2015年12月17日，即參議院和眾議院領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人建議將EB-5計(jì)劃“原封不動(dòng)”延期至2016年9月30日的兩天后，參議員Flake、Cornyn和Schumer提出了2415號(hào)提案：“2015年EB-5誠(chéng)信法案”。這是自2015年9月30日EB-5計(jì)劃原定截止日期后第一份有關(guān)EB-5改革的立法，也是第114次國(guó)會(huì)中提出的第六份專(zhuān)門(mén)針對(duì)EB-5改革的提案。

　　不同于以往國(guó)會(huì)上提出的大部分提案，這份提案中包括了將EB-5計(jì)劃永久性再授權(quán)的條款。這份提案中所提議的許多改革舉措把重點(diǎn)聚焦在如何加強(qiáng)EB-5計(jì)劃的誠(chéng)信度之上，而這一問(wèn)題也是今年以來(lái)整個(gè)EB-5行業(yè)始終在努力捍衛(wèi)的。提案中的大部分規(guī)定都與1501號(hào)提案以及今年十一月和十二月在利益相關(guān)者之間傳閱的討論稿中提及的改革舉措基本無(wú)異。以下是針對(duì)EB-5計(jì)劃改革提出的一部分主要誠(chéng)信措施：

　　區(qū)域中心項(xiàng)目：應(yīng)獲得永久再授權(quán)。提出了就業(yè)創(chuàng)造要求，并禁止使用投資者資金購(gòu)買(mǎi)公開(kāi)發(fā)行債券。提案中還涉及了有關(guān)區(qū)域中心項(xiàng)目修正案的指導(dǎo)準(zhǔn)則。

　　商業(yè)計(jì)劃書(shū)的預(yù)批準(zhǔn)：必須在投資者遞交申請(qǐng)之前遞交商業(yè)計(jì)劃書(shū)預(yù)批準(zhǔn)申請(qǐng)。提出了針對(duì)商業(yè)計(jì)劃書(shū)的諸多要求。商業(yè)計(jì)劃書(shū)的批準(zhǔn)結(jié)果將對(duì)未來(lái)的投資人申請(qǐng)裁決產(chǎn)生直接影響。

　　年度報(bào)表：必須提供，并提出了諸多其它相關(guān)要求。

　　區(qū)域中心相關(guān)人員的誠(chéng)信度：要求對(duì)區(qū)域中心相關(guān)人員進(jìn)行背景調(diào)查。

　　外國(guó)所有權(quán)：不允許，即外國(guó)政府不可提供財(cái)政支持。

　　證券法合規(guī)性：需要年度認(rèn)證。

　　EB-5誠(chéng)信基金：要求每個(gè)區(qū)域中心繳納20,000美元或10,000美元，且每個(gè)投資者繳納1,000美元作為誠(chéng)信基金。

　　直屬和第三方發(fā)起人：必須在美國(guó)移民局登記備案，并滿(mǎn)足特定要求。投資者必須簽署一份公開(kāi)聲明，表示知曉所有規(guī)定和程序以及所涉及繳納的費(fèi)用。

　　資金來(lái)源：列明了有關(guān)贈(zèng)與和貸款的限制規(guī)定。提案還要求提供時(shí)長(zhǎng)七年的納稅申報(bào)單。

　　生效日期：與區(qū)域中心有關(guān)的所有修正案將于頒布之日起的90天后生效。有關(guān)資金來(lái)源以及區(qū)域中心修正案的相關(guān)規(guī)定將于頒布之日生效。

　　總審計(jì)局和監(jiān)察長(zhǎng)報(bào)告：必須提供。

　　透明度：落實(shí)相應(yīng)措施以確保不給予任何一方優(yōu)待，并對(duì)所有交流進(jìn)行監(jiān)控。

　　但是該提案并未包含任何有關(guān)如何定義目標(biāo)就業(yè)區(qū)以及最低投資額的條款。不過(guò)，在國(guó)會(huì)冬季休會(huì)結(jié)束并進(jìn)入新年后，新一輪的談判和游說(shuō)活動(dòng)將很可能會(huì)于2016年9月30日即EB-5計(jì)劃到期前再次展開(kāi)。

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　　英文原文：

　　Summary of S.2415: EB-5 Integrity Bill

　　On Dec. 17, 2015, two days after Senate and House leadership recommended a "clean" extension of the EB-5 program until Sept. 30, 2016, Senator Flake, with Senator Cornyn and Senator Schumer, introduced S.2415: "EB-5 Integrity Act of 2015." This is the first piece of legislation regarding EB-5 reform since the EB-5 program's original sunset date of Sept. 30, 2015. It is the sixth bill introduced in the 114th Congress thatseeks to exclusively reform the EB-5 program.

　　Unlike most of the bills introduced in this Congress, this bill includes a provision for permanent reauthorization of the EB-5 program. Much of the proposed reforms focus on integrity measures that have been championed by the EB-5 industry throughout the year. The majority of the provisions mirror the reforms sought in S.1501 and the discussion drafts that circulated amongst stakeholders in November and December 2015. The following are some of the main integrity measures designed to reform the EB-5 program:

　　• Regional Center Program: Shall be permanently reauthorized. Sets out job creation requirements, and prohibits the use of investor money to purchase publicly available bonds. Provides guidelines for Regional Center amendments.

　　• Business Plan for Preapproval: Application must be filed prior to an investor's filing of a petition. Lays out the numerous requirements for the business plan. Approval of the business plan will be binding on future adjudication.

　　• Annual Statements: Required, with numerous requirements.

　　• Bona Fides of Persons Involved with a Regional Center: Background checks required for those involved with the Regional Center.

　　• Foreign Ownership: Not allowed, and a foreign government may not lend financial support.

　　• Securities Laws Compliance: Annual certification required.

　　• EB-5 Integrity Fund: Requires either a $20,000 or $10,000 fee per regional center, and $1000 per investor.

　　• Direct and Third Party Promoters: Must register with USCIS and meet certain thresholds. Investors must sign a disclosure reflecting an understanding of the rules and procedures and the fees involved.

　　• Source of funds: Gift restrictions and loan restrictions enumerated. Documentation includes a provision for seven years of tax returns.

　　• Effective dates: All amendments made under the Regional Center will be effective 90 days after date of enactment. The provisions governing source of funds and amendments to the Regional Center will be effective date of enactment.

　　• GAO and IG reports: Mandatory.

　　• Transparency: Measures will be put in place to ensure no preferential treatment and that all communication is monitored.

　　This bill does not include provisions that define Targeted Employment Areas or address minimum investment amounts. It is very likely that once Congress returns from the winter recess and into the New Year, negotiations and lobbying efforts will begin again in anticipation of the EB-5 program's expiration on Sept. 30, 2016.

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　　文章轉(zhuǎn)自：The National Law Review

　　原文作者：Kristen W. Ng, Laura Foote Reiff, Matthew Virkstis

　　翻譯及編輯整理：劉宇和貝特曼律師事務(wù)所