Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 04/16/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3384)

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve and expand education savings accounts.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

401Kids Family Savings Act of 2007 - Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to extend through 2015 provisions allowing increased annual contributions to Coverdell education savings accounts.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow tax-free distributions from a Coverdell education savings account for first-time homebuyer expenses; (2) permit rollovers from Coverdell education savings accounts to Roth individual retirement accounts (Roth IRAs); and (3) rename Coverdell education savings accounts as 401Kids Savings Accounts.

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the creation of disaster protection funds by property and casualty insurance companies for the payment of policyholders' claims arising from future catastrophic events.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Policyholder Disaster Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow insurance companies (other than life insurance companies) to make tax deductible contributions to a tax-exempt policyholder disaster protection fund established by this Act for the payment of policyholders' claims arising from certain catastrophic events, such as windstorms, earthquakes, fires, or floods.

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Bill Text
To repeal the prohibition on the payment of interest on demand deposits, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Business Checking Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends federal law to authorize interest-bearing or dividend-bearing transaction accounts for all businesses, permitting up to 24 transfers per month to another account of the owner in the same institution. Amends the Federal Reserve Act, the Home Owners' Loan Act, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to repeal the prohibition against the payment of interest on demand deposits. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to require the Board to survey biennially and report biennially to Congress on bank fees and certain services. Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, and the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994, to repeal certain reporting requirements. Cites practices which shall not be treated as payment or receipt of interest [...]

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Latest Action: 02/06/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1641)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish long-term care trust accounts and allow a refundable tax credit for contributions to such accounts, and for other purposes.

2/6/2007--Introduced.

Long-Term Care Trust Account Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish tax-exempt long-term care trust accounts; (2) allow cash contributions to such accounts up to $5,000 annually; (3) allow an exclusion from gross income for certain distributions, including for long-term care services for chronically-ill individuals; (4) impose penalties for excess contributions to such accounts and for failure to provide required reports on such accounts; and (5) allow a refundable tax credit for 10% of the annual contributions to such accounts.

Latest Action: 08/10/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

Bill Text
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Administration should rigorously enforce the laws of the United States to substantially reduce illegal immigration and greatly improve border security.

6/19/2007--Introduced.

Expresses the House of Representatives' belief respecting specified immigration-related steps that the Administration should take that will reduce illegal immigration and improve U.S. border security.

Latest Action: 02/01/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Bill Text
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following their death.

1/24/2007--Introduced.

Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act - Requires the United States to forgive any overpayment of military retired or retainer pay for any period after the death of the recipient through the last day of the month in which such death occurs, if such payment is electronically deposited to a joint account bearing the name of the decedent and the decedent's designated beneficiary.

Provides a special effective date for the first annuity payment to a survivor under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) when an overpayment is so forgiven.

Latest Action: 02/17/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2206-2216)

Bill Text
A bill to restrict the use of offshore tax havens and abusive tax shelters to inappropriately avoid Federal taxation, and for other purposes. 2/17/2007--Introduced. Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to tax shelter activities to: (1) establish legal presumptions against the validity of transactions involving offshore secrecy jurisdictions (i.e., foreign tax havens identified in this Act and by the Secretary of the Treasury); (2) impose restrictions on foreign jurisdictions, financial institutions, or international transactions that are of primary money laundering concern or that impede U.S. tax enforcement; (3) increase the period for Internal Revenue Service review of tax returns involving offshore secrecy jurisdictions; (4) require tax withholding agents and financial institutions to report certain information about beneficial owners of foreign-owned financial accounts and accounts established in offshore secrecy jurisdictions; and [...]

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Latest Action: 02/07/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To establish and provide for the treatment of Individual Development Accounts, and for other purposes. 2/7/2007--Introduced. Savings for Working Families Act of 2007 - Allows certain low-income individuals between age 18 and 61 to establish tax-exempt individual development accounts (IDAs) to pay for certain qualified expenses, including education expenses, first-time homebuyer costs, and business capitalization or expansion costs. Sets forth rules for the establishment, maintenance, and termination of IDAs. Permits tax-free withdrawals from IDAs for qualified expenses, but requires IDA beneficiaries to complete one or more financial education courses prior to making an IDA withdrawal.Allows certain financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, and Indian tribes to sponsor and administer IDAs. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow such entities a business-related tax credit for the cost of administering IDAs and for making matching contributions to IDAs in parallel [...]

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Latest Action: 03/14/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to establish and provide for the treatment of Individual Development Accounts, and for other purposes. 3/14/2007--Introduced. Savings for Working Families Act of 2007 - Allows certain low-income individuals between age 18 and 61 to establish tax-exempt individual development accounts (IDAs) to pay for certain qualified expenses, including education expenses, first-time homebuyer costs, and business capitalization or expansion costs. Sets forth rules for the establishment, maintenance, and termination of IDAs. Permits tax-free withdrawals from IDAs for qualified expenses, but requires IDA beneficiaries to complete one or more financial education courses prior to making an IDA withdrawal.Allows certain financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, and Indian tribes to sponsor and administer IDAs. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow such entities a business-related tax credit for the cost of administering IDAs and for making matching contributions to IDAs [...]

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Latest Action: 04/12/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.

Bill Text
To extend the protections of the Truth in Lending Act to overdraft protection programs and services provided by depository institutions, to require customer consent before a depository institution may initiate overdraft protection services and fees, to enhance the information made available to consumers relating to overdraft protection services and fees, to prohibit systematic manipulation in the posting of checks and other debits to a depository account for the purpose of generating overdraft protection fees, and for other purposes. 2/8/2007--Introduced. Consumer Overdraft Protection Fair Practices Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to set forth restrictions on: (1) overdraft protection programs or services for consumers; and (2) representations or statements with respect to such a program or service in any advertisement or promotion. Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and the Expedited Funds Availability Act to set forth restrictions on overdraft protection [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7968-7969)

Bill Text
A bill to authorize a grant program to provide for expanded access to mainstream financial institutions. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Improving Access to Mainstream Financial Institutions Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to award grants, including multi-year grants, to specified eligible entities to establish an account in a federally insured depository institution for low- and moderate-income individuals that currently do not have such an account. Includes among such eligible entities: (1) Alaska Native Corporations; (2) Native Hawaiian organizations; and (3) labor organizations.Authorizes the Secretary to award demonstration project grants to eligible entities to provide low-cost, small loans to consumers that will provide alternatives to more costly, predatory payday loans. Requires such entities to be: (1) tax-exempt charitable organizations; (2) federally insured depository institutions; (3) community development financial institutions; or (4) partnerships [...]

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Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to promote savings by providing a match for eligible taxpayers who contribute to savings products and to facilitate taxpayers receiving this match and open a bank account when they file their Federal income tax returns.

7/31/2008--Introduced.

Saver's Bonus Act of 2007 [sic] - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to develop programs to: (1) match deposits made by low-income individuals into certain savings accounts (saver's bonus); (2) deposit tax refunds electronically into savings accounts; and (3) allow individual taxpayers to purchase U.S. savings bonds on their federal income tax returns.

Requires the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to notify low-income taxpayers of their eligibility for the saver's bonus and of their options under this Act.

Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7981; text as passed Senate: CR S7981; text of measure as introduced: CR S7977)

Bill Text
A resolution to authorize the production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

7/31/2008--Passed Senate without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Authorizes the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, acting jointly, to provide to law enforcement officials, regulatory agencies, and other entities or individuals duly authorized by federal, state, or foreign governments, records of the Subcommittee's investigation into tax haven financial institutions, their formation and administration of offshore entities and accounts for use by U.S. clients, and the impact of those activities on tax compliance in the United States.

Latest Action: 06/25/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Bill Text
To advance credit union efforts to promote economic growth, modify credit union regulatory standards and reduce burdens, to provide regulatory relief and improve productivity for insured depository institutions, and for other purposes. 6/24/2008--Passed House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Credit Union, Bank, and Thrift Regulatory Relief Act of 2008 - Title I: Credit Unions - (Sec. 101) Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to: (1) permit a credit union to invest in securities for its own account, subject to certain percentage limitations; and (2) increase the investment and lending limit in credit union service organizations from 1% to 3% of a credit union's total paid and unimpaired capital and surplus. (Sec. 103) Excludes credit union loans to nonprofit religious organizations [...]

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Latest Action: 05/23/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Bill Text
To establish licensing and registration requirements for residential mortgage originators, improve mortgage disclosures, create an Office of Housing Counseling, to provide incentives to facilitate loan modifications, reform the regulation of the Government Sponsored Enterprises, modernize the Federal Housing Administration, improve home ownership for veterans, reform appraisal activities, and combat mortgage fraud, and for other purposes. 4/22/2008--Introduced. Homeownership Protection and Housing Market Stabilization Act of 2008 - Sets forth a licensing and registry system for residential mortgage loan originators. Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require additional creditor disclosures on residential mortgage loans. Expand and Preserve Home Ownership Through Counseling Act - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish the Office of Housing Counseling in the Office of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Amends [...]

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Latest Action: 04/08/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the commit

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide taxpayer protection and assistance, and for other purposes. 4/8/2008--Introduced. Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary of the Treasury to publish a summary statement of specified taxpayer rights and obligations.Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) make grants to provide matching funds for qualified return preparation programs that provide volunteer income tax preparation assistance to low-income taxpayers; and (2) refer such taxpayers to taxpayer clinics funded by the federal government. Requires the Secretary to establish a system for regulating and testing federal income tax return preparers.Requires refund loan facilitators to file annual registrations with the Secretary and to make certain disclosures to borrowers about refund anticipation loans.Expands and increases penalties on tax return preparers for understating taxpayer liabilities.[...]

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Latest Action: 03/06/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 599.

Bill Text
A bill to close the loophole that allowed the 9/11 hijackers to obtain credit cards from United States banks that financed their terrorists activities, to ensure that illegal immigrants cannot obtain credit cards to evade United States immigration laws, and for other purposes.

3/5/2008--Introduced.

Authorizes a financial institution, when verifying the identity of a non-U.S. citizen or national who is seeking to open a bank account, to accept only: (1) a Social Security number; (2) a passport number and the country of issuance; (3) an alien identification card number; or (4) any combination of such items.

Prohibits a financial institution, for such verification purposes, from accepting identification documents issued by a foreign government, other than an unexpired passport.

Latest Action: 11/16/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to close the loophole that allowed the 9/11 hijackers to obtain credit cards from United States banks that financed their terrorists activities, to ensure that illegal immigrants cannot obtain credit cards to evade United States immigration laws, and for other purposes.

11/16/2007--Introduced.

Authorizes a financial institution, when verifying the identity of a non-U.S. citizen or national who is seeking to open a bank account, to accept only: (1) a Social Security number; (2) a passport number and the country of issuance; (3) an alien identification card number; or (4) any combination of such items.

Prohibits a financial institution, for such verification purposes, from accepting identification documents issued by a foreign government, other than an unexpired passport.

Latest Action: 11/13/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restructure and replace the income tax system of the United States to meet national priorities, and for other purposes. 11/13/2007--Introduced. Simplified USA Tax Act of 2007 - Repeals, after 2006, income tax and estate and gift tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Replaces such Code with a new tax system, to be known as the Simplified USA Tax. Establishes three income tax brackets at 15, 25, and 30% for individual taxpayers. Redefines "gross income" and allows certain exclusions from gross income, including previously-taxed benefits, tax-exempt bond interest, compensation for injuries and sickness, and gain from the sale of a principal residence. Allows tax deductions for alimony and child support, home mortgage interest, certain higher education expenses, and charitable contributions. Allows a tax credit for employee social security payroll taxes.Revises rules for Roth individual retirement [...]

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Latest Action: 11/07/2007 - Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Bill Text
To require escrows for certain mortgage loans, to improve mortgage servicing, to promote sustainable homeownership opportunities, to enhance appraisal quality and standards, to better appraisal oversight, to mitigate appraiser pressure, and for other purposes. 10/16/2007--Introduced. Escrow, Appraisal, and Mortgage Servicing Improvements Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require a creditor, in a consumer credit transaction secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, to establish an escrow or impound account to pay taxes and hazard insurance, and, if applicable, flood insurance, mortgage insurance, ground rents, and any other required periodic payments or premiums. Requires written disclosures by the creditor to the consumer regarding: (1) such escrow or impound account; and (2) consumers who opt out of escrow services. Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to proscribe specified practices by the servicer of a federally related mortgage,[...]

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