aircraft or aerial systems, remotely piloted aircraft or vehicles, remotely operated aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicle systems.

Authorizes only uniformed members of the Armed Forces to: (1) operate, or order the operation of, an armed UAV; or (2) operate or fire, or order the operation or firing of, any weapon or other munition carried on an armed UAV.

Subjects the operation and use of armed UAVs to the requirements of laws applicable to the Armed Forces.

Prohibits this Act from being construed to: (1) limit or expand the authority of a component of the federal government to provide intelligence to the DOD, or (2) create or expand any authority for the federal government to kill any person.

Date: 2015-05-22
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
U.S.-Israel Security Cooperation Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to carry out research, development, test, and evaluation activities on a joint basis with Israel to establish directed energy capabilities to detect and defeat ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, mortars, and improvised explosive devices.

Activities carried out pursuant to such authority shall be conducted in a manner that protects sensitive information and U.S. and Israeli national security interests.

DOD's Missile Defense Agency shall be lead agency in carrying out these activities.

Date: 2016-03-17
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: International affairs
Directed Energy Weapon Systems Acquisition Act of 2016

This bill amends the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 to state that, if supplies or support services are urgently needed to eliminate a deficiency in directed energy weapon systems, the Department of Defense (DOD) may use specified rapid acquisition procedures to acquire and deploy needed offensive or defensive directed energy weapon systems capabilities, supplies, and associated support services.

"Directed energy weapon system" means military action using highly focused sound, electromagnetic, or particle-beam energy to incapacitate, damage, or destroy enemy equipment, facilities, or personnel.

The bill redesignates DOD's High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office as the Joint Directed Energy Program Office.

The Office shall: (1) develop a strategic plan for development and transition of directed energy weapons capabilities, and (2) use new and revised DOD policies to accelerate the development and transition of directed energy capabilities toward fielding.

Date: 2016-04-15
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to: (1)identify DOD equipment that would be appropriate for farm use and could be used in an equipment sharing program without jeopardizing military readiness, and (2) establish a three-year pilot program to lend such equipment to new and beginning farmers.

Date: 2016-05-18
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Export Control Reform Act

This bill requires all of the following items that are on the United States Munitions List and the import or export of which is controlled by the President under the Arms Export Control Act on the date of this bill's enactment to be transferred to the Commerce Control List of dual-use items in the Export Administration Regulations:

 non-automatic and semi-automatic firearms, including all rifles, carbines, pistols, revolvers, and shotguns; non-automatic and non-semi-automatic rifles, carbines, revolvers, or pistols of a caliber greater than .50 inches (12.7 mm) up to and including .72 inches (18.0 mm); ammunition for such firearms excluding caseless ammunition; silencers, mufflers, and sound and flash suppressors; rifle scopes; barrels, cylinders, receivers (frames), or complete breech mechanisms; and related components, parts, accessories, attachments, tooling, and equipment.

Date: 2016-09-27
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures Act

Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2015-FY2024: (1) for the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) or procurement of a long-range penetrating bomber aircraft; (2) to procure an SSBN-X submarine (and prohibits the use of such funds for FY2025 and thereafter to procure more than eight such submarines); or (3) for the RDT&E or procurement of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated for FY2015 or thereafter for DOD or the Department of Energy: (1) to make the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons; (2) until the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy jointly certify that the total cost of the B61 life extension program has been reduced to not more than $4 billion; (3) for the W78 life extension program; (4) for the mixed oxide fuel fabrication facility project; (5) for the uranium processing facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; or (6) for RDT&E of a new air-launched cruise missile or for the W80 warhead life extension program.

Prohibits Navy forces, beginning in FY2021, from including more than eight operational ballistic-missile submarines available for deployment.

Requires initial and annual reports from the Secretaries of Defense and Energy outlining their respective plans to carry out the requirements of this Act.

Directs the President to submit to Congress an annual report containing a comprehensive accounting by the Office of Management and Budget of the amounts obligated or expended by the federal government for each nuclear weapon and related nuclear program during the fiscal year covered by the report for the life cycle of such weapon or program.

Date: 2015-03-23
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Electronic Warfare Capabilities Enhancement Act of 2016

This bill permits the use of appropriations authorized for electromagnetic spectrum warfare systems and electronic warfare in order to develop and field electromagnetic spectrum warfare systems and electronic warfare capabilities.

The Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 is amended to include electronic warfare programs in the rapid acquisition authority program.

Electronic warfare is military action involving the use of electromagnetic and directed energy to control the electromagnetic spectrum or to attack the enemy, and includes electromagnetic spectrum warfare, which encompasses military communications and sensing operations that occur in the electromagnetic operational domain.

The Department of Defense shall delegate to the senior electronic warfare executive the authority to review and validate all Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System documents for electronic warfare acquisition programs.

The Electronic Warfare Executive Committee shall submit to the congressional defense committees a strategic plan with measurable and timely objectives to achieve its mission according to specified metrics.

Date: 2016-02-03
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directed Energy Weapon Systems Acquisition Act of 2016

This bill amends the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 to state that, if supplies or support services are urgently needed to eliminate a deficiency in directed energy weapon systems, the Department of Defense (DOD) may use specified rapid acquisition procedures to acquire and deploy needed offensive or defensive directed energy weapon systems capabilities, supplies, and associated support services.

"Directed energy weapon system" means military action using highly focused sound, electromagnetic, or particle-beam energy to incapacitate, damage, or destroy enemy equipment, facilities, or personnel.

The bill redesignates DOD's High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office as the Joint Directed Energy Program Office.

The Office shall: (1) develop a strategic plan for development and transition of directed energy weapons capabilities, and (2) use new and revised DOD policies to accelerate the development and transition of directed energy capabilities toward fielding.

Date: 2016-04-12
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Rapid Innovation Fund Enhancement Act of 2016

This bill amends the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 to require that the Defense Research and Development Rapid Innovation program be coordinated with the senior acquisition executives of the departments, agencies, and components of the Department of Defense (DOD).

For FY2017 and each fiscal year thereafter, DOD shall obligate for eligible program technologies a minimum of 1% of the aggregate DOD research, development, test, and evaluation budget available for projects and activities at the level of Advanced Component Development Prototypes and above.

DOD shall: (1) provide Congress with annual project briefings, and (2) issue additional program operations guidelines.

"Eligible technology" means:

 a technology that has received a phase II award under the Small Business Innovation Research program or the Small Business Technology Transfer program, a technology developed by a nontraditional defense contractor, a technology developed by the defense laboratories, or any other innovative technology as determined by DOD.

Date: 2016-04-13
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Missile Defense Defend and Deter Act of 2016

This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) Missile Defense Agency to administer an intercept flight test of the ground-based midcourse defense element of the ballistic missile defense system at least once each fiscal year.

Each test shall provide for:

 validation of the defense element's operational effectiveness; use of assets in their operational configuration against an inventory of targets to assess performance in a variety of flight test regimes; use of operational doctrine and real-world constraints; evaluation of new concepts of operations, tactics, and techniques; and mechanisms to assure the confidence of members of the Armed Forces in the basic design of the ground-based midcourse defense element, its hit-to-kill effectiveness, and its operational capability. The Agency may forgo a test if:

 it would jeopardize national security, not be successful due to specific ground-based midcourse defense components needing a non-intercept test, and likely fail due to impractical time considerations; or funding is insufficient. The Agency also may forgo a test if DOD determines that the testing is detrimental to U.S. national security interests and provides notice to Congress.

Date: 2016-04-28
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Small Business National Security Innovation Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of the Navy to establish a pilot program for the commercialization of products and services produced by covered small business concerns under which the Department shall set up a multiple task or delivery order contract for those products and services.

 Nothing in this bill shall be construed to prevent the commercialization of products and services produced by a small business concern under a federal agency Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program through:

 direct awards for Phase III of an SBIR or STTR program; awards made under the Rapid Innovation Fund (for accelerating the fielding of innovative technologies developed using Department of Defense [DOD] research funding, and expedient DOD use of such technologies in defense acquisition programs); or any other contract vehicle.

Date: 2016-04-28
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
This bill directs the Department of Defense, in order to mitigate the risk posed to U.S. nuclear forces by the failure to replace the UH-1N helicopter, to make (and implement within 60 days) a decision for securing land-based missile fields using alternative helicopters, or making a change in security posture, until the acquisition process for a replacement helicopter has concluded.

Date: 2016-05-12
Topic: Defense (Procurement)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Commission on Detainee Treatment Act of 2007 - Establishes the National Commission on Detainee Treatment to: (1) conduct a comprehensive review of matters relating to the capture, custody, judicial proceedings, and repatriation of suspected unlawful enemy combatants; and (2) prepare and submit to Congress and the President a final report on Commission recommendations, findings, and conclusions.

Date: 2007-07-31
Topic: Civil Rights (Other)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Civil Access to Justice Act of 2009 - Amends the Legal Services Corporation Act to reauthorize the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) at increased levels for FY2010-FY2015. Requires the LSC Board of Directors to include at least one individual with financial or audit experience. Eliminates state advisory councils. Increases the maximum pay level for LSC officers and employees. Requires the LSC to establish: (1) a protocol for the receipt of donations; (2) an audit committee, a finance committee, and a governance and performance review committee; (3) a continuity of operations plan; and (4) an adequate internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. Requires the LSC to promote recruitment and retention of highly qualified staff members for all grantees, contractees, or recipients of financial assistance through the Pilot Loan Repayment Assistance Program or other appropriate programs. Limits the coverage of prohibited purpose provisions of federal law only to recipient use of funds from the LSC itself. (Thus lifts such restrictions, except those related to abortion litigation, on the use of state and local funds and private donations.) Revises eligibility requirements for LSC grantees and funds recipients, extending specific eligibility to those seeking assistance with matters relating to home foreclosure or mortgage default or delinquency. Requires distribution of LSC funds on the basis of a system of competitive bidding, as well as specific allocations for all geographic areas, Native American communities, and migrant and seasonal farm workers. Prohibits the use of LSC funds to provide legal assistance with respect to: (1) litigation relating to prison conditions; (2) the defense of an individual in a proceeding to evict him or her from a public housing project in connection with a drug offense; or (3) all but certain aliens. Authorizes the LSC to allow use of a portion of the funds provided under the grant or contract to acquire and develop information technology to promote full access to high-quality, efficient legal representation and materials for self-representation. Directs the LSC to require an audit of each recipient in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.

Date: 2009-10-08
Topic: Civil Rights (Other)
Subject: Law
Service Member Second Amendment Protection Act of 2010 - Prohibits the Secretary of Defense (DOD) from prohibiting, issuing any requirement relating to, or collecting or recording any information relating to the otherwise lawful acquisition, possession, ownership, carrying, or other use of a privately-owned firearm, privately-owned ammunition, or another privately-owned weapon by a member of the Armed Forces or a DOD civilian employee on property that is not owned or operated by DOD. Nullifies any existing DOD regulation promulgated prior to enactment of this Act that restricts weapon ownership or use in violation of this Act. Requires the destruction of any record containing information about weapon ownership or use that was collected prior to enactment of this Act. Provides that nothing in this Act limits the authority of the Secretary to: (1) regulate the possession, carrying, or other use of a firearm, ammunition, or other weapon by a member of the Armed Forces or by a DOD civilian employee while engaged in official duties or while wearing the uniform of an Armed Force; or (2) create or maintain records relating to an investigation, prosecution, or adjudication of any alleged violation of law.

Date: 2010-07-01
Topic: Civil Rights (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to the use of extrajudicial force against a citizen of the United States. Prohibits anyone, including the President, from instructing an employee or an agent of the United States from engaging in, or conspiring to engage in, the extrajudicial killing of a U.S. citizen. Requires the President to submit to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate: (1) a report on the identity of each U.S. citizen that is on the list of the Joint Special Operations Command or the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a high value individual or a high value target; and (2) a written assurance that no U.S. citizens are being added to such list. Defines "extrajudicial killing" to mean a premeditated and intentional use of lethal force against a U.S. citizen, but excludes from such definition the use of force in certain circumstances, including against a U.S. citizen whose guilt has been adjudicated consistent with due process of law, who directly participates in armed hostilities against the United States, and against whom force is required for purposes of self defense, defense of others, or for enabling the release of hostages.

Date: 2010-07-30
Topic: Civil Rights (Other)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Human-Animal Hybrid Prohibition Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit and to set penalties for: (1) creating or attempting to create a human-animal hybrid (a being with human and non-human tissue as specified in this Act); (2) transferring or attempting to transfer a human embryo into a non-human womb, or a non-human embryo into a human womb; or (3) transporting or receiving for any purpose a human-animal hybrid.

Date: 2009-07-09
Topic: Civil Rights (Other)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Marriage and Religious Freedom Act - Prohibits the federal government from taking an adverse action against a person on the basis that such person acts in accordance with a religious belief that: (1) marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or (2) sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.

Defines "adverse action" as any federal government action to discriminate against such person, including: (1) denying or revoking certain tax exemptions or disallowing a deduction of any charitable contribution made to or by such person; (2) denying or excluding such person from receiving any federal grant, contract, cooperative agreement, loan, license, certification, accreditation, employment, or similar position or status; or (3) denying or withholding any benefit under a federal benefit program.

Permits a person to assert an actual or threatened violation of this Act as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and to obtain compensatory damages or other appropriate relief against the federal government.

Authorizes the Attorney General (DOJ) to bring actions to enforce this Act.

Specifies that the term "person" includes any person regardless of religious affiliation, as well as corporations and other entities regardless of for-profit or nonprofit status.

Date: 2013-09-19
Topic: Civil Rights (Other)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Home Owners Mortgage and Equity Savings Act, or the HOMES Act - Amends federal bankruptcy law governing mortgage loans to authorize modification of a (mortgage) claim secured by an interest in real property initiated before September 26, 2007, that is the debtor's principal residence. Allows the principal amount of such a mortgage loan to be lowered to the fair market value, if less than such amount, of the real property securing the loan at the time of the submission of the debtor's plan for the payment of debts. Permits waiver of otherwise applicable early repayment or prepayment penalties. Permits, also, prohibition of, delay in, or voiding of any adjustments to the rate of interest in the case of an adjustable rate mortgage.Permits the bankruptcy court, in the case of a chapter 13 debtor (individual with regular income), to consider certain interest, late fees, or other fees to be a voidable transfer if the court finds there was a substantial failure to disclose material terms regarding such interest or fees related to a mortgage claim.Authorizes delay of the prerequisite that debtor obtain counseling from an approved credit counseling agency before filing the petition in bankruptcy, if the debtor submits to the court a certification that the holder of a claim secured by the debtor's principal residence has initiated foreclosure on that residence.Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the impact of allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure principal residence mortgages on the secondary market for mortgages.

Date: 2007-10-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Housing and community development
Amends the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 to prohibit the bankruptcy court from dismissing or converting a case based on means testing while the debtor: (1) is either on active duty or performing a homeland defense activity for at least 60 days; or (2) was either called to active duty or performed homeland defense activity as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or a member of the National Guard after September 11, 2001.

Date: 2007-10-25
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Home Owners' Mortgage and Equity Savings Act, or the HOMES Act - Amends federal bankruptcy law governing mortgage loans to authorize modification of a mortgage agreed to in writing by a debtor meeting specified requirements and the holder of a claim secured by an interest in real property initiated before September 26, 2007, that is the debtor's principal residence. Allows the principal amount of such a mortgage loan to be lowered to the fair market value, if less than such amount, of the real property securing the loan at the time of the submission of the debtor's plan for the payment of debts. Permits waiver of otherwise applicable early repayment or prepayment penalties. Permits, also, prohibition of, delay in, or voiding of any adjustments to the rate of interest in the case of an adjustable rate mortgage. Permits the bankruptcy court, in the case of a chapter 13 debtor (individual with regular income), to consider certain interest, late fees, or other fees to be a voidable transfer if the court finds there was a substantial failure to disclose material terms regarding such interest or fees related to a mortgage claim. Authorizes delay of the prerequisite that debtor obtain counseling from an approved credit counseling agency before filing the petition in bankruptcy, if the debtor submits to the court a certification that the holder of a claim secured by the debtor's principal residence has initiated foreclosure on that residence. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the impact of allowing bankruptcy judges to restructure principal residence mortgages on the secondary market for mortgages.

Date: 2007-10-03
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Housing and community development
Consumer Credit Fairness Act - Amends federal bankruptcy law governing equitable subordination of claims in a bankruptcy case to: (1) subordinate a claim arising from a high cost consumer credit transaction to all other claims; and (2) require transfer to the estate in bankruptcy of any lien securing a subordinated claim. Defines "high cost consumer credit transaction" as an extension of credit by a creditor resulting in a consumer debt with an applicable annual percentage rate (APR), including related costs and fees, that exceeds the lesser of: (1) the sum of 15% and the yield on U.S. Treasury securities having a 30-year period of maturity; or (2) 36%. Excludes a debtor's petition for relief resulting from a high cost consumer credit transaction from mandatory consideration for dismissal, or conversion to a case under chapter 11 or 13, based upon a finding of substantial abuse.

Date: 2008-07-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act - Amends federal bankruptcy law to cite circumstances under which a medically distressed debtor may elect to exempt from the property of the estate in bankruptcy up to $250,000 of the debtor's aggregate interest in specified real or personal property that the debtor (or debtor's dependent) uses as a residence, in a cooperative, or in a burial plot for the debtor or a dependent.Revises requirements for dismissal or conversion of a Chapter 7 case to prohibit the court or specified parties in interest from filing a motion to dismiss or convert to Chapter 11 or 13 if the debtor is a medically distressed debtor or an economically distressed caregiver.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Business Reorganization and Job Preservation Act of 2009 - Amends federal bankruptcy law with respect to the deemed rejection by the trustee in bankruptcy of an unexpired lease of nonresidential real property under which the debtor is the lessee and the immediate surrender of that nonresidential real property to the lessor. Revises the formula for the deadline for assumption or rejection of the unexpired lease before a rejection shall be deemed. Repeals the alternative date of the entry of an order confirming a plan, if that is the earlier of two dates. Fixes the period before deeming at 60 (currently 120) days after the order for relief. Repeals the current discretionary extension period the bankruptcy court may allow. Allows the bankruptcy court to fix another deadline for assumption or rejection, but only within the 60-day period after the order for relief. Reduces from 45 days to 10 days after a debtor's receipt of goods while insolvent the deadline by which a seller must demand reclamation of the goods in writing. Authorizes the court to deny reclamation to a seller with a right of reclamation that has made such a demand, but only if the court: (1) grants the seller's claim priority as an administrative expense; or (2) secures such claim by a lien.

Date: 2009-04-02
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Savannah's Law - Amends federal bankruptcy law to declare nondischargeable in bankruptcy any debts for a personal injury that results in a permanent disability.

Date: 2009-04-22
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2010 - Amends federal bankruptcy law to: (1) increase the limits governing trustee compensation in a case under chapter 7; and (2) authorize the court, in determining the amount of reasonable compensation to be awarded to a trustee under chapter 7, to treat such compensation as a commission.

Date: 2010-03-25
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Bankruptcy Technical Corrections Act of 2010 - Makes technical corrections to federal bankruptcy law, relating to amendments made by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, with respect to: (1) the power of the court; (2) waiver of sovereign immunity; (3) public access to papers; (4) who may be a debtor; (5) penalties for fraudulent or negligent preparation of bankruptcy petitions; (6) debtor reporting requirements; (7) automatic stay; (8) case administration; (9) determination of tax liability; (10) priorities of creditors and claims; (11) debtor's duties; (12) exceptions to a discharge; (13) restrictions on debt relief agencies; (14) property of the estate; (15) abandonment of property of the estate; (16) treatment of certain liens; and (17) conversion or dismissal. Makes technical corrections to the federal criminal code relating to bankruptcy fraud. Makes technical corrections to the federal judicial code relating to appeals and to bankruptcy statistics.

Date: 2010-09-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Protecting Homeowners and Foreclosure Stabilization Act of 2010 - Amends the bankruptcy code to make an exception to the requirement that the bankruptcy court grant relief from a stay, on the request of a party in interest, by terminating, annulling, modifying, or conditioning the stay for cause, including the lack of adequate protection of an interest in property of that party in interest. Excludes from mandatory relief from a stay on these grounds any stay of the foreclosure of the debtor's principal residence. Amends Chapter 13 (Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income) of the bankruptcy code with respect to discretionary contents of the debtor's plan for adjustments of his or her debts. Allows the plan, subject to certain conditions, to modify the rights of the holder of a claim for a loan: (1) originated before the effective date of this Act, and (2) secured by a security interest (including a subordinate security interest) in the debtor's principal residence that is the subject of a notice that a foreclosure on the loan may be commenced. Specifies as such conditions that the plan: (1) prohibits, reduces, or delays any otherwise permissible adjustments to the interest rate applicable on and after the date of the filing of the plan; (2) modifies the terms and conditions of the loan to provide for the payment of interest accruing after the date of the order for relief at a fixed annual rate equal to a specified rate, plus a reasonable premium for risk; and (3) provides for payments of the modified loan directly to the claim holder. Allows a claim to be reduced under this Act only on the condition that, if the debtor sells the principal residence securing the claim before receiving a discharge from debt, and receives net proceeds from that sale, then the debtor agrees to pay the claim holder 30% of the capital gains if the residence is sold within 10 years after the plan's effective date. Extends from 14 to 30 days the deadline, under the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, for the filing of a debtor's plan after the filing of a Chapter 13 petition, if the debtor's plan would modify the rights of a claim holder pursuant to this Act. Exempts from the credit counseling requirement any debtor whose principal residence is the subject of a notice of foreclosure (or similar notice under state law). Makes it one of the duties of a debtor in a voluntary case under chapter 13, in which a debt is secured by a lien on the debtor's principal residence, to certify under penalty of perjury that, before the filing of the petition, the debtor requested the holder of the claim for such debt to modify the debt.

Date: 2010-11-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Act of 2009 - Prohibits a foreclosure consultant from: (1) receiving compensation from a homeowner for services performed regarding residential real property until such consultant has fully performed each service contracted for; (2) holding power of attorney from any homeowner, except to inspect documents; (3) receiving consideration from a third party in connection with services rendered to a homeowner regarding the foreclosure, unless such consideration is fully, clearly, and conspicuously disclosed before such services are rendered; (4) accepting any security to secure compensation for services rendered regarding foreclosure of the residential real property; or (5) acquiring any interest in the residence of a homeowner with whom the consultant has contracted. Sets forth contract requirements. Permits a homeowner to cancel such contract without penalty or obligation.Declares void and unenforceable: (1) any waiver by a homeowner of the protections provided in this Act; and (2) any contract that does not comply with this Act.Requires a loan servicer to notify a homeowner of the dangers of fraudulent activities associated with foreclosure if the servicer finds that the homeowner has failed to make two consecutive payments on a residential mortgage loan at risk of foreclosure.Subjects a foreclosure consultant who fails to comply with this Act to liability for actual and punitive damages and for attorneys' fees. Empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the states to enforce this Act.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Housing and community development
Fairness for Struggling Students Act of 2010 - Revises federal bankruptcy law with respect to the exemption from the exception to discharge in bankruptcy for certain educational loans if excepting such debt from discharge would impose an undue hardship on the debtor and debtor's dependents. Limits such exemption to the existing ones for: (1) an educational benefit overpayment or loan made, insured, or guaranteed by a governmental unit or made under any program funded in whole or in part by a governmental unit; and (2) an obligation to repay funds received from a governmental unit as an educational benefit, scholarship, or stipend. Repeals the current exemption for: (1) any loan made under any program funded in whole or in part by a governmental unit or nonprofit institution; and (2) any other qualified education loan incurred by an individual debtor on behalf of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or any dependent, including indebtedness used to refinance a qualified education loan. (Thus makes both kinds of loans nondischargeable in bankruptcy.)

Date: 2010-04-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Protecting Gun Owners in Bankruptcy Act of 2011 - Amends federal bankruptcy law to permit an individual debtor to exempt from the property of the estate in bankruptcy the debtor's aggregate interest, not to exceed $3,000, in a single rifle, shotgun, or pistol or any combination of them.

Date: 2011-03-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2011 - Amends the federal judicial code to require chapter 11 (Reorganization) bankruptcy cases filed by corporations to be commenced in the district court for the district in which: (1) the corporation's principal place of business or principal assets in the United States have been located for one year immediately preceding such commencement, or for a longer portion of such one-year period than such corporation's U.S. principal place of business or principal assets were located in any other district; or (2) an affiliate of such corporation has a liquidation case pending, if the affiliate owns, controls, or holds with power to vote over 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such corporation. Applies such venue requirements only to cases commenced on or after enactment of this Act.

Date: 2011-07-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2011 - Amends federal bankruptcy law to: (1) increase the limits governing trustee compensation in a case under chapter 7; and (2) authorize the court, in determining the amount of reasonable compensation to be awarded to a trustee under chapter 7, to treat such compensation as a commission.

Date: 2011-07-27
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Fighting Fraud in Bankruptcy Act of 2011 - Amends federal bankruptcy law to prescribe remedies, including civil penalties, for a negligent, reckless, or fraudulent assertion of claim in a bankruptcy proceeding under either chapter 7 (liquidation) or chapter 13 (adjustment of debts of an individual with regular income). Prohibits the court, in any case involving a service member, from granting relief from an automatic stay upon request of a party in interest unless such party certifies under penalty of perjury that the requirements of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act pertaining to mortgages used as security on real or personal property have been met. Amends the federal judicial code to confer upon the U.S. trustee the duty to exercise the trustee's powers and authorities to prevent or remedy any negligent, reckless, or fraudulent assertion of a claim. Requires the Director of the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees to establish specified audit procedures to determine the accuracy, veracity, and completeness of proofs of claim filed under federal bankruptcy laws.

Date: 2011-05-24
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Fairness for Struggling Students Act of 2011 - Revises federal bankruptcy law with respect to the exemption from the exception to discharge in bankruptcy for certain educational loans if excepting such debt from discharge would impose an undue hardship on the debtor and debtor's dependents. Limits such exemption to the existing ones for: (1) an educational benefit overpayment or loan made, insured, or guaranteed by a governmental unit or made under any program funded in whole or in part by a governmental unit; and (2) an obligation to repay funds received from a governmental unit as an educational benefit, scholarship, or stipend. Repeals the current exemption for: (1) any loan made under any program funded in whole or in part by a governmental unit or nonprofit institution; and (2) any other qualified education loan incurred by an individual debtor on behalf of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or any dependent, including indebtedness used to refinance a qualified education loan. (Thus makes both kinds of loans nondischargeable in bankruptcy.)

Date: 2011-05-26
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Small Business Reorganization Efficiency and Clarity Act - (Sec. 2) Amends federal bankruptcy law to extend from 45 to 90 days the time within which the bankruptcy court must confirm a small business bankruptcy plan under chapter 11 (Reorganization). (Sec. 3) Modifies small business debtor reporting requirements to repeal the requirement for periodic filing of financial and other reports containing such other matters as are in the best interests of the debtor and creditors and in the public interest. (Sec. 4) Modifies restrictions on employment by a trustee of professional persons to declare a person is not disqualified for such employment by a small business debtor solely because the person holds a claim of less than $5,000 that arose before commencement of the case in bankruptcy. (Sec. 5) Modifies requirements for debtor conversion from chapter 11 to chapter 7 (Liquidation), or for dismissal in chapter 11, for cause to include within the scope of "cause" the failure of a small business debtor to designate itself as a small business debtor. (Sec. 6) Instructs the Comptroller General to report to Congress detailing: (1) the number and percentage of all cases filed under chapter 11 in which the debtor is a small business debtor, and (2) recommendations for improving the confirmation rate for small business debtors.

Date: 2012-04-26
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Family Farmer Bankruptcy Tax Clarification Act of 2012 - Amends chapter 12 (Debt Adjustment of a Family Farmer or Fisherman with Regular Annual Income) of federal bankruptcy law to revise the exclusion from the requirement of full payment under a discharged debtor's plan of any claim owed to a governmental unit arising as a result of the sale, transfer, exchange, or other disposition of a farm asset used in the debtor's farming operation (in which case the claim is treated as unsecured and not entitled to priority payment). Requires the debtor's plan to provide for: (1) the treatment as a non-priority unsecured claim of any claim owed to a governmental unit by the debtor or the estate arising as a result of the sale, transfer, exchange, or other disposition of a farm asset; but also (2) the payment of that claim. Repeals the precondition that such treatment may be made only if the debtor receives a discharge in bankruptcy. Authorizes a governmental unit to file postpetition claims relating to the disposition of farm assets. Authorizes the trustee or the debtor, also, to file such postpetition claims (including a claim for a tax for which a return is due) if the governmental unit has not filed by a specified deadline. Authorizes modification of the bankruptcy plan after its confirmation in order to provide for the payment of a non-priority unsecured claim presented by a governmental unit that arose after the petition filing date.

Date: 2012-09-13
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Fairness for Struggling Students Act of 2013 - Revises federal bankruptcy law with respect to the exemption from the exception to discharge in bankruptcy for certain educational loans if excepting such debt from discharge would impose an undue hardship on the debtor and debtor's dependents.

Limits such exemption to the existing ones for: (1) an educational benefit overpayment or loan made, insured, or guaranteed by a governmental unit or made under any program funded in whole or in part by a governmental unit; and (2) an obligation to repay funds received from a governmental unit as an educational benefit, scholarship, or stipend.

Repeals the current exemption for: (1) any loan made under any program funded in whole or in part by a nonprofit institution; and (2) any other qualified education loan incurred by an individual debtor on behalf of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or any dependent, including indebtedness used to refinance a qualified education loan. (Thus makes both kinds of loans nondischargeable in bankruptcy.)

Date: 2013-01-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Family Farmer Bankruptcy Clarification Act of 2013 - Amends chapter 12 of federal bankruptcy law (Debt Adjustment of a Family Farmer or Fisherman with Regular Annual Income) with respect to discharge of governmental claims based upon the disposition of property used in a farming operation.

Treats any unsecured claim of a governmental unit against the debtor or debtor's estate as an unsecured debt (hence, not entitled to priority payment), if it results from the sale, transfer, exchange, or other disposition of any property used in the debtor's farming operation and it arises either: (1) before the petition in bankruptcy is filed, or (2) after such filing but before the debtor's discharge.

Authorizes a governmental unit to file a proof for a claim that arises after the date on which the petition is filed.

Requires such debt to be discharged in accordance with specified discharge procedures.

States that, for purposes of applying procedures governing plan confirmation, discharge, and modification after plan confirmation, the amount that would be paid on the claim if the estate were liquidated under chapter 7 shall be the amount that would be paid by the estate in a chapter 7 case if the claim were an unsecured claim arising before the date on which the petition was filed and not entitled to priority payment status.

Date: 2013-08-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2014 - Amends federal bankruptcy law to cite circumstances under which a medically distressed debtor may elect to exempt from the property of the estate in bankruptcy up to $250,000 of the debtor's aggregate interest in: (1) specified real or personal property that the debtor (or debtor's dependent) uses as a residence, (2) a cooperative that owns the property used as a residence by the debtor or a dependent of the debtor, or (3) a burial plot for the debtor or debtor's dependent.

Applies the same election to certain other property of a medically distressed debtor, including certain retirement funds held in a tax-exempt account.

Declares inapplicable to a medically distressed debtor: (1) certain presumptions that granting relief under Chapter 7 would constitute abuse of Chapter 7, and (2) mandatory court disapproval of a debtor's plan under chapter 13 upon objection by the trustee or the holder of an allowed unsecured claim.

Waives the credit counseling prerequisite for filing for debt relief in the case of a medically distressed debtor.

Permits a medically distressed debtor to discharge in bankruptcy debts for certain educational loans. Requires a debtor who seeks relief as a medically distressed debtor to attest in writing, and under penalty of perjury, that debtor's medical expenses are genuine, and are not specifically incurred to bring the debtor within the meaning of "medically distressed debtor."

Date: 2014-06-12
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Consumer Debt Forgiveness Tax Relief Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income, for income tax purposes, income that is imputed to the discharge of qualified consumer indebtedness. Defines "qualified consumer indebtedness" as any indebtedness of a natural person arising out of a transaction in which the money, property, or services that are the subject of the transaction are primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. Provides that the aggregate amount of discharged indebtedness excludible from gross income shall not exceed the excess of $2,500 over the aggregate amounts treated as qualified consumer indebtedness for all prior taxable years.

Date: 2015-06-03
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Taxation
Stop Corporate Earnings Stripping Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit the tax deduction available to certain foreign-controlled U.S. multinational corporations for excess interest on debt incurred by such corporation (i.e., earnings stripping) by: (1) repealing the debt-to-equity ratio threshold required for such deduction, (2) reducing the permitted net interest expense threshold from 50% to 25% of the corporation's adjusted taxable income, (3) repealing the carryforward of excess amounts of interest, and (4) limiting to five years the carryforward of disallowed interest expense.

Date: 2016-02-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Bankruptcy)
Subject: Taxation