Taxation

Philanthropic Enterprise Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2016

Philanthropic Enterprise Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt the holdings of a private foundation in any business enterprise that meet specified requirements relating to exclusive ownership, minimum distribution of net operating income for the charitable purpose (all profits to charity distribution requirement), and independent operation (not controlled by a substantial contributor or family members) from the excise taxes on excess business holdings.

No Hires for the Delinquent Congress Act

United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2016

No Hires for the Delinquent Congress Act This bill prohibits any legislative branch office from extending an offer of employment to any individual until the applicable certifying official (the Speaker of the House and/or the President pro tempore of the Senate) submits to Congress either: (1) a written certification that the office does not employ any individual who has a seriously delinquent tax debt, or (2) a report detailing why the certification cannot be made. The certifying official's report when such a certification is not made must: state that the certification cannot be made, explain why the certification is not possible, outline remedial actions required for the certifying official to be in a position to so certify, and indicate the time required for those actions to be completed. A seriously delinquent tax debt is an outstanding tax debt for which the Internal Revenue Service has filed a notice of lien in public records, excluding a tax debt: (1) that is being paid in a timely manner under an approved installment payment agreement or an offer-in-compromise, (2) for which a collection due process hearing has been requested or is pending, (3) for which a tax levy has been issued, or (4) with respect to which relief has been granted due to economic hardship.

Stop Animal Fat Tax Credits Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2016

Stop Animal Fat Tax Credits Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make fuels derived from animal fats ineligible for the tax credits for: (1) biodiesel and renewable diesel, and (2) alternative fuels.

Steel Industry Preservation Act

United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2016

Steel Industry Preservation Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend and modify the production tax credit for steel industry fuel. (Under current law, steel industry fuel is a fuel which is: (1) produced through a process of liquefying coal waste sludge and distributing it on coal, and (2) used as a feedstock for the manufacture of coke.) The bill modifies the tax credit for steel industry fuel to: extend the credit period and the placed-in-service date, revise the definition of "steel industry fuel" to allow blends of coal and petroleum coke or other coke feedstock in the fuel, set forth ownership requirements, and specify requirements for treating an owner as producing and selling steel industry fuel. A taxpayer that produces steel industry fuel may elect to accept an increased tax credit in lieu of certain deductions for expenses in connection with the production of steel industry fuel. The bill specifies the treatment of the credit for the purpose of the alternative minimum tax. It also exempts transactions related to steel industry fuel from rules that restrict deductions and other tax benefits for activities that are not engaged in for profit or that do not have economic substance.

Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2016

Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the estate and gift taxes. For the estate tax, the bill increases the rates and decreases the amount that is excluded from the tax. For the gift tax, the bill establishes a separate lifetime exclusion amount. (Under current law, the estate and gift taxes share a unified exclusion amount.)

EXAMINING THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

United States · United States Senate · 19 April 2016

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2016

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 This bill authorizes FY2017 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation. The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for: Procurement; Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; Operation and Maintenance; Working Capital Funds; the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction; Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities; the Defense Inspector General; the Defense Health Program; the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and Overseas Contingency Operations. The bill also authorizes the FY2017 personnel strengths for active duty and reserve forces and sets forth policies regarding: military personnel, compensation and other personnel benefits, health care, acquisition policy and management, DOD organization and management, civilian personnel matters, and matters relating to foreign nations. Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2016 The bill establishes paid parental leave for certain federal and congressional employees. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 The bill authorizes FY2017 appropriations and sets forth policies for Military Construction, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program, and Base Realignment and Closure Activities. Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 2016 This bill establishes a process and an independent commission for considering the closure and realignment of certain U.S. military installations.

Preventing Iran's Access to United States Dollars Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2016

Preventing Iran's Access to United States Dollars Act of 2016 This bill prohibits the President from issuing a license that permits a person to: conduct an offshore U.S. dollar clearing system for transactions involving the government of Iran or an Iranian person, or provide U.S. dollars for any offshore U.S. dollar clearing system conducted by a foreign government or a foreign financial institution for transactions involving the government of Iran or an Iranian person. The Department of the Treasury shall report to Congress: a list of financial institutions operating or participating in an offshore U.S. dollar clearing system that conducts transactions involving the government of Iran or an Iranian person, and an assessment of Treasury efforts to prevent such transactions. The President shall block and prohibit all transactions in property and property interests of any listed institution if the property and interests: (1) are in the United States, (2) come within the United States, or (3) are or come within the possession or control of a U.S. person. The President may impose additional sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 is amended to subject to sanctions: (1) u-turn transactions (fund transfers from a foreign bank that pass through a U.S. financial institution and are then transferred to a second foreign bank), and (2) book transfers (fund transfers for the benefit of an Iranian financial institution made between accounts of the same financial institution).

SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize and make permanent the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The bill specifies budget amounts for the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to obligate for expenditure with small business concerns under the SBIR and STTR programs. The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall modify certain policy directives to eliminate automatic annual inflation adjustments to awards under Phases I and II of the SBIR program. The bill makes the Commercialization Development Awards pilot program permanent. The national small business goal for federal agency research and development programs shall be at least 10% for FY2018 and ensuing fiscal years. Annual reports to Congress on the SBIR and STTR programs shall include information regarding awards under the Rapid Innovation Program under the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. An SBIR or STTR award may cover the indirect cost of seeking protection for intellectual property created through work performed under it. The Government Accountability Office shall audit annually federal government compliance with SBIR and STTR goals and incentives. Federal agencies and prime contractors shall issue Phase III awards relating to technology, including sole source awards, to the SBIR and STTR award recipients that developed the technology. The SBA shall establish a Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program. The bill reauthorizes the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program through FY2021. The bill establishes an SBIR and STTR Interagency Policy Committee to: determine how to collect data on achievements by small business concerns in each phase of the programs; and establish a uniform baseline for metrics that support improving the solicitation, contracting, funding, and execution of program management.

Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to enter into a memorandum of understanding to: ensure that DOE has sufficient technical expertise to support the civilian nuclear industry's timely development and commercial deployment of safe, innovative advanced reactor technology; ensure that the NRC has sufficient technical expertise to support the evaluation of requests for regulatory approval for advanced reactors; use computers and software codes to calculate the behavior and performance of advanced reactors based on mathematical models of their physical behavior; and ensure that the DOE maintains and develops the facilities to support the civilian nuclear industry's timely development and commercial deployment of safe, innovative reactor technology and ensuring that the NRC has access to such facilities, as needed. DOE must submit a report to Congress within 180 days evaluating activities intended to facilitate the testing and demonstration of advanced reactors on DOE land and facilities and the potential for DOE to test and demonstrate on private land. In addition, the NRC is required to develop a regulatory framework for licensing advanced nuclear reactors. This bill amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to require that the aggregate amount of fees collected by the NRC from licensees and certificate holders in a fiscal year be decreased by the amount of appropriations for activities related to the development of regulatory infrastructure for advanced nuclear reactor technologies.

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1206) to prohibit the hiring of additional Internal Revenue Service employees until the Secretary of the Treasury certifies that no employee of the Internal Revenue Service has a seriously delinquent tax debt, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4885) to require that user fees collected by the Internal Revenue Service be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury.

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1206) to prohibit the hiring of additional Internal Revenue Service employees until the Secretary of the Treasury certifies that no employee of the Internal Revenue Service has a seriously delinquent tax debt, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4885) to require that user fees collected by the Internal Revenue Service be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury.

Multi-State Worker Tax Fairness Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

Multi-State Worker Tax Fairness Act of 2016 This bill prohibits a state from imposing an income tax on the compensation of a nonresident individual for any period in which such individual is not physically present in or working in such state or from deeming such nonresident individual to be present in or working in such state on the grounds that: (1) such individual is present at or working at home for convenience, or (2) such individual's work at home fails any convenience of the employer test or any similar test.

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to preserve taxpayers' rights to administrative appeal of deficiency determinations, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish new procedures and requirements for administrative appeals of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) deficiency determinations. If the IRS determines that there is a deficiency with respect to a tax imposed, it may send a notice of deficiency to a taxpayer after: the taxpayer has been issued a letter of proposed deficiency that explains the basis for the determination of deficiency and provides an opportunity for administrative review in the IRS Office of Appeals; and either: (1) the time provided in the letter for contacting the office has expired and the taxpayer has not contacted the office, or (2) the office has issued a decision with respect to the deficiency. The bill includes exceptions to these requirements for frivolous tax positions and issues in cases designated for litigation. The IRS must permit a taxpayer to appeal a deficiency prior to issuing a deficiency notice if 60 or fewer days remain on the statute of limitations and the taxpayer agrees to extend the period for 12 months. The bill modifies appeals dispute resolution procedures. It also restricts the authority of the IRS to: (1) designate cases for litigation without permitting an appeal, or (2) offer settlement agreements that preclude an appeal. The bill modifies the authority of the IRS to issue a summons and limits the access that people outside of the IRS have to returns and return information acquired by a summons.

Strengthening Charities Through Transparency Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

Strengthening Charities Through Transparency Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require tax-exempt organizations to file their returns in electronic form. The Internal Revenue Service must make the returns available to the public in a machine readable format as soon as practicable. Upon the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ), states must make available information on charities or charity management officials who have been convicted of fraud, theft, or a financial offense. DOJ must: (1) establish a database that lists each such charity or charity management official, and (2) provide the information to state attorneys general for regulatory and law enforcement purposes.

Multi-State Worker Tax Fairness Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2016

Multi-State Worker Tax Fairness Act of 2016 This bill prohibits a state from imposing an income tax on the compensation of a nonresident individual for any period in which such individual is not physically present in or working in such state or from deeming such nonresident individual to be present in or working in such state on the grounds that: (1) such individual is present at or working at home for convenience, or (2) such individual's work at home fails any convenience of the employer test or any similar test.

Directed Energy Weapon Systems Acquisition Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2016

Directed Energy Weapon Systems Acquisition Act of 2016 This bill amends the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 to state that, if supplies or support services are urgently needed to eliminate a deficiency in directed energy weapon systems, the Department of Defense (DOD) may use specified rapid acquisition procedures to acquire and deploy needed offensive or defensive directed energy weapon systems capabilities, supplies, and associated support services. "Directed energy weapon system" means military action using highly focused sound, electromagnetic, or particle-beam energy to incapacitate, damage, or destroy enemy equipment, facilities, or personnel. The bill redesignates DOD's High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office as the Joint Directed Energy Program Office. The Office shall: (1) develop a strategic plan for development and transition of directed energy weapons capabilities, and (2) use new and revised DOD policies to accelerate the development and transition of directed energy capabilities toward fielding.

Investing in Older Americans Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2016

Investing in Older Americans Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) permanent and expand it to include the hiring of older long-term unemployment recipients. (The WOTC permits employers that hire individuals with certain personal characteristics to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals.) A qualified older long-term unemployment recipient is an individual who is certified by the designated local agency as: being at least 55 years of age on the hiring date, and qualified as a long-term unemployment recipient under current law by being unemployed for at least 27 consecutive weeks and receiving state or federal unemployment compensation during that period. The bill limits to $14,000 the amount of the qualified first-year wages which may be taken into account under the WOTC for a qualified older long-term unemployment recipient.

Expanding Penalty Free Withdrawal Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2016

Expanding Penalty Free Withdrawal Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the exceptions that permit penalty-free distributions to unemployed individuals from retirement plans. The 10% additional tax on early distributions from retirement plans does not apply to an individual after separation from employment if: (1) the individual has received federal or state unemployment compensation for 26 consecutive weeks or, if less, the maximum period available under state law, and (2) the distributions are made during the year or the succeeding year in which the compensation is paid. The exception is limited to the lesser of: (1) $50,000 from all plans of the individual over a one-year period, or (2) the greater of $10,000 or one-half of the fair market value of the individual's retirement plans and the nonforfeitable portion of the individual's defined contribution plans. The exception does not apply to distributions that are: (1) included in the existing exception for distributions to unemployed individuals for health insurance premiums, or (2) are made after the individual has been employed for at least 60 days after the separation.

Individual Refund Security Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2016

Individual Refund Security Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit tax refunds from being issued to prepaid debit cards, unless: (1) the Department of the Treasury has verified the identity of the account holder, and (2) the refund is issued no earlier than 21 days after the date on which the tax return is filed. Treasury must conduct the verification required by this bill in the same manner that is used to verify the identity of account holders suspected of being victims of identity theft.

[H.A.S.C. No. 114-120] HEARING ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017 AND OVERSIGHT OF PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED PROGRAMS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION

United States · United States House of Representatives · 14 April 2016

American Space Renaissance Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

American Space Renaissance Act This bill directs the President to develop: a doctrine for the Armed Forces and the intelligence community governing the U.S. response to efforts by state and nonstate actors deliberately to deny the United States or its allies or partners access to space or space operations, or degrade or destroy any of their government or commercial space assets; and a doctrine for the Armed Forces with respect to the rules of engagement for space forces. The Department of Defense (DOD) shall designate a DOD official to be Principal Defense Space Advisor on all space matters. DOD shall: develop and implement a strategy to increase interoperability across DOD space and cyberspace enterprises between systems that electronically share cyberspace situational awareness and space situational awareness data, and assess desirable protection capabilities to enhance integration of commercial space systems into national security space architectures. The President shall establish a National Executive Committee on Weather. DOD shall: develop a follow-on geomagnetic storm warning capability, carry out a pilot program to assess the potential viability of using commercial weather data in DOD weather modeling and forecasting, and establish a program to award up to four launch services contracts for venture-class launch missions. The Air Force shall contract with a private entity to carry out Satellite Control Network operations. The bill requires U.S. aeronautical and space activities to contribute materially to: the expansion of the human sphere of influence throughout the Solar System, being among the first to arrive at a destination in space and open it for subsequent use and development, and creation of infrastructure precursors to support future use and development of space. The bill establishes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Leadership and Advising Commission. NASA shall develop: a 20-year plan that outlines broad goals, including a designated five-year range for American astronauts to land on Mars; a 10-year plan that in part addresses the efficacy of the Asteroid Redirect Mission; multi-year budgets beginning in FY2018. NASA shall: formulate a plan for the remaining life of the International Space Station and continued human presence in low-Earth orbit, and establish a Commercial Habitat Pilot Program to demonstrate the viability of using commercially built on-orbit habitats to meet NASA human exploration and science missions. The bill establishes an Office of Commercial Space Transportation within the Department of Transportation (DOT), which shall in turn establish within it an Office of Spaceports to support and establish domestic commercial spaceports. DOT shall also designate a lead government agency for space traffic management activities and services. The Department of State shall seek to convene a meeting of nations to develop a unified space traffic management regime. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the Department of Commerce shall promulgate rules regarding its treatment of weather data acquired from commercial space-based systems. Commerce shall report on the feasibility and benefits of reorganizing the Department to better coordinate and support its space-related economic and regulatory activities. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for 10% of the insured value of all payloads launched by a licensed domestic launch provider or on a launch vehicle meeting Buy American requirements Commerce shall make loan guarantees to a domestic commercial entity or a Federal Aviation Administation-licensed spaceport to promote job creation in the U.S. space sector and encourage startup companies. DOT shall establish a program to allow commercial entities to operate space training flights. The Internal Revenue Code is amended to allow an individual to elect to include in gross income gains from the sale or other disposal of stock or option-related compensation received for services rendered from a startup domestic commercial space company.

Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to include Indian tribal governments in an annual allocation of a national tax-exempt bond volume cap. The bill repeals provisions that limit an Indian tribal government's eligibility to issue tax-exempt bonds or to be exempt from specified excise taxes to transactions involving the exercise of an essential government function customarily performed by state and local governments. The bill amends the IRC and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to treat employee benefit or pension plans maintained by Indian tribes and domestic relations orders issued pursuant to tribal law in the same manner as plans maintained by states and domestic relations orders issued pursuant to state law. The bill treats tribal charities and foundations in the same manner as charities and foundations funded and controlled by other governmental entities for purposes of the tax-exempt status of, and deduction for contributions to, such organizations. The bill amends the Social Security Act to give Indian tribes or tribal organizations access to the Federal Parent Locator Service if they are eligible for a grant to operate a child support enforcement program. It makes those tribes and tribal organizations eligible to participate in the program that collects past-due support from individual tax refunds. An Indian tribal government may determine whether a child has special needs for the purpose of the tax credit for the adoption of a child with special needs.

Main Street Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Main Street Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and (2) make permanent the maximum 35% gift tax rate and the lifetime gift tax exemption, with adjustments for inflation. The Paperwork Reduction Act is amended to direct federal agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses unless specified criteria are met. The Department of Labor shall study the effects of occupational licensing requirements to determine how they may affect public safety and the service quality of certain occupations, and impose barriers to entry for establishing small businesses, among other negative effects. The Internal Revenue Code is further amended to revise the formula for counting the hours of service of non-full-time employees in determining whether an employer is a large employer for health coverage purposes. An individual or an eligible small business may enter into an agreement with the Department of the Treasury to establish in a bank or other eligible trust a small business start-up savings account for tax-deductible annual contributions by the account beneficiary. The sanctions requirements of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are revised to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Requires any sanction to compensate parties injured by the conduct in question. The Internal Revenue Code is further amended to: allow businesses with average annual gross receipts of not more than $50 million that prevail to recover their costs in any administrative or court proceeding involving the determination, collection, or refund of tax, interest, or penalty; increase the amount of civil damages against Internal Revenue Service officers or employees for reckless, intentional, or negligent disregard of internal revenue laws, and extend the statute of limitations for bringing a claim; and increase the penalties against federal officers or employees for unlawful acts in connection with internal revenue laws and for unauthorized disclosures or inspections of tax returns.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide for balanced budgets for the Government.

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Constitutional Amendment This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three-fifths of each chamber of Congress authorizes the excess with a rollcall vote. The authorization must include an adequate increase in the debt limit for the specific excess of outlays. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing. The President must submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Total outlays for the Social Security trust funds over 75 years must not exceed total receipts for 75 years, unless three-fifths of each chamber of Congress authorizes the specific excess by a rollcall vote. Congress may waive the requirements by a rollcall vote for any year in which a declaration of war is in effect. The waiver must: (1) identify and be limited to the outlays necessary for the war, and (2) include an adequate increase in the debt limit for the specific excess of outlays.

Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of an individual the discharge of student loans or private education loans due to the death or disability of the student. The bill also amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education (ED) to discharge the liability on loans that parents received on behalf of a student who: (1) has become permanently and totally disabled, or (2) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to a physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or has lasted or is expected to last continuously for at least 60 months. (Under current law, ED is required to discharge the loans to parents if the student dies.)

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income any AmeriCorps educational awards provided under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.

Artist-Museum Partnership Act of 2015

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Artist-Museum Partnership Act of 2015 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers who create literary, musical, artistic, scholarly compositions, or similar property a fair market value (determined at the time of contribution) tax deduction for contributions of such properties, the copyrights thereon, or both, to certain tax-exempt organizations, if such properties are properly appraised and are donated no less than 18 months after their creation. The bill limits the amount of the deduction based upon the donor's artistic adjusted gross income, as defined by this bill.

EARN IT Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Enhancing Advancement, Reducing Noncompliance, and Improving Trust Act or the EARN IT Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for individuals with no qualifying children and to establish additional requirements for claiming the EITC and the child tax credit. The bill modifies the EITC for individuals with no qualifying children by: increasing the credit and phaseout percentages, increasing the earned income and phaseout amounts, reducing the minimum age to claim the credit, and modifying the formula for inflation adjustments. For a qualifying child to be taken into account for the EITC, a tax return must include a certification of the child's residency. The bill prohibits the refundable portion of the child tax credit (commonly referred to as the additional child tax credit) from being claimed for a qualifying child unless the tax return includes a valid social security number for the child. The bill increases from two to five years the disallowance period for taxpayers who improperly claim the EITC due to reckless or intentional disregard of rules and regulations.

DELIVER Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Delivering Elderly Lunches and Increasing Volunteer Engagement and Reimbursements Act of 2016 or the DELIVER Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the standard mileage rate for the tax deduction for the charitable use of a passenger automobile to deliver meals to homebound individuals who are elderly, disabled, frail, or at risk. The bill increases the rate from the standard charitable rate of 14 cents per mile to the standard business mileage rate, which is 54 cents per mile for 2016.

Free File Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Free File Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to continue to operate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Free File Program. The program must work with state government agencies to enhance and expand the use of the program, while continuing to: provide free commercial-type online individual income tax preparation and electronic filing services to the lowest 70% of taxpayers by income; provide all taxpayers (regardless of income) with a basic, online electronic fillable forms utility; and work with the private sector to provide the free tax preparation and electronic filing services. Treasury must work with the private sector through the program to identify and implement innovative new program features to improve and simplify the taxpayer's experience with completing and filing individual income tax returns. The IRS and members of the tax software and electronic industry involved in the program must support and promote improvements within the program by mutually testing, piloting, and offering innovative solutions to: simplify the tax system, reduce compliance and reporting burdens, increase tax return accuracy through financial data authentication, strengthen the tax system against fraud through cybersecurity collaboration, avoid duplication, and maximize the use of electronic technology.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States Senate · 13 April 2016

Ditto Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2016

Ditto Act of 2016 This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to maintain preserved records for at least three years after obtaining the record. A preserved record is any record maintained by a person other than the federal government pursuant to a rule, guidance, or other directive from the IRS recommending or requiring that the person maintain records for a particular period of time on a particular matter.

Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2016

Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to establish and implement a Refund to Rainy Day Savings Program to permit a taxpayer to defer payment on 20% of a tax refund to be deposited into a Treasury account, accumulate interest, and disbursed to the taxpayer in six months. The bill also amends the Assets for Independence Act to reauthorize the Assets for Independence (AFI) federal matched savings program through FY2021 and require appropriations for the program to be reserved for: general research and evaluation, grants for AFI innovation projects to expand the availability of matched savings accounts to low-income individuals, and a three-year pilot program to evaluate savings matches for low-income taxpayers. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish a three-year matched savings account pilot program to encourage savings by low-income taxpayers. Under the program, HHS may provide grants to qualified entities to match funds saved by low-income taxpayers under the Refund to Rainy Day Savings Program. Qualified entities for the pilot program include: nonprofit organizations, state or local government agencies or tribal governments applying with a nonprofit organization, sites that offer free tax assistance under certain Internal Revenue Service programs, and low-income credit unions and community development financial institutions that work with a local community-based organization to address poverty and the needs of community members for economic independence and stability. HHS must: (1) contract with an independent research organization to evaluate the pilot program, and (2) report annually to Congress on the progress and outcomes of the pilot program.

SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2016

SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize and make permanent the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The bill specifies budget amounts for the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to obligate for expenditure with small business concerns under the SBIR and STTR programs. The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall modify certain policy directives to eliminate automatic annual inflation adjustments to awards under Phases I and II of the SBIR program. The bill makes the Commercialization Development Awards pilot program permanent. The national small business goal for federal agency research and development programs shall be at least 10% for FY2018 and ensuing fiscal years. Annual reports to Congress on the SBIR and STTR programs shall include information regarding awards under the Rapid Innovation Program under the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. An SBIR or STTR award may cover the indirect cost of seeking protection for intellectual property created through work performed under it. The Government Accountability Office shall audit annually federal government compliance with SBIR and STTR goals and incentives. Federal agencies and prime contractors shall issue Phase III awards relating to technology, including sole source awards, to the SBIR and STTR award recipients that developed the technology. The SBA shall establish a Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program. The bill reauthorizes the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program through FY2021. The bill establishes an SBIR and STTR Interagency Policy Committee to: determine how to collect data on achievements by small business concerns in each phase of the programs; and establish a uniform baseline for metrics that support improving the solicitation, contracting, funding, and execution of program management.

Rapid Innovation Fund Enhancement Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2016

Rapid Innovation Fund Enhancement Act of 2016 This bill amends the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 to require that the Defense Research and Development Rapid Innovation program be coordinated with the senior acquisition executives of the departments, agencies, and components of the Department of Defense (DOD). For FY2017 and each fiscal year thereafter, DOD shall obligate for eligible program technologies a minimum of 1% of the aggregate DOD research, development, test, and evaluation budget available for projects and activities at the level of Advanced Component Development Prototypes and above. DOD shall: (1) provide Congress with annual project briefings, and (2) issue additional program operations guidelines. "Eligible technology" means: a technology that has received a phase II award under the Small Business Innovation Research program or the Small Business Technology Transfer program, a technology developed by a nontraditional defense contractor, a technology developed by the defense laboratories, or any other innovative technology as determined by DOD.

Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2016

Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to establish and operate the following programs free of charge: online tax preparation and filing software, a program for taxpayers to download third-party provided return information relating to individual income tax returns, and a program to permit individuals with simplified tax situations to elect to have the IRS prepare their returns. The IRS may not enter into any agreement which restricts its legal right to provide tax return preparation services, software, or tax return filing services. An individual participating in the programs established by this bill must verify their identity to the satisfaction of the IRS.

Wine Excise Tax Modernization Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2016

Wine Excise Tax Modernization Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify excise taxes and tax credits that apply to wine. The bill expands the small wine producer tax credit to include anyone who produces wine in or imports wine into the United States. It also sets forth: (1) rates for the credit based on the amount of wine which is removed during the year for consumption or sale, and (2) adjustments to the credit for hard cider. The bill increases: (1) the percentage of alcohol by volume limitation for taxation of a still wine, and (2) the carbonation limitation for taxation as still wine. It reduces the excise tax rates on: (1) champagne and other sparkling wines, and (2) artificially carbonated wines.

STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States Senate · 12 April 2016

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States Senate · 12 April 2016

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017 AND THE FUTURE YEARS DEFENSE PROGRAM

United States · United States Senate · 12 April 2016

MEGABYTE Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Making Electronic Government Accountable By Yielding Tangible Efficiencies Act of 2016 or the MEGABYTE Act of 2016 This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue a directive to require the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of each executive agency to develop a comprehensive software licensing policy, which shall: (1) require the CIO of each agency to establish a comprehensive inventory of software licenses; (2) track and maintain such licenses; (3) analyze software usage to make cost-effective decisions; (4) provide software license management training; (5) establish goals and objectives of the agency's software license management program; and (6) consider the software license management life cycle phases to implement effective decision making and incorporate existing standards, processes, and metrics. The CIO of each executive agency must report to OMB, beginning in the first fiscal year after this Act's enactment and in each of the following five fiscal years, on the savings from improved software license management.

SOAR Reauthorization Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Reauthorization Act or the SOAR Reauthorization Act This bill repeals the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program School Certification Requirements Act, as contained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016. The Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR) is amended to limit its focus to students in the lowest-performing Washington, DC, elementary and secondary schools. The Department of Education (ED) shall not limit the number of eligible students receiving Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) scholarships, or prevent otherwise eligible students from participating in the OSP because of: the type of school the student previously attended; whether or not the individual previously received the scholarship or participated in OSP, including one previously awarded a scholarship who did not use it; or was a member of the control group used by the Institute of Education Sciences to carry out previous OSP evaluations. An eligible nonprofit organization's application for an OSP grant must include how it will ensure: the financial viability of a participating school in which 85% or more of enrolled students receive and use an opportunity scholarship, utilization of internal fiscal and quality controls and compliance with financial reporting requirements. Priorities for the award of scholarships are modified to give priority to: students who in the preceding school year attended a low-achieving elementary or secondary school, and certain students regardless of whether they have attended a private school. OSP-participating schools must: ensure that participating students are taught core subject matter by a teacher with a baccalaureate or equivalent degree, conduct criminal background checks on school employees who have direct and unsupervised interactions with students, and comply with all requests for data and information regarding certain reporting requirements. Participating private schools must be provisionally or fully accredited or in the process of seeking accreditation. ED must make OSP funds available to eligible entities receiving a grant for administrative expenses and parental education and assistance. Previously unobligated OSP funds must be used for additional scholarships (95%) and administrative expenses (5%). The bill revises current OSP evaluation procedures. The specified authorized OSP funds that ED may withhold for noncompliance with SOAR requirements shall be differentiated based on whether the noncompliance relates to the DC public schools, to the DC public charter schools, or to both. Funds provided under this Act to support DC public charter schools may be directed to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education for transfer to subgrantee public charter schools or networks of such schools, or DC-based non-profit organizations with successful experience with them. ED and the Mayor shall revise a specified memorandum of understanding to ensure that participating schools meet fire code standards and maintain certificates of occupancy. The bill reauthorizes the OSP through FY2021.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 This bill authorizes FY2017 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation. The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for: Procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, space procurement, and other procurement; Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; Operation and Maintenance; Working Capital Funds; the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction; Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities; the Defense Inspector General; the Defense Health Program; the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and Overseas Contingency Operations. The bill also authorizes the FY2017 personnel strengths for active duty and reserve forces and sets forth policies regarding: military personnel, compensation and other personnel benefits, acquisition policy and management, civilian personnel matters, and matters relating to foreign nations. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 The bill authorizes FY2017 appropriations and sets forth policies for Military Construction for the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, defense agencies, international programs, Guard and Reserve Forces, and Base Realignment and Closure Activities.

PROMESA

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act or PROMESA This bill addresses Puerto Rico's debt by establishing an oversight board, a process for restructuring debt, and expedited procedures for approving critical infrastructure projects. The bill establishes the Financial Oversight and Management Board to oversee the development of budgets and fiscal plans for Puerto Rico's instrumentalities and government. The board may issue subpoenas, certify voluntary agreements between creditors and debtors, seek judicial enforcement of its authority, impose penalties, and enforce territorial laws prohibiting public sector employees from participating in strikes or lockouts. The board's responsibilities include: approving the governor's fiscal plan; approving annual budgets; enforcing budgets and ordering any necessary spending reductions; and reviewing laws, contracts, rules, and regulations for compliance with the fiscal plan. The bill establishes procedures and requirements for Puerto Rico to restructure its debt and designates the board as the representative of the debtor. The board may initiate a procedure for debt restructuring and submit or modify a plan of adjustment. The establishment of the board operates as an automatic stay of creditor actions to enforce claims against the government of Puerto Rico. The bill establishes a Revitalization Coordinator to designate critical infrastructure projects that address an infrastructure emergency, have access to private capital, and meet other requirements. Critical projects approved by the oversight board are eligible for an expedited permitting process. The board shall divide creditors into pools based on the characteristics of the debt, and each pool may vote on a plan to restructure the debt. If at least two-thirds of the outstanding principal amount of a pool agrees with the plan, the pool may file a petition in court to bind the dissenting bondholders to the modification.

To prohibit the use of funds by the Internal Revenue Service to target citizens of the United States for exercising any right guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

This bill prohibits the Internal Revenue Service from using funds to target U.S. citizens for exercising any right guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Internal Revenue Service should provide printed copies of Internal Revenue Service Publication 17 to taxpayers in the United States free of charge.

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should provide U.S. taxpayers with free printed copies of IRS Publication 17, which is entitled "Your Federal Income Tax" and provides individuals with general instructions for filing tax returns.

Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2016 This bill amends the Housing Act of 1949 to direct the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to extend rural housing vouchers to any low-income household (including those not receiving rental assistance) residing in a property financed with a loan made or insured for housing and related facilities for elderly or other low-income persons and families which has been prepaid, or which has matured, after September 30, 2005. No owner of a property financed with such a loan, whether outstanding or fully paid, may refuse to lease an available dwelling unit in the property to a household on behalf of whom a rural housing voucher assistance is provided, and enter into a voucher contract respecting that unit, if a proximate cause of that refusal is the current or prospective tenant's status as a holder of such a voucher. USDA may contract to make, make, and renew annual assistance payments to owners of projects originally financed with such a loan that has matured on or after enactment of this bill, and at rental rates commensurate to income. USDA shall establish uniform requirements, terms, and conditions for any sale or transfer of a property financed with such a loan to any entity, including a nonprofit organization, seeking to acquire it with a similar loan and any low-income housing tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code. USDA may also establish a Multifamily Housing Revitalization Program for the preservation and revitalization of multifamily housing projects funded with such loans, as well as with loans for housing and related facilities for domestic farm labor, to ensure that those projects have sufficient resources to provide safe and affordable housing for low-income residents and farm laborers.

Protections Against Terrorist Transfer Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Protections Against Terrorist Transfer Act of 2016 This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 to prohibit the use of funds made available to the Department of Defense (DOD) or to any other U.S. government entity to transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release of any individual detained at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the custody or control of any foreign country or other foreign entity unless DOD certifies to Congress that the individual no longer poses a threat to the security of the United States, its citizens, and its interests.

Directed Energy Weapon Systems Acquisition Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Directed Energy Weapon Systems Acquisition Act of 2016 This bill amends the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 to state that, if supplies or support services are urgently needed to eliminate a deficiency in directed energy weapon systems, the Department of Defense (DOD) may use specified rapid acquisition procedures to acquire and deploy needed offensive or defensive directed energy weapon systems capabilities, supplies, and associated support services. "Directed energy weapon system" means military action using highly focused sound, electromagnetic, or particle-beam energy to incapacitate, damage, or destroy enemy equipment, facilities, or personnel. The bill redesignates DOD's High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office as the Joint Directed Energy Program Office. The Office shall: (1) develop a strategic plan for development and transition of directed energy weapons capabilities, and (2) use new and revised DOD policies to accelerate the development and transition of directed energy capabilities toward fielding.

Housing Finance Restructuring Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Housing Finance Restructuring Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to modify the Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement for each of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (enterprises) to: reduce to zero (deem as repaid in full) the liquidation preference on the Variable Liquidation Preference Senior Preferred Stocks of each enterprise; require redemption of the Variable Liquidation Preference Senior Preferred Stock of each enterprise upon a specified date, deeming it no longer outstanding and terminating all rights of the stockholders. Treasury shall exercise the warrants for the purchase of common stock of the enterprises under the Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements. At any time an enterprise is not fully capitalized, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shall require that the net income (after deduction of all associated expenses) of each enterprise for the fiscal year be retained as capital reserves, and not be allocated to fund the Housing Trust Fund or the Capital Magnet Fund for affordable housing. The FHFA shall: report a capital restoration plan for each enterprise, and terminate the conservatorship of an enterprise when it attains an amount of capital equal to or exceeding 5% of its risk-weighted assets. Any individual or entity adversely affected or aggrieved by action or inaction on the part of the FHFA or Treasury in violation of this bill or the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 may commence a civil action in a U.S. district court for prospective injunctive relief against the FHFA or Treasury, as appropriate.