<Li> House--$15 billion to allow companies to use current losses to offset profits made in the previous five years, instead of two, making them eligible for tax refunds . </Li> <Li> Senate--Allows companies to use more of their losses to offset previous profits, increasing the cost to $19.5 billion . </Li> <Li> Conference--Limits the carry - back to small companies, revenue under $5 million </Li> <Li> Government contractors <Ul> <Li> House--Repeal a law that takes effect in 2011, requiring government agencies to withhold three percent of payments to contractors to help ensure they pay their tax bills . Repealing the law would cost $11 billion over 10 years, in part because the government could not earn interest by holding the money throughout the year . </Li> <Li> Senate--Delays the law from taking effect until 2012, reducing the cost to $291 million . </Li> </Ul> </Li>

In january 2004 the us ____ law went into effect