2015年12月17日，即参议院和众议院领导人建议将EB-5计划“原封不动”延期至2016年9月30日的两天后，参议员Flake、Cornyn和Schumer提出了2415号提案：“2015年EB-5诚信法案”。这是自2015年9月30日EB-5计划原定截止日期后第一份有关EB-5改革的立法，也是第114次国会中提出的第六份专门针对EB-5改革的提案。

　　不同于以往国会上提出的大部分提案，这份提案中包括了将EB-5计划永久性再授权的条款。这份提案中所提议的许多改革举措把重点聚焦在如何加强EB-5计划的诚信度之上，而这一问题也是今年以来整个EB-5行业始终在努力捍卫的。提案中的大部分规定都与1501号提案以及今年十一月和十二月在利益相关者之间传阅的讨论稿中提及的改革举措基本无异。以下是针对EB-5计划改革提出的一部分主要诚信措施：

　　区域中心项目：应获得永久再授权。提出了就业创造要求，并禁止使用投资者资金购买公开发行债券。提案中还涉及了有关区域中心项目修正案的指导准则。

　　商业计划书的预批准：必须在投资者递交申请之前递交商业计划书预批准申请。提出了针对商业计划书的诸多要求。商业计划书的批准结果将对未来的投资人申请裁决产生直接影响。

　　年度报表：必须提供，并提出了诸多其它相关要求。

　　区域中心相关人员的诚信度：要求对区域中心相关人员进行背景调查。

　　外国所有权：不允许，即外国政府不可提供财政支持。

　　证券法合规性：需要年度认证。

　　EB-5诚信基金：要求每个区域中心缴纳20,000美元或10,000美元，且每个投资者缴纳1,000美元作为诚信基金。

　　直属和第三方发起人：必须在美国移民局登记备案，并满足特定要求。投资者必须签署一份公开声明，表示知晓所有规定和程序以及所涉及缴纳的费用。

　　资金来源：列明了有关赠与和贷款的限制规定。提案还要求提供时长七年的纳税申报单。

　　生效日期：与区域中心有关的所有修正案将于颁布之日起的90天后生效。有关资金来源以及区域中心修正案的相关规定将于颁布之日生效。

　　总审计局和监察长报告：必须提供。

　　透明度：落实相应措施以确保不给予任何一方优待，并对所有交流进行监控。

　　但是该提案并未包含任何有关如何定义目标就业区以及最低投资额的条款。不过，在国会冬季休会结束并进入新年后，新一轮的谈判和游说活动将很可能会于2016年9月30日即EB-5计划到期前再次展开。

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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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　　文章转自：The National Law Review

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

　　翻译及编辑整理：刘宇和贝特曼律师事务所