zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Accountability for Business Choices in Iran Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) Iran's illicit nuclear activities as well as development of unconventional weapons and ballistic missiles and support for international terrorism represent a serious threat to the security of the United States and its allies; (2) the United States should continue supporting diplomatic efforts in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to end Iran's illicit nuclear activities; (3) the UNSC should take further measures beyond specified existing UNSC resolutions to tighten sanctions on Iran, including preventing new investment in Iran's energy sector as long as it fails to comply with international demands to halt its nuclear enrichment; and (4) the United States should discourage foreign banks and entities from investing in Iran's energy sector as well as seek to prohibit entities doing business with the United States from doing business with Iran. Requires the head of each federal agency to ensure that each contract with a company for the procurement of goods and services contains a requirement for the company to certify that it is not conducting business operations in Iran. Defines "business operations" as operations that: (1) provide Iran with refined petroleum resources or technology that could enhance its ability to import or expand its domestic production of such resources; (2) invest $20 million or more in aIran's ability to develop petroleum resources; and (3) provide sensitive technology to Iran. Authorizes a state or local government to adopt measures to prohibit them from entering into or renewing a contract for the procurement of goods or services with persons included on the List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs. Terminates this Act 30 days after: (1) the President certifies to Congress that Iran has ceased support for acts of international terrorism and is no longer considered a state-sponsor of terrorism; and (2) Iran has permanently ceased the pursuit, acquisition, and development of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and missiles.

Date: 2009-10-23
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
States that: (1) it is U.S. policy to seek justice for U.S. victims of terrorism and to hold terrorists and their state-sponsors accountable for their actions; and (2) U.S. law regarding victims of terrorism supersedes the Algiers Accords and any other agreement with Iran stemming from the holding of U.S. hostages in Iran from November 1979 through January 1981. Abrogates and deems not applicable any provision of the Algiers Accords, entered into with Iran on January 19, 1981, that purports to prohibit a U.S. citizen from prosecuting any claim relating to such hostage taking in any U.S. court or to limit the jurisdiction of any U.S. court with respect to such matter. Requires the President to direct payments as provided for by this Act to a common fund to be established and administered by certified class representatives for U.S. citizens who were hostages in Iran.

Date: 2009-11-04
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Law
Directs the Secretary of State to provide briefings to Congress at least once a year regarding: (1) discussions conducted between any executive branch agency and the government of Taiwan; and (2) potential defense article or defense service transfers to the government of Taiwan.

Date: 2009-11-18
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Stand with the Iranian People Act - Directs the Secretary of State to deny issuance of a visa and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to deny U.S. admission to any government official of Iran who is credibly alleged to have ordered, acquiesced to, or participated in human rights abuses against the people of Iran. Authorizes the Secretary of State to waive such ban if in the U.S. national interest. Prohibits the head of an executive agency from entering into or renewing a contract for the procurement of goods or services with a person or entity that provides censorship or surveillance technology to the government of Iran. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to waive such prohibition if in the U.S. national interest. States that the establishment and carrying out of operations by U.S. nonprofit organizations in Iran for the direct provision of specified humanitarian and people-to-people assistance may not be prohibited or restricted. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to require such an organization to notify the Department of the Treasury up to 14 days in advance of commencing operations in Iran. Excludes from such provision an organization that provides services or conducts transactions with any organization or entity that appears on the Department of the Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals List (a list of organizations and individuals that are restricted from doing business with the United States or U.S companies or individuals).

Date: 2009-12-14
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
United States War Bonds Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to issue United States War Bonds to aid in the funding of the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and other military operations abroad identified by the Secretary of Defense as being part of the international conflicts against terrorism.

Date: 2009-12-15
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Economics and public finance
African Higher Education Expansion and Improvement Act of 2009 - Expresses the sense of Congress regarding the importance to the development of sub-Saharan Africa of support for the improvement of primary, secondary, and higher education in that region. States that it is this country's policy to provide Africa with long-term assistance to improve the capacity of its institutions of higher education (IHEs) through partnerships with our IHEs. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide long-term assistance to sub-Saharan Africa that improves higher education by: (1) building the capacity of IHEs in sub-Saharan Africa; (2) building linkages and partnerships between sub-Saharan IHEs and our IHEs; (3) assisting efforts to recruit and retain women as students, faculty, and administrators; and (4) establishing an American University in West Africa. Requires the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to designate a Director of Assistance to Support and Promote Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa, who is to carry out such activities. Establishes a Sub-Saharan African Higher Education Advisory Board within USAID, which is appointed by the Administrator and composed of individuals from the private sector who have the requisite experience with Africa and higher education to assist the Director. Urges the Director and the Board to make every effort to leverage resources from the private sector in carrying out their responsibilities.

Date: 2009-12-16
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Makes Israeli nationals eligible to enter the United States as nonimmigrant traders and investors as provided for under the Immigration and Nationality Act if Israel extends reciprocal nonimmigrant treatment to U.S. nationals.

Date: 2009-12-16
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Immigration
Haiti Assistance Implementation, Transparency, and Inspection Act or HAITI Act - Establishes, in the Executive Office of the President, the Office of the Special Coordinator for Assistance to Haiti which shall: (1) advise the President on U.S. government programs for the relief and development of Haiti; (2) implement a comprehensive strategy for such programs' coordination and oversight; and (3) directly approve such programs. Terminates the Office two years after enactment of this Act. Directs the Special Coordinator to promote partnerships between the U.S. government and private entities (including foundations, universities, corporations, community-based organizations, and other nongovernmental organizations) in or on behalf of Haiti. Establishes the Office of the Special Inspector General for Assistance to Haiti which shall provide for the independent and objective conduct and supervision of audits and investigations relating to U.S. government programs for the relief and development of Haiti. Directs the Special Inspector General to appoint a Special Assistant Inspector General for Auditing and a Special Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. Terminates the Office 180 days after the date on which unexpended amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for U.S. government programs for the relief and development of Haiti are less than $25 million. Directs the President to: (1) ensure that U.S. government programs for the relief and development of Haiti are grounded in an exhaustive U.S. assessment of Haiti's development needs and capacity; and (2) seek to lead efforts to ensure that any pledged international assistance for Haiti is based on defined objectives and includes measures that provide for mutual accountability and oversight.

Date: 2010-03-25
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Haitian Private Sector Encouragement Act of 2010 - Authorizes the President to designate one private, nonprofit organization established under state law as the Haitian-American Enterprise Fund, which shall be eligible to receive funds and support under this Act. Authorizes the President, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide a grant to the Fund to promote policies and practices conducive to the development of private property rights for Haitian citizens, particularly citizens of limited economic means, through integration of extralegal property arrangements into property recordation systems that fix the economic potential of assets, integrate ownership information into one system, hold citizens accountable, make assets fungible, and protect commercial transaction integrity. Directs USAID to monitor Fund activities. Applies the enterprise fund provisions of the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 to the Fund in the same manner as such provisions apply to other similar U.S.-established enterprise funds. Authorizes the President to establish the Haitian-American Economic Oversight Panel to monitor Fund activities and all other U.S. economic development initiatives for Haiti. Authorizes FY2011 appropriations.

Date: 2010-03-25
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
North Korean Refugee Adoption Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy for facilitating the adoption of North Korean children by U.S. citizens.

Date: 2010-03-25
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
White House Conference on Haiti Act of 2010 - Directs: (1) the President to call the White House Conference on Haiti, to be convened not later than six months after the selection of the Policy Committee, in order to make fundamental policy recommendations on ways to assist in Haiti's recovery and long-term development; and (2) the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to plan and conduct the Conference. Establishes the Policy Committee not later than June 30, 2010, and requires a preliminary and final report from the Committee. Requires, within one year after the Conference adjourns, an initial status report from the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs on the implementation of the recommendations, as well as subsequent status reports every five years thereafter from the Comptroller General until all final report recommendations are achieved. Requires specified congressional committee hearings on the recommendations, status reports, and recovery and long-term development of Haiti.

Date: 2010-04-13
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
UNRWA Humanitarian Accountability Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to withhold U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) or to any successor or related entity unless the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that: (1) no UNRWA official, employee, representative, or affiliate is a member of a foreign terrorist organization, has propagated anti-American, anti-Israel, or anti-Semitic rhetoric, or has used UNRWA resources to propagate political materials regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; (2) no UNRWA facility is used by a foreign terrorist organization; (3) no UNRWA school uses educational materials that propagates anti-American, anti-Israel, or anti-Semitic rhetoric; (4) UNRWA is subject to auditing oversight; and (5) UNRWA holds no accounts or other affiliations with financial institutions deemed by the United States to be complicit in money laundering and terror financing. Limits, upon certification compliance, U.S. contributions to UNRWA.

Date: 2010-04-20
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Extending Immunities to the Office of the High Representative and the International Civilian Office in Kosovo Act of 2010 - Amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to authorize: (1) the provisions of such Act to be extended to the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (and to its officers and employees) or the International Civilian Office in Kosovo (and to its officers and employees) in the same manner as they may be extended to a public international organization in which the United States participates pursuant to any treaty or under the authority of any Act of Congress authorizing such participation or making an appropriation for such participation; and (2) any such extension to continue to extend to the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (and to its officers and employees) or the International Civilian Office in Kosovo (and to its officers and employees) after that Office has been dissolved. Provides that the budgetary effects of this Act for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled "Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation" for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Date: 2010-04-26
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Partnership With America Rapid Rebuilding of Haiti Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, with the government of Haiti, to implement a three-year "Partnership With America" program under which unemployed or underemployed U.S. construction and reconstruction experts and workers shall begin work in Haiti to help Haitians rebuild Haiti's infrastructure, including roads, airports, energy facilities, schools, hospitals, housing, and other services fundamental to economic development.

Date: 2010-04-28
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Southern Border Security Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to hire, train, and deploy 2,000 additional Border Patrol agents along the southwest border of the United States by September 30, 2010, and another 1,500 agents by September 30, 2011.

Date: 2010-05-11
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Immigration
North Korea Sanctions and Diplomatic Nonrecognition Act of 2010 - Continues diplomatic, economic, and military sanctions against the government of North Korea as a supporter of international terrorism until the President certifies to Congress that North Korea: (1) is no longer engaged in the illegal transfer of missile or nuclear technology, particularly to Iran and Syria; (2) is not assisting foreign terrorist organizations, engaged in counterfeiting U.S. currency, or engaged in illicit narcotics traffic; (3) has released specified U.S. citizens, Japanese nationals, and surviving Korean War prisoners of war; and (4) has undertaken specified actions regarding family reunification, penal reforms, refugee access, and religious organization communications. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should redesignate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. Finds that the United States did not grant diplomatic recognition to North Korea upon its establishment as a client regime of the former Soviet Union in 1948. Continues diplomatic nonrecognition of North Korea until such benchmarks have been met. Directs the President, in the case of a North Korean missile, rocket, or other airborne launch or the conducting of a nuclear test in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1695, 1718, and 1874, to instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use U.S. influence to secure adoption of a Security Council resolution condemning North Korea's action and requiring implementation of comprehensive sanctions against North Korea.

Date: 2010-05-20
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
United Arab Emirates Human Rights Accountability Act of 2010 - Makes an alien who is a member of the royal families of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and who is an officer or employee of the UAE government ineligible to receive a U.S. entry visa and ineligible for U.S. admission until the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that: (1) the government of the UAE has established an independent governmental entity to investigate any such individual; and (2) Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan has been tried in accordance with international legal norms and human rights standards for specified offenses. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such prohibition for reasons of national interest. Describes such offense as any offense under UAE law: (1) that was committed in connection with the assault on Mohammed Shah Poor; and (2) for which Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan has not been tried. Directs the Secretary to revoke the nonimmigrant visa or other documentation of any alien who is rendered ineligible for such visa or documentation under the terms of this Act.

Date: 2010-05-25
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to reduce the upland cotton payment rate to offset the full cost of any U.S. contributions to the fund established by the United States and Brazil to provide technical assistance and capacity building as part of the resolution of the cotton dispute brought by Brazil against the United States in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Date: 2010-05-27
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Act of 2010 -States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) undertake measures to deny the government of Cuba, the Cuban Communist Party, or any of their instrumentalities the financial resources to engage in activities that threaten U.S. security and other interests, threaten Florida's marine environment and the environment of the submerged lands off Cuba's coast, and prolong the dictatorship that oppresses the Cuban people; and (2) deter foreign investments that would enhance the Cuban regime's ability to develop its petroleum resources. Amends the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 to exclude from U.S. entry an alien who: (1) is an officer or principal of an entity, or a shareholder who owns a controlling interest in an entity that on or after January 10, 2005, has made or makes an investment of $1 million or more (or any combination of investments that equals or exceeds $1 million in any 12-month period) that contributes to Cuba's ability to develop petroleum resources off its submerged lands; or (2) is a spouse, minor child, or agent of such person. Exempts on a case-by-case basis entries: (1) for medical reasons or property-related litigation; or (2) where a transition government is in place. Directs the President to impose two or more specified export, procurement, financial institution, loan, or Export-Import Bank sanctions if the President determines that a person has, on or after January 10, 2005, made an investment of $1 million or more (or any combination of investments that in the aggregate equals or exceeds $1 million in any 12-month period) that contributes to the enhancement of Cuba's ability to develop petroleum resources off its submerged lands or has made an investment of any amount of money that contributes to such an enhancement and has trafficked in confiscated U.S. property. Makes it illegal for a U.S. person to facilitate Cuba's ability to develop petroleum resources off its submerged lands. Directs the Secretary of State to report annually respecting the impact of the development of Cuba's petroleum resources on the environment and natural resources of Cuba's submerged lands and Florida's marine environment.

Date: 2010-06-28
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Zimbabwe Renewal Act of 2010 - States that it is U.S. policy to support a transition to democratic and economic recovery in Zimbabwe that reflects the political conditions and opportunities created by the Global Political Agreement (GPA). Authorizes the Secretary of State to provide assistance to strengthen the rule of law and human rights in Zimbabwe. Authorizes the President, through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide assistance to Zimbabwe for: (1) sustainable development; (2) health care; (3) education; (4) agriculture; and (5) clean water. Direct the President to develop an emergency vocational youth work program for the construction and repair of public works of benefit to the entire population of Zimbabwe. Authorizes the President to provide economic assistance to Zimbabwe to support democracy and civil authority, human rights, economic self-sufficiency, education and health care, reconciliation, and GPA implementation. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide technical assistance to the Zimbabwean Ministry of Finance and line ministries. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) forgive the debt of Zimbabwe held by any U.S. government agency; and (2) direct the U.S. Executive Director at each international financial institution of which the United States is a member to vote in favor of programs for Zimbabwe. Expresses the sense of Congress that certain sanctions on financial institutions should be lifted to allow financial institutions to assist communal farmers, civil servants, pensioners, and the people of Zimbabwe, and that technical assistance should be provided to such institutions if: (1) the Finance Ministry of Zimbabwe does not politicize lending or extending credit; (2) no individual who is subject to U.S. or European Union (EU) sanctions serves as a board member, advisor, or employee of any financial institution in Zimbabwe; and (3) no funds are made available to Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank. Lifts targeted sanctions against a person upon a presidential certification to Congress that such person: (1) has taken significant steps to help strengthen democracy, respect human rights, and the rule of law in Zimbabwe; and (2) has played a constructive role in GPA implementation.

Date: 2010-07-29
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Haiti Empowerment, Assistance, and Rebuilding Act of 2010 - States that it is U.S. policy, in partnership with the government of Haiti and in coordination with the international community, to support the sustainable recovery and rebuilding of Haiti. Establishes within the Department of State a Senior Coordinator of the United States Government for Haiti who shall advise and coordinate all U.S. government policies related to Haiti. Directs the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with input provided by the Coordinator, to submit to Congress a multi-year strategy to provide assistance in support of Haiti's reconstruction. Authorizes FY2010-FY2014 appropriations for assistance to Haiti under this Act.

Date: 2010-07-30
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Haitian Educational Empowerment Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of State, through the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, to establish a scholarship program for qualifying Haitian undergraduate or graduate students whose studies were interrupted as a result of the January 12, 2010, earthquake.

Date: 2010-09-28
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Vietnam Democracy Promotion Act of 2010 - Authorizes: (1) the President to provide assistance, through appropriate nongovernmental organizations and the Human Rights Defenders Fund, for the support of individuals and organizations to promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam; and (2) related appropriations. States that it is U.S. policy to take measures to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the government of Vietnam. Authorizes related appropriations. States that it is U.S. policy that programs of educational and cultural exchange with Vietnam should promote progress toward freedom and democracy in Vietnam by providing Vietnamese nationals with opportunities to see freedom and democracy in action. States that it is U.S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to nationals of Vietnam (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who were eligible for the Orderly Departure Program (ODP), the Humanitarian Resettlement (HR) Program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees (ROVR) Program, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988, or any other U.S. refugee program and who were deemed ineligible due to administrative error or who for reasons beyond the control of such individuals were unable or failed to apply for such programs in compliance with Department of State deadlines. Provides funding for the protection (including resettlement) of Vietnamese refugees and asylum seekers, including Montagnards and ethnic Khmer in Cambodia and Thailand. Prohibits the U.S. government from providing nonhumanitarian assistance to the government of Vietnam in excess of FY2010 amounts unless the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has made substantial progress respecting political, media, and religious freedoms (and related property issues), minority rights, access to U.S. refugee programs, actions to end trafficking in persons, and treatment of government officials and military personnel of the former government of South Vietnam. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or is otherwise in the U.S. national interest.

Date: 2010-11-18
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act - Directs the President to: (1) impose financial and immigration/entry sanctions on listed nationals of Vietnam who are complicit in human rights abuses committed against nationals of Vietnam or their family members, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Vietnam; and (2) submit to Congress a publicly available list of individuals determined to be complicit in such human rights abuses. Authorizes the President to waive sanctions: (1) to comply with international agreements; and (2) if in the U.S. national interest. Terminates sanctions if the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has: (1) released all political prisoners; (2) ceased its practices of violence, detention, and abuse of citizens of Vietnam engaging in peaceful political activity; and (3) conducted a transparent investigation into the killings, arrest, and abuse of such political activists and prosecuted those responsible.

Date: 2010-11-18
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
No Entry for Supporters of the Iranian Regime Act of 2010 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make inadmissible to the United States an alien who: (1) engages in certain sanctionable activities with Iran, including the development of Iran's petroleum resources, the proliferation of Iranian weapons of mass destruction, or support for terrorism by Iran; or (2) has a controlling managing or shareholder interest in an entity that engages in such activities. Authorizes presidential waiver of such prohibition under specified conditions.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Immigration
Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) annually estimate the number of illegal border crossings along the southern U.S. land border; and (2) reduce financial assistance to the government of Mexico by a total of $1,000 for each illegal border crossing from Mexico to the United States during the previous fiscal year. Authorizes the Secretary to not reduce appropriations for the government of Mexico from the International Military Education and Training Fund, the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Fund, and the fund to carry out nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining, and related programs and activities.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Lawful Interrogation and Detention Act - Directs the President, within one year after the enactment of this Act, to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and remove all detainees held there. Requires each such detainee to be either: (1) charged with a violation of U.S. or international law and transferred to an appropriate U.S. facility for further legal proceedings; (2) transferred for trial to an international tribunal operating under United Nations (UN) authority; (3) transferred (under certain conditions) to the custody of the government of the individual's country of citizenship or a different country; (4) released; or (5) held in accordance with the law of the armed conflict. Prohibits an individual in the custody or control of an element of the intelligence community (IC) or contractor or subcontractor thereof, regardless of the individual's nationality or physical location, from being subject to any treatment or technique of interrogation not authorized by the U.S. Army Field Manual on Human Intelligence Collector Operations. Prohibits the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from allowing a CIA contractor or subcontractor to carry out an interrogation. Requires any interrogation carried out on behalf of the CIA to be conducted only by a CIA employee. Requires the head of an IC element or a contractor or subcontractor of such element who detains or has custody or control over an individual to notify the International Committee of the Red Cross of such detention, and to provide Red Cross access to such individual in a manner consistent with practices of the Armed Forces.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Southwest Border Violence Reduction Act of 2009 - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) to expand resources for the Project Gunrunner initiative of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to identify, investigate, and prosecute firearms trafficking across the U.S.- Mexico border; and (2) provide ATF agents, equipment, and training to assist Mexican law enforcement officers in combating firearms trafficking and other criminal enterprises.

Date: 2009-01-12
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit the importation into the United States of any ruminant or swine, or any fresh (including chilled or frozen) meat or product of any ruminant or swine, that is born, raised, or slaughtered in Argentina until the Secretary certifies to Congress that every region of Argentina is free of foot and mouth disease without vaccination.

Date: 2009-01-28
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Support for Iraq Oil Trust Act of 2009 - Withholds specified percentages of Economic Support Fund assistance for Iraq unless the Secretary of State certifies within specified time periods to the appropriate congressional committees that U.S. government representatives have presented an oil trust plan to Iraqi government representatives.

Date: 2009-01-29
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act - Prohibits the President from regulating or prohibiting travel to or from Cuba by U.S. citizens or legal residents or any of the transactions ordinarily incident to such travel, except in time of war or armed hostilities between the United States and Cuba, or of imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of U.S. travelers.

Date: 2009-02-12
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2009 - Adjusts to permanent resident status a qualifying Liberian national who: (1) has been continuously present in the United States from January 1, 2009, through the date of status adjustment application; or (2) is the spouse, child, or unmarried son or daughter of such an alien. Requires adjustment applications to be filed before April 1, 2011.

Date: 2009-03-19
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Immigration
North Korea Sanctions Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of State to designate the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea as a country that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism for specified purposes under the Export Administration Act of 1979, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Authorizes the President to waive such requirement upon a certification to Congress that North Korea has taken certain actions regarding: (1) nuclear program and proliferation disclosures; (2) the illegal transfer of missile or nuclear technology; (3) support of international terrorist groups; and (4) prisoner release. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Special Envoy for Human Rights in North Korea should be present at all negotiating sessions between the governments of the United States and North Korea.

Date: 2009-04-20
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to use specified funds for assistance to Pakistan upon a determination that to do so is in U.S. national security interests. Terminates authority under this Act on September 30, 2010.

Date: 2009-04-28
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
African Development Fund Replenishment Act of 2009 - Amends the African Development Fund Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the African Development Fund to contribute to the 11th replenishment of the Fund. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to contribute to the Fund for the purpose of funding debt relief under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative. Authorizes appropriations. Defines "Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative" as the proposal set out in the G8 Finance Ministers' Joint Communique entitled "Conclusions on Development," London, June 11, 2005, and reaffirmed by G8 Heads of State at the Gleneagles Summit on July 8, 2005. Directs the Secretary to: (1) seek to ensure that each multilateral development bank discloses to member countries the bank's operating budget, including expenses for staff, consultants, travel, and facilities; and (2) submit a related report to Congress. Directs the Secretary to: (1) require that the U.S. Executive Director of each multilateral development bank use U.S. influence to ensure that the bank endorses and integrates the principles of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative; and (2) submit a related report to Congress. States that: (1) "multilateral development bank" has the meaning given that term in specified provisions of the International Financial Institutions Act; and (2) "principles of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative" means the principles contained in the Statement of Principles and Agreed Actions of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, agreed to in London June 17, 2003.

Date: 2009-05-01
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009 - States that it is the policy of the United States to support the decision of state and local governments and educational institutions to divest from, and to prohibit the investment of assets they control in, persons that have investments of $20 million or more in Iran's energy sector. Authorizes a state or local government to adopt and enforce measures to divest its assets from, or prohibit the investment of assets they control in, such persons, including financial institutions which extend them credit to so invest. Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to shield any registered investment company from civil, criminal, or administrative action based upon its divesting from, or avoiding investing in, securities issued by such persons. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to shield from treatment as breaching a fiduciary duty any person divesting employee benefit plan assets from, or avoiding investing plan assets in, such persons.

Date: 2009-05-18
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2009 - Prohibits the federal government from providing the government of Vietnam with nonhumanitarian development, trade, economic, and security assistance during any fiscal year that exceeds the amount of such assistance provided during FY2009, unless such increases are matched or exceeded by additional funding for programs focusing on human rights and democracy promotion. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or it is otherwise in the U.S. national interest. Prohibits the President from providing certain duty-free treatment for Vietnam until the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam protects freedom of association and does not engage in violations of workers' rights. Authorizes the President to provide U.S. assistance through appropriate nongovernmental organizations and the Human Rights Defenders Fund for the support of individuals and organizations to promote human rights in Vietnam. Expresses the sense of Congress regarding diplomacy with the government of Vietnam. Declares it is U.S. policy: (1) to take such measures as are necessary to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the government of Vietnam; and (2) that educational and cultural exchange programs with Vietnam should promote progress toward freedom and democracy. Declares it is U.S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to Vietnam nationals (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who were eligible for the Humanitarian Resettlement program, the Orderly Departure program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees program, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988, or any other U.S. refugee program, but who were deemed ineligible for reasons of administrative error or certain circumstances beyond their control.

Date: 2009-05-21
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
WHTI Implementation Monitoring Plan to Assure Continued Travel and Trade Act of 2009 or the IMPACTT Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State to jointly report to Congress on the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) regarding the U.S.-Canada international land and maritime border. Specifies that such report include information concerning: (1) effects on travel, trade, and border security; (2) frequent traveler program enrollment; (3) effectiveness of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology; and (4) U.S. Customs and Border Protection staffing levels.

Date: 2009-06-24
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Emergency management
North Korea Accountability Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of State to designate North Korea, for specified purposes of the Export Administration Act of 1979, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as a country that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. Authorizes the President to waive such requirement upon a certification to Congress that North Korea has taken certain actions regarding: (1) nuclear program and proliferation disclosures; (2) the illegal transfer of missile or nuclear technology; (3) support of international terrorist groups; and (4) prisoner release. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prohibit, with waiver authority, a financial institution from engaging in financial transactions with a foreign bank that is engaged in a financial transaction with the government or a governmental agent of North Korea or a senior government or military official of North Korea. Directs the President to strengthen military cooperation with Japan and South Korea. Sets forth reporting requirements regarding: (1) implementation of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004; (2) financial transaction with North Korea or trade in precious metals produced in North Korea; (3) the North Korean nuclear weapons program; (4) counterproliferation efforts; (5) implementation of specified U.N. Security Council Resolutions; and (6) North Korean refugees admitted into the United States. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) completion of ground-based missile interceptor deployment at Fort Greely, Alaska; (2) development of a variant of the F-22 fighter aircraft for sale to Japan; and (3) expansion of radio broadcasting to North Korea. Directs the Secretary of State to reallocate specified funds for programs to advance human rights for the people of North Korea.

Date: 2009-07-08
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
NATO-Western Balkans Support Act of 2009 - States that Congress supports the commitment to further enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to include Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Expresses the sense of Congress that the existing position of political advisor within the NATO Mission in Sarajevo should be filled by an ambassadorial-level U.S. diplomat as senior civilian representative to the NATO Mission in Sarajevo. Deems Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro as eligible to receive assistance under the NATO Participation Act of 1994. States that such designation: (1) is in addition to the designation of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia pursuant to the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996, the designation of Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Bulgaria pursuant to the European Security Act of 1998, and the designation of Slovakia pursuant to the Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2002, and the designation of the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Croatia, Georgia, the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), and Ukraine pursuant to the NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2007 as eligible to receive assistance under the NATO Participation Act of 1994; and (2) shall not preclude the designation by the President of other countries as eligible to receive assistance under the NATO Participation Act of 1994. Authorizes FY2010 appropriations under the Arms Export Control Act for assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

Date: 2009-08-03
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), in coordination with the Secretary of State, to: (1) establish the APEC Business Travel Program, under which the DHS Secretary may issue Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards to eligible U.S. citizens, including business leaders and government officials actively engaged in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) business, provided such an individual is first approved in one of the international trusted traveler programs of DHS, such as Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI.; and (2) cease issuance of such cards in the interest of the United States. Authorizes the DHS Secretary to collect a fee for such cards, the revenues from which shall not exceed Program costs in a fiscal year. Establishes in the Treasury an APEC Business Travel Program Account, into which such fees shall be deposited.

Date: 2009-08-06
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Immigration
ATPDEA Expansion and Extension Act of 2009 - Amends the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), as amended and expanded by Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), to include Paraguay and Uruguay on the list of countries eligible for duty-free treatment and other preferential treatment for their products as designated beneficiary countries and ATPDEA beneficiary countries. Extends preferential treatment to certain wool apparel articles that are both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the United States, or in one or more ATPDEA beneficiary countries, or both. Terminates the extension of such treatment to Paraguayan and Uruguayan products after December 31, 2012.

Date: 2009-09-14
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to liquidate or reliquidate certain entries of top-of-the-stove stainless steel cooking ware from the Republic of Korea.

Date: 2009-10-29
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act of 2009 - Amends the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 to eliminate the President's authority to waive certain funding limitations for Department of State acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened. Limits appropriations that may be obligated in FY2012 for Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened. States that, for each of FY2010-FY2011, of funds authorized to be appropriated for Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad, necessary sums should be made available until expended only for construction and other costs associated with the establishment in Jerusalem of the U.S. Embassy in Israel.

Date: 2009-11-05
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Treats cash contributions made after January 11, 2010, and before February 16, 2010, for the relief of earthquake victims in Haiti as having been made on December 31, 2009, for purposes of the tax deduction for charitable contributions.

Date: 2010-01-20
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Taxation
Haiti Assistance Income Tax Incentive Act - Treats cash contributions made after January 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, for the relief of earthquake victims in Haiti as having been made on December 31, 2009, for purposes of the tax deduction for charitable contributions. Deems a contribution as meeting the recordkeeping requirements of the Internal Revenue Code if the taxpayer produces a telephone bill showing the name of the donee organization and the date and amount of the contribution.

Date: 2010-01-20
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Taxation