Taxation

Taxpayer Protection Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Taxpayer Protection Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish additional requirements and procedures for collecting taxes, regulating tax preparers, responding to identity theft, and assisting low-income taxpayers. The bill repeals the authority of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to contract with private companies to collect federal tax debts. It also excludes from the gross income of an individual up to $10,000 of income from the discharge of a debt over the individual's lifetime. The bill requires the statute of limitations for a taxpayer's case to continue to run during a pending application for assistance from the National Taxpayer Advocate. The bill also: establishes limitations on IRS levies of retirement accounts, suspends the time limit for returning wrongfully levied property if a taxpayer is financially disabled, increases the grace period for withdrawing a frivolous return, and repeals the requirement to submit a partial payment with an offer-in-compromise to settle a tax liability. The IRS must notify victims of identity theft regarding an unauthorized use of the taxpayer's identity or the filing of criminal charges regarding the use of the identity. The IRS must also: (1) permit its employees to refer taxpayers to low-income taxpayer clinics, and (2) notify taxpayers who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The IRS may regulate paid tax return preparers and disclose returns or return information necessary to publish decisions related to tax return preparer misconduct. The bill provides additional funding to the IRS for Taxpayer Services and increases the funding that the IRS may allocate to low-income taxpayer clinics.

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.

Grow Philanthropy Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Grow Philanthropy Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of an individual who is at least 70-1/2 years of age up to $100,000 in distributions from an individual retirement plan to a donor-advised fund. (A donor-advised fund is a fund or account that is separately identified by reference to contributions of a donor or donors. The account is owned and controlled by a sponsoring charitable organization, while the donor retains advisory privileges with respect to the distribution and investment of funds in the account.)

To impose a ban on the payment of bonuses to employees of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary of the Treasury develops and implements a comprehensive customer service strategy.

United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2016

This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from paying a bonus, award, or similar cash payment to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee until Treasury submits to Congress a comprehensive customer service strategy that has been reviewed and approved by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The strategy must include: (1) appropriate telephone and correspondence levels of service; (2) an assessment of which services the IRS can shift to self-service options; and (3) proposals to improve customer service over the short-term, the medium-term, and the long-term.

Technical Corrections Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2016

Technical Corrections Act of 2016 This bill makes technical and clerical amendments to: the Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act of 2015; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016; the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act; the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015; the Stephen Beck, Jr., ABLE Act of 2014; the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012; the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; and other specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The bill also amends various provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that are not used in computing current tax liabilities (referred to as deadwood provisions).

Agriculture Students EARN Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2016

Agriculture Students EARN Act or the Agriculture Students Encourage, Acknowledge, Reward, Nurture Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of a student farmer up to $5,000 of the gain from the sale or exchange of personal property (including livestock, crops, and agricultural mechanics or shop products) produced or raised by the student farmer. A student farmer is an individual who is under 19 years of age and is enrolled in: (1) a program established by the National FFA Organization; (2) a 4-H Club or other program established by 4-H; or (3) a student agriculture program that is under the direction or guidance of an agricultural educator, advisor, or club leader. To qualify for the exclusion, the production and sale or exchange of the property must be supervised by one of the specified agriculture programs. The sale or exchange must also occur during qualified public entertainment or convention and trade show activities.

Technical Corrections Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2016

Technical Corrections Act of 2016 This bill makes technical and clerical amendments to: the Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act of 2015; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016; the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act; the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015; the Stephen Beck, Jr., ABLE Act of 2014; the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012; the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; and other specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The bill also amends various provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that are not used in computing current tax liabilities (referred to as deadwood provisions).

DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States Senate · 7 April 2016

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States Senate · 7 April 2016

Tax Return Identity Theft Protection Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2016

Tax Return Identity Theft Protection Act of 2016 This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish enhanced penalties for tax return identity theft crimes and other related fraud, including those committed against members of certain vulnerable and targeted groups. Additionally, the bill modifies the state of mind requirement in identity theft prosecutions to eliminate the need to prove that a defendant knew that the means of identification belonged to another person.

RECOUP Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2016

Recovering Erroneous Credits from Outlaws and Unlawful Persons Act of 2016 or the RECOUP Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the full recapture of advance payments of refundable tax credits for health coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, if the payments were made to individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States or are incarcerated. The bill also specifies that the premiums of certain incarcerated individuals for whom a taxpayer is allowed a deduction for a personal exemption (including the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or dependents) must be excluded from calculations of premium assistance credit amounts.

Credit for Caring Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2016

Credit for Caring Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an eligible caregiver a new tax credit for 30% of the cost of long-term care expenses that exceed $2,000, up to $3,000 in a taxable year. The bill defines "eligible caregiver" as an individual who pays or incurs expenses for providing care to a spouse or other dependent relative with long-term care needs and who has earned income for the taxable year in excess of $7,500.

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States Senate · 6 April 2016

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States Senate · 6 April 2016

OVERSIGHT HEARING: THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

United States · United States Senate · 6 April 2016

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

United States · United States Senate · 6 April 2016

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

United States · United States Congress · 6 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).

Charities Helping Americans Regularly Throughout the Year Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2016

Charities Helping Americans Regularly Throughout the Year Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify several tax provisions affecting charitable contributions and tax-exempt organizations. The bill excludes from the gross income of an individual who is at least 70-1/2 years of age up to $100,000 in distributions from an individual retirement plan to a donor-advised fund (DAF). (A DAF is a fund or account that is separately identified by reference to contributions of a donor or donors. The account is owned and controlled by a sponsoring charitable organization, while the donor retains advisory privileges with respect to the distribution and investment of funds in the account.) Sponsors of DAFs must disclose in their returns specified details regarding: (1) policies on inactive or dormant funds, and (2) average aggregate contributions to and grants made from the funds during the most recent three-year period. The bill reduces from 2% to 1% the excise tax on the investment income of private foundations and eliminates a provision that reduces the rate to 1% if a foundation meets certain distribution requirements. Tax-exempt organizations must file their returns in electronic form, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) must make the returns available to the public in a machine readable format as soon as practicable. The IRS may delay the requirement for up to two years for certain small organizations. The IRS may determine the standard mileage rate for deducting the cost of using a passenger automobile for charitable purposes (currently set by statute at 14 cents per mile), and the rate may not be less than the rate for medical purposes (19 cents per mile for 2016). The bill exempts certain philanthropic business holdings from the tax on excess business holdings of private foundations if a foundation meets requirements for exclusive ownership, donating all profits to charity, and independent operation.

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States Senate · 5 April 2016

[H.A.S.C. No. 114-118] 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 · 23 March 2016

Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities Act This bill directs the Department of Commerce, if $100 million is made available from the private sector for establishing a Nanomanufacturing Investment Partnership, to establish such a Partnership to provide funding for precommercial nanomanufacturing research and development projects. The Partnership may provide funding through direct investments in specified mechanisms designed to advance nanomanufacturing. Commerce shall establish an advisory board to assist it in carrying out the Partnership. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to allow a tax credit for the purchase of qualified nanotechnology developer stock. Commerce may establish within the Technology Administration a grant program to support the establishment and development of incubators (entities affiliated with or housed in degree-granting institutions that provide space and coordinated and specialized services to certain entrepreneurial businesses). Commerce shall establish a Nanotechnology Startup Advisory Council. The National Science Foundation (NSF) shall establish a Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for the development of computer aided design tools for nanotechnology applications. The bill requires the establishment of nanotechnology research grant programs by: (1) the Department of Energy (DOE) to address the need for clean, cheap, renewable energy; (2) the Environmental Protection Agency to address technologies for remediation of pollution and other environmental protection technologies; (3) the Department of Homeland Security to address the need for sensors and other materials related to homeland security needs; and (4) the Department of Health and Human Services to address health-related applications of nanotechnology. The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall transmit a nanotechnology research strategy establishing priorities for the federal government and industry. The bill amends the IRC to: (1) allow a tax credit for nanotechnology education and training program expenses; and (2) revise, for purposes of Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits, the definition of "eligible educational institution" to include commercial nanotechnology training providers. The NSF shall establish: (1) a grant program for the development of curriculum materials for interdisciplinary nanotechnology courses at institutions of higher education, and (2) a program to encourage manufacturing companies to enter into partnerships with occupational training centers for the development of training to support nanotechnology manufacturing. DOE shall transmit to Congress a strategy for increasing interaction on nanotechnology issues between scientists and engineers at DOE national laboratories and in the informal science education community.

Save for Success Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Save for Success Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) modify the American Opportunity Tax Credit to include an increased credit amount for college savings contributions, and (2) direct the Departments of the Treasury and Education to jointly establish a pilot program to make periodic payments of educational expenses for a student as such expenses are incurred during the taxable year. Treasury shall establish a taxpayer awareness program to inform the public of the availability of the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016 This bill requires authorized resellers of pre-paid mobile devices or SIM cards to require purchasers to provide their name, home address, and date of birth. For in-person sales, an authorized reseller must require purchasers to display for verification: (1) a government-issued photographic identification card or a document acceptable under the Immigration and Nationality Act for employment authorization or establishing identity; and (2) any two of a Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement from the Internal Revenue Service, a Form 1099 Social Security Benefit Statement or a Form 1099 from another federal agency, or a document containing personal identifying information that the Department of Justice (DOJ) finds to be acceptable. For all other sales, an authorized reseller must require purchasers to submit their: (1) credit or debit card account information, (2) Social Security number, (3) driver's license number, and (4) any personal identifying information that DOJ finds to be necessary. Authorized resellers must make a record of their sales that includes: (1) the information obtained from purchasers to verify their identity; (2) the date of sale; (3) the manufacturer and the wireless carrier of the device or SIM card; (4) any assigned telephone number or other identifier of the subscriber or account; and (5) if applicable, the international mobile equipment identifier number, electronic serial number, mobile equipment identifier, international mobile subscriber identifier, and machine address code. Within 30 days after a sale, an authorized reseller must transmit such record to the wireless carrier for the device or SIM card. Purchasers are subject to criminal penalties for providing false or misleading identifying information or documents. A civil penalty is established for authorized resellers or wireless carriers who fail to comply with this Act. The bill also prohibits and establishes criminal penalties for the sale of a pre-paid mobile device or SIM card by a person who is not an authorized reseller.

Electronic Warfare Capabilities Enhancement Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Electronic Warfare Capabilities Enhancement Act of 2016 This bill permits the use of appropriations authorized for electromagnetic spectrum warfare systems and electronic warfare in order to develop and field electromagnetic spectrum warfare systems and electronic warfare capabilities. The Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 is amended to include electronic warfare programs in the rapid acquisition authority program. Electronic warfare is military action involving the use of electromagnetic and directed energy to control the electromagnetic spectrum or to attack the enemy. The Department of Defense shall delegate to the senior electronic warfare executive the authority to review and validate all Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System documents for electronic warfare acquisition programs. The Electronic Warfare Executive Committee shall submit to the congressional defense committees a strategic plan with measurable and timely objectives to achieve its mission according to specified metrics.

Promise Zone Job Creation Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Promise Zone Job Creation Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture, acting jointly, to designate, before January 1, 2017, not more than 20 areas as Promise Zones for purposes of priority consideration in federal grant programs and initiatives. Six of such areas shall be outside of a metropolitan statistical area or shall be determined to be rural areas. A "Promise Zone" is any area with a continuous boundary and a population of not more than 200,000 that is nominated by one or more local governments or Indian tribes and designated on the basis of unemployment rates, poverty rates, household income, home ownership, labor force participation, and educational attainment. An application for designation as a Promise Zone shall include a competitiveness plan that addresses the need of the area to attract investment and jobs and improve educational opportunities. The bill 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. A "Promise Zone property" is a 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.

Rural Main Street Investment Credit Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Rural Main Street Investment Credit Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for 35% of new investment in a rural microbusiness. There is a limit on such credit, for any rural microbusiness or any taxpayer, of $10,000 in a taxable year reduced by the amount allowed as a credit for all preceding taxable years. A "rural microbusiness" is a trade or business that employs not more than five full-time employees in a taxable year and that is carried on, and physically located, in a distressed rural area. A "distressed rural area" as an area that has lost at least 5% of its population over the last 10 years or 10% of its population over the last 20 years, that has a median family income below 85 % of the national median family income, that has a poverty rate that exceeds 12.5%, or where average unemployment in the preceding year exceeds 120% of the national average.

Working Families Relief Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Working Families Relief Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase and expand tax incentives for employer-provided dependent care assistance. The bill increases the limit on the amount excludible from the gross income of an employee for employer-provided dependent care assistance and requires annual inflation adjustments to such increased limit after 2017. The bill also establishes tax credits for: (1) small employer dependent care assistance program start-up costs, and (2) employer matching contributions for dependent care assistance programs.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the child tax credit.

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the child tax credit, to: (1) increase the allowable amount of such credit from $1,000 to $2,000 for each qualifying child, (2) raise the modified adjusted gross income threshold amount at which the phase-out of the credit begins, and (3) increase such threshold amount by $15,000 for each qualifying child of the taxpayer beyond the first child.

Commending the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, John Sopko, and his office for their efforts in providing accountability for taxpayer dollars spent in Afghanistan.

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Commends the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction for its ongoing role in identifying and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. Calls on: (1) John Sopko, the Special Inspector General, to brief the House Armed Services Committee on matters relating to reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan; and (2) the leadership of the House of Representatives to facilitate debate on continued U.S. presence in Afghanistan and the resulting waste, fraud, and abuse of tax dollars.

Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2017 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2018 through 2026.

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2017 and sets forth budgetary levels for FY2018-FY2026. Recommends levels and amounts for FY2017-FY2026 for federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits (on-budget), debt subject to limit, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. Includes reconciliation instructions directing 12 House authorizing committees to submit deficit reduction legislation to the House Budget Committee within 90 days of adoption of the budget resolution. Sets forth budget enforcement procedures addressing: long-term direct spending; allocations for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism; changes in mandatory programs; estimates of debt service costs, credit programs, direct spending legislation, macroeconomic effects, land conveyances, and energy saving performance contracts; adjustments of spending levels; advance appropriations; transfers to the Highway Trust Fund; Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) guarantee fees; and Federal Reserve System surpluses. Establishes reserve funds for legislation relating to: poverty reduction, repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, health care reform, graduate medical education, trade agreements, tax reform, revenue measures, federal retirement reform, coal miner pension and health care funds, and the commercialization of air traffic control. Provides estimates for the rate of growth in direct spending and proposes changes to specified programs. Includes policy statements on mandatory savings outside of the reconciliation process, mandatory spending controls, budget process reform, and several public policy issues.

FISCAL YEAR 2017 EPA BUDGET

United States · United States House of Representatives · 22 March 2016

[H.A.S.C. No. 114-115]THE FISCAL YEAR 2017 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

United States · United States House of Representatives · 22 March 2016

[H.A.S.C. No. 114-117] 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 · 22 March 2016

AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States House of Representatives · 22 March 2016

AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States House of Representatives · 22 March 2016

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2016

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Act This bill directs the Internal Revenue Service to establish a Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Matching Grant Program (VITA grant program) for the development, expansion, or continuation of volunteer tax preparation programs to assist low-income taxpayers and members of underserved populations. The bill establishes the National Center to Promote Quality, Excellence, and Evaluation in Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. The Center shall: (1) promote the adoption of a universally accessible volunteer training platform for the preparation of federal income tax returns, (2) provide technical assistance to tax return preparation program managers, (3) identify and disseminate best practices related to tax site management, (4) support outreach and marketing efforts, and (5) provide evaluation of programs and activities funded under this Act.

Hire For a Second Chance Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2016

Hire For a Second Chance Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the work opportunity tax credit, to: (1) make such credit permanent; (2) increase to $14,000, for ex-felons, the amount of wages that may be taken into account for purposes of computing the credit; and (3) increase from one to three years the period after the conviction or release of an ex-felon during which an employer may hire an ex-felon and claim a work opportunity tax credit for such hiring.

No Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2016

No Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit the use of tax-exempt state and local financing bonds for a professional entertainment facility. A professional entertainment facility is a facility that is used during any five days in a calendar year as: (1) a stadium or arena for professional sports exhibitions, games, or training; or (2) a venue for any entertainment event which has a live audience exceeding 100 individuals and the net earnings from which benefit an individual or entity other than a governmental entity or a tax-exempt organization.  

Health Savings Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2016

Health Savings Protection Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the excise tax on excess benefit employer-sponsored health care plans any amounts contributed to an Archer medical savings plan, a tax-exempt health savings account, or a health flexible spending arrangement by an employee or an employer through salary reduction contributions.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make an exception to the 100 shareholder S corporation limitation in the case of shareholders whose shares were acquired through certain crowd-funding or small public offerings.

United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the taxation of S corporations, to exclude from the 100 shareholder limitation for such corporations individuals who acquired shares in an S corporation through: (1) a small issues public offering, or (2) one or more crowdfunding offerings.

Small Public Housing Agency Opportunity Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2016

Small Public Housing Agency Opportunity Act of 2016 This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to subject a small public housing agency (PHA) to the same requirements as a PHA. A small PHA is a PHA for which the sum of the number of public housing dwelling units and the number of vouchers under Section 8 (tenant-based assistance) it administers is 550 or fewer. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shall: carry out physical inspections of a small PHA public housing project at least once every three years, unless it is a troubled small PHA; determine the financial condition of a small PHA public housing program solely on the basis of the ratio of current assets to current liabilities; and determine management condition of a small PHA public housing program solely on the basis of the ratio of vacant unit months to eligible unit months. A small PHA administering Section 8 tenant-based assistance under the housing voucher program must make physical inspections of assisted units at least once every three years. HUD shall evaluate the management of a small PHA's voucher program solely on the basis of its lease-up rate or the budget utilization rate, which must be at least 90% to be acceptable. HUD shall designate a small PHA as a high-performing agency if it exceeds acceptability criteria. HUD may designate a small PHA as a troubled small PHA with respect to its public housing program or housing voucher program only if it meets certain negative criteria. HUD shall establish an appeals process for a small PHA to dispute a determination of deficiency. HUD and a troubled small PHA shall enter into a one-year corrective action agreement (renewable at HUD option) under which the small PHA must undertake actions to correct deficiencies. The bill prescribes and/or revises requirements to reduce the administrative burden on small PHAs with respect to: certain reports; community service; economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons; exemption of a small PHA administering not more than 400 public housing dwelling units, upon request, from any asset management requirement; exemption from environmental review for a development or modernization project involving new construction if the new construction portion of the total cost does not exceed $100,000; and streamlined HUD procedures for such reviews. Small PHAs shall also be exempt from Green Physical Needs Assessment requirements for any fiscal year for which a specified circumstance occurs. HUD shall carry out a demonstration project to examine how various methods of determining rent in public housing affect the administrative burden on small PHAs and public housing residents. The bill establishes rent-setting mechanisms for demonstration project participants based on: (1) a tiered system for initial rents for extremely low-income families, very low-income families, and low-income families; (2) a certain range of gross income percentages; or (3) the existing method for establishing rents. A small PHA may elect to be paid for its utility and waste management costs under a HUD assistance formula for a period, at its discretion, of up to 20 years based on its average annual consumption during the three-year period preceding the year in which the election is made. HUD shall develop and deploy all electronic information systems necessary to accommodate full consolidated reporting by PHAs electing to operate in consortia.

Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2016

Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act of 2016 This bill amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to make it one of the purposes of the Act to extend financial and technical assistance to the states for the promotion of hunting and recreational shooting. The bill also prescribes a formula for the allocation of funds apportioned to a state that may be used for any activity or project to recruit or retain hunters and recreational shooters. Amounts apportioned to the states from any taxes on pistols, revolvers, bows, and arrows may be used for hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment. The funds apportioned to a state for wildlife restoration management may be used for related public relations. If a state has not used all of the tax revenues apportioned to it for firearm and bow hunter education and safety program grants, it may use its remaining apportioned funds for the enhancement of hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment. Up to $5 million of the revenues covered into wildlife restoration fund in the Treasury from any tax imposed for a fiscal year on the sale of certain bows, arrows, and archery equipment shall be available to the Department of the Interior exclusively for making hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment grants that promote a national hunting and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities.

Public Employee Pension Transparency Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2016

Public Employee Pension Transparency Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny tax benefits relating to bonds issued by a state or political subdivision during any period in which such state or political subdivision is noncompliant with specified reporting requirements for state or local government employee pension benefit plans. The bill requires plan sponsors of a state or local government employee pension benefit plan to file with the Secretary of the Treasury a report for each plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2017, setting forth: a schedule of the funding status of the plan; a schedule of contributions by the plan sponsor for the plan year; alternative projections for each of the next 60 plan years of the cash flows associated with the current plan liability; a statement of the actuarial assumptions used for the plan year; a statement of the number of plan participants who are retired or separated from service and are either receiving benefits or are entitled to future benefits and those who are active under the plan; a statement of the plan's investment returns; a statement of the degree to which unfunded liabilities are expected to be eliminated; a statement of the amount of pension obligation bonds outstanding; and a statement of the current cost of the plan for the plan year. The Secretary shall develop model reporting statements and create and maintain a public website, with searchable capabilities, for purposes of posting pension plan information required by this Act. The bill grants the United States an exemption from liability for any current or future shortfall in any state or local government employee pension plan.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States Senate · 18 March 2016

AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States House of Representatives · 17 March 2016

DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017

United States · United States Senate · 17 March 2016

Commercializing on Small Business Innovation Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2016

Commercializing on Small Business Innovation Act of 2016 This bill reauthorizes for FY2017-FY2022 both the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. The bill also: increases required expenditure amounts for those programs for each of those fiscal years, revises SBIR and STTR reporting requirements, requires indexing of SBIR and STTR awards for inflation, and converts from authorizations to requirements certain features of the Department of Defense Commercialization Readiness Program. The Small Business Administration shall modify its policy directives to make clear that HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) small business concerns owned and controlled by Alaska Native Corporations, Indian tribal governments, and Native Hawaiian Organizations are eligible to receive SBIR and STTR awards.

DHS SAVE Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2016

DHS Stop Asset and Vehicle Excess Act or the DHS SAVE Act This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsible for overseeing and managing vehicle fleets throughout DHS, including: ensuring that DHS components are in compliance with federal law, executive branch guidance, and DHS policy regarding fleet management and use of vehicles from home to work; developing and distributing a standardized vehicle allocation methodology and fleet management plan; ensuring that components formally document fleet management decisions; and approving component fleet management plans, vehicle leases, and vehicle acquisitions. The bill lists responsibilities of component heads regarding vehicle fleets, including developing and annually submitting to the Under Secretary a vehicle allocation tool and fleet management plan. The Under Secretary shall: collect, on a quarterly basis, information regarding component vehicle fleets; seek to achieve a capability to collect automated information regarding component vehicle fleets; track and monitor component information, and review each component's vehicle allocation tool and fleet management plan, to ensure that component vehicle fleets are the optimal size and are cost effective; provide guidance on how component heads may achieve optimal fleet size; and as part of the annual budget process, review and make determinations regarding annual component requests for vehicle fleet funding. Beginning with FY2019: the Under Secretary and component heads may not approve a vehicle lease, acquisition, or replacement request; no DHS official with vehicle fleet management responsibilities may receive annual performance compensation in pay; and no senior executive service official of DHS whose office has a vehicle fleet may receive access to a car service, if such heads or official did not comply in the prior fiscal year with vehicle allocation tool and fleet management plan requirements. The Under Secretary may determine the feasibility of operating a vehicle motor pool to permit components to share vehicles to reduce the number of excess DHS vehicles.

Department of Homeland Security Strategy for International Programs Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2016

Department of Homeland Security Strategy for International Programs Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit a comprehensive three-year strategy for international programs in which DHS personnel and resources are deployed abroad for vetting and screening persons seeking to enter the United States. The strategy shall include: specific risk-based goals for such programs; a risk-based method for determining whether to establish new international programs in new locations, given resource constraints, or expand existing international programs; alignment with the highest DHS-wide and government-wide strategic priorities of resource allocations on such programs; and a common reporting framework for the submission of reliable, comparable cost data by DHS components on overseas expenditures attributable to such programs. In developing the strategy, DHS shall consider: information on existing operations of DHS programs that includes corresponding information for each location in which each such program operates, analysis of the impact of each such international program on domestic activities of DHS components, the number of DHS personnel deployed to each location at which such an international program is in operation during the current and preceding fiscal year, and analysis of barriers to the expansion of such an international program.

Reuniting Families Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2016

Reuniting Families Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to establish the fiscal year worldwide level of employment-based immigrants at 140,000 plus: (1) the previous year's unused visas, and (2) the number of unused visas from FY1992-FY2015. The bill establishes the fiscal year worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants at 480,000 plus: (1) the previous year's unused visas, and (2) the number of unused visas from FY1992-FY2015. The bill redefines "immediate relative" to: mean a child, spouse, permanent partner, or parent of a U.S. citizen or the child or spouse of a lawful permanent resident, except that in the case of parents such citizens shall be at least 21 years old; permit a widow or widower of a U.S. citizen or resident to seek permanent resident status if married at least two years at the time of the citizen's or resident's death or, if married less than two years, by showing through a preponderance of the evidence that the marriage was entered into in good faith and not solely to obtain an immigration benefit; and include an alien who was the child or parent of a U.S. citizen or resident at the time of the citizen's or resident's death if the alien files a petition within two years after such date or prior to reaching 21 years old. The bill increases immigration visas for: (1) unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and (2) brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. The bill also: establishes an 80,640 visa allocation for the unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident aliens, increases annual per country (10% of annual total) and dependent area (5% of annual total) limits for employment-based and family-sponsored immigrant visas, and expands specified family-unity exceptions to unlawful presence-based inadmissibility. An alien shall be inadmissible for willful misrepresentation of citizenship. (Under current law inadmissibility is based on false representation of citizenship.) The bill specifies relief for orphans and spouses regarding: (1) petitions for immediate relative status, (2) parole eligibility, (3) permanent resident status adjustment, and (4) processing of immigrant visas. Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act Children of naturalized Filipino World War II veterans shall be exempt from worldwide or numerical immigrant limitations. The bill makes a minor child of an alien fiancee/fiance or of an alien spouse of a U.S. citizen eligible for derivative K-visa status, provided certain requirements are met. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Department of Justice may adjust the status of a finacee/fiance or alien spouse and any minor children (K-visa) to conditional permanent resident status if the alien marries the petitioner within three months after U.S. admission. The definition of "child" for purposes of titles I and II of the Act shall include a stepchild under 21 years old. The INA is amended to include a "permanent partner" within its scope. The bill revises requirements regarding: (1) priority date retention; and (2) waiver eligibility for widows, widowers, and orphans. "Permanent partner" shall mean any individual 18 or older who is: in a committed, intimate relationship with another individual age 18 or older in which both individuals intend the commitment to be lifelong; financially interdependent with the other individual, unless DHS or the Department of State has determined, on a case-by-case basis, that this requirement is unreasonable; not married to, or in a permanent partnership with, anyone other than the individual; unable to contract with the other individual a marriage cognizable under this Act; and not a first, second, or third degree blood relation of the other individual. "Alien permanent partner" is defined as the individual in a permanent partnership who is being sponsored for a visa.