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A bill to provide for the establishment of free market enterprise zones in order to help facilitate the creation of new jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, enhanced and renewed educational opportunities, and increased community involvement in bankrupt or economically distressed areas.

USA115th CongressS-1551| Senate 
| Updated: 7/13/2017
Rand Paul

Rand Paul

Republican Senator

Kentucky

Cosponsors (1)
Mitch McConnell (Republican)

Finance Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Economic Freedom Zones Act of 201 7 This bill prohibits the federal government from providing: (1) assistance (e.g., loans, loan guarantees, or purchases) to a municipality or zip code, other than the assistance provided for in this bill for an area designated as an Economic Freedom Zone; and (2) financial assistance to a bankrupt or insolvent municipality, except as provided by this bill. The bill sets forth requirements for designating municipalities, counties, cities, and zip codes as zones for a 10-year period, including bankruptcy eligibility, risk of insolvency, pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow reduced tax rates, tax credits, tax-exempt educational savings accounts, increased expensing of business property, and other tax incentives for individuals and businesses located in or investing in a zone. The zones are exempt from compliance with: (1) specified environmental regulations, (2) the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, (3) requirements applicable to a National Heritage Area, and (4) wage rate requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act. The bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow a special allocation of grant funds for children from families who reside in a zone and have incomes below the federal poverty level. The Department of Homeland Security may issue special visas to aliens meeting certain capital, educational, and skill requirements who intend to enter the United States to invest in a zone.
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Timeline
Jul 13, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Jul 13, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • July 13, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 13, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Economics and Public Finance

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAir qualityBankruptcyBuilding constructionBusiness investment and capitalCapital gains taxCharitable contributionsCorporate finance and managementCredit and credit marketsEconomic developmentEconomic performance and conditionsEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployment taxesEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Environmental regulatory proceduresForeign laborGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment lending and loan guaranteesGovernment trust fundsIncome tax creditsIncome tax deductionsIncome tax exclusionIncome tax ratesLabor-management relationsLabor standardsLicensing and registrationsPoverty and welfare assistancePublic contracts and procurementResidential rehabilitation and home repairRoads and highwaysSecuritiesSelf-employedSocial security and elderly assistanceSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsState and local financeState and local taxationStudent aid and college costsTax reform and tax simplificationTransportation programs fundingUnemploymentVisas and passportsWages and earningsWater qualityWilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

A bill to provide for the establishment of free market enterprise zones in order to help facilitate the creation of new jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, enhanced and renewed educational opportunities, and increased community involvement in bankrupt or economically distressed areas.

USA115th CongressS-1551| Senate 
| Updated: 7/13/2017
Economic Freedom Zones Act of 201 7 This bill prohibits the federal government from providing: (1) assistance (e.g., loans, loan guarantees, or purchases) to a municipality or zip code, other than the assistance provided for in this bill for an area designated as an Economic Freedom Zone; and (2) financial assistance to a bankrupt or insolvent municipality, except as provided by this bill. The bill sets forth requirements for designating municipalities, counties, cities, and zip codes as zones for a 10-year period, including bankruptcy eligibility, risk of insolvency, pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow reduced tax rates, tax credits, tax-exempt educational savings accounts, increased expensing of business property, and other tax incentives for individuals and businesses located in or investing in a zone. The zones are exempt from compliance with: (1) specified environmental regulations, (2) the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, (3) requirements applicable to a National Heritage Area, and (4) wage rate requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act. The bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow a special allocation of grant funds for children from families who reside in a zone and have incomes below the federal poverty level. The Department of Homeland Security may issue special visas to aliens meeting certain capital, educational, and skill requirements who intend to enter the United States to invest in a zone.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 13, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Jul 13, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • July 13, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 13, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Rand Paul

Rand Paul

Republican Senator

Kentucky

Cosponsors (1)
Mitch McConnell (Republican)

Finance Committee

Economics and Public Finance

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAir qualityBankruptcyBuilding constructionBusiness investment and capitalCapital gains taxCharitable contributionsCorporate finance and managementCredit and credit marketsEconomic developmentEconomic performance and conditionsEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployment taxesEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Environmental regulatory proceduresForeign laborGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment lending and loan guaranteesGovernment trust fundsIncome tax creditsIncome tax deductionsIncome tax exclusionIncome tax ratesLabor-management relationsLabor standardsLicensing and registrationsPoverty and welfare assistancePublic contracts and procurementResidential rehabilitation and home repairRoads and highwaysSecuritiesSelf-employedSocial security and elderly assistanceSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsState and local financeState and local taxationStudent aid and college costsTax reform and tax simplificationTransportation programs fundingUnemploymentVisas and passportsWages and earningsWater qualityWilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats