zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Rural and Small Town Telework Tax Credit Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a tax credit for the cost of installing and maintaining qualified teleworking equipment (i.e., electronic and communications equipment used to eliminate the commute to and from traditional worksites). Limits the amount of such credit to the lesser of $1,000 for each teleworking employee or $50,000.

Date: 2009-09-22
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Economic Stimulus for Rural Communities Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an employer to claim a work opportunity tax credit during the next five years for the hiring of employees who live in a rural area and perform services for such employer in a rural area.

Date: 2009-10-14
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Commuter Aid and Relief for Suburbs Act of 2010 or the CARS Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a deduction for a specified percentage of their qualified commuting expenses. Defines "qualified commuting expenses" as reasonable expenses paid or incurred for transportation (including public transportation and associated parking fees) between an individual's residence and place of employment.

Date: 2010-03-25
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for accelerated depreciation (i.e., 15-year recovery period) for nonresidential real property placed in service in a rural area.

Date: 2010-05-13
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to repeal the national organic certification cost-share program.

Date: 2010-05-18
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Includes Bullock County, Alabama, within the definition of "Appalachian region" for purposes of provisions concerning Appalachian regional development.

Date: 2010-06-09
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2010 - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to revise the requirements for consideration as rural areas with respect to assistance for farm housing. States that any area classified as "rural" or a "rural area" before October 1, 1990, and determined not to be "rural" or a "rural area" as a result of data received from or after the 1990, 2000, or 2010 (currently, only the 1990 or 2000) decennial census shall continue to be so classified until the receipt of data from the decennial census in the year 2020 (currently, 2010), if, as under current law, such area has a population of between 10,000 and 25,000, is rural in character, and has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families.

Date: 2010-07-27
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Microbusiness Investment Credit Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for 35% of new investment in a rural microbusiness. Imposes limits on such credit for businesses and individual taxpayers. Defines: (1) "rural microbusiness" as a trade or business that employs not more than 5 full-time employees in a taxable year and is carried on in a distressed rural area; and (2) "distressed rural area" as an area that has lost at least 5% of its population over the last 10 years or 10% of its population over the last 20 years, that has a median family income below 85 % of the national median family income, that has a poverty rate that exceeds 12.5%, or where average unemployment in the preceding year exceeds 125% of the national average.

Date: 2010-07-30
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Rural Energy Communities Development Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to make water and waste facility loans to an eligible city, town, or incorporated area with a population of less than 20,000 that has, from January 1999 through December 2009, experienced energy sector job growth of not less than 20%. Makes such loans available for: (1) essential community facilities, including water conservation, waste disposal facilities, transportation facilities, and affordable housing; (2) land acquisition; (3) staff; and (4) comprehensive community or housing plan updates. Prohibits the Secretary from making or entering into a loan commitment after September 30, 2012. Directs the Secretary to waive income limitations for FY2011-FY2016 for certain: (1) rural housing loans, including Doug Bereuter single-family housing loan guarantees; (2) low- and moderate-income rural housing loans; and (3) multifamily rural rental housing loan guarantees.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Law Enforcement Assistance Act of 2009 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 for rural drug enforcement assistance.Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 for training rural law enforcement officers in the investigation of drug trafficking and related crimes.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Rural Revitalization Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow the issuance, through December 31, 2010, of tax-exempt facility bonds to finance qualified electric transmission facilities; and (2) extend issuance authority for qualified zone academy bonds and permit bond proceeds to be used for construction. Amends the Federal Power Act to revise the Secretary of Energy's authority to designate national interest electric transmission corridors. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer funds for: (1) electrification loans and loan guarantees; (2) Indian reservation roads and bridge and highway projects; (3) water projects; (4) utilities programs; (5) community facilities programs; (6) business enterprise grants and microenterprise assistance; (7) telemedicine and distance learning services; (8) public works and economic development; and (9) energy programs. Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct the Secretary of Energy to make loan guarantees for renewable fuel pipelines. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer funds for the: (1) emergency food assistance program; (2) commodity supplemental food program; (3) emergency food program infrastructure grant program; and (4) supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to use specified Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds for the Doug Bereuter section 502 single family housing loan guarantee program. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer funds for National Health Service Corps programs. Amends the Social Security Act to extend: (1) increased payments for certain ground ambulance services; and (2) assistance for rural providers providing services in low population density areas. Amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, as amended by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, to extend the payment increase for certain rural home health services. Amends the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, to extend certain hospital reclassification authority.

Date: 2009-01-26
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Rural Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2010 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to provide that if the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) applies a median income requirement to communities for determining community facilities programs and water, waste disposal, and wastewater program eligibility in a state where the state nonmetropolitan median income is at least 90% of the national average nonmetropolitan median income, the Secretary shall use an amount equal to 95% of the national average nonmetropolitan median income in applying the median income requirement for any community in such state. Terminates such authority on September 30, 2012.

Date: 2010-08-05
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Adds the Tennessee counties of Hickman, Perry, and Wayne to the definition of "Appalachian region" for purposes of Appalachian regional development efforts.

Date: 2011-01-05
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Corridor N Extension Act of 2011 - Designates as an addition to Corridor N of the Appalachian development highway system a 149-mile segment from Corridor M to Corridor T in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Date: 2011-04-14
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to alter the percentage of school improvement funds that are reserved for outlying areas and Indian education. Reserves 0.5% of those funds for outlying areas and 0.75% for Indian education. (Currently, 1% of those funds are reserved for outlying areas and Indian education.)

Date: 2011-07-06
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Education
Amends the Housing Act of 1949, with respect to financial assistance to farm owners through the Farmers Home Administration, to permit the Secretary of Agriculture to consider as rural or a rural area for farm housing purposes a place, town, village, or city with a population of 35,000 or less that demonstrates that it is experiencing economic distress from which such financial assistance would be of significant value in helping it recover. Cites as evidence of economic distress: (1) an unemployment rate higher than the national average, or (2) an average wage or home sale price lower than the national wage.

Date: 2011-08-01
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Microbusiness Investment Credit Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for 35% of new investment in a rural microbusiness. Imposes limits on such credit for businesses and individual taxpayers. Defines: (1) "rural microbusiness" as a trade or business that employs not more than 5 full-time employees in a taxable year and is carried on, and physically located, in a distressed rural area; and (2) "distressed rural area" as an area that has lost at least 5% of its population over the last 10 years or 10% of its population over the last 20 years, that has a median family income below 85 % of the national median family income, that has a poverty rate that exceeds 12.5%, or where average unemployment in the preceding year exceeds 120% of the national average.

Date: 2011-09-07
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
EDA Elimination Act of 2011 - Terminates the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Repeals the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. Direct the Secretary of Commerce to take such actions as necessary and appropriate to conclude the outstanding affairs of the EDA, including dispositions of personnel, assets, and obligations.

Date: 2011-10-04
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) extend Medicare electronic health record incentives to eligible professionals practicing in rural health clinics, and (2) extend Medicare quality reporting incentives to such clinics.

Date: 2011-11-17
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Health
County Payments Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Amends the Secure Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to establish, for FY2012 and each following fiscal year, an amount that is equal to 95% of the full funding amount used for the previous fiscal year to make secure payments to eligible states and counties that contain certain lands. Permits a resource advisory committee under the Act to propose using up to 10% of certain project funds of an eligible county for administrative expenses associated with that committee's operations. Keeps the annual percentage for FY2010-FY2011 in place under the merchantable timber contracting pilot program for the implementation of approved projects in participating counties involving the sale of merchantable timber using separate contracts through FY2016. Extends the Act's provisions through FY2016. Entitles counties or other eligible units of local government in which U.S.-owned entitlement land is located to certain payments under the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program through FY2017.

Date: 2011-12-07
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the new markets tax credit, to expand criteria for the designation of a census track with a population of less than 2,000 as a low-income community for purposes of such credit to include consideration of the poverty rate, median family income, or unemployment rate in such community.

Date: 2012-05-10
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Schools of the Future Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive three- to five-year grants to eligible partnerships to implement and evaluate the results of technology-based learning practices, strategies, tools, or courses at rural schools. Defines "eligible partnerships" as those composed of a school partner, a digital learning partner, and an evaluation partner. Describes a "school partner" as a local educational agency, charter school network, consortium of elementary or secondary schools, regional educational service provider, or consortium of such entities. Includes among the grant-funded technology-based learning practices, strategies, tools, or courses, those that: (1) personalize the learning experience, (2) aid and inform instruction, (3) meet the needs of students with specific educational needs, (4) help students develop 21st century skills, and (5) give students access to courses that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Requires each partnership's evaluation partner, after the third year of the grant, to evaluate the effect of the technology-based learning practices, strategies, tools, or courses on student achievement.

Date: 2012-05-10
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Education
Rural Energy Improvement Act - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 regarding the Rural Energy for America Program to: (1) extend the Program through FY2017, (2) create a tiered loan and grant application process that reflects project costs, and (3) prohibit requiring a second meter for on-farm residential portions of rural projects connected to the energy grid.

Date: 2012-05-17
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Forest Products Fairness Act of 2012 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to include in the definition of "biobased product" forest products that meet biobased content requirements, notwithstanding the market share the product holds, the product's age, or whether the market for the product is new or emerging. Defines "forest product" as a product made from materials derived from the practice of forestry or the management of growing timber, including: (1) pulp, paper, paperboard, pellets, and wood products; and (2) any recycled products derived from forest materials.

Date: 2012-05-31
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a process under which an incumbent service provider providing broadband service to a remote rural area may submit to the Secretary information regarding the broadband services the provider offers in the proposed service territory so that the Secretary may assess whether a submitted application meets appropriate eligibility requirements.

Date: 2012-06-05
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2012 - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to extend the requirements for consideration as rural areas with respect to assistance for farm housing. Makes any area eligible for rural housing programs authorized under the Act on June 30, 2012, eligible for such programs through FY2013.

Date: 2012-09-14
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to suspend, during the period December 31, 2010-December 31, 2013, the prohibition on the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to guarantee an agricultural operating loan for any year after the 15th year that a loan or loan guarantee is made to the borrower.

Date: 2011-02-16
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2011 - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to revise the requirements for consideration as rural areas with respect to assistance for farm housing. States that any area classified as "rural" or a "rural area" before October 1, 1990, and determined not to be "rural" or a "rural area" as a result of data received from or after the 1990, 2000, or 2010 (currently, only the 1990 or 2000) decennial census shall continue to be so classified until the receipt of data from the decennial census in the year 2020 (currently, 2010), if, as under current law, such area has a population of between 10,000 and 25,000, is rural in character, and has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families.

Date: 2011-05-04
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
County Payments Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Amends the Secure Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to establish, for FY2012 and each following fiscal year, an amount that is equal to 95% of the full funding amount used for the previous fiscal year to make secure payments to eligible states and counties that contain certain lands. Permits a resource advisory committee under the Act to propose using up to 10% of certain project funds of an eligible county for administrative expenses associated with that committee's operations. Keeps the annual percentage for FY2010-FY2011 in place under the merchantable timber contracting pilot program for the implementation of approved projects in participating counties involving the sale of merchantable timber using separate contracts through FY2016. Extends the Act's provisions through FY2016. Entitles counties or other eligible units of local government in which U.S.-owned entitlement land is located to certain payments under the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program through FY2017.

Date: 2011-10-12
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Clean Transmission for Rural Communities Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) the issuance of clean renewable energy bonds to interconnect energy facilities to high-voltage transmission lines, and (2) the issuance of tax-exempt facility bonds to finance a qualified electric transmission facility. Defines "qualified electric transmission facility" as a state-owned electric transmission facility which operates primarily to interconnect one or more renewable energy facilities to a high-voltage transmission line.

Date: 2011-10-20
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Clean Energy Infrastructure for Rural Communities Act of 2011 - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make electric loans for transmission facilities primarily for interconnecting renewable energy facilities to a high-voltage transmission line. Revokes the requirement that the rate of an electric loan for renewable energy be equal to the average tax-exempt municipal bond rate of similar maturities. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary to make and insure loans to improve the economic and environmental climate by encouraging the development and construction of infrastructure to provide access to natural gas in rural communities, and (2) define "natural gas" as unmixed natural gas or any mixture of natural and artificial gas.

Date: 2011-10-20
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
EDA Elimination Act of 2011 - Terminates the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Repeals the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. Direct the Secretary of Commerce to take such actions as necessary to conclude the outstanding affairs of the EDA, including dispositions of personnel, assets, and obligations.

Date: 2011-11-15
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Forest Products Fairness Act of 2012 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to redefine "biobased product" as a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that is composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products, including renewable domestic agricultural materials and forestry materials, or an intermediate ingredient or feedstock. Includes within such definition forest products that meet biobased content requirements, notwithstanding market maturity. Defines "forest product" as a product made from materials derived from the practice of forestry or the management of growing timber, and includes: (1) pulp, paper, paperboard, pellets, and wood products; and (2) any recycled products derived from forest materials.

Date: 2012-04-25
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Rural Educator and American Community Housing Act of 2012 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide grants, loan guarantees, or other financial mechanisms to eligible educators, medical providers, and public safety officers to carry out a qualified project in a qualified community. Defines a "qualified project" as: (1) the construction, modernization, renovation, or repair of qualified housing for such eligible individuals; (2) the payment of interest on bonds or other financing instruments (except refinancing instruments) issued for such activities; or (3) the repayment of a loan used for such construction and so forth, or to purchase or lease real property for qualified housing purposes. Defines a "qualified community" as any open country, or any place, town, village, or city that is not part of or associated with an urban area and that has a population between 2,500 to 10,000, and is not accessible by a motor vehicle. Authorizes the State Director of Rural Development for a state to evaluate for the Secretary any application for a qualified project in the state. Requires the Secretary to take the evaluation into consideration in determining whether to provide such assistance. Requires the Secretary to give priority to: (1) a state education agency (SEA) or local educational agency (LEA), (2) a state or local housing authority, (3) an Indian tribe or tribal organization, (4) a tribally designated housing entity, (5) a local government, or (6) a consortium of any such entities.

Date: 2012-06-07
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to extend certain requirements for consideration as a rural area with respect to assistance for farm housing. Declares that any area classified as "rural" or a "rural area" before October 1, 1990, and determined not to be one as a result of data received from or after the 2010 decennial census, and any area deemed to be a "rural area" for purposes of the Act under any other provision of law at any time between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2010, shall continue to be so classified until the receipt of data from the decennial census in the year 2020, if that area has a population of between 10,000 and 35,000 (currently, between 10,000 and 25,000), is rural in character, and has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families.

Date: 2012-09-13
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Lyon County Economic Development and Conservation Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the city of Yerington, Nevada, identified federal land in Lyon and Mineral Counties. Designates identified federal land in Nevada managed by the Forest Service, to be known as the Wovoka Wilderness, as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Sets forth provisions for the management of the Wovoka Wilderness, including regarding livestock grazing, overflights, wildfire, insects, and diseases, water rights, and fish and wildlife.

Date: 2012-12-20
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Building Rural Communities Act - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to make grants to rural area-serving public bodies and private nonprofit corporations for technical assistance and training to: (1) assist communities in identifying and planning for community facility needs; (2) identify public and private financial resources; (3) prepare financial assistance applications and related documents; (4) improve management, including financial management; or (5) assist with other areas of need identified by the Secretary.

Gives priority to private nonprofit organizations that have experience in providing technical assistance and training to rural entities.

Date: 2013-04-18
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Microbusiness Investment Credit Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for 35% of new investment in a rural microbusiness. Imposes limits on such credit for businesses and individual taxpayers.

Defines: (1) "rural microbusiness" as a trade or business that employs not more than 5 full-time employees in a taxable year and is carried on, and physically located, in a distressed rural area; and (2) "distressed rural area" as an area that has lost at least 5% of its population over the last 10 years or 10% of its population over the last 20 years, that has a median family income below 85 % of the national median family income, that has a poverty rate that exceeds 12.5%, or where average unemployment in the preceding year exceeds 120% of the national average.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Rural Educator and American Community Housing Act of 2013 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide grants, loan guarantees, or other financial mechanisms to eligible educators, medical providers, and public safety officers to carry out a qualified project in a qualified community.

Defines a "qualified project" as: (1) the construction, modernization, renovation, or repair of qualified housing for such eligible individuals; (2) the payment of interest on bonds or other financing instruments (except refinancing instruments) issued for such activities; or (3) the repayment of a loan used for such construction and so forth, or to purchase or lease real property for qualified housing purposes.

Defines a "qualified community" as any open country, or any place, town, village, or city that is not part of or associated with an urban area and that has a population between 2,500 to 10,000, and is not accessible by a motor vehicle.

Authorizes the State Director of Rural Development for a state to evaluate for the Secretary any application for a qualified project in the state. Requires the Secretary to take the evaluation into consideration in determining whether to provide such assistance.

Requires the Secretary to give priority to: (1) a state education agency (SEA) or local educational agency (LEA), (2) a state or local housing authority, (3) an Indian tribe or tribal organization, (4) a tribally designated housing entity, (5) a local government, or (6) a consortium of any such entities.

Date: 2013-02-26
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to extend certain requirements for consideration as a rural area with respect to assistance for farm housing.

 Declares that any area classified as "rural" or a "rural area" before October 1, 1990, and determined not to be one as a result of data received from or after the 2010 decennial census, and any area deemed to be a "rural area" for purposes of the Act under any other provision of law at any time between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2010, shall continue to be so classified until the receipt of data from the decennial census in the year 2020, if that area has a population of between 10,000 and 35,000 (currently, between 10,000 and 25,000), is rural in character, and has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families.

Date: 2013-04-18
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Helping Expand Lending Practices in Rural Communities Act

(Sec. 2) Directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to establish an application process under which a person who lives or does business in a state may apply to have an area in the state identified as a rural area if it has not yet been so designated by the CFPB for purposes of federal consumer financial law.

 Prescribes criteria for the CFPB to consider when evaluating the application. Requires the CFPB to: (1) grant or deny the application within 90 days after the public comment period ends; and (2) publish the grant or denial in the Federal Register, including an explanation of the factors upon which the CFPB relied in making its determination.

Sunsets this Act two years after its enactment.

Date: 2015-03-04
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
PILT and SRS Certainty Act 

This bill appropriates funds to carry out the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Program for the first full fiscal year after the enactment of this Act and for each of the following four fiscal years. This Program compensates local governments for tax revenue lost due to tax-exempt federal lands within their boundaries.

The bill amends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to extend payment and project authorities for the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Program for five years. This Program provides payments to states to compensate for the cost of providing services in tax-exempt federal lands within their jurisdiction.

Date: 2015-07-28
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Rural Main Street Investment Credit Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for 35% of new investment in a rural microbusiness. There is a limit on such credit, for any rural microbusiness or any taxpayer, of $10,000 in a taxable year reduced by the amount allowed as a credit for all preceding taxable years.

A "rural microbusiness" is a trade or business that employs not more than five full-time employees in a taxable year and that is carried on, and physically located, in a distressed rural area. A "distressed rural area" as an area that has lost at least 5% of its population over the last 10 years or 10% of its population over the last 20 years, that has a median family income below 85 % of the national median family income, that has a poverty rate that exceeds 12.5%, or where average unemployment in the preceding year exceeds 120% of the national average.

Date: 2016-03-23
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act of 2016 or the B-CROP Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to include grants in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides loans and loan guarantees for broadband telecommunications services in rural areas.

In making grants, loans, or loan guarantees under the program, USDA must give the highest priority to applicants that offer to provide broadband service to the greatest proportion of unserved rural households or rural households that do not have the minimum acceptable level of residential broadband service.

USDA must then give priority to projects to serve rural communities that:

 have a population of less than 10,000 permanent residents, are experiencing out-migration, have a high percentage of low-income residents, and are isolated from other significant population centers. A grant may not exceed 50% of the development cost of the project. USDA may increase the limit to 75% for projects that serve a remote or low-income area that does not have access to broadband service from any provider.

The bill sets forth reporting requirements for recipients of the grants, loans, or loan guarantees.

Date: 2016-11-17
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Appalachian Regional Development Amendments Act of 2015

This bill authorizes appropriations for the Appalachian Regional Commission for FY2016-FY2020, extends the termination date of the Appalachian Regional Development Program through the end of FY2020, and allots funding to enable the Commission to provide technical assistance, make grants, and enter into contracts in the Appalachian region to increase affordable access to broadband networks throughout Appalachia and for related projects and activities.

Date: 2015-03-25
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Capital for Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to increase the amount of unpaid debt permitted per borrower under Department of Agriculture farm ownership and operating loans.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Rebuilding and Renewing Rural America Act of 2016 

This bill modifies: (1) tax and regulatory policies that affect certain rural communities, and (2) tax rules that apply to private foundations.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to program-related investments made by private foundations for a charitable purpose, to:

 modify the definition of and requirements for program-related investments; allow a declaratory judgment remedy to determine whether investments in any entity are program-related investments; expand reporting requirements for for-profit entities that receive program-related investments; and allow public inspection of petitions seeking a determination of program-related investment status and annual information returns. The bill also includes several tax provisions that apply to rural renewal communities, which are low-income communities that: (1) have a population of at least 200 people but not more than 25,000 people, and are not located in a metropolitan area which has a population of 200,000 or more; or (2) are entirely within an Indian reservation.

With respect to such communities, the bill:

 allows tax credits for a portion of the costs of reducing lead, radon, or asbestos hazards in rural commercial structures; expands the new markets tax credit; allows expensing of certain depreciable business assets; reduces payroll taxes; and allows tax-preferred rural renewal community business start-up savings accounts. Reducing Excessive Government in Rural America Act of 2016 

Congress must consider legislation to reduce the regulatory cost to rural America by at least 10% over 10 years by repealing certain regulations. The legislation must be considered using expedited legislative procedures specified in the bill.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Housing (Rural Development)
Subject: Taxation
Homeowners' Insurance Availability Act of 2007 - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to implement a reinsurance coverage program available only through contracts for reinsurance coverage purchased at regional auctions. States that the purpose of the program is to improve: (1) the availability of homeowners' insurance for the purpose of facilitating the pooling, and spreading the risk, of catastrophic financial losses from disasters; and (2) the solvency of the homeowners' insurance markets. Prescribes implementation guidelines that include establishment: (1) in the Treasury of the Disaster Reinsurance Fund; and (2) of a National Commission on Catastrophe Risks and Insurance Loss Costs.

Date: 2007-01-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Insurance Industry Competition Act of 2007 - Amends the McCarran-Ferguson Act to make the Federal Trade Commission Act, as it relates to areas other than unfair methods of competition, applicable to the business of insurance to the extent that such business is not regulated by state law. Authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue joint statements of their antitrust enforcement policies regarding joint activities in the business of insurance.

Date: 2007-02-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Commerce
Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Requires insurers of Holocaust-era policies to: (1) respond within 90 days to written inquiries from eligible persons regarding such polices; (2) provide to such persons all information in the possession of such insurer regarding whether such person is a potential beneficiary; and (3) notify the Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO) immediately in writing of the inquiry, with a copy of all acknowledgments and information provided to such eligible person. Terminates such requirement 10 years after enactment of this Act. Instructs the Secretary of State to: (1) seek to enter into an agreement with each European country with which no appropriate agreement exists to facilitate such response requirements; and (2) report annually to Congress on implementation of this Act. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to enter into an agreement with the HCPO to: (1) monitor compliance with requirements of this Act; (2) notify the Secretary of the identity of any insurer not complying with this Act within 30 days after the failure to comply; and (3) notify the certain congressional committees annually, including the Secretary and the Secretary of State, of the identity of each non-compliant insurer. Provides for the transfer of specified funds to the HCPO to implement its monitoring functions.(Sec. 5) Instructs the Secretary to assess a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 for each day that an insurer fails to comply with the requirements of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to seek to attach a lien on any payment from a U.S. domiciliary subsidiary of any insurer based outside the United States from which the Secretary is unable to collect a penalty. (Sec. 6) Sets forth a federal cause of action for any claim against an insurer arising out of or related to a covered policy. (Sec. 7) Expresses the sense of Congress that claimants have the right to opt out of new or ongoing class action proceedings relating to claims based on Holocaust-era insurance policies. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to use the voice and vote of the United States to create and advocate the policies of the Bank to encourage Eastern European countries to engage in and pursue restitution programs in compliance with this Act.

Date: 2007-03-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow affiliated life and non-life insurance companies to file consolidated tax returns. Allows: (1) a phasein, between 2007 and 2013, of the full application of losses of affiliated non-life insurance companies against the taxable income of an affiliated life insurance company; and (2) an automatic waiver of the five-year waiting period applicable to affiliated non-life insurance companies for offset of their losses against life insurance company income.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Taxation
Retirement Security for Life Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an exclusion from gross income for 50 percent of the amount otherwise includible in gross income as guaranteed payments from certain annuity or life insurance contracts. Limits the amount of such exclusion to $20,000 in any taxable year. Provides for an inflation adjustment of the $20,000 limitation beginning in 2009.

Date: 2007-05-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Taxation
National Insurance Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Department of the Treasury an Office of National Insurance (ONI), headed by a Commissioner of National Insurance, with Divisions of Insurance Fraud and of Consumer Affairs, and an Office of the Ombudsman. Authorizes the Commissioner to supervise, regulate, and provide for registration of insurance self-regulatory organizations. Requires the Commissioner to supervise national insurers and national agencies, including chartering and licensing. Removes them, as well as federally licensed insurance producers, from state oversight of insurance business practices. Authorizes the Commissioner to provide for the organization, operation, and regulation of National Insurance Companies and National Insurance Agencies, including U.S. branches of non-U.S. Insurers. Requires national insurers to obtain a federal license. Provides for conversion of state insurers to national insurers or state insurance agencies to national agencies, and vice versa. Prescribes requirements for national life insurer product regulation, including mandatory election for either national or state participating policy procedures governing a national life insurer in mutual form. Sets forth requirements governing prompt corrective action. Authorizes the Commissioner to: (1) license insurers that are not national insurers to provide reinsurance; and (2) issue federal insurance producer licenses. Restricts specified state actions. Provides for: (1) mergers, consolidations, and acquisitions of national insurers and national agencies; and (2) conversion of stock life insurers to national life insurer in mutual form, and vice versa. Subjects national insurers and national agencies to state taxation. Prohibits states from preventing or restricting national insurers from engaging in specified insurance business practices. Requires registration with the Commissioner of national insurers that belong to an insurance holding company system. Authorizes the Commissioner to appoint the ONI as receiver for a national insurer for rehabilitation or liquidation. Requires national insurers to join guaranty associations in each state, which may levy assessments on them for purposes of insolvency protection. Establishes a National Insurance Guaranty Corporation to provide benefits to policyholders of a national life insurer under federal receivership. Sets forth requirements governing claims covered for policy holders of national property/casualty insurers. Applies federal antitrust laws to national insurers, national agencies, and federally licensed insurance producers. Exempts national insurers, national agencies, and federally licensed insurance producers from state regulation, except as expressly provided in this Act. Directs the Comptroller General to analyze and report to Congress on the overall competitiveness of the insurance sector in the United States.

Date: 2007-07-26
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Increasing Insurance Coverage Options for Consumers Act of 2008 - Amends the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 to cover risk retention groups offering commercial property insurance. Applies the exemption of purchasing groups from state law to commercial property insurance. Terminates the inclusion in risk retention groups under the Act of any such group chartered, licensed, or authorized under the laws of Bermuda or the Cayman Islands. Prescribes general corporate governance standards for such groups, together with license or charter criteria regarding state examination authority and minimum requirements for safety and soundness. Prohibits a risk retention group from participating in an insurance insolvency guaranty association that includes participants other than risk retention groups. Revises procedures for: (1) submitting financial documents to state insurance commissioners; and (2) mandatory disclosures.Imposes a fiduciary duty upon the board of directors of a risk retention group to operate in the best interests of the group.Prohibits a state from issuing a cease-and-desist order to any risk retention group or purchasing group that is not chartered or licensed in such state, or otherwise attempt to regulate such group, except as specifically permitted under this Act.Redesignates the Liability Risk Retention Act as the Risk Retention Act.

Date: 2008-04-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Insurance Information Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to advise the President and Congress on domestic and international policy issues regarding all lines of insurance except health insurance. Establishes within the Department of the Treasury the Office of Insurance Information, headed by a Deputy Assistant Secretary, to: (1) collect, analyze, and disseminate information and issue reports regarding all lines of insurance except health insurance; (2) establish federal policy on international insurance matters and ensure that state insurance laws are consistent with agreements between the United States and a foreign government or regulatory entity; and (3) advise the Secretary on major domestic and international insurance policy issues. Extends the authority of the Office to all lines of insurance except health insurance. Preempts inconsistent state law. Requires the head of the Office to report to specified congressional committees on the financial state and meaningful trends of the insurance industry. Establishes the Advisory Group to the Office of Insurance Information.

Date: 2008-04-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Reinsurance International Solvency Standards Evaluation Board Act of 2008 - Establishes the Reinsurance International Solvency Standards Evaluation Board to evaluate reinsurance supervisory systems of the states and jurisdictions outside the United States to determine, on a uniform basis, whether such systems provide adequate capital and risk management standards and an acceptable level of prudential supervision over their domiciled reinsurers. Requires the Board to: (1) establish evaluation standards and procedures for requesting an evaluation; and (2) develop uniform standards to improve reinsurance regulation, particularly where a domestic or international consensus standard or conflict of law has emerged. Prohibits the domiciliary state of a ceding insurer, for the purpose of determining credit for reinsurance for the ceding insurer, from treating a certified reinsurer domiciled and in good standing in any other domestic or foreign jurisdiction differently from reinsurers domiciled and in good standing in such domiciliary state.

Date: 2008-06-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the eligibility of certain small insurance companies (other than life insurance companies) for the alternative corporate income tax by increasing the premium limitation used to determine such eligibility to $1.971 million (from $1.2 million), with an annual inflation adjustment to that increased amount after 2008.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny a tax deduction for excess reinsurance premiums with respect to U.S. risks paid to affiliated insurance companies that are not subject to U.S. taxation.

Date: 2008-09-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Insurance Regulation)
Subject: Taxation