zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Promoting Unlicensed Spectrum Act of 2015 

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that spectrum allocation and assignment produces a balance between radio frequency bands available for: (1) exclusive licensing through an auction, and (2) unlicensed operations on a nonexclusive basis without the expectation of protection from interference.

The FCC must consider whether to adopt rules that permit unlicensed operations in spectrum assigned by auction until the licensee brings the spectrum into use by initiating commercial service.

The bill declares that it is the policy of the United States to:

 maximize the utility of the spectrum resources of the United States, advance innovation and investment in wireless broadband services, and promote a balanced spectrum policy that makes adequate spectrum resources available for both licensed and unlicensed technologies. The FCC must consult with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop a national strategy for making additional radio frequency bands available for unlicensed operations. The strategy must: (1) identify proposed radio frequency bands to be cleared of incumbent users; (2) ensure that consumers have access to additional low-, mid-, and high-band frequencies for unlicensed operations; and (3) consider rules and other ways to promote spectrum sharing and improve spectrum utilization.

The NTIA, in conjunction with the FCC and the Office of Management and Budget, must submit to Congress a report on the steps necessary to designate additional radio frequency bands used by federal entities for unlicensed operations without causing harmful interference to government operations. The report must consider the impact on homeland security or national security communications and include recommendations to ensure the solvency of the Spectrum Relocation Fund.

Date: 2015-11-10
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Spectrum Challenge Prize Act of 2015

This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to conduct prize competitions to accelerate the development and commercialization of technology that improves spectrum efficiency and is capable of cost-effective deployment.

Not more than $5 million, in the aggregate, may be awarded to prize competition winners.

The Federal Communications Commission must publish a technical paper providing criteria that may be used for the design of such competitions.

Date: 2015-12-08
Topic: Technology (Broadcast)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Preserve Historic America Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the tax credit for rehabilitation of older and historic buildings by: (1) increasing from 20 to 25% the tax credit rate for certified historic structure rehabilitation expenditures; (2) permitting a building at least 50 years old to qualify for the rehabilitation tax credit (currently, a building must have been placed in service before 1936); (3) permitting qualified rehabilitated buildings to be used for lodging purposes; (4) limiting to 50% the basis reduction for buildings qualifying for the low-income housing and rehabilitation tax credits; (5) allowing an increased rehabilitation tax credit for certain buildings in difficult development areas or which qualify as small rehabilitation projects; (6) exempting tax credits for rehabilitation of certified historic structures from the calculation of the passive activity credit; and (7) permitting the assignment of rehabilitation tax credits.Allows a new tax credit for 20% of the cost of rehabilitating a qualified historic home. Defines "qualified historic home" as a certified historic structure which has been substantially rehabilitated and which is owned by the taxpayer and is or will be used as the taxpayer's principal residence.

Date: 2007-01-22
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
Depository Institution Community Development Investments Enhancement Act - Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to revise requirements for community development investments by federal savings associations. Authorizes a federal savings association to make investments, directly or indirectly, each of which is designed primarily to promote the public welfare, including the welfare of low- and moderate-income communities or families through the provision of housing, services, and jobs (community development investments). Permits such investments to be made directly or by purchase of interests in an entity primarily engaged in making such investments. Prohibits a federal savings association from making an investment which would subject it to unlimited liability to any person. Requires the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision to establish: (1) the amount any savings association may invest in any one project; and (2) the aggregate amount of investment of any savings association. Restricts the aggregate amount of investment of any savings association, subject to specified determinations made by the Director. Prohibits the maximum aggregate amount of investments of any savings association from exceeding the same 15% of its capital stock actually paid in and unimpaired and 15% of its unimpaired surplus as imposed by this Act on national banking associations and state member banks.

Date: 2007-02-15
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to deem Alton and Granite City, Illinois, to be metropolitan cities for purposes of the community development block grant (CDBG) program.

Date: 2007-03-14
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
A Home for the Brave Act - Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to require the appropriate federal financial supervisory agency, when assessing the record of a financial institution, to take into account capital investments, low interest loans, loan participation, technical assistance, and grants by the institution to support or enable: (1) any veteran to purchase a home for use as the principal residence of the veteran; and (2) any entity that is establishing housing opportunities or assisted living facilities for veterans to carry out such activities.

Date: 2007-04-19
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Energy and Environment Block Grant Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish an Energy and Environment Block Grant Program to make block grants to state or local governments for: (1) energy efficiency and climate protection strategy; (2) technical consultant services to assist in the development of such strategy; (3) energy audits; (4) weatherization programs; (5) financial incentives for energy efficiency retrofits; and (6) grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for energy retrofits. Declares the purchase or leasing of equipment or vehicles for the private sector, or of pollution control equipment for private electric utilities, ineligible for funds under this Act. Requires a local government unit that is a grant recipient to submit to the Secretary a proposed Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection Strategy establishing goals for increased energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Requires a state that is a grant recipient to use at least 70% of the funds received to provide subgrants to otherwise ineligible local government units. Directs the Secretary to establish an Office of Energy and Environmental Block Grants, which shall in turn establish and implement a Research, Technical Assistance, and Education Program.

Date: 2007-05-23
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Energy
Housing Assistance Authorization Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make a grant to the National Urban League to provide technical and financial assistance to local non-profit organizations to undertake community development and affordable housing projects and programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly through organizations located in neighborhoods with substantial populations of African American income-disadvantaged households. Authorizes the Secretary also to make a grant to the Raza Development Fund to provide technical and financial assistance to local nonprofit organizations to undertake similar projects and programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly through organizations in neighborhoods with substantial populations of income-disadvantaged households of Hispanic origin. Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to the Housing Partnership Network to create, sustain, and improve access to affordable housing and community facilities benefiting very low-, low-, and moderate-income households and communities. Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to the National Community Renaissance Program to undertake affordable housing projects benefitting very low-, low-, and moderate-income households.

Date: 2007-11-01
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Community Economic Development Expertise Enhancement Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to increase the capacity and expertise of qualifying community-based economic development organizations. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct an assessment of such organizations' capability needs; and (2) establish the Advisory Council on Community Economic Development. Directs the President to include with each annual budget request a report regarding federal financial support for community economic development.

Date: 2007-12-06
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Community Building Code Administration Grant Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to award $1 million grants, on a competitive basis and with federal matching funds, to qualified local building code enforcement departments to increase staffing, provide staff training, increase staff competence and professional qualifications, support individual certification or departmental accreditation, or for capital expenditures specifically dedicated to department administration. Allows the Secretary to waive specified non-federal matching fund requirements and to institute new ones, by regulation, based upon the level of economic distress of the local jurisdiction in which the local building code enforcement department seeking such grant is located. Sets forth criteria for rating and ranking of grant proposals. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013.

Date: 2007-12-12
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Helping Communities Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make grants to states for providing foreclosure-mitigation counseling to homeowners of owner-occupied single family homes with mortgage loans in default or in danger of default. Requires each state recipient to provide at least 95% of the grant amounts to nonprofit entities. Authorizes additional FY2008 appropriations for community development block grant assistance under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

Date: 2008-03-10
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Neighborhood Rescue and Stabilization Act of 2008 - Authorizes for FY2008 appropriations for assistance to states and local governmental units for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to allocate the funds among the states according to a funding formula reflecting the ratio that home mortgage foreclosures occurring in a state bears to the aggregate number of such foreclosures occurring in all states. Requires states to allocate funds to qualified metropolitan cities according to a similar formula. Requires states and local governmental units to give priority to those metropolitan areas, metropolitan cities, urban areas, rural areas, low- and moderate-income areas, and other areas with the greatest need, including those: (1) with the greatest percentage of home foreclosures; (2) with the highest percentage of homes financed by a subprime mortgage related loan; or (3) identified as likely to face a significant rise in the rate of home foreclosures. Cites eligible uses and redevelopment financing mechanisms. Sets forth low- and moderate-income requirements for the use of all funds made available under this Act.

Date: 2008-04-02
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Emergency Neighborhood Reclamation Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants to eligible units of general local government for neighborhood reclamation. Specifies grant applicant eligibility requirements, including a comprehensive plan for the demolition of all vacant and abandoned housing and other structures within the local government's jurisdiction that will increase the stability of neighborhoods, or promote the rational utilization of land within that jurisdiction. Requires the use of such grant to fund: (1) the demolition of vacant and abandoned housing, and other vacant and abandoned structures, located in areas that are primarily residential in character; (2) the abatement, before demolition, of any health and safety hazards within such housing or structures, or on the site upon which such housing or other structures are located; and (3) the capping or removal, after demolition, of utility connections and public infrastructure, including street pavements and sewer lines, and the rehabilitation of a site for use as public open space, inclusion in a land bank, or for sale. Prohibits the use of funds made available under this Act to demolish public housing.

Date: 2008-04-22
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Federal Housing Enterprises Transparency and Accountability Act of 2008 - Directs the Federal Housing Board to require each Federal Home Loan Bank, and the Director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to require the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), to carry out a pilot program to reduce risk through the use of electronic platforms to conduct transactions in interest rate swaps and forward rate agreements.

Date: 2008-05-22
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Community Assistance Act for Persons with Mental Illness - Authorizes the use of specified funds, by state and local governments under the community development, mental health services, and substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant programs of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act, to provide housing counseling and financial counseling for individuals before their release from institutions for individuals with mental illness. Amends the Public Health Service Act to include in a state plan for comprehensive community-based mental health systems: (1) housing counseling; (2) financial counseling; and (3) support services for individuals released from inpatient or residential institutions.

Date: 2008-07-22
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Health
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit the application of tax-exempt bond financing for properties located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone (GO Zone) counties of Colbert and Dallas, Alabama, for which neither the acquisition occurred, nor the construction, reconstruction, or renovation was begun, before the enactment of the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 (i.e., July 30, 2008).

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide financial assistance to the Housing Assistance Council to develop the capacity of community-based housing development organizations to undertake community development and affordable housing projects and programs in rural areas. Authorizes the Council to use such assistance for rural community-based housing development organizations to acquire: (1) technical assistance, training, support, and advice to develop business and administrative capabilities; and (2) loans, grants, or other financial assistance to carry out community development and affordable housing activities for low- and moderate-income families.

Date: 2007-05-22
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to take specified actions to allow the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to better serve persons with limited English proficiency by providing technical assistance to recipients of federal funds. Requires the Secretary to convene a task force to identify vital documents for translation to improve the access of such individuals to federally conducted and federally assisted programs and activities. Requires the Secretary to: (1) produce such translations and make them available on the HUD website; (2) develop and carry out a plan for providing HUD resources to assist federal funds recipients to improve the access of such individuals to programs and activities; and (3) develop a housing information resource center, with a 24-hour toll-free interpretation service telephone line, which may provide vital documents from competent translation services for housing services providers. Requires the center to: (1) operate a document clearinghouse; (2) evaluate best-practices models; and (3) provide information relating to culturally and linguistically competent housing services for populations with limited English proficiency.

Date: 2007-09-05
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Fire-Safe Communities Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to publish a federal model ordinance for municipalities at risk (subdivisions located in a fire hazard area) that includes specified elements regarding fire prevention and management, such as: (1) specifications for construction materials and techniques for use in such communities; and (2) standards for roads, culverts, and bridges.Authorizes the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to modify, for a municipality at risk, the requirements of the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program related to the provision of a non-federal share of funds, so that if such a municipality has adopted an applicable model ordinance and is making significant progress toward implementing it, the Under Secretary may reduce the required non-federal share to 10% of the grant amount.Directs the Under Secretary to provide grants to: (1) municipalities at risk to encourage responsible development in state-identified fire-prone regions and to mitigate the catastrophic effects of fires; and (2) states to create or update fire-hazard assessment maps.Amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to: (1) include as a purpose of the Community and Private Land Fire Assistance Program to enhance the capacity of local governments to integrate fire-resistant community and home design into local planning, zoning, building code, and brush clearing ordinances; and (2) authorize a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing assistance to fire-safe communities located near federal land.

Date: 2007-11-16
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Emergency management
Community Foreclosure Assistance Act of 2007 - Makes appropriations for additional emergency Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) assistance to states, metropolitan cities, and urban counties to carry out CDBG programs under the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1974: (1) for necessary expenses related to the impact of housing foreclosures, and other related economic and community development activities; and (2) to provide foreclosure-based rental assistance for individual renters in the form of relocation assistance. Prohibits the direct or indirect provision of such funds, except for certified housing counseling services, to an individual homeowner for foreclosure prevention purposes, including refinancing assistance, loans, or any other form of financial assistance. Increases from 15% to 25% the maximum amount of CDBG funds a local government may use for public services under the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1974, including those concerned with employment, crime prevention, child care, health, drug abuse, education, energy conservation, welfare or recreation needs. Requires at least 50% of CDBG funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act to benefit primarily persons of low- and moderate-income.

Date: 2007-12-12
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Depository Institution Community Development Investments Enhancement Act - Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to revise requirements for community development investments by federal savings associations. Authorizes a federal savings association to make investments, directly or indirectly, each of which is designed primarily to promote the public welfare, including the welfare of low- and moderate-income communities or families through the provision of housing, services, and jobs (community development investments). Permits such investments to be made directly or by purchase of interests in an entity primarily engaged in making such investments. Prohibits a federal savings association from making an investment which would subject it to unlimited liability to any person. Requires the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision to establish: (1) the amount any savings association may invest in any one project; and (2) the aggregate amount of investment of any savings association. Restricts the aggregate amount of investment of any savings association, subject to specified determinations made by the Director. Prohibits the maximum aggregate amount of investments of any savings association from exceeding the same 15% of its capital stock actually paid in and unimpaired and 15% of its unimpaired surplus as imposed by this Act on national banking associations and state member banks.

Date: 2007-12-14
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Home Heating Fuels Cost Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income-based refundable tax credit for up to $1,000 ($2,000 in the case of a joint return) of the cost of heating oil, natural gas, and propane to heat a principal residence. Terminates such credit after 2009.Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make grants to states to create revolving loan funds for home weatherization loans.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
American Heroes' Homeownership Assistance Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow current or former members of the Uniformed Services who perform duty in a combat zone between 2001 and 2010, or their surviving spouses, a one-time tax credit for 10% of the purchase price of a principal residence, up to $7,500. Limits such credit to residences purchased before January 1, 2011.

Date: 2009-01-08
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
Community Partners Next Door Act of 2009 - Amends the National Housing Act to provide: (1) a 50% discount for teachers, teacher assistants, administrators, and public safety officers purchasing certain eligible asset properties for use as their primary residence; (2) a $100 downpayment on any related insured mortgage; and (3) a higher Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limit for such purchases in high-cost areas. Authorizes such sales directly to a qualifying individual or to a unit of local government or a nonprofit organization for resale to such individual. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a program to inform teachers and public safety officers about such program.

Date: 2009-01-15
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
FHA Seller-Financed Downpayment Reform Act of 2009 - Amends the National Housing Act to make exceptions to the prohibition against mortgage insurance for mortgages involving a downpayment using funds furnished by: (1) the seller or any party that benefits financially from the transaction (seller-financed downpayment); or (2) any third party that is reimbursed by the seller or any such party. Makes eligible for mortgage insurance, in spite of a seller-financed downpayment, any mortagors with credit scores equivalent to a FICO score of: (1) 680 or more; (2) at least 620 but less than 680; or (3) 619 or less. Prescribes conditions for mortgage insurance in the latter two situations.

Date: 2009-01-16
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Requires the Secretary of Energy to: (1) expand the Energy Star program to include the certification of buildings as green buildings; and (2) study and make recommendations concerning the streamlining of the certification process, development of an online certification program, and design of a program allowing certification by those without green building expertise.Defines "green building" as a building constructed taking into account sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality, life-cycle concerns of building materials (including emissions and environmental impact), and transit and density-oriented development.Requires a report to Congress setting forth the design of the expanded program.

Date: 2009-01-26
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Energy
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer an exclusion from gross income of the gain from the sale or exchange of up to two residences (other than a principal residence) acquired after December 31, 2008, and before January 1, 2012. Limits the amount of such exclusion to $250,000 ($500,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return). Allows a $500,000 exclusion amount for a surviving spouse who sells a residence within two years of the death of a spouse.

Date: 2009-01-28
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the National Housing Act to modify requirements under the HOPE for Homeowners Program (Program) regarding borrower certification and liability. Revises the requirement of certification to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the mortgagor has not intentionally defaulted on the existing mortgage or any other debt. Eliminates the requirement to certify that there has been no intentional default on any other debt. Repeals the requirement that the current borrower have, or is likely to have, a mortgage debt-to-income ratio greater than 31% (or any higher amount the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLB) determines appropriate). Requires the mortgagor to agree in writing that the mortgagor shall be liable to repay any direct financial benefit achieved from the reduction of indebtedness on the existing mortgage or mortgages on the residence refinanced under the program that was derived from misrepresentations by the mortgagor in any required certifications and documentation, subject to the discretion of the Oversight Board. Increases from 90% to 93% of a property's appraised value the cap on the principal obligation amount of a refinanced eligible insured mortgage. Repeals the prohibition against second liens. Revises requirements for mortgagee documentation and verification of the mortgagor's income. Repeals the alternative requirement that the mortgagee procure an income tax return transcript of the mortgagor's income tax returns for the two most recent years. Allows the Oversight Board to set procedures and standards for the mortgagee to follow. Prohibits a mortgagor from having a net worth, as of the date he or she first applies for a mortgage to be insured under the Program, that exceeds $1 million. Repeals the prohibition against paying insurance benefits to a mortgagee in any case in which the mortgagor fails to make the first payment on a refinanced mortgage. Reduces the annual premium for a refinanced eligible insured mortgage, and allows its further reduction or termination during the mortgage term.Repeals the entitlement of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the mortgagor of an eligible insured mortgage, upon any sale or disposition of the subject property, to 50% of any appreciation in the property's appraised value since the date that the mortgage was insured. Authorizes the FHLB to establish a payment of up to $1,000 per loan to the servicer of the existing senior mortgage for every loan insured under the Program.

Date: 2009-02-02
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Cluster-Based Economy Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to a state or local government, an institution of higher education, or a nonprofit economic development organization to: (1) assess the potential for the development or enhancement of business clusters (geographic concentrations of business entities that are in competing, complementary, or interdependent firms and industries, that do business with one another, and that have common needs for talent, technology, and infrastructure); (2) establish cluster development programs in regions determined by the Secretary to qualify for a grant or which have been designated by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 as areas in which regional development commissions have been established; and (3) promote cluster development programs in such regions and support the staff who operate such programs. Limits: (1) the federal share of the cost of projects carried out using funds authorized by this Act to 50%; and (2) the portion of the non-federal share of project costs that may be provided through in-kind contributions to 50%.

Date: 2009-02-03
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing for disabled veterans. Limits grant amounts to $200,000 annually per recipient. Provides that if a grant recipient is awarded a patent related to assistive technology developed with grant amounts, the Secretary shall retain no less than a 30% interest in the patent. Provides grant funds. Terminates grant authority five years after the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2009-02-25
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Affordable Housing and Community Development Act of 2009 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations in a specified amount for FY2011 and each fiscal year thereafter for the community development block grant program and for related technical assistance and grantee training. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, following a study, to establish an inflation index for such amount for the following fiscal years.

Date: 2009-03-03
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Property Tax Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow state and local real property taxes paid on a principal residence as a deduction from gross income (thus allowing taxpayers who do not itemize their tax deductions to claim such deduction).

Date: 2009-03-25
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
Helping Homeowners in Distressed Communities Act of 2009 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to prohibit the Secretary of the Treasury from using any amounts of homeowner assistance provided to or for any financial institution that are voluntarily returned to the Secretary. Permits the use of such amounts, however, to refinance and modify mortgages of homeowners in accordance with the Making Home Affordable Program established by the Secretary. Limits the allocation of any such returned amounts to areas disproportionately affected by home mortgage foreclosures.

Date: 2009-03-26
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Green Communities Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the Economic Development Administration, to make grants to municipalities to promote community greening initiatives (defined as programs increasing economic development through environmental improvements). Directs the Secretary to select 80 municipalities to receive grants. Requires an eligible program partner to develop and plan such an initiative, which may include revitalizing municipal parks and public spaces, tree plantings, green roof construction, and vacant lot management. Directs the Secretary to make grants to, or enter into contracts with, five nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training to eligible program partners in developing, planning, implementing, and assessing initiatives.

Date: 2009-04-30
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Community Building Code Administration Grant Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to the extent amounts are made available for grants under this Act, to award grants, on a competitive basis and with federal matching funds, to qualified local building code enforcement departments to increase staffing, provide staff training, increase staff competence and professional qualifications, support individual certification or departmental accreditation, or for capital expenditures specifically dedicated to department administration. Sets forth criteria for rating and ranking of grant proposals.

Date: 2009-05-05
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Community Development Block Grant Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to revise requirements for activities eligible for community development block grant (CDBG) assistance. Increases from 15% to 50% the limitation on the amount of CDBG assistance that may be used to provide public services (e.g., those concerned with employment, crime prevention, child care, health, drug abuse, education, energy conservation, welfare or recreation needs). Repeals certain conditions on the use of such assistance by a local government.

Date: 2009-05-20
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Taxpayer Protection and Anti-Fraud Act of 2009 - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to prohibit the distribution of any Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) financial assistance to: (1) any organization that has been indicted for a violation under federal or state law relating to an election for federal or state office; or (2) any organization that employs, in a permanent or temporary capacity, any individual indicted for such a violation, has under contract or retains such an individual, or has such an individual acting on the organization's behalf or with its express or apparent authority.

Date: 2009-06-04
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Affordable Housing Preservation Tax Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income gain from the sale or exchange of certain multifamily housing property to a housing credit agency or related organization (preservation entity) that agrees to maintain certain affordability and use restrictions for such property. Limits the excludable amount of such gain to the depreciation adjustments for such property.

Date: 2009-06-16
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
Declares that, during the 18 months following enactment of this Act, the Home Valuation Code of Conduct announced by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on December 23, 2008, shall have no force or effect.

Date: 2009-06-25
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Amends the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 to authorize states and localities receiving emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to use such amounts to renovate single-family housing that is owned and occupied as a principal residence by a family whose income does not exceed 80% of the median income of the area in which the housing is located, as determined by the HUD Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families.

Date: 2009-07-14
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Historic Homeowners Revitalization Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a new tax credit for 20% of rehabilitation expenditures for a historic home used as a principal residence, up to $60,000; and (2) increase the rehabilitation tax credit for residential rental property located in economically distressed areas with high construction costs.

Date: 2009-09-29
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
Community Restoration and Revitalization Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code relating to the building rehabilitation tax credit to: (1) allow an increased 30% credit for projects involving $7.5 million or less in rehabilitation expenditures; (2) allow rehabilitated buildings used for lodging to qualify for such credit; (3) establish a 50-year placed-in-service requirement for non-historic rehabilitated buildings; (4) allow such credit for certain tax-exempt use property; (5) provide for the transferability of such credit; (6) increase the energy efficiency tax credit allowed to rehabilitated buildings; and (7) exempt from taxation refunds attributable to state historic tax credits.

Date: 2009-10-01
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act - Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish an urban revitalization and livable communities program to provide federal grants to eligible general purpose local governments for various park and recreation purposes, including grants for rehabilitation and construction, innovation, at-risk youth recreation, and recovery action programs. Requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register a list of such governments meeting specified criteria. Authorizes the Secretary to authorize other eligible governments in standard metropolitan statistical areas, but not on the list, to receive up to a specified portion of such grants. Authorizes the Secretary, upon approval of an application by the chief executive of an eligible applicant, to provide 70% matching rehabilitation and construction, innovation, and at-risk youth recreation grants directly to such applicant. Allows an applicant, at its discretion, to transfer a grant in whole or in part to special purpose local governments or private nonprofit agencies for recreational areas and facilities they own or operate which offer recreational opportunities to the general population Requires an applicant, as a requirement for project approval, to submit to the Secretary evidence of its commitment to ongoing planning, rehabilitation, service, operation, and maintenance programs for its park and recreation systems, expressed in a five-year local park and recreation recovery action program. Requires an eligible applicant for an at-risk youth recreation grant to include in its five-year program the goal of, and implementation strategies for, reducing crime and juvenile delinquency. Authorizes the Secretary to increase all grants to a state under this Act by up to 15% (but not more than 85% in total). Prohibits the conversion of any property improved or developed with assistance under this Act, without HUD approval, for uses other than for public recreation. Prohibits the use of funds under this Act for acquisition of land or interests in land.

Date: 2009-10-06
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
New Markets Tax Credit Expansion Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary of the Treasury to allocate in 2010 and 2011 new markets tax credit amounts to community development entities that provide investment capital or technical assistance for a distressed community. Defines "distressed community" as a county designated by the Secretary of the Treasury as: (1) having, during a specified period, a residential or commercial mortgage foreclosure rate of 110% or more of the national average, a decline in the average fair market value of housing of at least 20%, or an unemployment rate of 110% or more of the national average; (2) having more than 50% of its housing loans with a loan-to-value ratio of greater than 80%; or (3) being in a disaster area.

Date: 2009-10-14
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
Distressed Communities Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income gain from the sale of real property consisting predominantly of commercial and residential property located in a distressed community. Defines "distressed community" as a county designated by the Secretary of the Treasury as: (1) having, during a specified period, a residential or commercial mortgage foreclosure rate of 110% or more of the national average, a decline in the average fair market value of housing of at least 20%, or an unemployment rate of 110% or more of the national average; (2) having more than 50% of its housing loans with a loan-to-value ratio of greater than 80%; or (3) being in a disaster area.

Date: 2009-10-14
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
Removing Reward for Section 8 Fraud Act of 2009 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to apply to a family residing in a dwelling unit covered by a contract for project-based rental (voucher) assistance under section 8 certain requirements for treatment of families whose welfare or public assistance benefits are reduced under a federal, state, or local law because of: (1) the failure of a family member to comply with requirements to participate in an economic self-sufficiency program or engage in work activities; or (2) an act of fraud by a family member.

Date: 2009-10-21
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Federal Housing Finance Agency Inspector General Technical Corrections Act of 2009 - Deems the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), for purposes of the Inspector General Act of 1978, to be a designated federal entity during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending upon the date that an Inspector General of the FHFA is first appointed and confirmed. Establishes in the FHFA the Office of the Inspector General. Instructs the Director of the FHFA to appoint an Inspector General of the FHFA within 30 days after enactment of this Act.

Date: 2010-01-13
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Renovate and Enhance Veterans' Meeting Halls and Posts Act of 2010 or the REVAMP Act of 2010 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible veterans service organizations for repairs and rehabilitation of their existing facilities. Defines "eligible veterans service organization" as: (1) a tax-exempt entity organized on a local or area basis; and (2) a local or area chapter, post, or other unit of a national, regional, statewide, or other larger entity of which local or area chapters, posts, or units are members (but not any such national, regional, statewide, or other larger entity itself). Prohibits an eligible veterans service organization from receiving such grant amounts, for any single fiscal year, in an amount exceeding the lesser of the cost of the proposed repair or rehabilitation or $200,000. Makes a grant recipient ineligible to receive another such grant until after five succeeding fiscal years. Prohibits the use of such grants for construction or acquisition of a new facility.

Date: 2010-02-22
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Livable Communities Act of 2010 - Establishes in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) an Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (OSHC). Establishes in the executive branch an independent Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities. Requires the OSHC Director to establish a program to make comprehensive planning grants and sustainability challenge grants to eligible entities (partnerships between a consortium of units of general local government and an eligible partner, which may be a metropolitan planning organization, a rural planning organization, a regional council, or a state). Requires the use of a comprehensive planning grant to carry out a project to: (1) coordinate land use, housing, transportation, and infrastructure planning processes across jurisdictions and agencies; (2) identify potential regional partnerships for developing and implementing a comprehensive regional plan; (3) conduct or update housing, infrastructure, transportation, energy, and environmental assessments to determine regional needs and promote sustainable development; (4) develop or update a comprehensive regional plan or goals and strategies to implement an existing comprehensive regional plan; and (5) implement local zoning and other code changes necessary to implement a comprehensive regional plan and promote sustainable development. Requires the use of a sustainability challenge grant to: (1) promote integrated transportation, housing, energy, and economic development activities carried out across policy and governmental jurisdictions; (2) promote sustainable and location-efficient development; and (3) implement projects identified in a comprehensive regional plan. Directs the OSHC Director to study and report to specified congressional committees on incentives for encouraging lenders to make, and homebuyers and homeowners to participate in, energy-efficient mortgages and location-efficient mortgages.

Date: 2010-02-25
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Safe Affordable Small Dollar Loan Act of 2010 - Amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to require the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund to make grants to community development financial institutions or to any related partnership in order to enable such institutions to establish a loan-loss reserve fund to defray the costs of a small dollar loan program. Requires a community development financial institution to provide non-federal matching funds equal to 50% of the amount of any grant received. Prohibits the use of such grants to make direct loans to consumers. Permits a community development financial institution to use such a grant to: (1) help recapture a portion or all of a defaulted loan made under its small dollar loan program; and (2) designate and utilize a fiscal agent for services the agent normally provides. Requires the Fund to make technical assistance grants to community development financial institutions to support and maintain a small dollar loan program.

Date: 2010-02-25
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a partial first-time homebuyer tax credit to a married couple filing a joint tax return where only one spouse meets the ownership and use requirements.

Date: 2010-02-26
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation
First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny the first-time homebuyer tax credit to taxpayers who do not include their social security number on their tax return. Deems such requirement as met for joint tax returns if the social security number of either spouse is included.

Date: 2010-03-04
Topic: Housing (Community Development)
Subject: Taxation