Taxation

On-the-Job Training Tax Credit Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2017

On-the-Job Training Tax Credit Act of 201 7 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers who employ an average of not more than 500 full-time employees during the taxable year an on-the-job training tax credit equal to the lesser of: 50% of the job training program expenditures for a full-time employee participating in a qualified training program, or $5,000. A "qualified training program" is a written plan of study and training that is either: (1) an apprenticeship program registered and certified with the Department of Labor under the National Apprenticeship Act; (2) a program licensed, registered, or certified by the workforce investment board or apprenticeship agency or council of a state or administered in compliance with state apprenticeship laws; (3) a program conducted by a vocational or technical education school, community college, industrial or trade training organization, or labor organization; (4) a program that conforms to apprentice training programs developed or administered by an employer trade group or committee; or (5) an industry-sponsored or -administered program that is clearly identified and commonly recognized. The bill terminates such credit after 2019.

Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 during any period between October 1, 2017, and December 14, 2017, for which discretionary appropriations have lapsed, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2017

This joint resolution provides continuing FY2018 appropriations to federal agencies through December 14, 2017, or the enactment of specified appropriations legislation. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and prevents a government shutdown that would otherwise occur when FY2018 begins on October 1, 2017, if the 12 FY2018 regular appropriations bills that fund the federal government have not been enacted.

Growing Small Businesses Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2017

Growing Small Businesses Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for investments in a small business's first qualifying production facility. The credit is equal to 25% of the cost of property for an eligible employer's first qualifying production facility placed in service during the year. The credit applies to employers who: (1) have no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees, and (2) have not previously placed in service a dedicated facility for the production of goods for sale. A "qualifying production facility" must be used to produce any of the following products: tangible personal property, computer software, films and videotape, sound recordings, or food and beverages which are prepared by the taxpayer but not primarily for consumption at property owned by the taxpayer. Qualifying employers may elect to apply up to $250,000 of the credit against payroll taxes.

FUTURE Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2017

Furthering carbon capture, Utilization, Technology, Underground storage, and Reduced Emissions Act or the FUTURE Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend and modify the tax credit for carbon dioxide sequestration. The bill modifies the credit to apply it to carbon oxide sequestration. (Carbon oxide refers to any of the three oxides of carbon: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and carbon suboxide.) The bill also: allows certain new industrial or direct air capture facilities to qualify for the credit if construction begins before January 1, 2024; allows qualified projects to claim the credit for 12 years, beginning on the date the equipment was originally placed in service; increases the separate credit amounts, with respect to projects placed in service upon or after the enactment of this bill, that apply to captured carbon oxide that is: (1) disposed of in secure geological storage, and (2) used as a tertiary injectant in an enhanced oil or natural gas recovery project and disposed of in secure geological storage; expands the purposes for which captured carbon oxide may be used; establishes separate carbon oxide capture thresholds for electricity generating facilities, direct air capture facilities, and facilities used for other purposes; specifies that the 75 million metric ton cap on the carbon dioxide that may qualify for the credit applies to carbon oxide and only to projects placed in service before the enactment of this bill; and allows the credit to be transferred from the entity that owns and uses the capture equipment to the entity that disposes of or uses the carbon oxide.

HELLPP Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2017

Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving Access to Podiatric Physicians Act or the HELLPP Act This bill adds podiatrists as covered physicians under the Medicaid program. Documentation requirements related to Medicare coverage of therapeutic shoes for individuals with diabetes are revised. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to subject payments made to a Medicaid provider or supplier to a continuing levy for federal taxes owed by the provider or supplier.

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 This bill authorizes FY2018 appropriations for intelligence community programs and activities, including personnel limits. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation. The bill eliminates or transfers several intelligence entities from Defense Intelligence Agency to other intelligence networks. The bill requires a public report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence about foreign cyberthreats to elections for federal offices. Contracts awarded in the intelligence community must not limit a contractor's interaction with congressional intelligence committees. The bill also sets forth reporting requirements regarding various intelligence matters, including security clearance processes, investigations of leaked classified information, cybersecurity issues, and Russian influence campaigns directed at foreign elections and Russian financing of terrorism. This bill expresses the sense of Congress that per the National Security Act of 1947 the intelligence community is required to notify the congressional intelligence committees within seven days of an individual in the executive branch disclosing classified intelligence to North Korea, Iran, China, Russia or Cuba using methods other than established intelligence channels.

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2810) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 23) to provide drought relief in the State of California, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017

Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2810) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 23) to provide drought relief in the State of California.

Maritime Security Accountability Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017

Maritime Security Accountability Act of 2017 This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 to include in the annual Department of Defense Freedom of Navigation Report under the Freedom of Navigation Operations Program the types and locations of excessive maritime claims by a country that have not been challenged by the United States under the program.

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the consideration of any general appropriations bill until a concurrent resolution on the budget has been adopted or the appropriate budgetary suballocations are made available.

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017

Amends Rule XXI (Restrictions on Certain Bills) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to make it out of order in the House to consider a general appropriations bill for a fiscal year unless the Committee on Appropriations has filed the subcommittee allocations required by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, or if a concurrent resolution on the budget has not yet been agreed to for that fiscal year, unless the committee has filed a report indicating the total amount of new discretionary budget authority it intends to include in general appropriations bills for the fiscal year and how it has allocated that total among its subcommittees.

Addressing Affordability for More Americans Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017

Addressing Affordability for More Americans Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the health care premium assistance refundable tax credit, to: (1) expand eligibility for the credit by defining an "applicable taxpayer" as a taxpayer whose household income for the year does not exceed 800% of the federal poverty line (currently 400%), (2) specify the applicable premium percentages for the credit for taxpayers with incomes that are from 400% to 800% of the federal poverty line, and (3) specify the dollar limitations for the recapture of excess advance payments of the credit from such taxpayers.

Protecting Access to Care for Veterans Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017

Protecting Access to Care for Veterans Act of 2017 This bill authorizes and appropriates funds to be available without fiscal year limitation to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the sole purpose of providing veterans health care and medical services under the Veterans Choice Program.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018

United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2017

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 This bill authorizes FY2018 appropriations and sets forth policies regarding the military activities of the Department of Defense (DOD), military construction, and the defense activities of the Department of Energy (DOE). The bill authorizes appropriations, but does not provide budget authority for discretionary programs, which is included in subsequent appropriations legislation. The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for Procurement; Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; Operation and Maintenance; the Revolving and Working Capital Funds; the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction; Defense-Wide Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities; the Defense Inspector General; the Defense Health Program; and Overseas Contingency Operations. The bill also authorizes the FY2018 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, navy vessels and shipyards, DOE national security programs, and matters relating to foreign nations. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 The bill authorizes appropriations and sets forth policies regarding military construction for the Army, Navy, Air Force, defense agencies, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program, and Guard and Reserve Forces facilities. The bill also authorizes appropriations for base realignment and closure activities.

Debt Ceiling Alternative Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2017

Debt Ceiling Alternative Act This bill establishes requirements and authorities for notifying Congress, issuing bonds, proposing rescissions, and selling assets if the debt limit will be reached. The Department of the Treasury must notify Congress if it estimates that the U.S. debt will reach the statutory debt limit during a quarter. After Congress is notified, Treasury must issue bonds that: (1) have an interest rate linked to the nominal gross domestic product of the United States, (2) may only be used to pay the principal and interest on obligations of the United States held by the public or the Social Security trust funds, and (3) are exempt from the debt limit. Once Congress is notified that the debt limit will be reached, the President may issue a message to Congress containing a list of budget authority proposed to be rescinded. The list may only contain items related to unobligated balances of funds made available before the beginning of the fiscal year during which such notification is provided. Congress must consider the message using specified expedited legislative procedures. If the debt limit notice has been provided to Congress, the President may also order the sale of specified mortgage-related assets owned or held by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association (Freddie Mac), and the Federal Reserve. The proceeds from the sales must be deposited in the Treasury.

REVAMP Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2017

Renovate and Enhance Veterans Meeting Halls and Posts Act of 2017 or the REVAMP Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a pilot program to award grants to veterans service organizations in rural areas to: (1) repair or rehabilitate a facility in a rural area, and (2) acquire or upgrade computers and technology for such a facility. An organization may not receive a grant in any fiscal year in an amount exceeding the lesser of: (1) the aggregate cost of such proposed activities and uses, or (2) $75,000. An organization that receives such a grant for a fiscal year shall be ineligible for any such grant for the next five fiscal years. Grants awarded under this bill may not be used for the construction or acquisition of new facilities.

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2018

United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2017

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2018 Provides FY2018 appropriations for the legislative branch, including the House of Representatives and Joint Items such as: the Joint Economic Committee, the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Office of the Attending Physician, and the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. Provides FY2018 appropriations for: the Capitol Police; the Office of Compliance; the Congressional Budget Office; the Architect of the Capitol; the Library of Congress, including the Congressional Research Service and the Copyright Office; the Government Publishing Office; the Government Accountability Office; the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund; and the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development. (Pursuant to the longstanding practice of each chamber of Congress determining its own requirements, funds for the Senate are not included in the House bill.) Sets forth permissible and prohibited uses for funds provided by this bill.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

United States · United States House of Representatives · 29 June 2017

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

United States · United States Senate · 29 June 2017

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

United States · United States Senate · 29 June 2017

Hearing Protection Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Hearing Protection Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code: (1) to remove silencers from the list of firearms subject to regulation under the National Firearms Act (NFA), and (2) to specify that a person who lawfully acquires or possesses a silencer under provisions of the federal criminal code meets the registration and licensing requirements of the NFA. Additionally, the bill amends the federal criminal code: to preempt state or local laws that tax or regulate firearm silencers, to exclude a muffler or silencer from the list of firearms subject to regulation, to eliminate mandatory minimum prison terms for a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense in which a defendant uses or carries a firearm equipped with a silencer, and to permit active and retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed silencer.

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Reform Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Reform Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make certain amounts in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund available, without appropriation, to pay 100% of the eligible operations and maintenance costs of specified portions of the Saint Lawrence Seaway (a system of locks, canals, and channels in Canada and the United States that permits oceangoing vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes) as well as those assigned to commercial navigation of all U.S. harbors and inland harbors; rebates of certain tolls or charges on the seaway; and all expenses of administration relating to harbor maintenance tax incurred by the Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Commerce. The bill also amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to require allocation to certain donor ports and energy transfer ports of at least 20% of amounts made available each fiscal year from the trust fund, and the Department of the Army to make allocations equally between these types of ports.

BTU Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2017 or the BTU Act of 201 7 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include 30% of qualified biomass fuel property expenditures for property placed in service before 2022 in the residential energy efficient property tax credit. A "qualified biomass fuel property expenditure" is an expenditure for property which uses the burning of biomass fuel (a plant-derived fuel available on a renewable or recurring basis) to heat a dwelling used as a residence, or to heat water for use in such dwelling, and which has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75%. The bill also allows: (1) a 15% energy tax credit until 2022 for investment in open-loop biomass heating property, including boilers or furnaces that operate at thermal output efficiencies of at least 65% and provide thermal energy in the form of heat, hot water, or steam for space heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water, or industrial process heat; and (2) a 30% credit until 2022 for investment in such property that operates at a thermal output efficiency of at least 80%.

Public Housing Tenant Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Public Housing Tenant Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2017 Public Housing One-for-One Replacement and Tenant Protection Act of 2017 This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 regarding: (1) demolition, disposition, or both pursuant to conversion of any public housing unit; and (2) the taking of public housing units through the use of eminent domain. The bill exempts from specified requirements for demolition and disposition of public housing, public housing projects removed from a public housing agency (PHA) inventory under the program for conversion of demolished or distressed public housing dwelling units to tenant-based assistance. Real property containing dwelling units in public housing is excluded from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) federal regulations or any substantially similar regulations with respect to: certain real estate; and implementing HUD requirements for demolition or disposition of public housing projects, and conversion of public housing to tenant-based assistance. Public Housing Preservation and Rehabilitation Act of 2017 The public housing Capital and Operating Funds are reauthorized. HUD may guarantee notes or other obligations issued by PHAs to finance: (1) the rehabilitation of PHA public housing; (2) the modernization of such housing through energy efficiency improvements; or (3) the construction, rehabilitation, purchase, or conversion of public housing units to replace any demolished, disposed of, or converted. Requirements are specified for PHAs that utilize housing tax credits under the Internal Revenue Code for rental housing units. The bill eliminates a specified limitation on the use of amounts from the Capital Fund or Operation Fund by a PHA to construct new public housing units. Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2017 HUD must make competitive grants to local governments, PHAs, or nonprofit entities owning a major housing project to implement transformational programs in eligible neighborhoods with a concentration of extreme poverty and severely distressed housing. Together We Care Act of 2017 HUD shall establish a competitive grant pilot program for eligible entities to train public housing residents as home health aides and as providers of home-based health services for residents of public housing or federally-assisted rental housing who are elderly, disabled, or both.

Family Business Preservation Estate Tax Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Family Business Preservation Estate Tax Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the estate tax, to allow the value of the taxable estate to be reduced by the adjusted value of family-owned business interests that: (1) are included in determining the value of the gross estate, and (2) are acquired by or passed to an heir from the decedent. The deduction may not exceed the greater of: (1) the basic exclusion amount in effect for the calendar year that includes the death of the decedent ($5.49 million for 2017), or (2) the value of farmland which constitutes the family-owned business interest. The bill imposes a specified additional estate tax if, within 10 years of the decedent's death and before the heir's death: (1) material participation requirements are not met with respect to the family-owned business interest, (2) the heir disposes of any portion of the family-owned business interest (other than by a disposition to a member of the heir's family or through a qualified conservation contribution), (3) the heir loses U.S. citizenship or ceases to be a lawful permanent resident and the interest was not acquired or is not held in a qualified trust, or (4) the principal place of business of a trade or business of the family-owned business ceases to be located in the United States.

Electronic Signature Standards Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Electronic Signature Standards Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Internal Revenue Service to publish guidance to establish uniform standards and procedures for the acceptance of practitioner signatures in digital or other electronic form for the purposes of: (1) disclosures of tax returns and return information to a designee of the taxpayer, and (2) any power of attorney executed by the taxpayer.

Renewable Chemicals Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Renewable Chemicals Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for the production of renewable chemicals. The bill defines "renewable chemical" as any chemical that: (1) is produced in the United States from renewable biomass; (2) is sold or used for the production of chemical products, polymers, plastics, or formulated products or as chemicals, polymers, plastics, or formulated products; (3) has a biobased content of not less than 95%; (4) is the product of, or reliant upon, biological or thermal conversion of renewable biomass; (5) is not sold or used for the production of any food, feed, or fuel; and (6) is not a combination of certain specified renewable chemicals. The bill also allows a tax credit for investment in renewable chemical production facilities. The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to establish a program to allocate renewable chemical tax credit amounts to eligible taxpayers and imposes an aggregate limit on the amount of credits that may be allocated to not more than $500 million during the 5-year period after enactment of this bill.

Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act of 201 7 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.

Graduate Student Savings Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Graduate Student Savings Act of 201 7 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow funds paid to an individual to aid in the pursuit of graduate or postdoctoral study or research to be saved in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The bill permits the funds to be considered compensation for purposes of current law provisions that limit annual deductible IRA contributions to the lesser of: (1) the deductible amount permitted under current law, or (2) the compensation includible in the individual's gross income for the year.

ADVANCE Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Aiding Development of Vital Assets in Native Communities and Environments Act of 2017 or the ADVANCE Act This bill amends the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 to require the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to provide outreach and training with respect to the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) in low-income communities with a disproportionately low amount of low-income community investments by community development entities. (The NMTC is a non-refundable tax credit intended to encourage private capital investment in low-income communities. NMTCs are allocated by the CDFI Fund, a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, using a competitive application process.) The CFDI Fund must also: (1) include in the application for the NMTC questions to determine and consider, as an innovative use or a comparable incentive in evaluating applications, the extent to which the applicant intends to make low-income community investments within Indian country; and (2) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that at least one community development entity whose primary mission is to fund projects within or that directly benefit Indian country receives an allocation for each allocation round.

Special Needs Tax Credit Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Special Needs Tax Credit Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income-based tax credit, up to $5,000 in a taxable year, for legal expenses paid to establish a legal guardianship of a disabled family member.

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

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 Congress authorizes the excess by a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal, receipts derived from borrowing, and receipts or outlays of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds. The amendment requires the President to annually submit to Congress a budget in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. The balanced budget requirement does not apply if: a declaration of war is in effect or if the United States is engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security, or during the fiscal year or preceding fiscal year, the U.S. economy grew by less than 0% in real gross domestic product during two or more consecutive quarters or the unemployment rate was more than 7% during two or more consecutive months. The amendment prohibits a court from enforcing the requirements by ordering cuts to Social Security or Medicare payments unless the funds available to the trust fund for a program are not sufficient to cover the outlays that would occur during the year if the fund were fully solvent.

Keeping Health Insurance Affordable Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Keeping Health Insurance Affordable Act of 2017 This bill alters and establishes several programs relating to health insurance and prescription drugs. Among other changes, the bill establishes and funds the Individual Market Reinsurance Fund to provide an individual market stabilization reinsurance program in each state; requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a public health insurance option through health insurance exchanges; expands eligibility for the health insurance premium tax credit; expands eligibility for additional cost-sharing reductions that apply to certain enrollees of qualified health plans; requires drug manufacturers, as a condition of participation in the Medicare prescription drug benefit, to issue rebates to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for drugs dispensed to certain low-income enrollees; requires the CMS to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies regarding prices for drugs covered under the Medicare prescription drug benefit; and provides an enhanced federal medical assistance percentage of 100% to states that deliver items and services through a collaborative care model or an evidence-based model that integrates behavioral health services into primary care treatment.

SHUSH Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Silencers Help Us Save Hearing Act or the SHUSH Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code: (1) to remove silencers from the list of firearms subject to regulation under the National Firearms Act (NFA), and (2) to specify that a person who lawfully acquires or possesses a silencer under provisions of the federal criminal code meets the registration and licensing requirements of the NFA. Additionally, the bill amends the federal criminal code: to preempt state or local laws that tax or regulate firearm silencers, to exclude a muffler or silencer from the list of firearms subject to regulation, to eliminate mandatory minimum prison terms for a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense in which a defendant uses or carries a firearm equipped with a silencer, and to permit active and retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed silencer.

Veterans Education Relief and Reinstatement Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Education Relief and Reinstatement Act of 2017 This bill declares that, if a veteran is forced to discontinue a course as a result of a a permanent school closure and did not receive credit, could not transfer credit, or lost training time toward completion of the education program, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance payments shall not, for a specified period of time, be: charged against the individual's entitlement to educational assistance, or counted against the aggregate period for which such assistance may be provided. The bill applies to courses and programs of education discontinued in FY2015 or a following fiscal year. The VA may continue to pay educational assistance and subsistence allowances to eligible veterans and eligible persons enrolled in specified courses for up to 4 weeks in any 12-month period when schools are temporarily closed under an established policy based on an executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation. The VA may also continue to pay a monthly housing stipend following a permanent school closure, but only until the earlier of: (1) the date of the end of the term, quarter, or semester during which the school closure occurred; and (2) the date that is four months after the school closure.

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Reform Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Reform Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make certain amounts in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund available, without appropriation, to pay 100% of the eligible operations and maintenance costs of specified portions of the Saint Lawrence Seaway (a system of locks, canals, and channels in Canada and the United States that permits oceangoing vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes) as well as those assigned to commercial navigation of all U.S. harbors and inland harbors; rebates of certain tolls or charges on the Seaway; and all expenses of administration relating to harbor maintenance tax incurred by the Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Commerce. The bill also amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to require allocation to certain donor ports and energy transfer ports of at least 20% of amounts made available each fiscal year from the trust fund, and the Department of the Army to make allocations equally between these types of ports.

BTU Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2017

Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2017 or the BTU Act of 201 7 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include 30% of qualified biomass fuel property expenditures for property placed in service before 2022 in the residential energy efficient property tax credit. A "qualified biomass fuel property expenditure" is an expenditure for property which uses the burning of biomass fuel (a plant-derived fuel available on a renewable or recurring basis) to heat a dwelling used as a residence, or to heat water for use in such dwelling, and which has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75%. The bill also allows: (1) a 15% energy tax credit until 2022 for investment in open-loop biomass heating property, including boilers or furnaces that operate at thermal output efficiencies of at least 65% and provide thermal energy in the form of heat, hot water, or steam for space heating, air conditioning, domestic hot water, or industrial process heat; and (2) a 30% credit until 2022 for investment in such property that operates at a thermal output efficiency of at least 80%.

ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

United States · United States Senate · 28 June 2017

No Free Rides Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2017

No Free Rides Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny the earned income tax credit to any taxpayer whose identifying Social Security number was issued pursuant to a work authorization obtained under any program not specifically established by law that provides aliens deferred action from removal.

LIFTT Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2017

Lift Investment in Film, Television, and Theater Act or the LIFTT Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to permanently extend provisions that allow taxpayers to elect to expense the costs of qualified film, television, and live theatrical productions. The bill also modifies the rules for electing to expense the costs. Under current law, an election to expense the costs of a film, television, or live theatrical production must be made by the due date for filing a tax return for the year in which the costs are first incurred. With respect to live theatrical productions, the bill modifies the rule to require an election to be made by the due date for filing a tax return for the taxable year in which the production holds its first public performance for a paying audience.

Water Conservation Tax Parity Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2017

Water Conservation Tax Parity Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax exclusion for energy conservation subsidies provided by public utilities to exclude from gross income subsidies provided (directly or indirectly): (1) by a public utility to a customer, or by a state or local government to a resident of such state or locality, for the purchase or installation of any water conservation or efficiency measure; and (2) by a storm water management provider to a customer, or by a state or local government to a resident of such state or locality, for the purchase or installation of any storm water management measure.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

United States · United States Senate · 27 June 2017

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

United States · United States Senate · 27 June 2017

DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

United States · United States Senate · 27 June 2017

Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2017

Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an employee to elect to defer, for income tax purposes, income attributable to certain stock transferred to the employee by an employer. The employee may defer the inclusion of income from the stock until the year that includes the earliest of the dates on which: the stock becomes transferable; the employee becomes an excluded employee; stock of the corporation becomes readily tradable on an established securities market; seven years have passed after the rights of the employee in the stock are transferable or are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier; or the employee revokes the election with respect to the stock. The stock must meet specified requirements and be transferred to the employee from an eligible corporation in connection with the performance of services as an employee. A corporation is eligible if: (1) no stock of the corporation or a predecessor is readily tradable on an established securities market during any preceding year; and (2) it has a written plan under which at least 80% of certain employees are granted stock options, or restricted stock units, with the same rights and privileges to receive qualified stock. Employees are excluded if they: (1) are a 1% owner, the chief executive officer, or the chief financial officer of the corporation or have been at any time during the 10 preceding calendar years; (2) are a family member of the specified individuals; or (3) have been one of the four highest compensated officers of the corporation during any of the 10 preceding taxable years.

Audit the Pentagon Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2017

Audit the Pentagon Act of 2017 This bill requires a .5% reduction in Department of Defense (DOD) discretionary budget authority if DOD has not submitted a financial statement by March 2 of a fiscal year for the previous fiscal year or such financial statement has not received an unqualified or qualified audit opinion by an independent auditor. This reduction does not apply to military, reserve, and National Guard personnel accounts or the Defense Health Program account. The bill permits the President to waive any reduction in DOD budget authority if the reduction would harm national security or military personnel deployed in combat zones.

Iran Ballistic Missile Reporting Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2017

Iran Ballistic Missile Reporting Act of 2017 This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 to extend through December 31, 2022, requirements for quarterly reports by: (1) the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on confirmed ballistic missile launches by Iran, and (2) the Departments of State and the Treasury on any efforts to impose unilateral or multilateral sanctions against the appropriate entities or individuals in connection with such a launch.

Invent and Manufacture in America Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2017

Invent and Manufacture in America Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the research tax credit, to allow an increased credit for qualified domestic manufacturers. A "qualified domestic manufacturer" is a taxpayer who has domestic production gross receipts that are more than 50% of total gross receipts.

Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2017

Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an employee to elect to defer, for income tax purposes, income attributable to certain stock transferred to the employee by an employer. The employee may defer the inclusion of income from the stock until the year that includes the earliest of the dates on which: the stock becomes transferable; the employee becomes an excluded employee; stock of the corporation becomes readily tradable on an established securities market; seven years have passed after the rights of the employee in the stock are transferable or are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier; or the employee revokes the election with respect to the stock. The stock must meet specified requirements and be transferred to the employee from an eligible corporation in connection with the performance of services as an employee. A corporation is eligible if: (1) no stock of the corporation or a predecessor is readily tradable on an established securities market during any preceding year; and (2) it has a written plan under which at least 80% of certain employees are granted stock options, or restricted stock units, with the same rights and privileges to receive qualified stock. Employees are excluded if they: (1) are a 1% owner, the chief executive officer, or the chief financial officer of the corporation or have been at any time during the 10 preceding calendar years; (2) are a family member of the specified individuals; or (3) have been one of the four highest compensated officers of the corporation during any of the 10 preceding taxable years.

LEAP Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2017

Leveraging and Energizing America's Apprenticeship Programs Act or the LEAP Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business-related tax credit of $1,500 for hiring an apprentice who has not attained age 25 at the close of the taxable year or $1,000 for an apprentice who has attained age 25. The bill allows such credit for no more than two taxable years with respect to any apprentice. An "apprentice" is an employee who is employed in an officially-recognized apprenticeable occupation pursuant to an apprentice agreement registered with the Office of Apprenticeship of the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor or a recognized state apprenticeship agency.

Student Loan Interest Deduction Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2017

Student Loan Interest Deduction Act of 201 7 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the maximum tax deduction for interest paid on any qualified education loan to $5,000 ($10,000 for married couples filing a joint tax return), and (2) repeal the limitation on such deduction based upon modified adjusted gross income.

Help All Americans Save for College Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2017

Help All Americans Save for College Act of 201 7 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the tax treatment of qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) and ABLE accounts. (Tax-favored ABLE [Achieving a Better Life Experience] accounts are designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save for and pay for disability-related expenses.) The bill excludes employer contributions to an employee's 529 plan or ABLE account from the gross income of an individual, certain employment taxes, and taxes on self-employment earnings. The exclusions are limited to the lesser of: (1) the compensation includible in the individual's gross income for the year, or (2) $5,000 ($10,000 in the case of a joint return) for each dependent of the taxpayer who is the designated beneficiary of a 529 plan. The bill also allows an individual to deduct up to $5,000 of the aggregate contributions of the individual to a 529 plan and an ABLE account. The bill revises the 10% additional tax for distributions from a 529 plan or an ABLE account that are not used for qualified purposes to change the rate to the greater of: (1) 10%, or (2) the highest rate of income tax applicable to the taxpayer.