zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Small Business Lending to Entrepreneurs for Growth in Underserved Populations Act of 2011 or the Small Business Leg-Up Act of 2011 - Requires, upon the expiration of investment authority for the Small Business Lending Fund Program provided in the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, that all unobligated funds in the Small Business Lending Fund be transferred to the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. Directs that all funds received in connection with certain purchases of preferred stock and other financial instruments pursuant to such authority be transferred to the CDFI Fund. Amends the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 to direct the Administrator of the CDFI Fund to carry out a Small Business Capital Investment (SBCI) Program (a small business revolving loan program) to continue making capital investments in eligible community development financial institutions in order to increase the availability of credit for small businesses. Requires that: (1) all funds the Administrator receives in connection with SBCI Program purchases be deposited in the CDFI Fund, and (2) the authority to make such capital investments continue so long as specified funding amounts are available. Allows eligible community development financial institutions (with maximum assets of $10 billion as reported in audited financial statements) to apply to receive a capital investment of up to 10% of total assets, or another appropriate percentage determined by the Administrator. Directs the Administrator, to the extent practicable and except as otherwise provided, to carry out the SBCI Program in the same manner as the Small Business Lending Fund Program.

Date: 2011-08-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Microenterprise and Youth Entrepreneurship Development Act of 2011 - Amends the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 for purposes of the microenterprise technical assistance and capacity building grant program to include in the definition of "disadvantaged entrepreneur" a microentrepreneur operating or intending to operate a business in an investment area. Increases to 60% (currently, 50%) the minimum percentage of such grants required to be used to benefit very low-income persons, including those residing on Indian reservations. Requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to consider the impact of the 2007-2009 economic crisis on an applicant's geographic area when deciding whether to reduce or eliminate matching requirements for applicants with severe constraints on available funding sources. Directs the Administrator to establish an SBA Microenterprise Coordinator position. Requires the Administrator to establish an Office of Youth Entrepreneurship and appoint a Director to carry out: (1) the youth entrepreneur technical assistance grant program to make grants to assist entities, including nonprofit microenterprise development organizations, to provide individuals under 25 years of age with technical assistance related to entrepreneurship; and (2) the youth entrepreneurship curriculum grant program to make grants to applying local educational agencies of states and federally recognized Indian tribes.

Date: 2011-08-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Job Creation and Urban Revitalization Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to expand the new markets venture capital program (currently, a program under which venture capital companies provide equity capital investments and operational assistance to small businesses in low-income geographic areas) to areas of high unemployment. Allows the operational assistance that companies provide to small businesses in such high-unemployment areas to include retooling, updating, or replacing of machinery or equipment. Makes the Small Business Administration (SBA) definition of "low-income geographic area" under the program the same as the definition of "low-income community" under the Internal Revenue Code, except that, without regard to such meaning, the term shall include an area of high unemployment. Requires the SBA Administrator, in conditionally approving companies to participate in the program, to select at least one company from each SBA geographic region. Directs the Administrator to allow conditionally-approved companies two years (currently, a period of time not to exceed two years) to satisfy capital and other requirements for final approval. Exempts from a requirement that conditionally-approved companies have certain binding capital commitments in order to provide operational assistance, companies primarily serving small businesses in areas of: (1) high unemployment, or (2) urban manufacturing revitalization. Authorizes the Administrator to approve a company to serve, throughout all states, solely small businesses in urban manufacturing revitalization areas. Reduces to $3 million the minimum capital requirements for final approval of conditionally-approved companies engaged primarily in development of and investment in small businesses located in areas of high unemployment. Reduces to $2 million such capital requirements for conditionally-approved companies so engaged primarily with small businesses in urban manufacturing revitalization areas. (Current law would otherwise require any conditionally-approved company to raise at least $5 million.) Revises the formula for operational assistance grants. Authorizes such grants to conditionally-approved companies (up to $50,000 per company), provided that repayment is made if such companies do not receive final approval.

Date: 2011-09-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Expanding Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to increase from: (1) 9 to 12 years the authorized period of developmental assistance for participating small businesses under the small business and capital ownership and development program, and (2) 5 to 8 years the authorized period for participation in the transitional stage of such program. Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a program to provide technical business assistance to small businesses no longer eligible to participate in federal procurement contracts through the SBA, such assistance to be provided for the two-year period following such eligibility. Increases from 5% to 8% annually the goal of federal procurement contracts let to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Requires the Comptroller General to study, and report to Congress on, the activities of the five most and least successful federal agencies with respect to meeting small business federal procurement contracting goals.

Date: 2011-09-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Administration Express Loan Extension Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 to extend through September 27, 2012 (under current law, until September 27, 2011) a temporary increase from $350,000 to $1 million in the maximum loan amount under the Express Loan Program of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Date: 2011-09-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Startup Expansion and Investment Act - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to revise an exception to rules prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that require the annual reports of certain publicly traded securities issuers to contain: (1) an assessment of the issuer's internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting, and (2) an attestation to such assessment by each registered public accounting firm that prepares or issues an audit report for the issuer. Permits an issuer to elect not to provide such an assessment and attestation if the issuer: (1) has a total market capitalization for the relevant reporting period of less than $1 billion; and (2) is not subject to the annual reporting requirement under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or has been subject to such requirement for a period fewer than 10 years. (Current law exempts issuers with an aggregate worldwide market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by its non-affiliates of below $75 million, as of the last business day of the issuer's most recently completed second fiscal quarter.) Requires an issuer electing not to provide such assessment and attestation to disclose that decision in its next annual report.

Date: 2011-09-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Small Business Opportunity Expansion Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to increase the government-wide goal for awards to small businesses from 23% to 24% of the total value of all federal prime procurement contracts and subcontracts awarded in a fiscal year.  Increases from: (1) 3% to 4% the goal for award to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and (2) 5% to 6% the goal for award to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and by women.

Date: 2011-09-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Administration 504 Loan Refinancing Extension Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 to extend through September 27, 2013 (under current law, through September 27, 2012) the authority for Small Business Administration (SBA) refinancing of small business debt not involving business expansion under the SBA's local development business loan program.

Date: 2011-09-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Requires at least 10% of funds made available for high-speed rail corridor planning and development projects to be expended through small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (disadvantaged business enterprises). Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), however, if this requirement will prevent the satisfactory completion of a project because of a lack of competitive bids by disadvantaged business enterprises, to reduce the percentage for the project to the extent necessary to ensure its satisfactory completion. Requires the Secretary to establish minimum uniform criteria for recipients of high-speed rail corridor project funds to use in certifying small business concerns as disadvantaged business enterprises. Expresses the sense of Congress that the federal government should continue to encourage participation by veteran-owned small businesses in federal contracting and procurement opportunities and federally-funded projects, including the small business programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other federal agencies.

Date: 2011-09-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Give Credit to Main Street Act of 2011 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish and carry out a program of making loans directly to small businesses in operaton for at least two years. Limits loan amounts to the lesser of 10% of annual business revenues or $500,000.

Date: 2011-09-21
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Freedom of Commerce Act of 2011 - Allows a small business operating in the United States to elect to be exempt from any federal rule or regulation issued on or after January 20, 2009. Requires the small business to notify the federal agency that issued the rule or regulation that it has elected such exemption, and makes the exemption effective 30 days after such notification. Requires an exempt small business to: (1) label any product affected by the exemption as no longer subject to such rule or regulation, and (2) include in any communication relating to the affected product or activity a notice that it is no longer so subject. Provides penalties for small business noncompliance with such requirements. Prohibits a small business from electing to be exempt from a rule or regulation issued by the Department of Defense (DOD) or Homeland Security (DHS) if the Secretary of Defense or Homeland Security has determined that the rule or regulation is necessary for U.S. security.

Date: 2011-10-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to exclude as a small business, for purposes of meeting federal agency contracting goals with small businesses, any small business (or subsidiary thereof) that is publicly traded, or any business (or subsidiary thereof) with more than 50% non-U.S. citizen ownership. Requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to notify the head of each federal department or agency regarding this Act and its amendments, and the department or agency head to then notify its contractors. Directs the Administrator to: (1) publish a report regarding federal prime contracts awarded to businesses identified as small businesses for purposes of achieving small business contracting goals; and (2) establish procedures to ensure that the Central Contractor Registration database provides an adequate warning regarding criminal penalties for misrepresenting the status of a small business or person in order to obtain federal contracts. Provides for enforcement of complaints about the classification of a business for such purposes.

Date: 2011-10-13
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Company Job Growth and Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to revise the small issuer exemption from the requirement that each registered public accounting firm that prepares or issues the audit report for a securities issuer attest to, and report on, the issuer's management assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. Specifies that this requirement shall not apply to an issuer that has a total public float for the relevant reporting period of less than $350 million. Prohibits this Act from being construed to relieve or exempt an issuer from the internal control reporting and assessment requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or from its requirement that officers of the issuer certify certain annual and quarterly reports.

Date: 2011-10-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Small Business Investment Company Modernization Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase the maximum amount of outstanding leverage that the Small Business Administration (SBA) is authorized to make available to any one small business investment company (SBIC), as a condition to the SBA's purchase or guarantee of debentures or participating securities issued by certain licensed SBICs, if a majority of the managers of a company are experienced in managing at least one such SBIC. Increases the maximum leverage amount for such SBICs to the lesser of: (1) 300% of such company's private capital, or (2) $200 million. (Current law, subject to exceptions, prohibits the maximum amount of such leverage from exceeding the lesser of 300% of private capital or $150 million for any SBIC.) Increases to $350 million (currently, $225 million) the maximum amount of outstanding leverage that may be made available to two or more SBICs that are commonly controlled and not under capital impairment. Prohibits the material capital impairment of one licensed company in a group under common control from reducing the maximum amounts of outstanding leverage that is made available to the other licensed companies in that group.

Date: 2011-10-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Protect Small Business Jobs Act of 2011 - Requires a federal agency, before imposing any sanction on a small business for any violation of a rule or pursuant to an adjudication, to: (1) notify the small business that it may be subject to a sanction at the end of a six-month grace period following such notification; (2) defer any further action for the six-month period (allowing an additional three-month period upon application by the small business demonstrating reasonable good-faith efforts to remedy the violation or other conduct giving rise to the violation); (3) make a further determination at the end of the applicable grace period as to whether the small business would still be subject to the sanction; and (4) upon a negative determination, waive the sanction.

Date: 2011-10-26
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to meet the annual goal outlined under the Small Business Act for participation in federal procurement contracts by small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.

Date: 2011-11-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Requires at least 10% of the amounts made available for any program under the jurisdiction of the Federal Railroad Administration to be expended through small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Date: 2011-11-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Investing in America's Small Businesses Act of 2011 - 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 to enable such institutions to establish a loan-loss reserve fund to defray the costs of a small business loan program. Defines "small business loan program" as a program in which a community development financial institution offers loans to small businesses that: (1) are made in amounts up to $25,000, (2) have no prepayment penalty, and (3) meet any affordability requirements established by Administrator of the Fund. 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 small businesses. 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 business 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 create, support, or maintain such a program.

Date: 2011-12-12
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Small Business Access to Capital Act of 2011 - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to revise the small issuer exemption from the requirement that each registered public accounting firm that prepares or issues the audit report for a securities issuer attest to, and report on, the issuer's management assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. Specifies that this requirement shall not apply to an issuer that has a total public float for the relevant reporting period of less than $1 billion. Prohibits this Act from being construed to relieve or exempt an issuer from the internal control reporting and assessment requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or from its requirement that officers of the issuer certify certain annual and quarterly reports.

Date: 2011-12-13
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Small Business Reform Act of 2011 or Not Too Small to Succeed in Business Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to extend from: (1) 9 to 11 years the period that a small business may receive developmental assistance under the Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development Program (Program), and (2) 5 to 7 years the period that such a small business may spend in the Program's transitional stage. Allows small businesses that previously completed the 9-year period, above, and that satisfy net worth requirements applicable to continued eligibility after initial Program admission, to participate for an additional two years. Sets net worth limits for individual Program participants at: (1) $750,000, for Program admission; (2) $2.25 million, for continued Program participation after admission; and (3) $500,000 adjusted gross income, for Program admission and continued eligibility. Provides that, if the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) graduated a small business from the Program prior to the enactment of this Act on the basis that the small business did not meet standards relating to economic disadvantage and the small business now meets such standards, the small business may participate in the Program for 11 years less any period of previous participation.

Date: 2011-12-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Growth and Federal Accountability Act of 2012 - Prohibits a federal department or agency not meeting its fiscal year goal for awarding procurement contracts to small businesses from expending, for procurement, more than 90% of the amount expended in the fiscal year with respect to which that department or agency did not meet the goal. Allows such a department or agency, in attempting to meet such goal, to give procurement preference to a small business.

Date: 2012-01-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
SBA Loan Paperwork Reduction Act of 2012 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to carry out a Small Loan Advantage Program in the same manner as, and as a replacement for, the SBA Small Loan Advantage loan initiative. (Under the loan initiative, SBA lenders make partially guaranteed, lower-dollar small business loans which often benefit businesses in underserved areas or markets.) Makes pilot program loan guarantee percentage limits inapplicable to the Small Loan Advantage Program.

Date: 2012-01-27
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Government Efficiency through Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to raise from 23% to 25% the governmentwide prime contract award goal for participation by small business concerns and to make the governmentwide subcontract participation award goal 40% for such businesses. Revises percentage goals for awards to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, qualified HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) small businesses, small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and small businesses owned by women (small business categories). Requires the small business procurement goals established by the head of each federal agency participating in federal procurement contracts to: (1) be in the same format as the goals established by the President; (2) address both prime contract and subcontract awards; and (3) meet or exceed the government-wide goals for each small business category. Requires each agency head to: (1) consult with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in establishing agency goals, and (2) develop a plan for achieving agency goals. Revises requirements concerning information required to be included in annual reports from: (1) agency heads to the Administrator concerning the extent of small business participation in that agency's procurement contracts; and (2) the Administrator to the President and Congress on whether individual agency goals were achieved, as well as reasons for any failure to achieve such goals. Requires, in the latter reports, information concerning the number and dollar amounts of prime contracts awarded to small businesses owned by an Alaska Native Corporation. Requires training programs established for the development of federal senior executives to include training with respect to federal procurement requirements, including those under the Small Business Act. Prohibits the granting of sabbaticals or incentive awards to a senior executive whose agency did not achieve its small business procurement contracting and subcontracting goals in the preceding fiscal year.

Date: 2012-01-31
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Advocate Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act (the Act) to require the Director of the Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (established in each federal agency having procurement powers) to be compensated at least at the GS-15 rate and allows such position to be compensated at up to a Senior Executive Service level. Includes as additional duties of each Director: (1) reviewing and advising on decisions to convert an activity performed by a small business to an activity performed by a federal employee; (2) providing advice and comments on acquisition strategies, market research, and justifications related to small business; (3) providing training to small businesses and contract specialists; (4) carrying out exclusively the duties enumerated under the Act and, while Director, not holding any other title, position, or responsibility, except as necessary to carry out such duties; and (5) reporting annually to the congressional small business committees on the provision of small business and contract specialist training. Amends the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 to require the Small Business Procurement Advisory Council to: (1) conduct reviews of each Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to determine compliance with Small Business Administration (SBA) requirements, (2) identify best practices for maximizing small business utilization in federal contracting, and (3) report annually to the small business committees on such reviews and best practices.

Date: 2012-01-31
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Subcontracting Transparency and Reliability Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to prohibit a small business receiving a guaranteed loan through the Small Business Administration (SBA) from expending more on subcontractors than: (1) 50% of the loan amount received, in case of a contract for services other than construction; (2) 85%, in the case of a contract for general construction; (3) 75%, in case of a contract for construction by a special trade contractor; and (4) 50%, in the case of a contract for supplies (other than from a regular dealer in such supplies). Requires the small business, in case of a contract for supplies from a regular dealer, to supply the product of a domestic small business manufacturer or processor, unless the SBA grants a waiver. Authorizes the SBA Administrator to: (1) modify the above percentage limits when necessary to reflect conventional industry practices; and (2) establish a subcontractor percentage limit for contracts not covered by (1) through (4), above. Provides penalties for violations of such limits. Requires each subcontracting plan submitted to federal agencies to contain assurances that the offeror or bidder will: (1) report on subcontracting activities throughout the life of the contract, and (2) cooperate with any study or survey required by the federal agency or SBA to determine the extent of compliance with the subcontracting plan. Directs the Administrator to ensure that the federal subcontracting reporting system to which such reports are submitted is modified to notify the Administrator, the appropriate contracting officer, and the appropriate Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization if an entity fails to submit a required report. Makes such failure a breach of contract for which appropriate action may be taken. Provides that if an agency procurement center or commercial market representative determines that a subcontracting plan fails to provide the maximum practicable opportunity for small businesses to participate, such representative may delay acceptance of the plan for a 30-day period for plan alteration. Allows a federal agency to convert a function from performance by a small business to performance by a federal employee only if: (1) the agency has made publicly available the procedures for such a decision, and (2) the procedures require such decisions to be reviewed by the appropriate Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and procurement representative.

Date: 2012-02-02
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Enhancing Exports Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a small business export expansion credit of 25% of export expansion expenses. Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Office of International Trade (Office) to compile and update annually, for small businesses and their partner entities, a document that contains: (1) the tariff schedules of all foreign countries; and (2) for each of the 50 foreign countries to which the highest total value of U.S. goods and services are exported, specified information on the demand for goods and services in that country. Requires the Office to identify and advertise programs and services to small businesses, including federal programs and services, that facilitate the matching of foreign customers to small businesses. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to increase, from 20% to 30% of the aggregate annual loan authority available to the Export-Import Bank, the amount to be used to finance small business exports. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase the proportion and percentage of projects and assistance financed for small businesses by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Provides limitations on duties under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule that apply to certain goods and services imported into the United States for use by small businesses in their regular operations.

Date: 2012-02-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Opportunity Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to replace the position of breakout procurement representative within the Small Business Administration (SBA) with the position of procurement center representative. Requires such representatives to, among other things, review any acquisition plan with respect to a procurement requirement, and make recommendations regarding procurement method determinations and acquisition plans. Removes the requirement that such representatives review restrictions on competition, instead requiring them to review barriers to small business participation in federal contracting, as well as any bundled or consolidated solicitation or contract. Requires such representatives to: (1) have electronic access to any acquisition plan developed or in development with respect to a procurement activity, (2) be an advocate for the maximum practicable utilization of small businesses in federal contracting, and (3) be notified of and included in all applicable acquisition planning processes. Directs the Defense Acquisition University and the Federal Acquisition Institute to each provide a course on contracting requirements under the Small Business Act. Requires each federal department or agency having contracting authority to: (1) enumerate opportunities for participation by small businesses during all acquisition planning processes and in all acquisition plans, and (2) invite the participation of the appropriate Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and procurement representative in such planning processes and provide Director and representative access to all acquisition plans in development.

Date: 2012-02-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Building Better Business Partnerships Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a mentor-protege program for all small businesses. (Under current law, the SBA mentor-protege program is limited to small businesses participating in the section 8(a) guaranteed loan program.) Prohibits a federal department or agency from carrying out a mentor-protege program for small businesses unless the head of such department or agency submits a program plan to the Administrator and the Administrator approves it. Requires the Administrator to approve or disapprove a plan based on whether the proposed program: (1) will assist proteges to compete for federal prime contracts and subcontracts, and (2) complies with program regulations as issued by the Administrator under this Act.

Date: 2012-02-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Protection Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), when establishing small business size standards, to establish or approve a single standard for a grouping of four-digit North American Industrial Classification codes only if the Administrator makes publicly available, no later than the date on which it is established or approved, a justification that such standard is appropriate for each individual industry classification in the grouping. Requires the Administrator, in conducting rulemaking to revise, modify, or establish size standards, to consider and address: (1) the industry for which the new standard is proposed, (2) the competitive environment for that industry, (3) the approach used to develop the proposed standard, and (4) the anticipated effect of the proposed rulemaking on the industry.

Date: 2012-02-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Contractor Opportunity Protection Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to consolidate Small Business Administration (SBA) provisions relating to contract bundling (the consolidation of two or more procurement requirements into a solicitation for a single prime contract that is unlikely, because of its size or complexity, to be suitable for award to a small business). Requires the Procurement Activity (Activity) of a federal department or agency (agency), at least 45 days prior to the issuance of a solicitation, to provide to that Activity's procurement center representative a copy of the proposed procurement together with, among other things, the number of small businesses that could be excluded from bidding if the contract is a bundled contract. Requires the SBA Administrator, in the case of a previously bundled contract that is to be recompeted as a bundled contract, to determine, among other things, the amount of savings and benefits achieved under the bundling. Requires a procurement center representative who believes that a procurement as proposed will render small business prime contract participation unlikely to recommend to the Activity alternative procurement methods to increase small business contracting opportunities. Requires the head of an agency, before proceeding with an acquisition strategy that could lead to a bundling of contract requirements, to conduct market research to determine whether bundling is necessary and justified. Allows a small business, in the case of a bundled contract, to submit an offer that provides for the use of a team of subcontractors for contract performance. Directs the Administrator to develop and maintain a database of information on each bundled contract awarded by an agency and each small business displaced as a prime contractor as a result of such award. Requires annual reports from the Administrator to the congressional small business committees on federal contract bundling, including cost savings and impact on small businesses. Requires: (1) each federal agency to include in each solicitation for any multiple award contract above certain thresholds a provision soliciting bids from any responsible source, including small businesses and teams or joint ventures of small businesses; and (2) the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to establish and publish a government-wide policy regarding contract bundling.

Date: 2012-02-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Procurement Improvement Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to require (under current law, permit) federal agencies involved in procurement, to the maximum extent practicable, to include small businesses in multiple award contracts. Requires such agencies to make full use of the contract set-aside programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Directs the SBA Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) and any agency that obtains 5% of its procurement requirements through a multiple award contract, to carry out a program to increase small business participation in such contracts. Requires the President to annually establish government-wide goals for the total value of all task and delivery orders placed against multiple award contracts, blanket purchase agreements, and basic ordering agreements awarded to small businesses, small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, qualified HUBZone small businesses, small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and small businesses owned and controlled by women. Requires each federal contract for the purchase of goods and services with an anticipated value greater than $2,500 but not greater than $200,000 (under current law, $100,000) to be reserved exclusively for small businesses (with an exception). Directs the Administrator to issue regulations concerning General Services Administration (GSA) oversight of task or delivery orders placed against multiple award contracts. Requires: (1) inclusion of the Administrator on the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council, and (2) the OFPP Administrator to have the deciding vote in case of a tie vote among Council membership.

Date: 2012-03-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Early Stage Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish and carry out a program to provide increased access to federal contract opportunities for early stage small businesses (no more than 15 employees and average annual receipts of no more than $1 million). Requires the Administrator to identify appropriate federal procurement contracts for award under the program. Allows a contracting officer to award: (1) a sole source contract under the program if an entity is determined to be a responsible contractor and the officer does not reasonably expect that two or more early stage businesses will submit offers, and (2) contracts on the basis of competition restricted to early stage businesses if the officer reasonably expects that at least two early stage businesses will submit offers and that the award can be made at a fair market price. Requires all program contract awards to be counted toward goals for small business participation in federal procurement contracts.

Date: 2012-03-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a permanent 100% exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock held for more than 5 years, (2) eliminate such tax exclusion as an item of tax preference for alternative minimum tax (AMT) purposes, and (3) repeal the 28% capital gains tax rate on qualified small business stock.

Date: 2012-03-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Taxation
Women's Procurement Program Improvement Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act with respect to the procurement program for women-owned small businesses (providing a federal procurement contracting preference to such businesses) to remove current contract award price limits. Allow a contracting officer to award a sole source contract to any economically disadvantaged women-owned small business if: (1) the small business is determined to be responsible and the contracting officer does not expect two or more of such businesses to submit offers; (2) the anticipated contract price will not exceed $6.5 million in the case of a manufacturing contract, or $4 million in the case of all other contracts; and (3) the contract can be made at a fair and reasonable price. Provides identical contracting authority for women-owned small businesses in substantially underrepresented industries.

Date: 2012-03-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a permanent 100% exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock held for more than 5 years, (2) eliminate such tax exclusion as an item of tax preference for alternative minimum tax (AMT) purposes, and (3) repeal the 28% capital gains tax rate on qualified small business stock.

Date: 2012-03-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Taxation
Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow businesses with average annual gross receipts of not more than $50,000 that prevail in an administrative or court proceeding involving the determination, collection, or refund of tax, interest, or penalty to recover their costs incurred in such proceedings; (2) increase the amount of civil damages against Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officers or employees for reckless, intentional, or negligent disregard of internal revenue laws and extend from two to five years the period for bringing a claim for damages; (3) increase the penalties against federal officers or employees for unlawful acts in connection with internal revenue laws and for unauthorized disclosures or inspections of tax returns; and (4) allow a taxpayer whose interest abatement claim does not exceed $50,000 to elect to bring a small tax case petition in U.S. Tax Court. Prohibits ex parte communications between officers in the IRS Office of Appeals and other IRS employees with respect to matters pending before such officers and employees. Authorizes new alternative dispute resolution procedures for taxpayer disputes with the IRS. Extends to three years: (1) the period in which taxpayer property that has been wrongfully levied upon may be returned, and (2) the period for bringing suit against the United States for a wrongful tax levy. Authorizes the waiver of the fee for establishing an installment agreement for payment of tax for certain low-income taxpayers who agree to make electronic debit payments. Allows a taxpayer seeking review of a claim for innocent spouse relief or of a collection case in U.S. Tax Court a 60-day suspension of the period for filing a petition for such review when the U.S. Bankruptcy Court has issued an automatic stay in a bankruptcy case involving the taxpayer's claim. Allows de novo review in U.S. Tax Court of any determination by the IRS with respect to a claim for equitable innocent spouse relief. Prohibits the IRS Office of Appeals from considering or deciding any new issue in an internal appeal that is not within the scope of the initial determination made in a taxpayer's case.

Date: 2012-04-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Taxation
Small Business Tax Simplification Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt certain small business taxpayers from the requirements of using the accrual method of accounting and of using inventories. Allows such taxpayers to use a cash method of accounting if they meet the gross receipts test and are not engaged in farming as a corporation. Increases the amount of the gross receipts test to $10 million (currently, $5 million) and permits an annual inflation adjustment of that amount.

Date: 2012-04-25
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Taxation
Veterans Jobs Act of 2012 - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor, in carrying out the Transition Assistance Program, to establish a two-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using community business leaders as mentors to facilitate the transition of members of the Armed Forces being separated from active duty and their spouses. Requires the Secretary, if carrying out such program, to report findings to the congressional defense and veterans committees.

Date: 2012-05-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Small Business Fairness Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to permit a contract between a federal agency and a small business teaming arrangement entity to be deemed awarded for purposes of the small business procurement and services contracting goals established by the head of that agency if the obligations of such entity are performed by a qualified HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) small business or a small business owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, or women. Defines "teaming arrangement entity" as a prime contractor under a contractor team arrangement as defined under specified provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as in effect on October 1, 2009.

Date: 2012-05-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Disaster Savings and Resilient Construction Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for the cost of constructing commercial and residential buildings that comply with resilient construction requirements in a federally-declared major disaster area. Defines "resilient construction requirements" as requirements that ensure that such buildings: (1) can resist hazards brought on by a major disaster and can continue to provide their primary functions after a major disaster, (2) can reduce the magnitude or duration of a disruptive event, and (3) have the absorptive capacity, adaptive capacity, and recoverability to withstand a potentially disruptive event. Terminates such credit for any any property for which a certificate of occupancy is issued after December 31, 2015.

Date: 2012-05-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Taxation
Increasing Small Business Lending Act of 2012 - Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to extend small business loan fee reductions and eliminations and small business loan guarantees under such Act to one year after the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2012-05-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce