Signed by President Barack Obama II

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a conference report that appropriates $317.45 billion in new spending, increases federal bond limitations to $32.4 billion, and increases tax credits.

Highlights:

• Allows an income tax credit of up to $400 for individuals with an adjusted gross income of less than $70,000 or $800 for joint returns for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $140,000 (Div. B, Sec. 1001).

• Rescinds taxes on up to $2,400 of unemployment benefits (Division B, Sec. 1007).

• Extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act to December 31, 2009 and increases benefits by $25 per week (Division B, Sec. 2001, 2002).

• Provides COBRA assistance for coverage beginning after the enactment of this bill of up to 35 percent of the premium amount (Div. B, 3001).

• Increases the credit percentage for taxpayers with three or more children to 45 percent and reduces the marriage tax by changing the formula for the amount of credit allowed (Div. B, Sec. 1002).

• Extends the first-time homebuyer's tax credit to December 1, 2009 and increases the maximum amount of the tax credit to $8,000 or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately (Div. B, Sec. 1006).

• Extends tax credits for electricity produced from wind facilities until 2013, and from other renewable resource facilities such as biomass, geothermal, solar energy, landfill gas, trash combustion, and qualified hydropower facilities until 2014 (Div. B, Sec. 1101).

• Establishes the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board to oversee appropriated funds and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse (Div. A, Title XV).

• Establishes the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to allow for the electronic use and exchange of information that secures and protects patient health information, improves health care quality, reduces medical errors and health disparities, reduces costs from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate or duplicate care, and incomplete information, and improves coordination of care between hospitals, laboratories, and physician offices (Div. A, Title XIII).

• Increases the Hope Scholarship credit by making up to $2,000 of education expenses deductible, plus 25% of such expenses that exceed $2,000 but not $4,000 dollars (Div. B, Sec. 1004).

• Grants qualified school construction bonds for up to $11 billion in 2009 and $11 billion in 2010 (Div. B, Sec. 1521).

• Requires states to periodically verify if documented immigrants receiving benefits still maintain legal immigrant status (Div. B, Sec. 1853).

• Appropriates $4.7 billion for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (Div. A, Titles II).

• Appropriates $650 million to extend the digital to analog converter box program (Div. A, Title II).

• Appropriates $16.8 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy (Div. A, Title IV).

• Appropriates $100 million for border security, fencing, infrastructure and technology (Div. A, Title VI).

• Appropriates $13 billion for education of the disadvantaged, $12.2 billion for special education, and $15.84 billion for student financial assistance, including Pell Grants (Div. A, Title VIII).

• Appropriates $27.5 billion for highway, rail, and port infrastructure construction and repair (Div. A, Title XII).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a conference report that appropriates $317.45 billion in new spending, increases federal bond limitations to $32.4 billion, and increases tax credits.

Highlights:

• Allows an income tax credit of up to $400 for individuals with an adjusted gross income of less than $70,000 or $800 for joint returns for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $140,000 (Div. B, Sec. 1001).

• Rescinds taxes on up to $2,400 of unemployment benefits (Division B, Sec. 1007).

• Extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act to December 31, 2009 and increases benefits by $25 per week (Division B, Sec. 2001, 2002).

• Provides COBRA assistance for coverage beginning after the enactment of this bill of up to 35 percent of the premium amount (Div. B, 3001).

• Increases the credit percentage for taxpayers with three or more children to 45 percent and reduces the marriage tax by changing the formula for the amount of credit allowed (Div. B, Sec. 1002).

• Extends the first-time homebuyer's tax credit to December 1, 2009 and increases the maximum amount of the tax credit to $8,000 or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately (Div. B, Sec. 1006).

• Extends tax credits for electricity produced from wind facilities until 2013, and from other renewable resource facilities such as biomass, geothermal, solar energy, landfill gas, trash combustion, and qualified hydropower facilities until 2014 (Div. B, Sec. 1101).

• Establishes the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board to oversee appropriated funds and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse (Div. A, Title XV).

• Establishes the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to allow for the electronic use and exchange of information that secures and protects patient health information, improves health care quality, reduces medical errors and health disparities, reduces costs from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate or duplicate care, and incomplete information, and improves coordination of care between hospitals, laboratories, and physician offices (Div. A, Title XIII).

• Increases the Hope Scholarship credit by making up to $2,000 of education expenses deductible, plus 25% of such expenses that exceed $2,000 but not $4,000 dollars (Div. B, Sec. 1004).

• Grants qualified school construction bonds for up to $11 billion in 2009 and $11 billion in 2010 (Div. B, Sec. 1521).

• Requires states to periodically verify if documented immigrants receiving benefits still maintain legal immigrant status (Div. B, Sec. 1853).

• Appropriates $4.7 billion for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (Div. A, Titles II).

• Appropriates $650 million to extend the digital to analog converter box program (Div. A, Title II).

• Appropriates $16.8 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy (Div. A, Title IV).

• Appropriates $100 million for border security, fencing, infrastructure and technology (Div. A, Title VI).

• Appropriates $13 billion for education of the disadvantaged, $12.2 billion for special education, and $15.84 billion for student financial assistance, including Pell Grants (Div. A, Title VIII).

• Appropriates $27.5 billion for highway, rail, and port infrastructure construction and repair (Div. A, Title XII).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that reduces government revenue by increasing tax credits, that appropriates $268.69 billion in new spending, and that authorizes $31 billion in bonds.

Highlights:

• Allows an income tax credit of up to $500 for individuals with an adjusted gross income of less than $70,000 or $1,000 for joint returns for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $140,000 (Division B, Sec. 1001).

• Requires projects funded by this bill to use only iron and steel produced in the United States, unless it is inconsistent with public interest, there are insufficient quantities produced in the United States, or it would increase the cost of the overall project by over 25 percent (Division A, Sec. 1604).

• Increases the credit percentage for taxpayers with three or more children to 45 percent and reduces the marriage tax by changing the formula for the amount of credit allowed (Division B, Sec. 1002).

• Increases the Hope Scholarship Credit to allow a 100% deduction for the first $2,000 to be spent on tuition and related expenses and a 25% deduction for expenses that exceed $2,000 but are less than $4,000 (Division B, Sec. 1004).

• Allows purchasers of a primary residence a tax credit of up to $15,000 (Division B, Sec. 1006).

• Rescinds taxes on up to $2,400 of unemployment benefits (Division B, Sec. 1007).

• Extends and expands tax credits for electricity produced from wind facilities until 2013, and from other renewable resource facilities such as biomass, geothermal, solar energy, landfill gas, trash combustion, and qualified hydropower facilities until 2014 (Division B, Secs. 1101, 1102, & 1103).

• Expands tax credits for qualified energy efficiency improvements in homes and businesses (Division B, Secs. 1121 and 1122).

• Grants a $300 payment to recipients of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement Benefits, or Veterans Disability Compensation or Pension Benefits (Division B, Sec. 1601).

• Extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act to December 31, 2009 and increases benefits by $25 per week (Division B, Sec. 2001, 2002).

• Provides COBRA health insurance assistance of up to 50 percent of the premium amount (Division B, Sec. 3001).

• Allows a six month continuation of coverage for families who received Medicaid but became ineligible for coverage (Division B, Sec. 3101).

• Permits the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund to reimburse up to 75% of the costs of setting up electronic health records (Division B, Sec. 4202).

• Establishes the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board to oversee appropriated funds and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse (Division A, Title XV).

• Appropriates $31.25 billion to the Department of Energy, including $14.4 billion for renewable energy, $4.5 billion for electricity delivery, and $4.6 billion for fossil energy research (Division A, Title IV).

• Appropriates $41.57 billion to the Department of Education, including $12.4 billion for disadvantaged children, $13.5 billion for disabled children, and $13.87 billion to increase Pell Grants (Division A, Title VIII).

• Appropriates $45.48 billion to the Department of Transportation, including $5.5 billion for surface transportation infrastructure, $27.06 billion highway investment, $2 billion for high-speed rail projects, and $8.4 billion for public transit (Division A, Title XII).

• Appropriates $39 billion for a State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to restore state support for education to the fiscal year 2008 level (Division A, Title XIV).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that reduces government revenue by increasing tax credits and that appropriates $382.25 billion in direct spending and $42.15 billion for bonds and authorizations for a total of $424.4 billion in new spending.

Highlights:

• Allows an income tax credit of up to $500 for individuals with an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 or $1,000 for joint returns for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $150,000 (Division B, Sec. 1001).

• Requires projects funded by this bill to use only iron and steel produced in the United States, unless it is inconsistent with public interest, there are insufficient quantities produced in the United States, or it would increase the cost of the overall project by over 25 percent (Division A, Sec. 1110).

• Increases the credit percentage for taxpayers with three or more children to 45 percent and reduces the marriage tax by changing the formula for the amount of credit allowed (Division B, Sec. 1101).

• Prohibits funds appropriated in this Act from being used to enter into contracts with businesses that do not participate in the E-verify program for their employees (Division A, Sec. 1114).

• Increases the Hope Scholarship credit to allow a 100% deduction for the first $2000 spent on tuition and related expenses and a 25% deduction for another $4000 (Division B, Sec. 1201).

• Grants qualified school construction bonds for up to $11 billion in 2009 and $11 billion for 2010 (Division B, Sec. 1511).

• Extends tax credits for electricity produced from wind facilities until 2013, and from other renewable resource facilities such as biomass, geothermal, solar energy, landfill gas, trash combustion, and qualified hydropower facilities until 2014 (Division B, Sec. 1601).

• Extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act to December 31, 2009 (Division B, Sec. 2001).

• Provides COBRA assistance for coverage beginning after the enactment of this bill of up to 35 percent of the premium amount (Division B, Sec. 3002).

• Allows temporary Medicaid coverage for individuals who currently receive unemployment benefits or who were receiving but have exhausted unemployment benefits on or after July 1, 2008 (Division B, Sec. 3003).

• Establishes the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to allow for the electronic use and exchange of information that secures and protects patient health information, improves health care quality, reduces medical errors and health disparities, reduces costs from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate or duplicate care, and incomplete information, and improves coordination of care between hospitals, laboratories, and physician offices (Division B, Title IV).

• Establishes the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to develop a broadband map of the United States to identify the availability of broadband service from commercial or public providers in each state (Division B, Sec. 6001).

• Authorizes grants for any non-recurring costs related to building broadband infrastructure (Division B, Sec. 6002).

• Provides financial assistance of up to 50 percent of costs for electric "smart grid" system demonstration projects to increase reliability, security, and efficiency while meeting future growth demands of energy (Division B, Sec. 7002).

• Expands the definition of low income families eligible for weatherization assistance to include families whose income is 200 percent of the poverty level and increases the assistance per household from $2,500 to $5,000 (Division B, Sec. 7004).

• Appropriates $67.79 billion for the Department of Education, including $1.34 billion for Pell Grant funding (Division A, Title IX).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text