Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 09/14/2007 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
A bill to provide greater transparency in the legislative process. 9/14/2007--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on July 31, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 - Title I: Closing the Revolving Door - (Sec. 101) Amends the federal criminal code to extend from one to two years the ban on lobbying contacts by former: (1) very senior executive personnel with any Member, officer, or employee of the entity in which such person served before his or her tenure terminated; and (2) Senators with any Member, officer or employee of either chamber, or employee of any other legislative office.Continues the one-year ban on lobbying contacts by former: (1) Members of the House of Representatives with any Member, officer, or employee of either chamber, or employee of any other legislative office; (2) [...]

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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 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide economic incentives for the preservation of open space and conservation of natural resources, and for other purposes.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Paul Coverdell Homestead Open Space Preservation and Conservation Act of 2006 (sic) - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain tax-exempt conservation organizations a tax credit for expenditures to acquire and maintain real property interests exclusively for conservation purposes.

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

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To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow loans from individual retirement plans for qualified small business capital assets.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the penalty tax for prohibited transactions loans from an individual retirement plan to acquire certain small business capital assets. Requires such loans to be repaid within five years.

Latest Action: 01/05/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1)

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To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the inclusion in gross income of Social Security benefits.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the inclusion of any social security or tier I railroad retirement benefits in gross income.

Appropriates funds to cover reductions in transfers to the Social Security and Railroad Retirement Trust Funds resulting from the enactment of this Act. Expresses the sense of Congress against using tax increases to provide revenue necessary to carry out this Act.

Latest Action: 01/05/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1)

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 increase in taxes on Social Security benefits.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, effective January 1, 2007, the 1993 increase in income taxes on Social Security benefits.

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S149-150)

Bill Text
A bill to expand access to affordable health care and to strengthen the health care safety net and make health care services more available in rural and underserved areas. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Access to Affordable Health Care Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) tax credits to small businesses for qualified employee health insurance expenses; (2) tax credits for qualified health insurance; (3) deductions for long-term care premiums; and (4) tax credits for individuals with long-term care needs. Requires the Secretary of Labor to award grants to states to assist in planning, developing, and operating qualified small employer purchasing groups for health insurance. Directs the Small Business Administration to award grants to states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to provide health insurance information to small employers. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to award demonstration grants for [...]

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Latest Action: 03/26/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3758-3759)

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A resolution reforming the congressional earmark process. 3/26/2007--Introduced. Adds Rule XLIV (Earmarks) to the Standing Rules of the Senate to make it out of order to consider any Senate bill or joint resolution reported, or not reported, by a committee unless a list of all its congressional earmarks, limited tax or tariff benefits, and the name of the requesting Member is made available to the general public on the Internet for at least 48 hours before its consideration. Requires, if appropriate, a statement for the Internet, or if the legislation was not reported by a committee, publication in the Congressional Record, that the legislation contains no congressional earmarks or limited tax or tariff benefits. Makes it out of order to consider a conference report on such legislation if the joint explanatory statement does not include such list or disclaimer. Defines "limited tax benefit" as any revenue provision that: (1) provides a federal [...]

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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 tax incentives for small businesses, and for other purposes.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Small Business Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow self-employed individuals to participate in cafeteria pension plans; (2) allow long-term care insurance under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements; (3) allow accelerated amortization of certain intangible assets (e.g., good will) acquired from a small business; (4) increase the tax exclusion of gain from the sale of certain small business stock; (5) provide a $2,500 standard tax deduction for home business expenses; (6) permit certain small businesses to elect a taxable year ending in a month from April to November; (7) increase the allowable number of S corporation shareholders; and (8) exempt certain small businesses from withholding of tax requirements for payments made by government entities.

Latest Action: 01/16/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S572-573)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a program demonstrating multiple approaches to Lifelong Learning Accounts, which are portable, worker-owned savings accounts that can be used by workers to help finance education, training, and apprenticeships and which are intended to supplement both public and employer-provided education and training resources, and for other purposes.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Lifelong Learning Accounts Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish a tax-exempt lifelong learning account for the payment of certain employee higher education and training expenses; (2) allow individuals a nonrefundable tax credit for contributions to such accounts; and (3) allow employers a business-related tax credit for contributions to such accounts.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to Congress on such accounts and the tax credits enacted by this Act.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 09/30/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10177)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from an employee's gross income any employer-provided supplemental instructional services assistance, and for other purposes. 9/30/2008--Introduced. Affordable Tutoring of Our Children Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance to allow employees an additional exclusion for payments of supplemental instructional services assistance to their dependents between the ages of 5 and 19 who have not obtained a high school diploma or been awarded a general education degree. Defines "supplemental instructional services assistance" to include instructional or other academic enrichment services that are: (1) in addition to instruction provided during the school day; (2) specifically designed to increase academic achievement; (3) in the core academic studies of English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and [...]

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Latest Action: 11/18/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1118 under authority of the order of the Senate of 11/17/2008.

Bill Text
To advance the national security interests of the United States by reducing its dependency on oil through renewable and clean, alternative fuel technologies while building a bridge to the future through expanded access to Federal oil and natural gas resources, revising the relationship between the oil and gas industry and the consumers who own those resources and deserve a fair return from the development of publicly owned oil and gas, ending tax subsidies for large oil and gas companies, and facilitating energy efficiencies in the building, housing, and transportation sectors, and for other purposes. 9/15/2008--Introduced. Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act - Prohibits oil and gas preleasing or leasing of any area of the Outer Continental Shelf that was not available for oil and gas leasing as of July 1, 2008, unless that action is expressly authorized by this Act or a statute enacted by Congress after the date of enactment of this Act. [...]

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Latest Action: 07/28/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7575-7576)

Bill Text
A bill to increase energy assistance for low-income persons, to extend energy tax incentives, and for other purpose. 7/28/2008--Introduced. Energy Assistance Act of 2008 - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to authorize appropriations for FY2009-FY2011 for the home weatherization program. Establishes in the Treasury the Energy Assistance Fund to finance low interest loans for the purchase and installation of energy efficient property, idling reduction devices and advanced insulation for heavy trucks, and alternative refueling stations.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a tax credit, up to $500, for the cost of replacing a residential wood stove with: (1) a wood-burning stove that complies with current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards; and (2) a pellet or corn-burning stove. Extends the tax credit for producing electricity from wind facilities through 2009 and the credit for closed and open-loop [...]

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Latest Action: 08/01/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code to provide for an increased mileage rate for charitable deductions.

8/1/2008--Introduced.

Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere Act of 2008 or the GIVE Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the standard mileage rate for use of a passenger automobile for charitable purposes to 70% of the current rate for business usage; and (2) exclude from the gross income of charitable volunteers reimbursements paid to them for the use of a passenger automobile for the benefit of a charitable organization.

Latest Action: 07/29/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the shipping investment withdrawal rules in section 955 and to provide an incentive to reinvest foreign shipping earnings in the United States.

7/29/2008--Introduced.

American Shipping Reinvestment Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal shipping investment withdrawal tax rules; and (2) allow U.S. corporate shareholders a tax deduction for dividends attributable to foreign base company shipping income received from a controlled foreign corporation.

Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 43. Record Vote Number: 192. (consideration: CR S7722; text: CR S7722)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. 7/24/2008--Introduced. Jobs, Energy, Families, and Disaster Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend various provisions relating to energy production and conservation and to individual and business-related activities.Extends the tax credit for producing electricity from wind facilities through 2009 and the tax credit for closed and open-loop biomass, geothermal, small irrigation, hydropower, landfill gas, and trash combustion facilities through 2011. Includes marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as a renewable resource for purposes of such tax credit. Extends the energy tax credit for solar energy and the residential energy efficient property tax credit through 2016. Extends the energy tax credits for fuel cell and microturbine property through 2017. Allows a new investment tax credit for combined heat and power system property.[...]

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Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - S.AMDT.5254 Referred to the Committee on Finance. To make a technical correction.

Bill Text
A bill to provide tax relief for the victims of severe storms, tornados, and flooding in the Midwest, and for other purposes. 7/23/2008--Introduced. Midwestern Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax benefits to individuals affected by presidentially-declared natural disasters (i.e., severe storms, tornadoes, or flooding) in the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin on or after May 20, 2008, and before August 1, 2008 (Midwestern disaster area).Makes specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, which currently apply only to residents of the Gulf Opportunity Zone and the Hurricane Katrina disaster area, applicable to the Midwestern disaster area, including: (1) tax-exempt bond financing, the low-income housing tax credit, accelerated depreciation and increased expensing of business assets, an increase in the rehabilitation tax credit, extended carryback [...]

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Latest Action: 08/01/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
To make technical corrections related to the Pension Protection Act of 2006, and for other purposes. 7/9/2008--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.) Pension Protection Technical Corrections Act of 2008 - Title I: Technical Corrections Related to the Pension Protection Act of 2006 - (Sec. 101) Makes technical corrections to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to conform to the Pension Protection Act of 2006 regarding various specified items, including: (1) the target normal cost of benefits; (2) specified implementation and effective dates for certain requirements; (3) one-participant retirement plans; (4) special age-related rules in accrued benefit requirements for applicable defined benefit plans; (5) inapplicability [...]

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Latest Action: 06/26/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit against tax for certain caregivers, to expand the dependent care credit, and to increase the exclusion limitation for dependent care assistance programs.

6/26/2008--Introduced.

Caregiver Financial Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow caregivers of family members with long-term care needs a refundable tax credit of $3,000 for up to two such family members each year through 2010; (2) allow in 2009 and 2010 the tax credit for dependent care expenses for parents (or ancestors of such parents) who do not reside with the taxpayer; and (3) allow in 2009 and 2010 an increased exclusion from gross income for employer-provided dependent care assistance.

Latest Action: 06/25/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the shipping investment withdrawal rules in section 955 and to provide an incentive to reinvest foreign shipping earnings in the United States.

6/25/2008--Introduced.

American Shipping Reinvestment Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal shipping investment withdrawal tax rules; and (2) allow U.S. corporate shareholders a tax deduction for dividends attributable to foreign base company shipping income received from a controlled foreign corporation.