zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Eliminates the requirement that a member or former member of the Armed Forces entitled to retired pay for non-regular (reserve) service be at least 60 years of age before being eligible for medical and dental care in a military health care facility.

Date: 2013-02-14
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Guard Units and Reservists Deserve Remembrance Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make available for purchase a memorial headstone or marker for the marked or unmarked grave of: (1) an individual who performed inactive duty training or active duty for training as a member of a National Guard or Reserve component for at least six years, but did not serve on active duty and is not otherwise ineligible for a memorial headstone or marker on account of the nature of the individual's separation from the Armed Forces or other cause; or (2) such an individual whose remains are unavailable.

Permits such a headstone or marker to be purchased under this Act by: (1) the individual; (2) the surviving spouse, child, sibling, or parent of the individual; or (3) an individual other than the next of kin, as determined by the Secretary.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) ensure that the prices of such headstones and markers are sufficient to cover their production and delivery costs, and (2) coordinate with the Secretary of Defense (DOD) in establishing procedures to determine whether an individual qualifies for the purchase of a memorial headstone or marker under this Act.

Date: 2013-06-11
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Guard and Reserve Equal Access to Health Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide a physical examination to each member of a reserve component who: (1) will not otherwise receive one through that department, and (2) elects to receive such examination. Requires the Secretary concerned to: (1) provide such examination during the 90-day period before such member's scheduled date of separation, and (2) provide such member with a record of the examination.

Prohibits a member from being entitled to transitional health care benefits through their department solely by reason of being provided such examination.

Date: 2013-07-25
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Guard Appropriation Restoration During Shutdown Act or the GARDS Act - Amends the Pay Our Military Act (P.L. 113-39) to make FY2014 continuing appropriations for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2014 are not in effect to provide for: (1) members of the National Guard who perform inactive-duty training or other service for which members would otherwise be entitled to pay and allowances (under such Act only members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service); and (2) civilian personnel of the National Guard, including military technicians (dual status), without regard to any determination by the Secretary of Defense (DOD) or the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) that such personnel are providing support to members of the Armed Forces performing active service.

Makes appropriations for FY2014, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2014 are not in effect, such sums as are necessary to provide for the operation and maintenance of the National Guard, including necessary sums to prevent any interruption or delay in the performance by the National Guard of domestic disaster relief and recovery operations.

Date: 2013-10-02
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Hire A Hero Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow employers a work opportunity tax credit for hiring a member of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard, and (2) make such credit with respect to the hiring of qualified veterans and members of the Ready Reserve and National Guard permanent.

Date: 2013-12-04
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Jobs for Heroes Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the work opportunity tax credit, to: (1) revise the definition of "qualified veteran" to expand the eligibility of veterans for such credit, (2) allow such credit for the hiring of a qualified member of the Ready Reserve or National Guard, and (3) make such credit permanent.

Revises the tax credit for differential wage payments made by employers on behalf of Members of the Uniformed Services to: (1) extend eligibility for such credit to an employer without regard to the size of such employer's workforce, and (2) make such credit permanent. 

Date: 2013-12-04
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Military Reserve Small Business Jobs Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2018 the tax credit for differential wage payments made by a small business employer on behalf of employees who are active duty members of the uniformed services.

Date: 2013-12-12
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
National Guard and Reserve Equal Access to Legal Services Act - Expands eligibility for legal assistance provided by the Armed Forces special victims' counsel for eligible members and dependents who are victims of sex-related offenses to include a member of a reserve component who is a victim of an alleged sex-offense committed by a member of the Armed Forces during: (1) a period in which the individual served on active duty, full-time National Guard duty, or inactive-duty training; or (2) any period, regardless of the duty status of the individual, if the circumstances of the alleged sex-related offense have a nexus to the military service of the individual based on the membership in the Armed Forces of either the victim or the member who allegedly committed such offense.

Date: 2014-06-12
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Southwest Border Protection Act of 2014 - Requires Secretary of Defense (DOD), at the request of a governor of a state that shares a portion of the international border between the United States and Mexico, to order to active duty, and provide for the deployment of, at least 10,000 members of the National Guard to assist the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in achieving operational control of such border. Provides for such deployment to be in addition to the number of National Guard members already deployed along such border as of the enactment of this Act.

Requires such a governor-requested deployment to continue until: (1) the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) certifies that the federal government has achieved operational control, or (2) the governor withdraws the request.

Exempts National Guard members deployed under this Act from being counted toward any limits on: (1) end strength, or (2) the number of National Guard personnel that may be placed on active duty for operational support.

Date: 2014-06-17
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2013 - Honors as a veteran any person entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or, but for age, would be so entitled.

Provides that such person shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of such recognition.

Date: 2013-03-20
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Military Reserve Jobs Act of 2013 - Grants hiring preferences for federal employment to members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who: (1) have successfully completed officer candidate training or entry level and skill training and have incurred, or are performing, a 6-year commitment with a reserve component (3 point preference); (2) have completed at least 10 years of service with a reserve component and has earned at least 50 retirement points per year (4 point preference); or (3) are retired from service in a reserve component and are eligible for, but have not yet begun receiving, retired pay for non-regular service (5 point preference).

Date: 2013-07-18
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Hire A Hero Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow employers a work opportunity tax credit for hiring a member of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard, and (2) make such credit with respect to the hiring of qualified veterans and members of the Ready Reserve and National Guard permanent.

Date: 2013-10-28
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
National Guard Technician Equity Act - Provides a person the right to be employed as a non-dual status technician if: (1) the technician position has been designated to be filled only by a non-dual status technician, or (2) the person occupying the technician position has at least 20 years of service as a dual status military technician.

Repeals: (1) the permanent limitation on the number of non-dual status technicians, and (2) the prohibition against overtime pay for National Guard technicians.

 Allows military technicians who were hired as dual status technicians but are no longer members of the Selected Reserve to continue to receive compensation.

Requires dual status military technicians who are fully qualified for, and properly performing, the duties of such position to be: (1) retained in the Armed Forces, (2) exempt from consideration for involuntary separation by a military retention board, and (3) entitled to re-enlist as enlisted members so as to maintain their eligibility for continued employment as dual status military technicians.

Provides for a technician's rights of grievance, arbitration, appeal, and review beyond the current stage of the adjutant general of the jurisdiction concerned.

Prohibits federal employees who volunteer for active National Guard and Reserve duty from accruing military leave at the rate of 15 days each fiscal year for active duty, inactive duty training, or funeral honors duty in the National Guard or Reserves.

Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate the feasibility of converting military technicians from coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) to coverage under the TRICARE Reserve Select option of the TRICARE program.

Date: 2014-05-08
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Modifies the process for assignment of additional general officers to the National Guard Bureau by requiring that two such officers of each of the Army and the Air National Guard be recommended by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau from at least three candidates identified by the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force, respectively. (Under current law, two officers are selected by each Secretary.)

 Requires the Director and Deputy Director of each of the Army and the Air National Guards to assist the Chief of the National Guard Bureau in carrying out functions of the Bureau relevant to the respective branches. (Under current law, that function is carried out by the assigned general officers of the Army and the Air National Guards.)

Date: 2014-05-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard and Reserve Access to Counsel Act - Expands eligibility for legal assistance provided by the Armed Forces special victims' counsel for eligible members and dependents who are victims of sex-related offenses to include a member of a reserve component who is a victim of an alleged sex-offense during: (1) a period in which the individual served on active duty, full-time National Guard duty, or inactive-duty training; or (2) any period, regardless of the duty status of the individual, if the circumstances of the alleged sex-related offense have a nexus to the military service of the victim, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense (DOD).

Date: 2014-09-17
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
National Guard Investigations Transparency and Improvement Act of 2014 - Codifies the establishment of the Office of Complex Administrative Investigations (the Office) in the Office of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Requires the Office to undertake complex administrative investigations of matters relating to members of the National Guard when in state status, including investigations of sexual assault, upon the request of: (1) the Chief; (2) an adjutant general of a state, a territory, or the District of Columbia; (3) a governor of a state or territory; or (4) the Commanding General of the National Guard of the District of Columbia.

Defines "complex administrative investigation" as any investigation specified by the Chief involving factors giving rise to unusual complexity, including: (1) questions of jurisdiction between the United States and a state or territory, (2) matters requiring specialized training among investigating officers, or (3) matters raising the need for an independent investigation to ensure fairness and impartiality.

Requires the Chief to treat any final report of the Office relating to such matters as if it were the report of an inspector general of the Department of Defense (DOD) or a military department.

Directs the Chief to submit to Members of Congress from the state or territory concerned the final report adopted by the Office regarding such an investigation. Requires the Chief to submit to Congress an annual report regarding all investigations undertaken by the Office during the preceding year.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Guard and Military Reservist Pay Security Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for differential wage payments to active duty members of the Uniformed Services, to: (1) make such credit permanent; (2) increase the rate of such credit to 100%; (3) require an annual adjustment for inflation to credit amounts after 2015; and (4) make such credit available to all employers, not just small business employers.

Date: 2014-11-20
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Cyber Defense National Guard Act

 Requires the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress regarding the feasibility of establishing a Cyber Defense National Guard.

Requires the report to address: (1) the number of persons who would be needed to defend the critical infrastructure of the United States from a cyber attack or man-made intentional or unintentional catastrophic incident; (2) elements of the federal government that would be best equipped to recruit, train, and manage such a National Guard; (3) resources that can be pre-positioned and training that can be instilled to assure responsiveness if an incident disrupts communications in a region or area; (4) logistics of allowing governors to use such a National Guard in states during times of cyber emergency; and (5) whether a force trained to defend U.S. networks in a major attack or natural or man-made disaster will benefit overall efforts to defend the interests of the United States.

Date: 2015-01-06
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
GI Bill Fairness Act of 2015

Includes as active duty for purposes of eligibility for post-9/11 veterans educational assistance service of a member of a reserve component ordered to active duty to receive authorized medical care, to be medically evaluated, or to complete a required Department of Defense health care study.

Date: 2015-02-26
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act

(Sec. 2) Any person who is entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or who, but for age, would be so entitled shall be honored as a veteran.

A person shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of such recognition.

Date: 2015-03-16
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
State Partnership Program Enhancement Act of 2015

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 to revise and extend indefinitely the authority of the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish exchange programs for members of the National Guard under the National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP). (Currently, the authority is scheduled to terminate on September 30, 2016.)

 Authorizes DOD, with the concurrence of the Department of State, to establish such programs for exchanges of members of the National Guard of a state or territory and the military forces or security forces or other government organizations of a foreign country to support the national interests and security cooperation goals and objectives of the United States as defined by the current and evolving national global strategic policies of the United States. (Currently, the primary function of the SPP is disaster and emergency response.)

Directs DOD, with the concurrence of the State Department, to establish procedures for SPP planning, programming, budgeting, accounting, and performance metrics.

Requires the National Guard Bureau to: (1) maintain a list of core competencies of the National Guard to support SPP activities, and (2) designate a director for each state and territory.

Requires DOD to coordinate SPP regulations with combatant commanders to ensure that program activities meet theater security cooperation objectives. Requires the State Department to coordinate such regulations with relevant chiefs of mission to meet diplomatic objectives.

Establishes the National Guard State Partnership Program Fund in the Treasury, into which appropriated amounts shall be credited and transferred for program activity uses, including payment of costs for personnel, training, operations, and equipment.

Date: 2015-03-25
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)

National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act of 2015

 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 to exempt for an additional four-year period qualifying Armed Forces reserve component and National Guard members (who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for at least 90 days, and remain eligible for an exemption during the 540-day period following such active duty or homeland defense activity service) from the application of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7 (Liquidation) of the Bankruptcy Code.

Date: 2015-12-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Guard and Reserve Equal Access to Health Act 

This bill directs the military department concerned to provide a physical examination to each requesting member of a reserve component who will not otherwise receive one through that department.

 The military department concerned shall: (1) provide such examination during the 90-day period before such member's scheduled date of separation, and (2) give the member a record of the examination.

A member shall not be entitled to transitional health care benefits through his or her department solely by reason of being given such examination.

Date: 2015-12-15
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Servicemember Retirement Improvement Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow members of the Ready Reserve of a reserve component of the Armed Forces to make the maximum allowable contribution ($18,000 in 2016) to their Thrift Savings Plans without limiting the amount such members may contribute to a retirement plan based upon other employment. The bill also doubles the maximum allowable contribution amount to the Thrift Savings Plans of federal employees in the Ready Reserve.

Date: 2016-01-13
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Sound of Freedom Act

This bill states that it shall be Department of Defense (DOD) policy that flyovers of public events in support of community relations activities may only be flown as part of an approved training mission at no additional expense to the federal government.

The Adjutant General of a state in which an Army National Guard or Air National Guard unit is based shall be the approval authority for all Air National Guard and Army National Guard flyovers in that state, including any flyover request in any civilian domain at a non-aviation related event.

DOD shall maintain records of flyover requests and approvals in a publicly accessible database updated annually.

"Flyover" means aviation support:

 in which a straight and level flight limited to one pass by a single military aircraft, or by a single formation of four or fewer military aircraft of the same type, from the same military department over a predetermined point on the ground at a specific time; that does not involve aerobatics or demonstrations; and that uses bank angles of up to 90 degrees if required to improve spectator visibility of the aircraft.

Date: 2016-02-08
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
This bill makes eligible for TRICARE health care benefits certain National Guard members (and dependents) who are performing disaster response duty, if the performance of such a duty immediately follows a period in which the member served on full-time additional National Guard duty.

"Disaster response duty" means duty performed by a member of the National Guard in state status pursuant to an emergency declaration by the state governor (or, for the District of Columbia, by the mayor) in response to a disaster or in preparation for an imminent disaster.

Date: 2016-02-12
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce from 100 miles to 50 miles the distance from home requirement for the tax deduction of the travel expenses of a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces.

The bill requires the Department of Defense to report to Congress on the travel costs of members of reserve components.

Date: 2016-03-01
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
This bill authorizes award of the Presidential Memorial Certificate to certain deceased members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and certain deceased members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

Date: 2016-03-16
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Military Reserve Jobs Act of 2015

This bill establishes tiered hiring preferences for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. The bill grants: (1) a 2-point preference to current members of a reserve component who have completed at least 6 years of service in a reserve component and were credited with at least 50 retirement points in each year of service, and (2) a 3-point preference to current members of a reserve component who have completed a least 10 years of service and were credited with at least 50 retirement points in each year of service.

The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on federal employment opportunities for members of a reserve component and the impact of this Act on the hiring of reservists and veterans by the federal government.

Date: 2015-02-26
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Military Reserve Small Business Jobs Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2019 the tax credit for differential wage payments made by a small business employer on behalf of employees who are active duty members of the uniformed services.

Date: 2015-03-03
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Taxation
Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2015

Honors as a veteran any person who is entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or who would be so entitled, but for age.

Provides that such person shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of such recognition.

Date: 2015-03-16
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
State Partnership Program Enhancement Act of 2015

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 to revise and extend indefinitely the authority of the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish exchange programs for members of the National Guard under the National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP). (Currently, the authority is scheduled to terminate on September 30, 2016.)

Requires the National Guard Bureau to: (1) maintain a list of core competencies of the National Guard to support SPP activities, and (2) designate a director for each state and territory.

Requires DOD to coordinate SPP regulations with combatant commanders to ensure that program activities meet theater security cooperation objectives. Requires the Department of State to coordinate such regulations with relevant chiefs of mission to meet diplomatic objectives.

Establishes the National Guard State Partnership Program Fund in the Treasury, into which appropriated amounts shall be credited and transferred for program activity uses, including payment of costs for personnel, training, operations, and equipment.

Date: 2015-04-29
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
HUBZone Expansion Act of 2015

This bill amends the Small Business Act to expand the HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) program of Small Business Administration loans to small businesses in HUBZone areas for communities affected by base realignment and closure.

The expansion includes the areas that can be used by small businesses whose principal offices are located in base closure HUBZones, with at least 35% of their employees residing in:

 a HUBZone, a census tract in which the base closure HUBZone is wholly contained, a census tract that intersects the boundaries of the base closure HUBZone, or a census tract contiguous with these census tracts. HUBZone eligibility assistance for base closure areas is extended from five years to eight years after their closure.

Date: 2015-05-11
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Commerce
Modular Airborne Firefighting System Flexibility Act 

This bill authorizes the National Guard to provide assistance to support civilian authority firefighting operations or activities, including aerial firefighting employment of the Modular Airborne Firefighting System.

Such authority is based on a recognition of the basic premises of the National Incident Management System and the National Response Framework that: (1) incidents are typically managed at the local level first; and (2) local jurisdictions retain command, control, and authority over response activities for their jurisdictional areas.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Defense (Reserve Forces)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Corporate Entitlement Reform Act of 2007 - Establishes the Corporate Entitlement Reform Commission to: (1) examine and identify federal programs and tax laws that provide corporate entitlements (federally-funded payments to profitmaking enterprises provided without a reasonable expectation that activities performed in return for such payments would result in benefits to the public at least as great as the payments); (2) review such entitlements; (3) recommend $50 billion in federal savings on corporate entitlements for the period beginning October 1, 2007, and ending September 30, 2017; and (4) report to Congress on its findings and recommendations. Sets forth procedures for congressional consideration and implementation of the Commission's recommendations.

Date: 2007-01-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Antitrust Modernization Commission Extension Act of 2007 - Amends the Antitrust Modernization Commission Act of 2002 to extend the termination date of the Antitrust Modernization Commission to 60 (currently, 30) days after the Commission's report to the President and Congress.

Date: 2007-01-31
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Commerce
Compete Act of 2007 - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to revise requirements for the internal control assessment component of a securities issuer's annual report. Requires the attestation and report by a registered public accounting firm on an issuer's management assessment of its internal control structure and procedures to focus upon the process and system used by management to identify and manage risks, identify and implement key controls, and come to a conclusion on the effectiveness of the internal controls over financial reporting. Prohibits an auditor's attestation and report from including a separate (pass/fail) opinion on the effectiveness of such internal controls. Requires such attestation and report to be performed at three-year intervals. Prescribes standards for such attestations and reports, including a risk-based evaluation. Permits attestations and reports to rely on examinations and inspections by federal and state regulatory agencies. Instructs the Securities and Exchange Commission to develop a standard of materiality for such assessments and reports based upon whether the internal control has a material effect on the company's financial statements and is significant to the issuer's overall financial status. Exempts a smaller public company from the requirements for management assessment of internal controls, unless it voluntarily elects to comply with them.

Date: 2007-03-13
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007 or NOPEC - Amends the Sherman Act to declare it to be illegal and a violation of the Act for any foreign state or instrumentality thereof to act collectively or in combination with any other foreign state or any other person, whether by cartel or any other association or form of cooperation or joint action, to limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product (petroleum), to set or maintain the price of petroleum, or to otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for petroleum, when such action has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of petroleum in the United States. Denies a foreign state engaged in such conduct sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction or judgements of U.S. courts in any action brought to enforce this Act. States that no U.S. court shall decline, based on the act of state doctrine, to make a determination on the merits in an action brought under this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring an action in U.S. district court to enforce this Act. Makes an exception to the jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state in an action brought under this Act.

Date: 2007-05-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat as corporations for income tax purposes certain publicly traded partnerships which directly or indirectly derive income or gain from providing services as an investment adviser (as defined by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940) or asset management services.

Date: 2007-06-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Taxation
Income Equity Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) deny employers a tax deduction for payments of excessive compensation to any employee (i.e., more than 25 times the lowest compensation paid any other employee); and (2) require such employers to file a report on compensation paid to their employees with the Secretary of the Treasury.

Date: 2007-10-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Taxation
S Corporation Modernization Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the tax treatment of S corporations, including by: (1) reducing from 10 to 7 years the period during which S corporation built-in gains are subject to tax; (2) allowing nonresident aliens to qualify as beneficiaries of an electing small business trust (ESBT); (3) repealing mandatory termination of S corporation elections for excessive passive investment income; (4) allowing S corporations to increase passive investment income from 25 to 60% without incurring additional tax; (5) allowing individual retirement accounts to be S corporation shareholders; and (6) allowing ESBTs to claim expanded charitable tax deductions.Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on entity neutrality under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to S corporations, limited liability companies, and other pass-through entities.

Date: 2007-12-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Taxation
Extractive Industries Transparency Disclosure Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to instruct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require specified annual reports of an issuer to disclose the total payments made to an agency or instrumentality of a foreign government: (1) for natural resources in a foreign country; or (2) in connection with the extraction of natural resources from a foreign country.Requires compilation of such information so that it is accessible by the public directly from the SEC website without separately accessing the annual reports of each issuer filing the information on the EDGAR system.

Date: 2008-05-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act of 2008 - Title I: Amendment to Sherman Act - No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2008 or NOPEC - (Sec. 102) Amends the Sherman Act to make it illegal for any foreign state or instrumentality thereof to act collectively or in combination with any other foreign state or any other person, when such action has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of petroleum in the United States, to: (1) limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product (petroleum); (2) set or maintain the price of petroleum; or (3) otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for petroleum. Denies a foreign state engaged in such conduct sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction or judgments of U.S. courts in any action brought to enforce this Act. States that no U.S. court shall decline, based on the act of state doctrine, to make a determination on the merits in an action brought under this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring an action in U.S. district court to enforce this Act. (Sec. 103) Makes an exception to the jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state in an action brought under this Act. Title II: Creation of Department of Justice Petroleum Industry Antitrust Task Force - (Sec. 201) Directs the Attorney General to establish in the Department of Justice (DOJ) a Petroleum Industry Antitrust Task Force to: (1) develop, coordinate, and facilitate the implementation of DOJ investigative and enforcement policies related to petroleum industry antitrust issues under federal law; and (2) report annually to Congress on DOJ investigatory and enforcement efforts related to petroleum industry antitrust issues, and on issues related to the application of federal antitrust laws to the market for petroleum. Title III: Study by the Government Accountability Office - (Sec. 301) Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) conduct a study evaluating the effects of mergers addressed in covered petroleum merger consent decrees on competition in the markets involved, including the effectiveness of divestitures required in such decrees in preserving competition in those markets; and (2) report study results to Congress and DOJ. Directs the Attorney General to refer such report to the Task Force, which shall consider whether any further enforcement action is warranted to protect or restore competition in any market affected by a transaction to which any covered merger consent decree relates.

Date: 2008-05-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Commerce
Stop Business with Terrorists Act of 2008 - Subjects the parent company of a foreign entity that violates certain executive orders prohibiting certain business transactions with Iran (or other such prohibitions imposed on Iran under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act) to penalties to the same extent as if the parent company had engaged in such violations. Provides that such prohibitions and penalties shall not apply to a parent company of an entity on which the President imposed a penalty for a violation that was in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act if the parent company divests or terminates its business with such entity not later than 90 days after such date of enactment.

Date: 2008-06-24
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Small Business Tax Flexibility Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit certain small start-up businesses to elect a taxable year, other than the required taxable year, which ends on the last day of any of the months of April through November (or at the end of an equivalent annual period).

Date: 2007-01-11
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Taxation
Antitrust Modernization Commission Extension Act of 2007 - Amends the Antitrust Modernization Commission Act of 2002 to extend the termination date of the Antitrust Modernization Commission to 60 (currently, 30) days after the Commission's report to the President and Congress.

Date: 2007-02-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Commerce
No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007 or NOPEC - Amends the Sherman Act to declare it to be illegal and a violation of the Act for any foreign state or instrumentality thereof to act collectively or in combination with any other foreign state or any other person, whether by cartel or any other association or form of cooperation or joint action, to limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product (petroleum), to set or maintain the price of petroleum, or to otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for petroleum, when such action has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of petroleum in the United States. Denies a foreign state engaged in such conduct sovereign immunity from the jurisdiction or judgements of U.S. courts in any action brought to enforce this Act. States that no U.S. court shall decline, based on the act of state doctrine, to make a determination on the merits in an action brought under this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring an action in U.S. district court to enforce this Act. Amends the Federal judicial code to make an exception to the jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state in an action brought under this Act.

Date: 2007-03-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat as corporations for income tax purposes certain publicly traded partnerships which directly or indirectly derive income or gain from providing services as an investment adviser (as defined by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940) or asset management services.

Date: 2007-06-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Taxation
Ending Corporate Tax Favors for Stock Options Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) limit the employer tax deduction for stock options granted to its employees to the value of such options as recorded on the employer's books at the time such options are granted; and (2) apply the $1 million limitation on the employer tax deduction for employee remuneration to stock option compensation.

Date: 2007-09-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Taxation
Small Business Stimulus Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase to $200,000 the expensing allowance for depreciable business assets in 2008; (2) extend through 2008 the five-year carryback allowed for certain unused net operating losses; and (3) extend through 2008 the tax credit for increasing research activities.

Date: 2008-01-24
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Taxation
Directs the Attorney General to establish a Petroleum Industry Antitrust Task Force in the Department of Justice (DOJ) to examine all issues relating to the application of federal antitrust laws to the petroleum markets, including the existence and effects of: (1) price gouging in the sales of gasoline; (2) international oil cartels; (3) collusive behavior in restricting petroleum production; (4) anticompetitive price discrimination; and (5) anticompetitive manipulation in futures markets or other trading exchanges relating to petroleum.

Date: 2008-06-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Commerce
Affirms the strong and historic ties between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Disapproves of the May 2008 Memorandum of Understanding between the government of the United States of America and the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Concerning Cooperation in Nuclear Energy and Other Energy Fields. Reiterates that the United States is committed to nuclear weapons nonproliferation and to preventing the Islamic Republic of Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons. States that: (1) no agreement for nuclear cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may enter into force on or after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) no nuclear materials and equipment or sensitive nuclear technology shall be exported or reexported, or transferred or retransferred, and no federal agency shall issue any license or authorization for the export or reexport, or transfer or retransfer of these items or assistance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia if the end user is a nuclear production or utilization facility, or if the President determines that the material, equipment, technology, or item may be diverted to such a facility.

Date: 2008-06-25
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: International affairs
American Oil for American Families Act of 2008 - Bans the export from the United States of petroleum extracted from public lands in the United States (including lands located on the outer continental shelf (OCS)), or a petroleum product produced from such petroleum.

Date: 2008-07-22
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Energy
Extractive Industries Transparency Disclosure Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to instruct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require specified annual reports of an issuer to disclose the total payments made to an agency or instrumentality of a foreign government: (1) for natural resources in a foreign country; or (2) in connection with the extraction of natural resources from a foreign country.Requires compilation of such information so that it is accessible by the public directly from the SEC website without separately accessing the annual reports of each issuer filing the information on the EDGAR system.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009 - Amends the Clayton Act to remove an exemption from coverage under the federal antitrust laws with respect to mergers and acquisitions involving rail carriers. Removes from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) the authority to enforce federal antitrust laws with respect to rail carriers (thus vesting such authority in the federal antitrust agencies). Removes: (1) the prohibition against a private party seeking injunctive relief against a rail carrier for a violation of the antitrust laws; and (2) the rail carrier exemption from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) prohibition against unfair methods of competition. Amends federal transportation law to terminate the exemptions from antitrust laws for rail carriers, including mergers and acquisitions and ratemaking agreements. Requires the STB, when reviewing a proposed rate agreement, to take into account its impact upon shippers, consumers, and affected communities, and to make findings regarding such impact, which shall be made part of the administrative record. Makes federal antitrust laws applicable to rail carriers regardless of whether the carrier filed a rail carrier rate or whether a complaint challenging a rate is filed. Provides that, in any civil action against a rail carrier, the U.S. district court shall retain the discretion to defer to the jurisdiction of the STB. Sets forth an effective date for this Act as the date of enactment, but provides a 180-day grace period for conduct that was exempted under the antitrust laws before such date of enactment.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to establish an Internet website containing a searchable database of the executive compensation of the institutions receiving assistance under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Requires any institution receiving any TARP assistance to disclose annually to the Secretary the total compensation of: (1) each of its 100 most highly paid executives, officers, or employees; or (2) for an institution with fewer than 1,000 employees, each of the top 5% of its most highly paid executives, officers, or employees.

Date: 2009-02-03
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Directs the Comptroller General to study legal requirements and policies followed by the Department of Transportation in deciding whether to: (1) approve cooperative agreements between an air carrier and a foreign air carrier (international alliances) to provide foreign air transportation; and (2) exempt such alliances from the U.S. antitrust laws. Requires: (1) the Comptroller General to report to the Secretary and Congress study results, including any recommendations for authority or policy changes with respect to approving such alliances and granting such exemptions; and (2) the Secretary to issue a determination, after public comment, whether such changes will be adopted.

Date: 2009-02-03
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Accountability from Corporations for Outlays Under TARP Act, or the Account Act - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to require any financial institution that receives assistance under the Act to publicize prominently on its corporate website specified information on its expenditures, updated monthly, including total expenditures made for travel and lobbying.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance Act of 2009 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to require any institution assisted under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to meet specified standards for executive compensation and corporate governance while any assistance under TARP is outstanding. Subjects all auction purchases of troubled assets to the prohibition against senior executive employment contract provision of golden parachutes.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Increases the penalty for failure to file a partnership or S corporation tax return in taxable years beginning in 2010 and 2011.

Date: 2009-03-02
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Taxation
Made in America Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax credit for increasing research activities; (2) increase to 20% the rate of the alternative simplified tax credit for research expenses; (3) make permanent the increased expensing allowance for depreciable business property; and (4) reduce to 30% the maximum income tax rate for corporations. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct studies of: (1) the impact of workplace employee health care facilities on employee health and and productivity; and (2) the best practices for encouraging college graduates from rural areas to return to those areas after graduation.

Date: 2009-03-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Corporate Management)
Subject: Taxation