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S. 256: American Opportunity Act of 2011

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S. 256: American Opportunity Act of 2011

112th Congress · introduced 2011-02-02 · Taxation · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2011-02-02 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

American Opportunity Act of 2011

Plain summary

American Opportunity Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 25% of a qualified equity investment in a qualified small business entity. Defines "qualified small business entity" as a domestic corporation or partnership that: (1) is a small business headquarted in the United States, (2) is engaged in a high technology trade or business, (3) has been in existence for less than five years as of the date of the qualified equity investment, and (4) employs less than 100 full-time employees, more than 50% of whom perform substantially all of their services in the United States. Limits the dollar amount of such credit to $500 million for each of calendar years 2011 through 2015. Requires: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations on the allocations of such credit to a small business entity, and (2) the Comptroller General to audit the investment tax credit program.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

American Opportunity Act of 2011

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong112-s256 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112