zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Build America Bonds Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the issuance authority for Build America Bonds and the authority for payments to issuers of such bonds, (2) make phased reductions in the credit percentage to bondholders and the percentage of payments to issuers of such bonds, (3) allow refundings of currently issued bonds, and (4) allow the use of Build America bonds to fund capital expenditures for levees and flood control projects.

Provides for an increase in payments to issuers of Build America bonds to compensate for reductions in the amount of such payments due to sequestration.

Date: 2013-02-15
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Historic Homeownership Revitalization Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a new tax credit for 20% of rehabilitation expenditures for a historic home used as a principal residence, up to $60,000; and (2) increase the rehabilitation tax credit for residential rental property located in economically distressed areas with high construction costs.

Date: 2013-02-27
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Project Rebuild Act of 2013 - Appropriates funds for assistance to eligible entities including state and local governments, and qualified nonprofit organizations, businesses or eligible consortia for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed-upon properties and for stabilization of affected neighborhoods (Project Rebuild).

Allows the use of funds to: (1) establish financing mechanisms for the purchase and redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed-upon properties; (2) purchase and rehabilitate such properties; (3) establish and operate land banks for them; (4) demolish blighted structures (except public housing); and (5) redevelop abandoned, foreclosed, demolished, or vacant properties.

Requires each state to receive at least $20 million of formula funds, all of which shall be used with respect to low and moderate-income individuals and families.

Requires each state and local government grantee to establish procedures to create preferences for development of affordable rental housing.

Allows a grantee to use up to 10% to create jobs by establishing and operating a program to maintain eligible neighborhood properties.

Sets forth Buy American requirements.

 Requires all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors on federally-assisted projects to be paid wages at the locally prevailing rates (Davis-Bacon Act).

Date: 2013-03-21
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Revitalize America Act of 2013 - Permits a state or state agency to use up to 25% of amounts of assistance allocated to it through the Hardest Hit Fund program for demolition of foreclosed-upon properties and related expenses.

Limits such assistance to: (1) a grantee public organization that administers the demolition, and (2) only if the foreclosed-upon properties are owned by the grantee at the time of the demolition.

Date: 2013-04-15
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Creating Jobs Through Cooperatives Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a National Cooperative Development Program to create jobs and increase economic development in eligible project areas by promoting cooperative development.

Defines "eligible project areas" as those located within:

 a census tract defined as low- or moderate-income by the Census Bureau; a population census tract treated as a low-income community under the Internal Revenue Code; or areas adjacent or close to areas that meet either requirement, and are given special HUD approval to be classified as eligible project areas. (Requires the Secretary to limit the number of funded projects located in these areas.) Defines "cooperative development" as specified technical assistance for the establishment of cooperative organizations, which are autonomous associations of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.

Authorizes the Secretary, through a competitive process, to make one- to -five-year grants to local cooperative development centers.

Date: 2013-06-19
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Revitalize Our Cities Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2016 the period for designating an empowerment zone (an area in which tax incentives are allowed to increase investment and employment).

Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to designate, prior to January 1, 2015, 20 additional empowerment zones in urban areas in which the average unemployment rate and the average rate of residential and commercial foreclosures are each higher than that of the state within which the area is located for the period beginning January 1, 2009, and ending with the date of enactment of this Act.

Date: 2013-11-19
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Brownfield Redevelopment and Economic Development Innovative Financing Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish the Brownfield Redevelopment and Economic Development Innovative Financing Program, under which the Secretary may guarantee the repayment of loans made by lenders to local governments, local redevelopment agencies, or Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) redevelopment projects to carry out projects for redeveloping brownfields and promoting urban renewal.

Requires such an entity, in order to receive such a loan guarantee, to submit: (1) a master plan that describes the proposed brownfield redevelopment project, demonstrates that such project will result in major redevelopment, provides evidence of investment commitments from non-federal entities, and includes a remediation action plan approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and (2) a certification from EPA that the brownfield to be redeveloped requires environmental remediation. Prohibits an entity from: (1) receiving a loan guarantee if it was responsible for contaminating the brownfield to be redeveloped, or (2) having more than one outstanding loan that is guaranteed under the Program.

Sets forth requirements regarding an eligible loan's principal amount, interest rate, duration, and repayment terms. Directs the Secretary to establish criteria for selecting entities to receive loan guarantees.

Date: 2014-03-06
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Growth Zones Opportunity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend: (1) through 2020, tax incentives for areas designated as empowerment zones; (2) through 2025, the increased exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale or exchange of the small business stock of empowerment zone businesses; and (3) through 2020, tax incentives for areas designated as a renewal community.

Date: 2014-04-10
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Promise Zone Job Creation Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to designate up to 20 areas as Promise Zones for purposes of priority consideration in federal grant programs and initiatives.

Defines a "Promise Zone" as any area with a continuous boundary and a population of not more than 200,000 that is nominated by a local government or Indian tribe and designated on the basis of its unemployment rate, poverty rate, household income, labor force participation, and educational attainment. Requires an application for designation as a Promise Zone to include a competitiveness plan that addresses the need of the area to attract investment and jobs and improve educational opportunities.

Allows: (1) a Promise Zone employment tax credit for wages paid to a qualified zone or resident employee, and (2) expensing of Promise Zone property.

Defines "Promise Zone property" as property that is: (1) tangible property with a recovery period of 20 years or less for depreciation purposes, water utility property, computer software, or qualified leasehold improvement property; (2) acquired by purchase for use in the active conduct of a trade or business; and (3) originally placed in service in a Promise Zone.

Date: 2014-06-23
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
HUBZone Equity Act - Amends the Small Business Act to redefine "HUBZone small business concern" as a small business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens (as under current law) or lawful permanent residents of the United States.

Date: 2014-07-11
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Commerce
Urban Core Revitalization Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the rehabilitation tax credit, to include a 15% credit for any qualified rehabilitated building (other than a certified historic structure) located in a low-income community.

Date: 2014-07-30
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Bringing Urgent Investment to Local Development Act or the BUILD Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for investment in Build America bonds, to: (1) make permanent the authority for issuance of such bonds, (2) phase in an annual reduction in the credit rate for bondholders and issuers between 2014 and 2019, and (3) allow an issuer a refundable credit amount for investment in economic development bonds in cities with specified unemployment and poverty rates and population loss.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Foreclosure Restitution Act of 2014 - Appropriates specified funds from any amounts received by the Treasury as a civil monetary penalty from the recent settlement agreement between the United States, together with specified individual states, and the Bank of America, together with current and former subsidiaries and affiliates, to remain available until expended.

Limits the use of the funds to providing assistance, under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), to states and local governments for redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes.

Permits the use of the funds to assist in providing affordable housing or to mitigate indirect costs relating to foreclosures on residential mortgages.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
CDBG Grant Return Act of 2014 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to authorize any metropolitan city, urban county, local government, Indian tribe, or insular area that directly or indirectly receives amounts from a community development block grant (CDBG), at its sole discretion, to return to the Treasury any or all of such amounts.

Allows each entity, at its discretion, to retain and use for any purpose up to 10% of such returned funds.

Requires the returned funds to be covered into the Treasury General Fund. Prohibits them from being reallocated, redistributed, or otherwise made available under the Act.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make competitive grants to local governments, public housing agencies (PHAs), community development corporations, assisted housing owners, and other for-profit and nonprofit entities to implement transformational programs in eligible neighborhoods with a concentration of extreme poverty, severely distressed housing, and a potential for long-term viability, once certain key problems are addressed.

Requires such programs to include neighborhoods with characteristics such as proximity to educational institutions, medical centers, central business districts, major employers, effective transportation alternatives (including public transit, walking, and bicycling), and low poverty neighborhoods.

Prohibits the use of such grants for construction or rehabilitation of a K-12 school building or a higher educational institution. Limits the use of grants for certain non-housing activities and supportive services. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such limitations.

Exempts from specified requirements of the United States Housing Act of 1937 the demolition and disposition of severely distressed public and assisted housing pursuant to a transformation plan.

Date: 2013-03-04
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Neighborhood Safety Act of 2013 - Authorizes the use of any amounts of assistance allocated for or provided to a state or state agency through the Hardest Hit Fund program to demolish blighted structures.

Date: 2013-06-10
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2013 - Prohibits federal assistance (e.g., loans, loan guarantees, or purchases) from being provided to: (1) a state, municipality, zip code, or rural area (eligible entity) other than an entity that is designated an Economic Free Zone by this Act; (2) a municipality that is a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding; or (3) a state or municipality that is insolvent.

Sets forth requirements for the designation of an eligible entity as an Economic Freedom Zone, including bankruptcy eligibility, insolvency, or pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax incentives for investment in an Economic Freedom Zone, including; (1) a  5% flat tax rate on the taxable income of individuals and corporations, (2) a 0% capital gains tax rate for gain from the sale or exchange of Economic Freedom Zone assets or real property, (3) reduced employment tax rates, and (4) an increase in the expensing allowance for business property in an Economic Freedom Zone.

Exempts an area designated as an Economic Freedom Zone from: (1) compliance with specified environmental regulations, (2) requirements applicable to a National Heritage Area, and (3) wage rate requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a tax credit, up to $5,000 in a taxable year, for the elementary and secondary education expenses of a student attending a public, private, or religious school whose principal residence is located in an Economic Freedom Zone; (2) a tax-exempt Economic Freedom Zone educational savings account for individuals whose principal residence is located in an Economic Freedom Zone; and (3) a tax credit, in lieu of a tax deduction, for contributions to a charitable organization serving individuals in an Economic Freedom Zone.

Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow a special allocation of grant funds under such Act for the benefit of children from families residing in an Economic Freedom Zone whose incomes are below the federal poverty level.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, to issue Special Economic Freedom Zone Visas to aliens meeting certain educational and skill requirements who intend to enter the United States to invest in an Economic Freedom Zone.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that state and local governments should review and adopt specified policy recommendations relating to pension reform, tax reduction, adoption of school choice options, adoption of right-to-work laws, streamlining the regulatory burden, and reducing or fixing abandoned structures.

Date: 2013-12-18
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Promise Zone Job Creation Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to designate up to 20 areas as Promise Zones for purposes of priority consideration in federal grant programs and initiatives.

Defines a "Promise Zone" as any area with a continuous boundary and a population of not more than 200,000 that is nominated by a local government or Indian tribe and designated on the basis of its unemployment, poverty, vacancy, and crime rates. Requires an application for designation as a Promise Zone to include a competitiveness plan that addresses the need of the area to attract investment and jobs and improve educational opportunities.

Allows: (1) a Promise Zone employment tax credit for wages paid to a qualified zone or resident employee, and (2) expensing of Promise Zone property.

Defines "Promise Zone property" as property that is: (1) tangible property with a recovery period of 20 years or less for depreciation purposes, water utility property, computer software, or qualified leasehold improvement property; (2) acquired by purchase for use in the active conduct of a trade or business; and (3) originally placed in service in a Promise Zone.

Date: 2014-07-14
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Local Empowerment Act - Revises requirements for the apportionment of state planning funds to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).

Requires a state's apportionment to be distributed in accordance with a formula that prioritizes the needs of high performing MPOs.

Revises certain allocations of surface transportation program funds to states for: (1) any areas with a population of fewer (under current law, non-urban areas with more) than 5,000, and (2) urbanized areas with a population of more than 200,000 that have a high performing MPO.

Extends for FY2015-FY2018 a state's obligational authority to distribute a specified amount of surface transportation program funds for federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs in urbanized areas with a population over 200,000, including those areas that have a high performing MPO.

Makes permanent a special rule authorizing a state to obligate up to 15% of its apportionment of surface transportation program funds for each fiscal on roads functionally classified as minor collectors in areas of less than 5,000 population.

Defines "consolidated metropolitan planning organization" to mean a sole MPO that serves a metropolitan statistical area.

Prescribes requirements for the designation of new and consolidation of multiple MPOs within a metropolitan statistical area.

Allows a MPO for an urbanized area with a population of more than 200,000 to request that the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) designate it as a high performing MPO. Specifies criteria the Secretary shall consider in making such designation.

Makes similar changes to requirements for the transportation alternatives program.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Supermarket Tax Credit for Underserved Areas Act 

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the rate of the rehabilitation tax credit for a supermarket building placed in service after December 31, 2015, and before January 1, 2018, in an underserved area (i.e., any enterprise community or empowerment zone and any renewal community); (2) increase by $1,000 the limit on wages eligible for the work opportunity tax credit for employees of a supermarket located in an underserved area; and (3) allow a business-related tax credit for 15% of the gross receipts from the retail sale of locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables in a supermarket in an underserved area.

Date: 2015-03-18
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Promise Neighborhoods Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award competitive, matching Promise Neighborhood Partnership grants to nonprofit organizations that partner with a local educational agency to implement a comprehensive continuum of supports and services that engage community partners in improving the academic achievement, health and social development, and college and career readiness of children who live in distressed neighborhoods with underperforming schools.

ED may renew Promise Neighborhood Partnership grants if the grantees demonstrate significant success in: (1) ensuring children's school readiness; (2) improving their academic outcomes; (3) increasing their college and career readiness; and (4) improving their health, mental health, and social and emotional well-being.

ED must evaluate this Act's grant program and disseminate research on best practices for improving the academic achievement of children living in the most distressed communities.

Matching planning grants are available to enable communities to assess needs and assets and support the communities as they prepare to apply for a program grant.

Date: 2015-06-24
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Education
Brownfield Redevelopment and Economic Development Innovative Financing Act of 2015

Directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish the Brownfield Redevelopment and Economic Development Innovative Financing Program, under which HUD may guarantee the repayment of loans made by lenders to local governments, local redevelopment agencies, or Base Realignment and Closure Commission redevelopment projects to carry out projects for redeveloping brownfields and promoting urban renewal.

Requires such an entity, in order to receive such a loan guarantee, to submit: (1) a master plan that describes the proposed brownfield redevelopment project, demonstrates that such project will result in major redevelopment, provides evidence of investment commitments from non-federal entities, and includes a remediation action plan approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and (2) a certification from EPA that the brownfield to be redeveloped requires environmental remediation. Prohibits an entity from: (1) receiving a loan guarantee if it was responsible for contaminating the brownfield to be redeveloped, or (2) having more than one outstanding loan that is guaranteed under the Program.

Sets forth requirements regarding an eligible loan's principal amount, interest rate, duration, and repayment terms. Directs HUD to establish criteria for selecting entities to receive loan guarantees.

Date: 2015-07-16
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Housing and community development
Food Deserts Act of 2016

This bill establishes a Department of Agriculture program to provide grants to states for revolving funds to support the establishment and operation of grocery stores in underserved communities.

An underserved community is a community that has: (1) limited access to affordable, healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, in grocery retail stores or farmer-to-consumer direct markets; and (2) a high rate of hunger or food insecurity or a high poverty rate.

States must use the funds to make loans to support grocery stores in underserved communities, including for:

 opening a store (excluding new construction), supporting an existing store, purchasing an existing store, or supporting a store located in a community that would be underserved without the store. States may only make loans for qualified grocery stores that:

 emphasize unprocessed, healthful foods; provide staple foods and a variety of raw fruits and vegetables; have a plan to keep the foods in stock; and charge prices at or below municipal averages. States must prioritize loan applications from entities that meet criteria, including:

 hiring workers from the underserved community, providing classes or educational information about a healthful diet, sourcing food from local urban farms and gardens, not selling alcohol or tobacco products, or demonstrating existing supply chain relationships or expertise in the grocery industry.

Date: 2016-03-22
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Growing And Reviving Rural Economies Through Transitioning HUBZone Redesignation Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Act with respect to Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones) located in qualified census tracts, qualified nonmetropolitan counties, or redesignated areas, which are census tracts or nonmetropolitan counties that cease to meet the ordinary criteria for the HUBZone program but are "redesignated" to qualify for it.

The bill increases the length of time a census tract or nonmetropolitan county may be redesignated to qualify for HUBZone status from three years to seven years after the date on which the area ceased to meet the ordinary criteria.

Date: 2016-05-16
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Commerce
Revitalize Our Cities Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2019 the period for designating an empowerment zone (an area in which tax incentives are allowed to increase investment and employment).

The Department of Housing and Urban Development may designate, prior to January 1, 2018, 20 additional empowerment zones in urban areas in which the average unemployment rate and the average rate of residential and commercial foreclosures are each higher than that of the state within which the area is located for the period beginning January 1, 2012, and ending with the date of enactment of this bill.

Date: 2016-06-16
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Urban Progress Act of 2016

This bill provides support (e.g. grant programs or tax credits) for:

 the Rental Assistance Demonstration program that improves public housing, qualified ex-felons and employers who hire them, economically disadvantaged communities, a training program for workers, a program for providing eligible youth with summer employment opportunities, a plan to reduce the number of children living in poverty, benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for children who attend summer school, families that have children and are under 150% of the poverty line, a process to expunge and seal certain youth criminal records, an effort in preventing juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity, and a program for increasing the racial diversity of law enforcement agencies. The bill also addresses gun violence, including by: (1) making trafficking in firearms a crime, (2) establishing firearm prohibitions for certain high-risk individuals, (3) establishing background check requirements, and (4) requiring gun owners to report a lost or stolen firearm to Department of Justice and local law enforcement authorities within 48 hours of discovery.

Date: 2016-07-07
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Social welfare
Race to the Job Initiative Act

This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to establish and administer a grant program to provide anchor institution (i.e., a hospital, college, research center, or nonprofit institution) grants and infrastructure grants to eligible low-income communities for community development.

Treasury shall select: (1) within the first year after enactment of this bill, 30 of such low-income communities to receive these grants; and (2) within the second year, an additional 20 of these communities.

Treasury must award a capital assistance grant to each community development financial institution specified in the grantee's application to make loans to, and invest in, businesses, organizations, or public-private partnerships located in the eligible low-income community.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a new markets tax credit for investment in a partner community development financial institution without regard to allocation limitations on such credit.

The bill amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to limit to $20 million (in the aggregate, during a three-year period) an award from the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to a community development financial institution and its subsidiaries and affiliates receiving a capital assistance grant under this bill.

CDFI funds are limited annually for these entities to: (1) $10 million for financial assistance, and (2) $500,000 for technical assistance.

Date: 2016-09-13
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Empowering Jobs Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to tax-exempt enterprise zone facility bonds and empowerment zones, to: (1) include as employees of a qualified business entity employees who are residents of an empowerment zone, an enterprise community, or a qualified low-income community; and (2) extend the period of designation for empowerment zones through December 31, 2016 (thus extending the eligibility of such zones for certain tax benefits).

Date: 2015-02-05
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2015

Prohibits federal assistance (e.g., loans, loan guarantees, or purchases) from being provided to: (1) a municipality or a zip code (eligible entity), other than an entity that is designated an Economic Free Zone by this Act; (2) a municipality that is a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding; or (3) a municipality that is insolvent.

Sets forth requirements for the designation of an eligible entity that is a municipality as an Economic Freedom Zone for a 10-year period, including bankruptcy eligibility, insolvency, or pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax incentives for investment in an Economic Freedom Zone, including; (1) a 5% flat tax rate on the taxable income of individuals and corporations, (2) a 0% capital gains tax rate for gain from the sale or exchange of Economic Freedom Zone assets or real property, (3) reduced employment tax rates, and (4) an increase in the expensing allowance for business property in an Economic Freedom Zone.

Exempts an area designated as an Economic Freedom Zone from: (1) compliance with specified environmental regulations, (2) requirements applicable to a National Heritage Area, and (3) wage rate requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a tax credit, up to $5,000 in a taxable year for the elementary and secondary education expenses of a student attending a public, private, or religious school whose principal residence is located in an Economic Freedom Zone; (2) a tax-exempt Economic Freedom Zone educational savings account for individuals whose principal residence is located in an Economic Freedom Zone; and (3) a tax credit, in lieu of a tax deduction, for contributions to a charitable organization serving individuals in an Economic Freedom Zone.

Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow a special allocation of grant funds under such Act for the benefit of children from families residing in an Economic Freedom Zone whose incomes are below the federal poverty level.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, to issue Special Economic Freedom Zone Visas to aliens meeting certain educational and skill requirements who intend to enter the United States to invest in an Economic Freedom Zone.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that state and local governments should review and adopt specified policy recommendations relating to pension reform, tax reduction, adoption of school choice options, adoption of right-to-work laws, streamlining the regulatory burden, and reducing or fixing abandoned structures.

Date: 2015-03-18
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Targeted Employment Areas Improvement Act

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase the number of fiscal year EB-5 (employment creation) visas for qualified immigrants who invest in a new commercial enterprise which, in addition to creating jobs in a targeted employment area, will invest the required capital in such area.

Designation of a high unemployment area as a targeted employment area shall be valid for renewable five-year periods.

Date: 2015-10-01
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Immigration
Small Business Transforming America's Regions Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to include in the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program a qualified area designated by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in response to a petition by the governor of a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory.

With respect to HUBZones located in census tracts or nonmetropolitan counties that cease to qualify according to the ordinary criteria for the HUBZone program but are "redesignated" to qualify for it, the bill increases the length of time a census tract or nonmetropolitan county may be so redesignated from three years to seven years after the date on which the area ceased to qualify for the HUBZone program according to the ordinary criteria.

This increased length of time for a census tract or nonmetropolitan county shall apply only to those that become redesignated areas within three years before enactment of this bill.

The SBA may designate, in response to a governor's petition, only a nonmetropolitan county that:

 has a median household income less than 90% of the state median household income; has an unemployment rate at least 120% percent of the average U.S. or state unemployment rate, whichever is less; or meets other SBA criteria. A governor may not file a petition for more than 30% of the total number of nonmetropolitan counties in the state.

The SBA shall establish procedures to:

 ensure that it accepts petitions from all states each fiscal year, and give an interested governor technical assistance before a petition is filed. (Sec. 3) The bill revises application of the 30-day period for filing a petition with the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals for reconsideration of a small business concern size standard.

No such petition may be filed until on or after the effective date of regulations for establishing the procedures for reconsideration of a size standard.

Any person filing a petition relating to a size standard revised, modified, or established between November 25, 2015, and the effective date of such regulations must file the petition within 30 days after that effective date.

(Sec. 4) A prime federal contractor shall, within 14 days after completion of a subcontract, give a past performance rating for the Contractor Performance Assessment Rating System, the Past Performance Information Retrieval System, or any successor system for any subcontractor (whether or not a small business concern) used in performing the federal contract as part of the prime contractor's performance reporting. Failure of the prime contractor to enter the subcontractor's past performance rating shall be considered in evaluating the primer contractor's past performance. A federal agency shall use a small business subcontractor's past performance rating in determining whether to award the subcontractor a prime contract. (Sec. 5) The bill adds the SBA Administrator to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council.

Date: 2016-04-21
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Commerce
Investing in Opportunity Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the designation of opportunity zones in low-income communities and to provide tax incentives for investments in the zones, including deferring the recognition of capital gains that are reinvested in the zones.

Governors may submit nominations for a limited number of opportunity zones to the Department of the Treasury for certification and designation. Governors must give particular consideration to areas that:

 are currently the focus of mutually reinforcing state, local, or private economic development initiatives to attract investment and foster startup activity; have demonstrated success in geographically targeted development programs such as promise zones, the new markets tax credit, empowerment zones, and renewal communities; and have recently experienced significant layoffs due to business closures or relocations. Treasury must designate zones if a governor fails to submit nominations within a specified period of time.

The bill defines opportunity funds as any investment vehicle organized as a corporation or a partnership to invest in opportunity zones that holds at least 90% of its assets in opportunity zone assets.

Taxpayers may temporarily defer the recognition of capital gains that are invested in opportunity zones or opportunity funds. Investments that are held for at least five years are eligible for capital gains tax reductions or exemptions, depending on how long the investment is held.

Treasury must report to Congress on the opportunity zone incentives enacted in this bill, including an assessment of opportunity fund investments at the national and state levels.

Date: 2016-04-27
Topic: Housing (Urban Development)
Subject: Taxation
Stabilizing Affordable Housing for the Future Act - Amends the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 and the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to: (1) repeal certain conditions on the authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to manage multifamily projects; and (2) authorize the Secretary to provide grants (including up-front grants) and loans from the General Insurance Fund when managing and disposing of such properties. Instructs the Secretary to maintain rental assistance payments for dwelling units in any multifamily property program administered by the Secretary. Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to redefine loan market value and property market value with respect to physically distressed properties sold by HUD in discount sales. Repeals the requirement not to take any affordability requirements into account in such valuation. Requires such values to be determined using industry standard appraisal practices. Amends the Multifamily Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1981 to declare that Congress finds that mortgages transferred by the Secretary to state and local governments should be foreclosed in the same manner as mortgages held by the Secretary. Makes the entity designating the foreclosure commissioner (entity), whether the Secretary (as under current law) or any state or local government transferee, the guarantor of payment of any judgment against the foreclosure commissioner for damages based upon failure properly to perform the commissioner's duties. Makes such entity bear the risk of any financial default by the foreclosure commissioner. Declares that the entity shall be fully subrogated to the rights satisfied by such payment, in the event that any guarantee payments are made. Directs the Secretary to issue a proposed rulemaking that applies certain statutory participation and certification requirements to potential purchasers of multifamily housing with a mortgage insured under the National Housing Act, or for which assistance is provided under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937. Requires the Secretary to post on a World Wide Web site information regarding multifamily housing properties for which: (1) federal rental assistance is provided; (2) other rental assistance or a subsidy is provided under a program administered by the Secretary; or (3) a mortgage is insured under the National Housing Act .

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Community Partners Next Door Act of 2007 - Amends the National Housing Act to provide: (1) a 50% discount for teachers, teacher assistants, administrators, and public safety officers purchasing certain eligible asset properties for use as their primary residence; (2) a $100 downpayment on any related insured mortgage; and (3) a higher Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limit for such purchases in high-cost areas. Authorizes such sales directly to a qualifying individual or to a unit of local government or a nonprofit organization for resale to such individual. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a program to inform teachers and public safety officers about such program.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Public Housing Drug Elimination Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to authorize appropriations for the assisted housing drug elimination program. Limits activities for programs designed to reduce drug use in and around assisted low-income housing to: (1) providing drug abuse treatment through rehabilitation or relapse prevention; (2) providing education about the dangers and consequences of drug use or violent crime; (3) identifying drug users, and assisting drug use discontinuance through education or treatment programs; (4) providing after school youth activities; and (5) providing capital improvements and security services to discourage or eliminate drug use or violent crime.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Housing Opportunities Made Easier Act, or the HOME Act - Instructs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to: (1) provide 150,000 incremental vouchers to public housing agencies in FY2008 for tenant-based rental housing assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937; and (2) renew such vouchers in each ensuing fiscal year.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Housing Authority Funding Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to: (1) repeal tenant-based contract renewals by application of an inflation factor; and (2) authorize FY2008-FY2012 appropriations for tenant-based rental assistance (vouchers). Prescribes requirements for renewal funding for each public housing agency.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Pathway to Preservation Act of 2007 - Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to redefine "loan market value," which currently means the value of a multifamily (rental or cooperative housing project) loan, without taking into account any affordability requirements. Repeals the condition that affordability requirements not be taken into account. Defines "loan market value" as the value of a multifamily (rental or cooperative housing project) loan using industry standard appraisal practices, including consideration of the cost of repairs needed for the property subject to the loan to comply with minimum safety and building standards and the cost of maintaining the affordability restrictions applicable under the original loan or grant for the property. Redefines "property market value," which currently means the value of a multifamily (rental or cooperative housing project) real property for its current use, without taking into account any affordability requirements. Repeals the condition that affordability requirements not be taken into account. Defines "property market value" as the value of a multifamily (rental or cooperative housing project) real property for its current use, as determined using industry standard appraisal practices, including consideration of the cost of repairs needed for the property subject to the loan to comply with minimum safety and building standards and the cost of maintaining the affordability restrictions applicable under the original loan or grant for the property.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Community Restoration and Revitalization Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an increased rehabilitation tax credit for certain low-income buildings; (2) allow a basis reduction adjustment for property eligible for the credit; (3) increase the credit for certain smaller buildings; (4) allow property eligible for the credit to be used for lodging purposes; (5) modify placed-in-service rules for credit property; (6) modify qualification rules for credit property that is tax-exempt use property; (7) increase the credit for buildings in high cost areas; and (8) exempt certain condominium transactions from rehabilitation tax credit recapture requirements.

Date: 2007-02-14
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
Public Housing Equal Treatment Act of 2007 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to instruct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), when determining certain allocations for a public housing agency, to include as eligible units all public housing dwelling units that: (1) are owned by the public housing agency at the time of such determination; and (2) have previously received assistance under an agreement with HUD authorizing the agency to expend such funds on behalf of the units.

Date: 2007-02-28
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Military Access to Housing Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude military basic housing allowances from income for purposes of establishing eligibility for housing in qualified residential rental projects.

Date: 2007-03-12
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
Affordable Housing Preservation Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue to exclude from gross income gain from the sale or exchange of certain multifamily housing property to a housing credit agency or related organization (preservation entity) that agrees to maintain certain affordability and use restrictions for such property. Limits the excludable amount of such gain to the depreciation adjustments for such property.

Date: 2007-03-13
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
Preservation Approval Process Improvement Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to suspend mandatory processing of Previous Participation Certificates under the Automated Partners Performance System and permit paper filings of such certificates until the Secretary: (1) revises the December 2006 draft of specified proposed regulations to eliminate unnecessary burdens and disincentives for program participants; and (2) submits such revised draft proposed regulations to certain congressional committees for review.Instructs the Secretary also to suspend immediately all filing requirements under the Previous Participation Certificate process with respect to limited liability corporate investors who own or expect to own an interest in entities which are allowed or are expected to be allowed specified low-income housing tax credits under the Internal Revenue Code.

Date: 2007-03-26
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007 - Amends the National Housing Act to: (1) modify guidelines governing the maximum principal loan obligation; (2) extend the mortgage term; and (3) revise requirements for cash payment by the mortgagor in the eligibility criteria for mortgage insurance. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reinstate the current downpayment requirement in the event of increased defaults. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a mortgage insurance premium structure involving a single premium payment collected prior to the insurance of the mortgage that may vary during the mortgage term as long as the basis for determining the variable rate is established before the execution of the mortgage. Sets forth maximum up-front premium amounts. Permits the Secretary to insure any mortgage covering a one-family unit in a condominium project if the project has a certain HUD-insured blanket mortgage. Revises requirements for the Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund. Limits the authority of the Secretary to enter into commitments for loan guarantees. Makes insurance of a Native Hawaiian or Indian reservation mortgage the obligation of the MMI Fund (instead of the General Insurance Fund). Eliminates the limitation placed upon the aggregate number of home equity conversion mortgages insured under the Act. Authorizes the Secretary to insure a home equity conversion mortgage when its primary purpose is to enable an elderly mortgagor to purchase a one- to four-family dwelling in which the mortgagor will occupy one of the units. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements to insure temporarily certain mortgages for a single family residence located within a presidentially declared major disaster area. Redefines mortgagee to allow participation in the federal mortgage insurance program by state-licensed mortgage brokers and correspondent lenders who make, underwrite, or service mortgage loans.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development