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: 07/14/2008 - Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Durbin. With written report No. 110-417.

Bill Text
An original bill making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. 7/14/2008--Reported to Senate 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.) Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2009 - Title I: Department of the Treasury - Department of the Treasury Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of the Treasury for: (1) departmental offices; (2) department-wide systems and capital investments programs; (3) the Office of Inspector General; (4) the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; (5) the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; (6) the Financial Management Service; (7) the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau; (8) the U.S. Mint for the U.S.[...]

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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: 04/21/2008 - Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Dodd. With written report No. 110-327.

Bill Text
An original bill to establish requirements for private lenders to protect student borrowers receiving private educational loans, and for other purposes. 4/21/2008--Reported to Senate 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.)Private Student Loan Transparency and Improvement Act of 2007 - Title I: Preventing Unfair and Deceptive Private Educational Lending Practices and Eliminating Conflicts of Interest - (Sec. 101) Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a private educational lender from: (1) offering or providing any gift to specified educational institutions or their personnel in exchange for any advantage or consideration provided to such lender related to its educational loan activities; or (2) engaging in revenue sharing with such institutions.Prohibits such lender from marketing loans [...]

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Latest Action: 03/13/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain benefits applicable to the Gulf Opportunity Zone, and for other purposes. 3/13/2008--Introduced. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2010 increased depreciation allowances for certain business and investment property located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone (GO Zone) (through 2011 for nonresidential real property or residential rental property in the GO Zone); (2) extend through 2012 special rules relating to the depreciation of buildings in the GO Zone; (3) extend through 2010 the tax credit for rehabilitation expenditures in the GO Zone; (4) increase the new markets tax credit limitation in 2008 and 2009 for investments in community development entities serving the GO Zone; (5) extend through 2012, and increase the authority for, tax-exempt bond financing for bonds issued by Louisiana or a political subdivision thereof; (6) authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to expand [...]

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Latest Action: 02/14/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 577.

Bill Text
A bill to provide needed housing reform. 2/13/2008--Introduced. Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) authorize use of the proceeds of a qualified mortgage bond issue to refinance a mortgage on a residence originally financed through a qualified subprime loan; (2) raise the ceiling and volume cap imposed upon certain state housing bonds; and (3) exclude from the meaning of tax preference item private activity bonds, for purposes of the alternative minimum tax, qualified mortgage bonds or veterans' mortgage bonds issued after enactment of this Act and before January 1, 2011. Makes FY2008 appropriations for: (1) emergency needs of states and local governmental units to redevelop certain abandoned and foreclosed homes; and (2) the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation for foreclosure mitigation activities, including grants for housing counseling. Helping Families Save Their Homes in Bankruptcy Act of 2008 - Authorizes a bankruptcy [...]

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Latest Action: 12/19/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S16016)

Bill Text
A bill to authorize guarantees for bonds and notes issued for community or economic development purposes. 12/19/2007--Introduced. Full Faith and Credit in Our Communities Act of 2007 - Amends the Community Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to require the Secretary of the Treasury to guarantee payments on tax-exempt bonds or notes issued by any approved issuer if their proceeds are used to make loans to eligible community development financial institutions: (1) for eligible community or economic development purposes; or (2) to refinance loans or notes issued for such purposes. Lists among such community or economic development purposes, especially in low-income or underserved rural areas, developing or supporting: (1) commercial facilities that promote revitalization, community stability, or job creation or retention; (2) businesses that provide jobs for low-income people or are owned by low-income people, or enhance the availability of products and services [...]

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Latest Action: 12/14/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to increase community development investments by depository institutions, and for other purposes. 12/14/2007--Introduced. Depository Institution Community Development Investments Enhancement Act - Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to revise requirements for community development investments by federal savings associations. Authorizes a federal savings association to make investments, directly or indirectly, each of which is designed primarily to promote the public welfare, including the welfare of low- and moderate-income communities or families through the provision of housing, services, and jobs (community development investments). Permits such investments to be made directly or by purchase of interests in an entity primarily engaged in making such investments. Prohibits a federal savings association from making an investment which would subject it to unlimited liability to any person. Requires the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision [...]

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Latest Action: 12/06/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain benefits applicable to the Gulf Opportunity Zone, and for other purposes. 12/6/2007--Introduced. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2010 increased depreciation allowances for certain business and investment property located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone (GO Zone) (through 2011 for nonresidential real property or residential rental property in the GO Zone); (2) extend through 2012 special rules relating to the depreciation of buildings in the GO Zone; (3) extend through 2010 the tax credit for rehabilitation expenditures in the GO Zone; (4) increase the new markets tax credit limitation in 2008 and 2009 for investments in community development entities serving the GO Zone; (5) extend through 2012, and increase the authority for, tax-exempt bond financing for bonds issued by Louisiana or a political subdivision thereof; (6) authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to expand an area [...]

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Latest Action: 12/06/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Bill Text
To increase the expertise and capacity of community-based organizations involved in economic development activities and key community development programs.

12/6/2007--Introduced.

Community Economic Development Expertise Enhancement Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to increase the capacity and expertise of qualifying community-based economic development organizations.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct an assessment of such organizations' capability needs; and (2) establish the Advisory Council on Community Economic Development.

Directs the President to include with each annual budget request a report regarding federal financial support for community economic development.

Latest Action: 11/16/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14630)

Bill Text
A bill to provide for affordable housing relief, and for other purposes. 11/16/2007--Introduced. Government Sponsored Enterprise Mission Improvement Act, or the GSE Mission Improvement Act - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to modify requirements for annual reports to specified congressional committees by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on the activities of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (enterprises). Requires the contents of such reports to: (1) identify the extent to which the enterprises are involved in mortgage purchases and secondary market activities involving subprime loans; and (2) compare the characteristics of subprime loans purchased and securitized by the enterprises to their other loans. Revises requirements for the establishment by the Secretary of housing goals to emphasize single-family housing goals and a multifamily [...]

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Latest Action: 10/16/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a special allocation under the new markets tax credit in connection with trade adjustment assistance.

10/16/2007--Introduced.

New Employment for Workers & Job Opportunities for Business Strength Act of 2007 or the NEW JOBS Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase by $500 million in 2008 the new markets tax credit limitation amount that is allocable among qualified community development entities for investments in or loans to businesses that hire trade adjustment assistance (TAA) recipients or that meet other TAA requirements.

Latest Action: 09/27/2008 - Hearings Held by Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Prior to Introduction and Referral (05/15/2007)..

Bill Text
A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes. 7/30/2008--Public Law.    (There are 4 other summaries) Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - Division A: Housing Finance Reform - Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 - Title I: Reform of Regulation of Enterprises - Subtitle A: Improvement of Safety and Soundness Supervision - (Sec. 1101) Amends the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 to replace the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (Agency), headed by a Director with regulatory authority over: (1) the Office of Finance; (2) the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs); (3) the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae); and (4) the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are referred to jointly as the enterprises.) [...]

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Latest Action: 07/17/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.

Bill Text
To amend the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to allow the direct support by a financial institution of a qualified community-based financial literacy program provided to consumers and borrowers to be taken into account in assessing the institution's record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community, and for other purposes. 6/22/2007--Introduced. National Financial Literacy Act of 2007 - Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to require federal financial supervisory agencies jointly to prescribe regulations establishing: (1) minimum standards to be met by a community-based financial literacy program in order to be eligible for consideration as a qualified community-based financial literacy program; (2) procedures for financial institutions to apply to a federal financial supervisory agency for approval of such a program; and (3) a requirement that financial institutions submit a regular report on how the institution supported and promoted financial literacy [...]

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