zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act Amends the District of Columbia Code to make the Mayor of the District of Columbia (under current law, the President of the United States) the Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of the District. Provides that, notwithstanding the authority of the Mayor of the District of Columbia as such Commander-in-Chief, the President shall retain control over units and members of the District of Columbia National Guard to conduct necessary and appropriate homeland defense activities.

Date: 2015-03-02
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
No Taxation Without Representation Act

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow bona fide residents of the District of Columbia an exclusion from gross income for income derived from sources within the District of Columbia and for income effectively connected with a trade or business within the District of Columbia.

Date: 2015-04-15
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Taxation
Directs the Office of Management and Budget to consider Brunswick County, North Carolina, to be part of the metropolitan statistical area that contains Wilmington, North Carolina.

Terminates this Act on January 1, 2021.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the District of Columbia Code to add the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr. District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Act.

Directs the Mayor of the District of Columbia, in coordination with the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, to establish a program that allows the Mayor to provide educational assistance for a first undergraduate, masters, vocational, or technical degree or certification to a member of the District of Columbia National Guard who:

 has satisfactorily completed initial active duty service, agrees to serve for at least six years, and is not receiving a Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship.

Date: 2015-06-23
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
District of Columbia Government Shutdown Avoidance Act of 2015 

This bill amends the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to permit the District of Columbia to obligate and expend local funds in accordance with the local budget act during any portion of a fiscal year in which a federal law providing appropriations for the District of Columbia is not in effect. Under current law, the District of Columbia's local budget must be approved by Congress during the annual appropriations process before the funds become available.

Date: 2015-09-28
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
District of Columbia Medicaid Reimbursement Act of 2015

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to increase the Medicaid federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for the District of Columbia from 70% to 80%. Under current law, a state's FMAP is based on its per capita income and may range from 50% to 83%.

Date: 2015-11-04
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Health
District of Columbia Federal Officials Residency Equality Act of 2015

This bill removes exceptions to residency requirements for federal district court judges, U.S. attorneys, and U.S. marshals serving in the District of Columbia.

Under the bill: (1) federal district court judges serving in the District of Columbia must reside in the District of Columbia or one of the districts for which they are appointed; and (2) U.S. attorneys and U.S. marshals appointed for the District of Columbia, and U.S. marshals for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, must reside in the District of Columbia.

Date: 2015-11-17
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
District of Columbia Home Rule Clemency Act

This bill declares that the authority to grant clemency for offenses against the District of Columbia shall be exercised by such person or persons, and under such terms and conditions, as may be provided under a law enacted by the District of Columbia.

Date: 2016-01-06
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Educational Freedom Accounts Act 

This bill requires the District of Columbia to provide education savings accounts for children who are eligible to receive a free public education in the District, but whose parents choose not to enroll them in a public school or home schooling.

To receive an account, a child must be either entering kindergarten or prekindergarten or have been enrolled in a public school in the District during the previous year.

The Chief Financial Officer of the District must award a contract to a tax-exempt entity based in the District to administer the program.

The District must fund the accounts with amounts that are adjusted based on the family's income and range from 80% to 90% of the funds that the District of Columbia Public School System would otherwise spend on the child.

Upon the direction of a parent, the administering entity must distribute the funds for educational expenses, including:

 tuition at a nonpublic school or for distance education, tutoring, curricula or online courses, special education, individual courses or extracurricular activities at a public school within the District, dual credit courses that qualify for both secondary and postsecondary education credit, examinations, transportation to and from a provider, contributions to qualified tuition programs (529 plans) or Coverdell education savings accounts, or other educational expenses approved by the administering entity. At the end of the contract period, any remaining balances must be returned to the District.

Date: 2016-02-02
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Education
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 20, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

District of Columbia Courts and Public Defender Service Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the District of Columbia Code to authorize the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration to establish a voluntary separation incentive payments program for nonjudicial employees of the District courts substantially similar to that for certain federal employees and members of the uniformed services, except that the maximum payment amount to any individual may not exceed $25,000.

(Sec. 3) The District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970 is amended to authorize the District of Columbia Public Defender Service also to establish such a program for the Service's employees, again limiting the maximum payment amount to any individual to $25,000.

Date: 2016-04-21
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
WMATA Governance Reform Act

This bill prohibits the government from approving an amendment to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact unless its signatories (the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) certify that after implementation of the amended compact each signatory will appoint an absolute majority of the Board of Directors of the Authority that includes one or more of the following:

 a certified transit expert who has served in a senior executive capacity, or the equivalent, of a U.S. transit authority; a certified management expert who is currently serving, or has served for five or more years, in a capacity managing more than 1,000 full-time employees of a nonprofit entity or a corporation, partnership, or limited liability entity that is engaged primarily in operating activities and not investing activities; a certified financial expert who meets the standards of an audit committee financial expert under New York Stock Exchange rules; or a certified safety expert who has at least five years of experience as a chairman, director, senior investigator or equivalent position of a U.S. transportation or transit safety board. If a signatory appoints an individual who does not meet such qualifications, it shall provide the Board with an explanation of the individual's qualifications and why such qualifications will be beneficial to the Board.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall ensure that the next three federal appointments to the Board and an absolute majority thereafter have such qualifications and include appointees who reflect the diversity of the communities in the region served. If DOT appoints an individual who does not meet such qualifications, it shall provide the Board with an explanation.

Date: 2016-04-28
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Transportation and public works
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Clarifying Congressional Intent in Providing for DC Home Rule Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill repeals the Local Budget Autonomy Amendment Act of 2012 (D.C. Law 19-321) and restores previous law as though the Act had never been enacted.

(Sec. 3) The District of Columbia Home Rule Act is amended to declare that nothing in it shall be construed as creating a continuing appropriation of the General Fund of the District.

All funds provided for the District of Columbia shall be appropriated on an annual fiscal year basis through the federal appropriations process.

The District of Columbia Code is amended to declare that nothing in it shall be construed as authorizing the District of Columbia to make any change in law, regulation, or basic procedure and practice relating to the respective roles of Congress, the President, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Government Accountability Office in the preparation, review, submission, examination, authorization, and appropriation of the total budget of the District of Columbia government.

Date: 2016-05-13
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
This bill modifies the use of the Library of Congress (LOC) revolving fund associated with the national audiovisual conservation center to include preservation and storage of audiovisual materials and associated collections.

Use of the LOC revolving fund currently devoted to the gift shop, decimal classification, photo duplication, and related services shall extend to traveling exhibitions and exhibition materials as well as to training services.

The Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) program shall provide specified services on behalf of tribal governments.

The types of gifts the LOC may accept shall include bequests of personal property, nonpersonal services, voluntary and uncompensated personal services, or securities.

Date: 2016-05-17
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Congress
This bill establishes a Flag Office Revolving Fund for the Architect of the Capitol to use for expenses in connection with services provided by the Flag Office, including: (1) supplies, inventories, equipment, and other expenses; and (2) reimbursement of any appropriations account for the salaries of employees of the Flag Office.

Date: 2016-07-07
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Congress
This bill requires the Joint Committee on the Library to enter into an agreement to obtain a statue of Eli Wiesel.

The Joint Committee may authorize the Architect of the Capitol to enter into the agreement as well as related contracts.

The Joint Committee shall place the statue in a suitable permanent location in the U.S. Capitol.

Date: 2016-07-08
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Congress
This bill amends the Act that authorized the Adams Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in Washington, D.C., to honor John Adams and his legacy to, instead, establish the Adams Memorial Commission to establish a permanent memorial in Washington, D.C., for such purpose.

The commission shall: (1) consider, formulate, and report plans for such memorial; and (2) terminate seven years after this bill's enactment.

Date: 2016-07-13
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
This bill requires the flag of the United States to be flown at half-staff upon the death of the Mayor of the District of Columbia, by order of the President, from the day of death until interment.

Date: 2016-09-06
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act

This bill allows the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation to establish the National Global War on Terrorism Memorial as a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia to commemorate and honor the members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

 No federal funds may be used to pay any expense to establish the memorial.

Date: 2016-09-12
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act

 This bill establishes a museum to be known as the Smithsonian American Latino Museum in the Smithsonian Institution.

 The Arts and Industries Building of the Smithsonian Institution, which is located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, including a new underground annex facility, is designated as the location of the museum.

 The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution may plan and construct the museum and may prepare a plan of action for the museum.

 The Secretary of the Interior and the Board of Regents shall enter into an agreement that allows for the construction of the underground annex facility by the Board in a manner that is harmonious with, and protects the open space and visual sight lines of, the National Mall.

Date: 2016-09-13
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Arts, culture, religion
New Columbia Admission Act Sets forth procedures for admission into the United States of the state of New Columbia. Requires the Mayor of the District of Columbia to: (1) submit to the eligible voters propositions for statehood and adoption of a State Constitution, and (2) issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two Senators and one Representative of New Columbia. Requires the President, upon adoption of such propositions and certification of such elections, to issue a proclamation announcing the results and admitting New Columbia into the Union. Provides for conversion of District government offices to state offices. Provides that New Columbia shall consist of all territory of the District as of enactment of this Act, excluding land within specified metes and bounds that shall remain the District of Columbia and that shall include the principal federal monuments, the White House, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court Building, the federal executive, legislative, and judicial office buildings located adjacent to the Mall and the Capitol Building, and certain military property. Prohibits New Columbia from imposing taxes on federal property except as provided by Congress. Maintains the applicability to New Columbia of current District laws and continues pending judicial proceedings. Maintains: (1) the District of Columbia as the seat of the federal government, and (2) the federal government's authority over military lands and specified other property. Requires each state that is the last place an individual resided before residing in the District of Columbia to permit such individual to vote in federal elections by absentee ballot. Sets forth a rule for expedited consideration of a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution to repeal the 23rd amendment (which provides for the appointment of electors for President and Vice President for the District).

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill grants the Department of Transportation sole authority to appoint Federal Directors to the Board of Directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

The signatory parties to the WMATA Compact shall amend it to reflect such authority.

Date: 2015-09-29
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Transportation and public works
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill designates as "Liu Xiaobo Plaza" the area between the intersections of International Drive Northwest and Van Ness Street Northwest and International Drive Northwest and International Place Northwest in Washington, DC.

Date: 2016-01-20
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act 

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the District of Columbia Code to revise the financial disclosure requirements for District of Columbia judges. The revisions establish new dollar thresholds and requirements for reporting to the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure the financial interests of the judges and specified family members with respect to:

 income; dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains; liabilities; gifts; real and personal property; honoraria; expense accounts or reimbursements for expenses; and waivers or partial waivers of fees or charges. The financial disclosure reports must be available for public inspection and copying, unless revealing personal and sensitive information could endanger the judge or a family member. A report may be redacted only: (1) to the extent necessary to protect the individual or family member, and (2) as long as the danger to the individual exists.

(Sec. 3) The Probate Divisions of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia may use magistrate judges. (Sec. 4) DC courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow payments, restitution, bonds, and other payments by credit card or electronic funds transfer. The executive officer of the courts may contract with a bank or credit card vendor, or other third party provider, to accept such payments, making every effort to find the lowest cost vendor among them. (Sec. 5) The maximum amount in controversy for cases under the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of DC Superior Court shall increase from $5,000 to $10,000. (Sec. 6) Each chief judge of the Superior Court or of the Court of Appeals, as appropriate, may delegate to an active or senior judge (in the court in which the chief judge sits) the authority to approve any compensation for court-appointed criminal defense or child abuse and neglect attorneys exceeding the usual maximum.

Date: 2016-05-23
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Vietnam Helicopter Crew Memorial Act

This bill directs the Department of the Army to place in Arlington National Cemetery a memorial honoring helicopter pilots and crew members who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era, subject to an agreement with the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association under which the association shall pay all costs to construct, install, and maintain the memorial.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Government Operations (Capital City)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends provisions concerning Appalachian regional development to revise the definition of "Appalachian region" to include Franklin, Henry, and Patrick Counties.

Date: 2007-01-09
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
HUBZone Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act redefine a Hubzone Qualified Area to count as a qualified nonmetropolitan county any county located within a metropolitan statistical area if: (1) its total population is 80,000 or less; (2) the population residing within the county's urbanized areas is 10% or less of the county's total population; and (3) the county meets either a specified median household income or a specified unemployment rate requirement.

Date: 2007-01-10
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Commerce
Rural Economic Development and Opportunities Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an employer to claim a work opportunity tax credit during the next five years for the hiring of employees who live in a rural area and perform services for such employer in a rural area.

Date: 2007-01-22
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Limits the maximum Appalachian Regional Commission contribution through non-highway grants and loans for designated at-risk counties to 70% of costs. (Sec. 3) Authorizes the Commission to provide technical assistance, make grants, or otherwise provide amounts to and contract with persons or entities in the Appalachian region for projects to: (1) promote energy efficiency to enhance economic competitiveness; (2) increase the use of renewable energy resources to produce alternative transportation fuels, electricity, and heat; and (3) support the development of conventional energy resources to produce alternative transportation fuels, electricity, and heat. (Sec. 4) Directs the Commission to designate as "at-risk counties" those counties in the Appalachian region that are most at risk of becoming economically distressed.(Sec. 5) Authorizes additional appropriations to the Commission through FY2011 to carry out Appalachian regional development and its economic and energy development initiative under section 3. Requires that funds approved by the Commission for a project in a state in the Appalachian region pursuant to congressional direction be derived from such state's portion of the Commission's allocation of appropriated amounts among the states. (Sec. 6) Extends, for five years, the termination date of the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 (with exceptions for the Appalachian development highway system and certain definitions). (Sec. 7) Includes within the Appalachian region the following areas: (1) Metcalfe, Nicholas, and Robertson counties in Kentucky; (2) Ashtabula, Fayette, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties in Ohio; (3) Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, and Lincoln counties in Tennessee; and (4) Henry and Patrick counties in Virginia.

Date: 2007-02-05
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Amends provisions concerning Appalachian regional development to revise the definition of "Appalachian region" to include Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, and Lincoln Counties in Tennessee.

Date: 2007-02-08
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Northern Border Economic Development Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes the Northern Border Economic Development Commission, having a region of specified counties in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, to develop plans and programs and to approve grants for the economic development of the region. Requires each such state to submit a development plan for the area of the region represented by such state. Outlines program development criteria, and provides for the approval of development plans and projects. Requires as a Commission goal to address economic distress along the northern border of the United States east of, and including, Cayuga County, New York, especially in rural areas.

Date: 2007-03-15
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for accelerated depreciation (i.e., 15-year recovery period) for nonresidential real property placed in service in a rural area.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Southern Empowerment and Economic Development Act to authorize the Delta Black Belt Regional Authority - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to rename the Delta Regional Authority as the Delta/Black Belt Regional Authority. Extends the Authority's termination date. Directs the Authority to establish a Constituency Representation Board which shall: (1) ascertain state and congressional district community strategic planning efforts; and (2) evaluate and fund programs. Amends the Delta Development Act to revise the definition of the "Lower Mississippi" region.

Date: 2007-05-21
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Broadband Access Enhancement Act - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to redefine "eligible rural community." Permits a loan or loan guarantee applicant in an area where 40% of the residents are without broadband access to qualify with a 10% loan equity position. Provides for: (1) paperwork reduction; and (2) program outreach to underserved areas. Prohibits loan or loan guarantees for new broadband service in communities with three or more service providers. Provides that for each fiscal year: (1) not more than 10% of program funds shall be available to providers with more than 10% of national subscriber lines; and (2) 40% of program funds shall be available to providers with between 2%-10% of national subscriber lines. Revises the amortization period from the life of the asset to 35 years. Requires an annual broadband program report to Congress.

Date: 2007-07-10
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Public Land Communities Transition Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2011 for the making of payments to units of general local government in which entitlement lands are located. Provides for 80% funding in FY2008, 90% funding in FY2009, and the making of full payments in FY2010 and FY2011. (Sec. 3) Sets forth provisions for the making of transition payments for FY2008-FY2011 to eligible states, U.S. territories, and counties previously receiving payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. Sets forth provisions concerning the election of payment amounts by affected counties. Requires each eligible county receiving a payment or a portion of a state's payment to reserve not less than 15% of the amount received for expenditure in accordance with titles II (Special Projects on Federal Lands) and III (County Projects) of such Act. Extends the authority to initiate such projects under titles II and III through September 30, 2012. (Sec. 4) Sets forth special requirements with regard to transition payments for FY2008-FY2011 applicable to the states of California, Louisiana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington and eligible counties in those states in lieu of the payments that otherwise would have been made under the above transition payment provisions. Requires each eligible county receiving such a transition payment or a portion of such payment as prescribed under such requirements, to reserve not less than 15% of the amount received for expenditure in accordance with titles II and III as required above. (Sec. 5) Sets forth provisions for the establishment of conservation of resources fees for producing and nonproducing federal oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to agree to a request by any lessee to amend any lease for Central and Western Gulf of Mexico tracts issued during the period of January 1, 1998, through December 31, 1999, to incorporate price thresholds applicable to royalty suspension provisions, or amend existing price thresholds, of a specified amount per barrel for oil and per million Btu for natural gas. (Sec. 6) Expresses the sense of Congress regarding the distribution of Secure Rural Schools transition payments to eligible counties under this Act.

Date: 2007-07-17
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Small Community Visioning Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to eligible recipients for small community visioning processes to: (1) help small communities address pressing local needs; (2) facilitate coordination between small communities, land-grant and other universities, and design professionals; (3) encourage public-private partnerships; and (4) develop design projects that integrate physical planning and design techniques with sustainable community action.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Adds the Tennessee counties of Hickman, Perry, and Wayne to the definition of "Appalachian region" for purposes of Appalachian regional development efforts.

Date: 2007-09-20
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Commuters Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers who reside in a rural area of not more than 30,000 people a tax deduction for up to $100 of commuting costs in any month in which the cost of gasoline is at least $3 per gallon (high gasoline price month). Allows an additional $100 deduction amount for carpooling during a high gasoline price month. Allows individual taxpayers to claim such deduction whether or not they itemize their other deductions.

Date: 2007-10-01
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Rural Information Technology Investment Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make grants to small businesses or not-for-profit organziations operating in rural areas to establish information technology centers.

Date: 2008-04-08
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Requires that laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on construction and minor remodeling projects assisted under a rural development loan or loan guarantee program be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar projects in the locality pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act.

Date: 2008-06-12
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 to: (1) increase and extend through FY2010 the authorization of appropriations for grants to Alaska to build public water and wastewater systems to improve health and sanitation in rural and Native villages; (2) condition grants on Alaska requiring applicants to identify a project's scope and goals, establishing long-term goals for the grant program, and carrying out regular reviews of grantees to determine if the stated scope and goals of each grant are being met; (3) require Alaska to report to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annually on project goals and expenditures for the grant program; (4) direct the Administrator to require Alaska to correct any deficiencies identified in the report; (5) require the Administrator and Alaska to reach an agreement on a deadline for making such corrections; and (6) prohibit expenditures for projects for which any such deficiencies are not corrected by the deadline or for which a deadline agreement has not been reached.

Date: 2007-01-08
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Environmental protection
Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2008- Limits the amount of Appalachian regional development grants and loans for projects in at-risk counties to 70% of project costs. Directs the Appalachian Regional Commission to designate as "at-risk" those counties in the Appalachian region that are most at risk of becoming economically distressed.Authorizes the Commission to provide technical assistance, provide grants, enter into contracts, or otherwise provide amounts to entities in the region for projects and activities to: (1) promote energy efficiency; (2) increase the use of renewable energy resources; and (3) support the development of regional, conventional energy resources to produce electricity and heat through advanced technologies.Authorizes appropriations to the Commission through FY2012, with specified amounts designated for the economic and energy development initiative. Requires funds approved by the Commission for a project in an Appalachian state pursuant to a congressional directive to be derived from the amount allocated to that state.Extends the termination date of the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 until October 1, 2012.Adds to the Appalachian region the counties of: (1) Metcalfe, Nicholas, and Robertson in Kentucky; (2) Ashtabula, Mahoning, and Trumbull in Ohio; (3) Lawrence and Lewis in Tennessee; and (4) Henry and Patrick in Virginia.

Date: 2007-02-06
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Amends the federal charter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the United States of America, Incorporated (the corporation), to authorize the corporation to extend eligibility for associate membership in the corporation to the parents, spouse, siblings, and lineal descendants (currently, to parents and lineal descendants) of a Purple Heart recipient.

Date: 2007-03-01
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Tax Code Termination Act - Terminates the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for taxable years beginning after 2010, except provisions of such Code relating to social security taxation (i.e., taxes on wage, self-employment, and railroad retirement income).Establishes within the legislative branch a National Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification. Directs the Commission to: (1) review the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and its impact on the economy, families, and the workforce: (2) determine whether the current income tax system can be replaced by more a more efficient and fair system of taxation; and (3) submit a report to Congress on the results of its review with recommendations for fundamental reform and simplification of the Code.Requires congressional approval of a new federal tax system no later than July 4, 2010, or a vote of Congress to reauthorize the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Date: 2007-03-02
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
School Food Fresh Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish in the office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services a task force to coordinate commodity programs. Directs the Secretary to provide five (for each of five specified food categories) competitive grants to nonprofit research institutions to evaluate commodity program products to determine: (1) consistency with program nutritional goals; (2) product acceptability by recipient agencies and consumers; and (3) commercial counterpart comparability. Amends the the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary to: (1) enter into agreements with qualifying local and regional distributors to supply fruit and vegetable items to schools and service institutions; and (2) implement a vendor monitoring program. Directs that the Secretary: (1) to the maximum extent practicable, purchase for commodity programs foods that are in their least-processed state; and (2) upon the approval of national processing agreements, make available to all schools and other recipient agencies the opportunity to divert unprocessed or minimally-processed commodity foods to subsequent processors for end product conversion.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Rural Broadband Initiative Act of 2007 - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish in the Department of Agriculture the Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives, to be headed by the Under Secretary for Rural Broadband Initiatives. States that the Under Secretary shall: (1) administer all rural broadband-related grant and loan programs previously administered by the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, including the rural broadband access loan and loan guarantee program and the community connect grant program; (2) conduct rural outreach; (3) foster development of a comprehensive rural broadband strategic vision; (4) assess relevant technologies; (5) serve as a single information source for all federal rural broadband programs and services; and (6) provide technical assistance to state, regional, and local governments to develop broadband deployment strategies. Directs the Under Secretary to submit: (1) to the President and to Congress a comprehensive rural broadband strategy report; and (2) to Congress a plan for a Rural Broadband Advisory Panel. Establishes in the Treasury the National Rural Broadband Innovation Fund.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Investment to Strengthen our Economy Act of 2007 or Rural RISE Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a capital loss deduction with respect to the sale or exchange of a principal residence in certain rural areas; and (2) expand the work opportunity tax credit to include a qualified small business employee as a targeted group member. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to carry out a program for the forgiveness of student loans for certain rural students who obtain a degree. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a: (1) rural entrepreneurship and microenterprise program; and (2) rural regional entrepreneurship program. Requires the Secretary of Labor to award grants to: (1) regional skill alliances (business consortia) serving certain rural areas to assist in the development of job skills necessary for employment in specific industries; and (2) states to assist businesses, organizations, and agencies representing such industries in conducting planning to form such alliances.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
New Homestead Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Education to repay a specified percentage (up to $2,000 per year) of certain education loans to an individual who completes a degree and both resides and is employed for at least five years in an area outside a metropolitan statistical area which for 20 years has a net out-migration of inhabitants of at least 10% of the county population (qualifying county). Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a: (1) tax credit for the lesser of $5,000 or 10% of the purchase price of a principal residence in a qualifying county; and (2) capital loss deduction with respect to a sale or exchange of a principal residence in a qualifying county. Provides for the creation of tax-exempt individual homestead accounts, funded by individual cash contributions and matching federal contributions according to a specified formula, whose tax-free distributions after five years are used by residents of qualifying counties for qualified higher education or medical expenses, first-time homebuyer or business capitalization costs, or rollovers. Establishes a rural investment tax credit of 70% of the present value of new buildings (including rehabilitation projects) or 30% of the present value of existing buildings. Establishes a qualified rural small business investment credit of 30% of expenditures for starting or expanding a business, including costs for capital, plant and equipment, inventory expenses, and wages, but not including interest costs. Provides for accelerated depreciation of business property in rural investment projects. New Homestead Venture Capital Fund Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish the New Homestead Venture Capital Fund (Fund), owned by private investors, to generate and provide equity capital to rural businesses in qualifying counties. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide funding and guarantees for private investors in the Fund.

Date: 2007-04-12
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow holders of rural renaissance bonds a tax credit of 25% of the annual credit amount for such bonds as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Defines "rural renaissance bond" as any bond issued by a rural renaissance bond lender, a cooperative electric company, or a governmental body that is used for capital expenditures for qualified projects in rural areas, including projects for water or waste treatment, distance learning or telemedicine programs, rural electric and telephone programs, and broadband access programs.Sets forth rules for bond refinancing, maturity limitations, and allocations, including a requirement that 95% of the proceeds from the sale of a rural renaissance bond be spent on qualified projects within five years from the date of a bond issuance. Terminates the authority for issuing rural renaissance bonds after 2008.

Date: 2007-05-02
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Northern Border Economic Development Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes the Northern Border Economic Development Commission, having a region of specified counties in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, to develop plans and programs and to approve grants for the economic development of the region. Requires each such state to submit a development plan for the area of the region represented by such state. Outlines program development criteria, and provides for the approval of development plans and projects. Requires as a Commission goal to address economic distress along the northern border of the United States east of, and including, Cayuga County, New York, especially in rural areas.

Date: 2007-10-26
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Funding DNA Technology Initiative Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2010 for the Advancing Justice through DNA Technology initiative.

Date: 2008-06-10
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Rural Small Business Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Small Business Act to reduce state matching funds requirements for participation in the Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Revises the SBA's Rural Outreach program (a program to increase states' participation in the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR] programs) to: (1) make eligible for program awards states whose total value of SBIR and STTR contracts awarded during FY2004 was less than $10 million and will match federal funding on a 50% basis; (2) reauthorize the program for FY2009-FY2020; and (3) require award funds to be used to increase state participation in the SBIR and STTR programs. Requires a report from the SBA Administrator to the congressional small business committees on the number of government-owned computers in possession of, and recently disposed by, the SBA. Directs the Administrator to establish a pilot program to annually provide up to 1,000 excess government-owned computers to small businesses at no cost or a reduced cost. Requires the Administrator to hire at least five additional full-time employees for the SBA's Office of Technology. Directs the Administrator to carry out a rural lending outreach program to provide up to an 85% guaranty of loans of not more than $250,000.

Date: 2008-07-26
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Commerce
Adds the Tennessee counties of Hickman, Perry, and Wayne to the definition of "Appalachian region" for purposes of Appalachian regional development efforts.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Section 538 Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 regarding the Rural Housing Service-Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account. Repeals the declaration that, for applications received under the 2009 notice of funding availability, section 538 multi-family housing guaranteed loans funded under such Act shall not be subject to a guarantee fee and the interest on such loans may not be subsidized. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to: (1) reduce the funding under such Act for section 538 multi-family housing guaranteed loans by up to $29.09 million; and (2) use such amounts as equivalent funds to subsidize the interest on such guaranteed loans for which applications are received under the 2009 notice of funding availability.

Date: 2009-04-21
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Homeowners Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Doug Bereuter Section 502 Single Family Housing Loan Guarantee Act and the Housing Act of 1949 to: (1) increase from 1% to 2% the guarantee fee on loans for housing and buildings on adequate farms; and (2) authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to guarantee a loan made to refinance one made by a private lender to an individual to acquire or construct a single-family residence located in a rural area. Requires the Secretary to charge a guarantee fee for refinancing such a loan at levels necessary, but no higher than needed, to allow such class of loans to be guaranteed without resulting in a need for an appropriation for a credit subsidy.

Date: 2009-04-22
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2009 - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a preservation program to provide financial incentives and other assistance to owners of Section 515 rural multifamily housing projects through long-term use agreements entered into between the project owners and the Secretary. (A Section 515 project is one involving housing and related facilities for elderly persons and families or other persons and families of low income.) Authorizes the Secretary to give priority to applications for eligible projects located on tribal trust lands or other Indian areas, in colonias, or in other small, poor, low-income communities.Requires the Secretary to prepare and approve a long-term viability plan for each eligible project for which the owner requests to participate. Allows the Secretary, subject to certain conditions, to offer a project owner a financial restructuring plan, based on the long-term viability plan, and specified project preservation incentives.Specifies compliance requirements for rents for any eligible households residing in a dwelling unit in any preserved Section 515 project, including: (1) a disregard for certain earned income for residents; and (2) phase-in of rent increases.Establishes conditions that makes certain project owners ineligible to participate in the preservation program.Requires the Secretary to make rural preservation and rural tenant protection vouchers available to certain eligible households.Requires the Secretary to give priority, in entering into contracts involving financing for new construction of a Section 515 project, for projects located in eligible rural areas needing affordable low-income rental housing because of prepayment of Section 515 loans.

Date: 2009-06-15
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Housing and Economic Development Improvement Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development, to implement an assistance program to support innovative housing and economic development activities in rural areas by: (1) Indian tribes; (2) state housing finance agencies; (3) state community or economic development agencies; (4) local nonprofit organizations; and (5) community development corporations. Directs the Secretary to require, as a condition of initial or continuing assistance under this Act for any housing or economic development activity, that each member of a family so assisted (or of a family applying for such assistance) who is 18 years of age or older, or is the spouse of the head of household, has a valid Social Security number.

Date: 2009-07-14
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Commuters Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers who reside in a rural area of not more than 30,000 people a tax deduction for up to $100 of commuting costs in any month in which the cost of gasoline is at least $3 per gallon (high gasoline price month). Allows an increased deduction amount for carpooling expenses during a high gasoline price month. Allows individual taxpayers to claim such deduction whether or not they itemize their other deductions.

Date: 2009-07-30
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation