legislation
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294 rows where congress = 114 and policy_area = "Commerce" sorted by introduced_date descending
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| bill_id | congress | bill_type | bill_number | title | policy_area | introduced_date ▲ | latest_action_date | latest_action_text | origin_chamber | sponsor_name | sponsor_state | sponsor_party | sponsor_bioguide_id | cosponsor_count | summary_text | update_date | url |
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| 114-hr-6534 | 114 | hr | 6534 | MadeInAmerica.gov Act | Commerce | 2016-12-20 | 2016-12-20 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. | House | Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] | NY | D | M001188 | 0 | MadeInAmerica.gov Act This bill requires the Department of Commerce to create and maintain a MadeInAmerica.gov website within two years. The website shall: (1) publish a list of all products made in America and all companies that only make products made in America, (2) publish contact information, and (3) be searchable by product and company. Commerce shall: (1) only publish such products, companies, contact information, and order page information requested by a company; (2) create a form interested companies may complete in order to satisfy such requirement; and (3) make the form publicly available in a conspicuous location on the homepage of MadeInAmerica.gov. The bill imposes penalties against any company found to have submitted false information in order to secure product or company inclusion on the website. | 2023-01-11T13:33:53Z | |
| 114-hr-6496 | 114 | hr | 6496 | Fairness for American Small Creators Act | Commerce | 2016-12-08 | 2016-12-22 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27] | CA | D | C001080 | 1 | Fairness for American Small Creators Act This bill establishes in the U.S. Copyright Office a copyright claims board to serve as an alternative forum for parties to choose to resolve certain copyright claims if the total damages sought by a party do not exceed $30,000. The board must certify its determinations on copyright claims, counterclaims, and defenses for confirmation by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The board is authorized to: (1) conduct hearings and conferences; (2) facilitate settlements; (3) render independent determinations based on copyright laws and regulations without consultation from the Register of Copyrights regarding the facts of a case; (4) award damages; and (5) require cessation or mitigation of infringing activity, including the takedown or destruction of infringing materials, where the parties agree. The bill preserves the right of parties to instead pursue a claim or defense in court. The board may conduct proceedings through Internet-based teleconference applications. Discovery shall be limited to the production of relevant information and documents, written interrogatories, and written requests for admission. But the board may request specific information or approve a party's request for additional limited discovery. A party may request: (1) the claims board to reconsider its determinations, and (2) the Register of Copyrights to review whether the claims board abused its discretion in denying any requested reconsideration. The Register of Copyrights may issue regulations to dispose of any claim with total damages of $5,000 or less through a process that provides for: (1) one copyright claims officer to consider the claim and issue a determination, and (2) a copyright claims attorney to determine whether the case shall be heard by one officer or the board. A party may not assert before a court or tribunal any claim resolved by the board's final determination, but parties may petition the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to vacate, modify, or corr… | 2023-01-11T13:33:54Z | |
| 114-sres-629 | 114 | sres | 629 | A resolution recognizing the 225th anniversary of Alexander Hamilton's seminal Report on the Subject of Manufactures. | Commerce | 2016-12-05 | 2016-12-05 | Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced in Senate: CR S6710) | Senate | Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] | DE | D | C001088 | 1 | Recognizes: (1) the 225th anniversary of Alexander Hamilton's seminal Report on the Subject of Manufactures, and (2) his vision to make a case for a strong and diversified economy. Expresses admiration and appreciation for the variety of ways in which he contributed to the success of the young United States. Acknowledges the importance of the manufacturing industry's contributions to the United States in promoting innovation, job creation, and opportunity for the middle class. Supports efforts to grow and sustain U.S. manufacturing industries by creating a healthy business climate and establishing the level playing field vital to United States manufacturing success. | 2023-01-11T13:34:42Z | |
| 114-hr-6398 | 114 | hr | 6398 | To amend the Small Business Act to provide for the inclusion of unmarried women in the criteria for awarding a grant to a women's business center. | Commerce | 2016-11-29 | 2016-11-29 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-3] | NY | D | I000057 | 0 | This bill amends the Small Business Act to revise the Small Business Administration's criteria for awarding a grant to a women's business center to include the ability of the applicant to provide training and services to a representative number of unmarried women who are both socially and economically disadvantaged. | 2023-01-11T13:34:01Z | |
| 114-hr-6309 | 114 | hr | 6309 | Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act | Commerce | 2016-11-14 | 2016-12-05 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. Grayson, Alan [D-FL-9] | FL | D | G000556 | 0 | Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act This bill allows the holder or successor of an acceleration certificate issued pursuant to the Patents for Humanity Program (a pilot awards program established by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO] entitling awardees to accelerate certain USPTO proceedings for patented technologies addressing humanitarian needs among an impoverished population or for further research on humanitarian technologies) to transfer, including by sale, the entitlement to such certificate to another person. | 2023-01-11T13:34:04Z | |
| 114-hr-6312 | 114 | hr | 6312 | ALLOW Act | Commerce | 2016-11-14 | 2016-12-01 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. | House | Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11] | NC | R | M001187 | 1 | Alternatives to Licensing that Lower Obstacles to Work Act of 2016 or the ALLOW Act This bill declares, for purposes of establishing an individual's authorization to engage in an occupation on a military installation located on federally-owned land, that the federal government endorses occupational licenses and certifications granted by a state (including the District of Columbia [DC]), regardless of whether the installation is located in the issuing state or DC, provided that: the license or certification is not expired, revoked, or suspended by the issuing state; and there are no outstanding enforcement actions against the individual brought by the licensing board or certifying authority for that occupation in the issuing state. District of Columbia Occupational Licensing Reform Act The bill declares DC policy regarding occupational licensing laws. The bill establishes an Office of Supervision of Occupational Boards in the office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, or another appropriate DC government agency, to be responsible for exercising active supervision over each occupational licensing board to ensure compliance with occupational licensing policy. The bill prescribes procedures for the Office's review, approval, or rejection of occupational licensure actions before their adoption. The DC Council shall establish a legislative committee to analyze occupational regulations and review any proposed legislation to impose or modify an occupational regulation to ensure compliance. An individual may engage in a lawful occupation without being subject to occupational regulations that are arbitrary or unnecessary and substantially burdensome. The DC government and its boards may not require an occupational license, certification, or registration for a person, or impose any other occupational regulation that imposes a substantial burden on a person, unless: the government has an important interest in protecting against present and recognizable harm to public health, safety, or welfare; and t… | 2023-01-11T13:34:04Z | |
| 114-s-3468 | 114 | s | 3468 | A bill to amend the Small Business Act to expand tax credit education and training for small businesses, and for other purposes. | Commerce | 2016-09-29 | 2016-09-29 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. | Senate | Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] | DE | D | C001088 | 1 | This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to develop partnership agreements to: provide for development of basic training relating to federal income tax credits benefitting small businesses and startups, especially credits for research and experimentation, and informational materials relating to such credits, including IRS guidance documents; provide these basic training and informational materials through electronic resources and at physical locations; and make the materials available to SBA business development programs and business development entities that partner with SBA programs, including universities, nonprofits, business incubators, and business accelerators. The bill amends the Small Business Act to require SBA development centers to provide, in conjunction with the IRS, informational materials, education, and basic training to small businesses relating to federal income tax credits, including credits available to: (1) businesses generally; and (2) small businesses and startups specifically, especially credits for research and experimentation. Such materials, education, and basic training may be delivered in person or through an Internet website. | 2023-01-11T13:34:07Z | |
| 114-sres-603 | 114 | sres | 603 | A resolution designating the week beginning on the first Friday after Thanksgiving in 2016 as "National Electronic Payments Week". | Commerce | 2016-09-29 | 2016-09-29 | Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6278) | Senate | Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] | GA | R | I000055 | 3 | Designates the week beginning on the first Friday after Thanksgiving in 2016 as National Electronic Payments Week. Recognizes the significant contributions and great importance of electronic payments and the advantages they provide to consumers, merchants, small businesses, and the economy as a whole. Appreciates the significant role electronic payments play in the global marketplace and acknowledges their growth domestically and abroad. Expresses a desire to foster an environment that encourages continued innovation and enhanced security in electronic payments. | 2023-01-11T13:34:05Z | |
| 114-sres-610 | 114 | sres | 610 | A resolution expressing support for the designation of the first Friday in October 2016 as "Manufacturing Day". | Commerce | 2016-09-29 | 2016-11-30 | Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. | Senate | Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] | SC | R | G000359 | 26 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Supports the designation of the first Friday in October 2016 as Manufacturing Day. | 2023-01-11T13:34:05Z | |
| 114-s-3402 | 114 | s | 3402 | Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-09-27 | 2016-09-27 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6141-6142; text of measure as introduced: CR S6141-6142) | Senate | Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] | MT | R | D000618 | 2 | Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2016 This bill prohibits third party online hotel reservation sellers from charging a consumer's credit card or financial accounts in an Internet transaction for a hotel unless they disclose: (1) a description of the offered good or service, the cost, and other material terms before the conclusion of the transaction; (2) that the third party seller is not affiliated with the person who owns or provides the hotel services or accommodations and is not an exhibition organizer, a meeting planner, or the official housing bureau for an event at the hotel; and (3) the brand identity of the third party both online and over the phone. The bill provides authority to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and states to enforce against violations. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that the FTC should revise its website to make it easier for consumers and businesses to report complaints of deceptive practices with respect to online booking of hotel reservations. | 2023-01-11T13:33:32Z | |
| 114-hr-6145 | 114 | hr | 6145 | Christen O'Donnell Equestrian Helmet Labeling Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-09-22 | 2016-09-22 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. | House | Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4] | CT | D | H001047 | 3 | Christen O'Donnell Equestrian Helmet Labeling Act of 2016 This bill directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue a rule requiring warning labels for equestrian helmets that are not approved safety helmets under ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International standards for horse sports and horseback riding. The rule must be treated as a consumer product safety rule under the Consumer Product Safety Act. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must make grants available for states, local governments, or tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to carry out education and awareness campaigns on proper equestrian helmet selection for riders and the dangers of nonapproved headgear. The bill does not apply to polo, horse racing, or rodeo helmets. | 2023-01-11T13:33:44Z | |
| 114-hr-6157 | 114 | hr | 6157 | Contact Lens Consumer Health Protection Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-09-22 | 2016-09-22 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. | House | Rep. Olson, Pete [R-TX-22] | TX | R | O000168 | 2 | Contact Lens Consumer Health Protection Act of 2016 This bill amends the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act to require contact lens sellers to provide a toll-free telephone number and email address that prescribers can use to ask questions about a seller's prescription verification request. Under current law, a prescription is considered verified if the prescriber fails to communicate with the seller within eight business hours after receiving the seller-provided verification information. The bill requires the prescription to be considered unverified until the seller obtains affirmative confirmation of the accuracy of the prescription from the prescriber in cases where a prescriber communicates a question or concern about the accuracy or verification of the prescription to a seller through the toll-free telephone service or email address before the end of that eight-hour period. The bill removes the Federal Trade Commission's authority to adjust the eight-hour period. If a prescriber communicates a question or concern about the accuracy of a prescription before the deadline: (1) the seller shall not fill the prescription, and (2) the prescriber shall provide the seller with an accurate prescription. Sellers must offer prescribers different communication methods that the prescribers may select as their preferred method for verification requests. The bill allows a seller to alter a prescription only if: (1) a private label contact lens is included on the prescription and the same contact lens is manufactured by the same company and sold under multiple labels to individual providers; and (2) the seller fills the prescription with a contact lens of exactly the same material, design, and power as manufactured by that company under another label. Sellers must maintain a database of the issuance and expiration dates of each prescription they receive. The bill prohibits advertisements representing that a contact lens prescription may be filled after the prescription expires. Sellers violating certain prescriber ver… | 2023-01-11T13:33:44Z | |
| 114-hr-6160 | 114 | hr | 6160 | Chief Manufacturing Officer Act | Commerce | 2016-09-22 | 2016-09-22 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. | House | Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13] | OH | D | R000577 | 4 | Chief Manufacturing Officer Act This bill expresses the sense of Congress that a well-designed national manufacturing strategy would benefit the U.S. economy. The President shall appoint a United States Chief Manufacturing Officer whose primary duty is to develop the national manufacturing strategy using the criteria set forth in this bill. The bill amends the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 to designate the United States Chief Manufacturing Officer as the chair of the Committee on Technology under the National Science and Technology Council. | 2023-01-11T13:33:44Z | |
| 114-hres-886 | 114 | hres | 886 | Recognizing November 26, 2016, as "Small Business Saturday" and supporting efforts to increase awareness of the value of locally owned small businesses. | Commerce | 2016-09-22 | 2016-09-22 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1] | OH | R | C000266 | 81 | Recognizes and encourages the observance of Small Business Saturday. Supports efforts to: (1) encourage consumers to shop locally, and (2) increase awareness of the value of locally owned small businesses and their impact on the U.S. economy. | 2023-01-11T13:33:37Z | |
| 114-hr-6112 | 114 | hr | 6112 | CLEAR SBA Act | Commerce | 2016-09-21 | 2016-09-21 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] | CA | D | T000474 | 0 | Communicating Lender Activity Reports from the Small Business Administration Act or the CLEAR SBA Act This bill amends the Small Business Act to define "covered loan" as a loan made or debenture issued under the Act or the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 by a private individual or entity. The bill requires the Small Business Administration to make publicly available on its website a Lender Activity Index (i.e., a user-friendly database of specified information relating to lenders making covered loans). The SBA shall: (1) include in the database information relating to covered loans made during FY2009-FY2015, and (2) incorporate information related to such loans on an ongoing basis. | 2023-01-11T13:33:45Z | |
| 114-s-3375 | 114 | s | 3375 | Small Business Innovation Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-09-21 | 2016-09-21 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. | Senate | Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] | WI | D | B001230 | 1 | Small Business Innovation Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to guarantee the payment of up to $4 billion per fiscal year for debentures or participating securities issued by small business investment companies (SBICs) to encourage the formation and growth of small businesses. The SBA must establish and carry out an early-stage investment program to provide, through participating investment companies, equity financing to support early-stage businesses that have not generated positive cash flow at any time prior to an initial investment by a participating investment company. The bill outlines participating investment company application requirements and selection and approval procedures. It allows the SBA to make one or more equity financings to a participating investment company, with a limit of $100 million to any one company. A participating investment company shall make all of its investments in small businesses, of which at least 50% shall be early-stage small businesses in specified targeted industries. A separate account is established for equity financings under the program. | 2023-01-11T13:33:33Z | |
| 114-hconres-155 | 114 | hconres | 155 | Expressing support for designation of the first Friday of October as "Manufacturing Day". | Commerce | 2016-09-15 | 2016-09-15 | Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. | House | Rep. Reed, Tom [R-NY-23] | NY | R | R000585 | 112 | Declares that Congress supports the designation of Manufacturing Day. | 2023-01-11T13:33:09Z | |
| 114-hr-6053 | 114 | hr | 6053 | Bring the Jobs Home Loan Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-09-15 | 2016-09-15 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-3] | NY | D | I000057 | 0 | Bring the Jobs Home Loan Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a loan program to assist small business concerns involved in manufacturing to begin the U.S. production of products that would otherwise be imported. Small business concerns receiving these loans must report to the SBA on: (1) facility and equipment changes made using the loans, and (2) progress made in the production of products in the U.S. The bill allows the SBA to consider the report information in determining whether to provide an additional loan or loan assistance under another SBA program. It prohibits an individual loan greater than 5% of the total amount available for such loans. | 2023-01-11T13:33:47Z | |
| 114-hres-870 | 114 | hres | 870 | Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the Remington Arms Company. | Commerce | 2016-09-15 | 2016-09-15 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. | House | Rep. Hanna, Richard L. [R-NY-22] | NY | R | H001051 | 0 | Recognizes the Remington Arms Company on its 200th anniversary. | 2023-01-11T13:33:37Z | |
| 114-sres-569 | 114 | sres | 569 | A resolution recognizing November 26, 2016, as "Small Business Saturday" and supporting the efforts of the Small Business Administration to increase awareness of the value of locally owned small businesses. | Commerce | 2016-09-15 | 2016-09-15 | Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5868; text as passed Senate: CR S5851-5852) | Senate | Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] | LA | R | V000127 | 38 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Declares that the Senate joins with the Small Business Administration in: recognizing and encouraging the observance of Small Business Saturday on November 26, 2016; and supporting efforts to encourage consumers to shop locally, and to increase awareness of the value of locally owned small businesses and their impact on the U.S. economy. | 2021-12-17T16:06:10Z | |
| 114-hr-5986 | 114 | hr | 5986 | Small Business Relief from Disease Induced Economic Hardship Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-09-09 | 2016-09-09 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Curbelo, Carlos [R-FL-26] | FL | R | C001107 | 1 | Small Business Relief from Disease Induced Economic Hardship Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act with respect to Small Business Administration disaster assistance to expand the definition of "disaster" to include the onset of transmissible diseases for which the federal government issues a public health advisory or declaration. | 2023-01-11T13:33:50Z | |
| 114-hr-5968 | 114 | hr | 5968 | Small Business Investment Opportunity Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-09-08 | 2016-09-08 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Knight, Stephen [R-CA-25] | CA | R | K000387 | 2 | Small Business Investment Opportunity Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase the maximum amount of outstanding leverage (i.e., borrowing power) made available to any licensed small business investment company (SBIC) from $150 million to $170 million. | 2023-01-11T13:33:50Z | |
| 114-hr-5969 | 114 | hr | 5969 | Investing in Main Street Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-09-08 | 2016-09-08 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] | NY | D | M001188 | 2 | Investing in Main Street Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase from 5% to 15% of its capital and surplus, the amount a national bank, a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, a nonmember insured bank (to the extent permitted under applicable state law), or a federal savings association may invest in one or more small business investment companies (SBICs), or in any entity established to invest solely in SBICs. The increase is subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency. | 2023-01-11T13:33:50Z | |
| 114-s-3301 | 114 | s | 3301 | Small Business Relief from Disease Induced Economic Hardship Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-09-08 | 2016-09-15 | Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. | Senate | Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] | FL | R | R000595 | 0 | Small Business Relief from Disease Induced Economic Hardship Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act with respect to Small Business Administration disaster assistance to expand the definition of "disaster" to include the onset of transmissible diseases for which the federal government issues a public health advisory or declaration. | 2023-01-11T13:33:35Z | |
| 114-hr-5900 | 114 | hr | 5900 | Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-07-14 | 2016-07-14 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. | House | Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5] | CA | D | T000460 | 1 | Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2016 This bill requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to promulgate a final rule relating to flame mitigation devices in portable fuel containers for flammable liquid fuels that sufficiently reduces the risk of injuries associated with the tendency of vapors igniting when the container is near an open flame or other ignition source. A "portable fuel container" is defined as a receptacle for flammable liquids (including any spout, retrofit spout, cap, and other closure mechanism and component of such receptacle) that foreseeably will be used by consumers and is manufactured or imported for use in the United States. The rule must be treated as a consumer product safety rule promulgated under the Consumer Product Safety Act. | 2023-01-11T13:33:19Z | |
| 114-sres-542 | 114 | sres | 542 | A resolution recognizing the 70th anniversary and the importance of the Lanham Act by designating July 2016 as "National Anti-Counterfeiting Consumer Education and Awareness Month". | Commerce | 2016-07-14 | 2016-07-14 | Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5193-5194; text as passed Senate: CR S5174) | Senate | Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] | IA | R | G000386 | 1 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Recognizes the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Trademark Act of 1946 (the Lanham Act) by President Harry S. Truman. Designates July 2016 as National Anti-Counterfeiting Consumer Education and Awareness Month. Expresses support for the goal of such month: to educate the public about the potential dangers counterfeit products pose to consumer health and safety. Affirms the continuing importance and need for comprehensive education and awareness efforts to equip U.S. consumers with the information and tools they need to safeguard against illegal counterfeit products in traditional and Internet commerce and other electronic commerce platforms. Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to combating counterfeiting by promoting: (1) awareness about the harm of counterfeiting to consumers and brand owners, and (2) new education programs and campaigns to reduce the supply of and demand for counterfeit products. | 2018-06-02T06:21:30Z | |
| 114-hr-5757 | 114 | hr | 5757 | CASE Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-07-13 | 2016-07-27 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8] | NY | D | J000294 | 1 | Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2016 or the CASE Act of 2016 This bill establishes in the U.S. Copyright Office a small claims board to serve as an alternative forum for parties to voluntarily seek to resolve certain copyright claims if the total monetary recovery sought by a party does not exceed $30,000. The board is authorized to: (1) conduct hearings and conferences to facilitate parties' settlement of claims and counterclaims; (2) render independent determinations based on copyright laws and regulations; (3) award monetary relief; and (4) require cessation or mitigation of infringing activity, including the takedown or destruction of infringing materials, where the parties agree. The bill preserves the right of parties to instead pursue a claim or defense in court. Board proceedings shall not require in-person appearances by parties. Proceedings may take place through Internet-based teleconference applications. Discovery shall be limited to the production of relevant information and documents, written interrogatories, and written requests for admission. But the board may consider a party's request for additional limited discovery. A party may request: (1) the claims board to reconsider its determinations, and (2) the Register of Copyrights to review a claims board determination if the board denies reconsideration. A final determination precludes relitigation of the claims before a court or the board, but parties may apply for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to vacate, modify, or correct a determination that: (1) was issued as a result of fraud, corruption, misrepresentation, or misconduct; (2) exceeds the board's authority or fails to render a definite determination; or (3) was based on a default determination or failure to prosecute that was due to excusable neglect. If a party fails to pay or comply with relief awarded in a final board determination, the aggrieved party may apply for a court order confirming the final award. | 2023-01-11T13:33:24Z | |
| 114-hr-5774 | 114 | hr | 5774 | Equity for Disaster Victims Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-07-13 | 2016-07-15 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. | House | Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] | NJ | R | S000522 | 1 | Equity for Disaster Victims Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act to allow a small business concern, homeowner, or nonprofit entity that received a Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan for repairing, rehabilitating, or replacing real property damaged or destroyed by or because of Superstorm Sandy or that received such an SBA loan to refinance a mortgage or other lien against a home or business concern totally destroyed or substantially damaged by or because of the storm to receive Superstorm Sandy CDBG-DR grant funds only if they will be used to repay: the principal and any interest accrued on the loan for such repair, rehabilitation, or replacement; or the loan received to refinance the mortgage or other lien. The bill allows these recipients of additional SBA disaster assistance resulting from a declared major disaster to use CDBG-DR grant funds only if they are used for such repayments. The term Superstorm Sandy CDBG-DR grant funds means mandatory amounts made available by the Department of Housing and Urban Development only for impacted and distressed areas resulting from a declared major disaster due to Superstorm Sandy for activities authorized under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. A small business concern, homeowner, or nonprofit entity who receives assistance pursuant to any other law to repair, rehabilitate, or replace real property damaged or destroyed by or as a result of a declared major disaster on or after enactment of this bill may use such assistance to repay the principal and any interest accrued on a loan or the amount of other assistance received under it. | 2023-01-11T13:33:24Z | |
| 114-s-3183 | 114 | s | 3183 | BOTS Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-07-13 | 2016-12-14 | Became Public Law No: 114-274. | Senate | Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] | KS | R | M000934 | 8 | (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 27, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 or the BOTS Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill prohibits the circumvention of a security measure, access control system, or other technological measure on an Internet website or online service of a ticket issuer that is used to enforce posted event ticket purchasing limits or to maintain the integrity of posted online ticket purchasing order rules for a public event with an attendance capacity exceeding 200 persons. The bill also prohibits the sale of or offers to sell an event ticket in interstate commerce obtained through such a circumvention violation if the seller participated in, had the ability to control, or should have known about the violation. It shall not be unlawful, however, to create or use software or systems to: (1) investigate, or further the enforcement or defense of, alleged violations; or (2) identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of security measures to advance the state of knowledge in the field of computer system security or to assist in the development of computer security products. Violations shall be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The bill provides authority to the Federal Trade Commission and states to enforce against such violations. | 2023-04-24T20:39:51Z | |
| 114-s-3158 | 114 | s | 3158 | ALLOW Act | Commerce | 2016-07-12 | 2016-07-12 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. | Senate | Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] | UT | R | L000577 | 1 | Alternatives to Licensing that Lower Obstacles to Work Act of 2016 or the ALLOW Act This bill declares, for purposes of establishing an individual's authorization to engage in an occupation on a military installation located on federally-owned land, that the federal government endorses occupational licenses and certifications granted by a state (including the District of Columbia [DC]), regardless of whether the installation is located in the issuing state or DC, provided that: the license or certification is not expired, revoked, or suspended by the issuing state; and there are no outstanding enforcement actions against the individual brought by the licensing board or certifying authority for that occupation in the issuing state. District of Columbia Occupational Licensing Reform Act The bill declares DC policy regarding occupational licensing laws. The bill establishes an Office of Supervision of Occupational Boards in the office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, or another appropriate DC government agency, to be responsible for exercising active supervision over each occupational licensing board to ensure compliance with occupational licensing policy. The bill prescribes procedures for the Office's review, approval, or rejection of occupational licensure actions before their adoption. The DC Council shall establish a legislative committee to analyze occupational regulations and review any proposed legislation to impose or modify an occupational regulation to ensure compliance. An individual may engage in a lawful occupation without being subject to occupational regulations that are arbitrary or unnecessary and substantially burdensome. The DC government and its boards may not require an occupational license, certification, or registration for a person, or impose any other occupational regulation that imposes a substantial burden on a person, unless: the government has an important interest in protecting against present and recognizable harm to public health, safety, or welfare; and t… | 2023-01-11T13:33:15Z | |
| 114-hconres-143 | 114 | hconres | 143 | Expressing the sense of Congress relating to the disapproval of certain activities of certain companies, trade associations, foundations, and organizations. | Commerce | 2016-07-11 | 2016-07-11 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. | House | Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33] | CA | D | L000582 | 20 | Disapproves of activities by certain corporations and trade associations, foundations, and organizations funded by those corporations deliberately to: (1) mislead the public and undermine peer-reviewed scientific research about the dangers of their products, and (2) cast doubt on science in order to protect their financial interests. Urges fossil fuel companies and allied organizations to cooperate with active or future investigations into: their climate change-related activities, what they knew about climate change and when they knew of it, what they knew about the harmful effects of fossil fuels on the climate, and any activities to mislead the public about climate change. | 2023-01-11T13:32:36Z | |
| 114-sconres-45 | 114 | sconres | 45 | A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress relating to the disapproval of certain activities of certain companies, trade associations, foundations, and organizations. | Commerce | 2016-07-11 | 2016-07-11 | Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4947) | Senate | Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] | RI | D | W000802 | 7 | Disapproves of activities by certain corporations and trade associations, foundations, and organizations funded by those corporations deliberately to: (1) mislead the public and undermine peer-reviewed scientific research about the dangers of their products, and (2) cast doubt on science in order to protect their financial interests. Urges fossil fuel companies and allied organizations to cooperate with active or future investigations into: their climate change-related activities, what they knew about climate change and when they knew of it, what they knew about the harmful effects of fossil fuels on the climate, and any activities to mislead the public about climate change. | 2023-01-11T13:33:10Z | |
| 114-hr-5686 | 114 | hr | 5686 | Pink Tax Repeal Act | Commerce | 2016-07-08 | 2016-07-08 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. | House | Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14] | CA | D | S001175 | 31 | Pink Tax Repeal Act This bill prohibits the sale of substantially similar services or consumer products from the same manufacturer if they are priced differently based on the gender of the individuals to whom the products are marketed or intended or for whom the services are marketed, performed, or offered. A difference in coloring among consumer products shall not be construed as a substantial difference. Violations shall be treated as unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general are authorized to enforce against such violations. | 2023-01-11T13:33:27Z | |
| 114-hr-5698 | 114 | hr | 5698 | STARTUP Vets Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-07-08 | 2016-07-08 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9] | CA | D | M001166 | 0 | Strengthening Technical Assistance, Resources, and Training to Unleash the Potential of Veterans Act of 2016 or the STARTUP Vets Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act to require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make two-year renewable grants to create and operate incubators and accelerators that provide technical assistance and training to covered individuals on how to become successful entrepreneurs and form small business concerns. Such program shall be considered an SBA management and technical assistance training program. Program outreach materials shall be made available at local Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. "Covered individual" means: a member of the Armed Forces, without regard to whether he or she participates in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense; an individual who is participating in the Transition Assistance Program; an individual who served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable; and a spouse or dependent. | 2023-01-11T13:33:26Z | |
| 114-hr-5672 | 114 | hr | 5672 | Small Business Access to Capital Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-07-07 | 2016-07-07 | Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. | House | Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5] | MI | D | K000380 | 3 | Small Business Access to Capital Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 to extend for an additional eight fiscal years the State Small Business Credit Initiative to assist participating states to give collateral support and other innovative credit access and guarantee initiatives for small business concerns and manufacturers. The bill prescribes allocations of federal funds to participating states. Treasury may award, on a competitive basis, up to a total of $1 billion in two tranches, according to specified criteria, to participating states and consortiums of participating states for use: (1) for making federal contributions to, or for the account of, an approved state program; or (2) as collateral for a qualifying loan or swap funding facility. The State Small Business Credit Initiative Act of 2010 is amended to revise minimum program requirements for state capital access programs. Treasury may not approve any state capital access program that fails to include a plan that promotes a fair share of federal contributions to be used to strengthen and increase economic opportunities for small business concerns in low-and moderate-income, minority, and other underserved communities and women- and minority-owned small business concerns. In making a determination that a state other credit support program is eligible for federal contributions to, or for the account of, the state program, Treasury shall take into account the extent to which the state plans to use these contributions to provide access to capital for small business concerns in low- and moderate-income, minority, and other underserved communities and to women- and minority-owned small businesses, and the extent to which resulting small business lending will expand economic opportunities for such communities and such concerns. The bill revises the mandatory contents of each participating state's annual report to Treasury on its capital access program. Treasury shall: consult with the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI… | 2023-01-11T13:33:27Z | |
| 114-s-3097 | 114 | s | 3097 | SelectUSA Authorization Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-06-23 | 2016-12-06 | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 703. | Senate | Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] | HI | D | S001194 | 3 | SelectUSA Authorization Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill establishes in the Department of Commerce a government-wide SelectUSA program to attract and retain domestic and foreign investment in the U.S. economy. SelectUSA shall: coordinate outreach and engagement by the federal government to promote the United States as the premier location to operate a business; serve as an ombudsman to facilitate resolution of issues involving federal programs or activities related to pending investments; inform domestic and foreign firms on the U.S. investment climate, federal programs and available investor incentives, and state and local economic development organizations; and endeavor to increase foreign direct investment opportunities for rural areas and smaller states, and make its services increasingly available to such states and areas. (Sec. 3) The bill also establishes the Federal Interagency Investment Working Group to coordinate activities to promote business investment and respond to specific issues that affect business investment decisions. (Sec. 4) Commerce shall, by December 31 of each year, report to Congress on SelectUSA's activities during the preceding fiscal year. (Sec. 5) The Government Accountability Office shall, within one year after this bill's enactment, assess SelectUSA's effectiveness in increasing, encouraging, and supporting foreign direct investment in the United States. (Sec. 6) At the beginning of each fiscal year, Commerce shall certify to Congress that each of its newly appointed political officials has received training on: regulations and policies governing the use of subordinates for non-official business; restrictions against the use of the political appointee's title or position for personal gain or creating the appearance of such use; key regulations and policies governing official travel, including the Federal Travel Regulation, as well as departmental travel policies, particularly regarding the necessity for adequately documented justification to support any per diem overages; and the… | 2023-01-11T13:32:38Z | |
| 114-hr-5510 | 114 | hr | 5510 | FTC Process and Transparency Reform Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-06-16 | 2016-12-13 | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 685. | House | Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] | TX | R | B001248 | 0 | FTC Process and Transparency Reform Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to provide additional factors for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to consider before it may declare acts or practices to be unlawful on the ground that they are unfair and likely to cause substantial injury to consumers. Trivial or merely speculative injury or harm must be considered unlikely to cause substantial injury. But the FTC may consider substantial: (1) an injury that does small harm to a large number of people, or (2) a significant risk of concrete harm. In determining the likelihood of substantial injury to consumers, the FTC must consider: (1) monetary harm, (2) unwarranted health or safety risks, or (3) only emotional or other more subjective harm. The FTC must find an act or practice to be injurious in its net effects before it may be considered unfair. In determining the net effects, the FTC must consider: (1) remedy costs; and (2) burdens on society in general, such as increased paperwork or regulatory burdens or reduced incentives for innovation and capital formation. The FTC may not second-guess consumer decisions, but may consider whether an act or practice unreasonably creates or takes advantage of an obstacle to the free exercise of consumer decisionmaking. (Sec. 3) A consent order entered into by the FTC to enforce against alleged unfair or deceptive acts or practices must include a termination clause providing for the order to expire within eight years after it is entered into, unless it relates to alleged fraud or requires a longer time limit. A consent order longer than five years that is unrelated to alleged fraud must provide for the FTC to: (1) review the order five years after it is entered into, and (2) terminate the order if it has achieved its initial purposes. In determining the time limit, the FTC must consider: (1) the impact of technological progress on the order's continuing relevance; and (2) whether the person, partnership, or corporation would continue to engage i… | 2023-01-11T13:32:46Z | |
| 114-hr-5438 | 114 | hr | 5438 | Foreign Business Bribery Prohibition Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-06-09 | 2016-06-15 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7] | CO | D | P000593 | 0 | Foreign Business Bribery Prohibition Act of 2016 This bill amends the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) to authorize private rights of action against persons that violate the FCPA's anti-bribery provisions, which prohibit giving things of value to foreign officials or political parties for purposes of obtaining or retaining business. A person that violates the FCPA's anti-bribery provisions shall be liable for up to treble damages to a securities issuer, domestic business concern, or U.S. person damaged by the violation. A plaintiff must prove an FCPA anti-bribery violation by the defendant that: (1) prevented the plaintiff from obtaining or retaining business, and (2) assisted the defendant in obtaining or retaining such business. | 2023-01-11T13:32:48Z | |
| 114-hr-5442 | 114 | hr | 5442 | STURDY Act | Commerce | 2016-06-09 | 2016-06-09 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. | House | Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] | IL | D | S001145 | 0 | Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act or the STURDY Act This bill requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to promulgate a final consumer product safety standard for free-standing clothing storage units (furniture items referred to as, or that may contain, a chest, door chest, chest of drawers, dresser, or bureau) to protect children from tip-over-related death or injury, unless the CPSC determines that a voluntary ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International standard adequately protects children and is likely to be complied with by furniture manufacturers. If an ASTM standard meets the CPSC's requirements, the standard shall be treated as a consumer product safety rule. | 2023-01-11T13:32:48Z | |
| 114-s-3046 | 114 | s | 3046 | STURDY Act | Commerce | 2016-06-09 | 2016-06-09 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. | Senate | Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] | PA | D | C001070 | 2 | Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act or the STURDY Act This bill requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to promulgate a final consumer product safety standard for free-standing clothing storage units (furniture items referred to as, or that may contain, a chest, door chest, chest of drawers, dresser, or bureau) to protect children from tip-over-related death or injury, unless the CPSC determines that a voluntary ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International standard adequately protects children and is likely to be complied with by furniture manufacturers. If an ASTM standard meets the CPSC's requirements, the standard shall be treated as a consumer product safety rule. | 2023-01-11T13:32:39Z | |
| 114-sres-486 | 114 | sres | 486 | A resolution commemorating "Cruise Travel Professional Month" in October 2016. | Commerce | 2016-06-09 | 2016-07-14 | Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S5186) | Senate | Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] | FL | R | R000595 | 3 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Commemorates the inaugural Cruise Travel Professional Month in October 2016. Acknowledges the creativity and professionalism of the men and women of the cruise travel professional community. | 2023-01-11T13:32:36Z | |
| 114-s-3024 | 114 | s | 3024 | Small Business Cyber Security Improvements Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-06-06 | 2016-12-20 | By Senator Vitter from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/10/2016. Report No. 114-423. | Senate | Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] | LA | R | V000127 | 2 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Small Business Cyber Security Improvements Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to small business development centers (SBDCs) in furtherance of a Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy to be developed by the SBA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) submits a report that reviews the cybersecurity resources of federal agencies aimed at assisting small businesses. SBDCs shall provide access to external cyber security specialists to counsel small businesses. (Sec. 3) DHS and other federal agencies coordinating with DHS may assist SBDCs, through the dissemination of cyber security risk information and other homeland security information, to help small businesses in developing such cyber security infrastructure, threat awareness, and employee training programs. (Sec. 4) The GAO's cyber resources report must include: (1) an accounting, description, and assessment of the utilization of federal agency programs that provide cybersecurity assistance to small businesses; and (2) an assessment of whether the resources are duplicative of other programs or accessible to small businesses. The SBA and DHS must include in their SBDC cyber strategy: plans for incorporating SBDCs into cyber programs to assist small businesses; counsel and assistance to improve small businesses' cyber security infrastructure, threat awareness, and training programs for employees, including agreements with Information Sharing and Analysis Centers to gain awareness of actionable threat information that may be beneficial to small businesses; and an analysis of how SBDCs can leverage federal agency programs and develop partnerships to improve cyber support services to small businesses. The SBA's and DHS's strategy must be developed in consultation with entities re… | 2023-01-11T13:32:40Z | |
| 114-s-3009 | 114 | s | 3009 | National Guard and Reserve Entrepreneurship Support Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-05-26 | 2016-12-20 | By Senator Vitter from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/10/2016. Report No. 114-422. | Senate | Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] | NH | D | S001181 | 3 | National Guard and Reserve Entrepreneurship Support Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act and the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 to revise a condition on the extension of disaster loan assistance to a small business concern that has suffered, or that is likely to suffer, substantial economic injury as the result of an essential employee's being ordered to active military duty during a period of military conflict. The condition "being ordered to active military duty during a period of military conflict" shall change to read "being ordered to deploy as part of active military duty." This change shall permit the extension of disaster assistance to a small business concern in such a circumstance even when deployment is not during a period of military conflict. The same condition is revised in requirements for deferred repayment of principal and interest due on a direct loan to a qualified borrower who is an eligible armed forces reservist and who: received a direct loan, including a disaster loan, from the Small Business Administration (SBA) before being ordered to active duty; or is an essential employee ordered to active duty from a small business concern that received a direct loan, including a disaster loan, from the SBA. The President shall report semiannually to specified congressional committees on the number of loans, and their dollar amount, made under the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, including the subsidy rate of those loans. (Sec. 3) The SBA shall to make grants and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with specified public and private entities for outreach programs for the spouses of veterans and members of a reserve component of the armed forces. In making such grants the SBA shall establish a National Guard and Reserve Deployment Support and Business Training Program to give training, counseling and other assistance to support members of a reserve component of the armed forces and… | 2023-01-11T13:32:40Z | |
| 114-s-2992 | 114 | s | 2992 | Small Business Lending Oversight Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-05-25 | 2016-12-20 | By Senator Vitter from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/10/2016. Report No. 114-421. | Senate | Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] | LA | R | V000127 | 5 | Small Business Lending Oversight Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to establish within the Small Business Administration (SBA) an Office of Credit Risk Management (OCRM) to impose specified administrative penalties, including monetary penalties, on any loan-financing lender that knowingly and repeatedly: fails properly to determine and document that a small business loan is eligible for financing, including failure to document that a loan is eligible because the applicant is unable to obtain credit elsewhere (from non-federal, non-state, or non-local government sources); sells the guaranteed portion of a loan when the loan proceeds have not been fully disbursed in accordance with program requirements; imposes on a loan applicant a fee that the SBA has not specifically authorized; or re-amortizes a loan solely to make the loan appear current. The SBA shall conduct annual risk analyses of its loan portfolio. (Sec. 3) The term "credit elsewhere" shall expand beyond non-federal sources to encompass credit to an individual loan applicant on reasonable terms and conditions from non-state and non-local government sources, including but not limited to: the business industry in which the loan applicant operates; whether the applicant is an enterprise that has been in operation for less than two years; the adequacy of the collateral available to secure the requested loan; and the loan term necessary to reasonably assure the applicant's ability to repay the debt from the actual or projected cash flow of the business. (Sec. 4) The SBA shall assess a separate fee of up to 0.03% per year of the outstanding balance of the deferred participation share of each approved loan, whose proceeds shall be used solely to support OCRM operations. The SBA shall collect a fee (currently discretionary) for any loan guarantee sold into the secondary market in an amount equal to 50% of the portion of the sale price that exceeds 108% (currently 110%) of the outstanding principal amount of the portion of … | 2023-01-11T13:32:40Z | |
| 114-hr-5315 | 114 | hr | 5315 | CLEAR Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-05-24 | 2016-05-24 | Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 committee concerned. | House | Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2] | KY | R | G000558 | 2 | Clarifying Legality and Enforcement Action Reasoning Act of 2016 or the CLEAR Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to submit an annual report to Congress about its investigations concerning unfair or deceptive acts or practices, or unfair methods of competition, in or affecting commerce. The reports must detail: the number of such investigations the FTC has commenced and the disposition of investigations that concluded with official agency action; and the number of investigations the FTC has closed with no official agency action, along with a description that indicates the legal analysis supporting the FTC's decision not to continue such investigations, and the industry sectors of the entities subject to each such investigation. The bill prohibits the FTC from identifying a person who is the subject of an investigation in its description of an investigation that closed with no official agency action. | 2023-01-11T13:33:00Z | |
| 114-hr-5318 | 114 | hr | 5318 | SHIELD Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-05-24 | 2016-05-24 | Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 committee concerned. | House | Rep. Pompeo, Mike [R-KS-4] | KS | R | P000602 | 6 | Solidifying Habitual and Institutional Explanations of Liability and Defenses Act of 2016 or the SHIELD Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines or general statements of policy related either to unfair methods of competition, or to unfair or deceptive acts or practices, in or affecting commerce from: (1) conferring rights upon any person, state, or locality; or (2) binding the FTC or any person, state, or locality to a recommended approach. In enforcement actions, the FTC must prove a violation of a law enforced by the FTC. The FTC's enforcement actions or consent orders may not be based solely on allegations that acts or practices are inconsistent with guidelines or general policy statements unless the acts or practices violate FTC-enforced law. Compliance with guidelines or general statements of policy may be used as evidence of compliance with a law under which the guidelines or statements were issued. | 2023-01-11T13:33:00Z | |
| 114-sres-473 | 114 | sres | 473 | A resolution expressing appreciation of the goals of American Craft Beer Week and commending the small and independent craft brewers of the United States. | Commerce | 2016-05-24 | 2016-05-24 | Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3128; text as passed Senate: CR S3103) | Senate | Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] | MD | D | C000141 | 5 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Appreciates the goals of American Craft Beer Week, established by the Brewers Association, which represents the U.S. small craft brewers. Recognizes their significant contributions to the economy and to the communities in which they are located. Commends them for providing jobs, supporting U.S. agriculture, improving the balance of trade, and educating the people of the United States and beer lovers around the world about the history and culture of beer while promoting the legal and responsible consumption of beer. | 2018-06-02T06:20:37Z | |
| 114-sres-470 | 114 | sres | 470 | A resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Portland Cement Association, the national organization for the cement manufacturing and concrete industry. | Commerce | 2016-05-18 | 2016-05-18 | Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2978) | Senate | Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] | KS | R | M000934 | 1 | Recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Portland Cement Association (PCA). Commends the PCA for its work and dedication to: the infrastructure of the United States, and innovative developments. Recognizes the strong initiatives of the PCA to improve the state of the cement industry. Recognizes the members of the PCA and all cement manufacturers on the centennial celebration of the establishment of the PCA. | 2023-01-11T13:32:51Z | |
| 114-hr-5245 | 114 | hr | 5245 | Better Oversight of Secondary Sales and Accountability in Concert Ticketing Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-05-16 | 2016-05-20 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9] | NJ | D | P000096 | 3 | Better Oversight of Secondary Sales and Accountability in Concert Ticketing Act of 2016 This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to promulgate rules for the primary or secondary sale, distribution, or pricing of tickets for sporting events, theater, musical performances, or places of public amusement. For primary sales, sellers must: (1) disclose at least seven days prior to sale, the total number of tickets the seller is offering and the total number and distribution method of tickets not available to the general public; (2) print on each ticket the distribution method, date, and time of the primary sale; (3) disclose service fees, convenience charges, and parking fees and provide refunds for such charges; and (4) provide full refunds for nontransferable tickets if requested by the consumer by one week prior to the event. Primary sellers are prohibited from requiring that consumers only be permitted to resell tickets in a manner determined by the primary seller. For secondary sales, the secondary ticket sales marketplace must: (1) disclose if it does not possess the ticket at the time of sale, and (2) explain refund procedures if the ticket received does not match the description by the secondary marketplace. The secondary sales rules must prohibit the use of software to circumvent a security system or access control measure on a primary ticket seller's website that is used to ensure equitable consumer access to tickets. The secondary marketplace must disclose: (1) the distribution method and face value of each ticket; (2) the location of the seats or space; and (3) if the marketplace purchased the ticket during a public sale, the date and time of the purchase by the secondary marketplace. Online marketplace resellers are: (1) prohibited from representing an affiliation or endorsement with venues, teams, or artists without their consent, except when it constitutes fair use; and (2) required to post notice on their websites indicating that they are conducting secondary sales and requiring users to… | 2023-01-11T13:33:02Z | |
| 114-hr-5250 | 114 | hr | 5250 | Growing And Reviving Rural Economies Through Transitioning HUBZone Redesignation Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-05-16 | 2016-05-16 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Delaney, John K. [D-MD-6] | MD | D | D000620 | 1 | Growing And Reviving Rural Economies Through Transitioning HUBZone Redesignation Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act with respect to Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones) located in qualified census tracts, qualified nonmetropolitan counties, or redesignated areas, which are census tracts or nonmetropolitan counties that cease to meet the ordinary criteria for the HUBZone program but are "redesignated" to qualify for it. The bill increases the length of time a census tract or nonmetropolitan county may be redesignated to qualify for HUBZone status from three years to seven years after the date on which the area ceased to meet the ordinary criteria. | 2023-01-11T13:33:02Z | |
| 114-hr-5255 | 114 | hr | 5255 | To amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to permit the Federal Trade Commission to enforce such Act against certain tax-exempt organizations. | Commerce | 2016-05-16 | 2016-05-20 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] | IL | D | R000515 | 0 | This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to provide the Federal Trade Commission with enforcement authority against certain tax-exempt nonprofit charitable organizations. | 2023-01-11T13:33:02Z | |
| 114-hr-5230 | 114 | hr | 5230 | Anti-Pyramid Promotional Scheme Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-05-13 | 2016-05-20 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN-7] | TN | R | B001243 | 30 | Anti-Pyramid Promotional Scheme Act of 2016 This bill prohibits the establishment, operation, or promotion of a pyramid promotional scheme, which is defined as a plan or operation by which a person gives consideration (money or other thing of value) to a participant in the scheme for the right to receive compensation derived primarily from the participant's introduction of another person into the plan or operation rather than from the sale of products to ultimate users. The bill grants enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission and requires violations to be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act. | 2023-01-11T13:33:03Z | |
| 114-hr-5239 | 114 | hr | 5239 | Protecting Consumers in Commerce Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-05-13 | 2016-05-20 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9] | CA | D | M001166 | 0 | Protecting Consumers in Commerce Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to authorize the Federal Trade Commission to regulate common carriers subject to the Communications Act of 1934. | 2023-01-11T13:33:02Z | |
| 114-hr-5205 | 114 | hr | 5205 | Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-05-12 | 2016-05-13 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-3] | NY | D | I000057 | 7 | Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2016 This bill requires cleaning products to bear a label with, and requires manufacturers to include on their websites, a list of all of the product's ingredients (including individual ingredients in dyes, fragrances, and preservatives) in descending order of predominance by weight, except that ingredients that constitute less than 1% of the product can be listed at the end in any order. Product websites must include: (1) the CAS Registry Number of each ingredient, and (2) an explanation of each ingredient's purpose. A product that is not in conformity with the labeling and website listing requirements shall be treated as a misbranded hazardous substance under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. A person may petition the Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate claims that a product does not satisfy these requirements. | 2023-01-11T13:33:03Z | |
| 114-hr-5212 | 114 | hr | 5212 | Bereaved Consumer's Bill of Rights Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-05-12 | 2016-05-13 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] | IL | D | R000515 | 0 | Bereaved Consumer's Bill of Rights Act of 2016 This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prescribe rules prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the provision of funeral goods or services. The rules must: (1) require price information to be disclosed clearly and conspicuously; (2) prohibit misrepresentations or the provision of goods or services being conditioned upon the purchase of other goods or services from the provider; (3) require presale disclosures and contracts to be written clearly, stating the merchandise, services, and prices and disclosing any penalties for canceling or transferring a contract; (4) require cemeteries to provide consumers all written rules and regulations of the cemetery and all material terms and conditions of purchase; and (5) require cemeteries to retain all records in existence on the date of enactment of this bill and accurately record and retain records of interments, inurnments, or entombments. Cemeteries subject to the FTC's rules shall include those organized or operated by states, political subdivisions, or tax-exempt organizations. But the bill excludes cemeteries organized, operated, managed, and owned by a religious organization and that are not affiliated with a for-profit provider offering funeral goods and services for sale to the public. The FTC and states are provided authority to enforce against violations. | 2023-01-11T13:33:03Z | |
| 114-hr-5136 | 114 | hr | 5136 | RECS Act | Commerce | 2016-04-29 | 2016-05-06 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Pompeo, Mike [R-KS-4] | KS | R | P000602 | 1 | Revealing Economic Conclusions for Suggestions Act or the RECS Act This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from submitting legislative or regulatory recommendations without an economic analysis by the FTC's Bureau of Economics sufficient to demonstrate that: (1) the FTC has identified a problem it determines should be addressed, including the rationale for the FTC's determination that private markets or public institutions could not adequately address the issue; and (2) the recommendation is based on a reasoned determination that its benefits outweigh its costs. | 2023-01-11T13:31:31Z | |
| 114-hr-5144 | 114 | hr | 5144 | Jumpstart HOUSE Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-29 | 2016-04-29 | Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. | House | Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] | OH | D | B001281 | 0 | Jumpstart Housing Opportunities Utilizing Small Enterprises Act of 2016 or the Jumpstart HOUSE Act of 2016 This bill amends the State Small Business Credit Initiative Act of 2010 to extend for an additional eight fiscal years the State Small Business Credit Initiative to assist participating states to give collateral support and other innovative credit access and guarantee initiatives for small businesses and manufacturers. The bill also prescribes allocations of federal funds to participating states. The Department of the Treasury may award, on a competitive basis, up to a total of $1 billion in two tranches, according to specified criteria, to participating states and consortiums of participating states for use: (1) for making federal contributions to, or for the account of, an approved state program; or (2) as collateral for a qualifying loan or swap funding facility. Small businesses receiving funds from a participating state may use them to: develop, acquire, construct, rehabilitate, maintain, operate, or manage projects for affordable housing for low- or moderate-income households; cover any contribution, matching amount, or non-federal share required in connection with any other federal grant or assistance program to provide such housing; or purchase foreclosed properties and property being sold by a state or local government, but only for the use of such properties for such housing. | 2023-01-11T13:31:31Z | |
| 114-hres-713 | 114 | hres | 713 | Honoring the vital role of small business and the passion of entrepreneurs in the United States during "National Small Business Week", beginning on May 1, through May 7, 2016. | Commerce | 2016-04-29 | 2016-04-29 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29] | CA | D | C001097 | 72 | Supports: (1) the designation of National Small Business Week, (2) efforts to encourage consumers to shop locally, and (3) efforts to increase awareness of the value of locally owned small businesses and the impact of locally owned small business on the U.S. economy. Honors the vital role of small business and entrepreneurs in the United States during such week. Recognizes: (1) the important role of the Small Business Administration as a valuable resource for the U.S. entrepreneur, (2) the importance of creating policies that promote a business friendly environment for small business owners free of unnecessary regulations, and (3) the National Small Business Person of the Year and the National Lender of the Year. Encourages young entrepreneurs to pursue their passions and create more start-up businesses. | 2023-01-11T13:31:28Z | |
| 114-hr-5092 | 114 | hr | 5092 | Reinforcing American-Made Products Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-12-13 | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 686. | House | Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3] | MS | R | H001045 | 6 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Reinforcing American-Made Products Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require the Federal Trade Commission's regulation of the labeling of products as "Made in the U.S.A." or "Made in America" to supersede any state laws regarding the extent to which a product is introduced, delivered, sold, advertised, or offered for sale in interstate or foreign commerce with such a label in order to represent that the product was in whole or substantial part of domestic origin. | 2023-01-11T13:31:33Z | |
| 114-hr-5093 | 114 | hr | 5093 | TIME Act | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-04-29 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] | TX | R | B001248 | 1 | Technological Innovation through Modernizing Enforcement Act or the TIME Act This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to require any consent order entered into by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to include a termination clause providing for the order to expire not later than eight years after it is entered into, unless it relates to alleged fraud by an entity subject to the order and requires a longer time limit. In determining the time limit, the FTC must consider: (1) the impact of technological progress on the order's continuing relevance; and (2) whether an entity, without a consent order beyond eight years, would engage in activities that violate laws against unfair methods of competition, or against unfair or deceptive acts or practices, in or affecting commerce. A consent order longer than five years that is unrelated to alleged fraud by the entity must include a clause providing for the FTC to review the order five years after it is entered into. The bill also allows entities subject to a consent order that is unrelated to alleged fraud and has been effective for at least five years to petition the FTC to terminate the order. If the FTC determines that such a consent order no longer serves its purposes, the FTC shall terminate the order. | 2023-01-11T13:31:32Z | |
| 114-hr-5097 | 114 | hr | 5097 | STALL Act | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-04-29 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5] | IN | R | B001284 | 6 | Start Taking Action on Lingering Liabilities Act or the STALL Act This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to require certain Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigations involving civil investigative demands to terminate six months after the FTC sends a verifiable written communication to notify the subject of the investigation. The bill also provides an exception that allows such an investigation to continue beyond that six-month period if, before the period expires, the FTC: (1) sends an additional verifiable written communication, or (2) votes to extend the investigation. | 2023-01-11T13:31:32Z | |
| 114-hr-5098 | 114 | hr | 5098 | FTC REPORTS Act | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-04-29 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12] | FL | R | B001257 | 6 | FTC Robust Elderly Protections and Organizational Requirements to Track Scams Act or the FTC REPORTS Act This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to publish and submit to Congress annually: (1) the FTC's plan for the next calendar year, and (2) a report on FTC enforcement actions involving allegations of fraud targeting individuals who are 65 or older during the previous year. The FTC's annual plan must describe: its projected activities, priorities, rulemakings, guidelines, restructuring plans, and projects; how its activities combat fraud against individuals who are 65 or older; and the projected dates and timelines for such activities. The FTC's annual report about enforcement actions involving allegations of fraud targeting individuals who are 65 or older during the previous year must include: a description of each FTC enforcement action involving allegations of fraud against such individuals; the disposition of such enforcement actions, broken down by category; and the proportion of enforcement actions involving allegations of fraud against such individuals as a percentage of all enforcement actions relating to unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce brought by the FTC. | 2023-01-11T13:31:32Z | |
| 114-hr-5104 | 114 | hr | 5104 | Better On-line Ticket Sales Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-09-13 | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. | House | Rep. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN-7] | TN | R | B001243 | 18 | (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 9, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Better On-line Ticket Sales Act of 2016 or the BOTS Act (Sec. 2) This bill prohibits the sale of computer software that: (1) is primarily designed to circumvent technology that limits purchases made via an online ticket selling system, (2) has only a limited commercially significant purpose other than for such circumvention, or (3) is marketed to use for such circumvention. The bill also prohibits the use of such circumvention software in violation of a system operator's posted limits on: (1) the quantity of tickets purchased by a single user; (2) the sequence, number, or frequency of transactions; or (3) the geographic location of transactions. In addition, the bill makes it unlawful to resell in commerce tickets that were acquired through such a prohibited use of circumvention software if the reseller participated in, had the ability to control, or should have known about the violation. It shall not be unlawful, however, to create or use software to: (1) investigate or further the enforcement or defense of any alleged violation of this bill, or (2) identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of a computerized event ticketing system if these activities are conducted to advance the state of knowledge in the field of computer system security or to assist in the development of computer security products. Violations shall be treated as unfair and deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general may enforce against violations. | 2023-01-11T13:31:32Z | |
| 114-hr-5109 | 114 | hr | 5109 | CLEAR Act | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-04-29 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2] | KY | R | G000558 | 2 | Clarifying Legality and Enforcement Action Reasoning Act or the CLEAR Act This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to submit an annual report to Congress about its investigations concerning unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. The reports must detail: the number of such investigations the FTC has commenced and the disposition of investigations that concluded with official agency action; and the number of investigations the FTC has closed with no official agency action, along with a description that indicates the legal analysis supporting the FTC's decision not to continue such investigations, and the industry sectors of the entities subject to each such investigation. The bill prohibits the FTC from identifying a person who is the subject of an investigation in its description of an investigation that closed with no official agency action. | 2023-01-11T13:31:32Z | |
| 114-hr-5111 | 114 | hr | 5111 | Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-12-14 | Became Public Law No: 114-258. | House | Rep. Lance, Leonard [R-NJ-7] | NJ | R | L000567 | 9 | (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 9, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill makes a provision of a form contract void from the inception if it: (1) prohibits or restricts an individual who is a party to such a contract from engaging in written, oral, or pictorial reviews, or other similar performance assessments or analyses of, including by electronic means, the goods, services, or conduct of a person that is also a party to the contract; (2) imposes penalties or fees against individuals who engage in such communications; or (3) transfers or requires the individual to transfer intellectual property rights in review or feedback content (with the exception of a nonexclusive license to use the content) in any otherwise lawful communications about such person or the goods or services provided by such person. A "form contract" is a contract with standardized terms: (1) used by a person in the course of selling or leasing the person's goods or services, and (2) imposed on an individual without a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the standardized terms. The definition excludes an employer-employee or independent contractor contract. The standards under which provisions of a form contract are considered void under this bill shall not be construed to affect: legal duties of confidentiality; civil actions for defamation, libel, or slander; or a party's right to establish terms and conditions for the creation of photographs or video of such party's property when those photographs or video are created by an employee or independent contractor of a commercial entity and are solely intended to be used for commercial purposes by that entity. Such standards also shall not be construed to affect any party's right to remove or refuse to display publicly on an Internet website or webpage owned, operated, or controlled by such party content that: (1) contains the personal information or likeness of anot… | 2023-04-24T20:39:46Z | |
| 114-hr-5115 | 114 | hr | 5115 | SURE Act | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-04-29 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2] | OK | R | M001190 | 3 | Statement on Unfairness Reinforcement and Emphasis Act or the SURE Act This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to provide additional factors for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to consider before it may declare acts or practices to be unlawful on the ground that they are unfair and likely to cause substantial injury to consumers. Trivial or merely speculative injury or harm must be considered unlikely to cause substantial injury. But the FTC may consider substantial: (1) an injury that does small harm to a large number of people, or (2) a significant risk of concrete harm. In determining the likelihood of substantial injury to consumers, the FTC must consider whether the act or practice results in: (1) monetary harm, (2) unwarranted health or safety risks, or (3) only emotional or other more subjective harm. The FTC must also find an act or practice to be injurious in its net effects before it may be considered unfair. In determining the net effects, the FTC must consider: (1) remedy costs; and (2) burdens on society in general, such as increased paperwork or regulatory burdens or reduced incentives for innovation and capital formation. The FTC may not second-guess consumer decisions, but may consider whether an act or practice unreasonably creates or takes advantage of an obstacle to the free exercise of consumer decisionmaking. | 2023-01-11T13:31:32Z | |
| 114-hr-5116 | 114 | hr | 5116 | FREE Act | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-04-29 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Olson, Pete [R-TX-22] | TX | R | O000168 | 4 | Freeing Responsible and Effective Exchanges Act or the FREE Act This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to permit a bipartisan majority of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioners to hold a nonpublic meeting to discuss official business if: (1) no votes or actions are taken, (2) each person at the meeting is an FTC commissioner or employee, and (3) an attorney from the FTC's Office of General Counsel is present. "Bipartisan majority" means a group of at least three commissioners that includes, for each political party of which any commissioner is a member, at least one commissioner who is a member of such political party and, if any commissioner has no political party affiliation, at least one unaffiliated commissioner. Within two business days after such a nonpublic meeting, the FTC must disclose on its website: (1) a list of persons who attended such meeting; and (2) a summary of discussed matters, except for matters that are classified or otherwise exempt from disclosure. | 2023-01-11T13:31:32Z | |
| 114-hr-5118 | 114 | hr | 5118 | SHIELD Act | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-04-29 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Pompeo, Mike [R-KS-4] | KS | R | P000602 | 5 | Solidifying Habitual and Institutional Explanations of Liability and Defenses Act or the SHIELD Act This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit guidelines or general statements of policy issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from: (1) conferring rights upon any person, state, or locality; or (2) binding the FTC or any person, state, or locality to a recommended approach. In enforcement actions, the FTC must prove a violation of a law enforced by the FTC. The FTC's enforcement actions or consent orders may not be based solely on allegations that acts or practices are inconsistent with guidelines or general policy statements unless the acts or practices violate FTC-enforced law. Compliance with guidelines or general statements of policy may be used as evidence of compliance with a law under which the guidelines or statements were issued. | 2023-01-11T13:31:32Z | |
| 114-s-2880 | 114 | s | 2880 | Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-04-28 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. | Senate | Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] | WA | D | M001111 | 21 | Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2016 This bill prohibits sexual orientation or gender identity conversion therapy from being provided in exchange for monetary compensation. It bars advertisements for such therapy that claim to: (1) change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, (2) eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender, or (3) be harmless or without risk. These prohibitions are inapplicable to practices or treatments that do not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity if they provide: (1) assistance to an individual undergoing a gender transition; or (2) acceptance, support, and understanding of clients or facilitation of clients' coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices. The Federal Trade Commission and states are provided authority to enforce against violations. | 2023-01-11T13:33:06Z | |
| 114-sres-450 | 114 | sres | 450 | A resolution honoring May 1 through May 7, 2016, as "National Small Business Week" and celebrating the contributions of small businesses and entrepreneurs in every community in the United States. | Commerce | 2016-04-28 | 2016-04-28 | Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2576-2577; text as passed Senate: CR S2565) | Senate | Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] | LA | R | V000127 | 16 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Honors May 1-7, 2016, as National Small Business Week. Celebrates the contributions of small businesses and entrepreneurs in every U.S. community. Recognizes the importance of the Small Business Administration as a valuable resource for entrepreneurs in the United States. Supports efforts to increase awareness of the value of small businesses and their impact on the U.S. economy. | 2022-02-02T06:05:41Z | |
| 114-hr-5064 | 114 | hr | 5064 | Improving Small Business Cyber Security Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-26 | 2016-09-22 | Received in the Senate. | House | Rep. Hanna, Richard L. [R-NY-22] | NY | R | H001051 | 18 | Improving Small Business Cyber Security Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to small business development centers (SBDCs) in furtherance of a Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy to be developed by the SBA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issues a report that reviews federal cybersecurity resources aimed at assisting small businesses. SBDCs shall have access to cybersecurity specialists to counsel their small business clients. (Sec. 3) The Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Small Business Act are amended to allow DHS and other federal agencies coordinating with DHS to leverage SBDCs to disseminate cybersecurity risk information and other homeland security information to help small businesses in developing cybersecurity infrastructure, threat awareness, and employee training programs. (Sec. 5) The GAO's cyber resources report must include: (1) an accounting, description, and assessment of the utilization of federal programs that provide cybersecurity assistance to small businesses; and (2) an assessment of whether the resources are duplicative of other programs or accessible to small businesses. The strategy must include: plans for leveraging SBDCs into existing federal cyber programs to assist small businesses; methods for the provision of counsel and assistance to improve small businesses' cyber security infrastructure, threat awareness, and training programs for employees, including agreements with Information Sharing and Analysis Centers to gain awareness of actionable threat information that may be beneficial to small businesses; and an analysis of how SBDCs can leverage federal programs and develop partnerships with federal, state, and local governments and private entities to improve cyber support services to small businesses. The SBA's and DHS's strategy must be developed in consultation with entities representing SBDC concerns and sub… | 2023-01-11T13:31:34Z | |
| 114-hres-702 | 114 | hres | 702 | Celebrating the contributions of small businesses and entrepreneurs in every community in the United States during "National Small Business Week", beginning on May 1 through May 7, 2016. | Commerce | 2016-04-26 | 2016-04-26 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1] | OH | R | C000266 | 23 | Celebrates the contributions of small businesses and entrepreneurs in every U.S. community during National Small Business Week. Supports the designation of National Small Business Week. Recognizes the importance of creating policies which promote an environment in which small businesses may succeed. Supports efforts to increase awareness of the value of small businesses and their impact on the U.S. economy. | 2023-01-11T13:31:29Z | |
| 114-s-2850 | 114 | s | 2850 | Microloan Program Modernization Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-26 | 2016-07-13 | By Senator Vitter from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report. Report No. 114-301. | Senate | Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] | NE | R | F000463 | 5 | Microloan Program Modernization Act of 2016 (Sec. 3) This bill amends the Small Business Act, with respect to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan Program (assisting low-income individuals to start and operate a small business), to increase from $5 million to $6 million the total amount of loans outstanding and committed to any particular intermediary (excluding outstanding grants) from the SBA business loan and investment fund for the remaining years of the intermediary's participation in the program. (Sec. 4) The Microloan Program "25/75" rule is repealed, which permits SBA-designated microloan intermediary lenders to expend up to 25% of the intensive marketing, management, and technical assistance grant funds they receive from the SBA to provide information and technical assistance to small business concerns that are their prospective borrowers. (Sec. 5) The SBA shall: compare the operations of a representative sample of eligible intermediaries that participate in the microloan program and of eligible intermediaries that do not, study the reasons why the latter do not participate, recommend how to encourage increased participation by intermediaries in the microloan program, and recommend how to decrease the associated costs for intermediary participation. (Sec. 6) The Government Accountability Office shall evaluate: SBA oversight of the microloan program, including oversight of participating intermediaries; and the specific processes the SBA uses to ensure program compliance by participating intermediaries and overall microloan program performance. | 2023-01-11T13:32:55Z | |
| 114-s-2855 | 114 | s | 2855 | Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Inclusive Outreach Improvement Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-26 | 2016-04-26 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. | Senate | Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] | MI | D | P000595 | 0 | Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Inclusive Outreach Improvement Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act to empower the Small Business Administration (SBA) to coordinate with participating federal agencies on efforts to increase outreach and awards under each of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to small business concerns owned and controlled by women and socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns. Each federal agency required to establish an SBIR or an STTR program shall enhance its program by extending an outreach program to small business concerns, especially those owned and controlled by women and socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns. The SBA shall modify its STTR policy directive to enhance these outreach efforts. The SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 is amended to require the Interagency SBIR/STTR Policy Committee to meet at least twice a year, and if it discusses outreach and technical assistance activities to increase the participation of underrepresented small business concerns to invite to the meeting a representative of the Minority Business Development Agency as well as relevant stakeholders that advance the interests of small business concerns owned and controlled by women and socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns. The SBA shall establish a Diversity and STEM Workforce Development Pilot Program under which a federal agency participating in the SBIR program or STTR program may make a $15,000 per fiscal year grant to one or more eligible entities for the costs of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics internships. | 2023-01-11T13:33:07Z | |
| 114-s-2846 | 114 | s | 2846 | Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-25 | 2016-12-20 | By Senator Vitter from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/10/2016. Report No. 114-419. | Senate | Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] | MI | D | P000595 | 4 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2016 (Sec. 4) This bill directs the Small Business Administration to develop partnership agreements that arrange for: development of high-quality training for small businesses related to domestic and international protection of intellectual property, leveraging of training materials already developed for the education of inventors and small businesses, and participation of a nongovernmental organization. These agreements must also arrange for training: through electronic resources, including Internet-based webinars, and at physical locations, including a small business development center; and the headquarters or a regional office of the United States Patent and Trade Office. (Sec. 5) The bill amends the Small Business Act to require services at a small business development center to include training in person or through a website relating to: domestic and international intellectual property protections, and how those protections should be considered in the business plans and growth strategies of small businesses. | 2023-01-11T13:32:55Z | |
| 114-s-2847 | 114 | s | 2847 | Prove It Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-25 | 2016-12-20 | By Senator Vitter from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/10/2016. Report No. 114-420. Minority views filed. | Senate | Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] | IA | R | E000295 | 0 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Prove It Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill authorizes the Chief Counsel of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to request the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review any federal agency certification that a proposed rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and so need not submit a regulatory flexibility analysis of the rule. The request for a review must: be published in the Federal Register and on the website of the SBA Office of Advocacy, include any documentation or comments the Chief Counsel furnished or made during the notice and comment period for the proposed rule, and explain why the Chief Counsel disagreed with the certification and statement providing the factual basis for it. Within 10 days after the request for review is published in the Federal Register, the federal agency in question shall submit to the SBA a response to the request and publish it in the Federal Register and on the agency website. If it is determined, after a specified procedure, that the proposed rule will, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, the federal agency shall then perform both an initial and a final regulatory flexibility analysis for the rule. | 2023-01-11T13:32:55Z | |
| 114-hr-5029 | 114 | hr | 5029 | Small Business Lending Assistance Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-21 | 2016-04-21 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-31] | CA | D | A000371 | 4 | Small Business Lending Assistance Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act with respect to guarantee fees for small business loans. The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall have discretion not to collect a guarantee fee for a loan repayable in one year or less. The SBA may not, however, collect a guarantee fee in connection with a loan repayable in one year or less if it is made to a borrower that resides in a county with an annual unemployment rate for the preceding calendar year of at least one percentage point greater than the national annual unemployment rate for that year. | 2023-01-11T13:31:35Z | |
| 114-s-2831 | 114 | s | 2831 | A bill to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to provide priority for applicants for a license to operate as a small business investment company that are located in a disaster area. | Commerce | 2016-04-21 | 2016-05-24 | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 481. | Senate | Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] | LA | R | V000127 | 0 | (Sec. 1) This bill amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to give priority to small business investment company (SBIC) applications for licenses to operate in a declared major disaster area. In calculating the outstanding leverage (debt) of one or more licensed SBICs in view of the maximum leverage allowed for debenture or loan guarantee purposes, the SBA shall not include the cost basis of any investment made by an SBIC in a small business concern in a major disaster area during the one-year period beginning on the date of the disaster declaration. | 2023-01-11T13:32:55Z | |
| 114-s-2838 | 114 | s | 2838 | Small Business Transforming America's Regions Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-21 | 2016-12-20 | By Senator Vitter from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/10/2016. Report No. 114-418. | Senate | Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] | LA | R | V000127 | 2 | Small Business Transforming America's Regions Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to include in the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program a qualified area designated by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in response to a petition by the governor of a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory. With respect to HUBZones located in census tracts or nonmetropolitan counties that cease to qualify according to the ordinary criteria for the HUBZone program but are "redesignated" to qualify for it, the bill increases the length of time a census tract or nonmetropolitan county may be so redesignated from three years to seven years after the date on which the area ceased to qualify for the HUBZone program according to the ordinary criteria. This increased length of time for a census tract or nonmetropolitan county shall apply only to those that become redesignated areas within three years before enactment of this bill. The SBA may designate, in response to a governor's petition, only a nonmetropolitan county that: has a median household income less than 90% of the state median household income; has an unemployment rate at least 120% percent of the average U.S. or state unemployment rate, whichever is less; or meets other SBA criteria. A governor may not file a petition for more than 30% of the total number of nonmetropolitan counties in the state. The SBA shall establish procedures to: ensure that it accepts petitions from all states each fiscal year, and give an interested governor technical assistance before a petition is filed. (Sec. 3) The bill revises application of the 30-day period for filing a petition with the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals for reconsideration of a small business concern size standard. No such petition may be filed until on or after the effective date of regulations for establishing the procedures for reconsideration of a size standard. Any person filing a petition relating to a size standard revised, modified, or est… | 2023-01-11T13:32:55Z | |
| 114-s-2812 | 114 | s | 2812 | SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-18 | 2016-12-20 | By Senator Vitter from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/10/2016. Report No. 114-417. | Senate | Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] | NH | D | S001181 | 3 | SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016 TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS (Sec. 101) This bill amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize and make permanent the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. TITLE II--ENHANCED SMALL BUSINESS ACCESS TO FEDERAL INNOVATION INVESTMENTS (Sec. 201) The bill specifies budget amounts for the Department of Defense (DOD) (for extramural expenditures and those for research, development, test, and evaluation) and other federal agencies to obligate for expenditure with small business concerns under the SBIR and STTR programs. (Sec. 202) The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall modify certain policy directives to eliminate automatic annual inflation adjustments to awards under Phases I and II of the SBIR program. (Phase I is a six-month exploration of the technical merit or feasibility of an idea or technology. Phase II, which may be for up to two years, is research, development, and evaluation of the potential of Phase I ideas or technologies for commercialization.) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that for FY2019, and every third fiscal year following, Congress should evaluate whether the maximum award sizes under the SBIR and STTR programs should be adjusted and, if so, take appropriate action to require such adjustments to be made under specified SBIR policy directives. A federal agency head shall ensure that any sequential Phase II award is made in accordance with specified limitations on award sizes. (A sequential Phase II award is an additional Phase II award for research and development of an idea or technology that evaluates the potential for commercialization.) A small business concern that receives a sequential Phase II SBIR or Phase II STTR award for a project from a federal agency shall be eligible to receive an additional sequential Phase II award that continues work on that project from another federal agency. TITLE III--COMMERCIALIZATION IMPROVEMENTS (Sec. 301)The bill makes … | 2023-01-11T13:31:25Z | |
| 114-hr-4936 | 114 | hr | 4936 | Main Street Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-14 | 2016-05-17 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-7] | MI | R | W000798 | 0 | Main Street Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and (2) make permanent the maximum 35% gift tax rate and the lifetime gift tax exemption, with adjustments for inflation. The Paperwork Reduction Act is amended to direct federal agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses unless specified criteria are met. The Department of Labor shall study the effects of occupational licensing requirements to determine how they may affect public safety and the service quality of certain occupations, and impose barriers to entry for establishing small businesses, among other negative effects. The Internal Revenue Code is further amended to revise the formula for counting the hours of service of non-full-time employees in determining whether an employer is a large employer for health coverage purposes. An individual or an eligible small business may enter into an agreement with the Department of the Treasury to establish in a bank or other eligible trust a small business start-up savings account for tax-deductible annual contributions by the account beneficiary. The sanctions requirements of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are revised to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Requires any sanction to compensate parties injured by the conduct in question. The Internal Revenue Code is further amended to: allow businesses with average annual gross receipts of not more than $50 million that prevail to recover their costs in any administrative or court proceeding involving the determination, collection, or refund of tax, interest, or penalty; increase the amount of civil damages against Internal Revenue Service officers or employees for reckless, intentional, or negligent disregard of internal revenue laws,… | 2023-01-11T13:31:38Z | |
| 114-s-2793 | 114 | s | 2793 | SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-13 | 2016-04-13 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. | Senate | Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] | NH | D | S001181 | 2 | SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize and make permanent the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The bill specifies budget amounts for the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to obligate for expenditure with small business concerns under the SBIR and STTR programs. The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall modify certain policy directives to eliminate automatic annual inflation adjustments to awards under Phases I and II of the SBIR program. The bill makes the Commercialization Development Awards pilot program permanent. The national small business goal for federal agency research and development programs shall be at least 10% for FY2018 and ensuing fiscal years. Annual reports to Congress on the SBIR and STTR programs shall include information regarding awards under the Rapid Innovation Program under the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. An SBIR or STTR award may cover the indirect cost of seeking protection for intellectual property created through work performed under it. The Government Accountability Office shall audit annually federal government compliance with SBIR and STTR goals and incentives. Federal agencies and prime contractors shall issue Phase III awards relating to technology, including sole source awards, to the SBIR and STTR award recipients that developed the technology. The SBA shall establish a Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program. The bill reauthorizes the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program through FY2021. The bill establishes an SBIR and STTR Interagency Policy Committee to: determine how to collect data on achievements by small business concerns in each phase of the programs; and establish a uniform baseline for metrics that support improving the solicitation, contracting, funding, and execution of program management. | 2023-01-11T13:31:25Z | |
| 114-s-2779 | 114 | s | 2779 | Manufacturing Extension Partnership Improvement Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-12 | 2016-04-12 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. | Senate | Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] | DE | D | C001088 | 4 | Manufacturing Extension Partnership Improvement Act of 2016 This bill amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to direct the Department of Commerce, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to convert the current program for creation and support of regional centers for the transfer of manufacturing technology into one for creation and support of manufacturing extension centers for the transfer of manufacturing technology and best business practices, to be known as the Hollings Manufacturing Extension (HME) Partnership, and reauthorized for FY2017-FY2020. Each Hollings Manufacturing Extension Center may be affiliated with an institution of higher education or a state or local government, as well as with a U.S.-based nonprofit institution (or consortium of such institutions) as under current law. Authorized Center activities that currently include selective, short-term loans of advanced manufacturing equipment to small manufacturing firms shall be replaced by facilitation of collaborations and partnerships between small and medium-sized manufacturing companies and community colleges and area career and technical education schools. The bill repeals the current six-year limit on federal financial assistance to a Center, allowing open-ended assistance through a cooperative agreement. Commerce shall appoint a panel to review and evaluate each Center receiving financial assistance during its third and eighth years of operation, but the Department shall review a Center directly during its fifth year of operation. Each Center shall establish a board to oversee its operations. The bill establishes a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board. The NIST shall establish within the HME Partnership: a program of competitive awards for a participating Center, or a consortium of Centers, to develop projects to solve new or emerging manufacturing problems; and an innovation services initiative to assist small and medium-sized manufacturers in improving profitability through … | 2023-01-11T13:31:26Z | |
| 114-s-2777 | 114 | s | 2777 | Contact Lens Consumer Health Protection Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-11 | 2016-04-11 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. | Senate | Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] | LA | R | C001075 | 2 | Contact Lens Consumer Health Protection Act of 2016 This bill amends the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act to require contact lens sellers to provide a toll-free telephone number and email address that prescribers can use to ask questions about a seller's prescription verification request. Under current law, a prescription is considered verified if the prescriber fails to communicate with the seller within eight business hours after receiving the seller-provided verification information. The bill requires the prescription to be considered unverified until the seller obtains affirmative confirmation of the accuracy of the prescription from the prescriber in cases where a prescriber communicates a question or concern about the accuracy or verification of the prescription to a seller through the toll-free telephone service or email address before the end of that eight-hour period. The bill removes the Federal Trade Commission's authority to adjust the eight-hour period. If a prescriber communicates a question or concern about the accuracy of a prescription before the deadline: (1) the seller shall not fill the prescription, and (2) the prescriber shall provide the seller with an accurate prescription. Sellers must offer prescribers different communication methods that the prescribers may select as their preferred method for verification requests. The bill allows a seller to alter a prescription only if: (1) a private label contact lens is included on the prescription and the same contact lens is manufactured by the same company and sold under multiple labels to individual providers; and (2) the seller fills the prescription with a contact lens of exactly the same material, design, and power as manufactured by that company under another label. Sellers must maintain a database of the issuance and expiration dates of each prescription they receive. The bill prohibits advertisements representing that a contact lens prescription may be filled after the prescription expires. Sellers violating certain prescriber ver… | 2023-01-11T13:31:26Z | |
| 114-s-2751 | 114 | s | 2751 | Support Startup Businesses Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-04-06 | 2016-04-06 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. | Senate | Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] | DE | D | C001088 | 2 | Support Startup Businesses Act of 2016 This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize a small business concern receiving a Phase II award (grants of up to $1 million, for up to 2 years, to facilitate expansion of Phase I startup results) under the Small Business Innovation Research program, for FY2017-FY2019, to use up to 5% of the Phase II award for commercialization-related services, including market validation, intellectual property protection, business model development, market research, and other reasonable services that support market entry. These services may be performed directly by the small business concern or obtained from a public or private nonprofit organization, a state agency, or another state-funded entity that facilitates or accelerates the commercialization of technologies or assists in the creation and growth of private enterprises that are commercializing technology. | 2023-01-11T13:31:27Z | |
| 114-hr-4886 | 114 | hr | 4886 | Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-23 | 2016-04-28 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. | House | Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14] | CA | D | S001175 | 0 | Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016 This bill requires authorized resellers of pre-paid mobile devices or SIM cards to require purchasers to provide their name, home address, and date of birth. For in-person sales, an authorized reseller must require purchasers to display for verification: (1) a government-issued photographic identification card or a document acceptable under the Immigration and Nationality Act for employment authorization or establishing identity; and (2) any two of a Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement from the Internal Revenue Service, a Form 1099 Social Security Benefit Statement or a Form 1099 from another federal agency, or a document containing personal identifying information that the Department of Justice (DOJ) finds to be acceptable. For all other sales, an authorized reseller must require purchasers to submit their: (1) credit or debit card account information, (2) Social Security number, (3) driver's license number, and (4) any personal identifying information that DOJ finds to be necessary. Authorized resellers must make a record of their sales that includes: (1) the information obtained from purchasers to verify their identity; (2) the date of sale; (3) the manufacturer and the wireless carrier of the device or SIM card; (4) any assigned telephone number or other identifier of the subscriber or account; and (5) if applicable, the international mobile equipment identifier number, electronic serial number, mobile equipment identifier, international mobile subscriber identifier, and machine address code. Within 30 days after a sale, an authorized reseller must transmit such record to the wireless carrier for the device or SIM card. Purchasers are subject to criminal penalties for providing false or misleading identifying information or documents. A civil penalty is established for authorized resellers or wireless carriers who fail to comply with this Act. The bill also prohibits and establishes criminal penalties for the sale of a pre-paid mobile device or SIM card… | 2023-01-11T13:31:48Z | |
| 114-hr-4783 | 114 | hr | 4783 | Commercializing on Small Business Innovation Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-17 | 2016-12-16 | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 687. | House | Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1] | OH | R | C000266 | 1 | Commercializing on Small Business Innovation Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize for FY2017-FY2022 both the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall continue through FY2022 to permit each federal agency to use up to 3% of its SBIR program funds to assist the agency in its required SBIR or STTR program's administration and related activities. (Sec. 3) The bill also increases the percentages of required agency expenditures with small business concerns under these programs for each of those fiscal years. (Sec. 4) The bill revises SBIR and STTR annual reporting requirements to establish deadline dates. The SBA's annual report to Congress on these programs shall be due by December 31 of each year. Federal agency annual reports to the SBA on their SBIR or STTR program shall be due by March 30. The SBA must report annually to Congress by June 30 on the use of SBIR program funds by federal agencies for specified purposes in the Act. (Sec. 5) SBA policy directives shall index SBIR and STTR awards for inflation. As under current law, an award for: (1) Phase I of an SBIR or STTR program may not exceed $150,000, and (2) Phase II of such program may not exceed $1 million. The SBA shall continue to adjust these dollar amounts for inflation. (Sec. 6) This bill requires the Department of Defense (which under current law is already authorized) to create insertion incentives under the Department of Defense Commercialization Readiness Program for any contract with a value of at least $100 million to: establish goals for the transition of Phase III technologies in subcontracting plans, and require a prime contractor on such a contract to report the number and dollar amount of contracts entered into by that prime contractor for Phase III SBIR or STTR projects. (Sec. 7) The SBA shall modify its policy directives to make clear that HUBZone small business concerns owned and contro… | 2023-01-11T13:31:52Z | |
| 114-hr-4788 | 114 | hr | 4788 | SCORE for Small Business Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-17 | 2016-03-17 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] | NC | D | A000370 | 1 | SCORE for Small Business Act of 2015 This bill amends the Small Business Act, with respect to the SCORE program (Service Corps of Retired Executives), to: reauthorize the program for FY2017-FY2018; require the Small Business Administration to award a grant to the SCORE Association (or any successor group) to manage the SCORE program; modify program requirements with respect to the role of participating volunteers, program plans and goals, and reporting; and outline privacy requirements pertaining to the disclosure of information of businesses assisted under such program. The SCORE Association shall: make use of online counseling, including by webinars and an electronic mentoring platform; study the future role of the SCORE program; and develop a strategic plan for how the program will evolve to meet the needs of America's entrepreneurs over the next five years. | 2023-01-11T13:31:52Z | |
| 114-s-2733 | 114 | s | 2733 | Venue Equity and Non-Uniformity Elimination Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-17 | 2016-03-17 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] | AZ | R | F000444 | 2 | Venue Equity and Non-Uniformity Elimination Act of 2016 This bill amends the federal judicial code to allow patent actions to be brought only in judicial districts where: the defendant has its principal place of business or is incorporated; the defendant has committed an act of infringement of a patent in suit and has a regular and established physical facility that gives rise to the act of infringement; the defendant has agreed or consented to be sued; an inventor named on the patent conducted research or development that led to the application for the patent in suit; or a party has a regular and established physical facility and has managed significant research and development for the invention claimed in the patent, has manufactured a tangible product alleged to embody that invention, or has implemented a manufacturing process for a tangible good in which the process is alleged to embody the invention. If a foreign defendant does not have a principal place of business, incorporation, or a physical facility in the United States, that foreign defendant may be sued in any judicial district, and joinder of such a defendant shall be disregarded in determining where the action may be brought with respect to other defendants. These provisions replace current patent action venue laws that allow patent actions to be brought in the judicial district where the defendant resides or where the defendant has committed acts of infringement and has a regular and established place of business. A teleworking employee's dwelling or residence shall not constitute a regular or established physical facility of a defendant. | 2023-01-11T13:31:43Z | |
| 114-s-2695 | 114 | s | 2695 | Anti-Trust Freedom Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-16 | 2016-03-16 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY] | KY | R | P000603 | 0 | Anti-Trust Freedom Act of 2016 This bill prohibits the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act from being construed as prohibiting, banning, or otherwise extending to any voluntary economic coordination, cooperation, agreement, or other association, compact, contract, or covenant entered into by or between any individual or group of individuals. | 2023-01-11T13:31:44Z | |
| 114-s-2696 | 114 | s | 2696 | Protect Small Business Jobs Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-16 | 2016-03-16 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. | Senate | Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY] | KY | R | P000603 | 0 | Protect Small Business Jobs Act of 2016 This bill requires a federal agency, before any enforcement action is taken on any sanction on a small business for any violation of a rule or pursuant to an adjudication, to: (1) notify the small business that it may be subject to a sanction at the end of a six-month grace period following such notification; (2) delay further action for 15 days after such notification; (3) defer further action for the six-month period (allowing an additional three-month period upon application by the small business demonstrating reasonable good-faith efforts to remedy the violation or other conduct giving rise to the sanction); (4) make a further determination at the end of the applicable grace period as to whether the small business would still be subject to the sanction; and (5) upon a negative determination, waive the sanction. The grace period shall be inapplicable with respect to a violation that puts anyone in imminent danger, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Any sanction imposed in violation of the requirements of this Act shall have no force or effect. The bill requires: (1) agencies to report annually to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman on the implementation of the requirements of this Act, and (2) the Ombudsman to include such information in a currently-required annual report to Congress. | 2023-01-11T13:31:44Z | |
| 114-s-2648 | 114 | s | 2648 | CREATE Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-08 | 2016-03-08 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. | Senate | Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM] | NM | D | U000039 | 0 | Comprehensive Resources for Entrepreneurs in the Arts to Transform the Economy Act of 2016 or the CREATE Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to prescribe a special rule for the deduction from a creator's gross income of the fair market value of a qualified artistic charitable contribution by the creator to a tax-exempt charitable organization of any literary, musical, artistic, or scholarly composition, or similar property, or the copyright thereon (or both). The Small Business Act is amended to require the Small Business Administration to develop loan criteria, evaluation procedures, and technical assistance programs for small business concerns owned and controlled by artists as well as small business concerns that support the creative economy. The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act are amended to require the Departments of Commerce and of Agriculture, respectively, to support artists and the creative economy through grants and financial assistance for traditional economic development tools, including business incubators and economic development planning and technical assistance. The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjudicate O and P visa petitions (nonimmigrant visas for aliens with extraordinary ability or achievement, and artists and entertainers) within 30 days after receiving such petitions and related documents. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shall promulgate rules to ensure that expenses incurred, as a result of a major disaster or emergency, by a self-employed or freelance craft artist, fine artist, designer, literary artist, performing artist, or musician to repair or replace needed tools are considered eligible for disaster assistance. The Internal Revenue Code is amended to revise both income and gift tax requirements for charitable contributions of fractional gifts, the valuation of subsequent gifts, and recapture of the charitable de… | 2023-01-11T13:31:46Z | |
| 114-hr-4701 | 114 | hr | 4701 | Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-03 | 2016-03-04 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. | House | Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] | NH | D | K000382 | 17 | Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2016 This bill directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish a grant program to provide assistance to states that require compliant carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in dwelling units. A "compliant carbon monoxide alarm" is an alarm that complies with: (1) the American National Standard for Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms, and (2) the American National Standard for Gas and Vapor Detectors and Sensors. States receiving such grants may use the funds to: (1) purchase and install such alarms in dwelling units of low-income families or elderly persons, childcare facilities, public schools, senior centers, or student dwelling units owned by public universities; (2) train state or local fire code enforcement officials regarding compliance and installation; and (3) educate the public about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. | 2023-01-11T13:31:55Z | |
| 114-hr-4665 | 114 | hr | 4665 | Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-02 | 2016-12-08 | Became Public Law No: 114-249. | House | Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8] | VA | D | B001292 | 25 | (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on November 14, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Commerce to enter into a joint memorandum with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to conduct, acting through the Bureau of Economic Analysis, an assessment and analysis of the outdoor recreation economy of the United States and the effects attributable to it on the overall U.S. economy. In conducting the assessment, Commerce: (1) may consider employment, sales, contributions to travel and tourism, and other appropriate contributing components of the outdoor recreation economy; and (2) must consult with specified federal agency heads and representatives of businesses, including small business concerns, that engage in commerce in the outdoor recreation economy. No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this bill. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized. | 2023-04-24T20:39:45Z | |
| 114-hr-4671 | 114 | hr | 4671 | Small Business Protection Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-02 | 2016-03-02 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-2] | MI | R | H001058 | 4 | Small Business Protection Act of 2016 This bill amends the federal criminal code to repeal the requirement that federal departments and agencies purchase prison-made products. Federal Prison Industries shall be ineligible to produce any product under a contract awarded for the sale of government property to a small business concern under the Small Business Act. No executive agency head may enter into any contract with Federal Prison Industries under which an inmate worker would have access to classified data, personal or financial information about any individual private citizen without the individual's consent, or geographic data regarding the location of: surface and subsurface infrastructure providing communications or water or electrical power distribution; pipelines for the distribution of natural gas, bulk petroleum products, or other commodities; or other utilities. The Attorney General shall report to Congress on the extent of re-entry employment preparation provided to inmates by participation in Federal Prison Industries. | 2023-01-11T13:31:56Z | |
| 114-s-2619 | 114 | s | 2619 | Startup Entrepreneur Empowerment Delivery Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-03-02 | 2016-03-02 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1224) | Senate | Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND] | ND | D | H001069 | 1 | Startup Entrepreneur Empowerment Delivery Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Commerce to carry out a one-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of awarding financial assistance of up to $120,000, on a competitive basis, to up to 10 local governments to support the development of startup businesses. Such a local government must represent a population of 200,000 or less and be eligible to participate in the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research ("EPSCoR") of the National Science Foundation. An eligible startup business must be under the local government's jurisdiction, have fewer than five full-time employees, and intend to produce a technology or product that may result in intellectual property vesting in an entity of the United States that can commercialize the technology in a timely manner. Each local government receiving a grant shall ensure that the financial assistance it gives to a startup is used to assist with direct costs related to successfully growing a business. | 2023-01-11T13:31:47Z | |
| 114-s-2593 | 114 | s | 2593 | United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-02-25 | 2016-02-25 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. | Senate | Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] | PA | D | C001070 | 2 | United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2016 This bill requires a business that employs 50 or more call center employees, excluding part-time employees, or 50 or more call center employees who in the aggregate work at least 1,500 hours per week, exclusive of overtime, to notify the Department of Labor at least 120 days before relocating such center outside of the United States. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day. Labor must make publicly available a list of all such employers that relocate a call center. It may remove from the list an employer that has relocated the call center from a location outside the United States to a location inside the United States. Employers must remain on the list for up to three years after each relocation. An employer is ineligible for federal grants or federal guaranteed loans for five years after being added to the list, except where the employer demonstrates that a lack of such loan or grant would threaten national security, result in substantial job loss in the United States, or harm the environment. Federal or state executive agencies or military departments, when awarding a civilian or defense-related contract, must give preference to a U.S. employer that does not appear on the list. Businesses that initiate or receive a customer service communication must require each of their employees or agents participating in the communication to disclose their physical location at the beginning of each such communication unless all involved employees or agents are located in the United States. The bill exempts any communication: (1) initiated by a consumer if the consumer knows or reasonably should know that the employee or agent is located outside the United States, or (2) related to the provision of emergency services. Upon request, businesses must transfer a customer to a customer service agent who is physically located in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may exclude certain classes or types of business entiti… | 2023-01-11T13:31:58Z | |
| 114-s-2599 | 114 | s | 2599 | Truth in Hotel Advertising Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-02-25 | 2016-02-25 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. | Senate | Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO] | MO | D | M001170 | 3 | Truth in Hotel Advertising Act of 2016 This bill prohibits certain entities that are subject to the enforcement authority of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from advertising a rate for a hotel room that does not include all required fees other than taxes and fees imposed by a government. Violations are to be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The bill sets forth authority for the FTC and states to enforce against such violations. | 2023-01-11T13:31:58Z | |
| 114-hr-4604 | 114 | hr | 4604 | United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2016 | Commerce | 2016-02-24 | 2016-09-19 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. | House | Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29] | TX | D | G000410 | 4 | United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2016 This bill requires a business that employs 50 or more call center employees, excluding part-time employees, or 50 or more call center employees who in the aggregate work at least 1,500 hours per week, exclusive of overtime, to notify the Department of Labor at least 120 days before relocating such center outside of the United States. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day. Labor must make publicly available a list of all such employers that relocate a call center. It may remove from the list an employer that has relocated the call center from a location outside the United States to a location inside the United States. Employers must remain on the list for up to three years after each relocation. An employer is ineligible for federal grants or federal guaranteed loans for five years after being added to the list, except where the employer demonstrates that a lack of such loan or grant would threaten national security, result in substantial job loss in the United States, or harm the environment. Federal or state executive agencies or military departments, when awarding a civilian or defense-related contract, must give preference to a U.S. employer that does not appear on the list. Businesses that initiate or receive a customer service communication must require each of their employees or agents participating in the communication to disclose their physical location at the beginning of each such communication unless all involved employees or agents are located in the United States. The bill exempts any communication: (1) initiated by a consumer if the consumer knows or reasonably should know that the employee or agent is located outside the United States, or (2) related to the provision of emergency services. Upon request, businesses must transfer a customer to a customer service agent who is physically located in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may exclude certain classes or types of business entiti… | 2023-01-11T13:32:05Z | |
| 114-hr-4587 | 114 | hr | 4587 | Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2015 | Commerce | 2016-02-23 | 2016-02-23 | Referred to the House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Gibson, Christopher P. [R-NY-19] | NY | R | G000564 | 2 | Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2015 This bill amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation to designate a senior employee to serve as the broadband and emerging information technology (BEIT) coordinator. The Office must also provide SBA employees BEIT training to assist small businesses in the use of such technologies. The SBA Chief Counsel for Advocacy shall evaluate the impact of broadband speed and price on small businesses. Services provided by a small business development center shall include accessing and using BEIT as an authorized activity of small business development centers. | 2023-01-11T13:32:06Z |
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CREATE TABLE legislation (
bill_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
congress INTEGER,
bill_type TEXT,
bill_number INTEGER,
title TEXT,
policy_area TEXT,
introduced_date TEXT,
latest_action_date TEXT,
latest_action_text TEXT,
origin_chamber TEXT,
sponsor_name TEXT,
sponsor_state TEXT,
sponsor_party TEXT,
sponsor_bioguide_id TEXT,
cosponsor_count INTEGER DEFAULT 0,
summary_text TEXT,
update_date TEXT,
url TEXT
);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_congress ON legislation(congress);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_type ON legislation(bill_type);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_policy ON legislation(policy_area);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_date ON legislation(introduced_date);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_sponsor ON legislation(sponsor_name);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_sponsor_bioguide ON legislation(sponsor_bioguide_id);