zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Starting Early Starting Right Act - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to establish, within the Administration for Children and Families, an Office of Child Care to serve as the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families on issues regarding state-funded child care programs. Requires the state plan under the Act to certify that the state has in effect: (1) licensing requirements applicable to child care providers within the state that include one annual announced and one annual unannounced visit to each site at which the provider provides child care services; and (2) licensing or registration requirements pertaining to training. Requires the state plan to: (1) demonstrate the manner in which the state will meet the specific child care needs of low-income and working families and how the state is implementing practices and procedures to help ensure that children receive continuous care from the same provider; (2) provide information demonstrating that the state is ensuring that payment rates for the provision of child care services for which assistance is provided are equal to or exceed the 75th percentile of the current market rate for all types of child care; and (3) describe efforts to address the need for child care for special populations. Increases from 4% to 15% the maximum amount of child care and development block grant funds that a state may use for specified activities designed to improve the quality of child care. Provides for minimum funding set-asides for: (1) extension of full-day care; and (2) high-quality care for infants and toddlers. Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide for increased appropriations for child care assistance grants under the TANF program for FY2009-FY2014.

Date: 2008-05-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Keeping Families Safe Act of 2008 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to allow foster care maintenance payments to be made on behalf of a child who is in a residential family treatment center. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to evaluate and report to Congress on the foster care maintenance payments made on behalf of a child who is in a residential family treatment center, including an analysis of the outcomes for such children.

Date: 2008-06-20
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Amends the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 to redefine "natural disaster declaration" for purposes of the livestock compensation program. States that for purposes of livestock indemnity payments: (1) eligible livestock losses shall include the death of livestock in a disaster county due to a natural disaster regardless of whether the death is related to any natural disaster that is the basis for a natural disaster declaration (for the disaster county); and (2) assistance applications must be filed not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act.

Date: 2008-06-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Revises the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program of educational assistance for veterans who have served in the Armed Forces since September 11, 2001, to provide the maximum rates to be paid to individuals pursuing programs of education outside the United States at branches of educational institutions: (1) based in the United States; and (2) not based in the United States. Allows only public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education to participate in a VA program of public-private contributions for additional educational assistance for such veterans. Requires participating colleges and universities to: (1) report to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the manner in which the college or university would provide such additional assistance, and the amount provided to each participant; and (2) provide the same amount of additional assistance to all veterans receiving assistance at such college or university. Requires the VA to ensure that the Post-9/11 educational assistance program can be implemented by August 1, 2009. Provides authority for interim regulations.

Date: 2008-07-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Silver Alert Act - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish a national Silver Alert communications network within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist regional and local search efforts for missing seniors; (2) assign a DOJ officer to serve as the Silver Alert Coordinator to coordinate the network with states; and (3) award grants to states for support of Silver Alert plans and the network. Defines "missing senior" as any individual who is reported as missing to or by a law enforcement agency and who meets state requirements for designation as a missing senior. Directs the Coordinator to: (1) establish minimum standards for the issuance and dissemination of alerts issued through the network; and (2) make available to states, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and other concerned entities network training and information.Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to states and local governments to provide voluntary electronic monitoring services to elderly individuals (Sammy Kirk Voluntary Electronic Monitoring Program).Kristen's Act Reauthorization of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to make competitive grants to public agencies and/or nonprofit private organizations to: (1) maintain a national resource center and database for tracking missing adults; and (2) provide assistance and to law enforcement agencies, families, and victim advocates in locating and recovering missing adults.

Date: 2008-09-25
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act - Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), notwithstanding any other provision of law, to develop and implement a program to encourage and permit, to the extent technically feasible, the continued broadcasting in the analog television service of specified public safety information and digital television transition information for 30 days after the transition. Requires the FCC, in designing the program, to consider certain factors, including: (1) taking into account market-by-market needs; (2) avoiding digital signal interference; and (3) already-adopted transition and coordination plans. Prohibits: (1) analog broadcasting on any spectrum that is approved or pending approval for public safety radio services; and (2) including the analog spectrum between channels 52 and 69 reclaimed from analog television broadcasting.

Date: 2008-10-01
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Marriage Tax Penalty Permanent Elimination Act of 2009 - Makes provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 that eliminate the marriage penalty in the standard deduction, the 15-percent tax bracket, and the earned income tax credit, permanent.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009 - Exempts provisions expanding the adoption tax credit and adoption assistance programs enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 from the general terminating (sunset) provisions of that Act.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Adoption Information Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require family planning service projects or programs, as a condition of receiving certain grants or contracts, to assure the Secretary of Health and Human Services that they will provide each person who inquires about their services with a pamphlet containing a comprehensive list of adoption centers in their state. Directs the Secretary to prepare, annually update, and distribute such pamphlets to such projects or programs.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow parents of a murdered child to continue to claim a personal tax exemption for such child for five years after the death of such child or the date on which such child would have attained the age of 18, whichever is earlier.

Date: 2009-01-09
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Privacy Act of 1974 to authorize the disclosure to government agencies of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) records on assistance provided to individuals in connection with a major disaster or emergency for purposes of complying with a federal or state sex offender registry or notification law. Conditions receipt of federal funds by non-governmental organizations under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act on the organization providing assurances satisfactory to the President that it will disclose its records for the purpose of permitting a requesting jurisdiction to comply with a federal or state sex offender registry or notification law.

Date: 2009-01-09
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the refundability of the child tax credit in taxable years beginning in 2009 through 2013 and to render certain limits on such credit inapplicable during that period.

Date: 2009-01-09
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the rates and maximum allowable amount of the tax credit for employer-provided child care facilities; (2) increase the eligibility threshold amount and rate of the household and dependent care tax credit and make such credit refundable; (3) allow a new $2,000 tax credit for child care providers who hold a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child care, or a related degree and who provide at least 1,200 hours of child care services in a taxable year; and (4) increase the tax exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance.

Date: 2009-01-13
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Elder Care Tax Credit Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the tax credit for dependent care expenses for parents (or ancestors of such parents) of the taxpayer who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care, regardless of whether such a parent has the same principal place of abode as the taxpayer for more than one-half of the taxable year.

Date: 2009-01-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Child Tax Credit Growth Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reduce from $10,000 to $5,000 the income threshold for calculating the refundable portion of the child tax credit; (2) repeal the annual inflation adjustment to such threshold amount; and (3) increase from 17 to 19 the age limit for dependent children eligible for such credit.

Date: 2009-01-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Pregnant Women Support Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to increase public awareness of resources available to pregnant women to carry their pregnancy to term and new parents. Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary to make grants for the purchase of ultrasound equipment for examinations of pregnant women. Prohibits a health insurance issuer offering individual coverage from imposing a preexisting condition exclusion or a waiting period or otherwise discriminating against a woman on the basis that she is pregnant. Provides for continuation coverage for newborns. Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to allow states to extend health care coverage to an unborn child. Requires health facilities that perform abortions to obtain informed consent from a pregnant woman seeking an abortion. Provides for the collection and dissemination of information on Down syndrome and other prenatally diagnosed conditions. Directs the Secretary to provide for: (1) higher education pregnant and parenting student services offices; and (2) programs to work with pregnant or parenting teens to complete high school. Authorizes grants for services to pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. Requires states to require a pregnancy determination for homicide victims. Requires the Secretary to provide for comprehensive and supportive services for pregnant women, mothers, and children. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase and make refundable the tax credit for adoption expenses. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC program). Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to increase the eligibility threshold for food stamps. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. Authorizes grants to provide to eligible mothers education on the health needs of their infants through visits to their homes by registered nurses. Authorizes grants for collecting and reporting abortion surveillance data.

Date: 2009-01-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2009 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act with respect to determining entitlement to and the amount of any monthly benefit, including any lump-sum death payment, payable under OASDI on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of any individual. Deems such an individual to have been paid a wage (according to a specified formula) during each month during which the individual was engaged for at least 80 hours in providing care to a dependent relative without monetary compensation for up to five years of such service. Makes this Act inapplicable in the case of any monthly benefit or lump-sum death payment if a larger benefit or payment would be payable without its application.

Date: 2009-01-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the two-year waiting period following a divorce for a divorced spouse to become entitled to a spouse's OASDI benefits.

Date: 2009-01-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide for: (1) increases in widow's and widower's insurance benefits by reason of delayed retirement; and (2) the treatment of delayed retirement in cases of simultaneous entitlement to OASDI benefits and widow's or widower's insurance benefits.

Date: 2009-01-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Teen Dating Violence Prevention Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state, local, or tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and community and faith-based organizations to provide services and education and counseling programs for runaway and homeless youth or other at-risk youth who are the victims of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Date: 2009-02-02
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Child Tax Credit Preservation Act of 2009 - Makes permanent the increases in the child tax credit enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, and the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004. Provides for an annual inflation adjustment to child tax credit amounts, beginning in 2009.

Date: 2009-02-03
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Internet Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today's Youth (SAFETY) Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) prohibit financial transactions in interstate or foreign commerce that facilitate access to, or the possession of, child pornography; (2) prohibit conduct by an Internet content hosting provider or email service provider that facilitates access to, or the possession of, child pornography; (3) require providers of electronic communication or remote computing services to retain certain user records for at least two years; (4) establish certain child sexual exploitation crimes as a predicate for money laundering prosecutions; (5) increase criminal penalties for sexual exploitation of children and for child pornography; and (6) establish embezzlement or theft of public property and bribery as predicates for racketeering prosecutions.Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2014 for the Innocent Images National Initiative.

Date: 2009-02-13
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Taxpayers' Freedom of Conscience Act of 2009 - Prohibits a federal official from expending federal funds for any foreign or domestic population control or population planning program or family planning activity (including any abortion procedure).

Date: 2009-02-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Birth Parent Assistance Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide certain services for birth parents who have placed a child for adoption, either directly or by grant to or contract with state or local governmental entities or public or private agencies or organizations, including licensed child welfare or adoption agencies or adoptive family groups and faith-based organizations. Specifies such services for birth parents as: (1) post-legal adoption services; (2) individual, group, and family counseling; and (3) training of mental health professionals, social workers, and staff at hospitals and other appropriate birth care facilities relating to their interaction with birth parents and adoptive families.

Date: 2009-03-12
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Protecting Incentives for the Adoption of Children with Special Needs Act of 2009 - Amends the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 to repeal the limitation on FY2008 adoption incentive payments to states to the same manner as such incentives were awarded in FY2008 for the previous fiscal year.

Date: 2009-04-01
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Prohibits the Secretary of State from contributing to any organization or program that supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. Defines "supports or participates in" as providing material, financial, or technical support to any government, agency, or nongovernmental organization that enforces or implements a program that includes coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization (or any government agency or nongovernmental organization that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control of such government or agency).

Date: 2009-04-02
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: International affairs
Single Parent Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow individual taxpayers who are entitled to receive child support a refundable tax credit for any unpaid portion of such support; and (2) increase the income tax liability of any individual required to pay child support by the amount of the unpaid child support allowed as a tax credit by this Act.

Date: 2009-05-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Expanding Dependent and Child Care Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $7,500 the amount of employer-provided dependent care assistance that an employee may exclude from gross income. Allows an annual inflation adjustment to such increased amount after 2010.

Date: 2009-05-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Family Income to Respond to Significant Transitions Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to award grants to states to pay for the federal share of the cost of carrying out programs that assist families by providing, through various mechanisms, wage replacement for eligible individuals taking leave to respond to caregiving needs resulting from the birth or adoption of a child, or for other purposes under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) or provided under state or local law.

Date: 2009-05-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Labor and employment
Domestic Violence Leave Act - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to entitle an eligible employee, his or her same-sex spouse, or domestic partner to up to 12 workweeks of leave during any 12-month period: (1) to care for such individual's family member, if the family member is addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and their effects; or (2) because such individual is addressing such matters, he or she is unable to perform any of the functions of his or her position. Authorizes such individual to substitute any of his or her accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, family leave, or medical or sick leave for any of the 12-week period of such leave. Authorizes an employer to require an employee to certify with documentation the basis of the leave request. Declares that nothing in this Act shall require an employer to provide paid sick leave or paid medical leave in any situation in which such employer would not normally provide any such paid leave. Amends federal civil service law to entitle civilian federal employees, their same-sex spouses, or domestic partners to the same leave allowance. Provides for the substitution of accrued paid annual or sick leave for any part of the 12-week period. Authorizes the employing agency to require an employee to certify with documentation the basis of the leave request.

Date: 2009-05-20
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Labor and employment
Sanctity of Life Act of 2009 - Deems human life to exist from conception, without regard to race, sex, age, health, defect, or condition of dependency and requires that the term "person" include all such human life. Recognizes that each state has authority to protect the lives of unborn children residing in the jurisdiction of that state . Amends the federal judicial code to remove Supreme Court and district court jurisdiction to review cases arising out of any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or practice, or any act interpreting such a measure, on the grounds that such measure: (1) protects the rights of human persons between conception and birth; or (2) prohibits, limits, or regulates the performance of abortions or the provision of public funds, facilities, personnel, or other assistance for abortions. Makes this Act and the amendments made by this Act applicable to any case pending on, or commenced on or after, the date of enactment.

Date: 2009-05-20
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Early Support for Families Act - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to authorize grants to states for quality home visitation programs for families with young children and families expecting children. Specifies the use of grants for high quality programs with well-trained and competent staff that adhere to clear evidence-based models of home visitation that have demonstrated significant positive effects on important program-determined child and parenting outcomes, such as reducing abuse and neglect and improving child health and development.

Date: 2009-06-02
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretary of State to waive certain travel restrictions for an individual otherwise subject to them, if the Secretary determines that it is appropriate to allow such individual to travel outside the United States for employment to pay child support arrearages.

Date: 2009-06-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Parent's Right to Know Act of 2009 - Prohibits any funds appropriated for carrying out federal family planning programs from being made available to any family planning project if any service provider in the project knowingly provides contraceptive drugs or devices to a minor, unless: (1) such provider has given actual written notice to a custodial parent or legal guardian at least five business days prior to providing the drugs or prescription devices; (2) the minor has written consent of a parent or legal guardian; (3) the minor is emancipated; or (4) a court has directed that the minor may receive such drugs or prescription devices. Requires providers to certify to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) compliance with this Act.

Date: 2009-06-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Elimination of the Single Parent Tax Act of 2009 - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of the Social Security Act to repeal the requirement that states impose a $25 annual fee for successful child support collection for a family that has never received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) under SSA title IV part A.

Date: 2009-06-09
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Julia Carson Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2009 - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to condition continued approval of a state plan upon state assessment of its policies with respect to barriers to employment and financial support of children. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states for an employment demonstration project involving a court- or state child support agency supervised-employment program for noncustodial parents who have barriers to employment and a history of nonpayment, so that they can pay their child support obligations. Directs the Secretary of Labor to award grants for transitional jobs programs and for public-private career pathways partnerships. Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to: (1) funding for responsible fatherhood programs; (2) activities promoting responsible fatherhood; and (3) elimination of a separate TANF work participation rate for two-parent families. Prohibits a state from conditioning receipt of TANF or certain other benefits on: (1) participation in a healthy marriage or responsible fatherhood program; or (2) assignment to the state of certain support rights. Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to prohibit a state from collecting any amount owed it by reason of costs it has incurred for the birth of a child for whom support rights have been assigned. Requires a state to make a full distribution of collected child support to the family. Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 with respect to: (1) deductions from family income for child support received in order to qualify for food stamps; (2) verification of child support payments; and (3) inclusion of economic opportunities programs in qualifying work programs. Amends SSA title IV part A with respect to: (1) grants to healthy family partnerships for domestic violence intervention and prevention; and (2) grant recipients and their procedures for responding to the risks of domestic violence. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the credit percentage under the earned income tax credit for eligible individuals with no qualifying children; and (2) require information pertaining to the customer's adjusted basis in broker's returns in the case of securities transactions. Amends the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 with respect to the effective date of its leasing provisions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the economic substance doctrine.

Date: 2009-06-19
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Families for Orphans Act of 2009 - Establishes within the Department of State the Office for Orphan Policy Diplomacy and Development which shall support: (1) the preservation and reunification of families; and (2) the provision of permanent parental care for orphans. Directs the President to establish the Policy Coordinating Committee which shall monitor and support international efforts in family preservation, family reunification, and permanent parental care for orphans. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to foreign countries: (1) for family preservation, family reunification, and orphan care efforts; and (2) to meet minimum standards required for such assistance. Authorizes the Secretary of State to make grants to nongovernmental agencies to promote permanent parental care for orphans. Directs the Secretary to: (1) initiate a study to identify global best practices for preserving and reunifying families and providing permanent parental care for orphans; and (2) carry out a global best practices pilot program.

Date: 2009-06-24
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: International affairs
Families for Orphans Act of 2009 - Establishes within the Department of State the Office for Orphan Policy Diplomacy and Development which shall support: (1) the preservation and reunification of families; and (2) the provision of permanent parental care for orphans. Directs the President to establish the Policy Coordinating Committee which shall monitor and support international efforts in family preservation, family reunification, and permanent parental care for orphans. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to foreign countries: (1) for family preservation, family reunification, and orphan care efforts; and (2) to meet minimum standards required for such assistance. Authorizes the Secretary of State to make grants to nongovernmental agencies to promote permanent parental care for orphans. Directs the Secretary to: (1) initiate a study to identify global best practices for preserving and reunifying families and providing permanent parental care for orphans; and (2) carry out a global best practices pilot program.

Date: 2009-06-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: International affairs
National Parents Corps Act of 2009 - Directs the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, subject to the availability of appropriations, to award a grant to a nonprofit entity (to be known as the NPCP Nonprofit Partner) to establish a National Parents Corps program to promote safety and combat youth violence and substance abuse in public middle or secondary schools. Requires the NPCP Nonprofit Partner to: (1) select for program participation annually schools that agree to host a Parent Leader for a number of years equal to the number of grade levels they offer; and (2) employ, after a background check, a Parent Leader from among the parents of students enrolled in the lowest grade at each participating school to work on a full-time basis with students, other parents, and school officials to treat, prevent, and reduce violence and drug, alcohol, and tobacco addiction among students. Urges participating schools to take the measures necessary to secure funding for the employment of Parent Leaders after federal funding becomes unavailable.

Date: 2009-06-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Education
Investment in Rural After-School Programs Act of 2009 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to award grants to local educational agencies, educational service agencies, community-based organizations, or other entities to improve, expand, or establish rural after-school programs that provide students with a broad array of activities when school is not in session that improve their academic performance and promote their positive development. Requires eligible programs to be implemented in active collaboration with the schools the students attend and take place in safe and easily accessible facilities. Gives priority to applicants that are partnerships between eligible entities or propose to serve students a majority of whom are eligible for free or reduced price meals under the school lunch and breakfast programs.

Date: 2009-06-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Education
Childcare Accountability and Responsibility Act of 2009 or the CARE for Kids Act of 2009 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require a national criminal background check for employees of child care providers in any state that receives funds from the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program. Requires that such background check include: (1) a search of the national Sex Offender Registry, the National Crime Information Center, state criminal registries, and state-based abuse and neglect registries and databases; and (2) a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint check.

Date: 2009-07-22
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Child Care Criminal Background Check Act of 2009 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require child care providers that are licensed by a state or receive funds under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program to: (1) obtain a comprehensive criminal background check of each employee who provides child care services, each applicant for employment, and each family child care provider who provides or applies to provide such services; and (2) refuse to employ individuals convicted of crimes of violence or crimes against children. Reduces by 10% allotments to states that fail to comply with the requirements of this Act.

Date: 2009-07-23
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Look-back Elimination Act of 2009 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to eliminate the requirement that, to be eligible for foster care maintenance payments, a child would have been eligible for aid under the former Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program (predecessor of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families [TANF] program under part A of SSA title IV) at the time of removal from the home. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the AFDC eligibility requirement for federal foster care and adoption assistance benefits should be eliminated and replaced with income eligibility standards that are based on modern, balanced criteria that treat all children equally; and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) should collaborate with Members of Congress and child welfare advocates in developing any modification standards.

Date: 2009-07-24
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Advocates Dedicated to Older Child Parental Tax Credit (ADOPT) Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a $2,000 tax credit for costs associated with the adoption of a child who has reached nine years of age before the adoption decree becomes final. Allows the credit each year until such child attains the age of 19.

Date: 2009-07-30
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make residents of Puerto Rico eligible for the refundable portion of the child tax credit.

Date: 2009-10-01
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Helping Invigorate and Revive our Economy Act of 2009 or the HIRE America Act - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the work opportunity tax credit to: (1) increase the rate of such credit to 50% for members of a targeted group and allow a credit for 30% of wages paid to individuals who are not members of a targeted group; (2) increase the rate of such credit for part-time workers; (3) increase the dollar limitation on the wages eligible for such credit for disabled veterans and summer youth employees; and (4) make such credit permanent. Increases the rate of the tax credit for employer-provided child care.

Date: 2009-10-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
FVPSA Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Revises requirements for and reauthorizes the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act at increased levels for FY2010-FY2014. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish grant programs for: (1) specialized services for abused parents and their children; (2) domestic violence prevention enhancement and leadership through alliances; and (3) enhancement of culturally competent services for adult and youth victims of domestic violence from racial and ethnic minority groups.

Date: 2009-11-19
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2009 - Amends part B (Child-Welfare Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states to support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using networks of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care. Authorizes a grant award directly to a political subdivision if the subdivision serves a substantial number of foster care youth. Prescribes program implementation guidelines, including: (1) application requirements; (2) training; (3) screening; (4) educational requirements; (5) federal and nonfederal share of funds for the program; (6) considerations in awarding grants; and (7) use of funds. Sets forth a maximum grant amount to be awarded to a state or political subdivision. Authorizes the Secretary to award a competitive grant to an eligible entity to establish a National Hotline Service or website to provide information to individuals interested in becoming mentors to youth in foster care. Instructs the Secretary of Education to implement a program to provide for the discharge or cancellation of the federal student loan indebtedness of an eligible mentor.

Date: 2009-12-15
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Education
Starting Early Starting Right Act - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations to carry out the Child Care and Development Block Grant program for FY2011-FY2014. Requires the state plan under the Act to certify that the state has in effect: (1) licensing requirements applicable to all licensed and regulated child care providers within the State that include one annual announced and one annual unannounced visit to each site at which the provider provides child care services; and (2) licensing or registration requirements pertaining to training. Requires the state plan to: (1) demonstrate the manner in which the state will meet the specific child care needs of low-income and working families and how it is implementing practices and procedures to help ensure that children receive continuous care from the same provider; (2) provide information demonstrating that the state is ensuring that payment rates for the provision of child care services for which assistance is provided are equal to or exceed the 75th percentile of the current market rate for all types of child care; and (3) describe efforts to address the need for child care for special populations. Increases from 4% to 15% the maximum amount of child care and development block grant funds that a state may use for specified activities designed to improve the quality of child care. Provides for minimum funding set-asides for: (1) extension of full-day care; and (2) high-quality care for infants and toddlers.

Date: 2009-12-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Refundable Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Reform Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require taxpayers to provide their social security number on their tax return in order to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit.

Date: 2010-01-27
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Middle Class Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the maximum allowable dollar amount of the dependent care tax credit; (2) increase to $60,000 the adjusted gross income threshold for the phaseout of such credit; (3) allow such credit for the expenses of caring for the taxpayer's parents (or ancestors of such parents) who are unable to care for themselves; and (4) extend the additional standard tax deduction for state and local real property taxes through 2010 and increase the allowable amount of such deduction. Makes permanent the increases in the dollar limits for the dependent care tax credit enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.

Date: 2010-04-20
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Child Welfare Workforce Study Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to the Secretary and Congress on child welfare staff. Requires the Secretary, based on recommendations in the report, to issue regulations that require states to collect and report data on child welfare staff regularly and in a manner that enables the data to be linked to the outcomes achieved for individual children served by the state or local child welfare agency involved.

Date: 2010-05-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Support Working Parents Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the phaseout of the tax credit for dependent care services for taxpayers whose adjusted gross incomes exceed $15,000.

Date: 2010-05-11
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Taxpayer Abuse Prevention Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that advance payments of the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit are not transferable or assignable or subject to the claims of any creditors, except outstanding claims of the federal government. Prohibits: (1) the collection of a debt from a debtor's federal tax refund by means of a refund anticipation loan; and (2) mandatory arbitration as a condition of providing a refund anticipation loan. Terminates the Department of the Treasury Debt Indicator Program. Allows earned income tax credit benefits to be paid through electronic transfer accounts. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) develop and implement a program to encourage the greater use of the advance earned income tax credit; and (2) enter into cooperative agreements with federally insured depository institutions to provide low- and moderate-income taxpayers with the option of establishing low-cost direct deposit accounts using appropriate tax forms.

Date: 2010-07-01
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services for the 21st Century or the MOMS for the 21st Century Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Office on Women's Health, to: (1) establish the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Promotion of Optimal Maternity Outcomes; and (2) develop and implement a consumer education campaign to promote understanding and acceptance of evidence-based maternity practices and models of care for optimal maternity outcomes among women of childbearing ages and families of such women. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to make publicly available and update an online bibliographic database identifying systematic reviews for care of childbearing women and newborns. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to: (1) designate maternity care health professional shortage areas under the National Health Service Corps program; (2) establish a loan repayment program to alleviate critical shortages of maternal care professionals; and (3) award planning and implementation grants to address workforce disparities for such professionals. Directs the Secretary to support the establishment of two additional Centers for Excellence on Optimal Maternity Outcomes to conduct research to improve maternity outcomes. Requires the Secretary to convene a Maternity Curriculum Commission to discuss and make recommendations for: (1) a shared core maternity care curriculum; (2) strategies to integrate and coordinate education across maternity care disciplines; and (3) pilot demonstrations of interdisciplinary educational models. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover services provided by a supervised student midwife or an intern or resident-in-training under a teaching program under certain circumstances.

Date: 2010-07-21
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
One Church, One Child Act of 2010 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make competitive grants to support establishment and expansion of programs that use networks of public, private, and faith-based organizations to: (1) recruit and train foster and adoptive parents; and (2) provide support services to foster and adoptive children and their families. Makes eligible for such grants state or local governments, local public agencies, community-based or nonprofit organizations, or private entities, including charitable or faith-based organizations. Directs the Secretary to provide for a National Clearinghouse for Adoption Promotion and Foster Parent Recruitment Programs through a contract with a nationally recognized, nonprofit adoption promotion and foster parent recruitment organization.

Date: 2010-07-22
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act - Prohibits: (1) the expenditure of funds authorized or appropriated by federal law or funds in any trust fund to which funds are authorized or appropriated by federal law for any abortion or for health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion; (2) any tax benefits for amounts paid or incurred for an abortion or for a health benefits plan (including premium assistance) that includes coverage of abortion; and (3) the inclusion of abortion in any health care service furnished by a federal health care facility or by any physician or other individual employed by the federal government. Exempts from such prohibitions an abortion if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest with a minor, or if the woman suffers from a physical disorder, injury, or illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the women in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself. Makes such prohibitions applicable to federal funding within the budget of the District of Columbia. Prohibits federal agencies or programs and states and local governments that receive federal financial assistance from discriminating against any individual or institutional health care entity on the basis that such entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions. Designates the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive, and coordinate the investigation of, discrimination complaints.

Date: 2010-07-29
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Foster Youth Financial Security Act of 2010 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of the Social Security Act, with respect to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, to: (1) require states to take certain additional steps to assist children in foster care in making the transition to independent living, such as providing credit reports and helping a child age 14 or older obtain a driver's license; (2) establish individual development accounts and custodial accounts; (3) require state evaluations of specific services provided to assist the transition to independent living; (4) eliminate the use of a Social Security number as an identifier for a foster child; and (5) authorize additional appropriations to enable states to take such additional steps. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), on request, to provide the state agency with technical assistance in carrying out this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to and enter into contracts with qualified nonprofit or other community-based service providers with substantive expertise to provide the assistance.

Date: 2010-09-23
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families