zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
FFSCC Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Comptroller of the Currency to provide for the organization, incorporation, examination, operation, regulation, and chartering of Federal Financial Services and Credit Companies (FFSCCs) to: (1) extend short-term and long-term credit; and (2) implement financial literacy programs. Imposes an annual fee upon FFSCCs payable to the Comptroller to offset the cost of implementing this Act. Directs the Comptroller to: (1) study rates and terms used in the extension of credit; and (2) develop a suite of FSCC financial products that will be fair to underbanked persons and economically viable for FFSCCs to offer.

Date: 2010-07-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
American Metalworking Manufacturers Support Act - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) carry out a program to provide business stabilization loans to viable small metalworking businesses that have a qualifying SBA small business loan and are experiencing immediate financial hardship; and (2) establish a technical assistance program to assist a bank or other financial institution to provide such loans to such businesses. Prohibits the Administrator from charging any loan fees. Makes specified funds available to the Secretary of the Treasury for the loan program. Limits each loan to a maximum of $3 million and 18 months, without interest. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a small metalworking business tax credit of 30% of the amount paid or incurred for metal parts, components, or assemblies produced for the taxpayer under a contract between the taxpayer and a small metalworking business.

Date: 2010-07-30
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Financial Industry Transparency Act of 2010 - Amends the Financial Stability Act of 2010 to instruct the Financial Stability Oversight Council (Council) to adopt, according to specified requirements, data standards for all financial data received by it or by the Office of Financial Research (Office). Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) to adopt data standards for financial data regularly submitted to it by any nonbank financial company, savings and loan holding company or subsidiary (other than a depository institution), financial market utility, or institution under the Payment, Clearing, and Settlement Supervision Act of 2010. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to direct the Board to ensure that the information provided on its Web site as required by statute is available in a format consistent with a financial data standard. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to direct the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to adopt data standards for all financial data that it receives from any financial company or submits to Congress under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Amends the Revised Statutes of the United States to instruct the Comptroller of the Currency to adopt data standards for all financial data regularly filed with the Comptroller by any financial institution. Amends the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to adopt a data standard for any financial data that is included in reports filed with it by investment advisers. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to direct the SEC to adopt a data standard for: (1) all quantitative data that nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) are required to either submit to the Commission, or to disclose publicly; (2) mandatory periodic and current corporate reports; (3) corporate proxy and consent solicitation materials; and (4) the reporting of security-based swap transactions. Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to direct the SEC to adopt a data standard for asset-backed securities disclosures and for corporate registration statements. Amends United States Monetary Code to direct the Office of National Insurance to adopt a data standard for all financial data that it requires any insurer or affiliate to submit directly to it. Requires all these agencies to ensure the public accessibility of financial data subject to their standards. Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to direct the Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC) to adopt a standard for swap transaction data that is subject to specified public availability requirements.

Date: 2010-07-30
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Small Business Jobs Amendments Act of 2010 - Amends the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 with respect to the Small Business Lending Fund Program (Program) to: (1) remove the requirement that a community development loan fund (CDLF) be a tax-exempt entity; (2) include as an eligible institution under the Program any small business lending company that has total assets equal to or less than $10 billion; and (3) include as authorized small business lending nonowner-occupied commercial real estate loans. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to develop eligibility criteria to determine the financial ability of a CDLF to participate in the Program. Allows CDLFs to apply to receive from the Small Business Lending Fund up to 10% (current law allows up to 5%) of the total assets of the CDLF for investment in small businesses. Provides: (1) dividend and interest incentives for participating loan institutions based on increases in small business lending; and (2) an authorized alternative computation of small business lending by such institutions. Requires eligible institutions to: (1) provide Program outreach to Indian tribes; and (2) include on its Internet website a statement that the institution is seeking to make small business loans and may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age. Requires the Secretary, in exercising loan authorities, to consider increasing the availability of credit for small businesses operating on tribal trust lands or other Indian areas. Authorizes an eligible institution to temporarily amortize, for up to a 10-year period, any loan loss or write-down in order to increase the availability of credit for small businesses.

Date: 2010-09-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Fairness Act of 2010 - Amends the Small Business Act to permit a federal agency to count toward its federal small business procurement and services contracting goals a contract between that agency and a small business teaming arrangement entity, to the extent that the obligations of such entity are performed by a qualified HUBZone small business or a small business owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, or women. Includes as a qualified HUBZone small business an Alaska Native Corporation and a small business wholly owned by one or more Indian tribal governments.

Date: 2010-09-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Kids IRA Act of 2010 or the K-IRA Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a tax-exempt individual retirement account for taxpayers under age 26, to be known as a young savers account. Treats such accounts as Roth individual retirement accounts for income tax purposes. Allows an income-based tax deduction for contributions to such accounts, up to $5,000 in any taxable year.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Taxation
Truth in Bailouts Act - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to require any financial institution in which the Treasury holds an equity or debt position acquired under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to provide the following displays: (1) at each of its places of business, signs disclosing, in a clear and conspicuous manner, the statement "This institution has received financial assistance from the Federal Government under the Troubled Asset Relief Program and has not yet repaid the taxpayers"; and (2) on the main page of its website, the same disclosure in a clear and conspicuous manner.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, to treat as a noninterest-bearing transaction account fully insurable by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) any Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (or functionally equivalent account) established by an attorney or law firm on behalf of a client.

Date: 2010-11-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Protecting Jobs in Your State Act of 2010 - Prohibits a state or a political subdivision from using funds made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, Public Law 111-226 (relating to education jobs and Medicaid payments to states), the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, or funds for disaster relief administered by the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), as an incentive for a business to: (1) relocate a plant, facility, or other operation from one state to another; or (2) expand an operation in a state in a manner that will result in a reduction in such an operation in another state. Authorizes a political subdivision to submit to the state governor a petition stating that it has been adversely affected by a violation of such prohibition and requesting that the governor submit to the Secretary of Commerce a petition for an investigation. Provides that if the Secretary determines that a violation has occurred, the state in which such a violation was committed shall be liable to the United States for the amount of funds involved. Prohibits such a state from receiving any other funds under such Acts until it fully repays such amount to the United States. Directs the Comptroller General, biannually during the period that ends five years after this Act's enactment, to submit to specified committees a report on the impact of such provisions, including: (1) a statement of the number of petitions received by the Secretary of Commerce and a summary of the disposition of such petitions; (2) a list of U.S. claims that arose, were outstanding, or were collected; and (3) a list of any funds withheld.

Date: 2010-12-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act to revise the process for exercising the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to make purchases of troubled assets in excess of the $350 billion previously obligated.Changes the Joint Resolution of Disapproval, regarding the exercise of such authority, to a Joint Resolution of Approval. Prohibits the Secretary from exercising authority to make such purchases unless a joint resolution approving the plan is enacted into law within 15 calendar days after Congress receives a report of the Secretary's plan to exercise the authority.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Invest in Small Business Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock from 50 to 100 % of such gain and to reduce the required holding period for such stock from five to four years; (2) deny a tax exclusion for small business stock held by a 25% controlled corporate group; (3) repeal as an item of tax preference under the alternative minimum tax the exclusion of gain from the sale of small business stock; (4) repeal the 28% income tax rate on the gain from the sale of small business stock which is not excluded from gross income; (5) revise the definition of "qualified small business" for certain tax purposes to mean a C corporation with aggregate gross assets not exceeding $100 million (currently, $50 million); and (6) provide for an annual inflation adjustment to the small business aggregate gross asset amount after 2009.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Taxation
Empowering States' Right To Protect Consumers Act of 2009 - Amends the Truth In Lending Act to limit the annual percentage rate (APR) applicable to any consumer credit transaction (other than a residential mortgage transaction), including any associated fees, to the maximum rate permitted by the laws of the state in which the consumer resides.

Date: 2009-01-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 2009 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the small issuer exemption from interest expense allocation rules for financial institutions to: (1) increase from $10 to $30 million the annual limit on small issuers of tax-exempt municipal bonds; (2) allow an inflation adjustment to such increased limit amount after 2009; (3) repeal aggregation rules relating to the determination of small issuer eligibility; (4) allow small issuers an election to treat borrowers separately for purposes of issuance limitations; and (5) allow in 2009 or 2010 financial institutions and brokers to hold up to 2% of their assets in tax-exempt securities without affecting their interest expense tax deduction.

Date: 2009-01-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend for one year the additional 50% depreciation allowance (bonus depreciation) for business property placed in service in 2009; (2) qualify motion picture film or video tape for bonus depreciation; and (3) extend through 2009 the increased ($250,000) expensing allowance for certain depreciable business assets.

Date: 2009-01-21
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Taxation
Community Choice in Real Estate Act - Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and the Revised Statutes of the United States to prohibit the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Secretary of the Treasury, respectively, from determining that real estate brokerage activity or real estate management activity is financial in nature, is incidental to any financial activity, or is complementary to a financial activity. (In effect, prohibits financial holding companies and national banks from engaging, directly or indirectly, in real estate brokerage or real estate management activities.) Exempts from such prohibition: (1) activities of a bank holding company (or any affiliate) that directly relate to managing any real property owned by national banks or their affiliates; and (2) the right, power, or ability of any financial holding company to engage in any activity, or acquire or retain the shares of any company engaged in an activity authorized for financial holding companies on December 6, 2001 ("grandfather clause").

Date: 2009-01-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Economic Recovery Adjustment Act of 2009 - Establishes within the Department of Justice the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate to conduct audits and oversight of the compensation of the officers and directors of entities assisted under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Authorizes the Advocate to assist the Secretary of the Treasury in the negotiation of TARP assistance in order to: (1) assure that fair and reasonable executive compensation is paid by entities receiving TARP funds; and (2) defend such agreements in the event of any challenge to the adjustments to compensation obligations. States that negotiated reductions in compensation under this Act: (1) may include vested deferred compensation; and (2) shall be in an amount that is fair and reasonable in light of the taxpayers' assistance, but not less than the estimated value of the compensation obligations that would face the estate or debtor-in-possession if the TARP funds had not been granted, and the entity had filed for bankruptcy protection. Requires the Advocate to negotiate a reduction in executive compensation obligations as a prerequisite to TARP assistance if, after an audit, the Advocate finds reason to believe that the assisted entity would have become insolvent if not for the receipt of TARP assistance. Establishes the Temporary Economic Recovery Oversight Panel to: (1) either approve or deny a proposed settlement; or (2) upon petition of the Advocate (or of any individual subject to the Advocate's actions), issue an order establishing an executive compensation program if no settlement is reached.

Date: 2009-02-12
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
FBI Priorities Act of 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2014 to fund 1,000 additional Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field agents to investigate financial crimes.

Date: 2009-02-25
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2009 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor from extending credit to a consumer under an open end consumer credit plan (credit card) for which the fee and interest rate exceeds 36%. Sets forth criminal penalties for violation of this Act. Empowers state Attorneys General to enforce this Act. Revises requirements for a periodic statement for each billing cycle with respect to where the total finance charge exceeds 50 cents for a monthly or longer billing cycle, or the pro rata part of 50 cents for a billing cycle shorter than monthly. Requires inclusion of the fee and interest rate, displayed as "FAIR," instead of the total finance charge expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR).

Date: 2009-02-26
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
TARP Oversight Enhancement Act - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to bring under the oversight authority of the Comptroller General any entity participating in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) whose sole expenditure, transaction, or commitment to purchase (or any pattern of such): (1) exceeds $10,000, in aggregate; and (2) is not essential to ensuring the entity's recovery, restoring its solvency, improving its liquidity, enhancing returns for its investors, and increasing its net worth.

Date: 2009-03-03
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
The Depositor Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to increase from $30 billion to $100 billion the maximum sum that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is authorized to borrow from the Secretary of the Treasury. Authorizes a temporary increase, through calendar 2010, in such borrowing authority, up to a maximum of $500 billion, if the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the President, determines that additional amounts above $100 billion are necessary, pursuant to the written recommendation of the FDIC Board of Directors and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve Board). Requires a two-thirds vote of the members of both the FDIC Board of Directors and the Federal Reserve Board to make such a recommendation. Requires the FDIC, if its borrowing authority is increased above $100 billion, to report promptly to certain congressional committees the reasons and need for the additional borrowing authority and its intended uses.

Date: 2009-03-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Improving Access to Mainstream Financial Institutions Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to award grants, including multi-year grants, to specified eligible entities to establish an account in a federally insured depository institution for low- and moderate-income individuals who currently do not have such an account. Includes among such eligible entities: (1) Alaska Native Corporations; (2) Native Hawaiian organizations; and (3) labor organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to award demonstration project grants to eligible entities to provide low-cost, small loans to consumers that will provide alternatives to more costly, predatory payday loans. Requires such entities to be: (1) tax-exempt charitable organizations; (2) federally insured depository institutions; (3) community development financial institutions; or (4) partnerships comprised of one or more of such entities. Requires grant recipients to offer financial literacy and education opportunities to each consumer provided with a loan pursuant to this Act.

Date: 2009-04-02
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
National Consumer Cooperative Bank Act Amendments of 2009 - Amends the National Consumer Cooperative Bank Act to declare that a nonprofit corporation (established to succeed the abolished Office of Self-Help Development and Technical Assistance) shall be deemed to be a community development financial institution, unless the National Consumer Cooperative Bank or any of its affiliates participates in certain depository institution incentives under the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994.

Date: 2009-05-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to direct agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns unless there is potential for serious harm to the public interest, the detection of criminal activity would be impaired, the violation is not corrected within six months, the violation is a violation of internal revenue law or a law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt, or the violation presents a danger to the public health or safety. Permits an agency to determine that a fine should not be imposed for a violation that presents a danger to public health or safety if the violation is corrected within 24 hours after receipt by the small business owner of notification of the violation. Makes this Act inapplicable to any violation by a small business of a requirement regarding the collection of information by an agency if the small business previously violated any requirement concerning the collection of information by that agency.

Date: 2009-05-21
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Extends through September 30, 2009, under the same terms and conditions, the authorization for any program, authority, or provision, including any pilot program, that is currently authorized through July 31, 2009, under the Small Business Act or the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.

Date: 2009-07-24
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Resolution Reform Act of 2009 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to make it the responsibility of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and its Board of Directors, using the powers and authorities conferred by this Act, to resolve depository institution holding companies of failed or failing insured depository institutions (including their affiliates and subsidiaries). Requires the FDIC to accept appointment and act as receiver of a covered depository institution holding company if it determines, in its sole discretion, that such appointment will reduce the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund, and that specified grounds exist. Sets forth conditions for appointment of the FDIC as receiver. Permits the FDIC to decline to accept appointment for a covered depository institution holding company, when, in its sole discretion, it determines that resolution of the company would be better accomplished under either federal bankruptcy law or state insurance law. Shields the FDIC from direction or supervision of any other federal or state agency when in its status as receiver it exercises its rights, powers, and privileges. States that: (1) appointment of the FDIC as receiver terminates any proceeding under either federal bankruptcy law or state insolvency law with respect to the subject holding company; and (2) no case or proceeding may be commenced against such holding company while the FDIC acts as receiver without the written agreement of the FDIC. Permits judicial review regarding appointment of the FDIC as receiver. Sets forth the powers and duties of the FDIC as receiver. Authorizes the FDIC to make a determination of troubled condition for any covered company that does not have an appropriate federal banking agency. Authorizes the FDIC to cooperate and coordinate with foreign courts, foreign representatives, and foreign regulatory or supervisory authorities.

Date: 2009-07-30
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Federal Board of Certification Act of 2009 - Establishes a Federal Board of Certification to certify that the mortgages within a security instrument meet the underlying standards they claim to meet with regards to such mortgage characteristics as: (1) documentation; (2) loan to value ratios; (3) debt service to income ratios; and (4) borrower credit standards and geographic concentration. States that the purpose of this certification process is to increase the transparency, predictability, and reliability of securitized mortgage products. Authorizes market participants, including firms that package mortgage loans into mortgage securities, to elect to have their mortgage securities evaluated by the Board. Authorizes the Board to: (1) promulgate regulations establishing enumerated security standards to use in certifying mortgage securities; (2) establish uniform principles and standards and report forms for the regular examination of such securities; and (3) develop uniform reporting systems for ascertaining mortgage security risk. Grants the Board access to all books, accounts, records, reports, files, memorandums, papers, things, and property belonging to or in use by federal financial institutions regulatory agencies. Requires any publication, transmission, or webpage containing an advertisement for or invitation to buy a mortgage security to carry a disclaimer that certification by the Federal Board of Certification can in no way be considered a guarantee of the mortgage security, but is merely a judgment of the degree of risk offered by the security in question.

Date: 2009-08-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Deceptive Loan Check Elimination Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) to prohibit a person from extending any consumer credit through the use by the consumer of a check or other negotiable instrument sent by the creditor to solicit an extension of consumer credit, unless the consumer has requested it in writing. States that a nonnegotiable instrument that has the appearance of a negotiable instrument in connection with a solicitation for an extension of credit is not an application or request for purposes of this Act. Shields a consumer from liability for: (1) the principal amount of a negotiable instrument sent in violation of this Act; or (2) any interest, fee, or penalty charged in connection with such negotiable instrument. Prohibits any information relating to the liability of a consumer alleged by a creditor to have been established through a negotiable instrument sent in violation of this Act from being either reported to or received by any consumer reporting agency, or from being included in any consumer report.

Date: 2009-08-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Fairness and Accountability in Receiving Overdraft Coverage Act of 2009 or FAIR Overdraft Coverage Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a depository institution from engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in connection with overdraft coverage, or in acts designed to evade the provisions of this Act. Requires each depository institution that provides overdraft coverage for transaction accounts to clearly and conspicuously disclose overdraft coverage fees. Subjects to the consumer's written, electronic, or other consent overdraft coverage fees for withdrawals from either automated teller machines or from debit card transfers. Requires a depository institution to provide specified consumer disclosures regarding its overdraft protection program, including: (1) periodic statements for any transaction account that has an overdraft coverage program feature; and (2) prompt notification of the account's overdraft status. Prescribes overdraft coverage fee limits. Prohibits an overdraft coverage fee if the overdraft results solely from a debit hold amount that exceeds the actual dollar amount of the transaction. Requires a depository institution to provide consumers who have not consented to participate in an overdraft coverage program transaction accounts with the same terms as those provided to consumers who have consented to participate in such program. Prohibits a depository institution from charging a non-sufficient fund fee for any transaction at an automated teller machine or any debit card transaction. Prohibits a depository institution from reporting negative information regarding consumer use of overdraft coverage to any consumer reporting agency when the overdraft amounts and coverage fees are paid under the terms of an overdraft coverage program.

Date: 2009-10-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Federal Reserve Accountability Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Comptroller General to conduct reviews of (including onsite examinations), and report to Congress on, the accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls of credit facilities established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or any Federal Reserve bank, including when such activities are implemented by or on behalf of the Board or any official of a Federal Reserve bank. Defines "credit facilities" as: (1) the Money Market Investor Funding Facility; (2) the Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility; (3) the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility; (4) the Primary Dealer Credit Facility; (5) the Commercial Paper Funding Facility; and (6) certain other credit facilities approved by the Board, as well as any special purpose vehicle through which any activity of such facilities is conducted. Requires the Board to place on its home Internet website a link entitled "Audit" to a webpage that serves as a repository of public information for not less than six months following the release of the relevant information, including: (1) the reports prepared pursuant to this Act; (2) the annual financial statements prepared by an independent auditor for the Board; and (3) any other information the Board believes is necessary or helpful to the public in understanding its accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls as well as those of the Federal Reserve banks.

Date: 2009-10-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Small Business Emergency Loan Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to raise, until January 1, 2011, the maximum amounts of loans for the benefit of small businesses under the following Small Business Administration (SBA) programs: (1) the 7(a) program (general business loans); (2) the 504 program (loans to state and local development companies to make small business loans for plant acquisition, construction, conversion, or expansion); and (3) the Microloan program (small-scale loans to start-up, newly-established, or growing small businesses). Allows a small business owner receiving financing under the SBA local development business loan program to refinance, and add to SBA financing costs, a non-SBA indebtedness, as long as the project for which the SBA financing is approved does not involve expansion of the participant's small business. Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to increase the maximum loan amount authorized for small businesses under the business stabilization program. Suspends certain SBA loan fees during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on January 1, 2011.

Date: 2009-10-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Venture Capital Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize for FY2010-FY2013 the venture capital program under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (a program under which small business investment companies (SBICs) provide capital financing to small businesses). Increases the maximum amounts of outstanding leverage made available to SBICs that invest in women-owned or minority businesses. Allows SBICs who were licensed as participating securities SBICs prior to October 1, 2004, to obtain leverage based on Small Business Administration (SBA)-approved commitments rather than paid-in capital. Increases from 20% to 30% of total available private capital the maximum authorized SBIC investment in a single business (absent specific SBA approval). Requires the SBA Administrator, in selecting investment companies to participate in the New Markets Venture Capital program (NMVC program) (investment in small businesses in low-income areas), to select at least one company from each SBA geographic region. Requires the Administrator to have as a goal to enter into at least one NMVC program agreement with a company engaged primarily in the development of and investment in small manufacturers. Establishes in the Investment Division of the SBA the Office of New Markets Venture Capital. Modifies the definition of low-income geographic area to reflect the new markets tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code. Requires the Administrator to prescribe standard documents for an application for final approval of a company under the NMVC program. Allows NMVC companies to receive operational assistance grants. Requires the Administrator to grant each conditionally-approved NMVC company up to two years to raise the $5 million in private capital required for participation. Reauthorizes the NMVC program for FY2010-FY2013. Reduces the authorization for operational assistance grants.

Date: 2009-10-21
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Extends through January 31, 2010, under the same terms and conditions, the authorization for any program, authority, or provision, including any pilot program, that is currently authorized through October 31, 2009, under the Small Business Act or the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.

Date: 2009-10-26
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Mutual Fund Transparency Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 to require brokers and dealers of mutual funds to disclose in writing the related commissions they receive to purchasers of shares of any registered open-end or closed-end company or any interest in a registered unit investment trust or municipal securities used for education savings plans. Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to: (1) reduce from 60% to 25% the membership of the board of directors of a mutual fund that may be composed of "interested persons"; (2) prohibit such board from having an interested person as chairman; (3) prohibit requiring the vote of a director who is an "interested person" of the mutual company; and (4) require a mutual fund company to have a committee composed solely of "non-interested persons" responsible for selecting nominees for election to the board and for adopting qualification standards for such nominations. Requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue final rules: (1) redefining the term "significant service provider" to include the investment adviser and principal underwriter of a mutual fund; and (2) declaring that brokers and dealers have a certain fiduciary duty in providing investment advice to retail clients, including the duty to act solely in the best interest of the client without regard to the financial or other interest of the broker or dealer. Requires the SEC to study and report to certain congressional committees on designated topics, including: (1) the level of financial literacy among purchasers of open-end companies; (2) information that investors need to make sound financial decisions prior to share purchases; and (3) methods to increase transparency of expenses and potential conflicts of interest in transactions involving shares of open-end companies. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to certain congressional committees on mutual fund advertising, including: (1) current marketing sales practices, especially the use of unsustainable past performance data; and (2) recommendations to improve investor protections in mutual fund advertising.

Date: 2009-10-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Too Big to Fail, Too Big to Exist Act - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) submit to Congress, within 90 days after enactment of this Act, a list of all commercial banks, investment banks, hedge funds, and insurance companies that the Secretary believes are too big to fail (" Too Big To Fail List"); and (2) break up entities included on such list so that their failure would no longer cause a catastrophic effect on the United States or global economy without a taxpayer bailout.

Date: 2009-11-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Express Loan Improvements Act of 2009 - Amends provisions of the Small Business Act relating to the Express Loan Program to: (1) increase (for a two-year period) from 50% to 75% the maximum percentage of such loan that may be guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA); and (2) increase from $350,000 to $1 million the maximum loan amount.

Date: 2009-11-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to establish the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Small Dollar Loan-Loss Guarantee Fund to defray the cost of losses on specified qualifying consumer loans (not exceeding $2500) made by certain CDFIs and institutions whose primary mission is to serve low- to moderate-income individuals. Authorizes appropriations to implement the program and to provide technical assistance grants to applicants to develop and support a small dollar loan program. Authorizes the Administrator of the CFDI Fund to borrow from the Treasury as necessary to maintain Fund solvency.

Date: 2009-12-02
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Banking Integrity Act of 2009 - Amends the Banking Act of 1933 (Glass-Steagall Act) to prohibit a member bank from being affiliated with specified organizations engaged principally in the issue, flotation, underwriting, public sale, or distribution of stocks, bonds, debenture, notes, or other securities. Prohibits the staff and personnel of corporations and partnerships (as well as any individual) primarily engaged in the issue, flotation, underwriting, public sale, or distribution, of stocks, bonds, or other similar securities, from serving simultaneously as an officer, director, or employee of any member bank of the Federal Reserve System. Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to grant limited exceptions. Prohibits a depository institution from engaging in the business of insurance or any insurance-related activity.

Date: 2009-12-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
United States Employee Ownership Bank Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the United States Employee Ownership Bank to foster increased employee ownership and greater employee participation in company decision making throughout the United States. Authorizes the Bank to make loans, on a direct or guaranteed basis, and which may be subordinated to the interests of all other creditors, to employees to purchase a company through an employee stock ownership plan or eligible worker-owned cooperative which is at least 51% employee owned, or will become so as a result of Bank assistance. Authorizes the bank also to allow: (1) a company that is less than 51% employee owned to become at least 51% employee owned; and (2) allow a company that is already at least 51% employee owned to increase the level of employee ownership, expand operations, and increase or preserve employment. Amends the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act to require the employer, if it orders a plant or facility closing in connection with the termination of its operations there, to offer its employees an opportunity to purchase such plant or facility through an employee stock ownership plan or an eligible worker-owned cooperative that is at least 51% employee owned. Exempts from such requirement an employer that orders a plant closing: (1) but will retain the plant assets to continue or begin a business within the United States; or (2) intends to continue the business conducted at such plant at another plant within the United States. Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to authorize the appropriate federal financial supervisory agency, in assessing and taking into account the record of a financial institution during an examination, to consider capital investments, loans, loan participation, technical assistance, financial advice, grants, and other ventures undertaken by the institution to support or enable employees to establish employee stock ownership plans or eligible worker-owned cooperatives that are at least 51% employee-owned.

Date: 2009-12-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Labor and employment
Helping Small Business Succeed Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act to increase maximum amounts of loans under the section 7(a) guaranteed loan program and the Microloan Program. Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase maximum amounts of loans to state and local development companies for plant acquisition, construction, conversion, and expansion. Increases the maximum loan guarantee percentage under the 7(a) program, effective until October 3, 2011. Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to extend through such date the authority to extend increased loan guarantees to small business lenders and to eliminate certain loan fees. Authorizes the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), through such date, to make loans to small businesses located in an economic disaster area. Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Administrator necessary amounts to carry out this Act.

Date: 2009-12-21
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Directs the Comptroller General to complete, not later than 12 months after enactment of this Act, an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and of the federal reserve banks, followed by a detailed report to Congress.

Date: 2010-01-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Boosting Entrepreneurship and New Jobs Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow certain small businesses a refundable tax credit for 15% of the first-year wages paid to new employees and a business-related tax credit for employee health insurance expenses; and (2) impose an additional tax on individuals with modified adjusted gross incomes exceeding $500,000 ($1 million for married couples filing a joint tax return) sufficient to render the provisions of this Act budget neutral. Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Secretary of the Treasury to jointly establish a loan program for small business concerns (i.e., businesses with fewer than 25 employees). Amends the Small Business Act to expand: (1) the authority of the Administrator to guarantee small business loans; and (2) the microloan program for women, low-income individuals, veterans, and minority entrepreneurs. Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to obligate to be expended by September 30, 2010, certain funds for research and development by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase the maximum loan amounts available to small businesses for plant acquisition, construction, conversion, and expansion. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should designate the SBA Administrator as a member of the Cabinet; and (2) financial institutions that have received financial assistance from the federal government should provide needed capital and loans to small business concerns.

Date: 2010-01-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for tax preferred Small Business Startup Savings Accounts to pay for trade or business expenses, including operating capital, the purchase of equipment or facilities, marketing, training, incorporation, and accounting fees. Allows annual contributions to such accounts up to $10,000. Sets forth rules for the tax treatment of contributions to and rollovers from such accounts, similar to rules governing individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

Date: 2010-02-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Taxation
Ending Taxpayer Bailouts by Making Wall Street Pay Act of 2010 - Establishes the Systemic Resolution Fund, to be administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), to: (1) cover the costs of the FDIC, including as receiver, in exercising its rights, authorities, and powers, and in fulfilling its obligations and responsibilities; (2) repay initial capitalization appropriations; and (3) cover the costs of systemic stabilization purposes. Prohibits the use of amounts in the Fund to convert or maintain a financial company that is insolvent or in receivership, except to the extent necessary to insure systemic stabilization in the company's resolution. Requires all amounts assessed against a financial company under this Act to be deposited into the Fund. Directs the FDIC to: (1) impose assessments on financial companies for Fund maintenance and, if need be, replenishment; and (2) establish a mechanism whereby the systemic risk regulator reallocates annually the assessments for the Fund among all the systemically risky financial companies. Prohibits the FDIC from imposing an assessment on any financial company which it determines does not pose a systemic risk to the U.S. financial system.

Date: 2010-03-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Wall Street Compensation Reform Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restrict the tax deduction for compensation paid to highly-paid employees of systemically significant financial institutions. Requires such compensation to be performance-based, to vest no earlier than five years after the date of payment, and to consist of 50% employer stock. Prohibits such highly-paid employees from using personal hedging strategies and remuneration or liability-related insurance and requires forfeiture of compensation paid to a chief executive or financial officer of such an institution if an accounting restatement is required due to material noncompliance, as a result of misconduct, with any federal financial reporting requirement. Defines a "systemically significant financial institution" as an entity which engages primarily in financial activities (as determined under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956) and which: (1) owns or controls assets greater than $25 billion; or (2) owns or controls assets greater than $10 billion and maintains a ratio of debt to equity greater than 20 to 1. Requires each systemically significant financial institution which is a publicly held corporation to make an annual report on its compensation policies and practices to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and make such report publicly available.

Date: 2010-03-22
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Taxation
Small Business Innovation to Job Creation Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to small businesses to commercialize research developed by such businesses using funds received under the second phase of the Small Business Innovation Research Program (a program under which a portion of a federal agency's research and development effort is reserved for award to small businesses). Terminates the grant program at the end of FY2011.

Date: 2010-04-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Banking)
Subject: Commerce