zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
True Cost of Coal Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) impose a $10 per ton excise tax on the extraction of coal; (2) establish in the Treasury the Coal Mitigation Trust Fund to hold revenues from such tax; and (3) extend to 50 years the recovery period, for depreciation purposes, for specified coal port property used for the export of coal.

Allows expenditures from the Coal Mitigation Trust Fund to assist states in mitigating noise, vibration, traffic delays, pollution and other threats to public health, and emergencies in connection with the transportation of coal by rail, and to provide worker adjustment assistance.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to issue regulations to require all rail cars transporting coal to be covered or to incorporate a suitable alternative technology to ensure that coal and coal dust do not escape during transportation.

Date: 2013-06-17
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Taxation
Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment Act of 2013 or the SENSE Act of 2013 - Makes certain emission limits for hydrogen chloride and sulfur dioxide, in regulations entitled "Emission Limits for Existing EGUs," inapplicable to an electric utility steam generating unit in the subcategory "Coal-fired unit not low rank virgin coal" if the unit: (1) is in operation as of the date of enactment of this Act, (2) utilizes circulating fluidized bed technology to convert coal refuse into energy, and (3) derives at least 75 percent of its heat input from coal refuse or is a qualifying small power production or cogeneration facility as defined by the Federal Power Act.

Date: 2013-09-19
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Environmental protection
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to retire any coal preference right lease application for which an affirmative commercial quantities determination has been made, by issuing bidding rights in exchange for relinquishment of the application, including payment to the relevant state of 50% of the dollar amount of any bidding right subsequently used in lieu of any monetary payment of a bonus in a coal lease sale or of rental or royalty under a federal coal lease.

Requires the Secretary to make such payments from revenues received under federal mineral leases.

Declares such bidding rights to be fully transferable to any other person.

Terminates a bidding right five years from its date of issue, not counting any period in which exercise of the bidding right is precluded by temporary injunctive relief granted under, or administrative, legislative, or judicial suspension of, the federal coal leasing program.

Date: 2014-07-23
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
Petroleum Coke Transparency and Public Health Study Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to transmit to Congress, within 180 days after enactment of this Act, the results of a study, using the best available science, of petroleum coke that includes: (1) an analysis of the public health and environmental impacts of the production, transportation, storage, and use of petroleum coke; (2) an assessment of potential approaches and best practices for storing, transporting, and managing petroleum coke; and (3) a quantitative analysis of current and projected domestic petroleum coke production and utilization locations. Requires the Secretary to compile and publish on a publicly available website the results of such study.

Date: 2013-07-30
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Health
Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends subtitle D (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to establish a permit program for coal combustion residuals (coal ash) that states may elect to administer. The program outlines the criteria that a state must use if it chooses to adopt and enforce a permit program regulating the management and disposal of coal ash generated by electric utilities and independent power producers. The program applies to the disposal of coal ash into landfills or surface impoundments, sand or gravel pits, quarries, or lateral expansions of the structures. The structural criteria concern: (1) design, location, and integrity; (2) financial assurance; (3) groundwater and surface water protections; (4) closure procedures; and (5) air quality with respect to fugitive dust.

In order to adopt or implement a permit program, the lead state implementing agency must maintain a program for control of hazardous waste disposal in open dumps or an authorized state hazardous waste program under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. The implementing agency must ensure that certain information concerning the program is publicly available.

A state that chooses to adopt a coal ash program is given sole enforcement authority. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must implement a program for a state if: (1) a state's program fails to meet those criteria, or (2) a state does not implement a program. A coal ash permit program implemented by the EPA shall not apply to the utilization, placement, and storage of coal ash at surface or underground coal mining and reclamation operations.

Certain uses of coal ash are not considered as receipt of such material for purposes of this bill. These include uses for engineered structural fill, storage in a manner consistent with the management of raw materials, and such beneficial uses as substitution for virgin material (in which case the use must be shown to not result in environmental releases greater than those from a material or product that would be used instead of the coal ash or exceed relevant benchmarks for human and ecological receptors).

The bill revises implementation of the EPA rule governing the disposal of coal ash, entitled "Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities." The rule may be implemented only through the permit program established by the bill.

Date: 2015-04-13
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Environmental protection
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of that version is repeated here.)

(Sec. 1) This bill authorizes the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to provide bidding credits for a coal preference right lease applicant to acquire federal mineral rights if such applicant agrees to relinquish its rights to an existing coal lease on federal land. Bidding credits, which are fully transferable, are assigned a dollar value and can be used in lieu of cash to make certain payments to the federal government. The dollar value should be equal to the estimated fair market value of the existing lease being relinquished.

The BLM is required to provide payments, equal to 50% value of any bidding credit, to any state where federal mineral rights are being acquired through the use of bidding credits. Such payments are required to be derived from revenues obtained under federal mineral leases.

 A bidding credit terminates five years from its date of issue, not counting any period in which exercise of the bidding credit is precluded by law or suspension of the federal coal leasing program.

Date: 2015-04-15
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
Petroleum Coke Transparency and Public Health Protection Act

This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit to Congress and publish on the HHS website a report containing the results of a study concerning petroleum coke that includes: (1) an analysis of the public health and environmental impacts of the production, transportation, storage, and use of petroleum coke; (2) an assessment of potential approaches and best practices for storing, transporting, and managing petroleum coke; and (3) a quantitative analysis of current and projected domestic petroleum coke production and utilization locations.

The Environmental Protection Agency is required to promulgate rules concerning the storage and transportation of petroleum coke that ensure the protection of public and ecological health based upon the findings of such study.

Date: 2015-06-03
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Health
Coal Royalty Fairness and Communities Investment Act of 2015

This bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to require the coal lease royalty to be at least 12.5% of the assessment value of federal coal (currently, 12.5% of the value of coal as defined by regulation), which value shall be established by the Department of the Interior within one year after enactment of this Act.

"Assessment value" means: (1) the price of federal coal paid by the purchaser at final sale, or (2) a price imputed by the Secretary based on the coal price index (the schedule of average market prices of federal coal at final sale).

The purchaser of federal coal shall report annually information necessary to carry out this Act. Interior may examine the records of any person engaged in the purchase, sale, transportation, or marketing of federal coal.

The bill prescribes requirements for: (1) determining and assessing royalties for the export of federal coal, (2) compiling in a transportation cost index the average costs of transporting coal, and (3) determining the amount of any applicable transportation cost deduction on the basis of such index.

The bill also establishes in the Treasury a Coal Area Economic Revitalization Fund for the annual deposit of $105 million of royalty revenues collected by the United States from coal leases. The Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce shall use certain Fund amounts to issue grants under specified programs for projects to assist communities and Indian tribes negatively impacted by changes in the coal economy. The Department of Energy shall use certain Fund amounts to provide financial assistance for the design, construction, and operation of large-scale projects to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources. Specified federal departments and agencies shall provide impacted communities with technical assistance and educational outreach to fund partnerships.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
Steel Industry Preservation Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend and modify the production tax credit for steel industry fuel.

(Under current law, steel industry fuel is a fuel which is: (1) produced through a process of liquefying coal waste sludge and distributing it on coal, and (2) used as a feedstock for the manufacture of coke.)

The bill modifies the tax credit for steel industry fuel to:

 extend the credit period and the placed-in-service date, revise the definition of "steel industry fuel" to allow blends of coal and petroleum coke or other coke feedstock in the fuel, set forth ownership requirements, and specify requirements for treating an owner as producing and selling steel industry fuel. A taxpayer that produces steel industry fuel may elect to accept an increased tax credit in lieu of certain deductions for expenses in connection with the production of steel industry fuel.

The bill specifies the treatment of the credit for the purpose of the alternative minimum tax. It also exempts transactions related to steel industry fuel from rules that restrict deductions and other tax benefits for activities that are not engaged in for profit or that do not have economic substance.

Date: 2016-04-20
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Taxation
Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act

This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act to prohibit the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE)and state regulatory authoritiesfrom accepting new self-bonds for coal reclamation.Additionally, any existing self-bonds or corporate bondsutilized for coal reclamationmust be converted to surety or collateral bonds.

The OSMRE may approve state or federal alternative coal miningbond programs thatresult in no greater risk of financial liability to the federalgovernment than a surety or collateral bond program.

The bill also requires the OSMRE to issue rules establishing limitations on surety bondsto minimize the financial liability to the federal or stategovernment.

Date: 2016-06-16
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Creating Opportunities for America's Laid-off (COAL) Miners Act of 2016

This bill allows certain states in which the coal mining and related industries have been adversely impacted by regulations promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Department of the Interior to enter into and participate in a specified agreement with the Department of Labor.

These states shall include:

 Alabama; Illinois; Indiana; Kentucky; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Tennessee; Virginia; Wyoming; and any other state that has traditionally relied on coal mining for a substantial portion of its economy, and has experienced a significant reduction in coal mining-related activity over five years. The agreement shall require that the state's agency make payments of coal mining emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) to individuals, other than illegal aliens, who:

 have exhausted all rights to regular compensation under the state or federal law for a benefit year (excluding any benefit year that ended before enactment of this bill); have no rights to regular compensation for a week under such law or any other state unemployment compensation law or to compensation under any other federal law; are not receiving compensation for such week under the unemployment compensation law of Canada; and are able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work. A state which enters such an agreement must deliver specified reemployment services and reemployment and eligibility assessment activities to each coal mining EUC recipient while the individual continues to receive such EUC.

The bill requires that, subject to specified conditions, 100% of the coal mining EUC paid to individuals by the state be reimbursed to each such state that enters into the agreement.

Funds in the extended unemployment compensation account of the Unemployment Trust Fund shall be used for making payments to these states.

This bill prescribes penalties for an individual who commits fraud resulting in overpayment of coal mining EUC.

No compensation under this bill shall be payable following 24 months after its enactment.

Date: 2016-07-07
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Labor and employment
Creating Opportunities for Rural Economies Act or the CORE Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require at least 5% of the new markets tax credit limitation to be allocated to community development entities in connection with certain investments, financial counseling, and other services in distressed coal communities.

A "distressed coal community" is any low-income community located in a county that: (1) was one of the 30 counties with the biggest employment decrease among coal operators over a specified time period; or (2) is contiguous to a county that has the required decrease in employment, is located in the same state, and contains at least one low-income community.

Date: 2016-11-30
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Taxation
Creating Opportunities for Rural Economic Expansion Act or the CORE Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require at least 5% of the new markets tax credit limitation to be allocated to community development entities in connection with certain investments, financial counseling, and other services in distressed coal communities.

A "distressed coal community" is any low-income community located in a county that: (1) was one of the 30 counties with the biggest employment decrease among coal operators over a specified time period; or (2) is contiguous to a county that has the required decrease in employment, is located in the same state, and contains at least one low-income community.

Date: 2016-11-15
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Taxation
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, any amount received by a non-corporate taxpayer as a clean coal power grant, award, or allowance under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. To the extent that such grant, award, or allowance is related to depreciable property, the adjusted basis of such property is reduced by the amount excluded from gross income. Each non-corporate taxpayer allowed a tax exclusion under this Act must make a payment to the federal government of 1.18% of the value of the grant, award, or allowance received.

This bill is applicable to grant amounts received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011.

Date: 2015-04-14
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Taxation
This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal: (1) the coal and related technologies program; (2) the carbon capture research, development and demonstration program; and (3) the Clean Coal Power Initiative.

In lieu of those programs the Department of Energy (DOE) shall establish a coal technology program encompassing: (1) research and development, (2) large-scale pilot projects, and (3) demonstration projects.

 DOE must develop performance standards that include:

 ensuring reliable, low cost power from new and existing coal plants; addressing carbon dioxide emissions through high efficiency platforms and carbon capture from new and existing coal plants; support flexible baseload operations for new and existing applications of coal generation; and validate geologic storage of large volumes of anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide and the infrastructure needed to support a carbon dioxide use and storage industry.

Date: 2015-05-11
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
Coal with Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act of 2015

This bill authorizes the Department of Energy to enter into 25-year binding contracts that provide price stabilization support for electricity generated at either an electric generation unit (that uses coal-based generation technology) or carbon dioxide captured from such unit and subsequently sold to a purchaser for either crude oil recovery or other commercial market purposes.

Date: 2015-05-11
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
This bill designates the Department of Energy (DOE) as the lead agency to coordinate all federal requirements under the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and the Safe Drinking Water Act regarding clean coal and advanced coal technology generating projects which:

 install and operate an advanced carbon capture and storage technology or carbon capture utilization and storage technology at a new or existing steam generating unit; or increase the efficiency of converting coal to either a useful energy, or to a feedstock for the manufacture of other products. DOE is also required to establish a schedule for all federal authorizations with respect to such projects, including:

 setting binding intermediate milestones and deadlines to ensure expeditious completion of all proceedings and final action on all pertinent federal authorizations, requiring all permit decisions and related environmental reviews to be completed within one year after the date on which a complete application for each environmental review is submitted, and coordinating state permitting and environmental requirements.

Date: 2015-05-12
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
Coal Oversight and Leasing Reform Act of 2015 or the COAL Reform Act of 2015

This bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to repeal the requirement that the Department of the Interior offer under a deferred bonus lease payment system at least 50% of total acreage offered for coal leasing in any one year.

 Any independent consultants used by Interior for lease sales shall be subject to a nondisclosure agreement and any other confidentiality requirements.

Licensees must certify the accuracy of exploration data they submit.

A proposed lease sale may not be held until Interior determines, and includes in a formal appraisal report, the fair market value of the coal to be extracted.

Interior must: (1) make publicly available appraisal reports, individual and total lease sales, high bids, royalty payments, and related revenues; and (2) find that a proposed coal leasing modification would not result in revenue reduction.

The total area of coal leasing modifications is reduced from 960 to 160 acres.

Interior shall prepare, periodically revise, and maintain a coal leasing program consisting of a schedule of proposed lease sales indicating the size, timing, and location of leasing activity that will best meet national needs for the five-year period following approval or reapproval of the program.

 Annual lease rentals must be for at least $100 per acre, adjustable every 5 years.

Lease terms are reduced from 20 to 10 years. A lease which is not producing in commercial quantities shall be terminated at the end of 5 years.

The minimum lease royalty is increased from 12.5% of the value of the coal to 18.75%.

BLM shall promulgate regulations for inspections and enforcement of coal operations, including oversight of state inspection and enforcement programs by its Washington, D.C. office. BLM may also assess civil penalties for noncompliance.

There shall be a moratorium on new coal lease sales until this Act has been implemented.

Date: 2015-05-14
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
Severe Fuel Supply Emergency Response Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Power Act to direct the Department of Energy (DOE) to lead a coordinated federal response to severe fuel supply emergencies. A severe fuel supply emergency is a coal supply deficiency reported to DOE that has the potential to affect at least 500 megawatts of electricity generation or 100,000 electricity customers.

 DOE's duties are to:

 promptly investigate the circumstances of the emergency; notify the Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of the existence of the emergency; convene a meeting with the Board, FERC, and, as appropriate, the Electric Reliability Organization and affected Regional Entities and Reliability Coordinators; and submit in writing to the Board and to FERC, and publicize on the DOE website, recommendations for actions by either the Board or FERC to alleviate the emergency and to prevent future recurrences.

Date: 2015-05-20
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
Supporting Transparent Regulatory and Environmental Actions in Mining Act of 2015 or the STREAM Act of 2015

This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to direct the Department of the Interior to make publicly available the scientific products used in developing a rule under the Act or any related environmental impact statement, environmental assessment, or economic assessment when the rule or assessment is published. If those scientific products received federal funds, Interior must also make publicly available the data used and the background information of its authors.

If Interior does not comply, the notice and comment period for the rules and assessments will be extended by specified periods. A rule or an assessment must be withdrawn if Interior fails to comply for more than 180 days.

In carrying out the Act, Interior: (1) may not make any determination regarding certain agency action subject to specified mining and environmental Acts, and (2) shall defer to the determinations of an agency or state authority implementing those Acts with respect to any agency action under the jurisdiction of that agency or state.

Date: 2015-05-22
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Environmental protection
Miners Protection Act of 2015

This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to address potential shortages in the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan for payment of health care benefits to retired coal miners by expanding the eligible uses of interest transferable to such plan from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and supplemental payments from the General Fund of the Treasury. The calculation of such interest and payments shall be made by taking into account only those beneficiaries who are actually enrolled in the plan as of the enactment of this Act, as well as those retirees whose health care benefits, payable directly by an employer in the bituminous coal industry under a coal wage agreement, would be denied or reduced as a result of a bankruptcy proceeding commenced in 2012.

The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to transfer to the trustees of the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan additional funds to pay pension benefits required under that plan, if the $490 million cap on certain transfers to the UMWA Combined Benefit Fund and distributions to states and Indian tribes exceed the aggregate amount required to be transferred to them.

The bill also expands the annual reporting requirements of the trustees of the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan on plan solvency and value of plan assets.

Date: 2015-07-07
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Labor and employment
Coal Royalty Fairness Act of 2015

Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to require the coal lease royalty to be at least 12.5% of the assessment value of federal coal (currently, 12.5% of the value of coal as defined by regulation), which value shall be established by the Secretary of the Interior within one year after enactment of this Act.

Defines "assessment value" as: (1) the price of federal coal paid by the purchaser at final sale, or (2) a price imputed by the Secretary based on the coal price index. Defines "coal price index" as the schedule of average market prices of federal coal paid by the purchaser at final sale, based on the quality and type of the federal coal, as determined by the Secretary.

Directs the purchaser of federal coal to annually submit a report containing such information as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to examine the records of any person engaged in the purchase, sale, transportation, or marketing of federal coal. Directs the Secretary to: (1) compile the assessment values of coal by type and quality of coal in the coal price index, and (2) publish such index at least quarterly.

Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) determining and assessing royalties for the export of federal coal, (2) compiling in a transportation cost index the average costs of transporting coal, and (3) determining the amount of any applicable transportation cost deduction on the basis of such index. Requires the Secretary to publish such index at least twice annually.

Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress every 3 years over a 15-year period on a review of the federal coal program.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
This bill amends the the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA) to direct the Department of the Interior to require that coal lease royalty payments from a new or renewed coal lease on federal land be at least 50% of the value of coal.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act is amended to direct the President to promulgate a rule prohibiting the export of coal produced in the U.S. on federal land.

Interior shall not conduct a new lease sale, or enter into a new lease, for coal subject to the MLA until it certifies to Congress that this Act and its amendments have been implemented.

Date: 2015-12-01
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
San Juan County Settlement Implementation Act of 2016

This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to retire any coal preference right lease application for which it has made an affirmative commercial quantities determination by:

 issuing bidding rights in exchange for relinquishment of the application, and making a payment to the relevant state of 50% of the dollar amount of any bidding right subsequently used in lieu of any monetary bonus in a coal lease sale or of rental or royalty under a federal coal lease. Interior shall make such payments from amounts that would otherwise be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts under the Mineral Leasing Act.

The bill declares such bidding rights fully transferable to any other person.

The bill cancels specified land selections made by the Navajo Nation pursuant to the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974. Subject to specified exclusions, the Navajo Nation may make new land selections to replace those canceled.

The bill designates approximately 7,242 acres of land as the Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness and incorporates approximately 2,250 acres of specified federal land into the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness.

Date: 2016-03-15
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act

This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act to prohibit the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE)and state regulatory authoritiesfrom accepting new self-bonds for coal reclamation.In addition, any existing self-bonds or corporate bondsutilized for coal reclamationare required to be converted to surety or collateral bonds.

The OSMRE may approve state or federal alternative coal miningbond programs thatresult in no greater risk of financial liability to the federalgovernment than a surety or collateral bond program.

The bill also requires the Department of Interior to issue rules establishing limitations on surety bondsto minimize the financial liability to the federal or stategovernment.

Date: 2016-06-16
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act

This bill establishes a deadline for the Department of the Interior to complete a comprehensive review of the federal coal leasing program.The review, in the form of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, is designed to ensure that the federal coal program is properly structured to provide a fair return to taxpayers and toreflect its impacts on the environment, while continuing to helpmeet energy needs.

In addition, Interior shall reestablish the Royalty Policy Committee to ensure consultation among state, tribal, environmental, energy, and federal stakeholders.The committee must provide advice to Interior on the management of federal and Indian mineral leases and shall be composed of federal and non-federal members.

The bill also requires Interior to authorize earlier emergency coal leasing than is currently authorized under federal regulations.

Date: 2016-06-21
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More Act of 2016 or the RECLAIM Act of 2016

This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to make specified funds available to the Department of the Interior for each of FY2017-FY2021 for distribution to states and Indian tribes to promote economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out before August 3, 1977.

The bill prescribes general requirements for projects to reclaim abandoned mine lands and waters that are likely to create favorable conditions for the economic development of the project site or promote the general welfare through economic and community development of the area in which the project is conducted. Any such project shall be located in a community affected by a recent decline in mining.

A state or Indian tribe that receives funds under this bill may retain a portion of them as necessary to supplement its acid mine drainage abatement and treatment fund for future operation and maintenance costs for the treatment of acid mine drainage associated with individual projects.

Date: 2016-12-08
Topic: Energy (Coal)
Subject: Energy
Insuring Families for Their Future Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $50,000 to $320,000 the amount of employer-provided group term life insurance that an employee can exclude from gross income. Indexes the $320,000 amount for inflation for taxable years beginning after 2007.

Date: 2007-01-10
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the requirement that individual retirement accounts (other than Roth IRAs) and elective deferrals under qualified cash or deferred arrangments must have a beginning date for mandatory distributions.

Date: 2007-01-10
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Taxation
Retirement Security for America's Domestic Workers Act of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to provide that compensation paid for domestic services in an employer's private home will not be exempt from employment taxes unless such compensation is less than the greater of $1,500 or the amount of wages and self-employment income required for a quarter of coverage under the Social Security Act.

Date: 2007-01-12
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Social welfare
Railroad Retirement Fairness Act - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to provide that an individual who, at the time the individual makes an inquiry to the Railroad Retirement Board, has a current connection with the railroad industry shall not be deemed to have lost that current connection if: (1) the Board misleads or fails to properly inform that individual about that requirement; and (2) that conduct by the Board, according to the principles of equity, should stop the Board from deeming the individual to have lost that current connection. Makes such amendment applicable with respect to annuities applied for on or after February 3, 1989.

Date: 2007-01-22
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Freedom to Fly Act of 2007 - Allows a pilot who has attained 60 years of age to serve as a passenger airline pilot until the age of 65 years old only if the pilot serves: (1) as a required pilot in multi-crew aircraft operations; and (2) with another required pilot who has not yet attained 60 years of age. Terminates the age-60 rule (mandatory retirement age) 30 days after enactment of this Act. Declares that such requirements shall not provide the basis for a claim of seniority made under any labor bargaining agreement in effect between the pilots and an air carrier by any pilot who has attained age 60 before the effective date of this Act and who is seeking a position as a pilot with such carrier following that pilot's termination or cessation of employment or promotion or transfer to another position with such air carrier.

Date: 2007-02-16
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends the USEC Privatization Act to permit an employee of the U.S. Enrichment Corporation's operating contractor to bring suit in federal district court on or before June 30, 2009, for a violation of an agreement between an employer and a labor organization that occurred on or before December 31, 2000.

Date: 2007-03-07
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include a bicycle commuting allowance as a qualified transportation fringe benefit, excludable from gross income.

Date: 2007-03-13
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Taxation
Unemployment Compensation Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends Title III (Grants to States for Unemployment Compensation Administration) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize the Secretary of Labor to enter into agreements with applicant states to allow them to conduct two-year demonstration projects to test and evaluate measures designed to: (1) expedite, such as through the use of a wage insurance program, the reemployment of individuals who establish initial eligibility for unemployment compensation under state law; or (2) improve the state's effectiveness in carrying out such law. Allow the Secretary to waive certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and the SSA concerning state law to enable the state to carry out a demonstration project.

Date: 2007-03-14
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Labor and employment
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore, make permanent, and eliminate the dollar limitation for the tax exclusion for amounts received under a qualified group legal services plan.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Taxation
Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt certain returning H-2B aliens (temporary nonagricultural worker) from annual numerical limitations.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Immigration
Housing America's Workforce Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business tax credit for up to 50 percent of the qualified housing expenses paid for the benefit of their employees. Defines "qualified housing expenses" to include homeownership assistance and rental assistance. Limits the amount of such credit to the lesser of $10,000 or six percent of an employee's home purchase price, or up to $2,000 for rental assistance. Excludes from employee gross income the value of employer-paid housing assistance.Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to award grants in FY2008-FY2010, on a competitive basis, to nonprofit housing organizations or local governments for certain costs, including operating costs and technical assistance costs, of employer-assisted housing programs. Requires the Secretary to establish a national clearinghouse, including a website, to provide information about employer-assisted housing programs to federal, state, and local governments and other interested entities. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a national evaluation of employer-assisted housing programs and provide to the Secretary an interim report by January 1, 2011, and final report by December 31, 2012.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Taxation
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Pilots Equitable Treatment Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), with regard to both single-employer and multiemployer plan guaranteed benefits, to require the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, in the case of commercial airline pilots required by Federal Aviation Administration regulation to retire before age 65, to compute the actuarial value of monthly benefits in the form of a life annuity commencing at the required retirement age.

Date: 2007-05-02
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Labor and employment
Automatic IRA Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) require certain small employers who do not offer qualified retirement plans or arrangements to their employees to allow eligible employees to participate in a payroll deposit individual retirement account (IRA) arrangement (automatic IRAs); (2) allow employers who do not have more than 100 employees a tax credit for costs associated with establishing a payroll deposit IRA arrangement; and (3) treat automatic IRAs as individual retirement accounts (and as Roth IRAs) for income tax purposes. Establishes in the executive branch the TSP II Board to establish policies and procedures relating to payroll deposit IRA arrangements.

Date: 2007-05-03
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Taxation
Worker Empowerment Act - Amends the Social Security Act to require each state to implement a reemployment adjustment assistance program that provides payment of 50% of the amount by which the wages received by an individual at the time of his or her separation from employment exceeds (if at all) the wages received by such individual from reemployment. Amends the Internal Revenue Code (relating to employment taxes) to impose a wage insurance contribution excise tax on every employer. Establishes a Wage Insurance Trust Fund in the Treasury, to which the equivalent of any such taxes received shall be appropriated to carry out this Act.

Date: 2007-05-08
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Labor and employment
Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act - Amends the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Labor to make unemployment compensation modernization incentive payments in FY2008-FY2012 by certain transfers from the federal unemployment account to the accounts of the states in the Unemployment Trust Fund. Prescribes a formula for determining the maximum allowable incentive payments. Specifies requirements state law must meet for the state to qualify for such a payment. Limits the use of transferred amounts to the payment of cash unemployment benefits to individuals (including for dependents' allowances and for unemployment compensation, exclusive of administrative expenses). Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to reserve specified funds out of the federal unemployment account for such incentive payments. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through FY2013 the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) excise tax imposed on every employer.

Date: 2007-05-09
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Labor and employment
Prohibits a state from imposing a tax on the income earned in the state by nonresidents unless the tax is of substantial equality of treatment for the citizens of the state and the nonresidents so commuting.

Date: 2007-05-09
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income distributions from individual retirement accounts for the purpose of making contributions to a qualified tuition program.

Date: 2007-05-23
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Taxation
Seniors Financial Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the inclusion in gross income for income tax purposes of social security and tier 1 railroad retirement benefits.

Date: 2007-05-24
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Taxation
Equality for Workers under ERISA Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require any civil action brought by a beneficiary or participant of an employee benefit plan to be adjudicated as a de novo proceeding (without deference to any prior claim determination).

Date: 2007-06-07
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Labor and employment
Employee Benefits Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit employers from disqualifying employees from benefits under their pension and welfare plans by misclassifying or reclassifying employee status.

Date: 2007-06-11
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Labor and employment
Pension Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require the financial statement filed with the annual report for a defined benefit pension plan covered by ERISA to include a separate schedule identifying each hedge fund (i.e., unregistered investment pool) in which plan funds are invested and the amount invested.

Date: 2007-06-12
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Labor and employment
Safety Net Enhancement Act - Amends the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 to revise the federal-state extended unemployment compensation program established under the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise the formula for "on" and "off" indicators on the state level used to determine extended unemployment compensation benefit periods. Amends the SSA to require: (1) an increase in earnings credited to a state account in the Unemployment Trust Fund when a state meets funding goals; and (2) a decrease in such earnings credited to a state account when the state fails to meet funding goals. Excludes any interest premium or penalty from such requirement to the extent that it would result in an increase or decrease of more than $2.5 million in the amount creditable to any state account for any calendar quarter. Amends the SSA to restrict interest-free advances to state accounts in the Fund to states which meet funding goals. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require: (1) state collection of federal unemployment tax; and (2) state distribution to unemployed individuals of state-specific information packets explaining unemployment insurance eligibility conditions. Repeals the tax on unemployment compensation. Requires the Secretary of Labor to establish a Safety Net Review Commission.

Date: 2007-06-21
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Labor and employment
401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement to enter into any contract for services to the plan without a written statement that identifies who will be performing such services, describes each such service, and specifies the expected total annual cost of such services. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement that may be used for purposes of satisfying such requirements. Limits the requirements for such a statement to contracts for services if the total cost for such services equals or exceeds $1,000.Requires an administrator of an individual account plan that permits participants or beneficiaries to exercise control over their account assets to: (1) provide to each such participant or beneficiary a notice of the investment options available for election, including a fee menu and an annual benefit statement; and (2) include at least one investment option that is a nationally recognized market-based index fund that meets certain requirements. Requires the Secretary to make available to small employers: (1) educational and compliance materials to assist in selecting and monitoring service providers for individual account plans, investment options, and fees; and (2) services to assist in finding and understanding affordable investment options for such plans. Establishes in the Department of Labor (DOL) an Advisory Council on Improving Employer-Employee Retirement Practices. Requires the Council to issue an annual report on the state of U.S. retirement income security.Sets forth provisions regarding enforcement of this Act.

Date: 2007-07-26
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Labor and employment
Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2007- Limits state or local taxation of the compensation of any employee who performs duties in more than one state or locality to: (1) the state or locality of the employee's residence; and (2) the state or locality in which the employee is physically present performing duties for more than 60 days.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to allow the filing of a petition with the Secretary of Labor for certification of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) by adversely affected workers in a service sector firm or subdivision. Defines "service sector firm" as an entity engaged in the business of providing information technology or other high technology services. Revises group eligibility requirements for TAA to cover: (1) a shift, by such workers' firm or subdivision to a foreign country, in provision of services, like or directly competitive with services which are provided by such firm or subdivision; and (2) instances where such workers' firm or subdivision obtains or is likely to obtain such services from a foreign country. Provides for the certification for TAA of adversely affected secondary workers in a service sector firm or subdivision.

Date: 2007-09-19
Topic: Labor (Employee Benefits)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance