zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make grants and enter into contracts with state and local criminal justice agencies and nonprofit organizations to improve the identification, investigation, and prosecution of multijurisdictional criminal conspiracies or activities involving terrorism, economic crime, including financial fraud and mortgage fraud, and high-tech crime, including Internet-based crime against children and child pornography.

Date: 2009-03-04
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Fraudulent Tax Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable tax credit for taxes paid on earnings: (1) from an investment which the taxpayer did not know, and reasonably should not have known, was fraudulent; (2) which were reinvested in such investment; and (3) which remained so reinvested until the fraud was discovered. Makes such tax credit applicable to frauds discovered during 2008.

Date: 2009-03-09
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Taxation
Financial Crimes Resources Act of 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2012 to the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and other federal agencies for the investigation and prosecution of criminal activity involving computers, crimes of fraud involving federal economic assistance and relief programs, and financial crimes, including mortgage fraud, securities fraud, and financial institution fraud. Authorizes the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs of DOJ to award grants to states to establish and develop programs for enforcement against criminal activity involving computers and financial crimes.

Date: 2009-03-30
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Money Laundering Correction Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code relating to money laundering to: (1) allow a conviction for money laundering based on merely concealing or disguising monetary instruments; and (2) expand the concept of monetary proceeds to include gross receipts.

Date: 2009-03-30
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Freedom From Union Violence Act of 2009 - Amends the Hobbs Act to authorize imposition of a fine of up to $100,000, 20 years imprisonment, or both for: (1) obstructing, delaying, or affecting commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by robbery or extortion (or attempting or conspiring to do so); and (2) threatening physical violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to interfere with commerce by threats or violence. Makes provisions regarding any such interference inapplicable to conduct that: (1) is incidental to otherwise peaceful picketing during the course of a labor dispute; (2) consists solely of minor bodily injury, or minor damage to property, or threat or fear of such minor injury or damage; and (3) is not part of a pattern of violent conduct or of coordinated violent activity. Subjects such conduct to prosecution only by the appropriate state and local authorities.

Date: 2009-05-21
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Anti-Gang Enforcement Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) prohibit certain criminal street gang crimes, including recruitment of persons into such gangs, participation in such gangs by committing two or more predicate gang crimes, and solicitation to commit a predicate gang crime; (2) impose or increase criminal penalties for committing certain violent crimes in aid of a criminal street gang or racketeering activity, for murder or other violent crimes while committing a drug trafficking crime, and for the use of interstate or foreign commerce facilities in the commission of two or more murders; and (3) provide for forfeiture of property obtained through criminal street gang activity. Defines "criminal street gang" and "predicate gang crime" for purposes of this Act. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend its sentencing guidelines to provide an enhancement for crimes committed in furtherance or in aid of criminal street gangs. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) expand the Project Safe Neighborhoods program to require U.S. attorneys to identify, investigate, and prosecute significant criminal street gangs operating within their districts and to coordinate anti-gang activities; and (2) require the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to increase funding for the Safe Streets Program and to support criminal street gang enforcement teams. Authorizes the Attorney General to hire 94 additional assistant U.S. attorneys for the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.

Date: 2009-06-10
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to modify and expand prohibitions against criminal street gang activity, including forfeiture provisions. Revises penalties for: (1) interstate or foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises; (2) carjacking; (3) using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and other felony crimes of violence; (4) violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity; (5) murder and other violent crimes committed during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; (6) using interstate commerce facilities to commit multiple murder; and (7) the use of firearms in crimes of violence and drug trafficking. Amends: (1) the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to expand the definition of "racketeering activity" to cover interstate murder; and (2) the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to authorize the use of community-based justice grants to hire additional prosecutors to reduce backlogs and to fund technology, equipment, and training for specified purposes, including to increase the accurate identification and successful prosecution of young violent offenders Expands: (1) the rebuttable presumption against release of persons charged with firearms offenses; (2) venue in capital cases; and (3) the authority to prosecute juveniles as adults. Sets a 15-year statute of limitations for non-capital felony crimes of violence. Authorizes the Attorney General to designate specific areas that are located within one or more states as high intensity interstate gang activity areas.

Date: 2009-06-12
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Senior Financial Empowerment Act of 2010 - Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): (1) to disseminate to seniors and their caregivers information on mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud targeting seniors; (2) in response to a request about fraud committed by a particular entity or individual, to provide to the requester publicly available information on any record of civil or criminal law enforcement action against such individual or entity for fraud; and (3) to maintain a website as an information resource for seniors and their caregivers regarding Internet fraud. Authorizes FY2011-FY2015 appropriations. Directs the Attorney General to establish a grant program for mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud prevention education programs for senior citizens. Makes such grants available to state and local law enforcement agencies, senior centers, and local nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to seniors. Authorizes FY2011-FY2015 appropriations. Expresses the sense of Congress: (1) with respect to public awareness of the impact of such fraud on senior citizens; and (2) that a week in May should be designated as National Senior Fraud Awareness Week.

Date: 2009-06-25
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Tony Cardenas Community-Based Gang Intervention Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States must acknowledge and address social conditions such as poverty, homelessness, inadequate educational systems, and limited economic opportunities in developing a comprehensive gang violence reduction strategy. Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to: (1) require the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to award grants to nonprofit community-based gang intervention agencies to provide services for reducing and stopping gang-related and gang-motivated violence and crime; (2) include representatives of community-based gang intervention agencies in juvenile justice and delinquency prevention advisory groups established by state plans; and (3) include community-based gang intervention and prevention activities in state and local grant programs for delinquency prevention.

Date: 2009-07-31
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Organized Retail Crime Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the transportation of fraudulently obtained goods valued at $1,000 or more for sale on an online marketplace and the barter or sale of such goods online with knowledge that such goods have been stolen, converted, or taken by fraud. Directs the Attorney General to establish multi-jurisdictional task forces to investigate organized retail theft and to dismantle organized retail theft criminal enterprises in the United States.

Date: 2009-11-03
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Small Business Penalty Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit the penalty for failure to disclose a reportable transaction (a transaction determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as having a potential for tax avoidance or evasion) to 75% of the decrease in tax resulting from such transaction. Sets forth a maximum penalty for failure to report a reportable transaction and a minimum and maximum penalty for failure to report a listed transaction (a transaction specifically identified by the IRS as a tax avoidance transaction). Requires the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to report by June 1, 2010, and then annually, to Congress on penalties relating to tax shelters and reportable transactions.

Date: 2009-11-16
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Taxation
Defund the Crooks Act - Prohibits any federal contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other form of agreement from being awarded to or entered into with any organization that: (1) has been convicted of a violation of any federal or state law; (2) had its corporate charter revoked due to its failure to comply with federal or state laws; (3) has submitted a fraudulent claim to a federal or state agency; (4) knowingly employs an individual who has been convicted of a violation of federal or state law, hires any such individual as a contractor, or extends authority to such an individual to act on its behalf; or (5) is the parent company of, subsidiary of, or subsidiary of the parent company of, or owns 50% or more of, such an organization. Prohibits: (1) any federal funds from being provided to such an organization, except for goods or services provided before this Act's enactment; and (2) any federal employee, in the course and scope of employment, or any federal contractor, during the performance of the contract, from promoting such an organization. Provides for the termination of contracts awarded before, or awarded to an entity that becomes such an organization after, enactment of this Act. Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulation to be revised to carry out provisions of this Act relating to contracts.

Date: 2010-01-13
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Organized Retail Theft Investigation and Prosecution Act of 2010 - Directs the Attorney General to establish the Organized Retail Theft Investigation and Prosecution Unit to: (1) investigate and prosecute those instances of organized retail theft over which the Department of Justice (DOJ) has jurisdiction; (2) assist state and local law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting organized retail theft; and (3) consult with key stakeholders, including retailers and online market places, to obtain information about instances of and trends in organized retail theft. Provides that the Unit shall include representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Services, prosecutors, and any other necessary personnel. Defines "organized retail theft" as: (1) the obtaining of retail merchandise by illegal means to resell or otherwise place such merchandise back into the stream of commerce; or (2) aiding or abetting the commission of, or conspiring to commit, such theft. Requires the Attorney General to submit to the Judiciary Committees of Congress and make available to the public on the DOJ website a report containing recommendations on how retailers, online businesses, and law enforcement agencies can help prevent and combat organized retail theft . Authorizes appropriations for FY2011-FY2015.

Date: 2010-07-29
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Social Security Identity Defense Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary of the Treasury to make certain disclosures to the holder of a social security account number and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) if the Secretary determines that there is a substantial likelihood that there has been a fraudulent use of such account number in the employment context. Authorizes the FBI Director to disclose information received from the Secretary to federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, but restricts the use of such information to carrying out criminal investigations or prosecutions. Requires employers who have been notified of suspected misuse of an employee's social security account number to cease including such account number on statements provided to such employee.

Date: 2010-07-29
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Taxation
Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue regulations not later than October 1, 2012, requiring corporations and limited liability companies formed in a state that does not have an incorporation system providing for the disclosure, updating, and verification of beneficial ownership information to file with the Secretary information about their beneficial ownership as required by this Act. Sets forth requirements for state incorporation systems with respect to beneficial ownership information, including: (1) identification of beneficial owners by name, current address, and non-expired passport or state-issued driver's license; (2) identification of any affiliated legal entity that will exercise control over an entity to be incorporated and the identities of the beneficial owners of such affiliated entities; (3) updating of lists of beneficial owners not later than 60 days after any change in information related to such owners; and (4) additional information and verification required for beneficial owners who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Requires states that adopt an incorporation system to maintain beneficial ownership information for five years after an incorporated entity terminates. Imposes a civil penalty on any person who: (1) provides false or fraudulent beneficial ownership information; (2) fails to provide complete or updated beneficial ownership information; or (3) knowingly discloses the existence of a subpoena, summons, or other request for beneficial ownership information without authorization. Requires the Secretary to publish a proposed and final rule to require persons who form a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, or other legal entity to establish anti-money laundering programs. Requires the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on: (1) state requirements for the disclosure of beneficial ownership information; (2) whether the lack of such information has impeded investigations into entities suspected of terrorism, money laundering, and other criminal activities; and (3) whether the failure to require beneficial ownership information for partnerships and trusts formed or registered in the United States has elicited international criticism and what steps the United States has taken or is planning to take in response.

Date: 2010-08-10
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Commerce
Protecting the Privacy of Social Security Numbers Act - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers without the affirmatively expressed consent of the individual, except in specified circumstances. Directs the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on all the uses of Social Security numbers permitted, required, authorized, or excepted under any federal law, including the impact of such uses on privacy and data security. Establishes a public records exception to the prohibition. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on Social Security numbers in public records. Grants the Attorney General rulemaking authority to enforce this Act's prohibition and to implement and clarify the permitted uses occurring as a result of an interaction between businesses, governments, or business and government. Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prohibit: (1) the use of Social Security numbers on checks issued for payment by governmental agencies; and (2) inmate access to Social Security account numbers. Prohibits a commercial entity from requiring an individual to provide a Social Security number when purchasing a commercial good or service or denying an individual the good or service for refusing to provide that number, with exceptions. Establishes civil and criminal penalties. Extends civil monetary penalties for misuse of a Social Security number. Provides for: (1) criminal penalties under SSA title II for the misuse of a Social Security number; (2) civil actions and civil penalties against persons who violate this Act; and (3) federal injunctive authority with respect to any violation by a public entity.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Money Laundering Control Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code relating to laundering of monetary instruments to expand the concept of monetary proceeds to include gross receipts. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend its sentencing guidelines to incorporate the amendment made by this Act.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2009- Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) expand the definitions of the crimes of transporting and selling or receiving stolen goods to include thefts having an aggregate value of $5,000 or more during any 12-month period; (2) modify the crime of fraud involving access devices to include the Universal Product Code label or similar product code label as an access device; and (3) set forth provisions to prevent sales of illegally obtained goods in a physical (e.g., flea market, open air market) or online retail marketplace and to grant enforcement powers to states to obtain injunctive and other relief against persons engaged in organized retail crime. Requires the Attorney General to establish a suspected illegal sales activity form and a suspicious activity report form for the reporting of suspected sales of illegally-obtained items in a physical or online retail marketplace. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend federal sentencing guidelines for persons convicted of offenses involving organized retail crime.

Date: 2009-02-25
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to: (1) establish uniform requirements for states relating to the disclosure of beneficial owners of corporations and limited liability companies formed in such states and the updating of such disclosures; (2) require states to maintain beneficial ownership disclosure information for five years after a corporation or limited liability company is terminated; (3) impose additional identification requirements for the beneficial owners of corporations or limited liability companies who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States; and (4) provide for additional civil and criminal penalties for individuals who provide false beneficial ownership information to a state. Defines "beneficial owner" as an individual who has a level of control over a business entity that enables such individual to control, manage, or direct such entity.Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to publish a proposed and final rule to require persons involved in forming a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, or other legal entity to establish anti-money laundering programs. Requires the Comptroller General to study and report to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on: (1) state requirements for the disclosure of beneficial ownership information; (2) whether the lack of such information has impeded investigations into entities suspected of terrorism, money laundering, and other criminal activities; and (3) whether the failure to require beneficial ownership information for partnerships and trusts formed or registered in the United States has elicited international criticism and what steps the United States has taken or is planning to take in response.

Date: 2009-03-11
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Commerce
Corporate Crime Database Act - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) acquire data, for each calendar year, regarding all administrative, civil, and criminal judical proceedings against any corporation or corporate official involving a felony or misdemeanor or civl charge where potential fines may be $1,000 or more; (2) establish and maintain a publicly available website on improper conduct by all corporations with annual revenues of more than $1 billion; and (3) prepare an annual report to Congress detailing the number of civil, administrative, and criminal enforcement actions brought against any corporation or corporate official and the final dispositions of such actions.

Date: 2011-01-19
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Electronic Life Safety and Security Systems Federal Background Check Act of 2011 - Directs the Attorney General to establish a method to permit employers in the electronic life safety and security systems installation and monitoring industry to access criminal history records and other information to conduct background checks of existing and prospective employees. States that employees should have an effective means to dispute or seek a correction of the outcome of such background check.

Date: 2011-04-01
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Financial Crisis Criminal Investigation Act - Authorizes appropriations for FY2011-FY2014 for the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to hire 1,000 FBI agents as well as additional forensic experts to investigate corporate, securities, and mortgage fraud, and associated violations of law relating to the U.S. financial markets. Authorizes the hiring also of additional employees by the Attorney General and by the Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Division of Enforcement to conduct related investigations and prosecutions.

Date: 2011-04-04
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Directs that any business determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to have misrepresented its status as a small business owned and controlled by veterans or service-disabled veterans in order to increase its contracting opportunities shall be debarred from contracting with the VA for not less than five years (under current law, for a reasonable period as determined by the Secretary). Requires the Secretary to commence the debarment action within 30 days after the misrepresentation determination, and to complete such action within 90 days after such determination. Includes in the debarment all principals in the business.

Date: 2011-04-15
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to public and nonprofit private entities (including faith-based organizations) for projects involving innovative approaches to combat gang activity, (2) make grants to states and other entities to increase police presence and expand and improve cooperative efforts to address gang activity problems, and (3) designate high-intensity interstate gang activity areas. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to: (1) reauthorize programs for combating criminal gangs, including after-school programs and programs for safe and drug-free schools and communities; and (2) expand the grant program for workplace and community transition training for incarcerated youth offenders (30 years of age or younger). Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to add provisions entitled the Public and Assisted Housing Gang Elimination Act of 2011 which authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants to public housing agencies and private, for-profit, and nonprofit owners of federally assisted low-income housing for use in eliminating gang-related crime. Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to: (1) authorize the Attorney General to award grants to assist communities located in a high-intensity interstate gang activity area in developing and carrying out programs that target certain at-risk youth and juvenile offenders, (2) reauthorize the gang resistance education and training projects program, and (3) increase funding for the National Youth Gang Survey. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to reauthorize and expand adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects. Directs the Attorney General to modify existing procedures and policies to improve the transition of federal prisoners into local communities. Reauthorizes the National and Community Grant Service Program. Amends the USA PATRIOT Act to provide funding to hire additional forensic examiners to fight gang activity. Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) expand the definition of "criminal street gang", (2) prohibit the recruitment or solicitation of persons to participate in a criminal street gang, (3) impose enhanced penalties for committing violent crimes in furtherance or in aid of a criminal street gang and for use of firearms by felons with multiple felony convictions for violent crimes and drug offenses, (4) increase penalties for use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire or other felony crimes of violence, and (5) increase penalties for violent crimes in aid of racketeering activities. Requires the United States Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend guidelines relating to violent gang-related crimes. Amends the Uniform Federal Crime Reporting Act of 1988 to require the Attorney General to create a separate category in the United Crime Reports to distinguish criminal offenses committed by juveniles.

Date: 2011-05-10
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Amends the Anti-Smuggling Act of 1935 to subject to seizure and forfeiture any vehicles, other conveyances, or instruments of international traffic employed to defraud U.S. revenue or to smuggle merchandise into the United States.

Date: 2011-09-22
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Identify [sic] Theft and Tax Fraud Prevention Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) impose a fine and/or prison term on any person who knowingly or willfully misappropriates another person's tax identification number in connection with any list, return, account, statement, or other document submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); (2) increase the civil and criminal penalties for improper disclosure or use of taxpayer information by tax return preparers; (3) require the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to submit to the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways and Means an annual report on the number of reported cases of tax fraud and suspected tax fraud and the actions taken in response to such reports; and (4) require the head of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to submit to Congress a detailed plan on how it will use tax information provided by the IRS to reduce prison tax fraud. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) implement an identity theft tax fraud prevention program; and (2) review whether current federal tax law prevents the effective enforcement of local, state, and federal identity theft statutes. Authorizes the Commissioner to transfer appropriated funds to be used solely to prevent and resolve potential tax fraud cases. Directs the Commissioner to establish in the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS the position of Local Law Enforcement Liaison to coordinate the investigation of tax fraud with state and local law enforcement agencies and communicate the status of tax fraud cases involving identity theft. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the role of prepaid debit cards and commercial tax preparation software in facilitating fraudulent tax returns through identity theft. Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from disclosing information contained on the Death Master File relating to a deceased individual to persons who are not certified to access such information.

Date: 2011-10-14
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Taxation
Stop Outsourcing and Create American Jobs Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to develop and publish a list of countries that are tax havens for corporations. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the penalties on corporations for: (1) underpayment of tax involving an undisclosed foreign financial asset located in a tax haven country; (2) reportable transaction understatements involving transactions in a tax haven country; and (3) fraud, tax evasion, or false statements involving transactions in a tax haven country. Grants a preference in the award of federal contracts to contractors who have not engaged in outsourcing. Defines "outsourcing" as the laying off of a U.S. worker from a job and the hiring or contracting for the same job to be performed in a foreign country. Requires revenues generated by this Act to be set aside for the reduction of the public debt.

Date: 2011-11-03
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Taxation
Tax Crimes and Identity Theft Prevention Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to take necessary action to correct a tax return or tax information affected by the misuse of a taxpayer's identity within 90 days after receiving notice of such misuse from the taxpayer. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) authorize the Secretary to disclose tax return information to federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel who are personally and directly engaged in the investigation of identity theft; (2) impose a fine and/or prison term on any person who knowingly or willfully misappropriates another person's tax identification number; (3) increase the civil and criminal penalties for improper disclosure or use of tax information by tax return preparers; (4) require the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to report to Congress on the number of reported tax fraud cases and on actions taken in response to such reports; and (5) require the head of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to submit to Congress a detailed plan on how it will use tax information provided by the IRS to reduce prison tax fraud. Directs the Secretary to: (1) implement an identity theft tax fraud prevention program that provides for a unique personal identification number (PIN) on tax returns; and (2) review whether current federal tax law prevents the effective enforcement of local, state, and federal identity theft statutes. Authorizes the Commissioner to transfer appropriated funds to be used solely to prevent and resolve potential tax fraud cases. Directs the Commissioner to establish in the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS the position of Local Law Enforcement Liaison to coordinate the investigation of tax fraud with state and local law enforcement agencies. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the role of prepaid debit cards and commercial tax preparation software in facilitating fraudulent tax returns through identity theft. Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from disclosing information contained on the Death Master File relating to a deceased individual to persons who are not certified to access such information. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state and local law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of tax crimes.

Date: 2011-11-18
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Taxation
Freedom From Union Violence Act of 2012 - Amends the Hobbs Act to authorize imposition of a fine of up to $100,000, 20 years' imprisonment, or both for: (1) obstructing, delaying, or affecting commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by robbery or extortion (or attempting or conspiring to do so); and (2) threatening physical violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to interfere with commerce by threats or violence. Makes provisions regarding any such interference inapplicable to conduct that: (1) is incidental to otherwise peaceful picketing during the course of a labor dispute; (2) consists solely of minor bodily injury, or minor damage to property, or threat or fear of such minor injury or damage; and (3) is not part of a pattern of violent conduct or of coordinated violent activity. Subjects such conduct to prosecution only by the appropriate state and local authorities.

Date: 2012-02-17
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Department of State Rewards Program Update and Technical Corrections Act of 2012 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of State rewards program should be expanded to: (1) address the threat to U.S. interests from transnational criminal activity; and (2) target individuals indicted by international, hybrid, or mixed tribunals for genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to include in the program's purpose the prevention of acts of transnational organized crime and violations of international humanitarian law. Provides rewards for the arrest or conviction of persons involved in such activities. Eliminates program references to the reward for the capture or death of Osama bin Laden.

Date: 2012-02-17
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: International affairs
Protect and Save Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose tax return information to federal and state law enforcement agencies to assist in the investigation of the misuse of the identity of another person for purposes of filing a false or fraudulent tax return, (2) direct the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to establish within the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the position of Local Law Enforcement Liaison to coordinate the investigation of tax fraud with state and local law enforcement agencies, and (3) make permanent the authority of the Secretary to disclose tax return information to federal and state prison officials to prevent the filing of false or fraudulent tax returns by prison inmates. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) implement an identity theft tax fraud prevention program; and (2) review whether current tax laws and regulations related to the confidentiality and disclosure of tax return information prevent the effective enforcement of federal, state, and local identity theft statutes. Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to conduct a study and report on: (1) the role of prepaid debit cards and commercial tax preparation software in facilitating fraudulent tax returns through identity theft, and (2) the role e-filing and electronic tax returns play in either facilitating or preventing fraudulent tax returns through identity theft. Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from disclosing information contained on the Death Master File relating to a deceased individual to persons who are not certified to access such information. Requires the head of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to submit a detailed plan to Congress on how information obtained from the IRS will be used to reduce prison tax fraud.

Date: 2012-07-26
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Taxation
States' Medical Marijuana Property Rights Protection Act - Exempts real property from civil forfeiture under the Controlled Substances Act due to medical-marijuana-related conduct that is authorized by state law.

Date: 2012-08-02
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act - Amends the federal criminal code to increase (from 15 to 20 years) the term of imprisonment for economic espionage (i.e., stealing or obtaining, duplicating or conveying, or buying or possessing trade secrets without authorization intending or knowing that the offense will benefit any foreign government, foreign instrumentality, or foreign agent). Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of offenses relating to the transmission of a stolen trade secret outside of the United States or economic espionage to reflect the intent of Congress that penalties for such offenses: (1) reflect the seriousness of, and potential and actual harm caused by, such offenses; and (2) provide adequate deterrence. Directs the Commission to: (1) consider the extent to which such guidelines and statements appropriately account for the simple misappropriation of a trade secret, including the sufficiency of the existing enhancement for such offenses to address the seriousness of this conduct; (2) consider additional enhancements to account for any transmission of a stolen trade secret outside of the United States and any such transmission that is committed for the benefit of a foreign government; (3) consider establishing a minimum offense level for offenses relating to such transmission; (4) ensure that the guidelines and statements reflect the serious nature of such offenses and the need to deter such conduct; (5) ensure reasonable consistency with other relevant directives, guidelines and statements, and federal statutes; and (6) ensure that the guidelines adequately meet the purposes of sentencing. Directs the Commission to complete its review within 180 days and to issue a report explaining any decision not to adopt any of the specific recommendations.

Date: 2011-03-30
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to public and nonprofit private entities (including faith-based organizations) for projects involving innovative approaches to combat gang activity, (2) make grants to states and other entities to increase police presence and expand and improve cooperative efforts to address gang activity problems, and (3) designate high-intensity interstate gang activity areas. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to: (1) reauthorize programs for combating criminal gangs, including after-school programs and programs for safe and drug-free schools and communities; and (2) expand the grant program for workplace and community transition training for incarcerated youth offenders (30 years of age or younger). Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to add provisions entitled the Public and Assisted Housing Gang Elimination Act of 2010 which authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants to public housing agencies and private, for-profit, and nonprofit owners of federally assisted low-income housing for use in eliminating gang-related crime. Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to: (1) authorize the Attorney General to award grants to assist communities located in a high-intensity interstate gang activity area in developing and carrying out programs that target certain at-risk youth and juvenile offenders, (2) reauthorize the gang resistance education and training projects program, and (3) increase funding for the National Youth Gang Survey. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to reauthorize and expand adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects. Directs the Attorney General to modify existing procedures and policies to improve the transition of federal prisoners into local communities. Reauthorizes the National and Community Grant Service Program. Amends the USA PATRIOT Act to provide funding to hire additional forensic examiners to fight gang activity. Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) expand the definition of "criminal street gang", (2) prohibit the recruitment or solicitation of persons to participate in a criminal street gang, (3) impose enhanced penalties for committing violent crimes in furtherance or in aid of a criminal street gang and for use of firearms by felons with multiple felony convictions for violent crimes and drug offenses, (4) increase penalties for use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire or other felony crimes of violence, and (5) increase penalties for violent crimes in aid of racketeering activities. Requires the United States Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend guidelines relating to violent gang-related crimes. Amends the Uniform Federal Crime Reporting Act of 1988 to require the Attorney General to create a separate category in the United Crime Reports to distinguish criminal offenses committed by juveniles.

Date: 2011-05-03
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to public and nonprofit private entities (including faith-based organizations) for projects involving innovative approaches to combat gang activity, (2) make grants to states and other entities to increase police presence and expand and improve cooperative efforts to address gang activity problems, and (3) designate high-intensity interstate gang activity areas. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to: (1) reauthorize programs for combating criminal gangs, including after-school programs and programs for safe and drug-free schools and communities; and (2) expand the grant program for workplace and community transition training for incarcerated youth offenders (30 years of age or younger). Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to add provisions entitled the Public and Assisted Housing Gang Elimination Act of 2010 which authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants to public housing agencies and private, for-profit, and nonprofit owners of federally assisted low-income housing for use in eliminating gang-related crime. Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to: (1) authorize the Attorney General to award grants to assist communities located in a high-intensity interstate gang activity area in developing and carrying out programs that target certain at-risk youth and juvenile offenders, (2) reauthorize the gang resistance education and training projects program, and (3) increase funding for the National Youth Gang Survey. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to reauthorize and expand adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects. Directs the Attorney General to modify existing procedures and policies to improve the transition of federal prisoners into local communities. Reauthorizes the National and Community Grant Service Program. Amends the USA PATRIOT Act to provide funding to hire additional forensic examiners to fight gang activity. Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) expand the definition of "criminal street gang", (2) prohibit the recruitment or solicitation of persons to participate in a criminal street gang, (3) impose enhanced penalties for committing violent crimes in furtherance or in aid of a criminal street gang and for use of firearms by felons with multiple felony convictions for violent crimes and drug offenses, (4) increase penalties for use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire or other felony crimes of violence, and (5) increase penalties for violent crimes in aid of racketeering activities. Requires the United States Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend guidelines relating to violent gang-related crimes. Amends the Uniform Federal Crime Reporting Act of 1988 to require the Attorney General to create a separate category in the United Crime Reports to distinguish criminal offenses committed by juveniles.

Date: 2011-05-12
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Combating Military Counterfeits Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose criminal penalties on persons who traffic in counterfeit goods or services if: (1) the offense involved a military good or service that malfunctioned, failed, or was compromised and could reasonably be foreseen to cause serious bodily injury or death, disclosure of classified information, impairment of combat operations, or other significant harm to a member of the Armed Forces or to national security; and (2) the person had knowledge that the good or service is falsely identified as meeting military standards or is intended for use in a military or national security application. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to: (1) review and amend federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to reflect the intent of Congress to increase penalties for defendants that sell infringing products to, or for the use by or for, the Armed Forces or a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency or for use in critical infrastructure or in national security applications; and (2) consider an appropriate offense level enhancement and minimum offense level for offenses that involve a product that is used to maintain or operate critical infrastructure or that is used by or for an entity of the federal government or a state or local government in furtherance of the administration of justice, national defense, or national security. Requires the Commission, in accordance with emergency authority under the Sentencing Act of 1987, to promulgate such guidelines and policy statements no later than 180 days after this Act's enactment and amend such guidelines to achieve consistency with other guideline provisions and applicable law.

Date: 2011-06-16
Topic: Law and Crime (White Collar Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement