{"defining_instances": [{"Unnamed: 0": 3084, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Railroad Safety Improvement Act of \n2005''.\n\nSEC. 2. RAILWAY-ROAD GRADE CROSSINGS.\n\n (a) Elimination of Crossings.--\n (1) In general.--Section 20134 of title 49, United States \n Code, is amended--\n (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and motorists \n at railroad grade crossings'' after ``rights of way'';\n (B) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:\n ``(c) Automated Video Image Analysis Pilot Program.--(1) The \nSecretary of Transportation, in consultation with the National Highway \nTraffic Safety Administration, shall establish a pilot program in the 5 \nStates with the highest rates of collisions, injuries, and fatalities \nat highway-rail grade crossings that uses automated video image \nanalysis technology to record violations by motorists at crossings \nequipped with automatic warning devices.\n ``(2) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be \nnecessary to carry out the program established under this paragraph \n(1).''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(d) Plan to Eliminate Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.--(1) Not \nlater than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the \nSecretary of Transportation, in consultation with appropriate \ntransportation officials of States and units of local government with \njurisdiction over highway-rail grade crossings, shall submit, to the \nCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the \nCommittee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the \nCommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of \nRepresentatives, a plan--\n ``(A) for annually eliminating highway-rail grade crossings \n in the United States that, as of the date of enactment of this \n subsection--\n ``(i) are considered by the Secretary of \n Transportation to pose a safety threat; and\n ``(ii) have insufficient or outdated protective \n equipment;\n ``(B) that includes guidelines for establishing new \n crossings, if necessary, through careful traffic, zoning, and \n land use planning; and\n ``(C) that includes an estimate of the cost to carry out \n subparagraph (A).\n ``(2) In determining the order for closing highway-rail grade \ncrossings under the plan developed under paragraph (1), the Secretary \nshall give priority to crossings in States that are among the top 5 \nStates in terms of--\n ``(A) the number of accidents at highway-rail grade \n crossings per mile of railroad tract;\n ``(B) the number of highway-rail grade crossings with \n insufficient or outdated protective equipment; or\n ``(C) the number of rail lines with a high volume of goods \n movement.\n ``(3) In developing the plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary \nshall consider--\n ``(A) the feasibility of closing and improving a group of \n highway-rail grade crossings in a single community;\n ``(B) the impact of closure on access by emergency \n vehicles;\n ``(C) traffic delays;\n ``(D) public inconvenience; and\n ``(E) the willingness of units of local government to \n participate in the elimination or consolidation of highway-rail \n grade crossings.''.\n (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall \n update and reissue ``A Guide to Crossing Consolidation and \n Closure'', which was originally published in July 1994.\n (b) Grants to Improve the Safety of Railway-Highway Grade \nCrossings.--Section 130 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subsection (d)--\n (A) by striking ``Each State'' and inserting the \n following:\n ``(1) In general.--Each State''; and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) Federal safety review.--Using information compiled by \n States under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Transportation \n shall conduct a comprehensive review of the safety of all \n public railway-highway grade crossings in the United States. \n The matters reviewed shall include security measures, safety \n conditions, past accidents, possible safety improvements, and \n any other factors that the Secretary considers relevant.\n ``(3) Priority list.--Based on the information collected \n from the review conducted under paragraph (2), the Secretary of \n Transportation shall compile, maintain, and submit to Congress \n a list of the 5,000 railway-highway grade crossings most in \n need of safety improvements, grouped based on relative need for \n such improvements.'';\n (2) in subsection (f)--\n (A) by striking ``and 50'' and inserting ``25''; \n and\n (B) by striking ``States.'' and inserting ``States, \n and 25 percent of such funds shall be apportioned to \n the States in the ratio that total highway and rail \n traffic through railway-highway crossings in each State \n bears to the total of such traffic in all States.'';\n (3) in subsection (i)(3)(B), by striking ``$7,500'' and \n inserting ``$15,000'';\n (4) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and\n (5) by inserting after subsection (i) the following:\n ``(j) Railway-Highway Grade Crossing Safety Improvement Grants.--\n ``(1) Grants authorized.--The Secretary of Transportation \n may award grants to States to make necessary safety \n improvements to the railway-highway grade crossings identified \n under subsection (d)(3).\n ``(2) Prioritization.--In awarding grants under this \n subsection, the Secretary shall--\n ``(A) give priority to projects to install \n automated warning systems at railway-highway grade \n crossings in States with the highest number of \n accidents at such crossings; and\n ``(B) strive to reduce the number of railway-\n highway grade crossings without automated warning \n systems by not less than 50 percent.\n ``(3) Application.--Each State desiring a grant under this \n subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary at such \n time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as \n the Secretary may reasonably require.\n ``(4) Matching requirement.--The Secretary may not award a \n grant to a State under this subsection unless that State agrees \n that, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the State in \n carrying out the program for which the grant was awarded, the \n State will make available non-Federal contributions in an \n amount equal to not less than $1 for every $9 of Federal \n financial assistance provided under the grant.''.\n (c) Funding.--Section 104(d) of title 23, United States Code, is \namended--\n (1) by amending the subsection header to read as follows: \n ``Funds Reserved for Improving Safety at Railway-Highway \n Crossings'';\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(3) Railway-road grade crossing safety improvements.--\n Before making an apportionment of funds under subsection (b)(3) \n for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall set aside $178,000,000 \n of the funds made available for the surface transportation \n program for the fiscal year for grants under section 130(j).''.\n\nSEC. 3. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING CROSSING SIGNS, SIGNALS, OR GATES.\n\n (a) Prevention of Trespassing and Vandalism on Railroad Property.--\nNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the \nSecretary of Transportation shall--\n (1) analyze Federal, State, and local laws for preventing \n and responding to trespassing and vandalism on railroad \n property; and\n (2) update model strategies to prevent such trespassing and \n vandalism.\n (b) Model Legislation.--Not later than 2 years after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, after \nconsultation with States, units of local government, and railroad \ncarriers shall develop and make available model legislation providing \nfor civil and criminal penalties for individuals who violate grade \ncrossing signs, signals, or gates.\n\nSEC. 4. OPERATION LIFESAVER FUNDING.\n\n Section 104(d)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by \nstriking ``set aside'' and all that follows and inserting the \nfollowing: ``set aside, to carry out a public information and education \nprogram to help prevent and reduce motor vehicle accidents, injuries, \nand fatalities, and to improve driver performance at railway-road \ncrossings--\n ``(1) $1,250,000 for fiscal year 2006;\n ``(2) $1,300,000 for fiscal year 2007;\n ``(3) $1,350,000 for fiscal year 2008;\n ``(4) $1,400,000 for fiscal year 2009; and\n ``(5) $1,460,000 for fiscal year 2010.''.\n\nSEC. 5. INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS.\n\n (a) Annual Inspections.--Section 20107 of title 49, United States \nCode, is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(c) Annual Inspections.--The Secretary of Transportation, acting \nthrough the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, \nshall, physically inspect, on an annual basis, not less than 2 percent \nof all highway-rail grade crossings in the 10 States with the highest \nrates of collisions at such crossings during the 3-year period ending \non the date of enactment of this Act.''.\n (b) Accident Investigations.--Section 20902 of title 49, United \nStates Code, is amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:\n ``(c) Investigation of Fatal Accidents.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation, acting \n through the Administrator of the Federal Railroad \n Administration, shall conduct an investigation of--\n ``(A) all fatal accidents in the United States \n during the 1-year period ending on the date of \n enactment of this subsection; and\n ``(B) any fatal railroad accident occurring in the \n United States on or after the date of enactment of this \n subsection.\n ``(2) Report to congress.--Not later than 18 months after \n the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the \n Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the results of \n the investigations conducted under paragraph (1) during the 1-\n year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act and \n during each successive 1-year period.''.\n\nSEC. 6. DEFINITION.\n\n As used in this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, the term \n``highway'' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 23, \nUnited States Code.", "summary": "Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2005 - Amends federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish an automated video image analysis pilot program in states with the highest rates of accidents at highway-rail grade crossings to record motorist violations at crossings equipped with automatic warning devices. Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress a plan to eliminate highway-rail grade crossings, with priority given to crossings where the number of accidents are high or there is insufficient or outdated protective equipment.\n\nDirects the Secretary to: (1) review the safety of all public railway-highway grade crossings in the United States; and (2) compile and submit to Congress, based on such review, a list of the 5,000 railway-highway grade crossings most in need of safety improvements.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary to award grants to states to make necessary improvements to crossings identified for elimination and improvement. Requires the Secretary, in awarding such grants, to: (1) give priority to projects to install automated warning systems at crossings in states with the highest number of accidents; and (2) strive to reduce the number of crossings without automated warning systems by not less than 50%.\n\nDirects the Secretary to: (1) analyze all laws for preventing trespassing and vandalism on railroad property; and (2) develop model legislation providing for civil and criminal penalties for individuals who violate grade crossing signs, signals, or gates.\n\nRequires the Secretary to inspect annually at least 2% of all highway-rail grade crossings in the 10 states with the highest rates of collisions at such crossings.\n\nRequires the Secretary to investigate, and report to Congress, all fatal accidents in the United States (including fatal railroad accidents) that occur on or after enactment of this Act.", "title": "A bill to eliminate unsafe railway-road grade crossings, to enhance railroad safety through new safety technology, safety inspections, accident investigations, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 134, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. SURFACE COAL MINING BONDING.\n\n Section 509 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of \n1977 (30 U.S.C. 1259) is amended--\n (1) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:\n ``(c) Alternative Bonding System.--The Secretary may approve as \npart of a State or Federal program an alternative system that will--\n ``(1) achieve the objectives and purposes of the bonding \n program pursuant to this section; and\n ``(2) result in no greater risk of financial liability to \n the Federal Government or a State government than the bonding \n program under this section.''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(f) Self-Bonding.--\n ``(1) Federal programs.--\n ``(A) In general.--Effective on the date of \n enactment of this subsection, the Secretary--\n ``(i) may not accept the bond of the \n applicant itself (referred to in this \n subsection as a `self-bond'); but\n ``(ii) may accept a separate surety or \n collateral bond, consistent with the terms \n under subsection (b).\n ``(B) Existing self-bonds.--For coal mining \n operations covered by a self-bond accepted by the \n Secretary prior to the date of enactment of this \n subsection, the permittee shall replace the self-bond \n with another form of bond acceptable to the Secretary \n under this section by not later than the earlier of--\n ``(i) the date of renewal of the permit \n under section 506(d); and\n ``(ii) the date of any major permit \n modification under section 506.\n ``(2) State programs.--\n ``(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the \n date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary \n shall notify all State regulatory authorities that \n allow applicants to self-bond that the approved \n regulatory programs of the State regulatory authority \n must be amended--\n ``(i) to remove the authority for \n applicants to self-bond; and\n ``(ii) to require coal mining operations \n covered by a self-bond accepted by the State \n regulatory authority prior to the date of \n enactment of this subsection to replace the \n self-bond with another form of bond acceptable \n under this section by not later than the \n earlier of--\n ``(I) the date of renewal of the \n permit under section 506(d); and\n ``(II) the date of any major permit \n modification under section 506.\n ``(g) Bonds Issued by Surety.--\n ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of \n enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall issue rules \n establishing limitations on surety bonds accepted under this \n section to minimize the risk of financial liability to the \n Federal Government or a State government, including rules \n regarding--\n ``(A) the maximum quantity of corporate surety \n bonds issued by any 1 corporate surety as a percentage \n of the total quantity of coal mine reclamation bonds in \n any 1 State;\n ``(B) the minimum percentage of surety bonds \n unrelated to activities regulated pursuant to this Act \n required to reinsure corporate surety bonds;\n ``(C) the minimum collateralization required for \n corporate surety bonds; and\n ``(D) the minimum amount of cash assets required to \n be held by a corporate surety as a percentage of coal \n mine reclamation bonds issued by the corporate surety.\n ``(2) Existing corporate bonds.--Corporate surety bonds in \n existence on the date of enactment of this subsection must be \n modified or replaced as necessary by not later than 1 year \n after the date on which the rule is issued under paragraph (1).\n ``(h) Collateral Requirements.--Real property posted as collateral \nfor a bond may not include--\n ``(1) coal;\n ``(2) a coal mine;\n ``(3) land that includes a coal mine;\n ``(4) land that is located above a coal mine;\n ``(5) a coal processing facility;\n ``(6) a coal waste disposal site;\n ``(7) coal mining equipment unlikely to retain salvage or \n resale value; or\n ``(8) any other property determined by the Secretary.\n ``(i) Executive Compensation.--The Secretary may require the \ninclusion of executive compensation, including salaries and bonuses of \nofficers and executives, of an applicant under this section, and any \naffiliated company, as collateral for a bond under this section.''.", "summary": "Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act to prohibit the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE)and state regulatory authoritiesfrom accepting new self-bonds for coal reclamation.Additionally, any existing self-bonds or corporate bondsutilized for coal reclamationmust be converted to surety or collateral bonds. The OSMRE may approve state or federal alternative coal miningbond programs thatresult in no greater risk of financial liability to the federalgovernment than a surety or collateral bond program. The bill also requires the OSMRE to issue rules establishing limitations on surety bondsto minimize the financial liability to the federal or stategovernment.", "title": "Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 411, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Highway Trust Fund Integrity Act of \n1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that--\n (1)(A) the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 split the Federal \n budgeting process into two budget categories, one for receipts \n and mandatory spending and the other for discretionary \n spending; and\n (B) each budget category has its own rules, procedures, and \n incentives;\n (2) the taxes deposited into the Highway Trust Fund are in \n the mandatory category, but most spending from the Highway \n Trust Fund is in the discretionary category;\n (3) since the Highway Trust Fund is split between the two \n budget categories, the link between Highway Trust Fund taxes \n and transportation spending is severed; and\n (4) to reestablish the link between the taxes and spending \n of the Highway Trust Fund, all the components of the Highway \n Trust Fund should be part of the same budget category and \n subject to the same budget rules and procedures.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITION.\n\n (a) Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.--\nSection 250(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act \nof 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n ``(22) Revenue constrained fund.--The term `revenue \n constrained fund'--\n ``(A) means the budget authority, outlays, and \n receipts of the--\n ``(i) the Highway Account of the Highway \n Trust Fund as established by section 9503 of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;\n ``(B) shall not be--\n ``(i) considered to be part of any category \n (as defined in section 250(c)(4) of the \n Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control \n Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)(4))) of \n discretionary appropriations; or\n ``(ii) subject to sequestration under \n section 251(a) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 901(a)); \n and\n ``(C) shall not be--\n ``(i) considered to be part of direct \n spending (as defined in section 250(c)(8) of \n the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit \n Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)(8))); or\n ``(ii) subject to sequestration under \n section 252(b) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 902(b)).''.\n (b) Congressional Budget Act of 1974.--Section 3 of the \nCongressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622) is amended by adding at \nthe end thereof the following:\n ``(11) Revenue constrained fund.--The term `revenue \n constrained fund' has the meaning given that term in section \n 250(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act \n of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)).''.\n\nSEC. 4. BUDGETARY TREATMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Part A of title IV of the Congressional Budget Act \nof 1974 (2 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n\n ``revenue constrained funds\n\n ``Sec. 408. It shall not be in order in either the House of \nRepresentatives or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, \namendment, motion, conference report, or other measure if the effect of \nthe measure would have the effect of increasing any specific new budget \nauthority for a fiscal year for a revenue constrained fund above the \namount made available by section 251B(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget and \nEmergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.''.\n (b) Point of Order.--Subsections (c) and (d) of section 904 of the \nCongressional Budget Act of 1974 are each amended by inserting after \n``306,'' the following: ``408,''.\n (c) Amendment to Table of Contents.--The table of contents for the \nCongressional Budget Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by \nadding at the end of title IV the following:\n\n``Sec. 408. Revenue constrained funds.''.\n\nSEC. 5. SEQUESTER.\n\n (a) In General.--Part C of the Balanced Budget and Emergency \nDeficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.) is amended by \ninserting after section 251A the following:\n\n``SEC. 251B. SEQUESTRATION WITH RESPECT TO REVENUE CONSTRAINED FUNDS.\n\n ``(a) Budget Authority Limits.--Amounts available from a revenue \nconstrained fund shall be reduced by the amount necessary to eliminate \nany amount by which budget authority in the budget year from the \nrevenue constrained fund exceed the amount deposited in the revenue \nconstrained fund in the previous fiscal year.\n ``(b) Amount Available.--\n ``(1) Initial estimate.--\n ``(A) In general.--On October 1 of each year OMB \n shall estimate the total amount of revenues deposited \n into each revenue constrained fund during the previous \n fiscal year.\n ``(B) Initial amount available.--An amount equal to \n 40 percent of the total amount of revenues is estimated \n to be deposited in a revenue constrained fund under \n subparagraph (A) shall be available for obligation in \n the budget year on the date of the estimate under \n subparagraph (A).\n ``(2) Final estimate.--\n ``(A) In general.--On December 15 of each year OMB \n shall determine the total amount of revenues deposited \n into each revenue constrained fund during the previous \n fiscal year.\n ``(B) Amount available.--An amount equal to the \n total amount of revenues determined to be deposited in \n a revenue constrained fund under subparagraph (A)--\n ``(i) shall be the total amount available \n for obligation in the budget year on the date \n of the determination under subparagraph (A); \n and\n ``(ii) shall replace the amount made \n available under paragraph (1).\n ``(c) Look-Back.--If--\n ``(1) an appropriation for the fiscal year in progress is \n enacted that causes a budgetary excess in a revenue constrained \n fund as described in subsection (a) for that year; or\n ``(2) errors in the determination made pursuant to \n subsection (b)(2) cause a budgetary excess in a revenue \n constrained fund for the fiscal year in progress;\nthe level set forth in subsection (b)(2) for the next fiscal year shall \nbe reduced by the amount of that excess.''.\n (b) Amendment to Table of Contents.--The table of contents for the \nBalanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 is amended by \nadding after the item for section 251A the following:\n\n``Sec. 251B. Sequestration with respect to revenue constrained \n funds.''.\n\nSEC. 5. BUDGETARY IMPACT.\n\n (a) Findings and Purpose.--\n (1) Findings.--The Congress finds that--\n (A) the United States has substantial surface \n transportation and infrastructure needs; and\n (B) this Act will result in additional spending \n from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund to \n help address these substantial needs.\n (2) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to clarify \n that any budgetary offset necessary because of the additional \n spending provided by this Act should not come from surface \n transportation programs.\n (b) Sequestration.--The budgetary impact of the amendments made by \nthis Act shall not be considered for purposes of sequestration under \nsections 251 or 252 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit \nControl Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901, 902).\n (c) Discretionary Spending Limitations.--OMB shall reduce \ndiscretionary spending limits for budget authority and outlays in \naccordance with the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act \nof 1985 for each applicable fiscal year set forth in section \n601(a)(2)--\n (1) for budget authority, by an amount equal to the total \n amount of discretionary budget authority provided from the \n Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund in the Department of \n Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997; \n and\n (2) for outlays, by an amount equal to an estimate of the \n amount of discretionary outlays that would be expended from the \n Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund assuming that the \n total amount of new budget authority and obligation authority \n from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund equaled the \n amounts of new budget authority and obligation authority \n provided from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund in \n the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies \n Appropriations Act, 1997.\n\nSEC. 6. STUDY TO ENSURE THAT THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND IS DEFICIT NEUTRAL.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:\n (1) It is the policy of the United States Government that \n the Highway Trust Fund should not contribute to or reduce the \n Federal Government's annual budget deficit.\n (2) Under current budgetary scorekeeping conventions used \n by both the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of \n Management and Budget, increases in Highway Trust Fund revenue \n generated by tax increases are partially offset by a reduction \n in other Federal revenues that is equal to 25 percent of the \n increase in Highway Trust Fund revenue.\n (3) This 25 percent offset is a scorekeeping convention \n that applies to all excise taxes, and is not uniquely applied \n to Highway Trust Fund taxes.\n (4) An up-to-date examination of how this offset should be \n applied to Highway Trust Fund taxes is needed.\n (b) Report.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 24 months after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Treasury, in \n consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and \n Budget, shall submit a report to Congress on ensuring the \n deficit neutrality of the Highway Trust Fund.\n (2) Contents.--In the report, the Secretary shall--\n (A) determine the extent to which each of the taxes \n deposited into the Highway Trust Fund is a deductible \n expense from other Federal taxes;\n (B) provide an estimate of the amount of Highway \n Trust Fund taxes that were deducted from Federal income \n taxes or other taxes;\n (C) provide an estimate of the annual revenue loss \n because Highway Trust Fund taxes are deductible from \n other Federal taxes;\n (D) determine the appropriate scorekeeping \n convention that should apply to Highway Trust Fund \n taxes, or if needed, separately to each of the taxes \n now deposited into the Highway Trust Fund; and\n (E) provide the Congress with policy options that \n would ensure that changes to the Highway Trust Fund \n taxes do not contribute to the deficit.", "summary": "Highway Trust Fund Integrity Act of 1997 - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to define \"revenue constrained fund\" (fund) as the budget authority, outlays, and receipts of the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund. States that such fund shall not be: (1) considered part of any discretionary funding category or part of direct spending; or (2) subject to sequestration. \nAmends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit any House of Representatives or Senate measure that would increase fiscal year budget authority for a fund above an amount made available under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. \nAmends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to reduce available fund amounts so as not to exceed the previous year's deposited fund amounts. \nStates that any budgetary offset necessary because of additional spending provided by this Act should not come from surface transportation programs. \nDirects the Secretary of the Treasury to report on ensuring the deficit neutrality of the Highway Trust Fund.", "title": "Highway Trust Fund Integrity Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 203, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Election Integrity Act of \n2004'' .\n\nSEC. 2. REQUIRING PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP TO ACCOMPANY APPLICATION FOR \n VOTER REGISTRATION.\n\n (a) Application Provided With Motor Vehicle License Application.--\nSection 5(c)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 \nU.S.C. 1973gg--3(c)(2)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``may require'' and \n inserting ``in addition to the information required under \n subparagraph (E), may require'';\n (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);\n (3) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); \n and\n (4) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(E) shall require the applicant to provide a photographic \n copy of any document which provides proof that the applicant is \n a citizen of the United States, in accordance with guidelines \n established by the Election Administration Commission in \n consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the \n Secretary of State.''.\n (b) Mail-In Form.--Section 9(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1973gg--\n7(b)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``may require'' and \n inserting ``consistent with paragraph (5), may require'';\n (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);\n (3) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(5) shall require the applicant to provide a photographic \n copy of any document which provides proof that the applicant is \n a citizen of the United States, in accordance with guidelines \n established by the Election Administration Commission in \n consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the \n Secretary of State.''.\n (c) Special Rules for States Without Registration Requirement and \nStates Permitting Same-Day Registration.--\n (1) In general.--Section 8 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1973gg--\n 6) is amended--\n (A) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection \n (k); and\n (B) by inserting after subsection (i) the following \n new subsection:\n ``(j) Requirement for Proof of Citizenship in States Without \nRegistration Requirement and States Permitting Same-Day Registration.--\n ``(1) States without registration requirement.--In the case \n of a State described in section 4(b)(1), the appropriate State \n or local election official may not provide any individual with \n a ballot for an election for Federal office (including an \n absentee ballot) unless the individual provides the official \n with a photographic copy of any document which provides proof \n that the individual is a citizen of the United States, in \n accordance with guidelines established by the Election \n Administration Commission in consultation with the Secretary of \n Homeland Security and the Secretary of State.\n ``(2) States permitting same-day registration.--In the case \n of a State described in section 4(b)(2), the appropriate State \n or local election official may not permit any individual to \n register to vote in an election for Federal office (including \n an individual who desires to register to vote at the polling \n place at the time of voting in the election) unless the \n individual provides the official with a photographic copy of \n any document which provides proof that the individual is a \n citizen of the United States, in accordance with guidelines \n established by the Election Administration Commission in \n consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the \n Secretary of State.''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 4(b) of such Act (42 \n U.S.C. 1973gg-2(b)) is amended by striking ``This Act'' and \n inserting ``Except as provided in section 8(j), this Act''.\n\nSEC. 3. REQUIRING VOTERS TO PROVIDE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 303(b) of the Help America Vote Act of \n2002 (42 U.S.C. 15483(b)) is amended--\n (1) in the heading, by striking ``for Voters Who Register \n by Mail'' and inserting ``for Providing Photo Identification''; \n and\n (2) by striking paragraphs (1) through (3) and inserting \n the following:\n ``(1) Individuals voting in person.--Notwithstanding any \n other provision of law, the appropriate State or local election \n official may not provide a ballot for an election for Federal \n office (including a provisional ballot under section 302(a)) to \n an individual who desires to vote in person unless the \n individual presents to the official a current and valid photo \n identification.\n ``(2) Individuals voting by mail.--Notwithstanding any \n other provision of law, the appropriate State or local election \n official may not accept any ballot for an election for Federal \n office provided by an individual who votes by mail unless the \n individual submits with the ballot a copy of a current and \n valid photo identification.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 303 of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n15483) is amended--\n (1) in the heading, by striking ``for voters who register \n by mail'' and inserting ``for providing photo identification''; \n and\n (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``subsections \n (a)(5)(A)(i)(II) and (b)(3)(B)(i)(II)'' and inserting \n ``subsection (a)(5)(A)(i)(II)''.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is \namended by amending the item relating to section 303 to read as \nfollows:\n\n``Sec. 303. Computerized statewide voter registration list requirements \n and requirements for providing photo \n identification.''.\n (d) Effective Date.--Section 303(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n15483(d)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(d) Requirement to Provide Photo Identification.--Subsection (b) \nshall apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general election \nfor Federal office held in November 2004 and each succeeding election \nfor Federal office.''.\n\nSEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall apply with \nrespect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office \nheld in November 2004 and each succeeding election for Federal office.", "summary": "Federal Election Integrity Act of 2004 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require any individual who desires to register or re-register to vote in an election for Federal office to provide the appropriate State election official with proof that the individual is a U.S. citizen. Requires proof of citizenship in States without registration requirement and States permitting same day registration.\n\nAmends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the appropriate State or local election official from: (1) providing a ballot for an election for Federal office to an individual who desires to vote in person unless the individual presents to the official a current and valid photo ID; or (2) accepting any ballot of an individual voting by mail without a copy of a current photo ID.", "title": "To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require any individual who desires to register or re-register to vote in an election for Federal office to provide the appropriate State election official with proof that the individual is a citizen of the United States to prevent fraud in Federal elections, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2938, "text": "SECTION 1. EMPLOYER-PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.\n\n (a) Permanent Extension.--Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code \nof 1986 (relating to exclusion for educational assistance programs) is \namended by striking subsection (d) and by redesignating subsection (e) \nas subsection (d).\n (b) Restoration of Exclusion for Graduate Education.--The last \nsentence of paragraph (1) of section 127(c) of such Code is amended by \nstriking ``, and such term also does not include any payment for, or \nthe provision of any benefits with respect to, any graduate level \ncourse of a kind normally taken by an individual pursuing a program \nleading to a law, business, medical, or other advanced academic or \nprofessional degree''.\n (c) Effective Dates.--\n (1) Extension.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall \n apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996.\n (2) Graduate education.--The amendment made by subsection \n (b) shall apply with respect to expenses relating to courses \n beginning after December 31, 1996.\n\nSEC. 2. DEDUCTION FOR INTEREST ON EDUCATION LOANS.\n\n (a) In General.--Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized \ndeductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 221 as \nsection 222 and by inserting after section 220 the following new \nsection:\n\n``SEC. 221. INTEREST ON EDUCATION LOANS.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Deduction.--In the case of an individual, there \nshall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year an amount equal to \nthe interest paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year on any \nqualified education loan.\n ``(b) Limitation Based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income.--\n ``(1) In general.--The amount allowed as a deduction under \n subsection (a) shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the \n amount determined under paragraph (2).\n ``(2) Amount of reduction.--The amount determined under \n this paragraph equals the amount which bears the same ratio to \n the deduction (determined without regard to this subsection) \n as--\n ``(A) the excess of--\n ``(i) the taxpayer's modified adjusted \n gross income for such taxable year, over\n ``(ii) $50,000 ($80,000 in the case of a \n joint return), bears to\n ``(B) $20,000.\n ``(3) Modified adjusted gross income.--For purposes of \n paragraph (2), the term `modified adjusted gross income' means \n the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for the taxable year \n determined--\n ``(A) without regard to this section and sections \n 911, 931, and 933, and\n ``(B) after the application of sections 86, 135, \n 137, 219, and 469.\n For purposes of sections 86, 135, 219, and 469, adjusted gross \n income shall be determined without regard to the deduction \n allowed under this section.\n ``(4) Inflation adjustment.--\n ``(A) In general.--In the case of a taxable year \n beginning after 1997, the $50,000 and $80,000 amounts \n in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) shall each be increased by an \n amount equal to--\n ``(i) such dollar amounts, multiplied by\n ``(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment \n determined under section 1(f)(3) for the \n calendar year in which the taxable year begins, \n determined by substituting `calendar year 1996' \n for `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph (B) \n thereof.\n ``(B) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted under \n subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $5,000, such \namount shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $5,000.\n ``(c) Dependents Not Eligible for Deduction.--No deduction shall be \nallowed by this section to an individual for the taxable year if a \ndeduction under section 151 with respect to such individual is allowed \nto another taxpayer for the taxable year beginning in the calendar year \nin which such individual's taxable year begins.\n ``(d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Qualified education loan.--The term `qualified \n education loan' means any indebtedness incurred to pay \n qualified higher education expenses--\n ``(A) which are incurred on behalf of the taxpayer \n or the taxpayer's spouse,\n ``(B) which are paid or incurred within a \n reasonable period of time before or after the \n indebtedness is incurred, and\n ``(C) which are attributable to education furnished \n during a period during which the recipient was at least \n a half-time student.\n Such term includes indebtedness used to refinance indebtedness \n which qualifies as a qualified education loan. The term \n `qualified education loan' shall not include any indebtedness \n owed to a person who is related (within the meaning of section \n 267(b) or 707(b)(1)) to the taxpayer.\n ``(2) Qualified higher education expenses.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified higher \n education expenses' means the excess of--\n ``(i) tuition and fees required for the \n enrollment or attendance of--\n ``(I) the taxpayer,\n ``(II) the taxpayer's spouse, or\n ``(III) any dependent of the \n taxpayer with respect to whom the \n taxpayer is allowed a deduction under \n section 151,\n as an eligible student at an institution of \n higher education, over\n ``(ii) the sum of--\n ``(I) the amount excluded from \n gross income under section 135 by \n reason of such tuition and fees, and\n ``(II) the amount of the reduction \n described in section 135(d)(1).\n ``(B) Exceptions.--Such term does not include--\n ``(i) expenses with respect to any course \n or other education involving sports, games, or \n hobbies, unless such course or other education \n is part of the student's degree program, and\n ``(ii) student activity fees, athletic \n fees, insurance expenses, or other expenses \n unrelated to a student's academic course of \n instruction.\n ``(C) Eligible student.--The term `eligible \n student' means, with respect to any academic period, a \n student who--\n ``(i) meets the requirements of section \n 484(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 \n (20 U.S.C. 1091(a)(1)), as in effect on the \n date of the enactment of this section, and\n ``(ii) is carrying at least \\1/2\\ the \n normal full-time work load for the course of \n study the student is pursuing, as reasonably \n determined by the institution of higher \n education.\n ``(3) Institution of higher education.--The term \n `institution of higher education' means an institution--\n ``(A) which is described in section 481 of the \n Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088), as in \n effect on the date of the enactment of this section, \n and\n ``(B) which is eligible to participate in programs \n under title IV of such Act.\n Such term includes an institution conducting an internship or \n residency program leading to a degree or certificate awarded by \n an institution of higher education, a hospital, or a health \n care facility which offers postgraduate training.\n ``(4) Full-time student.--The term `full-time student' \n means any student who is carrying at least the normal full-time \n work load for the course of study the student is pursuing, as \n reasonably determined by the institution of higher education.\n ``(5) Half-time student.--The term `half-time student' \n means any individual who would be a student as defined in \n section 151(c)(4) if `half-time' were substituted for `full-\n time' each place it appears in such section.\n ``(6) Dependent.--The term `dependent' has the meaning \n given such term by section 152.\n ``(e) Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Denial of double benefit.--No deduction shall be \n allowed under this section for any amount for which a deduction \n is allowable under any other provision of this chapter.\n ``(2) Married couples must file joint return.--If the \n taxpayer is married at the close of the taxable year, the \n deduction shall be allowed under subsection (a) only if the \n taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse file a joint return for the \n taxable year.\n ``(3) Marital status.--Marital status shall be determined \n in accordance with section 7703.''\n (b) Deduction Allowed Whether or Not Taxpayer Itemizes Other \nDeductions.--Subsection (a) of section 62 of such Code is amended by \ninserting after paragraph (16) the following new paragraph:\n ``(17) Interest on education loans.--The deduction allowed \n by section 221.''\n (c) Reporting Requirement.--\n (1) In general.--Subpart B of part III of subchapter A of \n chapter 61 of such Code (relating to information concerning \n transactions with other persons) is amended by inserting after \n section 6050R the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 6050S. RETURNS RELATING TO EDUCATION LOAN INTEREST RECEIVED IN \n TRADE OR BUSINESS FROM INDIVIDUALS.\n\n ``(a) Education Loan Interest of $600 or More.--Any person--\n ``(1) who is engaged in a trade or business, and\n ``(2) who, in the course of such trade or business, \n receives from any individual interest aggregating $600 or more \n for any calendar year on 1 or more qualified education loans,\nshall make the return described in subsection (b) with respect to each \nindividual from whom such interest was received at such time as the \nSecretary may by regulations prescribe.\n ``(b) Form and Manner of Returns.--A return is described in this \nsubsection if such return--\n ``(1) is in such form as the Secretary may prescribe,\n ``(2) contains--\n ``(A) the name, address, and TIN of the individual \n from whom the interest described in subsection (a)(2) \n was received,\n ``(B) the amount of such interest received for the \n calendar year, and\n ``(C) such other information as the Secretary may \n prescribe.\n ``(c) Application to Governmental Units.--For purposes of \nsubsection (a)--\n ``(1) Treated as persons.--The term `person' includes any \n governmental unit (and any agency or instrumentality thereof).\n ``(2) Special rules.--In the case of a governmental unit or \n any agency or instrumentality thereof--\n ``(A) subsection (a) shall be applied without \n regard to the trade or business requirement contained \n therein, and\n ``(B) any return required under subsection (a) \n shall be made by the officer or employee appropriately \n designated for the purpose of making such return.\n ``(d) Statements To Be Furnished to Individuals With Respect to \nWhom Information Is Required.--Every person required to make a return \nunder subsection (a) shall furnish to each individual whose name is \nrequired to be set forth in such return a written statement showing--\n ``(1) the name and address of the person required to make \n such return, and\n ``(2) the aggregate amount of interest described in \n subsection (a)(2) received by the person required to make such \n return from the individual to whom the statement is required to \n be furnished.\nThe written statement required under the preceding sentence shall be \nfurnished on or before January 31 of the year following the calendar \nyear for which the return under subsection (a) was required to be made.\n ``(e) Qualified Education Loan Defined.--For purposes of this \nsection, except as provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, \nthe term `qualified education loan' has the meaning given such term by \nsection 221(d)(1).\n ``(f) Returns Which Would Be Required To Be Made by 2 or More \nPersons.--Except to the extent provided in regulations prescribed by \nthe Secretary, in the case of interest received by any person on behalf \nof another person, only the person first receiving such interest shall \nbe required to make the return under subsection (a).''\n (2) Assessable penalties.--Section 6724(d) of such Code \n (relating to definitions) is amended--\n (A) by redesignating clauses (x) through (xv) as \n clauses (xi) through (xvi), respectively, in paragraph \n (1)(B) and by inserting after clause (ix) of such \n paragraph the following new clause:\n ``(x) section 6050S (relating to returns \n relating to education loan interest received in \n trade or business from individuals),'', and\n (B) by striking ``or'' at the end of the next to \n last subparagraph, by striking the period at the end of \n the last subparagraph and inserting ``, or'', and by \n adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(Z) section 6050R (relating to returns relating \n to education loan interest received in trade or \n business from individuals).''\n (d) Clerical Amendments.--\n (1) The table of sections for part VII of subchapter B of \n chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the last item and \n inserting the following new items:\n\n ``Sec. 221. Interest on education loans.\n ``Sec. 222. Cross reference.''\n (2) The table of sections for subpart B of part III of \n subchapter A of chapter 61 of such Code is amended by inserting \n after the item relating to section 6050R the following new \n item:\n\n ``Sec. 6050S. Returns relating to \n education loan interest \n received in trade or business \n from individuals.''\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to any qualified education loan (as defined in section 221(d)(1) \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by this section) \nincurred on, before, or after the date of the enactment of this Act, \nbut only with respect to any loan interest payment due after December \n31, 1996.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to with respect to the income exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance programs to: (1) make such exclusion permanent; and (2) include graduate school assistance. Provides an income-based deduction for interest on qualified education loans incurred on behalf of a taxpayer or spouse (excludes dependents). Sets forth reporting requirements for persons in the business of receiving interest from such loans.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance programs, to restore such exclusion for graduate level courses, and to allow a deduction for interest on education loans."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1377, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``United States Mariner and Vessel \nProtection Act of 2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSE.\n\n The purpose of the Act is to assist in the defense of United \nStates-flag vessels against piracy and to ensure the traditional right \nof self-defense of those vessels against piracy.\n\nSEC. 3. USE OF MARITIME SAFETY AND SECURITY TEAMS TO DEFEND UNITED \n STATES-FLAG VESSELS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS.\n\n Section 70106 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding \nat the end the following:\n ``(d) International Deployment.--\n ``(1) In general.--In addition to authorities provided \n under this section, the Commandant of the Coast Guard may \n deploy a maritime safety and security team on a temporary \n basis, not to exceed six months, to deter, protect against, and \n rapidly respond to acts of piracy against vessels (as defined \n in section 70122) in international waters.\n ``(2) Notification of congress.--The Commandant shall \n notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of \n the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, \n Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 10 \n days after the deployment of a maritime safety and security \n team authorized under this subsection.''.\n\nSEC. 4. AUTHORITY TO USE FORCE.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 701 of title 46, United States Code, is \namended by adding at the end the following new section:\n``Sec. 70122. Authority to use force\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall issue regulations \nestablishing standards and circumstances under which an individual is \nauthorized to use force (including lethal force) against an individual \nin the defense of a vessel against piracy.\n ``(b) Limitation on Liability.--\n ``(1) Liability of owners, operators and masters.--An \n owner, operator, time charterer, or master of vessel shall not \n be liable for damages in any action brought in a Federal or \n State court arising out of the use of force authorized under \n regulations under subsection (a), including the use of or \n failure to use a firearm so authorized.\n ``(2) Liability of an individual.--An individual shall not \n be liable for damages in any action brought in a Federal or \n State court arising out of use of force authorized under \n regulations under subsection (a) by that individual unless the \n individual is grossly negligent or engages in willful \n misconduct.\n ``(3) Liability of federal government.--For purposes of an \n action against the United States with respect to an act or \n omission arising out of a use of force authorized under \n regulations under subsection (a), an individual shall be \n treated as an employee of the Federal Government under chapter \n 171 of title 28, relating to tort claims procedure.\n ``(4) Limitation on application.--The limitations on \n liability described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) apply only \n if the individual who uses force authorized under regulations \n under subsection (a)--\n ``(A) holds a license issued under section 7101 or \n a merchant mariner document issued under section 7301; \n and\n ``(B) in a case in which the use of force included \n the use of a firearm, has completed training certified \n by the Coast Guard for use of firearms aboard vessels.\n ``(c) Vessel Defined.--For purposes of this section, the term \n`vessel' means a vessel for which the Secretary has issued a \ncertificate of inspection under section 3309 and that is operating in \nwaters designated by the Secretary as high-risk waters.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis at the beginning of such \nchapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:\n\n``70122. Authority to use force.''.\n (c) Deadlines.--The Secretary of the department in which the Coast \nGuard is operating shall--\n (1) no later than 3 months after the date of enactment of \n this Act, issue regulations under section 70122(a) of title 46, \n United States Code, as amended by this section; and\n (2) in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and no \n later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, \n issue regulations to certify, for purposes of section \n 70122(b)(4)(B) of such title, courses to train on a recurrent \n basis individuals who hold a license issued under section 7101 \n or a merchant mariner document issued under section 7301 in the \n use of firearms aboard vessels.\n\nSEC. 5. AGREEMENTS.\n\n To carry out the purpose of this Act, the Secretary of the \ndepartment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall work through the \nInternational Maritime Organization to establish agreements to promote \ncoordinated action among flag and port states to deter, protect \nagainst, and rapidly respond to acts of piracy against the vessels of, \nand in the waters under the jurisdiction of, those nations, and to \nensure limitations on liability similar to those established by section \n70122 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this Act.", "summary": "United States Mariner and Vessel Protection Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Coast Guard's Commandant to deploy a maritime safety and security team for up to six months to deter, protect against, and rapidly respond to acts of piracy against vessels in international waters.\n\nDirects the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue regulations establishing standards and circumstances under which an individual is authorized to use force (including lethal force) against an individual in the defense of a vessel against piracy.\n\nLimits the liability of the individuals, the federal government, and owners, operators, and masters of vessels in actions arising out of a use of force authorized under the regulations.\n\nDirects the Secretary to work through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to establish agreements to promote coordinated action among flag and port states to deter, protect against, and rapidly respond to acts of piracy against the vessels of, and in the waters under the jurisdiction of, those nations, and to ensure limitations on liability similar to those under this Act.", "title": "To amend title 46, United States Code, to assist in the defense of United States mariners and vessels against piracy, to ensure the traditional right of self-defense of those vessels against piracy, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1315, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of \n2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Establishing a nationally uniform baseline of \n protection from civil liability for persons who use automated \n external defibrillators (in this section referred to as \n ``AEDs'') in perceived medical emergencies, who own or hold \n other property interests in AEDs used in perceived medical \n emergencies, or who own, occupy, or manage premises in which an \n AED is used or from which an AED is taken for use in a \n perceived medical emergency will encourage the deployment of \n additional AEDs, which will ultimately save lives that would \n otherwise have been lost to cardiac arrest.\n (2) The current patchwork of State ``Good Samaritan'' laws \n provides incomplete, inconsistent, and, in some instances, \n inadequate protection for entities considering the acquisition \n or deployment of AEDs. In these circumstances, concerns about \n potential liability resulting from the good-faith acquisition \n and deployment of this life-saving technology are inhibiting \n its deployment.\n (3) Such concerns are especially acute for entities with \n operations or facilities in multiple States, yet such entities \n are also among those in which the widespread deployment of AEDs \n would be most beneficial.\n (4) A nationally uniform baseline of protection from civil \n liability is needed for persons who use AEDs in perceived \n medical emergencies, who own or hold other property interests \n in AEDs used in perceived medical emergencies, or who own, \n occupy, or manage premises in which an AED is used or from \n which an AED is taken for use in a perceived medical emergency.\n\nSEC. 3. LIABILITY REGARDING EMERGENCY USE OF AUTOMATED EXTERNAL \n DEFIBRILLATORS.\n\n Section 248 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 238q) is \namended to read as follows:\n\n``SEC. 248. LIABILITY REGARDING EMERGENCY USE OF AUTOMATED EXTERNAL \n DEFIBRILLATORS.\n\n ``(a) Good Samaritan Protections.--Except as provided in subsection \n(e), in the case of a person who--\n ``(1) uses or attempts to use an automated external \n defibrillator device on a victim of a perceived medical \n emergency, and\n ``(2) is not the owner-acquirer (as defined in subsection \n (c)(2)) of the device,\nsuch person is immune from civil liability for any harm resulting from \nthe use or attempted use of such device by such person.\n ``(b) Premises Owner/Lessee/Manager Protections.--Except as \nprovided in subsection (e), in the case of a person who--\n ``(1) owns, occupies under a lease or similar arrangement, \n or manages--\n ``(A) the premises at which an automated external \n defibrillator device is used or attempted to be used on \n a victim of a perceived medical emergency, or\n ``(B) the premises from which an automated external \n defibrillator device used or attempted to be used on a \n victim of a perceived medical emergency is taken for \n such use, and\n ``(2) is not the owner-acquirer of such device,\nsuch person is immune from civil liability for any harm resulting from \nsuch use or attempted use of such device.\n ``(c) Device Owner-Acquirer Protections.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (e), an \n owner-acquirer of an AED is immune from civil liability for any \n harm resulting from the use or attempted use of such device, \n unless the harm was proximately caused by the failure of the \n owner-acquirer to properly maintain the device according to the \n guidelines of the device manufacturer.\n ``(2) Owner-acquirer defined.--For purposes of this \n section, the term `owner-acquirer' means any person who owns or \n has otherwise acquired a possessory property interest in an AED \n that is used or attempted to be used on a victim of a perceived \n medical emergency.\n ``(d) Applicability of Immunity in Certain Circumstances.--The \nimmunity provided by subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section \nshall apply regardless of whether--\n ``(1) the AED that is used or attempted to be used is \n marked with or accompanied by cautionary signage;\n ``(2) the AED that is used or attempted to be used is \n registered with any government;\n ``(3) the person who used or attempted to use the AED saw, \n read, understood, complied with, or attempted to comply with \n any cautionary signage present;\n ``(4) the person who used or attempted to use the AED had \n received any training relating to the use of (a) AEDs in \n general or (b) the particular AED used or attempted to be used; \n or\n ``(5) the person who used or attempted to use the AED was \n assisted or supervised by any other person, including but not \n limited to a licensed physician.\n ``(e) Inapplicability of Immunity in Certain Circumstances.--\nNotwithstanding anything to the contrary in subsection (d) of this \nsection, immunity under subsection (a), (b), or (c)(1) does not apply \nto a person if--\n ``(1) such person's willful or criminal misconduct, gross \n negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant \n indifference to the rights or safety of the victim proximately \n caused the harm involved;\n ``(2) such person is a licensed or certified health \n professional who used the automated external defibrillator \n device while acting within the scope of the license or \n certification of the professional and within the scope of the \n employment or agency of the professional;\n ``(3) such person is a hospital, clinic, or other entity \n whose purpose is providing health care directly to patients, \n and the harm was caused by an employee or agent of the entity \n who used the device while acting within the scope of the \n employment or agency of the employee or agent; or\n ``(4) such person is an owner-acquirer of the device who \n leased the device to a health care entity (or who otherwise \n provided the device to such entity for compensation without \n selling the device to the entity), and the harm was caused by \n an employee or agent of the entity who used the device while \n acting within the scope of the employment or agency of the \n employee or agent.\n ``(f) Rules of Construction.--\n ``(1) In general.--The following apply with respect to this \n section:\n ``(A) This section does not establish any cause of \n action, or require that an automated external \n defibrillator device be placed at any building or other \n location. This section does not preempt any State law \n requiring that an automated external defibrillator be \n placed at any building or other location.\n ``(B) With respect to the class of persons for \n which this section provides immunity from civil \n liability, this section preempts the law of any State \n to the extent that the otherwise-applicable State law \n would allow for civil liability in any circumstance \n where this section would provide immunity from civil \n liability. This section does not preempt any State law \n providing immunity from civil liability in any \n circumstance for which this section would not provide \n such immunity.\n ``(C) This section does not waive any protection \n from liability for Federal officers or employees \n under--\n ``(i) section 233 of this title; or\n ``(ii) sections 1346(b), 2672, and 2679 of \n title 28, United States Code, or under \n alternative benefits provided by the United \n States where the availability of such benefits \n precludes a remedy under section 1346(b) of \n such title 28.\n ``(2) Civil actions under federal law.--\n ``(A) In general.--The applicability of subsections \n (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) includes applicability to \n any action for civil liability described in subsection \n (a), (b), or (c) that arises under Federal law.\n ``(B) Federal areas adopting state law.--If a \n geographic area is under Federal jurisdiction and is \n located within a State but out of the jurisdiction of \n the State, and if, pursuant to Federal law, the law of \n the State applies in such area regarding matters for \n which there is no applicable Federal law, then an \n action for civil liability described in subsection (a), \n (b), or (c) that in such area arises under the law of \n the State is subject to subsections (a) through (f) in \n lieu of any related State law that would apply in such \n area in the absence of this subparagraph.\n ``(g) Federal Jurisdiction.--\n ``(1) In any civil action arising under State law, the \n courts of the State involved have jurisdiction to apply the \n provisions of this section.\n ``(2) The actual, asserted, or potential application of any \n provision of this section in any civil action or as to any \n civil claim shall not establish the original jurisdiction of \n the Federal courts over such action or claim under section 1331 \n of title 28, United States Code.\n ``(h) Definitions.--\n ``(1) Perceived medical emergency.--For purposes of this \n section, the term `perceived medical emergency' means \n circumstances in which the behavior of an individual leads a \n reasonable person to believe that the individual is \n experiencing a life-threatening medical condition that requires \n an immediate medical response regarding the heart or other \n cardiopulmonary functioning of the individual.\n ``(2) Other definitions.--For purposes of this section:\n ``(A) The term `automated external defibrillator \n device' or `AED' means a defibrillator device that--\n ``(i) is commercially distributed in \n accordance with the Federal Food, Drug, and \n Cosmetic Act;\n ``(ii) is capable of recognizing the \n presence or absence of ventricular \n fibrillation, and is capable of determining \n without intervention by the user of the device \n whether defibrillation should be performed;\n ``(iii) upon determining that \n defibrillation should be performed, is able to \n deliver an electrical shock to an individual; \n and\n ``(iv) in the case of a defibrillator \n device that may be operated in either an \n automated or a manual mode, is set to operate \n in the automated mode.\n ``(B) The term `cautionary signage' means, with \n respect to an AED, any verbal or non-verbal markings or \n language purporting to limit use of the AED by members \n of the general public or to permit use of the AED only \n by persons with specific skills, qualifications, or \n training.\n ``(C)(i) The term `harm' includes physical, \n nonphysical, economic, and noneconomic losses.\n ``(ii) The term `economic loss' means any pecuniary \n loss resulting from harm (including the loss of \n earnings or other benefits related to employment, \n medical expense loss, replacement services loss, loss \n due to death, burial costs, and loss of business or \n employment opportunities) to the extent recovery for \n such loss is allowed under applicable State law.\n ``(iii) The term `noneconomic losses' means losses \n for physical and emotional pain, suffering, \n inconvenience, physical impairment, mental anguish, \n disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of \n society and companionship, loss of consortium (other \n than loss of domestic service), hedonic damages, injury \n to reputation and all other nonpecuniary losses of any \n kind or nature.''.", "summary": "Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2015 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to expand immunity from civil liability related to automated external defibrillator devices (AEDs), including by giving immunity to: (1) a person who owns, occupies, or manages the premises from which an AED is taken or at which an AED is used; and (2) the owner of an AED for any harm resulting from the use of the AED, unless the harm was caused by the failure of the owner to properly maintain the AED. This immunity applies regardless of whether: (1) the AED is marked with cautionary signage or registered with any government; or (2) the person who used the AED complied with signage, had received training on use of the AED, or was assisted or supervised, including by a licensed physician.", "title": "Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1442, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Jumpstarting Our Business Sector Act \nof 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. REDUCTION IN CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 11 of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:\n ``(b) Amount of Tax.--The amount of the tax imposed by subsection \n(a) shall be 0 percent of taxable income.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 55(b)(1)(B)(i) of such Code is amended by \n striking ``20 percent'' and inserting ``0 percent''.\n (2) Section 280C(c)(3)(B)(ii)(II) of such Code is amended \n by striking ``maximum rate of tax under section 11(b)(1)'' and \n inserting ``rate of tax under section 11(b)''.\n (3) Sections 860E(e)(2)(B), 860E(e)(6)(A)(ii), \n 860K(d)(2)(A)(ii), 860K(e)(1)(B)(ii), 1446(b)(2)(B), and \n 7874(e)(1)(B) of such Code are each amended by striking \n ``highest rate of tax specified in section 11(b)(1)'' and \n inserting ``rate of tax specified in section 11(b)''.\n (4) Section 904(b)(3)(D)(ii) of such Code is amended by \n striking ``(determined without regard to the last sentence of \n section 11(b)(1))''.\n (5) Section 962 of such Code is amended by striking \n subsection (c) and by redesignating subsection (d) as \n subsection (c).\n (6) Section 1201(a) of such Code is amended--\n (A) by striking ``35 percent (determined without \n regard to the last 2 sentences of section 11(b)(1))'' \n and inserting ``0 percent'', and\n (B) by striking ``35 percent'' in paragraph (2) and \n inserting ``0 percent''.\n (7) Section 1561(a) of such Code is amended--\n (A) by striking paragraph (1) and by redesignating \n paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (1), (2), \n and (3), respectively,\n (B) by striking ``The amounts specified in \n paragraph (1), the'' and inserting ``The'',\n (C) by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting \n ``paragraph (1)'',\n (D) by striking ``paragraph (3)'' both places it \n appears and inserting ``paragraph (2)'',\n (E) by striking ``paragraph (4)'' and inserting \n ``paragraph (3)'', and\n (F) by striking the fourth sentence.\n (8) Subsection (b) of section 1561 of such Code is amended \n to read as follows:\n ``(b) Certain Short Taxable Years.--If a corporation has a short \ntaxable year which does not include a December 31 and is a component \nmember of a controlled group of corporations with respect to such \ntaxable year, then for purposes of this subtitle, the amount to be used \nin computing the accumulated earnings credit under section 535(c) (2) \nand (3) of such corporation for such taxable year shall be the amount \nspecified in subsection (a)(1) divided by the number of corporations \nwhich are component members of such group on the last day of such \ntaxable year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, section 1563(b) \nshall be applied as if such last day were substituted for December \n31.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011.\n\nSEC. 3. ZERO PERCENT CAPITAL GAINS RATE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND \n CORPORATIONS.\n\n (a) Zero Percent Capital Gains Rate for Individuals.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 1(h) of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking \n subparagraph (C), by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) \n and subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively, and by amending \n subparagraph (B) to read as follows:\n ``(B) 0 percent of the adjusted net capital gain \n (or, if less, taxable income);''.\n (2) Alternative minimum tax.--Paragraph (3) of section \n 55(b) is amended by striking subparagraph (C), by redesignating \n subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (C), and by amending \n subparagraph (B) to read as follows:\n ``(B) 0 percent of the adjusted net capital gain \n (or, if less, taxable excess), plus''.\n (3) Repeal of sunset of reduction in capital gains rates \n for individuals.--Section 303 of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief \n Reconciliation Act of 2003 shall not apply to section 301 of \n such Act.\n (b) Zero Percent Capital Gains Rate for Corporations.--\n (1) In general.--Section 1201 of the Internal Revenue Code \n of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsection (b) as \n subsection (c), and by striking subsection (a) and inserting \n the following new subsections:\n ``(a) General Rule.--If for any taxable year a corporation has a \nnet capital gain, then, in lieu of the tax imposed by sections 11, 511, \n821(a) or (c), and 831(a), there is hereby imposed a tax (if such tax \nis less than the tax imposed by such sections) which shall consist of \nthe sum of--\n ``(1) a tax computed on the taxable income reduced by the \n amount of the net capital gain, at the rates and in the manner \n as if this subsection had not been enacted,\n ``(2) 0 percent of the adjusted net capital gain (or, if \n less, taxable income),\n ``(3) 25 percent of the excess (if any) of--\n ``(A) the unrecaptured section 1250 gain (or, if \n less, the net capital gain (determined without regard \n to subsection (b)(2)), over\n ``(B) the excess (if any) of--\n ``(i) the sum of the amount on which tax is \n determined under paragraph (1) plus the net \n capital gain, over\n ``(ii) taxable income, plus\n ``(4) 28 percent of the amount of taxable income in excess \n of the sum of the amounts on which tax is determined under the \n preceding paragraphs of this subsection.\n ``(b) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) In general.--The terms `adjusted net capital gain' \n and `unrecaptured section 1250 gain' shall have the respective \n meanings given such terms in section 1(h).\n ``(2) Dividends taxed at net capital gain.--Except as \n otherwise provided in this section, the term `net capital gain' \n has the meaning given such term in section 1(h)(11).''.\n (2) Alternative minimum tax.--Section 55(b) of such Code is \n amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(4) Maximum rate of tax on net capital gain of \n corporations.--The amount determined under paragraph (1)(B)(i) \n shall not exceed the sum of--\n ``(A) the amount determined under such paragraph \n computed at the rates and in the same manner as if this \n paragraph had not been enacted on the taxable excess \n reduced by the net capital gain, plus\n ``(B) the amount determined under section 1201.''.\n (3) Technical amendments.--\n (A) Section 1445(e)(1) of such Code is amended by \n striking ``35 percent (or, to the extent provided in \n regulations, 15 percent)'' and inserting ``0 percent''.\n (B) Section 1445(e)(2) of such Code is amended by \n striking ``35 percent'' and inserting ``0 percent''.\n (C) Section 7518(g)(6)(A) of such Code is amended \n by striking ``15 percent (34 percent in the case of a \n corporation)'' and inserting ``0 percent''.\n (D) Section 607(h)(6)(A) of the Merchant Marine \n Act, 1936 is amended by striking ``15 percent (34 \n percent in the case of a corporation)'' and inserting \n ``0 percent''.\n (c) Effective Date.--\n (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the \n amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years \n ending after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (2) Withholding.--The amendments made by subparagraphs (A) \n and (B) of subsection (b)(3) shall apply to dispositions and \n distributions after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF BONUS DEPRECIATION AND 100 PERCENT \n EXPENSING FOR CERTAIN BUSINESS ASSETS.\n\n (a) In General.--\n (1) Bonus depreciation.--Paragraph (2) of section 168(k) of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--\n (A) by striking ``January 1, 2014'' in subparagraph \n (A)(iv) and inserting ``January 1, 2015'', and\n (B) by striking ``January 1, 2013'' each place it \n appears and inserting ``January 1, 2014''.\n (2) 100 percent expensing.--Paragraph (5) of section 168(k) \n is amended to read as follows:\n ``(5) Temporary 100 percent bonus depreciation.--Paragraph \n (1)(A) shall be applied by substituting `100 percent' for `50 \n percent' in the case of property placed in service by the \n taxpayer after September 8, 2010, which would be qualified \n property if--\n ``(A) `January 1, 2013' were substituted for \n `January 1, 2014' each place it appears in paragraph \n (2),\n ``(B) `January 1, 2014' were substituted for \n `January 1, 2015' in clause (iv) of paragraph (2)(A), \n and\n ``(C) `September 8, 2010' were substituted for \n `December 31, 2007' each place it appears in paragraph \n (2).''.\n (3) Special rules relating to election to accelerate amt \n credit in lieu of bonus depreciation.--\n (A) Subclause (II) of section 168(k)(4)(D)(iii) of \n such Code is amended by striking ``January 1, 2013'' \n and inserting ``January 1, 2014''.\n (B) Clause (iv) of section 168(k)(4)(I) of such \n Code is amended--\n (i) by inserting after ``Act of 2010'', and\n (ii) by striking ``of such Act'' and \n inserting ``or section 2(a)(3)(A) of either \n such Act, respectively''.\n (4) Conforming amendments.--\n (A) The heading for subsection (k) of section 168 \n of such Code is amended by striking ``January 1, 2013'' \n and inserting ``January 1, 2014''.\n (B) The heading for clause (ii) of section \n 168(k)(2)(B) of such Code is amended by striking ``pre-\n january 1, 2013'' and inserting ``pre-january 1, \n 2014''.\n (C) Subparagraph (C) of section 168(n)(2) of such \n Code is amended by striking ``January 1, 2013'' and \n inserting ``January 1, 2014''.\n (D) Subparagraph (D) of section 1400L(b)(2) of such \n Code is amended by striking ``January 1, 2013'' and \n inserting ``January 1, 2014''.\n (E) Subparagraph (B) of section 1400N(d)(3) of such \n Code is amended by striking ``January 1, 2013'' and \n inserting ``January 1, 2014''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after December 31, 2011.", "summary": "Jumpstarting Our Business Sector Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) eliminate the corporate income tax and the tax on the capital gains of individuals and corporations; and (2) extend for one year the additional depreciation allowance for business and investment assets (bonus depreciation), the 100% expensing allowance for such assets, and the election to accelerate the alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit in lieu of bonus depreciation.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide individual and corporate income tax relief and to extend 100 percent bonus depreciation, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 463, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention \nAct of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. SPECIAL PACKAGING FOR LIQUID NICOTINE CONTAINERS.\n\n (a) Requirement.--Notwithstanding section 2(f)(2) of the Federal \nHazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261(f)(2)) and section 3(a)(5) of \nthe Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(5)), any nicotine \nprovided in a liquid nicotine container sold, offered for sale, \nmanufactured for sale, distributed in commerce, or imported into the \nUnited States shall be packaged in accordance with the standards \nprovided in section 1700.15 of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations, \nas determined through testing in accordance with the method described \nin section 1700.20 of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations, and any \nsubsequent changes to such sections adopted by the Commission.\n (b) Savings Clause.--\n (1) In general.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to \n limit or otherwise affect the authority of the Secretary of \n Health and Human Services to regulate, issue guidance, or take \n action regarding the manufacture, marketing, sale, \n distribution, importation, or packaging, including child-\n resistant packaging, of nicotine, liquid nicotine, liquid \n nicotine containers, electronic cigarettes, electronic nicotine \n delivery systems or other similar products that contain or \n dispense liquid nicotine, or any other nicotine-related \n products, including--\n (A) authority under the Federal Food, Drug, and \n Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) and the Family \n Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Public Law \n 111-31) and the amendments made by such Act; and\n (B) authority for the rulemaking entitled ``Deeming \n Tobacco Products to Be Subject to the Federal Food, \n Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as Amended by the Family \n Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act; regulations \n on the Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products and \n the Required Warning Statements for Tobacco Products'' \n (April 2014) (FDA-2014-N-0189), the rulemaking entitled \n ``Nicotine Exposure Warnings and Child-Resistant \n Packaging for Liquid Nicotine, Nicotine-Containing E-\n Liquid(s), and Other Tobacco Products'' (June 2015) \n (FDA-2015-N-1514), and subsequent actions by the \n Secretary regarding packaging of liquid nicotine \n containers.\n (2) Consultation.--If the Secretary of Health and Human \n Services adopts, maintains, enforces, or imposes or continues \n in effect any packaging requirement for liquid nicotine \n containers, including a child-resistant packaging requirement, \n the Secretary shall consult with the Commission, taking into \n consideration the expertise of the Commission in implementing \n and enforcing this Act and the Poison Prevention Packaging Act \n of 1970 (15 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.).\n (c) Applicability.--Notwithstanding section 3(a)(5) of the Consumer \nProduct Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(5)) and section 2(f)(2) of the \nFederal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261(f)(2)), the \nrequirement of subsection (a) shall be treated as a standard for the \nspecial packaging of a household substance established under section \n3(a) of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 (15 U.S.C. \n1472(a)).\n (d) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Consumer \n Product Safety Commission.\n (2) Liquid nicotine container.--\n (A) In general.--Notwithstanding section 2(f)(2) of \n the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. \n 1261(f)(2)) and section 3(a)(5) of the Consumer Product \n Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(5)), the term ``liquid \n nicotine container'' means a package (as defined in \n section 2 of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of \n 1970 (15 U.S.C. 1471))--\n (i) from which nicotine in a solution or \n other form is accessible through normal and \n foreseeable use by a consumer; and\n (ii) that is used to hold soluble nicotine \n in any concentration.\n (B) Exclusion.--The term ``liquid nicotine \n container'' does not include a sealed, pre-filled, and \n disposable container of nicotine in a solution or other \n form in which such container is inserted directly into \n an electronic cigarette, electronic nicotine delivery \n system, or other similar product, if the nicotine in \n the container is inaccessible through customary or \n reasonably foreseeable handling or use, including \n reasonably foreseeable ingestion or other contact by \n children.\n (3) Nicotine.--The term ``nicotine'' means any form of the \n chemical nicotine, including any salt or complex, regardless of \n whether the chemical is naturally or synthetically derived.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": ". Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill requires any nicotine provided in a liquid nicotine container sold, offered for sale, manufactured for sale, distributed in commerce, or imported into the United States to be packaged in accordance with the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC's) standards and testing procedures for special packaging that is difficult for children under five years of age to open or to obtain harmful contents from. The requirement must be treated as a standard for the special packaging of a household substance under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970. "Liquid nicotine container" is defined to: (1) include a package from which nicotine in a solution or other form is accessible through normal and foreseeable use by a consumer and that is used to hold soluble nicotine in any concentration; and (2) exclude a sealed, pre-filled, and disposable container of nicotine in a solution or other form in which such container is inserted directly into an electronic cigarette, electronic nicotine delivery system, or other similar product, if the nicotine in the container is inaccessible through customary or reasonably foreseeable handling or use, including reasonably foreseeable ingestion or other contact by children. The bill applies to any form of chemical nicotine, including any salt or complex, regardless of whether the chemical is naturally or synthetically derived. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must consult with the CPSC if HHS maintains, enforces, imposes, or continues in effect any packaging requirement for liquid nicotine containers, including a child-resistant packaging requirement. ", "title": "Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 291, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Theodore Roosevelt Wildlife Legacy \nAct of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. MISSION AND PURPOSES OF THE SYSTEM.\n\n (a) Mission.--The overall mission of the National Wildlife Refuge \nSystem (in this Act referred to as the ``System'') is to preserve a \nnetwork of lands and waters for the conservation and management of \nfish, wildlife, and plants of the United States for the benefit of \npresent and future generations.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the System are--\n (1) to conserve, manage, and where appropriate, restore \n fish and wildlife habitats so as to provide, in perpetuity, for \n the diversity of fish, wildlife, and plants and the ecological \n processes that sustain them;\n (2) to provide a diverse national network of lands and \n waters designed to conserve and manage, in perpetuity, fish, \n wildlife, and plants of the United States, and their habitats;\n (3) to conserve and manage migratory birds, endangered \n species, anadromous or interjurisdictional fish species, marine \n mammals, and other fish, wildlife, and plants; and\n (4) to fulfill international treaty obligations of the \n United States with respect to fish, wildlife, and plants, and \n their habitats.\n\nSEC. 3. PRIORITY USES.\n\n The priority public uses of the System are wildlife observation and \nphotography, hunting, fishing, and environmental education and \ninterpretation.\n\nSEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE SYSTEM.\n\n In administering the System, the Secretary of the Interior shall--\n (1) ensure that the mission and purposes of the System \n described in section 2 and the purposes of each refuge are \n carried out, except that if a conflict exists between the \n primary purpose of a National Wildlife Refuge and any purpose \n of the System, the conflict shall be resolved in a manner that \n first fulfills the primary purpose of the refuge, and, to the \n extent practicable, also achieves the purposes of the System;\n (2) ensure that opportunities for the uses described in \n section 3 receive priority attention in planning and management \n within the System, consistent with the mission and purposes of \n the System described in sections 2(a) and (b);\n (3) plan, propose, and direct expansion of the System--\n (A) to accomplish the mission and purposes of the \n System and the purposes of each National Wildlife \n Refuge; and\n (B) to contribute to the conservation of the \n ecosystems of the United States; and\n (4) inventory and monitor the status and trends of fish, \n wildlife, and plants in each National Wildlife Refuge.\n\nSEC. 5. COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES.\n\n (a) General Rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), effective \nbeginning on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of \nthis Act, the Secretary shall not initiate or permit a new use of a \nNational Wildlife Refuge or expand, renew, or extend an existing \nallowed use unless the Secretary determines that the use is compatible \nwith the primary purposes of the refuge and the mission and purposes of \nthe System specified in section 2 of this Act. Such determinations \nshall--\n (1) be made in writing, be based on the best available \n scientific information, and represent the best professional \n judgment of the refuge officer involved;\n (2) be made after an opportunity has been provided for the \n public to review and comment on the evaluations;\n (3) where appropriate, be made concurrently with the \n development of a conservation plan for the refuge under section \n 6; and\n (4) be reevaluated when conditions under which the use is \n permitted change significantly or when there is significant new \n information regarding the effects of the use, but not less \n frequently than every 10 years.\n (b) Prior Identification for New Acquisitions.--On lands added to \nthe System after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall \nidentify, prior to acquisition, existing compatible priority public \nuses (as described in section 3) that shall be permitted to continue on \nan interim basis pending completion of comprehensive planning.\n\nSEC. 6. REFUGE CONSERVATION PLANNING PROGRAM.\n\n (a) General Rule.--Except with respect to National Wildlife Refuge \nlands in Alaska (which shall be governed by the refuge planning \nprovision of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 \nU.S.C. 3101 et seq.)), the Secretary shall--\n (1) propose a comprehensive conservation plan for each \n refuge or ecologically related complex of refuges consistent \n with section 2 of this Act within 15 years after the date of \n enactment of this Act and revise such plans not less frequently \n than every 15 years thereafter;\n (2) develop and implement a process to ensure an \n opportunity for active public involvement in the preparation \n and revision of conservation plans; and\n (3) manage each refuge in a manner consistent with the \n conservation plan for the refuge.\n (b) New Refuges.--With respect to any refuge established after the \ndate of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a \nconservation plan for the refuge not later than 2 years after the \nSecretary has determined that sufficient land has been acquired to \nwarrant comprehensive planning.", "summary": "Theodore Roosevelt Wildlife Legacy Act of 1997 - Declares the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System to be to preserve a network of lands and waters for the conservation and management of U.S. fish, wildlife, and plants for present and future generations. \nEstablishes as the System's priority public uses: (1) wildlife observation and photography; (2) hunting; (3) fishing; and (4) environmental education and interpretation. \nDirects the Secretary of the Interior, in administering the System, to: (1) resolve any conflict between the primary purpose of a National Wildlife Refuge and any purpose of the System in a manner that first fulfills the primary purpose of the refuge; (2) plan, propose, and direct System expansion to accomplish the mission and purposes of the System and of each refuge and to contribute to the conservation of U.S. ecosystems; and (3) inventory and monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife, and plants in each refuge. \nProhibits the Secretary, effective three years after enactment of this Act, from initiating or permitting a new use of a refuge or an expansion of an existing allowed use unless such use is compatible with the primary purposes of the refuge and the mission and purposes of the System. \nDirects the Secretary to: (1) propose within 15 years and revise every 15 years comprehensive conservation plans for each refuge in the System, except refuges in Alaska; (2) develop and implement a process to ensure an opportunity for active public involvement in the preparation and revision of such plans; (3) manage each refuge in a manner consistent with its conservation plan; and (4) prepare a conservation plan for a refuge established after enactment of this Act not later than two years after the Secretary determines that sufficient land has been acquired to warrant comprehensive planning.", "title": "Theodore Roosevelt Wildlife Legacy Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1877, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Hurricane Research \nInitiative Act of 2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of \n the National Science Foundation.\n (2) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means \n the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department \n of Commerce.\n\nSEC. 3. NATIONAL HURRICANE RESEARCH INITIATIVE.\n\n (a) Requirement to Establish.--The Under Secretary and the Director \nshall establish an initiative known as the National Hurricane Research \nInitiative for the purposes described in subsection (b).\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the National Hurricane Research \nInitiative shall be to set research objectives based on the findings of \nthe September 29, 2006, National Science Board report entitled \n``Hurricane Warning: The Critical Need for National Hurricane \nInitiative''--\n (1) to make recommendations to the National Science Board \n based on such research;\n (2) to assemble the expertise of the science and \n engineering capabilities of the United States through a multi-\n agency effort that is focused on--\n (A) improving a better understanding of hurricane \n prediction, intensity, and mitigation on coastal \n populations;\n (B) infrastructure; and\n (C) the natural environment; and\n (3) to make grants to eligible entities to carry out \n research in the following areas:\n (A) Predicting hurricane intensification.--Research \n to improve understanding of--\n (i) rapid intensity change in storms, \n relationships among storm size, motion and \n intensity;\n (ii) the internal dynamics of hurricanes; \n and\n (iii) the manner in which hurricanes \n interact with the environment.\n (B) Understanding air-sea interactions.--Research \n to improve understanding of theories of air-sea \n interaction that are common to the strong wind and high \n wave conditions associated with hurricanes, and cases \n in which the air-sea interface beneath hurricanes \n vanishes and is replaced by an emulsion, including \n theoretical theories, observational theories, and \n modeling.\n (C) Predicting storm surge, rainfall, and inland \n flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms.--Research \n to understand and model rainfall and flooding from \n hurricanes, including probabilistic modeling and \n mapping of storm surge risk.\n (D) Hurricane modification.--Basic research for \n modifying hurricanes to reduce the intensity or alter \n the movement of hurricanes by human intervention, \n including research to improve understanding of the \n potential effects of hurricane modification on \n precipitation and fresh water supply, as well as on \n climate.\n (E) Improved observation of hurricanes and tropical \n storms.--Research to improve hurricane and tropical \n storm observation through mobile radars, Global \n Positioning System technology, unmanned aerial \n vehicles, and ground-based and aerial wireless sensors \n to improve understanding of the complex nature of \n storms.\n (F) Assessing vulnerable infrastructure.--Research \n to develop a national engineering assessment of coastal \n infrastructure, including infrastructure related to \n levees, seawalls, drainage systems, bridges, water and \n sewage utilities, power, and communications, to \n determine the level of vulnerability of such \n infrastructure to damage from a hurricane.\n (G) Interaction of hurricanes with engineered \n structures.--Research to improve understanding of the \n impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms on buildings, \n structures, and housing combined with modeling \n essential for guiding the creation of improved building \n designs and construction codes in locations \n particularly vulnerable to hurricanes.\n (H) Relationship between hurricanes, climate, and \n natural ecosystems.--Research to improve the \n understanding of the complex relationships between \n hurricanes and climate, including research to determine \n the most effective methods to use observational \n information to examine the impacts on ecosystems over \n long- and short-periods of time.\n (I) Technologies for disaster response and \n recovery.--Research to improve emergency communication \n networks for government agencies and non-government \n entities and to improve communications between such \n networks during disaster response and recovery, \n including cyber-security during disaster situations and \n the ability to improve damage assessments during \n storms.\n (J) Evacuation planning.--Research to improve the \n manner in which hurricane-related information is \n provided to, and utilized by, the public and government \n officials, including research to assist officials of \n State or local government in determining the \n circumstances in which evacuations are required and in \n carrying out such evacuations.\n (K) Computational capability.--Research to improve \n understanding of the efficient utility of multiple \n models requiring sharing and inter-operability of \n databases, computing environments, networks, \n visualization tools, and analytic systems beyond what \n is currently available for transitioning hurricane \n research assets into operational practice and to \n provide access to robust computational facilities \n beyond the facilities normally accessible by the \n civilian research community for the hurricane research \n enterprise, including data acquisition and modeling \n capability during hurricane events.\n (c) Cooperation With Other Agencies.--The Under Secretary and the \nDirector shall cooperate with the head of each appropriate Federal \nagency or department, research institute, university, and disaster-\nresponse or nongovernmental organization to utilize the expertise and \ncapabilities of such entity to carry out the purposes of the National \nHurricane Research Initiative, including cooperation with the heads of \nthe following entities:\n (1) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.\n (2) The National Institute of Standards and Technology.\n (3) The Department of Homeland Security, including the \n Federal Emergency Management Agency.\n (4) The Department of Energy.\n (5) The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency.\n (6) The Environmental Protection Agency.\n (7) The United States Geological Survey.\n (8) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.\n (d) Coordination.--The White House Office of Science and Technology \nPolicy, through the National Science and Technology Council, shall \ncoordinate the activities carried out by the United States related to \nthe National Hurricane Research Initiative as a formal program with a \nwell defined organizational structure and execution plan.\n (e) Grants.--\n (1) Authority.--The Under Secretary and the Director may \n award grants to appropriate government agencies or departments \n or nongovernmental entities to carry out the purposes described \n in subsection (b).\n (2) Best practices.--The Under Secretary and the Director \n shall develop and make available to the public a description of \n best practices to be used to carry out a project with a grant \n awarded under this subsection.\n (f) Research Seminars and Forums.--The Under Secretary and the \nDirector shall carry out a series of national seminars and forums that \nassemble a broad collection of scientific disciplines to direct \nresearchers to work collaboratively to carry out the purposes described \nin subsection (b).\n (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated $285,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through \n2018 to carry out this section.\n\nSEC. 4. NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE DATABASE.\n\n (a) Requirement to Establish.--The Under Secretary and the Director \nshall establish a National Infrastructure Database for the purposes \nof--\n (1) cataloging and characterizing the physical, social, and \n natural infrastructure in order to provide a baseline for \n developing standards, measuring modification, and determining \n loss;\n (2) providing information to Federal, State, and local \n government officials to improve information public policy \n related to hurricanes and tropical storms; and\n (3) providing data to researchers to improve their ability \n to measure hurricane impacts, separate such impacts from other \n effects, both natural and anthropogenic, make effective \n recommendations for improved building codes and urban planning \n practices, and develop effective procedures for responding to \n infrastructure disruption.\n (b) Database Requirements.--The National Infrastructure Database \nshall be a virtual, cyber environment that uses existing capabilities \nand facilities, and establishes new capabilities and facilities, as \nappropriate, to provide an interoperable environment and the necessary \nmetadata and other resources needed by users of that Database.\n (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2018 \nto carry out this section.\n\nSEC. 5. NATIONAL HURRICANE RESEARCH MODEL.\n\n (a) Requirement to Establish.--The Under Secretary and the Director \nshall develop a National Hurricane Research Model to conduct \nintegrative research and to facilitate the transfer of research \nknowledge to operational applications, including linking relevant \ntheoretical, physical, and computational models from atmospheric, \noceanic, economic, sociological, engineered infrastructure, and \necologic fields, conducting experimental research to understand the \nextensive complexities of hurricanes, and obtaining measurable results \nin a comprehensive framework suitable for testing end-to-end \nintegrative systems.\n (b) System Requirements.--The National Hurricane Research Model \nshall be a physically distributed and highly coordinated working \nenvironment in which research from the National Hurricane Research can \nbe experimentally substantiated using suitable quantitative metrics, \nand where a culture of interaction and collaboration can further be \npromoted, including in the areas of--\n (1) facilities and cyberinfrastructure;\n (2) software integration; and\n (3) fixed mobile data collection platforms and data \n provisioning systems.\n (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated $130,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through \n2018 to carry out this section.", "summary": "National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2006 - Requires the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce and the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a National Hurricane Research Initiative and to cooperate with other specified federal agencies to carry it out.\n\nRequires such Initiative to set research objectives (based on a National Science Board report on the need for such Initiative) to: (1) make recommendations to the Board; (2) assemble the expertise of U.S. science and engineering capabilities through a multi-agency effort focused on infrastructure, the natural environment, and improving understanding of hurricane prediction, intensity, and mitigation on coastal populations; and (3) make grants for hurricane research, including regarding hurricane dynamics, modification, and observation, air-sea interaction, relationships between hurricanes and climate, predicting flooding and storm surge, coastal infrastructure, building construction, emergency communication networks, information utilization by public officials, and sharing computational capability.\n\nDirects the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, through the National Science and Technology Council, to coordinate U.S. activities related to the Initiative as a formal program with a well-defined organizational structure and execution plan.\n\nDirects the Under Secretary and the Director to: (1) establish a National Infrastructure Database to catalog infrastructure, provide information to improve information public policy related to hurricanes, and provide data to improve researchers' abilities to measure hurricane impacts in order to improve building codes and urban planning; and (2) develop a National Hurricane Research Model to conduct integrative research and facilitate the transfer of research knowledge to operational applications.", "title": "A bill to establish the National Hurricane Research Initiative to improve hurricane preparedness, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1538, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Secure Miles with All Resources and \nTechnology Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means the \n Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.\n (2) High traffic areas.--The term ``high traffic areas'' \n has the meaning given the term in section 102(e)(1) of the \n Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of \n 1996, as amended by section 102 of this Act.\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Homeland Security.\n (4) Situational awareness.--The term ``situational \n awareness'' has the meaning given the term in section \n 1092(a)(7) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal \n Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328).\n\n TITLE I--INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT\n\nSEC. 101. STRENGTHENING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BORDER SECURITY TECHNOLOGY \n ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER.\n\n Section 102 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant \nResponsibility Act of 1996 (Division C of Public Law 104-208; 8 U.S.C. \n1103 note) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) by inserting ``and border technology'' before \n ``in the vicinity of''; and\n (B) by striking ``illegal crossings in areas of \n high illegal entry into the United Sates'' and \n inserting ``, impede, and detect illegal activity in \n high traffic areas'';\n (2) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ``and, pursuant to \n subsection (d), the installation, operation, and maintenance of \n technology'' after ``barriers and roads''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:\n ``(d) Installation, Operation, and Maintenance of Technology.--\n ``(1) In general.--Not later than January 20, 2021, the \n Secretary of Homeland Security, in carrying out subsection (a), \n shall deploy the most practical and effective technology \n available along the United States border for achieving \n situational awareness and operational control of the border.\n ``(2) Technology defined.--In this subparagraph, the term \n `technology' includes border surveillance and detection \n technology, including--\n ``(A) radar surveillance systems;\n ``(B) Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radars \n (VADER);\n ``(C) 3-dimensional, seismic acoustic detection and \n ranging border tunneling detection technology;\n ``(D) sensors;\n ``(E) unmanned cameras;\n ``(F) man-portable and mobile vehicle-mounted \n unmanned aerial vehicles; and\n ``(G) any other devices, tools, or systems found to \n be more effective or advanced than those specified in \n subparagraphs (A) through (F).\n ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) High traffic areas.--The term `high traffic areas' \n means sectors along the northern, southern, or coastal border \n that--\n ``(A) are within the responsibility of U.S. Customs \n and Border Protection; and\n ``(B) have significant unlawful cross-border \n activity.\n ``(2) Situational awareness defined.--The term `situational \n awareness' has the meaning given the term in section 1092(a)(7) \n of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 \n (Public Law 114-328).''.\n\nSEC. 102. COMPREHENSIVE SOUTHERN BORDER STRATEGY.\n\n (a) Comprehensive Strategy.--\n (1) Requirement.--Not later than 12 months after the date \n of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the \n Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives \n and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs \n of the Senate a comprehensive Southern border strategy.\n (2) Contents.--The strategy submitted under paragraph (1) \n shall include--\n (A) a list of known physical barriers, \n technologies, tools, and other devices that can be used \n to achieve and maintain situational awareness and \n operational control (as such term is defined in section \n 2(b) of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (8 U.S.C. 1701 \n note; Public Law 109-367)) along the southern border;\n (B) a projected per mile cost estimate for each \n physical barrier, technology, tool, and other device \n included on the list required under paragraph (1);\n (C) a detailed account of which type of physical \n barrier, technology, tool, or other device the \n Department believes is necessary to achieve and \n maintain situational awareness and operational control \n for each liner mile of the southern border;\n (D) an explanation for why such physical barrier, \n technology, tool, or other device was chosen to achieve \n and maintain situational awareness and operational \n control for each linear mile of the southern border, \n including--\n (i) the methodology used to determine which \n type of physical barrier, technology, tool, or \n other device was chosen for such linear mile;\n (ii) an examination of existing manmade and \n natural barriers for each linear mile of the \n southern border; and\n (iii) the information collected and \n evaluated from--\n (I) the appropriate U.S. Customs \n and Border Protection Sector Chief;\n (II) the Joint Task Force \n Commander;\n (III) the appropriate State \n Governor;\n (IV) local law enforcement \n officials;\n (V) private property owners; and\n (VI) other affected stakeholders;\n (E) a per mile cost calculation for each linear \n mile of the southern border given the type of physical \n barrier, technology, tool, or other device chosen to \n achieve and maintain operational control for each \n linear mile; and\n (F) a cost justification for each time a more \n expensive physical barrier, technology, tool, or other \n device is chosen over a less expensive option, as \n established by the per mile cost estimates required in \n subparagraph (B).\n\nSEC. 103. ERADICATION OF CARRIZO CANE AND SALT CEDAR.\n\n Not later than January 20, 2019, the Secretary, after coordinating \nwith the heads of relevant Federal, State, and local agencies, shall \nbegin eradicating the carrizo cane plant and any salt cedar along the \nRio Grande River.\n\n TITLE II--GRANTS\n\nSEC. 201. OPERATION STONEGARDEN.\n\n (a) In General.--Subtitle A of title XX of the Homeland Security \nAct of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new section:\n\n``SEC. 2009. OPERATION STONEGARDEN.\n\n ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department a \nprogram, which shall be known as `Operation Stonegarden', under which \nthe Secretary, acting through the Administrator, shall make grants to \neligible law enforcement agencies, through the State administrative \nagency, to enhance border security in accordance with this section.\n ``(b) Eligible Recipients.--To be eligible to receive a grant under \nthis section, a law enforcement agency--\n ``(1) shall be located in--\n ``(A) a State bordering Canada or Mexico; or\n ``(B) a State or territory with a maritime border; \n and\n ``(2) shall be involved in an active, ongoing, U.S. Customs \n and Border Protection operation coordinated through a sector \n office.\n ``(c) Permitted Uses.--The recipient of a grant under this section \nmay use such grant for--\n ``(1) equipment, including maintenance and sustainment \n costs;\n ``(2) personnel, including overtime and backfill, in \n support of enhanced border law enforcement activities;\n ``(3) any activity permitted for Operation Stonegarden \n under the Department of Homeland Security's Fiscal Year 2017 \n Homeland Security Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity; \n and\n ``(4) any other appropriate activity, as determined by the \n Administrator, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. \n Customs and Border Protection.\n ``(d) Period of Performance.--The Secretary shall award grants \nunder this section to grant recipients for a period of not less than 36 \nmonths.\n ``(e) Report.--For each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2022, the \nAdministrator shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and \nGovernmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland \nSecurity of the House of Representatives a report that contains \ninformation on the expenditure of grants made under this section by \neach grant recipient.\n ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated $110,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022 \nfor grants under this section.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (a) of section 2002 of the \nHomeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 603) is amended to read as \nfollows:\n ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary, through the Administrator, \nmay award grants under sections 2003, 2004, and 2009 to State, local, \nand tribal governments, as appropriate.''.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of \nthe Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the \nitem relating to section 2008 the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 2009. Operation Stonegarden.''.\n\nSEC. 202. SOUTHERN BORDER REGION EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS GRANT.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Governors \nof the States located on the southern border, shall establish a two-\nyear grant program to improve emergency communications in the southern \nborder region.\n (b) Eligibility for Grants.--An individual is eligible for a grant \nunder this section if the individual demonstrates that the individual--\n (1) regularly resides or works in a State on the southern \n border; and\n (2) is at greater risk of border violence due to a lack of \n cellular and LTE network service at the individual's residence \n or business and the individual's proximity to the southern \n border.\n (c) Use of Grants.--Grants awarded under this section may be used \nto purchase satellite telephone communications systems and services \nthat--\n (1) can provide access to 9-1-1 service; and\n (2) are equipped with receivers for the Global Positioning \n System.", "summary": "Secure Miles with All Resources and Technology Act This bill amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deploy the most practical and effective technology available (such as radar, tunnel detection technology, unmanned aerial vehicles, and sensors) to achieve situational awareness and operational control along the U.S. border. DHS shall submit to Congress a comprehensive southern border strategy, which shall include: (1) a list of known physical barriers, technologies, tools, and other devices to achieve situational awareness and operational control of the border and their related cost estimates; and (2) information from federal, state, local, and private sources. DHS shall begin eradicating the carrizo cane plant and salt cedar along the Rio Grande River. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended to establish Operation Stonegarden in DHS to provide border security grants to law enforcement agencies: (1) in a state bordering Canada or Mexico or a maritime border state or territory, and (2) involved in an ongoing U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation coordinated through a sector office. DHS shall establish a two-year grant program to improve emergency communications in the southern border region for individuals who: (1) reside or work in a southern border state, and (2) are at greater risk of violence due to border proximity and a lack of residential or business cellular and LTE network service. Such grants may be used to purchase satellite telephone communications systems and services that provide access to 9-1-1 service and that are equipped with Global Positioning System receivers.", "title": "Secure Miles with All Resources and Technology Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1042, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Provide for the \nCommon Defense Act of 2013''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\n TITLE I--ELIMINATION OF SEQUESTRATION FOR REVISED SECURITY CATEGORY\n\nSec. 101. Elimination of 251A reductions for revised security category \n in fiscal years 2014 and 2015.\n TITLE II--OFFSETTING PAYMENT CHANGES\n\n Subtitle A--Medicare\n\nSec. 201. Adjustments to calculation of Medicare part B and part D \n premiums for high-income beneficiaries.\nSec. 202. Increase in part B deductible for new enrollees.\n Subtitle B--Agriculture\n\nSec. 211. Cap on overall rate of return for crop insurance providers.\nSec. 212. Cap on reimbursements for administrative and operating \n expenses of crop insurance providers.\nSec. 213. Reduction in share of crop insurance premium paid by Federal \n Crop Insurance Corporation.\n Subtitle C--Federal Retirement\n\nSec. 221. Retirement contributions.\nSec. 222. Annuity supplement.\nSec. 223. Use of Chained Consumer Price Index.\n Subtitle D--Chained CPI\n\nSec. 231. Change in index used to calculate Social Security cost-of-\n living adjustments.\n\n TITLE I--ELIMINATION OF SEQUESTRATION FOR REVISED SECURITY CATEGORY\n\nSEC. 101. ELIMINATION OF 251A REDUCTIONS FOR REVISED SECURITY CATEGORY \n IN FISCAL YEARS 2014 AND 2015.\n\n (a) Elimination of the Adjustment Under Section 251A for Fiscal \nYears 2014 and 2015.--Section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency \nDeficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901a) is amended--\n (1) in paragraphs (7)(B) and (8), by striking ``On the \n date'' in each instance and inserting ``Subject to paragraph \n (12), on the date''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(12) No reductions for revised security category in \n fiscal years 2014 and 2015.--Paragraphs (7)(B) and (8) shall \n have no force or effect for fiscal years 2014 and 2015 with \n respect to the revised security category.''.\n (b) Discretionary Spending Limits for the Revised Security Category \nin Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015.--For purposes of section 251(c) of the \nBalanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (as modified \nby section 251A(2) of such Act), for fiscal years 2014 and 2015, the \ndiscretionary spending limit for the revised security category in each \nsuch fiscal year shall be $552,000,000,000 and $566,000,000,000, \nrespectively.\n\n TITLE II--OFFSETTING PAYMENT CHANGES\n\n Subtitle A--Medicare\n\nSEC. 201. ADJUSTMENTS TO CALCULATION OF MEDICARE PART B AND PART D \n PREMIUMS FOR HIGH-INCOME BENEFICIARIES.\n\n (a) Increase in Applicable Percentage Used To Calculate Premiums.--\nSection 1839(i)(3)(C)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n1395r(i)(3)(C)(i)) is amended--\n (1) by inserting after ``In general.--'' the following:\n ``(I) Years before 2017.--For \n calendar years prior to 2017:''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subclause:\n ``(II) 2017 and subsequent years.--For \n calendar year 2017 and each subsequent calendar \n year:\n\n``If the modified adjusted The applicable\n gross income is: percentage is:\n More than $85,000 but not more than $107,000........... 40 \n More than $107,000 but not more than $160,000.......... 55 \n More than $160,000 but not more than $214,000.......... 70 \n More than $214,000..................................... 90.''.\n (b) Temporary Adjustment to Income Thresholds Used To Calculate \nPremiums.--\n (1) In general.--Section 1839(i)(6) of the Social Security \n Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r(i)(6)) is amended in the matter preceding \n subparagraph (A) by striking ``December 31, 2019'' and \n inserting ``December 31 of the year after 2019 that is the \n first year after the year in which at least 25 percent of \n individuals enrolled under this part are subject to a reduction \n under this subsection to the monthly amount of the premium \n subsidy applicable to the premium under this section.''.\n (2) Application of inflation adjustment.--Section \n 1839(i)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r(i)(5)) \n is amended--\n (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``In the \n case'' and inserting ``Subject to subparagraph (C), in \n the case''; and\n (B) by adding at the end the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(C) Treatment of years after temporary adjustment \n period.--In applying subparagraph (A) for the first \n year beginning after the period described in paragraph \n (6) and for each subsequent year, the 12-month period \n ending with August 2006 described in clause (ii) of \n such subparagraph shall be deemed to be the 12-month \n period ending with August of the last year of such \n period described in paragraph (6).''.\n\nSEC. 202. INCREASE IN PART B DEDUCTIBLE FOR NEW ENROLLEES.\n\n Section 1833 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l) is \namended--\n (1) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by inserting \n ``(subject to subsection (z))'' after ``for a subsequent \n year''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(z) Higher Deductible for New Enrollees.--In the case of an \nindividual who is not enrolled under this part before January 1, 2017, \nthe amount of the deductible under subsection (b)--\n ``(1) for 2017 shall be the amount otherwise determined \n under such subsection for 2017 increased by $25;\n ``(2) for 2018 shall be the amount otherwise determined \n under such subsection for 2018, taking into account the \n application of the previous paragraph;\n ``(3) for 2019 shall be the amount otherwise determined \n under such subsection for 2019, taking into the application of \n the previous paragraphs, , increased by $25;\n ``(4) for 2020 shall be the amount otherwise determined \n under such subsection for 2020, taking into account the \n application of the previous paragraphs, increased by $25;\n ``(5) for 2021 shall be the amount otherwise determined \n under such subsection for 2021, taking into account the \n application of the previous paragraphs, increased by $25; and\n ``(6) for any subsequent year shall be the amount otherwise \n determined under such subsection for such year, taking into \n account the application of the previous paragraphs and this \n paragraph for previous years.''.\n\n Subtitle B--Agriculture\n\nSEC. 211. CAP ON OVERALL RATE OF RETURN FOR CROP INSURANCE PROVIDERS.\n\n Section 508(k) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(k)) \nis amended--\n (1) by designating paragraph (3) as subparagraph (A) (and \n adjusting the margin two ems to the right);\n (2) by inserting before subparagraph (A) (as so designated) \n the following:\n ``(3) Risk.--''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(B) Cap on overall rate of return.--The target \n rate of return for all the companies combined for the \n 2014 and subsequent reinsurance years shall be 12.8 \n percent of retained premium.''.\n\nSEC. 212. CAP ON REIMBURSEMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATING \n EXPENSES OF CROP INSURANCE PROVIDERS.\n\n Section 508(k)(4) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. \n1508(k)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubparagraph:\n ``(G) Additional cap on reimbursements.--\n Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) through (F), total \n reimbursements for administrative and operating costs \n for the 2014 insurance year for all types of policies \n and plans of insurance shall not exceed $935,000,000. \n For each subsequent insurance year, the dollar amount \n in effect pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be \n increased by the same inflation factor as established \n for the administrative and operating costs cap in the \n 2011 Standard Reinsurance Agreement.''.\n\nSEC. 213. REDUCTION IN SHARE OF CROP INSURANCE PREMIUM PAID BY FEDERAL \n CROP INSURANCE CORPORATION.\n\n (a) Catastrophic Risk Protection.--Section 508(d)(2)(A) of the \nFederal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(d)(2)(A)) is amended by \nstriking ``sufficient to cover anticipated losses and a reasonable \nreserve'' and inserting ``for all crops for which catastrophic risk \nprotection coverage is available shall be reduced by the percentage \nequal to the difference between the average loss ratio for such crop \nand 100 percent, plus a reasonable reserve''.\n (b) Additional Coverage.--Section 508(e)(2) of the Federal Crop \nInsurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(e)(2)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``67'' and \n inserting ``64'';\n (2) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``64'' and \n inserting ``61'';\n (3) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking ``59'' and \n inserting ``56''; and\n (4) in subparagraph (E)(i), by striking ``55'' and \n inserting ``52''.\n (c) Enterprise and Whole Farm Units.--Section 508(e)(5)(C) of the \nFederal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(e)(5)(C)) is amended by \nstriking ``80'' and inserting ``77''.\n (d) Area Revenue Plans.--Section 508(e)(6) of the Federal Crop \nInsurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(e)(6)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``59'' and \n inserting ``56''; and\n (2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``55'' and \n inserting ``52''.\n (e) Area Yield Plans.--Section 508(e)(7) of the Federal Crop \nInsurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``59'' and \n inserting ``56'';\n (2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``55'' and \n inserting ``52''; and\n (3) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``51'' and \n inserting ``48''.\n (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply with respect to the first contract change date for a contract \nunder the Federal Crop Insurance Act occurring after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.\n\n Subtitle C--Federal Retirement\n\nSEC. 221. RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS.\n\n (a) Civil Service Retirement System.--\n (1) Individual contributions.--Section 8334(c) of title 5, \n United States Code, is amended--\n (A) by striking ``(c) Each'' and inserting ``(c)(1) \n Each''; and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, the \napplicable percentage of basic pay under this subsection for civilian \nservice by an employee or Member shall, for purposes of computing an \namount--\n ``(A) for a period in calendar year 2014, be equal to the \n applicable percentage under this subsection for calendar year \n 2013 plus an additional 0.4 percentage point;\n ``(B) for a period in calendar year 2015, be equal to the \n applicable percentage under this subsection for calendar year \n 2014 (as determined under subparagraph (A)) plus an additional \n 0.4 percentage point;\n ``(C) for a period in calendar year 2016, be equal to the \n applicable percentage under this subsection for calendar year \n 2015 (as determined under subparagraph (B)) plus an additional \n 0.4 percentage point; and\n ``(D) for a period in any calendar year after 2016, be \n equal to the applicable percentage under this subsection for \n calendar year 2015 (as determined under subparagraph (C)).\n ``(3)(A) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(2), any excess \ncontributions under subsection (a)(1)(A) (including the portion of any \ndeposit under this subsection allocable to excess contributions) shall, \nif made by an employee of the United States Postal Service or the \nPostal Regulatory Commission, be deposited to the credit of the Postal \nService Fund under section 2003 of title 39, rather than the Civil \nService Retirement and Disability Fund.\n ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `excess \ncontributions', as used with respect to contributions made under \nsubsection (a)(1)(A) by an employee of the United States Postal Service \nor the Postal Regulatory Commission, means the amount by which--\n ``(i) deductions from basic pay of such employee which are \n made under subsection (a)(1)(A), exceed\n ``(ii) deductions from basic pay of such employee which \n would have been so made if paragraph (2) had not been \n enacted.''.\n (2) Government contributions.--Section 8334(a)(1)(B) of \n title 5, United States Code, is amended--\n (A) in clause (i), by striking ``Except as provided \n in clause (ii),'' and inserting ``Except as provided in \n clause (ii) or (iii),''; and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(iii) The amount to be contributed under clause (i) shall, with \nrespect to a period in any year beginning after December 31, 2013, be \nequal to--\n ``(I) the amount which would otherwise apply under clause \n (i) with respect to such period, reduced by\n ``(II) the amount by which, with respect to such period, \n the withholding under subparagraph (A) exceeds the amount which \n would otherwise have been withheld from the basic pay of the \n employee or elected official involved under subparagraph (A) \n based on the percentage applicable under subsection (c) for \n calendar year 2013.''.\n (b) Individual Contributions Under the Federal Employees' \nRetirement System.--Section 8422(a)(3) of title 5, United States Code, \nis amended--\n (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); \n and\n (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:\n ``(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, the \napplicable percentage under this paragraph for civilian service by \nemployees or Members other than revised annuity employees shall--\n ``(i) for a period in calendar year 2014, be equal to the \n applicable percentage under this paragraph for calendar year \n 2013 plus an additional 0.4 percentage point;\n ``(ii) for a period in calendar year 2015, be equal to the \n applicable percentage under this paragraph for calendar year \n 2014 (as determined under clause (i)) plus an additional 0.4 \n percentage point;\n ``(iii) for a period in calendar year 2016, be equal to the \n applicable percentage under this paragraph for calendar year \n 2015 (as determined under clause (ii)) plus an additional 0.4 \n percentage point; and\n ``(iv) for a period in any calendar year after 2016, be \n equal to the applicable percentage under this paragraph for \n calendar year 2016 (as determined under clause (iii)).''.\n\nSEC. 222. ANNUITY SUPPLEMENT.\n\n Section 8421(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and \n inserting ``paragraphs (3) and (4)'';\n (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and \n inserting ``paragraphs (3) and (4)''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(4) No annuity supplement under this section shall be payable in \nthe case of an individual who first becomes subject to this chapter \nafter December 31, 2013.''.\n\nSEC. 223. USE OF CHAINED CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.\n\n (a) In General.--Paragraph (15) of section 8331 of title 5, United \nStates Code, is amended to read as follows:\n ``(15) the term `price index' means the Chained Consumer \n Price Index (all items-all urban consumers) published monthly \n by the Bureau of Labor Statistics;''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \ntake effect on January 1, 2015, and shall apply with respect to any \ncost-of-living adjustment taking effect under section 8340 or 8462 of \ntitle 5, United States Code, on or after that date.\n\n Subtitle D--Chained CPI\n\nSEC. 231. CHANGE IN INDEX USED TO CALCULATE SOCIAL SECURITY COST-OF-\n LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 215(i)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 415(i)(1)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end \n and inserting ``; and''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(H) the term `Consumer Price Index' means the Chained \n Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U, as \n published in its initial version by the Bureau of Labor \n Statistics of the Department of Labor).''.\n (b) Application to Pre-1979 Law.--\n (1) In general.--Section 215(i)(1) of the Social Security \n Act as in effect in December 1978, and as applied in certain \n cases under the provisions of such Act as in effect after \n December 1978, is amended--\n (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at \n the end and inserting ``; and''; and\n (B) by adding at the end the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(D) the term `Consumer Price Index' means the Chained \n Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U, as \n published in its initial version by the Bureau of Labor \n Statistics of the Department of Labor).''.\n (2) Conforming change.--Section 215(i)(4) of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(4)) is amended by inserting \n ``and by section 231 of the Provide for the Common Defense Act \n of 2013'' after ``1986''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply with respect to adjustments effective with or after December \n2014.", "summary": "Provide for the Common Defense Act of 2013 - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to nullify the presidential sequestration order issued for the revised security category (discretionary appropriations in budget function 050) for FY2014-FY2015 to enforce a specified budget goal. Establishes the discretionary spending limit for the revised security category for each such fiscal year. Amends part B (Supplemental Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to adjustments to the calculation of Medicare parts B and D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) premiums for high income beneficiaries for 2017 and subsequent years. Reduces the monthly amount of the Medicare parts B and D premium subsidies (with a corresponding increase in the monthly premium amount) for individuals whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds the threshold amount by specified applicable percentages for modified adjusted gross incomes in certain ranges starting at $85,000 (40%) and finally exceeding $214,000 (90%). Revises the temporary adjustment to income thresholds used to calculate premiums between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2019, to extend it through December 31 of the first year after 2019 after the year in which at least 25% of individuals enrolled in the Medicare parts B and D are subject to a reduction to the monthly amount of the applicable premium subsidy. Increases by $25 per year the part B deductible for new enrollees after January 1, 2017, and subsequent years. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to establish caps beginning with FY2014 for: (1) combined crop insurance provider rates of return, and (2) reimbursements for crop insurance provider administrative and operating expenses. Reduces according to a specified formula the crop insurance premium for catastrophic risk protection coverage. Reduces the portion of premium paid by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (premium subsidies) for the following coverages: (1) additional insurance, (2) enterprise and whole farm units, (3) area revenue plans, and (4) area yield plans. Requires an additional .4% increase per year, beginning in calendar 2014, in the percentage of basic pay that federal employees or Members of Congress must contribute to their pension plans under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Reduces government contributions to CSRS and FERS by the amount of such increased employee contributions. Eliminates annuity supplements for federal employees hired after 2013. Revises the definition of “price index,” for purposes of cost-of-living adjustments to federal employee benefits, to mean the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (Chained CPI) instead of the Consumer Price Index. Amends SSA title II (Old Age, Surivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) to require the use of the Chained CPI for calculation of Social Security cost-of-living adjustments.", "title": "Provide for the Common Defense Act of 2013"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1370, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Prosecutors Retirement \nBenefit Equity Act of 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. INCLUSION OF FEDERAL PROSECUTORS IN THE DEFINITION OF A LAW \n ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.\n\n (a) Civil Service Retirement System.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (20) of section 8331 of title 5, \n United States Code, is amended by striking ``position.'' and \n inserting ``position and a Federal prosecutor.''.\n (2) Federal prosecutor defined.--Section 8331 of title 5, \n United States Code, is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (27), by striking ``and'' at the \n end;\n (B) in paragraph (28), by striking the period and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(29) `Federal prosecutor' means--\n ``(A) an assistant United States attorney under \n section 542 of title 28; or\n ``(B) an attorney employed by the Department of \n Justice and designated by the Attorney General of the \n United States.''.\n (b) Federal Employees' Retirement System.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (17) of section 8401 of title 5, \n United States Code, is amended--\n (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the \n end;\n (B) in subparagraph (D), by adding ``and'' after \n the semicolon; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(E) a Federal prosecutor;''.\n (2) Federal prosecutor defined.--Section 8401 of title 5, \n United States Code, is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (33), by striking ``and'' at the \n end;\n (B) in paragraph (34), by striking the period and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(35) `Federal prosecutor' means--\n ``(A) an assistant United States attorney under \n section 542 of title 28; or\n ``(B) an attorney employed by the Department of \n Justice and designated by the Attorney General of the \n United States.''.\n (c) Treatment Under Certain Provisions of Law (Unrelated to \nRetirement) To Remain Unchanged.--\n (1) Original appointments.--Subsections (d) and (e) of \n section 3307 of title 5, United States Code, are amended by \n adding at the end of each the following: ``The preceding \n sentence shall not apply in the case of an original appointment \n of a Federal prosecutor as defined under section 8331(29) or \n 8401(35).''.\n (2) Mandatory separation.--Sections 8335(b) and 8425(b) of \n title 5, United States Code, are amended by adding at the end \n of each the following: ``The preceding provisions of this \n subsection shall not apply in the case of a Federal prosecutor \n as defined under section 8331(29) or 8401(35).''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on \nor after 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. PROVISIONS RELATING TO INCUMBENTS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section, the term--\n (1) ``Federal prosecutor'' means--\n (A) an assistant United States attorney under \n section 542 of title 28, United States Code; or\n (B) an attorney employed by the Department of \n Justice and designated by the Attorney General of the \n United States; and\n (2) ``incumbent'' means an individual who is serving as a \n Federal prosecutor on the effective date of this section.\n (b) Designated Attorneys.--If the Attorney General of the United \nStates makes any designation of an attorney to meet the definition \nunder subsection (a)(1)(B) for purposes of being an incumbent under \nthis section,--\n (1) such designation shall be made before the effective \n date of this section; and\n (2) the Attorney General shall submit to the Office of \n Personnel Management before that effective date--\n (A) the name of the individual designated; and\n (B) the period of service performed by that \n individual as a Federal prosecutor before that \n effective date.\n (c) Notice Requirement.--Not later than 9 months after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Department of Justice shall take measures \nreasonably designed to provide notice to incumbents on--\n (1) their election rights under this Act; and\n (2) the effects of making or not making a timely election \n under this Act.\n (d) Election Available to Incumbents.--\n (1) In general.--An incumbent may elect, for all purposes, \n to be treated--\n (A) in accordance with the amendments made by this \n Act; or\n (B) as if this Act had never been enacted.\n (2) Failure to elect.--Failure to make a timely election \n under this subsection shall be treated in the same way as an \n election under paragraph (1)(A), made on the last day allowable \n under paragraph (3).\n (3) Time limitation.--An election under this subsection \n shall not be effective unless the election is made not later \n than the earlier of--\n (A) 120 days after the date on which the notice \n under subsection (c) is provided; or\n (B) the date on which the incumbent involved \n separates from service.\n (e) Limited Retroactive Effect.--\n (1) Effect on retirement.--In the case of an incumbent who \n elects (or is deemed to have elected) the option under \n subsection (d)(1)(A), all service performed by that individual \n as a Federal prosecutor shall--\n (A) to the extent performed on or after the \n effective date of that election, be treated in \n accordance with applicable provisions of subchapter III \n of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5, United States \n Code, as amended by this Act; and\n (B) to the extent performed before the effective \n date of that election, be treated in accordance with \n applicable provisions of subchapter III of chapter 83 \n or chapter 84 of such title, as if the amendments made \n by this Act had then been in effect.\n (2) No other retroactive effect.--Nothing in this Act \n (including the amendments made by this Act) shall affect any of \n the terms or conditions of an individual's employment (apart \n from those governed by subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter \n 84 of title 5, United States Code) with respect to any period \n of service preceding the date on which such individual's \n election under subsection (d) is made (or is deemed to have \n been made).\n (f) Individual Contributions for Prior Service.--\n (1) In general.--An individual who makes an election under \n subsection (d)(1)(A) may, with respect to prior service \n performed by such individual, contribute to the Civil Service \n Retirement and Disability Fund the difference between the \n individual contributions that were actually made for such \n service and the individual contributions that should have been \n made for such service if the amendments made by section 2 had \n then been in effect.\n (2) Effect of not contributing.--If no part of or less than \n the full amount required under paragraph (1) is paid, all prior \n service of the incumbent shall remain fully creditable as law \n enforcement officer service, but the resulting annuity shall be \n reduced in a manner similar to that described in section \n 8334(d)(2) of title 5, United States Code, to the extent \n necessary to make up the amount unpaid.\n (3) Prior service defined.--For purposes of this section, \n the term ``prior service'' means, with respect to any \n individual who makes an election under subsection (d)(1)(A), \n service performed by such individual before the date as of \n which appropriate retirement deductions begin to be made in \n accordance with such election.\n (g) Government Contributions for Prior Service.--\n (1) In general.--If an incumbent makes an election under \n subsection (d)(1)(A), the Department of Justice shall remit to \n the Office of Personnel Management, for deposit in the Treasury \n of the United States to the credit of the Civil Service \n Retirement and Disability Fund, the amount required under \n paragraph (2) with respect to such service.\n (2) Amount required.--The amount the Department of Justice \n is required to remit is, with respect to any prior service, the \n total amount of additional Government contributions to the \n Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (over and above \n those actually paid) that would have been required if the \n amendments made by section 2 had then been in effect.\n (3) Contributions to be made ratably.--Government \n contributions under this subsection on behalf of an incumbent \n shall be made by the Department of Justice ratably (on at least \n an annual basis) over the 10-year period beginning on the date \n referred to in subsection (f)(3).\n (h) Regulations.--Except as provided under section 4, the Office of \nPersonnel Management shall prescribe regulations necessary to carry out \nthis Act, including provisions under which any interest due on the \namount described under subsection (f) shall be determined.\n (i) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 120 days after \nthe date of enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS.\n\n (a) Definition.--In this section the term ``Federal prosecutor'' \nhas the meaning given under section 3(a)(1).\n (b) Regulations.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Attorney General of the United \n States shall--\n (A) consult with the Office of Personnel Management \n on this Act (including the amendments made by this \n Act); and\n (B) promulgate regulations for making designations \n of Federal prosecutors who are not assistant United \n States attorneys.\n (2) Contents.--Any regulations promulgated under paragraph \n (1) shall ensure that attorneys designated as Federal \n prosecutors who are not assistant United States attorneys have \n routine employee responsibilities that are substantially \n similar to those of assistant United States attorneys assigned \n to the litigation of criminal cases, such as the representation \n of the United States before grand juries and in trials, \n appeals, and related court proceedings.\n (c) Designations.--The designation of any Federal prosecutor who is \nnot an assistant United States attorney for purposes of this Act \n(including the amendments made by this Act) shall be at the discretion \nof the Attorney General of the United States.", "summary": "Federal Prosecutors Retirement Benefit Equity Act of 2001 - Amends Federal civil service law to include Federal prosecutors within the definition of \"law enforcement officer\" (LEO). Extends LEO benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees' Retirement System to Federal prosecutors, including Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), and such other attorneys in the Department of Justice (DOJ) as may be designated by the Attorney General. Exempts Federal prosecutors from mandatory retirement provisions for LEOs under the civil service laws.Requires DOJ to provide notice to incumbent Federal prosecutors of their rights under this Act. Allows incumbents to opt out of the LEO retirement program. Sets forth provisions governing the crediting of prior service by incumbents. Provides for make-up contributions for prior service of incumbents to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund.Gives incumbents the option of either contributing to their own share of any make-up contributions or receiving a proportionally lesser retirement benefit. Allows the Government to contribute its share of any make-up contribution ratably over a ten-year period.", "title": "A bill to amend subchapter III of chapter 83 and chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, to include Federal prosecutors within the definition of a law enforcement officer, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 937, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Motor Donor Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR REGISTRY.\n\n Part H of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 273 \net seq.) is amended by inserting before section 371 the following:\n\n ``Subpart 1--National Organ Donor Registry\n\n``SEC. 370. NATIONAL ORGAN DONOR REGISTRY.\n\n ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this subpart are--\n ``(1) to establish procedures that will increase the number \n of individuals who register their intent to be organ or tissue \n donors and to support State efforts to provide for donor \n designations through State motor vehicle driver's license \n application processes;\n ``(2) to make it possible for Federal and State governments \n to enhance the information received by individuals regarding \n organ or tissue donation;\n ``(3) to ensure that timely and accurate information \n regarding an individual's wishes regarding organ and tissue \n donation is made available; and\n ``(4) to provide grants to States to establish organ and \n tissue donor registries through State motor vehicle driver's \n license application processes and linkages to the National \n Registry.\n ``(b) Definitions.--In this subpart:\n ``(1) Motor vehicle driver's license.--The term `motor \n vehicle driver's license' means any personal identification \n document issued by a State motor vehicle authority.\n ``(2) State.--The term `State' means each of the 50 States \n and the District of Columbia.\n ``(c) Establishment of Registry.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and \n maintain a national organ and tissue donor registry (referred \n to in this section as the `Registry').\n ``(2) Database.--The Registry shall consist of a database \n of information listing individuals who have expressed an intent \n to be organ or tissue donors. The information for each \n individual shall include such individual's name, address, date \n of birth, sex, height, and eye color, and a Registry \n identification number assigned by the Secretary.\n ``(d) Coordination With States and Organ Procurement \nOrganizations.--\n ``(1) States.--\n ``(A) Initial 2-year period.--The Secretary, during \n the 2-year period after the date of enactment of the \n Motor Donor Act, shall--\n ``(i) coordinate activities with States \n that have organ and tissue donor registries \n operated through a State agency to share \n existing data; and\n ``(ii) provide links between the Registry \n and such State agencies on an ongoing basis.\n ``(B) Initial 4-year period.--The Secretary, during \n the 4-year period after the date of enactment of the \n Motor Donor Act, shall coordinate activities with \n States to promote and encourage the establishment of \n organ and tissue donor registries through the motor \n vehicle driver's license process.\n ``(2) Organ procurement organizations.--The Secretary shall \n provide to each organ procurement organization within the \n United States a means by which the organization may promptly \n access the Registry 24-hours a day using a password assigned to \n the organization by the Secretary. In order to obtain such a \n password, each such procurement organization shall designate \n staff members within the organization to receive the password \n and to access the Registry.\n ``(e) Website.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, not later than 3 years \n following the date of enactment of the Motor Donor Act, shall \n disseminate to all United States citizens who reside within the \n United States and who filed a Federal income tax return with \n the Internal Revenue Service during the prior year, a pamphlet \n that contains information about organ and tissue donations and \n that includes an address for a website where individuals may \n elect to participate in the Registry.\n ``(2) Notification.--Within 4 months after an individual \n elects to participate in the Registry through the website, the \n Secretary shall notify such individual concerning the \n individual's participation in the Registry.\n ``(f) Limitations.--\n ``(1) Organ allocation.--Participation in the Registry \n shall not affect organ or tissue allocation. Standard State and \n national practices that determine the appropriate procurement \n organization for obtaining consent for an individual's organ or \n tissue donation shall continue to apply to such determinations.\n ``(2) Registry of intent.--The Registry shall be considered \n a registry only of an individual's intent to serve as an organ \nor tissue donor. Participation in the Registry shall not be deemed to \nbe the provision of legally binding consent for organ or tissue \ndonation except as provided by State law.\n ``(3) Request to cancel participation.--Individuals who \n elect to participate in the Registry shall have the right to \n cancel such participation at any time. The Secretary shall \n notify individuals who elect to participate in the Registry of \n their right to cancel such participation and the procedure for \n canceling such participation. The Secretary shall promptly \n remove from the Registry information concerning any individual \n who cancels participation in the Registry.\n ``(g) Grants to States.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award \n grants to States that have applications approved under \n paragraph (2) to enable such States to plan and implement State \n registries associated with the motor vehicle driver's license \n application process and to provide for linkages with the \n Registry.\n ``(2) Applications.--\n ``(A) In general.--Each State desiring a grant \n under this subsection shall submit an application to \n the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and \n containing such information as the Secretary may \n require.\n ``(B) State procedure.--Each application submitted \n under subparagraph (A) shall demonstrate how the State \n will establish procedures to allow an individual to \n make a legally binding gift regarding organ and tissue \n donation by application or by designation made \n simultaneously with an application for a motor vehicle \n driver's license.\n ``(C) Assurances.--Each application submitted under \n subparagraph (A) shall contain assurances that the \n State procedures described in subparagraph (B) will \n comply with the following requirements:\n ``(i) License application.--The State \n procedures shall include a process whereby each \n State motor vehicle driver's license \n application (including any renewal application) \n that is submitted to the appropriate State \n motor vehicle authority under State law \n provides the individual submitting the \n application with the option of designating the \n individual's intent to be an organ and tissue \n donor.\n ``(ii) Donor designation.--The State \n procedures shall provide that the application \n described in clause (i) shall contain the \n question, `Do you wish to have the organ donor \n designation in the State registry?' or, if the \n State agency process provides, `Do you wish to \n have the organ donor designation on your \n driver's license?'.\n ``(iii) Affirmative response.--The State \n procedures shall provide that only those \n individuals who answer affirmatively to the \n question described in clause (ii) shall have \n their organ donor preference noted in the State \n registry or, if applicable, on their motor \n vehicle driver's license.\n ``(iv) Forwarding of information.--The \n State procedures shall provide that the State \n shall forward to the Registry the names of \n those individuals who answer affirmatively to \n the question described in clause (ii), that \n such information shall be forwarded not later \n than 100 days after the date of designation, \n and that any change in designation or change of \n address information shall also be forwarded to \n the Registry.\n ``(v) Negative response.--The State \n procedures shall provide that the name of any \n individual who chooses not to have the organ \n donor designation included in the State \n registry or, if applicable, on the individual's \n driver's license will not be forwarded to the \n Registry.\n ``(vi) Access by organ procurement \n organization.--The State procedures shall \n provide that the information regarding an \n individual who answers affirmatively to the \n question described in clause (ii) shall be \n recorded in the individual's computer record \n with the appropriate State agency. The State \n agency shall provide 24-hour a day access to \n such donor information to organ procurement \n organizations, and the organ procurement \n organizations shall not be assessed a fee or \n other charge for such access.\n ``(3) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in \n awarding grants under this subsection to States that submit \n applications demonstrating that the State has collaborated with \n organ procurement organizations serving the State.\n ``(4) Limitation.--No grant awarded under this subsection \n to any one State shall exceed $300,000.\n ``(h) Advisory Task Force.--\n ``(1) In general.--There is established an advisory task \n force on organ and tissue donation (referred to in this \n subsection as the `Task Force').\n ``(2) Membership.--\n ``(A) Members.--\n ``(i) In general.--The Task Force shall \n consist of 5 members, who shall be appointed by \n the Secretary.\n ``(ii) Qualifications.--\n ``(I) In general.--The Secretary \n shall appoint members of the Task Force \n based upon their experience with organ \n or tissue donations, organ procurement, \n or organ transplants.\n ``(II) Special experience.--At \n least 1 member of the Task Force shall \n be a physician with experience in \n performing organ transplants, and \nat least 1 member of the Task Force shall have experience in organ \nprocurement.\n ``(B) Term.--\n ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in \n this subparagraph, each member of the Task \n Force shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. \n Members of the Task Force may be reappointed.\n ``(ii) Staggered terms.--As so designated \n by the Secretary at the time of appointment, \n the terms of two of the initial members shall \n expire at the end of 2 years.\n ``(C) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Task Force \n shall not affect the Task Force's powers but shall be \n filled in the same manner as the original appointment.\n ``(3) Functions.--\n ``(A) Partnership.--The Task Force shall offer to \n enter into a partnership with the Coalition on Donation \n (a national membership organization with the sole \n purpose of increasing organ and tissue donations) to \n incorporate into the Coalition's national awareness \n campaign an outreach and awareness campaign for the \n Registry.\n ``(B) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date \n of enactment of the Motor Donor Act, the Task Force \n shall conduct a study concerning, and submit to the \n Secretary a report containing, recommendations for \n improving the Registry, increasing public awareness \n about organ and tissue donation, and improving the \n organ and tissue donation process.\n ``(4) Administration.--\n ``(A) Personnel.--\n ``(i) Travel expenses.--The members of the \n Task Force shall not receive compensation for \n the performance of services for the Task Force, \n but shall be allowed travel expenses, including \n per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates \n authorized for employees of agencies under \n subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United \n States Code, while away from their homes or \n regular places of business in the performance \n of services for the Task Force. Notwithstanding \n section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, \n the Secretary may accept the voluntary and \n uncompensated services of members of the Task \n Force.\n ``(ii) Detail of government employees.--Any \n Federal Government employee may be detailed to \n the Task Force without reimbursement, and such \n detail shall be without interruption or loss of \n civil service status or privilege.\n ``(B) Administrative support.--The Department of \n Health and Human Services shall provide necessary and \n appropriate administrative support to the Task Force.\n ``(5) Permanent committee.--Section 14 of the Federal \n Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the \n Task Force.\n ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--\n ``(1) In general.--\n ``(A) Registry and grants.--There is authorized to \n be appropriated to carry out this section, other than \n subsection (h)(3), such sums as may be necessary for \n each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.\n ``(B) Awareness campaign.--There is authorized to \n be appropriated to carry out subsection (h)(3), \n $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.\n ``(2) Availability.--Any amounts appropriated pursuant to \n paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended.\n\n ``Subpart 2--Organ Procurement''.\n\nSEC. 3. AMENDMENT OF INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.\n\n Section 6103(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to \ndisclosure of taxpayer identity information) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following:\n ``(18) Disclosure of taxpayer identification to carry out \n organ donor program.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may, upon written \n request from the Secretary of Health and Human \n Services, disclose to officers and employees of the \n Department of Health and Human Services the name and \n address of each individual filing a return of tax under \n section 6012 for the previous taxable year.\n ``(B) Restriction on use of disclosed \n information.--Return information disclosed under \n subparagraph (A) may be used by officers and employees \n of the Department of Health and Human Services only for \n the purposes of, and to the extent necessary in, \n carrying out the requirement to contact individuals \n regarding the national organ and tissue donor registry \n under section 370(c) of the Public Health Service \n Act.''.\n\nSEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.\n\n Subpart 2 of part H of title III of the Public Health Service Act \n(as so designated) (42 U.S.C. 273 et seq.) is amended in sections \n374(a), 374(d), 375(1), and 378, by striking ``this part'' each place \nit appears and inserting ``this subpart''.", "summary": "Motor Donor Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a national organ and tissue donor registry (the Registry) consisting of a database of information listing individuals who have expressed an intent to be organ or tissue donors. Provides for the coordination of the Registry with State and organ and tissue registries and procurement organizations. Authorizes grants to States for the planning and implementation of State registries associated with the motor vehicle driver's license application process and for linkages with the Registry. Establishes an advisory task force on organ and tissue donation.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the disclosure of taxpayer identification in connection with the Registry.", "title": "To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Organ and Tissue Donor Registry that works in conjunction with State organ and tissue donor registries, to create a public-private partnership to launch an aggressive outreach and education campaign about organ and tissue donation and the Registry, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 803, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Mary Jo Lawyer Spano Mesothelioma \nPatient Registry Act of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. PATIENT REGISTRY FOR MESOTHELIOMA DATA COLLECTION AND RESEARCH.\n\n Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting \nafter section 399V-5 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 280g-16) the following:\n\n``SEC. 399V-6. PATIENT REGISTRY FOR MESOTHELIOMA DATA COLLECTION AND \n RESEARCH.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator \nof the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, shall develop \na patient registry to collect data on mesothelioma, including \ninformation with respect to the incidence and prevalence of the disease \nin the United States.\n ``(b) Uses.--The Secretary shall use the registry under subsection \n(a)--\n ``(1) to enhance and expand infrastructure and activities \n for tracking the epidemiology of mesothelioma patients;\n ``(2) to collect, consolidate, and report on health \n information on patients who have been diagnosed with \n mesothelioma, including with respect to--\n ``(A) treatment outcomes, including patient \n longevity; and\n ``(B) the number of patients receiving treatment \n for mesothelioma disaggregated by hospital;\n ``(3) to better describe the incidence and prevalence of \n mesothelioma in the United States;\n ``(4) to facilitate further research on mesothelioma;\n ``(5) to examine factors, such as environmental and \n occupational factors, that may be associated with mesothelioma;\n ``(6) to better outline key demographic factors (such as \n age, race or ethnicity, gender, and family history) associated \n with mesothelioma; and\n ``(7) to make the information in such registry, other than \n individually identifiable information, available to the public \n to facilitate and enhance research on, and prevention and \n treatment of, mesothelioma.\n ``(c) Content.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary--\n ``(1) shall provide for the collection and storage of \n information on the incidence and prevalence of mesothelioma in \n the United States;\n ``(2) when scientifically possible, shall provide for the \n collection and storage of other available information on \n mesothelioma, such as information concerning--\n ``(A) demographics and other information associated \n or possibly associated with mesothelioma, such as age, \n race, ethnicity, sex, geographic location, and family \n history;\n ``(B) risk factors associated or possibly \n associated with mesothelioma, including genetic and \n environmental risk factors; and\n ``(C) diagnosis and progression markers; and\n ``(3) may provide for the collection and storage of \n information relevant to analysis on mesothelioma, such as \n information concerning--\n ``(A) the epidemiology of the disease;\n ``(B) the natural history of the disease;\n ``(C) the prevention of the disease;\n ``(D) the detection, management, and treatment \n approaches for the disease; and\n ``(E) the development of outcomes measures.\n ``(d) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary \nshall consult with individuals with appropriate expertise, including \nnon-Federal mesothelioma experts including--\n ``(1) epidemiologists with experience in disease \n surveillance or registries;\n ``(2) representatives of national voluntary associations \n that focus on mesothelioma or have demonstrated experience in \n research, care, or patient service for mesothelioma;\n ``(3) health information technology experts or other \n information management specialists;\n ``(4) clinicians with expertise in mesothelioma; and\n ``(5) research scientists with experience conducting \n translational research or utilizing surveillance systems for \n scientific research purposes.\n ``(e) Coordination With Other Federal Agencies.--The Secretary \nshall make information in and analysis derived from the registry under \nthis section available, as appropriate, to Federal departments and \nagencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug \nAdministration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the \nAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Department of Veterans \nAffairs, and the Department of Defense.\n ``(f) Public Access.--Subject to subsection (g), the Secretary \nshall make information in, and analysis derived from, the registry \nunder this section available, as appropriate, to the public, including \nresearchers.\n ``(g) Privacy.--The Secretary shall ensure that privacy and \nsecurity protections applicable to the registry under this section are \nat least as stringent as the privacy and security protections under \nHIPAA privacy and security law (as defined in section 3009).\n ``(h) Reports to Congress.--\n ``(1) Initial report.--Not later than 18 months after the \n date of enactment of the Mary Jo Lawyer Spano Mesothelioma \n Patient Registry Act of 2015, the Secretary shall submit to the \n Congress a report that--\n ``(A) shall outline--\n ``(i) the findings in the mesothelioma \n patient registry under subsection (a);\n ``(ii) future plans for expansion or \n revision of such registry; and\n ``(iii) the scope of such registry; and\n ``(B) may include a description of the activities \n undertaken by the Secretary to establish partnerships \n with research and patient advocacy communities to \n expand such registry.\n ``(2) Subsequent report.--Not later than 4 years after the \n date of enactment of the Mary Jo Lawyer Spano Mesothelioma \n Patient Registry Act of 2015, the Secretary shall submit a \n report to the Congress concerning the implementation of this \n section. Such report should include information on--\n ``(A) the development and maintenance of the \n mesothelioma patient registry under subsection (a);\n ``(B) the type of information collected and stored \n in the registry;\n ``(C) the use and availability of such information, \n including guidelines for such use; and\n ``(D) the use and coordination of databases that \n collect or maintain information on mesothelioma.''.", "summary": "Mary Jo Lawyer Spano Mesothelioma Patient Registry Act of 2015 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to develop a patient registry to collect data on mesothelioma. The Agency shall use the registry to: enhance and expand infrastructure and activities for tracking the epidemiology of mesothelioma patients; collect, consolidate, and report on health information on mesothelioma patients; describe the incidence and prevalence of mesothelioma in the United States; facilitate research on mesothelioma; examine factors that may be associated with mesothelioma; outline key demographic factors associated with mesothelioma; and make information available to the public to facilitate and enhance research on, and the prevention and treatment of, mesothelioma. The Agency: (1) shall provide for the collection and storage of information on the incidence and prevalence of mesothelioma in the United States and information concerning demographics and other information associated with mesothelioma, such as geographic location and family history, risk factors, and diagnosis and progression markers; (2) may provide for the collection and storage of information relevant to analysis on mesothelioma, such as information concerning the epidemiology, natural history, and prevention of the disease, the detection, management, and treatment approaches for the disease, and the development of outcomes measures; and (3) shall make registry information available to federal agencies and the public. ", "title": "Mary Jo Lawyer Spano Mesothelioma Patient Registry Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2589, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Copper Valley Native Allotment \nResolution Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Association.--The term ``Association'' means the Copper \n Valley Electric Association.\n (2) Native allotment.--\n (A) In general.--The term ``Native allotment'' \n means--\n (i) each of the following allotments issued \n under the Act of May 17, 1906 (34 Stat. 197, \n chapter 2469):\n (I) A-031653.\n (II) A-043380.\n (III) A-046337.\n (IV) AA-5896.\n (V) AA-6014, Parcel B.\n (VI) AA-6034.\n (VII) AA-7059.\n (VIII) AA-7242, Parcel B.\n (IX) AA-7336.\n (X) AA-7552.\n (XI) AA-7553.\n (XII) AA-7554.\n (XIII) AA-7600.\n (XIV) AA-8032; and\n (ii) any allotment for which a patent or \n Certificate of Allotment has been issued under \n the Act of May 17, 1906 (34 Stat. 197, chapter \n 2469) across which the Association maintains an \n electric transmission line on the date of \n enactment of this Act.\n (B) Exclusions.--The term ``Native allotment'' does \n not include any allotment to which the Secretary has \n approved the grant of a right of way or issued a patent \n or Certificate of Allotment that is subject to a right \n of way held by the Association.\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Alaska.\n\nSEC. 3. ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINE RIGHTS-OF-WAY.\n\n (a) In General.--There is granted to the Association rights-of-way \nacross the Native allotments for an electric transmission line owned by \nthe Association.\n (b) Width.--After considering any information provided by the \nAssociation, allottee, or any other source that the Secretary \ndetermines to be relevant, the Secretary shall determine an accurate \nlegal description of the rights-of-way, the nature of the rights \ngranted, and the widths of the rights-of-way granted by subsection (a).\n (c) Certain Agreements.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \nthis Act, this Act does not apply to land owned by Ahtna, Inc. and any \nprior or current right-of-way agreements that may exist between Ahtna, \nInc. and the Copper Valley Electric Association or the State.\n (d) Compensation.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall--\n (A) appraise the value of the rights-of-way granted \n under subsection (a);\n (B) pay to any owner of a Native allotment or, if \n the owner is deceased, an heir or assign of the owner, \n compensation for the grant of a right-of-way over the \n Native allotment in an amount determined under \n paragraph (2);\n (C) issue recordable instruments that indicate the \n location of the rights-of-way over the Native \n allotments;\n (D) provide written notice of the compensation \n procedure for the rights-of-way to--\n (i) the owner of record for each Native \n allotment; or\n (ii) if the owner of record is deceased, \n the heir or assign of the owner of record; and\n (E) publish in the Federal Register and any \n newspaper of general circulation within the service \n area of the Association and location of the relevant \n allotment--\n (i) notice of the compensation procedure \n established by this subsection; and\n (ii) with respect to a Native allotment \n described in section 2(2)(A)(ii), the location \n of the right-of-way, as prepared by the \n Association and provided to the Secretary, in \n accordance with any requirements established by \n the Secretary.\n (2) Calculation of payments.--\n (A) In general.--For purposes of calculating the \n amount of compensation required under paragraph (1)(B), \n the Secretary shall determine, with respect to a \n portion of a Native allotment encumbered by a right-of-\n way--\n (i) compensation for each right-of-way \n based on an appraisal conducted in conformity \n with the version of the Uniform Appraisal \n Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions that is \n correct as of the date of the compensation \n proceeding; and\n (ii) interest calculated based on the \n section 3116 of title 40, United States Code.\n (B) Date of valuation.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (A), the date of valuation of the \n acquisition by the Association of each right-of-way \n shall be considered to be the date of enactment of this \n Act.\n (3) Judicial review.--Notwithstanding any other provision \n of law, judicial review under this subsection shall be limited \n to a review of the determination of the Secretary under \n paragraph (2) regarding the compensation for a right-of-way \n over a Native allotment.\n\nSEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary \nto carry out this Act.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives April 17, 2007.\n\n Attest:\n\n LORRAINE C. MILLER,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Copper Valley Native Allotment Resolution Act of 2007 - Grants rights-of-way across specified Native allotments to the Copper Valley Electric Association for an electric transmission line.\n\nDeclares this Act inapplicable to land owned by Ahtna, Inc. and any prior or current right-of-way agreements that may exist between Ahtna, Inc. and the Copper Valley Electric Association or Alaska.\n\nPrescribes compensation procedures.\n\nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "To grant rights-of-way for electric transmission lines over certain Native allotments in the State of Alaska."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1993, "text": "SECTION 1. COMMUNITY-BASED OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY PREVENTION PROGRAM.\n\n Part Q of title III (42 U.S.C. 280h et seq.) is amended by \ninserting after section 399W the following:\n\n``SEC. 399W-1. COMMUNITY-BASED OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY PREVENTION \n PROGRAM.\n\n ``(a) Program.--The Secretary shall establish a community-based \noverweight and obesity prevention program consisting of awarding grants \nand contracts under subsection (b).\n ``(b) Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants to, or enter into \ncontracts with, eligible entities--\n ``(1) to plan evidence-based programs for the prevention of \n overweight and obesity among children and their families \n through improved nutrition and increased physical activity; or\n ``(2) to implement such programs.\n ``(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant or contract under \nsubsection (b), an entity shall be a community partnership that \ndemonstrates community support and includes--\n ``(1) a broad cross section of stakeholders, such as--\n ``(A) hospitals, health care systems, community \n health centers, or other health care providers;\n ``(B) universities, local educational agencies, or \n childcare providers;\n ``(C) State, local, and tribal health departments;\n ``(D) State, local, and tribal park and recreation \n departments;\n ``(E) employers; and\n ``(F) health insurance companies;\n ``(2) residents of the community; and\n ``(3) representatives of public and private entities that \n have a history of working within and serving the community.\n ``(d) Period of Awards.--\n ``(1) In general.--The period of a grant or contract under \n this section shall be 5 years, subject to renewal under \n paragraph (2).\n ``(2) Renewal.--At the end of each fiscal year, the \n Secretary may renew a grant or contract award under this \n section only if the grant or contract recipient demonstrates to \n the Secretary's satisfaction that the recipient has made \n appropriate, measurable progress in preventing overweight and \n obesity.\n ``(e) Requirements.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may award a grant or \n contract under this section to an entity only if the entity \n demonstrates to the Secretary's satisfaction that--\n ``(A) not later than 90 days after receiving the \n grant or contract, the entity will establish a steering \n committee to provide input on the assessment of, and \n recommendations on improvements to, the entity's \n program funded through the grant or contract; and\n ``(B) the entity has conducted or will conduct an \n assessment of the overweight and obesity problem in its \n community, including the extent of the problem and \n factors contributing to the problem.\n ``(2) Matching requirement.--The Secretary may award a \n grant or contract to an eligible entity under this section only \n if the entity agrees to provide, from non-Federal sources, an \n amount equal to $1 (in cash or in kind) for each $9 provided \n through the grant or contract to carry out the activities \n supported by the grant or contract.\n ``(3) Payor of last resort.--The Secretary may award a \n grant or contract under this section to an entity only if the \n entity demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that \n funds received through the grant or contract will not be \n expended for any activity to the extent that payment has been \n made, or can reasonably be expected to be made--\n ``(A) under any insurance policy;\n ``(B) under any Federal or State health benefits \n program (including titles XIX and XXI of the Social \n Security Act); or\n ``(C) by an entity which provides health services \n on a prepaid basis.\n ``(4) Maintenance of effort.--The Secretary may award a \n grant or contract under this section to an entity only if the \n entity demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that--\n ``(A) funds received through the grant or contract \n will be expended only to supplement, and not supplant, \n non-Federal and Federal funds otherwise available to \n the entity for the activities to be funded through the \n grant or contract; and\n ``(B) with respect to such activities, the entity \n will maintain expenditures of non-Federal amounts for \n such activities at a level not less than the lesser of \n such expenditures maintained by the entity for the \n fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the \n entity receives the grant or contract.\n ``(f) Preferences.--In awarding grants and contracts under this \nsection, the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities \nthat--\n ``(1) will serve communities with high levels of overweight \n and obesity and related chronic diseases; or\n ``(2) will plan or implement activities for the prevention \n of overweight and obesity in school or workplace settings.\n ``(g) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual \nreport on the program of grants and contracts awarded under this \nsection.\n ``(h) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) The term `evidence-based' means that methodologically \n sound research has demonstrated a beneficial health effect in \n the judgment of the Secretary and includes the Ways to Enhance \n Children's Activity and Nutrition (We Can) program and \n curriculum of the National Institutes of Health.\n ``(2) The term `local educational agency' has the meaning \n given to the term in section 9101 of the Elementary and \n Secondary Education Act of 1965.\n ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, \nthere are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year \n2011 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2012 \nthrough 2015.''.", "summary": "Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a community-based overweight and obesity prevention program under which the Secretary shall award grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities to plan and implement evidence-based programs for the prevention of overweight and obesity among children and their families through improved nutrition and increased physical activity. Sets the period of a grant or contract at five years, subject to renewal.\n\nRequires an entity, to be eligible, to be a community partnership that demonstrates community support. Authorizes the Secretary to award a grant or contract to only an entity that: (1) demonstrates that it will establish a steering committee to provide input on the assessment of, and improvements to, the entity's program and has conducted or will conduct an assessment of the overweight and obesity problem in its community; (2) agrees to provide non-federal amounts equal to $1 for each $9 provided; and (3) demonstrates that it will maintain its previous level of spending for funded activities. Directs the Secretary to give preference to entities that will: (1) serve communities with high levels of overweight and obesity and related chronic diseases; and (2) plan or implement activities for the prevention of overweight and obesity in school or workplace settings.", "title": "To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a community-based overweight and obesity prevention program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1866, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Teachers For Tomorrow Act of 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. REVISION OF TEACHER LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS.\n\n (a) Guaranteed Student Loans.--Part B of title IV of the Higher \nEducation Act of 1965 is amended by--\n (1) redesignating section 428K (20 U.S.C. 1078-11) as \n section 428L; and\n (2) by inserting after section 428J the following new \n section:\n\n``SEC. 428K. EXPANDED LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR TEACHERS.\n\n ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to expand, \nsubject to the availability of appropriations therefor, the eligibility \nof individuals to qualify for loan forgiveness for teachers beyond that \navailable under section 428J, in order to provide additional incentives \nfor such individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession.\n ``(b) Program Authorized.--\n ``(1) In general.--From the sums appropriated pursuant to \n subsection (i), the Secretary shall carry out a program, \n through the holder of the loan, of assuming the obligation to \n repay a qualified loan amount for a loan made under section 428 \n or 428H, in accordance with subsection (c), for any new \n borrower on or after October 1, 1998, who is not eligible for \n loan forgiveness under section 428J, but who--\n ``(A) is employed as a full-time teacher--\n ``(i) in a public elementary or secondary \n school;\n ``(ii) if employed as a secondary school \n teacher, is teaching a subject area that is \n relevant to the borrower's academic major as \n certified by the chief administrative officer \n of the public secondary school in which the \n borrower is employed; and\n ``(iii) if employed as an elementary school \n teacher, has demonstrated, as certified by the \n chief administrative officer of the public \n elementary school in which the borrower is \n employed, knowledge and teaching skills in \n reading, writing, mathematics, or other areas \n of the elementary school curriculum;\n ``(B) has a State certification (which may include \n certification obtained through alternative means) or a \n State license to teach, and has not failed to comply \n with State or local accountability standards; and\n ``(C) is not in default on a loan for which the \n borrower seeks forgiveness.\n ``(2) Selection of recipients.--The Secretary shall by \n regulations, establish a formula that ensures fairness and \n equality for applicants in the selection of borrowers for loan \n repayment under this section, based on the amount available \n pursuant to subsection (i).\n ``(c) Qualified Loans Amount.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall repay not more than \n the percentage specified in paragraph (2) of the loan \n obligation on a loan made under section 428 or 428H that is \n outstanding after the completion of each complete school year \n of teaching described in subsection (b)(1). No borrower may \n receive a reduction of loan obligations under both this section \n and section 460.\n ``(2) Percentage eligible.--The percent of the loan \n obligation which the Secretary shall repay under paragraph (1) \n of this subsection is--\n ``(A) in the case of teaching in a school that \n qualifies under section 465(a)(2)(A) for loan \n cancellation for Perkins loan recipients who teach in \n such schools, 25 percent for the first or second year \nof such service, and 50 percent for the third year of such service; or\n ``(B) in the case of any other public elementary or \n secondary school, 15 percent for the first or second \n year of such service, 20 percent for the third or \n fourth year of such service, and 30 percent for the \n fifth year of such service.\n ``(3) Treatment of consolidation loans.--A loan amount for \n a loan made under section 428C may be a qualified loan amount \n for the purposes of this subsection only to the extent that \n such loan amount was used to repay a Federal Direct Stafford \n Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a loan \n made under section 428 or 428H for a borrower who meets the \n requirements of subsection (b), as determined in accordance \n with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.\n ``(4) Treatment of years of service for continuing \n education loans.--For purposes of paragraph (2), the year of \n service is determined on the basis of the academic year that \n the borrower began the service as a full-time teacher, except \n that in the case of a borrower who incurs a loan obligation for \n continuing education expenses while teaching, the year of \n service is determined on the basis of the academic year \n following the academic year for which the loan obligation was \n incurred.\n ``(d) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to issue such \nregulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this \nsection.\n ``(e) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to \nauthorize any refunding of any repayment of a loan.\n ``(f) List.--If the list of schools in which a teacher may perform \nservice pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(A) is not available before May 1 \nof any year, the Secretary may use the list for the year preceding the \nyear for which the determination is made to make such service \ndetermination.\n ``(g) Additional Eligibility Provisions.--\n ``(1) Continued eligibility.--Any teacher who performs \n service in a school that--\n ``(A) meets the requirements of subsection \n (b)(1)(A) in any year during such service; and\n ``(B) in a subsequent year fails to meet the \n requirements of such subsection,\n may continue to teach in such school and shall be eligible for \n loan forgiveness pursuant to subsection (b).\n ``(2) Prevention of double benefits.--No borrower may, for \n the same service, receive a benefit under both this section and \n subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act \n of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.).\n ``(h) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term `year', \nwhere applied to service as a teacher, means an academic year as \ndefined by the Secretary.\n ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary \nfor fiscal year 2002 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.''.\n (b) Direct Student Loans.--Part D of title IV of the Higher \nEducation Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 460 the \nfollowing new section:\n\n``SEC. 460A. EXPANDED LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR TEACHERS.\n\n ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to expand, \nsubject to the availability of appropriations therefor, the eligibility \nof individuals to qualify for loan forgiveness for teachers beyond that \navailable under section 460, in order to provide additional incentives \nfor such individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession.\n ``(b) Program Authorized.--\n ``(1) In general.--From the sums appropriated pursuant to \n subsection (i), the Secretary shall carry out canceling the \n obligation to repay a qualified loan amount in accordance with \n subsection (c) for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal \n Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans made under this part for any \n new borrower on or after October 1, 1998, who is not eligible \n for loan forgiveness under section 460, but who--\n ``(A) is employed as a full-time teacher--\n ``(i) in a public elementary or secondary \n school;\n ``(ii) if employed as a secondary school \n teacher, is teaching a subject area that is \n relevant to the borrower's academic major as \n certified by the chief administrative officer \n of the public secondary school in which the \n borrower is employed; and\n ``(iii) if employed as an elementary school \n teacher, has demonstrated, as certified by the \n chief administrative officer of the public \n elementary school in which the borrower is \n employed, knowledge and teaching skills in \n reading, writing, mathematics, or other areas \n of the elementary school curriculum;\n ``(B) has a State certification (which may include \n certification obtained through alternative means) or a \n State license to teach, and has not failed to comply \n with State or local accountability standards; and\n ``(C) is not in default on a loan for which the \n borrower seeks forgiveness.\n ``(2) Selection of recipients.--The Secretary shall by \n regulations, establish a formula that ensures fairness and \n equality for applicants in the selection of borrowers for loan \n repayment under this section, based on the amount available \n pursuant to subsection (i).\n ``(c) Qualified Loans Amount.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall cancel not more than \n the percentage specified in paragraph (2) of the loan \n obligation on a loan made under this part that is outstanding \n after the completion of each complete school year of teaching \n described in subsection (b)(1). No borrower may receive a \n reduction of loan obligations under both this section and \n section 428J.\n ``(2) Percentage eligible.--The percent of the loan \n obligation which the Secretary shall cancel under paragraph (1) \n of this subsection is--\n ``(A) in the case of teaching in a school that \n qualifies under section 465(a)(2)(A) for loan \ncancellation for Perkins loan recipients who teach in such schools, 25 \npercent for the first or second year of such service, and 50 percent \nfor the third year of such service; or\n ``(B) in the case of any other public elementary or \n secondary school, 15 percent for the first or second \n year of such service, 20 percent for the third or \n fourth year of such service, and 30 percent for the \n fifth year of such service.\n ``(3) Treatment of consolidation loans.--A loan amount for \n a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan may be a qualified loan \n amount for the purposes of this subsection only to the extent \n that such loan amount was used to repay a Federal Direct \n Stafford Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or \n a loan made under section 428 or 428H for a borrower who meets \n the requirements of subsection (b), as determined in accordance \n with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.\n ``(4) Treatment of years of service for continuing \n education loans.--For purposes of paragraph (2), the year of \n service is determined on the basis of the academic year that \n the borrower began the service as a full-time teacher, except \n that in the case of a borrower who incurs a loan obligation for \n continuing education expenses while teaching, the year of \n service is determined on the basis of the academic year \n following the academic year for which the loan obligation was \n incurred.\n ``(d) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to issue such \nregulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this \nsection.\n ``(e) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to \nauthorize any refunding of any repayment of a loan.\n ``(f) List.--If the list of schools in which a teacher may perform \nservice pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(A) is not available before May 1 \nof any year, the Secretary may use the list for the year preceding the \nyear for which the determination is made to make such service \ndetermination.\n ``(g) Additional Eligibility Provisions.--\n ``(1) Continued eligibility.--Any teacher who performs \n service in a school that--\n ``(A) meets the requirements of subsection \n (b)(1)(A) in any year during such service; and\n ``(B) in a subsequent year fails to meet the \n requirements of such subsection,\n may continue to teach in such school and shall be eligible for \n loan forgiveness pursuant to subsection (b).\n ``(2) Prevention of double benefits.--No borrower may, for \n the same service, receive a benefit under both this section and \n subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act \n of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.).\n ``(h) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term `year', \nwhere applied to service as a teacher, means an academic year as \ndefined by the Secretary.\n ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary \nfor fiscal year 2002 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.''.\n\nSEC. 3. NO INCOME TAX BY REASON OF LOAN FORGIVENESS.\n\n Subsection (f) of section 108 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \nis amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(4) Loan forgiveness for teachers.--In the case of an \n individual, gross income does not include any amount which (but \n for this paragraph) would be includible in gross income by \n reason of the discharge (in whole or in part) of any loan if \n such discharge was pursuant to section 428J, 428K, 460, or 460A \n of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078-10), as in \n effect on the date of the enactment of this paragraph.''", "summary": "Teachers for Tomorrow Act of 2001 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish new programs for teacher student loan forgiveness, under the guaranteed loan program and the direct loan program. Requires three consecutive complete school years of full-time teaching in a public elementary or secondary school as: (1) a secondary school teacher of a subject area relevant to the borrower's academic major; or (2) an elementary school teacher who has demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and other curriculum areas.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from a teacher's gross income any student loan amounts discharged under both the current HEA programs and those added by this Act.", "title": "To expand the teacher loan forgiveness programs under the guaranteed and direct student loan programs, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 263, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Agricultural \nEquity Act of 1995''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\nSec. 2. Findings, policy, and purpose.\nSec. 3. Sense of Congress on ending the Federal deficit.\nSec. 4. Nonrecourse loans and deficiency payments for the 1996 through \n 2002 crops of rice, upland cotton, feed \n grains, wheat, and oilseeds.\nSec. 5. Review of status and future of production agriculture.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS, POLICY, AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n (1) A sound and prosperous economy in the United States is \n dependent on American agriculture and related industries, \n including producers, processors, handlers, manufacturers, \n marketers, transporters, and the banking and credit industry.\n (2) American agriculture and related industries account for \n over 21,000,000 jobs and approximately 16 percent, or over \n $41,000,000,000,000, of the gross domestic product.\n (3) Because of the combined effort of American agriculture \n and related industries, consumers in the United States enjoy a \n dependable supply of food and fiber at fair prices.\n (4) The future of American agriculture is dependent on the \n continued viability of the American agricultural producer, the \n underpinning of the national economy.\n (5) Agricultural producers must receive a fair return on \n their productivity and investment in an industry characterized \n by continued subsidized foreign competition and wide \n fluctuations in production and prices due to weather and \n related factors.\n (6) One of the essential elements of a sound agricultural \n economy is the ability of the United States to compete in the \n world market.\n (7) Exports of United States agricultural commodities are \n expected to reach nearly $50,000,000,000 in 1995 and contribute \n about $20,000,000,000 to the United States balance of trade.\n (8) Agricultural exports account for over 1,000,000 \n American jobs.\n (9) Commodity Credit Corporation outlays for farm programs \n have declined from a high of approximately $26,000,000,000 for \n fiscal year 1986 to less than $9,000,000,000 for fiscal year \n 1995, a reduction of over 65 percent that is unique among the \n many mandatory spending programs of the Federal Government.\n (10) According to the Congressional Budget Office, farm \n program outlays are projected to remain below the outlay level \n for fiscal year 1995 for the next 5 years and continue to \n decline by nearly 8 percent, even if no changes are made in \n current law for existing farm programs.\n (b) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States that--\n (1) continued Federal Government support is necessary to \n provide stability for American agricultural producers to--\n (A) enable the producers to continue to provide \n consumers with a steady and dependable supply of food \n and fiber at fair prices;\n (B) enhance farmer and rancher profitability;\n (C) encourage young farmers to stay on the farm;\n (D) maintain the competitiveness of the United \n States in the world market; and\n (E) otherwise preserve the underpinnings of a sound \n agricultural economy; and\n (2) reductions in farm program spending should be made in a \n fair and equitable manner in order to meet the objective of \n achieving a balanced budget for the Federal Government in a \n manner consistent with paragraph (1).\n (c) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish agricultural \nprice support and production adjustment programs for the 1996 through \n2002 crop years that provide a structure for a sound agricultural \neconomy in a manner consistent with subsection (b).\n\nSEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ENDING THE FEDERAL DEFICIT.\n\n It is the sense of Congress that--\n (1) the continuation of significant Federal budgetary \n deficits harms the economic well-being of the United States and \n is detrimental to the development of sound, long-term \n agricultural policy;\n (2) agricultural price support and production adjustment \n programs are necessary for the continued economic health of \n United States agriculture, which must compete in international \n markets against subsidized foreign competition; and\n (3) agricultural price support and production adjustment \n programs should be--\n (A) implemented, to the maximum extent practicable, \n in a manner that is consistent with the primary goal of \n the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year \n 1996 (H. Con. Res. 67, agreed to June 29, 1995) to end \n Federal budget deficits; and\n (B) modified, as necessary, to ensure that the \n programs comply with applicable budget reconciliation \n instructions in the concurrent resolution that are \n designed to end Federal budget deficits, in a manner \n consistent with section 306 of the concurrent \n resolution.\n\nSEC. 4. NONRECOURSE LOANS AND DEFICIENCY PAYMENTS FOR THE 1996 THROUGH \n 2002 CROPS OF RICE, UPLAND COTTON, FEED GRAINS, WHEAT, \n AND OILSEEDS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:\n (1) Covered commodities.--The term ``covered commodities'' \n means rice, upland cotton, feed grains, wheat, and oilseeds.\n (2) Feed grains.--The term ``feed grains'' means corn, \n grain sorghum, barley, and oats.\n (3) Oilseeds.--The term ``oilseeds'' means soybeans, \n sunflower seeds, canola, rapeseed, safflower, flaxseed, mustard \n seed, and such other oilseeds as the Secretary may determine \n appropriate for inclusion.\n (b) Nonrecourse Loans.--\n (1) Price support loans.--The Secretary shall make \n available to producers on a farm nonrecourse loans for each of \n the 1996 through 2002 crops of each covered commodity at the \n level specified in paragraph (2). Acreage covered shall include \n both mandatory and voluntary flex acres.\n (2) Loan levels.--The loan levels for each covered \n commodity shall be 100 percent of the simple average price \n received by producers of that covered commodity, as determined \n by the Secretary, during the marketing years for the preceding \n 5 crops of that covered commodity, excluding the year in which \n the average price was the highest and the year in which the \n average price was the lowest in the period. The Secretary may \n adjust the loan level for a particular covered commodity to \n reflect changes in the market price of that covered commodity.\n (3) Prohibitions.--The Secretary shall not make available a \n marketing loan or loan deficiency payment to any producer on a \n farm for any of the 1996 through 2002 crops of covered \n commodities.\n (c) Deficiency Payments.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall make deficiency \n payments available to producers for each of the 1996 through \n 2002 crops of each covered commodity (other than oilseeds) in \n an amount computed by multiplying--\n (A) the payment rate for the covered commodity;\n (B) the payment acres for the crop of that covered \n commodity; and\n (C) the farm program yield for the crop of that \n covered commodity for the farm.\n (2) Payment rate.--\n (A) Minimum established price.--The minimum \n established price in effect for the 1991 through 1995 \n crops of each covered commodity shall continue in \n effect for the 1996 through 2002 crops of that covered \n commodity.\n (B) Establishment of rate.--The payment rate for \n each of the 1996 through 2002 crops of each covered \n commodity shall be the amount by which the target price \n exceeds the higher of--\n (i) the loan level established for that \n covered commodity under subsection (b);\n (ii) the average market price of that \n covered commodity.\n (3) Payment acres.--Payment acres for a crop of a covered \n commodity shall equal base acres less idled (set aside) and \n flex (mandatory and optional) acres.\n (4) Elimination of \\0/85\\ and \\50/85\\ programs.--The \n Secretary shall discontinue the partial payment programs, \n variously known as \\0/85\\, \\50/85\\, \\0/92\\, and \\50/92\\, \n effective with crop year 1996.\n (d) Flexibility (`Flex') Program.--The Secretary shall increase \nproducer planting flexibility--\n (1) by increasing the mandatory flex acreage percentage for \n each covered commodity from 15 percent to 20 percent; and\n (2) by offering producers an additional voluntary increase \n in flex acres of between 10 percent to 25 percent.\n (e) Crop Insurance Requirement.--As a condition for eligibility for \ncrop loans and deficiency payments under this section, the producers on \na farm shall obtain catastrophic risk protection insurance coverage in \naccordance with section 508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 \nU.S.C. 1508(b)).\n (f) Conforming Repeals.--Sections 101B (rice), 103B (cotton), 105B \n(feed grains), 107B (wheat), and 205 (oilseeds) of the Agricultural Act \nof 1949 are repealed. The repeal of such sections shall not affect the \nauthority of the Secretary to carry out a price support or production \nadjustment program for any of the 1991 through 1995 crops of a covered \ncommodity under a provision of law in effect immediately before the \ndate of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 5. REVIEW OF STATUS AND FUTURE OF PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE.\n\n (a) Scope of Review.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a \ncomprehensive review of the status and future of production agriculture \nand farming communities in the United States and the extent to which \nthe program changes made by this Act will impact production agriculture \nand farming communities in the United States. The review shall include \nthe following--\n (1) an assessment of the food security situation in the \n United States in the areas of trade, consumer prices, \n international competitiveness of United States production \n agriculture, food supplies, and humanitarian relief;\n (2) an assessment of current and future farm land values \n and agricultural producer incomes;\n (3) an assessment of the extent to which regulatory relief \n for agricultural producers has been enacted and implemented, \n including the application of cost-benefit principles in the \n issuance of agricultural regulations;\n (4) an assessment of the extent to which tax relief for \n agricultural producers has been enacted in the form of capital \n gains tax reductions, estate tax exemptions, and mechanisms to \n average tax loads over high- and low-income years;\n (5) an assessment of any Federal Government interference in \n agricultural export markets, such as the imposition of trade \n embargoes, and the degree of implementation and success of \n international trade agreements;\n (6) identification of the appropriate future relationship \n of the Federal Government with production agriculture after \n 2002;\n (7) identification of the long-term goals for production \n agriculture and farming communities in the United States and \n recommendations for actions needed to achieve those goals; and\n (8) an assessment of manpower and infrastructure \n requirements of the Department of Agriculture as the result of \n program changes made by this Act.\n (b) Legislative Proposals.--As part of the comprehensive review \nrequired under subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop specific \nlegislative proposals to implement any recommendations being made.\n (c) Reports.--The Secretary shall report the findings and \nrecommendations made under subsection (a) to the President, to the \nCommittee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and to the \nCommittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, not \nlater than March 31, 1997.\n (d) Hearings.--The Secretary may, for the purpose of carrying out \nthis section, conduct such hearings and receive such evidence as the \nSecretary considers appropriate.\n (e) Assistance From Other Agencies.--The Secretary may secure from \nother departments and agencies of the Federal Government such \ninformation as may be necessary to carry out this section.", "summary": "Agricultural Equity Act of 1995 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make price support loans and deficiency payments (excluding oilseeds) through 2002 for wheat, feed grains, rice, upland cotton, and oilseeds. Provides for increased flex acreage. \nRequires crop insurance as a condition of program eligibility. \nDirects the Secretary to review the status and future of production agriculture, including development of related legislative proposals.", "title": "Agricultural Equity Act of 1995"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2078, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Meat and Poultry Products \nTraceability and Safety Act of 2003''.\n\nSEC. 2. TRACEABILITY OF LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY.\n\n (a) Livestock.--Title I of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 \nU.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 25. TRACEABILITY OF LIVESTOCK, MEAT, AND MEAT PRODUCTS.\n\n ``(a) Definition of Traceability.--In this section, the term \n`traceability' means the ability to retrieve the history, use, and \nlocation of an article through a recordkeeping and audit system or \nregistered identification.\n ``(b) Requirements.--\n ``(1) In general.--Cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and horses, \n mules, and other equines presented for slaughter for human food \n purposes, and the carcasses or parts of carcasses and the meat \n and meat food products of those animals, shipped in interstate \n commerce shall be identified in a manner that enables the \n Secretary to trace--\n ``(A) each animal to any premises or other location \n at which the animal was held at any time before \n slaughter; and\n ``(B) each carcass or part of a carcass and meat \n and meat food product of such animals forward from \n slaughter through processing and distribution to the \n ultimate consumer.\n ``(2) Traceability system.--The Secretary shall establish a \n traceability system for all stages of production, processing, \n and distribution of meat and meat food products that are \n produced through the slaughter of animals described in \n paragraph (1).\n ``(c) Prohibition or Restriction on Entry.--The Secretary may \nprohibit or restrict entry into any slaughtering establishment \ninspected under this Act of any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, or horses, \nmules, or other equines not identified as prescribed by the Secretary \nunder subsection (b).\n ``(d) Records.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may require that each \n person, firm, and corporation required to identify livestock \n pursuant to subsection (b) maintain accurate records, as \n prescribed by the Secretary, regarding the purchase, sale, and \n identification of the livestock.\n ``(2) Access.--Each person, firm, and corporation described \n in paragraph (1) shall, at all reasonable times, on notice by a \n duly authorized representative of the Secretary, allow the \n representative to access to each place of business of the \n person, firm, or corporation to examine and copy the records \n described in paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Duration.--Each person, firm, and corporation \n described in paragraph (1) shall maintain records required to \n be maintained under this subsection for such period of time as \n the Secretary prescribes.\n ``(e) False Information.--No person, firm, or corporation shall \nfalsify or misrepresent to any other person, firm, or corporation, or \nto the Secretary, any information as to any premises at which any \ncattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines, or \ncarcasses thereof, were held.\n ``(f) Alteration or Destruction of Records.--No person, firm, or \ncorporation shall, without authorization from the Secretary, alter, \ndetach, or destroy any records or other means of identification \nprescribed by the Secretary for use in determining the premises at \nwhich were held any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or \nother equines, or the carcasses thereof.''.\n (b) Poultry.--The Poultry Products Inspection Act is amended by \ninserting after section 23 (21 U.S.C. 467e) the following:\n\n``SEC. 23A. TRACEABILITY OF POULTRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS.\n\n ``(a) Definition of Traceability.--In this section, the term \n`traceability' means the ability to retrieve the history, use, and \nlocation of an article through a recordkeeping and audit system or \nregistered identification.\n ``(b) Requirements.--\n ``(1) In general.--Poultry presented for slaughter for \n human food purposes and poultry products shipped in interstate \n commerce shall be identified in a manner that enables the \n Secretary to trace--\n ``(A) each animal to any premises or other location \n at which the animal was held at any time before \n slaughter; and\n ``(B) each poultry product forward from slaughter \n through processing and distribution to the ultimate \n consumer.\n ``(2) Traceability system.--The Secretary shall establish a \n traceability system for all stages of production, processing, \n and distribution of poultry and poultry food products that are \n produced through the slaughter of animals described in \n paragraph (1).\n ``(c) Prohibition or Restriction on Entry.--The Secretary may \nprohibit or restrict entry into any slaughtering establishment \ninspected under this Act of any poultry not identified as prescribed by \nthe Secretary.\n ``(d) Records.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may require that each \n person, firm, and corporation required to identify poultry \n pursuant to subsection (b) maintain accurate records, as \n prescribed by the Secretary, regarding the purchase, sale, and \n identification of the poultry.\n ``(2) Access.--Each person, firm, and corporation described \n in paragraph (1) shall, at all reasonable times, on notice by a \n duly authorized representative of the Secretary, allow the \n representative to access to each place of business of the \n person, firm, or corporation to examine and copy the records \n described in paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Duration.--Each person, firm, and corporation \n described in paragraph (1) shall maintain records required to \n be maintained under this subsection for such period of time as \n the Secretary prescribes.\n ``(e) False Information.--No person, firm, or corporation shall \nfalsify or misrepresent to any other person, firm, or corporation, or \nto the Secretary, any information as to any premises at which any \npoultry, or carcasses thereof, were held.\n ``(f) Alteration or Destruction of Records.--No person, firm, or \ncorporation shall, without authorization from the Secretary, alter, \ndetach, or destroy any records or other means of identification \nprescribed by the Secretary for use in determining the premises at \nwhich were held any poultry or the carcasses thereof.''.", "summary": "Meat and Poultry Products Traceability and Safety Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to direct that cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules and other equines, and poultry presented for slaughter for human consumption, and the carcasses or parts of carcasses and the meat and food products of those animals, shipped in interstate commerce be identified in a manner that enables the Secretary of Agriculture to trace: (1) each animal to any location at which the animal was held at any time before slaughter; and (2) each carcass or part of a carcass and food product forward from slaughter through processing and distribution to the ultimate consumer.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary to prohibit or restrict entry to a slaughtering establishment of an animal not so identified.\n\nDirects the Secretary to establish a traceability system for all stages of production, processing, and distribution of meat and meat food products and poultry and poultry food products.", "title": "To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to improve the safety of meat and poultry products by enhancing the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture to retrieve the history, use, and location of a meat or poultry product through a recordkeeping and audit system or registered identification, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 387, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Religious Land Use and \nInstitutionalized Persons Act of 2000''.\n\nSEC. 2. PROTECTION OF LAND USE AS RELIGIOUS EXERCISE.\n\n (a) Substantial Burdens.--\n (1) General rule.--No government shall impose or implement \n a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial \n burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a \n religious assembly or institution, unless the government \n demonstrates that imposition of the burden on that person, \n assembly, or institution--\n (A) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental \n interest; and\n (B) is the least restrictive means of furthering \n that compelling governmental interest.\n (2) Scope of application.--This subsection applies in any \n case in which--\n (A) the substantial burden is imposed in a program \n or activity that receives Federal financial assistance, \n even if the burden results from a rule of general \n applicability;\n (B) the substantial burden affects, or removal of \n that substantial burden would affect, commerce with \n foreign nations, among the several States, or with \n Indian tribes, even if the burden results from a rule \n of general applicability; or\n (C) the substantial burden is imposed in the \n implementation of a land use regulation or system of \n land use regulations, under which a government makes, \n or has in place formal or informal procedures or \n practices that permit the government to make, \n individualized assessments of the proposed uses for the \n property involved.\n (b) Discrimination and Exclusion.--\n (1) Equal terms.--No government shall impose or implement a \n land use regulation in a manner that treats a religious \n assembly or institution on less than equal terms with a \n nonreligious assembly or institution.\n (2) Nondiscrimination.--No government shall impose or \n implement a land use regulation that discriminates against any \n assembly or institution on the basis of religion or religious \n denomination.\n (3) Exclusions and limits.--No government shall impose or \n implement a land use regulation that--\n (A) totally excludes religious assemblies from a \n jurisdiction; or\n (B) unreasonably limits religious assemblies, \n institutions, or structures within a jurisdiction.\n\nSEC. 3. PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS EXERCISE OF INSTITUTIONALIZED PERSONS.\n\n (a) General Rule.--No government shall impose a substantial burden \non the religious exercise of a person residing in or confined to an \ninstitution, as defined in section 2 of the Civil Rights of \nInstitutionalized Persons Act (42 U.S.C. 1997), even if the burden \nresults from a rule of general applicability, unless the government \ndemonstrates that imposition of the burden on that person--\n (1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental \n interest; and\n (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that \n compelling governmental interest.\n (b) Scope of Application.--This section applies in any case in \nwhich--\n (1) the substantial burden is imposed in a program or \n activity that receives Federal financial assistance; or\n (2) the substantial burden affects, or removal of that \n substantial burden would affect, commerce with foreign nations, \n among the several States, or with Indian tribes.\n\nSEC. 4. JUDICIAL RELIEF.\n\n (a) Cause of Action.--A person may assert a violation of this Act \nas a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate \nrelief against a government. Standing to assert a claim or defense \nunder this section shall be governed by the general rules of standing \nunder article III of the Constitution.\n (b) Burden of Persuasion.--If a plaintiff produces prima facie \nevidence to support a claim alleging a violation of the Free Exercise \nClause or a violation of section 2, the government shall bear the \nburden of persuasion on any element of the claim, except that the \nplaintiff shall bear the burden of persuasion on whether the law \n(including a regulation) or government practice that is challenged by \nthe claim substantially burdens the plaintiff's exercise of religion.\n (c) Full Faith and Credit.--Adjudication of a claim of a violation \nof section 2 in a non-Federal forum shall not be entitled to full faith \nand credit in a Federal court unless the claimant had a full and fair \nadjudication of that claim in the non-Federal forum.\n (d) Attorneys' Fees.--Section 722(b) of the Revised Statutes (42 \nU.S.C. 1988(b)) is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``the Religious Land Use and \n Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000,'' after ``Religious \n Freedom Restoration Act of 1993,''; and\n (2) by striking the comma that follows a comma.\n (e) Prisoners.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to amend or \nrepeal the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (including provisions \nof law amended by that Act).\n (f) Authority of United States To Enforce This Act.--The United \nStates may bring an action for injunctive or declaratory relief to \nenforce compliance with this Act. Nothing in this subsection shall be \nconstrued to deny, impair, or otherwise affect any right or authority \nof the Attorney General, the United States, or any agency, officer, or \nemployee of the United States, acting under any law other than this \nsubsection, to institute or intervene in any proceeding.\n (g) Limitation.--If the only jurisdictional basis for applying a \nprovision of this Act is a claim that a substantial burden by a \ngovernment on religious exercise affects, or that removal of that \nsubstantial burden would affect, commerce with foreign nations, among \nthe several States, or with Indian tribes, the provision shall not \napply if the government demonstrates that all substantial burdens on, \nor the removal of all substantial burdens from, similar religious \nexercise throughout the Nation would not lead in the aggregate to a \nsubstantial effect on commerce with foreign nations, among the several \nStates, or with Indian tribes.\n\nSEC. 5. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.\n\n (a) Religious Belief Unaffected.--Nothing in this Act shall be \nconstrued to authorize any government to burden any religious belief.\n (b) Religious Exercise Not Regulated.--Nothing in this Act shall \ncreate any basis for restricting or burdening religious exercise or for \nclaims against a religious organization, including any religiously \naffiliated school or university, not acting under color of law.\n (c) Claims to Funding Unaffected.--Nothing in this Act shall create \nor preclude a right of any religious organization to receive funding or \nother assistance from a government, or of any person to receive \ngovernment funding for a religious activity, but this Act may require a \ngovernment to incur expenses in its own operations to avoid imposing a \nsubstantial burden on religious exercise.\n (d) Other Authority To Impose Conditions on Funding Unaffected.--\nNothing in this Act shall--\n (1) authorize a government to regulate or affect, directly \n or indirectly, the activities or policies of a person other \n than a government as a condition of receiving funding or other \n assistance; or\n (2) restrict any authority that may exist under other law \n to so regulate or affect, except as provided in this Act.\n (e) Governmental Discretion in Alleviating Burdens on Religious \nExercise.--A government may avoid the preemptive force of any provision \nof this Act by changing the policy or practice that results in a \nsubstantial burden on religious exercise, by retaining the policy or \npractice and exempting the substantially burdened religious exercise, \nby providing exemptions from the policy or practice for applications \nthat substantially burden religious exercise, or by any other means \nthat eliminates the substantial burden.\n (f) Effect on Other Law.--With respect to a claim brought under \nthis Act, proof that a substantial burden on a person's religious \nexercise affects, or removal of that burden would affect, commerce with \nforeign nations, among the several States, or with Indian tribes, shall \nnot establish any inference or presumption that Congress intends that \nany religious exercise is, or is not, subject to any law other than \nthis Act.\n (g) Broad Construction.--This Act shall be construed in favor of a \nbroad protection of religious exercise, to the maximum extent permitted \nby the terms of this Act and the Constitution.\n (h) No Preemption or Repeal.--Nothing in this Act shall be \nconstrued to preempt State law, or repeal Federal law, that is equally \nas protective of religious exercise as, or more protective of religious \nexercise than, this Act.\n (i) Severability.--If any provision of this Act or of an amendment \nmade by this Act, or any application of such provision to any person or \ncircumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this \nAct, the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the \nprovision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.\n\nSEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE UNAFFECTED.\n\n Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect, interpret, or in \nany way address that portion of the first amendment to the Constitution \nprohibiting laws respecting an establishment of religion (referred to \nin this section as the ``Establishment Clause''). Granting government \nfunding, benefits, or exemptions, to the extent permissible under the \nEstablishment Clause, shall not constitute a violation of this Act. In \nthis section, the term ``granting'', used with respect to government \nfunding, benefits, or exemptions, does not include the denial of \ngovernment funding, benefits, or exemptions.\n\nSEC. 7. AMENDMENTS TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT.\n\n (a) Definitions.--Section 5 of the Religious Freedom Restoration \nAct of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 2000bb-2) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``a State, or a \n subdivision of a State'' and inserting ``or of a covered \n entity'';\n (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``term'' and all that \n follows through ``includes'' and inserting ``term `covered \n entity' means''; and\n (3) in paragraph (4), by striking all after ``means'' and \n inserting ``religious exercise, as defined in section 8 of the \n Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of \n 2000.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 6(a) of the Religious Freedom \nRestoration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 2000bb-3(a)) is amended by striking \n``and State''.\n\nSEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Claimant.--The term ``claimant'' means a person raising \n a claim or defense under this Act.\n (2) Demonstrates.--The term ``demonstrates'' means meets \n the burdens of going forward with the evidence and of \n persuasion.\n (3) Free exercise clause.--The term ``Free Exercise \n Clause'' means that portion of the first amendment to the \n Constitution that proscribes laws prohibiting the free exercise \n of religion.\n (4) Government.--The term ``government''--\n (A) means--\n (i) a State, county, municipality, or other \n governmental entity created under the authority \n of a State;\n (ii) any branch, department, agency, \n instrumentality, or official of an entity \n listed in clause (i); and\n (iii) any other person acting under color \n of State law; and\n (B) for the purposes of sections 4(b) and 5, \n includes the United States, a branch, department, \n agency, instrumentality, or official of the United \n States, and any other person acting under color of \n Federal law.\n (5) Land use regulation.--The term ``land use regulation'' \n means a zoning or landmarking law, or the application of such a \n law, that limits or restricts a claimant's use or development \n of land (including a structure affixed to land), if the \n claimant has an ownership, leasehold, easement, servitude, or \n other property interest in the regulated land or a contract or \n option to acquire such an interest.\n (6) Program or activity.--The term ``program or activity'' \n means all of the operations of any entity described in \n paragraph (1) or (2) of section 606 of the Civil Rights Act of \n 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d-4a).\n (7) Religious exercise.--\n (A) In general.--The term ``religious exercise'' \n includes any exercise of religion, whether or not \n compelled by, or central to, a system of religious \n belief.\n (B) Rule.--The use, building, or conversion of real \n property for the purpose of religious exercise shall be \n considered to be religious exercise of the person or \n entity that uses or intends to use the property for \n that purpose.", "summary": "Prohibits any government from imposing a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person residing in or confined to an institution, as defined in the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless the government demonstrates that imposition of the burden on that person: (1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest. States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to amend or repeal the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (including provisions of law amended by that Act).", "title": "Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 139, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``TANF Recipients' Lifeline Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. REPEAL OF 5-YEAR LIMIT ON BENEFITS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (7).\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 409(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n609(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (9).\n\nSEC. 3. EXCEPTION FOR TANF TO 5-YEAR BAN ON BENEFITS FOR QUALIFIED \n ALIENS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 403(c)(2) of the Personal Responsibility \nand Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(c)(2)) \nis amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(L) Benefits under the Temporary Assistance for \n Needy Families program described in section \n 402(b)(3)(A).''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 402(b)(2) of the Personal \nResponsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 \nU.S.C. 1612(b)(2)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking ``subparagraph \n (C))'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (A) and (C))''; and\n (2) by striking subparagraph (B).\n\nSEC. 4. REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR NON-ENGLISH \n SPEAKERS.\n\n (a) Requirement.--Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(12) Use of bilingual personnel and printed material.--A \n State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall use \n appropriate bilingual personnel and printed material in the \n administration of the State program funded under this part in \n those portions of the political subdivisions in the State in \n which a substantial number of recipients of assistance under \n the State program speak a language other than English.''.\n (b) Penalty.--Section 409(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 609(a)) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(15) Failure to use bilingual personnel and printed \n material.--If the Secretary determines that a State to which a \n grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year has violated \n section 408(a)(12) during the fiscal year, the Secretary shall \n reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) \n for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by an amount equal \n to 2 percent of the State family assistance grant.''.\n\nSEC. 5. INFLATION ADJUSTMENT OF BLOCK GRANT.\n\n (a) Extension of Block Grant.--Section 403(a)(1)(A) of the Social \nSecurity Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``1996'' \nand all that follows through ``2002'' and inserting ``2002 through \n2005''.\n (b) Inflation Adjustment.--Section 403(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n603(a)(1)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (B)--\n (A) by striking ``means the greatest of--'' and \n inserting ``means, with respect to a fiscal year \n specified in subparagraph (A)--\n ``(i) the greatest of--'';\n (B) by redesignating each of clauses (i), (ii)(I), \n (ii)(II), and (iii) as subclauses (I), (II)(aa), \n (II)(bb), and (III), respectively;\n (C) by indenting each of the provisions specified \n in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph 2 additional ems \n to the right;\n (D) by striking the period and inserting ``; \n mulitplied by''; and\n (E) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(ii) if the fiscal year specified in \n subparagraph (A) is--\n ``(I) fiscal year 2002 or 2003, \n 1.00; or\n ``(II) fiscal year 2004 or 2005, \n 1.00 plus the inflation percentage (as \n defined in subparagraph (F) of this \n paragraph) in effect for the fiscal \n year specified in subparagraph (A).''; \n and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(F) Inflation percentage.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the inflation \n percentage applicable to a fiscal year is the \n percentage (if any) by which--\n ``(i) the average of the Consumer Price \n Index (as defined in section 1(f)(5) of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for the 12-month \n period ending on September 30 of the \n immediately preceding fiscal year; exceeds\n ``(ii) the average of the Consumer Price \n Index (as so defined) for the 12-month period \n ending on September 30, 2002.''.\n\nSEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, \n2002.", "summary": "TANF Recipients' Lifeline Act - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) repeal the five year limit on TANF benefits; (2) require a State to which a TANF grant is made to use appropriate bilingual personnel and printed material in the administration of the State program in those portions of the State in which a substantial number of TANF recipients speak a language other than English; and (3) provide for inflation adjustment of the TANF block grant.Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to exempt TANF benefits from the ban on Federal means-tested public benefits for qualified aliens for the first five years after lawful entry into the United States.", "title": "To reform the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2498, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Forest Roads-Community Right-To-Know \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. FOREST SERVICE AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES FOR \n PERMANENT CLOSURE OF FOREST ROADS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Permanent closure.--The term ``permanent closure'', \n with respect to a forest road, means the closure of the road to \n vehicular traffic for a continuous period of more than one \n year. The term includes a road closure of one year or less, or \n of an unspecified duration, unless the Secretary concerned \n certifies at the time of the closure that the closure will not \n extend beyond one year.\n (2) Forest road.--The term ``forest road'' means any road \n on Federal lands.\n (3) Federal lands.--The term ``Federal lands'' means--\n (A) lands administered by the Bureau of Land \n Management; and\n (B) lands within units of the National Forest \n System.\n (4) State and local government officials.--The term ``State \n and local government officials'' means elected officials of \n States and counties within which Federal lands are located.\n (5) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' \n means--\n (A) with respect to the Federal lands described in \n paragraph (3)(A), the Secretary of the Interior; and\n (B) with respect to the Federal lands described in \n paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary of Agriculture.\n (b) Advance Notice of Permanent Road Closures to State and Local \nGovernment Officials.--\n (1) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is to ensure \n that the Secretary concerned involves State and local \n government officials in the process by which the Secretary \n concerned considers and plans for the potential permanent \n closure of forest roads on Federal lands.\n (2) Annual meetings required.--At least once each fiscal \n year, the Secretary concerned shall meet with appropriate State \n and local government officials to describe all agency plans or \n proposals that, within the next two fiscal years, will or may \n result in the permanent closure of forest roads on Federal \n lands. Such agency plans or proposals include project \n proposals, land management plan amendments or revisions, \n resource management plan amendments or revisions, and regional \n or subregional plans or proposals\n (3) Elements of notice.--At a meeting under paragraph (2), \n the Secretary concerned shall provide information, using maps \n and other means, that at a minimum--\n (A) shows forest roads selected or proposed for \n permanent closure;\n (B) shows traffic patterns and volumes on the roads \n over the previous five years; and\n (C) explains how users of the roads will be \n adversely affected with longer travel times or adverse \n travel conditions by the permanent closure of the \n roads.\n (4) Special rule for first meeting.--At the first meeting \n conducted under paragraph (2) for a State or local government, \n the Secretary concerned shall also provide information on all \n forest roads that have been subject to permanent closure in \n that State during the previous five years. The information \n shall include a map showing the location of the forest \nroads and a description of the methods and costs of the permanent \nclosure of the forest roads.\n (c) Public Notice and Comment Requirements.--\n (1) Local notice.--Before proceeding with the permanent \n closure of a forest road, the Secretary concerned shall publish \n an announcement describing the proposed closure in the local \n newspaper of record for the area likely to be affected by the \n permanent closure of the road. The announcement shall include a \n description and map of the forest road selected or proposed for \n permanent closure and a description of any comments generated \n regarding the closure in meetings with State and local \n government officials under subsection (b).\n (2) Comment period.--The permanent closure of a forest road \n may not take effect until after the end of the 90-day period \n beginning on the date that the announcement under paragraph (1) \n was published regarding that road so as to permit the public to \n submit comments regarding the decision to select or propose the \n forest road for permanent closure.\n (d) Prohibition on Permanent Road Closures.--The permanent closure \nof a forest road is prohibited unless--\n (1) advance notice of the permanent closure of the road is \n provided to the appropriate State and local government \n officials in the manner provided in subsection (b); and\n (2) the Secretary complies with the public notice and \n comment requirements under subsection (c).\n (e) Application of Requirements.--The requirements of this section \nshall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, except that \nthe prohibition contained in subsection (d)(1) shall not apply to \nprohibit the permanent closure of any forest road implemented during \nthe fiscal year in which this section is enacted.\n (f) Effect on Valid and Existing Rights.--Nothing in this section \nshall invalidate rights-of-way designated under section 2477 of the \nRevised Statutes of 1878 (43 U.S.C. 932) or other valid and existing \nrights, including rights of ingress and egress.\n (g) Compliance With State Laws.--In carrying out this section with \nrespect to a forest road, the Secretary concerned shall comply with the \napplicable laws of the State in which the forest road is located.\n\nSEC. 3. EMERGENCIES.\n\n (a) Emergency Road Closures.--Subject to subsection (b), the \nrequirements of section 2 shall not apply to emergency road closures \nwhere life or property would be endangered or threatened in the absence \nof the road closure.\n (b) Length of Closure.--If an emergency road closure will extend \nbeyond one year, the Secretary concerned shall comply with the \nrequirements of section 2 within three months after the date on which \nthe emergency road closure commenced.", "summary": "Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, prior to making permanent road closings on National Forest System or Bureau of Land Management lands, respectively, to: (1) provide affected State and local officials with advance notice showing affected roads and traffic patterns; and (2) provide for public notice and comment.\nRequires: (1) the Secretaries to meet annually with State and local officials to describe agency proposals that will or may result in permanent road closures within the coming two fiscal years; and (2) information to be provided at the first meeting respecting the previous five years' road closings.", "title": "Forest Roads-Community Right-To-Know Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 642, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n This Act may be cited as the ``Third Higher Education Extension Act \nof 2007''.\nSEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PROGRAMS.\n Section 2(a) of the Higher Education Extension Act of 2005 (Public \nLaw 109-81; 20 U.S.C. 1001 note) is amended by striking ``October 31, \n2007'' and inserting ``March 31, 2008''.\nSEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.\n Nothing in this Act, or in the Higher Education Extension Act of \n2005 as amended by this Act, shall be construed to limit or otherwise \nalter the authorizations of appropriations for, or the durations of, \nprograms contained in the amendments made by the Higher Education \nReconciliation Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-171) or by the College Cost \nReduction and Access Act (Public Law 110-84) to the provisions of the \nHigher Education Act of 1965 and the Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act of \n2004.\nSEC. 4. DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE NOT-FOR-PROFIT HOLDER.\n Section 435(p) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n1085(p)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraph (D) and \n inserting the following:\n ``(D) acting as a trustee on behalf of a State, political \n subdivision, authority, agency, instrumentality, or other \n entity described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), regardless \n of whether such State, political subdivision, authority, \n agency, instrumentality, or other entity is an eligible lender \n under subsection (d).''; and\n (2) in paragraph (2)--\n (A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking subclause (II) and \n inserting the following:\n\n ``(II) is acting as a trustee on behalf of a State, \n political subdivision, authority, agency, \n instrumentality, or other entity described in \n subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), \n regardless of whether such State, political \n subdivision, authority, agency, instrumentality, or \n other entity is an eligible lender under subsection \n (d), and such State, political subdivision, authority, \n agency, instrumentality, or other entity, on the date \n of enactment of the College Cost Reduction and Access \n Act, was the sole beneficial owner of a loan eligible \n for any special allowance payment under section 438.'';\n\n (B) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting ``of'' after \n ``waive the requirements'';\n (C) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:\n ``(B) No for-profit ownership or control.--\n ``(i) In general.--No State, political subdivision, \n authority, agency, instrumentality, or other entity \n described in paragraph (1)(A), (B), or (C) shall be an \n eligible not-for-profit holder under this Act if such \n State, political subdivision, authority, agency, \n instrumentality, or other entity is owned or controlled, in \n whole or in part, by a for-profit entity.\n ``(ii) Trustees.--A trustee described in paragraph \n (1)(D) shall not be an eligible not-for-profit holder under \n this Act with respect to a State, political subdivision, \n authority, agency, instrumentality, or other entity \n described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph \n (1), regardless of whether such State, political \n subdivision, authority, agency, instrumentality, or other \n entity is an eligible lender under subsection (d), if such \n State, political subdivision, authority, agency, \n instrumentality, or other entity is owned or controlled, in \n whole or in part, by a for-profit entity.'';\n (D) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:\n ``(C) Sole ownership of loans and income.--No State, \n political subdivision, authority, agency, instrumentality, \n trustee, or other entity described in paragraph (1)(A), (B), \n (C), or (D) shall be an eligible not-for-profit holder under \n this Act with respect to any loan, or income from any loan, \n unless--\n ``(i) such State, political subdivision, authority, \n agency, instrumentality, or other entity is the sole \n beneficial owner of such loan and the income from such \n loan; or\n ``(ii) such trustee holds the loan on behalf of a \n State, political subdivision, authority, agency, \n instrumentality, or other entity described in subparagraph \n (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), regardless of whether \n such State, political subdivision, authority, agency, \n instrumentality, or other entity is an eligible lender \n under subsection (d), and such State, political \n subdivision, authority, agency, instrumentality, or other \n entity is the sole beneficial owner of such loan and the \n income from such loan.'';\n (E) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``an entity described \n in described in paragraph (1)(A), (B), or (C)'' and inserting \n ``a State, political subdivision, authority, agency, \n instrumentality, or other entity described in subparagraph (A), \n (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), regardless of whether such State, \n political subdivision, authority, agency, instrumentality, or \n other entity is an eligible lender under subsection (d),''; and\n (F) by amending subparagraph (E) to read as follows:\n ``(E) Rule of construction.--For purposes of subparagraphs \n (A), (B), (C), and (D) of this paragraph, a State, political \n subdivision, authority, agency, instrumentality, or other \n entity described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph \n (1), regardless of whether such State, political subdivision, \n authority, agency, instrumentality, or other entity is an \n eligible lender under subsection (d), shall not--\n ``(i) be deemed to be owned or controlled, in whole or \n in part, by a for-profit entity; or\n ``(ii) lose its status as the sole owner of a \n beneficial interest in a loan and the income from a loan,\n by such State, political subdivision, authority, agency, \n instrumentality, or other entity, or by the trustee described \n in paragraph (1)(D), granting a security interest in, or \n otherwise pledging as collateral, such loan, or the income from \n such loan, to secure a debt obligation for which such State, \n political subdivision, authority, agency, instrumentality, or \n other entity is the issuer of the debt obligation.''.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "Third Higher Education Extension Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Extension Act of 2005 to extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 through March 31, 2008.\n\nAmends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to consider trustees acting on behalf of certain governmental or tax-exempt entities as eligible nonprofit holders of Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs), regardless of whether or not such entities are eligible FFEL lenders.", "title": "A bill to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, to amend the definition of an eligible not-for-profit holder, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1556, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Joe Testaverde Adult Stem Cell \nResearch Act of 2005''.\n\nSEC. 2. EXPANSION, INTENSIFICATION, AND COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES OF \n NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH REGARDING QUALIFYING ADULT \n STEM CELL RESEARCH.\n\n Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 \net seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 409J. QUALIFYING ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH.\n\n ``(a) In General.--\n ``(1) Expansion of activities.--The Director of NIH shall \n expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of the \n National Institutes of Health regarding qualifying adult stem \n cell research.\n ``(2) Collaboration among agencies.--The Director shall \n carry out this section in collaboration with any other agencies \n that the Director determines appropriate.\n ``(b) Centers of Excellence.--\n ``(1) In general.--In carrying out subsection (a)(1), the \n Director shall make awards of grants and contracts to public or \n nonprofit private entities to pay all or part of the cost of \n planning, establishing, improving, and providing basic \n operating support for centers of excellence regarding \n qualifying adult stem cell research.\n ``(2) Research.--Each center shall conduct basic and \n clinical research regarding qualifying adult stem cells. Such \n research should include investigations into the cause, \n diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control, and treatment \n of disease.\n ``(3) Services for patients.--\n ``(A) In general.--A center may expend amounts \n provided under paragraph (1) to carry out a program to \n make individuals aware of opportunities to participate \n as subjects in research conducted by the centers.\n ``(B) Referrals and costs.--A program under \n subparagraph (A) may, in accordance with such criteria \n as the Director may establish, provide to the subjects \n described in such subparagraph, referrals for health \n and other services, and such patient care costs as are \n required for research.\n ``(C) Availability and access.--The extent to which \n a center can demonstrate availability and access to \n clinical services shall be considered by the Director \n in decisions about awarding grants to applicants which \n meet the scientific criteria for funding under this \n section.\n ``(4) Coordination of centers; reports.--The Director \n shall, as appropriate, provide for the coordination of \n information among centers and ensure regular communication \n between such centers, and may require the periodic preparation \n of reports on the activities of the centers and the submission \n of the reports to the Director.\n ``(5) Organization of centers.--Each center shall use the \n facilities of a single institution, or be formed from a \n consortium of cooperating institutions, meeting such \n requirements as may be prescribed by the Director.\n ``(6) Number of centers; duration of support.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Director shall provide for \n the establishment of not less than five centers under \n paragraph (1).\n ``(B) Duration.--Support for a center may be \n provided under this section for a period of not to \n exceed 5 years. Such period may be extended for one or \n more additional periods not exceeding 5 years if the \n operations of such center have been reviewed by an \n appropriate technical and scientific peer review group \n established by the Director and if such group has \n recommended to the Director that such period should be \n extended.\n ``(c) Facilitation of Research.--In carrying out subsection (a)(1), \nthe Director shall provide for a program under which samples of tissues \nand genetic materials that are of use in qualifying adult stem cell \nresearch are donated, collected, preserved, and made available for such \nresearch. The program shall be carried out in accordance with accepted \nscientific and medical standards for the donation, collection, and \npreservation of such samples.\n ``(d) Public Input.--In carrying out subsection (a)(1), the \nDirector shall provide for means through which the public can obtain \ninformation on the existing and planned programs and activities of the \nNational Institutes of Health regarding qualifying adult stem cell \nresearch and through which the Director can receive comments from the \npublic regarding such programs and activities.\n ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) The term `center' means a center of excellence under \n subsection (b)(1).\n ``(2) The term `Director' means the Director of NIH.\n ``(3) The term `qualifying adult stem cell' means a human \n stem cell obtained from a human placenta, umbilical cord blood, \n an organ or tissue of a living or deceased human being who has \n been born, or an organ or tissue of unborn human offspring who \n died of natural causes (such as spontaneous abortion).\n ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, \nthere are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary \nfor fiscal year 2006 and each subsequent fiscal year. Such \nauthorization of appropriations is in addition to any other \nauthorization of appropriations that is available for activities of the \nNational Institutes of Health regarding qualifying adult stem cell \nresearch.''.", "summary": "Joe Testaverde Adult Stem Cell Research Act of 2005 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand, intensify, and coordinate NIH activities regarding qualifying adult stem cell research. Defines \"qualifying adult stem cell\" to mean a human stem cell obtained from a human placenta, umbilical cord blood, an organ or tissue of a living or deceased human being who has been born, or an organ or tissue of unborn human offspring who died of natural causes (such as spontaneous abortion).\n\nRequires the Director to award grants and contracts to plan, establish, improve, and provide basic operating support for no less than five centers of excellence regarding such research. Requires each center to conduct basic and clinical research, including investigations into the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control, and treatment of disease. Allows a center to: (1) make individuals aware of opportunities to participate as subjects in research; and (2) provide referrals for health and other services.\n\nRequires the Director to provide for: (1) a program under which samples of tissues and genetic materials that are of use in qualifying adult stem cell research are donated, collected, preserved, and made available for such research; and (2) means through which the public can obtain information on NIH programs and activities related to such research and through which the Director can receive comments from the public.", "title": "To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the expansion, intensification, and coordination of the activities of the National Institutes of Health regarding qualifying adult stem cell research, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2726, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment \nCost-Saving Act of 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. COVERAGE OF LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT SERVICES UNDER \n MEDICARE.\n\n (a) Coverage of Services.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act \n(42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (s)(2)--\n (A) in subparagraph (EE), by striking ``and'' at \n the end;\n (B) in subparagraph (FF), by adding ``and'' at the \n end; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(GG)(i) lymphedema diagnosis services (as defined \n in subsection (iii)(1)) and lymphedema treatment \n services (as described in subsection (iii)(2)); and\n ``(ii) lymphedema compression treatment items (as \n defined in subsection (jjj)).''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:\n ``(iii) Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Services.--(1) \nLymphedema Diagnosis Services.--The term `lymphedema diagnosis \nservices' means, with respect to an individual, the differential \ndiagnosis of the source of the individual's edema and the \nidentification of the specific etiology and functional lymphatic \ndeficiency, in which such diagnosis--\n ``(A) is provided by a provider, as defined in paragraph \n (3), for the purpose of developing a lymphedema treatment plan; \n and\n ``(B) may utilize any diagnostic tools the provider \n determines to be reasonable and necessary.\n ``(2) Lymphedema Treatment Services.--The term `lymphedema \ntreatment services' means, with respect to an individual, services for \nthe treatment of lymphedema (regardless of cause)--\n ``(A) that are--\n ``(i) provided in an inpatient or outpatient \n setting;\n ``(ii) provided by a provider, as defined in \n paragraph (3), within the established scope of practice \n of such provider; and\n ``(iii) medically necessary, in accordance with the \n current standard of lymphedema treatment, including \n complete decongestive therapy, which is a multi-modal \n therapy comprising of manual lymph drainage, \n compression therapy utilizing multilayer bandage \n systems, compression garments and devices, exercise, \n skin care, patient education, and any other lymphedema \n treatment modalities determined by the Secretary to be \n safe and effective; and\n ``(B) which shall--\n ``(i) include as medically necessary with respect \n to the individual--\n ``(I) an initial evaluation and course of \n clinical treatment, including initial baseline \n measurements and subsequent measurements to \n assess treatment efficacy and progress;\n ``(II) follow-up courses of clinical \n treatment;\n ``(III) in the case that such individual \n has cancer, clinical measurements, including \n initial pre-operative baseline measurements and \n periodic subsequent measurements to diagnose \n the presence of lymphedema; and\n ``(IV) any other treatment modality \n approved by the Secretary; and\n ``(ii) be provided in accordance with such \n schedule, duration, and number of treatments as \n determined medically necessary.\n ``(3) Provider Defined.--For purposes of this subsection and \nsubsection (jjj), the term `provider' means any licensed medical or \nhealth care provider whose State licensing board recognizes lymphedema \ndiagnosis, lymphedema treatment, or both to fall within the scope of \npractice of such medical or health care provider.\n ``(jjj) Lymphedema Compression Treatment Items.--The term \n`lymphedema compression treatment items' means, with respect to an \nindividual, compression garments, devices, bandaging systems, \ncomponents, and supplies that are primarily and customarily used in the \nmedical treatment of lymphedema of the arms, hands, legs, feet, torso, \nface and neck, breast and chest, abdomen, and genitalia, as prescribed \nby a provider, as defined in subsection (iii)(3). Such term includes--\n ``(1) multilayer compression bandaging systems, including \n short-stretch and medium-stretch compression bandages; cotton, \n synthetic, or foam padding; gauze or elastic finger and toe \n bandages; foam pads; directional flow padding; and tubular \n bandages;\n ``(2) custom or standard fit gradient compression garments;\n ``(3) non-elastic and low-elastic compression garments, \n manually adjustable or fitted padded directional flow garments \n (with or without elastic or non-elastic compression jackets) \n and compression wraps and directional flow pads;\n ``(4) aids and ancillary equipment consisting of donning \n aids, bandage rollers, shoes to fit over compression items, and \n other specialized items used with the items described in \n paragraphs (1) through (3);\n ``(5) pneumatic appliances connected to and used in \n conjunction with pneumatic sequential compression controllers;\n ``(6) any other compression garments, bandaging systems, \n devices, and aids determined by the Secretary to be effective \n in the prevention or treatment of lymphedema; and\n ``(7) replacements of any items under this subsection in \n accordance with section 1834(p)(3).''.\n (b) Payment.--\n (1) Lymphedema compression treatment items.--\n (A) In general.--Section 1833(a) of such Act (42 \n U.S.C. 1395l(a)) is amended--\n (i) in paragraph (8), by striking at the \n end ``and'';\n (ii) in paragraph (9), by striking at the \n end the period and inserting a semi-colon; and\n (iii) by adding at the end the following \n new paragraph:\n ``(10) in the case of lymphedema compression treatment \n items described in section 1861(jjj), the amount determined \n under section 1834(p); and''.\n (B) Payment determined.--Section 1834 of such Act \n (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at the end the \n following new subsection:\n ``(p) Payment for Lymphedema Compression Treatment Items.--\n ``(1) General rule for payment.--\n ``(A) In general.--With respect to a lymphedema \n compression treatment item as defined in section \n 1861(jjj)) for which payment is determined under this \n subsection, subject to subparagraph (D), payment shall \n be made in an amount equal to 80 percent of the payment \n basis described in subparagraph (B).\n ``(B) Payment basis.--The payment basis described \n in this subparagraph, with respect to a lymphedema \n compression treatment item described in section \n 1861(jjj), is the actual charge for the item.\n ``(C) Exclusive payment rule for home health \n agencies.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this \n title, this subsection shall constitute the exclusive \n provision of this title for payment for lymphedema \n compression treatment items described in section \n 1861(jjj) under this part or under part A to a home \n health agency or for such items that are furnished as \n an incident to a physician's professional service.\n ``(2) Allowable quantities.--In the case it is determined \n by a provider, as defined in section 1861(iii)(3), that \n lymphedema compression treatment items are required as part of \n lymphedema treatment services under section 1861(iii)(2), then \n payment may be made under this title in accordance with this \n subsection for such items in the quantity which is customary, \n reasonable, and medically necessary.\n ``(3) Replacement of lymphedema compression treatment \n items.--\n ``(A) In general.--Payment shall be made under this \n subsection, with respect to an individual, for the \n replacement of a lymphedema compression treatment item \n if the period of the reasonable and useful lifetime of \n the item (as described in subparagraph (B)) has expired \n or a provider, as defined in section 1861(iii)(3), \n determines that a replacement, or repair, of such item, \n is medically necessary.\n ``(B) Reasonable and useful lifetime.--For purposes \n of subparagraph (A), the period of the reasonable and \n useful lifetime of a lymphedema compression treatment \n item is as follows:\n ``(i) In the case of any item described in \n section 1861(jjj)(1), 1 year.\n ``(ii) In the case of any item described in \n section 1861(jjj)(2), 6 months.\n ``(iii) In the case of any item described \n in section 1861(jjj)(3), 2 years.\n ``(iv) In the case of any item described in \n section 1861(jjj)(4), 1 year.\n ``(v) In the case of any item described in \n section 1861(jjj)(5), 5 years.\n ``(vi) In the case of any item described in \n section 1861(jjj)(6), such period as determined \n by the Secretary, in consultation with \n appropriate health organizations, at the time \n the Secretary determines such item to be \n effective in the prevention or treatment of \n lymphedema.''.\n (C) Application of supplier requirements.--Section \n 1834(j)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(j)(5)) is \n amended--\n (i) in subparagraph (E), by striking at the \n end ``and'';\n (ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking at \n the end the period and inserting ``; and''; and\n (iii) by adding at the end the following \n new subparagraph:\n ``(G) lymphedema compression treatment items (as \n defined in section 1861(jjj)).''.\n (2) Lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services.--\n (A) In general.--Section 1833(a) of such Act, as \n amended by paragraph (1)(A), is further amended by \n adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(11)(A) in the case of lymphedema diagnosis services (as \n defined in section 1861(iii)(1)) furnished by a provider (as \n defined in section 1861(iii)(3)) the amount described in \n section 1834(q); and\n ``(B) in the case of lymphedema treatment services (as \n defined in section 1861(iii)(2)) furnished by a provider (as \n defined in section 1861(iii)(3)) the amount described in \n section 1834(k).''.\n (B) Payment method.--Section 1834 of such Act, as \n amended by paragraph (1)(B), is further amended by \n adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(q) Payment for Outpatient Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment \nServices by Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners.--\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 1833(a)(11), the \n amount described in this subsection, with respect to a \n lymphedema diagnosis service or lymphedema treatment service, \n is 80 percent of the lesser of--\n ``(A) the actual charge for the service; or\n ``(B) the applicable fee schedule amount (as \n defined in paragraph (2)) for the service.\n ``(2) Applicable fee schedule amount.--In this subsection, \n the term `applicable fee schedule amount' means, with respect \n to services furnished in a year, the amount determined under \n the fee schedule established under section 1848 for such \n services furnished during the year.''.\n (C) Conforming amendment for payments under \n 1834(k).--Section 1834(k)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n 1395m(k)(1)) is amended by striking ``or 1833(a)(9)'' \n and inserting ``1833(a)(9), or 1833(a)(11)''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to items and services furnished on or after the date that is 180 \ndays from the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Lymphedema Diagnosis and Treatment Cost Savings Act of 2011 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend coverage to lymphedema diagnosis and treatment services. including lymphedema compression treatment items.", "title": "To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema under the Medicare program and to reduce costs under such program related to the treatment of lymphedema."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 654, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Mobile Workforce State Income Tax \nFairness and Simplification Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. LIMITATIONS ON STATE WITHHOLDING AND TAXATION OF EMPLOYEE \n INCOME.\n\n (a) In General.--No part of the wages or other remuneration earned \nby an employee who performs employment duties in more than one State \nshall be subject to income tax in any State other than--\n (1) the State of the employee's residence; and\n (2) the State within which the employee is present and \n performing employment duties for more than 30 days during the \n calendar year in which the income is earned.\n (b) Wages or Other Remuneration.--Wages or other remuneration \nearned in any calendar year are not subject to State income tax \nwithholding and reporting unless the employee is subject to income tax \nunder subsection (a). Income tax withholding and reporting under \nsubsection (a)(2) shall apply to wages or other remuneration earned as \nof the commencement date of duties in the State during the calendar \nyear.\n (c) Operating Rules.--For purposes of determining an employer's \nState income tax withholding and information return obligations--\n (1) an employer may rely on an employee's determination of \n the time expected to be spent by such employee in the States in \n which the employee will perform duties absent--\n (A) actual knowledge of fraud by the employee in \n making the estimate; or\n (B) collusion between the employer and the employee \n to evade tax;\n (2) if records are maintained by an employer recording the \n location of an employee for other business purposes, such \n records shall not preclude an employer's ability to rely on an \n employee's determination as set forth in paragraph (1); and\n (3) notwithstanding paragraph (2), if an employer, at its \n sole discretion, maintains a time and attendance system which \n tracks where the employee performs duties on a daily basis, \n data from the time and attendance system shall be used instead \n of the employee's determination as set forth in paragraph (1).\n (d) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this Act:\n (1) Day.--\n (A) An employee will be considered present and \n performing employment duties within a State for a day \n if the employee performs the preponderance of the \n employee's employment duties within such State for such \n day.\n (B) Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1)(A), if an \n employee performs material employment duties in a \n resident state and one nonresident state during one \n day, such employee will be considered to have performed \n the preponderance of the employee's employment duties \n in the nonresident state for such day.\n (C) For purposes of subsection (d)(1), the portion \n of the day the employee is in transit shall not apply \n in determining the location of an employee's \n performance of employment duties.\n (2) Employee.--The term ``employee'' shall be defined by \n the State in which the duties are performed, except that the \n term ``employee'' shall not include a professional athlete, \n professional entertainer, or certain public figures.\n (3) Professional athlete.--The term ``professional \n athlete'' means a person who performs services in a \n professional athletic event, provided that the wages or other \n remuneration are paid to such person for performing services in \n his or her capacity as a professional athlete.\n (4) Professional entertainer.--The term ``professional \n entertainer'' means a person who performs services in the \n professional performing arts for wages or other remuneration on \n a per-event basis, provided that the wages or other \n remuneration are paid to such person for performing services in \n his or her capacity as a professional entertainer.\n (5) Certain public figures.--The term ``certain public \n figures'' means persons of prominence who perform services for \n wages or other remuneration on a per-event basis, provided that \n the wages or other remuneration are paid to such person for \n services provided at a discrete event in the form of a speech, \n similar presentation or personal appearance.\n (6) Employer.--The term ``employer'' has the meaning given \n such term in section 3401(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n 1986 (26 U.S.C. 3401(d)) or shall be defined by the State in \n which the duties are performed.\n (7) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several \n States of the United States.\n (8) Time and attendance system.--The term ``time and \n attendance system'' means a system where the employee is \n required on a contemporaneous basis to record his work location \n for every day worked outside of the state in which the \n employee's duties are primarily preformed and the employer uses \n this data to allocate the employee's wages between all taxing \n jurisdictions in which the employee performs duties.\n (9) Wages or other remuneration.--The term ``wages or other \n remuneration'' shall be defined by the State in which the \n employment duties are performed.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act shall be effective on January 1, 2011.", "summary": "Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Fairness and Simplification Act - Limits state taxation of the wages or other remuneration of any employee who performs duties in more than one state to: (1) the state of the employee's residence; and (2) the state in which the employee is present and performing employment duties for more than 30 days. Exempts from the definition of \"employee\" for purposes of this Act a professional athlete or entertainer or certain public figures.", "title": "To limit the authority of States to tax certain income of employees for employment duties performed in other States."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1061, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Investment Transparency and \nSecurity Act of 2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. LIMITS ON FOREIGN CONTROL OF INVESTMENTS IN CERTAIN UNITED \n STATES CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.\n\n (a) In General.--Title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 \nU.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n ``Subtitle E--Limits on Foreign Control of Investments in Certain \n United States Critical Infrastructure\n\n``SEC. 241. DEFINITIONS.\n\n ``As used in this subtitle--\n ``(1) the term `foreign government controlled entity' means \n any entity in which a foreign government owns a majority \n interest, or otherwise controls or manages the entity; and\n ``(2) the term `general business corporation' means any \n entity that qualifies for treatment for Federal taxation \n purposes under subchapter C or subchapter S of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986, established or organized under the laws \n of any State.\n\n``SEC. 242. LIMITATION ON FOREIGN INVESTMENTS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--A foreign government controlled entity may \nacquire, own, or otherwise control or manage any critical \ninfrastructure of the United States only through the establishment or \noperation of a foreign owned general business corporation that meets \nthe requirements of subsection (b).\n ``(b) Requirements.--For purposes of this section, a general \nbusiness corporation shall--\n ``(1) have a board of directors, the majority of which is \n comprised of United States citizens;\n ``(2) have a chief security officer who is a United States \n citizen, responsible for safety and security issues related to \n the critical infrastructure; and\n ``(3) maintain all records related to operations, \n personnel, and security of the United States general business \n corporation in the United States.\n ``(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this subtitle may be \nconstrued to restrict or otherwise alter the authority of the President \nor the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (or any \nsuccessor thereto) as the designee of the President, under section 721 \nof the Defense Production Act of 1950.\n\n``SEC. 243. REGULATIONS REQUIRED.\n\n ``Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this \nsubtitle, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the \nTreasury, shall promulgate final regulations to carry out this \nsubtitle.\n\n``SEC. 244. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Section 242 shall apply beginning on the date \nthat is 6 months after the date of enactment of this subtitle.\n ``(b) Existing Entities.--A foreign government controlled entity \nthat owns or otherwise controls or manages any critical infrastructure \nof the United States on the effective date of this subtitle shall \ncomply with the requirements of this subtitle not later than 180 days \nafter that effective date.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents under section 1(b) \nof the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101) is amended by \ninserting after the item relating to section 237 the following:\n\n ``Subtitle E--Limits on Foreign Control of Investments in Certain \n United States Critical Infrastructure\n\n ``Sec. 241. Definitions.\n ``Sec. 242. Limitation on foreign investments.\n ``Sec. 243. Regulations required.\n ``Sec. 244. Effective date.''.\n\nSEC. 3. MARITIME SECURITY.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--\n (1) existing scanning processes for maritime containers are \n insufficient;\n (2) it should be the goal of the United States to scan 100 \n percent of inbound maritime containers; and\n (3) the maritime container inspection system employed in \n Hong Kong shows promise in enhancing the maritime security \n capabilities of the United States.\n (b) Amendments to Homeland Security Act.--\n (1) In general.--Subtitle A of title IV of the Homeland \n Security Act (6 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the \n end the following:\n\n``SEC. 404. REPORT ON SCANNING OF MARITIME CONTAINERS.\n\n ``(a) Report to Congress.--Not later than 90 days after the date of \nenactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit a report to \nCongress detailing the processes and policies for implementation of a \nscanning system for 100 percent of the inbound maritime containers \ndescribed in subsection (a).\n ``(b) Definition of Container.--The term `container' has the \nmeaning given the term in the International Convention for Safe \nContainers, with annexes, done at Geneva December 2, 1972 (29 UST \n3707).''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--The table of contents under \n section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. \n 101) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section \n 403 the following:\n\n ``Sec. 404. Report on scanning of maritime containers.''.", "summary": "Foreign Investment Transparency and Security Act of 2006 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide that a foreign government controlled entity may acquire, own, or otherwise control or manage any critical infrastructure of the United States only through the establishment or operation of a foreign owned general business corporation that meets specified requirements.\n\nRequires a majority of the board of directors of such a corporation and its chief security officer to be U.S. citizens.\n\n\n\nDirects the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on the processes and policies for implementation of a scanning system for 100% of all inbound maritime containers.", "title": "A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to limit foreign control of investments in certain United States critical infrastructure."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 93, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Irrigation Subsidy Reduction Act of \n1996''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that--\n (1) the Federal reclamation program has been in existence \n for over 90 years, with an estimated taxpayer investment of \n over $70,000,000,000;\n (2) the program has had and continues to have an enormous \n effect on the water resources and aquatic environments of the \n western States;\n (3) irrigation water made available from Federal water \n projects in the West is a very valuable resource for which \n there are increasing and competing demands;\n (4) the justification for providing water at less than full \n cost was to benefit and promote the development of small family \n farms and exclude large corporate farms, but this purpose has \n been frustrated over the years due to inadequate implementation \n of subsidy and acreage limits;\n (5) below-cost water prices tend to encourage excessive use \n of scarce water supplies in the arid regions of the West, and \n reasonable price increases to the wealthiest western farmers \n would provide an economic incentive for greater water \n conservation;\n (6) the Federal Government has increasingly applied \n eligibility tests based on income for Federal entitlement and \n subsidy programs, measures that are consistent with the \n historic approach of the reclamation program's acreage \n limitations that seek to limit water subsidies to smaller \n farms; and\n (7) including a means test based on gross income in the \n reclamation program will increase the effectiveness of carrying \n out the family farm goals of the Federal reclamation laws.\n\nSEC. 3. AMENDMENTS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--Section 202 of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 \n(43 U.S.C. 390bb) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7), (8), (9), (10), and \n (11) as paragraphs (9), (10), (11), (12), and (13), \n respectively;\n (2) in paragraph (6) by striking ``owned or operated under \n a lease which'' and inserting ``owned, leased, or operated by \n an individual or legal entity and which'';\n (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:\n ``(7) Legal entity.--The term `legal entity' includes a \n corporation, association, partnership, trust, joint tenancy, or \n tenancy in common, or any other entity that owns, leases, or \n operates a farm operation for the benefit of more than 1 \n individual under any form of agreement or arrangement.\n ``(8) Operator.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `operator'--\n ``(i) means an individual or legal entity \n that operates a single farm operation on a \n parcel (or parcels) of land that is owned or \n leased by another person (or persons) under any \n form of agreement or arrangement (or agreements \n or arrangements); and\n ``(ii) if the individual or legal entity--\n ``(I) is an employee of an \n individual or legal entity, includes \n the individual or legal entity; or\n ``(II) is a legal entity that \n controls, is controlled by, or is under \n common control with another legal \n entity, includes each such other legal \n entity.\n ``(B) Operation of a farm operation.--For the \n purposes of subparagraph (A), an individual or legal \n entity shall be considered to operate a farm operation \n if the individual or legal entity is the person that \n performs the greatest proportion of the decisionmaking \n for and supervision of the agricultural enterprise on \n land served with irrigation water.''; and\n (4) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(14) Single farm operation.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `single farm operation' \n means the total acreage of land served with irrigation \n water for which an individual or legal entity is the \n operator.\n ``(B) Rules for determining whether separate \n parcels are operated as a single farm operation.--\n ``(i) Equipment- and labor-sharing \n activities.--The conduct of equipment- and \n labor-sharing activities on separate parcels of \n land by separate individuals or legal entities \n shall not by itself serve as a basis for \n concluding that the farming operations of the \n individuals or legal entities constitute a \n single farm operation.\n ``(ii) Performance of certain services.--\n The performance by an individual or legal \n entity of an agricultural chemical application, \n pruning, or harvesting for a farm operation on \n a parcel of land shall not by itself serve as a \n basis for concluding that the farm operation on \n that parcel of land is part of a single farm \n operation operated by the individual or entity \n on other parcels of land.''.\n (b) Identification of Owners, Lessees, and Operators and of Single \nFarm Operations.--The Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C. 39aa et \nseq.) is amended by inserting after section 201 the following:\n\n``SEC. 201A. IDENTIFICATION OF OWNERS, LESSEES, AND OPERATORS AND OF \n SINGLE FARM OPERATIONS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), for each parcel of \nland to which irrigation water is delivered or proposed to be \ndelivered, the Secretary shall identify a single individual or legal \nentity as the owner, lessee, or operator.\n ``(b) Shared Decisionmaking and Supervision.--If the Secretary \ndetermines that no single individual or legal entity is the owner, \nlessee, or other individual that performs the greatest proportion of \ndecisionmaking for and supervision of the agricultural enterprise on a \nparcel of land--\n ``(1) all individuals and legal entities that own, lease, \n or perform a proportion of decisionmaking and supervision that \n is equal as among themselves but greater than the proportion \n performed by any other individual or legal entity shall be \n considered jointly to be the owner, lessee, or operator; and\n ``(2) all parcels of land of which any such individual or \n legal entity is the owner, lessee, or operator shall be \n considered to be part of the single farm operation of the \n owner, lessee, or operator identified under subsection (1).\n (c) Pricing.--Section 205 of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (43 \nU.S.C. 390ee) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(d) Single Farm Operations Generating More Than $500,000 in Gross \nFarm Income.--\n ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsections (a), (b), \n and (c), in the case of--\n ``(A) a qualified recipient that reports gross farm \n income from a single farm operation in excess of \n $500,000 for a taxable year; or\n ``(B) a limited recipient that received irrigation \n water on or before October 1, 1981, and that reports \n gross farm income from a single farm operation in \n excess of $500,000 for a taxable year;\n irrigation water may be delivered to the single farm operation \n of the qualified recipient or limited recipient at less than \n full cost to a number of acres that does not exceed the number \n of acres determined under paragraph (2).\n ``(2) Maximum number of acres to which irrigation water may \n be delivered at less than full cost.--The number of acres \n determined under this subparagraph is the number equal to the \n number of acres of the single farm operation multiplied by a \n fraction, the numerator of which is $500,000 and the \n denominator of which is the amount of gross farm income \n reported by the qualified recipient or limited recipient in the \n most recent taxable year.\n ``(3) Inflation adjustment.--\n ``(A) In general.--The $500,000 amount under \n paragraphs (1) and (2) for any taxable year beginning \n in a calendar year after 1997 shall be equal to the \n product of--\n ``(i) $500,000, multiplied by\n ``(ii) the inflation adjustment factor for \n the taxable year.\n ``(B) Inflation adjustment factor.--The term \n `inflation adjustment factor' means, with respect to \n any calendar year, a fraction the numerator of which is \n the GDP implicit price deflator for the preceding \n calendar year and the denominator of which is the GDP \nimplicit price deflator for 1996. Not later than April 1 of any \ncalendar year, the Secretary shall publish the inflation adjustment \nfactor for the preceding calendar year.\n ``(C) GDP implicit price deflator.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (B), the term `GDP implicit price \n deflator' means the first revision of the implicit \n price deflator for the gross domestic product as \n computed and published by the Secretary of Commerce.\n ``(D) Rounding.--If any increase determined under \n subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $100, the \n increase shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple \n of $100.''.\n (d) Certification of Compliance.--Section 206 of the Reclamation \nReform Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C. 390ff) is amended to read as follows:\n\n``SEC. 206. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE.\n\n ``(a) In General.--As a condition to the receipt of irrigation \nwater for land in a district that has a contract described in section \n203, each owner, lessee, or operator in the district shall furnish the \ndistrict, in a form prescribed by the Secretary, a certificate that the \nowner, lessee, or operator is in compliance with this title, including \na statement of the number of acres owned, leased, or operated, the \nterms of any lease or agreement pertaining to the operation of a farm \noperation, and, in the case of a lessee or operator, a certification \nthat the rent or other fees paid reflect the reasonable value of the \nirrigation water to the productivity of the land.\n ``(b) Documentation.--The Secretary may require a lessee or \noperator to submit for the Secretary's examination--\n ``(1) a complete copy of any lease or other agreement \n executed by each of the parties to the lease or other \n agreement; and\n ``(2) a copy of the return of income tax imposed by chapter \n 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any taxable year in \n which the single farm operation of the lessee or operator \n received irrigation water at less than full cost.''.\n (e) Trusts.--Section 214 of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (43 \nU.S.C. 390nn) is repealed.\n (f) Administrative Provisions.--\n (1) Penalties.--Section 224(c) of the Reclamation Reform \n Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C. 390ww(c)) is amended--\n (A) by striking ``(c) The Secretary'' and inserting \n the following:\n ``(c) Regulations; Data Collection; Penalties.--\n ``(1) Regulations; data collection.--The Secretary''; and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) Penalties.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n law, the Secretary shall establish appropriate and effective \n penalties for failure to comply with any provision of this Act \n or any regulation issued under this Act.''.\n (2) Interest.--Section 224(i) of the Reclamation Reform Act \n of 1982 (43 U.S.C. 390ww(i)) is amended by striking the last \n sentence and inserting the following: ``The interest rate \n applicable to underpayments shall be equal to the rate \n applicable to expenditures under section 202(3)(C).''.\n (g) Reporting.--Section 228 of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 \n(43 U.S.C. 390zz) is amended by inserting ``operator or'' before \n``contracting entity'' each place it appears.\n (h) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Reclamation Reform Act of \n1982 (43 U.S.C. 390aa et seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating sections 229 and 230 as sections 230 \n and 231; and\n (2) by inserting after section 228 the following:\n\n``SEC. 229. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.\n\n ``The Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary \nof Agriculture shall enter into a memorandum of understanding or other \nappropriate instrument to permit the Secretary, notwithstanding section \n6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to have access to and use of \navailable information collected or maintained by the Department of the \nTreasury and the Department of Agriculture that would aid enforcement \nof the ownership and pricing limitations of Federal reclamation law.''.", "summary": "Irrigation Subsidy Reduction Act of 1996 - Amends the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 to define the terms \"legal entity,\" \"operator,\" and \"single farm operation.\" \nDirects the Secretary of the Interior, for each parcel of land to which irrigation water is delivered or proposed to be delivered, to identify a single individual or legal entity as the owner, lessee, or operator. \nAllows irrigation water to be delivered at less than the normal per-acre cost to either: (1) a qualified recipient that reports gross farm income from a single farm operation in excess of $500,000 per taxable year; or (2) a limited recipient that received such water on or before October 1, 1981, and that reports gross farm income in excess of such amount. Provides an inflation adjustment for calendar years after 1997. \nRequires lessees (currently, only owners and operators) of an irrigation district to furnish such district a certification of compliance with the Act. Allows the Secretary to require a lessee or operator to submit for examination a copy of a tax return for any taxable year in which the single farm operation of the lessee or operator received irrigation water at less than full cost. \nRepeals a provision exempting district lands held in trust from Federal reclamation ownership and cost pricing limitations. \nDirects the Secretary to establish penalties for failure to comply with provisions of the Act. \nDirects the Secretaries of the Interior, the Treasury, and Agriculture to enter into a memorandum of understanding to permit the Secretary of the Interior to have access to and use available information collected or maintained by either the Department of the Treasury or Agriculture that would aid in enforcement of the ownership and pricing limitations of Federal reclamation law.", "title": "Irrigation Subsidy Reduction Act of 1996"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1057, "text": "SECTION 1. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) The volume of crude oil transported by rail has \n significantly increased from--\n (A) 21,000 barrels a day in 2009 to 1.1 million \n barrels a day in 2014; and\n (B) 9,500 rail-carloads in 2008 to 415,000 rail-\n carloads in 2013.\n (2) At any given time, more than 2.5 million gallons of \n crude oil is being transported across the country to refineries \n totaling a distance of more than 1,000 miles.\n (3) More oil was spilled in 2013 from freight traffic than \n in the previous 4 decades combined.\n (4) Increased spills result in catastrophes that have \n significantly and adversely impacted the following communities:\n (A) Minnesota, in March 2013, when 30,000 gallons \n of crude oil spilled because of derailed cars.\n (B) Lac-Meegantic, Canada, in July 2013, when 1.6 \n million gallons of crude oil spilled, igniting a fire \n and exploding, killing 47 people and forcing 2,000 \n people from their homes.\n (C) North Dakota, in December 2013, when 400,000 \n million gallons of crude oil spilled, igniting a fire \n and forcing 65 percent of residents from their homes.\n (D) Virginia, in March 2014, when thousands of \n gallons of oil spilled, contaminating the James River \n and requiring the evacuation of 78,000 people in the \n downtown of the city.\n (E) West Virginia, in February 2015, when 26 cars \n containing oil that exceeded volatility standards for \n transport derailed, igniting fires and explosions, \n threatening the water supply, and forcing hundreds of \n people from their homes.\n (5) Hazardous materials must be properly classified for \n transportation, according to requirements from the Pipeline and \n Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).\n (6) Crude oil is categorized as a Class 3 flammable liquid \n in either Packing Group (PG) I or II.\n (7) Due to serious mislabeling practices, the Department of \n Transportation's Emergency Order (Docket No. DOT-OST-2014-0025) \n from February 2014 has forbidden the labeling of crude oil as \n PG III for transport and handling until further notice; \n shipments must be labeled as either PG I (most serious hazard) \n or PG II (moderate hazard) for proper handling and transport of \n crude oil.\n (8) PHMSA has found that crude oil from the Bakken region \n (in North Dakota, Montana, and Canada) is ``more volatile than \n most other types of crude,'' and subsequently, more flammable.\n (9) The samples that PHMSA tested from the Bakken region \n ``displayed characteristics consistent with those of a Class 3 \n flammable liquid, PG I or II, with a predominance to PG I, the \n most dangerous class of Class 3 flammable liquids''.\n (10) The oil industry group North Dakota Petroleum Council \n has recommended that Bakken crude oil be labeled as PG I \n hazardous materials for transportation.\n (11) Oil from the Bakken region accounts for about 12 \n percent of total domestic production.\n (12) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has \n expressed concern ``that major loss of life, property damage \n and environmental consequences can occur when large volumes of \n crude oil or other flammable liquids are transported on a \n single train involved in an accident''.\n (13) The NTSB has recommended that routes transporting \n hazardous materials present the fewest overall safety and \n security risks by avoiding populated areas.\n\nSEC. 2. STUDY ON IMPACT OF DIVERTING CERTAIN FREIGHT RAIL TO AVOID \n URBAN AREAS.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 3 months after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall make \nappropriate arrangements with the Transportation Research Board of the \nNational Academies under which the Board shall conduct a study on the \ncost and impact of rerouting freight rail traffic containing hazardous \nmaterial to avoid transportation of such hazardous material through \nurban areas.\n (b) Contents of Study.--The study described under subsection (a) \nshall include--\n (1) the benefits of rerouting freight rail traffic \n containing hazardous material to alternate railroad routes that \n avoid urban areas, including benefits to the health and safety \n of the individuals living in such urban areas;\n (2) the benefits of construction of alternative railroad \n routes that avoid urban areas for transportation of freight \n rail containing hazardous material;\n (3) the logistical feasibility of the actions described in \n paragraphs (1) and (2); and\n (4) the costs of taking the actions described in paragraphs \n (1) and (2).\n (c) Report.--In entering into an arrangement under subsection (a), \nthe Secretary shall request that the Board transmit to Congress a \nreport on the results of the study not later than 21 months after the \ndate of enactment of this Act.\n (d) Definitions.--\n (1) Hazardous material.--The term ``hazardous material'' \n has the meaning given such term in section 5102 of title 49, \n United States Code.\n (2) Urban area.--The term ``urban area'' means an urban \n area, as designated by the Bureau of the Census, with a \n population of greater than 30,000.\n (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated $850,000 to carry out this Act.", "summary": "Directs the Secretary of Transportation to make appropriate arrangements with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council to study the cost and impact of rerouting freight rail traffic of hazardous material to avoid its transportation through urban areas.", "title": "To provide for a study by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies on the impact of diverting certain freight rail traffic to avoid urban areas, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2380, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Neighborhood Integrity and \nResponsibility Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. RENT REASONABLENESS TEST.\n\n (a) Housing Certificate Program.--Section 8(c)(2) of the United \nStates Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(c)(2)) is amended by adding \nat the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(D)(i) Each public housing agency administering assistance \nprovided under the housing certificate program under this section shall \nensure that the rent charged for each dwelling unit assisted by the \nagency is reasonable in comparison with rents charged for comparable \nunassisted units available in the private residential rental market, \nby--\n ``(I) reviewing all rents for units under consideration by \n families assisted under the certificate program; and\n ``(II) reviewing all rent increases for units under lease \n by families assisted under such program.\nIf an agency determines that the rent (or rent increase) for a unit is \nnot reasonable, the agency shall disapprove a lease for such unit.\n ``(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, rent comparisons shall be \nconducted by comparing the rent of the assisted dwelling unit with the \nrent of comparable unassisted units that are located in a geographical \narea, determined by the agency and approved by the Secretary that--\n ``(I) is geographically smaller than the applicable housing \n area used for the establishment of fair market rentals under \n paragraph (1);\n ``(II) has a continuous boundary; and\n ``(III) exhibits a commonality of geographic, demographic, \n housing, or other characteristics that make it appropriate for \n use under this subparagraph, including characteristics such as \n consisting of a recognized or identifiable neighborhood or \n geographic area, proximity to or identification with a \n particular location, structure, or feature, having a population \n with similar incomes, or containing housing a significant \n portion of which is similar in age, cost, type, or design.''.\n (b) Housing Voucher Program.--The last sentence of paragraph (10) \nof section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. \n1437f(o)(10)) is amended by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''.\n (c) Condition on Receipt of Administrative Fees.--Section 8(q) of \nthe United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(q)) is amended \nby adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, the \nfee under this subsection attributable to any dwelling unit for any \nfiscal year may be paid to the public housing agency only if the agency \nhas complied, during the preceding fiscal year, with the requirement \nunder subsection (c)(2)(D) or (o)(10), as applicable, to such dwelling \nunit.''.\n\nSEC. 3. LIMITATION ON ASSISTED UNITS OWNED BY SINGLE OWNER.\n\n Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. \n1437f) is amended by inserting after subsection (k) the following new \nsubsection:\n ``(l) Ownership Limitation.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and \n (3), a single public housing agency may not provide tenant-\n based assistance under this section for more than 5 dwelling \n units that are owned by any single owner.\n ``(2) Waiver.--A public housing agency may waive the \n applicability of the limitation under paragraph (1) with \n respect to an owner if the agency determines that all dwelling \n units owned by such owner and assisted or to be assisted with \n tenant-based assistance under this section are, at that time, \n in compliance with housing quality standards established by the \n Secretary for purposes of this section and any applicable State \n or local laws relating to housing habitability, construction, \n maintenance, safety, health, and sanitation.\n ``(3) Protection of current owners.--\n ``(A) In general.--If, at any time, a single owner \n owns more than 5 protected dwelling units, such \n protected dwelling units in excess of 5 shall not be \n considered at such time for purposes of applying the \n numerical limitation under paragraph (1) to such owner.\n ``(B) Protected dwelling units.--A dwelling unit \n shall be considered to be a protected dwelling unit at \n any time for purposes of this paragraph only if the \n dwelling unit, at that time, is occupied by a tenant \n who--\n ``(i) is an assisted family on whose behalf \n tenant-based assistance under this section is \n provided;\n ``(ii) on the date of the enactment of the \n Neighborhood Integrity and Responsibility Act \n occupied such unit and, at such time, was \n assisted with tenant-based assistance under \n this section; and\n ``(iii) has, without interruption since \n such date of enactment, continued to occupy \n such unit and continued to be assisted with \n such assistance.\n ``(4) Owner.--The Secretary shall issue regulations \n defining the term `single owner' for purposes of this \n subsection. The regulations shall provide that, with respect to \n any person or entity, any other person or entity owned or \n controlled by such person or entity (including any such \n affiliate or subsidiary of such person or entity) shall be \n considered a single owner for purposes of this subsection.''.\n\nSEC. 4. RENT PAID BY ASSISTED FAMILIES.\n\n (a) Exceptions to General Rent Rule.--Section 3(a)(1) of the United \nStates Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(1)) is amended in the \nmatter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking ``section 8(c)(3)(B)'' \nand inserting ``subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 8(c)(3)''.\n (b) Tenant Rent Payment Under Certificate Program.--Section 8(c)(3) \nof the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(c)(3)) is \namended--\n (1) in the first sentence of subparagraph (A), by inserting \n before the period at the end the following: ``or subparagraph \n (B) or (C) of this paragraph, as applicable''; and\n (2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking the matter that \n precedes clause I and inserting the following:\n ``(B)(i) Notwithstanding section 3(a)(1) and subparagraph (B) of \nthis paragraph, a family receiving tenant-based assistance under \nsubsection (b) may pay for rent more than the amount determined under \nsuch provisions if--'';\n (3) by redesignating subparagraph (B) (as so amended) as \n subparagraph (C); and\n (4) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(B) A family on whose behalf tenant-based assistance under \nsubsection (b) is provided for a dwelling unit having a maximum monthly \nrent under the contract equal to or exceeding 50 percent of the \napplicable fair market rental for the area shall pay as rent for the \ndwelling unit the greater of the following two amounts:\n ``(i) The amount determined for the family under section \n 3(a)(1).\n ``(ii) For a dwelling unit having a maximum monthly rent \n under the contract--\n ``(I) that is equal to or exceeds 75 percent of the \n applicable fair market rental for the area, the amount \n that is equal to 50 percent of the contract rent for \n the unit.\n ``(II) that is equal to or exceeds 50 percent of \n the applicable fair market rental for the area but is \n less than 75 percent of such fair market rental, the \n amount that is equal to 30 percent of the contract rent \n for the unit.''.\n (c) Monthly Assistance Payment Under Voucher Program.--Section 8(o) \nof the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) is \namended--\n (1) in paragraph (2)--\n (A) by striking ``The'' and inserting ``(A) Except \n as provided in paragraph (2), the''; and\n (B) by adding at the end the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(B) The monthly assistance payment under this subsection for any \nfamily renting a dwelling unit having a rent equal to or exceeding 50 \npercent of the applicable payment standard for the area shall be the \namount by which the payment standard exceeds the greater of the \nfollowing two amounts:\n ``(i) The amount determined for the family pursuant to \n subparagraph (A).\n ``(ii) For a dwelling unit having a rent--\n ``(I) that is equal to or exceeds 75 percent of the \n applicable payment standard for the area, the amount \n that is equal to 50 percent of the rent for the unit.\n ``(II) that is equal to or exceeds 50 percent of \n the applicable payment standard for the area but is \n less than 75 percent of such payment standard, the \n amount that is equal to 30 percent of the rent for the \n unit.''.\n (d) Conforming Amendments.--Section 8 of the United States Housing \nAct of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(c)(1)(B)) is amended--\n (1) in clause (b) of the second sentence of subsection \n (c)(1), by striking ``paragraph (3)(B)'' and inserting \n ``paragraph (3)(C)''; and\n (2) in subsection (y)(6)(A), by striking ``Subsection \n (c)(3)(B)'' and inserting ``Subsection (c)(3)(C)''.", "summary": "Neighborhood Integrity and Responsibility Act - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require public housing agencies (PHAs) administering the section 8 housing certificate program to: (1) ensure that program rents are reasonable in comparison with private rentals; and (2) disapprove leases that are not reasonable. \nRequires (currently authorizes) PHAs to disapprove leases that are not reasonable under the section 8 rental voucher program. \nMakes PHA administrative fee eligibility dependent upon compliance with such provisions. \n(Sec. 3) Prohibits (with exceptions) a PHA from providing section 8 tenant-based assistance for more than five units owned by any single owner. \n(Sec. 4) Revises tenant rent and monthly assistance provisions under the certificate and voucher programs.", "title": "Neighborhood Integrity and Responsibility Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3062, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Executive Appointee Ethics \nImprovement Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 207 OF TITLE 18.\n\n (a) Extension of Post-Employment Ban on Lobbying for Certain Former \nGovernment Employees.--Section 207 of title 18, United States Code, is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (c)--\n (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``One-\n year'' and inserting ``Two-Year'';\n (B) in paragraph (1)--\n (i) by striking ``within 1 year after'' and \n inserting ``within 2 years after''; and\n (ii) by striking ``within 1 year before \n such termination''; and\n (C) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the \n following:\n ``(D) Not later than 30 days after a waiver is granted \n under subparagraph (C), the waiver shall be published in the \n Federal Register and accompanied by a signed statement by the \n Director of the Office of Government Ethics describing in \n detail the reasons for providing such waiver unless such a \n description would compromise national security.'';\n (2) in subsection (d)(1), in the matter following \n subparagraph (C), by striking ``within 2 years'' and inserting \n ``within 5 years''; and\n (3) in subsection (d)(2)(A), by striking ``in such \n position'' and all that follows through ``terminated''.\n (b) Lifetime Ban on Representation of Foreign Entities for Certain \nHigh-Level Former Employees.--Section 207(f) of such title is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``(or, in the case of an \n individual described in paragraph (2), at any time)'' after \n ``within 1 year'';\n (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``paragraph (1)'' and \n inserting ``paragraphs (1) and (2)'';\n (3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs \n (3) and (4); and\n (4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(2) Description of individuals subject to lifetime ban.--\n An individual described in this paragraph is any individual who \n was--\n ``(A) employed in a position described under \n sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5, United States \n Code (relating to the Executive Schedule);\n ``(B) a limited term appointee, limited emergency \n appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior \n Executive Service, as defined under paragraphs (5), \n (6), and (7), respectively, of section 3132(a) of title \n 5, United States Code; or\n ``(C) employed in a position of a confidential or \n policy-determining character under schedule C of \n subpart C of part 213 of title 5 of the Code of Federal \n Regulations.''.\n\nSEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON PARTICIPATION IN MATTER RELATING TO PREVIOUS \n EMPLOYMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, is \namended by inserting after section 219 the following new section:\n``Sec. 220. Prohibition on participation in matter relating to previous \n employment\n ``(a) During the 2-year period beginning on the date an individual \nis appointed to a covered position at an agency, any such individual \nwho has not received a waiver under subsection (b)--\n ``(1) who participates in any particular matter involving \n specific parties that is directly and substantially related to \n the individual's former employer or former clients, or\n ``(2) with respect to any such individual who was a \n registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, \n or who was not a registered lobbyist under such Act but who \n engaged in lobbying activity as defined in subsection (c), \n during the 2-year period preceding the date of such \n appointment, who--\n ``(A) participates in any particular matter on \n which the individual made a lobbying contact (in the \n case of a registered lobbyist under such Act), or \n engaged in such activity, during such 2-year period,\n ``(B) participates in the specific issue area in \n which such particular matter falls, or\n ``(C) seeks or accepts employment with any agency \n with respect to which the individual made a lobbying \n contact (in the case of a registered lobbyist under \n such Act), or engaged in such activity, during such 2-\n year period,\nshall be punished as provided in section 216 of this title.\n ``(b)(1) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in \nconsultation with the Counsel to the President, may waive the \nrequirements of subsection (a) with respect to any individual covered \nby such subsection if the Director certifies, in writing, to the \nCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of \nRepresentatives, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental \nAffairs of the Senate, and the appropriate congressional committees of \njurisdiction, that it is in the public interest to grant the waiver.\n ``(2) For purposes of carrying out paragraph (1)--\n ``(A) the public interest includes exigent circumstances \n relating to public health, public safety, or national security;\n ``(B) de minimis contact with an agency shall be cause for \n a waiver of subsection (a)(2); and\n ``(C) any waiver shall take effect when the certification \n is published in the Federal Register, accompanied by a signed \n statement by the Director describing in detail the reasons for \n providing the waiver unless such a description would compromise \n national security.\n ``(c)(1) In this section, the term `lobbying activity' means, with \nrespect to an individual, knowingly making, with the intent to \ninfluence, any communication to or appearance before any officer or \nemployee of the Federal Government on behalf of another person as an \nemployee of a lobbying firm or lobbying organization, in connection \nwith any matter on which such person seeks official action by such \nofficer or employee of the Federal Government. The previous sentence \napplies only with respect to an individual who spends greater than 20% \nof the individual's time as an employee of a lobbying firm or lobbying \norganization engaged in such lobbying activity.\n ``(2) In paragraph (1), the term `lobbying firm' means any firm, \ncorporation, or limited liability company in which--\n ``(A) employees of the firm in the aggregate make 2 or more \n lobbying contacts at any time on behalf of a particular client; \n and\n ``(B) the firm receives or expects to receive from a \n particular client for matters related to lobbying activities at \n least the amount specified in section 4(a)(3)(A) of the \n Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603(a)(3)(A)) in the \n quarterly period during which registration would be made under \n such Act.\n ``(3) In paragraph (1), the term `lobbying organization' includes \nany organization in which--\n ``(A) employees of the firm in the aggregate make 2 or more \n lobbying contacts at any time on its behalf; and\n ``(B) the organization expends in connection with lobbying \n activities at least the amount specified in section 4(a)(3)(B) \n of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603(a)(3)(A)) \n in the quarterly period during which registration would be made \n under such Act.\n ``(4) In this subsection, the term `employee' has the meaning given \nsuch term in section 3(5) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 \nU.S.C. 1602(5)).\n ``(d) In this section, the following definitions apply:\n ``(1) The term `agency' means an `Executive agency' (as \n that term is defined in section 105 of title 5), the Executive \n Office of the President, the United States Postal Service, and \n the Postal Regulatory Commission, but does not include the \n Government Accountability Office.\n ``(2) The term `covered position'--\n ``(A) means any--\n ``(i) full-time, non-career position which \n requires appointment by the President or Vice-\n President;\n ``(ii) non-career position within the \n Senior Executive Service or other SES-type \n system; or\n ``(iii) position that has been excepted \n from the competitive service by reason of being \n of a confidential or policymaking character, \n including positions under schedule C of subpart \n C of part 213 of title 5 of the Code of Federal \n Regulations; and\n ``(B) does not include any individual appointed as \n a member of the Senior Foreign Service or solely as a \n uniformed service commissioned officer.\n ``(3) The term `directly and substantially related to \n former employer or former clients' means matters in which the \n individual's former employer or a former client is a party or \n represents a party.\n ``(4) The term `former client' means any person for whom \n the individual served personally as agent, attorney, or \n consultant, but does include instances where the service \n provided was limited to a speech or similar appearance or \n clients of the individual's former employer to whom the \n individual did not personally provide services.\n ``(5) The term `former employer' means any person for whom \n the individual has within the 2 years prior to the date of \n appointment served as an employee, officer, director, trustee, \n or general partner, but does not include any agency or other \n entity of the Federal Government, Native American tribe, or any \n United States territory or possession.\n ``(6) The term `lobbying contact' has the meaning given \n such term in section 3(8) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of \n 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602(8)).\n ``(7) The term `particular matter' has the meaning given \n that term in section 207 and section 2635.402(b)(3) of title 5, \n Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.\n ``(8) The term `participate' means to participate \n personally and substantially.\n ``(9) The term `particular matter involving specific \n parties' has the meaning as set forth in section 2641.201(h) of \n title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor \n regulation, except that it shall also include any meeting or \n other communication relating to the performance of an \n individual's official duties with a former employer or former \n client, unless the communication applies to a particular matter \n of general applicability and participation in the meeting or \n other event is open to all interested parties.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections of chapter 11 of \ntitle 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item \nrelating to section 219 the following new item:\n\n``220. Prohibition on participation in matter relating to previous \n employment.''.\n (c) Application.--The amendments made after subsection (a) shall \napply to any individual appointed to a covered position (as that term \nis defined in section 220(d)(2) of title 18, United States Code, as \nadded by such subsection) after the date of enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Executive Appointee Ethics Improvement Act This bill lengthens from one to two years the ban on certain senior personnel of the executive branch and independent agencies from lobbying the department or agency in which the person served. If the Director of the Office of Government Ethics decides to waive this restriction, such decision shall be published in the Federal Register unless it would compromise national security. The bill lengthens from two to five years the ban on certain very senior personnel of the executive branch and independent agencies, including the Vice President, from lobbying any office or employee of any department or agency in which such person served. Certain high-level employees of the executive branch are subject to a lifetime ban on knowingly representing a foreign entity before any officer or employee of any department or agency of the United States with the intent to influence a decision of such officer or employee. During a two-year period beginning on the date an individual is appointed to a covered position, such individual is banned from participating in any matter involving specific parties that is directly related to the individual's former employer or former clients. Additionally, any individual who was a registered lobbyist or who engaged in lobbying activities during a two-year period prior to appointment is prohibited from participating in any particular matter on which the individual made a lobbying contact or participating in the specific issue area in which the matter falls. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may waive these requirements if OMB certifies in writing to various congressional committees that it is in the public interest to grant the waiver.", "title": "Executive Appointee Ethics Improvement Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3225, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Medical Savings Account Availability \nAct of 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF ARCHER MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.\n\n (a) Repeal of Limitations on Number of Medical Savings Accounts.--\n (1) In general.--Subsections (i) and (j) of section 220 of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are hereby repealed.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--\n (A) Paragraph (1) of section 220(c) of such Code is \n amended by striking subparagraph (D).\n (B) Section 138 of such Code is amended by striking \n subsection (f).\n (b) Availability Not Limited to Accounts for Employees of Small \nEmployers and Self-Employed Individuals.--\n (1) In general.--Subparagraph (A) of section 220(c)(1) of \n such Code (relating to eligible individual) is amended to read \n as follows:\n ``(A) In general.--The term `eligible individual' \n means, with respect to any month, any individual if--\n ``(i) such individual is covered under a \n high deductible health plan as of the 1st day \n of such month, and\n ``(ii) such individual is not, while \n covered under a high deductible health plan, \n covered under any health plan--\n ``(I) which is not a high \n deductible health plan, and\n ``(II) which provides coverage for \n any benefit which is covered under the \n high deductible health plan.''.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--\n (A) Section 220(c)(1) of such Code is amended by \n striking subparagraph (C).\n (B) Section 220(c) of such Code is amended by \n striking paragraph (4) (defining small employer) and by \n redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4).\n (C) Section 220(b) of such Code is amended by \n striking paragraph (4) (relating to deduction limited \n by compensation) and by redesignating paragraphs (5), \n (6), and (7) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), \n respectively.\n (c) Increase in Amount of Deduction Allowed for Contributions to \nMedical Savings Accounts.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (2) of section 220(b) of such \n Code is amended to read as follows:\n ``(2) Monthly limitation.--The monthly limitation for any \n month is the amount equal to \\1/12\\ of the annual deductible \n (as of the first day of such month) of the individual's \n coverage under the high deductible health plan.''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Clause (ii) of section \n 220(d)(1)(A) of such Code is amended by striking ``75 percent \n of''.\n (d) Both Employers and Employees May Contribute to Medical Savings \nAccounts.--Paragraph (4) of section 220(b) of such Code (as \nredesignated by subsection (b)(2)(C)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(4) Coordination with exclusion for employer \n contributions.--The limitation which would (but for this \n paragraph) apply under this subsection to the taxpayer for any \n taxable year shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the \n amount which would (but for section 106(b)) be includible in \n the taxpayer's gross income for such taxable year.''.\n (e) Reduction of Permitted Deductibles Under High Deductible Health \nPlans.--\n (1) In general.--Subparagraph (A) of section 220(c)(2) of \n such Code (defining high deductible health plan) is amended--\n (A) by striking ``$1,500'' in clause (i) and \n inserting ``$1,000''; and\n (B) by striking ``$3,000'' in clause (ii) and \n inserting ``$2,000''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (g) of section 220 of \n such Code is amended to read as follows:\n ``(g) Cost-of-Living Adjustment.--\n ``(1) In general.--In the case of any taxable year \n beginning in a calendar year after 1998, each dollar amount in \n subsection (c)(2) shall be increased by an amount equal to--\n ``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by\n ``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined \n under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which \n such taxable year begins by substituting `calendar year \n 1997' for `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph (B) \n thereof.\n ``(2) Special rules.--In the case of the $1,000 amount in \n subsection (c)(2)(A)(i) and the $2,000 amount in subsection \n (c)(2)(A)(ii), paragraph (1)(B) shall be applied by \n substituting `calendar year 2000' for `calendar year 1997'.\n ``(3) Rounding.--If any increase under paragraph (1) or (2) \n is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the \n nearest multiple of $50.''.\n (f) Providing Incentives for Preferred Provider Organizations To \nOffer Medical Savings Accounts.--Clause (ii) of section 220(c)(2)(B) of \nsuch Code is amended by striking ``preventive care if'' and all that \nfollows and inserting ``preventive care.''\n (g) Medical Savings Accounts May Be Offered Under Cafeteria \nPlans.--Subsection (f) of section 125 of such Code is amended by \nstriking ``106(b),''.\n (h) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2001.", "summary": "Medical Savings Account Availability Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to medical savings accounts to: (1) repeal restrictions on the number of accounts which may be established; and (2) expand the availability of such accounts to individuals other than the self-employed and employees of small employers.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the availability of Archer medical savings accounts."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 30, "text": "SECTION 1. EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR \n SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS OF VETERANS.\n\n (a) Termination of Durational Limitation on Use of Educational \nAssistance.--\n (1) Termination of limitation and restatement of continuing \n requirements.--Subsection (a) of section 3511 of title 38, \n United States Code, is amended to read as follows:\n ``(a)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or \nchapter 36 of this title, any payment of educational assistance \ndescribed in paragraph (2) shall not be charged against the entitlement \nof any individual under this chapter.\n ``(2) The payment of educational assistance referred to in \nparagraph (1) is the payment of such assistance to an individual for \npursuit of a course or courses under this chapter if the Secretary \nfinds that the individual--\n ``(A) had to discontinue such course pursuit as a result of \n being ordered to serve on active duty under section 688, \n 12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(g), 12302, or 12304 of title 10; and\n ``(B) failed to receive credit or training time toward \n completion of the individual's approved educational, \n professional, or vocational objective as a result of having to \n discontinue, as described in subparagraph (A), the course \n pursuit.''.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--(A) The heading of section 3511 \n of such title is amended to read as follows:\n``Sec. 3511. Treatment of certain interruptions in pursuit of programs \n of education''.\n (B) Section 3532(g) of such title is amended--\n (i) by striking paragraph (2); and\n (ii) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph \n (2).\n (C) Section 3541 of such title is amended to read as \n follows:\n``Sec. 3541. Special restorative training\n ``(a) The Secretary may, at the request of an eligible person--\n ``(1) determine whether such person is in need of special \n restorative training; and\n ``(2) if such need is found to exist, prescribe a course \n which is suitable to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.\n ``(b) A course of special restorative training under subsection (a) \nmay, at the discretion of the Secretary, contain elements that would \ncontribute toward an ultimate objective of a program of education.''.\n (D) Section 3695(a)(4) of such title is amended by striking \n ``35,''.\n (b) Extension of Delimiting Age of Eligibility for Dependents.--\nSection 3512(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking \n``twenty-sixth birthday'' each place it appears and inserting \n``thirtieth birthday''.\n (c) Amount of Educational Assistance.--\n (1) In general.--Section 3532 of title 38, United States \n Code, is amended to read as follows:\n``Sec. 3532. Amount of educational assistance\n ``(a) The aggregate amount of educational assistance to which an \neligible person is entitled under this chapter is $80,000, as increased \nfrom time to time under section 3564 of this title.\n ``(b) Within the aggregate amount provided for in subsection (a), \neducational assistance under this chapter may be paid for any purpose, \nand in any amount, as follows:\n ``(1) A program of education consisting of institutional \n courses.\n ``(2) A full-time program of education that consists of \n institutional courses and alternate phases of training in a \n business or industrial establishment with the training in the \n business or industrial establishment being strictly \n supplemental to the institutional portion.\n ``(3) A farm cooperative program consisting of \n institutional agricultural courses prescheduled to fall within \n forty-four weeks of any period of twelve consecutive months \n that is pursued by an eligible person who is concurrently \n engaged in agricultural employment which is relevant to such \n institutional agricultural courses as determined under \n standards prescribed by the Secretary.\n ``(4) A course or courses or other program of special \n educational assistance as provided in section 3491(a) of this \n title.\n ``(5) A program of apprenticeship or other on-job training \n pursued in a State as provided in section 3687(a) of this \n title.\n ``(6) In the case of an eligible spouse or surviving \n spouse, a program of education exclusively by correspondence as \n provided in section 3686 of this title.\n ``(7) A special training allowance for special restorative \n training as provided in section 3542 of this title.\n ``(c) If a program of education is pursued by an eligible person at \nan institution located in the Republic of the Philippines, any \neducational assistance for such person under this chapter shall be paid \nat the rate of $0.50 for each dollar.\n ``(d)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of educational \nassistance payable under this chapter for a licensing or certification \ntest described in section 3501(a)(5) of this title is the lesser of \n$2,000 or the fee charged for the test.\n ``(2) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under \nthis subsection for such a test exceed the amount of the individual's \navailable entitlement under this chapter.''.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--(A) Section 3533 of such title \n is amended to read as follows:\n``Sec. 3533. Tutorial assistance\n ``An eligible person shall, without any charge to any entitlement \nof such person to educational assistance under section 3532(a) of this \ntitle be entitled to the benefits provided an eligible veteran under \nsection 3492 of this title.''.\n (B) Section 3534 of such title is repealed.\n (C) Section 3542 of such title is amended--\n (i) in subsection (a), by striking ``computed at \n the basic rate'' and all that follows through the end \n of the subsection and inserting a period; and\n (ii) in subsection (b), by striking ``an \n educational assistance allowance'' and inserting \n ``educational assistance''.\n (D) Section 3543(c) of such title is amended--\n (i) in paragraph (1), by adding ``and'' at the end;\n (ii) by striking paragraph (2); and\n (iii) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph \n (2).\n (E) Section 3564 of such title is amended by striking \n ``rates payable under sections 3532, 3534(b), and 3542(a)'' and \n inserting ``aggregate amount of educational assistance payable \n under section 3532''.\n (F) Paragraph (1) of section 3565(b) of such title is \n amended to read as follows:\n ``(1) educational assistance payable under section 3532 of \n this title, including the special training allowance referred \n to in subsection (b)(7) of such section, shall be paid at the \n rate of $0.50 for each dollar; and''.\n (G) Section 3687 of such title is amended--\n (i) in subsection (a)--\n (I) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), \n by striking ``or an eligible person (as defined \n in section 3501(a) of this title)''; and\n (II) in the flush matter following \n paragraph (2), by striking ``chapters 34 and \n 35'' and inserting ``chapter 34'';\n (ii) in subsection (c), by striking ``chapters 34 \n and 35'' and inserting ``chapter 34''; and\n (iii) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (3) \n and inserting the following new paragraph (3):\n ``(3) In this subsection, the term `individual' means an \n eligible veteran who is entitled to monthly educational \n assistance allowances payable under section 3015(e) of this \n title.''.\n (d) Other Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 3524 of title 38, \nUnited States Code, is amended by striking ``allowance'' each place it \nappears.\n (2)(A) Section 3531 of such title is amended--\n (i) in subsection (a), by striking ``an educational \n assistance allowance'' and inserting ``educational \n assistance''; and\n (ii) in subsection (b), by striking ``allowance''.\n (B) The heading of such section is amended by striking \n``allowance''.\n (3) Section 3537(a) of such title is amended by striking \n``additional''.\n (e) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections at the beginning of \nchapter 35 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking the item relating to section 3511 and \n inserting the following new item:\n\n``3511. Treatment of certain interruptions in pursuit of programs of \n education.'';\n (2) by striking the items relating to section 3531, 3532, \n and 3533 and inserting the following new items:\n\n``3531. Educational assistance.\n``3532. Amount of educational assistance.\n``3533. Tutorial assistance.'';\n (3) by striking the item relating to section 3534; and\n (4) by striking the item relating to section 3541 and \n inserting the following new item:\n\n``3541. Special restorative training.''.\n (f) Effective Dates.--(1) The amendments made by this section shall \ntake effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (2) Notwithstanding the effective date under paragraph (1) of the \namendment to section 3564 of title 38, United States Code, made by \nsubsection (c)(2)(E), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make the \nfirst increase in the aggregate amount of educational assistance under \nsection 3532 of such title as required by such section 3564 (as so \namended) for fiscal year 2006.", "summary": "Revises basic educational assistance for veterans' survivors and dependents to: (1) eliminate the present 45 month cap on benefit payments and set an aggregate limit of $80,000; (2) extend from a dependent's 26th to 30th birthday the delimiting age for the use of such assistance; (3) increase the amount of such assistance for survivors and dependents pursuing certain types of education; and (4) authorize the provision of tutorial assistance to such individuals without charge to their educational assistance entitlement.", "title": "To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and enhance educational assistance for survivors and dependents of veterans."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1441, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Senior$afe Act of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. IMMUNITY.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this Act--\n (1) the term ``bank'' has the meaning given the term in \n section 202(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 \n U.S.C. 80b-2(a));\n (2) the term ``broker-dealer'' means--\n (A) a broker, as defined in section 3(a) of the \n Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)); or\n (B) a dealer, as defined in section 3(a) of the \n Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a));\n (3) the term ``covered agency'' means--\n (A) a State financial regulatory agency;\n (B) each of the Federal financial institutions \n regulatory agencies;\n (C) a law enforcement agency; and\n (D) the adult protective services agency of a \n State;\n (4) the term ``covered financial institution'' means--\n (A) a bank;\n (B) a credit union;\n (C) an investment adviser; and\n (D) a broker-dealer;\n (5) the term ``credit union'' has the meaning given the \n term in section 2 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and \n Consumer Protection Act (12 U.S.C. 5301);\n (6) the term ``exploitation'' has the meaning given the \n term in section 2011 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n 1397j);\n (7) the term ``Federal financial institutions regulatory \n agencies'' has the meaning given the term in section 1003 of \n the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of \n 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3302);\n (8) the term ``investment adviser'' has the meaning given \n the term in section 202 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 \n (15 U.S.C. 80b-2); and\n (9) the term ``senior citizen'' means an individual who is \n not less than 65 years of age.\n (b) Immunity From Suit.--\n (1) Immunity for individuals.--Notwithstanding section 502 \n of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6802), including any \n regulations adopted thereunder, an individual who has received \n the training described in section 3 shall not be liable, \n including in any civil or administrative proceeding, for \n disclosing the possible exploitation of a senior citizen to a \n covered agency if the individual, at the time of the \n disclosure--\n (A) served as a supervisor, compliance officer, or \n legal advisor for a covered financial institution; and\n (B) made the disclosure--\n (i) in good faith; and\n (ii) with reasonable care.\n (2) Immunity for covered financial institutions.--\n Notwithstanding section 502 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 \n U.S.C. 6802), including any regulations adopted thereunder, a \n covered financial institution shall not be liable, including in \n any civil or administrative proceeding, for a disclosure made \n by an individual described in paragraph (1) if--\n (A) the individual was employed by the covered \n financial institution at the time of the disclosure; \n and\n (B) before the time of the disclosure, the covered \n financial institution provided the training described \n in section 3 to each officer or employee of the covered \n financial institution described in section 3(a).\n\nSEC. 3. TRAINING REQUIRED.\n\n (a) In General.--A covered financial institution may provide \ntraining regarding the identification and reporting of the suspected \nexploitation of a senior citizen to each officer or employee of the \ncovered financial institution who--\n (1) is described in section 2(b)(1)(A);\n (2) may come into contact with a senior citizen as a \n regular part of the duties of the officer or employee; or\n (3) may review or approve the financial documents, records, \n or transactions of a senior citizen in connection with \n providing financial services to a senior citizen.\n (b) Training.--The training required under subsection (a) shall be \nprovided as soon as reasonably practicable but not more than 12 months \nafter the date on which an officer or employee begins employment with \nthe covered financial institution.\n\nSEC. 4. PREEMPTION.\n\n Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preempt or limit any \nprovision of State law, to the extent that any provision of State law \nprovides a similar or greater level of protection against liability to \nan individual described in section 2(b)(1) or a covered financial \ninstitution described in section 2(b)(2) than is provided under those \nsections.", "summary": "Senior$afe Act of 2015 This bill provides that: (1) a supervisor, compliance officer, or legal advisor for a covered financial institution who has received training regarding the identification and reporting of the suspected exploitation of a senior citizen (at least 65 years old) shall not be liable for disclosing such exploitation to a covered agency if such individual made the disclosure in good faith and with reasonable care; and (2) a covered financial institution shall not be liable for such a disclosure by such an individual if such individual was employed by the institution at the time of the disclosure and the institution had provided such training. A "covered financial institution" means a bank, a credit union, an investment adviser, or a broker-dealer. A "covered agency" means each of the federal financial institutions regulatory agencies or a state financial regulatory agency, law enforcement agency, or adult protective services agency. A covered financial institution may provide such training to each of its supervisors, compliance officers, or legal advisors who: (1) may come into contact with a senior citizen as a regular part of such employee's duties; or (2) may review or approve the financial documents, records, or transactions of a senior citizen in connection with providing him or her financial services.", "title": "Senior$afe Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 718, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Act \nof 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) The United States has been a leader in seeking to \n contain the spread of nuclear weapons technology and materials.\n (2) With the end of the Cold War and the breakup of the \n Soviet Union, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, especially \n to countries in unstable regions, is now the leading military \n threat to the national security of the United States and its \n allies.\n (3) The United Nations Security Council declared on January \n 31, 1992, that ``proliferation of all weapons of mass \n destruction constitutes a threat to international peace and \n security'' and committed to taking appropriate action to \n prevent proliferation from occurring. The establishment of the \n United Nations Special Commission on Iraq was an important \n precedent to that end.\n (4) Aside from the 5 declared nuclear weapon states, a \n number of other nations have or are pursuing nuclear weapons \n capabilities.\n (5) Regional nuclear arms races pose perhaps the most \n likely prospect for the future use of nuclear weapons.\n (6) The break-up of the Soviet Union has increased the \n threat of nuclear proliferation.\n (7) In May 1992, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan signed \n the protocols to START I and committed to acceding to the \n Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as non-nuclear weapon states \n ``in the shortest possible time''.\n (8) Iraq had a substantial, clandestine nuclear weapons \n program which went undetected by the International Atomic \n Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection process and was greatly \n assisted by dual-use exports from western countries, including \n the United States.\n (9) North Korea's statement of intent to withdraw from the \n Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and its refusal to allow IAEA \n inspections of all of its known and suspected nuclear \n facilities, are unprecedented actions which could greatly \n undermine efforts to stop nuclear proliferation.\n (10) Brazil and Argentina had substantial programs to build \n nuclear weapons and South Africa has admitted developing and \n building 6 nuclear weapons, but in response to reduced regional \n tensions and other factors, all 3 countries have renounced \n nuclear weapons and accepted IAEA safeguards for all of their \n nuclear facilities, and South Africa has acceded to the Non-\n Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state.\n (11) United States security interests and current policy \n and practices are consistent with the terms of the South \n Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty which, like nuclear weapons \n free zones in Latin America, South Asia, and the Middle East \n that the United States supports, can contribute to efforts to \n avoid regional conflicts and prevent arms races.\n (12) The IAEA is a valuable tool to counter proliferation, \n but the effectiveness of its system to safeguard nuclear \n materials may be adversely affected by institutional and \n financial constraints.\n (13) The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which codifies \n world consensus against further nuclear proliferation and is \n scheduled for review and extension in 1995, should be expanded \n in membership and extended indefinitely, and additional steps \n should be taken to strengthen the international nuclear \n nonproliferation regime.\n (14) The Nuclear Nonproliferation Act of 1978 declared that \n the United States is committed to continued strong support for \n the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to a strengthened and \n more effective IAEA, and established that it is United States \n policy to establish more effective controls over the transfer \n of nuclear equipment, materials, and technology.\n (15) The goal of the United States is to end the further \n spread of nuclear weapons capability, roll back nuclear \n proliferation where it has occurred, and prevent the use of \n nuclear weapons anywhere in the world. To that end the United \n States should adopt a comprehensive nuclear nonproliferation \n policy.\n\nSEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION POLICY.\n\n In order to end nuclear proliferation and reduce current nuclear \narsenals and supplies of weapons-usable nuclear materials, it shall be \nthe policy of the United States to pursue the following objectives:\n (1) Encourage Ukraine to join Kazakhstan and Belarus in \n ratifying the START I treaty and encourage Ukraine and \n Kazakhstan to join Belarus in voting to accede to the Nuclear \n Non-Proliferation Treaty as non-nuclear weapon states in the \n shortest possible time.\n (2) Encourage Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan to remove \n all nuclear weapons from their territory, accept IAEA \n safeguards over all of their nuclear facilities, and implement \n effective controls on nuclear and nuclear-related dual-use \n exports.\n (3) Reach an agreement with the Russian Federation--\n (A) to deactivate and retire from field deployment \n on an accelerated schedule all weapons to be withdrawn \n under the START I treaty and the START II treaty;\n (B) on data exchanges and inspection arrangements \n to verify the elimination of all nuclear weapons \n scheduled to be withdrawn under the START I treaty and \n the START II treaty; and\n (C) to place all fissile material from such weapons \n under bilateral or international controls, or both.\n (4) Prepare for the ratification of the START II treaty by \n seeking the exchange of information between the United States \n and the Russian Federation on nuclear weapons stockpiles and \n fissile material facilities and inventories as required by the \n United States Senate as a condition to its approval of the \n START I Treaty.\n (5) Conclude a multilateral comprehensive nuclear test ban \n treaty by early 1995, before the conference to renew and extend \n the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is held.\n (6) Ratify the START II treaty in the United States and \n encourage ratification of that treaty by the Russian \n Federation, and reach agreement with the Russian Federation to \n end the production of new types of nuclear warheads.\n (7) Conclude a multilateral agreement to reduce the \n strategic nuclear arsenals of the United States and the Russian \n Federation to within a range of 1,000 to 2,000 each, with lower \n levels for the United Kingdom, France, and the People's \n Republic of China.\n (8) Conclude additional multilateral agreements to \n significantly and continuously reduce the nuclear arsenals of \n all countries through a stage-by-stage process.\n (9) Reach immediate agreement with the Russian Federation \n to halt permanently the production of fissile material for \n weapons purposes, and achieve worldwide agreements to--\n (A) end by 1995 the production of fissile material \n for any purpose;\n (B) place existing stockpiles of such materials \n under bilateral or international controls; and\n (C) require all countries to place all of their \n nuclear facilities dedicated to peaceful purposes under \n IAEA safeguards.\n (10) Strengthen IAEA safeguards to more effectively verify \n that countries are complying with their nonproliferation \n commitments and provide the IAEA with the political, technical, \n and financial support necessary to implement the necessary \n safeguard reforms.\n (11) Strengthen nuclear export controls in the United \n States and other nuclear supplier nations, impose sanctions on \n individuals, companies, and countries which contribute to \n nuclear proliferation, and provide increased public information \n on nuclear export licenses approved in the United States.\n (12) Reduce incentives for countries to pursue the \n acquisition of nuclear weapons by seeking to reduce regional \n tensions and to strengthen regional security agreements, and \n encourage the United Nations Security Council to increase its \n role in enforcing international nuclear nonproliferation \n agreements.\n (13) Support the indefinite extension of the Nuclear Non-\n Proliferation Treaty at the 1995 conference to review and \n extend that treaty and seek to ensure that all countries sign \n the treaty or participate in a comparable international regime \n for monitoring and safeguarding nuclear facilities and \n materials.\n (14) Adopt a United States policy of ``no first use'' of \n nuclear weapons, reach agreement with the other nuclear weapon \n states to adopt such a policy and to assist immediately any \n country which is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation \n Treaty should the use of nuclear weapons be initiated against \n such country.\n (15) Conclude a verifiable bilateral agreement with the \n Russian Federation under which both countries withdraw from \n their arsenals and dismantle all tactical nuclear weapons, and \n seek to extend to all nuclear weapon states this zero option \n for tactical nuclear weapons.\n (16) Sign the appropriate protocols to the South Pacific \n Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.\n\nSEC. 4. REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY.\n\n (a) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date of \nthe enactment of this Act, and not later than February 1 of each year \nthereafter, the President shall submit to the Congress a report on--\n (1) the actions the United States has taken and the actions \n the United States plans to take during the succeeding 12-month \n period to implement each of the policy objectives set forth in \n this Act;\n (2) actions which have been taken by the Russian \n Federation, by the other former Soviet republics, and by other \n countries and institutions to achieve those policy objectives; \n and\n (3) obstacles that have been encountered in seeking to \n implement those policy objectives.\nEach such report shall be submitted in unclassified form, with a \nclassified appendix if necessary.\n (b) Report on Nuclear Stockpile Information.--The President shall \nsubmit a report to the Congress on the specific actions that have been \ntaken and those that are planned to comply with Condition 8 concerning \nthe ``Nuclear Stockpile Weapons Arrangement'' of the Senate resolution \nof ratification of the START I treaty (Treaty Doc. 102-20 and 102-32).\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.\n\n As used in this Act--\n (1) the term ``fissile materials'' means highly enriched \n uranium and plutonium;\n (2) the term ``highly enriched uranium'' means uranium \n enriched to 20 percent or more in the isotope U-235;\n (3) the term ``IAEA'' means the International Atomic Energy \n Agency;\n (4) the term ``IAEA safeguards'' means the safeguards set \n forth in an agreement between a country and the IAEA, as \n authorized by Article III(A)(5) of the Statute of the \n International Atomic Energy Agency;\n (5) a policy of ``no first use'' of nuclear weapons means a \n commitment not to initiate the use of nuclear weapons;\n (6) the term ``non-nuclear weapon state'' means any country \n that is not a nuclear weapon state;\n (7) the term ``Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty'' means the \n Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, signed at \n Washington, London, and Moscow on July 1, 1968;\n (8) the term ``nuclear weapon state'' means any country \n that is a nuclear-weapon state, as defined by Article IX(3) of \n the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, signed \n at Washington, London, and Moscow on July 1, 1968;\n (9) the term ``START I treaty'' means the Treaty on the \n Reduction of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed by the United \n States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on July 31, \n 1991; and\n (10) the term ``START II treaty'' means the Treaty on \n Further Reductions and Limitations of Strategic Offensive Arms, \n signed by the United States and the Russian Federation on \n January 3, 1993.", "summary": "Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Act of 1993 - Declares that, in order to end nuclear proliferation and reduce current nuclear arsenals and supplies of weapons-usable nuclear materials, it shall be U.S. policy to pursue the following objectives: (1) encourage the Ukraine to ratify the START I treaty and Ukraine and Kazakhstan to vote to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as non-nuclear weapon states; (2) encourage Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan to remove all nuclear weapons from their territory, accept International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards over nuclear facilities, and implement effective controls on nuclear exports; (3) reach an agreement with the Russian Federation to deactivate weapons to be withdrawn under START I and II, place all fissile material from weapons under bilateral or international controls, and arrange for inspections and data exchanges; (4) prepare for the ratification of START II by seeking the exchange of information; (5) conclude a multilateral comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty by early 1995; (6) ratify START II in the United States and encourage the Russian Federation to do the same; (7) conclude multilateral agreements to reduce nuclear arsenals; (8) reach agreement with the Russian Federation to halt the production of fissile material for weapons purposes and other worldwide agreements respecting such materials and the placement of all nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards; (9) strengthen IAEA safeguards and nuclear export controls; (10) reduce incentives for countries to pursue the acquisition of nuclear weapons by seeking to reduce regional tensions; (11) support the extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at the 1995 conference; (12) adopt a U.S. policy of \"no first use\" of nuclear weapons, reach agreement with other nuclear weapon states to adopt such a policy, and assist any country which is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty should weapons be initiated against such country; (13) conclude an agreement with the Russian Federation to dismantle all tactical nuclear weapons; and (14) sign the appropriate protocols to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.", "title": "Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3042, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Communities Committed to College Tax \nCredit Act of 2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO A TRUST USED TO PROVIDE NEED-BASED \n COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart B of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to other credits) is \namended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 30D. CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRUST USED TO PROVIDE NEED-BASED COLLEGE \n SCHOLARSHIPS.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In addition to any deduction allowable \nunder this title, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax \nimposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to 50 \npercent of designated qualified college scholarship funding \ncontributions made by the taxpayer during the taxable year.\n ``(b) Designated Qualified College Scholarship Funding \nContribution.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) In general.--The term `designated qualified college \n scholarship funding contribution' means any charitable \n contribution (as defined in section 170(c))--\n ``(A) which is paid in cash by the taxpayer to a \n qualified scholarship funding trust, and\n ``(B) which is designated by the trust for purposes \n of this section.\n ``(2) Qualified scholarship funding trust.--The term \n `qualified scholarship funding trust' means a trust--\n ``(A) which is established and maintained in the \n United States by an organization--\n ``(i) described in section 501(c)(3) and \n exempt from tax under section 501(a), and\n ``(ii) organized primarily for educational \n purposes,\n ``(B) which is part of a plan of one or more local \n education agencies (as defined in section 9101 of the \n Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) of the \n State in which such trust is established and maintained \n to provide scholarships to children of such agencies, \n and\n ``(C) the written governing instrument of which--\n ``(i) requires that the income of the trust \n be used exclusively to provide qualified \n scholarships (as defined in section 117(b)) to \n individuals who--\n ``(I) are candidates for a degree \n at an institution of higher education \n (within the meaning given such term by \n section 101 of the Higher Education Act \n of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), and\n ``(II) have demonstrated financial \n need in accordance with section 471 of \n such Act (20 U.S.C. 1087kk), and\n ``(ii) requires that the assets of the \n trust not be distributed for any purpose.\n ``(c) Limitations.--\n ``(1) In general.--There is a national qualified college \n scholarship funding contribution limitation of $1,000,000,000.\n ``(2) Allocation of limitation.--\n ``(A) In general.--Such national limitation shall \n be allocated by the Secretary among the qualified \n scholarship funding trusts which have registered with \n the Secretary on or before the 180th day after the date \n of the enactment of this section. Each trust's share of \n such national limitation shall be the amount which \n bears the same ratio to such limitation as the number \n of school age children of such trust's sponsoring \n agencies bears to the aggregate number of school age \n children of the sponsoring agencies of all trusts which \n have so registered with the Secretary.\n ``(B) School age children of sponsoring agencies.--\n For purposes of subparagraph (A), the number of school \n age children of a trust's sponsoring agencies is the \n number of children of the local education agencies \n referred to in subsection (b)(2)(B) who have attained \n age 5 but not age 18 for the most recent fiscal year \n ending before the date the allocations under this \n paragraph are made.\n ``(3) Designation subject to allocated limitation amount.--\n The amount of contributions made to a qualified scholarship \n funding trust which may be designated by such trust for \n purposes of this section shall not exceed the limitation amount \n allocated to such trust under paragraph (2).\n ``(4) Maximum allocation per trust.--The maximum qualified \n college scholarship funding contribution limitation which may \n be allocated to each trust is $200,000,000. An amount which may \n not be allocated to a trust by reason of the preceding sentence \n shall be allocated as provided in paragraph (2) among \n registered qualified scholarship funding trusts whose allocated \n limitation (without regard to this sentence) does not exceed \n $200,000,000.\n ``(d) Application With Other Credits.--The credit allowed under \nsubsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed the excess (if \nany) of--\n ``(1) the regular tax liability (as defined in section \n 26(b)) reduced by the sum of the credits allowable under \n subpart A and sections 27, 30, 30B, and 30C, over\n ``(2) the tentative minimum tax for the taxable year.\n ``(e) Application of Section.--This section shall apply only to \ncontributions made during the 3-year period beginning on the 180th day \nafter the date of the enactment of this section.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart B of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding \nat the end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 30D. Contributions to trust used to provide need-based college \n scholarships.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to contributions made on or after the 180th day after the date of \nthe enactment of this Act in taxable years ending after such date.", "summary": "Communities Committed to College Tax Credit Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 50% of any contribution to a tax-exempt scholarship funding trust established to provide scholarships for individuals with demonstrated financial need to attend institutions of higher education.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against income tax for contributions to a trust used to provide need-based college scholarships."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 257, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Strategic Gasoline Reserve \nfor Purposes of National Security Act of 2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. STRATEGIC GASOLINE RESERVE.\n\n (a) Establishment.--\n (1) Authority.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish a \n Strategic Gasoline Reserve system (in this section referred to \n as the ``Gasoline Reserve'') with a total capacity of \n 10,000,000 barrels of regular unleaded gasoline.\n (2) Reserve locations.--No later than 1 year after the date \n of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall determine \n strategic locations for no less than three and no more than \n five Gasoline Reserve sites, each located in a different \n geographical region of the United States. When determining site \n locations, the Secretary shall consider all factors, including \n seasonal and regional variations in gasoline, cost, regional \n population, accessibility for distribution, and the region's \n vulnerability to natural disasters and acts of terrorism. The \n Secretary shall endeavor to find the most affordable method for \n storage and, when possible, should consult the methodology used \n for the creation of the Home Heating Oil Reserve and the \n Strategic Petroleum Reserves. Such reserve site locations shall \n be operational within 2 years after the date of enactment of \n this Act.\n (3) Onsite protection.--In establishing the Gasoline \n Reserve under this section, the Secretary shall confer with the \n Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Homeland \n Security with respect to physical structures' security, the \n transportation security, and operational security.\n (b) Transportation.--Not later than 1 year after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall transmit to the \nCongress, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Governor of each \nState in which a Gasoline Reserve will be sited a plan for the \ntransportation of the contents of the Gasoline Reserve under this \nsection to wholesale or retail markets in the event of an emergency \nsale under subsection (d).\n (c) Capacity.--The Secretary of Energy shall complete the process \nof filling the Gasoline Reserve to a minimum of 90 percent within 2 \nyears of submitting a transportation plan to the Congress.\n (d) Aging Supply.--The Secretary shall conduct an annual review of \nthe gasoline supply to ensure the reserves in the Gasoline Reserve do \nnot exceed their shelf life. The Secretary shall have in place within 2 \nyears of enactment of this Act a plan for assuring that the inventory \nis sold and replaced in a manner that assures the integrity of the \nproduct at all times. The Secretary shall have the authority to \nexchange an aging supply of reserve gasoline through private sales or \nby utilizing the fuel for military or government use. The Secretary \nshall seek the best means to minimize transaction expense.\n (e) Requests for Emergency Sale Authorization.--The Secretary of \nEnergy shall sell gasoline from the Gasoline Reserve if--\n (1) the Governor of an affected State submits a written \n request that--\n (A) provides sufficient evidence that the sale or \n supply of gasoline in the region in which such State is \n located has been severely disrupted, caused by, but not \n limited to, an interruption in the normal distribution \n or availability of gasoline which dramatically affects \n the price of gasoline; and\n (B) provides sufficient evidence that the State \n would experience further adverse effects without the \n sale of gasoline from the Gasoline Reserve; and\n (2) the President issues an Executive order requiring \n immediate release from any or all Gasoline Reserves at any time \n that the President determines that the conditions specified in \n paragraph (1)(A) are satisfied.\n (f) Procedure.--\n (1) Secretary's response.--The Secretary of Energy shall \n respond to a request transmitted under subsection (e) within 7 \n days of receipt of a request through a written response, \n regardless of the decision.\n (2) Additional information.--The Secretary may request \n additional information if the Secretary concludes there are \n insufficient reasons provided for the sale of gasoline from the \n Gasoline Reserve system.\n (g) Purchase.--The Secretary of Energy is authorized to conduct \npurchases and sales of gasoline at wholesale for maintenance of the \nGasoline Reserve system. In conducting these transactions, the \nSecretary shall--\n (1) ensure that the overall supply returns to a minimum 90 \n percent capacity in a timely manner following a sizeable \n depletion due to an emergency; and\n (2) assess market conditions to avoid, to the extent \n possible, when prices appear to be at higher levels unlikely to \n be sustained, or when purchases of gasoline are likely to \n significantly raise gasoline prices in the market served by a \n particular Gasoline Reserve for purchases consistent with the \n need for timely replenishment of the Reserve after emergency or \n nonemergency sales.\n (h) Annual Report.--At a specified date as determined by the \nSecretary of Energy, the Secretary shall submit to the President, the \nCommittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and \nto the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report \non the status of the Strategic Gasoline Reserve outlining the Reserve's \ncurrent capacity, emergency sales from the previous year, any security \nthreats in the previous year, and the current condition of the storage \nfacilities. The Secretary shall also in the report include any \nrecommendations for improvements in the efficiency of the purchase, \ntransportation, sale, and storage of gasoline in the Gasoline Reserves.\n (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary of Energy such sums as may be necessary \nfor construction and operation of the Gasoline Reserve system for \nfiscal years 2009 through 2015.", "summary": "National Strategic Gasoline Reserve for Purposes of National Security Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a Strategic Gasoline Reserve system with a total capacity of 10 million barrels of regular unleaded gasoline.\n\nDirects the Secretary to: (1) transmit to Congress, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the governor of each state in which a Gasoline Reserve will be sited a plan for the transportation of its contents to wholesale or retail markets in the event of an emergency sale; (2) complete the process of filling the Gasoline Reserve to a minimum of 90% within two years of submitting a transportation plan to Congress; (3) review the gasoline supply annually to ensure the reserves in the Gasoline Reserve do not exceed their shelf life; and (4) have in place a plan for assuring that the inventory is sold and replaced in a manner that assures the integrity of the product at all times.\n\nDirects the Secretary of Energy to sell gasoline from the Gasoline Reserve if the governor of an affected state submits a written request and the President issues an Executive order requiring immediate release from any or all Gasoline Reserves at any time that the President determines certain emergency conditions are satisfied.", "title": "To establish a National Strategic Gasoline Reserve, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1742, "text": "entitled ``Joint Resolution to approve the \n`Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands \nin Political Union with the United States of America', and for other \npurposes'' approved March 24, 1976 (48 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), is \namended--\n (1) by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 7. LABELING OF TEXTILE FIBER PRODUCTS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--No textile fiber product shall have a stamp, \ntag, label, or other means of identification or substitute therefore on \nor affixed to the product stating `Made in the USA' or otherwise \nstating or implying that the product was made or assembled in the \nUnited States unless--\n ``(1) each individual providing direct labor in production \n of such textile fiber product was paid a wage equal to or \n greater than the wage set by section 8; and\n ``(2) the product was manufactured in compliance with all \n Federal laws relating to labor rights and working conditions, \n including, but not limited to, the National Labor Relations \nAct, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, and the Fair Labor \nStandards Act of 1938.\n ``(b) A textile fiber product which does not comply with subsection \n(a) shall be deemed to be misbranded for purposes of the Textile Fiber \nProducts Identification Act (15 U.S.C. 70 et seq.).\n ``(c) Definition.--For purposes of this section the term `direct \nlabor' includes any work provided to prepare, assemble, process, \npackage, or transport a textile fiber product, but does not include \nsupervisory, management, security, or administrative work.'';\n (2) by adding, after the new section added by paragraph \n (1), the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 8. MINIMUM WAGE.\n\n ``The minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of \n1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.), shall apply to the Commonwealth of the \nNorthern Mariana Islands, except that--\n ``(1) through December 31, 1997, the minimum wage applicable to the \nCommonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be $3.55 per hour;\n ``(2) on January 1, 1998, and on July 1 and January 1 of each year \nthereafter, the minimum wage applicable to the Commonwealth of the \nNorthern Mariana Islands shall be $0.50 per hour more than the minimum \nwage that was applicable to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana \nIslands for the preceding six-month period until the minimum wage \napplicable to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is equal \nto the minimum wage rate set forth in section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor \nStandards Act of 1938; and\n ``(3) after the minimum wage applicable to the Commonwealth of the \nNorthern Mariana Islands is equal to the minimum wage rate set forth in \nsection 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, pursuant to \nparagraph (2), the minimum wage applicable to the Commonwealth of the \nNorthern Mariana Islands shall increase as necessary to remain equal to \nthe minimum wage rate set forth in section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor \nStandards Act of 1938.''; and\n (3) by adding, after the new sections added by paragraphs \n (1) and (2), the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 9. APPLICABILITY OF IMMIGRATION LAWS.\n\n ``Section 506(a) of the foregoing Covenant shall be construed and \napplied as if it included at the end the following subsection:\n ```(e)(1) For purposes of entry into the Northern Mariana Islands \nby any individual (but not for purposes of entry by an individual into \nthe United States from the Northern Mariana Islands), the Immigration \nand Nationality Act shall apply as if the Northern Mariana Islands were \na State (as defined in section 101(a)(36) of the Immigration and \nNationality Act). The Attorney General, acting through the Commissioner \nof Immigration and Naturalization, shall enforce the preceding \nsentence.\n ```(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), with respect to an individual \nseeking entry into the Northern Mariana Islands for purposes of \nemployment in the textile, hotel, tourist, or construction industry \n(including employment as a contractor), the Federal statutes and \nregulations governing admission to Guam of individuals described in \nsection 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act \nshall apply. Such statutes and regulations shall be so applied by \nsubstituting the term ``United States citizen, national, or resident \nworkers'' for the term ``United States resident workers'', and by \nsubstituting the term ``the Northern Mariana Islands'' for the term \n``Guam'' each place it appears.\n ```(3) When deploying personnel to enforce the provisions of this \nsection, the Attorney General shall coordinate with, and act in \nconjunction with, State and local law enforcement agencies to ensure \nthat such deployment does not degrade or compromise the law enforcement \ncapabilities and functions currently performed by immigration \nofficers.'.''.\n\nSEC. 4. REPORT.\n\n (a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment \nof this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall include the results of \nthe study required by subsection (b) in the annual report transmitted \nto Congress which is entitled ``Federal-CNMI Initiative on Labor, \nImmigration, and Law Enforcement''.\n (b) Study.--A study shall be conducted of the extent of human \nrights violations and labor rights violations in the Commonwealth of \nthe Northern Mariana Islands, including the use of forced or indentured \nlabor, and any efforts being taken by the government of the United \nStates or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island to address or \nprohibit such violations.\n (c) Consultation Regarding Study.--Appropriate local government \nofficials, law enforcement agencies, and non-governmental organizations \nactive in instituting and protecting human and labor rights may be \nconsulted when preparing and conducting the study required by \nsubsection (b).\n\nSEC. 5. EFFECT ON OTHER LAW.\n\n The provisions of paragraph (1) of section 3 shall be in addition \nto, but shall not otherwise modify, the requirements of the Textile \nFiber Products Identification Act (15 U.S.C. 70 et seq.).\n\nSEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATES.\n\n (a) Labeling of Textile Fiber Products; Immigration of Workers.--\nThe amendment made by paragraph (1) of section 3 and the provision of \nthe amendment made by paragraph (3) of section 3 which is designated as \n``(e)(2)'' shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (b) Minimum Wage.--The amendment made by paragraph (2) of section 3 \nshall take effect 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (c) Immigration.--Except as provided in subsection (a), the \namendment made by paragraph (3) of section 3 shall apply to individuals \nentering the Northern Mariana Islands after the expiration of the 6-\nmonth period beginning with the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be \nnecessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.", "summary": "Insular Fair Wage and Human Rights Act of 1997 - Amends Federal law to prohibit the affixation of the \"Made in the USA\" label to a textile fiber product from the Northern Mariana Islands unless: (1) each worker producing such product was paid a minimum wage equal to or greater than a specified amount; and (2) the product was manufactured in compliance with all Federal labor laws, including, but not limited to, the National Labor Relations Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. \nApplies to the Northern Mariana Islands: (1) the Immigration and Nationality Act; and (2) the minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as modified by this Act. Requires a minimum wage through December 31, 1997, of $3.55 per hour, adjusted semiannually thereafter in $.50 increments until it equals the minimum wage required by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. \nRequires a study of the extent of human and labor rights violations in the Northern Mariana Islands, which shall be included in the Secretary of the Interior's annual Federal-CNMI Initiative on Labor Immigration, and Law Enforcement report to the Congress. \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "Insular Fair Wage and Human Rights Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1157, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Yankton Sioux Tribe and Santee Sioux \nTribe Equitable Compensation Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--\n (1) by enacting the Act of December 22, 1944, commonly \n known as the ``Flood Control Act of 1944'' (58 Stat. 887, \n chapter 665; 33 U.S.C. 701-1 et seq.) Congress approved the \n Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin program (referred to in this \n section as the ``Pick-Sloan program'')--\n (A) to promote the general economic development of \n the United States;\n (B) to provide for irrigation above Sioux City, \n Iowa;\n (C) to protect urban and rural areas from \n devastating floods of the Missouri River; and\n (D) for other purposes;\n (2) the waters impounded for the Fort Randall and Gavins \n Point projects of the Pick-Sloan program have inundated the \n fertile, wooded bottom lands along the Missouri River that \n constituted the most productive agricultural and pastoral lands \n of, and the homeland of, the members of the Yankton Sioux Tribe \n and the Santee Sioux Tribe;\n (3) the Fort Randall project (including the Fort Randall \n Dam and Reservoir) overlies the western boundary of the Yankton \n Sioux Tribe Indian Reservation;\n (4) the Gavins Point project (including the Gavins Point \n Dam and Reservoir) overlies the eastern boundary of the Santee \n Sioux Tribe;\n (5) although the Fort Randall and Gavins Point projects are \n major components of the Pick-Sloan program, and contribute to \n the economy of the United States by generating a substantial \n amount of hydropower and impounding a substantial quantity of \n water, the reservations of the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the \n Santee Sioux Tribe remain undeveloped;\n (6) the United States Army Corps of Engineers took the \n Indian lands used for the Fort Randall and Gavins Point \n projects by condemnation proceedings;\n (7) the Federal Government did not give the Yankton Sioux \n Tribe and the Santee Sioux Tribe an opportunity to receive \n compensation for direct damages from the Pick-Sloan program, \n even though the Federal Government gave 5 Indian reservations \n upstream from the reservations of those Indian tribes such an \n opportunity;\n (8) the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Santee Sioux Tribe did \n not receive just compensation for the taking of productive \n agricultural Indian lands through the condemnation referred to \n in paragraph (6);\n (9) the settlement agreement that the United States entered \n into with the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Santee Sioux Tribe to \n provide compensation for the taking by condemnation referred to \n in paragraph (6) did not take into account the increase in \n property values over the years between the date of taking and \n the date of settlement; and\n (10) in addition to the financial compensation provided \n under the settlement agreements referred to in paragraph (9)--\n (A) the Yankton Sioux Tribe should receive an \n aggregate amount equal to $23,023,743 for the loss \n value of 2,851.40 acres of Indian land taken for the \n Fort Randall Dam and Reservoir of the Pick-Sloan \n program; and\n (B) the Santee Sioux Tribe should receive an \n aggregate amount equal to $4,789,010 for the loss value \n of 593.10 acres of Indian land located near the Santee \n village.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the \n meaning given that term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-\n Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)).\n (2) Santee sioux tribe.--The term ``Santee Sioux Tribe'' \n means the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska.\n (3) Yankton sioux tribe.--The term ``Yankton Sioux Tribe'' \n means the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.\n\nSEC. 4. YANKTON SIOUX TRIBE DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the \nUnited States a fund to be known as the ``Yankton Sioux Tribe \nDevelopment Trust Fund'' (referred to in this section as the ``Fund''). \nThe Fund shall consist of any amounts deposited in the Fund under this \nAct.\n (b) Funding.--On the first day of the 11th fiscal year that begins \nafter the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury \nshall, from the General Fund of the Treasury, deposit into the Fund \nestablished under subsection (a)--\n (1) $23,023,743; and\n (2) an additional amount that equals the amount of interest \n that would have accrued on the amount described in paragraph \n (1) if such amount had been invested in interest-bearing \n obligations of the United States, or in obligations guaranteed \n as to both principal and interest by the United States, on the \n first day of the first fiscal year that begins after the date \nof enactment of this Act and compounded annually thereafter.\n (c) Investment of Trust Fund.--It shall be the duty of the \nSecretary of the Treasury to invest such portion of the Fund as is not, \nin the Secretary of Treasury's judgment, required to meet current \nwithdrawals. Such investments may be made only in interest-bearing \nobligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed as to \nboth principal and interest by the United States. The Secretary of the \nTreasury shall deposit interest resulting from such investments into \nthe Fund.\n (d) Payment of Interest to Tribe.--\n (1) Withdrawal of interest.--Beginning on the first day of \n the 11th fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act \n and, on the first day of each fiscal year thereafter, the \n Secretary of the Treasury shall withdraw the aggregate amount \n of interest deposited into the Fund for that fiscal year and \n transfer that amount to the Secretary of the Interior for use \n in accordance with paragraph (2). Each amount so transferred \n shall be available without fiscal year limitation.\n (2) Payments to yankton sioux tribe.--\n (A) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior \n shall use the amounts transferred under paragraph (1) \n only for the purpose of making payments to the Yankton \n Sioux Tribe, as such payments are requested by that \n Indian tribe pursuant to tribal resolution.\n (B) Limitation.--Payments may be made by the \n Secretary of the Interior under subparagraph (A) only \n after the Yankton Sioux Tribe has adopted a tribal plan \n under section 6.\n (C) Use of payments by yankton sioux tribe.--The \n Yankton Sioux Tribe shall use the payments made under \n subparagraph (A) only for carrying out projects and \n programs under the tribal plan prepared under section \n 6.\n (e) Transfers and Withdrawals.--Except as provided in subsections \n(c) and (d)(1), the Secretary of the Treasury may not transfer or \nwithdraw any amount deposited under subsection (b).\n\nSEC. 5. SANTEE SIOUX TRIBE DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the \nUnited States a fund to be known as the ``Santee Sioux Tribe \nDevelopment Trust Fund'' (referred to in this section as the ``Fund''). \nThe Fund shall consist of any amounts deposited in the Fund under this \nAct.\n (b) Funding.--On the first day of the 11th fiscal year that begins \nafter the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury \nshall, from the General Fund of the Treasury, deposit into the Fund \nestablished under subsection (a)--\n (1) $4,789,010; and\n (2) an additional amount that equals the amount of interest \n that would have accrued on the amount described in paragraph \n (1) if such amount had been invested in interest-bearing \n obligations of the United States, or in obligations guaranteed \n as to both principal and interest by the United States, on the \n first day of the first fiscal year that begins after the date \nof enactment of this Act and compounded annually thereafter.\n (c) Investment of Trust Fund.--It shall be the duty of the \nSecretary of the Treasury to invest such portion of the Fund as is not, \nin the Secretary of Treasury's judgment, required to meet current \nwithdrawals. Such investments may be made only in interest-bearing \nobligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed as to \nboth principal and interest by the United States. The Secretary of the \nTreasury shall deposit interest resulting from such investments into \nthe Fund.\n (d) Payment of Interest to Tribe.--\n (1) Withdrawal of interest.--Beginning on the first day of \n the 11th fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act \n and, on the first day of each fiscal year thereafter, the \n Secretary of the Treasury shall withdraw the aggregate amount \n of interest deposited into the Fund for that fiscal year and \n transfer that amount to the Secretary of the Interior for use \n in accordance with paragraph (2). Each amount so transferred \n shall be available without fiscal year limitation.\n (2) Payments to santee sioux tribe.--\n (A) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior \n shall use the amounts transferred under paragraph (1) \n only for the purpose of making payments to the Santee \n Sioux Tribe, as such payments are requested by that \n Indian tribe pursuant to tribal resolution.\n (B) Limitation.--Payments may be made by the \n Secretary of the Interior under subparagraph (A) only \n after the Santee Sioux Tribe has adopted a tribal plan \n under section 6.\n (C) Use of payments by santee sioux tribe.--The \n Santee Sioux Tribe shall use the payments made under \n subparagraph (A) only for carrying out projects and \n programs under the tribal plan prepared under section \n 6.\n (e) Transfers and Withdrawals.--Except as provided in subsections \n(c) and (d)(1), the Secretary of the Treasury may not transfer or \nwithdraw any amount deposited under subsection (b).\n\nSEC. 6. TRIBAL PLANS.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 24 months after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the tribal council of each of the Yankton Sioux \nand Santee Sioux Tribes shall prepare a plan for the use of the \npayments to the tribe under section 4(d) or 5(d) (referred to in this \nsubsection as a ``tribal plan'').\n (b) Contents of Tribal Plan.--Each tribal plan shall provide for \nthe manner in which the tribe covered under the tribal plan shall \nexpend payments to the tribe under section 4(d) or 5(d) to promote--\n (1) economic development;\n (2) infrastructure development;\n (3) the educational, health, recreational, and social \n welfare objectives of the tribe and its members; or\n (4) any combination of the activities described in \n paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).\n (c) Tribal Plan Review and Revision.--\n (1) In general.--Each tribal council referred to in \n subsection (a) shall make available for review and comment by \n the members of the tribe a copy of the tribal plan for the \n Indian tribe before the tribal plan becomes final, in \n accordance with procedures established by the tribal council.\n (2) Updating of tribal plan.--Each tribal council referred \n to in subsection (a) may, on an annual basis, revise the tribal \n plan prepared by that tribal council to update the tribal plan. \n In revising the tribal plan under this paragraph, the tribal \n council shall provide the members of the tribe opportunity to \n review and comment on any proposed revision to the tribal plan.\n (3) Consultation.--In preparing the tribal plan and any \n revisions to update the plan, each tribal council shall consult \n with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health \n and Human Services.\n (4) Audit.--\n (A) In general.--The activities of the tribes in \n carrying out the tribal plans shall be audited as part \n of the annual single-agency audit that the tribes are \n required to prepare pursuant to the Office of \n Management and Budget circular numbered A-133.\n (B) Determination by auditors.--The auditors that \n conduct the audit described in subparagraph (A) shall--\n (i) determine whether funds received by \n each tribe under this section for the period \n covered by the audits were expended to carry \n out the respective tribal plans in a manner \n consistent with this section; and\n (ii) include in the written findings of the \n audits the determinations made under clause \n (i).\n (C) Inclusion of findings with publication of \n proceedings of tribal council.--A copy of the written \n findings of the audits described in subparagraph (A) \n shall be inserted in the published minutes of each \n tribal council's proceedings for the session at which \n the audit is presented to the tribal councils.\n (d) Prohibition on Per Capita Payments.--No portion of any payment \nmade under this Act may be distributed to any member of the Yankton \nSioux Tribe or the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska on a per capita \nbasis.\n\nSEC. 7. ELIGIBILITY OF TRIBE FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.\n\n (a) In General.--No payment made to the Yankton Sioux Tribe or \nSantee Sioux Tribe pursuant to this Act shall result in the reduction \nor denial of any service or program to which, pursuant to Federal law--\n (1) the Yankton Sioux Tribe or Santee Sioux Tribe is \n otherwise entitled because of the status of the tribe as a \n federally recognized Indian tribe; or\n (2) any individual who is a member of a tribe under \n paragraph (1) is entitled because of the status of the \n individual as a member of the tribe.\n (b) Exemptions From Taxation.--No payment made pursuant to this Act \nshall be subject to any Federal or State income tax.\n (c) Power Rates.--No payment made pursuant to this Act shall affect \nPick-Sloan Missouri River Basin power rates.\n\nSEC. 8. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.\n\n Nothing in this Act may be construed as diminishing or affecting \nany water right of an Indian tribe, except as specifically provided in \nanother provision of this Act, any treaty right that is in effect on \nthe date of enactment of this Act, or any authority of the Secretary of \nthe Interior or the head of any other Federal agency under a law in \neffect on the date of enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary \nto carry out this Act, including such sums as may be necessary for the \nadministration of the Yankton Sioux Tribe Development Trust Fund under \nsection 4 and the Santee Sioux Tribe Development Trust Fund under \nsection 5.\n\nSEC. 10. EXTINGUISHMENT OF CLAIMS.\n\n Upon the deposit of funds under sections 4(b) and 5(b), all \nmonetary claims that the Yankton Sioux Tribe or the Santee Sioux Tribe \nof Nebraska has or may have against the United States for loss of value \nor use of land related to lands described in section 2(a)(10) resulting \nfrom the Fort Randall and Gavins Point projects of the Pick-Sloan \nMissouri River Basin program shall be extinguished.\n\n Passed the Senate July 24, 2002.\n\n Attest:\n\n JERI THOMSON,\n\n Secretary.", "summary": "Title I: Yankton Sioux and Santee Sioux Tribes Equitable Compensation - Yankton Sioux Tribe and Santee Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Act - (Sec. 104) Establishes in the Treasury the Yankton Sioux Tribe Development Trust Fund and the Santee Sioux Tribe Development Trust Fund.Directs the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary), on the first day of the 11th fiscal year beginning after enactment of this Act, to transfer from the General Fund into such Funds specified amounts plus the equivalent of the annually compounded interest that would have accrued on such amounts if they had been invested in interest-bearing U.S. obligations or in obligations guaranteed by the United States. Requires the Secretary to invest in such obligations the portion of such Funds not required to meet current withdrawals.Directs the Secretary, beginning the same day as such transfer, to withdraw the aggregate amount of interest deposited into the Funds each fiscal year and transfer it to the Secretary of the Interior for making payments to the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Santee Sioux Tribe for carrying out projects and programs under their respective Tribal Plan.(Sec. 106) Directs the tribal council of each Tribe to prepare a Tribal Plan for using payments to carry out projects and programs to promote: (1) economic development; (2) infrastructure development; or (3) the educational, health, recreational, and social welfare objectives of the Tribe and its members. Prohibits per capita distributions to Tribe members.(Sec. 107) States that payments under this Act shall not affect other Federal services or programs to which the Tribes are otherwise entitled, or the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin power rates, nor be subject to Federal or State income tax.(Sec. 109) Authorizes appropriations.(Sec. 110) Extinguishes all monetary claims of the Tribes against the United States for loss of value or use of land resulting from the Fort Randall and Gavins Point projects of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin program upon the Secretary's transfers to the tribal Funds established by this Act.Title II: Martin's Cove Land Transfer - Martin's Cove Land Transfer Act - (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to offer to convey to the Corporation of the Presiding Bishop specified public lands (Martin's Cove in Natrona County, Wyoming) for the purposes of public education, historic preservation, and enhanced recreational enjoyment of the public. Requires the Corporation to pay the United States the historic fair market value of the property conveyed, including any improvements.Directs the Secretary and the Corporation to enter into an agreement, binding on any successor or assignee, that ensures that the property conveyed shall, consistent with the site's historic purposes: (1) be available in perpetuity for public education and historic preservation; and (2) provide to the public, in perpetuity and without charge, access to the property.Directs the Secretary to require that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and its current or future affiliated corporations grant the United States a right of first refusal to acquire the property at historic fair market value if the Church or any of its corporations seeks to dispose of it.Requires that the proceeds of this conveyance be used exclusively by the National Trails Interpretive Center Foundation, Inc. of Casper, Wyoming, to advance the public understanding and enjoyment of the National Historic Trails System. Requires the Foundation to use such proceeds only to: (1) complete construction of the exhibits connected with the opening of the National Historic Trails Center; and (2) maintain, acquire, and further enhance the Center's exhibits, artistic representations, historic artifacts, and grounds.States that this title does not set a precedent for the resolution of land sales between or among private entities and the United States.", "title": "To provide equitable compensation to the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska for the loss of value of certain lands, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1940, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``World War II Memorial Completion \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. FUND RAISING BY AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION FOR WORLD \n WAR II MEMORIAL.\n\n (a) Codification of Existing Authority; Expansion of Authority.--\n(1) Chapter 21 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by adding at \nthe end the following new section:\n``Sec. 2113. World War II memorial in the District of Columbia\n ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) The term `World War II memorial' means the memorial \n authorized by Public Law 103-32 (107 Stat. 90) to be \n established by the American Battle Monuments Commission on \n Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to \n honor members of the Armed Forces who served in World War II \n and to commemorate the participation of the United States in \n that war.\n ``(2) The term `Commission' means the American Battle \n Monuments Commission.\n ``(3) The term `memorial fund' means the fund created by \n subsection (c).\n ``(b) Solicitation and Acceptance of Contributions.--Consistent \nwith the authority of the Commission under section 2103(e) of this \ntitle, the Commission shall solicit and accept contributions for the \nWorld War II memorial.\n ``(c) Creation of Memorial Fund.--(1) There is hereby created in \nthe Treasury a fund for the World War II memorial, which shall consist \nof the following:\n ``(A) Amounts deposited, and interest and proceeds \n credited, under paragraph (2).\n ``(B) Obligations obtained under paragraph (3).\n ``(C) The amount of surcharges paid to the Commission for \n the World War II memorial under the World War II 50th \n Anniversary Commemorative Coins Act.\n ``(D) Amounts borrowed using the authority provided under \n subsection (e).\n ``(E) Any funds received by the Commission under section \n 2103(l) of this title in exchange for use of, or the right to \n use, any mark, copyright or patent.\n ``(2) The Chairman of the Commission shall deposit in the memorial \nfund the amounts accepted as contributions under subsection (b). The \nSecretary of the Treasury shall credit to the memorial fund the \ninterest on, and the proceeds from sale or redemption of, obligations \nheld in the memorial fund.\n ``(3) The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest any portion of the \nmemorial fund that, as determined by the Chairman of the Commission, is \nnot required to meet current expenses. Each investment shall be made in \nan interest bearing obligation of the United States or an obligation \nguaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States that, as \ndetermined by the Chairman of the Commission, has a maturity suitable \nfor the memorial fund.\n ``(d) Use of Memorial Fund.--The memorial fund shall be available \nto the Commission for--\n ``(1) the expenses of establishing the World War II \n memorial, including the maintenance and preservation amount \n provided for in section 8(b) of the Commemorative Works Act (40 \n U.S.C. 1008(b));\n ``(2) such other expenses, other than routine maintenance, \n with respect to the World War II memorial as the Commission \n considers warranted; and\n ``(3) to secure, obtain, register, enforce, protect, and \n license any mark, copyright or patent that is owned by, \n assigned to, or licensed to the Commission under section \n 2103(l) of this title to aid or facilitate the construction of \n the World War II memorial.\n ``(e) Special Borrowing Authority.--(1) To assure that \ngroundbreaking, construction, and dedication of the World War II \nmemorial are completed on a timely basis, the Commission may borrow \nmoney from the Treasury of the United States in such amounts as the \nCommission considers necessary, but not to exceed a total \nof $65,000,000. Borrowed amounts shall bear interest at a rate \ndetermined by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration \nthe average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the \nUnited States of comparable maturities during the month preceding the \nmonth in which the obligations of the Commission are issued. The \ninterest payments on such obligations may be deferred with the approval \nof the Secretary of the Treasury, but any interest payment so deferred \nshall also bear interest.\n ``(2) The borrowing of money by the Commission under paragraph (1) \nshall be subject to such maturities, terms, and conditions as may be \nagreed upon by the Commission and the Secretary of the Treasury, except \nthat the maturities may not exceed 20 years and such borrowings may be \nredeemable at the option of the Commission before maturity.\n ``(3) The obligations of the Commission shall be issued in amounts \nand at prices approved by the Secretary of the Treasury. The authority \nof the Commission to issue obligations under this subsection shall \nremain available without fiscal year limitation. The Secretary of the \nTreasury shall purchase any obligations of the Commission to be issued \nunder this subsection, and for such purpose the Secretary of the \nTreasury may use as a public debt transaction of the United States the \nproceeds from the sale of any securities issued under chapter 31 of \ntitle 31. The purposes for which securities may be issued under such \nchapter are extended to include any purchase of the Commission's \nobligations under this subsection.\n ``(4) Repayment of the interest and principal on any funds borrowed \nby the Commission under paragraph (1) shall be made from amounts in the \nmemorial fund. The Commission may not use for such purpose any funds \nappropriated for any other activities of the Commission.\n ``(f) Treatment of Borrowing Authority.--In determining whether the \nCommission has sufficient funds to complete construction of the World \nWar II memorial, as required by section 8 of the Commemorative Works \nAct (40 U.S.C. 1008), the Secretary of the Interior shall consider the \nfunds that the Commission may borrow from the Treasury under subsection \n(e) as funds available to complete construction of the memorial, \nwhether or not the Commission has actually exercised the authority to \nborrow such funds.\n ``(g) Voluntary Services.--(1) Notwithstanding section 1342 of \ntitle 31, the Commission may accept from any person voluntary services \nto be provided in furtherance of the fund-raising activities of the \nCommission relating to the World War II memorial.\n ``(2) A person providing voluntary services under this subsection \nshall be considered to be a Federal employee for purposes of chapter 81 \nof title 5, relating to compensation for work-related injuries, and \nchapter 171 of title 28, relating to tort claims. A volunteer who is \nnot otherwise employed by the Federal Government shall not be \nconsidered to be a Federal employee for any other purpose by reason of \nthe provision of such voluntary service, except that any volunteers \ngiven responsibility for the handling of funds or the carrying out of a \nFederal function are subject to the conflict of interest laws contained \nin chapter 11 of title 18, and the administrative standards of conduct \ncontained in part 2635 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.\n ``(3) The Commission may provide for reimbursement of incidental \nexpenses which are incurred by a person providing voluntary services \nunder this subsection. The Commission shall determine which expenses \nare eligible for reimbursement under this paragraph.\n ``(4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require \nFederal employees to work without compensation or to allow the use of \nvolunteer services to displace or replace Federal employees.\n ``(h) Treatment of Certain Contracts.--A contract entered into by \nthe Commission for the design or construction of the World War II \nmemorial is not funding agreement as that term is defined in section \n201 of title 35.\n ``(i) Extension of Authority to Establish Memorial.--\nNotwithstanding section 10 of the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. \n1010), the legislative authorization for the construction of the World \nWar II memorial contained in Public Law 103-32 (107 Stat. 90) shall not \nexpire until December 31, 2005.''.\n (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is \namended by adding at the end the following new item:\n\n``2113. World War II memorial in the District of Columbia.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--Public Law 103-32 (107 Stat. 90) is \namended by striking sections 3, 4, and 5.\n (c) Effect of Repeal of Current Memorial Fund.--Upon the enactment \nof this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer amounts in \nthe fund created by section 4(a) of Public Law 103-32 (107 Stat. 91) to \nthe fund created by section 2113 of title 36, United States Code, as \nadded by subsection (a).\n\nSEC. 3. GENERAL AUTHORITY OF AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION TO \n SOLICIT AND RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS.\n\n Subsection (e) of section 2103 of title 36, United States Code, is \namended to read as follows:\n ``(e) Solicitation and Receipt of Contributions.--(1) The \nCommission may solicit and receive funds and in-kind donations and \ngifts from any State, municipal, or private source to carry out the \npurposes of this chapter. The Commission shall deposit such funds in a \nseparate account in the Treasury. Funds from this account shall be \ndisbursed upon vouchers approved by the Chairman of the Commission as \nwell as by a Federal official authorized to sign payment vouchers.\n ``(2) The Commission shall establish written guidelines setting \nforth the criteria to be used in determining whether the acceptance of \nfunds and in-kind donations and gifts under paragraph (1) would--\n ``(A) reflect unfavorably on the ability of the Commission, \n or any employee of the Commission, to carry out the \n responsibilities or official duties of the Commission in a fair \n and objective manner; or\n ``(B) compromise the integrity or the appearance of the \n integrity of the programs of the Commission or any official \n involved in those programs.''.\n\nSEC. 4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND RELATED ITEMS.\n\n Section 2103 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by adding \nat the end the following new subsection:\n ``(l) Intellectual Property and Related Items.--(1) The Commission \nmay--\n ``(A) adopt, use, register, and license trademarks, service \n marks, and other marks;\n ``(B) obtain, use, register, and license the use of \n copyrights consistent with section 105 of title 17;\n ``(C) obtain, use, and license patents; and\n ``(D) accept gifts of marks, copyrights, patents and \n licenses for use by the Commission.\n ``(2) The Commission may grant exclusive and nonexclusive licenses \nin connection with any mark, copyright, patent, or license for the use \nof such mark, copyright or patent, except to extent the grant of such \nlicense by the Commission would be contrary to any contract or license \nby which the use of such mark, copyright or patent was obtained.\n ``(3) The Commission may enforce any mark, copyright, or patent by \nan action in the district courts under any law providing for the \nprotection of such marks, copyrights, or patents.\n ``(4) The Attorney General shall furnish the Commission with such \nlegal representation as the Commission may require under paragraph (3). \nThe Secretary of Defense shall provide representation for the \nCommission in administrative proceedings before the Patent and \nTrademark Office and Copyright Office.\n ``(5) Section 203 of title 17 shall not apply to any copyright \ntransferred in any manner to the Commission.''.", "summary": "World War II Memorial Completion Act - Directs the American Battle Monuments Commission to solicit and accept contributions for establishing the World War II memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs (authorized under prior law). Establishes in the Treasury a fund to hold and expend such contributions. Authorizes the Commission to: (1) borrow up to $65 million from the Treasury to ensure that memorial groundbreaking, construction, and dedication are completed on a timely basis; and (2) accept voluntary services in furtherance of fund-raising activities (authorizing reimbursement of volunteer incidental expenses). \nExtends until December 31, 2005 (currently, May 25, 2000), the authority to construct the memorial. \nRevises current Commission authority to receive State, local, and private amounts for establishing the memorial to: (1) authorize the Commission to solicit (instead of just receive) such contributions; and (2) require the deposit of such amounts in the fund created under this Act. Requires the Commission to establish written guidelines for the acceptance of funds and in-kind contributions. \nAuthorizes the Commission to adopt, obtain, use, register, and license trademarks, copyrights, and patents in connection with intellectual property and related items.", "title": "World War II Memorial Completion Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2843, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Job Opportunity and Welfare \nReduction Act of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR PLACING WELFARE RECIPIENTS IN JOBS VACATED BY \n UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall conduct a pilot program \nunder which the Attorney General shall provide a written notice to a \nState of one or more potential employment opportunities for an adult \nwho is receiving assistance under the State program funded under part A \nof title IV of the Social Security Act, where such opportunity arises \nfrom--\n (1) the removal of one or more unauthorized aliens from a \n work site in the State by an officer or employee of the Service \n performing duties relating to the enforcement of the \n immigration laws; or\n (2) the issuance of an unauthorized work letter by the \n Attorney General to an employer.\n (b) Implementation Deadline; Termination.--The Attorney General \nshall implement the pilot program not later than October 1, 1998. The \nAttorney General shall terminate the pilot program at the end of the 4-\nyear period beginning on the first day the pilot program is in effect.\n (c) Scope of Operation.--The Attorney General shall provide for the \noperation of the pilot program in each State--\n (1) the chief executive officer of which has requested that \n the Attorney General provide for such operation; and\n (2) that is receiving a grant under part A of title IV of \n the Social Security Act.\n (d) Notice.--\n (1) Contents.--The notice required under subsection (a) \n shall include the following:\n (A) The name and address of the employer--\n (i) from whose work site an unauthorized \n alien was removed; or\n (ii) to whom the unauthorized work letter \n was issued.\n (B) A classification of the employment position (or \n positions) formerly held by each unauthorized alien who \n was removed from the work site or was the subject of \n the unauthorized work letter, in terms of industry and \n whether the work performed was skilled or unskilled.\n (C) The location of the work site.\n (D) The number of unauthorized aliens who were--\n (i) removed; or\n (ii) the subject of the unauthorized work \n letter.\n (2) Deadline.--The Attorney General shall submit the notice \n required under subsection (a) not later than 8 days after the \n day on which--\n (A) the unauthorized alien is removed (in a case \n described in subsection (a)(1)); or\n (B) an officer or employee of the Service enters \n onto the work site for the purpose of removing an \n unauthorized alien, following issuance of the \n unauthorized work letter (in a case described in \n subsection (a)(2)).\n (e) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act:\n (1) Service.--The term ``Service'' has the meaning given \n such term in section 101(a)(34) of the Immigration and \n Nationality Act.\n (2) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such \n term in section 101(a)(36) of the Immigration and Nationality \n Act.\n (3) Unauthorized alien.--The term ``unauthorized alien'' \n has the meaning given such term in section 274A(h)(3) of the \n Immigration and Nationality Act.\n (4) Unauthorized work letter.--The term ``unauthorized work \n letter'' means a Form I-9 Inspection Result Letter, issued by \n the Attorney General to an employer, identifying the possible \n presence of an unauthorized alien worker.\n\nSEC. 3. BONUS TO REWARD PARTICIPATING STATES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 403(a)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 603(a)(4)) (as amended by section 103 of the Personal \nResponsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public \nLaw 104-193; 110 Stat. 2121)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (B)(i), by adding at the end the \n following:\n ``In the case of a high performing State that \n is an immigration pilot program State, such \n amount shall also be based on the score \n assigned to the State under subparagraph \n (D)(iii) for such fiscal year.'';\n (2) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:\n ``(C) Formula for measuring state performance.--\n ``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year \n after the date of the enactment of the Personal \n Responsibility and Work Opportunity \n Reconciliation Act of 1996, the Secretary, in \n consultation with the National Governors' \n Association and the American Public Welfare \n Association, shall develop a formula for \n measuring State performance in operating the \n State program funded under this part so as to \n achieve the goals set forth in section 401(a).\n ``(ii) Immigration pilot program states.--\n Not later than 6 months after the date of the \n enactment of the Job Opportunity and Welfare \n Reduction Act of 1997, the Secretary, in \n consultation with the National Governors' \n Association and the American Public Welfare \n Association, shall develop a formula for \n measuring the performance of immigration pilot \n program States in placing adults receiving \n assistance under the State program funded under \n this part in employment vacancies arising \n from--\n ``(I) the removal of an \n unauthorized alien (as defined in \n section 2 of such Act) from a work site \n in the State by an officer or employee \n of the Immigration and Naturalization \n Service performing duties relating to \n the enforcement of the immigration \n laws; or\n ``(II) the issuance by the Attorney \n General to an employer of an \n unauthorized work letter (as defined in \n such section) with respect to a work \n site in the State.'';\n (3) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows:\n ``(D) Scoring of state performance; setting of \n performance thresholds.--For each bonus year, the \n Secretary shall--\n ``(i) use the formula developed under \n subparagraph (C)(i) to assign a score to each \n eligible State for the fiscal year that \n immediately precedes the bonus year;\n ``(ii) prescribe a performance threshold, \n based on the scores assigned under clause (i), \n in such a manner so as to ensure that--\n ``(I) the average annual total \n amount of grants to be made under this \n paragraph for each bonus year equals \n $200,000,000; and\n ``(II) the total amount of grants \n to be made under this paragraph for all \n bonus years equals $1,000,000,000; and\n ``(iii) use the formula developed under \n subparagraph (C)(ii) to assign an additional \n score to each immigration pilot program State \n for the fiscal year that immediately precedes \n the bonus year, which score shall be used to \n reward immigration pilot program States--\n ``(I) based on their performance, \n as measured under subparagraph (C)(ii); \n and\n ``(II) in a manner consistent with \n subclauses (I) and (II) of clause \n (ii).''; and\n (4) in subparagraph (E), by adding at the end the \n following:\n ``(iii) Immigration pilot program state.--\n The term `immigration pilot program State' \n means, with respect to a fiscal year \n immediately preceding a bonus year, an eligible \n State--\n ``(I) within which the Attorney \n General is operating the pilot program \n under section 2 of the Job Opportunity \n and Welfare Reduction Act of 1997;\n ``(II) that, after each receipt of \n a notice of an employment vacancy (or \n vacancies) from the Attorney General \n under such section 2, provided to the \n employer having the vacancy a list \n containing, with respect to each such \n vacancy, the name, address, and \n telephone number of not more than 3 \n adults who are receiving assistance \n under the State program funded under \n this part and who are determined by the \n State, based on the adult's training, \n skills, prior experience, and \n availability for employment, to be \n qualified to fill the vacancy; and\n ``(III) that provided to the \n Secretary, in such form and manner as \n the Secretary may have required, a \n report containing the information \n necessary for the Secretary to measure \n the State's performance under \n subparagraph (C)(ii).''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall \ntake effect on the later of July 1, 1998, or the date of the enactment \nof this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. REPORT.\n\n Not later than 3 months after the date of the termination of the \npilot program under section 2, the Secretary of Health and Human \nServices shall submit to the Congress a report, based on the rate of \nsuccess of the program in providing referrals leading to job \nplacements, containing the recommendations of the Secretary of Health \nand Human Services concerning whether the program should be \nreauthorized, whether the program should be expanded, and how the \nprogram could be improved.", "summary": "Job Opportunity and Welfare Reduction Act of 1997 - Directs the Attorney General to conduct a temporary pilot program in States participating in the (welfare reform) program under part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act. Requires the Attorney General to notify a State of potential employment opportunities for an adult TANF recipient arising from: (1) removal of an unauthorized alien from a work site by the Immigration and Naturalization Service; or (2) the issuance by the Attorney General to an employer of an unauthorized work letter (Form I-9 Inspection Result Letter, identifying the possible presence of an unauthorized alien). \nProvides for a bonus under TANF to reward high-performing States.", "title": "Job Opportunity and Welfare Reduction Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 254, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Airport Streamlining Approval \nProcess Act of 2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that--\n (1) airports play a major role in interstate and foreign \n commerce;\n (2) congestion and delays at our Nation's major airports \n have a significant negative impact on our Nation's economy;\n (3) airport capacity enhancement projects at congested \n airports are a national priority and should be constructed on \n an expedited basis;\n (4) airport capacity enhancement projects must include an \n environmental review process that provides local citizenry an \n opportunity for consideration of and appropriate action to \n address environmental concerns; and\n (5) the Federal Aviation Administration, airport \n authorities, communities, and other Federal, State, and local \n government agencies must work together to develop a plan, set \n and honor milestones and deadlines, and work to protect the \n environment while sustaining the economic vitality that will \n result from the continued growth of aviation.\n\nSEC. 3. PROMOTION OF NEW RUNWAYS.\n\n Section 40104 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding \nat the end the following:\n ``(c) Airport Capacity Enhancement Projects at Congested \nAirports.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator shall take \naction to encourage the construction of airport capacity enhancement \nprojects at congested airports as those terms are defined in section \n47179.''.\n\nSEC. 4. AIRPORT PROJECT STREAMLINING.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 471 of title 49, United States Code, is \namended by inserting after section 47153 the following:\n\n ``SUBCHAPTER III--AIRPORT PROJECT STREAMLINING\n\n``Sec. 47171. DOT as lead agency\n ``(a) Airport Project Review Process.--The Secretary of \nTransportation shall develop and implement a coordinated review process \nfor airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports.\n ``(b) Coordinated Reviews.--The coordinated review process under \nthis section shall provide that all environmental reviews, analyses, \nopinions, permits, licenses, and approvals that must be issued or made \nby a Federal agency or airport sponsor for an airport capacity \nenhancement project at a congested airport will be conducted \nconcurrently, to the maximum extent practicable, and completed within a \ntime period established by the Secretary, in cooperation with the \nagencies identified under subsection (c) with respect to the project.\n ``(c) Identification of Jurisdictional Agencies.--With respect to \neach airport capacity enhancement project at a congested airport, the \nSecretary shall identify, as soon as practicable, all Federal and State \nagencies that may have jurisdiction over environmental-related matters \nthat may be affected by the project or may be required by law to \nconduct an environmental-related review or analysis of the project or \ndetermine whether to issue an environmental-related permit, license, or \napproval for the project.\n ``(d) State Authority.--If a coordinated review process is being \nimplemented under this section by the Secretary with respect to a \nproject at an airport within the boundaries of a State, the State, \nconsistent with State law, may choose to participate in such process \nand provide that all State agencies that have jurisdiction over \nenvironmental-related matters that may be affected by the project or \nmay be required by law to conduct an environmental-related review or \nanalysis of the project or determine whether to issue an environmental-\nrelated permit, license, or approval for the project, be subject to the \nprocess.\n ``(e) Memorandum of Understanding.--The coordinated review process \ndeveloped under this section may be incorporated into a memorandum of \nunderstanding for a project between the Secretary and the heads of \nother Federal and State agencies identified under subsection (c) with \nrespect to the project and the airport sponsor.\n ``(f) Effect of Failure To Meet Deadline.--\n ``(1) Notification of congress and ceq.--If the Secretary \n determines that a Federal agency, State agency, or airport \n sponsor that is participating in a coordinated review process \n under this section with respect to a project has not met a \n deadline established under subsection (b) for the project, the \n Secretary shall notify, within 30 days of the date of such \n determination, the Committee on Transportation and \n Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee \n on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the \n Council on Environmental Quality, and the agency or sponsor \n involved about the failure to meet the deadline.\n ``(2) Agency report.--Not later than 30 days after date of \n receipt of a notice under paragraph (1), the agency or sponsor \n involved shall submit a report to the Secretary, the Committee \n on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of \n Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and \n Transportation of the Senate, and the Council on Environmental \n Quality explaining why the agency or sponsor did not meet the \n deadline and what actions it intends to take to complete or \n issue the required review, analysis, opinion, license, or \n approval.\n ``(g) Purpose and Need.--For any environmental review, analysis, \nopinion, permit, license, or approval that must be issued or made by a \nFederal or State agency that is participating in a coordinated review \nprocess under this section with respect to an airport capacity \nenhancement project at a congested airport and that requires an \nanalysis of purpose and need for the project, the agency, \nnotwithstanding any other provision of law, shall be bound by the \nproject purpose and need as defined by the Secretary.\n ``(h) Alternatives Analysis.--The Secretary shall determine the \nreasonable alternatives to an airport capacity enhancement project at a \ncongested airport. Any other Federal or State agency that is \nparticipating in a coordinated review process under this section with \nrespect to the project shall consider only those alternatives to the \nproject that the Secretary has determined are reasonable.\n ``(i) Solicitation and Consideration of Comments.--In applying \nsubsections (g) and (h), the Secretary shall solicit and consider \ncomments from interested persons and governmental entities.\n``Sec. 47172. Categorical exclusions\n ``Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this \nsection, the Secretary of Transportation shall develop and publish a \nlist of categorical exclusions from the requirement that an \nenvironmental assessment or an environmental impact statement be \nprepared under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. \n4321 et seq.) for projects at airports.\n``Sec. 47173. Access restrictions to ease construction\n ``At the request of an airport sponsor for a congested airport, the \nSecretary of Transportation may approve a restriction on use of a \nrunway to be constructed at the airport to minimize potentially \nsignificant adverse noise impacts from the runway only if the Secretary \ndetermines that imposition of the restriction--\n ``(1) is necessary to mitigate those impacts and expedite \n construction of the runway;\n ``(2) is the most appropriate and a cost-effective measure \n to mitigate those impacts, taking into consideration any \n environmental tradeoffs associated with the restriction; and\n ``(3) would not adversely affect service to small \n communities, adversely affect safety or efficiency of the \n national airspace system, unjustly discriminate against any \n class of user of the airport, or impose an undue burden on \n interstate or foreign commerce.\n``Sec. 47174. Airport revenue to pay for mitigation\n ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 47107(b), section 47133, \nor any other provision of this title, the Secretary of Transportation \nmay allow an airport sponsor carrying out an airport capacity \nenhancement project at a congested airport to make payments, out of \nrevenues generated at the airport (including local taxes on aviation \nfuel), for measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of the \nproject if the Secretary finds that--\n ``(1) the mitigation measures are included as part of, or \n are consistent with, the preferred alternative for the project \n in the documentation prepared pursuant to the National \n Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);\n ``(2) the use of such revenues will provide a significant \n incentive for, or remove an impediment to, approval of the \n project by a State or local government; and\n ``(3) the cost of the mitigation measures is reasonable in \n relation to the mitigation that will be achieved.\n ``(b) Mitigation of Aircraft Noise.--Mitigation measures described \nin subsection (a) may include the insulation of residential buildings \nand buildings used primarily for educational or medical purposes to \nmitigate the effects of aircraft noise and the improvement of such \nbuildings as required for the insulation of the buildings under local \nbuilding codes.\n``Sec. 47175. Airport funding of FAA staff\n ``(a) Acceptance of Sponsor-Provided Funds.--Notwithstanding any \nother provision of law, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation \nAdministration may accept funds from an airport sponsor, including \nfunds provided to the sponsor under section 47114(c), to hire \nadditional staff or obtain the services of consultants in order to \nfacilitate the timely processing, review, and completion of \nenvironmental activities associated with an airport development \nproject.\n ``(b) Administrative Provision.--Instead of payment from an airport \nsponsor from funds apportioned to the sponsor under section 47114, the \nAdministrator, with agreement of the sponsor, may transfer funds that \nwould otherwise be apportioned to the sponsor under section 47114 to \nthe account used by the Administrator for activities described in \nsubsection (a).\n ``(c) Receipts Credited as Offsetting Collections.--Notwithstanding \nsection 3302 of title 31, any funds accepted under this section, except \nfunds transferred pursuant to subsection (b)--\n ``(1) shall be credited as offsetting collections to the \n account that finances the activities and services for which the \n funds are accepted;\n ``(2) shall be available for expenditure only to pay the \n costs of activities and services for which the funds are \n accepted; and\n ``(3) shall remain available until expended.\n ``(d) Maintenance of Effort.--No funds may be accepted pursuant to \nsubsection (a), or transferred pursuant to subsection (b), in any \nfiscal year in which the Federal Aviation Administration does not \nallocate at least the amount it expended in fiscal year 2002, excluding \namounts accepted pursuant to section 337 of the Department of \nTransportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 (115 Stat. \n862), for the activities described in subsection (a).\n``Sec. 47176. Authorization of appropriations\n ``In addition to the amounts authorized to be appropriated under \nsection 106(k), there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary \nof Transportation, out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund established \nunder section 9502 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. \n9502), $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2003 and $4,200,000 for each fiscal \nyear thereafter to facilitate the timely processing, review, and \ncompletion of environmental activities associated with airport capacity \nenhancement projects at congested airports.\n``Sec. 47177. Judicial review\n ``(a) Filing and Venue.--A person disclosing a substantial interest \nin an order issued by the Secretary of Transportation or the head of \nany other Federal agency under this part or a person or agency relying \non any determination made under this part may apply for review of the \norder by filing a petition for review in the United States Court of \nAppeals for the District of Columbia Circuit or in the court of appeals \nof the United States for the circuit in which the person resides or has \nits principal place of business. The petition must be filed not later \nthan 60 days after the order is issued. The court may allow the \npetition to be filed after the 60th day only if there are reasonable \ngrounds for not filing by the 60th day.\n ``(b) Judicial Procedures.--When a petition is filed under \nsubsection (a) of this section, the clerk of the court immediately \nshall send a copy of the petition to the Secretary or the head of any \nother Federal agency involved. The Secretary or the head of such other \nagency shall file with the court a record of any proceeding in which \nthe order was issued.\n ``(c) Authority of Court.--When the petition is sent to the \nSecretary or the head of any other Federal agency involved, the court \nhas exclusive jurisdiction to affirm, amend, modify, or set aside any \npart of the order and may order the Secretary or the head of such other \nagency to conduct further proceedings. After reasonable notice to the \nSecretary or the head of such other agency, the court may grant interim \nrelief by staying the order or taking other appropriate action when \ngood cause for its action exists. Findings of fact by the Secretary or \nthe head of such other agency are conclusive if supported by \nsubstantial evidence.\n ``(d) Requirement for Prior Objection.--In reviewing an order of \nthe Secretary or the head of any other Federal agency under this \nsection, the court may consider an objection to the action of the \nSecretary or the head of such other agency only if the objection was \nmade in the proceeding conducted by the Secretary or the head of such \nother agency or if there was a reasonable ground for not making the \nobjection in the proceeding.\n ``(e) Supreme Court Review.--A decision by a court under this \nsection may be reviewed only by the Supreme Court under section 1254 of \ntitle 28.\n ``(f) Order Defined.--In this section, the term `order' includes a \nrecord of decision or a finding of no significant impact.\n``Sec. 47178. Definitions\n ``In this subchapter, the following definitions apply:\n ``(1) Airport sponsor.--The term `airport sponsor' has the \n meaning given the term `sponsor' under section 47102.\n ``(2) Congested airport.--The term `congested airport' \n means an airport that accounted for at least 1 percent of all \n delayed aircraft operations in the United States in the most \n recent year for which such data is available and an airport \n listed in table 1 of the Federal Aviation Administration's \n Airport Capacity Benchmark Report 2001.\n ``(3) Airport capacity enhancement project.--The term \n `airport capacity enhancement project' means--\n ``(A) a project for construction or extension of a \n runway, including any land acquisition, taxiway, or \n safety area associated with the runway or runway \n extension; and\n ``(B) such other airport development projects as \n the Secretary may designate as facilitating a reduction \n in air traffic congestion and delays.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 471 of such \ntitle is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n ``SUBCHAPTER III--AIRPORT PROJECT STREAMLINING\n\n``47171. DOT as lead agency.\n``47172. Categorical exclusions.\n``47173. Access restrictions to ease construction.\n``47174. Airport revenue to pay for mitigation.\n``47175. Airport funding of FAA staff.\n``47176. Authorization of appropriations.\n``47177. Judicial review.\n``47178. Definitions.''.\n\nSEC. 5. GOVERNOR'S CERTIFICATE.\n\n Section 47106(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1)--\n (A) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the \n end of subparagraph (A)(ii);\n (B) by striking subparagraph (B); and\n (C) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as \n subparagraph (B);\n (2) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking ``stage 2'' and \n inserting ``stage 3'';\n (3) by striking paragraph (4); and\n (4) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4).\n\nSEC. 6. CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN AIRPORT CAPACITY PROJECTS.\n\n Section 47504(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) \n and inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(E) to an airport operator of a congested airport \n (as defined in section 47178) and a unit of local \n government referred to in paragraph (1)(A) or (1)(B) of \n this subsection to carry out a project to mitigate \n noise in the area surrounding the airport if the \n project is included as a commitment in a record of \n decision of the Federal Aviation Administration for an \n airport capacity enhancement project (as defined in \n section 47178) even if that airport has not met the \n requirements of part 150 of title 14, Code of Federal \n Regulations.''.\n\nSEC. 7. LIMITATIONS.\n\n Nothing in this Act, including any amendment made by this Act, \nshall preempt or interfere with--\n (1) any practice of seeking public comment; and\n (2) any power, jurisdiction, or authority of a State agency \n or an airport sponsor has with respect to carrying out an \n airport capacity enhancement project.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives July 9, 2002.\n\n Attest:\n\n JEFF TRANDAHL,\n\n Clerk.\n\n By Martha C. Morrison,\n\n Deputy Clerk.", "summary": "Airport Streamlining Approval Process Act of 2002 - (Sec. 3) Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take action to encourage the construction of airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports.(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a coordinated review process for such projects, which shall provide that all environmental reviews, analyses, opinions, permits, licenses, and approvals that must be issued or made by a Federal agency or airport sponsor for such a project will be conducted concurrently in cooperation with all Federal and State agencies with jurisdiction over environmental-related matters.Requires: (1) the Secretary determine the reasonable alternatives to an airport capacity enhancement project at a congested airport; and (2) any other participating Federal or State agency to consider only those alternatives the Secretary has determined are reasonable.Authorizes the Secretary, at the request of an airport sponsor for a congested airport, to approve a restriction on use of a runway to be constructed at the airport to minimize potentially significant adverse noise impacts from the runway only if the restriction is necessary and the most appropriate and cost-effective measure (taking into consideration associated environmental trade-offs) to mitigate such impacts and expedite runway construction.Authorizes the Secretary, in specified circumstances, to allow an airport sponsor carrying out such a project to make payments, out of airport revenues (including local taxes on aviation fuel), for measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of the project, including aircraft noise.Permits the FAA Administrator to accept funds from an airport sponsor to hire additional staff or obtain the services of consultants in order to facilitate the timely processing, review, and completion of environmental activities associated with an airport development project.Authorizes appropriations to facilitate timely processing, review, and completion of environmental activities associated with airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports.Permits a person disclosing a substantial interest in an order issued by the Secretary or the head of any other pertinent Federal agency to apply for judicial review of the order. Prescribes procedures and requirements for such an appeal.(Sec. 5) Repeals the requirement that the Secretary approve a project grant application only if the chief executive officer of the State in which the project will be located certifies that there is reasonable assurance that the project will be located, designed, constructed, and operated in compliance with applicable air and water quality standards.Revises the approval criteria without the requirement of an environmental impact statement for an airport development project that does not involve the location of an airport or runway, or a major runway extension, at an existing airport. Allows such a project without an environmental impact statement if completing the project would allow airport operations involving aircraft complying with the noise standards prescribed for \"stage 3\" aircraft (currently \"stage 2\" aircraft).(Sec. 6) Authorizes the Secretary to incur obligations to make grants to an operator of a congested airport and a specified unit of local government to carry out a project to mitigate noise in the area surrounding the airport, if the project is included as a commitment in an FFA record of decision for an airport capacity enhancement project, even if that airport has not met certain regulatory requirements.", "title": "To amend title 49, United States Code, relating to airport project streamlining, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 457, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Reduce Unnecessary \nSpending Act of 2010''.\n (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to create an optional \nfast-track procedure the President may use when submitting rescission \nrequests, which would lead to an up-or-down vote by Congress on the \nPresident's package of rescissions, without amendment.\n\nSEC. 2. RESCISSIONS OF FUNDING.\n\n The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by striking part C \nand inserting the following:\n\n ``PART C--EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED RESCISSIONS\n\n``SEC. 1021. APPLICABILITY AND DISCLAIMER.\n\n ``The rules, procedures, requirements, and definitions in this part \napply only to executive and legislative actions explicitly taken under \nthis part. They do not apply to actions taken under part B or to other \nexecutive and legislative actions not taken under this part.\n\n``SEC. 1022. DEFINITIONS.\n\n ``In this part:\n ``(1) The terms `appropriations Act', `budget authority', \n and `new budget authority' have the same meanings as in section \n 3 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.\n ``(2) The terms `account', `current year', `CBO', and `OMB' \n have the same meanings as in section 250 of the Balanced Budget \n and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 as in effect on \n September 30, 2002.\n ``(3) The term `days of session' shall be calculated by \n excluding weekends and national holidays. Any day during which \n a chamber of Congress is not in session shall not be counted as \n a day of session of that chamber. Any day during which neither \n chamber is in session shall not be counted as a day of session \n of Congress.\n ``(4) The term `entitlement law' means the statutory \n mandate or requirement of the United States to incur a \n financial obligation unless that obligation is explicitly \n conditioned on the appropriation in subsequent legislation of \n sufficient funds for that purpose, and the Supplemental \n Nutrition Assistance Program.\n ``(5) The term `funding' refers to new budget authority and \n obligation limits except to the extent that the funding is \n provided for entitlement law.\n ``(6) The term `rescind' means to eliminate or reduce the \n amount of enacted funding.\n ``(7) The terms `withhold' and `withholding' apply to any \n executive action or inaction that precludes the obligation of \n funding at a time when it would otherwise have been available \n to an agency for obligation. The terms do not include \n administrative or preparatory actions undertaken prior to \n obligation in the normal course of implementing budget laws.\n\n``SEC. 1023. TIMING AND PACKAGING OF RESCISSION REQUESTS.\n\n ``(a) Timing.--If the President proposes that Congress rescind \nfunding under the procedures in this part, OMB shall transmit a message \nto Congress containing the information specified in section 1024, and \nthe message transmitting the proposal shall be sent to Congress not \nlater than 45 calendar days after the date of enactment of the funding.\n ``(b) Packaging and Transmittal of Requested Rescissions.--Except \nas provided in subsection (c), for each piece of legislation that \nprovides funding, the President shall request at most 1 package of \nrescissions and the rescissions in that package shall apply only to \nfunding contained in that legislation. OMB shall deliver each message \nrequesting a package of rescissions to the Secretary of the Senate if \nthe Senate is not in session and to the Clerk of the House of \nRepresentatives if the House is not in session. OMB shall make a copy \nof the transmittal message publicly available, and shall publish in the \nFederal Register a notice of the message and information on how it can \nbe obtained.\n ``(c) Special Packaging Rules.--After enactment of--\n ``(1) a joint resolution making continuing appropriations;\n ``(2) a supplemental appropriations bill; or\n ``(3) an omnibus appropriations bill;\ncovering some or all of the activities customarily funded in more than \n1 regular appropriations bill, the President may propose as many as 2 \npackages rescinding funding contained in that legislation, each within \nthe 45-day period specified in subsection (a). OMB shall not include \nthe same rescission in both packages, and, if the President requests \nthe rescission of more than one discrete amount of funding under the \njurisdiction of a single subcommittee, OMB shall include each of those \ndiscrete amounts in the same package.\n\n``SEC. 1024. REQUESTS TO RESCIND FUNDING.\n\n ``For each request to rescind funding under this part, the \ntransmittal message shall--\n ``(1) specify--\n ``(A) the dollar amount to be rescinded;\n ``(B) the agency, bureau, and account from which \n the rescission shall occur;\n ``(C) the program, project, or activity within the \n account (if applicable) from which the rescission shall \n occur;\n ``(D) the amount of funding, if any, that would \n remain for the account, program, project, or activity \n if the rescission request is enacted; and\n ``(E) the reasons the President requests the \n rescission;\n ``(2) designate each separate rescission request by number; \n and\n ``(3) include proposed legislative language to accomplish \n the requested rescissions which may not include--\n ``(A) any changes in existing law, other than the \n rescission of funding; or\n ``(B) any supplemental appropriations, transfers, \n or reprogrammings.\n\n``SEC. 1025. GRANTS OF AND LIMITATIONS ON PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY.\n\n ``(a) Presidential Authority To Withhold Funding.--Notwithstanding \nany other provision of law and if the President proposes a rescission \nof funding under this part, OMB may, subject to the time limits \nprovided in subsection (c), temporarily withhold that funding from \nobligation.\n ``(b) Expedited Procedures Available Only Once Per Bill.--The \nPresident may not invoke the procedures of this part, or the authority \nto withhold funding granted by subsection (a), on more than 1 occasion \nfor any Act providing funding.\n ``(c) Time Limits.--OMB shall make available for obligation any \nfunding withheld under subsection (a) on the earliest of--\n ``(1) the day on which the President determines that the \n continued withholding or reduction no longer advances the \n purpose of legislative consideration of the rescission request;\n ``(2) starting from the day on which OMB transmitted a \n message to Congress requesting the rescission of funding, 25 \n calendar days in which the House of Representatives has been in \n session or 25 calendar days in which the Senate has been in \n session, whichever occurs second; or\n ``(3) the last day after which the obligation of the \n funding in question can no longer be fully accomplished in a \n prudent manner before its expiration.\n ``(d) Deficit Reduction.--\n ``(1) In general.--Funds that are rescinded under this part \n shall be dedicated only to reducing the deficit or increasing \n the surplus.\n ``(2) Adjustment of levels in the concurrent resolution on \n the budget.--Not later than 5 days after the date of enactment \n of an approval bill as provided under this part, the chairs of \n the Committees on the Budget of the Senate and the House of \n Representatives shall revise allocations and aggregates and \n other appropriate levels under the appropriate concurrent \n resolution on the budget to reflect the repeal or cancellation, \n and the applicable committees shall report revised \n suballocations pursuant to section 302(b), as appropriate.\n\n``SEC. 1026. CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF RESCISSION REQUESTS.\n\n ``(a) Preparation of Legislation To Consider a Package of Expedited \nRescission Requests.--\n ``(1) In general.--If the House of Representatives receives \n a package of expedited rescission requests, the Clerk shall \n prepare a House bill that only rescinds the amounts requested \n which shall read as follows:\n ```There are enacted the rescissions numbered [insert \n number or numbers] as set forth in the Presidential message of \n [insert date] transmitted under part C of the Impoundment \n Control Act of 1974 as amended.'\n ``(2) Exclusion procedure.--The Clerk shall include in the \n bill each numbered rescission request listed in the \n Presidential package in question, except that the Clerk shall \n omit a numbered rescission request if the Chairman of the \n Committee on the Budget of the House, after consulting with the \n Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate, CBO, \n GAO, and the House and Senate committees that have jurisdiction \n over the funding, determines that the numbered rescission does \n not refer to funding or includes matter not permitted under a \n request to rescind funding.\n ``(b) Introduction and Referral of Legislation To Enact a Package \nof Expedited Rescissions.--The majority leader or the minority leader \nof the House or Representatives, or a designee, shall (by request) \nintroduce each bill prepared under subsection (a) not later than 4 days \nof session of the House after its transmittal, or, if no such bill is \nintroduced within that period, any member of the House may introduce \nthe required bill in the required form on the fifth or sixth day of \nsession of the House after its transmittal. If such an expedited \nrescission bill is introduced in accordance with the preceding \nsentence, it shall be referred to the House committee of jurisdiction. \nA copy of the introduced House bill shall be transmitted to the \nSecretary of the Senate, who shall provide it to the Senate committee \nof jurisdiction.\n ``(c) House Report and Consideration of Legislation To Enact a \nPackage of Expedited Rescissions.--The House committee of jurisdiction \nshall report without amendment the bill referred to it under subsection \n(b) not more than 5 days of session of the House after the referral. \nThe committee may order the bill reported favorably, unfavorably, or \nwithout recommendation. If the committee has not reported the bill by \nthe end of the 5-day period, the committee shall be automatically \ndischarged from further consideration of the bill and it shall be \nplaced on the appropriate calendar.\n ``(d) House Motion To Proceed.--\n ``(1) In general.--After a bill to enact an expedited \n rescission package has been reported or the committee of \n jurisdiction has been discharged under subsection (c), it shall \n be in order to move to proceed to consider the bill in the \n House. A Member who wishes to move to proceed to consideration \n of the bill shall announce that fact, and the motion to proceed \n shall be in order only during a time designated by the Speaker \n within the legislative schedule for the next calendar day of \n legislative session or the one immediately following it.\n ``(2) Failure to set time.--If the Speaker does not \n designate a time under paragraph (1), 3 or more calendar days \n of legislative session after the bill has been reported or \n discharged, it shall be in order for any Member to move to \n proceed to consider the bill.\n ``(3) Procedure.--A motion to proceed under this subsection \n shall not be in order after the House has disposed of a prior \n motion to proceed with respect to that package of expedited \n rescissions. The previous question shall be considered as \n ordered on the motion to proceed, without intervening motion. A \n motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion to proceed \n has been disposed of shall not be in order.\n ``(4) Removal from calendar.--If 5 calendar days of \n legislative session have passed since the bill was reported or \n discharged under this subsection and no Member has made a \n motion to proceed, the bill shall be removed from the calendar.\n ``(e) House Consideration.--\n ``(1) Considered as read.--A bill consisting of a package \n of rescissions under this part shall be considered as read.\n ``(2) Points of order.--All points of order against the \n bill are waived, except that a point of order may be made that \n 1 or more numbered rescissions included in the bill would enact \n language containing matter not requested by the President or \n not permitted under this part as part of that package. If the \n Presiding Officer sustains such a point of order, the numbered \n rescission or rescissions that would enact such language are \n deemed to be automatically stripped from the bill and \n consideration proceeds on the bill as modified.\n ``(3) Previous question.--The previous question shall be \n considered as ordered on the bill to its passage without \n intervening motion, except that 4 hours of debate equally \n divided and controlled by a proponent and an opponent are \n allowed, as well as 1 motion to further limit debate on the \n bill.\n ``(4) Motion to reconsider.--A motion to reconsider the \n vote on passage of the bill shall not be in order.\n ``(f) Senate Consideration.--\n ``(1) Referral.--If the House of Representatives approves a \n House bill enacting a package of rescissions, that bill as \n passed by the House shall be sent to the Senate and referred to \n the Senate committee of jurisdiction.\n ``(2) Committee action.--The committee of jurisdiction \n shall report without amendment the bill referred to it under \n this subsection not later than 3 days of session of the Senate \n after the referral. The committee may order the bill reported \n favorably, unfavorably, or without recommendation.\n ``(3) Discharge.--If the committee has not reported the \n bill by the end of the 3-day period, the committee shall be \n automatically discharged from further consideration of the bill \n and it shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.\n ``(4) Motion to proceed.--On the following day and for 3 \n subsequent calendar days in which the Senate is in session, it \n shall be in order for any Senator to move to proceed to \n consider the bill in the Senate. Upon such a motion being made, \n it shall be deemed to have been agreed to and the motion to \n reconsider shall be deemed to have been laid on the table.\n ``(5) Debate.--Debate on the bill in the Senate under this \n subsection, and all debatable motions and appeals in connection \n therewith, shall not exceed 10 hours, equally divided and \n controlled in the usual form. Debate in the Senate on any \n debatable motion or appeal in connection with such a bill shall \n be limited to not more than 1 hour, to be equally divided and \n controlled in the usual form. A motion to further limit debate \n on such a bill is not debatable.\n ``(6) Motions not in order.--A motion to amend such a bill \n or strike a provision from it is not in order. A motion to \n recommit such a bill is not in order.\n ``(g) Senate Point of Order.--It shall not be in order under this \npart for the Senate to consider a bill approved by the House enacting a \npackage of rescissions under this part if any numbered rescission in \nthe bill would enact matter not requested by the President or not \npermitted under this Act as part of that package. If a point of order \nunder this subsection is sustained, the bill may not be considered \nunder this part.''.\n\nSEC. 3. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.\n\n (a) Table of Contents.--Section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget \nand Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by striking the matter \nfor part C of title X and inserting the following:\n\n ``PART C--Expedited Consideration of Proposed Rescissions\n\n``Sec. 1021. Applicability and disclaimer.\n``Sec. 1022. Definitions.\n``Sec. 1023. Timing and packaging of rescission requests.\n``Sec. 1024. Requests to rescind funding.\n``Sec. 1025. Grants of and limitations on presidential authority.\n``Sec. 1026. Congressional consideration of rescission requests.''.\n (b) Temporary Withholding.--Section 1013(c) of the Impoundment \nControl Act of 1974 is amended by striking ``section 1012'' and \ninserting ``section 1012 or section 1025''.\n (c) Rulemaking.--\n (1) 904(a).--Section 904(a) of the Congressional Budget Act \n of 1974 is amended by striking ``and 1017'' and inserting \n ``1017, and 1026''.\n (2) 904(d)(1).--Section 904(d)(1) of the Congressional \n Budget Act of 1974 is amended by striking ``1017'' and \n inserting ``1017 or 1026''.\n\nSEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO PART A OF THE IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT.\n\n (a) In General.--Part A of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is \namended by inserting at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 1002. SEVERABILITY.\n\n ``If the judicial branch of the United States finally determines \nthat 1 or more of the provisions of parts B or C violate the \nConstitution of the United States, the remaining provisions of those \nparts shall continue in effect.''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--Section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget \nand Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by inserting at the end \nof the matter for part A of title X the following:\n\n``Sec. 1002. Severability.''.\n\nSEC. 5. EXPIRATION.\n\n Part C of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (as amended by this \nAct) shall expire on December 31, 2014.", "summary": "Reduce Unnecessary Spending Act of 2010 - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to transmit, within 45 calendar days after enactment of the funding in question, a message to Congress with specified information requesting any rescission the President proposes under the procedures in this Act.\n\nPrescribes requirements for timing and packaging of rescission requests.\n\nAuthorizes OMB, subject to a specified time limit, to withhold funding from obligation temporarily if the President proposes a rescission.\n\nProhibits the President from invoking such expedited procedures or such authority to withhold funding on more than one occasion for any Act providing funding.\n\nSets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of proposed rescissions.", "title": "A bill to provide an optional fast-track procedure the President may use when submitting rescission requests, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2525, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Jobs Through Trade Expansion Act of \n1994''.\n\n TITLE I--OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION\n\nSEC. 101. RAISING CEILING ON INSURANCE.\n\n Section 235(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. \n2195(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``$9,000,000,000'' and inserting \n``$13,500,000,000''.\n\nSEC. 102. RAISING CEILING ON FINANCING.\n\n Section 235(a)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. \n2195(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(2) Financing.--(A) The maximum contingent liability \n outstanding at any one time pursuant to financing issued under \n subsections (b) and (c) of section 234 shall not exceed in the \n aggregate $9,500,000,000.\n ``(B) Subject to spending authority provided in appropriations \n Acts pursuant to section 504(b) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of \n 1990, the Corporation is authorized to transfer such sums as are \n necessary from its noncredit activities to pay for the subsidy cost \n of the investment guaranties and direct loan programs under \n subsections (b) and (c) of section 234.''.\n\nSEC. 103. EXTENDING ISSUING AUTHORITY.\n\n Section 235(a)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. \n2195(a)(3)) is amended by striking ``1994'' and inserting ``1996''.\n\nSEC. 104. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.\n\n Section 235 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2195) \nis amended by striking subsection (g).\n\nSEC. 105. EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN COUNTRIES.\n\n Paragraph (2) of the second undesignated paragraph of section 231 \nof the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2191) is amended by \ninserting after ``Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2702)'' the following: ``, \nIreland, and Northern Ireland''.\n\n TITLE II--TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY\n\nSEC. 201. TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.\n\n Section 661(f)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. \n2421(f)(1)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``There are authorized'' and inserting ``(A) \n There are authorized'';\n (2) by striking ``$55,000,000'' and all that follows and \n inserting ``$77,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and such sums as are \n necessary for fiscal year 1996.''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(B) Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of \n appropriations under subparagraph (A) are authorized to remain \n available until expended.''.\n\n TITLE III--EXPORT PROMOTION PROGRAMS WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE \n ADMINISTRATION\n\nSEC. 301. EXPORT PROMOTION AUTHORIZATION.\n\n Section 202 of the Export Administration Amendments Act of 1985 (15 \nU.S.C. 4052) is amended to read as follows:\n\n``SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of \nCommerce to carry out export promotion programs such sums as are \nnecessary for fiscal years 1995 and 1996.''.\n\n TITLE IV--PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL EXPORTS\n\nSEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This title may be cited as the ``Environmental Export Promotion Act \nof 1994''.\n\nSEC. 402. PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EXPORTS.\n\n (a) Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee.--Section \n2313 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4728) is \namended--\n (1) by striking subsection (d);\n (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and\n (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:\n ``(c) Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee.--\n ``(1) Establishment and purpose.--The Secretary, in carrying \n out the duties of the chairperson of the TPCC, shall establish the \n Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (hereafter in \n this section referred to as the `Committee'). The purpose of the \n Committee shall be to provide advice and guidance to the Working \n Group in the development and administration of programs to expand \n United States exports of environmental technologies, goods, and \n services and products that comply with United States environmental, \n safety, and related requirements.\n ``(2) Membership.--The members of the Committee shall be drawn \n from representatives of--\n ``(A) environmental businesses, including small businesses;\n ``(B) trade associations in the environmental sector;\n ``(C) private sector organizations involved in the \n promotion of environmental exports, including products that \n comply with United States environmental, safety, and related \n requirements;\n ``(D) States (as defined in section 2301(i)(5)) and \n associations representing the States; and\n ``(E) other appropriate interested members of the public, \n including labor representatives.\n The Secretary shall appoint as members of the Committee at least 1 \n individual under each of subparagraphs (A) through (E).\n ``(d) Export Plans for Priority Countries.--\n ``(1) Priority country identification.--The Working Group, in \n consultation with the Committee, shall annually assess which \n foreign countries have markets with the greatest potential for the \n export of United States environmental technologies, goods, and \n services. Of these countries the Working Group shall select as \n priority countries 5 with the greatest potential for the \n application of United States Government export promotion resources \n related to environmental exports.\n ``(2) Export plans.--The Working Group, in consultation with \n the Committee, shall annually create a plan for each priority \n country selected under paragraph (1), setting forth in detail ways \n to increase United States environmental exports to such country. \n Each such plan shall--\n ``(A) identify the primary public and private sector \n opportunities for United States exporters of environmental \n technologies, goods, and services in the priority country;\n ``(B) analyze the financing and other requirements for \n major projects in the priority country which will use \n environmental technologies, goods, and services, and analyze \n whether such projects are dependent upon financial assistance \n from foreign countries or multilateral institutions; and\n ``(C) list specific actions to be taken by the member \n agencies of the Working Group to increase United States exports \n to the priority country.''.\n (b) Additional Mechanisms To Promote Environmental Exports.--\nSection 2313 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 is further amended \nby adding at the end the following:\n ``(f) Environmental Technologies Specialists in the United States \nand Foreign Commercial Service.--\n ``(1) Assignment of environmental technologies specialists.--\n The Secretary shall assign a specialist in environmental \n technologies to the office of the United States and Foreign \n Commercial Service in each of the 5 priority countries selected \n under subsection (d)(1), and the Secretary is authorized to assign \n such a specialist to the office of the United States and Foreign \n Commercial Service in any country that is a promising market for \n United States exports of environmental technologies, goods, and \n services. Such specialist may be an employee of the Department, an \n employee of any relevant United States Government department or \n agency assigned on a temporary or limited term basis to the \n Commerce Department, or a representative of the private sector \n assigned to the Department of Commerce.\n ``(2) Duties of environmental technologies specialists.--Each \n specialist assigned under paragraph (1) shall provide export \n promotion assistance to United States environmental businesses, \n including, but not limited to--\n ``(A) identifying factors in the country to which the \n specialist is assigned that affect the United States share of \n the domestic market for environmental technologies, goods, and \n services, including market barriers, standards-setting \n activities, and financing issues;\n ``(B) providing assessments of assistance by foreign \n governments that is provided to producers of environmental \n technologies, goods, and services in such countries in order to \n enhance exports to the country to which the specialist is \n assigned, the effectiveness of such assistance on the \n competitiveness of United States products, and whether \n comparable United States assistance exists;\n ``(C) training Foreign Commercial Service Officers in the \n country to which the specialist is assigned, other countries in \n the region, and United States and Foreign Commercial Service \n offices in the United States, in environmental technologies and \n the international environmental market;\n ``(D) providing assistance in identifying potential \n customers and market opportunities in the country to which the \n specialist is assigned;\n ``(E) providing assistance in obtaining necessary business \n services in the country to which the specialist is assigned;\n ``(F) providing information on environmental standards and \n regulations in the country to which the specialist is assigned;\n ``(G) providing information on all United States Government \n programs that could assist the promotion, financing, and sale \n of United States environmental technologies, goods, and \n services in the country to which the specialist is assigned; \n and\n ``(H) promoting the equal treatment of United States \n environmental, safety, and related requirements, with those of \n other exporting countries, in order to promote exports of \n United States-made products.\n ``(g) Environmental Training in One-Stop Shops.--In addition to the \ntraining provided under subsection (f)(2)(C), the Secretary shall \nestablish a mechanism to train--\n ``(1) Commercial Service Officers assigned to the one-stop \n shops provided for in section 2301(b)(8), and\n ``(2) Commercial Service Officers assigned to district offices \n in districts having large numbers of environmental businesses,\nin environmental technologies and in the international environmental \nmarketplace, and ensure that such officers receive appropriate training \nunder such mechanism. Such training may be provided by officers or \nemployees of the Department of Commerce, and other United States \nGovernment departments and agencies, with appropriate expertise in \nenvironmental technologies and the international environmental \nworkplace, and by appropriate representatives of the private sector.\n ``(h) International Regional Environmental Initiatives.--\n ``(1) Establishment of initiatives.--The TPCC may establish one \n or more international regional environmental initiatives the \n purpose of which shall be to coordinate the activities of Federal \n departments and agencies in order to build environmental \n partnerships between the United States and the geographic region \n outside the United States for which such initiative is established. \n Such partnerships shall enhance environmental protection and \n promote sustainable development by using in the region technical \n expertise and financial resources of United States departments and \n agencies that provide foreign assistance and by expanding United \n States exports of environmental technologies, goods, and services \n to that region.\n ``(2) Activities.--In carrying out each international regional \n environmental initiative, the TPCC shall--\n ``(A) support, through the provision of foreign assistance, \n the development of sound environmental policies and practices \n in countries in the geographic region for which the initiative \n is established, including the development of environmentally \n sound regulatory regimes and enforcement mechanisms;\n ``(B) identify and disseminate to United States \n environmental businesses information regarding specific \n environmental business opportunities in that geographic region;\n ``(C) coordinate existing Federal efforts to promote \n environmental exports to that geographic region, and ensure \n that such efforts are fully coordinated with environmental \n export promotion efforts undertaken by the States and the \n private sector;\n ``(D) increase assistance provided by the Federal \n Government to promote exports from the United States of \n environmental technologies, goods, and services to that \n geographic region, such as trade missions, reverse trade \n missions, trade fairs, and programs in the United States to \n train foreign nationals in United States environmental \n technologies; and\n ``(E) increase high-level advocacy by United States \n Government officials (including the United States ambassadors \n to the countries in that geographic region) for United States \n environmental businesses seeking market opportunities in that \n geographic region.\n ``(i) Environmental Technologies Project Advocacy Calendar and \nInformation Dissemination Program.--The Working Group shall--\n ``(1) maintain a calendar, updated at the end of each calendar \n quarter, of significant opportunities for United States \n environmental businesses in foreign markets and trade promotion \n events, which shall--\n ``(A) be made available to the public;\n ``(B) identify the 50 to 100 environmental infrastructure \n and procurement projects in foreign markets that have the \n greatest potential in the calendar quarter for United States \n exports of environmental technologies, goods, and services; and\n ``(C) include trade promotion events, such as trade \n missions and trade fairs, in the environmental sector; and\n ``(2) provide, through the National Trade Data Bank and other \n information dissemination channels, information on opportunities \n for environmental businesses in foreign markets and information on \n Federal export promotion programs.\n ``(j) Environmental Technology Export Alliances.--Subject to the \navailability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary is \nauthorized to use the Market Development Cooperator Program to support \nthe creation on a regional basis of alliances of private sector \nentities, nonprofit organizations, and universities, that support the \nexport of environmental technologies, goods, and services and promote \nthe export of products complying with United States environmental, \nsafety, and related requirements.\n ``(k) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term \n`environmental business' means a business that produces environmental \ntechnologies, goods, or services.''.\n\n TITLE V--INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY\n\nSEC. 501. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--In carrying out part I of the Foreign Assistance \nAct of 1961 and other relevant foreign assistance laws, the President, \nacting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for \nInternational Development, shall establish a program of training and \nother technical assistance to assist foreign countries in--\n (1) developing and strengthening laws and regulations to \n protect intellectual property; and\n (2) developing the infrastructure necessary to implement and \n enforce such laws and regulations.\n (b) Participation of Other Agencies.--The Administrator of the \nUnited States Agency for International Development--\n (1) shall utilize the expertise of the Patent and Trademark \n Office and other agencies of the United States Government in \n designing and implementing the program of assistance provided for \n in this section;\n (2) shall coordinate assistance under this section with efforts \n of other agencies of the United States Government to increase \n international protection of intellectual property, including \n implementation of international agreements containing high levels \n of protection of intellectual property; and\n (3) shall consult with the heads of such other agencies in \n determining which foreign countries will receive assistance under \n this section.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "TABLE OF CONTENTS: \n Title I: Overseas Private Investment Corporation \n Title II: Trade and Development Agency \n Title III: Export Promotion Programs Within the International \n Trade Administration \n Title IV: Promotion of United States Environmental Exports \n Title V: International Protection of Intellectual Property \nJobs Through Trade Expansion Act of 1994 - \nTitle I: Overseas Private Investment Corporation\n - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to raise the ceiling on the maximum contingent liability allowed for Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) insurance and outstanding financing. \n(Sec. 102) Authorizes OPIC to transfer amounts from noncredit activities to pay subsidy costs of program levels for the direct loan and investment guaranties programs. \n(Sec. 103) Continues OPIC's authority to issue investment insurance and guarantees through FY 1996. \n(Sec. 105) Makes a restriction on OPIC assistance for countries that exceed a specified per capita income level inapplicable to Ireland and Northern Ireland (thus making such countries eligible for OPIC assistance). \nTitle II: Trade and Development Agency\n - Authorizes appropriations for the Trade and Development Agency for FY 1995 and 1996. \nTitle III: Export Promotion Programs Within the International Trade Administration\n - Amends the Export Administration Amendments Act of 1985 to authorize appropriations for Department of Commerce export promotion programs for FY 1995 and 1996. \nTitle IV: Promotion of United States Environmental Exports\n - Environmental Export Promotion Act of 1994 - Amends the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to remove provisions relating to Environmental Export Assistance Officers. \n(Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee to provide guidance on programs to expand U.S. exports of environmental technologies, goods, and services and products that comply with U.S. environmental, safety, and related requirements. \nRequires the Environmental Trade Promotion Working Group, a subcommittee of the Trade Promotion Coordination Committee (TPCC), to: (1) select five priority countries with the greatest potential for the application of U.S. Government export promotion resources related to environmental exports; and (2) create a plan annually for each such country that sets forth ways to increase such exports to such country. \nDirects the Secretary to assign a specialist in environmental technologies to the office of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service in each of the priority countries. \nAuthorizes the TPCC to establish international regional initiatives to coordinate the activities of Federal agencies in order to build environmental partnerships between the United States and the geographic regions outside the United States for which such initiatives are established. Provides that such partnerships shall enhance environmental protection and promote sustainable development by using the technical expertise and financial resources of Federal agencies that provide foreign assistance and by expanding U.S. exports of environmental technologies, goods, and services to such regions. \nDirects the Working Group to maintain a calendar of significant opportunities for U.S. environmental businesses in foreign markets and trade promotion events to be made available to the public. \nAuthorizes the Secretary to use the Market Development Cooperator Program to support regional alliances of private sector entities, nonprofit organizations, and universities that support the export of environmental technologies, goods, and services and promote the export of products complying with U.S. environmental, safety, and related requirements. \nTitle V: International Protection of Intellectual Property\n - Requires the President, acting through the Administrator of the Agency for International Development, to establish a program of training and technical assistance to assist foreign countries in: (1) developing and strengthening laws and regulations to protect intellectual property; and (2) developing the infrastructure necessary to implement and enforce such laws and regulations.", "title": "Jobs Through Trade Expansion Act of 1994"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2580, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Flight 93 National Memorial Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--\n (1) on September 11, 2001, passengers and crewmembers of \n United Airlines Flight 93 courageously gave their lives to \n prevent a planned attack on the Capital of the United States;\n (2) thousands of people have visited the crash site since \n September 11, 2001, drawn by the heroic action and sacrifice of \n the passengers and crewmembers aboard Flight 93;\n (3) many people in the United States are concerned about \n the future disposition of the crash site, including--\n (A) grieving families of the passengers and \n crewmembers;\n (B) the people of the region where the crash site \n is located; and\n (C) citizens throughout the United States;\n (4) many of those people are involved in the formation of \n the Flight 93 Task Force, a broad, inclusive organization \n established to provide a voice for all parties interested in \n and concerned about the crash site;\n (5) the crash site commemorates Flight 93 and is a profound \n symbol of American patriotism and spontaneous leadership by \n citizens of the United States;\n (6) a memorial of the crash site should--\n (A) recognize the victims of the crash in an \n appropriate manner; and\n (B) address the interests and concerns of \n interested parties; and\n (7) it is appropriate that the crash site of Flight 93 be \n designated as a unit of the National Park System.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--\n (1) to establish a memorial to honor the passengers and \n crewmembers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, \n 2001;\n (2) to establish the Flight 93 Advisory Commission to \n assist in the formulation of plans for the memorial, including \n the nature, design, and construction of the memorial; and\n (3) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to \n administer the memorial, coordinate and facilitate the \n activities of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission, and provide \n technical and financial assistance to the Flight 93 Task Force.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Flight \n 93 Advisory Commission established by section (4)(b).\n (2) Crash site.--The term ``crash site'' means the site in \n Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where \n United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on September 11, 2001.\n (3) Memorial.--The term ``Memorial'' means the memorial to \n the passengers and crewmembers of United Airlines Flight 93 \n established by section 4(a).\n (4) Passenger or crewmember.--\n (A) In general.--The term ``passenger or \n crewmember'' means a passenger or crewmember aboard \n United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.\n (B) Exclusions.--The term ``passenger or \n crewmember'' does not include a terrorist aboard United \n Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.\n (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (6) Task Force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the Flight \n 93 Task Force.\n\nSEC. 4. MEMORIAL TO HONOR THE PASSENGERS AND CREWMEMBERS OF FLIGHT 93.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established as a unit of the National \nPark System a memorial at the crash site to honor the passengers and \ncrewmembers of Flight 93.\n (b) Advisory Commission.--\n (1) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be \n known as the ``Flight 93 Advisory Commission''.\n (2) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of--\n (A) the Director of the National Park Service; and\n (B) 14 members, appointed by the Secretary, from \n among persons recommended by the Task Force.\n (3) Term; vacancies.--\n (A) Term.--A member of the Commission shall be \n appointed for the life of the Commission.\n (B) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission--\n (i) shall not affect the powers of the \n Commission; and\n (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as \n the original appointment was made.\n (4) Meetings.--\n (A) In general.--The Commission shall meet at the \n call of the Chairperson or a majority of the members.\n (B) Frequency.--The Commission shall meet not less \n than quarterly.\n (C) Notice.--Notice of meetings and the agenda for \n the meetings shall be published in--\n (i) newspapers in and around Somerset \n County, Pennsylvania; and\n (ii) the Federal Register.\n (D) Open meetings.--Meetings of the Commission \n shall be subject to section 552b of title 5, United \n States Code.\n (5) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission \n shall constitute a quorum.\n (6) Chairperson.--The Commission shall select a Chairperson \n from among the members of the Commission.\n (7) Duties.--The Commission shall--\n (A) not later than 3 years after the date of \n enactment of this Act, submit to the Secretary and \n Congress a report that contains recommendations for the \n planning, design, construction, and long-term \n management of the memorial;\n (B) advise the Secretary on--\n (i) the boundaries of the memorial; and\n (ii) the development of a management plan \n for the memorial;\n (C) consult with the Task Force, the State of \n Pennsylvania, and other interested parties, as \n appropriate;\n (D) support the efforts of the Task Force; and\n (E) involve the public in the planning and design \n of the memorial.\n (8) Powers.--The Commission may--\n (A) make expenditures for services and materials \n appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section;\n (B) accept donations for use in carrying out this \n section and for other expenses associated with the \n memorial, including the construction of the memorial;\n (C) hold hearings and enter into contracts, \n including contracts for personal services;\n (D) by a vote of the majority of the Commission, \n delegate any duties that the Commission determines to \n be appropriate to employees of the National Park \n Service; and\n (E) conduct any other activities necessary to carry \n out this Act.\n (9) Compensation.--A member of the Commission shall serve \n without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses \n incurred in carrying out the duties of the Commission.\n (10) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the \n dedication of the memorial.\n (c) Duties of the Secretary.--The Secretary shall--\n (1) administer the memorial as a unit of the National Park \n Service in accordance with--\n (A) this Act; and\n (B) the laws generally applicable to units of the \n National Park System;\n (2) provide advice to the Commission on the collection, \n storage, and archiving of information and materials relating to \n the crash or the crash site;\n (3) consult with and assist the Commission in--\n (A) providing information to the public;\n (B) interpreting any information relating to the \n crash or the crash site;\n (C) conducting oral history interviews; and\n (D) conducting public meetings and forums;\n (4) participate in the development of plans for the design \n and construction of the memorial;\n (5) provide to the Commission--\n (A) assistance in designing and managing exhibits, \n collections, or activities at the memorial;\n (B) project management assistance for design and \n construction activities; and\n (C) staff and other forms of administrative \n support;\n (6) acquire from willing sellers the land or interests in \n land for the memorial by donation, purchase with donated or \n appropriated funds, or exchange; and\n (7) provide the Commission any other assistance that the \n Commission may require to carry out this Act.\n\n Passed the Senate September 10, 2002.\n\n Attest:\n\n Secretary.\n107th CONGRESS\n\n 2d Session\n\n S. 2136\n\n_______________________________________________________________________\n\n AN ACT\n\n To establish a memorial in the State of Pennsylvania to honor the \n passengers and crewmembers of Flight 93 who, on September 11, 2001, \n gave their lives to prevent a planned attack on the Capital of the \n United States.", "summary": "Flight 93 National Memorial Act - Establishes at the site in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where Flight 93 crashed on September 11, 2001, and as a unit of the National Park System a memorial to honor the passengers and crewmembers who died.Establishes a Flight 93 Advisory Commission to recommend planning, design, construction, and long-term management of the memorial.", "title": "A bill to establish a memorial in the State of Pennsylvania to honor the passengers and crewmembers of Flight 93 who, on September 11, 2001, gave their lives to prevent a planned attack on the Capitol of the United States."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1488, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND REFERENCE.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Worker Adjustment \nand Retraining Notification Amendments Act''.\n (b) Reference.--Except as specifically provided otherwise, whenever \nin this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an \namendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference \nshall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the \nWorker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (29 U.S.C. 2101 et \nseq.).\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n (a) Employer, Plant Closing, and Mass Layoff.--Paragraphs (1) \nthrough (3) of section 2(a) (29 U.S.C. 2101(a)(1)-(3)) are amended to \nread as follows:\n ``(1) the term `employer' means any business enterprise \n that employs 50 or more employees;\n ``(2) the term `plant closing' means--\n ``(A) the permanent or temporary shutdown of a \n single site of employment, or of one or more facilities \n or operating units within a single site of employment, \n which results in an employment loss at such site, \n during any 30-day period, for 25 or more employees; or\n ``(B) the permanent or temporary shutdown of one or \n more sites of employment, or of one or more facilities \n or operating units within such sites, which results in \n an employment loss, during any 30-day period, for 100 \n or more employees.\n ``(3) the term `mass layoff' means--\n ``(A) a reduction in force at a single site of \n employment which results in an employment loss at such \n site, during any 30-day period, for 25 or more \n employees; or\n ``(B) a reduction in force which results in an \n employment loss, during any 30-day period, for 100 or \n more employees.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Notice.--Section 3(d) (29 U.S.C. 2102(d)) is amended by \n striking out ``, each of which is less than the minimum number \n of employees specified in section 2(a) (2) or (3) but which in \n the aggregate exceed that minimum number,'' and inserting in \n lieu thereof ``which in the aggregate exceed the minimum number \n of employees specified in section 2(a) (2) or (3)''.\n (2) Definitions.--Section 2(b)(1) (29 U.S.C. 2101(b)(1)) is \n amended by striking ``(other than a part-time employee)''.\n (c) Secretary of Labor.--\n (1) Definition.--Paragraph (8) of section 2(a) (29 U.S.C. \n 2101(a)(8)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(8) the term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Labor or \n a representative of the Secretary of Labor.''.\n (2) Regulations.--Section 8(a) (29 U.S.C. 2107(a)) is \n amended by striking ``of Labor''.\n\nSEC. 3. NOTICE.\n\n (a) Period.--Section 3 (29 U.S.C. 2102) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``a 60-day period \n after'' and inserting ``the applicable notice period required \n after'';\n (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``60-day period'' each \n place such term appears and inserting ``notice period'';\n (3) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as \n subsections (c) through (e), respectively; and\n (4) by inserting after subsection (a), the following new \n subsection:\n ``(b) Notice Period.--As used in this section, the term `notice \nperiod' means--\n ``(1) in the case of a plant closing or mass layoff which \n results in an employment loss for at least 25 but not more than \n 49 employees, 30 days;\n ``(2) in the case of a plant closing or mass layoff which \n results in an employment loss for at least 50 but not more than \n 99 employees, 60 days; and\n ``(3) in the case of a plant closing or mass layoff which \n results in an employment loss for at least 100 employees, 90 \n days.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 5(a)(1) (29 U.S.C. 2104(a)(1)) \nis amended in the matter following subparagraph (B), by striking ``60 \ndays'' and inserting ``the applicable notice period''.\n (c) Recipient.--Section 3(a)(1) (29 U.S.C. 2102(a)(1)) is amended \nby striking ``or, if there is no such representative at that time, to \neach affected employee'' and inserting ``and to each affected \nemployee''.\n\nSEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT.\n\n (a) Amount.--Section 5(a)(1) (29 U.S.C. 2104(a)(1)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``and'' at the end \n thereof;\n (2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D); \n and\n (3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new \n subparagraphs:\n ``(B) interest on the amount described in subparagraph (A) \n calculated at the prevailing rate;\n ``(C) an additional amount as liquidated damages equal to \n the sum of the amount described in subparagraph (A) and the \n interest described in subparagraph (B); and''.\n (b) Exemption.--Section 5(a)(4) (29 U.S.C. 2104(a)(4)) is amended \nby striking ``reduce the amount of the liability or penalty provided \nfor in this section'' and inserting ``reduce the amount of the \nliability under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) and reduce the amount \nof the penalty provided for in paragraph (3)''.\n (c) Administrative Complaint.--Section 5(a)(5) (29 U.S.C. \n2104(a)(5)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``may sue,'' and inserting ``may,'';\n (2) by inserting after ``both,'' the following: ``(A) file \n a complaint with the Secretary alleging a violation of section \n 3, or (B) bring suit''; and\n (3) by adding at the end thereof the following new \n sentence: ``A person seeking to enforce such liability may use \n one or both of the enforcement mechanisms described in \n subparagraphs (A) and (B).''.\n (d) Action by the Secretary.--Section 5 (29 U.S.C. 2104) is \namended--\n (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (d); and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new \n subsections:\n ``(b) Action by the Secretary.--\n ``(1) Administrative action.--The Secretary shall receive, \n investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints of violations of \n section 3 by an employer in the same manner that the Secretary \n receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve complaints of \n violations of sections 6 and 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act \n of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206 and 207).\n ``(2) Subpoena powers.--For the purposes of any \n investigation provided for in this section, the Secretary shall \n have the subpoena authority provided for under section 9 of the \n Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 209).\n ``(3) Civil action.--The Secretary may bring an action in \n any court of competent jurisdiction to recover on behalf of an \n employee the back pay, interest, benefits, and liquidated \n damages described in subsection (a)(1).\n ``(4) Sums recovered.--Any sums recovered by the Secretary \n on behalf of an employee under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) \n of section 5(a)(1) shall be held in a special deposit account \n and shall be paid, on order of the Secretary, directly to each \n employee affected. Any such sums not paid to an employee \n because of inability to do so within a period of 3 years, and \n any sums recovered by the Secretary under subparagraph (C) of \n section 5(a)(1), shall be credited as an offsetting collection \n to the appropriations account of the Secretary of Labor for \n expenses for the administration of this Act and shall remain \n available to the Secretary until expended.\n ``(5) Action to compel relief by secretary.--The district \n courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, for cause \n shown, over an action brought by the Secretary to restrain the \n withholding of payment of back pay, interest, benefits, or \n other compensation, plus interest, found by the court to be due \n to employees under this Act.\n ``(c) Limitations Period.--\n ``(1) In general.--An action may be brought under this \n section not later than 2 years after the date of the last event \n constituting the alleged violation for which the action is \n brought.\n ``(2) Commencement.--In determining when an action is \n commenced under this section for the purposes of paragraph (1), \n it shall be considered to be commenced on the date on which the \n complaint is filed.''.\n\nSEC. 5. POSTING OF NOTICES; PENALTIES.\n\n The Act (29 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end \nthereof the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 11. POSTING OF NOTICES; PENALTIES.\n\n ``(a) Posting of Notices.--Each employer shall post and keep posted \nin conspicuous places upon its premises where notices to employees are \ncustomarily posted a notice to be prepared or approved by the Secretary \nof Labor setting forth excerpts from, or summaries of, the pertinent \nprovisions of this chapter and information pertinent to the filing of a \ncomplaint.\n ``(b) Penalties.--A willful violation of this section shall be \npunishable by a fine of not more than $100 for each separate \noffense.''.\n\nSEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on \nthe date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Amendments Act - Amends the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act to cover employers of 50 or more employees (currently 100). \nCovers single-site plant closings or mass layoffs affecting 25 or more employees (currently 500 or more, or 50 or more if this comprises one-third of the workers at the site). \nEliminates the single-site requirement for plant closings or mass layoffs affecting 100 or more employees, thus covering such closings or layoffs by one employer regardless of the number of sites involved. \nSpecifies that the 90-day aggregate rule covers all related layoffs within that period, whether or not they are each above or below the threshold levels. \nExtends coverage to part-time employees. \n(Sec. 3) Revises the notice period based on the number of employees affected: (1) 25-49, 30 days; (2) 50-99, 60 days; and (3) 100 or more, 90 days. (The current period is 60 days.) \nRequires employer notice to each affected employee (as well as to the employee representative, if there is one). \n(Sec. 4) Revises and adds enforcement requirements. \nAdds to employer liability for violations: (1) interest on back pay owed; and (2) an additional amount as liquidated damages equal to the back pay and interest. \nLimits a good faith exemption to reduction of liability for interest and for a civil penalty. \nAllows aggrieved employees to enforce employer liability by bringing suit and/or filing a complaint with the Secretary of Labor. Directs the Secretary to investigate and resolve such complaints. Authorizes the Secretary to bring civil actions on behalf of the employee for back pay, interest, benefits, and liquidated damages. \nEstablishes a two-year statute of limitations. \n(Sec. 5) Requires employers to post notices to employees of pertinent provisions of the Act and information on filing complaints. Establishes fines for willful violations of such posting requirement.", "title": "Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Amendments Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2742, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Truth in Video Game Rating Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DECEPTIVE RATINGS OF VIDEO GAMES.\n\n Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the \nFederal Trade Commission shall prescribe rules under section 553 of \ntitle 5, United States Code, to prohibit the following as an unfair and \ndeceptive act or practice prescribed pursuant to section 18(a)(1)(B) of \nthe Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)):\n (1) Rating game only on partial content.--Such rules shall \n prohibit any rating organization from assigning a content \n rating to any video or computer game that is to bear a label \n containing such content rating when sold or distributed in \n interstate commerce unless such rating organization has \n reviewed the playable content of the video or computer game in \n its entirety.\n (2) Withholding content for rating.--\n (A) In general.--Such rules shall prohibit any \n person who produces, sells, or otherwise distributes \n video or computer games in interstate commerce from \n withholding or hiding any playable content of the video \n or computer game from, or in any other manner failing \n to disclose any playable content of a video or computer \n game to, a rating organization.\n (B) Hidden content.--Such rules shall provide that \n where, in the course of obtaining a content rating, a \n person submits to a rating organization a video or \n computer game that contains hidden content, that such \n person also provide the rating organization with the \n necessary codes or methods of accessing such hidden \n content.\n (3) Gross mischaracterization of content.--Such rules shall \n prohibit any rating organization from providing a content \n rating that grossly mischaracterizes (as defined by the \n Commission in such rules) the content of the video or computer \n game.\n\nSEC. 3. G.A.O. STUDY.\n\n (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall \nconduct a study to determine--\n (1) the efficacy of the Entertainment Software Ratings \n Board ratings system in assigning appropriate content ratings \n to video and computer games, including ratings for online or \n Internet-based games;\n (2) whether content ratings systems, like that used by the \n Entertainment Software Ratings Board, should be peer-reviewed;\n (3) whether an independent ratings system, developed and \n administered by persons or entities with no financial interest \n in the video and computer game industry, would result in more \n accurate and effective content ratings for video and computer \n games than the rating system used by the Entertainment Software \n Ratings Board; and\n (4) the efficacy of a universal ratings system for visual \n content, including films, broadcast and cable television and \n video, and computer games.\n (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of \nthis Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on \nthe findings of the study conducted pursuant to subsection (a). The \nreport shall contain recommendations regarding effective approaches to \nvideo and computer game content ratings that address the unique ratings \nchallenges of online and Internet-based video games.\n\nSEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Content rating.--The term ``content rating'' means any \n rating of the content of a video or computer game provided to \n notify consumers of any content which may be offensive to \n consumers or may not be suitable to persons of varying ages, \n including such content as violence, graphic sexual content, \n nudity, or strong language.\n (2) Hidden content.--The term ``hidden content'' means any \n playable content that may be disabled or blocked from a user of \n the video or computer game so that it can be accessed only by \n inputting a code or command or by altering the game's software \n with a modification, patch, or similar tool, utility, or \n method.\n (3) Playable content.--The term ``playable content'', with \n respect to video or computer games, means all of the scenes, \n visual images, sounds, and words that a user can access after \n installing the game on a computer, console, telecommunication \n device, or similar technology, and includes hidden content.\n (4) Rating organization.--The term ``rating organization'' \n means the Entertainment Software Ratings Board or any other \n independent organization that assigns content ratings for video \n or computer games.\n (5) Video or computer game.--The term ``video or computer \n game'' means any product, whether distributed electronically or \n through a tangible device, consisting of data, programs, \n routines, instructions, applications, symbolic languages, or \n similar electronic information that enables a user to interact \n with a computer-controlled virtual environment for \n entertainment purposes.", "summary": "Truth in Video Game Rating Act - Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prescribe rules that prohibit as an unfair and deceptive act or practice: (1) any rating organization from assigning a content rating to any video or computer game unless it has reviewed its playable content; and (2) any producer, seller, or distributor of such games from withholding or hiding any such content.\n\nRequires the FTC rules also to: (1) require any person submitting to a rating organization a video or computer game with hidden content to accompany it with the codes or methods necessary to access such hidden content; and (2) prohibit a rating organization from providing a content rating that grossly mischaracterizes the game content.\n\nDirects the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the efficacy of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) ratings system in assigning appropriate content ratings to video and computer games, and related questions.", "title": "A bill to direct the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules to prohibit deceptive conduct in the rating of video and computer games and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 170, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Confederate Commemorative Works \nInventory and Joint Resource Study Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) The American Civil War was fought between 1861 and \n 1865.\n (2) As early as 1864, efforts were underway to preserve \n places that had been the location of pivotal battles during the \n Civil War, even before surrender occurred.\n (3) The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the \n natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park \n System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this \n and future generations, including sites dedicated to the \n interpretation of the American Civil War.\n (4) The National Park Service, the Department of Veterans \n Affairs, and the Department of Defense administer public lands \n that are responsible for Confederate commemorative works.\n (5) There are 147 national cemeteries in the United States. \n Fourteen are maintained by the Department of the Interior, \n through the National Park Service. The Department of Veterans \n Affairs, through the National Cemetery Administration, \n administers 131 cemeteries. The Department of Defense, through \n the Army, administers 2 cemeteries.\n (6) The Department of Defense has jurisdiction over--\n (A) 10 major United States military installations \n named in honor of Confederate military leaders; and\n (B) Navy ships named after Confederate victories.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For the purposes of this Act:\n (1) Confederate commemorative work.--The term ``Confederate \n commemorative work''--\n (A) means any work that mentions individuals or \n units who participated or served in the advancement of \n Confederate efforts; and\n (B) includes the Confederate flag and any other \n symbols or signage that honors the Confederacy, \n including any monument, statue, or plaque that honors a \n Confederate leader, soldier, or supporter of the \n Confederate States of America.\n (2) Confederate flag.--The term ``Confederate flag''--\n (A) means the national flag of the Confederacy from \n 1861 through 1865; and\n (B) includes the Stars and Bars, the Stainless \n Banner, the Blood-Stained Banner, the Confederate \n States Navy flag, the battle flag of the Army of \n Northern Virginia, any State or regimental flag as such \n flag was depicted during 1861-1865, and modern \n representations of the Confederate battle flag.\n (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of \n the National Park Service.\n (4) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' \n means the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Defense, \n and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, each in reference to \n Federal land under the jurisdiction of that Secretary.\n\nSEC. 4. INVENTORY AND RESOURCE STUDY.\n\n (a) In General.--Each Secretary concerned shall--\n (1) conduct a full inventory of Confederate commemorative \n works under the administrative jurisdiction of that Secretary; \n and\n (2) submit a copy of that inventory to the Director.\n (b) Contents of Study.--Using the inventories received pursuant to \nsubsection (a), the Director shall conduct a special resource study \nthat--\n (1) examines works, commemorating and interpreting the \n Civil War, the commemoration thereof, the soldiers, people on \n the home front and battle lines, and the related locations in \n the United States from 1861 through 1865; and\n (2) identifies--\n (A) a historical assessment, based on extensive \n research, of each inventoried Confederate commemorative \n work;\n (B) an evaluation of the suitability and \n feasibility of retaining the Confederate commemorative \n work;\n (C) the identification of properties that could \n meet criteria for listing in the National Register of \n Historic Places or criteria for designation as National \n Historic Landmarks or if the Confederate commemorative \n work is already on the or part of, another designation \n or district;\n (D) an evaluation of relevant historical research \n on, education about, interpretation of, and public \n awareness of the Confederate commemorative work; and\n (E) any other matters that the Director determines \n to be appropriate for this study.\n (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after funds are made available \nfor the study, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the \nCommittee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the \nCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report \ncontaining the findings of the study required under subsection (b) and \nany related recommendations.", "summary": "Confederate Commemorative Works Inventory and Joint Resource Study Act This bill directs the Departments of the Interior, Defense, and Veterans Affairs to each conduct a full inventory of specified Confederate commemorative works, including flags and other symbols or signage, on the public lands under their jurisdiction. Using such inventories, the National Park Service shall conduct a special resource study to examine the works commemorating and interpreting the Civil War and commemorating, with respect to such war, the soldiers, people on the home front and battle lines, and related locations in the United States from 1861-1865. Among contents required to be identified by the study are historical assessments of each work, the suitability and feasibility of retaining works, identification of properties that could meet the criteria for designation as national historic sites, and an evaluation of historical research. ", "title": "Confederate Commemorative Works Inventory and Joint Resource Study Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 432, "text": "SECTION 1. EXCHANGE OVERSIGHT.\n\n Subtitle D of title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care \nAct (42 U.S.C. 18021 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n\n ``PART 6--EXCHANGE OVERSIGHT\n\n``SEC. 1351. BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CEO.\n\n ``(a) In General.--There is established the Marketplace Health \nInsurance Corporation headed by a Chief Executive Officer and directed \nby a Board of Directors, to oversee management of the Federal Exchange \nand State Exchanges, and to provide health insurance oversight.\n ``(b) CEO.--\n ``(1) In general.--The President shall appoint a Chief \n Executive Officer, by and with the consent of the Senate, who \n shall be responsible for administering the Federal Exchange, \n for overseeing State Exchanges, and for health insurance \n oversight.\n ``(2) Authorities and duties.--The Chief Executive Officer \n shall--\n ``(A) report directly to the President;\n ``(B) be accountable for implementation of the \n Federal Exchange and oversight of the State Exchanges;\n ``(C) be responsible for all Federal health \n insurance oversight; and\n ``(D) serve the public interest of individuals \n seeking health insurance, serve businesses seeking \n access to health coverage through the Exchanges, and \n ensure the efficient operation and function of the \n Exchanges.\n ``(3) Requirement.--To be eligible for appointment as Chief \n Executive Officer, an individual shall have a background in \n health care issues and private-sector management experience.\n ``(c) Board of Directors.--\n ``(1) Establishment.--There is established a Board of \n Directors of the Marketplace Health Insurance Corporation.\n ``(2) Duties.--The Board of Directors shall advise the \n Chief Executive Officer on the operation of the Federal \n Exchange, implementation of the State Exchanges, and health \n insurance oversight, including--\n ``(A) the functionality of healthcare.gov (or any \n subsequent Internet site), including SHOP exchanges;\n ``(B) ensuring that enrollment information is \n properly transferred from healthcare.gov (or any \n subsequent Internet site) to State Medicaid agencies;\n ``(C) accuracy of enrollee information submitted \n through the Exchanges;\n ``(D) ensuring the accuracy of advanced premium tax \n credits;\n ``(E) ensuring the accuracy of payment to insurers;\n ``(F) enhancement of the consumer experience when \n comparing plans, including out-of-pocket costs, and \n searching for a specific provider or drug formulary;\n ``(G) overseeing the selection of plans offered on \n the Federal Exchange, including sufficient network \n adequacy and transparency requirements;\n ``(H) providing recommendations to the Secretary of \n the Treasury with respect to the implementation of \n section 4980H of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and \n potential policy changes with respect to such section \n and associated reporting requirements;\n ``(I) creating an automated appeals system for \n healthcare.gov (or any subsequent Internet site);\n ``(J) overseeing the transition from a State \n Exchange to the Federal Exchange;\n ``(K) enabling online enrollment in health \n insurance plans through the Exchanges for small \n businesses and employee choice for employees of small \n businesses;\n ``(L) overseeing the Federal contracting related to \n healthcare.gov (or any subsequent Internet site);\n ``(M) providing recommendations to the Office of \n Personal Management on the oversight and administration \n of the multi-State plan program; and\n ``(N) additional matters, as determined by the \n Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Chief \n Executive Officer, or President.\n ``(3) Membership.--The Board of Directors shall be \n comprised of the following:\n ``(A) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.\n ``(B) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare \n & Medicaid Services.\n ``(C) The Commissioner of the Internal Revenue \n Service.\n ``(D) The Administrator of the Small Business \n Administration.\n ``(E) Three representatives of the private sector \n who have demonstrated knowledge in individual health \n care coverage, small employer health care coverage, \n administering a public or private health care delivery \n system, operating complex information system \n technologies, or promoting health and wellness, \n appointed by the Comptroller General of the United \n States.\n ``(4) Terms.--\n ``(A) Officers of the federal government.--Each \n member of the Board of Directors described in \n subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (3) shall \n serve for a term that is concurrent with the member's \n term as an officer within the Federal department or \n agency.\n ``(B) Other members.--Each member of the board \n described in paragraph (3)(E) shall be appointed for a \n term of 3 years and may be reappointed for a term of an \n additional 2 years.\n ``(5) Chairperson.--The Secretary of Health and Human \n Services shall serve as Chair of the Board of Directors.\n ``(d) Technical Advisory Committee.--\n ``(1) In general.--To assist the Chief Executive Officer \n and Board of Directors in carrying out their duties, the Board \n of Directors shall establish a technical advisory committee.\n ``(2) Membership.--The technical advisory committee shall \n be comprised of the following:\n ``(A) One technical expert from the Centers for \n Medicare & Medicaid Administration.\n ``(B) One representative of the health insurance \n industry.\n ``(C) One representative of health care consumer \n groups.\n ``(D) One representative of the National \n Association of Insurance Commissioners.\n ``(E) One representative of the State Medicaid \n agencies.\n ``(F) One representative from the small business \n community.\n ``(G) One representative of Federal information \n technology contractors involved in the operation and \n development of healthcare.gov (or any subsequent \n Internet site).\n ``(H) At the discretion of the Chair of the Board \n of Directors, up to 2 additional members, selected by \n the Chair and approved by the Chief Executive Officer.\n ``(3) Chair.--The Chair of the Board of Directors shall \n appoint one member of the technical advisory committee to serve \n as Chair of such committee.\n ``(4) Terms.--Each member of the technical advisory \n committee shall be appointed for a term of 3 years and may be \n reappointed for a term of an additional 2 years.\n ``(e) Work Plan and Report.--\n ``(1) Work plan.--Not later than 3 months after the date of \n enactment of this section, the Chief Executive Officer, in \n cooperation with the Board of Directors, shall develop a work \n plan with respect to duties described in subsection (c)(2), \n indicating the priority and schedule the Board of Directors \n will take in addressing such duties. The work plan shall be \n displayed on healthcare.gov (or any subsequent Internet site).\n ``(2) Annual report.--Not later than February 1 of each \n year, the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the \n Board of Directors, shall submit an annual report to the \n President and Congress on the status of the Federal Exchange \n and related insurance oversight, including progress made on the \n duties of the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors \n under subsection (c)(2) and remaining issues to be addressed to \n enhance the functionality of healthcare.gov (or any subsequent \n Internet site).''.", "summary": "Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish the Marketplace Health Insurance Corporation, with a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board of Directors, to oversee health care exchanges and health insurance. Directs the President, with the consent of the Senate, to appoint as CEO an individual with a background in health care issues and private-sector management experience. Requires the Board of Directors to advise the CEO on issues including: (1) the functionality of healthcare.gov, (2) the selection of federal exchange health plans, (3) ensuring the accuracy of premium subsidies, and (4) the transition from a state exchange to the federal exchange. Requires the Board of Directors to establish a technical advisory committee to assist the Board of Directors and CEO in carrying out their duties.", "title": "A bill to establish a board of directors and CEO to oversee the Federal Exchange and State Exchanges, and to provide health insurance oversight."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 527, "text": "SECTION 1. EXCISE TAX ON MANUFACTURE AND IMPORTATION OF TIRES.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 38 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n(relating to environmental taxes) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n\n ``Subchapter E--Tax on Tires\n\n ``Sec. 4691. Imposition of tax.\n\n``SEC. 4691. IMPOSITION OF TAX.\n\n ``(a) General Rule.--There is imposed a tax on the manufacture or \nimportation of tires of any type, including solid and pneumatic tires.\n ``(b) Amount of Tax.--The amount of the tax imposed by subsection \n(a) shall be 50 cents per tire.\n ``(c) Liability for Tax.--The tax imposed by subsection (a) shall \nbe paid by the manufacturer or importer of the tire not later than 30 \ndays after the end of each calendar quarter for each tire manufactured \nor imported during such quarter.\n ``(d) Tires on Imported Articles.--For purposes of subsection (a), \nif an article imported into the United States is equipped with tires, \nthe importer of the article shall be treated as the importer of the \ntires with which such article is equipped.\n ``(e) Effective Date.--The tax imposed by this section shall apply \nto tires manufactured or imported after December 31, 1997, and before \nJanuary 1, 2003.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of subchapters for chapter 38 \nof such Code is amended by adding after the item relating to subchapter \nD the following:\n\n ``Subchapter E. Tax on tires.''.\n\nSEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TIRE RECYCLING, ABATEMENT, AND DISPOSAL TRUST \n FUND.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 98 of the Internal Revenue \nCode of 1986 (relating to the establishment of trust funds) is amended \nby adding after section 9511 the following:\n\n``SEC. 9512. WASTE TIRE RECYCLING, ABATEMENT, AND DISPOSAL TRUST FUND.\n\n ``(a) Creation of Trust Fund.--There is established in the Treasury \nof the United States a trust fund to be known as the ``Waste Tire \nRecycling, Abatement, and Disposal Trust Fund'' consisting of such \namounts as may be appropriated or credited to such Trust Fund as \nprovided in this section or section 9602(b).\n ``(b) Transfers to Trust Fund.--There are appropriated to the Waste \nTire Recycling, Abatement, and Disposal Trust Fund amounts equivalent \nto--\n ``(1) taxes received in the Treasury under section 4691 \n (relating to an assessment on motor vehicle tires); and\n ``(2) amounts received in the Treasury and collected under \n section 4011 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act.\n ``(c) Expenditures.--Amounts in the Waste Tire Recycling, \nAbatement, and Disposal Trust Fund shall be available, as provided in \nappropriation Acts, only for the purpose of making expenditures to \ncarry out the purposes of section 4011 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act.\n ``(d) Authority to Borrow.--\n ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated \n to the Waste Tire Recycling, Abatement, and Disposal Trust \n Fund, as repayable advances, such sums as may be necessary to \n carry out the purposes of section 4011(k) of the Solid Waste \n Disposal Act.\n ``(2) Limitation on aggregate advances.--The maximum \n aggregate amount of repayable advances to the Waste Tire \n Recycling, Abatement, and Disposal Trust Fund which is \n outstanding at any one time shall not exceed an amount equal to \n the amount which the Secretary estimates will be equal to the \n sum of the amounts received from the tax imposed by section \n 4691 during any 2-year period.\n ``(3) Repayment of advances.--\n ``(A) In general.--Advances made to the Waste Tire \n Recycling, Abatement, and Disposal Trust Fund shall be \n repaid, and interest on such advances shall be paid, to \n the general fund of the Treasury when the Secretary \n determines that moneys are available for such purposes \n in the Waste Tire Recycling, Abatement, and Disposal \n Trust Fund.\n ``(B) Date for termination of advances.--No advance \n shall be paid to the Trust Fund after December 31, 2001 \n and all advances to the Trust Fund shall be repaid on \n or before such date.\n ``(C) Interest rate on advances.--Interest on \n advances made to the Trust Fund shall be at a rate \n determined by the Secretary to be equal to the current \n market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of \n the United States with remaining periods to maturity \n comparable to the anticipated period during which the \n advance will be outstanding, and shall be compounded \n annually.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for \n subchapter A of chapter 98 of such Code is amended by adding \n after the item relating to section 9511 the following:\n\n ``Sec. 9511. Waste Tire Recycling, \n Abatement, and Disposal Trust \n Fund.''.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to impose a tax on the manufacture or importation of tires of any type, including solid and pneumatic tires. \nEstablishes the Waste Tire Recycling, Abatement, and Disposal Trust Fund. Appropriates to the Fund the taxes received under IRC provisions relating to an assessment on motor vehicle tires and amounts received under specified provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Makes Fund amounts available (as provided in appropriations Acts), and authorizes appropriations, for State and Federal waste tire recycling, abatement, and disposal activities and related research.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on the manufacture and importation of tires, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1357, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Streamlined and Improved Methods at \nPolling Locations and Early Voting Act'' or the ``SIMPLE Voting Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EARLY VOTING AND FOR REDUCING WAITING \n TIMES FOR VOTERS IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.\n\n (a) Requirements for States.--Subtitle A of title III of the Help \nAmerica Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 306 \n and 307; and\n (2) by inserting after section 303 the following new \n sections:\n\n``SEC. 304. EARLY VOTING.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Each State shall allow individuals to vote in an \nelection for Federal office on each day occurring during the 15-day \nperiod which ends 2 days before the date of the election, in the same \nmanner as voting is allowed on such day.\n ``(b) Minimum Early Voting Requirements.--Each polling place which \nallows voting prior to the date of a Federal election pursuant to \nsubsection (a) shall--\n ``(1) allow such voting for not less than 10 hours on each \n day; and\n ``(2) have uniform hours each day for which such voting \n occurs.\n ``(c) Location of Polling Places Near Public Transportation.--To \nthe greatest extent practicable, a State shall ensure that each polling \nplace which allows voting prior to the date of a Federal election \npursuant to subsection (a) is located within reasonable walking \ndistance of a stop on a public transportation route.\n ``(d) Standards.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall issue standards for \n the administration of voting prior to the date scheduled for a \n Federal election. Such standards shall include the \n nondiscriminatory geographic placement of polling places at \n which such voting occurs.\n ``(2) Deviation.--The standards described in paragraph (1) \n shall permit States, upon providing adequate public notice, to \n deviate from any requirement in the case of unforeseen \n circumstances such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or \n a change in voter turnout.\n ``(e) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to \nelections held on or after January 1, 2014.\n\n``SEC. 305. PREVENTING UNREASONABLE WAITING TIMES FOR VOTERS.\n\n ``(a) Preventing Unreasonable Waiting Times.--\n ``(1) In general.--Each State shall provide a sufficient \n number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election \n resources (including physical resources) at a polling place \n used in any election for Federal office, including a polling \n place at which individuals may cast ballots prior to the date \n of the election, to ensure--\n ``(A) a fair and equitable waiting time for all \n voters in the State; and\n ``(B) that no individual will be required to wait \n longer than one hour to cast a ballot at the polling \n place.\n ``(2) Criteria.--In determining the number of voting \n systems, poll workers, and other election resources provided at \n a polling place for purposes of paragraph (1), the State shall \n take into account the following factors:\n ``(A) The voting age population.\n ``(B) Voter turnout in past elections.\n ``(C) The number of voters registered.\n ``(D) The number of voters who have registered \n since the most recent Federal election.\n ``(E) Census data for the population served by such \n voting site, such as the proportion of the voting-age \n population who are under 25 years of age or who are \n naturalized citizens.\n ``(F) The educational levels and socio-economic \n factors of the population served by such voting site.\n ``(G) The needs and numbers of voters with \n disabilities and voters with limited English \n proficiency.\n ``(H) The type of voting systems used.\n ``(I) The length and complexity of initiatives, \n referenda, and other questions on the ballot.\n ``(J) Such other factors as the State considers \n appropriate.\n ``(3) Guidelines.--Not later than 180 days after the date \n of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall \n establish and publish guidelines to assist States in meeting \n the requirements of this subsection.\n ``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may \n be construed to authorize a State to meet the requirements of \n this subsection by closing any polling place, prohibiting an \n individual from entering a line at a polling place, or refusing \n to permit an individual who has arrived at a polling place \n prior to closing time from voting at the polling place.\n ``(b) Development and Implementation of Contingency Plans.--\n ``(1) In general.--Each State shall develop, and implement \n to the greatest extent practicable, a contingency plan under \n which the State shall provide additional poll workers, \n machines, ballots, and other equipment and supplies (as the \n case may be) on the date of the election to any polling place \n used in an election for Federal office, including a polling \n place at which individuals may cast ballots prior to the date \n of the election, at which waiting times exceed one hour.\n ``(2) Approval of plan by commission.--The State shall \n ensure that the contingency plan developed under paragraph (1) \n is approved by the Commission prior to the date of the election \n involved, in accordance with such procedures as the Commission \n may establish.\n ``(c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to \nelections held on or after January 1, 2014.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Enforcement.--Section 401 of \nsuch Act (42 U.S.C. 15511) is amended by striking ``sections 301, 302, \nand 303'' and inserting ``subtitle A of title III''.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is \namended--\n (1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 304 and \n 305 as relating to sections 306 and 307; and\n (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 303 the \n following new items:\n\n``Sec. 304. Early voting.\n``Sec. 305. Preventing unreasonable waiting times for voters.''.\n\nSEC. 3. NO EFFECT ON AUTHORITY OF STATE TO PROVIDE FOR LONGER PERIODS \n OF EARLY VOTING OR GREATER AMOUNT OF RESOURCES AT POLLING \n PLACES.\n\n Nothing in this Act or in any amendment made by this Act may be \nconstrued to prohibit a State, with respect to any election for Federal \noffice--\n (1) from providing (in an equitable and nondiscriminatory \n manner) a longer period for early voting than the minimum \n period required under section 304 of the Help America Vote Act \n of 2002 (as added by section 2(a)); or\n (2) from providing (in an equitable and nondiscriminatory \n manner) a greater number of systems, poll workers, and other \n election resources at any polling place than the minimum number \n required under section 305 of such Act (as added by section \n 2(a)).", "summary": "Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early Voting Act or SIMPLE Voting Act - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each state to allow individuals to vote in a federal election on each day during the 15-day period ending two days before the election date in the same manner as voting is allowed on election day.\n\nRequires a state to ensure that each polling place which allows early voting in a federal election is located within reasonable walking distance of a stop on a public transportation route.\n\nRequires the Election Assistance Commission to issue standards for the administration of early voting in a federal election.\n\nRequires each state to provide a sufficient number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources (including physical resources) at a polling place used in a federal election to ensure: (1) a fair and equitable waiting time for all voters in the state, and (2) that no individual will be required to wait longer than one hour to cast a ballot at the polling place.\n\nRequires each state to develop, and implement to the greatest extent practicable, a contingency plan under which it shall provide any polling place on a federal election day whose waiting times exceed one hour with additional poll workers, machines, ballots, and other equipment and supplies, including a polling place at which individuals may cast ballots before the election date.", "title": "To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require States to establish a minimum period of 15 days for early voting prior to the date of an election for Federal office and to ensure that no individual will be required to wait for longer than one hour to cast a ballot at a polling place in an election for Federal office."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2024, "text": "SECTION 1. PRE-DECISIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCESS FOR FOREST \n SERVICE ACTIONS IMPLEMENTING LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT \n PLANS.\n\n (a) Replacement of Current Administrative Appeals Process.--Section \n322 of Public Law 102-381 (16 U.S.C. 1612 note) is amended by striking \nsubsections (c), (d), and (e) and inserting the following new \nsubsections:\n ``(c) Pre-Decisional Administrative Review Process for Certain \nForest Service Actions.--\n ``(1) Establishment as sole means for administrative \n review.--The Secretary shall establish by regulation a pre-\n decisional administrative review process that will serve as the \n sole means by which a person can seek administrative review \n regarding proposed actions referred to in subsection (a).\n ``(2) Review period.--The pre-decisional administrative \n review process for a proposed action referred to in subsection \n (a) shall occur during the period--\n ``(A) beginning after the completion of the \n environmental assessment or environmental impact \n statement prepared for the action; and\n ``(B) ending not later than the date of the \n issuance of the final decision approving the action.\n ``(3) Eligibility.--To be eligible to participate in the \n pre-decisional administrative review process for a proposed \n action referred to in subsection (a), a person shall submit to \n the Secretary, during scoping or the public comment period for \n the draft environmental analysis for the action, specific \n written comments that relate to the proposed action.\n ``(4) Notice of proposed decision.--Following the \n conclusion of the pre-decisional administrative review process \n for a proposed action referred to in subsection (a), the \n Secretary shall provide notice of, and distribute, the proposed \n decision along with the final environmental assessment or \n environmental impact statement.\n ``(d) Emergency Situations.--\n ``(1) Exemption from pre-decisional administrative review \n process.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), if the Chief of \n the Forest Service determines that an emergency situation \n exists for which immediate implementation of a proposed action \n referred to in subsection (a) is necessary, the proposed action \n shall not be subject the pre-decisional administrative review \n process in subsection (c).\n ``(2) Notice; post-decisional objection process.--In the \n case of an action exempted under paragraph (1), the Forest \n Service shall--\n ``(A) provide notice of the final decision for the \n proposed action; and\n ``(B) provide for an expedited post-decisional \n review process.\n ``(3) Implementation.--The Forest Service may implement an \n action exempted under paragraph (1) immediately after notice is \n provided under paragraph (2)(A) and continue such \n implementation during the post-decisional administrative review \n process.\n ``(e) Efforts To Expedite Judicial Review.--Subsections (b) and \n(c)(3) of section 106 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 \n(16 U.S.C. 6516) shall apply with respect to--\n ``(1) the judicial review of an action challenging an \n action referred to in subsection (a); and\n ``(2) any request for an injunction regarding such an \n action.\n ``(f) Relationship to Other Authorities.--This section does not \napply to--\n ``(1) an authorized hazardous fuel reduction project under \n title I of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 \n U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), which has its own special administrative \n review process under section 105 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 6515); \n and\n ``(2) a proposed action referred to in subsection (a) for \n which a categorically exclusion is provided.\n ``(g) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the `Forest \nService Administrative Review Act'.''.\n (b) Technical Corrections.--Section 322 of Public Law 102-381 (16 \nU.S.C. 1612 note) is further amended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``(16 U.S.C. 1601 et \n seq.)'' and inserting ``(16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.)''; and\n (2) in subsection (b)--\n (A) by striking ``Secretary'' both places it \n appears and inserting ``Forest Service''; and\n (B) by striking the comma at the end of paragraph \n (1)(A).\n (c) Effective Date and Interim Process.--\n (1) Effective date.--Subject to paragraph (3), the pre-\n decisional administrative review process required by subsection \n (c) of section 322 of Public Law 102-381 (16 U.S.C. 1612 note), \n as added by subsection (a), shall take effect upon the issuance \n of final regulations by the Secretary of Agriculture \n establishing the process.\n (2) Interim process.--Pending issuance of the final \n regulations, the Secretary shall apply--\n (A) the regulations in part 215, title 36, Code of \n Federal Regulations that implement the notice and \n comment provisions in subsections (a) and (b) of \n section 322 of Public Law 102-381; and\n (B) the regulations in part 218, title 36, Code of \n Federal Regulations, to provide the pre-decisional \n administrative review process under subsection (c) of \n section 322 of Public Law 102-381, except that \n subsection (c)(5) of such section shall apply to \n require notice and distribution of proposed decisions.\n (3) Transition.--Upon issuance of the final regulations, \n the Secretary shall no longer apply the regulations in part \n 215, title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, that implement \n subsections (c), (d), and (e) of section 322 of Public Law 102-\n 381, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of \n this Act, except with respect to a decision which was, or could \n have been, appealed under such part on the day before the date \n of the issuance of the final regulations.", "summary": "Forest Service Administrative Review Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Forest Service, to establish a pre-decisional administrative review process that will serve as the sole means by which persons can seek an administrative review regarding proposed actions of the Forest Service concerning projects and activities that implement land and resource management plans developed under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974.\n\nSets forth requirements for the pre-decisional administrative review process concerning the occurrence of the review period, eligibility of a participant in the process, and notice of the proposed decision.\n\nExempts from such process an emergency situation that exists for which immediate implementation of a proposed action is necessary.\n\nApplies certain judicial review provisions of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 with respect to: (1) the judicial review of an action challenging a proposed action under this Act, and (2) any request for an injunction regarding such an action.\n\nMakes this Act non-applicable to: (1) an authorized hazardous fuel reduction project under such Act that has its own special administrative review process, and (2) a proposed action under this Act for which a categorical exclusion is provided.", "title": "To replace the current Forest Service administrative appeals process with a pre-decisional administrative review process modeled after the successful approach used in the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1767, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Scotchman Peaks \nWilderness Act of 2016''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\nSec. 2. Definitions.\nSec. 3. Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.\nSec. 4. Administration.\nSec. 5. Fire.\nSec. 6. Adjacent management.\nSec. 7. Indian tribes.\nSec. 8. Effect.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Agriculture.\n (2) Wilderness area.--The term ``wilderness area'' means \n the area designated as a component of the National Wilderness \n Preservation System by section 3(a).\n\nSEC. 3. SCOTCHMAN PEAKS WILDERNESS.\n\n (a) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. \n1131 et seq.), certain National Forest System land in the State of \nIdaho comprising approximately 13,961 acres, as generally depicted on \nthe map entitled ``Final Map Scotchman Peaks Wilderness'' and dated \nJune 20, 2016, is designated as wilderness and as a component of the \nNational Wilderness Preservation System and shall be known as the \n``Scotchman Peaks Wilderness''.\n (b) Map and Legal Description.--As soon as practicable after the \ndate of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the \nCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the \nCommittee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a map \nand legal description for the wilderness area.\n (c) Effect.--The map and legal description submitted under \nsubsection (b) shall have the same force and effect as if included in \nthis Act, except that the Secretary may correct minor errors in the map \nor legal description.\n (d) Availability.--The map and legal description submitted under \nsubsection (b) shall be available for public inspection in the \nappropriate offices of the Forest Service.\n\nSEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, the wilderness \narea shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with the \nWilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), except that any reference in \nthat Act to the effective date shall be considered to be a reference to \nthe date of enactment of this Act.\n (b) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the wilderness \narea is withdrawn from all forms of--\n (1) entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public \n land laws;\n (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and\n (3) disposition under the mineral leasing, mineral \n materials, and geothermal leasing laws.\n (c) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this Act affects the \njurisdiction of the State of Idaho with respect to fish and wildlife on \npublic land in the State.\n (d) Management Activities.--In furtherance of the purposes and \nprinciples of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the \nSecretary may carry out management activities to maintain or restore \nfish and wildlife populations and habitats to support fish and wildlife \npopulations within the wilderness area if the management activities--\n (1) are consistent with relevant wilderness management \n plans;\n (2) are conducted in accordance with appropriate policies, \n such as the policies established in Appendix B of the report of \n the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of \n Representatives accompanying H.R. 2570 of the 101st Congress \n (House Report 101-405), including the occasional and temporary \n use of motorized vehicles; and\n (3) as determined by the Secretary, would--\n (A) promote healthy, viable, and more naturally \n distributed wildlife populations that would enhance \n wilderness values; and\n (B) accomplish the purpose of the management \n activity with the minimum impact necessary.\n\nSEC. 5. FIRE.\n\n In accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. \n1133(d)(1)), the Secretary may take such measures within the wilderness \narea as the Secretary determines to be necessary for the control of \nfire, insects, and disease.\n\nSEC. 6. ADJACENT MANAGEMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Nothing in this Act creates a protective perimeter \nor buffer zone around the wilderness area.\n (b) Activities Outside Wilderness Area.--The fact that an activity \nor use on land outside the wilderness area can be seen or heard within \nthe wilderness area shall not preclude the activity or use outside the \nwilderness area.\n\nSEC. 7. INDIAN TRIBES.\n\n (a) Access.--In recognition of the past use of the wilderness area \nby Indian tribes for traditional cultural and religious purposes, the \nSecretary shall ensure that Indian tribes have access to the wilderness \narea for--\n (1) traditional cultural and religious purposes; and\n (2) exercise of any right reserved by treaty.\n (b) Temporary Closures.--\n (1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the \n Secretary, on request of an Indian tribe, may temporarily close \n to the general public one or more specific portions of the \n wilderness area to protect the privacy of the members of the \n Indian tribe in the conduct of the traditional cultural and \n religious activities in the wilderness area.\n (2) Requirement.--Any closure under paragraph (1) shall be \n made in such a manner as to affect the smallest practicable \n area for the minimum period of time necessary for the activity \n to be carried out.\n (c) Applicable Law.--Access to the wilderness area under this \nsection shall be in accordance with--\n (1) Public Law 95-341 (commonly known as the ``American \n Indian Religious Freedom Act'') (42 U.S.C. 1996); and\n (2) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).\n\nSEC. 8. EFFECT.\n\n Nothing in this Act diminishes the rights of any Indian tribe.", "summary": "Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Act of 2016 This bill designates approximately 13,961 acres of National Forest System land in Idaho, to be known as the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, as wilderness and a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The wilderness area is withdrawn from specified public land, mining, mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) may carry out management activities to maintain or restore fish and wildlife populations and habitats within the wilderness area if they would: promote healthy, viable, and more naturally distributed populations that would enhance wilderness values; and accomplish the purpose of the management activity with the minimum impact necessary. USDA may take measures within the wilderness area necessary for the control of fire, insects, and disease. Nothing in this bill creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the wilderness area. USDA shall ensure that Indian tribes have access to the wilderness area for: traditional and cultural purposes, and the exercise of any right reserved by treaty. ", "title": "Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Act of 2016"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2714, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Repatriate Our Patriots Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITION.\n\n In this Act, the term ``special veteran'' means an individual who \nis an alien and is described in section 101(2) of title 38, United \nStates Code, except the term--\n (1) only includes individuals who were discharged or \n released from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions;\n (2) does not include individuals who have been convicted of \n voluntary manslaughter, murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, \n or any offense under chapter 113B of title 18, United States \n Code (relating to terrorism); and\n (3) does not include individuals who have been determined \n to be a child abuser or a pedophile.\n\nSEC. 3. PROTECTING SPECIAL VETERANS FROM REMOVAL.\n\n Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 237 \nof the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227), a special \nveteran shall not be removed from the United States.\n\nSEC. 4. NATURALIZATION FOR SPECIAL VETERANS.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a \nspecial veteran shall be naturalized as a citizen of the United States \nupon the filing of the appropriate application, paying the appropriate \nfees, and, except as provided in subsection (b), taking and subscribing \nbefore an officer of the Department of Homeland Security within the \nUnited States to the oath of allegiance required by section 337 of the \nImmigration and Nationality (8 U.S.C. 1448). The Secretary of Homeland \nSecurity shall take steps to ensure that the period in which an \napplication for naturalization under this section is pending does not \nexceed 90 days. The Secretary shall furnish each special veteran \nnaturalized under this section with a certificate of citizenship.\n (b) Special Veterans Abroad.--In the case of a special veteran \nresiding abroad, the application for naturalization may be filed from \nabroad, and the oath of allegiance described in subsection (a) may be \nsubscribed to abroad at United States embassies, consulates, and, as \npracticable, United States military installations overseas pursuant to \nthe procedures available under section 1701(d) of the National Defense \nAuthorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1443a) for \nnaturalization proceedings overseas for members of the Armed Forces and \ntheir spouses and children.\n (c) Waiver.--Consistent with section 337(a) of the Immigration and \nNationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1448(a)), the Secretary of Homeland Security \nmay waive the taking of the oath of allegiance described in subsection \n(a) by a special veteran if, in the opinion of the Secretary, the \nspecial veteran is unable to understand, or to communicate an \nunderstanding of, its meaning because of a physical or developmental \ndisability or mental impairment.\n\nSEC. 5. TREATMENT OF SPECIAL VETERANS IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS OR ORDERED \n REMOVED.\n\n In the case of a special veteran in removal proceedings on the date \nof the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall \ncancel the removal of the special veteran. In the case of a special \nveteran who was ordered removed before the date of the enactment of \nthis Act, the Attorney General shall rescind any outstanding order of \nremoval, and any finding that the special veteran is subject to removal \nor is inadmissible. In the case of a special veteran physically present \nin the United States whose status as an alien lawfully admitted for \npermanent residence was rescinded before the date of the enactment of \nthis Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall allow the veteran to \nadjust status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent \nresidence without regard to any numerical limitation in the Immigration \nand Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).\n\nSEC. 6. RETURN OF SPECIAL VETERANS REMOVED FROM THE UNITED STATES.\n\n Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this \nAct, the Secretary shall establish a program and application procedure \nto permit special veterans removed from the United States before the \ndate of the enactment of this Act to enter the United States as an \nalien lawfully admitted for permanent residence without regard to any \nnumerical limitation in the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. \n1101 et seq.).\n\nSEC. 7. ACCESS TO MILITARY BENEFITS.\n\n A special veteran who has been naturalized or has obtained the \nstatus of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence pursuant \nto this Act shall be eligible for all military and veterans benefits \nfor which the special veteran would have been eligible if the special \nveteran had never been ordered removed, been removed, or voluntarily \ndeparted, from the United States.\n\nSEC. 8. IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIAL VETERANS.\n\n (a) Identification.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall \nidentify immigration cases involving special veterans by--\n (1) inquiring of every alien processed prior to initiating \n removal proceedings whether the alien is a special veteran; and\n (2) keeping records of special veterans who have been \n detained under the immigration laws, had removal proceedings \n against them initiated before the date of the enactment of this \n Act, or been removed before such date.\n (b) Record Annotation.--When the Secretary has identified a case \nunder subsection (a), the Secretary shall annotate all immigration and \nnaturalization records of the Department of Homeland Security relating \nto the special veteran involved so as to reflect that identification \nand afford an opportunity to track the outcomes for the veteran. Such \nannotation shall include--\n (1) the veteran's branch of military service;\n (2) whether or not the veteran served during a period of \n military hostilities described in section 329 of the \n Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440); and\n (3) the veteran's immigration status at the time of \n enlistment.", "summary": " Repatriate Our Patriots Act This bill prohibits a special veteran from being removed from the United States. A special veteran: (1) is an alien veteran who was discharged or released from military service under conditions other than dishonorable; (2) includes only an honorably discharged or released individual; and (3) excludes an individual convicted of voluntary manslaughter, murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, or terrorism-related offenses or an individual determined to be a child abuser or a pedophile. DHS: (1) shall process naturalization applications for special veterans within 90 days; and (2) may permit special veterans to file naturalization applications from abroad and take the oath of allegiance at U.S. embassies, consulates, and military installations. DHS shall: (1) cancel the removal of a special veteran in removal proceedings, and (2) allow a special veteran whose permanent resident status was rescinded to adjust back to such status. The Department of Justice, in the case of a special veteran who was ordered removed, shall rescind any outstanding order of removal and any finding that the individual is subject to removal or is inadmissible. DHS shall create a program to allow a special veteran who was removed to return to the United States as a lawfully admitted permanent resident. A special veteran who has been naturalized or who has obtained lawful permanent resident status pursuant to this bill shall be eligible for all military and veterans benefits for which such individual would have been eligible otherwise. DHS shall identify and maintain records of immigration cases involving special veterans.", "title": "Repatriate Our Patriots Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1487, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Police Creating Accountability by \nMaking Effective Recording Available Act of 2015'' or the ``Police \nCAMERA Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY-WORN CAMERAS.\n\n Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 \n(42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``PART LL--MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY-WORN CAMERAS\n\n``SEC. 3021. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Assistant Attorney General for the Office of \nJustice Programs (in this section referred to as the `Assistant \nAttorney General') may make grants to States, units of local \ngovernment, and Indian tribes to purchase or lease body-worn cameras \nfor use by State, local, and tribal law enforcement officers (as \ndefined in section 2503) and expenses related to the implementation of \na body-worn camera program in order to deter excessive force, improve \naccountability and transparency of use of force by law enforcement \nofficers, assist in responding to complaints against law enforcement \nofficers, and improve evidence collection.\n ``(b) Duration of Grants.--\n ``(1) In general.--Grants awarded under this part shall be \n 2 years in duration.\n ``(2) Disbursement of grant amount.--In disbursing a grant \n awarded to an entity under this section--\n ``(A) upon awarding the grant to the entity, the \n Assistant Attorney General shall disburse 50 percent of \n the total grant amount to the entity; and\n ``(B) upon demonstration by the entity of \n completion of the requirements in subsection (d)(1), \n the Assistant Attorney General shall disburse the \n remaining 50 percent of the total grant amount to the \n entity.\n ``(c) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be--\n ``(1) distributed directly to the State, unit of local \n government, or Indian tribe; and\n ``(2) used for--\n ``(A) the purchase or lease of body-worn cameras \n for law enforcement officers on patrol in the \n jurisdiction of the grantee;\n ``(B) any costs relating to the implementation of a \n body-worn camera program, including law enforcement \n officer training or the storage or maintenance of data \n collected under a body-worn camera program; or\n ``(C) implementing policies or procedures to comply \n with the requirements described in subsection (d).\n ``(d) Requirements.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Assistant Attorney General shall \n award a grant under this section to a State, unit of local \n government, or Indian tribe requesting the grant that commits \n to--\n ``(A) establishing policies and procedures in \n accordance with the requirements described in paragraph \n (2) before law enforcement officers use of body-worn \n cameras;\n ``(B) adopting data collection and retention \n protocols as described in paragraph (3) before law \n enforcement officers use of body-worn cameras;\n ``(C) making the policies and protocols described \n in subparagraphs (A) and (B) available to the public; \n and\n ``(D) complying with the requirements for use of \n data under paragraph (4).\n ``(2) Required policies and procedures.--An entity \n receiving a grant under this section shall--\n ``(A) develop with community input and publish for \n public view policies and protocols for--\n ``(i) the safe and effective use of body-\n worn cameras;\n ``(ii) the secure storage, handling, and \n destruction of data collected by body-worn \n cameras;\n ``(iii) protecting the privacy rights of \n any individual who may be recorded by a body-\n worn camera; and\n ``(iv) the release of any data collected by \n a body-worn camera in accordance with the open \n records laws, if any, of the State; and\n ``(B) conduct periodic evaluations of the security \n of the storage and handling of the body-worn camera \n data.\n ``(3) Data collection and retention protocol.--The data \n collection and retention protocol described in this paragraph \n is a protocol that--\n ``(A) requires--\n ``(i) a law enforcement officer who is \n wearing a body-mounted camera to provide an \n explanation if an activity that is required to \n be recorded by the body-mounted camera is not \n recorded;\n ``(ii) a law enforcement officer who is \n wearing a body-mounted camera to obtain consent \n to be recorded from a crime victim or witness \n before interviewing the victim or witness;\n ``(iii) the collection of data unrelated to \n a legitimate law enforcement purpose be \n minimized to the greatest extent practicable;\n ``(iv) the system used to store data \n collected by body-worn cameras shall log all \n viewing, modification, or deletion of stored \n data and shall prevent, to the greatest extent \n practicable, the unauthorized access or \n disclosure of stored data;\n ``(v) any law enforcement officer be \n prohibited from accessing the stored data \n without an authorized purpose; and\n ``(vi) the law enforcement agency to \n collect and report data on--\n ``(I) incidences of use of force, \n disaggregated by race, ethnicity, \n gender, and age of the victim;\n ``(II) the number of complaints \n filed against law enforcement officers;\n ``(III) the disposition of \n complaints filed against law \n enforcement officers; and\n ``(IV) the number of times camera \n footage is used for evidence collection \n in investigations of crimes;\n ``(B) allows an individual to file a complaint with \n a law enforcement agency relating to the improper use \n of body-worn cameras; and\n ``(C) complies with any other requirements \n established by the Assistant Attorney General.\n ``(4) Use or transfer of data.--\n ``(A) In general.--Data collected by an entity \n receiving a grant under this section from a body-\n mounted camera shall be used only in internal and \n external investigations of misconduct by a law \n enforcement agency or officer, if there is reasonable \n suspicion that a recording contains evidence of a \n crime, or for limited training purposes. The Assistant \n Attorney General shall establish rules to ensure that \n the data is used only for the purposes described in \n this subparagraph.\n ``(B) Prohibition on transfer.--Except as provided \n in subparagraph (B), an entity receiving a grant under \n this section may not transfer any data collected by the \n entity from a body-mounted camera to another law \n enforcement or intelligence agency.\n ``(C) Exceptions.--\n ``(i) Criminal investigation.--An entity \n receiving a grant under this section may \n transfer data collected by the entity from a \n body-mounted camera to another law enforcement \n agency or intelligence agency for use in a \n criminal investigation if the requesting law \n enforcement or intelligence agency has \n reasonable suspicion that the requested data \n contains evidence relating to the crime being \n investigated.\n ``(ii) Civil rights claims.--An entity \n receiving a grant under this section may \n transfer data collected by the law enforcement \n agency from a body-mounted camera to another \n law enforcement agency for use in an \n investigation of any right, privilege, or \n immunity secured or protected by the \n Constitution or laws of the United States.\n ``(e) Matching Funds.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), the \n Federal share of the cost of a program carried out using a \n grant under this part may not exceed 75 percent of the total \n cost of the program.\n ``(2) Indian assistance.--Any funds appropriated by \n Congress for the activities of any agency of an Indian tribal \n government or the Bureau of Indian Affairs performing law \n enforcement functions on any Indian lands may be used to \n provide the non-Federal share of the matching requirement \n described in paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Waiver.--The Assistant Attorney General may waive, in \n whole or in part, the matching requirement described in \n paragraph (1) in the case of fiscal hardship, as determined by \n the Assistant Attorney General.\n ``(f) Allocation of Funds.--For fiscal years 2015 and 2016, of the \namounts appropriated to the Office of Justice Programs, $10,000,000 \nshall be used to carry out this part.\n\n``SEC. 3022. APPLICATIONS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--To request a grant under this part, the chief \nexecutive of a State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe shall \nsubmit an application to the Assistant Attorney General in such form \nand containing such information as the Assistant Attorney General may \nreasonably require.\n ``(b) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the \nenactment of this part, the Assistant Attorney General shall promulgate \nregulations to implement this part, including the information that \nshall be included and the requirements that the States, units of local \ngovernment, and Indian tribes must meet in submitting the applications \nrequired under this section.\n\n``SEC. 3023. STUDY.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which \nall grants are awarded under this part, the Assistant Attorney General \nshall conduct a study on--\n ``(1) the efficacy of body-worn cameras in deterring \n excessive force by law enforcement officers;\n ``(2) the impact of body-worn cameras on the accountability \n and transparency of the use of force by law enforcement \n officers;\n ``(3) the impact of body-worn cameras on responses to and \n adjudications of complaints of excessive force;\n ``(4) the effect of the use of body-worn cameras on the \n safety of law enforcement officers on patrol;\n ``(5) the effect of the use of body-worn cameras on public \n safety;\n ``(6) the impact of body-worn cameras on evidence \n collection for criminal investigations;\n ``(7) issues relating to the secure storage and handling of \n data from the body-worn cameras;\n ``(8) issues relating to the privacy of citizens and \n officers recorded on body-worn cameras;\n ``(9) issues relating to the public's access to body-worn \n camera footage;\n ``(10) the need for proper training of law enforcement \n officers that use body-worn cameras;\n ``(11) best practices in the development of protocols for \n the safe and effective use of body-worn cameras; and\n ``(12) any other factors that the Assistant Attorney \n General determines are relevant in evaluating the efficacy of \n body-worn cameras.\n ``(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the \nstudy required under subsection (a) is completed, the Assistant \nAttorney General shall submit to Congress a report on the study.''.", "summary": "Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Available Act of 2015 or the Police CAMERA Act Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs to make grants to states, local governments, and Indian tribes to purchase or lease body-worn cameras for use by law enforcement officers, and for expenses related to the implementation of a body-worn camera program, in order to deter excessive force, improve accountability and transparency of use of force by law enforcement officers, assist in responding to complaints against officers, and improve evidence collection. Requires a grantee to: (1) develop, with community input, policies for the safe and effective use of body-worn cameras, for the secure storage, handling, and destruction of data collected, for protecting the privacy rights of any individual who may be recorded, and for the release of any data collected in accordance with the open records laws of the state; and (2) conduct periodic evaluations of the security of the storage and handling of the body-worn camera data. Requires a grantee to adopt data collection and retention protocols that: require an officer wearing a camera to provide an explanation if an activity that is required to be recorded is not recorded and to obtain a crime victim's or witness's consent to be recorded before interviewing him or her; minimize the collection of data unrelated to a legitimate law enforcement purpose; require the system used to store collected data to log all viewing, modification, or deletion of such data and to prevent its unauthorized access or disclosure; prohibit any law enforcement officer from accessing the stored data without an authorized purpose; require the law enforcement agency to collect and report data on incidences of use of force, the number of complaints filed against officers, the disposition of such complaints, and the number of times camera footage is used for evidence collection in investigations of crimes; and allow an individual to file a complaint with a law enforcement agency relating to the improper use of such cameras. Allows data collected by a grantee to be used only in internal and external investigations of misconduct by a law enforcement agency or officer, if there is reasonable suspicion that a recording contains evidence of a crime, or for limited training purposes. Prohibits a grantee from transferring any collected data to another law enforcement or intelligence agency, with specified exceptions for investigations of crimes and civil rights violations. Directs the Assistant Attorney General to study and report to Congress on the efficacy of body-worn cameras. ", "title": "Police CAMERA Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 70, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Prescription Drug Fairness for \nSeniors Act of 1998''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Manufacturers of prescription drugs engage in price \n discrimination practices that compel many older Americans to \n pay substantially more for prescription drugs than the drug \n manufacturers' most favored customers, such as health insurers, \n health maintenance organizations, and the Federal Government.\n (2) On average, older Americans who buy their own \n prescription drugs pay twice as much for prescription drugs as \n the drug manufacturers' most favored customers. In some cases, \n older Americans pay over 15 times more for prescription drugs \n than the most favored customers.\n (3) The discriminatory pricing by major drug manufacturers \n sustains their annual profits of $20,000,000,000, but causes \n financial hardship and impairs the health and well-being of \n millions of older Americans. More than one in eight older \n Americans are forced to choose between buying their food and \n buying their medicines.\n (4) Most federally funded health care programs, including \n Medicaid, the Veterans Health Administration, the Public Health \n Service, and the Indian Health Service, obtain prescription \n drugs for their beneficiaries at low prices. Medicare \n beneficiaries are denied this benefit and cannot obtain their \n prescription drugs at the favorable prices available to other \n federally funded health care programs.\n (5) It has been estimated that implementation of the policy \n set forth in this Act will reduce prescription prices for \n Medicare beneficiaries by more than 40 percent.\n (6) In addition to substantially lowering health care costs \n for older Americans, implementation of the policy set forth in \n this Act will significantly improve the health and well-being \n of older Americans and lower the costs to the Federal taxpayer \n of the Medicare program.\n (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to protect Medicare \nbeneficiaries from discriminatory pricing by drug manufacturers and to \nmake prescription drugs available to Medicare beneficiaries at \nsubstantially reduced prices, by allowing pharmacies to purchase drugs \nfor Medicare beneficiaries at the substantially reduced price available \nunder the Federal Supply Schedule.\n\nSEC. 3. MEDICARE BENEFICIARY DRUG BENEFIT CARD.\n\n The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall furnish to each \nMedicare beneficiary a drug benefit card that enables the beneficiary \nto purchase covered prescription drugs from participating pharmacies at \nreduced prices pursuant to section 4.\n\nSEC. 4. PARTICIPATING PHARMACIES.\n\n (a) Agreements to Participate.--Any qualified pharmacy may enter \ninto an agreement with the Secretary that enables the pharmacy to sell \ncovered outpatient drugs to holders of Medicare drug benefit cards at a \nreduced price, by authorizing the pharmacy to operate as a \nparticipating pharmacy under this Act.\n (b) Right of Participating Pharmacies To Obtain Drugs.--An \nagreement under this section shall entitle the participating pharmacy \nto purchase any covered outpatient drug that is listed on the Federal \nSupply Schedule of the General Services Administration at the \nparticipating pharmacy discount price for that drug determined under \nsubsection (d).\n (c) Quantity of Drugs Purchased.--An agreement under this section \nshall permit the participating pharmacy to purchase under this Act as \nmuch of a covered outpatient drug as is sold by the pharmacy to holders \nof Medicare drug benefit cards.\n (d) Participating Pharmacy Discount Price.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall determine a \n participating pharmacy discount price for each covered \n outpatient drug.\n (2) Determination.--The participating pharmacy discount \n price for a covered outpatient drug shall be determined by \n adding--\n (A) the price at which the drug is available to \n Federal agencies from the Federal Supply Schedule under \n section 8126 of title 38, United States Code; plus\n (B) an amount that reflects the administrative \n costs incurred by the Secretary in administering this \n Act.\n\nSEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer this Act in a \nmanner that uses existing methods of obtaining and distributing drugs \nto the maximum extent possible, consistent with efficiency and cost \neffectiveness.\n (b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue such regulations as may \nbe necessary to implement this Act.\n\nSEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS REGARDING EFFECTIVENESS OF ACT.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall \nreport to the Congress regarding the effectiveness of this Act in--\n (1) protecting Medicare beneficiaries from discriminatory \n pricing by drug manufacturers; and\n (2) making prescription drugs available to Medicare \n beneficiaries at substantially reduced prices.\n (b) Consultation.--In preparing such reports, the Secretary shall \nconsult with public health experts, affected industries, organizations \nrepresenting consumers and older Americans, and other interested \npersons.\n (c) Recommendations.--The Secretary shall include in such reports \nany recommendations they consider appropriate for changes in this Act \nto further reduce the cost of covered outpatient drugs to Medicare \nbeneficiaries.\n\nSEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Covered outpatient drug.--The term ``covered outpatient \n drug'' has the meaning given that term in section 1927(k)(2) of \n the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r-8(k)(2)).\n (2) Medicare beneficiary.--The term ``Medicare \n beneficiary'' means an individual entitled to benefits under \n part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act or enrolled \n under part B of such title, or both.\n (3) Medicare drug benefit card.--The term ``Medicare drug \n benefit card'' means such a card issued under section 3.\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Health and Human Services.\n\nSEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The Secretary shall implement this Act as expeditiously as \npracticable and in a manner consistent with the obligations of the \nUnited States.", "summary": "Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to furnish each Medicare beneficiary under title XVIII of the Social Security Act with a drug benefit card enabling the beneficiary to purchase covered outpatient prescription drugs listed on the Federal Supply Schedule from participating pharmacies at reduced prices.", "title": "Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act of 1998"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1187, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Balanced Economic and Environmental \nPriorities Act of 1994''.\n\nSEC. 2. ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSES.\n\n Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(j) Economic Impact Analysis.--(1)(A) Notwithstanding any other \nprovision of this Act, an officer or employee of a Federal agency shall \nnot implement or enforce a designation, regulation, or recovery plan \ndescribed in subparagraph (B) unless--\n ``(i) the Secretary has prepared an economic impact \n analysis under this subsection with respect to the designation, \n regulation, or recovery plan;\n ``(ii) the Secretary determines, based on that analysis, \n that the benefits of that designation, regulation, or recovery \n plan outweigh the costs of that act; and\n ``(iii) the Secretary has published an economic impact \n statement describing the findings of that analysis.\n ``(B) The designation, regulations, and recovery plans referred to \nin subparagraph (A) are the following:\n ``(i) A designation of critical habitat under subsection \n (a)(2).\n ``(ii) A protective regulation issued under subsection (d).\n ``(iii) A recovery plan developed under subsection (f).\n ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall perform an economic impact analysis in \naccordance with this paragraph with respect to each designation, \nregulation, and recovery plan described in paragraph (1)(B).\n ``(B) An economic impact analysis under this paragraph shall \ninclude determination of the following:\n ``(i) The economic consequences of implementing and \n enforcing the designation, regulation, or recovery plan, \n including the aggregate statistical data which indicates--\n ``(I) identifiable and potential job losses or \n diminishments resulting from that implementation and \n enforcement,\n ``(II) identifiable losses or diminishments in the \n value of real property resulting from that \n implementation and enforcement, and\n ``(III) losses or diminishments in the value of \n business enterprises resulting from that implementation \n and enforcement.\n ``(ii) The effect that implementing and enforcing the \n designation, regulation, or recovery plan will have on tax \n revenues received by the Federal Government or by State and \n local governments, including any revenue losses attributable to \n losses or diminishments in value described in clause (i).\n ``(iii) The effect that implementing and enforcing the \n designation, regulation, or recovery plan will have on outlays \n by Federal, State, and local governments, including--\n ``(I) effects on payments made pursuant to \n subsection (l), and\n ``(II) effects on expenditures required for \n unemployment compensation, aid to families with \n dependent children under part A of title IV of the \n Social Security Act, medicaid under title XIX of the \n Social Security Act, and other Federal, State, and \n local government programs.\n ``(iv) The effect that implementing and enforcing the \n designation, regulation, or recovery plan will have on the \n competitive position of any individual business enterprise or \n aggregate industry affected by that action, determined jointly \n with the Secretary of Commerce.\n ``(v) The ecological and economic impacts of the extinction \n of any species that implementation and enforcement is intended \n to prevent.\n ``(vi) Any other potential economic, budgetary, or \n ecological effects that the Secretary considers appropriate.\n ``(3) The Secretary shall determine, based on the analysis \nperformed under paragraph (2), whether the costs of implementing and \nenforcing a designation, regulation, or recovery plan described in \nparagraph (1)(B) outweigh the benefits of that implementation and \nenforcement.''.\n\nSEC. 3. LIMITATION OF ECONOMIC LOSSES CAUSED BY LISTING SPECIES AS \n ENDANGERED SPECIES OR THREATENED SPECIES; COMPENSATION.\n\n Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533), \nas amended by section 2, is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(k) Limitation of Losses Caused by Listing Species as Endangered \nSpecies or Threatened Species.--In implementing this Act with respect \nto an endangered species or threatened species included in a list \npublished under subsection (c), the Secretary shall limit economic \nlosses incurred by persons as a result of that implementation.\n ``(l) Compensation for Losses and Diminishments in Value.--(1) The \nSecretary shall pay to any person who incurs an economic loss as a \nresult of a species being included in a list of endangered species or \nthreatened species published under this section the amount of that \nloss, including--\n ``(A) any diminishment in the value of tangible or \n intangible property, and\n ``(B) any loss resulting from the loss or diminishment of a \n job.\n ``(2) The Secretary shall issue regulations establishing procedures \nfor obtaining payments under this subsection.\n ``(3) A person may not recover any amount under this subsection for \nany de minimis or wholly speculative loss.\n ``(4) Any denial by the Secretary of an application for payment \nunder this subsection may be appealed in the appropriate Federal \ndistrict court of the United States, including any determination by the \nSecretary that a person is ineligible for payment by reason of \nparagraph (3).\n ``(5) A person (including any State or local governmental entity) \nmay intervene in any proceeding under this subsection for the purpose \nof assisting the Secretary in issuing payments under this \nsubsection.''.\n\nSEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR ADDITIONS TO ENDANGERED \n SPECIES LIST.\n\n (a) Approval Requirement.--Section 4(c) of the Endangered Species \nAct of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n ``(3) Congressional approval required.--An addition of a \n species to the list of threatened or endangered species that is \n maintained under this subsection shall not be effective before \n the date of the enactment of an Act of Congress that approves \n that addition.''.\n (b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply \nto additions after the date of the enactment of this Act to the list of \nthreatened or endangered species.\n\nSEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION.\n\n (a) Effective Date.--The amendments made by sections 2 and 3 shall \nbe effective January 1, 1986.\n (b) Review of Prior Listings.--Not later than 1 year after the date \nof the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall--\n (1) review each addition on or after January 1, 1986, of a \n species to a list of endangered species or threatened species \n published under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 \n (16 U.S.C. 1533);\n (2) prepare with respect to each species so added an \n economic impact analysis and economic impact statement in \n accordance with the amendments made by this Act; and\n (3) publish a list of all designations of critical habitat, \n regulations, and recovery plans in effect on the date of that \n publication, the implementation and enforcement of which is \n prohibited by the amendments made by this Act.\n (c) Compensation for Losses.--A person may not be paid under \nsection 4(l) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended by this \nAct, for any loss incurred as a result of a species being added to a \nlist of endangered species or threatened species published under that \nAct during the period beginning January 1, 1986, and ending on the date \nof the enactment of this Act, except for losses incurred as a result of \nthe implementation or enforcement of designations of critical habitat, \nregulations, and recovery plans that are not included in the list \npublished under subsection (b)(3) of this Act.", "summary": "Balanced Economic and Environmental Priorities Act of 1994 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit a Federal officer or employee from implementing or enforcing a designation of critical habitat, an issued protective regulation, or a developed recovery plan under such Act unless the Secretary (either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as program responsibilities are vested): (1) prepares an economic impact analysis with respect to such designation, regulation, or recovery plan; (2) determines that the benefits of it outweigh the costs of it; and (3) publishes an economic impact statement describing the findings of the analysis. Establishes guidelines for such economic impact analysis. \nDirects the Secretary to: (1) limit economic losses incurred by persons caused by listing species as endangered or threatened; and (2) compensate such persons for any diminishments in the value of tangible or intangible property, and in the loss or diminishment of a job. \nRequires congressional approval of any additions to the endangered species list. \nDirects the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) review endangered or threatened species added on or after such date to a published list of endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; (2) prepare an economic impact analysis and statement with respect to them; and (3) publish a list of all designations of critical habitat, regulations, and recovery plans in effect on the date of that publication (the implementation and enforcement of which is prohibited by the amendments made by this Act). \nProhibits a person from being paid for any loss incurred by species being added to a list of endangered species or threatened species published under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 during the period beginning January 1, 1986, and ending on the enactment of this Act, except for losses resulting from the implementation or enforcement of designations of critical habitat, regulations, and recovery plans that are not included in the list published under this Act.", "title": "Balanced Economic and Environmental Priorities Act of 1994"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1298, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Public Housing Regulatory Relief \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.\n\n Title I of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et \nseq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 27. WAIVER OF PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.\n\n ``(a) Authority.--Upon the written request of a public housing \nagency or resident management corporation, the Secretary may authorize \nthe agency or corporation to establish policies for the operation, \nmaintenance, management, and development (including modernization) of \none or more public housing projects and, in connection with granting \nsuch authority and except as provided in subsection (b), may waive or \nmodify (with respect to the project or projects)--\n ``(1) the requirements of this Act applicable to public \n housing; and\n ``(2) any requirements applicable to the project or \n projects under other provisions of law that the Secretary \n determines are not consistent with the policies proposed for \n the project or projects.\n ``(b) Limitation.--The Secretary may not waive or modify--\n ``(1) any provision of this Act or any other provision of \n law that limits occupancy of public housing dwelling units to \n low-income families;\n ``(2) under section 18 of this Act that requires \n replacement of dwelling units in the case of demolition or \n disposition of public housing (except that the limitation on \n the use of tenant-based assistance to applications proposing \n demolition or disposition of 200 or more units may be waived);\n ``(3) any provision of the Uniform Relocation Assistance \n and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970;\n ``(4) any provision of law that relates to equal \n opportunity, nondiscrimination, or the environment; or\n ``(5) any provision of this Act or any other provision of \n law that relates to labor standards.\n ``(c) Request for Waiver.--A request under subsection (a) shall--\n ``(1) specify the provision or provisions of law to be \n waived or modified and the waivers or modifications proposed;\n ``(2) identify the public housing projects for which the \n waivers or modifications are requested;\n ``(3) describe the policies to be effective for the \n projects for which the waivers or modifications are requested; \n and\n ``(4) describe the costs to the public housing agency or \n resident management corporation, and to the Federal Government, \n of the waivers or modifications requested and the change of \n policies proposed.\n ``(d) Minimum Criteria for Approval.--The Secretary may approve a \nrequest under subsection (a) only if the Secretary determines that the \nrequest--\n ``(1) would not, over the term of such authority, result in \n the Federal Government incurring more costs than the Government \n would otherwise incur if the request were not approved;\n ``(2) is consistent with the overall purposes of the public \n housing program;\n ``(3) is consistent with the Fair Housing Act, title VI of \n the Civil Rights Act of 1964, section 504 of the Rehabilitation \n Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the \n National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; and\n ``(4) such other requirements as the Secretary may \n establish to carry out the purposes of this section.\n ``(e) Timing.--Any authority granted to a public housing agency \npursuant to subsection (a), including any waiver or modification \npursuant to this section of any requirement, shall be effective only \nfor the period established by the Secretary in granting the waiver or \nmodification, which may not exceed 4 years. Upon such expiration and \npursuant to a written request, the Secretary may renew such authority \nfor a public housing agency or resident management corporation, subject \nto the requirements of this section.\n ``(f) Applicability of State and Local Laws.--The provisions of any \napplicable State and local laws shall apply to any public housing \nagency, resident management corporation, and public housing project \nwith respect to which authority is granted under subsection (a).\n ``(g) Reports.--The Secretary shall require each public housing \nagency and resident management corporation for which a request under \nsubsection (a) is approved to submit a report to the Secretary annually \nfor each year during the term for which the authority granted under \nsubsection (a) is effective. The report shall describe the activities, \noperations, and policies of the agency or corporation during the year \nfor which the report is submitted.\n ``(h) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term `resident \nmanagement corporation' means a resident management corporation \nestablished in accordance with the requirements of the Secretary under \nsection 20.''.\n\nSEC. 3. PHA RETENTION OF SAVINGS REALIZED THROUGH EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT.\n\n Section 6(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. \n1437d(e)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(e) Treatment of Savings.--Each contract for contributions shall \nprovide that whenever in any year the receipts of a public housing \nagency in connection with a low-income housing project exceed its \nexpenditures (including debt service, operation, maintenance, \nestablishment of reserves, and other costs and charges) and the \nSecretary determines that such excess resulted from increased \nefficiency in the operation of the agency--\n ``(1) an amount equal to one-half of such excess shall be \n applied, or set aside for application, to purposes which, in \n the determination of the Secretary, will effect a reduction in \n the amount of subsequent annual contributions; and\n ``(2) an amount equal to one-half of such excess shall be \n applied to operating reserve established for the project and \n shall not be considered in subsequent years in calculating the \n operating subsidies provided under section 9 to the public \n housing agency, except to the extent proposed by the agency in \n its operating budget.''.\n\nSEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC HOUSING MODERNIZATION FUNDS DURING TERM \n OF PLAN.\n\n Section 14 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. \n1437l) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (d)(3)(A), by striking ``within each 12-\n month period covered by such plan'';\n (2) in subsection (e)(1)(D), by striking ``at least a \n schedule'' and inserting ``a listing'';\n (3) in subsection (e)(3)(B), by adding at the end the \n following new sentence: ``This section may not be construed to \n require a public housing agency to amend its comprehensive plan \n under paragraph (1) to be able to (A) use assistance amounts \n for purposes consistent with the plan but not according to the \n schedule of actions to be taken under the plan, or (B) use \n assistance amounts provided to an agency for a fiscal year in \n another fiscal year covered by the plan for purposes consistent \n with the plan, notwithstanding the annual statement of \n activities by the agency under subparagraph (A).'';\n (4) in subsection (f)(1)(A), by striking ``specified for \n such year in'' and inserting ``anticipated to be conducted \n during such year under'';\n (5) in subsection (g), by striking ``to meet the objectives \n for the preceding year'' and inserting ``during the preceding \n year to meet the objectives''; and\n (6) in subsection (o), by striking ``for the purposes'' and \n all that follows through ``appropriate'' and inserting the \n following: ``in any year covered by the plan for the agency \n under subsection (d)(4) or (e)(1)(D), as appropriate, that was \n approved by the Secretary and for any purpose specified under \n or consistent with such plan, notwithstanding the schedule \n included in such plan pursuant to subsection (d)(3)(A) or \n (e)(1)(D), as appropriate''.\n\nSEC. 5. RECAPTURE OF PUBLIC HOUSING MODERNIZATION FUNDS.\n\n Section 14(g) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. \n1437(l)(g)) is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(g)''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(2) The Secretary may establish a system for recapturing and \nredistributing amounts provided to public housing agencies under this \nsubsection, which shall--\n ``(A) provide for the recapture of such amounts only from \n an agency that, in the determination of the Secretary pursuant \n to a review under subsection (e)(4)(B) or an audit under \n subsection (e)(4)(C), has not made reasonable progress in \n carrying out modernization projects approved by the Secretary \n under the comprehensive plan for the agency under subsection \n (d)(4) or (e);\n ``(B) provide for the redistribution of such recaptured \n amounts for use by other public housing agencies that, in the \n determination of the Secretary, need such amounts to carry out \n the comprehensive plans for such agencies and are capable of \n using such amounts in a timely manner;\n ``(C) provide for redistribution to the agencies referred \n to in subparagraph (B) based on an allocation system that takes \n into consideration the formula established pursuant to \n subsection (k)(2)(A); and\n ``(D) establish an annual schedule for redistribution of \n amounts recaptured.''.\n\nSEC. 6. AUTHORITY FOR PHA'S TO BORROW AGAINST FUTURE PUBLIC HOUSING \n MODERNIZATION FUNDS.\n\n Section 14 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. \n1437l) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(q) Authority to Borrow Against Future Assistance.--\n ``(1) In general.--A public housing agency may, with the \n approval of the Secretary, enter into an agreement to pay any \n assistance for which the agency may become eligible under this \n section to ensure the repayment of notes or other obligations \n issued by the agency for the purpose of financing development, \n rehabilitation, or modernization of public housing.\n ``(2) Terms.--Notes or other obligations for which \n assistance under this section is pledged shall be in such form \n and denominations, have such maturities not exceeding 30 years, \n and be subject to such other conditions as the Secretary may \n prescribe. The Secretary may not deny a guarantee under this \n subsection on the basis of the proposed repayment period for \n the obligation, unless the period exceeds 30 years or the \n Secretary determines that the period causes the obligation to \n constitute an unacceptable financial risk.\n ``(3) Limitation on amount of outstanding obligations.--\n Assistance under this section may not be pledged for the \n repayment of any obligation if the total outstanding principal \n of all obligations for which such assistance is pledged would \n thereby exceed an amount equal to 5 times the amount of \n assistance provided under this section during the most recently \n completed fiscal year to the agency issuing the obligation.\n ``(4) Repayment.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n this section, assistance provided to an agency under this \n section may be used in the payment of principal and interest \n due (including such servicing, underwriting, and other costs as \n the Secretary may prescribe) on the notes or other obligations \n issued by the public housing agency pursuant to this \n subsection.''.\n\nSEC. 7. STUDY OF ACQUISITION AND LABOR REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING \n AGENCIES.\n\n (a) Study.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall \nconduct a study to determine the efficiency of the procedures and \nrequirements applicable to procurement by public housing agencies of \nmaterials, supplies, systems, appliances, labor, and services used in \nmaintaining, operating, and modernizing public housing projects. Under \nthe study, the Secretary shall--\n (1) compare the existing procurement system for public \n housing agencies to--\n (A) a system of procurement under which public \n housing agencies procure materials, supplies, systems, \n appliances, labor, and services for use in maintaining, \n operating, and modernizing public housing projects \n without being subject to any requirements established \n by the Secretary or any other Federal laws or \n regulations regarding procurement; and\n (B) a system of procurement that operates in the \n manner described under subparagraph (A), except that \n under such system the Secretary would annually review \n the procurement policies and actions of each public \n housing agency for the preceding year and would have \n the authority to establish limitations on procurement \n policies and activities determined by the Secretary to \n have instituted inappropriate procurement policies or \n engaged in inappropriate procurement activities;\n (2) determine the advantages and disadvantages of \n procurement pursuant to the existing procurement system for \n public housing agencies and the systems referred to in \n subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1); and\n (3) determine the effect of the requirements under section \n 12 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (relating to labor \n standards) on the affordability of dwelling units in public \n housing.\n (b) Report.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall \nsubmit a report to the Congress describing the study, the findings of \nthe study, and any recommendations resulting from the study, not later \nthan the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of the \nenactment of this Act.", "summary": "Public Housing Regulatory Relief Act - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize the waiver (with specified exceptions) of public housing requirements. \nPermits a public housing agency (PHA) to retain savings realized through efficient management. \nAuthorizes the recapture of public housing modernization funds. \nAuthorizes PHAs to borrow against future modernization funds. \nDirects the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to study PHA labor and acquisition requirements.", "title": "Public Housing Regulatory Relief Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2095, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Responsible Homeowners \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. AFFORDABLE REFINANCING OF MORTGAGES OWNED OR GUARANTEED BY \n FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC.\n\n (a) Definitions.--As used in this Act, the following definitions \nshall apply:\n (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of \n the Federal Housing Finance Agency.\n (2) Enterprise.--The term ``enterprise'' means the Federal \n National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan \n Mortgage Corporation.\n (3) Qualified mortgage.--The term ``qualified mortgage'' \n means a mortgage that--\n (A) is an existing first mortgage that was made for \n purchase of, or refinancing another first mortgage on, \n a one- to four-family dwelling, including a condominium \n or a share in a cooperative ownership housing \n association, that is occupied by the mortgagor as the \n principal residence of the mortgagor;\n (B) is owned or guaranteed by the Federal National \n Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage \n Corporation; and\n (C) the mortgagor is current on payments due under \n the mortgage.\n (4) Refinancing mortgage.--The term ``refinancing \n mortgage'' means a mortgage that meets the following \n requirements:\n (A) Refinancing of qualified mortgage.--The \n principal loan amount repayment of which is secured by \n the mortgage shall be used to satisfy all indebtedness \n under an existing qualified mortgage and any closing \n costs from the refinancing of the mortgage that the \n mortgagor chooses to include in the refinanced \n mortgage.\n (B) Single-family housing.--The property that is \n subject to the mortgage shall be the same property that \n is subject to the qualified mortgage being refinanced.\n (C) Interest rate.--The mortgage shall bear a fair \n rate of interest, which shall not exceed 40 basis \n points above the required net yield for a 60-day \n commitment to purchase a prime conventional conforming \n fixed rate mortgage as published by the Federal \n National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan \n Mortgage Corporation at the time the interest rate is \n locked in.\n (D) Loan to value.--The mortgage shall not be \n limited by the loan-to-value ratio.\n (E) Waiver of prepayment penalties.--All penalties \n for prepayment or refinancing of the qualified mortgage \n that is refinanced by the mortgage, and all fees and \n penalties related to the default or delinquency on such \n mortgage, shall have been waived or forgiven.\n (F) Term to maturity.--The mortgage shall have a \n term to maturity of not more than 40 years from the \n date of the beginning of the amortization of the \n mortgage.\n (b) Authority.--The Federal National Mortgage Association and the \nFederal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation shall each carry out a program \nunder this section to provide for the refinancing of qualified \nmortgages on single-family housing owned by such enterprise through a \nrefinancing mortgage, and for the purchase of and securitization of \nsuch refinancing mortgages, in accordance with this section and \npolicies and procedures that the Director of the Federal Housing \nFinance Agency shall establish. Such program shall require the Federal \nNational Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage \nCorporation to purchase or guarantee the refinancing mortgage used to \nrefinance a qualified mortgage upon the request of the mortgagee.\n (c) Prohibition on Loan Level Price Adjustments and Post Settlement \nDelivery Fees.--In carrying out the program established under this \nsection, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home \nLoan Mortgage Corporation shall not charge the mortgagee any up-front \nfee beyond the standard guarantee fee for the refinancing of the \nqualified mortgage through the refinancing mortgage.\n (d) Resubordination of Second Liens.--For any servicer or creditor \nholding a second lien on a qualified mortgage who refuses to \nresubordinate that lien, thereby preventing the refinancing of the \nqualified mortgage, new mortgages originated by that servicer or \ncreditor shall be ineligible for purchase or guarantee by the Federal \nNational Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage \nCorporation.\n (e) Termination.--The requirement for an enterprise to refinance \nqualified mortgages under this section shall not apply to any request \nfor refinancing made after the expiration of the 1-year period \nbeginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. Notwithstanding the \nprior sentence, the Director, at his or her discretion, may extend the \nprogram established under this section, and the requirements of such \nprogram shall apply during any such extension, in 1-year increments.\n (f) Regulations.--The Director shall issue any regulations or \nguidance necessary to carry out the program established under this \nsection.\n\nSEC. 3. NOTICE OF THE REFINANCING PROGRAM.\n\n The Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan \nMortgage Corporation shall require each servicer of a mortgage owned or \nguaranteed by each such enterprise to inform each borrower of such \nmortgage of the refinancing program authorized and established under \nsection 2.\n\nSEC. 4. REPORT.\n\n The Director shall, as part of the monthly Foreclosure Prevention & \nRefinance Report published by the Director, include information on the \nprogress of the refinancing program authorized and established under \nsection 2.", "summary": "Helping Responsible Homeowners Act -\u00a0Directs the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (government-sponsored enterprises or GSEs) each to carry out a one-year program providing for the refinancing of qualified single-family housing mortgages it owns through a refinancing mortgage (and for the purchase of and securitization of such refinancing mortgages) in accordance with this Act and the policies and procedures of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.\n\nDefines a qualified mortgage as one that: (1) is an existing first mortgage for purchase of, or refinancing another first mortgage on, a one- to four-family dwelling, including a condominium or a share in a cooperative ownership housing association, that is occupied by the mortgagor as principal residence; (2) is owned or guaranteed by the particular GSE; and (3) the mortgagor is current on payments due under the mortgage.\u00a0\n\nSpecifies the terms and conditions of a refinancing mortgage, including a 40-year term to maturity and a prohibition on borrower fees. Requires waiver or forgiveness of all fees and penalties related to any default or delinquency on the original mortgage.\n\nProhibits the GSEs from charging a mortgagee any up-front fee beyond the standard guarantee fee for the refinancing of the qualified mortgage. Makes ineligible for purchase or guarantee by either GSE of any new mortgage originated by a servicer or creditor holding a second lien on a qualified mortgage who refuses to resubordinate that lien, and thereby prevents the refinancing of the qualified mortgage.\n\nDirects the GSEs to require each servicer of a mortgage owned or guaranteed by the GSE to inform each mortgage borrower of the refinancing program authorized and established under this Act.", "title": "A bill to provide for the affordable refinancing of mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 331, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs \nExpiring Authorities Act of 2013''.\nSEC. 2. EXTENSIONS OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES AFFECTING VETERANS AND THEIR \nFAMILIES.\n (a) Extension of Authority To Provide Monthly Assistance Allowance \nto Veterans With Disability Invited by United States Olympic \nCommittee.--\n (1) In general.--Section 322(d)(4) of title 38, United States \n Code, is amended by inserting ``and $500,000 for the period \n beginning October 1, 2013, and ending December 31, 2013'' after \n ``2013''.\n (2) Technical correction.--Section 322 of such title is amended \n by striking ``United States Paralympics, Inc.,'' each place it \n appears and inserting ``United States Olympic Committee''.\n (b) Extension of Authority To Provide Assistance for United States \nOlympic Committee.--\n (1) In general.--Section 521A of such title is amended--\n (A) in subsection (g), by inserting ``and $2,000,000 for \n the period beginning October 1, 2013, and ending December 31, \n 2013'' after ``2013''; and\n (B) in subsection (l), by striking ``The Secretary may only \n provide assistance under this section during fiscal years 2010 \n through 2013.'' and inserting ``The Secretary may not provide \n assistance under this section after December 31, 2013.''.\n (2) Technical correction.--Such section is further amended--\n (A) except in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``United \n States Paralympics, Inc.,'' each place it appears and inserting \n ``United States Olympic Committee'';\n (B) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``United States \n Paralympics, Inc.'' and inserting ``United States Olympic \n Committee''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(m) Applicability to Commonwealths and Territories of United \nStates.--The provisions of this section and section 322 of this title \nshall apply with respect to the following in the same manner and to the \nsame degree as the United States Olympic Committee:\n ``(1) The American Samoa National Olympic Committee.\n ``(2) Guam National Olympic Committee.\n ``(3) Comite Olimpico de Puerto Rico.\n ``(4) Such entities as the Secretary considers appropriate to \n represent the interests of the Northern Mariana Islands and the \n United States Virgin Islands under this section and section 322 of \n this title.''.\n (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning \n of chapter 5 of such title is amended by striking the item relating \n to section 521A and inserting the following new item:\n\n``521A. Assistance for United States Olympic Committee.''.\n\n (c) Extension of Authority for Collection of Copayments for \nHospital Care and Nursing Home Care.--Section 1710(f)(2)(B) of such \ntitle is amended by striking ``September 30, 2013'' and inserting \n``September 30, 2014''.\n (d) Extension of Authority for Recovery From Third Parties of Cost \nof Care and Services Furnished to Veterans With Health-plan Contracts \nfor Non-service-connected Disability.--Section 1729(a)(2)(E) of such \ntitle is amended by striking ``October 1, 2013'' and inserting \n``October 1, 2014''.\n (e) Extensions of Authorities Affecting Homeless Veterans.--\n (1) Homeless veterans reintegration programs.--Section \n 2021(e)(1)(F) of such title is amended by striking ``2013'' and \n inserting ``2014''.\n (2) Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of \n homelessness who are transitioning from certain institutions.--\n Section 2023(d) of such title is amended--\n (A) by inserting ``to enter into a contract'' before ``to \n provide''; and\n (B) by striking ``September 30, 2013'' and inserting \n ``September 30, 2014''.\n (f) Extension of Previously Fully-funded Authorities Affecting \nHomeless Veterans.--\n (1) Comprehensive service programs.--Section 2013 of such title \n is amended by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following \n new paragraphs:\n ``(6) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.\n ``(7) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 and each subsequent \n fiscal year.''.\n (2) Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-\n income veteran families in permanent housing.--Section \n 2044(e)(1)(E) of such title is amended by striking ``for fiscal \n year 2013'' and inserting ``for each of fiscal years 2013 and \n 2014''.\n (3) Grant program for homeless veterans with special needs.--\n Section 2061(d)(1) of such title is amended by striking ``through \n 2013'' and inserting ``through 2014''.\n (g) Extension of Temporary Expansion of Eligibility for Specially \nAdapted Housing Assistance for Certain Veterans With Disabilities \nCausing Difficulty With Ambulating.--Section 2101(a)(4) of such title \nis amended--\n (1) by striking ``The Secretary's'' and inserting ``(A) Except \n as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary's'';\n (2) in subparagraph (A), as designated by paragraph (1), by \n striking ``September 30, 2013'' and inserting ``September 30, \n 2014''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(B) In fiscal year 2014, the Secretary may not approve more than \n30 applications for assistance under paragraph (1) for disabled \nveterans described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii).''.\n (h) Extension of Authority To Calculate Net Value of Real Property \nSecuring Defaulted Loan for Purposes of Liquidation.--Section \n3732(c)(11) of such title is amended by striking ``October 1, 2013'' \nand inserting ``October 1, 2014''.\n (i) Extension of Pilot Program on Assistance for Child Care for \nCertain Veterans Receiving Health Care.--Section 205 of the Caregivers \nand Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; \n38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (e), by striking ``2-year'' and inserting \n ``3-year''; and\n (2) in subsection (h), by striking ``and 2011'' and inserting \n ``and 2014''.\nSEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF USE OF NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES FOR \nINCOME VERIFICATION PURPOSES FOR CERTAIN VETERANS BENEFITS.\n (a) Secretary of Health and Human Services.--Section 453(j)(11) of \nthe Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(j)(11)) is amended by striking \nsubparagraph (G) and inserting the following new subparagraph (G):\n ``(G) Expiration of authority.--The authority under this \n paragraph shall be in effect as follows:\n ``(i) During the period beginning on December 26, 2007, \n and ending on November 18, 2011.\n ``(ii) During the period beginning on the date of the \n enactment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring \n Authorities Act of 2013 and ending 180 days after that \n date.''.\n (b) Secretary of Veterans Affairs.--Section 5317A of title 38, \nUnited States Code, is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting \nthe following new subsection (d):\n ``(d) Expiration of Authority.--The authority under this section \nshall be in effect as follows:\n ``(1) During the period beginning on December 26, 2007, and \n ending on November 18, 2011.\n ``(2) During the period beginning on the date of the enactment \n of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of \n 2013 and ending 180 days after that date.''.\nSEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE AND RATIFICATION.\n (a) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect on October 1, 2013, \nexcept that Section 2 (a) shall take effect on September 30, 2013.\n (b) Ratification.--If this Act is not enacted on or before \nSeptember 30, 2013, any actions undertaken by the Department of \nVeterans Affairs under the authorities extended by this Act during the \nperiod beginning on such date and ending on the date of the enactment \nof this Act shall be deemed ratified.\nSEC. 5. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.\n The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying \nwith the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010 shall be determined by \nreference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO \nLegislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional \nRecord by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, provided that \nsuch statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on September 23, 2013. Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) Authorizes specified appropriations for the period October 1-December 31, 2013, to pay a monthly assistance allowance to a veteran with a disability invited by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to compete for a slot on, or selected for, the Paralympic Team for any month in which the veteran is training or competing in any event sanctioned by the USOC, or who is residing at a USOC, training center. Extends for the same period the authorization for grants to USOC for an integrated adaptive sports program for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. Applies the same grant authorization, in the same manner and to the same degree as to the USOC, to: (1) the American Samoa National Olympic Committee, (2) the Guam National Olympic Committee, (3) the Comite Olimpico de Puerto Rico, and (4) appropriate entities representing the interests of the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States Virgin Islands. Extends through FY2014 a veteran's liability for copayments of $10 for every day the veteran receives hospital care and of $5 for every day he or she receives nursing home care. Extends through FY2014 the right of the United States to recover or collect from a third party reasonable charges for care or services for a non-service-connected disability of a veteran with a service-connected disability who is entitled to care (or payment of the expenses of care) under a health-plan contract. Extends through FY2014 the authority of the Secretary of Labor for homeless veterans reintegration programs, and of the same Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract for referral and counseling services for veterans at risk of homelessness who are transitioning from certain institutions. Extends through FY2015 the authorization of appropriations for comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans. Extends through FY2014 the availability of funds for: (1) financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing, and (2) the grant program for homeless veterans with special needs. Extends through FY2014 specially adapted housing assistance for a disabled veteran whose permanent and total service-connected disability causes difficulty with ambulating. Limits to 30 applications during FY2014 approval of such assistance for any such disabled veterans who served in the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001. Extends through FY2014 the authority to calculate, for liquidation purposes, the net value of real property securing a defaulted guaranteed housing or small business loan to a veteran. Amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 to extend through FY2014 the pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing assistance to veterans receiving regular or intensive mental health services and other intensive health care services in order to obtain child care while receiving such services. (Sec. 3) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV (Temporary Assistance to Needy families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act to revive for a specified 180-day period the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) with VA information for comparison with information in the National Directory of New Hires about individuals applying for or receiving needs-based veterans pension benefits, parents' dependency and indemnity compensation, veterans health care services, or compensation based on 100% unemployability. Authorizes for the same 180-day period the authority of the VA Secretary to terminate, deny, suspend, or reduce any of such veterans benefits or services, with respect to an applicant or recipient under age 65, by reason of information obtained from the HHS Secretary, but only if the VA Secretary takes appropriate steps to verify independently information relating to the individual's employment and employment income. (Sec. 4) Makes this Act effective on October 1, 2013, except for the authorization of appropriations for monthly assistance for disabled veterans invited to compete for a slot on, or selected for, the Paralympic Team, which shall be effective September 30, 2013. Deems ratified any VA actions undertaken before enactment of this Act under the authorities extended by this Act, if this Act is not enacted on or before September 30, 2013.", "title": "Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 921, "text": "SECTION 1. TAXATION OF UNITED STATES CRUISE INDUSTRY INCOME OF \n NONRESIDENT ALIENS AND FOREIGN CORPORATIONS.\n\n (a) United States Cruise Industry Income Treated as Effectively \nConnected to the Conduct of a Trade or Business Within the United \nStates.--\n (1) Income from sources without the united states.--\n (A) In general.--Paragraph (4) of section 864(c) of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by \n redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E) and \n by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(D) United states cruise industry income.--\n ``(i) In general.--United States cruise \n industry income shall be treated as effectively \n connected with the conduct of a trade or \n business within the United States.\n ``(ii) United states cruise industry \n income.--For purposes of this subparagraph, the \n term `United States cruise industry income' \n means income attributable to any covered \n passenger cruise (as defined in paragraph (8)), \n including income directly or indirectly \n attributable to the carriage of passengers and \n any on-board or off-board activities incidental \n to such covered passenger cruise.''.\n (B) Covered passenger cruise.--Subsection (c) of \n section 864 of such Code is amended by adding at the \n end the following new paragraph:\n ``(8) Covered passenger cruise.--For purposes of paragraph \n (4)(C)--\n ``(A) Definition.--\n ``(i) In general.--The term `covered \n passenger cruise' means a voyage of a \n commercial passenger cruise vessel--\n ``(I) that extends over 1 or more \n nights, and\n ``(II) during which passengers \n embark or disembark the vessel in the \n United States.\n ``(ii) Exceptions for certain voyages.--\n Such term shall not include any voyage--\n ``(I) on any vessel owned or \n operated by the United States, a State, \n or any subdivision thereof,\n ``(II) which occurs exclusively on \n the inland waterways of the United \n States, or\n ``(III) in which a vessel in the \n usual course of employment proceeds, \n without an intervening foreign port of \n call from one port or place in the \n United States to the same port or place \n or to another port or place in the \n United States.\n ``(B) Passenger cruise vessel.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (A)--\n ``(i) In general.--The term `passenger \n cruise vessel' means any passenger vessel \n having berth or stateroom accommodations for at \n least 250 passengers.\n ``(ii) Exceptions.--Such term shall not \n include any ferry, recreational vessel, sailing \n school vessel, small passenger vessel, offshore \n supply vessel, or any other vessel determined \n under regulations by the Secretary to be \n excluded from the application of this part.\n ``(iii) Definitions.--Any term used in this \n section which is used in chapter 21 of title \n 46, United States Code, shall have the meaning \n given such term under section 2101 of such \n title.''.\n (C) Conforming amendment.--Subparagraph (A) of \n section 864(c)(4) of such Code is amended by striking \n ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)'' and inserting \n ``subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D)''.\n (2) Income from sources within the united states.--\n Paragraph (4) of section 887(b) of such Code is amended by \n adding at the end the following flush sentence:\n``The preceding sentence shall not apply to with respect to any United \nStates source gross transportation income which is United States cruise \nindustry income (as defined in section 864(c)(4)(C)(ii)).''.\n (b) Repeal of Exemption From Gross Income for Certain Taxpayers.--\n (1) Nonresident aliens.--Paragraph (1) of section 872(b) of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting \n ``(other than United States cruise industry income (as defined \n in section 864(c)(4)(C)))'' after ``or ships''.\n (2) Foreign corporations.--Paragraph (1) of section 883(a) \n of such Code is amended by inserting ``(other than United \n States cruise industry income (as defined in section \n 864(c)(4)(C)))'' after ``or ships''.\n (c) Income Tax Treaties.--Section 894 of the Internal Revenue Code \nof 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(d) Special Rule for United States Cruise Industry Income.--\nNotwithstanding subsection (a), no tax exemption or reduced tax rate \nshall be permitted under any treaty of the United States with respect \nto United States cruise industry income (as defined in section \n864(c)(4)(C)).''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to income attributable to voyages made after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat United States cruise industry income as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States (thus subjecting such income to U.S. income taxation). Defines "United States cruise industry income" as income attributable to a voyage of a commercial passenger cruise vessel (a passenger vessel having berth or stateroom accommodations for at least 250 passengers) that extends over 1 or more nights and during which passengers embark or disembark the vessel in the United States. Prohibits any tax exemption or reduced tax rate under any U.S. treaty with respect to United States cruise industry income. ", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that income attributable to certain passenger cruise voyages beginning or ending in the United States shall be treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2821, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Tobacco Sales to Youth Act of \n2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Tobacco products cause numerous serious diseases, \n including cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease, and \n they contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance.\n (2) According to the Surgeon General of the United States, \n adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects \n of nicotine, and adolescent exposure to nicotine may have \n lasting adverse consequences for brain development.\n (3) Youth use of electronic cigarettes and hookah (water \n pipe) has risen according to the National Youth Tobacco Survey \n released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and \n the Food and Drug Administration, in April 2015.\n (4) Current use of electronic cigarettes among high school \n students tripled from 4.5 percent in 2013 to 13.4 percent in \n 2014 (compared to 1.5 percent in 2011); approximately 2,000,000 \n high school students currently use these products.\n (5) Current use of electronic cigarettes among middle \n school students tripled from 1.1 percent in 2013 to 3.9 percent \n in 2014; approximately 450,000 middle school students currently \n use these products.\n (6) Current use of hookah among high school students \n increased from 4.1 percent in 2011 to 9.4 percent in 2014.\n (7) Current use of cigars among high school students was \n 8.2 percent in 2014 (1,200,000 students). Current use of cigars \n among high school boys was 10.8 percent, about the same rate at \n which they smoke cigarettes (10.6 percent).\n (8) The sale of electronic cigarettes, cigars, hookah, and \n other tobacco products over the Internet, and through mail, \n fax, or phone orders, makes it cheaper and easier for children \n to obtain these products.\n (9) Electronic cigarettes are being marketed in ways that \n appeal to youth, in the form of advertising using images that \n appeal to youth, advertisements on television and the Internet, \n and sponsorships of events popular with youth, such as concerts \n and sporting events.\n (10) According to a study published in March 2015 in the \n Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics, 93.7 \n percent of youth participating in a study of Internet \n electronic cigarette sales successfully purchased electronic \n cigarettes because the Web sites lacked adequate age-\n verification methods.\n\nSEC. 3. AMENDMENTS.\n\n Section 1 of the Act of October 19, 1949 (15 U.S.C. 375); commonly \nreferred to as the ``Jenkins Act''), is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (2)--\n (A) in subparagraph (A)--\n (i) in clause (i) by striking ``and'' at \n the end,\n (ii) in clause (ii) by striking the period \n at the end and inserting ``; and'', and\n (iii) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(iii) includes electronic cigarettes.'', \n and\n (B) in subparagraph (B)--\n (i) in the heading by striking \n ``Exception'' and inserting ``Inclusions'',\n (ii) by striking ``does not include'' and \n inserting ``includes'', and\n (iii) by inserting ``and pipe tobacco (as \n defined in section 5702 of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986)'' before the period at the end, \n and\n (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:\n ``(6A) Electronic cigarette.--The term `electronic \n cigarette' means any electronic device that delivers nicotine, \n flavor, or other substance via an aerosolized solution \n (including an electronic cigarette, cigar, pipe, or hookah) to \n the user inhaling from the device (including any component, \n liquid, part, or accessory of such a device whether or not sold \n separately) but excludes product that--\n ``(A) is approved by the Food and Drug \n Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product \n or for another therapeutic purpose; and\n ``(B) is marketed and sold solely for a purpose \n approved as described in subparagraph (A).''.\n\nSEC. 4. EXCLUSIONS REGARDING INDIAN TRIBES AND TRIBAL MATTERS.\n\n (a) In General.--Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this \nAct shall be construed to amend, modify, or otherwise affect--\n (1) any agreements, compacts, or other intergovernmental \n arrangements between any State or local government and any \n government of an Indian tribe (as that term is defined in \n section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education \n Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e))) relating to the collection \n of taxes on cigarettes or smokeless tobacco sold in Indian \n country;\n (2) any State laws that authorize or otherwise pertain to \n any such intergovernmental arrangements or create special rules \n or procedures for the collection of State, local, or tribal \n taxes on cigarettes or smokeless tobacco sold in Indian \n country;\n (3) any limitations under Federal or State law, including \n Federal common law and treaties, on State, local, and tribal \n tax and regulatory authority with respect to the sale, use, or \n distribution of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco by or to \n Indian tribes, tribal members, tribal enterprises, or in Indian \n country;\n (4) any Federal law, including Federal common law and \n treaties, regarding State jurisdiction, or lack thereof, over \n any tribe, tribal members, tribal enterprises, tribal \n reservations, or other lands held by the United States in trust \n for one or more Indian tribes; or\n (5) any State or local government authority to bring \n enforcement actions against persons located in Indian country.\n (b) Coordination of Law Enforcement.--Nothing in this Act or the \namendments made by this Act shall be construed to inhibit or otherwise \naffect any coordinated law enforcement effort by one or more States or \nother jurisdictions, including Indian tribes, through interstate \ncompact or otherwise, that--\n (1) provides for the administration of tobacco product laws \n or laws pertaining to interstate sales or other sales of \n tobacco products;\n (2) provides for the seizure of tobacco products or other \n property related to a violation of such laws; or\n (3) establishes cooperative programs for the administration \n of such laws.\n (c) Treatment of State and Local Governments.--Nothing in this Act \nor the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to authorize, \ndeputize, or commission States or local governments as \ninstrumentalities of the United States.\n (d) Enforcement Within Indian Country.--Nothing in this Act or the \namendments made by this Act shall prohibit, limit, or restrict \nenforcement by the Attorney General of the United States of this Act or \nan amendment made by this Act within Indian country.\n (e) Ambiguity.--Any ambiguity between the language of this section \nor its application and any other provision of this Act shall be \nresolved in favor of this section.\n (f) Definitions.--In this section--\n (1) the term ``Indian country'' has the meaning given that \n term in section 1 of the Act of October 19, 1949 (15 U.S.C. \n 375; commonly referred to as the ``Jenkins Act''), as amended \n by this Act; and\n (2) the term ``tribal enterprise'' means any business \n enterprise, regardless of whether incorporated or \n unincorporated under Federal or tribal law, of an Indian tribe \n or group of Indian tribes.\n\nSEC. 5. SEVERABILITY.\n\n If any provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, or \nthe application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, \nthe remainder of the Act and the application of the Act to any other \nperson or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.\n\nSEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect 90 \ndays after the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Stop Tobacco Sales to Youth Act of 2015 Amends the Jenkins Act to include within the definition of "cigarette" electronic cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco. Defines "electronic cigarette" to mean any electronic device that delivers nicotine, flavor, or other substance via an aerosolized solution (including an electronic cigarette, cigar, pipe, or hookah) to the user inhaling from the device, excluding any product that: (1) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product or for another therapeutic purpose, and (2) is marketed and sold solely for such a therapeutic purpose. Makes specified exceptions with respect to Indian tribes and tribal matters. ", "title": "Stop Tobacco Sales to Youth Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1225, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Wood Stove Regulatory Relief Act of \n2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. REGULATION OF NEW RESIDENTIAL WOOD HEATERS, NEW RESIDENTIAL \n HYDRONIC HEATERS, NEW FORCED-AIR FURNACES, AND NEW \n RESIDENTIAL MASONRY HEATERS.\n\n (a) Prohibition.--During the period specified in subsection (c), \nthe Administrator may not finalize, issue, implement, or enforce any \nrule described in subsection (b) unless such rule meets the \nrequirements described in subsection (d).\n (b) Rules.--Subsection (a) applies with respect to--\n (1) the proposed rule entitled ``Standards of Performance \n for New Residential Wood Heaters, New Residential Hydronic \n Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces, and New Residential Masonry \n Heaters'' published at 79 Fed. Reg. 6330 (February 3, 2014) or \n any successor or substantially similar rule; and\n (2) any other rule under section 111 of the Clean Air Act \n (42 U.S.C. 7411) that is applicable to any new source that is a \n residential wood heater, a residential hydronic heater, a \n forced-air furnace, or a residential masonry heater.\n (c) Applicability.--This Act applies during the 8-year period \nbeginning on the date of enactment of this Act.\n (d) Requirements.--\n (1) Numeric emission limits.--During the period specified \n in subsection (c), in finalizing or issuing any rule described \n in subsection (b), the Administrator may not establish a \n particulate matter emissions limit--\n (A) for adjustable rate wood heaters or pellet \n heaters/stoves that were, on or before the effective \n date of the rule, certified as being in compliance with \n any applicable standard of performance for particulate \n matter, that is less than 4.5 grams of particulate \n matter per hour;\n (B) for all other adjustable rate wood heaters, \n single burn rate wood heaters, or pellet heaters/\n stoves, that is less than 4.5 grams of particulate \n matter per hour;\n (C) for any residential hydronic heater, that is \n less than 0.32 pound per million British thermal unit \n heat output as measured under ASTM E2618-13 ``Standard \n Test Method for Measurement of Particulate Emissions \n and Heating Efficiency of Solid Fuel-Fired Hydronic \n Heating Appliances'' using either cordwood or cribs; or\n (D) for any forced-air furnace, that is less than \n 0.93 pound per million British thermal unit heat \n output.\n (2) Transition period.--During the period specified in \n subsection (c), in finalizing or issuing any rule described in \n subsection (b), the Administrator shall--\n (A) with respect to a residential wood heater that \n was certified on or before the effective date of the \n rule by the Administrator as in compliance with any \n applicable emissions limit in effect prior to the date \n of enactment of this Act--\n (i) provide that such certification shall \n remain valid until the date that is five years \n after such heater was certified; and\n (ii) permit any such heater to be \n manufactured and sold at retail until the date \n that is five years after such heater was \n certified;\n (B) with respect to a forced-air furnace--\n (i) except as provided in clause (ii)--\n (I) that is manufactured on or \n before the effective date of such rule, \n permit such forced-air furnace to be \n sold at retail for a period of at least \n one year after such effective date; or\n (II) that is manufactured after the \n effective date of such rule, not \n require such forced-air furnace to meet \n any applicable particulate matter \n emissions limit set forth in such rule \n until the date that is at least one \n year after such effective date; or\n (ii) that was tested under Canadian \n Standards Administration B415.1-10 test \n protocol on or before the effective date of the \n rule and met a particulate matter emissions \n limit of 0.93 pound per million British thermal \n unit heat output, permit such forced-air \n furnace to be manufactured and sold at retail \n for a period of five years after such effective \n date; and\n (C) with respect to a hydronic heater that--\n (i) is a qualified model, deem such \n hydronic heater to be certified as in \n compliance with any otherwise applicable \n emissions limit under such rule for the \n duration of the period it would be considered a \n qualified model, but in no case for a period of \n less than 3 years beginning on the effective \n date of such rule; or\n (ii) is not a qualified model and that is \n manufactured on or before the effective date of \n such rule, permit such hydronic heater to be \n sold at retail for a period of at least one \n year after such effective date.\n (3) Certification procedures.--\n (A) Independent accredited third party testing and \n certification.--During the period specified in \n subsection (c), in finalizing or issuing any rule \n described in subsection (b), the Administrator shall \n provide that certifications of compliance with any \n applicable emissions limit under such rule be issued by \n independent third party laboratories accredited as \n certification bodies under ISO/IEC 17065, based on \n testing performed by the certification body or another \n laboratory accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 to perform \n certification testing.\n (B) Limited role of epa.--During the period \n specified in subsection (c), in finalizing or issuing \n any rule described in subsection (b), the Administrator \n shall provide that the Environmental Protection \n Agency's role in any certification or auditing process \n provided in such rule shall be limited to conducting \n selective audits of the testing, certification, and \n quality assurance/quality control functions performed \n by certification bodies or test laboratories that are \n accredited by the ISO.\n (e) Definitions.--In this Act:\n (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the \n Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.\n (2) ISO.--The term ``ISO'' means the International \n Organization for Standardization.\n (3) ISO/IEC 17025.--The term ``ISO/IEC 17025'' means the \n International Organization for Standardization/International \n Electrotechnical Commission standard number 17025.\n (4) ISO/IEC 17065.--The term ``ISO/IEC 17065'' means the \n International Organization for Standardization/International \n Electrotechnical Commission standard number 17065.\n (5) New source.--The term ``new source'' has the meaning \n given such term in section 111(a)(2) of the Clean Air Act (42 \n U.S.C. 7411(a)(2)).\n (6) Standard of performance.--The term ``standard of \n performance'' has the meaning given such term in section \n 111(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7411(a)(1)).\n (7) Qualified model.--The term ``qualified model'' means, \n with respect to a hydronic heater, a model that had been shown \n to meet performance levels established by the Administrator \n under a voluntary partnership program in effect prior to the \n date of enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Wood Stove Regulatory Relief Act of 2014 - Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for an eight-year period, from finalizing, issuing, implementing, or enforcing rules under the Clean Air Act applicable to any new source of air pollutants that is a residential wood heater, a residential hydronic heater, a forced-air furnace, or a residential masonry heater unless the rules comply with this Act. Prohibits the Administrator from setting particulate matter emission limits below a specified threshold for adjustable rate wood heaters, single burn rate wood heaters, pellet heaters/stoves, residential hydronic heaters, and forced-air furnaces. Phases in requirements for complying with emission limits. Sets forth provisions requiring third-party testing of compliance with emission limits.", "title": "Wood Stove Regulatory Relief Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 430, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Cleaning Product Labeling Act of \n2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. CLEANING PRODUCTS LABELING REQUIREMENT.\n\n (a) Labeling Requirement.--Beginning on the date that is 1 year \nafter the date on which the Commission issues regulations under \nsubsection (d), a cleaning product manufactured for sale, offered for \nsale, distributed in commerce, or imported to the United States after \nsuch date shall bear a label on the product's container or packaging \nwith, and the manufacturer of the product shall include on the Internet \nwebsite of the manufacturer (if the manufacturer maintains an Internet \nwebsite), a complete and accurate list of all the product's \ningredients, including the individual ingredients in dyes, fragrances, \nand preservatives. Ingredients shall be listed in accordance with the \nfollowing:\n (1) Ingredients shall be listed in descending order of \n predominance in the product by weight, other than ingredients \n that constitute less than 1 percent of the product, which may \n be listed at the end in any order.\n (2) The list of ingredients on the Internet website of the \n product shall--\n (A) include the CAS Registry Number of each \n ingredient;\n (B) include an explanation of each ingredient's \n purpose for being in the cleaning product; and\n (C) be available in English, Spanish, and any other \n language the Commission or Administration determines \n necessary to ensure that users of the product in the \n United States are informed as to the complete list of \n the product's ingredients and their function.\n (b) Treatment of Nonconforming Products.--\n (1) Consumer products.--A cleaning product under the \n jurisdiction of the Commission that is not in conformity with \n the labeling requirements of subsection (a), including a \n product the manufacturer of which is not in compliance with the \n Internet website listing requirement with respect to such \n product, shall be treated as a substance defined in section \n 2(p) of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. \n 1261(p)) for purposes of such Act.\n (2) Other cleaning products.--A cleaning product under the \n jurisdiction of the Occupational Safety and Health \n Administration that is not in conformity with the labeling \n requirements of subsection (a), including a product the \n manufacturer of which is not in compliance with the Internet \n website listing requirement with respect to such product, shall \n be treated as a product in violation of a rule promulgated \n under section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of \n 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655).\n (c) No Effect on Existing Labeling Requirements.--Nothing in this \nAct shall be interpreted as having any effect on any labeling \nrequirements in effect before the date of enactment of this Act as \ndescribed in section 2(p) of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 \nU.S.C. 1261(p)), section 3 of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of \n1970 (15 U.S.C. 1472), or the Hazard Communication Standard of the \nOccupational Safety and Health Administration.\n (d) Rulemaking Authority of the Consumer Product Safety \nCommission.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental \nProtection Agency as necessary, the Commission shall issue regulations \nfor cleaning products under the jurisdiction of the Commission--\n (1) to ensure a standardized method of listing ingredients \n in an accessible, uniform, and legible manner on both the label \n and Internet website of a product as required by subsection \n (a); and\n (2) to provide for the effective enforcement of this Act.\n (e) Rulemaking Authority of the Occupational Safety and Health \nAdministration.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment \nof this Act, in consultation with the Administrator of the \nEnvironmental Protection Agency as necessary, the Secretary of Labor \nshall issue regulations, including occupational safety or health \nstandards, for cleaning products under the jurisdiction of the \nAdministration--\n (1) to ensure a standardized method of listing ingredients \n in an accessible, uniform, and legible manner on both the label \n and website of a product as required by subsection (a); and\n (2) to provide for the effective enforcement of this Act.\n (f) Preservation of Existing Agency Jurisdiction.--Nothing in this \nAct shall be construed as having any effect on which cleaning products \nfall within the jurisdiction of the Commission or the Occupational \nSafety and Health Administration.\n\nSEC. 3. PUBLIC RIGHT TO KNOW PETITION.\n\n (a) Petition.--Any person may submit a petition to the agency of \njurisdiction alleging that a cleaning product available in interstate \ncommerce does not satisfy the labeling requirements of this Act, \nincluding a product the manufacturer of which is not in compliance with \nthe requirement to list the product's ingredients on its Internet \nwebsite.\n (b) Action by the Agency of Jurisdiction.--The agency of \njurisdiction shall notify a petitioner of the receipt of a petition \nwithin 30 days after receipt of such petition. The agency shall \ninvestigate the claims made by the petition and make a determination as \nto the validity of such claims within 180 days after acknowledging the \nreceipt of such petition. If the agency sustains the claim or claims \nmade by the petition, the agency shall initiate the proper enforcement \nactions required by law.\n (c) Regulations.--The agency of jurisdiction may issue such \nregulations as it determines necessary to require that petitions \ninclude a reasonable evidentiary basis for the claims made therein.\n\nSEC. 4. RELATIONSHIP TO STATE LAWS.\n\n Nothing in this Act affects the right of a State or political \nsubdivision of a State to adopt or enforce any regulation, requirement, \nor standard of performance that is different from, or in addition to, a \nregulation, requirement, liability, or standard of performance \nestablished pursuant to this Act unless compliance with both this Act \nand the State or political subdivision of a State regulation, \nrequirement, or standard of performance is impossible, in which case \nthe applicable provision of this Act shall control.\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Agency of jurisdiction.--The term ``agency of \n jurisdiction'' means the Occupational Safety and Health \n Administration with respect to cleaning products and matters \n under the jurisdiction of the Administration and the Commission \n with respect to cleaning products and matters under the \n jurisdiction of the Commission.\n (2) Air care product.--The term ``air care product'' means \n a mixture of one or more chemicals the purpose of which is to \n clean and freshen air or to deodorize and neutralize unwanted \n odors in the indoor air, including solid gels, air freshener \n spray, an outlet or battery operated air freshener, a hanging \n car air freshener, and a potpourri product.\n (3) Automotive product.--The term ``automotive product'' \n means a chemically formulated consumer product designed to \n maintain the appearance of a motor vehicle, but does not \n include automotive paint or a paint repair product.\n (4) Cleaning product.--The term ``cleaning product'' means \n any chemically formulated product used primarily for \n commercial, domestic, or institutional cleaning purposes, \n including an air care product, automotive product, disinfectant \n (except as provided in subparagraph (B)), and polish or floor \n maintenance product. Such term shall not include--\n (A) any drug or cosmetic, including personal care \n items such as toothpaste, shampoo, and hand soap; or\n (B) a product labeled, advertised, marketed, and \n distributed for use only as a pesticide, as defined by \n section 2(u) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and \n Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136(u)), including a \n disinfectant intended for use solely on critical or \n semi-critical devices as described by such section.\n (5) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Consumer \n Product Safety Commission.\n (6) Ingredient.--The term ``ingredient'' means a chemical \n intentionally incorporated in a cleaning product, including--\n (A) a chemical intentionally added to the product \n that provides a technical or functional effect;\n (B) the intentional breakdown product of a chemical \n that has an effect on the cleaning product;\n (C) with respect to a fragrance or preservative, \n each individual component part of the fragrance or \n preservative; and\n (D) any individual component of an ingredient or of \n an incidental ingredient that the Commission determines \n should be considered an ingredient.\n (7) Incidental ingredient.--The term ``incidental \n ingredient'' means a chemical in a cleaning product, \n including--\n (A) any substance that is present by reason of \n having been added to a cleaning product during \n processing for its technical or functional effect;\n (B) a chemical that has no technical or functional \n effect but is present by reason of having been \n incorporated into the cleaning product as a component \n of an ingredient of another chemical; and\n (C) any contaminant that may form via reactions \n over the shelf life of a cleaning product and that may \n be present at levels where detection is technologically \n feasible.\n (8) Polish or floor maintenance product.--The term ``polish \n or floor maintenance product'' means a chemically formulated \n consumer product designed to polish, protect, or maintain \n furniture, floors, metal, leather, or other surfaces, including \n polish, wax, and restorer.\n (9) Secretary of labor.--The term ``Secretary of Labor'' \n means the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant \n Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.", "summary": "Cleaning Product Labeling Act of 2017 This bill requires chemically formulated cleaning products to bear a label with, and requires manufacturers to include on their Internet websites, a list of all of the product's ingredients (including individual ingredients in dyes, fragrances, and preservatives) in descending order of predominance by weight, except that ingredients that constitute less than 1% of the product can be listed at the end in any order. Product websites must include: (1) the CAS Registry Number of each ingredient, and (2) an explanation of each ingredient's purpose. A product that is not in conformity with the labeling and website listing requirements shall be treated as: (1) a misbranded hazardous substance under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act if it is under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or (2) a violation of rules under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 if it is under the jurisdiction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The CPSC and OSHA must issue regulations to enforce this bill. A person may petition the CPSC or OSHA to investigate claims that a product does not satisfy these requirements. ", "title": "Cleaning Product Labeling Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1576, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Taking Account of Institutions with \nLow Operation Risk Act of 2015'' or the ``TAILOR Act of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. REGULATIONS APPROPRIATE TO BUSINESS MODELS.\n\n (a) In General.--For any regulatory action occurring subsequent to \nenactment of this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of \nlaw, the Federal financial institutions regulatory agencies shall--\n (1) take into consideration the risk profile and business \n models of the various institutions or classes of institutions \n subject to the regulatory action;\n (2) determine the necessity, appropriateness, and impact of \n applying such regulatory action to such institutions or classes \n of institutions; and\n (3) tailor such regulatory action applicable to such \n institutions or class of institutions in a manner that limits \n the regulatory compliance impact, cost, liability risk, and \n other burdens as is appropriate for the risk profile and \n business model involved.\n (b) Other Considerations.--In satisfying the requirements of \nsubsection (a) and when implementing such regulatory action, the \nFederal financial institutions regulatory agencies shall also \nconsider--\n (1) the impact that such regulatory action, both by itself \n and in conjunction with the aggregate effect of other \n regulations, has on the ability of the institution or class of \n institutions to flexibly serve evolving and diverse customer \n needs;\n (2) the potential unintended impact of examination manuals \n or other regulatory directives that work in conflict with the \n tailoring of such regulatory action described in subsection \n (a)(3); and\n (3) the underlying policy objectives of the regulatory \n action and statutory scheme involved.\n (c) Notice of Proposed and Final Rulemaking.--The Federal financial \ninstitutions regulatory agencies shall disclose in every notice of \nproposed rulemaking and in any final rulemaking for a regulatory action \nhow the agency has applied subsections (a) and (b).\n (d) Reports to Congress.--\n (1) Individual agency reports.--\n (A) In general.--The Federal financial institutions \n regulatory agencies shall individually report to the \n Committee on Financial Services of the House of \n Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, \n and Urban Affairs of the Senate, within twelve months \n of enactment of this section and annually thereafter, \n on the specific actions taken to tailor the agency's \n regulatory actions pursuant to the requirements of this \n section.\n (B) Appearance before the committees.--The head of \n each Federal financial institution regulatory agency \n shall appear before the Committee on Financial Services \n of the House of Representatives and the Committee on \n Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate after \n each report is made pursuant to subparagraph (A), to \n testify on the contents of such report.\n (2) FIEC reports.--\n (A) In general.--The Financial Institutions \n Examination Council shall report to the Committee on \n Financial Services of the House of Representatives and \n the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of \n the Senate, within three months after the reports \n required under paragraph (1)--\n (i) on the extent to which regulatory \n actions tailored pursuant to this section \n result in differential regulation of similarly-\n situated institutions of diverse charter types \n with respect to comparable regulations; and\n (ii) the reasons for such differential \n treatment.\n (B) Appearance before the committees.--The Chairman \n of the Financial Institutions Examination Council shall \n appear before the Committee on Financial Services of \n the House of Representatives and the Committee on \n Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate after \n each report is made pursuant to subparagraph (A), to \n testify on the contents of such report.\n (e) Limited Look-Back Application.--The Federal financial \ninstitutions regulatory agencies shall conduct a review of all \nregulations adopted during the period beginning on the date that is \nfive years before the date of the introduction of this Act in the House \nof Representatives and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act \nand apply the requirements of this section to such regulations. If the \napplication of the requirements of this section to any such regulation \nrequires such regulation to be revised, the agency shall revise such \nregulation within three years of the enactment of this section.\n (f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the following \ndefinitions shall apply:\n (1) Federal financial institutions regulatory agencies.--\n The term ``Federal financial institutions regulatory agencies'' \n means the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board \n of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit \n Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union \n Administration, and the Bureau of Consumer Financial \n Protection.\n (2) Regulatory action.--The term ``regulatory action'' \n means any proposed, interim, or final rule or regulation, \n guidance, or published interpretation.", "summary": ". Taking Account of Institutions with Low Operation Risk Act of 2015 or the TAILOR Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (federal financial institutions regulatory agencies) to: take into consideration the risk profile and business models of institutions subject to regulatory action; determine the necessity, appropriateness, and impact of applying that action to such institutions; and tailor regulatory action so as to limit the burden of regulatory compliance as befits the risk profile and business model involved. The federal financial institutions regulatory agencies shall also consider: the impact that such regulatory action has upon the ability of the institution to flexibly serve evolving and diverse customer needs, the potential unintended impact of examination manuals or other regulatory directives that work in conflict with the tailoring of such regulatory action, and the underlying policy objectives of the regulatory action and statutory scheme involved. In addition, a federal financial institutions regulatory agency must disclose in every notice of a proposed and final rulemaking for a regulatory action how it has applied this bill. The Financial Institutions Examination Council shall report to Congress on the extent to which regulatory actions tailored pursuant to this bill result in differential regulation of similarly-situated institutions of diverse charter types with respect to comparable regulations. The agencies must also apply the requirements of this bill to all regulations adopted five years before the introduction of this bill and ending on the date of its enactment.", "title": "TAILOR Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2271, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Consumer and Community Choice in \nAccess Act of 1999''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) As cable, telecommunications and Internet lines of \n business merge, cable operators are upgrading their cable \n systems to offer 2-way communications on their cable networks, \n including high-speed broadband access to the Internet.\n (2) Upgraded cable systems are now offering Internet access \n up to 1,000 times faster than traditional phone lines, and up \n to 100 times faster than integrated services digital network \n (``ISDN'') lines.\n (3) Some cable operators are requiring their customers to \n obtain broadband access only through their affiliated Internet \n service provider (``ISP'').\n (4) Citizens who need or desire Internet access through the \n significantly faster cable network, but who choose not to use \n the cable operators' affiliated ISP must pay twice (once to the \n cable operator's ISP, once to their own ISP), in order to \n access the ISP of their choice.\n (5) Some in the cable industry, utilizing both their \n affiliated ISP and considerable market power, will not allow \n open and direct access to unaffiliated ISPs and their customers \n via the broadband cable platform.\n (6) The initial design of broadband cable modem Internet \n access has also created technological barriers to open access \n that need to be addressed.\n (7) In their federally recognized roles as local cable \n franchising authorities, local communities across the country \n are now confronted with the question of whether to allow their \n cable operators to restrict unaffiliated ISP from gaining \n direct, open access to their customers on the regulated cable \n network. In Oregon, the city of Portland and Multnomah County \n have already faced this situation, and decided that the public \n interest requires open access. This decision has been upheld by \n a Federal court.\n (8) However, some have expressed concern that allowing \n localities the ability to promote competition by requiring open \n access will delay the deployment of cable broadband Internet \n access services.\n (9) Local jurisdictions that choose to impose a \n procompetitive open access requirement serve the important \n public purpose of serving as ``laboratories'' for field trials \n to develop true competition on the cable Internet gateway.\n (10) Clearly, the possible development of a monopoly \n bottleneck to high-speed Internet access is a critical public \n policy issue that Congress, the Federal Communications \n Commission, and local franchising authorities need to address.\n\nSEC. 3. NONDISCRIMINATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCONNECTION TO THE \n INTERNET.\n\n (a) Reallocation of Authority.--Section 624 of the Communications \nAct of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 544) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``or other \n information services''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(j) Internet Access.--The Commission may require cable operators \nthat provide interconnection, using cable system facilities, with the \nInternet to offer such interconnection on terms and conditions that are \nfair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory. Such requirements shall \ninclude the obligation to provide direct or indirect interconnection \nwith the facilities and equipment of any Internet service provider on \nterms and conditions that are functionally and economically equivalent \nto the interconnection provided to any other Internet service provider, \nwhether or not affiliated with the cable operator. If the Commission \ndetermines, after notice and comment, that a cable operator is not \ncomplying with such obligation, the Commission may establish the terms \nand conditions of such interconnection.''.\n\nSEC. 4. LEASED ACCESS AMENDMENT.\n\n Section 612 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 532) is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (b)(5), by inserting ``or other cable \n service'' after ``provision of video programming'';\n (2) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``or other cable \n service'' after ``over any video programming''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(k) Treatment of High-Speed Data Services.--Until the Commission \nestablishes open access or interconnection standards and obligations \nunder section 624(j), a service that provides high-speed data service \n(as such term is defined in regulations of the Commission) and that \nseeks to obtain channel capacity under this section may, \nnotwithstanding subsection (b)(5), be treated as seeking channel \ncapacity for a commercial use.''.\n\nSEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF LIMITATION ON COMMON CARRIER REGULATION.\n\n Section 621(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 541(c)) \nis amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``A \ntelecommunications service that is provided by a cable system is \nsubject to regulation as a common carrier service.''.\n\nSEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.\n\n Nothing in this Act--\n (1) restricts or limits the authority of a State or \n franchising authority; or\n (2) shall be construed to affect any civil action that is \n pending in any Federal or State court on the date of enactment \n of this Act.", "summary": "Consumer and Community Choice in Access Act of 1999 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require cable operators that provide interconnection with the Internet using that cable system's facilities to offer such interconnection on terms and conditions that are fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory and to provide such interconnection with the facilities and equipment of any Internet service provider, whether or not affiliated with such cable operator. \nDirects a cable operator to designate channel capacity for the provision of other cable services (currently, for a commercial use, which includes only video programming). Provides that, until the FCC establishes open access or interconnection standards and obligations for cable providers, a service that provides high-speed data service and that seeks to obtain channel capacity for such service may be treated as seeking channel capacity for a commercial use. \nSubjects a telecommunications service that is provided by a cable system to Federal regulation as a common carrier service.", "title": "Consumer and Community Choice in Access Act of 1999"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1398, "text": "OF CLAIMS.\n\n (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided for in this section, \nthe time for the commencement of a health care lawsuit shall be 3 years \nafter the date of manifestation of injury or 1 year after the claimant \ndiscovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have \ndiscovered, the injury, whichever occurs first.\n (b) General Exception.--The time for the commencement of a health \ncare lawsuit shall not exceed 3 years after the date of manifestation \nof injury unless the tolling of time was delayed as a result of--\n (1) fraud;\n (2) intentional concealment; or\n (3) the presence of a foreign body, which has no \n therapeutic or diagnostic purpose or effect, in the person of \n the injured person.\n (c) Minors.--An action by a minor shall be commenced within 3 years \nfrom the date of the alleged manifestation of injury except that if \nsuch minor is under the full age of 6 years, such action shall be \ncommenced within 3 years of the manifestation of injury, or prior to \nthe eighth birthday of the minor, whichever provides a longer period. \nSuch time limitation shall be tolled for minors for any period during \nwhich a parent or guardian and a health care provider or health care \norganization have committed fraud or collusion in the failure to bring \nan action on behalf of the injured minor.\n\nSEC. 5. COMPENSATING PATIENT INJURY.\n\n (a) Unlimited Amount of Damages for Actual Economic Losses in \nHEALTH Care Lawsuits.--In any health care lawsuit, nothing in this Act \nshall limit the recovery by a claimant of the full amount of the \navailable economic damages, notwithstanding the limitation contained in \nsubsection (b).\n (b) Additional Noneconomic Damages.--In any health care lawsuit, \nthe amount of noneconomic damages recovered, if otherwise available \nunder applicable Federal or State law, may be as much as $250,000, \nregardless of the number of parties against whom the action is brought \nor the number of separate claims or actions brought with respect to the \nsame occurrence.\n (c) No Discount of Award for Noneconomic Damages.--In any health \ncare lawsuit--\n (1) an award for future noneconomic damages shall not be \n discounted to present value;\n (2) the jury shall not be informed about the maximum award \n for noneconomic damages under subsection (b);\n (3) an award for noneconomic damages in excess of $250,000 \n shall be reduced either before the entry of judgment, or by \n amendment of the judgment after entry of judgment, and such \n reduction shall be made before accounting for any other \n reduction in damages required by law; and\n (4) if separate awards are rendered for past and future \n noneconomic damages and the combined awards exceed $250,000, \n the future noneconomic damages shall be reduced first.\n (d) Fair Share Rule.--In any health care lawsuit, each party shall \nbe liable for that party's several share of any damages only and not \nfor the share of any other person. Each party shall be liable only for \nthe amount of damages allocated to such party in direct proportion to \nsuch party's percentage of responsibility. A separate judgment shall be \nrendered against each such party for the amount allocated to such \nparty. For purposes of this section, the trier of fact shall determine \nthe proportion of responsibility of each party for the claimant's harm.\n\nSEC. 6. MAXIMIZING PATIENT RECOVERY.\n\n (a) Court Supervision of Share of Damages Actually Paid to \nClaimants.--\n (1) In general.--In any health care lawsuit, the court \n shall supervise the arrangements for payment of damages to \n protect against conflicts of interest that may have the effect \n of reducing the amount of damages awarded that are actually \n paid to claimants.\n (2) Contingency fees.--\n (A) In general.--In any health care lawsuit in \n which the attorney for a party claims a financial stake \n in the outcome by virtue of a contingent fee, the court \n shall have the power to restrict the payment of a \n claimant's damage recovery to such attorney, and to \n redirect such damages to the claimant based upon the \n interests of justice and principles of equity.\n (B) Limitation.--The total of all contingent fees \n for representing all claimants in a health care lawsuit \n shall not exceed the following limits:\n (i) 40 percent of the first $50,000 \n recovered by the claimant(s).\n (ii) 33\\1/3\\ percent of the next $50,000 \n recovered by the claimant(s).\n (iii) 25 percent of the next $500,000 \n recovered by the claimant(s).\n (iv) 15 percent of any amount by which the \n recovery by the claimant(s) is in excess of \n $600,000.\n (b) Applicability.--\n (1) In general.--The limitations in subsection (a) shall \n apply whether the recovery is by judgment, settlement, \n mediation, arbitration, or any other form of alternative \n dispute resolution.\n (2) Minors.--In a health care lawsuit involving a minor or \n incompetent person, a court retains the authority to authorize \n or approve a fee that is less than the maximum permitted under \n this section.\n (c) Expert Witnesses.--\n (1) Requirement.--No individual shall be qualified to \n testify as an expert witness concerning issues of negligence in \n any health care lawsuit against a defendant unless such \n individual--\n (A) except as required under paragraph (2), is a \n health care professional who--\n (i) is appropriately credentialed or \n licensed in 1 or more States to deliver health \n care services; and\n (ii) typically treats the diagnosis or \n condition or provides the type of treatment \n under review; and\n (B) can demonstrate by competent evidence that, as \n a result of training, education, knowledge, and \n experience in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment \n of the disease or injury which is the subject matter of \n the lawsuit against the defendant, the individual was \n substantially familiar with applicable standards of \n care and practice as they relate to the act or omission \n which is the subject of the lawsuit on the date of the \n incident.\n (2) Physician review.--In a health care lawsuit, if the \n claim of the plaintiff involved treatment that is recommended \n or provided by a physician (allopathic or osteopathic), an \n individual shall not be qualified to be an expert witness under \n this subsection with respect to issues of negligence concerning \n such treatment unless such individual is a physician.\n (3) Specialties and subspecialties.--With respect to a \n lawsuit described in paragraph (1), a court shall not permit an \n expert in one medical specialty or subspecialty to testify \n against a defendant in another medical specialty or \n subspecialty unless, in addition to a showing of substantial \n familiarity in accordance with paragraph (1)(B), there is a \n showing that the standards of care and practice in the two \n specialty or subspecialty fields are similar.\n (4) Limitation.--The limitations in this subsection shall \n not apply to expert witnesses testifying as to the degree or \n permanency of medical or physical impairment.\n\nSEC. 7. ADDITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS.\n\n (a) In General.--The amount of any damages received by a claimant \nin any health care lawsuit shall be reduced by the court by the amount \nof any collateral source benefits to which the claimant is entitled, \nless any insurance premiums or other payments made by the claimant (or \nby the spouse, parent, child, or legal guardian of the claimant) to \nobtain or secure such benefits.\n (b) Preservation of Current Law.--Where a payor of collateral \nsource benefits has a right of recovery by reimbursement or subrogation \nand such right is permitted under Federal or State law, subsection (a) \nshall not apply.\n (c) Application of Provision.--This section shall apply to any \nhealth care lawsuit that is settled or resolved by a fact finder.\n\nSEC. 8. PUNITIVE DAMAGES.\n\n (a) Punitive Damages Permitted.--\n (1) In general.--Punitive damages may, if otherwise \n available under applicable State or Federal law, be awarded \n against any person in a health care lawsuit only if it is \n proven by clear and convincing evidence that such person acted \n with malicious intent to injure the claimant, or that such \n person deliberately failed to avoid unnecessary injury that \n such person knew the claimant was substantially certain to \n suffer.\n (2) Filing of lawsuit.--No demand for punitive damages \n shall be included in a health care lawsuit as initially filed. \n A court may allow a claimant to file an amended pleading for \n punitive damages only upon a motion by the claimant and after a \n finding by the court, upon review of supporting and opposing \n affidavits or after a hearing, after weighing the evidence, \n that the claimant has established by a substantial probability \n that the claimant will prevail on the claim for punitive \n damages.\n (3) Separate proceeding.--At the request of any party in a \n health care lawsuit, the trier of fact shall consider in a \n separate proceeding--\n (A) whether punitive damages are to be awarded and \n the amount of such award; and\n (B) the amount of punitive damages following a \n determination of punitive liability.\n If a separate proceeding is requested, evidence relevant only \n to the claim for punitive damages, as determined by applicable \n State law, shall be inadmissible in any proceeding to determine \n whether compensatory damages are to be awarded.\n (4) Limitation where no compensatory damages are awarded.--\n In any health care lawsuit where no judgment for compensatory \n damages is rendered against a person, no punitive damages may \n be awarded with respect to the claim in such lawsuit against \n such person.\n (b) Determining Amount of Punitive Damages.--\n (1) Factors considered.--In determining the amount of \n punitive damages under this section, the trier of fact shall \n consider only the following:\n (A) the severity of the harm caused by the conduct \n of such party;\n (B) the duration of the conduct or any concealment \n of it by such party;\n (C) the profitability of the conduct to such party;\n (D) the number of products sold or medical \n procedures rendered for compensation, as the case may \n be, by such party, of the kind causing the harm \n complained of by the claimant;\n (E) any criminal penalties imposed on such party, \n as a result of the conduct complained of by the \n claimant; and\n (F) the amount of any civil fines assessed against \n such party as a result of the conduct complained of by \n the claimant.\n (2) Maximum award.--The amount of punitive damages awarded \n in a health care lawsuit may not exceed an amount equal to two \n times the amount of economic damages awarded in the lawsuit or \n $250,000, whichever is greater. The jury shall not be informed \n of the limitation under the preceding sentence.\n (c) Liability of Health Care Providers.--A health care provider who \nprescribes, or who dispenses pursuant to a prescription, a drug or \ndevice (including blood products) approved by the Food and Drug \nAdministration shall not be named as a party to a product liability \nlawsuit invoking such drug or device and shall not be liable to a \nclaimant in a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer, \ndistributor, or product seller of such drug or device.\n\nSEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF PAYMENT OF FUTURE DAMAGES TO CLAIMANTS IN \n HEALTH CARE LAWSUITS.\n\n (a) In General.--In any health care lawsuit, if an award of future \ndamages, without reduction to present value, equaling or exceeding \n$50,000 is made against a party with sufficient insurance or other \nassets to fund a periodic payment of such a judgment, the court shall, \nat the request of any party, enter a judgment ordering that the future \ndamages be paid by periodic payments in accordance with the Uniform \nPeriodic Payment of Judgments Act promulgated by the National \nConference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.\n (b) Applicability.--This section applies to all actions which have \nnot been first set for trial or retrial before the effective date of \nthis Act.\n\nSEC. 10. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.\n\n (a) Vaccine Injury.--\n (1) In general.--To the extent that title XXI of the Public \n Health Service Act establishes a Federal rule of law applicable \n to a civil action brought for a vaccine-related injury or \n death--\n (A) this Act shall not affect the application of \n the rule of law to such an action; and\n (B) any rule of law prescribed by this Act in \n conflict with a rule of law of such title XXI shall not \n apply to such action.\n (2) Exception.--If there is an aspect of a civil action \n brought for a vaccine-related injury or death to which a \n Federal rule of law under title XXI of the Public Health \n Service Act does not apply, then this Act or otherwise \n applicable law (as determined under this Act) will apply to \n such aspect of such action.\n (b) Other Federal Law.--Except as provided in this section, nothing \nin this Act shall be deemed to affect any defense available to a \ndefendant in a health care lawsuit or action under any other provision \nof Federal law.\n\nSEC. 11. STATE FLEXIBILITY AND PROTECTION OF STATES' RIGHTS.\n\n (a) HEALTH Care Lawsuits.--The provisions governing health care \nlawsuits set forth in this Act shall preempt, subject to subsections \n(b) and (c), State law to the extent that State law prevents the \napplication of any provisions of law established by or under this Act. \nThe provisions governing health care lawsuits set forth in this Act \nsupersede chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to the extent \nthat such chapter--\n (1) provides for a greater amount of damages or contingent \n fees, a longer period in which a health care lawsuit may be \n commenced, or a reduced applicability or scope of periodic \n payment of future damages, than provided in this Act; or\n (2) prohibits the introduction of evidence regarding \n collateral source benefits.\n (b) Preemption of Certain State Laws.--The provisions of this Act \nshall preempt any constitutional provision, statute, or rule of State \nlaw, whether enacted prior to, on, or after the date of enactment of \nthis Act, that--\n (1) prohibits the application of any limitation on the \n amount of compensatory, punitive, or total damages in a health \n care lawsuit; or\n (2) provides for a greater amount of compensatory, \n punitive, or total damages in a health care lawsuit than those \n provided for under this Act.\n (c) Protection of State's Rights and Other Laws.--\n (1) In general.--Any issue that is not governed by a \n provision of law established by or under this Act (including \n the State standards of negligence) shall be governed by \n otherwise applicable Federal or State law.\n (2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be \n construed to--\n (A) preempt or supersede any Federal or State law \n that imposes greater procedural or substantive \n protections (such as a shorter statute of limitations) \n for a health care provider, health care organization, \n or the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, marketer, \n promoter, or seller of a medical product from \n liability, loss, or damages than those provided by this \n Act;\n (B) create a cause of action that is not otherwise \n available under Federal or State law; or\n (C) affect the scope of preemption of any other \n Federal law.\n\nSEC. 12. APPLICABILITY; EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act shall apply to any health care lawsuit brought in a \nFederal or State court, or subject to an alternative dispute resolution \nsystem, that is initiated on or after the date of the enactment of this \nAct, except that any health care lawsuit arising from an injury \noccurring prior to the date of enactment of this Act shall be governed \nby the applicable statute of limitations provisions in effect at the \ntime the injury occurred.", "summary": "Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare Act of 2005 or the HEALTH Act of 2005 - Sets forth provisions regulating lawsuits for health care liability claims concerning the provisions of health care goods or services or any medical product affecting interstate commerce.\n\nSets a statute of limitations of three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers the injury, with certain exceptions.\n\nProvides that nothing in this Act limits recovery of the full amount of available economic damages. Limits noneconomic damages to $250,000. Makes each party liable only for the amount of damages directly proportional to such party's percentage of responsibility.\n\nAllows the court to restrict the payment of attorney contingency fees. Limits the fees to a decreasing percentage based on the increasing value of the amount awarded.\n\nPrescribes qualifications for expert witnesses.\n\nRequires the court to reduce damages received by the amount of collateral source benefits to which a claimant is entitled, unless the payor of such benefits has the right to reimbursement or subrogation under Federal or State law.\n\nAuthorizes the award of punitive damages only where: (1) it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that a person acted with malicious intent to injure the claimant or deliberately failed to avoid unnecessary injury such person knew the claimant was substantially certain to suffer; and (2) compensatory damages are awarded. Limits punitive damages to the greater of two times the amount of economic damages or $250,000.\n\n Prohibits a health care provider from being named as a party in a product liability or class action lawsuit for prescribing or dispensing an Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prescription drug or device.\n\n Provides for periodic payments of future damage awards.", "title": "A bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 532, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Border Smog Reduction Act of 1998''.\n\nSEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF CLEAN AIR ACT.\n\n Section 183 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7511b) is amended by \nadding at the end the following:\n ``(h) Vehicles Entering Ozone Nonattainment Areas.--\n ``(1) Authority regarding ozone inspection and maintenance \n testing.--\n ``(A) In general.--No noncommercial motor vehicle \n registered in a foreign country and operated by a United States \n citizen or by an alien who is a permanent resident of the \n United States, or who holds a visa for the purposes of \n employment or educational study in the United States, may enter \n a covered ozone nonattainment area from a foreign country \n bordering the United States and contiguous to the nonattainment \n area more than twice in a single calendar-month period, if \n State law has requirements for the inspection and maintenance \n of such vehicles under the applicable implementation plan in \n the nonattainment area.\n ``(B) Applicability.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if \n the operator presents documentation at the United States border \n entry point establishing that the vehicle has complied with \n such inspection and maintenance requirements as are in effect \n and are applicable to motor vehicles of the same type and model \n year.\n ``(2) Sanctions for violations.--The President may impose and \n collect from the operator of any motor vehicle who violates, or \n attempts to violate, paragraph (1) a civil penalty of not more than \n $200 for the second violation or attempted violation and $400 for \n the third and each subsequent violation or attempted violation.\n ``(3) State election.--The prohibition set forth in paragraph \n (1) shall not apply in any State that elects to be exempt from the \n prohibition. Such an election shall take effect upon the \n President's receipt of written notice from the Governor of the \n State notifying the President of such election.\n ``(4) Alternative approach.--The prohibition set forth in \n paragraph (1) shall not apply in a State, and the President may \n implement an alternative approach, if--\n ``(A) the Governor of the State submits to the President a \n written description of an alternative approach to facilitate \n the compliance, by some or all foreign-registered motor \n vehicles, with the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance \n requirements that are--\n ``(i) related to emissions of air pollutants;\n ``(ii) in effect under the applicable implementation \n plan in the covered ozone nonattainment area; and\n ``(iii) applicable to motor vehicles of the same types \n and model years as the foreign-registered motor vehicles; \n and\n ``(B) the President approves the alternative approach as \n facilitating compliance with the motor vehicle inspection and \n maintenance requirements referred to in subparagraph (A).\n ``(5) Definition of covered ozone nonattainment area.--In this \n section, the term `covered ozone nonattainment area' means a \n Serious Area, as classified under section 181 as of the date of the \n enactment of this subsection.''.\n\nSEC. 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--The amendment made by section 2 takes effect 180 \ndays after the date of the enactment of this Act. Nothing in that \namendment shall require action that is inconsistent with the \nobligations of the United States under any international agreement.\n (b) Information.--As soon as practicable after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the appropriate agency of the United States \nshall distribute information to publicize the prohibition set forth in \nthe amendment made by section 2.\n\nSEC. 4. STUDY BY GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE.\n\n (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall \nconduct a study of the impact of the amendment made by section 2.\n (b) Contents of Study.--The study under subsection (a) shall \ncompare--\n (1) the potential impact of the amendment made by section 2 on \n air quality in ozone nonattainment areas affected by the amendment; \n with\n (2) the impact on air quality in those areas caused by the \n increase in the number of vehicles engaged in commerce operating in \n the United States and registered in, or operated from, Mexico, as a \n result of the implementation of the North American Free Trade \n Agreement.\n (c) Report.--Not later than July 1, 1999, the Comptroller General \nof the United States shall submit to the Committee on Commerce of the \nHouse of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public \nWorks of the Senate a report describing the findings of the study under \nsubsection (a).\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "Border Smog Reduction Act of 1998 - Amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit noncommercial motor vehicles registered in a foreign country and operated by U.S. citizens, aliens who are permanent residents, or holders of employment or educational visas from entering a Serious ozone nonattainment area from a foreign country bordering the United States and contiguous to such area more than twice in a single calendar-month period if State law has requirements for the inspection and maintenance of such vehicles in such an area. Makes such prohibition inapplicable to operators who present documentation at the border entry point establishing the vehicle's compliance with such requirements. \nAuthorizes civil penalties to be imposed for violation of such prohibition. Makes such prohibition inapplicable in States which elect to be exempt. Makes such prohibition inapplicable in a State and authorizes the President to implement an alternative approach if: (1) a State Governor submits a description of an alternative approach to facilitate compliance by foreign-registered vehicles with inspection and maintenance requirements that are related to air pollutant emissions, that are in effect under the implementation plan in the area, and that apply to vehicles of the same types and model years as the foreign-registered vehicles; and (2) the President approves such approach. \nRequires the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on a comparison of the potential impact of this Act on air quality in ozone nonattainment areas with the impact in those areas of the increase in vehicles engaged in commerce operating in the United States and registered in, or operated from, Mexico, as a result of the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.", "title": "Border Smog Reduction Act of 1998"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2461, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Teaching Children to Save Lives Act \nof 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the \n United States.\n (2) Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in \n young athletes.\n (3) Sudden cardiac arrest kills an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 \n children and young people per year--nearly 20 per day.\n (4) The American Heart Association estimates that the lives \n of 40,000 cardiac arrest victims could be saved each year \n through initiating a course of action known as the chain of \n survival.\n (5) The chain of survival includes prompt notification of \n emergency services and early cardiopulmonary resuscitation \n (hereinafter referred to as ``CPR''), defibrillation, and \n advanced cardiac life support.\n (6) Only 36 States have a law or curriculum standard \n encouraging CPR or automated external defibrillator \n (hereinafter referred to as ``AED'') training in schools.\n (7) A person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest has a 90 \n percent chance of survival if CPR and an AED is used within the \n first minute after collapse.\n (8) Over 64 percent of young athletes and others have \n survived sudden cardiac arrest that occurred in a high school \n with an AED program.\n (9) An important part of school children's education is \n learning healthy behaviors, including proper nutrition and \n physical activity. This health education should also include \n basic emergency life-saving skills.\n (10) Teaching school children to perform the life-saving \n skill of CPR, identify and respond to choking victims, and \n recognize the signs of stroke and heart attack can improve \n their confidence in responding to an emergency and encourage \n continued efforts to update these skills after graduation, \n thereby potentially reducing the rate of death from sudden \n cardiac arrest, choking, and stroke.\n\nSEC. 3. GRANTS FOR CPR TRAINING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.\n\n (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education shall carry out \na program under which the Secretary is authorized to award grants to \neligible local educational agencies or targeted schools for \nimplementing nationally recognized CPR and AED training courses.\n (b) Use of Funds.--A local educational agency or targeted school \nunder this Act may use the grant for--\n (1) training individuals in CPR and AED skills and \n instruction;\n (2) obtaining printed informational or instructional \n materials;\n (3) obtaining manikins;\n (4) obtaining AED training devices; and\n (5) obtaining other equipment as determined appropriate by \n the Secretary.\n (c) Grant Eligibility.--\n (1) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under \n this section, a local educational agency or targeted school \n shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in \n such manner, and containing such information and certifications \n as the Secretary may reasonably require.\n (2) AED training devices.--To be eligible to use the grant \n to obtain an AED training device, a local agency or targeted \n school shall demonstrate to the Secretary that such agency or \n school has implemented or intends to implement an AED training \n program in conjunction with a CPR training program as of the \n date of the submission of the application for the grant.\n (d) Priority of Award.--In awarding grants under this section, the \nSecretary shall award such grants based on 1 or more of following \npriorities:\n (1) Demonstrated need for initiating a CPR or AED training \n program in a targeted school or community served by targeted \n schools.\n (2) Demonstrated need for continued support of an existing \n CPR or AED training programs in targeted schools or communities \n served by targeted schools.\n (3) Demonstrated need for expanding an existing CPR or AED \n training program by adding training in the use of an AED.\n (4) Opportunities to encourage and foster partnerships with \n and among community organizations, including emergency medical \n service providers, fire and police departments, nonprofit \n organizations, public health organizations, and parent-teacher \n associations to aid in providing CPR or AED training.\n (5) Options to maximize the use of funds provided under \n this section.\n (e) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which \nfunds are first appropriated to carry out the program, the Secretary \nshall submit a report to Congress describing--\n (1) grant amounts and recipients;\n (2) how the funds were used; and\n (3) the impact of the funds on the development of CPR and \n AED training programs in schools implementing the grants.\n (f) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Targeted school.--The term ``targeted school'' means a \n public elementary school or secondary school that provides \n education to students in any of grades 6 through 12.\n (2) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational \n agency'' has the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the \n Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n 7801).\n\nSEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act \n$25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2012 through 2017.", "summary": "Teaching Children to Save Lives Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to local educational agencies or public elementary or secondary schools to implement nationally recognized cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training courses.\n\nAllows a grant to be used to purchase an AED training device if the grantee implements or has implemented an AED training program in conjunction with a CPR training program.", "title": "To direct the Secretary of Education to establish a program to provide grants for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training in public elementary and secondary schools."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1432, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Fair Elections Act of 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Voting participation in the United States is lower than \n in any other advanced industrialized democracy.\n (2) The rights of eligible citizens to seek election to \n office, vote for candidates of their choice and associate for \n the purpose of taking part in elections, including the right to \n create and develop new political parties, are fundamental in a \n democracy. The rights of citizens to participate in the \n election process, provided in and derived from the first and \n fourteenth amendments to the Constitution, having consistently \n been promoted and protected by the Federal Government. These \n rights include the right to cast an effective vote and the \n right to associate for the advancement of political beliefs, \n which includes the ``constitutional right . . . to create and \n develop new political parties.'' Norman v. Reed, 502 \n U.S.______, 112 S.Ct. 699 (1992). It is the duty of the Federal \n Government to see that these rights are not impaired in \n elections for Federal office.\n (3) Certain restrictions on access to the ballot impair the \n ability of citizens to exercise these rights and have a direct \n and damaging effect on citizens' participation in the electoral \n process.\n (4) Many States unduly restrict access to the ballot by \n nonmajor party candidates and nonmajor political parties by \n means of such devices as excessive petition signature \n requirements, insufficient petitioning periods, \n unconstitutionally early petition filing deadlines, petition \n signature distribution criteria, discriminatory petition \n signature fees, and limitations on eligibility to circulate and \n sign petitions.\n (5) Many States require political parties to poll an unduly \n high number of votes or to register an unduly high number of \n voters as a precondition for remaining on the ballot.\n (6) In 1983, the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional an \n Ohio law requiring a nonmajor party candidate for President to \n qualify for the general election ballot earlier than major \n party candidates. This Supreme Court decision, Anderson v. \n Celebrezze, 460 U.S. 780 (1983) has been followed by many lower \n courts in challenges by nonmajor parties and candidates to \n early petition filing deadlines. See, e.g., Stoddard v. Quinn, \n 593 F. Supp. 300 (D.Me. 1984); Cripps v. Seneca County Board of \n Elections, 629 F. Supp. 1335 (N.D.Oh. 1985); Libertarian Party \n of Nevada v. Swackhamer, 638 F. Supp. 565 (D. Nev. 1986); \n Cromer v. State of South Carolina, 917 F.2d 819 (4th Cir. \n 1990); New Alliance Party of Alabama v. Hand, 933 F. 2d 1568 \n (11th Cir. 1991).\n (7) In 1992, 26 States still required nonmajor party \n candidates for President to qualify for the ballot before the \n second major party national convention (California, Colorado, \n Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, \n Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North \n Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, \n Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, \n West Virginia). Nine of these States required nonmajor party \n candidates to qualify before the first major party national \n convention (Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, \n North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas).\n (8) In 1992, nonmajor party candidates for President had to \n obtain 806,401 petition signatures to be listed on the ballots \n of all 50 States and the District of Columbia--32 times more \n signatures than the 25,500 required of Democratic Party \n candidates and 15 times more signatures than the 54,250 \n required of Republican Party candidates. To be listed on the \n ballot in all 50 States and the District of Columbia with a \n party label, nonmajor party candidates for President had to \n obtain approximately 649,092 petition signatures and 79,136 \n registrants. In 1992, 32 of the 41 States that held \n Presidential primaries required no signatures of major party \n candidates for President (Arkansas, California, Colorado, \n Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, \n Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, \n Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, \n North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, \n South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, \n Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin). Only two States required \n no signatures of nonmajor party candidates for President \n (Arkansas and Louisiana; Louisiana, however, requires a $500 \n filing fee).\n (9) The number of petition signatures required by the \n States to list a major party candidate for Senate on the ballot \n in 1992 ranged from zero to 15,111. The number of petition \n signatures required to list a nonmajor party candidate for \n Senate ranged from zero to 180,935. Thirty-one States required \n no signatures of major party candidates for Senate (Alabama, \n Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, \n Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, \n Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, \n Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, \n Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West \n Virginia, Wyoming). Only one State required no signatures of \n nonmajor party candidates for Senate, provided they were \n willing to be listed on the ballot without a party label \n (Louisiana, although a $600 filing fee is required, and to run \n with a party label, a candidate must register 106,146 voters \n into his or her party).\n (10) The number of petition signatures required by the \n States to list a major party candidate for Congress on the \n ballot in 1992 ranged from zero to 2,000. The number of \n petition signatures required to list a nonmajor party candidate \n for Congress ranged from zero to 12,252. Thirty-one States \n required no signatures of major party candidates for Congress \n (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, \n Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, \n Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, \n Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, \n Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, \n Wyoming). Only one State required no signatures of nonmajor \n party candidates for Congress, provided they were willing to be \n listed on the ballot without a party label (Louisiana, although \n a $600 filing fee is required).\n (11) Eight States required additional signatures to list a \n nonmajor party candidate for President on the ballot with a \n party label (Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, North \n Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee). Thirteen States required additional \n signatures to list a nonmajor party candidate for Senate or \n Congress on the ballot with a party label (Alabama, Arizona, \n Arkansas, California, Idaho, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, North \n Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee). Two of these States \n (Ohio and Tennessee, respectively) required 5,000 signatures \n and 25 signatures, respectively, to list a nonmajor party \n candidate for President or Senate on the ballot in 1992, but \n required 34,777 signatures and 19,759 signatures, respectively, \n to list the candidate on the ballot with her or his party \n label. One State (California) required a nonmajor party to have \n 78,992 registrants in order to have its candidate for President \n listed on the ballot with a party label.\n (12) In 1992 one State (Arizona) required nonmajor party \n candidates for President or Senate to obtain 10,555 signatures \n in 10 days, but allowed major party candidates for Senate 45 \n days to obtain approximately half that number of signatures, \n and required no signatures of major party candidates for \n President. Another State (California) required nonmajor party \n candidates for President or Senate to obtain 134,781 signatures \n in 105 days, but required major party candidates for Senate to \n obtain only 65 signatures in 105 days, and required no \n signatures of major party candidates for President. Another \n State (Texas) required nonmajor party candidates for President \n or Senate to obtain 38,900 signatures in 75 days, and required \n no signatures of major party candidates for President or \n Senate.\n (13) Two States required all nonmajor party candidates to \n pay fees of ten and five cents per petition signature, while \n requiring no fees or signatures of major party candidates \n (Florida and North Carolina, respectively).\n (14) Seven States require nonmajor party candidates for \n President or Senate to collect a certain number or percentage \n of their petition signatures in each congressional district or \n in a specified number of congressional districts (Michigan, \n Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, \n Virginia). Only three of these States impose a like requirement \n on major party candidates for President or Senate (Michigan, \n New York, Virginia).\n (15) Twenty States restrict the circulation of petitions \n for nonmajor party candidates to residents of those States \n (California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, \n Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, \n New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, \n Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin). Three States restrict the \n circulation of petitions for nonmajor party candidates to the \n county or congressional district where the circulator lives \n (Kansas, Nebraska, Virginia).\n (16) Four States prohibit people who voted in a primary \n election from signing petitions for nonmajor party candidates \n (Nebraska, New York, Texas, West Virginia). Twelve States \n restrict the signing of petitions to people who indicate intent \n to support or vote for the candidate or party (California, \n Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New \n York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Utah). Five of these 12 \n States require no petitions of major party candidates \n (Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah), and only \n one of the six remaining States restricts the signing of \n petitions for major party candidates to people who indicate \n intent to support or vote for the candidate or party (New \n Jersey).\n (17) Restrictions on the ability of citizens to exercise \n the rights identified in this subsection have \n disproportionately impaired participation in the electoral \n process by various groups, including racial minorities.\n (18) The establishment of fair and uniform national \n standards for access to the ballot in elections for Federal \n office would remove barriers to the participation of citizens \n in the electoral process and thereby facilitate such \n participation and maximize the rights identified in this \n subsection.\n (19) The Congress has authority, under the provisions of \n the Constitution of the United States in sections 4 and 8 of \n article I, section 1 of article II, article VI, the thirteenth, \n fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments, and other provisions of \n the Constitution of the United States, to protect and promote \n the exercise of the rights identified in this subsection.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--\n (1) to establish fair and uniform standards regulating \n access to the ballot by eligible citizens who desire to seek \n election to Federal office and political parties, bodies, and \n groups which desire to take part in elections for Federal \n office; and\n (2) to maximize the participation of eligible citizens in \n elections for Federal office.\n\nSEC. 3. BALLOT ACCESS RIGHTS.\n\n (a) An individual shall have the right to be placed as a candidate \non, or to have such individual's political party, body, or group \naffiliation in connection with such candidacy placed on, a ballot or \nsimilar voting materials to be used in a Federal election, if such \nindividual presents a petition stating in substance that the \nsignatories desire such individual's name and political party, body or \ngroup affiliation, if any, to be placed on the ballot or other similar \nvoting materials to be used in the Federal election with respect to \nwhich such rights are to be exercised, and\n (1) with respect to a Federal election for the office of \n President, Vice President, or Senator, such petition has a \n number of signatures of persons qualified to vote for such \n office equal to one-tenth of one percent of the number of \n persons who voted in the most recent previous Federal election \n for such office in the State, or 1,000 signatures, whichever is \n greater;\n (2) with respect to a Federal election for the office of \n Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the \n Congress, such petition has a number of signatures of persons \n qualified to vote for such office equal to one-half of one \n percent of the number of persons who voted in the most recent \n previous Federal election for such office, or, if there was no \n previous Federal election for such office, 1,000 signatures;\n (3) with respect to a Federal election the date of which \n was fixed 345 or more days in advance, such petition was \n circulated during a period beginning on the 345th day and \n ending on the 75th day before the date of the election;\n (4) with respect to a Federal election the date of which \n was fixed less than 345 days in advance, such petition was \n circulated during a period established by the State holding the \n election, or, if no such period was established, during a \n period beginning on the day after the date the election was \n scheduled and ending on the tenth day before the date of the \n election, provided, however, that the number of signatures \n required under paragraph (1) or (2) shall be reduced by \\1/\n 270\\th for each day less than 270 in such period.\n (b) An individual shall have the right to be placed as a candidate \non, or to have such individual's political party, body, or group \naffiliation in connection with such candidacy placed on, a ballot or \nsimilar voting materials to be used in a Federal election, without \nhaving to satisfy any requirement relating to a petition under \nsubsection (a), if that or another individual, as a candidate of that \npolitical party, body, or group, received one percent of the votes cast \nin the most recent general Federal election for President or Senator in \nthat State.\n\nSEC. 4. RULEMAKING.\n\n The Attorney General shall make rules to carry out this Act.\n\nSEC. 5. GENERAL DEFINITIONS.\n\n As used in this Act--\n (1) the term ``Federal election'' means a general or \n special election for the office of--\n (A) President or Vice President;\n (B) Senator; or\n (C) Representative in, or Delegate or Resident \n Commissioner to, the Congress;\n (2) the term ``State'' means a State of the United States, \n the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and \n any other territory or possession of the United States; and\n (3) the term ``individual'' means an individual who has the \n qualifications required by law of a person who holds the office \n for which such individual seeks to be a candidate.", "summary": "Fair Elections Act of 1993 - Sets forth ballot access rights for Federal elections.", "title": "Fair Elections Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 321, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Aviation Disaster Family Assistance \nAct of 1996''.\n\nSEC. 2. ASSISTANCE BY NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD TO FAMILIES \n OF PASSENGERS INVOLVED IN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS.\n\n (a) Authority To Provide Assistance.--\n (1) In general.--Subchapter III of chapter 11 of title 49, \n United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the \n following:\n``Sec. 1136. Assistance to families of passengers involved in aircraft \n accidents\n ``(a) In General.--As soon as practicable after being notified of \nan aircraft accident within the United States involving an air carrier \nor foreign air carrier and resulting in a major loss of life, the \nChairman of the National Transportation Safety Board shall--\n ``(1) designate and publicize the name and phone number of \n a director of family support services who shall be an employee \n of the Board and shall be responsible for acting as a point of \n contact within the Federal Government for the families of \n passengers involved in the accident and a liaison between the \n air carrier or foreign air carrier and the families; and\n ``(2) designate an independent nonprofit organization, with \n experience in disasters and posttrauma communication with \n families, which shall have primary responsibility for \n coordinating the emotional care and support of the families of \n passengers involved in the accident.\n ``(b) Responsibilities of the Board.--The Board shall have primary \nFederal responsibility for facilitating the recovery and identification \nof fatally-injured passengers involved in an accident described in \nsubsection (a).\n ``(c) Responsibilities of Designated Organization.--The \norganization designated for an accident under subsection (a)(2) shall \nhave the following responsibilities with respect to the families of \npassengers involved in the accident:\n ``(1) To provide mental health and counseling services, in \n coordination with the disaster response team of the air carrier \n or foreign air carrier involved.\n ``(2) To take such actions as may be necessary to provide \n an environment in which the families may grieve in private.\n ``(3) To meet with the families who have traveled to the \n location of the accident, to contact the families unable to \n travel to such location, and to contact all affected families \n periodically thereafter until such time as the organization, in \n consultation with the director of family support services \n designated for the accident under subsection (a)(1), determines \n that further assistance is no longer needed.\n ``(4) To communicate with the families as to the roles of \n the organization, government agencies, and the air carrier or \n foreign air carrier involved with respect to the accident and \n the post-accident activities.\n ``(5) To arrange a suitable memorial service, in \n consultation with the families.\n ``(d) Passenger Lists.--\n ``(1) Requests for passenger lists.--\n ``(A) Requests by director of family support \n services.--It shall be the responsibility of the \n director of family support services designated for an \n accident under subsection (a)(1) to request, as soon as \n practicable, from the air carrier or foreign air \n carrier involved in the accident a list, which is based \n on the best available information at the time of the \n request, of the names of the passengers that were \n aboard the aircraft involved in the accident.\n ``(B) Requests by designated organization.--The \n organization designated for an accident under \n subsection (a)(2) may request from the air carrier or \n foreign air carrier involved in the accident a list \n described in subparagraph (A).\n ``(2) Use of information.--The director of family support \n services and the organization may not release to any person \n information on a list obtained under paragraph (1) but may \n provide information on the list about a passenger to the family \n of the passenger to the extent that the director of family \n support services or the organization considers appropriate.\n ``(e) Continuing Responsibilities of the Board.--In the course of \nits investigation of an accident described in subsection (a), the Board \nshall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the families of \npassengers involved in the accident--\n ``(1) are briefed, prior to any public briefing, about the \n accident, its causes, and any other findings from the \n investigation; and\n ``(2) are individually informed of and allowed to attend \n any public hearings and meetings of the Board about the \n accident.\n ``(f) Use of Air Carrier Resources.--To the extent practicable, the \norganization designated for an accident under subsection (a)(2) shall \ncoordinate its activities with the air carrier or foreign air carrier \ninvolved in the accident so that the resources of the carrier can be \nused to the greatest extent possible to carry out the organization's \nresponsibilities under this section.\n ``(g) Prohibited Actions.--\n ``(1) Actions to impede the board.--No person (including a \n State or political subdivision) may impede the ability of the \n Board (including the director of family support services \n designated for an accident under subsection (a)(1)), or an \n organization designated for an accident under subsection \n (a)(2), to carry out its responsibilities under this section or \n the ability of the families of passengers involved in the \n accident to have contact with one another.\n ``(2) Unsolicited communications.--In the event of an \n accident involving an air carrier providing interstate or \n foreign air transportation, no unsolicited communication \n concerning a potential action for personal injury or wrongful \n death may be made by an attorney, representative of an \n attorney, insurance company, or air carrier litigation \n representative to an individual injured in the accident, or to \n a relative of an individual involved in the accident, before \n the 30th day following the date of the accident.\n ``(h) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions \napply:\n ``(1) Aircraft accident.--The term `aircraft accident' \n means any aviation disaster regardless of its cause or \n suspected cause.\n ``(2) Passenger.--The term `passenger' includes an employee \n of an air carrier aboard an aircraft.''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for \n chapter 11 of such title is amended by inserting after the item \n relating to section 1135 the following:\n\n``1136. Assistance to families of passengers involved in aircraft \n accidents.''.\n (b) Penalties.--Section 1155(a)(1) of such title is amended--\n (1) by striking ``or 1134(b) or (f)(1)'' and inserting ``, \n section 1134(b), section 1134(f)(1), or section 1136(g)''; and\n (2) by striking ``either of'' and inserting ``any of''.\n\nSEC. 3. AIR CARRIER PLANS TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS \n INVOLVED IN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 411 of title 49, United States Code, is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n``Sec. 41113. Plans to address needs of families of passengers involved \n in aircraft accidents\n ``(a) Submission of Plans.--Not later than 6 months after the date \nof the enactment of this section, each air carrier holding a \ncertificate of public convenience and necessity under section 41102 of \nthis title shall submit to the Secretary and the Chairman of the \nNational Transportation Safety Board a plan for addressing the needs of \nthe families of passengers involved in any aircraft accident involving \nan aircraft of the air carrier and resulting in a major loss of life.\n ``(b) Contents of Plans.--A plan to be submitted by an air carrier \nunder subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:\n ``(1) A plan for publicizing a reliable, toll-free \n telephone number, and for providing staff, to handle calls from \n the families of the passengers.\n ``(2) A process for notifying the families of the \n passengers, before providing any public notice of the names of \n the passengers, either by utilizing the services of the \n organization designated for the accident under section \n 1136(a)(2) of this title or the services of other suitably \n trained individuals.\n ``(3) An assurance that the notice described in paragraph \n (2) will be provided to the family of a passenger as soon as \n the air carrier has verified that the passenger was aboard the \n aircraft (whether or not the names of all of the passengers \n have been verified) and, to the extent practicable, in person.\n ``(4) An assurance that the air carrier will provide to the \n director of family support services designated for the accident \n under section 1136(a)(1) of this title, and to the organization \n designated for the accident under section 1136(a)(2) of this \n title, immediately upon request, a list (which is based on the \n best available information at the time of the request) of the \n names of the passengers aboard the aircraft (whether or not \n such names have been verified), and will periodically update \n the list.\n ``(5) An assurance that the family of each passenger will \n be consulted about the disposition of all remains and personal \n effects of the passenger.\n ``(6) An assurance that if requested by the family of a \n passenger, any possession of the passenger within the control \n of the air carrier (regardless of its condition) will be \n returned to the family unless the possession is needed for the \n accident investigation or any criminal investigation.\n ``(7) An assurance that any unclaimed possession of a \n passenger within the control of the air carrier will be \n retained by the air carrier for at least 18 months.\n ``(8) An assurance that the family of each passenger will \n be consulted about construction by the air carrier of any \n monument to the passengers, including any inscription on the \n monument.\n ``(9) An assurance that the treatment of the families of \n nonrevenue passengers (and any other victim of the accident) \n will be the same as the treatment of the families of revenue \n passengers.\n ``(10) An assurance that the air carrier will work with any \n organization designated under section 1136(a)(2) of this title \n on an ongoing basis to ensure that families of passengers \n receive an appropriate level of services and assistance \n following each accident.\n ``(11) An assurance that the air carrier will provide \n reasonable compensation to any organization designated under \n section 1136(a)(2) of this title for services provided by the \n organization.\n ``(12) An assurance that the air carrier will assist the \n family of a passenger in traveling to the location of the \n accident and provide for the physical care of the family while \n the family is staying at such location.\n ``(13) An assurance that the air carrier will commit \n sufficient resources to carry out the plan.\n ``(c) Certificate Requirement.--After the date that is 6 months \nafter the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary may not \napprove an application for a certificate of public convenience and \nnecessity under section 41102 of this title unless the applicant has \nincluded as part of such application a plan that meets the requirements \nof subsection (b).\n ``(d) Limitation on Liability.--An air carrier shall not be liable \nfor damages in any action brought in a Federal or State court arising \nout of the performance of the air carrier in preparing or providing a \npassenger list pursuant to a plan submitted by the air carrier under \nsubsection (b), unless such liability was caused by conduct of the air \ncarrier which was grossly negligent or which constituted intentional \nmisconduct.\n ``(e) Aircraft Accident and Passenger Defined.--In this section, \nthe terms `aircraft accident' and `passenger' have the meanings such \nterms have in section 1136 of this title.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for such chapter \nis amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``41113. Plans to address needs of families of passengers involved in \n aircraft accidents.''.\n\nSEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation, in cooperation \nwith the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Emergency \nManagement Agency, the American Red Cross, air carriers, and families \nwhich have been involved in aircraft accidents shall establish a task \nforce consisting of representatives of such entities and families, \nrepresentatives of air carrier employees, and representatives of such \nother entities as the Secretary considers appropriate.\n (b) Model Plan and Recommendations.--The task force established \npursuant to subsection (a) shall develop--\n (1) a model plan to assist air carriers in responding to \n aircraft accidents;\n (2) recommendations on methods to ensure that attorneys and \n representatives of media organizations do not intrude on the \n privacy of families of passengers involved in an aircraft \n accident;\n (3) recommendations on methods to ensure that the families \n of passengers involved in an aircraft accident who are not \n citizens of the United States receive appropriate assistance;\n (4) recommendations on methods to ensure that State mental \n health licensing laws do not act to prevent out-of-state mental \n health workers from working at the site of an aircraft accident \n or other related sites;\n (5) recommendations on the extent to which military experts \n and facilities can be used to aid in the identification of the \n remains of passengers involved in an aircraft accident; and\n (6) recommendations on methods to improve the timeliness of \n the notification provided by air carriers to the families of \n passengers involved in an aircraft accident, including--\n (A) an analysis of the steps that air carriers \n would have to take to ensure that an accurate list of \n passengers on board the aircraft would be available \n within 1 hour of the accident and an analysis of such \n steps to ensure that such list would be available \n within 3 hours of the accident;\n (B) an analysis of the added costs to air carriers \n and travel agents that would result if air carriers \n were required to take the steps described in \n subparagraph (A); and\n (C) an analysis of any inconvenience to passengers, \n including flight delays, that would result if air \n carriers were required to take the steps described in \n subparagraph (A).\n (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment \nof this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report \ncontaining the model plan and recommendations developed by the task \nforce under subsection (b).\n\nSEC. 5. LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.\n\n Nothing in this Act or any amendment made by this Act may be \nconstrued as limiting the actions that an air carrier may take, or the \nobligations that an air carrier may have, in providing assistance to \nthe families of passengers involved in an aircraft accident.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives September 18, 1996.\n\n Attest:\n\n ROBIN H. CARLE,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996 - Amends Federal transportation law to require the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), after an accident involving a domestic or foreign aircraft that results in a major loss of life of passengers, to: (1) designate and publicize the name and phone number of a director of family support services to be a Government liaison between the air carrier or foreign air carrier and the families of the passengers; and (2) designate an experienced, independent nonprofit organization which shall have primary responsibility for coordinating the care and support of the passengers' families. Declares that the NTSB shall have primary Federal responsibility for facilitating the recovery and identification of fatally-injured passengers involved in an aircraft accident. Prohibits: (1) any person from impeding the ability of the NTSB, or the designated organization, from carrying out its responsibilities under this Act; and (2) any unsolicited communications from being made to the families concerning potential action for personal injury or wrongful death before the 30th day following the accident. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. Requires each air carrier to submit to the Secretary of Transportation and the Chairman of NTSB a plan for addressing the needs of the passengers' families. Specifies minimum requirements for such a plan. Prohibits the Secretary from approving an air carrier's application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity unless it includes such plan in its application. Requires the Secretary to establish a task force to develop: (1) a model plan to assist air carriers in responding to aircraft accidents; (2) recommendations to the Congress on methods to ensure that attorneys and the media do not intrude on the privacy of the passengers' families; and (3) recommendations on methods with respect to assistance to non-citizens, out-of-state mental health workers at the accident site, the use of military experts and facilities in passenger remains identification, and timeliness of airline notification to families of victims.", "title": "Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 734, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Artists' Contribution to American \nHeritage Act of 1999''.\n\nSEC. 2. CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CERTAIN ITEMS CREATED BY THE \n TAXPAYER.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (e) of section 170 of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to certain contributions of ordinary \nincome and capital gain property) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new paragraph:\n ``(7) Special rule for certain contributions of literary, \n musical, or artistic compositions.--\n ``(A) In general.--In the case of a qualified \n artistic charitable contribution--\n ``(i) the amount of such contribution shall \n be the fair market value of the property \n contributed (determined at the time of such \n contribution), and\n ``(ii) no reduction in the amount of such \n contribution shall be made under paragraph (1).\n ``(B) Qualified artistic charitable contribution.--\n For purposes of this paragraph, the term `qualified \n artistic charitable contribution' means a charitable \n contribution of any literary, musical, artistic, or \n scholarly composition, or similar property, or the \n copyright thereon (or both), but only if--\n ``(i) such property was created by the \n personal efforts of the taxpayer making such \n contribution no less than 18 months prior to \n such contribution,\n ``(ii) the taxpayer--\n ``(I) has received a qualified \n appraisal of the fair market value of \n such property in accordance with the \n regulations under this section, and\n ``(II) attaches to the taxpayer's \n income tax return for the taxable year \n in which such contribution was made a \n copy of such appraisal,\n ``(iii) the donee is an organization \n described in subsection (b)(1)(A),\n ``(iv) the use of such property by the \n donee is related to the purpose or function \n constituting the basis for the donee's \n exemption under section 501 (or, in the case of \n a governmental unit, to any purpose or function \n described under subsection (c)),\n ``(v) the taxpayer receives from the donee \n a written statement representing that the \n donee's use of the property will be in \n accordance with the provisions of clause (iv), \n and\n ``(vi) the written appraisal referred to in \n clause (ii) includes evidence of the extent (if \n any) to which property created by the personal \n efforts of the taxpayer and of the same type as \n the donated property is or has been--\n ``(I) owned, maintained, and \n displayed by organizations described in \n subsection (b)(1)(A), and\n ``(II) sold to or exchanged by \n persons other than the taxpayer, donee, \n or any related person (as defined in \n section 465(b)(3)(C)).\n ``(C) Maximum dollar limitation; no carryover of \n increased deduction.--The increase in the deduction \n under this section by reason of this paragraph for any \n taxable year--\n ``(i) shall not exceed the artistic \n adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for such \n taxable year, and\n ``(ii) shall not be taken into account in \n determining the amount which may be carried \n from such taxable year under subsection (d).\n ``(D) Artistic adjusted gross income.--For purposes \n of this paragraph, the term `artistic adjusted gross \n income' means that portion of the adjusted gross income \n of the taxpayer for the taxable year attributable to--\n ``(i) income from the sale or use of \n property created by the personal efforts of the \n taxpayer which is of the same type as the \n donated property, and\n ``(ii) income from teaching, lecturing, \n performing, or similar activity with respect to \n property described in clause (i).\n ``(E) Paragraph not to apply to certain \n contributions.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any \n charitable contribution of any letter, memorandum, or \n similar property which was written, prepared, or \n produced by or for an individual while the individual \n is an officer or employee of any person (including any \n government agency or instrumentality) unless such \n letter, memorandum, or similar property is entirely \n personal.\n ``(F) Copyright treated as separate property for \n partial interest rule.--In the case of a qualified \n artistic charitable contribution, the tangible \n literary, musical, artistic, or scholarly composition, \n or similar property and the copyright on such work \n shall be treated as separate properties for purposes of \n this paragraph and subsection (f)(3).''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto contributions made after the date of the enactment of this Act in \ntaxable years ending after such date.", "summary": "Limits such increased deduction to the donor's artistic adjusted income (as defined by this Act)..", "title": "Artists' Contribution to American Heritage Act of 1999"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2542, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Entrepreneur-in-Residence \nAct of 2012''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act--\n (1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of \n the Small Business Administration;\n (2) the term ``agency'' means an Executive agency, as \n defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code;\n (3) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office \n of Personnel Management;\n (4) the term ``entrepreneur-in-residence'' means an \n individual appointed to a position under the program;\n (5) the term ``program'' means the Federal entrepreneur-in-\n residence program established under section 3(a); and\n (6) the term ``small business concern'' has the meaning \n given that term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 \n U.S.C. 632).\n\nSEC. 3. FEDERAL ENTREPRENEUR-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Program Established.--The Director, in consultation with the \nAdministrator, shall establish a Federal entrepreneur-in-residence \nprogram under which the Director, with the concurrence of the head of \nan agency, may appoint an entrepreneur-in-residence to a position in \nthe excepted service in the agency to carry out the duties described in \nsubsection (d).\n (b) Mission of Program.--The mission of the program shall be to--\n (1) provide for better outreach by the Federal Government \n to the private sector;\n (2) strengthen coordination and interaction between the \n Federal Government and the private sector on issues relevant to \n entrepreneurs and small business concerns; and\n (3) make Federal programs simpler, quicker, more efficient, \n and more responsive to the needs of small business concerns and \n entrepreneurs.\n (c) Appointments.--\n (1) In general.--The Director--\n (A) shall appoint entrepreneurs-in-residence under \n the program during each year; and\n (B) may not appoint more than 10 entrepreneurs-in-\n residence during any year.\n (2) Selection.--The Director shall select entrepreneurs-in-\n residence from among individuals who--\n (A) are successful in their field;\n (B) have demonstrated success in working with small \n business concerns and entrepreneurs; or\n (C) have successfully developed, invented, or \n created a product and brought the product to the \n marketplace.\n (3) Placement.--In appointing entrepreneurs-in-residence, \n the Director shall--\n (A) give priority to placing entrepreneurs-in-\n residence across the Federal Government at separate \n agencies; and\n (B) to the extent practicable, not appoint more \n than 2 entrepreneurs-in-residence to positions in the \n same agency during the same year.\n (4) Terms of appointment.--An entrepreneur-in-residence--\n (A) shall be a full-time employee of the agency to \n which the entrepreneur-in-residence is appointed; and\n (B) may not serve as an entrepreneur-in-residence \n for more than a period of 2 years.\n (d) Duties.--An entrepreneur-in-residence shall--\n (1) assist Federal agencies in improving outreach to small \n business concerns and entrepreneurs;\n (2) provide recommendations to the head of the agency \n employing the entrepreneur-in-residence on inefficient or \n duplicative programs, if any, at the agency;\n (3) provide recommendations to the head of the agency \n employing the entrepreneur-in-residence on methods to improve \n program efficiency at the agency or new initiatives, if any, \n that may be instituted at the agency;\n (4) facilitate meetings and forums to educate small \n business concerns and entrepreneurs on programs or initiatives \n of the agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence;\n (5) facilitate in-service sessions with employees of the \n agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence on issues of \n concern to entrepreneurs and small business concerns; and\n (6) provide technical assistance or mentorship to small \n business concerns and entrepreneurs in accessing programs at \n the agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence.\n (e) Compensation.--\n (1) In general.--The rate of basic pay for an entrepreneur-\n in-residence shall be equivalent to the rate of basic pay for a \n position at GS-13, GS-14, or GS-15 of the General Schedule, \n which shall be determined in accordance with regulations \n promulgated by the Director.\n (2) Promotion.--If an entrepreneur-in-residence with a rate \n of pay equivalent to the rate of basic pay for a position at \n GS-13 or GS-14 satisfactorily completes 1 year of service in \n position under this section, the entrepreneur-in-residence may \n receive an increase in the rate of basic pay to be equal to the \n rate of basic pay for a position 1 grade higher on the General \n Schedule than the initial rate of basic pay of the \n entrepreneur-in-residence.\n (f) Reporting.--An entrepreneur-in-residence shall report directly \nto the head of the agency employing the entrepreneur-in-residence.\n (g) Termination.--The Director may not appoint an entrepreneur-in-\nresidence under this section after September 30, 2016.", "summary": "Federal Entrepreneur-in-Residence Act of 2012 - Directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish an entrepreneur-in-residence program to appoint in-house entrepreneurs who have demonstrated success in working with small business concerns and entrepreneurs to: (1) assist federal agencies in improving outreach to small business concerns and entrepreneurs, (2) provide recommendations on inefficient or duplicative agency programs and on methods to improve agency efficiency, (3) facilitate meetings and forums to educate small business concerns and entrepreneurs on agency programs and initiatives, and (4) provide technical assistance or mentorship. Limits to 10 the number of entrepreneurs-in-residence that the Director may appoint in any year. Terminates such program after FY2016.", "title": "A bill to establish a pilot program to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation by partnering world-class entrepreneurs with Federal agencies."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1535, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Phone Scam Prevention Act of 2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF WHITELIST SERVICES.\n\n (a) In General.--Part I of title II of the Communications Act of \n1934 (47 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n\n``SEC. 232. AVAILABILITY OF WHITELIST SERVICES.\n\n ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--\n ``(1) the term `voice service' means any service that \n furnishes voice communications to an end user using resources \n from the North American Numbering Plan or any successor plan \n adopted by the Commission under section 251(e)(1);\n ``(2) the term `exempt entity' means--\n ``(A) the Federal Government, a State, a political \n subdivision of a State, or an agency thereof; and\n ``(B) any entity with respect to which the \n Commission determines that allowing calls that \n originate from that entity to connect directly with the \n voice service customer premises equipment (commonly \n referred to as `CPE') of a subscriber would serve the \n public interest; and\n ``(3) the term `whitelist' means a list of telephone \n numbers, designated by a subscriber, for which calls \n originating from those numbers to the subscriber are permitted \n to connect directly with the voice service CPE of the \n subscriber.\n ``(b) Requirement To Offer Whitelist Service.--A provider of a \nvoice service shall offer each subscriber the option to designate a \nwhitelist, if technically feasible (as determined by the Commission on \na periodic basis).\n ``(c) Treatment of Nonapproved Telephone Numbers.--\n ``(1) In general.--If a subscriber elects to designate a \n whitelist under subsection (b), the provider of the voice \n service of the subscriber shall ensure that any call the \n provider receives for termination that is not associated with a \n telephone number on the whitelist of the subscriber or the \n telephone number of an exempt entity is processed according to \n preferences set by the subscriber with respect to the \n whitelist, including by limiting or disabling the ability of an \n incoming call to connect with the CPE of the subscriber.\n ``(2) Safe harbor.--Whitelist processing that, in \n accordance with the preferences of a subscriber, limits or \n disables connection with the CPE of a subscriber shall not be \n considered to be--\n ``(A) blocking traffic; or\n ``(B) an unjust or unreasonable practice under \n section 201 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 \n U.S.C. 201).\n ``(d) Number of Telephone Numbers on Whitelist Free of Charge.--\n ``(1) In general.--A provider of a voice service shall \n allow a subscriber (or a designated representative thereof) to \n designate not less than 10 telephone numbers to be on the \n whitelist under subsection (b), free of charge.\n ``(2) Telephone numbers of exempt entities.--The telephone \n number of an exempt entity shall not be considered to be on the \n whitelist of a subscriber for purposes of calculating the 10 \n telephone numbers that may be designated under paragraph \n (1).''.\n (b) Effective Date.--Section 232 of the Communications Act of 1934, \nas added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is 2 \nyears after the date of enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. AUTHENTICATION OF CALL ORIGINATION.\n\n Part I of title II of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 201 \net seq.), as amended by section 2, is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n\n``SEC. 233. AUTHENTICATION OF CALL ORIGINATION.\n\n ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `voice service' means \nany service that furnishes voice communications to an end user using \nresources from the North American Numbering Plan or any successor plan \nadopted by the Commission under section 251(e)(1).\n ``(b) Development of Authentication Standards by Commission.--Not \nlater than 5 years after the date of enactment of the Phone Scam \nPrevention Act of 2014, the Commission shall develop authentication \nstandards for providers of a voice service to validate the calling \nparty number and caller identification information of a call originated \nthrough a voice service so that the subscriber receiving the call may \nobtain--\n ``(1) a secure assurance of the origin of the call, \n including--\n ``(A) the calling party number; and\n ``(B) caller identification information for the \n call; or\n ``(2) notice that an assurance described in paragraph (1) \n is unavailable.\n ``(c) Adoption of Authentication Standards by Entities.--Each \nprovider of a voice service that is allocated telephone numbers from \nthe portion of the North American Numbering Plan that pertains to the \nUnited States shall adopt the authentication standards developed under \nsubsection (b).''.\n\nSEC. 4. EXPANDING AND CLARIFYING PROHIBITION ON INACCURATE CALLER ID \n INFORMATION.\n\n (a) Communications From Outside the United States.--Section \n227(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)(1)) is \namended by striking ``in connection with any telecommunications service \nor IP-enabled voice service'' and inserting ``or any person outside the \nUnited States if the recipient of the call is within the United States, \nin connection with any voice service''.\n (b) Coverage of Text Messages and Other Voice Services.--Section \n227(e)(8) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)(8)) is \namended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``telecommunications \n service or IP-enabled voice service'' and inserting ``voice \n service (including a text message sent using a text messaging \n service)'';\n (2) in the first sentence of subparagraph (B), by striking \n ``telecommunications service or IP-enabled voice service'' and \n inserting ``voice service (including a text message sent using \n a text messaging service)''; and\n (3) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the \n following:\n ``(C) Text message.--The term `text message'--\n ``(i) means a real-time or near real-time \n message consisting of text, images, sounds, or \n other information that is transmitted from or \n received by a device that is identified as the \n transmitting or receiving device by means of a \n telephone number;\n ``(ii) includes a short message service \n (commonly referred to as `SMS') message, an \n enhanced message service (commonly referred to \n as `EMS') message, and a multimedia message \n service (commonly referred to as `MMS') \n message; and\n ``(iii) does not include a real-time, 2-way \n voice or video communication.\n ``(D) Text messaging service.--The term `text \n messaging service' means a service that permits the \n transmission or receipt of a text message, including a \n service provided as part of or in connection with a \n voice service.\n ``(E) Voice service.--The term `voice service' \n means any service that furnishes voice communications \n to an end user using resources from the North American \n Numbering Plan or any successor plan adopted by the \n Commission under section 251(e)(1).''.\n (c) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed \nto modify, limit, or otherwise affect--\n (1) the authority, as of the day before the date of \n enactment of this Act, of the Federal Communications Commission \n to interpret the term ``call'' to include a text message (as \n defined under section 227(e)(8) of the Communications Act of \n 1934, as added by subsection (b)); or\n (2) any rule or order adopted by the Federal Communications \n Commission in connection with--\n (A) the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 \n (Public Law 102-243; 105 Stat. 2394) or the amendments \n made by that Act; or\n (B) the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (15 U.S.C. 7701 et \n seq.).\n (d) Regulations.--Not later than 18 months after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall \nprescribe regulations to implement the amendments made by this section.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect on the date that is 6 months after the date on which the Federal \nCommunications Commission prescribes regulations under subsection (d).", "summary": "Phone Scam Prevention Act of 2014 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require voice communications service providers to offer subscribers the option to designate a list of approved telephone numbers for which calls originating from those numbers are permitted to connect directly with the subscriber's telephone and other customer premises equipment. Requires providers to ensure that any call for termination that is not from a number on the subscriber's list is processed according to the subscriber's preferences, including by limiting or disabling the ability of an incoming call to connect with the subscriber's equipment. Exempts government and public interest calls from being subject to a subscriber's preferences. Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop authentication standards for providers to validate caller information so that subscribers may obtain secure assurances of a call's origin, including the calling party's number and identification. Extends the prohibition on the provision of inaccurate caller identification information to persons outside the United States if the recipient is within the United States. Expands the definition "caller identification information" to include text messages. Revises caller identification requirements to make standards applicable to voice communications using resources from the North American Numbering Plan (currently, the requirements apply to telecommunications or IP-enabled voice services).", "title": "Phone Scam Prevention Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1105, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Gold King Accountability and \nCompensation for Taxpayers'' or the ``Gold King ACT''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that--\n (1) on August 5, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency \n caused the release of approximately 3,000,000 gallons of \n contaminated water from the Gold King Mine into Cement Creek;\n (2) the Environmental Protection Agency takes full \n responsibility for the Gold King Mine spill;\n (3) the peer reviewer of the Corps of Engineers to the \n report of the Department of the Interior relating to the Gold \n King Mine spill expressed concerns about the independent nature \n of the report and the internal communications and decisions of \n the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the spill;\n (4) the Environmental Protection Agency should be held to \n the same standards as the private sector would be if the \n private sector caused a similar spill;\n (5) the Environmental Protection Agency should hold \n accountable those individuals responsible for the Gold King \n Mine spill; and\n (6) since response activities took place after October 31, \n 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency should reimburse \n requests for response activity expenses incurred after that \n date.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the \n Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.\n (2) Gold king mine spill.--The term ``Gold King Mine \n spill'' means the discharge on August 5, 2015, of approximately \n 3,000,000 gallons of contaminated water from the Gold King Mine \n north of Silverton, Colorado, into Cement Creek that occurred \n while contractors of the Environmental Protection Agency were \n conducting an investigation of the Gold King Mine.\n (3) Independent contractor.--The term ``independent \n contractor'' means any person, as of August 5, 2015, that--\n (A) entered into a contract with a Federal agency \n (as defined in section 2671 of title 28, United States \n Code) for goods or services relating to the Gold King \n Mine spill; and\n (B) was not an employee of the Government (as \n defined in section 2671 of title 28, United States \n Code).\n (4) Injured person.--The term ``injured person'' means a \n person that--\n (A) suffered injury resulting from the Gold King \n Mine spill; and\n (B) is--\n (i) an individual;\n (ii) an Indian tribe, tribal corporation, \n or other tribal organization;\n (iii) a corporation, business, partnership, \n company, association, insurer, county, \n township, city, State or political subdivision \n of a State, school district, ditch company, \n special district, water district, water \n company, the Animas-La Plata Operation, \n Maintenance and Replacement Association, or \n other non-Federal entity; or\n (iv) a legal representative of an \n individual or entity described in any of \n clauses (i) through (iii).\n (5) Injury.--The term ``injury'' means any damage to, or \n loss of, property, or a personal injury or death, caused by a \n negligent or wrongful act or omission of a Federal officer, \n employee, contractor, or subcontractor while acting within the \n scope of office, employment, or contract, under circumstances \n in which the Federal officer, employee, contractor, or \n subcontractor, if a private person, would be liable to the \n claimant in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction in \n which the act or omission occurred.\n\nSEC. 4. GOLD KING MINE SPILL CLAIMS PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS \n ACT.\n\n (a) Responsibilities of the Administrator.--\n (1) In general.--An injured person may bring a claim \n arising out of, or relating to, any injury resulting from the \n Gold King Mine spill under chapter 171 of title 28, United \n States Code (commonly known as the ``Federal Tort Claims Act'') \n and the Administrator shall receive, process, and pay those \n claims in accordance with this section.\n (2) Timing.--\n (A) In general.--Notwithstanding section 2675(a) of \n title 28, United States Code, not later than 90 days \n after the date on which an injured person submits to \n the Administrator a claim under this section, the \n Administrator shall award or deny the payment of the \n claim.\n (B) Partially paid claims.--In the case of a claim \n for which, as of the date of enactment of this Act, the \n Administrator has partially awarded payment to an \n injured person, the Administrator shall award the \n remaining payment not later than 60 days after that \n date of enactment.\n (C) Previously filed claims.--In the case of a \n claim for which, as of the date of enactment of this \n Act, not fewer than 90 days have passed since the date \n on which an injured person submitted to the \n Administrator a claim under this section, not later \n than 60 days after that date of enactment, the \n Administrator shall award or deny payment of the claim.\n (b) Applicability of Other Law.--\n (1) Applicability of exception.--Section 2680(a) of title \n 28, United States Code, shall not apply to claims brought under \n this section.\n (2) Independent contractors.--For purposes of a claim \n brought under this section, the definition of the term \n ``Federal agency'' under section 2671 of title 28, United \n States Code, shall be considered to include an independent \n contractor.\n (c) Allowable Damages.--\n (1) Property loss.--A claim that is paid for loss of \n property under this section may include otherwise-uncompensated \n damages resulting from the Gold King Mine spill for--\n (A) a cost resulting from lost tribal or nontribal \n subsistence from hunting, fishing, firewood gathering, \n timbering, grazing, or agricultural activities, or from \n lost use for traditional or ceremonial uses, conducted \n on land or water damaged by the Gold King Mine spill;\n (B) a cost of reforestation or revegetation on \n tribal or non-Federal land, to the extent that the cost \n of reforestation or revegetation is not covered by any \n other Federal program;\n (C) any costs borne by any injured person to \n determine the extent of--\n (i) the damages to agricultural land; or\n (ii) any other damages covered by this Act;\n (D) any costs borne by an injured person to pay for \n water supplies or equipment to treat water during the \n period for which a water supply of the injured person \n was compromised by the Gold King Mine spill; and\n (E) any other loss that the Administrator \n determines to be appropriate for inclusion as loss of \n property.\n (2) Business loss.--A claim that is paid for an injury \n under this section may include damages resulting from the Gold \n King Mine spill for the following types of otherwise-\n uncompensated business loss:\n (A) Damage to tangible assets or inventory.\n (B) Lost business income.\n (C) Overhead costs.\n (D) Employee wages for work not performed.\n (E) Any other loss that the Administrator \n determines to be appropriate for inclusion as a \n business loss.\n (3) Financial loss.--A claim that is paid for an injury \n under this section may include damages resulting from the Gold \n King Mine spill for the following types of otherwise-\n uncompensated financial loss:\n (A) An insurance deductible.\n (B) Lost wages or personal income.\n (C) Emergency staffing expenses.\n (D) Debris removal and other cleanup costs.\n (E) Any other loss that the Administrator \n determines to be appropriate for inclusion as a \n financial loss.\n (d) Recoupment for Improper Payments.--Notwithstanding any other \nprovision of law, during the 13-year period beginning on the date on \nwhich a claim is awarded under this section, the Administrator may take \nsuch action as is necessary to recover payments made under this section \nwith respect to fraudulent claims and claims made with inaccurate \ninformation.\n (e) Source of Payments.--\n (1) In general.--Any compensation or award against the \n Government made pursuant to a claim under this section shall be \n paid by the Administrator from unobligated balances in the \n appropriations accounts of the Environmental Protection Agency.\n (2) Intent of congress.--It is the intent of Congress that \n no additional funds be appropriated to carry out this Act.\n\nSEC. 5. GOLD KING MINE SPILL CLAIMS PURSUANT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE \n ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY ACT.\n\n (a) In General.--The Administrator shall, consistent with the \nnational contingency plan, receive, process, and pay under the \nComprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act \nof 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) claims related to the Gold King Mine \nspill.\n (b) Eligible Claims.--The Administrator shall receive, process, and \npay under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and \nLiability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) claims related to the \nGold King Mine spill that otherwise would be ineligible under that Act \nor the national contingency plan if the response action carried out by \nthe claimant is not inconsistent with the national contingency plan as \ndescribed in section 107 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 9607).\n (c) Timing.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on \n which an injured person submits to the Administrator a claim \n under this section, the Administrator shall award or deny the \n payment of the claim.\n (2) Partially paid claims.--In the case of a claim for \n which, as of the date of enactment of this Act, the \n Administrator has partially awarded payment to an injured \n person, the Administrator shall award the remaining payment not \n later than 60 days after that date of enactment.\n (3) Previously filed claims.--In the case of a claim for \n which, as of the date of enactment of this Act, not fewer than \n 90 days have passed since the date on which an injured person \n submitted to the Administrator a claim under this section, not \n later than 60 days after that date of enactment, the \n Administrator shall award or deny payment of the claim.\n\nSEC. 6. EFFECT OF ACT; REDUCTION IN PAYMENT.\n\n (a) Effect of Act.--This Act does not diminish the ability of the \nAdministrator to carry out the responsibilities of the Administrator \nunder any other provision of law.\n (b) Reduction in Payment.--To prevent a claimant from receiving \ntwice the damage award for the same injury or claim--\n (1) any compensation or award against the Government under \n section 4 shall be deducted from any payment awarded against \n the Government under section 5; and\n (2) any compensation or award against the Government under \n section 5 shall be deducted from any payment awarded against \n the Government under section 4.\n\nSEC. 7. WATER QUALITY PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--In response to the Gold King Mine spill, the \nAdministrator, in coordination with affected States and Indian tribes, \nshall develop and implement a program for long-term water quality \nmonitoring of the Animas River.\n (b) Requirements.--In carrying out the program described in \nsubsection (a), the Administrator shall--\n (1) collect water quality samples and sediment data;\n (2) provide the public with a means of viewing the samples \n and data referred to in paragraph (1) by, at a minimum, posting \n the information on the website of the Administrator;\n (3) take any other relevant measure necessary to assist \n affected States and Indian tribes with long-term water \n monitoring; and\n (4) carry out additional program activities, as determined \n by the Administrator.", "summary": "Gold King Accountability and Compensation for Taxpayers or the Gold King ACT This bill allows a person to bring a compensation claim for allowable damages (i.e., property, business, or financial losses) under the Federal Tort Claims Act if the claim is related to an injury resulting from the spill in Cement Creek from the Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colorado. The spill occurred on August 5, 2015. The bill prohibits certain exemptions and limitations on tort claims against the United States under the Act from applying to claims for injuries resulting from the spill. The EPA must receive, process, and pay under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 claims related to the Gold King Mine spill, including claims that otherwise would be ineligible under that Act or the national oil and hazardous substances pollution contingency plan if the response action carried out by the claimant is not inconsistent with the plan. The EPA must pay claims from unobligated balances in its accounts. The EPA must develop and implement a program for long-term water quality monitoring of the Animas River.", "title": "Gold King ACT"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 693, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``HMO Guaranty Act of 2000''.\n\nSEC. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Board of Directors \n appointed under section 3(d).\n (2) Contractual obligation.--The term ``contractual \n obligation'' means an obligation by a health maintenance \n organization, under an agreement, policy, certificate, or \n evidence of coverage involving a covered individual and the \n organization, to pay or reimburse the covered individual (or a \n health care provider who provided items or services to the \n individual) for services provided prior to the declaration of \n the insolvency of the health maintenance organization, that \n remains unpaid at the time of such insolvency. Such term does \n not include claims by former employees, including medical \n professional employees, for deferred compensation, severance, \n vacation, or other employment benefits.\n (3) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' \n means an enrollee or member of a health maintenance \n organization.\n (4) Guaranty fund.--The term ``Guaranty Fund'' means the \n Federal HMO Guaranty Fund established under section 3.\n (5) Health care provider.--The term ``health care \n provider'' means a physician, hospital, or other person that is \n licensed or otherwise authorized by the State to provide health \n care services, and that provided health care services to an \n enrollee of a health maintenance organization.\n (6) Health maintenance organization.--The term ``health \n maintenance organization'' has the meaning given such term by \n section 2791(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. \n 300gg-91(b)(3)).\n (7) Health maintenance organization contract.--The term \n ``covered health maintenance organization contract'' means a \n policy, certificate, or other evidence of health care coverage \n that is issued by a health maintenance organization.\n (8) Insolvent organization.--The term ``insolvent \n organization'' means a health maintenance organization that is \n declared insolvent by court of competent jurisdiction and \n placed under the control of a State Commissioner of Insurance \n for the purpose of liquidation.\n (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the \n Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of the Treasury.\n (10) State.--The term ``State'' includes each of the \n several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of \n Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, or any agency or \n instrumentality thereof.\n (11) Uncovered expenditures.--The term ``uncovered \n expenditures'' means the expenditures for the provision of \n health care services that are the obligation of a health \n maintenance organization that have not been paid by such \n organization and for which no alternative payment arrangements \n have been made.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF HMO GUARANTY FUND.\n\n (a) In General.--There is established in the Treasury of the United \nStates a fund to be known as the HMO Guaranty Fund to be used as \nprovided for in this Act.\n (b) Amounts in Fund.--\n (1) In general.--There shall be deposited into the Guaranty \n Fund--\n (A) amounts collected under section 5(a);\n (B) penalties collected under section 5(b); and\n (C) earnings on investments of monies in the \n Guaranty Fund.\n (2) Investments.--\n (A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury \n shall invest amounts in the Guaranty Fund that are not \n required to meet current withdrawals. Such investments \n may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the \n United States. For such purpose, such obligations may \n be acquired on original issue at the issue price, or by \n purchase of outstanding obligations at the market \n price.\n (B) Availability of income.--Any interest derived \n from obligations held by the Guaranty Fund and the \n proceeds from any sale or redemption of such \n obligations, are hereby appropriated to the Fund.\n (c) Use of Guaranty Fund.--Subject to section 4, amounts in the \nGuaranty Fund shall be used to make payments to a State--\n (1) to pay the outstanding health care provider claims for \n uncovered expenditures, and to fulfill contractual obligations \n to covered individuals, with respect to an insolvent health \n maintenance organization; and\n (2) to provide for a temporary continuation of health care \n coverage for covered individuals.\n (d) Board of Directors.--\n (1) In general.--The Guaranty Fund shall be administered by \n a Board of Directors to be composed of 9 individuals of which--\n (A) three directors shall be appointed by the \n National Association of Insurance Commissioners from \n among individuals who serve as insurance regulators of \n a State;\n (B) three directors shall be appointed by a \n national association which represents the health \n maintenance organization industry of all States (as \n determined by the Secretary) from among representatives \n of health maintenance organizations; and\n (C) three directors shall be--\n (i) the Secretary of the Treasury, or the \n designee of the Secretary;\n (ii) the Secretary of Health and Human \n Services, or the designee of the Secretary; and\n (iii) the Secretary of Labor, or the \n designee of the Secretary.\n (2) Terms, vacancies.--The members of the Board shall \n establish the terms of service of the members of the Board \n appointed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1). Any \n vacancy in the Board shall not affect its powers, and shall be \n filled in the same manner as the original appointment.\n (3) Compensation of members.--\n (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph \n (B), each member of the Board who is not an officer or \n employee of the Federal Government shall serve without \n compensation. All members of the Board who are officers \n or employees of the United States shall serve without \n compensation in addition to that received for their \n services as officers or employees of the United States.\n (B) Travel expenses.--The members of the Board \n shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in \n lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees \n of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title \n 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or \n regular places of business in the performance of \n services for the Board. Such expenses shall be paid \n from the Guaranty Fund.\n (4) Voting.--Each member of the Board shall have 1 vote. \n The Board shall set policy and decide all matters by a simple \n majority of the votes cast.\n (5) Chairperson.--The Board shall elect a chairperson from \n among its members.\n (6) Meetings.--The Board shall first meet not later than 30 \n days after the date on which all members are appointed under \n paragraph (1). Subsequent meetings shall be at the call of the \n chairperson. The Board may hold public hearings after giving \n proper notice.\n (7) Fiduciary duty.--With respect to the members of the \n Board that are not appointed under paragraph (1)(A), in \n carrying out the duties of the Board such members shall have a \n fiduciary duty to the Guaranty Fund that shall supersede any \n duty to an employer or other special interest that the member \n may otherwise represent.\n (8) Limitations on liability.--A member of the Board shall \n not be liable, or in any way responsible, for the obligations \n of the Guaranty Fund.\n (e) Duties.--The Board shall--\n (1) administer the Guaranty Fund;\n (2) adopt bylaws that permit the Board to enter into \n contracts to receive contributions and make distributions in \n accordance with this Act;\n (3) establish the application criteria and materials \n necessary to enable a State to submit an application to the \n Guaranty Fund;\n (4) review and make determination on applications received \n under section 4(b); and\n (5) carry out other activities in accordance with this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. EXPENDITURES FROM THE GUARANTY FUND.\n\n (a) In General.--The Guaranty Fund shall be used to make payments \nto a State to enable such State to pay the claims of health care \nproviders for health care services provided to covered individuals \nprior to the declaration of insolvency of a health maintenance \norganization and to provide for a temporary continuation of health care \ncoverage for such individuals.\n (b) Procedure.--\n (1) In general.--Upon the declaration by a court of \n competent jurisdiction that a health maintenance organization \n is insolvent, the official responsible for regulating health \n insurance in the State in which the declaration is made may \n submit an application to the Guaranty Fund for payment under \n this Act.\n (2) Contents of application.--An application submitted by a \n State under paragraph (1) shall include the following:\n (A) Liquidation of assets and return of unused \n funds.--The application shall contain an accounting of \n amounts received (or expected to be received) as a \n result of the liquidation of the assets of the \n insolvent organization.\n (B) Fund amount.--The application shall contain a \n request for a specific amount of funds that will be \n used for the uncovered expenditures and contractual \n obligations of an insolvent organization.\n (C) Uncovered expenditures.--The application shall \n contain an estimate of the aggregate number of \n uncovered individuals and aggregate amount of uncovered \n expenditures with respect to the insolvent organization \n involved.\n (D) Continuation coverage.--The application shall \n contain an estimate of the aggregate amount of funds \n needed to provide continuation coverage to uncovered \n individuals.\n (c) Consideration by Board.--Not later than 30 days after the date \non which the Guaranty Fund receives a completed application from a \nState under subsection (b), the Board shall make a determination with \nrespect to payments to the States.\n (d) Limitation.--The aggregate amount that may be paid to a State \nunder this section with respect to a single uncovered individual shall \nnot exceed $300,000.\n (e) Use for Continuation Coverage.--\n (1) In general.--A State may use amounts provided under \n this section to provide for the continuation of health care \n coverage for an uncovered individual through a health \n maintenance organization or other health care coverage that has \n been determined appropriate by the official responsible for \n regulating health insurance in the State in collaboration with \n the Board.\n (2) Limitation.--The period of continuation coverage with \n respect to an uncovered individual under paragraph (1) shall \n terminate on the earlier of--\n (A) the date that is 1 year after the date on which \n the health maintenance organization was declared \n insolvent; or\n (B) or the date on which the contractual obligation \n of the health maintenance organization to the \n individual was to terminate.\n (f) Repayment of Funds.--The State shall repay to the Guaranty Fund \nan amount equal to--\n (1) any amounts not utilized by the State on the date on \n which the liquidation of the insolvent organization is \n completed; and\n (2) any amounts recovered through liquidation that have not \n been accounted for in the application of the State under \n subsection (b)(2)(A).\n\nSEC. 5. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GUARANTY FUND.\n\n (a) Assessment on Health Maintenance Organizations.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2001, and every \n 6 months thereafter, each health maintenance organization that \n is licensed by a State to provide health care coverage shall \n pay to the Guaranty Fund an amount to be determined in \n accordance with an assessment schedule to be established by the \n Secretary not later than 180 days after the date of enactment \n of this Act.\n (2) Deferment.--The Board, after consultation with the \n official responsible for regulating health insurance in the \n State involved may exempt, abate, or defer, in whole or in \n part, the assessment of a health maintenance organization under \n paragraph (1) if the organization demonstrates that the payment \n of the assessment would endanger the ability of the \n organization to fulfill its contractual obligations or place \n the organization in an unsound financial condition.\n (3) Prohibition.--A health maintenance organization shall \n not adjust the amount of premiums paid by enrollees to account \n for the assessment paid under paragraph (1).\n (b) Failure to Pay.--A health maintenance organization that fails \nto pay an assessment under subsection (a)(1) within 30 days after the \ndate on which such assessment was to be paid shall be subject to a \ncivil penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 per day.\n\nSEC. 6. STATE PREEMPTION.\n\n (a) In General.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preempt \nor supersede any provision of State law that establishes, implements, \nor continues in effect any standard or requirement relating to health \nmaintenance organizations.\n (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``State law'' means all \nlaws, decisions, rules, regulations or other State actions that have \nthe effect of law.", "summary": "Requires each HMO that is licensed by a State to provide health care coverage to make biannual payments to the Guaranty Fund in accordance with an assessment schedule to be established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Permits deferrals or exemptions if an HMO demonstrates that payment of the assessment would endanger its ability to fulfill contractual obligations or place it in an unsound financial condition. Prescribes a civil penalty for failure to pay.", "title": "HMO Guaranty Act of 2000"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 192, "text": "SEC. . STANDING FOR CERTAIN TAXPAYERS WITH REGARD TO SALE OF NET \n OPERATING LOSSES.\n\n (a) Subsection (c) of section 5021 of the Technical and \nMiscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-647) is amended to \nread as follows:\n ``(c) Special Administrative Rules.--\n ``(1) Income included in native corporation return.--At the \n joint election of a Native Corporation and a corporation \n (referred to in this subsection (c) as the `buyer corporation') \n with which the Native Corporation entered into a transaction \n permitted under section 60(b)(5) of the Tax Reform Act of 1984 \n and section 1804(e)(4) of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (referred \n to in this subsection (c) as a `Native Corporation \n transaction'), income assigned, transferred or otherwise made \n available by the buyer corporation through the use of a \n corporation (referred to in this subsection (c) as the `profit \n subsidiary') by reason of such transaction for a period in \n which the profit subsidiary qualified as a member of the \n affiliated group of which the Native Corporation was the common \n parent shall be included in the taxable income of the Native \n Corporation affiliated group solely for purposes of section \n 6212 of the Internal Revenue Code--\n ``(A) Election.--The election under this subsection \n (c) for the taxable year to which the election relates \n shall be made no later than 120 days after the date of \n enactment of this amendment. The election shall be \n irrevocable and shall be made by filing with the \n district director for the Anchorage district office of \n the Internal Revenue Service a written statement signed \n by responsible officers of the Native Corporation and \n the electing buyer corporation that--\n ``(i) identifies the Native Corporation, \n the profit subsidiary, and the buyer \n corporation (and their taxpayer identification \n numbers) and states their agreement to make the \n election provided in this subsection (c);\n ``(ii) states the amount of income \n assigned, transferred or otherwise made \n available to the profit subsidiary for the \n taxable year by reason of the Native \n Corporation transaction;\n ``(iii) if profit subsidiaries related to a \n buyer corporation other than the electing buyer \n corporation were members of the affiliated \n group of which the Native Corporation was the \n common parent, describes the order and the \n amount of the losses and credits of the Native \n Corporation affiliated group that were used to \n offset the income of each profit subsidiary;\n ``(iv) states the agreement of the buyer \n corporation to consent under section 6501(c)(4) \n of the Internal Revenue Code to extend the \n periods of limitations for assessment and \n collection solely with respect to the income of \n the profit subsidiary for the affected taxable \n period(s) to a date not less than 180 days \n after the date the tax liability for the \n taxable year in which the Native Corporation \n transaction occurred is finally determined;\n ``(v) states the agreement of the Native \n Corporation to consent under section 6501(c)(4) \n of the Internal Revenue Code to extend the \n periods of limitations for assessment and \n collection solely with respect to the income of \n the profit subsidiary for the affected taxable \n period(s) to a date not less than 120 days \n after the date on which the Native Corporation \n makes the election under this subsection; and\n ``(vi) the Native Corporation and the buyer \n corporation agree that the Service is \n authorized to make any refund of any \n overpayment that is determined to be due, \n jointly to the Native Corporation and the \n electing buyer corporation.\n If a Native Corporation has engaged in multiple Native \n Corporation transactions, such election shall be \n independently made by each buyer corporation on \n separate written statements. A buyer corporation that \n elects under this provision must so elect for all \n Native Corporation transactions with the particular \n Native Corporation with whom the election is made for \n which the statue of limitations for assessment is open.\n ``(B) Taxable rate.--Notwithstanding section 11 of \n the Internal Revenue Code, any income of the profit \n subsidiary that is subject to the election provided in \n this subsection (c) shall be taxed at the rate that \n such income would have been taxed if it had been \n included in the return of the buyer corporation for the \n taxable year from which such income was assigned, \n transferred or otherwise made available. Solely for \n purposes of issuing a notice under section 6212 of the \n Internal Revenue Code to a Native Corporation for a \n Native Corporation transaction for which an election \n has been made under this subsection (c), the tax may be \n computed by applying the maximum corporate rate under \n section 11 of the Internal Revenue Code.\n ``(2) Treatment of native corporation as common parent as \n sole agent.--The common parent of an affiliated group which \n includes a Native Corporation that elects under subsection \n (c)(1) shall be the sole agent for the profit subsidiary for \n purposes of the Native Corporation transaction for the period \n of affiliation.\n ``(3) Collection of tax from buyer corporation.--For \n purposes of this subsection, the amount of any tax, interest, \n addition to tax, penalty or other amount attributable to the \n income of the profit subsidiary shall be paid by and be \n collectible from the profit subsidiary and the buyer \n corporation for the taxable year for which income was assigned, \n transferred or otherwise made available by the buyer \n corporation in connection with the Native Corporation \n transaction.\n ``(4) Payment of tax by native corporation.--If, after the \n election provided in subsection (c)(1) is made, the Native \n Corporation pays all or any part of the tax, interest, addition \n to tax, penalty or other amount attributable to the income of \n the profit subsidiary, such payment shall be deemed to be a \n payment by the buyer corporation for the taxable year for which \n such income would otherwise have been included in the buyer \n corporation's return if the election provided in subsection \n (c)(1) was not made--\n ``(A) Filing of refund claim.--A Native Corporation \n that elects under subsection (c)(1) shall be treated as \n the taxpayer for purposes of sections 6402 and 6511 of \n the Internal Revenue Code with respect to all payments \n of tax, interest, additions to tax, penalties, or other \n amounts attributable to the income of the profit \n subsidiary and shall be entitled to file a claim for \n refund as the taxpayer with respect to any taxes, \n interest, additions to tax, penalties or other amounts \n attributable to the income of the profit subsidiary.\n ``(B) Filing of refund suit.--A Native Corporation \n that elects under subsection (c)(1) shall be treated as \n the taxpayer for purposes of section 7422 of the \n Internal Revenue Code with respect to all payments of \n tax, interest, additions to tax, penalties, or other \n amounts attributable to the income of the profit \n subsidiary, and as the plaintiff for purposes of \n section 1402 of title 28, United States Code, and shall \n be entitled to file and maintain a proceeding in court \n as the taxpayer for the recovery of such amounts.\n ``(C) Refund of overpayment.--In the event that an \n overpayment is determined to be due, whether by final \n administrative or judicial decision, with respect to a \n Native Corporation transaction (c)(1), the Native \n Corporation shall be treated as the person who made the \n overpayment within the meaning of section 6402(a) of \n the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding any law or \n rule of law, including the preceding sentence, any \n refund of such overpayment may be made jointly to the \n Native Corporation and to the electing buyer \n corporation, as agreed to under paragraph (A)(v) of \n subsection (c)(1).\n ``(5) Participatory rights of electing buyer corporation.--\n Any buyer corporation that makes an election under subsection \n (c)(1) shall have the right to--\n ``(A) submit a written statement and participate \n with the Native Corporation in any administrative \n proceeding relating to any proposed adjustment \n regarding a Native Corporation transaction for which an \n election has been made; and\n ``(B) file an amicus brief in any proceeding in a \n Federal court or the United States Tax Court that has \n been filed by the Native Corporation involving a \n proposed adjustment regarding such a Native Corporation \n transaction.\n All written notices or other reports issued by the Secretary or \n his delegate with respect to such a Native Corporation \n transaction shall be issued to the Native Corporation, and it \n shall be the obligation of the Native Corporation to provide \n copies thereof to the electing buyer corporation. Rules similar \n to the rules of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (7) \n shall apply for purposes of this paragraph.\n ``(6) Final determination of issues.--\n ``(A) All issues with respect to the Native \n Corporation transaction with respect to which an \n election is made under subsection (c)(1), including the \n applicability of any interest, addition to tax, penalty \n or other amount, shall be determined by administrative \n or judicial decision with respect to the consolidated \n return of the Native Corporation affiliated group.\n ``(B) Upon such determination, any income of the \n profit subsidiary that is not offset in the Native \n Corporation transaction shall be reported on the buyer \n corporation's return as if it were originally reported \n thereon and subject to all adjustments, including net \n operating loss or other carrybacks, to which such \n income would otherwise be subject.\n ``(7) No effect on nonelecting corporations.--The absence \n of an election by a Native Corporation and a buyer corporation \n with respect to a Native Corporation transaction shall not \n restrict the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury or his \n delegate to settle or litigate with any nonelecting buyer \n corporation with respect to any issue relating to such a \n transaction--\n ``(A) Rights of native corporation.--For any such \n Native Corporation transaction for which no election is \n made under subsection (c)(1), the Native Corporation \n shall have the right to submit a written statement and \n participate with the buyer corporation in any \n administrative proceeding relating to any proposed \n adjustment regarding such Native Corporation \n transaction; and to file an amicus brief in any \n proceeding in a Federal court or the United States Tax \n Court that has been filed by the non-electing buyer \n corporation involving a proposed adjustment regarding \n such Native Corporation transaction.\n ``(B) Extension of statute of limitations.--\n Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the Secretary of \n the Treasury or his delegate determines that an \n extension of the statute of limitations is necessary to \n permit the participation described in subparagraph (A) \n and the taxpayer and the Secretary or his delegate have \n not agreed to such extension.\n ``(C) Failures.--For purposes of the 1986 Code, any \n failure by the Secretary of the Treasury or his \n delegate to comply with the provisions of this \n subsection shall not affect the validity of the \n determination of the Internal Revenue Service of any \n adjustment of tax liability of any non-electing buyer \n corporation.\n ``(8) Effective date.--This provision shall be effective \n for all taxable years for which the statute of limitations for \n assessment with respect to an electing Native Corporation has \n not expired prior to the date of enactment of this Act--\n ``(A) Extension of statute of limitations.--Any \n Native Corporation for which the statue of limitations \n for assessment will expire within 120 days after the \n date of enactment of this section shall have the right \n upon request to extend such statute of limitations \n pursuant to section 6501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue \n Code to a date not less than 120 days after the date of \n enactment of this section.\n ``(B) Period for assessments.--If the statute of \n limitations for assessments with respect to an electing \n Native Corporation has not expired prior to the date of \n the enactment of this Act, such period shall not expire \n before the date 120 days after the date on which the \n Native Corporation makes the election under this \n subsection.''.\n (b) Section 5021 of the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of \n1988 (Public Law 100-647) is amended by adding, after subsection (e), \nnew subsection (f) to read as follows:\n ``(f) Increase in Underpayment Rate.--For purposes of determining \nthe amount of interest payable under section 6601 of the Internal \nRevenue Code on a tax underpayment attributable to a Native Corporation \ntransaction for which an election has been made under subsection (c) \nhereof, the underpayment rate otherwise applicable under section \n6621(a) (2) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be \nincreased by 0.5 percentage points.''.", "summary": "Amends the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 to permit Alaska Native Corporations to litigate the validity of the sale of their net operating losses to other corporate buyers as reported on their tax returns, if the buyers so agree. Increases the interest on the underpayment rate for any underpayments resulting from such litigation.", "title": "A bill to provide Alaska Native Corporations, through an election process, standing to contest the disallowance of certain tax losses by the Internal Revenue Service if the purchasers of the losses agree; and to offset any associated revenue losses by increasing the interest rate on certain related tax deficiencies."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1778, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Traumatic Brain Injury Act of \n2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO RESTRUCTURING.\n\n Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. \n280b et seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating the section 393B (42 U.S.C. 280b-1c) \n relating to the use of allotments for rape prevention \n education, as section 393A and moving such section so that it \n follows section 393;\n (2) by redesignating existing section 393A (42 U.S.C. 280b-\n 1b) relating to prevention of traumatic brain injury, as \n section 393B; and\n (3) by redesignating the section 393B (42 U.S.C. 280b-1d) \n relating to traumatic brain injury registries, as section 393C.\n\nSEC. 3. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAMS OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE \n CONTROL AND PREVENTION.\n\n (a) Prevention of Traumatic Brain Injury.--Clause (ii) of section \n393B(b)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act, as so redesignated, (42 \nU.S.C. 280b-1b) is amended by striking ``from hospitals and trauma \ncenters'' and inserting ``from hospitals and emergency departments''.\n (b) National Program for Traumatic Brain Injury Surveillance and \nRegistries.--Section 393C of the Public Health Service Act, as so \nredesignated, (42 U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended--\n (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``surveillance \n and'' after ``national program for traumatic brain injury''; \n and\n (2) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph \n (1), by striking ``may make grants'' and all that follows \n through ``to collect data concerning--'' and inserting ``may \n make grants to States or their designees to develop or operate \n the State's traumatic brain injury surveillance system or \n registry to determine the incidence and prevalence of traumatic \n brain injury and related disability, to ensure the uniformity \n of reporting under such system or registry, to link individuals \n with traumatic brain injury to services and supports, and to \n link such individuals with academic institutions to conduct \n applied research that will support the development of such \n surveillance systems and registries as may be necessary. A \n surveillance system or registry under this section shall \n provide for the collection of data concerning--''.\n (c) Report.--Section 393C of the Public Health Service Act (as so \nredesignated) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(b) Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the \nTraumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, the Secretary, acting through the \nDirector of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the \nDirector of the National Institutes of Health and in consultation with \nthe Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall \nsubmit to the relevant committees of Congress a report that contains \nthe findings derived from an evaluation concerning activities and \nprocedures that can be implemented by the Centers for Disease Control \nand Prevention to improve the collection and dissemination of \ncompatible epidemiological studies on the incidence and prevalence of \ntraumatic brain injury in those with traumatic brain injury who were \nformerly in the military. The report shall include recommendations on \nthe manner in which such agencies can further collaborate on the \ndevelopment and improvement of traumatic brain injury diagnostic tools \nand treatments.''.\n\nSEC. 4. STUDY ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.\n\n Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. \n280b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 393C, as so \nredesignated, the following:\n\n``SEC. 393C-1. STUDY ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.\n\n ``(a) Study.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the \nCenters for Disease Control and Prevention with respect to paragraph \n(1) and in consultation with the Director of the National Institutes of \nHealth and other appropriate entities with respect to paragraphs (2), \n(3), and (4), may conduct a study with respect to traumatic brain \ninjury for the purpose of carrying out the following:\n ``(1) In collaboration with appropriate State and local \n health-related agencies--\n ``(A) determining the incidence of traumatic brain \n injury and prevalence of traumatic brain injury related \n disability and the clinical aspects of the disability \n in all age groups and racial and ethnic minority groups \n in the general population of the United States, \n including institutional settings, such as nursing \n homes, correctional facilities, psychiatric hospitals, \n child care facilities, and residential institutes for \n people with developmental disabilities; and\n ``(B) reporting national trends in traumatic brain \n injury.\n ``(2) Identifying common therapeutic interventions which \n are used for the rehabilitation of individuals with such \n injuries, and, subject to the availability of information, \n including an analysis of--\n ``(A) the effectiveness of each such intervention \n in improving the functioning, including return to work \n or school and community participation, of individuals \n with brain injuries;\n ``(B) the comparative effectiveness of \n interventions employed in the course of rehabilitation \n of individuals with brain injuries to achieve the same \n or similar clinical outcome; and\n ``(C) the adequacy of existing measures of outcomes \n and knowledge of factors influencing differential \n outcomes.\n ``(3) Identifying interventions and therapies that can \n prevent or remediate the development of secondary neurologic \n conditions related to traumatic brain injury.\n ``(4) Developing practice guidelines for the rehabilitation \n of traumatic brain injury at such time as appropriate \n scientific research becomes available.\n ``(b) Dates Certain for Reports.--If the study is conducted under \nsubsection (a), the Secretary shall, not later than 3 years after the \ndate of the enactment of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, submit \nto Congress a report describing findings made as a result of carrying \nout such subsection (a).\n ``(c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term \n`traumatic brain injury' means an acquired injury to the brain. Such \nterm does not include brain dysfunction caused by congenital or \ndegenerative disorders, nor birth trauma, but may include brain \ninjuries caused by anoxia due to trauma including near drowning. The \nSecretary may revise the definition of such term as the Secretary \ndetermines necessary.''.\n\nSEC. 5. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAMS OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF \n HEALTH.\n\n Section 1261 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-61) \nis amended--\n (1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``Labor and Human \n Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, and \n Pensions'';\n (2) in subparagraph (D) of subsection (d)(4), by striking \n ``head brain injury'' and inserting ``brain injury''; and\n (3) in subsection (i), by inserting ``, and such sums as \n may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 through \n 2012'' before the period at the end.\n\nSEC. 6. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAMS OF THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND \n SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.\n\n (a) State Grants for Demonstration Projects Regarding Traumatic \nBrain Injury.--Section 1252 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. \n300d-52) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) by striking ``may make grants to States'' and \n inserting ``may make grants to States and American \n Indian consortia''; and\n (B) by striking ``health and other services'' and \n inserting ``rehabilitation and other services'';\n (2) in subsection (b)--\n (A) in paragraphs (1), (3)(A)(i), (3)(A)(iii), and \n (3)(A)(iv), by striking the term ``State'' each place \n such term appears and inserting the term ``State or \n American Indian consortium''; and\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``recommendations \n to the State'' and inserting ``recommendations to the \n State or American Indian consortium'';\n (3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking the term ``State'' \n each place such term appears and inserting ``State or American \n Indian consortium'';\n (4) in subsection (e), by striking ``A State that \n received'' and all that follows through the period and \n inserting ``A State or American Indian consortium that received \n a grant under this section prior to the date of the enactment \n of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 may complete the \n activities funded by the grant.'';\n (5) in subsection (f)--\n (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and \n American Indian Consortium'' after ``State'';\n (B) in paragraph (1) in the matter preceding \n subparagraph (A), paragraph (1)(E), paragraph (2)(A), \n paragraph (2)(B), paragraph (3) in the matter preceding \n subparagraph (A), paragraph (3)(E), and paragraph \n (3)(F), by striking the term ``State'' each place such \n term appears and inserting ``State or American Indian \n consortium''; and\n (C) in clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(A), by striking \n ``children and other individuals'' and inserting \n ``children, youth, and adults'';\n (6) in subsection (h)--\n (A) by striking ``Not later than 2 years after the \n date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary'' \n and inserting ``Not less than biennially, the \n Secretary'';\n (B) by striking ``Commerce of the House of \n Representatives, and to the Committee on Labor and \n Human Resources'' and inserting ``Energy and Commerce \n of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee \n on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and\n (C) by inserting ``and section 1253'' after \n ``programs established under this section,'';\n (7) by amending subsection (i) to read as follows:\n ``(i) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:\n ``(1) The terms `American Indian consortium' and `State' \n have the meanings given to those terms in section 1253.\n ``(2) The term `traumatic brain injury' means an acquired \n injury to the brain. Such term does not include brain \n dysfunction caused by congenital or degenerative disorders, nor \n birth trauma, but may include brain injuries caused by anoxia \n due to trauma. The Secretary may revise the definition of such \n term as the Secretary determines necessary, after consultation \n with States and other appropriate public or nonprofit private \n entities.''; and\n (8) in subsection (j), by inserting ``, and such sums as \n may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 through \n 2012'' before the period.\n (b) State Grants for Protection and Advocacy Services.--Section \n1253 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-53) is amended--\n (1) in subsections (d) and (e), by striking the term \n ``subsection (i)'' each place such term appears and inserting \n ``subsection (l)'';\n (2) in subsection (g), by inserting ``each fiscal year not \n later than October 1,'' before ``the Administrator shall pay'';\n (3) by redesignating subsections (i) and (j) as subsections \n (l) and (m), respectively;\n (4) by inserting after subsection (h) the following:\n ``(i) Data Collection.--The Administrator of the Health Resources \nand Services Administration and the Commissioner of the Administration \non Developmental Disabilities shall enter into an agreement to \ncoordinate the collection of data by the Administrator and the \nCommissioner regarding protection and advocacy services.\n ``(j) Training and Technical Assistance.--\n ``(1) Grants.--For any fiscal year for which the amount \n appropriated to carry out this section is $6,000,000 or \n greater, the Administrator shall use 2 percent of such amount \n to make a grant to an eligible national association for \n providing for training and technical assistance to protection \n and advocacy systems.\n ``(2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `eligible \n national association' means a national association with \n demonstrated experience in providing training and technical \n assistance to protection and advocacy systems.\n ``(k) System Authority.--In providing services under this section, \na protection and advocacy system shall have the same authorities, \nincluding access to records, as such system would have for purposes of \nproviding services under subtitle C of the Developmental Disabilities \nAssistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000.''; and\n (5) in subsection (l) (as redesignated by this subsection) \n by striking ``2002 through 2005'' and inserting ``2009 through \n 2012''.", "summary": "Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise the national program for traumatic brain injury registries to make grants for state traumatic brain injury surveillance systems or registries (currently, only for registries) to: (1) determine the incidence and prevalence of traumatic brain injury and related disability; (2) ensure the uniformity of reporting under each such system or registry; (3) link individuals with traumatic brain injury to services and supports; and (4) link such individuals with academic institutions to conduct applied research.\n\nRequires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to report to the relevant congressional committees on activities and procedures that can be implemented by the CDC to improve the collection and dissemination of compatible epidemiological studies on the incidence and prevalence of traumatic brain injury in those who were formerly in the military.\n\n(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director of CDC, to conduct a study to: (1) determine the incidence of traumatic brain injury and prevalence of traumatic brain injury related disability; (2) report national trends in traumatic brain injury; (3) identify common therapeutic interventions which are used for the rehabilitation of individuals with such injuries; (4) identify interventions and therapies that can prevent or remediate the development of secondary neurologic conditions related to traumatic brain injury; and (5) develop practice guidelines for such rehabilitation.\n\n(Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012 for NIH's trauma research program.\n\n(Sec. 6) Allows the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), to make grants to states and American Indian consortia (currently, only to states) to improve access to rehabilitation and other services (currently, to health and other services) regarding traumatic brain injury. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for FY2009-FY2012.\n\nRequires the Administrator and the Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities to coordinate the collection of data regarding protection and advocacy services. Directs the Administrator to make a grant for training and technical assistance to protection and advocacy systems, if funds permit. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012.", "title": "To provide for the expansion and improvement of traumatic brain injury programs."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 17, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``State Innovation Pilot Act of \n2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSES.\n\n The purposes of this Act are--\n (1) to support State, local, and tribal leadership and \n innovation in preparing all students to meet State-developed \n college and career ready academic content standards and student \n academic achievement standards, by establishing a process to \n permit State, local, and tribal educational leaders to \n implement alternative and innovative strategies to improve \n student academic achievement and otherwise meet the purposes of \n the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n 6301 et seq.); and\n (2) to direct the Secretary of Education to defer to State, \n local, and tribal judgments regarding how best to accomplish \n the purposes of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of \n 1965.\n\nSEC. 3. WAIVERS OF STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.\n\n Section 9401 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 \n(20 U.S.C. 7861) is amended--\n (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:\n ``(a) In General.--\n ``(1) Request for waiver.--A State educational agency, \n local educational agency, or Indian tribe that receives funds \n under a program authorized under this Act may submit a request \n to the Secretary to waive any statutory or regulatory \n requirement of this Act.\n ``(2) Receipt of waiver.--Except as provided in subsection \n (c), the Secretary shall waive any statutory or regulatory \n requirement of this Act for a State educational agency, local \n educational agency, Indian tribe, or school (through a local \n educational agency), that submits a waiver request pursuant to \n this subsection.'';\n (2) in subsection (b)--\n (A) in paragraph (1)--\n (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph \n (A), by inserting ``, which shall include a \n plan'' after ``waiver request to the \n Secretary'';\n (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and \n how the waiving of those requirements will'' \n and all that follows through the end, and \n inserting a semicolon;\n (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as \n subparagraph (F); and\n (iv) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D), \n and inserting the following:\n ``(C) reasonably demonstrates that the waiver will \n improve instruction for students, advance student \n academic achievement, and contribute to student mastery \n of knowledge and skills, consistent with the State's \n college and career ready academic content standards and \n student academic achievement standards;\n ``(D) describes the methods the State educational \n agency, local educational agency, or Indian tribe will \n use to--\n ``(i) monitor the effectiveness of the \n implementation of the plan; and\n ``(ii) assure regular evaluation and \n continuous improvement of the plan;\n ``(E) as applicable to the waiver request--\n ``(i) describes the State educational \n agency, local educational agency, or Indian \n tribe's process for making valid and meaningful \n accountability determinations, based on student \n academic achievement, to review the success of \n schools and local educational agencies or \n Indian tribes in implementing the State's \n college and career ready academic content \n standards and student academic achievement \n standards;\n ``(ii) describes the State educational \n agency, local educational agency, or Indian \n tribe's process for accurately and meaningfully \n identifying, supporting, and intervening in \n underperforming schools, consistent with \n applicable State or local policy; and\n ``(iii) includes information on how the \n State educational agency, local educational \n agency, or Indian tribe will maintain and \n improve transparency in reporting to parents \n and the public on student achievement and \n school performance, including the achievement \n of students according to the student subgroups \n described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of \n section 1111(b)(2)(B)(viii); and'';\n (B) in paragraph (2)(B)(i)(II), by striking ``(on \n behalf of, and based on the requests of, local \n educational agencies)'' and inserting ``(on their own \n behalf, or on behalf of, and based on the requests of, \n local educational agencies in the State)'';\n (C) in paragraph (3)(A), in the matter preceding \n clause (i), by inserting ``or on behalf of local \n educational agencies in the State,'' after ``acting on \n its own behalf,''; and\n (D) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(4) Peer review.--\n ``(A) Peer review team.--\n ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall \n establish multi-disciplinary peer review teams \n and appoint members to such teams, including \n persons who have experience with a State \n educational agency (or local educational agency \n or Indian tribe, as appropriate) and broader \n education reform experience, to review waiver \n requests under this section if--\n ``(I) the Secretary requests such \n input in order to approve a waiver \n request; or\n ``(II) the Secretary intends to \n disapprove a request.\n ``(ii) Team in place for all waiver \n requests.--The Secretary may, at the \n Secretary's discretion, have a peer review team \n review all waiver requests submitted under this \n section.\n ``(B) Applicability.--The Secretary may approve a \n waiver request under this section without conducting a \n peer review of the request, but shall use the peer \n review process under this paragraph before disapproving \n such a request.\n ``(C) Purpose of peer review.--The peer review \n process shall be designed to--\n ``(i) promote effective implementation of \n State-developed college and career ready \n academic content standards and student academic \n achievement standards, through State and local \n innovation; and\n ``(ii) provide transparent feedback to \n State educational agencies, local educational \n agencies, or Indian tribes, designed to \n strengthen the applicant's plan described under \n paragraph (1)(C).\n ``(D) Standard and nature of review.--Peer \n reviewers shall conduct a good faith review of waiver \n requests submitted to them under this section. Peer \n reviewers shall review such waiver requests--\n ``(i) in their totality;\n ``(ii) in deference to State and local \n judgment; and\n ``(iii) with the goal of promoting State- \n and local-led innovation.\n ``(5) Waiver determination, demonstration, and revision.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall approve a \n waiver request not more than 90 days after the date on \n which such request is submitted, unless the Secretary \n determines and demonstrates that--\n ``(i) the waiver request does not meet the \n requirements of this section;\n ``(ii) the waiver is not permitted under \n subsection (c);\n ``(iii) the plan that is required under \n paragraph (1)(C), and reviewed with deference \n to State and local judgment, provides no \n reasonable basis to determine that a waiver \n will enhance student academic achievement; or\n ``(iv) the waiver request does not provide \n for adequate evaluation to ensure review and \n continuous improvement of the plan, consistent \n with paragraph (1)(D).\n ``(B) Waiver determination and revision.--If the \n Secretary determines and demonstrates that the waiver \n request does not meet the requirements of this section, \n the Secretary shall--\n ``(i) immediately--\n ``(I) notify the State educational \n agency, local educational agency, or \n Indian tribe of such determination; and\n ``(II) at the request of the State \n educational agency, local educational \n agency, or Indian tribe, provide \n detailed reasons for such determination \n in writing;\n ``(ii) offer the State educational agency, \n local educational agency, or Indian tribe an \n opportunity to revise and resubmit the waiver \n request not more than 60 days after the date of \n such determination; and\n ``(iii) if the Secretary determines that \n the resubmission does not meet the requirements \n of this section, at the request of the State \n educational agency, local educational agency, \n or Indian tribe, conduct a public hearing not \n more than 30 days after the date of such \n resubmission.\n ``(C) Waiver disapproval.--The Secretary may \n disapprove a waiver request if--\n ``(i) the State educational agency, local \n educational agency, or Indian tribe has been \n notified and offered an opportunity to revise \n and resubmit the waiver request, as described \n under clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B); \n and\n ``(ii) the State educational agency, local \n educational agency, or Indian tribe--\n ``(I) does not revise and resubmit \n the waiver request; or\n ``(II) revises and resubmits the \n waiver request, and the Secretary \n determines that such waiver request \n does not meet the requirements of this \n section after a hearing conducted under \n subparagraph (B)(iii).\n ``(D) External conditions.--The Secretary shall not \n disapprove a waiver request under this section based on \n conditions outside the scope of the waiver request.'';\n (3) in subsection (d)--\n (A) in the heading, by adding ``; Limitations'' \n after ``Duration and Extension of Waiver''; and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(3) Specific limitations.--The Secretary shall not \n require a State educational agency, local educational agency, \n or Indian tribe, as a condition of approval of a waiver \n request, to--\n ``(A) include in, or delete from, such request, \n specific academic content standards or academic \n achievement standards;\n ``(B) use specific academic assessment instruments \n or items; or\n ``(C) include in, or delete from, such waiver \n request any criterion that specifies, defines, or \n prescribes the standards or measures that a State or \n local educational agency uses to establish, implement, \n or improve--\n ``(i) State academic content standards or \n academic achievement standards;\n ``(ii) assessments;\n ``(iii) State accountability systems;\n ``(iv) systems that measure student growth;\n ``(v) measures of other academic \n indicators; or\n ``(vi) teacher and principal evaluation \n systems.'';\n (4) in subsection (e)--\n (A) in paragraph (1)--\n (i) by striking the heading and inserting \n ``Waiver reports'';\n (ii) in the matter preceding subparagraph \n (A)--\n (I) by striking ``local educational \n agency that receives'' and inserting \n ``State educational agency, local \n educational agency, or Indian tribe \n that receives''; and\n (II) by striking ``submit a report \n to the State educational agency that'' \n and inserting ``submit a report to the \n Secretary that'';\n (B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);\n (C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph \n (2); and\n (D) in paragraph (2), (as redesignated by \n subparagraph (C)), by striking ``Beginning in fiscal \n year 2002 and for each subsequent year, the Secretary \n shall submit to the Committee'' and inserting ``The \n Secretary shall annually submit to the Committee''; and\n (5) in subsection (f), by inserting ``and the recipient of \n the waiver has failed to make revisions needed to carry out the \n purpose of the waiver,'' after ``has been inadequate to justify \n a continuation of the waiver''.", "summary": "State Innovation Pilot Act of 2011 - Amends part D (Waivers) of title IX (General Provisions) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to revise the process by which states, LEAs, and Indian tribes obtain waivers of the Act's statutory and regulatory requirements.\n\nRequires waiver requests by states, LEAs, or Indian tribes to include a plan that describes how: (1) the waiver will improve instruction and student achievement in accordance with the state's college and career ready academic content and achievement standards; (2) the plan will be evaluated regularly and improved continuously; (3) they will review implementation of the college and career readiness standards; (4) they will identify, support, and intervene in underperforming schools; and (5) they will maintain and improve transparency in reporting to parents and the public on student achievement and school performance.\n\nRequires the Secretary of Education to approve requests that meet such requirements and do not involve certain specified statutory or regulatory requirements.\n\nDirects the Secretary to establish a multidisciplinary peer review team to review a waiver request if the Secretary requests their input or intends to disapprove the request. Requires peer reviewers to review waiver requests in their totality, in deference to state and local judgment, and with the goal of promoting state and local innovation.\n\nGives the Secretary a limited amount of time to decide on a waiver request. Gives requesters opportunities to revise their requests.\n\nProhibits the Secretary from imposing conditions on a waiver that require the state, LEA, or Indian tribe to adopt or drop specific standards or assessment systems.", "title": "A bill to amend section 9401 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 with regard to waivers of statutory and regulatory requirements."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1233, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Calling for 2-1-1 Act of 2003''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) The Federal Communications Commission has assigned 2-1-\n 1 as the national telephone number for telephone service for \n information and referral on human services, declaring that 2-1-\n 1 best satisfies the public interest in allotting the limited \n resource of this abbreviated number. In 2005, the Commission \n will assess the widespread utilization of the 2-1-1 telephone \n number and evaluate whether to continue the assignment of that \n telephone number for that service.\n (2) The number ``2-1-1'' is an easy-to-remember telephone \n number that facilitates critical connections between \n individuals and families seeking services, volunteer \n opportunities, or both and appropriate human service agencies, \n including community-based and faith-based organizations and \n government agencies.\n (3) There are more than 820,000 nonprofit organizations in \n the United States. Individuals and families often find it \n difficult to navigate through a complex and ever-growing maze \n of human service agencies and programs, spending inordinate \n amounts of time trying to identify an agency or program that \n provides a service that may be immediately or urgently required \n and often abandoning the search from frustration or a lack of \n quality information.\n (4) At the Federal, State, and local levels, government \n funding supports well-intentioned programs that are not fully \n utilized because of a lack of access to and information on such \n programs by the public. Program administrators have indicated \n that there is a need for a simple way to connect those eligible \n for programs with available program resources. 2-1-1 telephone \n service will reduce the number of inappropriate calls to \n government offices by directing consumers to the appropriate \n human services agency, resulting in a more effective use of \n government services.\n (5) Many families need information on government and not-\n for-profit services that address domestic violence, support \n adequate and stable housing, alleviate hunger, and provide for \n high-quality day care, afterschool activities, summer \n activities, job training and assistance, elder care, and \n disaster recovery.\n (6) Individuals often need support, services, or both when \n suffering emotional distress, having suicidal thoughts or \n behavior, contemplating violence, or using drugs or alcohol.\n (7) Americans desire to volunteer and become involved in \n their communities. This desire, together with a desire to \n donate to organizations which provide human services, are among \n the reasons to contact a center which provides information and \n referral on volunteer opportunities and human services.\n (8) Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, an \n estimated 400 telephone hotlines were established in New York, \n New York, for various funds and services, creating a confusing \n network for victims and volunteers to navigate. A Comptroller \n General report on charitable aid following the terrorist \n attacks found that ``families of victims generally believed \n they had to navigate a maze of service providers in the early \n months'' and that ``good information about and easy access to \n available assistance could help survivors in the recovery \n process''.\n (9) The 107th Congress recognized the importance of 2-1-1 \n telephone service in community preparedness and response by \n including use of that telephone number for public information \n as an allowable use of funds under grants for preparedness and \n response to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies \n under section 319C-1 of the Public Health Service Act (42 \n U.S.C. 247d-3a), as added by section 131 of the Public Health \n Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 \n (Public Law 107-188).\n (10) While 20 percent of the population has access to 2-1-1 \n telephone service in 21 States, inadequate funding prevents \n access to that telephone service throughout each of the States. \n 2-1-1 telephone service is currently available statewide only \n in Connecticut and Hawaii.\n (11) Rapid deployment nationwide of 2-1-1 telephone service \n as a means of access to information about and referral on human \n services requires collaboration among State governments, \n comprehensive and specialized information and referral centers, \n human service organizations and service providers, emergency \n management and homeland security officials, telephone \n companies, and other relevant entities.\n (12) 2-1-1 telephone service facilitates the availability \n of a single repository where comprehensive data on all \n community services is collected, maintained, and updated \n regularly, reducing costs and duplication of efforts. The \n reliable data provided through 2-1-1 telephone service helps to \n better assess the needs of our communities and to immediately \n mobilize resources toward those needs.\n\nSEC. 3. GRANTS TO FACILITATE NATIONWIDE AVAILABILITY OF 2-1-1 SERVICE \n FOR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL ON HUMAN SERVICES.\n\n (a) Grants Required.--The Secretary of Commerce shall award a grant \nto each State to carry out a program for the purpose of making \navailable throughout such State 2-1-1 telephone service for information \nand referral on human services.\n (b) Grant To Be Available for Each State.--In awarding grants under \nthis section, the Secretary shall develop a formula for allocating \ngrant amounts among the States so that a grant may be awarded to each \nState seeking a grant.\n (c) Requirement on Share of Activities.--\n (1) Requirement.--A State may not be awarded a grant under \n this section unless the State ensures that at least 50 percent \n of the resources of the program funded by the grant will be \n derived from other sources.\n (2) In-kind contributions.--The requirement in paragraph \n (1) may be satisfied by in-kind contributions of goods or \n services.\n (d) Lead Entity.--\n (1) In general.--A State seeking a grant under this section \n shall carry out this section through a lead entity meeting the \n requirements of this subsection.\n (2) 2-1-1 Collaborative.--An entity shall be treated as the \n 2-1-1 Collaborative for a State under this subsection if the \n entity--\n (A) exists for such purpose under State law;\n (B) exists for such purpose by order of the State \n public utility commission; or\n (C) is a collaborative entity established by the \n State for such purpose from among representatives of--\n (i) an informal existing 2-1-1 statewide \n collaborative, if any, in the State;\n (ii) State agencies;\n (iii) community-based organizations;\n (iv) faith-based organizations;\n (v) not-for-profit organizations;\n (vi) comprehensive and specialized \n information and referral providers, including \n current 2-1-1 call centers;\n (vii) foundations; and\n (viii) businesses.\n (3) Requirements for preexisting lead entities.--An entity \n described by subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) may be \n treated as a lead entity under this subsection only if such \n entity collaborates, to the extent practicable, with the \n organizations and entities listed in subparagraph (C) of that \n paragraph.\n (e) Application.--\n (1) In general.--The lead entity on behalf of each State \n seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the \n Secretary an application therefor in such form as the Secretary \n shall require.\n (2) Information.--An application on behalf of a State under \n this subsection shall contain information as follows:\n (A) Information on the program to be carried out by \n the lead entity of the State in order to plan to make \n available throughout the State 2-1-1 telephone service \n for information and referral on human services, \n including information on the manner in which the lead \n entity will develop, sustain, and evaluate the program.\n (B) Information on the sources of resources for the \n program for purposes of meeting the requirement in \n subsection (c).\n (C) Any additional information that the Secretary \n may require for purposes of this section.\n (f) Subgrants.--\n (1) Authority.--In carrying out a program to make 2-1-1 \n telephone service available throughout a State at no charge to \n the caller, the lead entity of the State may make subgrants to \n such persons or entities as the lead entity considers \n appropriate for purposes of the program, including subgrants to \n provide funds--\n (A) for the provision of 2-1-1 telephone service;\n (B) for the operation and maintenance of 2-1-1 call \n centers; and\n (C) for such other purposes as the 2-1-1 \n Collaborative considers appropriate for purposes of the \n program, including planning, public awareness, \n training, accreditation, and evaluation.\n (2) Considerations.--In awarding a subgrant under this \n subsection, a lead entity shall consider--\n (A) the ability of the person or entity seeking the \n subgrant to carry out activities or provide services \n consistent with the program;\n (B) the extent to which the award of the subgrant \n will facilitate equitable geographic distribution of \n subgrants under this section to ensure that rural \n communities have access to 2-1-1 telephone service; and\n (C) the extent to which the recipient of the \n subgrant will establish and maintain cooperative \n relationships with specialized information and referral \n centers, crisis centers, 9-1-1 call centers, and 3-1-1 \n call centers, if applicable.\n (g) Use of Grant and Subgrant Amounts.--\n (1) In general.--Amounts awarded as grants or subgrants \n under this section shall be used solely to make available 2-1-1 \n telephone service for community information and referral on \n human services, including telephone connections between \n families and individuals seeking such services and the \n providers of such services.\n (2) Particular matters.--In making 2-1-1 telephone service \n available, the recipient of a grant or subgrant shall, to the \n maximum extent practicable--\n (A) abide by the Key Standards for 2-1-1 Centers as \n specified in the Standards for Professional Information \n and Referral Requirements for Alliance of Information \n Referral Systems (AIRS) Accreditation and Operating 2-\n 1-1 Systems; and\n (B) collaborate with human service organizations, \n whether public or private, to provide an exhaustive \n database of services with which to provide information \n or referral to individuals utilizing 2-1-1 telephone \n service.\n (3) Use of funds.--Amounts of a subgrant under subsection \n (e) may be used by grantees for Statewide and regional \n planning, start-up costs (including costs of software and \n hardware upgrades and telecommunications costs), training, \n accreditation, public awareness, evaluation of activities, and \n the provision of 2-1-1 telephone service.\n (h) Requirement on Allocation of Grant Amounts.--Of the amounts \nawarded under this section, an aggregate of not less than 10 percent \nshall be allocated for evaluation, training, and technical assistance, \nand for management and administration of subgrants awarded under this \nsection.\n (i) Reports.--The lead entity of each State awarded a grant under \nthis section for a fiscal year shall submit to the Secretary, not later \nthan 60 days after the end of such fiscal year, a report on the program \nfunded by the grant. Each report shall--\n (1) describe the program funding by the grant; and\n (2) assess the effectiveness of the program in making \n available throughout such State 2-1-1 telephone service for \n information and referral on human services in accordance with \n the provisions of this section.\n (j) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Human services.--The term ``human services'' means \n services as follows:\n (A) Services that assist individuals in becoming \n more self-sufficient, in preventing dependency, and in \n strengthening family relationships.\n (B) Services that support personal and social \n development.\n (C) Services that help ensure the health and well-\n being of individuals, families, and communities.\n (2) Information and referral center.--The term \n ``information and referral center'' means a center that--\n (A) maintains a database of providers of human \n services in a State or locality;\n (B) assists individuals, families, and communities \n in identifying, understanding, and accessing the \n providers of human services and the human services \n offered by the providers of such services; and\n (C) tracks types of calls referred and received to \n document the demands for services.\n (3) State.--The term ``State'' means the several States, \n the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the \n Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of \n the Northern Mariana Islands.\n\nSEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry \nout this Act amounts as follows:\n (1) For fiscal year 2004, $200,000,000.\n (2) For each of fiscal years 2005 through 2009, such sums \n as may be necessary.\n (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the \nauthorization of appropriations in subsection (a) shall remain \navailable until expended.", "summary": "Calling for 2-1-1 Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to award a grant to each State to carry out a program for making available throughout that State the 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on human services. Requires a participating State to ensure that at least 50 percent of the resources of the program funded by the grant will be derived from other sources. Requires a State seeking a grant to carry out its activities through a lead entity to be known as a 2-1-1 Collaborative.\n\nRequires grant amounts to be used solely to make available to a State 2-1-1 telephone service for community information and referral on human services, including telephone connections between families and individuals seeking services and the service providers.\n\nRequires grant recipients to: (1) abide by the Key Standards for 2-1-1 Centers; and (2) collaborate with human service organizations to provide an exhaustive database of services with which to provide information or referral to individuals utilizing the 2-1-1 service.", "title": "A bill to facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral services, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2841, "text": "SECTION 1. ROCKY FLATS ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY SITE.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this Act:\n (1) Essential mineral right.--The term ``essential mineral \n right'' means a right to mine sand and gravel at Rocky Flats, \n as depicted on the map.\n (2) Fair market value.--The term ``fair market value'' \n means the value of an essential mineral right, as determined by \n an appraisal performed by an independent, certified mineral \n appraiser under the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal \n Practice.\n (3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Rocky \n Flats National Wildlife Refuge'', dated July 25, 2005, and \n available for inspection in appropriate offices of the United \n States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Energy.\n (4) Natural resource damage liability claim.--The term \n ``natural resource damage liability claim'' means a natural \n resource damage liability claim under subsections (a)(4)(C) and \n (f) of section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, \n Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9607) \n arising from hazardous substances releases at or from Rocky \n Flats that, as of the date of enactment of this Act, are \n identified in the administrative record for Rocky Flats \n required by the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution \n Contingency Plan prepared under section 105 of that Act (42 \n U.S.C. 9605).\n (5) Rocky flats.--The term ``Rocky Flats'' means the \n Department of Energy facility in the State of Colorado known as \n the ``Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site''.\n (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Energy.\n (7) Trustees.--The term ``Trustees'' means the Federal and \n State officials designated as trustees under section 107(f)(2) \n of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and \n Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9607(f)(2)).\n (b) Purchase of Essential Mineral Rights.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of \n enactment of this Act, such amounts authorized to be \n appropriated under subsection (c) shall be available to the \n Secretary to purchase essential mineral rights at Rocky Flats.\n (2) Conditions.--The Secretary shall not purchase an \n essential mineral right under paragraph (1) unless--\n (A) the owner of the essential mineral right is a \n willing seller; and\n (B) the Secretary purchases the essential mineral \n right for an amount that does not exceed fair market \n value.\n (3) Limitation.--Only those funds authorized to be \n appropriated under subsection (c) shall be available for the \n Secretary to purchase essential mineral rights under paragraph \n (1).\n (4) Release from liability.--Notwithstanding any other law, \n any natural resource damage liability claim shall be considered \n to be satisfied by--\n (A) the purchase by the Secretary of essential \n mineral rights under paragraph (1) for consideration in \n an amount equal to $10,000,000;\n (B) the payment by the Secretary to the Trustees of \n $10,000,000; or\n (C) the purchase by the Secretary of any portion of \n the mineral rights under paragraph (1) for--\n (i) consideration in an amount less than \n $10,000,000; and\n (ii) a payment by the Secretary to the \n Trustees of an amount equal to the difference \n between--\n (I) $10,000,000; and\n (II) the amount paid under clause \n (i).\n (5) Use of funds.--\n (A) In general.--Any amounts received under \n paragraph (4) shall be used by the Trustees for the \n purposes described in section 107(f)(1) of the \n Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and \n Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9607(f)(1)), \n including--\n (i) the purchase of additional mineral \n rights at Rocky Flats; and\n (ii) the development of habitat restoration \n projects at Rocky Flats.\n (B) Condition.--Any expenditure of funds under this \n paragraph shall be made jointly by the Trustees.\n (C) Additional funds.--The Trustees may use the \n funds received under paragraph (4) in conjunction with \n other private and public funds.\n (6) Exemption from national environmental policy act.--Any \n purchases of mineral rights under this subsection shall be \n exempt from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 \n U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).\n (7) Rocky flats national wildlife refuge.--\n (A) Transfer of management responsibilities.--The \n Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001 (16 \n U.S.C. 668dd note; Public Law 107-107) is amended--\n (i) in section 3175--\n (I) by striking subsections (b) and \n (f); and\n (II) by redesignating subsections \n (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (b), \n (c), and (d), respectively; and\n (ii) in section 3176(a)(1), by striking \n ``section 3175(d)'' and inserting ``section \n 3175(c)''.\n (B) Boundaries.--Section 3177 of the Rocky Flats \n National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001 (16 U.S.C. 668dd \n note; Public Law 107-107) is amended by striking \n subsection (c) and inserting the following:\n ``(c) Composition.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the \n refuge shall consist of land within the boundaries of Rocky \n Flats, as depicted on the map--\n ``(A) entitled `Rocky Flats National Wildlife \n Refuge';\n ``(B) dated July 25, 2005; and\n ``(C) available for inspection in the appropriate \n offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service \n and the Department of Energy.\n ``(2) Exclusions.--The refuge does not include--\n ``(A) any land retained by the Department of Energy \n for response actions under section 3175(c);\n ``(B) any land depicted on the map described in \n paragraph (1) that is subject to 1 or more essential \n mineral rights described in section 3114(a) of the \n National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 \n over which the Secretary shall retain jurisdiction of \n the surface estate until the essential mineral rights--\n ``(i) are purchased under subsection (b) of \n that Act; or\n ``(ii) are mined and reclaimed by the \n mineral rights holders in accordance with \n requirements established by the State of \n Colorado; and\n ``(C) the land depicted on the map described in \n paragraph (1) on which essential mineral rights are \n being actively mined as of the date of enactment of \n this subparagraph until--\n ``(i) the essential mineral rights are \n purchased; or\n ``(ii) the surface estate is reclaimed by \n the mineral rights holder in accordance with \n requirements established by the State of \n Colorado.\n ``(3) Acquisition of additional land.--Notwithstanding \n paragraph (2), upon the purchase of the mineral rights or \n reclamation of the land depicted on the map described in \n paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--\n ``(A) transfer the land to the Secretary of the \n Interior for inclusion in the refuge; and\n ``(B) the Secretary of the Interior shall--\n ``(i) accept the transfer of the land; and\n ``(ii) manage the land as part of the \n refuge.''.\n (c) Funding.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated to the \nSecretary for the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site for fiscal \nyear 2006, $10,000,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for the \npurposes described in subsection (b).", "summary": "States that specified funds authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (Colorado) shall be available to the Secretary for the purchase of essential mineral rights at Rocky Flats.\n\nPrescribes related conditions under which any natural resource damage liability claim shall be deemed to be satisfied.\n\nExempts mineral rights purchased under this Act from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.\n\nAmends the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001 to repeal the mandate for a Memorandum of Understanding in connection with the transfer to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibilities and jurisdiction over Rocky Flats. Repeals, also, the prohibiton against any reduction in funds available to the Secretary of Energy for cleanup and closure of Rocky Flats as a result of such transfer.\n\nRevises the composition of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and excludes specified lands subject to certain essential mineral rights.", "title": "A bill to authorize the Secretary of Energy to purchase certain essential mineral rights and resolve natural resource damage liability claims."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3071, "text": "SECTION 1. MODIFICATION OF REFINED COAL CREDIT TO INCLUDE QUALIFIED \n COAL WASTE SLUDGE RECYCLING.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n(relating to electricity produced from certain renewable resources, \netc.) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (b)(2) by inserting ``the $3.00 amount in \n subsection (e)(8)(B),'' after ``the $4.375 amount in subsection \n (e)(8)(A),'',\n (2) in subsection (b)(2) by striking ``subsection \n (e)(8)(B)(i)'' and inserting ``subsection (e)(8)(C)(i)'',\n (3) in subsection (c)(7) by adding at the end the \n following:\n ``(C) Refined coal from a qualified coal waste \n sludge recycling process.--Refined coal shall also \n include, without regard to subparagraphs (A) and (B) \n hereof, a solid fuel produced from a qualified coal \n waste sludge recycling process.'',\n (4) in subsection (d)(8) by striking ``2009.'' and \n inserting ``2009, or in the case of a facility that uses a \n qualified coal waste sludge recycling process, a facility that \n was placed in service not later than one year after the date of \n enactment of the credit under this section for refined coal \n from a qualified coal waste sludge recycling process. For \n purposes of this subsection, a qualified coal waste sludge \n recycling facility shall be treated as placed in service when \n such facility is in place and functioning to process coal with \n coal waste sludge. A `qualified coal waste sludge recycling \n facility' includes a plant, comprised of one or more batch \n tanks and/or one or more storage tanks, steam and spray pipes, \n processing pumps, variable speed drives, a flowmeter and \n related electrical equipment, that processes coal and liquefied \n coal waste sludge.'',\n (5) in subsection (e)(8)(A) by inserting ``(other than \n refined coal from a qualified coal waste sludge recycling \n process)'' after ``refined coal'' the first place it appears,\n (6) in subsection (e)(8) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) \n and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively, and by \n inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(B) Availability and determination of credit \n amount for refined coal from a qualified coal waste \n sludge recycling process.--In the case of a producer of \n refined coal from a qualified coal waste sludge \n recycling process, there shall be allowed a credit for \n the taxable year under this section of $3.00 per \n barrel-of-oil equivalent of refined coal from a \n qualified coal waste sludge recycling process--\n ``(i) produced by the taxpayer at a \n facility using a refined coal from qualified \n coal waste sludge recycling process during the \n period beginning on the date of enactment of \n this subparagraph and ending on the date that \n is four years from the later of the first day \n of the fifth full month after the date of \n enactment of this subparagraph or its placed-\n in-service date, and\n ``(ii) sold by the taxpayer--\n ``(I) to an unrelated person, and\n ``(II) during such period and \n taxable year.\n For purposes of the preceding sentence, barrel-\n of-oil equivalent is the amount of refined coal \n from a qualified coal waste sludge recycling \n process that has a Btu content of 5.8 \n million.'',\n (7) in subsection (e)(8)(C), as redesignated by paragraph \n (6), by striking ``The amount'' and inserting ``Except for a \n facility producing refined coal from a qualified coal waste \n sludge recycling process, the amount'',\n (8) in subsection (e)(8), as amended by paragraph (6), by \n adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(E) Qualified coal waste sludge recycling \n process.--\n ``(i) Definition.--For purposes of this \n section, a `qualified coal waste sludge \n recycling process' means a process using a \n facility to liquefy coal waste sludge and \n distribute the liquefied coal waste sludge on \n the coal to create a feedstock for the \n manufacture of coke. The term `coal waste \n sludge' means the tar decanter sludge and \n related byproducts of the coking process, \n including such materials that have been stored \n in ground, in tanks and in lagoons, that have \n been treated as hazardous wastes under \n applicable Federal environmental rules absent \n liquefaction and processing with coal into a \n feedstock for the manufacture of coke. The \n process liquefies coal waste sludge and \n distributes approximately one-quarter to one-\n half gallon of liquefied coal waste sludge per \n each ton of metallurgical coal. Liquefied coal \n waste sludge in excess of such amounts would \n have adverse effects on the operations and \n equipment of the coke batteries that use \n refined coal from a qualified coal waste sludge \n recycling process as a feedstock for coke. Coal \n waste sludge has an energy content ranging from \n 7,000 to 16,000 Btus per pound.\n ``(ii) Interaction between section 45 and \n section 45k; cross reference.--A taxpayer \n selling refined coal from a qualified coal \n waste sludge recycling process shall be \n entitled to a credit under this section for all \n such refined coal that meets the requirements \n of this section. The credit under this section \n shall be available notwithstanding the fact \n that such refined coal is purchased for use as \n a feedstock for coke by a taxpayer that has \n previously claimed credits under section 45K \n for the production of coke or coke gas. For \n rules applicable to taxpayers producing coke or \n coke gas from refined coal from a qualified \n coal waste sludge recycling process, see \n section 45K(h).'', and\n (9) in subsection (e)(9)(B) by striking ``The term'' and \n inserting ``Except for a facility producing refined coal from a \n qualified coal waste sludge recycling process, the term''.\n (b) No Double Benefit; Cross Reference.--Section 45K of such Code \nis amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(h) No Double Benefit; Cross Reference.--No credit shall be \nallowed under this section for coke or coke gas manufactured from \nrefined coal from a qualified coal waste sludge recycling process (as \ndefined by section 45(e)(8)(E)(i)) for which credits have been claimed \nunder section 45; provided that taxpayers may claim the credit under \nthis section for coke or coke gas produced from feedstocks for which a \nrefined coal credit under section 45 has not been claimed. For rules \ngoverning the interaction of section 45 and this section that are \napplicable to taxpayers producing refined coal from a qualified coal \nwaste sludge recycling process, see section 45(e)(8)(E)(ii).''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply to \nrefined coal produced after the date of enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the definition of \"refined coal\" for purposes of the tax credit for electricity produced from certain renewable resources to include coal produced from a qualified coal waste sludge recycling process. Defines \"qualified coal waste sludge recycling process\" as a process using a facility to liquefy coal waste sludge and distribute the liquefied coal waste sludge on the coal to create a feedstock for the manufacture of coke.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the refined coal credit to include qualified coal waste sludge recycling."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1106, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``United Nations Rapid Deployment \nPolice and Security Force Act of 2000''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) United States Presidential Decision Directive 71 calls \n for a stronger United States response to maintaining order in \n societies recovering from conflict. It aims to improve \n coordination of United States efforts and to enhance the \n ability of other countries, the United Nations, and regional \n organizations to plan, mount, and sustain operations in support \n of the rule of law.\n (2) In a press briefing on February 24, 2000, Secretary of \n State Madeleine Albright stated the following: ``The recent \n slowness in deploying desperately needed civilian police to \n Kosovo provides only the latest evidence that present \n international capabilities are not adequate. And the ongoing \n deployment of CIVPOL teams to East Timor and Sierra Leone show \n that the need will not soon diminish. In response, we must \n recognize that old models of peacekeeping don't always meet \n current challenges. Peace operations today often require skills \n that are neither strictly military nor strictly police but, \n rather, a combination of the two. The international community \n needs to identify and train units that are able to control \n crowds, deter vigilante actions, prevent looting and disarm \n civilian agitators while, at the same time, winning the trust \n of the communities in which they are deployed.''.\n (3) In his April 2000 report, ``We the Peoples, The Role of \n the United Nations in the 21st Century'', United Nations \n Secretary General Kofi Annan states that only member nations of \n the United Nations can fix the ``structural weakness of United \n Nations peace operations . . . Our system for launching \n operations has sometimes been compared to a volunteer fire \n department, but that description is too generous. Every time \n there is a fire, we must first find fire engines and the funds \n to run them before we can start dousing any flames. The present \n system relies almost entirely on last minute, ad hoc \n arrangements that guarantee delay, with respect to the \n provision of civilian personnel even more so than military. \n Although we have understandings for military standby \n arrangements with Member States, the availability of the \n designated forces is unpredictable and very few are in a state \n of high readiness. Resource constraints preclude us even from \n being able to deploy a mission headquarters rapidly.''.\n (4) The December 1999 United Nations ``Report on the \n Independent Inquiry into the Actions of the United Nations \n During the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda'' indicates that in April \n 1994, the United Nations Security Council failed to deploy \n 5,500 United Nations peacekeepers to Rwanda within two weeks of \n the initial violence, thereby allowing the conflict to \n escalate. The 6-month estimated cost of the deployment would \n have been $115,000,000. Instead, the genocide consumed 800,000 \n lives along with $2,000,000,000 in humanitarian aid.\n (5) In Srebrenica, Bosnia, on July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serb \n troops forced the retreat of Dutch United Nations peacekeepers \n who were part of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and \n Herzegovina (UNMIBH) from a ``safe haven'', resulting in the \n massacre of 7,000 Bosnian civilians and expulsion of 40,000 \n Bosnian civilians.\n (6) The United Nations peacekeeping budget estimate for the \n United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina from July 1, \n 1997, to June 30, 1998, was $165,600,000, while the North \n Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-sponsored intervention in \n the Serbian province of Kosovo cost $37,000,000 per day.\n (7) In July 1999, 4,700 civilian police officers were \n requested to be deployed to the Serbian province of Kosovo but, \n as of April 17, 2000, the United Nations has deployed only \n 2,901 of the requested police officers, resulting in the \n breakdown of law and order and the escalation of unrest in \n Kosovo.\n (8) In May 2000, Revolutionary United Front rebels in \n Sierra Leone, in violation of the ceasefire and peace accords, \n captured and held prisoner approximately 500 United Nations \n Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) peacekeepers. The weapons, \n equipment, and vehicles of the peacekeepers were also seized. \n The UNAMSIL force had been deployed too slowly and was \n undertrained and understaffed, consisting of only 8,700 \n peacekeepers of the 11,000 peacekeepers requested by the United \n Nations Security Council.\n (9) On February 24, 2000, the United Nations Security \n Council approved a United States-sponsored proposal to send \n 5,537 troops on an observer mission to the Democratic Republic \n of the Congo (to be known as the United Nations Organization \n Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)), a \n Republic \\1/3\\ the size of the United States, to monitor the \n implementation of the Lusaka accords. However, it will take at \n least three months to deploy the required forces. On April 25, \n 2000, South African Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma urged rapid \ndeployment of the troops and stated ``[i]f deployment is very slow [the \naccords] can fall apart . . . The troops should have been deployed a \nlong time ago.''.\n (10) The United States has the power in the United Nations \n Security Council to veto decisions that are not within the \n national interests of the United States.\n\nSEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNITED NATIONS RAPID DEPLOYMENT POLICE AND \n SECURITY FORCE.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The President shall direct the United States \nrepresentative to the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and \ninfluence of the United States to urge the United Nations--\n (1) to establish a United Nations Rapid Deployment Police \n and Security Force that is rapidly deployable, under the \n authority of the United Nations Security Council, and trained \n to standardized objectives;\n (2) to recruit personnel to serve in this Force; and\n (3) to provide equitable and reliable funding for the \n United Nations Rapid Deployment Police and Security Force.\n (b) Mission Statement.--The United Nations Rapid Deployment Police \nand Security Force should have a mission statement that provides for \nthe following:\n (1) The United Nations Rapid Deployment Police and Security \n Force will engage in operations when--\n (A) the United Nations Security Council determines \n that an imminent threat to the peace requires a \n preventive deployment of forces and the Security \n Council deems it as an appropriate response;\n (B) the United Nations Security Council determines \n ongoing gross violations of human rights or breaches of \n the peace require rapid intervention by the \n international community and the Security Council deems \n it as an appropriate response;\n (C) peace has been restored to a region but the \n rule of law has not yet been reestablished and when \n national civilian police or United Nations member \n nations personnel are not available and the Security \n Council deems it as an appropriate response; or\n (D) the United Nations Rapid Deployment Police and \n Security Force can utilize its personnel to help train \n the military and civilian police of member nations of \n the United Nations to better participate in \n international peace operations.\n (2) The United Nations Rapid Deployment Police and Security \n Force will consist of not more than 6000 personnel who are--\n (A) placed under the authority of the United \n Nations Security Council;\n (B) under the direction of the Secretary General of \n the United Nations;\n (C) deployed only by United Nations Security \n Council resolution;\n (D) volunteers from United Nations member nations \n employed directly by the United Nations;\n (E) trained as a single unit, appropriately \n equipped, expressly for international peace operations \n including civilian policing; and\n (F) rapidly deployable.\n (3) The United Nations Rapid Deployment Police and Security \n Force will be organized as a sub-department within the United \n Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations or under the \n control of the United Nations's Military Staff Committee and \n will contain personnel trained as military staff officers and \n civilian police officers to be deployed immediately to a \n potential conflict area.\n (4) The deployment of the United Nations Rapid Deployment \n Police and Security Force will be limited to a maximum of 6 \n months, at which time the Police and Security Force would be \n replaced by personnel supplied by United Nations member \n nations.\n (5) The basing and infrastructure service of the United \n Nations Rapid Deployment Police and Security Force will be \n leased from existing member nations' institutions.\n\nSEC. 5. REPORT ON UNITED NATIONS RAPID DEPLOYMENT POLICE AND SECURITY \n FORCE.\n\n Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the \nPresident shall prepare and transmit to the Congress a report on the \nprogress of negotiations with the United Nations and its member nations \nregarding the creation of a United Nations Rapid Deployment Police and \nSecurity Force described in section 3.\n\nSEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) The term ``international peace operations'' means--\n (A) any such operation carried out under chapter VI \n or chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations; \n and\n (B) any such United Nations operation that includes \n civilian policing.\n (2) The term ``rapidly deployable'' refers to the capacity \n to deploy military or civilian personnel to a region undergoing \n conflict within 15 days of the enactment of a United Nations \n Security Council resolution authorizing a deployment.", "summary": "Declares that the Force should have a mission statement that: (1) specifies when it will engage in operations, including when the Security Council determines that an imminent threat to the peace requires a preventive deployment or that ongoing gross violations of human rights or breaches of the peace require rapid intervention; (2) provides that the Force will consist of not more than 6,000 volunteers from UN member nations who will be deployed only by Security Council resolution; (3) provides that the Force will be organized as a sub-department within the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations or under the control of the UN's Military Staff Committee; (4) limits Force deployment to a maximum of six months; and (5) requires its basing and infrastructure service to be leased from existing member nations' institutions.", "title": "United Nations Rapid Deployment Police and Security Force Act of 2000"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 240, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Alternatives for Energy \nIndependence Act of 2005''.\n\nSEC. 2. REPEAL OF TAX SUBSIDIES ENACTED BY THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF \n 2005 FOR OIL AND GAS.\n\n (a) Repeal.--The following provisions, and amendments made by such \nprovisions, of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 are hereby repealed:\n (1) Section 1323 (relating to temporary expensing for \n equipment used in refining of liquid fuels).\n (2) Section 1324 (relating to pass through to owners of \n deduction for capital costs incurred by small refiner \n cooperatives in complying with Environmental Protection Agency \n sulfur regulations).\n (3) Section 1325 (relating to natural gas distribution \n lines treated as 15-year property).\n (4) Section 1326 (relating to natural gas gathering lines \n treated as 7-year property).\n (5) Section 1328 (relating to determination of small \n refiner exception to oil depletion deduction).\n (6) Section 1329 (relating to amortization of geological \n and geophysical expenditures).\n (b) Administration of Internal Revenue Code of 1986.--The Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 shall be applied and administered as if the \nprovisions, and amendments, specified in subsection (a) had never been \nenacted.\n\nSEC. 3. INCREASE IN FUEL CELL TAX INCENTIVES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND \n BUSINESS USES.\n\n (a) Residential Use.--Subparagraph (C) of section 25D(b)(1) of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to maximum credit) is amended \nby striking ``$500'' and inserting ``$1,000''.\n (b) Business Use.--\n (1) Increase.--Subparagraph (B) of section (48)(c)(1) of \n such Code (relating to qualified fuel cell property) is amended \n by striking ``$500'' and inserting ``$1,000''.\n (2) Extension.--Subparagraph (E) of section (48)(c)(1) of \n such Code (relating to termination) is amended by striking \n ``December 31, 2007'' and inserting ``December 31, 2012''.\n\nSEC. 4. ALTERNATIVE MOTOR VEHICLE TAX INCENTIVES.\n\n (a) Increases in Credit.--\n (1) New qualified fuel cell motor vehicle.--Subsection (b) \n of section 30B of such Code (relating to new qualified fuel \n cell motor vehicle credit) is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (1)--\n (i) by striking ``$8,000'' in subparagraph \n (A) and inserting ``$16,000'',\n (ii) by striking ``$10,000'' in \n subparagraph (B) and inserting ``$20,000'',\n (iii) by striking ``$20,000'' in \n subparagraph (C) and inserting ``$40,000'', and\n (iv) by striking ``$40,000'' in \n subparagraph (D) and inserting ``$80,000'', and\n (B) in paragraph (2)(A)--\n (i) by striking ``$1,000'' in clause (i) \n and inserting ``$2,000'',\n (ii) by striking ``$1,500'' in clause (ii) \n and inserting ``$3,000'',\n (iii) by striking ``$2,000'' in clause \n (iii) and inserting ``$4,000'',\n (iv) by striking ``$2,500'' in clause (iv) \n and inserting ``$5,000'',\n (v) by striking ``$3,000'' in clause (v) \n and inserting ``$6,000'',\n (vi) by striking ``$3,500'' in clause (vi) \n and inserting ``$7,000'', and\n (vii) by striking ``$4,000'' in clause \n (vii) and inserting ``$8,000''.\n (2) New advanced lean burn technology motor vehicle.--\n (A) Fuel economy.--The table in clause (i) of \n section 30B(c)(2)(A) of such Code (relating to fuel \n economy) is amended--\n (i) by striking ``$400'' and inserting \n ``$800'',\n (ii) by striking ``$800'' and inserting \n ``$1,600'',\n (iii) by striking ``$1,200'' and inserting \n ``$2,400'',\n (iv) by striking ``$1,600'' and inserting \n ``$3,200'',\n (v) by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting \n ``$4,000'', and\n (vi) by striking ``$2,400'' and inserting \n ``$4,800''.\n (B) Conservation.--The table in subparagraph (B) of \n section 30B(c)(2) of such Code (relating to \n conservation credit) is amended--\n (i) by striking ``$250'' and inserting \n ``$500'',\n (ii) by striking ``$500'' and inserting \n ``$1,000'',\n (iii) by striking ``$750'' and inserting \n ``$1,500'', and\n (iv) by striking ``$1,000'' and inserting \n ``$2,000''.\n (b) Expansion of Number of New Qualified Hybrid and Advanced Lean \nBurn Technology Vehicles Eligible for Credit.--Paragraph (2) of section \n30B(f) of such Code (relating to phaseout) is amended by striking \n``60,000'' and inserting ``120,000''.\n (c) Increase in Credit for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling \nProperty.--Subsection (b) of section 30C of such Code (relating to \nlimitation) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``$30,000'' and inserting \n ``$60,000'', and\n (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``$1,000'' and inserting \n ``$2,000''.\n (d) Extensions of Incentives.--\n (1) New qualified fuel cell motor vehicle.--Paragraph (1) \n of section 30B(j) of such Code (relating to termination) is \n amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and inserting \n ``December 31, 2019''.\n (2) Alternative fuel vehicle refueling property.--\n (A) Hydrogen-related property.--Paragraph (1) of \n section 30C(g) of such Code (relating to termination) \n is amended by striking ``December 31, 2014'' and \n inserting ``December 31, 2019''.\n (B) Other fuels-related property.--Paragraph (2) of \n section 30C(g) of such Code (relating to termination) \n is amended by striking ``December 31, 2009'' and \n inserting ``December 31, 2011''.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect as if included in the provisions of the Energy Policy Act of \n2005 to which they relate.", "summary": "Clean Alternatives for Energy Independence Act of 2005 - Repeals certain tax benefits relating to oil and natural gas enacted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.\n\nAmends the Internal Revenue Code to increase: (1) the tax credit for investment in residential and business fuel cell property; (2) the tax credit for investment in fuel cell motor and advanced lean burn technology motor vehicles; (3) the number of hybrid and advanced lean burn technology vehicles eligible for the alternative motor vehicle tax credit; and (4) the tax credit for investment in commercial and residential alternative fuel vehicle refueling property. Extends through 2012 the tax credit for business fuel cell property.\n\nExtends through 2019 the tax credits for: (1) investment in qualified fuel cell motor vehicles; (2) investment in alternative fuel vehicle refueling hydrogen-related property (through 2011 for other fuel-related property).", "title": "To repeal tax subsidies for oil and gas enacted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and to use the proceeds to double certain alternative energy incentives provided for in such Act."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1071, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Children's Education Tax Credit \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. CREDIT FOR EDUCATION EXPENSES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable credits) \nis amended by redesignating section 35 as section 36 and by inserting \nafter section 34 the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 35. EDUCATION EXPENSES.\n\n ``(a) General Rule.--In the case of an individual, there shall be \nallowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for the \ntaxable year, the amount of the qualified education expenses paid by \nthe taxpayer during the taxable year for the education of the taxpayer, \nthe taxpayer's spouse, or any individual with respect to whom the \ntaxpayer is allowed a deduction under section 151(c).\n ``(b) Limitation.--\n ``(1) Amount per individual.--The amount allowed as a \n credit under subsection (a) for any taxable year with respect \n to the qualified education expenses of any 1 individual shall \n not exceed $450.\n ``(2) Proration of credit where more than one taxpayer pays \n expenses.--If the qualified education expenses of an individual \n are paid by more than one taxpayer during any calendar year, \n the dollar limitation under paragraph (1) shall be allocated \n among such taxpayers in proportion to their respective shares \n of the qualified education expenses of such individual paid \n during such calendar year by all such taxpayers.\n ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Qualified education expenses.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified education \n expenses' means amounts paid for--\n ``(i) tuition and fees required for the \n enrollment or attendance of a student at an \n eligible educational institution, and\n ``(ii) fees, books, supplies, and equipment \n required for courses of instruction at an \n eligible educational institution.\n ``(B) Meals and lodging expenses not included.--\n Such term does not include any amount paid, directly or \n indirectly, for meals, lodging, or similar personal, \n living, or family expenses. In the event an amount paid \n for tuition or fees includes an amount for meals, \n lodging, or similar expenses which is not separately \n stated, the portion of such amount which is \n attributable to meals, lodging, or similar expenses \n shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the \n Secretary.\n ``(C) Special rule for home schooling.--In the case \n of education furnished in the home (as a substitute for \n public education) which meets the requirements of State \n law relating to compulsory school attendance, the term \n `qualified education expenses' means amounts paid for \n books, computer software, and other supplies used in \n furnishing such education.\n ``(2) Eligible educational institution.--The term `eligible \n educational institution' means--\n ``(A) an institution of higher education,\n ``(B) a vocational school,\n ``(C) a secondary school, or\n ``(D) an elementary school.\n ``(3) Institution of higher education.--The term \n `institution of higher education' means the institutions \n described in section 1201(a) or 481(a) of the Higher Education \n Act of 1965.\n ``(4) Vocational school.--The term `vocational school' \n means an area vocational education school as defined in section \n 521(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act.\n ``(5) Elementary and secondary schools.--The terms \n `elementary school' and `secondary school' have the respective \n meanings given such terms by section 14101 of the Elementary \n and Secondary Education Act of 1965.\n ``(d) Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Adjustment for certain scholarships and veterans' \n benefits.--The amounts otherwise taken into account under \n subsection (a) as qualified education expenses of any \n individual during any period shall be reduced (before the \n application of subsection (b)) by the sum of the amounts \n referred to in section 135(d)(1) which are received with \n respect to such individual for the taxable year.\n ``(2) Eligible courses.--Except as provided in subsection \n (c)(1)(C), amounts paid for qualified education expenses of any \n individual shall be taken into account under subsection (a) \n only to the extent such expenses--\n ``(A) are attributable to courses of instruction \n offered by an elementary or secondary school, or\n ``(B) are attributable to courses of instruction \n for which credit is allowed toward a baccalaureate or \n graduate degree by an institution of higher education \n or toward a certificate of required course work at a \n vocational school.\n ``(3) Individual must be at least half-time student.--\n Except as provided in subsection (c)(1)(C), no credit shall be \n allowed under subsection (a) for amounts paid during the \n taxable year for qualified education expenses with respect to \n any individual unless that individual, during any 4 calendar \n months during the calendar year in which the taxable year of \n the taxpayer begins, is at least a half-time student at an \n eligible education institution.\n ``(4) Spouse.--No credit shall be allowed under subsection \n (a) for amounts paid during the taxable year for qualified \n education expenses for the spouse of the taxpayer unless--\n ``(A) the taxpayer is entitled to an exemption for \n his spouse under section 151(b) for the taxable year, \n or\n ``(B) the taxpayer files a joint return with his \n spouse for the taxable year.\n ``(e) Disallowance of Expenses as Deduction.--No deduction shall be \nallowed under section 162 (relating to trade or business expenses) for \nany qualified education expense which (after the application of \nsubsection (b)) is taken into account in determining the amount of any \ncredit allowed under subsection (a). The preceding sentence shall not \napply to the qualified education expenses of any taxpayer who, under \nregulations prescribed by the Secretary, elects not to apply the \nprovisions of this section with respect to such expenses for the \ntaxable year.\n ``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations \nas may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.''\n (b) Technical Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United \n States Code, is amended by inserting before the period ``or \n from section 35 of such Code''.\n (2) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of \n subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking \n the last item and inserting the following new items:\n\n ``Sec. 35. Education expenses.\n ``Sec. 36. Overpayments of tax.''\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "Children's Education Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish an annual tax credit (up to $450 for each qualifying student) for qualified educational expenses (tuition, attendance fees, books, supplies, equipment) paid by a taxpayer for the taxpayer, a spouse, or a dependent. \nProvides for: (1) credit proration in cases of shared expenses; (2) inclusion of certain home schooling expenses; and (3) adjustments for certain scholarships and veterans' benefits. \nDefines \"eligible educational institution\" as an institution of higher education, or a vocational, secondary, or elementary school.", "title": "Children's Education Tax Credit Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2229, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This title may be cited as the ``21st Century Media Responsibility \nAct of 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. SYSTEM FOR LABELING VIOLENT CONTENT IN AUDIO AND VISUAL MEDIA \n PRODUCTS.\n\n (a) Declaration of Policy.--Section 2 of the Federal Cigarette \nLabeling and Advertising Act (15 U.S.C. 1331) is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``(a) Policy Regarding Cigarettes.--'' \n before ``It is the policy of the Congress''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(b) Policy Regarding Violence in Audio and Visual Media \nProducts.--It is also the policy of Congress, and the purpose of this \nAct, to provide for the establishment, use, and enforcement of a \nconsistent and comprehensive system for labeling violent content in \naudio and visual media products (including labeling of such products in \nthe advertisements for such products), whereby--\n ``(1) the public may be adequately informed of--\n ``(A) the nature, context, and intensity of \n depictions of violence in audio and visual media \n products; and\n ``(B) matters needed to judge the appropriateness \n of the purchase, viewing, listening to, use, or other \n consumption of audio and visual media products \n containing violent content by minors of various ages; \n and\n ``(2) the public may be assured of--\n ``(A) the accuracy and consistency of the system in \n labeling the nature, context, and intensity of \n depictions of violence in audio and visual media \n products; and\n ``(B) the accuracy and consistency of the system in \n providing information on matters needed to judge the \n appropriateness of the purchase, viewing, listening to, \n use, or other consumption of audio and visual media \n products containing violent content by minors of \n various ages.''.\n (b) Labeling of Audio and Visual Media Products.--That Act is \nfurther amended by inserting after section 4 (15 U.S.C. 1333) the \nfollowing new section:\n\n ``labeling of audio and visual media products\n\n ``Sec. 4A. (a) Voluntary Labeling System.--(1) Manufacturers and \nproducers of interactive video game products and services, video \nprogram products, motion picture products, and sound recording products \nmay submit to the Federal Trade Commission a joint proposal for a \nsystem for labeling the violent content in interactive video game \nproducts and services, video program products, motion picture products, \nand sound recording products.\n ``(2) The proposal under this subsection should, to the maximum \nextent practicable, meet the requirements set forth in subsection (b).\n ``(3)(A) The antitrust laws shall not apply to any joint \ndiscussion, consideration, review, action, or agreement between or \namong manufacturers and producers referred to in paragraph (1) for \npurposes of developing a joint proposal for a system for labeling \nreferred to in that paragraph.\n ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `antitrust laws' has \nthe meaning given such term in the first section of the Clayton Act (15 \nU.S.C. 12) and includes section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act \n(15 U.S.C. 45).\n ``(b) Requirements for Labeling System.--A system for labeling the \nviolent content in interactive video game products and services, video \nprogram products, motion picture products, and sound recording products \nunder this section shall meet the following requirements:\n ``(1) The label of a product or service shall consist of a \n single label which--\n ``(A) takes into account the nature, context, and \n intensity of the depictions of violence in the product \n or service; and\n ``(B) assesses the totality of all depictions of \n violence in the product or service.\n ``(2) The label of a product or service shall specify a \n minimum age in years for the purchase, viewing, listening to, \n use, or consumption of the product or service in light of the \n totality of all depictions of violence in the product or \n service.\n ``(3) The format of the label for products and services \n shall--\n ``(A) incorporate each label provided for under \n paragraphs (1) and (2);\n ``(B) include a symbol or icon, and written text; \n and\n ``(C) be identical for each given label provided \n under paragraphs (1) and (2), regardless of the type of \n product or service involved.\n ``(4) In the case of a product or service sold in a box, \n carton, sleeve, or other container, the label shall appear on \n the box, carton, sleeve, or container in a conspicuous manner.\n ``(5) In the case of a product or service that is intended \n to be viewed, the label shall--\n ``(A) appear before the commencement of the product \n or service;\n ``(B) appear in both visual and audio form; and\n ``(C) appear in visual form for at least five \n seconds.\n ``(6) Any advertisement for a product or service shall \n include a label of the product or service in accordance with \n the applicable provisions of this subsection.\n ``(c) Federal Trade Commission Responsibilities.--(1)(A) If the \nmanufacturers and producers referred to in subsection (a) submit to the \nFederal Trade Commission a proposal for a labeling system referred to \nin that subsection not later than 180 days after the date of the \nenactment of the 21st Century Media Responsibility Act of 2001, the \nCommission shall review the labeling system contained in the proposal \nto determine whether the labeling system meets the requirements set \nforth in subsection (b) in a manner that addresses fully the purposes \nset forth in section 2(b).\n ``(B) Not later than 180 days after commencing a review of the \nproposal for a labeling system under subparagraph (A), the Commission \nshall issue a labeling system for purposes of this section. The \nlabeling system issued under this subparagraph may include such \nmodifications of the proposal as the Commission considers appropriate \nin order to assure that the labeling system meets the requirements set \nforth in subsection (b) in a manner that addresses fully the purposes \nset forth in section 2(b).\n ``(2)(A) If the manufacturers and producers referred to in \nsubsection (a) do not submit to the Commission a proposal for a \nlabeling system referred to in that subsection within the time provided \nunder paragraph (1)(A), the Commission shall prescribe regulations to \nestablish a labeling system for purposes of this section that meets the \nrequirements set forth in subsection (b).\n ``(B) Any regulations under subparagraph (A) shall be prescribed \nnot later than one year after the date of the enactment of the 21st \nCentury Media Responsibility Act of 2001.\n ``(e) Prohibition on Sale or Distribution Without Label.--\nCommencing one year after the date of the enactment of the 21st Century \nMedia Responsibility Act of 2001, a person may not manufacture or \nproduce for sale or distribution in commerce, package for sale or \ndistribution in commerce, or sell or distribute in commerce any \ninteractive video game product or service, video program product, \nmotion picture product, or sound recording product unless the product \nor service bears a label in accordance with the labeling system issued \nor prescribed by the Federal Trade Commission under subsection (d) \nwhich--\n ``(1) is appropriate for the nature, context, and intensity \n of the depictions of violence in the product or service; and\n ``(2) specifies an appropriate minimum age in years for \n purchasers and consumers of the product or service.\n ``(f) Prohibition on Sale in Violation of Age Restriction.--\nCommencing one year after the date of the enactment of the 21st Century \nMedia Responsibility Act of 2001, a person may not sell in commerce an \ninteractive video game product or service, video program product, \nmotion picture product, or sound recording product to an individual \nwhose age in years is less than the age specified as the minimum age in \nyears for a purchaser and consumer of the product or service, as the \ncase may be, under the labeling system issued or prescribed by the \nFederal Trade Commission under subsection (d).\n ``(g) Investigations of Improper Labeling.--The Federal Trade \nCommission shall have the authority to receive and investigate \nallegations that an interactive video game product or service, video \nprogram product, motion picture product, or sound recording product \ndoes not bear a label under the labeling system issued or prescribed by \nthe Commission under subsection (d) that is appropriate for the product \nor service, as the case may be, given the nature, context, and \nintensity of the depictions of violence in the product or service.''.\n (c) Civil Penalty.--That Act is further amended by inserting after \nsection 10 (15 U.S.C. 1338) the following new section:\n\n ``civil penalty\n\n ``Sec. 10A. (a) In General.--Any person who violates subsection (e) \nor (f) of section 4A shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount \nnot to exceed $10,000 for each such violation.\n ``(b) Duration of Violation.--In the case of an interactive video \ngame product or service, video program product, motion picture product, \nor sound recording product determined to violate section 4A(e), each \nday from the date of the commencement of sale or distribution of the \nproduct or service, as the case may be, to the date of the \ndetermination of the violation shall constitute a separate violation of \nsubsection (a), and all such violations shall be aggregated together \nfor purposes of determining the total liability of the manufacturer or \nproducer of the product or service, as the case may be, for such \nviolations under that subsection.''.\n (d) Short Title of Act.--The first section of that Act (15 U.S.C. \n1331 note) is amended to read as follows: ``That this Act may be cited \nas the `Federal Cigarette and Media Violence Labeling and Advertising \nAct'''.", "summary": "21st Century Media Responsibility Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act to state that it is the policy of Congress to provide for the establishment, use, and enforcement of a consistent and comprehensive system for labeling violent content in audio and visual media products, including the appropriateness of such products for minors.Authorizes manufacturers and producers of interactive video game, video program, motion picture, and sound recording products to submit to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) a joint proposal for a system for labeling violent content. Outlines labeling system requirements, including that: (1) such product shall specify a minimum age for purchase and viewing; and (2) the label should appear conspicuously on the product. Directs the FTC to establish its own labeling system if a proposal is not submitted.Prohibits a person from: (1) manufacturing or producing such a product unless it bears a label meeting requirements of this Act; or (2) selling such product to an individual under the minimum age specified under the labeling system.Provides civil penalties for violations.Renames the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act as the Federal Cigarette and Media Violence Labeling and Advertising Act.", "title": "To provide for the establishment, use, and enforcement of a consistent and comprehensive system for labeling violent content in audio and visual media products."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 528, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Environmental Improvement Timber \nContract Extension Act of 1996''.\n\nSEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF LONG-TERM CONTRACT REGARDING TONGASS NATIONAL \n FOREST.\n\n Title III of the Tongass Timber Reform Act (Public Law 101-626; 104 \nStat. 4430) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 302. 1996 CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS.\n\n ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) The term `board feet' means net scribner long-log \n scale for all sawlogs and all hemlock and spruce utility grade \n logs.\n ``(2) The term `contract' means the timber sale contract \n numbered A10fs-1042 between the United States and the Ketchikan \n Pulp Company.\n ``(3) The term `contracting officer' means the Regional \n Forester of Region 10 of the United States Forest Service.\n ``(4) The term `mid-market criteria' means an appraisal \n that ensures an average timber operator will have a weighted \n average profit and risk margin of at least 60 percent of normal \n in a mid-market situation, representative of the most recent 10 \n years of actual market data.\n ``(5) The term `proportionality' means the proportion of \n high volume stands (stands of 30,000 or more board feet per \n acre) to low volume stands (stands of 8,000 to 30,000 board \n feet per acre).\n ``(6) The term `purchaser' means the Ketchikan Pulp \n Company.\n ``(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n ``(1) On July 26, 1951, the Forest Service, on behalf of \n the United States, and the purchaser entered into a contract to \n harvest 8,250,000,000 board feet of timber from the Tongass \n National Forest in the State of Alaska. While the contract is \n scheduled to end June 30, 2004, it acknowledges an intention on \n the part of the Forest Service to supply adequate timber \n thereafter for permanent operation of the purchaser's \n facilities on a commercially sound and permanently economical \n basis. This legislation is necessary to effectuate that intent.\n ``(2) A pulp mill or similar facility is necessary in \n southeast Alaska to optimize the level of year-round, high-\n paying jobs in the area, to provide high value added use of \n low-grade wood and by-product material from sawmilling \n operations, and to maintain a stable regional economy.\n ``(3) The purchaser plans to make environmental and \n operational improvements to its pulp mill, including conversion \n to an elementally chlorine free bleaching process, expansion of \n wastewater treatment facilities, relocation of the existing \n wastewater outfall, and improvements to chemical recovery and \n power generation equipment. Total capital expenditures are \n estimated to be $200,000,000, $25,000,000 of which the \n purchaser has already invested.\n ``(4) Extension of the contract for 15 years is the minimum \n reasonable extension period to allow amortization of these \n environmental improvement and energy efficiency projects.\n ``(5) Ketchikan is the fourth largest city in Alaska. Its \n economic and job base are extremely dependent upon the \n continuation of the contract, which provides the principal \n source of year-round employment in the area. The purchaser has \n stated among its goals and objectives the following:\n ``(A) Continuation of a long-term commitment to \n Ketchikan and southeast Alaska, including maintenance \n of a stable Alaskan workforce, utilization of Alaskan \n contractors, vendors, and suppliers to permit those \n businesses to hire and maintain Alaskan employees.\n ``(B) Participation in the Forest Service's land \n management planning process with other users so that \n the process may be completed expeditiously with maximum \n information.\n ``(C) Adherence to sound principles of multiple-use \n and sustained yield of forest resources providing for \n the production of sustainable contract volumes for the \n purchaser and the other timber operators in southeast \n Alaska and the protection and promotion of other forest \n uses, including tourism, fishing, subsistence, hunting, \n mining, and recreation.\n ``(D) Protection of air, water, and land, including \n fish and wildlife habitat, through compliance with \n applicable Federal, State, and local laws.\n ``(E) Commitment to continue to explore new \n processes and technology to maximize the use of timber \n harvested and increase the value of products \n manufactured in southeast Alaska.\n ``(6) The national interest is served by a policy that \n accomplishes the proper stewardship of publicly owned assets in \n the Tongass National Forest, a fair return to the United States \n for public timber in the Tongass National Forest, and a proper \n balance among multiple use interests in the Tongass National \n Forest to enhance forest health, sustainable harvest, and the \n general economic health and growth in southeast Alaska and the \n United States in order to improve national economic benefits. \n The national interest is best achieved by fostering domestic \n forest product markets and by modifying the terms of the \n contract pursuant to subsection (c).\n ``(c) Contract Fairness Changes.--The contract is hereby modified \nas follows:\n ``(1) Extension.--The term of the contract is extended by \n 15 years from June 30, 2004.\n ``(2) Sale Offering plan.--The contract shall include a \n plan describing the amount of volume, location, and the \n schedule by which the purchaser shall receive the timber \n required by paragraph (3) for the remainder of the contract \n term. The plan shall be coordinated with the Tongass Land \n Management Plan.\n ``(3) Volume requirements.--The volume of timber required \n under the contract shall be provided in 5-year increments of \n 962,500,000 board feet, which the purchaser shall be obligated \n to harvest in an orderly manner, subject to the following:\n ``(A) Until March 1, 1999, when the next 5-year \n increment is provided to the purchaser, the Forest \n Service shall provide the purchaser with at least \n 192,500,000 board feet per year of available timber at \n a date certain each year and shall maintain a supply of \n timber adequate to insure the purchaser can reasonably \n harvest 192,500,000 board feet each year.\n ``(B) To ensure harvest in an orderly manner, the \n contracting officer shall provide for the construction \n by the purchaser of roads in portions of the 5-year \n increment area of timber in advance of the 5-year \n operating period by including such roads in the \n environmental impact statement prepared for the 5-year \n operating period.\n ``(C) Timber selected for inclusion in the 5-year \n increment shall meet the mid-market criteria.\n ``(4) Appraisals and rates.--The contracting officer shall \n perform appraisals using normal independent national forest \n timber sale procedures and designate rates for the increments \n of timber to be provided. The rates shall not be designated at \n a level that places the purchaser at a competitive disadvantage \n to a similar enterprise in the Pacific Northwest and those \n rates shall be the sole charges the purchaser shall be required \n to pay for timber provided.\n ``(5) Measurement of proportionality.--The Forest Service \n shall measure proportionality using the following criteria:\n ``(A) Measure for groups of all contiguous \n management areas.\n ``(B) Measure proportionality by acres.\n ``(C) Measure proportionality over the entire \n rotation age.\n ``(6) Conversion or replacement of pulp mill.--The \n purchaser may convert or replace, in part or in whole, its pulp \n mill with a facility the manufactures any other value added \n product that utilizes pulp logs as a raw material component.\n ``(7) Unilateral termination.--The unilateral termination \n clause of the contract is eliminated.\n ``(8) Subsequent modifications.--Any clause in the \n contract, as modified by this subsection, may be further \n modified only by mutual agreement of the Forest Service and the \n purchaser and may be so modified without further Act of \n Congress.\n ``(d) Effective Date for Contract Modification.--\n ``(1) Effective date.--The modifications made by subsection \n (c) shall take effect 45 days after the date of the enactment \n of the Environmental Improvement Timber Contract Extension Act \n of 1996.\n ``(2) Ministerial duty to modify the contract.--Not later \n than such effective date, the contracting officer shall revise, \n as a ministerial function, the text of the contract to conform \n with the modifications made by subsection (c) and implement the \n modified contract. The contracting officer shall make \n conforming changes to provisions of the contract that were not \n modified by subsection (c) in order to ensure that the \n modifications made by such subsection are implemented.\n ``(e) Transition Timber Supply.--Timber volume available or \nscheduled to be offered to the purchaser under the contract in effect \non the day before the date of the enactment of the Environmental \nImprovement Timber Contract Extension Act of 1996 shall continue to be \noffered and scheduled under the contract as modified by subsection (c) \nalong with such additional timber volume as is necessary to satisfy the \ntimber volume requirement of 192,500,000 board feet per year.''.", "summary": "Environmental Improvement Timber Contract Extension Act of 1996 - Amends the Tongass Timber Reform Act to extend and modify the timber contract between the United States and the Ketchikan Pulp Company with regard to the Tongass National Forest, Alaska.", "title": "Environmental Improvement Timber Contract Extension Act of 1996"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2281, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``American Family Business \nPreservation Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. REDUCED ESTATE TAX RATE ON FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS INTERESTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Part I of subchapter A of chapter 11 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to tax imposed) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 2003. REDUCED RATE ON FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS INTERESTS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--In the case of an estate of a decedent to which \nthis section applies, the tax imposed by section 2001 shall not exceed \nthe sum of--\n ``(1) a tax computed at the rates and in the manner as if \n this section had not been enacted on the greater of--\n ``(A) the sum described in section 2001(c)(1) \n reduced by the qualified family-owned business \n interests, or\n ``(B) the sum (if any) described in section \n 2001(c)(1) taxed at a rate below the applicable rate, \n plus\n ``(2) a tax equal to the applicable rate of the portion of \n the taxable estate in excess of the amount determined under \n paragraph (1).\n ``(b) Estates to Which Section Applies.--This section shall apply \nto an estate if--\n ``(1) the decedent was (at the date of his or her death) a \n citizen of the United States,\n ``(2) the sum of--\n ``(A) the value of the qualified family-owned \n business interests which are included in determining \n the gross estate and which are acquired from or passed \n from the decedent to a qualified heir of the decedent, \n and\n ``(B) the amount (taken into account under \n subsection 2001(b)(1)(B)) of the adjusted taxable gifts \n of such interests to members of the decedent's family,\n exceeds 50 percent of the adjusted gross estate, and\n ``(3) during the 8-year period ending on the date of the \n decedent's death there have been periods aggregating 5 years or \n more during which--\n ``(A) such interests were owned by the decedent or \n a member of the decedent's family, and\n ``(B) there was material participation by the \n decedent or a member of the decedent's family in the \n operation of the business to which such interests \n relate.\n ``(c) Applicable Rate.--For purposes of this section, the \napplicable rate is--\n ``(1) 15 percent if the requirement of subsection (b)(3)(B) \n is met by a member of the decedent's family, and\n ``(2) 20 percent in any other case.\n ``(d) Qualified Family-Owned Business Interest.--\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term \n `qualified family-owned business interest' means--\n ``(A) an interest as a proprietor in a trade or \n business carried on as a proprietorship;\n ``(B) an interest as a partner in a partnership \n carrying on a trade or business, if such partnership \n had 15 or fewer partners; or\n ``(C) stock in a corporation carrying on a trade or \n business if such corporation had not more than the \n number of shareholders specified in section \n 1361(b)(1)(A).\n Such term shall not include any interest which is readily \n tradable on an established securities market or otherwise.\n ``(2) Rules for applying paragraph (1).--For purposes of \n paragraph (1), rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (2), \n (3), (4), and (6) of section 6166(b) shall apply.\n ``(e) Recapture of Tax Benefit if Interests Not Held for 10 \nYears.--\n ``(1) In general.--If--\n ``(A) during the 10-year period beginning on the \n date of death of the decedent--\n ``(i)(I) any portion of a qualified family-\n owned business interest is distributed, sold, \n exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, or\n ``(II) money and other property \n attributable to such an interest is withdrawn \n from such trade or business, and\n ``(B) the aggregate of such distributions, sales, \n exchanges, or other dispositions and withdrawals equals \n or exceeds 20 percent of the value of such interest, or\n there is hereby imposed an additional estate tax.\n ``(2) Additional estate tax.--\n ``(A) In general.--The amount of the additional \n estate tax imposed by paragraph (1) shall be the \n applicable percentage of the excess of what would have \n been the estate tax liability but for subsection (a) \n over the adjusted estate tax liability.\n ``(B) Applicable percentage.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (A), the term `applicable percentage' \n means 100 percent reduced (but not below zero) by the \n product of--\n ``(i) 10 percentage points, and\n ``(ii) the number of years (if any) after \n the date of the decedent's death which the year \n during which the additional estate tax is \n imposed by paragraph (1) is after the 1st year \n after the date of the decedent's death.\n ``(C) Adjusted estate tax liability.--For purposes \n of subparagraph (A), the term `adjusted estate tax \n liability' means the estate tax liability increased by \n the amount (if any) of any prior additional estate tax \n imposed by subsection (f).\n ``(D) Estate tax liability.--For purposes of this \n paragraph, the term `estate tax liability' means the \n tax imposed by section 2001 reduced by the credits \n allowable against such tax.\n ``(3) Certain rules to apply.--For purposes of this \n subsection, rules similar to the rules of subparagraphs (B), \n (C), and (D) of section 6166(g)(1) shall apply.\n ``(f) Recapture of Portion of Tax Benefit if Heirs Cease to \nMaterially Participate During 10 Years After Death.--\n ``(1) In general.--If--\n ``(A) the applicable rate which applied under \n subsection (a) to the estate of the decedent was 15 \n percent,\n ``(B) at any time during the 10-year period \n beginning on the date of death of the decedent, no \n qualified heir materially participates in the operation \n of the business to which the qualified family-owned \n business interests relate, and\n ``(C) there is no recapture under subsection (e) on \n or before the earliest date during such 10-year period \n that no qualified heir so materially participated,\n there is hereby imposed an additional estate tax.\n ``(2) Additional estate tax.--The amount of the additional \n estate tax imposed by paragraph (1) shall be the applicable \n percentage of the excess of what would have been the estate tax \n liability but for subsection (c)(1) over the estate tax \n liability.\n ``(3) Definitions.--For purposes of paragraph (2), the \n terms `applicable percentage' and `estate tax liability' have \n the meanings given to such terms by subsection (e).\n ``(g) Other Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms \n`qualified heir' and `member of the family' have the meanings given to \nsuch terms by section 2032A(e).''\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for part I of \nsubchapter A of chapter 11 of such Code is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new item:\n\n ``Sec. 2003. Reduced rate on family-owned \n business interests.''\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to estates of decedents dying after the date of the enactment of \nthis section.\n\nSEC. 3. LIMITATION ON 4 PERCENT RATE OF INTEREST ON ESTATE TAX EXTENDED \n UNDER SECTION 6166 NOT TO APPLY TO ESTATE TAX \n ATTRIBUTABLE TO QUALIFIED FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS \n INTERESTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 6601(j) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to 4-percent portion) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new flush sentence:\n ``Subparagraph (B) shall not take into account the amount of \n the tax imposed by chapter 11 which is attributable to \n qualified family-owned business interests (as defined in \n section 2003(b)) unless an election is in effect under section \n 2032A with respect to the estate.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto estates of decedents dying after the date of the enactment of this \nsection.\n\nSEC. 4. EXTENSION OF ALTERNATE VALUATION DATE TO 40 MONTHS WITH RESPECT \n TO ESTATE CONSISTING LARGELY OF QUALIFIED FAMILY-OWNED \n BUSINESS INTERESTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 2032 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n(relating to alternate valuation) is amended by redesignating \nsubsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively, and \nby inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection:\n ``(c) Estates Largely Consisting of Qualified Family-Owned Business \nInterests.--In the case of an estate to which section 2003 applies--\n ``(1) subsection (a) shall be applied by substituting `40 \n months' for `6 months' each place it appears, and\n ``(2) section 6075(a) (relating to time for filing estate \n tax return) shall be applied by substituting `43 months' for `9 \n months'.''\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto estates of decedents dying after the date of the enactment of this \nsection.\n\nSEC. 5. INCREASE IN GIFT TAX EXCLUSION.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 2503 of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to taxable gifts) is amended by adding \nat the end the following new sentence: ``In the case of gifts made \nduring a calendar year by a donor to ancestors or lineal descendents of \nthe donor, the aggregate amount of such gifts which are not included in \nthe total amount of gifts by reason of this subsection shall not be \nless than 15 percent of the donor's earned income (as defined in \nsection 32(c)(2)) for the taxable year ending with or within such \ncalendar year.''\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply to gifts made in calendar years beginning after the date of the \nenactment of this section.\n\nSEC. 6. INCREASE IN UNIFIED ESTATE AND GIFT TAX CREDITS.\n\n (a) Estate Tax Credit.--\n (1) Subsection (a) of section 2010 of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986 (relating to unified credit against estate tax) is \n amended by striking ``$192,800'' and inserting ``the applicable \n credit amount''.\n (2) Section 2010 of such Code is amended by redesignating \n subsection (c) as subsection (d) and by inserting after \n subsection (b) the following new subsection:\n ``(c) Applicable Credit Amount.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) In general.--The applicable credit amount is the \n amount of the tentative tax which would be determined under the \n rate schedule set forth in section 2001(c) if the amount with \n respect to which such tentative tax is to be computed were \n $600,000.\n ``(2) Cost-of-living adjustments.--In the case of any \n decedent dying in a calendar year after December 31, 1995, the \n $600,000 amount set forth in paragraph (1) shall be increased \n by an amount equal to--\n ``(A) $600,000, multiplied by\n ``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined \n under section 1(f)(3) for such calendar year by \n substituting `calendar year 1996' for `calendar year \n 1992' in subparagraph (B) thereof.\n Any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be \n rounded to the nearest multiple of $1,000.''\n (3) Paragraph (1) of section 6018(a) of such Code is \n amended by striking ``$600,000'' and inserting ``$600,000 \n (adjusted as provided in section 2010(c)(2)''.\n (b) Unified Gift Tax Credit.--Paragraph (1) of section 2505(a) of \nsuch Code is amended by striking ``$192,800'' and inserting ``the \napplicable credit amount in effect under section 2010(c) for such \ncalendar year''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to the estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December \n31, 1995.", "summary": "American Family Business Preservation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the rate of estate tax on certain family-owned businesses. Provides for a recapture of tax benefits if the business is not held for at least ten years by the heirs or the heirs do not materially participate during such ten years. \nProvides that the limitation on the four percent rate of interest on estate tax extended for estates consisting largely of a closely held business is not applicable to estate tax attributable to qualified family-owned business interests. \nExtends the alternate valuation date from six months to 40 months for estates consisting largely of qualified family-owned business interests. \nIncreases the tax exclusion for gifts to ancestors or descendants. \nIncreases the unified estate and gift tax credits.", "title": "American Family Business Preservation Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 789, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Improved Consumer Access to Travel \nInformation Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. NATIONAL COMMISSION TO ENSURE CONSUMER INFORMATION AND CHOICE \n IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:\n (1) The continued success of a deregulated airline system \n requires that consumers have full access to complete \n information concerning airline fares, routes, and other \n services.\n (2) The means of distributing information about the \n products and services of the airline industry are changing; \n during the past four years, airlines have begun selling a \n larger percentage of their products and services directly to \n consumers, and Internet businesses are now offering services \n that allow consumers to compare prices for these products and \n services.\n (3) Airline policies with respect to travel agencies, who \n historically have sold a majority of the airline industry's \n products and services, threaten the ability of consumers to \n gather the information necessary to evaluate market prices, \n routes, and services.\n (4) Further reductions in the number of travel agents and \n greater marketplace reliance on direct airline sales may result \n in a marketplace in which consumers lack sufficient information \n and are thereby forced to pay higher prices.\n (b) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known \nas the ``National Commission to Ensure Consumer Information and Choice \nin the Airline Industry'' (hereinafter in this section referred to as \nthe ``Commission'').\n (c) Duties.--\n (1) Study.--The Commission shall undertake a study of--\n (A) consumer access to information about the \n products and services of the airline industry;\n (B) the effect on the marketplace of the emergence \n of new means of distributing such products and \n services;\n (C) the effect on consumers of the declining \n financial condition of travel agents in the United \n States; and\n (D) the impediments imposed by the airline industry \n on distributors of the industry's products and \n services, including travel agents and Internet-based \n distributors.\n (2) Policy recommendations.--Based on the results of the \n study described in paragraph (1), the Commission shall \n recommend to the President and Congress policies necessary--\n (A) to ensure full consumer access to complete \n information concerning airline fares, routes, and other \n services;\n (B) to ensure that the means of distributing the \n products and services of the airline industry, and of \n disseminating information about such products and \n services, is adequate to ensure that competitive \n information is available in the marketplace;\n (C) to ensure that distributors of the products and \n services of the airline industry have adequate relief \n from illegal, anticompetitive practices that occur in \n the marketplace; and\n (D) to foster healthy competition in the airline \n industry and the entry of new entrants.\n (d) Specific Matters To Be Addressed.--In carrying out the study \nauthorized under subsection (c)(1), the Commission shall specifically \naddress the following:\n (1) Consumer access to information.--With respect to \n consumer access to information regarding the services and \n products offered by the airline industry:\n (A) The state of such access.\n (B) The effect in the next 5 years of the making of \n alliances in the airline industry.\n (C) Whether and to what degree the trends regarding \n such access will produce benefits to consumers.\n (2) Means of distribution.--With respect to the means of \n distributing the products and services of the airline industry:\n (A) The state of such means of distribution.\n (B) The roles played by travel agencies and \n Internet-based providers of travel information and \n services in distributing such products and services.\n (C) Whether the policies of the United States \n promote the access of consumers to multiple means of \n distribution.\n (3) Airline reservation systems.--With respect to airline \n reservation systems:\n (A) The rules, regulations, policies, and practices \n of the industry governing such systems.\n (B) How trends in such systems will affect \n consumers, including--\n (i) the effect on consumer access to flight \n reservation information; and\n (ii) the effect on consumers of the use by \n the airline industry of penalties and \n promotions to convince distributors to use such \n systems, and the degree of consumer awareness \n of such penalties and promotions.\n (4) Legal impediments to distributors seeking relief for \n anticompetitive actions.--The policies of the United States \n with respect to the legal impediments to distributors seeking \n relief for anticompetitive actions, including--\n (A) Federal preemption of civil actions against \n airlines; and\n (B) the role of the Department of Transportation in \n enforcing rules against anticompetitive practices.\n (e) Membership.--\n (1) Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 15 \n voting members and 11 nonvoting members as follows:\n (A) 5 voting members and 1 nonvoting member \n appointed by the President.\n (B) 3 voting members and 3 nonvoting members \n appointed by the Speaker of the House of \n Representatives.\n (C) 2 voting members and 2 nonvoting members \n appointed by the minority leader of the House of \n Representatives.\n (D) 3 voting members and 3 nonvoting members \n appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.\n (E) 2 voting members and 2 nonvoting members \n appointed by the minority leader of the Senate\n (2) Qualifications.--Voting members appointed pursuant to \n paragraph (1) shall be appointed from among individuals who are \n experts in economics, service product distribution, or \n transportation, or any related discipline, and who can \n represent consumers, passengers, shippers, travel agents, \n airlines, or general aviation.\n (3) Terms.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the \n Commission.\n (4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled \n in the manner in which the original appointment was made.\n (5) Travel expenses.--Members shall serve without pay but \n shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of \n subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of \n title 5, United States Code.\n (6) Chairman.--The President, in consultation with the \n Speaker of the House of Representatives and the majority leader \n of the Senate, shall designate the Chairman of the Commission \n from among its voting members.\n (f) Commission Panels.--The Chairman shall establish such panels \nconsisting of voting members of the Commission as the Chairman \ndetermines appropriate to carry out the functions of the Commission.\n (g) Staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of such \npersonnel as it considers appropriate.\n (h) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Commission, the \nhead of any department or agency of the United States may detail, on a \nreimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency \nto the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this \nsection.\n (i) Other Staff and Support.--Upon the request of the Commission, \nor a panel of the Commission, the Secretary of Transportation shall \nprovide the Commission or panel with professional and administrative \nstaff and other support, on a reimbursable basis, to assist the \nCommission or panel in carrying out its responsibilities.\n (j) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly \nfrom any department or agency of the United States information (other \nthan information required by any statute of the United States to be \nkept confidential by such department or agency) necessary for the \nCommission to carry out its duties under this section. Upon request of \nthe Commission, the head of that department or agency shall furnish \nsuch nonconfidential information to the Commission.\n (k) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date on which \ninitial appointments of members to the Commission are completed, the \nCommission shall transmit to the President and Congress a report on the \nactivities of the Commission, including recommendations made by the \nCommission under subsection (c)(2).\n (l) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the 30th day \nfollowing the date of transmittal of the report under subsection (k). \nAll records and papers of the Commission shall thereupon be delivered \nby the Administrator of General Services for deposit in the National \nArchives.\n (m) Applicability of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The \nFederal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the \nCommission.", "summary": "Improved Consumer Access to Travel Information Act - Establishes the National Commission to Ensure Consumer Information and Choice in the Airline Industry. Sets forth the Commission's duties, including to: (1) study consumer access to airline industry information on products and services, the effect on consumers of the declining financial condition of travel agents in the United States, and the impediments imposed by the airline industry on distributors of the industry's products and services, including travel agents and Internet-based distributors; and (2) recommend, based on the study results, to the President and Congress policies necessary to ensure full consumer access to complete information concerning airline fares, routes, and other services, that the means of distributing the products and services of the airline industry (including information on such items) is adequate to ensure that competitive information is available in the marketplace, and that distributors of such products and services have adequate relief from illegal, anticompetitive practices that occur in the marketplace. Requires the Commission to report to the President and Congress on the Commission's activities, including any recommendations made by it.", "title": "Improved Consumer Access to Travel Information Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 102, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Military Readiness Enhancement Act \nof 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSE.\n\n The purpose of this Act is to institute in the Armed Forces a \npolicy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation.\n\nSEC. 3. REPEAL OF 1993 POLICY CONCERNING HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE ARMED \n FORCES.\n\n The following provisions of law are repealed:\n (1) Section 654 of title 10, United States Code.\n (2) Subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 571 of the \n National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (10 \n U.S.C. 654 note).\n\nSEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL \n ORIENTATION IN THE ARMED FORCES.\n\n (a) Establishment of Policy.--\n (1) In general.--Chapter 37 of title 10, United States \n Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new \n section:\n``Sec. 656. Policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation in \n the armed forces\n ``(a) Policy.--The Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of \nHomeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not \noperating as a service in the Navy, may not discriminate on the basis \nof sexual orientation against any member of the armed forces or against \nany person seeking to become a member of the armed forces.\n ``(b) Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation.--For purposes \nof this section, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is--\n ``(1) in the case of a member of the armed forces, the \n taking of any personnel or administrative action (including any \n action relating to promotion, demotion, evaluation, selection \n for an award, selection for a duty assignment, transfer, or \n separation) in whole or in part on the basis of sexual \n orientation; and\n ``(2) in the case of a person seeking to become a member of \n the armed forces, denial of accession into the armed forces in \n whole or in part on the basis of sexual orientation.\n ``(c) Personnel and Administrative Policies and Action.--The \nSecretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with \nrespect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the \nNavy, may not establish, implement, or apply any personnel or \nadministrative policy, or take any personnel or administrative action \n(including any policy or action relating to promotions, demotions, \nevaluations, selections for awards, selections for duty assignments, \ntransfers, or separations) in whole or in part on the basis of sexual \norientation.\n ``(d) Rules and Policies Regarding Conduct.--Nothing in this \nsection prohibits the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of \nHomeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not \noperating as a service in the Navy, from prescribing or enforcing \nregulations governing the conduct of members of the armed forces if the \nregulations are designed and applied without regard to sexual \norientation.\n ``(e) Re-Accession of Otherwise Qualified Persons Permitted.--Any \nperson separated from the armed forces on the basis of sexual \norientation in accordance with laws and regulations in effect before \nthe date of the enactment of this section, if otherwise qualified for \nre-accession into the armed forces, shall not be prohibited from re-\naccession into the armed forces on the sole basis of such separation.\n ``(f) Sexual Orientation.--In this section, the term `sexual \norientation' means heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality, \nwhether the orientation is real or perceived, and includes statements \nand consensual sexual conduct that is not otherwise illegal manifesting \nheterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.''.\n (2) Clerical amendments.--The table of sections at the \n beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended--\n (A) by striking the item relating to section 654; \n and\n (B) by adding at the end the following new item:\n\n``656. Policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation in the \n armed forces.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--Title 10, United States Code, is \namended as follows:\n (1) Section 481 is amended--\n (A) In subsection (a)(2), by inserting ``, \n including sexual orientation discrimination,'' after \n ``discrimination'' in subparagraphs (C) and (D); and\n (B) in subsection (c), by inserting ``and sexual \n orientation-based'' after ``gender-based'' both places \n it appears.\n (2) Section 983(a)(1) is amended by striking ``(in \n accordance with section 654 of this title and other applicable \n Federal laws)''.\n (3) Section 1034(i)(3) is amended by inserting ``sexual \n orientation,'' after ``sex,''.\n\nSEC. 5. BENEFITS.\n\n Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be \nconstrued to require the furnishing of dependent benefits in violation \nof section 7 of title 1, United States Code (relating to the \ndefinitions of ``marriage'' and ``spouse'' and referred to as the \n``Defense of Marriage Act'').\n\nSEC. 6. NO PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION FOR DAMAGES.\n\n Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be \nconstrued to create a private cause of action for damages.\n\nSEC. 7. REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION.\n\n (a) Pentagon Working Group.--\n (1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense shall \n establish in the Department of Defense a working group (to be \n known as the ``Pentagon Working Group'') to make \n recommendations to the Secretary regarding the implementation \n of this Act and the amendments made by this Act.\n (2) Treatment of existing working group.--If there exists \n in the Department as of the date of the enactment of this Act a \n working group on recommendations regarding the repeal of \n section 654 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary may \n treat the working group as the working group required by \n paragraph (1) for purposes of this section.\n (b) Working Group Recommendations.--\n (1) Submittal to secretary of defense.--Not later than 270 \n days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the working \n group under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary of \n Defense a written report setting forth such recommendations as \n the working group considers appropriate for a revision of \n Department of Defense regulations, or the issuance of new \n regulations, to implement this Act and the amendments made by \n this Act.\n (2) Submittal to congress.--The report under paragraph (1) \n shall also be submitted to the Committees on Armed Services of \n the Senate and the House of Representatives.\n (c) Regulations.--\n (1) Revisions required.--Not later than 60 days after \n receipt of the report required by subsection (b)(1), the \n Secretary of Defense shall revise Department of Defense \n regulations, and shall issue such new regulations as may be \n necessary, to implement this Act and the amendments made by \n this Act. The Secretary of Defense shall further direct the \n Secretary of each military department to revise regulations of \n that military department in accordance with this Act, not later \n than 120 days after the Secretary of Defense receives the \n report required by subsection (b)(1).\n (2) Elements.--The revisions required by paragraph (1) \n shall include the following:\n (A) Revision of all equal opportunity and human \n relations regulations, directives, and instructions to \n add sexual orientation nondiscrimination to the \n Department of Defense Equal Opportunity policy and to \n related human relations training programs.\n (B) Revision of Department of Defense and military \n department personnel regulations to eliminate \n procedures for involuntary discharges based on sexual \n orientation.\n (C) Revision of Department of Defense and military \n department regulations governing victims' advocacy \n programs to include sexual orientation discrimination \n among the forms of discrimination for which members of \n the Armed Forces and their families may seek \n assistance.\n (D) Revision of any Department of Defense and \n military department regulations as necessary to ensure \n that regulations governing the personal conduct of \n members of the Armed Forces are written and enforced \n without regard to sexual orientation.\n (d) Sexual Orientation Defined.--In this section, the term ``sexual \norientation'' has the meaning given that term in section 656(f) of \ntitle 10, United States Code, as added by section 4(a).\n\nSEC. 8. REPORT.\n\n Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this \nAct, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed \nServices of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report \nsetting forth an assessment of the compliance of institutions of higher \neducation with section 983 of title 10, United States Code (as amended \nby section 4(b)), and describing the actions, if any, taken by the \nSecretary to effect the denial of funds authorized in that section to \nan institution of higher education that continues to prohibit, or in \neffect prevent, the Secretary or a military department from \nmaintaining, establishing, or operating a unit of the Senior Reserve \nOfficers' Training Corps at that institution (or any subelement of that \ninstitution).", "summary": "Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010 - Repeals current Department of Defense (DOD) policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces.\n\nProhibits the Secretary of Defense (Secretary), and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation against any member of the Armed Forces or any person seeking to become a member. Authorizes the re-accession into the Armed Forces of otherwise qualified individuals previously separated on the basis of sexual orientation.\n\nDirects the Secretary to establish in DOD the Pentagon Working Group to report recommendations regarding the implementation of this Act. Requires such report to be submitted to the congressional defense committees.\n\nRequires the Secretary to: (1) revise DOD regulations and issue new regulations as necessary to implement this Act; and (2) direct each military department Secretary to do the same.\n\nDirects the Secretary to report on the compliance of institutions of higher education with federal law concerning the denial of access by such institutions to Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) military recruiting on campus, as well as a description of actions taken to effect the denial of certain federal funding to institutions that continue to prevent ROTC access.", "title": "A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the readiness of the Armed Forces by replacing the current policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces, referred to as \"Don't Ask, Don't Tell\", with a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 32, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Minority Business Development \nImprovements Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.\n\n The Director of the Minority Business Development Agency shall \nestablish the Minority Business Development Program (in this Act \nreferred to as the ``Program'') to assist qualified minority \nbusinesses. The Program shall provide to such businesses the following:\n (1) Technical assistance.\n (2) Contract procurement assistance.\n\nSEC. 3. QUALIFIED MINORITY BUSINESS.\n\n (a) Certification.--For purposes of the Program, the Director may \ncertify as a qualified minority business any entity that satisfies each \nof the following:\n (1) Not less than 51 percent of the entity is directly and \n unconditionally owned or controlled by historically \n disadvantaged individuals.\n (2) Each officer or other individual who exercises control \n over the regular operations of the entity is a historically \n disadvantaged individual.\n (3) The net worth of each principal of the entity is not \n greater than $2,000,000. (The equity of a disadvantaged owner \n in a primary personal residence shall be considered in this \n calculation.)\n (4) The principal place of business of the entity is in the \n United States.\n (5) Each principal of the entity maintains good character \n in the determination of the Director.\n (6) The entity engages in competitive and bona fide \n commercial business operations in not less than one sector of \n industry that has a North American Industry Classification \n System code.\n (7) The entity submits reports to the Director at such \n time, in such form, and containing such information as the \n Director may require.\n (8) Any additional requirements that the Director \n determines appropriate.\n (b) Term of Certification.--A certification under this section \nshall be for a term of 5 years and may not be renewed.\n\nSEC. 4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.\n\n (a) In General.--In carrying out the Program, the Director may \nprovide to qualified minority businesses technical assistance with \nregard to the following:\n (1) Writing business plans.\n (2) Marketing.\n (3) Management.\n (4) Securing sufficient financing for business operations.\n (b) Contract Authority.--The Director may enter into agreements \nwith persons to provide technical assistance under this section.\n (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated $200,000,000 to the Director to carry out this section. \nSuch sums shall remain available until expended.\n\nSEC. 5. SET-ASIDE CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.\n\n (a) In General.--The Director may enter into agreements with the \nUnited States Government and any department, agency, or officer thereof \nhaving procurement powers for purposes of providing for the fulfillment \nof procurement contracts and providing opportunities for qualified \nminority businesses with regard to such contracts.\n (b) Qualifications on Participation.--The Director shall by rule \nestablish requirements for participation under this section by a \nqualified minority business in a contract.\n (c) Annual Limit on Number of Contracts Per Qualified Minority \nBusiness.--A qualified minority business may not participate under this \nsection in contracts in an amount that exceeds $10,000,000 for goods \nand services each fiscal year.\n (d) Limits on Contract Amounts.--\n (1) Goods and services.--Except as provided in paragraph \n (2), a contract for goods and services under this section may \n not exceed $6,000,000.\n (2) Manufacturing and construction.--A contract for \n manufacturing and construction services under this section may \n not exceed $10,000,000.\n\nSEC. 6. TERMINATION FROM THE PROGRAM.\n\n The Director may terminate a qualified minority business from the \nProgram for any violation of a requirement of sections 3 through 5 of \nthis Act by that qualified minority business, including the following:\n (1) Conduct by a principal of the qualified minority \n business that indicates a lack of business integrity.\n (2) Willful failure to comply with applicable labor \n standards and obligations.\n (3) Consistent failure to tender adequate performance with \n regard to contracts under the Program.\n (4) Failure to obtain and maintain relevant certifications.\n (5) Failure to pay outstanding obligations owed to the \n Federal Government.\n\nSEC. 7. REPORTS.\n\n (a) Report of the Director.--Not later than October 1, 2011, and \nannually thereafter, the Director shall submit to the Committee on \nEnergy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee \non Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report \ndescribing the activities of the Director during the preceding year \nwith respect to the Program.\n (b) Report of the Secretary of Commerce.--Not later than October 1, \n2011, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit \nto the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives \nand the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the \nSenate a report describing the activities the Secretary engaged in \nduring the preceding year to build wealth among historically \ndisadvantaged individuals.\n\nSEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Historically disadvantaged individual.--The term \n ``historically disadvantaged individual'' means any individual \n who is a member of a group that is designated as eligible to \n receive assistance under section 1400.1 of title 15, Code of \n Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 1, 2009.\n (2) Principal.--The term ``principal'' means any person \n that the Director determines exercises significant control over \n the regular operations of a business entity.", "summary": "Minority Business Development Improvements Act of 2010 - Requires the Director of the Minority Business Development Agency to establish the Minority Business Development Program to provide qualified minority businesses with technical assistance and contract procurement assistance. Outlines minority business qualification requirements for the Program, including that: (1) not less than 51% of the entity be directly and unconditionally owned or controlled by historically disadvantaged individuals; and (2) each officer or other individual exercising control over regular operations is a historically disadvantaged individual. Outlines specific types of technical assistance authorized under the Program.\n\nAuthorizes the Director to enter into agreements for the fulfillment of federal procurement contracts by, and contracting opportunities for, qualified minority businesses. Provides contract limits.\n\nAllows the Director to terminate a qualified minority business from the Program under specified circumstances.", "title": "A bill to establish in the Department of Commerce the Minority Business Development Program to provide qualified minority businesses with technical assistance and contracting opportunities, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3105, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Any TARP Extension Act of \n2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds as follows:\n (1) On October 7, 2008, Congress established the Troubled \n Assets Relief Program (TARP) as part of the Emergency Economic \n Stabilization Act (Public Law 110-343; 122 Stat. 3765) and \n allocated $700,000,000,000 for the purchase of toxic assets \n from banks with the goal of restoring liquidity to the \n financial sector and restarting the flow of credit in our \n markets.\n (2) The Secretary of the Treasury, without consultation \n with the Congress, changed the purpose of Troubled Assets \n Relief Program and began injecting capital into financial \n institutions through a program called the Capital Purchase \n Program (CPP) rather than purchasing toxic assets.\n (3) Lending by financial institutions was not noticeably \n increased with the implementation of the Capital Purchase \n Program and the expenditure of $250,000,000,000 of the funds \n under the Troubled Assets Relief Program, despite the goal of \n the program.\n (4) The recipients of amounts under the Capital Purchase \n Program are now faced with additional restrictions related to \n accepting those funds.\n (5) A number of community banks and large financial \n institutions have expressed their desire to return their \n Capital Purchase Program funds to the Secretary of the Treasury \n and the Secretary has begun the process of accepting receipt of \n such funds.\n (6) The Secretary of the Treasury should not unilaterally \n determine how these returned funds are spent in the future and \n the Congress should play a role in any determination of future \n spending of funds returned through the Troubled Assets Relief \n Program.\n\nSEC. 3. REPEAL OF TARP EXTENSION AUTHORITY.\n\n Section 120 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (12 \nU.S.C. 5230) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``(a) Termination.--''; and\n (2) by striking subsection (b).\n\nSEC. 4. DEBT REDUCTION.\n\n Subsection (d) of section 106 of the Emergency Economic \nStabilization Act of 2008 (12 U.S.C. 5216(d)) is amended to read as \nfollows:\n ``(d) Debt Reduction.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall \n deposit in Public Debt Reduction Payment Account--\n ``(A) all remaining funds available under this \n title not later than 30 days after the date of \n enactment of this section;\n ``(B) any amounts received by the Secretary for \n repayment of financial assistance, for payment of any \n interest on the receipt of such financial assistance by \n an entity that has received financial assistance under \n this title or any program enacted by the Secretary \n under the authorities granted to the Secretary under \n this title, including the Capital Purchase Program; and\n ``(C) revenues of, and proceeds from the sale of \n troubled assets purchased under this title, or from the \n sale, exercise, or surrender of warrants or senior debt \n instruments acquired under section 113.\n ``(2) Public debt reduction payment account.--The term \n `Public Debt Reduction Payment Account' means the account \n established under section 3114 of title 31, United States \n Code.''.\n\nSEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC DEBT REDUCTION PAYMENT ACCOUNT.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 31 of title 31, United \nStates Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n``Sec. 3114. Public Debt Reduction Payment Account\n ``(a) Account Established.--There is hereby established in the \nTreasury of the United States an account to be known as the Public Debt \nReduction Payment Account (hereinafter in this section referred to as \nthe `Account').\n ``(b) Use of Account.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall use \namounts in the Account to pay at maturity, or to redeem or buy before \nmaturity, any obligation of the Government held by the public and \nincluded in the public debt. Any obligation which is paid, redeemed, or \nbought with amounts from the account shall be canceled and retired and \nmay not be reissued. Amounts deposited in the account are appropriated \nand may only be expended to carry out this section.\n ``(c) Deposits.--There shall be deposited in the Account any \namounts which are received by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to \nsection 137 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The \nfunds deposited to this account shall remain available until expended.\n ``(d) Implementation.--The Secretary of the Treasury and the \nDirector of the Office of Management and Budget shall each take such \nactions as may be necessary to promptly carry out this section in \naccordance with sound debt management policies.\n ``(e) Coordination With Debt Management.--Reducing the debt \npursuant to this section shall not interfere with the debt management \npolicies or goals of the Secretary of the Treasury.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 31 of \ntitle 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item \nrelating to section 3113 the following new item:\n\n``3114. Public Debt Reduction Payment Account.''.\n\nSEC. 6. REDUCTION OF STATUTORY LIMIT ON THE PUBLIC DEBT.\n\n Section 3101(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by \ninserting ``minus the aggregate amounts deposited into the Public Debt \nReduction Payment Account pursuant to section 3114(c)'' before ``, \noutstanding at one time''.\n\nSEC. 7. OFF-BUDGET STATUS OF PUBLIC DEBT REDUCTION PAYMENT ACCOUNT.\n\n Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the receipts and \ndisbursements of the Public Debt Reduction Payment Account established \nby section 3114 of title 31, United States Code, shall not be counted \nas new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficit or surplus for \npurposes of--\n (1) the budget of the United States Government as submitted \n by the President;\n (2) the congressional budget; or\n (3) the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act \n of 1985.\n\nSEC. 8. REMOVING PUBLIC DEBT REDUCTION PAYMENT ACCOUNT FROM BUDGET \n PRONOUNCEMENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Any official statement issued by the Office of \nManagement and Budget, the Congressional Budget Office, or any other \nagency or instrumentality of the Federal Government of surplus or \ndeficit totals of the budget of the United States Government as \nsubmitted by the President or of the surplus or deficit totals of the \ncongressional budget, and any description of, or reference to, such \ntotals in any official publication or material issued by either of such \nOffices or any other such agency or instrumentality, shall exclude the \noutlays and receipts of the Public Debt Reduction Payment Account \nestablished by section 3114 of title 31, United States Code.\n (b) Separate Public Debt Reduction Payment Account Budget \nDocuments.--The excluded outlays and receipts of the Public Debt \nReduction Payment Account established by section 3114 of title 31, \nUnited States Code, shall be submitted in separate budget documents.", "summary": "Stop Any TARP Extension Act of 2009 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to: (1) terminate on December 31, 2009 (as under current law), the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to implement the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP); and (2) repeal the Secretary's authority to extend the TARP program through October 3, 2010, upon submission of a written certification to Congress.\n\nRevises the requirement that revenues of and proceeds from the sale of troubled assets purchased under TARP, or from the sale, exercise, or surrender of warrants or senior debt instruments acquired under TARP, be paid into the general fund of the Treasury for reduction of the public debt.\n\n Establishes the Public Debt Reduction Payment Account. Directs the Secretary to deposit into the Account the following: (1) all remaining EESA funds; (2) amounts received for repayment of financial assistance, as well as payment of interest by a recipient of such assistance under TARP or any related program, including the Capital Purchase Program; and (3) revenues and proceeds from the sale of troubled assets that were purchased under EESA, or from the sale, exercise, or surrender of warrants or senior debt instruments, as under current law.\n\nInstructs the Secretary to: (1) use amounts in the Account to pay at maturity (or to redeem or buy before maturity) any obligation of the government held by the public and included in the public debt; and (2) deposit into the Account specified funds received by the Secretary pursuant to EESA.\n\nLowers the statutory limit on the public debt by the aggregate amounts deposited into the Public Debt Reduction Payment Account.\n\nProhibits the receipts and disbursements of the Account from being counted as new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficit or surplus for presidential or congressional budget purposes, and requires their exclusion from any official budget statements.", "title": "To amend the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to strike the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to extend the Troubled Asset Relief Program after 2009, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 322, "text": "SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.\n\n Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) \nis amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(__) Taunton River, Massachusetts.--The main stem of the Taunton \nRiver from its headwaters at the confluence of the Town and Matfield \nRivers in the Town of Bridgewater downstream 40 miles to the confluence \nwith the Quequechan River at the Route 195 Bridge in the City of Fall \nRiver, to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior in \ncooperation with the Taunton River Stewardship Council as follows:\n ``(A) The 18-mile segment from the confluence of the Town \n and Matfield Rivers to Route 24 in the Town of Raynham, as a \n scenic river.\n ``(B) The 5-mile segment from Route 24 to 0.5 miles below \n Weir Bridge in the City of Taunton, as a recreational river.\n ``(C) The 8-mile segment from 0.5 miles below Weir Bridge \n to Muddy Cove in the Town of Dighton, as a scenic river.\n ``(D) The 9-mile segment from Muddy Cove to the confluence \n with the Quequechan River at the Route 195 Bridge in the City \n of Fall River, as a recreational river.''.\n\nSEC. 2. MANAGEMENT OF TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.\n\n (a) Taunton River Stewardship Plan.--\n (1) In general.--Each river segment added to section 3(a) \n of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this Act \n shall be managed in accordance with the Taunton River \n Stewardship Plan, dated July 2005 (including any amendment to \n the Taunton River Stewardship Plan that the Secretary of the \n Interior (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') \n determines to be consistent with this Act).\n (2) Effect.--The Taunton River Stewardship Plan described \n in paragraph (1) shall be considered to satisfy each \n requirement relating to the comprehensive management plan \n required under section 3(d) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act \n (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).\n (b) Cooperative Agreements.--To provide for the long-term \nprotection, preservation, and enhancement of each river segment added \nto section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this \nAct, pursuant to sections 10(e) and 11(b)(1) of the Wild and Scenic \nRivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(e) and 1282(b)(1)), the Secretary may enter \ninto cooperative agreements (which may include provisions for financial \nand other assistance) with--\n (1) the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (including political \n subdivisions of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts);\n (2) the Taunton River Stewardship Council; and\n (3) any appropriate nonprofit organization, as determined \n by the Secretary.\n (c) Relation to National Park System.--Notwithstanding section \n10(c) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1281(c)), each river \nsegment added to section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by \nsection 1 of this Act shall not be--\n (1) administered as a unit of the National Park System; or\n (2) subject to the laws (including regulations) that govern \n the administration of the National Park System.\n (d) Land Management.--\n (1) Zoning ordinances.--The zoning ordinances adopted by \n the Towns of Bridgewater, Halifax, Middleborough, Raynham, \n Berkley, Dighton, Freetown, and Somerset, and the Cities of \n Taunton and Fall River, Massachusetts (including any provision \n of the zoning ordinances relating to the conservation of \n floodplains, wetlands, and watercourses associated with any \n river segment added to section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic \n Rivers Act by section 1 of this Act), shall be considered to \n satisfy each standard and requirement described in section 6(c) \n of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)).\n (2) Villages.--For the purpose of section 6(c) of the Wild \n and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)), each town described \n in paragraph (1) shall be considered to be a village.\n (3) Acquisition of land.--\n (A) Limitation of authority of secretary.--With \n respect to each river segment added to section 3(a) of \n the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this \n Act, the Secretary may only acquire parcels of land--\n (i) by donation; or\n (ii) with the consent of the owner of the \n parcel of land.\n (B) Prohibition relating to acquisition of land by \n condemnation.--In accordance with section 6(c) of the \n Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1277(c)), with \n respect to each river segment added to section 3(a) of \n the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by section 1 of this \n Act, the Secretary may not acquire any parcel of land \n by condemnation.\n\nSEC. 3. ENERGY AND CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW.\n\n The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary \nof Energy and private industry, shall complete and submit to the \nCommittee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the \nCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and Senators \nand Representatives from the States affected by the designation, a \nreport using the best available data and regarding the energy resources \navailable on the lands and waters included in the segments of the \nTaunton River designated under section 2 of this Act. The report \nshall--\n (1) contain the best available description of the energy \n resources available on the land and report on the specific \n amount of energy withdrawn from possible development; and\n (2) identify cubic feet of natural gas, natural gas \n transmission and storage potential, megawatts of geothermal, \n wind and solar energy that could be commercially produced, \n annual available biomass for energy production, and any \n megawatts of hydropower resources available, including tidal, \n traditional dams, and in-stream flow turbines.\n\nSEC. 4. HUNTING, FISHING, TRAPPING, AND RECREATIONAL SHOOTING.\n\n Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the authority, \njurisdiction, or responsibility of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to \nmanage, control, or regulate fish and resident wildlife under State law \nor regulations, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, trapping, \nand recreational shooting. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as \nlimiting access for hunting, fishing, trapping, or recreational \nshooting.\n\nSEC. 5. DOMESTICALLY-PRODUCED ENERGY RESOURCES.\n\n Nothing in this Act shall impact the supply of domestically-\nproduced energy resources.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives July 16, 2008.\n\n Attest:\n\n LORRAINE C. MILLER,\n\n Clerk.\n\n By Robert F. Reeves,\n\n Deputy Clerk.", "summary": "Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (the Act) to designate specified segments of the Taunton River in Massachusetts as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.\n\nRequires the river segments to be managed in accordance with the Taunton River Stewardship Plan, dated July 2005, including any amendment to such Plan, that the Secretary of the Interior determines to be consistent with this Act.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary, in order to provide for the protection, preservation, and enhancement of each river segment, to enter into cooperative agreements, which may include provisions for financial and other assistance, with: (1) the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (including the political subdivisions of Massachusetts); (2) the Taunton River Stewardship Council; and (3) any appropriate nonprofit, as determined by the Secretary.\n\nBars the river segments from being: (1) administered as a unit of the National Park System; or (2) subject to the laws (including regulations) that govern the administration of such System.\n\nConsiders the zoning ordinances adopted by specified towns and cities, including any provision of the zoning ordinances related to the conservation of floodplains, wetlands, and watercourses associated with any river segment designated by this Act, to satisfy each standard and requirement under the Act regarding the prohibition on the federal acquisition of certain lands by condemnation for inclusion in any national, wild, scenic, or recreational river area.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary, respecting each river segment, to only acquire parcels of land by donation or with the owner's consent. Prohibits the acquisition of any parcel by condemnation.\n\nRequires the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and private industry, to complete a report regarding the energy resources available on the lands and waters included in the segments of the Taunton River designated by this Act.\n\nProhibits anything in this Act from: (1) being construed as affecting the authority or responsibility of Massachusetts to manage or regulate fish and resident wildlife, including the authority to regulate hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting; (2) being construed as limiting access for hunting, fishing, trapping, or recreational shooting; or (3) impacting the supply of domestically-produced energy resources.", "title": "To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Taunton River in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2493, "text": "SECTION 1. FINDINGS; SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:\n (1) The workers who mine American coal have fueled nearly 2 \n centuries of industrial development, and are crucial to the \n Nation's economic well-being.\n (2) The Federal Government has had a central role with \n regard to both the coal industry and the health and welfare of \n coal miners. Both the Congress and the executive branch have \n frequently intervened in the coal industry to protect the \n interests of both coal miners and the industry itself. For \n example--\n (A) the Congress enacted legislation--\n (i) regulating the coal industry to protect \n the health and safety of coal miners; and\n (ii) guaranteeing health care for coal \n miners and their families, and providing \n benefits to victims of black lung disease; and\n (B) the Executive Branch has seized the Nation's \n coal mines for the purpose of negotiating a collective \n bargaining agreement on the mine owners' behalf, has \n otherwise frequently intervened in collective \n bargaining in the coal industry, and has created \n numerous panels and commissions to study problems and \n issues unique to coal mining communities and the coal \n Industry.\n (3) Because coal is an abundant domestic resource, a strong \n coal industry serves to reduce American dependence upon foreign \n oil and is vital both to commerce and to the defense of the \n United States.\n (4) As the result of the abuse of the provisions of \n bankruptcy law, certain coal industry employers have been able \n to gain unfair advantages over their competitors, primarily at \n the expense of their employees.\n (b) Sense of the Congress.-- It is the sense of the Congress that \nthe abuse of the provisions of bankruptcy law by certain coal industry \nemployers is damaging to the economic health of the United States, as \nwell as to the employees who are directly harmed by such legal abuses.\n\nSEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 11 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE.\n\n Title 11 of the United States Code is amended--\n (1) in section 101 by inserting after paragraph (5) the \n following:\n ``(5A) Coal industry employer.--The term `coal industry \n employer' means an employer in the coal industry, and all \n members of the employer's controlled group of corporations and \n all trades and businesses under common control (within the \n meaning of sections 52(a) and 52(b) of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986).\n ``(5B) Covered facility of a coal industry employer.--The \n term `covered facility of a coal industry employer' means any \n facility owned or operated by a coal industry employer that is \n involved in the production, processing, or transportation of \n coal.'';\n (2) in section 363 by adding at the end the following:\n ``(p) Notwithstanding subsection (f), a covered facility of a \ndebtor that is coal industry employer that is sold by the trustee shall \nremain subject to the labor rights of the current and former employees \nof the debtor. For purposes of this subsection, the term `labor rights' \nmeans--\n ``(1) if the employees at a covered facility of a coal \n industry employer to be sold are covered under the terms of a \n current collective bargaining agreement (other than an \n agreement that has been rejected pursuant to the terms of \n sections 365 or 1113), the obligations of the debtor arising \n under that agreement or under the National Labor Relations Act; \n or\n ``(2) if the employees at a covered facility of a coal \n industry employer to be sold are represented by a labor \n organization but are not covered under the terms of an current \n collective bargaining agreement, the obligations of the debtor \n arising under the National Labor Relations Act.\nFurthermore, in the case of the sale of a covered facility of a coal \nindustry employer at which employees are represented by a labor \norganization, such labor organization shall be conclusively presumed to \nenjoy majority support for a period of 1 year from the date of such \nsale, or such longer period as required by applicable nonbankruptcy \nlaw.'';\n (3) in section 1113 by adding at the end the following:\n ``(g)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no \napplication for the rejection of a collective bargaining agreement \nbetween a coal industry employer relating to a covered facility of such \ncoal industry employer shall be approved unless the following \nadditional conditions are met:\n ``(A) The information provided pursuant to subsection \n (b)(1)(B) has been personally verified by the principal \n officers (including the principal executive officer and \n principal financial officer) of the debtor under penalty of \n perjury.\n ``(B) As soon as practicable after the filing of an \n application under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall \n submit a list of five disinterested individuals who are \n qualified and willing to serve as trustees in the case. The \n United States trustee shall appoint one of such individuals to \n serve as trustee in the case.\n ``(C) The court finds that the executive management of the \n debtor has not received any wage increases or bonuses during \n the period that the case is pending under this title, or within \n the year preceding the filing of the petition, or that any such \n wage increases or bonuses have been disgorged and refunded to \n the debtor.\n ``(D) The court finds that the proposal made pursuant to \n subsection (b)(1)(A)--\n ``(i) does not purport to relieve the debtor, or \n the purchaser of a covered facility of a coal industry \n employer, from any obligations otherwise arising under \n the National Labor Relations Act;\n ``(ii) provides that the purchaser of any facility \n owned by the debtor is to be considered a `successor' \n under the National Labor Relations Act;\n ``(iii) does not abridge labor rights, as defined \n in section 363(p); and\n ``(iv) provides that existing employees retain all \n noneconomic employment rights provided under the terms \n of the collective bargaining agreement (including the \n right to not be terminated without cause and any recall \n rights following a layoff), both with regard to the \n debtor and the purchaser of a covered facility of a \n coal industry employer.\n ``(2) Any obligations arising under the terms of a collective \nbargaining agreement prior to the entry of relief under this section \nshall be secured by a lien on all of the assets of the debtor.''; and\n (4) in section 1114 by adding the following at the end:\n ``(m) If the court enters an order approving an application for the \nmodification of retiree benefits owed by a coal industry employer \nrelating to a covered facility of such coal industry employer, all \nmembers of the debtor's controlled group of corporations and all trades \nand businesses under common control (within the meaning of sections \n52(a) and 52(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) shall be jointly \nand severally liable for all damages arising as the result of the entry \nof such order, and all such claims shall be entitled to priority \npursuant to section 507(a)(1).''.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.\n\n This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on \nthe date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to \ncases commenced under title 11 of the United States Code before, on, or \nafter such date.", "summary": "Expresses the sense of Congress that the abuse of the provisions of bankruptcy law by certain coal industry employers is damaging to the economic health of the United States, as well as to the employees who are directly harmed by such legal abuses.\n\nAmends Federal bankruptcy law to declare that sale by the bankruptcy trustee of a facility owned or operated by a coal industry employer involved in coal production, processing, or transportation is subject to the labor rights of the current and former employees of the debtor.\n\nStates that if employees at such facility are represented by a labor organization, such organization is conclusively presumed to enjoy majority support for a period of one year from the date of such sale, or such longer period as required by applicable nonbankruptcy law.\n\nSets forth criteria for approval of an application to reject a collective bargaining agreement by a coal industry employer relating to a covered facility.\n\nStates that obligations arising under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement before the entry of bankruptcy relief are secured by a lien on all of the debtor's assets.\n\nDeclares that all members of a debtor's controlled group of corporations are jointly and severally liable for damages arising as the result of the court-approved application for the modification of retiree benefits owed by a coal industry employer relating to a covered facility. Declares all such claims entitled to priority status.", "title": "To amend title 11 of the United States Code to protecting the labor rights of current and former employees of coal industry employers that are debtors under such title."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 805, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Handgun Trigger Safety Act of \n2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds as follows:\n (1) It is in the interest of the United States to protect \n its citizens from handgun violence and accidental firearm \n deaths.\n (2) Personalizing handguns would prevent unauthorized \n users, whether children, criminals, or others, from misusing \n the weapons.\n (3) Personalizing handguns would allow authorized users to \n continue to lawfully own and use their handguns more safely.\n (4) In 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control, \n there were 851 accidental firearm deaths.\n (5) In 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control, \n 62 people under the age of 15 were killed accidentally with \n firearms.\n (6) According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, \n almost 350,000 incidents of firearm theft from private citizens \n occur each year.\n (7) According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 45 \n law enforcement officers were killed with their own firearm \n between 2002 and 2011.\n (8) According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, \n almost half of all murders in the United States in 2011 were \n committed with handguns.\n\n TITLE I--TECHNOLOGY FOR PERSONALIZED HANDGUNS GRANTS\n\nSEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this title:\n (1) Handgun.--The term ``handgun'' has the meaning given \n the term in section 921(a)(29) of title 18, United States Code.\n (2) Personalized handgun.--The term ``personalized \n handgun'' means a handgun that--\n (A) enables only an authorized user of the handgun \n to fire the handgun; and\n (B) was manufactured in such a manner that the \n firing restriction described in subparagraph (A)--\n (i) is incorporated into the design of the \n handgun;\n (ii) is not sold as an accessory; and\n (iii) cannot be readily removed or \n deactivated.\n (3) Qualified entity.--The term ``qualified entity'' \n means--\n (A) a State or unit of local government;\n (B) a nonprofit or for-profit organization; or\n (C) an institution of higher education (as defined \n in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 \n U.S.C. 1001)).\n (4) Retrofitted personalized handgun.--The term \n ``retrofitted personalized handgun'' means a handgun fitted \n with a device that--\n (A) enables only an authorized user of the handgun \n to fire the handgun; and\n (B) cannot be readily removed or deactivated.\n\nSEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION.\n\n The Attorney General, acting through the Director of the National \nInstitute of Justice (referred to in this title as the ``Director''), \nshall make grants to qualified entities to develop technology for \npersonalized handguns.\n\nSEC. 103. APPLICATIONS.\n\n A qualified entity seeking a grant under this title shall submit to \nthe Director an application at such time, in such manner, and \ncontaining such information as the Director may reasonably require.\n\nSEC. 104. USES OF FUNDS.\n\n A qualified entity that receives a grant under this title--\n (1) shall use not less than 70 percent of the amount of the \n grant to develop technology for personalized handguns;\n (2) may use not more than 20 percent of the amount of the \n grant to develop technology for retrofitted personalized \n handguns; and\n (3) may use not more than 10 percent of the amount of the \n grant for administrative costs associated with the development \n of technology funded under this title.\n\nSEC. 105. TERM; RENEWAL.\n\n (a) Term.--A grant awarded under this title shall be for a term of \n1 year.\n (b) Renewal.--A qualified entity receiving a grant under this title \nmay renew the grant by submitting to the Director an application for \nrenewal at such time, in such manner, and containing such information \nas the Director may reasonably require.\n\nSEC. 106. REPORTS.\n\n (a) Reports to Director.--A qualified entity receiving a grant \nunder this title shall submit to the Director such reports, at such \ntime, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director \nmay reasonably require.\n (b) Reports to Congress.--Each year, the Director shall submit to \nCongress a report that contains a summary of the information submitted \nto the Director under subsection (a) during the previous year.\n\nSEC. 107. REGULATIONS.\n\n The Director may promulgate such guidelines, rules, regulations, \nand procedures as may be necessary to carry out this title.\n\nSEC. 108. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title \n$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016.\n\n TITLE II--CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION SAFETY STANDARD\n\nSEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this title:\n (1) Antique firearm; firearm; handgun.--The terms ``antique \n firearm'', ``firearm'', and ``handgun'' have the meaning given \n those terms in section 921 of title 18, United States Code.\n (2) Authorized user.--The term ``authorized user'', with \n respect to a firearm, means--\n (A) the lawful owner of the firearm; and\n (B) any individual who is--\n (i) authorized by the lawful owner of the \n firearm to use the firearm; and\n (ii) authorized, under the law of the State \n where the firearm is being used, to own, carry, \n or use a firearm in the State.\n (3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Consumer \n Product Safety Commission\n (4) Consumer product safety rule.--The term ``consumer \n product safety rule'' has the meaning given such term in \n section 3(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. \n 2052(a)).\n (5) Manufactured and manufacturer.--The terms \n ``manufactured'' and ``manufacturer'' have the meaning given \n such terms in section 3(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act \n (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)).\n (6) Personalized handgun.--The term ``personalized \n handgun'' means a handgun that--\n (A) enables only an authorized user of a handgun to \n fire the handgun; and\n (B) is manufactured in such a manner that the \n firing restriction described in subparagraph (A)--\n (i) is incorporated into the design of the \n handgun; and\n (ii) cannot be readily removed or \n deactivated.\n (7) Retrofitted personalized handgun.--The term \n ``retrofitted personalized handgun'' means a handgun fitted \n with a device that--\n (A) enables only an authorized user of a handgun to \n fire the handgun; and\n (B) attaches to the handgun in a manner such that \n the device cannot be readily removed or deactivated.\n (8) State and united states.--The terms ``State'' and \n ``United States'' have the meaning given such terms in section \n 3(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)).\n (9) To distribute in commerce and distribution in \n commerce.--The terms ``to distribute in commerce'' and \n ``distribution in commerce'' have the meaning given such terms \n in section 3(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. \n 2052(a)).\n\nSEC. 202. PROHIBITION ON MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION OF HANDGUNS \n THAT ARE NOT PERSONALIZED HANDGUNS.\n\n (a) Prohibition.--\n (1) Manufacturing.--Beginning on the date that is 2 years \n after the date of enactment of this Act, no person may \n manufacture in the United States a handgun that is not a \n personalized handgun.\n (2) Distribution in commerce.--Beginning on the date that \n is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, no person \n may distribute in commerce any handgun that is not a \n personalized handgun or a retrofitted personalized handgun.\n (3) Exemptions for antique firearms and military \n firearms.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to--\n (A) an antique firearm;\n (B) the manufacture of a firearm that is sold to \n the Department of Defense; or\n (C) the sale or distribution of a firearm to the \n Department of Defense.\n (b) Enforcement by Consumer Product Safety Commission.--\n (1) Treatment of violation.--Notwithstanding section \n 3(a)(5)(E) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. \n 2052(a)(5)(E)), a violation of subsection (a) or any rule \n promulgated by the Commission pursuant to paragraph (4) shall \n be treated as a violation of section 19(a)(1) of the Consumer \n Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2068(a)(1)).\n (2) Treatment as consumer product safety standards.--\n Notwithstanding section 3(a)(5)(E) of the Consumer Product \n Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(5)(E)), subsection (a) and any \n rule promulgated pursuant to paragraph (4) shall be considered \n consumer product safety rules.\n (3) Powers of commission.--\n (A) In general.--The Commission shall enforce this \n section in the same manner, by the same means, and with \n the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all \n applicable terms and provisions of the Consumer Product \n Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.) were incorporated \n into and made a part of this section.\n (B) Privileges and immunities.--Any person who \n violates this section shall be subject to the penalties \n and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided \n in the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et \n seq.).\n (4) Regulations.--The Commission, in consultation with the \n Attorney General and the Director of the National Institute of \n Justice, may promulgate such rules as the Commission considers \n appropriate to carry out this section.\n (c) Enforcement by States.--If an attorney general, other official, \nor agency of a State has reason to believe that an interest of the \nresidents of the State has been or is threatened or adversely affected \nby a person who violates subsection (a), the attorney general, \nofficial, or agency may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents \nof the State against the person in an appropriate district court of the \nUnited States to enjoin any further such violation and for other relief \nas may be appropriate.\n (d) Cost of Retrofitting.--\n (1) Cost borne by manufacturers.--Upon the request of the \n owner of a handgun that was manufactured in the United States \n and that is not a personalized handgun or retrofitted \n personalized handgun, the manufacturer of the handgun--\n (A) shall--\n (i) retrofit the handgun so that the \n handgun is a retrofitted personalized handgun; \n and\n (ii) return the handgun to the owner within \n a reasonable period of time; and\n (B) may not request compensation for the retrofit \n from the owner.\n (2) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Commission, in consultation with the \n Attorney General and the Director of the National Institute of \n Justice, shall by regulation establish the maximum period of \n time within which a manufacturer that receives a request from \n the owner of a handgun under paragraph (1) shall retrofit and \n return the handgun to the owner.\n (3) Reimbursement from department of justice assets \n forfeiture fund.--Section 524(c) of title 28, United States \n Code, is amended--\n (A) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the \n end;\n (B) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at \n the end and inserting ``; and''; and\n (C) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the \n following:\n ``(J) payments to reimburse manufacturers of handguns for \n the costs of retrofitting handguns to comply with the \n requirement under section 202(d)(1) of the Handgun Trigger \n Safety Act of 2014.''.\n (e) Relation to State Law.--Nothing in this section or the Consumer \nProduct Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.) shall be construed to \npreempt or otherwise affect any State requirement with respect to any \nhandgun not specifically regulated in a consumer product safety \nstandard under the Consumer Product Safety Act.\n\nTITLE III--EXEMPTION FROM THE PROTECTION OF LAWFUL COMMERCE IN ARMS ACT\n\nSEC. 301. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE PROTECTION OF LAWFUL COMMERCE IN ARMS \n ACT.\n\n Section 4 of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (15 \nU.S.C. 7903) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (4)--\n (A) by striking ``The term `qualified product' \n means'' and inserting the following: ``The term \n `qualified product'--\n ``(i) except as provided in clause (ii), \n means'';\n (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting \n ``; and''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(ii) does not include a handgun that--\n ``(I) is manufactured on or after \n the date that is 2 years after the date \n of enactment of the Handgun Trigger \n Safety Act of 2014; and\n ``(II) is not a--\n ``(aa) personalized \n handgun; or\n ``(bb) retrofitted \n personalized handgun.''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(10) Authorized user.--The term `authorized user', with \n respect to a handgun, means--\n ``(A) the lawful owner of the firearm; and\n ``(B) any individual who is--\n ``(i) authorized by the lawful owner of the \n firearm to use the firearm; and\n ``(ii) authorized, under the law of the \n State where the firearm is being used, to own, \n carry, or use a firearm in the State.\n ``(11) Handgun.--The term `handgun' has the meaning given \n the term in section 921(a)(29) of title 18, United States Code.\n ``(12) Personalized handgun.--The term `personalized \n handgun' means a handgun that--\n ``(A) enables only an authorized user of the \n handgun to fire the handgun; and\n ``(B) is manufactured in such a manner that the \n firing restriction described in subparagraph (A)--\n ``(i) is incorporated into the design of \n the handgun; and\n ``(ii) cannot be readily removed or \n deactivated.\n ``(13) Retrofitted personalized handgun.--The term \n `retrofitted personalized handgun' means a handgun fitted with \n a device that--\n ``(A) enables only an authorized user of the \n handgun to fire the handgun; and\n ``(B) attaches to the handgun in a manner such that \n the device cannot be readily removed or deactivated.''.", "summary": "Handgun Trigger Safety Act of 2014 - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Justice to make one-year grants to qualified entities (states or local governments, organizations, or institutions of higher education) to develop technology for personalized handguns (a handgun that is manufactured to enable only the authorized user to fire it). Provides that a recipient shall use at least 70% of the grant amount to develop technology for personalized handguns and may use not more than 20% to develop technology for retrofitted personalized handguns and not more than 10% for administrative costs. Prohibits any person: (1) beginning two years after enactment of this Act, from manufacturing in the United States a handgun that is not a personalized handgun; or (2) beginning three years after enactment of this Act, from distributing in commerce any handgun that is not a personalized handgun or a retrofitted personalized handgun. Exempts antique firearms and firearms distributed or sold to the Department of Defense (DOD). Provides for the enforcement of such prohibitions by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and by the states. Requires a handgun manufacturer, upon request of the owner of a handgun manufactured in the United States that is not a personalized handgun or a retrofitted personalized handgun, to retrofit the handgun and return it to the owner within a reasonable period of time as established by the CPSC. Makes the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund available to the Attorney General for payments to reimburse handgun manufacturers for the costs of retrofitting handguns. Amends the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to exclude from the definition of \"qualified product\" any handgun manufactured after two years after enactment of this Act that is not a personalized handgun or retrofitted personalized handgun.", "title": "Handgun Trigger Safety Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2795, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Reducing Over-Classification Act of \n2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) A key conclusion in the Final Report of the National \n Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States \n (commonly known as the ``9/11 Commission'') was the need to \n prevent over-classification by the Federal Government.\n (2) The 9/11 Commission and others have observed that the \n over-classification of homeland security information interferes \n with accurate, actionable, and timely homeland security \n information sharing, increases the cost of information \n security, and needlessly limits public access to information.\n (3) The over-classification problem, which has worsened \n since the 9/11 attacks, causes considerable confusion about \n what information can be shared with whom both internally at the \n Department of Homeland Security and with its external partners. \n This problem negatively impacts the dissemination of homeland \n security information to the Department's State, local, tribal, \n and territorial homeland security and law enforcement partners, \n private sector customers, and the public.\n (4) Excessive government secrecy stands in the way of a \n safer and more secure homeland. This trend is antithetical to \n the creation and operation of the information sharing \n environment established under section 1016 of the Intelligence \n Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485), and \n must be halted and reversed.\n (5) To do so, the Department should start with the \n understanding that all departmental information that is not \n properly classified, or marked as controlled unclassified \n information and otherwise exempt from disclosure, should be \n made available to members of the public pursuant to section 552 \n of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the \n ``Freedom of Information Act'').\n (6) The Department should also develop and administer \n policies, procedures, and programs that promote compliance with \n applicable laws, executive orders, and other authorities \n pertaining to the proper use of classification markings and the \n United States National Archives and Records Administration \n policies implementing them.\n\nSEC. 3. OVER-CLASSIFICATION PREVENTION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF \n HOMELAND SECURITY.\n\n Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 \nU.S.C. 121 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsection:\n\n``SEC. 210F. OVER-CLASSIFICATION PREVENTION PROGRAM.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall develop and administer \npolicies, procedures, and programs within the Department to prevent the \nover-classification of homeland security information, terrorism \ninformation, weapons of mass destruction information, and other \ninformation within the scope of the information sharing environment \nestablished under section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism \nPrevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485) that must be disseminated to \nprevent and to collectively respond to acts of terrorism. The Secretary \nshall coordinate with the Archivist of the United States and consult \nwith representatives of State, local, tribal, and territorial \ngovernment and law enforcement, organizations with expertise in civil \nrights, civil liberties, and government oversight, and the private \nsector, as appropriate, to develop such policies, procedures, and \nprograms.\n ``(b) Requirements.--Not later than one year after the date of the \nenactment of the Reducing Over-Classification Act of 2008, the \nSecretary, in administering the policies, procedures, and programs \nrequired under subsection (a), shall--\n ``(1) create, in consultation with the Archivist of the \n United States, standard classified and unclassified formats for \n finished intelligence products created by the Department, \n consistent with any government-wide standards, practices or \n procedures for similar products;\n ``(2) require that all finished intelligence products \n created by the Department be simultaneously prepared in the \n standard unclassified format, provided that such an \n unclassified product would reasonably be expected to be of any \n benefit to a State, local, tribal or territorial government, \n law enforcement agency or other emergency response provider, or \n the private sector, based on input provided by the Interagency \n Threat Assessment and Coordination Group Detail established \n under section 210D;\n ``(3) ensure that such policies, procedures, and programs \n protect the national security as well as the information \n privacy rights and legal rights of United States persons \n pursuant to all applicable law and policy, including the \n privacy guidelines for the information sharing environment \n established pursuant to section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform \n and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485), as \n appropriate;\n ``(4) establish an ongoing auditing mechanism administered \n by the Inspector General of the Department or other appropriate \n senior Department official that randomly selects, on a periodic \n basis, classified information from each component of the \n Department that generates finished intelligence products to--\n ``(A) assess whether applicable classification \n policies, procedures, rules, and regulations have been \n followed;\n ``(B) describe any problems with the administration \n of the applicable classification policies, procedures, \n rules, and regulations, including specific non-\n compliance issues;\n ``(C) recommend improvements in awareness and \n training to address any problems identified in \n subparagraph (B); and\n ``(D) report at least annually to the Committee on \n Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, the \n Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs \n of the Senate, and the public, in an appropriate \n format, on the findings of the Inspector General's \n audits under this section;\n ``(5) establish a process whereby employees may challenge \n original classification decisions made by Department employees \n or contractors and be rewarded with specific incentives for \n successful challenges resulting in the removal of \n classification markings or the downgrading of them;\n ``(6) inform employees and contractors that failure to \n comply with the policies, procedures, and programs established \n under this section could subject them to a series of penalties; \n and\n ``(7) institute a series of penalties for employees and \n contractors who repeatedly fail to comply with the policies, \n procedures, and programs established under this section after \n having received both notice of their noncompliance and \n appropriate training or re-training to address such \n noncompliance.\n ``(c) Finished Intelligence Product Defined.--The term `finished \nintelligence product' means a document in which an intelligence analyst \nhas evaluated, interpreted, integrated, or placed into context raw \nintelligence or information.''.\n\nSEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT OF OVER-CLASSIFICATION PREVENTION WITHIN THE \n DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.\n\n Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 \nU.S.C. 121 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new section:\n\n``SEC. 210G. ENFORCEMENT OF OVER-CLASSIFICATION PREVENTION PROGRAMS.\n\n ``(a) Personal Identifiers.--The Secretary shall--\n ``(1) assess the technologies available or in use at the \n Department by which an electronic personal identification \n number or other electronic identifying marker can be assigned \n to each Department employee and contractor with original \n classification authority in order to--\n ``(A) track which documents have been classified by \n a particular employee or contractor;\n ``(B) determine the circumstances when such \n documents have been shared;\n ``(C) identify and address over-classification \n problems, including the misapplication of \n classification markings to documents that do not merit \n such markings; and\n ``(D) assess the information sharing impact of any \n such problems or misuse;\n ``(2) develop an implementation plan for a Department \n standard for such technology with appropriate benchmarks, a \n timetable for its completion, and cost estimate for the \n creation and implementation of a system of electronic personal \n identification numbers or other electronic identifying markers \n for all relevant Department employees and contractors; and\n ``(3) upon completion of the implementation plan described \n in paragraph (2), or not later than 180 days after the date of \n the enactment of the Reducing Over-Classification Act of 2008, \n whichever is earlier, the Secretary shall provide a copy of the \n plan to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of \n Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and \n Governmental Affairs of the Senate.\n ``(b) Training.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Archivist \nof the United States, shall--\n ``(1) require annual training for each Department employee \n and contractor with classification authority or those \n responsible for analysis, dissemination, preparation, \n production, receiving, publishing, or otherwise communicating \n written classified information, including training to--\n ``(A) educate each employee and contractor about--\n ``(i) the Department's requirement that all \n classified finished intelligence products that \n they create be simultaneously prepared in \n unclassified form in a standard format \n prescribed by the Department, provided that the \n unclassified product would reasonably be \n expected to be of any benefit to a State, \n local, tribal, or territorial government, law \n enforcement agency, or other emergency response \n provider, or the private sector, based on input \n provided by the Interagency Threat Assessment \n and Coordination Group Detail established under \n section 210D;\n ``(ii) the proper use of classification \n markings, including portion markings; and\n ``(iii) the consequences of over-\n classification and other improper uses of \n classification markings, including the \n misapplication of classification markings to \n documents that do not merit such markings, and \n of failing to comply with the Department's \n policies and procedures established under or \n pursuant to this section, including the \n negative consequences for the individual's \n personnel evaluation, homeland security, \n information sharing, and the overall success of \n the Department's missions;\n ``(B) serve as a prerequisite, once completed \n successfully, as evidenced by an appropriate \n certificate, for--\n ``(i) obtaining classification authority; \n and\n ``(ii) renewing such authority annually; \n and\n ``(C) count as a positive factor, once completed \n successfully, in the Department's employment, \n evaluation, and promotion decisions; and\n ``(2) ensure that such program is conducted efficiently, in \n conjunction with any other security, intelligence, or other \n training programs required by the Department to reduce the \n costs and administrative burdens associated with the additional \n training required by this section.\n ``(c) Detailee Program.--The Secretary shall--\n ``(1) implement a Departmental detailee program to detail \n Departmental personnel to the National Archives and Records \n Administration for one year, for the purpose of--\n ``(A) training and educational benefit for the \n Department personnel assigned so that they may better \n understand the policies, procedures and laws governing \n original classification authorities;\n ``(B) bolstering the ability of the National \n Archives and Records Administration to conduct its \n oversight authorities over the Department and other \n Departments and agencies; and\n ``(C) ensuring that the policies and procedures \n established by the Secretary remain consistent with \n those established by the Archivist of the United \n States;\n ``(2) ensure that the program established under paragraph \n (1) includes at least one individual for each Department office \n with delegated original classification authority; and\n ``(3) in coordination with the Archivist of the United \n States, report to Congress not later than 90 days after the \n conclusion of the first year of the program established under \n paragraph (1), on--\n ``(A) the advisability of expanding the program on \n a government-wide basis, whereby other departments and \n agencies would send detailees to the National Archives \n and Records Administration; and\n ``(B) the administrative and monetary costs of full \n compliance with this section.\n ``(d) Sunset of Detailee Program.--Except as otherwise provided by \nlaw, subsection (c) shall cease to have effect on December 31, 2012.\n ``(e) Finished Intelligence Product Defined.--The term `finished \nintelligence product' has the meaning given the term in section \n210F(c).''.\n\nSEC. 5. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.\n\n The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act \nof 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(b)) is amended by adding after the item relating \nto section 210E the following new items:\n\n``Sec. 210F. Over-classification prevention program.\n``Sec. 210G. Enforcement of over-classification prevention programs.''.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives July 30, 2008.\n\n Attest:\n\n LORRAINE C. MILLER,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Reducing Over-Classification Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer policies, procedures, and programs (policies) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prevent the over-classification of homeland security, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and other information within the scope of the information sharing environment established under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that must be disseminated to prevent and collectively respond to acts of terrorism.\n\nRequires the Secretary to coordinate with the Archivist of the United States and consult with representatives of state, local, tribal, and territorial government and law enforcement, organizations with expertise in civil rights, civil liberties, and government oversight, and the private sector to develop such policies.\n\nDirects the Secretary to: (1) create standard classified and unclassified formats for finished DHS intelligence products; (2) require that all such products be simultaneously prepared in the standard unclassified format, provided that such unclassified product would reasonably be expected to be of benefit to a state, local, tribal or territorial government, law enforcement agency or other emergency response provider, or the private sector, based on input provided by the Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group Detail; (3) ensure that such policies protect the national security as well as the information privacy and legal rights of U.S. persons; (4) establish an ongoing auditing mechanism that randomly selects classified information from each DHS component to assess whether applicable classification regulations have been followed, describe any problems with their administration, and recommend improvements in awareness and training to address the problems identified; (5) establish a process whereby employees may challenge original classification decisions and be rewarded for successful challenges resulting in the removal or downgrading of classification markings; (6) inform employees and contractors that failure to comply could subject them to a series of penalties; and (7) institute such penalties.\n\n(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to: (1) assess technologies by which an electronic identifying marker can be assigned to each DHS employee and contractor with original classification authority to track which documents have been classified by a particular employee or contractor, determine the circumstances when such documents have been shared, identify and address over-classification problems, and assess the information sharing impact of any such problems or misuse; (2) develop an implementation plan for a DHS standard for such technology; and (3) provide a copy of the implementation plan to the House and Senate homeland security committees.\n\nDirects the Secretary, in coordination with the Archivist, to: (1) require annual training for each DHS employee and contractor with classification authority or those responsible for analyzing, producing, or communicating written classified information; and (2) ensure that such program is conducted efficiently in conjunction with any other security, intelligence, or other training programs required by DHS to reduce the costs and administrative burdens associated with the additional training required.\n\nRequires the Secretary to: (1) implement a program to detail DHS personnel to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for one year for purposes of training and educating DHS personnel to better understand classification authorities, bolstering NARA's ability to conduct oversight, and ensuring that the policies and procedures established by the Secretary remain consistent with those established by the Archivist; (2) ensure that the program includes at least one individual for each DHS office with delegated original classification authority; and (3) report to Congress, in coordination with the Archivist, on the advisability of expanding the program on a government-wide basis and on the administrative and monetary costs of full compliance. Terminates the program on December 31, 2012.", "title": "To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a strategy to prevent the over-classification of homeland security and other information and to promote the sharing of unclassified homeland security and other information, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 354, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n This Act may be cited as the ``American Eagle Palladium Bullion \nCoin Act of 2010''.\nSEC. 2. PALLADIUM COIN.\n Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new \n paragraph;\n ``(12) A $25 coin of an appropriate size and thickness, as \n determined by the Secretary, that weighs 1 troy ounce and contains \n .9995 fine palladium.''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(v) Palladium Bullion Investment Coins.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subject to the submission to the Secretary \n and the Congress of a marketing study described in paragraph (8), \n beginning not more than 1 year after the submission of the study to \n the Secretary and the Congress, the Secretary shall mint and issue \n the palladium coins described in paragraph (12) of subsection (a) \n in such quantities as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate \n to meet demand.\n ``(2) Source of bullion.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall acquire bullion for \n the palladium coins issued under this subsection by purchase of \n palladium mined from natural deposits in the United States, or \n in a territory or possession of the United States, within 1 \n year after the month in which the ore from which it is derived \n was mined. If no such palladium is available or if it is not \n economically feasible to obtain such palladium, the Secretary \n may obtain palladium for the palladium coins described in \n paragraph (12) of subsection (a) from other available sources.\n ``(B) Price of bullion.--The Secretary shall pay not more \n than the average world price for the palladium under \n subparagraph (A).\n ``(3) Sale of coins.--Each coin issued under this subsection \n shall be sold for an amount the Secretary determines to be \n appropriate, but not less than the sum of--\n ``(A) the market value of the bullion at the time of sale; \n and\n ``(B) the cost of designing and issuing the coins, \n including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead \n expenses, marketing, distribution, and shipping.\n ``(4) Treatment.--For purposes of section 5134 and 5136, all \n coins minted under this subsection shall be considered to be \n numismatic items.\n ``(5) Quality.--The Secretary may issue the coins described in \n paragraph (1) in both proof and uncirculated versions, except that, \n should the Secretary determine that it is appropriate to issue \n proof or uncirculated versions of such coin, the Secretary shall, \n to the greatest extent possible, ensure that the surface treatment \n of each year's proof or uncirculated version differs in some \n material way from that of the preceding year.\n ``(6) Design.--Coins minted and issued under this subsection \n shall bear designs on the obverse and reverse that are close \n likenesses of the work of famed American coin designer and medallic \n artist Adolph Alexander Weinman--\n ``(A) the obverse shall bear a high-relief likeness of the \n `Winged Liberty' design used on the obverse of the so-called \n `Mercury dime';\n ``(B) the reverse shall bear a high-relief version of the \n reverse design of the 1907 American Institute of Architects \n medal; and\n ``(C) the coin shall bear such other inscriptions, \n including `Liberty', `In God We Trust', `United States of \n America', the denomination and weight of the coin and the \n fineness of the metal, as the Secretary determines to be \n appropriate and in keeping with the original design.\n ``(7) Mint facility.--Any United States mint, other than the \n United States Mint at West Point, New York, may be used to strike \n coins minted under this subsection other than any proof version of \n any such coin. If the Secretary determines that it is appropriate \n to issue any proof version of such coin, coins of such version \n shall be struck only at the United States Mint at West Point, New \n York.\n ``(8) Marketing study defined.--The market study described in \n paragraph (1) means an analysis of the market for palladium bullion \n investments conducted by a reputable, independent third party that \n demonstrates that there would be adequate demand for palladium \n bullion coins produced by the United States Mint to ensure that \n such coins could be minted and issued at no net cost to \n taxpayers.''.\nSEC. 3. BUDGETARY EFFECT.\n The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying \nwith the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by \nreference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO \nLegislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional \nRecord by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that \nsuch statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "American Eagle Palladium Bullion Coin Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue a $25 palladium bullion investment coin bearing designs that are close likenesses of the work of American coin designer and medallic artist Adolph Alexander Weinman.\n\nRequires the obverse to bear a high-relief likeness of the \"Winged Liberty\" design used on the obverse of the \"Mercury dime,\" and the reverse a high-relief version of the reverse design of the 1907 American Institute of Architects medal.\n\nRequires the coin also to bear other inscriptions, including \"Liberty,\" \"In God We Trust,\" and \"United States of America.\"\n\nAllows any U.S. Mint other than the one at West Point, New York, to strike the coins, unless the Secretary of the Treasury decides to issue a proof version, which shall be struck only at West Point.\n\nConditions the minting and issuance of palladium bullion coins upon submission to the Secretary and Congress of a marketing study by a reputable, independent third party: (1) analyzing the market for palladium bullion investments; and (2) demonstrating that there would be adequate demand for such coins to ensure that they could be minted and issued at no net cost to taxpayers.", "title": "To authorize the production of palladium bullion coins to provide affordable opportunities for investments in precious metals, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 997, "text": "SECTION 1. PRIVACY OF CUSTOMERS OF BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE \n AND OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 222 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 \nU.S.C. 222) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:\n ``(h) Privacy of Customers of Broadband Internet Access Service and \nOther Telecommunications Services.--\n ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--\n ``(A) the term `broadband Internet access service' \n has the meaning given the term in section 8.2 of title \n 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor \n regulation;\n ``(B) the term `customer' means--\n ``(i) a current or former subscriber to a \n telecommunications service; or\n ``(ii) an applicant for a \n telecommunications service;\n ``(C) the term `customer proprietary information' \n means, with respect to information or content that a \n telecommunications carrier acquires in connection with \n its provision of telecommunications service--\n ``(i) individually identifiable customer \n proprietary network information;\n ``(ii) personally identifiable information; \n and\n ``(iii) content of communications;\n ``(D) the term `opt-in approval' means a method for \n a telecommunications carrier to obtain customer consent \n to use, disclose, or permit access to the customer's \n customer proprietary information that requires that the \n telecommunications carrier obtain from the customer \n affirmative, express consent allowing the requested \n usage, disclosure, or access to the customer \n proprietary information after the customer is provided \n appropriate notification of the carrier's request;\n ``(E) the term `sensitive customer proprietary \n information' includes--\n ``(i) financial information;\n ``(ii) health information;\n ``(iii) information pertaining to children;\n ``(iv) Social Security numbers;\n ``(v) precise geolocation information;\n ``(vi) content of communications;\n ``(vii) call detail information;\n ``(viii) web browsing history, application \n usage history, and the functional equivalents \n of either; and\n ``(ix) any other customary proprietary \n information that the Commission determines to \n be sensitive; and\n ``(F) the term `telecommunications service' \n includes broadband Internet access service and \n interconnected VoIP service.\n ``(2) Regulations.--In carrying out this section, the \n Commission shall promulgate regulations to protect the privacy \n of customers of telecommunications service.\n ``(3) Contents.--In promulgating regulations under \n paragraph (2), the Commission shall--\n ``(A) require a telecommunications carrier to \n notify a customer about the collection, use, and \n sharing of his or her customer proprietary information, \n including by--\n ``(i) notifying the customer about the \n types of customer proprietary information the \n carrier collects;\n ``(ii) specifying how and for what purposes \n the carrier uses and shares customer \n proprietary information; and\n ``(iii) identifying the types of entities \n with which the carrier shares customer \n proprietary information;\n ``(B) require a telecommunications carrier to--\n ``(i) provide the notification under \n subparagraph (A) to a customer at the point of \n sale, before the purchase of service; and\n ``(ii) update a customer when the carrier \n makes a material change to a privacy policy, \n including any of the policies described in \n subparagraph (A);\n ``(C) require a telecommunications carrier to \n obtain opt-in approval from a customer to use and share \n his or her sensitive customer proprietary information;\n ``(D) implement strong protection for de-identified \n customary proprietary information, to prevent re-\n identifying such information;\n ``(E) prohibit a telecommunications carrier from \n refusing to serve a customer who doesn't consent to the \n use and sharing of his or her customer proprietary \n information for commercial purposes (commonly known as \n `take-it-or-leave-it offers'); and\n ``(F) require a telecommunications carrier to--\n ``(i) develop reasonable data security \n practices; and\n ``(ii) notify customers if a breach of \n security has occurred.''.\n (b) Deadline.--The Federal Communications Commission--\n (1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of \n this Act, shall promulgate regulations under section 222(h)(2) \n of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222(h)(2)), as \n added by subsection (a); and\n (2) shall ensure that the regulations promulgated under \n paragraph (1) take effect not later than 180 days after the \n date of promulgation.", "summary": "This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promulgate customer privacy regulations that require telecommunications services, broadband Internet access services, and interconnected VoIP services to: notify a customer about the collection, use, and sharing of customer proprietary information that is individually identifiable customer proprietary network information, personally identifiable information, or the content of communications; obtain opt-in approval from a customer to use and share sensitive customer proprietary information about financial or health information, children, Social Security numbers, precise geolocation, content of communications, call detail information, web browsing or application usage history, or other customary proprietary information that the FCC determines to be sensitive; not refuse to serve a customer who does not consent to the use and sharing of customer proprietary information for commercial purposes under a \"take-it-or-leave-it\" offer; develop data security practices; and notify customers of security breaches. The FCC must also implement strong protection for de-identified customary proprietary information to prevent re-identifying such information.", "title": "A bill to establish privacy protections for customers of broadband Internet access service and other telecommunications services."}], "non_defining_instances": [{"Unnamed: 0": 269, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``American Cures Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. CAP ADJUSTMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 251(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget and \nEmergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); \n and\n (2) by inserting after subparagraph (C), the following:\n ``(D) Biomedical research.--\n ``(i) National institutes of health.--If a \n bill or joint resolution making appropriations \n for a fiscal year is enacted that specifies \n amounts for the National Institutes of Health \n at the Department of Health and Human Services, \n then the adjustments for that fiscal year shall \n be the amount of additional new budget \n authority provided in that Act for such \n programs for that fiscal year, but shall not \n exceed--\n ``(I) for fiscal year 2016, \n $1,741,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(II) for fiscal year 2017, \n $3,422,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(III) for fiscal year 2018, \n $5,167,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(IV) for fiscal year 2019, \n $7,085,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(V) for fiscal year 2020, \n $9,149,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority; and\n ``(VI) for fiscal year 2021, \n $11,435,000,000 in additional new \n budget authority.\n ``(ii) Centers for disease control and \n prevention.--If a bill or joint resolution \n making appropriations for a fiscal year is \n enacted that specifies amounts for the Centers \n for Disease Control and Prevention at the \n Department of Health and Human Services, then \n the adjustments for that fiscal year shall be \n the amount of additional new budget authority \n provided in that Act for such programs for that \n fiscal year, but shall not exceed--\n ``(I) for fiscal year 2016, \n $716,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(II) for fiscal year 2017, \n $1,287,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(III) for fiscal year 2018, \n $1,503,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(IV) for fiscal year 2019, \n $1,980,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(V) for fiscal year 2020, \n $2,298,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority; and\n ``(VI) for fiscal year 2021, \n $2,884,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority.\n ``(iii) Department of defense health \n program.--If a bill or joint resolution making \n appropriations for a fiscal year is enacted \n that specifies amounts for the Department of \n Defense health program, then the adjustments \n for that fiscal year shall be the amount of \n additional new budget authority provided in \n that Act for such programs for that fiscal \n year, but shall not exceed--\n ``(I) for fiscal year 2016, \n $57,402,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(II) for fiscal year 2017, \n $139,213,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(III) for fiscal year 2018, \n $226,460,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(IV) for fiscal year 2019, \n $322,742,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(V) for fiscal year 2020, \n $425,700,000 in additional new budget \n authority; and\n ``(VI) for fiscal year 2021, \n $540,000,000 in additional new budget \n authority.\n ``(iv) Medical and prosthetics research \n program of the department of veterans \n affairs.--If a bill or joint resolution making \n appropriations for a fiscal year is enacted \n that specifies amounts for the medical and \n prosthetics research program of the Department \n of Veterans Affairs, then the adjustments for \n that fiscal year shall be the amount of \n additional new budget authority provided in \n that Act for such programs for that fiscal \n year, but shall not exceed--\n ``(I) for fiscal year 2016, \n $25,201,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(II) for fiscal year 2017, \n $52,945,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(III) for fiscal year 2018, \n $80,866,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(IV) for fiscal year 2019, \n $112,189,000 in additional new budget \n authority;\n ``(V) for fiscal year 2020, \n $146,157,000 in additional new budget \n authority; and\n ``(VI) for fiscal year 2021, \n $184,027,000 in additional new budget \n authority.\n ``(v) Definitions.--As used in this \n subparagraph:\n ``(I) Additional new budget \n authority.--The term `additional new \n budget authority' means--\n ``(aa) with respect to the \n National Institutes of Health, \n the amount provided for a \n fiscal year, in excess of the \n amount provided in fiscal year \n 2015, in an appropriation Act \n and specified to support the \n National Institutes of Health;\n ``(bb) with respect to the \n Centers for Disease Control and \n Prevention, the amount provided \n for a fiscal year, in excess of \n the amount provided in fiscal \n year 2015, in an appropriation \n Act and specified to support \n the Centers for Disease Control \n and Prevention;\n ``(cc) with respect to the \n Department of Defense health \n program, the amount provided \n for a fiscal year, in excess of \n the amount provided in fiscal \n year 2015, in an appropriation \n Act and specified to support \n the Department of Defense \n health program; and\n ``(dd) with respect to the \n medical and prosthetics \n research program of the \n Department of Veterans Affairs, \n the amount provided for a \n fiscal year, in excess of the \n amount provided in fiscal year \n 2015, in an appropriation Act \n and specified to support the \n medical and prosthetics \n research program of the \n Department of Veterans Affairs.\n ``(II) Centers for disease control \n and prevention.--The term `Centers for \n Disease Control and Prevention' means \n the appropriations accounts that \n support the various institutes, \n offices, and centers that make up the \n Centers for Disease Control and \n Prevention.\n ``(III) Department of defense \n health program.--The term `Department \n of Defense health program' means the \n appropriations accounts that support \n the various institutes, offices, and \n centers that make up the Department of \n Defense health program.\n ``(IV) Medical and prosthetics \n research program of the department of \n veterans affairs.--The term `medical \n and prosthetics research program of the \n Department of Veterans Affairs' means \n the appropriations accounts that \n support the various institutes, \n offices, and centers that make up the \n medical and prosthetics research \n program of the Department of Veterans \n Affairs.\n ``(V) National institutes of \n health.--The term `National Institutes \n of Health' means the appropriations \n accounts that support the various \n institutes, offices, and centers that \n make up the National Institutes of \n Health.''.\n (b) Funding.--There are hereby authorized to be appropriated--\n (1) for the National Institutes of Health, the amounts \n provided for under clause (i) of such section 251(b)(2)(D) in \n each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, and such sums as may be \n necessary for each subsequent fiscal year;\n (2) for the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting \n through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the \n amounts provided for under clause (ii) of such section \n 251(b)(2)(D) in each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, and \n such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year;\n (3) for the Department of Defense health program, the \n amounts provided for under clause (iii) of such section \n 251(b)(2)(D) in each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, and \n such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year; \n and\n (4) for the Medical and prosthetics research program of the \n Department of Veterans Affairs, the amounts provided for under \n clause (iv) of such section 251(b)(2)(D) in each of fiscal \n years 2016 through 2021, and such sums as may be necessary for \n each subsequent fiscal year.\n (c) Minimum Continued Funding Requirement.--Amounts appropriated \nfor each of the programs and agencies described in section 251(b)(2)(D) \nof the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (as \nadded by subsection (a)) for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, \nand each subsequent fiscal year, shall not be less than the amounts \nappropriated for such programs and agencies for fiscal year 2015.\n (d) Exemption of Certain Appropriations From Sequestration.--\n (1) In general.--Section 255(g)(1)(A) of the Balanced \n Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act (2 U.S.C. \n 905(g)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting after ``Advances to the \n Unemployment Trust Fund and Other Funds (16-0327-0-1-600).'' \n the following:\n ``Appropriations under the American Cures \n Act.''.\n (2) Applicability.--The amendment made by this section \n shall apply to any sequestration order issued under the \n Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 \n U.S.C. 900 et seq.) on or after the date of enactment of this \n Act.", "summary": "American Cures Act This bill amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to require certain adjustments to discretionary spending limits in FY2016-FY2021 to accommodate increases in appropriations for agencies that perform biomedical research. Adjustments are required for the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense health program, and the Department of Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research program. The bill also requires annual appropriations for each of the programs and agencies referenced in this bill to be at least the amount appropriated in FY2015. The bill exempts appropriations provided pursuant to this bill from sequestration. Sequestration is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals. ", "title": "American Cures Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3262, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Park Centennial Challenge \nFund Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress here by finds that--\n (1) Our national parks are icons of America;\n (2) The one hundredth anniversary of the National Park \n System will be in 2016;\n (3) It is appropriate for all Americans to help in the \n efforts to enhance our parks as the country gets ready for this \n centennial celebration;\n (4) The President has proposed a National Park Centennial \n Initiative that, over ten years, will provide up to $3 billion \n to prepare parks for another century of conservation, \n preservation, and enjoyment; and\n (5) A part of that Initiative is the establishment of a \n Centennial Challenge to encourage individuals, foundations, and \n the private sector to donate money each year by providing up to \n $100 million in dedicated Federal funding to match donations \n for signature projects and programs.\n (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to establish a fund in \nthe Treasury that will be used to finance signature projects and \nprograms to enhance the National Park System as it approaches its \ncentennial in 2016 and to prepare the parks for another century of \nconservation, preservation, and enjoyment.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act, the term---\n (1) ``Challenge Fund'' means the National Park Centennial \n Challenge Fund.\n (2) ``Director'' means the Director of the National Park \n Service.\n (3) ``Secretary'' means Secretary of the Interior.\n (4) ``Signature project or program'' means, for the \n purposes of this Act, any project or program identified by the \n Director as one that will help prepare the national parks for \n another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment.\n (5) ``Qualified donation'' means a cash non-Federal \n donation to the National Park Service that the Director \n certifies is for a listed signature project or program.\n\nSEC. 4. NATIONAL PARK CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE FUND.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury a fund to \nbe known as the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund. The Challenge \nFund shall consist of:\n (1) Qualified donations transferred from the Donations to \n the National Park Service account, in accordance with section \n 6(a) of this Act: and\n (2) Amounts appropriated from the general fund of the \n Treasury, in accordance with section 6(b) of this Act.\n (b) Availability.--All amounts deposited in the Challenge Fund \nshall be available, subject to restrictions in section 6(c) of this \nAct, to the Secretary for signature projects and programs under this \nAct without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation. \nNo monies shall be available for indirect administrative costs. The \nexpenditure of amounts in the Challenge Fund shall follow Federal \nprocurement and financial laws and standards.\n\nSEC. 5. SIGNATURE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.\n\n (a) List.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall \ndevelop a list of signature projects and programs eligible for funding \nfrom the Challenge Fund. The list shall be submitted to the President \nand to the Committees on Appropriations and Energy and Natural \nResources in the United States Senate, and to the Committees on \nAppropriations and Natural Resources in the House of Representatives.\n (b) Signature Projects and Programs.--For purposes of this Act, a \nsignature project or program shall be a project or program identified \nby the Director as one that will help prepare the national parks for \nanother century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment.\n (c) Updates.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, may, from \ntime to time as the Secretary or Director finds necessary, add any \nproject or program to the list developed pursuant to subsection (a) \nthat the Director believes is a signature project or program. If the \nDirector adds any project or program to the list, the Secretary shall \nnotify the Committees referred to in subsection (a) at the time the \nproject or program is added.\n\nSEC. 6. DONATIONS AND MATCHING FEDERAL FUNDS.\n\n (a) Qualified Donations.--Beginning on October 1, 2007, and ending \non September 30, 2017, the Secretary may transfer to the Challenge Fund \nqualified donations of cash, including cash to liquidate a letter of \ncredit, received by the National Park Service.\n (b) Matching Amount.--There is hereby appropriated in each fiscal \nyear beginning on October 1, 2007 and ending on September 30, 2017, an \namount equal to the qualified donations received and the pledge of \ndonations through letters of credit in the same fiscal year, not to \nexceed $100 million in any one year. In no case may the matching amount \nexceed the amount of donations received or pledged in any year. For the \npurpose of this subsection, the Secretary may consider a donation for \nany fiscal year to be received when a pledge of a donation for that \nfiscal year is guaranteed and a valid irrevocable letter of credit is \nissued for such purposes.\n (c) The Secretary may not obligate any amounts based on a letter of \ncredit, or amounts to match a letter of credit pursuant to subsection \n(b), until amounts from that letter of credit are deposited in the \nChallenge Fund.\n (d) Solicitation.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed as \nexpanding any authority that exists on the date of its enactment with \nrespect to the ability of the National Park Service and its employees \nto receive or solicit for donations.\n\nSEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.\n\n The Secretary shall provide with the submission of the President's \nbudget a list of the signature projects and programs and the status of \ntheir funding.\n\nSEC. 8. REGULATIONS.\n\n The Secretary may promulgate such regulations as may be necessary \nto carry out this Act.", "summary": "National Park Centennial Challenge Fund Act - Establishes in the Treasury the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund (the Challenge Fund) which shall consist of qualified donations transferred from the Donations to the National Park Service account and amounts appropriated from the general fund of the Treasury, in accordance with this Act.\n\nMakes available all amounts deposited in the Challenge Fund to the Secretary of the Interior for signature projects and programs under this Act (projects and programs identified by the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) as those that will help prepare the national parks for another century of conservation, preservation, and enjoyment).\n\nRequires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to develop a list of signature projects and programs eligible for funding from the Challenge Fund. Requires that such list be submitted to the President and specified congressional committees.", "title": "To establish a fund for the National Park Centennial Challenge, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1009, "text": "SECTION 1. PROGRAM OF IDENTIFICATION OF CERTAIN DEPORTABLE ALIENS \n AWAITING ARRAIGNMENT.\n\n (a) Establishment of Program.--Not later than 6 months after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act, and subject to such amounts as are \nprovided in appropriations Acts, the Attorney General shall establish \nand implement a program to identify, from among the individuals who are \nincarcerated in local governmental incarceration facilities prior to \narraignment on criminal charges, those individuals who are within 1 or \nmore of the following classes of deportable aliens:\n (1) Aliens unlawfully present in the United States.\n (2) Aliens described in paragraph (2) or (4) of section 237(a) \n of the Immigration and Nationality Act (as redesignated by section \n 305(a)(2) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant \n Responsibility Act of 1996).\n (b) Description of Program.--The program authorized by subsection \n(a) shall include--\n (1) the detail, to each incarceration facility selected under \n subsection (c), of at least one employee of the Immigration and \n Naturalization Service who has expertise in the identification of \n aliens described in subsection (a); and\n (2) provision of funds sufficient to provide for--\n (A) the detail of such employees to each selected facility \n on a full-time basis, including the portions of the day or \n night when the greatest number of individuals are incarcerated \n prior to arraignment;\n (B) access for such employees to records of the Service and \n other Federal law enforcement agencies that are necessary to \n identify such aliens; and\n (C) in the case of an individual identified as such an \n alien, pre-arraignment reporting to the court regarding the \n Service's intention to remove the alien from the United States.\n (c) Selection of Facilities.--\n (1) In general.--The Attorney General shall select for \n participation in the program each incarceration facility that \n satisfies the following requirements:\n (A) The facility is owned by the government of a local \n political subdivision described in clause (i) or (ii) of \n subparagraph (C).\n (B) Such government has submitted a request for such \n selection to the Attorney General.\n (C) The facility is located--\n (i) in a county that is determined by the Attorney \n General to have a high concentration of aliens described in \n subsection (a); or\n (ii) in a city, town, or other analogous local \n political subdivision, that is determined by the Attorney \n General to have a high concentration of such aliens (but \n only in the case of a facility that is not located in a \n county).\n (D) The facility incarcerates or processes individuals \n prior to their arraignment on criminal charges.\n (2) Number of qualifying subdivisions.--For any fiscal year, \n the total number of local political subdivisions determined under \n clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(C) to meet the standard in \n such clauses shall be the following:\n (A) For fiscal year 1999, not less than 10 and not more \n than 25.\n (B) For fiscal year 2000, not less than 25 and not more \n than 50.\n (C) For fiscal year 2001, not more than 75.\n (D) For fiscal year 2002, not more than 100.\n (E) For fiscal year 2003 and subsequent fiscal years, 100, \n or such other number of political subdivisions as may be \n specified in appropriations Acts.\n (3) Facilities in interior states.--For any fiscal year, of the \n local political subdivisions determined under clauses (i) and (ii) \n of paragraph (1)(C) to meet the standard in such clauses, not less \n than 20 percent shall be in States that are not contiguous to a \n land border.\n (4) Treatment of certain facilities.--All of the incarceration \n facilities within the county of Orange, California, and the county \n of Ventura, California, that are owned by the government of a local \n political subdivision, and satisfy the requirements of paragraph \n (1)(D), shall be selected for participation in the program.\n\nSEC. 2. STUDY AND REPORT.\n\n Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, \nthe Attorney General shall complete a study, and submit a report to the \nCongress, concerning the logistical and technological feasibility of \nimplementing the program under section 1 in a greater number of \nlocations than those selected under such section through--\n (1) the assignment of a single Immigration and Naturalization \n Service employee to more than 1 incarceration facility; and\n (2) the development of a system to permit the Attorney General \n to conduct off-site verification, by computer or other electronic \n means, of the immigration status of individuals who are \n incarcerated in local governmental incarceration facilities prior \n to arraignment on criminal charges.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "Directs the Attorney General to implement a program to identify aliens held in local incarceration facilities prior to criminal arraignment who are illegally in the United States or who are deportable on criminal or security grounds. Requires that at least one Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) employee with identification expertise be assigned to each program facility. Directs the Attorney General to select facilities for participation that: (1) are owned by requesting local political subdivisions; (2) are located in counties or subdivisions with high concentrations of illegal or deportable aliens; and (3) incarcerate persons prior to criminal arraignment. States that all local facilities within Orange and Ventura Counties, California, that incarcerate prior to arraignment shall be selected for program participation. Sets forth required numbers of qualifying subdivisions, beginning with FY 1999. Directs the Attorney General to report respecting future program enlargement through: (1) computer or other electronic means of off-site status verification; and (2) multiple facility assignment of INS personnel.", "title": "To require the Attorney General to establish a program in local prisons to identify, prior to arraignment, criminal aliens and aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 979, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Hospital to Home- and Community-Care \nLinkage Development and Incentive Grant Program''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that--\n (1) demonstration programs and projects have been developed \n to offer care management to hospitalized individuals awaiting \n discharge who are in need of long-term health care services \n that meet individual needs and preferences in home- and \n community-based settings as an alternative to long-term nursing \n home care or institutional placement; and\n (2) there is a need to disseminate information and \n technical assistance to hospitals and State and local community \n organizations regarding such programs and projects and to \n provide incentive grants to State and local public and private \n agencies, including area agencies on aging, to establish and \n expand programs that offer care management to individuals \n awaiting discharge from acute care hospitals who are in need of \n long-term care so that services to meet individual needs and \n preferences can be arranged in home- and community-based \n settings as an alternative to long-term placement in nursing \n homes or other institutional settings.\n\nSEC. 3. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND \n INCENTIVE GRANTS TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOSPITAL \n LINKAGE PROGRAMS.\n\n Part C of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 248 \net seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new \nsection:\n\n``SEC. 327B. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND \n INCENTIVE GRANTS TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOSPITAL \n LINKAGE PROGRAMS.\n\n ``(a) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary shall compile, \nevaluate, publish and disseminate to appropriate State and local \nofficials and to private organizations and agencies that provide \nservices to individuals in need of long-term health care services, such \ninformation and materials as may assist such entities in replicating \nsuccessful programs that are aimed at offering care management to \nhospitalized individuals who are in need of long-term care so that \nservices to meet individual needs and preferences can be arranged in \nhome- and community-based settings as an alternative to long-term \nnursing home placement. The Secretary may provide technical assistance \nto entities seeking to replicate such programs.\n ``(b) Incentive Grants to Assist in the Development of Hospital \nLinkage Programs.--The Secretary shall establish a program under which \nincentive grants may be awarded to assist private and public agencies, \nincluding area agencies on aging, and organizations in developing and \nexpanding programs and projects that facilitate the discharge of \nindividuals in hospitals or other acute care facilities who are in need \nof long-term care services and placement of such individuals into home- \nand community-based settings.\n ``(c) Administrative Provisions.--\n ``(1) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant \n under subsection (b) an entity shall be--\n ``(A)(i) a State agency as defined in section \n 102(43) of the Older Americans Act of 1965; or\n ``(ii) a State agency responsible for administering \n home and community care programs under title XIX of the \n Social Security Act; or\n ``(B) if no State agency described in subparagraph \n (A) applies with respect to a particular State, a \n public or nonprofit private entity.\n ``(2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive an incentive \n grant under subsection (b), an entity shall prepare and submit \n to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner \n and containing such information as the Secretary may require, \n including--\n ``(A) an assessment of the need within the \n community to be served for the establishment or \n expansion of a program to facilitate the discharge of \n individuals in need of long-term care who are in \n hospitals or other acute care facilities into home- and \n community-care programs that provide individually \n planned, flexible services that reflect individual \n choice or preference rather than nursing home or \n institutional settings;\n ``(B) a plan for establishing or expanding a \n program for identifying individuals in hospital or \n acute care facilities who are in need of individualized \n long-term care provided in home- and community-based \n settings rather than nursing homes or other \n institutional settings and undertaking the planning and \n management of individualized care plans to facilitate \n discharge into such settings;\n ``(C) assurances that nongovernmental case \n management agencies funded under grants awarded under \n this section are not direct providers of home- and \n community-based services;\n ``(D) satisfactory assurances that adequate home- \n and community-based long term care services are \n available, or will be made available, within the \n community to be served so that individuals being \n discharged from hospitals or acute care facilities \n under the proposed program can be served in such home- \n and community-based settings, with flexible, \n individualized care which reflects individual choice \n and preference;\n ``(E) a description of the manner in which the \n program to be administered with amounts received under \n the grant will be continued after the termination of \n the grant for which such application is submitted; and\n ``(F) a description of any waivers or approvals \n necessary to expand the number of individuals served in \n federally funded home- and community-based long term \n care programs in order to provide satisfactory \n assurances that adequate home- and community-based long \n term care services are available in the community to be \n served.\n ``(3) Awarding of grants.--\n ``(A) Preferences.--In awarding grants under \n subsection (b), the Secretary shall give preference to \n entities submitting applications that--\n ``(i) demonstrate an ability to coordinate \n activities funded using amounts received under \n the grant with programs providing \n individualized home- and community-based case \n management and services to individuals in need \n of long term care with hospital discharge \n planning programs; and\n ``(ii) demonstrate that adequate home- and \n community-based long term care management and \n services are available, or will be made \n available to individuals being served under the \n program funded with amounts received under \n subsection (b).\n ``(B) Distribution.--In awarding grants under \n subsection (b), the Secretary shall ensure that such \n grants--\n ``(i) are equitably distributed on a \n geographic basis;\n ``(ii) include projects operating in urban \n areas and projects operating in rural areas; \n and\n ``(iii) are awarded for the expansion of \n existing hospital linkage programs as well as \n the establishment of new programs.\n ``(C) Expedited consideration.--The Secretary shall \n provide for the expedited consideration of any waiver \n application that is necessary under title XIX of the \n Social Security Act to enable an applicant for a grant \n under subsection (b) to satisfy the assurance required \n under paragraph (1)(D).\n ``(4) Use of grants.--An entity that receives amounts under \n a grant under subsection (b) may use such amounts for planning, \n development and evaluation services and to provide \n reimbursements for the costs of one or more case mangers to be \n located in or assigned to selected hospitals who would--\n ``(A) identify patients in need of individualized \n care in home- and community-based long-term care;\n ``(B) assess and develop care plans in cooperation \n with the hospital discharge planning staff; and\n ``(C) arrange for the provision of community care \n either immediately upon discharge from the hospital or \n after any short term nursing-home stay that is needed \n for recuperation or rehabilitation;\n ``(5) Direct services subject to reimbursements.--None of \n the amounts provided under a grant under this section may be \n used to provide direct services, other than case management, \n for which reimbursements are otherwise available under title \n XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act.\n ``(6) Limitations.--\n ``(A) Term.--Grants awarded under this section \n shall be for terms of less than 3 years.\n ``(B) Amount.--Grants awarded to an entity under \n this section shall not exceed $300,000 per year. The \n Secretary may waive the limitation under this \n subparagraph where an applicant demonstrates that the \n number of hospitals or individuals to be served under \n the grant justifies such increased amounts.\n ``(C) Supplanting of funds.--Amounts awarded under \n a grant under this section may not be used to supplant \n existing State funds that are provided to support \n hospital link programs.\n ``(d) Evaluation and Reports.--\n ``(1) By grantees.--An entity that receives a grant under \n this section shall evaluate the effectiveness of the services \n provided under the grant in facilitating the placement of \n individuals being discharged from hospitals or acute care \n facilities into home- and community-based long term care \n settings rather than nursing homes. Such entity shall prepare \n and submit to the Secretary a report containing such \n information and data concerning the activities funded under the \n grant as the Secretary determines appropriate.\n ``(2) By secretary.--Not later than the end of the third \n fiscal year for which funds are appropriated under subsection \n (e), the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate \n committees of Congress, a report concerning the results of the \n evaluations and reports conducted and prepared under paragraph \n (1).\n ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section, $5,000,000 for each of the \nfiscal years 1994 through 1996.''.", "summary": "Hospital to Home- and Community-Care Linkage Development and Incentive Grant Program - Amends the Public health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disseminate information and materials to assist specified entities in replicating successful programs aimed at offering care management to hospitalized individuals in need of long-term care so that services to meet individual needs and preferences can be arranged in home- and community-based settings as an alternative to long-term nursing home placement. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance to such entities. \nDirects the Secretary to establish a program under which incentive grants may be awarded to assist agencies and organizations in developing and expanding programs and projects that facilitate the discharge of individuals in hospitals or other acute care facilities who are in need of long-term care services and placement of such individuals into home- and community-based settings. \nSets forth provisions regarding: (1) eligibility to receive grants; (2) application requirements; (3) criteria for the award of grants; (4) use of, and limitations on, grants; and (5) evaluation and reports. \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "Hospital to Home- and Community-Care Linkage Development and Incentive Grant Program"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 350, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Lower Colorado River Multi-Species \nConservation Program Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Lower colorado river multi-species conservation \n program.--The term ``Lower Colorado River Multi-Species \n Conservation Program'' or ``LCR MSCP'' means the cooperative \n effort on the Lower Colorado River between Federal and non-\n Federal entities in Arizona, California, and Nevada approved by \n the Secretary of the Interior on April 2, 2005.\n (2) Lower colorado river.--The term ``Lower Colorado \n River'' means the Colorado River from Lake Mead to the \n Southerly International Boundary with Mexico, including its \n historic floodplain and its mainstem reservoirs to their full \n pool elevations.\n (3) Program documents.--The term ``Program Documents'' \n means the Habitat Conservation Plan, Biological Assessment and \n Biological and Conference Opinion, Environmental Impact \n Statement/Environmental Impact Report, Funding and Management \n Agreement, Implementing Agreement, and Section 10(a)(1)(B) \n Permit issued and, as applicable, executed in connection with \n the LCR MSCP.\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the States of \n Arizona, California, and Nevada.\n (6) Steering committee.--The term ``Steering Committee'' \n means the LCR MSCP steering committee established pursuant to \n the Program Documents.\n\nSEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION AND WATER ACCOUNTING.\n\n (a) Implementation.--The Secretary shall manage and implement the \nLCR MSCP in accordance with the Program Documents.\n (b) Water Accounting.--The Secretary is authorized and directed to \nenter into an agreement with the States providing for the use of water \nfrom the Lower Colorado River for habitat creation and maintenance in \naccordance with the Program Documents.\n\nSEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the \nSecretary such sums as may be necessary to meet the obligations of the \nSecretary under the Program Documents, to remain available until \nexpended.\n (b) Investments.--The Secretary is authorized to invest with the \nSecretary of the Treasury such portions of appropriations, and any non-\nFederal contributions made pursuant to the Program Documents, as are \nnot, in the judgment of the Secretary, required to meet current \nexpenditures. Such investments shall be made only in interest-bearing \nobligations of the United States. Funds invested under this subsection \nand interest on those funds shall be available to the Secretary to meet \nthe obligations of the Secretary under the Program Documents.\n (c) Non-Reimbursable and Non-Returnable.--All amounts appropriated \nto and expended by the Secretary for the LCR MSCP shall be non-\nreimbursable and non-returnable.\n\nSEC. 5. APPLICABLE LAW, CONTINUITY OF PROGRAM, ENFORCEABILITY OF \n PROGRAM DOCUMENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Nothing in this Act shall impair any right to the \ndelivery or beneficial consumptive use of Colorado River water under \nany compact, treaty, law, decree, or contract in effect on the date of \nenactment of this Act.\n (b) Continuity of Program Documents.--No future act of Congress \nrelating to Public Law 93-205 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) shall have the \neffect of modifying the Program Documents unless expressly made \napplicable to the LCR MSCP.\n (c) Enforceability of Program Documents.--Any party to any \nagreement entered into with the United States or any agency thereof \npursuant to the LCR MSCP may commence a civil action in United States \ndistrict court to enforce the agreement or to declare the rights and \nobligations of the parties under the Program Documents. The district \ncourt shall have jurisdiction of such actions and may issue such \norders, judgments, and decrees as are consistent with the court's \nexercise of jurisdiction under this section. The United States or any \nagency thereof may be named as a defendant in such actions. The \nsovereign immunity of the United States is waived for purposes of \nactions commenced pursuant to this section. Nothing in this section \nwaives the sovereign immunity of the United States to claims for money \ndamages, monetary compensation, the provision of indemnity, or any \nclaim seeking money from the United States. Any suit pursuant to this \nsection may be brought in any United States district court in the State \nin which any non-Federal party to the suit is situated.\n (d) Applicable Law.--Nothing in this Act affects the enforceability \nof the requirement that the Program Documents comply with existing law \nas of April 2, 2005, except that the Steering Committee shall not be \nsubject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).", "summary": "Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to manage and implement the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, and to enter into an agreement with Arizona, California, and Nevada providing for the use of water from the Lower Colorado River for habitat creation and maintenance, in accordance with the Habitat Conservation Plan, Biological Assessment and Biological and Conference Opinion, Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report, Funding and Management Agreement, Implementing Agreement (Agreement).\n\nPermits any party to an agreement entered into with the United States pursuant to the Program to commence a civil action in U.S. district court to enforce the agreement or to declare the rights and obligations of the parties under the program documents. Grants the district court jurisdiction over any such action.", "title": "A bill to authorize appropriations for the Bureau of Reclamation to carry out the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program in the States of Arizona, California, and Nevada, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1936, "text": "SECTION 1. CRIMINAL AND CIVIL FORFEITURE FOR MAIL AND WIRE FRAUD.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code, is \namended by adding at the end the following new sections:\n``Sec. 1347. Criminal forfeiture for violation of section 1341 or 1343\n ``(a) In General.--A person convicted of a violation of sections \n1341 or 1343 of this title shall, notwithstanding any provision of \nState law, forfeit to the United States any property constituting or \nderived from any proceeds which the person obtained directly or \nindirectly from a scheme in violation of either section.\n ``(b) Procedures of Controlled Substances Act Applicable.--With \nrespect to a forfeiture under this section for a violation of this \nchapter, the provisions of subsections (b), (c), (e), (f), (g), (i), \n(k), (l), (m), (n), and (o) of section 413 of the Controlled Substances \nAct apply as they would to a forfeiture under that section for a \nviolation of the Controlled Substances Act.\n ``(c) Disposition of Property.--After a seizure of property ordered \nforfeited under this section, the Attorney General shall dispose of the \nproperty under section 1349 of this title. The Postal Service shall \nturn any such seized property over to the Attorney General for disposal \nunder such section.\n ``(d) Substitute Assets.--If any of the property subject to \nforfeiture under this section, as a result of conduct of the \ndefendant--\n ``(1) cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;\n ``(2) has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a \n third party;\n ``(3) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;\n ``(4) has been substantially diminished in value; or\n ``(5) has been commingled with other property which cannot \n be divided without difficulty;\nthe court shall order the forfeiture of any other property of the \ndefendant up to the value of any property described in paragraphs (1) \nthrough (5) of this subsection.\n``Sec. 1348. Civil forfeiture for violation of section 1341 or 1343\n ``(a) Property Subject to Civil Forfeiture.--Any property, as \ndefined by subsection (b) of section 413 of the Controlled Substances \nAct, constituting or derived from any proceeds of a scheme in violation \nof sections 1341 or 1343 of this title shall be subject to forfeiture \nto the United States.\n ``(b) Seizure.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (4), any \nproperty subject to forfeiture to the United States under this section \nmay be seized by the Attorney General or the Postal Service upon \nprocess issued pursuant to the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty \nand Maritime Claims by a district court of the United States having \njurisdiction over the property.\n ``(2) The Attorney General or the Postal Service may seize such \nproperty without such process when--\n ``(A) the seizure is incident to a lawful arrest or search; \n or\n ``(B) such property has been the subject of a prior \n judgment in favor of the United States in a criminal injunction \n or forfeiture proceeding under section 1347 of this title.\n ``(3) The Government may seek the issuance of a warrant authorizing \nthe seizure of property subject to forfeiture under this section in the \nsame manner as provided for a search warrant under the Federal Rules of \nCriminal Procedure.\n ``(4) No property shall be forfeited under this section to the \nextent of the interest of an owner or lienholder by reason of any act \nor omission established by that owner or lienholder to have been \ncommitted without the knowledge of that owner or lienholder.\n ``(c) Procedural Matters.--(1) With respect to a forfeiture of \nproperty under this section, the provisions of subsections (c), (d), \n(h), and (j) of section 511 of the Controlled Substances Act apply as \nthey would to a forfeiture of property under that section, and the \nPostal Service may also perform any of the functions the Attorney \nGeneral may perform under such subsections.\n ``(2) The filing of an indictment or information alleging a \nviolation of section 1341 or 1343 of this title which is also related \nto a civil forfeiture proceeding under either section shall, upon \nmotion of the United States and for good cause shown, stay the civil \nforfeiture proceeding.\n ``(d) Disposition of Property.--After a seizure of property ordered \nforfeited under this section, the Attorney General or the Postal \nService shall dispose of the property under section 1349 of this title.\n``Sec. 1349. Disposition of forfeited property\n ``(a) In General.--After making due provision for the rights of any \ninnocent persons, the Attorney General, after deducting the costs \nincurred by the United States in conducting the seizure, forfeiture, \nand identification of victims, shall deposit the property forfeited or \nthe proceeds from the sale of property forfeited under sections 1347 or \n1348 of this title in the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund \nestablished by section 524(c) of title 28. The Postal Service may \nexercise the authority of the Attorney General in conducting \nadministrative forfeitures and shall deposit the property forfeited or \nthe proceeds of the property forfeited in the Postal Service Fund under \nsection 2003(b)(7) of title 39. Any property right or interest not \nexercisable by, or transferable for value to, the United States shall \nexpire and shall not revert to the defendant. Neither the defendant nor \nany person acting in concert with the defendant or on the defendant's \nbehalf is eligible to purchase forfeited property sold by the United \nStates.\n ``(b) Restraint Pending Appeal.--Upon application of a person other \nthan the defendant or a person acting in concert with the defendant or \non the defendant's behalf, the court may restrain or stay the sale or \ndisposition of the property pending the conclusion of any appeal in the \ncase giving rise to the forfeiture, if the applicant demonstrates that \nproceeding with the sale or disposition will result in irreparable harm \nto the applicant.\n ``(c) Rules for Disposition.--The Attorney General and the Postal \nService shall make rules providing for the disposition of such property \nand proceeds. The rules shall provide that the Attorney General or the \nPostal Service may--\n ``(1) retain the property for official use;\n ``(2) transfer the property to Federal, State, or local law \n enforcement agencies so as to reflect generally the \n contribution of such agencies to the seizure or forfeiture of \n such property;\n ``(3) sell any forfeited property which is not required to \n be destroyed by law and which is not harmful to the public;\n ``(4) require that the General Services Administration take \n custody of the property and dispose of it in accordance with \n law;\n ``(5) restore forfeited property to victims of an offense \n described in subsection (a);\n ``(6) destroy the property if it is harmful to the public \n or the expense of sale would exceed the amount realized from \n the sale; or\n ``(7) dispose of such funds or property as otherwise \n provided by law.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 63 of \ntitle 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new items:\n\n``1347. Criminal forfeiture for violation of section 1341 or 1343.\n``1348. Civil forfeiture for violation of section 1341 or 1343.\n``1349. Disposition of forfeited property.''.\n\nSEC. 2. POSTAL SERVICE FUND AMENDMENT.\n\n Section 2003(b)(7) of title 39, United States Code, is amended to \nread as follows:\n ``(7) amounts (including proceeds from the sale of \n forfeited items) from any forfeiture conducted by the Postal \n Service and from any forfeiture resulting from an investigation \n conducted by the Postal Service, except that nothing in this \n paragraph shall preclude the Postal Service from sharing such \n amounts with any Federal or State agency whose efforts in \n investigating or litigating the forfeiture contributed to the \n receipt of such funds.''.", "summary": "Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for criminal and civil forfeiture for mail and wire fraud. Makes specified procedures relating to forfeitures under the Controlled Substances Act applicable to forfeitures under this Act. \nRequires the court to order the forfeiture of any other property of the defendant up to the value of the property subject to forfeiture under this Act if, as a result of conduct of the defendant, the forfeited property cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence or has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party, placed beyond the court's jurisdiction, substantially diminished in value, or commingled with other property which cannot be divided without difficulty. \nDirects that any such forfeited property be seized by the Attorney General or U.S. Postal Service upon process issued pursuant to the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims by a U.S. district court having jurisdiction over the property, with exceptions for innocent owners or lienholders. Authorizes the Attorney General or Postal Service to seize such property without such process under specified circumstances. \nDirects the: (1) Attorney General, after providing for the rights of any innocent persons and deducting costs incurred by the United States in conducting the seizure, forfeiture, and identification of victims, to deposit the property forfeited or the proceeds from its sale in the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund; and (2) the Postal Service to deposit property forfeited or the proceeds into the Postal Service Fund. \nSets forth provisions regarding: (1) restraint or staying of the sale or disposition of property pending appeal; and (2) rules for the disposition of such property and proceeds. \nRequires the deposit into the Postal Service Fund of amounts from any forfeiture conducted by the Postal Service and from any forfeiture resulting from an investigation conducted by the Postal Service. Allows the Postal Service to share such amounts with any Federal or State agency whose efforts in investigating or litigating the forfeiture contributed to the receipt of such funds.", "title": "To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for criminal and civil penalties for mail and wire fraud, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1627, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Japanese Imperial Army Disclosure \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF JAPANESE IMPERIAL ARMY RECORDS INTERAGENCY \n WORKING GROUP.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given such \n term under section 551 of title 5, United States Code.\n (2) Interagency group.--The term ``Interagency Group'' \n means the Japanese Imperial Army Records Interagency Working \n Group established under subsection (b).\n (3) Japanese imperial army records.--The term ``Japanese \n Imperial Army records'' means classified records or portions of \n records that pertain to any person with respect to whom the \n United States Government, in its sole discretion, has grounds \n to believe ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise \n participated in the experimentation and persecution of any \n person because of race, religion, national origin, or political \n option, during the period beginning September 18, 1931, and \n ending on December 31, 1948, under the direction of, or in \n association with--\n (A) the Japanese Imperial Army;\n (B) any government in any area occupied by the \n military forces of the Japanese Imperial Army;\n (C) any government established with the assistance \n or cooperation of the Japanese Imperial Army; or\n (D) any government which was an ally of the \n Imperial Army of Japan.\n (4) Record.--The term ``record'' means a Japanese Imperial \n Army record.\n (b) Establishment of Interagency Group.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the President shall establish the \n Japanese Imperial Army Records Interagency Working Group, which \n shall remain in existence for 3 years after the date the \n Interagency Group is established.\n (2) Membership.--The President shall appoint to the \n Interagency Group individuals whom the President determines \n will most completely and effectively carry out the functions of \n the Interagency Group within the time limitations provided in \n this section, including the Historian of the Department of \n State, the Archivist of the United States, the head of any \n other agency the President considers appropriate, and no more \n than 3 other persons. The head of an agency appointed by the \n President may designate an appropriate officer to serve on the \n Interagency Group in lieu of the head of such agency.\n (3) Initial meeting.--Not later than 90 days after the date \n of enactment of this Act, the Interagency Group shall hold an \n initial meeting and begin the functions required under this \n section.\n (c) Functions.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment \nof this Act, the Interagency Group shall, to the greatest extent \npossible consistent with section 3 of this Act--\n (1) locate, identify, inventory, recommend for \n declassification, and make available to the public at the \n National Archives and Records Administration, all classified \n Japanese Imperial Army records of the United States;\n (2) coordinate with agencies and take such actions as \n necessary to expedite the release of such records to the \n public; and\n (3) submit a report to Congress, including the Committee on \n Government Reform of the House of Representatives, describing \n all such records, the disposition of such records, and the \n activities of the Interagency Group and agencies under this \n section.\n (d) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sum as \nmay be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. REQUIREMENT OF DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS.\n\n (a) Release of Records.--\n (1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), \n the Japanese Imperial Army Records Interagency Working Group \n shall release in their entirety Japanese Imperial Army records.\n (2) Exception for privacy.--An agency head may exempt from \n release under paragraph (1) specific information, that would--\n (A) constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of \n personal privacy;\n (B) reveal the identity of a confidential human \n source, or reveal information about the application of \n an intelligence source or method, or reveal the \n identity of a human intelligence source when the \n unauthorized disclosure of that source would clearly \n and demonstrably damage the national security interests \n of the United States;\n (C) reveal information that would assist in the \n development or use of weapons of mass destruction;\n (D) reveal information that would impair United \n States cryptologic systems or activities;\n (E) reveal information that would impair the \n application of state-of-the-art technology within a \n United States weapon system;\n (F) reveal actual United States military war plans \n that remain in effect;\n (G) reveal information that would seriously and \n demonstrably impair relations between the United States \n and a foreign government, or seriously and demonstrably \n undermine ongoing diplomatic activities of the United \n States;\n (H) reveal information that would clearly, and \n demonstrably impair the current ability of United \n States Government officials to protect the President, \n Vice President, and other officials for whom protection \n services are authorized in the interest of national \n security;\n (I) reveal information that would seriously and \n demonstrably impair current national security emergency \n preparedness plans; or\n (J) violate a treaty or other international \n agreement.\n (3) Applications of exemptions.--\n (A) In general.--In applying the exemptions \n provided in subparagraphs (B) through (J) of paragraph \n (2), there shall be a presumption that the public \n interest will be served by disclosure and release of \n the records of the Japanese Imperial Army. The \n exemption may be asserted only when the head of the \n agency that maintains the records determines that \n disclosure and release would be harmful to a specific \n interest identified in the exemption. An agency head \n who makes such a determination shall promptly report it \n to the committees of Congress with appropriate \n jurisdiction, including the Committee on the Judiciary \n of the Senate and the Committee on Government Reform of \n the House of Representatives.\n (B) Application of title 5.--A determination by an \n agency head to apply an exemption provided in \n subparagraphs (B) through (I) of paragraph (2) shall be \n subject to the same standard of review that applies in \n the case of records withheld under section 552(b)(1) of \n title 5, United States Code.\n (4) Limitation on exemptions.--\n (A) In general.--The exemptions set forth in \n paragraph (2) shall constitute the only grounds \n pursuant to which an agency head may exempt records \n otherwise subject to release under paragraph (1).\n (B) Records related to investigation or \n prosecutions.--This subsection shall not apply to \n records--\n (i) related to or supporting any active or \n inactive investigation, inquiry, or prosecution \n by the Office of Special Investigations of the \n Department of Justice; or\n (ii) solely in the possession, custody, or \n control of the Office of Special \n Investigations.\n (b) Inapplicability of National Security Act of 1947 Exemption.--\nSection 701(a) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 431) \nshall not apply to any operational file, or any portion of any \noperational file, that constitutes a Japanese Imperial Army record \nunder this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. EXPEDITED PROCESSING OF FOIA REQUESTS FOR JAPANESE IMPERIAL \n ARMY RECORDS.\n\n For purposes of expedited processing under section 552(a)(6)(E) of \ntitle 5, United States Code, any person who was persecuted in the \nmanner described in section 2(a)(3) and who requests a Japanese \nImperial Army record shall be deemed to have a compelling need for such \nrecord.\n\nSEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The provisions of this Act shall take effect on the date that is 90 \ndays after the date of enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Requires the Group to release such records in their entirety, with an exception for disclosures protected under Federal privacy laws or for certain national security information reasons. Provides a rebuttable presumption that the public interest will be served by the disclosure of such records.\nProvides for the expedited processing of Freedom of Information Act requests for such records by parties claiming to have been so persecuted.", "title": "Japanese Imperial Army Disclosure Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3222, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Private Mortgage Insurance Technical \nCorrections and Clarification Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. CHANGES IN AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE.\n\n (a) Treatment of Adjustable Rate Mortgages.--The Homeowners \nProtection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) in section 2--\n (A) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking \n ``amortization schedules'' and inserting ``the \n amortization schedule then in effect'';\n (B) in paragraph (16)(B), by striking \n ``amortization schedules'' and inserting ``the \n amortization schedule then in effect'';\n (C) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (16) \n (as amended by the preceding provisions of this \n paragraph) as paragraphs (8) through (18), \n respectively; and\n (D) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following \n new paragraph:\n ``(6) Amortization schedule then in effect.--The term \n `amortization schedule then in effect' means, with respect to \n an adjustable rate mortgage, a schedule established at the time \n at which the residential mortgage transaction is consummated \n or, if such schedule has been changed or recalculated, is the \n most recent schedule under the terms of the note or mortgage, \n which shows--\n ``(A) the amount of principal and interest that is \n due at regular intervals to retire the principal \n balance and accrued interest over the remaining \n amortization period of the loan; and\n ``(B) the unpaid balance of the loan after each \n such scheduled payment is made.''; and\n (2) in section 3(f)(1)(B)(ii), by striking ``amortization \n schedules'' and inserting ``the amortization schedule then in \n effect''.\n (b) Treatment of Balloon Mortgages.--Paragraph (1) of section 2 of \nthe Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4901(1)) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new sentence: ``A residential mortgage \nthat (A) does not fully amortize over the term of the obligation, and \n(B) contains a conditional right to refinance or modify the unamortized \nprincipal at the maturity date of the term, shall be considered to be \nan adjustable rate mortgage for purposes of this Act.''.\n (c) Treatment of Loan Modifications.--\n (1) In general.--Section 3 of the Homeowners Protection Act \n of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4902) is amended--\n (A) by redesignating subsections (d) through (f) as \n subsections (e) through (g), respectively; and\n (B) by inserting after subsection (c) the following \n new subsection:\n ``(d) Treatment of Loan Modifications.--If a mortgagor and \nmortgagee (or holder of the mortgage) agree to a modification of the \nterms or conditions of a loan pursuant to a residential mortgage \ntransaction, the cancellation date, termination date, or final \ntermination shall be recalculated to reflect the modified terms and \nconditions of such loan.''.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 4(a) of the Homeowners \n Protection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4903(a)) is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (1)--\n (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph \n (A), by striking ``section 3(f)(1)'' and \n inserting ``section 3(g)(1)'';\n (ii) in subparagraph (A)(ii)(IV), by \n striking ``section 3(f)'' and inserting \n ``section 3(g)''; and\n (iii) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by striking \n ``section 3(f)'' and inserting ``section \n 3(g)''; and\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``section \n 3(f)(1)'' and inserting ``section 3(g)(1)''.\n\nSEC. 3. DELETION OF AMBIGUOUS REFERENCES TO RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGES.\n\n (a) Termination of Private Mortgage Insurance.--Section 3 of the \nHomeowners Protection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4902) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (c), by inserting ``on residential \n mortgage transactions'' after ``imposed''; and\n (2) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated by section \n 2(c)(1)(A) of this Act)--\n (A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding \n subparagraph (A), by striking ``mortgage or'';\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``mortgage or''; \n and\n (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``mortgage or'' \n and inserting ``residential mortgage or residential''.\n (b) Disclosure Requirements.--Section 4 of the Homeowners \nProtection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4903(a)) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) in paragraph (1)--\n (i) by striking ``mortgage or'' the first \n place it appears; and\n (ii) by striking ``mortgage or'' the second \n place it appears and inserting ``residential''; \n and\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``mortgage or'' \n and inserting ``residential'';\n (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``paragraphs (1)(B) and \n (3) of subsection (a)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(3)''; \n and\n (3) in subsection (d), by inserting before the period at \n the end the following: ``, which disclosures shall relate to \n the mortgagor's rights under this Act''.\n (c) Disclosure Requirements for Lender-Paid Mortgage Insurance.--\nSection 6 of the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4905) is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (c)--\n (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by \n striking ``a residential mortgage or''; and\n (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``transaction'' \n after ``residential mortgage''; and\n (2) in subsection (d), by inserting ``transaction'' after \n ``residential mortgage''.\n\nSEC. 4. CANCELLATION RIGHTS AFTER CANCELLATION DATE.\n\n Section 3 of the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4902) \nis amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by \n inserting after ``cancellation date'' the following: \n ``or any later date that the mortgagor fulfills all of \n the requirements under paragraphs (1) through (4)'';\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the \n end;\n (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph \n (4); and\n (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following \n new paragraph:\n ``(3) is current on the payments required by the terms of \n the residential mortgage transaction; and''; and\n (2) in subsection (e)(1)(B) (as so redesignated by section \n 2(c)(1)(A) of this Act), by striking ``subsection ``(a)(3)'' \n and inserting ``subsection (a)(4)''.\n\nSEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF CANCELLATION AND TERMINATION ISSUES AND LENDER \n PAID MORTGAGE INSURANCE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) Good Payment History.--Section 2(4) of the Homeowners \nProtection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4901(4)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A)--\n (A) by inserting ``the later of (i)'' before ``the \n date''; and\n (B) by inserting ``, or (ii) the date that the \n mortgagor submits a request for cancellation under \n section 3(a)(1)'' before the semicolon; and\n (2) in subparagraph (B)--\n (A) by inserting ``the later of (i)'' before ``the \n date''; and\n (B) by inserting ``, or (ii) the date that the \n mortgagor submits a request for cancellation under \n section 3(a)(1)'' before the period at the end.\n (b) Automatic Termination.--Paragraph (2) of section 3(b) of the \nHomeowners Protection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4902(b)(2)) is amended to \nread as follows:\n ``(2) if the mortgagor is not current on the termination \n date, on the first day of the first month beginning after the \n date that the mortgagor becomes current on the payments \n required by the terms of the residential mortgage \n transaction.''.\n (c) Premium Payments.--Section 3 of the Homeowners Protection Act \nof 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4902) is amended by adding at the end the following \nnew subsection:\n ``(h) Accrued Obligation for Premium Payments.--The cancellation or \ntermination under this section of the private mortgage insurance of a \nmortgagor shall not affect the rights of any mortgagee, servicer, or \nmortgage insurer to enforce any obligation of such mortgagor for \npremium payments accrued prior to the date on which such cancellation \nor termination occurred.''.\n\nSEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.\n\n (a) Refinanced.--Section 6(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Homeowners \nProtection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4905(c)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended by \ninserting after ``refinanced'' the following: ``(under the meaning \ngiven such term in the regulations issued by the Board of Governors of \nthe Federal Reserve System to carry out the Truth in Lending Act (15 \nU.S.C. 1601 et seq.))''.\n (b) Midpoint of the Amortization Period.--Section 2 of the \nHomeowners Protection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4901) is amended by \ninserting after paragraph (6) (as added by section 2(a)(1)(D) of this \nAct) the following new paragraph:\n ``(7) Midpoint of the amortization period.--The term \n ``midpoint of the amortization period'' means, with respect to \n a residential mortgage transaction, the point in time that is \n halfway through the period that begins upon the first day of \n the amortization period established at the time a residential \n mortgage transaction is consummated and ends upon the \n completion of the entire period over which the mortgage is \n scheduled to be amortized.''.\n (c) Original Value.--Section 2(12) of the Homeowners Protection Act \nof 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4901(10)) (as so redesignated by section 2(a)(1)(C) \nof this Act) is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``transaction'' after ``a residential \n mortgage''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``In \n the case of a residential mortgage transaction for refinancing \n the principal residence of the mortgagor, such term means only \n the appraised value relied upon by the mortgagee to approve the \n refinance transaction.''.\n (d) Principal Residence.--Section 2 of the Homeowners Protection \nAct of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4901) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (14) (as so redesignated by section \n 2(a)(1)(C) of this Act) by striking ``primary'' and inserting \n ``principal''; and\n (2) in paragraph (15) (as so redesignated by section \n 2(a)(1)(C) of this Act) by striking ``primary'' and inserting \n ``principal''.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives May 23, 2000.\n\n Attest:\n\n JEFF TRANDAHL,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Includes balloon mortgages within the definition of \"adjustable rate mortgages.\"\nStates that if a residential mortgage loan is modified (with mortgagor-mortgagee agreement) the cancellation date, termination date, or final agreement shall be recalculated to reflect such modifications.\n(Sec. 4) Extends mortgage insurance cancellation rights beyond the cancellation date for a qualifying borrower who is current on required payments.\n(Sec. 5) Revises the automatic termination date with respect to a mortgagor who is not current on payments as of the mortgage termination date.\nStates that the cancellation or termination of private mortgage insurance shall not affect the rights of any mortgagee, servicer, or insurer to enforce any accrued obligation for premium payments.\n(Sec. 6) Revises specified definitions.", "title": "Private Mortgage Insurance Technical Corrections and Clarification Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1471, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``John F. Kennedy Center Parking \nImprovement Act of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. PARKING GARAGE ADDITIONS AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS.\n\n Section 3 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76i) is \namended--\n (1) by striking the section heading and all that follows \n through ``The Board'' and inserting the following:\n\n``SEC. 3. JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Board''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(b) Parking Garage Additions and Site Improvements.--\n ``(1) In general.--Substantially in accordance with the \n plan entitled `Site Master Plan--Drawing Number 1997-2 April \n 29, 1997,' and map number NCR 844/82571, the Board may design \n and construct--\n ``(A) an addition to the parking garage at each of \n the north and south ends of the John F. Kennedy Center \n for the Performing Arts; and\n ``(B) site improvements and modifications.\n ``(2) Availability.--The plan shall be on file and \n available for public inspection in the office of the Secretary \n of the Center.\n ``(3) Limitation on use of appropriated funds.--No \n appropriated funds may be used to pay the costs (including the \n repayment of obligations incurred to finance costs) of--\n ``(A) the design and construction of an addition to \n the parking garage authorized under paragraph (1)(A);\n ``(B) the design and construction of site \n improvements and modifications authorized under \n paragraph (1)(B) that the Board specifically designates \n will be financed using sources other than appropriated \n funds; or\n ``(C) any project to acquire large screen format \n equipment for an interpretive theater or to produce an \n interpretive film that the Board specifically \n designates will be financed using sources other than \n appropriated funds.''.\n\nSEC. 3. PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR ACCESS.\n\n (a) Duties of the Board.--Section 4(a)(1) of the John F. Kennedy \nCenter Act (20 U.S.C. 76j(a)(1)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (G);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (H) \n and inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(I) ensure that safe and convenient access to the \n site of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing \n Arts is provided for pedestrians and vehicles.''.\n (b) Powers of the Board.--Section 5 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 76k) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(g) Pedestrian and Vehicular Access.--Subject to approval of the \nSecretary of the Interior under section 4(a)(2)(F), the Board shall \ndevelop plans and carry out projects to improve pedestrian and \nvehicular access to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing \nArts.''.\n\nSEC. 4. DEFINITION OF BUILDING AND SITE.\n\n Section 13 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76s) and \nsection 9(3) of the Act of October 24, 1951 (40 U.S.C. 193v), are each \namended by inserting after ``numbered 844/82563, and dated April 20, \n1994'' the following: ``(as amended by the map entitled `Transfer of \nJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts', numbered 844/82563a \nand dated May 22, 1997)''.\n\nSEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION OF A CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) The United States has an enriched legacy of Hispanic \n influence in politics, government, economic development, and \n cultural expression.\n (2) The Hispanic culture in what is now the United States \n can be traced to 1528 when a Spanish expedition from Cuba to \n Florida was shipwrecked on the Texas coast.\n (3) The Hispanic culture in New Mexico can be traced to \n 1539 when a Spanish Franciscan Friar, Marcos de Niza, and his \n guide, Estevanico, traveled into present day New Mexico in \n search of the fabled city of Cibola and made contact with the \n people of Zuni.\n (4) The Hispanic influence in New Mexico is particularly \n dominant and a part of daily living for all the citizens of New \n Mexico, who are a diverse composite of racial, ethnic, and \n cultural peoples. Don Juan de Oarte and the first New Mexican \n families established the first capital in the United States, \n San Juan de los Cabelleros, in July of 1598.\n (5) Based on the 1990 census, there are approximately \n 650,000 Hispanics in New Mexico, the majority having roots \n reaching back ten or more generations.\n (6) There are an additional 200,000 Hispanics living \n outside of New Mexico with roots in New Mexico.\n (7) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center is a living \n tribute to the Hispanic experience and will provide all \n citizens of New Mexico, the Southwestern United States, the \n entire United States, and around the world, an opportunity to \n learn about, partake in, and enjoy the unique Hispanic culture, \n and the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will assure that \n this 400-year old culture is preserved.\n (8) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will teach, \n showcase, and share all facets of Hispanic culture, including \n literature, performing arts, visual arts, culinary arts, and \n language arts.\n (9) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will promote a \n better cross-cultural understanding of the Hispanic culture and \n the contributions of individuals to the society in which we all \n live.\n (10) In 1993, the legislature and Governor of New Mexico \n created the Hispanic Cultural Division as a division within the \n Office of Cultural Affairs. One of the principal \n responsibilities of the Hispanic Cultural Division is to \n oversee the planning, construction, and operation of the New \n Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center.\n (11) The mission of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center \n is to create a greater appreciation and understanding of \n Hispanic culture.\n (12) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will serve as \n a local, regional, national, and international site for the \n study and advancement of Hispanic culture, expressing both the \n rich history and the forward-looking aspirations of Hispanics \n throughout the world.\n (13) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will be a \n Hispanic arts and humanities showcase to display the works of \n national and international artists, and to provide a venue for \n educators, scholars, artists, children, elders, and the general \n public.\n (14) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will provide a \n venue for presenting the historic and contemporary \n representations and achievements of the Hispanic culture.\n (15) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will sponsor \n arts and humanities programs, including programs related to \n visual arts of all forms (including drama, dance, and \n traditional and contemporary music), research, literary arts, \n genealogy, oral history, publications, and special events such \n as, fiestas, culinary arts demonstrations, film video \n productions, storytelling presentations and education programs.\n (16) Phase I of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center \n complex is scheduled to be completed by August of 1998 and is \n planned to consist of an art gallery with exhibition space and \n a museum, administrative offices, a restaurant, a ballroom, a \n gift shop, an amphitheater, a research and literary arts \n center, and other components.\n (17) Phase II of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center \n complex is planned to include a performing arts center \n (containing a 700-seat theater, a stage house, and a 300-seat \n film/video theater), a 150-seat black box theater, an art \n studio building, a culinary arts building, and a research and \n literary arts building.\n (18) It is appropriate for the Federal Government to share \n in the cost of constructing the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural \n Center because Congress recognizes that the New Mexico Hispanic \n Cultural Center has the potential to be a premier facility for \n performing arts and a national repository for Hispanic arts and \n culture.\n (b) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Center for \n Performing Arts, within the complex known as the New Mexico \n Hispanic Cultural Center, which Center for the Performing Arts \n is a central facility in Phase II of the New Mexico Hispanic \n Cultural Center complex.\n (2) Hispanic cultural division.--The term ``Hispanic \n Cultural Division'' means the Hispanic Cultural Division of the \n Office of Cultural Affairs of the State of New Mexico.\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (c) Construction of Center.--The Secretary shall award a grant to \nNew Mexico to pay for the Federal share of the costs of the design, \nconstruction, furnishing, and equipping of the Center for Performing \nArts that will be located at a site to be determined by the Hispanic \nCultural Division, within the complex known as the New Mexico Hispanic \nCultural Center.\n (d) Grant Requirements.--\n (1) In general.--In order to receive a grant awarded under \n subsection (c), New Mexico, acting through the Director of the \n Hispanic Cultural Division--\n (A) shall submit to the Secretary, within 30 days \n of the date of enactment of this section, a copy of the \n New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center Program document \n dated January 1996; and\n (B) shall exercise due diligence to expeditiously \n execute, in a period not to exceed 90 days after the \n date of enactment of this section, the memorandum of \n understanding under paragraph (2) recognizing that time \n is of the essence for the construction of the Center \n because 1998 marks the 400th anniversary of the first \n permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico.\n (2) Memorandum of understanding.--The memorandum of \n understanding described in paragraph (1) shall provide--\n (A) the date of completion of the construction of \n the Center;\n (B) that Antoine Predock, an internationally \n recognized architect, shall be the supervising \n architect for the construction of the Center;\n (C) that the Director of the Hispanic Cultural \n Division shall award the contract for architectural \n engineering and design services in accordance with the \n New Mexico Procurement Code; and\n (D) that the contract for the construction of the \n Center--\n (i) shall be awarded pursuant to a \n competitive bidding process; and\n (ii) shall be awarded not later than 3 \n months after the solicitation for bids for the \n construction of the Center.\n (3) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs \n described in subsection (c) shall be 50 percent.\n (4) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the costs \n described in subsection (c) shall be in cash or in kind fairly \n evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services. The non-\n Federal share shall include any contribution received by New \n Mexico for the design, construction, furnishing, or equipping \n of Phase I or Phase II of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural \n Center complex prior to the date of enactment of this section. \n The non-Federal share of the costs described in subsection (c) \n shall include the following:\n (A) $16,410,000 that was appropriated by the New \n Mexico legislature since January 1, 1993, for the \n planning, property acquisition, design, construction, \n furnishing, and equipping of the New Mexico Hispanic \n Cultural Center complex.\n (B) $116,000 that was appropriated by the New \n Mexico legislature for fiscal year 1995 for the startup \n and operating expenses of the New Mexico Hispanic \n Cultural Center.\n (C) $226,000 that was appropriated by the New \n Mexico legislature for fiscal year 1996 for the startup \n and operating expenses of the New Mexico Hispanic \n Cultural Center.\n (D) $442,000 that was appropriated by the New \n Mexico legislature for fiscal year 1997 for the startup \n and operating expenses of the New Mexico Hispanic \n Cultural Center.\n (E) $551,000 that was appropriated by the New \n Mexico legislature for fiscal year 1998 for the startup \n and operating expenses of the New Mexico Hispanic \n Cultural Center.\n (F) A 10.9-acre lot with a historic 22,000 square \n foot building donated by the Mayor and City Council of \n Albuquerque, New Mexico, to New Mexico for the New \n Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center.\n (G) 12 acres of ``Bosque'' land adjacent to the New \n Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center complex for use by the \n New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center.\n (H) The $30,000 donation by the Sandia National \n Laboratories and Lockheed Martin Corporation to support \n the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center and the program \n activities of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center.\n (e) Use of Funds for Design, Construction, Furnishing, and \nEquipment.--The funds received under a grant awarded under subsection \n(c) shall be used only for the design, construction, management and \ninspection, furnishing, and equipment of the Center.\n (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section a total of \n$17,800,000 for fiscal year 1998 and succeeding fiscal years. Funds \nappropriated pursuant to the authority of the preceding sentence shall \nremain available until expended.\n\nSEC. 6. CONSTRUCTION OF A CENTER FOR REGIONAL BLACK CULTURE.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Currently 500,000 historically important artifacts of \n the Civil War era and the early days of the civil rights \n movement in the Southeast region of the United States are \n housed at Florida A&M University.\n (2) To preserve this large repertory of African-American \n history and artifacts it is appropriate that the Federal \n Government share in the cost of construction of this national \n repository for culture and history.\n (b) Definition.--In this section:\n (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' relates to the Center for \n Historically Black Heritage at Florida A&M University.\n (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior Acting through the director of the Park \n Service.\n (c) Construction of Center.--The Secretary shall award a grant to \nthe State of Florida to pay for the Federal share of the costs design \nconstruction, furnishing and equipping the Center at Florida A&M \nUniversity.\n (d) Grant Requirements.--\n (1) In general.--In order to receive the grant awarded \n under subsection (c), Florida A&M University, shall submit to \n the Secretary a proposal.\n (2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs \n described in subsection (c) shall be 50 percent.\n (e) Authorization of Appropriation.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out this section \na total of $3,800,000 for fiscal year 1998 and preceding fiscal years. \nFunds appropriated pursuant to the authority of the preceding sentence \nshould remain available until expended.\n\nSEC. 7. RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF HAFFENREFFER MUSEUM OF \n ANTHROPOLOGY.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the Haffenreffer \n Museum of Anthropology at Brown University in Providence, Rhode \n Island.\n (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (b) Relocation and Expansion of Museum.--The Secretary shall make a \ngrant to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, to pay the \nFederal share of the costs associated with the relocation and expansion \nof the Museum, including the design, construction, renovation, \nrestoration, furnishing, and equipping of the Museum.\n (c) Grant Requirements.--\n (1) In general.--To receive a grant under subsection (b), \n the Museum shall submit to the Secretary a proposal for the use \n of the grant.\n (2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs \n described in subsection (b) shall be 20 percent.\n (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000, to remain available \nuntil expended.\n\nSEC. 8. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall award a grant \nto Juniata College for the construction of environmental research \nfacilities and structures at Raystown Lake, Pennsylvania.\n (b) Coordination.--As a condition to receipt of the grant \nauthorized in subsection (a), officials of Juniata College shall \ncoordinate with the Baltimore District of the Army Corps of Engineers.\n (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section.\n\nSEC. 9. FORT PECK DAM INTERPRETIVE CENTER.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall design, \nconstruct, furnish and equip an historical, cultural and \npaleontological interpretive center and museum to be located at Fort \nPeck Dam, Montana.\n (b) Coordination.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of \nthe Interior shall coordinate with officials of the Bureau of \nReclamation, Bureau of Land Management, United States Army Corps of \nEngineers and the Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum.\n (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section a total of $10,000,000. Funds \nappropriated are available until expended.\n\n Passed the Senate July 31, 1997.\n\n Attest:\n\n GARY SISCO,\n\n Secretary.", "summary": "John F. Kennedy Center Parking Improvement Act of 1997 - Amends the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize the Board of Trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in accordance with a specified master site plan, to design and construct: (1) parking garage additions at the north and south ends of the Center; and (2) site improvements and modifications. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for the design and construction of such garage additions or for the following activities that the Board specifically designates for financing through non-appropriated fund sources: (1) the above site improvements and modifications; and (2) acquiring large screen format equipment for an interpretive theater or for the production of an interpretive film. \nRequires the Board to: (1) ensure that safe and convenient Center site access is provided for pedestrians and vehicles; and (2) develop plans and carry out projects for access improvements. \nDirects the Secretary of the Interior to award a grant to New Mexico for the Federal share of the costs of design, construction, furnishing, and equipping of the Center for the Performing Arts within the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center. Requires a Federal share of 50 percent of project costs. Requires the non-Federal share to include any contributions already received in support of the design and construction of Phase I or II of the Center complex. Authorizes appropriations. \nDirects the Secretary to award a grant to Florida for the Federal share of the costs of design, construction, furnishing, and equipping of the Center for Historically Black Heritage at Florida A&M University. Requires a Federal share of 50 percent of project costs. Authorizes appropriations. \nDirects the Secretary to make a grant to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, for the Federal share of the costs of the relocation and expansion of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology at the University. Requires a Federal share of 20 percent of project costs. Authorizes appropriations. \nDirects the Secretary to award a grant to Juniata College for the construction of environmental research facilities and structures at Raystown Lake, Pennsylvania. Authorizes appropriations. \nDirects the Secretary to design, construct, furnish, and equip a historical, cultural, and paleontological interpretive center and museum at Fort Peck Dam, Montana. Authorizes appropriations.", "title": "John F. Kennedy Center Parking Improvement Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 205, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Economic Growth and Stabilization \nFinancing Demonstration Act 1994''.\n\nSEC. 101. GUARANTEED LOAN DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--In order to study the feasibility and desirability \nof a program of loan guarantees for economic growth and stabilization \nin communities facing economic distress, the Secretary is authorized to \nguarantee loans made to private borrowers by private lending \ninstitutions, community development financial institutions, and other \nlenders as the Secretary considers appropriate, except that the \nSecretary may guarantee loans less than $750,000 only if the borrower \nis not eligible for a loan guarantee under the Small Business Act.\n (b) Terms and Conditions.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary may make such guarantees \n upon application of the lenders and upon such terms and \n conditions as the Secretary may prescribe.\n (2) Presumption of validity.--Guarantees under paragraph \n (1) shall be conclusive evidence that the guarantee has been \n properly obtained, that the underlying loan qualifies for such \n guarantee, and that, but for fraud or material \n misrepresentation by the holder, such guarantee will be \n presumed to be valid, legal, and enforceable.\n (3) Lender responsibility.--No guarantee will be provided \n unless the lender is responsible and makes adequate provision \n for servicing the loan on reasonable terms and for protecting \n the financial interest of the United States.\n (c) Preferred Lender Preference.--To the extent feasible, the \nSecretary shall exercise the guarantee authority established under this \nsection on a preferred lender basis and authorize lenders, in \naccordance with agreements entered into between the Secretary and such \nlenders, to take such actions on the Secretary's behalf as the \nSecretary deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, the \ndetermination of eligibility and credit worthiness and loan monitoring, \ncollection and liquidation.\n (d) Target Subsidy Rate.--In exercising the loan guarantee \nauthority provided under this section, the Secretary shall attempt to \nadminister the program in a manner which results in a subsidy rate not \nto exceed approximately 6 percent of the amount of the overall loan \nguarantees.\n (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the funds authorized to be \nappropriated under section 106, for purposes of this section there are \nauthorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 per fiscal year to cover the \ncosts (as defined in section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of \n1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a(5))) of loan guarantees issued pursuant to \nsubsection (b)(3) of such section. Such sums shall remain available \nuntil expended.\n\nSEC. 102. INTEREST RATE SUBSIDY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--In order to study the feasibility and desirability \nof a program of interest rate subsidies for economic growth and \nstabilization in communities facing economic distress, the Secretary is \nauthorized to pay interest rate subsidies to private lending \ninstitutions, community development financial institutions, and other \nlenders as the Secretary considers appropriate, for loans made to \nprivate borrowers.\n (b) Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may pay interest rate \nsubsidies upon application of the lenders and upon such terms and \nconditions as the Secretary may prescribe, except that no interest rate \nsubsidy may be provided unless the lender is responsible and makes \nadequate provision for servicing the loan on reasonable terms and for \nprotecting the financial interest of the United States.\n (c) Preferred Lender Preference.--To the extent feasible, the \nSecretary shall exercise the interest rate subsidy authority \nestablished under this section on a preferred lender basis and \nauthorize lenders, in accordance with agreements entered into between \nthe Secretary and such lenders, to take such actions on the Secretary's \nbehalf as the Secretary deems appropriate, including, but not limited \nto, the determination of eligibility and credit worthiness and loan \nmonitoring, collection and liquidation.\n\nSEC. 103. EQUITY FINANCE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--In order to study the feasibility and desirability \nof a program of equity financing for economic growth and stabilization \nin communities facing economic distress, the Secretary is authorized to \nestablish a demonstration program under which the Secretary may \ndirectly, or indirectly through grants to eligible intermediaries, \npurchase or commit to purchase warrants, subordinated debt, or \nnonvoting preferred securities of private United States businesses or \nnonprofit organizations and associations.\n (b) Establishment of Fund.--For purposes of conducting the program \nprovided under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish an Equity \nInvestment Revolving Fund.\n (c) Disposal of Equity Instruments.--The Secretary shall endeavor \nto dispose of any financial instruments purchased or guaranteed under \nthis section within a period of 10 years after their date acquisition \nof such interest.\n (d) Use of Payments.--\n (1) Use of payments to the secretary.--Amounts received by \n the Secretary from the payment of dividends and the redemption \n of financial instruments acquired under this section shall be \n deposited in the Equity Investment Revolving Fund and shall, \n subject to appropriations, be available to make or guarantee \n additional investments consistent with this section.\n (2) Use of payments to eligible intermediaries.--Of the \n amounts received by eligible recipient intermediaries from the \n payment of dividends and the redemption of financial \n instruments acquired under this section--\n (A) up to 50 percent may be retained by such \n eligible intermediaries to make or guarantee additional \n investments consistent with this section, and\n (B) no less than 50 percent shall be returned to \n the Secretary to be deposited into the Fund established \n under subsection (b) to make or guarantee additional \n investments consistent with this section.\n (e) Investment of Excess Funds.--If the Secretary determines that \nthe amount of money in the Fund exceeds the current requirements of the \nFund, the Secretary may direct the Secretary of the Treasury to invest \nsuch amounts in obligations of the United States, in obligations \nguaranteed by the United States Government, or in such other \nobligations or securities of the United States as the Secretary of the \nTreasury deems appropriate. Provided, however, that any subsequent use \nof monies so invested shall be subject to appropriations.\n\nSEC. 104. SECONDARY MARKET CREDIT ENHANCEMENT DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.\n\n In order to study the feasibility and desirability of a program of \nproviding credit enhancements to pools of financial instruments related \nto economic growth and stabilization activities in communities facing \neconomic distress, the Secretary is authorized to establish a \ndemonstration program under which the Secretary may provide credit \nenhancements to pools of financial instruments related to economic \ngrowth and stabilization activities in such areas.\n\nSEC. 105. PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS; REPORT TO CONGRESS.\n\n (a) Performance Evaluations.--The Secretary shall conduct \nperformance evaluations of each of the demonstration projects \nestablished under this Act to assess their effectiveness in promoting \neconomic growth and stabilization in communities facing economic \ndistress.\n (b) Annual Report.--Based on the evaluations conducted under \nsubsection (a), the Secretary shall prepare and submit annually a \nreport to the Congress containing a full and detailed account of \noperations under this Act. Such a report shall include--\n (1) performance measures established under subsection (a);\n (2) an audit setting forth the amount, type, recipient, and \n source of disbursements, receipts, and losses sustained as a \n result of operations under this Act during the preceding fiscal \n year and since inception of the demonstration programs; and\n (3) recommendations with respect to program changes, \n statutory changes, and other matters to improve and facilitate \n the operations of the demonstration programs and to encourage \n the use of these programs by qualified concerns.\n\nSEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated \n$90,000,000 per fiscal year. Such sums shall remain available until \nexpended.\n\nSEC. 107. SEPARABILITY.\n\n If any provision of this Act, or any application of such provision \nto any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of \nthis Act, or the application of such provision to person or \ncircumstance other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not \nbe affected thereby.", "summary": "Economic Growth and Stabilization Financing Demonstration Act 1994 - Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary of Commerce may conduct demonstration programs in economically distressed communities to: (1) guarantee loans made by lending institutions to private parties; (2) pay interest rate subsidies; (3) implement an equity financing program; and (4) provide secondary market credit enhancements to pools of financial instruments related to economic growth and stabilization in such communities. \nDirects the Secretary to conduct performance evaluations and submit an annual status report to the Congress. \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "Economic Growth and Stabilization Financing Demonstration Act 1994"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1418, "text": "SECTION 1. PAYROLL TAX FORGIVENESS FOR HIRING UNEMPLOYED WORKERS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 3111 is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new subsection:\n ``(d) Special Exemption for Certain Individuals Hired in 2010.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to wages \n paid by a qualified employer with respect to employment during \n the period beginning on the day after the date of the enactment \n of this subsection and ending on December 31, 2010, of any \n qualified individual for services performed--\n ``(A) in a trade or business of such qualified \n employer, or\n ``(B) in the case of a qualified employer exempt \n from tax under section 501(a), in furtherance of the \n activities related to the purpose or function \n constituting the basis of the employer's exemption \n under section 501.\n ``(2) Qualified employer.--For purposes of this \n subsection--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified employer' \n means any employer other than the United States, any \n State, or any political subdivision thereof, or any \n instrumentality of the foregoing.\n ``(B) Treatment of employees of post-secondary \n educational institutions.--Notwithstanding subparagraph \n (A), the term `qualified employer' includes any \n employer which is a public institution of higher \n education (as defined in section 101(b) of the Higher \n Education Act of 1965).\n ``(3) Qualified individual.--For purposes of this \n subsection, the term `qualified individual' means any \n individual who--\n ``(A) begins employment with a qualified employer \n after February 3, 2010, and before January 1, 2011,\n ``(B) certifies by signed affidavit, under \n penalties of perjury, that such individual has not been \n employed for more than 40 hours during the 60-day \n period ending on the date such individual begins such \n employment,\n ``(C) is not employed by the qualified employer to \n replace another employee of such employer unless such \n other employee separated from employment voluntarily or \n for cause, and\n ``(D) is not an individual described in section \n 51(i)(1) (applied by substituting `qualified employer' \n for `taxpayer' each place it appears).\n ``(4) Election.--A qualified employer may elect to have \n this subsection not apply. Such election shall be made in such \n manner as the Secretary may require.''.\n (b) Coordination With Work Opportunity Credit.--Section 51(c) is \namended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(5) Coordination with payroll tax forgiveness.--The term \n `wages' shall not include any amount paid or incurred to a \n qualified individual (as defined in section 3111(d)(3)) during \n the 1-year period beginning on the hiring date of such \n individual by a qualified employer (as defined in section \n 3111(d)) unless such qualified employer makes an election not \n to have section 3111(d) apply.''.\n (c) Transfers to Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust \nFund.--There are hereby appropriated to the Federal Old-Age and \nSurvivors Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund \nestablished under section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n401) amounts equal to the reduction in revenues to the Treasury by \nreason of the amendments made by subsection (a). Amounts appropriated \nby the preceding sentence shall be transferred from the general fund at \nsuch times and in such manner as to replicate to the extent possible \nthe transfers which would have occurred to such Trust Fund had such \namendments not been enacted.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to wages paid after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 2. BUSINESS CREDIT FOR RETENTION OF CERTAIN NEWLY HIRED \n INDIVIDUALS IN 2010.\n\n (a) In General.--In the case of any taxable year ending after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act, the current year business credit \ndetermined under section 38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for \nsuch taxable year shall be increased by an amount equal to the product \nof--\n (1) $1,000, and\n (2) the number of retained workers with respect to which \n subsection (b)(2) is first satisfied during such taxable year.\n (b) Limitation.--The increase determined under subsection (a) with \nrespect to any retained worker shall not exceed an amount equal to 4 \npercent of the wages (as defined in section 3401(a) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986) with respect to such retained worker for the 52 \nconsecutive week period described in subsection (c)(2).\n (c) Retained Worker.--For purposes of this section, the term \n``retained worker'' means any qualified individual (as defined in \nsection 3111(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)--\n (1) who was employed by the taxpayer on any date during the \n taxable year,\n (2) who was so employed by the taxpayer for a period of not \n less than 52 consecutive weeks, and\n (3) whose wages for such employment during the last 26 \n weeks of such period equaled at least 80 percent of such wages \n for the first 26 weeks of such period.\n (d) Limitation on Carrybacks.--No portion of the unused business \ncredit under section 38 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any \ntaxable year which is attributable to the increase in the current year \nbusiness credit under this section may be carried to a taxable year \nbeginning before the date of the enactment of this section.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exempt for-profit and nonprofit employers, including public institutions of higher education, from social security taxes in 2010 for new employees who are hired after February 3, 2010, and before January 1, 2011, and who certify that they have not worked more than 40 hours during the last 60 days; and (2) allow an increase in the general business tax credit for the retention of such employees for at least one year at specified wage levels. Prohibits any carryback of unused business tax credit amounts.\n\nAppropriates to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund under title II of the Social Security Act amounts necessary to cover any reduction in revenues resulting from the tax exemptions provided by this Act.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an exemption for employer payroll taxes during 2010 for wages with respect to the employment of new hires and to provide a credit for retaining employees."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1286, "text": "SECTION 1. SPECIAL OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR NATURAL DISASTER \n RESPONSE AND RECONSTRUCTION.\n\n (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are as follows:\n (1) To ensure that funds, services, products, and programs \n intended to meet the needs of victims of Hurricane Katrina are \n effectively and efficiently provided by maintaining direct, \n independent and objective conduct of related audits and \n investigations.\n (2) To provide the Inspector General of the Department of \n Homeland Security additional resources capable of making \n recommendations and policies to prevent and detect fraud and \n abuse, and ensure effective administration of programs and \n services related to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.\n (b) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Affected area.--The term ``affected area'' means any \n area determined in Presidential Disaster Declaration 1603, \n 1604, or 1605, issued August 29, 2005, to be adversely affected \n by a major disaster.\n (2) The term ``Inspector General'' means the Inspector \n General of the Department of Homeland Security.\n (3) The term ``Special Office'' means the Special Office of \n the Inspector General for Natural Disaster Response and \n Reconstruction established by this section.\n (4) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Special \n Office.\n (c) Special Office of the Inspector General for Natural Disaster \nResponse and Reconstruction.--There is hereby established within the \nOffice of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security \nthe Special Office of the Inspector General for Natural Disaster \nResponse and Reconstruction.\n (d) Director of the Special Office of the Inspector General.--\n (1) In general.--The Director of the Special Office of the \n Inspector General shall be the head of the Special Office and \n shall be appointed by the Inspector General.\n (2) Basis for appointment.--The appointment of the Director \n shall be made solely on the basis of integrity, administrative \n expertise, and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, \n financial analysis, law, management analysis, public \n administration, or investigations.\n (3) Deadline for appointment.--The appointment of a \n Director by the Inspector General shall be made not later than \n 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (4) Basic pay.--The annual rate of basic pay of the \n Director shall be set by the Inspector General, subject to the \n provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 or \n title 5, United States Code, governing classification and \n General Schedule pay rates.\n (e) Supervision.--The Director shall report directly to, and be \nunder the direct authority and general supervision of, the Inspector \nGeneral.\n (f) Duties.--\n (1) In general.--It shall be the duty of the Special Office \n to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations \n of the treatment, handling, and expenditure of Federal funds by \n any organization providing relief, assistance, or \n reconstruction related to Hurricane Katrina and of the \n programs, operations, and contracts carried out utilizing such \n funds, including--\n (A) the oversight and accounting of the obligation \n and expenditure of such funds;\n (B) the monitoring and review of reconstruction \n activities funded by such funds;\n (C) the monitoring and review of contracts funded \n by such funds;\n (D) the monitoring and review of the transfer of \n such funds and associated information between and among \n the affected States, departments, agencies, and \n entities of the Federal Government, and private and \n nongovernmental entities; and\n (E) the maintenance of records on the use of such \n funds to facilitate future audits and investigations of \n the use of such funds.\n (2) Systems, procedure, and controls.--The Director, in \n consultation with the Inspector General, shall establish, \n maintain, and oversee such systems, procedures, and controls as \n shall be considered appropriate by them to discharge the duty \n under paragraph (1).\n (g) Personnel, Facilities, and Other Resources.--\n (1) Additional employee.--The Inspector General may select, \n appoint, and employ additional employees above authorized \n levels as may be necessary for carrying out the duties of the \n Special Office under this section, but no more than 40 \n additional full-time equivalent positions.\n (2) Field office.--The Inspector General may operate field \n offices in the affected areas as may be necessary for the \n Special Office to carry out the duties prescribed in subsection \n (f).\n (h) Reports.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of \n the enactment of this Act, or the end of the first fiscal \n quarter beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, \n whichever is later, and every fiscal quarter thereafter, the \n Inspector General shall submit to the Congress a report \n summarizing the activities and findings, if any, of the Special \n Office during the period after the last report issued/preceding \n fiscal quarter? note that there will be no ``last report '' \n before the first report . Each report shall include, for the \n period covered by such report, a detailed statement of all \n obligations, expenditures, and revenues associated with relief, \n reconstruction, and rehabilitation activities in the areas \n affected by Hurricane Katrina, including the following:\n (A) Obligations and expenditures of appropriated \n funds.\n (B) Revenues attributable to or consisting of funds \n provided by foreign nations or international \n organizations, and any obligations or expenditures of \n such revenues.\n (C) Any contracts having a value of more than \n $2,000,000 entered into by any Federal agency with any \n public or private entity, to--\n (i) provide products, services, or \n temporary or permanent housing to those persons \n affected by Hurricane Katrina; and\n (ii) build or rebuild physical \n infrastructure in the affected areas.\n (D) In the case of any contract described in \n subparagraph (C)--\n (i) the amount of the contract or other \n agreement;\n (ii) a brief discussion of the scope of the \n contract or other agreement;\n (iii) a discussion of how the contracting \n agency identified, and solicited offers from, \n potential contractors to perform the contract, \n together with a list of the potential \n contractors that were issued solicitations for \n the offers; and\n (iv) the justification and approval \n documents on which was based the determination \n to use procedures other than procedures that \n provide for full and open competition.\n (E) A discussion related to any administrative \n delays in getting available services or products to the \n their intended recipients in a timely manner.\n (2) Prohibition on disclosure of information.--Nothing in \n this subsection shall be construed to authorize the public \n disclosure of information that is specifically prohibited from \n disclosure under law.\n (i) Transparency.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the \nsubmittal to the Congress of a report under subsection (h), the \nSecretary of Homeland Security shall make copies of such report \navailable to the public upon request, and at a reasonable cost.\n (j) Funding.--Of the funds appropriated for the Department of \nHomeland Security in the Second Emergency Supplemental Appropriations \nAct to Meet Immediate Needs Arising From the Consequences of Hurricane \nKatrina, 2005, $15,000,000 shall be available to the Office of the \nInspector General to carry out this section for fiscal year 2006.", "summary": "Establishes within the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security the Special Office of the Inspector General for Natural Disaster Response and Reconstruction.\n\nRequires the Special Office to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of the treatment, handling, and expenditure of federal funds by any organization providing relief, assistance, or reconstruction related to Hurricane Katrina, and of the programs, operations, and contracts carried out utilizing such funds.", "title": "To establish within the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security the Special Office of the Inspector General for Natural Disaster Response and Reconstruction."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3019, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Fair Credit Reporting Act Amendments \nof 2000''.\n\nSEC. 2. FREE CREDIT REPORT ANNUALLY UPON REQUEST OF CONSUMER.\n\n Section 612 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681j) is \namended--\n (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections \n (d) and (e), respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new \n subsection:\n ``(c) Free Credit Report Annually Upon Request of Consumer.--Upon \nthe request of any consumer, each consumer reporting agency shall make \nall disclosures pursuant to section 609 without charge to such consumer \nat least once each calendar year.''.\n (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 612(a)(1) of the \nFair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681j(a)(1)) is amended by \nstriking ``(c), and (d)'' and inserting ``(c), (d), and (e)''.\n\nSEC. 3. DISCLOSURE OF WORLD WIDE WEB SITE.\n\n Section 609(c)(9)(1)(B) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. \n1681(c)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting ``and information sufficient to \nallow the consumer to contact the agency, or request a consumer report \nrelating to the consumer from the agency, through the Internet or the \nWorld Wide Web'' before the period at the end.\n\nSEC. 4. DISCLOSURE OF CREDIT SCORES AND EXPLANATION OF CREDIT SCORES.\n\n Section 609(a)(1) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. \n1681g(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(1) All information in the consumer's file at the time of \n the request, including any information concerning credit scores \n or any other risk scores or predictors relating to the \n consumer, together with--\n ``(A) a clear and concise summary of how the scores \n and predictors are derived;\n ``(B) the factors taken into account in deriving a \n score or predictor;\n ``(C) how such factors are applied to the consumer;\n ``(D) the relative weight given to each factor; and\n ``(E) the manner and extent to which such factors \n raise or lower the score or predictor.''\n\nSEC. 5. SHORTER PERIOD FOR INCLUSION OF SMALL DEBTS UNDER CERTAIN \n CIRCUMSTANCES.\n\n Section 605(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. \n1681c(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (4), any account placed for \n collection or charged to profit and loss in which the amount \n placed to collection or charged to profit and loss did not \n exceed $100 and which antedates the report by more than 3 \n years, if--\n ``(A) the consumer to whom the report relates \n completed a credit and financial management class \n during such 3-year period; and\n ``(B) the consumer has not previously had an \n account excluded from paragraph (4) by virtue of this \n paragraph.''.\n\nSEC. 6. PROMPT INVESTIGATION AND CORRECTION OR DELETION OF INACCURATE, \n INCOMPLETE, OR UNVERIFIABLE CONSUMER INFORMATION.\n\n (A) Review and Monitoring Required.--The Board of Governors of the \nFederal Reserve System and the Federal Trade Commission shall each \nreview and monitor the extent to which, and the manner in which, \nconsumer reporting agencies and furnishers of consumer information to \nconsumer reporting agencies are complying with the procedures, time \nlines, and requirements under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for the \nprompt investigation of the disputed accuracy of any consumer \ninformation and the prompt correction or deletion, in accordance with \nsuch Act, of any inaccurate or incomplete information or information \nthat cannot be verified.\n (b) Report Required.--Before the end of the 6-month period \nbeginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Board of \nGovernors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Trade \nCommission shall each submit a progress report to the Congress on the \nresults of the review required under subsection (a).\n (c) Recommendations.--The report under subsection (b) shall include \nsuch recommendations as the Board and the Commission determine to be \nappropriate for legislative or administrative action to ensure that--\n (1) consumer disputes with consumer reporting agencies over \n the accuracy or completeness of information in a consumer's \n file are promptly and fully investigated and any incorrect, \n incomplete, or unverifiable information is immediately \n corrected or deleted;\n (2) furnishers of information to consumer reporting \n agencies maintain full and prompt compliance with the duties \n and responsibilities established under section 623 of the Fair \n Credit Reporting Act; and\n (3) consumer reporting agencies establish and maintain \n appropriate internal controls and management review procedures \n for maintaining full and continuous compliance with the \n procedures, time lines, and requirements under the Fair Credit \n Reporting Act for the prompt investigation of the disputed \n accuracy of any consumer information and the prompt correction \n or deletion, in accordance with such Act, of any inaccurate or \n incomplete information or information that cannot be verified.\n (d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms \n``consumer'', ``consumer report'', and ``consumer reporting agency'' \nhave the same meaning as in the Fair Credit Reporting Act.\n\nSEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall take effect at the end of the \n90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Prohibits the inclusion of certain small debts in a consumer report under specified circumstances.\nDirects the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Trade Commission to: (1) monitor and review the extent to which consumer reporting agencies and purveyors of information to such agencies comply with FCRA requirements for the prompt investigation of matters in dispute and the prompt correction of inaccurate or incomplete information, or information that cannot be verified; and (2) present a progress report to Congress.", "title": "Fair Credit Reporting Act Amendments of 2000"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2107, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``SOAR to Health and Wellness Act of \n2016''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Human trafficking.--The term ``human trafficking'' has \n the meaning given the term ``severe forms of trafficking in \n persons'' as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims \n Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).\n (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Health and Human Services.\n\nSEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot program to \nbe known as ``Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness \nTraining'' (or ``SOAR to Health and Wellness Training'') (referred to \nin this Act as the ``pilot program''), to provide training to health \ncare providers and other related providers, at all levels, on human \ntrafficking in accordance with the purpose described in subsection (b).\n (b) Purpose.--The pilot program established under subsection (a) \nshall train health care providers and other related providers to enable \nsuch providers to--\n (1) identify potential human trafficking victims;\n (2) implement proper protocols and procedures for working \n with law enforcement to report, and facilitate communication \n with, such victims, in accordance with all applicable Federal, \n State, local, and tribal requirements, including legal \n confidentiality requirements for patients and health care \n providers;\n (3) implement proper protocols and procedures for referring \n such victims to appropriate social or victims service agencies \n or organizations;\n (4) provide such victims care that is--\n (A) coordinated;\n (B) victim centered;\n (C) culturally relevant;\n (D) comprehensive;\n (E) evidence based;\n (F) gender responsive;\n (G) age appropriate, with a focus on care for \n youth; and\n (H) trauma informed; and\n (5) consider the potential for integrating the training \n described in paragraphs (1) through (4) with training programs, \n in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, for victims of \n domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, \n child abuse, child neglect, child maltreatment, and child \n sexual exploitation.\n (c) Functions.--\n (1) In general.--The functions of the pilot program \n established under subsection (a) shall include the functions of \n the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness \n Training program that was operating on the day before the date \n of enactment of this Act and the authorized initiatives \n described in paragraph (2).\n (2) Authorized initiatives.--The authorized initiatives of \n the pilot program established under subsection (a) shall \n include--\n (A) engaging stakeholders, including victims of \n human trafficking and any Federal, State, local, or \n tribal partners, to develop a flexible training \n module--\n (i) for achieving the purpose described in \n subsection (b); and\n (ii) that adapts to changing needs, \n settings, health care providers, and other \n related providers;\n (B) making grants available to support training in \n health care sites that represent diversity in--\n (i) geography;\n (ii) the demographics of the population \n served;\n (iii) the predominate types of human \n trafficking cases; and\n (iv) health care provider profiles;\n (C) providing technical assistance for health \n education programs to implement nationwide health care \n protocol, or develop continuing education training \n materials, that assist in achieving the purpose \n described in subsection (b);\n (D) developing a strategy to incentivize the \n utilization of training materials developed under \n subparagraph (C) and the implementation of nationwide \n health care protocol described in such subparagraph, as \n the Secretary determines appropriate; and\n (E) developing a reliable methodology for \n collecting data, and reporting such data, on the number \n of human trafficking victims identified and served in \n health care settings or other related provider \n settings.\n (d) Termination.--The pilot program established under subsection \n(a) shall terminate on October 1, 2022.\n\nSEC. 4. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) Data Collection.--\n (1) In general.--During each of fiscal years 2018 through \n 2022, the Secretary shall collect data on each of the \n following:\n (A) The total number of facilities that were \n operating under the pilot program established under \n section 3(a)--\n (i) during the previous fiscal year; and\n (ii) before the previous fiscal year.\n (B) The total number of health care providers and \n other related providers trained through such pilot \n program during each of the periods described in clauses \n (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A).\n (2) Initial report.--In addition to the data required to be \n collected under paragraph (1), for purposes of the initial \n report to be submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary \n shall collect data on the total number of facilities that were \n operating under, and the total number of health care providers \n and other related providers trained through, the Stop, Observe, \n Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training program that \n was operating before the establishment of the pilot program \n under section 3(a).\n (b) Reporting.--Not later than 90 days after the first day of each \nof fiscal years 2018 through 2022, the Secretary shall prepare and \nsubmit to Congress a report on the data collected under subsection (a).\n\nSEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act \n$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022.", "summary": "SOAR to Health and Wellness Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a pilot program, to be known as Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training (or SOAR to Health and Wellness Training), to train health care providers and other related providers to: identify potential human trafficking victims, work with law enforcement to report and facilitate communication with such victims, refer victims to social or victims service agencies or organizations, provide such victims with coordinated care tailored to their circumstances, and consider integrating this training with existing training programs. The pilot program must include the functions of the training program with the same name that was operating before this bill's enactment and the following initiatives: engaging stakeholders to develop a flexible training module, supporting training in diverse health care sites, providing technical assistance to health education programs, developing a strategy to incentivize the use of training materials developed under this bill and the implementation of a nationwide health care protocol, and developing a methodology for collecting and reporting data on the number of human trafficking victims served in health care settings or other related provider settings. The pilot program is authorized through FY2022. HHS must report on the number of facilities operating under the pilot program, the number of providers trained through the pilot program, and these numbers for the program operating before the pilot program.", "title": "SOAR to Health and Wellness Act of 2016"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3185, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Fairness for Working Americans Act \nof 2004''.\n\nSEC. 2. INCREASE IN REFUNDABILITY OF THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.\n\n (a) Acceleration of Refundability.--Clause (i) of section \n24(d)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to portion \nof credit refundable) is amended by striking ``(10 percent in the case \nof taxable years beginning before January 1, 2005)''.\n (b) Earned Income Includes Combat Pay.--Paragraph (1) of section \n24(d) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsentence: ``For purposes of subparagraph (B), any amount excluded from \ngross income by reason of section 112 shall be treated as earned income \nwhich is taken into account in computing taxable income for the taxable \nyear.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003.\n\nSEC. 3. PREVENTION OF CORPORATE EXPATRIATION TO AVOID UNITED STATES \n INCOME TAX.\n\n (a) In General.--Paragraph (4) of section 7701(a) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (defining domestic) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(4) Domestic.--\n ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in \n subparagraph (B), the term `domestic' when applied to a \n corporation or partnership means created or organized \n in the United States or under the law of the United \n States or of any State unless, in the case of a \n partnership, the Secretary provides otherwise by \n regulations.\n ``(B) Certain corporations treated as domestic.--\n ``(i) In general.--The acquiring \n corporation in a corporate expatriation \n transaction shall be treated as a domestic \n corporation.\n ``(ii) Corporate expatriation \n transaction.--For purposes of this \n subparagraph, the term `corporate expatriation \n transaction' means any transaction if--\n ``(I) a nominally foreign \n corporation (referred to in this \n subparagraph as the `acquiring \n corporation') acquires, as a result of \n such transaction, directly or \n indirectly substantially all of the \n properties held directly or indirectly \n by a domestic corporation, and\n ``(II) immediately after the \n transaction, more than 80 percent of \n the stock (by vote or value) of the \n acquiring corporation is held by former \n shareholders of the domestic \n corporation by reason of holding stock \n in the domestic corporation.\n ``(iii) Lower stock ownership requirement \n in certain cases.--Subclause (II) of clause \n (ii) shall be applied by substituting `50 \n percent' for `80 percent' with respect to any \n nominally foreign corporation if--\n ``(I) such corporation does not \n have substantial business activities \n (when compared to the total business \n activities of the expanded affiliated \n group) in the foreign country in which \n or under the law of which the \n corporation is created or organized, \n and\n ``(II) the stock of the corporation \n is publicly traded and the principal \n market for the public trading of such \n stock is in the United States.\n ``(iv) Partnership transactions.--The term \n `corporate expatriation transaction' includes \n any transaction if--\n ``(I) a nominally foreign \n corporation (referred to in this \n subparagraph as the `acquiring \n corporation') acquires, as a result of \n such transaction, directly or \n indirectly properties constituting a \n trade or business of a domestic \n partnership,\n ``(II) immediately after the \n transaction, more than 80 percent of \n the stock (by vote or value) of the \n acquiring corporation is held by former \n partners of the domestic partnership or \n related foreign partnerships \n (determined without regard to stock of \n the acquiring corporation which is sold \n in a public offering related to the \n transaction), and\n ``(III) the acquiring corporation \n meets the requirements of subclauses \n (I) and (II) of clause (iii).\n ``(v) Special rules.--For purposes of this \n subparagraph--\n ``(I) a series of related \n transactions shall be treated as 1 \n transaction, and\n ``(II) stock held by members of the \n expanded affiliated group which \n includes the acquiring corporation \n shall not be taken into account in \n determining ownership.\n ``(vi) Other definitions.--For purposes of \n this subparagraph--\n ``(I) Nominally foreign \n corporation.--The term `nominally \n foreign corporation' means any \n corporation which would (but for this \n subparagraph) be treated as a foreign \n corporation.\n ``(II) Expanded affiliated group.--\n The term `expanded affiliated group' \n means an affiliated group (as defined \n in section 1504(a) without regard to \n section 1504(b)).\n ``(III) Related foreign \n partnership.--A foreign partnership is \n related to a domestic partnership if \n they are under common control (within \n the meaning of section 482), or they \n shared the same trademark or \n tradename.''\n (b) Effective Dates.--\n (1) In general.--The amendment made by this section shall \n apply to corporate expatriation transactions completed after \n September 11, 2001.\n (2) Special rule.--The amendment made by this section shall \n also apply to corporate expatriation transactions completed on \n or before September 11, 2001, but only with respect to taxable \n years of the acquiring corporation beginning after December 31, \n 2003.", "summary": "Fairness for Working Americans Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) eliminate the reduction in the percentage of earned income for calculating the refundable portion of the child tax credit (15 to ten percent) for taxable years beginning before 2005; (2) include in earned income for purposes of calculating the refundable portion of the credit otherwise tax excludable combat zone compensation of members of the armed services; and (3) set forth rules for the tax treatment of certain foreign corporations engaging in tax avoidance activities as U.S. domestic corporations.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the refundability of the child tax credit."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2347, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Challenge \nDemonstration Project Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSES.\n\n The purposes of this Act are to--\n (1) adapt the lessons of foreign aid to underdeveloped \n economies, such as the experience of the Millennium Challenge \n Corporation, to the provision of Federal economic development \n assistance to similarly situated remote Native American \n communities;\n (2) provide Federal economic development assistance for \n Native communities through the Native American Challenge \n Demonstration Project;\n (3) administer Federal economic development assistance in a \n manner that promotes economic growth and the elimination of \n poverty and strengthens good governance, entrepreneurship, and \n investment in Native communities;\n (4) improve the effectiveness of Federal economic \n development assistance by encouraging the integration and \n coordination of such assistance in Native American communities;\n (5) promote sustainable economic growth and poverty \n reduction policies in Native American communities in a manner \n that promotes self-determination and self-sufficiency among \n remote Native American communities while preserving their \n cultural values; and\n (6) establish a demonstration project which, if successful, \n may be broadly applied to other Native American communities in \n the United States.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Eligible entity.--The term `` eligible entity'' means--\n (A) the Association of Village Council Presidents, \n the Bristol Bay Native Association, and the Alaska \n Federation of Natives applying jointly;\n (B) in the State of Hawaii, a consortia of local \n Native Hawaiian community organizations to be \n determined by the Secretary in consultation with the \n Secretary of Interior and the Office of Hawaiian \n Affairs; and\n (C) in the contiguous states, up to three \n organizations to be determined by the Secretary in \n consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, which \n organizations may be Indian tribes, consortia of Indian \n tribes, or nongovernmental entities authorized by one \n or more Indian tribes.\n (2) Compact.--The term ``compact'' means a binding \n agreement with the United States pursuant to this Act.\n (3) Economic development strategy of the eligible entity.--\n The term ``economic development strategy of the eligible \n entity'' means a strategy written by the eligible entity and \n designed to achieve sustainable economic growth and reduce \n poverty over a defined period, developed in consultation with \n public and private sector entities as appropriate to the \n geographic area and intended beneficiaries of the compact.\n (4) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' shall have the \n meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self \n Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et \n seq.).\n (5) Renewal.--The term ``renewal'' means the negotiated \n extension of a compact.\n (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Commerce, Office of the Secretary.\n\nSEC. 4. NATIVE AMERICAN MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and implement a \ndemonstration project in the Department of Commerce.\n (b) Authorization of Assistance.--The Secretary may provide \nassistance under this section to an eligible entity that enters a \ncompact with the United States pursuant to this Act.\n (c) Form of Assistance.--Assistance under this section--\n (1) shall be provided in the form of funding agreements \n established by the compacts;\n (2) may not be provided in the form of loans; and\n (3) may not be used for gaming activities pursuant to the \n Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 USC 2701 et seq.).\n (d) Coordination.--\n (1) In general.--The provision of assistance under this \n section shall be coordinated with other Federal economic \n development assistance programs for Native Americans.\n (2) Integrated funding.--The Secretary, in cooperation with \n other Secretaries as appropriate, shall, upon execution of a \n compact with an eligible entity, authorize the eligible entity \n to coordinate its federally funded economic development \n assistance programs in a manner that integrates the program \n services into a single, coordinated program.\n (3) Agencies and departments.--The Federal agencies and \n departments administering economic development assistance \n programs for Native Americans are the following:\n (A) Department of Agriculture.\n (B) Department of Commerce.\n (C) Department of Energy.\n (D) Department of Health and Human Services.\n (E) Department of Housing and Urban Development.\n (F) Department of the Interior.\n (G) Small Business Administration.\n (H) Such other Federal agencies and \n instrumentalities as the Secretary determines \n appropriate.\n (e) Programs Affected.--The programs that may be integrated \npursuant to this Act shall include any program under which an Indian \ntribe is eligible for receipt of funds under a statutory or \nadministrative formula for economic development purposes.\n (f) Waiver Authority.--Upon receipt of the executed compact, the \nSecretary shall consult with the eligible entity and the Secretary of \neach Federal agency or department providing funds to be used to \nimplement the compact in order to identify any waivers of statutory \nrequirements or applicable regulations, policies, or procedures \nnecessary to enable the eligible entity to implement its compact.\n\nSEC. 5. NATIVE AMERICAN CHALLENGE COMPACTS.\n\n (a) Compacts.--The Secretary shall develop and recommend procedures \nfor considering proposals for compacts submitted by eligible entities. \nThe Secretary may provide assistance to an eligible entity only if the \neligible entity enters into an agreement with the United States, to be \nknown as a ``Native American Challenge Compact'', that establishes a \nmulti-year plan for achieving development objectives in furtherance of \nthe purposes of this Act.\n (b) Eligible Entities-Criteria for Selection.--The Secretary shall \ndevelop an application process and criteria for selecting the eligible \nentities, taking into account--\n (1) the purposes of this Act;\n (2) the economic development strategy of the eligible \n entity;\n (3) the remoteness of the reservation or community to be \n served;\n (4) its general economic status;\n (5) poverty rates; and\n (6) the capacity of the applicant.\n (c) Assistance for Development of a Compact.--To the extent that \nfunds have been appropriated in advance and are available for this \nsection, the Secretary may enter into contracts with or make grants to \nany eligible entity for the purposes of facilitating the development \nand implementation of a compact between the United States and the \neligible entity.\n (d) Duration and Extension.--The term of an initial compact may not \nexceed five years. An eligible entity and the United States may enter \ninto one or more subsequent compacts in accordance with the \nrequirements of this Act. If a compact is nearing its expiration or has \nexpired, the eligible entity and the United States may renegotiate or \nextend the compact for as many periods as the parties agree, with each \nperiod not exceeding 10 years.\n (e) Application.--The Secretary shall develop and recommend \nprocedures for considering proposals for compacts submitted by eligible \nentities.\n (f) Elements.--In furtherance of the economic development strategy \nof the eligible entity, the compact shall contain--\n (1) a description of the specific objectives for \n sustainable economic development and the reduction of poverty \n that the eligible entity and the United States expect to \n achieve during the term of the compact;\n (2) a description of the respective roles and \n responsibilities of the eligible entity and the United States \n in the achievement of such objectives;\n (3) a list and description of regular benchmarks to measure \n progress toward achieving such objectives;\n (4) an identification of the intended beneficiaries, \n disaggregated by income level, gender, and age, to the maximum \n extent practical; and\n (5) a multi-year financial plan to guide the implementation \n of the compact, including the estimated level of funding and \n other contributions by the United States and the eligible \n entity, proposed mechanisms to execute the plan, and periodic \n assessments to determine whether the requirements of \n subparagraphs (1) through (4) are being met.\n (g) Suspension and Termination of Assistance.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary may suspend or terminate \n assistance in whole or in part for an entity that has entered a \n compact with the United States if the Secretary determines \n that--\n (A) the entity has failed to adhere to its \n responsibilities under the compact, or\n (B) the entity has engaged in a pattern of actions \n inconsistent with the purposes of this Act.\n (h) Reinstatement.--The Secretary may reinstate assistance for an \nentity only if the Secretary determines that the entity has \ndemonstrated a commitment to correcting each condition for which \nassistance was suspended or terminated under subsection (f).\n\nSEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry \nout this Act $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. \nAny funds authorized but not appropriated may be appropriated in \nsubsequent fiscal years, provided that the cumulative level of funds \nauthorized to be appropriated for Fiscal Year 2008 through 2012 shall \nnot exceed $100,000,000. Sums appropriated under this section shall \nremain available until expended.\n (b) Administrative Funds.--Of the funds made available by this Act, \nno more than 5 percent may be used by the Secretary for administrative \nexpenses and program oversight.\n\nSEC. 7. PROGRAM ASSESSMENTS AND REPORTS.\n\n (a) Reports of Eligible Entities.--Not later than March 15, 2008, \nand annually thereafter, each the eligible entity shall prepare and \nsubmit to the Secretary a written report regarding the assistance \nprovided under this Act during the previous fiscal year.\n (b) Report Contents.--A report required under subsection (a) shall \ninclude the following:\n (1) The amount of obligations and expenditures for \n assistance provided during the prior fiscal year.\n (2) A description of the programs and activities conducted \n by the entity in furtherance of its economic development \n strategy and the purposes of this Act.\n (3) An assessment of the effectiveness of the assistance \n provided and progress made by the entity toward achieving its \n economic development strategy and the purposes of this Act.\n (4) Other information the eligible entity considers \n relevant considering the purposes of this Act.\n (c) Transmittal to Congress.--Not later than May 15, 2008, and \nannually thereafter, the Secretary shall transmit reports required \nunder subsection (a), with such other information the Secretary \nconsiders relevant, to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the \nCommittee on Natural Resources in the House of Representatives, and the \nCommittee on Indian Affairs, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and \nTransportation, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in \nthe Senate.", "summary": "Native American Challenge Demonstration Project Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish and implement the Native American Challenge Demonstration Project through which federal economic development assistance may be provided for certain Native American communities. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such assistance to eligible entities that enter into Native American Challenge Compacts with the United States pursuant to this Act.\n\nRequires that Compacts establish a multi-year plan for achieving development objectives in furthering the purposes of this Act, including to adapt the lessons of foreign aid to underdeveloped economies to the provision of federal economic development assistance to similarly situated remote Native American communities.", "title": "To adapt the lessons of foreign aid to underdeveloped economies to the provision of Federal economic development assistance to similarly situated remote Native American communities, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1720, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Protective Service Reform \nand Enhancement Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE.\n\n (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the \nDirector of the Federal Protective Service $246,000,000 for fiscal year \n2011 to carry out Federal Protective Service counterterrorism \nfunctions, including--\n (1) law enforcement on federally controlled property;\n (2) incident investigations;\n (3) suspect capture and detention;\n (4) 24-hour security alarm monitoring;\n (5) nationwide dispatch services;\n (6) facility security assessments; and\n (7) terrorism prevention.\n (b) Sufficient Funding to Effectively Double the Size of the \nFederal Protective Service Inspector Force.--In addition to amounts \nauthorized under subsection (a), the Federal Protective Service is \nauthorized 1,200 full-time equivalent positions in the Federal \nProtective Service inspector force that monitor performance of security \npersonal services procured by contract.\n\nSEC. 3. FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT BASIC \n SECURITY FUNCTIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1315(a) of title 40, United States Code, \nis amended by--\n (1) striking ``(a) In General.--'' and inserting the \n following:\n ``(a) In General.--\n ``(1) Protection of federal property.--''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(2) Authority over gsa properties.--The Secretary, acting \n through the Federal Protective Service, shall have the lead \n authority in the executive branch to carry out counterterrorism \n functions on Federal property managed by the General Services \n Administration (including property leased by the General \n Services Administration), including--\n ``(A) law enforcement on federally controlled \n property;\n ``(B) incident investigations;\n ``(C) suspect capture and detention;\n ``(D) 24-hour security alarm monitoring;\n ``(E) nationwide dispatch services;\n ``(F) facility security assessments; and\n ``(G) terrorism prevention.\n ``(3) Agreements with other law enforcement authorities.--\n Nothing in this subsection shall preempt the Federal Protective \n Service from entering into agreements with other Federal, \n State, or local law enforcement authorities to provide security \n or respond to incidents on property that is under the \n jurisdiction and control of the Administrator of General \n Services.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 1315(g) of title 40, United States Code, is \n amended by striking ``Nothing'' and inserting ``Subject to \n subsection (a)(2), nothing''.\n (2) Section 1706(b)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 \n (40 U.S.C. 1315 note) is amended by striking ``The Secretary'' \n and inserting ``Subject to subsection (a)(2), the Secretary''.\n\nSEC. 4. STRATEGIC PLAN REQUIREMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit \nto Congress a 5-year budget outlook and strategic plan for the Federal \nProtective Service that includes the following:\n (1) Estimates of staffing and associated costs the Federal \n Protective Service requires in order to provide basic security \n functions.\n (2) Estimates of staffing and associated costs the Federal \n Protective Service requires in order to assess the need for \n and, as appropriate, provide building specific security \n countermeasures.\n (3) Estimates of staffing and associated cost the Federal \n Protective Service requires for reimbursable agency-specific \n security work authorization functions.\n (4) Reviews of the performance of contractor-provided \n security guards that assesses both quality and cost of \n individual private contract guard companies performing Federal \n Protective Service guard functions under contract.\n (b) Updates.--The Secretary shall include an annual update of such \nplan with the President's annual budget submission to the Congress.\n\nSEC. 5. FACILITY SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through \nthe Director of Federal Protective Service, shall--\n (1) conduct facility security assessments in consultation \n with the facility security committee established for a \n facility;\n (2) prepare a report on each assessment, including \n recommendations of countermeasures against a terrorist attack \n to ensure the security of the facility concerned; and\n (3) give the facility security committee established for \n such a facility a 60-day period to review and comment on each \n report.\n (b) Selection of Recommendations for Implementation.--\n (1) Selection by gsa.--Upon the completion of the period \n for review and comment under subsection (a)(3)--\n (A) the Director shall submit the assessment report \n to the Administrator of General Services; and\n (B) the Administrator may select for implementation \n any of the recommendations of countermeasures in the \n report for implementation.\n (2) Notification of nonselection.--If the Administrator \n determines that any of the recommendations of countermeasures \n in a report submitted under paragraph (1) should not be \n implemented for a facility, the Administrator shall notify the \n head of each Federal agency in the facility and the facility \n security committee for the facility that the recommendation \n will not be implemented, including the reasons why.\n (3) Selection by facility security committee.--If a \n facility security committee receives notice under paragraph (2) \n regarding any recommendations, it may select any of the \n recommendations for implementation.\n (c) Reimbursement.--If any of the recommendations in a report \nsubmitted under subsection (a) is selected by the Administrator or a \nfacility security committee under subsection (c) for implementation--\n (1) the Director shall implement the recommendation;\n (2) the Administrator shall allocate to the Federal \n agencies in that facility the costs incurred by the Federal \n Protective Service for such implementation; and\n (3) each such agency shall reimburse the Federal Protective \n Service for the costs allocated to the agency by the \n Administrator.\n (d) Annual Report.--The Director shall submit an annual report to \nCongress on the disposition of recommendations included in reports \nunder this section that the Administrator did not select for \nimplementation.\n (e) Facility Security Committee Defined.--In this section the term \n``facility security committee'' means a facilities facility security \ncommittee established pursuant to the report entitled ``Vulnerability \nAssessment of Federal Facilities'', issued by the Interagency Security \nCommittee established by Executive Order 12977.\n\nSEC. 6. CONTRACT GUARD STAFF.\n\n (a) Minimum Standards for Training and Annual Recertification.--The \nSecretary of Homeland Security shall develop minimum standards for \ntraining and annual recertification for the Federal Protective \nService's contract guards including--\n (1) minimum fitness standards;\n (2) annual recertification on access control policies and \n control equipment, including x-ray and magnetometer training;\n (3) training in arrest and control procedures;\n (4) training in operation of emergency equipment;\n (5) basic first aid and CPR training and certification;\n (6) weapons training, as applicable; and\n (7) behavior detection training.\n (b) Pilot Program.--\n (1) In general.--Within 1 year after the date of enactment \n of this Act, the Director shall establish a 3-year pilot \n program in not less than 3 level IV facilities to test and \n evaluate--\n (A) to what extent efficiencies exist in having a \n federalized guard staff; and\n (B) to what extent such a federalized guard staff \n provides a measurable improvement in facility or \n personnel security.\n (2) Report.--Not later than 120 days before the \n commencement of the program, the Director shall report to \n Congress regarding what performance metrics will be considered \n in measuring improvement in efficiencies and security provided \n by such a federalized guard staff.\n (3) Monitoring by gao.--The Comptroller General of the \n United States--\n (A) shall monitor and review the conduct of the \n pilot program; and\n (B) shall submit to Congress and the Secretary of \n Homeland Security an interim report 6 months after the \n commencement of the pilot program, and a final report \n within 120 days after the conclusion of the pilot \n program, that each addresses whether--\n (i) the Secretary has established \n sufficient mechanisms to determine whether the \n pilot program provides efficiencies in \n protecting Federal facilities;\n (ii) the pilot program consists of an \n adequate sample of level IV facilities; and\n (iii) there are cost savings and security \n enhancements realized by having a federalized \n guard force.\n\nSEC. 7. SITE INSPECTIONS.\n\n (a) Right of Entry.--For purposes of carrying out this Act, the \nSecretary of Homeland Security shall have, on presentation of \ncredentials, a right of entry to, on, or through any property for which \nsecurity is provided by the Federal Protective Service.\n (b) Inspections and Verifications.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall, at such time and \n place as the Secretary determines to be reasonable and \n appropriate, conduct security inspections and verifications for \n property for which security is provided by the Federal \n Protective Service.\n (2) Unannounced inspections.--In addition to any inspection \n conducted pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall \n require such properties to undergo unannounced security \n inspections. The inspections required under this paragraph \n shall be--\n (A) conducted without prior notice to the facility;\n (B) designed to evaluate undergoing inspection--\n (i) the ability of the Federal Protective \n Service security and contract guards to prevent \n an incident that applicable security \n performance standards are intended to prevent;\n (ii) the ability of the Federal Protective \n Service security and contract guards to protect \n against terrorist threats that are required to \n be addressed by applicable performance \n standards; and\n (iii) any weaknesses in the security plan \n of the facility;\n (C) conducted so as not to affect the actual \n security, physical integrity, or safety of the property \n or its employees while the inspection is conducted; and\n (D) conducted at least--\n (i) every year in the case of a level IV \n facility;\n (ii) every 2 years in the case of a level \n III facility;\n (iii) every 3 years in the case of a level \n II facility; and\n (iv) every four years in the case of a \n level I facility.\n (c) Report.--The Secretary shall report annually with the \nPresident's budget submission to Congress on covert testing strategy \nand results of unannounced inspections under this section.\n\nSEC. 8. PROMOTION OF FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY AND \n TRAINING.\n\n (a) In General.--Within 6 months of the date of enactment of this \nAct, the Director of the Federal Protective Service, in consultation \nwith the Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security Administration, \nshall publish--\n (1) a list of qualified vendors and a list of qualified \n products that would promote common standards of deployment of \n personnel and technology;\n (2) standards for training personnel, among all Federal \n Protective Service protected properties; and\n (3) best practices for utilizing items on the qualified \n products list so they are utilized in the most effective \n manner, including a process to best utilize existing products \n currently deployed.\n (b) Requirement To Use Lists.--\n (1) In general.--Following the publication of the qualified \n vendors list and the qualified products list under subsection \n (a), the Federal Protective Service may not enter into any \n contractual arrangement for services or products covered by \n such lists--\n (A) with any person that is not included on the \n qualified vendors list;\n (B) for procurement of any product that is not \n included on the qualified products list; or\n (C) under which a subcontract may be awarded to a \n person that is not included on the qualified vendors \n list.\n (2) Limitation on application.--\n (A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to \n any contract the Director of the Federal Protective \n Service determines to be necessary to carry out the \n security missions of the Federal Protective Service.\n (B) Notification to congress.--The Director shall \n notify the Committee on Homeland Security of the House \n of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland \n Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate in \n writing within 30 days after entering any contract \n under this paragraph, setting forth the determination \n under subparagraph (A) and the basis for that \n determination.\n (c) Cooperative Agreement.--Within 6 months after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require \nthe Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security Administration, the \nUnder Secretary for Science and Technology, and the Under Secretary for \nNational Protection and Programs to enter into a memorandum of \nunderstanding, or similar cooperative agreement, pursuant to which the \nTransportation Security Laboratory will provide the Federal Protective \nService with expertise, consultation, exchange of information, and \ntesting for technology covered by the qualified vendors list and the \nqualified products list required by this section.\n\nSEC. 9. PROHIBITED ITEMS LIST.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than the end of the 180-day period \nbeginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of \nHomeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary of the National \nPrograms and Protection Directorate and in consultation with \nAdministrator of General Services, shall issue and implement a list of \nitems, including component parts, that are prohibited from being \nbrought into facilities protected by Federal Protective Service, unless \nspecifically authorized on a case-by-case basis by the Secretary or the \nSecretary's designee.\n (b) Additional Items.--Nothing in this section prohibits a facility \nsecurity committee from prohibiting items that are not included on such \nlist from being brought into the facility of that committee.\n (c) Failure To Issue List.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security \nfails to implement a prohibited items list in accordance with \nsubsection (a), then the prohibited items list established by the \nTransportation Security Administration for civilian aviation shall \napply for facilities protected by Federal Protective Service--\n (1) effective upon expiration of the period referred to in \n subsection (a); and\n (2) until such time as the Secretary, acting through the \n Under Secretary of the National Programs and Protection \n Directorate, issues a prohibited items list described in \n subsection (a).\n (d) Facility Security Committee Defined.--In this section the term \n``facility security committee'' means a facility security committee \nestablished pursuant to the report entitled ``Vulnerability Assessment \nof Federal Facilities'', issued by the Interagency Security Committee \nestablished by Executive Order 12977.\n\nSEC. 10. REPORT REQUIREMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress the \nfollowing:\n (1) A strategy for more effectively managing the contract \n guard program of the Federal Protective Service that ensures \n there is adequate oversight and monitoring of training for such \n program.\n (2) A status report on the implementation of the RAMP \n program, including an estimated date by which it will be fully \n operational.\n (3) Estimates of the additional manpower, resources, and \n funding the Federal Protective Service would need in order to \n provide security for high-profile terror trials in multiple or \n varying locations.\n (4) A status report on the implementation of the CADIS \n program, including an estimated date by which it will be fully \n operational.\n (5) A coordinated strategy for cooperation between the \n Under Secretary of National Programs and Protection and the \n Under Secretary for Science and Technology regarding research, \n development, and deployment of security technology conducted by \n the Transportation Security Laboratory.\n (b) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) CADIS program.--The term ``CADIS program'' means the \n Computer Aided Dispatch Information System of the Federal \n Protective Service.\n (2) RAMP program.--The term ``RAMP program'' means the Risk \n Assessment and Management Program of the Federal Protective \n Service.", "summary": "Federal Protective Service Reform and Enhancement Act of 2010 - Authorizes: (1) appropriations to the Director of the Federal Protective Service (FPS) for FY2011 to carry out counterterrorism functions; and (2) 1,200 full-time equivalent positions in the inspector force that monitor performance of security personal services procured by contract. Grants the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), acting through FPS, lead authority in the executive branch to carry out counterterrorism functions on federal property managed by the General Services Administration (GSA).\n\nRequires the Secretary to submit to Congress a five-year budget outlook and strategic plan for FPS. Requires annual updates. Directs the Secretary, through the Director, to: (1) conduct facility security assessments; (2) prepare a report on each assessment; and (3) give the facility security committee established for such a facility a 60-day period to review and comment on each report. Provides for the selection by GSA of recommendations for implementation.\n\nRequires: (1) the Secretary to develop minimum standards for training and annual recertification for FPS's contract guards; (2) the Director to establish a three-year pilot program in not less than three level IV facilities to test and evaluate to what extent efficiencies exist in having a federalized guard staff and to what extent such a staff provides a measurable improvement in security; and (3) the Comptroller General to monitor and review the program.\n\nGrants the Secretary a right of entry to property for which security is provided by FPS for unannounced inspections. Requires the Secretary to conduct security inspections, including unannounced inspections, of such properties.\n\nDirects the Director to publish: (1) a list of qualified vendors and products that would promote common standards of deployment of personnel and technology; (2) standards for training personnel among all FPS protected properties; and (3) best practices for utilizing items on the qualified products list. Directs the Secretary to issue and implement a list of items that are prohibited from being brought into facilities protected by FPS unless specifically authorized on a case-by-case basis.", "title": "To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance the Federal Protective Service's ability to provide adequate security for the prevention of terrorist activities and for the promotion of homeland security, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1160, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Hiring Heroes Tax Incentive Act of \n2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS WHO EMPLOY MEMBERS OF THE READY RESERVE \n AND NATIONAL GUARD AND VETERANS RECENTLY SEPARATED FROM \n THE ARMED FORCES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business-related \ncredits) is amended by inserting after section 45Q the following new \nsection:\n\n``SEC. 45R. CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS WHO EMPLOY MEMBERS OF THE READY \n RESERVE AND NATIONAL GUARD AND VETERANS RECENTLY \n SEPARATED FROM THE ARMED FORCES.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--For purposes of section 38, the amount \nof the military employment credit determined under this section with \nrespect to any employer for any taxable year is 15 percent of the \nqualified wages paid or incurred during the calendar year which ends \nwith or within such taxable year.\n ``(b) Qualified Wages.--\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term \n `qualified wages' means any wages paid or incurred by an \n employer for services performed by a qualified employee.\n ``(2) Only first $10,000 of wages per year taken into \n account.--With respect to each employee, the amount of \n qualified wages which may be taken into account for a calendar \n year shall not exceed $10,000.\n ``(3) Coordination with other credits.--The $10,000 amount \n in paragraph (2) shall be reduced for any calendar year by the \n amount of wages paid or incurred during such year which are \n taken into account in determining the credit under section \n 45A(a), 45P(a), 51(a), 1396(a), 1400P(b), or 1400R.\n ``(c) Qualified Employee.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Qualified employee.--The term `qualified employee' \n means, with respect to any period, any employee of an employer \n if during such period--\n ``(A) substantially all of the services performed \n by such employee for such employer are performed in a \n trade or business of the employer, and\n ``(B) such employee is--\n ``(i) a Ready Reserve-National Guard \n employee, or\n ``(ii) a recently-separated veteran.\n ``(2) Certain individuals not eligible.--The term \n `qualified employee' shall not include any individual described \n in a subparagraph of section 1396(d)(2) (relating to certain \n individuals not eligible to be qualified zone employees).\n ``(3) Ready reserve-national guard employee.--The term \n `Ready Reserve-National Guard employee' means an employee who \n is a member of the Ready Reserve (as defined in section 10142 \n of title 10, United States Code) or the National Guard (as \n defined in section 101(c)(1) of such title 10).\n ``(4) Recently-separated veteran.--The term `recently-\n separated veteran' means an individual who served on active \n duty (other than active duty for training) in the Armed Forces \n of the United States and was discharged or released therefrom \n under honorable conditions within the 5-year period ending on \n the date of the performance of services.\n ``(d) Other Definitions and Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Wages.--For purposes of this section, the term \n `wages' has the meaning given to such term by section 1397(a).\n ``(2) Controlled groups, etc.--Rules similar to the rules \n of subsections (b) and (c) of section 1397 shall apply for \n purposes of this section.\n ``(e) Termination.--The term `wages' shall not include any amount \npaid or incurred to an individual who begins work for the employer \nafter December 31, 2012.''.\n (b) Denial of Double Benefit.--Subsection (a) of section 280C of \nsuch Code (relating to denial of deduction for certain expenses for \nwhich credits are allowable) is amended by inserting ``45R,'' after \n``45P(a),''.\n (c) Credit To Be Part of General Business Credit.--Subsection (b) \nof section 38 of such Code is amended by striking ``plus'' at the end \nof paragraph (34), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (35) \nand inserting ``, plus'', and by inserting after paragraph (35) the \nfollowing new paragraph:\n ``(36) the military employment credit determined under \n section 45R(a).''.\n (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding \nat the end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 45R. Credit for employers who employ members of the Ready \n Reserve and National Guard and veterans \n recently separated from the Armed \n Forces.''.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "Hiring Heroes Tax Incentive Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a tax credit for up to 15% of the first $10,000 of wages paid to a Ready Reserve-National Guard employee or a recently-separated veteran (i.e., honorably discharged within the past five years). Terminates such credit after 2012.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for employing members of the Ready Reserve and National Guard and veterans recently separated from the Armed Forces."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3151, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Caregiver Assistance and Resource \nEnhancement Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--Section 1701 of title 38, United States Code, is \namended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:\n ``(10) The term `caregiver services' means noninstitutional \n extended care (as used in paragraph (6)).\n ``(11) The term `caregiver' means an individual who--\n ``(A) with respect to a disabled veteran who is \n enrolled in the health care system established under \n section 1705(a) of this title, provides caregiver \n services to such veteran for such disability; and\n ``(B) is not a member of the family (including \n parents, spouses, children, siblings, step-family \n members, and extended family members) of such veteran.\n ``(12) The term `family caregiver' means an individual \n who--\n ``(A) with respect to a disabled veteran who is \n enrolled in the health care system established under \n section 1705(a) of this title, provides caregiver \n services to such veteran for such disability;\n ``(B) is a member of the family (including parents, \n spouses, children, siblings, step-family members, and \n extended family members) of such veteran; and\n ``(C) may or may not reside with such veteran.''.\n (b) Support Services.--\n (1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, \n United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the \n following new section:\n``Sec. 1720G. Support services for caregivers and family caregivers\n ``(a) Establishment of Program.--The Secretary shall develop and \ncarry out a program for caregivers and family caregivers that includes \nthe following:\n ``(1) The educational sessions, stipends, and access to \n support services provided under this section.\n ``(2) Counseling and other services provided under section \n 1782 of this title.\n ``(3) Respite care provided under section 1720B of this \n title.\n ``(4) With respect to family caregivers, medical care \n provided under section 1781(e) of this title.\n ``(5) Travel expenses provided under section 111(e) of this \n title.\n ``(b) Educational Sessions.--(1) The Secretary shall make available \neducational sessions for caregivers, family caregivers, and individuals \ndescribed in paragraph (2). Such educational sessions shall--\n ``(A) be made available both in person and on an Internet \n website;\n ``(B) incorporate available technology, including \n telehealth technology to the extent practicable; and\n ``(C) teach techniques, strategies, and skills for caring \n for a disabled veteran, including, at a minimum, a veteran \n who--\n ``(i) was deployed in support of Operation Enduring \n Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom; and\n ``(ii) has post-traumatic stress disorder, a \n traumatic brain injury, or other severe injury or \n illness.\n ``(2) Individuals described in this paragraph are individuals who \nprovide caregivers and family caregivers with support under this \nchapter or through an aging network (as defined in section 102(5) of \nthe Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002(5)), including--\n ``(A) respite care providers;\n ``(B) nursing care providers; and\n ``(C) counselors.\n ``(c) Stipends.--(1) The Secretary shall provide monthly stipends \nto eligible family caregivers described in paragraph (2).\n ``(2) An eligible family caregiver described in this paragraph is a \nfamily caregiver who--\n ``(A) provides caregiver services to a veteran who--\n ``(i) was deployed in support of Operation Enduring \n Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom; and\n ``(ii) for purposes of this subsection, is \n determined by the Secretary--\n ``(I) to have a service-connected \n disability or illness that is severe;\n ``(II) to be in need of caregiver services, \n such that without such services, the veteran \n would require hospitalization, nursing home \n care, or other residential institutional care; \n and\n ``(III) based on an examination by a \n physician employed by the Department (or, in \n areas where no such physician is available, by \n a physician carrying out such function under a \n contract or fee arrangement), to be unable to \n carry out the activities (including \n instrumental activities) of daily living;\n ``(B) with respect to such veteran, meets the definition of \n the term `family caregiver' under section 1701(12) of this \n title;\n ``(C) is designated by such veteran as the primary family \n caregiver for such veteran; and\n ``(D) is not--\n ``(i) employed by a home health care agency to \n provide such caregiver services; or\n ``(ii) otherwise receiving payment for such \n services.\n ``(3) The authority of the Secretary to provide a stipend to an \neligible family caregiver under this subsection shall expire on October \n1, 2012.\n ``(d) Access to Support Services.--The Secretary shall provide \ncaregivers and family caregivers with information concerning public, \nprivate, and non-profit agencies that offer support to caregivers. In \nproviding such information, the Secretary shall--\n ``(1) collaborate with the Assistant Secretary for Aging of \n the Department of Health and Human Services in order to provide \n caregivers and family caregivers access to aging and disability \n resource centers under the Administration on Aging of the \n Department of Health and Human Services; and\n ``(2) include on an Internet website that is dedicated to \n caregivers and family caregivers--\n ``(A) a directory of services available for \n caregivers and family caregivers at the county level; \n and\n ``(B) tools that provide caregivers and family \n caregivers with the ability to interact with each other \n for the purpose of fostering peer support and creating \n support networks.\n ``(e) Information and Outreach.--(1) The Secretary shall conduct \noutreach to inform disabled veterans and the families of such veterans \nof the following:\n ``(A) Medical care, educational sessions, stipends, and \n other services available for caregivers and family caregivers \n under this chapter.\n ``(B) The ability of a family caregiver to be trained and \n certified by a home health care agency in order to be paid by \n such agency for providing caregiver services.\n ``(2) Outreach under this subsection shall include, at a minimum, \nthe following:\n ``(A) Public service announcements.\n ``(B) Brochures and pamphlets.\n ``(C) Full use of Internet-based outreach methods, \n including such methods designed specifically for veterans and \n the families of such veterans who reside in rural areas.\n ``(3) With respect to a Department employee providing case \nmanagement services (as defined in section 1720C(b)(2) of this title) \nto a disabled veteran, the Secretary shall ensure that such employee \nprovides a caregiver or family caregiver of such veteran with \ninformation on the services described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of \nparagraph (1).''.\n (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the \n beginning of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is \n amended by inserting after the item related to section 1720F \n the following new item:\n\n``1720G. Support services for caregivers and family caregivers.''.\n (c) Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment \nof this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' \nAffairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Veterans' \nAffairs of the Senate a plan for carrying out section 1720G of title \n38, United States Code, as added by subsection (b) of this section.\n (d) Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the \nplan is submitted under subsection (c), and annually thereafter for the \nfollowing five years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on \nVeterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on \nVeterans' Affairs of the Senate a report describing the implementation \nof the plan.\n\nSEC. 3. COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY \n CAREGIVERS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1782 of title 38, United States Code, is \namended--\n (1) in the section heading, by adding at the end the \n following: ``, caregivers, and family caregivers''; and\n (2) in subsection (c)--\n (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``; or'' and \n inserting a semicolon;\n (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph \n (3); and\n (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following \n new paragraph (2):\n ``(2) a caregiver or family caregiver of a veteran; or''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of \nchapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking the \nitem relating to section 1782 and inserting the following new item:\n\n``1782. Counseling, training, and mental health services for immediate \n family members, caregivers, and family \n caregivers.''.\n\nSEC. 4. RESPITE CARE TO ASSIST FAMILY CAREGIVERS.\n\n Section 1720B of title 38, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``title.'' and inserting \n ``title or who receives care from a family caregiver.''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(d) In furnishing respite care services under this section, the \nSecretary shall ensure that such services--\n ``(1) fulfill the needs of the veteran receiving care \n (including 24-hour in-home respite care); and\n ``(2) are appropriate for the veteran with respect to the \n age of the veteran.''.\n\nSEC. 5. MEDICAL CARE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS.\n\n Section 1781 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the \n end;\n (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and'' at the \n end; and\n (C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following \n new paragraph:\n ``(4) in accordance with subsection (e), a family \n caregiver,'';\n (2) in the third sentence of subsection (b), by striking \n ``dependent or survivor'' and inserting ``dependent, survivor, \n or family caregiver''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(e)(1) The Secretary shall provide medical care to a family \ncaregiver under this section if the Secretary determines that the \nfamily caregiver is not entitled to care or services under a health-\nplan contract as defined under section 1725(f)(2) of this title \n(determined, in the case of a health-plan contract as defined in \nsubsection (f)(2)(B) or (f)(2)(C) of such section, without regard to \nany requirement or limitation relating to eligibility for care or \nservices from any department or agency of the United States).\n ``(2) In this subsection, a family caregiver is an individual who--\n ``(A) provides caregiver services to a veteran who--\n ``(i) was deployed in support of Operation Enduring \n Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom; and\n ``(ii) for purposes of this subsection, is \n determined by the Secretary--\n ``(I) to have a service-connected \n disability or illness that is severe;\n ``(II) to be in need of caregiver services, \n such that without such services, the veteran \n would require hospitalization, nursing home \n care, or other residential institutional care; \n and\n ``(III) based on an examination by a \n physician employed by the Department (or, in \n areas where no such physician is available, by \n a physician carrying out such function under a \n contract or fee arrangement), to be unable to \n carry out the activities (including \n instrumental activities) of daily living;\n ``(B) with respect to such veteran, meets the definition of \n the term `family caregiver' under section 1701(12) of this \n title; and\n ``(C) is designated by such veteran as the primary family \n caregiver for such veteran.\n ``(3) The authority of the Secretary to provide medical care to a \nfamily caregiver under this section shall expire on October 1, 2012.''.\n\nSEC. 6. LODGING AND SUBSISTENCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS.\n\n Section 111(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``When'' and inserting the following: ``(1) \n Except as provided in paragraph (2), when''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:\n ``(2) Without regard to whether a covered veteran entitled to \nmileage under this section requires an attendant in order to perform \nsuch travel, an attendant of such covered veteran may be allowed \nexpenses of travel (including lodging and subsistence) upon the same \nbasis as such veteran during--\n ``(A) the period of time in which such veteran is traveling \n to and from a treatment facility; and\n ``(B) the duration of the treatment episode for such \n veteran.\n ``(3) The Secretary may prescribe regulations to carry out this \nsubsection. Such regulations may include provisions--\n ``(A) to limit the number of attendants that may receive \n expenses of travel under paragraph (2) for a single treatment \n episode of a covered veteran; and\n ``(B) to require such attendants to use certain travel \n services.\n ``(4) In this subsection, the term `covered veteran' means a \nveteran who--\n ``(A) was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom \n or Operation Iraqi Freedom; and\n ``(B) for purposes of this subsection, is determined by the \n Secretary--\n ``(i) to have a service-connected disability or \n illness that is severe;\n ``(ii) to be in need of caregiver services, such \n that without such services, the veteran would require \n hospitalization, nursing home care, or other \n residential institutional care; and\n ``(iii) based on an examination by a physician \n employed by the Department (or, in areas where no such \n physician is available, by a physician carrying out \n such function under a contract or fee arrangement), to \n be unable to carry out the activities (including \n instrumental activities) of daily living.''.\n\nSEC. 7. SURVEY ON CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, and not less than once in each three-year period \nthereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall design and conduct \na survey of caregivers and family caregivers. In carrying out the \nsurvey, the Secretary shall collect the following information:\n (1) The number of caregivers.\n (2) The number of family caregivers.\n (3) The number of veterans receiving caregiver services \n from caregivers and family caregivers, including the era in \n which each veteran served in the Armed Forces.\n (4) The range of caregiver services provided by caregivers \n and family caregivers, including--\n (A) the average schedule of such services; and\n (B) the average amount of time a caregiver and \n family caregiver has spent providing such services.\n (5) The average age of a caregiver and family caregiver.\n (6) The health care coverage of caregivers and family \n caregivers, including the sources of such coverage.\n (7) The employment status of caregivers and family \n caregivers.\n (8) Incidents of significant life changes related to being \n a caregiver or family caregiver, including unemployment and \n disenrollment from a course of education.\n (9) The number of family caregivers trained and certified \n through a home health care agency.\n (10) Other information the Secretary considers appropriate.\n (b) Survey Sample.--In carrying out the survey required by \nsubsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that--\n (1) a statistically representative sample of caregivers and \n family caregivers is included in the survey; and\n (2) such sample covers veterans in each Veterans Integrated \n Service Network.\n (c) Findings.--The Secretary shall consider the findings of the \nsurvey when carrying out programs related to caregivers and family \ncaregivers.\n (d) Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which each \nsurvey is completed, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on \nVeterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on \nVeterans' Affairs of the Senate a report on caregivers and family \ncaregivers. Each such report shall include--\n (1) the findings of the survey required by subsection (a);\n (2) a summary of the services made available to caregivers \n and family caregivers by the Secretary;\n (3) the number of caregivers and family caregivers who \n receive such services;\n (4) the cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs of \n providing each such service; and\n (5) other information the Secretary considers appropriate.\n (e) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) The term ``caregiver'' has the meaning given such term \n in section 1701(11) of title 38, United States Code, as added \n by section 2(a) of this Act.\n (2) The term ``family caregiver'' has the meaning given \n such term in section 1701(12) of title 38, United States Code, \n as added by section 2(a) of this Act.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives July 27, 2009.\n\n Attest:\n\n LORRAINE C. MILLER,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act - (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and carry out a program of support services for family and non-family caregivers providing noninstitutional extended care to disabled veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. Requires such support services to include: (1) educational sessions, stipends, and access to support services; (2) counseling and related services; (3) respite care; (4) medical care for family caregivers; and (5) travel expenses in connection with the outpatient care of such veterans. Requires the Secretary to: (1) conduct outreach to inform disabled veterans and their families of services available for caregivers, as well as the ability of a caregiver to be trained and certified by a home health care agency in order to be paid for providing such services; (2) submit to the congressional veterans' committees a plan for implementation of such program; and (3) report annually thereafter for five years on plan implementation.\n\n(Sec. 3) Makes counseling and mental health services available to family and non-family caregivers of enrolled veterans.\n\n(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to ensure that respite care meets the needs of the veteran receiving such care, including 24-hour home respite care, and is appropriate with respect to the veteran's age.\n\n(Sec. 5) Authorizes the provision of medical care through the VA for family caregivers of eligible veterans, if the caregiver is without health insurance and ineligible for other public health insurance. Defines a \"family caregiver\" as an individual who provides care to a veteran who was deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom and are determined by the Secretary to: (1) have a severe service-connected disability or illness; (2) be in need of caregiver services since, without such services, the veteran would require hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care; and (3) be unable to carry out the activities of daily living.\n\n(Sec. 6) Authorizes a lodging and subsistence allowance for family caregivers of eligible veterans described above, to cover the time in which the veteran is traveling to and from a treatment facility as well as the duration of the treatment period.\n\n(Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary to: (1) at least once every three years, design and conduct a survey of family and non-family caregivers; (2) consider survey findings when carrying out programs related to caregivers; and (3) report to the veterans' committees on survey results and services made available to caregivers.", "title": "To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain caregivers of veterans with training, support, and medical care, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3145, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Antiboycott Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. ANTIBOYCOTT PROVISIONS.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--\n (1) the Arab League boycott of Israel, and the secondary \n boycott of United States firms that have commercial ties with \n Israel, are an impediment to investment, trade, economic \n development, and peace in the Middle East and North Africa;\n (2) it is in the common interest of the people of Israel \n and the Arab states that the Arab League boycott be terminated, \n that the Central Office for the Boycott of Israel be closed, \n and that Arab League states normalize relations with their \n neighbor Israel; and\n (3) the President, the Secretary of State, and the \n Secretary of Commerce should continue to vigorously oppose the \n Arab League boycott of Israel and use the authorities enacted \n into law by Congress to take concrete steps to seek an end to \n the Arab League boycott.\n (b) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States--\n (1) to oppose restrictive trade practices or boycotts \n fostered or imposed by foreign countries against other \n countries friendly to the United States or against any United \n States person;\n (2) to encourage and, in specified cases, require United \n States persons engaged in the export of goods or technology or \n other information to refuse to take actions, including \n furnishing information or entering into or implementing \n agreements, which have the effect of furthering or supporting \n the restrictive trade practices or boycotts fostered or imposed \n by any foreign country against a country friendly to the United \n States or against any United States person; and\n (3) to foster international cooperation and the development \n of international rules and institutions to assure reasonable \n access to world supplies.\n (c) Prohibitions and Exceptions.--\n (1) Prohibitions.--In order to carry out the purposes set \n forth in subsection (b), the Secretary of Commerce (in this Act \n referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall issue regulations \n prohibiting any United States person, with respect to that \n person's activities in the interstate or foreign commerce of \n the United States, from taking or knowingly agreeing to take \n any of the following actions with intent to comply with, \n further, or support any boycott fostered or imposed by a \n foreign country against a country that is friendly to the \n United States and is not itself the object of any form of \n boycott pursuant to United States law or regulation:\n (A) Refusing, or requiring any other person to \n refuse, to do business with or in the boycotted \n country, with any business concern organized under the \n laws of the boycotted country, with any national or \n resident of the boycotted country, or with any other \n person, pursuant to an agreement with, or requirement \n of, or a request from or on behalf of the boycotting \n country. The mere absence of a business relationship \n with or in the boycotted country with any business \n concern organized under the laws of the boycotted \n country, with any national or resident of the boycotted \n country, or with any other person, does not indicate \n the existence of the intent required to establish a \n violation of regulations issued to carry out this \n subparagraph.\n (B) Refusing, or requiring any other person to \n refuse, to employ or otherwise discriminate against any \n United States person on the basis of the race, \n religion, sex, or national origin of that person or of \n any owner, officer, director, or employee of such \n person.\n (C) Furnishing information with respect to the \n race, religion, sex, or national origin of any United \n States person or of any owner, officer, director, or \n employee of such person.\n (D) Furnishing information about whether any person \n has, has had, or proposes to have any business \n relationship (including a relationship by way of sale, \n purchase, legal or commercial representation, shipping \n or other transport, insurance, investment, or supply) \n with or in the boycotted country, with any business \n concern organized under the laws of the boycotted \n country, with any national or resident of the boycotted \n country, or with any other person which is known or \n believed to be restricted from having any business \n relationship with or in the boycotting country. Nothing \n in this subparagraph shall prohibit the furnishing of \n normal business information in a commercial context as \n defined by the Secretary.\n (E) Furnishing information about whether any person \n is a member of, has made a contribution to, or is \n otherwise associated with or involved in the activities \n of any charitable or fraternal organization that \n supports the boycotted country.\n (F) Paying, honoring, confirming, or otherwise \n implementing a letter of credit that contains any \n condition or requirement the compliance with which is \n prohibited by regulations issued pursuant to this \n paragraph, and no United States person shall, as a \n result of the application of this paragraph, be \n obligated to pay or otherwise honor or implement such \n letter of credit.\n (2) Exceptions.--Regulations issued pursuant to paragraph \n (1) may provide exceptions for--\n (A) compliance, or agreement to comply, with \n requirements--\n (i) prohibiting the import of items from \n the boycotted country or items produced or \n provided, by any business concern organized \n under the laws of the boycotted country or by \n nationals or residents of the boycotted \n country; or\n (ii) prohibiting the shipment of items to \n the boycotting country on a carrier of the \n boycotted country or by a route other than that \n prescribed by the boycotting country or the \n recipient of the shipment;\n (B) compliance, or agreement to comply, with import \n and shipping document requirements with respect to the \n country of origin, the name of the carrier and route of \n shipment, the name of the supplier of the shipment, or \n the name of the provider of other services, except \n that, for purposes of applying any exception under this \n subparagraph, no information knowingly furnished or \n conveyed in response to such requirements may be stated \n in negative, blacklisting, or similar exclusionary \n terms, other than with respect to carriers or route of \n shipment as may be permitted by such regulations in \n order to comply with precautionary requirements \n protecting against war risks and confiscation;\n (C) compliance, or agreement to comply, in the \n normal course of business with the unilateral and \n specific selection by a boycotting country, or a \n national or resident thereof, of carriers, insurers, \n suppliers of services to be performed within the \n boycotting country, or specific items which, in the \n normal course of business, are identifiable by source \n when imported into the boycotting country;\n (D) compliance, or agreement to comply, with export \n requirements of the boycotting country relating to \n shipment or transshipment of exports to the boycotted \n country, to any business concern of or organized under \n the laws of the boycotted country, or to any national \n or resident of the boycotted country;\n (E) compliance by an individual, or agreement by an \n individual to comply, with the immigration or passport \n requirements of any country with respect to such \n individual or any member of such individual's family or \n with requests for information regarding requirements of \n employment of such individual within the boycotting \n country; and\n (F) compliance by a United States person resident \n in a foreign country, or agreement by such a person to \n comply, with the laws of the country with respect to \n the person's activities exclusively therein, and such \n regulations may contain exceptions for such resident \n complying with the laws or regulations of the foreign \n country governing imports into such country of \n trademarked, trade-named, or similarly specifically \n identifiable products, or components of products for \n such person's own use, including the performance of \n contractual services within that country.\n (3) Limitation on exceptions.--Regulations issued pursuant \n to paragraphs (2)(C) and (2)(F) shall not provide exceptions \n from paragraphs (1)(B) and (1)(C).\n (4) Antitrust and civil rights laws not affected.--Nothing \n in this subsection may be construed to supersede or limit the \n operation of the antitrust or civil rights laws of the United \n States.\n (5) Evasion.--This section applies to any transaction or \n activity undertaken by or through a United States person or any \n other person with intent to evade the provisions of this \n section or the regulations issued pursuant to this subsection. \n The regulations issued pursuant to this section shall expressly \n provide that the exceptions set forth in paragraph (2) do not \n permit activities or agreements (expressed or implied by a \n course of conduct, including a pattern of responses) otherwise \n prohibited, which are not within the intent of such exceptions.\n (d) Reports.--\n (1) In general.--Regulations issued under this section \n shall require that any United States person receiving a request \n to furnish information, enter into or implement an agreement, \n or take any other action referred to in subsection (c) shall \n report that request to the Secretary, together with any other \n information concerning the request that the Secretary \n determines appropriate. The person shall also submit to the \n Secretary a statement regarding whether the person intends to \n comply, and whether the person has complied, with the request.\n (2) Public availability of reports.--Any report filed \n pursuant to this subsection shall be made available promptly \n for public inspection and copying, except that information \n regarding the quantity, description, and value of any item to \n which such report relates may be kept confidential if the \n Secretary determines that disclosure of that information would \n place the United States person involved at a competitive \n disadvantage.\n (3) Summaries to secretary of state.--The Secretary shall \n periodically transmit summaries of the information contained in \n the reports filed pursuant to this subsection to the Secretary \n of State for such action as the Secretary of State, in \n consultation with the Secretary, considers appropriate to carry \n out the purposes set forth in subsection (b).\n (e) Preemption.--The provisions of this section and the regulations \nissued under this section shall preempt any law, rule, or regulation \nthat--\n (1) is a law, rule, or regulation of any of the several \n States or the District of Columbia, or any of the territories \n or possessions of the United States, or of any governmental \n subdivision thereof; and\n (2) pertains to participation in, compliance with, \n implementation of, or the furnishing of information regarding \n restrictive trade practices or boycotts fostered or imposed by \n foreign countries against other countries.\n (f) Penalties.--\n (1) Unlawful acts.--It shall be unlawful for a person to \n violate, attempt to violate, conspire to violate, or cause a \n violation of this section or of any regulation or order issued \n under this section.\n (2) Criminal penalty.--A person who, with knowledge or \n intent, commits, attempts to commit, or conspires to commit, or \n aids or abets in the commission of, an unlawful act described \n in subsection (c) shall, upon conviction, be fined not more \n than $1,000,000, or, if a natural person, be imprisoned for not \n more than 20 years, or both.\n (3) Civil penalties.--\n (A) Authority.--The President may impose the \n following civil penalties on a person for each \n violation by that person of this section or any \n regulation or order issued under this section, for each \n violation:\n (i) A fine of not more than $250,000.\n (ii) A prohibition on the person's ability \n to export any goods, technology, or services, \n whether or not a license has been issued \n previously to authorize such an export.\n (B) Procedures.--Any civil penalty under this \n subsection may be imposed only after notice and \n opportunity for an agency hearing on the record in \n accordance with sections 554 through 557 of title 5, \n United States Code, and shall be subject to judicial \n review in accordance with chapter 7 of such title.\n (C) Standards for levels of civil penalty.--The \n President may by regulation provide standards for \n establishing levels of civil penalty under this \n paragraph based upon the seriousness of the violation, \n the culpability of the violator, and the violator's \n record of cooperation with the Government in disclosing \n the violation.\n (g) Annual Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the President shall \nreport to the Congress on the implementation and enforcement of this \nsection and on additional steps taken by the United States to bring \nabout the termination of the Arab League boycott of Israel and to \nencourage Arab League states to normalize their relations with Israel.\n (h) Definition.--In this section, the term ``United States \nperson''--\n (1) means--\n (A) any United States resident or national;\n (B) any domestic concern (including any permanent \n domestic establishment of any foreign concern); and\n (C) any foreign subsidiary or affiliate (including \n any permanent foreign establishment) of any domestic \n concern that is controlled in fact by such domestic \n concern, as determined under regulations of the \n President; but\n (2) does not include an individual resident outside the \n United States who is employed by a person other than a person \n described in paragraph (1).", "summary": "Antiboycott Act - States that: (1) the Arab League boycott of Israel and the secondary boycott of U.S. firms that have commercial ties with Israel are an impediment to economic development and peace in the Middle East and North Africa; and (2) the President, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Commerce should seek an end to the Arab League boycott of Israel. \n\nDirects the Secretary of Commerce to issue regulations prohibiting, with specified exceptions, any U.S. person from taking specified actions that support any boycott imposed by a foreign country against a country that is friendly to the United States and is not itself the object of any form of boycott pursuant to United States law or regulation.\n\nSets forth criminal and civil penalties for violations of such regulations.", "title": "To prohibit certain activities in support of the Arab League boycott of Israel, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 340, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Hedge Fund Transparency Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. HEDGE FUND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) Definition of Investment Company.--Section 3(c) of the \nInvestment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3(c)) is amended--\n (1) by striking paragraph (1);\n (2) by striking paragraph (7);\n (3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as \n paragraphs (1) through (5), respectively; and\n (4) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (14) as \n paragraphs (6) through (12), respectively.\n (b) Additional Exemptions.--Section 6 of the Investment Company Act \nof 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-6) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:\n ``(6)(A) Subject to subsection (g), any issuer whose \n outstanding securities (other than short-term paper) are \n beneficially owned by not more than 100 persons, and which is \n not making and does not presently propose to make a public \n offering of its securities.\n ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph and paragraph (7), \n beneficial ownership--\n ``(i) by a company shall be deemed to be beneficial \n ownership by one person, except that, if the company \n owns 10 percent or more of the outstanding voting \n securities of the issuer, and is or, but for the \n exemption provided for in this paragraph or paragraph \n (7), would be an investment company, the beneficial \n ownership shall be deemed to be that of the holders of \n the outstanding securities (other than short-term \n paper) of such company; and\n ``(ii) by any person who acquires securities or \n interests in securities of an issuer described in this \n paragraph shall be deemed to be beneficial ownership by \n the person from whom such transfer was made, pursuant \n to such rules and regulations as the Commission shall \n prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public \n interest and consistent with the protection of \n investors and the purposes fairly intended by the \n policy and provisions of this title, where the transfer \n was caused by legal separation, divorce, death, or any \n other involuntary event.\n ``(7)(A) Subject to subsection (g), any issuer, the \n outstanding securities of which are owned exclusively by \n persons who, at the time of the acquisition of such securities, \n are qualified purchasers, and which is not making and does not \n at that time propose to make a public offering of such \n securities. Securities that are owned by persons who received \n the securities from a qualified purchaser as a gift or bequest, \n or in a case in which the transfer was caused by legal \n separation, divorce, death, or any other involuntary event, \n shall be deemed to be owned by a qualified purchaser, subject \n to such rules, regulations, and orders as the Commission may \n prescribe as necessary or appropriate in the public interest or \n for the protection of investors.\n ``(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an issuer is exempt \n under this paragraph if--\n ``(i) in addition to qualified purchasers, \n outstanding securities of that issuer are beneficially \n owned by not more than 100 persons who are not \n qualified purchasers, if--\n ``(I) such persons acquired any portion of \n the securities of such issuer on or before \n September 1, 1996; and\n ``(II) at the time at which such persons \n initially acquired the securities of such \n issuer, the issuer was exempt under paragraph \n (6); and\n ``(ii) prior to availing itself of the exemption \n provided by this paragraph--\n ``(I) such issuer has disclosed to each \n beneficial owner that future investors will be \n limited to qualified purchasers, and that \n ownership in such issuer is no longer limited \n to not more than 100 persons; and\n ``(II) concurrently with or after such \n disclosure, such issuer has provided each \n beneficial owner with a reasonable opportunity \n to redeem any part or all of their interests in \n the issuer, notwithstanding any agreement to \n the contrary between the issuer and such \n persons, for the proportionate share of that \n person of the net assets of the issuer.\n ``(C) Each person that elects to redeem under subparagraph \n (B)(ii)(II) shall receive an amount in cash equal to the \n proportionate share of that person of the net assets of the \n issuer, unless the issuer elects to provide such person with \n the option of receiving, and such person agrees to receive, all \n or a portion of the share of that person in assets of the \n issuer. If the issuer elects to provide such persons with such \n an opportunity, disclosure concerning such opportunity shall be \n made in the disclosure required by subparagraph (B)(ii)(I).\n ``(D) An issuer that is exempt under this paragraph shall \n nonetheless be deemed to be an investment company for purposes \n of the limitations set forth in subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B)(i) \n of section 12(d)(1) (15 U.S.C. 80a-12(d)(1) (A)(i) and (B)(i)) \n relating to the purchase or other acquisition by such issuer of \n any security issued by any registered investment company and \n the sale of any security issued by any registered open-end \n investment company to any such issuer.\n ``(E) For purposes of determining compliance with this \n paragraph and paragraph (6), an issuer that is otherwise exempt \n under this paragraph and an issuer that is otherwise exempt \n under paragraph (6) shall not be treated by the Commission as \n being a single issuer for purposes of determining whether the \n outstanding securities of the issuer exempt under paragraph (6) \n are beneficially owned by not more than 100 persons, or whether \n the outstanding securities of the issuer exempt under this \n paragraph are owned by persons that are not qualified \n purchasers. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to \n establish that a person is a bona fide qualified purchaser for \n purposes of this paragraph or a bona fide beneficial owner for \n purposes of paragraph (6).''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(g) Limitation on Exemptions for Large Investment Companies.--\n ``(1) In general.--An investment company with assets, or \n assets under management, of not less than $50,000,000 is exempt \n under subsection (a)(6) or (a)(7) only if that company--\n ``(A) registers with the Commission;\n ``(B) files an information form with the Commission \n under paragraph (2);\n ``(C) maintains such books and records as the \n Commission may require; and\n ``(D) cooperates with any request for information \n or examination by the Commission.\n ``(2) Information form.--The information form required \n under paragraph (1) shall be filed at such time and in such \n manner as the Commission shall require, and shall--\n ``(A) be filed electronically;\n ``(B) be filed not less frequently than once every \n 12 months;\n ``(C) include--\n ``(i) the name and current address of--\n ``(I) each natural person who is a \n beneficial owner of the investment \n company;\n ``(II) any company with an \n ownership interest in the investment \n company; and\n ``(III) the primary accountant and \n primary broker used by the investment \n company;\n ``(ii) an explanation of the structure of \n ownership interests in the investment company;\n ``(iii) information on any affliation that \n the investment company has with another \n financial institution;\n ``(iv) a statement of any minimum \n investment commitment required of a limited \n partner, member, or other investor;\n ``(v) the total number of any limited \n partners, members, or other investors; and\n ``(vi) the current value of--\n ``(I) the assets of the investment \n company; and\n ``(II) any assets under management \n by the investment company; and\n ``(D) be made available by the Commission to the \n public at no cost and in an electronic, searchable \n format.''.\n\nSEC. 3. IMPLEMENTING GUIDANCE AND RULES.\n\n (a) Forms and Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall \nissue such forms and guidance as are necessary to carry out this Act.\n (b) Rules.--The Securities and Exchange Commission may make a rule \nto carry out this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING OBLIGATIONS.\n\n (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to safeguard \nagainst the financing of terrorist organizations and money laundering.\n (b) In General.--An investment company that relies on paragraph (6) \nor (7) of section 6(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. \n80a-6(a) (6) and (7)), as amended by this Act, as the basis for an \nexemption under that Act shall establish an anti-money laundering \nprogram and shall report suspicious transactions under subsections (g) \nand (h) of section 5318 of title 31, United States Code.\n (c) Rulemaking.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury, in \n consultation with the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange \n Commission and the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading \n Commission, shall, by rule, establish the policies, procedures, \n and controls necessary to carry out subsection (b).\n (2) Contents.--The rule required by paragraph (1)--\n (A) shall require that each investment company that \n receives an exemption under paragraph (6) or (7) of \n section 6(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 \n U.S.C. 80a-6(a) (6) and (7)), as amended by this Act, \n shall--\n (i) use risk-based due diligence policies, \n procedures, and controls that are reasonably \n designed to ascertain the indentity of and \n evaluate any foreign person (including, where \n appropriate, the nominal and beneficial owner \n or beneficiary of a foreign corporation, \n partnership, trust, or other foreign entity) \n that supplies or plans to supply funds to be \n invested with the advice or assistance of such \n investment company; and\n (ii) be subject to section 5318(k)(2) of \n title 31, United States Code; and\n (B) may incorporate elements of the proposed rule \n for unregistered investment companies published in the \n Federal Register on September 26, 2002 (67 Fed. Reg. \n 60617) (relating to anti-money laundering programs).\n (3) Publication date.--The Secretary of the Treasury, \n shall--\n (A) propose the rule required by this subsection \n not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of \n this Act; and\n (B) issue the rule required by this subsection in \n final form not later than 180 days after the date of \n enactment of this Act.\n (d) Effective Date.--Subsection (b) shall take effect 1 year after \nthe date of enactment of this Act, whether or not a final rule is \nissued under subsection (c), and the failure to issue such rule shall \nin no way affect the enforceability of this section.\n\nSEC. 5. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.\n\n (a) Securities Act of 1933.--Section 3(a) of the Securities Act of \n1933 (15 U.S.C. 77c(a)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (2)--\n (A) by striking ``section 3(c)(3)'' and inserting \n ``section 3(c)(2)''; and\n (B) by striking ``section 3(c)(14)'' and inserting \n ``section 3(c)(12)'';\n (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``section 3(c)(10)(B)'' \n and inserting ``section 3(c)(8)(B)''; and\n (3) in paragraph (13), by striking ``section (3)(c)(14)'' \n and inserting ``section 3(c)(12)''.\n (b) Securities Exchange Act of 1934.--The Securities Exchange Act \nof 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) is amended--\n (1) in section 3(a) (15 U.S.C. 78c(a))--\n (A) in paragraph (12)(A)--\n (i) in clause (iii), by striking ``section \n 3(c)(3)'' and inserting ``section 3(c)(2)'';\n (ii) in clause (v), by striking ``section \n 3(c)(10)(B)'' and inserting ``section \n 3(c)(8)(B)''; and\n (iii) in clause (vi), by striking ``section \n 3(c)(14)'' and inserting ``section 3(c)(12)'';\n (B) in paragraph (12)(C), by striking ``section \n 3(c)(14)'' and inserting ``section 3(c)(12)''; and\n (C) in paragraph (54)(A)--\n (i) in clause (ii), by striking ``exclusion \n from the definition of investment company \n pursuant to section 3(c)(7)'' and inserting \n ``exemption under section 6(a)(7)''; and\n (ii) in clause (vii), by striking ``section \n 3(c)(2)'' and inserting ``section 3(c)(1)'';\n (2) in section 3(g) (15 U.S.C. 78c(g)) by striking \n ``section 3(c)(14)'' each place that term appears and inserting \n ``section 3(c)(12)''; and\n (3) in section 12(g)(2) (15 U.S.C. 78l(g)(2))--\n (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``section \n 3(c)(10)(B)'' and inserting ``section 3(c)(8)(B)''; and\n (B) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``section \n 3(c)(14)'' and inserting ``section 3(c)(12)''.\n (c) Investment Company Act of 1940.--The Investment Company Act of \n1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) in section 2(a)(51) (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(51))--\n (A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``excepted \n under section 3(c)(7)'' and inserting ``exempt under \n section 6(a)(7)''; and\n (B) in subparagraph (C)--\n (i) by striking ``that, but for the \n exceptions provided for in paragraph (1) or (7) \n of section 3(c), would be an investment company \n (hereafter in this paragraph referred to as an \n `excepted investment company')'' and inserting \n ``that is exempt under paragraph (6) or (7) of \n section 6(a) (hereafter in this paragraph \n referred to as an `exempt investment \n company')'';\n (ii) by striking ``section 3(c)(1)(A)'' and \n inserting ``section 6(a)(6)(B)(i)''; and\n (iii) by striking ``excepted'' each place \n that term appears and inserting ``any exempt'';\n (2) in section 6 (15 U.S.C. 80a-6)--\n (A) in subsection (a)--\n (i) in paragraph (2), by striking ``section \n 3(c)(1)'' and inserting ``section 6(a)(6)''; \n and\n (ii) in paragraph (5)(A)(iv), by striking \n ``that would be an investment company except \n for the exclusions from the definition of the \n term `investment company' under paragraph (1) \n or (7) of section 3(c)'' and inserting ``that \n is exempt under paragraph (6) or (7) of section \n 6(a)''; and\n (B) in subsection (f), by striking ``excluded from \n the definition of an investment company by section \n 3(c)(1)'' and inserting ``exempt under section \n 6(a)(6)'';\n (3) in section 7(e) (15 U.S.C. 80a-7(e)), by striking \n ``section 3(c)(10)(B)'' and inserting ``section 3(c)(8)(B)''; \n and\n (4) in section 30 (15 U.S.C. 80a-29) in each of subsections \n (i) and (j), by striking ``section 3(c)(14)'' each place that \n term appears and inserting ``section 3(c)(12)''.\n (d) Investment Advisers Act of 1940.--The Investment Advisers Act \nof 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-1 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) in section 203(b) (15 U.S.C. 80b-3(b))--\n (A) in paragraph (4) by striking ``section \n 3(c)(10)'' each place that term appears and inserting \n ``section 3(c)(8)''; and\n (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``section \n 3(c)(14)'' and inserting ``section 3(c)(12)''; and\n (2) in section 205(b) (15 U.S.C. 80b-5(b))--\n (A) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``section \n 3(c)(11)'' and inserting ``section 3(c)(9)''; and\n (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``excepted from \n the definition of an investment company under section \n 3(c)(7)'' and inserting ``exempt under section \n 6(a)(7)''.\n (e) Internal Revenue Code of 1986.--Section 851(a)(2) of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to the definition of regulated \ninvestment company) is amended by striking ``section 3(c)(3)'' and \ninserting ``section 3(c)(2)''.", "summary": "Hedge Fund Transparency Act - Amends the Investment Company Act of 1940, Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Internal Revenue Code to convert exceptions to the definition of an investment company into exemptions from mandatory registration as one.\n\nExempts an investment company with assets, or assets under management, of at least $50 million from ordinary registration and filing requirements only if that company: (1) registers with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); (2) files with the SEC a specified annual electronic information form, made available to the public, concerning ownership structure, investors, primary accountant and broker, and current assets value; (3) maintains such books and records as the SEC may require; and (4) cooperates with any request for information or examination by the SEC.\n\nRequires any investment company meeting such exemption requirements to establish an anti-money laundering program, according to rules prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and report suspicious transactions.\n\nRequires such rules to require exempted investment companies to use risk-based due diligence policies, procedures, and controls reasonably designed to ascertain the identity of, and evaluate, any foreign person that supplies funds, or plans to supply funds, to be invested with the investment company's advice or assistance.\n\n Requires such rules also to require exempted investment companies to comply with the same requirements as other financial institutions for producing records requested by a federal regulator, particularly within 120 hours of receiving such a request.", "title": "A bill to require hedge funds to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1302, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing \nUnemployment Act of 2010''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\nSec. 2. Treatment of short-time compensation programs.\nSec. 3. Temporary financing of certain short-time compensation \n payments.\nSec. 4. Temporary Federal short-time compensation.\nSec. 5. Grants for implementation of State short-time compensation \n programs.\nSec. 6. Assistance and guidance in implementing programs.\nSec. 7. Reports.\n\nSEC. 2. TREATMENT OF SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION PROGRAMS.\n\n (a) Definition.--\n (1) In general.--Section 3306 of the Internal Revenue Code \n of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 3306) is amended by adding at the end the \n following new subsection:\n ``(v) Short-Time Compensation Program.--For purposes of this \nchapter, the term `short-time compensation program' means a program \nunder which--\n ``(1) the participation of an employer is voluntary;\n ``(2) an employer reduces the number of hours worked by \n employees in lieu of temporary layoffs;\n ``(3) such employees whose workweeks have been reduced by \n at least 10 percent, and by not more than the percentage, if \n any, that is determined by the State to be appropriate, are \n eligible for unemployment compensation;\n ``(4) the amount of unemployment compensation payable to \n any such employee is a pro rata portion of the unemployment \n compensation which would be payable to the employee if such \n employee were totally unemployed;\n ``(5) such employees are not expected to meet the \n availability for work or work search test requirements while \n collecting short-time compensation benefits, but are required \n to be available for their normal workweek;\n ``(6) eligible employees may participate, as appropriate, \n in an employer-sponsored training program to enhance job skills \n if such program has been approved by the State agency;\n ``(7) the State agency shall require an employer to certify \n that the employer will continue to provide health benefits and \n retirement benefits under a defined benefit plan (as defined in \n section 414(j)) and contributions under a defined contribution \n plan (as defined in section 414(i)) to any employee whose \n workweek is reduced under the program under the same terms and \n conditions as though the workweek of such employee had not been \n reduced;\n ``(8) the State agency shall require an employer (or an \n employer's association which is party to a collective \n bargaining agreement) to submit a written plan describing the \n manner in which the requirements of this subsection will be \n implemented and containing such other information as the \n Secretary of Labor determines is appropriate;\n ``(9) in the case of employees represented by a union, the \n appropriate official of the union has agreed to the terms of \n the employer's written plan and implementation is consistent \n with employer obligations under the National Labor Relations \n Act; and\n ``(10) only such other provisions are included in the State \n law as the Secretary of Labor determines appropriate for \n purposes of a short-term compensation program.''.\n (2) Effective date.--\n (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph \n (B), the amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take \n effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (B) Delay permitted.--In the case of a State that \n is administering a short-time compensation program as \n of the date of the enactment of this Act and the State \n law cannot be administered consistent with the \n amendment made by paragraph (1), such amendment shall \n take effect on the earlier of--\n (i) the date the State changes its State \n law in order to be consistent with such \n amendment; or\n (ii) the date that is 2 years after the \n date of the enactment of this Act.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Internal revenue code of 1986.--\n (A) Subparagraph (E) of section 3304(a)(4) of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as \n follows:\n ``(E) amounts may be withdrawn for the payment of \n short-time compensation under a short-time compensation \n program (as defined under section 3306(v));''.\n (B) Subsection (f) of section 3306 of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--\n (i) by striking paragraph (5) (relating to \n short-term compensation) and inserting the \n following new paragraph:\n ``(5) amounts may be withdrawn for the payment of short-\n time compensation under a short-time compensation program (as \n defined in subsection (v)); and''; and\n (ii) by redesignating paragraph (5) \n (relating to self-employment assistance \n program) as paragraph (6).\n (2) Social security act.--Section 303(a)(5) of the Social \n Security Act is amended by striking ``the payment of short-time \n compensation under a plan approved by the Secretary of Labor'' \n and inserting ``the payment of short-time compensation under a \n short-time compensation program (as defined in section 3306(v) \n of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)''.\n (3) Unemployment compensation amendments of 1992.--\n Subsections (b) through (d) of section 401 of the Unemployment \n Compensation Amendments of 1992 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) are \n repealed.\n\nSEC. 3. TEMPORARY FINANCING OF CERTAIN SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION \n PAYMENTS.\n\n (a) Payments to States.--\n (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), there shall be \n paid to a State an amount equal to 100 percent of the amount of \n short-time compensation paid under a short-time compensation \n program (as defined in section 3306(v) of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986, as added by section 2(a)) under the provisions of \n the State law. Notwithstanding section 2(a)(2), a State \n administering a short-term compensation program as of the date \n of the enactment of this Act shall not be eligible to receive \n payments under this section until the program administered by \n such State meets the requirements of section 3306(v) of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as so added). Payments shall \n also be made for additional State administrative expenses \n incurred (as determined by the Secretary).\n (2) Terms of payments.--Payments made to a State under \n paragraph (1) shall be payable by way of reimbursement in such \n amounts as the Secretary estimates the State will be entitled \n to receive under this section for each calendar month, reduced \n or increased, as the case may be, by any amount by which the \n Secretary finds that the Secretary's estimates for any prior \n calendar month were greater or less than the amounts which \n should have been paid to the State. Such estimates may be made \n on the basis of such statistical, sampling, or other method as \n may be agreed upon by the Secretary and the State agency of the \n State involved.\n (3) Limitations on payments.--\n (A) General payment limitations.--No payments shall \n be made to a State under this section for benefits paid \n to an individual by the State in excess of 26 weeks of \n benefits.\n (B) Employer limitations.--No payments shall be \n made to a State under this section for benefits paid to \n an individual by the State under a short-time \n compensation program if such individual is employed by \n an employer--\n (i) whose workforce during the 3 months \n preceding the date of the submission of the \n employer's short-time compensation plan has \n been reduced by temporary layoffs of more than \n 20 percent; or\n (ii) on a seasonal, temporary, or \n intermittent basis.\n (b) Applicability.--Payments to a State under subsection (a) shall \nbe available for weeks of unemployment--\n (1) beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this \n Act; and\n (2) ending on or before the date that is 3 years after the \n date of the enactment of this Act.\n (c) Funding and Certifications.--\n (1) Funding.--There are appropriated, out of moneys in the \n Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be \n necessary for purposes of carrying out this section.\n (2) Certifications.--The Secretary shall from time to time \n certify to the Secretary of the Treasury for payment to each \n State the sums payable to such State under this section.\n (d) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Labor.\n (2) State; state agency; state law.--The terms ``State'', \n ``State agency'', and ``State law'' have the meanings given \n those terms in section 205 of the Federal-State Extended \n Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note).\n\nSEC. 4. TEMPORARY FEDERAL SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION.\n\n (a) Federal-State Agreements.--\n (1) In general.--Any State which desires to do so may enter \n into, and participate in, an agreement under this section with \n the Secretary provided that such State's law does not provide \n for the payment of short-time compensation under--\n (A) a short-time compensation program (as defined \n in section 3306(v) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n 1986, as added by section 2(a)); or\n (B) subsections (b) through (d) of section 401 of \n the Unemployment Compensation Amendments Act of 1992, \n as in effect on the day before the date of the \n enactment of this Act.\n (2) Ability to terminate.--Any State which is a party to an \n agreement under this section may, upon providing 30 days' \n written notice to the Secretary, terminate such agreement.\n (b) Provisions of Federal-State Agreement.--\n (1) In general.--Any agreement under this section shall \n provide that the State agency of the State will make payments \n of short-time compensation under a plan approved by the State. \n Such plan shall provide that payments are made in accordance \n with the requirements under section 3306(v) of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986, as added by section 2(a).\n (2) Limitations on plans.--\n (A) General payment limitations.--A short-time \n compensation plan approved by a State shall not permit \n the payment of short-time compensation in excess of 26 \n weeks.\n (B) Employer limitations.--A short-time \n compensation plan approved by a State shall not provide \n payments to an individual if such individual is \n employed by an employer--\n (i) whose workforce during the 3 months \n preceding the date of the submission of the \n employer's short-time compensation plan has \n been reduced by temporary layoffs of more than \n 20 percent; or\n (ii) on a seasonal, temporary, or \n intermittent basis.\n (3) Employer payment of costs.--Any short-time compensation \n plan entered into by an employer must provide that the employer \n will pay the State an amount equal to one-half of the amount of \n short-time compensation paid under such plan. Such amount shall \n be deposited in the State's unemployment fund and shall not be \n used for purposes of calculating an employer's contribution \n rate under section 3303(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n 1986.\n (c) Payments to States.--\n (1) In general.--There shall be paid to each State with an \n agreement under this section an amount equal to--\n (A) one-half of the amount of short-time \n compensation paid to individuals by the State pursuant \n to such agreement; and\n (B) any additional administrative expenses incurred \n by the State by reason of such agreement (as determined \n by the Secretary).\n (2) Terms of payments.--Payments made to a State under \n paragraph (1) shall be payable by way of reimbursement in such \n amounts as the Secretary estimates the State will be entitled \n to receive under this section for each calendar month, reduced \n or increased, as the case may be, by any amount by which the \n Secretary finds that the Secretary's estimates for any prior \n calendar month were greater or less than the amounts which \n should have been paid to the State. Such estimates may be made \n on the basis of such statistical, sampling, or other method as \n may be agreed upon by the Secretary and the State agency of the \n State involved.\n (3) Funding.--There are appropriated, out of moneys in the \n Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be \n necessary for purposes of carrying out this section.\n (4) Certifications.--The Secretary shall from time to time \n certify to the Secretary of the Treasury for payment to each \n State the sums payable to such State under this section.\n (d) Applicability.--An agreement entered into under this section \nshall apply to weeks of unemployment--\n (1) beginning on or after the date on which such agreement \n is entered into; and\n (2) ending on or before the date that is 2 years after the \n date of the enactment of this Act.\n (e) Transition Rule.--If a State has entered into an agreement \nunder this section and subsequently enacts a State law providing for \nthe payment of short-time compensation under a short-time compensation \nprogram (as defined in section 3306(v) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n1986, as added by section 2(a)), the State shall not be eligible for \npayments under this section for weeks of unemployment beginning after \nthe effective date of such State law.\n (f) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Labor.\n (2) State; state agency; state law.--The terms ``State'', \n ``State agency'', and ``State law'' have the meanings given \n those terms in section 205 of the Federal-State Extended \n Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note).\n\nSEC. 5. GRANTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION \n PROGRAMS.\n\n (a) Grants.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award start-up grants \n to State agencies--\n (A) in States that enact short-time compensation \n programs (as defined in section 3306(v) of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986, as added by section 2(a)) on or \n after May 1, 2010, for the purpose of creating such \n programs; and\n (B) that apply for such grants not later than \n September 30, 2012.\n (2) Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under paragraph \n (1) shall be an amount determined by the Secretary based on the \n costs of implementing a short-time compensation program.\n (3) Only 1 grant per state.--A State agency is only \n eligible to receive 1 grant under this section.\n (b) Funding.--There are appropriated, out of moneys in the Treasury \nnot otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary for purposes \nof carrying out this section.\n (c) Reporting.--The Secretary may establish reporting requirements \nfor State agencies receiving a grant under this section in order to \nprovide oversight of grant funds used by States for the creation of the \nshort-time compensation programs.\n (d) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Labor.\n (2) State; state agency.--The terms ``State'' and ``State \n agency'' have the meanings given those terms in section 205 of \n the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of \n 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note).\n\nSEC. 6. ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE IN IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS.\n\n In order to assist States in establishing, qualifying, and \nimplementing short-time compensation programs (as defined in section \n3306(v) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by section \n2(a)), the Secretary of Labor shall--\n (1) develop model legislative language which may be used by \n States in developing and enacting such programs and \n periodically review and revise such model legislative language;\n (2) provide technical assistance and guidance in \n developing, enacting, and implementing such programs;\n (3) establish reporting requirements for States, including \n reporting on--\n (A) the number of averted layoffs;\n (B) the number of participating companies and \n workers; and\n (C) such other items as the Secretary of Labor \n determines are appropriate.\n\nSEC. 7. REPORTS.\n\n (a) Initial Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to Congress \nand to the President a report or reports on the implementation of the \nprovisions of this Act, including an analysis of the significant \nimpediments to State enactment and implementation of short-time \ncompensation programs (as defined in section 3306(v) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986, as added by section 2(a)).\n (b) Subsequent Reports.--After the submission of the report under \nsubsection (a), the Secretary of Labor may submit such additional \nreports on the implementation of short-time compensation programs as \nthe Secretary deems appropriate.\n (c) Funding.--There are appropriated, out of any moneys in the \nTreasury not otherwise appropriated, to the Secretary of Labor, \n$1,500,000 to carry out this section, to remain available without \nfiscal year limitation.", "summary": "Preventing Unemployment Act of 2010 - Amends the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA), the Internal Revenue Code, and the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992 to prescribe requirements for the treatment and temporary financing of voluntary short-time compensation (STC) programs, under which: (1) an employer reduces the number of hours worked by employees in lieu of temporary layoffs; and (2) such employees are eligible for pro-rata unemployment compensation if their workweeks are reduced by between 10% and an appropriate state-determined percentage.\n\nRequires payments to states meeting the requirements of this Act in an amount equal to 100% of the STC paid to individuals.\n\nProhibits such STC payments: (1) for more than 26 weeks; or (2) for an employee whose employer's workforce during the three months preceding submission of the employer's STC plan has been reduced by temporary layoffs of more than 20%, or on a seasonal, temporary, or intermittent basis.\n\nAuthorizes temporary federal-state agreements for STC programs if a state does not currently provide for STC payments under an existing program.\n\nRequires employers under an STC plan to pay the state one-half of the amount of STC paid under the plan.\n\nRequires federal payments to states in an amount equal to: (1) one-half of the amount of STC paid to individuals by the state; and (2) any additional related administrative expenses incurred by the state.\n\nRequires the Secretary of Labor to award one start-up grant to state agencies: (1) in states that enact STC programs on or after May 1, 2010; and (2) that apply for such grants before FY2013.\n\nSpecifies assistance and guidance the Secretary shall give states in establishing and implementing STC programs.", "title": "A bill to provide for the treatment and temporary financing of short-time compensation programs."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1706, "text": "SECTION 1. PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.\n\n Section 1001 of the Food Security of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``$40,000'' and \n inserting ``$20,000'';\n (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``$65,000'' and \n inserting ``$30,000'';\n (3) by striking ``(d)'' and all that follows through the \n end of paragraph (1) and inserting the following:\n ``(d) Limitations on Marketing Loan Gains, Loan Deficiency \nPayments, and Commodity Certificate Transactions.--\n ``(1) Loan commodities.--The total amount of the following \n gains and payments that a person may receive during any crop \n year may not exceed $87,500:\n ``(A)(i) Any gain realized by a producer from \n repaying a marketing assistance loan for 1 or more loan \n commodities under subtitle B of title I of the Farm \n Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. \n 7931 et seq.) at a lower level than the original loan \n rate established for the loan commodity under that \n subtitle.\n ``(ii) In the case of settlement of a marketing \n assistance loan for 1 or more loan commodities under \n that subtitle by forfeiture, the amount by which the \n loan amount exceeds the repayment amount for the loan \n if the loan had been settled by repayment instead of \n forfeiture.\n ``(B) Any loan deficiency payments received for 1 \n or more loan commodities under that subtitle.\n ``(C) Any gain realized from the use of a commodity \n certificate issued by the Commodity Credit Corporation \n for 1 or more loan commodities, as determined by the \n Secretary, including the use of a certificate for the \n settlement of a marketing assistance loan made under \n that subtitle.''; and\n (4) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(h) Single Farming Operation.--\n ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsections (b) through \n (d), subject to paragraph (2), if a person participates only in \n a single farming operation and receives, directly or \n indirectly, any payment or gain covered by this section through \n the operation, the total amount of payments or gains (as \n applicable) covered by this section that the person may receive \n during any crop year may not exceed twice the applicable dollar \n amounts specified in subsections (b), (c), and (d).\n ``(2) Individuals.--The total amount of payments or gains \n (as applicable) covered by this section that an individual \n person may receive during any crop year may not exceed \n $275,000.\n ``(i) Spouse Equity.--Notwithstanding subsections (b) through (d), \nexcept as provided in subsection (e)(2)(C)(i), if an individual and \nspouse are covered by subsection (e)(2)(C) and receive, directly or \nindirectly, any payment or gain covered by this section, the total \namount of payments or gains (as applicable) covered by this section \nthat the individual and spouse may jointly receive during any crop year \nmay not exceed twice the applicable dollar amounts specified in \nsubsections (b), (c), and (d).\n ``(j) Regulations.--\n ``(1) In general.--Not later than July 1, 2003, the \n Secretary shall promulgate regulations--\n ``(A) to ensure that total payments and gains \n described in this section made to or through joint \n operations or multiple entities under the primary \n control of a person, in combination with the payments \n and gains received directly by the person, shall not \n exceed twice the applicable dollar amounts specified in \n subsections (b), (c), and (d);\n ``(B) in the case of a person that in the aggregate \n owns, conducts farming operations, or provides custom \n farming services on land with respect to which the \n aggregate payments received by the person exceed the \n applicable dollar amounts specified in subsections (b), \n (c), and (d), to attribute all payments and gains made \n to the person on crops produced on the land to--\n ``(i) a person that rents land for a share \n of the crop that is less than the usual and \n customary rate, as determined by the Secretary;\n ``(ii) a person that provides custom \n farming services through arrangements under \n which--\n ``(I) all or part of the \n compensation for the services is at \n risk;\n ``(II) farm management services are \n provided by--\n ``(aa) the same person;\n ``(bb) an immediate family \n member; or\n ``(cc) an entity or \n individual that has a business \n relationship that is not an \n arm's length relationship, as \n determined by the Secretary; or\n ``(III) more than \\2/3\\ of all \n payments received for custom farming \n services are received by--\n ``(aa) the same person;\n ``(bb) an immediate family \n member; or\n ``(cc) an entity or \n individual that has a business \n relationship that is not an \n arm's length relationship, as \n determined by the Secretary; or\n ``(iii) a person under such other \n arrangements as the Secretary determines are \n established to transfer payments from persons \n that would otherwise exceed the applicable \n dollar amounts specified in subsections (b), \n (c), and (d); and\n ``(C) to ensure that payments attributed under this \n section to a person other than the direct recipient \n shall also count toward the limit of the direct \n recipient.\n ``(2) Primary control.--The regulations under paragraph (1) \n shall define `primary control' to include a joint operation or \n multiple entity in which a person owns an interest that is \n greater than the total interests held by other persons that \n materially participate on a regular, substantial, and \n continuous basis in the management of the operation or \n entity.''.\n\nSEC. 2. REGULATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture may promulgate such \nregulations as are necessary to implement this Act and the amendments \nmade by this Act.\n (b) Procedure.--The promulgation of the regulations and \nadministration of this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall be \nmade without regard to--\n (1) the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of \n title 5, United States Code;\n (2) the Statement of Policy of the Secretary of Agriculture \n effective July 24, 1971 (36 Fed. Reg. 13804), relating to \n notices of proposed rulemaking and public participation in \n rulemaking; and\n (3) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly \n known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act'').\n (c) Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking.--In carrying out \nthis section, the Secretary shall use the authority provided under \nsection 808 of title 5, United States Code.", "summary": "Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to reduce maximum annual direct and counter-cyclical commodity payments to $20,000 and $30,000, respectively. Revises limitation provisions for marketing loan gains, loan deficiency payments, and commodity certificate transactions, and establishes an annual combined limitation of $87,500 for such payments.Doubles payment limitations for single farming operations. Limits an individual to a combined annual payment of $275,000.", "title": "A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to strengthen payment limitations for commodity payments and benefits."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 521, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Bipartisan Commission on \nthe Future of Medicare Act of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.\n\n There is established a commission to be known as the National \nBipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare (referred to in this \nAct as the ``Commission'').\n\nSEC. 3. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds that--\n (1) the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) provides essential health \n care coverage to this Nation's senior citizens and to \n individuals with disabilities;\n (2) the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund established \n under that Act has been spending more than it receives since \n 1995, and will be bankrupt in the year 2001;\n (3) the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund faces even \n greater solvency problems in the long run with the aging of the \n baby boom generation and the continuing decline in the number \n of workers paying into the medicare program for each medicare \n beneficiary;\n (4) the trustees of the trust funds of the medicare program \n have reported that growth in spending within the Federal \n Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund established under \n that Act is unsustainable; and\n (5) expeditious action is needed in order to restore the \n financial integrity of the medicare program and to maintain \n this Nation's commitment to senior citizens and to individuals \n with disabilities.\n\nSEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.\n\n The Commission shall--\n (1) review and analyze the long-term financial condition of \n the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security \n Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.);\n (2) identify problems that threaten the financial integrity \n of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal \n Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund established under \n that title (42 U.S.C. 1395i, 1395t);\n (3) analyze potential solutions to the problems identified \n under paragraph (2) that will ensure both the financial \n integrity of the medicare program and the provision of \n appropriate benefits under such program;\n (4) make recommendations to restore the solvency of the \n Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the financial \n integrity of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust \n Fund through the year 2030, when the last of the baby boomers \n reaches age 65;\n (5) make recommendations for establishing the appropriate \n financial structure of the medicare program as a whole;\n (6) make recommendations for establishing the appropriate \n balance of benefits covered and beneficiary contributions to \n the medicare program;\n (7) make recommendations for the time periods during which \n the recommendations described in paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) \n should be implemented; and\n (8) review and analyze such other matters as the Commission \n deems appropriate.\n\nSEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.\n\n (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 15 \nmembers, of whom--\n (1) three shall be appointed by the President;\n (2) six shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the \n Senate, in consultation with the Minority Leader of the Senate, \n of whom not more than 4 shall be of the same political party; \n and\n (3) six shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of \n Representatives, in consultation with the Minority Leader of \n the House of Representatives, of whom not more than 4 shall be \n of the same political party.\n (b) Comptroller General.--The Comptroller General of the United \nStates shall advise the Commission on the methodology to be used in \nidentifying problems and analyzing potential solutions in accordance \nwith the duties of the Commission described in section 4.\n (c) Terms of Appointment.--The members shall serve on the \nCommission for the life of the Commission.\n (d) Meetings.--The Commission shall locate its headquarters in the \nDistrict of Columbia, and shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.\n (e) Quorum.--Ten members of the Commission shall constitute a \nquorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.\n (f) Chairperson.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives, in \nconsultation with the Majority Leader of the Senate, shall designate 1 \nof the members appointed under subsection (a) as Chairperson of the \nCommission.\n (g) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled in the \nsame manner in which the original appointment was made not later than \n30 days after the Commission is given notice of the vacancy.\n (h) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall receive no \nadditional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on \nthe Commission.\n (i) Expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall receive travel \nexpenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence in accordance with \nsections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.\n\nSEC. 6. STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES.\n\n (a) Executive Director.--\n (1) Appointment.--The Chairperson shall appoint an \n executive director of the Commission.\n (2) Compensation.--The executive director shall be paid the \n rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule.\n (b) Staff.--With the approval of the Commission, the executive \ndirector may appoint such personnel as the executive director considers \nappropriate.\n (c) Applicability of Civil Service Laws.--The staff of the \nCommission shall be appointed without regard to the provisions of title \n5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive \nservice, and shall be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter \n51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title (relating to \nclassification and General Schedule pay rates).\n (d) Experts and Consultants.--With the approval of the Commission, \nthe executive director may procure temporary and intermittent services \nunder section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.\n (e) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon the request of the Commission, \nthe head of any Federal agency may detail any of the personnel of such \nagency to the Commission to assist in carrying out the duties of the \nCommission.\n (f) Other Resources.--The Commission shall have reasonable access \nto materials, resources, statistical data, and other information from \nthe Library of Congress and agencies and elected representatives of the \nexecutive and legislative branches of the Federal Government. The \nChairperson of the Commission shall make requests for such access in \nwriting when necessary.\n (g) Physical Facilities.--The Administrator of the General Services \nAdministration shall locate suitable office space for the operation of \nthe Commission. The facilities shall serve as the headquarters of the \nCommission and shall include all necessary equipment and incidentals \nrequired for the proper functioning of the Commission.\n\nSEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Hearings.--The Commission may conduct public hearings or forums \nat the discretion of the Commission, at any time and place the \nCommission is able to secure facilities and witnesses, for the purpose \nof carrying out the duties of the Commission.\n (b) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or \ndonations of services or property.\n (c) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the \nsame manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.\n\nSEC. 8. REPORT.\n\n Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, \nthe Commission shall submit a report to the President and Congress \nwhich shall contain a detailed statement of the recommendations, \nfindings, and conclusions of the Commission.\n\nSEC. 9. TERMINATION.\n\n The Commission shall terminate on the date which is 30 days after \nthe date the Commission submits its report to the President and to \nCongress under section 8.\n\nSEC. 10. FUNDING.\n\n There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums \nas are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Sums \nappropriated under this section shall be paid equally from the Federal \nHospital Insurance Trust Fund and from the Federal Supplementary \nMedical Insurance Trust Fund under title XVIII of the Social Security \nAct (42 U.S.C. 1395i, 1395t).", "summary": "National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare Act of 1997 - Establishes the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare to: (1) review and analyze the long-term financial condition of the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act; (2) identify problems that threaten the financial integrity of the Medicare trust funds and make appropriate recommendations to restore such integrity through 2030; (3) analyze potential solutions to the problems identified that will ensure both the financial integrity of Medicare and the provision of appropriate benefits; and (4) make recommendations for establishing the appropriate financial structure of the Medicare program and for establishing the appropriate balance of benefits covered and beneficiary contributions to the Medicare program. Requires a report to the President and the Congress. \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 794, "text": "SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR UNITED STATES CUSTOMS \n SERVICE AND IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE.\n\n (a) In General.--\n (1) Customs service.--In order to enhance border \n investigative resources on the Southwest border, enhance \n investigative resources for anticorruption efforts, intensify \n efforts against drug smuggling and money-laundering \n organizations, process cargo, reduce commercial and passenger \n traffic waiting times, and open all primary lanes during peak \n hours at certain ports on the Southwest and Northern borders, \n in addition to any other amount appropriated, there are \n authorized to be appropriated for salaries, expenses, and \n equipment for the United States Customs Service for purposes of \n carrying out this section--\n (A) $161,248,584 for fiscal year 1999;\n (B) $185,751,328 for fiscal year 2000; and\n (C) such sums as may be necessary in each fiscal \n year thereafter.\n (2) INS.--In order to enhance enforcement and inspection \n resources on the Southwest land border of the United States, \n enhance investigative resources for anticorruption efforts and \n efforts against drug smuggling and money-laundering \n organizations, process cargo, reduce commercial and passenger \n traffic waiting times, and open all primary lanes during peak \n hours at major land border ports of entry on the Southwest and \n Northern land borders of the United States, in addition to any \n other amounts appropriated, there are authorized to be \n appropriated for salaries, expenses, and equipment for the \n Immigration and Naturalization Service for purposes of carrying \n out this section--\n (A) $113,604,000 for fiscal year 1999;\n (B) $121,064,000 for fiscal year 2000; and\n (C) such sums as may be necessary in each fiscal \n year thereafter.\n (b) Fiscal Year 1999.--\n (1) Customs service.--Of the amounts authorized to be \n appropriated under subsection (a)(1)(A) for fiscal year 1999 \n for the United States Customs Service, $48,404,000 shall be \n available until expended for acquisition and other expenses \n associated with implementation and full deployment of narcotics \n enforcement and cargo processing technology along the Southwest \n border, including--\n (A) $6,000,000 for 8 Vehicle and Container \n Inspection Systems (VACIS);\n (B) $11,000,000 for 5 mobile truck x-rays with \n transmission and backscatter imaging;\n (C) $12,000,000 for the upgrade of 8 fixed-site \n truck x-rays from the present energy level of 450,000 \n electron volts to 1,000,000 electron volts (1-MeV);\n (D) $7,200,000 for 8 1-MeV pallet x-rays;\n (E) $1,000,000 for 200 portable contraband \n detectors (busters) to be distributed among ports where \n the current allocations are inadequate;\n (F) $600,000 for 50 contraband detection kits to be \n distributed among all Southwest border ports based on \n traffic volume;\n (G) $500,000 for 25 ultrasonic container inspection \n units to be distributed among all ports receiving \n liquid-filled cargo and to ports with a hazardous \n material inspection facility;\n (H) $2,450,000 for 7 automated targeting systems;\n (I) $360,000 for 30 rapid tire deflator systems to \n be distributed to those ports where port runners are a \n threat;\n (J) $480,000 for 20 Portable Treasury Enforcement \n Communications System (TECS) terminals to be moved \n among ports as needed;\n (K) $1,000,000 for 20 remote watch surveillance \n camera systems at ports where there are suspicious \n activities at loading docks, vehicle queues, secondary \n inspection lanes, or areas where visual surveillance or \n observation is obscured;\n (L) $1,254,000 for 57 weigh-in-motion sensors to be \n distributed among the ports with the greatest volume of \n outbound traffic;\n (M) $180,000 for 36 AM radio ``Welcome to the \n United States'' stations, with 1 station to be located \n at each border crossing;\n (N) $1,040,000 for 260 inbound vehicle counters to \n be installed at every inbound vehicle lane;\n (O) $950,000 for 38 spotter camera systems to \n counter the surveillance of Customs inspection \n activities by persons outside the boundaries of ports \n where such surveillance activities are occurring;\n (P) $390,000 for 60 inbound commercial truck \n transponders to be distributed to all ports of entry;\n (Q) $1,600,000 for 40 narcotics vapor and particle \n detectors to be distributed to each border crossing; \n and\n (R) $400,000 for license plate reader automatic \n targeting software to be installed at each port to \n target inbound vehicles.\n (2) INS.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated \n under subsection (a)(2)(A) for fiscal year 1999 for the \n Immigration and Naturalization Service, $15,090,000 shall be \n available until expended for acquisition and other expenses \n associated with implementation and full deployment of narcotics \n enforcement and cargo processing technology along the Southwest \n land border of the United States, including--\n (A) $11,000,000 for 5 mobile truck x-rays with \n transmission and backscatter imaging to be distributed \n to border patrol checkpoints;\n (B) $200,000 for 10 ultrasonic container inspection \n units to be distributed to border patrol checkpoints;\n (C) $240,000 for 10 Portable Treasury Enforcement \n Communications System (TECS) terminals to be \n distributed to border patrol checkpoints;\n (D) $1,000,000 for 20 remote watch surveillance \n camera systems to be distributed to border patrol \n checkpoints;\n (E) $175,000 for 35 AM radio ``Welcome to the \n United States'' stations, with 1 station to be located \n at each permanent border patrol checkpoint;\n (F) $875,000 for 35 spotter camera systems, with 1 \n system to be located at each permanent border patrol \n checkpoint; and\n (G) $1,600,000 for 40 narcotics vapor and particle \n detectors to be distributed to border patrol \n checkpoints.\n (c) Fiscal Year 2000 and Thereafter.--\n (1) Customs service.--Of the amounts authorized to be \n appropriated under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection \n (a)(1) for the United States Customs Service for fiscal year \n 2000 and each fiscal year thereafter, $4,840,400 shall be for \n the maintenance and support of the equipment and training of \n personnel to maintain and support the equipment described in \n subsection (b)(1), based on an estimate of 10 percent of the \n cost of such equipment.\n (2) INS.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated \n under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (a)(2) for the \n Immigration and Naturalization Service for fiscal year 2000 and \n each fiscal year thereafter, $1,509,000 shall be for the \n maintenance and support of the equipment and training of \n personnel to maintain and support the equipment described in \n subsection (b)(2), based on an estimate of 10 percent of the \n cost of such equipment.\n (d) New Technologies; Use of Funds.--\n (1) In general.--The Commissioner of Customs may use the \n amounts authorized to be appropriated for equipment under this \n section for equipment other than the equipment specified in \n subsection (b)(1) if such other equipment--\n (A)(i) is technologically superior to the equipment \n specified in subsection (b)(1); and\n (ii) will achieve at least the same results at a \n cost that is the same or less than the equipment \n specified in subsection (b)(1); or\n (B) can be obtained at a lower cost than the \n equipment authorized in subparagraphs (A) through (R) \n of such subsection.\n (2) Transfer of funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision \n of this section, the Commissioner of Customs may reallocate an \n amount not to exceed 10 percent of the amount specified in any \n of subparagraphs (A) through (R) of subsection (b)(1) for \n equipment specified in any other of such subparagraphs (A) \n through (R).\n (3) INS.--With respect to the amounts and equipment \n specified in subsection (b)(2), the Attorney General shall have \n the same authority as is granted the Commissioner of Customs by \n paragraphs (1) and (2) with respect to the amounts and \n equipment specified in subsection (b)(1).\n (e) Peak Hours and Investigative Resource Enhancement.--\n (1) Customs service.--Of the amounts authorized to be \n appropriated under subsection (a)(1) for fiscal years 1999 and \n 2000, $112,844,584 in fiscal year 1999 and $180,910,928 for \n fiscal year 2000 shall be for--\n (A) a net increase of 535 inspectors and 60 special \n agents for the Southwest border and 375 inspectors for \n the Northern border, in order to open all primary lanes \n on the Southwest and Northern borders during peak hours \n and enhance investigative resources;\n (B) a net increase of 285 inspectors and canine \n enforcement officers to be distributed at large cargo \n facilities as needed to process and screen cargo \n (including rail cargo) and reduce commercial waiting \n times on the Southwest border;\n (C) a net increase of 360 special agents, 40 \n intelligence analysts, and additional resources to be \n distributed among offices that have jurisdiction over \n major metropolitan drug or narcotics distribution and \n transportation centers for intensification of efforts \n against drug smuggling and money-laundering \n organizations;\n (D) a net increase of 50 positions and additional \n resources to the Office of Internal Affairs to enhance \n investigative resources for anticorruption efforts; and\n (E) the costs incurred as a result of the increase \n in personnel hired pursuant to this section.\n (2) INS.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated \n under subsection (a)(2) for fiscal years 1999 and 2000, \n $98,514,000 in fiscal year 1999 and $119,555,000 for fiscal \n year 2000 shall be for--\n (A) a net increase of 535 inspectors for the \n Southwest land border and 375 inspectors for the \n Northern land border, in order to open all primary \n lanes on the Southwest and Northern borders during peak \n hours and enhance investigative resources;\n (B) a net increase of 100 inspectors and canine \n enforcement officers for border patrol checkpoints;\n (C) 100 canine enforcement vehicles to be used by \n the Border Patrol for inspection and enforcement, and \n to reduce waiting times, at the Southwest land border \n of the United States;\n (D) a net increase of 40 intelligence analysts and \n additional resources to be distributed among border \n patrol sectors that have jurisdiction over major \n metropolitan drug or narcotics distribution and \n transportation centers for intensification of efforts \n against drug smuggling and money-laundering \n organizations;\n (E) a net increase of 50 positions and additional \n resources to the Office of the Inspector General of the \n Department of Justice to enhance investigative \n resources for anticorruption efforts; and\n (F) the costs incurred as a result of the increase \n in personnel hired pursuant to this section.", "summary": "Authorizes additional appropriations for personnel and equipment for the United States Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.", "title": "To authorize additional appropriations for personnel and technology for the United States Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which have joint responsibility at ports of entry, in order to increase inspection and enforcement at ports of entry and to expedite and facilitate the flow of legal commercial and passenger traffic at United States borders and interior checkpoints."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 631, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Patient Access to Disposable Medical \nTechnology Act of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. COVERAGE OF CERTAIN DISPOSABLE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES UNDER THE \n MEDICARE PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Coverage.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n1395x) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n\n ``Substitute Disposable Medical Technology\n\n ``(iii) The term `substitute disposable medical technology' means \nmedical equipment that--\n ``(1) is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical \n purpose;\n ``(2) would otherwise be covered as durable medical \n equipment under this title but for the fact that such equipment \n is not durable (as defined by the Secretary for purposes of \n coverage of durable medical equipment under this title); and\n ``(3) the Secretary determines substitutes for durable \n medical equipment.''.\n (b) Payment Provisions.--Section 1834(a) of the Social Security Act \n(42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nparagraph:\n ``(23) Special payment rule for substitute disposable \n medical technologies.--Notwithstanding the preceding provisions \n of this subsection, the Secretary shall determine the payment \n amount under this subsection for a substitute disposable \n medical technology (as defined in section 1861(iii)), and for \n any services and supplies used in conjunction with such \n technology, in accordance with the following:\n ``(A) Single payment amount.--The Secretary shall \n determine a single payment amount that shall be paid \n for a substitute disposable medical technology and for \n any services and supplies used in conjunction with such \n technology. A payment for such a technology and for any \n such services and supplies that is made in the amount \n of such single payment amount shall constitute full \n payment under this title for such technology and such \n services and supplies.\n ``(B) Calculation of payment amount.--The single \n payment amount described in subparagraph (A) for a \n substitute disposable medical technology and for any \n services and supplies used in conjunction with such \n technology shall be calculated by--\n ``(i) calculating the sum of the amounts of \n payment that otherwise would be made under this \n section for--\n ``(I) the item of durable medical \n equipment for which the Secretary \n determines, pursuant to section \n 1861(iii)(3), that such substitute \n disposable medical technology \n substitutes; and\n ``(II) all services and supplies \n used in conjunction with such item of \n durable medical equipment;\n ``(ii) calculating the amount that is 95 \n percent of the sum calculated under clause (i); \n and\n ``(iii) calculating the single payment \n amount for the substitute disposable medical \n technology and for any services and supplies \n used in conjunction with such technology such \n that the sum of the payments under this \n subsection for--\n ``(I) all substitute disposable \n medical technologies that the Secretary \n determines, pursuant to section \n 1861(iii)(3), will be necessary to \n provide a substitute for the item of \n durable medical equipment described in \n clause (i)(I); and\n ``(II) any services and supplies \n used in conjunction with such \n technologies;\n is equal to the amount calculated under clause \n (ii).\n ``(C) Lump-sum payment.--The single payment amount \n described in subparagraph (A) for a substitute \n disposable medical technology and for any services and \n supplies used in conjunction with such technology shall \n be made in a lump-sum amount.''.\n (c) Nonapplication of Competitive Acquisition.--Section \n1847(a)(7)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-3(a)(7)(B)) \nis amended--\n (1) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end;\n (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:\n ``(iii) that are substitute disposable \n medical technologies (as defined in section \n 1861(n)(2)(B)).''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply with respect to items and services furnished on or after the date \nthat is one year after the date of the enactment of this section.", "summary": "Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act of 2015 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover substitute disposable medical technology, subject it to a special payment rule, and exempt it from competitive acquisition.", "title": "Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 911, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of \n2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. GUN SHOW BACKGROUND CHECK.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--\n (1) approximately 5,200 traditional gun shows are held \n annually across the United States, attracting thousands of \n attendees per show and hundreds of Federal firearms licensees \n and unlicensed firearms sellers; and\n (2) gun shows at which firearms are exhibited or offered \n for sale or exchange provide a convenient and centralized \n commercial location where criminals and other prohibited \n persons obtain firearms without background checks and without \n records that enable firearm tracing.\n (b) Definitions.--Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, \nis amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(36) Gun Show.--The term `gun show'--\n ``(A) means any event at which 50 or more firearms are \n offered or exhibited for sale, exchange, or transfer, if one or \n more of the firearms has been shipped or transported in, or \n otherwise affects, interstate or foreign commerce;\n ``(B) does not include an offer or exhibit of firearms for \n sale, exchange, or transfer by an individual from the personal \n collection of that individual, at the private residence of that \n individual, if the individual is not required to be licensed \n under section 923; and\n ``(C) does not include an offer or exhibit of firearms for \n sale, exchange, or transfer at events--\n ``(i) where not more than 100 firearms are offered \n or exhibited for sale, exchange or transfer;\n ``(ii) that are conducted by private, not-for-\n profit organizations whose primary purpose is owning \n and maintaining real property for the purpose of \n hunting activities; and\n ``(iii) that are attended only by permanent or \n annual dues-paying members of the organizations, and \n the members of the immediate families of the dues-\n paying members.\n ``(37) Gun Show Vendor.--The term `gun show vendor' means a person \nwho is not licensed under section 923 and who exhibits, sells, offers \nfor sale, transfers, or exchanges a firearm at a gun show, regardless \nof whether or not the person arranges with the gun show operator for a \nfixed location from which to exhibit, sell, offer for sale, transfer, \nor exchange the firearm.''.\n (c) Regulation of Firearms Transfers at Gun Shows.--\n (1) In general.--Chapter 44 of such title is amended by \n adding at the end the following:\n``Sec. 932. Regulation of firearms transfers at gun shows\n ``(a) Registration of Gun Show Operators.--It shall be unlawful for \na person to operate a gun show, unless--\n ``(1) the person has attained 21 years of age;\n ``(2) the person (and, if the person is a corporation, \n partnership, or association, each individual possessing, \n directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the \n direction of the management and policies of the corporation, \n partnership, or association) is not prohibited by subsection \n (g) or (n) of section 922 from transporting, shipping, or \n receiving firearms or ammunition in interstate or foreign \n commerce;\n ``(3) the person has not willfully violated any provision \n of this chapter or regulation issued under this chapter;\n ``(4) the person has registered with the Attorney General \n as a gun show operator, in accordance with regulations \n promulgated by the Attorney General, and as part of the \n registration--\n ``(A) has provided the Attorney General with a \n photograph and the fingerprints of the person; and\n ``(B) has certified that the person meets the \n requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (D) of \n section 923(d)(1);\n ``(5) the person has not willfully failed to disclose any \n material information required, and has not made any false \n statement as to any material fact, in connection with the \n registration; and\n ``(6) the person has paid the Attorney General a fee for \n the registration, in an amount determined by the Attorney \n General.\n ``(b) Responsibilities of Gun Show Operators.--\n ``(1) In general.--It shall be unlawful for a person to \n operate a gun show, unless the person--\n ``(A) not later than 30 days before the \n commencement of the gun show, notifies the Attorney \n General, in writing, of the date, time, duration, and \n location of the gun show, and the identity of each \n person who will be a gun show vendor at the gun show;\n ``(B) before commencement of the gun show--\n ``(i) verifies the identity of each \n individual who will be a gun show vendor at the \n gun show by examining a valid identification \n document (as defined in section 1028(d)(3)) of \n the individual containing a photograph of the \n individual; and\n ``(ii) requires each such individual to \n sign--\n ``(I) a ledger, and enter into the \n ledger identifying information \n concerning the individual; and\n ``(II) a notice which sets forth \n the obligations of a gun show vendor \n under this chapter; and\n ``(C) notifies each person who attends the gun show \n of the requirements of this chapter, in accordance with \n such regulations as the Attorney General shall \n prescribe.\n ``(2) Recordkeeping.--A person who operates, or has \n operated, a gun show shall maintain records demonstrating \n compliance with paragraph (1)(B), at such place, for such \n period of time, and in such form as the Attorney General shall \n require by regulation, or transmit the records to the Attorney \n General.\n ``(c) Background Check Required Before Transfer of Firearm Between \nUnlicensed Persons.--It shall be unlawful for a person who is not \nlicensed under this chapter to transfer possession of, or title to, a \nfirearm at, or on the curtilage of, a gun show, to another person who \nis not so licensed, or for a person who is not so licensed to receive \npossession of, or title to, a firearm at, or on the curtilage of, a gun \nshow from another person who is not so licensed, unless a licensed \nimporter, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer--\n ``(1) has entered into a separate bound record the make, \n model, and serial number of the firearm, and such other \n information about the transaction as the Attorney General may \n require by regulation; and\n ``(2) has notified the prospective transferor and \n prospective transferee of the firearm that the national instant \n criminal background check system established under section 103 \n of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act has provided the \n licensee with a unique identification number, indicating that \n receipt of the firearm by the prospective transferee would not \n violate section 922 of this title or State law.\n ``(d) Recordkeeping Requirements.--\n ``(1) In general.--A licensee who provides a notice \n pursuant to subsection (c)(2) with respect to the transfer of a \n firearm shall--\n ``(A) not later than 10 days after the date of the \n transfer, submit to the Attorney General a report of \n the transfer, which report shall specify the make, \n model, and serial number of the firearm, and contain \n such other information and be on such form, as the \n Attorney General shall require by regulation, except \n that the report shall not include the name of or other \n identifying information relating to any person involved \n in the transfer who is not licensed under this chapter; \n and\n ``(B) retain a record of the transfer, including \n the same information as would be required if the \n transfer were from the inventory of the licensee, as \n part of the permanent business records of the licensee.\n ``(2) Limitation.--The Attorney General may not impose any \n recordkeeping requirement on any gun show vendor by reason of \n this section.''.\n (2) Penalties.--Section 924(a) of such title is amended by \n adding at the end the following:\n ``(8)(A) Whoever knowingly violates subsection (a) or (d) of \nsection 932 shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 \nyears, or both.\n ``(B) Whoever knowingly violates subsection (b) or (c) of section \n932, shall be--\n ``(i) fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 2 \n years, or both; and\n ``(ii) in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, \n fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or \n both.\n ``(C) In addition to any other penalties imposed under this \nparagraph, the Attorney General may, with respect to any person who \nknowingly violates any provision of section 932--\n ``(i) if the person is registered pursuant to section \n 932(a), after notice and opportunity for a hearing, suspend for \n not more than 6 months or revoke the registration of that \n person under section 932(a); and\n ``(ii) impose a civil fine in an amount equal to not more \n than $10,000.''.\n (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents for such \n chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``Sec. 932. Regulation of firearms transfers at gun shows.''.\n (d) Inspection Authority.--Section 923(g)(1) of such title is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(E) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the \nAttorney General may enter during business hours any place where a gun \nshow operator operates a gun show or is required to maintain records \npursuant to section 932(b)(2), for purposes of examining the records \nrequired by sections 923 and 932 and the inventory of licensees \nconducting business at the gun show. The entry and examination shall be \nconducted for the purposes of determining compliance with this chapter \nby gun show operators and licensees conducting business at the gun \nshow, and shall not require a showing of reasonable cause or a \nwarrant.''.\n (e) Reports of Multiple Sales Assisted by Licensees at Gun Shows.--\nSection 923(g)(3)(A) of such title is amended by inserting ``or \nprovides pursuant to section 932(c)(2) notice with respect to,'' after \n``sells or otherwise disposes of,''.\n (f) Increased Penalties for Serious Recordkeeping Violations by \nLicensees.--Section 924(a)(3) of such title is amended to read as \nfollows:\n ``(3)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any licensed \ndealer, licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed collector \nwho knowingly makes any false statement or representation with respect \nto the information required by this chapter to be kept in the records \nof a person licensed under this chapter, or violates section 922(m), \nshall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or \nboth.\n ``(B) If the violation described in subparagraph (A) is in relation \nto an offense--\n ``(i) under paragraph (1) or (3) of section 922(b), such \n person shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more \n than 5 years, or both; or\n ``(ii) under subsection (a)(6) or (d) of section 922, such \n person shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more \n than 10 years, or both.''.\n (g) Increased Penalties for Violations of Criminal Background Check \nRequirements.--\n (1) Penalties.--Section 924(a)(5) of such title is \n amended--\n (A) by striking ``subsection (s) or (t) of section \n 922'' and inserting ``section 922(t)''; and\n (B) by striking ``1'' and inserting ``5''.\n (2) Elimination of certain elements of offense.--Section \n 922(t)(5) of such title is amended by striking ``and, at the \n time'' and all that follows through ``State law''.\n (h) Authority To Hire Personnel To Inspect Gun Shows.--The Director \nof the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives may hire at \nleast 40 additional Industry Operations Investigators for the purpose \nof carrying out inspections of gun shows (as defined in section \n921(a)(36) of title 18, United States Code).\n (i) Report to the Congress.--The Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, \nTobacco, Firearms, and Explosives shall submit biennial reports to the \nCongress on how firearms (as defined in section 921(a)(3) of title 18, \nUnited States Code) are sold at gun shows (as defined in paragraph (36) \nof such section), how this section is being carried out, whether \nfirearms are being sold without background checks conducted by the \nnational instant criminal background check system established under \nsection 103 of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, what \nresources are needed to carry out this section, and any recommendations \nfor improvements to ensure that firearms are not sold without the \nbackground checks.\n (j) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this \nsection shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this \nAct.", "summary": "Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2017 This bill makes it unlawful for any person to operate a gun show unless such person: (1) has attained 21 years of age; (2) is not prohibited from transporting, shipping, or receiving firearms and has not violated any federal firearms requirements; (3) has registered with the Department of Justice (DOJ) as a gun show operator and has provided a photograph and fingerprints; (4) has not concealed material information nor made false statements in connection with a gun show operator registration; and (5) notifies DOJ of the date, time, and duration of a gun show not later than 30 days before the commencement of such show and verifies the identity of each vendor at the gun show. The bill makes it unlawful for a person not licensed under this bill to transfer possession of a firearm at a gun show to another person not licensed unless a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer has, among other conditions, recorded the transfer with DOJ. Additionally, the licensed dealer must notify the prospective transferor and transferee of the firearm that the national instant criminal background check system has provided the dealer with a unique identification number indicating that the receipt of the firearm would not violate certain federal or state firearm laws. The bill grants DOJ authority to enter, without a showing of reasonable cause or a warrant, any place where a gun show is held or where a gun show operator is required to maintain records to examine records and inventory to determine compliance with this bill. ", "title": "Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 529, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Legacy IRA Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. TAX-FREE DISTRIBUTIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS FOR \n CHARITABLE PURPOSES.\n\n (a) In General.--Paragraph (8) of section 408(d) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to tax treatment of distributions) is \namended to read as follows:\n ``(8) Distributions for charitable purposes.--\n ``(A) In general.--No amount shall be includible in \n gross income by reason of a qualified charitable \n distribution.\n ``(B) Limitations.--\n ``(i) In general.--The aggregate amount \n excluded from gross income by subparagraph (A) \n for a taxable year shall not exceed $400,000.\n ``(ii) Organization and entity specific \n limitations.--The amount excluded from gross \n income by subparagraph (A) for a taxable year \n shall not exceed--\n ``(I) $100,000, in the case of any \n distribution described in subparagraph \n (C)(i)(I), and\n ``(II) $400,000, in the case of any \n distribution described in subparagraph \n (C)(i)(II).\n ``(C) Qualified charitable distribution.--For \n purposes of this paragraph, the term `qualified \n charitable distribution' means any distribution from an \n individual retirement account--\n ``(i) which is made directly by the \n trustee--\n ``(I) to a specified charitable \n organization, or\n ``(II) to a split-interest entity, \n and\n ``(ii) which is made on or after the date \n that the individual for whose benefit the \n account is maintained has attained--\n ``(I) in the case of any \n distribution described in clause \n (i)(I), age 70\\1/2\\, and\n ``(II) in the case of any \n distribution described in clause \n (i)(II), age 65.\n ``(D) Special rules relating to distributions.--For \n purposes of this paragraph--\n ``(i) Distribution must be otherwise \n includible.--A distribution from an individual \n retirement account shall be treated as a \n qualified charitable distribution only to the \n extent that the distribution would be \n includible in gross income without regard to \n subparagraph (A).\n ``(ii) Limitation on income interests.--A \n distribution from an individual retirement \n account to a split-interest entity may only be \n treated as a qualified charitable distribution \n if--\n ``(I) no person holds an income \n interest in the split-interest entity \n other than the individual for whose \n benefit such account is maintained, the \n spouse of such individual, or both, and\n ``(II) the income interest in the \n split-interest entity is nonassignable.\n ``(iii) Contributions must be otherwise \n deductible.--A distribution from an individual \n retirement account to a specified charitable \n organization may be treated as a qualified \n charitable distribution only if--\n ``(I) in the case of a distribution \n to a charitable remainder annuity trust \n or a charitable remainder unitrust, a \n deduction for the entire value of the \n remainder interest in the distribution \n for the benefit of a specified \n charitable organization would be \n allowable under section 170 (determined \n without regard to subsection (b) \n thereof and this paragraph), and\n ``(II) in the case of a charitable \n gift annuity, a deduction in an amount \n equal to the amount of the distribution \n reduced by the value of the annuity \n described in section 501(m)(5)(B) would \n be allowable under section 170 \n (determined without regard to \n subsection (b) thereof and this \n paragraph).\n ``(E) Specified charitable organization defined.--\n For purposes of this paragraph, the term `specified \n charitable organization' means an organization \n described in section 170(b)(1)(A) (other than any \n organization described in section 509(a)(3) or any fund \n or account described in section 4966(d)(2)).\n ``(F) Split-interest entity defined.--For purposes \n of this paragraph, the term `split-interest entity' \n means--\n ``(i) a charitable remainder annuity trust \n (as defined in section 664(d)(1)), but only if \n such trust is funded exclusively by a qualified \n charitable distribution,\n ``(ii) a charitable remainder unitrust (as \n defined in section 664(d)(2)), but only if such \n unitrust is funded exclusively by one or more \n qualified charitable distributions, or\n ``(iii) a charitable gift annuity (as \n defined in section 501(m)(5)), but only if such \n annuity is funded exclusively by a qualified \n charitable distribution and commences fixed \n payments of 5 percent or greater not later than \n one year from date of funding.\n ``(G) Special rules.--\n ``(i) Charitable remainder trusts.--\n Notwithstanding section 664(b), distributions \n made from a trust described in clause (i) or \n (ii) of subparagraph (F) shall be treated as \n ordinary income in the hands of the beneficiary \n to whom is paid the annuity described in \n section 664(d)(1)(A) or the payment described \n in section 664(d)(2)(A).\n ``(ii) Charitable gift annuities.--\n Qualified charitable distributions made for a \n charitable gift annuity shall not be treated as \n an investment in the contract for purposes of \n section 72(c).\n ``(iii) Application of section 72.--\n Notwithstanding section 72, in determining the \n extent to which a distribution is a qualified \n charitable distribution, the entire amount of \n the distribution shall be treated as includible \n in gross income without regard to subparagraph \n (A) to the extent that such amount does not \n exceed the aggregate amount which would have \n been so includible if all amounts in all \n individual retirement plans of the individual \n were distributed during the taxable year and \n all such plans were treated as 1 contract for \n purposes of determining under section 72 the \n aggregate amount which would have been so \n includible. Proper adjustments shall be made in \n applying section 72 to other distributions in \n such taxable year and subsequent taxable years.\n ``(iv) Determining deduction under section \n 170.--Qualified charitable distributions shall \n not be taken into account in determining the \n deduction under section 170.\n ``(v) Required minimum distributions.--The \n entire amount of a qualified charitable \n distribution shall be taken into account for \n purposes of section 401(a)(9).\n ``(H) Termination with respect to split-entities.--\n Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a distribution to a \n split-interest entity after December 31, 2020.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto distributions made in taxable years ending after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.", "summary": "Legacy IRA Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax exclusion for distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for charitable purposes. The bill increases from $100,000 to $400,000 the annual limit on the aggregate amount of distributions for charitable purposes that may be excluded from the gross income of a taxpayer. The bill permits tax-free distributions from IRAs to a split-interest entity until December 31, 2020. A split-interest entity is exclusively funded by charitable distributions and includes: a charitable remainder annuity trust, a charitable remainder unitrust, or a charitable gift annuity. A charitable gift annuity must commence fixed payments of at least 5% no later than one year from the date of funding. A distribution to a split-interest entity may only be treated as a qualified charitable distribution if: (1) no person holds an income interest in the entity other than the individual for whose benefit the account is maintained, the spouse of such individual, or both; and (2) the income interest in the entity is nonassignable. The bill limits the exclusion annually to: $100,000 for distributions to charitable organizations, and $400,000 for distributions to split-interest entities. Tax-free distributions to a split-interest entity may be made when the account beneficiary attains age 65. (Under current law, the beneficiary must attain the age of 70-1/2 for IRA distributions to a charitable organization.) ", "title": "Legacy IRA Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 285, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Drug Savings Through Choice \nAct of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICARE OPERATED PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN \n OPTION.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart 2 of part D of the Social Security Act is \namended by inserting after section 1860D-11 (42 U.S.C. 1395w-111) the \nfollowing new section:\n\n ``medicare operated prescription drug plan option\n\n ``Sec. 1860D-11A. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other \nprovision of this part, for each year (beginning with 2008), in \naddition to any plans offered under section 1860D-11, the Secretary \nshall offer a Medicare operated prescription drug plan (as defined in \nsubsection (b)) with a service area that consists of the entire United \nStates.\n ``(b) Medicare Operated Prescription Drug Plan Defined.--For \npurposes of this part, the term `Medicare operated prescription drug \nplan' means a prescription drug plan that offers qualified prescription \ndrug coverage and access described in section 1860D-2(d) to the prices \nnegotiated under subsection (c)(1). Such plan may offer supplemental \nprescription drug coverage in the same manner as other qualified \nprescription drug coverage offered by other prescription drug plans.\n ``(c) Enhanced Affordability Through Negotiations.--\n ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 1860D-11(i), for \n purposes of offering the Medicare operated prescription drug \n plan under this section, the Secretary shall negotiate with \n pharmaceutical manufacturers with respect to the purchase price \n of such covered part D drugs and shall encourage the use of \n more affordable therapeutic equivalents to the extent such \n practices do not override medical necessity as determined by \n the prescribing physician.\n ``(2) Implementation of other cost savings strategies.--To \n the extent practicable and consistent with paragraph (1), the \n Secretary shall implement strategies similar to those used by \n the Department of Veterans Affairs or other Federal purchasers \n of prescription drugs, and other strategies, to reduce the \n purchase cost of covered part D drugs.\n ``(3) Conditioning use of formularies.--Insofar as the \n Medicare operated prescription drug plan uses a formulary, such \n plan shall inform, consistent with section 1860D-4(a)(3)(B), \n enrollees of changes in such formulary, including changes in \n covered drugs and the prices of such drugs.\n ``(4) Savings used to fill gaps in prescription drug \n coverage.--Any savings to the Medicare operated prescription \n drug plan resulting from actions take under this subsection \n shall be used by the plan to extend coverage under the plan to \n individuals who have reached the initial coverage limit \n applicable under the plan but who have not reached the annual \n out-of-pocket threshold specified in section 1860D-2(b)(4)(B).\n ``(d) Monthly Premiums.--\n ``(1) For qualified prescription drug coverage.--\n ``(A) Nationally uniform monthly beneficiary \n premium.--The monthly beneficiary premium for qualified \n prescription drug coverage and access to negotiated \n prices described in section 1860D-2(a)(1)(A) to be \n charged under the Medicare operated prescription drug \n plan shall be uniform nationally.\n ``(B) Bid based on costs.--The bid submitted under \n section 1860D-11(b)(2)(C) for the Medicare operated \n prescription drug plan shall be based on the average \n monthly per capita actuarial cost of offering such plan \n for the year involved, including administrative \n expenses.\n ``(2) Supplemental prescription drug coverage.--Insofar as \n the Medicare operated prescription drug plan offers \n supplemental prescription drug coverage, the Secretary shall \n adjust the amount of the bid submitted under section 1860D-\n 11(b)(2)(C) (and the premium charged under paragraph (1)) to \n reflect the additional benefits offered under such coverage.\n ``(e) Open Enrollment.--A part D eligible individual may enroll in \nthe Medicare operated prescription drug plan at any time.''.\n (b) No Late Enrollment Penalty for Individuals Enrolled in Medicare \nOperated Prescription Drug Plan.--Section 1860D-13(b)(2) of such Act \n(42 U.S.C. 1395w-113(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new sentence: ``A part D eligible individual described in \nthis paragraph does not include an individual enrolled in the Medicare \noperated prescription drug plan during the period in which the \nindividual is so enrolled.''.\n (c) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 1860D-1(b)(1)(B)(iii) of the Social Security \n Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-101(b)(1)(B)(iii)) is amended by inserting \n ``and section 1860D-11A(e)'' after ``paragraphs (2) and (3) of \n this subsection''.\n (2) Section 1860D-2(b)(3)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-\n 102(b)(3)(A)) is amended by inserting ``and section 1860D-\n 11A(c)(4)'' after ``paragraph (4)''.\n (3) Section 1860D-3(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-103(a)) \n is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(4) Availability of the medicare operated prescription \n drug plan.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Medicare operated \n prescription drug plan shall be offered nationally in \n accordance with section 1860D-11A.\n ``(B) Relationship to other plans.--\n ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), \n the Medicare operated prescription drug plan \n shall be offered in addition to any qualifying \n plan or fallback prescription drug plan offered \n in a PDP region and shall not be considered to \n be such a plan for purposes of meeting the \n requirements of this subsection.\n ``(ii) Designation as a fallback plan.--\n Notwithstanding any other provision of this \n part, the Secretary may designate the Medicare \n operated prescription drug plan as the fallback \n prescription drug plan for any fallback service \n area (as defined in section 1860D-11(g)(3)) \n determined to be appropriate by the \n Secretary.''.\n (4) Section 1860D-13(c)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-\n 113(c)(3)) is amended--\n (A) in the heading, by inserting ``and the Medicare \n operated prescription drug plan'' after ``Fallback \n plans''; and\n (B) by inserting ``or the Medicare operated \n prescription drug plan'' after ``a fallback \n prescription drug plan''.\n (5) Section 1860D-16(b)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C.1395w-\n 116(b)(1)) is amended--\n (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' after \n the semicolon at the end; and\n (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at \n the end and inserting ``; and''; and\n ``(E) payments for expenses incurred with respect \n to the operation of the Medicare operated prescription \n drug plan under section 1860D-11A.''.\n (6) Section 1860D-41(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-\n 151(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(19) Medicare operated prescription drug plan.--The term \n `Medicare operated prescription drug plan' has the meaning \n given such term in section 1860D-11A(b).''.", "summary": "Medicare Drug Savings Through Choice Act of 2007 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) offer a Medicare operated prescription drug plan with a service area that consists of the entire United States; (2) negotiate with pharmaceutical manufacturers to reduce the purchase cost of covered Medicare part D drugs; and (3) encourage the use of more affordable therapeutic equivalents.\n\nRequires the monthly beneficiary premium charged under such a plan to be uniform nationally. Requires adjustment of such premium amount in case of supplemental prescription drug coverage.", "title": "To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a Medicare operated prescription drug plan option to deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices under the Medicare Program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3114, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Internet Tax Freedom Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) As a massive global network spanning not only State but \n international borders, the Internet is inherently a matter of \n interstate and foreign commerce within the jurisdiction of the \n United States Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the United \n States Constitution.\n (2) Even within the United States, the Internet does not \n respect State lines and operates independently of State \n boundaries. Addresses on the Internet are designed to be \n geographically indifferent. Internet transmissions are \n insensitive to physical distance and can have multiple \n geographical addresses.\n (3) Because transmissions over the Internet are made \n through packet-switching, it is impossible to determine with \n any degree of certainty the precise geographic route or \n endpoints of specific Internet transmissions, and infeasible to \n separate intrastate from interstate, and domestic from foreign, \n Internet transmissions.\n (4) Inconsistent and unadministrable taxes imposed on \n Internet activity by State and local governments threaten not \n only to subject consumers, businesses, and other users engaged \n in interstate and foreign commerce to multiple, confusing, and \n burdensome taxation, but also to restrict the growth and \n continued technological maturation of the Internet itself, and \n to call into question the continued viability of this dynamic \n medium.\n (5) Because the tax laws and regulations of so many \n jurisdictions were established before the Internet or \n interactive computer services, their application to this new \n medium in unintended and unpredictable ways threatens every \n Internet user, access provider, vendor, and interactive \n computer service provider.\n (6) The electronic marketplace of services, products, and \n ideas available through the Internet or interactive computer \n services can be especially beneficial to senior citizens, the \n physically challenged, citizens in rural areas, and small \n businesses. It also offers a variety of uses and benefits for \n educational institutions and charitable organizations.\n (7) Consumers, businesses, and others engaging in \n interstate and foreign commerce through the Internet or \n interactive computer services could become subject to more than \n 30,000 separate taxing jurisdictions in the United States \n alone.\n (8) The consistent and coherent national policy regarding \n taxation of Internet activity that is needed to avoid burdening \n this evolving form of interstate and foreign commerce can best \n be achieved by the United States exercising its authority under \n Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United States \n Constitution.\n\nSEC. 3. MORATORIUM ON IMPOSITION OF TAXES ON INTERNET OR INTERACTIVE \n COMPUTER SERVICES.\n\n (a) Moratorium.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, no \nState or local government (including any political subdivision) may \nimpose, assess, or attempt to collect any tax or fee directly or \nindirectly on--\n (1) the Internet or interactive computer services; or\n (2) the use of the Internet or interactive computer \n services.\n (b) Preservation of State and Local Taxing Authority.--Subsection \n(a)--\n (1) does not apply to taxes imposed on and measured by net \n income derived from the Internet or interactive computer \n services;\n (2) does not apply to fairly apportioned business license \n taxes applied to businesses that have a business location in \n the taxing jurisdiction, and\n (3) does not affect the authority of a State, or political \n subdivision thereof, to impose a sales or use tax on sales or \n other transactions effected by use of the Internet or \n interactive computer services if--\n (A) the tax is the same as the tax imposed and \n collected by that State, or political subdivision \n thereof, on sales or interstate transactions effected \n by mail order, telephone, or other remote means within \n its taxing jurisdiction; and\n (B) the obligation to collect the tax from sales or \n other transactions effected by use of the Internet or \n interactive computer services is imposed on the same \n person or entity as in the case of sales or \n transactions effected by mail order, telephone, or \n other remote means.\n\nSEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS.\n\n (a) Consultative Group.--The Secretaries of the Treasury, Commerce, \nor State, in consultation with appropriate committees of the Congress, \nconsumer and business groups, States and political subdivisions \nthereof, and other appropriate groups, shall--\n (1) undertake an examination of United States domestic and \n international taxation of the Internet and interactive computer \n services, as well as commerce conducted thereon; and\n (2) jointly submit appropriate policy recommendations \n concerning United States domestic and foreign policies toward \n taxation of the Internet and interactive computer services, if \n any, to the President within 18 months after the date of \n enactment of this Act.\n (b) President.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment \nof this Act, the President shall transmit to the appropriate committees \nof Congress policy recommendations on the taxation of sales and other \ntransactions effected on the Internet or through interactive computer \nservices.\n (c) Recommendations to Be Consistent With Telecommunications Act \nof 1996 Policy Statement.--The Secretaries and the President shall take \ncare to ensure that any such policy recommendations are fully \nconsistent with the policy set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of \nsection 230(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(b)).\n\nSEC. 5. BAN ON REGULATION OF INTERNET PRICES BY THE FEDERAL \n COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Prohibition on Commission Regulation of Computer Services.--\nSection 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230) is \namended--\n (1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections \n (e) and (f), respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new \n subsection:\n ``(d) Prohibition on Commission Regulation of Computer Services.--\nThe Commission shall have no authority or jurisdiction under this Act, \nnor shall any State commission have any authority or jurisdiction, to \nregulate the prices or charges paid by subscribers for interactive \ncomputer services, or information services transmitted through the \nInternet, except for the requirement in section 254(h) that such \nservices be provided at affordable rates to rural health care \nproviders, schools, and libraries.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 223(h)(2) of the Communications \nAct of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 223(h)(2)) is amended by striking ``230(e)(2)'' \nand inserting ``230(f)(2)''.\n\nSEC. 6. DECLARATION THAT THE INTERNET BE FREE OF FOREIGN TARIFFS, TRADE \n BARRIERS, AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS.\n\n It is the sense of the Congress that the President should seek \nbilateral and multilateral agreements through the World Trade \nOrganization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and \nDevelopment, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, or other \nappropriate international fora to establish activity on the Internet \nand interactive computer services is free from tariff and taxation.\n\nSEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act--\n (1) Internet; interactive computer service.--The terms \n ``Internet'' and ``interactive computer service'' have the \n meaning given such terms by paragraphs (1) and (2), \n respectively, of section 230(e) of the Communications Act of \n 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(e)).\n (2) Tax.--The term ``tax'' includes any tax, license, or \n fee that is imposed by any governmental entity and the \n imposition on the seller of an obligation to collect and remit \n a tax imposed on the buyer.", "summary": "Internet Tax Freedom Act - Prohibits a State or local government from imposing, assessing, or attempting to collect any tax or fee on the Internet or interactive computer services (ICs) or on their use. Preserves State and local taxing authority with respect to income, license, and sales taxes. \nDirects the Secretaries of the Treasury, Commerce, or State to: (1) undertake an examination of U.S. and international taxation of the Internet and ICs, as well as commerce conducted thereon; and (2) jointly submit to the President appropriate policy recommendations concerning such taxation. Directs the President to transmit to the appropriate congressional committees policy recommendations on the taxation of sales and other transactions effected on the Internet or through ICs. Requires all such recommendations to be consistent with policy statements of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. \nAmends the Communications Act of 1934 to state that the Federal Communications Commission or any equivalent State commission shall have no regulatory authority or jurisdiction with respect to charges paid by subscribers for ICs or information services transmitted through the Internet, except for the requirement that such services be provided at affordable rates to rural health care providers, schools, and libraries. \nExpresses the sense of the Congress that the President should seek bilateral and multilateral agreements through various international forums to establish that activity on the Internet and ICs be free from tariff and taxation.", "title": "Internet Tax Freedom Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2763, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Coastal and Estuarine Land \nProtection Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Coastal and estuarine areas provide important nursery \n habitat for two-thirds of the United States commercial fish and \n shellfish, provide nesting and foraging habitat for coastal \n birds, harbor significant natural plant communities, and serve \n to facilitate coastal flood control and pollutant filtration.\n (2) The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 \n et seq.) recognizes the national importance of these areas and \n their ecological vulnerability to anthropogenic activities by \n establishing a comprehensive Federal and State partnership for \n protecting natural reserves and managing growth in these areas.\n (3) The National Estuarine Research Reserve system \n established under that Act relies on the protection of pristine \n designated areas for long-term protection and for the conduct \n of education and research critical to the protection and \n conservation of coastal and estuarine resources.\n (4) Intense development pressures within the coastal \n watershed are driving the need to provide coastal managers with \n a wider range of tools to protect and conserve important \n coastal and estuarine areas.\n (5) Protection of undeveloped coastal lands through the \n acquisition of interests in property from a willing seller are \n a cost-effective means of providing these areas with permanent \n protection from development.\n (6) Permanent protection of lands in the coastal zone is a \n necessary component of any program to maintain and enhance \n coastal and estuarine areas for the benefit of the United \n States, including protection of water quality, access to public \n beachfront, conserving wildlife habitat, and sustaining sport \n and commercial fisheries.\n (7) Federal, State, and nongovernmental organization pilot \n land acquisition projects have already substantially \n contributed to the long-term health and viability of coastal \n and estuarine systems.\n (8) Enhanced protection of estuarine and coastal areas can \n be attained through watershed-based acquisition strategies \n coordinated through Federal, State, regional, and local \n efforts.\n (9) Conserving coastal and estuarine lands can support the \n traditional economic and natural resource bases of communities \n in the coastal watershed, including well-managed forests that \n demonstrate outstanding ecological, recreational, historical, \n and aesthetic attributes.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COASTAL AND ESTUARINE LAND PROTECTION PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--\n (1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Commerce shall \n establish a Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Program \n (hereinafter referred to as the ``program''), in cooperation \n with appropriate State, regional, and other units of Government \n for the purposes of protecting the environmental integrity of \n important coastal and estuarine areas, including wetlands and \n forests, that have significant conservation, recreation, \n ecological, historical, aesthetic, or watershed protection \n values, and that are threatened by conversion from their \n natural, undeveloped, or recreational state to other uses.\n (2) Administration.--The program shall be administered by \n the National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and \n Atmospheric Administration through the head of the Office of \n Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.\n (b) Property Acquisition Grants.--The Secretary shall make grants \nunder the program to coastal States with approved coastal zone \nmanagement plans or National Estuarine Research Reserve units for the \npurpose of acquiring property or interests in property described in \nsubsection (a) that will further the goals of--\n (1) a Coastal Zone Management Plan or Program approved \n under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 \n et seq.);\n (2) a National Estuarine Research Reserve management plan; \n or\n (3) a regional or State watershed protection plan involving \n coastal States with approved coastal zone management plans.\n (c) Grant Process.--The Secretary shall allocate grants authorized \nunder subsection (b) to coastal States or National Estuarine Research \nReserves through a competitive grant process in accordance with the \nfollowing requirements:\n (1) The Secretary shall consult with the State's coastal \n zone management program, any National Estuarine Research \n Reserve in that State, and the lead agency designated by the \n Governor for coordinating the implementation of this Act (if \n different from the coastal zone management program).\n (2) Each participating State, after consultation with \n nongovernmental and local governmental entities, shall identify \n priority conservation needs within the State, the values to be \n protected by inclusion of lands in the program, and the threats \n to those values that should be avoided.\n (3) Each participating State shall evaluate how the \n acquisition of property or easements might impact working \n waterfront needs.\n (4) The applicant shall identify the values to be protected \n by inclusion of the lands in the program, management activities \n that are planned and the manner in which they may affect the \n values identified, and any other information from the landowner \n relevant to administration and management of the land.\n (5) Awards shall be based on demonstrated need for \n protection and ability to successfully leverage funds among \n participating entities, including Federal programs, regional \n organizations, State and other governmental units, landowners, \n corporations, or private organizations.\n (6) The governor of the State, or the lead agency \n designated by the governor for coordinating the implementation \n of this Act, shall determine that the application is consistent \n with the State's or territory's approved coastal zone plan, \n program, and policies prior to submittal to the Secretary.\n (7) Priority shall be given to lands described in \n subsection (a) that can be effectively managed and protected \n and that have significant ecological or watershed protection \n value.\n (8) In developing guidelines under this section, the \n Secretary shall consult with other Federal agencies and non-\n governmental entities with expertise in land acquisition and \n conservation procedures.\n (9) Eligible States or National Estuarine Research Reserves \n may allocate grants to local governments or agencies eligible \n for assistance under section 306A(e) of the Coastal Zone \n Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1455a(e)) and may acquire \n lands in cooperation with nongovernmental entities and Federal \n agencies.\n (10) The Secretary shall develop measures that will ensure \n that property or interests in property acquired in whole or in \n part through the use of funds under the program are acquired \n only from willing sellers.\n (11) The Secretary shall develop performance measures that \n the Secretary shall use to evaluate and report on the program's \n effectiveness in accomplishing its purposes, and shall submit \n such evaluations to Congress not less often than once every 3 \n years.\n (d) Matching Requirements.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary may not make a grant of \n Federal funds under the program unless such Federal funds are \n matched by non-Federal funds in accordance with this \n subsection.\n (2) Maximum federal share.--\n (A) 75 percent federal funds.--Subject to \n subparagraph (B), not more than 75 percent of the \n funding for any project funded with a grant made under \n the program shall be derived from Federal sources.\n (B) Waiver of requirement.--The Secretary may grant \n a waiver of the limitation in subparagraph (A) for \n underserved communities, communities that have an \n inability to draw on other sources of funding because \n of the small population or low income of the community, \n or for other reasons the Secretary deems appropriate.\n (3) Other federal funds.--If a grant awarded under the \n program represents only a portion of the total cost of a \n project, funding from other Federal sources may be applied to \n the cost of the project. Each portion shall be subject to match \n requirements under the applicable provision of law.\n (4) Source of matching cost share.--For purposes of \n paragraph (2)(A), the non-Federal cost share for a project may \n be determined by taking into account the following:\n (A) The value of land or a conservation easement \n may be used as non-Federal match if the lands are \n identified in project plans and acquired within 3 years \n prior to the submission of the project application or \n after the submission of a project application until the \n project grant is closed (not to exceed 3 years). The \n appraised value of the land at the time of project \n closing will be considered the non-Federal cost share. \n The value of land that is held by a nongovernmental \n organization may be used for such purpose if it is held \n in perpetuity by a qualified conservation organization, \n as determined by the Secretary.\n (B) Costs associated with land acquisition, land \n management planning, remediation, restoration, and \n enhancement may be used as non-Federal match if the \n activities are identified in the plan and expenses are \n incurred within the period of the grant award, or, for \n lands described in (A), within the same time limits \n described therein. These costs may include either cash \n or in-kind contributions.\n (e) Reservation of Funds for National Estuarine Research Reserve \nSites.--No less than 15 percent of funds made available under the \nprogram shall be available for acquisitions benefitting National \nEstuarine Research Reserves.\n (f) Limit on Administrative Costs.--No more than 5 percent of the \nfunds made available to the Secretary under this section shall be used \nby the Secretary for planning or administration of the program. The \nSecretary shall provide a report to Congress with an account of all \nexpenditures under this section for fiscal year 2009 and not less often \nthan once every 3 years thereafter.\n (g) Title and Management of Acquired Property.--If any property is \nacquired in whole or in part with funds made available through a grant \nunder the program, the grant recipient shall provide such assurances as \nthe Secretary may require that--\n (1) the title to the property will be held by the grant \n recipient or another appropriate public agency designated by \n the recipient in perpetuity;\n (2) the property will be managed in a manner that is \n consistent with the purposes for which the land entered into \n the program and shall not convert such property to other uses; \n and\n (3) if the property or interest in land is sold, exchanged, \n or divested, funds equal to the correct value will be returned \n to the Secretary in accordance with applicable Federal law for \n re-distribution in the grant process.\n (h) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Coastal state.--The term ``coastal State'' has the \n meaning given that term by section 304(4) of the Coastal Zone \n Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453(4)).\n (2) Conservation easement.--The term ``conservation \n easement'' includes an easement or restriction, recorded deed, \n or a reserve interest deed where the grantee acquires all \n rights, title, and interest in a property, that do not conflict \n with the goals of this Act except those rights, title, and \n interests that may run with the land that are expressly \n reserved by a grantor and are agreed to at the time of \n purchase.\n (3) Interest in property.--The term ``interest in \n property'' includes a conservation easement.\n (4) Other terms.--Any term used in this section that is \n defined in section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of \n 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453) has the meaning given that term in that \n section.\n (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry \nout this Act for fiscal years 2009 through 2013.", "summary": "Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Program to protect the environmental integrity of undeveloped coastal and estuarine areas. Requires the program to be administered by the National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. Authorizes the Secretary to make Program grants to coastal states with approved coastal zone management plans or National Estuarine Research Reserve units for the purpose of acquiring property that will further the goals of an approved Coastal Zone Management Plan or Program, a National Estuarine Research Reserve management plan, or a regional or state watershed protection plan.\n\nProhibits any more than 75% of the funding for any project funded with a grant made under the program from being derived from federal sources.\n\nReserves 15% of program funds for acquisitions benefitting the National Estuarine Research Reserve.\n\nSpecifies that when property is acquired under this program, the grant recipient shall provide assurances that: (1) title will be held by the recipient or another public agency designated by the recipient in perpetuity; (2) property will be managed consistent with the purpose of the Program; and (3) funds will be returned to the Secretary for redistribution if the property is sold, exchanged, or divested.", "title": "A bill to authorize the acquisition of interests in undeveloped coastal areas in order better to ensure their protection from development and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3081, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Patient Health and Real Medication \nAccess Cost Savings Act of 2009'' or the ``PHARMACY Bill''.\n\nSEC. 2. PATIENT CHOICE.\n\n A consumer shall have the right to choose to purchase prescription \ndrugs from any domestic pharmacy that meets all applicable Federal and \nState licence and permit requirements.\n\nSEC. 3. REGULATION OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS.\n\n Not later than January 1, 2011, the Secretary of Health and Human \nServices shall issue regulations to ensure the following:\n (1) Access to and choice of pharmacy.--\n (A) Incentives.--A pharmacy benefit manager \n (referred to in this section as a ``PBM'') may not \n provide incentives (including variations in premiums, \n deductibles, co-payments, or co-insurance rates) to \n enrollees of pharmacy benefit plans administered by \n such PBM for the purpose of encouraging such enrollees \n to use certain pharmacies (including mail order \n pharmacies, speciality drug pharmacies, or other \n entities) unless the PBM offers the same incentives for \n all pharmacies in the network for such plan.\n (B) Mandates.--A PBM may not refer, coerce, or \n mandate that an enrollee of a pharmacy benefit plan \n administered by such PBM use a specific mail order \n pharmacy, specialty drug pharmacy, or other entity--\n (i) if the PBM has an ownership interest in \n a such pharmacy or entity; or\n (ii) if the pharmacy or entity has an \n ownership interest in such PBM.\n (C) Pharmacy networks.--A PBM or pharmacy benefit \n plan sponsor may not exclude a pharmacy from a pharmacy \n network if--\n (i) the pharmacy agrees to the terms of the \n network contract;\n (ii) the pharmacy meets all applicable \n Federal and State licence and permit \n requirements; and\n (iii) the owners of the pharmacy have not \n been convicted of a Federal crime related to \n owning or managing a pharmacy.\n (2) Encourage generic drugs.--\n (A) Cost to consumers.--\n (i) In general.--Subject to clause (iii), a \n PBM shall ensure that enrollees of pharmacy \n benefit plans administered by such a PBM pay a \n copayment of 20 percent for brand name drugs, \n not to exceed a maximum amount of $150 per \n prescription.\n (ii) Annual updates to amount.--The maximum \n amount under clause (i) shall be updated \n annually for inflation based on the consumer \n price index.\n (iii) Exception for state medicaid \n programs.--Clause (i) shall not apply to a PBM \n with respect to enrollees of a State Medicaid \n program that limits or prohibits copayments for \n prescription drugs.\n (B) Payments to pharmacies.--\n (i) In general.--With respect to a pharmacy \n benefit plan that is at least partially funded \n with Federal funds, the PBM administering such \n plan shall reimburse a pharmacy that is in the \n network for such a plan at least--\n (I) 107 percent of the Wholesale \n Acquisition Cost plus a minimum \n professional dispensing fee of $4.25 \n for a prescription for a brand-name \n drug;\n (II) 190 percent of the Federal \n Upper Limit plus a minimum professional \n dispensing fee of $8.50 for a \n prescription for a generic drug; and\n (III) a professional service fee \n for any additional pharmacy services \n provided by the pharmacy, in an amount \n set by the Secretary of Health and \n Human Services.\n (ii) Adjustment for inflation.--The \n professional dispensing fees under clause (i) \n shall be adjusted annually for inflation, based \n on the consumer price index.\n (3) Payments and charges between pbms and pharmacy benefit \n plan sponsors.--\n (A) Payments.--A PBM shall be reimbursed by a \n pharmacy benefit plan sponsor for adjudicating and \n processing claims in behalf of such sponsor at a rate \n that is determined by such sponsor.\n (B) Charges to pharmacy benefit plan sponsors for \n drugs dispensed to plan enrollees.--The amount that a \n PBM charges a pharmacy benefit plan sponsor for a drug \n that is dispensed to enrollee of a pharmacy benefit \n plan administered by such PBM may not be greater than \n the amount that the PBM paid the pharmacy for such drug \n (including any associated professional dispensing fee).\n (4) Treatment of drug manufacturer rebates.--\n (A) No rebates to pbms.--A manufacturer of \n prescription drugs--\n (i) shall pay all rebates, as defined in \n section 5(6), directly to the pharmacy benefit \n plan sponsor; and\n (ii) shall not pay such rebates to a PBM.\n (B) Negotiation allowed.--A PBM may negotiate \n rebate amounts with a manufacturer of prescription \n drugs on behalf of a pharmacy benefit plan sponsor.\n (5) Provision of cost information to physicians.--In the \n case that the premium, deductible, co-payments, co-insurance, \n or other insurance-related charge under a pharmacy benefit plan \n is underwritten, in whole or in part, by a Federal, State, or \n local government, the pharmacy benefit plan sponsor shall \n provide a list of the wholesale acquisition costs of the top \n 500 most frequently prescribed drugs to physicians who are \n licenced to prescribe drugs and who provide treatment to \n enrollees in such a plan.\n (6) Treatment of pharmacists as professional health care \n providers.--Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 \n U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended--\n (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph \n (DD);\n (B) by adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph \n (EE); and\n (C) by inserting after subparagraph (EE), the \n following new subparagraph:\n ``(FF) pharmacist services;''.\n\nSEC. 4. PHARMACEUTICAL ACCESS PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Establishment.--Not later than January 1, 2011, the Secretary \nof Health and Human Services shall establish a pharmaceutical access \nprogram to provide affordable access to prescription drugs to \nindividuals who receive drug benefits under Federal programs (except \nfor the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act).\n (b) Eligibility.--Any individual in a State shall be eligible to \nenroll in the program under subsection (a).\n (c) Fees.--\n (1) In general.--A pharmacy that dispenses prescription \n drugs in the United States shall remit to the Secretary of \n Health and Human Services--\n (A) $0.50 for each prescription dispensed by such \n pharmacy for a brand name drug; and\n (B) $1.00 for each prescription dispensed by such \n pharmacy for a generic drug.\n (2) Treatment for inflation.--The fees under paragraph (1) \n shall be adjusted annually for inflation, based on the consumer \n price index.\n (3) Treatment of medicaid programs.--The rule under \n paragraph (1) shall not apply to drugs dispensed under a State \n Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act.\n (4) Increase in professional dispensing fee for private \n plans.--The professional dispensing fee paid to pharmacies by a \n pharmacy benefit plan that is not funded by any Federal funds \n shall be increased by such plan sponsor--\n (A) by $0.50 for each brand name prescription; and\n (B) by $1.00 for each generic prescription.\n (d) Use of Funds.--Funds generated under subsection (c) shall be \nused solely to provide affordable access to prescription drugs to low-\nincome individuals who have enrolled in the program under subsection \n(a).\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act: \n (1) Brand name drugs.--The term ``brand name drug'' means a \n prescription drug that is under patent by the drug's original \n manufacturer and is protected from competition by other \n manufacturers of prescription drugs.\n (2) Generic drug.--The term ``generic drug'' means a \n prescription drug that has lost patient protection provided to \n a single manufacturer or multiple manufacturers and is widely \n available from multiple manufacturers.\n (3) Pharmacy benefit plan.--The term ``pharmacy benefit \n plan'' means an insurance plan or insurance coverage that \n provides benefits for prescription drugs, including a group \n health plan (as such term is defined in section 733(a) of the \n Patient Health and Real Medication Access Cost Savings Act of \n 2009 (29 U.S.C. 1191b(a))) that provides prescription drug \n benefits.\n (4) Professional dispensing fee.--The term ``professional \n dispensing fee'' means the fee paid for the dispensing of a \n drug by the pharmacist and excludes any reimbursement for the \n cost of the drug.\n (5) Professional service fee.--The term ``professional \n service fee'' means a fee paid to a pharmacy for professional \n services preformed by a pharmacist, excluding dispensing drugs \n and any reimbursement for the cost of the drug. Such term may \n include medication reviews, injections, and cholesterol checks.\n (6) Rebate.--The term ``rebate'' means any item of value, \n including monetary value, that is distributed by the \n manufacturer conditional upon the receipt of a payment for \n drugs produced by such manufacturer.", "summary": "Patient Health and Real Medication Access Cost Savings Act of 2009 or the PHARMACY Bill - Declares that a consumer shall have the right to choose to purchase prescription drugs from any domestic pharmacy that meets all applicable federal and state license and permit requirements.\n\nDirects the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue regulations that: (1) prohibit a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) from providing incentives to, encouraging, or requiring pharmacy benefit plan enrollees to use certain pharmacies or from excluding an eligible pharmacy from a plan's pharmacy network; (2) require a PBM to ensure that pharmacy benefit plan enrollees pay a specified copayment for brand name drugs; (3) require a PBM to reimburse a pharmacy in the network of a pharmacy benefit plan that is federally funded, at specified rates, for brand-name drugs, generic drugs, and additional professional services; (4) require a PBM to be reimbursed by a pharmacy benefit plan sponsor for adjudicating and processing claims; (5) limit the amount that a PBM charges a pharmacy benefit plan sponsor for a drug that is dispensed to enrollees to the amount the PBM paid the pharmacy for such drug; (6) require a manufacturer of prescription drugs to pay all rebates directly to the pharmacy benefit plan sponsor and not to a PBM; and (7) require a pharmacy benefit plan sponsor to provide a list of the wholesale acquisition costs of the top 500 most frequently prescribed drugs to physicians in a plan any insurance-related charge of which is underwritten by a federal, state, or local government.\n\nAmends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to include pharmacist services as \"medical and other health services\" under Medicare.\n\nDirects the Secretary, by January 1, 2011, to establish a pharmaceutical access program to provide affordable prescription drugs to individuals who receive drug benefits under federal programs (except Medicaid). Requires: (1) a pharmacy that dispenses prescription drugs in the United States to remit to the Secretary 50 cents for each brand name prescription and $1.00 for generic drug prescription dispensed; and (2) the sponsor of a pharmacy benefit plan that is not federally funded to increase the professional dispensing fee paid to pharmacies by the same amounts. Requires the use of funds generated from such fees to provide affordable access to prescription drugs to low-income individuals who have enrolled in the program.", "title": "To ensure patient choice in pharmacies by regulating pharmacy benefit managers and to establish a program to improve access to prescription drugs for certain individuals."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 314, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Bioterror and Pandemic Preparedness \nProtection Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. LIABILITY PROTECTIONS FOR PANDEMICS, EPIDEMICS, AND \n COUNTERMEASURES.\n\n Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by \ninserting after section 319F-2 (42 U.S.C. 247d-6b) the following:\n\n``SEC. 319A-3. LIABILITY PROTECTIONS FOR PANDEMICS, EPIDEMICS, AND \n SECURITY COUNTERMEASURES.\n\n ``(a) Authority.--The Secretary shall be solely and exclusively \nresponsible for the administration of this section. This section shall \napply with respect to the design, development, clinical testing and \ninvestigation, manufacture, labeling, distribution, sale, purchase, \ndonation, dispensing, administration, or use of a security \ncountermeasure or a qualified pandemic or epidemic product.\n ``(b) Litigation Management.--\n ``(1) Federal cause of action.--\n ``(A) In general.--There shall exist an exclusive \n Federal cause of action for all claims arising out of, \n relating to, or resulting from the design, development, \n clinical testing and investigation, manufacture, \n labeling, distribution, sale, purchase, donation, \n dispensing, administration, and use of a qualified \n pandemic or epidemic product or a security \n countermeasure as provided for in clauses (i) and (ii) \n of paragraph (2)(B).\n ``(B) Action.--With respect to the Federal cause of \n action provided in subparagraph (A)--\n ``(i) an action may be commenced solely and \n exclusively against the United States for \n claims identified in subparagraph (A) that are \n against a manufacturer, distributor, or health \n care provider;\n ``(ii) no cause of action shall be \n maintained against a manufacturer, distributor, \n or health care provider for claims identified \n in subparagraph (A); and\n ``(iii) for products subject to designation \n by the Secretary as provided for in clause (ii) \n of paragraph (2)(B), the protections set forth \n in clauses (i) and (ii) shall apply to all \n claims identified in subparagraph (A) that \n involve products sold, purchased, donated, \n dispensed, or administered during the effective \n period set forth in the designation provided \n for in paragraph (2)(F), regardless of the date \n of alleged injury.\n ``(C) Jurisdiction.--The United States District \n Court for the District of Columbia shall have sole and \n exclusive jurisdiction over any claim for loss of \n property, personal injury, or death arising out of, \n relating to, or resulting from the design, development, \n clinical testing and investigation, manufacture, \n labeling, distribution, sale, purchase, donation, \n dispensing, administration, or use of a qualified \n pandemic or epidemic product or security countermeasure \n as provided for in clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph \n (2)(B).\n ``(2) Affirmative defense.--\n ``(A) In general.--There shall be a rebuttable \n presumption that the Federal Government is immune from \n liability in an action described in subparagraph (B).\n ``(B) Action described.--An action described in \n this subparagraph is an action that is commenced \n against the United States for claims arising out of, \n relating to, or resulting from the design, development, \n clinical testing and investigation, manufacture, \n labeling, distribution, sale, purchase, donation, \n dispensing, administration, or use of--\n ``(i) a security countermeasure that has \n been procured for the National Strategic \n Stockpile under section 319F-2 or a qualified \n pandemic or epidemic product that has been \n procured by the Secretary; or\n ``(ii) a security countermeasure or \n qualified pandemic or epidemic product in \n anticipation of and preparation for, in defense \n against, or in response or recovery to an \n actual or potential public health emergency, \n that is a security countermeasure or is \n designated as a qualified pandemic or epidemic \n product by the Secretary after the Secretary \n declared a public health emergency as described \n in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 319(a).\n ``(C) Rebuttability.--\n ``(i) In general.--The presumption \n described in subparagraph (A) shall be overcome \n by a determination by the Secretary as provided \n for in subparagraph (D).\n ``(ii) Investigation by secretary.--A party \n seeking a determination under subparagraph (D) \n may petition the Secretary to investigate \n claims against a manufacturer, distributor, \n dispenser, or health care provider arising out \n of, relating to, or resulting from the design, \n development, clinical testing and \n investigation, manufacture, labeling, \n distribution, sale, purchase, donation, \n dispensing, administration, or use of products \n as provided for in clauses (i) and (ii) of \n subparagraph (B). The decision to undertake \n such investigation shall be within the \n Secretary's discretion and shall not be subject \n to judicial review.\n ``(D) Determination by secretary.--\n ``(i) In general.--In making a \n determination under this subparagraph, the \n Secretary must find clear and convincing \n evidence that the manufacturer, distributor, or \n health care provider intentionally or with \n willful disregard violated a provision of the \n Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. \n 301 et seq.) or this Act and such violation--\n ``(I) caused the product to present \n a significant risk to health; and\n ``(II) proximately caused the \n injury alleged by the petitioner.\n ``(ii) Notice and hearing.--Prior to the \n Secretary's making a determination under clause \n (i), the manufacturer, distributor, dispenser, \n or health care provider shall have notice and a \n right to a formal hearing in accordance with \n section 556 of title 5, United States Code.\n ``(iii) Judicial review.--At any time prior \n to the 90th day following a determination by \n the Secretary under clause (i) of this \n subparagraph, any manufacturer, distributor, or \n health care provider who will be adversely \n affected by such determination may file a \n petition with the United States Court of \n Appeals for the circuit wherein such person \n resides or has his principal place of business, \n for a judicial review of such determination. A \n copy of the petition shall be forthwith \n transmitted by the clerk of the court to the \n Secretary or other officer designated by the \n Secretary for that purpose. The Secretary \n thereupon shall file in the court the record of \n the findings on which the Secretary based his \n or her determination. The filing of a petition \n under this clause shall automatically stay the \n Secretary's determination for the duration of \n the judicial proceeding. The sole parties to \n the judicial proceeding shall be the Secretary \n and the petitioner. Intervention by third \n parties in the judicial proceeding shall not be \n permitted. No subpoenas shall be issued nor \n shall other compulsory process apply. The \n court's review of a determination by the \n Secretary under this clause shall conform to \n the procedures for judicial review of \n administrative orders set forth in paragraphs \n (2) through (6) of section 371(f) of title 21, \n United States Code, to the extent consistent \n with this section.\n ``(E) Scope.--The presumption under subparagraph \n (A) shall apply regardless of whether the claim against \n the United States arises from the design, development, \n clinical testing and investigation, manufacture, \n labeling, distribution, sale, purchase, donation, \n dispensing, administration, or use by the Federal \n Government or by non-Federal Government customers.\n ``(F) Designation.--In any declaration of a public \n health emergency under section 319, the Secretary shall \n identify the pandemic, epidemic, or biological, \n chemical, nuclear agent, or toxin that presents, or may \n present, a public health emergency and shall designate \n the security countermeasure(s) or qualified pandemic or \n epidemic product(s) to be sold by, purchased from, or \n donated by a manufacturer or drawn from the National \n Strategic Stockpile and shall specify in such \n designation the beginning and ending dates of such \n sale, purchase, donation, or use from the stockpile. \n The period so defined shall be the effective period of \n such qualification for any products specified in the \n designation. The declaration shall subsequently be \n amended to reflect any additional sale, purchase, or \n donation of products specified in the designation.\n ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) Health care provider.--The term `health care \n provider' means a person, including a volunteer, who lawfully \n prescribes, administers, dispenses, or provides a facility to \n administer a security countermeasure or a qualified pandemic or \n epidemic product, including persons who prescribe, administer, \n or provide a facility to administer in accordance with a \n designation under subsection (b)(2)(F).\n ``(2) Loss.--The term `loss' means death, bodily injury, or \n loss of or damage to property, including business interruption \n loss.\n ``(3) Non-federal government customers.--The term `non-\n Federal Government customers' means any customer of a \n manufacturer that is not an agency or instrumentality for the \n United States Government with authority under Public Law 85-804 \n to provide for indemnification under certain circumstances for \n third-party claims against its contractors, including a State, \n a local authority, a private entity, a health care provider, or \n an individual.\n ``(4) Qualified pandemic or epidemic product.--The term \n `qualified pandemic or epidemic product' means a drug (as such \n term is defined in section 201(g)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, \n and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1))), biological product (as \n such term is defined by section 351(i) of this Act) or device \n (as such term is defined by section 201(h) of the Federal food, \n Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(h))) designed, developed, \n modified, or procured to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat, or \n cure a pandemic or epidemic or limit the harm such pandemic or \n epidemic might otherwise cause or a serious or life-threatening \n disease or condition caused by such a product, that--\n ``(A) is approved or cleared under chapter V of the \n Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or licensed under \n section 351 of this Act;\n ``(B) is a product for which the Secretary \n determines that sufficient and satisfactory clinical \n experience or research data (including data, if \n available, from pre-clinical and clinical trials) \n support a reasonable conclusion that the countermeasure \n will qualify for approval or licensing within 8 years \n after the date the Secretary declares a public health \n emergency as described in paragraph (1) or (2) of \n section 319(a); or\n ``(C) is authorized by the Secretary under this \n section, except that the Secretary may authorize under \n this section the emergency use of a product only if, \n after consultation with the Director of the National \n Institutes of Health and the Director of the Centers \n for Disease Control and Prevention (to the extent \n feasible and appropriate given the circumstances of the \n emergency involved), the Secretary concludes--\n ``(i) that an agent or toxin identified in \n a declaration described under subsection (b) \n can cause a serious or life-threatening disease \n or condition;\n ``(ii) that, based on the totality of the \n scientific evidence available to the Secretary, \n including data from adequate and well-\n controlled clinical trials, if available, it is \n reasonable to believe that--\n ``(I) the product may be effective \n in diagnosing, mitigating, preventing, \n treating or curing--\n ``(aa) a pandemic or \n epidemic; or\n ``(bb) a serious or life-\n threatening disease or \n condition caused by a product; \n and\n ``(II) the known and potential \n benefits of the product, when used to \n diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat or \n cure such disease or condition, \n outweigh the known and potential risks \n of the product;\n ``(iii) that there is no adequate, \n approved, and available alternative to the \n product for diagnosing, mitigating, preventing, \n treating or curing such disease or condition; \n and\n ``(iv) that such other criteria as the \n Secretary may by regulation prescribe are \n satisfied.\n ``(5) Security countermeasure.--The term `security \n countermeasure' has the meaning given such term in section \n 319F-2(c)(1)(B).''.\n\nSEC. 3. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.\n\n Section 319(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d \n(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ``, or may present,'' after \n``present''.", "summary": "Bioterror and Pandemic Preparedness Protection Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish an exclusive federal cause of action for all claims relating to a qualified pandemic or epidemic product or a security countermeasure.\n\nRestricts all causes of action for such claims against a manufacturer, distributor, or health care provider and instead provides for sole and exclusive action against the United States. Gives jurisdiction over such an action to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.\n\nEstablishes a rebuttable presumption of immunity for the federal government in any such action concerning: (1) a security countermeasure that has been procured for the National Strategic Stockpile; (2) a qualified pandemic or epidemic product that has been procured by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; or (3) a security countermeasure or designated qualified pandemic or epidemic product relating to an actual or potential public health emergency.\n\nAllows a party to petition the Secretary to investigate claims against a manufacturer, distributor, dispenser, or heath care provider. Disallows judicial review of the Secretary's decision as to whether to undertake such an investigation.\n\nDeclares that the immunity presumption shall be overcome by a determination by the Secretary, by finding clear and convincing evidence, that the manufacturer, distributor, or health care provider intentionally or with willful disregard violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or this Act and that such violation: (1) caused the product to present a significant health risk; and (2) proximately caused the injury alleged by the petitioner.", "title": "A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide protections for first responders."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2974, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Balanced Trade Act of 2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS OF CONGRESS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Since 1997, the United States current account deficit, \n the broadest measure of United States international trade, has \n grown substantially, both absolutely and relative to gross \n domestic product (GDP), increasing from $140,400,000,000 in \n 1997 (1.7 percent of GDP) to $791,000,000,000 in 2005 (6.3 \n percent of GDP).\n (2) Strong manufacturing and agricultural sectors are \n important to nurturing and sustaining the health and security \n of the Nation's economy. The persistent current account deficit \n weakens United States manufacturing and agriculture and causes \n the loss of United States jobs. It can be estimated that the \n 2005 merchandise trade deficit cost the United States up to \n 15,000,000 jobs.\n (3) The direction and trend of the current account deficit \n is unsustainable in the long run and needs immediate corrective \n action.\n (4) It is critical to the Nation's economic future that the \n current account deficit be addressed by adopting statutory \n changes that will eliminate some of the causes of the trade \n deficit and will begin to move the Nation to a positive trade \n balance.\n\nSEC. 3. MANDATORY PRESIDENTIAL ACTION WHENEVER THE UNITED STATES \n CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT EXCEEDS 2 PERCENT OF THE UNITED \n STATES GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.\n\n Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2132) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (h) as (d) \n through (i), respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new \n subsection (c):\n ``(c) Mandatory Presidential Proclamation of Temporary Import \nSurcharge Whenever the United States Current Account Deficit Exceeds 2 \nPercent of the Gross Domestic Product.--\n ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding the provisions of \n subsections (a) and (b), whenever there is a United States \n current account deficit that exceeds 2 percent of the gross \n domestic product, then--\n ``(A) for purposes of subsection (a), the President \n shall determine that fundamental international payments \n problems do exist that require special import measures \n to restrict imports; and\n ``(B) within 30 days after making that \n determination, the President shall proclaim, for the \n period described in paragraph (2), a temporary import \n surcharge under this subsection in the form of duties \n (in addition to those already imposed, if any) on \n articles imported into the United States.\n ``(2) Period of surcharge.--The period of the surcharge \n proclaimed under this subsection is the period beginning on the \n date on which the surcharge is proclaimed and ending on the \n date on which there is not a United States current account \n deficit, or there is a United States current account deficit \n that does not exceed 1 percent of the gross domestic product.\n ``(3) Amount of surcharge.--\n ``(A) Minimum.--The amount of the surcharge \n proclaimed under this subsection shall be not less than \n 20 percent ad valorem.\n ``(B) Adjustment to ensure period of not more than \n 24 months.--Subject to subparagraph (A), the amount of \n the surcharge shall be adequate to ensure that the \n period in which the surcharge applies (as described in \n paragraph (2)) is not more than 24 months. Whenever the \n President determines that the amount of the surcharge \n is inadequate to ensure that the period in which the \n surcharge applies is not more than 24 months, the \n President shall increase the amount by at least 1 \n percent.\n ``(4) Data used in making determinations.--Each \n determination under this subsection shall be made using the \n most recently available information for a 1-year period \n compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department \n of Commerce.\n ``(5) Exceptions.--\n ``(A) Country exemptions.--Subsection (e)(2) \n applies to a surcharge proclaimed under this subsection \n to the same extent that it applies to an import \n restricting action proclaimed pursuant to subsection \n (a).\n ``(B) Product exceptions.--Subsection (f) applies \n to a surcharge proclaimed under this subsection to the \n same extent that it applies to an import restricting \n action proclaimed pursuant to subsection (a).''.", "summary": "Balanced Trade Act of 2006 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the President whenever there is a trade deficit that exceeds 2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) to: (1) restrict imports; and (2) proclaim, for a determined period, a temporary import surcharge of not less than 20% ad valorem on articles imported into the United States. (Currently, the President has the authority to temporarily impose import surcharges (not to exceed 15% ad valorem) and import restrictions on articles in certain situations of fundamental international payments problems.)", "title": "To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to require the President to make a determination that a fundamental international payments problem exists and to proclaim a temporary import surcharge whenever the United States current account deficit exceeds 2 percent of the United States Gross Domestic Product."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 333, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Medical School \nAccountability Fairness Act of 2013''.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSE.\n\n To establish consistent eligibility requirements for graduate \nmedical schools operating outside of the United States and Canada in \norder to increase accountability and protect American students and \ntaxpayer dollars.\n\nSEC. 3. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Three for-profit schools in the Caribbean receive more \n than two-thirds of all Federal funding under title IV of the \n Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) that goes \n to students enrolled at foreign graduate medical schools, \n despite those three schools being exempt from meeting the same \n eligibility requirements as the majority of graduate medical \n schools located outside of the United States and Canada.\n (2) The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and \n Accreditation and the Department of Education recommend that \n all foreign graduate medical schools should be required to meet \n the same eligibility requirements to participate in Federal \n funding under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 \n U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) and see no rationale for excluding certain \n schools.\n (3) The attrition rate at United States medical schools \n averaged 3 percent for the class beginning in 2009 while rates \n at for-profit Caribbean schools have reached 26 percent or \n higher.\n (4) In 2013, residency match rates for foreign trained \n graduates averaged 53 percent compared to 94 percent for \n graduates of medical schools in the United States.\n (5) On average, students at for-profit medical schools \n operating outside of the United States and Canada amass more \n student debt than those at medical schools in the United \n States.\n\nSEC. 4. REPEAL GRANDFATHER PROVISIONS.\n\n Section 102(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n1002(a)(2)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (i) and \n inserting the following:\n ``(i) in the case of a graduate medical \n school located outside the United States--\n ``(I) at least 60 percent of those \n enrolled in, and at least 60 percent of \n the graduates of, the graduate medical \n school outside the United States were \n not persons described in section \n 484(a)(5) in the year preceding the \n year for which a student is seeking a \n loan under part D of title IV; and\n ``(II) at least 75 percent of the \n individuals who were students or \n graduates of the graduate medical \n school outside the United States or \n Canada (both nationals of the United \n States and others) taking the \n examinations administered by the \n Educational Commission for Foreign \n Medical Graduates received a passing \n score in the year preceding the year \n for which a student is seeking a loan \n under part D of title IV;''; and\n (2) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by adding at the end the \n following:\n ``(V) Expiration of authority.--The \n authority of a graduate medical school \n described in subclause (I) to qualify \n for participation in the loan programs \n under part D of title IV pursuant to \n this clause shall expire beginning on \n the first July 1 following the date of \n enactment of the Foreign Medical School \n Accountability Fairness Act of 2013.''.\n\nSEC. 5. LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY.\n\n If a graduate medical school loses eligibility to participate in \nthe loan programs under part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act \nof 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.) due to the enactment of the \namendments made by section 4, then a student enrolled at such graduate \nmedical school on or before the date of enactment of this Act may, \nnotwithstanding such loss of eligibility, continue to be eligible to \nreceive a loan under such part D while attending such graduate medical \nschool in which the student was enrolled upon the date of enactment of \nthis Act, subject to the student continuing to meet all applicable \nrequirements for satisfactory academic progress, until the earliest \nof--\n (1) withdrawal by the student from the graduate medical \n school;\n (2) completion of the program of study by the student at \n the graduate medical school; or\n (3) the fourth June 30 after such loss of eligibility.", "summary": "Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2013 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate the exemption of certain foreign medical schools from the prohibition on foreign medical schools participating in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program, unless: at least 60% of those enrolled in, and at least 60% of the graduates of, the foreign medical school during the preceding year were not citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States or were not in the United States with the intention of becoming citizens or permanent residents; and at least 75% of students or graduates of the medical school located outside the United States or Canada who took the examinations administered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates in the preceding year received a passing score. Preserves the Direct Loan eligibility of students who were enrolled at schools excepted from that prohibition on or before the date of this Act's enactment. ", "title": "Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2013"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 597, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``High School Data Transparency Act of \n2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. DISCLOSURE OF STATISTICS ON EQUALITY IN ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.\n\n Subpart 2 of part E of title IX of the Elementary and Secondary \nEducation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following:\n\n``SEC. 9537. DISCLOSURE OF STATISTICS ON EQUALITY IN ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall collect, annually, for the \nimmediately preceding academic year, from each coeducational secondary \nschool that receives Federal financial assistance that has an \ninterscholastic athletic program, the following information:\n ``(1) The total number of male and female students that \n attended the school, fully disaggregated and cross-tabulated by \n gender and race or ethnicity.\n ``(2) A listing of the teams that competed in athletic \n competition and for each such team the following data:\n ``(A) The season in which the team competed.\n ``(B) The total number of male and female \n participants as of the day of the first scheduled \n contest for the team, fully disaggregated and cross-\n tabulated by gender and race or ethnicity.\n ``(C) The total expenditures for the team, \n including the following data:\n ``(i) The travel expenditures.\n ``(ii) The equipment expenditures \n (including any equipment replacement schedule).\n ``(iii) The uniform expenditures (including \n any uniform replacement schedule).\n ``(iv) The expenditures for facilities, \n including medical facilities, locker rooms, \n fields, and gymnasiums.\n ``(v) The total number of trainers and \n medical personnel, and for each trainer or \n medical personnel an identification of such \n person's--\n ``(I) gender; and\n ``(II) employment status (including \n whether such person is assigned to the \n team full-time or part-time, and \n whether such person is a head or \n assistant trainer or medical services \n provider) and duties other than \n providing training or medical services.\n ``(vi) The expenditures for publicity for \n competitions.\n ``(D) The total number of coaches, and for each \n coach an identification of such coach's--\n ``(i) gender; and\n ``(ii) employment status (including whether \n such coach is assigned to the team full-time or \n part-time, and whether such coach is a head or \n assistant coach) and duties other than \n coaching.\n ``(E) The total number of competitive events (in \n regular and nontraditional seasons) scheduled, and for \n each an indication of what day of the week and time the \n competitive event was scheduled.\n ``(F) Whether such team participated in postseason \n competition, and the success of such team in any \n postseason competition.\n ``(b) Disclosure of Information to Students and Public.--A \ncoeducational secondary school described in subsection (a) shall--\n ``(1) make available to students and potential students, \n upon request, and to the public, the information contained in \n reports by the school under this section by October 15 for the \n previous school year; and\n ``(2) ensure that all students at the school are informed \n of their right to request such information.\n ``(c) Submission; Information Availability.--On an annual basis, \neach coeducational secondary school described in subsection (a) shall \nprovide the information contained in each report by the school under \nthis section to the Secretary not later than 15 days after the date \nthat the school makes such information available under subsection (b).\n ``(d) Duties of the Secretary.--The Secretary shall--\n ``(1) ensure that reports under this section are posted on \n the Department of Education's Web site within a reasonable \n period of time; and\n ``(2) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment \n of the High School Data Transparency Act of 2011--\n ``(A) notify all secondary schools in all States \n regarding the availability of information under \n subsection (b); and\n ``(B) issue guidance to all schools on how to \n collect and report the information required under this \n section.''.", "summary": "High School Data Transparency Act of 2011 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to collect the following information annually from each coeducational secondary school that receives federal financial assistance and that has an interscholastic athletic program: (1) the number, gender, and race or ethnicity of students that attended the school; and (2) for each team that competed in athletic competition, the number, gender, and race or ethnicity of participants, the total expenditures, the number, gender, and employment status of trainers, medical personnel, and coaches, the number of competitions, and postseason record.\n\nRequires such schools to: (1) make such information available to students and potential students, upon request, and to the public by October 15 of each school year; (2) ensure that all students at the school are informed of their right to request such information; and (3) annually provide such information to the Secretary.\n\nDirects the Secretary to: (1) ensure that such information is posted on the Department of Education's website, (2) notify all secondary schools regarding the availability of the information, and (3) issue guidance on how to collect and report the information required under this Act.", "title": "A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to collect information from coeducational secondary schools on such schools' athletic programs, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1574, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health on Campus Improvement \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) The 2007 National Survey of Counseling Center Directors \n found that the average ratio of counselors to students on \n campus is nearly 1 to 2,000 and is often far higher on large \n campuses. The International Association of Counseling Services \n accreditation standards recommend 1 counselor per 1,000 to \n 1,500 students.\n (2) College counselors report that 8.5 percent of enrolled \n students sought counseling in the past year, totaling an \n estimated 1,600,000 students.\n (3) Over 90 percent of counseling directors believe there \n is an increase in the number of students coming to campus with \n severe psychological problems. The majority of counseling \n directors report concerns that the demand for services is \n growing without an increase in resources.\n (4) A 2008 American College Health Association survey \n revealed that 43 percent of students at colleges and \n universities report having felt so depressed it was difficult \n to function, and one out of every 11 students seriously \n considered suicide within the past year.\n (5) Research conducted between 1989 and 2002 found that \n students seen for anxiety disorders doubled, for depression \n tripled, and for serious suicidal intention tripled.\n (6) Many students who need help never receive it. \n Counseling directors report that, of the students who committed \n suicide on their campuses, only 22 percent were current or \n former counseling center clients. Directors did not know the \n previous psychiatric history of 60 percent of those students.\n (7) A survey conducted by the University of Idaho Student \n Counseling Center in 2000 found that 77 percent of students who \n responded reported that they were more likely to stay in school \n because of counseling and that their school performance would \n have declined without counseling.\n (8) A 6-year longitudinal study of college students found \n that personal and emotional adjustment was an important factor \n in retention and predicted attrition as well as, or better \n than, academic adjustment (Gerdes & Mallinckrodt, 1994).\n\nSEC. 3. IMPROVING MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.\n\n Title V of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting \nafter section 520E-2 (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36b) the following:\n\n``SEC. 520E-3. GRANTS TO IMPROVE MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ON \n COLLEGE CAMPUSES.\n\n ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section, with respect to \ncollege and university settings, to--\n ``(1) increase access to mental and behavioral health \n services;\n ``(2) foster and improve the prevention of mental and \n behavioral health disorders, and the promotion of mental \n health;\n ``(3) improve the identification and treatment for students \n at risk;\n ``(4) improve collaboration and the development of \n appropriate levels of mental and behavioral health care;\n ``(5) reduce the stigma for students with mental health \n disorders and enhance their access to mental health services; \n and\n ``(6) improve the efficacy of outreach efforts.\n ``(b) Grants.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator and \nin consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall award \ncompetitive grants to eligible entities to improve mental and \nbehavioral health services and outreach on college and university \ncampuses.\n ``(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under \nsubsection (b), an entity shall--\n ``(1) be an institution of higher education (as defined in \n section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n 1001)); and\n ``(2) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, \n in such manner, and containing such information as the \n Secretary may require, including the information required under \n subsection (d).\n ``(d) Application.--An application for a grant under this section \nshall include--\n ``(1) a description of the population to be targeted by the \n program carried out under the grant, the particular mental and \n behavioral health needs of the students involved, and the \n Federal, State, local, private, and institutional resources \n available for meeting the needs of such students at the time \n the application is submitted;\n ``(2) an outline of the objectives of the program carried \n out under the grant;\n ``(3) a description of activities, services, and training \n to be provided under the program, including planned outreach \n strategies to reach students not currently seeking services;\n ``(4) a plan to seek input from community mental health \n providers, when available, community groups, and other public \n and private entities in carrying out the program;\n ``(5) a plan, when applicable, to meet the specific mental \n and behavioral health needs of veterans attending institutions \n of higher education;\n ``(6) a description of the methods to be used to evaluate \n the outcomes and effectiveness of the program; and\n ``(7) an assurance that grant funds will be used to \n supplement, and not supplant, any other Federal, State, or \n local funds available to carry out activities of the type \n carried out under the grant.\n ``(e) Special Considerations.--In awarding grants under this \nsection, the Secretary shall give special consideration to applications \nthat describe programs to be carried out under the grant that--\n ``(1) demonstrate the greatest need for new or additional \n mental and behavioral health services, in part by providing \n information on current ratios of students to mental and \n behavioral health professionals;\n ``(2) propose effective approaches for initiating or \n expanding campus services and supports using evidence-based \n practices;\n ``(3) target traditionally underserved populations and \n populations most at risk;\n ``(4) where possible, demonstrate an awareness of, and a \n willingness to, coordinate with a community mental health \n center or other mental health resource in the community, to \n support screening and referral of students requiring intensive \n services;\n ``(5) identify how the college or university will address \n psychiatric emergencies, including how information will be \n communicated with families or other appropriate parties; and\n ``(6) demonstrate the greatest potential for replication \n and dissemination.\n ``(f) Use of Funds.--Amounts received under a grant under this \nsection may be used to--\n ``(1) provide mental and behavioral health services to \n students, including prevention, promotion of mental health, \n screening, early intervention, assessment, treatment, \n management, and education services relating to the mental and \n behavioral health of students;\n ``(2) provide outreach services to notify students about \n the existence of mental and behavioral health services;\n ``(3) educate families, peers, faculty, staff, and \n communities to increase awareness of mental health issues;\n ``(4) support student groups on campus that engage in \n activities to educate students, reduce stigma surrounding \n mental and behavioral disorders, and promote mental health \n wellness;\n ``(5) employ appropriately trained staff;\n ``(6) expand mental health training through internship, \n post-doctorate, and residency programs;\n ``(7) develop and support evidence-based and emerging best \n practices, including a focus on culturally and linguistically \n appropriate best practices; and\n ``(8) evaluate and disseminate best practices to other \n colleges and universities.\n ``(g) Duration of Grants.--A grant under this section shall be \nawarded for a period not to exceed 3 years.\n ``(h) Evaluation and Reporting.--\n ``(1) Evaluation.--Not later than 18 months after the date \n on which a grant is received under this section, the eligible \n entity involved shall submit to the Secretary the results of an \n evaluation to be conducted by the entity concerning the \n effectiveness of the activities carried out under the grant and \n plans for the sustainability of such efforts.\n ``(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of \n enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the \n appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the \n results of--\n ``(A) the evaluations conducted under paragraph \n (1); and\n ``(B) an evaluation conducted by the Secretary to \n analyze the effectiveness and efficacy of the \n activities conducted with grants under this section.\n ``(i) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide technical \nassistance to grantees in carrying out this section.\n ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.\n\n``SEC. 520E-4. MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ON \n COLLEGE CAMPUSES.\n\n ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to increase \naccess to, and reduce the stigma associated with, mental health \nservices so as to ensure that college students have the support \nnecessary to successfully complete their studies.\n ``(b) National Public Education Campaign.--The Secretary, acting \nthrough the Administrator and in collaboration with the Director of the \nCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, shall convene an \ninteragency, public-private sector working group to plan, establish, \nand begin coordinating and evaluating a targeted public education \ncampaign that is designed to focus on mental and behavioral health on \ncollege campuses. Such campaign shall be designed to--\n ``(1) improve the general understanding of mental health \n and mental health disorders;\n ``(2) encourage help-seeking behaviors relating to the \n promotion of mental health, prevention of mental health \n disorders, and treatment of such disorders;\n ``(3) make the connection between mental and behavioral \n health and academic success; and\n ``(4) assist the general public in identifying the early \n warning signs and reducing the stigma of mental illness.\n ``(c) Composition.--The working group under subsection (b) shall \ninclude--\n ``(1) mental health consumers, including students and \n family members;\n ``(2) representatives of colleges and universities;\n ``(3) representatives of national mental and behavioral \n health and college associations;\n ``(4) representatives of college health promotion and \n prevention organizations;\n ``(5) representatives of mental health providers, including \n community mental health centers; and\n ``(6) representatives of private- and public-sector groups \n with experience in the development of effective public health \n education campaigns.\n ``(d) Plan.--The working group under subsection (b) shall develop a \nplan that shall--\n ``(1) target promotional and educational efforts to the \n college age population and individuals who are employed in \n college and university settings, including the use of \n roundtables;\n ``(2) develop and propose the implementation of research-\n based public health messages and activities;\n ``(3) provide support for local efforts to reduce stigma by \n using the National Mental Health Information Center as a \n primary point of contact for information, publications, and \n service program referrals; and\n ``(4) develop and propose the implementation of a social \n marketing campaign that is targeted at the college population \n and individuals who are employed in college and university \n settings.\n ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this \nsection.''.\n\nSEC. 4. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON COLLEGE MENTAL HEALTH.\n\n (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section, pursuant to \nExecutive Order 13263 (and the recommendations issued under section \n6(b) of such Order), to provide for the establishment of a College \nCampus Task Force under the Federal Executive Steering Committee on \nMental Health, to discuss mental and behavioral health concerns on \ncollege and university campuses.\n (b) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services \n(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a \nCollege Campus Task Force (referred to in this section as the ``Task \nForce''), under the Federal Executive Steering Committee on Mental \nHealth, to discuss mental and behavioral health concerns on college and \nuniversity campuses.\n (c) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of a \nrepresentative from each Federal agency (as appointed by the head of \nthe agency) that has jurisdiction over, or is affected by, mental \nhealth and education policies and projects, including--\n (1) the Department of Education;\n (2) the Department of Health and Human Services;\n (3) the Department of Veterans Affairs; and\n (4) such other Federal agencies as the Administrator of the \n Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and \n the Secretary jointly determine to be appropriate.\n (d) Duties.--The Task Force shall--\n (1) serve as a centralized mechanism to coordinate a \n national effort--\n (A) to discuss and evaluate evidence and knowledge \n on mental and behavioral health services available to, \n and the prevalence of mental health illness among, the \n college age population of the United States;\n (B) to determine the range of effective, feasible, \n and comprehensive actions to improve mental and \n\n behavioral health on college and university campuses;\n (C) to examine and better address the needs of the \n college age population dealing with mental illness;\n (D) to survey Federal agencies to determine which \n policies are effective in encouraging, and how best to \n facilitate outreach without duplicating, efforts \n relating to mental and behavioral health promotion;\n (E) to establish specific goals within and across \n Federal agencies for mental health promotion, including \n determinations of accountability for reaching those \n goals;\n (F) to develop a strategy for allocating \n responsibilities and ensuring participation in mental \n and behavioral health promotions, particularly in the \n case of competing agency priorities;\n (G) to coordinate plans to communicate research \n results relating to mental and behavioral health \n amongst the college age population to enable reporting \n and outreach activities to produce more useful and \n timely information;\n (H) to provide a description of evidence-based best \n practices, model programs, effective guidelines, and \n other strategies for promoting mental and behavioral \n health on college and university campuses;\n (I) to make recommendations to improve Federal \n efforts relating to mental and behavioral health \n promotion on college campuses and to ensure Federal \n efforts are consistent with available standards and \n evidence and other programs in existence as of the date \n of enactment of this Act; and\n (J) to monitor Federal progress in meeting specific \n mental and behavioral health promotion goals as they \n relate to college and university settings;\n (2) consult with national organizations with expertise in \n mental and behavioral health, especially those organizations \n working with the college age population; and\n (3) consult with and seek input from mental health \n professionals working on college and university campuses as \n appropriate.\n (e) Meetings.--\n (1) In general.--The Task Force shall meet at least 3 times \n each year.\n (2) Annual conference.--The Secretary shall sponsor an \n annual conference on mental and behavioral health in college \n and university settings to enhance coordination, build \n partnerships, and share best practices in mental and behavioral \n health promotion, data collection, analysis, and services.\n (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.", "summary": "Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award grants to eligible institutions of higher education to improve mental and behavioral health services and outreach on college and university campuses.\n\nDirects the Secretary to give special consideration to programs that: (1) demonstrate the greatest need; (2) propose effective approaches for initiating or expanding campus services; (3) target underserved and at-risk populations; (4) coordinate with a community mental health center or other community mental health resources; (5) identify how the college or university will address psychiatric emergencies; and (6) demonstrate the greatest potential for replication and dissemination.\n\nAllows the Secretary to provide technical assistance to grantees.\n\nRequires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator, to convene an interagency, public-private sector working group to plan, establish, and begin coordinating and evaluating a targeted public education campaign that is designed to focus on mental and behavioral health on college campuses.\n\nRequires the Secretary to establish the College Campus Task Force to discuss mental and behavioral health concerns on college and university campuses.", "title": "To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve mental and behavioral health services on college campuses."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 942, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Job Access and Work Incentives \nAct''.\n\n TITLE I--PREFERENCE FOR CONTRACTORS THAT HIRE WELFARE RECIPIENTS\n\nSEC. 101. PREFERENCE FOR CONTRACTORS THAT HIRE WELFARE RECIPIENTS.\n\n (a) Preference.--In awarding a contract covered by this section, \nthe head of a department or agency of the Federal Government shall give \npreference to an entity that agrees to hire welfare recipients for jobs \ncreated to carry out the contract.\n (b) Evaluation.--To carry out subsection (a), the head of a \ndepartment or agency shall develop a system under which, in the \nevaluation of an offer from an entity for a contract, the preference \ngiven to the entity will be greater as the number of welfare recipients \nthat the offeror agrees to hire increases.\n (c) Exceptions.--The requirement of subsection (a) shall not apply \nin the evaluation of offers for a contract if--\n (1) the Secretary of Defense determines that the subsection \n should not apply for national security reasons; or\n (2) the head of the department or agency determines that no \n entry-level jobs are expected to be created to carry out the \n contract.\n (d) Covered Contracts.--This section applies to any contract in an \namount in excess of $500,000 entered into after the date of the \nenactment of this Act by a department or agency of the Federal \nGovernment using competitive procedures.\n (e) Welfare Recipient.--The term ``welfare recipient'' means a \nrecipient of assistance under a State program funded under part A of \ntitle IV of the Social Security Act.\n\n TITLE II--JOB ACCESS AND REVERSE COMMUTE GRANTS\n\nSEC. 201. JOB ACCESS AND REVERSE COMMUTE GRANTS.\n\n Section 3037(l)(1) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st \nCentury (49 U.S.C. 5309 note; 112 Stat. 391) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A) by striking clauses (ii) through \n (v) and inserting the following:\n ``(ii) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;\n ``(iii) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;\n ``(iv) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;\n ``(v) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; \n and\n ``(vi) $500,000,000 for fiscal year \n 2004.'';\n (2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``this section'' and \n all that follows through the period at the end and inserting \n ``this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1999.''; and\n (3) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``this section'' and \n all that follows through the period at the end and inserting \n ``this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1999.''.\n\n TITLE III--GUARANTEES OF LOANS MADE BY STATES TO CURRENT OR RECENT \n WELFARE RECIPIENTS\n\nSEC. 301. GUARANTEES OF LOANS MADE BY STATES TO CURRENT OR RECENT \n WELFARE RECIPIENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services may \nprovide loan guarantees to States in accordance with this section.\n (b) Limitation on Annual Amount of Loan Guarantees.--The total \ndollar amount of loan guarantees that may be provided under this \nsection in a fiscal year shall not exceed $50,000,000.\n (c) Limitation on Annual Amount of Loan Guarantees per State.--The \ntotal dollar amount of loan guarantees that may be provided to a State \nunder this section in a fiscal year is the amount that bears the same \nratio to $50,000,000 as the total dollar amount payable to the State \nunder section 403(a)(1) of the Social Security Act for the fiscal year \n(determined without regard to any penalty imposed under section 409 of \nsuch Act) bears to the total dollar amount payable to all States under \nsuch section 403(a)(1) for the fiscal year (as so determined).\n (d) Loans That May Be Guaranteed.--The Secretary of Health and \nHuman Services may provide a loan guarantee under this section with \nrespect to a loan if--\n (1) the loan is made by a State;\n (2) the borrower is a recipient of assistance under a State \n program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security \n Act;\n (3) the principal amount of the loan is not less than $20 \n and not more than $5,000; and\n (4) the loan bears interest at an annual rate that does not \n exceed the rate at which interest is payable annually on bonds \n most recently issued by the smallest political subdivision of \n the State in which the borrower resides that has borrowing \n authority.\n (e) Definition of State.--In this section, the term ``State'' has \nthe meaning given such term in section 419(5) of the Social Security \nAct.\n (f) Regulations.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall \nprescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this \nsection.\n\n TITLE IV--SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES\n\nSEC. 401. APPROPRIATIONS FOR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE \n AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.\n\n For carrying out titles V and XIX of the Public Health Service Act \nwith respect to substance abuse and mental health services, there is \nappropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise \nappropriated, $2,730,000,000 for fiscal year 2000.\n\n TITLE V--RESTORATION OF DEDUCTIONS\n\nSEC. 501. RESTORATION OF DEDUCTION FOR BUSINESS MEALS AND ENTERTAINMENT \n AND FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES OF SPOUSES AND OTHERS \n ACCOMPANYING THE TAXPAYER ON BUSINESS.\n\n (a) Restoration of Deduction for Business Meals and \nEntertainment.--\n (1) In general.--Subsection (n) of section 274 of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to only 50 percent of \n meal and entertainment expenses allowed as deduction) is hereby \n repealed.\n (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection \n shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1999.\n (b) Repeal of Special Limitation on Deduction for Travel Expenses \nof Spouses, Etc.--\n (1) In general.--Subsection (m) of section 274 of such Code \n is amended by striking paragraph (3).\n (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection \n shall apply to amounts paid or incurred after December 31, \n 1999.", "summary": "TABLE OF CONTENTS: \n Title I: Preference for Contractors That Hire Welfare \n Recipients \n Title II: Job Access and Reverse Commute Grants \n Title III: Guarantees of Loans Made by States to Current or \n Recent Welfare Recipients \n Title IV: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services \n Title V: Restoration of Deductions \nJob Access and Work Incentives Act - \nTitle I: Preference for Contractors that Hire Welfare Recipients\n - Requires the head of a department or agency of the Federal Government, in awarding a covered contract (contracts over $500,000), to give preference (subject to exceptions) to an entity that agrees to hire welfare recipients (a recipient of assistance under part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) of title IV of the Social Security Act) for jobs created to carry out the contract. \nTitle II: Job Access and Reverse Commute Grants\n - Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to extend and increase the job access and reverse commute grants program. \nTitle III: Guarantees of Loans Made by States to Current or Recent Welfare Recipients\n - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide a loan guarantee to a State with respect to a loan if: (1) the loan is made by a State; (2) the borrower is a recipient of assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act; (3) the principal amount of the loan is not less than $20 and not more than $5,000; and (4) the loan bears interest at an annual rate that does not exceed the rate at which interest is payable annually on bonds most recently issued by the smallest political subdivision of the State in which the borrower resides that has borrowing authority. \nTitle IV: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services\n - Appropriates funds, as specified under the Public Health Service Act, for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. \nTitle V: Restoration of Deductions\n - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the current limitations on the deductions for: (1) meals and entertainment expenses; and (2) luxury water transportation, travel as a form of education, and travel expenses for spouses and dependents.", "title": "Job Access and Work Incentives Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1846, "text": "SECTION 1. DISCLOSURE FOR CHARITY EMPLOYEES AND BOARD MEMBERS \n PREVIOUSLY IMPLICATED IN TERROR FINANCE.\n\n (a) Application for Exemption.--Section 501 of the Internal Revenue \nCode of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(s) Disclosure for Charity Employees and Board Members Previously \nImplicated in Terror Finance.--\n ``(1) In general.--An application of an organization for \n exemption from tax under subsection (a) shall not be treated as \n complete unless the application contains--\n ``(A) the disclosures required by paragraph (2), or\n ``(B) a statement that no officer, director, \n trustee, or highly compensated employee of the \n organization (or an individual having powers or \n responsibilities similar to those of officers, \n directors, trustees, or highly compensated employees of \n the organization) is described in subparagraph (A), \n (B), or (C) of paragraph (2).\n ``(2) Required disclosures.--The disclosures required by \n this paragraph are the names and addresses of any officer, \n director, trustee, or highly compensated employee of the \n organization who, at any time before the date of the \n application--\n ``(A) was a member or employee of an organization \n described in paragraph (3),\n ``(B) was an unindicted coconspirator with respect \n to a terror finance scheme of an organization described \n in paragraph (3), or\n ``(C) was an employee of any charity found liable \n under section 2333 of title 18, United States Code.\n ``(3) Organization described.--An organization is described \n in this paragraph if--\n ``(A) the organization is named on the Designated \n Charities and Potential Fundraising Front Organizations \n for FTOs list, published by the Department of the \n Treasury, or\n ``(B) the organization's property is blocked \n pending investigation by the Office of Foreign Assets \n Control, Department of the Treasury.''.\n (b) Annual Reporting.--Section 6033 of such Code is amended by \nredesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o) and by inserting after \nsubsection (m) the following:\n ``(s) Disclosure for Charity Employees and Board Members Previously \nImplicated in Terror Finance.--\n ``(1) In general.--The annual return required of an \n organization by subsection (a) shall not be treated as complete \n unless the return contains--\n ``(A) the disclosures required by paragraph (2), or\n ``(B) a statement that no officer, director, \n trustee, or highly compensated employee of the \n organization (or an individual having powers or \n responsibilities similar to those of officers, \n directors, trustees, or highly compensated employees of \n the organization) is described in subparagraph (A), \n (B), or (C) of paragraph (2).\n ``(2) Required disclosures.--The disclosures required by \n this paragraph are the names and addresses of any officer, \n director, trustee, or highly compensated employee of the \n organization who, at any time before the date of the \n application--\n ``(A) was a member or employee of an organization \n described in paragraph (3),\n ``(B) was an unindicted coconspirator with respect \n to a terror finance scheme of an organization described \n in paragraph (3), or\n ``(C) was an employee of any charity found liable \n under section 2333 of title 18, United States Code.\n ``(3) Organization described.--An organization is described \n in this paragraph if--\n ``(A) the organization is described in section \n 501(c) and exempt from tax under section 501(a),\n ``(B) the organization is named on the Designated \n Charities and Potential Fundraising Front Organizations \n for FTOs list, published by the Department of the \n Treasury, or\n ``(C) the organization's property is blocked \n pending investigation by the Office of Foreign Assets \n Control, Department of the Treasury.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--\n (1) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to \n applications filed after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (2) The amendment made by subsection (b) shall apply to \n returns filed for taxable years beginning after the date of the \n enactment of this Act.", "summary": "This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require tax-exempt organizations to disclose details regarding employees and board members involved in terror finance activities. An organization applying for tax-exempt status must disclose in its application the names and addresses of any officer, director, trustee, or highly compensated employee who, at any time prior to the date of the application, was: a member or employee of an organization: (1) named on the Department of the Treasury's Designated Charities and Potential Fundraising Front Organizations for FTOs (Foreign Terrorist Organizations) list, or (2) with property that has been blocked pending investigation by Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control; an unindicted coconspirator with respect to a terror finance scheme of an organization described above, or an employee of any charity found liable for civil damages due to an act of international terrorism. In lieu of the disclosure, the organization may include a statement indicating that no officer, director, trustee, or highly compensated employee of the organization (or individual with similar powers and responsibilities) meets the criteria described above. Tax-exempt organizations must also include either the required disclosure or the statement in annual tax returns filed after the enactment of this bill. ", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for disclosure for charity employees and board members previously implicated in terror finance."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2797, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Guard and Reservists \nEducation Benefits Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF \n THE SELECTED RESERVE.\n\n (a) Establishment of Program.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of Education shall carry out \n a program of block grants to States under this section to \n provide for the payment of tuition and fees for undergraduate \n studies at public institutions of higher learning otherwise \n payable by a member of the Selected Reserve attending those \n institutions for those studies.\n (2) Limitation.--Tuition assistance under this section \n shall not be made available to a member of the Selected Reserve \n who participates in the program of educational assistance under \n chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code, or under chapter \n 30 of title 38, United States Code.\n (b) State Certifications.--Not later than October 1 of each of \nfiscal year for which a State desires to receive an allotment under \nthis section, the chief executive officer of the State shall submit to \nthe Secretary a certification that the State will--\n (1) use such funds to defray the costs of tuition and fees \n for undergraduate studies of members of the Selected Reserve \n attending public institutions of higher learning in the States;\n (2) return any unused funds to the Secretary in accordance \n with the reconciliation process under subsection (d); and\n (3) comply with the reporting requirements under subsection \n (e).\n (c) Payments to States.--For each of fiscal years 2005 through \n2010, the Secretary shall pay to each State that submits a \ncertification under subsection (b), from any funds appropriated under \nsubsection (g), for the fiscal year an amount equal to the amount of \nthe allotment determined for the fiscal year under subsection (f).\n (d) Reconciliation Process.--\n (1) 3-year availability of amounts allotted.--Each State \n that receives an allotment under this section shall return to \n the Secretary any unused portion of the amount allotted to a \n State under this section for a fiscal year not later than the \n last day of the second succeeding fiscal year together with any \n earnings on such unused portion.\n (2) Procedure for redistribution of unused allotments.--The \n Secretary shall establish an appropriate procedure for \n redistributing to States that have expended the entire amount \n allotted under this section any amount that is--\n (A) returned to the Secretary by States under \n paragraph (1); or\n (B) not allotted to a State under this section \n because the State did not submit a certification under \n subsection (b) by October 1 of a fiscal year.\n (e) Reporting Requirements.--\n (1) Monitoring and evaluation.--Each State receiving an \n allotment under this section for a fiscal year shall monitor \n and evaluate the tuition assistance program carried out under \n this section using funds made available under this section in \n such manner as the Secretary, in consultation with the States, \n determines appropriate.\n (2) Annual reports.--Not less frequently than annually, \n each State receiving an allotment under this section for a \n fiscal year shall submit to the Secretary reports on the \n tuition assistance programs carried out under this section at \n such time, in such manner, and containing such information as \n the Secretary may require.\n (f) Amount of Allotments.--\n (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), of \n the amount appropriated for the purpose of making allotments \n under this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot \n to each State that submits a certification under subsection (b) \n for the fiscal year an amount equal to the amount that bears \n the same ratio to the number of members of the Selected Reserve \n residing in the State (as determined by the Secretary based on \n the most recent March supplement to the Current Population \n Survey of the Bureau of the Census before the beginning of the \n calendar year in which such fiscal year begins) as bears to the \n number of members of the Selected Reserve residing in all \n States.\n (2) Minimum allotments.--No allotment for a fiscal year \n under this section shall be less than--\n (A) in the case of a State other than the \n Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin \n Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of \n the Northern Mariana Islands, 1 percent of the amount \n appropriated for the fiscal year under subsection (g); \n and\n (B) in the case of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, \n the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, \n and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, \n 0.5 percent of such amount.\n (3) Pro rata reductions.--The Secretary shall make such pro \n rata reductions to the allotments determined under paragraph \n (1) as are necessary to comply with the requirements of \n paragraph (2).\n (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2010 \nfor purposes of making allotments to States under this section.\n (h) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Selected reserve.--The term ``Selected Reserve'' means \n the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of any of the reserve \n components (including the Army National Guard of the United \n States and the Air National Guard of the United States) of the \n Armed Forces, as required to be maintained under section \n 10143(a) of title 10, United States Code.\n (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Education.\n (3) Institution of higher learning.--The term ``institution \n of higher education'' has the meaning given that term under \n section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n 1001(a)).\n (4) State.--The term State'' means each of the 50 States, \n the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the \n United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the \n Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.\n (5) Tuition and fees for undergraduate studies.--The term \n ``tuition and fees for undergraduate studies'' means the actual \n cost of tuition and fees for undergraduate studies charged by a \n public institution of higher learning to similarly \n circumstanced individuals who are not members of the Selected \n Reserve for enrollment in courses of education at the \n institution, and includes the average cost of books and \n supplies payable by such individuals for those studies.", "summary": "National Guard and Reservists Education Benefits Act - Requires the Secretary of Education to carry out a program of block grants to States (defined to include U.S. territories and the District of Columbia) to pay tuition and fees for undergraduate studies at public institutions for members of the Selected Reserve.\n\nExcludes from the block grant program those members of the Selected Reserve who participate in other specified educational assistance programs.\n\nRequires the chief executive officer of each State wishing to receive block grant funds to submit an annual certification that the State will: (1) use such funds to defray the cost of undergraduate tuition and fees for members of the Selected Reserve; (2) return any unused funds to the Secretary according to the reconciliation process set forth in this Act; and (3) comply with the reporting requirements of this Act.\n\nSets forth an allotment scheme for block grant funds that requires allotments to reflect the ratio of Selected Reserve members in the receiving State to Selected Reserve members in all States. Establishes minimum allotments.", "title": "To provide grants to States for tuition assistance for undergraduate studies for members of the Selected Reserve at public institutions of higher learning."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2319, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Reinvesting In Vital Economic Rivers \nand Waterways Act of 2013'' or the ``RIVER Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that the inland waterways navigation system--\n (1) is an essential economic resource for the United \n States;\n (2) serves as the most efficient sustainable transportation \n mode for bulk commodities in the United States while \n maintaining environmental resources; and\n (3) as of the date of enactment of this Act, is underfunded \n and needs significant changes to remain viable in the future.\n\nSEC. 3. PURPOSES.\n\n The purpose of this Act is to establish a sustainable, cost-\neffective way to ensure that the inland and intracoastal waterways of \nthe United States remain economically viable through--\n (1) the redesign of the program and project management \n process applicable to the construction and major rehabilitation \n of navigation projects on those waterways;\n (2) the continued development and improvement of inland \n waterways navigation systems;\n (3) enhanced efficiency of inland waterways navigation \n project completion schedules; and\n (4) inland waterways navigation capital investments to \n ensure that projects can be completed in a reasonable timeframe \n and to allow maximum systemwide benefits.\n\nSEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Inland and intracoastal waterways.--The term ``inland \n and intracoastal waterways'' means the inland and intracoastal \n waterways of the United States described in section 206 of the \n Inland Waterways Revenue Act of 1978 (33 U.S.C. 1804).\n (2) Inland waterway users board.--The term ``Inland \n Waterway Users Board'' means the Inland Waterway Users Board \n established by section 302 of the Water Resources Development \n Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2251).\n (3) Major rehabilitation project.--The term ``major \n rehabilitation project'' means a project for the restoration of \n a major project or major project feature of the inland and \n intracoastal waterways that has an estimated cost greater than \n $50,000,000.\n (4) Qualifying project.--The term ``qualifying project'' \n means any construction or major rehabilitation project for \n navigation infrastructure of the inland and intracoastal \n waterways that is--\n (A) authorized before, on, or after the date of \n enactment of this Act;\n (B) not completed as of the date of enactment of \n this Act; and\n (C) funded at least in part from the Inland \n Waterways Trust Fund established by section 9506 of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\n (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers.\n\nSEC. 5. PROJECT DELIVERY PROCESS REFORMS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary shall promulgate regulations that, \nat a minimum, shall require for each qualifying project--\n (1) a cost estimation that is risk-based and has a \n confidence level of not less than 80 percent;\n (2) an independent external peer review and submission to \n Congress (in the case of a feasibility report) or the Secretary \n (in the case of a rehabilitation evaluation report) for any \n qualifying project--\n (A) that--\n (i) has an estimated total project cost \n greater than $45,000,000;\n (ii) is subject to public safety concerns, \n as determined by the Secretary;\n (iii) involves a high level of complexity \n or novel or precedent-setting approaches, as \n determined by the Secretary; or\n (iv) is identified by the Secretary as a \n matter of significant interagency interest; or\n (B) for which a review has been requested by the \n Governor of any State affected by the project;\n (3) the appointment to a project development team for the \n qualifying project of a member of the Inland Waterways Users \n Board, as selected by a majority of the Inland Waterways Users \n Board;\n (4) a quarterly update submitted to the Inland Waterways \n Users Board of the status of a qualifying project that is under \n construction;\n (5) the inclusion of the Chairman of the Inland Waterways \n Users Board and the project development team appointee under \n paragraph (3) as signatories of the project management plan for \n a qualifying project;\n (6) the establishment of a system to identify and apply on \n a continuing basis lessons learned from prior or ongoing \n projects so as to improve the likelihood of on-time and on-\n budget completion of qualifying projects;\n (7) the evaluation, including through the use of 1 or more \n pilot projects, of early contractor involvement acquisition \n procedures to improve on-time and on-budget project delivery \n performance; and\n (8) any additional measures that the Secretary determines \n will achieve the purposes of this Act, including, as determined \n appropriate by the Secretary--\n (A) the implementation of applicable practices and \n procedures drawn from the management of the military \n construction program by the Secretary;\n (B) the development and use of a portfolio of \n standard designs for inland navigation locks;\n (C) the use of full-funding contracts or the \n formulation of a revised continuing contracts \n provision; and\n (D) the establishment of procedures for \n recommending new project construction starts using a \n capital projects business model.\n (b) Report Requirement.--\n (1) In general.--For each fiscal year, the Secretary shall \n submit to Congress a report that describes each project, if \n any, that receives more than 50 percent of the total amount of \n funds made available in that fiscal year under the Inland \n Waterways Trust Fund established by section 9506 of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\n (2) Requirement.--For each project described in paragraph \n (1) that exceeds the estimated cost of carrying out that \n project for 3 or more consecutive years, the Secretary shall \n include in the report submitted under that paragraph \n alternative financing plans for the project.\n\nSEC. 6. 20-YEAR CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Program Required.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in conjunction with the \n Inland Waterways Users Board, shall submit to Congress a 20-\n year program for making capital investments on the inland and \n intracoastal waterways, which shall include plans to update \n communications technology and be based on the application of \n objective national project-selection prioritization criteria, \n as developed by the Secretary.\n (2) Contents.--The 20-year program described in paragraph \n (1) may be based on the 20-year capital investment strategy \n contained in the Inland Marine Transportation System Capital \n Projects Business Model, Final Report published on April 13, \n 2010, as approved by the Inland Waterways Users Board.\n (b) Annual Review and Update.--\n (1) In general.--Beginning not later than 1 year after the \n date on which a 20-year program is submitted to Congress under \n subsection (a), and each year thereafter, the Secretary, in \n conjunction with the Inland Waterways Users Board, shall submit \n to Congress an updated 20-year program.\n (2) Contents.--The updated program described in paragraph \n (1) shall include an identification and explanation of any \n changes that were made to the project-specific recommendations \n included in the previous 20-year program, including any changes \n that were made to the objective national project-selection \n prioritization criteria used to develop the updated \n recommendations.\n (c) Strategic Review and Update.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date of \n enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the \n Secretary, in conjunction with the Inland Waterways Users \n Board, shall submit to Congress a strategic review of the \n capital investment program for the Inland Marine Transportation \n System, including any revisions to the program that the \n Secretary and the Users Board jointly consider to be \n appropriate.\n (2) Inclusions.--The review described in paragraph (1) \n shall include an analysis of the communications technology in \n use on the inland and intracoastal waterways system and a \n description of any plans to modernize that technology to \n increase safety and maximize efficiency.\n\nSEC. 7. LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES FROM THE INLAND WATERWAYS TRUST \n FUND.\n\n Section 9506 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--\n (1) in subsection (c)(1), by--\n (A) inserting ``and subject to subsection (d),'' \n after ``Except as provided in paragraph (2),''; and\n (B) inserting before the period at the end ``, \n provided that such expenditures may not exceed 50 \n percent of the total cost of the construction or \n rehabilitation''; and\n (2) by inserting at the end the following:\n ``(d) Limitation on Expenditures From Trust Fund.--\n ``(1) In general.--Amounts in the Inland Waterways Trust \n Fund shall not be available for expenditures for--\n ``(A) construction or rehabilitation of dams, or\n ``(B) any rehabilitation expenditure that does not \n equal or exceed $50,000,000.\n ``(2) Restriction on total cost.--Amounts in the Inland \n Waterways Trust Fund shall not be used to pay for any part of \n the cost to construct an authorized Federal project that \n exceeds the sum of--\n ``(A) the amount equal to--\n ``(i) the total authorized cost to \n construct the Federal project as specified in \n the Public Law that authorized construction of \n the project or, in the case of a rehabilitation \n project, in the relevant rehabilitation \n evaluation report, multiplied by\n ``(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment \n determined under section 1(f)(3) for the year \n in which construction or rehabilitation under \n the project begins (determined by substituting \n the year that precedes the calendar year in \n which such project was authorized for `1992' in \n subparagraph (B) of such section), and\n ``(B) any additional amount that is jointly agreed \n to by the Secretary and the Inland Waterways Users \n Board as appropriate to the project.''.\n\nSEC. 8. REVISION TO INLAND WATERWAYS USER FEE.\n\n Section 4042(b)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is \namended to read as follows:\n ``(A) The Inland Waterways Trust Fund financing \n rate is the rate determined in accordance with the \n following table:\n\n The tax per\n``If the use occurs: gallon is:\n During 2013........................................ 20 cents \n After 2013......................................... 29 cents''.", "summary": "Reinvesting In Vital Economic Rivers and Waterways Act of 2013 or RIVER Act - Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to promulgate regulations that, at a minimum, require certain delivery process criteria for qualifying construction and major rehabilitation projects for navigation infrastructure of inland and intracoastal waterways. Directs the Secretary, in conjunction with the Inland Waterways Users Board, to submit to Congress a 20-year program for making capital investments on inland and intracoastal waterways. Allows such program to be based on the 20-year capital investment strategy contained in the Inland Marine Transportation System Capital Projects Business Model, Final Report published on April 13, 2010, as approved by the Board. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit expenditures from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to 50% of the total cost of the construction or rehabilitation project. Makes Fund amounts unavailable for: (1) construction or rehabilitation of dams, or (2) rehabilitation expenditures that do not equal or exceed $50 million. Increases the Inland Waterways Trust Fund financing rate (user fee) from 20 cents to 29 cents after 2013. ", "title": "Reinvesting In Vital Economic Rivers and Waterways Act of 2013"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2980, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Mortgage E-Verify Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. VERIFICATION UNDER E-VERIFICATION PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Fannie Mae.--Subsection (b) of section 302 of the Federal \nNational Mortgage Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1717(b)) is \namended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(7)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the \ncorporation may not--\n ``(i) refinance, restructure, or modify, or otherwise \n authorize or enter into any agreement for the refinancing, \n restructuring, or modification of any single-family housing \n mortgage that is held by or that backs any security issued by \n the corporation, or\n ``(ii) purchase, or issue any security that is backed by, \n any single-family housing mortgage made for the refinancing, \n restructuring, or modification of the mortgagor's previous \n single-family housing mortgage on the same property,\n unless the identity and work eligibility of the mortgagor under \n such mortgage has been confirmed by an inquiry under \n subparagraph (B).\n ``(B) An inquiry under this subparagraph is an inquiry made through \nthe basic pilot program under section 403(a) of the Illegal Immigration \nReform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note; \ncommonly referred to as the E-Verify program). Notwithstanding any \nother provision of law, lenders for single-family housing mortgages and \nthe corporation may submit such inquiries regarding the identities and \nwork eligibility of mortgagors under such mortgages, and may be \nprovided confirmations and nonconfirmations pursuant to such inquiries, \nunder such basic pilot program.\n ``(C) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `single-family \nhousing mortgage' means a mortgage that is secured by a 1- to 4-family \nresidence.''.\n (b) Freddie Mac.--Subsection (a) of section 305 of the Federal Home \nLoan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454(a)) is amended by adding \nat the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(6)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the \nCorporation may not--\n ``(i) refinance, restructure, or modify, or otherwise \n authorize or enter into any agreement for the refinancing, \n restructuring, or modification of any single-family housing \n mortgage that is held by or that backs any security issued by \n the Corporation, or\n ``(ii) purchase, or issue any security that is backed by, \n any single-family housing mortgage made for the refinancing, \n restructuring, or modification of the mortgagor's previous \n single-family housing mortgage on the same property,\n unless the identity and work eligibility of the mortgagor under \n such mortgage has been confirmed by an inquiry under \n subparagraph (B)\n ``(B) An inquiry under this subparagraph is an inquiry made through \nthe basic pilot program under section 403(a) of the Illegal Immigration \nReform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note; \ncommonly referred to as the E-Verify program). Notwithstanding any \nother provision of law, lenders for single-family housing mortgages and \nthe Corporation may submit such inquiries regarding the identities and \nwork eligibility of mortgagors under such mortgages, and may be \nprovided confirmations and nonconfirmations pursuant to such inquiries, \nunder such basic pilot program.\n ``(C) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `single-family \nhousing mortgage' means a mortgage that is secured by a 1- to 4-family \nresidence.''.\n (c) FHA.--Title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et \nseq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 543. E-VERIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR MODIFICATION OF MORTGAGES.\n\n ``(a) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the \nSecretary may not--\n ``(1) authorize or enter into any agreement for the \n refinancing, restructuring, or modification of any single-\n family housing mortgage that is insured by the Secretary under \n this Act, or\n ``(2) insure any single-family housing mortgage made for \n the refinancing, restructuring, or modification of the \n mortgagor's previous single-family housing mortgage on the same \n property,\nunless the identity and work eligibility of the mortgagor under such \nmortgage has been confirmed by an inquiry under subsection (b).\n ``(b) E-Verify Inquiries.--An inquiry under this subsection is an \ninquiry made through the basic pilot program under section 403(a) of \nthe Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 \n(8 U.S.C. 1324a note; commonly referred to as the E-Verify program). \nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, lenders for single-family \nhousing mortgages and the Secretary may submit such inquiries regarding \nthe identities and work eligibility of mortgagors under such mortgages, \nand may be provided confirmations and nonconfirmations pursuant to such \ninquiries, under such basic pilot program.\n ``(c) Single-Family Housing Mortgage.--For purposes of this \nparagraph, the term `single-family housing mortgage' means a mortgage \nthat is secured by a 1- to 4-family residence.''.", "summary": "Mortgage E-Verify Act of 2010 - Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act to require the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (Freddie Mac) to confirm the identity and work eligibility of the mortgagor as a prerequisite to: (1) any refinancing, restructuring, or modification agreement governing a single-family housing mortgage that is held by, or that backs any security issued by, either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac; or (2) any purchase of, or issuance of any security that is backed by, any single-family housing mortgage made for the refinancing, restructuring, or modification of the mortgagor's previous single-family housing mortgage on the same property.\n\nIdentifies the required inquiry as one made through the basic pilot E-Verify program under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.\n\nAmends the National Housing Act to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to use the E-Verify program to confirm the identity and work eligibility of the mortgagor as a prerequisite to single-family housing mortgage insurance issued under the Act.", "title": "To require, as a condition for modification of a home mortgage loan held by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or insured under the National Housing Act, that the mortgagor be verified under the E-Verify program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2672, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Support for Democracy and Human \nRights in Zimbabwe Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) When Zimbabwe achieved independence in 1980, its \n economic and democratic prospects were bright and President \n Robert Mugabe was hailed as a liberator. However, 27 years \n later, the economy of Zimbabwe has collapsed as income per \n capita has fallen below the 1953 level and President Mugabe's \n Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) \n government has increasingly and systematically exercised \n repression of political opposition and engaged in violations of \n human rights.\n (2) The Department of State's 2006 Country Report on Human \n Rights Practices states that Zimbabwe's 2002 presidential \n election and 2005 parliamentary elections were neither free nor \n fair, and reports that President Mugabe's government interfered \n with the campaign activities of the opposition, intimidated \n voters, and distributed food in a partisan manner.\n (3) The Department of State Report also finds that the \n Government of Zimbabwe continues to--\n (A) restrict freedom of assembly, movement, and \n association;\n (B) forcibly evict civilians from their land; and\n (C) harass and abuse members of the opposition, the \n media, the religious community, civil society, and \n organized labor.\n (4) According to the Freedom House Freedom in the World \n 2007 report, ``In 2006, Zimbabwe suffered from a further \n deterioration of political rights and civil liberties amid a \n near-total collapse of the country's economy.''.\n (5) Zimbabwe is a member of the United Nations, the African \n Union, the Southern African Development Community, the African \n Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the \n World Trade Organization, and a party to the Universal \n Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and \n Peoples' Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and \n Political Rights.\n (6) Section 2 of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic \n Recovery Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-99; 22 U.S.C. 2151 note) \n states, ``It is the policy of the United States to support the \n people of Zimbabwe in their struggle to effect peaceful, \n democratic change, achieve broad-based and equitable economic \n growth, and restore the rule of law.''.\n (7) In 2002 and 2003, the United States imposed financial \n and immigration sanctions targeted against selected \n individuals, a ban on the transfer of defense items and \n services, and a suspension of nonhumanitarian government-to-\n government assistance, although the United States remains one \n of the leading providers of humanitarian assistance to the \n people of Zimbabwe.\n (8) The United Nations, the European Union, the United \n States, human rights organizations, and many others have \n condemned the security forces of Zimbabwe for the beating, \n detention, and arrest of opposition and civil society members \n attending a prayer meeting on March 11, 2007.\n (9) In March 2007, the heads of state of the Southern \n African Development Community announced that the President of \n South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, will mediate between President \n Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in \n advance of the 2008 presidential election, but failed to \n condemn the Government of Zimbabwe for its human rights abuses \n and restriction of democratic space.\n (10) On March 30, 2007, it was announced that the ZANU-PF \n central committee had chosen President Mugabe as the party's \n candidate for the 2008 election and that the parliamentary \n elections will also be held in 2008, instead of 2010.\n (11) A Human Rights Watch report released in May 2007 \n concluded, ``Arbitrary arrests, detentions, and brutal beatings \n by police and security forces skyrocketed in March and April, \n and continue unabated. . . . The Zimbabwean government is \n violating the human rights of its citizens with impunity.''.\n\nSEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.\n\n It is the policy of the United States--\n (1) to support the people of Zimbabwe in their efforts to \n promote democracy and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe; and\n (2) to call on President Mugabe to immediately restore \n democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe.\n\nSEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE.\n\n The following is the sense of Congress:\n (1) The United States welcomes and commends the \n announcement by the Southern African Development Community that \n the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, will lead \n negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties in \n Zimbabwe to resolve the political and humanitarian crisis in a \n way that reflects the will of the people of Zimbabwe and \n respects international standards.\n (2) The creation of a level playing field for those who \n want to participate in the political process in Zimbabwe and \n the encouragement of transparency in the political process \n should be priority objectives in the negotiations.\n (3) All preparations should be made to hold free, fair, and \n peaceful elections in accordance with international standards, \n such as the Southern African Development Community \n Parliamentary Forum Election Norms and Guidelines.\n (4) Cooperation between the United States, regional players \n in Africa, and the wider international community is an \n important component of a proactive strategy to support \n democratic rule and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe.\n (5) Normalized relations with the Government of Zimbabwe \n are desirable, but until the Government of Zimbabwe promotes \n democracy and the rule of law, the United States will continue \n to isolate the Government of Zimbabwe and expand financial and \n travel sanctions targeted against those responsible for \n repressing the people of Zimbabwe.\n (6) The United States Permanent Representative to the \n United Nations should use the voice and vote of the United \n States in the United Nations Security Council to emphasize the \n threat to international peace and security posed by the \n Government of Zimbabwe.\n\nSEC. 5. BRIEFING.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter, the Secretary of State \nshall provide to Congress a briefing on the strategy of the United \nStates for engagement with Zimbabwe.\n (b) Content.--The briefing required by subsection (a) shall include \nthe following:\n (1) The details of a comprehensive policy of the United \n States to support the people of Zimbabwe in their efforts to \n promote democratic rule and respect for human rights in \n Zimbabwe, including support for free, fair and peaceful \n elections.\n (2) An assessment of the resources necessary to most \n effectively enable Zimbabwe to return peacefully to a state of \n democratic governance, with respect for human rights and the \n rule of law.\n (3) A diplomatic strategy for engaging and encouraging \n regional partners in Africa to help facilitate the transition \n of Zimbabwe to democracy.\n (4) A review of policy options in the event of further \n deterioration of the situation in Zimbabwe.\n (5) A review of policy options in the event of an \n improvement in the situation in Zimbabwe.\n (6) Indicators of progress toward democracy and respect for \n human rights that would allow for the removal of targeted \n bilateral sanctions on Zimbabwe and strengthened relations with \n the Government of Zimbabwe.\n (c) Consultation.--The Secretary of State shall, to the extent \npossible, develop the strategy described in subsection (a) in \nconsultation with--\n (1) the United Nations;\n (2) the African Union;\n (3) the Southern African Development Community;\n (4) other multilateral organizations; and\n (5) interested States.\n (d) Sunset.--The requirements of this section shall cease to be \neffective after the date that is 3 years after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there \nare authorized to be appropriated up to $10,000,000 for the purpose \ndescribed in subsection (b).\n (b) Purpose.--The purpose described in this subsection is to \nsupport democracy and governance activities in Zimbabwe consistent with \nthe provisions of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of \n2001 (Public Law 107-99; 22 U.S.C. 2151 note), including through--\n (1) support for free, fair, and peaceful national elections \n in accordance with international standards;\n (2) support for the capacity of civil society to create \n nonviolent political space in Zimbabwe; and\n (3) support for programs to defend and protect the human \n rights of the people of Zimbabwe.", "summary": "Support for Democracy and Human Rights in Zimbabwe Act of 2007 - States that is U.S. policy to: (1) support the people of Zimbabwe in their efforts to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe; and (2) call on President Mugabe to restore democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe.\n\nExpresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States welcomes the Southern African Development Community's announcement that the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, will lead negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties in Zimbabwe; (2) preparations should be made to hold free elections in accordance with international standards; (3) cooperation among the United States, regional players in Africa, and the international community is an important component of a proactive strategy to support democratic rule and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe; (4) normalized relations with the government of Zimbabwe are desirable but until the government of Zimbabwe promotes democracy and the rule of law the United States will continue to isolate the government of Zimbabwe and expand financial and travel sanctions against those responsible for repressing Zimbabwe's people; and (5) the United States should use its influence in the U.N. Security Council to emphasize the threat to international peace posed by the government of Zimbabwe.\n\nDirects the Secretary of State to provide Congress with quarterly briefings on U.S. strategy for engagement with Zimbabwe. (Terminates such requirement three years after the date of the enactment of this Act.)\n\nAuthorizes appropriations to support democracy and governance activities in Zimbabwe, including support for: (1) free and peaceful national elections; (2) creation of nonviolent political space; and (3) human rights programs.", "title": "A bill to support democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1375, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Occupational Safety and Health \nAmendments of 1995''.\n\nSEC. 2. EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION.\n\n Section 4 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 \nU.S.C. 653) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubsection:\n ``(c) In order to carry out the purpose of this Act to encourage \nemployers and employees in their efforts to reduce the number of \noccupational safety and health hazards, an employee participation \ncommittee--\n ``(1) in which employees participate;\n ``(2) which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of \n dealing with employees concerning--\n ``(A) safe and healthful working conditions; or\n ``(B) any other related matters; and\n ``(3) which does not have, claim, or seek authority to \n negotiate or enter into collective bargaining agreements with \n the employer or to amend existing collective bargaining \n agreements between the employer and any labor organization,\nshall not constitute a `labor organization' for purposes of section \n8(a)(2) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 158(a)(2)) or a \nrepresentative for purposes of sections 1 and 2 of the Railway Labor \nAct (45 U.S.C. 151 and 151a).''.\n\nSEC. 3. RISK ASSESSMENT IN STANDARDS MAKING.\n\n (a) Priority for Establishing Standards.--Section 6(g) of the \nOccupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655(g)) is \namended--\n (1) by striking ``(g) In'' and inserting ``(g)(1) In''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(2) In determining the priority for establishing standards \nrelating to toxic materials or harmful physical agents, the Secretary \nshall consider the number of workers exposed to such materials or \nagents, the nature and severity of potential impairment, and the \nlikelihood of such impairment.''.\n (b) Risk Assessments for Final Standard.--Section 6 of the \nOccupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655) is amended \nby adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(h)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, in \npromulgating any final occupational safety and health regulation or \nstandard, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register--\n ``(A) an estimate, calculated with as much specificity as \n practicable, of the risk to the health and safety of employees \n addressed by such regulation or standard, the affect of such \n regulation or standard on human health or the environment, and \n the costs associated with the implementation of, and compliance \n with, such regulation or standard;\n ``(B) a comparative analysis of the risk addressed by such \n regulation or standard relative to other risks to which \n employees are exposed; and\n ``(C) a certification that--\n ``(i) the estimate under subparagraph (A) and the \n analysis under subparagraph (B) are--\n ``(I) based upon a scientific evaluation of \n the risk to the health and safety of employees \n and to human health or the environment; and\n ``(II) supported by the best available \n scientific data;\n ``(ii) such regulation or standard will \n substantially advance the purpose of protecting \n employee health and safety or the environment against \n the specified identified risk; and\n ``(iii) such regulation or standard will produce \n benefits to employee health and safety or the \n environment that will justify the cost to the Federal \n Government and the public of the implementation of and \n compliance with such regulation or standard.\n ``(2) If the Secretary cannot make the certification required under \nparagraph (1)(C), the Secretary shall--\n ``(A) notify the Congress concerning the reasons why such \n certification cannot be made; and\n ``(B) publish a statement of such reasons with the final \n regulation or standard.\n ``(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to grant a \ncause of action to any person.''.\n\nSEC. 4. CONSULTATION SERVICES.\n\n Section 21(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 \nU.S.C. 671(c)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``(c) The'' and inserting ``(c)(1) The''; \n and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall, through the authority granted under \nsection 7(c) and paragraph (1), enter into cooperative agreements with \nStates for the provision of consultation services by such States to \nemployers concerning the provision of safe and healthful working \nconditions. A State that has a plan approved under section 18 shall be \neligible to enter into a cooperative agreement under this paragraph \nonly if such plan does not include provisions for federally funded \nconsultation to employers.\n ``(B)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), the Secretary shall \nreimburse a State that enters into a cooperative agreement under \nsubparagraph (A) in an amount that equals 90 percent of the costs \nincurred by the State under such agreement.\n ``(ii) A State shall be fully reimbursed by the Secretary for--\n ``(I) training approved by the Secretary for State staff \n operating under a cooperative agreement; and\n ``(II) specified out-of-State travel expenses incurred by \n such staff.\n ``(iii) A reimbursement paid to a State under this subparagraph \nshall be limited to costs incurred by such State for the provision of \nconsultation services under this paragraph and the costs described in \nclause (ii).''.\n\nSEC. 5. REDUCED PENALTIES FOR NONSERIOUS VIOLATIONS.\n\n Section 17 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 \nU.S.C. 666) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``up to $7,000'' and \n inserting ``not more than $25'';\n (2) in subsection (i), to read as follows:\n ``(i) Any employer who violates any of the posting or recordkeeping \nrequirements prescribed under this Act shall not be assessed a civil \npenalty for such violation unless it is determined that the employer \nhas violated subsection (a) or (d) with respect to such posting or \nrecordkeeping requirements.''; and\n (3) in subsection (h), to read as follows:\n ``(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary \nshall not assess a civil penalty, which is authorized under this \nsection, for more than one instance of a violation of any applicable \nregulation, rule, order, or regulation prescribed under the provisions \nof this Act.''.\n\nSEC. 6. WARNINGS IN LIEU OF CITATIONS.\n\n Subsection (a) of section 9 of the Occupational Safety and Health \nAct (29 U.S.C. 658(a)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), if, upon inspection \nor investigation, the Secretary or an authorized representative of the \nSecretary believes that an employer has violated a requirement of \nsection 5, of any regulation, rule, or order promulgated pursuant to \nsection 6, or of any regulations prescribed pursuant to this Act, the \nSecretary may with reasonable promptness issue a citation to the \nemployer. Each citation shall be in writing and shall describe with \nparticularity the nature of the violation, including a reference to the \nprovision of the Act, regulation, rule, or order alleged to have been \nviolated. The citation shall fix a reasonable time for the abatement of \nthe violation.\n ``(2) The Secretary or the authorized representative of the \nSecretary shall issue a warning in lieu of a citation with respect to--\n ``(A) violations that have no significant relationship to \n employee safety or health; or\n ``(B) cases in which the employer in good faith acts \n promptly to abate the violation.\n ``(3) Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the Secretary or the \nauthorized representative of the Secretary from providing technical \nassistance to an employer in correcting a violation discovered during \nan inspection or investigation under this Act.''.", "summary": "Occupational Safety and Health Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to provide that employee safety and health participation committees are not prohibited under the National Labor Relations Act or the Railway Labor Act. \n(Sec. 3) Provides for risk assessment in standards making. Directs the Secretary of Labor to consider the number of workers exposed to the toxic material or harmful physical agent, the nature and severity of the potential impairment, and its likelihood, in determining the priority for establishing standards dealing with such materials or agents. Requires publication of risk assessments for final standards and certification that such standards justify their costs or publication of reasons why such certification cannot be made. \n(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with States for the provision of consultation services by such States to employers concerning the provision of safe and healthful working conditions. \n(Sec. 5) Reduces penalties for nonserious violations. \n(Sec. 6) Provides for warnings in lieu of citations.", "title": "Occupational Safety and Health Amendments of 1995"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1497, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Drone Federalism Act of 2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. PRESERVATION OF STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL AUTHORITIES WITH \n RESPECT TO UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.\n\n (a) Scope of Preemption for Civil Unmanned Aircraft Regulations.--\nIn prescribing regulations or standards related to civil unmanned \naircraft systems, the Administrator shall--\n (1) define the scope of the preemptive effect of such \n regulations or standards pursuant to section 40103 or 41713 of \n title 49, United States Code, which shall be limited to the \n extent necessary to ensure the safety and efficiency of the \n national airspace system for interstate commerce; and\n (2) preserve, to the greatest extent practicable, \n legitimate interests of State, local, and tribal governments, \n including--\n (A) protecting public safety;\n (B) protecting personal privacy;\n (C) protecting property rights;\n (D) managing land use; and\n (E) restricting nuisances and noise pollution.\n (b) Reserved Powers.--\n (1) In general.--In prescribing regulations or standards \n related to civil unmanned aircraft systems, the Administrator \n shall ensure that the authority of a State, local, or tribal \n government to issue reasonable restrictions on the time, \n manner, and place of operation of a civil unmanned aircraft \n system that is operated below 200 feet above ground level or \n within 200 feet of a structure is not preempted.\n (2) Reasonable restrictions.--For purposes of paragraph \n (1), reasonable restrictions on the time, manner, and place of \n operation of a civil unmanned aircraft system include the \n following:\n (A) Limitations on speed.\n (B) Prohibitions or limitations on operations in \n the vicinity of schools, parks, roadways, bridges, or \n other public or private property.\n (C) Restrictions on operations at certain times of \n the day or week or on specific occasions such as during \n parades or sporting events.\n (D) Prohibitions on operations while the operator \n is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.\n (E) Prohibitions on careless or reckless \n operations.\n (F) Other prohibitions that protect public safety, \n personal privacy, or property rights, or that manage \n land use or restrict noise pollution.\n\nSEC. 3. PRESERVATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS.\n\n (a) Affirmation of Applicability of Constitutional Takings Clause \nto Federal Aviation Administration Regulations.--In prescribing \nregulations or standards related to civil unmanned aircraft systems, \nthe Administrator shall not authorize the operation of a civil unmanned \naircraft in the immediate reaches of the airspace above property \nwithout permission of the property owner.\n (b) Affirmation of Applicability of Constitutional Takings Clause \nAbsent Federal Aviation Administration Regulations.--Section 336(a) of \nthe FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95; 49 \nU.S.C. 40101 note) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a \n semicolon;\n (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(6) when flown in the immediate reaches of the airspace \n above property (as defined in section 3(c) of the Drone \n Federalism Act of 2017), the operator has the permission of the \n property owner.''.\n (c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``immediate reaches of \nthe airspace above property'', with respect to the operation of a civil \nunmanned aircraft system, includes--\n (1) any area within 200 feet above the ground level of the \n property;\n (2) any area within 200 feet above any structure on the \n property; and\n (3) any area where operation of the aircraft system could \n interfere with the enjoyment or use of the property.\n\nSEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM ON FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Administrator shall enter into agreements \nwith not more than 10 State, local, or tribal governments to establish \npilot programs under which--\n (1) the Administrator shall provide technical assistance to \n such governments in regulating the operation of civil unmanned \n aircraft systems, including through the use of the latest \n available technologies; and\n (2) the Administrator and such governments shall coordinate \n efforts with respect to the enforcement of regulations relating \n to the operation of civil unmanned aircraft systems.\n (b) Selection.--In selecting among State, local, and tribal \ngovernments for purposes of establishing pilot programs under \nsubsection (a), the Administrator shall seek to enter into agreements \nwith--\n (1) governments that vary in their size and intended \n approach to regulation of civil unmanned aircraft systems; and\n (2) not less than one State government, not less than one \n county government, not less than one city government, and not \n less than one tribal government.\n (c) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management System.--The \nAdministrator shall coordinate with Administrator of the National \nAeronautics and Space Administration to ensure that participants in \npilot programs established under subsection (a) are consulted in the \ndevelopment of the unmanned aircraft systems traffic management system \nunder subsection (a) section 2208 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and \nSecurity Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190; 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) and the \npilot program under subsection (b) of that section.\n (d) Report Required.--Not later than 2 years after establishing the \npilot programs required by subsection (a), the Administrator shall \nsubmit to Congress, and make available to the public, a report \nidentifying best practices for State, local, and tribal governments to \nregulate the operation of civil unmanned aircraft systems and to \ncollaborate with the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to \nthe regulation of such systems.\n\nSEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.\n\n Nothing in this Act shall be construed--\n (1) to diminish or expand the preemptive effect of the \n authority of the Federal Aviation Administration with respect \n to manned aviation; or\n (2) to affect the civil or criminal jurisdiction of--\n (A) any Indian tribe relative to any State or local \n government; or\n (B) any State or local government relative to any \n Indian tribe.\n\nSEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the \n Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.\n (2) Civil.--The term ``civil'', with respect to an unmanned \n aircraft system, means that the unmanned aircraft is not a \n public aircraft (as defined in section 40102 of title 49, \n United States Code).\n (3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the \n meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-\n Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).\n (4) Local government.--The term ``local'', with respect to \n a government, means the government of a subdivision of a State.\n (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several \n States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and \n possessions of the United States.\n (6) Tribal government.--The term ``tribal'', with respect \n to a government, means the governing body of an Indian tribe.\n (7) Unmanned aircraft; unmanned aircraft system.--The terms \n ``unmanned aircraft'' and ``unmanned aircraft system'' have the \n meanings given those terms in section 331 of the FAA \n Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95; 49 \n U.S.C. 40101 note).", "summary": "Drone Federalism Act of 2017 This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration, in prescribing regulations or standards related to unmanned aircraft systems, to: define, and limit the scope of, the preemptive effect of such regulations or standards; preserve the legitimate interests of state, local, and tribal governments (e.g., protecting public safety); preserve state, local, and tribal authority to issue certain reasonable restrictions on the operation of a civil unmanned aircraft system within 200 feet of the ground or a structure; authorize, only with a property owner's permission, the operation of a civil unmanned aircraft in the immediate reaches of the airspace above private property; and establish pilot programs with state, local, and tribal governments to regulate the operation of civil unmanned aircraft systems, coordinate enforcement efforts with respect to such regulations, and identify best practices. ", "title": "Drone Federalism Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1395, "text": "SECTION 1. ADJUSTMENTS TO RATES OF BASIC PAY OF PREVAILING RATE \n EMPLOYEES.\n\n (a) Limitation on Adjustments.--\n (1) Prevailing rate employees of agencies.--Notwithstanding \n any other provision of law, and except as otherwise provided in \n this section, a prevailing rate employee described in section \n 5342(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, may not be paid--\n (A) during the period beginning on January 1, 2014, \n and ending on the normal effective date of the \n applicable wage survey adjustment that is to take \n effect in fiscal year 2014, in an amount that exceeds \n the rate payable for the applicable grade and step of \n the applicable wage schedule in accordance with such \n section; and\n (B) during the period beginning on the day after \n the end of the period described in subparagraph (A) and \n ending on September 30, 2014, in an amount that \n exceeds, as a result of a wage survey adjustment, the \n rate payable under subparagraph (A) by more than the \n sum of--\n (i) the percentage adjustment taking effect \n in fiscal year 2014 under section 5303 of title \n 5, United States Code, in the rates of pay \n under the General Schedule; and\n (ii) the difference between the overall \n average percentage of the locality-based \n comparability payments taking effect in fiscal \n year 2014 under section 5304 of such title \n (whether by adjustment or otherwise), and the \n overall average percentage of such payments \n which was effective in the previous fiscal year \n under such section.\n (2) Other prevailing rate employees.--Notwithstanding any \n other provision of law, no prevailing rate employee described \n in subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 5342(a)(2) of title 5, \n United States Code, and no employee covered by section 5348 of \n such title, may be paid during the periods for which paragraph \n (1) is in effect at a rate that exceeds the rates that would be \n payable under paragraph (1) were paragraph (1) applicable to \n such employee.\n (3) Employees paid from new schedules.--For the purposes of \n this subsection, the rates payable to an employee who is \n covered by this subsection and who is paid from a schedule not \n in existence on September 30, 2013, shall be determined under \n regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management.\n (4) Rates of premium pay.--Notwithstanding any other \n provision of law, rates of premium pay for employees subject to \n this subsection may not be changed from the rates in effect on \n September 30, 2013, except to the extent determined by the \n Office of Personnel Management to be consistent with the \n purpose of this subsection.\n (5) Period covered.--This subsection shall apply with \n respect to pay for service performed on or after the first day \n of the first applicable pay period beginning after December 31, \n 2013.\n (6) Treatment under other laws.--For the purpose of \n administering any provision of law (including any rule or \n regulation that provides premium pay, retirement, life \n insurance, or any other employee benefit) that requires any \n deduction or contribution, or that imposes any requirement or \n limitation on the basis of a rate of salary or basic pay, the \n rate of salary or basic pay payable after the application of \n this subsection shall be treated as the rate of salary or basic \n pay.\n (7) Limitations.--Nothing in this subsection shall be \n considered to permit or require the payment to any employee \n covered by this subsection at a rate in excess of the rate that \n would be payable were this subsection not in effect.\n (8) Exceptions.--The Office of Personnel Management may \n provide for exceptions to the limitations imposed by this \n subsection if the Office determines that such exceptions are \n necessary to ensure the recruitment or retention of qualified \n employees.\n (b) Comparability of Adjustments.--\n (1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), effective \n as of the first day of the first applicable pay period \n beginning after December 31, 2013, the percentage increase in \n rates of basic pay for the statutory pay systems under sections \n 5344 and 5348 of title 5, United States Code, that takes place \n in fiscal year 2014 shall be not less than the percentage \n increase received by employees in the same pay locality whose \n rates of basic pay are adjusted under sections 5303 and 5304 of \n title 5, United States Code.\n (2) Pay localities.--For the purposes of this subsection, \n prevailing rate employees in localities where there are no \n employees whose pay is increased pursuant to sections 5303 and \n 5304 of title 5, United States Code, and prevailing rate \n employees described in section 5343(a)(5) of title 5, United \n States Code, shall be considered to be located in the pay \n locality designated as ``Rest of United States'' under section \n 5304 of title 5, United States Code.", "summary": "Prohibits any prevailing rate employee in a federal agency, between January 1 and September 30, 2014, from being paid an amount exceeding specified limits resulting from an applicable wage survey adjustment. Prohibits the percentage increase in wages paid to a prevailing wage employee in FY2014 from being less than the percentage increase in the basic pay of other federal employees in the same pay locality. ", "title": "To ensure that the percentage increase in rates of basic pay for prevailing wage employees shall be equal to the percentage increase received by other Federal employees in the same pay locality, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2946, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Uphold Our Promise to Veterans \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. REPEAL OF ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT OF RETIRED PAY AND RETAINER PAY \n AMOUNTS FOR RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES UNDER AGE \n 62.\n\n Section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 is hereby \nrepealed.\n\nSEC. 3. LIMITATIONS ON FOREIGN ASSISTANCE.\n\n (a) Foreign Assistance to the Government of Egypt.--\n (1) Restrictions on assistance under section 7008.--In \n accordance with section 7008 of the Department of State, \n Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act, 2012 (division I \n of Public Law 112-74; 125 Stat. 1195), the United States \n Government, including the Department of State, shall refrain \n from providing to the Government of Egypt the assistance \n restricted under such section.\n (2) Additional restrictions.--In addition to the \n restrictions referred to in paragraph (1), the following \n restrictions shall be in effect with respect to United States \n assistance to the Government of Egypt:\n (A) Deliveries of defense articles currently slated \n for transfer to Egyptian Ministry of Defense (MOD) and \n Ministry of Interior (MOI) shall be suspended until the \n President certifies to Congress that democratic \n national elections have taken place in Egypt followed \n by a peaceful transfer of power.\n (B) Provision of defense services to Egyptian MOD \n and MOI shall be halted immediately until the President \n certifies to Congress that democratic national \n elections have taken place in Egypt followed by a \n peaceful transfer of power.\n (C) Processing of draft Letters of Offer and \n Acceptance (LOAs) for future arms sales to Egyptian MOD \n and MOI entities shall be halted until the President \n certifies to Congress that democratic national \n elections have taken place in Egypt followed by a \n peaceful transfer of power.\n (D) All costs associated with the delays in \n deliveries and provision of services required under \n subparagraphs (A) through (C) shall be borne by the \n Government of Egypt.\n (b) Other Limitations on Foreign Assistance.--\n (1) Prohibition.--No amounts may be obligated or expended \n to provide any direct United States assistance, loan guarantee, \n or debt relief to a Government described under paragraph (2).\n (2) Covered governments.--The Governments referred to in \n paragraph (1) are as follows:\n (A) The Government of Libya.\n (B) The Government of Pakistan.\n (C) The Government of a host country of a United \n States diplomatic facility on the list submitted to \n Congress pursuant to paragraph (3).\n (3) Determination by secretary.--The Secretary of State \n shall submit to Congress a list of all United States diplomatic \n facilities attacked, trespassed upon, breached, or attempted to \n be attacked, trespassed upon, or breached on or after September \n 1, 2012, not later than 5 days after the date of enactment of \n this Act and not later than 5 days after any subsequent attack, \n trespass, breach, or attempt.\n (4) Certification.--Beginning 90 days after the date of the \n enactment of this Act, the President may certify to Congress \n that--\n (A) a Government described under paragraph (2)--\n (i) is cooperating or has cooperated fully \n with investigations into an attack, trespass, \n breach, or attempted attack, trespass, or \n breach;\n (ii) has arrested or facilitated the arrest \n of, and if requested has permitted extradition \n of, all identifiable persons in such country \n associated with organizing, planning, or \n participating in the attack, trespass, breach, \n or attempted attack, trespass, or breach;\n (iii) is facilitating or has facilitated \n any security improvements at United States \n diplomatic facilities, as requested by the \n United States Government; and\n (iv) is taking or has taken sufficient \n steps to strengthen and improve reliability of \n local security in order to prevent any future \n attack, trespass, or breach; and\n (B) all identifiable persons associated with \n organizing, planning, or participating in the attack, \n trespass, breach, or attempted attack, trespass, or \n breach--\n (i) have been identified by the Federal \n Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of \n Diplomatic Security, or other United States law \n enforcement entity; and\n (ii) are in United States custody.\n (5) Request to suspend prohibition on foreign assistance.--\n Upon submitting a certification under paragraph (4) with \n respect to a Government described under paragraph (2), the \n President may submit a request to Congress to suspend the \n prohibition on foreign assistance to the Government.\n (c) Effective Date.--This section takes effect on the date of the \nenactment of this Act and applies with respect to funds made available \nto any Federal department or agency beginning with fiscal year 2015.\n\nSEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION TO SELL LAND.\n\n (a) Authorization.--For each of fiscal years 2014 through 2024 or \nwhen the authority under this section is terminated in accordance with \nsubsection (d), whichever occurs first, subject to valid existing \nrights, the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, \nas the case may be, shall offer for competitive sale by auction all \nright, title, and interest, to the extent provided in subsection \n(b)(2), in and to the following:\n (1) Eight percent of the Federal land managed by the Bureau \n of Land Management.\n (2) Eight percent of the National Forest System land.\n (b) Terms and Conditions.--\n (1) Configuration of land.--The Secretary concerned shall \n configure the land to be sold to maximize marketability or \n achieve management objectives, and may prescribe such terms and \n conditions on the land sales authorized by this Act as the \n Secretary deems in the public interest.\n (2) Mineral rights.--For each fiscal year, the Secretary \n concerned may include in the sale of land under subsection (a) \n the mineral rights to such land for not more than 50 percent of \n the total acreage sold under subsection (a) by that Secretary, \n if the Secretary determines that such inclusion is likely to \n maximize marketability.\n (c) Proceeds From the Sale of Land.--All proceeds from the sale of \nland under this section shall be deposited into the Treasury and \napplied--\n (1) to reduce the annual Federal budget deficit for the \n fiscal year in which the sums are received, except as provided \n in paragraph (2); and\n (2) if there is no annual Federal budget deficit for the \n fiscal year in which the sums are received, to reduce the \n outstanding Federal debt.\n (d) Termination of Authority.--The authority under this section \nshall terminate when the proceeds deposited into the Treasury under \nsubsection (c) equal $3,500,000 or at the end of fiscal year 2024, \nwhichever occurs first.", "summary": "Uphold Our Promise to Veterans Act - Repeals the provision of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 that reduces the cost-of-living adjustment to the retirement pay of members of the Armed Forces under age 62. Suspends delivery of defense articles and services to the Government of Egypt until democratic elections and a peaceful transfer of power have taken place. Prohibits assistance to the Governments of Libya and Pakistan and to any country where a U.S. diplomatic facility has been attacked until the President certifies to Congress that such country has cooperated with investigations into such attack and have taken steps to prevent any future attack. Authorizes the sale of 8% of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and 8% of National Forest System land.  Requires proceeds from the sale of such land to be used to reduce the annual federal budget deficit or the outstanding national debt. Terminates the authority for the sale of such lands when sales proceeds equal $3.5 million or at the end of FY2024, whichever occurs first.", "title": "Uphold Our Promise to Veterans Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 18, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``No Second Chances for Murderers, \nRapists, or Child Molesters Act of 1998''.\n\nSEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.\n\n It is the sense of Congress that--\n (1) any individual convicted of murder should receive the \n death penalty or be imprisoned for life without the possibility \n of parole; and\n (2) any individual convicted of rape or a dangerous sexual \n offense involving a child under the age of 14 should be \n imprisoned for life without the possibility of parole.\n\nSEC. 3. PENALTY FOR STATES THAT RELEASE CERTAIN FELONS.\n\n (a) Penalty.--\n (1) In general.--In a case in which a State convicts a \n person of murder, rape, or a dangerous sexual offense, who has \n a prior conviction for one of these offenses in another State, \n the Attorney General shall administer the transfer of the \n following amounts from Federal law enforcement assistance funds \n of the State that convicted such person of the first offense:\n (A) Up to $100,000 shall be transferred to each \n victim (or if the victim is deceased, the victim's \n estate) of the subsequent offense.\n (B) The cost of incarceration, prosecution, and \n apprehension of such person shall be transferred to the \n State that convicted of a subsequent offense. Half of \n the amounts transferred shall be paid to the State \n entity designated to administer crime victim \n assistance, and half shall be deposited in a State \n account that collects Federal law enforcement funds.\n (2) Multiple states.--In a case in which a State convicts a \n person of murder, rape, or a dangerous sexual offense, who has \n a prior conviction for one of these offenses in more than one \n State, the Attorney General shall administer the transfer of \n the following amounts from Federal law enforcement assistance \n funds of each State that convicted of a prior offense:\n (A) Up to $100,000 shall be apportioned equally \n among the States that convicted of prior offenses and \n transferred to each victim (or if the victim is \n deceased, the victim's estate) of the subsequent \n offense.\n (B) The cost of incarceration, prosecution, and \n apprehension of such person shall be apportioned \n equally among the States that convicted of prior \n offenses and transferred to the State that convicted of \n a subsequent offense. Half of the amounts transferred \n shall be paid to the State entity designated to \n administer crime victim assistance, and half shall be \n deposited in a State account that collects Federal law \n enforcement funds.\n (b) State Applications.--To receive funds under this section, the \nchief executive of a State shall submit an application to the Attorney \nGeneral in such form and containing such information as the Attorney \nGeneral may reasonably require, including a certification that the \nState has convicted a person of murder, rape, or a dangerous sexual \noffense, who has a prior conviction for one of these offenses in \nanother State.\n (c) Source of Funds.--Any amount transferred as a result of \nsubsection (a) shall be derived by reducing funds from Federal law \nenforcement assistance programs received by the State that convicted of \nthe first offense. The Attorney General, in consultation with the chief \nexecutive of the State that convicted of the first offense, shall \ndevelop a payment schedule.\n (d) Construction.--This section shall not be construed to diminish \nor modify any court ordered restitution.\n\nSEC. 4. UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION.\n\n The United States Sentencing Commission shall amend the Federal \nSentencing Guidelines to provide that--\n (1) whoever is guilty of murder, as defined in section 6 of \n this Act, shall be punished by death or by imprisonment for \n life; and\n (2) whoever is guilty of rape or a dangerous sexual \n offense, as defined in section 6 of this Act, shall be punished \n by imprisonment for life.\n\nSEC. 5. COLLECTION OF RECIDIVISM DATA.\n\n Pursuant to guidelines established in the Uniform Federal Crime \nReporting Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-690), the Attorney General shall \ncollect and distribute data to the President, Members of the Congress, \nState governments, and officials of localities and penal and other \ninstitutions participating in the Uniform Crime Reports program which \nincludes--\n (1) the number of murders, rapes, and dangerous sexual \n offenses committed by persons previously convicted of one of \n these offenses; and\n (2) the percentage of cases in which a person convicted of \n murder, rape, or a dangerous sexual offense in one State \n commits a second offense in another State.\n\nSEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act--\n (1) Murder.--The term ``murder'' means the unlawful killing \n of a human being with malice aforethought, and includes \n murder--\n (A) perpetrated by poison, lying in wait, or any \n other kind of willful, deliberate, malicious, and \n premeditated killing;\n (B) committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to \n perpetrate, any arson, escape, murder, kidnapping, \n treason, espionage, sabotage, aggravated sexual abuse \n or sexual abuse, burglary, or robbery; or\n (C) perpetrated from a premeditated design \n unlawfully and maliciously to effect the death of any \n individual other than the individual who is killed.\n (2) Rape.--The term ``rape'' includes the carnal knowledge \n of an individual forcibly and against the will of such \n individual.\n (3) Dangerous sexual offense.--The term ``dangerous sexual \n offense'' means sexual abuse or sexually explicit conduct \n committed by an individual who is over the age of 18 against a \n child under the age of 14.\n (4) Sexual abuse.--The term ``sexual abuse'' includes the \n employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or \n coercion of a child under the age of 14 to engage in, or assist \n another person to engage in, sexually explicit conduct or the \n rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual \n exploitation of children, or incest with children.\n (5) Sexually explicit conduct.--The term ``sexually \n explicit conduct'' means actual or simulated--\n (A) sexual intercourse, including sexual contact in \n the manner of genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-\n genital, or oral-anal contact, whether between persons \n of the same or of opposite sex;\n (B) bestiality;\n (C) masturbation;\n (D) lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic \n area of a person or animal; or\n (E) sadistic or masochistic abuse.\n (6) Sexual contact.--The term ``sexual contact'' means the \n intentional touching, either directly or though clothing, of \n the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of \n any person with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, \n or arouse or gratify sexual desire of any person.", "summary": "No Second Chances for Murderers, Rapists, or Child Molesters Act of 1998 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that any individual convicted of: (1) murder should receive the death penalty or be imprisoned for life without the possibility of parole; and (2) rape or a dangerous sexual offense involving a child under age 14 should be imprisoned for life without the possibility of parole. \nRequires the Attorney General to transfer the following amounts from Federal law enforcement assistance funds for a State that convicted a person of a first offense of murder, rape, or a dangerous sexual offense to a State that convicts that person for a subsequent such offense: (1) up to $100,000 for transfer to each victim of the subsequent offense; and (2) the cost of incarceration, prosecution, and apprehension of such person. Sets forth provisions regarding situations where a person has a prior conviction in more than one State. \nRequires the United States Sentencing Commission to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to provide that whoever is guilty of: (1) murder shall be punished by death or by life imprisonment; and (2) rape or a dangerous sexual offense shall be punished by life imprisonment. \nDirects the Attorney General to collect and distribute data to the President, Members of Congress, State governments, and officials of localities and penal and other institutions participating in the Uniform Crime Reports program which includes: (1) the number of murders, rapes, and dangerous sexual offenses committed by persons previously convicted of one of these offenses; and (2) the percentage of cases in which a person convicted of murder, rape, or a dangerous sexual offense in one State commits a second offense in another State.", "title": "No Second Chances for Murderers, Rapists, or Child Molesters Act of 1998"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 809, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Western Hemisphere Traveler \nImprovement Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. CERTIFICATIONS.\n\n Section 7209(b)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism \nPrevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1185 note) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (B)--\n (A) in clause (v)--\n (i) by striking ``process'' and inserting \n ``read''; and\n (ii) inserting ``at all ports of entry'' \n after ``installed'';\n (B) in clause (vi), by striking ``and'' at the end;\n (C) in clause (vii), by striking the period at the \n end and inserting a semicolon; and\n (D) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(viii) a pilot program in which not fewer \n than 1 State has been initiated and evaluated \n to determine if an enhanced driver's license, \n which is machine-readable and tamper-proof, not \n valid for certification of citizenship for any \n purpose other than admission into the United \n States from Canada, and issued by such State to \n an individual, may permit the individual to use \n the individual's driver's license to meet the \n documentation requirements under subparagraph \n (A) for entry into the United States from \n Canada at the land and sea ports of entry;\n ``(ix) the report described in subparagraph \n (C) has been submitted to the appropriate \n congressional committees;\n ``(x) a study has been conducted to \n determine the number of passports and passport \n cards that will be issued as a consequence of \n the documentation requirements under \n subparagraph (A); and\n ``(xi) sufficient passport adjudication \n personnel have been hired or contracted--\n ``(I) to accommodate--\n ``(aa) increased demand for \n passports as a consequence of \n the documentation requirements \n under subparagraph (A); and\n ``(bb) a surge in such \n demand during seasonal peak \n travel times; and\n ``(II) to ensure that the time \n required to issue a passport or \n passport card is not anticipated to \n exceed 8 weeks.''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(C) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the \n initiation of the pilot program described in \n subparagraph (B)(viii), the Secretary of Homeland \n Security and the Secretary of State shall submit to the \n appropriate congressional committees a report, which \n includes--\n ``(i) an analysis of the impact of the \n pilot program on national security;\n ``(ii) recommendations on how to expand the \n pilot program to other States;\n ``(iii) any appropriate statutory changes \n to facilitate the expansion of the pilot \n program to additional States and to citizens of \n Canada;\n ``(iv) a plan to scan individuals \n participating in the pilot program against \n United States terrorist watch lists;\n ``(v) an evaluation of and recommendations \n for the type of machine-readable technology \n that should be used in enhanced driver's \n licenses, based on individual privacy \n considerations and the costs and feasibility of \n incorporating any new technology into existing \n driver's licenses;\n ``(vi) recommendations for improving the \n pilot program; and\n ``(vii) an analysis of any cost savings for \n a citizen of the United States participating in \n an enhanced driver's license program as \n compared with participating in an alternative \n program.''.\n\nSEC. 3. SPECIAL RULE FOR MINORS.\n\n Section 7209(b) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention \nAct of 2004 (Public Law 108-458; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(3) Special rule for minors.--Notwithstanding any other \n provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall \n permit an individual to enter the United States without \n providing any evidence of citizenship if the individual--\n ``(A)(i) is less than 16 years old;\n ``(ii) is accompanied by the individual's legal \n guardian;\n ``(iii) is entering the United States from Canada \n or Mexico;\n ``(iv) is a citizen of the United States or Canada; \n and\n ``(v) provides a birth certificate; or\n ``(B)(i) is less than 18 years old;\n ``(ii) is traveling under adult supervision with a \n public or private school group, religious group, social \n or cultural organization, or team associated with a \n youth athletics organization; and\n ``(iii) provides a birth certificate.''.\n\nSEC. 4. TRAVEL FACILITATION INITIATIVES.\n\n Section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention \nAct of 2004 (Public Law 108-458; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new subsections:\n ``(e) State Driver's License and Identification Card Enrollment \nProgram.--\n ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n law and not later than 180 days after the submission of the \n report described in subsection (b)(1)(C), the Secretary of \n State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue \n regulations to establish a State Driver's License and Identity \n Card Enrollment Program as described in this subsection \n (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the `Program') \n and which allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to enter \n into a memorandum of understanding with an appropriate official \n of each State that elects to participate in the Program.\n ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Program is to permit a \n citizen of the United States who produces a driver's license or \n identity card that meets the requirements of paragraph (3) or a \n citizen of Canada who produces a document described in \n paragraph (4) to enter the United States from Canada by land or \n sea without providing any other documentation or evidence of \n citizenship.\n ``(3) Admission of citizens of the united states.--A \n driver's license or identity card meets the requirements of \n this paragraph if--\n ``(A) the license or card--\n ``(i) was issued by a State that is \n participating in the Program; and\n ``(ii) is tamper-proof and machine \n readable; and\n ``(B) the State that issued the license or card--\n ``(i) has a mechanism to verify the United \n States citizenship status of an applicant for \n such a license or card;\n ``(ii) does not require an individual to \n include the individual's citizenship status on \n such a license or card; and\n ``(iii) manages all information regarding \n an applicant's United States citizenship status \n in the same manner as such information \n collected through the United States passport \n application process and prohibits any other use \n or distribution of such information.\n ``(4) Admission of citizens of canada.--\n ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other \n provision of law, if the Secretary of State and the \n Secretary of Homeland Security determine that an \n identity document issued by the Government of Canada or \n by the Government of a Province or Territory of Canada \n meets security and information requirements comparable \n to the requirements for a driver's license or identity \n card described in paragraph (3), the Secretary of \n Homeland Security shall permit a citizen of Canada to \n enter the United States from Canada using such a \n document without providing any other documentation or \n evidence of Canadian citizenship.\n ``(B) Technology standards.--The Secretary of \n Homeland Security shall work, to the maximum extent \n possible, to ensure that an identification document \n issued by Canada that permits entry into the United \n States under subparagraph (A) utilizes technology \n similar to the technology utilized by identification \n documents issued by the United States or any State.\n ``(5) Authority to expand.--Notwithstanding any other \n provision of law, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of \n Homeland Security may expand the Program to permit an \n individual to enter the United States--\n ``(A) from a country other than Canada; or\n ``(B) using evidence of citizenship other than a \n driver's license or identity card described in \n paragraph (3) or a document described in paragraph (4).\n ``(6) Relationship to other requirements.--Nothing in this \n subsection shall have the effect of creating a national \n identity card or a certification of citizenship for any purpose \n other than admission into the United States as described in \n this subsection.\n ``(7) State defined.--In this subsection, the term `State' \n means any of the several States of the United States, the \n Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth \n of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin \n Islands of the United States, or any other territory or \n possession of the United States.\n ``(f) Waiver for Intrastate Travel.--The Secretary of Homeland \nSecurity shall accept a birth certificate as proof of citizenship for \nany United States citizen who is traveling directly from one part of a \nState to a noncontiguous part of that State through Canada, if such \ncitizen cannot travel by land to such part of the State without \ntraveling through Canada, and such travel in Canada is limited to no \nmore than 2 hours.\n ``(g) Waiver of Pass Card and Passport Execution Fees.--\n ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n law, during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which \n the Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a final rule in \n the Federal Register to carry out subsection (b), the Secretary \n of State shall--\n ``(A) designate 1 facility in each city or port of \n entry designated under paragraph (2), including a State \n Department of Motor Vehicles facility located in such \n city or port of entry if the Secretary determines \n appropriate, in which a passport or passport card may \n be procured without an execution fee during such \n period; and\n ``(B) develop not fewer than 6 mobile enrollment \n teams that--\n ``(i) are able to issue passports or other \n identity documents issued by the Secretary of \n State without an execution fee during such \n period;\n ``(ii) are operated along the northern and \n southern borders of the United States; and\n ``(iii) focus on providing passports and \n other such documents to citizens of the United \n States who live in areas of the United States \n that are near such an international border and \n that have relatively low population density.\n ``(2) Designation of cities and ports of entry.--The \n Secretary of State shall designate cities and ports of entry \n for purposes of paragraph (1)(A) as follows:\n ``(A) The Secretary shall designate not fewer than \n 3 cities or ports of entry that are 100 miles or less \n from the northern border of the United States.\n ``(B) The Secretary shall designate not fewer than \n 3 cities or ports of entry that are 100 miles or less \n from the southern border of the United States.\n ``(h) Cost-Benefit Analysis.--Prior to publishing a final rule in \nthe Federal Register to carry out subsection (b), the Secretary of \nHomeland Security shall conduct a complete cost-benefit analysis of \ncarrying out this section. Such analysis shall include analysis of--\n ``(1) any potential costs of carrying out this section on \n trade, travel, and the tourism industry; and\n ``(2) any potential savings that would result from the \n implementation of the State Driver's License and Identity Card \n Enrollment Program established under subsection (e) as an \n alternative to passports and passport cards.\n ``(i) Report.--During the 2-year period beginning on the date that \nis the 3 months after the date on which the Secretary of Homeland \nSecurity begins implementation of subsection (b)(1)--\n ``(1) the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to \n the appropriate congressional committees a report not less than \n once every 3 months on--\n ``(A) the average delay at border crossings; and\n ``(B) the average processing time for a NEXUS card, \n FAST card, or SENTRI card; and\n ``(2) the Secretary of State shall submit to the \n appropriate congressional committees a report not less than \n once every 3 months on the average processing time for a \n passport or passport card.\n ``(j) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this \nsection, the term `appropriate congressional committees' means--\n ``(1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on \n Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee \n on the Judiciary of the Senate; and\n ``(2) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on \n Homeland Security, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the \n House of Representatives.''.\n\nSEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WESTERN \n HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE.\n\n The intent of Congress in enacting section 546 of the Department of \nHomeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 (Public Law 109-295; 120 \nStat. 1386) was to prevent the Secretary of Homeland Security from \nimplementing the plan described in section 7209(b)(1) of the \nIntelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1185 \nnote) before the earlier of June 1, 2009, or the date on which the \nSecretary certifies to Congress that an alternative travel document, \nknown as a passport card, has been developed and widely distributed to \neligible citizens of the United States.\n\nSEC. 6. PASSPORT PROCESSING STAFF AUTHORITIES.\n\n (a) Reemployment of Civil Service Annuitants.--Section 61(a) of the \nState Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2733(a)) is \namended--\n (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``To facilitate'' and all \n that follows through ``, the Secretary'' and inserting ``The \n Secretary''; and\n (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2008'' and inserting \n ``2010''.\n (b) Reemployment of Foreign Service Annuitants.--Section 824(g) of \nthe Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4064(g)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``to facilitate'' and \n all that follows through ``Afghanistan,''; and\n (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2008'' and inserting \n ``2010''.\n\nSEC. 7. REPORT ON BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation \nwith the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall submit to the \nappropriate congressional committees a report on the adequacy of the \ninfrastructure of the United States to manage cross-border travel \nassociated with the NEXUS, FAST, and SENTRI programs. Such report shall \ninclude consideration of--\n (1) the ability of frequent travelers to access dedicated \n lanes for such travel;\n (2) the total time required for border crossing, including \n time spent prior to ports of entry;\n (3) the frequency, adequacy of facilities and any \n additional delays associated with secondary inspections; and\n (4) the adequacy of readers to rapidly read identity \n documents of such individuals.\n (b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, \nthe term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--\n (1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on \n Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee \n on the Judiciary of the Senate; and\n (2) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on \n Homeland Security, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the \n House of Representatives.", "summary": "Western Hemisphere Traveler Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to require as part of the certifications required prior to implementation of the western hemisphere travel initiative (Initiative), that: (1) a pilot program of at least one state has been initiated and evaluated to determine if an enhanced driver's license valid only for citizenship verification for U.S. entry from Canada meets documentation requirements; (2) a study has determined the number of passports and passport cards that will be required to be issued; and (3) sufficient passport adjudication personnel have been hired.\n\nAuthorizes a person under 16 years old who is a U.S. or Canadian citizen to enter the United States with a birth certificate if the person: (1) is accompanied by the individual's legal guardian; and (2) is entering the United States from Canada or Mexico.\n\nAuthorizes a person under 18 years old to enter the United States with a birth certificate if the person is traveling under adult supervision with a public or private school group, religious group, social or cultural organization, or a youth sports team.\n\nDirects the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a state driver's license and identity card enrollment program to permit a U.S. citizen with a qualifying driver's license or identity card or a Canadian citizen with a qualifying comparable document to enter the United States from Canada by land or sea without providing other citizenship documentation. Authorizes program expansion to include other countries.\n\nDirects the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept a birth certificate as proof of citizenship for any U.S. citizen who is traveling from one part of a state to a noncontiguous part of that state through Canada if: (1) the citizen cannot travel by land to such part of the state without traveling through Canada; and (2) the travel in Canada is limited to no more than two hours.\n\nDirects the Secretary of State, during the two-year period beginning on the date on which the Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a final rule in the Federal Register to carry out the Initiative, to: (1) provide one facility in each of at least six designated cites or ports of entry in which a passport or passport card may be procured without an execution fee; and (2) develop at least six mobile teams along the U.S. northern and southern borders to issue passports or other identity documents without an execution fee.\n\nRequires the Secretary of Homeland Security to do a cost-benefit analysis of the Initiative prior to publishing such final rule.\n\nStates that Congress' intent in enacting section 546 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 was to prevent the Secretary of Homeland Security from implementing the Initiative before the earlier of June 1, 2009, or the date on which the Secretary certifies to Congress that an alternative travel document (passport card) has been developed and widely distributed to eligible U.S. citizens.\n\nAmends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to extend passport processing authorities for civil service and foreign service annuitants.", "title": "A bill to amend section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 623, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Health Care Relief Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. REFUNDABLE CREDIT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS OF PREVIOUSLY \n UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS.\n\n (a) Allowance of Credit.--\n (1) In general.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of \n chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to \n refundable personal credits) is amended by redesignating \n section 36 as section 37 and by inserting after section 35 the \n following new section:\n\n``SEC. 36. HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS OF PREVIOUSLY UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of a previously uninsured \nindividual, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed \nby this subtitle for the taxable year an amount equal to the amount \npaid by the taxpayer during such taxable year for health insurance \ncoverage for the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse and dependents.\n ``(b) Limitation.--The amount allowed as a credit under subsection \n(a) for the taxable year shall not exceed $1,000 ($2,000 in the case of \na joint return filed by 2 previously uninsured individuals).\n ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Previously uninsured individual.--The term \n `previously uninsured individual' means any individual who had \n no health insurance coverage at any time during the 6-month \n period before the earliest date that such individual has health \n insurance coverage by reason of the payments taken into account \n under subsection (a).\n ``(2) Health insurance coverage.--The term `health \n insurance coverage' has the meaning given to such term by \n section 9832(b)(1).\n ``(d) Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Coordination with other benefits.--The amount which \n would (but for this paragraph) be taken into account by the \n taxpayer under sections 35, 162(l), 213, 220, or 223 for the \n taxable year shall be reduced by the credit allowed by this \n section to the taxpayer for such year.\n ``(2) Denial of credit to dependents.--No credit shall be \n allowed under this section to any individual with respect to \n whom a deduction under section 151 is allowable to another \n taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in \n which such individual's taxable year begins.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United \n States Code, is amended by inserting ``, 36,'' after ``35''.\n (2) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of \n subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n is amended by striking the last item and inserting the \n following:\n\n``Sec. 36. Health insurance costs of previously uninsured individuals.\n``Sec. 37. Overpayments of tax.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.\n\nSEC. 3. CREDIT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE EXPENSES OF SMALL BUSINESSES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business-related \ncredits) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 45O. SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE EXPENSES.\n\n ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, in the case of a \nsmall employer, the health insurance credit determined under this \nsection for the taxable year is an amount equal to 35 percent of the \nexpenses paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year for health \ninsurance coverage for such year provided under a new health plan for \nemployees of such employer.\n ``(b) Limitations.--\n ``(1) Per employee dollar limitation.--The amount of \n expenses taken into account under subsection (a) with respect \n to any employee for any taxable year shall not exceed--\n ``(A) $800 in the case of self-only coverage, and\n ``(B) $2,000 in the case of family coverage.\n In the case of an employee who is covered by a new health plan \n of the employer for only a portion of such taxable year, the \n limitation under the preceding sentence shall be an amount \n which bears the same ratio to such limitation (determined \n without regard to this sentence) as such portion bears to the \n entire taxable year.\n ``(2) Period of coverage.--Expenses may be taken into \n account under subsection (a) only with respect to coverage for \n the 4-year period beginning on the date the employer \n establishes a new health plan.\n ``(3) Employer must bear 65 percent of cost.--Expenses may \n be taken into account under subsection (a) only if at least 65 \n percent of the cost of the coverage (without regard to this \n section) is borne by the employer.\n ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Health insurance coverage.--The term `health \n insurance coverage' has the meaning given such term by section \n 9832(b)(1).\n ``(2) New health plan.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `new health plan' means \n any arrangement of the employer which provides health \n insurance coverage to employees if--\n ``(i) such employer (and any predecessor \n employer) did not establish or maintain such \n arrangement (or any similar arrangement) at any \n time during the 2 taxable years ending prior to \n the taxable year in which the credit under this \n section is first allowed, and\n ``(ii) such arrangement provides health \n insurance coverage to at least 70 percent of \n the qualified employees of such employer.\n ``(B) Qualified employee.--The term `qualified \n employee' means any employee of an employer and shall \n include a leased employee within the meaning of section \n 414(n).\n ``(3) Small employer.--The term `small employer' has the \n meaning given to such term by section 4980D(d)(2); except \n that--\n ``(A) only qualified employees shall be taken into \n account, and\n ``(B) such section shall be applied by substituting \n `100 employees' for `50 employees'.\n ``(d) Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Certain rules made applicable.--For purposes of this \n section, rules similar to the rules of section 52 shall apply.\n ``(2) Amounts paid under salary reduction arrangements.--No \n amount paid or incurred pursuant to a salary reduction \n arrangement shall be taken into account under subsection (a).\n ``(3) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of any taxable \n year beginning in a calendar year after 2008, each dollar \n amount contained in subsection (b) shall be increased by an \n amount equal to--\n ``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by\n ``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined \n under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which \n the taxable year begins, determined by substituting \n `calendar year 2006' for `calendar year 1992' in \n subparagraph (B) thereof.\n Any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be \n rounded to the nearest multiple of $50.\n ``(e) Termination.--This section shall not apply to expenses paid \nor incurred by an employer with respect to any arrangement established \non or after January 1, 2014.''.\n (b) Credit To Be Part of General Business Credit.--Section 38(b) of \nsuch Code (relating to current year business credit) is amended by \nstriking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (30), by striking the period \nat the end of paragraph (31) and inserting ``, plus'', and by adding at \nthe end the following:\n ``(32) in the case of a small employer (as defined in \n section 45O(c)(3)), the health insurance credit determined \n under section 45O(a).''.\n (c) Denial of Double Benefit.--Section 280C of such Code is amended \nby adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(e) Credit for Small Business Health Insurance Expenses.--\n ``(1) In general.--No deduction shall be allowed for that \n portion of the expenses (otherwise allowable as a deduction) \n taken into account in determining the credit under section 45O \n for the taxable year which is equal to the amount of the credit \n determined for such taxable year under section 45O(a).\n ``(2) Controlled groups.--Persons treated as a single \n employer under subsection (a) or (b) of section 52 shall be \n treated as 1 person for purposes of this section.''.\n (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding \nat the end the following:\n\n``Sec. 45O. Small business health insurance expenses.''.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after \nDecember 31, 2007, for arrangements established after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.", "summary": "Health Care Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a refundable tax credit up to $1,000 for the health insurance coverage costs of a previously uninsured taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, and dependents; and (2) certain small business employers a business tax credit for amounts paid under a new health plan for employee health insurance coverage.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow previously uninsured individuals a refundable credit for health insurance costs and to provide tax incentives to encourage small business health plans."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2375, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2012''.\n\nSEC. 2. MACROECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSES.\n\n (a) In General.--Part A of title IV of the Congressional Budget Act \nof 1974 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n ``macroeconomic impact analysis of major legislation\n\n ``Sec. 407. (a) Congressional Budget Office.--The Congressional \nBudget Office shall, to the extent practicable, prepare for each major \nbill or resolution reported by any committee of the House of \nRepresentatives or the Senate (except the Committee on Appropriations \nof each House), as a supplement to estimates prepared under section \n402, a macroeconomic impact analysis of the budgetary effects of such \nbill or resolution for the ten fiscal-year period beginning with the \nfirst fiscal year for which an estimate was prepared under section 402 \nand each of the next three ten fiscal-year periods. Such estimate shall \nbe predicated upon the supplemental projection described in section \n202(e)(4). The Director shall submit to such committee the \nmacroeconomic impact analysis, together with the basis for the \nanalysis. As a supplement to estimates prepared under section 402, all \nsuch information so submitted shall be included in the report \naccompanying such bill or resolution.\n ``(b) Economic Impact.--The analysis prepared under subsection (a) \nshall describe the potential economic impact of the applicable major \nbill or resolution on major economic variables, including real gross \ndomestic product, business investment, the capital stock, employment, \ninterest rates, and labor supply. The analysis shall also describe the \npotential fiscal effects of the bill or resolution, including any \nestimates of revenue increases or decreases resulting from changes in \ngross domestic product. To the extent practicable, the analysis should \nuse a variety of economic models in order to reflect the full range of \npossible economic outcomes resulting from the bill or resolution. The \nanalysis (or a technical appendix to the analysis) shall specify the \neconomic and econometric models used, sources of data, relevant data \ntransformations, and shall include such explanation as is necessary to \nmake the models comprehensible to academic and public policy analysts.\n ``(c) Definitions.--As used in this section--\n ``(1) the term `macroeconomic impact analysis' means--\n ``(A) an estimate of the changes in economic \n output, employment, interest rates, capital stock, and \n tax revenues expected to result from enactment of the \n proposal;\n ``(B) an estimate of revenue feedback expected to \n result from enactment of the proposal; and\n ``(C) a statement identifying the critical \n assumptions and the source of data underlying that \n estimate;\n ``(2) the term `major bill or resolution' means any bill or \n resolution if the gross budgetary effects of such bill or \n resolution for any fiscal year in the period for which an \n estimate is prepared under section 402 is estimated to be \n greater than .25 percent of the current projected gross \n domestic product of the United States for any such fiscal year;\n ``(3) the term `budgetary effect', when applied to a major \n bill or resolution, means the changes in revenues, outlays, \n deficits, and debt resulting from that measure; and\n ``(4) the term `revenue feedback' means changes in revenue \n resulting from changes in economic growth as the result of the \n enactment of any major bill or resolution.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents set forth in \nsection 1(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended by \ninserting after the item relating to section 406 the following new \nitem:\n\n``Sec. 407. Macroeconomic impact analysis of major legislation.''.\n\nSEC. 3. ADDITIONAL CBO REPORT TO BUDGET COMMITTEES.\n\n Section 202(e) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended \nby adding at the end the following new paragraphs:\n ``(4)(A) After the President's budget submission under \n section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, in addition to \n the baseline projections, the Director shall submit to the \n Committees on the Budget of the House of Representatives and \n the Senate a supplemental projection assuming extension of \n current tax policy for the fiscal year commencing on October 1 \n of that year with a supplemental projection for the 10 fiscal-\n year period beginning with that fiscal year, assuming the \n extension of current tax policy.\n ``(B) For the purposes of this paragraph, the term `current \n tax policy' means the tax policy in statute as of December 31 \n of the current year assuming--\n ``(i) the budgetary effects of measures extending \n the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act \n of 2001;\n ``(ii) the budgetary effects of measures extending \n the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of \n 2003;\n ``(iii) the continued application of the \n alternative minimum tax as in effect for taxable years \n beginning in 2011 pursuant to title II of the Tax \n Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job \n Creation Act of 2010, assuming that for taxable years \n beginning after 2011 the exemption amount shall equal--\n ``(I) the exemption amount for taxable \n years beginning in 2011, as indexed for \n inflation; or\n ``(II) if a subsequent law modifies the \n exemption amount for later taxable years, the \n modified exemption amount, as indexed for \n inflation; and\n ``(iv) the budgetary effects of extending the \n estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax \n provisions of title III of the Tax Relief, Unemployment \n Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of \n 2010.\n ``(5) On or before July 1 of each year, the Director shall \n submit to the Committees on the Budget of the House of \n Representatives and the Senate, the Long-Term Budget Outlook \n for the fiscal year commencing on October 1 of that year and at \n least the ensuing 40 fiscal years.''.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives February 2, 2012.\n\n Attest:\n\n KAREN L. HAAS,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2012 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to prepare for each major bill or resolution reported by any congressional committee (except the congressional appropriations committees), as a supplement to CBO cost estimates, a macroeconomic impact analysis of the budgetary effects of such legislation for the 10-fiscal year period beginning with the first fiscal year for which such estimate was prepared and each of the next three 10-fiscal year periods.\n\nDefines \"major bill or resolution\" as any bill or resolution whose budgetary effects, for any fiscal year in the period for which a CBO cost estimate is prepared, is estimated to be greater than .25% of the current projected U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) for that fiscal year.\n\nRequires the analysis to describe: (1) the potential economic impact of the bill or resolution on major economic variables, including real GDP, business investment, the capital stock, employment, interest rates, and labor supply; and (2) the potential fiscal effects of the measure, including any estimates of revenue increases or decreases resulting from changes in GDP.\n\nRequires the analysis (or a technical appendix to it) to specify the economic and econometric models used, sources of data, relevant data transformations, as well as any explanation necessary to make the models comprehensible to academic and public policy analysts. (Sec. 3) Amends CBA to require the CBO Director, after the President's budget submission and in addition to the baseline projections, to report a supplemental projection to the congressional budget committees, assuming extension of current tax policy for the fiscal year commencing on October 1 of that year, with a supplemental projection for the 10-fiscal year period beginning with that fiscal year, again assuming the extension of current tax policy.\n\n Defines \"current tax policy\" as the tax policy in statute as of December 31 of the current year, assuming: (1) the budgetary effects of measures extending the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003; (2) the continued application of the alternative minimum tax (AMT) as in effect for taxable years beginning in 2011, with a specified assumption for taxable years beginning after 2011; and (3) the budgetary effects of extending the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax provisions of title III of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.\n\nRequires CBO to report to such committees, on or before July 1 of each year, the Long-Term Budget Outlook for: (1) the fiscal year commencing on October 1 of that year, and (2) at least the ensuing 40 fiscal years.", "title": "To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide for macroeconomic analysis of the impact of legislation."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 327, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Patent and Trademark Office \nAuthorization Act of 2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF AMOUNTS AVAILABLE TO THE PATENT AND TRADEMARK \n OFFICE.\n\n (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the \nUnited States Patent and Trademark Office for salaries and necessary \nexpenses for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2008 an amount equal \nto the fees estimated by the Secretary of Commerce to be collected in \neach such fiscal year, respectively, under--\n (1) title 35, United States Code; and\n (2) the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the \n registration and protection of trademarks used in commerce, to \n carry out the provisions of certain international conventions, \n and for other purposes'', approved July 5, 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1051 \n et seq.) (commonly referred to as the Trademark Act of 1946).\n (b) Estimates.--Not later than February 15, of each fiscal year, \nthe Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the \nDirector of the Patent and Trademark Office (in this Act referred to as \nthe Director) shall submit an estimate of all fees referred to under \nsubsection (a) to be collected in the next fiscal year to the chairman \nand ranking member of--\n (1) the Committees on Appropriations and Judiciary of the \n Senate; and\n (2) the Committees on Appropriations and Judiciary of the \n House of Representatives.\n\nSEC. 3. ELECTRONIC FILING AND PROCESSING OF PATENT AND TRADEMARK \n APPLICATIONS.\n\n (a) Electronic Filing and Processing.--Not later than December 1, \n2004, the Director shall complete the development of an electronic \nsystem for the filing and processing of patent and trademark \napplications, that--\n (1) is user friendly; and\n (2) includes the necessary infrastructure to--\n (A) allow examiners and applicants to send all \n communications electronically; and\n (B) allow the Office to process, maintain, and \n search electronically the contents and history of each \n application.\n (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of amounts authorized under \nsection 2, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out \nsubsection (a) of this section not more than $50,000,000 for each of \nfiscal years 2003 and 2004. Amounts made available under this \nsubsection shall remain available until expended.\n\nSEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORTS ON STRATEGIC PLAN.\n\n In each of the 5 calendar years following the date of enactment of \nthis Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit a report to the \nCommittees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of \nRepresentatives on--\n (1) the progress made in implementing the 21st Century \n Strategic Plan issued on June 3, 2002; and\n (2) any amendments made to the plan.\n\nSEC. 5. DETERMINATION OF SUBSTANTIAL NEW QUESTION OF PATENTABILITY IN \n REEXAMINATION PROCEEDINGS.\n\n (a) In General.--Sections 303(a) and 312(a) of title 35, United \nStates Code, are each amended by adding at the end the following: ``The \nexistence of a substantial new question of patentability is not \nprecluded by the fact that a patent or printed publication was \npreviously cited by or to the Office or considered by the Office.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply with respect to any determination of the Director of the United \nStates Patent and Trademark Office that is made under section 303(a) or \n312(a) of title 35, United States Code, on or after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 6. APPEALS IN INTER PARTES REEXAMINATION PROCEEDINGS.\n\n (a) Appeals by Third-Party Requester in Proceedings.--Section \n315(b) of title 35, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:\n ``(b) Third-Party Requester.--A third-party requester--\n ``(1) may appeal under the provisions of section 134, and \n may appeal under the provisions of sections 141 through 144, \n with respect to any final decision favorable to the \n patentability of any original or proposed amended or new claim \n of the patent; and\n ``(2) may, subject to subsection (c), be a party to any \n appeal taken by the patent owner under the provisions of \n section 134 or sections 141 through 144.''.\n (b) Appeal to Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.--Section \n134(c) of title 35, United States Code, is amended by striking the last \nsentence.\n (c) Appeal to Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.--Section \n141 of title 35, United States Code, is amended in the third sentence \nby inserting ``, or a third-party requester in an inter partes \nreexamination proceeding, who is'' after ``patent owner''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section apply with \nrespect to any reexamination proceeding commenced on or after the date \nof the enactment of this Act.\n\n Passed the Senate June 26, 2002.\n\n Attest:\n\n Secretary.\n107th CONGRESS\n\n 2d Session\n\n S. 1754\n\n_______________________________________________________________________\n\n AN ACT\n\nTo authorize appropriations for the United States Patent and Trademark \n Office for fiscal years 2003 through 2008, and for other purposes.", "summary": "Patent and Trademark Office Authorization Act of 2002 - Authorizes appropriations to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for salaries and expenses for FY 2003 through 2008 in an amount equal to all patent and trademark fees estimated by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to be collected in each such fiscal year.(Sec. 2) Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the Office (Director), by February 15 of each fiscal year, to report an estimate of all fees to be collected in the next fiscal year to the chairman and ranking member of specified congressional committees.(Sec. 3) Requires the Director, by December 1, 2004, to complete the development of an electronic system for the filing and processing of patent and trademark applications that: (1) is user friendly; and (2) includes the necessary infrastructure to allow examiners and applicants to send all communications electronically, and the Office to process, maintain, and search electronically the contents and history of each application. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2003 and 2004 for development of such system.(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary, in each of the five calendar years following the enactment of this Act, to report to specified congressional committees on the progress made in implementing the 21st Century Strategic Plan issued on June 3, 2002, and on any amendments made to it.(Sec. 5) Amends Federal patent law to provide that previous citation by or to, or consideration by the Office of, a patent or printed publication does not preclude the existence of a substantial new question of patentability in patent reexamination proceedings.(Sec. 6) Revises requirements for appeals in inter partes reexamination proceedings to allow a third-party requester to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, or be a party to any appeal taken by the patent owner, with respect to any final decision favorable to the patentability of any original or proposed amended or new claim of the patent.Allows a third-party requester to appeal a decision of the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.Provides that a third-party requester in an inter partes reexamination proceeding dissatisfied with the final decision in an appeal to the Board may appeal the decision only to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.", "title": "A bill to authorize appropriations for the United States Patent and Trademark Office for fiscal years 2003 through 2008, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1275, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Full-Service Schools Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Congressional Findings.--The Congress finds that--\n (1) one in five children entering school in 1993 lives in \n poverty;\n (2) students from poor families are three times more likely \n to drop out of school than students from more advantaged homes;\n (3) nearly 40 percent of the females who drop out of school \n do so as a result of pregnancy;\n (4) in the past two decades, the percentage of women with \n children under the age of six who are working or seeking \n employment outside the home has nearly doubled;\n (5) more than 8 million children in this country have no \n form of health insurance which may lead to untreated \n conditions, unnecessary diseases and death;\n (6) more than 70 percent of the children who need \n psychiatric treatment do not receive services;\n (7) children who are victims of child abuse, poverty, \n malnutrition, lack of health care, alcohol and drug abuse are \n at risk for failure;\n (8) without health and social intervention, at-risk \n children are often unable to improve academic performance; and\n (9) to obtain improvements in the educational system, an \n integrated system which includes comprehensive health and human \n services for at-risk children and their families is necessary.\n (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act--\n (1) to integrate service delivery systems to provide \n comprehensive public education, training, health and human \n services to at-risk children at locations accessible to and \n utilized by such children and their families;\n (2) to achieve systemic reform at the Federal, State, and \n local levels and to restructure service delivery at the local \n level; and\n (3) to improve the educational performance of at-risk \n children.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL INTERAGENCY WORK GROUP.\n\n (a) In General.--There is established the Federal Interagency Work \nGroup composed of the Secretaries of Education, Health and Human \nServices, and Labor and funded equally by the departments of the \nrepresentative Secretaries to facilitate collaboration between agencies \nand to mobilize Federal policy to achieve systemic reform to meet the \ncomprehensive needs of at-risk children and to provide grants to the \nStates and local entities to develop similar programs at the State and \nlocal levels.\n (b) Duties.--The Group shall--\n (1) assist Federal, State, and local agencies in \n developing, implementing, and evaluating service integration \n programs under this Act;\n (2) to the greatest extent possible, coordinate agency \n resources and funding allowing for the consolidation of Federal \n categorical programs, when requests for such waivers are made;\n (3) establish and maintain a national data base that \n includes the collaborative efforts of the Government, the \n States, local entities, and private entities to serve at-risk \n children;\n (4) make grants to the States to develop an interagency \n work group and fund local efforts to integrate services for at-\n risk youth and their families;\n (5) determine the amounts of each grant by considering how \n many local project sites the State interagency group can \n reasonably target with not more than $200,000 allocated to a \n site; and\n (6) waive certain Federal requirements that impede \n collaborative efforts if such waivers will result in a more \n efficient use of resources.\n (c) Fiscal Agent.--The Secretary of Education shall act as the \nfiscal agent for the Group.\n\nSEC. 4. STATE ELIGIBILITY.\n\n To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, a State shall--\n (1) establish a State interagency work group between, at a \n minimum, the departments at the State level that provide public \n education and health and human services;\n (2) develop preservice and inservice training that assists \n staff members to understand the communities in which they work \n and the full array of resources that are available to help at-\n risk children and their families;\n (3) require equal financial or in-kind contributions by the \n departments referred to in paragraph (1);\n (4) state as a goal the integration of existing funding \n sources from the departments represented;\n (5) designate a fiscal agent to be responsible for the \n receipt and disbursement of Federal funds;\n (6) provide assurances that successful programs will be \n used as models and that information regarding program successes \n are disseminated throughout the State; and\n (7) assist local entities in developing interagency \n agreements at the local level.\n\nSEC. 5. LOCAL ELIGIBILITY.\n\n To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, a local entity \nshall--\n (1) develop a community planning process that includes--\n (A) parents and family members;\n (B) local school officials;\n (C) officials from institutions of higher education \n if such institutions are located in the local area;\n (D) public and private nonprofit organizations that \n provide health care, education, employment training \n services, child protective services or other human \n services; and\n (E) teachers selected by a local teacher \n association;\n (2) develop mandatory services as recommended by the \n planning group under paragraph (1);\n (3) if located in a city with a population of 100,000 or \n more individuals--\n (A) establish a local interagency work group \n between a local educational agency eligible for funds \n for chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and \n Secondary Education Act of 1965 and, at a minimum, 1 \n nonprofit community-based organization which has \n provided social services to low-income, at-risk youth \n and their families; and\n (B) include parents in the operation and governance \n of the local interagency work group;\n (4) require equal financial or in-kind contributions of the \n local educational agency and entities represented;\n (5) give an assurance that such entity shall make a \n reasonable effort to initiate structural reform; and\n (6) designate a fiscal agent to receive funds from the \n State under this Act.\n\nSEC. 6. APPLICATIONS.\n\n (a) State Applications.--(1) A State that desires to receive a \ngrant under this Act shall submit an application to the Federal \nInteragency Work Group in such form and containing such information as \nthe Federal Interagency Work Group may reasonably require and which \nincludes--\n (A) assurances that the eligibility requirements under \n section 4 are or shall be met; and\n (B) program goals and objectives, including an \n approximation of use for the number of project sites per State.\n (2) The Federal Interagency Work Group shall give priority \nconsideration to States that include in the State interagency work \ngroup, nonprofit agencies, and private profit agencies that have worked \nwith disadvantaged children and their families.\n (b) Local Applications.--A local entity that desires to receive a \ngrant under this Act shall submit an application to the State \ninteragency work group in such form and containing such information as \nthe State may reasonably require and which includes--\n (A) assurances that the eligibility requirements under \n section 5 are or shall be met; and\n (B) specifications regarding the targeted areas, goals of \n the community, interim progress goals and the intended \n outcomes.\n\nSEC. 7. GRANT LIMITATIONS.\n\n (a) State Limitation.--A State interagency group that receives \nfunds under this Act may not use more than $100,000 or not more than 3 \npercent, whichever is less, of such funds for administrative and staff \ncosts to establish an interagency work group. The balance of such funds \nshall be distributed to local entities.\n (b) Local Limitation.--A local educational agency that receives \nfunds under this Act may not use more than 5 percent of such funds for \nadministrative and staff costs to establish an interagency work group \nand not more than $200,000 per site.\n\nSEC. 8. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.\n\n (a) Improvement Programs.--A local entity that receives funds under \nthis Act shall develop or expand programs that are designed to improve \neducational performance by--\n (1) reducing school dropout rates;\n (2) reducing teenage pregnancy rates;\n (3) increasing the number of students who return to school \n after dropping out;\n (4) improving access to primary health care for families \n and their children;\n (5) increasing adult/family literacy; or\n (6) reducing the number of children in unsupervised \n settings before and after school, holidays, and during the \n summer months.\n (b) Optional Activities.--A local entity that receives funds under \nthis Act may develop a variety of programs to serve the comprehensive \nneeds of students, including--\n (1) job training and employment services;\n (2) homework assistance and after school programs;\n (3) mental health and family counseling;\n (4) nutrition education and services;\n (5) health care services;\n (6) bilingual education programs;\n (7) parental training programs; and\n (8) adult literacy programs.\n\nSEC. 9. REPORTS.\n\n (a) Local Reports.--A local interagency work group that receives \nfunds under this Act shall submit to the State interagency work group \nan annual report that describes and evaluates the services provided, \nincluding costs and benefits of services, including progress toward \nmeeting goals and revised objectives.\n (b) State Reports.--A State interagency work group that receives \nfunds under this Act shall submit to the Federal Interagency Work Group \na report not later than the end of the second calendar year during \nwhich funds are received that evaluates the effectiveness of local \nprograms in developing and maintaining integrated services for at-risk \nchildren.\n (c) Federal Reports.--The Federal Interagency Work Group that \nreceives funds under this Act shall submit to the Congress a report not \nlater than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act that \nincludes a detailed analysis of student outcomes (such as dropout \nrates, academic performance, and usage of drug and alcohol) and systems \noutcomes (effectiveness of cooperative agreements between education and \nservice agencies).\n\nSEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act--\n (1) the term ``at-risk children'' means individuals from \n birth to 18 years of age, who attend a public school where 75 \n percent or more (for elementary) and 60 percent or more (for \n secondary) of the students are eligible for the free and \n reduced price lunch program, or are Native Americans attending \n schools where the student population is composed of a majority \n of Native Americans;\n (2) the term ``local entity'' means a local educational \n agency and a community-based organization as defined in section \n 1471 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and\n (3) the term ``State'' has the same meaning as such term in \n section 1471 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of \n 1965.\n\nSEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated $72,000,000 for each of the \nfiscal years 1994, 1995, and 1996 to carry out the programs under this \nAct.", "summary": "Full-Service Schools Act - Establishes the Federal Interagency Work Group to facilitate collaboration among Federal agencies and make grants to States and local entities in order to integrate education, health, and social and human services for at-risk children and their families. Provides that the Group shall be composed of the Secretaries of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor and funded equally by their departments. \nSets forth Group duties and State and local eligibility requirements. \nSets forth application requirements and grant limitations. \nRequires local programs to include activities to improve educational performance by: (1) reducing school dropout and teen pregnancy rates and the number of children in unsupervised settings; (2) increasing adult/family literacy and the number of students returning to school after dropping out; and (3) improving access to primary health care for families and their children. Allows local programs to develop a variety of programs to serve the comprehensive needs of students, including specified optional activities. \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "Full-Service Schools Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 770, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Home-Based Health Services Training \nand Employment Act of 2012''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:\n (1) The ``baby boom'' generation will require health care \n attention that will exceed the current supply of health care \n providers.\n (2) There is a shortage of training programs specializing \n in health care and long-term services that focus on home care \n instead of institutionalized care.\n (3) Although the need for home-based health services \n transcends all income levels, the availability of such services \n is more limited for residents of public housing.\n (4) Estimates indicate that there are 44,000,000 caregivers \n in the United States providing unpaid care to at least one \n adult, representing 22,900,000 households.\n (5) Of working persons providing unpaid care, 62 percent \n have had to make adjustments to work schedules or leave \n employment.\n (6) Many low-income families in the United States are \n placed in an untenable position of choosing between work and \n caregiving responsibilities at home.\n (7) Many residents of public housing in the United States \n are aging and in need of care.\n (8) The Department of Housing and Urban Development \n estimates the percentage of households assisted by the \n Department that are elderly households is 35 percent in New \n York, 33 percent in Boston, 35 percent in Chicago, 24 percent \n in Cleveland, 40 percent in Los Angeles, and 20 percent in \n Puerto Rico.\n (9) New service programs are needed to provide home-based \n health services to residents of public housing and to provide \n job training and job placement for persons receiving assistance \n from the Department of Housing and Urban Development needing \n employment.\n (10) The Department of Housing and Urban Development should \n establish a home-based health services pilot program to meet \n the challenges of the increasing number of elderly persons and \n persons with disabilities in public housing, which would \n simultaneously create an opportunity to train job seekers in a \n trade that provides home-based health services.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--\n (1) to give flexibility to the Department of Housing and \n Urban Development and other entities to establish training \n programs in home-based health services for public housing \n residents; and\n (2) to provide needed home care options to elderly and \n disabled public housing residents (including elderly and \n disabled veterans who are public housing residents) and elderly \n and disabled residents of federally-assisted rental housing to \n allow them to remain in their homes and their communities.\n\nSEC. 3. PILOT GRANT PROGRAM TO TRAIN PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS TO \n PROVIDE COVERED HOME-BASED HEALTH SERVICES.\n\n Section 34 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. \n1437z-6) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:\n ``(f) Pilot Grant Program To Train Public Housing Residents To \nProvide Covered Home-Based Health Services.--\n ``(1) Establishment of pilot grant program.--The Secretary, \n in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human \n Services, shall establish a competitive grant program to make \n grants to eligible entities under paragraph (2) for use for the \n training of public housing residents as home health aides and \n as providers of home-based health services (including as \n personal and home care aides) to enable such residents to \n provide covered home-based health services to--\n ``(A) residents of public housing who are elderly \n or disabled, or both (including elderly and disabled \n veterans who are residents of public housing); and\n ``(B) subject to the criteria set forth pursuant to \n paragraph (3), residents of federally-assisted rental \n housing who are elderly or disabled, or both.\n ``(2) Eligible entities.--A grant under this subsection may \n be made only to an entity that--\n ``(A) is a public housing agency or other unit of \n State or local government (including an agency of such \n unit), community health center, home care provider \n organization, faith-based organization, labor \n organization, or other organization determined to be \n qualified by the Secretary; and\n ``(B) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the \n Secretary that it has established, or provides such \n assurances that it will establish, an employment \n training program to train public housing residents to \n provide covered home-based health services that \n complies with regulations that the Secretary shall \n issue.\n ``(3) Residents of federally-assisted rental housing.--The \n Secretary may set forth criteria under which an entity \n receiving funding under this subsection may train public \n housing residents to provide covered home-based health services \n to elderly and disabled residents of federally-assisted rental \n housing.\n ``(4) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this \n subsection an eligible entity under paragraph (2) shall submit \n to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, \n and containing such information as the Secretary shall require.\n ``(5) Competitive grant awards.--\n ``(A) General criteria for selection.--The \n Secretary shall establish policies and procedures for \n reviewing and approving funding for eligible entities \n through a competitive process taking into \n consideration--\n ``(i) with respect to the service area in \n which public housing residents trained under an \n employment training program described in \n paragraph (2)(B) will provide covered home-\n based health services--\n ``(I) the percentage of residents \n age 62 and older;\n ``(II) the percentage of disabled \n residents; and\n ``(III) the percentage of \n unemployed or underemployed residents;\n ``(ii) the ability of an eligible entity to \n provide training that leads to the provision of \n quality care;\n ``(iii) the record of the quality of care \n of an eligible entity; and\n ``(iv) such other criteria as determined by \n the Secretary.\n ``(B) Geographic consideration.--In awarding \n grants, the Secretary shall consider a geographic mix \n of a variety of eligible entities so that the grant \n program will include at least--\n ``(i) one employment training program \n described in paragraph (2)(B) that primarily \n serves an urban population;\n ``(ii) one employment training program \n described in paragraph (2)(B) that primarily \n serves a rural population;\n ``(iii) one employment training program \n described in paragraph (2)(B) that primarily \n serves an Indian population; and\n ``(iv) one employment training program \n described in paragraph (2)(B) that primarily \n serves a population in the Commonwealth of \n Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, \n Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of \n the Northern Mariana Islands.\n ``(6) Use of grant funds.--An entity receiving funding \n under this subsection may use such funds--\n ``(A) to establish (or maintain) and carry-out an \n employment training program to train public housing \n residents to provide covered home-based health care \n services to elderly and disabled public housing \n residents and elderly and disabled residents of \n federally-assisted rental housing;\n ``(B) for the transportation expenses of public \n housing residents in training under such an employment \n training program;\n ``(C) for the child care expenses of public housing \n residents in training under such an employment training \n program;\n ``(D) for the administrative expenses of carrying \n out such an employment training program; and\n ``(E) for any other activity the Secretary \n determines appropriate.\n ``(7) Report to congress.--Not later than 24 months after \n the date of the enactment of the Home-Based Health Services \n Training and Employment Act of 2012, the Secretary shall submit \n to Congress a report on the use and impact of the grant program \n established by this subsection. The report shall include--\n ``(A) a review of the effectiveness of the program \n in--\n ``(i) providing jobs for public housing \n residents;\n ``(ii) meeting the unmet health and long-\n term care needs of elderly and disabled \n residents of public housing and elderly and \n disabled residents of federally-assisted rental \n housing; and\n ``(iii) enabling the provision of quality \n care; and\n ``(B) any recommendations the Secretary determines \n appropriate regarding the grant program.\n ``(8) Definitions.--As used in this subsection, subsection \n (g), and subsection (h):\n ``(A) Home-based health services.--The term `home-\n based health services' means health care and long-term \n services provided to an individual in a place of \n residence used as such individual's home and includes--\n ``(i) home health services described in \n section 1861(m) of the Social Security Act (42 \n U.S.C. 1395x(m));\n ``(ii) personal care services described in \n section 1905(a)(24) of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n 1396d(a)(24)); and\n ``(iii) home-based services which may be \n covered under a waiver under subsection (c) or \n (d) of section 1915 of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n 1396n).\n ``(B) Home health aide.--The term `home health \n aide' has the meaning given the term in section \n 1891(a)(3)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n 1395bbb(a)(3)(E)).\n ``(C) Covered.--The term `covered' means, with \n respect to home-based health services, such services--\n ``(i) for which medical assistance is \n available under a State plan under title XIX of \n the Social Security Act; or\n ``(ii) for which financial assistance is \n available under subsection (g).\n ``(D) Federally-assisted rental housing.--The term \n `federally-assisted rental housing' means--\n ``(i) housing assisted under section 202 of \n the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q);\n ``(ii) housing assisted under section 515 \n of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485);\n ``(iii) housing assisted under section 8 of \n the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 \n U.S.C. 1437f) (including project-based and \n tenant-based assistance);\n ``(iv) housing assisted under the block \n grant program under the Native American Housing \n Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 \n (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.);\n ``(v) housing financed by a mortgage \n insured under section 221(d)(3) of the National \n Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715l(d)(3)) or held by \n the Secretary, a State, or State agency; and\n ``(vi) housing assisted under section 811 \n of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable \n Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013).\n ``(9) Inapplicability of previous subsections.--Subsections \n (a) through (e) shall not apply to this subsection, subsection \n (g), and subsection (h).\n ``(10) Rule of construction.--This subsection and \n subsection (g) may not be construed as affecting any \n requirement under State law for training, licensure, or any \n other certification as a home health aide or as a provider of \n any home-based health service under this subsection and \n subsection (g).\n ``(11) Regulations.--Not later than 6 months after the date \n of enactment of the Home-Based Health Services Training and \n Employment Act of 2012, the Secretary shall issue regulations \n to carry out this subsection.\n ``(g) Financial Assistance for Home-Based Health Services in \nCertain Jurisdictions.--\n ``(1) Financial assistance.--The Secretary, in consultation \n with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, may provide \n financial assistance under this subsection to entities \n receiving grant funds under the pilot program established under \n subsection (f) that provide training for public housing \n residents as home health aides and as providers of home-based \n health services and provide (or pay for) such services for use \n only for their costs in providing (or paying for) such services \n to--\n ``(A) residents of public housing who are elderly \n or disabled, or both (including elderly or disabled \n veterans who are residents of public housing); or\n ``(B) at the discretion of the Secretary, residents \n of federally-assisted rental housing who are elderly or \n disabled, or both.\n ``(2) Requirements.--\n ``(A) Location.--Assistance under paragraph (1) may \n be provided only for services furnished in locations in \n which medical assistance for home-based health services \n is not available under a State plan under title XIX of \n the Social Security Act.\n ``(B) Trained public housing residents.--Assistance \n under paragraph (1) may be used only for costs of \n services described in paragraph (1) that are provided \n by public housing residents trained by an entity \n receiving grant funds under the pilot program \n established under subsection (f).\n ``(3) Eligibility.--To be eligible for financial assistance \n under this subsection an entity shall--\n ``(A) provide such assurances as the Secretary \n shall require that it will use the funds only as \n provided in paragraphs (1) and (2);\n ``(B) submit to the Secretary an application at \n such time, in such manner, and containing such \n information as the Secretary requires; and\n ``(C) comply with such other terms and conditions \n as the Secretary shall establish to carry out this \n subsection.\n ``(h) Impact of Income on Eligibility for Housing Benefits.--For \nany resident of public housing who is trained as a home health aide or \nas a provider of home-based health services pursuant to the program \nunder subsection (f), any income received by such resident for \nproviding covered home-based health services shall apply towards \neligibility for benefits under Federal housing programs as follows:\n ``(1) No income received shall apply for the 12 months \n after the completion of the training of such resident.\n ``(2) Twenty-five percent of income received shall apply \n for the period that is 12 to 24 months after the completion of \n the training of such resident.\n ``(3) Fifty percent of income received shall apply for the \n period that is 24 to 36 months after the completion of the \n training of such resident.\n ``(4) One-hundred percent of income received shall apply \n for any period that begins after 36 months after the completion \n of the training of such resident.''.", "summary": "Home-Based Health Services Training and Employment Act of 2012 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a pilot program to make grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the training of public housing residents as home health aides and providers of home-based health services to enable them to provide covered home-based health services (i.e., services for which medical assistance is available under a state Medicaid plan or for which financial assistance is available under this Act) to residents of: (1) public housing who are elderly, disabled, or both; and (2) federally-assisted rental housing who are elderly, disabled, or both, subject to criteria that the Secretary may establish.\n\nAuthorizes the use of grant funds: (1) to establish or maintain and carry out a program to train public housing residents to provide covered home-based health care services to elderly and disabled public housing residents and to elderly and disabled residents of federally-assisted rental housing, (2) for the transportation and child care expenses of public housing residents in training, and (3) for the administrative expenses of carrying out such a program.\n\nProvides that for any resident of public housing who is trained as a home health aide or as a provider of home-based health services under the program, any income received for providing covered home-based health services shall apply towards eligibility for benefits under federal housing programs as specified, based on length of time following completion of the training.", "title": "To establish a pilot program to train public housing residents as home health aides and in home-based health services to enable such residents to provide covered home-based health services to residents of public housing and residents of federally-assisted rental housing, who are elderly and disabled, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 343, "text": "SECTION 1. FIRE-RETARDANT MATERIALS EXEMPTION.\n\n Section 3503 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as \nfollows:\n``Sec. 3503. Fire-retardant materials\n ``(a)(1) A passenger vessel of the United States having berth or \nstateroom accommodations for at least 50 passengers shall be granted a \ncertificate of inspection only if--\n ``(A) the vessel is constructed of fire-retardant \n materials; and\n ``(B) the vessel--\n ``(i) is operating engines, boilers, main \n electrical distribution panels, fuel tanks, oil tanks, \n and generators that meet current Coast Guard \n regulations;\n ``(ii) is operating boilers and main electrical \n generators that are contained within noncombustible \n enclosures equipped with fire suppression systems; and\n ``(iii) has multiple forms of egress off the \n vessel's bow and stern.\n ``(2) Before December 1, 2028, this section does not apply to any \nvessel in operation before January 1, 1968, and operating only within \nthe Boundary Line.\n ``(b)(1) When a vessel is exempted from the fire-retardant \nstandards of subsection (a)--\n ``(A) the owner or managing operator of the vessel shall--\n ``(i) notify in writing prospective passengers, \n prior to the sale of any ticket for boarding and to be \n affirmatively recognized by such passenger prior to \n purchase, and any crew member that the vessel does not \n comply with applicable fire safety standards due \n primarily to the wooden construction of passenger \n berthing areas; and\n ``(ii) display in clearly legible font prominently \n throughout the vessel, including in each state room the \n following: `THIS VESSEL FAILS TO COMPLY WITH SAFETY \n RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD.';\n ``(B) the owner or managing operator of the vessel--\n ``(i) may not disclaim liability to a passenger or \n crew member for death, injury, or any other loss caused \n by fire due to the negligence of the owner or managing \n operator; and\n ``(ii) shall acquire prior to entering service, and \n maintain, liability insurance in an amount to be \n prescribed by the Federal Maritime Commission;\n ``(C) the penalties provided in section 3504(c) of this \n title apply to a violation of this subsection;\n ``(D) the owner or managing operator of the vessel shall--\n ``(i) make annual structural alteration to not less \n than 10 percent of the areas of the vessel that are not \n constructed of fire retardant materials;\n ``(ii) prioritize alterations in galleys, \n engineering areas of the vessel, including all spaces \n and compartments containing, or adjacent to spaces and \n compartments containing, engines, boilers, main \n electrical distribution panels, fuel tanks, oil tanks, \n and generators;\n ``(iii) ensure, to the satisfaction of the Coast \n Guard, that the combustible fire-load has been reduced \n pursuant to clause (i) during each annual inspection \n for certification; and\n ``(iv) provide advance notice to the Coast Guard \n regarding the structural alterations made pursuant to \n clause (i) and comply with any noncombustible material \n requirements prescribed by the Coast Guard;\n ``(E) the Coast Guard, in making the determination required \n in subparagraph (D)(iii), shall consider, to the extent \n practicable, the goal of preservation of the historic integrity \n of the vessel in areas carrying or accessible to passengers or \n generally visible to the public;\n ``(F) the owner or managing operator of the vessel shall \n annually notify all ports of call and State emergency \n management offices of jurisdiction that the vessel does not \n comply with applicable fire safety standards due primarily to \n the wooden construction of passenger berthing areas;\n ``(G) the crews manning such vessel shall receive \n specialized training, above minimum standards, in regards to \n shipboard firefighting that is specialized for exempted vessels \n and approved by the Coast Guard; and\n ``(H) the owner or managing operator of the vessel shall, \n to the extent practicable, take all steps to retain previously \n trained crew knowledgeable of such vessel or to hire crew \n trained in operations aboard exempted vessels.\n ``(2) The Secretary shall conduct an annual audit and inspection of \nany vessel exempted from the fire-retardant standards of subsection \n(a).\n ``(c) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this \nsection. Such regulations shall include the manner in which prospective \npassengers are to be notified.\n ``(d) In addition to other penalties permitted by law, the \nSecretary is authorized to immediately withdraw a certificate of \ninspection for a passenger vessel that does not comply with any \nrequirement under this section.''.", "summary": "This bill revises the requirements for passenger vessels that are exempt from fire-retardant materials standards. Vessels in operation before January 1, 1968, that operate within inland waterways are exempt from the new requirements until December 1, 2028. Exempt vessel operators must follow certain requirements including notifying prospective passengers in writing prior to the sale of any ticket for boarding and making annual structural alterations to at least 10% of areas of the vessel that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials. Additionally, the Department of Transportation (DOT)must conduct an annual inspection of any vessel that is exempted from fire-retardant materials standards.DOTmay withdraw a certificate of inspection for any vessel that does not comply with requirements under this bill.", "title": "To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only operate within inland waterways from the fire-retardant materials requirement if the owners of such vessels make annual structural alterations to at least 10 percent of the areas of the vessels that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3034, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Credible Military \nOption to Counter Iran Act''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\nSec. 2. Declaration of policy.\nSec. 3. United States military preparedness in the Middle East.\nSec. 4. United States military capabilities in the Central Command Area \n of Responsibility.\nSec. 5. Enhancing the defense of Israel and United States interests in \n the Middle East.\nSec. 6. Plan to enhance military capabilities of Persian Gulf allies.\nSec. 7. Plan to increase strategic regional partnerships.\nSec. 8. Definitions.\n\nSEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Iran, which has long sought to foment instability and \n promote extremism in the Middle East, is now seeking to exploit \n the dramatic political transition underway in the region to \n undermine governments traditionally aligned with the United \n States and support extremist political movements in these \n countries.\n (2) At the same time, Iran may soon attain a nuclear \n weapons capability, a development that would fundamentally \n threaten vital United States interests, destabilize the region, \n encourage regional nuclear proliferation, further empower and \n embolden Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, \n and provide it the tools to threaten its neighbors, including \n Israel.\n (3) With the assistance of Iran over the past several \n years, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas have increased their \n stockpiles of rockets, with more than 60,000 rockets now ready \n to be fired at Israel. Iran continues to add to its arsenal of \n ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, which threaten Iran's \n neighbors, Israel, and United States Armed Forces in the \n region.\n (4) Preventing Iran from achieving nuclear weapons \n capability is among the most urgent national security \n challenges facing the United States.\n (5) Successive United States administrations have stated \n that a nuclear weapons-possessing Iran is unacceptable.\n (6) President Obama stated on January 24, 2012, ``Let there \n be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting \n a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to \n achieve that goal.''.\n (7) In order to prevent Iran from developing nuclear \n weapons, the United States, in cooperation with its allies, \n must utilize all elements of national power including \n diplomacy, robust economic sanctions, and credible, visible \n preparations for a military option.\n (8) Nevertheless, to date, diplomatic overtures, sanctions, \n and other non-kinetic actions toward Iran have not caused the \n Government of Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program.\n (9) With the impact of additional sanctions uncertain, \n additional pressure on the Government of Iran could come from \n the credible threat of military action against Iran's nuclear \n program.\n (b) Declaration of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United \nStates to take all necessary measures, including military action if \nrequired, to prevent Iran from threatening the United States, its \nallies, or Iran's neighbors with a nuclear weapon.\n\nSEC. 3. UNITED STATES MILITARY PREPAREDNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.\n\n (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--\n (1) military exercises conducted in the Persian Gulf and \n Gulf of Oman emphasize the United States resolve and the policy \n of the United States described in section 2(b) by enhancing the \n readiness of the United States military and allied forces, as \n well as signaling to the Government of Iran the commitment of \n the United States to defend its vital national security \n interests; and\n (2) the President, as Commander in Chief, should require \n the United States military to develop a comprehensive plan to \n augment the presence of the United States Fifth Fleet in the \n Middle East and to conduct military deployments, exercises, or \n other visible, concrete military readiness activities to \n underscore the policy of the United States described in section \n 2(b).\n (b) Plan.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall prepare a \n plan to augment the presence of the United States Fifth Fleet \n in the Middle East and to conduct military deployments, \n exercises, or other visible, concrete military readiness \n activities to underscore the policy of the United States \n described in section 2(b).\n (2) Matters to be included.--The plan required under \n paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, steps necessary to \n support the policy of the United States described in section \n 2(b), including--\n (A) pre-positioning sufficient supplies of \n aircraft, munitions, fuel, and other materials for both \n air- and sea-based missions at key forward locations in \n the Middle East and Indian Ocean;\n (B) maintaining sufficient naval assets in the \n region necessary to signal United States resolve and to \n bolster United States capabilities to launch a \n sustained sea and air campaign against a range of \n Iranian nuclear and military targets, to protect \n seaborne shipping, and to deny Iranian retaliation \n against United States interests in the region;\n (C) discussing the viability of deploying at least \n two United States aircraft carriers, an additional \n large deck amphibious ship, and a Mine Countermeasures \n Squadron in the region on a continual basis, in support \n of the actions described in subparagraph (B); and\n (D) conducting naval fleet exercises similar to the \n United States Fifth Fleet's major exercise in the \n region in March 2007 to demonstrate ability to keep the \n Strait of Hormuz open and to counter the use of anti-\n ship missiles and swarming high-speed boats.\n (3) Submission to congress.--The plan required under \n paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the congressional defense \n committees not later than 120 days after the date of enactment \n of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. UNITED STATES MILITARY CAPABILITIES IN THE CENTRAL COMMAND AREA \n OF RESPONSIBILITY.\n\n (a) Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012.--In order \nto enhance United States military capabilities in the Central Command \nArea of Responsibility, funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated \nfor fiscal year 2012 as follows:\n (1) $80,000,000 for Other Procurement, Navy to be available \n for MK 38 Mod 2 machine gun system for Coastal Patrol Craft.\n (2) $44,600,000 for Weapons Procurement, Navy to be \n available for--\n (A) Griffin missile for Coastal Patrol Craft; and\n (B) Spike shoulder-fired electro-optic weapon.\n (3) $72,481,000 for Research, Development, Test and \n Evaluation, Navy to be available for--\n (A) Program Element 0205601N for digital rocket \n launchers;\n (B) Beyond line of sight command and control \n architecture; and\n (C) MAGIC VIEW.\n (4) $134,552,000 for Research, Development, Test and \n Evaluation, Air Force to be available for Hard and Deeply \n Buried Target Defeat System Program, Program Element 0604327F.\n (5) $7,000,000 for Research, Development, Test and \n Evaluation, Defense-Wide to be available for--\n (A) Indications and Warning; and\n (B) Systems Performance.\n (6) $14,000,000 for Operation and Maintenance, Navy to be \n available for Scan Eagle.\n (7) $2,000,000 for Operation and Maintenance, Air Force to \n be available for tactics development and evaluation.\n (b) Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2013.--In order \nto enhance United States military capabilities in the Central Command \nArea of Responsibility, funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated \nfor fiscal year 2013 as follows:\n (1) $22,654,000 for Other Procurement, Navy to be available \n for--\n (A) Underwater Explosive Ordnance Disposal \n Programs;\n (B) Naval Military Intelligence Program Support \n Equipment; and\n (C) MK 38 Mod 2 machine gun system for Coastal \n Patrol Craft.\n (2) $31,000,000 for Weapons Procurement, Navy to be \n available for--\n (A) Griffin missile for Coastal Patrol Craft; and\n (B) Spike shoulder-fired electro-optic weapon.\n (3) $72,481,000 for Research, Development, Test and \n Evaluation, Army to be available for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle \n Detection and Tracking.\n (4) $72,481,000 for Research, Development, Test and \n Evaluation, Navy to be available for--\n (A) Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Development, \n Program Element 0603654N;\n (B) Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile in \n Program Element 0205601N; and\n (C) Integrated, Fixed Surveillance System, Program \n Element 0204311N.\n (5) $72,481,000 for Research, Development, Test and \n Evaluation, Air Force to be available for Cyber Command \n Activities within Program Element 0208059F.\n\nSEC. 5. ENHANCING THE DEFENSE OF ISRAEL AND UNITED STATES INTERESTS IN \n THE MIDDLE EAST.\n\n (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United \nStates should take the following actions to assist in the defense of \nIsrael:\n (1) Provide Israel such support as may be necessary to \n increase development and production of joint missile defense \n systems, particularly such systems that defend the urgent \n threat posed to Israel and United States forces in the region.\n (2) Provide Israel defense articles, intelligence, and \n defense services through such mechanisms as appropriate, to \n include air refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, \n and specialized munitions.\n (3) Allocate additional weaponry and munitions for the \n forward-deployed United States stockpile in Israel.\n (4) Provide Israel additional surplus defense articles and \n defense services, as appropriate, in the wake of the withdrawal \n of United States forces from Iraq.\n (5) Offer the Israeli Air Force additional training and \n exercise opportunities in the United States to compensate for \n Israel's limited air space.\n (6) Expand Israel's authority to make purchases under \n section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (relating to the \n ``Foreign Military Financing'' program) on a commercial basis.\n (7) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the United States \n and Israel to address emerging common threats, increase \n security cooperation, and expand joint military exercises.\n (8) Encourage an expanded role for Israel within the North \n Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including an enhanced \n presence at NATO headquarters and exercises.\n (9) Support extension of the long-standing loan guarantee \n program for Israel, recognizing Israel's unbroken record of \n repaying its loans on time and in full.\n (10) Expand already-close intelligence cooperation, \n including satellite intelligence, with Israel.\n (b) Report on Israel's Qualitative Military Edge.--\n (1) Statement of policy.--It is the policy of the United \n States--\n (A) to help Israel preserve its qualitative \n military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional \n political transformation; and\n (B) to encourage further development of advanced \n technology programs between the United States and \n Israel in light of current trends and instability in \n the region.\n (2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the \n enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the \n appropriate congressional committees a report on the status of \n Israel's qualitative military edge in light of current trends \n and instability in the region.\n (c) Report on Other Matters.--Not later than 180 days after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the \nappropriate congressional committees a report on each of the following:\n (1) Taking into account Israel's urgent requirement for F-\n 35 aircraft, actions to improve the process relating to \n Israel's purchase of F-35 aircraft to improve cost efficiency \n and timely delivery.\n (2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the United States \n and Israel in homeland defense, counter-terrorism, maritime \n security, cybersecurity, and other appropriate areas.\n (3) Actions to integrate Israel into the defense of the \n Eastern Mediterranean.\n\nSEC. 6. PLAN TO ENHANCE MILITARY CAPABILITIES OF PERSIAN GULF ALLIES.\n\n (a) Plan.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the \nSecretary of State, shall develop a plan to enhance the military \ncapabilities of Persian Gulf allies to bolster the posture of such \nallies in relation to Iran.\n (b) Matters To Be Included.--The plan required under subsection (a) \nshall include the following:\n (1) A description of the means to augment the offensive \n strike capabilities of key Gulf Cooperation Council allies, \n including the potential sale or upgrades of strike attack \n aircraft and bunker buster munitions, to augment the viability \n of a credible military option and to strengthen such allies' \n self-defense capabilities against retaliation or military \n aggression by Iran.\n (2) A needs-based assessment, or an update to an existing \n needs-based assessment, of the military requirements of Persian \n Gulf allies to support a credible military option and to defend \n against potential military aggression by Iran.\n (3) A detailed summary of any arms sales and training \n requests by Persian Gulf allies and a description and \n justification for United States actions taken.\n (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in the plan required under \nsubsection (a) shall be construed to alter Israel's qualitative \nmilitary edge.\n (d) Submission to Congress.--The plan required under subsection (a) \nshall be submitted to the appropriate congressional committees not \nlater than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (e) Form.--The plan required under subsection (a) shall be \nsubmitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.\n\nSEC. 7. PLAN TO INCREASE STRATEGIC REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n (1) The United States should ensure that it has the \n broadest set of geographic approaches to militarily access \n Iran.\n (2) United States Armed Forces and support staff currently \n have access from the eastern, southern, and western borders of \n Iran.\n (3) Azerbaijan borders the northern frontier of Iran \n closest to nuclear sites near Tehran and the Government of \n Azerbaijan cooperates with the United States on Caspian Sea \n security and energy issues.\n (b) Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United States to--\n (1) increase pressure on Iran by providing United States \n Armed Forces with the broadest set of geographic approaches to \n militarily access Iran; and\n (2) explore means to enhance access to military facilities \n on the northern border of Iran.\n (c) Plan.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation \n with the Secretary of State, shall develop a plan to increase \n the strategic partnership with regional allies to provide \n United States Armed Forces with the broadest set of geographic \n approaches to militarily access Iran.\n (2) Matters to be included.--The plan required under \n paragraph (1) shall include the following information:\n (A) Mechanisms to broaden the geographical \n approaches to militarily access Iran.\n (B) The need, if any, to strengthen the self-\n defense capabilities of regional allies as a result of \n such partnerships.\n (C) The viability of increasing access for United \n States Armed Forces to bases in Azerbaijan to augment \n the viability of a credible military option.\n (3) Submission to congress.--The plan required under \n paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the appropriate \n congressional committees not later than 180 days after the date \n of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term \n ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--\n (A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee \n on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs \n of the House of Representatives; and\n (B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee \n on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign \n Relations of the Senate.\n (2) Congressional defense committees.--The term \n ``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given that \n term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.\n (3) Qualitative military edge.--The term ``qualitative \n military edge'' has the meaning given the term in section \n 36(h)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)(2)).", "summary": "Credible Military Option to Counter Iran Act - States that it shall be the policy of the United States to take all necessary measures, including military action if required, to prevent Iran from threatening the United States, its allies, or Iran's neighbors with a nuclear weapon.\n\nExpresses the sense of Congress that: (1) U.S. military exercises in the Persian Gulf emphasize U.S. resolve in support of the above policy; and (2) the President should require the U.S. military to develop a comprehensive plan to augment the presence of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Middle East and to conduct military deployments, exercises, or other military readiness activities to underscore such policy. Directs the Secretary of Defense to prepare and submit to the congressional defense committees such a plan.\n\nAuthorizes appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2012-FY2013 to enhance U.S. military capabilities in the Central Command Area of responsibility (Middle East), including for procurement, research and development, and operation and maintenance.\n\nExpresses the sense of Congress in support of specified action to assist in the defense of Israel, including joint missile defense systems, defense articles, intelligence, defense services, and additional weaponry and munitions for the forward-deployed U.S. stockpile in Israel. Directs the President to report to Congress on the status of Israel's qualitative military edge in light of current trends and instability in the region.\n\nDirects the Secretary to develop and submit to Congress: (1) a plan to enhance the military capabilities of Persian Gulf allies to bolster their posture in relation to Iran, and (2) a plan to increase the strategic partnership with regional allies to provide U.S. Armed Forces with the broadest set of geographic approaches to militarily access Iran.", "title": "To further the preparedness of the United States Armed Forces, in cooperation with regional allies, to prevent the Government of Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2686, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Executive Cyberspace Coordination \nAct of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. NATIONAL OFFICE FOR CYBERSPACE.\n\n (a) Coordination of Federal Information Policy.--Subchapter II of \nchapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in section 3552(b), by adding at the end the following \n new paragraphs:\n ``(8) The term `Director' means the Director of the \n National Office for Cyberspace.\n ``(9) The term `information infrastructure' means the \n underlying framework that information systems and assets rely \n on in processing, storing, or transmitting information \n electronically.'';\n (2) in section 3553--\n (A) in subsection(a)--\n (i) in paragraph (5), by striking ``; and'' \n and inserting a semicolon;\n (ii) in paragraph (6), by striking the \n period at the end and inserting a semicolon; \n and\n (iii) by inserting after paragraph (6) the \n following new paragraphs:\n ``(7) reviewing at least annually, and approving or \n disapproving, agency information security programs required \n under section 3554(b);\n ``(8) coordinating the defense of information \n infrastructure operated by agencies in the case of a large-\n scale attack on information infrastructure, as determined by \n the Director;\n ``(9) coordinating information security training for \n Federal employees with the Office of Personnel Management;\n ``(10) ensuring the adequacy of protections for privacy and \n civil liberties in carrying out the responsibilities of the \n Director under this subchapter;\n ``(11) making recommendations that the Director determines \n are necessary to ensure risk-based security of the Federal \n information infrastructure and information infrastructure that \n is owned, operated, controlled, or licensed for use by, or on \n behalf of, the Department of Defense, a military department, or \n another element of the intelligence community to--\n ``(A) the Director of the Office of Management and \n Budget;\n ``(B) the head of an agency; or\n ``(C) to Congress with regard to the reprogramming \n of funds;\n ``(12) ensuring, in consultation with the Administrator of \n the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, that the \n efforts of agencies relating to the development of regulations, \n rules, requirements, or other actions applicable to the \n national information infrastructure are complementary;\n ``(13) when directed by the President, carrying out the \n responsibilities for national security and emergency \n preparedness communications described in section 706 of the \n Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 606) to ensure \n integration and coordination; and\n ``(14) as assigned by the President, other duties relating \n to the security and resiliency of cyberspace.'';\n (3) by adding at the end of section 3554, the following new \n subsection:\n ``(f) Budget Assessment and Reporting.--\n ``(1) Agency submission.--The head of each agency shall \n submit to the Director a budget each year for the following \n fiscal year relating to the protection of information \n infrastructure for such agency, by a date determined by the \n Director that is before July 1 of each year. Such budget shall \n include--\n ``(A) a review of any threats to information \n technology for such agency;\n ``(B) a plan to secure the information \n infrastructure for such agency based on threats to \n information technology, using the National Institute of \n Standards and Technology guidelines and \n recommendations;\n ``(C) a review of compliance by such agency with \n any previous year plan described in subparagraph (B); \n and\n ``(D) a report on the development of the \n credentialing process to enable secure authentication \n of identity and authorization for access to the \n information infrastructure of such agency.\n ``(2) Assessment and certification.--The Director shall \n assess and certify the adequacy of each budget submitted under \n paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Agency recommendations.--Not later than July 1 of \n each year, the Director shall submit to the head of each agency \n budget recommendations, including requests for specific \n initiatives that are consistent with the priorities of the \n President relating to the protection of information \n infrastructure. Such budget recommendations shall--\n ``(A) apply to the next budget year scheduled for \n formulation under chapter 11 of title 31, and each of \n the 4 subsequent fiscal years; and\n ``(B) address funding priorities developed in the \n National Office for Cyberspace.\n ``(4) Recommendations to the president.--The Director shall \n make recommendations to the President that the Director \n determines are appropriate regarding changes in the \n organization, management, and budget of each agency relating to \n the protection of information infrastructure in each such \n agency, and changes in the allocation of personnel to and \n within such agency, including monetary penalties or incentives \n necessary to encourage and maintain accountability of any \n agency, or senior agency official, for efforts to secure the \n information infrastructure of such agency.''; and\n (4) by adding at the end the following new section:\n``Sec. 3559. National Office for Cyberspace\n ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Executive \nOffice of the President an office to be known as the National Office \nfor Cyberspace.\n ``(b) Director.--\n ``(1) In general.--There shall be at the head of the \n National Office for Cyberspace a Director, who shall be \n appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent \n of the Senate. The Director of the National Office for \n Cyberspace shall administer all functions designated to such \n Director under section 3553 and collaborate to the extent \n practicable with the heads of appropriate agencies, the private \n sector, and international partners. The Office shall serve as \n the principal office for coordinating issues relating to \n cyberspace, including achieving an assured, reliable, secure, \n and survivable information infrastructure and related \n capabilities for the Federal Government, while promoting \n national economic interests, security, and civil liberties.\n ``(2) Basic pay.--The Director of the National Office for \n Cyberspace shall be paid at the rate of basic pay for level III \n of the Executive Schedule.\n ``(c) Staff.--The Director of the National Office for Cyberspace \nmay appoint and fix the pay of additional personnel as the Director \nconsiders appropriate.\n ``(d) Experts and Consultants.--The Director of the National Office \nfor Cyberspace may procure temporary and intermittent services under \nsection 3109(b) of title 5.''.\n (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of sections for \nsubchapter II of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, is amended \nby adding at the end the following:\n\n ``3559. National Office for Cyberspace.''.\n (c) National Strategy Required.--Not later than one year after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Office \nfor Cyberspace shall establish a national strategy for improving agency \ninformation security.\n (d) Effective Date.--This section, and the amendments made by this \nsection, shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "Executive Cyberspace Coordination Act of 2015 This bill establishes the National Office for Cyberspace within the Executive Office of the President, to be headed by a Director. The Office shall serve as the principal office for coordinating issues relating to cyberspace, including achieving an assured, reliable, secure, and survivable information infrastructure while promoting national economic interests, security, and civil liberties. The bill defines \"information infrastructure\" as the underlying framework that information systems and assets rely on to process, store, or transmit information electronically. The bill assigns new duties to the Director, including: (1) reviewing at least annually, and approving or disapproving, agency information security programs; (2) coordinating information security training for federal employees with the Office of Personnel Management; and (3) ensuring the adequacy of protections for privacy and civil liberties. The head of each agency must submit to the Director an annual budget relating to the protection of information infrastructure for the agency, which shall include a review of any threats to information technology for such agency and a plan to secure the information infrastructure for such agency based on threats to information technology.", "title": "Executive Cyberspace Coordination Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2050, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Knife Owners' Protection Act of \n2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF KNIVES.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of any law or any \nrule or regulation of the United States, or of a State or any political \nsubdivision of a State, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by \nFederal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a \nknife or knives shall be entitled to transport a knife or knives from \nany place where such person may lawfully possess, carry or transport \nsuch a knife or knives to any other place where such person may \nlawfully possess, carry or transport such a knife or knives if--\n (1) in the case of transportation by motor vehicle, the \n knife or knives are not directly accessible from the passenger \n compartment of such transporting vehicle, or, in the case of a \n motor vehicle without a compartment separate from the passenger \n compartment, the knife or knives shall be contained in a locked \n container, glove compartment, or console; or\n (2) in the case of transportation by other means (including \n any conveyance over land, on or through water, or through the \n air), the knife or knives are contained in a locked container.\n (b) Emergency Knives.--Any knife or tool designed for enabling \nescape in an emergency incorporating a blunt tipped safety blade, a \nguarded blade, or both, for cutting safety belts may be carried in the \npassenger compartment and need not be secured in a locked container, \nglove compartment, or console. This subsection shall not apply to the \ntransport of any such knife or tool in the passenger cabin of aircraft \nwhose passengers are subject to airport screening procedures of the \nTransportation Security Administration.\n (c) No Arrest or Detention.--A person who is transporting a knife \nor knives in compliance with this section may not be arrested or \notherwise detained for violation of any law or any rule or regulation \nof a State or any political subdivision of a State related to the \npossession, transportation, or carrying of knives, unless there is \nprobable cause to believe that the person is not in compliance with at \nleast one of the requirements of subsection (a).\n (d) Claim or Defense.--A person may assert this section as a claim \nor defense in any action or proceeding, civil or criminal. When a \nperson asserts this section as a claim or defense in a criminal \nproceeding, the State or political subdivision shall bear the burden of \nproving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the person was not in \ncompliance with subsection (a).\n (e) Right of Action.--Any person who, under color of any statute, \nordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or political \nsubdivision of a State, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any person \nto the deprivation of the rights, privileges, or immunities set forth \nin this section, shall be liable to the person so deprived in an action \nat law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress. When a \nperson asserts this section as a claim or defense, the court shall \naward the prevailing party (including any party who receives a \nfavorable resolution through a decision by a court, settlement of a \nclaim, withdrawal of criminal charges, or change of a statute or \nregulation), other than a State or any political subdivision of a State \nor its employees or representatives, a reasonable attorneys' fee.\n (f) Definition.--As used in this section, the term ``transport'' \nincludes staying in temporary lodging overnight, common carrier \nmisrouting or delays, stops for food, fuel, vehicle maintenance, \nemergencies, medical treatment, and all other activity related to the \nperson's overall journey. The term shall not include any transportation \nof a knife or knives with the intent to commit any offense punishable \nby imprisonment for a term exceeding one year involving the use or \nthreatened use of force against another, or with knowledge, or \nreasonable cause to believe, that such an offense is to be committed in \nthe course of, or arising from, such journey. Within any form of \ntemporary lodging, a knife or knives may be accessible.\n (g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be \nconstrued in any way to limit any right to possess, carry, or transport \na knife or knives under applicable State law.\n\nSEC. 3. REPEAL OF FEDERAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO SWITCHBLADE KNIVES.\n\n (a) Repeals.--\n (1) Chapter 29 of title 15, United States Code, is \n repealed.\n (2) Subsections (g) and (i) of section 1716, title 18, \n United States Code, are repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) The table of chapters at the beginning of title 15, \n United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to \n chapter 29, and inserting in lieu thereof, ``[Chapter 29. \n Repealed]''.\n (2) Section 1716 of title 18, United States Code, is \n amended by redesignating--\n (A) subsection (h) as subsection (g);\n (B) subsection (j) as subsection (h); and\n (C) subsection (k) as subsection (i).\n (c) Effective Date.--The repeals made by subsection (a)--\n (1) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act; \n and\n (2) do not apply with respect to any indictment, \n convictions, sentencing, appeals, civil or criminal fines or \n penalties obtained, forfeitures obtained, terms of imprisonment \n or any other enforcement actions or proceedings occurring or \n commenced, on or before the date of enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Knife Owners' Protection Act of 2017 This bill permits an individual to transport a knife between two places (i.e., states) where knife possession, carry, or transport is legal. A knife must be securely stored during transport, unless it is an emergency knife designed to cut seat belts. This bill prohibits the arrest or detention of an individual for a knife violation unless there is probable cause to believe the individual failed to securely store the knife during transport. An individual may assert compliance with this bill as a claim or defense in any civil or criminal proceeding. This bill repeals provisions, commonly known as the Federal Switchblade Act, that prohibit the introduction of switchblade knives into interstate commerce. It also repeals the Ballistic Knife Prohibition Act of 1986, which prohibits the possession, manufacture, sale, or importation of a ballistic knife. Finally, it amends the federal criminal code to eliminate two provisions—one that restricts the mailability of switchblade knives, and one that restricts the mailability of ballistic knives.", "title": "Knife Owners\u2019 Protection Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 241, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Airport Security Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AT AIRPORTS.\n\n (a) Program To Prohibit Possession.--Section 44903 of title 49, \nUnited States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubsection:\n ``(m) Program To Prohibit Possession of Firearms at Airports.--\n ``(1) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary of Homeland \n Security (Transportation Security Administration) shall \n establish and carry out a program to prohibit, except as \n provided in paragraph (3), any individual from possessing a \n firearm at a covered airport, including any individual who \n enters the airport, or who exits public transportation at the \n airport, for the following purposes:\n ``(A) Air travel.\n ``(B) Meeting another individual.\n ``(C) Picking up cargo.\n ``(D) Employment at the airport.\n ``(2) Requirements for airport operators.--In carrying out \n the program established under paragraph (1), the Assistant \n Secretary shall require each airport operator to--\n ``(A) conspicuously display notices summarizing the \n program--\n ``(i) at each entrance to the airport; and\n ``(ii) in such form, and containing such \n information, as the Assistant Secretary shall \n by regulation prescribe; and\n ``(B) require law enforcement personnel to--\n ``(i) monitor the airport to prevent \n violations of paragraph (1); and\n ``(ii) escort any individual described in \n paragraph (3)(B)(ii) who is discovered by such \n personnel to be in possession of a firearm \n referred to in paragraph (3)(B)(i), to ensure \n that such individual continues to be excepted \n from paragraph (1) by reason of paragraph \n (3)(B).\n ``(3) Exceptions.--The following individuals shall not be \n prohibited by paragraph (1) from possessing a firearm under \n such paragraph:\n ``(A) Individuals authorized to carry a firearm.--\n An individual who, by regulation, is authorized by the \n Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or \n the Assistant Secretary to carry a firearm at the \n covered airport.\n ``(B) Travelers.--An individual who possesses a \n firearm, if--\n ``(i) the firearm is unloaded, carried in a \n hard-sided container that is locked, and the \n key or combination to the lock is in the \n exclusive possession of the individual; and\n ``(ii) the individual--\n ``(I) is carrying a ticket in the \n name of the individual for a flight \n that is scheduled for departure from \n the covered airport within 24 hours or \n that has arrived at the airport within \n the preceding 24 hours; or\n ``(II) communicates the intention \n to obtain a ticket for departure \n referred to in subclause (I) at the \n covered airport and obtains and carries \n such ticket or does not obtain such \n ticket for a compelling reason.\n ``(C) Individuals shipping firearms.--An individual \n who possesses a firearm in a capacity relating to the \n shipment of the firearm in air commerce and who, by \n regulation, is authorized by the Administrator of the \n Federal Aviation Administration or the Assistant \n Secretary to possess the firearm at the covered airport \n in such capacity.\n ``(D) Law enforcement officers.--An on-duty law \n enforcement officer of a State or political subdivision \n of a State, or an officer or employee of the Federal \n Government, who is authorized to carry a firearm.\n ``(E) Certain individuals on public \n transportation.--An individual passing through an \n airport on public transportation.\n ``(F) Additional authorized individuals.--An \n individual who is otherwise authorized by the \n Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or \n the Assistant Secretary to possess a firearm at a \n covered airport.\n ``(4) Issuance of regulations.--Not later than one year \n after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant \n Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security \n Administration) shall issue regulations to carry out this \n subsection.\n ``(5) Definitions.--In this subsection:\n ``(A) Airport.--The term `airport' means an airport \n and any appurtenant building or area that is related to \n the operation of the airport, including a building or \n area on the site of the airport designed to--\n ``(i) receive passengers or cargo before or \n after a flight; or\n ``(ii) facilitate arrival at or departure \n from the airport, including--\n ``(I) a road or section of road \n used primarily for arrival at or \n departure from the airport;\n ``(II) an airport parking area; and\n ``(III) a public transportation \n stop.\n ``(B) Airport operator.--The term `airport \n operator' means the operator of a covered airport.\n ``(C) Assistant secretary.--The term `Assistant \n Secretary' means the Assistant Secretary of Homeland \n Security (Transportation Security Administration).\n ``(D) Covered airport.--The term `covered airport' \n means an airport that in the preceding fiscal year \n received an amount allocated or apportioned under \n chapter 471.\n ``(E) Firearm.--The term `firearm' has the meaning \n given the term in section 921(a)(3) of title 18.\n ``(F) Public transportation.--The term `public \n transportation' means a conveyance that provides \n regular and continuing general or special \n transportation to the public.''.\n (b) Criminal Penalty for Possession.--\n (1) In general.--Chapter 44 of title 18, United States \n Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new \n section:\n``Sec. 932. Possession of firearms at airports\n ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), an \nindividual who knowingly possesses a firearm at a covered airport shall \nbe fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.\n ``(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to an individual \ndescribed in section 44903(m)(3) of title 49.\n ``(c) Definition of Covered Airport.--In this section, the term \n`covered airport' has the meaning given the term in section \n44903(m)(5)(D) of title 49.''.\n (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) \n shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the date on \n which the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security \n (Transportation Security Administration) has issued regulations \n pursuant to section 44903(m)(4) of title 49, United States Code \n (as added by subsection (a)).\n (3) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for \n chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by \n adding at the end the following new item:\n\n``932. Possession of firearms at airports.''.", "summary": "Airport Security Act of 2010 - Directs the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration [TSA]) to establish a program to prohibit all but specified authorized individuals from possessing a firearm at a covered airport, including any individual who enters the airport, or exits public transportation at it, for air travel, meeting another individual, picking up cargo, or employment.\n\nDirects the Assistant Secretary to require airport operators to: (1) display conspicuous notices summarizing the program at each airport entrance; and (2) require law enforcement personnel to monitor the airport to prevent violations and escort air travelers who are authorized to carry a firearm.\n\nPrescribes criminal penalties for nonauthorized individuals who knowingly possess a firearm at a covered airport.", "title": "To prohibit certain individuals from possessing a firearm in an airport, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1391, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Children First Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. EXCLUSION OF CHILD CARE FROM THE DEFINITION OF TANF ASSISTANCE.\n\n Section 408(a)(7) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(7)) \nis amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(H) Limitation on meaning of `assistance' for \n families receiving child care.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (A), any funds provided under this part \n that are used to provide child care for a family during \n a month under the State program funded under this part \n shall not be considered assistance under the \n program.''.\n\nSEC. 3. INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE.\n\n Section 418(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 618(a)(3)) \nis amended--\n (1) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (G) \n and inserting a semicolon; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(H) $3,717,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;\n ``(I) $3,773,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;\n ``(J) $3,841,000,000 for fiscal year 2013;\n ``(K) $3,917,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; and\n ``(L) $3,996,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.''.\n\nSEC. 4. APPLICABILITY OF STATE OR LOCAL HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS TO \n OTHER TANF CHILD CARE SPENDING.\n\n Section 402(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(8) Certification of procedures to ensure that child care \n providers comply with applicable state or local health and \n safety standards.--A certification by the chief executive \n officer of the State that procedures are in effect to ensure \n that any child care provider in the State that provides \n services funded through expenditures under this part or with \n qualified State expenditures complies with all applicable State \n or local health and safety requirements as described in section \n 658E(c)(2)(F) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act \n of 1990.''.\n\nSEC. 5. AVAILABILITY OF CHILD CARE FOR PARENTS REQUIRED TO WORK.\n\n Section 407(e)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 607(e)(2)) \nis amended--\n (1) by inserting ``or other individual with custody'' after \n ``parent''; and\n (2) by striking ``6'' and inserting ``13''.\n\nSEC. 6. APPLICATION OF CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ACT OF \n 1990 REPORTING RULES TO TANF FUNDS EXPENDED FOR CHILD \n CARE.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 411(a) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 611(a)) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and\n (2) by inserting after paragraph (6), the following:\n ``(7) Application of child care and development block grant \n act of 1990 reporting rules to funds expended for child care.--\n Any funds provided under this part that are expended for child \n care, whether or not transferred to the Child Care and \n Development Block Grant Act of 1990, shall be subject to the \n individual and case data reporting requirements imposed under \n that Act and need not be included in the report required by \n paragraph (1) for a fiscal quarter.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 411(a)(1)(A)(ix) of such Act (42 \nU.S.C. 611(a)(1)(A)(ix)) is amended by striking ``supplemental \nnutrition assistance program benefits, or subsidized child care, and if \nthe latter 2,'' and inserting ``or supplemental nutrition assistance \nprogram benefits, and if the latter,''.\n\nSEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the amendments \nmade by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2010, and shall apply \nto payments under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act for \ncalendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to \nwhether regulations to implement the amendments are promulgated by such \ndate.\n (b) Application of Reporting Rules.--The amendments made by section \n6 shall take effect on October 1, 2011.\n (c) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--In the case of \na State plan under section 402(a) of the Social Security Act which the \nSecretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State \nlegislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for \nthe plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments \nmade by this Act, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to \ncomply with the requirements of such section 402(a) solely on the basis \nof the failure of the plan to meet such additional requirements before \nthe 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after the close of \nthe 1st regular session of the State legislature that begins after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous \nsentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, \neach year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular \nsession of the State legislature.", "summary": "Children First Act of 2010 - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) exclude child care assistance from the determination of the five-year limit on TANF assistance; and (2) increase funding for child care.\n\nRequires an eligible state's TANF plan to include a certification by the state's chief executive officer that procedures are in effect to ensure that any child care provider in the state that provides services funded through TANF expenditures or with qualified state expenditures complies with all applicable state or local health and safety requirements under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990.\n\nIncreases from 5 to 12 the maximum age of a child for which a single custodial parent who is unable to find child care for such child will not penalized with a reduction or termination of TANF assistance based on that individual's refusal to engage in required work in order to take care of the child.\n\nSubjects to the individual and case data reporting requirements of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 any TANF funds expended for child care, whether or not transferred to that Act, and exempts such funds from SSA reporting requirements.", "title": "To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to exclude child care from the determination of the 5-year limit on assistance under the temporary assistance to needy families program, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1294, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Separation of Powers Restoration \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) As a limit on governmental power, Constitutional \n framers vested Federal powers in three coequal branches of \n government, each with unique and limited powers and each with a \n coequal duty to uphold and sustain the Constitution of the \n United States.\n (2) A Supreme Court justice stated, ``The doctrine of the \n separation of powers was adopted by the convention of 1787 not \n to promote efficiency but to preclude the exercise of arbitrary \n power. The purpose was not to avoid friction, but, by means of \n the inevitable friction incident to the distribution of the \n governmental powers among three departments, to save the people \n from autocracy.'' Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52, 293 \n (1926) (Brandeis, J., dissenting).\n (3) James Madison, quoting Montesquieu, stated in \n Federalist 47, ```There can be no liberty where the legislative \n and executive powers are united in the same person, or body of \n magistrates.'''\n (4) Article I of the Constitution provides, ``All \n legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress \n of the United States.''\n (5) A congressional committee print has noted that, \n ``[b]ecause the President has no power or authority over \n individual citizens and their rights except where he is granted \n such power and authority by a provision in the Constitution or \n by statute, the President's proclamations are not legally \n binding and are at best hortatory unless based on such grants \n of authority.'' 85th Cong., 1st Sess., Executive Orders and \n Proclamations: A Study of a Use of Presidential Powers (Comm. \n Print 1957).\n (6) The Supreme Court has stated that, even if Presidents \n have, without congressional authority, taken actions only the \n Congress may take, ``Congress has not thereby lost its \n exclusive constitutional authority to make laws necessary and \n proper to carry out the powers vested by the Constitution `in \n the Government of the United States, or any Department of \n Officer thereof.''' (Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer, \n 343 U.S. 579 (1952)).\n (7) Treaties or Executive Agreements which purport to \n assign powers not amongst those specifically granted to the \n Federal Government by the Constitution are non-binding and \n cannot constitute law.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECT OF PRESIDENTIAL ORDERS.\n\n (a) Limited Effect of Presidential Orders.--A Presidential order \nneither constitutes nor has the force of law and is limited in its \napplication and effect to the executive branch.\n (b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to--\n (1) a reprieve or pardon for an offense against the United \n States, except in cases of impeachment;\n (2) an order given to military personnel pursuant to duties \n specifically related to actions taken as Commander in Chief of \n the Armed Forces; or\n (3) a Presidential order citing the specific congressional \n enactment relied upon for the authority exercised in such order \n and--\n (A) issued pursuant to such authority;\n (B) commensurate with the limit imposed by the \n plain language of such authority; and\n (C) not issued pursuant to a ratified or unratified \n treaty or bilateral or multilateral agreement which--\n (i) violates the ninth or tenth amendments \n to the Constitution; or\n (ii) makes a delegation of power to a \n foreign government or international body when \n no such delegating authority exists under the \n Constitution.\n\nSEC. 4. REQUIREMENT OF STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY FOR PRESIDENTIAL ORDERS.\n\n (a) Statement of Authority.--The President shall provide for each \nPresidential order a statement of the specific statutory or \nconstitutional provision which in fact grants the President the \nauthority claimed for such action.\n (b) Invalidity of Nonconforming Orders.--A Presidential order which \ndoes not include the statement required by subsection (a) is invalid, \nto the extent such Presidential order is issued under authority granted \nby a congressional enactment. This subsection applies to Presidential \norders in effect on or after the date that is 180 days after the date \nof enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 5. STANDING TO CHALLENGE PRESIDENTIAL ORDERS WHICH IMPACT \n SEPARATION OF POWERS INTEGRITY.\n\n The following persons may bring an action in an appropriate United \nStates court to challenge the validity of any Presidential order which \nexceeds the power granted to the President by the relevant authorizing \nstatute or the Constitution:\n (1) Congress and its members.--The Congress, the House of \n Representatives, the Senate, any Senator, and any \n Representative to the House of Representatives, if the \n challenged Presidential order--\n (A) infringes on any power of Congress;\n (B) exceeds any power granted by a congressional \n enactment; or\n (C) violates section 4 because it does not state \n the statutory authority which in fact grants the \n President the power claimed for the action taken in \n such Presidential order.\n (2) State and local governments.--The highest governmental \n official of any State, commonwealth, district, territory, or \n possession of the United States, or any political subdivision \n thereof, or the designee of such person, if the challenged \n Presidential order infringes on a power of such State or on a \n power afforded to such commonwealth, district, territory, or \n possession under any congressional enactment or relevant treaty \n of the United States.\n (3) Aggrieved persons.--Any person aggrieved in a liberty \n or property interest adversely affected directly by the \n challenged Presidential order.\n\nSEC. 6. NATIONAL EMERGENCY POWER DIVESTED TO CONGRESS.\n\n (a) Divestiture of Authority To Declare Emergency.--To the extent \nthat any Act of Congress in effect on the date of enactment of this Act \ngrants to the President or any other officer or employee of the \nexecutive branch the power to declare a national emergency, such power \nis hereby divested to the Congress alone.\n (b) Termination of Powers Under Existing States of Emergency.--\n (1) In general.--All powers and authorities possessed by \n the President, any other officer or employee of the Federal \n Government, or any executive agency (as defined in section 105 \n of title 5, United States Code) as a result of the existence of \n any declaration of national emergency in effect on the date of \n enactment of this Act are terminated 90 days after the date of \n enactment of this Act. Such termination shall not affect--\n (A) any action taken or proceeding pending that is \n not finally concluded or determined before such date of \n termination;\n (B) any action or proceeding based on any act \n committed before such date termination; or\n (C) any rights or duties that matured or penalties \n that were incurred prior to such date of termination.\n (2) National emergency defined.--For the purpose of this \n subsection, the term ``national emergency'' means a general \n declaration of emergency made by the President or any other \n officer or employee of the executive branch.\n\nSEC. 7. PRESIDENTIAL ORDER DEFINED.\n\n In this Act, the term ``Presidential order'' means--\n (1) any Executive order, Presidential proclamation, or \n Presidential directive; and\n (2) any other Presidential or Executive action by whatever \n name described purporting to have normative effect outside the \n executive branch which is issued under the authority of the \n President or any other officer or employee of the executive \n branch.", "summary": "Separation of Powers Restoration Act - States that a presidential order, with specific exceptions, neither constitutes nor has the force of law and is limited in application and effect to the executive branch.Directs the President to provide with each presidential order a statement of the specific statutory or constitutional authority for such action.Authorizes both Houses of Congress, a Senator or Representative, certain State and local officials, and certain aggrieved persons to bring an action to challenge the validity of any presidential order which exceeds the power granted to the President by the relevant authorizing statute or the Constitution.States that, to the extent that any Act of Congress grants to the President or any other executive officer or employee the power to declare a national emergency, such power is divested to Congress alone.Terminates after 90 days all powers and authorities possessed by the President or any other Federal officer or employee or executive agency as a result of the existence of a declaration of national emergency in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.", "title": "To restore the separation of powers between the Congress and the President."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 108, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Environmental Finance Act of 1995''.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSE.\n\n The purpose of this Act is to require--\n (1)(A) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection \n Agency to establish an Environmental Financial Advisory Board \n to provide expert advice and recommendations to Congress and \n the Administrator on issues, trends, options, innovations, and \n tax matters affecting the cost and financing of environmental \n protection by State and local governments; and\n (B) the Board to study methods to--\n (i) lower costs of environmental infrastructure and \n services;\n (ii) increase investment in public and private \n environmental infrastructure; and\n (iii) build State and local capacity to plan and \n pay for environmental infrastructure and services; and\n (2)(A) the Administrator to establish and support \n Environmental Finance Centers in institutions of higher \n education;\n (B) the Centers to carry out activities to improve the \n capability of State and local governments to manage \n environmental programs; and\n (C) the Administrator to provide Federal funding to the \n Centers, with a goal that the Centers will eventually become \n financially self-sufficient.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the \n Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.\n (2) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Environmental \n Financial Advisory Board established under section 4.\n (3) Center.--The term ``Center'' means an Environmental \n Finance Center established under section 5.\n\nSEC. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCIAL ADVISORY BOARD.\n\n (a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish an Environmental \nFinancial Advisory Board to provide expert advice on issues affecting \nthe costs and financing of environmental activities at the Federal, \nState, and local levels. The Board shall report to the Administrator, \nand shall make the services and expertise of the Board available to \nCongress.\n (b) Membership.--\n (1) In general.--The Board shall consist of 35 members \n appointed by the Administrator.\n (2) Terms.--A member of the Board shall serve for a term of \n 2 years, except that 20 of the members initially appointed to \n the Board shall serve for a term of 1 year.\n (3) Qualifications.--The members of the Board shall be \n individuals with expertise in financial matters and shall be \n chosen from among elected officials and representatives of \n national trade and environmental organizations, the financial, \n banking, and legal communities, business and industry, and \n academia.\n (4) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--The members of the \n Board shall elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, who shall \n each serve a term of 2 years.\n (c) Duties.--After establishing appropriate rules and procedures \nfor the operations of the Board, the Board shall--\n (1) work with the Science Advisory Board, established by \n section 8 of the Environmental Research, Development, and \n Demonstration Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 4365), to identify and \n develop methods to integrate risk and finance considerations \n into environmental decisionmaking;\n (2) identify and examine strategies to enhance \n environmental protection in urban areas, reduce \n disproportionate risks facing urban communities, and promote \n economic revitalization and environmentally sustainable \n development;\n (3) develop and recommend initiatives to expand \n opportunities for the export of United States financial \n services and environmental technologies;\n (4) develop alternative financing mechanisms to assist \n State and local governments in paying for environmental \n programs;\n (5) develop alternative financing mechanisms and strategies \n to meet the unique needs of small and economically \n disadvantaged communities; and\n (6) undertake such other activities as the Board determines \n will further the purpose of this Act.\n (d) Recommendations.--The Board may recommend to Congress and the \nAdministrator legislative and policy initiatives to make financing for \nenvironmental protection more available and less costly.\n (e) Open Meetings.--The Board shall hold open meetings and seek \ninput from the public and other interested parties in accordance with \nthe Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and shall otherwise \nbe subject to the Act.\n (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal \nyears 1996 through 2000.\n\nSEC. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CENTERS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish and support an \nEnvironmental Finance Center in an institution of higher education in \neach of the regions of the Environmental Protection Agency.\n (b) Duties and Powers.--A Center shall coordinate the activities of \nthe Center with the Board and may--\n (1) provide on-site and off-site training of State and \n local officials;\n (2) publish newsletters, course materials, proceedings, and \n other publications relating to financing of environmental \n infrastructure;\n (3) initiate and conduct conferences, seminars, and \n advisory panels on specific financial issues relating to \n environmental programs and projects;\n (4) establish electronic database and contact services to \n disseminate information to public entities on financing \n alternatives for State and local environmental programs;\n (5) generate case studies and special reports;\n (6) develop inventories and surveys of financial issues and \n needs of State and local governments;\n (7) identify financial programs, initiatives, and \n alternative financing mechanisms for training purposes;\n (8) hold public meetings on finance issues; and\n (9) collaborate with another Center on projects and \n exchange information.\n (c) Grants.--The Administrator may make grants to institutions of \nhigher education to carry out this section.\n (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section $2,500,000 for each of fiscal \nyears 1996 through 2000.", "summary": "Environmental Finance Act of 1995 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish: (1) an Environmental Financial Advisory Board to provide expert advice on issues affecting the costs and financing of environmental activities at the Federal, State, and local levels; and (2) Environmental Finance Centers in institutions of higher education in each of the regions of the EPA. \nAuthorizes the Centers to: (1) provide training of State and local officials; (2) publish materials relating to financing of environmental infrastructure; (3) conduct conferences and advisory panels on specific environmental finance issues; (4) establish information services; (5) generate case studies and reports; (6) develop surveys of financial issues and needs of State and local governments; (7) identify financial programs and alternative financing mechanisms for training purposes; (8) hold public meetings; and (9) collaborate and exchange information. \nPermits the Administrator to make grants to institutions of higher education to carry out the Center program. \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "Environmental Finance Act of 1995"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1779, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in \nthe Emergency Department Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds as follows:\n (1) Opioids contributed to the deaths of more than 42,000 \n people in 2016, more than any year on official record. Forty \n percent of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription \n opioid.\n (2) The economic burden of prescription opioid misuse in \n the United States is estimated to be $78,500,000,000 per year. \n This includes costs stemming from health care, including \n addiction treatment, lost productivity, and criminal justice \n involvement.\n (3) Over 200 million opioid prescriptions are written in \n the United States each year, and 2,000,000 Americans have the \n symptoms of substance use disorder.\n (4) Approximately 21 to 29 percent of patients prescribed \n opioids for chronic pain misuse them.\n (5) Emergency departments in several States, including in \n New Jersey and Colorado, have developed innovative programs to \n more widely utilize non-opioid pain treatments to reduce the \n use of opioids.\n\nSEC. 3. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS DEMONSTRATION \n PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Demonstration Program Grants.--The Secretary of Health and \nHuman Services acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health \nand Substance Use (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') \nshall carry out a 3-year demonstration program under which the \nSecretary shall award grants to eligible hospitals and emergency \ndepartments, including freestanding emergency departments, to develop, \nimplement, enhance, or study alternative pain management protocols and \ntreatments that promote the appropriate limited use of opioids in \nemergency departments.\n (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under \nsubsection (a), a hospital or emergency department shall submit an \napplication to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and \ncontaining such information as the Secretary may require.\n (c) Geographic Diversity.--In awarding grants under this section, \nthe Secretary shall seek to ensure geographical diversity among grant \nrecipients.\n (d) Use of Funds.--In addition to the activities described in \nsubsection (a), grants under this section shall be used to--\n (1) target common painful conditions, which may include \n renal colic, sciatica, headaches, musculoskeletal pain, and \n extremity fractures;\n (2) train providers and other hospital personnel on \n protocols and use of treatments that promote the appropriate \n limited use of opioids in the emergency department;\n (3) collect data, including data required for the reporting \n requirement established under subsection (f); and\n (4) provide alternatives to opioids to patients with \n painful conditions, not including patients who present with \n pain related to cancer, end-of-life symptom palliation, or \n complex multisystem trauma.\n (e) Duties of the Secretary.--The Secretary shall offer to each \nrecipient of a grant under subsection (a) technical support through a \nprocess that provides for--\n (1) the provision of information by the Secretary on \n alternative pain management protocols and treatments, which may \n include--\n (A) non-opioid medications;\n (B) protocols and treatments that do not involve a \n medication;\n (C) alternative pain management protocols and \n treatments that are appropriate to use for specific \n common painful conditions, such as renal colic, back \n pain, pain from fractures, and other common painful \n conditions that present to the emergency department;\n (D) the alternative pain management protocol or \n treatments, if any, that are appropriate for certain \n patient populations, such as geriatric patients, \n pregnant patients, and pediatric patients; and\n (E) any other information the Secretary determines \n necessary; and\n (2) the provision of information by emergency departments \n and providers that have successfully implemented alternatives \n to opioids programs in the emergency department, promoting non-\n opioid protocols and medications while appropriately limiting \n the use of opioids.\n (f) Report to the Secretary.--Each recipient of a grant under this \nsection shall submit to the Secretary annual evaluations of the \nprogress of the program funded through the grant. These evaluations \nshall include--\n (1) a description of and specific information about the \n alternative pain management protocols and treatments employed;\n (2) data on the alternative pain management protocols and \n treatments employed, including--\n (A) during a baseline period before the program \n began, as defined by the Secretary;\n (B) at various stages of the program, as determined \n by the Secretary;\n (C) the conditions for which the alternative pain \n management protocols and treatments were employed; and\n (D) data on patients' self-reported pain rating, \n using a pain scale model provided by the Secretary, \n before and after the alternative pain management \n protocol or treatment was provided;\n (3) data on the opioid prescriptions written, including--\n (A) during a baseline period before the program \n began, as defined by the Secretary;\n (B) at various stages of the program, as determined \n by the Secretary;\n (C) the conditions for which the opioids were \n prescribed; and\n (D) data on patients' self-reported pain rating, \n using a pain scale model provided by the Secretary, \n before and after the opioid prescription was provided;\n (4) the demographic characteristics of patients who were \n treated with an alternative pain management protocol, including \n age, sex, race, ethnicity, and insurance status and type;\n (5) data on patients who were eventually prescribed opioids \n after alternative pain management protocols and treatments were \n employed;\n (6) data on patients who were transitioned to inpatient \n care following treatment with an alternative pain management \n protocol and treatment; and\n (7) any other information the Secretary deems necessary.\n (g) Report to Congress.--Not later than 120 days after completion \nof the demonstration program under this section, the Secretary shall \nsubmit a report to the Congress on the results of the demonstration \nprogram and include in the report--\n (1) the number of applications received and the number \n funded;\n (2) a summary of the evaluations described in subsection \n (f), including standardized data; and\n (3) recommendations for broader implementation of pain \n management protocols that limit the use of opioids in emergency \n departments or other areas of the health care delivery system.\n (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, \nthere is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal \nyears 2019 through 2021.", "summary": "Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a three-year demonstration program awarding grants to hospitals and emergency departments to develop, implement, enhance, or study alternative pain management protocols and treatments that promote limited use of opioids in emergency departments.", "title": "Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3109, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Employees, Healthy Small \nBusinesses Act of 2004''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) In 2002, 44,000,000 Americans were without health \n insurance for the entire year, and the vast majority of these \n uninsured people are in working families.\n (2) The number of employees in a business greatly affects \n the likelihood of whether or not its employees are offered \n health insurance. In 2003, 98 percent of firms with over 200 \n employees offered health benefits, while only 55 percent of \n firms with under 10 workers did.\n (3) Among uninsured workers in 2001, over half held jobs \n with companies having fewer than 100 employees.\n (4) The cost of health insurance for employers is very \n high. On average, in 2003, the total cost of an individual \n health plan was $3,383, of which the employee paid an average \n of $508 and the employer paid an average of $2875. For a family \n policy, the average cost was $9,068, with the employer bearing \n $6,656 and the employee shouldering $2,412.\n\nSEC. 3. REFUNDABLE CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE \n EXPENSES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable credits) \nis amended by redesignating section 36 as section 37 and inserting \nafter section 35 the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 36. SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE EXPENSES.\n\n ``(a) Determination of Amount.--In the case of a qualified small \nemployer, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by \nthis subtitle for the taxable year an amount equal to the expense \namount described in subsection (b) paid by the taxpayer during the \ntaxable year.\n ``(b) Subsection (b) Expense Amount.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) In general.--The expense amount described in this \n subsection is the applicable percentage of the amount of \n qualified employee health insurance expenses of each qualified \n employee.\n ``(2) Applicable percentage.--For purposes of paragraph \n (1), the applicable percentage is equal to--\n ``(A) for any qualified small employer described in \n subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4), 50 percent,\n ``(B) for any qualified small employer described in \n subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4), 35 percent, and\n ``(C) for any qualified small employer described in \n subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4), 25 percent.\n ``(3) Per employee dollar limitation.--\n ``(A) In general.--The amount of qualified employee \n health insurance expenses taken into account under \n paragraph (1) with respect to any qualified employee \n for any taxable year shall not exceed--\n ``(i) for any qualified small employer \n described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph \n (4)--\n ``(I) $1,500 in the case of self-\n only coverage, and\n ``(II) $3,400 in the case of family \n coverage,\n ``(ii) for any qualified small employer \n described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph \n (4)--\n ``(I) $1,100 in the case of self-\n only coverage, and\n ``(II) $2,400 in the case of family \n coverage, and\n ``(iii) for any qualified small employer \n described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph \n (4)--\n ``(I) $750 in the case of self-only \n coverage, and\n ``(II) $1,700 in the case of family \n coverage.\n ``(B) Inflation adjustment.--\n ``(i) In general.--In the case of any \n taxable year beginning after 2006, each dollar \n amount referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be \n increased by an amount equal to--\n ``(I) such dollar amount, \n multiplied by\n ``(II) the cost-of-living \n adjustment determined under section \n (1)(f)(3) for the calendar year in \n which the taxable year begins, by \n substituting `2005' for `1992'.\n ``(ii) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted \n under clause (i) is not a multiple of $100, \n such amount shall be rounded to the next lowest \n multiple of $100.\n ``(4) Qualified small employers described.--A qualified \n small employer is described in--\n ``(A) this subparagraph if such employer employed \n an average of 9 or fewer employees (as determined under \n subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii)),\n ``(B) this subparagraph if such employer employed \n an average of more than 9 but less than 25 employees \n (as so determined), and\n ``(C) this subparagraph if such employer employed \n an average of more than 24 but not more than 50 \n employees (as so determined).\n ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Qualified small employer.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified small \n employer' means, with respect to any calendar year, any \n employer if--\n ``(i) such employer pays or incurs at least \n 75 percent of the qualified employee health \n insurance expenses of each qualified employee \n (determined without regard to subsection \n (b)(3)), and\n ``(ii) such employer employed an average of \n 50 or fewer employees on business days during \n either of the 2 preceding calendar years.\n For purposes of clause (ii), a preceding calendar year \n may be taken into account only if the employer was in \n existence throughout such year.\n ``(B) Employers not in existence in preceding \n year.--In the case of an employer which was not in \n existence throughout the 1st preceding calendar year, \n the determination under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be \n based on the average number of employees that it is \n reasonably expected such employer will employ on \n business days in the current calendar year.\n ``(2) Qualified employee health insurance expenses.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified employee \n health insurance expenses' means any amount paid by an \n employer for health insurance coverage (as defined in \n section 9832(b)(1)) to the extent such amount is \n attributable to coverage provided to any employee while \n such employee is a qualified employee.\n ``(B) Exception for amounts paid under salary \n reduction arrangements.--No amount paid or incurred for \n health insurance coverage pursuant to a salary \n reduction arrangement shall be taken into account under \n subparagraph (A).\n ``(3) Qualified employee.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified employee' \n means, with respect to any period, an employee of an \n employer if--\n ``(i) the annual amount of hours in the \n employ of such employer by such employee is at \n least 400 hours,\n ``(ii) the total amount of wages paid or \n incurred by such employer to such employee at \n an annual rate during the taxable year is at \n least $5,000, and\n ``(iii) such employee is not eligible for--\n ``(I) any benefits under title \n XVIII, XIX, or XXI of the Social \n Security Act, or\n ``(II) any other publicly-sponsored \n health insurance program.\n ``(B) Treatment of certain employees.--For purposes \n of subparagraph (A), the term `employee'--\n ``(i) shall not include an employee within \n the meaning of section 401(c)(1), and\n ``(ii) shall include a leased employee \n within the meaning of section 414(n).\n ``(C) Wages.--The term `wages' has the meaning \n given such term by section 3121(a) (determined without \n regard to any dollar limitation contained in such \n section).\n ``(d) Certain Rules Made Applicable.--For purposes of this section, \nrules similar to the rules of section 52 shall apply.\n ``(e) Coordination With Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of \nSelf-Employed Individuals.--In the case of a taxpayer who is eligible \nto deduct any amount under section 162(l) for the taxable year, this \nsection shall apply only if the taxpayer elects not to claim any amount \nas a deduction under such section for such year.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United \n States Code, is amended by inserting before the period ``, or \n from section 36 of such Code''.\n (2) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of \n subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n is amended by striking the last item and inserting the \n following new items:\n\n ``Sec. 36. Small business employee health \n insurance expenses.\n ``Sec. 37. Overpayments of tax.''.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after \nDecember 31, 2004.", "summary": "Healthy Employees, Healthy Small Business Act of 2004 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small business employers a refundable tax credit for a portion of their employee health insurance costs.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a refundable tax credit for small business health insurance costs, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2394, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Child Care Criminal Background Check \nAct of 2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSE.\n\n The purpose of this Act is to assist States in improving the \noverall quality of child care services in the State by requiring \nnational criminal background checks of child care providers that are \nlicensed by the State or that receive funds under the Child Care and \nDevelopment Block Grant Act of 1990.\n\nSEC. 3. AMENDMENTS.\n\n (a) State Plan.--Section 658E(c)(2) of the Child Care and \nDevelopment Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858c(c)(2)) is amended \nby adding at the end the following:\n ``(I) Criminal background check.--Certify that the \n State will--\n ``(i) require each eligible child care \n provider (excluding an eligible child care \n provider described in section 658P(5)(B)) that \n is licensed by the State or receives funds \n provided under this subchapter--\n ``(I) to obtain from the State a \n comprehensive criminal background check \n of--\n ``(aa) each employee who \n provides child care services;\n ``(bb) each applicant for \n employment to provide such \n services; and\n ``(cc) each family child \n care provider who provides or \n applies to provide such \n services;\n ``(II) to refuse to employ an \n individual to provide such services--\n ``(aa) if such individual \n was convicted, in the then most \n recent 5-year period ending on \n the date of receipt of such a \n criminal background check, of--\n\n ``(AA) a crime of \n violence (as defined in \n section 20101 of \n subtitle A of title II \n of the Violent Crime \n Control and Law \n Enforcement Act of 1994 \n (42 U.S.C. 13701)); or\n\n ``(BB) a crime \n against a child for \n which the penalty \n exceeds imprisonment \n for a term exceeding 1 \n year;\n\n ``(bb) to an eligible child \n without the supervision of an \n employee whose criminal \n background check satisfies the \n requirements of the \n subparagraph, pending receipt \n of such a criminal background \n check of such individual; and\n ``(cc) to an eligible child \n with the supervision of an \n employee whose criminal \n background check satisfies the \n requirements of the \n subparagraph and for a period \n exceeding 90 days, pending \n receipt of such a criminal \n background check of such \n individual; and\n ``(ii) carry out at the request of an \n eligible child care provider, as soon as \n practicable, a comprehensive criminal \n background check (at the State option for a fee \n not to exceed the actual cost to the State) of \n each employee of, and each applicant for \n employment by, a child care provider that is \n licensed by the State or receives funds \n provided under this subchapter by the State, \n and make the results of such check available to \n such provider and to such employee or \n applicant.\n At the request of a State, the Secretary may waive for \n 1 fiscal year the application of this subparagraph to \n the State if the State demonstrates a good faith effort \n to comply with the requirements specified in this \n subparagraph and its inability to so comply.''.\n (b) Enforcement.--Section 658I(b)(2) of the Child Care and \nDevelopment Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858g(i)(b)(2)) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``If a State fails to comply substantially with the \n requirements specified in section 658e(c)(2)(I), the \n Secretary shall reduce by 10 percent the State \n allotment for the fiscal year following the fiscal year \n with respect to which noncompliance is found.''.\n\nSEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.\n\n This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 2 \nyears after the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Child Care Criminal Background Check Act of 2009 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require child care providers that are licensed by a state or receive funds under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program to: (1) obtain a comprehensive criminal background check of each employee who provides child care services, each applicant for employment, and each family child care provider who provides or applies to provide such services; and (2) refuse to employ individuals convicted of crimes of violence or crimes against children. Reduces by 10% allotments to states that fail to comply with the requirements of this Act.", "title": "To amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require criminal background checks of child care providers."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1120, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; AMENDMENT OF 1986 CODE.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Grow Research \nOpportunities With Taxcredits' Help Act'' or ``GROWTH Act''.\n (b) Amendment of 1986 Code.--Except as otherwise expressly \nprovided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in \nterms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, \nthe reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other \nprovision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\n\nSEC. 2. EXTENSION OF RESEARCH CREDIT; INCREASE IN ALTERNATIVE \n SIMPLIFIED RESEARCH CREDIT.\n\n (a) Extension of Credit.--\n (1) In general.--Subparagraph (B) of section 41(h)(1) is \n amended by striking ``December 31, 2009'' and inserting \n ``December 31, 2010''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Subparagraph (D) of section \n 45C(b)(1) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2009'' and \n inserting ``December 31, 2010''.\n (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection \n shall apply to amounts paid or incurred after December 31, \n 2009.\n (b) Alternative Simplified Research Credit Increased.--\n (1) Increased credit.--Paragraph (5) of section 41(c) \n (relating to election of alternative simplified credit) is \n amended--\n (A) by striking ``14 percent (12 percent in the \n case of taxable years ending before January 1, 2009)'' \n in subparagraph (A) and inserting ``20 percent'', and\n (B) by striking ``6 percent'' in subparagraph \n (B)(ii) and inserting ``10 percent''.\n (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection \n shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the \n enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF RESEARCH CREDIT AFTER 2010.\n\n (a) Simplified Credit for Qualified Research Expenses.--Subsection \n(a) of section 41 is amended to read as follows:\n ``(a) General Rule.--\n ``(1) Credit determined.--For purposes of section 38, the \n research credit determined under this section for the taxable \n year shall be an amount equal to 20 percent of so much of the \n qualified research expenses for the taxable year as exceeds 50 \n percent of the average qualified research expenses for the 3 \n taxable years preceding the taxable year for which the credit \n is being determined.\n ``(2) Special rule in case of no qualified research \n expenses in any of 3 preceding taxable years.--\n ``(A) Taxpayers to which paragraph applies.--The \n credit under this section shall be determined under \n this paragraph if the taxpayer has no qualified \n research expenses in any one of the 3 taxable years \n preceding the taxable year for which the credit is \n being determined.\n ``(B) Credit rate.--The credit determined under \n this paragraph shall be equal to 10 percent of the \n qualified research expenses for the taxable year.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Termination of base amount calculation.--Section 41 is \n amended by striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsection \n (d) as subsection (c).\n (2) Termination of basic research payment calculation.--\n Section 41 is amended by striking subsection (e) and \n redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (d) and \n (e), respectively.\n (3) Special rules.--\n (A) Paragraph (1)(A)(ii) of subsection (d) of \n section 41, as so redesignated, is amended by striking \n ``shares of the qualified research expenses, basic \n research payments, and amounts paid or incurred to \n energy research consortiums,'' and inserting ``share of \n the qualified research expenses''.\n (B) Paragraph (1)(B)(ii) of section 41(d), as so \n redesignated, is amended by striking ``shares of the \n qualified research expenses, basic research payments, \n and amounts paid or incurred to energy research \n consortiums,'' and inserting ``share of the qualified \n research expenses''.\n (C) Paragraph (3) of section 41(d), as so \n redesignated, is amended--\n (i) by striking ``, and the gross receipts \n of the taxpayer'' and all that follows in \n subparagraph (A) and inserting a period,\n (ii) by striking ``, and the gross receipts \n of the taxpayer'' and all that follows in \n subparagraph (B) and inserting a period, and\n (iii) by striking subparagraph (C).\n (D) Paragraph (4) of section 41(d), as so \n redesignated, is amended by striking ``and gross \n receipts''.\n (E) Subsection (d) of section 41, as so \n redesignated, is amended by striking paragraph (6).\n (4) Permanent extension.--\n (A) Section 41 is amended by striking subsection \n (h).\n (B) Paragraph (1) of section 45C(b) is amended by \n striking subparagraph (D).\n (5) Cross-references.--\n (A) Paragraphs (2)(A) and (4) of section 41(b) are \n each amended by striking ``subsection (f)(1)'' and \n inserting ``subsection (d)(1)''.\n (B) Paragraph (2) of section 45C(c) is amended by \n striking ``base period research expenses'' and \n inserting ``average qualified research expenses''.\n (C) Paragraph (3) of section 45C(d) is amended by \n striking ``section 41(f)'' and inserting ``section \n 41(d)''.\n (D) Paragraph (2) of section 45G(e) is amended by \n striking ``section 41(f)'' and inserting ``section \n 41(d)''.\n (E) Subsection (g) of section 45O is amended by \n striking ``section 41(f)'' and inserting ``section \n 41(d)''.\n (F) Subparagraph (A) of section 54(l)(3) is amended \n by striking ``section 41(g)'' and inserting ``section \n 41(e)''.\n (G) Clause (i) of section 170(e)(4)(B) is amended \n to read as follows:\n ``(i) the contribution is to a qualified \n organization,''.\n (H) Paragraph (4) of section 170(e) is amended by \n adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(E) Qualified organization.--For purposes of this \n paragraph, the term `qualified organization' means--\n ``(i) any educational organization which--\n ``(I) is an institution of higher \n education (within the meaning of \n section 3304(f)), and\n ``(II) is described in subsection \n (b)(1)(A)(ii), or\n ``(ii) any organization not described in \n clause (i) which--\n ``(I) is described in section \n 501(c)(3) and is exempt from tax under \n section 501(a),\n ``(II) is organized and operated \n primarily to conduct scientific \n research, and\n ``(III) is not a private \n foundation.''.\n (I) Subsection (f) of section 197 is amended by \n striking ``section 41(f)(1)'' each place it appears in \n paragraphs (1)(C) and (9)(C)(i) and inserting ``section \n 41(d)(1)''.\n (J) Section 280C is amended--\n (i) by striking ``41(f)'' each place it \n appears in subsection (b)(3) and inserting \n ``41(d)'',\n (ii) by striking ``or basic research \n expenses (as defined in section 41(e)(2))'' in \n subsection (c)(1),\n (iii) by striking ``section 41(a)(1)'' in \n subsection (c)(2)(A) and inserting ``section \n 41(a)'', and\n (iv) by striking ``or basic research \n expenses'' in subsection (c)(2)(B).\n (K) Subclause (IV)(c) of section 936(h)(5)(C)(i) is \n amended by striking ``section 41(f)'' and inserting \n ``section 41(d)''.\n (L) Subparagraph (D) of section 936(j)(5) is \n amended by striking ``section 41(f)(3)'' and inserting \n ``section 41(d)(3)''.\n (M) Clause (i) of section 965(c)(2)(C) is amended \n by striking ``section 41(f)(3)'' and inserting \n ``section 41(d)(3)''.\n (N) Clause (i) of section 1400N(l)(7)(B) is amended \n by striking ``section 41(g)'' and inserting ``section \n 41(e)''.\n (c) Technical Corrections.--Section 409 is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``, as in effect before the enactment of \n the Tax Reform Act of 1984)'' after ``section 41(c)(1)(B)'' in \n subsection (b)(1)(A),\n (2) by inserting ``, as in effect before the enactment of \n the Tax Reform Act of 1984'' after ``relating to the employee \n stock ownership credit'' in subsection (b)(4),\n (3) by inserting ``(as in effect before the enactment of \n the Tax Reform Act of 1984)'' after ``section 41(c)(1)(B)'' in \n subsection (i)(1)(A),\n (4) by inserting ``(as in effect before the enactment of \n the Tax Reform Act of 1984)'' after ``section 41(c)(1)(B)'' in \n subsection (m),\n (5) by inserting ``(as so in effect)'' after ``section \n 48(n)(1)'' in subsection (m),\n (6) by inserting ``(as in effect before the enactment of \n the Tax Reform Act of 1984)'' after ``section 48(n)'' in \n subsection (q)(1), and\n (7) by inserting ``(as in effect before the enactment of \n the Tax Reform Act of 1984)'' after ``section 41'' in \n subsection (q)(3).\n (d) Effective Date.--\n (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the \n amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years \n beginning after December 31, 2010.\n (2) Technical corrections.--The amendments made by \n subsection (c) shall take effect on the date of the enactment \n of this Act.", "summary": "Grow Research Opportunities With Taxcredits' Help Act or GROWTH Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend the tax credit for increasing research activities through 2010; (2) modify the rate of such credit and make such modified credit permanent after 2010; and (3) increase to 20% the rate of the alternative simplified research tax credit after 2010.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the research credit through 2010 and to increase and make permanent the alternative simplified research credit, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2172, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES IN ACT.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Mental \nHealth Improvement Act''.\n (b) References to Social Security Act.--Whenever in this Act an \namendment is expressed in terms of an amendment to or repeal of a \nsection or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be \nmade to that section or other provision of the Social Security Act.\n\nSEC. 2. INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL SERVICES.\n\n (a) Services Covered.--Section 1812(a) (42 U.S.C. 1395d(a)) is \namended--\n (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(5) inpatient hospital services furnished primarily for \n the diagnosis or treatment of mental illness or substance abuse \n for up to 60 days during a year.''.\n (b) Limitation on Coverage.--Section 1812(b)(3) (42 U.S.C. \n1395d(b)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(3) inpatient hospital services furnished primarily for \n the diagnosis or treatment of mental illness or substance abuse \n that are furnished to the individual during a year after such \n services have been furnished to the individual for a total of \n 60 days during the year.''.\n (c) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 1812(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. \n1395d(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ``(other than services described \nin paragraph (5))'' after ``inpatient hospital services'' the first \nplace it appears.\n (2) Section 1812(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 1395d(b)(1)) is amended by \ninserting ``(other than services described in paragraph (3))'' after \n``inpatient hospital services'' the first place it appears.\n (3) Section 1812 (42 U.S.C. 1395d) is amended by striking \nsubsection (c).\n (4) Section 1814(a) (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)) is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (A);\n (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``(other than inpatient \n psychiatric hospital services)''; and\n (C) by striking paragraph (4).\n (5) Section 1861 (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended by striking \nsubsection (c).\n (d) Effective Date; Transition.--The amendments made by this \nsection shall take effect January 1, 1996, except that--\n (1) an individual who at any time prior to such date has \n been furnished inpatient psychiatric hospital services (as \n defined for purposes of title XVIII of the Social Security Act \n as of the date of the enactment of this Act) for 190 \n consecutive days is not entitled to any services under section \n 1812(a)(5) (as added by subsection (a)(3)); and\n (2) in the case of an individual who is not described in \n paragraph (1) and is receiving inpatient psychiatric hospital \n services (as defined for purposes of title XVIII of the Social \n Security Act as of the date of the enactment of this Act) on \n December 31, 1995, for which payment may be made under section \n 1812 of such Act, the number of days of services for which the \n individual is entitled under section 1812(a)(5) (and the number \n of days applicable under section 1812(b)(3)) shall be equal to \n the greater of 60 or the difference between 190 days and the \n number of days of such inpatient psychiatric hospital services \n furnished to the individual prior to January 1, 1996.\n\nSEC. 3. INTENSIVE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES.\n\n (a) Coverage Under Part A.--Section 1812(a) (42 U.S.C. 1395d(a)), \nas amended by section 2(a), is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (4);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(6) intensive residential services (as described in \n section 1861(qq)) furnished to an individual for up to 120 days \n during any calendar year, except that such services may be \n furnished to the individual for additional days during the year \n if necessary for the individual to complete a course of \n treatment to the extent that the number of days of inpatient \n hospital services described in paragraph (5) that may be \n furnished to the individual during the year (as reduced under \n such paragraph) is not less than 15.''.\n (2) Services described.--Section 1861 (42 U.S.C. 1395x), as \n amended by section 146(a) of the Social Security Act Amendments \n of 1994, is amended by adding at the end the following new \n subsection:\n\n ``Intensive Residential Services\n\n ``(mm)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the term `intensive residential \nservices' means inpatient services provided in any of the following \nfacilities:\n ``(A) Residential detoxification centers.\n ``(B) Crisis residential programs or mental illness \n residential treatment programs.\n ``(C) Therapeutic family or group treatment homes.\n ``(D) Residential centers for substance abuse treatment.\n ``(2) No service may be treated as an intensive residential service \nunder paragraph (1) unless the facility at which the service is \nprovided--\n ``(A) is legally authorized to provide such service under \n the law of the State (or under a State regulatory mechanism \n provided by State law) in which the facility is located or is \n certified to provide such service by an appropriate \n accreditation entity approved by the State in consultation with \n the Secretary; and\n ``(B) meets such other requirements as the Secretary may \n impose to assure the quality of the intensive residential \n services provided.\n ``(3) No service may be treated as an intensive residential service \nunder paragraph (1) unless the service is furnished in accordance with \nstandards established by the Secretary for the management of such \nservices.''.\n (3) Reduction in days of coverage for inpatient services.--\n Section 1812(a)(5) and section 1812(b)(3), as amended by \n section 2, are each amended by striking the period at the end \n and inserting the following: ``, reduced by a number of days \n determined by the Secretary so that the actuarial value of \n providing such number of days of services under this paragraph \n to the individual is equal to the actuarial value of the days \n of inpatient residential services furnished to the individual \n under paragraph (6) during the year after such services have \n been furnished to the individual for 120 days during the year \n (rounded to the nearest day).''.\n (4) Amount of payment.--Section 1814 (42 U.S.C. 1395f) is \n amended--\n (A) in subsection (b) in the matter preceding \n paragraph (1), by inserting ``other than intensive \n residential services,'' after ``hospice care,''; and\n (B) by adding at the end the following new \n subsection:\n\n ``Payment for Intensive Residential Services\n\n ``(m) The amount of payment under this part for intensive \nresidential services under section 1812(a)(6) shall be equal to--\n ``(1) the lesser of--\n ``(A) the reasonable cost of such services, as \n determined under section 1861(v), or\n ``(B) the customary charges with respect to such \n services,\n less the amount a provider may charge as described in clause \n (ii) of section 1866(a)(2)(A):\n ``(2) if such services are furnished by a public provider \n of services or by another provider which demonstrates to the \n satisfaction of the Secretary that a significant portion of its \n patients are low-income (and requests that payment be made \n under this clause), free of charge or at nominal charges to the \n public, the amount determined in accordance with subsection \n (b)(2); and\n ``(3) if (and for so long as) the conditions described in \n subsection (b)(3) are met, the amounts determined under the \n reimbursement system described in such section.''.\n\nSEC. 4. LOWERING COINSURANCE FOR CERTAIN OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH AND \n SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1833(c) (42 U.S.C. 1395l(c)) is amended by \nstriking ``mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders'' and all \nthat follows through ``are incurred'' and inserting the following: \n``mental illness or substance abuse of an individual who, at the time \nsuch expenses are incurred, is over 18 years of age, is not an \ninpatient of a hospital, and has received 5 or more sessions of such \ntreatment during the calendar year,''.\n (b) Requiring Services To Be Furnished in Accordance With \nManagement Standards.--Section 1862(a) (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)), as amended \nby section 156(a)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act Amendments of 1994, \nis amended--\n (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (14);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (15) and \n inserting ``; or''; and\n (3) by inserting after paragraph (15) the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(16) in the case of any items or services furnished under \n part B for the treatment of mental illness or emotional \n disturbance (including substance abuse), if the services are \n not furnished in accordance with standards established by the \n Secretary for the management of such services.''.\n\nSEC. 5. INTENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES.\n\n (a) Coverage.--\n (1) In general.--Section 1832(a)(2)(J) (42 U.S.C. \n 1395k(a)(2)(J)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(J) intensive community-based services (as \n described in section 1861(ff))--\n ``(i) for an unlimited number of days \n during any calendar year, in the case of \n services described in section 1861(ff)(2)(E) \n that are furnished to an individual who is a \n seriously mentally ill adult, a seriously \n emotionally disturbed child, or an adult or \n child with serious substance abuse disorder (as \n determined in accordance with criteria \n established by the Secretary),\n ``(ii) in the case of day treatment \n services for an individual under 19 years of \n age described in section 1861(ff)(2)(C), for up \n to 180 days during any calendar year, except \n that such services may be furnished to the \n individual for a number of additional days \n during the year equal to the difference between \n the total number of days of intensive \n residential services which the individual may \n receive during the year under part A (as \n determined under section 1812(a)(6)) and the \n number of days of such services which the \n individual has received during the year, or\n ``(iii) in the case of any other such \n services, for up to 90 days during any calendar \n year, except that such services may be \n furnished to the individual for the number of \n additional days during the year described in \n clause (ii).''.\n (2) Reduction in number of days of intensive residential \n services.--Section 1812(a)(6) (42 U.S.C. 1395d(a)(6)), as added \n by section 3(a), is amended--\n (A) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``such services''; \n and\n (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting \n the following: ``, and (B) reduced by a number of days \n determined by the Secretary so that the actuarial value \n of providing such number of days of services under this \n paragraph to the individual is equal to the actuarial \n value of the days of intensive community-based services \n furnished to the individual under section 1832(a)(2)(J) \n during the year after such services have been furnished \n to the individual for 90 days (or, in the case of \n services described in section 1832(a)(2)(J)(ii), for \n 180 days) during the year (rounded to the nearest \n day).''.\n (b) Services Described.--Section 1861(ff)(2) (42 U.S.C. \n1395x(ff)(2)) is amended--\n (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking \n ``are--'' and inserting ``are as follows:'';\n (2) in subparagraph (C)--\n (A) by inserting ``behavioral aide services,'' \n after ``nurses'', and\n (B) by adding at the end the following: ``(to the \n extent authorized under State law)'';\n (3) by adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (G);\n (4) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``, and'' and \n inserting a period;\n (5) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (H) as \n clauses (i) through (viii) and moving such subparagraphs 2 ems \n to the right;\n (6) by inserting before clause (i) (as so redesignated) the \n following:\n ``(A) Partial hospitalization services consisting \n of--'';\n (7) by inserting after clause (viii) (as so redesignated) \n the following new subparagraphs:\n ``(B) Psychiatric rehabilitation services.\n ``(C) Day treatment services for substance abuse treatment \n for individuals of any age and for other mental health services \n for individuals under 19 years of age.\n ``(D) In-home services.\n ``(E) Case management services, including collateral \n services designated as such case management services by the \n Secretary.\n ``(F) Ambulatory detoxification services.''; and\n (8) in subparagraph (I)--\n (A) by striking ``such'' and inserting ``Such'', \n and\n (B) by redesignating such subparagraph as \n subparagraph (G).\n (c) Permitting Non-Physician Providers To Supervise Individual \nProgram of Treatment.--Section 1861(ff)(1) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ff)(1)) is \namended by inserting after ``supervision of a physician'' the \nfollowing: ``(or, to the extent permitted under the law of the State in \nwhich the services are furnished, a non-physician mental health or \nsubstance abuse treatment professional)''.\n (d) Requiring Services To Meet Management Standards.--Section \n1861(ff)(1) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ff)(1)) is amended by striking the period \nat the end and inserting the following: ``, but does not include any \nitem or service that is not furnished in accordance with standards \nestablished by the Secretary for the management of such services.''.\n (e) Programs Eligible To Provide Services.--Section 1861(ff)(3) (42 \nU.S.C. 1395x(ff)(3)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(3) A program described in this paragraph is a program (whether \nfacility-based or freestanding) which is furnished by an entity--\n ``(A) legally authorized to furnish such a program under \n State law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by State \n law) or certified to furnish such a program by an appropriate \n accreditation entity approved by the State in consultation with \n the Secretary; and\n ``(B) meeting such other requirements as the Secretary may \n impose to assure the quality of the intensive community-based \n services provided.''.\n (f) Waiver of Copayment for Case Management Services Furnished to \nCertain Individuals.--Section 1833(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(2)), as \namended by section 147(f)(6)(C) of the Social Security Act Amendments \nof 1994, is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or (E)'' and \n inserting ``(E), or (F)'';\n (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (E);\n (3) by adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (F); and\n (4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(G) with respect to services described in section \n 1832(a)(2)(J)(i), the amount determined under \n subparagraph (B), except that `100 percent' shall be \n substituted for any reference in such subparagraph to \n `80 percent';''.\n (g) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 1835(a)(2)(F) (42 U.S.C. \n1395n(a)(2)(F)) is amended--\n (A) by striking ``partial hospitalization'' and inserting \n ``intensive community-based''; and\n (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``physician'' and inserting \n ``physician (or, to the extent permitted under the law of the \n State in which the services are furnished, a non-physician \n mental health professional)''.\n (2) Section 1861(s)(2)(B) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(B)) is amended by \nstriking ``partial hospitalization'' and inserting ``intensive \ncommunity-based''.\n (3) Section 1861(ff) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ff)) is amended--\n (A) in the heading, by striking ``Partial Hospitalization'' \n and inserting ``Intensive Community-Based''; and\n (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``partial \n hospitalization'' and inserting ``intensive community-based''.\n (4) Section 1866(e)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(e)(2)) is amended by \nstriking ``partial hospitalization'' and inserting ``intensive \ncommunity-based''.\n\nSEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall apply to items and services \nfurnished on or after January 1, 1996.", "summary": "Medicare Mental Health Improvement Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) include under Medicare coverage inpatient hospital services for up to 60 days during a year when furnished primarily for the diagnosis or treatment of mental illness or substance abuse; (2) require patient payment for services rendered beyond such limit; and (3) make such changes effective on January 1, 1996 (with exceptions and transition provisions). \n(Sec. 3) Includes under Medicare coverage the following \"intensive residential services\" for up to 120 days in a year: (1) residential detoxification centers; (2) crisis or mental illness residential treatment programs; (3) therapeutic family or group treatment homes; and (4) residential centers for substance abuse treatment. Requires facilities providing such services to be authorized to do so and to meet quality standards imposed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Allows additional days to be taken for intensive residential services from the 60 days permitted for inpatient hospital services (with an actuarial cost limit), requiring at least 15 days to be retained yearly for the latter services. Provides for the determination of payment amounts for intensive residential services. \n(Sec. 4) Subjects inpatient hospitalization and intensive residential services to the same deductibles and copayment as inpatient hospital services for physical disorders. \n(Sec. 5) Makes mental health case management services available with no copayment and for an unlimited duration for an adult with serious mental illness, a child with a serious emotional disturbance, or an adult or child with a serious substance abuse disorder. Makes day treatment available for up to 180 days annually for children under 19. Allows additional days for day treatment services for such children to be taken from intensive residential services (with an actuarial cost limit). Authorizes coverage for up to 90 days annually, with a 20 percent copayment requirement, for: (1) partial hospitalization; (2) psychiatric rehabilitation; (3) day treatment for substance abuse and for children under age 19; (4) in-home services; (5) case management; and (6) ambulatory detoxification. Permits non-physician mental health or substance abuse professionals to supervise an individual plan of treatment to the extent permitted under State law. Requires any program furnishing mental health or substance abuse services to be legally authorized under State law or accredited by an organization approved by the Secretary in consultation with the State. Requires such programs to meet standards established by the Secretary for the management of such services.", "title": "Medicare Mental Health Improvement Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3138, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Home Infusion Site of Care \nAct of 2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) The Medicare fee-for-service program covers infusion \n therapy in the hospital, skilled nursing facility, physician \n office, and hospital outpatient department, but does not cover \n the full range of services for the provision of infusion \n therapies in a patient's home.\n (2) The Medicare program is presently the only major health \n care payer in the United States that does not provide \n comprehensive coverage of home infusion therapy.\n (3) As a result of the Medicare program not providing for \n comprehensive coverage of home infusion therapy, many Medicare \n beneficiaries are unable to obtain infusion therapy in the most \n cost-effective and convenient setting of their home, and \n physicians are deprived of the ability to select the best site \n of care for their patients.\n (4) The Medicare program is paying for institutional care \n for the provision of infusion therapy in many instances when \n such institutional care could be avoided if the Medicare \n program provided coverage for home infusion therapy.\n (5) The Government Accountability Office found in a 2010 \n report that home infusion therapy is utilized widely by private \n payers providing health insurance coverage for individuals \n enrolled under such coverage and that such private payers \n generally are satisfied with the quality of care and the \n savings they achieve through avoided institutionalizations.\n (6) A recent study has reported a potential savings for \n Medicare if infusion therapies were covered in the home site of \n care.\n\nSEC. 3. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF HOME INFUSION THERAPY.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n1395x) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (s)(2)--\n (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph \n (EE);\n (B) by inserting ``and'' at the end of subparagraph \n (FF); and\n (C) by inserting at the end the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(GG) home infusion therapy (as defined in subsection \n (iii)(1));''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n\n ``Home Infusion Therapy\n\n ``(iii)(1) The term `home infusion therapy' means the items and \nservices described in paragraph (2) furnished to an individual, who is \nunder the care of a physician, which are provided by a qualified home \ninfusion therapy supplier under a plan (for furnishing such items and \nservices to such individual) established and periodically reviewed by a \nphysician, which items and services are provided in an integrated \nmanner in the individual's home in conformance with uniform standards \nof care established by the Secretary and in coordination with the \nprovision of covered infusion drugs under part D. The Secretary shall \nestablish such standards after taking into account the standards \ncommonly used for home infusion therapy by Medicare Advantage plans and \nin the private sector and after consultation with all interested \nstakeholders.\n ``(2) The items and services described in this paragraph are the \nfollowing:\n ``(A) Professional services, including nursing services \n (other than nursing services covered as home health services), \n provided in accordance with the plan (including administrative, \n compounding, dispensing, distribution, clinical monitoring, and \n care coordination services) and all necessary supplies and \n equipment (including medical supplies such as sterile tubing \n and infusion pumps).\n ``(B) Other items and services the Secretary determines \n appropriate to administer infusion drug therapies to an \n individual safely and effectively in the home.\n ``(3) For purposes of this subsection:\n ``(A) The term `home' means a place of residence used as an \n individual's home and includes such other alternate settings as \n the Secretary determines.\n ``(B) The term `qualified home infusion therapy supplier' \n means any pharmacy, physician, or other provider licensed by \n the State in which the pharmacy, physician, or provider resides \n or provides services, whose State authorized scope of practice \n includes dispensing authority and that--\n ``(i) has expertise in the preparation of \n parenteral medications in compliance with enforceable \n standards of the United States Pharmacopoeia and other \n nationally recognized standards that regulate \n preparation of parenteral medications as determined by \n the Secretary and meets such standards;\n ``(ii) provides infusion therapy to patients with \n acute or chronic conditions requiring parenteral \n administration of drugs and biologicals administered \n through catheters or needles, or both, in a home; and\n ``(iii) meets such other uniform requirements as \n the Secretary determines are necessary to ensure the \n safe and effective provision and administration of home \n infusion therapy on a 7-day-a-week, 24-hour basis \n (taking into account the standards of care for home \n infusion therapy established by Medicare Advantage \n plans and in the private sector), and the efficient \n administration of the home infusion therapy benefit.\n ``(4) A qualified home infusion therapy supplier may subcontract \nwith a pharmacy, physician, provider, or supplier to meet the \nrequirements of paragraph (3)(B).''.\n (b) Payment for Home Infusion Therapy.--Section 1834 of the Social \nSecurity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new subsection:\n ``(p) Payment for Home Infusion Therapy.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall determine a per diem \n schedule for payment for the professional services (including \n nursing services), supplies, and equipment described in section \n 1861(iii)(2)(A) for each infusion therapy type that reflects \n the reasonable costs which must be incurred by efficiently and \n economically operated qualified home infusion therapy suppliers \n to provide such services, supplies, and equipment in conformity \n with applicable State and Federal laws, regulations, and the \n uniform quality and safety standards developed under section \n 1861(iii)(1) and to assure that Medicare beneficiaries have \n reasonable access to such therapy.\n ``(2) Considerations.--In developing the per diem schedule \n under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider recent \n credible studies about the costs of providing infusion therapy \n in the home, consult with home infusion therapy suppliers, \n consider payment amounts established by Medicare Advantage \n plans and private payers for home infusion therapy, and, if \n necessary, conduct a statistically valid national market \n analysis involving the costs of administering infusion drugs \n and of providing professional services necessary for the drugs' \n administration.\n ``(3) Annual updates.--The Secretary shall update such \n schedule from year to year by the percentage increase in the \n Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (United States \n city average) for the 12-month period ending with June of the \n preceding year. The Secretary may modify the per diem schedule \n with respect to beneficiaries who qualify for home infusion \n therapy services under section 1861(iii)(1) but who receive \n nursing services as home health services.''.\n (c) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Payment reference.--Section 1833(a)(1) of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 13951(a)(1)) is amended--\n (A) by striking ``and'' before ``(Z)''; and\n (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end \n the following: ``, and (AA) with respect to home \n infusion therapy, the amounts paid shall be determined \n under section 1834(p)''.\n (2) Direct payment.--The first sentence of section \n 1842(b)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6)) \n is amended--\n (A) by striking ``and'' before ``(H)''; and\n (B) by inserting before the period at the end the \n following: ``, and (I) in the case of home infusion \n therapy, payment shall be made to the qualified home \n infusion therapy supplier''.\n (3) Exclusion from durable medical equipment and home \n health services.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 \n U.S.C. 1395x) is amended--\n (A) in subsection (m)(5)--\n (i) by striking ``and'' before ``durable \n medical equipment'' and inserting a comma; and\n (ii) by inserting before the semicolon at \n the end the following: ``, and supplies used in \n the provision of home infusion therapy after \n excluding other drugs and biologicals''; and\n (B) in subsection (n), by adding at the end the \n following: ``Such term does not include home infusion \n therapy, other than equipment and supplies used in the \n provision of insulin.''.\n (4) Application of accreditation provisions.--The \n provisions of section 1865(a) of the Social Security Act (42 \n U.S.C. 1395bb(a)) apply to the accreditation of qualified home \n infusion therapy suppliers in the same way as they apply to \n other suppliers.\n\nSEC. 4. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF HOME INFUSION DRUGS.\n\n Section 1860D-2(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-\n102(e)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1)--\n (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph \n (A);\n (B) by striking the comma at the end of \n subparagraph (B) and inserting, ``; or''; and\n (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the \n following new subparagraph:\n ``(C) an infusion drug (as defined in paragraph \n (5)),''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(5) Infusion drug defined.--For purposes of this part, \n the term `infusion drug' means a parenteral drug or biological \n administered via an intravenous, intraspinal, intra-arterial, \n intrathecal, epidural, subcutaneous, or intramuscular access \n device or injection, and may include a drug used for catheter \n maintenance and declotting, a drug contained in a device, \n additives including but not limited to vitamins, minerals, \n solutions, and diluents, and other components used in the \n provision of home infusion therapy.''.\n\nSEC. 5. ENSURING BENEFICIARY ACCESS TO HOME INFUSION THERAPY.\n\n (a) Objectives in Implementation.--The Secretary of Health and \nHuman Services shall implement the Medicare home infusion therapy \nbenefit under the amendments made by this Act in a manner that ensures \nthat Medicare beneficiaries have timely and appropriate access to \ninfusion therapy in their homes and that there is rapid and seamless \ncoordination between drug coverage under part D of title XVIII of the \nSocial Security Act and coverage for home infusion therapy services \nunder part B of such title to avoid the filing of duplicative or \notherwise improper claims. Specifically, the Secretary shall ensure \nthat--\n (1) the benefit is practical and workable with minimal \n administrative burden for beneficiaries, qualified home \n infusion therapy suppliers, physicians, prescription drug \n plans, MA-PD plans, and Medicare Advantage plans, and the \n Secretary shall consider the use of consolidated claims \n encompassing covered part D drugs and part B services, \n supplies, and equipment under such part B to ensure the \n efficient operation of this benefit;\n (2) any prior authorization or utilization review process \n is expeditious, allowing Medicare beneficiaries meaningful \n access to home infusion therapy;\n (3) medical necessity determinations for home infusion \n therapy will be made--\n (A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), by \n Medicare administrative contractors under such part B \n and communicated to the appropriate prescription drug \n plans; or\n (B) in the case of an individual enrolled in a \n Medicare Advantage plan, by the Medicare Advantage \n organization offering the plan; and an individual may \n be initially qualified for coverage for such benefit \n for a 90-day period and subsequent 90-day periods \n thereafter;\n (4) except as otherwise provided in this section, the \n benefit is modeled on current private sector coverage and \n coding for home infusion therapy; and\n (5) prescription drug plans and MA-PD plans structure their \n formularies, utilization review protocols, and policies in a \n manner that ensures that Medicare beneficiaries have timely and \n appropriate access to infusion therapy in their homes.\n (b) Report.--Not later than January 1, 2018, the Comptroller \nGeneral of the United States shall submit a report to Congress on \nMedicare beneficiary access to home infusion therapy. Such report shall \nspecifically address whether the objectives specified in subsection (a) \nhave been met and shall make recommendations to Congress and the \nSecretary of Health and Human Services on how to improve the benefit \nand better ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have timely and \nappropriate access to infusion therapy in their homes.\n\nSEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall apply to home infusion \ntherapy furnished on or after January 1, 2015.", "summary": "Medicare Home Infusion Site of Care Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize Medicare coverage of home infusion therapy and home infusion drugs. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement the Medicare home infusion therapy benefit in a manner that ensures that: (1) Medicare beneficiaries have timely and appropriate access to infusion therapy in their homes, and (2) there is rapid and seamless coordination between drug coverage under Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) and home infusion therapy services coverage under Medicare part B (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to avoid the filing of duplicative or otherwise improper claims.", "title": "Medicare Home Infusion Site of Care Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 966, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Nuclear Safety and \nPromotion Act of 2001''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\n TITLE I--GROWTH OF NUCLEAR ENERGY\n\nSec. 101. Price Anderson reauthorization.\nSec. 102. Elimination of foreign ownership restrictions.\nSec. 103. Combined licenses.\nSec. 104. Scope of environmental review.\n TITLE II--NRC REGULATORY REFORM\n\nSec. 201. Elimination of duplicative antitrust review.\nSec. 202. Hearing procedures.\nSec. 203. Authority over former licensees for decommissioning funding.\n TITLE III--NRC PERSONNEL CRISIS\n\nSec. 301. Elimination of pension offset.\nSec. 302. Contracts with the national laboratories.\nSec. 303. NRC training program.\n\n TITLE I--GROWTH OF NUCLEAR ENERGY\n\nSEC. 101. PRICE-ANDERSON REAUTHORIZATION.\n\n (a) Indemnification of Licensees.--Section 170c. of the Atomic \nEnergy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210(c)) is amended--\n (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Licenses'' and \n inserting ``Licensees''; and\n (2) in the first sentence, by striking ``August 1, 2002'' \n and inserting ``August 1, 2012''.\n (b) Reports to Congress.--Section 170p. of the Atomic Energy Act of \n1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210(p)) is amended by striking ``August 1, 1998'' and \ninserting ``August 1, 2008''.\n (c) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section apply with \nrespect to nuclear incidents occurring on or after the date of \nenactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 102. ELIMINATION OF FOREIGN OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS.\n\n (a) Commercial Licenses.--Section 103d. of the Atomic Energy Act of \n1954 (42 U.S.C. 2133(d)) is amended by striking the second sentence.\n (b) Medical Therapy and Research and Development.--Section 104d. of \nthe Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2134(d)) is amended by \nstriking the second sentence.\n\nSEC. 103. COMBINED LICENSE PERIODS.\n\n Section 103c. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2133(c)) \nis amended--\n (1) by striking ``c. Each such'' and inserting the \n following:\n ``c. License Period.--\n ``(1) In general.--Each such''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) Combined licenses.--In the case of a combined \n construction and operating license issued under section 185(b), \n the duration of the operating phase of the license period shall \n not be less than the duration of the operating license if \n application had been made for separate construction and \n operating licenses.''.\n\nSEC. 104. SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 10 of title I of the Atomic Energy act of \n1954 (42 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating sections 110 and 111 as section 111 \n and 112, respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after section 109 the following:\n\n``SEC. 110. SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.\n\n ``In conducting any environmental review (including any activity \nconducted under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of \n1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332)) in connection with an application for a license \nor a renewed license under this chapter, the Commission shall not give \nany consideration to the need for, or any alternative to, the facility \nto be licensed.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 is amended--\n (A) in the table of contents (42 U.S.C. prec. \n 2011), by striking the items relating to section 110 \n and inserting the following:\n\n ``Sec. 110. Scope of environmental review.\n ``Sec. 111. Exclusions.\n ``Sec. 112. Licensing by Nuclear Regulatory Commission of \n distribution of certain materials by \n Department of Energy.'';\n (B) in the last sentence of section 57b. (42 U.S.C. \n 2077(b)), by striking ``section 111 b.'' and inserting \n ``section 112b.''; and\n (C) in section 131a.(2)(C), by striking ``section \n 111 b.'' and inserting ``section 112b.''.\n (2) Section 202 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 \n (42 U.S.C. 5842) is amended--\n (A) by striking ``section 110 a.'' and inserting \n ``section 111a.''; and\n (B) by striking ``section 110 b.'' and inserting \n ``section 111b.''.\n\n TITLE II--NRC REGULATORY REFORM\n\nSEC. 201. ELIMINATION OF DUPLICATIVE ANTITRUST REVIEW.\n\n Section 105 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2135) is \namended by striking subsection c. and inserting the following:\n ``c. Conditions.--\n ``(1) In general.--A condition for a grant of a license \n imposed by the Commission under this section shall remain in \n effect until the condition is modified or removed by the \n Commission.\n ``(2) Modification.--If a person that is licensed to \n construct or operate a utilization or production facility \n applies for reconsideration under this section of a condition \n imposed in the person's license, the Commission shall conduct a \n proceeding, on an expedited basis, to determine whether the \n license condition--\n ``(A) is necessary to ensure compliance with \n subsection a.; or\n ``(B) should be modified or removed.''.\n\nSEC. 202. HEARING PROCEDURES.\n\n Section 189a.(1) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. \n2239(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(C) Hearings.--A hearing under this section shall \n be conducted using informal adjudicatory procedures \n unless the Commission determines that formal \n adjudicatory procedures are necessary--\n ``(i) to develop a sufficient record; or\n ``(ii) to achieve fairness.''.\n\nSEC. 203. AUTHORITY OVER FORMER LICENSEES FOR DECOMMISSIONING FUNDING.\n\n Section 161i. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2201(i)) \nis amended--\n (1) by striking ``and (3)'' and inserting ``(3)''; and\n (2) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the \n following: ``, and (4) to ensure that sufficient funds will be \n available for the decommissioning of any production or \n utilization facility licensed under section 103 or 104b., \n including standards and restrictions governing the control, \n maintenance, use, and disbursement by any former licensee under \n this Act that has control over any fund for the decommissioning \n of the facility''.\n\n TITLE III--NRC PERSONNEL CRISIS\n\nSEC. 301. ELIMINATION OF PENSION OFFSET.\n\n Section 161 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2201) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``y. exempt from the application of sections 8344 and 8468 of title \n5, United States Code, an annuitant who was formerly an employee of the \nCommission who is hired by the Commission as a consultant, if the \nCommission finds that the annuitant has a skill that is critical to the \nperformance of the duties of the Commission.''.\n\nSEC. 302. CONTRACTS WITH THE NATIONAL LABORATORIES.\n\n Section 170A of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210a) is \namended by striking subsection c. and inserting the following:\n ``c. Contracts, Agreements, and Other Arrangements With the \nNational Laboratories.--Notwithstanding subsection b. and \nnotwithstanding the potential for a conflict of interest that cannot be \navoided, the Commission may enter into a contract, agreement, or other \narrangement with a national laboratory if the Commission takes \nreasonable steps to mitigate the effect of the conflict of interest.''.\n\nSEC. 303. NRC TRAINING PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--In order to maintain the human resource investment \nand infrastructure of the United States in the nuclear sciences, health \nphysics, and engineering fields, in accordance with the statutory \nauthorities of the Commission relating to the civilian nuclear energy \nprogram, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall carry out a training \nand fellowship program to address shortages of individuals with \ncritical safety skills.\n (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--\n (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to \n carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 \n through 2005.\n (2) Availability.--Funds made available under paragraph (1) \n shall remain available until expended.", "summary": "Nuclear Safety and Promotion Act - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to reauthorize until August 1, 2012, mandatory indemnification and holding harmless of certain licensees for nuclear incidents (Price-Anderson Act).Repeals the prohibition against foreign ownership of commercial, medical therapy, and research and development licenses issued by the NRC.Provides that the duration of the operating phase of the license period for certain combined construction and operating licenses shall not be less than the duration of the operating license if application had been made for separate construction and operating licenses.Prohibits the NRC from giving any consideration to need or alternative when conducting any environmental review regarding a facility license application or renewal.Eliminates antitrust review of NRC license applications.Authorizes the NRC to prescribe regulations to ensure the availability of sufficient decommissioning funds for certain production or utilization facilities, including standards and restrictions governing former licensee control and disbursement over any facility decommissioning fund.Authorizes the NRC to eliminate the pension offset governing former NRC employees rehired as consultants if the annuitant has skills critical to the performance of NRC duties.Repeals the requirements that the NRC promulgate implementation rules governing conflicts of interest relating to contracts. Authorizes the NRC enter into a contract with a national laboratory if it takes reasonable steps to mitigate the effect of the conflict of interest.Instructs the NRC to implement a training and fellowship program to address shortages of critical safety skills.", "title": "A bill to promote the safe and efficient supply of energy while maintaining strong environmental protections."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 202, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Small Company Capital Formation Act \nof 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO EXEMPT CERTAIN SECURITIES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 3(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 \nU.S.C. 77c(b)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``(b) The Commission'' and inserting the \n following:\n ``(b) Additional Exemptions.--\n ``(1) Small issues exemptive authority.--The Commission''; \n and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) Additional issues.--The Commission shall by rule or \n regulation add a class of securities to the securities exempted \n pursuant to this section in accordance with the following terms \n and conditions:\n ``(A) The aggregate offering amount of all \n securities offered and sold within the prior 12-month \n period in reliance on the exemption added in accordance \n with this paragraph shall not exceed $50,000,000.\n ``(B) The securities may be offered and sold \n publicly.\n ``(C) The securities shall not be restricted \n securities within the meaning of the Federal securities \n laws and the regulations promulgated thereunder.\n ``(D) The civil liability provision in section \n 12(a)(2) shall apply to any person offering or selling \n such securities.\n ``(E) The issuer may solicit interest in the \n offering prior to filing any offering statement, on \n such terms and conditions as the Commission may \n prescribe in the public interest or for the protection \n of investors.\n ``(F) The Commission shall require the issuer to \n file audited financial statements with the Commission \n annually.\n ``(G) Such other terms, conditions, or requirements \n as the Commission may determine necessary in the public \n interest and for the protection of investors, which may \n include--\n ``(i) a requirement that the issuer prepare \n and electronically file with the Commission and \n distribute to prospective investors an offering \n statement, and any related documents, in such \n form and with such content as prescribed by the \n Commission, including audited financial \n statements, a description of the issuer's \n business operations, its financial condition, \n its corporate governance principles, its use of \n investor funds, and other appropriate matters; \n and\n ``(ii) disqualification provisions under \n which the exemption shall not be available to \n the issuer or its predecessors, affiliates, \n officers, directors, underwriters, or other \n related persons, which shall be substantially \n similar to the disqualification provisions \n contained in the regulations adopted in \n accordance with section 926 of the Dodd-Frank \n Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act \n (15 U.S.C. 77d note).\n ``(3) Limitation.--Only the following types of securities \n may be exempted under a rule or regulation adopted pursuant to \n paragraph (2): equity securities, debt securities, and debt \n securities convertible or exchangeable to equity interests, \n including any guarantees of such securities.\n ``(4) Periodic disclosures.--Upon such terms and conditions \n as the Commission determines necessary in the public interest \n and for the protection of investors, the Commission by rule or \n regulation may require an issuer of a class of securities \n exempted under paragraph (2) to make available to investors and \n file with the Commission periodic disclosures regarding the \n issuer, its business operations, its financial condition, its \n corporate governance principles, its use of investor funds, and \n other appropriate matters, and also may provide for the \n suspension and termination of such a requirement with respect \n to that issuer.\n ``(5) Adjustment.--Not later than 2 years after the date of \n enactment of the Small Company Capital Formation Act of 2011 \n and every 2 years thereafter, the Commission shall review the \n offering amount limitation described in paragraph (2)(A) and \n shall increase such amount as the Commission determines \n appropriate. If the Commission determines not to increase such \n amount, it shall report to the Committee on Financial Services \n of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, \n Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate on its reasons for not \n increasing the amount.''.\n (b) Treatment as Covered Securities for Purposes of NSMIA.--Section \n18(b)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77r(b)(4)) is \namended--\n (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; or'' at the end \n and inserting a semicolon; and\n (2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E), \n and inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:\n ``(D) a rule or regulation adopted pursuant to \n section 3(b)(2) and such security is--\n ``(i) offered or sold on a national \n securities exchange; or\n ``(ii) offered or sold to a qualified \n purchaser, as defined by the Commission \n pursuant to paragraph (3) with respect to that \n purchase or sale.''.\n (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4(5) of the Securities Act of \n1933 is amended by striking ``section 3(b)'' and inserting ``section \n3(b)(1)''.\n\nSEC. 3. STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF STATE BLUE SKY LAWS ON REGULATION A \n OFFERINGS.\n\n The Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the impact of \nState laws regulating securities offerings, or ``Blue Sky laws'', on \nofferings made under Regulation A (17 CFR 230.251 et seq.). The \nComptroller General shall transmit a report on the findings of the \nstudy to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of \nRepresentatives, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban \nAffairs of the Senate not later than 3 months after the date of \nenactment of this Act.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives November 2, 2011.\n\n Attest:\n\n KAREN L. HAAS,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Small Company Capital Formation Act of 2011 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Securities Act of 1933 (Act) to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to exempt from its regulation a class of securities for which the aggregate offering amount of all securities sold within the prior 12-month period in reliance upon such exemption does not exceed $50 million. Restricts any such exemption to equity securities, debt securities, and debt securities convertible or exchangeable to equity interests, including any guarantees of such securities.\n\nSubjects to civil liability certain violations arising from offering or selling securities by use of prospectuses and communications. Authorizes the SEC to: (1) require an issuer of such exempted class of securities to make periodic disclosures available to investors regarding the issuer, its business operations, financial condition, corporate governance principles, and use of investor funds; (2) require the issuer to file electronically with the SEC and distribute to prospective investors an offering statement which includes this information; (3) provide for the suspension and termination of this disclosure requirement with respect to that issuer; and (4) prescribe exemption disqualification requirements, substantially similar to regulations adopted in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, under which the exemption shall not be available to the issuer and related persons, including predecessors, affiliates, officers, directors, and underwriters.\n\nRequires the SEC to: (1) review and increase biennially such offering amount limitation, as appropriate; and (2) report to certain congressional committees its reasons for not increasing the amount if it determines not to do so.\n\n Exempts from state regulation the securities covered and required exempted from SEC regulation by this Act.\n\n(Sec. 3) Directs the Comptroller General to study the impact of state laws regulating securities offerings (Blue Sky laws) on offerings made under Regulation A (which specifies the terms and conditions of exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933).", "title": "To amend the Securities Act of 1933 to require the Securities and Exchange Commission to exempt a certain class of securities from such Act."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2712, "text": "SECTION 1. TERMINATION OF TOBACCO PRICE SUPPORT AND MARKETING QUOTAS.\n\n (a) Termination of Tobacco Price Support.--The Agricultural Act of \n1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) in section 101 (7 U.S.C. 1441)--\n (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``tobacco \n (except as otherwise provided herein), corn,'' and \n inserting ``corn'';\n (B) by striking subsection (c); and\n (C) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ``, except \n tobacco,'';\n (2) by striking section 106 (7 U.S.C. 1445);\n (3) by striking section 106A (7 U.S.C. 1445-1);\n (4) by striking section 106B (7 U.S.C. 1445-2); and\n (5) in section 408 (7 U.S.C. 1428)--\n (A) in subsection (c), by striking ``tobacco,''; \n and\n (B) in subsection (d), by adding before the period \n at the end the following: ``or tobacco''.\n (b) Termination of Tobacco Marketing Quotas.--Part I (sections 311 \nthrough 320B) of subtitle B of title III of the Agricultural Adjustment \nAct of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1311-1316) is repealed.\n (c) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 3 of Public Law 98-59 (7 \nU.S.C. 625) is repealed.\n (2) The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 is further amended--\n (A) in section 301(b) (7 U.S.C. 1301(b))--\n (i) by striking paragraphs (3)(C), (10)(B), \n (14)(B), (14)(C), (14)(D), (15), (16)(B), and (17);\n (ii) in paragraph (6)(A), by striking ``tobacco,''\n (iii) in the undesignated subparagraphs in \n paragraph (7), by striking\n ``Tobacco (flue-cured), July 1-June 30;\n ``Tobacco (other than flue-cured), October 1-\n September 30;''\n (iv) in paragraph (11)(B), by striking ``and \n tobacco''; and\n (v) in paragraph (12), by striking ``tobacco,'';\n (B) in section 303 (7 U.S.C. 1303), by striking ``rice, or \n tobacco'' and inserting ``or rice''; and\n (C) in section 372(b) (7 U.S.C. 1372(b)), by striking \n ``Except as provided in section 320B, the amount'' in the third \n sentence and inserting ``The amount''.\n (3) Section 703 of Public Law 89-321 (7 U.S.C. 1316; 79 Stat. 1210) \nis amended by striking the second sentence.\n (4) The Act of July 12, 1952 (7 U.S.C. 1315; Chapter 709; 66 Stat. \n597), is repealed.\n (d) Effective Date and Application of Amendments.--The amendments \nmade by this section shall take effect on January 1, 1995. Beginning on \nthat date, the Secretary of Agriculture shall terminate all loan \nagreements entered into with tobacco producer associations under \nsection 106A of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and provide for \nthe disposal of all funds in the No Net Cost Tobacco Fund of those \nassociations and the No Net Cost Tobacco Account of the Commodity \nCredit Corporation.\n (e) Continued Liability of Producers.--An amendment made by this \nsection shall not affect the liability of any person under any \nprovision of law as in effect before the effective date of this \nsection.\n\nSEC. 2. DISALLOWANCE OF DEDUCTION FOR CERTAIN ADVERTISING EXPENSES FOR \n TOBACCO PRODUCTS.\n\n (a) Deduction Disallowed.--Part IX of subchapter B of chapter 1 of \nthe Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to items not deductible) is \namended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 280I. DISALLOWANCE OF DEDUCTION FOR CERTAIN ADVERTISING EXPENSES \n FOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--No deduction otherwise allowable under this \nchapter shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred as a consumer \nsales promotion for any tobacco product.\n ``(b) Consumer Sales Promotion.--For purposes of this section, the \nterm `consumer sales promotion' means any of the following:\n ``(1) All radio and television commercials, newspaper and \n magazine advertisements, billboards, posters, signs, decals, \n matchbook advertising, advertising in movie theaters, and \n point-of-purchase display material (except price information) \n used for--\n ``(A) promoting the sale of tobacco and tobacco \n products, or\n ``(B) informing or influencing the general public \n (or any segment thereof) with respect to tobacco and \n tobacco products.\n ``(2) Any of the following incurred or provided primarily \n for purposes described in paragraph (1):\n ``(A) Travel expenses (including meals and \n lodging).\n ``(B) Any amount attributable to goods or services \n of a type generally considered to constitute \n entertainment, amusement, or recreation or to the use \n of a facility in connection with the providing of such \n goods or services.\n ``(C) Gifts.\n ``(D) Other promotion expenses.\n ``(3) Advertising promotion allowances.\n ``(4) Premiums and samples.\n ``(5) Sponsorships of athletic, artistic, or other events \n under the registered brand name of a tobacco product unless the \n brand name is the name of a corporation in existence on July 1, \n 1994.\n ``(6) Marketing of nontobacco products or services bearing \n the registered brand name or logo of a tobacco product unless \n the brand name is the name of a corporation in existence on \n July 1, 1994.\n ``(7) Displaying the registered brand name or logo of a \n tobacco product on cars, boats, animals, or other sporting \n equipment or on nontobacco products or services which are sold \n unless the brand name is the name of a corporation in existence \n on July 1, 1994.\n ``(8) Payment to have a registered brand name of a tobacco \n product appear in a movie or play unless the brand name is the \n name of a corporation in existence on July 1, 1994.\n ``(c) Tobacco Product.--For purposes of this section, the term \n`tobacco product' means cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, pipe \ntobacco, or any similar tobacco product. For purposes of the preceding \nsentence, the terms `cigarette', `cigar', and `smokeless tobacco' have \nthe respective meanings given to such terms by section 5702.''\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for such part IX \nis amended by adding at the end thereof the following new item:\n\n ``Sec. 280I. Disallowance of deduction \n for certain advertising \n expenses for tobacco \n products.''\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to amounts paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF ANTI-TOBACCO USE TRUST FUND.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 98 of the Internal Revenue \nCode of 1986 (relating to trust fund code) is amended by adding at the \nend the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 9512. ANTI-TOBACCO USE TRUST FUND.\n\n ``(a) Creation of Trust Fund.--There is established in the Treasury \nof the United States a trust fund to be known as the `Anti-Tobacco Use \nTrust Fund', consisting of such amounts as may be appropriated or \ncredited to such Trust Fund as provided in this section or section \n9602(b).\n ``(b) Transfers to Trust Fund.--There is hereby appropriated to the \nAnti-Tobacco Use Trust Fund amounts equivalent to 50 percent of the \nincrease in revenues to the Treasury attributable to section 280I \n(relating to disallowance of deduction for certain advertising expenses \nfor tobacco products).\n ``(c) Anti-Drugs in Schools Account.--\n ``(1) In general.--There is established in the Anti-Tobacco \n Use Trust Fund a separate account to be known as the `Anti-\n Drugs in Schools Account' consisting of such amounts as may be \n transferred or credited to such account as provided in this \n section or section 9602(b).\n ``(2) Transfers to account.--The Secretary of the Treasury \n shall transfer to the Anti-Drugs in Schools Account amounts \n equivalent to 50 percent of the amounts appropriated to the \n Anti-Tobacco Use Trust Fund under subsection (b).\n ``(3) Expenditures from account.--Amounts in the Anti-Drugs \n in Schools Account shall be available, as provided in \n appropriation Acts, for making expenditures for purposes of \n carrying out the programs developed under title V of the \n Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.\n ``(d) Anti-Tobacco Use Advertising Account.--\n ``(1) In general.--There is established in the Anti-Tobacco \n Use Trust Fund a separate account to be known as the `Anti-\n Tobacco Use Advertising Account', consisting of such amounts as \n may be transferred or credited to such account as provided in \n this section or section 9602(b).\n ``(2) Transfers to account.--The Secretary of the Treasury \n shall transfer to the Anti-Tobacco Use Advertising Account \n amounts equivalent to 50 percent of the amounts appropriated to \n the Anti-Tobacco Use Trust Fund under subsection (b).\n ``(3) Expenditures from account.--Amounts in the Anti-\n Tobacco Use Advertising Account shall be available, as provided \n in appropriation Acts, for purposes of the program carried out \n under section 1709 of the Public Health Service Act.''\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such subchapter \nA is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new item:\n\n ``Sec. 9512. Anti-Tobacco Use Trust \n Fund.''\n\nSEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF ANTI-TOBACCO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.\n\n Title XVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u et \nseq.) is amended by adding at the end the following section:\n\n ``anti-tobacco use advertising campaign\n\n ``Sec. 1709. With amounts available under section 9512(d) of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to the Anti-Tobacco Use Trust \nFund), the Secretary shall carry out a program of advertising to \neducate the public on the risks to health that result from the use of \ntobacco products.''.", "summary": "Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to terminate the tobacco price support program. \nAmends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to terminate the tobacco marketing quota program. \nAmends the Internal Revenue Code to disallow the deduction for certain advertising expenses for tobacco products. \nEstablishes in the Treasury the Anti-Tobacco Use Trust Fund. Establishes in the Fund: (1) the Anti-Drugs in Schools Account; and (2) the Anti-Tobacco Use Advertising Account. Transfers to the Fund and the Accounts specified revenues resulting from the tobacco advertising deduction disallowance. \nAmends the Public Health Service Act to establish a public education program about the health risks of tobacco products.", "title": "To terminate price support and marketing quotas for tobacco, disallow the income tax deduction for certain advertising expenses for tobacco products, and to establish a trust fund to support anti-drugs and anti-tobacco use activities."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 780, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Mortgage Insurance Fairness Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. PREMIUMS FOR MORTGAGE INSURANCE.\n\n (a) In General.--Paragraph (3) of section 163(h) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to qualified residence interest) is \namended by adding after subparagraph (D) the following new \nsubparagraph:\n ``(E) Mortgage insurance premiums treated as \n interest.--\n ``(i) In general.--Premiums paid or accrued \n for qualified mortgage insurance by a taxpayer \n during the taxable year in connection with \n acquisition indebtedness with respect to a \n qualified residence of the taxpayer shall be \n treated for purposes of this subsection as \n qualified residence interest.\n ``(ii) Phaseout.--The amount otherwise \n allowable as a deduction under clause (i) shall \n be reduced (but not below zero) by 10 percent \n of such amount for each $1,000 ($500 in the \n case of a married individual filing a separate \n return) (or fraction thereof) that the \n taxpayer's adjusted gross income for the \n taxable year exceeds $100,000 ($50,000 in the \n case of a married individual filing a separate \n return).''.\n (b) Definition and Special Rules.--Paragraph (4) of section 163(h) \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to other definitions and \nspecial rules) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubparagraphs:\n ``(E) Qualified mortgage insurance.--The term \n `qualified mortgage insurance' means--\n ``(i) mortgage insurance provided by the \n Veterans Administration, the Federal Housing \n Administration, or the Rural Housing \n Administration, and\n ``(ii) private mortgage insurance (as \n defined by section 2 of the Homeowners \n Protection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4901), as in \n effect on the date of the enactment of this \n subparagraph).\n ``(F) Special rules for prepaid qualified mortgage \n insurance.--Any amount paid by the taxpayer for \n qualified mortgage insurance that is properly allocable \n to any mortgage the payment of which extends to periods \n that are after the close of the taxable year in which \n such amount is paid shall be chargeable to capital \n account and shall be treated as paid in such periods to \n which so allocated. No deduction shall be allowed for \n the unamortized balance of such account if such \n mortgage is satisfied before the end of its term. The \n preceding sentences shall not apply to amounts paid for \n qualified mortgage insurance provided by the Veterans \n Administration or the Rural Housing Administration.''.\n\nSEC. 3. INFORMATION RETURNS RELATING TO MORTGAGE INSURANCE.\n\n Section 6050H of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to \nreturns relating to mortgage interest received in trade or business \nfrom individuals) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubsection:\n ``(h) Returns Relating to Mortgage Insurance Premiums.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may prescribe, by \n regulations, that any person who, in the course of a trade or \n business, receives from any individual premiums for mortgage \n insurance aggregating $600 or more for any calendar year, shall \n make a return with respect to each such individual. Such return \n shall be in such form, shall be made at such time, and shall \n contain such information as the Secretary may prescribe.\n ``(2) Statement to be furnished to individuals with respect \n to whom information is required.--Every person required to make \n a return under paragraph (1) shall furnish to each individual \n with respect to whom a return is made a written statement \n showing such information as the Secretary may prescribe. Such \n written statement shall be furnished on or before January 31 of \n the year following the calendar year for which the return under \n paragraph (1) was required to be made.\n ``(3) Special rules.--For purposes of this subsection--\n ``(A) rules similar to the rules of subsection (c) \n shall apply, and\n ``(B) the term `mortgage insurance' means--\n ``(i) mortgage insurance provided by the \n Veterans Administration, the Federal Housing \n Administration, or the Rural Housing \n Administration, and\n ``(ii) private mortgage insurance (as \n defined by section 2 of the Homeowners \n Protection Act of 1998 (12 U.S.C. 4901), as in \n effect on the date of the enactment of this \n subsection).''.\n\nSEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall apply to amounts paid or \naccrued after the date of enactment of this Act in taxable years ending \nafter such date.", "summary": "Mortgage Insurance Fairness Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat mortgage insurance premium payments as tax deductible interest. Phases out the deduction for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes exceeding $100,000.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for premiums on mortgage insurance."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1667, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Americans Want to Work Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. ADJUSTMENT TO FOURTH-TIER EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.\n\n Section 4002(e)(1) of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 \n(Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by striking \n``subsection (d)(1) (third-tier emergency unemployment compensation)'' \nand inserting ``subsection (f)(1) (fifth-tier emergency unemployment \ncompensation)''.\n\nSEC. 3. FIFTH-TIER EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 4002 of the Supplemental Appropriations \nAct, 2008, as amended by section 2, is further amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections \n (h) and (i), respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new \n subsection:\n ``(f) Fifth-Tier Emergency Unemployment Compensation.--\n ``(1) In general.--If, at the time that the amount added to \n an individual's account under subsection (d)(1) (third-tier \n emergency unemployment compensation) is exhausted or at any \n time thereafter, such individual's State is in an extended \n benefit period (as determined under paragraph (2)), such \n account shall be further augmented by an amount (hereinafter \n `fifth-tier emergency unemployment compensation') equal to the \n lesser of--\n ``(A) 80 percent of the total amount of regular \n compensation (including dependents' allowances) payable \n to the individual during the individual's benefit year \n under the State law; or\n ``(B) 20 times the individual's average weekly \n benefit amount (as determined under subsection (b)(2)) \n for the benefit year.\n ``(2) Extended benefit period.--For purposes of paragraph \n (1), a State shall be considered to be in an extended benefit \n period, as of any given time, if--\n ``(A) such a period would then be in effect for \n such State under section 203(d) of the Federal-State \n Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 \n U.S.C. 3304 note) if such section did not include the \n requirement under paragraph (1)(A) thereof; or\n ``(B) such a period would then be in effect for \n such State under section 203(f) of such Act if--\n ``(i) such section 203(f) were applied to \n such State (regardless of whether the State by \n law had provided for such application); and\n ``(ii) such section 203(f)--\n ``(I) were applied by substituting \n `7.5' for `6.5' in paragraph (1)(A)(i) \n thereof; and\n ``(II) did not include the \n requirement under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) \n thereof.\n ``(3) Limitation.--The account of an individual may be \n augmented not more than once under this subsection.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment to Non-Augmentation Rule.--Section \n4007(b)(2) of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law \n110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and (e)'' and inserting ``, (e), and \n (f)''; and\n (2) by striking ``or (e)'' and inserting ``, (e), or (f)''.\n (c) Coordination.--Section 4002(g) of the Supplemental \nAppropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note), as \nredesignated by subsection (a)(1), is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new paragraphs:\n ``(3) Further coordination with extended compensation.--\n Notwithstanding an election under section 4001(e) by a State to \n provide for the payment of emergency unemployment compensation \n prior to extended compensation, such State may pay extended \n compensation to an otherwise eligible individual prior to any \n emergency unemployment compensation under subsection (f) (by \n reason of the amendments made by section 3(a) of the Americans \n Want to Work Act), if such individual claimed extended \n compensation for at least 1 week of unemployment after the \n exhaustion of emergency unemployment compensation under this \n part (as this part was in effect on the day before the date of \n the enactment of this subsection).\n ``(4) Coordination with tiers iii, iv, and v.--If a State \n determines that implementation of the fifth-tier of emergency \n unemployment compensation by reason of the amendments made by \n sections 2 and 3 of the Americans Want to Work Act would unduly \n delay the prompt payment of emergency unemployment compensation \n under this title by reason of the amendments made by such Act, \n such State may elect to pay fourth-tier emergency unemployment \n compensation prior to the payment of fifth-tier emergency \n unemployment compensation until such time as such State \n determines that fifth-tier emergency unemployment compensation \n may be paid without undue delay. For purposes of determining \n whether an account may be augmented for fifth-tier emergency \n unemployment compensation under subsection (f), if a State \n makes the election described in the previous sentence, such \n State shall treat the date of exhaustion of fourth-tier \n emergency unemployment compensation as the date of exhaustion \n of third-tier emergency unemployment compensation if the date \n of exhaustion of fourth-tier emergency unemployment \n compensation is later than the date of exhaustion of third-tier \n emergency unemployment compensation.''.\n (d) Funding.--Section 4004(e)(1) of the Supplemental Appropriations \nAct, 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end; \n and\n (2) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(G) the amendments made by subsections (a), (b), \n and (c) of section 3 of the Americans Want to Work Act; \n and''.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply as if included in the enactment of the Supplemental \nAppropriations Act, 2008, except that no amount shall be payable by \nvirtue of such amendments with respect to any week of unemployment \ncommencing before the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. EXTENSION OF PAYROLL TAX FORGIVENESS FOR HIRING UNEMPLOYED \n WORKERS AND BUSINESS CREDIT FOR THE RETENTION OF CERTAIN \n NEWLY HIRED INDIVIDUALS.\n\n (a) Extension.--Section 3111(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n1986 is amended--\n (1) by striking ``with respect to employment during the \n period beginning on the day after the date of the enactment of \n this subsection and ending on December 31, 2010,'' in paragraph \n (1) and inserting ``during the applicable period with respect \n to employment'',\n (2) by striking ``January 1, 2011'' in paragraph (3) and \n inserting ``January 1, 2012'',\n (3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6) and by \n inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:\n ``(5) Applicable period.--For purposes of paragraph (1), \n the applicable period is--\n ``(A) with respect to any qualified individual who \n begins employment after February 3, 2010, the period \n beginning after March 18, 2010, and ending on December \n 31, 2010, and\n ``(B) with respect to any qualified individual who \n begins employment after August 4, 2010, the period \n beginning on the day after the date of the enactment of \n this paragraph and ending on December 31, 2011.'', and\n (4) by inserting ``and 2011'' after ``2010'' in the heading \n thereof.\n (b) Railroad Retirement Taxes.--Section 3221(c) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 is amended--\n (1) by striking ``during the period beginning on the day \n after the date of the enactment of this subsection and ending \n on December 31, 2010'' in paragraph (1) and inserting ``during \n the applicable period'',\n (2) by striking ``January 1, 2011'' in paragraph (3) and \n inserting ``January 1, 2012'',\n (3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6) and by \n inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:\n ``(5) Applicable period.--For purposes of paragraph (1), \n the applicable period is--\n ``(A) with respect to any qualified individual who \n begins employment after February 3, 2010, the period \n beginning after March 18, 2010, and ending on December \n 31, 2010, and\n ``(B) with respect to any qualified individual who \n begins employment after August 4, 2010, the period \n beginning on the day after the date of the enactment of \n this paragraph and ending on December 31, 2011.'', and\n (4) by inserting ``and 2011'' after ``2010'' in the heading \n thereof.\n (c) Transfers to Certain Funds.--Section 101 of the Hiring \nIncentives to Restore Employment Act is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``and section 4(a) of the Americans Want \n to Work Act'' after ``subsection (a)'' in subsection (c), and\n (2) by inserting ``and section 4(b) of the Americans Want \n to Work Act'' after ``paragraph (1)'' in subsection (d)(2).\n (d) Conforming Amendment.--The heading of section 102 of the Hiring \nIncentives to Restore Employment Act is amended by inserting ``and \n2011'' after ``2010''.\n (e) Treatment of Temporary Census Workers.--Sections 3111(d)(3) and \n3121(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are each amended by \nadding at the end the following new flush sentence:\n ``For purposes of subparagraph (B), employment by the Bureau of \n the Census as a temporary enumerator for the 2010 decennial \n census shall not be taken into account.''.\n (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect as if included in the amendments made by section 101 of the \nHiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act.\n\nSEC. 5. INCREASE OF BUSINESS CREDIT FOR THE RETENTION OF CERTAIN NEWLY \n HIRED INDIVIDUALS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 102 of the Hiring Incentives to Restore \nEmployment Act (Public Law 111-147) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new subsection:\n ``(e) Increased Credit for Certain Long-Term Unemployed Workers.--\n ``(1) In general.--In the case of a qualified long-term \n unemployed worker, the credit otherwise determined under \n subsection (a) (without regard to this subsection) with respect \n to such qualified long-term unemployed worker shall be \n increased by $1,000.\n ``(2) Qualified long-term unemployed worker.--For purposes \n of this subsection, the term `qualified long-term unemployed \n worker' means any qualified individual (as defined in section \n 3111(d)(3) or section 3221(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code \n of 1986)--\n ``(A) who is a retained worker,\n ``(B) who certifies by signed affidavit, under \n penalties of perjury, that--\n ``(i) such individual has not been employed \n during the 693-day period ending on the date \n such individual begins the employment with \n respect to which the individual is a qualified \n individual, or\n ``(ii) such individual has exhausted all \n unemployment insurance benefits under Federal \n or State law, if such benefits are exhausted in \n a period of less than 693 days, and\n ``(C) who begins employment with a qualified \n employer (as defined in section 3111(d)(2) or section \n 3221(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) after \n the date of the enactment of this subsection and before \n January 1, 2012.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto individuals beginning employment after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act, in taxable years ending after such date.", "summary": "Americans Want to Work Act - Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 with respect to the state-established individual emergency unemployment compensation account (EUCA). Requires a further additional Tier-5 period for deposits to an individual's EUCA if, at the time the amount added to such individual's account under the Act is exhausted or at any time thereafter, the individual's state is in an extended benefit period.\n\nPrescribes a formula for making such Tier-5 credits. Increases the figures in the basic EUC formula (the lesser of which shall be the amount credited): (1) from 50% to 80% of the total amount of regular compensation (including dependents' allowances) payable to the individual during the benefit year; and (2) from 13 to 20 times the individual's average weekly benefit amount for the benefit year.\n\nPrescribes a formula for determining if a state is in an extended benefit period.\n\nAllows the Tier-5 period augmentation to be applied to the individual's EUCA only once.\n\nAuthorizes a state to pay extended compensation to an otherwise eligible individual before any further additional emergency unemployment compensation (EUC), if such individual claimed extended compensation for at least one week of unemployment after the exhaustion of additional EUC.\n\nAuthorizes a state to elect to pay Tier-4 EUC before payment of Tier-5 EUC until the state determines that such Tier-5 EUC may be paid without undue delay.\n\nAmends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through December 31, 2011, the exemption of an employer from payment of employment taxes or railroad retirement taxes for individuals who begin employment after August 4, 2010.\n\nExcludes from account for Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax purposes any employment by the Bureau of the Census as a temporary enumerator for the 2010 decennial census.\n\nAmends the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act to allow an increase in the general business tax credit for the retention of a qualified long-term unemployed worker who: (1) is a retained worker; (2) certifies by signed affidavit that he or she has not been employed during a specified 693-day period or has exhausted all unemployment insurance benefits under federal or state law in less than 693 days; and (3) begins employment with a qualified employer after the enactment of this Act and before January 1, 2012.", "title": "A bill to extend unemployment insurance benefits and cut taxes for businesses to create hiring incentives, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3163, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Security Clearance Family Review \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code, establishes \n anti-nepotism laws.\n (2) The specific purpose of the statute was to prevent \n nepotism and unfair conduct in Federal hiring practices.\n (3) The White House announced Jared Kushner's Federal \n employment appointment as senior White House adviser on January \n 9, 2017.\n (4) The White House announced Ivanka Trump's appointment as \n an official government employee as assistant to the President \n on March 29, 2017.\n (5) Under section 3110(a)(3) of title 5, United States \n Code, a daughter or son-in-law constitute a ``relative'' for \n purposes of a public official.\n (6) According to recent reporting by the New York Times, \n both Mr. Kushner and Ms. Trump retain substantial holdings, \n totaling as much as $740 million, that would be impacted based \n on a decision made by the Government.\n (7) Question 20A.1 on United States Government Standard \n Form 86 (SF 86), which all applicants seeking a security \n clearance must submit, asks: ``Have you, your spouse, or \n cohabitant ever had any foreign financial interests (such as \n stocks, property, financial investments, bank accounts, \n ownership of corporate entities, corporate interests, or \n businesses) in which you or they have direct control or direct \n ownership?''.\n (8) Question 20A.2 on such Form asks: ``Have you, your \n spouse, cohabitant, or dependent children ever had any foreign \n financial interests that someone controlled on your behalf?''.\n (9) Question 20A.3 on such Form asks: ``Have you, your \n spouse, cohabitant, or dependent children ever owned, or do you \n anticipate owning, or plan to purchase real estate in a foreign \n country?''.\n (10) Financial disclosures released on March 31, 2017, \n indicate that while both Mr. Kushner and Ms. Trump have \n divested from direct leadership roles in their previous \n businesses and real estate interests, their financial wealth \n remains tied to the success of those ventures by way of various \n trusts and company holdings.\n (11) President Trump has repeatedly declined to disclose \n personal or commercial tax returns or divesture agreements.\n (12) Given President Trump's refusal to disclose tax \n returns or divesture agreements, it is difficult to assess \n whether Mr. Trump's relatives sufficiently divested in holdings \n or are subject to foreign financial influence, including \n possible loans to the Trump Organization or to Mr. Kushner's \n businesses from state-owned foreign financial entities, \n including China's Anbang Insurance Group and Russia's \n VneshEconomBank.\n\nSEC. 3. LIMITATION ON PROVISION OF SECURITY CLEARANCES TO RELATIVES OF \n THE PRESIDENT.\n\n (a) Limitation on Security Clearances.--Section 3110(a)(1) of title \n5, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``and'';\n (2) in subparagraph (D) by striking the semicolon and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(E) for purposes of subsection (f), an office, \n agency, or other establishment within the White House \n or the Executive Office of the President;''.\n (b) Prohibition on Security Clearances to Relatives of the \nPresident.--Section 3110 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by \nadding at the end the following:\n ``(f) Prohibition on Security Clearances to Relatives of the \nPresident.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided for under paragraph \n (2), an agency, including the Department of Defense, may not \n grant eligibility for access to classified information to a \n relative of the President for the purposes of Federal \n employment unless a favorable determination is submitted to the \n head of the agency pursuant to paragraph (2)(C).\n ``(2) Review process.--\n ``(A) Request for determination.--If the President \n determines that a relative of the President requires \n access to classified information for Federal \n employment, the President shall submit a letter to the \n Director of the Office of Government Ethics requesting \n a determination regarding the relative's suitability \n for such access.\n ``(B) OGE review.--The Director shall conduct a \n review to determine whether the applicable relative has \n any ongoing and substantial commercial relationships \n with state-owned or privately owned foreign enterprises \n or financial institutions and, if so, whether the \n relative is ineligible for access to security clearance \n because of such relationships.\n ``(C) Submission.--Not later than 60 days after \n receipt of a letter under subparagraph (A), the \n Director shall submit the determination made under \n subparagraph (B) to--\n ``(i) the President;\n ``(ii) the head of the employing agency of \n the relative; and\n ``(iii) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, \n the Committee on Armed Services, and the \n Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of \n the House of Representatives.''.", "summary": "Security Clearance Family Review Act This bill prohibits specified federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, from granting access to classified information to a relative of the President for purposes of federal employment unless the Office of Government Ethics makes a favorable determination during a review process regarding the relative's suitability for such access. In conducting a review, the Office of Government Ethics must determine whether the relative of the President has any ongoing and substantial commercial relationships with state-owned or privately owned foreign enterprises or financial institutions, and, if so, whether the relative is ineligible for access to classified information because of such relationships.", "title": "Security Clearance Family Review Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 454, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n (1) The illicit nuclear activities of the Government of \n Iran represent a serious threat to the security of the United \n States and our allies in Europe, the Middle East, and around \n the world.\n (2) The United States and the international community have \n a vital interest in working together to prevent the Government \n of Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.\n (3) The international community, acting through the \n International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations, has \n already adopted a range of sanctions designed to encourage the \n Government of Iran to cease its unlawful nuclear activities and \n comply with its obligations under the Treaty on Non-\n Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (commonly known as the \n ``Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty'').\n (4) As a presidential candidate, then-Senator Obama stated \n that additional sanctions, especially those targeting Iran's \n dependence on imported refined petroleum, may help to persuade \n the Government of Iran to abandon its illicit nuclear \n activities.\n (5) On October 7, 2008, then-Senator Obama stated, ``Iran \n right now imports gasoline, even though it's an oil producer, \n because its oil infrastructure has broken down. If we can \n prevent them from importing the gasoline that they need and the \n refined petroleum products, that starts changing their cost-\n benefit analysis. That starts putting the squeeze on them.''.\n (6) On June 4, 2008, then-Senator Obama stated, ``We should \n work with Europe, Japan, and the Gulf states to find every \n avenue outside the UN to isolate the Iranian regime--from \n cutting off loan guarantees and expanding financial sanctions, \n to banning the export of refined petroleum to Iran.''.\n (7) Our allies in the international community have \n expressed support for additional sanctions should the \n Government of Iran fail to verifiably suspend its illicit \n nuclear activities.\n (8) On March 17, 2009, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown \n stated, ``[L]et me be equally clear that Iran's current nuclear \n program is unacceptable. Iran has concealed nuclear activities, \n refused to cooperate with the IAEA, and flouted UN Security \n Council Resolutions. Its refusal to play by the rules leads us \n to view its nuclear program as a critical proliferation threat. \n Iran therefore faces a clear choice--continue in this way and \n face further and tougher sanctions, or change to a UN overseen \n civil nuclear energy program that will bring the greatest \n benefits to its citizens.''.\n (9) On February 7, 2009, British Foreign Secretary David \n Miliband stated, ``We welcome US willingness to talk to Iran. \n But if Iran doesn't respond we will need to be ready to impose \n much tougher sanctions, even if that imposes costs on us here \n in Europe. In this instance, nuclear security must come above \n commercial interests.''.\n (10) On February 7, 2009, German Chancellor Angela Merkel \n stated, ``Let me be quite clear. We have offered to enter into \n negotiations with Iran and we want a diplomatic solution. These \n offers are on the table. . . . We're prepared to travel along \n this road together, but we are also prepared to consider \n tougher sanctions should there be no progress. It's imperative \n that we prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.''.\n (11) On June 23, 2008, French President Nicolas Sarkozy \n stated, ``So that things are clear and there is no ambiguity, I \n want to say that Iran's military nuclear program demands an \n extremely firm response by the entire international community. \n . . . France is determined to pursue with her partners a policy \n of increasingly tough sanctions until there is a shift in \n position.''.\n (12) The serious and urgent nature of the threat from Iran \n demands that the United States work together with our allies to \n do everything possible--diplomatically, politically, and \n economically--to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons \n capability.\n (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--\n (1) the United States should continue to support diplomatic \n efforts in the International Atomic Energy Agency and the \n United Nations Security Council to end Iran's illicit nuclear \n activities;\n (2) diplomatic efforts with Iran are more likely to be \n effective if the President is empowered with the explicit \n authority to impose additional sanctions on the Government of \n Iran;\n (3) it should be the policy of the United States to \n encourage foreign governments to direct state-owned entities to \n cease all investment in, and support of, Iran's energy sector \n and all exports of refined petroleum products to Iran;\n (4) it should be the policy of the United States to \n encourage foreign governments to require private entities based \n in their territories to cease all investment in, and support \n of, Iran's energy sector and all exports of refined petroleum \n products to Iran;\n (5) the President is urged to impose sanctions on the \n Central Bank of Iran and any other Iranian bank or financial \n institution engaged in proliferation activities or support of \n terrorist groups;\n (6) the Department of the Treasury should continue to work \n with our allies to take appropriate measures to protect the \n international financial system from deceptive and illicit \n practices by Iranian banks and financial institutions involved \n in proliferation activities or support of terrorist groups;\n (7) the concerns of the United States regarding Iran are \n strictly the result of the actions of the Government of Iran; \n and\n (8) the people of the United States--\n (A) have feelings of friendship for the people of \n Iran;\n (B) regret that developments in recent decades have \n created impediments to that friendship; and\n (C) hold the people of Iran, their culture, and \n their ancient and rich history in the highest esteem.\n\nSEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF 1996.\n\n (a) Expansion of Sanctions.--Section 5(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act \nof 1996 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(a) Sanctions With Respect to the Development of Petroleum \nResources of Iran and Exportation of Refined Petroleum to Iran.--\n ``(1) Development of petroleum resources of iran.--\n ``(A) Investment.--Except as provided in subsection \n (f), the President shall impose 2 or more of the \n sanctions described in paragraphs (1) through (6) of \n section 6(a) if the President determines that a person \n has, with actual knowledge, on or after the date of \n this Act, made an investment of $20,000,000 or more (or \n any combination of investments of at least $5,000,000 \n each, which in the aggregate equals or exceeds \n $20,000,000 in any 12-month period), that directly and \n significantly contributed to the enhancement of Iran's \n ability to develop petroleum resources of Iran.\n ``(B) Production of refined petroleum resources.--\n Except as provided in subsection (f), the President \n shall impose the sanctions described in section 6(b) \n (in addition to any sanctions imposed under \n subparagraph (A)) if the President determines that a \n person has, with actual knowledge, on or after the date \n of the enactment of the Iran Refined Petroleum \n Sanctions Act, sold, leased, or provided to Iran any \n goods, services, technology, information, or support \n that would allow Iran to maintain or expand its \n domestic production of refined petroleum resources, \n including any assistance in refinery construction, \n modernization, or repair.\n ``(2) Exportation of refined petroleum resources to iran.--\n Except as provided in subsection (f), the President shall \n impose the sanctions described in section 6(b) if the President \n determines that a person has, with actual knowledge, on or \n after the date of the enactment of the Iran Refined Petroleum \n Sanctions Act, provided Iran with refined petroleum resources \n or engaged in any activity that could contribute to the \n enhancement of Iran's ability to import refined petroleum \n resources, including--\n ``(A) providing ships or shipping services to \n deliver refined petroleum resources to Iran;\n ``(B) underwriting or otherwise providing insurance \n or reinsurance for such activity; or\n ``(C) financing or brokering such activity.''.\n (b) Description of Sanctions.--Section 6 of such Act is amended--\n (1) by striking ``The sanctions to be imposed on a \n sanctioned person under section 5 are as follows:'' and \n inserting the following:\n ``(a) In General.--The sanctions to be imposed on a sanctioned \nperson under subsections (a)(1)(A) and (b) of section 5 are as \nfollows:''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(b) Additional Sanctions.--The sanctions to be imposed on a \nsanctioned person under paragraphs (1)(B) and (2) of section 5(a) are \nas follows:\n ``(1) Foreign exchange.--The President shall, under such \n regulations as the President may prescribe, prohibit any \n transactions in foreign exchange by the sanctioned person.\n ``(2) Banking transactions.--The President shall, under \n such regulations as the President may prescribe, prohibit any \n transfers of credit or payments between, by, through, or to any \n financial institution, to the extent that such transfers or \n payments involve any interest of the sanctioned person.\n ``(3) Property transactions.--The President shall, under \n such regulations as the President may prescribe, prohibit any \n acquisition, holding, withholding, use, transfer, withdrawal, \n transportation, importation, or exportation of, dealing in, or \n exercising any right, power, or privilege with respect to, or \n transactions involving, any property in which the sanctioned \n person has any interest by any person, or with respect to any \n property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.''.\n (c) Presidential Waiver.--Section 9(c)(2) of such Act is amended by \namending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:\n ``(C) an estimate of the significance of the \n provision of the items described in paragraph (1) or \n (2) of section 5(a) or section 5(b) to Iran's ability \n to develop its petroleum resources, enhance its ability \n to import refined petroleum resources, or develop its \n weapons of mass destruction or other military \n capabilities (as the case may be); and''.\n (d) Reports on United States Efforts To Curtail Certain Business \nTransactions Relating to Iran.--Section 10 of such Act is amended by \nadding at the end the following:\n ``(d) Reports on Certain Business Transactions Relating to Iran.--\n ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of \n the enactment of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, and \n every 6 months thereafter, the President shall submit a report \n to the appropriate congressional committees regarding any \n person who has--\n ``(A) provided Iran with refined petroleum \n resources;\n ``(B) engaged in any activity that could contribute \n to the enhancement of Iran's ability to import refined \n petroleum resources; or\n ``(C) sold, leased, or provided to Iran any goods, \n services, or technology that would allow Iran to \n maintain or expand its domestic production of refined \n petroleum resources.\n ``(2) Description.--For each activity set forth in \n subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1), the President \n shall provide a complete and detailed description of such \n activity, including--\n ``(A) the date or dates of such activity;\n ``(B) the name of any persons who participated or \n invested in or facilitated such activity;\n ``(C) the United States domiciliary of the persons \n referred to in subparagraph (B);\n ``(D) any Federal Government contracts to which the \n persons referred to in subparagraph (B) are parties; \n and\n ``(E) the steps taken by the United States to \n respond to such activity.\n ``(3) Form of reports; publication.--The reports required \n under this subsection shall be--\n ``(A) submitted in unclassified form, but may \n contain a classified annex; and\n ``(B) published in the Federal Register.''.\n (e) Clarification and Expansion of Definitions.--Section 14 of such \nAct is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (13)(B)--\n (A) by inserting ``financial institution, insurer, \n underwriter, guarantor, any other business \n organization, including any foreign subsidiary, parent, \n or affiliate of such a business organization,'' after \n ``trust,''; and\n (B) by inserting ``, such as an export credit \n agency'' before the semicolon at the end; and\n (2) in paragraph (14), by striking ``petroleum and natural \n gas resources'' and inserting ``petroleum, petroleum by-\n products, oil or liquefied natural gas, oil or liquefied \n natural gas tankers, and products used to construct or maintain \n pipelines used to transport oil or liquefied natural gas''.\n (f) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4 of such Act is amended--\n (1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``(in addition to \n that provided in subsection (d))''; and\n (2) by striking subsection (d).", "summary": "Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should continue to support diplomatic efforts in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the U.N. Security Council to end Iran's illicit nuclear activities; (2) diplomatic efforts with Iran are more likely to be effective if the President is empowered with the explicit authority to impose additional sanctions on the government of Iran; (3) it should be U.S. policy to encourage foreign governments to direct state-owned and private entities to cease all investment in, and support of, Iran's energy sector and all exports of refined petroleum products to Iran; (4) the President is urged to impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran and any other Iranian financial institution engaged in proliferation activities or support of terrorist groups; (5) the Department of the Treasury should continue to work with allies to protect the international financial system from deceptive and illicit practices by Iranian financial institutions involved in proliferation activities or support of terrorist groups; (6) U.S. concerns regarding Iran are strictly the result of that government\u0092s actions; and (7) the people of the United States have feelings of friendship for the people of Iran and regret that developments in recent decades have created impediments to that friendship.\n\nAmends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to direct the President to impose two or more current sanctions under such Act if a person has, with actual knowledge, made an investment of $20 million or more (or any combination of investments of at least $5 million which in the aggregate equals or exceeds $20 million in any 12-month period) that directly and significantly contributed to Iran's ability to develop its petroleum resources. (Under current law the sanction thresholds are $40 million, $10 million, and $40 million, respectively.)\n\nDirects the President to impose: (1) sanctions established under this Act (in addition to any current sanctions imposed under the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996) if a person has, with actual knowledge, sold, leased, or provided to Iran any goods, services, technology, information, or support that would allow Iran to maintain or expand its domestic production of refined petroleum resources, including any assistance in refinery construction, modernization, or repair; and (2) sanctions established under this Act if a person has, with actual knowledge, provided Iran with refined petroleum resources or engaged in any activity that could contribute to Iran's ability to import refined petroleum resources, including providing shipping, insurance, or financing services for such activity.\n\nEstablishes additional sanctions prohibiting specified foreign exchange, banking, and property transactions.\n\nIncludes references to refined petroleum resources in a presidential report to Congress requesting waiver of sanctions for purposes of national interest.\n\nDirects the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees every six months regarding any person who has: (1) provided Iran with refined petroleum resources; (2) sold, leased, or provided to Iran any goods, services, or technology that would allow Iran to maintain or expand its domestic production of refined petroleum resources; or (3) engaged in any activity that could contribute to the enhancement of Iran's ability to import refined petroleum resources.", "title": "A bill to amend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to enhance United States diplomatic efforts with respect to Iran by expanding economic sanctions against Iran."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3118, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``FEMA Common Sense and Cost \nEffectiveness Act of 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LEVEES.\n\n (a) Stafford Act.--\n (1) Predisaster mitigation program.--Section 203(e) of the \n Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act \n (42 U.S.C. 5133(e)) is amended by adding at the end the \n following:\n ``(3) Construction of levees on acquired lands.--Subject to \n paragraph (4), and notwithstanding any requirement that \n property acquired or accepted under this section be dedicated \n and maintained in perpetuity as open space for the conservation \n of natural flood plain functions, if financial assistance \n provided under this section is used to acquire or accept \n property for open space purposes, the President may permit the \n construction or maintenance on the property of--\n ``(A) a levee that is federally owned and operated;\n ``(B) a permanent levee that is federally \n constructed and non-federally operated and maintained;\n ``(C) a levee--\n ``(i) that is federally constructed as a \n nonpermanent levee;\n ``(ii) that a non-Federal entity desires to \n operate and maintain as a permanent levee; and\n ``(iii) the owners of which--\n ``(I) are participating in the \n emergency response to natural disasters \n program established under section 5 of \n the Act entitled `An Act authorizing \n the construction of certain public \n works on rivers and harbors for flood \n control, and for other purposes', \n approved August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. \n 701n); or\n ``(II) begin participating in the \n program described in subclause (I) \n within a reasonable period of time, as \n determined by the President, after the \n date on which the levee is constructed; \n and\n ``(D) a non-Federal levee the owners of which are \n participating in the program described in subparagraph \n (C)(iii)(I).\n ``(4) Downstream communities.--The President may deny an \n application to construct or maintain a levee described in \n paragraph (3) if the levee poses a significant threat of harm \n to downstream communities.''.\n (2) Hazard mitigation grant program.--Section 404(b) of the \n Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act \n (42 U.S.C. 5170c(b)) is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (2)(B)--\n (i) in clause (i), by inserting ``except \n for the construction or maintenance of a \n structure described in clause (ii) (including a \n levee),'' before ``any property''; and\n (ii) in clause (ii)--\n (I) in subclause (II), by striking \n ``or'' at the end;\n (II) by redesignating subclause \n (III) as subclause (IV); and\n (iii) by inserting after subclause (II) the \n following:\n ``(III) subject to paragraph (5), a \n levee described in paragraph (4); or''; \n and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(4) Levees.--A levee described in this paragraph is--\n ``(A) a levee that is federally owned and operated;\n ``(B) a permanent levee that is federally \n constructed and non-federally operated and maintained;\n ``(C) a levee--\n ``(i) that is federally constructed as a \n nonpermanent levee;\n ``(ii) that a non-Federal entity desires to \n operate and maintain as a permanent levee; and\n ``(iii) the owners of which--\n ``(I) are participating in the \n emergency response to natural disasters \n program established under section 5 of \n the Act entitled `An Act authorizing \n the construction of certain public \n works on rivers and harbors for flood \n control, and for other purposes', \n approved August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. \n 701n); or\n ``(II) begin participating in the \n program described in subclause (I) \n within a reasonable period of time, as \n determined by the President, after the \n date on which the levee is constructed; \n and\n ``(D) a non-Federal levee the owners of which are \n participating in the program described in subparagraph \n (C)(iii)(I).\n ``(5) Downstream communities.--The President may deny an \n application to construct or maintain a levee described in \n paragraph (4) if the levee poses a significant threat of harm \n to downstream communities.''.\n (b) Construction of Levees Under Hazard Mitigation Programs \nRelating to Floods.--\n (1) Flood mitigation assistance.--Section 1366 of the \n National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104c) is \n amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(n) Construction of Levees on Acquired Lands.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), and \n notwithstanding any requirement that property acquired or \n accepted under this section be dedicated and maintained in \n perpetuity as open space for the conservation of natural flood \n plain functions, if the mitigation activities funded under \n subsection (a) include the acquisition or acceptance of \n property for open space purposes, the Administrator may permit \n the construction or maintenance on the property of--\n ``(A) a levee that is federally owned and operated;\n ``(B) a permanent levee that is federally \n constructed and non-federally operated and maintained;\n ``(C) a levee--\n ``(i) that is federally constructed as a \n nonpermanent levee;\n ``(ii) that a non-Federal entity desires to \n operate and maintain as a permanent levee; and\n ``(iii) the owners of which--\n ``(I) are participating in the \n emergency response to natural disasters \n program established under section 5 of \n the Act entitled `An Act authorizing \n the construction of certain public \n works on rivers and harbors for flood \n control, and for other purposes', \n approved August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. \n 701n); or\n ``(II) begin participating in the \n program described in subclause (I) \n within a reasonable period of time, as \n determined by the Administrator, after \n the date on which the levee is \n constructed; and\n ``(D) a non-Federal levee the owners of which are \n participating in the program described in subparagraph \n (C)(iii)(I).\n ``(2) Downstream communities.--The Administrator may deny \n an application to construct or maintain a levee described in \n paragraph (1) if the levee poses a significant threat of harm \n to downstream communities.''.\n (2) Grants for repetitive insurance claim properties.--\n Section 1323 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 \n U.S.C. 4030) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(c) Construction of Levees on Acquired Lands.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), and \n notwithstanding any requirement that property acquired or \n accepted under this section be dedicated and maintained in \n perpetuity as open space for the conservation of natural flood \n plain functions, if the mitigation activities funded under \n subsection (a) include the acquisition or acceptance of \n property for open space purposes, the Administrator may permit \n the construction or maintenance on the property of--\n ``(A) a levee that is federally owned and operated;\n ``(B) a permanent levee that is federally \n constructed and non-federally operated and maintained;\n ``(C) a levee--\n ``(i) that is federally constructed as a \n nonpermanent levee;\n ``(ii) that a non-Federal entity desires to \n operate and maintain as a permanent levee; and\n ``(iii) the owners of which--\n ``(I) are participating in the \n emergency response to natural disasters \n program established under section 5 of \n the Act entitled `An Act authorizing \n the construction of certain public \n works on rivers and harbors for flood \n control, and for other purposes', \n approved August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. \n 701n); or\n ``(II) begin participating in the \n program described in subclause (I) \n within a reasonable period of time, as \n determined by the Administrator, after \n the date on which the levee is \n constructed; and\n ``(D) a non-Federal levee the owners of which are \n participating in the program described in subparagraph \n (C)(iii)(I).\n ``(2) Downstream communities.--The Administrator may deny \n an application to construct or maintain a levee described in \n paragraph (1) if the levee poses a significant threat of harm \n to downstream communities.''.\n (3) Severe repetitive loss program.--Section 1361A(g) of \n the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4102a(g)) \n is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (1), by striking the period at the \n end and inserting the following: ``, including that, \n subject to paragraph (5), and notwithstanding any \n requirement that property acquired or accepted under \n this section be dedicated and maintained in perpetuity \n as open space for the conservation of natural flood \n plain functions, the Administrator may permit the \n construction or maintenance on such property of--\n ``(A) a levee that is federally owned and operated;\n ``(B) a permanent levee that is federally \n constructed and non-federally operated and maintained;\n ``(C) a levee--\n ``(i) that is federally constructed as a \n nonpermanent levee;\n ``(ii) that a non-Federal entity desires to \n operate and maintain as a permanent levee; and\n ``(iii) the owners of which--\n ``(I) are participating in the \n emergency response to natural disasters \n program established under section 5 of \n the Act entitled `An Act authorizing \n the construction of certain public \n works on rivers and harbors for flood \n control, and for other purposes', \n approved August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. \n 701n); or\n ``(II) begin participating in the \n program described in subclause (I) \n within a reasonable period of time, as \n determined by the Administrator, after \n the date on which the levee is \n constructed; and\n ``(D) a non-Federal levee the owners of which are \n participating in the program described in subparagraph \n (C)(iii)(I).''; and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(5) Downstream communities.--The Administrator may deny \n an application to construct or maintain a levee described in \n paragraph (1) if the levee poses a significant threat of harm \n to downstream communities.''.\n (c) Applicability of Amendments.--The amendments made by this \nsection shall apply to all property acquired or accepted pursuant to \nsection 203 or 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and \nEmergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133 and 5170c) or section 1323, \n1366, or 1361A of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. \n4030, 4104c, and 4102a) before, on, or after the date of enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "FEMA Common Sense and Cost Effectiveness Act of 2011 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to authorize the construction and maintenance of levees on property acquired under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) hazard mitigation grant programs, including: (1) a levee that is federally owned and operated; (2) a permanent levee that is federally constructed and nonfederally operated and maintained; (3) a levee that is federally constructed as a nonpermanent levee, that a nonfederal entity desires to operate and maintain as a permanent levee, and the owners of which are participating in, or, in a specified period after the date on which the levee is constructed, will begin participating in, the emergency response to natural disasters program; and (4) a nonfederal levee the owners of which are participating in the program.\n\nAuthorizes an application to construct or maintain a levee on acquired lands to be denied if the levee poses a significant threat of harm to downstream communities.", "title": "A bill to authorize the construction and maintenance of levees on property acquired under hazard mitigation grant programs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3115, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Railroad Infrastructure Financing \nImprovement Act of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT LOANS.\n\n (a) Amendment to Title 49, United States Code.--Part B of subtitle \nV of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after \nchapter 221 the following new chapter:\n\n ``CHAPTER 223--RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT LOANS\n\n``Sec.\n``22301. Definitions.\n``22302. Direct loans and loan guarantees.\n``22303. Administration of direct loans and loan guarantees.\n\n``SEC. 22301. DEFINITIONS.\n\n ``For purposes of this chapter:\n ``(1)(A) The term `cost' means the estimated long-term cost \n to the Government of a direct loan or loan guarantee, \n calculated on a net present value basis, excluding \n administrative costs and any incidental effects on governmental \n receipts or outlays.\n ``(B) The cost of a direct loan shall be the net present \n value, at the time when the direct loan is disbursed, of the \n following cash flows:\n ``(i) Loan disbursements.\n ``(ii) Repayments of principal.\n ``(iii) Payments of interest and other payments by \n or to the Government over the life of the loan after \n adjusting for estimated defaults, prepayments, fees, \n penalties, and other recoveries.\n ``(C) The cost of a loan guarantee shall be the net present \n value when a guaranteed loan is disbursed, of the following \n cash flows:\n ``(i) Estimated payments by the Government to cover \n defaults and delinquencies, interest subsidies, or \n other payments.\n ``(ii) Estimated payments to the Government, \n including origination and other fees, penalties, and \n recoveries.\n ``(D) Any Government action that alters the estimated net \n present value of an outstanding direct loan or loan guarantee \n (except modifications within the terms of existing contracts or \n through other existing authorities) shall be counted as a \n change in the cost of that direct loan or loan guarantee. The \n calculation of such changes shall be based on the estimated \n present value of the direct loan or loan guarantee at the time \n of modification.\n ``(E) In estimating net present values, the discount rate \n shall be the average interest rate on marketable Treasury \n securities of similar maturity to the direct loan or loan \n guarantee for which the estimate is being made.\n ``(2) The term `direct loan' means a disbursement of funds \n by the Government to a non-Federal borrower under a contract \n that requires the repayment of such funds. The term includes \n the purchase of, or participation in, a loan made by another \n lender. The term does not include the acquisition of a \n federally guaranteed loan in satisfaction of default claims.\n ``(3) The term `direct loan obligation' means a binding \n agreement by the Secretary of Transportation to make a direct \n loan when specified conditions are fulfilled by the borrower.\n ``(4) The term `loan guarantee' means any guarantee, \n insurance, or other pledge with respect to the payment of all \n or a part of the principal or interest on any debt obligation \n of a non-Federal borrower to a non-Federal lender, but does not \n include the insurance of deposits, shares, or other \n withdrawable accounts in financial institutions.\n ``(5) The term `loan guarantee commitment' means a binding \n agreement by the Secretary to make a loan guarantee when \n specified conditions are fulfilled by the borrower, the lender, \n or any other party to the guarantee agreement.\n ``(6) The term `railroad carrier' has the meaning given \n that term in section 20102.\n\n``SEC. 22302. DIRECT LOANS AND LOAN GUARANTEES.\n\n ``(a) General Authority.--The Secretary of Transportation may \nprovide direct loans and loan guarantees to State and local \ngovernments, government sponsored authorities and corporations, and \nrailroad carriers.\n ``(b) Eligible Purposes.--\n ``(1) In general.--Direct loans and loan guarantees under \n this section shall be used to--\n ``(A) acquire, improve, or rehabilitate rail \n equipment or facilities, including track, components of \n track, bridges, yards, buildings, and shops;\n ``(B) refinance outstanding debt incurred for the \n purposes described in subparagraph (A); or\n ``(C) develop or establish new railroad facilities.\n ``(2) Operating expenses not eligible.--Direct loans and \n loan guarantees under this section shall not be used for \n railroad operating expenses.\n ``(c) Priority Projects.--In granting applications for direct loans \nor guaranteed loans under this section, the Secretary shall give \npriority to projects that--\n ``(1) enhance public safety;\n ``(2) enhance the environment;\n ``(3) promote economic development;\n ``(4) enable United States companies to be more competitive \n in international markets;\n ``(5) are endorsed by the plans prepared under section 135 \n of title 23 by the State or States in which they are located; \n or\n ``(6) preserve rail service to small communities or rural \n areas.\n ``(d) Extent of Authority.--The aggregate unpaid principal amounts \nof obligations under direct loans and loan guarantees made under this \nsection shall not exceed $5,000,000,000 at any one time.\n ``(e) Rates of Interest.--\n ``(1) Direct loans.--The Secretary shall require interest \n to be paid on a direct loan made under this section at a rate \n not less than that necessary to recover the cost of making the \n loan.\n ``(2) Loan guarantees.--The Secretary shall not make a loan \n guarantee under this section if the interest rate for the loan \n exceeds that which the Secretary determines to be reasonable, \n taking into consideration the prevailing interest rates and \n customary fees incurred under similar obligations in the \n private capital market.\n ``(f) Infrastructure Partners.--\n ``(1) Authority of secretary.--In lieu of or in combination \n with appropriations of budget authority to cover the costs of \n direct loans and loan guarantees as required under section \n 504(b)(1) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, the \n Secretary may accept on behalf of an applicant for assistance \n under this section a commitment from a non-Federal source to \n fund in whole or in part credit risk premiums with respect to \n the loan that is the subject of the application. In no event \n shall the aggregate of appropriations of budget authority and \n credit risk premiums described in this paragraph with respect \n to a direct loan or loan guarantee be less than the cost of \n that direct loan or loan guarantee.\n ``(2) Credit risk premium amount.--The Secretary shall \n determine the amount required for credit risk premiums under \n this subsection on the basis of--\n ``(A) the circumstances of the applicant, including \n the amount of collateral offered;\n ``(B) the proposed schedule of loan disbursements;\n ``(C) historical data on the repayment history of \n similar borrowers;\n ``(D) consultation with the Congressional Budget \n Office; and\n ``(E) any other factors the Secretary considers \n relevant.\n ``(3) Payment of premiums.--Credit risk premiums under this \n subsection shall be paid to the Secretary before the \n disbursement of loan amounts.\n ``(4) Cohorts of loans.--In order to maintain sufficient \n balances of credit risk premiums to adequately protect the \n Federal Government from risk of default, while minimizing the \n length of time the Government retains possession of those \n balances, the Secretary shall establish cohorts of loans. When \n all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have been \n satisfied, credit risk premiums paid for the cohort, and \n interest accrued thereon, which were not used to mitigate \n losses shall be returned to the original source on a pro rata \n basis.\n ``(g) Prerequisites for Assistance.--The Secretary shall not make a \ndirect loan or loan guarantee under this section unless the Secretary \nhas made a finding in writing that--\n ``(1) repayment of the obligation is required to be made \n within a term of not more than 25 years from the date of its \n execution;\n ``(2) the direct loan or loan guarantee is justified by the \n present and probable future demand for rail services;\n ``(3) the applicant has given reasonable assurances that \n the facilities or equipment to be acquired, rehabilitated, \n improved, developed, or established with the proceeds of the \n obligation will be economically and efficiently utilized;\n ``(4) the obligation can reasonably be repaid, using an \n appropriate combination of credit risk premiums and collateral \n offered by the applicant to protect the Federal Government; and\n ``(5) the purposes of the direct loan or loan guarantee are \n consistent with subsection (b).\n ``(h) Conditions of Assistance.--The Secretary shall, before \ngranting assistance under this section, require the applicant to agree \nto such terms and conditions as are sufficient, in the judgment of the \nSecretary, to ensure that, as long as any principal or interest is due \nand payable on such obligation, the applicant, and any railroad carrier \nfor whose benefit the assistance is intended--\n ``(1) will not use any funds or assets from railroad \n operations for nonrail purposes, if such use would impair the \n ability of the applicant or railroad carrier to provide rail \n services in an efficient and economic manner, or would \n adversely affect the ability of the applicant or railroad \n carrier to perform any obligation entered into by the applicant \n under this section;\n ``(2) will, consistent with its capital resources, maintain \n its capital program, equipment, facilities, and operations on a \n continuing basis; and\n ``(3) will not make any discretionary dividend payments \n that unreasonably conflict with the purposes stated in \n subsection (b).\n\n``SEC. 22303. ADMINISTRATION OF DIRECT LOANS AND LOAN GUARANTEES.\n\n ``(a) Applications.--The Secretary of Transportation shall \nprescribe the form and contents required of applications for assistance \nunder section 22302, to enable the Secretary to determine the \neligibility of the applicant's proposal, and shall establish terms and \nconditions for direct loans and loan guarantees made under that \nsection.\n ``(b) Full Faith and Credit.--Loan guarantees made under section \n22302 shall constitute general obligations of the United States backed \nby the full faith and credit of the United States.\n ``(c) Assignment of Loan Guarantees.--The holder of a loan \nguarantee made under section 22302 may assign the loan guarantee in \nwhole or in part, subject to such requirements as the Secretary may \nprescribe.\n ``(d) Modifications.--The Secretary may approve the modification of \nany term or condition of a direct loan, loan guarantee, direct loan \nobligation, or loan guarantee commitment, including the rate of \ninterest, time of payment of interest or principal, or security \nrequirements, if the Secretary finds in writing that--\n ``(1) the modification is equitable and is in the overall \n best interests of the United States; and\n ``(2) consent has been obtained from the applicant and, in \n the case of a loan guarantee or loan guarantee commitment, the \n holder of the obligation.\n ``(e) Compliance.--The Secretary shall assure compliance, by an \napplicant, any other party to the loan, and any railroad carrier for \nwhose benefit assistance is intended, with the provisions of this Act, \nregulations issued hereunder, and the terms and conditions of the \ndirect loan or loan guarantee, including through regular periodic \ninspections.\n ``(f) Commercial Validity.--For purposes of claims by any party \nother than the Secretary, a loan guarantee or loan guarantee commitment \nshall be conclusive evidence that the underlying obligation is in \ncompliance with the provisions of this Act, and that such obligation \nhas been approved and is legal as to principal, interest, and other \nterms. Such a guarantee or commitment shall be valid and incontestable \nin the hands of a holder thereof, including the original lender or any \nother holder, as of the date when the Secretary granted the application \ntherefor, except as to fraud or material misrepresentation by such \nholder.\n ``(g) Default.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations setting \nforth procedures in the event of default on a loan made or guaranteed \nunder section 22302. The Secretary shall ensure that each loan \nguarantee made under that section contains terms and conditions that \nprovide that--\n ``(1) if a payment of principal or interest under the loan \n is in default for more than 30 days, the Secretary shall pay to \n the holder of the obligation, or the holder's agent, the amount \nof unpaid guaranteed interest;\n ``(2) if the default has continued for more than 90 days, \n the Secretary shall pay to the holder of the obligation, or the \n holder's agent, 90 percent of the unpaid guaranteed principal;\n ``(3) after final resolution of the default, through \n liquidation or otherwise, the Secretary shall pay to the holder \n of the obligation, or the holder's agent, any remaining amounts \n guaranteed but which were not recovered through the default's \n resolution;\n ``(4) the Secretary shall not be required to make any \n payment under paragraphs (1) through (3) if the Secretary \n finds, before the expiration of the periods described in such \n paragraphs, that the default has been remedied; and\n ``(5) the holder of the obligation shall not receive \n payment or be entitled to retain payment in a total amount \n which, together with all other recoveries (including any \n recovery based upon a security interest in equipment or \n facilities) exceeds the actual loss of such holder.\n ``(h) Rights of the Secretary.--\n ``(1) Subrogation.--If the Secretary makes payment to a \n holder, or a holder's agent, under subsection (g) in connection \n with a loan guarantee made under section 22302, the Secretary \n shall be subrogated to all of the rights of the holder with \n respect to the obligor under the loan.\n ``(2) Disposition of property.--The Secretary may complete, \n recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, maintain, operate, \n charter, rent, sell, or otherwise dispose of any property or \n other interests obtained pursuant to this section. The \n Secretary shall not be subject to any Federal or State \n regulatory requirements when carrying out this paragraph.\n ``(i) Action Against Obligor.--The Secretary may bring a civil \naction in an appropriate Federal court in the name of the United States \nin the event of a default on a direct loan made under section 22302, or \nin the name of the United States or of the holder of the obligation in \nthe event of a default on a loan guaranteed under section 22302. The \nholder of a guarantee shall make available to the Secretary all records \nand evidence necessary to prosecute the civil action. The Secretary may \naccept property in full or partial satisfaction of any sums owed as a \nresult of a default. If the Secretary receives, through the sale or \nother disposition of such property, an amount greater than the \naggregate of--\n ``(1) the amount paid to the holder of a guarantee under \n subsection (g) of this section; and\n ``(2) any other cost to the United States of remedying the \n default,\nthe Secretary shall pay such excess to the obligor.\n ``(j) Breach of Conditions.--The Attorney General shall commence a \ncivil action in an appropriate Federal court to enjoin any activity \nwhich the Secretary finds is in violation of this Act, regulations \nissued hereunder, or any conditions which were duly agreed to, and to \nsecure any other appropriate relief.\n ``(k) Attachment.--No attachment or execution may be issued against \nthe Secretary, or any property in the control of the Secretary, prior \nto the entry of final judgment to such effect in any State, Federal, or \nother court.\n ``(l) Investigation Charge.--The Secretary may charge and collect \nfrom each applicant a reasonable charge for appraisal of the value of \nthe equipment or facilities for which the direct loan or loan guarantee \nis sought, and for making necessary determinations and findings. Such \ncharge shall not aggregate more than one-half of 1 percent of the \nprincipal amount of the obligation.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of chapters of subtitle V of \ntitle 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item \nrelating to chapter 221 the following:\n\n``223. RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT LOANS.............. 22301''.\n\nSEC. 3. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING PROVISIONS.\n\n (a) Repeal.--Title V of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory \nReform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 821 et seq.) is repealed.\n (b) Savings Provision.--A transaction entered into under the \nauthority of title V of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory \nReform Act of 1976 before the date of the enactment of this Act shall \nbe administered until completion under its terms as if subsection (a) \nof this subsection were not enacted.\n (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 211(i) of the \nRegional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 721(i)) is \nrepealed.\n (2) Section 306(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by \nstriking ``title V of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform \nAct of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 821 et seq.)'' and inserting in lieu thereof \n``chapter 223 of this title''.", "summary": "Railroad Infrastructure Financing Improvement Act of 1997 - Amends Federal railroad law to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to provide not more than $5 billion in direct loans and loan guarantees to State and local governments, government sponsored authorities and corporations, and railroad carriers to: (1) acquire, improve, or rehabilitate existing rail equipment or facilities, or establish new railroad facilities; or (2) refinance outstanding debt incurred in carrying out such activities. Sets forth specified conditions and eligibility requirements for such loans.", "title": "Railroad Infrastructure Financing Improvement Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 142, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Displaced Older Worker Assistance \nAct of 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. EXCLUSION FROM INCOME OF SEVERANCE PAYMENT AMOUNTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to items specifically excluded \nfrom gross income) is amended by redesignating section 139 as section \n139A and by inserting after section 138 the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 139. SEVERANCE PAYMENTS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--In the case of an individual, gross income shall \nnot include any qualified severance payment.\n ``(b) Limitations.--\n ``(1) Amount.--The amount to which the exclusion under \n subsection (a) applies shall not exceed--\n ``(A) $15,000, with respect to any separation from \n employment, reduced by\n ``(B) the aggregate amount excluded from gross \n income under subsection (a) in prior taxable years.\n ``(2) Years to which exclusion applies.--No qualified \n severance payment shall be excluded from gross income under \n subsection (a) unless such payment is received in the taxable \n year in which separation from employment occurs or in one of \n the two succeeding taxable years.\n ``(c) Qualified Severance Payment.--For purposes of this section, \nthe term `qualified severance payment' means any payment received by an \nindividual if--\n ``(1) such payment was paid by such individual's employer \n on account of such individual's separation from employment, and\n ``(2) such individual received a written notice from such \n employer indicating that such payment is a severance payment.''\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for part III of \nsubchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the item \nrelating to section 139 and inserting the following new items:\n\n ``Sec. 139. Severance payments.\n ``Sec. 139A. Cross references to other \n Acts.''\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this \nAct.\n\nSEC. 3. REFUNDABLE CREDIT FOR RETRAINING EXPENSES FOR CERTAIN OLDER \n LONG-TIME EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LAID OFF.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable credits) \nis amended by redesignating section 35 as section 36 and by inserting \nafter section 34 the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 35. RETRAINING EXPENSES FOR CERTAIN OLDER LONG-TIME EMPLOYEES \n WHO ARE LAID OFF.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an eligible individual, \nthere shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this \nsubtitle an amount equal to the qualified job training expenses which \nare paid or incurred during the taxable year.\n ``(b) Maximum Credit.--The amount of qualified job training \nexpenses of an individual which may be taken into account under \nsubsection (a) with respect to a reduction in a work force for the \ntaxable year shall not exceed $2,000, reduced by the amount of such \nexpenses which were taken into account under subsection (a) (or would \nhave been so taken into account but for subsection (c)) with respect to \nsuch reduction for all prior taxable years.\n ``(c) Limitation Based on Adjusted Gross Income.--\n ``(1) In general.--The dollar amount contained in \n subsection (b) shall be reduced (but not below zero) by an \n amount which bears the same ratio to such limitation as--\n ``(A) the excess of--\n ``(i) the taxpayer's adjusted gross income \n for such taxable year, over\n ``(ii) the applicable dollar amount, bears \n to\n ``(B) $20,000.\n ``(2) Rounding.--Any amount determined under paragraph (1) \n which is not a multiple of $10 shall be rounded to the next \n lowest $10.\n ``(3) Applicable dollar amount.--For purposes of this \n subsection, the term `applicable dollar amount' means--\n ``(A) in the case of a taxpayer filing a joint \n return, $100,000,\n ``(B) in the case of any other taxpayer (other than \n a married individual filing a separate return), \n $75,000, and\n ``(C) in the case of a married individual filing a \n separate return, $50,000.\n A rule similar to the rule of section 219(g)(4) shall apply for \n purposes of this paragraph.\n ``(d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual' \n means any individual if--\n ``(A) during the taxable year or the preceding \n taxable year, such individual separated from employment \n in connection with a reduction in the work force of \n such individual's employer (other than a seasonal \n reduction), and\n ``(B) as of the date of such separation, such \n individual had attained age 50.\n ``(2) Qualified job training expenses.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified job training \n expenses' means--\n ``(i) tuition and fees required for the \n enrollment or attendance of the eligible \n individual--\n ``(I) at an eligible educational \n institution, or\n ``(II) in an applicable training \n program,\n ``(ii) fees, books, supplies, and equipment \n required for an eligible individual for--\n ``(I) courses of instruction at an \n eligible educational institution, or\n ``(II) an applicable training \n program, and\n ``(iii) a reasonable allowance for meals \n and lodging while attending an eligible \n educational institution or an applicable \n training program.\n ``(B) Eligible educational institution.--The term \n `eligible educational institution' means--\n ``(i) an institution of higher education \n (as defined in section 101 or 102 of the Higher \n Education Act of 1965), or\n ``(ii) an area vocational technical \n education school (as defined in subparagraph \n (C) or (D) of section 3(3) of the Carl D. \n Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act \n of 1998) to the extent such school is located \n within any State (as defined in section 3 of \n such Act).\n ``(C) Applicable training program.--The term \n `applicable training program' means--\n ``(i) any program under the Carl D. Perkins \n Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, \n chapter 5 of subtitle B of title I of the \n Workforce Investment Act of 1998, or the \n Wagner-Peyser Act, and\n ``(ii) any training program approved under \n section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974.''\n (b) Technical Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United \n States Code, is amended by inserting ``from section 35 of such \n Code, or'' after ``1978,''.\n (2) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of \n subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking \n the last item and inserting the following new items:\n\n ``Sec. 35. Retraining expenses for \n certain older long-time \n employees who are laid off.\n ``Sec. 36. Overpayments of tax.''\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000.\n\nSEC. 4. STUDY ON SPECIAL NEEDS OF DISPLACED OLDER WORKERS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States, in \ncollaboration with the Secretary of Labor and the head of any other \nFederal agency offering a job training or retraining program, shall \nconduct a study on the special needs of displaced older workers. The \nstudy shall--\n (1) examine the unique differences in needs and challenges \n that older workers face when finding a new job after a layoff \n or work separation in comparison to younger workers facing such \n challenges;\n (2) include an assessment of whether existing Federal job \n training or retraining programs adequately serve and meet the \n special needs and challenges of older workers;\n (3) include an assessment of whether older workers are \n disproportionately impacted by job losses attributable to \n international trade; and\n (4) include an assessment of the financial incentives for \n typical private firms to invest in worker training for older \n workers in comparison to such incentives for younger workers.\n (b) Submission of Reports to Congress.--\n (1) Final report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of \n the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit \n to the Congress a report on the study required by subsection \n (a). The report shall include such legislative and \n administrative recommendations as the Comptroller General \n determines are necessary or appropriate to improve the \n effectiveness of existing Federal programs in serving the needs \n of displaced older workers.\n (2) Interim report.--Not later than 6 months after the date \n of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall \n submit to the Congress an interim report with respect to the \n study required by this section.\n (c) Older Worker Defined.--For purposes of this section, the term \n``older worker'' means an individual who is in or desires to be in the \nworkforce and who has attained age 50.", "summary": "Displaced Older Worker Assistance Act of 2001-Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exclude certain severance payments from income; and (2) allow as a credit qualified job retraining expenses for certain older long-time employees who are laid off.Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to study the special needs of displaced older workers.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude certain severance payments from gross income and to allow a refundable credit for job training expenses of older long-time employees who are laid off."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 842, "text": "SECTION 1. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSEMBLY OF THE AMERICAS.\n\n (a) Establishment and Meetings.--Not to exceed 13 Members of \nCongress shall be appointed to meet jointly and at least annually and \nwhen Congress is not in session (except that this restriction shall not \napply to meetings held in the United States) with representative \nparliamentary groups from other countries in the Americas for the \npurposes of--\n (1) discussing common problems and interests in \n intellectual and industrial property; and\n (2) initiating and promoting such national and multilateral \n measures as may further common interests in intellectual and \n industrial property.\n (b) Appointment of United States Delegation.--For each meeting of \nthe Intellectual Property Assembly of the Americas, there shall be \nappointed a United States Delegation, as follows:\n (1) In 1998 and every even-numbered year thereafter--\n (A) 7 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of \n the House of Representatives from Members of the House \n of Representatives (3 of whom, including the \n Chairperson of the United States Delegation, shall be \n from the Committee on International Relations and 4 of \n whom shall be from the Committee on the Judiciary); and\n (B) 6 members shall, upon recommendations of the \n majority and minority leaders of the Senate, be \n appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate \n from Members of the Senate (2 of whom, including the \n Vice Chairperson of the United States Delegation, shall \n be from the Committee on Foreign Relations and 4 of \n whom shall be from the Committee on the Judiciary, \n unless the President pro tempore of the Senate, upon \n recommendations of the majority and minority leaders of \n the Senate, determines otherwise).\n Such appointments shall be for the period of each meeting of \n the Intellectual Property Assembly of the Americas.\n (2) In every odd-numbered year beginning in 1999--\n (A) 7 members shall, upon recommendations of the \n majority and minority leaders of the Senate, be \n appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate \n from Members of the Senate (3 of whom, including the \n Chairperson of the United States Delegation, shall be \n from the Committee on Foreign Relations and 4 of whom \n shall be from the Committee on the Judiciary, unless \n the President pro tempore of the Senate, upon \n recommendations of the majority and minority leaders of \n the Senate, determines otherwise); and\n (B) 6 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of \n the House of Representatives from Members of the House \n of Representatives (2 of whom, including the Vice \n Chairperson of the United States Delegation, shall be \n from the Committee on the Judiciary).\n Such appointments shall be for the period of each meeting of \n the Intellectual Property Assembly of the Americas.\n (c) Administrative Support.--For the purpose of providing general \nstaff support, each United States Delegation shall have 2 secretaries \n(1 of whom shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Delegation and \n1 of whom shall be appointed by the Vice Chairperson of the \nDelegation).\n (d) Funding.--\n (1) United states participation.--There is authorized to be \n appropriated for each fiscal year the sum of $60,000 to assist \n in meeting the expenses of the United States Delegation. For \n each fiscal year for which an appropriation is made under this \n subsection, half of such appropriation may be disbursed on \n vouchers to be approved by the Chairperson and half of such \n appropriation may be disbursed on vouchers to be approved by \n the Vice Chairperson.\n (2) Availability of appropriations.--Amounts appropriated \n pursuant to this subsection are authorized to remain available \n until expended.\n (e) Annual Report.--The United States Delegation shall, for each \nfiscal year for which an appropriation is made pursuant to this \nsection, submit to the Congress a report that includes its expenditures \nunder such appropriation. The certificate of the Chairperson and Vice \nChairperson of the United States Delegation shall be final and \nconclusive upon the accounting officers in the auditing of the accounts \nof the United States Delegation.\n (f) Funding for Expenses of Annual Meetings.--In addition to the \namounts authorized by subsection (d), there is authorized to be \nappropriated the sum of $100,000 for fiscal year 1998 to meet the \nexpenses incurred by the United States Delegation in hosting the first \nannual meeting of the Intellectual Property Assembly of the Americas. \nAmounts appropriated under this subsection are authorized to remain \navailable until expended.\n\nSEC. 2. REPORTS OF EXPENDITURES; CONFORMING AMENDMENT.\n\n Section 105(b) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1961 \n(22 U.S.C. 276c-1), is amended by inserting ``the Intellectual Property \nAssembly of the Americas,'' after ``the Mexico-United States \nInterparliamentary Group,''.", "summary": "Provides for appointment of a U.S. Delegation (consisting of 13 Members of Congress) to the Intellectual Property Assembly of the Americas, which shall meet annually with representative parliamentary groups from other countries in the Americas to: (1) discuss common problems and interests in intellectual and industrial property; and (2) promote national and multilateral measures that may further common interests in such property. Authorizes appropriations.", "title": "To establish the Intellectual Property Assembly of the Americas and to provide for participation in the Assembly by the United States Delegation."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2683, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of \nFallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. CALCULATION OF ELIGIBILITY.\n\n Section 473(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n1087mm(b)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (2)--\n (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by \n inserting ``(in the case of a student who meets the \n requirement of subparagraph (B)(i)), or academic year \n 2011-2012 (in the case of a student who meets the \n requirement of subparagraph (B)(ii)),'' after \n ``academic year 2009-2010''; and\n (B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as \n follows:\n ``(B) whose parent or guardian was--\n ``(i) a member of the Armed Forces of the \n United States and died as a result of \n performing military service in Iraq or \n Afghanistan after September 11, 2001; or\n ``(ii) actively serving as a public safety \n officer and died in the line of duty while \n performing as a public safety officer; and'';\n (2) in paragraph (3)--\n (A) by striking ``Notwithstanding'' and inserting \n the following:\n ``(A) Armed forces.--Notwithstanding'';\n (B) by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting \n ``subparagraphs (A), (B)(i), and (C) of paragraph \n (2)''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(B) Public safety officers.--Notwithstanding any \n other provision of law, unless the Secretary \n establishes an alternate method to adjust the expected \n family contribution, for each student who meets the \n requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B)(ii), and (C) of \n paragraph (2), a financial aid administrator shall--\n ``(i) verify with the student that the \n student is eligible for the adjustment;\n ``(ii) adjust the expected family \n contribution in accordance with this \n subsection; and\n ``(iii) notify the Secretary of the \n adjustment and the student's eligibility for \n the adjustment.''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(4) Treatment of pell amount.--Notwithstanding section \n 1212 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 \n (42 U.S.C. 3796d-1), in the case of a student who receives an \n increased Federal Pell Grant amount under this section, the \n total amount of such Federal Pell Grant, including the increase \n under this subsection, shall not be considered in calculating \n that student's educational assistance benefits under the Public \n Safety Officers' Benefits program under subpart 2 of part L of \n title I of such Act.\n ``(5) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection:\n ``(A) Firefighter.--The term `firefighter' means an \n individual who is trained in the suppression of fire or \n hazardous materials response and has the legal \n authority to engage in these duties.\n ``(B) Law enforcement officer.--The term `law \n enforcement officer' means an individual who--\n ``(i) is authorized by law to engage in or \n supervise the prevention, detection, \n investigation, or prosecution of, or the \n incarceration of any person for, any violation \n of law; and\n ``(ii) has statutory powers of arrest or \n apprehension.\n ``(C) Member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew.--\n The term `member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew' \n means an individual who is an officially recognized or \n designated public employee member of a rescue squad or \n ambulance crew.\n ``(D) Federal or public agency.--The term `Federal \n or public agency' means--\n ``(i) the United States, any State of the \n United States, the District of Columbia, the \n Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands \n of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, the \n Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, \n the Freely Associated States, or any territory \n or possession of the United States;\n ``(ii) any unit of local government, \n department, agency, or instrumentality of any \n of the entities described in clause (i); or\n ``(iii) the Amtrak Police department or \n Federal Reserve Police department.\n ``(E) Public safety officer.--The term `public \n safety officer' means an individual serving a Federal \n or public agency in an official capacity, with or \n without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, as \n a firefighter, or as a member of a rescue squad or \n ambulance crew.''.\n\nSEC. 3. CALCULATION OF PELL GRANT AMOUNT.\n\n Section 401(b)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n1070a(b)(2)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause \n (i), by striking ``The Amount'' and inserting ``Subject to \n subparagraph (C), the amount''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(C) In the case of a student who meets the \n requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B)(ii), and (C) of \n section 473(b)(2)--\n ``(i) clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of \n this paragraph shall be applied by substituting \n `from the amounts appropriated in the last \n enacted appropriation Act applicable to that \n award year, an amount equal to the amount of \n the increase calculated under paragraph (8)(B) \n for that year' for `the amount of the increase \n calculated under paragraph (8)(B) for that \n year'; and\n ``(ii) such student--\n ``(I) shall be provided an amount \n under clause (i) of this subparagraph \n only to the extent that funds are \n specifically provided in advance in an \n appropriation Act to such students for \n that award year; and\n ``(II) shall not be eligible for \n the amounts made available pursuant to \n clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph \n (8)(A).''.\n\nSEC. 4. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.\n\n The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying \nwith the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by \nreference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO \nLegislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional \nRecord by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, provided that \nsuch statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.\n\nSEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on \nJuly 1, 2011.", "summary": "Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2010 - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate the expected family contribution used in determining a student's need for title IV assistance in the case of a student applicant who is eligible for a Pell Grant and whose parent or guardian died as a result of performing service as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew.\n\nRequires such student to be less than 24 years old and enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of his or her parent's or guardian's death.\n\nGives financial aid administrators the responsibility of verifying that such students are eligible to have their expected family contribution adjusted (or eliminated), and of adjusting (or eliminating) it, unless the Secretary of Education establishes an alternate method of adjusting their expected family contribution.\n\nProhibits the total Pell Grant of a student whose Pell Grant is increased by reason of this Act from being considered in calculating that student's educational assistance benefits under the Public Safety Officer's Benefits program.\n\n Alters the source of the annual Pell Grant increase for such students to require that it be provided only to the extent that funds are specifically provided in advance to such students in an appropriation Act for that award year.", "title": "A bill to increase Federal Pell Grants for the children of fallen public safety officers, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2628, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Interest Checking Act \nof 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. INTEREST-BEARING TRANSACTION ACCOUNTS AUTHORIZED.\n\n (a) Repeal of Prohibition on Payment of Interest on Demand \nDeposits.--\n (1) Federal reserve act.--Section 19(i) of the Federal \n Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 371a) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(i) [Repealed]''.\n (2) Home owners' loan act.--The first sentence of section \n 5(b)(1)(B) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. \n 1464(b)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``savings association may \n not--'' and all that follows through ``(ii) permit any'' and \n inserting ``savings association may not permit any''.\n (3) Federal deposit insurance act.--Section 18(g) of the \n Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(g)) is amended to \n read as follows:\n ``(g) [Repealed]''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall \ntake effect at the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of \nthe enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. INTEREST-BEARING TRANSACTION ACCOUNTS AUTHORIZED FOR ALL \n BUSINESSES.\n\n Section 2 of Public Law 93-100 (12 U.S.C. 1832) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following \n new paragraph:\n ``(3) Exception from paragraph (2) limitation.--Paragraph \n (2) shall not apply to any depository institution which is \n prohibited by the applicable law of its chartering State from \n offering demand deposits and either--\n ``(A) does not engage in any lending activities; or\n ``(B) is not an affiliate of any company or \n companies with assets that, in the aggregate, represent \n more than 10 percent of the total assets of the \n depository institution.'';\n (2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections \n (c) and (d), respectively; and\n (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:\n ``(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any depository \ninstitution may permit the owner of any deposit or account which is a \ndeposit or account on which interest or dividends are paid and is not a \ndeposit or account described in subsection (a)(2) to make up to 24 \ntransfers per month (or such greater number as the Board may determine \nby rule or order), for any purpose, to another account of the owner in \nthe same institution. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to \nprevent an account offered pursuant to this subsection from being \nconsidered a transaction account (as defined in section 19(b) of the \nFederal Reserve Act for purposes of such Act).''.\n\nSEC. 4. PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON RESERVES AT FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 19(b) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 \nU.S.C. 461(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nparagraph:\n ``(12) Earnings on reserves.--\n ``(A) In general.--Balances maintained at a Federal \n reserve bank by or on behalf of a depository \n institution may receive earnings to be paid by the \n Federal reserve bank at least once each calendar \n quarter at a rate or rates not to exceed the general \n level of short-term interest rates.\n ``(B) Regulations relating to payments and \n distribution.--The Board may prescribe regulations \n concerning--\n ``(i) the payment of earnings in accordance \n with this paragraph;\n ``(ii) the distribution of such earnings to \n the depository institutions which maintain \n balances at such banks or on whose behalf such \n balances are maintained; and\n ``(iii) the responsibilities of depository \n institutions, Federal home loan banks, and the \n National Credit Union Administration Central \n Liquidity Facility with respect to the \n crediting and distribution of earnings \n attributable to balances maintained, in \n accordance with subsection (c)(1)(B), in a \n Federal reserve bank by any such entity on \n behalf of depository institutions.''.\n (b) Authorization for Pass Through Reserves for Member Banks.--\nSection 19(c)(1)(B) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 461(c)(1)(B)) \nis amended by striking ``which is not a member bank''.\n (c) Survey of Bank Fees and Services.--Section 19 of the Federal \nReserve Act (as amended by subsections (a) and (b) of this section) is \namended by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(n) Survey of Bank Fees and Services.--\n ``(1) Annual survey required.--The Board shall obtain \n annually a sample, which is representative by type and size of \n the institution and geographic location, of the following \n retail banking services and products provided by insured \n depository institutions and insured credit unions (along with \n related fees and minimum balances):\n ``(A) Checking and other transaction accounts.\n ``(B) Negotiable order of withdrawal and savings \n accounts.\n ``(C) Automated teller machine transactions.\n ``(D) Other electronic transactions.\n ``(E) Credit Cards.\n ``(2) Minimum survey requirement.--The annual survey \n described in paragraph (1) shall meet the following minimum \n requirements:\n ``(A) Checking and other transaction accounts.--\n Data on checking and transaction accounts shall \n include, at a minimum, the following:\n ``(i) Monthly and annual fees and minimum \n balances to avoid such fees.\n ``(ii) Minimum opening balances.\n ``(iii) Check processing fees.\n ``(iv) Check printing fees.\n ``(v) Balance inquiry fees.\n ``(vi) Fees imposed for using a teller or \n other institution employee.\n ``(vii) Stop payment order fees.\n ``(viii) Nonsufficient fund fees.\n ``(ix) Overdraft fees.\n ``(x) Deposit items returned fees.\n ``(xi) Availability of no-cost or low-cost \n accounts for consumers who maintain low \n balances.\n ``(B) Negotiable order of withdrawal accounts and \n savings accounts.--Data on negotiable order of \n withdrawal accounts and savings accounts shall include, \n at a minimum, the following:\n ``(i) Monthly and annual fees and minimum \n balances to avoid such fees.\n ``(ii) Minimum opening balances.\n ``(iii) Rate at which interest is paid to \n consumers.\n ``(iv) Check processing fees for negotiable \n order of withdrawal accounts.\n ``(v) Check printing fees for negotiable \n order of withdrawal accounts.\n ``(vi) Balance inquiry fees.\n ``(vii) Fees imposed for using a teller or \n other institution employee.\n ``(viii) Stop payment order fees for \n negotiable order of withdrawal accounts.\n ``(ix) Nonsufficient fund fees for \n negotiable order of withdrawal accounts.\n ``(x) Overdraft fees for negotiable order \n of withdrawal accounts.\n ``(xi) Deposit items returned fees.\n ``(xii) Availability of no-cost or low-cost \n accounts for consumers who maintain low \n balances.\n ``(C) Automated teller transactions.--Data on \n automated teller machine transactions shall include, at \n a minimum, the following:\n ``(i) Annual and monthly fees.\n ``(ii) Card fees.\n ``(iii) Fees charged to customers for \n withdrawals, deposits, transfers between \n accounts, balance inquiries through \n institution-owned machines.\n ``(iv) Fees charged to customers for \n withdrawals, deposits, transfers between \n accounts, balance inquiries through machines \n owned by others.\n ``(v) Fees charged to noncustomers for \n withdrawals, deposits, transfers between \n accounts, balance inquiries through \n institution-owned machines.\n ``(vi) Point-of-sale transaction fees.\n ``(vii) Surcharges.\n ``(D) Other electronic transactions.--Data on other \n electronic transactions shall include, at a minimum, \n the following:\n ``(i) Wire transfer fees.\n ``(ii) Fees related to payments made over \n the Internet or through other electronic means.\n ``(E) Credit card charges and fees.--Data related \n to credit cards shall include, at a minimum, the \n following:\n ``(i) Application fees.\n ``(ii) Annual and monthly fees.\n ``(iii) Rates of interest charged for \n purchases and cash advances, when an account is \n not in default.\n ``(iv) Rates of interest charged for \n purchases and cash advances, when an account is \n in default.\n ``(v) Average annual finance charges paid \n by customers.\n ``(vi) Late payment fees.\n ``(vii) Cash advance and convenience check \n fees.\n ``(viii) Balance transfer fees.\n ``(ix) Over-the-credit-limit fees.\n ``(x) Foreign currency conversion fees.\n ``(F) Other fees and charges.--Data on any other \n fees and charges that the Board determines to be \n appropriate to meet the purposes of this section.\n ``(3) Annual Report to Congress Required.--\n ``(A) Preparation.--The Board shall prepare a \n report of the results of each survey conducted pursuant \n to paragraph (1) and (2).\n ``(B) Contents of the report.--In addition to the \n data required to be collected pursuant to paragraphs \n (1) and (2), each report prepared pursuant to \n subparagraph (A) shall include a description of any \n discernible trend, in the Nation as a whole, in each of \n the 50 States, and in each metropolitan statistical \n area (as defined by the Director of the Office of \n Management and Budget), in the cost and availability of \n the retail banking services, including those described \n in paragraphs (1) and (2) (including related fees and \n minimum balances), that delineates differences between \n institutions on the basis of the type of institution, \n the size of the institution and any engagement of the \n institution in multistate activity.\n ``(C) Submission to congress.--The Board shall \n submit an annual report to the Congress under this \n paragraph not later than June 1, 2002, and not later \n than June 1 of each subsequent year.\n ``(4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection, the \n terms `insured depository institution' and `insured credit \n union' mean any depository institution (as defined in \n subsection (b)(1)(A)) the deposits or shares in which are \n insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act or the Federal \n Credit Union Act.''.\n (d) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Section 19 of the Federal \nReserve Act (12 U.S.C. 461) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (b)(4) (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(4)), by striking \n subparagraph (C) and redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as \n subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and\n (2) in subsection (c)(1)(A) (12 U.S.C. 461(c)(1)(A)), by \n striking ``subsection (b)(4)(C)'' and inserting ``subsection \n (b)''.\n\nSEC. 5. INCREASED FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD FLEXIBILITY IN SETTING RESERVE \n REQUIREMENTS.\n\n Section 19(b)(2)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. \n461(b)(2)(A)) is amended--\n (1) in clause (i), by striking ``the ratio of 3 per \n centum'' and inserting ``a ratio not greater than 3 percent \n (and which may be zero)''; and\n (2) in clause (ii), by striking ``and not less than 8 per \n centum,'' and inserting ``(and which may be zero),''.\n\nSEC. 6. TRANSFER OF FEDERAL RESERVE SURPLUSES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 7(b) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. \n289(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(4) Additional transfers to cover interest payments for \n fiscal years 2002 through 2006.--\n ``(A) In general.--In addition to the amounts \n required to be transferred from the surplus funds of \n the Federal reserve banks pursuant to subsection \n (a)(3), the Federal reserve banks shall transfer from \n such surplus funds to the Board of Governors of the \n Federal Reserve System for transfer to the Secretary of \n the Treasury for deposit in the general fund of the \n Treasury, such sums as are necessary to equal the net \n cost of section 19(b)(12), as estimated by the Office \n of Management and Budget, in each of the fiscal years \n 2002 through 2006.\n ``(B) Allocation by federal reserve board.--Of the \n total amount required to be paid by the Federal reserve \n banks under subparagraph (A) for fiscal years 2002 \n through 2006, the Board of Governors of the Federal \n Reserve System shall determine the amount each such \n bank shall pay in such fiscal year.\n ``(C) Replenishment of surplus fund prohibited.--\n During fiscal years 2002 through 2006, no Federal \n reserve bank may replenish such bank's surplus fund by \n the amount of any transfer by such bank under \n subparagraph (A).''.\n (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 7(a) of the \nFederal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 289(a)) is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new paragraph:\n ``(3) Payment to treasury.--During fiscal years 2002 \n through 2006, any amount in the surplus fund of any Federal \n reserve bank in excess of the amount equal to 3 percent of the \n paid-in capital and surplus of the member banks of such bank \n shall be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury for \n deposit in the general fund of the Treasury.''.\n\nSEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.\n\n No provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall \nbe construed as creating any presumption or implication that, in the \ncase of an escrow account maintained at a depository institution in \nconnection with a real estate transaction--\n (1) the absorption, by the depository institution, of \n expenses incidental to providing a normal banking function with \n respect to such escrow account;\n (2) the forbearance, by the depository institution, from \n charging a fee for providing any such banking function; and\n (3) any benefit which may accrue to the holder or the \n beneficiary of such escrow account as a result of an action of \n the depository institution described in paragraph (1) or (2),\nmay be treated as the payment or receipt of interest for purposes of \nany provision of Public Law 93-100, the Federal Reserve Act, the Home \nOwners' Loan Act, or the Federal Deposit Insurance Act relating to the \npayment of interest on accounts or deposits at depository institutions.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives April 3, 2001.\n\n Attest:\n\n JEFF TRANDAHL,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Small Business Interest Checking Act of 2001- Amends the Federal Reserve Act, the Home Owners' Loan Act, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to repeal the proscription against payment of interest on demand deposits.Authorizes certain depository institutions prohibited by State law from offering demand deposits to offer all owners of a interest- or dividend-paying deposit or account to make withdrawals by negotiable or transferable instruments for the purpose of making payments to third parties. Requires that such an institution either: (1) not engage in lending activities; or (2) not be an affiliate of a company or companies whose aggregate assets represent over ten percent of the institution's total assets.Amends Federal banking law governing interaccount transfers to provide that a depository institution may permit owners of certain interest- or dividend-paying accounts to make up to 24 transfers monthly for any purpose to their other accounts in the same institution.Amends the Federal Reserve Act to authorize a Federal reserve bank to pay interest at least quarterly (at a rate not to exceed the general level of short term interest rates) to a depository institution on any balance it maintains at the reserve bank.Repeals a specified restriction in order to authorize pass-through reserves for member banks (as well as non-member banks).Instructs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to obtain annually a prescribed survey of designated retail bank fees and services (including electronic and credit card fees), and report the results annually to Congress.Reformulates the mandatory depository institution reserve ratio to: (1) one that is not greater than three percent, and may be zero, (currently, a flat ratio of three percent) for transaction accounts of $25 million or less; and (2) reduce from eight percent to zero the minimum ratio for transaction accounts exceeding $25 million. (Thus authorizes zero reserve requirements for such accounts.)Requires the Federal Reserve banks to transfer certain surplus funds for deposit into the general fund of the Treasury equal to the estimated net cost of making the quarterly payments of interest mandated by this Act for FY 2002 through 2006.Prohibits such banks from replenishing surplus funds by the amount of any such transfers during that time period.", "title": "To repeal the prohibition on the payment of interest on demand deposits, to increase the number of interaccount transfers which may be made from business accounts at depository institutions, to authorize the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to pay interest on reserves, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2601, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``International Hydrocephalus \nTreatment and Training Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Hydrocephalus, also known as ``water on the brain'', is \n a medical condition in which an abnormal accumulation of \n cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles or cavities of the brain \n causes increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and \n progressive enlargement of the head.\n (2) If left untreated, hydrocephalus leads to physical and \n mental disabilities and eventually death.\n (3) Hydrocephalus is an extremely painful condition that \n most commonly occurs in infants and young children as a result \n of a congenital abnormality (anatomic abnormality, aqueductal \n stenosis, spina bifida or encephalocele), or post-infectious \n hydrocephalus (PIH) caused by infections acquired after birth, \n such as meningitis, that attack the brain.\n (4) PIH is the most common cause of hydrocephalus globally, \n accounting for approximately 60 percent of all cases.\n (5) Three to five out of every 1,000 newborns in developing \n countries are either born with hydrocephalus or acquire it due \n to neonatal infections in the first few months of life.\n (6) It is conservatively estimated that more than 300,000 \n children are born with or acquire hydrocephalus in the \n developing world each year.\n (7) Children with hydrocephalus who are not effectively \n treated or who are not treated in the early stages of the \n condition suffer from cognitive deficiencies or physical \n disabilities or both.\n (8) Families of children who have hydrocephalus in \n developing countries rarely know that it is a treatable \n condition, where to go for treatment, or how to care for a \n child suffering from the condition.\n (9) Many children with hydrocephalus in developing \n countries are abandoned, ostracized, or abused due to their \n appearance and physical and mental disabilities.\n (10) Hydrocephalus can be treated, and advances in \n innovative medical procedures such as ETV/CPC have the \n potential to save thousands of lives annually and prevent or \n mitigate physical and mental disabilities in thousands of \n children in developing countries.\n (11) The current standard treatment for hydrocephalus is \n the VP shunt which often requires up to 5 surgical revisions \n before a child reaches adulthood to remedy blockages in the \n shunt and to account for the child's growth. Blockages can be \n expected during the life of the patient and can lead to death, \n particularly in developing countries where access to the \n requisite medical expertise often is not available.\n (12) Due to the need for multiple replacements of a VP \n shunt, this treatment is expensive and creates an increased \n burden on fragile health systems, patients, and families.\n (13) ETV/CPC is a shunt-less surgery for hydrocephalus that \n does not require a VP shunt and has been shown to be \n appropriate in at least two-thirds of the cases of infants with \n hydrocephalus. Of those cases, ETV/CPC is 93 percent effective \n in eliminating hydrocephalus.\n (14) Few hospitals with the expertise and capacity to treat \n hydrocephalus exist in developing countries, and the demand for \n treatment far exceeds the capacity of health systems in those \n countries.\n (15) Neurosurgical care for hydrocephalus in developing \n countries is widely unavailable due to a lack of trained \n neurosurgeons. In East Africa, there is only 1 neurosurgeon per \n 10,000,000 people. In many developing countries there are no \n trained neurosurgeons.\n (16) Hundreds of thousands of cases of hydrocephalus in \n children in developing countries could be successfully treated \n if adequate resources are devoted to training surgeons in new \n techniques, such as ETV/CPC, and many future cases could be \n prevented if adequate resources are devoted to research means \n to mitigate the preventable causes of hydrocephalus.\n (17) Adoption of innovative new techniques to treat \n hydrocephalus, such as ETV/CPC, are more cost effective in the \n long term than current treatment methods since only one surgery \n is required in most cases, thus limiting the impact on \n overburdened health systems in developing countries.\n\nSEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO TREAT HYDROCEPHALUS AND TRAIN SURGEONS.\n\n Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 \nU.S.C. 2151 et. seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating the second section 135 (as added by \n section 5(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act \n of 2005 (Public Law 109-121; 119 Stat. 2536)) as section 136; \n and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 137. ASSISTANCE TO TREAT HYDROCEPHALUS AND TRAIN SURGEONS.\n\n ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of assistance authorized by this \nsection are--\n ``(1) to ensure that life-saving treatment of hydrocephalus \n is an important priority of United States bilateral foreign \n assistance, including through promotion of innovative \n treatments and training of medical practitioners from the \n developing world in the latest treatment protocols and best \n practices for the treatment of hydrocephalus, including--\n ``(A) surgery and post-surgery care in developing \n countries;\n ``(B) the creation of a comprehensive hydrocephalus \n training program based in the developing world for \n surgeons and key members of their medical team; and\n ``(C) the training of medical practitioners based \n in the developing world in ETV/CPC and other \n appropriate treatment protocols; and\n ``(2) to promote research to reduce the incidence of PIH \n epidemiology, pathophysiology, and disease burden, and to \n improve treatment of hydrocephalus.\n ``(b) Authorization.--To carry out the purposes of subsection (a), \nthe President is authorized to provide assistance to support a network \nof trained medical practitioners to treat hydrocephalus in children at \npediatric hospitals and hydrocephalus treatment centers in developing \ncountries with a high incidence of hydrocephalus.\n ``(c) Activities Supported.--\n ``(1) Comprehensive program.--\n ``(A) In general.--Assistance provided under \n subsection (b) shall, to the maximum extent \n practicable, be used to establish a comprehensive \n program to administer global hydrocephalus treatment \n and training activities utilizing a network of \n pediatric hospitals capable of performing endoscopic \n surgery in developing countries.\n ``(B) Administration.--The program described in \n subparagraph (A) shall be administered by healthcare \n executives and neurosurgeons with expertise in the \n treatment of hydrocephalus.\n ``(C) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of \n the administrators described in subparagraph (B) shall \n include--\n ``(i) developing an appropriate education \n and training curriculum;\n ``(ii) establishing quality control \n standards;\n ``(iii) instituting safety guidelines and \n standards; and\n ``(iv) developing monitoring and evaluation \n protocols.\n ``(2) Training hospital.--\n ``(A) In general.--Assistance provided under \n subsection (b) shall, to the maximum extent \n practicable, be used to establish a surgeon training \n program within a pediatric hospital based in a \n developing country with a high incidence of \n hydrocephalus with the goal of training four surgeons \n annually and a total of 20 surgeons over a 5-year \n period to treat hydrocephalus utilizing the ETV/CPC \n technique.\n ``(B) Timeline.--To the maximum extent practicable, \n the surgeon training program described in subparagraph \n (A) should be operational no later than 1 year after \n the date of enactment of this Act.\n ``(C) Training admissions criteria.--Candidates for \n the surgeon training program established under \n subparagraph (A) shall--\n ``(i) have a demonstrated commitment to \n providing medical assistance in the developing \n world; and\n ``(ii) certify that the candidate intends \n to remain and practice medicine in the \n developing world following completion of the \n program.\n ``(D) Training program methodology.--The surgeon \n training program established under subparagraph (A) \n shall--\n ``(i) be conducted by a neurosurgeon with a \n minimum of 3 years of full-time operating \n experience in the developing world;\n ``(ii) be a hands-on operating room \n experience in the developing world;\n ``(iii) utilize a hydrocephalus treatment \n protocol with an emphasis on ETV/CPC as the \n preferred treatment when medically appropriate; \n and\n ``(iv) require that each trainee complete a \n minimum of 50 ETV/CPC or ETV procedures and at \n least 25 VP shunt procedures.\n ``(3) Treatment centers.--\n ``(A) In general.--Assistance provided under \n subsection (b) shall, to the maximum extent \n practicable, be used to establish at least 20 \n hydrocephalus treatment centers located at public and \n private hospital in developing countries with a high \n incidence of hydrocephalus, which shall include \n treatment costs, endoscopy equipment and medical \n supplies necessary to provide ETV/CPC procedures to \n treat hydrocephalus.\n ``(B) Staffing.--The treatment centers described in \n subparagraph (A) shall be staffed by--\n ``(i) one or more surgeons who have \n successfully completed the surgeon training \n program provided pursuant to paragraph (2); and\n ``(ii) a patient care administrator.\n ``(C) Treatment.--The treatment centers described \n in subparagraph (A) shall--\n ``(i) provide surgery to treat \n hydrocephalus in children;\n ``(ii) perform at least 50 hydrocephalus \n surgeries annually including a minimum of 25 \n ETV or ETV/CPC surgeries; and\n ``(iii) provide post-surgery care and \n support for the children treated in accordance \n with clause (i).\n ``(4) Medical records and data.--Assistance provided under \n subsection (b) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, \n include the maintenance of medical records which track patient \n care activities and information about the causes and incidence \n rates of PIH.\n ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) CPC.--The term `CPC' means choroid plexus \n cauterization, a surgical procedure to reduce the production of \n cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.\n ``(2) ETV.--The term `ETV' means endoscopic third \n ventriculostomy, a shunt-less surgical procedure in which an \n opening is created in the floor of the third ventricle of the \n brain allowing cerebrospinal fluid to bypass any obstruction \n and flow directly to the basal cisterns.\n ``(3) ETV/CPC.--The term `ETV/CPC' means the shunt-less \n surgical method for treating hydrocephalus through the \n combination of ETV and CPC surgical procedures.\n ``(4) Hydrocephalus.--The term `hydrocephalus' means a \n medical condition in which an abnormal accumulation of \n cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles or cavities of the brain \n causes increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and \n progressive enlargement of the head.\n ``(5) Medical practitioners.--The term `medical \n practitioners' means physicians, nurses and other clinicians.\n ``(6) PIH.--The term `PIH' means post-infectious or \n acquired hydrocephalus which is the onset of hydrocephalus \n after birth due to the affects of an infection, such as \n meningitis, that has attacked the brain.\n ``(7) VP shunt.--The term `VP shunt' means a \n ventriculoperitonea shunt which is a plastic tube that is \n regulated by a valve and surgically placed in a brain ventricle \n that allows the cerebrospinal fluid to flow out of the brain \n through the tube and into the patient's abdomen.\n ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts made \navailable to carry out this chapter for child survival and maternal \nhealth programs, there are authorized to be appropriated to the \nPresident such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years \n2014 through 2018 to carry out this section.''.", "summary": "International Hydrocephalus Treatment and Training Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance to support a network of trained medical practitioners to treat hydrocephalus in children at pediatric hospitals and hydrocephalus treatment centers in developing countries. Requires such assistance to provide for surgeon training and establishment of at least 20 treatment centers.", "title": "International Hydrocephalus Treatment and Training Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1730, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act \nof 1999''.\n\nSEC. 2. JOHN H. PRESCOTT MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--Title IV of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of \n1972 (16 U.S.C. 1371 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating sections 408 and 409 as sections 409 \n and 410, respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after section 407 the following:\n\n``SEC. 408. JOHN H. PRESCOTT MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE GRANT \n PROGRAM.\n\n ``(a) In General.--(1) Subject to the availability of \nappropriations, the Secretary shall conduct a grant program to be known \nas the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, \nto provide grants to eligible stranding network participants for the \nrecovery or treatment of marine mammals, the collection of data from \nliving or dead marine mammals for scientific research regarding marine \nmammal health, and facility operation costs that are directly related \nto those purposes.\n ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall ensure that, to the greatest extent \npracticable, funds provided as grants under this subsection are \ndistributed equitably among the designated stranding regions.\n ``(B) In determining priorities among such regions, the Secretary \nmay consider--\n ``(i) any episodic stranding or any mortality event other \n than an event described in section 410(6), that occurred in any \n region in the preceding year; and\n ``(ii) data regarding average annual strandings and \n mortality events per region.\n ``(b) Application.--To receive a grant under this section, a \nstranding network participant shall submit an application in such form \nand manner as the Secretary may prescribe.\n ``(c) Advisory Group.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the \n Marine Mammal Commission, shall establish an advisory group in \n accordance with this subsection to advise the Secretary \n regarding the implementation of this section, including the \n award of grants under this section.\n ``(2) Membership.--The advisory group shall consist of a \n representative from each of the designated stranding regions \n and other individuals who represent public and private \n organizations that are actively involved in rescue, \n rehabilitation, release, scientific research, marine \n conservation, and forensic science regarding stranded marine \n mammals.\n ``(3) Public participation.--\n ``(A) Meetings.--The advisory group shall--\n ``(i) ensure that each meeting of the \n advisory group is open to the public; and\n ``(ii) provide, at each meeting of the \n advisory group, an opportunity for interested \n persons to present oral or written statements \n concerning items on the agenda for the meeting.\n ``(B) Notice.--The Secretary shall provide to the \n public timely notice of each meeting of the advisory \n group.\n ``(C) Minutes.--The Secretary shall keep and make \n available to the public minutes of each meeting of the \n advisory group.\n ``(4) Exemption.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 \n U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the establishment and \n activities of an advisory group in accordance with this \n subsection.\n ``(d) Limitation.--The amount of a grant under this section shall \nnot exceed $100,000.\n ``(e) Matching Requirement.--\n ``(1) In general.--The non-Federal share of the costs of an \n activity conducted with a grant under this section shall be 25 \n percent of such costs.\n ``(2) In-kind contributions.--The Secretary may apply to \n the non-Federal share of an activity conducted with a grant \n under this section the amount of funds, and the fair market \n value of property and services, provided by non-Federal sources \n and used for the activity.\n ``(f) Administrative Expenses.--Of amounts available each fiscal \nyear to carry out this section, the Secretary may expend not more than \n6 percent to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out \nthis section.\n ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) Designated stranding region.--The term `designated \n stranding region' means a geographic region designated by the \n Secretary for purposes of administration of this title.\n ``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' has the meaning \n given that term in section 3(12)(A).\n ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $5,000,000 for \neach of fiscal years 2001 through 2003, to remain available until \nexpended.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3(12)(B) of the Marine Mammal \nProtection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1362(12)(B)) is amended by inserting \n``(other than section 408)'' after ``title IV''.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in the first section \nof the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (86 Stat. 1027) is amended \nby striking the items relating to sections 408 and 409 and inserting \nthe following:\n\n``Sec. 408. John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant \n Program.\n``Sec. 409. Authorization of appropriations.\n``Sec. 410. Definitions.''.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives September 27, 1999.\n\n Attest:\n\n JEFF TRANDAHL,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act of 1999 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program to provide assistance to eligible stranding network participants for: (1) marine mammal rescue and treatment; (2) data collection from living or dead marine mammals; and (3) facilities operation. \nDirects the Secretary to establish a related advisory group. \nCaps grants at $100,000. Require\ns a 25\n percent non-Federal matching amount, which may be in-kind contributions. Authorizes FY 2001 through 2003 appropriations.", "title": "Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act of 1999"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3144, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor \nAct of 1998''.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF MEDAL.\n\n The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a \nMedal of Valor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, \nto a public safety officer who is cited by the Attorney General, on the \nadvice of the Medal of Valor Review Board, for extraordinary valor \nabove and beyond the call of duty.\n\nSEC. 3. BOARD.\n\n (a) Board.--There is established a permanent Medal of Valor Review \nBoard (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Board''). The Board \nshall--\n (1) be composed of 11 members appointed in accordance with \n subsection (b); and\n (2) conduct its business in accordance with this Act.\n (b) Membership.--\n (1) In general.--The members of the Board shall be \n appointed as follows:\n (A) Two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the \n House of Representatives.\n (B) Two shall be appointed by the minority leader \n of the House of Representatives.\n (C) Two shall be appointed by the Majority Leader \n of the Senate.\n (D) Two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader \n of the Senate.\n (E) Three shall be appointed by the President, one \n of whom shall have substantial experience in \n firefighting, one of whom shall have substantial \n experience in law enforcement, and one of whom shall \n have substantial experience in emergency services.\n (2) Persons eligible.--The members of the Board shall be \n individuals who have knowledge or expertise, whether by \n experience or training, in the field of public safety.\n (3) Term.--The term of a Board member is 4 years.\n (4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the membership of the Board \n shall not affect the powers of the Board and shall be filled in \n the same manner as the original appointment.\n (5) Operation of the board.--\n (A) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of \n the Chairman and not less than twice each year. The \n initial meeting of the Board shall be conducted not \n later than 30 days after the appointment of the last \n member of the Board.\n (B) Quorum; voting; rules.--A majority of the \n members of the Board shall constitute a quorum to \n conduct business, but the Board may establish a lesser \n quorum for conducting hearings scheduled by the Board. \n The Board may establish by majority vote any other \n rules for the conduct of the Board's business, if such \n rules are not inconsistent with this Act or other \n applicable law.\n (c) Duties.--The Board shall select candidates as recipients of the \nMedal of Valor from among those applications received by the National \nMedal Office. Not more often than once each year, the Board shall \npresent to the Attorney General the name or names of those it \nrecommends as Medal of Valor recipients. In a given year, the Board is \nnot required to choose any names, but is limited to a maximum number of \n6 recipients. The Board shall set an annual timetable for fulfilling \nits duties under this Act.\n (d) Hearings.--\n (1) In general.--The Board may hold such hearings, sit and \n act at such times and places, administer such oaths, take such \n testimony, and receive such evidence as the Board considers \n advisable to carry out its duties.\n (2) Witness expenses.--Witnesses requested to appear before \n the Board may be paid the same fees as are paid to witnesses \n under section 1821 of title 28, United States Code. The per \n diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be paid from \n funds appropriated to the Board.\n (e) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Board may secure \ndirectly from any Federal department or agency such information as the \nBoard considers necessary to carry out its duties. Upon the request of \nthe Board, the head of such department or agency may furnish such \ninformation to the Board.\n (f) Information To Be Kept Confidential.--The Board shall not \ndisclose any information which may compromise an ongoing law \nenforcement investigation or is otherwise required by law to be kept \nconfidential.\n\nSEC. 4. BOARD PERSONNEL MATTERS.\n\n (a) Compensation of Members.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph \n(2), each member of the Board shall be compensated at a rate equal to \nthe daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for \nlevel IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, \nUnited States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which \nsuch member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Board.\n (2) All members of the Board who serve as officers or employees of \nthe United States, a State, or a local government, shall serve without \ncompensation in addition to that received for those services.\n (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Board shall be allowed \ntravel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates \nauthorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 \nof title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular \nplaces of business in the performance of service for the Board.\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For the purposes of this Act:\n (1) Public safety officer.--The term ``Public Safety \n Officer'' has the same meaning given that term in section 1204 \n of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.\n (2) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several \n States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the \n Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American \n Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.\n\nSEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General \nsuch sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.\n\nSEC. 7. OFFICE.\n\n There is established within the Department of Justice a national \nmedal office. The office shall staff the Medal of Valor Review Board \nand establish criteria and procedures for the submission of \nrecommendations of nominees for the Medal of Valor.\n\nSEC. 8. CONFORMING REPEAL.\n\n Section 15 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 \nis repealed.\n\nSEC. 9. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.\n\n The Attorney General shall consult with the Institute of Heraldry \nwithin the Department of Defense regarding the design and artistry of \nthe Medal of Valor. The Attorney General shall also consider \nsuggestions received by the Department of Justice regarding the design \nof the medal, including those made by persons not employed by the \nDepartment.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives September 9, 1998.\n\n Attest:\n\n ROBIN H. CARLE,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 1998 - Authorizes the President to award, and present in the name of the Congress, a Medal of Valor to a public safety officer who is cited by the Attorney General, on the advice of the Medal of Valor Review Board (established by this Act), for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. \nEstablishes a permanent Medal of Valor Review Board to select candidates as recipients of the Medal from among those applications received by the National Medal Office (established by this Act). \nAuthorizes appropriations. \nEstablishes within the Department of Justice a National Medal Office to staff the Review Board and to establish criteria and procedures for the submission of recommendations of nominees for the Medal. \nRepeals provisions of the Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 establishing the President's Award for Outstanding Public Safety Service and the Secretary of Commerce's Award for Distinguished Public Safety Service. \nDirects the Attorney General to: (1) consult with the Institute of Heraldry within the Department of Defense regarding the design and artistry of the Medal of Valor; and (2) consider suggestions received by the Department of Justice regarding the design of the medal, including those made by persons not employed by the Department.", "title": "Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 1998"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2167, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose \nPrevention Act of 2016'' or the ``STOP Act of 2016''.\n\nSEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO UNITED STATES MAIL SECURITY.\n\n (a) Importer of Record.--\n (1) In general.--Subparagraph (B) of section 484(a)(2) of \n the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1484(a)(2)(B)) is amended to \n read as follows:\n ``(B)(i) When an entry of merchandise is made under this \n section, the required documentation or information shall be \n filed or electronically transmitted--\n ``(I) by the owner or purchaser of the merchandise;\n ``(II) when appropriately designated by the owner, \n purchaser, or consignee of the merchandise, by a person \n holding a valid license under section 641; or\n ``(III) in the case of non-letter class mail, by \n the Postmaster General or a designee of the Postmaster \n General, which may include a person holding a valid \n license under section 641.\n ``(ii) When a consignee declares on entry that he or she is \n the owner or purchaser of merchandise, U.S. Customs and Border \n Protection may, without liability, accept the declaration.\n ``(iii) For the purposes of this Act, the importer of \n record must be one of the parties who is eligible to file the \n documentation or information required by this section.\n ``(iv) In this subparagraph, the term `non-letter class \n mail' means any product of the United States Postal Service or \n a Universal Postal Union designated operator that is provided \n pursuant to--\n ``(I) the Universal Postal Union's Parcel Post \n Regulations and Final Protocol; or\n ``(II) the Universal Postal Union's Letter Post \n Regulations and Final Protocol, except `small letters' \n as defined in Article RL 124(1), as such regulations \n were in effect on the date of the enactment of the \n Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act of \n 2016.''.\n (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) \n shall take effect on the date that is six months after the date \n of the enactment of this Act.\n (b) Informal Entries.--Section 498 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 \nU.S.C. 1498) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(c) Regulations Related to Informal Customs Entries.--\n ``(1) Requirement.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n law, not later than six months after the date of the enactment \n of the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act of \n 2016, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue regulations to \n require the Postmaster General or designee of the Postmaster \n General, which may include a person holding a valid license \n under section 641, to file informal customs entries for all \n non-letter class mail that meets the informal entry \n requirements of this section and subpart C of part 143 of title \n 19, Code of Federal Regulations.\n ``(2) Non-letter class mail.--In this subsection, the term \n `non-letter class mail' has the meaning given that term in \n section 484(a)(2)(B)(iv).''.\n (c) De Minimis Shipments.--\n (1) Reduction or modification of exemption.--Section 321 of \n the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1321) is amended by adding at \n the end the following:\n ``(c) The Postmaster General or a designee of the Postmaster \nGeneral, which may include a person holding a valid license under \nsection 641, shall be designated as the importer of record for non-\nletter class mail (as that term is defined in section 484(a)(2)(B)(iv)) \nthat is subject to the regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a) or \n(b).''.\n (2) Regulations.--Not later than six months after the date \n of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury \n shall issue regulations to implement the amendment made by \n paragraph (1).\n (d) Customs Fees.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (6) of section 13031(a) of the \n Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 \n U.S.C. 58c(a)(6)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(6)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), for each \n item of dutiable mail for which a document is prepared by a \n customs officer, $5.\n ``(B) For the arrival of each item of any non-letter class \n mail (as that term is defined in clause (iv) of section \n 484(a)(2)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. \n 1484(a)(2)(B))), $1.''.\n (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) \n shall take effect on the date that is six months after the date \n of the enactment of this Act.\n (e) Mandatory Advanced Electronic Information for Non-Letter Class \nMail.--\n (1) In general.--Subparagraph (K) of section 343(a)(3) of \n the Trade Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-210; 19 U.S.C. 2071 note) \n is amended to read as follows:\n ``(K) The Secretary shall require the Postmaster \n General to provide the information required in \n paragraphs (1) and (2) to U.S. Customs and Border \n Protection for any non-letter class mail (as that term \n is defined in clause (iv) of section 484(a)(2)(B) of \n the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1484(a)(2)(B))) \n imported into the United States.''.\n (2) Regulations.--Not later than six months after the date \n of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury \n shall issue regulations to carry out subparagraph (K) of \n section 343(a)(3) of the Trade Act of 2002, as amended by \n paragraph (1).\n (f) Limitation on International Postal Arrangements.--The Secretary \nof State may not conclude any international postal arrangement pursuant \nto the authority set out in section 407 of title 39, United States \nCode, that is inconsistent with this Act or any amendment made by this \nAct.", "summary": "Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act of 2016 or the STOP Act of 2016 This bill amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to make the Postmaster General or Postmaster General designee, including a person holding a valid customs broker's license, the importer of record for non-letter class mail imported into the United States. The term "non-letter class mail" means any product of the U.S. Postal Service or a Universal Postal Union designated operator that is provided pursuant to: the Universal Postal Union's Parcel Post Regulations and Final Protocol; or the Universal Postal Union's Letter Post Regulations and Final Protocol, except small letters, as in effect upon enactment of this bill. The bill amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to impose a duty of $1 on each item of non-letter class mail imported into the United States. The bill amends the Trade Act of 2002 to direct the Department of the Treasury to require the Postmaster General to provide for the advanced electronic transmission to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection of certain information on non-letter class mail imported into the United States.", "title": "STOP Act of 2016"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3083, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Campaign Information Improvement \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. NONPREEMPTIBLE ADVERTISING; LOWEST UNIT CHARGES.\n\n Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315) is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (b)(1)--\n (A) by striking ``forty-five'' and inserting in \n lieu thereof ``30'';\n (B) by striking ``sixty'' and inserting in lieu \n thereof ``45''; and\n (C) by striking ``lowest unit charge of the station \n for the same class and amount of time for the same \n period'' and insert ``lowest charge of the station for \n the same amount of time for the same time of day and \n day of week'';\n (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections \n (d) and (e), respectively;\n (3) by inserting immediately after subsection (b) the \n following new subsection:\n ``(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a licensee shall not \npreempt the use, during any period specified in subsection (b)(1), of a \nbroadcasting station by a legally qualified candidate for public office \nwho has purchased and paid for such use pursuant to the provisions of \nsubsection (b)(1).\n ``(2) If a program to be broadcast by a broadcasting station is \npreempted because of circumstances beyond the control of the \nbroadcasting station, any candidate advertising spot scheduled to be \nbroadcast during that program may also be preempted.''; and\n (4) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (2) of \n this section)--\n (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph \n (1);\n (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph \n (2) and inserting ``; and''; and\n (C) by adding at the end thereof the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(3) a station's lowest charge for purposes of paragraph \n (1)--\n ``(A) with respect to a primary or primary runoff \n election, is determined for the interval beginning 60 \n days before such election and ending on the date of \n that election; and\n ``(B) with respect to a general or special \n election, is determined for the interval beginning 90 \n days before such election and ending on the date of \n that election.''.\n\nSEC. 3. FREE BROADCAST TIME FOR POLICY DEBATES.\n\n (a) Condition of License Renewal.--Section 309(h) of the \nCommunications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(h)) is amended by inserting \nbefore the period at the end thereof the following: ``; and (4) every \nbroadcast station license issued under this Act shall be subject to the \nfree broadcast time obligations imposed by section 315(c)''.\n (b) Free-Time Obligations.--Section 315 of the Communications Act \nof 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections \n (d) and (e), respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new \n subsection:\n ``(c)(1) Each license for a broadcasting station shall annually \nmake available free broadcast time for policy debates in accordance \nwith the requirements of this subsection. The Commission shall not \nrenew the license of any licensee who substantially fails or refuses to \ncomply with the requirements of this subsection, but such licensee \nshall not be subject to any other sanction or remedy for such failure \nor refusal.\n ``(2) A licensee subject to this subsection shall allot free \nbroadcast time for policy debates in accordance with the following \nstandards:\n ``(A) Such licensee shall allot not less than 30 minutes of \n free broadcast time during each even-numbered year to--\n ``(i) the candidates for the House of \n Representatives of each qualified political party for \n any congressional district that falls within the grade \n B contour of such stations signal; and\n ``(ii) the candidates for the Senate of each \n qualified political party of the State within which the \n preponderance of the station's audience resides.\n ``(B) The broadcast time allotted by any licensee shall be \n allotted so that--\n ``(i) the broadcast is during the hours of 7 to 10 \n p.m. on weekdays; and\n ``(ii) the broadcast is during the four weeks \n immediately preceding election day.\n ``(3) A political party shall be treated as a qualified political \nparty for purposes of paragraph (2) if the candidate for President of \nsuch party in the most recent presidential election received more than \n5 percent of the total number of votes cast by individuals for that \noffice.\n ``(4) A licensee allots free broadcast time as required by this \nsubsection by broadcasting the joint appearance by each of the \ncandidates described in paragraph (2)(A) (i) or (ii) at a forum for the \ndiscussion of political issues, or, if any such candidate refuses to so \nappear, the appearance by the remainder of such candidates not refusing \nto appear.\n ``(5) Nothing in this subsection, and no use of free broadcast time \nallotted under this subsection, shall be construed to restrict or \notherwise affect the purchase of advertising time under subsection (b) \nof this section.''.\n (c) Free Cable Time.--Section 611 of the Communications Act of 1934 \n(47 U.S.C. 531) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new \n subsection:\n ``(f) A cable operator shall annually make available free cable \ntime for policy debates in accordance with the requirements of \nregulations prescribed by the Commission. Such regulations shall, to \nthe extent practicable, require each such cable operator to provide \nsuch free cable time in the same amounts and manner, to the same \ncandidates, and subject to the same conditions as free broadcast time \nis required to be provided by broadcast station licensees under section \n315(c) of this Act. No franchise authority shall renew the franchise of \nany cable operator who substantially fails or refuses to comply with \nsuch regulations, but such operator shall not be subject to any other \nsanction or remedy for such failure or refusal.''.", "summary": "Campaign Information Improvement Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to: (1) limit the cost to qualified candidates of broadcasting time for pre-election political advertising to the lowest charge of the station for the same amount of time for the same time of day and day of the week; (2) prohibit any broadcast licensee from preempting the use of any such time purchased and paid for by a qualified candidate, unless the program during which the advertisement was scheduled to appear is preempted due to circumstances beyond the control of the broadcaster; (3) reduce the pre-election period during which the lowest charge is effective from 45 days to 30 days before primary elections and from 60 days to 45 days before general or special elections; and (4) specify that for purposes of calculating a station's lowest charge, broadcasters must consider the charges made during the 60-day period prior to a primary or primary runoff election and during the 90-day period before a general or special election. \nRequires radio broadcasting stations, in order to have their licenses renewed, to make available without charge not less than 30 minutes of broadcast time during appropriate viewing hours to candidates for the House and Senate within the four weeks preceding election day for policy debates. \nImposes the same free-time obligations on cable television operators of channels for public, educational, or governmental use.", "title": "Campaign Information Improvement Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1351, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Political Intelligence Disclosure \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. DISCLOSURE OF POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES UNDER LOBBYING \n DISCLOSURE ACT.\n\n (a) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 \n(2 U.S.C. 1602) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (2)--\n (A) by inserting after ``lobbying activities'' each \n place that term appears the following: ``or political \n intelligence activities''; and\n (B) by inserting after ``lobbyists'' the following: \n ``or political intelligence consultants''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:\n ``(17) Political intelligence activities.--The term \n `political intelligence activities' means political \n intelligence contacts and efforts in support of such contacts, \n including preparation and planning activities, research, and \n other background work that is intended, at the time it is \n performed, for use in contacts, and coordination with the \n political intelligence activities of others.\n ``(18) Political intelligence contact.--\n ``(A) Definition.--The term `political intelligence \n contact' means any oral or written communication \n (including an electronic communication) to or from a \n covered executive branch official or a covered \n legislative branch official, the information derived \n from which is intended for use in analyzing securities \n or commodities markets, or in informing investment \n decisions, that is made on behalf of a client with \n regard to--\n ``(i) the formulation, modification, or \n adoption of Federal legislation (including \n legislative proposals);\n ``(ii) the formulation, modification, or \n adoption of a Federal rule, regulation, \n Executive order, or any other program, policy, \n or position of the United States Government; or\n ``(iii) the administration or execution of \n a Federal program or policy (including the \n negotiation, award, or administration of a \n Federal contract, grant, loan, permit, or \n license).\n ``(B) Exception.--The term `political intelligence \n contact' does not include a communication that is made \n by or to a representative of the media if the purpose \n of the communication is gathering and disseminating \n news and information to the public.\n ``(19) Political intelligence firm.--The term `political \n intelligence firm' means a person or entity that has 1 or more \n employees who are political intelligence consultants to a \n client other than that person or entity.\n ``(20) Political intelligence consultant.--The term \n `political intelligence consultant' means any individual who is \n employed or retained by a client for financial or other \n compensation for services that include one or more political \n intelligence contacts.''.\n (b) Registration Requirement.--Section 4 of the Lobbying Disclosure \nAct of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) in paragraph (1)--\n (i) by inserting after ``whichever is \n earlier,'' the following: ``or a political \n intelligence consultant first makes a political \n intelligence contact,''; and\n (ii) by inserting after ``such lobbyist'' \n each place that term appears the following: \n ``or consultant'';\n (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting after \n ``lobbyists'' each place that term appears the \n following: ``or consultants''; and\n (C) in paragraph (3)(A)--\n (i) by inserting after ``lobbying \n activities'' each place that term appears the \n following: ``and political intelligence \n activities''; and\n (ii) in clause (i), by inserting after \n ``lobbying firm'' the following: ``or political \n intelligence firm'';\n (2) in subsection (b)--\n (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting after ``lobbying \n activities'' each place that term appears the \n following: ``or political intelligence activities'';\n (B) in paragraph (4)--\n (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph \n (A), by inserting after ``lobbying activities'' \n the following: ``or political intelligence \n activities''; and\n (ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting \n after ``lobbying activity'' the following: ``or \n political intelligence activity'';\n (C) in paragraph (5), by inserting after ``lobbying \n activities'' each place that term appears the \n following: ``or political intelligence activities'';\n (D) in paragraph (6), by inserting after \n ``lobbyist'' each place that term appears the \n following: ``or political intelligence consultant''; \n and\n (E) in the matter following paragraph (6), by \n inserting ``or political intelligence activities'' \n after ``such lobbying activities'';\n (3) in subsection (c)--\n (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ``lobbying \n contacts'' the following: ``or political intelligence \n contacts''; and\n (B) in paragraph (2)--\n (i) by inserting after ``lobbying contact'' \n the following: ``or political intelligence \n contact''; and\n (ii) by inserting after ``lobbying \n contacts'' the following: ``and political \n intelligence contacts''; and\n (4) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting after ``lobbying \n activities'' each place that term appears the following: ``or \n political intelligence activities''.\n (c) Reports by Registered Political Intelligence Consultants.--\nSection 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604) is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by inserting after ``lobbying \n activities'' the following: ``and political intelligence \n activities'';\n (2) in subsection (b)--\n (A) in paragraph (2)--\n (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph \n (A), by inserting after ``lobbying activities'' \n the following: ``or political intelligence \n activities'';\n (ii) in subparagraph (A)--\n (I) by inserting after ``lobbyist'' \n the following: ``or political \n intelligence consultant''; and\n (II) by inserting after ``lobbying \n activities'' the following: ``or \n political intelligence activities'';\n (iii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting \n after ``lobbyists'' the following: ``or \n political intelligence consultants''; and\n (iv) in subparagraph (C), by inserting \n after ``lobbyists'' the following: ``or \n political intelligence consultants'';\n (B) in paragraph (3)--\n (i) by inserting after ``lobbying firm'' \n the following: ``or political intelligence \n firm''; and\n (ii) by inserting after ``lobbying \n activities'' each place that term appears the \n following: ``or political intelligence \n activities''; and\n (C) in paragraph (4), by inserting after ``lobbying \n activities'' each place that term appears the \n following: ``or political intelligence activities''; \n and\n (3) in subsection (d)(1), in the matter preceding \n subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or a political intelligence \n consultant'' after ``a lobbyist''.\n (d) Disclosure and Enforcement.--Section 6(a) of the Lobbying \nDisclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting after ``lobbying \n firms'' the following: ``, political intelligence consultants, \n political intelligence firms,'';\n (2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``or lobbying firm'' and \n inserting ``lobbying firm, political intelligence consultant, \n or political intelligence firm''; and\n (3) in paragraph (8), by striking ``or lobbying firm'' and \n inserting ``lobbying firm, political intelligence consultant, \n or political intelligence firm''.\n (e) Rules of Construction.--Section 8(b) of the Lobbying Disclosure \nAct of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1607(b)) is amended by striking ``or lobbying \ncontacts'' and inserting ``lobbying contacts, political intelligence \nactivities, or political intelligence contacts''.\n (f) Identification of Clients and Covered Officials.--Section 14 of \nthe Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1609) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) in the heading, by inserting ``or Political \n Intelligence'' after ``Lobbying'';\n (B) by inserting ``or political intelligence \n contact'' after ``lobbying contact'' each place that \n term appears; and\n (C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or political \n intelligence activity, as the case may be'' after \n ``lobbying activity'';\n (2) in subsection (b)--\n (A) in the heading, by inserting ``or Political \n Intelligence'' after ``Lobbying'';\n (B) by inserting ``or political intelligence \n contact'' after ``lobbying contact'' each place that \n term appears; and\n (C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or political \n intelligence activity, as the case may be'' after \n ``lobbying activity''; and\n (3) in subsection (c), by inserting ``or political \n intelligence contact'' after ``lobbying contact''.\n (g) Annual Audits and Reports by Comptroller General.--Section 26 \nof the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1614) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``political \n intelligence firms, political intelligence consultants,'' after \n ``lobbying firms'';\n (2) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting ``political \n intelligence firms, political intelligence consultants,'' after \n ``lobbying firms''; and\n (3) in subsection (c), by inserting ``or political \n intelligence consultant'' after ``a lobbyist''.", "summary": "Political Intelligence Disclosure Act - Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) to require the disclosure of political intelligence activities.\n\nRequires political intelligence consultants to register with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and make quarterly reports on political intelligence activities.\n\nRequires any person or entity that makes an oral political intelligence contact with a covered legislative branch or executive branch official on the official's request to: (1) state whether such person or entity is registered under this Act; (2) identify the client on behalf of whom the contact is made; and (3) state whether such client is a foreign entity, and make any related disclosures.\n\nRequires any person making a written political intelligence contact with a covered legislative branch or executive branch official to make similar disclosures, especially about clients considered foreign entities.", "title": "To amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require the disclosure of political intelligence activities."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2831, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Joint Committee on Agency Rule \nReview Act of 2003'' or the ``JCARR Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGENCY RULE REVIEW.\n\n Section 802 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by \nredesignating subsection (g) as subsection (i) and by inserting before \nsubsection (i) the following new subsection:\n ``(h)(1) There is established a Joint Committee on Agency Rule \nReview to be composed of 12 Members of the Senate to be appointed by \nthe majority leader of the Senate and 12 Members of the House of \nRepresentatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of \nRepresentatives. In each instance, not more than 7 Members shall be \nmembers of the same political party.\n ``(2) In carrying out its duties under this chapter, the joint \ncommittee, or any duly authorized subcommittee thereof, is authorized \nto--\n ``(A) hold such hearings, to sit and act at such places and \n times within the United States during the sessions, recesses, \n and adjourned periods of Congress;\n ``(B) require the attendance of such witnesses and the \n production of such books, papers, and documents, administer \n such oaths, take such testimony, procure such printing and \n binding as it deems necessary; and\n ``(C) make such rules respecting its organization and \n procedures as it deems necessary, but no bill shall be reported \n from the joint committee unless a majority of the committee \n assent.\n ``(3) The members of the joint committee who are Members of the \nSenate shall from time to time report to the Senate, and the members of \nthe joint committee who are Members of the House of Representatives \nshall from time to time report to the House, by bill or otherwise, \ntheir recommendations with respect to matters within the jurisdiction \nof their respective Houses which are referred to the joint committee or \notherwise within the jurisdiction of the joint committee.\n ``(4) Vacancies in the membership of the joint committee shall not \naffect the power of the remaining members to execute the functions of \nthe joint committee, and shall be filled in the same manner as in the \ncase of the original selection. The joint committee shall select a \nchairman and a vice chairman from among its members at the beginning of \neach Congress. The vice chairman shall act in place of the chairman in \nthe absence of the chairman. The chairmanship shall alternate between \nthe Senate and the House of Representatives with each Congress, and the \nchairman shall be selected by the Members from that House entitled to \nthe chairmanship. The vice chairman shall be chosen from the House \nother than that of the chairman by the Members from that House.\n ``(5) The joint committee may appoint and fix the compensation of \nsuch staff as it deems necessary.\n ``(6)(A) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or other authority, there \nshall be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House of \nRepresentatives such sums as may be necessary for one-half of the \nexpenses of the joint committee. Such payments shall be made on \nvouchers signed by the chairman or vice chairman of the joint committee \nwho is a Member of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, \nand approved in the manner directed by the Committee on House \nAdministration of the House of Representatives. Amounts made available \nunder this paragraph shall be expended in accordance with regulations \nprescribed by the Committee on House Administration of the House of \nRepresentatives.\n ``(B) (To be supplied by the Senate).''.\n\nSEC. 3. CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE.\n\n (a) House of Representatives.--Section 802 of title 5, United \nStates Code, is amended by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection \n(g) and by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection:\n ``(f)(1) In the House, after the third legislative day after the \ndate on which the joint committee has reported a joint resolution \ndescribed in subsection (a), it is in order for any Member of the House \nto move to proceed to consideration of the joint resolution. All points \nof order against the motion to proceed and against consideration of \nthat motion are waived. The motion is privileged in the House and is \nnot debatable. The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a motion \nto postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other \nbusiness. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed \nto or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the \nconsideration of the joint resolution is agreed to, the House shall \nimmediately proceed to consideration of the joint resolution without \nintervening motion (except one motion to adjourn), order, or other \nbusiness.\n ``(2)(A) In the House, debate shall be confined to the joint \nresolution and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled \nby a proponent and an opponent of the joint resolution. The previous \nquestion shall be considered as ordered on the joint resolution to \nfinal passage without intervening motion, except one motion to \nrecommit. A motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the joint \nresolution shall not be in order.''.\n (b) Senate.--The first sentence of section 802(d)(1) of title 5, \nUnited States Code, is amended by inserting ``any Member of the Senate \nto make'' before ``a motion to proceed''.\n\nSEC. 4. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.\n\n (a) Congressional Review.--Section 801(a) of title 5, United States \nCode, is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``each House of \n Congress'' and inserting ``the joint committee'';\n (2) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``each House of \n Congress'' and inserting ``the joint committee'';\n (3) by amending paragraph (1)(C) to read as follows:\n ``(C) Upon receipt of a report submitted under subparagraph (A), \nthe chairman or vice chairman of the joint committee shall provide \ncopies of the report to the chairman and ranking member of each \napplicable standing committee with jurisdiction under the rules of the \nHouse of Representatives or the Senate of the subject matter of the \nprovision of law under which the rule is issued.'';\n (4) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``committees of \n jurisdiction in each House of the Congress'' and inserting \n ``joint committee'';\n (5) in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking ``Congress'' and \n inserting ``joint committee''; and\n (6) in paragraph (4), by striking ``Congress'' and \n inserting ``the joint committee''.\n (b) Congressional Disapproval Procedure.--Section 802 of title 5, \nUnited States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Congress'' the first \n place it appears and inserting ``the joint committee'';\n (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following \n new subsection:\n ``(b) For purposes of this section, the term `submission or \npublication date' means the later of the date on which--\n ``(1) the joint committee receives the report submitted \n under section 801(a)(1); or\n ``(2) the rule is published in the Federal Register, if so \n published.'';\n (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``committee to which is \n referred a joint resolution described in subsection (a) has not \n reported such'' and inserting ``joint committee has not \n reported a''; and\n (4) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``committee to which \n is referred a joint resolution is referred has reported'' and \n inserting ``joint committee'' and by striking ``a committee'' \n and inserting ``the joint committee''.\n (c) Definitions.--Section 804 of title 5, United States Code, is \namended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(4) The term `joint committee' refers to the Joint \n Committee on Agency Rule Review.''.\n\nSEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act and the amendments made by it shall take effect at noon on \nJanuary 3, 2005.", "summary": "Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review Act of 2003 (JCARR Act) - Amends Federal law to establish the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.\n\nPrescribes a procedure for expedited consideration by the House of Representatives of a joint resolution reported by such committee disapproving an agency rule.", "title": "To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to establish the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1278, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Innovation Protection Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE FUNDING.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Under \n Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of \n the United States Patent and Trademark Office.\n (2) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the United States Patent \n and Trademark Office Public Enterprise Revolving fund \n established under subsection (c).\n (3) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the United States \n Patent and Trademark Office.\n (4) Trademark act of 1946.--The term ``Trademark Act of \n 1946'' means the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the \n registration and protection of trademarks used in commerce, to \n carry out the provisions of certain international conventions, \n and for other purposes'', approved July 5, 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1051 \n et seq.) (commonly referred to as the ``Trademark Act of 1946'' \n or the ``Lanham Act'').\n (b) Funding.--\n (1) In general.--Section 42 of title 35, United States \n Code, is amended--\n (A) in subsection (b), by striking ``Patent and \n Trademark Office Appropriation Account'' and inserting \n ``United States Patent and Trademark Office Public \n Enterprise Fund''; and\n (B) in subsection (c)--\n (i) in paragraph (1)--\n (I) in the first sentence, by \n striking ``To the extent'' and all that \n follows through ``fees'' and inserting \n ``Fees''; and\n (II) by striking ``shall be \n collected by and shall, subject to \n paragraph (3), be available to the \n Director'' and inserting ``shall be \n collected by, and shall be available \n to, the Director until expended''; and\n (ii) by striking paragraph (2) and \n redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).\n (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) \n shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year \n that begins on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (c) USPTO Revolving Fund.--\n (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of \n the United States a revolving fund to be known as the ``United \n States Patent and Trademark Office Public Enterprise Fund''. \n Any amounts in the Fund shall be available for use by the \n Director without fiscal year limitation.\n (2) Derivation of resources.--\n (A) In general.--There shall be deposited into the \n Fund on and after the effective date set forth in \n subsection (b)(2)--\n (i) any fees collected under title 35, \n United States Code; and\n (ii) any fees collected under the Trademark \n Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.).\n (B) Remaining balances.--There shall be deposited \n in the Fund, on the effective date set forth in \n subsection (b)(2), any unobligated balances remaining \n in the Patent and Trademark Office Appropriation \n Account, and in the Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve \n Fund established under section 42(b)(2) of title 31, \n United States Code, as in effect on the day before such \n effective date. Upon the payment of all obligated \n amounts in the Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve Fund, \n the Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve Fund shall be \n terminated.\n (3) Expenses.--Amounts deposited into the Fund under \n paragraph (2) shall be available, without fiscal year \n limitation, to cover--\n (A) all expenses, to the extent consistent with the \n limitation on the use of fees set forth in section \n 42(c) of title 35, United States Code, including all \n administrative and operating expenses, determined in \n the discretion of the Director to be ordinary and \n reasonable, incurred by the Director for the continued \n operation of all services, programs, activities, and \n duties of the Office relating to patents and \n trademarks, as such services, programs, activities, and \n duties are described under--\n (i) title 35, United States Code; and\n (ii) the Trademark Act of 1946; and\n (B) all expenses incurred pursuant to any \n obligation, representation, or other commitment of the \n Office.\n (d) Annual Report and Operation Plan.--Not later than 60 days after \nthe end of each fiscal year, the Director shall submit to Congress a \nreport that--\n (1) summarizes the operations of the Office for the \n preceding fiscal year, including financial details and staff \n levels broken down by each major activity of the Office;\n (2) describes the long term modernization plans of the \n Office;\n (3) sets forth details of any progress towards such \n modernization plans made in the preceding fiscal year; and\n (4) includes the results of the most recent audit carried \n out under subsection (f).\n (e) Annual Spending Plan.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the beginning \n of each fiscal year, the Director shall notify the Committee on \n Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the \n Committee on Appropriations of the Senate of the plan for the \n obligation and expenditure by the Office of the total amount of \n the funds for that fiscal year in accordance with section 605 \n of the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies \n Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-108; 119 Stat. 2334).\n (2) Contents.--Each plan under paragraph (1) shall--\n (A) summarize the operations of the Office for the \n current fiscal year, including financial details and \n staff levels with respect to major activities; and\n (B) detail the operating plan of the Office, \n including specific expense and staff needs, for the \n current fiscal year.\n (f) Audit.--The Director shall, on an annual basis, provide for an \nindependent audit of the financial statements of the Office. Such audit \nshall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted accounting \nprinciples.\n (g) Budget.--The Fund shall prepare and submit each year to the \nPresident a business-type budget in such manner, and before such date, \nas the President prescribes by regulation.", "summary": "Innovation Protection Act - Establishes in the Treasury the United States Patent and Trademark Office Public Enterprise Fund (Public Enterprise Fund) to be used as a revolving fund by the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) without fiscal year limitation. Requires to be credited to or deposited in the Public Enterprise Fund: (1) appropriations for defraying the costs of USPTO activities; (2) fees collected under federal patent and trademark laws; and (3) any unobligated balances remaining in the Patent and Trademark Office Appropriation Account and in the Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve Fund. (Thus, replaces the Patent and Trademark Office Appropriation Account, eliminates the Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve Fund, and provides a source of permanent funding for the USPTO.) Requires fees collected by the Director to remain available to the Director until expended. Makes the Public Enterprise Fund available to cover: (1) ordinary and reasonable administrative, operating, and other expenses incurred by the Director for the continued operation of USPTO services, programs, activities, and duties relating to patents and trademarks; and (2) expenses incurred pursuant to obligations, representations, or other commitments of the USPTO. Requires the Director, on an annual basis, to: (1) report to Congress with operation and spending plans, including financial details and staff levels broken down by each major activity; (2) provide for an independent audit of USPTO financial statements; and (3) submit a budget to the President. ", "title": "Innovation Protection Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 47, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Act of \n1996''.\n\nSEC. 2. EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS FOR PREVENTION OF TEENAGE \n PREGNANCY.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall \n(directly or through grants or contracts awarded to public or nonprofit \nprivate entities) arrange for the evaluation of a wide variety of \npromising programs designed in whole or part to prevent pregnancy in \nteenagers, including programs that do not receive grants from the \nFederal Government for the operation of the programs. The purpose of \nthe evaluation shall be the determination of--\n (1) the factors contributing to the effectiveness of the \n programs; and\n (2) methods for replicating the programs in other \n locations.\n (b) Participation of Federal Agencies and Private Organizations.--\nIn carrying out the evaluation under subsection (a), the Secretary \nshall as appropriate--\n (1) provide for the participation of the Director of the \n Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director of the \n Office of Population Affairs, the Assistant Secretary for \n Children and Families, and the Director of the National \n Institute of Child Health and Human Development; and\n (2) provide for the participation of private organizations, \n including the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, a \n nonpartisan organization.\n (c) Design of Evaluation.--Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary \nshall select a design for the evaluation under subsection (a) from \namong proposals that--\n (1) provide for the evaluation of programs in various \n geographic regions;\n (2) with respect to the populations served by the programs, \n provide for determining factors that are specific to various \n socioeconomic groups and various racial and ethnic minority \n groups;\n (3) provide for recommendations for future programs \n designed to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy; and\n (4) meet such criteria as the Secretary may establish.\n (d) Measures of Effectiveness.--The Secretary shall define the \nmeasures of effectiveness used in evaluating the programs designed to \nreduce the rate of teenage pregnancy, and shall include a variety of \nmeasures of effectiveness in the definition.\n (e) Scientific Peer Review.--The Secretary may provide funds for a \nproposal pursuant to subsection (a) only if the proposal has been \nrecommended for approval pursuant to a process of scientific peer \nreview utilizing one or more panels of experts. Such panels shall \ninclude experts from public entities and from private entities.\n (f) Submission of Report to Congress and Secretary.--Not later than \nDecember 1, 1999, the evaluation under subsection (a) shall be \ncompleted and a report describing the findings made in the evaluation \nshall be submitted to the Congress and to the Secretary.\n (g) Dissemination of Information.--After the submission of the \nreport under subsection (f), the Secretary shall disseminate the \nfindings presented in the report. The categories of individuals to whom \nthe information is disseminated shall include administrators of \nprevention programs, public and private entities that provide financial \nsupport to such programs, professional medical associations, entities \nproviding public health services, entities providing social work \nservices, and school administrators.\n (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying \nout this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $3,500,000 for \neach of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999.\n\nSEC. 3. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON PREVENTION PROGRAMS.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the completion of \nthe evaluation under section 2, the Secretary shall (directly or though \ngrants or contracts awarded to public or nonprofit private entities) \nestablish an information clearinghouse to be known as the National \nClearinghouse on Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Programs (in this section \nreferred to as the ``Clearinghouse'').\n (b) Functions.--The Clearinghouse shall carry out the following \nactivities:\n (1) Collect, maintain, and disseminate information on \n prevention programs, including information on the following:\n (A) The state of program development.\n (B) All types of prevention programs.\n (C) Findings made in the report submitted under \n section 2(f).\n (2) Develop networks of prevention programs for the purpose \n of sharing and disseminating information.\n (3) Develop and disseminate materials that provide \n technical assistance to public and private entities in \n establishing or improving prevention programs.\n (4) Participate in activities designed to encourage and \n enhance public media campaigns regarding pregnancy in \n teenagers.\n (5) Such other activities as will assist in the development \n and carrying out of activities to reduce pregnancy in \n teenagers.\n (c) Dissemination to Certain Entities.--The categories of entities \nto which the Clearinghouse disseminates information shall include \nadministrators of prevention programs, public and private entities that \nprovide financial support to such programs, professional medical \nassociations, entities providing public health services, entities \nproviding social work services, and school administrators.\n (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying \nout this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as \nmay be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2003.\n\nSEC. 4. ONE-TIME INCENTIVE GRANTS FOR EFFECTIVE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.\n\n (a) In General.--In the case of a prevention program that pursuant \nto the evaluation under section 2 has been found to be effective, the \nSecretary may under this section make not more than one grant to the \nentity that operates the program. The purpose of the grant shall be to \nassist the entity with the expenses of operating the program.\n (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--For carrying out subsection \n(a), there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000, in the \naggregate, for the fiscal years 2000 through 2003. Such authorization \nis in addition to any other authorization of appropriations that is \navailable for making grants for the operational expenses of prevention \nprograms.\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.\n\n (a) Prevention Programs.--\n (1) Rule of construction.--The provisions of this Act apply \n with respect to a prevention program without regard to which of \n the various programmatic approaches for the prevention of \n pregnancy in teenagers (as defined in paragraph (2)) is the \n focus of the program.\n (2) Programmatic approaches.--For purposes of this Act, the \n term ``programmatic approaches'', with respect to prevention \n programs, includes advocating abstinence from sexual relations; \n providing family planning services (including contraception); \n fostering academic achievement; mentoring by adults; providing \n employment assistance or job training; providing professional \n counseling or peer counseling; providing for recreational or \n social events; and any combination thereof.\n (b) Other Definitions.--For purposes of this Act:\n (1) The term ``prevention program'' means a program for the \n prevention of pregnancy in teenagers.\n (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health \n and Human Services.", "summary": "Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Act of 1996 - Mandates evaluation (directly or through grants or contracts) of a wide variety of promising programs to prevent teenage pregnancy, including programs that do not receive Federal grants. Mandates scientific peer review of evaluation proposals. Authorizes appropriations. \nMandates establishment (directly or through grants or contracts) of the National Clearinghouse on Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Programs. Authorizes appropriations. \nAuthorizes an operating grant to a program found (by the evaluation under this Act) to be effective. Authorizes appropriations.", "title": "Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Act of 1996"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3069, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Serving Everyone with Reliable, \nVital Internet, Communications, and Education Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Today's telecommunications market offers consumers an \n array of social, economic, and educational communications.\n (2) Communications today also offer Americans better access \n to emergency assistance.\n (3) It is essential to the Nation's continued progress for \n all sectors of the population to have adequate access to \n telecommunications. America must work to reduce and ultimately \n eliminate the harmful technological divide.\n (4) The Congress reaffirms the Nation's public policy \n commitment to providing universal service. All consumers should \n have access to high-quality telecommunications services at \n affordable rates.\n\nSEC. 3. UNIVERSAL SERVICE.\n\n Subsection (j) of section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 \nU.S.C. 254) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(j) Lifeline Assistance; Link Up America.--\n ``(1) Purposes.--The purposes of this subsection are--\n ``(A) to advance universal service; and\n ``(B) to ensure that high-quality \n telecommunications services and other evolving \n telecommunication technologies, such as Internet access \n and broadband services, are available to low-income \n consumers at just, reasonable, and affordable rates.\n ``(2) Continuation and expansion of programs.--For the \n purposes described in paragraph (1), the Commission--\n ``(A) shall continue in effect the Lifeline \n Assistance Program and the Link Up Program; and\n ``(B) expand such programs under paragraph (3).\n ``(3) Expansion.--The Commission shall expand the \n assistance provided through the Lifeline Assistance Program and \n the Link Up Program by allowing low-income consumers \n participating in such programs to choose to use such assistance \n for any one of the following:\n ``(A) Wire or wireless telephone service.\n ``(B) Internet access service.\n ``(C) Wire or wireless broadband service.\n ``(D) Any evolving technology the Commission deems \n consistent with the purposes described in paragraph \n (1).\n ``(4) Rule of construction.--This subsection shall not be \n construed--\n ``(A) to affect any program under this section \n other than the Lifeline Assistance Program or the Link \n Up Program; or\n ``(B) except as inconsistent with the provisions of \n this subsection, to affect the authority of the \n Commission to make modifications to the Lifeline \n Assistance Program or the Link Up Program.\n ``(5) Definitions.--In this subsection:\n ``(A) The term `broadband service' means high-speed \n Internet access service--\n ``(i) offering integrated access to voice \n communications, high-speed data service, video-\n demand services, and interactive delivery \n services; and\n ``(ii) transmitting data at speeds \n exceeding 200 kilobits per second, in at least \n one direction, from the user's computer to the \n Internet or from the Internet to the user's \n computer.\n ``(B) The term `Lifeline Assistance Program' means \n the Lifeline Assistance Program provided for by the \n Commission under subpart E of title 47, Code of Federal \n Regulations (and any related or successor regulations).\n ``(C) The term `Link Up Program' means the Link Up \n Program provided for by the Commission under subpart E \n of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (and any \n related or successor regulations).''.\n\nSEC. 4. STUDY.\n\n (a) Study.--Not later than May 1, 2008, the Federal Communications \nCommission shall conduct a study and submit a report to the Congress on \nthe following:\n (1) The necessary benefit level for a household \n participating in the Lifeline Assistance Program or the Link Up \n Program which will encourage low-income consumers to seek \n broadband service.\n (2) Projections on the potential of new broadband service \n consumers who would seek this service if economically \n accessible.\n (3) Industry requirements to provide broadband service \n access in underserved areas.\n (4) Data that accurately illustrates the extent of current \n deployment of broadband service to residential users.\n (5) Policy proposals conducive to addressing gaps in \n broadband service availability.\n (b) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``broadband service'', \n``Lifeline Assistance Program'', and ``Link Up Program'' have the \nmeanings given to those terms in section 254(j) of the Communications \nAct of 1934, as amended by section 3 of this Act.", "summary": "Serving Everyone with Reliable, Vital Internet, Communications, and Education Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand the Lifeline Assistance Program and the Link Up Program. Requires a report to Congress on the benefit level for the programs that will encourage low-income consumers to seek broadband service, projections on potential broadband consumers if the service was economically feasible, industry requirements to provide broadband service in underserved areas, and policy proposals regarding gaps in broadband availability.", "title": "To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to continue in effect and expand the Lifeline Assistance Program and the Link Up Program, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 389, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Vehicles Incentive Act of \n2013''.\n\nSEC. 2. CLEAN-FUEL CREDIT WITH RESPECT TO BUSINESSES LOCATED IN \n NONATTAINMENT AREAS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business-related \ncredits) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 45S. CLEAN-FUEL CREDIT WITH RESPECT TO BUSINESSES LOCATED IN \n NONATTAINMENT AREAS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--For purposes of section 38, in the case of an \neligible business the clean-fuel credit determined under this section \nfor the taxable year is the sum of--\n ``(1) the clean-fuel property credit, plus\n ``(2) the clean-burning fuel use credit.\n ``(b) Clean-Fuel Property Credit.--\n ``(1) In general.--The clean-fuel property credit is the \n sum of--\n ``(A) qualified vehicle property costs, plus\n ``(B) qualified refueling property costs.\n ``(2) Qualified vehicle property costs.--\n ``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1), \n the term `qualified vehicle property costs' means the \n amount paid or incurred by the eligible business for \n qualified clean-fuel vehicle property which is placed \n in service during the taxable year by the eligible \n business and substantially all of the use of which is \n in a nonattainment area.\n ``(B) Limitation.--The amount which may be taken \n into account under subparagraph (A) with respect to any \n motor vehicle shall not exceed--\n ``(i) $8,000, in the case of a motor \n vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of \n not more than 8,500 pounds,\n ``(ii) $20,000, in the case of a motor \n vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of \n more than 8,500 pounds but not more than 14,000 \n pounds,\n ``(iii) $40,000, in the case of a motor \n vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of \n more than 14,000 pounds but not more than \n 26,000 pounds, and\n ``(iv) $80,000, in the case of a motor \n vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of \n more than 26,000 pounds.\n ``(C) Qualified clean-fuel vehicle property.--The \n term `qualified clean-fuel vehicle property' shall have \n the meaning given to such term by section 179A(c) \n (without regard to paragraphs (1)(A) and (3) thereof), \n except that such term does not include property that is \n a motor vehicle propelled by a fuel that is not a \n clean-burning fuel.\n ``(3) Qualified refueling property costs.--\n ``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1), \n the term `qualified refueling property costs' means \n amounts paid or incurred by the eligible business for \n qualified clean-fuel vehicle refueling property (as \n defined by section 179A(d)) which is placed in service \n in a nonattainment area during the taxable year by the \n eligible business.\n ``(B) Limitation.--\n ``(i) In general.--The aggregate cost which \n may be taken into account under subparagraph \n (A) with respect to qualified clean-fuel \n vehicle refueling property placed in service by \n the eligible business during the taxable year \n at a location shall not exceed the lesser of--\n ``(I) $150,000, or\n ``(II) the cost of such property \n reduced by the amount described in \n clause (ii).\n ``(ii) Reduction for amounts previously \n taken into account.--For purposes of clause \n (i)(II), the amount described in this clause is \n the sum of--\n ``(I) the aggregate amount taken \n into account under paragraph (1)(B) for \n all preceding taxable years, and\n ``(II) the aggregate amount taken \n into account under section \n 179A(a)(1)(B) by the taxpayer (or any \n related person or predecessor) with \n respect to property placed in service \n at such location for all preceding \n taxable years.\n ``(iii) Special rules.--For purposes of \n this subparagraph, the provisions of \n subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 179A(b)(2) \n shall apply.\n ``(c) Clean-Burning Fuel Use Credit.--\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a), the \n clean-burning fuel use credit is the amount equal to 50 cents \n for each gasoline gallon equivalent of clean-burning fuel used \n by an eligible business during the taxable year to propel \n qualified clean-fuel vehicle property.\n ``(2) Clean-burning fuel.--For purposes of paragraph (1), \n the term `clean-burning fuel' has the meaning given to such \n term by section 179A, except that such term includes compressed \n natural gas and biodiesel (as defined by section 40A(d)(1)).\n ``(3) Gasoline gallon equivalent.--For purposes of \n paragraph (1), the term `gasoline gallon equivalent' means, \n with respect to any clean burning fuel, the amount (determined \n by the Secretary) of such fuel having a Btu content of 114,000.\n ``(d) Other Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Eligible business.--The term `eligible business' \n means--\n ``(A) a qualified business entity or a qualified \n proprietorship (as such terms are defined by section \n 1397C, determined by substituting `nonattainment area' \n for `empowerment zone' and `enterprise zone' each place \n it appears), and\n ``(B) a trade or business located outside of a \n nonattainment area, but only with respect to qualified \n clean-fuel vehicle property used substantially within a \n nonattainment area.\n ``(2) Nonattainment area.--The term `nonattainment area' \n shall have the meaning given to such term by section 171 of the \n Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7501).\n ``(e) Denial of Double Benefit.--Except as provided in section \n30B(d)(4), no credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) for any \nexpense for which a deduction or credit is allowed under any other \nprovision of this chapter.\n ``(f) Recapture.--The Secretary shall, by regulations, provide for \nrecapturing the benefit under any credit allowable under subsection (a) \nwith respect to any property substantially all of the use of which is \nnot in a nonattainment area.''.\n (b) Credit Made Part of General Business Credit.--Subsection (b) of \nsection 38 of such Code (relating to current year business credit) is \namended by striking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (35), by striking \nthe period at the end of paragraph (36) and inserting ``, plus'', and \nby adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph:\n ``(37) the clean-fuel credit determined under section \n 45S.''.\n (c) Denial of Double Benefit.--Section 280C of such Code (relating \nto certain expenses for which credits are allowable) is amended by \nadding at the end thereof the following new subsection:\n ``(i) Zone Clean Fuels Expenses.--No deduction shall be allowed for \nthat portion of expenses for clean-burning fuel otherwise allowable as \na deduction for the taxable year which is equal to the amount of the \ncredit determined for such taxable year under section 45S.''.\n (d) Credit Allowed Against Regular and Minimum Tax.--Subparagraph \n(B) of section 38(c)(4) of such Code (relating to specified credits) is \namended by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (viii), by striking \nthe period at the end of clause (ix) and inserting ``, and'', and by \ninserting after clause (ix) the following:\n ``(x) the credit determined under section \n 45S.''.\n (e) Deduction for Certain Unused Business Credits.--Subsection (c) \nof section 196 of such Code is amended by striking ``and'' at the end \nof paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (14) \nand inserting ``, and'', and by adding after paragraph (14) the \nfollowing new paragraph:\n ``(15) the clean fuels credit determined under section \n 45S.''.\n (f) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by \ninserting after the item relating to section 45R the following new \nitem:\n\n``Sec. 45S. Clean-fuel credit with respect to businesses located in \n nonattainment areas.''.\n (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after December 31, 2012.\n\nSEC. 3. CREDIT FOR HYBRID VEHICLES PLACED IN SERVICE IN NONATTAINMENT \n AREAS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (d) of section 30B of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new \nparagraph:\n ``(4) Vehicles placed in service in nonattainment area \n after 2012.--\n ``(A) In general.--No amount shall be allowed as a \n credit determined under this subsection for any taxable \n year beginning after 2012 with respect to a new \n qualified hybrid motor vehicle unless such vehicle is \n placed in service by an eligible business and \n substantially all of the use of which is in a \n nonattainment area.\n ``(B) Recapture.--The Secretary shall, by \n regulations, provide for recapturing the benefit under \n any credit allowable under subsection (a) by reason of \n subparagraph (A) with respect to any property \n substantially all of the use of which is not in a \n nonattainment area.\n ``(C) Phaseout not to apply.--For purposes of this \n subsection, subsection (f) shall not apply.\n ``(D) Definitions.--For purposes of this \n subsection, the terms `eligible business' and \n `nonattainment area' have the meanings given such terms \n by section 45S(d).''.\n (b) Extension of Credit for Hybrid Vehicles Placed in Service in \nNonattainment Areas.--Paragraph (3) of section 30(k) of such Code is \namended to read as follows:\n ``(3) in the case of a new qualified hybrid motor vehicle \n (as described in subsection (d)(2)(B))--\n ``(A) December 31, 2009, and before January 1, \n 2013, or\n ``(B) December 31, 2012, and before January 1, \n 2018.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after December 31, 2012.", "summary": "Clean Vehicles Incentive Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain businesses located in areas designated as nonattainment areas under the Clean Air Act a general business tax credit for the cost of certain clean-fuel vehicle property and the use of clean-burning fuel. Allows the credit to be taken against regular and alternative minimum tax liabilities. Allows a tax deduction for any unused clean fuel credit amounts. Allows a new qualified hybrid motor vehicle tax credit for any taxable year after 2012 only for such a vehicle which is placed in service after December 31, 2012, by an eligible business and substantially all of the use of which is in a nonattainment area.", "title": "Clean Vehicles Incentive Act of 2013"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1505, "text": "SECTION 1. ENTRIES OF CERTAIN HIGH-DENSITY, FIBERBOARD-CORE LAMINATE \n PANELS ENTERED IN JUNE 2004 THROUGH OCTOBER 2004.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of \n1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514) or any other provision of law, the Bureau of \nCustoms and Border Protection shall, not later than 90 days after the \nreceipt of the request described in subsection (b), liquidate or \nreliquidate the entries described in subsection (d) at a rate of duty \nof 1.9 cents per kilogram plus 1.5 percent ad valorem.\n (b) Request.--Liquidation or reliquidation may be made under \nsubsection (a) with respect to an entry described in subsection (d) \nonly if a request is filed with the Bureau of Customs and Border \nProtection not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n (c) Refund of Amounts Owed.--Any amounts owed by the United States \npursuant to the liquidation or reliquidation of an entry described in \nsubsection (d) (including interest from the date of entry) shall be \nrefunded not later than 90 days after the date of such liquidation or \nreliquidation.\n (d) Affected Entries.--The entries referred to in subsection (a) \nare as follows:\n\n\n \n \n \n Entry number Date of entry\n EF4-0054953-3........................ 06/11/04\n EF4-0054958-2........................ 06/18/04\n EF4-0054987-1........................ 06/24/04\n EF4-0054989-7........................ 06/19/04\n EF4-0054990-5........................ 06/24/04\n EF4-0054991-3........................ 06/24/04\n EF4-0054992-1........................ 06/24/04\n EF4-0054993-9........................ 06/24/04\n EF4-0054994-7........................ 06/26/04\n EF4-0054995-4........................ 06/26/04\n EF4-0055060-6........................ 06/25/04\n EF4-0055070-5........................ 06/24/04\n EF4-0055073-9........................ 06/21/04\n EF4-0055090-3........................ 06/19/04\n EF4-0055120-8........................ 07/01/04\n EF4-0055125-7........................ 06/27/04\n EF4-0055127-3........................ 07/03/04\n EF4-0055128-1........................ 07/03/04\n EF4-0055129-9........................ 06/29/04\n EF4-0055130-7........................ 07/03/04\n EF4-0055131-5........................ 07/03/04\n EF4-0055132-3........................ 07/03/04\n EF4-0055166-1........................ 07/09/04\n EF4-0055177-8........................ 07/09/04\n EF4-0055182-8........................ 07/10/04\n EF4-0055200-8........................ 07/04/04\n EF4-0055224-8........................ 07/05/04\n EF4-0055227-1........................ 07/09/04\n EF4-0055232-1........................ 07/09/04\n EF4-0055234-7........................ 07/08/04\n EF4-0055242-0........................ 07/17/04\n EF4-0055263-6........................ 07/17/04\n EF4-0055283-4........................ 07/12/04\n EF4-0055299-0........................ 07/17/04\n EF4-0055304-8........................ 07/09/04\n EF4-0055313-9........................ 07/19/04\n EF4-0055314-7........................ 07/23/04\n EF4-0055315-4........................ 07/23/04\n EF4-0055316-2........................ 07/23/04\n EF4-0055318-8........................ 07/23/04\n EF4-0055319-6........................ 07/23/04\n EF4-0055336-0........................ 07/16/04\n EF4-0055340-2........................ 07/22/04\n EF4-0055385-7........................ 07/19/04\n EF4-0055398-0........................ 07/30/04\n EF4-0055401-2........................ 07/30/04\n EF4-0055402-0........................ 07/30/04\n EF4-0055403-8........................ 07/30/04\n EF4-0055420-2........................ 07/22/04\n EF4-0055421-0........................ 07/22/04\n EF4-0055426-9........................ 07/22/04\n EF4-0055430-1........................ 07/24/04\n EF4-0055444-2........................ 07/25/04\n EF4-0055486-3........................ 07/31/04\n EF4-0055505-0........................ 07/29/04\n EF4-0055506-8........................ 07/29/04\n EF4-0055517-5........................ 08/08/04\n EF4-0055522-5........................ 08/07/04\n EF4-0055583-7........................ 08/13/04\n EF4-0055584-5........................ 08/13/04\n EF4-0055585-2........................ 08/24/04\n EF4-0055598-5........................ 08/05/04\n EF4-0055609-0........................ 08/14/04\n EF4-0055635-5........................ 08/06/04\n EF4-0055642-1........................ 08/12/04\n EF4-0055647-0........................ 08/07/04\n EF4-0055663-7........................ 08/15/04\n EF4-0055676-9........................ 09/05/04\n EF4-0055770-0........................ 08/11/04\n EF4-0055771-8........................ 08/11/04\n EF4-0055812-0........................ 08/19/04\n EF4-0055818-7........................ 08/29/04\n EF4-0055819-5........................ 08/27/04\n EF4-0055831-0........................ 09/03/04\n EF4-0055832-8........................ 09/03/04\n EF4-0055834-4........................ 08/28/04\n EF4-0055835-1........................ 08/14/04\n EF4-0055836-9........................ 08/14/04\n EF4-0055899-7........................ 09/06/04\n EF4-0055900-3........................ 09/06/04\n EF4-0055917-7........................ 09/02/04\n EF4-0055960-7........................ 09/13/04\n EF4-0055961-5........................ 09/10/04\n EF4-0055962-3........................ 09/10/04\n EF4-0055963-1........................ 09/11/04\n EF4-0055965-6........................ 09/11/04\n EF4-0055967-2........................ 09/11/04\n EF4-0056074-6........................ 09/24/04\n EF4-0056078-7........................ 09/16/04\n EF4-0056079-5........................ 09/16/04\n EF4-0056080-3........................ 09/16/04\n EF4-0056108-2........................ 09/15/04\n EF4-0056109-0........................ 08/26/04\n EF4-0056123-1........................ 09/25/04\n EF4-0056171-0........................ 09/10/04\n EF4-0056197-5........................ 10/02/04\n EF4-0056291-6........................ 09/29/04\n EF4-0056303-9........................ 10/08/04\n EF4-0056304-7........................ 10/04/04\n EF4-0056354-2........................ 10/07/04\n EF4-0056355-9........................ 10/09/04\n EF4-0056356-7........................ 10/09/04\n EF4-0056357-5........................ 10/09/04\n EF4-0056359-1........................ 10/07/04\n EF4-0056426-8........................ 10/16/04", "summary": "Directs the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to liquidate or reliquidate certain entries relating to high-density, fiberboard-core laminate panels and refund any amounts owed.", "title": "A bill to provide for the liquidation or reliquidation of certain entries relating to high-density, fiberboard-core laminate panels entered in June 2004 through October 2004."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1533, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Meat and Poultry Products Inspection \nAmendments of 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. FEDERAL AND STATE COOPERATION UNDER THE FEDERAL MEAT INSPECTION \n ACT.\n\n (a) Removal of Intrastate Distribution Limitation.--Subsection \n(a)(1) of section 301 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. \n661) is amended by striking ``solely for distribution within such \nState.''.\n (b) Use of State Inspectors.--Subsection (a) of such section is \namended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(5) In addition to appointing inspectors under section \n 21, the Secretary may enter into agreements to utilize officers \n and employees of a State or the District of Columbia to conduct \n such examinations, investigations, and inspections authorized \n under this Act as the Secretary determines practicable.''.\n (c) Termination of Designation of State as Subject to Federal \nInspection for Intrastate Distribution.--Subsection (c)(3) of such \nsection is amended by striking ``, with respect to the operations and \ntransactions within such State which are regulated under subparagraph \n(1), he'' and inserting ``with respect to all establishments within its \njurisdiction which do not operate under Federal inspection under title \nI and at which any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, or equines are \nslaughtered, or their carcasses, or parts or products thereof, are \nprepared, for use as human food, and with respect to the distribution \nof carcasses, parts thereof, meat, or meat food products of such \nanimals within the States, the Secretary''.\n (d) Expansion of State Inspection Authority.--Such section is \nfurther amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new \n subsection:\n ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), carcasses, parts of \ncarcasses, meat, and meat food products of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, \nor equines prepared under State inspection in any State (other than a \nState designated under subsection (c)) in compliance with the meat \ninspection law of the State shall be eligible for sale or \ntransportation in interstate commerce, and for entry into and use in \nthe preparation of products in establishments at which Federal \ninspection is maintained under title I, in the same manner and to the \nsame extent as products prepared at such establishments.\n ``(2) State inspected articles described in paragraph (1), and \nfederally inspected articles prepared (in whole or in part) from such \nState inspected articles--\n ``(A) shall not be eligible for sale or transportation in \n foreign commerce; and\n ``(B) shall be separated at all times from all other \n federally inspected articles in any federally inspected \n establishment that engages in the preparation, sale, or \n transportation of carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, or meat \n food products, for foreign commerce.\n ``(3) All carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, and meat food \nproducts that are inspected in a program of inspection in a State \n(other than a State designated under subsection (c)) pursuant to State \nlaw shall be identified as so inspected only by official marks that \nidentify the State and are such design as the State shall prescribe. \nFederally inspected articles prepared (in whole or in part) from such \nState inspected articles shall be identified as so inspected only by \nthe same official marks as prescribed by the Secretary for articles \nslaughtered or prepared under title I.\n ``(4) Except as provided in paragraph (5), the operator of an \nestablishment operated under Federal or State inspection who wishes to \ntransfer to State or Federal inspection, as the case may be, may do so \nonly on October 1 of any year. Such transfer shall occur only if--\n ``(A) the operator provides written notice of the intention \n to transfer to both inspection agencies at least six months in \n advance of that date; and\n ``(B) the Secretary determines that the transfer will \n effectuate the purposes set forth in section 2 and will not \n adversely affect the stability of the total State and Federal \n inspection systems.\n ``(5) The Secretary may permit the operator of an establishment to \ntransfer from State to Federal inspection at any time if the operator \npresents clear and convincing evidence to the Secretary that the \nestablishment intends to, and will be able to, engage in foreign \ncommerce to a substantial extent in a manner which would require \nFederal inspection.\n ``(6) For purposes of this subsection, the term `interstate \ncommerce' means commerce between States or between a State and the \nDistrict of Columbia.''.\n (e) Prohibition on Additional or Different State Requirements.--\nSection 408 of such Act (21 U.S.C. 678) is amended to read as follows:\n ``Sec. 408. (a) Requirements within the scope of this Act with \nrespect to premises, facilities and operations of any establishment at \nwhich inspection is provided under title I, which are in addition to, \nor different than those made under this Act may not be imposed by any \nState or Territory or the District of Columbia. However, any such \njurisdiction may impose recordkeeping and other requirements within the \nscope of section 202, if consistent with such section, with respect to \nany such establishment.\n ``(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), marking, labeling, \npackaging, or ingredient requirements in addition to (or different \nthan) those made under this Act may not be imposed by any State or \nTerritory or the District of Columbia with respect to articles prepared \nat any establishment under Federal inspection in accordance with the \nrequirements of title I or with respect to articles prepared for \ncommerce at any State inspected establishment in accordance with the \nrequirements of section 301(d).\n ``(2) A State or territory or the District of Columbia may, \nconsistent with the requirements under this Act, exercise concurrent \njurisdiction with the Secretary over articles distributed in commerce \nor otherwise subject to this Act, for the purpose of preventing the \ndistribution for human food purposes of any such articles which are not \nin compliance with the requirements under this Act and are outside of \nany federally or State inspected establishment, or in the case of \nimported articles, which are not at such an establishment, after their \nentry into the United States.\n ``(c) This Act shall not preclude any State or Territory or the \nDistrict of Columbia from imposing a requirement or taking other \naction, consistent with this Act, with respect to any other matters \nregulated under this Act.''.\n\nSEC. 3. FEDERAL AND STATE COOPERATION UNDER THE POULTRY PRODUCTS \n INSPECTION ACT.\n\n (a) Removal of Intrastate Distribution Limitation.--Subsection \n(a)(1) of section 5 of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. \n454) is amended by striking ``solely for distribution within such \nState.''.\n (b) Use of State Inspectors.--Subsection (a) of such section is \namended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(5) The Secretary may enter into agreements to utilize \n officers and employees of a State or the District of Columbia \n to conduct such examinations, investigations, and inspections \n authorized under this Act as the Secretary determines \n practicable.''.\n (c) Termination of Designation of State as Subject to Federal \nInspection for Intrastate Distribution.--Subsection (c)(3) of such \nsection is amended by striking ``, with respect to the operations and \ntransactions within such State which are regulated under subparagraph \n(1) of this paragraph (c), he'' and inserting ``with respect to all \nestablishments within its jurisdiction which do not operate under \nFederal inspection under this Act and at which any poultry are \nslaughtered, or any poultry products are processed, for use as human \nfood, and with respect to the distribution of poultry products within \nthe States, the Secretary''.\n (d) Expansion of State Inspection Authority.--Such section is \nfurther amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new \n subsection:\n ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), poultry products \nprocessed under State inspection in any State (other than a State \ndesignated under subsection (c)) in compliance with the poultry \nproducts inspection law of the State shall be eligible for sale or \ntransportation in interstate commerce, and for entry into and use in \nthe preparation of products in establishments at which Federal \ninspection is maintained under this Act, in the same manner and to the \nsame extent as poultry products processed at such establishments. \nPoultry products complying with the requirements of the poultry product \ninspection laws of the State (other than a State designated under \nsubsection (c)) in which the products were processed shall be \nconsidered as complying with this Act.\n ``(2) State inspected poultry products described in paragraph (1), \nand federally inspected poultry products processed (in whole or in \npart) from such State inspected poultry products--\n ``(A) shall not be eligible for sale or transportation in \n foreign commerce; and\n ``(B) shall be separated at all times from all other \n federally inspected poultry products in any federally inspected \n establishment that engages in the processing, sale, or \n transportation of poultry products for foreign commerce.\n ``(3) All poultry products that are inspected in a program of \ninspection in a State (other than a State designated under subsection \n(c)) pursuant to State law shall be identified as so inspected only by \nofficial marks that identify the State and are such design as the State \nshall prescribe. Federally inspected poultry products processed (in \nwhole or in part) from such State inspected poultry products shall be \nidentified as so inspected only by the same official marks as \nprescribed by the Secretary for poultry products processed under this \nAct (other than this section or section 11).\n ``(4) Except as provided in paragraph (5), the operator of an \nestablishment operated under Federal or State inspection who wishes to \ntransfer to State or Federal inspection, as the case may be, may do so \nonly on October 1 of any year. Such transfer shall occur only if--\n ``(A) the operator provides written notice of the intention \n to transfer to both inspection agencies at least six months in \n advance of that date; and\n ``(B) the Secretary determines that the transfer will \n effectuate the legislative policy set forth in section 3 and \n will not adversely affect the stability of the total State and \n Federal inspection systems.\n ``(5) The Secretary may permit the operator of an establishment to \ntransfer from State to Federal inspection at any time if the operator \npresents clear and convincing evidence to the Secretary that the \nestablishment intends to, and will be able to, engage in foreign \ncommerce to a substantial extent in a manner which would require \nFederal inspection.\n ``(6) For purposes of this subsection, the term `interstate \ncommerce' means commerce between States or between a State and the \nDistrict of Columbia.''.\n (e) Prohibition on Additional or Different State Requirements.--\nSection 23 of such Act (21 U.S.C. 467e) is amended to read as follows:\n ``Sec. 23. (a) Requirements within the scope of this Act with \nrespect to premises, facilities and operations of any official \nestablishment, which are in addition to, or different than those made \nunder this Act may not be imposed by any State or territory or the \nDistrict of Columbia. However, any such jurisdiction may impose \nrecordkeeping and other requirements within the scope of section 11(b), \nif consistent with such section, with respect to any such \nestablishment.\n ``(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), marking, labeling, \npackaging, or ingredient requirements in addition to (or different \nthan) those made under this Act may not be imposed by any State or \nterritory or the District of Columbia with respect to articles prepared \nat any establishment under Federal inspection in accordance with the \nrequirements of this Act or with respect to articles prepared for \ncommerce at any State inspected establishment in accordance with the \nrequirements of section 5(d). Further storage or handling requirements \nfound by the Secretary to unduly interfere with the free flow of \npoultry products in commerce shall not be imposed by any State or \nterritory or the District of Columbia.\n ``(2) A State or territory or the District of Columbia may, \nconsistent with the requirements of this Act, exercise concurrent \njurisdiction with the Secretary over articles distributed in commerce \nor otherwise subject to this Act, for the purpose of preventing the \ndistribution for human food purposes of any such articles which are not \nin compliance with the requirements of this Act and are outside of any \nfederally or State inspected establishment, or in the case of imported \narticles, which are not at such an establishment, after their entry \ninto the United States.\n ``(c) This Act shall not preclude any State or territory or the \nDistrict of Columbia from making requirements or taking other action, \nconsistent with this Act, with respect to any other matters regulated \nunder this Act.''.", "summary": "Meat and Poultry Products Inspection Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to: (1) remove the intrastate distribution requirement for Federal-State cooperation; (2) authorize the use of State inspectors; and (3) expand State inspection authority.", "title": "Meat and Poultry Products Inspection Amendments of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1671, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Real Estate Mortgage Investment \nConduit Improvement Act of 2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. SPECIAL RULES FOR MODIFICATION OR DISPOSITION OF QUALIFIED \n MORTGAGES OR FORECLOSURE PROPERTY BY REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE \n INVESTMENT CONDUITS.\n\n (a) In General.--If a REMIC (as defined in section 860D(a) of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986) modifies or disposes of a troubled asset \nunder the Troubled Asset Relief Program established by the Secretary of \nthe Treasury under section 101(a) of the Emergency Economic \nStabilization Act of 2008 or under rules established by the Secretary \nunder section 3 of this Act--\n (1) such modification or disposition shall not be treated \n as a prohibited transaction under section 860F(a)(2) of such \n Code, and\n (2) for purposes of part IV of subchapter M of chapter 1 of \n such Code--\n (A) an interest in the REMIC shall not fail to be \n treated as a regular interest (as defined in section \n 860G(a)(1) of such Code) solely because of such \n modification or disposition, and\n (B) any proceeds resulting from such modification \n or disposition shall be treated as amounts received \n under qualified mortgages.\n (b) Termination of REMIC.--For purposes of the Internal Revenue \nCode of 1986, an entity which is a REMIC (as defined in section 860D(a) \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) shall cease to be a REMIC if the \ninstruments governing the conduct of servicers or trustees with respect \nto qualified mortgages (as defined in section 860G(a)(3) of such Code) \nor foreclosure property (as defined in section 860G(a)(8) of such \nCode)--\n (1) prohibit or restrict (including restrictions on the \n type, number, percentage, or frequency of modifications or \n dispositions) such servicers or trustees from reasonably \n modifying or disposing of such qualified mortgages or such \n foreclosure property in order to participate in the Troubled \n Asset Relief Program established by the Secretary of the \n Treasury under section 101(a) of the Emergency Economic \n Stabilization Act of 2008 or under rules established by the \n Secretary under section 3 of this Act,\n (2) commit to a person other than the servicer or trustee \n the authority to prevent the reasonable modification or \n disposition of any such qualified mortgage or foreclosure \n property,\n (3) require a servicer or trustee to purchase qualified \n mortgages which are in default or as to which default is \n reasonably foreseeable for the purposes of reasonably modifying \n such mortgages or as a consequence of such reasonable \n modification, or\n (4) fail to provide that any duty a servicer or trustee \n owes when modifying or disposing of qualified mortgages or \n foreclosure property shall be to the trust in the aggregate and \n not to any individual or class of investors.\n (c) Effective Dates.--\n (1) Subsection (a).--Subsection (a) shall apply to \n modification and dispositions after the date of the enactment \n of this Act, in taxable years ending on or after such date.\n (2) Subsection (b).--\n (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph \n (B), subsection (b) shall take effect on the date that \n is 3 months after the date of the enactment of this \n Act.\n (B) Exception.--The Secretary of the Treasury may \n waive the application of subsection (b) in whole or in \n part for any period of time with respect to any entity \n if--\n (i) the Secretary determines that such \n entity is unable to comply with the \n requirements of such subsection in a timely \n manner, or\n (ii) the Secretary determines that such \n waiver would further the purposes of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF A HOME MORTGAGE LOAN RELIEF PROGRAM UNDER THE \n TROUBLED ASSET RELIEF PROGRAM AND RELATED AUTHORITIES.\n\n (a) Establishment.--Not later than 30 days after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall establish \nand implement a program under the Troubled Asset Relief Program and \nrelated authorities established under section 101(a) of the Emergency \nEconomic Stabilization Act of 2008 (12 U.S.C. 5211(a))--\n (1) to achieve appropriate broad-scale modifications or \n dispositions of troubled home mortgage loans; and\n (2) to achieve appropriate broad-scale dispositions of \n foreclosure property.\n (b) Rules.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall promulgate rules \ngoverning the--\n (1) reasonable modification of any home mortgage loan \n pursuant to the requirements of this Act; and\n (2) disposition of any such home mortgage loan or \n foreclosed property pursuant to the requirements of this Act.\n (c) Considerations.--In developing the rules required under \nsubsection (b), the Secretary of the Treasury shall take into \nconsideration--\n (1) the debt-to-income ratio, loan-to-value ratio, or \n payment history of the mortgagors of such home mortgage loans; \n and\n (2) any other factors consistent with the intent to \n streamline modifications of troubled home mortgage loans into \n sustainable home mortgage loans.\n (d) Use of Broad Authority.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall \nuse all available authorities to implement the home mortgage loan \nrelief program established under this section, including, as \nappropriate--\n (1) home mortgage loan purchases;\n (2) home mortgage loan guarantees;\n (3) making and funding commitments to purchase home \n mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities;\n (4) buying down interest rates and principal on home \n mortgage loans;\n (5) principal forbearance; and\n (6) developing standard home mortgage loan modification and \n disposition protocols, which shall include ratifying that \n servicer action taken in anticipation of any necessary changes \n to the instruments governing the conduct of servicers or \n trustees with respect to qualified mortgages or foreclosure \n property are consistent with the Secretary of the Treasury's \n standard home mortgage loan modification and disposition \n protocols.\n (e) Payments Authorized.--The Secretary of the Treasury is \nauthorized to pay servicers for home mortgage loan modifications or \nother dispositions consistent with any rules established under \nsubsection (b).\n (f) Rule of Construction.--Any standard home mortgage loan \nmodification and disposition protocols developed by the Secretary of \nthe Treasury under this section shall be construed to constitute \nstandard industry practice.", "summary": "Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit Improvement Act of 2009 - Establishes special rules for modification or disposition of a troubled asset (qualified mortgages or foreclosure property) under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) by real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs).\n\nDeclares that: (1) such a modification or disposition shall not be treated as a prohibited transaction under the Internal Revenue Code; (2) an interest in the REMIC shall not fail to be treated as a regular interest solely because of such modification or disposition; and (3) any proceeds resulting from such modification or disposition shall be treated as amounts received under qualified mortgages.\n\nSpecifies terms of the instruments governing the conduct of servicers or trustees with respect to qualified mortgages which shall terminates a REMIC.\n\nDirects the Secretary of the Treasury to establish and implement a home mortgage loan relief program under TARP.", "title": "A bill to provide rules for the modification or disposition of certain assets by real estate mortgage investment conduits pursuant to division A of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1415, "text": "SECTION 1. MEDICARE FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE PREVENTION SOLUTION.\n\n (a) Establishment.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services \n (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall \n develop and implement a fraud, waste, and abuse comprehensive \n pre-payment review prevention system (in this section referred \n to as the ``Prevention System'') for reviewing claims for \n reimbursement under the Medicare Program under title XVIII of \n the Social Security Act (in this section referred to as the \n ``Medicare Program'').\n (2) Implementation.--The Secretary shall carry out the \n Prevention System acting through the Center for Program \n Integrity of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.\n (b) Selection of Claims Across All Provider Types.--The Prevention \nSystem shall cover all types of providers of services and suppliers \nunder the Medicare Program, but may be limited to a subset of claim \nsegments.\n (c) System Design Elements.--To the extent practicable, the \nPrevention System, shall--\n (1) be holistic;\n (2) be able to view and analyze all provider of services, \n supplier, and patient activities from multiple providers of \n services and suppliers under the Medicare Program;\n (3) be able to be integrated into the health care claims \n flow in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act \n with minimal effort, time, and cost;\n (4) be designed to use technologies, including predictive \n modeling, that can utilize integrated near real-time \n transaction risk scoring and referral strategy capabilities to \n identify transactions, patterns, anomalies, and linkages that \n are statistically unusual or suspicious and can undertake \n analysis before payment is made and that prioritizes unusual or \n suspicious claims in terms of likelihood of potential fraud, \n waste, or abuse to more efficiently utilize investigative \n resources;\n (5) be designed to--\n (A) allow for ease of integration into multiple \n points along the claims flow under the Medicare Program \n (pre-adjudication and post-adjudication of such claims) \n in order to demonstratively show that the system ranks \n the likelihood of high-risk behavior patterns and of \n fraud, waste, or abuse; and\n (B) utilize experimental design methodology to \n monitor and measure the performance between the control \n treatments (which shall be the methods and assessments \n used as of the day before the date of the enactment of \n this Act to address fraud, waste, and abuse under the \n Medicare Program) and test treatments (which shall be \n the Prevention System identification of such fraud, \n waste, and abuse and actions taken pursuant to such \n system to address such fraud, waste, and abuse); and\n (6) be provided through competitively bid contracts using \n the Federal Acquisition Regulations.\n (d) System Operation.--\n (1) Scoring and near real-time analysis.--\n (A) In general.--The Prevention System shall \n identify high-risk Medicare claims by scoring all such \n claims in near real-time, prior to the Centers for \n Medicare & Medicaid Services making payment on such \n claims under the Medicare Program.\n (B) Use of scores.--The scores under subparagraph \n (A) shall be communicated to the fraud management \n system under subsection (f).\n (C) Near real-time analysis.--Under the Prevention \n System, the near real-time analysis of Medicare claims \n data shall be conducted in a manner that ensures--\n (i) prompt identification of fraud, waste, \n and abuse; and\n (ii) prompt payment of legitimate claims.\n (2) Predictive modeling.--The Prevention System shall \n involve the implementation of a statistically sound, \n empirically derived predictive modeling technology that is \n designed to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse (by identifying \n such fraud, waste, and abuse before payment is made under the \n Medicare Program on related claims). The Prevention System \n shall use a predictive model to identify fraud, waste, and \n abuse that is--\n (A) based on historical transaction data, from \n across all markets and regions available, to build and \n continuously re-develop scoring models that are capable \n of incorporating external data and external models from \n other sources into the predictive model; and\n (B) regularly updated, through the feedback loop \n under subsection (g), to provide information and \n incorporate data on reimbursement claims that is \n collected through the Prevention System, including \n information gathered through the investigation of \n claims for reimbursement under the Medicare Program \n that the system identifies as being potentially \n fraudulent, wasteful, or abusive.\n (3) Protections for patients and providers.--The \n identification of an unusual or suspect Medicare claim by the \n Prevention System shall--\n (A) not result in the denial of items or services \n to an individual under the Medicare Program until such \n claim is further reviewed by the Secretary; and\n (B) not result in a failure to comply with prompt \n payment requirements under applicable law.\n (4) Compliance with hipaa.--Any data collected, stored, or \n reviewed under the Prevention System shall be treated in a \n manner that is in accordance with the regulations promulgated \n under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and \n Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2 note) and any \n other applicable law.\n (e) Treatment of Data.--\n (1) In general.--The Prevention System shall be a high \n volume, rapid, near real-time information technology solution, \n which includes data pooling and scoring capabilities to quickly \n and accurately capture and evaluate data.\n (2) Data sources.--The Prevention System shall, for \n purposes of preventing fraud, waste, and abuse under the \n Medicare Program--\n (A) use data from claims for reimbursement under \n the Medicare Program contained in existing files of \n Medicare claims data, including the Common Working File \n of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and\n (B) to the extent practicable, pool data from all \n available Government sources (including the Death \n Master File of the Social Security Administration).\n (3) Data storage.--The Prevention System shall be stored in \n an industry standard secure data environment that complies with \n applicable Federal privacy laws for use in building Medicare \n fraud, waste, and abuse prevention predictive models that have \n a comprehensive view of provider and supplier activity across \n all markets, geographic areas, and provider and supplier types.\n (f) Fraud Management System.--\n (1) In general.--The Prevention System shall utilize a \n fraud management system containing workflow management and \n workstation tools to provide the ability to systematically \n present score, reason codes, and treatment actions for high-\n risk scored transactions, as determined under subsection (d).\n (2) Review of claims.--The fraud management system under \n paragraph (1) shall ensure that analysts who review Medicare \n claims have the capability to access, review, and research \n claims efficiently, as well as decline or approve payments on \n claims in an automated manner.\n (g) Feedback Loop.--\n (1) In general.--The Prevention System shall utilize a \n feedback loop to gain access to outcome information on \n adjudicated Medicare claims so future system enhancements can \n utilize previous experience.\n (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the feedback loop under \n paragraph (1) is to--\n (A) enable the Secretary to measure--\n (i) the actual amount of fraud, waste, and \n abuse under the Medicare Program; and\n (ii) any savings to the Medicare Program \n resulting from implementation of the Prevention \n System; and\n (B) provide necessary data to develop future, \n enhanced models for use in the Prevention System.\n (3) Analysis of final claims status.--The feedback loop \n under paragraph (1) shall analyze data from all carriers to \n provide post-payment information about the eventual status of a \n Medicare claim as ``Normal'', ``Fraud'', ``Waste'', ``Abuse'', \n or ``Education required''.\n (h) Claims Review Prior to Payment.--\n (1) Review before payment.--Subject to paragraph (2), if a \n claim for reimbursement under the Medicare Program is selected \n for review under the Prevention System, the Secretary shall not \n make a payment on such claim until such claim has been reviewed \n under the system. In order to carry out this paragraph, the \n Secretary shall ensure that appropriate controls and technology \n are in place to assess and measure the effectiveness of the \n Prevention System, predictive models used under such system, \n and the overall strategy for Medicare claims review.\n (2) Timely review.--\n (A) In general.--The review of a claim under the \n Prevention System shall occur in a timely manner.\n (B) Application of prompt payment requirements.--\n The limitation on payment under paragraph (1) shall not \n interfere with the prompt payment of a Medicare claim \n in accordance with applicable law.\n (3) Manual review.--If automated technology presents a \n score, reason code, or treatment action for a claim that is \n scored as ``high-risk,'' the Prevention System shall provide \n for manual review of medical records related to such claim by \n both clinical and fraud investigators to ensure accuracy and \n mitigate false positive events.\n (4) Self-audit review.--The Secretary may use self-audit \n practices by providers and suppliers under the Prevention \n System in a manner such that once high-risk claims are \n identified through the predictive modeling, providers and \n suppliers are offered the opportunity to adjust or withdraw \n their claims.\n (5) Denial of payment for fraudulent claims.--Under the \n Prevention System, if automated technology of a claim under \n paragraph (3) and manual review under paragraph (4) confirm \n fraud has occurred, the Secretary may deny payment of such \n claim.\n (i) Annual Assessment Report.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the \n implementation of the Prevention System, the Secretary, through \n the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health \n and Human Services, shall submit to Congress a report on the \n implementation of such system.\n (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) may \n contain--\n (A) a detailed assessment of the Prevention \n System's success in identifying fraud, waste, and \n abuse;\n (B) the costs of operating the Prevention System; \n and\n (C) an analysis of the overall return on investment \n for the Prevention System.\n (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.\n (k) Expansion.--If the Secretary determines that the Prevention \nSystem results in savings to the Medicare Program, the Secretary shall \nexpand the project throughout Federal health programs, including the \nMedicaid Program under title XIX of the Social Security Act and the \nChildren's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of such Act.", "summary": "Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and implement a fraud, waste, and abuse comprehensive prepayment review Prevention System for reviewing claims for reimbursement under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Requires the Secretary to carry out the system acting through the Center for Program Integrity of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).\n\nRequires the Prevention System to cover all types of providers and suppliers under the Medicare program, but allows it to be limited to a subset of claim segments.\n\nRequires the Prevention System to: (1) be a high volume, rapid, near real-time information technology solution which includes data pooling and scoring capabilities to quickly and accurately capture and evaluate data; (2) identify high-risk Medicare claims by scoring all such claims in near real-time before payment is made; (3) involve a statistically sound, empirically derived predictive modeling technology; and (4) utilize a fraud management system that presents score, reason codes, and treatment actions for high-risk scored transactions, and a feedback loop to gain access to outcome information on adjudicated Medicare claims.\n\nProhibits the Secretary from making a payment on a claim selected for review until it has been reviewed under the System.", "title": "To provide for the establishment of a fraud, waste, and abuse detection and mitigation program for the Medicare Program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1344, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Holocaust Survivors Assistance Act \nof 2011''.\n\n TITLE I--PURPOSES; FINDINGS; DEFINITIONS; GRANTS\n\nSEC. 101. PURPOSES.\n\n The purposes of this Act are--\n (1) to include ``older individuals who are Holocaust \n survivors'' to the list of groups that receive preference for \n services as defined in section 305(a)(2)(E) of the Older \n Americans Act of 1965,\n (2) to designate within the Administration on Aging an \n individual to have responsibility for older individuals who are \n Holocaust survivors, and\n (3) to create a grant program to increase and improve \n transportation services for older individuals with preference \n to those older individuals who are Holocaust survivors.\n\nSEC. 102. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) During the Holocaust, which took place between 1933 and \n 1945, an estimated 6,000,000 Jews, as well as millions from \n other targeted groups, were murdered by the Nazis and their \n collaborators.\n (2) Approximately 127,000 Holocaust survivors remain in the \n United States, and thousands pass away each year.\n (3) Holocaust survivors are getting older and frailer, and \n will be seeking additional support and assistance from social \n service providers to enable them to age in place. Providers \n face increased levels of demand from vulnerable individuals \n without any additional revenue to cover needed services.\n (4) All Holocaust survivors are at least 65 years old with \n approximately three quarters of them older than 75 and a \n majority in their 80s and 90s.\n (5) More than half of all Holocaust survivors who emigrated \n to the United States from the former Soviet Union after 1965 \n fall beneath 200 percent of the Federal poverty threshold and \n constitute an extremely vulnerable at-risk population in the \n United States.\n (6) Holocaust survivors continue to live with the mental \n and physical scars of the unconscionable trauma caused by the \n Holocaust.\n (7) While institutionalized settings are beneficial for \n some older people, long-term care facilities can have an \n adverse effect on Holocaust survivors. For many Holocaust \n survivors, institutionalized settings reintroduce sights, \n sounds, smells, emotions and routines which can induce panic, \n anxiety, and re-traumatization as a result of experiences \n resulting from the Holocaust.\n (8) Approximately two-thirds of Holocaust survivors live \n alone and living alone is a risk factor for \n institutionalization.\n (9) Low income Holocaust survivors are more reliant on \n social service programs than most other older Americans, with \n proportionally more Holocaust survivors needing services such \n as personal care, home-delivered and congregate meals, \n transportation, counseling and mental health support.\n\nSEC. 103. DEFINITION.\n\n Section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(55) The term `Holocaust survivor' means an individual \n who--\n ``(A)(i) lived in a country between 1933 and 1945 \n under a Nazi regime, under Nazi occupation, or under \n the control of Nazi collaborators; or\n ``(ii) fled from a country between 1933 and 1945 \n under a Nazi regime; under Nazi occupation, or under \n the control of Nazi collaborators;\n ``(B) was persecuted between 1933 and 1945 on the \n basis of race, religion, physical or mental disability, \n sexual orientation, political affiliation, ethnicity, \n or other basis; and\n ``(C) was a member of a group that was persecuted \n by the Nazis.''.\n\nSEC. 104. ORGANIZATION.\n\n Section 305(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. \n3025(a)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1)(E) by inserting ``older individuals \n who are Holocaust survivors,'' after ``proficiency,'' each \n place it appears, and\n (2) in paragraph (2)(E) by inserting ``older individuals \n who are Holocaust survivors,'' after ``proficiency,''.\n\nSEC. 105. AREA PLANS.\n\n Section 306 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3025(a)) \nis amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``older \n individuals who are Holocaust survivors,'' after \n ``proficiency,'' each place it appears,\n (B) in paragraph (4)--\n (i) in subparagraph (A)--\n (I) in clause (i)(I)(bb) by \n inserting ``older individuals who are \n Holocaust survivors,'' after \n ``proficiency,'' and\n (II) in clause (ii) by inserting \n ``older individuals who are Holocaust \n survivors,'' after ``proficiency,'' \n each place it appears, and\n (ii) in subparagraph (B)--\n (I) in subclause (VII) by striking \n ``and'' at the end,\n (II) by redesignating subclause \n (VIII) as subclause (IX), and\n (III) by inserting after subclause \n (VIII) the following:\n ``(VIII) older individuals who are \n Holocaust survivors; and'', and\n (C) in paragraph (7)(B)(iii) by inserting ``, in \n particular, older individuals who are Holocaust \n survivors,'' after ``placement'', and\n (2) by inserting ``older individuals who are Holocaust \n survivors,'' after ``areas,''.\n\nSEC. 106. STATE PLANS.\n\n Section 307(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. \n3027(a)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (4) by inserting ``older individuals who \n are Holocaust survivors,'' after ``proficiency,'',\n (2) in paragraph (16)(A)--\n (A) in clause (v) by striking ``and'' at the end, \n and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(vii) older individuals who are Holocaust \n survivors; and'', and\n (3) in paragraph (28)(A)(ii) by inserting ``older \n individuals who are Holocaust survivors,'' after \n ``proficiency,''.\n\nSEC. 107. CONSUMER CONTRIBUTIONS.\n\n Section 315 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030c-2) \nis amended--\n (1) in subsection (c)(2) by inserting ``older individuals \n who are Holocaust survivors,'' after ``proficiency,'' and\n (2) in subsection (d) by inserting ``older individuals who \n are Holocaust survivors,'' after ``proficiency,''.\n\nSEC. 108. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.\n\n Section 372(c)(2)(A) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. \n3030s-2(c)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``individuals)'' inserting \n``individuals and older individuals who are Holocaust survivors)''.\n\nSEC. 109. PREVENTION OF ELDER ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITATION.\n\n Section 721(b)(12) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. \n3058i(b)(12)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``or'' at the end,\n (2) in subparagraph (C) by striking the period at the end \n and inserting ``or'', and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(D) older individuals who are Holocaust \n survivors.''.\n\n TITLE II--FUNCTIONS OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY\n\nSEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADMINISTRATION ON AGING.\n\n Section 201 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3012) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(g)(1) The Assistant Secretary is authorized to designate within \nthe Administration a person to have responsibility for older \nindividuals who are Holocaust survivors.\n ``(h) It shall be the duty of the Assistant Secretary, acting \nthrough the person designated to have responsibility for older \nindividuals who are Holocaust survivors.''.\n\n TITLE III--ACTIVITIES FOR HEALTH, INDEPENDENCE, AND LONGEVITY\n\nSEC. 301. INNOVATION TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS \n WHO ARE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS.\n\n Part A of title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. \n3032 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 423. INNOVATION TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS \n WHO ARE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary shall award grants or \ncontracts to nonprofit organizations to improve and increase \ntransportation services for older individuals, with preference toward \nthose older individuals who are Holocaust survivors. The Assistant \nSecretary shall make grants or enter into such contracts for period of \nnot less than 5 years.\n ``(b) Use of Funds.--\n ``(1) In general.--A nonprofit organization receiving a \n grant or contract under subsection (a) shall use the funds \n received through such grant or contract to carry out a \n demonstration project, or to provide technical assistance to \n assist local transit providers, area agencies on aging, senior \n centers, and local senior support groups, to encourage and \n facilitate coordination of Federal, State, and local \n transportation services and resources for older individuals who \n are Holocaust survivors. The organization may use the funds to \n develop and carry out an innovative transportation \n demonstration project to create transportation services for \n older individuals.\n ``(2) Specific activities.--In carrying out a demonstration \n project or providing technical assistance under paragraph (1) \n the organization may carry out activities that include--\n ``(A) developing innovative approaches for \n improving access by older individuals to transportation \n services, including volunteer driver programs, \n economically sustainable transportation programs, and \n programs that allow older individuals to transfer their \n automobiles to a provider of transportation services in \n exchange for the services;\n ``(B) preparing information on transportation \n options and resources for older individuals and \n organizations serving such individuals, and \n disseminating the information by establishing and \n operating a toll-free telephone number;\n ``(C) developing models and best practices for \n providing comprehensive integrated transportation \n services for older individuals, including services \n administered by the Secretary of Transportation, by \n providing ongoing technical assistance to agencies \n providing services under title III and by assisting in \n coordination of public and community transportation \n services; and\n ``(D) providing special services to link older \n individuals to transportation services not provided \n under title III.\n ``(c) Preference.--In awarding grants and entering into contracts \nunder paragraph (a), the Assistant Secretary shall give preference to \norganizations and institutions that have previous extensive experience \nworking with and conducting assessment of the needs of Holocaust \nsurvivors who are older individuals.\n ``(d) Consultation.--In determining the type of programs and \nactivities used to improve and increase transportation assistance for \nHolocaust survivors, the Assistant Secretary shall consult with the \nindividual designated by Section 201(h)(1) of the Act and with national \norganizations with special expertise in serving Holocaust survivors who \nare older individuals.\n ``(e) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant or \nenter into a contract under paragraph (a), an entity shall have \nprevious extensive experience working with and conducting assessment of \nthe needs of older individuals.\n ``(f) Report to Congress.--The Assistant Secretary with assistance \nfrom the individual designated by Section 201 (h)(1) of the Act, shall \nprepare and submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and \nthe President pro tempore of the Senate an annual report on the status \nand needs, including the priority areas of concern, of older \nindividuals who are Holocaust survivors.''.", "summary": "Holocaust Survivors Assistance Act of 2011 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to: (1) include specifically within its purview older Americans who are Holocaust survivors; (2) authorize the Assistant Secretary for Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to designate within the Administration of Aging an individual who is to have responsibility for such individuals; and (3) create a grant program to increase and improve transportation services for older Americans, with preference for Holocaust survivors.", "title": "To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to provide social service agencies with the resources to provide services to meet the unique needs of Holocaust survivors to age in place with dignity, comfort, security, and quality of life."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 147, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Assistance to Counterfeiters \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT RELATING TO TRAFFICKING IN GOODS OR \n SERVICES THAT CONTAIN COUNTERFEIT MARKS.\n\n (a) Amendments.--Chapter 1 of part III of the Foreign Assistance \nAct of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2351 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating the second section 620G (as added by \n section 149 of Public Law 104-164 (110 Stat. 1436)) as section \n 620J; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 620K. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT RELATING TO TRAFFICKING IN GOODS \n OR SERVICES THAT CONTAIN COUNTERFEIT MARKS.\n\n ``(a) Requirement for Certification.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), assistance may \n not be provided to a person seeking United States assistance \n for a fiscal year until such person submits to the President a \n certification described in subsection (c) for that fiscal year.\n ``(2) Exception for foreign governments.--The certification \n requirement set out in paragraph (1) shall not be applied to \n assistance provided under this Act or any other Act directly to \n the government of a foreign country or an entity of such \n government or to an international organization that is an \n association of representatives of national governments, \n including the United Nations.\n ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) Counterfeit mark.--The term `counterfeit mark' has \n the meaning given that term in section 2320 of title 18, United \n States Code.\n ``(2) Person seeking united states assistance.--The term \n `person seeking United States assistance' means a person, \n including an international or domestic organization that is not \n an association of national governments, that--\n ``(A) is seeking assistance under this Act or any \n other Act directly from the United States; or\n ``(B) subsequently receives such assistance \n pursuant to a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, \n or other agreement.\n ``(3) Traffic.--The term `traffic' has the meaning given \n that term in section 2320 of title 18, United States Code.\n ``(c) Certification.--\n ``(1) In general.--A certification described in this \n subsection is a certification made by a person seeking United \n States assistance that--\n ``(A) such assistance will not be used to \n intentionally traffic in goods or services that contain \n counterfeit marks;\n ``(B) such assistance will not be used by any \n person that has had an administrative or judicial \n determination issued against the person for \n infringement, counterfeiting, or piracy of intellectual \n property in the United States or a foreign country;\n ``(C) any material or product, including a material \n or product in electronic form, that was developed, in \n whole or in part, using such assistance will not be \n imported into the United States--\n ``(i) in violation of section 2320 of title \n 18, United States Code; or\n ``(ii) in violation of section 526(a) of \n the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1526(a)); and\n ``(D) if such assistance will be used for a \n contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other \n agreement that includes use of any intellectual \n property, provides evidence of the right to use the \n intellectual property, including a written license \n agreement for the use, the date of the first commercial \n use of the intellectual property, and any registration \n for the use with an appropriate government.\n ``(2) Requirements for submission of certification.--A \n certification described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted to \n the President by a person seeking United States assistance \n prior to the provision of any assistance under this Act or any \n other Act and at the beginning of each subsequent fiscal year \n for which such person will receive the assistance.\n ``(d) Suspension and Termination of Assistance.--The President \nshall suspend or terminate the provision of assistance under this Act \nor any other Act, in whole or in part, to a person seeking United \nStates assistance if the President determines that such person has used \nthe assistance to carry out an activity in violation of a certification \nmade under subsection (c).\n ``(e) National Security Waiver.--The President may waive a \nprovision of this section if the President--\n ``(1) determines that such a waiver is necessary to the \n national security interests of the United States; and\n ``(2) promptly submits to Congress a notification of the \n waiver and of the reasons for the waiver.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The certification requirements under section \n620K of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by subsection (a) \nof this section, apply with respect to the provision of assistance by \nthe President for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2006.", "summary": "Stop Assistance to Counterfeiters Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require U.S. foreign assistance recipients to certify that such assistance will not be used to intentionally traffic in goods or services that contain counterfeit marks or for other purposes that promote the improper use of intellectual property.\n\nExempts from such requirement direct assistance to a foreign government (or its entity) or to an international organization that is an association of representatives of national governments, including the United Nations.\n\nDirects the President to suspend or terminate assistance to a recipient who is in violation of this Act. Authorizes a national security waiver.", "title": "A bill to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require recipients of United States foreign assistance to certify that the assistance will not be used to intentionally traffic in goods or services that contain counterfeit marks or for other purposes that promote the improper use of intellectual property, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 557, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Fort Sumner Project Title Conveyance \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) District.--The term ``District'' means the Fort Sumner \n Irrigation District, located in De Baca County, New Mexico.\n (2) Forbearance agreement.--The term ``Forbearance \n Agreement'' means the contract between the United States and \n the District for the forbearance of exercising priority water \n rights numbered 08-WC-40-292 and dated August 21, 2009 \n (including any amendments to that contract).\n (3) Project.--The term ``Project'' means the Fort Sumner \n reclamation project.\n (4) Repayment contract.--The term ``Repayment Contract'' \n means the contract between the United States and the District \n numbered Ilr-1524 and dated November 5, 1948 (including any \n supplements and amendments to that contract).\n (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (6) Memorandum of agreement.--The term ``Memorandum of \n Agreement'' means the agreement entitled ``Memorandum of \n Agreement between the United States and the Fort Sumner \n Irrigation District Concerning Principles and Elements of \n Proposed Transfer of Title to Fort Sumner Irrigation District \n Facilities'' and numbered 11-WC-40-406 (including any \n amendments to that agreement).\n (7) Transfer agreement.--The term ``Transfer Agreement'' \n means the agreement between the United States and the Fort \n Sumner Irrigation District that identifies the specific terms \n and conditions of the title transfer. This document will be \n completed after the requirements described in section 3(d) are \n satisfied.\n\nSEC. 3. CONVEYANCE.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to convey to the \nDistrict all right and title of the United States in and to all works, \nland, and facilities of the Project, in accordance with the terms and \nconditions established in the Transfer Agreement.\n (b) Valid Existing Rights.--The conveyance under this section shall \nbe subject to all valid existing leases, permits, rights-of-way, \neasements, and other rights appurtenant to the property conveyed.\n (c) Costs of Conveyance.--The costs of the conveyance under this \nsection, including the costs of environmental compliance, may be shared \nbetween the United States and the District, in accordance with the \nMemorandum of Agreement.\n (d) Compliance With Environmental Laws.--\n (1) In general.--Before carrying out the conveyance under \n subsection (a), the Secretary shall assure compliance with all \n applicable requirements under--\n (A) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 \n (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);\n (B) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. \n 1531 et seq.); and\n (C) any other law applicable to the property \n conveyed.\n (2) Effect.--Nothing in this Act modifies or alters any \n obligation under--\n (A) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 \n (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); or\n (B) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. \n 1531 et seq.).\n (e) Failure To Convey.--If the Secretary fails to complete the \nconveyance under this section by the date that is 2 years after the \ndate of completion of the requirements described in subsection (d) of \nthis Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that--\n (1) explains the reasons why the conveyance has not been \n completed; and\n (2) states the date by which the conveyance will be \n completed.\n\nSEC. 4. LIABILITY.\n\n (a) In General.--Effective on the date of the conveyance under \nsection 3, the United States--\n (1) shall have no further interest in, and shall have no \n responsibility for operating or maintaining, the Project; and\n (2) shall not be liable for damages of any kind arising out \n of any act, omission, or occurrence relating to the conveyed \n property, except for damages caused by acts committed by the \n United States or employees, agents, or contractors of the \n United States before the date of the conveyance.\n (b) Effect of Section.--Nothing in this section increases the \nliability of the United States beyond the liability provided under \nchapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the \n``Federal Tort Claims Act'').\n\nSEC. 5. TERMINATION OF REPAYMENT CONTRACT.\n\n Effective beginning on the date of the conveyance under section 3--\n (1) the Repayment Contract shall terminate; and\n (2) the United States and the District shall have no \n obligations under the Repayment Contract.\n\nSEC. 6. FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT.\n\n (a) Payment Obligation.--In accordance with paragraph 4(a) of the \nForbearance Agreement, effective beginning on the date of termination \nof the Repayment Contract under section 5, the United States shall have \nno payment obligation under paragraph 4(a) of the Forbearance \nAgreement.\n (b) Other Terms and Conditions.--All other terms and conditions of \nthe Forbearance Agreement shall remain in full force and effect on \ntermination of the Repayment Contract under section 5.\n (c) Term.--The term of the Forbearance Agreement shall be not less \nthan 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, as set forth in \nthe Memorandum of Agreement.\n\nSEC. 7. FUTURE BENEFITS.\n\n After conveyance of title under this Act--\n (1) the conveyed property shall not be considered to be a \n part of a Federal reclamation project; and\n (2) the entity to which the property is conveyed shall not \n be eligible to receive any benefits, including Federal project \n power, with respect to the conveyed property, except for \n benefits that would be available to a similarly situated entity \n with respect to property that is not part of a Federal \n reclamation project.", "summary": "Fort Sumner Project Title Conveyance Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Fort Sumner Irrigation District, located in De Baca County, New Mexico, all works, land, and facilities of the Fort Sumner reclamation project in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement between the United States and the Fort Sumner Irrigation District Concerning Principles and Elements of Proposed Transfer of Title to Fort Sumner Irrigation District Facilities.\n\nRequires the Secretary, before carrying out such conveyance, to assure compliance with all applicable requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and any other law applicable to the property conveyed. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress if such conveyance isn't completed within two years after such requirements are met.\n\nTerminates, on the date of such conveyance: (1) U.S. interest in and responsibility for the project and liability relating to the conveyed property; (2) a specified repayment contract between the United States and the District dated November 5, 1948; and (3) a specified payment obligation of the United States under the contract between the United States and the District for the forbearance of exercising priority water rights, dated August 21, 2009. Provides that all other terms of such forbearance agreement shall remain in effect for not less than 10 years after this Act's enactment.\n\nProvides that after conveyance of title under this Act: (1) the conveyed property shall not be considered to be a part of a federal reclamation project; and (2) the entity to which the property is conveyed shall not be eligible to receive any benefits, including federal project power, with respect to the conveyed property, except for benefits that would be available to a similarly situated entity with respect to property that is not part of a federal reclamation project.", "title": "To transfer certain facilities, easements, and rights-of-way to Fort Sumner Irrigation District, New Mexico."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 315, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Cleaning Product Right to Know Act \nof 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. CLEANING PRODUCTS LABELING REQUIREMENT.\n\n (a) Labeling Requirement.--Beginning 1 year after the date of \nenactment of this Act, a cleaning product manufactured for sale, \noffered for sale, distributed in commerce, or imported to the United \nStates after such date shall bear a label on the product's container or \npackaging with a complete and accurate list of all the product's \ningredients, including the individual ingredients in dyes, fragrances, \nand preservatives. Ingredients shall be listed in accordance with the \nfollowing:\n (1) Each ingredient shall be listed by the name assigned to \n it by the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. \n If there is no such name, by the name assigned to it by the \n International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. If there is \n no such name, the ingredient may be listed by its common \n chemical name.\n (2) Ingredients shall be listed in descending order of \n predominance in the product by weight, other than ingredients \n that constitute less than 1 percent of the product, which may \n be listed at the end in any order.\n (b) Exemptions.--\n (1) Exemption for undetectable ingredients.--The Commission \n may exempt from the labeling requirement an ingredient that is \n present in a cleaning product at such low levels that detection \n of the ingredient in the product is not technologically \n feasible.\n (2) Exemption for ingredients constituting trade secrets.--\n (A) In general.--An ingredient may be exempt from \n the labeling requirements of this section if the \n manufacturer demonstrates to the Commission that such \n ingredient is a trade secret, as determined by the \n Commission under subparagraph (D), based on a claim \n submitted by the manufacturer under subparagraph (B). \n An exemption for an ingredient under this paragraph \n shall be for a period of 5 years, after which the \n manufacturer may again submit a claim for an additional \n 5-year exemption.\n (B) Claims of trade secrecy.--A manufacturer making \n a claim that an ingredient is a trade secret shall file \n such claim with the Commission. Such claim shall \n contain--\n (i) the identity of the person making the \n claim;\n (ii) a brief description of the information \n for which trade secret protection is being \n claimed;\n (iii) the period of time for which trade \n secret protection is claimed and a \n justification for the period selected;\n (iv) the extent to which the information is \n known by employees or others involved with the \n facility or business, and whether or not those \n individuals with knowledge are bound by non-\n disclosure agreements;\n (v) the extent to which the information is \n known outside of the facility or business of \n the person, and whether or not individuals with \n such knowledge are bound by non-disclosure \n agreements;\n (vi) the measures taken to restrict access \n to and safeguard the information, and whether \n or not the person plans to continue utilizing \n such measures;\n (vii) copies of, or references to, any \n pertinent confidentiality determinations \n previously made by any public agencies;\n (viii) the estimated dollar value of the \n claimed information to the person's facility or \n business, and to that person's competitors;\n (ix) the amount of effort or money expended \n by the person's facility or business in \n developing the information;\n (x) the ease or difficulty with which the \n information could be properly acquired, \n duplicated or reverse-engineered by others;\n (xi) a description of the nature and extent \n of substantial harm that would be caused if the \n information were made public, including an \n explanation of the causal relationship between \n disclosure and the harmful effects claimed;\n (xii) the signature of the person's general \n counsel or other executive with knowledge of \n the preparation of the substantiating \n information certifying under penalty of \n perjury, based upon the knowledge and belief of \n the signatory, that--\n (I) the substantiating information \n is true, accurate, and complete;\n (II) the information for which \n trade secret protection is claimed is \n not otherwise publicly available; and\n (III) there is a reasonable basis \n to assert trade secret protection for \n the information so claimed; and\n (xiii) the name, mailing address, telephone \n number and email address of the individual to \n be contacted if any additional information is \n needed by the Commission to make a \n determination.\n (C) Limitation.--No ingredient may be claimed as a \n trade secret if such ingredient--\n (i) is publicly know to be in the product;\n (ii) can be discovered through a standard \n process of reverse engineering;\n (iii) is a hazardous substance within the \n meaning of section 2(f) of the Federal \n Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261(f)); \n or\n (iv) is a substance--\n (I) meeting the criteria for \n category 1 or category 2 for any of the \n toxicity endpoints established by the \n Globally Harmonized System for the \n Classification and Labeling of \n Hazardous Substances that causes an \n adverse effect that has been \n demonstrated in humans or other exposed \n organisms; or\n (II) for which the weight of \n evidence (such as demonstration of an \n adverse effect, laboratory studies, or \n data for a chemical from the same \n chemical class that exhibits that \n adverse effect) demonstrates the \n potential for an adverse effect in \n humans or other exposed organisms, \n including actual or potential effects \n of exposure to the chemical substance \n or mixture on mortality, morbidity, \n including carcinogenesis, reproduction, \n growth and development, the immune \n system, the endocrine system, the brain \n or nervous system, other organ systems, \n or any other biological functions in \n humans or nonhuman organisms.\n (D) CPSC determination.--As promptly as practicable \n after receiving the information submitted by a \n manufacturer, the Commission shall make a determination \n on the basis of such information as to whether the \n ingredient is a legitimate trade secret and shall \n notify the manufacturer of its determination.\n (c) Treatment Under the FHSA.--A cleaning product that is not in \nconformity with the labeling requirements of subsection (a) and not \nexempt from such requirements pursuant to subsection (b) shall be \ntreated as a substance defined in section 2(p) of the Federal Hazardous \nSubstances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261(p)) for purposes of such Act.\n (d) No Effect on Existing Labeling Requirements.--Nothing in this \nAct shall be interpreted as having any effect on any labeling \nrequirements in effect before the date of enactment of this Act as \ndescribed in section 2(p) of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 \nU.S.C. 1261(p)).\n (e) Rulemaking Authority.--The Commission may issue such \nregulations it determines necessary to provide for the effective \nenforcement of this Act, and shall consult with the Administrator of \nthe Environmental Protection Agency as necessary.\n\nSEC. 3. PUBLIC RIGHT TO KNOW PETITION.\n\n (a) Petition.--Any person may submit a petition to the Commission \nalleging that a cleaning product available in interstate commerce does \nnot satisfy the labeling requirements of this Act.\n (b) Action by the Commission.--The Commission shall notify a \npetitioner of the receipt of a petition within 30 days after receipt of \nsuch petition. The Commission shall investigate the claims made by the \npetition and make a determination as to the validity of such claims \nwithin 180 days after acknowledging the receipt of such petition. If \nthe Commission sustains the claim or claims made by the petition, the \nCommission shall initiate the proper enforcement actions required by \nlaw.\n (c) Regulations.--The Commission may issue such regulations as it \ndetermines necessary to require that petitions include a reasonable \nevidentiary basis for the claims made therein.\n\nSEC. 4. REQUIRED INTERNET DISCLOSURE.\n\n (a) Manufacturer Disclosure.--Each manufacturer of a cleaning \nproduct shall make available in a clear and conspicuous location on the \nwebsite of such manufacturer, if the manufacturer maintains a website, \na complete list of each of the manufacturer's cleaning products' \ningredients not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this \nAct.\n (b) Content and Requirements of Disclosure.--The disclosure \nrequired by subsection (a) shall--\n (1) name and list the product's ingredients in the manner \n prescribed in section 3;\n (2) be reviewed every 120 days and revised as necessary to \n reflect changes to cleaning products;\n (3) include the appropriate Chemical Abstract Services \n number for each ingredient;\n (4) identify any potential adverse health effect of each \n ingredient in the cleaning product and use the appropriate \n signal word or hazard descriptor as prescribed in section 2(p) \n of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261(p)); \n and\n (5) be sortable by product, ingredient, adverse health \n effect, and other categories as determined by the Commission.\n (c) Commission Disclosure.--Promptly after the date set forth in \nsubsection (a), the Commission shall provide on the website of the \nCommission a web page that aggregates the information made available by \nmanufacturers under such subsection and that allows users to compare \nproducts made by different manufacturers. Such web page shall be \nreviewed every 6 months and revised as necessary to reflect changes to \ncleaning products.\n (d) Language Accessibility.--The disclosures required to be made on \na website or web page subject to this section shall be available in \nEnglish, Spanish, and any other language the Commission determines \nnecessary to ensure that users of a cleaning product in the United \nStates are informed as to the complete list of the product's \ningredients and potential adverse health effects.\n\nSEC. 5. ENHANCED PENALTIES.\n\n Section 5(c)(1) of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. \n1264(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``$15,000,000'' and inserting \n``$30,000,000''.\n\nSEC. 6. REPORTING.\n\n Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act and \nevery 2 years thereafter, the Commission shall prepare a report on \ncompliance with the labeling requirement of this Act and the \nenforcement activities of the Commission, and shall transmit such \nreport to Congress and make it publicly available on the Internet.\n\nSEC. 7. PREEMPTION.\n\n Nothing in this Act affects the right of a State or political \nsubdivision of a State to adopt or enforce any regulation, requirement, \nor standard of performance that is different from, or in addition to, a \nregulation, requirement, liability, or standard of performance \nestablished pursuant to this Act unless compliance with both this Act \nand the State or political subdivision of a State regulation, \nrequirement, or standard of performance is impossible, in which case \nthe applicable provision of this Act shall control.\n\nSEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Adverse health effect.--The term ``adverse health \n effect'' means a chemical or biochemical change, anatomic \n change, or functional impairment, or a known precursor to such \n a change or impairment, that--\n (A) has the potential to impair the performance of \n an anatomic structure of a vital system of an organism \n or progeny of an organism;\n (B) causes irreversible change in the homeostasis \n of an organism;\n (C) increases the susceptibility of an organism or \n progeny of an organism to other chemical or biological \n stressors or reduces the ability of an organism or \n progeny of an organism to respond to additional health \n or environmental challenges; or\n (D) affects, alters, or harms the environment such \n that the health of humans or other organisms is \n directly or indirectly threatened.\n (2) Air care product.--The term ``air care product'' means \n a chemically formulated consumer product designed to clean and \n freshen air or to deodorize and neutralize unwanted odors in \n the indoor air, including solid gels, air freshener spray, an \n outlet or battery operated air freshener, a hanging car air \n freshener, and a potpourri product.\n (3) Automotive product.--The term ``automotive product'' \n means a chemically formulated consumer product designed to \n maintain the appearance of a motor vehicle, but does not \n include automotive paint or a paint repair product.\n (4) Cleaning product.--The term ``cleaning product'' means \n any product used primarily for commercial, domestic, or \n institutional cleaning purposes, including an air care product, \n automotive product, disinfectant (except as provided in \n subparagraph (B)), and polish or floor maintenance product. \n Such term shall not include--\n (A) any drug or cosmetics, including a personal \n care items such as toothpaste, shampoo, and hand soap; \n or\n (B) a product labeled, advertised, marketed, and \n distributed for use only as a pesticide, as defined by \n section 2(u) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and \n Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136(u)), including a \n disinfectant intended for use solely on critical or \n semi-critical devices as described by such section.\n (5) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Consumer \n Product Safety Commission.\n (6) Ingredient.--The term ``ingredient'' means a chemical \n in a cleaning product, including--\n (A) a chemical that provides a technical or \n functional effect;\n (B) a chemical that has no technical or functional \n effect but is present by reason of having been \n incorporated into the cleaning product as an ingredient \n of another chemical;\n (C) a processing aid that is present by reason of \n having been added to a cleaning product during the \n processing of such cleaning product;\n (D) any substance that is present by reason of \n having been added to a cleaning product during \n processing for its technical or functional effect;\n (E) any contaminant that may leach from container \n materials or form via reactions over the shelf life of \n a cleaning product and that may be present at levels \n where detection is technologically feasible;\n (F) with respect to a fragrance or preservative, \n each individual component part of the fragrance or \n preservative by its individual name; and\n (G) any individual component of a petroleum-\n derived, animal-derived, or other ingredient that the \n Commission determines be considered an ingredient.\n (7) Polish or floor maintenance product.--The term ``polish \n or floor maintenance product'' means a chemically formulated \n consumer product designed to polish, protect, or maintain \n furniture, floors, metal, leather, or other surfaces, including \n polish, wax, and restorer.", "summary": "Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2011 - Requires a cleaning product manufactured or offered for sale, distributed in commerce, or imported into the United States to bear a label listing each of its ingredients: (1) by the name assigned by the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients or, if there is no such name, by the name assigned by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry or, if there is none, by its common chemical name; and (2) in descending order of predominance by weight, except that ingredients that constitute less than 1% of the product can be listed at the end in any order.\n\nAllows the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to exempt from such labeling requirement: (1) an ingredient that is present in a product at such low levels that detection is not technologically feasible, or (2) for five-year periods, an ingredient that a manufacturer demonstrates to be a trade secret. Sets forth required disclosures for, and limitations to, a manufacturer's claim that an ingredient is a trade secret.\n\nRequires a product that is not in conformity with the labeling requirements and not exempt to be treated as a misbranded hazardous substance under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA). Increases penalties for violations of FHSA.\n\nAuthorizes any person to petition the CPSC to investigate claims that a product does not satisfy the labeling requirements.\n\nRequires: (1) each cleaning product manufacturer to make available on its website a complete list of ingredients for each product, including any potential adverse health effect of each ingredient; and (2) CPSC to provide on its website aggregated information that allows users to compare products made by different manufacturers.", "title": "To require ingredient labeling of certain consumer cleaning products, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 341, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``ESA Improvement Act of 2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES STATE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS.\n\n Section 4(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. \n1533(c)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by striking \n ``The Secretary shall'' and inserting ``Except as provided in \n paragraph (3), the Secretary shall''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(3) State protective action.--\n ``(A) Exclusion from lists.--The Secretary shall \n not include in a list under this subsection any \n population of a species in a State if the Secretary has \n approved a State Protective Action for such population \n in accordance with this paragraph.\n ``(B) Publication of notice.--Not later than 90 \n days before proposing to add a species to a list under \n this subsection, the Secretary shall notify each State \n in which a population of the species occurs of the \n opportunity to submit to the Secretary a proposed State \n Protective Action for the species in that State, \n including specification of the criteria for approval of \n such an action under this paragraph.\n ``(C) Submission by state.--Each State notified \n under subparagraph (B), or group of such States, may \n submit to the Secretary a proposed State Protective \n Action for the species in such State or States within \n the period specified by the Secretary for the \n submission of public comment regarding the inclusion of \n the species in the list.\n ``(D) Guidance to states.--During preparation of a \n proposed State Protective Action under subparagraph \n (A), the Secretary shall provide guidance to the State \n regarding such preparation.\n ``(E) Approval or disapproval; resubmission.--The \n Secretary shall--\n ``(i) approve or disapprove a proposed \n State Protective Action by not later than 45 \n days after the date it is submitted;\n ``(ii) approve such an action if the \n Secretary determines that it meets the criteria \n specified for approval in the notification \n under subparagraph (B);\n ``(iii) upon disapproving such an action--\n ``(I) provide the written comments \n explaining specifically why the action \n was not approved;\n ``(II) allow the proposed action to \n be resubmitted at any time before the \n end of the 45-day period beginning on \n the date the Secretary provides such \n comments; and\n ``(III) by not later than 30 days \n after the end of such period, issue a \n final decision regarding the proposed \n action.\n ``(F) Limitation on final listing.--The Secretary \n may not add a population of a species to a list before \n the date the Secretary has made a final determination \n regarding approval of each State Protective Action for \n such population that has been submitted in accordance \n with this paragraph.\n ``(G) Qualification for grants.--For purposes of \n subsection (d), a State Protective Action approved by \n the Secretary under this paragraph shall be treated as \n a cooperative agreement entered into pursuant to this \n subsection.\n ``(H) Review of plans.--Every 5 years after \n approving a State Protective Action, the Secretary \n shall review the implementation and effectiveness of \n the action, and if necessary provide guidance on \n improvements or revisions that are required to maintain \n the Secretary's approval of the action.\n ``(I) Revocation of approval.--The Secretary may \n revoke approval of a State Protective Action for a \n population and propose adding such species to a list \n under this subsection if at any time after completion \n of the first review under subparagraph (H) the \n Secretary determines that--\n ``(i) the State has failed to implement the \n action; or\n ``(ii) the action has failed to make \n measurable progress toward achieving the \n recovery criteria for the population.\n ``(J) Termination.--The Secretary may terminate the \n effectiveness of a State Protective Action approved \n under this paragraph, including review regarding the \n action under subparagraph (H), if the Secretary \n determines that recovery criteria for the population \n have been achieved.''.", "summary": "ESA Improvement Act of 2014 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from adding a species to the list of endangered and threatened species: (1) if the Secretary has approved a State Protective Action (SPA) for such species, and (2) before the Secretary has made a final determination regarding approval of an SPA. Directs the Secretary to: (1) notify each state of the opportunity to submit an SPA prior to proposing to add a species to the federal list of endangered and threatened species, and (2) provide guidance to states regarding the preparation of an SPA. Establishes a process for approving or disapproving a proposed SPA. Requires the Secretary to review the implementation and effectiveness of an SPA every five years and, if necessary, provide guidance on improvements or revisions that are required to maintain the Secretary's approval of the SPA. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) revoke approval of an SPA and propose adding a species to the federal list if the state has failed to implement the SPA or the SPA failed to make measurable progress toward meeting the recovery criteria for the species, and (2) terminate the effectiveness of an approved SPA if the recovery criteria for the species have been met.", "title": "ESA Improvement Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 266, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``United States Commission on \nInternational Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of \n2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION.\n\n (a) Leadership.--Subsection (d) of section 201 of the International \nReligious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6431(d)) is amended to read as \nfollows:\n ``(d) Election of Chair.--At the first meeting of the Commission \nafter May 30 of each year, a majority of the Members of the Commission \npresent and voting shall elect the Chair and Vice Chair of the \nCommission, subject to the following requirements:\n ``(1) Initial elections.--At the first meeting of the \n Commission after May 30, 2015, the Members of the Commission \n shall elect as Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected \n official of the political party that is not the political party \n of the President, and as Vice Chair a Commissioner appointed by \n an elected official of the political party of the President.\n ``(2) Future elections.--At the first meeting of the \n Commission after May 30, 2016, the Members of the Commission \n shall elect as Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected \n official of the political party of the President, and as Vice \n Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the \n political party that is not the political party of the \n President. Thereafter, positions of Chair and Vice Chair shall \n continue to rotate on an annual basis between Commissioners \n appointed by elected officials of each political party.\n ``(3) Term limits.--No Member of the Commission is eligible \n to be elected as Chair of the Commission for a second term, and \n no Member of the Commission is eligible to be elected as Vice \n Chair of the Commission for a second term.''.\n (b) Attendance at Meetings of Ambassador at Large for International \nReligious Freedom.--Subsection (f) of such section (22 U.S.C. 6431(f)) \nis amended by adding at the end the following: ``The Ambassador at \nLarge shall be given advance notice of all Commission meetings and may \nattend all Commission meetings as a non-voting Member of the \nCommission.''.\n (c) Appointments in Cases of Vacancies.--Subsection (g) of such \nsection (22 U.S.C. 6431(g)) is amended by striking the second sentence.\n\nSEC. 3. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.\n\n Section 203(e) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 \n(22 U.S.C. 6432a) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(e) Views of the Commission.--The Members of the Commission may \nspeak in their capacity as private citizens. Statements on behalf of \nthe Commission shall be issued in writing over the names of the \nMembers. Members of the Commission shall make every effort to reach \nconsensus on all statements on behalf of the Commission, including \ntestimony, press releases, and articles by Commissioners or Commission \nstaff. When a statement supported by all Commissioners is not possible, \nthe Commission shall issue a statement only if such statement is \napproved by an affirmative vote of at least six of the nine Members of \nthe Commission and each Member of the Commission may include the \nindividual or dissenting views of the Member. The Commission shall in \nits written statements clearly describe its statutory authority, \ndistinguishing that authority from that of appointed or elected \nofficials of the United States Government. Oral statements, where \npracticable, shall include a similar description.''.\n\nSEC. 4. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.\n\n (a) Staff Directors.--Section 204 of the International Religious \nFreedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6432b) is amended by striking \nsubsections (a), (b), and (c) and inserting the following new \nsubsections:\n ``(a) Committee Functions.--Subject to subsection (c), the \nCommission may appoint and fix the pay of such staff personnel as it \ndeems desirable. All decisions pertaining to the hiring, firing, and \nfixing of pay of personnel of the Commission shall be by an affirmative \nvote of at least six of the nine Members of the Commission, except \nthat--\n ``(1) Members of the Commission appointed by an elected \n official of the political party of the President, by a majority \n vote thereof, shall be entitled to appoint, terminate, and fix \n the pay of a Majority Staff Director and shall have the \n authority to appoint, terminate, and fix the pay of three \n professional staff members who shall be responsible to the \n Members of the Commission of the political party of the \n President; and\n ``(2) Members of the Commission appointed by an elected \n official of the political party that is not the political party \n of the President, by a majority vote thereof, shall be entitled \n to appoint, terminate, and fix the pay of a Minority Staff \n Director and shall have the authority to appoint, terminate, \n and fix the pay of three professional staff members who shall \n be responsible to the Members of the Commission of the \n political party that is not the political party of the \n President.\n ``(b) Staff Appointments and Compensation.--All staff appointments \nshall be made without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and \nsubchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5 relating to classification of \npositions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay \nfor the Majority Staff Director, Minority Staff Director, and other \npersonnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive \nSchedule under section 5316 of such title.\n ``(c) Qualifications of Professional Staff.--The Commission shall \nensure that the professional staff of the Commission consists of \npersons with expertise in areas relevant to the issue of international \nreligious freedom, including foreign affairs, direct experience abroad, \nhuman rights, and international law.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--Subsection (e) of such section (22 \nU.S.C. 6432b(e)) is amended by striking ``The Executive Director'' both \nplaces it appears and inserting ``The Majority Staff Director and the \nMinority Staff Director''.\n\nSEC. 5. REPORT OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Report Publication Date.--Section 205(a) of the International \nReligious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6433(a)) is amended by \nstriking ``Not later than May 1 of each year'' and inserting ``Each \nyear, not earlier than 30 days after, and not later than 90 days after, \nthe publication of the Department of State's Annual Report on \nInternational Religious Freedom''.\n (b) Consensus on Reports.--Section 205(c) of the International \nReligious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6433(c)) is amended to read as \nfollows:\n ``(c) Individual or Dissenting Views.--Members of the Commission \nshall make every effort to reach consensus on the report. When a report \nsupported by all Commissioners is not possible, the report shall be \napproved by an affirmative vote of at least six of the nine Members of \nthe Commission and each Member of the Commission may include the \nindividual or dissenting views of the Member.''.\n\nSEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n Section 207(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 \n(22 U.S.C. 6435(a)) is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting \n``2016''.\n\nSEC. 7. TERMINATION.\n\n Section 209 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 \nU.S.C. 6436) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2014'' and \ninserting ``September 30, 2016''.", "summary": "United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom through September 30, 2016. Directs the Commission, during an initial election, to elect: (1) as Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the political party that is not the political party of the President, and (2) as Vice Chair a Commissioner appointed by an elected official of the political party of the President. Sets forth a process for future elections in which the positions of Chair and Vice Chair rotate annually between Commissioners appointed by elected officials of each political party. Requires the Ambassador at Large to be notified in advance of all Commission meetings. Allows the Ambassador to attend all meetings as a nonvoting member. Removes authority under which a Commission member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office. Requires approval by at least six of the nine members of the Commission before: (1) issuance of a statement on behalf of the Commission, or (2) submittal of policy recommendation reports to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. Permits each member to include individual or dissenting views. Authorizes elected officials to appoint majority and minority staff directors for the Commission, as well as professional staff for the political parties. (Currently, the Commission appoints a single executive director and is served by nonpartisan staff.) ", "title": "United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1876, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Verifying Official Totals for \nElections Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEPOSIT OF ELECTION-DEDICATED VOTING SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY IN \n NATIONAL SOFTWARE REFERENCE LIBRARY.\n\n (a) Deposit Required; Conditions for Disclosure.--Section 301(a) of \nthe Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481(a)) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(7) Prohibiting use of election-dedicated voting system \n technologies not deposited with national software reference \n library; disclosure requirements.--\n ``(A) Prohibition.--\n ``(i) In general.--A voting system used in \n an election for Federal office in a State may \n not at any time during the election contain or \n use any election-dedicated voting system \n technology which is not deposited by the State \n (or, at the option of the State, by the vendor \n of the technology) with the National Software \n Reference Library of the National Institute of \n Standards and Technology prior to the date of \n the election, to be held in escrow and subject \n to disclosure in accordance with subparagraph \n (B).\n ``(ii) Extension of deadline for deposit.--\n If the chief State election official certifies \n to the Director of the National Institute of \n Standards and Technology prior to the date of \n the election that, because of a revision to the \n election-dedicated voting system technology \n which is made less than 30 days prior to the \n date of the election, the State or vendor is \n unable to deposit the technology in accordance \n with clause (i) prior to the date of the \n election, the voting system used in the \n election may contain or use the technology if--\n ``(I) the chief State election \n official approves the use of the \n technology for the election; and\n ``(II) the State or vendor deposits \n the technology in accordance with \n clause (i) not later than 1 week after \n the date of the election.\n ``(iii) Enforcement of vendor \n responsibilities.--If a State opts to require \n the vendor of election-dedicated voting system \n technology to deposit the technology in \n accordance with this subparagraph and the \n vendor fails to do so, the Attorney General may \n bring a civil action against the vendor in an \n appropriate district court for such relief as \n may be appropriate, including injunctive relief \n or an order for a civil penalty in an amount \n not to exceed $500,000.\n ``(B) Requirement for disclosure and limitation on \n restricting disclosure.--With respect to any election-\n dedicated voting system technology which is deposited \n under subparagraph (A), the Director of the National \n Institute of Standards and Technology shall--\n ``(i) hold the technology in escrow; and\n ``(ii) disclose technology and information \n regarding the technology to another person if--\n ``(I) the person is a qualified \n person described in subparagraph (C) \n who has entered into a nondisclosure \n agreement with respect to the \n technology which meets the requirements \n of subparagraph (D); or\n ``(II) the Director is permitted or \n required to disclose the technology to \n the person under the law of the \n applicable State, in accordance with \n the terms and conditions applicable \n under such law.\n ``(C) Qualified persons described.--With respect to \n the disclosure of election-dedicated voting system \n technology under subparagraph (B)(ii)(I), a `qualified \n person' is any of the following:\n ``(i) A governmental entity with \n responsibility for the administration of voting \n and election-related matters in elections for \n Federal office, for purposes of reviewing, \n analyzing, or reporting on the technology.\n ``(ii) If permitted under a court order, a \n party to post-election litigation challenging \n the result of an election or the administration \n or use of the technology used in an election, \n but only to the extent permitted under the \n terms and conditions of such court order.\n ``(iii) A person who reviews, analyzes, or \n reports on the technology solely for an \n investigation or inquiry concerning the \n accuracy or integrity of the technology \n pursuant to clause (i) or (ii).\n ``(D) Requirements for nondisclosure agreements.--A \n nondisclosure agreement entered into with respect to an \n election-dedicated voting system technology meets the \n requirements of this subparagraph if the agreement--\n ``(i) is limited in scope to coverage of \n the technology disclosed under subparagraph (B) \n and any trade secrets and intellectual property \n rights related thereto;\n ``(ii) does not prohibit a signatory from \n entering into other nondisclosure agreements to \n review other technologies under this paragraph;\n ``(iii) exempts from coverage both \n information the signatory lawfully obtained \n from another source and information in the \n public domain;\n ``(iv) remains in effect for not longer \n than the life of any trade secret or other \n intellectual property right related thereto;\n ``(v) prohibits the request or use of \n injunctions that bar a signatory from carrying \n out any activity authorized under subparagraph \n (C), including injunctions limited to the \n period prior to a judicial proceeding involving \n the technology;\n ``(vi) is silent as to damages awarded for \n breach of the agreement, other than a reference \n to damages available under applicable law;\n ``(vii) allows disclosure of evidence \n relating to possible criminal conduct or other \n violations of law, including in response to a \n subpoena or warrant;\n ``(viii) allows disclosures and testimony \n to legislative branch authorities, judicial \n proceedings, and executive branch \n investigations in response to a subpoena or \n warrant or as otherwise provided by law; and\n ``(ix) provides that the agreement shall be \n governed by the trade secret laws of the \n applicable State.\n ``(E) Election-dedicated voting system technology \n defined.--For purposes of this paragraph:\n ``(i) In general.--The term `election-\n dedicated voting system technology' means the \n following:\n ``(I) The source code used for the \n trusted build and the file signatures \n for the trusted build.\n ``(II) A complete disk image of the \n pre-build, build environment, and any \n file signatures to validate that it is \n unmodified.\n ``(III) A complete disk image of \n the post-build, build environment, and \n any file signatures to validate that it \n is unmodified.\n ``(IV) All executable code produced \n by the trusted build and any file \n signatures to validate that it is \n unmodified.\n ``(V) Installation devices and \n software file signatures.\n ``(ii) Exclusion.--Such term does not \n include `commercial-off-the-shelf' software and \n hardware defined under the voluntary voting \n system guidelines adopted by the Commission \n under section 222 which are in effect as of the \n date of the election involved.\n ``(F) Trusted build defined.--For purposes of this \n paragraph, the term `trusted build' means a witnessed \n software build in which source code is converted to \n machine-readable binary instructions (executable code) \n in a manner providing security measures that help \n ensure that the executable code is a verifiable and \n faithful representation of the source code.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nwith respect to elections occurring during 2013 or any succeeding year.\n\nSEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF \n STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute \nof Standards and Technology for each fiscal year such sums as may be \nnecessary to enable the Institute, including the National Software \nReference Library of the Institute, to carry out paragraph (7) of \nsection 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added by \nsection 2(a).", "summary": "Verifying Official Totals for Elections Act - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a voting system used in a federal election from containing or using any election-dedicated voting system technology which is not deposited by the state (or at the state's option by the vendor of the technology) with the National Software Reference Library of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) before the election.\n\nRequires the Director of NIST to: (1) hold the technology in escrow; and (2) disclose it and information about it to a qualified person who has entered into a nondisclosure agreement with respect to it, or to whom the Director is permitted or required to disclose the technology under state law.", "title": "To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require the deposit in the National Software Reference Library of the National Institute of Standards and Technology of a copy of any election-dedicated voting system technology used in the operation of a voting system for an election for Federal office, to establish the conditions under which the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology may disclose the technology and information regarding the technology to other persons, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 475, "text": "SECTION 1. TEACHERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTES.\n\n (a) In General.--Part A of title II of the Elementary and Secondary \nEducation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following:\n\n ``Subpart 6--Teachers Professional Development Institutes\n\n``SEC. 2161. SHORT TITLE.\n\n ``This subpart may be cited as the `Teachers Professional \nDevelopment Institutes Act'.\n\n``SEC. 2162. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.\n\n ``(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n ``(1) Teaching is central to the educational process and \n the ongoing professional development of teachers in the \n subjects they teach is essential for improved student learning.\n ``(2) Attaining the goal of the No Child Left Behind Act of \n 2001 (Public Law 107-110)--having a classroom teacher who is \n highly effective in every academic subject the teacher \n teaches--will require innovative approaches to improve the \n effectiveness of teachers in the classroom.\n ``(3) The Teachers Institute Model focuses on the \n continuing academic preparation of schoolteachers and the \n application of what the teachers study to their classrooms and \n potentially to the classrooms of other teachers.\n ``(4) The Teachers Institute Model was developed initially \n by the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute and has successfully \n operated in New Haven, Connecticut, for more than 30 years.\n ``(5) The Teachers Institute Model has also been \n successfully implemented in cities larger than New Haven.\n ``(6) In the spring of 2009, a report entitled `An \n Evaluation of Teachers Institute Experiences' concluded that--\n ``(A) Teachers Institutes enhance precisely those \n teacher qualities known to improve student achievement;\n ``(B) Teachers Institutes exemplify the crucial \n characteristics of high-quality teacher professional \n development; and\n ``(C) Teachers Institute participation is strongly \n related to teacher retention in high-poverty schools.\n ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this subpart is to provide Federal \nassistance to support the establishment and operation of Teachers \nInstitutes for local educational agencies that serve significant low-\nincome student populations in States throughout the Nation, in order \nto--\n ``(1) improve student learning; and\n ``(2) enhance the quality and effectiveness of teaching and \n strengthen the subject matter mastery and the pedagogical \n skills of current teachers through continuing teacher \n preparation.\n\n``SEC. 2163. DEFINITIONS.\n\n ``In this subpart:\n ``(1) Significant low-income student population.--The term \n `significant low-income student population' means a student \n population of which not less than 40 percent of the students \n included are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches under \n the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.\n ``(2) Teachers institute.--The term `Teachers Institute' \n means a partnership or joint venture--\n ``(A) between or among--\n ``(i) 1 or more institutions of higher \n education; and\n ``(ii) 1 or more local educational agencies \n that serve 1 or more schools with significant \n low-income student populations; and\n ``(B) that improves the effectiveness of teachers \n in the classroom, and the quality of teaching and \n learning, through collaborative seminars designed to \n enhance both the subject matter and the pedagogical \n resources of the seminar participants.\n\n``SEC. 2164. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants \nunder this subpart in order to encourage the establishment and \noperation of Teachers Institutes.\n ``(b) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may reserve not more \nthan 50 percent of the funds appropriated to carry out this subpart to \nprovide technical assistance to facilitate the establishment and \noperation of Teachers Institutes. The Secretary may contract with the \nYale-New Haven Teachers Institute to provide all or part of the \ntechnical assistance under this subsection.\n ``(c) Selection Criteria.--In selecting Teachers Institutes to \nsupport through grants under this subpart, the Secretary shall \nconsider--\n ``(1) the extent to which a proposed Teachers Institute \n will serve schools that have significant low-income student \n populations;\n ``(2) the extent to which a proposed Teachers Institute \n will follow the understandings and necessary procedures \n described in section 2166;\n ``(3) the extent to which each local educational agency \n participating in the Teachers Institute has a high percentage \n of teachers who are unprepared or underprepared to teach the \n core academic subjects the teachers are assigned to teach; and\n ``(4) the extent to which a proposed Teachers Institute \n will receive a level of support from the community and other \n sources that will ensure the requisite long-term commitment for \n the success of a Teachers Institute.\n ``(d) Consultation.--\n ``(1) In general.--In evaluating applications using the \n criteria under subsection (c), the Secretary may request the \n advice and assistance of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute \n or other Teachers Institutes.\n ``(2) State agencies.--If the Secretary receives 2 or more \n applications for grants under this subpart from local \n educational agencies within the same State, the Secretary shall \n consult with the State educational agency regarding the \n applications.\n ``(e) Fiscal Agent.--The fiscal agent for the receipt of grant \nfunds under this subpart shall be an institution of higher education \nparticipating in the partnership or joint venture, as described in \nsection 2163(2)(A), that is establishing or operating the Teachers \nInstitute.\n ``(f) Limitations.--A grant under this subpart--\n ``(1) shall provide grant funds for a period of not more \n than 5 years; and\n ``(2) shall be in an amount that is not more than 50 \n percent of the total costs of the eligible activities supported \n under the grant, as determined by the Secretary.\n\n``SEC. 2165. ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.\n\n ``Grant funds under this subpart may be used--\n ``(1) for the planning, development, establishment, and \n operation of a Teachers Institute;\n ``(2) for additional assistance to an established Teachers \n Institute for its further development and for its support of \n the planning, development, establishment, and operation of a \n Teachers Institute under paragraph (1);\n ``(3) for the salary and necessary expenses of a full-time \n director for a Teachers Institute to plan and manage the \n Teachers Institute and to act as a liaison between all local \n educational agencies and institutions of higher education \n participating in the Teachers Institute;\n ``(4) to provide suitable office space, staff, equipment, \n and supplies, and to pay other operating expenses, for the \n Teachers Institute;\n ``(5) to provide a stipend for teachers participating in \n the collaborative seminars conducted by the Institute in the \n sciences and humanities and to provide remuneration for members \n of the faculty of the participating institution of higher \n education leading the seminars; and\n ``(6) to provide for the dissemination, through print and \n electronic means, of curriculum units prepared in the seminars \n conducted by the Teachers Institute.\n\n``SEC. 2166. UNDERSTANDINGS AND PROCEDURES.\n\n ``A grantee receiving a grant under this subpart shall abide by the \nfollowing understandings and procedures:\n ``(1) Partnership.--The essential relationship of a \n Teachers Institute is a partnership between a local educational \n agency and an institution of higher education. A grantee shall \n demonstrate a long-term commitment on behalf of the \n participating local educational agency and institution of \n higher education to the support, including the financial \n support, of the work of the Teachers Institute.\n ``(2) Seminars.--A Teachers Institute sponsors seminars led \n by faculty of the institution of higher education partner and \n attended by teachers from the local educational agency partner. \n A grantee shall provide participating teachers the ability to \n play an essential role in planning, organizing, conducting, and \n evaluating the seminars and in encouraging the future \n participation of other teachers.\n ``(3) Curriculum unit.--A seminar described in paragraph \n (2) uses a collaborative process, in a collegial environment, \n to develop a curriculum unit for use by participating teachers \n that sets forth the subject matter to be presented and the \n pedagogical strategies to be employed. A grantee shall enable \n participating teachers to develop a curriculum unit, based on \n the subject matter presented, for use in the teachers' \n classrooms.\n ``(4) Eligibility and remuneration.--Seminars are open to \n all partnership teachers with teaching assignments relevant to \n the seminar topics. Seminar leaders receive remuneration for \n their work and participating teachers receive an honorarium or \n stipend upon the successful completion of the seminar. A \n grantee shall provide seminar leaders and participating \n teachers with remuneration to allow them to participate in the \n Teachers Institute.\n ``(5) Direction.--The operations of a Teachers Institute \n are managed by a full-time director who reports to both \n partners but is accountable to the institution of higher \n education partner. A grantee shall appoint a director to manage \n and coordinate the work of the Teachers Institute.\n ``(6) Evaluation.--A grantee shall annually review the \n activities of the Teachers Institute and disseminate the \n results to members of the Teachers Institute's partnership \n community.\n\n``SEC. 2167. APPLICATION, APPROVAL, AND AGREEMENT.\n\n ``(a) In General.--To receive a grant under this subpart, a \nTeachers Institute, or a partnership or joint venture described in \nsection 2163(2)(A) that is proposing to establish a Teachers Institute, \nshall submit an application to the Secretary that--\n ``(1) meets the requirement of this subpart and any \n regulations under this subpart;\n ``(2) includes a description of how the applicant intends \n to use funds provided under the grant;\n ``(3) includes such information as the Secretary may \n require to apply the criteria described in section 2164(c);\n ``(4) includes measurable objectives for the use of the \n funds provided under the grant; and\n ``(5) contains such other information and assurances as the \n Secretary may require.\n ``(b) Approval.--The Secretary shall--\n ``(1) promptly evaluate an application received for a grant \n under this subpart; and\n ``(2) notify the applicant, within 90 days of the receipt \n of a completed application, of the Secretary's determination.\n ``(c) Agreement.--Upon approval of an application, the Secretary \nand the applicant shall enter into a comprehensive agreement covering \nthe entire period of the grant.\n\n``SEC. 2168. REPORTS AND EVALUATIONS.\n\n ``(a) Report.--Each grantee under this subpart shall report \nannually to the Secretary on the progress of the Teachers Institute in \nachieving the purpose of this subpart.\n ``(b) Evaluation and Dissemination.--The Secretary shall evaluate \nthe activities funded under this subpart and submit an annual report \nregarding the activities assisted under this subpart to the Committee \non Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the \nCommittee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives. The \nSecretary shall broadly disseminate successful practices developed by \nTeachers Institutes.\n ``(c) Revocation.--If the Secretary determines that a grantee is \nnot making substantial progress in meeting the purposes of the grant by \nthe end of the second year of the grant under this subpart, the \nSecretary may take appropriate action, including revocation of further \npayments under the grant, to ensure that the funds available under this \nsubpart are used in the most effective manner.\n\n``SEC. 2169. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``There are authorized to be appropriated for grants (including \nplanning grants) and technical assistance under this subpart--\n ``(1) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;\n ``(2) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;\n ``(3) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2013;\n ``(4) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; and\n ``(5) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of the Elementary and \nSecondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item \nrelating to section 2151 the following:\n\n ``subpart 6--teachers professional development institutes\n\n``Sec. 2161. Short title.\n``Sec. 2162. Findings and purpose.\n``Sec. 2163. Definitions.\n``Sec. 2164. Program authorized.\n``Sec. 2165. Eligible activities.\n``Sec. 2166. Understandings and procedures.\n``Sec. 2167. Application, approval, and agreement.\n``Sec. 2168. Reports and evaluations.''.", "summary": "Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to: (1) award grants to encourage the establishment and operation of Teachers Institutes; and (2) provide technical assistance, all or some of which may be provided through the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) and institutions of higher education (IHEs) in establishing and operating Teachers Institutes.\n\n Sets forth selection criteria, including consideration of the extent to which the proposed Institute will serve schools that have a significant low-income population.\n\nDefines a Teachers Institute as a partnership or joint venture between one or more IHEs and one or more LEAs serving one or more schools with significant low-income populations that is established to improve the quality of teaching and learning through collaborative seminars.", "title": "A bill to support the establishment and operation of Teachers Professional Development Institutes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 351, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Rocky Mountain Nation Park \nWilderness Act of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n The Congress finds that--\n (1) it is in the national interest to include certain lands \n in Rocky Mountain National Park within the National Wilderness \n Preservation System so as to protect those lands' enduring \n scenic and historic wilderness character and unique wildlife \n and to preserve the lands' scientific, educational, \n recreational, and inspirational resources and challenges;\n (2) to fulfill the purposes of the wilderness designation \n of those lands, as expressed in this Act and the Wilderness Act \n of 1964 (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), it is necessary for the \n United States to have rights to water within Rocky Mountain \n National Park; and\n (3) the existing rights of the United States to water \n within Rocky Mountain Park for national park purposes, which \n are being adjudicated in the courts of the State of Colorado, \n may be sufficient to fulfill the purposes of the wilderness \n designation of those lands.\n\nSEC. 3. WILDERNESS DESIGNATION AND MAPS.\n\n (a) Designation.--(1) In furtherance of the purposes of the \nWilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), certain lands in Rocky \nMountain National Park, Colorado, which comprise approximately 240,700 \nacres, as generally depicted on a man entitled ``Rocky Mountain \nNational Park Wilderness--Proposed'' and dated April 1996, are hereby \ndesignated as wilderness and, therefore, as components of the National \nWilderness Preservation System, and, together with the lands referred \nto in paragraph (2), shall be known as the Rocky Mountain National Park \nWilderness.\n (2) Those lands within the Indian Peaks Wilderness (as designated \nby Public Law 94-450 (92 Stat. 1099)) that were transferred to Rocky \nMountain National Park by section 111(a) of Public Law 96-580 (94 Stat. \n3272), which comprise approximately 2,917 acres, shall be included in, \nand administered as part of, the Rocky Mountain National Park \nWilderness designated by paragraph (1).\n (b) Map and Description.--As soon as practicable after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall file a map \nand a boundary description of the area designated as wilderness by this \nsection with the Committee on Natural Resources of the United States \nHouse of Representatives and with the Committee on Energy and Natural \nResources of the United States Senate. That map and description shall \nhave the same force and effect and if included in this Act, except that \nthe Secretary is authorized to correct clerical and typographical \nerrors in such map and description. That map and boundary description \nshall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of \nthe Director of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.\n\nSEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to valid existing rights, lands designated \nas wilderness by this Act shall be managed by the Secretary of the \nInterior in accordance with the Wilderness Act and this Act, except \nthat, with respect to the wilderness area designated by this Act, any \nreference in the Wilderness Act to the effective date of the Wilderness \nAct shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of this \nAct.\n (b) Reserved Water Rights.--(1) Within the area designated as \nwilderness by section 3(a)(1), there is hereby reserved a quantity of \nwater sufficient to fulfill the purposes of that wilderness \ndesignation.\n (2) The priority date of the water rights reserved in paragraph (1) \nshall be the date of enactment of this Act.\n (3) The Secretary of the Interior and other appropriate officers of \nthe United States shall take all steps necessary to protect the rights \nreserved by paragraph (1), including the filing by the Secretary of a \nclaim for the quantification of such right in any present or future \nappropriate stream adjudication in the courts of the State of Colorado \nin which the United States has been or is hereafter properly joined in \naccordance with section 208 of the Act of July 10, 1952 (43 U.S.C. \n666), commonly referred to as the ``McCarran Amendment''.\n (4) The water rights reserved by paragraph (1) shall be in addition \nto any water rights which may have been previously reserved or \nappropriated by the United States in the State of Colorado before the \ndate of enactment of this Act.\n (5) In the case of any lands designated as wilderness by section \n3(a)(1) for which the United States has reserved rights for national \npark purposes to all the water within those lands that was \nunappropriated at the time those lands were included in Rocky Mountain \nNational Park, those existing rights shall be deemed sufficient to \nfulfill the purposes of the wilderness designation of those lands made \nby section 3(a)(1).\n (c) Colorado-Big Thompson Project.--This Act shall not be construed \nto prevent or impede activities under the surface of lands designated \nas wilderness by this Act to operate, maintain, repair, or replace the \nAlva B. Adams Tunnel of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project.\n (2) Section 1 of the Act of January 26, 1915 (16 U.S.C. 191; 38 \nStat. 798), is amended by striking the last sentence", "summary": "Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act of 1997 - Designates certain lands in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System which, together with specified lands within the Indian Peaks Wilderness, shall be known as the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness. \nReserves water rights in such area sufficient for purposes of the wilderness designation. \nProvides that this Act shall not be construed to prevent or impede activities under the surface of lands designated as wilderness by this Act to operate, maintain, repair, or replace the Alva B. Adams Tunnel of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. \nRepeals provisions authorizing the Bureau of Reclamation to enter and utilize for flowage or other purposes areas within the Park which may be necessary for the development and maintenance of a Government reclamation project.", "title": "Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1824, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Marginal Well Production \nPreservation and Enhancement Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. TAX TREATMENT FOR PROLONGED MARGINAL PRODUCTION.\n\n (a) Increase in Percentage Depletion for Oil and Natural Gas \nProduced From Marginal Properties.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (6) of section 613A(c) of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to oil and natural gas \n produced from marginal properties) is amended to read as \n follows:\n ``(6) Oil and natural gas produced from marginal \n properties.--\n ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subsection \n (d)--\n ``(i) the allowance for depletion under \n section 611 shall be computed in accordance \n with section 613 with respect to the taxpayer's \n marginal production of domestic crude oil and \n domestic natural gas, and\n ``(ii) 27.5 percent shall be deemed to be \n specified in subsection (b) of section 613 for \n purposes of subsection (a) of that section.\n ``(B) Coordination with other production of \n domestic oil and natural gas.--For purposes of this \n subsection--\n ``(i) no allowance for depletion shall be \n allowed by reason of paragraph (1) with respect \n to the taxpayer's marginal production of \n domestic crude oil and domestic natural gas, \n and\n ``(ii) such production shall not be taken \n into account--\n ``(I) in determining under \n paragraph (1) how much of the \n taxpayer's depletable oil quantity or \n depletable natural gas quantity has \n been used, or\n ``(II) for purposes of applying \n subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of \n paragraph (7).\n ``(C) Marginal production.--The term `marginal \n production' means domestic crude oil or domestic \n natural gas which is produced during any taxable year \n from a property which--\n ``(i) is a stripper well property for the \n calendar year in which the taxable year begins, \n or\n ``(ii) is a property substantially all of \n the production of which during such calendar \n year is heavy oil.\n ``(D) Stripper well property.--For purposes of this \n paragraph, the term `stripper well property' means, \n with respect to any calendar year, any property with \n respect to which the amount determined by dividing--\n ``(i) the average daily production of \n domestic crude oil and domestic natural gas \n from producing wells on such property for such \n calendar year, by\n ``(ii) the number of such wells,\n is 15 barrel equivalents or less.\n ``(E) Heavy oil.--For purposes of this paragraph, \n the term `heavy oil' means domestic crude oil produced \n from any property if such crude oil had a weighted \n average gravity of 20 degrees API or less (corrected to \n 60 degrees Fahrenheit).\n ``(F) Nonapplication of taxable income limit with \n respect to marginal production.--The second sentence of \n subsection (a) of section 613 shall not apply to so \n much of the allowance for depletion as is determined \n under subparagraph (A).''.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--\n (A) Section 613A(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code \n of 1986 (defining depletable oil quantity) is amended \n to read as follows:\n ``(3) Depletable oil quantity.--For purposes of paragraph \n (1), the taxpayer's depletable oil quantity shall be 1,000 \n barrels.''.\n (B) Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 613A(c)(7) \n of such Code are each amended by striking ``or (6), as \n the case may be''.\n (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection \n shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.\n (b) 1-Year Extension of Suspension of Taxable Income Limit.--\nSection 613A(c)(6)(H)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n(relating to temporary suspension of taxable income limit with respect \nto marginal production) is amended by striking ``2010'' and inserting \n``2011''.\n\nSEC. 3. OIL AND GAS WELLS AND PIPELINE FACILITIES TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.\n\n Section 112(n)(4)(A) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7412(n)(4)(A)) \nis amended by striking ``this section'' and inserting ``this Act''.\n\nSEC. 4. NATIONAL RESPONSE SYSTEM.\n\n Section 311(j) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 \nU.S.C. 1321(j)) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the \nfollowing:\n ``(1) System.--\n ``(A) Definition of wastewater treatment \n facility.--In this paragraph, the term `wastewater \n treatment facility' includes produced water from an oil \n production facility.\n ``(B) Regulations.--Consistent with the National \n Contingency Plan required under subsection (d), as soon \n as practicable after the effective date of this \n section, and from time to time thereafter, the \n President shall promulgate regulations consistent with \n maritime safety and marine and navigation laws--\n ``(i) establishing methods and procedures \n for removal of discharged oil and hazardous \n substances;\n ``(ii) establishing criteria for the \n development and implementation of local and \n regional oil and hazardous substance removal \n contingency plans;\n ``(iii) establishing procedures, methods, \n and requirements and other requirements for \n equipment to prevent discharges of oil and \n hazardous substances from vessels and from \n onshore facilities and offshore facilities \n (other than wastewater treatment facilities), \n and to contain those discharges; and\n ``(iv) governing the inspection of vessels \n carrying cargoes of oil and hazardous \n substances and the inspection of those cargoes \n in order to reduce the likelihood of discharges \n of oil from vessels in violation of this \n section.\n ``(C) Small facilities.--In carrying out clause \n (iii) of subparagraph (B), not later than 1 year after \n the date of enactment of that clause, the Administrator \n shall establish procedures, methods, and equipment \n requirements and other requirements for, and consider \n the cost-effectiveness of those requirements on, small \n facilities (including agricultural and oil production \n facilities) to prevent discharges from facilities and \n offshore facilities, and to contain those discharges, \n by developing regulations based on storage volume and \n capacity that, with respect to those small facilities--\n ``(i) apply to any facility the total oil \n storage capacity of which is at least 1,320 \n gallons but less than 50,000 gallons, and at \n which no single tank exceeds a nominal capacity \n of 21,000 gallons; and\n ``(ii) establish minimal requirements and \n plans by eliminating engineer certification, \n flow lines, loading and unloading areas, \n integrity testing, and other requirements, as \n determined by the Administrator, that do not \n take into consideration and meet cost-\n effectiveness standards.''.\n\nSEC. 5. RECOVERY PERIOD FOR DEPRECIATION OF PROPERTY USED TO INJECT \n QUALIFIED TERTIARY INJECTANTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 168(e)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code \nof 1986 (defining 3-year property) is amended by striking ``and'' at \nthe end of clause (ii), by striking the period at the end of clause \n(iii) and inserting ``, and'', and by adding at the end the following \nnew clause:\n ``(iv) any qualified tertiary injectant \n property.''.\n (b) Qualified Tertiary Injectant Property.--Section 168(e) of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to classification of property) \nis amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(9) Qualified tertiary injectant property.--The term \n `qualified tertiary injectant property' means--\n ``(A) any property--\n ``(i) the principal use of which is to \n inject any tertiary injectant as a part of a \n tertiary recovery method (as defined in section \n 193(b)(3)), or\n ``(ii) which is a pipeline used to carry \n any tertiary injectant in connection with such \n tertiary recovery method, and\n ``(B) which has a class life of more than 4 \n years.''.\n (c) Alternative System.--The table contained in section \n168(g)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by \ninserting after the item relating to subparagraph (A)(iii) the \nfollowing new item:\n\n ``(A)(iv).............................................. 7''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act, in taxable years ending after such date.", "summary": "Marginal Well Production Preservation and Enhancement Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase to 27.5% the percentage depletion allowance for domestic crude oil and natural gas production from marginal properties; (2) extend through 2010 the temporary suspension of the taxable income limit with respect to marginal production of crude oil and natural gas; and (3) accelerate to three years the recovery period of qualified tertiary injectant property for depreciation purposes.\n\nAmends the Clean Air Act with respect to emissions from small oil and gas exploration and production-related equipment.\n\nAmends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to: (1) amend the definition of \"wastewater treatment facility\" to include produced water from an oil production facility; and (2) require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish cost-effective minimal requirements for the prevention of oil and hazardous substance discharges for small facilities with oil storage capacities of less than 50,000 gallons at which no single tank exceeds a nominal capacity of 21,000 gallons.", "title": "To provide for marginal well production preservation and enhancement."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1804, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Indian Youth Telemental Health \nDemonstration Project Act of 2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--\n (1) suicide for Indians and Alaska Natives is 2\\1/2\\ times \n higher than the national average and the highest for all ethnic \n groups in the United States, at a rate of more than 16 per \n 100,000 males of all age groups, and 27.9 per 100,000 for males \n aged 15 through 24, according to data for 2002;\n (2) according to national data for 2002, suicide was the \n second-leading cause of death for Indians and Alaska Natives \n aged 15 through 34 and the fourth-leading cause of death for \n Indians and Alaska Natives aged 10 through 14;\n (3) the suicide rates of Indian and Alaska Native males \n aged 15 through 24 are nearly 4 times greater than suicide \n rates of Indian and Alaska Native females of that age group;\n (4)(A) 90 percent of all teens who die by suicide suffer \n from a diagnosable mental illness at the time of death; and\n (B) more than \\1/2\\ of the people who commit suicide in \n Indian Country have never been seen by a mental health \n provider;\n (5) death rates for Indians and Alaska Natives are \n statistically underestimated;\n (6) suicide clustering in Indian Country affects entire \n tribal communities; and\n (7) since 2003, the Indian Health Service has carried out a \n National Suicide Prevention Initiative to work with Service, \n tribal, and urban Indian health programs.\n (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize the Secretary \nto carry out a demonstration project to test the use of telemental \nhealth services in suicide prevention, intervention, and treatment of \nIndian youth, including through--\n (1) the use of psychotherapy, psychiatric assessments, \n diagnostic interviews, therapies for mental health conditions \n predisposing to suicide, and alcohol and substance abuse \n treatment;\n (2) the provision of clinical expertise to, consultation \n services with, and medical advice and training for frontline \n health care providers working with Indian youth;\n (3) training and related support for community leaders, \n family members and health and education workers who work with \n Indian youth;\n (4) the development of culturally-relevant educational \n materials on suicide; and\n (5) data collection and reporting.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Demonstration project.--The term ``demonstration \n project'' means the Indian youth telemental health \n demonstration project authorized under section 4(a).\n (2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the \n Department of Health and Human Services.\n (3) Indian.--The term ``Indian'' means any individual who \n is a member of an Indian tribe or is eligible for health \n services under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 \n U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).\n (4) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the \n meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-\n Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).\n (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Health and Human Services.\n (6) Service.--The term ``Service'' means the Indian Health \n Service.\n (7) Telemental health.--The term ``telemental health'' \n means the use of electronic information and telecommunications \n technologies to support long distance mental health care, \n patient and professional-related education, public health, and \n health administration.\n (8) Traditional health care practices.--The term \n ``traditional health care practices'' means the application by \n Native healing practitioners of the Native healing sciences (as \n opposed or in contradistinction to Western healing sciences) \n that--\n (A) embody the influences or forces of innate \n Tribal discovery, history, description, explanation and \n knowledge of the states of wellness and illness; and\n (B) call upon those influences or forces in the \n promotion, restoration, preservation, and maintenance \n of health, well-being, and life's harmony.\n (9) Tribal organization.--The term ``tribal organization'' \n has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-\n Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).\n\nSEC. 4. INDIAN YOUTH TELEMENTAL HEALTH DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.\n\n (a) Authorization.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to carry out a \n demonstration project to award grants for the provision of \n telemental health services to Indian youth who--\n (A) have expressed suicidal ideas;\n (B) have attempted suicide; or\n (C) have mental health conditions that increase or \n could increase the risk of suicide.\n (2) Eligibility for grants.--Grants described in paragraph \n (1) shall be awarded to Indian tribes and tribal organizations \n that operate 1 or more facilities--\n (A) located in Alaska and part of the Alaska \n Federal Health Care Access Network;\n (B) reporting active clinical telehealth \n capabilities; or\n (C) offering school-based telemental health \n services relating to psychiatry to Indian youth.\n (3) Grant period.--The Secretary shall award grants under \n this section for a period of up to 4 years.\n (4) Maximum number of grants.--Not more than 5 grants shall \n be provided under paragraph (1), with priority consideration \n given to Indian tribes and tribal organizations that--\n (A) serve a particular community or geographic area \n in which there is a demonstrated need to address Indian \n youth suicide;\n (B) enter into collaborative partnerships with \n Service or other tribal health programs or facilities \n to provide services under this demonstration project;\n (C) serve an isolated community or geographic area \n which has limited or no access to behavioral health \n services; or\n (D) operate a detention facility at which Indian \n youth are detained.\n (b) Use of Funds.--An Indian tribe or tribal organization shall use \na grant received under subsection (a) for the following purposes:\n (1) To provide telemental health services to Indian youth, \n including the provision of--\n (A) psychotherapy;\n (B) psychiatric assessments and diagnostic \n interviews, therapies for mental health conditions \n predisposing to suicide, and treatment; and\n (C) alcohol and substance abuse treatment.\n (2) To provide clinician-interactive medical advice, \n guidance and training, assistance in diagnosis and \n interpretation, crisis counseling and intervention, and related \n assistance to Service or tribal clinicians and health services \n providers working with youth being served under the \n demonstration project.\n (3) To assist, educate, and train community leaders, health \n education professionals and paraprofessionals, tribal outreach \n workers, and family members who work with the youth receiving \n telemental health services under the demonstration project, \n including with identification of suicidal tendencies, crisis \n intervention and suicide prevention, emergency skill \n development, and building and expanding networks among those \n individuals and with State and local health services providers.\n (4) To develop and distribute culturally-appropriate \n community educational materials on--\n (A) suicide prevention;\n (B) suicide education;\n (C) suicide screening;\n (D) suicide intervention; and\n (E) ways to mobilize communities with respect to \n the identification of risk factors for suicide.\n (5) To conduct data collection and reporting relating to \n Indian youth suicide prevention efforts.\n (c) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under \nsubsection (a), an Indian tribe or tribal organization shall prepare \nand submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such \nmanner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, \nincluding--\n (1) a description of the project that the Indian tribe or \n tribal organization will carry out using the funds provided \n under the grant;\n (2) a description of the manner in which the project funded \n under the grant would--\n (A) meet the telemental health care needs of the \n Indian youth population to be served by the project; or\n (B) improve the access of the Indian youth \n population to be served to suicide prevention and \n treatment services;\n (3) evidence of support for the project from the local \n community to be served by the project;\n (4) a description of how the families and leadership of the \n communities or populations to be served by the project would be \n involved in the development and ongoing operations of the \n project;\n (5) a plan to involve the tribal community of the youth who \n are provided services by the project in planning and evaluating \n the mental health care and suicide prevention efforts provided, \n in order to ensure the integration of community, clinical, \n environmental, and cultural components of the treatment; and\n (6) a plan for sustaining the project after Federal \n assistance for the demonstration project has terminated.\n (d) Traditional Health Care Practices.--The Secretary, acting \nthrough the Service, shall ensure that the demonstration project \ninvolves the use and promotion of the traditional health care practices \nof the Indian tribes of the youth to be served.\n (e) Collaboration.--The Secretary, acting through the Service, \nshall encourage Indian tribes and tribal organizations receiving grants \nunder this section to collaborate to enable comparisons about best \npractices across projects.\n (f) Annual Report.--Each grant recipient shall submit to the \nSecretary an annual report that--\n (1) describes the number of telemental health services \n provided; and\n (2) includes any other information that the Secretary may \n require.\n (g) Report to Congress.--Not later than 270 days after the date of \ntermination of the demonstration project, the Secretary shall submit to \nthe Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on \nResources and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of \nRepresentatives a final report that--\n (1) describes the results of the projects funded by grants \n awarded under this section, including any data available that \n indicate the number of attempted suicides;\n (2) evaluates the impact of the telemental health services \n funded by the grants in reducing the number of completed \n suicides among Indian youth;\n (3) evaluates whether the demonstration project should be--\n (A) expanded to provide more than 5 grants; and\n (B) designated a permanent program; and\n (4) evaluates the benefits of expanding the demonstration \n project to include urban Indian organizations.\n (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section $1,500,000 for each of fiscal \nyears 2007 through 2010.\n\n Passed the Senate May 11, 2006.\n\n Attest:\n\n EMILY J. REYNOLDS,\n\n Secretary.", "summary": "Indian Youth Telemental Health Demonstration Project Act of 2006 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a demonstration project to award up to five grants, of up to four years each, for the provision of telemental health services to Indian youth who have expressed suicidal ideas, have attempted suicide, or have mental health conditions that increase or could increase the risk of suicide.\n\nMakes eligible for such grants any Indian tribes and tribal organizations that operate one or more facilities: (1) located in Alaska and part of the Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network; (2) reporting active clinical telehealth capabilities; or (3) offering school-based telemental health services relating to psychiatry to Indian youth.", "title": "A bill to establish an Indian youth telemental health demonstration project."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1907, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Green River National Wildlife Refuge \nAct of 2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that--\n (1) the Green River bottoms area, Kentucky, was once part \n of a large bottomland hardwood forest;\n (2) most of the bottoms area has been converted to \n agricultural use through--\n (A) draining of wetland;\n (B) altering of interior drainage systems; and\n (C) clearing of bottomland hardwood forest;\n (3) as of the date of enactment of this Act, the bottoms \n area is predominantly ridge and swale farmland, with river-scar \n oxbows, several sloughs, wet depression areas, and a small \n quantity of bottomland hardwood forest;\n (4) approximately 1,200 acres of bottomland hardwood forest \n remain, consisting mostly of cypress, willow, hackberry, silver \n maple, ash, and buttonbush;\n (5) many of the interior drainage systems on the land offer \n excellent opportunities to restore, with minor modifications, \n the historical hydrology, wetland, and bottomland hardwood \n forest of the bottoms area to high-quality wildlife habitats;\n (6) in the bottoms area, waterfowl occur in large numbers \n when sufficient water levels occur, primarily when flood \n conditions from the Ohio River and the Green River negate the \n extensive drainages and alterations made by man;\n (7) the wooded and shrub tracts of the bottoms area are \n used by many species of nongame neotropical migratory birds;\n (8) migratory shorebirds use the bottoms area during spring \n migrations;\n (9) wading birds such as snipe, great blue heron, green \n heron, common egret, and great egret frequent the bottoms area;\n (10) bald eagles and myriad other raptors frequent the \n bottoms area;\n (11) several species listed as endangered or threatened \n species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. \n 1531 et seq.) have been found near the bottoms area, including \n Indiana bat maternity colonies, fanshell, pink mucket pearly \n mussel, and fat pocketbook;\n (12) several species of mussel listed as endangered or \n threatened species under that Act historically occurred near \n the bottoms area, including purple cat's paw pearly mussel, \n tubercled-blossom pearly mussel, ring pink, and white wartyback \n pearly mussel;\n (13) the copperbelly water snake, covered by the \n Copperbelly Water Snake Conservation Plan, is found in the \n wetland complex and buttonbush shrub in the Scuffletown area;\n (14) significant populations of resident game species, \n including white-tailed deer, swamp rabbit, cottontail rabbit, \n gray squirrel, mink, muskrat, beaver, fox, and coyote, occur in \n the bottoms area;\n (15) the Ohio River and the Green River are important \n habitat for big river species such as paddlefish, sturgeon, \n catfish, carp, buffalo, and gar;\n (16) conservation, enhancement, and ecological restoration \n of the bottoms area through inclusion in the National Wildlife \n Refuge System would help meet the habitat conservation goals \n of--\n (A) the North American Waterfowl Management Plan;\n (B) the Lower Mississippi Joint Venture;\n (C) the Interior Low Plateaus Bird Conservation \n Plan; and\n (D) the Copperbelly Water Snake Conservation Plan;\n (17) the valuable complex of wetland habitats comprising \n the bottoms area, with its many forms of wildlife, has \n extremely high recreational value for hunters, anglers, \nbirdwatchers, nature photographers, and others; and\n (18) the Green River bottoms area is deserving of inclusion \n in the National Wildlife Refuge System.\n\nSEC. 3. PURPOSE.\n\n The purpose of this Act is to establish the Green River National \nWildlife Refuge in the Green River bottoms area, Henderson County, \nKentucky, to provide--\n (1) habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl;\n (2) habitat for nongame land birds;\n (3) habitats for a natural diversity of fish and wildlife;\n (4) nesting habitat for wood ducks and other locally \n nesting migratory waterfowl;\n (5) high-quality hunting and sportfishing opportunities; \n and\n (6) opportunities for environmental education, \n interpretation, and wildlife-oriented recreation.\n\nSEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Refuge.--The term ``Refuge'' means the Green River \n National Wildlife Refuge established under section 5.\n (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n\nSEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT.\n\n (a) Establishment.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish the Green \n River National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of approximately \n 23,000 acres of Federal land, water, and interests in land or \n water within the boundaries depicted on the map entitled \n ``Green River National Wildlife Refuge'', dated September 10, \n 2001.\n (2) Boundary revisions.--The Secretary shall make such \n minor revisions of the boundaries of the Refuge as are \n appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Refuge or to \n facilitate the acquisition of land, water, and interests in \n land or water within the Refuge.\n (3) Availability of map.--The map referred to in paragraph \n (1) shall be available for inspection in appropriate offices of \n the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.\n (b) Effective Date.--The establishment of the Refuge shall take \neffect on the date on which the Secretary publishes, in the Federal \nRegister and publications of local circulation in the vicinity of the \nRefuge, a notice that sufficient property has been acquired by the \nUnited States within the Refuge to constitute an area that can be \nefficiently managed as a national wildlife refuge.\n\nSEC. 6. ACQUISITION OF LAND, WATER, AND INTERESTS IN LAND OR WATER.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the \nSecretary may obtain by purchase from willing sellers, donation, or \nexchange up to 23,000 acres of land and water, or interests in land or \nwater, within the boundaries of the Refuge described in section \n5(a)(1).\n (b) Inclusion in Refuge.--Any land, water, or interest acquired by \nthe Secretary under this section shall be part of the Refuge.\n\nSEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION.\n\n In administering the Refuge, the Secretary shall--\n (1) conserve, enhance, and restore the native aquatic and \n terrestrial community characteristics of the Green River \n (including associated fish, wildlife, and plant species);\n (2) conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain and \n assist in the recovery of species of animals and plants that \n are listed as endangered species or threatened species under \n the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);\n (3) in providing opportunities for compatible fish- and \n wildlife-oriented recreation, ensure that hunting, fishing, \n wildlife observation and photography, and environmental \n education and interpretation are the priority general public \n uses of the Refuge, in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4) \n of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System \n Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)); and\n (4) encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate \n partnerships among the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, \n local communities, conservation organizations, and other non-\n Federal entities to promote--\n (A) public awareness of the resources of the Refuge \n and the National Wildlife Refuge System; and\n (B) public participation in the conservation of \n those resources.\n\nSEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary \nfor--\n (1) the acquisition of land and water within the boundaries \n of the Refuge; and\n (2) the development, operation, and maintenance of the \n Refuge.", "summary": "Green River National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish, revise the boundaries of, and acquire land and water for the Green River National Wildlife Refuge in Kentucky.Requires the Secretary, in administering the Refuge, to: (1) conserve, enhance, and restore the native aquatic and terrestrial community characteristics of the Green River; (2) conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain and assist in the recovery of animals and plants that are listed as endangered or threatened species; (3) ensure that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation are the priority general public uses of the Refuge; and (4) encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate partnerships among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, local communities, conservation organizations, and other non-Federal entities to promote public awareness of the refuge resources and public participation in resource conservation.", "title": "A bill to establish the Green River National Wildlife Refuge in the State of Kentucky."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2985, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Readjustment Counseling Service \nAmendments of 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE IN THE \n DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 7305 of title 38, United States Code, is \namended--\n (1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and\n (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new \n paragraph (7):\n ``(7) A Readjustment Counseling Service.''.\n (b) Organization.--The Readjustment Counseling Service shall have \nthe organizational structure and administrative structure of that \nservice as such structures were in existence on January 1, 1993.\n (c) Revision of Organizational Structure.--(1) The Secretary of \nVeterans Affairs may not alter or revise the organizational structure \nor the administrative structure of the Readjustment Counseling Service \nuntil--\n (A) the Secretary has submitted to the Committees on \n Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a \n report containing a full and complete statement of the proposed \n alteration or revision; and\n (B) a period of 60 days has elapsed after the date on which \n the report is received by the committees.\n (2) In the computation of the 60-day period under paragraph (1)(B), \nthere shall be excluded any day on which either House of Congress is \nnot in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 calendar days \nto a day certain.\n (d) Budget Information Relating to the Service.--Each budget \nsubmitted to the Congress by the President under section 1105 of title \n31, United States Code, shall set forth the amount requested in the \nbudget for the operation of the Readjustment Counseling Service in the \nfiscal year covered by the budget and shall set forth separately the \namount requested for administrative oversight of the activities of the \nservice (including the amount requested for funding of the Advisory \nCommittee on Veteran Readjustment Counseling).\n\nSEC. 3. DIRECTOR OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE.\n\n (a) Director.--Section 7306(b) of title 38, United States Code, is \namended--\n (1) by striking out ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);\n (2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (3) \n and inserting in lieu thereof ``; and''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(4) one shall be a person who (A)(i) is a qualified \n psychiatrist, (ii) is a qualified psychologist holding a \n diploma as a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology \n from an authority approved by the American Psychological \n Association and has successfully undergone an internship \n approved by that association, (iii) is a qualified holder of a \n master in social work degree, or (iv) is a registered nurse \n holding a master of science in nursing degree in psychiatric \n nursing or any other mental-health related degree approved by \n the Secretary, and (B) has at least 3 years of clinical \n experience and 2 years of administrative experience in the \n Readjustment Counseling Service or other comparable mental \n health care counseling service (as determined by the \n Secretary), who shall be the director of the Readjustment \n Counseling Service.''.\n (b) Organizational Requirement.--The Director of the Readjustment \nCounseling Service shall report to the Under Secretary for Health \nthrough the Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Clinical \nPrograms.\n\nSEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING AND \n CERTAIN RELATED COUNSELING SERVICES.\n\n (a) Readjustment Counseling.--(1) Subsection (a) of section 1712A \nof title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:\n ``(a) Upon the request of any veteran, the Secretary shall, within \nthe limits of Department facilities, furnish counseling to such veteran \nto assist such veteran in readjusting to civilian life. Such counseling \nshall include a general mental and psychological assessment to \nascertain whether such veteran has mental or psychological problems \nassociated with readjustment to civilian life.''.\n (2) Subsection (c) of such section is repealed.\n (b) Other Counseling.--Such section is further amended by inserting \nafter subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):\n ``(c) The Secretary may provide the counseling services described \nin section 1701(6)(B)(ii) of this title to the surviving parents, \nspouse, and children of any member of the Armed Forces who dies while \nserving on active duty or from a condition (as determined by the \nSecretary) incurred in or aggravated by such service.''.\n (c) Authority To Contract for Counseling Services.--Subsection (e) \nof such section is amended by striking out ``subsections (a) and (b)'' \neach place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``subsections (a), \n(b), and (c)''.\n\nSEC. 5. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PATIENT RECORDS IN THE READJUSTMENT \n COUNSELING SERVICE.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the \nrecords of the identity, diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of any \npatient or subject of the Readjustment Counseling Service of the \nDepartment of Veterans Affairs, or of any patient or subject provided \nreadjustment counseling services under a contract with the Department, \nmay be disclosed only as follows:\n (1) By written consent of the patient or subject, only for \n the purpose for which such consent is granted.\n (2) To medical personnel to the extent necessary to meet a \n bona fide medical emergency.\n (3) To personnel of the Department other than personnel of \n the service, if such disclosure is determined by an appropriate \n member of the service to be necessary to avert an imminent \n danger to the patient or subject, or to another person.\n (4) If authorized by an appropriate order of a court of \n competent jurisdiction granted after application showing good \n cause therefor (with such cause to be determined according to \n the elements set forth in section 7332(b)(2)(D) of title 38, \n United States Code).\n (b) Fines.--Any person who violates a provision of subsection (a) \nshall be fined in accordance with subsections (f) and (g) of section \n7332 of title 38, United States Code.\n\nSEC. 6. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE READJUSTMENT OF VETERANS.\n\n (a) In General.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, \nUnited States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the \nfollowing:\n``Sec. 1712C. Advisory Committee on Veteran Readjustment Counseling\n ``(a)(1) There is in the Department the Advisory Committee on \nVeteran Readjustment Counseling (hereinafter in this section referred \nto as the `Committee').\n ``(2) The Committee shall consist of 18 members--\n ``(A) the members of the Committee shall be appointed by \n the Secretary and shall include individuals who are recognized \n authorities in fields pertinent to the social, psychological, \n economic, or educational readjustment of veterans. An officer \n or employee of the United States may not be appointed as a \n member of the Committee under this paragraph;\n ``(B) at least 12 of whom are veterans of the Vietnam era \n or other period of war; and\n ``(C) who have experience with the provision of veterans \n benefits and services by the Department.\n ``(3) The Secretary shall seek to ensure that members appointed to \nthe Committee include persons from a wide variety of geographic areas \nand ethnic backgrounds, persons from veterans service organizations, \nminorities, and women.\n ``(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service and pay \nand allowances of the members of the Committee, except that a term of \nservice may not exceed two years. The Secretary may reappoint any \nmember for additional terms of service.\n ``(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and \nseek the advice of the Committee with respect to the provision by the \nDepartment of benefits and services to veterans in order to assist \nveterans in the readjustment to civilian life.\n ``(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this \nsubsection, the Committee shall--\n ``(i) assemble and review information relating to the needs \n of veterans in readjusting to civilian life;\n ``(ii) provide information relating to the nature and \n character of psychological problems arising from military \n service;\n ``(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness \n of the policies, organizational structures, and services of the \n Department in assisting veterans in readjusting to civilian \n life; and\n ``(iv) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate \n means of responding to the readjustment needs of future \n veterans.\n ``(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph (A), the \nCommittee shall take into special account veterans of the Vietnam era, \nand the readjustment needs of such veterans.\n ``(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the Committee shall \nsubmit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the \nDepartment that relate to the readjustment of veterans to civilian \nlife. Each such report shall include--\n ``(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans with respect \n to readjustment to civilian life;\n ``(B) a review of the programs and activities of the \n Department designed to meet such needs; and\n ``(C) such recommendations (including recommendations for \n administrative and legislative action) as the Committee \n considers appropriate.\n ``(2) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of each report under \nparagraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on \nVeterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of \nthe report, together with any comments and recommendations concerning \nthe report that the Secretary considers appropriate.\n ``(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such other \nreports and recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.\n ``(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual report submitted \nto the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a summary of all \nreports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the Secretary \nsince the previous annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to \nthat section.\n ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of the \nFederal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the \nactivities of the Committee under this section.\n ``(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the Committee.''.\n (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such \ntitle is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1712B \nthe following:\n\n``1712C. Advisory Committee on Veteran Readjustment Counseling.''.\n (b) Original Members.--(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(2) of \nsection 1712C(a)(2) of such title (as added by subsection (a)), the \nmembers of the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Vietnam and \nOther War Veterans on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be \nthe original members of the advisory committee recognized under such \nsection.\n (2) The original members shall so serve until the Secretary of \nVeterans Affairs carries out appointments under such subsection (a)(2). \nThe Secretary shall carry out such appointments as soon after such date \nas is practicable. The Secretary may make such appointments from among \nsuch original members.\n\nSEC. 7. PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF VIETNAM VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER PILOT \n PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall \nsubmit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House \nof Representatives a plan for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran \nResource Center program established pursuant to the amendment made by \nsection 105 of the Veterans' Administration Health-Care Amendments of \n1985 (Public Law 99-166; 99 Stat. 944). The plan shall include a \nschedule for the implementation of the program at or through all \nDepartment of Veterans Affairs readjustment counseling centers.\n (2) The Secretary shall submit the plan not later than 4 months \nafter the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Department of Veterans \nAffairs readjustment counseling centers'' has the same meaning given \nthe term ``center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) of title 38, United States \nCode.\n\nSEC. 8. VETERAN CENTER HEALTH-CARE PILOT PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Program.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United \nStates Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:\n``Sec. 1720E. Veteran center health-care pilot program\n ``(a) The Secretary shall carry out a pilot program for the \nprovision of health-related services to eligible veterans at \nreadjustment counseling centers. The Secretary shall carry out the \npilot program in accordance with this section.\n ``(b)(1) In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall--\n ``(A) identify not less than 12 or more than 15 \n readjustment counseling centers at which to provide health-\n related services under the pilot program; and\n ``(B) provide such services to eligible veterans at such \n centers in accordance with paragraph (2).\n ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall provide health-related services under \nthe pilot program as follows:\n ``(i) At five or more readjustment counseling centers \n identified under paragraph (1)(A), by providing not less than \n 20 hours per week of basic ambulatory services and health-care \n screening through qualified personnel.\n ``(ii) At five or more such centers, by providing not less \n than 40 hours per week of full-range ambulatory services \n through qualified personnel.\n ``(iii) At two or more such centers, by providing not less \n than 120 hours per week of physician services through qualified \n personnel.\n ``(B) In determining the location of the readjustment counseling \ncenters at which to provide health-related services under the pilot \nprogram, the Secretary shall select centers that are located in a \nvariety of geographic areas and that serve veterans of a variety of \neconomic, social, and ethnic backgrounds.\n ``(c)(1) The Secretary shall commence the provision of health-\nrelated services at readjustment counseling centers under this section \nnot later than six months after the date of the enactment of the \nReadjustment Counseling Service Amendments of 1993.\n ``(2) The pilot program shall terminate two years after the date on \nwhich the Secretary commences the provision of services under paragraph \n(1).\n ``(d) For the purposes of this section--\n ``(1) the term `Department general health-care facility' \n has the meaning given such term in section 1712A(i)(2) of this \n title;\n ``(2) the term `eligible veteran' means any veteran \n eligible for outpatient services under paragraph (1), (2), or \n (3) of section 1712(a) of this title; and\n ``(3) the term `readjustment counseling center' has the \n same meaning given the term `center' in section 1712A(i)(1) of \n this title.''.\n (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is \namended by inserting after the item relating to section 1720D the \nfollowing:\n\n``1720E. Veteran center health-care pilot program.''.\n (b) Report.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to \nCongress a report on the veteran center health-care pilot program \nestablished under section 1720E of title 38, United States Code (as \nadded by subsection (a)). The report shall include the following:\n (A) A description of the program, including information \n on--\n (i) the number of veterans provided health-related \n services under the program;\n (ii) the number of such veterans referred to \n Department of Veterans Affairs general health-care \n facilities in order to provide health care services to \n such veterans; and\n (iii) the cost to the Department of the program.\n (B) An analysis of the effectiveness of the health-related \n services provided to veterans under the program.\n (C) The recommendations of the Secretary for means of \n improving the program, and an estimate of the cost to the \n Department of implementing such recommendations.\n (D) Such other information as the Secretary considers \n appropriate.\n (2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than three \nmonths after the termination of the pilot program.\n\n \n\nHR 3096 IH----2", "summary": "Readjustment Counseling Service Amendments of 1993 - Includes a Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) as part of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from altering or revising the organizational structure of RCS until he or she has notified specified congressional committees and 60 days have elapsed since such notification. Requires RCS budget information to be included annually in the President's budget submitted to the Congress. \nOutlines eligibility requirements for one of the Assistant Under Secretaries for Health in the Department, including at least three years of clinical experience and two years of administrative experience in RCS or other comparable mental health care counseling service. Makes such a qualified person the director of RCS. \nDirects the Secretary, upon the request of any veteran (currently, only veterans discharged or released from active duty but not otherwise eligible for such counseling), to furnish counseling in readjusting to civilian life. Allows the provision of counseling to survivors of members of the armed forces who die while serving on active duty or from a condition incurred or aggravated by military service. \nProvides for the confidentiality of the records of any patient of RCS, permitting disclosure only in specific limited circumstances. \nEstablishes in the Department the Advisory Committee on Veteran Readjustment Counseling to perform advisory services with respect to veterans' readjustment, taking into special account Vietnam era veterans. Requires specified reports from the Advisory Committee and the Secretary. \nDirects the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees a plan for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran Resource Center program as established under prior law. \nDirects the Secretary to carry out and report to the Congress on a pilot program for the provision of health-related services to eligible veterans at readjustment counseling centers.", "title": "Readjustment Counseling Service Amendments of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1526, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device \nSecurity Gap Act of 2016''.\n\nSEC. 2. IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.\n\n Prior to the completion of any sale of a pre-paid mobile device or \nSIM card to a purchaser, an authorized reseller shall require the \npurchaser to provide the following information:\n (1) The full name of the purchaser.\n (2) The complete home address of the purchaser.\n (3) The date of birth of the purchaser.\n\nSEC. 3. IDENTIFICATION VERIFICATION.\n\n (a) In-Person Sales.--An authorized reseller making a sale to a \npurchaser in person shall verify the purchaser information provided \nunder section 2 by requiring the purchaser to display either of the \nfollowing:\n (1) A photographic identification card issued by the \n Federal Government or a State government, or a document \n considered acceptable for purposes of subparagraph (B), (C), or \n (D) of section 274A(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality \n Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(b)(1)).\n (2) Any 2 of the following:\n (A) A Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement received from \n the Internal Revenue Service, provided that such form \n has been received from the Internal Revenue Service \n within the prior 18 months.\n (B) A Form 1099 Social Security Benefit Statement \n received from the Social Security Administration, \n provided that such form has been received from the \n Social Security Administration within the prior 18 \n months.\n (C) A Form 1099 received from any other agency of \n the Federal Government other than the Social Security \n Administration, including the Internal Revenue Service, \n provided that such form has been received within the \n prior 18 months.\n (D) Any document containing personal identifying \n information that the Attorney General finds, by \n regulation, to be acceptable for purposes of this \n section.\n (b) Other Sales.--An authorized reseller making a sale to a \npurchaser not in person shall verify the purchaser information provided \nunder section 2 by requiring the purchaser to submit the following \ninformation:\n (1) Valid credit or debit card account information.\n (2) Social Security number.\n (3) Driver's license number.\n (4) Any other personal identifying information that the \n Attorney General finds, by regulation, to be necessary for \n purposes of this section.\n\nSEC. 4. RECORD MAKING REQUIREMENT.\n\n Upon completion of a sale of a pre-paid mobile device or SIM card, \nan authorized reseller shall make a record of the sale that includes \nthe following information:\n (1) The information obtained from the purchaser under \n section 2, and, if applicable, the information submitted by the \n purchaser under subsection (b) of section 3.\n (2) The date of sale.\n (3) The manufacturer of the pre-paid mobile device or SIM \n card.\n (4) The wireless carrier that will provide wireless \n communication service to the pre-paid mobile device or SIM \n card.\n (5) Any assigned telephone number or other subscriber or \n account identifier known at the time of purchase.\n (6) Any of the following, if applicable to the pre-paid \n mobile device or SIM card:\n (A) International mobile equipment identifier \n number.\n (B) Electronic serial number.\n (C) Mobile equipment identifier.\n (D) International mobile subscriber identifier.\n (E) Machine address code.\n\nSEC. 5. RECORD TRANSMISSION REQUIREMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the sale of a pre-\npaid mobile device or SIM card, an authorized reseller shall transmit \nthe record of the sale made in accordance with section 4 to the \nwireless carrier that will provide wireless communication service to \nthe pre-paid mobile device or SIM card.\n (b) Permissible Means of Transmission.--In complying with the \nrequirements of subsection (a), an authorized reseller may transmit the \nsale record to the wireless carrier by means of secure electronic \ntransmission.\n\nSEC. 6. RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENT.\n\n After an authorized reseller has transmitted a sale record to a \nwireless carrier in accordance with section 5, the wireless carrier \nshall--\n (1) provide a transmission confirmation receipt to the \n authorized reseller, after the receipt of which the authorized \n reseller shall dispose promptly of any retained copy of the \n record; and\n (2) retain the transmitted sale record in accordance with \n the privacy protections of section 222 of the Communications \n Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222) for a period of 18 months or until \n the wireless carrier stops or otherwise discontinues providing \n service to the pre-paid mobile device or SIM card to which the \n sale record relates.\n\nSEC. 7. PENALTIES.\n\n (a) False or Misleading Statements.--A purchaser who knowingly \nprovides false or misleading information when providing the identifying \ninformation and documents required under sections 2 and 3 shall be \nfined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned not more than 5 \nyears or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism \n(as defined in section 2331 of such title), imprisoned not more than 8 \nyears, or both. If the matter relates to an offense under chapter 109A, \n109B, 110, or 117, or section 1591 of such title, then the term of \nimprisonment imposed under this section shall be not more than 8 years.\n (b) Failure To Comply.--\n (1) In general.--The Attorney General shall assess, against \n an authorized reseller or wireless carrier who commits an \n offense under this Act, a civil penalty of $50 for each such \n offense.\n (2) Separate offense.--\n (A) By authorized reseller.--The failure of an \n authorized reseller, with respect to each separate sale \n of a pre-paid mobile device or SIM card, to request \n purchaser identification under section 2, to verify \n identification under section 3, to make a record under \n section 4, and to transmit a record under section 5, \n shall constitute a separate offense.\n (B) By wireless carrier.--The failure of a wireless \n carrier, with respect to each separate sale of a pre-\n paid mobile device or SIM card for which the carrier \n receives the sale record transmitted under section 5, \n to provide a transmission confirmation receipt under \n section 6(1), and to retain the sale record under \n section 6(2), shall constitute a separate offense.\n (3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section may be \n construed to--\n (A) hold a wireless carrier liable for an offense \n under this Act committed by an authorized reseller; and\n (B) hold an authorized reseller liable for an \n offense under this Act committed by a wireless carrier.\n\nSEC. 8. RELATED OFFENSES.\n\n (a) Sale by Unauthorized Resellers.--\n (1) In general.--It shall be unlawful for any person who is \n not an authorized reseller to sell a pre-paid mobile device or \n SIM card.\n (2) Penalty.--Whoever knowingly violates paragraph (1) \n shall be imprisoned for not more than 2 years or fined under \n title 18, United States Code, or both.\n (3) Notice.--The Attorney General shall make rules \n requiring a manufacturer or authorized reseller to notify a \n purchaser of a mobile device or SIM card of the offense and \n penalty established by this section.\n (b) Commission of Other Crimes.--If a person knowingly uses a pre-\npaid mobile device or SIM card obtained by providing false or \nmisleading information in violation of section 2 or 3 to commit a \nFederal criminal offense, the minimum term of imprisonment for such \noffense that is required under Federal statute (if any such minimum \nterm is so required) shall be increased by 1 year.\n\nSEC. 9. PRESERVATION OF STATE LAW.\n\n Nothing in this Act is intended to preempt additional State \nrequirements with respect to the distribution and sale of mobile \ndevices or SIM cards, or to otherwise prevent or prohibit any State \nfrom enacting any such requirements.\n\nSEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Authorized reseller.--The term ``authorized reseller'' \n means any person authorized by--\n (A) a manufacturer to sell the manufacturer's \n mobile devices or SIM cards; or\n (B) a wireless carrier to sell pre-paid mobile \n devices or SIM cards to which the wireless carrier will \n provide wireless communication service.\n (2) Pre-paid mobile device.--The term ``pre-paid mobile \n device'' means any cellular phone or similar wireless \n communication device for which the mobile device user purchases \n a set allotment of wireless communication service.\n (3) SIM card.--The term ``SIM card'' means a subscriber \n identity module or functionally equivalent data storage device.\n (4) Wireless carrier.--The term ``wireless carrier'' means \n a provider of wireless communication service.\n (5) Wireless communication service.--The term ``wireless \n communication service'' means commercial mobile service (as \n defined in section 332 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 \n U.S.C. 332)) or commercial mobile data service (as defined in \n section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation \n Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1401)).", "summary": "Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016 This bill requires authorized resellers of pre-paid mobile devices or SIM cards to require purchasers to provide their name, home address, and date of birth. For in-person sales, an authorized reseller must require purchasers to display for verification: (1) a government-issued photographic identification card or a document acceptable under the Immigration and Nationality Act for employment authorization or establishing identity; and (2) any two of a Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement from the Internal Revenue Service, a Form 1099 Social Security Benefit Statement or a Form 1099 from another federal agency, or a document containing personal identifying information that the Department of Justice (DOJ) finds to be acceptable. For all other sales, an authorized reseller must require purchasers to submit their: (1) credit or debit card account information, (2) Social Security number, (3) driver's license number, and (4) any personal identifying information that DOJ finds to be necessary. Authorized resellers must make a record of their sales that includes: (1) the information obtained from purchasers to verify their identity; (2) the date of sale; (3) the manufacturer and the wireless carrier of the device or SIM card; (4) any assigned telephone number or other identifier of the subscriber or account; and (5) if applicable, the international mobile equipment identifier number, electronic serial number, mobile equipment identifier, international mobile subscriber identifier, and machine address code. Within 30 days after a sale, an authorized reseller must transmit such record to the wireless carrier for the device or SIM card. Purchasers are subject to criminal penalties for providing false or misleading identifying information or documents. A civil penalty is established for authorized resellers or wireless carriers who fail to comply with this Act. The bill also prohibits and establishes criminal penalties for the sale of a pre-paid mobile device or SIM card by a person who is not an authorized reseller.", "title": "Closing the Pre-Paid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 187, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Drought Relief Act of \n1998''.\n\nSEC. 2. LOAN RATES FOR MARKETING ASSISTANCE LOANS FOR CERTAIN CROPS.\n\n (a) Wheat.--Subsection (a) of section 132 of the Agricultural \nMarket Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7232) is amended by striking paragraph \n(1) and inserting the following new paragraph:\n ``(1) Loan rate.--Subject to paragraph (2), the loan rate \n for a marketing assistance loan under section 131 for wheat \n shall be equal to not less than 85 percent of the simple \n average price received by producers of wheat, as determined by \n the Secretary, during the marketing years for the immediately \n preceding 5 crops of wheat, excluding the year in which the \n average price was the highest and the year in which the average \n price was the lowest in the period.''.\n (b) Feed Grains.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended by \nstriking paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraph:\n ``(1) Loan rate for corn.--Subject to paragraph (2), the \n loan rate for a marketing assistance loan under section 131 for \n corn shall be equal to not less than 85 percent of the simple \n average price received by producers of corn, as determined by \n the Secretary, during the marketing years for the immediately \n preceding 5 crops of corn, excluding the year in which the \n average price was the highest and the year in which the average \n price was the lowest in the period.''.\n (c) Upland Cotton.--Subsection (c)(2) of such section is amended by \nstriking ``or more than $0.5192 per pound''.\n (d) Extra Long Staple Cotton.--Subsection (d) of such section is \namended to read as follows:\n ``(d) Extra Long Staple Cotton.--The loan rate for a marketing \nassistance loan under section 131 for extra long staple cotton shall be \nequal to not less than 85 percent of the simple average price received \nby producers of extra long staple cotton, as determined by the \nSecretary, during 3 years of the 5-year period ending July 31 of the \nyear preceding the year in which the crop is planted, excluding the \nyear in which the average price was the highest and the year in which \nthe average price was the lowest in the period.''.\n (e) Oilseeds.--Subsection (f) of such section is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``or more than \n $5.26''; and\n (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``or more than \n $0.093''.\n\nSEC. 3. COST-SHARE ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS PERFORMING \n CERTAIN DROUGHT ALLEVIATION PROJECTS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Designated disaster area.--The term ``designated \n disaster area'' means an area that is covered by a Presidential \n declaration of major disaster issued under section 401 of the \n Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act \n (42 U.S.C. 5170) or determined to be a disaster area by the \n Secretary of Agriculture under subpart A of part 1945 of title \n 7, Code of Federal Regulations, if the basis for the \n Presidential declaration or Secretarial determination is at \n least in part the result of drought conditions in the area.\n (2) Eligible land.--The term ``eligible land'' means \n agricultural land, including cropland, rangeland, pasture, and \n other land on which crops or livestock are produced, or land \n used to support the production of crops or livestock.\n (3) Livestock.--The term ``livestock'' means dairy cattle, \n beef cattle, laying hens, broilers, turkeys, swine, sheep, and \n such other animals as determined by the Secretary.\n (4) Producer.--The term ``producer'' means a person who is \n engaged in livestock or agricultural production (as defined by \n the Secretary).\n (b) Authority To Provide Assistance.--During the 1999 through 2002 \nfiscal years, the Secretary of Agriculture may provide technical \nassistance and cost-share payments to a producer who undertakes on \neligible lands in a designated disaster area a project intended to \nalleviate or otherwise respond to the effects of drought on crop or \nlivestock production. A producer may apply for cost-share payments \nunder this section before undertaking an eligible project, during the \ncourse of the project, or within one year after completing the project. \nA project may be completed after the expiration of the designation of \nan area as a designated disaster area.\n (c) Eligible Projects.--The projects for which assistance may be \nprovided under this section include--\n (1) the installation of water wells to be used primarily \n for crop irrigation or livestock watering;\n (2) the dredging of ponds or other small bodies of water on \n eligible lands; and\n (3) the extension of public water supply lines to serve \n eligible lands.\n (d) Offer Selection Process.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall, \nto the maximum extent practicable, establish a process for selecting \napplications for financial assistance if there are numerous \napplications for assistance for eligible projects that would provide \nsubstantially the same level of benefits. The process shall be based \non--\n (1) a reasonable estimate of the projected cost of the \n proposals and other factors identified by the Secretary for \n determining which applications will result in the least cost to \n the program authorized by this section; and\n (2) such other factors determined by the Secretary that \n maximize benefits in designated disaster areas per dollar \n expended.\n (e) Concurrence of Owner.--If the producer making an offer to \nreceive assistance is a tenant using the eligible land, for the offer \nto be acceptable, the producer shall obtain the concurrence of the \nowner of the eligible land with respect to the offer.\n (f) Amount of Cost-Share Payments.--The Federal share of cost-share \npayments to a producer proposing to implement one or more eligible \nproject shall be not more than 75 percent of the projected cost of the \nproject, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, taking into \nconsideration any payment received by the producer from a State or \nlocal government. A producer may not receive cost-share payments under \nthis section for a project if the producer receives cost-share payments \nor other benefits for the same project under another provision of law.\n (g) Technical Assistance.--The receipt of technical assistance \nunder this section shall not affect the eligibility of the producer to \nreceive technical assistance under other authorities of law available \nto the Secretary of Agriculture.\n (h) Retroactive Effect.--This section shall apply to eligible \nprojects commenced in designated disaster areas on or after January 1, \n1998.\n\nSEC. 4. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY LOANS BASED ON ESTIMATED LOSSES.\n\n Subtitle C of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 \nU.S.C. 1961-1970) is amended by inserting after section 327 the \nfollowing:\n ``Sec. 328. In this subtitle, the terms `actual loss' and `actual \nproduction loss' mean actual loss or (if greater) the estimated loss as \ndetermined by the relevant county committee.''.\n\nSEC. 5. BORROWER ELECTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS ON EMERGENCY \n LOANS.\n\n Section 324 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 \nU.S.C. 1964) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(f) A borrower of a loan made under this subtitle may elect to \ndefer the payment of any or all interest on the loan until the end of \nthe period for which the loan is made.''.", "summary": "Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1998 - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to eliminate marketing assistance loan rate caps for wheat, corn and feed grains, upland and extra long staple cotton, and oilseeds. \nAuthorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to (temporarily) provide cost-share assistance for crop and livestock producers performing certain drought alleviation projects. Makes such assistance available retroactively to eligible projects begun as of January 1, 1998. \nAmends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize: (1) emergency loans based upon estimated losses; and (2) emergency loan interest deferral.", "title": "Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1998"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3240, "text": "SECTION 1. PEG SIGNAL QUALITY AND CONTENT; PRESERVATION OF SUPPORT OF \n PEG USE.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 611 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 \nU.S.C. 531) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (h); and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:\n ``(f) Signal Quality and Content.--\n ``(1) In general.--A cable operator that operates a cable \n system with channel capacity designated under subsection (b) or \n that is required to provide channel capacity under subsection \n (g)(6) shall, with respect to such channel capacity--\n ``(A) carry signals for public, educational, or \n governmental use from the point of origin of such \n signals to subscribers without material degradation and \n without altering or removing content or data provided \n as part of the public, educational, or governmental \n use;\n ``(B) provide such signals to, and make such \n signals viewable by, every subscriber of the cable \n system without additional service or equipment charges; \n and\n ``(C) provide to the appropriate local government \n subdivision, free of charge, any transmission services \n and the use of any transmission facilities that are \n necessary to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A).\n ``(2) Enforcement.--The requirements of this subsection may \n be enforced by--\n ``(A) a local government subdivision; or\n ``(B) a State.\n ``(g) Preservation of Support of Public, Educational, and \nGovernmental Use.--\n ``(1) Level of support required.--In a State that adopts \n legislation affecting cable system franchising requirements \n relating to support for public, educational, or governmental \n use of a cable system that becomes effective after May 31, \n 2005, notwithstanding such legislation, a cable operator owes \n to any local government subdivision in which the operator \n provides cable service during a year beginning after the date \n of enactment of this subsection an amount for such year to be \n determined by the local government subdivision, but not to \n exceed the greatest of the following:\n ``(A) The amount of support provided in the last \n calendar year ending before the effective date of such \n State legislation.\n ``(B) The average annual amount of support provided \n over the term of the franchise under which the cable \n operator was operating on the day before the effective \n date of such State legislation.\n ``(C) The amount of support that the cable operator \n is required to provide to such local government \n subdivision under such State legislation during the \n year involved.\n ``(D) An amount of support equal to 2 percent of \n the gross revenues of the cable operator from the \n operation of the cable system to provide cable services \n in such local government subdivision during the year \n involved.\n ``(2) Forms of support.--For purposes of paragraph (1), \n support for public, educational, or governmental use of a cable \n system means all cash payments, in-kind support, and free \n services that the operator of the cable system, or its \n predecessor, provides to the local government subdivision for \n such use of the cable system.\n ``(3) Adjustment for inflation.--For a year beginning on or \n after the effective date described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) \n of paragraph (1), on the date that the Gross National Product \n Price Index is first published by the Bureau of Economic \n Analysis after the end of June of such year, the amounts \n specified in such subparagraphs shall be increased by the \n percentage increase, if any, in the Index published on such \n date from the Index first published after the end of June of \n the preceding year.\n ``(4) Cash payments.--A cable operator that owes amounts \n under paragraph (1) shall, beginning not later than 30 days \n after the date of enactment of this subsection, pay such \n amounts in cash--\n ``(A) in accordance with the schedule for payment \n of franchise fees, communications taxes, or other \n similar assessments under any applicable franchise; or\n ``(B) if there is no payment schedule for such \n assessments under an applicable franchise, in \n accordance with the most frequent payment schedule for \n such assessments under applicable State or local law.\n ``(5) Uses; disputes.--\n ``(A) Uses.--Support provided to any local \n government subdivision under this subsection shall be \n dedicated to public, educational, or governmental use \n of channel capacity.\n ``(B) Disputes.--\n ``(i) Mediation.--If there is a dispute as \n to amounts owed under this subsection, \n undisputed amounts shall be paid to the local \n government subdivision, disputed amounts shall \n be paid into an escrow account, and the parties \n shall submit to nonbinding mediation.\n ``(ii) Court proceedings.--If the dispute \n cannot be settled using mediation, either party \n may seek relief from a court of competent \n jurisdiction.\n ``(6) Channels.--In a State that adopts legislation \n affecting cable system franchising requirements relating to the \n number of channels for public, educational, or governmental use \n of a cable system that becomes effective after May 31, 2005, a \n cable operator shall, notwithstanding such legislation, provide \n in a local government subdivision at least the greater of the \n following number of channels for such use:\n ``(A) The number of channels for such use that the \n operator was providing in the local government \n subdivision on the day before the effective date of \n such State legislation.\n ``(B) If the operator provided fewer than 3 \n channels for such use in the local government \n subdivision on the day before the effective date of \n such State legislation, a number specified by the local \n government subdivision, but not to exceed 3.\n ``(7) Enforcement.--The requirements of this subsection may \n be enforced by--\n ``(A) a local government subdivision; or\n ``(B) a State.''.\n (b) Definitions.--\n (1) Cable service.--Section 602(6) of the Communications \n Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522(6)) is amended by striking ``means'' \n and inserting ``means, regardless of the technology or \n transmission protocol used in the provision of service''.\n (2) Local government subdivision.--Section 602 of the \n Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522) is amended--\n (A) by redesignating paragraphs (13) through (20) \n as paragraphs (14) through (21), respectively; and\n (B) by inserting after paragraph (12) the \n following:\n ``(13) the term `local government subdivision' means--\n ``(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), a \n franchising authority that derives its power to grant a \n franchise from State or local law; and\n ``(B) in a State that adopts legislation affecting \n cable system franchising requirements relating to \n support for public, educational, or governmental use of \n a cable system that becomes effective after May 31, \n 2005, an entity that was considered a franchising \n authority deriving its power to grant a franchise from \n State or local law as of the day before the effective \n date of such State legislation;''.\n (3) Franchise fee.--Section 622(g)(2) of the Communications \n Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 542(g)(2)) is amended--\n (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``in the case \n of any franchise in effect on the date of enactment of \n this title,'';\n (B) by striking subparagraph (C); and\n (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as \n subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively.", "summary": "Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require certain cable system operators, with channel capacity for public, educational, or governmental (PEG) use that is designated by a franchising authority under existing code provisions or required to be provided under this Act, to: (1) carry PEG-use signals to subscribers without material degradation and without altering or removing content or data; (2) provide viewable signals to every cable subscriber without additional service or equipment charges; and (3) provide to the appropriate local government subdivision (LGS), free of charge, any transmission services and the use of any transmission facilities necessary to meet such requirements. Requires a cable operator in a state adopting applicable franchising legislation that becomes effective after May 31, 2005, to: (1) owe any LGS in which the operator provides cable service during a year beginning after enactment of this Act an LGS-determined amount for such year, within specified limits, notwithstanding requirements relating to support for cable system PEG use in such state legislation; and (2) provide a certain number of channels for PEG use in an LGS, notwithstanding requirements relating to the number of PEG-use cable channels in such state legislation. Defines "local government subdivision" (referred to above as an LGS) as a franchising authority deriving its power to grant a franchise from state or local law or an entity considered such a franchising authority as of the day before the effective date of such state legislation relating to support. Specifies forms of support as cash payments, in-kind support, and free services provided by the cable system operator, or its predecessor, to the LGS for the cable system's PEG use. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) LGS or state enforcement, and (2) nonbinding mediation and court proceedings concerning disputed support amounts. Revises the definition of "franchise fee" including by striking a provision prohibiting such a fee from including (in the case of a franchise granted after the enactment of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984) capital costs that the franchise requires the cable operator to incur for PEG access facilities.", "title": "A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish signal quality and content requirements for the carriage of public, educational, and governmental channels, to preserve support of such channels, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1998, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-\nLiving Adjustment Act of 2008''.\nSEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND \nINDEMNITY COMPENSATION.\n (a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2008, the Secretary \nof Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance with subsection (c), \nthe dollar amounts in effect on November 30, 2008, for the payment of \ndisability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation under \nthe provisions specified in subsection (b).\n (b) Amounts To Be Increased.--The dollar amounts to be increased \npursuant to subsection (a) are the following:\n (1) Wartime disability compensation.--Each of the dollar \n amounts under section 1114 of title 38, United States Code.\n (2) Additional compensation for dependents.--Each of the dollar \n amounts under section 1115(1) of such title.\n (3) Clothing allowance.--The dollar amount under section 1162 \n of such title.\n (4) Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving \n spouse.--Each of the dollar amounts under subsections (a) through \n (d) of section 1311 of such title.\n (5) Dependency and indemnity compensation to children.--Each of \n the dollar amounts under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title.\n (c) Determination of Increase.--\n (1) Percentage.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each \n dollar amount described in subsection (b) shall be increased by the \n same percentage as the percentage by which benefit amounts payable \n under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) \n are increased effective December 1, 2008, as a result of a \n determination under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).\n (2) Rounding.--Each dollar amount increased under paragraph \n (1), if not a whole dollar amount, shall be rounded to the next \n lower whole dollar amount.\n (d) Special Rule.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may adjust \nadministratively, consistent with the increases made under subsection \n(a), the rates of disability compensation payable to persons under \nsection 10 of Public Law 85-857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received \ncompensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code.\n (e) Publication of Adjusted Rates.--The Secretary of Veterans \nAffairs shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in \nsubsection (b), as increased under that subsection, not later than the \ndate on which the matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the \nSocial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be \npublished by reason of a determination made under section 215(i) of \nsuch Act during fiscal year 2009.\nSEC. 3. CODIFICATION OF 2007 COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN RATES OF \nDISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.\n (a) Veterans' Disability Compensation.--Section 1114 of title 38, \nUnited States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$115'' and inserting \n ``$117'';\n (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$225'' and inserting \n ``$230'';\n (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$348'' and inserting \n ``$356'';\n (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``$501'' and inserting \n ``$512'';\n (5) in subsection (e), by striking ``$712'' and inserting \n ``$728'';\n (6) in subsection (f), by striking ``$901'' and inserting \n ``$921'';\n (7) in subsection (g), by striking ``$1,135'' and inserting \n ``$1,161'';\n (8) in subsection (h), by striking ``$1,319'' and inserting \n ``$1,349'';\n (9) in subsection (i), by striking ``$1,483'' and inserting \n ``$1,517'';\n (10) in subsection (j), by striking ``$2,471'' and inserting \n ``$2,527'';\n (11) in subsection (k)--\n (A) by striking ``$89'' both places it appears and \n inserting ``$91''; and\n (B) by striking ``$3,075'' and ``$4,313'' and inserting \n ``$3,145'' and ``$4,412'', respectively;\n (12) in subsection (l), by striking ``$3,075'' and inserting \n ``$3,145'';\n (13) in subsection (m), by striking ``$3,392'' and inserting \n ``$3,470'';\n (14) in subsection (n), by striking ``$3,860'' and inserting \n ``$3,948'';\n (15) in subsections (o) and (p), by striking ``$4,313'' each \n place it appears and inserting ``$4,412'';\n (16) in subsection (r), by striking ``$1,851'' and ``$2,757'' \n and inserting ``$1,893'' and ``$2,820'', respectively; and\n (17) in subsection (s), by striking ``$2,766'' and inserting \n ``$2,829''.\n (b) Additional Compensation for Dependents.--Section 1115(1) of \nsuch title is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$139'' and inserting \n ``$142'';\n (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$240'' and ``$70'' and \n inserting ``$245'' and ``$71'', respectively;\n (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``$94'' and ``$70'' and \n inserting ``$96'' and ``$71'', respectively;\n (4) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``$112'' and inserting \n ``$114'';\n (5) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``$265'' and inserting \n ``$271''; and\n (6) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``$222'' and inserting \n ``$227''.\n (c) Clothing Allowance for Certain Disabled Veterans.--Section 1162 \nof such title is amended by striking ``$662'' and inserting ``$677''.\n (d) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Surviving Spouses.--\n (1) New law dic.--Section 1311(a) of such title is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$1,067'' and inserting \n ``$1,091''; and\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$228'' and inserting \n ``$233''.\n (2) Old law dic.--The table in paragraph (3) of such section is \n amended to read as follows:\n\n\n----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n ``Pay grade Monthly rate Pay grade Monthly rate\n----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\nE-1.......................................... $1,091 W-4............................ $1,305\nE-2.......................................... $1,091 O-1............................ $1,153\nE-3.......................................... $1,091 O-2............................ $1,191\nE-4.......................................... $1,091 O-3............................ $1,274\nE-5.......................................... $1,091 O-4............................ $1,349\nE-6.......................................... $1,091 O-5............................ $1,485\nE-7.......................................... $1,129 O-6............................ $1,674\nE-8.......................................... $1,191 O-7............................ $1,808\nE-9.......................................... $1,2421 O-8............................ $1,985\nW-1.......................................... $1,153 O-9............................ $2,123\nW-2.......................................... $1,198 O-10........................... $2,3282\nW-3.......................................... $1,234\n----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n1 If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior enlisted advisor of the Navy, chief master\n sergeant of the Air Force, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, or master chief petty officer of the Coast\n Guard, at the applicable time designated by section 1302 of this title, the surviving spouse's rate shall be\n $1,342.\n2 If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army,\n Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or Commandant of\n the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by section 1302 of this title, the surviving spouse's rate\n shall be $2,499.''\n\n\n (3) Additional dic for children or disability.--Section 1311 of \n such title is amended--\n (A) in subsection (b), by striking ``$265'' and inserting \n ``$271'';\n (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``$265'' and inserting \n ``$271''; and\n (C) in subsection (d), by striking ``$126'' and inserting \n ``$128''.\n (e) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Children.--\n (1) Dic when no surviving spouse.--Section 1313(a) of such \n title is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$452'' and inserting \n ``$462'';\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$649'' and inserting \n ``$663'';\n (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$846'' and inserting \n ``$865''; and\n (D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``$846'' and ``$162'' and \n inserting ``$865'' and ``$165'', respectively.\n (2) Supplemental dic for certain children.--Section 1314 of \n such title is amended--\n (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``$265'' and inserting \n ``$271'';\n (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``$452'' and inserting \n ``$462''; and\n (C) in subsection (c), by striking ``$225'' and inserting \n ``$230''.\n (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect on December 1, 2007.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2008, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.\n\nRequires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. Codifies rate amounts as increased under the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007.", "title": "A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify increases in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans that were effective as of December 1, 2007, to provide for an increase in the rates of such compensation effective December 1, 2008, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2013, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Electronic Commerce Extension \nEstablishment Act of 1999''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) The United States economy is in the early stages of a \n revolution in electronic commerce--the ability to buy, sell, \n and even deliver goods and services through computer networks. \n Estimates are that electronic commerce sales in 1998 were \n around $100,000,000,000 and could rise to $1,300,000,000,000 by \n 2003.\n (2) Electronic commerce promises to spur tremendously \n United States productivity and economic growth--repeating a \n historical pattern where the greatest impetus toward economic \n growth lies not in the sale of new technologies but in their \n widespread adoption and use.\n (3) Electronic commerce presents an enormous opportunity \n and challenge for small businesses. Such commerce will give \n such businesses new markets and new ways of doing businesses. \n However, many such business will have difficulty in adopting \n appropriate electronic commerce technologies and practices. \n Moreover, such businesses in more rural areas will find distant \n businesses entering their markets and competing with them. \n Thus, there is considerable risk many small businesses will be \n left behind in the shift to electronic commerce.\n (4) The United States has an interest in ensuring that \n small businesses in all parts of the United States participate \n fully in the electronic commerce revolution, both for the sake \n of such businesses and in order to promote productivity and \n economic growth throughout the entire United States economy.\n (5) The Federal Government has a long history of \n successfully helping small farmers with new agricultural \n technologies through the Cooperative Extension System at the \n Department of Agriculture, founded in 1914. More recently, the \n National Institute of Standards and Technology has successfully \n helped small manufacturers with manufacturing technologies \n through its Manufacturing Extension Program, established in \n 1988.\n (6) Similarly, now is the time to establish an electronic \n commerce extension program to help small businesses throughout \n the United States identify, adapt, and adopt electronic \n commerce technologies and business practices, thereby ensuring \n that such businesses fully participate in the electronic \n commerce revolution.\n\nSEC. 3. PURPOSE.\n\n The purpose of this Act is to establish an electronic commerce \nextension program focused on small businesses at the National Institute \nof Standards and Technology.\n\nSEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE EXTENSION PROGRAM AT \n NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The National Bureau of Standards Act (15 U.S.C. \n271 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 25 (15 U.S.C. 278k) \nthe following new section:\n\n ``regional centers for the transfer of electronic commerce technology\n\n ``Sec. 25A. (a)(1) The Secretary, through the Undersecretary of \nCommerce for Technology and the Director and in consultation with other \nappropriate officials, shall provide assistance for the creation and \nsupport of Regional Centers for the Transfer of Electronic Commerce \nTechnology (in this section referred to as `Centers').\n ``(2) The Centers shall be affiliated with any United States-based \nnonprofit institution or organization, or group thereof, that applies \nfor and is awarded financial assistance under this section in \naccordance with the program established by the Secretary under \nsubsection (c).\n ``(3) The objective of the Centers is to enhance productivity and \ntechnological performance in United States electronic commerce \nthrough--\n ``(A) the transfer of electronic commerce technology and \n techniques developed at the Institute to Centers and, through \n them, to companies throughout the United States;\n ``(B) the participation of individuals from industry, \n institutions of higher education, State governments, other \n Federal agencies, and, when appropriate, the Institute in \n cooperative technology transfer activities;\n ``(C) efforts to make electronic commerce technology and \n techniques usable by a wide range of United States-based small \n companies;\n ``(D) the active dissemination of scientific, engineering, \n technical, and management information about electronic commerce \n to small companies, with a particular focus on reaching those \n located in rural or isolated areas; and\n ``(E) the utilization, when appropriate, of the expertise \n and capability that exists in State and local governments, \n institutions of higher education, the private sector, and \n Federal laboratories other than the Institute.\n ``(b) The activities of the Centers shall include--\n ``(1) the establishment of electronic commerce \n demonstration systems, based on research by the Institute and \n other organizations and entities, for the purpose of technology \n transfer; and\n ``(2) the active transfer and dissemination of research \n findings and Center expertise to a wide range of companies and \n enterprises, particularly small companies.\n ``(c)(1) The Secretary may provide financial support to any Center \ncreated under subsection (a) in accordance with a program established \nby the Secretary for purposes of this section.\n ``(2) The Secretary may not provide to a Center more than 50 \npercent of the capital and annual operating and maintenance funds \nrequired to create and maintain the Center.\n ``(3)(A) Any nonprofit institution, or group thereof, or consortia \nof nonprofit institutions may, in accordance with the procedures \nestablished by the Secretary under the program under paragraph (1), \nsubmit to the Secretary an application for financial support for the \ncreation and operation of a Center under this section.\n ``(B) In order to receive financial assistance under this section \nfor a Center, an applicant shall provide adequate assurances that it \nwill contribute 50 percent or more of the estimated capital and annual \noperating and maintenance costs of the Center for the first three years \nof its operation and an increasing share of such costs over the next \nthree years of its operation.\n ``(C) An applicant shall also submit a proposal for the allocation \nof the legal rights associated with any invention which may result from \nthe activities of the Center proposed by the applicant.\n ``(4)(A) The Secretary shall subject each application submitted \nunder this subsection to merit review.\n ``(B) In making a decision whether to approve an application and \nprovide financial support for a Center under this section, the \nSecretary shall consider at a minimum--\n ``(i) the merits of the application, particularly the \n portions of the application regarding technology transfer, \n training and education, and adaptation of electronic commerce \n technologies to the needs of particular industrial sectors;\n ``(ii) the quality of service to be provided;\n ``(iii) geographical diversity and extent of service area; \n and\n ``(iv) the percentage of funding and amount of in-kind \n commitment from other sources.\n ``(5)(A) Each Center receiving financial assistance under this \nsection shall be evaluated during the third year of its operation by an \nevaluation panel appointed by the Secretary.\n ``(B) Each evaluation panel under this paragraph shall be composed \nof private experts, none of whom shall be connected with the Center \ninvolved, and with appropriate Federal officials. An official of the \nInstitute shall chair each evaluation panel.\n ``(C) Each evaluation panel under this paragraph shall measure the \nperformance of the Center involved against the objectives specified in \nthis section and under the arrangement between the Center and the \nInstitute.\n ``(6) The Secretary may not provide funding for a Center under this \nsection for the fourth through the sixth years of its operation unless \nthe evaluation regarding the Center under paragraph (5) is positive. If \nsuch evaluation for a Center is positive, the Secretary may provide \ncontinued funding for the Center through the sixth year of its \noperation at declining levels.\n ``(7)(A) After the sixth year of operation of a Center, the Center \nmay receive additional financial support under this section if the \nCenter has received a positive evaluation of its operation through an \nindependent review conducted under procedures established by the \nInstitute. Such independent review shall be undertaken for a Center not \nless often than every two years commencing after the sixth year of its \noperation.\n ``(B) The amount of funding received by a Center under this section \nfor any fiscal year of the Center after the sixth year of its operation \nmay not exceed an amount equal to one-third of the capital and annual \noperating and maintenance costs of the Center in such fiscal year under \nthe program.\n ``(8) The provisions of chapter 18 of title 35, United States Code, \nshall (to the extent not inconsistent with this section) apply to the \npromotion of technology from research by Centers under this section \nexcept for contracts for such specific technology extension or transfer \nservices as may be specified by statute or by the Director.\n ``(d)(1) In addition to such sums as may be appropriated to the \nSecretary and Director for purposes of the support of Centers under \nthis section, the Secretary and Director may accept funds from other \nFederal departments and agencies for such purposes.\n ``(2) The selection and operation of a Center under this section \nshall be governed by the provisions of this section, regardless of the \nFederal department or agency providing funds for the operation of the \nCenter.\n ``(e) In this section, the term `electronic commerce' means the \nbuying, selling, and delivery of goods and services, or the \ncoordination or conduct of economic activities within and among \norganizations, through computer networks.''.\n (b) Description of Program.--(1) Not later than 90 days after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall \npublish in the Federal Register a proposal for the program required by \nsection 25A(c) of the National Bureau of Standards Act, as added by \nsubsection (a).\n (2) The proposal for the program under paragraph (1) shall \ninclude--\n (A) a description of the program;\n (B) procedures to be followed by applicants for support \n under the program;\n (C) criteria for determining qualified applicants under the \n program;\n (D) criteria, including the criteria specified in paragraph \n (4) of such section 25A(c), for choosing recipients of \n financial assistance under the program from among qualified \n applicants; and\n (E) maximum support levels expected to be available to \n Centers for the Transfer of Electronic Commerce Technology \n under the program in each year of assistance under the program.\n (3) The Secretary shall provide a 30-day period of opportunity for \npublic comment on the proposal published under paragraph (1).\n (4) Upon completion of the period referred to in paragraph (3), the \nSecretary shall publish in the Federal Register a final version of the \nprogram referred to in paragraph (1). The final version of the program \nshall take into account public comments received by the Secretary under \nparagraph (3).\n (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is hereby authorized to \nbe appropriated for the Department of Commerce each fiscal year such \namounts as may be required during such fiscal year for purposes of \nactivities under section 25A of the National Bureau of Standards Act, \nas added by subsection (a).", "summary": "Electronic Commerce Extension Establishment Act of 1999 - Amends the National Bureau of Standards Act to direct the Secretary of Commerce to provide assistance for the creation and support of Regional Centers for the Transfer of Electronic Commerce Technology (Centers). Requires the Centers to be affiliated with any U.S.-based nonprofit institution or organization that applies for and is awarded financial assistance under this Act. Outlines objectives of the Centers, including aiding small businesses, especially those located in rural areas, in identifying and adopting electronic commerce technologies and business practices. Defines \"electronic commerce\" as the ability to buy, sell, and deliver goods and services through computer networks. Requires such Centers to: (1) establish electronic commerce demonstration systems for technology transfer; and (2) transfer and disseminate research findings and Center expertise to companies and enterprises, particularly small businesses. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial support to a Center for such activities and objectives. \nOutlines application requirements for such assistance. Requires Centers receiving assistance to be evaluated during the third year of operation by a panel of private experts. Requires a positive finding from such panel before a Center may receive such assistance for its fourth through sixth years. Requires independent review of a Center every two years after the sixth year, to be conducted under procedures established by the National Institutes of Standards and Technology. Provides Center funding limitations. \nRequires the Secretary to publish a proposal for the assistance program provided under this Act, as well as a final program. \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "Electronic Commerce Extension Establishment Act of 1999"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 225, "text": "SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT ON FILING REQUIREMENTS UNDER UNIVERSAL \n SERVICE FUND PROGRAMS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section--\n (1) the term ``Administrative Procedure Act'' means \n subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code;\n (2) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal \n Communications Commission;\n (3) the term ``covered carrier'' means an eligible \n telecommunications carrier or service provider that receives \n universal service support under sections 214(e) and 254 of the \n Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 214(e) and 254) for the \n provision of service under a Universal Service Fund program; \n and\n (4) the term ``Universal Service Fund program'' means each \n program of the Commission set forth under part 54 of title 47, \n Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto, \n including--\n (A) the Connect America Fund set forth under \n subpart D of that part;\n (B) the Lifeline program set forth under subpart E \n of that part;\n (C) the E-Rate program set forth under subpart F of \n that part;\n (D) the Rural Health Care program set forth under \n subpart G of that part;\n (E) the Remote Areas Fund set forth under subpart J \n of that part;\n (F) the Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support \n program set forth under subpart K of that part;\n (G) the Mobility Fund set forth under subpart L of \n that part; and\n (H) the High Cost Loop Support for Rate-of-Return \n Carriers program set forth under subpart M of that \n part.\n (b) Study and Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States \nshall conduct a study and submit to the Commission, the Committee on \nCommerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee \non Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report, which \nshall include--\n (1) an analysis of the filing requirements for covered \n carriers participating in a Universal Service Fund program, \n including any filings required by the Universal Service \n Administrative Company;\n (2) an analysis of the financial impact of those filing \n requirements on covered carriers participating in a Universal \n Service Fund program; and\n (3) recommendations, if any, on how to consolidate \n redundant filing requirements for covered carriers \n participating in a Universal Service Fund program.\n (c) Rulemaking.--\n (1) New or ongoing rulemaking.--Except as provided in \n paragraph (3), not later than 60 days after the date on which \n the report is submitted under subsection (b), the Commission \n shall--\n (A)(i) initiate a rulemaking to consolidate \n redundant filing requirements for covered carriers \n participating in a Universal Service Fund program; and\n (ii) incorporate into the rulemaking under clause \n (i), and as part of that rulemaking seek comment on, \n the recommendations described in subsection (b)(3), if \n any, except to the extent that doing so would violate \n the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act; \n or\n (B) incorporate into an ongoing rulemaking relating \n to consolidating redundant filing requirements of the \n Commission, and as part of that rulemaking seek comment \n on, the recommendations described in subsection (b)(3), \n if any, except to the extent that doing so would \n violate the requirements of the Administrative \n Procedure Act.\n (2) Waste, fraud, and abuse.--In a rulemaking in which the \n Commission is required under paragraph (1) to seek comment on \n the recommendations described in subsection (b)(3), if any, the \n Commission shall also seek comment on and consider whether the \n benefit of each recommendation is outweighed by any potential \n increased risk of waste, fraud, and abuse in the Universal \n Service Fund program affected by the recommendation.\n (3) Previous rulemaking.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply if, \n on or before the date on which the report is submitted under \n subsection (b), the Commission completes a rulemaking to \n consolidate redundant filing requirements for covered carriers \n participating in a Universal Service Fund program.\n\n Passed the Senate January 10, 2018.\n\n Attest:\n\n JULIE E. ADAMS,\n\n Secretary.", "summary": "(Sec. 1) This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congress on the filing requirements for telecommunications carriers or service providers that receive Universal Service Fund support under the Communications Act of 1934 to provide service to qualifying low-income consumers, rural or high-cost areas, rural health care providers, schools, or libraries under the Connect America Fund, Lifeline, E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Remote Areas Fund, Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support, Mobility Fund, and High Cost Loop Support for Rate-of-Return Carriers programs. The report must analyze the financial impact of those filing requirements and provide any recommendations on how to consolidate redundant filing requirements. After receiving the GAO's report, the FCC must initiate a rulemaking to consolidate redundant filing requirements and incorporate any GAO recommendations that would not violate the Administrative Procedure Act into such rulemaking or any ongoing rulemakings.", "title": "A bill to require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and submit a report on filing requirements under the Universal Service Fund programs."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2448, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``All Economic Regulations are \nTransparent Act of 2015'' or the ``ALERT Act of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS PUBLICATION OF \n INFORMATION RELATING TO RULES.\n\n (a) Amendment.--Title 5, United States Code, is amended by \ninserting after chapter 6, the following new chapter:\n\n``CHAPTER 6A--OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS PUBLICATION \n OF INFORMATION RELATING TO RULES\n\n``Sec. 651. Agency monthly submission to office of information and \n regulatory affairs.\n``Sec. 652. Office of information and regulatory affairs publications.\n``Sec. 653. Requirement for rules to appear in agency-specific monthly \n publication.\n``Sec. 654. Definitions.\n\n``SEC. 651. AGENCY MONTHLY SUBMISSION TO OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND \n REGULATORY AFFAIRS.\n\n ``On a monthly basis, the head of each agency shall submit to the \nAdministrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs \n(referred to in this chapter as the `Administrator'), in such a manner \nas the Administrator may reasonably require, the following information:\n ``(1) For each rule that the agency expects to propose or \n finalize during the following year:\n ``(A) A summary of the nature of the rule, \n including the regulation identifier number and the \n docket number for the rule.\n ``(B) The objectives of and legal basis for the \n issuance of the rule, including--\n ``(i) any statutory or judicial deadline; \n and\n ``(ii) whether the legal basis restricts or \n precludes the agency from conducting an \n analysis of the costs or benefits of the rule \n during the rule making, and if not, whether the \n agency plans to conduct an analysis of the \n costs or benefits of the rule during the rule \n making.\n ``(C) Whether the agency plans to claim an \n exemption from the requirements of section 553 pursuant \n to section 553(b)(B).\n ``(D) The stage of the rule making as of the date \n of submission.\n ``(E) Whether the rule is subject to review under \n section 610.\n ``(2) For any rule for which the agency expects to finalize \n during the following year and has issued a general notice of \n proposed rule making--\n ``(A) an approximate schedule for completing action \n on the rule;\n ``(B) an estimate of whether the rule will cost--\n ``(i) less than $50,000,000;\n ``(ii) $50,000,000 or more but less than \n $100,000,000;\n ``(iii) $100,000,000 or more but less than \n $500,000,000;\n ``(iv) $500,000,000 or more but less than \n $1,000,000,000;\n ``(v) $1,000,000,000 or more but less than \n $5,000,000,000;\n ``(vi) $5,000,000,000 or more but less than \n $10,000,000,000; or\n ``(vii) $10,000,000,000 or more; and\n ``(C) any estimate of the economic effects of the \n rule, including any estimate of the net effect that the \n rule will have on the number of jobs in the United \n States, that was considered in drafting the rule. If \n such estimate is not available, a statement affirming \n that no information on the economic effects, including \n the effect on the number of jobs, of the rule has been \n considered.\n\n``SEC. 652. OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS PUBLICATIONS.\n\n ``(a) Agency-Specific Information Published Monthly.--Not later \nthan 30 days after the submission of information pursuant to section \n651, the Administrator shall make such information publicly available \non the Internet.\n ``(b) Cumulative Assessment of Agency Rule Making Published \nAnnually.--\n ``(1) Publication in the federal register.--Not later than \n October 1 of each year, the Administrator shall publish in the \n Federal Register, for the previous year the following:\n ``(A) The information that the Administrator \n received from the head of each agency under section \n 651.\n ``(B) The number of rules and a list of each such \n rule--\n ``(i) that was proposed by each agency, \n including, for each such rule, an indication of \n whether the issuing agency conducted an \n analysis of the costs or benefits of the rule; \n and\n ``(ii) that was finalized by each agency, \n including for each such rule an indication of \n whether--\n ``(I) the issuing agency conducted \n an analysis of the costs or benefits of \n the rule;\n ``(II) the agency claimed an \n exemption from the procedures under \n section 553 pursuant to section \n 553(b)(B); and\n ``(III) the rule was issued \n pursuant to a statutory mandate or the \n rule making is committed to agency \n discretion by law.\n ``(C) The number of agency actions and a list of \n each such action taken by each agency that--\n ``(i) repealed a rule;\n ``(ii) reduced the scope of a rule;\n ``(iii) reduced the cost of a rule; or\n ``(iv) accelerated the expiration date of a \n rule.\n ``(D) The total cost (without reducing the cost by \n any offsetting benefits) of all rules proposed or \n finalized, and the number of rules for which an \n estimate of the cost of the rule was not available.\n ``(2) Publication on the internet.--Not later than October \n 1 of each year, the Administrator shall make publicly available \n on the Internet the following:\n ``(A) The analysis of the costs or benefits, if \n conducted, for each proposed rule or final rule issued \n by an agency for the previous year.\n ``(B) The docket number and regulation identifier \n number for each proposed or final rule issued by an \n agency for the previous year.\n ``(C) The number of rules and a list of each such \n rule reviewed by the Director of the Office of \n Management and Budget for the previous year, and the \n authority under which each such review was conducted.\n ``(D) The number of rules and a list of each such \n rule for which the head of an agency completed a review \n under section 610 for the previous year.\n ``(E) The number of rules and a list of each such \n rule submitted to the Comptroller General under section \n 801.\n ``(F) The number of rules and a list of each such \n rule for which a resolution of disapproval was \n introduced in either the House of Representatives or \n the Senate under section 802.\n\n``SEC. 653. REQUIREMENT FOR RULES TO APPEAR IN AGENCY-SPECIFIC MONTHLY \n PUBLICATION.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), a rule may not take \neffect until the information required to be made publicly available on \nthe Internet regarding such rule pursuant to section 652(a) has been so \navailable for not less than 6 months.\n ``(b) Exceptions.--The requirement of subsection (a) shall not \napply in the case of a rule--\n ``(1) for which the agency issuing the rule claims an \n exception under section 553(b)(B); or\n ``(2) which the President determines by Executive order \n should take effect because the rule is--\n ``(A) necessary because of an imminent threat to \n health or safety or other emergency;\n ``(B) necessary for the enforcement of criminal \n laws;\n ``(C) necessary for national security; or\n ``(D) issued pursuant to any statute implementing \n an international trade agreement.\n\n``SEC. 654. DEFINITIONS.\n\n ``In this chapter, the terms `agency', `agency action', `rule', and \n`rule making' have the meanings given those terms in section 551.''.\n (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of chapters for \npart I of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after \nthe item relating to chapter 5, the following:\n\n``6. The Analysis of Regulatory Functions.................. 601 \n``6A. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs 651''.\n Publication of Information \n Relating to Rules.\n (c) Effective Dates.--\n (1) Agency monthly submission to the office of information \n and regulatory affairs.--The first submission required pursuant \n to section 651 of title 5, United States Code, as added by \n subsection (a), shall be submitted not later than 30 days after \n the date of the enactment of this Act, and monthly thereafter.\n (2) Cumulative assessment of agency rule making.--\n (A) In general.--Subsection (b) of section 652 of \n title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection \n (a), shall take effect on the date that is 60 days \n after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (B) Deadline.--The first requirement to publish or \n make available, as the case may be, under subsection \n (b) of section 652 of title 5, United States Code, as \n added by subsection (a), shall be the first October 1 \n after the effective date of such subsection.\n (C) First publication.--The requirement under \n section 652(b)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, as \n added by subsection (a), shall include for the first \n publication, any analysis of the costs or benefits \n conducted for a proposed or final rule, for the 10 \n years before the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (3) Requirement for rules to appear in agency-specific \n monthly publication.--Section 653 of title 5, United States \n Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date \n that is 8 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": ". The expanded summary of the version reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is repeated here.) All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act of 2015 or the ALERT Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) Requires the head of each federal agency to submit a monthly report to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each rule such agency expects to propose or finalize during the following year. Sets forth the required content of such reports, including: (1) a summary of the nature of the rule, (2) the objectives of and legal basis for issuance of the rule, (3) the stage of the rulemaking as of the date of submission, and (4) whether the rule is subject to periodic review as a rule with a significant economic impact. Requires each agency head to submit a monthly report for any rule expected to be finalized during the following year for which the agency has issued a general notice of proposed rulemaking. Requires such reports to include an approximate schedule for completing action on the rule and an estimate of its cost and economic effects. Requires the Administrator to make such monthly reports publicly available on the Internet. Requires the Administrator to publish, not later than October 1 of each year, in the Federal Register: (1) information that the Administrator receives from each agency under this Act; (2) the number of rules and a list of each such rule that was proposed by each agency and each rule that was finalized by each agency; (3) the number of agency actions that repealed a rule, reduced the scope or cost of a rule, or accelerated the expiration date of a rule; (4) the total cost of all rules proposed or finalized; and (5) the number of rules for which an estimate of the cost of the rule was not available. Requires the Administrator to make publicly available on the Internet, not later than October 1 of each year: (1) the analysis of the costs or benefits of each proposed or final rule issued by an agency for the preceding year, (2) the docket number and regulation identifier number for each such rule, (3) the number of rules reviewed by OMB for the preceding year, (4) the number of rules for which a review by the head of an agency was completed, (5) the number of rules submitted to the Comptroller General, and (6) the number of rules for which a resolution of disapproval was introduced in Congress. Prohibits a rule from taking effect until the information required by this Act is posted on the Internet for not less than six months, unless the agency proposing the rule seeks an exemption under the Freedom of Information Act or the President determines by executive order that such rule is necessary because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency, for the enforcement of criminal laws, for national security, or to implement an international trade agreement. Makes such requirement effective eight months after enactment of this Act. ", "title": "ALERT Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2034, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Reserve Accountability Act \nof 2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. REVIEWS OF SPECIAL FEDERAL RESERVE CREDIT FACILITIES.\n\n (a) Reviews.--Section 714 of title 31, United States Code, is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(f) Reviews of Credit Facilities of the Federal Reserve System.--\n ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `credit \n facilities' means--\n ``(A) the Money Market Investor Funding Facility;\n ``(B) the Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Money \n Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility;\n ``(C) the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan \n Facility;\n ``(D) the Primary Dealer Credit Facility;\n ``(E) the Commercial Paper Funding Facility;\n ``(F) any other credit facility approved by the \n Board under the 3rd undesignated paragraph of section \n 13 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 343), other \n than a credit facility that is subject to the \n requirements of subsection (e); and\n ``(G) any special purpose vehicle through which any \n activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) is \n conducted.\n ``(2) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), and \n notwithstanding any limitation in subsection (b) on the \n auditing and oversight of certain functions of the Board or any \n Federal Reserve bank, the Comptroller General may conduct \n reviews, including onsite examinations, if the Comptroller \n General determines that such examinations are appropriate, of \n the accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls of \n credit facilities established by the Board or any Federal \n Reserve bank, including when such activities are carried out by \n or on behalf of the Board or any official of a Federal Reserve \n bank.\n ``(3) Reports and delayed disclosure.--\n ``(A) Reports required.--A report on each review \n conducted under paragraph (2) shall be submitted by the \n Comptroller General to the Congress before the end of \n the 90-day period beginning on the date on which such \n review is completed.\n ``(B) Contents.--The report under subparagraph (A) \n shall include a detailed description of the findings \n and conclusions of the Comptroller General with respect \n to the review that is the subject of the report, \n together with such recommendations for legislative or \n administrative action as the Comptroller General may \n determine to be appropriate.\n ``(C) Delayed release of certain information.--\n ``(i) In general.--The Comptroller General \n shall not disclose to any person or entity, \n including to the Congress, the names or \n identifying details of specific participants in \n any of the audited facilities or identifying \n details regarding assets or collateral held by, \n under, or in connection with any of the audited \n facilities, and any report provided under \n subparagraph (A) shall be redacted to ensure \n that such details are not disclosed.\n ``(ii) Delayed release.--The nondisclosure \n obligation under clause (i) shall expire, and \n the Comptroller General shall release a \n nonredacted version of any reports on specific \n credit facilities, 1 year after the termination \n of the relevant credit facility.''.\n (b) Access to Records.--Section 714(d) of title 31, United States \nCode (as amended by section 801 of Public Law 111-22), is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or any single and \n specific partnership or corporation (as specified in subsection \n (e)) or any facility established by an agency (as specified in \n subsection (f))'' after ``used by an agency'';\n (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``or (f)'' after \n ``subsection (e)'' each place that term appears; and\n (3) in paragraph (3)(B), by adding at the end the \n following: ``The Comptroller General may make and retain copies \n of books, accounts, and other records provided under \n subparagraph (A) as the Comptroller General deems appropriate. \n The Comptroller General shall have access to the officers, \n employees, contractors, and other agents and representatives of \n any single and specific partnership or corporation (as \n specified in subsection (e)) or any credit facility established \n by an agency (as specified in subsection (f)) at any reasonable \n time, as the Comptroller General may request. The Comptroller \n General shall provide to any such partnership, corporation, or \n credit facility a current list of officers and employees to \n whom, with proper identification, records and property may be \n made available, and who may make notes or copies necessary to \n carry out a review or examination under this subsection.''.\n\nSEC. 3. PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION.\n\n (a) In General.--The Board shall place on its home Internet website \na link entitled ``Audit'', which shall link to a webpage that shall \nserve as a repository of information made available to the public for a \nreasonable period of time, not less than 6 months following the date of \nrelease of the relevant information, including--\n (1) the reports prepared by the Comptroller General under \n section 714 of title 31, United States Code;\n (2) the annual financial statements prepared by an \n independent auditor for the Board of Governors of the Federal \n Reserve System (in this section referred to as the ``Board'') \n in accordance with section 11B of the Federal Reserve Act (12 \n U.S.C. 248b); and\n (3) such other information as the Board reasonably believes \n is necessary or helpful to the public in understanding the \n accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls of the \n Board and the Federal Reserve banks.", "summary": "Federal Reserve Accountability Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Comptroller General to conduct reviews of (including onsite examinations), and report to Congress on, the accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls of credit facilities established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or any Federal Reserve bank, including when such activities are implemented by or on behalf of the Board or any official of a Federal Reserve bank.\n\nDefines \"credit facilities\" as: (1) the Money Market Investor Funding Facility; (2) the Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility; (3) the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility; (4) the Primary Dealer Credit Facility; (5) the Commercial Paper Funding Facility; and (6) certain other credit facilities approved by the Board, as well as any special purpose vehicle through which any activity of such facilities is conducted.\n\n\n\n\n\nRequires the Board to place on its home Internet website a link entitled \"Audit\" to a webpage that serves as a repository of public information for not less than six months following the release of the relevant information, including: (1) the reports prepared pursuant to this Act; (2) the annual financial statements prepared by an independent auditor for the Board; and (3) any other information the Board believes is necessary or helpful to the public in understanding its accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls as well as those of the Federal Reserve banks.", "title": "A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to authorize reviews by the Comptroller General of the United States of emergency credit facilities established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any Federal Reserve bank, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1755, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Workplace Religious Freedom Act of \n1999''.\n\nSEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--Section 701(j) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 \n(42 U.S.C. 2000e(j)) is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(j)'';\n (2) by inserting ``, after initiating and engaging in an \n affirmative and bona fide effort,'' after ``unable'';\n (3) by striking ``an employee's'' and all that follows \n through ``religious'' and insert ``an employee's religious''; \n and\n (4) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) As used in this subsection, the term `employee' includes a \nprospective employee.\n ``(3) As used in this subsection, the term `undue hardship' means \nan accommodation requiring significant difficulty or expense. For \npurposes of determining whether an accommodation requires significant \ndifficulty or expense--\n ``(A) an accommodation shall be considered to require \n significant difficulty or expense if the accommodation will \n result in the inability of an employee to perform the essential \n functions of the employment position of the employee; and\n ``(B) other factors to be considered in making the \n determination shall include--\n ``(i) the identifiable cost of the accommodation, \n including the costs of loss of productivity and of \n retraining or hiring employees or transferring \n employees from one facility to another, in relation to \n the size and operating cost of the employer;\n ``(ii) the number of individuals who will need the \n particular accommodation to a religious observance or \n practice; and\n ``(iii) for an employer with multiple facilities, \n the degree to which the geographic separateness or \n administrative or fiscal relationship of the facilities \n will make the accommodation more difficult or \n expensive.''.\n (b) Employment Practices.--Section 703 of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n2000e-2) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(o)(1) As used in this subsection:\n ``(A) The term `employee' includes a prospective employee.\n ``(B) The term `leave of general usage' means leave \n provided under the policy or program of an employer, under \n which--\n ``(i) an employee may take leave by adjusting or \n altering the work schedule or assignment of the \n employee according to criteria determined by the \n employer; and\n ``(ii) the employee may determine the purpose for \n which the leave is to be utilized.\n ``(C) The term `undue hardship' has the meaning given the \n term in section 701(j)(3).\n ``(2) For purposes of determining whether an employer has committed \nan unlawful employment practice under this title by failing to provide \na reasonable accommodation to the religious observance or practice of \nan employee, an accommodation by the employer shall not be deemed to be \nreasonable if such accommodation does not remove the conflict between \nemployment requirements and the religious observance or practice of the \nemployee.\n ``(3) An employer shall be considered to commit such a practice by \nfailing to provide such a reasonable accommodation for an employee if \nthe employer refuses to permit the employee to utilize leave of general \nusage to remove such a conflict solely because the leave will be used \nto accommodate the religious observance or practice of the employee.\n ``(4) It shall not be a defense to a claim of unlawful employment \npractice under this title for failure to provide a reasonable \naccommodation to a religious observance or practice of an employee that \nsuch accommodation would be in violation of a bona fide seniority \nsystem if, in order for the employer to reasonably accommodate such \nobservance or practice--\n ``(A) an adjustment would be made in the employee's work \n hours (including an adjustment that requires the employee to \n work overtime in order to avoid working at a time that \n abstention from work is necessary to satisfy religious \n requirements), shift, or job assignment, that would not be \n available to any employee but for such accommodation; or\n ``(B) the employee and any other employee would voluntarily \n exchange shifts or job assignments, or voluntarily make some \n other arrangement between the employees.\n ``(5)(A) An employer shall not be required to pay premium wages or \nconfer premium benefits for work performed during hours to which such \npremium wages or premium benefits would ordinarily be applicable, if \nwork is performed during such hours only to accommodate religious \nrequirements of an employee.\n ``(B) As used in this paragraph--\n ``(i) the term `premium benefit' means an employment \n benefit, such as seniority, group life insurance, health \n insurance, disability insurance, sick leave, annual leave, an \n educational benefit, or a pension, that is greater than the \n employment benefit due the employee for an equivalent period of \n work performed during the regular work schedule of the \n employee; and\n ``(ii) the term `premium wages' includes overtime pay and \n compensatory time off, premium pay for night, weekend, or \n holiday work, and premium pay for standby or irregular duty.''.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.\n\n (a) Effective Date.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act \nand the amendments made by section 2 take effect on the date of \nenactment of this Act.\n (b) Application of Amendments.--The amendments made by section 2 do \nnot apply with respect to conduct occurring before the date of \nenactment of this Act.", "summary": "Prohibits deeming an accommodation by the employer reasonable if the accommodation does not remove the conflict between employment requirements and the religious observance or practice. Excludes, in certain circumstances, a defense that the accommodation would be in violation of a seniority system. Prohibits requiring payment of premium wages for work performed during hours to which premium wages would ordinarily be applicable if work is performed during those hours only to accommodate religious requirements of an employee.", "title": "Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 1999"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2972, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Dairy Promotion Equity Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FUNDING OF DAIRY PROMOTION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Declaration of Policy.--The first sentence of section 110(b) of \nthe Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4501(b)) is \namended--\n (1) by inserting after ``commercial use'' the following: \n ``and on imported dairy products''; and\n (2) by striking ``products produced in'' and inserting \n ``products produced in or imported into''.\n (b) Definitions.--Section 111 of the Dairy Production Stabilization \nAct of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4502) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (k), by striking ``and'' at the end;\n (2) in subsection (l), by striking the period at the end \n and inserting a semicolon; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(m) the term `imported dairy product' means any dairy \n product that is imported into the United States, including--\n ``(1) milk and cream and fresh and dried dairy \n products;\n ``(2) butter and butterfat mixtures;\n ``(3) cheese;\n ``(4) casein and mixtures; and\n ``(5) other dairy products; and\n ``(n) the term `importer' means a person that imports an \n imported dairy product into the United States.''.\n (c) Funding.--\n (1) Representation on board.--Section 113(b) of the Dairy \n Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4504(b)) is \n amended--\n (A) by designating the first through ninth \n sentences as paragraphs (1) through (5) and paragraphs \n (7) through (10), respectively;\n (B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by \n striking ``thirty-six'' and inserting ``38'';\n (C) in paragraph (2) (as so designated), by \n striking ``Members'' and inserting ``Of the members of \n the Board, 36 members''; and\n (D) by inserting after paragraph (5) (as so \n designated) the following:\n ``(6) Importers.--\n ``(A) In general.--Of the members of the Board, 2 \n members shall be representatives of importers of \n imported dairy products.\n ``(B) Appointment.--The importer representatives \n shall be appointed by the Secretary from nominations \n submitted by importers under such procedures as the \n Secretary determines to be appropriate.''.\n (2) Assessment.--Section 113(g) of the Dairy Production \n Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4504(g)) is amended--\n (A) by designating the first through fifth \n sentences as paragraphs (1) through (5), respectively; \n and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(6) Importers.--\n ``(A) In general.--The order shall provide that \n each importer of imported dairy products shall pay an \n assessment to the Board in the manner prescribed by the \n order.\n ``(B) Rate.--The rate of assessment on imported \n dairy products shall be determined in the same manner \n as the rate of assessment per hundredweight or the \n equivalent of milk.\n ``(C) Value of products.--For the purpose of \n determining the assessment on imports under \n subparagraph (B), the value to be placed on imported \n dairy products shall be established by the Secretary in \n a fair and equitable manner.''.\n (3) Records.--The first sentence of section 113(k) of the \n Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4504(k)) \n is amended by striking ``person receiving'' and inserting \n ``importer of imported dairy products, each person receiving''.\n (4) Referendum.--Section 116 of the Dairy Production \n Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4507) is amended by adding \n at the end the following:\n ``(d) Referendum on Dairy Promotion Equity Act.--\n ``(1) In general.--On the request of a representative group \n comprising 10 percent or more of the number of producers \n subject to the order, the Secretary shall--\n ``(A) conduct a referendum to determine whether the \n producers favor suspension of the application of the \n amendments made by section 2 of the Dairy Promotion \n Equity Act; and\n ``(B) suspend the application of the amendments \n until the results of the referendum are known.\n ``(2) Continuation of suspension.--The Secretary shall \n continue the suspension of the application of the amendments \n referred to in paragraph (1)(A) only if the Secretary \n determines that suspension of the application of the amendments \n is favored by a majority of the producers voting in the \n referendum who, during a representative period (as determined \n by the Secretary), have been engaged in the production of milk \n for commercial use.''.", "summary": "Dairy Promotion Equity Act - Amends the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 to: (1) require dairy importers to contribute to the dairy promotion program; (2) increase National Dairy Board membership by including importers; and (3) provide for a referendum regarding suspension of certain provisions under the Dairy Promotion Equity Act.", "title": "Dairy Promotion Equity Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1181, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Preserving Crime Victims' \nRestitution Act of 2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. EFFECT OF DEATH OF A DEFENDANT IN FEDERAL CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 227 of title 18, United \nStates Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:\n``Sec. 3560. Effect of death of a defendant in Federal criminal \n proceedings\n ``(a) General Rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, \nthe death of a defendant who has been convicted of a Federal criminal \noffense shall not be the basis for abating or otherwise invalidating a \nplea of guilty or nolo contendere accepted, a verdict returned, a \nsentence announced, or a judgment entered prior to the death of that \ndefendant, or for dismissing or otherwise invalidating the indictment, \ninformation, or complaint on which such a plea, verdict, sentence, or \njudgment is based, except as provided in this section.\n ``(b) Death After Plea or Verdict.--\n ``(1) Entry of judgment.--If a defendant dies after a plea \n of guilty or nolo contendere has been accepted or a verdict has \n been returned, but before judgment is entered, the court shall \n enter a judgment incorporating the plea of guilty or nolo \n contendere or the verdict, with the notation that the defendant \n died before the judgment was entered.\n ``(2) Punitive sanctions.--\n ``(A) Death before sentence announced.--If a \n defendant dies after a plea of guilty or nolo \n contendere has been accepted or a verdict has been \n returned and before a sentence has been announced, no \n sentence of probation, supervision, or imprisonment may \n be imposed, no criminal forfeiture may be ordered, and \n no liability for a fine or special assessment may be \n imposed on the defendant or the defendant's estate.\n ``(B) Death after sentencing or judgment.--The \n death of a defendant after a sentence has been \n announced or a judgment has been entered, and before \n that defendant has exhausted or waived the right to a \n direct appeal--\n ``(i) shall terminate any term of \n probation, supervision, or imprisonment, and \n shall terminate the liability of that defendant \n to pay any amount remaining due of a criminal \n forfeiture, of a fine under section 3613(b), or \n of a special assessment under section 3013; and\n ``(ii) shall not require return of any \n portion of any criminal forfeiture, fine, or \n special assessment already paid.\n ``(3) Restitution.--\n ``(A) Death before sentence announced.--If a \n defendant dies after a plea of guilty or nolo \n contendere has been accepted or a verdict has been \n returned and before a sentence has been announced, the \n court shall, upon a motion under subsection (c)(2) by \n the Government or any victim of that defendant's crime, \n commence a special restitution proceeding at which the \n court shall adjudicate and enter a final order of \n restitution against the estate of that defendant in an \n amount equal to the amount that would have been imposed \n if that defendant were alive.\n ``(B) Death after sentencing or judgment.--The \n death of a defendant after a sentence has been \n announced shall not be a basis for abating or otherwise \n invalidating restitution announced at sentencing or \n ordered after sentencing under section 3664(d)(5) of \n this title or any other provision of law.\n ``(4) Civil proceedings.--The death of a defendant after a \n plea of guilty or nolo contendere has been accepted, a verdict \n returned, a sentence announced, or a judgment entered, shall \n not prevent the use of that plea, verdict, sentence, or \n judgment in civil proceedings, to the extent otherwise \n permitted by law.\n ``(c) Appeals, Motions, and Petitions.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), \n after the death of a defendant convicted in a criminal case--\n ``(A) no appeal, motion, or petition by or on \n behalf of that defendant or the personal representative \n or estate of that defendant, the Government, or a \n victim of that defendant's crime seeking to challenge \n or reinstate a plea of guilty or nolo contendere \n accepted, a verdict returned, a sentence announced, or \n a judgment entered prior to the death of that defendant \n shall be filed in that case after the death of that \n defendant; and\n ``(B) any pending motion, petition, or appeal in \n that case shall be dismissed with the notation that the \n dismissal is due to the death of the defendant.\n ``(2) Exceptions.--\n ``(A) Restitution.--After the death of a defendant \n convicted in a criminal case, the personal \n representative of that defendant, the Government, or \n any victim of that defendant's crime may file or pursue \n an otherwise permissible direct appeal, petition for \n mandamus or a writ of certiorari, or an otherwise \n permissible motion described in section 3663, 3663A, \n 3664, or 3771, to the extent that the appeal, petition, \n or motion raises an otherwise permissible claim to--\n ``(i) obtain, in a special restitution \n proceeding, a final order of restitution under \n subsection (b)(3);\n ``(ii) enforce, correct, amend, adjust, \n reinstate, or challenge any order of \n restitution; or\n ``(iii) challenge or reinstate a verdict, \n plea of guilty or nolo contendere, sentence, or \n judgment on which--\n ``(I) a restitution order is based; \n or\n ``(II) restitution is being or will \n be sought by an appeal, petition, or \n motion under this paragraph.\n ``(B) Other civil actions affected.--After the \n death of a defendant convicted in a criminal case, the \n personal representative of that defendant, the \n Government, or any victim of that defendant's crime may \n file or pursue an otherwise permissible direct appeal, \n petition for mandamus or a writ of certiorari, or an \n otherwise permissible motion under the Federal Rules of \n Criminal Procedure, to the extent that the appeal, \n petition, or motion raises an otherwise permissible \n claim to challenge or reinstate a verdict, plea of \n guilty or nolo contendere, sentence, or judgment that \n the appellant, petitioner, or movant shows by a \n preponderance of the evidence is, or will be, material \n in a pending or reasonably anticipated civil \n proceeding, including civil forfeiture proceedings.\n ``(C) Collateral consequences.--\n ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in \n subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Government may \n not restrict any Federal benefits or impose \n collateral consequences on the estate or a \n family member of a deceased defendant based \n solely on the conviction of a defendant who \n died before that defendant exhausted or waived \n the right to direct appeal unless, not later \n than 90 days after the death of that defendant, \n the Government gives notice to that estate or \n family member of the intent of the Government \n to take such action.\n ``(ii) Personal representative.--If the \n Government gives notice under clause (i), the \n court shall appoint a personal representative \n for the deceased defendant that is the subject \n of that notice, if not otherwise appointed, \n under section (d)(2)(A).\n ``(iii) Tolling.--If the Government gives \n notice under clause (i), any filing deadline \n that might otherwise apply against the \n defendant, the estate of the defendant, or a \n family member of the defendant shall be tolled \n until the date of the appointment of that \n defendant's personal representative under \n clause (ii).\n ``(3) Basis.--In any appeal, petition, or motion under \n paragraph (2), the death of the defendant shall not be a basis \n for relief.\n ``(d) Procedures Regarding Continuing Litigation.--\n ``(1) In general.--The standards and procedures for a \n permitted appeal, petition, motion, or other proceeding under \n subsection (c)(2) shall be the standards and procedures \n otherwise provided by law, except that the personal \n representative of the defendant shall be substituted for the \n defendant.\n ``(2) Special procedures.--If continuing litigation is \n initiated or could be initiated under subsection (c)(2), the \n following procedures shall apply:\n ``(A) Notice and appointment of personal \n representative.--The district court before which the \n criminal case was filed (or the appellate court if the \n matter is pending on direct appeal) shall--\n ``(i) give notice to any victim of the \n convicted defendant under section 3771(a)(2), \n and to the personal representative of that \n defendant or, if there is none, the next of kin \n of that defendant; and\n ``(ii) appoint a personal representative \n for that defendant, if not otherwise appointed.\n ``(B) Counsel.--Counsel shall be appointed for the \n personal representative of a defendant convicted in a \n criminal case who dies if counsel would have been \n available to that defendant, or if the personal \n representative of that defendant requests counsel and \n otherwise qualifies for the appointment of counsel, \n under section 3006A.\n ``(C) Tolling.--The court shall toll any applicable \n deadline for the filing of any motion, petition, or \n appeal during the period beginning on the date of the \n death of a defendant convicted in a criminal case and \n ending on the later of--\n ``(i) the date of the appointment of that \n defendant's personal representative; or\n ``(ii) where applicable, the date of the \n appointment of counsel for that personal \n representative.\n ``(D) Restitution.--If restitution has not been \n fully collected on the date on which a defendant \n convicted in a criminal case dies--\n ``(i) any amount owed under a restitution \n order (whether issued before or after the death \n of that defendant) shall be collectible from \n any property from which the restitution could \n have been collected if that defendant had \n survived, regardless of whether that property \n is included in the estate of that defendant;\n ``(ii) any restitution protective order in \n effect on the date of the death of that \n defendant shall continue in effect unless \n modified by the court after hearing or pursuant \n to a motion by the personal representative of \n that defendant, the Government, or any victim \n of that defendant's crime; and\n ``(iii) upon motion by the Government or \n any victim of that defendant's crime, the court \n shall take any action necessary to preserve the \n availability of property for restitution under \n this section.\n ``(e) Forfeiture.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the \n death of an individual does not affect the Government's ability \n to seek, or to continue to pursue, civil forfeiture of property \n as authorized by law.\n ``(2) Tolling of limitations for civil forfeiture.--\n Notwithstanding the expiration of any civil forfeiture statute \n of limitations or any time limitation set forth in section \n 983(a) of this title, not later than the later of the time \n period otherwise authorized by law and 2 years after the date \n of the death of an individual against whom a criminal \n indictment alleging forfeiture is pending, the Government may \n commence civil forfeiture proceedings against any interest in \n any property alleged to be forfeitable in the indictment of \n that individual.\n ``(f) Definitions.--In this section--\n ``(1) the term `accepted', relating to a plea of guilty or \n nolo contendere, means that a court has determined, under rule \n 11(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, that the plea \n is voluntary and supported by a factual basis, regardless of \n whether final acceptance of that plea may have been deferred \n pending review of a presentence report or otherwise;\n ``(2) the term `announced', relating to a sentence, means \n that the sentence has been orally stated in open court;\n ``(3) the term `convicted' refers to a defendant--\n ``(A) whose plea of guilty or nolo contendere has \n been accepted; or\n ``(B) against whom a verdict of guilty has been \n returned;\n ``(4) the term `direct appeal' means an appeal filed, \n within the period provided by rule 4(b) of the Federal Rules of \n Appellate Procedure, from the entry of the judgment or order of \n restitution, including review by the Supreme Court of the \n United States; and\n ``(5) the term `returned', relating to a verdict, means \n that the verdict has been orally stated in open court.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 227 of \ntitle 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n\n``3560. Effect of death of a defendant in Federal criminal \n proceedings.''.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall apply to any criminal case or \nappeal pending on or after July 1, 2006.\n\nSEC. 4. SEVERABILITY.\n\n If any provision of this Act, any amendment made by this Act, or \nthe application of such provision or amendment to any person or \ncircumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the \nprovisions of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and the \napplication of such provisions or amendments to any person or \ncircumstance shall not be affected.", "summary": "Preserving Crime Victims' Restitution Act of 2006 - Amends the federal criminal code to establish guidelines for cases in which a defendant in a criminal prosecution dies prior to the final adjudication of guilt. Sets forth rules for restitution to victims, appeals, motions, petitions, and civil forfeiture in such cases.\n\nProvides, as a general rule, that the death of a defendant who has been convicted of a federal criminal offense shall not be the basis for abating or otherwise invalidating a plea of guilty or nolo contendere accepted, a verdict returned, a sentence announced, or a judgment entered prior to the death of such defendant, or for dismissing or otherwise invalidating the indictment, information, or complaint, except as provided by this Act.", "title": "To address the effect of the death of a defendant in Federal criminal proceedings."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2856, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``FHA Seller-Financed Downpayment \nReform and Risk-Based Pricing Authorization Act of 2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. FHA SELLER-FINANCED DOWNPAYMENT PROGRAM.\n\n Paragraph (9) of section 203(b) of the National Housing Act (12 \nU.S.C. 1709(b)(9)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``In no case shall the \n funds required by subparagraph (A)'' and inserting the \n following: ``Except in the case of a mortgage described in \n subparagraph (D), the funds required by subparagraph (A) shall \n not''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:\n ``(D) Exceptions to prohibited sources.--A mortgage \n described in this subparagraph is any of the following \n mortgages:\n ``(i) A mortgage under which the mortgagor \n has a credit score equivalent to a FICO score \n of 680 or greater.\n ``(ii) A mortgage under which--\n ``(I) the mortgagor has a credit \n score equivalent to a FICO score of at \n least 620 but less than 680; and\n ``(II) mortgage insurance premiums \n charged are established--\n ``(aa) at levels necessary, \n but no higher than needed, to \n allow such class of loans to be \n insured without resulting in a \n need for an appropriation for a \n credit subsidy, which may \n exceed the maximum amount \n permitted under section \n 203(c)(2)(B);\n ``(bb) in the case of the \n single premium collected at the \n time of insurance, in an amount \n not exceeding 3.0 percent of \n the amount of the original \n principal obligation of the \n mortgage; and\n ``(cc) in the case of the \n annual premium for a mortgage \n under which the mortgagor has a \n credit score equivalent to a \n FICO score of at least 640 but \n less than 680, in an amount not \n exceeding 1.25 percent of the \n remaining insured principal \n balance (excluding the portion \n of the remaining balance \n attributable to the premium \n collected at the time of \n insurance and without taking \n into account delinquent \n payments or prepayments).\n ``(iii) For mortgages insured in fiscal \n year 2010 or thereafter, a mortgage under which \n the mortgagor has a credit score equivalent to \n a FICO score of 619 or less, but only if the \n Secretary certifies that such loans can be \n insured without resulting in a need for an \n appropriation for a credit subsidy. For such \n mortgages, the Secretary may charge premiums at \n levels authorized under items (bb) and (cc) of \n clause (ii)(II) and may establish a credit or \n FICO score limitation or impose such other \n requirements as are necessary to meet the \n conditions for certification under this clause.\n ``(E) Requirements for downpayment assistance \n entities.--Any entity participating in a program that \n provides downpayment assistance for a mortgage \n described in subparagraph (D) pursuant to the exception \n under subparagraph (C), which programs shall include \n programs of governmental agencies and private nonprofit \n organizations, shall, before the closing for the loan \n involved in the mortgage in connection with which such \n assistance is provided--\n ``(i) offer to make available, to the \n mortgagor, counseling regarding the \n responsibilities and financial management \n involved in homeownership;\n ``(ii) if such offer is accepted by the \n mortgagor, make such counseling available for \n the mortgagor; and\n ``(iii) in the case of any such entity that \n is a private nonprofit organization, implement \n a conflict of interest policy that prohibits \n directors, officers, employees, and immediate \n family members from receiving financial \n benefits from any entity that is providing the \n program with goods or services other than the \n homeownership assistance program entity itself \n or its wholly owned affiliate.\n ``(F) Civil money penalties for improperly \n influencing appraisals.--The Secretary may impose a \n civil money penalty, in the same manner and to the same \n extent as for a violation under section 536, for \n compensating, instructing, inducing, coercing, or \n intimidating any person who conducts an appraisal of \n the property to be subject to a mortgage described in \n subparagraph (D) and under which any part of the funds \n required by subparagraph (A) are provided to a party \n described in subparagraph (C), or attempting to \n compensate, instruct, induce, coerce, or intimidate \n such a person, for the purpose of causing the appraised \n value assigned to the property under the appraisal to \n be based on any other factor other than the independent \n judgment of such person exercised in accordance with \n applicable professional standards.''.\n\nSEC. 3. LIMITATIONS ON RISK-BASED PRICING.\n\n Section 203(c) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1709(c)) is \namended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:\n ``(3) Limitations on risk-based pricing.--Except as \n provided in paragraph (4), the Secretary of Housing and Urban \n Development shall not take any action on or after October 1, \n 2008, to implement or carry out--\n ``(A) risk-based premiums, which are designed for \n mortgage lenders to offer borrowers an FHA-insured \n product that provides a range of mortgage insurance \n premium pricing, based on the risk that the insurance \n contract represents, as set forth in the Notice \n published in the Federal Register on May 13, 2008 (Vol. \n 73, No. 93, Pages 27703 through 27711) (effective July \n 14, 2008); or\n ``(B) any other risk-based premium product related \n to the insurance of any mortgage on a single family \n residence under this title, where the premium price for \n such new product is based in whole or in part on a \n borrower's Decision Credit Score, as that term is \n defined in the Notice referred to in subparagraph (A), \n or any successor thereto.\n ``(4) Flexible risk-based premiums.--Notwithstanding \n paragraph (3) of this subsection and section 2133 of the FHA \n Modernization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289):\n ``(A) Authority.--In the case only of a mortgage \n under which the mortgagor has a credit score equivalent \n to a FICO score of less than 600, the Secretary may \n establish a mortgage insurance premium structure \n involving a single premium payment collected prior to \n the insurance of the mortgage or annual payments (which \n may be collected on a periodic basis), or both, under \n which the rate of premiums for such a mortgage may vary \n according to the credit risk associated with the \n mortgagor and the rate of any annual premium for such a \n mortgage may vary according to such credit risk during \n the mortgage term as long as the basis for determining \n the variable rate is established before the execution \n of the mortgage. The Secretary may change a premium \n structure established under this subparagraph but only \n to the extent that such change is not applied to any \n mortgage already executed.\n ``(B) Establishment and alteration of premium \n structure.--A premium structure shall be established or \n changed under subparagraph (A) only by providing notice \n to mortgagees and to the Congress, at least 30 days \n before the premium structure is established or changed.\n ``(C) Annual report regarding premiums.--The \n Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress \n annually setting forth the rate structures and rates \n established and altered pursuant to this paragraph \n during the preceding 12-month period and describing how \n such rates were determined.\n ``(D) Considerations for premium structure.--When \n establishing and collecting premiums for mortgages \n insured under a premium structure established under \n this paragraph, the Secretary shall consider the \n following:\n ``(i) The effect of the proposed premiums \n or structure on the Secretary's ability to meet \n the operational goals of the Mutual Mortgage \n Insurance Fund as provided in section 202(a).\n ``(ii) Underwriting variables.\n ``(iii) The extent to which new pricing \n under the proposed premiums or structure has \n potential for acceptance in the private market.\n ``(iv) The administrative capability of the \n Secretary to administer the proposed premiums \n or structure.\n ``(v) The effect of the proposed premiums \n or structure on the Secretary's ability to \n maintain the availability of mortgage credit \n and provide stability to mortgage markets.\n ``(E) Authority to base premium prices on product \n risk.--\n ``(i) Authority.--In establishing premium \n rates under this title, the Secretary may \n provide for variations in such rates according \n to the credit risk associated with the type of \n mortgage product that is being insured under \n this title, which may include providing that \n premium rates differ between fixed-rate \n mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages insured \n pursuant to section 251, between mortgages for \n condominiums and mortgages for other interests \n in properties, between mortgages having \n different ratios of the principal obligation \n under the mortgage to the appraised value of \n the property, and between such other products \n as the Secretary considers appropriate.\n ``(F) Payment incentives.--\n ``(i) Authority.--With respect to mortgages \n for which insured the Secretary is authorized \n to establish a premium structure under this \n paragraph, the Secretary shall provide that the \n payment incentive under subparagraph (ii) \n applies upon the expiration of the 5-year \n period beginning upon the time of insurance of \n such a mortgage, and the Secretary may provide \n that the payment incentive under clause (ii) \n applies upon the expiration of the 3-year \n period beginning upon the time of insurance of \n such a mortgage. The Secretary may limit such \n discretionary authority to mortgages prepaid or \n paid in full during the 2-year period beginning \n 3 years after the time of insurance of such a \n mortgage.\n ``(ii) Payment incentive.--In the case of \n any mortgage to which the payment incentive \n under this subparagraph applies, if, during the \n period referred to in clause (i), all mortgage \n payments, including insurance premiums, for \n such mortgage have been paid on a timely basis, \n upon the expiration of such period the \n Secretary shall refund to the mortgagor, upon \n payment in full of the obligation of the \n mortgage, all or a portion of--\n ``(I) the amount by which the \n single premium payment for such \n mortgage collected at the time of \n insurance exceeded the amount of the \n single premium payment chargeable under \n paragraph (2) at the time of insurance \n for a mortgage of the same product type \n having the same terms, but for which \n the mortgagor has a credit score \n equivalent to a FICO score of 600 or \n more; and\n ``(II) in the case only of \n mortgages for which annual premiums are \n established and collected under \n subparagraph (G), the amount by which \n the cumulative amount of annual \n premiums paid exceeded the amount of \n the maximum annual premium that \n otherwise may be established and \n collected notwithstanding such \n subparagraph.\n ``(G) Option for higher annual premium in lieu of \n higher up-front premium.--In the case only of mortgages \n for which the Secretary is authorized to establish a \n premium structure under this paragraph, notwithstanding \n paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection, the Secretary may \n establish and collect, for a period not exceeding the \n first 5 years of the term of the mortgage, annual \n premium payments in an amount not exceeding 0.75 \n percent of the remaining insured principal balance of \n the mortgage (excluding the portion of the remaining \n balance attributable to the premium collected under \n paragraph (2)(A) and without taking into account \n delinquent payments or prepayments), except that--\n ``(i) the Secretary may utilize such \n authority only for such classes of mortgagors \n that the Secretary determines would otherwise \n be subject to a single premium payment \n collected at the time of insurance exceeding \n 2.25 percent of the amount of the original \n insured principal obligation of the mortgage; \n and\n ``(ii) for such mortgages, the Secretary \n may not establish or collect a single premium \n payment collected at the time of insurance \n exceeding 2.25 percent of such original insured \n principal obligation.''.", "summary": "FHA Seller-Financed Downpayment Reform and Risk-Based Pricing Authorization Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the National Housing Act to make exceptions to the prohibition against mortgage insurance for mortgages involving a downpayment using funds furnished by: (1) the seller or any party that benefits financially from the transaction (seller-financed downpayment); or (2) any third party that is reimbursed by the seller or any such party.\n\nMakes eligible for mortgage insurance, in spite of a seller-financed downpayment, any mortagors with credit scores equivalent to a FICO score of: (1) 680 or more; (2) at least 620 but less than 680; or (3) 619 or less. Prescribes conditions for mortgage insurance in the latter two situations.\n\n\n\nRequires entities participating in a governmental or private nonprofit program that provides downpayment assistance for such a mortgage to offer and make available, before loan closing, counseling about the responsibilities and financial management involved in homeownership.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to impose civil money penalties for improperly influencing appraisals.\n\n(Sec. 3) Prohibits the Secretary from implementing: (1) risk-based premiums designed for mortgage lenders to offer a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured product that provides a range of mortgage insurance premium pricing based upon a specified risk that the insurance contract represents; or (2) any other risk-based premium product for mortgage insurance on a single family residence where the premium price for such new product is based upon the borrower's Decision Credit Score.\n\nMakes an exception from such prohibition for flexible risk-based premiums. Authorizes the Secretary to establish, for a mortgagor whose FICO credit score is under 600, a mortgage insurance premium structure with a variable rate that reflects the mortgagor's credit risk, if the basis for determining such rate is established before the mortgage is executed.\n\nRequires notice to mortgagees and to Congress before such a premium structure is established or changed.\n\n\n\nRequires the Secretary to consider specified factors when premiums are established and collected under a flexible risk-based premium structure.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary to provide for variations in such rates according to the credit risk associated with the type of mortgage product that is being insured.\n\nRequires the Secretary to make payment incentives to a mortgagor, in the form of certain refunds, upon payment in full of timely mortgage payments.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary, for mortgages with a flexible risk-based premium, to establish a higher annual premium in lieu of a higher up-front premium.", "title": "To revise the requirements for seller-financed downpayments for mortgages for single-family housing insured by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under title II of the National Housing Act and to authorize risk-based insurance premiums for certain mortgagors under such mortgages."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 634, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Encroachment on Military Bases \nPrevention Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. MILITARY READINESS AND THE CONSERVATION OF PROTECTED SPECIES.\n\n (a) Limitation on Designation of Critical Habitat.--Section 4(a) of \nthe Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(4)(A) The Secretary may not designate as critical habitat any \nlands or other geographical areas owned or controlled by the Department \nof Defense, or designated for its use, that are subject to an \nintegrated natural resources management plan prepared under section 101 \nof the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a), if the Secretary determines that \nsuch plan addresses special management considerations or protection (as \nthose terms are used in section 3(5)(A)(i)).\n ``(B) Nothing in this paragraph affects the requirement to consult \nunder section 7(a)(2) with respect to an agency action (as that term is \ndefined in that section).\n ``(C) Nothing in this paragraph affects the obligation of the \nDepartment of Defense to comply with section 9, including the \nprohibition preventing extinction and taking of endangered species and \nthreatened species.''.\n (b) Consideration of Effects of Designation of Critical Habitat.--\nSection 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. \n1533(b)(2)) is amended by inserting ``the impact on national \nsecurity,'' after ``the economic impact,''.\n\nSEC. 3. RESTRICTION ON CONSIDERATION OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN \n SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDIES.\n\n Section 8 of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5; commonly known as \nthe National Park System General Authorities Act) is amended by adding \nat the end the following new subsection:\n ``(g) Exclusion of Military Installations From Special Resource \nStudies.--\n ``(1) Notification of secretary of defense.--If a study \n under this section or any other provision of law of an area for \n potential inclusion in the National Park System will include, \n or the study will be expanded to include, the consideration of \n any military lands, the Secretary of the Interior shall provide \n written notice to the Secretary of Defense of the exact \n military lands to be covered by the study. The written notice \n shall be provided not later than 30 days before the date on \n which the Secretary of the Interior will commence the study or \n expand the study to include the military lands.\n ``(2) Authority to exclude military lands.--Upon receipt of \n written notification under paragraph (1), the Secretary of \n Defense shall evaluate the existing environmental protections \n for the military lands described in the notice and the \n importance of the military lands to military readiness and \n preparedness. The Secretary of Defense may require the \n Secretary of the Interior to exclude all or a portion of the \n military lands from the study if the Secretary of Defense \n determines that the environmental protections for the military \n lands are sufficient and that inclusion of the military lands \n in the National Park System could adversely impact military \n readiness and preparedness. Notice to the Secretary of the \n Interior shall include the reasons of the Secretary of Defense \n for requiring the exclusion of the military lands.\n ``(3) Time for making determination; effect.--The Secretary \n of Defense shall make the determination required under \n paragraph (2), and transmit notice of the determination to the \n Secretary of the Interior, before the end of the 90-day period \n beginning on the date on which the Secretary of Defense \n receives the written notice required under paragraph (1) of a \n study that covers military lands. If the notice of the \n Secretary of Defense is timely, the Secretary of the Interior \n may not consider the military lands covered by the notice for \n possible inclusion in the National Park System in that study or \n any subsequent study. If the notice is not received by the \n Secretary of the Interior before the end of the 90-day period, \n the Secretary of the Interior may proceed with the \n consideration of the military lands under the study \n notwithstanding the determination.\n ``(4) Military lands.--In this subsection, the term \n `military lands' means lands included as part of a military \n installation, as that term is defined in section 100 of the \n Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670).''.\n\nSEC. 4. RESTRICTION ON INCLUSION IN NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES OF \n AREAS USED FOR MILITARY READINESS ACTIVITIES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 305 of the National Marine Sanctuary Act \n(16 U.S.C. 1433) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) \n by inserting ``(subject to subsection (c))'' after ``any \n discrete area of the marine environment''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(c) Restriction on Inclusion of Areas Used for Military Readiness \nActivities.--The Secretary may not designate as a national marine \nsanctuary, or add to an existing national marine sanctuary, any area \nthat the Secretary of Defense has designated for use for military \nreadiness activities, including any area the use or navigation of which \nis prohibited under regulations issued by the Secretary of the Army \nunder the first section of chapter XIX of the Act of July 9, 1918 (33 \nU.S.C. 3), popularly known as the Army Appropriation Act of 1919.''.\n (b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall not \napply with respect to any designation of an area as, or addition of an \narea to, a national marine sanctuary that takes effect before the date \nof the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Encroachment on Military Bases Prevention Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) from designating as critical habitat any lands or areas owned and controlled by the Department of Defense, or designated for its use, that are subject to an integrated natural resources management plan under the Sikes Act if the Secretary determines that such plan addresses special management considerations or protection. Requires the Secretary to consider impact on national security when making critical habitat determinations.Amends the Act commonly known as the National Park System General Authorities Act to require: (1) the Secretary to notify the Secretary of Defense of the exact military lands included in any study of an area for potential inclusion in the National Park System (NPS); and (2) the Secretary of Defense to evaluate the existing environmental protections for such lands and the importance of such lands to military readiness and preparation. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to require the Secretary to exclude such lands if it is determined that current environmental protections are adequate and that their inclusion in the NPS would adversely affect military readiness and preparation.Amends the National Marine Sanctuary Act to prohibit the Secretary from including as a national marine sanctuary any area that the Secretary of Defense has designated for use for military readiness activities.", "title": "To provide for the management of critical habitat of endangered species and threatened species on military installations in a manner compatible with the demands of military readiness, to ensure that the application of other resource laws on military installations is compatible with military readiness, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1932, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Climate Service Act of \n2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Weather, climate change, and climate variability affect \n public safety, environmental services and security, human \n health, agriculture, energy use, water resources, and other \n factors vital to national security and human welfare.\n (2) Climate forecasts create opportunities for society to \n prepare, potentially reducing the costs of climate-related \n events, as well as serving national needs related to enhancing \n economic growth, managing risk, protecting life and property, \n and promoting environmental stewardship.\n (3) Information on predicted climate and climate impacts is \n not being fully disseminated or used well, despite the \n increasing predictability of climate.\n (4) The United States lacks adequate research, \n infrastructure, and coordinated outreach and communication \n mechanisms to meet national climate monitoring, prediction, and \n decision support needs for adapting to and mitigating the \n impacts of climate change and climate variability.\n (5) Increasing societal resilience to climate impacts \n requires understanding climate trends and variations as well as \n possible, understanding the impacts of climate on human and \n nonhuman systems, providing decision-relevant tools based on \n that information, and increasing society's capacity to act on \n that information.\n\nSEC. 3. PURPOSE.\n\n It is the purpose of this Act to establish a National Climate \nService that will assist the Nation and the world in understanding, \nanticipating, and responding to climate, climate change, and climate \nvariability and their impacts and implications. The Service shall \ninform the public through the sustained production and delivery of \nauthoritative, timely, useful information about impacts on local, \nState, regional, tribal, national, and global scales. The Service shall \nbe user-centric, by ensuring that the information is accessible, \nconsistent with users' ability to respond, and based on user needs and \nlimitations. The Service shall provide such usable information through \na sustained network of observations, modeling, and research activities.\n\nSEC. 4. NATIONAL CLIMATE SERVICE.\n\n (a) Establishment.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall establish \n within the Climate Program Office of the National Oceanic and \n Atmospheric Administration a National Climate Service (in this \n Act referred to as the ``Service'') not later than one year \n after the date of enactment of this Act. The Service shall \n include a national center and a network of regional and local \n facilities for operational climate observation, modeling, and \n research.\n (2) General purpose.--The Service shall inform the public \n through the sustained production and delivery of authoritative, \n timely, useful information about impacts on local, State, \n regional, tribal, national, and global scales.\n (3) Specific services.--The Service, at minimum, shall--\n (A) serve as a clearinghouse and technical access \n point to stakeholders for regionally and nationally \n relevant information on climate, climate impacts, and \n adaptation, developing comprehensive databases of \n information relevant to specific regional and national \n stakeholder needs;\n (B) provide education on climate impacts, \n vulnerabilities, and application of climate information \n in decisionmaking;\n (C) design decision-support tools that facilitate \n use of climate information in stakeholders' near-term \n operations and long-term planning\n (D) facilitate user access to climate and climate \n impacts experts for technical assistance in use of \n climate information and to inform the climate forecast \n community of their information needs;\n (E) provide researcher, modeler, and observations \n experts access to users to help guide direction of \n research, modeling, and observation activities; and\n (F) propose and evaluate adaptation strategies for \n climate variability and change.\n (4) Specific functions.--The Service, at minimum, shall--\n (A) integrate global, national, and regional \n observations to produce information and assessments of \n use to stakeholders and researchers;\n (B) develop climate models for decision support;\n (C) perform basic and applied research on climate \n dynamics and impacts relevant to stakeholder interests;\n (D) create and maintain an operational delivery \n system and facilitate transition of new climate \n applications products to Service member agencies;\n (E) establish an atmospheric monitoring and \n verification program utilizing aircraft, satellite, \n ground sensors, ocean and coastal observing systems, \n and modeling capabilities to monitor, measure, and \n verify greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions \n throughout the global oceans and atmosphere;\n (F) develop and maintain a dialog among research \n teams, Federal agencies, and stakeholders for \n developing information relevant for planning and \n decisionmaking;\n (G) identify climate-related vulnerabilities and \n build national capacity to increase resilience;\n (H) articulate regional and national climate issues \n and concerns in regional and national policy arenas and \n facilitate regional-national communications on Service \n needs and performance; and\n (I) outreach to stakeholder groups.\n (b) Action Plan.--Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this \nAct, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Committee on \nCommerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee \non Science and Technology of the House of Representatives a plan of \naction for the National Climate Service. The plan, at a minimum, \nshall--\n (1) provide for the interpretation and communication of \n climate data, conditions, predictions, projections, and risks \n on an ongoing basis to decision and policy makers at the local, \n regional, and national levels;\n (2) design, deploy, and operate a national climate \n observing system that closes gaps in existing coverage;\n (3) support infrastructure and ability to archive and \n ensure the quality of climate data, and make federally funded \n model simulations and other relevant climate information \n available from Global Change Research Program activities and \n other sources (and related data from paleoclimate studies);\n (4) include a program for long-term stewardship, quality \n control, development of relevant climate products, and \n efficient access to all relevant climate data, products, and \n model simulations;\n (5) establish a national coordinated modeling strategy, \n including a national climate modeling center to provide a \n dedicated capability for modeling and forecasting scenarios, \n and a regular schedule of projections on long-term and short-\n term time horizons over a range of scales, including regional \n scales;\n (6) improve integrated modeling, assessment, and predictive \n capabilities needed to document and forecast climate changes \n and impacts, and to guide national, regional, and local \n planning and decisionmaking;\n (7) provide a system of regular consultation and \n coordination with Federal agencies, States, tribes, \n nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and the \n academic community to ensure--\n (A) that the information requirements of these \n groups are well incorporated; and\n (B) timely and full sharing, dissemination and use \n of climate information and services in risk \n preparedness, planning, decisionmaking, and early \n warning and natural resources management, both \n domestically and internationally;\n (8) develop standards, evaluation criteria, and performance \n objectives to ensure that the Service meets the evolving \n information needs of the public, policy makers, and \n decisionmakers in the face of a changing climate;\n (9) develop funding estimates to implement the plan; and\n (10) support competitive research programs that will \n improve elements of the Service described in this Act through \n the Climate Program Office within the Service headquarter \n function.\n (c) Director.--The Administrator shall appoint a Director of the \nService, who shall oversee all processes associated with managing the \norganization and executing the functions and actions described in this \nAct.\n (d) National Climate Service Advisory Council.--The Administrator \nshall, in consultation with the Chairmen and ranking minority members \nof the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate \nand the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of \nRepresentatives, and the National Academy of Sciences, appoint the \nmembership of a National Climate Service Advisory Council, with members \nserving 4-year terms, that shall include a diverse membership from \nappropriate Federal, State, and local government, universities, and \nnongovernment and private sectors who use climate information and cover \na range of sectors, such as water, drought, fisheries, coasts, \nagriculture, health, natural resources, transportation, and insurance. \nThe Council shall advise the Director of the Service of key priorities \nin climate-related issues that require the attention of the Service. \nThe Council shall be responsible for promoting coordination across \nregional, national, and international concerns and the assessment of \nevolving information needs.\n\nSEC. 5. CONTRACT AND GRANT AUTHORITY.\n\n Functions vested in any Federal officer or agency by this Act or \nunder the program established under this Act may be exercised through \nthe facilities and personnel of the agency involved or, to the extent \nprovided or approved in advance in appropriation Acts, by other persons \nor entities under contracts or grant arrangements entered into by such \nofficer or agency.\n\nSEC. 6. ANNUAL REPORT.\n\n The Secretary of Commerce shall prepare and submit to the President \nand the Congress, not later than March 31 of each year, a report on the \nactivities conducted pursuant to this Act during the preceding fiscal \nyear, including--\n (1) a summary of the achievements of the National Climate \n Service during the previous fiscal year; and\n (2) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the \n goals and objectives of the Service.\n\nSEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.\n\n (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the \n Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric \n Administration.\n (2) Advisory council.--The term ``Advisory Council'' refers \n to the National Climate Service Advisor Council.\n (3) Climate change.--The term ``climate change'' means any \n change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability \n or as a result of human activity.\n (4) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the director of \n the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National \n Climate Service.\n (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Commerce.\n (6) Service.--The term ``Service'' means the National \n Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climate \n Service.\n\nSEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry \nout this Act--\n (1) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.\n (2) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.\n (3) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.\n (4) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.\n (5) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.", "summary": "National Climate Service Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish within the Climate Program Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a National Climate Service that includes a national center and a network of regional and local facilities for operational climate observation, modeling, and research. Requires the Service to: (1) inform the public about climate impacts; (2) serve as a clearinghouse and technical access point to stakeholders for information on climate, climate impacts, and adaptation, and relevant comprehensive databases of information; (3) provide education on climate impacts, vulnerabilities, and application of climate information in decisionmaking; (4) design decision-support tools that facilitate use of climate information in stakeholders' near-term operations and long-term planning; (5) facilitate user access to climate experts for technical assistance in the use of climate information and to inform the climate forecast community of their information needs; (6) provide researcher, modeler, and observations experts access to users to help guide direction of their activities; and (7) propose and evaluate adaptation strategies for climate variability and change.\n\nSets forth the Service's functions, including establishing an atmospheric monitoring and verification program utilizing aircraft, satellite, ground sensors, ocean and coastal observing systems, and modeling capabilities to monitor, measure, and verify greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions throughout the oceans and atmosphere.\n\nRequires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on a plan of action for the Service.\n\nRequires the Administrator of NOAA to appoint a Director of the Service. Requires the Director to appoint members of a National Climate Service Advisory Council to promote coordination across regional, national, and international concerns and assess information needs.", "title": "To provide for the establishment of a National Climate Service, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 374, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Black Metropolis District National \nHeritage Area Study Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) The Black Metropolis district on Chicago, Illinois' \n South Side has a cohesive and distinctive history as well as an \n important streetscape that distinguishes the area as worthy of \n designation as a National Heritage Area.\n (2) The historic features of Chicago's Black Metropolis \n District predate the Great Migration of 1916-1919 and \n illustrate its influence on African-American life in Chicago \n and the Nation as a result of this demographic phenomenon in \n which 500,000 African-Americans migrated to the North in search \n of work and other opportunities, with 50,000 of that aggregate \n relocating in Chicago.\n (3) The Black Metropolis, as a setting, witnessed some of \n the finest accomplishments in African-American contributions to \n Chicago, the State of Illinois, and the Nation, while its \n legally and socially proscribed citizens challenged their \n environment and their Nation to fulfill its promise as a place \n of opportunity for all.\n (4) These contributions and accomplishments fall into the \n following main categories:\n (A) Business and entrepreneurial pursuits.--With \n State Street developing as the Black Metropolis \n District's ``Wall Street'', the area produced two of \n the largest Black banking operations in the Nation in \n the Binga State and Douglass National Banks and scores \n of smaller businesses ranging from print shops to \n restaurants to clothing stores to hair salons and \n barbershops.\n (B) Culture and aesthetics.--The area emerged as a \n musical mecca ranging from jazz to gospel to delta and \n urban blues to rhythm and blues and was home for \n institutions such as the George Cleveland Hall Branch \n Library, which nurtured literary giants such as \n Langston Hughes, the South Side Community Arts Center, \n and the DuSable Museum of African American History and \n Culture.\n (C) Education.--The area includes the first public \n secondary school in the State of Illinois built \n specifically to accommodate the educational needs of \n African-American students, which opened in 1934 at 4934 \n South Wabash Avenue and was named in honor of Chicago's \n first non-native inhabitant and trader, Jean Baptiste \n Pointe du Sable, a Black man from Haiti, and whose \n illustrious graduates include Nat ``King'' Cole and \n Chicago Mayor Harold Washington.\n (D) Governance and politics.--From its political \n bases in the area's Second Ward and the First \n Congressional District, Chicago's Black Metropolis \n proved itself a political center for all African-\n Americans, producing the first African-American to sit \n in Congress in the 20th Century, the Honorable Oscar \n DePriest, as well as the first African-American \n Democratic congressman, the Honorable Arthur W. \n Mitchell, succeeded by Honorable William L. Dawson, the \n Honorable Ralph H. Metcalfe, the Honorable Bennett M. \n Stewart, and the Honorable Harold Washington, later the \n city's first elected African-American mayor, and the \n Honorable Charles A. Hayes.\n (E) Health care.--The area includes Provident \n Hospital, founded in 1891 by the brilliant African-\n American surgeon Dr. Daniel Hale Williams and site of \n the first successful suturing of the human heart by Dr. \n Williams in 1893.\n (F) Labor.--The area was home to millions of \n unskilled and semi-skilled African-American workers, \n including the packinghouse workers who arrived during \n the Great Migration and constituted 25 percent of the \n stockyards work force during World War I, and the \n Pullman porters who represented a full 20 percent of \n the Nation's African-American workforce during the \n early 1900s.\n (G) Military life and patriotism.--African-American \n men enlisted in the Union Army on the grounds of Camp \n Douglass within the Black Metropolis District as part \n of the 29th Infantry Regiment of the United States \n Colored Troops, and a generation later trained at the \n Eighth Regiment Armory nearby before embarking for \n France as part of what President Wilson referred to as \n the great crusade to ``make the world safe for \n democracy'' during the World War I.\n (H) Recreation and competitive sports.--Early on, \n the Nation's most popular sports: baseball, boxing, \n football, track and basketball, enjoyed support from \n the Black Metropolis' population and drew participants \n who earned widespread recognition such as Rube Foster, \n a native Chicagoan, who founded the Negro Baseball \n League and its local team, the American Giants.\n (I) Religion and church activism.--The area \n includes Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal \n (A.M.E) Church, an antebellum center of abolitionist \n activity, and a major station on the Underground \n Railroad, and with emancipation, there was another \n religious movement to provide and protect the civil \n rights of all citizens led by Black Metropolis churches \n such as Quinn Chapel and Bethel A.M.E.\n (J) Social justice and civil rights.--It was from \n within the Black Metropolis District in the early 20th \n century that Ida B. Wells-Barnett waged her crusade for \n justice for African-Americans and women and worked to \n establish the first National Association for the \n Advancement of Colored People branch in that group's \n national network in 1912.\n (K) Streetscapes.--The area includes many historic \n locations, including those along State Street and 35th \n Street, ranging from the Overton Hygienic Manufacturing \n Building at 3617 South State Street and the Chicago Bee \n Building at 3647 South State Street (both designated as \n Chicago City Landmarks) to Liberty Life Insurance \n Company at 3501 South Parkway and a monument and park \n dedicated to United States Senator Stephen Douglas \n (designated as a State Landmark) at Lake Park Avenue \n and 35th Street, green and public spaces, stretching \n from Chicago's lakefront to historic park and boulevard \n systems to the West, and is now the proposed site for \n the 2016 Olympics in the City of Chicago's bid to host \n this event.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the \n Black Metropolis District National Heritage Area.\n (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (3) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the region \n bounded as follows:\n (A) 18th Street on the North and 22nd Street on the \n South, from Lake Michigan on the East to Wentworth \n Avenue to the West.\n (B) 22nd Street on the North to 35th Street on the \n South, from Lake Michigan on the East to the Dan Ryan \n Expressway on the West.\n (C) 35th Street on the North and 47th Street on the \n South, from Lake Michigan on the East to the B&O \n Railroad (Stewart Avenue) on the West.\n (D) 47th Street on the North to 55th Street on the \n South, from Cottage Grove Avenue on the East to the Dan \n Ryan Expressway on the West).\n (E) 55th Street on the North to 71st Street on the \n South, from State Street on the West to Cottage Grove \n Avenue/South Chicago Avenue on the East.\n\nSEC. 4. BLACK METROPOLIS DISTRICT NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the managers \nof any Federal land within the Heritage Area, appropriate State and \nlocal governmental agencies, and any interested organizations, shall \nconduct a study to determine the feasibility of designating the study \narea as the Black Metropolis District National Heritage Area.\n (b) Requirements.--The study shall include analysis, documentation, \nand determinations on whether--\n (1) the study area--\n (A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, \n cultural, educational, scenic, or recreational \n resources that together are nationally important to the \n heritage of the United States;\n (B) represents distinctive aspects of the heritage \n of the United States worthy of recognition, \n conservation, interpretation, and continuing use;\n (C) is best managed through agreements between \n public and private entities at the local or regional \n level;\n (D) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and \n folklife that are a valuable part of the heritage of \n the United States;\n (E) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve \n natural, historical, cultural, or scenic features;\n (F) provides outstanding recreational and \n educational opportunities; and\n (G) has resources and traditional uses that have \n national importance;\n (2) residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, \n the Federal Government (including relevant Federal land \n management agencies), and State, local, and tribal governments \n within the study area--\n (A) are involved in the planning; and\n (B) have demonstrated significant support through \n letters and other means for designation and management \n of the Heritage Area; and\n (3) the study area has been identified and supported by the \n public, private business, and local and State agencies.\n\nSEC. 5. REPORT.\n\n Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are \nmade available to carry out the this Act, the Secretary shall submit to \nthe Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and \nthe Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report \nthat describes the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the \nSecretary with respect to the study.", "summary": "Black Metropolis District National Heritage Area Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of designating the Black Metropolis District in Chicago, Illinois, as the Black Metropolis District National Heritage Area.", "title": "To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of designating the study area as the Black Metropolis District National Heritage Area in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2502, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Estate and Gift Tax Phase-Out Act of \n1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) The economy of the United States cannot achieve strong, \n sustained growth without adequate levels of savings to fuel \n productive activity. Inadequate savings have been shown to lead \n to lower productivity, stagnating wages, and reduced standards \n of living.\n (2) Savings levels in the United States have steadily \n declined over the past 25 years, and have lagged behind the \n industrialized trading partners of the United States.\n (3) These anemic savings levels have contributed to the \n country's long-term downward trend in real economic growth, \n which averaged close to 3.5 percent over the last 100 years but \n has slowed to 2.4 percent over the past quarter century.\n (4) Repealing the estate and gift tax would contribute to \n the goals of expanding savings and investment, boosting \n entrepreneurial activity, and expanding economic growth.\n (5) Abolishing the estate tax would restore a measure of \n fairness to the Federal tax system. Families should be able to \n pass on the fruits of labor to the next generation without \n realizing a taxable event.\n\nSEC. 3. PHASE-OUT OF ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES THROUGH INCREASE IN UNIFIED \n ESTATE AND GIFT TAX CREDIT.\n\n (a) Estate Tax Credit.--\n (1) In general.--Section 2010(a) of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986 (relating to unified credit against estate tax) is \n amended by striking ``$192,800'' and inserting ``the applicable \n credit amount''.\n (2) Applicable credit amount.-- Section 2010 of such Code \n is amended by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d) \n and by inserting after subsection (b) the following:\n ``(c) Applicable Credit Amount.--For purposes of this section, the \napplicable credit amount is the amount of the tentative tax which would \nbe determined under the rate schedule set forth in section 2001(c) if \nthe amount with respect to which such tentative tax is to be computed \nwere the applicable exclusion amount determined in accordance with the \nfollowing table:\n\n ``In the case of estates of decedents\n The applicable\n dying, and gifts made, during:\n exclusion amount is:\n 1998............................... $1,000,000 \n 1999............................... $1,500,000 \n 2000............................... $2,000,000 \n 2001............................... $2,500,000 \n 2002............................... $5,000,000.''.\n (3) Conforming amendments.--\n (A) Section 6018(a)(1) of such Code is amended by \n striking ``$600,000'' and inserting ``the applicable \n exclusion amount in effect under section 2010(c) for \n the calendar year which includes the date of death''.\n (B) Section 2001(c)(2) of such Code is amended by \n striking ``$21,040,000'' and inserting ``the amount at \n which the average tax rate under this section is 55 \n percent''.\n (C) Section 2102(c)(3)(A) of such Code is amended \n by striking ``$192,800'' and inserting ``the applicable \n credit amount in effect under section 2010(c) for the \n calendar year which includes the date of death''.\n (b) Unified Gift Tax Credit.--Section 2505(a)(1) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to unified credit against gift tax) is \namended by striking ``$192,800'' and inserting ``the applicable credit \namount in effect under section 2010(c) for such calendar year''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to the estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December \n31, 1997.\n\nSEC. 4. REPEAL OF FEDERAL TRANSFER TAXES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subtitle B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is \nrepealed.\n (b) Effective Date.--The repeal made by subsection (a) shall apply \nto the estates of decedents dying, and gifts and generation-skipping \ntransfers made, after December 31, 2002.\n (c) Technical and Conforming Changes.--The Secretary of the \nTreasury or the Secretary's delegate shall not later than 90 days after \nthe effective date of this section, submit to the Committee on Ways and \nMeans of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of \nthe Senate a draft of any technical and conforming changes in the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 which are necessary to reflect throughout \nsuch Code the changes in the substantive provisions of law made by this \nAct.", "summary": "Estate and Gift Tax Phase-Out Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to phase-out and repeal, effective January 1, 2003, the estate tax, gift tax, and the tax on generation-skipping transfers.", "title": "Estate and Gift Tax Phase-Out Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1573, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Deafy Glade Land Exchange Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. LAND EXCHANGE, MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA.\n\n (a) Land Exchange Required.--If Solano County, California (in this \nsection referred to as the ``County'') conveys to the Secretary of \nAgriculture all right, title, and interest of the County in and to four \nparcels of land consisting of a total of approximately 160 acres \nidentified on the map entitled ``Fouts Springs-Deafy Glade Federal and \nNon-Federal Lands'' and dated July 17, 2008, the Secretary shall convey \nto the County, in exchange, all right, title, and interest of the \nUnited States in and to the parcel of land in the Mendocino National \nForest in the State of California (including any improvements on the \nland) comprising approximately 82 acres and known as the Fouts Springs \nRanch, as also depicted on the map.\n (b) Availability of Map.--The map referred to in subsection (a) \nshall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of \nthe Chief of the Forest Service. With the agreement of the County, the \nSecretary may make technical corrections to the map and the legal \ndescriptions of the land to be exchanged under this section.\n (c) Land Exchange Process.--Section 206 of the Federal Land Policy \nand Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716) shall apply to the land \nexchange under this section.\n (d) Survey and Administrative Costs.--The exact acreage and legal \ndescription of the land to be exchanged under subsection (a) shall be \ndetermined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary. The costs of the \nsurvey and any administrative costs related to the land exchange shall \nbe borne by the County.\n (e) Condition on Use of Conveyed Land.--As a condition of the \nconveyance to the County under subsection (a), the County shall agree \nto continue to use the land acquired by the County under such \nsubsection for purposes consistent with the purposes listed in the \nspecial use authorization for the Fouts Springs Ranch in effect as of \nthe date of the enactment of this Act.\n (f) Easement Authority.--The Secretary may grant an easement to \nprovide continued access to, and maintenance and use of, the facilities \ncovered by the special use authorization referred to in subsection (e) \nas necessary for the continued operation of the Fouts Springs Ranch \nconveyed under subsection (a).\n (g) Management of Acquired Land.--The lands acquired by the \nSecretary under subsection (a) shall be added to and administered as \npart of the Mendocino National Forest and managed in accordance with \nthe Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the Weeks Act; 16 U.S.C. \n480 et seq.) and the laws and regulations applicable to the National \nForest System.\n (h) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The land exchange under \nsubsection (a) shall be subject to such additional terms and conditions \nas the Secretary and the County may agree upon.\n\nSEC. 3. SALE OR EXCHANGE OF NOAA PROPERTY IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce may sell or exchange to \nthe City of Norfolk, Virginia, in accordance with chapter 13 of title \n40, United States Code, real property under the administrative \njurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in \nthis section referred to as ``NOAA''), including land and improvements \nthereon, located at 538 Front Street, Norfolk, Virginia, consisting of \napproximately 3.78 acres, if the Secretary--\n (1) determines that the conveyance is in the best interests \n of NOAA and the Federal Government; and\n (2) has provided prior notification to the Committee on \n Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the \n House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, \n Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations \n of the Senate.\n (b) Consideration.--\n (1) In general.--For any conveyance under this section the \n Secretary shall require the City of Norfolk to provide \n consideration to the United States that is not less than the \n fair market value of the property conveyed by the United \n States.\n (2) Form.--Consideration under this subsection may include \n any combination of--\n (A) cash or cash equivalents;\n (B) other property (either real or personal); and\n (C) consideration in-kind, including--\n (i) provision of space, goods, or services \n of benefit to NOAA including construction, \n repair, remodeling, or other physical \n improvements of NOAA property;\n (ii) maintenance of NOAA property;\n (iii) provision of office, storage, or \n other useable space; or\n (iv) relocation services associated with \n conveyance of property under this section.\n (3) Determination of fair market value.--The Secretary \n shall determine fair market value for purposes of paragraph (1) \n based upon a highest- and best-use appraisal of the property \n conveyed under subsection (a) conducted in conformance with the \n Uniform Appraisal Standards for Professional Appraisal \n Practice.\n (c) Use of Proceeds.--Amounts received under subsection (b)(2)(A) \nby the United States as proceeds of any conveyance under this section \nshall be available to the Secretary, subject to appropriation, for--\n (1) activities related to the operations of, or capital \n improvements, to NOAA property; or\n (2) relocation and other costs associated with the sale or \n exchange.\n (d) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may require \nsuch additional terms and conditions in connection with the conveyance \nof property by the United States under subsection (a) as the Secretary \nconsiders appropriate to protect the interest of the United States, \nincluding the recoupment of any profit the City of Norfolk may realize \nwithin three years after the date of conveyance to the City due to \nresale of the property\n (e) Termination.--The authority granted to the Secretary under \nsubsections (a) and (b) shall terminate at the end of the 24-month \nperiod beginning on the date of enactment of this Act if no contract \nfor sale or exchange under subsection (a) has been entered into by the \nCity of Norfolk and the United States.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives September 22, 2008.\n\n Attest:\n\n LORRAINE C. MILLER,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Deafy Glade Land Exchange Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to Solano County, California, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the parcel of land in the Mendocino National Forest comprising approximately 82 acres and known as the Fouts Springs Ranch, as depicted on the map entitled \"Fouts Springs-Deafy Glade Federal and Non-Federal Lands\" and dated July 17, 2008, if the county conveys to the Secretary all right, title, and interest of the county in and to four parcels of land consisting of approximately 160 acres identified on such map.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary of Commerce to sell or exchange to the city of Norfolk, Virginia, certain real property under the administrative jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including land and improvements, located in Norfolk if the Secretary: (1) determines that such conveyance is in the best interests of NOAA and the federal government; and (2) has provided prior notification to the appropriate congressional committees.\n\nRequires the proceeds of any conveyance under this Act to be made available for: (1) activities related to the operations of, or capital improvements to, NOAA property; or (2) relocation and other costs associated with the sale or exchange.", "title": "To provide for a land exchange involving certain National Forest System lands in the Mendocino National Forest in the State of California, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 791, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``International Rule of Law and \nAntiterrorism Act of 2003''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) It is in the national security interest of the United \n States to support efforts to restore the rule of law in post-\n conflict and failed countries in order to prevent such \n countries from becoming safe havens for terrorist organizations \n and organized crime networks that threaten the security of \n United States interests, citizens, and its allies.\n (2) The responsibility of a civilian police force within a \n United Nations international peace operation is to help \n establish and maintain the rule of law and provide for the \n security necessary for post-conflict reconstruction to take \n place.\n (3) The restoration of the rule of law, despite its \n importance, remains a significant weakness of current United \n Nations international peace operations.\n\nSEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF A PROFESSIONAL UN CIVILIAN POLICE \n CORPS (UNCPC).\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n (1) The creation of a professional United Nations civilian \n police corps (UNCPC) would--\n (A) greatly reduce the current need for combat \n soldiers to engage in civilian policing activities;\n (B) allow combat soldiers who are deployed to be \n withdrawn earlier from a post-conflict situation \n without compromising security;\n (C) allow the United Nations to more rapidly and \n effectively take responsibility for maintaining a \n secure environment that allows aid providers to move \n forward with relief, development, and democracy-\n building tasks;\n (D) permit the United Nations to recruit civilian \n police personnel with the appropriate levels of \n expertise and training in police procedures and United \n Nations international peace operations, as determined \n by international standards to be established by the \n United Nations member states through negotiations; and\n (E) institute a system of accountability for \n civilian police in United Nations international peace \n operations, augmenting present civil disciplinary \n procedures with a standard code of conduct and an \n enforcement mechanism implemented in collaboration with \n United Nations member states.\n (2) The right of the United States to exercise its veto \n within the United Nations Security Council ensures that no \n action taken by the United Nations would be detrimental to the \n interests of the United States.\n (b) Negotiations to Establish a UN Civilian Police Corps.--The \nPresident shall--\n (1) direct the United States Permanent Representative to \n the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the \n United States to establish negotiations with the United Nations \n and United Nations member states to establish a professional \n United Nations civilian police corps (UNCPC);\n (2) direct the Secretary of State to request that the \n United Nations Secretariat prepare a report concerning the \n establishment of a professional United Nations civilian police \n corps; and\n (3) direct the Secretary of State to work with the United \n Nations Secretariat and other United Nations member states to \n establish standards and training programs for international \n civilian police.\n (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a \nprofessional United Nations civilian police corps established in \naccordance with subsection (b)--\n (1) should be composed of the appropriate number of law \n enforcement professionals recruited and employed by the United \n Nations who are appropriately trained and equipped for civilian \n policing functions in United Nations international peace \n operations and available for rapid deployment to such \n international peace operations as needed;\n (2) should be able to deploy not later than 15 days after \n the date on which a deployment is authorized pursuant to a \n United Nations Security Council resolution;\n (3) should be managed by the United Nations Civilian Police \n Division, established in October 2000 and mandated to plan and \n support the work of United Nations civilian police officers in \n United Nations peacekeeping operations; and\n (4) should be given the appropriate resources to do its job \n properly, including funding, equipment, training, logistical \n support, and staffing, including support personnel as well as \n corrections and judicial law enforcement professionals.\n\nSEC. 4. REPORT ON STATUS OF NEGOTIATIONS.\n\n Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this \nAct, and annually thereafter, the President shall transmit to the \nCommittee on International Relations of the House of Representatives \nand the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that \ncontains a detailed description of the progress of negotiations to \nestablish a professional United Nations civilian police corps in \naccordance with section 3(b).\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Rule of law.--The term ``rule of law'' means the \n ability of a country, through institutions and other means, to \n ensure the security and well being of its citizens through the \n enforcement of public laws.\n (2) United nations international peace operation.--The term \n ``United Nations international peace operation'' means a field \n operation conducted by the United Nations, or under the \n authority of the United Nations Security Council, for the \n purpose of implementing a peace agreement, the mandate of which \n may include establishing a secure post-conflict environment and \n restoring the rule of law, to enable reconstruction and \n development efforts to be established and carried out.", "summary": "International Rule of Law and Antiterrorism Act of 2003 - Requires the President to direct: (1) the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) to use the U.S. vote to establish negotiations with the UN to establish a professional UN civilian police corps (UNCPC); (2) the Secretary of State (Secretary) to request that the UN Secretariat prepare a report concerning the UNCPC's establishment; and (3) the Secretary to work with the UN Secretariat and other UN member states to establish standards and training programs for international civilian police.Expresses the sense of Congress that the UNCPC should: (1) be composed of enforcement professionals who are appropriately trained and equipped for civilian policing functions in UN international peace operations and available for rapid deployment to such operations as needed; (2) be able to deploy not later than 15 days after deployment is authorized pursuant to a UN Security Council resolution; (3) be managed by the UN Civilian Police Division (established in October 2000 and mandated to plan and support the work of the UN civilian police officers in UN peacekeeping operations); and (4) be given the appropriate resources to properly do its job.Requires the President to report annually to specified congressional committees on the progress to establish a UNCPC.", "title": "To facilitate the establishment of a United Nations civilian police corps for international peace operations to maintain the rule of law and promote peace and stability in post-conflict situations."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1260, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Secure Federal File Sharing Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) Updated Guidance on Use of Certain Software Programs.--Not \nlater than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the \nDirector of the Office of Management and Budget, after consultation \nwith the Federal Chief Information Officers Council, shall issue \nguidance on the use of peer-to-peer file sharing software--\n (1) to prohibit the download, installation, or use by \n Government employees and contractors of open-network peer-to-\n peer file sharing software on all Federal computers, computer \n systems, and networks, including those operated by contractors \n on the Government's behalf, unless such software is approved in \n accordance with procedures under subsection (b); and\n (2) to address the download, installation, or use by \n Government employees and contractors of such software on home \n or personal computers as it relates to telework and remotely \n accessing Federal computers, computer systems, and networks, \n including those operated by contractors on the Government's \n behalf.\n (b) Approval Process for Certain Software Programs.--Not later than \n90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of \nthe Office of Management and Budget shall develop a procedure by which \nthe Director, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer, may \nreceive requests from heads of agencies or chief information officers \nof agencies for approval for use by Government employees and \ncontractors of specific open-network peer-to-peer file sharing software \nprograms that are--\n (1) necessary for the day-to-day business operations of the \n agency;\n (2) instrumental in completing a particular task or project \n that directly supports the agency's overall mission;\n (3) necessary for use between, among, or within Federal, \n State, or local government agencies in order to perform \n official agency business; or\n (4) necessary for use during the course of a law \n enforcement investigation.\n (c) Agency Responsibilities.--Not later than 180 days after the \ndate of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management \nand Budget shall--\n (1) direct agencies to establish or update personal use \n policies of the agency to be consistent with the guidance \n issued pursuant to subsection (a);\n (2) direct agencies to require any contract awarded by the \n agency to include a requirement that the contractor comply with \n the guidance issued pursuant to subsection (a) in the \n performance of the contract;\n (3) direct agencies to update their information technology \n security or ethics training policies to ensure that all \n employees, including those working for contractors on the \n Government's behalf, are aware of the requirements of the \n guidance required by subsection (a) and the consequences of \n engaging in prohibited conduct; and\n (4) direct agencies to ensure that proper security controls \n are in place to prevent, detect, and remove file sharing \n software that is prohibited by the guidance issued pursuant to \n subsection (a) from all Federal computers, computer systems, \n and networks, including those operated by contractors on the \n Government's behalf.\n\nSEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT.\n\n Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, \nand annually thereafter, the Director of the Office of Management and \nBudget shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform \nof the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security \nand Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the implementation \nof this Act, including--\n (1) a justification for each open-network peer-to-peer file \n sharing software program that is approved pursuant to \n subsection (b); and\n (2) an inventory of the agencies where such programs are \n being used.\n\nSEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning provided \n the term ``Executive agency'' by section 105 of title 5, United \n States Code.\n (2) Open-network.--The term ``open-network'', with respect \n to software, means a network in which--\n (A) access is granted freely, without limitation or \n restriction; or\n (B) there are little or no security measures in \n place.\n (3) Peer-to-peer file sharing software.--The term ``peer-\n to-peer file sharing software''--\n (A) means a program, application, or software that \n is commercially marketed or distributed to the public \n and that enables--\n (i) a file or files on the computer on \n which such program is installed to be \n designated as available for searching and \n copying to one or more other computers;\n (ii) the searching of files on the computer \n on which such program is installed and the \n copying of any such file to another computer--\n (I) at the initiative of such other \n computer and without requiring any \n action by an owner or authorized user \n of the computer on which such program \n is installed; and\n (II) without requiring an owner or \n authorized user of the computer on \n which such program is installed to have \n selected or designated another computer \n as the recipient of any such file; and\n (iii) an owner or authorized user of the \n computer on which such program is installed to \n search files on one or more other computers \n using the same or a compatible program, \n application, or software, and copy such files \n to such owner or user's computer; and\n (B) does not include a program, application, or \n software designed primarily--\n (i) to operate as a server that is \n accessible over the Internet using the Internet \n Domain Name system;\n (ii) to transmit or receive email messages, \n instant messaging, real-time audio or video \n communications, or real-time voice \n communications; or\n (iii) to provide network or computer \n security (including the detection or prevention \n of fraudulent activities), network management, \n maintenance, diagnostics, or technical support \n or repair.\n (4) Contractor.--The term ``contractor'' means a prime \n contractor or a subcontractor, as defined by the Federal \n Acquisition Regulation.\n\nSEC. 5. BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF PAYGO LEGISLATION FOR THIS ACT.\n\n The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying \nwith the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by \nreference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO \nLegislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional \nRecord by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that \nsuch statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2010.\n\n Attest:\n\n LORRAINE C. MILLER,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Secure Federal File Sharing Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance to: (1) prohibit the download, installation, or use by government employees and contractors of open-network peer-to-peer file sharing software on all federal computers, computer systems, and networks, unless approved in accordance with procedures under this Act; and (2) address the download, installation, or use by government employees and contractors of such software on home or personal computers as it relates to telework and remotely accessing federal computers, computer systems, and networks.\n\nRequires the Director to develop a procedure for receiving requests from heads or chief information officers of agencies for approval for use by government employees and contractors of specific open-network peer-to-peer file sharing software programs that are: (1) necessary for day-to-day business operations, for use in the course of a law enforcement investigation, or to perform official agency business; or (2) instrumental in completing a particular task or project that directly supports the agency's overall mission.\n\nRequires the Director to direct agencies to: (1) establish or update personal use policies to be consistent with the guidance issued under this Act; (2) require contracts to require contractor compliance with that guidance; (3) update their information technology security or ethics training policies to ensure that all employees are aware of the requirements of that guidance and the consequences of engaging in prohibited conduct; and (4) ensure that proper security controls are in place to prevent, detect, and remove file sharing software that is prohibited.\n\nRequires the Director to report annually to specified congressional committees, including: (1) a justification for each open-network peer-to-peer file sharing software program that is approved under this Act; and (2) an inventory of the agencies where such programs are being used.\n\nRequires the budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, to be determined by reference to the latest statement titled \"Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation\" for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.", "title": "To require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance on the use of peer-to-peer file sharing software to prohibit the personal use of such software by Government employees, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 305, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Geriatric Care Act of 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. DISREGARD OF CERTAIN GERIATRIC RESIDENTS AGAINST GRADUATE \n MEDICAL EDUCATION LIMITATIONS.\n\n (a) Direct GME.--Section 1886(h)(4)(F) of the Social Security Act \n(42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(4)(F)) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new clause:\n ``(iii) Increase in limitation for \n geriatric fellowships.--For cost reporting \n periods beginning on or after the date that is \n 6 months after the date of enactment of the \n Geriatric Care Act of 2001, in applying the \n limitations regarding the total number of full-\n time equivalent residents in the field of \n allopathic or osteopathic medicine under clause \n (i) for a hospital, rural health clinic, or \n Federally qualified health center, the \n Secretary shall not take into account a maximum \n of 3 residents enrolled in a fellowship or \n residency in geriatric medicine or geriatric \n psychiatry within an approved medical residency \n training program to the extent that the \n hospital, rural health clinic, or Federally \n qualified health center increases the number of \n such residents above the number of such \n residents for the hospital's, rural health \n clinic's, or Federally qualified health \n center's most recent cost reporting period \n ending before the date that is 6 months after \n the date of enactment of such Act.''.\n (b) Indirect GME.--Section 1886(d)(5)(B) of the Social Security Act \n(42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new clause:\n ``(ix) Clause (iii) of subsection (h)(4)(F), insofar as \n such clause applies with respect to hospitals, shall apply to \n clause (v) in the same manner and for the same period as such \n clause (iii) applies to clause (i) of such subsection.''.\n\nSEC. 3. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF CARE COORDINATION AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES.\n\n (a) Part B Coverage of Care Coordination and Assessment Services.--\nSection 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)), \nas amended by section 105(a) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP \nBenefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2763A-471), \nas enacted into law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law 106-554, is \namended--\n (1) in subparagraph (U), by striking ``and'' at the end;\n (2) in subparagraph (V), by inserting ``and'' after the \n semicolon at the end; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(W) care coordination and assessment services (as defined \n in subsection (ww)).''.\n (b) Care Coordination and Assessment Services Defined.--Section \n1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x), as amended by \nsection 105(b) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits \nImprovement and Protection Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2763A-471), as \nenacted into law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law 106-554), is amended \nby adding at the end the following new subsection:\n\n``Care Coordination and Assessment Services; Individual with a Serious \n and Disabling Chronic Condition; Care Coordinator\n\n ``(ww)(1) The term `care coordination and assessment services' \nmeans services that are furnished to an individual with a serious and \ndisabling chronic condition (as defined in paragraph (2)) by a care \ncoordinator (as defined in paragraph (3)) under a plan of care \nprescribed by such care coordinator for the purpose of care \ncoordination and assessment, which may include any of the following \nservices:\n ``(A) An initial assessment of an individual's medical \n condition, functional and cognitive capacity, and environmental \n and psychological needs and an annual reassessment of such \n condition, capacity, and needs, unless the care coordinator \n determines that a more frequent reassessment is necessary based \n on sentinel health events (as defined by the Secretary) or a \n change in health status that may require a change in the \n individual's plan of care.\n ``(B) The coordination of, and referral for, medical and \n other health services, including--\n ``(i) multidisciplinary care conferences;\n ``(ii) coordination with other providers (including \n telephone consultations with physicians); and\n ``(iii) the monitoring and management of \n medications, with special emphasis on the management on \n behalf of an individual with a serious and disabling \n chronic condition that uses multiple medications \n (including coordination with the entity managing \n benefits for the individual).\n ``(C) Patient and family caregiver education and counseling \n services (through office visits or telephone consultation), \n including self-management services and risk appraisal services \n to identify behavioral risk factors through self-assessment.\n ``(D) Such other services for which payment would not \n otherwise be made under this title as the Secretary determines \n to be appropriate, including activities to facilitate \n continuity of care and patient adherence to plans of care.\n ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term `individual with a \nserious and disabling chronic condition' means an individual who a care \ncoordinator annually certifies--\n ``(A) is unable to perform (without substantial assistance \n from another individual) at least 2 activities of daily living \n (as described in section 7702B(c)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986) for a period of at least 90 days due to a loss of \n functional capacity;\n ``(B) has a level of disability similar to the level of \n disability described in subparagraph (A) (as determined under \n regulations promulgated by the Secretary);\n ``(C) requires medical management and coordination of care \n due to a complex medical condition (as defined by the \n Secretary); or\n ``(D) requires substantial supervision to protect such \n individual from threats to health and safety due to a severe \n cognitive impairment (as defined by the Secretary).\n ``(3)(A) For purposes of this subsection, the term `care \ncoordinator' means an individual or entity that--\n ``(i) is--\n ``(I) a physician (as defined in subsection \n (r)(1)); or\n ``(II) a practitioner described in section \n 1842(b)(18)(C) or an entity that meets such conditions \n as the Secretary may specify (which may include \n physicians, physician group practices, or other health \n care professionals or entities the Secretary may find \n appropriate) working in collaboration with a physician;\n ``(ii) has entered into a care coordination agreement with \n the Secretary; and\n ``(iii) meets such other criteria as the Secretary may \n establish (which may include experience in the provision of \n care coordination or primary care physicians' services).\n ``(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), each care coordination \nagreement shall--\n ``(i) be entered into for a period of 1 year and may be \n renewed if the Secretary is satisfied that the care coordinator \n continues to meet the conditions of participation specified in \n subparagraph (A);\n ``(ii) assure that the care coordinator will submit reports \n to the Secretary on the functional and medical status of \n individuals with a chronic and disabling condition who receive \n care coordination services, expenditures relating to such \n services, and health outcomes relating to such services, except \n that the Secretary may not require a care coordinator to submit \n more than 1 such report during a year; and\n ``(iii) contain such other terms and conditions as the \n Secretary may require.''.\n (c) Payment and Elimination of Coinsurance.--\n (1) In general.--Section 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security \n Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)), as amended by section 223(c) of \n the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and \n Protection Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2763A-489), as enacted into \n law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law 106-554, is amended--\n (A) by striking ``and (U)'' and inserting ``(U)''; \n and\n (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end \n the following: ``, and (V) with respect to care \n coordination and assessment services described in \n section 1861(s)(2)(W), the amounts paid shall be 100 \n percent of the lesser of the actual charge for the \n service or the amount determined under the payment \n basis determined under section 1848 by the Secretary \n for such service''.\n (2) Payment under physician fee schedule.--Section \n 1848(j)(3) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting \n ``(2)(W),'' after ``(2)(S),''.\n (3) Elimination of coinsurance in outpatient hospital \n settings.--The third sentence of section 1866(a)(2)(A) of the \n Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(a)(2)(A)) is amended by \n inserting after ``1861(s)(10)(A)'' the following: ``, with \n respect to care coordination and assessment services (as \n defined in section 1861(ww)(1)),''.\n (d) Application of Limits on Billing.--Section 1842(b)(18)(C) of \nthe Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C)), as amended by \nsection 105(d) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits \nImprovement and Protection Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2763A-472), as \nenacted into law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law 106-554, is amended \nby adding at the end the following new clause:\n ``(vii) A care coordinator (as defined in section \n 1861(ww)(3)) that is not a physician.''.\n (e) Exception to Limits on Physician Referrals.--Section 1877(b) of \nthe Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395nn(b)) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and\n (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(4) Private sector purchasing and quality improvement \n tools for original medicare.--In the case of a designated \n health service, if the designated health service is--\n ``(A) a care coordination and assessment service \n (as defined in section 1861(ww)(1)); and\n ``(B) provided by a care coordinator (as defined in \n paragraph (3) of such section).''.\n (f) Rulemaking.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall \ndefine such terms and establish such procedures as the Secretary \ndetermines necessary to implement the provisions of this section.\n (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to care coordination and assessment services furnished on or \nafter January 1, 2003.", "summary": "Geriatric Care Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to payments to hospitals, rural health clinics, or Federally qualified health centers for direct graduate medical education costs and the limitation on the number of full-time-equivalent residents in allopathic and osteopathic medicine. Provides for the disregard of up to three geriatric residents in applying such limitation.Amends SSA title XVIII, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, to provide for Medicare coverage of care coordination and assessment services to an individual with a serious and disabling chronic condition.", "title": "To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit expansion of medical residency training programs in geriatric medicine and to provide for reimbursement of care coordination and assessment services provided under the Medicare Program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2896, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Community Investment and Empowerment \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSE.\n\n The purpose of this Act is to assist with the economic growth of \neconomically disadvantaged communities that have potential for strong \nClass 1 commercial investment, but continue to have a difficult time \nrecruiting Class 1 commercial investment.\n\nSEC. 3. ECONOMIC GROWTH, RETENTION, AND RECRUITMENT OF COMMERCIAL \n INVESTMENT IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.\n\n The Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 661 et seq.) \nis amended by adding at the end the following new title:\n\n ``TITLE VI--ECONOMIC GROWTH, RETENTION, AND RECRUITMENT OF COMMERCIAL \n INVESTMENT IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES\n\n``SEC. 511. GRANT PROGRAM.\n\n ``(a) Authorization.--From amounts appropriated under section 513, \nthe Administrator shall make grants on a competitive basis to \ncommunities for--\n ``(1) the creation of a grant and/or revolving loan fund \n program that helps develop financing packages for Class 1 \n commercial investment;\n ``(2) lowering real estate property tax rates;\n ``(3) conducting community-wide market analysis to help \n recruit and/or retain Class 1 commercial investment;\n ``(4) creating employment training programs for Class 1 \n business customer service, sales, and managerial positions;\n ``(5) retail marketing strategies to solicit new Class 1 \n commercial investment starts in the community;\n ``(6) program allowances for activities such as the \n publication of marketing materials, development of economic \n development web pages, and educational outreach activities with \n retail trade associations; and\n ``(7) hiring business recruitment specialists.\n ``(b) Eligibility.--The Administrator may only make a grant under \nsubsection (a) to communities that--\n ``(1) demographics include--\n ``(A) a median per capita income no higher than \n $35,000; and\n ``(B) a lack of Class 1 commercial investment; and\n ``(2) submit an application at such time, in such form, and \n containing such information and assurances as the Administrator \n may require, including--\n ``(A) a description of how the community through \n the activities the community carries out with the grant \n funds will recruit, retain and grow their economy \n through Class 1 commercial investment; and\n ``(B) a description of the difficulty the community \n has faced recruiting, retaining and growing their \n economy through Class 1 commercial investment.\n ``(c) Matching Funds.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Administrator may not make a grant \n to a community under subsection (a) unless the community agrees \n that, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the community \n in carrying out the activities for which the grant is awarded, \n the community will make available non-Federal contributions in \n an amount equal to not less than 10 percent of the Federal \n funds provided under the grant.\n ``(2) Satisfying matching requirements.--The non-Federal \n contributions required under paragraph (1) may be--\n ``(A) in cash or in-kind, including services, \n fairly evaluated; and\n ``(B) from--\n ``(i) any private source;\n ``(ii) a State or local governmental \n entity; or\n ``(iii) a not-for-profit.\n ``(3) Waiver.--The Administrator may waive or reduce the \n non-Federal contribution required by paragraph (1) if the \n community involved demonstrates that the eligible entity cannot \n meet the contribution requirement due to financial hardship.\n ``(d) Limitations.--Funding appropriated under section 513 will be \nallocated by the following formula--\n ``(1) no more than up to 5 percent of funds appropriated \n under section 513 shall go to administrative costs;\n ``(2) up to 70 percent of funding appropriated under \n section 513 shall go toward activities described in sections \n (a)(1) through (a)(4) after taking into account administrative \n costs under section (c)(1)(A); and\n ``(3) 30 percent of funding appropriated under section 513 \n shall go toward activities described in sections (a)(5) through \n (a)(7) after taking into account administrative costs under \n section (c)(1)(A).\n\n``SEC. 512. DEFINITIONS.\n\n ``In this title, the following definitions apply:\n ``(1) Community.--The term `community' means a governance \n structure that includes county, parish, city, village, \n township, district or borough.\n ``(2) Class 1 commercial investment.--The term `Class 1 \n commercial investment' means retail grocery chains, food \n service retailers, restaurants and franchises, retail stores, \n cafes, shopping malls, and other shops.\n ``(3) Economically underserved community.--The term \n `economically underserved community' means an area suffering \n from low income and resultant low purchasing power, limiting \n its ability to generate sufficient goods and services to be \n used in exchange with other areas to meet current consumption \n needs.\n\n``SEC. 513. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to \ncarry out section 511(a) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 \nthrough 2019.''.", "summary": "Community Investment and Empowerment Act - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants on a competitive basis to communities for: the creation of a grant and/or revolving loan fund program that helps develop financing packages for Class 1 commercial investment (defined as retail grocery chains, food service retailers, restaurants and franchises, retail stores, cafes, shopping malls, and other shops); lowering real estate property tax rates; conducting community-wide market analysis to help recruit and/or retain Class 1 commercial investment; creating employment training programs for Class 1 business customer service, sales, and managerial positions; retail marketing strategies to solicit new Class 1 commercial investment starts in the community; program allowances for activities such as the publication of marketing materials, development of economic development web pages, and educational outreach activities with retail trade associations; and hiring business recruitment specialists. Authorizes the Administrator to only make such a grant to communities: (1) whose demographics include a median per capita income no higher than $35,000 and a lack of Class 1 commercial investment; (2) that submit an application that describes the activities the community carries out, and the difficulty the community has faced, to recruit, retain and grow their economy through Class 1 commercial investment; and (3) that agree to match 10% of grant funds with certain non-federal contributions. Allows the Administrator to waive or reduce the non-federal contribution if the community involved demonstrates that it cannot meet the contribution requirement due to financial hardship.", "title": "Community Investment and Empowerment Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 918, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Children's Environmental Health \nProtection Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that--\n (1) a growing body of scientific knowledge demonstrates \n that children may suffer disproportionately from environmental \n health risks and safety risks;\n (2) those risks arise because--\n (A) the neurological, immunological, digestive, and \n other bodily systems of children are still developing;\n (B) children eat more food, drink more fluids, and \n breathe more air in proportion to their body weight \n than adults;\n (C) the size and weight of children may diminish \n their protection from standard safety features; and\n (D) the behavior patterns of children may make \n children more susceptible to accidents because children \n are less able to protect themselves; and\n (3) each Federal agency, to the extent permitted by law and \n appropriate, and consistent with the mission of each Federal \n agency, should--\n (A) place a high priority on the identification and \n assessment of environmental health and safety risks \n that may disproportionately affect children, including \n where children live, learn, and play;\n (B) ensure that the policies, programs, activities, \n and standards of the Federal agency address \n disproportionate risks to children that result from \n environmental health or safety risks; and\n (C) participate in the implementation of, and \n comply with, this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the \n Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.\n (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of \n the Office of Management and Budget.\n (3) Environmental health and safety risk.--\n (A) In general.--The term ``environmental health \n and safety risk'' means an environmental risk to the \n health or safety of a child that is posed by or \n otherwise attributable to a substance--\n (i) that the child is likely to ingest; or\n (ii) to which the child may otherwise be \n exposed.\n (B) Inclusions.--The term ``environmental health \n and safety risk'' includes an environmental risk that \n is posed by or otherwise attributable to--\n (i) air that is inhaled by, or that \n otherwise comes into contact with, a child;\n (ii) water used by a child for drinking or \n recreation;\n (iii) soil; and\n (iv) chemicals and other substances with \n which a child may come into contact.\n (4) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' means--\n (A) any department, agency, or other \n instrumentality of the Federal Government;\n (B) any independent agency or establishment of the \n Federal Government (including any Government \n corporation); and\n (C) the Government Printing Office.\n (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Health and Human Services.\n (6) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the Task \n Force to Address Environmental Health and Safety Risks to \n Children established by section 4(a).\n\nSEC. 4. TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS TO \n CHILDREN.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The Administrator, in consultation with the \nSecretary, shall establish a task force to be known as the ``Task Force \nto Address Environmental Health and Safety Risks to Children''.\n (b) Authority.--The Task Force shall report to the President, in \nconsultation with--\n (1) the Domestic Policy Council;\n (2) the National Science and Technology Council;\n (3) the Council on Environmental Quality; and\n (4) the Office of Management and Budget.\n (c) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of--\n (1) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection \n Agency, who shall serve as a Co-Chairperson of the Task Force;\n (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who shall \n serve as Co-Chairperson of the Task Force;\n (3) the Secretary of Education;\n (4) the Secretary of Labor;\n (5) the Attorney General;\n (6) the Secretary of Energy;\n (7) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;\n (8) the Secretary of Agriculture;\n (9) the Secretary of Transportation;\n (10) the Secretary of Homeland Security;\n (11) the Director;\n (12) the Chairperson of the Council on Environmental \n Quality;\n (13) the Chairperson of the Consumer Product Safety \n Commission;\n (14) the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy;\n (15) the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy;\n (16) the Assistant to the President for, and Director of \n the Office of, Science and Technology Policy;\n (17) the Chairperson of the Council of Economic Advisers; \n and\n (18) such other officials of Federal agencies as the \n Administrator and the Secretary may, from time to time, \n designate.\n (d) Delegation.--A member of the Task Force may delegate the \nresponsibilities of the member under this Act to 1 or more \nsubordinates.\n (e) Duties.--The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary \nas a co-chair of the Task Force, shall, after providing notice and an \nopportunity for public participation and comment and, if determined to \nbe appropriate by the Administrator and the Secretary, using a \nconsensus-based approach--\n (1) recommend to the President Federal strategies to \n improve children's environmental health and safety, including--\n (A) statements of principles, general policy, and \n targeted annual priorities to guide the Federal \n approach to complying with this Act;\n (B) a coordinated research agenda for the Federal \n Government, including steps to implement the review of \n research databases described in paragraph (2)(A);\n (C) recommendations for appropriate partnerships \n among the Federal Government, State, local, and tribal \n governments, and the private, academic, and nonprofit \n sectors;\n (D) proposals to enhance public outreach and \n communication to assist families in evaluating risks to \n children (including where children live, learn, and \n play) and in making informed consumer choices;\n (E) an identification of high-priority initiatives \n that the Federal Government has undertaken or will \n undertake in advancing the protection of children's \n environmental health and safety;\n (F) a statement regarding the desirability of new \n legislation to advance the protection of children's \n environmental health and safety; and\n (G) other proposals to enhance the health and \n safety protection of children by Federal and State \n governments and by communities and families;\n (2) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of \n this Act, develop or direct to be developed--\n (A) a review of existing and planned data \n resources; and\n (B) a proposed plan, which shall be reviewed by the \n Administrator and the Secretary, and other Federal \n agencies as the Administrator and the Secretary \n consider appropriate, and which shall be made available \n for public comment for a period of not less than 30 \n days--\n (i) for use in ensuring that researchers \n and Federal research agencies have access to \n information on all research conducted or funded \n by the Federal Government that relates to \n adverse health risks in children resulting from \n exposure to environmental health and safety \n risks; and\n (ii) that--\n (I) promotes the sharing of \n information on academic and private \n research; and\n (II) includes recommendations to \n encourage that such data, to the extent \n permitted by law, is available to the \n public, the scientific and academic \n communities, and all Federal agencies; \n and\n (3) submit to Congress (including the Committee on \n Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on \n Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives) and the \n President, make available to the public, and provide to the \n Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National \n Science and Technology Council for use in establishing research \n priorities, a biennial report on research, data, or other \n information that would enhance understanding and analysis of, \n and response to, environmental health and safety risks, \n including--\n (A) a description provided by Federal agencies and \n other agencies identified by the Task Force of key data \n needs relating to environmental health and safety risks \n that have arisen in the course of carrying out projects \n and activities of the Federal agencies; and\n (B) a description of the accomplishments of the \n Task Force.\n\nSEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.\n\n (a) In General.--This Act applies only to the Executive branch.\n (b) Effect of Act.--This Act does not create or establish any \nsubstantive or procedural right, benefit, or trust responsibility, \nenforceable at law or equity, by a party against the United States \n(including any agency, officer, or employee of the United States).\n (c) Judicial Review.--This Act does not create or establish any \nright to judicial review involving the compliance or noncompliance with \nthis Act by--\n (1) the United States (including any agency, officer, or \n employee of the United States); or\n (2) any other person.", "summary": "Children's Environmental Health Protection Act - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Task Force to Address Environmental Health and Safety Risks to Children to: (1) recommend to the President federal strategies to improve children's environmental health and safety; (2) develop a review of existing and planned data resources and a proposed plan for use in ensuring that researchers and federal research agencies have access to information on federal research that relates to adverse health risk in children resulting from exposure to environmental health and safety risks; and (3) submit a biennial report on research, data, or other information that would enhance understanding and analysis of, and response to, environmental health and safety risks.", "title": "A bill to provide for the establishment of a task force to address the environmental health and safety risks posed to children."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3123, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Moving to Work Reform Act of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. TERMS OF MOVING TO WORK AGREEMENTS.\n\n The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may not enter into \nor extend any Moving to Work agreement for any public housing agency \nfor participation in the demonstration established under section 204 of \nthe Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, \nand Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (Public Law 104-134; \n110 Stat. 1321), unless such agreement is subject to the following \nterms and conditions for the entire duration of such agreement:\n (1) Evaluation of major policy changes.--A public housing \n agency may not newly establish any rent policy that raises rent \n burdens for a significant portion of participating families, \n any time limitation on the term of housing assistance, or any \n policy that conditions receipt of housing assistance from \n program funds on employment status, unless--\n (A) the policy change will be subject to a detailed \n evaluation using a rigorous research methodology which \n includes, at least in part, random assignment to \n treatment and control groups to compare the impact on \n assisted families (including families that cease to \n receive assistance during the term of the evaluation) \n to similar families not subject to such policy change; \n and\n (B) the Secretary determines that adequate Federal \n or other resources are available to undertake the \n required evaluation.\n (2) Use of tenant-based rental assistance funds.--A public \n housing agency may use funds appropriated for renewal of \n tenant-based rental assistance only for payments to or on \n behalf of eligible families that assist such families with \n housing costs, except that up to 10 percent of such funds may \n be used for other eligible purposes, subject to such \n requirements as the Secretary shall establish.\n (3) Determination of tenant-based rental assistance \n funding.--A public housing agency shall receive funding for \n renewal of tenant-based rental assistance determined using the \n same formula applied to public housing agencies that do not \n participate in the demonstration, except that up to 10 percent \n of such funds may be renewed by adjusting the prior year's \n funding by an inflation factor determined by the Secretary.\n (4) Prohibition of reduction in number of families \n assisted.--A public housing agency shall provide ongoing \n housing assistance resulting in average cost burdens no higher \n than those of families assisted under sections 8 and 9 of the \n United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f, 1437g) to \n substantially the same number of eligible low-income families \n as the agency could assist if it expended the full amount of \n funding it receives under such sections 8 and 9 pursuant to the \n requirements of such sections.\n (5) Housing choice.--If the Secretary determines that a \n disproportionately low share of families assisted by a public \n housing agency using funds appropriated pursuant to sections 8 \n and 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 lives in \n neighborhoods with low crime, high-performing schools, or other \n indicators of high opportunity, the public housing agency shall \n develop and implement a plan to expand families' access to such \n neighborhoods.\n (6) Determination of public housing operating funding.--A \n public housing agency shall receive funding for operation and \n management of public housing determined using the same formula \n applied to public housing agencies that do not participate in \n the demonstration, except that, for an agency that currently \n receives such funding under an alternative formula established \n by its Moving to Work agreement, the Secretary shall phase in \n the requirements of this paragraph in a manner sufficient so as \n to avoid reducing funding by more than 10 percent per year.\n (7) Retained provisions.--The Secretary shall not waive any \n of the following provisions of the United States Housing Act of \n 1937:\n (A) Subsections (a)(2)(A) and (b)(1) of section 16 \n (42 U.S.C. 1437n; relating to targeting for new \n admissions).\n (B) Section 2(b) (42 U.S.C. 1437(b); relating to \n tenant representatives on the public housing agency \n board of directors).\n (C) Section 3(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2); \n relating to definitions for the terms ``low-income \n families'', ``very low-income families'', and \n ``extremely low-income families'').\n (D) Section 5A(e) (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1(e); relating \n to the formation of and consultation with a resident \n advisory board).\n (E) Sections 6(f)(1) and 8(o)(8)(B) (42 U.S.C. \n 1437d(f)(1), 1437f(o)(8)(B); relating to compliance of \n units assisted with housing quality standards or other \n codes).\n (F) Section 6(k) (42 U.S.C. 1437d(k); relating to \n grievance procedures for public housing tenants).\n (G) Section 7 (42 U.S.C. 1437e; relating to \n designation of housing for elderly and disabled \n households).\n (H) Sections 8(ee) and 6(u) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(ee), \n 1437d(n); relating to records, certification and \n confidentiality regarding domestic violence).\n (I) Paragraphs (3) and (4)(i) of section 6(c) and \n sections 982.552 and 982.553 of the Secretary's \n regulations (42 U.S.C. 1437d(c) and 24 C.F.R. 982.552, \n 982.553; relating to rights of applicants).\n (J) Section 6(l) (42 U.S.C. 1437d(l); relating to \n public housing lease requirements), except that for \n units assisted both with program funds and low-income \n housing tax credits, the initial lease term may be less \n than 12 months if required to conform lease terms with \n such tax credit requirements.\n (K) Subparagraphs (C) through (F) of section \n 8(o)(7) and section 8(o)(20) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o); \n relating to lease requirements and eviction protections \n for families assisted with tenant-based assistance).\n (L) Section 8(o)(13)(B) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(B); \n relating to the 20-percent portfolio cap on the use of \n voucher funds for project-based vouchers), except as \n follows:\n (i) A public housing agency that, pursuant \n to a Moving to Work agreement in effect on the \n date of the enactment of this Act, is using or \n has committed voucher funds as of such date of \n enactment for project-based vouchers in excess \n of the 20-percent cap may continue to use such \n funds in excess of such cap, but not in excess \n of the percentage in use or committed as of \n such date of enactment pursuant to such \n agreement, or as specified in clause (ii), \n whichever is higher.\n (ii) A public housing agency may use \n voucher funds for project-based vouchers in \n excess of the 20-percent cap, but not to exceed \n 35 percent, if such use meets one of the \n following criteria:\n (I) The project-based vouchers \n serve homeless or other special needs \n families, as defined by the Secretary.\n (II) The project-based vouchers are \n used in a low-poverty area, as defined \n by the Secretary.\n (III) The project-based vouchers \n are used in connection with a \n demonstration of a project-based \n program that is subject to evaluation \n by the Secretary.\n (M) Section 8(o)(13)(E) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(E); \n relating to the ability of families with project-based \n vouchers to move, using tenant-based vouchers, after 12 \n months of occupancy), unless the Secretary determines \n that waiver of such section is necessary to implement \n transitional or time-limited housing policies subject \n to evaluation described in paragraph (1) of this \n section.\n (N) Section 8(r)(1) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(r)(1); \n relating to the portability of vouchers).\n (O) The following requirements applicable to \n resident councils and jurisdiction-wide resident \n organizations:\n (i) Establishment of resident councils and \n resident organizations under section 20 (42 \n U.S.C. 1437r).\n (ii) Minimum amount of public housing \n agency support for such councils and \n organizations under section 20.\n (iii) Involvement of such councils and \n organizations in public housing agency \n operations, as authorized under sections \n 3(c)(2), 6(c)(5)(C), and 9(e) (42 U.S.C. \n 1437a(c)(2), 1437d(c)(5)(C), 1437g(e)).\n\nSEC. 3. ASSESSMENT OF DEMONSTRATION.\n\n The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall conduct a \ncomprehensive evaluation of the Moving to Work demonstration and, upon \ncompletion of the evaluation, submit to the Congress a report--\n (1) describing and analyzing the risks and potential \n benefits of expanding the Moving to Work demonstration program \n to additional agencies compared to those of maintaining the \n demonstration program at its current size; and\n (2) identifying reforms, and selection criteria in case the \n demonstration program is expanded, that would improve the \n program's effectiveness in testing innovative policies while \n minimizing adverse effects on low-income families and ensuring \n efficient use of Federal funds to meet the most pressing \n housing needs.", "summary": "Moving to Work Reform Act of 2015 This bill prohibits the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from entering into or extending any Moving to Work agreement for any public housing agency (PHA) for participation in the Moving to Work Demonstration Program, unless the agreement is subject to specified terms and conditions set forth by this Act for its entire duration. (Under the Moving to Work Demonstration Program up to 30 selected PHAs, including Indian housing authorities, may administer the public or Indian housing program and the Section 8 housing assistance payments program in ways designed to reduce costs and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in federal expenditures, provide incentives for heads of households to become economically self-sufficient, and increase housing choices for lower-income families.) Under such an agreement a PHA: may not establish any new rent policy that raises rent burdens for a significant portion of participating families, or causes specified other results, unless certain conditions are met; may use funds appropriated for renewal of tenant-based rental assistance only for payments assisting eligible families with housing costs; shall receive funding for renewal of tenant-based rental assistance under the same formula applied to nonparticipating PHAs; must provide ongoing housing assistance to substantially the same number of eligible low-income families as it could assist ordinarily but with average cost burdens no higher than those of families assisted under Sections 8 (low-income housing assistance) and 9 (Public Housing Capital and Operating Funds) of the United States Housing Act of 1937; and develop and implement a plan to expand families' access to neighborhoods with low crime, high-performing schools, or other indicators of high opportunity, if a disproportionately low share of PHA-assisted families lives in such neighborhoods. HUD may not waive specified housing-related requirements. HUD must conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Demonstration Program to: analyze the risks and potential benefits of expanding it to additional agencies; and identify reforms, and selection criteria in case the Demonstration Program is expanded, that would improve its effectiveness in testing innovative policies while minimizing adverse effects on low-income families and ensuring efficient use of federal funds to meet the most pressing housing needs. ", "title": "Moving to Work Reform Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 55, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``VA Major \nConstruction Authorization and Expiring Authorities Extension Act of \n2012''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\nSec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.\nSec. 3. Scoring of budgetary effects.\n\n TITLE I--CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS\n\nSec. 101. Authorization of fiscal year 2013 major medical facility \n projects.\nSec. 102. Authorization of major medical facility project in Miami, \n Florida.\nSec. 103. Authorization of appropriations.\n\n TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF CERTAIN EXPIRING AUTHORITIES\n\nSec. 201. Extension of authority to calculate the net value of real \n property securing a defaulted loan for purposes of \n liquidation.\nSec. 202. Extension of authority for operation of the Department of \n Veterans Affairs regional office in Manila, the Republic of \n the Philippines.\nSec. 203. Extension of authority to provide treatment, rehabilitation, \n and certain other services for seriously mentally ill and \n homeless veterans.\nSec. 204. Extension of authority to provide expanded services to \n homeless veterans.\nSec. 205. Extension of authority to provide housing assistance for \n homeless veterans.\nSec. 206. Extension of authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless \n Veterans.\nSec. 207. Extension of authority for the performance of medical \n disability examinations by contract physicians.\nSEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.\n Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an \namendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal \nof, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to \nbe made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States \nCode.\nSEC. 3. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.\n The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying \nwith the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by \nreference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO \nLegislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional \nRecord by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that \nsuch statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.\n\n TITLE I--CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS\n\n SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2013 MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY \n PROJECTS.\n The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the following major \nmedical facility projects in fiscal year 2013 in the amount specified \nfor each project:\n (1) Construction of a mental health building at the Department \n of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, in an \n amount not to exceed $222,000,000.\n (2) Construction of a spinal cord injury center at the \n Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, in an \n amount not to exceed $155,200,000.\n SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT IN MIAMI, \n FLORIDA.\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out \nthe major medical facility project described in subsection (b) in an \namount not to exceed a total of $41,000,000.\n (b) Project Described.--The major medical facility project \ndescribed in this subsection is the renovation of the surgical suite \nand operating rooms at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical \nCenter, Miami, Florida.\n SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n (a) Authorization of Appropriations for Construction.--There is \nauthorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for \nfiscal year 2013 or the year in which funds are appropriated for the \nConstruction, Major Projects, account $377,200,000 for the projects \nauthorized in section 101.\n (b) Limitation.--In addition to any limitations under section 8104 \nof title 38, United States Code, or other provision of law that apply \nto the projects authorized in section 101 and 102, such projects may \nonly be carried out using--\n (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2013 pursuant to the \n authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) of this section;\n (2) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a \n fiscal year before fiscal year 2013 that remain available for \n obligation;\n (3) funds available for Construction, Major Projects, for a \n fiscal year after fiscal year 2013 that remain available for \n obligation;\n (4) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for \n fiscal year 2013 for a category of activity not specific to a \n project;\n (5) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for a \n fiscal year before 2013 for a category of activity not specific to \n a project; and\n (6) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, for a \n fiscal year after 2013 for a category of activity not specific to a \n project.\n\n TITLE II--EXTENSIONS OF CERTAIN EXPIRING AUTHORITIES\n\n SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO CALCULATE THE NET VALUE OF REAL \n PROPERTY SECURING A DEFAULTED LOAN FOR PURPOSES OF LIQUIDATION.\n Section 3732(c)(11) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2012'' and \ninserting ``October 1, 2013''.\n SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF \n VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE IN MANILA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE \n PHILIPPINES.\n Section 315(b) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2012'' and \ninserting ``December 31, 2013''. Such section 315 shall be carried out \nas amended by this section notwithstanding the date described in \nsection 151 of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013.\n SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TREATMENT, \n REHABILITATION, AND CERTAIN OTHER SERVICES FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY \n ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS.\n Section 2031(b) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2012'' and \ninserting ``December 31, 2013''.\n SEC. 204. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE EXPANDED SERVICES TO \n HOMELESS VETERANS.\n Section 2033(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2012'' and \ninserting ``December 31, 2013''.\n SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR \n HOMELESS VETERANS.\n Section 2041(c) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2012'' and \ninserting ``December 31, 2013''.\n SEC. 206. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON \n HOMELESS VETERANS.\n Section 2066(d) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2012'' and \ninserting ``December 31, 2013''.\n SEC. 207. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL \n DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS BY CONTRACT PHYSICIANS.\n Section 704(c) of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (38 U.S.C. 5101 \nnote) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2012'' and inserting \n``December 31, 2013''.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on September 19, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)\n\nVA Major Construction Authorization and Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2012 - Title I: Construction Authorizations - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out major medical facility projects (projects) in FY2013 at VA medical centers in: (1) Seattle, Washington; (2) Dallas, Texas; and (3) Miami, Florida.\n\nAuthorizes appropriations for such projects. Provides project funding limitations.\n\nTitle II: Extensions of Certain Expiring Authorities - Extends through FY2013 VA default procedures with respect to guaranteed loans to veterans.\n\nExtends through 2013 VA authority: (1) to operate a regional office in the Republic of the Philippines; (2) to provide treatment, rehabilitation, and related services for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans; (3) to provide expanded services and housing assistance to homeless veterans; (4) for the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans; and (5) to use contract physicians to perform VA medical disability examinations.", "title": "To authorize certain Department of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects, to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 489, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Coverage for \nDiscrimination and Family Leave Act''.\n\n TITLE I--AGE DISCRIMINATION\n\nSEC. 101. COVERAGE OF EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.\n\n The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 621 et \nseq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating sections 16 and 17 as sections 17 and \n 18, respectively, and\n (2) by inserting after section 15 the following:\n\n ``coverage of certain employees in the legislative branch of the \n federal government\n\n ``Sec. 16. (a) For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) the term `employee' means an individual who is \n employed by, or who applies for employment with, an employing \n authority;\n ``(2) the term `employing authority' has the meaning given \n it in the Fair Employment Practices Resolution and also \n includes any agent of the employing authority and any Member \n who participates in determining the terms and conditions \n applicable to an employee's employment and any agent of such \n Member, but with respect to a position on the minority staff of \n a committee, such term does not include the Chairman of such \n committee;\n ``(3) the term `Fair Employment Practices Resolution' \n means--\n ``(A) House Resolution 558 of the One Hundredth \n Congress, as adopted October 4, 1988, and incorporated \n into rule LI of the Rules of the House of \n Representatives of the One Hundred Second Congress; or\n ``(B) any other provision that continues in effect \n the provisions of such resolution; and\n ``(4) the term `instrumentality of the Congress' means a \n unit of the legislative branch (other than the Congress) that \n does not have positions in the competitive service and any \n agent of such unit.\n ``(b) Sections 4 and 7(f) shall apply to employees and to employing \nauthorities.\n ``(c)(1) The remedies and procedures under the Fair Employment \nPractices Resolution shall apply with respect to a violation of section \n4 as such section is made applicable by subsection (b).\n ``(2) Within 90 days of the exhaustion of all procedures authorized \nunder paragraph (1), or after 180 days after the filing of a complaint \nin accordance with such procedures, an employee may bring a civil \naction in the appropriate United States district court against the \nemployee's employing authority. In any such action, the court may order \nsuch relief, including damages, attorneys' fees, and other costs, as \nmay be ordered by a court under section 7.\n ``(d) Section 4, as such section is made applicable by subsection \n(b), does not prohibit the taking into consideration of --\n ``(1) the domicile of an individual with respect to a \n position under the clerk-hire allowance of the House of \n Representatives; or\n ``(2) the political affiliation of an individual with \n respect to a position under such clerk-hire allowance or a \n position on the staff of a committee.\n ``(e) Not later than 60 days after any payment is made under this \nsection for the benefit of an aggrieved employee out of a Federal \naccount of the House of Representatives and on behalf of the employing \nauthority, the employing authority shall reimburse such account with \nnon-Federal funds. The Committee on House Administration of the House \nof Representatives shall determine which account shall be used for \npayments to an aggrieved employee under this section and shall issue \nguidelines to ensure such reimbursement.\n ``(f) Each employing authority shall post and keep posted in \nconspicuous places on its premises a notice that shall be prepared by \nthe Office of Fair Employment Practices, setting forth such information \nas the Office considers to be appropriate to carry out this section.\n ``(g) Subsection (c)(1) is enacted as an exercise of the rulemaking \npower of the House of Representatives, with full recognition of the \nright of the House of Representatives to change its rules in the same \nmanner, and to the same extent, as in any other rule of the House of \nRepresentatives.\n ``(h)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), sections 4 and 7(f) shall apply \nwith respect to individuals who are employed by, or who apply for \nemployment with, an instrumentality of the Congress.\n ``(2) The chief official of each instrumentality of the Congress \nshall establish remedies and procedures to protect the rights provided \nfor in paragraph (1). Such remedies and procedures shall apply \nexclusively with respect to such rights and shall provide to such \nindividual protection that is equal to or greater than the protection \nprovided under this section to employees of an employing authority.\n ``(3) The chief official of each instrumentality of the Congress \nshall submit to the Congress a report describing the remedies and \nprocedures it has established to comply with paragraph (2).\n ``(4) Within 90 days of the exhaustion of all procedures authorized \nunder paragraph (2) or after 180 days after the filing of a complaint \nin accordance with such procedures, an employee may bring a civil \naction in the appropriate United States district court against the \nemployee's instrumentality. In any such action, the court may order \nsuch relief, including damages, attorneys' fees, and other costs as may \nbe ordered by a court under section 7.''.\n\n TITLE II--TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964\n\nSEC. 201. REFERENCE.\n\n Whenever in this title an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms \nof an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the \nreference shall be considered to be made to a section or other \nprovision of the Civil Rights Act of 1991.\n\nSEC. 202. APPLICATION TO CONGRESS.\n\n (a) Coverage.--Section 117(a)(2)(A) (2 U.S.C. 60l(a)(2)(A)) is \namended by adding at the end the following: ``For purposes of this \nsection, the term `employee' also includes an individual who applies \nfor employment and the term `employing authority' also includes any \nagent of the employing authority and any Member who participates in \ndetermining the terms and conditions applicable to an employee's \nemployment and any agent of such Member but with respect to a position \non the minority staff of a committee such term does not include the \nChairman of such committee.''.\n (b) Employee Actions, Payments, Considerations, and Notice.--\n (1) Amendment.--Section 117 (2 U.S.C. 60l) is amended in \n subsection (b)(4), by inserting before the period the \n following: ``and includes any agent of any of the foregoing \n entities'', and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(c) Employee Actions.--\n ``(1) In general.--Within 90 days of the exhaustion of all \n procedures authorized under subsection (a) or (b) or after 180 \n days after the filing of a complaint in accordance with such \n procedures an employee may bring a civil action in the \n appropriate United States district court against the employee's \n employing authority or if employed by an instrumentality of \n Congress, against such instrumentality. In any such action, the \n court may order such relief as is provided under title VII of \n the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and section 1977A of the Revised \n Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1981a), except that the sum of the amount \n of compensatory damages awarded for future pecuniary losses, \n emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss \n of enjoyment of life, and other nonpecuniary losses and the \n amount of punitive damages shall not exceed for each \n complaining party $50,000 in an action against an employing \n authority.\n ``(2) Trial.--In an action brought under paragraph (1)--\n ``(A) any party may demand a trial by jury, and\n ``(B) the court shall not inform the jury of the \n dollar limitation prescribed by paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Fees.--In an action brought under paragraph (1), the \n court may allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney's \n fees (including expert witness fees) as part of the costs.\n ``(d) Payments.--Not later than 60 days after any payment is made \nunder this section for the benefit of an aggrieved employee out of a \nFederal account of the House of Representatives and on behalf of an \nemploying authority, the employing authority shall reimburse such \naccount with non-Federal funds. The Committee on House Administration \nof the House of Representatives shall determine which account shall be \nused for payments to an aggrieved employee under this section and shall \nissue guidelines to ensure such reimbursement.\n ``(e) Considerations.--The rights and protections provided by this \nsection do not prohibit the taking into consideration of:\n ``(1) the domicile of an individual with respect to a \n position under the clerk-hire allowance of the House of \n Representatives; or\n ``(2) the political affiliation of an individual with \n respect to a position under such clerk-hire allowance or a \n position on the staff of a committee.\n ``(f) Notice.--Each employing authority and instrumentality of \nCongress shall post and keep posted, in conspicuous places on its \npremises, a notice that shall be prepared by the Office of Fair \nEmployment Practices or the instrumentality which sets forth such \ninformation as such Office or instrumentality considers to be \nappropriate to carry out this section.''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 117(a)(2)(B)(i) (2 \n U.S.C. 60l(a)(2)(B)(i)) is amended by inserting before the \n period at the end the following: ``, except as provided in \n subsections (c) through (f)''.\n\n TITLE III--DISABILITIES\n\nSEC. 301. REFERENCE.\n\n Whenever in this title an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms \nof an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the \nreference shall be considered to be made to a section or other \nprovision of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.\n\nSEC. 302. APPLICATION TO CONGRESS.\n\n (a) Coverage.--Section 509(b)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 12209(b)(2)(A)) is \namended by adding at the end the following: ``For purposes of this \nsection, the term `employee' also includes an individual who applies \nfor employment and the term `employing authority' also includes any \nagent of the employing authority and any Member who participates in \ndetermining the terms and conditions applicable to an employee's \nemployment and any agent of such Member but with respect to the \nminority staff of a committee does not include the Chairman of such \ncommittee.''.\n (b) Employee Actions, Payments, Considerations, and Notice.--\n (1) Amendment.--Section 509 (42 U.S.C. 12209) is amended--\n (A) in subsection (c)(4), by adding before the \n period the following: ``and includes any agent of any \n of the foregoing entities'', and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(d) Employee Actions.--\n ``(1) In general.--Within 90 days of the exhaustion of all \n procedures authorized under subsection (b)(2) or (c)(2) or \n after 180 days after the filing of a complaint in accordance \n with such procedures, an employee may bring a civil action in \n the appropriate United States district court against the \n employee's employing authority or if employed by an \n instrumentality of Congress, against such instrumentality. In \n any such action, the court may order such relief as is provided \n under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and section \n 1977A of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1981a), except that \n the sum of the amount of compensatory damages awarded for \n future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, \n inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and \n other nonpecuniary losses and the amount of punitive damages \n shall not exceed for each complaining party $50,000 in an \n action against an employing authority.\n ``(2) Trial.--In an action brought under paragraph (1)--\n ``(A) any party may demand a trial by jury, and\n ``(B) the court shall not inform the jury of the \n dollar limitation prescribed by paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Fees.--In an action brought under paragraph (1), the \n court may allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney's \n fees (including expert witness fees) as part of the costs.\n ``(e) Payments.--Not later than 60 days after any payment is made \nunder this section for the benefit of an aggrieved employee out of a \nFederal account of the House of Representatives and on behalf of an \nemploying authority, the employing authority shall reimburse such \naccount with non-Federal funds. The Committee on House Administration \nof the House of Representatives shall determine which account shall be \nused for payments to an aggrieved employee under this section and shall \nissue guidelines to ensure such reimbursement.\n ``(f) Considerations.--The rights and protections provided by this \nsection do not prohibit the taking into consideration of:\n ``(1) the domicile of an individual with respect to a \n position under the clerk-hire allowance of the House of \n Representatives; or\n ``(2) the political affiliation of an individual with \n respect to a position under such clerk-hire allowance or a \n position on the staff of a committee.\n ``(g) Notice.--Each employing authority and instrumentality of \nCongress shall post and keep posted, in conspicuous places on its \npremises, a notice that shall be prepared by the Office of Fair \nEmployment Practices or the instrumentality which sets forth such \ninformation as such Office or instrumentality considers to be \nappropriate to carry out this section.''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 509(b)(2)(B)(i) (42 \n U.S.C. 12209(b)(2)(B)(i)) is amended by inserting before the \n period at the end the following: ``, except as provided in \n subsections (d) through (g)''.\n\n TITLE IV--FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE\n\nSEC. 401. ENFORCEMENT ACTION.\n\n (a) Employing Authority.--Section 502(a) of the Family and Medical \nLeave Act of 1993 (2 U.S.C. 60n(a)) is amended by inserting before the \nperiod the following: ``, except that with respect to a position on the \nminority staff of a committee, the term `employing authority' does not \ninclude the Chairman of such committee''.\n (b) Remedy.--Subsection (c) of section 502 of the Family and \nMedical Leave Act of 1993 (2 U.S.C. 60n) is redesignated as subsection \n(f) and the following is inserted after subsection (b):\n ``(c) Employee Action.-- Within 90 days of the exhaustion of all \nprocedures authorized under subsection (b), or after 180 days after the \ntimely filing of a complaint in accordance with such procedures, an \nemployee may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States \ndistrict court against the employee's employing authority. In any such \naction, the court may order such relief, including damages, interest, \nattorneys' fees, expert witness fees, and other costs, as may be \nordered by a court under section 107.\n ``(d) Payments.--Not later than 60 days after any payment is made \nunder this section for the benefit of an aggrieved employee out of a \nFederal account of the House of Representatives and on behalf of an \nemploying authority, the employing authority shall reimburse such \naccount with non-Federal funds. The Committee on House Administration \nof the House of Representatives shall determine which account shall be \nused for payments to an aggrieved employee under this section and shall \nissue guidelines to ensure such reimbursement.\n ``(e) Instrumentalities of Congress.--\n ``(1) In general.--The rights and protections under \n sections 102 through 105 (other than section 104(b)) shall, \n subject to paragraph (2), apply with respect to the conduct of \n each instrumentality of the Congress.\n ``(2) Establishment of remedies and procedures by \n instrumentalities.--The chief official of each instrumentality \n of the Congress shall establish remedies and procedures to \n protect the rights provided for in paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Report to congress.--The chief official of each \n instrumentality of the Congress shall, after establishing \n remedies and procedures for purposes of paragraph (2), submit \n to the Congress a report describing the remedies and procedures \n it has established to comply with paragraph (2).\n ``(4) Definition of instrumentalities.--For purposes of \n this section, instrumentalities of the Congress include the \n Architect of the Capitol, the Library of Congress, the \n Congressional Budget Office, the General Accounting Office, the \n Government Printing Office, the Office of Technology \n Assessment, and the United States Botanic Garden and includes \n any agent of any of the foregoing entities.\n ``(5) Civil action.--Within 90 days of the exhaustion of \n all procedures authorized under paragraph (2) or after 180 days \n after the filing of a complaint in accordance with such \n procedures, an employee may bring a civil action in the \n appropriate United States district court against the employee's \n instrumentality. In any such action, the court may order such \n relief, including damages, attorneys' fees, and other costs as \n may be ordered by a court under section 107.\n ``(f) Notice.--Each employing authority and instrumentality of \nCongress shall post and keep posted, in conspicuous places on its \npremises, a notice that shall be prepared by the Office of Fair \nEmployment Practices or the instrumentality which sets forth such \ninformation as such Office or instrumentality considers to be \nappropriate to carry out this section.''.\n\n TITLE V--GUIDELINES\n\nSEC. 501. GUIDELINES.\n\n Any guidelines issued by any committee of the House of \nRepresentatives to implement any provision of this Act shall be \npublished in the Congressional Record for a period of at least 60 days \nbefore such implementation.\n\n TITLE VI--EFFECTIVE DATE\n\nSEC. 601. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall take effect upon the \nexpiration of 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\n \n\nHR 2499 IH----2", "summary": "TABLE OF CONTENTS: \n Title I: Age Discrimination \n Title II: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 \n Title III: Disabilities \n Title IV: Family and Medical Leave \n Title V: Guidelines \n Title VI: Effective Date \nCongressional Coverage for Discrimination and Family Leave Act - \nTitle I: Age Discrimination\n - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (the Act) to cover employees in the House of Representatives and in instrumentalities of the Congress. Authorizes an aggrieved employee to bring a civil action in the appropriate district court against an employing authority or instrumentality of the Congress. Authorizes the court to order such relief, including damages, attorney's fees, and other costs provided by this Act. \nRequires the employing authority to reimburse the Federal account of the House with non-Federal funds for any damages paid out of the account on behalf of an aggrieved employee. \nTitle II: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964\n - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1991 to authorize an employee in the House of Representatives or in an instrumentality of the Congress to bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against his or her employing authority or the appropriate instrumentality. Authorizes the court to order such relief specified under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Revised Statutes. Limits the aggregate amount of compensatory and punitive damages to $50,000. Authorizes the complaining party to demand a jury trial. Prohibits the court from informing the jury of the dollar limitation imposed under this Act. Authorizes the court to allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney's fees (including expert witness fees) as part of the costs. \nRequires the employing authority to reimburse the Federal account of the House with non-Federal funds for any damages paid out of the account on behalf of an aggrieved employee. \nTitle III: Disabilities\n - Amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to authorize an employee in the House of Representatives or in an instrumentality of the Congress to bring a civil action in the appropriate district court against his or her employing authority or the appropriate instrumentality. Authorizes the court to order such relief specified under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Revised Statutes. Limits the aggregate amount of compensatory and punitive damages to $50,000. Authorizes the complaining party to demand a jury trial. Prohibits the court from informing the jury of the dollar limitation imposed under this Act. Authorizes the court to allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney's fees (including expert witness fees) as part of the costs. \nRequires the employing authority to reimburse the Federal account of the House with non-Federal funds for any damages paid out of the account on behalf of an aggrieved employee. \nTitle IV: Family and Medical Leave\n - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (the Act) to authorize an employee to bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against the employee's employing authority or the appropriate instrumentality of the Congress. Authorizes the court to order such relief, including damages, interest, attorney's fees, expert witness fees, and other costs specified by the Act. \nApplies the rights and protections under title I of the Act to employees of each instrumentality of the Congress, except for the exemption concerning highly compensated employees. \nTitle V: Guidelines\n - Requires implementing guidelines issued by any House committee for this Act to be published in the Congressional Record at least 60 days before such implementation. \nTitle VI: Effective Date\n - Makes this Act effective three months after the date of enactment.", "title": "Congressional Coverage for Discrimination and Family Leave Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 54, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Sportsmen's Bill of Rights Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS; POLICY.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Fishing is an important and traditional recreational \n activity in which 36,000,000 Americans 16 years old and older \n participate.\n (2) Hunting is an important and traditional recreational \n activity in which 14,000,000 Americans 16 years old and older \n participate.\n (3) Survey data from a recent comprehensive 3-year study \n entitled ``Factors Related to Hunting and Fishing Participation \n in the United States'' suggest that an overwhelming majority of \n Americans approved of fishing and hunting.\n (4) Anglers and hunters have been and continue to be among \n the foremost supporters of sound wildlife management and \n conservation practices in the United States.\n (5) Persons who hunt or fish and organizations related to \n those activities provide direct assistance to wildlife managers \n and enforcement officers of Federal, State, and local \n governments.\n (6) Funds raised through license, permit, and stamp \n purchases, as well as through excise taxes on goods used by \n anglers and hunters, have generated more than $6,000,000,000 \n for wildlife research and management.\n (7) Fishing and hunting are essential components of \n effective wildlife management, in that they tend to reduce \n conflicts between people and wildlife and provide incentives \n for the conservation of wildlife and habitats and ecosystems on \n which wildlife depends.\n (8) Each State has established one or more agencies staffed \n by professionally trained fish and wildlife management \n personnel, has legal authority to manage the fish and wildlife \n found within the State, and carries out sound programs of fish \n and wildlife management.\n (b) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States that in \nperforming duties under Federal law, all Federal agencies that have \nauthority to manage a natural resource or the Federal public land and \nwater on which a natural resource depends shall exercise the authority, \nconsistent with section 3(e), in a manner so as to support, promote, \nand enhance hunting and fishing opportunities to the extent permitted \nunder State law and regulation and in accordance with applicable \nFederal law.\n\nSEC. 3. TAKING OF FISH AND WILDLIFE ON FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS.\n\n (a) In General.--Federal public land and water shall be open to \naccess and use for fishing and hunting except--\n (1) as limited by the State in which the Federal public \n land or water is located; or\n (2) as limited by the Federal agency responsible for the \n Federal public land or water--\n (A) for reasons of national security;\n (B) for reasons of public safety; or\n (C) for reasons specifically authorized in \n applicable statutes.\n (b) Limitations on Terms of Federal Closure to Fishing or \nHunting.--\n (1) Limitation on duration.--Any closure of Federal public \n land or water to fishing or hunting may continue in effect only \n during the period in which the specific circumstances for which \n the closure is established exist.\n (2) Rule of construction.--Any authority of a Federal \n agency to close particular land or water to hunting or fishing \n shall not be construed as authority to protect or manage fish \n or wildlife.\n (c) Certain Federal Public Land and Water Administered by the \nNational Park Service.--Nothing in this Act shall compel the opening to \nhunting or fishing of national parks or national monuments administered \nby the National Park Service.\n (d) No Priority.--This section does not require a Federal agency to \ngive preference to fishing or hunting over other uses of Federal public \nland or water or land or water management priorities established in \nFederal law.\n (e) Authority of the States.--\n (1) In general.--Nothing in this Act impairs the primacy of \n State authority in regulating the taking of fish and wildlife \n on land or water within the State, including Federal public \n land or water.\n (2) Federal authority.--Except as expressly provided by Act \n of Congress, the authority of a Federal agency regarding the \n taking of fish and wildlife on Federal public land or water \n managed by the Federal agency shall be no greater than the \n rights of a private owner of land or water.\n\nSEC. 4. PROTECTION OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE SPORTSMEN'S TRUST ACCOUNTS.\n\n (a) Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act.--The Act entitled ``An \nAct to provide that the United States shall aid the States in wildlife-\nrestoration projects, and for other purposes'', approved September \n2, 1937 (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.; commonly known as the Federal Aid in \nWildlife Restoration Act), is amended--\n (1) by striking ``Secretary of Agriculture'' each place it \n appears and inserting ``Secretary of the Interior''; and\n (2) in section 4 by adding at the end the following:\n ``(c) The amount of funding made available to the Secretary of the \nInterior for expenses under this section shall not be available for use \nas a supplement to decreased funding for any other expense under the \nauthority of the Secretary of the Interior.''.\n (b) Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act.--Section 4 of the Act \nentitled ``An Act to provide that the United States shall aid the \nStates in fish restoration and management projects, and for other \npurposes'', approved August 9, 1950 (16 U.S.C. 777c; commonly known as \nthe Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act), is amended by adding at the \nend the following:\n ``(f) The amount of funding made available to the Secretary of the \nInterior for expenses under this section shall not be available for use \nas a supplement to decreased funding for any other expense under the \nauthority of the Secretary of the Interior.''.\n\nSEC. 5. EVALUATION OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT EFFECTS.\n\n (a) Statement.--No Federal agency action that may significantly \ndiminish opportunities or access to engage in fishing or hunting on \nFederal public land or water shall be effective until the agency \nprepares a detailed statement evaluating the effect of the action on \nfishing and hunting.\n (b) Notice and Hearing.--Before taking an action described in \nsubsection (a), a Federal agency shall--\n (1) provide notice of the proposed agency action to the \n appropriate State agency responsible for the conduct or \n oversight of fish and wildlife management; and\n (2) conduct a public hearing in the vicinity of the \n proposed action.\n (c) Judicial Review.--An individual or entity that may be adversely \naffected by a loss of fishing or hunting opportunities on Federal \npublic land or water as a result of an agency action described in \nsubsection (a) may bring a civil action in a United States district \ncourt for review of the adequacy of the statement required in \nsubsection (a).\n (d) Emergencies.--Nothing in this section precludes an agency from \nexercising statutory authority to close Federal public land or water in \nan emergency or other exigent circumstances.\n (e) Effect on Other Law.--Nothing in this section affects or has \napplication to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.) or \nthe Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. \n1801 et seq.).\n\nSEC. 6. CIVIL ACTIONS.\n\n (a) Intervention.--A person interested in participating in fishing \nor hunting shall be entitled to intervene as a matter of right in a \ncivil action brought under any other Federal law relating to the use of \nany Federal public land or water in which the plaintiff seeks an order \nthat would require the use (or nonuse) of the land or water in such a \nmanner as to impair access to or use of the land or water for the \npurpose of fishing or hunting as required by this Act.\n (b) Consideration of Interests.--If an intervenor under subsection \n(a) shows that the application of another Federal law as sought by the \nplaintiff would be likely to impair access to or use of the Federal \npublic land or water for the purpose of fishing or hunting as required \nby this Act, the court shall not grant the relief sought unless the \nplaintiff shows that the interest intended to be advanced by the other \nFederal law clearly outweighs the interest of protecting access to and \nuse of Federal public land or water for fishing and hunting.\n (c) State Deemed Indispensable Party.--In any civil action brought \nin any United States district court under any other Federal law \nrelating to the use of any Federal public land or water, a State is \ndeemed an indispensable party if management by the State of fish and \nresident wildlife, including hunting and fishing, would be curtailed or \nif opportunities provided by the State for hunting and fishing would be \nreduced or eliminated by a grant of preliminary or final relief.\n\nSEC. 7. STANDING TO BRING A CIVIL ACTION.\n\n An individual who is licensed by a State to engage in fishing or \nhunting, or an organization representing the interests of such \nindividuals, may bring a civil action in a United States district court \nto seek declaratory or injunctive relief regarding the implementation \nof any provision of this Act, including a declaration that a civil \naction brought by another person may significantly disrupt or eliminate \nopportunities for fishing or hunting and an injunction against the \nprosecution of the civil action.\n\nSEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.\n\n As used in this Act:\n (1) Hunting and fishing.--For any State, the terms \n ``hunting'' and ``fishing'' include all means and methods of \n taking fish and wildlife as authorized and regulated by the \n State agency responsible for the conduct or oversight of fish \n and wildlife management.\n (2) Federal public land or water.--The term ``Federal \n public land or water''--\n (A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means \n all lands and waters owned in fee by the United States \n and all property interests owned by the United States \n in land or water, including easements, that are \n administered by--\n (i) the Secretary of the Interior through \n the Bureau of Land Management, the United \n States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National \n Park Service, or the Bureau of Reclamation;\n (ii) the Secretary of Agriculture through \n the United States Forest Service; or\n (iii) the Secretary of Defense through the \n United States Army Corps of Engineers or \n pursuant to the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a et \n seq.); and\n (B) does not include any land or water, or interest \n in land or water, that is part of a national park or \n national monument, administered by the National Park \n Service.", "summary": "Sportsmen's Bill of Rights Act - Requires Federal public land and water to be open to access and use for fishing and hunting except as limited by: (1) the State involved; or (2) the responsible Federal agency for reasons of national security, public safety, or specific authorization. Allows such land to be closed only during the period in which the reasons for such closure exist. \nAmends the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to cooperate with the Secretary of the Interior of Puerto Rico (currently the Secretary of Agriculture of Puerto Rico) in wildlife-restoration projects. Prohibits funds made available to the Secretary for expenses in the administration and execution of wildlife-restoration projects under such Act and the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act from being used as a supplement to decreased funding for any other expense of the Secretary. \nProhibits a Federal agency's action that may significantly diminish opportunities or access to engage in fishing or hunting on Federal public land or water until the agency prepares a detailed statement evaluating the action's effect on fishing and hunting. Provides for judicial review of such action. \nProvides for intervention by an interested person in a civil action relating to the use of Federal public land or water for fishing or hunting. \nProvides standing to seek declaratory or injunctive relief regarding the implementation of this Act for an individual licensed to engage in fishing or hunting, or an organization representing the interests of such individuals.", "title": "Sportsmen's Bill of Rights Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3111, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Protect Our Health Privacy Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) Notification in the Case of Breach.--Paragraph (2) of section \n13402(i) of division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of \n2009 (42 U.S.C. 17932(i)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(2) Information.--The information described in this \n paragraph regarding breaches specified in paragraph (1) shall \n include--\n ``(A) the number and nature of all such breaches, \n including a description of the types of unsecured \n protected health information that were involved in each \n breach;\n ``(B) the identity of the covered entity involved \n in each breach, or if the breach affected less than 500 \n individuals, the kind of covered entity involved (such \n as a health plan, health care clearinghouse, or a \n health care provider who transmits any health \n information in electronic form in connection with a \n transaction covered by this subtitle); and\n ``(C) actions taken in response to such \n breaches.''.\n (b) Report on Compliance.--Section 13424 of division A of the \nAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 17954) is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (a)(1)--\n (A) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as \n follows:\n ``(B) information about such complaints resolved \n informally, including--\n ``(i) the number of such complaints \n resolved informally;\n ``(ii) a summary of the types of complaints \n so resolved, including identification of the \n most common types complaints so resolved, \n categorized by the privacy and security rule \n allegedly violated;\n ``(iii) for each such category, the average \n amount of time between receipt of a complaint \n to resolution of such complaint;\n ``(iv) examples, with entity and patient \n names and other individually identifiable \n health information redacted, of complaints \n resolved informally and the Secretary's \n rationale for resolving such complaints \n informally; and\n ``(v) the number of covered entities that \n received technical assistance from the \n Secretary during such year in order to achieve \n compliance with such provisions and the types \n of such technical assistance provided.'';\n (B) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``and a \n summary of the outcome of such subpoenas or inquiries'' \n after ``inquiries issued'';\n (C) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``following \n year; and'' and inserting ``following year and \n enforcement priorities for the succeeding year;'';\n (D) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at \n the end and inserting a semicolon; and\n (E) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(H) the number of State attorney general actions \n that were pursued under this subtitle and notice of \n which was provided to the Secretary pursuant to section \n 1176(d)(4) of the Social Security Act; and\n ``(I) the number of health privacy or health \n security or data breach complaints referred to the \n Attorney General, including--\n ``(i) whether the Attorney General declined \n enforcement; and\n ``(ii) the number of complaints referred to \n the Attorney General but returned to the \n Secretary for enforcement and a summary of \n enforcement actions taken by the Secretary with \n respect to such complaints, including informal \n resolutions, civil monetary penalties, \n resolution agreements or settlements, or \n voluntary compliance actions.''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(g) Annual Studies.--\n ``(1) In general.--For the first year beginning after the \n date of enactment of the Protect Our Health Privacy Act, and \n every year thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit to the \n Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on \n the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report \n concerning complaints of alleged violations described in \n section 1177 of the Social Security Act, including violations \n of the provisions of this subtitle relating to privacy and \n security of health information, that were referred to the \n Department of Justice by the Department of Health and Human \n Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or another State \n or Federal agency during the year for which the report is being \n prepared.\n ``(2) Requirements.--Each report required under paragraph \n (1) shall--\n ``(A) be made available to the public on the \n websites of the Department of Justice and the \n Department of Health and Human Services; and\n ``(B) include, with respect to complaints received \n during the year for which the report is being \n prepared--\n ``(i) the total number of complaints \n received;\n ``(ii) the number of complaints received \n that were eligible for criminal enforcement; \n and\n ``(iii) of the complaints described in \n clause (ii), a summary of how each complaint \n was resolved that--\n ``(I) includes the rationale for \n declining enforcement, if applicable; \n and\n ``(II) does not identify the \n patients, individuals, or entities \n involved.''.\n\nSEC. 3. ENCRYPTION FOR PORTABLE MEDIA.\n\n (a) Guidance Regarding Unsecured Protected Health Information.--\n (1) In general.--Section 13402(h)(2) of division A of the \n American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. \n 17932(h)(2)) is amended by inserting ``, including protected \n health information stored on portable media (as defined by the \n Secretary, which shall include thumb drives, laptop computers, \n tablet computers, and other similar devices),'' after \n ``protected health information''.\n (2) Applicable.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall \n apply to updated guidance issued under section 13402(h)(2) of \n division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of \n 2009 (42 U.S.C. 17932(h)(2)) after the date of enactment of \n this Act.\n (b) Portable Media Encryption Requirement.--\n (1) In general.--Section 13401 of division A of the \n American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. \n 17931) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(d) Portable Media Encryption Requirement.--Not later than 1 year \nafter the date of enactment of the Protect Our Health Privacy Act, the \nSecretary shall issue regulations to require covered entities and \nbusiness associates to render protected health information that is \nstored on portable media (as defined by the Secretary, which shall \ninclude thumb drives, laptop computers, tablet computers, and other \nsimilar devices) unusable, unreadable, or indecipherable to \nunauthorized individuals.''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 13401(b) of such Act (42 \n U.S.C. 17931(b)) is amended by inserting ``or (d)'' after \n ``subsection (a)''.\n\nSEC. 4. USE OF DATA IN BUSINESS ASSOCIATE CONTRACTS; APPLICATION OF \n MINIMUM NECESSARY STANDARD TO BUSINESS ASSOCIATES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 13404 of division A of the American \nRecovery and Reinvestment Act (42 U.S.C. 17934) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following:\n ``(d) Use of Data in Business Associate Contracts; Application of \nMinimum Necessary Standard to Business Associates.--\n ``(1) Limitation on scope and use of protected health \n information.--As required by section 164.504(e) of title 45, \n Code of Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of \n this subsection), any business associate agreement between a \n covered entity and a business associate shall limit the use of \n protected health information by such business associate--\n ``(A) to only such information as necessary for the \n performance of the service or function that the covered \n entity has contracted with the business associate to \n perform on behalf of the covered entity; and\n ``(B) to only those uses that are necessary for the \n performance of the service or function described in \n subparagraph (A).\n ``(2) Application of minimum necessary standard to business \n associates.--Section 164.502(b) of title 45, Code of Federal \n Regulations shall apply to a business associate of a covered \n entity in the same manner that such section applies to the \n covered entity. The additional requirements of this title that \n relate to the minimum necessary standard with respect to the \n use, disclosure, and request of protected health information \n that are made applicable with respect to covered entities shall \n also be applicable to such a business associate and shall be \n incorporated into the business associate agreement between the \n business associate and the covered entity.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (c) of such section 13404 (42 \nU.S.C. 17934) is amended by striking ``(a) or (b)'' and inserting \n``(a), (b), or (d)(2)''.\n (c) Clarification.--Nothing in subsection (d)(2) of section 13404 \nof division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (42 U.S.C. \n17934) (as amended by subsection (a)) affects the application of the \nminimum necessary standard to business associates pursuant to section \n164.504(e) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to \ncontracts and other arrangements between business associates and \ncovered entities) as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 5. HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE.\n\n Title XXX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300jj et \nseq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 3022. HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of \nenactment of the Protect Our Health Privacy Act, the Secretary shall \nissue regulations to improve the safety, interoperability, and utility \nof health information technology systems.\n ``(b) Content.--The regulations issued under subsection (a) shall \ninclude--\n ``(1) a system to track the effect of health information \n technology on the health of patients; and\n ``(2) minimum quality and risk management requirements for \n health information technology vendors.\n ``(c) Health Information Technology Adverse Health Event \nReporting.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall designate an agency \n within the Department of Health and Human Services to \n promulgate regulations relating to a health information \n technology adverse health event reporting program and database. \n The Department shall consider definitions and standards \n developed by the National Quality Forum before promulgating \n such regulations.\n ``(2) Content.--The regulations promulgated under paragraph \n (1) shall include mandatory submission of adverse health event \n reports by health information technology vendors and voluntary \n submission of adverse health event reports by users of health \n information, including patients and their family caregivers.\n ``(3) Use of reports.--The agency designated under \n paragraph (1) shall analyze adverse health event reports and \n report findings and recommendations to the applicable industry \n and policymakers.\n ``(4) Protection of reports.--The agency designated under \n paragraph (1) shall remove identifying information if adverse \n health event reports are made public. An adverse health event \n report may not be admitted or used in any action in a Federal \n or State court or any Federal or State administrative \n proceeding as evidence of fault, liability, or occurrence of an \n adverse health event.\n ``(5) Annual report.--The agency designated under paragraph \n (1) shall use the database established under such paragraph to \n submit to Congress an annual report regarding the use and \n safety of health information technology.''.", "summary": "Protect Our Health Privacy Act - Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to expand requirements for reports to Congress on acquisition or disclosure of unsecured protected health information in a breach to include: (1) descriptions of types of such information involved in each breach; and (2) the identity of the covered entity involved in each breach or, if the breach affected fewer than 500 individuals, the kind of covered entity involved.\n\nRevises requirements for the annual compliance report concerning informally resolved complaints of violations relating to privacy and security of health information to require: (1) a summary of the most common types of complaints resolved, (2) statements of the average amount of time between receipt of a complaint to its resolution by category and examples, (3) additional reporting of federal and state enforcement actions and priorities.\n\nRequires the Attorney General to report annually to Congress, and to publish, a study of complaints of alleged violations concerning wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), or another state or federal agency.\n\nIncludes portable media devices in guidance issued by the Secretary concerning technologies and methodologies rendering protected health information unusable by unauthorized individuals. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations requiring covered entities and their business associates to render protected health information stored on such media unusable by unauthorized individuals.\n\nProvides rules for application of regulations concerning health information privacy to use by business associates of covered entities.\n\nAmends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to issue regulations to improve the safety, interoperability, and utility of health information technology systems, including: (1) a system to track the effect of health information technology on patients' health, and (2) minimum quality and risk management requirements for technology vendors.\n\nRequires promulgation of regulations by an HHS-designated agency concerning a health information technology adverse health event reporting program and database and reports by such agency on its findings to industry and policymakers.", "title": "A bill to amend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with respect to the privacy of protected health information."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 66, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Climate Change Investment Act of \n2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. REPEAL OF TAX SUBSIDIES FOR THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.\n\n (a) Repeal of Election To Expense Certain Refineries.--\n (1) Subparagraph (B) of section 179C(c)(2) of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``January 1, 2012'' \n and inserting ``the date of the enactment of the Climate Change \n Investment Act of 2006''.\n (2) Paragraph (2) of section 179C(c) of such Code is \n amended by striking ``January 1, 2008'' each place it appears \n and inserting ``the date of the enactment of the Climate Change \n Investment Act of 2006''.\n (b) Repeal of Amortization of Geological and Geophysical \nExpenditures.--Subsection (h) of section 167 of such Code is amended by \nadding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(5) Termination.--This subsection shall not apply to any \n expenses paid or incurred in any taxable year beginning after \n the date of the enactment of this Act.''.\n (c) Repeal of Enhanced Oil Recovery Credit.--Section 43 of such \nCode (relating to enhanced oil recovery credit) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following new subsection:\n ``(f) Termination.--This section shall not apply to taxable years \nbeginning after the date of the enactment of this subsection.''.\n (d) Repeal of Credit for Production of Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel.--\nSection 45H of such Code (relating to credit for production of low \nsulfur diesel fuel) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubsection:\n ``(h) Termination.--This section shall not apply to taxable years \nbeginning after the date of the enactment of this subsection.''.\n (e) Repeal of Credit for Producing Fuel From a Nonconventional \nSource.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code \nis amended by striking section 45K (relating to credit for producing \nfuel from a nonconventional source).\n (f) Repeal of Deduction for Capital Costs Incurred in Complying \nWith Environmental Protection Agency Sulfur Regulations.--Section 179B \nof such Code (relating to deduction for capital costs incurred in \ncomplying with Environmental Protection Agency sulfur regulations) is \namended by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(f) Termination.--This section shall not apply to taxable years \nbeginning after the date of the enactment of this subsection.''.\n (g) Repeal of Certain Intangible Drilling and Development Costs.--\nSubsection (c) of section 263 of such Code (relating to intangible \ndrilling and development costs in the case of oil and gas wells and \ngeothermal wells) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsentence: ``This subsection shall not apply to costs incurred after the \ndate of the enactment of this sentence with respect to any oil or gas \nwell.''.\n (h) Repeal of Certain Oil and Gas Provisions.--\n (1) In general.--Part I of subchapter I of chapter 1 of \n such Code (relating to deductions) is amended by adding at the \n end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 618. OIL AND GAS LIMITATION.\n\n ``This part shall not apply with respect to any expenditure which \nrelates to any oil or gas well and which is paid or incurred after the \ndate of the enactment of this section.''.\n (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for part I \n of subchapter I of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding \n at the end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 618. Oil and gas limitation.''.\n (i) Effective Date.--\n (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the \n amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date \n of the enactment of this Act.\n (2) Repeal of credit for producing fuel from a \n nonconventional source.--The amendment made by subsection (e) \n shall apply with respect to fuels sold or produced after the \n date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. GREENHOUSE GAS INTENSITY REDUCTION INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \n(relating to business-related credits) is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new section:\n\n``SEC. 45N. GREENHOUSE GAS INTENSITY REDUCTION INVESTMENT CREDIT.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 38, in the case \n of a taxpayer's investment in a greenhouse gas intensity \n reduction project approved by the Secretary of Energy, the \n greenhouse gas intensity reduction investment credit determined \n under this section for the taxable year is an amount equal to--\n ``(A) the percentage reduction in greenhouse gas \n intensity certified for such project for such year by \n the Secretary of Energy, multiplied by\n ``(B) the investment in such project during such \n year which is attributable, directly or indirectly, to \n the taxpayer, as determined by the Secretary of Energy.\n ``(2) Aggregate dollar limitation.--The credit determined \n under paragraph (1) for any taxable year, when added to any \n credit allowed to the taxpayer with respect to the such project \n in any preceding taxable year, shall not exceed 50 percent of \n the investment attributable to the taxpayer with respect to \n such project through such taxable year.\n ``(b) Limitation on Aggregate Credit Allowable.--\n ``(1) In general.--The amount of the greenhouse gas \n intensity reduction investment credit determined under \n subsection (a) for any project, when added to all such credits \n allowed to all taxpayers with respect to the such project shall \n not exceed the credit dollar amount allocated to such project \n under this subsection by the Secretary of Energy from the \n greenhouse gas intensity reduction investment credit limitation \n for the calendar year in which such allocation is made.\n ``(2) Time for making allocation.--An allocation shall be \n taken into account under paragraph (1) only if it is made not \n later than the close of the calendar year in which the \n greenhouse gas intensity reduction project proposal with \n respect to such project is approved by the Secretary of Energy.\n ``(3) Overall limitation on aggregate credit allowable.--\n The Secretary of Energy may allocate the aggregate credit \n dollar amount to any such project for a period not to exceed a \n 10-year period beginning with the calendar year described in \n paragraph (2).\n ``(c) Limitation on Amount of Credits Allocated.--\n ``(1) In general.--There is a greenhouse gas intensity \n reduction investment credit limitation amount for each calendar \n year. Except as provided in paragraph (2), such limitation \n amount is $600,000,000 for each of calendar years 2008 through \n 2012, and zero thereafter.\n ``(2) Carryover of unused issuance limitation.--If for any \n calendar year the limitation amount imposed by paragraph (1) \n exceeds the amount of greenhouse gas intensity reduction \n investment credits allocated during such year, such excess \n shall be carried forward to the succeeding calendar year as an \n addition to the limitation imposed by paragraph (1).\n ``(d) Greenhouse Gas Intensity Reduction Project; Greenhouse Gas \nIntensity.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Greenhouse gas intensity reduction project.--The term \n `greenhouse gas intensity reduction project' means any project \n approved under this section by the Secretary of Energy. Such \n approval shall be based on the following criteria:\n ``(A) The extent of the reduction in greenhouse gas \n intensity proposed for the project.\n ``(B) Improvements in system efficiency.\n ``(C) In the case of projects located outside the \n United States, the extent of technology transfer.\n ``(D) The existence and nature of agreements for \n sharing project benefits and liability between the \n taxpayer and any host government.\n ``(2) Greenhouse gas intensity.--The greenhouse gas \n intensity for any period is equal to the volume of emissions \n divided by the economic activity associated with a project.\n ``(e) Recapture of Credit in Certain Cases.--\n ``(1) In general.--If, at any time during the 20-year \n period of a greenhouse gas intensity reduction project, there \n is a recapture event with respect to such project, then the tax \n imposed by this chapter for the taxable year in which such \n event occurs shall be increased by the credit recapture amount.\n ``(2) Credit recapture amount.--For purposes of paragraph \n (1)--\n ``(A) In general.--The credit recapture amount is \n an amount equal to the recapture percentage of all \n greenhouse gas intensity reduction investment credits \n previously allowable to a taxpayer with respect to any \n investment in such project that is attributable to such \n taxpayer.\n ``(B) Recapture percentage.--The recapture \n percentage shall be 100 percent if the recapture event \n occurs during the first 5 years of the project, 75 \n percent if the recapture event occurs during the second \n 5 years of the project, 50 percent if the recapture \n event occurs during the third 5 years of the project, \n 25 percent if the recapture event occurs during the \n fourth 5 years of the project, and 0 percent if the \n recapture event occurs at any time after the 20th year \n of the project.\n ``(3) Recapture event.--For purposes of paragraph (1), \n there is a recapture event with respect to a greenhouse gas \n intensity reduction project if--\n ``(A) the taxpayer violates a term or condition of \n the approval of the project by the Secretary of Energy \n at any time,\n ``(B) the taxpayer adopts a practice which the \n Secretary of Energy has specified in its approval of \n the project as a practice which would tend to defeat \n the purposes of the program, or\n ``(C) the taxpayer disposes of any ownership \n interest arising out of its investment that the \n Secretary of Energy has determined is attributable to \n the project, unless the Secretary of Energy determines \n that such disposition will not have any adverse effect \n on the greenhouse gas intensity reduction project.\n If an event which otherwise would be a recapture event is \n outside the control of the taxpayer, as determined by the \n Secretary of Energy, such event shall not be treated as a \n recapture event with respect to such taxpayer.\n ``(4) Special rules.--\n ``(A) Tax benefit rule.--The tax for the taxable \n year shall be increased under paragraph (1) only with \n respect to credits allowed by reason of this section \n which were used to reduce tax liability. In the case of \n credits not so used to reduce tax liability, the \n carryforwards and carrybacks under section 39 shall be \n appropriately adjusted.\n ``(B) No credits against tax.--Any increase in tax \n under this subsection shall not be treated as a tax \n imposed by this chapter for purposes of determining the \n amount of any credit under this chapter or for purposes \n of section 55.\n ``(f) Disallowance of Double Benefit.--\n ``(1) Basis reduction.--The basis of any investment in a \n greenhouse gas intensity reduction project shall be reduced by \n the amount of any credit determined under this section with \n respect to such investment.\n ``(2) Charitable deduction disallowed.--No deduction shall \n be allowed to a taxpayer under section 170 with respect to any \n contribution which the Secretary of Energy certifies to the \n Secretary of the Treasury constitutes an investment in a \n greenhouse gas intensity reduction project that is attributable \n to such taxpayer.\n ``(g) Certification to Treasury.--The Secretary of Energy shall \ncertify to the Secretary of the Treasury before January 31 of each year \nwith respect to each taxpayer which has made an investment in a \ngreenhouse gas intensity reduction project--\n ``(1) the amount of the greenhouse gas intensity reduction \n investment credit allowable to such taxpayer for the preceding \n calendar year,\n ``(2) whether a recapture event occurred with respect to \n such taxpayer during the preceding calendar year, and\n ``(3) the credit recapture amount, if any, with respect to \n such taxpayer for the preceding calendar year.\n ``(h) Regulations.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe \nsuch regulations as may be appropriate to carry out this section, \nincluding regulations--\n ``(1) which limit the credit for investments which are \n directly or indirectly subsidized by other Federal benefits,\n ``(2) which prevent the abuse of the provisions of this \n section through the use of related parties, and\n ``(3) which impose appropriate reporting requirements.''.\n (b) Credit Made Part of General Business Credit.--Subsection (b) of \nsection 38 is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (29), \nby striking the period at the end of paragraph (30) and inserting ``, \nand'', and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(31) the greenhouse gas intensity reduction investment \n credit determined under section 45N(a).''.\n (c) Deduction for Unused Credit.--Subsection (c) of section 196 is \namended by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (12), by striking \nthe period at the end of paragraph (13) and inserting ``, and'', and by \nadding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(14) the greenhouse gas intensity reduction investment \n credit determined under section 45N(a).''.\n (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new item:\n\n``Sec. 45N. Greenhouse gas intensity reduction investment credit.''.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to investments made after December 31, 2007.", "summary": "Climate Change Investment Act of 2006 - Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code allowing: (1) an election to expense the cost of certain liquid fuel processing refineries; (2) accelerated amortization of geological and geophysical expenditures; (3) a tax credit for enhanced oil recovery costs; (4) a tax credit for the production of low sulfur diesel fuel; (5) a tax credit for producing fuel from a nonconventional source; (6) a tax deduction for capital costs incurred in complying with certain sulfur regulations; (7) a tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs for oil and gas wells and geothermal wells; and (8) tax deductions for certain oil and gas well expenditures.\n\nAllows a business-related tax credit for investment in a greenhouse gas intensity reduction project approved by the Secretary of Energy.", "title": "To repeal tax subsidies enacted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for oil and gas and certain other oil and gas subsidies in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and to establish a greenhouse gas intensity reduction investment tax credit."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1456, "text": "SECTION 1. REDUCTIONS IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO MULTIEMPLOYER PLANS TO \n IMPLEMENT SELF-HELP MEASURES ADOPTED BY LABOR AND \n MANAGEMENT.\n\n (a) Amendments to ERISA.--Section 305 of the Employee Retirement \nIncome Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1085) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following:\n ``(i) Discretion To Accept Reduced Contributions.--\n ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n this section, during the funding plan adoption period, funding \n improvement period, rehabilitation plan adoption period, and \n the rehabilitation period, the Pension Benefit Guaranty \n Corporation may permit a plan sponsor to accept from an \n employer a ratified collective bargaining agreement with \n respect to the multiemployer plan that provides for a reduction \n in the level of contributions made by a contributing employer \n and appropriate reduction in level of future benefit accruals \n for any participants for a period of not more than 5 years (or \n such shorter period as determined by such Corporation) provided \n that such Corporation determines that--\n ``(A) the contributing employer will be unable to \n pay its debts when due and will be unable to continue \n business without a reduction in its contribution rates;\n ``(B) the aggregate withdrawal liability of the \n contributing employer with respect to all multiemployer \n pension plans exceeds $750,000,000, or such lower \n amount as determined to be appropriate by such \n Corporation;\n ``(C) there is substantial doubt as to the \n collectability of the withdrawal liability if the \n contributing employer were to withdraw from the plan;\n ``(D) the reduced contributions are not reasonably \n expected to have an adverse effect on the deficit of \n such Corporation;\n ``(E) other creditors, stakeholders, and other \n parties to which the contributing employer is obligated \n have accepted reductions that are comparable to those \n of the pension plan; and\n ``(F) such other conditions are satisfied as may be \n imposed in accordance with regulations prescribed by \n such Corporation.\n ``(2) Impact on withdrawal liability determinations.--Any \n reduction in the level of contributions under this subsection \n shall be disregarded in determining any limitation on annual \n payments under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 4219(c)(1) \n and in determining withdrawal liability under section 4201 with \n respect to the employer subject to the reduced contribution \n rate.''.\n (b) Amendments to Internal Revenue Code.--Section 432 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following:\n ``(i) Discretion To Accept Reduced Contributions.--\n ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n this section, during the funding plan adoption period, funding \n improvement period, rehabilitation plan adoption period, and \n the rehabilitation period, the Pension Benefit Guaranty \n Corporation may permit a plan sponsor to accept from an \n employer a ratified collective bargaining agreement with \n respect to the multiemployer plan that provides for a reduction \n in the level of contributions made by a contributing employer \n and appropriate reduction in level of future benefit accruals \n for any participants for a period of not more than 5 years (or \n such shorter period as determined by such Corporation) provided \n that such Corporation determines that--\n ``(A) the contributing employer will be unable to \n pay its debts when due and will be unable to continue \n business without a reduction in its contribution rates;\n ``(B) the aggregate withdrawal liability of the \n contributing employer with respect to all multiemployer \n pension plans exceeds $750,000,000, or such lower \n amount as determined by such Corporation;\n ``(C) there is substantial doubt as to the \n collectability of the withdrawal liability if the \n contributing employer were to withdraw from the plan;\n ``(D) the reduced contributions are not reasonably \n expected to have an adverse effect on the deficit of \n such Corporation;\n ``(E) other creditors, stakeholders, and other \n parties to which the contributing employer is obligated \n have accepted reductions that are comparable to those \n of the pension plan; and\n ``(F) such other conditions are satisfied as may be \n imposed in accordance with regulations prescribed by \n such Corporation.\n ``(2) Impact on withdrawal liability determinations.--Any \n reduction in the level of contributions under this subsection \n shall be disregarded in determining any limitation on annual \n payments under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 4219(c)(1) \n of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and in \n determining withdrawal liability under section 4201 of such Act \n with respect to the employer subject to the reduced \n contribution rate.''.\n (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 4971(g)(4)(C)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code \n of 1986 is amended by striking ``432(i)(9)'' and inserting \n ``432(j)(9)''.\n (2) Sections 101(f)(2)(B) and 103(f)(1)(B) of the Employee \n Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1021(f)(2)(B) \n and 1023(f)(1)(B)) are each amended by striking ``305(i)'' each \n place such term appears and inserting ``305(j)''.", "summary": "Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), provided certain conditions are met, to allow the sponsor of an underfunded multiemployer benefit plan to accept from an employer a ratified collective bargaining agreement that provides for a reduction in plan employer contributions as well as appropriate reduction in the level of future benefit accruals for plan participants for up to five years during the plan funding adoption period, funding improvement period, rehabilitation adoption period, and rehabilitation period.\n\nConditions such an allowance upon the PBGC's determination that: (1) the contributing employer will be unable to pay its debts when due and to continue business without a reduction in its contribution rates; (2) the contributing employer's aggregate withdrawal liability with respect to all multiemployer pension plans exceeds $750 million (or an appropriate lower amount as the PBGC may determine); (3) the collectability of the withdrawal liability is very doubtful if the contributing employer were to withdraw from the plan; (4) the reduced contributions are not reasonably expected to have an adverse effect on the PBGC deficit; and (5) other creditors, stakeholders, and parties to which the contributing employer is obligated have accepted comparable reductions.", "title": "To provide for private-sector solutions to certain pension funding challenges, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 271, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``American Livestock Protection and \nRanching Opportunity Act of 2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING.\n\n It is the sense of Congress that--\n (1) the overwhelming majority of consumers in the United \n States want to know where animals used to produce the meat \n eaten by the consumers is born, raised, and slaughtered;\n (2) country-of-origin labeling provides information that \n consumers in the United States have a right to know; and\n (3) country-of-origin labeling facilitates supply chain \n information critical for food safety.\n\nSEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON IMPORTATION OF FRESH MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS FROM \n COUNTRIES WITH FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE.\n\n Section 10404 of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8303) \nis amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(d) Prohibition on Importation of Fresh Meat and Meat Products \nFrom Countries With Foot-and-Mouth Disease.--Notwithstanding any other \nprovision of law, until the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture \ncertifies to Congress that a country is free of foot-and-mouth disease \nwithout vaccination, the Secretary may not--\n ``(1) allow the importation of fresh meat or meat products \n from that country; or\n ``(2) initiate, administer, finalize, or enforce any \n rulemaking allowing for the new importation of any fresh meat \n or meat product from that country.''.\n\nSEC. 4. BRUCELLOSIS RESEARCH AND COMPENSATION.\n\n (a) Livestock Disease Initiative.--Title IV of the Agricultural \nResearch, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7624 et \nseq.) is amended by inserting after the title heading the following:\n\n``SEC. 401. LIVESTOCK DISEASE INITIATIVE.\n\n ``(a) In General.--There is established in the Department a \nlivestock disease initiative under which the Secretary shall provide to \neligible entities competitive grants for research and development \ndescribed in subsection (d).\n ``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under \nthis section, an entity shall be--\n ``(1) a Federal agency;\n ``(2) a National Laboratory;\n ``(3) an institution of higher education;\n ``(4) a research institution; or\n ``(5) a State agricultural experiment station.\n ``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the \nSecretary shall give priority to research and development relating to \nbovine brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, and other zoonotic diseases in \nlivestock that are covered by a high-priority research and extension \ninitiative authorized under section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, \nConservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925).\n ``(d) Use of Grants.--An entity that receives a grant under this \nsection shall use the grant to conduct research and development \nrelating to surveillance methods, vaccines, vaccination delivery \nsystems, or diagnostic tests for diseases in domestic livestock that \npresent a potential concern to public health and safety, as determined \nby the Secretary.\n ``(e) Matching Funds.--\n ``(1) In general.--In awarding grants under this section, \n the Secretary may give priority to proposals from eligible \n entities that provide matching funds for the grants in a manner \n as determined by the Secretary, but shall not require eligible \n entities to have matching funds as a requirement of being \n awarded a grant.\n ``(2) Exemption.--The matching funds requirement under \n section 1492 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, \n and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3371) shall not apply \n in the case of a grant awarded under this section.\n ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal \nyears 2015 through 2018.''.\n (b) Assistance for Losses Due to Brucellosis.--Section 1501(c) of \nthe Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(c)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``or brucellosis'' \n after ``fire condition'' both places it appears;\n (2) in paragraph (2)--\n (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the \n end;\n (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at \n the end and inserting ``; or''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(C) brucellosis, as described in paragraph \n (6).''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(6) Assistance for losses due to brucellosis.--\n ``(A) In general.--An eligible livestock producer \n may receive assistance under this paragraph only if the \n grazing losses occur due to quarantine of livestock \n under section 10407 of the Farm Security and Rural \n Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8306) due to \n brucellosis infection in the Greater Yellowstone \n Designated Surveillance Area, as determined by the \n Secretary.\n ``(B) Payment rate.--The payment rate for \n assistance under this paragraph shall be equal to 60 \n percent of the monthly feed cost (as determined under \n paragraph (3)(C)) for the total number of livestock of \n the eligible livestock producer subject to \n quarantine.''.\n\nSEC. 5. LIVESTOCK INDEMNITY PAYMENTS.\n\n Section 1501(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(b)) \nis amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:\n ``(2) Payment rates.--Indemnity payments to an eligible \n producer on a farm under paragraph (1) shall be made at a rate \n of 75 percent of the higher of, as determined by the \n Secretary--\n ``(A) the market value of the applicable livestock \n on the earliest day that information is available to \n the Secretary; or\n ``(B) the applicable nationwide price of the \n applicable livestock for the previous calendar year.''.\n\nSEC. 6. LIVESTOCK FORAGE DISASTER PROGRAM.\n\n Section 1501(c)(3)(C) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. \n9081(c)(3)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(iv) High-value forage.--The Secretary \n may provide for a price adjustment in the \n monthly feed cost in the case of high-value \n forage, as determined by the Secretary.''.", "summary": "American Livestock Protection and Ranching Opportunity Act of 2014 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: the majority of consumers in the United States want to know where animals used to produce the meat eaten are born, raised, and slaughtered; country-of-origin labeling provides information that consumers have a right to know; and country-of-origin labeling facilitates supply chain information critical for food safety. Amends the Animal Health Protection Act to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) from allowing or advancing regulations that allow the importation of fresh meat and meat products from a country until the Secretary certifies to Congress that a country is free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination. Amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to establish a USDA livestock disease initiative to provide competitive grants for research and development related to surveillance methods, vaccines, vaccination delivery systems, or diagnostic tests for diseases in domestic livestock that present a potential concern to public health and safety. Makes federal agencies, national laboratories, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and state agricultural experiment stations eligible for grants. Amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to provide eligible livestock producers with assistance for losses due to brucellosis and to alter the payment rates USDA uses to provide agricultural disaster assistance under the Livestock Indemnity Program and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. ", "title": "American Livestock Protection and Ranching Opportunity Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 868, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Justice and Understanding By \nInternational Loan Elimination and Equity Act of 2004'' or the \n``JUBILEE Act of 2004''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Many poor countries have been struggling under the \n burden of international debts for many years.\n (2) Many poor countries have debts that are odious because \n they were incurred by dictatorships that did not use the funds \n in ways that benefitted the population of the country.\n (3) The international Jubilee coalitions have been working \n to raise awareness of the needs of these impoverished countries \n for full debt cancellation.\n (4) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has imposed \n onerous structural adjustment requirements on many poor \n countries as a condition of past loans and of participation in \n debt relief programs.\n (5) Justice requires that these countries receive full \n cancellation of their debts.\n\nSEC. 3. CANCELLATION OF DEBT OWED BY ELIGIBLE POOR COUNTRIES.\n\n Title XVI of the International Financial Institutions Act (22 \nU.S.C. 262p-262p-8) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 1626. CANCELLATION OF DEBT OWED BY ELIGIBLE POOR COUNTRIES.\n\n ``(a) In General.--\n ``(1) Cancellation of debt.--In order to achieve \n multilateral debt cancellation and promote human and economic \n development and poverty alleviation in eligible poor countries, \n the Secretary of the Treasury shall commence immediate efforts, \n within the Paris Club of Official Creditors, the International \n Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Bank for Reconstruction \n and Development (World Bank), and the other international \n financial institutions (as defined in section 1701(c)(2)), to \n accomplish the following:\n ``(A) Each international financial institution \n shall cancel all debts owed to the institution by \n eligible poor countries. To the extent possible, each \n institution shall finance the debt cancellation from \n their ongoing operations, procedures, and accounts.\n ``(B) Any waiting period before receiving debt \n cancellation shall not exceed 1 month from the date of \n an eligible poor country's application for debt \n cancellation.\n ``(C) The government of each eligible poor country \n shall be encouraged to allocate at least 20 percent of \n its national budget, including the savings from the \n cancellation of debt, for the provision of basic health \n care services, education services, and clean water \n services to individuals in the country. In providing \n such services, the government should seek input from a \n broad cross-section of members of civil society.\n ``(2) Establishment of framework for creditor \n transparency.--In order to ensure that creditor activity is \n known and assessed by all stakeholders, the Secretary of the \n Treasury shall commence immediate efforts, within the Paris \n Club of Official Creditors, the International Monetary Fund \n (IMF), the International Bank for Reconstruction and \n Development (World Bank), and the other international financial \n institutions (as so defined), to ensure that each of such \n institutions--\n ``(A) continues to make efforts to promote greater \n transparency regarding the activities of the \n institution, including project design, project \n monitoring and evaluation, project implementation, \n resource allocation, and decisionmaking; and\n ``(B) supports continued efforts to allow informed \n participation and input by affected communities, \n including translation of information on proposed \n projects, provision of information through information \n technology application, oral briefings, and outreach to \n and dialogue with community organizations and \n institutions in affected areas.\n ``(3) Availability on treasury department website of \n remarks of united states executive directors at meetings of \n international financial institutions' boards of directors.--The \n Secretary of the Treasury shall make available on the website \n of the Department of the Treasury the full record of the \n remarks of the United States Executive Director at meetings of \n the Board of Directors of the International Monetary Fund \n (IMF), the International Bank for Reconstruction and \n Development (World Bank), and the other international financial \n institutions (as so defined), about cancellation or reduction \n of debts owed to the institution involved, with redaction by \n the Secretary of the Treasury of material deemed too sensitive \n for public distribution, but showing the topic, amount of \n material redacted, and reason for the redaction.\n ``(4) Report from the comptroller general.--Within 1 year \n after the date of the enactment of this section, the \n Comptroller General of the United States shall prepare and \n submit to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of \n Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and \n Urban Affairs of the Senate a report on the availability of the \n ongoing operations, procedures, and accounts of the \n International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Bank for \n Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), and the other \n international financial institutions (as so defined) for \n canceling the debt of eligible poor countries.\n ``(5) Annual reports from the president.--Not later than \n December 31 of each year, the President shall submit to the \n Committees on Financial Services and on International Relations \n of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Foreign \n Relations and on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the \n Senate a report, which shall be made available to the public, \n on the activities undertaken under this section, and other \n progress made in accomplishing the purposes of this section, \n for the prior fiscal year. The report shall include a list of \n the countries that have received debt cancellation, a list of \n the countries whose request for such debt cancellation has been \n denied and the reasons therefor, and a list of the countries \n whose requests for such debt cancellation are under \n consideration.\n ``(b) Promotion of Equitable Burden Sharing.--In order to promote \nequitable burden sharing by bilateral, multilateral, and private \ncreditors, the Secretary of the Treasury shall commence immediate \nefforts to ensure that such creditors draw upon their own resources to \nfinance debt reduction to the extent possible without diverting funds \nfrom other high-priority poverty alleviation programs.\n ``(c) Eligible Poor Country Defined.--In this section, the term \n`eligible poor country' means Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, \nBotswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African \nRepublic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, \nGambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, \nKenya, Lao PDR, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, \nMozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, \nPhilippines, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, \nSierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, and \nZambia, but not if--\n ``(1) the government of the country has an excessive level \n of military expenditures;\n ``(2) the government of the country has repeatedly provided \n support for acts of international terrorism, as determined by \n the Secretary of State under section 6(j)(1) of the Export \n Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2405(j)(1)), or \n section 620A(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 \n U.S.C. 2371(a));\n ``(3) the government of the country is failing to cooperate \n on international narcotics control matters;\n ``(4) the government of the country (including its military \n or other security forces) engages in a consistent pattern of \n gross violations of internationally recognized human rights; or\n ``(5) in the case of Haiti, the government of the country \n has not been elected through free and fair elections.''.\n\nSEC. 4. PROHIBITION OF STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS.\n\n Title XVI of the International Financial Institutions Act (22 \nU.S.C. 262p-262p-8) is further amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n\n``SEC. 1627. PROHIBITION OF STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS.\n\n ``(a) Prohibition of Structural Adjustment Conditions.--In order to \npromote human and economic development and poverty alleviation in \neligible poor countries (as defined in section 1626(c)), the Secretary \nof the Treasury shall commence immediate efforts within the Paris Club \nof Official Creditors, as well as the International Monetary Fund \n(IMF), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World \nBank), and the other international financial institutions (as defined \nin section 1701(c)(2)), to ensure that the provision of debt \ncancellation to the countries is not conditioned on any agreement by \nsuch a country to implement or comply with policies that deepen poverty \nor degrade the environment, including any policy that--\n ``(1) implements or extends user fees on primary education \n or primary health care, including prevention and treatment \n efforts for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and infant, child, \n and maternal well-being;\n ``(2) provides for increased cost recovery from poor people \n to finance basic public services such as education, health \n care, or sanitation;\n ``(3) would have the effect of increasing the cost to \n consumers with incomes of less than $2 per day for access to \n clean drinking water through--\n ``(A) decreased public subsidy for water supply, \n treatment, disposal, distribution, or management;\n ``(B) reduced intrasectoral or intersectoral \n subsidization of residential water consumers with \n incomes of less than $2 per day;\n ``(C) reduced government ability to regulate; or\n ``(D) mandated privatization of water; or\n ``(4) undermines workers' ability to exercise effectively \n their internationally recognized worker rights, as defined \n under section 526(e) of the Foreign Operations, Export \n Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1995 (22 \n U.S.C. 262p-4p).\n ``(b) Annual Reports to the Congress.--Not later than December 31 \nof each year, the President shall submit to the Committees on Financial \nServices and on International Relations of the House of Representatives \nand the Committees on Foreign Relations and on Banking, Housing, and \nUrban Affairs of the Senate a report, which shall be made available to \nthe public, on the activities undertaken under this section, and other \nprogress made in accomplishing the purposes of this section, for the \nprior fiscal year.''.", "summary": "Justice and Understanding By International Loan Elimination and Equity (JUBILEE) Act of 2004 - Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to commence immediate efforts, within the Paris Club of Official Creditors, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), and other international financial institutions (multilateral development institutions (MDI's)) to accomplish: (1) the cancellation of all debts owed to each institution by specified eligible poor countries, and the financing of such debt cancellation from the institution's ongoing operations, procedures, and accounts; (2) the limitation of any waiting period before receipt of debt cancellation to one month from the date of an eligible poor country's application for it; and (3) encouragement of the government of each eligible poor country to allocate at least 20 percent of its national budget, including the savings from such debt cancellation, for the provision of basic health care services, education services, and clean water services to individuals in the country.\n\nSets forth requirements for: (1) establishment of a framework to ensure transparency regarding each international financial institution's activities; and (2) availability on the Treasury Department's website of U.S. Executive Directors' remarks at meetings of international financial institutions' Boards of Directors.\n\nRequires the Secretary to commence immediate efforts, within the Paris Club, the IMF, and other appropriate MDI's, to ensure that the provision of debt cancellation to such countries is not conditioned on any agreement by such a country to implement or comply with specified policies that deepen poverty or degrade the environment.", "title": "To provide for the cancellation of debts owed to international financial institutions by poor countries, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 179, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Endangered Species Community \nAdvisory Board Act of 1995''.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS UNDER \n ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973.\n\n The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is \namended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n ``community advisory boards\n\n ``Sec. 19. (a) Establishment.--(1) The Secretary shall establish an \nEndangered Species Community Advisory Board (in this section referred \nto as a `community advisory board') in connection with the designation \nof an area under this Act as critical habitat or as a National Wildlife \nRefuge.\n ``(2) Each community advisory board--\n ``(A) shall be comprised of 12 members appointed by the \n Secretary from among individuals recommended by the Governor of \n the State in which is located the area for which the advisory \n board is established; and\n ``(B) shall have as its chairperson a member of the \n advisory board who is an elected official of a local government \n in that area and who is designated as chairperson by the \n Secretary.\n ``(3) The term of a member of a community advisory board shall be 4 \nyears, except that of the members first appointed--\n ``(A) 3 shall be appointed for an initial term of 1 year;\n ``(B) 3 shall be appointed for an initial term of 2 years; \n and\n ``(C) 3 shall be appointed for an initial term of 3 years;\nas specified by the Secretary at the time of appointment.\n ``(4) Individuals who are Federal employees may not comprise a \nmajority of the total number of members of a community advisory board.\n ``(5) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations regarding the \nestablishment, characteristics, composition, and funding of community \nadvisory boards. However, the issuance of regulations shall not be a \nprecondition to the establishment of a community advisory board or \naffect the existence or operation of a community advisory board \nestablished before the effective date of this section.\n ``(6) The Secretary may provide for the payment of routine \nadministrative expenses of a community advisory board established for \nan area from funds available for activities relating to study of the \narea to determine whether to designate the area as critical habitat or \nas a National Wildlife Refuge.\n ``(b) Assistance for Citizen Participation.--(1) Subject to the \navailability of appropriations, the Secretary shall make available \nfunds to facilitate the participation of individuals from the private \nsector on community advisory boards for the purpose of ensuring public \ninput into the designation of areas as critical habitat or National \nWildlife Refuges.\n ``(2) The private individuals who are members of a community \nadvisory board are eligible for funding assistance under this \nsubsection only if they reside in the vicinity of the area for which \nthe community advisory board is established. For accounting and \nfinancial management purposes, such funds shall be paid to and \nadministered by the community advisory board on which the private \nindividuals are members, subject to paragraph (3).\n ``(3) Individuals who are local community members of a community \nadvisory board may use funds made available under this paragraph only--\n ``(A) to obtain technical assistance of experts in \n interpreting scientific data, material, and issues regarding \n protection of endangered species; and\n ``(B) to educate the local community in understanding such \n data, material, and issues.\n ``(c) Consultation by Secretary.--If a community advisory board is \nestablished for an area, the Secretary, before designating any of the \narea under this Act as critical habitat or as a National Wildlife \nRefuge, shall--\n ``(1) consult with and seek the advice and recommendations \n of the board regarding--\n ``(A) identifying the needs and concerns of the \n affected local community and individual landowners;\n ``(B) monitoring scientific studies and surveys \n used to determine the need for designation of the area \n as critical habitat or a National Wildlife Refuge, \n before that designation; and\n ``(C) addressing land use strategies and \n management; and\n ``(2) publish recommendations received from the board \n within 180 days after the date the Secretary initiates \n consultation under paragraph (1).\n ``(d) Monitoring and Reporting by Community Advisory Boards.--Each \ncommunity advisory board shall, with respect to critical habitat or a \nNational Wildlife Refuge for which it was established--\n ``(1) monitor and periodically report to the Secretary on \n progress made in the conservation and recovery of species for \n which that critical habitat or Refuge was designated; and\n ``(2) periodically review and report to the Secretary \n regarding the continued accuracy and sufficiency of the \n scientific findings that were the basis of that designation.\n ``(e) State Defined.--Notwithstanding section 3(17), in this \nsection the term `State' means any of the several States, the District \nof Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the \nVirgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana \nIslands.''.", "summary": "Endangered Species Community Advisory Board Act of 1995 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish an Endangered Species Community Advisory Board in connection with the designation of an area under the Act as critical habitat or as a National Wildlife Refuge. \nAllows the Secretary, subject to the availability of appropriations, to make funds available to facilitate the participation of individuals from the private sector on such Boards to ensure public input into the designation of such areas or Refuges. \nRequires the Board to: (1) monitor and periodically report to the Secretary on progress made in the conservation and recovery of species for which the critical habitat or Refuge was designated; and (2) periodically review and report to the Secretary regarding the continued accuracy and sufficiency of the scientific findings that were the basis of such designation.", "title": "Endangered Species Community Advisory Board Act of 1995"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 214, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``True Cost of War Act of 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. REPORT ON LONG-TERM COSTS OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND \n OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) The United States has been engaged in military \n operations in Afghanistan since October 2001 as Operation \n Enduring Freedom and in military operations in Iraq since March \n 2003 as Operation Iraqi Freedom and its successor contingency \n operation, Operation New Dawn.\n (2) According to the Congressional Research Service, \n through fiscal year 2010, Congress has appropriated \n $1,087,000,000,000 for the Department of Defense, for the State \n Department, and for medical costs paid by the Department of \n Veterans Affairs. This amount includes $751,000,000,000 related \n to operations in Iraq and $336,000,000,000 related to \n operations in Afghanistan.\n (3) Over 90 percent of the funds appropriated for the \n Department of Defense for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan \n have been provided as supplemental or additional appropriations \n and designated as an emergency funding requirement.\n (4) The Congressional Budget Office and the Congressional \n Research Service have stated that future costs for operations \n in Iraq and Afghanistan are difficult to estimate because the \n Department of Defense provides little information on costs \n incurred to date and does not report outlays or actual \n expenditure for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (because war \n and baseline funds are mixed in the same accounts) and because \n of a lack of information from the Department of Defense on many \n of the key factors that determine costs, including personnel \n levels and the pace of operations.\n (5) Over 2,000,000 members of the United States Armed \n Forces have served in Afghanistan and Iraq since the beginning \n of the conflicts.\n (6) Over 4,400 members of the Armed Forces and Department \n of Defense civilian personnel have been killed in Operation \n Iraqi Freedom, and over 1,400 members of the Armed Forces and \n Department of Defense civilian personnel have been killed in \n Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.\n (7) Over 1,620 members of the Armed Forces have suffered \n amputations as a result of wounds or other injuries incurred in \n Afghanistan or Iraq.\n (8) More than 243,685 veterans of military service in Iraq \n and Afghanistan have been treated for mental health conditions, \n more than 66,900 of these veterans have been diagnosed with \n post-traumatic stress disorder, and approximately 178,876 of \n these veterans have a confirmed traumatic brain injury \n diagnosis.\n (9) Approximately 46 percent of veterans of military \n service in Iraq and Afghanistan have sought treatment at a \n Department of Veterans Affairs hospital or medical clinic.\n (10) The Independent Review Group on Rehabilitative Care \n and Administrative Processes at Walter Reed Army Medical Center \n and National Naval Medical Center identified traumatic brain \n injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, increased survival of \n severe burns, and traumatic amputations as the four signature \n wounds of the current conflicts, and the Independent Review \n Group report states that the recovery process ``can take months \n or years and must accommodate recurring or delayed \n manifestations of symptoms, extended rehabilitation and all the \n life complications that emerge over time from such trauma''.\n (b) Report Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of \nthe enactment of this Act, the President, with contributions from the \nSecretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of \nVeterans Affairs, shall submit to Congress a report containing an \nestimate of the long-term costs of Operation New Dawn (the successor \ncontingency operation to Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Operation \nEnduring Freedom for each the following scenarios:\n (1) The scenario in which the number of members of the \n Armed Forces deployed in support of Operation New Dawn and \n Operation Enduring Freedom is reduced from roughly 190,000 in \n 2011 to 150,000 in 2012, 65,000 in 2013, and 30,000 by the \n beginning of 2014, and remains at 30,000 through 2020.\n (2) The scenario in which the number of members of the \n Armed Forces deployed in support of Operation New Dawn and \n Operation Enduring Freedom rises to approximately 235,000 in \n 2011, is reduced to 230,000 in 2012, 195,000 in 2013, 135,000 \n in 2014, 80,000 in 2015, 60,000 in 2016, and remains at 60,000 \n through 2020.\n (3) An alternative scenario, determined by the President \n and based on current contingency operation and withdrawal \n plans, which takes into account expected force levels and the \n expected length of time that members of the Armed Forces will \n be deployed in support of Operation New Dawn and Operation \n Enduring Freedom.\n (c) Estimates To Be Used in Preparation of Report.--In preparing \nthe report required by subsection (b), the President shall make \nestimates and projections through at least fiscal year 2020, adjust any \ndollar amounts appropriately for inflation, and take into account and \nspecify each of the following:\n (1) The total number of members of the Armed Forces \n expected to be deployed in support of Operation New Dawn and \n Operation Enduring Freedom, including--\n (A) the number of members of the Armed Forces \n actually deployed in Southwest Asia in support of \n Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom;\n (B) the number of members of reserve components of \n the Armed Forces called or ordered to active duty in \n the United States for the purpose of training for \n eventual deployment in Southwest Asia, backfilling for \n deployed troops, or supporting other Department of \n Defense missions directly or indirectly related to \n Operation New Dawn or Operation Enduring Freedom; and\n (C) the break-down of deployments of members of the \n regular and reserve components and activation of \n members of the reserve components.\n (2) The number of members of the Armed Forces, including \n members of the reserve components, who have previously served \n in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or \n Operation Enduring Freedom and who are expected to serve \n multiple deployments.\n (3) The number of contractors and private military security \n firms that have been used and are expected to be used during \n the course of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and \n Operation Enduring Freedom.\n (4) The number of veterans currently suffering and expected \n to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain \n injury, or other mental injuries.\n (5) The number of veterans currently in need of and \n expected to be in need of prosthetic care and treatment because \n of amputations incurred during service in support of Operation \n Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or Operation Enduring \n Freedom.\n (6) The current number of pending Department of Veterans \n Affairs claims from veterans of military service in Iraq and \n Afghanistan, and the total number of such veterans expected to \n seek disability compensation from the Department of Veterans \n Affairs.\n (7) The total number of members of the Armed Forces who \n have been killed or wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan, including \n noncombat casualties, the total number of members expected to \n suffer injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the total number \n of members expected to be killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, \n including noncombat casualties.\n (8) The amount of funds previously appropriated for the \n Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the \n Department of Veterans Affairs for costs related to Operation \n Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring \n Freedom, including an account of the amount of funding from \n regular Department of Defense, Department of State, and \n Department of Veterans Affairs budgets that has gone and will \n go to costs associated with such operations.\n (9) Current and future operational expenditures associated \n with Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom, \n including--\n (A) funding for combat operations;\n (B) deploying, transporting, feeding, and housing \n members of the Armed Forces (including fuel costs);\n (C) activation and deployment of members of the \n reserve components of the Armed Forces;\n (D) equipping and training of Iraqi and Afghani \n forces;\n (E) purchasing, upgrading, and repairing weapons, \n munitions, and other equipment consumed or used in \n Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or \n Operation Enduring Freedom; and\n (F) payments to other countries for logistical \n assistance in support of such operations.\n (10) Past, current, and future costs of entering into \n contracts with private military security firms and other \n contractors for the provision of goods and services associated \n with Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation \n Enduring Freedom.\n (11) Average annual cost for each member of the Armed \n Forces deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, \n Operation New Dawn, or Operation Enduring Freedom, including \n room and board, equipment and body armor, transportation of \n troops and equipment (including fuel costs), and operational \n costs.\n (12) Current and future cost of combat-related special pays \n and benefits, including reenlistment bonuses.\n (13) Current and future cost of calling or ordering members \n of the reserve components to active duty in support of \n Operation New Dawn or Operation Enduring Freedom.\n (14) Current and future cost for reconstruction, embassy \n operations and construction, and foreign aid programs for Iraq \n and Afghanistan.\n (15) Current and future cost of bases and other \n infrastructure to support members of the Armed Forces serving \n in Iraq and Afghanistan.\n (16) Current and future cost of providing health care for \n veterans who served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, \n Operation New Dawn, or Operation Enduring Freedom, including--\n (A) the cost of mental health treatment for \n veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder \n and traumatic brain injury, and other mental problems \n as a result of such service; and\n (B) the cost of lifetime prosthetics care and \n treatment for veterans suffering from amputations as a \n result of such service.\n (17) Current and future cost of providing Department of \n Veterans Affairs disability benefits for the lifetime of \n veterans who incur disabilities while serving in support of \n Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, or Operation \n Enduring Freedom.\n (18) Current and future cost of providing survivors' \n benefits to survivors of members of the Armed Forces killed \n while serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation \n New Dawn, or Operation Enduring Freedom.\n (19) Cost of bringing members of the Armed Forces and \n equipment back to the United States upon the conclusion of \n Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom, including \n the cost of demobilization, transportation costs (including \n fuel costs), providing transition services for members of the \n Armed Forces transitioning from active duty to veteran status, \n transporting equipment, weapons, and munitions (including fuel \n costs), and an estimate of the value of equipment that will be \n left behind.\n (20) Cost to restore the military and military equipment, \n including the equipment of the reserve components, to full \n strength after the conclusion of Operation New Dawn or \n Operation Enduring Freedom.\n (21) Amount of money borrowed to pay for Operation Iraqi \n Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom, \n and the sources of that money.\n (22) Interest on money borrowed, including interest for \n money already borrowed and anticipated interest payments on \n future borrowing, for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New \n Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom.", "summary": "True Cost of War Act of 2011 - Directs the President, with contributions from the Secretary of Defense (DOD), the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), to report to Congress an estimate of the long-term costs of Operation New Dawn (the successor contingency operation to Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Operation Enduring Freedom under three specified scenarios based on the number of U.S. troops deployed in such operations, as well as contingency operation and withdrawal plans. Requires the President, in preparing such report, to make estimates and projections through at least FY2020, and to take into account specified cost factors, including: (1) the deployment of U.S. military personnel, contractors, and private security firms; (2) the number of veterans in need of medical or mental health care due to injuries and illnesses; (3) pending veterans' disability compensation claims; (4) total casualties and injuries; (5) current and future operational expenses and related costs; and (6) the amount of money borrowed to pay for such operations, the sources of that money, and the interest on the money borrowed.", "title": "To direct the President to submit to Congress a report on the long-term costs of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1175, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Sound Science for Endangered Species \nAct Planning Act of 2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. SOUND SCIENCE.\n\n (a) Best Scientific and Commercial Data Available as Basis of \nDeterminations.--Section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of \n1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(1)(A)) is amended in the first sentence, by \ninserting ``, including any finding under paragraph (3)(B) on a \npetition referred to in paragraph (3)(A),'' after ``determinations \nrequired by subsection (a)(1)''.\n (b) Preference for Empirical, Field-Tested, and Peer-Reviewed \nData.--Section 4(b) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. \n1533(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(9) In making any determination under this section, the Secretary \nshall give greater weight to any scientific or commercial study or \nother information that is empirical or has been field-tested or peer-\nreviewed.''.\n (c) Contents of Listing Petitions.--\n (1) In general.--Section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species \n Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the \n end the following:\n ``(E) A petition referred to in subparagraph (A) regarding a \nspecies--\n ``(i) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, contain \n clear and convincing evidence--\n ``(I) of the current known and historic ranges of \n the species concerned;\n ``(II) of the most recent population estimates and \n trends for the species, if available;\n ``(III) that any change in the population that is \n alleged in the petition is beyond the natural range of \n fluctuations for the species; and\n ``(IV) of the reason that the petitioned action is \n warranted, including known or perceived threats to the \n species;\n ``(ii) shall include a bibliography of scientific \n literature on the species in support of the petition; and\n ``(iii) may contain any other information the petitioner \n considers appropriate.\n ``(F) For purposes of subparagraph (E), evidence is clear and \nconvincing evidence if--\n ``(i) a preponderance of the evidence is based on reliable \n scientific and commercial information; and\n ``(ii) the evidence is sufficient to support a firm belief \n by the Secretary that the petitioned action may be \n warranted.''.\n (2) Requirement for consideration of petition.--Section \n 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. \n 1533(b)(3)) is further amended--\n (A) in subparagraph (A) in the first sentence, by \n inserting ``and contains the information required under \n clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (E)'' after ``may \n be warranted''; and\n (B) in subparagraph (B) in the matter preceding \n clause (i), by inserting ``and contains the information \n required under clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph \n (E)'' after ``may be warranted''.\n (d) Use of Sound Science in Listing.--Section 4(b) of the \nEndangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)) is further amended \nby adding at the end the following:\n ``(10) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this \nparagraph, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations that establish \ncriteria that must be met for scientific and commercial data, studies, \nand other information to be used as the basis of a determination under \nthis section.\n ``(11)(A) The Secretary may not determine that a species is an \nendangered species or a threatened species unless data collected in the \nfield on the species concerned supports the determination.\n ``(B) The Secretary shall--\n ``(i) accept and acknowledge receipt of data regarding the \n status of a species that is collected by an owner of land, \n including data obtained by observation of the species on the \n land; and\n ``(ii) include the data in the rulemaking record compiled \n for any determination that the species is an endangered species \n or a threatened species.''.\n (e) Use of Sound Science in Recovery Planning.--Section 4(f) of the \nEndangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)) is amended by adding \nat the end the following:\n ``(6)(A) The Secretary shall identify and publish in the Federal \nRegister with the notice of a proposed regulation pursuant to paragraph \n(5)(A)(i) a description of additional scientific and commercial data \nthat, if collected, would assist in the preparation of a recovery plan \nand--\n ``(i) invite any person to submit the data to the \n Secretary; and\n ``(ii) describe the steps that the Secretary plans to take \n for acquiring additional data.\n ``(B) Data identified and obtained under subparagraph (A)(i) shall \nbe considered by the recovery team and the Secretary in the preparation \nof the recovery plan.''.\n\nSEC. 3. INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC REVIEW.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 \n(16 U.S.C. 1533) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(j) Independent Scientific Review Requirements.--(1) In this \nsubsection:\n ``(A) The term `covered action' means--\n ``(i) the determination that a species is an \n endangered species or a threatened species under \n subsection (a);\n ``(ii) the determination under subsection (a) that \n an endangered species or a threatened species be \n removed from any list published under subsection \n (c)(1);\n ``(iii) the development of a recovery plan for a \n threatened species or endangered species under \n subsection (f);\n ``(iv) the determination that a proposed action is \n likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a \n listed species or result in the destruction or adverse \n modification of critical habitat and the proposal of \n any reasonable and prudent alternatives by the \n Secretary under section 7(b)(3), if the Secretary finds \n that--\n ``(I) there is significant disagreement \n regarding that determination or proposal; or\n ``(II) that determination or proposal may \n have significant economic impact; and\n ``(v) the determination that a proposed action is \n not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a \n listed species or result in the destruction or adverse \n modification of critical habitat, if the Secretary \n finds that there is significant disagreement regarding \n that determination or proposal.\n ``(B) The term `qualified individual' means an individual \n who meets the standards of the National Academy of Sciences for \n independent scientific review conducted by the Academy, except \n that such term does not include any individual with a conflict \n of interest as determined by the Secretary or by a Governor who \n nominates the individual under paragraph (3)(B).\n ``(2) The Secretary shall--\n ``(A) maintain a list of qualified individuals who are \n available to participate on independent review boards under \n this subsection;\n ``(B) seek nominations of individuals to participate on \n such boards (upon appointment by the Secretary), through the \n Federal Register, scientific and commercial journals, and the \n National Academy of Sciences and other such institutions; and\n ``(C) update such list every two years.\n ``(3)(A) Before any covered action becomes final, the Secretary \nshall appoint an independent review board in accordance with this \nsection that shall review and report to the Secretary in writing on the \nscientific information and analyses on which the covered action is \nbased.\n ``(B) Each independent review board under this paragraph shall be \ncomposed of 5 members, of which--\n ``(i) 3 shall be appointed by the Secretary from the list \n under paragraph (2); and\n ``(ii) 2 shall be appointed by the Secretary from among \n qualified individuals nominated by the Governor of a State in \n which the species concerned is located.\n ``(C) If any individual declines appointment to an independent \nreview board under this paragraph, the Secretary shall appoint another \nindividual in the same manner.\n ``(D) The selection of the members, and the activities, of \nindependent review boards under this paragraph are not subject to the \nFederal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).\n ``(E) If funds are available, the Secretary shall provide \ncompensation to an individual for service as a member of an independent \nreview board under this paragraph, at a rate not to exceed the daily \nequivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay for grade GS-14 of \nthe General Schedule for each day (including travel time) during which \nthe individual is engaged in the actual performance of duties as a \nmember of such board.\n ``(F) The Secretary may not delegate the authority to make \nappointments under this paragraph to any official who is below the \nlevel of the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or \nthe Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Oceanic and \nAtmospheric Administration.\n ``(4)(A) Each independent review board under this subsection shall \nprovide to the Secretary, within 90 days after the completion of \nappointment of the board, the opinion of the board regarding all \nrelevant scientific information and assumptions relating to the \ntaxonomy, population models, and supportive biological and ecological \ninformation for the species in question.\n ``(B) The Secretary shall--\n ``(i) develop a protocol for the conduct of scientific \n independent review under this subsection, that--\n ``(I) includes review of the adequacy of any \n scientific methodology used to support an action and \n the validity of any conclusions drawn from data used to \n support an action; and\n ``(II) is modeled after applicable National Academy \n of Sciences policies and guidelines for report reviews; \n and\n ``(ii) provide to each independent review board established \n under this subsection clear guidelines as to the conduct of its \n review consistent with that protocol.\n ``(5) If an independent review board under this subsection makes a \nrecommendation regarding a covered action, the Secretary shall, within \n90 days after receiving the recommendation, evaluate and consider the \ninformation that results from the review by the board, and shall \ninclude in the rulemaking record for the covered action--\n ``(A) a summary of the results of the review by the board; \n and\n ``(B) in a case in which the recommendation of a majority \n of the members of the board is not followed, an explanation of \n why the recommendation was not followed.\n ``(6) The report of each independent review board under this \nsubsection shall be included in the rulemaking record of any regulation \nwith respect to which the board is convened, and shall be available for \npublic review for at least 30 days before the close of the period for \ncomment on the regulation.''.\n (b) Biological Assessments.--Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species \nAct of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(c)) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n ``(3) In preparing a biological assessment under this subsection, \nthe head of an agency shall solicit and review any scientific and \ncommercial data that a prospective permit or license applicant believes \nis relevant to the assessment, and shall make that data available to \nthe Secretary.''.\n (c) Extension of Periods.--Section 4(b)(6) of the Endangered \nSpecies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(6)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A)--\n (A) in the matter preceding clause (i) by striking \n ``one-year'' and inserting ``18-month''; and\n (B) in clause (i)(III) by striking ``one-year'' and \n inserting ``18-month''; and\n (C) in clause (ii)(II) by striking ``one-year'' and \n inserting ``18-month'';\n (2) in subparagraph (B)--\n (A) in clause (i) by striking ``one-year'' and \n inserting ``18-month'';\n (B) in clause (ii) by striking ``one-year'' and \n inserting ``18-month''; and\n (C) in clause (iii) by striking ``one-year'' and \n inserting ``18-month''; and\n (3) in subparagraph (C)(ii) by striking ``one-year'' and \n inserting ``18-month''.\n\nSEC. 4. IMPROVED INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.\n\n (a) Use of Information Provided by States.--Section 7(b)(1) of the \nEndangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(1)) is amended by \nadding at the end the following:\n ``(C) In conducting a consultation under subsection (a)(2), the \nSecretary shall actively solicit and consider information from the \nState agency in each affected State.''.\n (b) Opportunity To Participate in Consultations.--Section 7(b)(1) \nof the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(1)) (as \namended by subsection (a)) is further amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n ``(D)(i) In conducting a consultation with a Federal agency under \nsubsection (a)(2), the Secretary and the head of the agency shall \nprovide any person who has sought authorization or funding from a \nFederal agency for an action that is the subject of the consultation, \nthe opportunity to--\n ``(I) before the development of a draft biological opinion, \n submit and discuss with the Secretary and the Federal agency \n information relevant to the effect of the proposed action on \n the species and reasonable and prudent alternatives that the \n Federal agency and the person can take to avoid violation of \n subsection (a)(2), including any such alternatives proposed by \n the person;\n ``(II) receive information, on request, subject to the \n exemptions specified in section 552(b) of title 5, United \n States Code, on the status of the species, threats to the \n species, and conservation measures, used by the Secretary to \n develop the draft biological opinion and the final biological \n opinion, including any associated incidental taking statements; \n and\n ``(III) receive a copy of the draft biological opinion from \n the Federal agency and, before issuance of the final biological \n opinion, submit comments on the draft biological opinion and \n discuss with the Secretary and the Federal agency the basis for \n any finding in the draft biological opinion.\n ``(ii) If alternatives are proposed by a person under clause (i) \nand the Secretary does not include the alternatives in the final \nbiological opinion, the Secretary shall provide to the person \nreasonable justification, based on the best scientific and commercial \ndata available, why those alternatives were not included in the \nopinion.\n ``(iii) Comments and other information submitted to, or received \nfrom, any person (pursuant to clause (i)) who seeks authorization or \nfunding for an action shall be maintained in a file for that action by \nthe Secretary and shall be made available to the public (subject to the \nexemptions specified in section 552(b) of title 5, United States \nCode).''.", "summary": "Sound Science for Endangered Species Act Planning Act of 2002 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the use of the best scientific and commercial data available as a basis of determinations on a petition to add or remove a species from the endangered species list. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to give greater weight to any scientific or commercial study or other information that is empirical or has been field-tested or peer-reviewed.Requires that a petition regarding a species contain clear and convincing evidence of the current and historic ranges of the species concerned, of the most recent population estimates and trends for the species, that any alleged change in the population is beyond the natural range of fluctuations, and of the reason that the petitioned action is warranted.Directs the Secretary to: (1) promulgate regulations that establish criteria that must be met for scientific and commercial information to be used as the basis of a determination to support listing a species; and (2) identify and publish in the Federal Register with notice of a proposed regulation a description of additional scientific and commercial data that would assist in the preparation of a recovery plan. Prohibits the Secretary from determining that a species is endangered or threatened unless field data collected supports the determination.Defines \"covered action\" to include: (1) additions to or removals from the lists of endangered or threatened species; (2) a recovery plan; and (3) a determination that a proposed action is or is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.Requires the Secretary to: (1) appoint an independent review board to review and report on the scientific information and analyses on which a covered action is based before such covered action becomes final; and (2) provide specified participation opportunities to any person who has sought authorization or funding from a Federal agency for an action that is subject to consultation regarding its effects on endangered or threatened species or habitats.Extends the Secretary's review period for covered actions from one year to 18 months.", "title": "To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to ensure the use of sound science in the implementation of that Act."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 584, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Hudson-Fulton-Champlain \nCommemoration Commission Act of 2002''.\n\n SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--\n (1) the first European exploration of the Hudson River and \n Lake Champlain and the introduction of steam navigation to \n maritime commerce were events of major historical importance in \n the United States and throughout the world;\n (2) in 1609--\n (A) Englishman Henry Hudson, acting on behalf of \n the Dutch East India Company, was the first European to \n sail up the river later named for him in the vessel \n Half Moon; and\n (B) French explorer Samuel de Champlain was the \n first European to discover the lake later named for \n him;\n (3) those voyages--\n (A) were 2 of the most significant passages in the \n European exploration and discovery of America;\n (B) resulted in 2 of the earliest contacts in the \n New World between Native Americans and Europeans; and\n (C) led to the establishment of--\n (i) the Dutch and later English settlement \n Fort Orange in the area that is now Albany, New \n York; and\n (ii) French Quebec settlements located as \n far south as Lake George;\n (4) those early settlements influenced the history, \n culture, law, commerce, and traditions of liberty of the United \n States;\n (5) in 1807, the navigation of the Hudson River from the \n city of New York to Albany by Robert Fulton in the steamboat \n Clermont--\n (A) successfully inaugurated steam navigation on a \n commercial basis;\n (B) is 1 of the most important events in the \n history of navigation;\n (C) revolutionized waterborne commerce on the \n rivers of the United States;\n (D) transformed naval warfare; and\n (E) fostered international relations through \n transoceanic travel and trade;\n (6) the National Park Service owns and operates significant \n resources in the State of New York relating to the early \n history of the United States and the Hudson River Valley; and\n (7) in 2002 the State of New York enacted legislation \n establishing a State Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commission.\n (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish the Hudson-\nFulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission to--\n (1) ensure a suitable national observance, in 2009, of the \n anniversaries of the voyages of Henry Hudson, Robert Fulton, \n and Samuel de Champlain through cooperation with and assistance \n to the programs and activities of the States of New York, New \n Jersey, and Vermont;\n (2) assist in ensuring that Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 \n observances--\n (A) provide an excellent visitor experience and \n beneficial interaction between visitors and the natural \n and cultural resources of sites in the States of New \n York, New Jersey, and Vermont; and\n (B) are inclusive and recognize the diverse Hudson \n River and Lake Champlain communities that developed \n over 4 centuries;\n (3) facilitate international involvement in the Hudson-\n Fulton-Champlain 2009 observances;\n (4) support and facilitate marketing efforts for a \n commemorative coin, a commemorative stamp, and related \n activities for the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 observances; \n and\n (5) assist in the appropriate development of heritage \n tourism and economic benefits to the United States.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Commemoration.--The term ``commemoration'' means the \n commemoration of--\n (A) the 200th anniversary of the voyage of Robert \n Fulton in the steamboat Clermont;\n (B) the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry \n Hudson in the vessel Half Moon; and\n (C) the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Samuel \n de Champlain.\n (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Hudson-\n Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission established by \n section 4(a).\n (3) Governor.--The term ``Governor'' means the Governor of \n each State.\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (5) State.--\n (A) In general.--The term ``State'' means--\n (i) the State of New York;\n (ii) the State of New Jersey; and\n (iii) the State of Vermont.\n (B) Inclusions.--The term ``State'' includes \n agencies and entities of each State specified in \n subparagraph (A).\n\nSEC. 4. HUDSON-FULTON-CHAMPLAIN COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.\n\n (a) In General.--There is established a commission to be known as \nthe ``Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission''.\n (b) Membership.--\n (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 31 \n members, of whom--\n (A) 3 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, \n taking into consideration the recommendations of the \n Governors;\n (B) 14 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, \n taking into consideration the recommendations of--\n (i) the Members of the House of \n Representatives whose districts encompass the \n Hudson River Valley; and\n (ii) the Members of the House of \n Representatives whose districts encompass \n Champlain Valley;\n (C) 6 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, \n taking into consideration the recommendations of the \n Members of the Senate from the States;\n (D) 2 members shall be employees of the National \n Park Service, of whom--\n (i) 1 shall be the Director of the National \n Park Service (or a designee); and\n (ii) 1 shall be an employee of the National \n Park Service having experience relevant to the \n commemoration, to be appointed by the \n Secretary;\n (E) 1 member shall be an individual knowledgeable \n about the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, \n to be appointed by the Secretary; and\n (F) 5 members shall be individuals that have an \n interest in, support for, and expertise appropriate to, \n the commemoration, to be appointed by the Secretary.\n (2) Term; vacancies.--\n (A) Term.--A member of the Commission shall be \n appointed for the life of the Commission.\n (B) Vacancies.--\n (i) In general.--A vacancy on the \n Commission shall be filled in the same manner \n as the original appointment was made.\n (ii) Partial term.--A member appointed to \n fill a vacancy on the Commission shall serve \n for the remainder of the term for which the \n predecessor of the member was appointed.\n (3) Meetings.--\n (A) In general.--The Commission shall meet--\n (i) at least twice each year; or\n (ii) at the call of the Chairperson or the \n majority of the members of the Commission.\n (B) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after \n the date on which all members of the Commission have \n been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial \n meeting of the Commission.\n (4) Voting.--\n (A) In general.--The Commission shall act only on \n an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the \n Commission.\n (B) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the \n Commission shall constitute a quorum.\n (5) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--\n (A) In general.--The Commission shall annually \n select the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson of the \n Commission from among the members of the Commission.\n (B) Authority.--The Vice Chairperson shall serve as \n the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson.\n (c) Duties.--\n (1) In general.--The Commission shall--\n (A) plan, develop, and execute programs and \n activities appropriate for the commemoration;\n (B) facilitate activities relating to the \n commemoration throughout the United States;\n (C) coordinate activities of the Commission with--\n (i) commemoration commissions of the \n States;\n (ii) appropriate Federal agencies, \n including--\n (I) the Department of Agriculture;\n (II) the Department of Defense;\n (III) the Department of State;\n (IV) the Department of \n Transportation; and\n (V) the National Park Service; and\n (iii) the American Heritage Rivers \n Initiative Interagency Committee established by \n Executive Order No. 13061, dated September 11, \n 1997;\n (D) encourage civic, patriotic, historical, \n educational, religious, economic, and other \n organizations throughout the United States to organize \n and participate in activities to expand the \n understanding and appreciation of the significance of \n the voyages of Hudson, Fulton, and Champlain;\n (E) provide technical assistance to States, \n localities, and nonprofit organizations to carry out \n activities relating to the commemoration;\n (F) coordinate and facilitate for the public \n scholarly research on, publication concerning, and \n interpretation of, the voyages of Hudson, Fulton, and \n Champlain; and\n (G) ensure that the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 \n anniversaries provide a lasting legacy and long-term \n public benefit by assisting in the development of \n appropriate programs and facilities.\n (2) Plans; reports.--\n (A) Strategic plan; annual performance plans.--In \n accordance with section 306 of title 5, United States \n Code, and section 1115 of title 31, United States Code, \n the Commission shall prepare a strategic plan for the \n activities of the Commission carried out under this \n Act.\n (B) Final report.--Not later than September 30, \n 2010, the Commission shall submit to the Secretary a \n final report that contains--\n (i) a summary of the activities of the \n Commission;\n (ii) a final accounting of funds received \n and expended by the Commission; and\n (iii) the findings and recommendations of \n the Commission.\n (d) Powers of the Commission.--The Commission may--\n (1) accept and dispose of donations of money, personal \n services, and real and personal property related to the \n commemoration;\n (2) appoint such advisory committees as the Commission \n determines to be necessary to carry out this Act;\n (3) authorize any member or employee of the Commission to \n take any action that the Commission is authorized to take by \n this Act;\n (4) procure supplies, services, and property, and make or \n enter into contracts, leases, or other legal agreements, to \n carry out this Act (except that any contracts, leases, or other \n legal agreements made or entered into by the Commission shall \n not extend beyond the date of termination of the Commission);\n (5) use the United States mails in the same manner and \n under the same conditions as other Federal agencies;\n (6) subject to approval by the Commission, make grants in \n amounts not to exceed $20,000 to communities and nonprofit \n organizations to develop programs to assist in the \n commemoration; and\n (7) make grants to research and scholarly organizations to \n research, publish, or distribute information relating to the \n voyages of Hudson, Fulton, and Champlain.\n (e) Commission Personnel Matters.--\n (1) Compensation of members of the commission.--\n (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph \n (B), a member of the Commission shall serve without \n compensation.\n (B) Federal employees.--A member of the Commission \n who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government \n shall serve without compensation in addition to the \n compensation received for the services of the member as \n an officer or employee of the Federal Government.\n (C) Travel expenses.--A member of the Commission \n shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in \n lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an \n employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 \n of title 5, United States Code, while away from the \n home or regular place of business of the member in the \n performance of the duties of the Commission.\n (2) Staff.--\n (A) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission \n may, without regard to the civil service laws \n (including regulations), appoint and terminate an \n executive director and such other additional personnel \n as are necessary to enable the Commission to perform \n the duties of the Commission.\n (B) Confirmation of executive director.--The \n employment of an executive director shall be subject to \n confirmation by the Commission.\n (3) Compensation.--\n (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph \n (B), the Chairperson of the Commission may fix the \n compensation of the executive director and other \n personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter \n 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United \n States Code, relating to classification of positions \n and General Schedule pay rates.\n (B) Maximum rate of pay.--The rate of pay for the \n executive director and other personnel shall not exceed \n the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule \n under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.\n (4) Detail of government employees.--\n (A) Federal employees.--\n (i) In general.--At the request of the \n Commission, the head of any Federal agency may \n detail, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable \n basis, any of the personnel of the agency to \n the Commission to assist the Commission in \n carrying out the duties of the Commission under \n this Act.\n (ii) Civil service status.--The detail of \n an employee under clause (i) shall be without \n interruption or loss of civil service status or \n privilege.\n (B) State employees.--The Commission may--\n (i) accept the services of personnel \n detailed from States (including subdivisions of \n States); and\n (ii) reimburse States for services of \n detailed personnel.\n (5) Volunteer and uncompensated services.--Notwithstanding \n section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission \n may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services as the \n Commission determines to be necessary.\n (6) Support services.--The Director of the National Park \n Service shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable \n basis, such administrative support services as the Commission \n may request.\n (f) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The \nChairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent \nservices in accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States \nCode, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent \nof the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive \nSchedule under section 5316 of that title.\n (g) FACA Nonapplicability.--Section 14(b) of the Federal Advisory \nCommittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission.\n (h) No Effect on Authority.--Nothing in this section supersedes the \nauthority of the States or the National Park Service concerning the \ncommemoration.\n (i) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on December 31, \n2010.", "summary": "Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission Act of 2002 - Establishes the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission to plan, develop, and execute programs and activities appropriate to commemorate in 2009 the anniversaries of the voyages of Henry Hudson (the first European to sail up the Hudson River in the vessel Half Moon), Robert Fulton (who navigated the Hudson River in the steamboat Clermont, successfully inaugurating steam navigation on a commercial basis), and Samuel de Champlain (the first European to discover and explore Lake Champlain).", "title": "A bill to establish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 434, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Precision Agriculture Research, \nEducation, and Information Dissemination Act of 1996''.\n\nSEC. 2. EMPHASIS ON COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO PROMOTE PRECISION \n AGRICULTURE.\n\n (a) Promotion of Precision Agriculture.--Subsection (k) of the \nCompetitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of \nPublic Law 89-106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(k) Emphasis on Precision Agriculture.--\n ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:\n ``(A) Advisory board.--The term `advisory board' \n means the National Agricultural Research, Extension, \n Education, and Economics Advisory Board established \n under section 1408 of the National Agricultural \n Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 \n U.S.C. 3123).\n ``(B) Agricultural inputs.--The term `agricultural \n inputs' includes all farm management, agronomic, and \n field-applied agricultural production inputs, such as \n machinery, labor, time, fuel, irrigation water, \n commercial nutrients, livestock waste, crop protection \n chemicals, agronomic data and information, application \n and management services, seed, and other inputs used in \n agricultural production.\n ``(C) Precision agriculture.--The term `precision \n agriculture' means an integrated information- and \n production-based farming system that is designed to \n increase long-term site-specific and whole-farm \n production efficiencies, productivity, and \n profitability while minimizing unintended impacts on \n wildlife and the environment by--\n ``(i) combining agricultural sciences, \n agricultural inputs and practices, agronomic \n production databases, and precision agriculture \n technologies to efficiently manage agronomic \n systems;\n ``(ii) gathering on-farm information \n pertaining to the variation and interaction of \n site-specific spatial and temporal factors \n affecting crop production;\n ``(iii) integrating the information with \n appropriate data derived from remote sensing \n and other precision agriculture technologies in \n a timely manner in order to facilitate on-farm \n decisionmaking; and\n ``(iv) using the information to prescribe \n and deliver site-specific application of \n agricultural inputs and management practices in \n agricultural production systems.\n ``(D) Precision agriculture technologies.--The term \n `precision agriculture technologies' includes--\n ``(i) instrumentation and techniques \n ranging from sophisticated sensors and software \n systems to manual sampling and data collection \n tools that measure, record, and manage spatial \n and temporal data;\n ``(ii) technologies for searching out and \n assembling information necessary for sound \n agricultural production decisionmaking;\n ``(iii) open systems technologies for data \n networking and processing that produce valued \n systems for farm management decisionmaking, \n including high bandwidth networks, distributed \n processing, spatial databasing, object \n technology, global positioning systems, data \n modeling, high performance image processing, \n high resolution satellite imagery, digital \n orthophotgrammetry simulation, geographic \n information systems, computer aided design, and \n digital cartography; and\n ``(iv) machines that deliver information \n based management practices, including global \n positioning satellites, digital field mapping, \n on-the-go yield monitoring, automated pest \n scouting, and site-specific agricultural input \n application to accomplish the objectives of \n precision agriculture.\n ``(E) Systems research.--The term `systems \n research' means an integrated, coordinated, and \n iterative investigative process that considers the \n multiple interacting components and aspects of \n precision agriculture systems, including synthesis of \n new knowledge regarding the physical-chemical-\n biological processes and complex interactions with \n cropping and natural resource systems, precision \n agriculture technologies development and \n implementation, data and information collection and \n interpretation, production scale planning, production-\n scale implementation, and farm production efficiencies, \n productivity, and profitability.\n ``(2) Emphasis on research, education, and information \n dissemination grants.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in \n collaboration with the advisory board, shall ensure that \n research, education, and information dissemination grants made \n under subsection (b) are, where appropriate, consistent with \n the development and promotion of precision agriculture. \n Research, education, and information dissemination projects \n supported by the grants and designed to develop and demonstrate \n precision agriculture shall address 1 or more of the following:\n ``(A) The study and promotion of components of \n precision agriculture technologies using a systems \n research approach designed to increase long-term site-\n specific and whole-farm production efficiencies, \n productivity, and profitability.\n ``(B) The improvement in the understanding of \n agronomic systems, including soil, water, land cover, \n and meteorological variability.\n ``(C) The development, demonstration, and \n dissemination of information regarding precision \n agriculture technologies and systems into an integrated \n program.\n ``(D) The promotion of systems research and \n education projects focusing on the integration of the \n multiple aspects of precision agriculture, including \n development, production-scale implementation, and farm \n production efficiencies, productivity, and \n profitability.\n ``(E) The education of agricultural producers and \n consumers regarding the benefits of precision \n agriculture as it relates to increased long-term farm \n production efficiencies, productivity, and \n profitability, as well as the maintenance of the \n environment and improvements in international trade.\n ``(F) The provision of training and educational \n programs for State cooperative extension services \n agents, agricultural producers, agricultural input \n machinery, product, and service providers, and \n certified crop advisers and other professionals \n involved in the agricultural production and transfer of \n integrated precision agriculture technology.\n ``(3) Priorities for research, education, and information \n dissemination grants.--In making grants to eligible entities \n under subsection (b) regarding precision agriculture, the \n Secretary, in collaboration with the advisory board, shall give \n priority to research, education, and information dissemination \n projects that are designed to accomplish the following:\n ``(A) The use of precision agriculture technologies \n and a systems research approach to increase long-term \n site-specific and whole-farm production efficiencies, \n productivity, and profitability.\n ``(B) The integration of research, education, and \n information dissemination components in a practical and \n readily available manner so that the findings of the \n project will be made readily usable by farmers.\n ``(C) The promotion of the efficient use of \n agricultural inputs, rather than the uniform reduction \n in the use of agricultural inputs.\n ``(D) The maximization of the involvement and \n cooperation of precision agriculture producers, \n certified crop advisers, State cooperative extension \n services agents, and agricultural input machinery, \n product, and service providers in precision agriculture \n systems research projects involving on-farm research, \n education, and information dissemination of precision \n agriculture.\n ``(E) The cooperation among farms that are managed \n using precision agriculture farm production practices, \n nonprofit organizations, agribusinesses, agricultural \n input machinery, product, and service providers, land-\n grant colleges and universities, the State cooperative \n extension services, and Government agencies (including \n national laboratories).\n ``(F) The benefits of precision agriculture in \n relationship to global food production, reducing world \n hunger, world population trends, and efforts to \n maintain and enhance the environment.\n ``(G) The diversity of United States agricultural \n production, including production on family owned and \n operated farms, large acreage farms, small acreage \n farms, and mixed crop, specialty crop, commodity crop, \n and livestock operations.\n ``(H) The maximization of collaboration with \n multiple agencies and other partners that includes \n leveraging of funds and resources.\n ``(4) Education and information dissemination.--\n ``(A) Reservation of funds for projects.--Of the \n funds allocated for competitive research grants under \n subsection (b) related to precision agriculture, the \n Secretary shall reserve a portion of the funds for \n education and information dissemination projects \n regarding precision agriculture.\n ``(B) Compliance with priorities for information \n dissemination.--In the dissemination of information \n derived from research projects regarding precision \n agriculture that are supported by grants made under \n subsection (b), the Secretary shall ensure that both \n employees of the Department of Agriculture and grant \n recipients comply with the priorities specified in \n paragraph (3).\n ``(5) Precision agriculture partnerships.--\n ``(A) Establishment.--For the purposes of this \n section, the Secretary, in collaboration with the \n advisory board, shall encourage the establishment of \n appropriate multistate and national partnerships or \n consortia between--\n ``(i) land-grant colleges and universities, \n State Agricultural Experiment Stations, State \n cooperative extension services, other colleges \n and universities with demonstrable expertise \n regarding precision agriculture, agencies of \n the Department of Agriculture, national \n laboratories, agribusinesses, agricultural \n equipment and input manufacturers and \n retailers, certified crop advisers, commodity \n organizations, other Federal or State \n government entities and agencies, and non-\n agricultural industries and nonprofit \n organizations with demonstrable expertise \n regarding precision agriculture; and\n ``(ii) the persons and entities described \n in clause (i) and agricultural producers and \n other land managers.\n ``(B) Partnership between national laboratories and \n department of agriculture.--The partnerships \n established pursuant to this paragraph shall include \n the partnership entered into (before the date of the \n enactment of this paragraph) by the Secretary of \n Energy, on behalf of the national laboratories, and the \n Secretary of Agriculture to promote cooperation and \n coordination between the national laboratories and \n agencies of the Department of Agriculture in the areas \n of systems research, technology research and \n development, and the transfer, utilization, and \nprivate-sector commercialization of technology.\n ``(C) Role of partnerships.--Partnerships described \n in subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be eligible grantees \n for conducting systems research (including on-farm \n research) regarding precision agriculture and precision \n agriculture technologies.\n ``(6) Special aspects of research grants.--As part of a \n research project regarding precision agriculture that is funded \n under subsection (b), the grant recipient shall agree, to the \n extent practicable, to--\n ``(A) study precision agriculture production \n systems that are located in areas that possess diverse \n crop, soil, climate, and physical characteristics;\n ``(B) study farms that are or have been managed \n using precision agriculture farm production practices \n that rely on the efficient use of agricultural inputs \n and precision agriculture technologies to increase farm \n production efficiency, productivity, and profitability;\n ``(C) conduct demonstration projects on farms that \n will be managed using precision agriculture;\n ``(D) take advantage of the experience and \n expertise of agricultural producers through their \n direct participation and leadership in projects;\n ``(E) utilize advanced access and communications \n technologies to transfer practical, reliable, and \n timely information to agricultural producers concerning \n precision agriculture practices, technologies, and \n systems; and\n ``(F) promote partnerships among producers, \n nonprofit organizations, agribusinesses, agricultural \n input machinery, product, and service providers, \n colleges and universities, the State cooperative \n extension services, and Government agencies (including \n national laboratories).''.\n (b) Reporting Requirements.--Subsection (l) of the Competitive, \nSpecial, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89-\n106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(l) Reporting Requirements of Grant Recipients.--In addition to \nthe recordkeeping responsibilities of recipients of assistance under \nthis section, as prescribed by the Secretary under subsection (f), the \nSecretary shall prescribe regulations to require grant recipients to \nsubmit to the Secretary periodic reports regarding the research, \neducation, and information dissemination activities supported with the \nassistance so as to enhance the usefulness of the monitoring and \nevaluation system developed by the Secretary under section 1413A(b) of \nthe National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act \nof 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3129(b)).''.\n (c) Entities Eligible for Grants.--Subsection (b)(1) of the \nCompetitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of \nPublic Law 89-106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended--\n (1) by inserting after ``Federal agencies'' the following: \n ``(including laboratories as defined in section 12(d) of the \n Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. \n 3710a(d)))''; and\n (2) by inserting after ``corporations'' the following: \n ``(including agricultural input machinery, product, and service \n providers)''.\n (d) Precision Agriculture Research, Extension, and Education, Under \nFund for Rural America.--Section 793(c)(2)(A) of the Federal \nAgriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 7 \nU.S.C. 2204f(c)(2)(A)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (vii);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (viii) and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by inserting after clause (viii) the following:\n ``(ix) develop and promote precision \n agriculture and precision agriculture \n technologies using a systems research approach, \n as the terms are defined in subsection (k)(1) \n of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities \n Research Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89-\n 106; 7 U.S.C. 450i).''.\n (e) Technical Amendment.--Subsection (b)(9)(A) of the Competitive, \nSpecial, and Facilities Research Grant Act (section 2 of Public Law 89-\n106; 7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended by striking ``subsection (j)'' and \ninserting ``subsection (k)''.", "summary": "Precision Agriculture Research, Education, and Information Dissemination Act of 1996 - Amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to emphasize competitive grants that promote precision agriculture (as defined by this Act) research projects and to promote dissemination of such projects' results. \nProvides for the establishment of multistate and national agriculture partnerships, including existing partnerships between national laboratories (Secretary of Energy) and the Department of Agriculture. \nAmends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to include precision agriculture within the research categories of the Fund for Rural America.", "title": "Precision Agriculture Research, Education, and Information Dissemination Act of 1996"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2036, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Mutual Fund Transparency Act of \n2005''.\n\nSEC. 2. DISCLOSURE OF FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BROKERS AND \n MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of \n1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(13) Confirmation of transactions for mutual funds.--\n ``(A) In general.--Each broker shall disclose in \n writing to customers that purchase the shares of an \n open-end company registered under section 8 of the \n Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8)--\n ``(i) the amount of any compensation \n received or to be received by the broker in \n connection with such transaction from any \n sources; and\n ``(ii) such other information as the \n Commission determines appropriate.\n ``(B) Revenue sharing.--The term `compensation' \n under subparagraph (A) shall include any direct or \n indirect payment made by an investment adviser (or any \n affiliate of an investment adviser) to a broker or \n dealer for the purpose of promoting the sales of \n securities of an open-end company.\n ``(C) Timing of disclosure.--The disclosure \n required under subparagraph (A) shall be made to a \n customer not later than as of the date of the \n completion of the transaction.\n ``(D) Limitation.--The disclosures required under \n subparagraph (A) may not be made exclusively in--\n ``(i) a registration statement or \n prospectus of an open-end company; or\n ``(ii) any other filing of an open-end \n company with the Commission.\n ``(E) Commission authority.--\n ``(i) In general.--The Commission shall \n promulgate such final rules as are necessary to \n carry out this paragraph not later than 1 year \n after the date of enactment of the Mutual Fund \n Transparency Act of 2005.\n ``(ii) Form of disclosure.--Disclosures \n under this paragraph shall be in such form as \n the Commission, by rule, shall require.\n ``(F) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term \n `open-end company' has the same meaning as in section 5 \n of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-\n 5).''.\n (b) Disclosure of Brokerage Commissions.--Section 30 of the \nInvestment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-29) is amended by adding \nat the end the following:\n ``(k) Disclosure of Brokerage Commissions.--The Commission, by \nrule, shall require that brokerage commissions as an aggregate dollar \namount and percentage of assets paid by an open-end company be included \nin any disclosure of the amount of fees and expenses that may be \npayable by the holder of the securities of such company for purposes \nof--\n ``(1) the registration statement of that open-end company; \n and\n ``(2) any other filing of that open-end company with the \n Commission, including the calculation of expense ratios.''.\n\nSEC. 3. MUTUAL FUND GOVERNANCE.\n\n (a) Independent Fund Boards.--Section 10(a) of the Investment \nCompany Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-10(a)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``shall have'' and inserting the following: \n ``shall--\n ``(1) have'';\n (2) by striking ``60 per centum'' and inserting ``25 \n percent'';\n (3) by striking the period at the end and inserting a \n semicolon; and\n (4) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) have as chairman of its board of directors an \n interested person of such registered company; or\n ``(3) have as a member of its board of directors any person \n that is an interested person of such registered investment \n company--\n ``(A) who has served without being approved or \n elected by the shareholders of such registered \n investment company at least once every 5 years; and\n ``(B) unless such director has been found, on an \n annual basis, by a majority of the directors who are \n not interested persons, after reasonable inquiry by \n such directors, not to have any material business or \n familial relationship with the registered investment \n company, a significant service provider to the company, \n or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under \n common control with such service provider, that is \n likely to impair the independence of the director.''.\n (b) Action by Independent Directors.--Section 10 of the Investment \nCompany Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-10) is amended by adding at the end \nthe following:\n ``(i) Action by Board of Directors.--No action taken by the board \nof directors of a registered investment company may require the vote of \na director who is an interested person of such registered investment \ncompany.\n ``(j) Independent Committee.--\n ``(1) In general.--The members of the board of directors of \n a registered investment company who are not interested persons \n of such registered investment company shall establish a \n committee comprised solely of such members, which committee \n shall be responsible for--\n ``(A) selecting persons to be nominated for \n election to the board of directors; and\n ``(B) adopting qualification standards for the \n nomination of directors.\n ``(2) Disclosure.--The standards developed under paragraph \n (1)(B) shall be disclosed in the registration statement of the \n registered investment company.''.\n (c) Definition of Interested Person.--Section 2(a)(19) of the \nInvestment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-2) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A)--\n (A) in clause (iv), by striking ``two'' and \n inserting ``5''; and\n (B) by striking clause (vii) and inserting the \n following:\n ``(vii) any natural person who has served \n as an officer or director, or as an employee \n within the preceding 10 fiscal years, of an \n investment adviser or principal underwriter to \n such registered investment company, or of any \n entity controlling, controlled by, or under \n common control with such investment adviser or \n principal underwriter;\n ``(viii) any natural person who has served \n as an officer or director, or as an employee \n within the preceding 10 fiscal years, of any \n entity that has within the preceding 5 fiscal \n years acted as a significant service provider \n to such registered investment company, or of \n any entity controlling, controlled by, or under \n the common control with such service provider;\n ``(ix) any natural person who is a member \n of a class of persons that the Commission, by \n rule or regulation, determines is unlikely to \n exercise an appropriate degree of independence \n as a result of--\n ``(I) a material business \n relationship with the investment \n company or an affiliated person of such \n investment company;\n ``(II) a close familial \n relationship with any natural person \n who is an affiliated person of such \n investment company; or\n ``(III) any other reason determined \n by the Commission.'';\n (2) in subparagraph (B)--\n (A) in clause (iv), by striking ``two'' and \n inserting ``5''; and\n (B) by striking clause (vii) and inserting the \n following:\n ``(vii) any natural person who is a member \n of a class of persons that the Commission, by \n rule or regulation, determines is unlikely to \n exercise an appropriate degree of independence \n as a result of--\n ``(I) a material business \n relationship with such investment \n adviser or principal underwriter or \n affiliated person of such investment \n adviser or principal underwriter;\n ``(II) a close familial \n relationship with any natural person \n who is an affiliated person of such \n investment adviser or principal \n underwriter; or\n ``(III) any other reason as \n determined by the Commission:''.\n (d) Definition of Significant Service Provider.--Section 2(a) of \nthe Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)) is amended by \nadding at the end the following:\n ``(53) Significant service provider.--\n ``(A) In general.--Not later than 270 days after \n the date of enactment of the Mutual Fund Transparency \n Act of 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission \n shall issue final rules defining the term `significant \n service provider'.\n ``(B) Requirements.--The definition developed under \n paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, the \n investment adviser and principal underwriter of a \n registered investment company for purposes of paragraph \n (19).''.\n\nSEC. 4. FINANCIAL LITERACY AMONG MUTUAL FUND INVESTORS STUDY.\n\n (a) In General.--The Securities and Exchange Commission shall \nconduct a study to identify--\n (1) the existing level of financial literacy among \n investors that purchase shares of open-end companies, as that \n term is defined under section 5 of the Investment Company Act \n of 1940, that are registered under section 8 of that Act;\n (2) the most useful and understandable relevant information \n that investors need to make sound financial decisions prior to \n purchasing such shares;\n (3) methods to increase the transparency of expenses and \n potential conflicts of interest in transactions involving the \n shares of open-end companies;\n (4) the existing private and public efforts to educate \n investors; and\n (5) a strategy to increase the financial literacy of \n investors that results in a positive change in investor \n behavior.\n (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of \nthis Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall submit a report \non the study required under subsection (a) to--\n (1) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of \n the Senate; and\n (2) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of \n Representatives.\n\nSEC. 5. STUDY REGARDING MUTUAL FUND ADVERTISING.\n\n (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall \nconduct a study on mutual fund advertising to identify--\n (1) existing and proposed regulatory requirements for open-\n end investment company advertisements;\n (2) current marketing practices for the sale of open-end \n investment company shares, including the use of unsustainable \n past performance data, funds that have merged, and incubator \n funds;\n (3) the impact of such advertising on consumers; and\n (4) recommendations to improve investor protections in \n mutual fund advertising and additional information necessary to \n ensure that investors can make informed financial decisions \n when purchasing shares.\n (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of \nthis Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a \nreport on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) to--\n (1) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of \n the United States Senate; and\n (2) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of \n Representatives.\n\nSEC. 6. POINT-OF-SALE DISCLOSURE.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of \n1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o(b)), as amended by section 2, is amended by adding \nat the end the following:\n ``(14) Broker disclosures in mutual fund transactions.--\n ``(A) In general.--Each broker shall disclose in \n writing to each person that purchases the shares of an \n investment company registered under section 8 of the \n Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8)--\n ``(i) the source and amount, in dollars and \n as a percentage of assets, of any compensation \n received or to be received by the broker in \n connection with such transaction from any \n sources;\n ``(ii) the amount, in dollars and as a \n percentage of assets, of compensation received \n in connection with transactions in shares of \n other investment company shares offered by the \n broker, if materially different from the amount \n under (i);\n ``(iii) comparative information that shows \n the average amount received by brokers in \n connection with comparable transactions, as \n determined by the Commission; and\n ``(iv) such other information as the \n Commission determines appropriate.\n ``(B) Revenue sharing.--The term `compensation' \n under subparagraph (A) shall include any direct or \n indirect payment made by an investment adviser (or any \n affiliate of an investment adviser) to a broker or \n dealer for the purpose of promoting the sales of \n securities of a registered investment company.\n ``(C) Timing of disclosure.--The disclosures \n required under subparagraph (A) shall be made to permit \n the person purchasing the shares to evaluate such \n disclosures before deciding to engage in the \n transaction.\n ``(D) Limitation.--The disclosures required under \n subparagraph (A) may not be made exclusively in--\n ``(i) a registration statement or \n prospectus of a registered investment company; \n or\n ``(ii) any other filing of a registered \n investment company with the Commission.\n ``(E) Commission authority.--The Commission shall \n promulgate such final rules as are necessary to carry \n out this paragraph not later than 1 year after the date \n of enactment of the Mutual Fund Transparency Act of \n 2005.''.\n (b) National Securities Association Requirements.--Section 15A of \nthe Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-3) is amended by \nadding at the end the following:\n ``(n) National Securities Association Requirements.--Each national \nsecurities association registered pursuant to this section shall issue \nsuch rules as necessary not later than 1 year after the date of \nenactment of the Mutual Fund Transparency Act of 2005 to require that a \nbroker that provides individualized investment advice to a person \nshall--\n ``(1) have a fiduciary duty to that person;\n ``(2) act solely in the best interests of that person; and\n ``(3) fully disclose all potential conflicts of interest \n and other information that is material to the relationship to \n that person prior to the time that the investment advice is \n first provided to the person and at least annually \n thereafter.''.", "summary": "Mutual Fund Transparency Act of 2005 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require broker disclosure in writing to open-end company (mutual fund) purchasers of the amount of any compensation due the broker in connection with the purchase transaction from any sources.\n\nAmends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require that brokerage commissions as an aggregate dollar amount and percentage of assets paid by a mutual fund company be included in any disclosure of the fees and expenses that may be payable by the holder of the securities of such company.\n\nRevamps independent mutual fund board of directors membership to reduce from 60 percent to 25 percent the permissible number of interested persons serving on the board. Prohibits an interested person from being board chairman. Specifies conditions an interested person must meet to service as a board member.\n\nDirects the SEC to issue final rules defining an interested person who is a \"significant service provider,\" including the investment adviser and principal underwriter of a registered investment company.\n\nRequires the SEC to study and report to Congress on: (1) financial literacy among mutual fund investors; and (2) mutual fund advertising.\n\nAmends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require broker disclosure to each purchaser of investment company shares in a mutual fund transaction of the compensation the broker receives, in dollars and as as a percentage of assets.\n\nRequires each national securities association to issue rules requiring a broker that provides individualized investment advice to a person to: (1) have a fiduciary duty to that person; (2) act solely in the best interests of that person; and (3) fully disclose all potential conflicts of interest and other material information before the investment advice is first provided, and at least annually thereafter.", "title": "A bill to require disclosure of financial relationships between brokers and mutual fund companies, and of certain brokerage commissions paid by mutual fund companies."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1763, "text": "That the Act of \nDecember 18, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 19e-19n), entitled ``An Act to establish \nthe National Park Foundation'', is amended--\n (1) in section 1--\n (A) by striking ``therein'' and inserting in lieu \n thereof ``therein, and to develop and implement means \n of securing funds from the private sector, to enhance \n funding for the National Park System without \n supplanting appropriated funds otherwise available for \n the National Park System,''; and\n (B) by striking ``to accept and administer such \n gifts'';\n (2) in section 3--\n (A) by inserting ``(a)'' after ``Sec. 3.''; and\n (B) by inserting at the end:\n ``(b)(1) In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the Foundation \nshall have exclusive authority to license or authorize persons to use \nsuch trademarks, tradenames, signs, symbols, emblems, insignia, logos, \nlikenesses or slogans that are or may be in the future adopted and \nowned by the Foundation, and for which the Foundation has filed an \napplication or applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, \nfor the purposes of representing, promoting or advertising for \ncommercial purposes or pecuniary gain that an individual, company, or \nparticular good or service is an official sponsor or official supporter \nof the National Park System or National Park Service.\n ``(2) The authority provided in paragraph (1) shall be subject to \nthe following conditions:\n ``(A) The criteria and guidelines for the competitive \n issuance and the maintenance of a license or authorization, and \n the issuance of each license or authorization, shall be subject \n to the prior written approval of the Secretary as being \n appropriate to the image of the National Park System and \n consistent with the management policies and practices of the \n National Park Service, and such approval authority may not be \n delegated.\n ``(B) Neither the Secretary of the Interior, the \n Foundation, nor any other person may authorize an individual, \n company, or particular good or service to represent, promote, \n or advertise, and no person may represent or imply, for \n commercial purposes or for pecuniary gain that it is an \n official sponsor or official supporter of any individual unit \n of the National Park System.\n ``(C) The advertisements and promotional activities \n undertaken by a licensee or authorized person shall be \n appropriate to the image of the National Park System and \n consistent with the management policies and practices of the \n National Park Service.\n ``(D) Neither the Secretary of the Interior, the \n Foundation, nor any other person may authorize an individual, \n company, or particular good or service to represent that it is \n endorsed by the National Park Service.\n ``(E) Nothing in this Act shall in any way restrict or \n preclude the Statue of Liberty--Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. \n (the `Statue of Liberty Foundation'), so long as its activities \n are authorized by a Memorandum of Agreement with the Secretary \n of the Interior, from raising donations for the restoration of \n the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island by, among other things, \n offering to any third parties exclusive rights to any \n trademark, tradename, sign, symbol, insignia, emblem, logo, \n likeness, or slogan owned by the Statue of Liberty Foundation.\n ``(F) Activities of the Foundation undertaken pursuant to \n this Act, including the licensing or authorizing of official \n sponsors and official supporters of the National Park System or \n National Park Service by the Foundation, shall not preclude \n charitable organizations or cooperating associations from \n conducting fundraising activities or selling merchandise to \n generate support for a unit or units of the National Park \n System or the National Park Service, so long as such activities \n do not convey a right to be considered as an official sponsor \n or official supporter of such unit or units as prohibited by \n subparagraph (B) or of the National Park System or National \n Park Service.\n ``(c) No license or authorization referred to in subsection (b) \nshall grant any person any right or authority to market, advertise, \ndisplay, sell, or promote, any goods, products or services in any unit \nof the National Park System or in any related facility operated outside \nthe boundaries of any unit, or to advertise or promote that it is an \nofficial sponsor or official supporter within the meaning of subsection \n(b) in any such unit or related facility: Provided, That the Secretary \nof the Interior may authorize limited recognition of official sponsors \nor official supporters within the meaning of subsection (b) in units of \nthe National Park System or any related facility operated outside the \nboundaries of any unit but only under such appropriate policies and \nprocedures which ensure that status as an official sponsor or official \nsupporter within the meaning of subsection (b) shall not be \ncommercially exploited in any manner within any such unit or related \nfacility.'';\n (3) in section 4--\n (A) by inserting ``and section 8(b)'' between \n ``transfer'' and the comma;\n (B) by inserting ``license,'' between ``lease,'' \n and ``invest''; and\n (C) by striking ``any business, nor shall the \n Foundation'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``business \n for pecuniary profit or gain, except for the purposes \n set forth in this Act; operate any commercial \n establishment or enterprise within any unit of the \n National Park System; engage in any lobbying activities \n as defined in section 3(7) of the Lobbying Disclosure \n Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602(7)) concerning the \n management of the National Park System; or'';\n (4) in section 8--\n (A) by inserting ``(a)'' after ``Sec. 8.''; and\n (B) by inserting at the end:\n ``(b) All of the income in the Foundation, net of reasonable \noperating expenses, any contributions to local government pursuant to \nsubsection (a), and reserves determined necessary or appropriate by the \nBoard, shall be provided to or for the benefit of the National Park \nService: Provided, That all such net income derived from the licenses \nand authorizations referred to in section 3(b) shall be expended in \naccordance with policies and priorities of the National Park Service on \nprograms, projects, or activities that benefit the National Park System \nor National Park Service as identified by the Secretary in consultation \nwith the Foundation.'';\n (5) in section 10--\n (A) by inserting ``(a)'' after ``Sec. 10.''; and\n (B) by inserting at the end:\n ``(b) Within 30 days of the execution of each license or \nauthorization referred to in section 3(b), the Foundation shall \ntransmit a copy thereof to the Committee on Resources of the United \nStates House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural \nResources of the United States Senate.\n ``(c) No later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this \nsubsection, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Committee \non Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on \nEnergy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate a report \nassessing the cost, effectiveness, and effects of the licensing and \nauthorization program established pursuant to section 3(b). The report \nshall include, but not be limited to, assessments of the effect of such \nprogram on--\n ``(1) visitation levels in the National Park System;\n ``(2) the image of the National Park System;\n ``(3) achievement of the needs and priorities of the \n National Park Service;\n ``(4) appropriations for the National Park System; and\n ``(5) the costs of the Foundation and the Secretary of the \n Interior to administer the program.''; and\n (6) at the end, by inserting:\n ``Sec. 11. Whoever, without the authorization of the Foundation, \nuses for purposes of trade, to induce the sale of any good or service, \nto promote any commercial activity, or for other commercial purpose the \nname of the Foundation or any trademark, tradename, sign, symbol, \nemblem, insignia, logo, likeness, or slogan referred to in section \n3(b)(1), or any facsimile or simulation thereof tending to cause \nconfusion, to cause mistake, to deceive, or to suggest falsely that an \nindividual, company, or particular good or service is an official \nsponsor or official supporter of the National Park System or National \nPark Service, shall be subject to suit in a civil action by the \nFoundation for the remedies provided in the Act of July 5, 1946, 60 \nStat. 427 (15 U.S.C. 501 et seq.).\n ``Sec. 12. Section 1 of Public Law 88-504 (36 U.S.C. 1101), as \namended, is further amended by adding at the end `(78) The National \nPark Foundation'.''.", "summary": "Revises the purpose of the National Park Foundation to: (1) include developing and implementing means of securing funds from the private sector to enhance funding for the National Park System (NPS) without supplanting otherwise available appropriated funds; and (2) exclude accepting and administering private gifts on behalf of the National Park Service. \nGrants the Foundation exclusive authority to license or authorize persons to use such trademarks, symbols, likenesses, or slogans that are adopted and owned by the Foundation and for which it has filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the purpose of representing, promoting, or advertising for commercial purposes or pecuniary gain that an individual, company, or particular good service is an official sponsor or official supporter of the NPS or the Service. \nSpecifies conditions under which such license or authorization may be granted, such as subjecting the criteria and guidelines for the competitive issuance and the maintenance of a license or authorization to the prior written approval of the Secretary of the Interior. Authorizes the Foundation to license property. \nProhibits the Foundation, except as provided in this Act, from: (1) engaging in any business for pecuniary profit or gain; (2) operating any commercial establishment or enterprise within NPS units; or (3) engaging in any lobbying activities concerning NPS management. \nRequires: (1) all of the Foundation's income, net of reasonable operating expenses, contributions to local government, and reserves determined necessary or appropriate by its Board to be provided for the Service's benefit; and (2) all net income derived from the licenses and authorizations under this Act to be expended in accordance with Service's policies and priorities on programs, projects, or activities that benefit the NPS or the Service as identified by the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with the Foundation. \nSets forth congressional reporting requirements. \nSubjects persons to a civil suit and remedies for unlawful use of the Foundation's name, trademark, symbol, slogan, or any facsimile or simulation thereof to suggest falsely that an individual, company, or particular good or service is an official sponsor or official supporter of the NPS or the Service for commercial purposes. \nIncludes the Foundation as a private corporation established under Federal law for purposes of provisions concerning audits of federally chartered corporations.", "title": "To amend the Act establishing the National Park Foundation."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 74, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis \nResearch, Cure, and Care Act of 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune, \n chronic, inflammatory, painful, and disabling diseases that \n require lifelong timely and appropriate medical intervention \n and care and have no cure.\n (2) Current studies indicate that the prevalence of \n psoriasis in the United States ranges between two and three \n percent, affecting approximately 7.5 million men, women, and \n children of all ages, approximately 17,000 individuals in each \n congressional district, and has an adverse impact on the \n quality of life for virtually all affected.\n (3) Psoriasis often is overlooked or dismissed because it \n is not typically a direct cause of death. Psoriasis is commonly \n and incorrectly considered by insurers, employers, \n policymakers, and the public as a mere annoyance--a superficial \n problem, mistakenly thought to be contagious, due to poor \n hygiene, or both. As such, treatment for psoriasis is often \n incorrectly categorized as ``cosmetic'' and not ``medically \n necessary''.\n (4) Psoriasis is connected with an elevated risk for other \n serious, chronic, and life-threatening comorbid conditions, \n including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer. \n A higher prevalence of stroke, atherosclerosis, chronic \n obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Crohn's disease, \n lymphoma, metabolic syndrome, and liver disease are also found \n in people with psoriasis as compared to the general population. \n Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop \n potentially disabling psoriatic arthritis.\n (5) The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funded a \n study that found that psoriasis may cause as much physical and \n mental disability as other major chronic diseases, including \n cancer, arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and \n depression.\n (6) Psoriasis is associated with elevated rates of \n depression, anxiety, and suicidality (suicidal thoughts, \n suicide attempts, and completed suicides). Individuals with \n psoriasis are twice as likely to have thoughts of suicide as \n people without psoriasis or with other chronic conditions.\n (7) The risk of premature death is 50 percent higher for \n people with severe psoriasis. This translates to people with \n severe psoriasis dying four years earlier, on average, than \n people without psoriasis.\n (8) The economic consequences of psoriasis, both for \n individuals and the health care system, are significant. Total \n direct and indirect health care costs of psoriasis are \n calculated at $11,250,000,000 with work loss accounting for 40 \n percent of the cost burden. People with psoriasis have \n significantly higher health care resource utilization and costs \n than the general population. Additionally, psoriasis patients \n with comorbidities are more likely to experience urgent care, \n have greater rates of hospitalization, more frequent outpatient \n visits, and incur greater costs than psoriasis patients without \n comorbidities.\n (9) Early diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis \n may help prevent irreversible joint damage.\n (10) Treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis presents a \n challenge for patients and their health care providers. A wide \n range of treatment options is available; however, adverse side \n effects and success varies from patient to patient. The same \n treatments do not work for every patient and a treatment that \n may have been effective for a period of time can stop working.\n (11) Despite a number of recent breakthroughs that have led \n to some new treatments, too many people with psoriasis and \n psoriatic arthritis still cannot live normal lives. For many of \n these individuals, existing treatments are not effective or \n appropriate or may not be accessible due to cost and insurance \n barriers.\n (12) Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis constitute a \n significant national health issue that deserves a comprehensive \n and coordinated response by States and the Federal Government \n with involvement of the health care provider, patient, and \n public health communities.\n\nSEC. 3. NATIONAL PSORIASIS AND PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS DATA COLLECTION.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting \nthrough the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, \nis authorized to undertake psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis data \ncollection efforts, including incorporating questions into public \nhealth surveys, questionnaires, and other databases in existence as of \nthe date of the enactment of this Act to collect information, with \nrespect to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, regarding--\n (1) the prevalence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in \n the United States;\n (2) the age of onset;\n (3) health-related quality of life;\n (4) health care utilization;\n (5) burden of such disease (such as with respect to \n employment);\n (6) direct and indirect costs;\n (7) health disparities, including with respect to age, \n gender, race, and ethnicity; and\n (8) comorbidities and the natural history of such disease.\nSuch data collection efforts may include the consideration and \ndevelopment of a patient registry, which would include individuals of \nall ages.\n (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out subsection (a), \nthere are authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for each of fiscal \nyears 2012 through 2017.\n\nSEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS FOR COLLABORATIVE INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH \n ON PSORIASIS AND PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS AND COMORBID \n CONDITIONS.\n\n It is the sense of the Congress that--\n (1) the psoriasis research community has made significant \n strides in proving the seriousness of psoriasis as an \n autoimmune disease and in advancing the identification of \n commonalities between psoriasis and other diseases;\n (2) the nonprofit and private sector psoriasis research \n communities are to be commended for planning a \n multidisciplinary scientific meeting in 2012 to discuss future \n directions of psoriasis and comorbid research, identify \n initiatives necessary to fill any gaps, leverage public and \n private investments in psoriasis research, and facilitate \n progress in interdisciplinary research related to psoriasis and \n its comorbid conditions;\n (3) the National Institutes of Health is encouraged to \n continue to work with the organizations and private sector \n stakeholders who convene the multidisciplinary scientific \n meeting to discuss future directions of psoriasis and comorbid \n research;\n (4) the nonprofit and private sector meeting conveners \n should disseminate to the public, Congress, and other relevant \n public and private policymaking and research entities a report \n that includes findings from the scientific meeting and \n suggestions regarding next steps, including recommendations \n from the National Institutes of Health and other relevant \n Federal agencies; and\n (5) utilizing the information produced by the scientific \n meeting regarding future directions of psoriasis and comorbid \n research, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting \n through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and \n in conjunction with the National Institute for Arthritis, \n Musculoskeletal, and Skin Diseases and other institutes and \n centers of the National Institutes of Health, is encouraged to \n explore the development of a virtual Center of Excellence for \n Collaborative Discovery in Psoriasis and Comorbid Research or \n some other mechanism through which public and private sector \n findings regarding psoriasis and its comorbid conditions can be \n regularly shared and leveraged.", "summary": "Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure, and Care Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to undertake psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis data collection efforts to collect information regarding: (1) the prevalence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in the United States; (2) the age of onset; (3) health-related quality of life; (4) health care utilization; (5) the burden of such disease; (6) direct and indirect costs; (7) health disparities, including with respect to age, gender, race, and ethnicity; and (8) comorbidities and the natural history of such disease. Allows such data collection efforts to include: (1) incorporating questions into public health surveys, questionnaires, and other databases in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) the consideration and development of a patient registry.\n\nEncourages the Director of the National Institutes of Health to explore the development of a virtual Center of Excellence for Collaborative Discovery in Psoriasis and Comorbid Research or some other mechanism through which public and private sector findings regarding psoriasis and its comorbid conditions can be regularly shared and leveraged.", "title": "To authorize and support psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis data collection, to express the sense of the Congress to encourage and leverage public and private investment in psoriasis research with a particular focus on interdisciplinary collaborative research on the relationship between psoriasis and its comorbid conditions, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 711, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Market Based Manufacturing \nIncentives Act of 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. CREDIT FOR RETAIL PURCHASE OF CERTAIN DOMESTIC PRODUCTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart B of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new section:\n\n``SEC. 30E. DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING CONSUMER CREDIT.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--There shall be allowed as a credit \nagainst the tax imposed by this chapter for any taxable year an amount \nequal to the applicable percentage of the aggregate amount paid or \nincurred by the taxpayer for specified products during any portion such \ntaxable year which is part of the eligible period.\n ``(b) Applicable Percentage; Eligible Period.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) Applicable percentage.--The term `applicable \n percentage' means, with respect to any specified product, the \n percentage (not less than 5 percent nor more than 20 percent) \n determined by the Commission under subsection (e)(4) with \n respect to such product.\n ``(2) Eligible period.--The term `eligible period' means, \n with respect to any specified product, the period (not less \n than 5 years nor more than 10 years) determined by the \n Commission under subsection (e)(5) with respect to such \n product.\n ``(3) Separate application to each specified product.--\n Subsection (a) shall be applied separately with respect to each \n of the specified products designated under subsection (e).\n ``(c) Specified Product.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) In general.--The term `specified product' means any \n designated domestic product--\n ``(A) the original use of which commences with the \n taxpayer, and\n ``(B) which is acquired by the taxpayer for use or \n lease, but not for resale.\n ``(2) Designated domestic product.--The term `designated \n domestic product' means any designated product which has been \n certified by the Secretary as--\n ``(A) having been assembled in the United States, \n and\n ``(B) consisting at least 60 percent of components \n assembled or otherwise arising in the United States.\n ``(3) Designated product.--The term `designated product' \n means the 10 products designated by the Secretary, in \n consultation with the Commission, under subsection (e).\n ``(d) Application With Other Credits.--\n ``(1) Business credit treated as part of general business \n credit.--So much of the credit which would be allowed under \n subsection (a) for any taxable year (determined without regard \n to this subsection) that is attributable to property used by \n the taxpayer in the conduct of a trade or business shall be \n treated as a credit listed in section 38(b) for such taxable \n year (and not allowed under subsection (a)).\n ``(2) Personal credit.--For purposes of this title, the \n credit allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year \n (determined after application of paragraph (1)) shall be \n treated as a credit allowable under subpart A for such taxable \n year.\n ``(e) Selection of Designated Products.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the \n Commission, shall designate 10 products for purposes of this \n section.\n ``(2) Eligible products.--A product shall not be eligible \n for designation under this section unless--\n ``(A) such product represents a technological \n innovation, and\n ``(B) the designation of such product has the \n potential to produce substantial long-term job \n opportunities in the United States.\n ``(3) Criteria for designation.--In making designations of \n products under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into \n consideration--\n ``(A) the number of jobs in the United States that \n the Secretary estimates will result (directly and \n indirectly) from the designation of such product, and\n ``(B) the speed with which such jobs are likely to \n be created.\n ``(4) Determination of credit percentage.--The Secretary, \n in consultation with the Commission, shall determine the \n applicable percentage which applies for purposes of subsection \n (a) with respect to each product designated under this \n subsection. Such percentage shall not be less than 5 percent \n and shall not be more than 20 percent. Such percentage shall be \n determined on the basis of the incentive needed with respect to \n each such product taking into account the market factors with \n respect to such product.\n ``(5) Determination of period during which credit \n allowed.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Commission, \n shall determine the eligible period which applies for purposes \n of subsection (a) with respect to each product designated under \n this subsection. Such period shall not be less than 5 years and \n shall not be more than 10 years. Such period shall be \n determined on the basis of the incentive needed with respect to \n each such product taking into account the market factors with \n respect to such product.\n ``(f) Other Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the 21st \n Century American Manufacturing Commission established under \n section 3 of the Market Based Manufacturing Incentives Act of \n 2011.\n ``(2) Reduction in basis.--For purposes of this subtitle, \n the basis of any property for which a credit is allowable under \n subsection (a) shall be reduced by the amount of such credit so \n allowed (determined without regard to subsection (d)).\n ``(3) No double benefit.--The amount of any deduction or \n other credit allowable under this chapter with respect to any \n property shall be reduced by the amount of the credit allowed \n under subsection (a) for such property (determined without \n regard to subsection (d)).\n ``(4) Property used by tax-exempt entity.--In the case of \n property whose use is described in paragraph (3) or (4) of \n section 50(b) and which is not subject to a lease, the person \n who sold such property to the person or entity using such \n property shall be treated as the taxpayer that placed such \n vehicle in service, but only if such person clearly discloses \n to such person or entity in a document the amount of any credit \n allowable under subsection (a) with respect to such property \n (determined without regard to subsection (d)). For purposes of \n subsection (d), property to which this paragraph applies shall \n be treated as property used by the taxpayer in the conduct of a \n trade or business.\n ``(5) Property used outside united states, etc., not \n qualified.--No credit shall be allowable under subsection (a) \n with respect to any property referred to in section 50(b)(1).\n ``(6) Recapture.--The Secretary shall, by regulations, \n provide for recapturing the benefit of any credit allowable \n under subsection (a) with respect to any property which ceases \n to be property eligible for such credit (including recapture in \n the case of a lease period of less than the economic life of \n the property).\n ``(7) Election to not take credit.--No credit shall be \n allowed under subsection (a) for any vehicle if the taxpayer \n elects to not have this section apply to such property.\n ``(g) Termination.--This section shall not apply to property \nacquired after the date which is 10 years after the date of the \nenactment of this section.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 38(b) of such Code is amended by striking \n ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (35), by striking the period \n at the end of paragraph (36) and inserting ``, plus'', and by \n adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(37) the portion of the domestic manufacturing consumer \n credit to which section 30E(d)(1) applies.''.\n (2) Section 1016(a) of such Code is amended by striking \n ``and'' at the end of paragraph (36), by striking the period at \n the end of paragraph (37) and inserting ``, and'', and by \n adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(38) to the extent provided in section 30E(f)(2).''.\n (3) Section 6501(m) of such Code is amended by inserting \n ``30E(f)(7),'' after ``30D(e)(4),''.\n (4) The table of sections for subpart B of part IV of \n subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at \n the end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 30E. Domestic manufacturing consumer credit.''.\n (c) GAO Report.--The Government Accountability Office shall, during \nthe 3d, 5th, and 7th years after the effective date of the domestic \nmanufacturing consumer credit (described in subsection (d)), report to \nCongress on the economic effects of such credit. Such report shall \ninclude the aggregate value of the domestic manufacturing consumer \ncredits determined with respect to taxpayers under section 30E of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 and an estimate of the economic activity \nstimulated by such credits.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property acquired after the date which is 1 year after the \ndate on which the 21st Century American Manufacturing Commission makes \nits recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury under section 3(b) \nof this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF 21ST CENTURY AMERICAN MANUFACTURING \n COMMISSION.\n\n (a) In General.--There is established a commission to be known as \nthe 21st Century American Manufacturing Commission.\n (b) Duties.--The Commission shall conduct research regarding \nappropriate products to make eligible for the tax credit provided by \nsection 30E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and shall make \nrecommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury regarding which \nproducts should be designated for purposes of such section and the \napplicable percentage and eligible period which should be determined \nwith respect to each such product. The commission shall make such \nrecommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury not later than 6 \nmonths after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (c) Membership.--\n (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 10 \n members who shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury \n or his designee not later than 30 days after the enactment of \n this Act.\n (2) Political affiliation.--Not more than 5 members may be \n of the same political party.\n (3) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of \n the Commission.\n (4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled \n in the manner in which the original appointment was made.\n (5) Pay of members.--\n (A) In general.--Members shall each be entitled to \n receive the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate \n of basic pay for grade GS-11 of the General Schedule \n for each day (including travel time) during which they \n are engaged in the actual performance of duties vested \n in the Commission.\n (B) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive \n travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of \n subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions \n under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United \n States Code.\n (6) Prevention of conflict of interest.--\n (A) Agreement.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall \n not appoint any individual to be a member of the \n Commission unless such individual has first sign an \n agreement with the Secretary to prevent conflicts of \n interest. Such agreement shall include a requirement \n that the individual comply with the provisions of \n subparagraph (B) and shall include such penalties for \n failure to so comply as the Secretary determines \n appropriate.\n (B) Requirements.--A member of the Commission shall \n not, during the 5-year period beginning on the \n effective date of the domestic manufacturing consumer \n credit (described in section 2(d)), hold, directly or \n indirectly, any interest in any person associated with \n any designated product, any component of any designated \n product, or any equipment to manufacture any such \n product or component. An interest held in any fund held \n by such member shall be taken into account under the \n preceding sentence unless such fund is a broad-based \n index fund. Any interest held by such member prior to \n the beginning of such 5-year period which is not \n (consistent with the requirements of this subparagraph) \n permitted to be held during such period, shall be \n disposed of prior to such period.\n (d) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be \ndesignated by the Secretary of the Treasury (or his designee) at the \ntime of appointment.\n (e) Staff.--Any staff of the Commission shall be appointed subject \nto the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing \nappointments in the competitive service, and shall be paid in \naccordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of \nchapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General \nSchedule pay rates.\n (f) Termination.--\n (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the \n Commission shall terminate 30 days after making recommendations \n to the Secretary of the Treasury described in subsection (b).\n (2) Extension.--At the request of the Secretary of the \n Treasury or his designee, the Commission shall continue in \n existence for such period at the Secretary may request but not \n later than 1 year after making such recommendations.", "summary": "Market Based Manufacturing Incentives Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for the purchase (during a specified period of between 5 and 10 years based on the incentive needed with respect to each product) of new products certified as assembled in the United States and consisting of at least 60% of components assembled or otherwise arising in the United States.\n\nEstablishes the 21st Century American Manufacturing Commission to conduct research to designate products eligible for the tax credit allowed by this Act.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide market-based manufacturing incentives, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3196, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Primary Care Workforce Access \nImprovement Act of 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. MEDICARE PRIMARY CARE GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION PILOT PROJECT.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in \nthis section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a pilot \nproject under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social \nSecurity Act, in accordance with the provisions of this section, to \ntest models for providing payment under such title for direct graduate \nmedical education and indirect medical education to medical education \nentities, which entities are not otherwise eligible to receive such \npayments under the Medicare program, for the costs of training primary \ncare residents.\n (b) Duration.--The Secretary shall conduct the pilot project under \nthis section over a 5-year period, which shall begin not later than 180 \ndays after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (c) Models.--\n (1) Required models.--Under the pilot project, the \n Secretary shall test two of each of the following models:\n (A) A model in which the medical education entity \n receiving funds under the pilot project is a community-\n based independent corporate entity collaborating with \n two or more hospitals to operate one or more primary \n care graduate medical residency training programs.\n (B) A model in which--\n (i) the medical education entity receiving \n funds under the pilot project is established by \n two or more hospitals to operate one or more \n primary care graduate medical residency \n training programs; and\n (ii) such hospitals may be the sole \n corporate members of the entity but the \n governing board of the entity shall include at \n least one community representative.\n (C) A model in which the medical education entity \n receiving funds under the pilot project is a hospital \n subsidiary or independent corporation that operates one \n or more primary care graduate medical residency \n training programs for a hospital with community \n participation in the governance of the subsidiary or \n corporation.\n (D) A model in which--\n (i) the medical education entity receiving \n funds under the pilot project is independent of \n any hospital but collaborates with a hospital \n in operating one or more primary care graduate \n medical residency training programs; and\n (ii) the medical education entity may \n include a university or school of medicine.\n (2) Additional models.--Under the pilot project, the \n Secretary may test models of medical education entities in \n addition to those described in paragraph (1).\n (d) Prioritization.--Under the pilot project, the Secretary of \nHealth and Human Services may give priority to testing models that \ndemonstrate the capability of improving the quality, quantity, and \ndistribution of primary care physicians, including the ability to \nenhance primary care delivery in rural and underserved areas.\n (e) Payments.--\n (1) Payments to medical education entities.--Under the \n pilot project, the Secretary shall establish a process under \n which payments are made to each medical education entity \n participating under such project for direct graduate medical \n education and indirect medical education costs with respect to \n primary care residents enrolled under a primary care graduate \n medical residency training program operated pursuant to a model \n of such entity under subsection (c) instead of any payment or \n adjustment that would otherwise be made to a participant \n hospital (as defined in subsection (m)) of such entity for \n indirect and direct graduate medical education costs under \n subsections (d)(5)(B) and (h) of section 1886 of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww) during the period of \n participation of such entity in such project.\n (2) Calculation of payments.--Payments to a medical \n education entity under the pilot project, with respect to a \n primary care graduate medical education residency program, for \n a cost reporting period during which the entity is \n participating in such pilot shall be, based on the most \n recently available data with respect to a previous cost \n reporting period, equal to the sum of the following:\n (A) Direct gme.--The amount that, out of all of the \n payment amounts (determined on a per resident basis) \n received by hospitals under section 1886(h) of the \n Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)) for such \n previous cost reporting period, is equal to the 95th \n percentile of such payment amounts.\n (B) Indirect gme.--The amount that, out of all of \n the additional payment amounts (determined on a per \n resident basis) received by hospitals under section \n 1886(d)(5)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n 1395ww(d)(5)(B)) for such previous cost reporting \n period, is equal to the 95th percentile of such payment \n amounts.\n (3) Additional payments for programs serving underserved \n areas.--Payments in addition to the payments described in \n paragraph (2) may be made under the pilot project for primary \n care graduate medical residency training programs that--\n (A) operate in sites and areas that are underserved \n by primary care physicians; or\n (B) change their training sites to include those \n areas.\n (4) Payments from medicare trust funds.--In providing for \n such payments under this subsection to medical education \n entities, the Secretary shall provide for an allocation of such \n payments between part A and part B (and the Federal Hospital \n Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 of the Social Security \n Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i) and the Federal Supplementary Medical \n Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n 1395t)) in the same manner as the Secretary provides for an \n allocation of payments under subsections (d)(5)(B) and (h), \n respectively, of section 1886 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww).\n (f) Uses of Payments.--\n (1) In general.--A medical education entity receiving \n payments under the pilot project shall use such payments for \n the training of primary care residents, including training \n activities in appropriate inpatient and outpatient settings in \n primary care graduate medical residency training programs \n accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical \n Education or the American Osteopathic Association and for all \n relevant topics including patient care, care management, \n working in teams, supervision, and quality improvement.\n (2) Limitations.--Payments shall only be made for training \n primary care residents up to the initial board certification of \n such residents, except that with respect to training in \n geriatric medicine, payments may also be made for a fellowship \n after initial board certification.\n (g) Expansion During Pilot Project.--A medical education entity \nreceiving funds under the pilot project, with respect to a primary care \ngraduate medical residency training program, shall be allowed to \nincrease by up to 50 percent the number of full-time equivalent primary \ncare residents enrolled in the such program (determined in accordance \nwith the process under subsection (d)(2)(A)(ii)) during the duration of \nthe participation of such entity in such project.\n (h) Treatment After Project.--\n (1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), after \n the last day of the pilot project, which may be extended at the \n discretion of the Secretary, any participant hospital of a \n medical education entity under the pilot project, shall receive \n payments under subsection (d)(5)(B) and (h) of section 1886 of \n the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww) in the same manner \n and to the same extent such hospital would receive such \n payments without application of this Act and such payments \n shall be calculated based on the number of full-time equivalent \n residents enrolled in such program without regard to any \n increase made pursuant to subsection (g).\n (2) Exception to ensure residents enrolled during pilot are \n able to complete training.--Subject to paragraph (3), a medical \n education entity receiving funds under the pilot project, with \n respect to a primary care graduate medical residency training \n program, shall continue to receive funding under this section \n (even after the last day of the project), with respect to each \n primary care resident who is enrolled under such program while \n the entity is participating in such project, to the extent and \n in such amounts necessary to allow for the full duration of \n training, subject to subsection (f)(2), of such primary care \n resident. Any such payments made pursuant to this subparagraph \n shall be deemed to be a payment made under the pilot project.\n (3) Limitation.--In no case may the total duration of the \n pilot project exceed seven years and in no case may payments be \n made under this section to a medical education entity for a \n period exceeding seven years.\n (i) Budget Neutrality.--For each year that the pilot project under \nthis section is being conducted (and for any subsequent year to the \nextent subsection (h)(2) applies), the Secretary shall reduce payments \nunder subsections (d)(5)(B) and (h) of section 1886 of the Social \nSecurity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww) by such amount as the Secretary \ndetermines to be necessary to ensure that carrying out the pilot \nproject under this section during such year does not result in \nexpenditures under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for such year \nthat exceed the amount of such expenditures that would have been made \nfor such year without application of this section.\n (j) Waiver Authority.--The Secretary may waive such requirements of \ntitles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act as may be necessary to \ncarry out the purpose of the pilot project under this section.\n (k) Report to Congress.--The Secretary is authorized to enter into \nan agreement with the Institute of Medicine to conduct a study on the \nresults of the pilot project. Such agreement shall provide for the \nInstitute of Medicine to submit, not later than 1 year after the \ncompletion of the pilot project under this section (or, if sooner, \nJanuary 1, 2019), to Congress a report on the results of such study, \nincluding--\n (1) a detailed analysis of the effects of the pilot, \n including the quality, quantity, and distribution of primary \n care physicians during and after the pilot project compared to \n the quality, quantity, and distribution of such physicians \n before the pilot project; and the governance, administration \n and financial strength of the medical educational entities that \n participated in the pilot project;\n (2) recommendations on the extent to which the pilot \n project should be expanded to all primary care residents; and\n (3) recommendations for such legislation and administrative \n actions as needed.\n (l) Expansion.--If the Secretary determines that any of the models \ntested under the pilot project under this section enhance the quality, \nquantity, and distribution of primary care physicians for Medicare \nbeneficiaries, the Secretary may initiate comparable primary care \ntraining projects.\n (m) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:\n (1) Direct graduate medical education costs; indirect \n graduate medical education costs.--The terms ``direct graduate \n medical education costs'' and ``indirect graduate medical \n education'' have the meanings given such terms for purposes of \n subsections (h) and (d)(5)(B), respectively, of section 1886 of \n the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww).\n (2) Medical education entity.--The term ``medical education \n entity'' means a corporate, nonprofit, or academic entity that \n has as its principal mission the education and training of \n primary care residents.\n (3) Medicare beneficiary.--The term ``Medicare \n beneficiary'' means an individual entitled to benefits under \n part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act or enrolled \n under part B of such title.\n (4) Participant hospital.--The term ``participant \n hospital'' means, with respect to a medical education entity, \n any hospital that establishes, is collaborating with, a \n component of, or otherwise associated with, such entity to \n operate a primary care graduate medical residency training \n program under a model described in subsection (c).\n (5) Primary care graduate medical residency training \n program.--The term ``primary care graduate medical residency \n training program'' means an approved medical residency training \n program (as defined in section 1886(h)(5)(A) of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(5)(A))) for training primary \n care residents.\n (6) Primary care resident.--The term ``primary care \n resident'' means a resident enrolled in an approved medical \n residency training program in family medicine, general internal \n medicine, general pediatrics, or geriatric medicine.", "summary": "Primary Care Workforce Access Improvement Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a pilot project under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to test models for providing payment for direct graduate medical education (GME) and indirect medical education (IME) to medical education entities (MEEs), not otherwise eligible to receive such payments, for the costs of training primary care residents.\n\nRequires testing of two of the following model MEEs: (1) a community-based independent corporate entity collaborating with two or more hospitals to operate one or more primary care graduate medical residency training programs (training hospitals); (2) a MEE, with at least one community representative on its board, which is established by two or more training hospitals which may be the sole corporate members of the MEE; (3) a hospital subsidiary or independent corporation, with community participation in its governance, that operates one or more training programs for a hospital; or (4) a MEE (including a university or school of medicine) independent of any hospital but collaborating with one in operating one or more primary care graduate medical residency training programs.", "title": "To provide for a Medicare primary care graduate medical education pilot project in order to improve access to the primary care workforce."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 366, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Radiation Experimentation \nCompensation Act of 1995''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS, PURPOSE, AND APOLOGY.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--\n (1) since the 1940's, the Federal Government has \n intentionally conducted secret radiation experiments in the \n United States without the informed consent or knowledge of the \n individuals on whom the experiments were performed;\n (2) such radiation experiments included eighteen subjects \n of plutonium injection experiments, the subject of a zirconium \n injection experiment, and several subjects of total body \n irradiation experiments conducted during World War II;\n (3) the Federal Government performed such experiments not \n in order to achieve medical or health benefits for the \n individuals used in the tests, but for research purposes, to \n allow Federal Government scientists and health specialists to \n study the effects of radiation on the human body;\n (4) at the time of such experiments and in the years \n following the experiments, the Federal Government failed to \n inform the individuals tested, or their families, about the \n nature and effects of the tests;\n (5) the Federal Government has harmed the subjects of such \n radiation experiments;\n (6) the Congress presumes that the exposure to radiation of \n the subjects of such experiments has generated an excess of \n cancers and other debilitating diseases and health problems for \n such subjects;\n (7) the Federal Government should recognize that the lives \n and health of the innocent individuals who were the subjects of \n such experiments were put at risk by the individuals' unknowing \n and involuntary participation in radiation experiments; and\n (8) the Federal Government should assume responsibility for \n the harm caused by its actions regarding the experiments.\n (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to establish a \nprocedure to make partial restitution to the individuals described in \nsubsection (a) for the burdens they have borne for the Nation as a \nwhole, although monetary compensation can never fully compensate them.\n (c) Apology.--The Congress apologizes on behalf of the Nation to \nthe individuals described in subsection (a) and their families for the \nhardships they have endured because of the experiments described in \nsubsection (a).\n\nSEC. 3. TRUST FUND.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the \nUnited States a trust fund to be known as the ``Radiation \nExperimentation Compensation Trust Fund'' (in this Act referred to as \nthe ``Fund''), which shall be administered by the Secretary of the \nTreasury.\n (b) Investment of Amounts in Fund.--Amounts in the Fund shall be \ninvested in accordance with section 9702 of title 31, United States \nCode, and any interest on, and proceeds from, any such investment shall \nbe credited to and become a part of the Fund.\n (c) Availability of Fund.--Amounts in the Fund shall be available \nonly for disbursement by the Attorney General under section 5.\n (d) Termination.--\n (1) Time of termination.--The Fund shall terminate not \n later than the earlier of--\n (A) the date on which the amount authorized to be \n appropriated to the Fund by subsection (e), and any \n income earned on such amount, have been expended from \n the Fund; or\n (B) 22 years after the date of the enactment of \n this Act.\n (2) Amounts remaining in fund.--At the end of the 22-year \n period referred to in paragraph (1)(B), if all of the amounts \n in the Fund have not been expended, investments of amounts in \n the Fund shall be liquidated, the receipts of such liquidation \n shall be deposited in the Fund, and all funds remaining in the \n Fund shall be deposited in the miscellaneous receipts account \n in the Treasury.\n (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Fund $2,500,000. Any amount appropriated pursuant \nto this subsection is authorized to remain available until expended.\n\nSEC. 4. CLAIMS ELIGIBLE FOR PAYMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Any individual who, without the individual's \ninformed consent, was intentionally injected with plutonium or \nzirconium, or exposed to total body radiation, as a subject in an \nexperiment of the Federal Government at any time during the period \nbeginning on January 1, 1940, and ending on December 31, 1974, shall \nreceive $50,000 if--\n (1) a claim for such payment is filed with the Attorney \n General by or on behalf of such individual; and\n (2) the Attorney General determines, in accordance with \n section 5(b), that the claim meets the requirements of this \n Act.\n (b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:\n (1) The term ``experiment'' means a test or other action \n that is conducted primarily for research purposes to determine \n the effect of exposure to radiation on the human body.\n (2) The term ``Federal Government'' means--\n (A) the legislative, judicial, or executive branch \n of the government of the United States, or any agency \n or instrumentality of such a branch;\n (B) any person or entity whose actions regarding an \n experiment under which humans were injected with \n plutonium or zirconium, or exposed to total body \n radiation, were funded in any manner, approved, \n authorized, supervised, or contracted for, by an entity \n referred to in subparagraph (A); or\n (C) any person or entity that was funded in any \n manner, approved, authorized, supervised, or contracted \n with, wholly or partially, by an entity referred to in \n subparagraph (A) during a time period in which an \n entity referred to in subparagraph (A) had knowledge \n that such person or entity was conducting any \n experiment under which humans were injected with \n plutonium or zirconium, or exposed to total body \n radiation.\n (3) The term ``informed consent'' means consent by an \n individual (or the individual's parent or legal guardian, in \n the case of an individual who was a minor or was incompetent at \n the relevant time), to the individual's participation in an \n experiment, after a full disclosure of the nature and purpose \n of the experiment and its possible consequences that was \n sufficient to allow the individual (or the individual's parent \n or legal guardian, in the case of an individual who was a minor \n or was incompetent at the relevant time) to intelligently \n exercise judgment to decide whether the individual should \n participate in the experiment.\n\nSEC. 5. DETERMINATION AND PAYMENT OF CLAIMS.\n\n (a) Establishment of Filing Procedures.--The Attorney General shall \nestablish procedures under which individuals may submit claims for \npayments under this Act.\n (b) Determination of Claims.--For each claim filed under this Act, \nthe Attorney General shall determine whether the claim meets the \nrequirements of section 4(a).\n (c) Payment of Claims.--\n (1) In general.--The Attorney General shall pay, from \n amounts available in the Fund, each claim that the Attorney \n General determines meets the requirements of this Act.\n (2) Offset of payment.--\n (A) Offset of payment made under this Act.--A \n payment under this Act to or on behalf of an individual \n described in section 4(a) shall be offset by the amount \n of any payment made to or on behalf of the individual \n pursuant to a final award or settlement on a claim \n (other than a claim for worker's compensation) against \n any person, that is based on the individual's \n participation in an experiment that is the basis for \n the payment under this Act, including any payment under \n the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 \n note).\n (B) Offset of payment made under radiation exposure \n compensation act.--For purposes of section 6(c)(2) of \n the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 \n note), a payment made under this Act shall be \n considered to be a final award or settlement on a claim \n described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such section.\n (3) Right of subrogation.--Upon payment of a claim under \n this section, the Federal Government is subrogated, for the \n amount of the payment, to any right or claim that the \n individual to whom the payment was made may have against any \n person on account of participation in an experiment that is the \n basis for the payment made under this Act.\n (4) Payments in case of deceased persons.--\n (A) In general.--In the case of an individual who \n is deceased at the time of payment under this section, \n such payment may be made only as follows:\n (i) If the individual is survived by a \n spouse who is living at the time of payment, \n such payment shall be made to such surviving \n spouse.\n (ii) If the individual is not survived by a \n spouse described in clause (i), such payment \n shall be made in equal shares to the children \n of the individual who are living at the time of \n payment.\n (iii) If the individual is not survived by \n a person described in clause (i) or (ii), such \n payment shall be made in equal shares to the \n parents of the individual who are living at the \n time of payment.\n (iv) If the individual is not survived by a \n person described in any of clauses (i) through \n (iii), such payment shall be made in equal \n shares to the grandchildren of the individual \n who are living at the time of payment.\n (v) If the individual is not survived by a \n person described in any of clauses (i) through \n (iv), such payment shall be made in equal \n shares to the siblings of the individual who \n are living at the time of payment.\n (vi) If the individual is not survived by a \n person described in any of clauses (i) through \n (v), then such payment shall be made in equal \n shares to the grandparents of the individual \n who are living at the time of payment.\n (B) Filing of claim by survivor.--If an individual \n eligible for payment under this Act dies before filing \n a claim under this Act, a survivor of the individual \n who may receive payment under subparagraph (A) may file \n a claim for such payment on the individual's behalf.\n (C) Definitions.--For purposes of this paragraph:\n (i) The term ``child'' includes a \n recognized natural child, a stepchild who lived \n with an individual in a regular parent-child \n relationship, and an adopted child.\n (ii) The term ``grandchild of the \n individual'' means a child of a child of the \n individual.\n (iii) The term ``grandparent of the \n individual'' means a parent of a parent of the \n individual.\n (iv) The term ``parent'' includes fathers \n and mothers through adoption.\n (v) The term ``sibling of the individual'' \n means a child of the parent or parents of the \n individual.\n (vi) The term ``spouse'' means a person who \n was married to the relevant individual for at \n least the 12 months immediately preceding the \n death of the individual.\n (d) Action on Claims.--Within 18 months after the filing of any \nclaim under this Act--\n (1) the Attorney General shall make the determination \n required by subsection (b) regarding the claim; and\n (2) if the claim is determined to meet the requirements of \n section 4(a), the Attorney General shall make the payment \n required by subsection (c)(1).\n (e) Settlement in Full of Claims Against United States.--Payment \nunder this Act, when accepted by an individual, or the individual's \nsurvivors, shall be in full satisfaction of all claims of or on behalf \nof the individual against the United States that arise out of the \nparticipation in the experiment that is the basis for the payment made \nunder this Act.\n (f) Administrative Costs Not Deducted From Payment.--No costs \nincurred by the Attorney General in carrying out this Act may be paid \nfrom, set off against, or otherwise deducted from any payment made \nunder subsection (c)(1).\n (g) Termination of Duties of Attorney General.--The duties of the \nAttorney General under this section shall cease when the Fund \nterminates.\n (h) Treatment of Payments Under Other Laws.--A payment under \nsubsection (c)(1) to an individual--\n (1) shall be treated for purposes of the internal revenue \n laws of the United States as damages for human suffering; and\n (2) shall not be considered as income or resources for \n purposes of determining the individual's eligibility to receive \n benefits described in section 3803(c)(2)(C) of title 31, United \n States Code, or the amount of such benefits.\n (i) Use of Existing Resources.--The Attorney General should, to the \nextent available, use funds and resources available to the Attorney \nGeneral to carry out the Attorney General's functions under this Act.\n (j) Regulatory Authority.--The Attorney General may issue \nregulations necessary to carry out this Act.\n (k) Issuance of Regulations and Procedures.--The initial \nregulations and procedures to carry out this Act shall be issued not \nlater than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (l) Judicial Review.--An individual whose claim for compensation \nunder this Act is denied may seek initial judicial review solely in a \ndistrict court of the United States. The court shall review the denial \non the administrative record and shall hold unlawful and set aside the \ndenial if it is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or \notherwise not in accordance with law. Such an individual may appeal the \ndecision of the district court to the appropriate higher Federal \ncourts.\n\nSEC. 6. CLAIMS NOT ASSIGNABLE OR TRANSFERABLE.\n\n No claim under this Act shall be assignable or transferable.\n\nSEC. 7. LIMITATION ON CLAIMS.\n\n An individual, or the individual's survivors, may not receive \npayment under section 5(c)(1) unless a claim by or on behalf of the \nindividual is filed under this Act within 20 years after the date of \nthe enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 8. ATTORNEY OR AGENT FEES.\n\n The agent, attorney, or other representative of an individual or of \nan individual's survivor may not receive, for services rendered in \nconnection with a claim made under this Act, an amount equal to more \nthan 10 percent of the payment made under this Act on such claim. Any \nperson who violates this section shall be guilty of an infraction and \nshall be subject to a fine in the amount provided in title 18, United \nStates Code.\n\nSEC. 9. CERTAIN CLAIMS NOT AFFECTED BY PAYMENT.\n\n A payment made under section 5(c)(1) shall not be considered a form \nof compensation, or reimbursement for a loss, for purposes of imposing \nliability on the individual who receives the payment to repay any \ninsurance carrier for insurance payments, or to repay any person on \naccount of worker's compensation payments. A payment under this Act \nshall not affect any claim against an insurance carrier with respect to \ninsurance, or against any person with respect to worker's compensation.\n\nSEC. 10. BUDGET COMPLIANCE.\n\n No authority under this Act to enter into contracts or to make \npayments shall be effective in any fiscal year except to such extent or \nin such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.", "summary": "Radiation Experimentation Compensation Act of 1995 - Apologizes on behalf of the Nation to the individuals who were the subjects of radiation experiments conducted by the Federal Government, as well as to their families for the hardships they have endured as a result. \nEstablishes in the Treasury the Radiation Experimentation Compensation Trust Fund for compensating the subjects of experiments conducted between January 1, 1940, and December 31, 1974, during which the subjects were intentionally injected with plutonium or zirconium, or exposed to total body radiation, without their informed consent. Authorizes appropriations. \nDirects the Attorney General to establish procedures for the submission of claims and for payment from amounts in the Fund of each claim meeting the requirements of this Act. \nProvides for payments in cases of deceased experimental subjects. \nStates that payments under this Act which are accepted by a subject or the subject's survivors shall be in full satisfaction of all claims of or on behalf of the subject against the United States arising out of the subject's participation in the experiment. Provides that a payment under this Act shall not affect any claim against an insurance carrier with respect to insurance or against any person with respect to workers' compensation. \nProvides for judicial review of denied claims. \nEstablishes a time limit for the filing of claims of 20 years after enactment of this Act.", "title": "Radiation Experimentation Compensation Act of 1995"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 939, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Local Food for Healthy Families Act \nof 2013''.\n\nSEC. 2. LOCAL FOOD FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Establishment of Program.--The Secretary of Agriculture \n(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary unless the \ncontext specifies otherwise) shall establish the Local Food for Healthy \nFamilies Program for the purpose of making grants to certain entities \nto carry out projects to provide incentives to low-income families \nreceiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to \npurchase fruits and vegetables.\n (b) Administrative Costs.--Not more than 10 percent of the funds \nmade available to carry out this Act for a fiscal year may be used by \nthe Secretary to administer, evaluate, and monitor this Act for such \nfiscal year.\n (c) Advisory Committee.--The Secretary shall convene an advisory \ncommittee composed of representatives of organizations that have prior \nexperience implementing local fruit and vegetable incentive programs to \nadvise him on the design of the Local Food for Healthy Families \nProgram.\n\nSEC. 3. ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.\n\n (a) Applications.--Subject to subsection (b), to be eligible to \nreceive a grant to carry out a project under this Act, the following \nentities may submit to the Secretary an application that contains such \ninformation and assurances, at such time and in such form, as the \nSecretary may require by rule:\n (1) Private nonprofit entities.\n (2) Agricultural cooperatives.\n (3) Producer networks or associations.\n (4) Community health organizations.\n (5) Public benefit corporations.\n (6) Economic development cooperatives.\n (7) Farmers' markets.\n (8) Community supported agriculture programs.\n (9) Buying clubs.\n (10) Retail food stores that participate in the \n supplemental nutrition assistance program.\n (11) State, local, or tribal agencies.\n (b) Required Assurance.--An application submitted under subsection \n(a) shall include an assurance that the applicant will impose on \nrecipients of incentives under this Act the same terms and conditions \nthat apply to purchases made by individuals using supplemental \nnutrition assistance program benefits.\n\nSEC. 4. PRIORITY.\n\n In making grants under section 2, the Secretary shall give priority \nto eligible entities that--\n (1) are located in underserved communities,\n (2) provide locally produced fruits and vegetables,\n (3) maximize the share of funds used for direct incentives \n to participants,\n (4) use direct-to-consumer sales marketing,\n (5) demonstrate a track record of designing and \n implementing successful nutrition incentive programs that \n connect low-income consumers and agricultural producers,\n (6) develop innovative linkages between for-profit and \n nonprofit organizations, and\n (7) address other criteria as established by the Secretary.\n\nSEC. 5. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT.\n\n (a) Federal Share of Costs.--Not more than 50 percent of the cost \nof any project for which a grant is made under section 2 may be paid \nwith Federal funds.\n (b) Non-Federal Share of Costs.--An eligible entity that applies \nfor a grant under section 2 shall agree to provide not less than 50 \npercent of the cost of the project for which application is submitted \nfrom non-Federal sources, except that--\n (1) an eligible entity that is a nonprofit entity may value \n in cash or in-kind (fairly evaluated) its share of the cost of \n such project, and\n (2) an eligible entity that is a for-profit entity may \n value only in cash (and may not include services of an \n employee, including salaries paid or expenses covered by the \n employer) its share of the cost of such project.\n\nSEC. 6. INDEPENDENT EVALUATIONS.\n\n The Secretary shall provide for an independent evaluation of each \nproject for which a grant is made under this Act. Such evaluation \nshall--\n (1) measure the impact of such project on--\n (A) improving the nutrition and health status of \n families that participate in projects carried out under \n this Act, and\n (B) increasing the quantity of fruits and \n vegetables purchased by such families, and\n (2) use rigorous methodologies capable of producing \n scientifically valid information regarding the effectiveness of \n such project.\n\nSEC. 7. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RELATED INFORMATION.\n\n (a) Technical Assistance.--In carrying out this Act, the Secretary \nmay provide technical assistance regarding the operation of the Local \nFood for Healthy Families Program to entities that request such \ninformation.\n (b) Sharing Information.--The Secretary may provide for sharing of \ninformation concerning the operation of the Local Food for Healthy \nFamilies Program, the operation of projects carried out under such \nprogram, and the issues arising from such program and such projects, \nwith and among--\n (1) governmental, for-profit, and nonprofit groups, and the \n public through publications, conferences, and other appropriate \n forums, and\n (2) researchers, practitioners, and other interested \n persons.\n\nSEC. 8. TREATMENT OF FUNDS.\n\n (a) In General.--The value of any incentive provided under this Act \nto a participating family shall not be considered income or resources \nfor any purpose under any Federal, State, or local law.\n (b) No Limitation on Benefits.--A grant made available under this \nAct shall not be used to carry out any project that limits the use of \nbenefits provided under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. \n2011 et seq.) or any other Federal nutrition law.\n (c) Household Allotment.--Incentives provided under this Act to \nfamilies that receive supplemental nutrition assistance program \nbenefits shall not--\n (1) be considered to be part of such benefits; or\n (2) be used in the collection or disposition of claims \n under section 13 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 \n U.S.C. 2022).\n\nSEC. 9. APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.\n\n Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the \nSecretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out \nthe Local Food for Healthy Families Program $20,000,000 for each of the \nfiscal years 2014 through 2018.", "summary": "Local Food for Healthy Families Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the local food for healthy families program to make grants to specified entities to provide low-income families receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) with incentives to purchase fruits and vegetables.", "title": "Local Food for Healthy Families Act of 2013"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1226, "text": "SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS OF ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR \n FISCAL YEAR 2000 FOR DISASTER RELIEF FOR THE VICTIMS OF \n HURRICANE FLOYD.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--\n (1) between August 29 and September 9, 1999, Hurricane \n Dennis hovered off the coast of North Carolina and eventually \n made landfall off Cape Hatteras;\n (2) Hurricane Dennis brought 20 inches of rain to portions \n of North Carolina, wiped out significant portions of the \n highway network on the North Carolina Outer Banks, and flooded \n homes and businesses;\n (3) Hurricane Dennis caused millions of dollars in damage \n to houses, businesses, farms, fishermen, roads, beaches and \n protective dunes;\n (4) between September 14 and 16, 1999, Hurricane Floyd \n menaced most of the southeastern seaboard of the United States, \n provoking the largest peace time evacuation of eastern Florida, \n the Georgia coast, the South Carolina coast, and the North \n Carolina Coast;\n (5) on September 16, 1999, in the early morning hours, \n Hurricane Floyd made landfall at the Cape Fear River, dumping \n up to 18 inches of rain on sections of North Carolina only days \n after the heavy rainfall from Hurricane Dennis;\n (6) the result of the landfall of Hurricane Floyd was the \n worst recorded flooding in the history of North Carolina;\n (7) after making landfall, Hurricane Floyd continued to \n move up the eastern seaboard, causing flooding and tornadoes in \n Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and \n Connecticut;\n (8) Hurricane Floyd is responsible for the known deaths of \n 54 people, 35 of whom were confirmed dead in North Carolina, 3 \n in New Jersey, 2 in New York, 6 in Pennsylvania, 4 in Virginia, \n 2 in Delaware, 1 in Vermont, and 1 in Connecticut, with many \n people still missing;\n (9) as the flood waters recede, the death toll from \n Hurricane Floyd is expected to grow;\n (10) farmers and fishermen have been among the most \n drastically affected by Hurricane Floyd;\n (11) in North Carolina alone, the agricultural loss \n estimates are already $1,300,000,000, and are likely to rise \n far higher;\n (12) North Carolina is the third most agriculturally \n diverse State in the country, producing, among other products, \n tobacco, cotton, peanuts, soybeans, corn, sweet potatoes, \n livestock, dairy, and produce;\n (13) last year in North Carolina, the total commodities \n sold from the State topped $7 billion, and in Virginia they \n generated $2.4 billion in cash receipts;\n (14) in North Carolina, more than 100,000 hogs have \n drowned, and more than 3,000,000 poultry have been killed by \n the flooding;\n (15) an estimated 120,000,000 gallons of hog waste have \n spilled into the environment, polluting rivers and ground \n water, and dozens of waste lagoons have been destroyed or \n flooded;\n (16) millions of other animals in North Carolina are in \n danger of starving to death, trapped in areas where it is \n impossible to deliver feed;\n (17) 80 percent of the North Carolina cotton crop, 25 \n percent of the Virginia cotton crop, 75 to 80 percent of the \n soybean crop, and 75 to 80 percent of the peanut crop \n (including 25 percent of the Virginia peanut crop) are expected \n to be lost;\n (18) the North Carolina sweet potato crop may be a complete \n loss;\n (19) seed crops in the area have been almost completely \n destroyed;\n (20) farming equipment throughout the area has been \n destroyed;\n (21) debris cleanup in affected areas will be overwhelming, \n and the possibility of soil contamination will have to be \n assessed on farms across the State; and\n (22) hundreds of fishermen have lost their boats as a \n result of the force of Hurricane Floyd and Hurricane Dennis.\n (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--\n (1) Agriculture.--There is authorized to be appropriated \n for the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2000, \n $3,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, for \n expenses of the Department relating to the provision of \n disaster relief for agricultural producers affected by \n Hurricane Floyd and for other Hurricane Floyd-related relief \n under--\n (A) the flooded land reserve program, in accordance \n with section 1124 of the Agriculture, Rural \n Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related \n Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (Public Law 105-277; \n 7 U.S.C. 1421 note);\n (B) the Wetlands Reserve Program, authorized by \n subchapter C of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of \n the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837);\n (C) the Environmental Quality Incentives Program \n under chapter 4 of subtitle D of the Food Security Act \n of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.);\n (D) the Emergency Conservation Program under title \n IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. \n 2201 et seq.);\n (E) the rural housing insurance fund under section \n 502 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1487);\n (F) the program to provide low income housing \n repair grants under section 504 of the Housing Act of \n 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1474); and\n (G) any other program that provides appropriate \n disaster relief, as determined by the Secretary of \n Agriculture.\n (2) Commerce.--There is authorized to be appropriated for \n the Department of Commerce for fiscal year 2000, $50,000,000 \n for expenses of the Department of Commerce to provide emergency \n disaster assistance to persons or entities that have incurred \n losses from a commercial fishery failure described in 308(b)(1) \n of the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. \n 4107(b)) and due to Hurricane Floyd, to remain available until \n expended.\n (3) FEMA.--There is authorized to be appropriated for the \n Federal Emergency Management Agency for fiscal year 2000, \n $250,000,000 for emergency expenses resulting from Hurricane \n Floyd, to remain available until expended.\n (c) Construction.--The amounts authorized to be appropriated by \nsubsection (b) are in addition to any other amounts authorized to be \nappropriated for the Department of Agriculture, the Department of \nCommerce or the Federal Emergency Management Agency for fiscal year \n2000 for the expenses described in that subsection.\n (d) Designation As Emergency Spending.--The appropriation of any \namount under an authorization of appropriations in subsection (b) shall \nbe--\n (1) designated as emergency spending in accordance with \n section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency \n Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)); and\n (2) made available on an emergency basis.", "summary": "Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the Department of Commerce for FY 2000 for expenses of providing emergency disaster assistance to persons or entities that have incurred losses from a commercial fishery failure due to Hurricane Floyd; and (2) the Federal Emergency Management Agency for FY 2000 for emergency expenses resulting from Hurricane Floyd.\nProvides that the appropriation of any amount authorized under this Act shall be: (1) designated as emergency spending in accordance with the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act); and (2) made available on an emergency basis.", "title": "A bill to authorize additional emergency disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Dennis and Hurricane Floyd."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 229, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Suburban and Community Forestry and \nOpen Space Initiative Act of 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. SUBURBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY AND OPEN SPACE INITIATIVE.\n\n The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is amended by \ninserting after section 7 (16 U.S.C. 2103c) the following:\n\n``SEC. 7A. SUBURBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY AND OPEN SPACE INITIATIVE.\n\n ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a \n State (including a political subdivision) or nonprofit \n organization that the Secretary determines under subsection \n (c)(1)(A)(ii) is eligible to receive a grant under subsection \n (c)(2).\n ``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe'--\n ``(A) in the case of the State of Alaska, means a \n Native corporation (as defined in section 3 of the \n Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602)); \n and\n ``(B) in the case of any other State, has the \n meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-\n Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. \n 450b).\n ``(3) Private forest land.--The term `private forest land' \n means land that is--\n ``(A)(i) covered by trees; or\n ``(ii) suitable for growing trees, as determined by \n the Secretary;\n ``(B) suburban, as determined by the Secretary; and\n ``(C) owned by--\n ``(i) a private entity; or\n ``(ii) an Indian tribe.\n ``(4) Program.--The term `program' means the Suburban and \n Community Forestry and Open Space Initiative established by \n subsection (b).\n ``(5) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary \n of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.\n ``(b) Establishment.--\n ``(1) In general.--There is established within the Forest \n Service a program to be known as the `Suburban and Community \n Forestry and Open Space Initiative'.\n ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to provide \n assistance to eligible entities to carry out projects and \n activities to--\n ``(A) identify and preserve private forest land; \n and\n ``(B) contain suburban sprawl.\n ``(c) Grant Program.--\n ``(1) Identification of eligible private forest land.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation \n with State foresters or equivalent State officials and \n State planning offices, shall establish criteria for--\n ``(i) the identification, subject to \n subparagraph (B), of private forest land in \n each State that may be preserved under this \n section; and\n ``(ii) the identification of eligible \n entities.\n ``(B) Conditions for eligible private forest \n land.--Private forest land identified for preservation \n under subparagraph (A)(i) shall be land that is--\n ``(i) located in an area that is affected, \n or threatened to be affected, by significant \n suburban sprawl, as determined by the \n appropriate planning office of the State in \n which the private forest land is located; and\n ``(ii) threatened by present or future \n conversion to nonforest use.\n ``(2) Grants.--\n ``(A) Projects and activities.--\n ``(i) In general.--In carrying out this \n section, the Secretary shall award grants to \n eligible entities to carry out a project or \n activity described in clause (ii).\n ``(ii) Types.--A project or activity \n referred to in clause (i) is a project or \n activity that--\n ``(I) is carried out to preserve \n private forest land or contain suburban \n sprawl; and\n ``(II) provides for guaranteed \n public access to land on which the \n project or activity is carried out, \n unless the appropriate State planning \n office requests, and provides \n justification for the request, that \n that requirement be waived.\n ``(B) Application.--An eligible entity that seeks \n to receive a grant under this section shall submit to \n the Secretary, in such form as the Secretary shall \n prescribe, an application for the grant (including a \n description of any private forest land to be preserved \n using funds from the grant).\n ``(C) Approval or disapproval.--\n ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), \n as soon as practicable after the date on which \n the Secretary receives an application under \n subparagraph (B) or a resubmission under \n subclause (II)(bb), the Secretary shall--\n ``(I)(aa) approve the application; \n and\n ``(bb) award a grant to the \n applicant; or\n ``(II)(aa) disapprove the \n application; and\n ``(bb) provide the applicant a \n statement that describes the reasons \n why the application was disapproved \n (including a deadline by which the \n applicant may resubmit the \n application).\n ``(ii) Priority.--In awarding grants under \n this section, the Secretary shall give priority \n to applicants that propose to fund projects and \n activities that promote, in addition to the \n primary purposes of preserving private forest \n land and containing suburban sprawl--\n ``(I) the active management, in a \n sustainable manner, of private forest \n land;\n ``(II) community and school \n education programs and curricula \n relating to sustainable forestry; and\n ``(III) community involvement in \n determining the care and management of \n forest resources.\n ``(3) Cost sharing.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Federal share of the cost of \n carrying out any project or activity using funds from a \n grant awarded under this section shall not exceed \\1/2\\ \n of the total cost of the project or activity.\n ``(B) Assurances of non-federal share.--As a \n condition of receipt of a grant under this section, an \n eligible entity shall provide to the Secretary such \n assurances as the Secretary determines are sufficient \n to demonstrate that the non-Federal share of the cost \n of each project or activity to be funded by the grant \n has been secured.\n ``(C) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal \n share of the cost of carrying out any project or \n activity described in subparagraph (A) may be provided \n in cash or in kind.\n ``(d) Use of Grant Funds for Purchases of Land or Easements.--\n ``(1) Purchases.--\n ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in \n subparagraph (B), funds made available, and grants \n awarded, under this section may be used to purchase \n private forest land or interests in private forest land \n (including conservation easements) only from willing \n sellers at fair market value.\n ``(B) Sales at less than fair market value.--A sale \n of private forest land or an interest in private forest \n land at less than fair market value shall be permitted \n only on certification by the landowner that the sale is \n being entered into willingly and without coercion.\n ``(2) Title.--Title to private forest land or an interest \n in private forest land purchased under paragraph (1) may be \n held, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, by--\n ``(A) a State (including a political subdivision of \n a State); or\n ``(B) a nonprofit organization.\n ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section--\n ``(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; and\n ``(2) such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year \n thereafter.''.", "summary": "Suburban and Community Forestry and Open Space Initiative Act of 2001 - Amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to establish in the Forest Service the Suburban and Community Forestry and Open Space Initiative, which shall provide grants to preserve private forest land and contain suburban sprawl.", "title": "A bill to amend the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to establish a program to provide assistance to States and nonprofit organizations to preserve suburban open space and contain suburban sprawl, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3259, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``High Performance Schools Act of \n2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:\n (1) American K-12 schools spend over $6 billion annually on \n energy costs, which is more than is spent on books and \n computers combined.\n (2) Educators teach and students learn best in an \n environment that is comfortable, healthy, naturally lit where \n possible, and in good repair, and studies have indicated that \n student achievement is greater and attendance higher when those \n conditions are met.\n (3) Over half of our Nation's K-12 schools are more than 40 \n years old and in need of renovation to reach such standard of \n efficiency and comfort, and 6,000 new schools will be required \n over the next 10 years to accommodate the growing number of \n students.\n (4) Inadequate ventilation in school buildings, poor \n lighting and acoustical quality, and uncomfortable temperatures \n can diminish students' capacity to concentrate and excel.\n (5) Inefficient use of water, either in consumption or from \n poorly maintained systems, is prevalent in older schools.\n (6) Using a whole building approach in the design of new \n schools and the renovation of existing schools--considering how \n materials, systems, and products connect and overlap and also \n how a school is integrated on its site and within the \n surrounding community--will result in high performance school \n buildings.\n (7) Adoption of whole building concepts has been shown to \n result in dramatic improvements in student and teacher \n performance.\n (8) Adopting a whole building approach usually results in a \n lower life cycle cost for the school building than for a \n conventionally designed and built building.\n (9) Systematic use of energy conservation in school \n construction and renovation projects can save at least one \n quarter of current energy costs, leaving more money for \n teachers and educational materials.\n (10) The use of renewable energy sources such as \n daylighting, passive solar heating, photovoltaics, wind, \n geothermal, hydropower, and biomass power in a building already \n designed to be low-energy can help meet the building's energy \n needs without added emissions.\n (11) Using environmentally preferable products and \n providing for adequate supplies of fresh air will improve \n indoor air quality and provide healthful school buildings.\n (12) Most school districts do not have the knowledge of \n cutting-edge design and technologies to implement optimum \n efficiency into new school construction or into school \n renovations.\n (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to assist school \ndistricts in the production, through construction or renovation, of \nhigh performance elementary and secondary school buildings that are \nhealthful, productive, energy efficient, and environmentally sound.\n\nSEC. 3. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of \nEnergy the High Performance Schools Program (in this Act referred to as \nthe ``Program'').\n (b) In General.--The Secretary of Energy may, through the Program, \nmake grants--\n (1) to be provided to school districts to implement the \n purpose of this Act for new and existing school buildings;\n (2) to State energy offices to administer the program of \n assistance to school districts pursuant to this Act; and\n (3) to State energy offices to promote participation by \n school districts in the program established by this Act.\n (c) Grants To Assist School Districts.--Grants under subsection \n(b)(1) for new school buildings shall be used to achieve energy \nefficiency performance that reduces energy use at least 30 percent \nbelow that of a school constructed in compliance with standards \nprescribed in Chapter 8 of the 2000 International Energy Conservation \nCode, or a similar State code intended to achieve substantially \nequivalent results. Grants under subsection (b)(1) for existing school \nbuildings shall be used to achieve energy efficiency performance that \nreduces energy use below the school's baseline consumption, assuming a \n3-year, weather-normalized average for calculating such baseline. \nGrants under subsection (b)(1) shall be made to school districts that \nhave--\n (1) demonstrated a need for such grants in order to respond \n appropriately to increasing elementary and secondary school \n enrollments or to make major investments in renovation of \n school facilities; and\n (2) made a commitment to use the grant funds to develop \n high performance school buildings in accordance with the plan \n developed and approved pursuant to subsection (e)(1).\n (d) Other Grants.--\n (1) Grants for administration.--Grants under subsection \n (b)(2) shall be used to evaluate compliance by school districts \n with requirements of this Act and in addition may be used for--\n (A) distributing information and materials to \n clearly define and promote the development of high \n performance school buildings for both new and existing \n facilities;\n (B) organizing and conducting programs for school \n board members, school district personnel, architects, \n engineers, and others to advance the concepts of high \n performance school buildings;\n (C) obtaining technical services and assistance in \n planning and designing high performance school \n buildings; and\n (D) collecting and monitoring data and information \n pertaining to the high performance school building \n projects.\n (2) Grants to promote participation.--Grants under \n subsection (b)(3) may be used for promotional and marketing \n activities, including facilitating private and public \n financing, promoting the use of energy service companies, \n working with school administrations, students, and communities, \n and coordinating public benefit programs.\n (e) Implementation.--\n (1) Plans.--Grants under subsection (b)(1) shall be \n provided only to school districts that, in consultation with \n State offices of energy and education, have developed plans \n that the State energy office determines to be feasible and \n appropriate in order to achieve the purposes for which such \n grants are made.\n (2) Supplementing grant funds.--The State energy office \n shall encourage qualifying school districts to supplement their \n grant funds with funds from other sources in the implementation \n of their plans.\n\nSEC. 4. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.\n\n (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (c), funds \nappropriated to carry out this Act shall be provided to State energy \noffices.\n (b) Purposes.--Except as provided in subsection (c), funds \nappropriated to carry out this Act shall be allocated as follows:\n (1) Seventy percent shall be used to make grants under \n section 3(b)(1).\n (2) Fifteen percent shall be used to make grants under \n section 3(b)(2).\n (3) Fifteen percent shall be used to make grants under \n section 3(b)(3).\n (c) Other Funds.--The Secretary of Energy may retain not to exceed \n$300,000 per year from amounts appropriated under section 5 to assist \nState energy offices in coordinating and implementing the Program. Such \nfunds may be used to develop reference materials to further define the \nprinciples and criteria to achieve high performance school buildings.\n\nSEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy \nto carry out this Act $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 \nthrough 2005, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal \nyears 2006 through 2011.\n\nSEC. 6. REPORT TO CONGRESS.\n\n The Secretary of Energy shall conduct a biennial review of State \nactions implementing this Act, and the Secretary shall report to \nCongress on the results of such reviews. In conducting such reviews, \nthe Secretary shall assess the effectiveness of the calculation \nprocedures used by the States in establishing eligibility of schools \nfor funding under this Act, and may assess other aspects of the program \nto determine whether they have been effectively implemented.\n\nSEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act:\n (1) Elementary and secondary school.--The terms \n ``elementary school'' and ``secondary school'' shall have the \n same meaning given such terms in paragraphs (14) and (26) of \n section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of \n 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801(14), (26)).\n (2) High performance school building.--The term ``high \n performance school building'' means a school building which, in \n its design, construction, operation, and maintenance, maximizes \n use of renewable energy and energy efficient practices, is \n cost-effective on a life cycle basis, uses affordable, \n environmentally preferable, durable materials, enhances indoor \n environmental quality, protects and conserves water, and \n optimizes site potential.\n (3) Renewable energy.--The term ``renewable energy'' means \n energy produced by solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, or \n biomass power.", "summary": "High Performance Schools Act of 2001 - Establishes the High Performance Schools Program, in the Department of Energy, to assist school districts in the production of high performance elementary and secondary school buildings that are healthful, productive, energy efficient, and environmentally sound. Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make program grants to State energy offices for: (1) program participation promotion and administration; and (2) subgrants to qualified school districts to implement such school building construction and renovation.", "title": "To establish the High Performance Schools Program in the Department of Energy, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2244, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Community Mental Health and \nAddiction Safety Net Equity Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. FEDERALLY QUALIFIED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS.\n\n Section 1913 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x-3) is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by striking ``community mental \n health services'' and inserting ``behavioral health services \n (of the type offered by federally qualified behavioral health \n centers consistent with subsection (c)(3))'';\n (2) in subsection (b)--\n (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the \n following:\n ``(1) services under the plan will be provided only through \n appropriate, qualified community programs (which may include \n federally qualified behavioral health centers, child mental \n health programs, psychosocial rehabilitation programs, mental \n health peer-support programs, and mental health primary \n consumer-directed programs); and''; and\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``community \n mental health centers'' and inserting ``federally \n qualified behavioral health centers''; and\n (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:\n ``(c) Criteria for Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall certify, and \n recertify at least every 5 years, federally qualified \n behavioral health centers as meeting the criteria specified in \n this subsection.\n ``(2) Regulations.--Not later than 18 months after the date \n of the enactment of the Community Mental Health and Addiction \n Safety Net Equity Act of 2010, the Administrator shall issue \n final regulations for certifying non-profit or local government \n centers as centers under paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Criteria.--The criteria referred to in subsection \n (b)(2) are that the center performs each of the following:\n ``(A) Provide services in locations that ensure \n services will be available and accessible promptly and \n in a manner which preserves human dignity and assures \n continuity of care.\n ``(B) Provide services in a mode of service \n delivery appropriate for the target population.\n ``(C) Provide individuals with a choice of service \n options where there is more than one efficacious \n treatment.\n ``(D) Employ a core staff of clinical staff that is \n multidisciplinary and culturally and linguistically \n competent.\n ``(E) Provide services, within the limits of the \n capacities of the center, to any individual residing or \n employed in the service area of the center, regardless \n of the ability of the individual to pay.\n ``(F) Provide, directly or through contract, to the \n extent covered for adults in the State Medicaid plan \n under title XIX of the Social Security Act and for \n children in accordance with section 1905(r) of such Act \n regarding early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and \n treatment, each of the following services:\n ``(i) Screening, assessment, and diagnosis, \n including risk assessment.\n ``(ii) Person-centered treatment planning \n or similar processes, including risk assessment \n and crisis planning.\n ``(iii) Outpatient clinic mental health \n services, including screening, assessment, \n diagnosis, psychotherapy, substance abuse \n counseling, medication management, and \n integrated treatment for mental illness and \n substance abuse which shall be evidence-based \n (including cognitive behavioral therapy and \n other such therapies which are evidence-based).\n ``(iv) Outpatient clinic primary care \n services, including screening and monitoring of \n key health indicators and health risk \n (including screening for diabetes, \n hypertension, and cardiovascular disease and \n monitoring of weight, height, body mass index \n (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose or HbA1C, \n and lipid profile).\n ``(v) Crisis mental health services, \n including 24-hour mobile crisis teams, \n emergency crisis intervention services, and \n crisis stabilization.\n ``(vi) Targeted case management (services \n to assist individuals gaining access to needed \n medical, social, educational, and other \n services and applying for income security and \n other benefits to which they may be entitled).\n ``(vii) Psychiatric rehabilitation services \n including skills training, assertive community \n treatment, family psychoeducation, disability \n self-management, supported employment, \n supported housing services, therapeutic foster \n care services, and such other evidence-based \n practices as the Secretary may require.\n ``(viii) Peer support and counselor \n services and family supports.\n ``(G) Maintain linkages, and where possible enter \n into formal contracts with the following:\n ``(i) Inpatient psychiatric facilities and \n substance abuse detoxification and residential \n programs.\n ``(ii) Adult and youth peer support and \n counselor services.\n ``(iii) Family support services for \n families of children with serious mental \n disorders.\n ``(iv) Other community or regional \n services, supports, and providers, including \n schools, child welfare agencies, juvenile and \n criminal justice agencies and facilities, \n housing agencies and programs, employers, and \n other social services.\n ``(v) Onsite or offsite access to primary \n care services.\n ``(vi) Enabling services, including \n outreach, transportation, and translation.\n ``(vii) Health and wellness services, \n including services for tobacco cessation.''.\n\nSEC. 3. MEDICAID COVERAGE AND PAYMENT FOR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED \n BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER SERVICES.\n\n (a) Payment for Services Provided by Federally Qualified Behavioral \nHealth Centers.--Section 1902(bb) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n1396a(bb)) is amended--\n (1) in the heading, by striking ``and Rural Health \n Clinics'' and inserting ``, Federally Qualified Behavioral \n Health Centers, and Rural Health Clinics'';\n (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``(and beginning with \n fiscal year 2011 with respect to services furnished on or after \n January 1, 2011, and each succeeding fiscal year, for services \n described in section 1905(a)(2)(D) furnished by a federally \n qualified behavioral health center)'' after ``by a rural health \n clinic'';\n (3) in paragraph (2)--\n (A) by striking the heading and inserting ``Initial \n fiscal year'';\n (B) by inserting ``(or, in the case of services \n described in section 1905(a)(2)(D) furnished by a \n federally qualified behavioral health center, for \n services furnished on and after January 1, 2011, during \n fiscal year 2011)'' after ``January 1, 2001, during \n fiscal year 2001'';\n (C) by inserting ``(or, in the case of services \n described in section 1905(a)(2)(D) furnished by a \n federally qualified behavioral health center, during \n fiscal years 2009 and 2010)'' after ``1999 and 2000''; \n and\n (D) by inserting ``(or, in the case of services \n described in section 1905(a)(2)(D) furnished by a \n federally qualified behavioral health center, during \n fiscal year 2011)'' before the period;\n (4) in paragraph (3)--\n (A) in the heading, by striking ``Fiscal year 2002 \n and succeeding'' and inserting ``Succeeding''; and\n (B) by inserting ``(or, in the case of services \n described in section 1905(a)(2)(D) furnished by a \n federally qualified behavioral health center, for \n services furnished during fiscal year 2012 or a \n succeeding fiscal year)'' after ``2002 or a succeeding \n fiscal year'';\n (5) in paragraph (4)--\n (A) by inserting ``(or as a federally qualified \n behavioral health center after fiscal year 2010)'' \n after ``or rural health clinic after fiscal year \n 2000'';\n (B) by striking ``furnished by the center or'' and \n inserting ``furnished by the federally qualified health \n center, services described in section 1905(a)(2)(D) \n furnished by the federally qualified behavioral health \n center, or'';\n (C) in the second sentence, by striking ``or rural \n health clinic'' and inserting ``, federally qualified \n behavioral health center, or rural health clinic'';\n (6) in paragraph (5), in each of subparagraphs (A) and (B), \n by striking ``or rural health clinic'' and inserting ``, \n federally qualified behavioral health center, or rural health \n clinic''; and\n (7) in paragraph (6), by striking ``or to a rural health \n clinic'' and inserting ``, to a federally qualified behavioral \n health center for services described in section 1905(a)(2)(D), \n or to a rural health clinic''.\n (b) Inclusion of Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Center \nServices in the Term Medical Assistance.--Section 1905(a)(2) of the \nSocial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)(2)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and'' before ``(C)''; and\n (2) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the \n following: ``, and (D) federally qualified behavioral health \n center services (as defined in subsection (l)(4))''.\n (c) Definition of Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Center \nServices.--Section 1905(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n1396d(l)) is amended by adding at the end the following paragraph:\n ``(4)(A) The term `federally qualified behavioral health \n center services' means services furnished to an individual at a \n federally qualified behavioral health center (as defined by \n subparagraph (B).\n ``(B) The term `federally qualified behavioral health \n center' means an entity that is certified under section 1913(c) \n of the Public Health Service Act as meeting the criteria \n described in paragraph (3) of such section.''.\n\nSEC. 4. MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SAFETY NET STUDIES.\n\n (a) Paperwork Reduction Study.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the date of \n the enactment of this Act, the Institute of Medicine shall \n submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that \n evaluates the combined paperwork burden of federally qualified \n behavioral health centers certified section 1913(c) of the \n Public Health Service Act, as inserted by section 2.\n (2) Scope.--In preparing the report under paragraph (1), \n the Institute of Medicine shall examine licensing, \n certification, service definitions, claims payment, billing \n codes, and financial auditing requirements utilized by the \n Office of Management and Budget, the Centers for Medicare & \n Medicaid Services, the Health Resources and Services \n Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services \n Administration, the Office of the Inspector General, State \n Medicaid agencies, State departments of health, State \n departments of education, and State and local juvenile justice \n and social services agencies to--\n (A) establish an estimate of the combined \n nationwide cost of complying with the requirements \n described in this paragraph, in terms of both \n administrative funding and staff time;\n (B) establish an estimate of the per capita cost to \n each federally qualified behavioral health center \n certified under section 1913(c) of the Public Health \n Service Act to comply with the requirements described \n in this paragraph, in terms of both administrative \n funding and staff time; and\n (C) make administrative and statutory \n recommendations to Congress, which may include a \n uniform methodology, to reduce the paperwork burden \n experienced by such federally qualified behavioral \n health centers.\n (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized \n to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $550,000 for \n each of the fiscal years 2012 and 2013.\n (b) Wage Study.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the date of \n the enactment of this Act, the Institute of Medicine shall \n conduct a nationwide analysis, and submit a report to the \n appropriate committees of Congress, concerning the compensation \n structure of professional and paraprofessional personnel \n employed by federally qualified behavioral health centers \n certified under section 1913(c) of the Public Health Service \n Act, as inserted by section 2, as compared with the \n compensation structure of comparable health safety net \n providers and relevant private sector health care employers.\n (2) Scope.--In preparing the report under paragraph (1), \n the Institute of Medicine shall examine compensation \n disparities, if such disparities are determined to exist, by \n type of personnel, type of provider or private sector employer, \n and by geographic region.\n (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized \n to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $550,000 for \n each of the fiscal years 2012 and 2013.", "summary": "Community Mental Health and Addiction Safety Net Equity Act of 2010 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to replace community mental health centers with federally qualified behavioral health centers which treat substance abuse in addition to mental illness and other conditions.\n\nAmends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to extend Medicaid coverage to federally qualified behavioral health center services.\n\nDirects the Institute of Medicine to: (1) evaluate for Congress the combined paperwork burden of federally qualified behavioral health centers; and (2) analyze and report to Congress on the compensation structure of professional and paraprofessional personnel employed by federally qualified behavioral health centers nationwide as compared with the compensation structure of comparable health safety net providers and relevant private sector health care employers.", "title": "To establish Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers and to require Medicaid coverage for services provided by such Centers."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 607, "text": "SECTION 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n The table of contents for this Act is as follows:\n\nSec. 1. Table of contents.\nSec. 2. Securities and Exchange Commission Reserve Fund.\n TITLE I--TRID IMPROVEMENT\n\nSec. 101. Amendments to mortgage disclosure requirements.\n TITLE II--PROTECTION OF SOURCE CODE\n\nSec. 201. Procedure for obtaining certain intellectual property.\n TITLE III--FOSTERING INNOVATION\n\nSec. 301. Temporary exemption for low-revenue issuers.\n TITLE IV--NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE REGULATORY PARITY\n\nSec. 401. Nationally traded securities exemption.\n TITLE V--ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO JOBS FOR LOAN ORIGINATORS\n\nSec. 501. Eliminating barriers to jobs for loan originators.\nSec. 502. Amendment to civil liability of the Bureau and other \n officials.\nSec. 503. Effective date.\n\nSEC. 2. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION RESERVE FUND.\n\n Notwithstanding section 4(i)(2)(B)(i) of the Securities Exchange \nAct of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78d(i)(2)(B)(i)), the amount deposited in the \nSecurities and Exchange Commission Reserve Fund for fiscal year 2018 \nmay not exceed $48,000,000.\n\n TITLE I--TRID IMPROVEMENT\n\nSEC. 101. AMENDMENTS TO MORTGAGE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.\n\n Section 4(a) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 \n(12 U.S.C. 2603(a)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``itemize all charges'' and inserting \n ``itemize all actual charges'';\n (2) by striking ``and all charges imposed upon the seller \n in connection with the settlement and'' and inserting ``and the \n seller in connection with the settlement. Such forms''; and\n (3) by inserting after ``or both.'' the following new \n sentence: ``Charges for any title insurance premium disclosed \n on such forms shall be equal to the amount charged for each \n individual title insurance policy, subject to any discounts as \n required by State regulation or the title company rate \n filings.''.\n\n TITLE II--PROTECTION OF SOURCE CODE\n\nSEC. 201. PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING CERTAIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.\n\n (a) Persons Under Securities Act of 1933.--Section 8 of the \nSecurities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77h) is amended by adding at the end \nthe following:\n ``(g) Procedure for Obtaining Certain Intellectual Property.--The \nCommission is not authorized to compel under this title a person to \nproduce or furnish algorithmic trading source code or similar \nintellectual property that forms the basis for design of the \nalgorithmic trading source code, to the Commission unless the \nCommission first issues a subpoena.''.\n (b) Persons Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.--Section 23 \nof the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78w) is amended by \nadding at the end the following:\n ``(e) Procedure for Obtaining Certain Intellectual Property.--The \nCommission is not authorized to compel under this title a person to \nproduce or furnish algorithmic trading source code or similar \nintellectual property that forms the basis for design of the \nalgorithmic trading source code, to the Commission unless the \nCommission first issues a subpoena.''.\n (c) Investment Companies.--Section 31 of the Investment Company Act \nof 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-30) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n ``(e) Procedure for Obtaining Certain Intellectual Property.--The \nCommission is not authorized to compel under this title an investment \ncompany to produce or furnish algorithmic trading source code or \nsimilar intellectual property that forms the basis for design of the \nalgorithmic trading source code, to the Commission unless the \nCommission first issues a subpoena.''.\n (d) Investment Advisers.--Section 204 of the Investment Advisers \nAct of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-4) is amended--\n (1) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(f) Procedure for Obtaining Certain Intellectual Property.--The \nCommission is not authorized to compel under this title an investment \nadviser to produce or furnish algorithmic trading source code or \nsimilar intellectual property that forms the basis for design of the \nalgorithmic trading source code, to the Commission unless the \nCommission first issues a subpoena.''; and\n (2) in the second subsection (d), by striking ``(d)'' and \n inserting ``(e)''.\n\n TITLE III--FOSTERING INNOVATION\n\nSEC. 301. TEMPORARY EXEMPTION FOR LOW-REVENUE ISSUERS.\n\n Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 7262) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(d) Temporary Exemption for Low-Revenue Issuers.--\n ``(1) Low-revenue exemption.--Subsection (b) shall not \n apply with respect to an audit report prepared for an issuer \n that--\n ``(A) ceased to be an emerging growth company on \n the last day of the fiscal year of the issuer following \n the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of \n common equity securities of the issuer pursuant to an \n effective registration statement under the Securities \n Act of 1933;\n ``(B) had average annual gross revenues of less \n than $50,000,000 as of its most recently completed \n fiscal year; and\n ``(C) is not a large accelerated filer.\n ``(2) Expiration of temporary exemption.--An issuer ceases \n to be eligible for the exemption described under paragraph (1) \n at the earliest of--\n ``(A) the last day of the fiscal year of the issuer \n following the tenth anniversary of the date of the \n first sale of common equity securities of the issuer \n pursuant to an effective registration statement under \n the Securities Act of 1933;\n ``(B) the last day of the fiscal year of the issuer \n during which the average annual gross revenues of the \n issuer exceed $50,000,000; or\n ``(C) the date on which the issuer becomes a large \n accelerated filer.\n ``(3) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection:\n ``(A) Average annual gross revenues.--The term \n `average annual gross revenues' means the total gross \n revenues of an issuer over its most recently completed \n three fiscal years divided by three.\n ``(B) Emerging growth company.--The term `emerging \n growth company' has the meaning given such term under \n section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 \n U.S.C. 78c).\n ``(C) Large accelerated filer.--The term `large \n accelerated filer' has the meaning given that term \n under section 240.12b-2 of title 17, Code of Federal \n Regulations, or any successor thereto.''.\n\n TITLE IV--NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE REGULATORY PARITY\n\nSEC. 401. NATIONALLY TRADED SECURITIES EXEMPTION.\n\n Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. \n77r(b)(1)) is amended--\n (1) by striking subparagraph (A);\n (2) in subparagraph (B)--\n (A) by inserting ``a security designated as \n qualified for trading in the national market system \n pursuant to section 11A(a)(2) of the Securities \n Exchange Act of 1934 that is'' before ``listed''; and\n (B) by striking ``that has listing standards that \n the Commission determines by rule (on its own \n initiative or on the basis of a petition) are \n substantially similar to the listing standards \n applicable to securities described in subparagraph \n (A)'';\n (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``or (B)''; and\n (4) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as \n subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively.\n\n TITLE V--ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO JOBS FOR LOAN ORIGINATORS\n\nSEC. 501. ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO JOBS FOR LOAN ORIGINATORS.\n\n (a) In General.--The S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (12 \nU.S.C. 5101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 1518. EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION OF LOAN ORIGINATORS.\n\n ``(a) Temporary Authority To Originate Loans for Loan Originators \nMoving From a Depository Institution to a Non-Depository Institution.--\n ``(1) In general.--Upon employment by a State-licensed \n mortgage company, an individual who is a registered loan \n originator shall be deemed to have temporary authority to act \n as a loan originator in an application State for the period \n described in paragraph (2) if the individual--\n ``(A) has not had an application for a loan \n originator license denied, or had such a license \n revoked or suspended in any governmental jurisdiction;\n ``(B) has not been subject to or served with a \n cease and desist order in any governmental jurisdiction \n or as described in section 1514(c);\n ``(C) has not been convicted of a felony that would \n preclude licensure under the law of the application \n State;\n ``(D) has submitted an application to be a State-\n licensed loan originator in the application State; and\n ``(E) was registered in the Nationwide Mortgage \n Licensing System and Registry as a loan originator \n during the 12-month period preceding the date of \n submission of the information required under section \n 1505(a).\n ``(2) Period.--The period described in paragraph (1) shall \n begin on the date that the individual submits the information \n required under section 1505(a) and shall end on the earliest \n of--\n ``(A) the date that the individual withdraws the \n application to be a State-licensed loan originator in \n the application State;\n ``(B) the date that the application State denies, \n or issues a notice of intent to deny, the application;\n ``(C) the date that the application State grants a \n State license; or\n ``(D) the date that is 120 days after the date on \n which the individual submits the application, if the \n application is listed on the Nationwide Mortgage \n Licensing System and Registry as incomplete.\n ``(b) Temporary Authority To Originate Loans for State-Licensed \nLoan Originators Moving Interstate.--\n ``(1) In general.--A State-licensed loan originator shall \n be deemed to have temporary authority to act as a loan \n originator in an application State for the period described in \n paragraph (2) if the State-licensed loan originator--\n ``(A) meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A), \n (B), (C), and (D) of subsection (a)(1);\n ``(B) is employed by a State-licensed mortgage \n company in the application State; and\n ``(C) was licensed in a State that is not the \n application State during the 30-day period preceding \n the date of submission of the information required \n under section 1505(a) in connection with the \n application submitted to the application State.\n ``(2) Period.--The period described in paragraph (1) shall \n begin on the date that the State-licensed loan originator \n submits the information required under section 1505(a) in \n connection with the application submitted to the application \n State and end on the earliest of--\n ``(A) the date that the State-licensed loan \n originator withdraws the application to be a State-\n licensed loan originator in the application State;\n ``(B) the date that the application State denies, \n or issues a notice of intent to deny, the application;\n ``(C) the date that the application State grants a \n State license; or\n ``(D) the date that is 120 days after the date on \n which the State-licensed loan originator submits the \n application, if the application is listed on the \n Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry as \n incomplete.\n ``(c) Applicability.--\n ``(1) Any person employing an individual who is deemed to \n have temporary authority to act as a loan originator in an \n application State pursuant to this section shall be subject to \n the requirements of this title and to applicable State law to \n the same extent as if such individual was a State-licensed loan \n originator licensed by the application State.\n ``(2) Any individual who is deemed to have temporary \n authority to act as a loan originator in an application State \n pursuant to this section and who engages in residential \n mortgage loan origination activities shall be subject to the \n requirements of this title and to applicable State law to the \n same extent as if such individual was a State-licensed loan \n originator licensed by the application State.\n ``(d) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions \nshall apply:\n ``(1) State-licensed mortgage company.--The term `State-\n licensed mortgage company' means an entity licensed or \n registered under the law of any State to engage in residential \n mortgage loan origination and processing activities.\n ``(2) Application state.--The term `application State' \n means a State in which a registered loan originator or a State-\n licensed loan originator seeks to be licensed.''.\n (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The table of contents in section \n1(b) of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 4501 \nnote) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1517 \nthe following:\n\n``Sec. 1518. Employment transition of loan originators.''.\n\nSEC. 502. AMENDMENT TO CIVIL LIABILITY OF THE BUREAU AND OTHER \n OFFICIALS.\n\n Section 1513 of the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (12 \nU.S.C. 5112) is amended by striking ``are loan originators or are \napplying for licensing or registration as loan originators.'' and \ninserting ``have applied, are applying, or are currently licensed or \nregistered through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and \nRegistry. The previous sentence shall only apply to persons in an \nindustry with respect to which persons were licensed or registered \nthrough the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry on the \ndate of the enactment of this sentence.''.\n\nSEC. 503. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect \non the date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment of this \nAct.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives February 14, 2018.\n\n Attest:\n\n KAREN L. HAAS,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": " (Sec. 2) This bill specifies that the amount deposited in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Reserve Fund for FY2018 may not exceed $48 million. TITLE I--TRID IMPROVEMENT (Sec. 101) The bill amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures of 1974 to modify disclosure requirements applicable to mortgage loan transactions. Specifically, the disclosed charges for any title insurance premium shall be equal to the amount charged for each individual title insurance policy, subject to any discounts as required by either state regulation or the title company rate filings. TITLE II--PROTECTION OF SOURCE CODE (Sec. 201) The bill amends the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to specify that the SEC may not compel a person to produce a source code or similar intellectual property without first issuing a subpoena. TITLE III--FOSTERING INNOVATION (Sec. 301) The bill amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with respect to auditor-attestation requirements for public companies. These requirements shall not apply with respect to any audit report prepared for an issuer that: ceased to be an emerging growth company on the last day of its fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of its first sale of common equity securities, had average annual gross revenues of less than $50 million as of its most recently completed fiscal year, and is not a large accelerated filer. This exemption shall expire at the earliest of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year 10 years after the issuer's first sale of common equity securities, (2) the end of the fiscal year in which the issuer's average annual gross revenues exceed $50 million, or (3) when the issuer becomes a large accelerated filer. TITLE IV--NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE REGULATORY PARITY (Sec. 401) The bill amends the Securities Act of 1933 to exempt from state registration securities qualified for national trading by the SEC and authorized to be listed on a national securities exchange. Currently, securities listed on exchanges specified by statute or rule are exempt. TITLE V--ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO JOBS FOR LOAN ORIGINATORS (Sec. 501) The bill amends the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 to temporarily allow loan originators that meet specified requirements to continue to originate loans after moving: (1) from one state to another, or (2) from a depository institution to a non-depository institution. (Sec. 502) The bill revises the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act's civil liability immunity provisions. ", "title": "TRID Improvement Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1412, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Legislative Automatic Spending \nHikes (SLASH) Act of 2008''.\n\n TITLE I--ELIMINATION OF INEFFECTIVE AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS\n\nSEC. 101. ANNUAL LIST OF AFFECTED AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS.\n\n Before October 1 of each calendar year, the Director of the Office \nof Management and Budget shall transmit to Congress a report containing \na list comprised of all agencies and programs that received ineffective \nratings under the most recent program assessment rating tool pursuant \nto the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-\n62; 107 Stat. 285) or three consecutive annual adequate ratings under \nthat program assessment rating tool and the preceding two program \nassessment rating tools.\n\nSEC. 102. TERMINATION OF CERTAIN AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS.\n\n Sixty calendar days after the date upon which the Director of the \nOffice of Management and Budget transmits a report to Congress under \nsection 1, all agencies and programs named on such list shall terminate \nunless, before the end of such 60-day period, a statute has been \nenacted into law stating that all such agencies and programs shall not \nterminate.\n\nSEC. 103. TRANSITION PROVISIONS.\n\n Whenever any agency or program is terminated under this Act, all \norders, grants, contracts, and other determinations or actions of that \nagency or program that are effective as of the date before the date of \nsuch termination, shall be transferred by the Director of the Office of \nManagement and Budget to an appropriate agency and shall continue in \neffect according to their terms unless changed pursuant to law.\n\nSEC. 104. ESTIMATION OF SAVINGS.\n\n The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall annually \nestimate the dollar amount of savings to the Government from the \noperation of this title for each calendar year and shall annually \nreport such dollar amount to the Secretary of the Treasury.\n\n TITLE II--REBATES TO TAXPAYERS\n\nSEC. 201. REBATE OF SAVINGS TO TAXPAYERS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter B of chapter 65 of the Internal Revenue \nCode of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 6431. PROGRAM ELIMINATION REBATES.\n\n ``(a) In General.--In the case of an eligible taxpayer, there shall \nbe allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by subtitle A for the \nfirst taxable year beginning in any calendar year an amount equal to \nthe program elimination rebate amount determined by the Secretary for \nsuch calendar year.\n ``(b) Program Elimination Rebate Amount.--For purposes of this \nsection, the term `program elimination rebate amount' means, with \nrespect to any calendar year, the amount that the Secretary estimates \nwill result in a reduction in revenue to the Government equal to the \ndollar amount of estimated savings reported to the Secretary by the \nDirector of the Office of Management and Budget under section 104 of \nthe Stop Legislative Automatic Spending Hikes (SLASH) Act of 2008 for \nthe preceding calendar year.\n ``(c) Eligible Taxpayer.--For purposes of this section,\n ``(1) In general.--The term `eligible taxpayer' means any \n eligible individual if such taxpayer--\n ``(A) has qualifying income of at least $3,000, or\n ``(B) has--\n ``(i) net income tax liability which is \n greater than zero, and\n ``(ii) gross income which is greater than \n the sum of the basic standard deduction plus \n the exemption amount (twice the exemption \n amount in the case of a joint return).\n ``(2) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual' \n means any individual other than--\n ``(A) any nonresident alien individual,\n ``(B) any individual with respect to whom a \n deduction under section 151 is allowable to another \n taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar \n year in which the individual's taxable year begins, and\n ``(C) an estate or trust.\n ``(3) Qualifying income.--The term `qualifying income' \n means--\n ``(A) earned income,\n ``(B) Social Security benefits (within the meaning \n of section 86(d)), and\n ``(C) any compensation or pension received under \n chapter 11, chapter 13, or chapter 15 of title 38, \n United States Code.\n ``(4) Net income tax liability.--The term `net income tax \n liability' means the excess of--\n ``(A) the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax \n liability (within the meaning of section 26(b)) and the \n tax imposed by section 55 for the taxable year, over\n ``(B) the credits allowed by part IV (other than \n section 24 and subpart C thereof) of subchapter A of \n chapter 1.\n ``(d) Treatment of Credit.--The credit allowed by subsection (a) \nshall be treated as allowed by subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of \nchapter 1.\n ``(e) Coordination With Advance Refunds of Credit.--\n ``(1) In general.--The amount of credit which would (but \n for this paragraph) be allowable under this section for any \n taxable year shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the \n aggregate refunds and credits made or allowed to the taxpayer \n under subsection (f) with respect to such amount for the \n preceding taxable year. Any failure to so reduce the credit \n shall be treated as arising out of a mathematical or clerical \n error and assessed according to section 6213(b)(1).\n ``(2) Joint returns.--In the case of a refund or credit \n made or allowed under subsection (f) with respect to a joint \n return, half of such refund or credit shall be treated as \n having been made or allowed to each individual filing such \n return.\n ``(f) Advance Refunds and Credits.--\n ``(1) In general.--Each individual who was an eligible \n individual for the taxable year preceding any taxable year to \n which subsection (a) applies shall be treated as having made a \n payment against the tax imposed by chapter 1 for such preceding \n taxable year in an amount equal to the program elimination \n refund amount determined for the taxable year to which \n subsection (a) applies.\n ``(2) Timing of payments.--The Secretary shall, subject to \n the provisions of this title, refund or credit any overpayment \n attributable to this subsection as rapidly as possible. No \n refund or credit shall be made or allowed under this subsection \n with respect to any taxable year beginning in a calendar year \n after December 31 of the following calendar year.\n ``(3) No interest.--No interest shall be allowed on any \n overpayment attributable to this subsection.\n ``(g) Identification Number Requirement.--\n ``(1) In general.--No credit shall be allowed under \n subsection (a) to an eligible individual who does not include \n on the return of tax for the taxable year--\n ``(A) such individual's valid identification \n number, and\n ``(B) in the case of a joint return, the valid \n identification number of such individual's spouse,\n ``(2) Valid identification number.--For purposes of \n paragraph (1), the term `valid identification number' means a \n Social Security number issued to an individual by the Social \n Security Administration. Such term shall not include a TIN \n issued by the Internal Revenue Service.''.\n (b) Administrative Provisions.--\n (1) Definition of deficiency.--Section 6211(b)(4)(A) of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``and \n 6428'' and inserting ``6428 and 6431''.\n (2) Mathematical or clerical error authority.--Section \n 6213(g)(2)(L) of such Code is amended by striking ``or 6428'' \n and inserting ``6428, or 6431''.\n (c) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United \n States Code, is amended by striking ``or 6428'' inserting \n ``6428, or 6431''.\n (2) The table of section for subchapter B of chapter 65 of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the \n end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 6431. Program elimination rebates.''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "Stop Legislative Automatic Spending Hikes (SLASH) Act of 2008 - Requires: (1) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to report to Congress on all agencies and programs that received ineffective ratings or three consecutive annual adequate ratings under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993; (2) the termination of such agencies and programs unless continued by statute; (3) the transfer of the functions of such terminated agencies and programs to other appropriate agencies; and (4) an annual OMB estimate of the savings under this Act.\n\nAmends the Internal Revenue Code to grant tax rebates to individual taxpayers from the amounts saved by the termination of ineffective agencies and programs under this Act.", "title": "To provide for the elimination of agencies and programs which receive ineffective ratings or three consecutive adequate ratings under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to rebate the savings from such eliminations to the taxpayers."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2701, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Education Modernization Fund Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. EDUCATION MODERNIZATION LOANS AND FUND.\n\n (a) Loans.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of Education (referred to in \n this subsection as the ``Secretary'') shall make loans to \n States for the purpose of constructing and modernizing \n elementary schools and secondary schools.\n (2) Terms.--The Secretary shall make low interest, long-\n term loans, as determined by the Secretary, under paragraph \n (1). The Secretary shall determine the eligibility requirements \n for, and the terms of, any loan made under paragraph (1).\n (3) Allocation of funds.--The Secretary shall determine a \n formula for allocating the funds made available under \n subsection (b)(4) to States for loans under paragraph (1). The \n Secretary shall ensure that the formula provides for the \n allocation of funds for such loans to each eligible State. In \n determining the formula, the Secretary shall take into \n consideration the need for financial assistance of States with \n significant increases in populations of elementary school and \n secondary school students.\n (4) Definitions.--In this subsection, the terms \n ``elementary school'' and ``secondary school'' have the \n meanings given the terms in section 14101 of the Elementary and \n Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).\n (b) Fund.--\n (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of \n the United States a trust fund, to be known as the ``Education \n Modernization Fund'', consisting of the amounts transferred to \n or deposited in the Trust Fund under paragraph (2) and any \n interest earned on investment of the amounts in the Trust Fund \n under paragraph (3).\n (2) Transfers and deposits.--\n (A) Transfer.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall \n transfer to the Trust Fund an amount equal to \n $5,000,000,000 from the modernization fund described in \n section 5302 of title 31, United States Code.\n (B) Deposits.--There shall be deposited in the \n Trust Fund all amounts received by the Secretary of \n Education incident to loan operations under subsection \n (a), including all collections of principal and \n interest.\n (3) Investment of trust fund.--\n (A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury \n shall invest the portion of the Trust Fund that is not, \n in the Secretary's judgment, required to meet current \n withdrawals.\n (B) Obligations.--Such investments may be made only \n in interest-bearing obligations of the United States or \n in obligations guaranteed as to both principal and \n interest by the United States. For such purpose, such \n obligations may be acquired--\n (i) on original issue at the issue price; \n or\n (ii) by purchase of outstanding obligations \n at the market price.\n (C) Purposes for obligations of the united \n states.--The purposes for which obligations of the \n United States may be issued under chapter 31 of title \n 31, United States Code, are extended to authorize the \n issuance at par of special obligations exclusively to \n the Trust Fund.\n (D) Interest.--Such special obligations shall bear \n interest at a rate equal to the average rate of \n interest, computed as to the end of the calendar month \n next preceding the date of such issue, borne by all \n marketable interest-bearing obligations of the United \n States then forming a part of the Public Debt, except \n that where such average rate is not a multiple of \\1/8\\ \n of 1 percent, the rate of interest of such special \n obligations shall be the multiple of \\1/8\\ of 1 percent \n next lower than such average rate.\n (E) Determination.--Such special obligations shall \n be issued only if the Secretary of the Treasury \n determines that the purchase of other interest-bearing \n obligations of the United States, or of obligations \n guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the \n United States on original issue or at the market price, \n is not in the public interest.\n (F) Sale of obligation.--Any obligation acquired by \n the Trust Fund (except special obligations issued \n exclusively to the Trust Fund) may be sold by the \n Secretary of the Treasury at the market price, and such \n special obligations may be redeemed at par plus accrued \n interest.\n (G) Credits to trust fund.--The interest on, and \n the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any \n obligations held in the Trust Fund shall be credited to \n and form a part of the Trust Fund.\n (4) Expenditures from trust fund.--Amounts in the Trust \n Fund shall be available to the Secretary of Education for \n making expenditures to carry out subsection (a).", "summary": "Education Modernization Fund Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to make low-interest, long-term loans to States for constructing and modernizing elementary and secondary schools. \nRequires the Secretary of Education to determine a formula for allocating such loans to eligible States, taking into consideration the needs of States with significant increases in school student populations. \nEstablishes the Education Modernization Fund (EMF) in the Treasury to provide funds for such loans. \nDirects the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) transfer to the EMF a specified amount from the Treasury's Exchange Stabilization Fund; and (2) invest, in a specified manner, the portion of the EMF that is not required to meet current withdrawals. \nDirects the Secretary of Education to deposit in the EMF all amounts received by incident to such loan operations, including all collections of principal and interest.", "title": "Education Modernization Fund Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1320, "text": "SECTION 1. PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND \n CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE UNITED STATES CAPTURED BY JAPAN \n AND FORCED TO PERFORM SLAVE LABOR DURING WORLD WAR II.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) During World War II, members of the Armed Forces of the \n United States fought valiantly against the Armed Forces of \n Japan in the Pacific. In particular, from December 1941 until \n May 1942, members of the Armed Forces of the United States \n fought courageously against overwhelming Armed Forces of Japan \n on Wake Island, Guam, the Philippine Islands, including the \n Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor, and the Dutch East Indies, \n thereby preventing Japan from accomplishing strategic \n objectives necessary for achieving a preemptive military \n victory in the Pacific during World War II.\n (2) During initial military action in the Philippines, \n members of the Armed Forces of the United States were ordered \n to surrender on April 9, 1942, and were forced to march 65 \n miles to prison camps at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan, and \n Bilibid. More than 10,000 people of the United States died \n during the march (known as the ``Bataan Death March'') and \n during subsequent imprisonment as a result of starvation, \n disease, and executions.\n (3) Beginning in January 1942, the Armed Forces of Japan \n began transporting United States prisoners of war to Japan, \n Taiwan, Manchuria, and Korea to perform slave labor to support \n Japanese industries. Many of the unmarked merchant vessels in \n which the prisoners were transported (known as ``Hell Ships'') \n were attacked by the Armed Forces of the United States, which, \n according to some estimates, killed more than 3,600 people of \n the United States.\n (4) Following the conclusion of World War II, the \n Government of the United States agreed to pay compensation to \n former prisoners of war of the United States, amounting to \n $2.50 per day of imprisonment. This compensation, paid from \n assets of Japan frozen by the Government of the United States, \n is wholly insufficient to compensate fully such former \n prisoners of war for the conditions they endured. Neither the \n Government of Japan nor any corporations of Japan admit any \n liability requiring payment of compensation.\n (5) Other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, \n Isle of Man, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and \n Australia have previously awarded such a compensation to their \n surviving veterans who were captured by the Japanese during \n World War II and required to perform slave labor. Currently, \n the United States is the only Western Allied power that has not \n awarded similar compensation to these distinguished heroes of \n World War II who were prisoners of war of Japan.\n (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to recognize, by the \nprovision of compensation, the heroic contributions of the members of \nthe Armed Forces and civilian employees of the United States who were \ncaptured by the Japanese military during World War II and denied their \nbasic human rights by being forced to perform slave labor by the \nImperial Government of Japan or by corporations of Japan during World \nWar II.\n (c) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Covered veteran or civilian internee.--The term \n ``covered veteran or civilian internee'' means any individual \n who--\n (A) is a citizen of the United States;\n (B) was a member of the Armed Forces, a civilian \n employee of the United States, or an employee of a \n contractor of the United States during World War II;\n (C) served in or with the Armed Forces during World \n War II;\n (D) was captured and held as a prisoner of war or \n prisoner by Japan in the course of such service; and\n (E) was required by the Imperial Government of \n Japan, or one or more corporations of Japan, to perform \n slave labor during World War II.\n (2) Slave labor.--The term ``slave labor'' means forced \n servitude under conditions of subjugation.\n (d) Payment of Compensation Required.--\n (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of \n appropriated funds, the Secretary of Defense shall pay \n compensation to each living covered veteran or civilian \n internee, or to the surviving spouse of a covered veteran or \n civilian internee, in the amount of $20,000.\n (2) Rebuttable presumption.--An application for \n compensation submitted under this section by or with respect to \n an individual seeking treatment as a covered veteran or \n civilian internee under this section is subject to a rebuttable \n presumption that such individual is a covered veteran or \n civilian internee if the application on its face provides \n information sufficient to establish such individual as a \n covered veteran or civilian internee.\n (e) Relationship to Other Payments.--Any amount paid to a person \nunder this section for activity described in subsection (c)(1)(D) is in \naddition to any other amount paid to such person for such activity \nunder any other provision of law.\n (f) Inapplicability of Taxation or Attachment.--Any amount paid to \na person under this section shall not be subject to any taxation, \nattachment, execution, levy, tax lien, or detention under any process \nwhatever.", "summary": "Directs the Secretary of Defense to pay (subject to the availability of appropriated funds) a specified amount of compensation to those members of the Armed Forces and U.S. civilian employees, or to the surviving spouses of such members and employees, who were captured by Japan and who were used as slave labor during World War II.", "title": "To require the payment of compensation to members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the United States who were forced to perform slave labor by the Imperial Government of Japan or by corporations of Japan during World War II, or the surviving spouses of such members, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3122, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Veterans Equitable \nTreatment Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Veterans were promised by the Federal Government that \n for their service to the country they would be provided a \n lifetime of health care services, as well as their own health \n care service network.\n (2) The current allocation system for appropriations made \n to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical care, known \n as the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) formula \n and established by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs pursuant \n to section 429 of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and \n Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies \n Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-204; 110 Stat. 2929), \n has proved to be an ineffective means of allocating such funds \n fairly across the 22 national service regions, known as \n Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), of the Department \n of Veterans Affairs.\n (3) The VERA formula has resulted in a system in which \n veterans in some regions of the country are forced to compete \n with veterans in other regions for critical medical care funds, \n whereas the system should be providing the funding necessary to \n meet the health care needs of all veterans, regardless of where \n they live, to ensure that all veterans have access to the level \n and quality of care that they have all earned and deserve.\n (4) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs established a set of \n performance goals in fiscal year 2000, which are referred to as \n ``30-30-20'', representing the Secretary's goal to schedule \n nonurgent primary care visits within 30 days, specialty care \n visits within 30 days, and the maximum amount of time veterans \n must wait once they arrive to be seen by a doctor as 20 \n minutes.\n (5) According to the Department's Performance Report for \n Fiscal Year 2001, nationally 87 percent of primary care \n appointments were scheduled within 30 days of the desired date \n and 84 percent of specialty care appointments were scheduled \n within 30 days of the desired date, while in VISN 1, only 82 \n percent of primary care appointments were scheduled within 30 \n days of the desired date and only 80 percent of specialty care \n appointments were scheduled within 30 days of the desired date.\n (6) Until the VERA formula is changed to ensure a more \n equitable and adequate distribution of medical care funding \n within the Department of Veterans Affairs system, providing \n appropriate access to medical care for the Nation's veterans \n must remain a national priority with a method found to provide \n a safety net that will ensure that veterans have access to the \n health care they need without undermining the existing health \n care network of the Department of Veterans Affairs.\n\nSEC. 3. STANDARD FOR TIME FOR REFERRAL FOR SPECIALIST CARE.\n\n (a) Time for Specialist Appointments.--(1) The Secretary of \nVeterans Affairs shall establish by regulation a maximum specialist \nreferral period, subject to such exceptions as the Secretary considers \nnecessary.\n (2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ``specialist referral \nperiod'' means the period of time between (A) the date on which a \nveteran is referred to a specialty clinic of the Department by the \nveteran's primary care physician within the Department of Veterans \nAffairs health care system, and (B) the date for which the veteran is \nscheduled for an appointment with a Department specialist pursuant to \nsuch referral.\n (3) In establishing a maximum specialist referral period under \nparagraph (1), the Secretary shall act in a manner consistent with the \ncurrent treatment policies of the Department based on clinical need and \nwith the established 30-30-20 performance goal of the Department for \nsuch a referral period.\n (b) Standard for Transportation.--The Secretary shall take such \nsteps as necessary to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is \nable to provide appropriate transportation services for qualified \nveterans within a reasonable time period of a scheduled appointment.\n\nSEC. 4. CONTRACT CARE TO BE PROVIDED WHEN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS \n AFFAIRS CARE NOT AVAILABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS.\n\n (a) Contract Care.--In any case in which the Secretary of Veterans \nAffairs is not able to provide hospital care or medical services in \naccordance with the standard prescribed under section 3(a) or to \nprovide transportation services in accordance with section 3(b), the \nSecretary shall promptly provide for such care or transportation from a \nprivate source. Hospital care or medical services so provided shall be \nthose for which the veteran is otherwise eligible within the Department \nof Veterans Affairs medical care system.\n (b) Reimbursement Rate.--Whenever care or services are provided \nunder subsection (a), the Secretary shall reimburse the provider of \nsuch care or services for the reasonable value of such care or \nservices, as determined by the Secretary. Such reimbursement shall be \nprovided in the same manner as applies to reimbursement for emergency \ntreatment under section 1725 of title 38, United States Code, subject \nto such of the terms and conditions otherwise applicable to such \nreimbursements under such section as the Secretary determines to be \nappropriate for purposes of this section.\n (c) Expedited Reimbursement Procedures.--The Secretary shall take \nappropriate steps to expedite the reimbursement required by subsection \n(b). Such steps may include steps to take advantage of modern \ntechnology, including so-called ``smart card'' technology that would \nallow claims for such reimbursement to be processed electronically. The \nSecretary shall, to the extent possible, also apply such steps for \nexpediting reimbursement to claims for emergency services provided to \nveterans for which the Secretary provides reimbursement under \nprovisions of law in effect before the date of the enactment of this \nAct.\n\nSEC. 5. TERMINATION OF 24-MONTH RULE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR EMERGENCY \n SERVICES.\n\n The provisions of subparagraph (B) of section 1725(b)(2) of title \n38, United States Code, shall not apply with respect to emergency \ntreatment furnished on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 6. MEDICAL ADMINISTRATOR PERFORMANCE RATINGS.\n\n The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include in the standards of \nperformance used for measuring performance of administrators in the \nDepartment of Veterans Affairs medical care system a standard of \nassessing improvements in appointment waiting times.\n\nSEC. 7. REPORTS.\n\n The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on \nVeterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report \nat the end of each fiscal-year quarter on the waiting times for \nappointments in the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care system. \nThe report shall describe any reductions in such waiting times and any \nexperience with appointment delays.", "summary": "21st Century Veterans Equitable Treatment Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) establish a maximum specialist referral period (the period between a veteran's referral to a specialty clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs by a Department primary care physician and the actual appointment with a specialist); and (2) provide appropriate transportation to such appointments for qualified veterans.Requires the Secretary, in any case in which such period is exceeded or in which transportation was not so provided, to promptly provide for such care or transportation from a private source and to reimburse such source at an appropriate rate. Requires expedited reimbursement procedures.Directs the Secretary to include within standards of performance used for measuring Department medical care administration a standard of assessing improvements in appointment waiting times.", "title": "To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a more equitable geographic allocation of funds appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical care."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2554, "text": "SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION AND UPDATING AMENDMENTS.\n\n The Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Act of 1988 \n(Public Law 100-692) is updated as follows:\n (1) In section 2, by adding at the end the following:\n ``(6) The Corridor contained the only historic system of \n the Industrial Revolution that integrated anthracite mining and \n resource extraction, canals and railroads, commerce and heavy \n industry, and a remarkable number of the historic elements of \n the system are intact.''.\n (2) In section 4, by striking ``Environmental Resources'' \n and inserting ``Conservation and Natural Resources''.\n (3) In section 8--\n (A) in subsection (b), by inserting ``and review \n and approval by the Secretary of the strategic plan'' \n after ``in section 10(a)'';\n (B) by inserting ``and the strategic plan'' after \n ``goals of the Plan'';\n (C) by amending the text of subsection (b)(1) to \n read as follows: ``assisting the Commonwealth, \n political subdivisions and non-profit agencies in \n preserving the historic transportation system of Canals \n and overland railroads and the maintenance of the \n system as a trail significant to nation;'';\n (D) in subsection (b)(2), by striking \n ``governments'' and inserting ``agencies'';\n (E) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``in the \n Corridor'' and inserting ``and heighten the \n understanding of the Corridor's nationally important \n stories''; and\n (F) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(c) Stategic Plan.--The Corporation shall develop a Strategic \nPlan that takes in account the findings and recommendations of the \nstudy titled `Connecting Stories, Landscapes and People: Exploring the \nDelaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Partnership' conducted \nby the National Park Service Conservation Study Institute. The \nstrategic plan shall complement the management plan for the Corridor by \nguiding future investment, strengthening and serving the partnership \nnetwork, positioning the Corridor to take advantage of opportunities, \nand prioritizing actions.''.\n (4) In section 9, by adding at the end the following:\n ``(c) Corporation as Local Management Entity.--Upon the date of the \nenactment of this subsection, the local management entity for the \ncorridor shall be the Corporation.\n ``(d) Implementation of Management Plan.--The Corporation will \nassume the duties of the Commission for the implementation of the \nmanagement action plan.\n ``(e) Use of Funds.--The Corporation may use Federal funds made \navailable under this Act--\n ``(1) to make grants to and enter into cooperative \n agreements with the Commonwealth, political subdivisions, \n nonprofit organizations, and individuals;\n ``(2) to hire, train, and compensate staff;\n ``(3) to enter into contracts for goods and services; and\n ``(4) to obtain money from any source under any program or \n law requiring the recipient of such money to make a \n contribution in order to receive such money.''.\n (5) In section 10--\n (A) in subsection (c), by striking ``shall assist \n the Commission'' and inserting ``shall, upon the \n Corporation's request, assist'';\n (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``Commission'' \n each place it appears and inserting ``Corporation''; \n and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(e) Transition MOU.--The Secretary shall enter into a memorandum \nof understanding with the Corporation to assure appropriate transition \nof the local management to the Corporation and coordination with the \nCorporation regarding the implementation of the management action plan.\n ``(f) Special Resource Studies.--\n ``(1) Sites and features.--The Secretary shall conduct a \n special resource study of sites and associated landscape \n features within the boundaries of the Corridor that contribute \n to the understanding of the Corridor's national significance. \n To provide appropriate context regarding the contribution of \n anthracite mining, industries, transportation and commerce to \n the nation's growth and industrial development, the special \n resource study shall review the resources of the greater \n anthracite region of Pennsylvania covered by other designated \n national heritage areas.\n ``(2) Potential designation.--\n ``(A) Authorization.--Not later than 3 years after \n the date on which funds are made available to carry out \n this subsection, the Secretary, in coordination with \n the Corporation, shall complete the special resource \n study to evaluate the possibility of--\n ``(i) designating one or more site or \n landscape feature as a unit of the National \n Park System; and\n ``(ii) coordinating and complementing \n actions by the Corporation, Commonwealth, \n political subdivisions and non-profit agencies, \n in the preservation and interpretation of \n significant resources within the Corridor and \n greater anthracite region.\n ``(B) Study.--Not later than 30 days after the date \n on which the special resource study is completed, the \n Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of \n the House of Representatives and the Committee on \n Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report \n that describes the findings, conclusions, and \n recommendations of the study.''.\n (6) In section 12--\n (A) by striking ``Commission'' each place it \n appears and inserting ``Corporation''; and\n (B) by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2019''.\n (7) In section 13, by striking ``Commission'' and inserting \n ``Corporation''.\n (8) In section 14--\n (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the \n end;\n (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(7) the term `Corporation' means the Delaware and Lehigh \n National Heritage Corridor, Incorporated, an organization \n described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code \n of 1986 and exempt from taxation.''.", "summary": "Amends the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Act of 1988 to revise the appropriate steps the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation Canal National Heritage Corridor Commission is required to take in implementing its Cultural Heritage and Corridor Management Plan for the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation Canal National Heritage Corridor.\n\nRequires the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Incorporated to develop a Strategic Plan for the Corridor that takes into account the findings and recommendations of a specified study conducted by the National Park Service Conservation Study Institute. Requires the plan to compliment the Corridor's management plan.\n\nMakes the Corporation the management entity for the Corridor, assuming the Commission's duties in implementing the management action plan.\n\nAuthorizes the Corporation to use federal funds to make grants to and enter into cooperative agreements with Pennsylvania, local governments, nonprofit corporations, and individuals.\n\n\n\nRequires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites and associated landscape features within the Corridor, including resources of the greater anthracite region of Pennsylvania covered by other designated national heritage areas, that contribute to the understanding of the Corridor's national siginificance.\n\nRequires the Secretary, in coordination with the Corporation, to evaluate and report to specified congressional committees on the possibility of: (1) designating one or more sites or landscape features as a unit of the National Park System; and (2) coordinating and complementing actions by the Corporation, Pennsylvania, local governments, and nonprofit agencies in the preservation and interpretation of significant resources within the Corridor and greater anthracite region.\n\nExtends the Corporation, in place of the Commission, through November 18, 2019.", "title": "To reauthorize the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Act of 1988, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 251, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Increasing Medical Oversight in the \nDepartment of Veterans Affairs Act of 2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL INSPECTOR.\n\n (a) Establishment.--Subchapter I of chapter 73 of title 38, United \nStates Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n``Sec. 7310. Office of the Medical Inspector\n ``(a) In General.--There is established in the Department within \nthe Office of the Under Secretary for Health an office to be known as \nthe `Office of the Medical Inspector' (in this section referred to as \nthe `Office').\n ``(b) Head.--(1) The Medical Inspector shall be the head of the \nOffice.\n ``(2) The Medical Inspector shall be appointed by the Secretary \nfrom among individuals qualified to perform the duties of the position.\n ``(3) The Medical Inspector shall report directly to the Under \nSecretary for Health.\n ``(c) Functions.--The functions of the Office shall include the \nfollowing:\n ``(1) To review the quality of health care provided to \n veterans--\n ``(A) by the Department generally; and\n ``(B) by the Department through contracts with non-\n Department health care providers.\n ``(2) To review offices of the Veterans Health \n Administration that have an impact on the quality of health \n care provided to veterans by the Department and the performance \n of the Department in providing such care.\n ``(3) To review offices and facilities of the Veterans \n Health Administration to ensure that policies and procedures of \n the Department and the Veterans Health Administration are \n applied consistently at all such offices and facilities.\n ``(4) To investigate any systemic issues, as determined by \n the Medical Inspector, that arise within the Veterans Health \n Administration, including the following:\n ``(A) Improper issuance of credentials and \n privileges to health care providers.\n ``(B) Impediments to the access of veterans to \n health care from the Department.\n ``(C) Wait times for appointments by veterans at \n medical facilities of the Department in excess of wait-\n time goals established by the Department.\n ``(D) Intentional falsification by employees of the \n Department of information or data with respect to wait \n times for such appointments.\n ``(5) To establish temporary investigative teams to carry \n out reviews or investigations described in paragraphs (1), (2), \n (3), and (4) in response to specific incidents or inquiries, \n including the following:\n ``(A) Investigations of complaints by a veteran, a \n family member of a veteran, or another individual that \n may require a visit to a facility or facilities of the \n Department.\n ``(B) Assessments to examine potential systemic \n issues within the Veterans Health Administration that \n may require the conduct of surveys, the collection of \n data, and the analysis of databases of the Department.\n ``(6) To recommend policies to promote economy and \n efficiency in the administration of, and to prevent and detect \n criminal activity, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in, programs \n and operations of the Veterans Health Administration.\n ``(7) To carry out any other tasks required of the Office \n by the Secretary or the Under Secretary for Health before, on, \n or after the date of the enactment of this section.\n ``(d) Reports.--(1) Not later than 30 days after the date of the \nenactment of this section, and periodically thereafter, the Medical \nInspector shall submit to the Secretary, the Under Secretary for \nHealth, and Congress reports on any problems or deficiencies \nencountered in programs and operations of the Veterans Health \nAdministration, including any recommendations for corrective actions.\n ``(2) Each report required by paragraph (1) shall be made available \nto the public on an Internet website of the Department.\n ``(3) Any other report prepared by the Medical Inspector in \ncarrying out the functions of the Office under this section shall be--\n ``(A) submitted to Congress; and\n ``(B) made available to the public on an Internet website \n of the Department.\n ``(e) Privacy Matters.--Any medical or other personal information \nobtained by the Office shall be protected from disclosure or misuse in \naccordance with the laws on privacy applicable to such information.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of \nchapter 73 of such title is amended by inserting after the item \nrelating to section 7309 the following new item:\n\n``7310. Office of the Medical Inspector.''.\n (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 7306(a) of such title is \namended by--\n (1) redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11); and\n (2) inserting after paragraph (9) the following new \n paragraph (10):\n ``(10) The Medical Inspector, who shall be the head of the \n Office of the Medical Inspector under section 7310 of this \n title.''.\n (d) Continuation in Office.--The individual serving as the Medical \nInspector of the Department of Veterans Affairs on the day before the \ndate of the enactment of this Act may serve as the Medical Inspector of \nthe Department of Veterans Affairs after that date until the date on \nwhich the Secretary of Veterans Affairs appoints an individual to be \nthe Medical Inspector pursuant to section 7310(b)(2) of title 38, \nUnited States Code, as added by subsection (a).", "summary": "Increasing Medical Oversight in the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2014 - Establishes the Office of the Medical Inspector of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) within the Office of the Under Secretary for Health. Includes among the functions of the Office to: review the quality of health care provided to veterans by the VA generally and by the VA through contracts with non-VA health care providers; review offices of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that have an impact on the quality of health care provided to veterans by the VA and the performance of the VA in providing such care; review VHA offices and facilities to ensure that VA and VHA policies and procedures are applied consistently; investigate any systemic issues that arise within VHA, including improper issuance of credentials and privileges to health care providers, impediments to access to VA health care, wait times for appointments at VA medical facilities in excess of VA goals, and intentional falsification by VA employees of information regarding wait times; establish temporary investigative teams to carry out reviews in response to specific incidents or inquiries, including veterans' complaints and potential systemic issues within VHA that may require the conduct of surveys, the collection of data, and the analysis of VA databases; recommend policies to promote economy and efficiency in the administration of, and to prevent and detect criminal activity, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in, VHA programs and operations; and report on problems or deficiencies encountered in VHA programs and operations and recommend corrective actions. ", "title": "Increasing Medical Oversight in the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2134, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Space to Schools Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Purpose.--The Secretary of Education may carry out a program \n(in this Act referred to as the ``Program'') to--\n (1) encourage highly skilled retiring or displaced \n aerospace professionals with backgrounds in science, \n technology, engineering, or mathematics to pursue careers as \n elementary, secondary, or vocational school teachers; and\n (2) promote science, technology, engineering, and \n mathematics (STEM) education in kindergarten through grade 12 \n by encouraging aerospace professionals to pursue careers in \n teaching.\n (b) Eligibility.--\n (1) Eligible individuals.--An individual who is eligible to \n participate in the Program is an individual--\n (A) who is a former employee of the National \n Aeronautics and Space Administration, its suppliers, or \n a related contractor; and\n (B) who has relevant work experience in the \n aerospace industry.\n (2) School eligibility.--An eligible local education \n agency, charter school, or vocational school may receive \n Program participants.\n (c) Submission of Applications.--\n (1) Form and submission.--Selection of eligible individuals \n to participate in the Program shall be made on the basis of \n applications submitted to the Secretary of Education within the \n time periods specified in paragraph (2). An application shall \n be in such form and contain such information as the Secretary \n may require.\n (2) Time for submission.--An application shall be \n considered to be submitted on a timely basis if it submitted \n not later than 4 years after the date on which the individual \n is retired, separated, or released from employment in the \n aerospace industry.\n (d) Selection Criteria.--\n (1) Establishment.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the \n Secretary shall prescribe the criteria to be used to select \n eligible individuals to participate in the Program.\n (2) Educational background.--\n (A) Elementary or secondary school teacher.--If an \n applicant is applying for assistance for placement as \n an elementary or secondary school teacher, the \n Secretary shall require the applicant to have received \n a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited \n institution of higher education in a science, \n technology, engineering, or mathematics field.\n (B) Vocational or technical teacher.--If an \n applicant for assistance for placement as vocational or \n technical teacher, the Secretary shall require the \n applicant to have--\n (i) received an associate degree, \n postsecondary training, or related \n certification obtained through service in the \n Armed Forces;\n (ii) have 6 or more years of work \n experience in a vocational or technical field; \n or\n (iii) otherwise meet the certification or \n licensing requirements for a vocational or \n technical teacher in the State in which the \n applicant seeks assistance for placement under \n the Program.\n (3) Termination of employment.--An applicant who was \n terminated from previous employment for cause shall be \n ineligible to participate in the Program.\n (e) Participation Agreement.--\n (1) In general.--An eligible individual selected to \n participate in the Program and receive financial assistance \n under this section shall be required to enter into an agreement \n with the Secretary in which the participant agrees--\n (A) within such time as the Secretary may require, \n to obtain certification or licensing as an elementary, \n secondary, vocational, or technical school teacher, and \n to become a highly qualified teacher; and\n (B) to accept an offer of full-time employment as \n an elementary, secondary, vocational, or technical \n school teacher for not less than 3 school years and \n commit to teaching in the subjects of science, \n technology, engineering, or mathematics with an \n eligible local educational agency, charter school, or \n vocational school to begin the school year after \n obtaining such certification or licensing.\n (2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the 3-year commitment \n described in paragraph (1)(B) for a participant if the \n Secretary determined such waiver to be appropriate.\n (3) Stipends for participants.--\n (A) Stipend authorized.--The Secretary may pay to a \n participant in the Program a stipend in an amount of \n not more than $5,000 to be used towards obtaining \n licensing or certification for elementary or secondary \n teaching or vocational teaching programs.\n (B) Stipend bonus.--The Secretary, in lieu of \n paying a stipend under subparagraph (A), may pay a \n bonus of $10,000 to a participant in the Program who \n agrees in the participation agreement to become a \n highly qualified teacher and accept full-time \n employment as an elementary, secondary, vocational, or \n technical teacher for not less than 3 years in a high-\n need school and teach in the subject area of science, \n technology, engineering, or mathematics.\n (f) Reimbursement Under Certain Circumstances.--\n (1) Reimbursement required.--A participant in the Program \n who is paid a stipend or bonus under this section shall be \n required to repay the stipend or bonus under the following \n circumstances:\n (A) Failure to obtain qualifications or \n employment.--The participant fails to obtain teacher \n certification or licensing, to become a highly \n qualified teacher, or to obtain employment as an \n elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, or \n vocational or technical teacher as required by the \n participation agreement under subsection (e).\n (B) Termination of employment.--The participant \n voluntarily leaves, or is terminated for cause from, \n employment as an elementary school teacher, secondary \n school teacher, or vocational or technical teacher \n during the 3 years of required service in violation of \n the participation agreement.\n (2) Amount of reimbursement.--A participant required to \n reimburse the Secretary for a stipend or bonus paid to the \n participant under this section shall pay an amount that bears \n the same ratio to the amount of the stipend or bonus as the \n unserved portion of required service bears to the 3 years of \n required service. Any amount owed by the participant shall bear \n interest at the rate equal to the highest rate being paid by \n the United States on the day on which the reimbursement is \n determined to be due for securities having maturities of 90 \n days or less and shall accrue from the day on which the \n participant is first notified of the amount due.\n (3) Treatment of obligation.--The obligation to reimburse \n the Secretary under this subsection is, for all purposes, a \n debt owing the United States. A discharge in bankruptcy under \n title 11, United States Code, shall not release a participant \n from the obligation to reimburse the Secretary under this \n subsection.\n (g) Advisory Board.--\n (1) No later than 120 days after enactment of this Act, the \n Secretary shall establish an Advisory Board whose duties \n include--\n (A) collecting, considering, and disseminating \n feedback from participants, State educational agencies, \n local educational agencies, charter schools, and \n vocational schools on best practices for recruitment of \n eligible individuals to participate in the Program;\n (B) ensuring elementary schools, secondary schools, \n and vocational schools are aware of the Program and how \n to participate in it;\n (C) developing guidelines to help individuals \n selected to participate in the Program identify and \n enroll in licensing or certification training for \n elementary or secondary education teaching or \n vocational teaching programs; and\n (D) coordinating the goals of the Program with \n other Federal, State, and local education needs.\n (2) No later than 1 year after the date of enactment of \n this Act, and annually thereafter, prepare and submit a report \n to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of \n Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, \n and Pensions of the Senate, which shall include--\n (A) information with respect to the activities of \n the Advisory Board;\n (B) information with respect to the Program, \n including--\n (i) the number of participants in the \n Program;\n (ii) the number of States participating in \n the Program;\n (iii) the local educational agencies and \n schools where participants are employed;\n (iv) the grade levels at which the \n participants teach;\n (v) the academic subjects taught by \n participants;\n (vi) the hours of clinical and classroom \n time participants completed during the \n certification or licensing required for \n participation in the Program;\n (vii) a review of the stipend and bonus \n available to participants; and\n (viii) other demographic information as may \n be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of \n the Program; and\n (C) recommendations for improvements and other \n necessary changes to ensure that the Program is meeting \n the purpose as described in subsection (a).\n (h) Definitions.--In this Act:\n (1) In general.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``highly \n qualified''; ``local educational agency'', ``secondary \n school'', ``State educational agency'', and ``State'' have the \n meaning given the terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and \n Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).\n (2) Charter school.--The term ``charter school'' has the \n meaning given such term in section 5210 of the Elementary and \n Secondary Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7221i).\n (3) Eligible local educational agency.--The term ``eligible \n local educational agency'' means a local educational agency \n receiving funding under part A of title I of the Elementary and \n Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.).\n (4) High-need school.--The term ``high-need school'' means \n an elementary school, secondary school, or vocational school \n under the jurisdiction of an eligible local educational agency, \n or a charter school, or vocational school, where at least 50 \n percent of the students enrolled in the school are--\n (A) in poverty counted in the most recent census \n data approved by the Secretary;\n (B) eligible for free and reduced priced lunches \n under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act \n (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);\n (C) in families receiving assistance under the \n State program funded under part A of title IV of the \n Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); or\n (D) eligible to receive medical assistance under \n the State Medicaid program under title XIX of the \n Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).\n (5) Institution of higher education.--The term \n ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such \n term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 \n U.S.C. 1001).\n (6) Vocational school.--The term ``vocational school'' \n means--\n (A) a specialized public secondary school used \n exclusively or principally for the provision of \n vocational and technical education to individuals who \n are available for study in preparation for entering the \n labor market; or\n (B) the department or division of an institution of \n higher education that provides vocational and technical \n education in not fewer than five different occupational \n fields leading to immediate employment but not \n necessarily leading to a baccalaureate degree.\n (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Education.\n (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--\n (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated \n $20,000,000 to carry out this Act for fiscal year 2011 and each \n of fiscal years 2012 through 2014.\n (2) No fiscal year limitation on funding.--Funds \n appropriated under paragraph (1) shall remain available until \n expended.", "summary": "Space to Schools Act of 2010 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to implement a program to encourage individuals who are former employees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), its suppliers, or related contractors who have relevant work experience in the aerospace industry to pursue careers as elementary, secondary, or vocational school teachers.\n\nSets forth educational background requirements for program participants.\n\nRequires program participants to enter into an agreement to: (1) obtain certification or licensing as an elementary, secondary, vocational, or technical school teacher, and to become a highly qualified teacher; and (2) accept an offer of full-time employment as an elementary, secondary, vocational, or technical school teacher for at least three school years and commit to teaching science, technology, engineering, or mathematics after obtaining such certification or licensing.\n\nDirects the Secretary to provide program participants with: (1) a stipend for use in obtaining certification or licensing; or (2) a larger bonus if they agree to perform their service in high-need schools.\n\nRequires the Secretary to establish an Advisory Board to oversee the program.", "title": "To authorize the Secretary of Education to establish a program for displaced aerospace professionals to become certified elementary, secondary, or vocational school teachers."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1903, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Probation System Reform \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. SUPERVISION OF A PERSON ASSIGNED AN ELECTRONIC MONITORING \n DEVICE AS A CONDITION OF RELEASE; PENALTY FOR DISABLING \n AN ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICE.\n\n (a) In General.--Part II of title 18, United States Code, is \namended by inserting after chapter 237 the following new chapter:\n\n ``CHAPTER 239--ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICES\n\n``Sec.\n``3801. Supervision of a person assigned an electronic monitoring \n device as a condition of release.\n``3802. Penalty for disabling an electronic monitoring device.\n``Sec. 3801. Supervision of a person assigned an electronic monitoring \n device as a condition of release\n ``(a) In General.--In the case of a person who was convicted of a \nFederal offense who has been sentenced to probation pursuant to \nsubchapter B of chapter 227, placed on probation pursuant to the \nprovisions of chapter 403, or placed on supervised release pursuant to \nsection 3583, or a person accused of such an offense who has been \nreleased pending trial, sentence, or appeal pursuant to chapter 207, \nwho is required to wear an electronic monitoring device as a condition \nof such probation or release, the Director of the Administrative Office \nof the United States Courts shall ensure that an appropriate probation \nofficer or pretrial services officer supervises the person by doing the \nfollowing:\n ``(1) Conducting a daily review of any data produced by the \n electronic monitoring device worn by the person.\n ``(2) In the case of an alert produced by an electronic \n monitoring system that the Director determines requires an \n investigation, conducting an investigation immediately \n following the alert, including--\n ``(A) contacting the person;\n ``(B) inspecting the electronic monitoring device; \n and\n ``(C) documenting the alert and the response taken.\n ``(b) Uniform Standards.--Not later than 60 days after the date of \nthe enactment of this section, the Director of the Administrative \nOffice of the United States Courts shall issue uniform standards in \norder to implement subsection (a).\n``Sec. 3802. Penalty for disabling an electronic monitoring device\n ``(a) Offense.--Whoever--\n ``(1) intentionally disables an electronic monitoring \n device that was assigned to a person as a condition of \n probation pursuant to subchapter B of chapter 227 or chapter \n 403, supervised release pursuant to section 3583, or release \n pending trial, sentence, or appeal pursuant to chapter 207; or\n ``(2) having been assigned an electronic monitoring device \n as a condition of probation pursuant to subchapter B of chapter \n 227 or chapter 403, supervised release pursuant to section \n 3583, or release pending trial, sentence, or appeal pursuant to \n chapter 207, intentionally allows another person to disable \n such device;\nshall be punished as provided in subsection (b).\n ``(b) Punishment.--The punishment for an offense under subsection \n(a) is--\n ``(1) if the person to whom the electronic monitoring \n device was assigned commits a Federal, State, or local offense \n in addition to violating subsection (a) upon the disabling of \n such device, a fine under this title or imprisonment for not \n more than 4 years; or\n ``(2) if the person to whom the electronic monitoring \n device was assigned does not commit a Federal, State or local \n crime in addition to violating subsection (a) upon the \n disabling of such device, a fine under this title or \n imprisonment for not more than 1 year.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of chapters for part II of title \n18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating \nto chapter 237 the following:\n\n``239. Electronic Monitoring Devices........................ 3801''.\n\nSEC. 3. INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PROBATION AND PRETRIAL SERVICES.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 207 of part II of title 18, United States \nCode, is amended--\n (1) by redesignating sections 3155 and 3156 as sections \n 3156 and 3157, respectively;\n (2) after section 3154, by inserting the following:\n``Sec. 3155. Inspector General for Probation and Pretrial Services\n ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within pretrial services \n(commonly referred to as the United States Probation and Pretrial \nServices System) the Office of the Inspector General for Probation and \nPretrial Services (referred to in this section as the `Office').\n ``(b) Appointment, Term, and Removal of Inspector General.--\n ``(1) Appointment.--The head of the Office shall be the \n Inspector General, who shall be appointed by the Chief Justice \n of the United States after consultation with the majority and \n minority leaders of the Senate and the Speaker and minority \n leader of the House of Representatives.\n ``(2) Term.--The Inspector General shall serve for a term \n of four years and may be reappointed by the Chief Justice of \n the United States for any number of additional terms.\n ``(3) Removal.--The Inspector General may be removed from \n office by the Chief Justice of the United States. The Chief \n Justice shall communicate the reasons for any such removal to \n both Houses of Congress.\n ``(c) Duties.--With respect to probation and pretrial services, the \nOffice shall--\n ``(1) conduct investigations of alleged misconduct;\n ``(2) conduct and supervise audits and investigations;\n ``(3) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse; and\n ``(4) recommend changes in laws or regulations governing \n probation and pretrial services.\n ``(d) Powers.--\n ``(1) In general.--In carrying out the duties of the \n Office, the Inspector General shall have the power--\n ``(A) to make investigations and reports;\n ``(B) to obtain information or assistance from any \n Federal, State, or local governmental agency, or other \n entity, or unit thereof, including all information kept \n in the normal course of business by probation and \n pretrial services in any judicial district;\n ``(C) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the \n attendance and testimony of such witnesses, and the \n production of such books, records, correspondence \n memoranda, papers, and documents; which subpoena, in \n the case of contumacy or refusal to obey, shall be \n enforceable by civil action;\n ``(D) to administer to or take from any person an \n oath, affirmation, or affidavit;\n ``(E) to employ such officers and employees, \n subject to the provisions of title 5, governing \n appointments in the competitive service, and the \n provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter \n 53 of such title relating to classification and General \n Schedule pay rates;\n ``(F) to obtain services authorized by section 3109 \n of title 5 at daily rates not to exceed the equivalent \n rate prescribed for grade GS-18 of the General Schedule \n by section 5332 of title 5; and--\n ``(G) to the extent and in such amounts as may be \n provided in advance by appropriations Acts, to enter \n into contracts and other arrangements for audits, \n studies, analyses, and other services with public \n agencies and with private persons, and to make such \n payments as may be necessary to carry out the duties of \n the Office.\n ``(2) Limitation.--The Inspector General shall not have the \n authority to--\n ``(A) investigate or review any matter that is \n directly related to the merits of a decision or \n procedural ruling by any judge or court; or\n ``(B) punish or discipline any pretrial services \n officer or probation officer.\n ``(e) Reports.--\n ``(1) When to be made.--The Inspector General shall--\n ``(A) make an annual report to the Director of the \n Administrative Office of the United States Courts and \n to Congress relating to the activities of the Office; \n and\n ``(B) make prompt reports to the Director and to \n Congress on matters that may require action by them.\n ``(2) Sensitive matter.--If a report contains sensitive \n matter, the Inspector General may so indicate and Congress may \n receive that report in closed session.\n ``(3) Duty to inform attorney general.--In carrying out the \n duties of the Office, the Inspector General shall report \n expeditiously to the Attorney General whenever the Inspector \n General has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a \n violation of Federal criminal law.\n ``(f) Whistleblower Protection.--\n ``(1) In general.--No officer, employee, agent, contractor, \n or subcontractor of pretrial services may discharge, demote, \n threaten, suspend, harass, or in any other manner discriminate \n against an employee in the terms and conditions of employment \n because of any lawful act done by the employee to provide \n information, cause information to be provided, or otherwise \n assist in an investigation regarding any possible violation of \n Federal law or regulation, or misconduct, by a pretrial \n services officer or probation officer, which may assist the \n Inspector General in the performance of duties under this \n chapter.\n ``(2) Civil action.--An employee injured in violation of \n paragraph (1) may, in a civil action, obtain appropriate \n relief.\n ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this \nsection.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendments.--Chapter 207 of part II of title 18, \nUnited States Code, is amended--\n (1) in section 3157(b) (as redesignated by this Act) is \n amended by striking ``3152-3155'' and inserting ``3152-3156''; \n and\n (2) in the table of sections, after the item relating to \n section 3154, by inserting the following:\n\n``3155. Inspector General for Probation and Pretrial Services.''.", "summary": "Federal Probation System Reform Act - Amends the federal criminal code to require the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to ensure that an appropriate probation or pretrial services officer supervises a person convicted of a federal offense who has been sentenced to probation, placed on probation, or placed on supervised release, or a person accused of such an offense who has been released pending trial, sentence, or appeal, and who is required to wear an electronic monitoring device as a condition of such probation or release, including by: (1) conducting a daily review of any data produced by such device; and (2) conducting an investigation immediately following an electronic monitoring system alert that the Director determines requires investigation. Prohibits, and sets penalties for, intentionally disabling such a device or allowing another person to disable such device. Establishes within the United States Probation and Pretrial Services System the Office of the Inspector General for Probation and Pretrial Services, which shall: (1) conduct investigations of alleged misconduct; (2) conduct and supervise audits and investigations; (3) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse; (4) recommend changes in laws or regulations governing probation and pretrial services; and (5) report expeditiously to the Attorney General whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of federal criminal law. Provides whistleblower protection for an employee who provides information to or otherwise assists the Inspector General in an investigation of a possible violation of federal law or misconduct by a pretrial services or probation officer.", "title": "Federal Probation System Reform Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2121, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Consultation and Coordination With \nIndian Tribal Governments Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act:\n (1) Accountable consultation process.--The term \n ``accountable consultation process'' means a process of \n government-to-government dialogue between the agency and Indian \n tribes to ensure meaningful and timely input by tribal \n officials in the formulating, amending, implementing, or \n recinding one or more policies that have tribal implications. \n The process shall ensure, at a minimum, the following:\n (A) That tribal officials have ample opportunity to \n provide input and recommendations to the agencies \n regarding formulating, amending, implementing, or \n recinding policies that have tribal implications.\n (B) That tribal input and recommendations are fully \n considered by the agency before policies that have \n tribal implications are formulated, amended, \n implemented, or recinded.\n (C) That, upon the formulation, amendment, \n implementation, or recision of policies that have \n tribal implications, tribal officials shall be provided \n with written notification of the formulation, \n amendment, implementation, or recision of such policies \n and given a copy of those policies.\n (D) That any policies that have tribal implications \n shall not become effective until at least 60 days after \n written notification to tribal officials pursuant to \n subparagraph (D).\n (2) Agency.--The term ``agency'' means the Department of \n the Interior, the Indian Health Service, and the National \n Indian Gaming Commission.\n (3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' means an \n Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, \n or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to \n exist as an Indian tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized \n Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a).\n (4) Policies that have tribal implications.--The term \n ``policies that have tribal implications'' means any measure by \n the agency that has or is likely to have a direct effect on one \n or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal \n Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power \n and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian \n tribes, such as regulations, legislative comments or proposed \n legislation, and other policy statements or actions, guidance, \n clarification, standards, or sets of principles.\n (5) Tribal officials.--The term ``tribal officials'' means \n elected or duly appointed officials of Indian tribal \n governments, or their designees.\n\nSEC. 3. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.\n\n When formulating, amending, implementing, or recinding one or more \npolicies that have tribal implications, an agency shall be guided by \nthe following fundamental principles:\n (1) The United States has a unique legal and political \n relationship with Indian tribal governments as set forth in the \n Constitution of the United States, treaties, statutes, \n Executive orders, and court decisions. The Federal Government \n has enacted numerous statutes and promulgated numerous \n regulations that establish and define a trust relationship with \n Indian tribes.\n (2) Our Nation, under the law of the United States, in \n accordance with treaties, statutes, Executive orders, and \n judicial decisions, has recognized the right of Indian tribes \n to self-government. Indian tribes exercise inherent sovereign \n powers over their members and territory. The United States \n continues to work with Indian tribes on a government-to-\n government basis to address issues concerning Indian tribal \n self-government, tribal trust resources, and Indian tribal \n treaty and other rights.\n (3) The United States recognizes the right of Indian tribes \n to self-government and supports tribal sovereignty and self-\n determination.\n\nSEC. 4. POLICYMAKING CRITERIA.\n\n In addition to adhering to the fundamental principles set forth in \nsection 3, when formulating, amending, implementing, or recinding one \nor more policies that have tribal implications each agency shall adhere \nto the following criteria:\n (1) Each agency shall respect Indian tribal self-government \n and sovereignty, honor tribal treaty and other rights, and \n strive to meet the responsibilities that arise from the unique \n legal and political relationship between the Federal Government \n and Indian tribal governments.\n (2) With respect to Federal statutes and regulations \n administered by Indian tribal governments, each agency shall \n ensure Indian tribal governments the maximum administrative \n discretion possible.\n (3) Each agency shall--\n (A) encourage Indian tribes to develop their own \n policies to achieve program objectives;\n (B) to the extent they do not violate other \n applicable laws, defer to Indian tribes to establish \n standards; and\n (C) in determining whether to establish Federal \n standards, consult with tribal officials as to the need \n for Federal standards and any alternatives that would \n limit the scope of Federal standards or otherwise \n preserve the prerogatives and authority of Indian \n tribes.\n\nSEC. 5. CONSULTATION.\n\n Each agency shall have an accountable consultation process. Not \nlater than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the \nhead of each agency shall designate an official with principal \nresponsibility for the agency's implementation of this Act. Not later \nthan 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the \ndesignated official shall submit a description of the agency's \naccountable consultation process to the Committee on Natural Resources \nof the House of Representative and the Committee on Indian Affairs of \nthe Senate.\n\nSEC. 6. UNFUNDED MANDATES.\n\n To the extent practicable and permitted by law, no agency shall \nformulate, amend, or implement any policy that has tribal implications \nthat imposes substantial direct compliance costs on Indian tribal \ngovernments and is not required by Federal law unless--\n (1) funds necessary to pay the substantial direct costs \n incurred by the Indian tribal government or the Indian tribe in \n complying with the policy are provided by the Federal \n Government; or\n (2) the agency, before the implementation of the policy--\n (A) consulted through the accountable consultation \n process with tribal officials early in the process of \n developing the proposed policy; and\n (B) in a separately identified portion of the \n preamble to the policy, provided to the Committee on \n Natural Resources of the House of Representative, the \n Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, and affected \n Indian tribes a tribal summary impact statement \n containing--\n (i) a description of the extent of the \n agency's prior consultation with tribal \n officials;\n (ii) a summary of the nature of the \n concerns of the tribal officials and the \n agency's position supporting the need to issue \n the regulation; and\n (iii) a statement of the extent to which \n the concerns of tribal officials have been met.\n\nSEC. 7. TRIBAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, TRIBAL TRUST RESOURCES, OR INDIAN \n TRIBAL TREATY AND OTHER RIGHTS.\n\n On issues relating to tribal self-government, tribal trust \nresources, or Indian tribal treaty and other rights, each agency shall \nexplore and, where appropriate, use consensual mechanisms for \ndeveloping policies, including consideration of negotiated rulemaking.\n\nSEC. 8. PREEMPTION OF TRIBAL LAW.\n\n To the extent practicable and permitted by law, no agency shall \nestablish or implement any policy that has tribal implications and that \npreempts tribal law unless the agency, before the implementation of the \npolicy--\n (1) consulted through the accountable consultation process \n with tribal officials in development of the proposed policy; \n and\n (2) in a separately identified portion of the preamble to \n the policy, provided to the Committee on Natural Resources of \n the House of Representative, the Committee on Indian Affairs of \n the Senate, and affected Indian tribes a tribal summary impact \n statement containing--\n (A) a description of the extent of the agency's \n prior consultation with tribal officials;\n (B) a summary of the nature of the concerns of the \n tribal officials and the agency's position supporting \n the need to issue the regulation; and\n (C) a statement of the extent to which the concerns \n of tribal officials have been met.\n\nSEC. 9. INCREASING FLEXIBILITY FOR INDIAN TRIBAL WAIVERS.\n\n (a) Review; Streamlining of Waiver Process.--Each agency shall \nreview the processes under which Indian tribes apply for waivers of \nstatutory and regulatory requirements and take appropriate steps to \nstreamline those processes.\n (b) Flexible Policy Approaches.--Each agency shall, to the extent \npracticable and not in violation with other Federal laws, consider any \napplication by an Indian tribe for a waiver of statutory or regulatory \nrequirements in connection with any program administered by the agency \nwith a general view toward increasing opportunities for using flexible \npolicy approaches at the Indian tribal level in cases in which the \nproposed waiver is consistent with the applicable Federal policy \nobjectives and is otherwise appropriate.\n (c) Decision on Application for Waiver.--Each agency shall, to the \nextent practicable and not in violation with other Federal laws, render \na decision upon a complete application for a waiver not later than 120 \ndays of receipt of such application by the agency, or as otherwise \nprovided by Federal law or regulation. If the application for waiver is \nnot granted, the agency shall provide the applicant with timely written \nnotice of the decision and the reasons therefor.\n (d) Applicability of Section.--This section applies only to \nstatutory or regulatory requirements that are discretionary and subject \nto waiver by the agency.", "summary": "Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments Act - Requires the Department of the Interior, the Indian Health Service, and the National Indian Gaming Commission, when formulating, amending, implementing, or rescinding policies that have tribal implications, to adhere to certain fundamental principles and policymaking criteria, including that the United States: (1) has a unique legal and political relationship with Indian tribal governments; (2) recognizes the right of Indian tribes to self government; and (3) shall encourage Indian tribes to develop their own policies to meet program objectives.\n\nProhibits such entities from formulating, amending, or implementing policies that impose substantial direct compliance costs on Indian tribal governments and are not required by federal law, unless: (1) funds necessary to pay such costs are provided by the federal government; or (2) the entities consulted with tribal officials early in the process of developing the proposed policy and provided a tribal summary impact statement to specified congressional committees and affected tribes.\n\nRequires such entities to have accountable consultation processes and to explore and use consensual mechanisms for developing policies on issues relating to tribal self-government, tribal trust resources, or Indian tribal treaty and other rights. Prohibits such entities from implementing policies that have tribal implications and that preempt tribal law unless the entities: (1) consulted with tribal officials in the policy's development; and (2) provided to specified congressional committees and affected Indian tribes a tribal summary impact statement.\n\nSets forth provisions concerning the process for Indian tribes applying for waivers from requirements.", "title": "To establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications, to strengthen the United States government-to-government relationships with Indian tribes, and to reduce the imposition of unfunded mandates upon Indian tribes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1340, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. RESTORATION OF ESTATE TAX; REPEAL OF CARRYOVER BASIS.\n\n (a) In General.--The following provisions of the Economic Growth \nand Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, and the amendments made by \nsuch provisions, are hereby repealed:\n (1) Subtitles A and E of title V.\n (2) Subsection (d), and so much of subsection (f)(3) as \n relates to subsection (d), of section 511.\n (3) Paragraph (2) of subsection (b), and paragraph (2) of \n subsection (e), of section 521.\nThe Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied as if such \nprovisions and amendments had never been enacted.\n (b) Sunset Not To Apply.--\n (1) Subsection (a) of section 901 of the Economic Growth \n and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 is amended by \n striking ``this Act'' and all that follows and inserting ``this \n Act (other than title V) shall not apply to taxable, plan, or \n limitation years beginning after December 31, 2010.''.\n (2) Subsection (b) of such section 901 is amended by \n striking ``, estates, gifts, and transfers''.\n\nSEC. 3. UNIFIED CREDIT AGAINST THE ESTATE TAX.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (c) of section 2010 of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to applicable credit amount) is amended \nby striking all that follows ``the applicable exclusion amount'' and \ninserting ``. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the applicable \nexclusion amount is $2,000,000.''.\n (b) Inflation Adjustment.--Subsection (c) of section 2010 of such \nCode, as amended by subsection (a), is amended--\n (1) by striking ``For purposes of this section,'' and \n inserting the following:\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section,'', and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(2) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of any decedent \n dying in a calendar year after 2008, the $2,000,000 amount in \n paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount equal to--\n ``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by\n ``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined \n under section 1(f)(3) for such calendar year, \n determined by substituting `2007' for `1992' in \n subparagraph (B) thereof.\n If any increase determined under the preceding sentence is not \n a multiple of $10,000, such increase shall be rounded to the \n nearest multiple of $10,000.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, \n2008.\n\nSEC. 4. RATES OF TAX.\n\n (a) In General.--The table in paragraph (1) of section 2001(c) of \nthe Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to rate schedule) is \namended by striking the last 3 rows and inserting the following:\n\n Over $1,500,000 but not over \n $5,000,000.\n $555,800, plus 45 percent of \n the excess of such \n amount over $1,500,000.\n Over $5,000,000 but not over \n $10,000,000.\n $2,130,800, plus 50 percent of \n the excess of such \n amount over $5,000,000.\n Over $10,000,000...............\n $4,630,800, plus 55 percent of \n the excess of such \n amount over \n $10,000,000.\n (b) Adjustment for Inflation.--Paragraph (2) of section 2001(c) of \nsuch Code is amended to read as follows:\n ``(2) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of any decedent \n dying in a calendar year after 2008--\n ``(A) each minimum and maximum dollar amount for \n each rate bracket in the table in paragraph (1) shall \n be increased by an amount equal to--\n ``(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by\n ``(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment \n determined under section 1(f)(3) for such \n calendar year, determined by substituting \n `2007' for `1992' in subparagraph (B) thereof, \n and\n ``(B) each of the amounts setting forth the tax \n under such table shall be adjusted to the extent \n necessary to reflect the adjustments in the rate \n brackets made by subparagraph (A).\n If any increase determined under subparagraph (A) is \n not a multiple of $10,000, such increase shall be \n rounded to the nearest multiple of $10,000.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply to estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, \n2008.\n\nSEC. 5. RESTORATION OF CREDIT FOR STATE DEATH TAX.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 2011 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n(relating to credit for State death taxes) is amended by striking \nsubsection (f).\n (b) Repeal of Deduction for State Death Taxes.--\n (1) In general.--Section 2058 of such Code (relating to \n State death taxes) is amended by adding at the end the \n following:\n ``(c) Termination.--This section shall not apply to the estates of \ndecedents dying after December 31, 2008.''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 2106(a)(4) of such Code \n is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: \n ``This paragraph shall not apply to the estates of decedents \n dying after December 31, 2008.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply to estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after December 31, \n2008.\n\nSEC. 6. RESTORATION OF UNIFIED CREDIT AGAINST GIFT TAX.\n\n (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 2505(a) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to general rule for unified credit \nagainst gift tax) is amended by striking ``(determined as if the \napplicable exclusion amount were $1,000,000)''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to estates of decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers, and \ngifts made, after December 31, 2008.\n\nSEC. 7. UNIFIED CREDIT INCREASED BY UNUSED UNIFIED CREDIT OF DECEASED \n SPOUSE.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 2010 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, \nas amended by section 2, is amended--\n (1) by striking the last sentence of paragraph (1),\n (2) by striking paragraph (2), and\n (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(2) Applicable exclusion amount.--For purposes of \n paragraph (1)--\n ``(A) In general.--The applicable exclusion amount \n is the sum of--\n ``(i) the basic exclusion amount, and\n ``(ii) in the case of a surviving spouse, \n the aggregate deceased spousal unused exclusion \n amount.\n ``(B) Basic exclusion amount.--\n ``(i) In general.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (A), the basic exclusion amount is \n $2,000,000.\n ``(ii) Inflation adjustment.--In the case \n of any decedent dying in a calendar year after \n 2008, the $2,000,000 amount in clause (i) shall \n be increased by an amount equal to--\n ``(I) such dollar amount, \n multiplied by\n ``(II) the cost-of-living \n adjustment determined under section \n 1(f)(3) for such calendar year by \n substituting `calendar year 2007' for \n `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph \n (B) thereof.\n If any amount as adjusted under the preceding \n sentence is not a multiple of $100,000, such \n amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple \n of $100,000.\n ``(C) Aggregate deceased spousal unused exclusion \n amount.--For purposes of this subsection--\n ``(i) Aggregate deceased spousal unused \n exclusion amount.--The term `aggregate deceased \n spousal unused exclusion amount' means the \n lesser of--\n ``(I) the basic exclusion amount, \n or\n ``(II) the sum of the deceased \n spousal unused exclusion amounts of the \n surviving spouse.\n ``(ii) Deceased spousal unused exclusion \n amount.--For purposes of subsection (A), the \n term `deceased spousal unused exclusion amount' \n means, with respect to the surviving spouse of \n any deceased spouse dying after December 31, \n 2008, the excess (if any) of--\n ``(I) the applicable exclusion \n amount of the deceased spouse, over\n ``(II) the amount with respect to \n which the tentative tax is determined \n under section 2001(b)(1) on the estate \n of such deceased spouse.\n ``(iii) Special rules.--\n ``(I) Election required.--A \n deceased spousal unused exclusion \n amount may not be taken into account by \n a surviving spouse under this paragraph \n unless the executor of the estate of \n the deceased spouse files an estate tax \n return on which such amount is computed \n and makes an election on such return \n that such amount may be so taken into \n account. Such election, once made, \n shall be irrevocable. No election may \n be made under this clause if such \n return is filed after the time \n prescribed by law (including \n extensions) for filing such return.\n ``(II) Examination of prior returns \n after expiration of period of \n limitations with respect to deceased \n spousal unused exclusion amount.--\n Notwithstanding any period of \n limitation in section 6501, after the \n time has expired under section 6501 \n within which a tax may be assessed \n under chapter 11 or 12 with respect to \n a deceased spousal unused exclusion \n amount, the Secretary may examine a \n return of the deceased spouse to make \n determinations with respect to such \n amount for purposes of carrying out \n this subsection.\n ``(D) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe \n such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to \n carry out this subsection.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (1) of section 2505(a) of such Code, as \n amended by section 5, is amended to read as follows:\n ``(1) the applicable credit amount under section 2010(c) \n which would apply if the donor died as of the end of the \n calendar year, reduced by''.\n (2) Section 2631(c) of such Code is amended by striking \n ``the applicable exclusion amount'' and inserting ``the basic \n exclusion amount''.\n (3) Section 6018(a)(1) of such Code is amended by striking \n ``applicable exclusion amount'' and inserting ``basic exclusion \n amount''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to estates of decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers, and \ngifts made, after December 31, 2008.", "summary": "Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2008 - Repeals provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Reconciliation Act of 2001 relating to the estate and gift tax.\n\nAmends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an estate tax exclusion of $2 million adjusted for inflation in calendar years after 2008; (2) revise the estate tax rates for larger estates; (3) restore the estate tax credit for state estate, inheritance, legacy, or succession taxes; (4) restore the unified credit against the gift tax; and (5) allow a surviving spouse an increase in the unified estate tax credit by the amount of any unused credit of a deceased spouse.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the estate and gift tax."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2814, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES IN ACT.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Health Care Fraud \nand Abuse Advisory Opinion Act of 1994''.\n (b) References in Act.--Except as otherwise specifically provided, \nwhenever an amendment herein is expressed in terms of an amendment to, \nor repeal of a section or other provision, the reference shall be \nconsidered to be made to that section or other provision of the Social \nSecurity Act.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO ISSUE \n ADVISORY OPINIONS UNDER TITLE XI.\n\n (a) Authorization.--Title XI, section 1128 (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7) is \namended by the addition of the following new paragraph:\n ``(j) The Secretary shall issue advisory opinions as provided in \nthis section.\n ``(1) Matters subject to advisory opinions.--The Secretary \n shall issue advisory opinions as to the following matters:\n ``(i) What constitutes prohibited remuneration \n within the meaning of section 1320a-7b(b) of title 42, \n United States Code.\n ``(ii) Whether an arrangement or proposed \n arrangement satisfies the criteria set forth in section \n 1320a-7b(b)(3) of title 42, United States Code as \n amended for activities which do not result in \n prohibited remuneration.\n ``(iii) Whether an arrangement or proposed \n arrangement satisfies the criteria which the Secretary \n has established, or shall establish by regulation for \n activities which do not result in prohibited \n remuneration.\n ``(iv) What constitutes an inducement to reduce or \n limit services to individuals entitled to benefits \n under part A or part B of title XVIII or title XIX \n within the meaning of section 1320a-7a(b) of title 42, \n United States Code.\n ``(v) Whether an arrangement, activity or proposed \n arrangement or proposed activity violates any other \n provision of the Act.\n ``(2) Matters not subject to advisory opinions.--Such \n advisory opinions shall not address the following matters:\n ``(i) Whether the fair market value shall be, or \n was paid or received for any goods, services or \n property.\n ``(ii) Whether an individual is a bona fide \n employee within the requirements of section 3121(d)(2) \n of title 26, United States Code.\n ``(3) Effect of advisory opinions.--\n ``(i) Each advisory opinion issued by the Secretary \n shall be binding as to the Secretary and the party or \n parties requesting the opinion.\n ``(ii) The failure of a party to seek an advisory \n opinion may not be introduced into evidence to prove \n that the party intended to violate the provisions of \n sections 1320a-7, 1320a-7(a), or 1320a-7(b) of title \n 42, United States Code.\n ``(4) Regulations.--The Secretary within one hundred and \n eighty days of the date of enactment, shall issue regulations \n establishing a system for the issuance of advisory opinions. \n Such regulations shall provide for--\n ``(i) the procedure to be followed by a party \n applying for an advisory opinion;\n ``(ii) the procedure to be followed by the \n Secretary in responding to a request for an advisory \n opinion;\n ``(iii) the interval in which the Secretary shall \n respond;\n ``(iv) the reasonable fee to be charged to the \n party requesting an advisory opinion; and\n ``(v) the manner in which advisory opinions will be \n made available to the public.\n ``(5) Interval for issuance of advisory opinions.--Under no \n circumstances shall the interval in which the Secretary shall \n respond to a party requesting an advisory opinion exceed 30 \n days.''.\n\nSEC. 3. AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO ISSUE \n ADVISORY OPINIONS UNDER TITLE XVIII.\n\n (a) Authorization.--Title XVIII, section 1877 (42 U.S.C. 1395nn) is \namended by the addition of the following new paragraph:\n ``(i)(1) Advisory Opinions.--The Secretary shall issue advisory \nopinions on whether an arrangement or proposed arrangement will result \nin a prohibited referral within the meaning of section 1395nn of title \n42, United States Code, as amended.\n ``(2) Effect of Advisory Opinions.--\n ``(i) Each advisory opinion issued by the Secretary shall \n be binding as to the Secretary and the party or parties \n requesting the opinion.\n ``(ii) The failure of a party to seek an advisory opinion \n may not be introduced into evidence to prove that the party \n intended to violate the provisions of section 1395nn of title \n 42, United States Code.\n ``(3) Regulations.--The Secretary within one hundred and eighty \ndays of the date of enactment, shall issue regulations establishing a \nsystem for the issuance of advisory opinions. Such regulations shall \nprovide for--\n ``(i) the procedure to be followed by a party applying for \n an advisory opinion;\n ``(ii) the procedure to be followed by the Secretary in \n responding to a request for an advisory opinion;\n ``(iii) the interval in which the Secretary shall respond;\n ``(iv) the reasonable fee to be charged to the party \n requesting an advisory opinion; and\n ``(v) the manner in which advisory opinions will be made \n available to the public.\n ``(4) Interval for Issuance of Advisory Opinions.--Under no \ncircumstances shall the interval in which the Secretary shall respond \nto a party requesting an advisory opinion exceed thirty days.''.\n\nSEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n Unless otherwise specified herein, the Health Care Fraud and Abuse \nAdvisory Opinion Act of 1994 shall be effective upon enactment.", "summary": "Health Care Fraud and Abuse Advisory Opinion Act of 1994 - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) to give the Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to issue binding advisory opinions addressing certain matters, such as what constitutes prohibited remuneration or an inducement to reduce or limit Medicare or Medicaid services, and whether an arrangement or activity, actual or proposed, violates any other SSA provisions. \nAmends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to give the Secretary the authority to issue binding advisory opinions on whether an arrangement or proposed arrangement will result in a prohibited physician referral. \nRequires the Secretary to issue regulations establishing systems for the issuance of the advisory opinions above.", "title": "Health Care Fraud and Abuse Advisory Opinion Act of 1994"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2094, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Making Education Affordable Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. CREDIT-BASED ACADEMIC TRANSITION PROGRAMS.\n\n Part B of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n1138 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating section 745 as section 746;\n (2) in section 746, as redesignated by paragraph (1), by \n striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and inserting ``fiscal year \n 2018''; and\n (3) by inserting after section 744 the following:\n\n``SEC. 745. CREDIT-BASED ACADEMIC TRANSITION PROGRAMS.\n\n ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to expand access for \nhigh school students to the opportunities offered in credit-based \nacademic transition programs established through partnerships between \nhigh schools and institutions of higher education utilizing dual or \nconcurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs \nthat enable such students to earn college credits while in high school.\n ``(b) Eligible Institution.--In this section, the term `eligible \ninstitution' means an institution of higher education that carries out \na dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school \nprogram that enables high school students to earn college credits while \nin high school.\n ``(c) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary may award grants to \neligible institutions to carry out credit-based academic transition \nprograms described in subsection (a).\n ``(d) Application.--An eligible institution that desires to receive \na grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application \nat such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the \nSecretary may require.\n ``(e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the \nSecretary shall give priority to eligible institutions that serve \nstudents from low-income families, students from rural communities, or \nstudents who are the first in their family to receive postsecondary \neducation.\n ``(f) Use of Funds.--An eligible institution that receives a grant \nunder this section shall use the grant funds--\n ``(1) to carry out a dual or concurrent enrollment program \n or an early college high school program for high school \n students, through which such students while enrolled in high \n school are enrolled in postsecondary courses at the eligible \n institution, through which such students can earn college \n credits that can be transferred to 2-year and 4-year \n institutions of higher education in the State;\n ``(2) to provide teachers, principals, and other school \n leaders with professional development activities that enhance \n or enable the provision of postsecondary coursework through a \n dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high \n school program; and\n ``(3) to support activities such as--\n ``(A) designing the curriculum and sequence of \n courses in collaboration with teachers from the local \n educational agency and faculty from the eligible \n institution;\n ``(B) establishing a course articulation process \n for defining and approving courses for high school and \n postsecondary credit or credentials for both 2-year and \n 4-year institutions of higher education in the State;\n ``(C) outreach programs to provide elementary \n school and secondary school students, especially those \n in middle grades, and their parents, teachers, school \n counselors, and principals information about and \n academic preparation for the credit-based academic \n transition programs described in subsection (a);\n ``(D) helping students meet eligibility criteria \n for postsecondary courses and ensuring that students \n understand how credits earned will transfer to \n institutions of higher education in the State; and\n ``(E) coordinating secondary and postsecondary \n support services and academic calendars.\n ``(g) Flexibility of Funds.--An eligible institution that receives \na grant under this section may use grant funds for any of the costs \nassociated with carrying out credit-based academic transition programs \ndescribed in subsection (a), including the costs of--\n ``(1) tuition and fees, books, and required instructional \n materials for such program so that students will not be \n required to pay tuition or fees for postsecondary courses; and\n ``(2) transportation to and from such program.\n ``(h) Evaluation and Report.--Each eligible institution receiving a \ngrant under this section shall--\n ``(1) conduct an independent evaluation of the \n effectiveness of the activities carried out by such eligible \n institution under this section; and\n ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary a report \n containing the results of the evaluation described in paragraph \n (1).\n ``(i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be \nconstrued to impose on any State or public institution of higher \neducation any requirement or rule regarding credit-based academic \ntransition programs described in subsection (a) that is inconsistent \nwith State law.''.", "summary": "Making Education Affordable Act This bill amends title VII (Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize through FY2018 the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program. The bill also authorizes new grants under the FIPSE program. Specifically, the Department of Education may award grants to institutions of higher education for dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs that allow high school students to earn college credits.", "title": "Making Education Affordable Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1543, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Access for Afghan Women Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Despite the removal of the Taliban from power, Afghan \n women continue to experience brutal violation of their human \n rights, generally outside of Kabul where warlords are \n reexerting control.\n (2) Strong and continued United States support can ensure \n that the advances made by Afghan women since the fall of the \n Taliban will continue and grow, rather than recede.\n (3) The United States has made a substantial contribution \n to the emergency relief and humanitarian efforts for \n Afghanistan. Completing the United States mission in \n Afghanistan will also require significant and long-term \n investments in development and reconstruction assistance.\n (4) The maternal mortality rate in Afghanistan is one of \n the highest in the world, with recent reports estimating that \n every 30 minutes an Afghan women dies (about 15,000 women every \n year) of pregnancy related causes. The estimated maternal \n mortality rate of 1,700 deaths per 100,000 live births can be \n significantly and rapidly reduced through access to primary \n health care services, including safe birthing supplies, \n emergency obstetric care, prenatal and postnatal care, \n contraception, and prevention and treatment for the effects of \n sexual coercion and rape.\n (5) Women make up 75 percent or more of the refugees and \n internally displaced in camps, urban areas, and villages.\n (6) Eighty-five percent of Afghanistan's population lives \n in rural areas. The women in rural areas perform vital roles in \n food production, processing, and preparation. Successful \n reconstruction and development assistance must target rural \n women as part of any agricultural interventions.\n (7) Within Afghanistan and outside of Afghanistan, local \n women's organizations are delivering critical services and have \n the knowledge and experience to assist the United States in \n delivering effective relief aid.\n (8) The Afghan Ministry for Women's Affairs is an important \n new ministry that is essential for re-establishing women's \n human rights, ensuring that women are included in all \n development efforts, and delivering critical legal, health, \n education, and economic services to women throughout \n Afghanistan's 30 provinces.\n (9) Afghan women are taking the initiative to reach across \n the conflict divide and foster peace. Women's perspectives and \n experiences in seeking solutions to conflicts are necessary to \n ensure lasting peace.\n (10) Adequate security in both urban and rural areas is \n essential if women and girls are to exercise their human \n rights, work, attend school, and otherwise participate in and \n benefit from humanitarian and development programs sponsored by \n the United States.\n\nSEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO UNITED STATES ACTIVITIES IN \n AFGHANISTAN.\n\n (a) In General.--Activities described in subsections (b) through \n(e) that are carried out by the United States in Afghanistan shall \ncomply with the applicable requirements contained in such subsections.\n (b) Governance of Afghanistan.--With respect to the governance of \nAfghanistan, the applicable requirements are the following:\n (1) Include the perspectives and advice of Afghan women's \n organizations, networks, and leaders in United States \n policymaking related to the governance of Afghanistan.\n (2) Promote the inclusion of a significant number of women \n in the Loya Jirga and future legislative bodies to ensure that \n women's full range of human rights are included and upheld in \n any constitution or legal structures of Afghanistan.\n (3) Promote the continuation and strengthening of the \n Ministry for Women's Affairs as the Afghan Government \n transitions to a long-term government structure, and encourage \n the appointment of women to high level positions within Afghan \n ministries.\n (c) Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development.--With respect to \nactivities relating to post-conflict stability in Afghanistan, the \napplicable requirements are the following:\n (1) Ensure that a significant portion of United States \n development, humanitarian, and relief assistance is channeled \n to local and United States-based Afghan organizations, \n particularly Afghan women's organizations. Provide technical \n assistance, training, and capacity-building for local \n organizations to ensure that United States funded efforts will \n be both effective and sustainable.\n (2) Encourage United States organizations that receive \n funds authorized by this Act to partner with or create Afghan-\n led counterpart organizations and provide these organizations \n with significant financial resources, technical assistance, and \n capacity building.\n (3) Provide direct financial and programmatic assistance to \n the Ministry of Women's Affairs adequate to ensure that the \n Ministry is able to fulfill its mandate.\n (4) Promote multiyear women-centered economic development \n programs, including programs to assist widows, female heads of \n household, women in rural areas, and disabled women.\n (5) Increase women's access to or ownership of productive \n assets such as land, water, agricultural inputs, credit, and \n property.\n (6) Provide long-term financial assistance for primary, \n secondary, higher, nontraditional, and vocational education for \n Afghan girls, women, boys, and men.\n (7) Provide financial assistance to build the health \n infrastructure and to deliver high-quality comprehensive health \n care programs, including primary, maternal, child, \n reproductive, and mental health care.\n (8) Integrate education and training programs for former \n combatants with economic development programs to encourage \n their reintegration into society and to promote post-conflict \n stability.\n (9) Provide assistance to rehabilitate children affected by \n the conflict, particularly child soldiers.\n (10) Support educational efforts to increase awareness with \n respect to landmines, facilitate the removal of landmines, and \n provide services to individuals with disabilities caused by \n landmines.\n (11) Include programs to prevent trafficking in persons, \n assist victims, and apprehend and prosecute traffickers in \n persons.\n (d) Afghan Military and Police.--With respect to training for \nmilitary and police forces in Afghanistan, the applicable requirements \nare the following:\n (1) Include training on the protection, rights, and the \n particular needs of women and emphasize that violations of \n women's rights are intolerable and should be prosecuted.\n (2) Encourage such trainers who will carry out the \n activities in paragraph (1) to consult with women's \n organizations in Afghanistan to ensure that training content \n and materials are adequate, appropriate, and comprehensive.\n (e) Relief, Resettlement, and Repatriation of Refugees and the \nInternally Displaced.--With respect to the relief, resettlement, and \nrepatriation of refugees and internally displaced in Afghanistan, the \napplicable requirements are the following:\n (1) Take all necessary steps to ensure that women refugees \n and internally displaced in camps, urban areas, and villages \n are directly receiving food aid, shelter, relief supplies, and \n other services from United States-sponsored programs.\n (2) Take all necessary steps to ensure that women refugees \n in camps, urban areas, and villages are accessing high-quality \n health and medical services, including primary, maternal, \n child, and mental health services.\n (3) Take all necessary steps to ensure that women and \n children in refugee camps are protected from sexual \n exploitation.\n (4) Take all necessary steps to ensure refugees and \n internally displaced persons that seek to return to their place \n of origin can do so voluntarily, safely, and with the full \n protection of their rights. United States-sponsored efforts \n shall not coerce refugees or internally displaced persons to \n return to their places of origin.\n\nSEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.\n\n Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and \nannually thereafter, the President shall prepare and transmit to \nCongress a report that contains documentation of the progress in \nimplementing the requirements of section 3. All data shall be \ndisaggregated by sex.", "summary": "Access for Afghan Women Act - Directs the United States to undertake a variety of measures to guard and enhance the quality of life of Afghan women, including: (1) incorporating the perspectives and advice of Afghan women's organizations and leaders in U.S. policymaking related to the governance of Afghanistan; (2) promoting the inclusion of a significant number of women in the Loya Jirga and future legislative bodies to ensure that women's human rights are included in any constitution for Afghanistan; (3) ensuring a significant portion of U.S. assistance is channeled to local and U.S.-based Afghan organizations, particularly Afghan women's organizations, and to high-quality comprehensive health care programs and education and training programs in Afghanistan; (4) training on the protection, rights, and the particular needs of women with respect to training for military and police forces in Afghanistan; and (5) ensuring that women refugees and those internally displaced in camps, urban areas, and villages are receiving food aid, health and medical services, and are free from sexual exploitation.", "title": "A bill to require that activities carried out by the United States in Afghanistan relating to governance, reconstruction and development, and refugee relief and assistance will support the basic human rights of women and women's participation and leadership in these areas."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 468, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Eliminating \nImproper and Abusive IRS Audits Act of 2014''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\nSec. 2. Civil damages allowed for reckless or intentional disregard of \n internal revenue laws.\nSec. 3. Modifications relating to certain offenses by officers and \n employees in connection with revenue laws.\nSec. 4. Modifications relating to civil damages for unauthorized \n inspection or disclosure of returns and \n return information.\nSec. 5. Extension of time for contesting IRS levy.\nSec. 6. Increase in monetary penalties for certain unauthorized \n disclosures of information.\nSec. 7. Ban on raising new issues on appeal.\nSec. 8. Limitation on enforcement of liens against principal \n residences.\nSec. 9. Additional provisions relating to mandatory termination for \n misconduct.\nSec. 10. Extension of declaratory judgment procedures to social welfare \n organizations.\nSec. 11. Review by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax \n Administration.\n\nSEC. 2. CIVIL DAMAGES ALLOWED FOR RECKLESS OR INTENTIONAL DISREGARD OF \n INTERNAL REVENUE LAWS.\n\n (a) Increase in Amount of Damages.--Section 7433(b) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``$1,000,000 ($100,000, in \nthe case of negligence)'' and inserting ``$3,000,000 ($300,000, in the \ncase of negligence)''.\n (b) Extension of Time To Bring Action.--Section 7433(d)(3) of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``2 years'' and \ninserting ``5 years''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to actions of employees of the Internal Revenue Service after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. MODIFICATIONS RELATING TO CERTAIN OFFENSES BY OFFICERS AND \n EMPLOYEES IN CONNECTION WITH REVENUE LAWS.\n\n (a) Increase in Penalty.--Section 7214 of the Internal Revenue Code \nof 1986 is amended--\n (1) by striking ``$10,000'' in subsection (a) and inserting \n ``$25,000'', and\n (2) by striking ``$5,000'' in subsection (b) and inserting \n ``$10,000''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect on the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. MODIFICATIONS RELATING TO CIVIL DAMAGES FOR UNAUTHORIZED \n INSPECTION OR DISCLOSURE OF RETURNS AND RETURN \n INFORMATION.\n\n (a) Increase in Amount of Damages.--Subparagraph (A) of section \n7431(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking \n``$1,000'' and inserting ``$10,000''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto inspections and disclosure occurring on and after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 5. EXTENSION OF TIME FOR CONTESTING IRS LEVY.\n\n (a) Extension of Time for Return of Property Subject to Levy.--\nSubsection (b) of section 6343 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is \namended by striking ``9 months'' and inserting ``3 years''.\n (b) Period of Limitation on Suits.--Subsection (c) of section 6532 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``9 months'' and inserting \n ``3 years'', and\n (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``9-month'' and inserting \n ``3-year''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to--\n (1) levies made after the date of the enactment of this \n Act, and\n (2) levies made on or before such date if the 9-month \n period has not expired under section 6343(b) of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986 (without regard to this section) as of \n such date.\n\nSEC. 6. INCREASE IN MONETARY PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN UNAUTHORIZED \n DISCLOSURES OF INFORMATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of section \n7213(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are each amended by \nstriking ``$5,000'' and inserting ``$10,000''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to disclosures made after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 7. BAN ON RAISING NEW ISSUES ON APPEAL.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 77 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is \namended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 7529. PROHIBITION ON INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE RAISING NEW ISSUES \n IN AN INTERNAL APPEAL.\n\n ``(a) In General.--In reviewing an appeal of any determination \ninitially made by the Internal Revenue Service, the Internal Revenue \nService Office of Appeals may not consider or decide any issue that is \nnot within the scope of the initial determination.\n ``(b) Certain Issues Deemed Outside of Scope of Determination.--For \npurposes of subsection (a), the following matters shall be considered \nto be not within the scope of a determination:\n ``(1) Any issue that was not raised in a notice of \n deficiency or an examiner's report which is the subject of the \n appeal.\n ``(2) Any deficiency in tax which was not included in the \n initial determination.\n ``(3) Any theory or justification for a tax deficiency \n which was not considered in the initial determination.\n ``(c) No Inference With Respect to Issues Raised by Taxpayers.--\nNothing in this section shall be construed to provide any limitation in \naddition to any limitations in effect on the date of the enactment of \nthis section on the right of a taxpayer to raise an issue, theory, or \njustification on an appeal from a determination initially made by the \nInternal Revenue Service that was not within the scope of the initial \ndetermination.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 77 of \nsuch Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 7529. Prohibition on Internal Revenue Service raising new issues \n in an internal appeal.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to matters filed or pending with the Internal Revenue Service \nOffice of Appeals on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 8. LIMITATION ON ENFORCEMENT OF LIENS AGAINST PRINCIPAL \n RESIDENCES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 7403(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n1986 is amended--\n (1) by striking ``In any case'' and inserting the \n following:\n ``(1) In general.--In any case'', and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(2) Limitation with respect to principal residence.--\n ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to \n any property used as the principal residence of the \n taxpayer (within the meaning of section 121) unless the \n Secretary of the Treasury makes a written determination \n that--\n ``(i) all other property of the taxpayer, \n if sold, is insufficient to pay the tax or \n discharge the liability, and\n ``(ii) such action will not create an \n economic hardship for the taxpayer.\n ``(B) Delegation.--For purposes of this paragraph, \n the Secretary of the Treasury may not delegate any \n responsibilities under subparagraph (A) to any person \n other than--\n ``(i) the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, \n or\n ``(ii) a district director or assistant \n district director of the Internal Revenue \n Service.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to actions filed after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 9. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO MANDATORY TERMINATION FOR \n MISCONDUCT.\n\n (a) Termination of Unemployment for Inappropriate Review of Tax-\nExempt Status.--Section 1203(b) of the Internal Revenue Service \nRestructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (26 U.S.C. 7804 note) is amended \nby striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (9), by striking the period \nat the end of paragraph (10) and inserting ``; and'', and by adding at \nthe end the following new paragraph:\n ``(11) in the case of any review of an application for tax-\n exempt status by an organization described in section 501(c) of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, developing or using any \n methodology that applies disproportionate scrutiny to any \n applicant based on the ideology expressed in the name or \n purpose of the organization.''.\n (b) Mandatory Unpaid Administrative Leave for Misconduct.--\nParagraph (1) of Section 1203(c) of the Internal Revenue Service \nRestructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (26 U.S.C. 7804 note) is amended \nby adding at the end the following new sentence: ``Notwithstanding the \npreceding sentence, if the Commissioner of Internal Revenue takes a \npersonnel action other than termination for an act or omission \ndescribed in subsection (b), the Commissioner shall place the employee \non unpaid administrative leave for a period of not less than 30 \ndays.''.\n (c) Limitation on Alternative Punishment.--Paragraph (1) of section \n1203(c) of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of \n1998 (26 U.S.C. 7804 note) is amended by striking ``The Commissioner'' \nand inserting ``Except in the case of an act or omission described in \nsubsection (b)(3)(A), the Commissioner''.\n\nSEC. 10. EXTENSION OF DECLARATORY JUDGMENT PROCEDURES TO SOCIAL WELFARE \n ORGANIZATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 7428(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n1986 is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (C) and \nby adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(E) with respect to the initial classification or \n continuing classification of an organization described \n in section 501(c)(4) which is exempt from tax under \n section 501(a), or''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply with respect to pleading filed after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n\nSEC. 11. REVIEW BY THE TREASURY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR TAX \n ADMINISTRATION.\n\n (a) Review.--Subsection (k)(1) of section 8D of the Inspector \nGeneral Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;\n (2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);\n (3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(D) shall--\n ``(i) review any criteria employed by the \n Internal Revenue Service to select tax returns \n (including applications for recognition of tax-\n exempt status) for examination or audit, \n assessment or collection of deficiencies, \n criminal investigation or referral, refunds for \n amounts paid, or any heightened scrutiny or \n review in order to determine whether the \n criteria discriminates against taxpayers on the \n basis of race, religion, or political ideology; \n and\n ``(ii) consult with the Internal Revenue \n Service on recommended amendments to such \n criteria in order to eliminate any \n discrimination identified pursuant to the \n review described in clause (i); and''; and\n (4) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by striking \n ``and (C)'' and inserting ``(C), and (D)''.\n (b) Semiannual Report.--Subsection (g) of such section is amended \nby adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(3) Any semiannual report made by the Treasury Inspector \n General for Tax Administration that is required pursuant to \n section 5(a) shall include--\n ``(A) a statement affirming that the Treasury \n Inspector General for Tax Administration has reviewed \n the criteria described in subsection (k)(1)(D) and \n consulted with the Internal Revenue Service regarding \n such criteria; and\n ``(B) a description and explanation of any such \n criteria that was identified as discriminatory by the \n Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.''.", "summary": "Eliminating Improper and Abusive IRS Audits Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the maximum amount of civil damages for which Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officers or employees shall be liable for reckless, intentional, or negligent disregard of internal revenue laws and extend the period for bringing a claim for such damages; (2) increase the penalties against federal officers and employees for violations of internal revenue laws and for unauthorized inspection or disclosure of tax returns and return information; (3) extend the period in which taxpayer property that has been wrongfully levied upon may be returned and the period for bringing suit for a wrongful tax levy; (4) increase civil fines for unauthorized disclosures of tax return information; (5) prohibit the consideration by the IRS Office of Appeal on appeal of any issue that was not within the scope of the initial determination; (6) prohibit a tax lien against a taxpayer's principal residence unless a written determination is made that all other property of the taxpayer, if sold, is insufficient to pay the tax liability and the lien will not create an economic hardship for the taxpayer; (7) require the termination of an IRS employee for disproportionate scrutiny of an organization applying for tax-exempt status based on the ideology expressed in the name or purpose of the organization; (8) allow a declaratory judgment with respect to the initial or continuing classification of a tax-exempt social welfare organization; and (9) require the Inspector General for Tax Administration of the Department of the Treasury to review any IRS criteria for selection of tax returns for examination or audit, assessment or collection of deficiencies, criminal investigation or referral, refunds for amounts paid, or any heightened scrutiny or review to determine whether such criteria discriminates against taxpayers on the basis of race, religion, or political ideology and to consult with the IRS on recommended amendments to such criteria. ", "title": "Eliminating Improper and Abusive IRS Audits Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2452, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Outer Continental Shelf Royalty \nReform and Enhancement Act of 2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Gulf producing state.--The term ``Gulf producing \n State'' means each of the States of Alabama, Louisiana, \n Mississippi, and Texas.\n (2) Qualified outer continental shelf revenues.--\n (A) In general.--The term ``qualified outer \n Continental Shelf revenues'' means all rentals, \n royalties, bonus bids, and other sums due and payable \n to the United States under section 5.\n (B) Exclusions.--The term ``qualified outer \n Continental Shelf revenues'' does not include--\n (i) revenues from the forfeiture of a bond \n or other surety securing obligations other than \n royalties, civil penalties, or royalties taken \n by the Secretary in-kind and not sold; or\n (ii) revenues generated from leases subject \n to section 8(g) of the Outer Continental Shelf \n Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(g)).\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n\nSEC. 3. PRICE THRESHOLD REQUIREMENT FOR FUTURE LEASES.\n\n Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall \nplace limitations based on market price on the royalty relief granted \nunder any lease for the production of oil or natural gas entered into \non or after the date of enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE PRICE THRESHOLDS FOR \n CERTAIN LEASE SALES.\n\n Congress reaffirms the authority of the Secretary under section \n8(a)(1)(H) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. \n1337(a)(1)(H)) to vary, based on the price of production from a lease, \nthe suspension of royalties under any lease subject to section 304 of \nthe Outer Continental Shelf Deep Water Royalty Relief Act (43 U.S.C. \n1337 note; Public Law 104-58).\n\nSEC. 5. RECOVERY OF REVENUE FROM LEASES WITHOUT PRICE THRESHOLDS.\n\n (a) Offer To Amend Payment Responsibilities.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall offer to enter into \n written agreements to amend the payment responsibilities under \n each lease entered into by the Secretary that--\n (A) authorizes the production of oil or natural gas \n on the Outer Continental Shelf;\n (B) provides for relief from the payment of \n royalties; and\n (C) does not provide for the suspension of the \n relief based on an increase in the price of oil or \n natural gas, respectively, above specified thresholds.\n (2) Offers.--Not later than 30 days after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide each lessee \n that has entered into a lease described in paragraph (1) with a \n separate written offer to amend the payment responsibilities of \n the lessee under the lease.\n (3) Multiple lessees.--In carrying out this subsection, if \n multiple persons own a share of the lease, the Secretary may \n enter into a separate agreement with each person that reflects \n the respective interest of the person in the lease.\n (4) Price thresholds.--The offer shall propose imposing \n price thresholds beginning in the calendar year in which the \n offer is accepted at a level that is consistent with the price \n thresholds contained in outer Continental Shelf leases that \n contained price thresholds that were entered into for calendar \n years 1996, 1997, and 2000.\n (b) Increased Royalty Rates.--In addition to the authority provided \nunder subsection (a), the Secretary may increase the royalty rate on \nall leases entered into by the Secretary on or after the date of \nenactment of this Act for the production of oil or natural gas on the \nouter Continental Shelf to a rate that is necessary to recover the \nrevenues lost from leases described in subsection (a)(1) in an amount \nthat (in conjunction with written agreements entered into under \nsubsection (a)) is sufficient to recover $12,000,000,000 during the \nperiod of fiscal years 2007 through 2018.\n\nSEC. 6. DISPOSITION OF RECOVERED QUALIFIED OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF \n REVENUES.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 9 of the Outer Continental \nShelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1338) and subject to the other provisions of \nthis section, for each applicable fiscal year, the Secretary of the \nTreasury shall deposit--\n (1) 50 percent of qualified outer Continental Shelf \n revenues in a special account in the Treasury, to be disbursed \n to Gulf producing States by the Secretary in a manner \n consistent with section 31(b) of the Outer Continental Shelf \n Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356a(b)), as determined by the Secretary;\n (2) 12\\1/2\\ percent to provide financial assistance to \n States in accordance with section 6 of the Land and Water \n Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-8), which shall \n be considered income to the Land and Water Conservation Fund \n for purposes of section 2 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 460l-5); and\n (3) 37\\1/2\\ percent of qualified outer Continental Shelf \n revenues in the general fund of the Treasury, to be used for \n deficit reduction.\n (b) Timing.--The amounts required to be deposited under paragraphs \n(1) and (2) of subsection (a) for the applicable fiscal year shall be \nmade available in accordance with that paragraph during the fiscal year \nimmediately following the applicable fiscal year.\n (c) Administration.--Amounts made available under paragraphs (1) \nand (2) of subsection (a) shall--\n (1) be made available, without further appropriation, in \n accordance with this section;\n (2) remain available until expended; and\n (3) be in addition to any amounts appropriated under--\n (A) the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 \n U.S.C. 1331 et seq.);\n (B) the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of \n 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-4 et seq.); or\n (C) any other provision of law.\n\nSEC. 7. FEDERAL GUARANTEE OF STATE BOND.\n\n The Secretary shall guarantee the repayment of a bond issued by the \nState of Louisiana for constructing and carrying out coastal wetland \nrestoration projects and related storm protection infrastructure (to be \nrepaid using qualified outer Continental Shelf revenues received by the \nState for fiscal years 2017 through 2027) in an amount equal to 100 \npercent of the outstanding principal of the bond, on a determination by \nthe Secretary that--\n (1) the amount of the bond does not exceed 80 percent of \n the estimated amount of qualified outer Continental Shelf \n revenues the State will receive for fiscal years 2017 through \n 2027;\n (2) the funds will be used in accordance with a plan \n submitted by the State; and\n (3) the bond is in a registered form and contains \n appropriate legal guarantees for repayment using qualified \n Outer Continental shelf revenues for fiscal years 2017 through \n 2027.", "summary": "Outer Continental Shelf Royalty Reform and Enhancement Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to place limitations based on market price on the royalty relief granted under any lease for the production of oil or natural gas entered into on or after enactment of this Act.\n\nDeclares that Congress reaffirms the authority of the Secretary to vary, based on the price of production from a lease, the suspension of royalties under any lease subject to specified requirements of the Outer Continental Shelf Deep Water Royalty Relief Act.\n\nInstructs the Secretary to offer to enter into written agreements to amend the payment responsibilities under each lease that: (1) authorizes the production of oil or natural gas on the Outer Continental Shelf; (2) provides for relief from the payment of royalties; and (3) does not provide for suspension of royalty relief based on an increase in the price of oil or natural gas, respectively, above specified thresholds.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary to increase royalty rates on leases for oil or natural gas production on the Outer Continental Shelf.\n\nRequires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit certain percentages of Outer Continental Shelf revenues for: (1) disbursement to Gulf producing states; (2) financial assistance to states for land and water conservation as well as outdoor recreation purposes; and (3) deficit reduction.\n\nRequires the Secretary of the Interior to guarantee the repayment of 100% of the outstanding principal of a bond issued by the state of Louisiana for coastal wetland restoration projects and related storm protection infrastructure.", "title": "A bill to promote the recovery of oil and gas revenues on the Outer Continental Shelf, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 222, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Expand School Meals Act of 2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. FREE LUNCH ELIGIBILITY.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 9(b)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National \nSchool Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(1)) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D);\n (2) by striking ``(b)(1)(A) Not'' and inserting the \n following:\n ``(b) Income Eligibility Guidelines.--\n ``(1) Establishment.--\n ``(A) In general.--Not'';\n (3) in subparagraph (A)--\n (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``and \n reduced price'';\n (B) by striking ``The income guidelines for \n determining eligibility for free lunches shall be 130 \n percent'' and inserting the following:\n ``(B) Free lunches.--The income guidelines for \n determining eligibility for free lunches shall be 185 \n percent.'';\n (C) by striking the third sentence; and\n (D) by striking ``The Office'' and inserting the \n following:\n ``(C) Frequency of revisions.--The Office''; and\n (4) in subparagraph (D) (as redesignated by paragraph \n (1))--\n (A) by striking ``(D) The'' and inserting the \n following:\n ``(D) Amount of revisions.--The''; and\n (B) by striking ``subparagraph (A) of this \n paragraph'' and inserting ``subparagraph (C)''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School \n Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended--\n (A) in subsection (b)--\n (i) by striking ``free and reduced price'' \n each place it appears (other than paragraph \n (7)) and inserting ``free'';\n (ii) by striking ``free or reduced price'' \n each place it appears and inserting ``free'';\n (iii) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking \n ``, and shall contain'' and all that follows \n through ``or reduced price lunches'';\n (iv) in paragraph (3)--\n (I) in subparagraph (E)(iii), by \n striking ``free or reduced-price'' each \n place it appears and inserting \n ``free''; and\n (II) in subparagraph (F)--\n (aa) in clause (i), by \n striking ``Subject to clauses \n (ii) and (iii)'' and inserting \n ``Subject to clause (ii),'';\n (bb) in clause (ii)(II), by \n striking ``133 percent'' both \n places it appears in items (aa) \n and (bb) and inserting ``185 \n percent'';\n (cc) by striking clause \n (iii); and\n (dd) by redesignating \n clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses \n (iii) and (iv), respectively;\n (v) in paragraph (7)--\n (I) in the paragraph heading, by \n striking ``and reduced price'' and \n inserting ``meals'';\n (II) by striking ``and reduced \n price policy'' each place it appears \n and inserting ``meals policy''; and\n (III) in subparagraph (B), by \n striking ``and reduced price meals'' \n and inserting ``meals'';\n (vi) in paragraph (9)--\n (I) in the paragraph heading, by \n striking ``and reduced price'';\n (II) by striking subparagraph (B); \n and\n (III) by redesignating subparagraph \n (C) as subparagraph (B);\n (vii) in paragraph (10), by striking ``or a \n reduced price lunch''; and\n (viii) in paragraph (11), in the first \n sentence, by striking ``or reduced price \n lunches'';\n (B) in subsection (c), in the third sentence, by \n striking ``or at a reduced cost'';\n (C) in subsection (d), by striking ``or reduced \n price'' each place it appears; and\n (D) in subsection (e), by striking ``, reduced \n price,''.\n (2) Section 11 of the Richard B. Russell National School \n Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a) is amended--\n (A) in subsection (a)--\n (i) in paragraph (1)--\n (I) in subparagraph (A), by \n striking ``and the product obtained by \n multiplying'' and all that follows \n through ``for such fiscal year'';\n (II) in subparagraph (B)--\n (aa) by striking ``or \n reduced price lunches'' the \n first place it appears;\n (bb) by striking ``or \n reduced price lunches, as the \n case may be''; and\n (cc) by striking ``and \n reduced price lunches'';\n (III) in subparagraph (C)--\n (aa) in clause (ii), by \n striking ``or reduced price \n lunches or breakfasts'' each \n place it appears; and\n (bb) in clause (iii), by \n striking ``or reduced price''; \n and\n (IV) in subparagraph (D), by \n striking ``and reduced price lunches'' \n each place it appears in clauses (iii) \n and (iv);\n (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and \n the special assistance factor for reduced \n price'' and all that follows through ``free \n lunches''; and\n (iii) in paragraph (3)(B)(iii)(I), by \n striking ``or reduced price'';\n (B) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by \n striking ``and reduced price'';\n (C) in subsection (d), by striking ``and the \n average number of children who received reduced price \n lunches'' each place it appears paragraphs (1) and (2); \n and\n (D) in subsection (e)--\n (i) in the second sentence, by striking ``, \n and shall serve meals at a reduced price'' and \n all that follows through ``such section''; and\n (ii) in the third sentence, by striking \n ``or reduced priced''.\n (3) Section 12(l)(4) of the Richard B. Russell National \n School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(l)(4)) is amended--\n (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and reduced \n price'';\n (B) by striking subparagraph (D);\n (C) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``or reduced \n price''; and\n (D) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (M) \n as subparagraphs (D) through (L).\n (4) Section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School \n Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761) is amended--\n (A) in subsection (a)--\n (i) in paragraph (1)(C)--\n (I) by striking ``or reduced \n price''; and\n (II) by striking ``and reduced \n price''; and\n (ii) in paragraph (5), by striking ``or \n reduced price''; and\n (B) in subsection (f)(3), by striking ``or reduced \n price''.\n (5) Section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School \n Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766) is amended--\n (A) in subsection (a)(2)(B)(i), by striking ``or \n reduced price'';\n (B) in subsection (c)--\n (i) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``(as \n calculated on the day before the date of \n enactment of the Expand School Meals Act of \n 2009)'' after ``lunches, reduced price \n lunches'';\n (ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``(as \n calculated on the day before the date of \n enactment of the Expand School Meals Act of \n 2009)'' after ``breakfasts, reduced price \n breakfasts''; and\n (iii) by striking paragraph (4) and \n inserting the following:\n ``(4) Determinations.--\n ``(A) Free meals.--Determinations with regard to \n eligibility for free meals and supplements shall be \n made in accordance with the income eligibility \n guidelines for free lunches under section 9.\n ``(B) Reduced price meals.--Determinations with \n regard to eligibility for reduced price meals and \n supplements shall be made in accordance with the income \n eligibility guidelines for reduced price lunches under \n section 9, as in effect on the day before the date of \n enactment of the Expand School Meals Act of 2009.'';\n (C) in subsection (f)(3)--\n (i) by striking ``or reduced price'' each \n place it appears; and\n (ii) in subparagraph (A)(iii)(II)(aa), in \n the item heading, by striking ``or reduced \n price''; and\n (D) in subsection (r)(1)(B), by striking ``or \n reduced price''.\n (6) Section 17A(c)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National \n School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766a(c)(1)) is amended in the \n matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking ``or reduced \n price''.\n (7) Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School \n Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769) is amended by striking subsection \n (i).\n (8) Section 19 of the Richard B. Russell National School \n Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769a) is amended--\n (A) by striking ``or reduced price'' each place it \n appears; and\n (B) by striking ``and reduced price'' each place it \n appears.\n (9) Section 20(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School \n Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769b(b)) is amended by striking ``and \n reduced price''.\n (10) Section 21(a)(1)(B) of the Richard B. Russell National \n School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769b-1(a)(1)(B)) is amended--\n (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking \n ``or reduced price''; and\n (B) in clause (iii), by striking ``and reduced \n price''.\n (c) Transition Rules.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out \nthe amendments made by paragraphs (2) and (8) of subsection (b) in \naccordance with transition rules established by the Secretary.\n\nSEC. 3. FREE BREAKFAST ELIGIBILITY.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 \nU.S.C. 1733) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (b)--\n (A) in paragraph (1)--\n (i) in subparagraph (A)(i)(II)--\n (I) by striking ``, for reduced \n price breakfasts,''; and\n (II) by striking ``or reduced \n price'';\n (ii) in subparagraph (B)--\n (I) in the third sentence, by \n striking ``or reduced price''; and\n (II) by striking the second \n sentence;\n (iii) by striking subparagraph (C);\n (iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and \n (E) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; \n and\n (v) in subparagraph (D) (as so \n redesignated)--\n (I) in the subparagraph heading, by \n striking ``and reduced price'' and \n inserting ``meals'';\n (II) by striking ``and reduced \n price policy'' each place it appears \n and inserting ``meals policy''; and\n (III) by striking ``and reduced \n price meals'' and inserting ``meals''; \n and\n (B) in paragraph (2)--\n (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or \n reduced price''; and\n (ii) by striking subparagraph (C); and\n (2) in subsections (d)(1)(A) and (e)(1)(A), by striking \n ``or at a reduced price'' each place it appears.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 7 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. \n 1776) is amended--\n (A) in subsection (e)(2)(B)(ii), by striking ``or \n reduced price''; and\n (B) in subsection (i), by striking ``and reduced \n price'' each place it appears in paragraphs (2)(B)(iii) \n and (3)(B)(i).\n (2) Section 17(d)(2)(A)(i) of the Child Nutrition Act of \n 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)(i)) is amended by striking ``and \n reduced price''.\n (3) Section 20(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 \n U.S.C. 1789(b)) is amended by striking ``and reduced-price''.", "summary": "Expand School Meals Act of 2009 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to expand eligibility for free meals under the school lunch and breakfast programs to children whose family income falls at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. (This makes children who are currently eligible for reduced price meals eligible for free meals.)", "title": "To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase the number of children eligible for free school meals."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2084, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Afghanistan Suspension and Debarment \nReform Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. SUSPENSION AND DEBARMENT AUTHORITY FOR SPECIAL INSPECTOR \n GENERAL FOR AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION UNDER CERTAIN \n CIRCUMSTANCES.\n\n (a) Suspension and Debarment Process.--Section 1229(g) of the \nNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law \n110-181; 5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following \nnew paragraph:\n ``(3) Suspension and debarment.--\n ``(A) Referral of case to lead agency.--In carrying \n out the duties, responsibilities, and authorities set \n forth under this section, the Inspector General (or the \n Inspector General's designee) may refer a potential \n suspension or debarment case described in subparagraph \n (B) to the lead agency for that suspension or \n debarment. If such a referral is made, the Inspector \n General shall notify the Interagency Committee on \n Debarment and Suspension and the congressional \n committees described in subparagraph (G) of the \n referral. If the Inspector General is unable to \n determine which agency is the lead agency for purposes \n of a referral under this subparagraph, the Inspector \n General shall request the Interagency Committee to \n resolve the issue of which agency is the lead agency, \n in accordance with section 873 of the Duncan Hunter \n National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 \n (Public Law 110-417; 31 U.S.C. 6101 note).\n ``(B) Covered cases.--\n ``(i) A potential suspension or debarment \n case described in this subparagraph is a case \n involving a person that is an Afghan national \n or foreign national or foreign company \n operating in Afghanistan that has received in \n the past, is receiving, or may receive in the \n future, funds from any--\n ``(I) covered prime contract; or\n ``(II) covered subcontract.\n ``(ii) In this subparagraph:\n ``(I) The term `covered prime \n contract' means a prime contract that \n is a contract described in subsection \n (i)(2).\n ``(II) The term `covered \n subcontract' means a subcontract that \n is a contract described in subsection \n (i)(2) under a covered prime contract.\n ``(C) Acceptance or declination of case.--Not later \n than 30 days after the date of referral of a suspension \n or debarment case under subparagraph (A), the lead \n agency shall--\n ``(i) accept or decline the case; and\n ``(ii) submit to the Inspector General and \n the Interagency Committee a written \n notification and rationale for accepting or \n declining the case.\n ``(D) Determination by interagency committee if \n lead agency declines case.--If the lead agency declines \n to accept a suspension or debarment case referred under \n subparagraph (A) or fails to respond to the referral, \n the Interagency Committee shall make a determination, \n not later than 45 days after the date of the referral \n of the case under subparagraph (A), regarding whether \n the Inspector General shall act as lead agency in the \n case. The Interagency Committee shall submit to the \n congressional committees described in subparagraph (G) \n a written notification of the determination.\n ``(E) Determination by lead agency if lead agency \n accepts case.--If the lead agency accepts a suspension \n or debarment case referred under subparagraph (A), the \n agency shall make a determination, not later than 60 \n days after the date of the referral of the case under \n subparagraph (A), to either suspend or debar the person \n that is the subject of the case or decline to suspend \n or debar the person. If the lead agency declines to \n suspend or debar the person, the lead agency shall, not \n later than 15 days after the determination, submit to \n the congressional committees described in subparagraph \n (G) a written notification and rationale for the \n determination to decline to suspend or debar the \n person.\n ``(F) Suspension and debarment authority of \n inspector general.--\n ``(i) In general.--If the Interagency \n Committee determines under subparagraph (D) \n that the Inspector General may act as lead \n agency in a suspension or debarment case \n referred under subparagraph (A), then the \n Inspector General (or the Inspector General's \n designee) may suspend or debar a person from \n procurement or nonprocurement activities of the \n Federal Government in accordance with \n regulations implementing the suspension and \n debarment system of the Federal Government, \n including the Federal Acquisition Regulation \n and the Office of Management and Budget \n guidelines to agencies on governmentwide \n debarment and suspension (nonprocurement) in \n part 180 of title 2 of the Code of Federal \n Regulations.\n ``(ii) Exception.--In exercising the \n authority provided under clause (i), the \n Inspector General (or the Inspector General's \n designee) may, with respect to a particular \n contract, grant, or other procurement or \n nonprocurement activity, grant an exception \n that permits a person debarred or suspended \n pursuant to clause (i) to submit an offer for \n or be awarded the contract, grant, or other \n activity. If such an exception is granted, the \n Inspector General shall submit to the \n congressional committees described in \n subparagraph (G) a written notification and \n rationale for the exception.\n ``(G) Committees described.--The committees \n described in this subparagraph are the following:\n ``(i) The Committees on Foreign Affairs and \n on Oversight and Government Reform of the House \n of Representatives.\n ``(ii) The Committees on Foreign Relations \n and on Homeland Security and Governmental \n Affairs of the Senate.''.\n (b) Definition of Interagency Committee.--Section 1229(m) of such \nAct (Public Law 110-181; 5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new paragraph:\n ``(3) Interagency committee on debarment and suspension.--\n The term `Interagency Committee on Debarment and Suspension' or \n `Interagency Committee' means the committee constituted under \n sections 4 and 5 of Executive Order No. 12549.''.\n (c) Deadline for Publication of Rules.--The Director of the Office \nof Management and Budget shall publish any interim final rules \nsubmitted to the Office to implement the amendments made by this Act in \nthe Federal Register within 30 days after the date of submission.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect on the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY AND REPORT.\n\n (a) Study.--After the termination of the Office of Special \nInspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction under section \n1229(o)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year \n2008 (Public Law 110-181; 122 Stat. 380; 5 U.S.C. App.), the \nComptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the \nauthority and process provided under section 1229(g)(3) of such Act (as \nadded by section 2 of this Act).\n (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment \nof this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report \non the study carried out under subsection (a), with such \nrecommendations as the Comptroller General considers appropriate with \nrespect to the suspension and debarment system of the Federal \nGovernment.", "summary": "Afghanistan Suspension and Debarment Reform Act - Amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (the Act) to add to the powers of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (Inspector General), who is required to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of the treatment, handling, and expenditure of funds appropriated by the U.S. government, and of the programs, operations, and contracts carried out using such funds in Afghanistan, in order to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse. Empowers the Inspector General to refer to the lead agency a potential covered case for suspension or debarment of a person from procurement or nonprocurement activities of the federal government. Defines a "covered case" as one involving a person that is an Afghan national or foreign national or foreign company operating in Afghanistan that has received in the past, is receiving, or may receive in the future, funds from any covered prime contract or subcontract. Requires the Inspector General to notify the Interagency Committee on Debarment and Suspension and Congress if such a referral is made. Requires the lead agency, after the referral of such a suspension or debarment case, to accept or decline the case. Requires the Interagency Committee, if the lead agency declines to accept a suspension or debarment case, or fails to respond to the referral, to determine whether the Inspector General shall act as the lead agency. Requires the lead agency, on the other hand, if it accepts a suspension or debarment case, to either suspend or debar the person that is the subject of the case or decline. Authorizes the Inspector General (or designee), if the Interagency Committee determines that the Inspector General may act as lead agency, to suspend or debar the person from federal procurement or nonprocurement activities. Allows the Inspector General (or designee), when exercising such authority, to grant an exception permitting a person otherwise debarred or suspended to submit an offer for or be awarded a particular contract, grant, or procurement or nonprocurement activity. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO), after the termination of the Office of Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, to study the Inspector General authority and the process for determining a lead agency in a suspension or debarment case. ", "title": "Afghanistan Suspension and Debarment Reform Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 272, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Survivors' and Dependents' \nEducational Assistance Adjustment Act of 2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN RATES OF SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' \n EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.\n\n (a) Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance.--Section \n3532 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``at the monthly \n rate of'' and all that follows and inserting ``at the \n monthly rate of--\n ``(A) for months occurring during fiscal year 2003, $900 \n for full-time, $676 for three-quarter-time, or $450 for half-\n time pursuit; and\n ``(B) for months occurring during a subsequent fiscal year, \n $985 for full-time, $740 for three-quarter-time, or $492 for \n half-time pursuit.''; and\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``at the rate \n of'' and all that follows and inserting ``at the rate \n of the lesser of--\n ``(A) the established charges for tuition and fees that the \n educational institution involved requires similarly \n circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the same program to pay; \n or\n ``(B)(i) for months occurring during fiscal year 2003, $900 \n per month for a full-time course; or (ii) for months occurring \n during a subsequent fiscal year, $985 per month for a full-time \n course.'';\n (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``at the rate of'' and \n all that follows and inserting ``at the rate of--\n ``(1) for months occurring during fiscal year 2003, $900 \n per month; and\n ``(2) for months occurring during a subsequent fiscal year, \n $985 per month.''; and\n (3) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``shall be'' and all \n that follows and inserting ``shall be--\n ``(A) for months occurring during fiscal year 2003, $727 \n for full-time, $545 for three-quarter-time, or $364 for half-\n time pursuit; and\n ``(B) for months occurring during a subsequent fiscal year, \n $795 for full-time, $596 for three-quarter-time, or $398 for \n half-time pursuit.''.\n (b) Correspondence Courses.--Section 3534(b) of that title is \namended by striking ``for each $670'' and all that follows and \ninserting ``for each amount which is paid to the spouse as an \neducational assistance allowance for such course as follows:\n ``(1) For amounts paid during fiscal year 2003, $900.\n ``(2) For amounts paid during a subsequent fiscal year, \n $985.''.\n (c) Special Restorative Training.--Section 3542(a) of that title is \namended--\n (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(a)'';\n (2) by designating the second sentence as paragraph (2) and \n indenting such paragraph, as so designated, two ems from the \n left margin;\n (3) in paragraph (1), as so designated, by striking ``the \n basic rate of $670 per month.'' and inserting ``the basic rate \n of--\n ``(A) for months occurring during fiscal year 2003, $900 \n per month; and\n ``(B) for months occurring during a subsequent fiscal year, \n $985 per month.''; and\n (4) in paragraph (2), as so designated--\n (A) by striking ``$184 per calendar month'' and \n inserting ``$282 per calendar month for months \n occurring during fiscal year 2003, or $307 per calendar \n months for months occurring during a subsequent fiscal \n year''; and\n (B) by striking ``$184 a month'' and inserting \n ``$282 a month for months occurring during fiscal year \n 2003, or $307 a month for months occurring during a \n subsequent fiscal year''.\n (d) Apprenticeship Training.--Section 3687(b)(2) of that title is \namended by striking ``shall be $488 for the first six months'' and all \nthat follows and inserting ``shall be--\n ``(A) $655 for the first six months, $490 for the second \n six months, $325 for the third six months, and $164 for the \n fourth and any succeeding six-month period of training, if such \n six-month period of training begins during fiscal year 2003; \n and\n ``(B) $717 for the first six months, $536 for the second \n six months, $356 for the third six months, and $179 for the \n fourth and any succeeding six-month period of training, if such \n six-month period of training begins during a subsequent fiscal \n year.''.\n (e) Effective Date.--(1) The amendments made by this section shall \ntake effect as of October 1, 2003, and shall apply with respect to \neducational assistance allowances payable under chapter 35 and section \n3687(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, for months beginning on or \nafter that date.\n (2) No adjustment in rates of monthly training allowances shall be \nmade under section 3687(d) of title 38, United States Code, for fiscal \nyears 2003 and 2004.\n\nSEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF DURATION OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.\n\n Section 3511(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by \nstriking ``45 months'' and all that follows and inserting ``45 months, \nor 36 months in the case of a person who first files a claim for \neducational assistance under this chapter after the date of the \nenactment of the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance \nAdjustment Act of 2002, or to the equivalent thereof in part-time \ntraining.''.\n\nSEC. 4. INCREASE IN AGGREGATE ANNUAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR STATE \n APPROVING AGENCIES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.\n\n (a) Increase in Amount.--Section 3674(a)(4) of title 38, United \nStates Code, is amended in the first sentence by striking ``may not \nexceed $13,000,000'' and all that follows through the end and inserting \n``may not exceed $18,000,000.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \ntake effect on October 1, 2002.", "summary": "Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Adjustment Act of 2002 - Provides incremental increases in the rates of educational assistance provided to veterans' survivors and dependents, including for full- and part-time courses, correspondence courses, special restorative training, and apprenticeship training.Entitles an eligible person who first files a claim for such assistance after enactment of this Act to assistance for up to 36 (currently 45) months.Increases the annual aggregate amount available to State educational approving agencies for the reimbursement of administrative expenses.", "title": "A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide an incremental increase in amounts of educational assistance for survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2997, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair \nAct of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Motor vehicle owners are entitled to choose which \n service provider will diagnose, service, maintain, or repair \n their motor vehicles.\n (2) Promoting competition in price and quality for the \n diagnosis of problems, service, maintenance, and repair of \n motor vehicles will benefit consumers.\n (3) Regular diagnosis, service, maintenance, and repair of \n motor vehicles, motor vehicle equipment, and motor vehicle \n systems, such as pollution control, transmission, antilock \n brakes, electronic and mechanical systems, heating, air-\n conditioning, and steering are essential to facilitating United \n States mobility, minimizing fuel consumption, protecting the \n environment, and enabling the highest possible levels of safety \n in modern motor vehicles.\n (4) Various kinds of computers have been integrated by \n manufacturers into motor vehicle equipment and motor vehicle \n systems. On-board computer technology controls virtually all of \n the motor vehicle's systems, and only service technicians with \n the necessary tools and information can access the computers to \n perform diagnosis, service, maintenance, and repair of the \n motor vehicle.\n (5) Manufacturers have provided their authorized dealers \n and service providers with the information, tools, codes, and \n replacement equipment necessary to diagnose problems and to \n service, maintain, and repair motor vehicles that incorporate \n computers in their motor vehicle systems.\n (6) Consumers in the United States have benefitted from the \n availability of a wide choice of service providers for their \n motor vehicles. The United States economy has also benefitted \n from the availability of a tools and parts supply aftermarket \n that provides jobs to more than 5,000,000 workers in \n approximately 495,000 businesses, and generates approximately \n $200,000,000,000 in annual sales.\n (7) New motor vehicles are being equipped with systems that \n permit such vehicles to transmit repair and diagnostic \n information wirelessly to the vehicle manufacturer and repair \n facilities. Car owners have the right to choose where and to \n whom information generated by their vehicle and vehicle \n computers is sent.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--\n (1) to protect the rights of motor vehicle owners to choose \n a service provider for the diagnosis, service, maintenance, and \n repair of their motor vehicles;\n (2) to promote competition in price and quality among \n service providers; and\n (3) to promote safety and fuel efficiency by allowing \n consumers to choose among competing service providers.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Attorney general of a state.--The term ``attorney \n general of a State'' means the attorney general or other chief \n law enforcement officer of a State.\n (2) Commerce.--The term ``commerce'' has the meaning given \n that term in section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 \n U.S.C. 44).\n (3) Consumer, motor vehicle owner.--The terms ``consumer'' \n and ``motor vehicle owner'' mean any person who owns, leases, \n or otherwise has the legal right to use and possess a motor \n vehicle, or the agent of such person.\n (4) Dealer, manufacturer, motor vehicle, motor vehicle \n equipment.--The terms ``dealer'', ``manufacturer'', ``motor \n vehicle'', and ``motor vehicle equipment'' have the meaning \n given those terms in section 30102(a) of title 49, United \n States Code.\n (5) Replacement equipment.--The term ``replacement \n equipment'' has the meaning given that term in section \n 30102(b)(1) of such title.\n (6) Service provider.--The term ``service provider'' means \n any person engaged in the diagnosis, service, maintenance, or \n repair of motor vehicles or motor vehicle engines.\n (7) Technical service bulletin.--The term ``technical \n service bulletin''--\n (A) means a communication sent to a dealer about \n the diagnosis, service, maintenance or repair of a \n motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment; and\n (B) includes all communications sent to the \n Secretary of Transportation under subsections (f) and \n (m)(3)(A)(ii) of section 30166 of title 49, United \n States Code.\n\nSEC. 4. REQUIREMENTS OF MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS.\n\n (a) Duty To Disclose Information.--\n (1) In general.--The manufacturer of a motor vehicle sold, \n leased, or otherwise introduced into commerce in the United \n States shall provide to the owner of the motor vehicle and the \n service provider of the motor vehicle, using reasonable \n business means and on a non-discriminatory basis, all \n information to diagnose, service, maintain, or repair the motor \n vehicle.\n (2) Elements.--The information required under paragraph (1) \n with respect to a motor vehicle shall include the following:\n (A) Information about all safety alerts, recalls, \n service bulletins, and the adjustments needed to \n maintain the efficiency, safety, and convenience of the \n vehicle.\n (B) All information of any kind provided directly, \n indirectly, or wirelessly to new car dealers or any \n repair facility to diagnose, service, maintain, repair, \n activate, certify, or install any motor vehicle \n equipment (including replacement parts and equipment) \n in the motor vehicle.\n (b) Duty To Make Tools Available.--The manufacturer of a motor \nvehicle sold, leased, or otherwise introduced into commerce in the \nUnited States shall--\n (1) offer for sale to the owner of the motor vehicle and to \n all service providers on a reasonable and non-discriminatory \n basis, any tool for the diagnosis, service, maintenance, or \n repair of the motor vehicle; and\n (2) provide all information that enables aftermarket tool \n companies to manufacture tools with the same functional \n characteristics as those tools made available by the \n manufacturers to authorized dealers.\n (c) Replacement Equipment.--The manufacturer of a motor vehicle \nsold, leased, or otherwise introduced into commerce in the United \nStates shall offer for sale to the owner of the motor vehicle and to \nall service providers on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, all \nequipment for diagnosis, service, maintenance, or repair of the motor \nvehicle.\n (d) Protection of Trade Secrets.--\n (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), \n nothing in this section may be construed to require a \n manufacturer to disclose publicly information that, if made \n public, would divulge methods or processes entitled to \n protection as trade secrets.\n (2) Exception.--No information may be withheld by a \n manufacturer on the ground that it is a trade secret if that \n information is provided (directly or indirectly) to authorized \n dealers or service providers.\n\nSEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.\n\n (a) In General.--The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce the \nprovisions of this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with \nthe same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable \nterms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 \net seq.) were incorporated into and made part of this Act.\n (b) Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices.--\n (1) Violation of a duty.--Any failure to comply with the \n provisions of section 4 shall be treated as an unfair method of \n competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice within \n the meaning of section 5(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission \n Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1)).\n (2) Violation of a rule.--A violation of a rule prescribed \n under subsection (c) shall be treated as a violation of a rule \n defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed \n under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act \n (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).\n (c) Rulemaking.--\n (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the \n Federal Trade Commission may prescribe such rules as may be \n necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.\n (2) Limitation.--The Federal Trade Commission may not \n prescribe rules under this subsection that--\n (A) interfere with the authority of the \n Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency \n under section 202(m) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. \n 7521(m)) with regard to motor vehicle emissions control \n diagnostics systems; or\n (B) conflict with rules prescribed by the \n Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.\n\nSEC. 6. ACTION BY STATES.\n\n (a) In General.--In any case in which the attorney general of a \nState has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of the \nState has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement \nof any person subject to a provision of section 4 or a rule prescribed \nunder section 5(c) in a practice that violates such provision or rule, \nthe State may, as parens patriae, bring a civil action on behalf of the \nresidents of the State in an appropriate district court of the United \nStates or other court of competent jurisdiction--\n (1) to enjoin that practice;\n (2) to enforce compliance with the provision or rule;\n (3) to obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation \n on behalf of residents of the State; or\n (4) to obtain such other relief as the court considers \n appropriate.\n (b) Rights of Federal Trade Commission.--\n (1) Notice to federal trade commission.--\n (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph \n (C), the attorney general of a State shall notify the \n Federal Trade Commission in writing of any civil action \n under subsection (a), prior to initiating such civil \n action.\n (B) Contents.--The notice required by subparagraph \n (A) shall include a copy of the complaint to be filed \n to initiate such civil action.\n (C) Exception.--If it is not feasible for the \n attorney general of a State to provide the notice \n required by subparagraph (A), the State shall provide \n notice immediately upon instituting a civil action \n under subsection (a).\n (2) Intervention by federal trade commission.--\n (A) In general.--Upon receiving notice required by \n paragraph (1) with respect to a civil action, the \n Federal Trade Commission may--\n (i) intervene in such action; and\n (ii) upon intervening--\n (I) be heard on all matters arising \n in such civil action;\n (II) remove the action to the \n appropriate district court of the \n United States; and\n (III) file petitions for appeal of \n a decision in such action.\n (B) Continued participation of states.--If the \n Federal Trade Commission removes an action to the \n appropriate district court of the United States under \n subparagraph (A)(ii)(III), the State shall remain a \n party to the action in such court.\n (c) Investigatory Powers.--Nothing in this section may be construed \nto prevent the attorney general of a State from exercising the powers \nconferred on such attorney general by the laws of such State to conduct \ninvestigations or to administer oaths or affirmations or to compel the \nattendance of witnesses or the production of documentary and other \nevidence.\n (d) Preemptive Action by Federal Trade Commission.--If the Federal \nTrade Commission institutes a civil action or an administrative action \nto enforce a violation of a rule prescribed under section 5(c), no \nState may, during the pendency of such action, bring a civil action \nunder subsection (a) against any defendant named in the complaint of \nthe Commission for violation of a rule prescribed under section 5(c) \nthat is alleged in such complaint.\n (e) Actions by Other State Officials.--\n (1) In general.--In addition to actions brought by an \n attorney general of a State under subsection (a), an action may \n be brought by officers of a State who are so authorized.\n (2) Savings provision.--Nothing contained in this section \n may be construed to prohibit an authorized official of a State \n from proceeding in a court of such State on the basis of an \n alleged violation of any civil or criminal statute of such \n State.\n\nSEC. 7. ACTION BY CONSUMERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.\n\n In any case in which a consumer or service provider has reason to \nbelieve that an interest of the consumer or service provider is \nthreatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any person \nsubject to a provision of section 4 or a rule prescribed under section \n5(c) in a practice that violates such provision or rule, the consumer \nor service provider may bring a civil action in an appropriate district \ncourt of the United States or other court of competent jurisdiction--\n (1) to enjoin the practice;\n (2) to enforce compliance with the provision or rule;\n (3) to obtain damages or restitution, including court costs \n and reasonable attorney and expert witness fees; or\n (4) to obtain such other relief as the court considers \n appropriate.\n\nSEC. 8. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS.\n\n The Federal Trade Commission shall cooperate with the Secretary of \nTransportation in preparing a technical service bulletin that the \nSecretary intends to publish on an Internet Web site of the Federal \nGovernment.", "summary": "Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act of 2010 - Requires the manufacturer of a motor vehicle sold, leased, or otherwise introduced into commerce in the United States to provide to the owner of the motor vehicle and the service provider of the motor vehicle, using reasonable business means and on a non-discriminatory basis, all information and tools needed to diagnose, service, maintain, or repair the motor vehicle. Provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Permits civil actions by: (1) states on behalf of the state's residents; and (2) consumers and service providers.\n\nProvides for the protection of trade secrets, except that no information may be withheld by a manufacturer on the ground that it is a trade secret if that information is provided (directly or indirectly) to authorized dealers or service providers.", "title": "A bill to protect the rights of consumers to diagnose, service, maintain, and repair their motor vehicles, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 80, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Business Procurement \nAssistance Act of 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. GOAL SETTING.\n\n Section 15(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)) is \namended--\n (1) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``, small business \n concerns owned and controlled by women,'' after ``small \n business concerns'' the first place it appears in the first \n sentence and the first place it appears in the fourth sentence;\n (2) in the first sentence of paragraph (2) by inserting \n ``by small business concerns owned and controlled by women,'' \n after ``small business concerns,'';\n (3) in the second sentence of paragraph (2) by inserting \n ``, small business concerns owned and controlled by women,'' \n after ``small business concerns'' the first place it appears; \n and\n (4) in the fourth sentence of paragraph (2) by inserting \n ``small business concerns owned and controlled by women and'' \n after ``including participation by''.\n\nSEC. 3. REPORTING.\n\n Section 15(h) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(h)) is \namended--\n (1) by inserting ``, small business concerns owned and \n controlled by women,'' after ``small business concerns'' the \n first place it appears in paragraph (1), the first place it \n appears in paragraph (2)(A), and the first place it appears in \n paragraph (2)(D);\n (2) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``and subcontracts'' \n after ``contracts'';\n (3) by adding at the end of paragraph (1) the following new \n sentence: ``The Administration shall submit to the Committee on \n Small Business of the Senate and the Committee on Small \n Business of the House of Representatives information obtained \n from such reports, together with appropriate comments.''; and\n (4) in paragraph (2)(F) by striking ``women-owned small \n business enterprises'' and inserting ``small business concerns \n owned and controlled by women''.\n\nSEC. 4. SUBCONTRACTING.\n\n (a) Statement of Policy.--Section 8(d)(1) of the Small Business Act \n(15 U.S.C. 637(d)(1)) is amended--\n (1) in the first sentence by inserting ``small business \n concerns owned and controlled by women,'' after ``small \n business concerns,''; and\n (2) in the second sentence by inserting ``, small business \n concerns owned and controlled by women,'' after ``small \n business concerns'' the first place it appears.\n (b) Contract Clause.--The contract clause specified in section \n8(d)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(3)) is amended as \nfollows:\n (1) Subparagraph (A) of such clause is amended by inserting \n ``, small business concerns owned and controlled by women,'' \n after ``small business concerns'' the first place it appears in \n the first sentence and the first place it appears in the second \n sentence.\n (2) Subparagraph (C) of such clause is amended to read as \n follows:\n ``(C)(i) As used in this contract, the term `small business \n concern' means a small business concern as defined pursuant to \n section 3 of the Small Business Act and relevant regulations \n promulgated pursuant thereto.\n ``(ii) As used in this contract, the term `small business \n concern owned and controlled by socially and economically \n disadvantaged individuals' means a small business concern--\n ``(I) which is at least 51 percent owned by one or \n more socially and economically disadvantaged \n individuals; or, in the case of any publicly owned \n business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is \n owned by one or more socially and economically \n disadvantaged individuals; and\n ``(II) whose management and daily business \n operations are controlled by one or more of such \n individuals.\n The contractor shall presume that socially and economically \n disadvantaged individuals include Black Americans, Hispanic \n Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, and other \n minorities, or any other individual found to be disadvantaged \n by the Administration pursuant to section 8(a) of the Small \n Business Act.\n ``(iii) As used in this contract, the term `small business \n concern owned and controlled by women' means a small business \n concern--\n ``(I) which is at least 51 percent owned by one or \n more women; or, in the case of any publicly owned \n business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is \n owned by one or more women; and\n ``(II) whose management and daily business \n operations are controlled by such women.\n The contractor shall presume that women have been subjected to \n gender based discrimination and may determine whether a small \n business concern meets the percentage requirements under \n subclause (I) without regard to the community property laws of \n any jurisdiction.''.\n (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 8(d) of the Small Business Act \n(15 U.S.C. 637(d)) is amended by inserting ``, small business concerns \nowned and controlled by women,'' after ``small business concerns'' the \nfirst place it appears in paragraphs (3)(D), (4)(D), (4)(E), (6)(A), \n(6)(C), (6)(F), (10)(B), and (11).\n (d) Exclusion.--No business concern shall be deemed eligible for \nany contract or other assistance pursuant to section 2323 of title 10, \nUnited States Code, due solely to the provisions of this section.\n\nSEC. 5. WOMEN-IN-BUSINESS SPECIALISTS.\n\n Section 15(k) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(k)) is \namended--\n (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(k)'';\n (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), \n (6), (7), (8), and (9) as subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), \n (E), (F), (G), (H), and (I), respectively;\n (3) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (H) (as \n redesignated);\n (4) in subparagraph (I) (as redesignated), by striking out \n the period after ``Code'' and all that follows through ``shall \n be made'' and inserting in lieu thereof a comma, and by \n striking the period after ``contract file'' and inserting ``, \n and'';\n (5) by inserting after subparagraph (I) (as redesignated) \n the following new subparagraph:\n ``(J) subject to paragraph (2)(A), designate an employee of \n such office to be a women-in-business specialist responsible \n for the implementation and execution of programs designed to \n assist small business concerns owned and controlled by \n women.'';\n (6) by designating the last sentence as paragraph (2); and\n (7) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(3)(A) The Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business \nUtilization in a Federal agency shall ensure that the women-in-business \nspecialist designated pursuant to paragraph (1)(J) has sufficient \nknowledge of small business concerns owned and controlled by women and \nthe Federal procurement process, other appropriate qualifications, and \nappropriate training from the Office of Women's Business Ownership to \neffectively carry out the specialist's responsibilities under this Act.\n ``(B) Each women-in-business specialist designated pursuant to \nparagraph (1)(J) in a Federal agency shall work full time to initiate \nand execute programs to assist small business concerns owned and \ncontrolled by women in participating in the performance of contracts \nlet by the agency. The specialist shall--\n ``(i) respond to requests from small business concerns \n owned and controlled by women;\n ``(ii) identify and solicit offers from small business \n concerns owned and controlled by women, as required under \n section 15(p) of this Act, through means such as sending \n solicitation packages to such concerns for each proposed \n contract for which such concerns may be eligible to compete and \n holding workshops on procurement for such concerns; and\n ``(iii) regularly monitor the agency's progress toward \n meeting the annual goal established under subsection (g) for \n participation by small business concerns owned and controlled \n by women.''.\n\nSEC. 6. OUTREACH.\n\n Section 15 the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(p) Each Federal agency having procurement powers shall engage in \naffirmative efforts to identify and solicit offers from small business \nconcerns owned and controlled by women and the small business concerns \nowned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged \nindividuals. To the maximum extent practicable, a representative number \nof such concerns shall receive solicitation packages for each proposed \nacquisition for which such concerns may be eligible to compete.''.\n\nSEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE OF WOMEN'S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.\n\n The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by adding \nat the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 28. OFFICE OF WOMEN'S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.\n\n ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Small Business \nAdministration the Office of Women's Business Ownership (hereinafter in \nthis section referred to as the `Office').\n ``(b) Director.--The Director of the Office (hereinafter in this \nsection referred to as the `Director') shall be appointed by the \nAdministrator not later than sixty days after the date of the enactment \nof this section.\n ``(c) Functions.--The Director shall perform the following \nfunctions:\n ``(1) Promote, coordinate, and monitor the plans, programs, \n and operations of Federal departments and agencies which may \n contribute to the establishment, preservation, and \n strengthening of small business concerns owned and controlled \n by women. The Director may, as appropriate, develop \n comprehensive interagency plans and specific program goals for \n small business concerns owned and controlled by women with the \n cooperation of the departments and agencies.\n ``(2) Establish policies, definitions, procedures, and \n guidelines to govern the implementation, interpretation, and \n application of this section, and generally perform such \n functions and take such steps as the Director may consider to \n be necessary or appropriate to carry out this section.\n ``(3) Promote the mobilization of activities and resources \n of State and local governments, business and trade \n associations, private industry, colleges and universities, \n foundations, professional organizations, and volunteer and \n other groups toward the growth of small business concerns owned \n and controlled by women, and facilitate the coordination of the \n efforts of such groups with those of Federal departments and \n agencies.\n ``(4) Make an annual assessment of the progress made in the \n Federal Government toward assisting small business concerns \n owned and controlled by women to enter the mainstream of \n business ownership and provide recommendations for future \n actions to the Administrator.\n ``(5) Convene and consult (as necessary) with persons \n inside and outside government to develop and promote new ideas \n concerning the development of small business concerns owned and \n controlled by women.\n ``(6) Consider the findings and recommendations of \n government and private sector investigations and studies of the \n problems of women entrepreneurs, and promote further research \n into such problems.\n ``(7) Monitor the contracting and subcontracting \n performance of each department, agency, and business enterprise \n participating under this section.\n ``(8) Promote access and participation for small business \n concerns owned and controlled by women to a fair proportion of \n the broad array of purchases and contracts for property and \n services for the Federal Government.\n ``(9) Provide training as needed to women-in-business \n specialists designated pursuant to section 15(k)(1)(J) to carry \n out their responsibilities under this Act.''.\n\nSEC. 8. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE REPORT.\n\n (a) Report Requirement.--Not later than 3 years after the date of \nthe enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to \nCongress a report comparing the number of small business concerns owned \nand controlled by women procuring Federal contracts during the year \npreceding the date of the enactment of this Act with the number of such \nbusinesses during each of the 3 years occurring after such date. If the \nnumber of such businesses did not increase significantly by the end of \nthe 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, \nthe Comptroller General shall include in the report recommendations on \nactions that could be taken to increase the number.\n (b) Sense of Congress.--If the report required under subsection (a) \nshows that the number of small business concerns owned and controlled \nby women did not increase significantly by the end of the 3-year period \nbeginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, it is the sense of \nCongress that further legislative steps should be taken to ensure that \nthe number of Federal contracts entered into with small business \nconcerns owned and controlled by women realistically reflects the \npotential of such business concerns to perform Federal contracting and \nsubcontracting work.", "summary": "Women's Business Procurement Assistance Act of 1993 - Amends the Small Business Act to require the President and the head of each Federal agency to include small business concerns owned and controlled by women within the Federal procurement contract process. \nDeclares that it is the policy of the United States that such business concerns should have the maximum opportunity to participate in the Federal procurement contract process. \nRequires the Director of the Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization section in each Federal agency to designate a \"women-in-business\" specialist responsible for the execution of programs designed to assist small business concerns owned and controlled by women. Requires that each such specialist: (1) possess the appropriate knowledge, qualifications, and training for such position; and (2) work full-time in such position. \nEstablishes in the Small Business Administration the Office of Women's Business Ownership. \nDirects the Comptroller General to report to the Congress on the number of small businesses owned and controlled by women procuring Federal contracts. Expresses the sense of the Congress that if the number of such businesses procuring such contracts does not rise significantly, then further legislative steps should be taken.", "title": "Women's Business Procurement Assistance Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1688, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Access to Obstetric Care Act of \n1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. MEDICAID DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS IN \n UNDERSERVED AREAS TO OBSTETRIC SERVICES.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall \nprovide under this section for demonstration projects by States that \nseek to reduce infant mortality by improving access in urban and rural \nunderserved areas to obstetric services for eligible pregnant women \nunder title XIX of the Social Security Act.\n (b) Nature of Projects.--Demonstration projects under this section \nshall incorporate innovative approaches for increasing the \nparticipation of obstetric providers under title XIX of the Social \nSecurity Act, such as--\n (1) expediting reimbursement and using innovative payment \n mechanisms, including global fees for obstetric services with \n guaranteed periodic payments;\n (2) special or enhanced reimbursement for early prenatal \n care, risk-assessment, and high-risk services;\n (3) patient distribution or referral systems;\n (4) subsidizing medical liability insurance premiums, in \n whole or in part, for selected obstetric providers;\n (5) paying for all or a portion of payments made in \n settlement of malpractice claims by patients of obstetric \n providers who meet certain criteria; and\n (6) providing professional liability coverage under the \n State tort claims act for certain obstetric providers while \n treating a specified category of patients.\nDemonstration projects addressing reimbursement must provide for \nintegrated prenatal, delivery and postpartum services.\n (c) Supplemental Funding.--(1) With respect to the additional \nexpenditures for medical assistance made under the State plan under \ntitle XIX of the Social Security Act to carry out a demonstration \nproject under this section, the Federal medical assistance percentage \n(otherwise determined under section 1905(b) of such Act) shall be \nincreased by 25 percentage points (but in no case to a percentage \ngreater than 95 percent).\n (2) The amount of funds that may be expended as medical assistance \nto carry out the purposes of this section shall be such sums as may be \nappropriated during the 5-fiscal-year period beginning with fiscal year \n1994.\n (d) Waiver Authority.--(1) Except as provided under paragraphs (2) \nand (3), the Secretary is authorized to waive the requirements of title \nXIX of the Social Security Act to the extent necessary to implement \ndemonstration projects under this section.\n (2) Except as permitted under section 1915(b)(1) of the Social \nSecurity Act, the Secretary may not waive under paragraph (1) the \nrequirement of sections 1902(a)(23) and 1916 of such Act.\n (3) The Secretary may not approve a demonstration project under \nthis section, or a waiver under paragraph (1), that reduces the amount, \nduration, or scope of medical assistance made available under title XIX \nof the Social Security Act or that results in a loss of eligibility for \nindividuals otherwise eligible for such assistance.\n (e) Timely Action on Applications.--A request to the Secretary by a \nState for approval of a demonstration project under this section (and \nany accompanying waiver of a requirement of title XIX of the Social \nSecurity Act) shall be deemed granted unless the Secretary, within 90 \ndays after the date of its submission to the Secretary, either denies \nsuch request in writing or informs the State in writing with respect to \nany additional information which is needed in order to make a final \ndetermination with respect to the request. After the date the Secretary \nreceives such additional information, the request shall be deemed \ngranted unless the Secretary, within 90 days of such date, denies the \nrequest.\n (f) Duration.--A demonstration project under this section may be \nconducted for any portion of the period beginning after the date of \nenactment of this Act and ending December 31, 1997.\n (g) Evaluation.--Such projects must include a plan for evaluating \nthe effects of the demonstration projects on provider participation.\n (h) Report.--The Secretary shall report to Congress, not later than \nMarch 1, 1998, on the demonstration projects carried out under this \nsection and on how the results of such projects may be used to \nimplement programs to lower infant mortality and morbidity through \nimproving the access of pregnant women to obstetric services in urban \nand rural underserved areas.\n (i) Obstetric Provider Defined.--In this section, the term \n``obstetric provider'' means an obstetrician, obstetrician-\ngynecologist, family practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or \ncertified family nurse practitioner.\n\nSEC. 3. ANNUAL COMPENDIUM ON STATE INITIATIVES.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in \nconsultation with the Office of Rural Health Policy, shall develop and \nmake available to the public each year a compendium of the various \nState initiatives undertaken to address the obstetric access crisis in \nurban and rural areas.\n (b) Nature of Compendium.--The compendium shall include information \non State laws, regulations, programs and other initiatives undertaken \nto increase access to obstetric care in underserved areas. The \ncompendium shall include information on activities addressing liability \nproblems, efforts to retain and place providers of pregnancy-related \nservices in underserved areas, and efforts to recruit and retain \nproviders of obstetric services under the Medicaid program. The \ncompendium shall also include information on the results on any \nevaluations that have been conducted on such initiatives.\n\nSEC. 4. STUDY OF OBSTETRICAL MALPRACTICE CLAIMS.\n\n (a) Study.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall \nprovide a grant to a public or private nonprofit organization to \nconduct a study on the rate of medical malpractice actions or claims \nrelating to obstetrical care for patients whose care is paid for by \ntitle XIX of the Social Security Act as compared to those whose care is \npaid for by private insurance. Such study shall include a review of \nmedical records at selected hospitals, including rural hospitals, to \ndetermine the rates for each group.\n (b) Report.--By not later than 2 years after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report \non the study conducted under subsection (a).\n (c) Medical Malpractice Action or Claim Defined.--In this section, \nthe term ``medical malpractice action or claim'' has the meaning given \nsuch term in section 431(7) of the Health Care Quality Improvement Act \nof 1986 (42 U.S.C. 11151(7)).", "summary": "Access to Obstetric Care Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) provide for demonstration projects to improve access to obstetric services in underserved urban and rural areas for eligible pregnant women under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act; (2) develop and make public each year a compendium of State initiatives to address the obstetric access crisis; and (3) provide a grant for the study of obstetrical malpractice claims.", "title": "Access to Obstetric Care Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2044, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``American 5-Cent Coin Design \nContinuity Act of 2003''.\n\n TITLE I--UNITED STATES 5-CENT COIN DESIGN CONTINUITY\n\nSEC. 101. DESIGNS ON THE 5-CENT COIN.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b) and after consulting \nwith the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and the Commission of Fine \nArts, the Secretary of the Treasury may change the design on the \nobverse and the reverse of the 5-cent coin for coins issued in 2003, \n2004, and 2005 in recognition of the bicentennial of the Louisiana \nPurchase and the expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.\n (b) Design Specifications.--\n (1) Obverse.--If the Secretary of the Treasury elects to change \n the obverse of 5-cent coins issued during 2003, 2004, and 2005, the \n design shall depict a likeness of President Thomas Jefferson, \n different from the likeness that appeared on the obverse of the 5-\n cent coins issued during 2002, in recognition of his role with \n respect to the Louisiana Purchase and the commissioning of the \n Lewis and Clark expedition.\n (2) Reverse.--If the Secretary of the Treasury elects to change \n the reverse of the 5-cent coins issued during 2003, 2004, and 2005, \n the design selected shall depict images that are emblematic of the \n Louisiana Purchase or the expedition of Meriwether Lewis and \n William Clark.\n (3) Other inscriptions.--5-cent coins issued during 2003, 2004, \n and 2005 shall continue to meet all other requirements for \n inscriptions and designations applicable to circulating coins under \n section 5112(d)(1) of title 31, United States Code.\n\nSEC. 102. DESIGNS ON THE 5-CENT COIN SUBSEQUENT TO THE RECOGNITION OF \n THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE AND THE LEWIS \n AND CLARK EXPEDITION.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 5112(d)(1) of title 31, United States \nCode, is amended by inserting after the 4th sentence the following new \nsentence: ``Subject to other provisions of this subsection, the obverse \nof any 5-cent coin issued after December 31, 2005, shall bear the \nlikeness of Thomas Jefferson and the reverse of any such 5-cent coin \nshall bear an image of the home of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.''.\n (b) Design Consultation.--The 2d sentence of section 5112(d)(2) of \ntitle 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``, after \nconsulting with the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and the \nCommission of Fine Arts,'' after ``The Secretary may''.\n\nSEC. 103. CITIZENS COINAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 5135 of title 31, United States Code, is \namended to read as follows:\n\n``Sec. 5135. Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee\n\n ``(a) Establishment.--\n ``(1) In general.--There is hereby established the Citizens \n Coinage Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the \n `Advisory Committee') to advise the Secretary of the Treasury on \n the selection of themes and designs for coins.\n ``(2) Oversight of advisory committee.--The Advisory Committee \n shall be subject to the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury \n (hereafter in this section referred to as the `Secretary').\n ``(b) Membership.--\n ``(1) Appointment.--The Advisory Committee shall consist of 11 \n members appointed by the Secretary as follows:\n ``(A) Seven persons appointed by the Secretary--\n ``(i) one of whom shall be appointed from among \n individuals who are specially qualified to serve on the \n Advisory Committee by virtue of their education, training, \n or experience as a nationally or internationally recognized \n curator in the United States of a numismatic collection;\n ``(ii) one of whom shall be appointed from among \n individuals who are specially qualified to serve on the \n Advisory Committee by virtue of their experience in the \n medallic arts or sculpture;\n ``(iii) one of whom shall be appointed from among \n individuals who are specially qualified to serve on the \n Advisory Committee by virtue of their education, training, \n or experience in American history;\n ``(iv) one of whom shall be appointed from among \n individuals who are specially qualified to serve on the \n Advisory Committee by virtue of their education, training, \n or experience in numismatics; and\n ``(v) three of whom shall be appointed from among \n individuals who can represent the interests of the general \n public in the coinage of the United States.\n ``(B) Four persons appointed by the Secretary on the basis \n of the recommendations of the following officials who shall \n make the selection for such recommendation from among citizens \n whoare specially qualified to serve on the Advisory Committee \nby virtue of their education, training, or experience:\n ``(i) One person recommended by the Speaker of the \n House of Representatives.\n ``(ii) One person recommended by the minority leader of \n the House of Representatives.\n ``(iii) One person recommended by the majority leader \n of the Senate.\n ``(iv) One person recommended by the minority leader of \n the Senate.\n ``(2) Terms.--\n ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), \n members of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a term \n of 4 years.\n ``(B) Terms of initial appointees.--As designated by the \n Secretary at the time of appointment, of the members first \n appointed--\n ``(i) four of the members appointed under paragraph \n (1)(A) shall be appointed for a term of 4 years;\n ``(ii) the four members appointed under paragraph \n (1)(B) shall be appointed for a term of 3 years; and\n ``(iii) three of the members appointed under paragraph \n (1)(A) shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.\n ``(3) Preservation of public advisory status.--No individual \n may be appointed to the Advisory Committee while serving as an \n officer or employee of the Federal Government.\n ``(4) Continuation of service.--Each appointed member may \n continue to serve for up to 6 months after the expiration of the \n term of office to which such member was appointed until a successor \n has been appointed.\n ``(5) Vacancy and removal.--\n ``(A) In general.--Any vacancy on the Advisory Committee \n shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment \n was made.\n ``(B) Removal.--Advisory Committee members shall serve at \n the discretion of the Secretary and may be removed at any time \n for good cause.\n ``(6) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee \n shall be appointed for a term of 1 year by the Secretary from among \n the members of the Advisory Committee.\n ``(7) Pay and expenses.--Members of the Advisory Committee \n shall serve without pay for such service but each member of the \n Advisory Committee shall be reimbursed from the United States Mint \n Public Enterprise Fund for travel, lodging, meals, and incidental \n expenses incurred in connection with attendance of such members at \n meetings of the Advisory Committee in the same amounts and under \n the same conditions as employees of the United States Mint who \n engage in official travel, as determined by the Secretary.\n ``(8) Meetings.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall meet at the \n call of the Secretary, the chairperson, or a majority of the \n members, but not less frequently than twice annually.\n ``(B) Open meetings.--Each meeting of the Advisory \n Committee shall be open to the public.\n ``(C) Prior notice of meetings.--Timely notice of each \n meeting of the Advisory Committee shall be published in the \n Federal Register, and timely notice of each meeting shall be \n made to trade publications and publications of general \n circulation.\n ``(9) Quorum.--Seven members of the Advisory Committee shall \n constitute a quorum.\n ``(c) Duties of the Advisory Committee.--The duties of the Advisory \nCommittee are as follows:\n ``(1) Advising the Secretary of the Treasury on any theme or \n design proposals relating to circulating coinage, bullion coinage, \n congressional gold medals and national and other medals produced by \n the Secretary of the Treasury in accordance with section 5111 of \n title 31, United States Code.\n ``(2) Advising the Secretary of the Treasury with regard to--\n ``(A) the events, persons, or places that the Advisory \n Committee recommends be commemorated by the issuance of \n commemorative coins in each of the 5 calendar years succeeding \n the year in which a commemorative coin designation is made;\n ``(B) the mintage level for any commemorative coin \n recommended under subparagraph (A); and\n ``(C) the proposed designs for commemorative coins.\n ``(d) Expenses.--The expenses of the Advisory Committee that the \nSecretary of the Treasury determines to be reasonable and appropriate \nshall be paid by the Secretary from the United States Mint Public \nEnterprise Fund.\n ``(e) Administrative Support, Technical Services, and Advice.--Upon \nthe request of the Advisory Committee, or as necessary for the Advisory \nCommittee to carry out the responsibilities of the Advisory Committee \nunder this section, the Director of the United States Mint shall \nprovide to the Advisory Committee the administrative support, technical \nservices, and advice that the Secretary of the Treasury determines to \nbe reasonable and appropriate.\n ``(f) Consultation Authority.--In carrying out the duties of the \nAdvisory Committee under this section, the Advisory Committee may \nconsult with the Commission of Fine Arts.\n ``(g) Annual Report.--\n ``(1) Required.--Not later than September 30 of each year, the \n Advisory Committee shall submit a report to the Secretary, the \n Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and \n the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. \n Should circumstances arise in which the Advisory Committee cannot \n meet the September 30 deadline in any year, the Secretary shall \n advise the Chairpersons of the Committee on Financial Services of \n the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, \n and Urban Affairs of the Senate of the reasons for such delay and \n the date on which the submission of the report is anticipated.\n ``(2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall \n describe the activities of the Advisory Committee during the \n preceding year and the reports and recommendations made by the \n Advisory Committee to the Secretary of the Treasury.\n ``(h) Federal Advisory Committee Act Does Not Apply.--Subject to \nthe requirements of subsection (b)(8), the Federal Advisory Committee \nAct shall not apply with respect to the Committee.''.\n (b) Abolishment of Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory \nCommittee.--Effective on the date of the enactment of this Act, the \nCitizens CommemorativeCoin Advisory Committee (established by section \n5135 of title 31, United States Code, as in effect before the amendment \nmade by subsection (a)) is hereby abolished.\n (c) Continuity of Members of Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory \nCommittee.--Subject to paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 5135(b) of \ntitle 31, United States Code, any person who is a member of the \nCitizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee on the date of the \nenactment of this Act, other than the member of such committee who is \nappointed from among the officers or employees of the United States \nMint, may continue to serve the remainder of the term to which such \nmember was appointed as a member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory \nCommittee in one of the positions as determined by the Secretary.\n (d) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 5112(l)(4)(A)(ii) of title 31, United States Code, \n is amended by striking ``Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory \n Committee'' and inserting ``Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee''.\n (2) Section 5134(c) of title 31, United States Code, is \n amended--\n (A) by striking paragraph (4); and\n (B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4).\n\n TITLE II--TECHNICAL AND CLARIFYING PROVISIONS\n\nSEC. 201. CLARIFICATION OF EXISTING LAW.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 5134(f)(1) of title 31, United States \nCode, is amended to read as follows:\n ``(1) Payment of surcharges.--\n ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n law, no amount derived from the proceeds of any surcharge \n imposed on the sale of any numismatic item shall be paid from \n the fund to any designated recipient organization unless--\n ``(i) all numismatic operation and program costs \n allocable to the program under which such numismatic item \n is produced and sold have been recovered; and\n ``(ii) the designated recipient organization submits an \n audited financial statement that demonstrates, to the \n satisfaction of the Secretary, that, with respect to all \n projects or purposes for which the proceeds of such \n surcharge may be used, the organization has raised funds \n from private sources for such projects and purposes in an \n amount that is equal to or greater than the total amount of \n the proceeds of such surcharge derived from the sale of \n such numismatic item.\n ``(B) Unpaid amounts.--If any amount derived from the \n proceeds of any surcharge imposed on the sale of any numismatic \n item that may otherwise be paid from the fund, under any \n provision of law relating to such numismatic item, to any \n designated recipient organization remains unpaid to such \n organization solely by reason of the matching fund requirement \n contained in subparagraph (A)(ii) after the end of the 2-year \n period beginning on the later of--\n ``(i) the last day any such numismatic item is issued \n by the Secretary; or\n ``(ii) the date of the enactment of the American 5-Cent \n Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003,\n such unpaid amount shall be deposited in the Treasury as \n miscellaneous receipts.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply as of the date of the enactment of Public Law 104-208.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on February 26, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)\n\nAmerican 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003 - Title I: United States American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity - (Sec. 101) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to change the design on the obverse and reverse sides of five-cent coins issued in 2003, 2004, and 2005, in recognition of the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and the expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.States that if the Secretary elects to change: (1) the obverse of 5-cent coins issued during 2003, 2004, and 2005, the design shall depict a likeness of President Thomas Jefferson, different from the likeness that appeared on the obverse of the 5-cent coins issued during 2002, in recognition of his role with respect to the Louisiana Purchase and the commissioning of the Lewis and Clark expedition; and (2) the reverse of the 5-cent coins issued during such years, the design selected shall depict images emblematic of the Louisiana Purchase or the expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. (Sec. 102) Requires the obverse of any 5-cent coin issued after December 31, 2005, to bear the likeness of Thomas Jefferson and the reverse of such coin bear an image of the home of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. (Sec. 103) Establishes a seven-member Coin Design Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary on coin themes and designs.Abolishes the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee. Authorizes certain Committee members to continue serving the remainder of their appointed term as a member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee as determined by the Secretary.Title II: Technical and Clarifying Provisions - (Sec. 201) Amends Federal law to revise the requirements for payment of surcharges to recipient organizations.Requires deposit into the Treasury as unpaid receipts certain unpaid amounts derived from surcharge proceeds.", "title": "To ensure continuity for the design of the 5-cent coin, establish the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2847, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Janey Ensminger Act of 2016''.\n\nSEC. 2. REVIEW OF ILLNESSES AND CONDITIONS RELATING TO VETERANS \n STATIONED AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND THEIR \n FAMILY MEMBERS.\n\n (a) Review and Publication of Illness or Condition.--Part P of \ntitle III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 399V-6. REVIEW AND PUBLICATION OF ILLNESSES AND CONDITIONS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Consistent with section 104(i) of the \nComprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act \nof 1980, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this \nsection, and not less frequently than once every 3 years thereafter, \nthe Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic \nSubstances and Disease Registry, shall--\n ``(1)(A) review the scientific literature relevant to the \n relationship between the employment or residence of individuals \n at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for not fewer than 30 days \n during the period beginning on August 1, 1953, and ending on \n December 21, 1987, and specific illnesses or conditions \n incurred by those individuals;\n ``(B) determine each illness or condition for which there \n is evidence that exposure to a toxic substance at Camp Lejeune, \n North Carolina, during the period specified in subparagraph (A) \n may be a cause of the illness or condition; and\n ``(C) with respect to each illness or condition for which a \n determination has been made under subparagraph (B), categorize \n the evidence of the connection of the illness or condition to \n exposure described in that subparagraph as--\n ``(i) sufficient to conclude with reasonable \n confidence that the exposure is a cause of the illness \n or condition;\n ``(ii) modest supporting causation, but not \n sufficient to conclude with reasonable confidence that \n exposure is a cause of the illness or condition; or\n ``(iii) no more than limited supporting causation;\n ``(2) publish in the Federal Register and on the Internet \n website of the Department of Health and Human Services--\n ``(A) a list of each illness or condition for which \n a determination has been made under paragraph (1)(B), \n including the categorization of the evidence of causal \n connection relating to the illness or condition under \n paragraph (1)(C); and\n ``(B) the bibliographic citations for all \n literature reviewed under paragraph (1) for each \n illness or condition listed under such paragraph; and\n ``(3) update the list under paragraph (2), as applicable, \n to add an illness or condition for which a determination has \n been made under paragraph (1)(B), including the categorization \n of the evidence of causal connection relating to the illness or \n condition under paragraph (1)(C), since such list was last \n updated consistent with the requirements of this subsection.''.\n (b) Eligibility for Health Care From Department of Veterans \nAffairs.--\n (1) In general.--Section 1710(e)(1)(F) of title 38, United \n States Code, is amended--\n (A) by redesignating clauses (i) through (xv) as \n subclauses (I) through (XV), respectively;\n (B) by striking ``(F) Subject to'' and inserting \n ``(F)(i) Subject to'';\n (C) by striking ``any of the following'' and \n inserting ``any of the illnesses or conditions for \n which the evidence of connection of the illness or \n condition to exposure to a toxic substance at Camp \n Lejeune, North Carolina, during such period is \n categorized as sufficient or modest in the most recent \n list published under section 399V-6(a)(2) of the Public \n Health Service Act, which may include any of the \n following''; and\n (D) by adding at the end the following new clause:\n ``(ii) For the purposes of ensuring continuation of care, any \nveteran who has been furnished hospital care or medical services under \nthis subparagraph for an illness or condition shall remain eligible for \nhospital care or medical services for such illness or condition \nnotwithstanding that the evidence of connection of such illness or \ncondition to exposure to a toxic substance at Camp Lejeune, North \nCarolina, during the period described in clause (i) is not categorized \nas sufficient or modest in the most recent list published under section \n399V-6(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act.''.\n (2) Family members.--Section 1787 of such title is amended \n by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(c) Continuation of Care.--For the purposes of ensuring \ncontinuation of care, any individual who has been furnished hospital \ncare or medical services under this section for an illness or condition \nshall remain eligible for hospital care or medical services for such \nillness or condition notwithstanding that the illness or condition is \nno longer described in section 1710(e)(1)(F) of this title.''.\n (3) Transfer of amounts for program.--Notwithstanding any \n other provision of law, for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018, \n the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall transfer $2,000,000 \n from amounts made available to the Department of Veterans \n Affairs for medical support and compliance to the Chief \n Business Office and Financial Services Center of the Department \n to be used to continue building and enhancing the claims \n processing system, eligibility system, and web portal for the \n Camp Lejeune Family Member Program of the Department.", "summary": "Janey Ensminger Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, at least every three years, to: review the scientific literature relevant to the relationship between the employment or residence of individuals at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for at least 30 days during the period of August 1, 1953, to December 21, 1987, and specific illnesses or conditions incurred by those individuals and determine whether and to what extent the evidence shows that toxic substance exposure is a cause of an illness or condition; and publish and update a list of each illness and the categorization of evidence for which a determination of cause has been made. A veteran who served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days during such period is eligible for hospital care and medical services for any of the illnesses or conditions for which the evidentiary connection between toxic exposure and the illness or condition is categorized in such list as sufficient or modest. Such a veteran who has been furnished hospital care or medical services shall remain eligible for such care or services for such illness or condition even if the evidentiary connection is not categorized as sufficient or modest. A family member of such veteran who has been furnished hospital care or medical services shall remain eligible for hospital care or medical services for such illness or condition. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall transfer for each of FY2017 and FY2018 specified finds to enhance the claims processing system, eligibility system, and web portal for the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program.", "title": "Janey Ensminger Act of 2016"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 152, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps Act \nof 2005''.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORITY.\n\n The Corporation for National and Community Service (referred to in \nthis Act as the ``Corporation''), pursuant to section 126(b) of the \nNational and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12576(b)), shall \ncarry out the activities authorized under this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL AMERICORPS DISASTER RELIEF CORPS.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established an AmeriCorps Disaster \nRelief Corps, to be administered by the Corporation, to carry out full- \nor part-time service projects that provide food, clothing, shelter, and \nother humanitarian assistance for victims of major disasters and \nemergencies, projects involving cleaning, repair, and reconstruction of \nstructures, facilities, and lands located within the disaster area, and \nother projects arising from the consequences of major disasters and \nemergencies.\n (b) Recruitment of Participants and Eligibility.--\n (1) Recruitment.--The Corporation shall endeavor to recruit \n up to 10,000 additional eligible participants for the national \n service program established under subsection (a).\n (2) Eligibility.--Eligibility to participate in the \n national service program established under subsection (a) shall \n be on the same basis as for participation in an approved \n national service position authorized by subtitle C or E of \n title I of the National and Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. \n 12571 et seq.) or by title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service \n Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.). Individuals selected as \n participants in the program shall be eligible for living \n allowances, educational awards, and other support authorized \n for participants in approved national service positions under \n such Acts.\n (3) Priority.--In conducting recruiting under paragraph \n (1), the Corporation and recipients of assistance to operate \n projects shall give priority to those individuals dislocated as \n a result of major disasters and emergencies and may permit \n alternative documentation requirements relating to \n demonstrating eligibility of such individuals.\n (c) Projects.--Participants for the national service program \nestablished under subsection (a) may serve on projects that--\n (1) help those affected by major disasters and emergencies \n assess their needs;\n (2) assist in the construction of temporary housing for the \n displaced victims of a major disaster or emergency;\n (3) provide relocation services for victims of the \n hurricane, including food, water and clothing distribution and \n housing location services;\n (4) conduct outreach to local businesses, building owners, \n and others with applications for disaster relief and for other \n assistance to be provided by Federal or State government;\n (5) provide employment services for victims, such as \n identifying job training, job placement, and other \n opportunities;\n (6) conduct environmental surveys, monitoring water quality \n and determining the environmental impact on the affected \n region;\n (7) provide teaching and administrative support functions \n for school systems where displaced children have enrolled;\n (8) work with schools to identify and mentor students \n coping with the impact of a major disaster or emergency;\n (9) work with public officials to prepare them for future \n disasters or emergencies; and\n (10) otherwise assist with the rebuilding of the affected \n regions.\n\nSEC. 4. GRANTS TO STATES, CITIES, ORGANIZATIONS; COOPERATION WITH \n FEDERAL AGENCIES.\n\n The Corporation may use funds authorized under this Act in support \nof projects or activities consistent with those specified in section \n3(c) to--\n (1) make grants to, or enter into agreements with States, \n subdivisions of States, or other organizations to support \n AmeriCorps projects under section 121 of the National and \n Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12571);\n (2) support the National Civilian Community Corps \n authorized under subtitle E of title I of the National and \n Community Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12611);\n (3) support the VISTA program under title I of the Domestic \n Volunteer Service Act (42 U.S.C. 4451 et seq.); and\n (4) enter into a contract or cooperative or other agreement \n with another Federal agency.\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.\n\n As used in this Act, the terms ``emergency'' and ``major disaster'' \nhave the meaning given such terms in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section \n102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance \nAct (42 U.S.C 5122(1) and (2)).\n\nSEC. 6. TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRUST.\n\n The Corporation shall transfer funds to the National Service Trust \nestablished in section 145 of the National and Community Service Act \n(42 U.S.C. 12601) an amount required under the Strengthen AmeriCorps \nProgram Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-45) (42 U.S.C. 12605 et seq.) to \nprovide educational awards and related assistance authorized under \nsubtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act (42 \nU.S.C. 12601 et. seq.)\n\nSEC. 7. AUTHORITY FOR THIRD-TERM BENEFITS AND EDUCATIONAL AWARD.\n\n Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual serving \nin a program authorized by this Act may serve a third term of service \nin an approved national service position and may receive in-service \nbenefits and a post-service educational award authorized under the \nnational service laws on the same basis as an individual serving in a \nfirst or second term of service.\n\nSEC. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.\n\n The Corporation may use up to two percent of funds authorized under \nsection 12 for the administration of this Act.\n\nSEC. 9. ACCEPTANCE OF DONATED SERVICES.\n\n Section 196(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 12651g(a)(2)) of the National and \nCommunity Service Act is amended by striking ``money or property'' and \ninserting ``money, services, or property''.\n\nSEC. 10. GRANTS NOT SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS LIMITATIONS.\n\n Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds provided under \nthis Act to administer, reimburse, or support any national service \nprogram authorized under the national service laws, shall not be \nconsidered in applying any limitation on funding for such programs in \nannual appropriations Acts.\n\nSEC. 11. AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS OPERATED BY FEDERAL AGENCIES.\n\n Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Corporation may use \nfunds authorized under this Act to enter into a contract or cooperative \nagreement with another Federal agency to support a national service \nprogram carried out by that agency consistent with section 121(b) of \nthe National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)).\n\nSEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There is authorized to be appropriated to the Corporation \n$150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to carry out this \nAct.", "summary": "AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps Act of 2005 - Establishes an AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps, administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, to carry out service projects that: (1) provide food, clothing, shelter, and other humanitarian assistance for victims of major disasters and emergencies; (2) involve cleaning, repair, and reconstruction of structures, facilities, and lands located within the disaster area; and (3) perform other activities in response to the consequences of major disasters and emergencies.\n\nAuthorizes the Corporation to: (1) make grants to, or enter into agreements with states, local governments, or other organizations to support AmeriCorps projects; (2) support the National Civilian Community Corps authorized under the National and Community Service Act; (3) support the VISTA program under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act; and (4) enter into a contract or other agreement with another Federal agency.", "title": "To establish the AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Corps to carry out national service projects that address the needs arising from the consequences of Hurricane Katrina, and other major disasters and emergencies."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2340, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Border Crossing Deterrence Act of \n2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. EXPANSION OF OPERATION STREAMLINE.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than December 31, 2009, the Secretary of \nHomeland Security, in Cooperation with the Attorney General, shall \nexpand Operation Streamline (the zero-tolerance prosecution policy for \nillegal entry and reentry) to all 20 border sectors.\n (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated $500,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through \n2018 to carry out this section.\n\nSEC. 3. MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES FOR ILLEGAL ENTRY.\n\n Section 275 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1325) \nis amended--\n (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections \n (d) and (e), respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:\n ``(c) Improper Time or Place; Criminal Penalties.--Any alien who is \napprehended while entering, or attempting to enter, the United States \nat a time and place other than as designated by immigration offices--\n ``(1) in the case of a first violation of subsection (a), \n shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than \n 10 days and not more than 364 days;\n ``(2) in the case of a second violation of subsection (a), \n shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than \n 60 days and not more than 2 years; and\n ``(3) in the case of a third or subsequent violation of \n subsection (a), shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of \n not less than 90 days and not more than 3 years.''.\n\nSEC. 4. MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES FOR ILLEGAL REENTRY.\n\n Section 276 (8 U.S.C. 1326) is amended to read as follows:\n\n``SEC. 276. REENTRY OF REMOVED ALIEN.\n\n ``(a) Reentry After Removal.--Any alien who has been denied \nadmission, excluded, deported, or removed, or who has departed the \nUnited States while an order of exclusion, deportation, or removal is \noutstanding, and subsequently enters, attempts to enter, crosses the \nborder to, attempts to cross the border to, or is at any time found in \nthe United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, \nand imprisoned not less than 90 days and not more than 2 years.\n ``(b) Reentry of Criminal Offenders.--Notwithstanding the penalty \nprescribed under subsection (a), an alien described in that subsection \nwho was--\n ``(1) convicted for 3 or more misdemeanors or a felony \n before such removal or departure, shall be fined under title \n 18, United States Code, and imprisoned for not less than 1 year \n and not more than 10 years;\n ``(2) convicted for a felony before such removal or \n departure for which the alien was sentenced to a term of \n imprisonment of not less than 30 months, shall be fined under \n such title, and imprisoned for not less than 2 years and not \n more than 15 years;\n ``(3) convicted for a felony before such removal or \n departure for which the alien was sentenced to a term of \n imprisonment of not less than 60 months, shall be fined under \n such title and imprisoned for not less than 4 years and not \n more than 20 years;\n ``(4) convicted for 2 or more felonies before such removal \n or departure, shall be fined under such title and imprisoned \n for not less than 4 years and for not more than 20 years; or\n ``(5) convicted, before such removal or departure, for \n murder, rape, kidnapping, for a felony offense described in \n chapter 77 (relating to peonage and slavery) or 113B (relating \n to terrorism) of such title, shall be fined under such title \n and imprisoned for not less than 5 years and not more than 20 \n years.\n ``(c) Reentry After Repeated Removal.--Any alien who, after having \nbeen denied admission, excluded, deported, or removed 2 or more times, \nenters, attempts to enter, crosses the border to, attempts to cross the \nborder to, or is at any time found in the United States, shall be fined \nunder title 18, United States Code, and imprisoned for not less than 2 \nyears and not more than 10 years.\n ``(d) Proof of Prior Convictions.--The prior convictions described \nin subsection (b) are elements of the crimes described in that \nsubsection, and the penalties in that subsection shall apply only in \ncases in which the conviction or convictions that form the basis for \nthe additional penalty are--\n ``(1) alleged in the indictment or information; and\n ``(2) proven beyond a reasonable doubt at trial or admitted \n by the defendant.\n ``(e) Affirmative Defenses.--It shall be an affirmative defense to \na violation of this section that--\n ``(1) the alien had sought and received, before the alleged \n violation, the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland \n Security to reapply for admission into the United States;\n ``(2) with respect to an alien previously denied admission \n and removed, the alien--\n ``(A) was not required to obtain such advance \n consent under the Immigration and Nationality Act or \n under any prior Act; and\n ``(B) had complied with all other laws and \n regulations governing the alien's admission into the \n United States; or\n ``(3) at the time of the prior exclusion, deportation, \n removal, or denial of admission alleged in the violation, the \n alien--\n ``(A) was younger than 18 years of age; and\n ``(B) had not been convicted of a crime or \n adjudicated a delinquent minor by a court of the United \n States, or a court of a State or territory, for conduct \n that would constitute a felony if committed by an \n adult.\n ``(f) Limitation on Collateral Attack on Underlying Removal \nOrder.--In a criminal proceeding under this section, an alien may not \nchallenge the validity of any prior removal order concerning the alien \nunless the alien demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that--\n ``(1) the alien exhausted all administrative remedies that \n may have been available to seek relief against the order;\n ``(2) the removal proceedings at which the order was issued \n improperly deprived the alien of the opportunity for judicial \n review; and\n ``(3) the entry of the order was fundamentally unfair.\n ``(g) Reentry of Alien Removed Before Completing Term of \nImprisonment.--Any alien removed pursuant to section 241(a)(4) who \nenters, attempts to enter, crosses the border to, attempts to cross the \nborder to, or is at any time found in, the United States shall be--\n ``(1) incarcerated for the remainder of the term of \n imprisonment, which was pending at the time of deportation \n without any reduction for parole or supervised release unless \n the alien affirmatively demonstrates that the Secretary of \n Homeland Security has expressly consented to the alien's \n reentry; and\n ``(2) subject to such other penalties relating to the \n reentry of removed aliens as may be available under this \n section or any other provision of law.\n ``(h) Limitation.--An individual who provides an alien with \nemergency humanitarian assistance, including emergency medical care and \nfood, or transports the alien to a location where such assistance can \nbe rendered without compensation or the expectation of compensation may \nnot be prosecuted for aiding and abetting a violation of this section \nbased on the provision of such humanitarian services .\n ``(i) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) Felony.--The term `felony' means any criminal offense \n punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than 1 year under \n the laws of the United States, of any State, or of a foreign \n government.\n ``(2) Misdemeanor.--The term `misdemeanor' means any \n criminal offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment \n of not more than 1 year under the applicable laws of the United \n States, of any State, or of a foreign government.\n ``(3) Removal.--The term `removal' includes any denial of \n admission, exclusion, deportation, or removal, or any agreement \n by which an alien stipulates or agrees to exclusion, \n deportation, or removal.\n ``(4) State.--The term `State' means any of the several \n States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any \n commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.''.\n\nSEC. 5. MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES FOR DESTROYING BORDER BARRIERS OR \n INFRASTRUCTURE.\n\n Section 1361 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``Whoever'' and inserting the following:\n ``(a) In General.--Whoever''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(b) Destruction of Border Barriers or Infrastructure.--Any alien \nwho damages or destroys fencing or infrastructure, such as cameras, \nsensors, and vehicle barriers, that has been installed along the \ninternational border of the United States by the United States \nGovernment shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not less \nthan 5 years.''.", "summary": "Border Crossing Deterrence Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to expand Operation Streamline (the zero-tolerance prosecution policy for illegal entry and reentry) to all 20 border sectors. Authorizes appropriations.\n\nAmends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) revise and increase criminal penalties, including establishing mandatory minimum penalties, for an alien's entry into the United States at an improper time or place; and (2) revise criminal penalty and related provisions, and establish mandatory minimum sentences, respecting the reentry of an alien who has been removed from the United States.\n\nAmends the federal criminal code to establish a mandatory minimum criminal penalty of five years for an alien's destruction of U.S. government-installed border barriers or infrastructure.", "title": "A bill to increase the criminal penalties for illegally reentering the United States and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 48, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Children's Bicycle Helmet Safety Act \nof 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds that--\n (1) 90 million Americans ride bicycles and 20 million ride \n a bicycle more than once a week;\n (2) between 1984 and 1988, 2,985 bicyclists in the United \n States died from head injuries and 905,752 suffered head \n injuries that were treated in hospital emergency rooms;\n (3) 41 percent of bicycle-related head injury deaths and 76 \n percent of bicycle-related head injuries occurred among \n American children under age 15;\n (4) deaths and injuries from bicycle accidents cost society \n $7.6 billion annually; and a child suffering from a head \n injury, on average, will cost society $4.5 million over the \n child's lifetime;\n (5) universal use of bicycle helmets in the United States \n would have prevented 2,600 deaths from head injuries and \n 757,000 injuries; and\n (6) only 5 percent of children in the Nation who ride \n bicycles wear helmets.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.\n\n The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety \nAdministration may, in accordance with section 4, make grants to \nStates, State political subdivisions, and nonprofit organizations for \nprograms that require or encourage individuals under the age of 16 to \nwear approved bicycle helmets. In making those grants, the \nAdministrator shall allow grantees to use wide discretion in designing \nprograms that effectively promote increased bicycle helmet use.\n\nSEC. 4. PURPOSES FOR GRANTS.\n\n A grant made under section 3 may be used by a grantee to--\n (1) enforce a law that requires individuals under the age \n of 16 to wear approved bicycle helmets on their heads while \n riding on bicycles;\n (2) assist individuals under the age of 16 to acquire \n approved bicycle helmets;\n (3) develop and administer a program to educate individuals \n under the age of 16 and their families on the importance of \n wearing such helmets in order to improve bicycle safety; or\n (4) carry out any combination of the activities described \n in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).\n\nSEC. 5. STANDARDS.\n\n (a) In General.--Bicycle helmets manufactured 9 months or more \nafter the date of the enactment of this Act shall conform to--\n (1) any interim standard described under subsection (b), \n pending the establishment of a final standard pursuant to \n subsection (c); and\n (2) the final standard, once it has been established under \n subsection (c).\n (b) Interim Standards.--The interim standards are as follows:\n (1) The American National Standards Institute standard \n designated as ``Z90.4-1984''.\n (2) The Snell Memorial Foundation standard designated as \n ``B-90''.\n (3) Any other standard that the Consumer Product Safety \n Commission determines is appropriate.\n (c) Final Standard.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall \nbegin a proceeding under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, \nto--\n (1) review the requirements of the interim standards set \n forth in subsection (a) and establish a final standard based on \n such requirements;\n (2) include in the final standard a provision to protect \n against the risk of helmets coming off the heads of bicycle \n riders;\n (3) include in the final standard provisions that address \n the risk of injury to children; and\n (4) include additional provisions as appropriate.\nSections 7 and 9 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2056 and \n2058) shall not apply to the proceeding under this subsection and \nsection 11 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2060) shall not apply with respect to \nany standard issued under such proceeding. The final standard shall \ntake effect 1 year from the date it is issued.\n (d) Failure To Meet Standards.--\n (1) Failure to meet interim standard.--Until the final \n standard takes effect, a bicycle helmet that does not conform \n to an interim standard as required under subsection (a)(1) \n shall be considered in violation of a consumer product safety \n standard promulgated under the Consumer Product Safety Act.\n (2) Status of final standard.--The final standard developed \n under subsection (c) shall be considered a consumer product \n safety standard promulgated under the Consumer Product Safety \n Act.\n\nSEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n For the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to carry out \nthe grant program authorized by this Act, there are authorized to be \nappropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $3,000,000 for fiscal \nyear 1995, and $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.\n\nSEC. 7. DEFINITION.\n\n In this Act, the term ``approved bicycle helmet'' means a bicycle \nhelmet that meets--\n (1) any interim standard described in section 5(b), pending \n establishment of a final standard under section 5(c); and\n (2) the final standard, once it is established under \n section 5(c).", "summary": "Children's Bicycle Helmet Safety Act of 1993 - Authorizes the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make grants to States, political subdivisions, and nonprofit organizations for programs that require or encourage individuals under age 16 to wear approved bicycle helmets. \nSpecifies that such grants may be used to: (1) enforce a law that requires such individuals to wear approved bicycle helmets; (2) assist such individuals to acquire such helmets; and (3) develop and adminster a program to educate such individuals and their families on the importance of wearing such helmets. \nSets interim standards for bicycle helmets and provides that a helmet that does not conform shall be considered in violation of a consumer product safety standard promulgated under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). \nDirects the Consumer Product Safety Commission to begin a proceeding to review the requirements of the interim standards and establish a final standard that includes provisions to protect against the risk of helmets coming off the heads of bicycle riders and to address the risk of injury to children. Specifies that the final standard shall be considered a consumer product safety standard under the CPSA. \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "Children's Bicycle Helmet Safety Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2909, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Government Paperwork Elimination \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF OMB TO PROVIDE FOR ACQUISITION AND USE OF \n ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES BY EXECUTIVE \n AGENCIES.\n\n Section 3504(a)(1)(B)(vi) of title 44, United States Code, is \namended to read as follows:\n ``(vi) the acquisition and use of \n information technology, including alternative \n information technologies that provide for \n electronic submission, maintenance, or \n disclosure of information as a substitute for \n paper and for the use and acceptance of \n electronic signatures.''.\n\nSEC. 3. PROCEDURES FOR USE AND ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES BY \n EXECUTIVE AGENCIES.\n\n (a) In General.--In order to fulfill the responsibility to \nadminister the functions assigned under chapter 35 of title 44, United \nStates Code, the provisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (divisions \nD and E of Public Law 104-106) and the amendments made by that Act, and \nthe provisions of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management \nand Budget shall, in consultation with the National Telecommunications \nand Information Administration and not later than 18 months after the \ndate of enactment of this Act, develop procedures for the use and \nacceptance of electronic signatures by Executive agencies.\n (b) Requirements for Procedures.--(1) The procedures developed \nunder subsection (a)--\n (A) shall be compatible with standards and technology for \n electronic signatures that are generally used in commerce and \n industry and by State governments;\n (B) may not inappropriately favor one industry or \n technology;\n (C) shall ensure that electronic signatures are as reliable \n as is appropriate for the purpose in question and keep intact \n the information submitted;\n (D) shall provide for the electronic acknowledgment of \n electronic forms that are successfully submitted; and\n (E) shall, to the extent feasible and appropriate, require \n an Executive agency that anticipates receipt by electronic \n means of 50,000 or more submittals of a particular form to take \n all steps necessary to ensure that multiple methods of \n electronic signatures are available for the submittal of such \n form.\n (2) The Director shall ensure the compatibility of the procedures \nunder paragraph (1)(A) in consultation with appropriate private bodies \nand State government entities that set standards for the use and \nacceptance of electronic signatures.\n\nSEC. 4. DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY EXECUTIVE AGENCIES OF PROCEDURES \n FOR USE AND ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES.\n\n In order to fulfill the responsibility to administer the functions \nassigned under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, the \nprovisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (divisions D and E of \nPublic Law 104-106) and the amendments made by that Act, and the \nprovisions of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and \nBudget shall ensure that, commencing not later than five years after \nthe date of enactment of this Act, Executive agencies provide--\n (1) for the option of the electronic maintenance, \n submission, or disclosure of information, when practicable as a \n substitute for paper; and\n (2) for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures, \n when practicable.\n\nSEC. 5. ELECTRONIC STORAGE AND FILING OF EMPLOYMENT FORMS.\n\n In order to fulfill the responsibility to administer the functions \nassigned under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, the \nprovisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (divisions D and E of \nPublic Law 104-106) and the amendments made by that Act, and the \nprovisions of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and \nBudget shall, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of \nthis Act, develop procedures to permit private employers to store and \nfile electronically with Executive agencies forms containing \ninformation pertaining to the employees of such employers.\n\nSEC. 6. STUDY ON USE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES.\n\n (a) Ongoing Study Required.--In order to fulfill the responsibility \nto administer the functions assigned under chapter 35 of title 44, \nUnited States Code, the provisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 \n(divisions D and E of Public Law 104-106) and the amendments made by \nthat Act, and the provisions of this Act, the Director of the Office of \nManagement and Budget shall, in cooperation with the National \nTelecommunications and Information Administration, conduct an ongoing \nstudy of the use of electronic signatures under this title on--\n (1) paperwork reduction and electronic commerce;\n (2) individual privacy; and\n (3) the security and authenticity of transactions.\n (b) Reports.--The Director shall submit to Congress on a periodic \nbasis a report describing the results of the study carried out under \nsubsection (a).\n\nSEC. 7. ENFORCEABILITY AND LEGAL EFFECT OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS.\n\n Electronic records submitted or maintained in accordance with \nprocedures developed under this Act, or electronic signatures or other \nforms of electronic authentication used in accordance with such \nprocedures, shall not be denied legal effect, validity, or \nenforceability because such records are in electronic form.\n\nSEC. 8. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.\n\n Except as provided by law, information collected in the provision \nof electronic signature services for communications with an executive \nagency, as provided by this Act, shall only be used or disclosed by \npersons who obtain, collect, or maintain such information as a business \nor government practice, for the purpose of facilitating such \ncommunications, or with the prior affirmative consent of the person \nabout whom the information pertains.\n\nSEC. 9. APPLICATION WITH INTERNAL REVENUE LAWS.\n\n No provision of this Act shall apply to the Department of the \nTreasury or the Internal Revenue Service to the extent that such \nprovision--\n (1) involves the administration of the internal revenue \n laws; or\n (2) conflicts with any provision of the Internal Revenue \n Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 or the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986.\n\nSEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act:\n (1) Electronic signature.--The term ``electronic \n signature'' means a method of signing an electronic message \n that--\n (A) identifies and authenticates a particular \n person as the source of the electronic message; and\n (B) indicates such person's approval of the \n information contained in the electronic message.\n (2) Executive agency.--The term ``Executive agency'' has \n the meaning given that term in section 105 of title 5, United \n States Code.\n\n Passed the Senate October 15 (legislative day, October 2), \n 1998.\n\n Attest:\n\n GARY SISCO,\n\n Secretary.", "summary": "Government Paperwork Elimination Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget: (1) in providing direction and overseeing the acquisition and use of information technology, to include alternative information technologies that provide for electronic submission, maintenance, or disclosure of information as a substitute for paper and for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures; (2) to develop procedures for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures by executive agencies; (3) to ensure that, within five years, executive agencies provide for the option of electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of information as a substitute for paper and for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures, when practicable; (4) to develop procedures to permit private employers to store and file electronically with executive agencies forms containing information pertaining to employees; and (5) in cooperation with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, to conduct and report to Congress on an ongoing study of the use of electronic signatures on paperwork reduction and electronic commerce, individual privacy, and the security and authenticity of transactions. \nProvides for: (1) the enforceability and legal effect of electronic records and signatures; (2) protection from disclosure of information collected in the provision of electronic signature services for executive agencies; and (3) applicability exceptions with respect to administration of the internal revenue laws.", "title": "Government Paperwork Elimination Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2115, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Gasoline Tax Relief Act of 2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. SUSPENSION OF FUEL TAXES ON HIGHWAY MOTOR FUELS WHEN WEEKLY \n UNITED STATES RETAIL GASOLINE PRICES EXCEED BENCHMARK.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 4081 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n(relating to imposition of tax on motor and aviation fuels) is amended \nby adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(f) Suspension of Highway Motor Fuel Taxes When Retail Gasoline \nExceeds Benchmark.--\n ``(1) In general.--During any suspension period, the tax \n imposed by section 4041 or 4081 on highway motor fuel shall be \n suspended.\n ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--\n ``(A) Suspension period.--The term `suspension \n period' means--\n ``(i) the 60-day period beginning 7 days \n after the date of enactment of this subsection, \n and\n ``(ii) after such 60-day period, any \n period--\n ``(I) beginning 7 days after the \n date on which the weekly United States \n retail gasoline price for regular grade \n conventional areas (as published by the \n Energy Information Administration, \n Department of Energy), inclusive of \n such tax, is greater than the benchmark \n price, and\n ``(II) ending 7 days after the date \n on which such price (as so published), \n without regard to this subsection, does \n not exceed the benchmark price.\n ``(B) Benchmark price.--For purposes of this \n subsection--\n ``(i) In general.--The term `benchmark \n price' means $2.75 per gallon.\n ``(ii) Adjustment for inflation.--In the \n case of any calendar year beginning after 2006, \n the dollar amount in clause (i) shall be \n increased by an amount equal to--\n ``(I) such dollar amount, \n multiplied by\n ``(II) the cost-of-living \n adjustment determined under section \n 1(f)(3) for such calendar year, \n determined by substituting `calendar \n year 2005' for `calendar year 1992' in \n subparagraph (B) thereof.\n Any increase determined under subclause (II) \n shall be rounded to the nearest cent.\n ``(C) Highway motor fuel.--The term `highway motor \n fuel' means any fuel subject to tax under section 4041 \n or 4081 other than aviation gasoline and aviation-grade \n kerosene.''.\n (b) Maintenance of Trust Funds Deposits; Amounts Appropriated to \nTrust Funds Treated as Taxes.--\n (1) In general.--There is hereby appropriated (out of any \n money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated) to each trust \n fund which would (but for this subsection) receive reduced \n revenues as a result of a suspension in a rate of tax by reason \n of section 4081(f)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as \n added by this section) an amount equal to such reduction in \n revenues. Amounts appropriated by the preceding sentence to any \n trust fund--\n (A) shall be transferred from the general fund at \n such times and in such manner as to replicate to the \n extent possible the transfers which would have occurred \n had subsection (a) not been enacted, and\n (B) shall be treated for all purposes of Federal \n law as taxes received under the appropriate section \n referred to in such section 4081(f)(1).\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take \neffect on the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (d) Floor Stock Refunds.--\n (1) In general.--If--\n (A) before the tax suspension date, tax has been \n imposed under section 4081 of the Internal Revenue Code \n of 1986 on any highway motor fuel, and\n (B) on such date such fuel is held by a dealer and \n has not been used and is intended for sale,\n there shall be credited or refunded (without interest) to the \n person who paid such tax (hereafter in this subsection referred \n to as the ``taxpayer'') an amount equal to the excess of the \n tax paid by the taxpayer over the tax which would be imposed on \n such fuel had the taxable event occurred on such date.\n (2) Time for filing claims.--No credit or refund shall be \n allowed or made under this subsection unless--\n (A) claim therefor is filed with the Secretary of \n the Treasury before the date which is 6 months after \n the tax suspension date based on a request submitted to \n the taxpayer before the date which is 3 months after \n the tax suspension date by the dealer who held the \n highway motor fuel on such date, and\n (B) the taxpayer has repaid or agreed to repay the \n amount so claimed to such dealer or has obtained the \n written consent of such dealer to the allowance of the \n credit or the making of the refund.\n (3) Exception for fuel held in retail stocks.--No credit or \n refund shall be allowed under this subsection with respect to \n any highway motor fuel in retail stocks held at the place where \n intended to be sold at retail.\n (4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--\n (A) Tax suspension date.--The term ``tax suspension \n date'' means the first day of any suspension period in \n effect under section 4081(f) of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986 (as added by subsection (a) of this \n section).\n (B) Other terms.--The terms ``dealer'' and ``held \n by a dealer'' have the respective meanings given to \n such terms by section 6412 of such Code.\n (5) Certain rules to apply.--Rules similar to the rules of \n subsections (b) and (c) of section 6412 of such Code shall \n apply for purposes of this subsection.\n (e) Floor Stocks Tax.--\n (1) Imposition of tax.--In the case of any highway motor \n fuel which is held on the tax restoration date by any person, \n there is hereby imposed a floor stocks tax equal to the excess \n of the tax which would be imposed on such fuel had the taxable \n event occurred on such date over the tax (if any) previously \n paid (and not credited or refunded) on such fuel.\n (2) Liability for tax and method of payment.--\n (A) Liability for tax.--The person holding highway \n motor fuel on the tax restoration date to which the tax \n imposed by paragraph (1) applies shall be liable for \n such tax.\n (B) Method of payment.--The tax imposed by \n paragraph (1) shall be paid in such manner as the \n Secretary shall prescribe.\n (C) Time for payment.--The tax imposed by paragraph \n (1) shall be paid on or before the 45th day after the \n tax restoration date.\n (3) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--\n (A) Tax restoration date.--The term ``tax \n restoration date'' means the first day after the end of \n any suspension period (as defined in section 4081(f) of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).\n (B) Highway motor fuel.--The term ``highway motor \n fuel'' has the meaning given to such term by section \n 4081(f) of such Code.\n (C) Held by a person.--A highway motor fuel shall \n be considered as held by a person if title thereto has \n passed to such person (whether or not delivery to the \n person has been made).\n (D) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the \n Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate.\n (4) Exception for exempt uses.--The tax imposed by \n paragraph (1) shall not apply to any highway motor fuel held by \n any person exclusively for any use to the extent a credit or \n refund of the tax is allowable for such use.\n (5) Exception for certain amounts of fuel.--\n (A) In general.--No tax shall be imposed by \n paragraph (1) on any highway motor fuel held on the tax \n restoration date by any person if the aggregate amount \n of such highway motor fuel held by such person on such \n date does not exceed 2,000 gallons. The preceding \n sentence shall apply only if such person submits to the \n Secretary (at the time and in the manner required by \n the Secretary) such information as the Secretary shall \n require for purposes of this subparagraph.\n (B) Exempt fuel.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), \n there shall not be taken into account any highway motor \n fuel held by any person which is exempt from the tax \n imposed by paragraph (1) by reason of paragraph (4).\n (C) Controlled groups.--For purposes of this \n subsection--\n (i) Corporations.--\n (I) In general.--All persons \n treated as a controlled group shall be \n treated as 1 person.\n (II) Controlled group.--The term \n ``controlled group'' has the meaning \n given to such term by subsection (a) of \n section 1563 of such Code; except that \n for such purposes the phrase ``more \n than 50 percent'' shall be substituted \n for the phrase ``at least 80 percent'' \n each place it appears in such \n subsection.\n (ii) Nonincorporated persons under common \n control.--Under regulations prescribed by the \n Secretary, principles similar to the principles \n of subparagraph (A) shall apply to a group of \n persons under common control if 1 or more of \n such persons is not a corporation.\n (6) Other laws applicable.--All provisions of law, \n including penalties, applicable with respect to the taxes \n imposed by section 4081 of such Code shall, insofar as \n applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this \n subsection, apply with respect to the floor stock taxes imposed \n by paragraph (1) to the same extent as if such taxes were \n imposed by such section.", "summary": "Gasoline Tax Relief Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend excise taxes on diesel and other highway motor fuels during specified periods when weekly retail gasoline prices as published by the Department of Energy exceed $2.75 per gallon.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to suspend the excise tax on highway motor fuels when average United States retail gasoline prices exceed $2.75 per gallon."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2691, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Houthis and Iran Sanctions \nAccountability Act of 2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) On April 2015, the United Nations Security Council \n adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216 by 14 \n affirmative votes to none against, with one abstention (by the \n Russian Federation), imposing sanctions on individuals \n undermining the stability of Yemen, and demanded that the \n Houthis withdraw from all areas seized during the latest \n conflict, relinquish arms seized from military and security \n institutions, cease all actions falling exclusively within the \n authority of the legitimate Government of Yemen, and fully \n implement previous Security Council resolutions.\n (2) On May 16, 2012, the Obama administration issued \n Executive Order 13611 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to \n Blocking Property of Persons Threatening the Peace, Security, \n or Stability of Yemen), imposing sanctions on persons that \n ``have engaged in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the \n peace, security, or stability of Yemen, such as acts that \n obstruct the implementation of the agreement of November 23, \n 2011, between the Government of Yemen and those in opposition \n to it, which provides for a peaceful transition of power in \n Yemen, or that obstruct the political process in Yemen''.\n (3) On November 10, 2014, the Obama administration \n designated the leadership of the Iranian-supported Houthi \n insurgent group, and their ally former Yemeni President Ali \n Abdullah Saleh, for imposition of sanctions under Executive \n Order 13611.\n (4) Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has transferred \n increasingly sophisticated weapons systems to the Houthis, who \n have in turn shot missiles into Saudi Arabia from positions in \n northern Yemen, including a missile in November 2017 that \n targeted Riyadh International Airport. In response, Ambassador \n Nikki Haley called on ``the United Nations and international \n partners to take necessary action to hold the Iranian regime \n accountable for these violations''.\n (5) In addition to weapons, Iran is reportedly providing \n Afghan and Shi'ite Arab specialists, including Hizballah, to \n train Houthi units and act as logistical advisers.\n (6) The Iranian-supported Houthis have attacked coalition \n or coalition-affiliated maritime targets multiple times, a \n United States Navy ship twice, and other shipping, forcing the \n United States to respond with a combination of diplomacy and \n calibrated military strikes against three radar facilities in \n Houthi-controlled territory.\n\nSEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.\n\n It shall be the policy of the United States to condemn Iranian \nactivities in Yemen in violation of United Nations Security Council \nResolution 2216 (2015), and call on all responsible countries to take \nappropriate and necessary measures against the Government of Iran, \nincluding the interdiction of Iranian weapons to the Houthis, and the \nbilateral and multilateral application of sanctions against Iran for \nits violations of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216.\n\nSEC. 4. CONTINUATION IN EFFECT OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO YEMEN.\n\n (a) In General.--United States sanctions with respect to Yemen \nprovided for in Executive Order 13611 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to \nBlocking Property of Persons Threatening the Peace, Security, or \nStability of Yemen), as in effect on the day before the date of the \nenactment of this Act, shall remain in effect.\n (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be \nconstrued to limit the authority of the President pursuant to the \nInternational Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).\n\nSEC. 5. DETERMINATIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN IRANIAN PERSONS.\n\n (a) Determinations.--\n (1) In general.--The President shall, not later than 45 \n days after the date of the enactment of this Act, determine \n whether the Iranian persons listed in paragraph (2) are \n responsible for engaging in activities described in section 1 \n of Executive Order 13611 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to \n Blocking Property of Persons Threatening the Peace, Security, \n or Stability of Yemen).\n (2) Iranian persons listed.--The Iranian persons listed in \n this paragraph are the following:\n (A) Members of the Supreme National Security \n Council.\n (B) The Minister of Intelligence and Security.\n (C) The Commander of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard \n Corps.\n (D) The Commander of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard \n Corps, Qods Force.\n (E) The Minister of Defense.\n (F) Minister of Foreign Affairs.\n (G) Any other Iranian person that the President \n determines is appropriate.\n (3) Report.--\n (A) In general.--The President shall submit to the \n appropriate congressional committees a report that \n contains--\n (i) the determinations made under paragraph \n (1) together with the reasons for those \n determinations; and\n (ii) an identification of the Iranian \n persons that the President determines are \n responsible for engaging in activities \n described in section 1(c) of Executive Order \n 13611.\n (B) Form.--A report submitted under subparagraph \n (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may \n contain a classified annex.\n (b) Imposition of Sanctions.--The President shall impose the \nsanctions described in section 1 of Executive Order 13611 with respect \nto each Iranian person identified in the report submitted to the \nappropriate congressional committees under subsection (a)(3).\n (c) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term \n ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--\n (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee \n on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Financial \n Services of the House of Representatives; and\n (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the \n Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Banking, \n Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.\n (2) Entity.--The term ``entity''--\n (A) means a partnership, association, corporation, \n or other organization, group, or subgroup; and\n (B) includes a governmental entity.\n\nSEC. 6. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN FOREIGN PERSONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Beginning on and after the date that is 120 days \nafter the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose \nthe sanctions described in subsection (c) on a person described in \nsubsection (b).\n (b) Persons Described.--A person described in this subsection is a \nforeign person that the President determines knowingly provides \nsignificant financial, material, or technological support for--\n (1) Ansar Allah in Yemen;\n (2) a person designated pursuant to an applicable Executive \n order;\n (3) a person that the President determines is in violation \n of an applicable United Nations Security Council resolution;\n (4) an Iranian person identified in the report submitted to \n the appropriate congressional committees under section 5(a)(3); \n or\n (5) a foreign person owned or controlled by a foreign \n person described in paragraphs (1) through (4).\n (c) Imposition of Sanctions.--The sanctions to be imposed on a \nperson described in subsection (b) are the following:\n (1) In general.--The President shall exercise all of the \n powers granted to the President under the International \n Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the \n extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in \n property and interests in property of the person if such \n property and interests in property are in the United States, \n come within the United States, or are or come within the \n possession or control of a United States person.\n (2) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or parole.--\n (A) In general.--An alien who the Secretary of \n State or the Secretary of Homeland Security determines \n is a foreign person described in subsection (b) is--\n (i) inadmissible to the United States;\n (ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other \n documentation to enter the United States; and\n (iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted \n or paroled into the United States or to receive \n any other benefit under the Immigration and \n Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).\n (B) Current visas revoked.--\n (i) In general.--Any visa or other \n documentation issued to an alien who is a \n foreign person described in subsection (b), \n regardless of when such visa or other \n documentation was issued, shall be revoked and \n such alien shall be denied admission to the \n United States.\n (ii) Effect of revocation.--A revocation \n under clause (i)--\n (I) shall take effect immediately; \n and\n (II) shall automatically cancel any \n other valid visa or documentation that \n is in the possession of the alien who \n is the subject of such revocation.\n (3) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters \n agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (2) shall not apply to an \n alien if admitting the alien into the United States is \n necessary to permit the United States to comply with the \n Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, \n signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force \n November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United \n States, or other applicable international obligations.\n (4) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections \n (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency \n Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person \n that knowingly violates, attempts to violate, conspires to \n violate, or causes a violation of regulations promulgated under \n subsection (f) to carry out paragraph (1) of this subsection to \n the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that \n commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) of such \n Act.\n (d) Implementation Authority.--The President may exercise all \nauthorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the \nInternational Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) \nfor purposes of carrying out this Act.\n (e) Regulatory Authority.--The President shall, not later than 120 \ndays after the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate \nregulations as necessary for the implementation of this Act.\n (f) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Admitted; alien.--The terms ``admitted'' and ``alien'' \n have meanings given those terms in section 101 of the \n Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).\n (2) Applicable executive order.--The term ``applicable \n Executive order'' means--\n (A) Executive Order 13611 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; \n relating to Blocking Property of Persons Threatening \n the Peace, Security, or Stability of Yemen); or\n (B) any Executive order adopted on or after the \n date of the enactment of this Act, to the extent that \n such Executive order authorizes the imposition of \n sanctions on persons for conduct with respect to Yemen.\n (3) Applicable united nations security council \n resolution.--The term ``applicable United Nations Security \n Council resolution'' means--\n (A) United Nations Security Council Resolution \n 2216; or\n (B) any United Nations Security Council resolution \n adopted on or after the date of the enactment of this \n Act that authorizes the imposition of sanctions on \n persons for conduct with respect to Yemen.\n (4) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term \n ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--\n (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee \n on Ways and Means, the Committee on the Judiciary, and \n the Committee on Financial Services of the House of \n Representatives; and\n (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the \n Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and \n the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.\n (5) Entity.--The term ``entity''--\n (A) means a partnership, association, corporation, \n or other organization, group, or subgroup; and\n (B) includes a governmental entity.\n (6) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means--\n (A) an individual who is not a United States person \n or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence \n into the United States; or\n (B) a corporation, partnership, or other entity \n which is not a United States person.\n (7) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or \n entity.\n (8) United states person.--The term ``United States \n person'' means a United States citizen, permanent resident \n alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States \n (including foreign branches), or a person in the United States.\n\nSEC. 7. REPORT ON IRANIAN ACTIVITIES IN YEMEN.\n\n (a) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment \nof this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for a period not to exceed 5 \nyears, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional \ncommittees a report on Iranian activities in Yemen.\n (b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required by subsection (a) \nshall include a description of the following:\n (1) Iran's support for certain Yemeni militias or political \n parties, including weapons, financing, training, and other \n forms of material support including media and communications \n support.\n (2) A list of referrals to the relevant United Nations \n Security Council sanctions committees by the United States \n Permanent Representative to the United Nations.\n (c) Form.--The President may submit the report required by \nsubsection (a) in classified form if the President determines that it \nis necessary for the national security interests of the United States \nto do so.\n (d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate \ncongressional committees'' means--\n (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on \n Armed Services, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the \n Committee on Financial Services of the House of \n Representatives; and\n (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on \n Armed Services, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on \n Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.", "summary": "Houthis and Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2017 This bill continues certain sanctions blocking the property of persons threatening the peace or stability of Yemen. The President shall: determine and report to Congress whether certain Iranian persons are threatening Yemen's peace or stability, and if so, impose property blocking sanctions against each identified person; and impose property blocking and visa sanctions on foreign persons or entities that knowingly provide significant financial, material, or technological support for Ansar Allah in Yemen (also known as the Houthis) and certain other persons and entities. ", "title": "Houthis and Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1567, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Crossroads of the American \nRevolution National Heritage Area Act of 2003''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n (1) New Jersey was of critical importance during the \n American Revolution due to its strategic location between the \n British armies headquartered in New York City and the \n Continental Congress sitting in the City of Philadelphia.\n (2) General George Washington spent almost half of the \n period of the American Revolution personally commanding troops \n of the Continental Army in New Jersey including 2 severe winter \n encampments at what is now Morristown National Historical Park, \n a unit of the National Park System.\n (3) It was during the 10 crucial days of the American \n Revolution between December 25, 1776, and January 3, 1777, when \n General Washington, after retreating across New Jersey from New \n York City to Pennsylvania in the face of total defeat for the \n Nation``s cause, recrossed the Delaware River on Christmas \n night, 1776, and won crucial battles at Trenton and Princeton. \n Thomas Paine, who accompanied the troops during the retreat, \n described the events as, `the times that try men's souls''.\n (4) There are situated in the State of New Jersey the sites \n of 296 engagements including several important battles of the \n American Revolution, which collectively are of significant \n importance to the outcome of the overall conflict and the \n history of the United States. Among these are National Historic \n Landmarks including Washington's Crossing, the Old Trenton \n Barracks, and Princeton, Monmouth and Red Bank Battlefields.\n (5) Additional national Historic Landmarks include the \n homes of Richard Stockton, Joseph Hewes, John Witherspoon, and \n Francis Hopkinson, all signers of the Declaration of \n Independence, Elias Boudinout, President of the Continental \n Congress and William Livingston, patriot and Governor of New \n Jersey from 1776 to 1790.\n (6) Portions of the landscapes important to the strategies \n of both armies including waterways, mountains, farms, wetlands, \n villages and roadways retain integrity of the period of the \n American Revolution and offer outstanding opportunities for \n conservation, education, and recreation.\n (7) The National Register of Historic Places lists 251 \n buildings and sites in the National Park Service study area for \n Crossroads of the American Revolution associated with the \n period of the American Revolution.\n (8) Civilian populations residing in New Jersey suffered \n extreme hardships during the American Revolution due to the \n continuous conflict within its borders, foraging armies, and \n marauding contingents of loyalist Tories and rebel \n sympathizers.\n (9) Because of the important role that New Jersey played in \n the successful outcome of the American Revolution there is a \n Federal interest for the development of a regional framework to \n assist the State of New Jersey, other local organizations and \n governments, and private citizens to preserve and protect \n natural, cultural, and historic resources of the period and to \n bring recognition to this important heritage for the \n educational and recreational benefit of this and future \n generations of Americans.\n (10) The National Park Service has conducted a National \n Heritage Feasibility Study in the State of New Jersey that \n demonstrates the sufficient assemblage of nationally \n distinctive natural, cultural, and historic resources necessary \n to establish the Crossroads of the American Revolution National \n Heritage Area.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:\n (1) To build the capacity of communities, organizations, \n and citizens in New Jersey to preserve the special historic \n identity of the region and its importance to the Nation.\n (2) To foster a close working relationship with all levels \n of government, the private sector, and the local communities in \n New Jersey.\n (3) To provide for the management, preservation, \n protection, and interpretation of the natural, historic, and \n cultural resources of the region for the educational and \n inspirational benefit of future generations.\n (4) To strengthen the value of Morristown National \n Historical Park as an asset to the region by establishing a \n network of related historic resources, protected landscapes, \n educational opportunities, and events depicting the \n revolutionary landscape of New Jersey.\n (5) To strengthen partnerships among Morristown National \n Historical Park and other public and privately owned resources \n in the heritage area, that together represent the strategic \n fulcrum of the American Revolution, as assets in the quality of \n life in the region.\n (6) To authorize Federal financial and technical assistance \n to serve these purposes.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For the purposes of this Act:\n (1) Association.--The term ``Association'' means the \n Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc., a \n nonprofit corporation in the State of New Jersey.\n (2) Boundaries.--The term ``boundaries'' means the \n boundaries of the heritage area specified in section 4.\n (3) Heritage area.--The term ``heritage area'' means the \n Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area as \n established in section 4.\n (4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means \n the management plan submitted under section 5.\n (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n\nSEC. 4. CROSSROADS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State of New Jersey \nthe Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area.\n (b) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the heritage area shall include \nall those lands and waters depicted on a map entitled ``Crossroads of \nthe American Revolution National Heritage Area'', numbered CRREL80,000 \nand dated April 2002. The map shall be on file in the appropriate \noffices of the National Park Service.\n (c) Management Entity.--The management entity for the heritage area \nshall be the Association.\n\nSEC. 5. AUTHORITIES, PROHIBITIONS, AND DUTIES OF THE ASSOCIATION.\n\n (a) Duties of the Association.--To further the purposes of the \nheritage area, the Association shall--\n (1) prepare and submit a management plan for the heritage \n area to the Secretary in accordance with section 6;\n (2) assist units of local government, regional planning \n organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing the \n approved management plan by--\n (A) carrying out programs and projects that \n recognize, protect, and enhance important resource \n values within the heritage area;\n (B) establishing and maintaining interpretive \n exhibits and programs within the heritage area;\n (C) developing recreational and educational \n opportunities in the heritage area;\n (D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation \n for natural, historic, and cultural resources of the \n heritage area;\n (E) protecting and restoring historic sites and \n buildings in the heritage area that are consistent with \n heritage area themes;\n (F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and \n appropriate signs identifying points of public access \n and sites of interest are posted throughout the \n heritage area; and\n (G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among \n governments, organizations, and individuals to further \n the purposes of the heritage area;\n (3) consider the interests of diverse units of government, \n businesses, organizations, and individuals in the heritage area \n in the preparation and implementation of the management plan;\n (4) conduct Association meetings open to the public at \n least semiannually regarding the development and implementation \n of the management plan;\n (5) submit an annual report to the Secretary for any fiscal \n year in which the Association receives Federal funds under this \n Act, setting forth its accomplishments, expenses, and income, \n including grants to any other entities during the year for \n which the report is made;\n (6) make available for audit for any fiscal year in which \n it receives Federal funds under this Act, all information \n pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and any matching \n funds, and require in all agreements authorizing expenditures \n of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving \n organizations make available for such audit all records and \n other information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds;\n (7) encourage by appropriate means economic viability that \n is consistent with the purposes of the heritage area; and\n (8) maintain its headquarters at Morristown National \n Historical Park and in Mercer County.\n (b) Authorities.--The Association may, for the purposes of \npreparing and implementing the management plan for the heritage area, \nuse Federal funds made available through this Act to__\n (1) make grants to the State of New Jersey, its political \n subdivisions, nonprofit organizations and other persons;\n (2) enter into cooperative agreements with or provide \n technical assistance to the State of New Jersey, its political \n jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, and other interested \n parties;\n (3) hire and compensate staff which shall include \n individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, historic \n resources protection, and heritage programming;\n (4) obtain money or services from any source, including any \n that are provided under any other Federal law or program;\n (5) contract for goods or services; and\n (6) undertake to be a catalyst for any other activity that \n furthers the purposes of the heritage area and is consistent \n with the approved management plan.\n (c) Prohibitions on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The \nAssociation may not use Federal funds received under this Act to \nacquire real property, but may use any other source of funding, \nincluding other Federal funding, intended for the acquisition of real \nproperty.\n\nSEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN.\n\n (a) In General.--The management plan for the heritage area shall--\n (1) include comprehensive polices, strategies and \n recommendations for conservation, funding, management, and \n development of the heritage area;\n (2) take into consideration existing State, county, and \n local plans in the development of the management plan and its \n implementation;\n (3) include a description of actions that governments, \n private organizations, and individuals have agreed to take to \n protect the natural, historic, and cultural resources of the \n heritage area;\n (4) specify the existing and potential sources of funding \n to protect, manage, and develop the heritage area in the first \n 5 years of implementation;\n (5) include an inventory of the natural, historical, \n cultural, educational, scenic and recreational resources of the \n heritage area related to the themes of the heritage area that \n should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, or \n maintained;\n (6) recommend policies and strategies for resource \n management which consider and detail the application of \n appropriate land and water management techniques including, but \n not limited to, the development of intergovernmental and \n interagency cooperative agreements to protect the heritage \n area's natural, historical, cultural, educational, scenic and \n recreational resources;\n (7) describe a program of implementation for the management \n plan including plans for resource protection, restoration, \n construction, and specific commitments for implementation that \n have been made by the Association or any government, \n organization, or individual for the first 5 years of \n implementation;\n (8) include an analysis and recommendations for ways in \n which local, State, and Federal programs, including the role of \n the National Park Service in the heritage area, may best be \n coordinated to further the purposes of this Act; and\n (9) include an interpretive plan for the heritage area.\n (b) Deadline and Termination of Funding.--\n (1) Deadline.--The Association shall submit the management \n plan to the Secretary for approval within 3 years after funds \n are made available for this Act.\n (2) Termination of funding.--Upon completion of the 3-year \n period in this subsection, further funding pursuant to this Act \n shall only be made available to the Association for the \n implementation of the management plan upon approval by the \n Secretary as provided in Section 7 of this Act.\n\nSEC. 7. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY.\n\n (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary may, upon the request of the \n Association provide technical assistance on a reimbursable or \n nonreimbursable basis and financial assistance to the heritage \n area to develop and implement the approved management plan. The \n Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements \n with the Association and other public or private entities for \n this purpose. In assisting the heritage area, the Secretary \n shall give priority to actions that in general assist in--\n (A) conserving the significant natural, historic, \n cultural, and scenic resources of the heritage area; \n and\n (B) providing educational, interpretive, and \n recreational opportunities consistent with the purposes \n of the heritage area.\n (2) Other assistance.--Upon request, the Superintendent of \n Morristown National Historical Park may provide to public and \n private organizations within the heritage area, including the \n Association, such operational assistance as appropriate to \n support the implementation of the management plan for the \n heritage area, subject to the availability of appropriated \n funds. The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative \n agreements with public and private organizations for the \n purpose of implementing this subsection.\n (3) Preservation of historic properties.--The Secretary may \n provide assistance to State or local government or nonprofit \n organizations for appropriate treatment of historic objects or \n structures listed or eligible for listing on the National \n Register of Historic Places to further the purposes of this \n Act.\n (b) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove \n the management plan not later than 90 days after receiving the \n management plan.\n (2) Criteria for approval.--In determining to approve the \n management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether--\n (A) the Board of Directors of the Association is \n representative of the diverse interests of the heritage \n area including governments, natural and historic \n resource protection organizations, education, business, \n and recreation;\n (B) the Association has afforded adequate \n opportunity, including public hearings, for public and \n governmental involvement in the preparation of the \n management plan;\n (C) the resource protection and interpretation \n strategies contained in the management plan, if \n implemented, would adequately protect the natural, \n historic, and cultural resources of the heritage area; \n and\n (D) the Secretary has received adequate assurances \n from the appropriate State and local officials whose \n support is needed to ensure the effective \n implementation of the State and local aspects of the \n management plan.\n (3) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary \n disapproves the management plan, the Secretary shall advise the \n Association in writing of the reasons therefore and shall make \n recommendations for revisions to the management plan. The \n Secretary shall approve or disapprove a proposed revision \n within 60 days after the date it is submitted.\n (4) Approval of amendments.--Substantial amendments to the \n management plan shall be reviewed by the Secretary and approved \n in the same manner as provided for the original management \n plan. The Association shall not use Federal funds authorized by \n this Act to implement any amendments until the Secretary has \n approved the amendments.\n\nSEC. 8. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.\n\n Any Federal agency conducting or supporting activities directly \naffecting the heritage area shall--\n (1) consult with the Secretary and the Association with \n respect to such activities;\n (2) cooperate with the Secretary and the Association in \n carrying out their duties under this Act and, to the maximum \n extent practicable, coordinate such activities with the \n carrying out of such duties; and,\n (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support \n such activities in a manner which the association determines \n will not have an adverse effect on the heritage area.\n\nSEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated for the \npurposes of this Act not more than $1,000,000 for any fiscal year. Not \nmore than a total of $10,000,000 may be appropriated for the \nAssociation under this Act.\n (b) Matching Funds.--Federal funding provided under this Act may \nnot exceed 50 percent of the total cost of any assistance or grant \nprovided or authorized under this Act.\n\nSEC. 10. SUNSET.\n\n The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this \nAct shall terminate on the day occurring 15 years after the date of the \nenactment of the Act.", "summary": "Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area Act of 2003 - Establishes the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area in New Jersey.Designates the Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc. as the Area's management entity. Directs the Association to submit, and to assist local governments, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit entities in implementing, an area management plan which includes strategies for conservation, funding, management, and development of the Area.Bars the Association from using Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property, but permits the Association to use any other source of funding, including other Federal funding, intended for the acquisition of real property. Limits Federal funding to 50 percent of any assistance provided.Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to: (1) the Area to develop and implement the management plan; and (2) State or local government or nonprofit organizations for treatment of historical objects or structures eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Authorizes the Superintendent of Morristown National Historical Park to provide operational assistance supporting implementation of the management plan to public and private organizations within the Area, including the Association.", "title": "To establish the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area in the State of New Jersey, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2905, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Redundant Remapping Reform Act of \n2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act--\n (1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of \n the Federal Emergency Management Agency;\n (2) the term ``covered period'' means--\n (A) with respect to a levee for which the Army \n Corps of Engineers has entered into a cost sharing \n agreement, the 48-month period beginning on the date on \n which the Army Corps of Engineers makes available any \n funds required to be made available by the Army Corps \n of Engineers under the agreement; and\n (B) with respect to a levee not described in \n subparagraph (A), the 48-month period beginning on the \n date on which the Administrator commences an update of \n a National Flood Insurance Program rate map that \n includes an area protected by the levee;\n (3) the term ``National Flood Insurance Program'' means the \n program established under the National Flood Insurance Act of \n 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.); and\n (4) the term ``qualified levee'' means a levee that is \n being constructed or modified, if the owner of the levee enters \n into an agreement with the Administrator that the construction \n or modification will be completed before the end of a covered \n period relating to the qualified levee.\n\nSEC. 3. REMAPPING OF AREAS PROTECTED BY CERTAIN LEVEES.\n\n (a) Levees Undergoing Accreditation.--The Administrator may not \nupdate or publish a National Flood Insurance Program rate map during a \ncovered period with respect to an area that is protected by a levee--\n (1) for which a community or other party has sought \n recognition under section 65.10 of title 44, Code of Federal \n Regulations, or any successor thereto; and\n (2) with respect to which the Administrator has not issued \n a Letter of Final Determination.\n (b) Levees Undergoing Planning, Construction, or Rehabilitation.--\n (1) Prohibition.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the \n Administrator may not update or publish a National Flood \n Insurance Program rate map during a covered period with respect \n to an area that is protected by a qualified levee that is being \n planned, constructed, or rehabilitated, if the scheduled \n completion date for the planning, construction, or \n rehabilitation occurs during the covered period.\n (2) Exceptions.--The Administrator may update or publish a \n National Flood Insurance Program rate map during a covered \n period with respect to an area that is protected by a qualified \n levee described in paragraph (1)--\n (A) on or after the date on which the construction \n or rehabilitation of the qualified levee is completed; \n or\n (B) on or after the date on which the Administrator \n determines that the planning, construction, or \n rehabilitation of the qualified levee is experiencing \n an indefinite delay.\n (3) Scheduled completion date.--For purposes of this \n subsection, the scheduled completion date for planning, \n construction, or rehabilitation of a qualified levee shall be \n determined by an engineer responsible for the design, \n modification, or construction of the qualified levee, taking \n into consideration the actual condition of the qualified levee.\n (c) Notification of Affected Persons.--\n (1) Draft notice.--Not later than 60 days after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall publish a notice \n to be used by owners of qualified levees subject to this \n section to disclose to persons affected by the qualified \n levees--\n (A) information relating to the possible dangers of \n living in an area affected by the qualified levees \n without flood insurance coverage;\n (B) information relating to the availability of \n flood insurance coverage; and\n (C) any other information that the Administrator \n determines is necessary.\n (2) Notice by owners of levees.--\n (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph \n (B), not later than 30 days after the commencement of a \n covered period, the owner of the qualified levee to \n which the covered period relates shall provide the \n notice published under paragraph (1) to each person \n identified by the owner of the qualified levee as a \n person affected by the qualified levee.\n (B) Exception.--In the case of a covered period \n that commences before the date on which the \n Administrator publishes the notice under paragraph (1), \n the owner of the qualified levee to which the covered \n period relates shall provide the notice required under \n subparagraph (A) to each person identified by the owner \n of the qualified levee as a person affected by the \n qualified levee as soon as practicable after the date \n on which the Administrator publishes the notice.\n (d) Reporting Requirements.--During a covered period relating to a \nqualified levee, the owner of the qualified levee (or a designee of the \nowner) shall submit to the Administrator a quarterly report that \ncontains--\n (1) a description of the progress of the construction or \n modification of the qualified levee; and\n (2) an estimate of the scheduled completion date of the \n construction or modification of the qualified levee, as \n determined by an engineer responsible for the design, \n modification, or construction of the qualified levee, taking \n into consideration the actual condition of the qualified levee.", "summary": "Redundant Remapping Reform Act of 2011 - Prohibits the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from updating or publishing a National Flood Insurance Program rate map during a covered period with respect to an area protected by a levee that is undergoing accreditation, planning, construction, or rehabilitation.\n\nInstructs the Administrator to publish a notice to be used by owners of qualified levees to disclose to persons affected by such levees.\n\nRequires owners of qualified levees to provide such notice to each person identified as affected by the qualified levee.", "title": "A bill to postpone the remapping of areas protected by certain levees for purposes of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 717, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Mayflower Commemorative Coin Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) The arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts, \n in 1620 has major significance in the history of the United \n States.\n (2) The Mayflower Compact laid the foundation and moral \n framework for the future laws of the United States.\n (3) The General Society of Mayflower Decedents' mission \n is--\n (A) to tell the story of the Pilgrim's journey on \n the Mayflower in 1620, bringing with them principles of \n civil and religious liberty to America as memorialized \n in the Mayflower Compact;\n (B) to raise public awareness and increase the \n public understanding of the importance of the Pilgrim's \n lives and legacies; and\n (C) to encourage a passion for history.\n (4) A commemorative coin will bring national and \n international attention to the lasting legacy of this important \n event.\n (5) The proceeds from a surcharge on the sale of such \n commemorative coin will assist the financing of educational, \n scholarship, and outreach programs;\n\nSEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.\n\n (a) Denominations.--The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in \nthis Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall mint and issue the \nfollowing coins:\n (1) $5 gold coins.--Not more than 50,000 $5 coins, which \n shall--\n (A) weigh 8.359 grams;\n (B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and\n (C) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy.\n (2) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 100,000 $1 coins, which \n shall--\n (A) weigh 26.73 grams;\n (B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and\n (C) contain at least 90 percent silver.\n (b) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this Act shall be legal \ntender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code.\n (c) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, \nUnited States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered \nto be numismatic items.\n\nSEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.\n\n (a) Design Requirements.--\n (1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this \n Act shall be emblematic of the arrival of the Pilgrims.\n (2) Designation and inscriptions.--On each coin minted \n under this Act there shall be--\n (A) a designation of the value of the coin;\n (B) an inscription of--\n (i) the mint date ``2020''; and\n (ii) the year ``1620''; and\n (C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God \n We Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E \n Pluribus Unum''.\n (b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this Act \nshall be--\n (1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the \n Commission of Fine Arts and the General Society of Mayflower \n Descendants; and\n (2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.\n\nSEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.\n\n (a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be issued \nin proof quality and uncirculated quality.\n (b) Mint Facility.--Only 1 facility of the United States Mint may \nbe used to strike any particular quality of the coins minted under this \nAct.\n (c) Period of Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins, to the \npublic, minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning \non January 1, 2020.\n\nSEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.\n\n (a) Sale Price.--The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by \nthe Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--\n (1) the face value of the coins;\n (2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to \n such coins; and\n (3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including \n labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, \n marketing, and shipping).\n (b) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins \nissued under this Act at a reasonable discount.\n (c) Prepaid Orders.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders \n for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of such \n coins.\n (2) Discount.--Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders \n under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.\n\nSEC. 7. SURCHARGES.\n\n (a) In General.--All sales of coins issued under this Act shall \ninclude a surcharge as follows:\n (1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 gold coin.\n (2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 silver coin.\n (b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f)(1) of title 31, \nUnited States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the \nsale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the \nSecretary to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants for \neducational purposes.\n (c) Audits.--The General Society of Mayflower Descendants shall be \nsubject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, \nUnited States Code, with regard to the amounts received under \nsubsection (b).\n (d) Limitation.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge may \nbe included with respect to the issuance under this Act of any coin \nduring a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, the \nissuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin \nprograms issued during such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative \ncoin program issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, \nUnited States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this \nAct). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue guidance to carry out \nthis subsection.\n\nSEC. 8. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES.\n\n The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure \nthat--\n (1) minting and issuing coins under this Act will not \n result in any net cost to the United States Government; and\n (2) no funds, including applicable surcharges, shall be \n disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7 until the \n total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized \n by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use of \n machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is \n recovered by the United States Treasury, consistent with \n sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code.", "summary": "Mayflower Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to issue up to 50,000 $5 gold commemorative coins, and up to 100,000 $1 silver commemorative coins, whose design is emblematic of the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts. These coins shall be issued only during the one-year period beginning on January 1, 2020. The Department must pay all surcharges received from sales of the coins to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants for educational purposes. ", "title": "Mayflower Commemorative Coin Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 476, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``International Statistical \nInformation and Analysis Act of 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds as follows:\n (1) Both the public and private sectors in the United \n States would benefit from the collection, analysis, and \n dissemination of reliable statistical information about the \n independent states of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic \n states.\n (2) Statistical information about the independent states of \n the former Soviet Union and the Baltic states can be used in \n policy development on issues ranging from domestic and foreign \n trade to international population growth, health, and the \n environment. United States Government statistical agencies \n could use data collected in the independent states and the \n Baltic states to develop statistical comparisons between the \n United States and the rest of the world.\n (3) Reliable economic statistical information can also \n assist United States businesses in identifying trade and \n investment opportunities in the independent states of the \n former Soviet Union and the Baltic states.\n (4) Reliable information is needed about economic \n performance at both the macro and micro-economic levels as the \n independent states of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic \n states make the transition from a centrally planned economy to \n a free market economy.\n (5) Reliable economic statistical information is especially \n important in evaluating the effectiveness of assistance \n provided to the independent states of the former Soviet Union \n and the Baltic states by the United States Government, by \n nongovernmental organizations, and by international financial \n institutions.\n (6) Such evaluations would be facilitated by annual \n reports, prepared by the Secretary of Commerce with the \n assistance of United States Government statistical agencies, \n assessing the progress being made by the independent states of \n the former Soviet Union and the Baltic states in establishing a \n free market economy.\n (7) United States Government statistical agencies (such as \n the Bureau of the Census of the Department of Commerce, the \n Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor, the \n Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce, and \n the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the Department \n of Agriculture) have been involved in providing statistical \n assistance to foreign countries for more than 40 years.\n (8) United States Government statistical agencies have set \n the standard for modern statistical methodology used throughout \n the world.\n (9) United States Government statistical agencies have the \n personnel, facilities, expertise, and other resources to \n provide training and other technical assistance to the \n independent states of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic \n states with respect to the collection, analysis, and \n dissemination of economic statistical data. In addition, to the \n extent that the independent states or Baltic states use non-\n standard collection methods, United States Government \n statistical agencies have the ablility to reconcile discrepant \n data, thereby increasing its usefulness.\n\nSEC. 3. ECONOMIC STATISTICAL ANALYSIS REGARDING INDEPENDENT STATES OF \n THE FORMER SOVIET UNION AND BALTIC STATES.\n\n (a) Amendment to Title 13.--Title 13 of the United States Code is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n\n ``CHAPTER 11--ECONOMIC STATISTICAL ANALYSIS REGARDING INDEPENDENT \n STATES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION AND BALTIC STATES\n\n``Sec.\n``501. Preparation and publication of analysis.\n``502. Definitions.\n``Sec. 501. Preparation and publication of analysis\n ``(a) The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Congress each \nyear a report analyzing the progress being made by the the independent \nstates of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic states in establishing \na free market economy.\n ``(b) In preparing the reports required by subsection (a), the \nSecretary shall draw upon the information collected and the analysis \nperformed under the auspices of the International Statistical \nAssistance Coordinating Committee established pursuant to section 4 of \nthe International Statistical Information and Analysis Coordination Act \nof 1993.\n ``(c) The first report pursuant to subsection (a) shall be \nsubmitted as soon as reliable economic statistical information is \navailable about the independent states of the former Soviet Union and \nthe Baltic states, but not later than 5 years after the date of \nenactment of this chapter.\n``Sec. 502. Definitions\n ``As used in this chapter--\n ``(1) the term `independent states of the former Soviet \n Union' means Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, \n Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, \n and Uzbekistan; and\n ``(2) the term `Baltic states' means Estonia, Latvia, and \n Lithuania.''.\n (b) Amendment to Table of Chapters.--The table of chapters at the \nbeginning of title 13, United States Code, is amended by adding at the \nend the following new item:\n\n``11. Economic statistical analysis regarding independent 501''.\n states of the former Soviet \n Union and Baltic states.\n\nSEC. 4. INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL ASSISTANCE COORDINATING COMMITTEE.\n\n (a) Establishment and Membership.--The President shall establish an \ninteragency committee to be known as the ``International Statistical \nAssistance Coordinating Committee'' (hereinafter in this Act referred \nto as the ``Coordinating Committee''). The Coordinating Committee shall \nconsist of a representative of each of the following:\n (1) The Office of Management and Budget.\n (2) The Bureau of the Census of the Department of Commerce.\n (3) The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of \n Labor.\n (4) The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of \n Commerce.\n (5) The National Agricultural Statistics Service of the \n Department of Agriculture.\n (6) The Agency for International Development.\n (b) Functions.--Consistent with section 104(a) of the Freedom for \nRussia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act \nof 1992 (relating to Department of State coordination of assistance to \nthe independent states of the former Soviet Union), the Coordinating \nCommittee--\n (1) shall determine priorities for providing training and \n other technical assistance to develop capabilities to monitor \n economic performance in the independent states of the former \n Soviet Union and the Baltic states through the collection, \n analysis, and dissemination of economic statistical data;\n (2) shall use the expertise of its constituent agencies in \n providing such assistance;\n (3) shall be responsible for coordinating such assistance \n with comparable assistance provided or coordinated by \n international or multilateral organizations or agencies; and\n (4) shall provide for the analysis by its constituent \n agencies of economic statistical data regarding the independent \n states of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic states and for \n the dissemination of such analysis to United States businesses \n and other interested parties, including dissemination through \n the annual report required by section 501 of title 13, United \n States Code.\n (c) Annual Reports.--The Coordinating Committee shall prepare an \nannual report describing the assistance provided through the \nCoordinating Committee pursuant to this section. Such report shall be \nsubmitted to the Congress as part of the annual congressional \npresentation materials on international economic assistance.\n\nSEC. 5. UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE MONITORING OF ECONOMIC \n PERFORMANCE IN INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE FORMER SOVIET \n UNION AND BALTIC STATES.\n\n (a) Statistical Capability Assistance.--United States assistance \nthat is provided to encourage the development of a free-market economic \nsystem in the independent states of the former Soviet Union and the \nBaltic states shall include training and other technical assistance to \ndevelop capabilities to monitor economic performance in those republics \nand states through the collection, analysis, and dissemination of \neconomic statistical data.\n (b) International Statistical Assistance Coordinating Committee.--\nThe assistance required by subsection (a) shall be coordinated through \nthe Coordinating Committee and shall otherwise be provided in \naccordance with section 4(b).\n (c) Funding.--It is the sense of the Congress that at least \n$3,000,000 of the funds allocated for each of the fiscal years 1994 \nthrough 1998 for United States economic assistance to encourage the \ndevelopment of a free-market economic system in the independent states \nof the former Soviet Union and the Baltic states should be used for \ntraining and other technical assistance pursuant to this section.\n\nSEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.\n\n As used in this Act--\n (1) the term ``independent states of the former Soviet \n Union'' means Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, \n Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, \n Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan; and\n (2) the term ``Baltic states'' means Estonia, Latvia, and \n Lithuania.", "summary": "International Statistical Information and Analysis Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to prepare and submit to the Congress an annual report analyzing the progress being made by the independent states of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic states in establishing a free market economy. \nRequires the President to establish an interagency committee to be known as the International Statistical Assistance Coordinating Committee to: (1) determine priorities for providing training and other technical assistance to monitor economic performance in such countries through the collection and analysis of economic statistical data; (2) coordinate such assistance with assistance provided by international or multilateral organizations; and (3) provide for analysis by its constituent agencies of economic statistical data regarding such countries and for the dissemination of such analysis to U.S. businesses and other interested parties. \nRequires U.S. assistance that is provided to encourage the development of a free-market economic system in the independent states of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic states to include training and other technical assistance to develop capabilities to monitor economic performance through the collection and analysis of economic statistical data. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a specified amount of funds allocated for U.S. assistance to encourage the development of free market systems in such countries be used for such training and assistance.", "title": "International Statistical Information and Analysis Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 160, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Energy-Efficient Cool Roof Jobs \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEPRECIATION RECOVERY PERIOD FOR CERTAIN ROOF SYSTEMS.\n\n (a) 20-Year Recovery Period.--\n (1) In general.--Subparagraph (F) of section 168(e)(3) of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to classification \n of certain property) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(F) 20-year property.--The term `20-year \n property' means--\n ``(i) initial clearing and grading land \n improvements with respect to any electric \n utility transmission and distribution plant, \n and\n ``(ii) any qualified energy-efficient cool \n roof replacement property.''.\n (2) Qualified energy-efficient cool roof replacement \n property.--Section 168(e) of such Code is amended by adding at \n the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(9) Qualified energy-efficient cool roof replacement \n property.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified energy-\n efficient cool roof replacement property' means any \n roof system--\n ``(i) which is placed in service--\n ``(I) above conditioned or semi-\n heated space on an eligible commercial \n building, and\n ``(II) during the period beginning \n on the date of the enactment of this \n paragraph and ending on December 31, \n 2013,\n ``(ii) which has a slope equal to or less \n than 2:12,\n ``(iii) which replaces an existing roof \n system, and\n ``(iv) which includes--\n ``(I) insulation which meets or \n exceeds the minimum prescriptive \n requirements in tables A-1 to A-9 in \n the Normative Appendix A of ASHRAE \n Standard 189.1-2009, and\n ``(II) in the case of an eligible \n commercial building located in a \n climate zone other than climate zone 6, \n 7, or 8 (as specified in ASHRAE \n Standard 90.1-2010), a primary roof \n covering which has a cool roof surface.\n ``(B) Cool roof surface.--The term `cool roof \n surface' means a roof the exterior surface of which --\n ``(i) has a 3-year-aged solar reflectance \n of at least 0.55 and a 3-year-aged thermal \n emittance of at least 0.75, as determined in \n accordance with the Cool Roof Rating Council \n CRRC-1 Product Rating Program, or\n ``(ii) has a 3-year-aged solar reflectance \n index (SRI) of at least 64, as determined in \n accordance with ASTM Standard E1980, \n determined--\n ``(I) using a medium-wind-speed \n convection coefficient of 12 W/m2.K, \n and\n ``(II) using the values for 3-year-\n aged solar reflectance and 3-year-aged \n thermal emittance determined in \n accordance with the Cool Roof Rating \n Council CRRC-1 Product Rating Program.\n ``(C) Roof system.--The term `roof system' means a \n system of roof components, including roof insulation \n and a membrane or primary roof covering, but not \n including the roof deck, designed to weather-proof and \n improve the thermal resistance of a building.\n ``(D) Eligible commercial building.--The term \n `eligible commercial building' means any building--\n ``(i) which is within the scope of ASHRAE \n Standard 90.1-2010,\n ``(ii) which is located in the United \n States,\n ``(iii) with respect to which depreciation \n (or amortization in lieu of depreciation) is \n allowable, and\n ``(iv) which was placed in service prior to \n December 31, 2009.\n ``(E) ASHRAE.--The term `ASHRAE' means the American \n Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning \n Engineers.''.\n (b) Requirement To Use Straight Line Method.--Paragraph (3) of \nsection 168(b) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new subparagraph:\n ``(J) Any qualified energy-efficient cool roof \n replacement property.''.\n (c) Alternative System.--The table contained in section \n168(g)(3)(B) of such Code is amended by striking the last item and \ninserting the following new items:\n\n ``(F)(i)........................................... 25 \n (F)(ii)........................................... 27.5''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "Energy-Efficient Cool Roof Jobs Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to classify any qualified energy-efficient cool roof replacement property as 20-year property for depreciation purposes.\u00a0 Defines \"qualified energy-efficient cool roof replacement property\" as any roof system that: (1) is placed in service above conditioned or semi-heated space on an eligible commercial building during the period between the enactment of this Act and December 31, 2013, (2) has a slope equal to or less than 2:12, (3) replaces an existing roof system, and (4) includes insulation meeting specified standards and\u00a0a primary roof covering that has a cool roof surface.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the depreciation recovery period for energy-efficient cool roof systems."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2235, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Lupus Research and Care Amendments \nof 2000''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds that--\n (1) lupus is a serious, complex, inflammatory, autoimmune \n disease of particular concern to women;\n (2) lupus affects women nine times more often than men;\n (3) there are three main types of lupus: systemic lupus, a \n serious form of the disease that affects many parts of the \n body; discoid lupus, a form of the disease that affects mainly \n the skin; and drug-induced lupus caused by certain medications;\n (4) lupus can be fatal if not detected and treated early;\n (5) the disease can simultaneously affect various areas of \n the body, such as the skin, joints, kidneys, and brain, and can \n be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms of lupus are \n similar to those of many other diseases;\n (6) lupus disproportionately affects African-American \n women, as the prevalence of the disease among such women is \n three times the prevalence among white women, and an estimated \n 1 in 250 African-American women between the ages of 15 and 65 \n develops the disease;\n (7) it has been estimated that between 1,400,000 and \n 2,000,000 Americans have been diagnosed with the disease, and \n that many more have undiagnosed cases;\n (8) current treatments for the disease can be effective, \n but may lead to damaging side effects;\n (9) many victims of the disease suffer debilitating pain \n and fatigue, making it difficult to maintain employment and \n lead normal lives; and\n (10) in fiscal year 1996, the amount allocated by the \n National Institutes of Health for research on lupus was \n $33,000,000, which is less than one-half of 1 percent of the \n budget for such Institutes.\n\n TITLE I--RESEARCH ON LUPUS\n\nSEC. 101. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES.\n\n Subpart 4 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act \n(42 U.S.C. 285d et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 441 the \nfollowing section:\n\n ``lupus\n\n ``Sec. 441A. (a) In General.--The Director of the Institute shall \nexpand and intensify research and related activities of the Institute \nwith respect to lupus.\n ``(b) Coordination With Other Institutes.--The Director of the \nInstitute shall coordinate the activities of the Director under \nsubsection (a) with similar activities conducted by the other national \nresearch institutes and agencies of the National Institutes of Health \nto the extent that such Institutes and agencies have responsibilities \nthat are related to lupus.\n ``(c) Programs for Lupus.--In carrying out subsection (a), the \nDirector of the Institute shall conduct or support research to expand \nthe understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, lupus. \nActivities under such subsection shall include conducting and \nsupporting the following:\n ``(1) Research to determine the reasons underlying the \n elevated prevalence of lupus in women, including African-\n American women.\n ``(2) Basic research concerning the etiology and causes of \n the disease.\n ``(3) Epidemiological studies to address the frequency and \n natural history of the disease and the differences among the \n sexes and among racial and ethnic groups with respect to the \n disease.\n ``(4) The development of improved diagnostic techniques.\n ``(5) Clinical research for the development and evaluation \n of new treatments, including new biological agents.\n ``(6) Information and education programs for health care \n professionals and the public.\n ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying \nout this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as \nmay be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2003.''.\n\n TITLE II--DELIVERY OF SERVICES REGARDING LUPUS\n\nSEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM OF GRANTS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall \nin accordance with this title make grants to provide for projects for \nthe establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-\nefficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals \nwith lupus and their families.\n (b) Recipients of Grants.--A grant under subsection (a) may be made \nto an entity only if the entity is a public or nonprofit private \nentity, which may include a State or local government; a public or \nnonprofit private hospital, community-based organization, hospice, \nambulatory care facility, community health center, migrant health \ncenter, or homeless health center; or other appropriate public or \nnonprofit private entity.\n (c) Certain Activities.--To the extent practicable and appropriate, \nthe Secretary shall ensure that projects under subsection (a) provide \nservices for the diagnosis and disease management of lupus. Activities \nthat the Secretary may authorize for such projects may also include the \nfollowing:\n (1) Delivering or enhancing outpatient, ambulatory, and \n home-based health and support services, including case \n management and comprehensive treatment services, for \n individuals with lupus; and delivering or enhancing support \n services for their families.\n (2) Delivering or enhancing inpatient care management \n services that prevent unnecessary hospitalization or that \n expedite discharge, as medically appropriate, from inpatient \n facilities of individuals with lupus.\n (3) Improving the quality, availability, and organization \n of health care and support services (including transportation \n services, attendant care, homemaker services, day or respite \n care, and providing counseling on financial assistance and \n insurance) for individuals with lupus and support services for \n their families.\n (d) Integration With Other Programs.--To the extent practicable and \nappropriate, the Secretary shall integrate the program under this title \nwith other grant programs carried out by the Secretary, including the \nprogram under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.\n\nSEC. 202. CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.\n\n A grant may be made under section 201 only if the applicant \ninvolved makes the following agreements:\n (1) Not more than 5 percent of the grant will be used for \n administration, accounting, reporting, and program oversight \n functions.\n (2) The grant will be used to supplement and not supplant \n funds from other sources related to the treatment of lupus.\n (3) The applicant will abide by any limitations deemed \n appropriate by the Secretary on any charges to individuals \n receiving services pursuant to the grant. As deemed appropriate \n by the Secretary, such limitations on charges may vary based on \n the financial circumstances of the individual receiving \n services.\n (4) The grant will not be expended to make payment for \n services authorized under section 201(a) to the extent that \n payment has been made, or can reasonably be expected to be \n made, with respect to such services--\n (A) under any State compensation program, under an \n insurance policy, or under any Federal or State health \n benefits program; or\n (B) by an entity that provides health services on a \n prepaid basis.\n (5) The applicant will, at each site at which the applicant \n provides services under section 201(a), post a conspicuous \n notice informing individuals who receive the services of any \n Federal policies that apply to the applicant with respect to \n the imposition of charges on such individuals.\n\nSEC. 203. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.\n\n The Secretary may provide technical assistance to assist entities \nin complying with the requirements of this title in order to make such \nentities eligible to receive grants under section 201.\n\nSEC. 204. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this title:\n (1) The term ``official poverty line'' means the poverty \n line established by the Director of the Office of Management \n and Budget and revised by the Secretary in accordance with \n section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of \n 1981.\n (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health \n and Human Services.\n\nSEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n For the purpose of carrying out this title, there are authorized to \nbe appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal \nyears 2001 through 2003.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives October 10, 2000.\n\n Attest:\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Requires the Director to: (1) coordinate such activities with similar activities conducted by other national research institutes and agencies of the National Institutes of Health; and (2) conduct or support research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, lupus, including research to determine the reasons underlying the elevated prevalence of the disease among African-American and other women.Authorizes appropriations.Title II: Delivery of Services Regarding Lupus - Mandates grants for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with lupus and their families. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) ensure that grant projects provide services for lupus diagnosis and disease management; and (2) integrate such projects with other grant programs carried out by the Secretary. Authorizes technical assistance. Authorizes appropriations.", "title": "Lupus Research and Care Amendments of 2000"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2079, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Presidential Historical Records \nPreservation Act of 2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.\n\n Section 2504 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by--\n (1) redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);\n (2) amending subsection (g)(1) (as so redesignated by \n paragraph (1))--\n (A) in subparagraph (R), by striking ``and'';\n (B) in subparagraph (S), by striking the period and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(T) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.''; and\n (3) inserting after subsection (e), the following:\n ``(f) Grants for Presidential Centers of Historical Excellence.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall make grants, on a \n competitive basis and in accordance with this subsection, to \n eligible entities to promote the historical preservation of, \n and public access to, historical records and documents relating \n to any President who does not have a Presidential archival \n depository currently managed and maintained by the Federal \n Government pursuant to section 2112 (commonly known as the \n `Presidential Libraries Act of 1955').\n ``(2) Eligible entity.--For purposes of this subsection, an \n eligible entity is--\n ``(A) an organization described under section \n 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and \n exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code; \n or\n ``(B) a State or local government of the United \n States.\n ``(3) Use of funds.--Amounts received by an eligible entity \n under paragraph (1) shall be used to promote the historical \n preservation of, and public access to, historical records or \n historical documents relating to any President covered under \n paragraph (1).\n ``(4) Prohibition on use of funds.--Amounts received by an \n eligible entity under paragraph (1) may not be used for the \n maintenance, operating costs, or construction of any facility \n to house the historical records or historical documents \n relating to any President covered under paragraph (1).\n ``(5) Application.--\n ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a \n grant under this subsection shall submit to the \n Commission an application at such time, in such manner, \n and containing or accompanied by such information as \n the Commission may require, including a description of \n the activities for which a grant under this subsection \n is sought.\n ``(B) Approval of application.--The Commission \n shall not approve a grant application submitted under \n subparagraph (A) unless an eligible entity establishes \n that such entity--\n ``(i) possesses, with respect to any \n President covered under paragraph (1), \n historical works and collections of historical \n sources that the Commission considers \n appropriate for preserving, publishing, or \n otherwise recording at the public expense;\n ``(ii) has appropriate facilities and space \n for preservation of, and public access to, the \n historical works and collections of historical \n sources;\n ``(iii) shall ensure preservation of, and \n public access to, such historical works and \n collections of historical sources at no charge \n to the public;\n ``(iv) has educational programs that make \n the use of such documents part of the mission \n of such entity;\n ``(v) has raised funds from non-Federal \n sources in support of the efforts of the entity \n to promote the historical preservation of, and \n public access to, such historical works and \n collections of historical sources in an amount \n equal to the amount of the grant the entity \n seeks under this subsection;\n ``(vi) shall coordinate with any relevant \n Federal program or activity, including programs \n and activities relating to Presidential \n archival depositories;\n ``(vii) shall coordinate with any relevant \n non-Federal program or activity, including \n programs and activities conducted by State and \n local governments and private educational \n historical entities; and\n ``(viii) has a workable plan for preserving \n and providing public access to such historical \n works and collections of historical sources.''.", "summary": "Presidential Historical Records Preservation Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission for FY2010.\n\nRequires the Commission to make grants to eligible entities on a competitive basis to promote the historical preservation of, and public access to, historical records and documents relating to any President who does not have a presidential archival depository currently managed and maintained by the federal government pursuant to the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. Defines eligible entities as specified tax-exempt organizations or state or local governments.\n\nProhibits the use of grants for the maintenance, operating costs, or construction of any facility to house the historical records or documents.\n\nProhibits the Commission from approving a grant application unless an entity establishes that it meets certain requirements, including that it: (1) ensures the preservation of, and access to, such historical works and collections of historical sources at no charge to the public; (2) has educational programs that make the use of such documents part of the entity's mission; and (3) has raised funds from nonfederal sources in support of the entity's efforts to promote such preservation and access.", "title": "To amend title 44, United States Code, to authorize grants for Presidential Centers of Historical Excellence."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2393, "text": "TITLE I--MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY\n\nSEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n Section 30104 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read \nas follows:\n``Sec. 30104. Authorization of Appropriations\n ``There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of \nTransportation $125,221,000 for the National Highway Traffic Safety \nAdministration to carry out this part for fiscal year 2005, and such \nsums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2006 and 2007.''.\n\nSEC. 102. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 301 of title 49, United \nStates Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:\n``Sec. 30106. International Cooperation\n ``The Secretary of Transportation may participate and cooperate in \ninternational activities to enhance motor vehicle and traffic safety \nthrough such means as exchanging information, conducting safety \nresearch, examining safety needs, best practices, new technology, and \nimprovements in motor vehicle safety standards, and participating in \nthe implementation of existing international agreements concerning \nmotor vehicle safety to which the United States is a contracting \npartner.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter I of \nchapter 301 of title 49, United States Code is amended by adding at the \nend the following new item:\n\n``30106. International cooperation.''.\n\nSEC. 103. CERTIFICATION LABELS.\n\n Section 30115(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by \ninserting at the end the following: ``A person shall not affix a \ncertification label to a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle \nequipment unless the person has either performed tests or otherwise \ndocumented the basis for certifying compliance with all applicable \nsafety standards prescribed under this chapter, except that, in \naffixing the certification label or tag, a manufacturer that completes \na vehicle after receiving compliance documentation from the \nmanufacturer of the earlier stage of the vehicle may rely on such \ndocumentation in accordance with the regulations issued by the \nSecretary.''.\n\nSEC. 104. NOTIFICATION OF NONCOMPLIANCE.\n\n Section 30118 of title 49, United States Code is amended in \nsubsections (a), (b), and (c) by striking ``motor vehicle or \nreplacement equipment'' each place it appears and inserting ``motor \nvehicle, original equipment, or replacement equipment''.\n\nSEC. 105. NOTIFICATION OF AND REMEDIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.\n\n Section 30120 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding \nat the end the following:\n ``(k) Limitation on Sale or Lease of Used Motor Vehicles.--\n ``(1) A dealer may not sell a used motor vehicle for \n purposes other than resale or lease a used motor vehicle until \n the dealer informs the purchaser or lessee of any notification \n of a defect or noncompliance pursuant to section 30118(b) or \n (c) of this title with respect to a vehicle that has not been \n remedied, and either--\n ``(A) offers to have the defects or noncompliances \n remedied; or\n ``(B) gives the purchaser or lessee a written \n description of the defects or noncompliances, including \n all relevant information from any notification pursuant \n to section 30118(b) or (c) of this title, and\n reviews a written acknowledgment of the offer or description \n from the purchaser or lessee.\n ``(2) The requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection \n shall apply after a period of time following issuance of \n notifications that the Secretary shall specify. The Secretary \n may extend this period with respect to particular \n notifications.\n ``(3) In this subsection, notwithstanding section \n 30102(a)(1) of this title--\n ``(A) `dealer' means a person who sold at least 10 \n motor vehicles during the prior 12 months to purchasers \n that in good faith purchased the vehicles other than \n for resale; and\n ``(B) `used motor vehicle' means a motor vehicle \n that has previously been purchased other than for \n resale.\n ``(4) Subject to regulations issued by the Secretary, a \n manufacturer of a motor vehicle shall establish and maintain an \n Internet-accessible record system that dealers of used motor \n vehicles and members of the public may access, without charge, \n to determine whether a particular vehicle manufactured by the \n manufacturer has been subject to any notification of a defect \n or noncompliance pursuant to section 30118(b) or (c) of this \n title that has not been remedied. If the Secretary determines \n that establishing and maintaining such an Internet-accessible \n record system is not practicable for certain classes of \n manufacturers, the Secretary may exempt such manufacturers from \n the requirements of this paragraph.\n ``(l) Limitation on Operation by Owners and Lessors of School Buses \nand Vehicles Used to Transport Passengers for Compensation.--\n ``(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a person who owns \n or leases a school bus or a motor vehicle used to transport \n passengers for compensation and who receives a notice of a \n defect or noncompliance pursuant to section 30118(b) or (c) of \n this title may not operate the vehicle to which the notice \n applies as a school bus or for compensation until the defect or \n noncompliance is remedied as required by this section.\n ``(2) The requirements of paragraph (1) shall apply after a \n period of time following issuance of such notifications that \n the Secretary shall specify. The Secretary may extend this \n period with respect to particular notifications.\n ``(3) This subsection shall not apply to taxicabs, or to \n motor vehicles owned or operated by State or local \n governments.''.\n\nSEC. 106. NONUSE OF SAFETY BELT INTERLOCKS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 30124 of title 49 United States Code, is \namended to read as follows:\n``Sec. 30124. Nonuse of safety belt interlocks\n ``A motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter may \nnot require or allow a manufacturer to comply with the standard by \nusing a safety belt interlock designed to prevent starting or operating \na motor vehicle if an occupant is not using a safety belt.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter II of \nchapter 301 of title 49, United States Code is amended by amending the \nitem related to section 30124 to read as follows:\n\n``30124. Nonuse of safety belt interlocks.''.\n\nSEC. 107. RESEARCH, TESTING, DEVELOPMENT, AND TRAINING.\n\n Section 30168 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding \nat the end the following:\n ``(f) Safety Initiative for Alternate Fuel Vehicles.--In addition \nto the authority provided under this section, the Secretary is \nauthorized to expend $5,000,000 per year to conduct a safety research \ninitiative for alternate fuel vehicles that includes risk assessment \nstudies of hydrogen-fueled and other alternative-fuel vehicles, the \ndevelopment of test and evaluation procedures and performance criteria \nto assess the likelihood of potential failures that could indicate \nunsafe conditions, and the development of suitable countermeasures. In \nparticular, such research initiative shall investigate the safety of \nthe power train, the vehicle fuel container and delivery system, the \nonboard refueling system, and the full vehicle system performance of \nalternate fuel vehicles.\n ``(g) Safety Initiative for Driver Assistance Technologies.--In \naddition to the authority provided under this section, the Secretary is \nauthorized to expend $10,000,000 per year to conduct research into \nvehicle-based driver assistance technologies, and to develop \nappropriate performance standards and consumer education programs, to \nensure that appropriate safety benefits are derived from these \ntechnologies. Such research shall include evaluations of crash \navoidance technologies, such as electronic stability control, \ntelematics, radar braking and other similar vehicle advances.''.\n\n TITLE II--MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION AND COST SAVINGS\n\nSEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n Section 32102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read \nas follows:\n``Sec. 32102. Authorization of appropriations\n ``There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of \nTransportation $14,080,000 for the National Highway Traffic Safety \nAdministration to carry out this part in fiscal year 2005, and such \nsums as may be necessary in fiscal years 2006 and 2007.''.\n\nSEC. 202. PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT.\n\n Section 32709(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting ``$5,000''; and\n (2) by striking ``$100,000'' and inserting ``$1,000,000''.\n\nSEC. 203. CIVIL ACTIONS BY PRIVATE PERSON.\n\n Section 32710(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by \nstriking ``$1,500'' and inserting ``$10,000''.\n\nSEC. 204. DEFINITIONS.\n\n (a) Crash Avoidance.--Section 32301 of title 49, United States \nCode, is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(3) `crash avoidance' means preventing a motor vehicle \n accident.''.\n (b) Passenger Motor Vehicle Information.--Section 32302 of title \n49, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and crash \n avoidance'' after ``crashworthiness''; and\n (B) by striking paragraph (4); and\n (2) by striking subsection (c).\n\nSEC. 205. REPEALS.\n\n (a) In General.--Sections 32303 and 33112 of title 49, United \nStates Code, are repealed.\n (b) Clerical Amendments.--\n (1) The table of sections for chapter 323 of title 49, \n United States Code is amended by striking the item related to \n section 32303.\n (2) The table of sections for chapter 331 of title 49, \n United States Code is amended by striking the item related to \n section 33112.", "summary": "Amends Federal transportation law to authorize appropriations for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary of Transportation to participate and cooperate through various means in international activities to enhance motor vehicle and traffic safety.\n\nProhibits a person from affixing a certification label to a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment item unless the person has either performed tests or documented the basis for certifying compliance with applicable safety standards.\n\nApplies certain defect and motor vehicle safety noncompliance notification requirements to original motor vehicle equipment.\n\nProhibits a dealer from selling a used motor vehicle for other than resale or leasing a used motor vehicle until the dealer informs the purchaser or lessee of any notification of a vehicle defect or noncompliance that has not been remedied and certain other requirements are met.\n\nRequires a motor vehicle manufacturer to establish an Internet-accessible record system that used motor vehicle dealers and the public may access, without charge, to determine whether a manufacturer's vehicle has been subject to any notification of a defect or noncompliance that has not been remedied.\n\nRequires a person who owns or leases a school bus or motor vehicle used to transport passengers for compensation, and who receives notice of a defect or noncompliance, from operating the vehicle until the defect or noncompliance is remedied.\n\nProhibits a Federal motor vehicle standard from requiring or allowing a manufacturer to comply with it by using a safety belt interlock designed to prevent starting or operating a motor vehicle if the occupant is not using a safety belt.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary to expend a specified amount per year to conduct a safety research initiative for alternative fuel vehicles and research into vehicle-based driver assistance technologies.\n\nAuthorizes appropriations for the NHTSA to carry out certain motor vehicle information and cost savings requirements.\n\nIncreases civil penalties for persons who violate the prohibition against tampering with motor vehicle odometers.", "title": "To authorize appropriations for the motor vehicle safety and information and cost savings programs of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for fiscal years 2005 through 2007, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1676, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Settlement Trust Improvement Act of \n2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. EXCLUSION FOR ANCSA PAYMENTS ASSIGNED TO ALASKA NATIVE \n SETTLEMENT TRUSTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting before section \n140 the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 139G. ASSIGNMENTS TO ALASKA NATIVE SETTLEMENT TRUSTS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--In the case of a Native Corporation, gross \nincome shall not include the value of any payments that would otherwise \nbe made, or treated as being made, to such Native Corporation pursuant \nto, or as required by, any provision of the Alaska Native Claims \nSettlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), including any payment that \nwould otherwise be made to a Village Corporation pursuant to section \n7(j) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1606(j)), \nprovided that any such payments--\n ``(1) are assigned in writing to a Settlement Trust, and\n ``(2) were not received by such Native Corporation prior to \n the assignment described in paragraph (1).\n ``(b) Inclusion in Gross Income.--In the case of a Settlement Trust \nwhich has been assigned payments described in subsection (a), gross \nincome shall include such payments as and when such payments are \nreceived by such Settlement Trust pursuant to the assignment and shall \nhave the same character as if such payments were received by the Native \nCorporation.\n ``(c) Amount and Scope of Assignment.--The amount and scope of any \nassignment under subsection (a) shall be described with reasonable \nparticularity and may either be in a percentage of one or more such \npayments or in a fixed dollar amount.\n ``(d) Duration of Assignment; Revocability.--Any assignment under \nsubsection (a) shall specify--\n ``(1) a duration either in perpetuity or for a period of \n time, and\n ``(2) whether such assignment is revocable.\n ``(e) Prohibition on Deduction.--Notwithstanding section 250, no \ndeduction shall be allowed to a Native Corporation for purposes of any \namounts described in subsection (a).\n ``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms `Native \nCorporation' and `Settlement Trust' have the same meaning given such \nterms under section 646(h).''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for part III of \nsubchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting before \nthe item relating to section 140 the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 139G. Assignments to Alaska Native Settlement Trusts.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016.\n\nSEC. 3. DEDUCTION OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALASKA NATIVE SETTLEMENT TRUSTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Part VIII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new section:\n\n``SEC. 250. CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALASKA NATIVE SETTLEMENT TRUSTS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--In the case of a Native Corporation, there shall \nbe allowed a deduction for any contributions made by such Native \nCorporation to a Settlement Trust (regardless of whether an election \nunder section 646 is in effect for such Settlement Trust) for which the \nNative Corporation has made an annual election under subsection (e).\n ``(b) Amount of Deduction.--The amount of the deduction under \nsubsection (a) shall be equal to--\n ``(1) in the case of a cash contribution (regardless of the \n method of payment, including currency, coins, money order, or \n check), the amount of such contribution, or\n ``(2) in the case of a contribution not described in \n paragraph (1), the Native Corporation's adjusted basis in the \n property contributed.\n ``(c) Limitation and Carryover.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the deduction \n allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not \n exceed the taxable income of the Native Corporation for the \n taxable year in which the contribution was made.\n ``(2) Carryover.--If the aggregate amount of contributions \n described in subsection (a) for any taxable year exceeds the \n limitation under paragraph (1), such excess shall be treated as \n a contribution described in subsection (a) in each of the 15 \n succeeding years in order of time.\n ``(d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms `Native \nCorporation' and `Settlement Trust' have the same meaning given such \nterms under section 646(h).\n ``(e) Manner of Making Election.--\n ``(1) In general.--For each taxable year, a Native \n Corporation may elect to have this section apply for such \n taxable year on the income tax return or amended income tax \n return of the Native Corporation, with such election to have \n effect solely for such taxable year.\n ``(2) Revocation.--Any election made by a Native \n Corporation pursuant to this subsection may be revoked pursuant \n to an amended income tax return which has been timely filed by \n such Native Corporation.\n ``(f) Additional Rules.--\n ``(1) Earnings and profits.--Notwithstanding section \n 646(d)(2), in the case of a Native Corporation which claims a \n deduction under this section for any taxable year, the earnings \n and profits of such Native Corporation for such taxable year \n shall be reduced by the amount of such deduction.\n ``(2) Gain or loss.--No gain or loss shall be recognized by \n the Native Corporation with respect to a contribution of \n property for which a deduction is allowed under this section.\n ``(3) Income.--Subject to subsection (g), a Settlement \n Trust shall report income in the amount of any deduction \n allowed under this section in the taxable year in which the \n Settlement Trust actually receives such contribution.\n ``(4) Period.--In determining the period that a Settlement \n Trust has held property for which a deduction is allowed under \n this section, the period the Native Corporation has held such \n property shall be included.\n ``(5) Basis.--The basis that a Settlement Trust has for \n which a deduction is allowed under this section shall be equal \n to the adjusted basis of the Native Corporation in such \n property immediately before such contribution.\n ``(6) Prohibition.--No deduction shall be allowed under \n this section with respect to any contributions made to a \n Settlement Trust which are in violation of subsection (a)(2) or \n (c)(2) of section 39 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act \n (43 U.S.C. 1629e).\n ``(g) Election by Settlement Trust To Defer Income Recognition.--\n ``(1) In general.--In the case of a contribution which \n consists of property other than cash, a Settlement Trust may \n elect to defer recognition of any income related to such \n property until the sale or exchange of such property, in whole \n or in part, by the Settlement Trust.\n ``(2) Treatment.--In the case of property described in \n paragraph (1), any income or gain received by the Settlement \n Trust upon sale or exchange of such property shall be treated \n as--\n ``(A) for such amount of the income or gain as is \n equal to or less than the amount of income deferred \n pursuant to this subsection, ordinary income, and\n ``(B) for any amounts of the income or gain which \n are in excess of the amount of income deferred pursuant \n to this subsection, having the same character as if \n this subsection did not apply.\n ``(3) Election.--\n ``(A) In general.--For each taxable year, a \n Settlement Trust may elect to apply this subsection for \n any property described in paragraph (1) which was \n contributed during such year. Any property to which the \n election applies shall be identified and described with \n reasonable particularity on the income tax return or \n amended income tax return of the Settlement Trust, with \n such election to have effect solely for such taxable \n year.\n ``(B) Revocation.--Any election made by a \n Settlement Trust pursuant to this subsection may be \n revoked pursuant to an amended income tax return which \n has been timely filed by such Settlement Trust.\n ``(C) Certain dispositions.--\n ``(i) In general.--In the case of any \n property for which an election is in effect \n under this subsection and which is disposed of \n within the first taxable year subsequent to the \n taxable year in which such property was \n contributed to the Settlement Trust--\n ``(I) such election shall be voided \n as to such property,\n ``(II) the Settlement Trust shall \n be required to file an amended return \n for the taxable year in which such \n property was contributed, and\n ``(III) the Settlement Trust shall \n pay any tax applicable to such \n property, including interest and a \n penalty equal to 10 percent of the \n amount of such tax.\n ``(ii) Assessment.--Notwithstanding section \n 6501(a), any amount described in subclause \n (III) of clause (i) may be assessed, or a \n proceeding in court with respect to such amount \n may be initiated without assessment, within 4 \n years after the date on which the return making \n the election under this subsection for such \n property was filed.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for part VIII of \nsubchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is \namended by adding at the end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 250. Contributions to Alaska Native Settlement Trusts.''.\n (c) Permissive Amendments to Trust Agreements Establishing \nSettlement Trusts.--\n (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any provision of law, \n including any provision of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement \n Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), Alaska state law, or the terms of \n any trust agreement of a Settlement Trust (as defined under \n section 3(t) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, (43 \n U.S.C. 1602(t))), the terms of any trust agreement of a \n Settlement Trust may, within the 1-year period following the \n date of the enactment of this Act, be amended as necessary to \n allow such Trust to make an election described in subsection \n (g) of section 250 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as \n added by subsection (a)).\n (2) Amendment.--An amendment described in paragraph (1) \n shall be enacted pursuant to one or more agreements between the \n Native Corporation that established the Settlement Trust and \n the trustees of such Trust and shall not require any vote by \n the beneficiaries of such Trust or the shareholders of such \n Native Corporation.\n (3) Registration statement.--Any Settlement Trust which was \n registered in accordance with Alaska state law prior to the \n date of the enactment of an amendment described in paragraph \n (1) shall not be required to file a new or amended registration \n statement to reflect such amendment.\n (d) Effective Date.--\n (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall \n apply to taxable years for which the period of limitation on \n refund or credit under section 6511 of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986 has not expired.\n (2) One-year waiver of statute of limitations.--If the \n period of limitation on a credit or refund resulting from the \n amendments made by subsection (a) expires before the end of the \n 1-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this \n Act, refund or credit of such overpayment (to the extent \n attributable to such amendments) may, nevertheless, be made or \n allowed if claim therefor is filed before the close of such 1-\n year period.\n\nSEC. 4. INFORMATION REPORTING FOR DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALASKA \n NATIVE SETTLEMENT TRUSTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 6039H of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \nis amended--\n (1) in the heading, by striking ``sponsoring''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(e) Deductible Contributions by Native Corporations to Alaska \nNative Settlement Trusts.--\n ``(1) In general.--Any Native Corporation (as defined in \n subsection (m) of section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims \n Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(m))) which has made a \n contribution to a Settlement Trust (as defined in subsection \n (t) of such section) to which an election under subsection (e) \n of section 250 applies shall provide such Settlement Trust with \n a statement regarding such election not later than January 31 \n of the calendar year subsequent to the calendar year in which \n the contribution was made.\n ``(2) Content of statement.--The statement described in \n paragraph (1) shall include--\n ``(A) the total amount of contributions to which \n the election under subsection (e) of section 250 \n applies,\n ``(B) for each contribution, whether such \n contribution was in cash,\n ``(C) for each contribution which consists of \n property other than cash, the date that such property \n was acquired by the Native Corporation and the adjusted \n basis of such property on the date such property was \n contributed to the Settlement Trust,\n ``(D) the date on which each contribution was made \n to the Settlement Trust, and\n ``(E) such information as the Secretary determines \n to be necessary or appropriate for the identification \n of each contribution and the accurate reporting of \n income relating to such contributions by the Settlement \n Trust.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The item relating to section 6039H in \nthe table of sections for subpart A of part III of subchapter A of \nchapter 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as \nfollows:\n\n``Sec. 6039H. Information With Respect to Alaska Native Settlement \n Trusts and Native Corporations.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016.\n\nSEC. 5. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.\n\n This Act is remedial Indian legislation enacted under the plenary \nauthority of the Congress under the Constitution of the United States \nto regulate Indian affairs, and any ambiguities in section 139F or 250 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by this Act, shall be \nresolved in favor of Native Corporations attempting to exclude income \nor claim a deduction thereunder.", "summary": "Settlement Trust Improvement Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax treatment of Alaska Native Settlement Trusts, to: (1) allow an Alaska Native Corporation to assign certain payments referenced in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to a trust without including the payments in the gross income of the corporation, (2) allow the corporation to elect annually to deduct contributions made to a trust, (3) allow a trust to elect to defer the recognition of gains related to contributions of property other than cash until the sale or exchange of the property, and (4) establish information reporting requirements for deductible contributions to a trust. ", "title": "Settlement Trust Improvement Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 252, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Rehab and Ahmed Amer Foster Care \nImprovement Act of 2012''.\n\nSEC. 2. REQUIREMENT THAT STATES FOLLOW CERTAIN PROCEDURES IN PLACING A \n CHILD REMOVED FROM THE CUSTODY OF HIS OR HER PARENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 471(a)(29) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 671(a)(29)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(29) provides that--\n ``(A) within 30 days after the removal of a child \n from the custody of the parent or parents of the child, \n the State shall exercise due diligence to identify and \n provide notice to all adult grandparents and other \n adult relatives of the child (including any other adult \n relatives suggested by the parents), subject to \n exceptions due to family or domestic violence, that--\n ``(i) specifies that the child has been or \n is being removed from the custody of the parent \n or parents of the child;\n ``(ii) explains the options the relative \n has under Federal, State, and local law to \n participate in the care and placement of the \n child, including any options that may be lost \n by failing to respond to the notice;\n ``(iii) describes the requirements under \n paragraph (10) of this subsection to become a \n foster family home and the additional services \n and supports that are available for children \n placed in such a home; and\n ``(iv) if the State has elected the option \n to make kinship guardianship assistance \n payments under paragraph (28) of this \n subsection, describes how the relative guardian \n of the child may subsequently enter into an \n agreement with the State under section 473(d) \n to receive the payments;\n ``(B) within 90 days after the State makes a \n placement decision with respect to the child, the State \n shall provide notice of the decision and the reasons \n therefor to each parent of the child, each relative who \n has expressed to the State an interest in caring for \n the child, the guardian, and the guardian ad litem for \n the child, the attorney for the child, the attorney for \n each parent of the child, the child (if the child is \n able to express an opinion regarding placement), and \n the prosecutor involved; and\n ``(C) the State shall establish procedures to--\n ``(i) allow a person who receives a notice \n pursuant to subparagraph (B) to request, in \n writing, within 5 days after receipt of the \n notice, documentation of the reasons for the \n decision involved;\n ``(ii) allow the attorney for the child to \n petition the court involved to review the \n decision; and\n ``(iii) require the court to--\n ``(I) commence such a review within \n 7 days after receipt of a petition made \n pursuant to clause (ii); and\n ``(II) conduct such a review on the \n record;''.\n (b) Effective Date.--\n (1) In general.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \n take effect on the 1st day of the 1st fiscal year beginning on \n or after the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply \n to payments under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act \n for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date.\n (2) Delay permitted if state legislation required.--If the \n Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State \n legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is \n required in order for a State plan approved under part E of \n title IV of the Social Security Act to meet the additional \n requirements imposed by the amendment made by subsection (a), \n the plan shall not be regarded as failing to meet any of the \n additional requirements before the 1st day of the 1st calendar \n quarter beginning after the first regular session of the State \n legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this \n Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if the State has a \n 2-year legislative session, each year of the session is deemed \n to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.", "summary": "Rehab and Ahmed Amer Foster Care Improvement Act of 2012 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to revise requirements that states must follow to contact the adult relatives of a child removed from the custody of his or her parents.\n\nRequires the state, within 90 days after making a placement decision, to provide notice of the decision and the reasons for it to each parent of the child, each relative who has expressed an interest in caring for the child, the guardian, and other specified parties.\n\nRequires the state to establish procedures to: (1) allow a person who receives such a notice to request documentation of the reasons for the decision involved, (2) allow the attorney for the child to petition the court involved to review the decision, and (3) require the court to commence such a review on the record after receiving such a petition.", "title": "To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to follow certain procedures in placing a child who has been removed from the custody of his or her parents."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2955, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Master Teacher Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. MASTER TEACHER PROGRAMS.\n\n Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 \nU.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating part E as part G; and\n (2) by inserting after part D the following new part:\n\n ``PART E--MASTER TEACHER PROGRAM\n\n``SEC. 2351. FINDINGS.\n\n ``Congress makes the following findings:\n ``(1) The National Commission on Teaching and America's \n Future reports that more than 12 percent of all newly hired \n teachers enter the workforce with no training at all, and \n another 15 percent enter the workforce without having fully met \n State standards.\n ``(2) Annually, more than 50,000 people who lack the \n training required for their jobs have entered teaching with \n emergency or provisional licenses.\n ``(3) Only 500 of the Nation's 1,200 education schools meet \n common professional standards.\n ``(4) Fewer than 75 percent of all teachers have studied \n child development, and learning and teaching methods, have \n degrees in their subject areas, and have passed State licensing \n requirements.\n ``(5) Nearly \\1/4\\ of all secondary school teachers, and \n more than 30 percent of secondary school mathematics teachers, \n do not have even a college minor in their main subject area.\n ``(6) 64 percent of urban school districts allow teachers \n who are not certified or licensed to teach under an emergency \n certification or license, and 40 percent of those districts \n allow the hiring of long-term substitute teachers.\n\n``SEC. 2352. PURPOSES.\n\n ``The purposes of this part are--\n ``(1) to give local educational agencies the resources to \n establish master teacher programs;\n ``(2) to increase the level of student performance at \n elementary schools and secondary schools by improving the \n quality of education provided by the teachers at such schools;\n ``(3) to give local educational agencies the resources to \n fund efforts by teachers at elementary schools and secondary \n schools to become board certified; and\n ``(4) to give local educational agencies the resources to \n enable such agencies to provide salary incentives to teachers \n to become board certified.\n\n``SEC. 2353. DEFINITIONS.\n\n ``In this part:\n ``(1) Board certified.--The term `board certified' means \n successful completion of all requirements to be certified by \n the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.\n ``(2) Master teacher.--The term `master teacher' means a \n teacher who is certified by the National Board for Professional \n Teaching Standards and has been teaching for not less than 3 \n years.\n ``(3) Novice teacher.--The term `novice teacher' means a \n teacher who has been teaching for not more than 3 years at a \n public elementary school or secondary school.\n\n``SEC. 2354. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.\n\n ``(a) Authority.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award \n grants on a competitive basis to local educational agencies to \n establish master teacher programs as described in subsection \n (d).\n ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under paragraph (1), \n the Secretary shall give priority to local educational agencies \n that--\n ``(A) provide funding assistance to teachers to \n become board certified, including the provision of the \n board certification fee to become board certified; and\n ``(B) provide salary incentives to teachers who \n become board certified.\n ``(3) Geographic distribution.--To the maximum extent \n practicable, the Secretary shall award grants under paragraph \n (1) so that such grants are distributed among the school \n districts with the highest concentration of teachers who are \n not certified or licensed or are provisionally certified or \n licensed.\n ``(b) Duration.--A grant under subsection (a) shall be awarded for \na period of 5 years.\n ``(c) Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under subsection (a), \nshall be determined based on--\n ``(1) the total amount appropriated for a fiscal year under \n section 2360; and\n ``(2) the extent of the concentration of teachers who are \n not certified or licensed or are provisionally certified or \n licensed in the school district involved.\n ``(d) Authorized Activities.--The master teacher programs described \nin subsection (a) shall--\n ``(1) provide funding assistance to teachers to become \n board certified, including the provision of the board \n certification fee; and\n ``(2) provide salary incentives to teachers who become \n board certified.\n\n``SEC. 2355. APPLICATIONS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--A local educational agency desiring a grant \nunder section 2354 shall submit an application to the Secretary at such \ntime, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the \nSecretary may reasonably require.\n ``(b) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to subsection \n(a) shall include--\n ``(1) a statement describing the program activities for \n which amounts received under the grant will be used;\n ``(2) a statement describing the goals and objectives for \n the program activities described in paragraph (1), including a \n goal of increasing the percentage of teachers who become board \n certified and enhancing overall student achievement; and\n ``(3) a statement describing the manner in which the goals \n and objectives described in paragraph (2) will be measured.\n ``(c) Approval of Application.--The Secretary shall make a \ndetermination regarding an application submitted under subsection (a) \nbased on a recommendation of a peer review panel described in \nsubsection (d), and any other criteria that the Secretary determines to \nbe appropriate.\n ``(d) Peer Review Panel.--\n ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a peer \n review panel to review and make recommendations as to whether \n applications submitted pursuant to subsection (a) should be \n approved.\n ``(2) Recommendations.--In making a recommendation \n described in paragraph (1), the panel shall give consideration \n to the same factors that the Secretary is required to consider \n under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 2354(a).\n\n``SEC. 2356. PAYMENTS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Grant payments shall be made under this part on \nan annual basis.\n ``(b) Administrative Costs.--Each local educational agency that \nreceives a grant under section 2354 shall use not more than 2 percent \nof the amount awarded under the grant for administrative costs.\n ``(c) Denial of Grant.--If the Secretary determines that a local \neducational agency has failed to make substantial progress in attaining \nthe performance objectives and goals described in section 2355(b)(2), \nsuch an agency shall not be eligible for a grant payment under this \npart in the next succeeding year.\n\n``SEC. 2357. REPORTS.\n\n ``(a) Report by the Secretary.--Not later than 6 months after \nreceipt of reports described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall \nprepare and submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and \nPensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce \nof the House of Representatives a report of program activities funded \nunder this part.\n ``(b) Report by Applicant.--Not later than March 31, 2004, each \nlocal educational agency receiving a grant under this part shall submit \na report to the Secretary describing whether the program established \nunder section 2354 was effective in increasing student achievement for \nall students, and in increasing the percentage of teachers who have \nbecome board certified.\n\n``SEC. 2358. MATCHING REQUIREMENT.\n\n ``The Secretary may not award a grant to a local educational agency \nunder section 2354 unless the local educational agency agrees that, \nwith respect to costs to be incurred by the agency in carrying out \nactivities for which the grant was awarded, the agency shall provide \n(directly or through donations from public or private entities) in non-\nFederal contributions an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of \nthe grant awarded to the agency.\n\n``SEC. 2359. REPAYMENT OF FUNDS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--In the case of any program under this part in \nwhich assistance is provided to a teacher to pay the National Board for \nProfessional Teaching Standard board certification fee to become board \ncertified, assistance may only be provided if the teacher makes \nagreements as follows:\n ``(1) The teacher will enter and complete the National \n Board for Professional Teaching Standards board certification \n program to become board certified.\n ``(2) Upon becoming board certified, the teacher will teach \n in the public school system for a period of not less than 5 \n years.\n ``(b) Breach of Agreements.--A teacher receiving assistance \ndescribed in subsection (a) is liable to the local educational agency \nthat provides such assistance for the amount of the certification fee \ndescribed in subsection (a) if such teacher--\n ``(1) voluntarily withdraws or terminates the certification \n program before taking the examination for board certification;\n ``(2) is dismissed from the certification program before \n becoming board certified; or\n ``(3) fails to comply with the agreement under subsection \n (a).\n ``(c) Waiver or Suspension of Liability.--In the case of a teacher \nmaking an agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide \nfor the waiver or suspension of liability under subsection (b) if \ncompliance by the teacher with the agreements involved is impossible, \nwould involve extreme hardship to the individual, or if enforcement of \nthe agreement with respect to the teacher would be unconscionable.\n ``(d) Date Certain for Recovery.--Subject to subsection (c), any \namount that a local educational agency is entitled to recover under \nsubsection (b) shall be paid to such an agency not later than the \nexpiration of the 3-year period beginning on the date the local \neducational agency becomes so entitled.\n\n``SEC. 2360. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part, \n$50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2004.\n\n ``PART F--COMPETENCY EXAMINATION PROGRAM\n\n``SEC. 2361. COMPETENCY EXAMINATION GRANTS.\n\n ``(a) Examination.--The Secretary shall enter into an agreement \nwith the Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering of the \nNational Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, under \nwhich the Center shall develop an advanced competency examination for \nelementary school and secondary school teachers of mathematics and \nscience.\n ``(b) Grants.--The Secretary may make grants to local educational \nagencies to assist the agencies in supplementing the salaries of \nteachers that pass the examination described in subsection (a). A local \neducational agency that receives such a grant for a year shall provide \nan additional $2500 in salary for that year to teachers that have \npassed the examination, and that teach in schools served by the agency.\n ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this part $10,000,000 for each of fiscal \nyears 2000 through 2004.''.\n\nSEC. 3. INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.\n\n Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021 et \nseq.) is amended by inserting after section 204 the following:\n\n``SEC. 204A. INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.\n\n ``(a) General Authority.--The Secretary may enter into contracts \nwith appropriate entities to conduct information campaigns to broaden \nawareness of, and encourage mid-career professionals and other \nqualified individuals to consider, professional opportunities relating \nto elementary or secondary education.\n ``(b) Announcements.--Announcements distributed as part of such an \ninformation campaign shall publicize the availability of Federal \nassistance under this Act to obtain the necessary education, and to \nobtain certification or licensing, for the professional opportunities.\n ``(c) Requirements.--The provisions of sections 205 and 206 shall \nnot apply to assistance provided under, and activities carried out \nunder, this section.\n ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary \nfor each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004.''.", "summary": "(Sec. 2) Revises ESEA title II to authorize the Secretary of Education to make competitive five-year grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish master teacher programs that provide: (1) funding assistance to teachers to become board certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, including the provision of the board certification fee; and (2) salary incentives to teachers who become board certified. Gives priority to LEAs that already provide such assistance and incentives. Requires the Secretary to establish peer review panels to review LEA applications and make recommendations on which ones should be approved. Requires LEA matching funds. Requires teachers receiving such assistance to: (1) enter and complete the board certification program; and (2) upon becoming board certified, teach in a public school system for at least five years. Authorizes appropriations.\nRevises ESEA title II to authorize the Secretary to: (1) enter into an agreement with the Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, under which the Center shall develop an advanced competency examination for elementary school and secondary school teachers of mathematics and science; and (2) make grants to LEAs to assist them in supplementing the salaries of teachers that pass such examination. Requires such LEAs to provide an additional $2,500 in salary for each grant year to teachers who have passed the examination and teach in schools served by the LEA. Authorizes appropriations.\n(Sec. 3) Revises HEA title II to authorize the Secretary to enter into contracts with appropriate entities to conduct information campaigns to broaden awareness of, and encourage mid-career professionals and other qualified individuals to consider, professional opportunities relating to elementary or secondary education. Requires announcements distributed as part of such information campaigns to publicize the availability of Federal assistance under HEA to obtain the necessary education, and to obtain certification or licensing, for such professional opportunities. Makes certain administrative, accountability, and evaluation provisions inapplicable to such contracts and campaigns. Authorizes appropriations.", "title": "21st Century Master Teacher Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 0, "text": "SECTION 1. ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE.\n\n (a) Jackson County, Mississippi.--Section 219 of the Water \nResources Development Act of 1992 (106 Stat. 4835; 110 Stat. 3757) is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (5) and inserting \n the following:\n ``(5) Jackson county, mississippi.--Provision of an alternative \n water supply and a project for the elimination or control of \n combined sewer overflows for Jackson County, Mississippi.''; and\n (2) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``$10,000,000'' and \n inserting ``$20,000,000''.\n (b) Manchester, New Hampshire.--Section 219(e)(3) of the Water \nResources Development Act of 1992 (106 Stat. 4835; 110 Stat. 3757) is \namended by striking ``$10,000,000'' and inserting ``$20,000,000''.\n (c) Atlanta, Georgia.--Section 219(f)(1) of the Water Resources \nDevelopment Act of 1992 (106 Stat. 4835; 113 Stat. 335) is amended by \nstriking ``$25,000,000 for''.\n (d) Paterson, Passaic County, and Passaic Valley, New Jersey.--\nSection 219(f)(2) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (106 \nStat. 4835; 113 Stat. 335) is amended by striking ``$20,000,000 for''.\n (e) Elizabeth and North Hudson, New Jersey.--Section 219(f) of the \nWater Resources Development Act of 1992 (106 Stat. 4835; 113 Stat. 335) \nis amended--\n (1) in paragraph (33), by striking ``$20,000,000'' and \n inserting ``$10,000,000''; and\n (2) in paragraph (34)--\n (A) by striking ``$10,000,000'' and inserting \n ``$20,000,000''; and\n (B) by striking ``in the city of North Hudson'' and \n inserting ``for the North Hudson Sewerage Authority''.\n\nSEC. 2. UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.\n\n Section 1103(e)(5) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 \n(33 U.S.C. 652(e)(5)) (as amended by section 509(c)(3) of the Water \nResources Development Act of 1999 (113 Stat. 340)) is amended by \nstriking ``paragraph (1)(A)(i)'' and inserting ``paragraph (1)(B)''.\n\nSEC. 3. DELAWARE RIVER, PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE.\n\n Section 346 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (113 \nStat. 309) is amended by striking ``economically acceptable'' and \ninserting ``environmentally acceptable''.\n\nSEC. 4. PROJECT REAUTHORIZATIONS.\n\n Section 364 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (113 \nStat. 313) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``Each'' and all that follows through the colon \n and inserting the following: ``Each of the following projects is \n authorized to be carried out by the Secretary, and no construction \n on any such project may be initiated until the Secretary determines \n that the project is technically sound, environmentally acceptable, \n and economically justified:'';\n (2) by striking paragraph (1); and\n (3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as paragraphs \n (1) through (5), respectively.\n\nSEC. 5. SHORE PROTECTION.\n\n Section 103(d)(2)(A) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 \n(33 U.S.C. 2213(d)(2)(A)) (as amended by section 215(a)(2) of the Water \nResources Development Act of 1999 (113 Stat. 292)) is amended by \nstriking ``or for which a feasibility study is completed after that \ndate,'' and inserting ``except for a project for which a District \nEngineer's Report is completed by that date,''.\n\nSEC. 6. COMITE RIVER, LOUISIANA.\n\n Section 371 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (113 \nStat. 321) is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(b) Crediting of Reduction in Non-Federal Share.--The project \ncooperation agreement for the Comite River Diversion Project shall \ninclude a provision that specifies that any reduction in the non-\nFederal share that results from the modification under subsection (a) \nshall be credited toward the share of project costs to be paid by the \nAmite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District.''.\n\nSEC. 7. CHESAPEAKE CITY, MARYLAND.\n\n Section 535(b) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (113 \nStat. 349) is amended by striking ``the city of Chesapeake'' each place \nit appears and inserting ``Chesapeake City''.\n\nSEC. 8. CONTINUATION OF SUBMISSION OF CERTAIN REPORTS BY THE SECRETARY \n OF THE ARMY.\n\n (a) Recommendations of Inland Waterways Users Board.--Section \n302(b) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. \n2251(b)) is amended in the last sentence by striking ``The'' and \ninserting ``Notwithstanding section 3003 of Public Law 104-66 (31 \nU.S.C. 1113 note; 109 Stat. 734), the''.\n (b) List of Authorized but Unfunded Studies.--Section 710(a) of the \nWater Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2264(a)) is amended \nin the first sentence by striking ``Not'' and inserting \n``Notwithstanding section 3003 of Public Law 104-66 (31 U.S.C. 1113 \nnote; 109 Stat. 734), not''.\n (c) Reports on Participation of Minority Groups and Minority-Owned \nFirms in Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Feature.--Section 844(b) of the \nWater Resources Development Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 4177) is amended in \nthe second sentence by striking ``The'' and inserting ``Notwithstanding \nsection 3003 of Public Law 104-66 (31 U.S.C. 1113 note; 109 Stat. 734), \nthe''.\n (d) List of Authorized but Unfunded Projects.--Section 1001(b)(2) \nof the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 579a(b)(2)) \nis amended in the first sentence by striking ``Every'' and inserting \n``Notwithstanding section 3003 of Public Law 104-66 (31 U.S.C. 1113 \nnote; 109 Stat. 734), every''.\n\nSEC. 9. AUTHORIZATIONS FOR PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY AND CURRENTLY FUNDED.\n\n (a) Program Authorization.--The program described in subsection (c) \nis hereby authorized.\n (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Funds are hereby authorized \nto be appropriated for the Department of Transportation for the program \nauthorized in subsection (a) in amounts as follows:\n (1) Fiscal year 2000.--For fiscal year 2000, $10,000,000.\n (2) Fiscal year 2001.--For fiscal year 2001, $10,000,000.\n (3) Fiscal year 2002.--For fiscal year 2002, $7,000,000.\n (c) Applicability.--The program referred to in subsection (a) is \nthe program for which funds appropriated in title I of Public Law 106-\n69 under the heading ``FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION'' are available \nfor obligation upon the enactment of legislation authorizing the \nprogram.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 to: (1) authorize appropriations for FY 1999 through 2009 for implementation of a long-term resource monitoring program with respect to the Upper Mississippi River Environmental Management Program (currently, such funding is designated for a program for the planning, construction, and evaluation of measures for fish and wildlife habitat rehabilitation and enhancement); (2) authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out modifications to the navigation project for the Delaware River, Pennsylvania and Delaware, if such project as modified is technically sound, environmentally (currently, economically) acceptable, and economically justified; (3) subject certain previously deauthorized water resources development projects to the seven-year limitation governing project deauthorizations under the Act, with the exception of such a project for Indian River County, Florida; (4) except from a certain schedule of the non-Federal cost of the periodic nourishment of shore protection projects constructed after December 31, 1999, those projects for which a District Engineer's Report has been completed by such date; (5) require that the project cooperation agreement for the Comite River Diversion Project for flood control include a provision that specifies that any reduction in the non-Federal share that results from certain modifications be credited toward the share of project costs to be paid by the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District; (6) allow the Secretary to provide additional compensation to Chesapeake City, Maryland (currently, to the City of Chesapeake, Maryland) for damage to its water supply resulting from the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Project; (7) provide for the submission of certain reports on water resources development projects by the Secretary, notwithstanding Federal reporting termination provisions; and (8) authorize and provide for an authorization of appropriations for the existing program for the safety and operations expenses of the Federal Railroad Administration, and make available for obligation funds currently appropriated for such program.", "title": "To make technical corrections to the Water Resources Development Act of 1999."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 899, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT \n IMPLEMENTATION.\n\n (a) Deadline for Updating Regulations.--Not later than 90 days \nafter the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief FOIA Officer of \nthe Department of Homeland Security, as appointed pursuant to section \n552(j) of title 5, United States Code, shall finalize and issue an \nupdated regulation implementing section 552 of title 5, United States \nCode (commonly known as the Freedom of Information Act), which shall \ninclude--\n (1) public guidance on procedures to be followed when \n making requests under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section \n 552(a) of title 5, United States Code;\n (2) updated guidance to the components of the Department \n responsible for processing such requests, which may include \n information on how to adopt automated processing of requests \n made under paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of section 552(a) of \n title 5, United States Code;\n (3) detailed information on fees and costs associated with \n such requests; and\n (4) detailed information on the appeals process for such \n requests.\n (b) Identification of Costs.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of \n the enactment of this Act, the Chief FOIA Officer, in \n coordination with the Chief Financial Officer of the Department \n and the heads of each of the relevant components of the \n Department, shall identify the total annual cost to the \n Department of implementing section 552 of title 5, United \n States Code.\n (2) Guidance.--The Chief FOIA Officer shall develop \n guidance on reporting standards related to the direct and \n indirect costs to the Department associated with the processing \n of requests made under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section \n 552(a) of title 5, United States Code.\n (c) Cost Savings.--The Chief FOIA Officer, in collaboration with \nthe heads of each of the relevant components of the Department, shall--\n (1) identify unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by \n the Department in the course of processing requests made under \n paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 552(a) of title 5, \n United States Code, by not later than 120 days after the date \n of the enactment of this Act; and\n (2) eliminate unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by \n the Department in the course of processing requests made under \n paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 552(a) of title 5, \n United States Code, by not later than 12 months after the \n identification of such action under paragraph (1).\n (d) FOIA Tracking Systems.--Not later than 90 days after the date \nof the enactment of this Act, the Chief FOIA Officer shall develop a \nplan to automate the processing of requests made under paragraphs (1), \n(2), and (3) of section 552(a) of title 5, United States Code to the \nDepartment. Such plan shall take into account the specific needs of \neach of the components of the Department responsible for processing \nsuch requests and address required and recommended technology \ncapabilities and elements. Such plan shall include an assessment of the \ncosts and benefits associated with establishing and using electronic \nprocessing systems to process requests made under paragraphs (1), (2), \nand (3) of section 552(a) of title 5, United States Code.\n (e) FOIA Backlog.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department, in \nconsultation with the Chief FOIA Officer, shall update and issue \nguidance to the heads of each of the relevant components of the \nDepartment regarding the goal of reducing the backlog in processing \nrequests made under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 552(a) of \ntitle 5, United States Code, by 50 percent between fiscal year 2015 and \nfiscal year 2018.\n (f) Report.--\n (1) Semiannual privacy report.--The Chief FOIA Officer \n shall include in each semiannual privacy report submitted under \n section 1062(f) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism \n Prevention Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 2000ee-1(f)) each of the \n following:\n (A) The total costs to the Department of meeting \n the requirements of section 552 of title 5, United \n States Code, for the period covered by the report.\n (B) An assessment of progress made toward meeting \n the backlog goals pursuant to subsection (e) during the \n period covered by the report and the periods covered by \n the two preceding reports.\n (C) An assessment of whether the Department has \n adequate staffing and other resources to address the \n backlog goals pursuant to subsection (e) for processing \n requests made under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of \n section 552(a) of title 5, United States Code.\n (D) An assessment of the progress made towards \n automating the processing of requests made under \n paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 552(a) of title \n 5, United States Code, during the period covered by the \n report.\n (2) Fiscal year 2016 requirements.--The Chief FOIA Officer \n shall include in the second semiannual privacy report for \n fiscal year 2016 each of the following:\n (A) A description of any cost savings identified \n under subsection (d).\n (B) The plan developed under subsection (d).\n (g) Duplicative Action Defined.--In this section, the term \n``duplicative actions'' means actions carried out by two or more \ncomponents or programs that are engaged in the same activities or \nprovide the same services related to the processing of FOIA requests to \nthe same beneficiaries.\n\nSEC. 3. PROGRESS ON AUTOMATION.\n\n Upon completion of the plan to automate the processing of requests \nmade under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 552(a) of title 5, \nUnited States Code, the Chief FOIA Officer shall provide the plan to \nthe heads of the components of the Department and seek written feedback \nfrom each head of a component agency regarding the extent to which that \ncomponent will adopt the plan, the associated costs, and the projected \ntimelines.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives June 25, 2015.\n\n Attest:\n\n KAREN L. HAAS,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House of Representatives on June 11, 2015. DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to issue an updated regulation implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and to identify the total annual implementation costs; to develop guidance on reporting standards related to costs of processing FOIA requests; within 120 days after enactment of this Act, to identify unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by DHS in processing such requests; to eliminate such actions within 12 months after identifying them; and within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to develop a plan to automate the processing of requests and to issue guidance to the relevant DHS components regarding the goal of reducing the backlog in processing requests by 50% between FY2015 and FY2018. Requires the regulation implementing FOIA to include: (1) public guidance on procedures to be followed when making requests for DHS rules, opinions, orders, records, or proceedings; (2) updated guidance to the DHS components for processing such requests, which may include information on automated processing; and (3) detailed information on fees and costs associated with, and on the appeals process for, requests. Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to include: (1) in each semiannual privacy report submitted under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the total costs to DHS of meeting FOIA requirements and assessments of progress made toward meeting backlog goals, of whether DHS has adequate staffing and other resources to address such goals, and of progress made toward automating the processing of requests; and (2) in the second semiannual privacy report for FY2016, a description of any cost savings identified from, and the plan developed for, automating the processing of requests. (Sec. 3) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to provide such plan, upon completion, to DHS components and seek written feedback regarding the extent to which each component will adopt the plan, the associated costs, and the projected time lines.", "title": "DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1070, "text": "SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds and declares that--\n (1) certain scattered parcels of Federal land located \n within Gilpin County, Colorado, are currently administered by \n the Secretary of the Interior as part of the Royal Gorge \n Resource Area, Canon City District, United States Bureau of \n Land Management;\n (2) these land parcels, comprised of approximately 130 \n separate tracts of land ranging in size from approximately 38 \n acres to much less than an acre, have been identified as \n suitable for disposal by the Bureau of Land Management through \n its resource management planning process and are appropriate \n for disposal; and\n (3) even though these land parcels are scattered and small \n in size, they nevertheless appear to have a fair market value \n which may be used by the Federal Government to exchange for \n lands which will better lend themselves to Federal management \n and have higher values for future public access, use and \n enjoyment, recreation, the protection and enhancement of fish \n and wildlife and fish and wildlife habitat, and the protection \n of riparian lands, wetlands, scenic beauty and other public \n values.\n (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to authorize, direct, \nfacilitate and expedite the land exchange set forth herein in order to \nfurther the public interest by disposing of Federal lands with limited \npublic utility and acquire in exchange therefor lands with important \nvalues for permanent public management and protection.\n\nSEC. 2. LAND EXCHANGE.\n\n (a) In General.--The exchange directed by this Act shall be \nconsummated if within 90 days after enactment of this Act, Lake Gulch, \nInc., a Colorado corporation (as defined in section 4 of this Act), \noffers to transfer to the United States pursuant to the provisions of \nthis Act the offered lands or interests in land described herein.\n (b) Conveyance by Lake Gulch.--Subject to the provisions of section \n3 of this Act, Lake Gulch shall convey to the Secretary of the Interior \nall right, title, and interest in and to the following offered lands:\n (1) Certain lands comprising approximately 40 acres with \n improvements thereon located in Larimer County, Colorado, and \n lying within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park as \n generally depicted on a map entitled ``Circle C Church Camp'', \n dated August 1994, which shall upon their acquisition by the \n United States and without further action by the Secretary of \n the Interior be incorporated into Rocky Mountain National Park \n and thereafter be administered in accordance with the laws, \n rules and regulations generally applicable to the National Park \n System and Rocky Mountain National Park.\n (2) Certain lands located along the Arkansas River in Lake \n County, Colorado, which comprise approximately 517 acres, as \n generally depicted on a map entitled ``Arkansas River \n Headwaters Frontage'', dated August 1994.\n (3) Certain lands located within and adjacent to the United \n States Bureau of Land Management San Luis Resource Area in \n Conejos County, Colorado, which comprise approximately 3,993 \n acres and are generally depicted on a map entitled ``Quinlan \n Ranches Tract'', dated August 1994.\n (c) Substitution of Lands.--If one or more of the precise offered \nland parcels identified above is unable to be conveyed to the United \nStates due to appraisal or other problems, Lake Gulch and the Secretary \nmay mutually agree to substitute therefor alternative offered lands \nacceptable to the Secretary.\n (d) Conveyance by the United States.--(1) Upon receipt of title to \nthe lands identified in subsection (a) the Secretary shall \nsimultaneously convey to Lake Gulch all right, title, and interest of \nthe United States, subject to valid existing rights, in and to the \nfollowing selected lands:\n (A) Certain surveyed lands located in Gilpin County, \n Colorado, Township 3 South, Range 72 West, Sixth Principal \n Meridian, Section 18, Lots 118-220, which comprise \n approximately 195 acres and are intended to include all \n federally owned lands in section 18, as generally depicted on a \n map entitled ``Lake Gulch Selected Lands'', dated July 1994.\n (B) Certain surveyed lands located in Gilpin County, \n Colorado, Township 3 South, Range 72 West, Sixth Principal \n Meridian, Section 17, Lots 37, 38, 39, 40, 52, 53, and 54, \n which comprise approximately 96 acres, as generally depicted on \n a map entitled ``Lake Gulch Selected Lands'', dated July 1994.\n (C) Certain unsurveyed lands located in Gilpin County, \n Colorado, Township 3 South, Range 73 West, Sixth Principal \n Meridian, Section 13, which comprise approximately 10 acres, \n and are generally depicted as parcels 307-326 on a map entitled \n ``Lake Gulch Selected Lands'', dated July 1994: Provided, \n however, That a parcel or parcels of land in section 13 shall \n not be transferred to Lake Gulch if at the time of the proposed \n transfer the parcel or parcels are under formal application for \n transfer to a qualified unit of local government. Due to the \n small and unsurveyed nature of such parcels proposed for \n transfer to Lake Gulch in section 13, and the high cost of \n surveying such small parcels, the Secretary is authorized to \n transfer such section 13 lands to Lake Gulch without survey \n based on such legal or other description as he determines \n appropriate to carry out the basic intent of the map cited in \n this subparagraph.\n (2) If the Secretary and Lake Gulch mutually agree, and the \nSecretary determines it is in the public interest, the Secretary may \nutilize the authority and direction of this Act to transfer to Lake \nGulch lands in sections 17 and 13 that are in addition to those precise \nselected lands shown on the maps cited in paragraphs (d)(1)(B) and \n(d)(1)(C), and which are not under formal application for transfer to a \nqualified unit of local government, upon transfer to the Secretary of \nadditional offered lands acceptable to the Secretary or upon payment to \nthe Secretary by Lake Gulch of cash equalization money amounting to the \nfull appraised fair market value of any such additional lands. If any \nsuch additional lands are located in section 13 they may be transferred \nto Lake Gulch without survey based on such legal or other description \nas the Secretary determines appropriate as long as the Secretary \ndetermines that the boundaries of any adjacent lands now owned by Lake \nGulch can be properly identified so as to avoid possible future \nboundary conflicts or disputes. If the Secretary determines surveys are \nnecessary to convey any such additional lands to Lake Gulch, the costs \nof such surveys shall be paid by Lake Gulch but shall not be eligible \nfor any adjustment in the value of such additional lands pursuant to \nsection 206(f)(2) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 \n(as amended by the Federal Land Exchange Facilitation Act of 1988) (43 \nU.S.C. 1716(f)(2)).\n (3) Prior to transferring out of public ownership pursuant to this \nAct or other authority of law any lands which are contiguous to North \nClear Creek southeast of the City of Black Hawk, Colorado, in the \nCounty of Gilpin, Colorado, the Secretary shall notify and consult with \nthe governments of the County and the City and afford such units of \nlocal government an opportunity to acquire or reserve pursuant to the \nFederal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 or other applicable law \nsuch easements or rights-of-way parallel to North Clear Creek as may be \nnecessary to serve public utility line or recreation path needs: \nProvided, however, That any survey or other costs associated with the \nacquisition or reservation of such easements or rights-of-way shall be \npaid for by the unit or units of local government concerned.\n\nSEC. 3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EXCHANGE.\n\n (a) Equalization of Values.--The values of the lands to be \nexchanged pursuant to this Act shall be equal as determined by the \nSecretary of the Interior utilizing nationally recognized appraisal \nstandards, including, to the extent appropriate, the Uniform Standards \nfor Federal Land Acquisition, the Uniform Standards of Professional \nAppraisal Practice, the provisions of section 206(d) of the Federal \nLand Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716(d)), and other \napplicable law. In the event it is determined that cash equalization \nmoneys are owed to the United States in the exchange, any such cash \nequalization moneys shall be retained by the Secretary of the Interior \nand may be utilized by the Secretary until fully expended to purchase \nfrom willing sellers land or water rights, or a combination thereof, to \naugment wildlife habitat and protect and restore wetlands in the Bureau \nof Land Management's Blanca Wetlands, Alamosa County, Colorado. Any \nwater rights acquired by the United States pursuant to this section \nshall be obtained by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with \nall applicable provisions of Colorado law, including the requirement to \nchange the time, place, and type of use of said water rights through \nthe appropriate State legal proceedings and to comply with any terms, \nconditions, or other provisions contained in an applicable decree of \nthe Colorado Water Court. The use of any water rights acquired pursuant \nto this section shall be limited to water than can be used or exchanged \nfor water that can be used on the Blanca Wetlands. Any requirement or \nproposal to utilize facilities of the San Luis Valley Project, Closed \nBasin Diversion, in order to effectuate the use of any such water \nrights shall be subject to prior approval of the Rio Grande Water \nConservation District.\n (b) Restrictions on Selected Lands.--(1) Conveyance of the selected \nlands to Lake Gulch pursuant to this Act shall be contingent upon Lake \nGulch executing an agreement with the United States prior to such \nconveyance, the terms of which are acceptable to the Secretary of the \nInterior, and which--\n (A) grants the United States a covenant that none of the \n selected lands (all of which currently lie outside the State of \n Colorado's current legally approved gaming area) shall ever be \n used for purposes of gaming should the current legal gaming \n area ever be expanded by the State of Colorado; and\n (B) permanently holds the United States harmless for \n liability and indemnify the United States against all costs \n arising from any activities, operations (including the storing, \n handling, and dumping of hazardous materials or substances) or \n other acts conducted by Lake Gulch or its employees, agents, \n successors or assigns on the selected lands after their \n transfer to Lake Gulch: Provided, however, That nothing in this \n Act shall be construed as either diminishing or increasing any \n responsibility or liability of the United States based on the \n condition of the selected lands prior to or on the date of \n their transfer to Lake Gulch.\n (2) Conveyance of the selected lands to Lake Gulch pursuant to this \nAct shall be subject to the existing easement for Gilpin County Road 6.\n (3) The above terms and restrictions of this subsection shall not \nbe considered in determining, or result in any diminution in, the fair \nmarket value of the selected land for purposes of the appraisals of the \nselected land required pursuant to section 3 of this Act.\n (c) Revocation of Withdrawal.--The Public Water Reserve established \nby Executive order dated April 17, 1926 (Public Water Reserve 107), \nSerial Number Colorado 17321, is hereby revoked insofar as it affects \nthe NW \\1/4\\ SW \\1/4\\ of Section 17, Township 3 South, Range 72 West, \nSixth Principal Meridian, which covers a portion of the selected lands \nidentified in this Act.\n (d) Management of Certain Lands.--Upon their acquisition by the \nUnited States, the lands referred to in section 2(b)(2) of this Act \nshall be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with \nthe laws, rules, and regulations generally applicable to the public \nlands, and, as appropriate, in accordance with cooperative agreements \nsuch as the existing Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Memorandum of \nUnderstanding, with special emphasis on public fishing and recreational \naccess to the Arkansas River, and riparian and wetland habitat \nprotection. The acquisition of such lands by the Secretary shall not be \nconstrued to impose any responsibility or liability on the Secretary \nwith respect to hazardous substances which may exist on the lands as of \nthe date of their acquisition by the United States. Without precluding \nany future determination by the Secretary or appropriate Federal or \nState authorities that cleanup of any hazardous substances which may be \nfound to exist on the property would be appropriate, nothing in this \nAct shall be construed to require the Secretary to undertake any \nhazardous substances cleanup activities or studies.\n\nSEC. 4. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--As used in this Act:\n (1) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the \n Interior.\n (2) The term ``Lake Gulch'' means Lake Gulch, Inc., a \n Colorado corporation, or its successors, heirs or assigns.\n (3) The term ``offered land'' means lands to be conveyed to \n the United States pursuant to this Act.\n (4) The term ``selected land'' means lands to be \n transferred to Lake Gulch pursuant to this Act.\n (5) The term ``Blanca Wetlands'' means an area of land \n comprising approximately 9,290 acres, as generally depicted on \n a map entitled ``Blanca Wetlands'', dated August 1994, and any \n nearby land which the Secretary may purchase from willing \n sellers after the date of enactment of this Act utilizing funds \n provided by this Act or other funds and manage in conjunction \n with and for the same general purposes as the land depicted on \n that map.\n (b) Time Requirement for Completing Transfer.--It is the intent of \nCongress that unless the Secretary and Lake Gulch mutually agree \notherwise the exchange of lands authorized and directed by this Act \nshall be completed not later than 6 months after the date of enactment \nof this Act.\n (c) Administration of Lands Acquired by United States.--In \naccordance with the provisions of section 206(c) of the Federal Land \nPolicy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716(c)), all lands \nacquired by the United States pursuant to this Act shall upon \nacceptance of title by the United States and without further action by \nthe Secretary concerned become part of and be managed as part of the \nadministrative unit or area within which they are located.", "summary": "Requires Lake Gulch, Inc., to convey, on an equal value basis, specified lands located in Larimer, Lake, and Conejos Counties, Colorado, to the Secretary of the Interior in exchange for certain Lake Gulch Selected Lands located in Gilpin County, Colorado. \nProvides that, if cash equalization monies are owed to the United States in the exchange, such monies shall be retained by the Secretary and may be utilized until fully expended to purchase from willing sellers land or water rights to augment wildlife habitat and to protect and restore wetlands in the Bureau of Land Management's Blanca Wetlands, Alamosa County, Colorado. \nConditions the conveyance of such selected lands on Lake Gulch executing an agreement which: (1) grants the United States a covenant that none of such lands (all of which currently lie outside of Colorado's current legally approved gaming area) shall ever be used for gaming purposes should such gaming area ever be expanded by the State; and (2) permanently holds the United States harmless for liability and indemnifies it against all costs arising from any activities, operations (including the storing, handling, and dumping of hazardous materials or substances) or other acts conducted by Lake Gulch on the selected lands after such transfer. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed as either diminishing or increasing any U.S. responsibility or liability based on the condition of the selected lands before or on the date of their transfer. Subjects the conveyance to the existing easement for Gilpin County Road 6. \nRevokes a specified Public Water Reserve established by Executive Order dated April 17, 1926, insofar as it affects certain land which covers a portion of the selected lands.", "title": "A bill entitled \"Gilpin County, Colorado--B.L.M. Land Transfer Act of 1994\"."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1238, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Family Relief Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. CONTINUATION OF BENEFITS THROUGH MONTH OF BENEFICIARY'S DEATH.\n\n (a) Old-Age Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(a) of the Social \nSecurity Act (42 U.S.C. 402(a)) is amended by striking ``the month \npreceding'' in the matter following subparagraph (B).\n (b) Wife's Insurance Benefits.--\n (1) In general.--Section 202(b)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n 402(b)(1)) is amended--\n (A) by striking ``and ending with the month'' in \n the matter immediately following clause (ii) and \n inserting ``and ending with the month in which she dies \n or (if earlier) with the month'';\n (B) by striking subparagraph (E); and\n (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K) \n as subparagraphs (E) through (J).\n (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 202(b)(5)(B) of such \n Act (42 U.S.C. 402(b)(5)(B)) is amended by striking ``(E), (F), \n (H), or (J)'' and inserting ``(E), (G), or (I)''.\n (c) Husband's Insurance Benefits.--\n (1) In general.--Section 202(c)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n 402(c)(1)) is amended--\n (A) by striking ``and ending with the month'' in \n the matter immediately following clause (ii) and \n inserting ``and ending with the month in which he dies \n or (if earlier) with the month'';\n (B) by striking subparagraph (E); and\n (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (K) \n as subparagraphs (E) through (J), respectively.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 202(c)(5)(B) of such \n Act (42 U.S.C. 402(c)(5)(B)) is amended by striking ``(E), (F), \n (H), or (J)'' and inserting ``(E), (G), or (I)'', respectively.\n (d) Child's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(d)(1) of such Act (42 \nU.S.C. 402(d)(1)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and ending with the month'' in the matter \n immediately preceding subparagraph (D) and inserting ``and \n ending with the month in which such child dies or (if earlier) \n with the month''; and\n (2) by striking ``dies, or'' in subparagraph (D).\n (e) Widow's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(e)(1) of such Act (42 \nU.S.C. 402(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with the month \npreceding the first month in which any of the following occurs: she \nremarries, dies,'' in the matter following subparagraph (F) and \ninserting ``ending with the month in which she dies or (if earlier) \nwith the month preceding the first month in which she remarries or''.\n (f) Widower's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(f)(1) of such Act \n(42 U.S.C. 402(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with the month \npreceding the first month in which any of the following occurs: he \nremarries, dies,'' in the matter following subparagraph (F) and \ninserting ``ending with the month in which he dies or (if earlier) with \nthe month preceding the first month in which he remarries''.\n (g) Mother's and Father's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(g)(1) of \nsuch Act (42 U.S.C. 402(g)(1)) is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``with the month in which he or she dies \n or (if earlier)'' after ``and ending'' in the matter following \n subparagraph (F); and\n (2) by striking ``he or she remarries, or he or she dies'' \n and inserting ``or he or she remarries''.\n (h) Parent's Insurance Benefits.--Section 202(h)(1) of such Act (42 \nU.S.C. 402(h)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with the month \npreceding the first month in which any of the following occurs: such \nparent dies, marries,'' in the matter following subparagraph (E) and \ninserting ``ending with the month in which such parent dies or (if \nearlier) with the month preceding the first month in which such parent \nmarries, or such parent''.\n (i) Disability Insurance Benefits.--Section 223(a)(1) of such Act \n(42 U.S.C. 423(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``ending with the month \npreceding whichever of the following months is the earliest: the month \nin which he dies,'' in the matter following subparagraph (D) and \ninserting the following: ``ending with the month in which he dies or \n(if earlier) with the month preceding the earlier of'' and by striking \nthe comma after ``216(l))''.\n (j) Benefits at Age 72 for Certain Uninsured Individuals.--Section \n228(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 428(a)) is amended by striking ``the \nmonth preceding'' in the matter following paragraph (4).\n\nSEC. 3. COMPUTATION AND PAYMENT OF LAST MONTHLY PAYMENT.\n\n (a) Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Benefits.--Section 202 of the \nSocial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new subsection:\n\n ``Last Payment of Monthly Insurance Benefit Terminated by Death\n\n ``(y) The amount of any individual's monthly insurance benefit \nunder this section paid for the month in which the individual dies \nshall be an amount equal to--\n ``(1) the amount of such benefit (as determined without \n regard to this subsection), multiplied by\n ``(2) a fraction--\n ``(A) the numerator of which is the number of days \n in such month preceding the date of such individual's \n death, and\n ``(B) the denominator of which is the number of \n days in such month,\nrounded, if not a multiple of $1, to the next lower multiple of $1. \nThis subsection shall apply with respect to such benefit after all \nother adjustments with respect to such benefit provided by this title \nhave been made. Payment of such benefit for such month shall be made as \nprovided in section 204(d).''.\n (b) Disability Insurance Benefits.--Section 223 of such Act (42 \nU.S.C. 423) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubsection:\n\n ``Last Payment of Benefit Terminated by Death\n\n ``(j) The amount of any individual's monthly benefit under this \nsection paid for the month in which the individual dies shall be an \namount equal to--\n ``(1) the amount of such benefit (as determined without \n regard to this subsection), multiplied by\n ``(2) a fraction--\n ``(A) the numerator of which is the number of days \n in such month preceding the date of such individual's \n death, and\n ``(B) the denominator of which is the number of \n days in such month,\nrounded, if not a multiple of $1, to the next lower multiple of $1. \nThis subsection shall apply with respect to such benefit after all \nother adjustments with respect to such benefit provided by this title \nhave been made. Payment of such benefit for such month shall be made as \nprovided in section 204(d).''.\n (c) Benefits at Age 72 for Certain Uninsured Individuals.--Section \n228 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 428) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new subsection:\n\n ``Last Payment of Benefit Terminated by Death\n\n ``(i) The amount of any individual's monthly benefit under this \nsection paid for the month in which the individual dies shall be an \namount equal to--\n ``(1) the amount of such benefit (as determined without \n regard to this subsection), multiplied by\n ``(2) a fraction--\n ``(A) the numerator of which is the number of days \n in such month preceding the date of such individual's \n death, and\n ``(B) the denominator of which is the number of \n days in such month,\nrounded, if not a multiple of $1, to the next lower multiple of $1. \nThis subsection shall apply with respect to such benefit after all \nother adjustments with respect to such benefit provided by this title \nhave been made. Payment of such benefit for such month shall be made as \nprovided in section 204(d).''.\n\nSEC. 4. DISREGARD OF BENEFIT FOR MONTH OF DEATH UNDER FAMILY MAXIMUM \n PROVISIONS.\n\n Section 203(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 403(a)) is \namended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(10) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, in applying \nthe preceding provisions of this subsection (and determining maximum \nfamily benefits under column V of the table in or deemed to be in \nsection 215(a) as in effect in December 1978) with respect to the month \nin which the insured individual's death occurs, the benefit payable to \nsuch individual for that month shall be disregarded.''.\n\nSEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to deaths \noccurring after the month in which this Act is enacted.", "summary": "Provides that such individual's benefit shall be payable for such month only in proportion to the number of days preceding the date of death.\nProvides for disregard of such benefits for the month of death in determining maximum family benefits.", "title": "Social Security Family Relief Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1347, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Quality Cancer Care Preservation \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. MEDICARE PAYMENT FOR DRUGS AND BIOLOGICALS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1842(o)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 1395u(o)(1)) is amended by striking ``95 percent of the average \nwholesale price'' and inserting ``the payment amount specified in \nsection 1834(n)(2)''.\n (b) Determination of Payment Amount.--Section 1834 of such Act (42 \nU.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubsection:\n ``(n) Payment for Drugs and Biologicals.--\n ``(1) Reports by manufacturers.--\n ``(A) In general.--Every drug manufacturer shall \n report to the Secretary, in the manner prescribed in \n this paragraph, its average sales price (as defined in \n subparagraph (B)) in the United States during each \n calendar quarter for drugs and biologicals covered \n under this part.\n ``(B) Definitions.--For purposes of this \n subsection--\n ``(i) the term `manufacturer' means, with \n respect to a drug or biological, the entity \n identified by the Labeler Code portion of the \n National Drug Code of such drug or biological; \n and\n ``(ii) the term `average sales price' means \n the weighted average of all final sales prices \n to all purchasers, excluding sales specified in \n subparagraph (C).\n In determining such average sales prices, such prices \n shall be net of volume discounts, chargebacks, short-\n dated product discounts, free goods contingent on \n purchases, rebates (other than those made or authorized \n under section 1927), and all other price concessions \n that result in a reduction of the ultimate cost to the \n purchaser.\n ``(C) Consideration in calculation of average sales \n prices.--The calculation of average sales price under \n this subsection shall not include--\n ``(i) prices that are excluded from the \n calculation of `best price' under section \n 1927(c)(1)(C);\n ``(ii) prices offered to entities that are \n considered under subparagraph (B)(i) to be the \n manufacturers of the drugs or biologicals \n involved;\n ``(iii) prices offered by a manufacturer to \n a hospital, nursing facility, hospice, or \n health maintenance organization;\n ``(iv) prices to governmental entities; and\n ``(v) nominal prices offered to bona fide \n charitable organizations.\n ``(D) Quarterly reports.--Each manufacturer shall \n submit the report required by subparagraph (A) to the \n Secretary by electronic means no later than 30 days \n after the end of a calendar quarter with respect to \n sales that occurred during such quarter. The Secretary \n shall prescribe the format and other requirements for \n the report.\n ``(E) Enforcement.--\n ``(i) Failure to timely report.--The \n Secretary may impose a civil monetary penalty \n in an amount not to exceed $100,000 on a \n manufacturer that fails to provide the \n information required under this paragraph on a \n timely basis and in the manner required.\n ``(ii) False information.--For each item of \n false information, the Secretary may impose a \n civil money penalty in an amount not to exceed \n $100,000 on a manufacturer that knowingly \n provides false information under this \n paragraph.\n ``(iii) Manner of imposition of civil \n monetary penalties.--The provisions in section \n 1128A (other than subsections (a) and (b)) \n shall apply to a civil monetary penalty under \n this subparagraph in the same manner as such \n provisions apply to a penalty or proceeding \n under section 1128A(a).\n ``(F) Confidentiality of information.--\n Notwithstanding any other provision of law, information \n disclosed by manufacturers under this paragraph is \n confidential and shall not be disclosed by the \n Secretary in any form other than as specifically \n authorized by this subsection.\n ``(2) Calculation of payment amount.--\n ``(A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in \n this paragraph, the payment amount for a drug or \n biological furnished during a calendar quarter shall be \n 120 percent of the average sales price of the drug or \n biological for the second preceding calendar quarter as \ndetermined under paragraph (1).\n ``(B) Methodology.--In determining payment amounts \n under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may, in the \n Secretary's discretion, use either the average sales \n price for each drug or biological by specific drug or \n biological, or a cumulative average sales price based \n on sales data for all versions of a multiple-source \n drug that the Secretary, acting through the Food and \n Drug Administration, has determined are therapeutically \n equivalent (as evidenced by `A' ratings in the \n publication Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic \n Equivalence Evaluations).\n ``(C) Increase to reflect additional costs \n attributable to state and local taxes.--In the case of \n a drug or biological that was subject to a State or \n local sales tax or gross receipts tax when administered \n or dispensed, the payment amount determined under \n subparagraph (A) shall be increased by the amount of \n such tax paid with respect to such drug or biological.\n ``(D) Substitution of higher payment amount.--If a \n physician's, supplier's, or any other person's claim \n for payment for services under this Act documents that \n the price paid for a drug or biological was greater \n than the payment amount determined under subparagraph \n (A), the actual amount paid shall be substituted for \n the payment amount determined under subparagraph (A), \n unless the Secretary determines that the actual amount \n paid was unreasonable under the circumstances.\n ``(E) Increase for bad debt and certain other \n costs.--Upon the submission of supporting information, \n the Secretary shall make an additional payment to a \n physician or supplier to cover--\n ``(i) uncollectible deductibles and \n coinsurance due from Medicare beneficiaries \n with respect to drugs and biologicals furnished \n to such beneficiaries; and\n ``(ii) costs incurred in procuring and \n billing for drugs and biologicals furnished to \n Medicare beneficiaries.''.\n\nSEC. 3. MEDICARE PAYMENT FOR DRUG ADMINISTRATION SERVICES.\n\n (a) General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (hereafter \nin this Act referred to as ``the Secretary'') shall revise the practice \nexpense relative value units for drug administration services for years \nbeginning with the year 2005 in accordance with this section. For \npurposes of this section, ``drug administration services'' includes \nchemotherapy administration services, therapeutic and diagnostic \ninfusions and injections, and such other services as the Secretary \nspecifies.\n (b) Direct Costs Equal to 100 Percent of CPEP Estimates.--Using the \ninformation, including estimates of clinical staff time, developed in \nthe clinical practice expert panel process, including refinements by \nAmerican Medical Association committees, the Secretary shall estimate \nthe costs of the nursing and other clinical staff, supplies, and \nprocedure-specific equipment (exceeding a cost specified by the \nSecretary) used in furnishing each type of drug administration service. \nThe Secretary shall utilize without revision the minutes of clinical \nstaff time determined in such process. The Secretary shall convert the \ninformation from such process to estimated costs by applying the most \ncurrent available data on staff salary, supply, and equipment costs, \nand such costs shall be updated to 2005 based on estimated changes in \nprices since the date of such data.\n (c) Total Practice Expenses.--The Secretary shall estimate the \ntotal practice expenses of each drug administration service by assuming \nthat the direct costs for the service determined under subsection (b) \nare 33.2 percent of such total practice expenses.\n (d) Conversion to Relative Value Units.--The Secretary shall \nconvert the total practice expenses determined under subsection (c) to \npractice expense relative value units for each drug administration \nservice by dividing such expenses by the conversion factor that will be \nin effect for the physician fee schedule for 2005. The relative value \nunits as so determined shall be used in determining the fee schedule \namounts paid for drug administration services under section 1848 of the \nSocial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4).\n (e) Updates.--For years after 2005, the relative values determined \nunder subsection (d) shall continue in effect except that the Secretary \nshall revise them as necessary to maintain their accuracy, provided \nthat such revisions are consistent with the methodology set forth in \nthis section.\n (f) Multiple Pushes.--In establishing the payment amounts under \nthis section, the Secretary shall establish the payment amount for \nintravenous chemotherapy administration by push technique based on the \nadministration of a single drug. The Secretary shall make the same \npayment for each additional drug administered by push technique during \nthe same encounter, except to the extent that the Secretary finds that \nthe cost of administering additional drugs is less than the cost of \nadministering the first drug.\n\nSEC. 4. PAYMENTS FOR CHEMOTHERAPY SUPPORT SERVICES.\n\n (a) General.--Beginning in the year 2005, the Secretary shall \nrecognize and make payments under section 1848 of the Social Security \nAct (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4) for chemotherapy support services furnished \nincident to physicians' services. For the purposes of this section, \n``chemotherapy support services'' are services furnished by the staff \nof physicians to patients undergoing treatment for cancer that were not \nincluded in the computation of clinical staff costs under section 3(b). \nSuch services include social worker services, nutrition counseling, \npsychosocial services, and similar services.\n (b) Direct Costs.--The Secretary shall estimate the cost of the \nsalary and benefits of staff furnishing chemotherapy support services \nas they are provided in oncology practices that furnish these services \nto cancer patients in a manner that is considered to be high quality \ncare. The estimate shall be based on the weekly cost of such services \nper patient receiving chemotherapy.\n (c) Total Costs.--The Secretary shall estimate the total practice \nexpenses of chemotherapy support services by assuming that the direct \ncosts for the service determined under subsection (b) are 33.2 percent \nof such total practice expenses.\n (d) Conversion to Relative Value Units.--The Secretary shall \nconvert the total practice expenses determined under subsection (c) to \npractice expense relative value units for chemotherapy support services \nby dividing such expenses by the conversion factor that will be in \neffect for the physician fee schedule for 2005. The relative value \nunits as so determined shall be used in determining the fee schedule \namounts paid for chemotherapy support services under such section 1848.\n (e) Updates.--For the years after 2005, the relative values \ndetermined under subsection (d) shall continue in effect except that \nthe Secretary shall revise them as necessary to maintain their \naccuracy, provided that such revisions are consistent with the \nmethodology set forth in this section.\n\nSEC. 5. CANCER THERAPY MANAGEMENT SERVICES.\n\n The Secretary shall recognize and establish a payment amount for \nthe service of cancer therapy management to account for the greater \npre-service and post-service work associated with visits and \nconsultations conducted by physicians treating cancer patients compared \nto typical visits and consultations. The payment amount may vary by the \nlevel and type of the related visit or consultation.\n\nSEC. 6. OTHER SERVICES WITHOUT PHYSICIAN WORK RELATIVE VALUE UNITS.\n\n The Secretary shall develop a revised methodology for determining \nthe payment amounts for services that are paid under the fee schedule \nestablished by section 1848 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n1395w-4) and that do not have physician work relative value units, \nincluding radiation oncology services. Such methodology shall result in \npayment amounts that fully cover the costs of furnishing such services. \nUntil such time as the methodology for such services is revised and \nimplemented, all such services shall be protected from further payment \ncuts due to factors such as shifts in utilization or removal of any one \nspecialty's services that are paid under the fee schedule established \nby such section 1848 and that do not have physician work relative value \nunits.\n\nSEC. 7. PHYSICIAN SUPERVISION OF SERVICES.\n\n Section 1834 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m), as \namended by section 2, is further amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new subsection:\n ``(o) Supervision Requirements.--If the Secretary requires direct \nsupervision of a service by a physician, that supervision requirement \nmay be fulfilled by one or more physicians other than the physician who \nordered the service. If the supervising physician is different from the \nordering physician for a particular service, the ordering physician may \nnevertheless bill for such service provided that the medical records \nfor the service involved identify the supervising physician or \nphysicians.''.\n\nSEC. 8. REPORT TO CONGRESS.\n\n No later than April 1, 2004, the Secretary shall submit to Congress \na report on the payment amounts that are projected to be adopted under \nsections 2, 3, 4, and 5 of this Act.\n\nSEC. 9. INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE STUDY.\n\n (a) General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall \nrequest the Institute of Medicine to conduct the study described in \nthis section.\n (b) Baseline Study.--The first phase of the study shall include the \nfollowing objectives:\n (1) An assessment of the extent to which the current \n Medicare payment system, prior to implementation of the \n amendments made by this Act, facilitates appropriate access to \n care by cancer patients in the various treatment settings.\n (2) The identification of the comprehensive range of \n services furnished to cancer patients in the outpatient \n setting, including support services such as psychosocial \n services and counseling, and recommendations regarding the \n types of services that ought to be furnished to Medicare \n patients with cancer.\n (3) A discussion of the practice standards necessary to \n assure the safe provision of services to cancer patients.\n (4) An analysis of the extent to which the current Medicare \n payment system supports the role of nurses in the provision of \n oncology services and recommendations for any necessary \n improvements in the payment system in that respect.\n (5) The development of a framework for assessing how the \n amendments made by this act affect the provision of care to \n Medicare patients with cancer in the various treatment \n settings.\n (c) Second Phase of Study.--After the implementation of the \namendments made by this Act, the study shall determine whether and how \nthose amendments affected the provision of care to Medicare patients \nwith cancer.\n (d) Consultation.--The Institute of Medicine shall consult with the \nNational Cancer Policy Board and organizations representing cancer \npatients and survivors, oncologists, oncology nurses, social workers, \ncancer centers, and other healthcare professionals who treat cancer \npatients in planning and carrying out this study.\n (e) Due Dates.--\n (1) The study required by subsection (b) shall be submitted \n to the Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services \n no later than June 30, 2004.\n (2) The study required by subsection (c) shall be submitted \n to the Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services \n no later than December 31, 2006.\n\nSEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATES.\n\n (a) General.--Except as provided in this section, the provisions of \nthis Act shall apply to drugs, biologicals, and services furnished on \nor after January 1, 2005.\n (b) Reports From Manufacturers.--The first report by manufacturers \nrequired by the provisions of section 2 shall be submitted no later \nthan October 30, 2004, with respect to sales that occurred in the \nquarter ending September 30, 2004.\n (c) Supervision of Services.--The amendment made by section 7 shall \nbe effective upon enactment.\n (d) Services Other Than Drug Administration.--The Secretary shall \nimplement the requirements of section 6 no later than January 1, 2005.", "summary": "Quality Cancer Care Preservation Act - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise the payment amount for covered drugs and biologicals furnished during a calendar quarter that are not paid on a cost or prospective payment basis. Changes such amount from 95 percent of the average wholesale price to 120 percent of the average sales price of the drug or biological for the second preceding calendar quarter. Requires drug manufacturers to report average sales prices each calendar quarter for covered drugs and biologicals.Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) revise the practice expense relative value units for drug administration services (including chemotherapy administration services) in accordance with this Act to determine the units to be used in determining the fee schedule amounts paid for drug administration services under the Medicare program; (2) recognize and make payments under Medicare for chemotherapy support services furnished incident to physicians' services; (3) recognize and establish a payment amount for the service of cancer therapy management to account for the greater pre-service and post-service work associated with visits and consultations conducted by physicians treating cancer patients compared to typical visits and consultations; and (4) develop a revised methodology for determining the payment amounts for services that are paid under the Medicare fee schedule and that do not have physician work relative value units, including radiation oncology services.Amends SSA title XVIII to provide that if the Secretary requires direct supervision of a service by a physician, that supervision requirement may be fulfilled by one or more physicians other than the physician who ordered the service.", "title": "A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and otherwise revise the Medicare Program to reform the method of paying for covered drugs, drug administration services, and chemotherapy support services."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3097, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Homeland Security, \nIntelligence, and Essential Law Enforcement Departments Act of 2011'' \nor the ``SHIELD Act of 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) The United States Armed Forces represent the finest \n fighting force in the world.\n (2) An interruption in compensation could affect morale and \n cause hardship which would threaten United States security and \n the safety of our troops.\n (3) It is a vital national interest that the United States \n Armed Forces, including reserve components, can operate with \n the assurance that they will continue to receive pay and \n allowances for their service if a funding gap occurs.\n (4) Federal law enforcement officers are highly trained and \n dedicated men and women, committed to protecting liberty, \n public safety, and the security of our Nation from both foreign \n and domestic threats.\n (5) They have no equal in the private sector, and perform a \n role that is both unique and vital to the continuing operation \n of the Federal Government and commerce during times of crisis.\n (6) Each and every day, Federal law enforcement officers \n are engaged around the clock in activities that include, but \n are not limited to, dignitary protection, criminal \n investigation, homeland security, border security, intelligence \n gathering, and fighting waste, fraud and abuse.\n (7) These critical Government functions cannot be \n interrupted due to an absence of Congressional appropriations \n or during periods of a Government shutdown, nor can we expect \n that the threats posed by violent criminals, terrorists and \n America's enemies will lessen during such periods of fiscal \n uncertainty.\n\nSEC. 3. PRIORITY PAYMENTS IF THE DEBT CEILING IS REACHED FOR DEFENSE \n AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.\n\n In the event that the total public debt reaches the public debt \nlimit, as established under section 3101 of title 31, United States \nCode, the following payments on obligations incurred by the Government \nof the United States shall be made:\n (1) The pay and allowances of members of the Army, Navy, \n Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, including reserve \n components thereof, who perform active service.\n (2) The pay and allowances of critical law enforcement \n officers who are employed by Federal agencies.\n\nSEC. 4. EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS OF FUNDS FOR DEFENSE AND FEDERAL LAW \n ENFORCEMENT DURING A FUNDING GAP.\n\n (a) Appropriation of Funds for Military Pay and Allowances.--During \na period of lapsed appropriations for the Armed Forces, the Secretary \nof the Treasury shall make available to the Secretary of Defense (and \nthe Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard), out \nof any amounts in the general fund of the Treasury not otherwise \nappropriated, such amounts as the Secretary of Defense (and the \nSecretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) \ndetermines to be necessary to continue to provide pay and allowances \n(without interruption) to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine \nCorps, and Coast Guard, including reserve components thereof, who \nperform active service during the period of lapsed appropriations.\n (b) Appropriation of Funds for Federal Law Enforcement Officer Pay \nand Allowances.--During a period of lapsed appropriations for a federal \nagency that employs critical law enforcement officers, the Secretary of \nthe Treasury shall make available to the head of such agency, out of \nany amounts in the general fund of the Treasury not otherwise \nappropriated, such amounts as the heads of such agencies determine to \nbe necessary to continue to provide pay and allowances (without \ninterruption) to such critical law enforcement officers during the \nperiod of lapsed appropriations.\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Critical law enforcement officer.--The term ``critical \n law enforcement officer'' means an employee--\n (A) who has statutory authority to make arrests or \n apprehensions;\n (B) who is authorized by the agency of the employee \n to carry firearms; and\n (C) whose duties include performing emergency work \n involving the safety of human life or the protection of \n property.\n (2) Period of lapsed appropriations.--The term ``period of \n lapsed appropriations'' means any period during which \n appropriations are not available due to the absence of the \n timely enactment of any Act or joint resolution (including any \n Act or joint resolution making continuing appropriations) \n appropriating funds for the payment of the pay and allowances.\n (3) Total public debt.--The term ``total public debt'' has \n the meaning given such term in section 3130 of title 31, United \n States Code.", "summary": "Strengthening Homeland Security, Intelligence, and Essential Law Enforcement Departments Act of 2011 or SHIELD Act of 2011 - Requires, in the event that the U.S. public debt limit is reached, priority payment of the pay and allowances of: (1) members of the Armed Forces, including reserves, who perform active service; and (2) critical law enforcement officers employed by federal agencies.\n\nRequires the Secretary of the Treasury, during a period of lapsed appropriations for the Armed Forces or federal agencies employing critical law enforcement officers, to make available necessary amounts to continue such pay and allowances.", "title": "To prioritize the payment of pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces and Federal law enforcement officers in the event the debt ceiling is reached or there is a funding gap."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1088, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Economic Mobility for Productive \nLivelihoods and Expanding Opportunity Act of 2016'' or the ``EMPLEO \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE REQUIREMENT FOR ELIGIBLE PUERTO RICO \n EMPLOYEES.\n\n Section 6(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. \n206(a)) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as \n paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:\n ``(2) if such employee is an eligible Puerto Rico employee, \n as defined in section 6433(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n 1986, who receives a qualified wage subsidy payment under \n section 6433 of such Code from a participating employer, $5.00 \n an hour (as determined without regard to the qualified wage \n subsidy payment);''.\n\nSEC. 3. WAGE SUBSIDY FOR PUERTO RICO WORKERS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter B of chapter 65 of the Internal Revenue \nCode of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 6433. WAGE SUBSIDY FOR PUERTO RICO WORKERS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--In the case of a participating employer which \nmakes qualified wage subsidy payments to eligible Puerto Rico \nemployees, such participating employer shall be treated for purposes of \nthis title as having paid to the Secretary, on the date any such \nqualified wage subsidy payment is paid, payroll taxes in an amount \nequal to such wage subsidy payment.\n ``(b) Participating Employer.--\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term \n `participating employer' means an employer which--\n ``(A) elects the application of this section,\n ``(B) makes qualified wage subsidy payments to all \n eligible Puerto Rico employees of such employer,\n ``(C) provides to each eligible Puerto Rico \n employee (in such form and manner as the Secretary \n shall by regulations prescribe) information about the \n amount of qualified wage subsidy payments paid to such \n employee at the time such payments are made, and\n ``(D) in the case of an employer which elects to \n receive an advance payment under subsection (g), \n provides to the Secretary the information described in \n paragraph (2) not later than 30 days before the \n beginning of the applicable period.\n ``(2) Information required.--The information required under \n this paragraph is the following:\n ``(A) An estimate of the number of workers who will \n be employed by the participating employer for the \n applicable period.\n ``(B) An estimate of the payroll taxes (determined \n without regard to any increase in tax under section \n 3111 by reason of subsection (g)(2)) that will be paid \n by the participating employer with respect to all \n employees for such applicable period.\n ``(C) An estimate of the number of eligible Puerto \n Rico employees who will be employed by the \n participating employer for such applicable period and \n the hourly rate of pay for each such employee \n (determined without regard to any qualified wage \n subsidy payment).\n ``(D) An estimate of the aggregate amount of \n qualified wage subsidy payments that will be paid by \n such employer to eligible Puerto Rico employees for \n such applicable period.\n ``(3) Failure to make subsidy payments.--For purposes of \n this title (including penalties), the failure by any employer \n which makes an election under paragraph (1)(A) to make any \n qualified wage subsidy payment at the time provided therefor \n shall be treated as the failure at such time to deduct and \n withhold under section 3102 an amount equal to the amount of \n such qualified wage subsidy payment.\n ``(c) Eligible Puerto Rico Employee.--For purposes of this section, \nthe term `eligible Puerto Rico employee' means, with respect to any \ncalendar year, any individual who--\n ``(1) is a citizen of the United States,\n ``(2) has a social security number issued to the individual \n by the Social Security Administration, and\n ``(3) certifies, in such form and manner as provided by the \n Secretary, to the employer that such individual is a resident \n of Puerto Rico and intends to remain a resident of Puerto Rico \n for not less than the next 6 months.\n ``(d) Qualified Wage Subsidy Payment.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) In general.--The term `qualified wage subsidy \n payment' means, with respect to any eligible Puerto Rico \n employee for any period, a payment equal to 50 percent of the \n excess (if any) of--\n ``(A) the median hourly wage for Puerto Rico, over\n ``(B) the hourly wage paid to the eligible Puerto \n Rico employee.\n ``(2) Median hourly wage for puerto rico.--For purposes of \n paragraph (1)(A), the median hourly wage for Puerto Rico is--\n ``(A) $10 for calendar years 2017 and 2018, and\n ``(B) for any calendar year beginning after 2018, \n the amount determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics \n based on the most recent data available as of 30 days \n before the start of such calendar year.\n ``(3) Determination of hourly wage.--For purposes of \n paragraph (1)(B)--\n ``(A) In general.--The hourly wage of any employee \n shall be determined without regard to any qualified \n wage subsidy payment under this section.\n ``(B) Period.--Each hour at which an eligible \n Puerto Rico employee performs services for a different \n rate of pay shall be treated as a separate period.\n ``(C) Salaried employees.--In the case of a \n salaried employee, the hourly wage for such employee \n for any period shall be determined by dividing the \n annual rate of pay for such period by 2,080.\n ``(e) Payroll Taxes.--For purposes of this section, the term \n`payroll taxes' means--\n ``(1) amounts required to be deducted for the payroll \n period under section 3102 (relating to FICA employee taxes), \n and\n ``(2) amounts of the taxes imposed for the payroll period \n under section 3111 (relating to FICA employer taxes).\n ``(f) Other Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) Applicable period.--For purposes of this section, the \n term `applicable period' means--\n ``(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), a \n calendar quarter, and\n ``(B) in the case of any employer which files \n returns for payroll taxes less frequently than \n quarterly, such period as determined by the Secretary \n under regulations.\n ``(2) Wage subsidy payments in excess of payroll tax \n liability.--To the extent that the amount treated as paid under \n subsection (a) exceeds the amount of such person's liability \n for payroll taxes, the Secretary shall credit and refund such \n excess in the same manner as if it were an overpayment of such \n taxes.\n ``(g) Advanced Payments for Certain Participating Employers.--\n ``(1) In general.--In the case of a participating employer \n which elects the application of this subsection, the Secretary \n shall pay to such participating employer, not later than the \n first day of the applicable period, an amount equal to the \n excess of--\n ``(A) the aggregate amount of qualified wage \n subsidy payments for such applicable period (as \n determined based on estimates submitted under \n subsection (b)(2)), exceeds\n ``(B) the aggregate amount of payroll taxes \n (determined without regard to any increase in tax under \n section 3111 by reason of paragraph (2) and based on \n estimates submitted under subsection (b)(2)) for such \n applicable period.\n ``(2) Treatment of payments.--For purposes of this title, \n the amount of taxes imposed under section 3111 on any \n participating employer for any calendar quarter shall be \n increased by an amount equal to any payment made under \n paragraph (1) with respect to such calendar quarter.''.\n (b) Social Security Trust Funds Held Harmless.--In determining the \namount of any amount transferred or appropriated to any fund under the \nSocial Security Act, section 6433 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \nshall not be taken into account.\n (c) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 1324(b)(2) of title 31, United States Code, is \n amended by striking ``or 6431'' and inserting ``6431, or \n 6433''.\n (2) The table of sections for subchapter B of chapter 65 of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the \n end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 6433. Wage subsidy for Puerto Rico workers.''.\n (d) Other Provisions.--\n (1) Reporting of wage subsidy information.--Section 6051(a) \n of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking \n ``and'' at the end of paragraph (13), by striking the period at \n the end of paragraph (14) and inserting ``, and'', and by \n inserting after paragraph (14) the following new paragraph:\n ``(15) in the case of an eligible Puerto Rico employee (as \n defined in section 6433), the amount of any qualified wage \n subsidy payment paid to such employee.''.\n (2) Penalty for failure to provide information to \n employees.--Section 6652 of such Code is amended by adding at \n the end the following new subsection:\n ``(o) Failure To Report Wage Subsidy Information to Employees.--In \nthe case of a failure to provide the information required under section \n6433(b)(1)(C) at the time required for providing such information, \nthere shall be paid (upon notice and demand by the Secretary and in the \nsame manner as tax) by the person failing to provide such information, \nan amount equal to $50 for each such failure. In the case of any \nfailure due to negligence or intentional disregard, the preceding \nsentence shall be applied by substituting `$100' for `$50'.''.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to wages paid after December 31, 2016.", "summary": "Economic Mobility for Productive Livelihoods and Expanding Opportunity Act of 2016 or the EMPLEO Act This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require every employer to pay to each of his or her eligible Puerto Rican employees who in any workweek are engaged in commerce and who receive qualified wage subsidy payments minimum wages of $5.00 an hour, determined without regard to those wage subsidy payments. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat certain employers who make qualified wage subsidy payments to eligible Puerto Rico employees as having paid payroll taxes in an amount equal to the wage subsidy payment. An “eligible Puerto Rico employee” is any individual who: (1) is a U.S. citizen, (2) has a Social Security number, and (3) certifies to the employer that he or she is a resident of Puerto Rico and intends to remain a resident for at least the next six months. A “qualified wage subsidy payment” is a payment equal to 50% of the excess (if any) of: (1) the median hourly wage for Puerto Rico ($10 for 2017 and 2018), over (2) the hourly wage paid to the eligible Puerto Rico employee. The bill sets forth reporting requirements for participating employers and requirements for determining the median hourly wage for Puerto Rico after 2018.", "title": "EMPLEO Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2068, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security Identity Defense Act \nof 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN RETURN INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO \n IDENTITY THEFT.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (l) of section 6103 of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new \nparagraph:\n ``(23) Disclosure of return information in certain cases of \n identity theft.--\n ``(A) In general.--If the Secretary has reason to \n believe that there has been a fraudulent use of a \n social security account number on a statement described \n in section 6051--\n ``(i) the Secretary shall disclose to the \n individual who was validly assigned such social \n security account number--\n ``(I) that the Secretary has reason \n to believe that the social security \n account number assigned to such \n individual has been fraudulently used \n in the employment context,\n ``(II) that the Secretary has made \n the disclosure described in clause (ii) \n to the Director of the Federal Bureau \n of Investigation and the Attorney \n General with respect to such fraudulent \n use, and\n ``(III) such other information \n (other than return information) as the \n Secretary determines, in consultation \n with Federal Trade Commission, would be \n helpful and appropriate to provide to a \n victim of identity theft, and\n ``(ii) the Secretary shall disclose to the \n Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation \n and the Attorney General--\n ``(I) such social security account \n number,\n ``(II) that the Secretary has \n reason to believe that such social \n security account number has been \n fraudulently used in the employment \n context, and\n ``(III) the taxpayer identity \n information of the individual who was \n assigned such social security account \n number, the individual believed to have \n fraudulently used such social security \n account number, and the employer who \n made the statement described in section \n 6051 which included such social \n security account number.\n ``(B) Restriction on disclosure to law \n enforcement.--\n ``(i) Disclosure to other law enforcement \n officials.--The Director of the Federal Bureau \n of Investigation and the Attorney General may \n disclose information received under \n subparagraph (A)(ii) to appropriate Federal, \n State, and local law enforcement officials.\n ``(ii) Restriction on use of disclosed \n information.--Return information disclosed \n under subparagraph (A)(ii) may be used by \n Federal, State, and local law enforcement \n officials only for purposes of carrying out \n criminal investigations or prosecutions.\n ``(iii) Memorandum of understanding.--For \n purposes of this paragraph, any return \n information disclosed under subparagraph \n (A)(ii) may not be provided to any State or \n local law enforcement official until such \n official has entered into a memorandum of \n understanding with the Secretary that includes \n the following terms and conditions:\n ``(I) Confidentiality of returns \n and return information and prohibitions \n on disclosure described in subsection \n (a)(3).\n ``(II) Safeguards, restrictions on \n access, and recordkeeping requirements \n described in subsection (p)(4).\n ``(III) Application of penalties \n for unauthorized disclosure of returns \n and return information under section \n 7213(a)(2).\n ``(IV) Any additional terms and \n conditions deemed appropriate by the \n Secretary.''.\n (b) Prevention of Identity Theft.--In the case of an employee for \nwhom the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration has reason \nto believe that the social security number included on any statement \ndescribed in section 6051(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with \nrespect to such employee is not the correct social security number for \nsuch employee, the Commissioner shall provide notification to the \nemployer for such employee which includes--\n (1) the name of the employee and the social security number \n included on such statements; and\n (2) relevant information regarding the availability of the \n Social Security Number Verification Service for verification of \n social security numbers.\n (c) Conforming Amendments Related to Disclosure.--\n (1) Confidentiality.--Paragraph (3) of section 6103(a) of \n such Code is amended by striking ``or (21)'' and inserting \n ``(21), or (23)''.\n (2) Procedures and recordkeeping related to disclosures.--\n Paragraph (4) of section 6103(p) of such Code is amended by \n striking ``or (20)'' each place it appears and inserting \n ``(20), or (23)''.\n (3) Unauthorized disclosure or inspection.--Paragraph (2) \n of section 7213(a) of such Code is amended by striking ``or \n (21)'' and inserting ``(21), or (23)''.\n\nSEC. 3. PENALTIES FOR TAX-RELATED IDENTITY THEFT.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1028A(c) of title 18, United States Code, \nis amended--\n (1) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (11) as \n paragraphs (10) through (13), respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following new \n paragraphs:\n ``(8) section 286 (relating to conspiracy to defraud the \n government with respect to claims), section 287 (relating to \n false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims), section 371 (relating \n to conspiracy to commit an offense or to defraud the United \n States), section 1001 (relating to statements or entries), \n section 1341 (relating to frauds and swindles), section 1342 \n (relating to a fictitious name or address), section 1343 \n (relating to fraud by wire, radio, or television), or section \n 1344 (relating to bank fraud), if the felony violation is a \n tax-related offense punishable under such section;\n ``(9) section 7206 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n (relating to fraud and false statements);''.\n (b) Penalty for Misappropriation of Tax Identification Numbers.--\n (1) In general.--Part I of subchapter B of chapter 68 of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the \n end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 6720D. MISAPPROPRIATION OF TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.\n\n ``In addition to any penalty provided by law, any person who \nknowingly or willfully misappropriates another person's tax \nidentification number in connection with any list, return, account, \nstatement, or other document submitted to the Secretary shall pay a \npenalty of $5,000.''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for part I \n of subchapter B of chapter 68 of such Code is amended by adding \n at the end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 6720D. Misappropriation of tax identification number.''.\n (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection \n shall apply to returns and information submitted after the date \n of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Social Security Identity Defense Act of 2015 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the disclosure of tax return information in cases of identity theft, to require the Department of the Treasury to: (1) disclose to the holder of a valid social security account number that there is reason to believe that there has been a fraudulent use of such account number; and (2) disclose to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) such social security account number, that there is reason to believe that such account number has been fraudulently used in the employment context, and the taxpayer identity information of the individual who was assigned such account number. The bill authorizes the FBI and DOJ to disclose taxpayer information to appropriate federal, state, and local law enforcement officials solely for purposes of carrying out criminal investigations or prosecutions. The bill also imposes new criminal and civil penalties for tax-related identity theft and misappropriation of tax identification numbers. ", "title": "Social Security Identity Defense Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 511, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Domestic Violence \nScreening and Treatment Act of 2002''.\n (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n (1) Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report \n being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend \n at some point in their lives, and about 1200 women are murdered \n every year by their intimate partner, nearly 3 each day.\n (2) 85 percent of violent victimizations are experienced by \n women.\n (3) 37 percent of all women who sought care in hospital \n emergency rooms for violence-related injuries were injured by a \n current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend.\n (4) In addition to injuries sustained during violent \n episodes, physical and psychological abuse are linked to a \n number of adverse physical health effects including arthritis, \n chronic neck or back pain, migraine and other frequent \n headaches, stammering, problems with vision, and sexually \n transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.\n (5) Medical services for abused women cost an estimated \n $857.3 million every year.\n (6) Each year, at least six percent of all pregnant women, \n about 240,000 pregnant women, in this country are battered by \n the men in their lives. This battering leads to complications \n of pregnancy, including low weight gain, anemia, infections, \n and first and second trimester bleeding.\n (7) Pregnant and recently pregnant women are more likely to \n be victims of homicide than to die of any other cause, and \n evidence exists that a significant proportion of all female \n homicide victims are killed by their intimate partners.\n (8) Children who witness domestic violence are more likely \n to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems including \n depression, anxiety, and violence towards peers. They are also \n more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run \n away from home, engage in teenage prostitution, and commit \n sexual assault crimes.\n (9) Fifty percent of men who frequently assault their wives \n frequently assault their children. The U.S. Advisory Board on \n Child Abuse and Neglect suggests that domestic violence may be \n the single major precursor to child abuse and neglect \n fatalities in this country.\n (10) Currently, about 10 percent of primary care physicians \n routinely screen for intimate partner abuse during new patient \n visits and nine percent routinely screen during periodic \n checkups.\n (11) Recent clinical studies have proven the effectiveness \n of a 2-minute screening for early detection of abuse of \n pregnant women. Additional longitudinal studies have tested a \n 10-minute intervention that was proven highly effective in \n increasing the safety of pregnant abused women. Comparable \n research does not yet exist to support the effectiveness of \n screening men.\n (12) 70 to 81 percent of the patients studied reported that \n they would like their healthcare providers to ask them \n privately about intimate partner violence.\n\nSEC. 2. COVERAGE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCREENING AND TREATMENT UNDER THE \n MEDICAID PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n1396d) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)(26), by striking ``and'' at the end;\n (2) by redesignating paragraph (27) of subsection (a) as \n paragraph (28); and\n (3) by inserting after paragraph (26) of subsection (a) the \n following new paragraph:\n ``(27) domestic violence screening and treatment services \n (as defined in subsection (x));''; and\n (4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(x) The term `domestic violence screening and treatment services' \nmeans the following services (as specified under the State plan) \nfurnished by an attending health care provider (or, in the case of \nservices described in paragraph (3), under arrangements between the \nprovider and domestic violence experts) to women 18 years of age or \nolder:\n ``(1) Routine verbal screening for domestic violence by a \n provider if the provider has not previously screened the \n patient or if the patient has been screened but the patient \n indicates that she is in a new relationship regardless of \n whether there are any clinical indicators or suspicion of \n abuse.\n ``(2) Danger assessment for women who positively identify \n for domestic violence, including an immediate safety \n assessment, an initial risk assessment, and follow-up risk \n assessments during subsequent visits.\n ``(3) Treatment relating to domestic violence, including \n the following:\n ``(A) Safety education to assist the patient in \n developing a plan to promote her safety and well-being, \n such as keeping an emergency kit, talking to someone, \n and arranging for a place to stay, and appropriate \n follow up.\n ``(B) Health education which provides written and \n verbal information about domestic violence, its impact \n on health, options for services, and any necessary \n follow up.\n ``(C) Psycho-social and counseling services that \n include an initial assessment, development of a plan of \n care, individual or group counseling (as needed), and \n follow-up assessment, treatment, or intervention.\n ``(D) Documentation of screening, assessment, \n treatment, referrals, injuries, and illnesses related \n to domestic violence and who inflicted them, using \n appropriate diagnostic codes and absolute \n confidentiality (except as required by applicable State \n law).\n ``(4) Referral and case coordination for additional \n services, including services from domestic violence programs, \n community agencies, and judicial and other systems.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to \nservices furnished on or after such date.\n\nSEC. 3. FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 8902 of title 5, United States Code, is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(p)(1) A contract may not be made or a plan approved which does \nnot include coverage for domestic violence screening and treatment \nservices.\n ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term `domestic violence \nscreening and treatment services' has the meaning given such term in \nsection 1905(x) of the Social Security Act.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply to contracts made, and plans approved, after the end of the 6-\nmonth period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.\n\n (a) Requirement for Portion of Expenditures on Domestic Violence \nScreening and Treatment.--Section 505(a)(5) of the Social Security Act \n(42 U.S.C. 705(a)(5)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (E);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) \n and inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new \n subparagraph:\n ``(G) the State will set aside a reasonable portion \n (based upon the State's previous use of funds under \n this title) of the funds provided for domestic violence \n screening and treatment services (as defined in section \n 1902(x)).''.\n (b) Preference in Certain Funding.--Section 502(b)(2) of such Act \n(42 U.S.C. 702(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubparagraph:\n ``(C) Of the amounts retained for projects described in \nsubparagraphs (A) through (F) of section 501(a)(3), the Secretary shall \nprovide preference to qualified applicants which demonstrate that the \nactivities to be carried out with such amounts includes training of \nproviders in how to screen for, and treat, domestic violence and \ntraining that includes--\n ``(i) identifying victims of domestic violence and \n maintaining complete medical records that include documentation \n of the examination, treatment given, and referrals made, and \n recording the location and nature of the victim's injuries;\n ``(ii) examining and treating such victims, within the \n scope of the health professional's discipline, training, and \n practice (including medical advice regarding the dynamics and \n nature of domestic violence);\n ``(iii) assessing the immediate and short-term safety of \n the victim and assisting the victim in developing a plan to \n promote his or her safety; and\n ``(iv) referring the victim to public and private nonprofit \n private entities that provide services for such victims.''.\n (c) Reporting Data.--Section 506(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n706(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubparagraph:\n ``(F) Information on how funds provided under this title \n are used to screen for and treat domestic violence.''.\n (d) Separate Program for Domestic Violence Screening and \nTreatment.--Title V of such Act is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new section:\n\n ``separate program for domestic violence screening and treatment\n\n ``Sec. 511. (a) For the purpose described in subsection (b), the \nSecretary shall, for fiscal year 2003 and each subsequent fiscal year, \nallot to each State which has transmitted an application for the fiscal \nyear under section 505(a) an amount equal to the product of\n ``(1) the amount appropriated in subsection (d) for the \n fiscal year; and\n ``(2) the percentage determined for the State under section \n 502(c)(1)(B)(ii).\n ``(b) The purpose of an allotment under subsection (a) to a State \nis to enable the State to provide for domestic violence screening and \ntreatment, including the provision of domestic violence screening and \ntreatment services (as defined in section 1905(x)), increasing the \nnumber of women screened, assessed, treated, and referred and including \ntraining of health care providers on how to identify and respond to \nvictims of domestic violence.\n ``(c)(1) Sections 503, 507, and 508 apply to allotments under \nsubsection (a) to the same extent and in the same manner as such \nsections apply to allotments under section 502(c).\n ``(2) Sections 505 and 506 apply to allotments under subsection (a) \nto the extent determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.\n ``(d) For the purpose of allotments under subsection (a), there is \nauthorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year, beginning with \nfiscal year 2003, such sums as may be necessary.''.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) \nshall apply to fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment \nof this Act and the amendment made by subsection (c) shall apply to \nannual reports submitted for such fiscal years.", "summary": "Domestic Violence Screening and Treatment Act of 2002 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require that health benefits provided include coverage of domestic violence screening and treatment.Amends Federal civil service law to require the Office of Personal Management to require all contracted carriers of health coverage for Federal employees to include coverage for domestic violence screening and treatment services.Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to require States to set aside a reasonable portion of maternal and child health services block grant funds to provide for domestic violence screening and treatment services. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to such funds retained for certain projects, to provide preference to State applicants who include training of providers in how to screen for, and treat, domestic violence.Requires the Secretary to allot funds to States to provide for a separate program for domestic violence screening and treatment.", "title": "To amend titles V and XIX of the Social Security Act and chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to provide coverage for domestic violence screening and treatment under the maternal and child health block grant program, the Medicaid Program, and the Federal employees health benefits program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1834, "text": "SECTION 1. RELIQUIDATION OF CERTAIN ENTRIES OF 13 INCH TELEVISIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of \n1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514) or any other provision of law and subject to the \nprovisions of subsection (b), the United States Customs Service shall, \nnot later than 180 days after the receipt of the request described in \nsubsection (b), liquidate or reliquidate each entry described in \nsubsection (d) containing any merchandise which, at the time of the \noriginal liquidation, was classified under the following subheadings of \nthe Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States with respect to \nwhich there would have been no duty or a lesser duty if the amendments \nmade by section 1003 of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical \nCorrections Act of 1999 had applied to such entry or withdrawal:\n (1) Subheading 8528.12.12.\n (2) Subheading 8528.12.20.\n (3) Subheading 8528.12.62.\n (4) Subheading 8528.12.68.\n (5) Subheading 8528.12.76.\n (6) Subheading 8528.12.84.\n (7) Subheading 8528.21.16.\n (8) Subheading 8528.21.24.\n (9) Subheading 8528.21.55.\n (10) Subheading 8528.21.65.\n (11) Subheading 8528.21.75.\n (12) Subheading 8528.21.85.\n (13) Subheading 8528.30.62.\n (14) Subheading 8528.30.66.\n (15) Subheading 8540.11.24.\n (16) Subheading 8540.11.44.\n (b) Requests.--Reliquidation may be made under subsection (a) with \nrespect to an entry described in subsection (d) only if a request \ntherefore is filed with the Customs Service within 90 days after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act, and the request contains sufficient \ninformation to enable the Customs Service to locate the entry or \nreconstruct the entry if it cannot be located.\n (c) Payment of Amounts Owed.--Any amounts owed by the United States \npursuant to the liquidation or reliquidation of an entry under \nsubsection (a) shall be paid not later than 180 days after the date of \nsuch liquidation or reliquidation.\n (d) Affected Entries.--The entries referred to in subsection (a), \nare as follows:\n \n\n \n Entry number Date of entry Date of liquidation\n \n110-17072538 11/03/98 09/17/99\n110-17091314 11/23/98 10/08/99\n110-17091322 11/23/98 10/08/99\n110-17216804 12/31/98 11/12/99\n110-20748215 04/20/99 03/03/00\n110-20762802 04/28/99 03/10/00\n110-20848544 05/12/99 03/31/00\n110-20848569 05/18/99 03/31/00\n110-20988456 06/22/99 05/04/00\n110-20993563 06/22/99 05/15/00\n110-20997705 06/22/99 05/05/00\n110-63822017 06/09/97 05/05/00\n110-63822041 06/09/97\n110-63822082 06/09/97\n110-68575370 07/11/97 05/22/98\n110-68575610 07/11/97 05/22/98\n110-15093163 10/05/98 08/20/99\n110-15173551 11/02/98 09/17/99\n110-17091132 11/07/98 09/24/99\n110-17217265 12/05/98 10/15/99\n110-20762364 04/12/99 02/18/00\n110-63822025 06/09/97\n110-75485118 02/12/98 12/28/98\n110-75492643 02/12/98 12/28/98\n110-75793447 07/07/98 05/21/99\n110-20993704 06/20/99 05/05/00\n110-66600972 06/07/97 04/17/98\n110-66603414 06/14/97 .......................\n110-66603448 06/07/97 04/17/98\n110-66617810 06/21/97 05/01/98\n110-66618099 06/23/97 05/08/98\n110-68156429 07/12/97 05/22/98\n110-68165818 07/19/97 05/29/98\n110-68165826 07/19/97 05/29/98\n110-68171576 07/26/97 06/05/98\n110-68175767 08/02/97 06/12/98\n110-68177029 08/02/97 06/12/98\n110-68217833 08/16/97 06/26/98\n110-68220167 08/16/97 07/06/98\n110-68220183 08/19/97 07/06/98\n110-68233418 08/24/97 07/10/98\n110-68234424 08/25/97 07/10/98\n110-70008550 09/20/97 07/31/98\n110-70014707 09/20/97 07/31/98\n110-70014723 09/20/97 07/31/98\n110-70014731 09/30/97 07/31/98\n110-70014756 09/20/97 07/31/98\n110-70014798 09/20/97 07/31/98\n110-70100464 10/11/97 08/21/98\n110-70106651 10/19/97 09/04/98\n110-70106669 10/19/97 09/04/98\n110-70112584 10/25/97 09/04/98\n110-70113970 10/25/97 09/04/98\n110-70113996 10/25/97 09/04/98\n110-70115199 10/25/97 09/04/98\n110-70190978 11/08/97 09/18/98\n110-70192990 11/08/97 09/18/98\n110-70198906 11/15/97 09/25/98\n110-70198914 11/15/97 09/25/98\n110-70204233 11/29/97 10/09/98\n110-70204266 11/22/97 10/02/98\n110-75399046 12/19/97 10/30/98\n110-75399103 01/04/98 11/20/98\n110-75481455 01/24/98 12/04/98\n110-75485563 01/24/98 12/04/98\n110-75494953 02/07/98 12/18/98\n110-04901383 07/11/97 05/22/98\n110-33326985 07/07/97 05/22/98\n110-63019333 07/11/97 05/22/98\n110-63821993 06/07/97 04/17/98\n110-66600378 06/20/97 05/01/98\n110-66601004 06/20/97 05/01/98\n110-66603380 06/20/97 05/01/98\n110-66625441 07/07/97 05/22/98\n110-66626951 07/07/97 05/22/98\n110-68175825 08/04/97 06/19/98\n110-68182938 08/11/97 06/26/98\n110-68184140 08/11/97 06/26/98\n110-68184918 08/11/97 06/26/98\n110-68184926 08/11/97 06/26/98\n110-68184934 08/11/97 06/26/98\n110-68184942 08/11/97 06/26/98\n110-68229994 09/08/97 07/24/98\n110-68230000 09/08/97 07/24/98\n110-68230232 09/03/97 07/17/98\n110-70009715 09/22/97 08/07/98\n110-70024698 10/07/98 08/21/98\n110-70028764 10/13/97 08/28/98\n110-70028772 10/13/97 08/28/98\n110-70103625 10/30/98 09/11/98\n110-70186810 11/13/97 09/25/98\n110-70190937 11/26/97 10/09/98\n110-70192362 11/19/97 10/02/98\n110-70199151 11/26/97 10/09/98\n110-70204555 12/04/97 10/16/98\n110-70204563 12/04/97 10/16/98\n110-70206360 12/06/97 10/23/98\n110-75399079 01/07/98 11/20/98\n110-75492627 02/11/98 12/28/98\n110-75492635 02/11/98 12/28/98\n110-14975204 09/15/98 07/30/99\n110-20848643 05/19/99 05/31/00\n110-20988472 06/20/99 05/05/00\n110-20993589 06/20/99 05/05/00\n110-75485126 02/11/98 12/28/98\n110-75793405 07/16/98 05/28/99\n110-75793611 08/04/98 06/18/99\n110-75931278 08/16/98 07/02/99\n110-75938893 08/16/98 07/23/99", "summary": "Directs the U.S. Customs Service to liquidate or reliquidate specified entries of 13-inch televisions and pay amounts owed.", "title": "To provide for reliquidation pursuant to section 1003 of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1999."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1458, "text": "Sec. 2. Public Law 94-241 (90 Stat. 263), as amended, is further \namended by striking ``law'' in subsection (b) of section 4 and \ninserting in lieu thereof ``law: Provided, That for fiscal years 1994 \nthrough 1998, payments shall be limited to the provisions set forth in \nthe Agreement of the Special Representatives on Future Federal \nFinancial Assistance of the Northern Mariana Islands, executed on \nDecember 17, 1992, between the special representative of the President \nand the special representatives of the Governor of the Northern Mariana \nIslands for the first five years of such 1992 Agreement: Provided \nfurther, That no amendment to such 1992 Agreement may take effect until \napproved by an Act of Congress: Provided further, That after fiscal \nyear 1998, the amount shall continue at the annual amount of \n$27,720,000, unless Congress otherwise provides by law.\n ``(c) No funds made available in accordance with the 1992 Agreement \nreferred to in subsection (b) shall be obligated until sixty days after \nthe Secretary of the Interior certifies, together with findings, after \nthe date of enactment of this provision, and each fiscal year \nthereafter, to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of \nRepresentatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of \nthe Senate, that the following conditions have been fulfilled, to the \nextent such condition is applicable in such fiscal year, and no such \nfunds shall be obligated for additional projects thereafter if the \nSecretary of the Interior determines that the Northern Mariana Islands \nare not in compliance with such conditions to the extent such condition \nis applicable at that time:\n ``(1) The number of aliens (a person who is not a citizen \n or national of the United States, a citizen of a state in free \n association with the United States, or an alien lawfully \n admitted into the United States) present in the Northern \n Mariana Islands for work or residency does not exceed the 1992 \n average daily number of such aliens present in the Northern \n Mariana Islands as determined by the Commissioner of the United \n States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), except \n that within such limitation, the Northern Mariana Islands shall \n impose a numerical limitation on the total number of alien \n workers admitted for employment in the garment industry so that \n the percentage of alien workers compared to the total number of \n workers in the garment industry shall be 75 percent in 1994, 70 \n percent in 1995, and 65 percent in 1996 and thereafter;\n ``(2) The Northern Mariana Islands shall implement a \n petitioning mechanism similar to that in section 214(c)(1) of \n the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(c)(1)) to \n measure and compare the number of alien admissions with the \n 1992 average and the Northern Mariana Islands shall provide the \n Immigration and Naturalization Service with such information \n and access as the Commissioner of the Service determines to be \n necessary to make his determination and for verification;\n ``(3) The Northern Mariana Islands has enacted and is \n enforcing such measures as may be necessary to raise revenues, \n and expend for public purposes, in each of the years funding is \n provided pursuant to the Agreement, in addition to those \n revenues which would have been raised under laws in effect on \n the date of enactment of this provision, of at least the same \n amount of net revenue (taking into account all credits, \n deductions, exemptions, and payments provided for in Federal \n law) that would otherwise have been raised in calendar year \n 1992 under full application of section 601 of the Covenant \n absent any rebates pursuant to section 602 of such Covenant, \n less the actual amount of revenues retained by the Northern \n Mariana Islands from income taxes, which measures may include, \n but need not be limited to, one or more of the following--\n (A) developer taxes and impact fees;\n (B) taxes on services to visitors;\n (C) a reduction in the level of rebates of taxes \n levied under section 602 of the Covenant;\n (D) income taxes; or\n (E) taxes or fees imposed for public benefit of \n users of publicly provided services.\n ``(4) The Northern Mariana Islands is implementing a rate \n schedule approved by the Secretary of the Interior that, over a \n five-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this \n provision, will phase in charges for all (except low-income) \n users of utilities which will recover the full operating, \n maintenance, and debt service cost of the power utility \n services, and, as a minimum, the operating and maintenance \n costs of the water and sewer utility services;\n ``(5) The Secretary has approved the plans of the Northern \n Mariana Islands for the fiscal year for the use of the funds \n which indicate the priority and purpose of the projects and \n their cost and financing arrangements; and\n ``(6) The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with \n the Secretary of Labor, determines that the Northern Mariana \n Islands has enacted and is enforcing laws--\n ``(A) to provide no greater deductions from wages \n for housing, food, transportation, health care, \n employment fees, or other expenses for any workers not \n permanently admitted into the Northern Mariana Islands \n than are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act of \n 1938, and\n ``(B) which allow for the same exemptions from the \n payment of minimum wages as provided in the Fair Labor \n Standards Act of 1938.''.", "summary": "Limits Federal assistance to the Northern Mariana Islands for FY 1994 through 1998 as set forth in the Agreement of the Special Representatives on Future Federal Financial Assistance of the Northern Mariana Islands of December 1992. Continues the payment of a specified annual amount after FY 1998 unless otherwise provided by law. \nBars the obligation of funds in accordance with the Agreement until the Secretary of the Interior certifies to specified congressional committees in each fiscal year that the Northern Mariana Islands: (1) does not have an amount of aliens that exceeds the 1992 average daily number of aliens in the Islands as determined by the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and imposes a specified numerical limitation on the number of alien workers admitted for employment in the garment industry; (2) is implementing a petitioning mechanism to measure and compare the number of alien admissions with the 1992 average and provides the INS with such information for verification purposes; (3) has enacted and is enforcing measures to raise revenues; (4) is implementing a rate schedule approved by the Secretary that will phase in charges for users of utilities to recover specified costs of power, water, and sewer services; (5) has plans approved by the Secretary for the use of project funds; and (6) has enacted and is enforcing laws to provide no greater deductions from wages for housing, food, transportation, health care, employment fees, or other expenses for workers not permanently admitted into the Islands than are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and which allow for the same exemptions from the payment of minimum wages as provided in such Act.", "title": "A bill to limit the funding to the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to the provisions set forth in the Agreement of the Special Representatives on Future Federal Financial Assistance, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3131, "text": "SECTION 1. EXTERNAL REGULATION OF DEPARTMENT.\n\n (a) Elimination of Department Authority.--Effective 2 years after \nthe date of enactment of this Act, the Department shall have no \nregulatory or enforcement authority with respect to nuclear safety and \noccupational safety and health responsibilities assumed by the Nuclear \nRegulatory Commission under subsection (b) or by the Occupational \nSafety and Health Administration under subsection (c) at any \nnonmilitary energy laboratory owned or operated by the Department.\n (b) Nuclear Regulatory Commission Authority.--\n (1) Nuclear safety regulatory and enforcement \n responsibilities.--Effective 2 years after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall \n assume the nuclear safety regulatory and enforcement \n responsibilities of the Department under the Atomic Energy Act \n of 1954 with regard to nonmilitary energy laboratories owned or \n operated by the Department.\n (2) Licensed entities.--For the purposes of carrying out at \n nonmilitary energy laboratories owned or operated by the \n Department regulatory and enforcement responsibilities \n described in paragraph (1), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission \n may regulate, through licensing, certification, or other \n appropriate means, the Department's contractors.\n (3) Decommissioning.--A contractor operating a nonmilitary \n energy laboratory owned by the Department shall not be \n responsible for the costs of decommissioning that facility. No \n enforcement action may be taken against such contractor for any \n violation of Nuclear Regulatory Commission decommissioning \n requirements, if such violation is the result of a failure of \n the Department to authorize or fund decommissioning activities. \n The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department shall, not \n later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, \n enter into a memorandum of understanding establishing \n decommissioning procedures and requirements for nonmilitary \n energy laboratories owned or operated by the Department.\n (4) Accelerators.--Notwithstanding the provisions of the \n Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et. seq.), effective \n 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Nuclear \n Regulatory Commission shall have exclusive regulatory authority \n over accelerators, other electronic sources of radiation not \n assigned to the Commission as of the date of enactment of this \n Act, accelerator-produced radioisotopes, and naturally \n occurring radioactive materials at nonmilitary energy \n laboratories, consistent with the authorities granted the \n Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. \n Until such time as the Commission has completed a rulemaking \n for the foregoing equipment and radioisotopes, nonmilitary \n energy laboratories shall be required to meet the requirements \n stipulated in a license for the facility.\n (5) Administration.--The responsibilities assumed by the \n Nuclear Regulatory Commission under this subsection shall be \n administered by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, not by \n States.\n (6) Judicial review.--Section 189 b. of the Atomic Energy \n Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2239(b)) is amended by adding the \n following paragraph after paragraph (4):\n ``(5) Any final order or regulation of the Commission \n establishing standards to govern nonmilitary energy \n laboratories owned or operated by the Department of Energy that \n is issued to implement the Commission's responsibilities under \n the Act which enacted this paragraph, and any final \n determination of the Commission relating to whether a \n nonmilitary energy laboratory owned or operated by the \n Department is in compliance with such standards and all \n applicable Commission regulations or orders.''.\n (7) Employee protection.--Any Department contractor \n operating a nonmilitary energy laboratory that is regulated by \n the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under this section shall be \n subject to section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 \n (42 U.S.C. 5851) to the same extent as any other employer \n subject to such section 211.\n (8) Conflict of interest.--Section 170A of the Atomic \n Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210a) applies to contracts, \n agreements, or other arrangements of the Nuclear Regulatory \n Commission proposed or entered into pursuant to its \n responsibilities assumed under this subsection.\n (c) Occupational Safety and Health.--\n (1) OSHA jurisdiction.--Notwithstanding section 4(b)(1) of \n the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. \n 653(b)(1)), effective 2 years after the date of enactment of \n this Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration \n shall assume the exclusive regulatory and enforcement \n responsibilities of the Department relating to matters covered \n by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 with regard \n to all nonmilitary energy laboratories owned or operated by the \n Department, except as provided in paragraph (2). The \n responsibilities assumed by the Occupational Safety and Health \n Administration under this subsection shall be administered by \n the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, not by \n States. Any Department contractor operating such a laboratory \n shall, with respect to matters relating to occupational safety \n and health, be considered to be an employer for purposes of the \n Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.\n (2) Regulation of hazards containing radiological and non-\n radiological component.--If a hazard at a nonmilitary energy \n laboratory owned or operated by the Department presents a risk \n of occupational exposure and contains both a radiological and \n non-radiological component, the Occupational Safety and Health \n Administration and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall, \n effective 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, \n share regulatory and enforcement responsibilities with respect \n to the hazard in accordance with the memorandum of \n understanding entered into pursuant to subsection (d).\n (d) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Nuclear Regulatory Commission \nand the Occupational Safety and Health Administration shall, not later \nthan 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, enter into and \ntransmit to the Congress a memorandum of understanding to govern the \nexercise of their respective authorities over nuclear safety and \noccupational safety and health at nonmilitary energy laboratories owned \nor operated by the Department.\n (e) Civil Penalties.--The Department's contractor operating a \nnonmilitary energy laboratory owned or operated by the Department shall \nnot be liable for civil penalties under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 \nor the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 for any actions taken \nbefore the date of transfer of regulatory authority under this section, \npursuant to the instructions of a Federal agency in preparation for the \ntransfer of regulatory and enforcement responsibilities required by \nthis section.\n (f) Indemnification.--The Secretary shall continue to indemnify \nnonmilitary energy laboratories owned or operated by the Department in \naccordance with the provisions of section 170 d. of the Atomic Energy \nAct of 1954.\n (g) Department Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 18 months \nafter the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit \nto the Congress a plan for the termination of the Department's \nregulatory and enforcement responsibilities for nonmilitary energy \nlaboratories owned or operated by the Department required by this \nsection. The report shall include--\n (1) a detailed transition plan, drafted in coordination \n with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Occupational \n Safety and Health Administration, giving the schedule for \n termination of self-regulation authority as outlined in \n subsection (a), including the activities to be coordinated with \n the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Occupational Safety \n and Health Administration;\n (2) a description of any issues remaining to be resolved \n with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Occupational Safety \n and Health Administration, or other external regulators, and a \n timetable for resolving such issues by the authority transfer \n date established under this section; and\n (3) an estimate of--\n (A) the annual cost of administering and \n implementing self-regulation of the nuclear safety and \n occupational safety and health responsibilities \n described in subsections (b) and (c) at nonmilitary \n energy laboratories owned or operated by the \n Department;\n (B) the number of Federal and contractor employees \n administering and implementing such self-regulation; \n and\n (C) the extent and schedule by which the Department \n and the staffs at its nonmilitary energy laboratories \n will be reduced as a result of implementation of this \n section.\n (h) General Accounting Office Reporting Requirement.--The \nComptroller General of the United States shall periodically report to \nthe Congress on the progress made in implementing this section. The \nComptroller General shall provide a report not later than 20 months \nafter the date of enactment of this Act on the Department's transition \nplan, and not later than 26 months after the date of enactment of this \nAct on the implementation of Nuclear Regulatory Commission and \nOccupational Safety and Health Administration regulations in the \nnonmilitary energy laboratories.\n (i) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n (1) the term ``Department'' means the Department of Energy;\n (2) the term ``nonmilitary energy laboratory'' means--\n (A) Ames Laboratory;\n (B) Argonne National Laboratory;\n (C) Brookhaven National Laboratory;\n (D) Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory;\n (E) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory;\n (F) Oak Ridge National Laboratory;\n (G) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory;\n (H) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory;\n (I) Stanford Linear Accelerator Center; or\n (J) Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility; \n and\n (3) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.", "summary": "Directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), respectively, to assume specified responsibilities for nuclear safety and for occupational safety and health at nonmilitary energy laboratories owned or operated by the Department of Energy (DOE). Eliminates DOE's regulatory and enforcement authority with respect to such responsibilities assumed by NRC and OSHA. Makes such transfers of authority effective two years after enactment of this Act.", "title": "To provide for the external regulation of nuclear safety and occupational safety and health responsibilities at any nonmilitary energy laboratory owned or operated by the Department of Energy."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 35, "text": "SECTION 1. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) According to a 2003 Government Accountability Office \n report, even after accounting for factors such as occupation, \n industry, race, marital status, job tenure, and differing work \n patterns, all of which affect earnings, women are paid, on \n average, 80 cents compared to every dollar that men are paid.\n (2) According to the same report, the earnings gap between \n men and women has persisted without statistically significant \n changes for the past two decades.\n (3) According to a 2001 report by the Bureau of Labor \n Statistics, the earnings gap among working men and women is \n widest among parents.\n (4) Some women choose to trade advancing in their careers \n or higher earnings for a job offering the flexibility to manage \n family responsibilities alongside work.\n (5) According to a 2001 Government Accountability Office \n study, in 1995 and 2000, female full-time managers earned less \n than their male counterparts.\n (6) According to the same study, in 7 of the 10 industries \n studied, the earnings gap between female and male full-time \n managers actually widened between 1995 and 2000.\n (7) Women make up 46 percent of the workforce but represent \n just 12 percent of all corporate officers.\n (8) A reason for the continuing earnings disparity might be \n discrimination as to which roles are considered acceptable for \n men and women and how women are viewed in the workplace.\n (9) According to the February 2004 Monthly Labor Review of \n the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Department of Labor \n projects that the United States work force is growing at a rate \n of 1 percent per year, in part due to the continually increased \n presence of women.\n\nSEC. 2. CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF WOMEN AND WORKPLACE POLICY.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Labor shall make a grant to an \neligible university to establish the ``Center for the Study of Women \nand Workplace Policy'' (referred to in this Act as the ``Center'').\n (b) Use of Funds.--\n (1) Compilation and analysis of data.--The Center \n established under subsection (a) shall compile and analyze \n available data and data sets on the difference between the \n earnings of men and women, including the Panel Study of Income \n Dynamic housed at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and \n to identify factors which affect differences in earnings.\n (2) Dissemination of findings.--The Center shall--\n (A) disseminate its findings annually to the \n public, using a website and any other appropriate \n means; and\n (B) maintain a website to serve as a clearinghouse \n for the data and findings of relevant recent studies.\n (3) Best practices guides.--Each year, the Center shall \n publish one best practices guide, as follows:\n (A) Best practices guide for businesses.--Not later \n than one year after the Center is established under \n subsection (a), the Center shall publish a best \n practices guide for businesses containing recommended \n guidelines for--\n (i) workplace equity;\n (ii) retaining women in the workplace; and\n (iii) promoting a family-friendly \n workplace.\n (B) Best practices guide for families.--Not later \n than one year after the publication of the best \n practices guide for businesses under subparagraph (A), \n the Center shall publish a best practices guide for \n families, containing information about--\n (i) the policies of various employers \n relating to workplace equity, retaining women \n in the workplace, and promoting a family-\n friendly workplace;\n (ii) strategies for addressing inequity in \n the workplace; and\n (iii) recent findings on inequity in the \n workplace.\n (C) Subsequent editions.--The Center shall update, \n revise, and publish a subsequent edition of each of the \n best practices guides under subparagraphs (A) and (B) \n once every two years after the initial publication of \n each guide.\n (c) Eligible University.--In this Act, the term ``eligible \nuniversity'' means a public university--\n (1) with a school of public policy, a school of business, a \n center devoted to the education of women, and social research \n facilities;\n (2) at which research is conducted on--\n (A) gender differences and levels of achievement in \n the careers of faculty members employed by institutions \n of higher education;\n (B) work experiences of non-tenure-track faculty \n members employed by such institutions;\n (C) policies of such institutions with respect to \n work and family for tenure-track faculty members; and\n (D) the number of women employed as chief executive \n officers and directors at large publicly-held \n companies; and\n (3) which has designed or is in the process of designing a \n national clearinghouse for information concerning gender \n differences and levels of achievement in the careers of faculty \n members and work and family policies and issues affecting \n faculty members which includes citations to research and \n examples of relevant policies and practices.\n (d) Report.--Not later than 12 months after receiving a grant under \nthis Act, the recipient shall submit to the Secretary and to Congress a \nreport documenting how the university used the grant funds and \nevaluating the level of success of the Center funded by the grant.\n (e) Amount of Grant.--For each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, \nthe Secretary shall provide a grant in the amount of $1,000,000 to an \neligible university to carry out this Act.", "summary": "Directs the Secretary of Labor to make a grant, to a public university with specified characteristics, to establish the Center for the Study of Women and Workplace Policy.\n\nRequires the Center to: (1) compile and analyze available data and data sets on the difference between the earnings of men and women, including the Panel Study of Income Dynamic housed at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and to identify factors which affect differences in earnings; and (2) disseminate findings, maintain a website as a clearinghouse, and publish an annual best practices guide.", "title": "To direct the Secretary of Labor to make a grant to a public university to establish the Center for the Study of Women and Workplace Policy."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2989, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Local Government \nLandfill Compliance Deadline Act''.\n (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to strengthen the ability \nof county and city officials to fulfill the goals established for \nmunicipal solid waste landfills by allowing adequate time for wise, \nenvironmentally sound, and fiscally responsible decisionmaking by the \nofficials in a manner consistent with the obligations of the officials \nto the citizens they serve.\n\nSEC. 2. TEMPORARY EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN LANDFILLS FROM MEETING REVISED \n CRITERIA.\n\n (a) Temporary Exemption.--\n (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), \n during the 1-year period beginning on October 9, 1993, each \n municipal solid waste landfill that--\n (A) is in existence on October 8, 1993; and\n (B) meets the requirements of the criteria \n contained in regulations issued pursuant to sections \n 4004(a) and 4010(c) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 \n U.S.C. 6944(a) and 6949a(c), respectively) as in effect \n on January 1, 1993,\n shall not be required to meet any revised criteria that take \n effect after the date specified in subparagraph (B).\n (2) Exceptions.--\n (A) In general.--If the Administrator of the \n Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this \n section as the `Administrator'), or the appropriate \n official of a State with a plan approved by the \n Administrator pursuant to title IV of the Solid Waste \n Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.) (referred to in \n this section as an ``appropriate State official''), \n determines that the owner or operator of a municipal \n solid waste landfill did not make a good faith effort \n before October 9, 1993, to comply with any revised \n criteria that took effect after the date specified in \n paragraph (1)(B), the exemption described in paragraph \n (1) shall not apply to the landfill.\n (B) Temporary extension of exemption.--The owner or \n operator of a municipal solid waste landfill that is \n the subject of an exemption under paragraph (1) may \n submit an application to the Administrator or an \n appropriate State official (in the case of a State \n referred to in subparagraph (A)) for a 180-day \n extension of the exemption. The Administrator (or the \n appropriate State official) shall grant the extension \n if the Administrator (or the appropriate State \n official) determines that the owner or operator cannot \n achieve compliance with the revised criteria referred \n to in such paragraph by the end of the 1-year period \n specified in such paragraph because of 1 or more \n factors beyond the control of the owner or operator, \n including--\n (i) litigation;\n (ii) adverse weather conditions that slow \n or bring to a temporary halt the construction \n of a landfill;\n (iii) a breakdown in negotiations for the \n construction or use of a regional landfill that \n requires any local government participating in \n the negotiations to pursue other arrangements \n for waste disposal; or\n (iv) any delay in siting, permitting, or \n patenting a landfill or transfer station, \n including any delay attributable to--\n (I) the unavailability of, or \n inaccessibility to, technical \n assistance; or\n (II) procedures for purchasing, \n leasing, permitting, or patenting a \n site on Federal land, including \n carrying out any necessary \n environmental assessments or preparing \n environmental impact statements \n pursuant to the National Environmental \n Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et \n seq.).\n (C) Mandatory extension.--The Administrator (or the \n appropriate State official) may not disapprove any \n application referred to in subparagraph (B) in any case \n in which the Administrator (or appropriate State \n official) determines that the failure of a Federal \n agency or a department or agency of a State to issue a \n permit, patent, or other necessary approval for a \n landfill that is the subject of the application, or a \n transfer station associated with the landfill, has been \n a factor in the inability of the owner or operator of \n the landfill to achieve compliance with the revised \n criteria referred to in paragraph (1).\n (b) Prior Criteria Applicable During Exemption Period.--During the \nperiod specified in subsection (a)(1), and during any applicable \nadditional period specified in subsection (a)(2)(B), a landfill subject \nto an exemption pursuant to this section shall be subject to the \ncriteria referred to in subsection (a)(1)(B).\n (c) Effective Date of Revised Criteria.--Except as otherwise \nspecifically provided in this Act, beginning on October 9, 1994, each \nmunicipal solid waste landfill shall be subject to the revised criteria \napplicable to the landfill issued pursuant to sections 4004(a) and \n4010(c) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6944(a) and \n6949a(c), respectively), and any subsequent revision to the criteria.\n (d) Citizen Suits.--No person may commence a civil action pursuant \nto section 7002 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6972) on the \nbasis of the failure of a municipal solid waste landfill subject to the \nexemption described in subsection (a)(1) to meet any requirement with \nrespect to which the exemption applies.\n\nSEC. 3. EXTENSION OF EFFECTIVE DATE OF FINANCIAL ASSURANCE \n REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the \nAdministrator shall issue regulations that revise the financial \nassurance requirements under subpart G of title 40, Code of Federal \nRegulations, to broaden the mechanisms available to an owner or \noperator of a municipal solid waste landfill for demonstrating \nfinancial responsibility. The revised regulations shall include revised \ncriteria for determining whether mechanisms in addition to the \nmechanisms specified in the regulations may be approved by the \nAdministrator. The revised criteria shall take into account the \nfinancial circumstances of small municipalities and counties (as \ndefined and determined by the Administrator).\n (b) Effective Date.--The revised regulations promulgated pursuant \nto subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after \nthe promulgation of the regulations.\n (c) Applicability.--During the period beginning on the effective \ndate specified in section 258.70 of title 40, Code of Federal \nRegulations, and ending on the date specified in subsection (b), the \nfinancial assurance requirements under subpart G of part 258 of title \n40, Code of Federal Regulations, shall not apply.\n\nSEC. 4. GROUND WATER MONITORING.\n\n (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment \nof this Act, the Administrator shall issue regulations that exempt from \nthe ground water monitoring requirements under sections 258.51 through \n258.55 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, any municipal solid \nwaste landfill unit described in the matter preceding clause (i) in \nsection 258.1(f)(1), as added by the final rule published at 56 Fed. \nReg. 50798 on October 9, 1991, (referred to in this section as a \n``small landfill'')--\n (1) in a community that experiences an annual interruption \n of at least 3 consecutive months of surface transportation that \n prevents access to a regional waste management facility; or\n (2) in a community that has no practicable waste management \n alternative and that has a small landfill unit located in an \n area that annually receives less than or equal to 25 inches of \n precipitation.\n (b) Effective Date.--The regulations promulgated pursuant to \nsubsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after the \ndate of enactment of this Act.\n (c) Exemption.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, before \nthe effective date of the regulations referred to in subsection (b), a \nlandfill referred to in subsection (a) shall not be required to carry \nout any ground water monitoring activities required under Federal law.", "summary": "Local Government Landfill Compliance Deadline Act - Exempts municipal solid waste landfills existing as of October 8, 1993, which meet criteria under the Solid Waste Disposal Act as in effect on January 1, 1993, from meeting any revised criteria (established for facilities which may receive hazardous wastes) for a period of one year. \nMakes such exemption inapplicable to landfill owners or operators who did not make a good faith effort before October 9, 1993, to comply with criteria. \nProvides for a 180-day extension of the exemption subject to specified factors beyond the control of the owner or operator. \nDirects the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to issue regulations to revise specified financial assurance requirements under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to broaden the mechanisms available to municipal landfill owners or operators for demonstrating financial responsibility. Makes current requirements inapplicable until the effective date of such regulations. \nRequires the Administrator to issue regulations that exempt certain small landfills from CFR groundwater monitoring requirements.", "title": "Local Government Landfill Compliance Deadline Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2916, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Border Security \nand Elimination of Sanctuary for Illegal Aliens Act of 2007''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) The illegal entry into the United States of dangerous \n gang members, such as MS-13, is a direct threat to the security \n of the United States.\n (2) The continuing rise of illegal immigration increases \n the chances that a terrorist will gain entry into the United \n States undetected.\n (3) The rising cost to United States taxpayers to support \n housing, health care, education expenses, and criminal justice \n for illegal aliens has reached between $11,000,000,000 and \n $22,000,000,000 per year.\n (4) Any attempt to deal with illegal aliens currently \n living in the United States must start with the United States \n securing its borders.\n\nSEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.\n\n It is the sense of Congress that the worsening crisis of illegal \nimmigration must be solved.\n\nSEC. 4. BORDER SECURITY.\n\n (a) Full-Time Active-Duty Border Patrol Agents.--In order to \nfulfill the requirement under section 5202 of the Intelligence Reform \nand Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458; 118 Stat. \n3734) (relating to an increase in the number of positions for full-time \nactive-duty border patrol agents within the Department of Homeland \nSecurity), and subject to the availability of appropriations for such \npurpose, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall--\n (1) increase incentives to recruit individuals to become \n such agents by offering such individuals repayment of higher \n education loans, not to exceed $6,000 per year and a maximum of \n $40,000; and\n (2) develop incentives to retain experienced border patrol \n agents through the establishment of a retention program.\n (b) Deployment of Technology.--In accordance with section 2(a)(1) \nof the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-367; 8 U.S.C. 1701 \nnote), the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to deploy \nnewly-developed and cutting-edge technologies to secure the \ninternational land and maritime borders of the United States.\n (c) Construction of Border Fence.--The Secretary of Homeland \nSecurity shall--\n (1) make a priority the construction of the border fencing \n required under section 102 of the Illegal Immigration Reform \n and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1103 note); \n and\n (2) not later than June 30, 2008, submit to Congress a \n report on the progress and expected completion date of such \n construction.\n\nSEC. 5. MANDATED COLLABORATION TO END SANCTUARY OF ILLEGAL ALIENS.\n\n If an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States is \narrested for any offense by a State or local law enforcement agency, \nthe head of such agency shall immediately notify United States \nImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of such arrest and the \nidentity of such alien.\n\nSEC. 6. EXPEDITED REMOVAL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES OF CRIMINAL ALIENS.\n\n (a) Action by ICE; Expedited Removal.--Upon notification under \nsection 5, the alien arrested under such section shall be immediately \ndetained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and \npresented before an immigration judge (as defined in section 101(b)(4) \nof the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(4))), the name \nand fingerprints of such alien shall be added to an appropriate watch \nlist maintained by the Department of Homeland Security concerning \naliens who have been unlawfully present in the United States, and such \nimmigration judge shall order such alien immediately removed from the \nUnited States without being released from detention and without further \nhearing or review in the same manner as an alien described in \nsubparagraph (A)(i) of section 235(b)(1) of such Act (8 U.S.C. \n1225(b)(1)) is subject to immediate removal from the United States \nunder the provisions of such section.\n (b) Permanent Ineligibility for Admission to United States.--\nSection 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 \nU.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(C)(i)(I)) is amended by striking ``for an aggregate \nperiod of more than 1 year'' and inserting ``for any period of time''.\n (c) Criminal Penalties for Subsequent Unlawful Presence.--An alien \nwho is removed from the United States under subsection (a) and who is \nsubsequently determined to be unlawfully present in the United States \nshall be imprisoned for not more than five years and fined in \naccordance with title 18, United States Code, and shall be removed from \nthe United States in accordance with the expedited removal proceedings \ndescribed in such subsection after the completion of such alien's term \nof imprisonment.", "summary": "Border Security and Elimination of Sanctuary for Illegal Aliens Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the worsening crisis of illegal immigration must be solved.\n\nDirects the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) increase incentives to recruit Border Patrol agents through repayment of higher education loans; (2) establish a retention program; and (3) make construction of border fencing a priority.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary to deploy newly-developed technology along the land and maritime borders.\n\nRequires that a state or local law enforcement agency that arrests an alien unlawfully in the United States for any reason shall notify United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement respecting such arrest and provide the identity of the arrested person. Provides for: (1) such person's expedited removal from the United States, and (2) criminal penalties and expedited removal for a subsequent unlawful presence.\n\nMakes inadmissible to the United States an alien who has been unlawfully present in the United States and who attempts to illegally enter or reenter the United States. (Under current law, such person must be unlawfully in the United States for an aggregate period exceeding one year.)", "title": "To end the cycle of illegal immigration in the United States."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 14, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Mercury Health Advisory Act of \n2003''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Mercury is a persistent, bioaccumulative heavy metal \n that poses a significant risk to human health, wildlife, and \n the environment.\n (2) Mercury discharges into the atmosphere and surface \n oceans have increased two-to-five fold since the beginning of \n the industrialized period due to human activities.\n (3) Substantial evidence is accumulating that exposure to \n methyl-mercury is widespread in the general public and \n occurring at higher than health-based levels of concern \n according to the Food and Drug Administration, the \n Environmental Protection Agency, and the World Health \n Organization. Fish and seafood caught or sold in the United \n States are contaminated with methyl-mercury, a toxic element \n that may cause neurological damage and other health-related \n problems as a result of fish or seafood consumption.\n (4) According to the 1997 Environmental Protection Agency \n Mercury Report to Congress, mercury levels in the following \n fish, at least occasionally, exceeded the Food and Drug \n Administration's ``action level'' limit of 1 part per million: \n tilefish, king mackerel, shark, swordfish, tuna, lobster, red \n snapper, saltwater and freshwater bass, bluefish, bluegills, \n catfish, crappie, groupers, hake, halibut, northern pike, \n walleye, largemouth bass, pompano, snook, sunfish, and other \n finfish.\n (5) The Food and Drug Administration advises pregnant women \n and women of childbearing age not to eat shark, king mackerel, \n tilefish, and swordfish and to limit consumption of all other \n fish to 12 ounces per week. The Food and Drug Administration \n advises other persons to limit their consumption of shark and \n swordfish to no more than 7 ounces per week.\n (6) The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that \n women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant, nursing \n mothers, and young children limit fish consumption to 6 meals \n per week of cooked fish or an 8-ounce meal per week for \n uncooked fish for adults and 2 meals per week of cooked fish or \n a 3-ounce meal per week of uncooked fish for young children.\n (7) In 2003, 44 States issued health advisories that warned \n the public about consuming mercury-tainted fish, as compared to \n 27 States that issued such advisories in 1993.\n (8) Eleven States warn pregnant women and young children to \n limit consumption of canned tuna, the most consumed fish in the \n United States, to 1 or 2 cans per week and some States warn \n that the ``white'' albacore canned tuna has significantly \n higher mercury levels than the ``light'' tuna, based upon Food \n and Drug Administration testing.\n (9) Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination \n Survey Centers indicates that 7.8 percent of women of \n childbearing age have blood mercury levels in their bodies \n above what is considered safe for the developing fetus, \n translating into over 300,000 babies born each year in the \n United States at risk of mercury poisoning.\n (10) Between 30 percent and 50 percent of women of \n childbearing age are not aware of the methyl-mercury exposure \n risks from ingestion of mercury-contaminated fish, according to \n the Food and Drug Administration.\n (11) A January 2001 report by the United States General \n Accounting Office (GAO) criticized the Food and Drug \n Administration for not providing guidance to the fishing \n industry to identify and prevent fish contaminated with mercury \n from reaching consumers, even though the Agency's own \ntesting found that, for example, over half of the swordfish exceeded \nits action level of one part per million (ppm).\n (12) Evidence is continuing to emerge linking increased \n risk of coronary heart disease to mercury exposure, as \n presented in at least 2 peer reviewed studies.\n (13) Health advisory information on mercury-contaminated \n fish, which is necessary to protect public health, is not \n widely known by the State or Federal Government. This lack of \n awareness potentially threatens tens of millions of Americans \n who may unknowingly ingest harmful amounts of mercury because \n they are not aware of exposure risks from consumption of \n freshwater fish and seafood.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--\n (1) ensure that the public is adequately informed about the \n potential adverse effects of mercury exposure through the \n consumption of fish products;\n (2) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to \n work cooperatively with other Federal and State agencies, as \n well as nonprofit organizations, to create appropriate \n advisories for the distribution to the public of explanations \n of the potential adverse effects of mercury exposure from fish \n consumption;\n (3) require the Administrator of the Environmental \n Protection Agency to work cooperatively with State fish and \n game officials to create an informative guide for distribution \n to the public about the dangers of the consumption of \n recreationally-caught fish;\n (4) require the Food and Drug Administration to resume its \n seafood methyl-mercury monitoring program to better document \n mercury levels in various fish species sold in commerce;\n (5) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in \n cooperation with private and public organizations, to design \n and implement a National Public Education Program regarding the \n presence of methyl-mercury in seafood and fish consumption \n advisories for methyl-mercury; and\n (6) require the Administrator of the Environmental \n Protection Agency to annually prepare a report on the impacts \n of mercury on human health and the environment.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the \n Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.\n (2) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means the \n Commissioner of Food and Drugs.\n (3) Health professional.--The term ``health professional'' \n means any licensed professional in the dental and medical \n profession.\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Health and Human Services.\n\nSEC. 4. ADVISORY NOTICES.\n\n (a) Consumer Mercury Advisory Notice.--\n (1) In general.--The Administrator and the Commissioner \n shall jointly develop fish consumption advisories for methyl-\n mercury in fish. Such advisories shall be based on the \n Environmental Protection Agency's Reference Dose for--\n (A) the general population;\n (B) sensitive populations; and\n (C) populations consuming above average amounts of \n fish.\n (2) Consumer's notice.--The Secretary, in consultation with \n the Administrator and the heads of State environmental agencies \n and health departments, shall prepare a consumer's mercury \n advisory notice. Such notice shall be distributed widely by the \n Secretary, at no cost, to health professionals, particularly \n medical offices that provide gynecological, obstetrical, or \n pediatric care, and to the extent practicable shall be made \n available and posted in the patient or client areas of all \n maternal and child health and nutrition program offices, and \n shall be made available to health care providers, Federal, \n State, and local government agencies, and the general public \n upon request.\n (3) Criteria.--The advisories developed under this \n subsection shall--\n (A) explain, in an easily understandable manner, \n the dangers of mercury exposure through the consumption \n of mercury contaminated fish to women of childbearing \n age, women who expect to become pregnant, women who are \n pregnant or breast feeding their children, and young \n children and their parents;\n (B) describe, in an easily understandable manner, \n in detail the most current mercury health advisories \n prepared by the Federal Government concerning fish \n consumption, contain the toll free number established \n under paragraph (4), and contain such other information \n as the Secretary determines appropriate; and\n (C) be printed in large type in English, Spanish, \n and other languages determined by the Secretary to be \n culturally and linguistically appropriate.\n (4) Toll-free telephone number.--The Secretary shall \n establish a toll-free telephone number to enable individuals to \n obtain additional information about the health advisories \n developed under this subsection concerning exposure to mercury \n from consumption of fish and seafood, as well as exposure from \n other sources.\n (5) Updating of information.--The information provided \n under this subsection shall be updated periodically as \n determined necessary by the Secretary.\n (b) Mercury Warning Consumer's Guide.--\n (1) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation with \n the Secretary, shall prepare a consumer's guide to mercury and \n health advisory for the consumption of recreationally-caught \n fish. Such guide shall be distributed, at no cost, to--\n (A) State departments of fisheries, wildlife, and \n environmental law enforcement;\n (B) all applicants for a fishing license at the \n time the license is issued; and\n (C) to public upon request.\n (2) Criteria.--The guide developed under paragraph (1) \n shall--\n (A) be printed in large type in English, Spanish, \n and other languages determined by the Secretary to be \n culturally and linguistically appropriate;\n (B) contain the toll free telephone number \n established by the Environmental Protection Agency that \n residents may call for further information about the \n health advisories contained in the guide.\n (3) Updating of information.--The guide developed under \n paragraph (1) shall be updated periodically as determined \n necessary by the Secretary.\n (c) Consumption Advisory.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the \n Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator, shall work with \n the States and other appropriate entities to--\n (A) develop and distribute regional and national \n advisories concerning the presence of methyl-mercury in \n seafood;\n (B) develop standardized formats for written and \n broadcast advisories regarding methyl-mercury in \n seafood;\n (C) develop and periodically upgrade information \n related to mercury fish tissue test results and fish \n consumption advisories for methyl-mercury;\n (D) coordinate State and local advisories in the \n formation of the National Public Education Program \n under subsection (d)(1); and\n (E) coordinate with that sector of the retail food \n industry that is engaged in the sale of any fresh, \n packaged, or frozen fish or seafood products intended \n for human consumption, concerning the posting of such \n advisories in their place of business where fish are \n sold to inform women of childbearing age, pregnant, and \n nursing women and the parents of young children on the \n potential dangers of mercury that is present in certain \n fish or seafood.\n (2) Criteria.--The advisories and notices developed under \n paragraph (1) shall include information both on limiting the \n consumption of certain high level fish and seafood to the \n general population and, for sensitive populations such as women \n of childbearing age and children, stress the importance of \n limiting consumption of frequently consumed fish that may \n exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's Reference Dose.\n (3) Consumption advisory.--\n (A) In general.--Based on information compiled by \n the Environmental Protection Agency, the National \n Marine Fisheries Services, and the Food and Drug \n Administration, shall work with State health, fish and \n wildlife, and environmental agencies to develop and \n periodically update a consumption advisory for any \n fresh, packaged, or frozen fish or seafood products \n intended for human consumption for posting by retail \n food establishments and restaurants pursuant to this \n Act. The advisory shall provide information about the \n potential dangers from the ingestion of mercury from \n the consumption of fish and seafood by women of \n childbearing age, pregnant women, and young children \n and other at-risk groups as determined by the \n Department, including populations consuming above-\n average quantities of fish and seafood.\n (B) Distribution.--The Secretary shall make copies \n of the advisory developed under subparagraph (A) \n available to State boards of health or other State and \n local governmental entities that have the same \n authority as a State board of health for distribution \n to the public and to local retail food establishments \n and restaurants.\n (4) Requirements.--The advisories and notices developed \n under this subsection shall be printed in large type in \n English, Spanish, and other languages determined by the \n Secretary to be culturally and linguistically appropriate.\n (d) Public Education and Advisory System.--\n (1) Public education.--The Secretary, in consultation with \n public and nonprofit private entities (including cooperative \n extension services and appropriate State entities), shall \n design and implement a national public education program \n regarding the presence of methyl-mercury in seafood.\n (2) Features.--The program developed under paragraph (1) \n shall provide--\n (A) information to the public regarding--\n (i) Federal standards and good practice \n requirements relating to methyl-mercury in \n seafood; and\n (ii) the promotion of public awareness, \n understanding, and acceptance of such standards \n and requirements;\n (B) information to health professionals so that \n health professionals may improve the diagnosis and \n treatment of mercury-related illness and advise \n individuals whose health conditions place those \n individuals at particular risk; and\n (C) such other information or advice to consumers \n and other individuals as the Secretary determines will \n promote the purposes of this section.\n (e) Sampling and Monitoring.--\n (1) In general.--The Commissioner shall resume the seafood \n methyl-mercury monitoring sampling program of the Food and Drug \n Administration to assist in documenting mercury levels in \n various fish species.\n (2) Monitoring.--The sampling program described in \n paragraph (1) shall be conducted so as to provide statistically \n valid monitoring data with respect to mercury levels in fish \n and seafood (including market-basket studies) including \n documenting the extent to which fish with mercury levels in \n excess of the action level are sold in commerce. Such \n information, along with information gathered by the \n Environmental Protection Agency, shall be compiled into an \n annual report by the Commissioner to track changes in dietary \n exposure to mercury from fish and seafood.\n (3) Avoidance of duplication of effort.--To the extent \n practicable, the sampling program described in paragraph (1) \n shall be consistent with, and shall be coordinated with, other \n seafood sampling programs that are in use, so as to avoid \n duplication of effort.\n\nSEC. 5. HAACP ASSESSMENT.\n\n Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the \nSecretary shall finalize the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point \nassessment to determine whether or not methyl-mercury exposure through \nfish consumption is a public health hazard.\n\nSEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) Public Education and Advisory System.--There is authorized to \nbe appropriated to develop and implement the public education and \nadvisory system under section 3(d), $500,000 for each fiscal year.\n (b) Sampling.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out \nsampling under section 3(e), $1,000,000 for each fiscal year.\n (c) State Support.--\n (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to \n support the efforts of States to sample noncommercial fish and \n inland waterways for mercury and to produce State-specific \n health advisories related to mercury, $2,000,000 for each \n fiscal year.\n (2) Equitable distribution.--The Administrator shall \n distribute amounts made available under paragraph (1) equitably \n among the States through programs in existence on the date of \n enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Mercury Health Advisory Act of 2003 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs jointly to develop fish consumption advisories for methyl-mercury in fish.\n\nDirects the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) prepare and distribute to health professionals (and others upon request) a consumer's mercury advisory notice regarding the health risks of fish consumption; and (2) establish a toll-free number for individuals who desire additional information.\n\nRequires the Administrator to prepare and distribute to specified State entities and applicants for fishing licenses (and others upon request) a consumer's guide to mercury, including a health advisory for the consumption of recreationally-caught fish.\n\nRequires the Secretary to work with States and other entities to: (1) develop and distribute standardized advisories, including consumption advisories and health warnings, regarding the presence of methyl-mercury in seafood; and (2) design and implement a related national public education program.\n\nDirects the Commissioner to resume the Food and Drug Administration's seafood methyl-mercury monitoring sampling program.\n\nRequires the Secretary, within one year of enactment of this Act, to finalize the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point assessment to determine whether methyl-mercury exposure through fish consumption is a public health hazard.", "title": "A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure that the public is provided adequate notice and education on the effects of exposure to mercury through the development of health advisories and by requiring that such appropriate advisories be posted, or made readily available, at all businesses that sell fresh, frozen, and canned fish and seafood where the potential for mercury exposure exists."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 98, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Medicaid Cash and Counseling Program \nAct of 2005''.\n\nSEC. 2. OPTIONAL CHOICE OF SELF-DIRECTED PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES \n (CASH AND COUNSELING).\n\n (a) Exemption From Certain Requirements.--Section 1915 of the \nSocial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396n) is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new subsection:\n ``(i)(1) A State may provide, as `medical assistance', payment for \npart or all of the cost of self-directed personal assistance services \n(other than room and board) under the plan which are provided pursuant \nto a written plan of care to individuals with respect to whom there has \nbeen a determination that, but for the provision of such services, the \nindividuals would require and receive personal care services under the \nplan, or home and community-based services provided pursuant to a \nwaiver under sub-section (c). Self-directed personal assistance \nservices may not be provided under this subsection to individuals who \nreside in a home or property that is owned, operated, or controlled by \na provider of services, not related by blood or marriage.\n ``(2) The Secretary shall not grant approval for a State self-\ndirected personal assistance services program under this section unless \nthe State provides assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of the \nfollowing:\n ``(A) Necessary safeguards have been taken to protect the \n health and welfare of individuals provided services under the \n program, and to assure financial accountability for funds \n expended with respect to such services.\n ``(B) The State will provide, with respect to individuals \n who--\n ``(i) are entitled to medical assistance for \n personal care services under the plan, or receive home \n and community-based services under a waiver granted \n under subsection (c);\n ``(ii) may require self-directed personal \n assistance services; and\n ``(iii) may be eligible for self-directed personal \n assistance services,\n an evaluation of the need for personal care under the plan, or \n personal services under a waiver granted under subsection (c).\n ``(C) Such individuals who are determined to be likely to \n require personal care under the plan, or home and community-\n based services under a waiver granted under subsection (c) are \n informed of the feasible alternatives, if available under the \n State's self-directed personal assistance services program, at \n the choice of such individuals, to the provision of personal \n care services under the plan, or personal assistance services \n under a waiver granted under subsection (c).\n ``(D) The State will provide for a support system that \n ensures participants in the self-directed personal assistance \n services program are appropriately assessed and counseled prior \n to enrollment and are able to manage their budgets. Additional \n counseling and management support may be provided at the \n request of the participant.\n ``(E) The State will provide to the Secretary an annual \n report on the number of individuals served and total \n expenditures on their behalf in the aggregate. The State shall \n also provide an evaluation of overall impact on the health and \n welfare of participating individuals compared to non-\n participants every three years.\n ``(3) A State may provide self-directed personal assistance \nservices under the State plan without regard to the requirements of \nsection 1902(a)(1) and may limit the population eligible to receive \nthese services and limit the number of persons served without regard to \nsection 1902(a)(10)(B).\n ``(4)(A) For purposes of this subsection, the term `self-directed \npersonal assistance services' means personal care and related services, \nor home and community-based services otherwise available under the plan \nunder this title or subsection (c), that are provided to an eligible \nparticipant under a self-directed personal assistance services program \nunder this section, under which individuals, within an approved self-\ndirected services plan and budget, purchase personal assistance and \nrelated services, and permits participants to hire, fire, supervise, \nand manage the individuals providing such services.\n ``(B) At the election of the State--\n ``(i) a participant may choose to use any individual \n capable of providing the assigned tasks including legally \n liable relatives as paid providers of the services; and\n ``(ii) the individual may use the individual's budget to \n acquire items that increase independence or substitute (such as \n a microwave oven or an accessibility ramp) for human \n assistance, to the extent that expenditures would otherwise be \n made for the human assistance.\n ``(5) For purpose of this section, the term `approved self-directed \nservices plan and budget' means, with respect to a participant, the \nestablishment of a plan and budget for the provision of self-directed \npersonal assistance services, consistent with the following \nrequirements:\n ``(A) Self-direction.--The participant (or in the case of a \n participant who is a minor child, the participant's parent or \n guardian, or in the case of an incapacitated adult, another \n individual recognized by state law to act on behalf of the \n participant) exercises choice and control over the budget, \n planning, and purchase of self-directed personal assistance \n services, including the amount, duration, scope, provider and \n location of service provision.\n ``(B) Assessment of needs.--There is an assessment of the \n needs, strengths, and preferences of the participants for such \n services.\n ``(C) Service plan.--A plan for such services (and supports \n for such services) for the participant has been developed and \n approved by the State based on such assessment through a \n person-centered process that--\n ``(i) builds upon the participant's capacity to \n engage in activities that promote community life and \n that respects the participant's preferences, choices \n and abilities; and\n ``(ii) involves families, friends, and \n professionals in the planning or delivery of services \n or supports as desired or required by the participant.\n ``(D) Service budget.--A budget for such services and \n supports for the participant has been developed and approved by \n the State based on such assessment and plan and on a \n methodology that uses valid, reliable cost data, is open to \n public inspection, and includes a calculation of the expected \n cost of such services if those services were not self-directed. \n The budget may not restrict access to other medically necessary \n care and services furnished under the plan and approved by the \n state but not included in the budget.\n ``(E) Application of quality assurance and risk \n management.--There are appropriate quality assurance and risk \n management techniques used in establishing and implementing \n such plan and budget that recognize the roles and \n responsibilities in obtaining services in a self-directed \n manner and assure the appropriateness of such plan and budget \n based upon the participant's resources and capabilities.\n ``(6) A State may employ a financial management entity to make \npayments to providers, track costs, and make reports under the program. \nPayment for the activities of the financial management entity shall be \nat the administrative rate established in section 1903(a).''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2006.", "summary": "Medicaid Cash and Counseling Program Act of 2005 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow a state to provide, as medical assistance, payment for the cost of self-directed personal assistance services (other than room and board) provided pursuant to a written plan of care to individuals who, but for such services, would require and receive personal care services under the plan, or home and community-based services provided pursuant to a waiver.\n\nProhibits the provision of self-directed personal assistamce services to individuals who reside in a home or property owned, operated, or controlled by a service provider not related by blood or marriage.", "title": "To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to permit Medicaid beneficiaries the choice of self-directed personal assistance services through a cash and counseling program under the Medicaid Program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3049, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Kake Tribal Corporation Land \nExchange Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF SETTLEMENT ACT.\n\n The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (Pub. L. 92-203, December \n18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), as amended, is further \namended by adding a new section to read:\n\n``SEC. 40. KAKE TRIBAL CORPORATION LAND EXCHANGE.\n\n ``(a) To provide Kake Tribal Corporation with land suitable for \ndevelopment, to acknowledge the corporation's return to public \nownership land needed as a municipal watershed area, and to promote the \npublic interest, the Secretary shall convey to the corporation \napproximately 2,427 acres of Federal land as described in subsection \n(c). The land to be conveyed includes--\n ``(1) up to 388 acres in the Slate Lakes area, as described \n in (c)(2) of this section, if, within five years after the \n effective date of this section, the corporation has entered \n into an agreement to lease or otherwise convey some or all of \n the land to the operator of the Jualin Mine; or\n ``(2) at the corporation's option, the 388 acres mentioned \n in (1) of this subsection and the remaining 2,039 acres may be \n conveyed from the acres described in (c)(3) of this section.\n ``(b) Title to Surface and Subsurface.--Subject to valid existing \nrights and easements, the Secretary shall, no later than the deadlines \nspecified in (c) (2) and (3) of this section, convey to Kake Tribal \nCorporation title to the surface estate in this land and convey to \nSealaska Corporation title to the subsurface estate in that land.\n ``(c) Description and Deadlines.--The land covered by this section \nis in the Copper River Meridian and is further described as follows:\n ``(1) The land to be conveyed by Kake Tribal Corporation to \n the United States, no later than 90 days after the effective \n date of this section, as shown on the map dated ______ and \n labeled Attachment A, is the municipal watershed area and is \n described as follows:\n\n\n ``Municipal watershed \n------------------------------------------------------------------------\n Approximate\n Section acres \n------------------------------------------------------------------------\n \n T56S, R72E \n13......................................................... 82\n23......................................................... 118\n24......................................................... 635\n25......................................................... 640\n26......................................................... 346\n34......................................................... 9\n35......................................................... 349\n36......................................................... 248\n ------------\n Approximate Total........................................ 2,427''\n------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n ``(2) Kake Tribal Corporation shall have the option to \n select up to 388 acres in the Slate Lakes area, as shown on the \n map dated ______ and labeled Attachment B. This option shall \n remain in effect for five years after the date of enactment of \n this section. The land to be conveyed is identified on the \n following maps as:\n\n\n Slate lakes area \n------------------------------------------------------------------------\n Approximate\n Section Description acres \n------------------------------------------------------------------------\n \n T35S, R62E \n22................................. E\\1/2\\................ 27\n23................................. W\\1/2\\................ 152\n26................................. W\\1/2\\................ 119\n27................................. E\\1/2\\................ 23\n \n T36S, R62E \n1.................................. W\\1/2\\, NW\\1/4\\....... 38\n \n Two utility corridors: One beginning in the northwest \nquarter of section 1, T36S, R62E, heading northwest through \n the northeast quarter of section 2, then heading northwest \n through section 26, T35S, R62E; another beginning in \n section 23, T35S, R62E, heading northeast, then heading \n northwest through section 23, then northwest through the \n southwest quarter of section 15, then northwest through \nsection 16, then turning northeast in the northeast quarter \n of section 16 to the Jualin patented group. \n Approximate Total.................................... 388''\n------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n ``(3) The remaining 2,039 acres of land to be conveyed to \n Kake Tribal Corporation, or the entire 2,427 acres if the \n option on the 388 acres mentioned in (2) of this subsection is \n not exercised, shall be land in the Hamilton Bay and Saginaw \n Bay areas and shall be conveyed within 90 days after the \n effective date of this section; this land is shown on the maps \n dated ______ and labeled Attachments C and D.\n ``(d) Timber Manufacturing.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \nlaw, timber harvested from lands conveyed to Kake Tribal Council \npursuant to this Act shall not be available for export as unprocessed \nlogs from Alaska, nor may Kake Tribal Corporation sell, trade, \nexchange, substitute, or otherwise convey such logs to any other person \nfor the purpose of exporting such logs from the State of Alaska.\n ``(e) Relation to Other Requirements.--The land conveyed to Kake \nTribal Corporation and Sealaska Corporation under this section is, for \nall purposes, considered land conveyed under the Alaska Native Claims \nSettlement Act.\n ``(f) Maps.--The maps referred to in this section shall be \nmaintained on file in the Office of the Chief, United States Forest \nService, and in the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, \nWashington, DC. The acreage cited in this section is approximate, and \nif a discrepancy arises between cited acreage and the land depicted on \nthe specified maps the maps shall control. The maps do not constitute \nan attempt by the United States to convey State or private land.''.", "summary": "Kake Tribal Corporation Land Exchange Act - Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior, subject to valid existing rights and easements, to enter into a land exchange under which there is conveyed to the: (1) Kake Tribal Corporation title to certain land suitable for development; (2) Sealaska Corporation title to subsurface estate in such land needed as a municipal watershed area; and (3) United States, by the Kake Corporation, specified lands. \nDirects that timber harvested from lands conveyed to the Kake Tribal Council shall not be made available for export as unprocessed logs from Alaska, nor may Kake Tribal Corporation sell, trade, exchange, substitute, or otherwise convey such logs to any other person for the purpose of exporting such logs from the State of Alaska.", "title": "Kake Tribal Corporation Land Exchange Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2504, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1996''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds that--\n (1) effective and impartial enforcement of the law is one \n of the most important functions of the government;\n (2) the preservation of our form of Government and the \n rights of our citizens are dependent upon competent and \n professional law enforcement agencies;\n (3) responsibility for law enforcement in the United States \n resides primarily with State and local governments;\n (4)(A) one-third of all Americans live in nonurban areas \n and 90 percent of all law enforcement agencies serve \n populations of fewer than 25,000 residents; and\n (B) 75 percent serve a population of fewer than 10,000 \n residents;\n (5) rural violent crime has increased over 35 percent from \n 1985 to 1995, and is taking a toll on rural citizens and rural \n law enforcement practitioners;\n (6) approximately 22,400 local government entities exist in \n the 50 States, and the needs of rural law enforcement in the \n areas of research, technical assistance, and the delivery of \n executive education and training programs have been jointly \n identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the \n Department of Justice, and the National Center for Rural Law \n Enforcement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; and\n (7) the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement at the \n University of Arkansas at Little Rock will continue to \n cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the \n Department of Justice to promote the development and \n implementation of training and education programs for rural law \n enforcement agencies.\n\nSEC. 3. NATIONAL CENTER FOR RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Title XVIII of the Violent Crime Control and Law \nEnforcement Act of 1994 is amended by adding at the end the following \nnew subtitle:\n\n ``Subtitle D--National Center for Rural Law Enforcement\n\n``SEC. 180401. ESTABLISHMENT.\n\n ``(a) In General.--There is established at the University of \nArkansas, at Little Rock, the National Center for Rural Law \nEnforcement.\n ``(b) Advisory Board.--\n ``(1) In general.--There shall be established within the \n National Center for Rural Law Enforcement an Advisory Board \n (referred to in this Act as the `Advisory Board') that shall be \n comprised of 15 members, of whom--\n ``(A) 10 shall be selected by the Attorney General \n of the United States, in consultation with the Director \n of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from personnel \n of rural law enforcement agencies serving communities \n with populations of less than 25,000 people, 2 from \n each of 5 regions (including the Northeast, Northwest, \n Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest);\n ``(B) 2 shall be selected by the Attorney General \n from personnel of State law enforcement agencies, 1 \n from training and 1 from law enforcement;\n ``(C) 2 shall be selected by the Director of the \n Federal Bureau of Investigation from employees of the \n Federal Bureau of Investigation; and\n ``(D) the Executive Director of the National Center \n for Rural Law Enforcement, who shall serve as a \n permanent member of the Advisory Board.\n ``(2) Powers.--\n ``(A) Terms of the Advisory Board members will be \n for 1 year, with 3 members rotating each year. The \nfirst Advisory Board members, at their first meeting, will draw lots \nfrom 1 to 5 years.\n ``(B) The Advisory Board members shall formulate, \n adopt, and publish guidelines governing the operation \n of the Center, consistent with its mission.\n ``(3) Travel expenses.--The members of the Advisory Board \n shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of \n subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies \n under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States \n Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business \n in performance of services for the Advisory Board.\n ``(c) Executive Director.--\n ``(1) Appointment.--The Attorney General shall appoint the \n Executive Director of the National Center for Rural Law \n Enforcement in consultation with the Director of the Federal \n Bureau of Investigation and the Chancellor of the University of \n Arkansas at Little Rock. The Executive Director shall serve a \n term not longer than 5 years.\n ``(2) Duties.--The Executive Director shall have the duties \n and responsibilities fulfilling functions as set forth in this \n Act, including the preparation and submission of a periodic \n report to the Advisory Board and the Chancellor of the \n University of Arkansas at Little Rock.\n ``(d) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The \nNational Center for Rural Law Enforcement, with the advice of the \nAdvisory Board, may procure temporary and intermittent services under \nsection 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals \nthat do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay \nprescribed for members of the Senior Executive Service, ES-6, Level V \nof the Executive Schedule as authorized by section 5352 of such title.\n\n``SEC. 180402. FUNCTIONS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Director of the National Center for Rural \nLaw Enforcement shall provide for--\n ``(1) the training of supervisory and executive managers of \n rural law enforcement in a systematic and effective manner;\n ``(2) the support of rural law enforcement agencies with \n technical assistance and practical and focused research;\n ``(3) equitable education and training opportunities for \n rural law enforcement personnel;\n ``(4) the delivery of training programs by Federal agencies \n and the Center;\n ``(5) the promotion, development, and adoption of a \n voluntary national system of education and training standards \n and certification;\n ``(6) the development and dissemination of information \n designed to assist States and units of local government in \n rural areas throughout the country;\n ``(7) grants to, and contracts with, Federal, State, and \n general units of local government, public and private agencies, \n educational institutions, organizations, and individuals to \n carry out this subtitle;\n ``(8) the establishment and continuation of a clearinghouse \n and information center for the collection, preparation, and \n dissemination of information on criminal justice and rural law \n enforcement, including programs for prevention of crime and \n recidivism, and management training of law enforcement \n personnel;\n ``(9) assistance and service in a consulting capacity to \n Federal, State, and local criminal justice agencies in the \n development, maintenance, and coordination of programs, \n facilities and services, training, research, and prevention \n with respect to crime in rural areas;\n ``(10) the encouragement and assistance to Federal, State, \n and local government programs and services, and programs for \n law enforcement officers, judges and judicial personnel, \n probation and parole personnel, correctional personnel, welfare \n workers, and other persons;\n ``(11) the development of technical training teams to aid \n in the development of seminars, workshops, and training \n programs within the States and with the State and local \n agencies that work with rural law enforcement managers;\n ``(12) the conduct, encouragement, and coordination of \n research relating to law enforcement and criminal justice \n issues, including the causes, diagnosis, and prevention of \n criminal activity;\n ``(13) the formulation and dissemination of rural law \n enforcement policy, goals, standards, and recommendations for \n Federal, State, and local criminal justice agencies, \n organizations, institutions, and personnel; and\n ``(14) evaluation programs that study the effectiveness of \n new approaches, techniques, systems, programs, and devices \n employed to improve rural law enforcement systems.\n ``(b) Authority.--The National Center for Rural Law Enforcement \nmay--\n ``(1) enter into contracts with public or private agencies, \n organizations, or individuals for the performance of any of the \n functions of the Center;\n ``(2) enter into cooperative agreements with Federal, \n State, and local agencies and nonprofit entities to carry out \n the functions of the Center;\n ``(3) arrange with and reimburse the heads of Federal \n departments and agencies for the use of personnel, facilities, \n or equipment of such departments and agencies;\n ``(4) confer with and avail itself of the assistance, \n services, records, and facilities of State and local \n governments or other public or private agencies, organizations, \n and individuals; and\n ``(5) procure the services of experts and consultants in \n accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at \n rates of compensation not to exceed the daily equivalent of the \n rate authorized for members of the Senior Executive Service, \n ES-6, Level 5, as authorized by section 5352 of title 5, United \n States Code.\n ``(c) Methods.--In carrying out its functions under this section, \nthe National Center for Rural Law Enforcement shall--\n ``(1) utilize consensus building;\n ``(2) work in cooperation with--\n ``(A) rural, nonurban law enforcement agencies;\n ``(B) agencies of Federal, State, and local \n governments; and\n ``(C) institutions of higher learning, law \n enforcement associations, and other not-for-profit \n organizations;\n ``(3) request and receive from other Federal departments \n and agencies such statistics, data, program reports, and other \n materials necessary for the Center to carry out its functions;\n ``(4) arrange with and reimburse the heads of other Federal \n departments and agencies for the use of personnel, facilities, \n or equipment of such departments and agencies; and\n ``(5) use the assistance, services, records, and facilities \n of State and local governments or other public or private \n agencies, organizations, and individuals.\n\n``SEC. 180403. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this \nsubtitle, as a separate line item in the Department of Justice \nAppropriations Act--\n ``(1) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1997; and\n ``(2) such sums as are necessary for each of the fiscal \n years 1998 through 2001.''.\n (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Violent \nCrime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 is amended by adding at \nthe end of the matter relating to title XVIII, the following:\n\n ``Subtitle D--National Center for Rural Law Enforcement\n\n``Sec. 180401. Establishment.\n``Sec. 180402. Functions.\n``Sec. 180403. Authorization of appropriations.''.", "summary": "Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1996 - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to establish the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. \nEstablishes an advisory board and requires the Attorney General to appoint an Executive Director of the Center to prepare and submit a periodic report to the advisory board and the University. Sets forth the Director's functions, including providing for: (1) the support of rural law enforcement agencies with technical assistance and practical and focused research; (2) education and training for rural law enforcement managers and personnel; (3) grants and contracts to carry out this Act; (4) the establishment and continuation of a clearinghouse and information center on criminal justice and rural law enforcement; (5) consulting assistance and service to Federal, State, and local criminal justice agencies with respect to crime in rural areas; and (6) evaluation programs that study the effectiveness of new approaches employed to improve rural law enforcement systems. \nAuthorizes appropriations to carry out this Act as a separate line item in the Department of Justice Appropriations Act.", "title": "Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1996"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 465, "text": "SECTION 1. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds as follows:\n (1) Raul Julia made his Broadway debut just a few weeks \n after arriving in New York City in 1964 in Calderon's ``Life is \n a Dream''.\n (2) Raul Julia, after only 3 years of living in New York \n City, was instrumental in opening doors for nontraditional \n parts for Hispanic actors by taking the role of Demetrius in \n Shakespeare's ``Titus Andronicus'' at the New York Shakespeare \n Festival and Cradeau in Sartre's ``No Exit''.\n (3) Raul Julia was the busiest Hispanic Shakespearean actor \n in New York and the first to establish a decades-long \n association with Joseph Papp and the New York Shakespeare \n Festival.\n (4) Raul Julia began an impressive and productive 28-year \n association with Joseph Papp and the New York Shakespeare \n Festival as Macduff in the Festival's Mobile Unit, Spanish \n language production of MacBeth.\n (5) Raul Julia became the first Puerto Rican actor to \n conquer Broadway stages by having his work be nominated for 4 \n different Tony Awards in 10 years: ``Two Gentlemen of Verona'', \n ``Where's Charley?'', ``Threepenny Opera'', and ``Nine''.\n (6) Raul Julia provided a role model for millions of \n children in his role as ``Rafael, the Fix-It Man'' in Sesame \n Street.\n (7) Raul Julia was a dedicated leader in the fight against \n the rising rates of teen violence and cosponsored scriptwriting \n competitions for high school students as a way to encourage \n teenagers to express their emotions through art rather than \n through violence.\n (8) Raul Julia's dedication to help Hispanic-American film \n and television writers develop their work led him to co-found \n the Latino Playwrights Reading Workshops.\n (9) Raul Julia was instrumental in the formation of the now \n legendary Puerto Rico Traveling Theater, an off-Broadway \n nonprofit Puerto Rican theater that to this day continues to \n promote and showcase bilingual plays, new Hispanic playwrights \n and Spanish-speaking actors while bringing theater to those who \n cannot ordinarily afford it.\n (10) Raul Julia was a leader in the entertainment industry, \n particularly as a tireless mentor and role model to emerging \n Latino actors.\n (11) Raul Julia was a dedicated activist and humanitarian \n who in his lifetime became a major supporter and spokesperson \n for the Hunger Project, a nonprofit organization committed to \n the eradication of world hunger.\n (12) Raul Julia was tireless in his commitment to the \n Puerto Rican film industry and to the making of Spanish \n language films and continued to participate in small, \n independent, Spanish-language films even after having become a \n Hollywood star.\n (13) Raul Julia was an extremely successful stage, film and \n television actor who never abandoned his Puerto Rican heritage, \n never changed his name and never gave up his accent, thereby \n becoming an enduring role model for hundreds of Latino actors.\n (14) Raul Julia received the Hispanic Heritage Award \n recognizing his many career achievements for the Latino \n community, including his involvement in ``La Familia'', a New \n York City outreach program for Latino families in need, the \n Puerto Rican traveling theater, the Museo del Barrio, and the \n New York Shakespeare Festival.\n (15) Raul Julia received the National Board of Review Best \n Actor prize for his interpretation of the political prisoner \n Valentin in the award-winning landmark film ``The Kiss of the \n Spider Woman'', an award he shared with his co-star William \n Hurt.\n (16) Raul Julia posthumously received the prestigious Emmy \n Award, Cable Ace Award, Golden Globe Award, and the SAG Award, \n given by his fellow actors for his most famous roles including \n Chico Mendes in ``The Burning Season''.\n (17) Raul Julia was proud of his Puerto Rican heritage and \n his life and work reflected his strong commitment to his \n culture and the people of Puerto Rico.\n (18) Raul Julia was given a state funeral in Puerto Rico \n and since that time there have been many awards and honors \n created in his name: a scholarship at Julliard, a scholarship \n given to a promising young actor for the purpose of studying \n and performing Shakespeare at the Joseph Papp Public Theater, \n the Raul Julia Award for Excellence given annually by the \n National Endowment for the Hispanic Arts in Washington, DC, El \n Teatro Raul Julia in San Juan Puerto Rico, and the Raul Julia \n Global Citizen Award, an annual award being given this year for \n the first time by the Puerto Rican Family Institute based in \n New York City.\n (19) Raul Julia was recognized by the office of the Mayor \n of the city of New York with the creation of Raul Julia Day \n which was celebrated and commemorated in conjunction with \n Puerto Rican Heritage and Culture Month on November 21, 1994.\n\nSEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.\n\n (a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of \nRepresentatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make \nappropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the \nCongress, of a gold medal of appropriate design, to the family of the \nlate Raul Julia, in recognition of his dedication to ending world \nhunger and his great contributions to the Latino community and to the \nperforming arts.\n (b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation referred \nto in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in \nthis Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with suitable \nemblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.\n (c) Gifts and Donations.--The Secretary may accept, use, and \ndisburse gifts or donations of property or money to carry out this \nsection.\n\nSEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.\n\n The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold \nmedal struck pursuant to section 2 under such regulations as the \nSecretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost \nthereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and \noverhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.\n\nSEC. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS.\n\n (a) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to this Act are \nnational medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States \nCode.\n (b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, \nUnited States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be \nconsidered to be numismatic items.\n\nSEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.\n\n (a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be \ncharged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such \namounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck \npursuant to this Act.\n (b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate \nbronze medals authorized under section 3 shall be deposited into the \nUnited States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.\n\nSEC. 6. TRANSFER OF ANY NET INCOME TO THE NEW YORK PUBLIC THEATER AND \n THE NEW YORK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL.\n\n If the sum of any gifts and donations received by the Secretary \nunder section 2(c) and any proceeds from the sale of duplicate medals \npursuant to section 3 exceeds the total amount of the costs incurred by \nthe Secretary in carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall transfer, \nfrom the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, an amount equal \nto--\n (1) 1/2 of such excess amount to the New York Public \n Theater; and\n (2) 1/2 of such excess amount to the New York Shakespeare \n Festival.", "summary": "Directs: (1) the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to the family of the late Raul Julia in recognition of his dedication to ending world hunger and his great contributions to the Latino community and the performing arts; and (2) the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer half of the amount by which the sum of any gifts and donations received and any proceeds from the sale of duplicate medals exceeds the costs incurred in carrying out this Act to the New York Public Theater and half to the New York Shakespeare Festival.", "title": "To award a congressional gold medal to the family of the late Raul Julia."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1882, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Water Infrastructure Financing \nAct of 2005''.\n\nSEC. 2. GENERAL AUTHORITY FOR CAPITALIZATION GRANTS.\n\n Section 601(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 \nU.S.C. 1381(a)) is amended by striking ``(1) for construction'' and all \nthat follows through the period at the end and inserting ``to \naccomplish the purposes of this Act.''.\n\nSEC. 3. CAPITALIZATION GRANTS AGREEMENTS.\n\n (a) Requirements for Construction of Treatment Works.--Section \n602(b)(6) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. \n1382(b)(6)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``before fiscal year 1995''; and\n (2) by striking ``201(b)'' and all that follows through \n ``218,'' and inserting ``211,''.\n (b) Guidance for Small Systems.--Section 602 of the Federal Water \nPollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1382) is amended by adding at the end \nthe following:\n ``(c) Guidance for Small Systems.--\n ``(1) Simplified procedures.--Not later than 1 year after \n the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator \n shall assist the States in establishing simplified procedures \n for small systems to obtain assistance under this title.\n ``(2) Publication of manual.--Not later than 1 year after \n the date of enactment of this subsection, after providing \n notice and opportunity for public comment, the Administrator \n shall publish--\n ``(A) a manual to assist small systems in obtaining \n assistance under this title; and\n ``(B) in the Federal Register, notice of the \n availability of the manual.\n ``(3) Definition of small system.--In this title, the term \n `small system' means a system for which a municipality or \n intermunicipal, interstate, or State agency seeks assistance \n under this title and that serves a population of 20,000 or \n fewer inhabitants.''.\n\nSEC. 4. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING FUNDS.\n\n (a) Activities Eligible for Assistance.--Section 603 of the Federal \nWater Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383) is amended by striking \nsubsection (c) and inserting the following:\n ``(c) Activities Eligible for Assistance.--\n ``(1) In general.--The water pollution control revolving \n fund of a State shall be used only for providing financial \n assistance for activities that have, as a principal benefit, \n the improvement or protection of the water quality of navigable \n waters to a municipality, intermunicipal, interstate, or State \n agency, or other person, including activities such as--\n ``(A) construction of a publicly owned treatment \n works;\n ``(B) implementation of lake protection programs \n and projects under section 314;\n ``(C) implementation of a nonpoint source \n management program under section 319;\n ``(D) implementation of an estuary conservation and \n management plan under section 320;\n ``(E) restoration or protection of publicly or \n privately owned riparian areas, including acquisition \n of property rights;\n ``(F) implementation of measures to improve the \n efficiency of public water use;\n ``(G) development and implementation of plans by a \n public recipient to prevent water pollution; and\n ``(H) acquisition of land necessary to meet any \n mitigation requirements related to construction of a \n publicly owned treatment works.\n ``(2) Fund amounts.--\n ``(A) Repayments.--The water pollution control \n revolving fund of a State shall be established, \n maintained, and credited with repayments.\n ``(B) Availability.--The balance in the fund shall \n be available in perpetuity for providing financial \n assistance described in paragraph (1).\n ``(C) Fees.--Fees charged by a State to recipients \n of the assistance may be deposited in the fund and may \n be used only to pay the cost of administering this \n title.''.\n (b) Extended Repayment Period for Financially Distressed \nCommunities.--Section 603(d)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control \nAct (33 U.S.C. 1383(d)(1)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after ``20 years'' \n the following: ``or, in the case of a financially distressed \n community, the lesser of 40 years or the expected life of the \n project to be financed with the proceeds of the loan''; and\n (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``not later than 20 \n years after project completion'' and inserting ``on the \n expiration of the term of the loan''.\n (c) Loan Guarantees.--Section 603(d) of the Federal Water Pollution \nControl Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(d)) is amended by striking paragraph (5) \nand inserting the following:\n ``(5) to provide loan guarantees for--\n ``(A) similar revolving funds established by \n municipalities or intermunicipal agencies; and\n ``(B) developing and implementing innovative \n technologies;''.\n (d) Administrative Expenses.--Section 603(d)(7) of the Federal \nWater Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(d)(7)) is amended by \ninserting before the period at the end the following: ``or the greater \nof $400,000 per year or an amount equal to \\1/2\\ percent per year of \nthe current valuation of the fund, plus the amount of any fees \ncollected by the State under subsection (c)(2)(C)''.\n (e) Technical and Planning Assistance for Small Systems.--Section \n603(d) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(d)) \nis amended--\n (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end;\n (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(8) to provide to small systems technical and planning \n assistance and assistance in financial management, user fee \n analysis, budgeting, capital improvement planning, facility \n operation and maintenance, repair schedules, and other \n activities to improve wastewater treatment plant operations, \n except that the amounts used under this paragraph for a fiscal \n year shall not exceed 2 percent of all grants provided to the \n fund for the fiscal year under this title.''.\n (f) Consistency With Planning Requirements.--Section 603(f) of the \nFederal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(f)) is amended by \nstriking ``is consistent'' and inserting ``is not inconsistent''.\n (g) Construction Assistance.--Section 603 of the Federal Water \nPollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383) is amended by striking \nsubsection (g) and inserting the following:\n ``(g) Construction Assistance.--\n ``(1) Priority list requirement.--The State may provide \n financial assistance from the water pollution control revolving \n fund of the State for a project for construction of a publicly \n owned treatment works only if the project is on the priority \n list of the State under section 216, without regard to the rank \n of the project on the list.\n ``(2) Eligibility of certain treatment works.--A treatment \n works shall be treated as a publicly owned treatment works for \n purposes of subsection (c) if the treatment works, without \n regard to ownership, would be considered a publicly owned \n treatment works and is principally treating municipal waste \n water or domestic sewage.''.\n (h) Principal Subsidization.--Section 603 of the Federal Water \nPollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383) is amended by adding at the end \nthe following:\n ``(i) Principal Subsidization.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in a case in \n which a State makes a loan under subsection (d)(1) to a \n financially distressed community, the State may provide \n additional subsidization to the loan recipient (including \n forgiveness of principal).\n ``(2) Limitation.--For each fiscal year, the total amount \n of loan subsidies made by a State under this subsection shall \n not exceed 30 percent of the amount of the capitalization grant \n received by the State for that fiscal year.\n ``(j) Information to Assist States.--The Administrator may publish \ninformation to assist States in establishing the affordability criteria \nreferred to in subsection (l).\n ``(k) Priority.--In making a loan under this section, a State may \ngive priority to a financially distressed community.\n ``(l) Definition of Financially Distressed Community.--In this \nsection, the term `financially distressed community' means any \ncommunity that meets affordability criteria that are--\n ``(1) established by the State in which the community is \n located; and\n ``(2) developed after public review and comment.''.\n\nSEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n Section 607 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. \n1387) is amended by striking ``the following sums:'' and all that \nfollows through the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting \n``$4,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010.''.", "summary": "Clean Water Infrastructure Financing Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to eliminate certain restrictions on capitalization grants to states under the water pollution control revolving fund program and to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make such grants to accomplish the purposes of the Act.\n\nRevises certain requirements for the construction of publicly-owned treatment works under capitalization grant agreements.\n\n Directs the Administrator to assist states in establishing simplified procedures for small water systems (serving populations of 20,000 or less) to obtain assistance under the Act. Requires state water pollution control revolving funds to be used only for providing assistance for activities which have as a principal benefit the improvement or protection of water quality of navigable waters. Makes revisions concerning uses of funds for: (1) innovative technologies; (2) administrative expenses; (3) small system technical, planning, and management assistance; (4) financially distressed communities; and (5) construction assistance. Authorizes states to give priority to financially distressed communities in making loans from revolving funds. Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2006-2010 for the water pollution control revolving fund program.", "title": "A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for States water pollution control revolving funds, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 157, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Miners Pension Protection Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. TRANSFERS TO 1974 UMWA PENSION PLAN.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (i) of section 402 of the Surface \nMining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1232), as amended \nby the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, \n2017, is amended--\n (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and\n (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:\n ``(4) Additional amounts.--\n ``(A) Calculation.--If the dollar limitation \n specified in paragraph (3)(A) exceeds the aggregate \n amount required to be transferred under paragraphs (1) \n and (2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary of the \n Treasury shall transfer an additional amount equal to \n the difference between such dollar limitation and such \n aggregate amount to the trustees of the 1974 UMWA \n Pension Plan to pay benefits required under that plan.\n ``(B) Cessation of transfers.--The transfers \n described in subparagraph (A) shall cease as of the \n first fiscal year beginning after the first plan year \n for which the funded percentage (as defined in section \n 432(i)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) of the \n 1974 UMWA Pension Plan is at least 100 percent.\n ``(C) Prohibition on benefit increases, etc.--\n During a fiscal year in which the 1974 UMWA Pension \n Plan is receiving transfers under subparagraph (A), no \n amendment of such plan which increases the liabilities \n of the plan by reason of any increase in benefits, any \n change in the accrual of benefits, or any change in the \n rate at which benefits become nonforfeitable under the \n plan may be adopted unless the amendment is required as \n a condition of qualification under part I of subchapter \n D of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\n ``(D) Treatment of transfers for purposes of \n withdrawal liability under erisa.--The amount of any \n transfer made under subparagraph (A) (and any earnings \n attributable thereto) shall be disregarded in \n determining the unfunded vested benefits of the 1974 \n UMWA Pension Plan and the allocation of such unfunded \n vested benefits to an employer for purposes of \n determining the employer's withdrawal liability under \n section 4201 of the Employee Retirement Income Security \n Act of 1974.\n ``(E) Requirement to maintain contribution rate.--A \n transfer under subparagraph (A) shall not be made for a \n fiscal year unless the persons that are obligated to \n contribute to the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan on the date of \n the transfer are obligated to make the contributions at \n rates that are no less than those in effect on the date \n which is 30 days before the date of enactment of the \n Miners Pension Protection Act.\n ``(F) Enhanced annual reporting.--\n ``(i) In general.--Not later than the 90th \n day of each plan year beginning after the date \n of enactment of the Miners Pension Protection \n Act, the trustees of the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan \n shall file with the Secretary of the Treasury \n or the Secretary's delegate and the Pension \n Benefit Guaranty Corporation a report \n (including appropriate documentation and \n actuarial certifications from the plan actuary, \n as required by the Secretary of the Treasury or \n the Secretary's delegate) that contains--\n ``(I) whether the plan is in \n endangered or critical status under \n section 305 of the Employee Retirement \n Income Security Act of 1974 and section \n 432 of the Internal Revenue Code of \n 1986 as of the first day of such plan \n year;\n ``(II) the funded percentage (as \n defined in section 432(i)(2) of such \n Code) as of the first day of such plan \n year, and the underlying actuarial \n value of assets and liabilities taken \n into account in determining such \n percentage;\n ``(III) the market value of the \n assets of the plan as of the last day \n of the plan year preceding such plan \n year;\n ``(IV) the total value of all \n contributions made during the plan year \n preceding such plan year;\n ``(V) the total value of all \n benefits paid during the plan year \n preceding such plan year;\n ``(VI) cash flow projections for \n such plan year and either the 6 or 10 \n succeeding plan years, at the election \n of the trustees, and the assumptions \n relied upon in making such projections;\n ``(VII) funding standard account \n projections for such plan year and the \n 9 succeeding plan years, and the \n assumptions relied upon in making such \n projections;\n ``(VIII) the total value of all \n investment gains or losses during the \n plan year preceding such plan year;\n ``(IX) any significant reduction in \n the number of active participants \n during the plan year preceding such \n plan year, and the reason for such \n reduction;\n ``(X) a list of employers that \n withdrew from the plan in the plan year \n preceding such plan year, and the \n resulting reduction in contributions;\n ``(XI) a list of employers that \n paid withdrawal liability to the plan \n during the plan year preceding such \n plan year and, for each employer, a \n total assessment of the withdrawal \n liability paid, the annual payment \n amount, and the number of years \n remaining in the payment schedule with \n respect to such withdrawal liability;\n ``(XII) any material changes to \n benefits, accrual rates, or \n contribution rates during the plan year \n preceding such plan year;\n ``(XIII) any scheduled benefit \n increase or decrease in the plan year \n preceding such plan year having a \n material effect on liabilities of the \n plan;\n ``(XIV) details regarding any \n funding improvement plan or \n rehabilitation plan and updates to such \n plan;\n ``(XV) the number of participants \n and beneficiaries during the plan year \n preceding such plan year who are active \n participants, the number of \n participants and beneficiaries in pay \n status, and the number of terminated \n vested participants and beneficiaries;\n ``(XVI) the information contained \n on the most recent annual funding \n notice submitted by the plan under \n section 101(f) of the Employee \n Retirement Income Security Act of 1974;\n ``(XVII) the information contained \n on the most recent Department of Labor \n Form 5500 of the plan; and\n ``(XVIII) copies of the plan \n document and amendments, other \n retirement benefit or ancillary benefit \n plans relating to the plan and \n contribution obligations under such \n plans, a breakdown of administrative \n expenses of the plan, participant \n census data and distribution of \n benefits, the most recent actuarial \n valuation report as of the plan year, \n copies of collective bargaining \n agreements, and financial reports, and \n such other information as the Secretary \n of the Treasury or the Secretary's \n delegate, in consultation with the \n Secretary of Labor and the Director of \n the Pension Benefit Guaranty \n Corporation, may require.\n ``(ii) Electronic submission.--The report \n required under clause (i) shall be submitted \n electronically.\n ``(iii) Information sharing.--The Secretary \n of the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate \n shall share the information in the report under \n clause (i) with the Secretary of Labor.\n ``(iv) Penalty.--Any failure to file the \n report required under clause (i) on or before \n the date described in such clause shall be \n treated as a failure to file a report required \n to be filed under section 6058(a) of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986, except that \n section 6652(e) of such Code shall be applied \n with respect to any such failure by \n substituting `$100' for `$25'. The preceding \n sentence shall not apply if the Secretary of \n the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate \n determines that reasonable diligence has been \n exercised by the trustees of such plan in \n attempting to timely file such report.\n ``(G) 1974 umwa pension plan defined.--For purposes \n of this paragraph, the term `1974 UMWA Pension Plan' \n has the meaning given the term in section 9701(a)(3) of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, but without regard \n to the limitation on participation to individuals who \n retired in 1976 and thereafter.''.\n (b) Effective Dates.--\n (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall \n apply to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 2016.\n (2) Reporting requirements.--Section 402(i)(4)(F) of the \n Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. \n 1232(i)(4)(F)), as added by this section, shall apply to plan \n years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. CUSTOMS USER FEES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 13031(j)(3)(A) of the Consolidated Omnibus \nBudget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c(j)(3)(A)), as amended \nby section 105(a) of the Health Benefits for Miners Act of 2017, is \namended by striking ``January 14, 2026'' and inserting ``May 13, \n2026''.\n (b) Rate for Merchandise Processing Fees.--Section 503 of the \nUnited States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law \n112-41; 19 U.S.C. 3805 note), as amended by section 105(b) of the \nHealth Benefits for Miners Act of 2017, is amended by striking \n``January 14, 2026'' and inserting ``May 13, 2026''.", "summary": "Miners Pension Protection Act This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) to transfer certain funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan to provide pension benefits to retired coal miners and their families. The Department of the Treasury must transfer additional funds to the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan to pay pension benefits required under that plan if the amounts available for transfer under SMCRA's $490 million annual limit exceed the amounts required to be transferred for other purposes (including to the UMWA Health Plans). The bill also: (1) prohibits the pension plan from making certain changes to benefits during any year in which a transfer is received, and (2) establishes additional reporting requirements for the plan. As an offset, the bill amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to extend the authority of Treasury to collect certain customs user fees. ", "title": "Miners Pension Protection Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2392, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Combat Human Trafficking Act of \n2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. REDUCING DEMAND FOR SEX TRAFFICKING; LOWER MENS REA FOR SEX \n TRAFFICKING OF UNDERAGE VICTIMS.\n\n (a) Clarification of Range of Conduct Punished as Sex \nTrafficking.--Section 1591 of title 18, United States Code, is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``or maintains'' and \n inserting ``maintains, patronizes, or solicits'';\n (2) in subsection (b)--\n (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or obtained'' \n and inserting ``obtained, patronized, or solicited''; \n and\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or obtained'' \n and inserting ``obtained, patronized, or solicited''; \n and\n (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:\n ``(c) In a prosecution under subsection (a)(1), the Government need \nnot prove that the defendant knew, or recklessly disregarded the fact, \nthat the person recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, \nobtained, maintained, patronized, or solicited had not attained the age \nof 18 years.''.\n (b) Definition Amended.--Section 103(10) of the Trafficking Victims \nProtection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(10)) is amended by striking ``or \nobtaining'' and inserting ``obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting''.\n (c) Minimum Period of Supervised Release for Conspiracy To Commit \nCommercial Child Sex Trafficking.--Section 3583(k) of title 18, United \nStates Code, is amended by inserting ``1594(c),'' after ``1591,''.\n\nSEC. 3. BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS REPORT ON STATE ENFORCEMENT OF SEX \n TRAFFICKING PROHIBITIONS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section--\n (1) the terms ``commercial sex act'', ``severe forms of \n trafficking in persons'', ``State'', and ``Task Force'' have \n the meanings given those terms in section 103 of the \n Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102);\n (2) the term ``covered offense'' means the provision, \n obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a commercial sex act \n involving a person subject to severe forms of trafficking in \n persons; and\n (3) the term ``State law enforcement officer'' means any \n officer, agent, or employee of a State authorized by law or by \n a State government agency to engage in or supervise the \n prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any \n violation of criminal law.\n (b) Report.--The Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics \nshall--\n (1) prepare an annual report on--\n (A) the rates of--\n (i) arrest of individuals by State law \n enforcement officers for a covered offense;\n (ii) prosecution (including specific \n charges) of individuals in State court systems \n for a covered offense; and\n (iii) conviction of individuals in State \n court systems for a covered offense; and\n (B) sentences imposed on individuals convicted in \n State court systems for a covered offense; and\n (2) submit the annual report prepared under paragraph (1) \n to--\n (A) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of \n Representatives;\n (B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;\n (C) the Task Force;\n (D) the Senior Policy Operating Group established \n under section 105(g) of the Trafficking Victims \n Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7103(g)); and\n (E) the Attorney General.\n\nSEC. 4. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PROSECUTORS, AND JUDGES.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section--\n (1) the terms ``commercial sex act'', ``severe forms of \n trafficking in persons'', and ``State'' have the meanings given \n those terms in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims \n Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102);\n (2) the term ``covered offender'' means an individual who \n obtains, patronizes, or solicits a commercial sex act involving \n a person subject to severe forms of trafficking in persons;\n (3) the term ``Federal law enforcement officer'' has the \n meaning given the term in section 115 of title 18, United \n States Code;\n (4) the term ``local law enforcement officer'' means any \n officer, agent, or employee of a unit of local government \n authorized by law or by a local government agency to engage in \n or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or \n prosecution of any violation of criminal law; and\n (5) the term ``State law enforcement officer'' means any \n officer, agent, or employee of a State authorized by law or by \n a State government agency to engage in or supervise the \n prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any \n violation of criminal law.\n (b) Training.--\n (1) Law enforcement officers.--The Attorney General shall \n ensure that each anti-human trafficking program operated by the \n Department of Justice, including each anti-human trafficking \n training program for Federal, State, or local law enforcement \n officers, includes technical training on--\n (A) effective methods for investigating and \n prosecuting covered offenders; and\n (B) facilitating the provision of physical and \n mental health services by health care providers to \n persons subject to severe forms of trafficking in \n persons.\n (2) Federal prosecutors.--The Attorney General shall \n ensure that each anti-human trafficking program operated by the \n Department of Justice for United States attorneys or other \n Federal prosecutors includes training on seeking restitution \n for offenses under chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, \n to ensure that each United States attorney or other Federal \n prosecutor, upon obtaining a conviction for such an offense, \n requests a specific amount of restitution for each victim of \n the offense without regard to whether the victim requests \n restitution.\n (3) Judges.--The Federal Judicial Center shall provide \n training to judges relating to the application of section 1593 \n of title 18, United States Code, with respect to ordering \n restitution for victims of offenses under chapter 77 of such \n title.\n (c) Policy for Federal Law Enforcement Officers.--The Attorney \nGeneral shall ensure that Federal law enforcement officers are engaged \nin activities, programs, or operations involving the detection, \ninvestigation, and prosecution of covered offenders.\n\nSEC. 5. WIRETAP AUTHORITY FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING VIOLATIONS.\n\n Section 2516 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1)(c)--\n (A) by inserting before ``section 1591'' the \n following: ``section 1581 (peonage), section 1584 \n (involuntary servitude), section 1589 (forced labor), \n section 1590 (trafficking with respect to peonage, \n slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor),''; \n and\n (B) by inserting before ``section 1751'' the \n following: ``section 1592 (unlawful conduct with \n respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking, \n peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced \n labor),''; and\n (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``human trafficking, \n child sexual exploitation, child pornography production,'' \n after ``kidnapping,''.\n\nSEC. 6. STRENGTHENING CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS.\n\n (a) Notification of Plea Agreement or Other Agreement.--Section \n3771(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the \nend the following:\n ``(9) The right to be informed in a timely manner of any \n plea agreement or deferred prosecution agreement.''.\n (b) Appellate Review of Petitions Relating to Crime Victims' \nRights.--\n (1) In general.--Section 3771(d)(3) of title 18, United \n States Code, is amended by inserting after the fifth sentence \n the following: ``In deciding such application, the court of \n appeals shall apply ordinary standards of appellate review.''.\n (2) Application.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall \n apply with respect to any petition for a writ of mandamus filed \n under section 3771(d)(3) of title 18, United States Code, that \n is pending on the date of enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Combat Human Trafficking Act of 2015 Amends the federal criminal code, with respect to sex trafficking of children, to: (1) subject to criminal prosecution buyers, as well as sellers, of commercial sex involving sex trafficking victims; (2) provide that in prosecutions of sex trafficking crimes, the government is not required to prove that a sex trafficking defendant knew or recklessly disregarded the fact that a victim was under age 18; (3) equalize the period of supervised release for sex trafficking offenders convicted of conspiracy; (4) expand wiretap authority for investigating crimes related to sex trafficking, including slavery, involuntary servitude, and forced labor; (5) grant crime victims the right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea agreement or deferred prosecution agreement; and (6) require an appellate court to apply ordinary standards of review in reviewing appeals filed by crime victims.    Requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics in the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prepare and report annually on: (1) the rates of arrests by state law enforcement officers for sex trafficking crimes involving buyers of commercial sex involving sex trafficking victims, and (2) prosecutions and convictions for such crimes in state courts. Directs the Attorney General to ensure that: (1) DOJ anti-human trafficking training programs, including programs for law enforcement officers, include technical training on effective methods for investigating and prosecuting individuals who obtain, patronize, or solicit a commercial sex act involving a person subject to severe forms of human trafficking and on facilitating the provision of physical and mental health services by health care providers to persons subject to severe forms of human trafficking; (2) federal law enforcement officers are engaged in activities, programs, or operations involving the detection, investigation, and prosecution of such offenses; and (3) DOJ anti-human trafficking programs for U.S. attorneys or other federal prosecutors include training on seeking restitution for peonage, slavery, and human trafficking offenses to ensure that each such attorney, upon obtaining a conviction for such an offense, requests a specific amount of restitution for each victim without regard to whether the victim requests it. Requires the Federal Judicial Center to provide training to judges relating to the application of mandatory restitution provisions regarding ordering restitution for victims of such offenses.", "title": "Combat Human Trafficking Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1047, "text": "SECTION 1. DEDUCTION FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION EXPENSES.\n\n (a) Deduction Allowed.--Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of \nthe Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized \ndeductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 220 as \nsection 221 and by inserting after section 219 the following new \nsection:\n\n``SEC. 220. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION EXPENSES.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Deduction.--In the case of an individual, there \nshall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to the qualified \npostsecondary education expenses paid by the taxpayer during the \ntaxable year.\n ``(b) Dollar Limitations.--\n ``(1) Per student.--The aggregate payments during the \n taxable year for the qualified postsecondary education expenses \n of each individual which may be taken into account under \n subsection (a) shall not exceed $10,000.\n ``(2) Per taxpayer.--The amount allowed as a deduction \n under subsection (a) for the taxable year shall not exceed \n $20,000.\n ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Qualified postsecondary education expenses.--The term \n `qualified postsecondary education expenses' means qualified \n tuition and related expenses of--\n ``(A) the taxpayer, or\n ``(B) an individual who is the spouse, or a \n dependent, of the taxpayer for the taxable year in \n which such expenses are incurred,\n for attendance at an eligible educational institution.\n ``(2) Qualified tuition and related expenses.--The term \n `qualified tuition and related expenses' means--\n ``(A) tuition and fees required for enrollment or \n attendance at an eligible educational institution,\n ``(B) fees, books, supplies, and equipment required \n for courses of instruction at such an institution, and\n ``(C) reasonable living expenses while away from \n home.\n Such term shall not include expenses which are treated as not \n described in section 135(c)(2)(A) by reason of section \n 135(c)(2)(B).\n ``(3) Eligible educational institution.--The term `eligible \n educational institution' has the meaning given to such term by \n section 135(c)(3).\n ``(d) Coordination With Other Provisions.--\n ``(1) No double benefit.--\n ``(A) In general.--No deduction shall be allowed \n under subsection (a) for qualified postsecondary \n education expenses with respect to which a deduction is \n allowed under any other provision of this chapter.\n ``(B) Savings bond exclusion.--A deduction shall be \n allowed under subsection (a) for qualified \n postsecondary education expenses only to the extent the \n amount of such expenses exceeds the amount excludable \n under section 135 for the taxable year.\n ``(e) Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Adjustment for certain scholarships and veterans \n benefits.--The amounts otherwise taken into account under \n subsection (a) as qualified postsecondary education expenses of \n any individual during any period shall be reduced (before the \n application of subsection (b)) by any amounts received by such \n individual during such period as--\n ``(A) a qualified scholarship (within the meaning \n of section 117(b)) which under section 117 is not \n includible in gross income, or\n ``(B) an educational assistance allowance under \n chapters 30, 31, 32, 34, or 35 of title 38 of the \n United States Code.\n ``(2) Eligible courses.--Amounts paid for qualified \n postsecondary education expenses of any individual shall be \n taken into account under subsection (a) only to the extent such \n expenses are attributable to courses of instruction for which \n credit is allowed toward a degree by an institution of higher \n education or toward a certificate of required course work at a \n vocational school.\n ``(3) Individual must be at least a half-time student.--No \n deduction shall be allowed under subsection (a) for amounts \n paid during the taxable year for qualified postsecondary \n education expenses with respect to any individual unless that \n individual, during any 4 calendar months during the calendar \n year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins, is at \n least a half-time student at an eligible education institution.\n ``(4) Taxpayer who is dependent of another taxpayer.--No \n deduction shall be allowed to a taxpayer under subsection (a) \n for amount paid for the education of such taxpayer if such \n taxpayer is a dependent of another person for a taxable year \n beginning in the calendar year in which the taxable year of the \n taxpayer begins.\n ``(5) Spouse.--No deduction shall be allowed under \n subsection (a) for amounts paid during the taxable year for \n qualified postsecondary education expenses for the spouse of \n the taxpayer unless--\n ``(A) the taxpayer is entitled to an exemption for \n his spouse under section 151(b) for the taxable year, \n or\n ``(B) the taxpayer files a joint return with his \n spouse for the taxable year.''\n (b) Deduction Allowed in Computing Adjusted Gross Income.--Section \n62(a) of such Code is amended by inserting after paragraph (15) the \nfollowing new paragraph:\n ``(16) Postsecondary education expenses.--The deduction \n allowed by section 220.''\n (c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for part VII of \nsubchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the item \nrelating to section 220 and inserting:\n\n ``Sec. 220. Postsecondary education \n expenses.\n ``Sec. 221. Cross reference.''\n (d) Effective Dates.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1994.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for qualified postsecondary education expenses of the taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse or dependent.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for the payment of postsecondary education expenses."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3237, "text": "SECTION 1. REFUNDABLE CREDIT FOR CHILD DISABILITY EDUCATION AND \n TRAINING EXPENSES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable personal \ncredits) is amended by redesignating section 35 as section 36 and \ninserting after section 34 the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 35. CHILD DISABILITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING EXPENSES.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an individual, there \nshall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle \nfor the taxable year an amount equal to the amount paid or incurred by \nthe taxpayer during the taxable year for qualified child disability \nexpenses.\n ``(b) Limitations.--\n ``(1) Maximum dollar amount.--The amount allowed as a \n credit under subsection (a) to the taxpayer for the taxable \n year shall not exceed $3,000.\n ``(2) Limitation based on adjusted gross income.--\n ``(A) In general.--The amount of the credit \n allowable under subsection (a) (after application of \n paragraph (1)) shall be reduced (but not below zero) by \n $500 for each $1,000 (or fraction thereof) by which the \n taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income exceeds \n $150,000.\n ``(B) Modified adjusted gross income.--For purposes \n of subparagraph (A), the term `modified adjusted gross \n income' means adjusted gross income increased by any \n amount excluded from gross income under section 911, \n 931, or 933.\n ``(C) Cost-of-living adjustment.--\n ``(i) In general.--In the case of any \n taxable year beginning in a calendar year after \n 2002, the $150,000 amount under subparagraph \n (A) shall be increased by an amount equal to--\n ``(I) such dollar amount, \n multiplied by\n ``(II) the cost-of-living \n adjustment determined under section \n 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which \n the taxable year begins, determined by \n substituting `calendar year 2001' for \n `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph \n (B) thereof.\n ``(ii) Rounding rules.--If any amount after \n adjustment under clause (i) is not a multiple \n of $1,000, such amount shall be rounded to the \n next lower multiple of $1,000.\n ``(c) Qualified Child Disability Expenses.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) In general.--The term `qualified child disability \n expenses' means amounts paid for services and equipment related \n to education and training of a qualified child of the taxpayer \n in connection with a developmental disability of such child, \n including--\n ``(A) behavioral therapy,\n ``(B) speech therapy,\n ``(C) occupational therapy,\n ``(D) physical therapy,\n ``(E) auditory therapy,\n ``(F) assistive communication technology, and\n ``(G) such other services as the Secretary may, in \n consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human \n Services and the Secretary of Education, provide by \n regulation.\n ``(2) Developmental disability.--The term `developmental \n disability' has the same meaning given the term in section 102 \n of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights \n Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-402; 114 Stat. 1682).\n ``(3) Qualified child.--The term `qualified child' means \n any individual if--\n ``(A) the taxpayer is allowed a deduction under \n section 151 with respect to such individual for the \n taxable year,\n ``(B) such individual has not attained the age of \n 18 as of the close of the calendar year in which the \n taxable year of the taxpayer begins, and\n ``(C) such individual bears a relationship to the \n taxpayer described in section 32(c)(3)(B).\n ``(d) Verification Requirements.--\n ``(1) Expenses must be substantiated.--Qualified child \n disability expenses to which subsection (a) applies may be \n taken into account under this section only if the taxpayer \n substantiates such expense in such form as the Secretary may \n prescribe.\n ``(2) Identification requirement.--No credit shall be \n allowed under this section with respect to any qualified child \n unless the taxpayer includes the name and taxpayer \n identification number of such qualified child on the return of \n tax for the taxable year.\n ``(e) Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Denial of double benefit.--\n ``(A) In general.--No credit shall be allowed under \n subsection (a) for any expense for which a deduction or \n credit is allowed under any other provision of this \n chapter.\n ``(B) Grants.--No credit shall be allowed under \n subsection (a) for any expense to the extent that funds \n for such expense are received under any Federal, State, \n or local program.\n ``(2) Married couples must file joint returns.--Rules \n similar to the rules of paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of section \n 21(e) shall apply for purposes of this section.\n ``(3) Basis adjustment.--For purposes of this subtitle, if \n a credit is allowed under this section for any expenditure with \n respect to any property, the increase in the basis of such \n property which would (but for this subsection) result from such \n expenditure shall be reduced by the amount of the credit so \n allowed.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United \n States Code, is amended by inserting before the period ``, or \n from section 35 of such Code''.\n (2) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of \n subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n is amended by striking the last item and inserting the \n following new items:\n\n ``Sec. 35. Child disability expenses.\n ``Sec. 36. Overpayments of tax.''.\n (3) Section 1016(a) of such Code is amended by striking \n ``and'' at the end of paragraph (26), by striking the period at \n the end of paragraph (27) and inserting ``, and'', and by \n adding at the end the following:\n ``(28) in the case of property with respect to which a \n credit was allowed under section 35, to the extent provided in \n section 35(e)(3).''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2001.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for up to $3,000 of the amount paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year for qualified child disability expenses for services and equipment related to education and training of a child of the taxpayer with a developmental disability, including behavioral therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, auditory therapy, assistive communication technology, and other related services. Phases out the credit by $500 increments per $1,000 of modified adjusted gross income over $150,000.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a refundable credit against tax with respect to education and training of developmentally disabled children."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 194, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Connect with Veterans Act of 2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. VOLUNTARY NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF VETERANS.\n\n (a) Program Required.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in \n coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a \n program to facilitate outreach to veterans by covered entities.\n (2) Covered entities.--For purposes of this section, a \n covered entity is any of the following:\n (A) The Department of Veterans Affairs.\n (B) The agency or department of a State that is the \n primary agency or department of the State for the \n administration of benefits and services for veterans in \n the State.\n (C) A political subdivision of a State.\n (D) An Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the \n Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act \n (25 U.S.C. 450b)).\n (3) National directory.--To carry out the program required \n by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--\n (A) establish a national directory of veterans as \n described in subsection (b); and\n (B) share information in the directory in \n accordance with subsection (c).\n (b) National Directory.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall \n establish the national directory required by subsection (a)(3) \n using information received from the Secretary of Defense under \n subsection (d)(4).\n (2) Updates.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall \n ensure that the national directory includes a mechanism by \n which a participating individual can update the information in \n the national directory that pertains to the participating \n individual.\n (3) Disenrollment.--The Secretary shall establish a \n mechanism by which a participating individual can indicate to \n the Secretary that the individual would no longer like to \n receive information from participating entities under the \n program.\n (4) Reenrollment.--The Secretary shall establish a \n mechanism for the inclusion of information in the national \n directory of individuals who were previously participating \n individuals but who had made an indication under paragraph (3) \n and subsequently indicate that they would like to receive \n information from participating entities under the program.\n (5) Privacy and security.--The Secretary shall take such \n actions as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect--\n (A) the privacy of individuals participating in the \n program; and\n (B) the security of the information stored in the \n national directory.\n (6) Ebenefits.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use \n the system and architecture of the eBenefits Internet website \n of the Department of Veterans Affairs to support and operate \n the national directory as the Secretary considers appropriate.\n (c) Outreach.--\n (1) Sharing of directory information.--\n (A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph \n (2), in order to connect participating individuals with \n information about the programs they could be eligible \n for or services, support, and information they may be \n interested in receiving, the Secretary of Veterans \n Affairs may share, under the program established under \n subsection (a)(1), information in the national \n directory concerning such individuals with entities \n applicable to participating individuals.\n (B) Entities applicable to participating \n individuals.--For purposes of this subsection, an \n entity that is applicable to a participating individual \n is a covered entity from whom a participating \n individual has expressed interest in receiving \n information under the program.\n (C) Updated information.--In a case in which a \n participating individual updates the information \n pertaining to the participating individual under \n subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall transmit such \n information to each entity applicable to the \n participating individual.\n (D) Notification of disenrollment.--In a case in \n which a participating individual indicates to the \n Secretary under subsection (b)(3) that the individual \n would no longer like to receive information from \n participating entities under the program, the Secretary \n shall inform each entity applicable to the \n participating individual that the individual would no \n longer like to receive information from the entity \n under the program.\n (2) Limitations.--\n (A) Limitations on the secretary.--\n (i) Information shared.--Under the program, \n the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may only \n share from the national directory the \n following:\n (I) The name of a participating \n individual.\n (II) The e-mail address of a \n participating individual.\n (III) The postal address of a \n participating individual.\n (IV) The phone number of a \n participating individual.\n (ii) Prohibition on sale of information.--\n The Secretary may not sell any information \n collected under this section.\n (iii) Entities.--The Secretary may not \n share any information collected under the \n program with any entity that is not a \n participating entity.\n (B) Limitations on participating entities.--\n (i) Sharing with third-party and for-profit \n entities.--As a condition of participation in \n the program, a participating entity shall agree \n not to share any information the participating \n entity receives under the program with any \n third-party or for-profit entities.\n (ii) Purchases of products or services.--As \n a condition of participation in the program, a \n participating entity shall agree not to include \n in any information sent by the participating \n entity to a participating individual a \n requirement that the participating individual \n or the family of the participating individual \n purchase a product or service.\n (iii) Political communication.--As a \n condition of participation in the program, a \n participating entity shall agree not to use any \n information received under the program for any \n political communication.\n (3) Disenrollment by participating entities.--The Secretary \n shall establish a mechanism by which a participating entity may \n indicate to the Secretary that the participating entity would \n no longer like to receive information about participating \n individuals from the national directory.\n (4) Sense of congress.--\n (A) Consolidation of requests.--It is the sense of \n Congress that covered entities described in subsection \n (a)(2)(C) who are located in the same region should \n work together in a manner such that only one of them \n requests receipt of information under the program.\n (B) Collaboration.--It is the sense of Congress \n that covered entities described in subsection (a)(2)(C) \n should work with third parties, such as veterans \n service organizations, military community groups, and \n other entities with an interest in assisting veterans, \n to develop the information the covered entities send to \n participating individuals under the program.\n (5) Publicity.--The Secretary shall develop a plan to \n publicize the program and inform covered entities of the \n benefits of participating in the program.\n (d) Collection of Contact Information.--\n (1) In general.--To each member of the Armed Forces \n separating from service in the Armed Forces, the Secretary of \n Defense shall provide a form for the collection of information \n to be included in the national directory established under \n subsection (a).\n (2) Form.--\n (A) Development.--The Secretary of Defense shall, \n in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, \n develop the form provided under paragraph (1).\n (B) Elements.--The form developed under \n subparagraph (A) shall allow a member of the Armed \n Forces who is in the process of separating from service \n in the Armed Forces to indicate the following:\n (i) Where the member intends to reside \n after separation.\n (ii) How the individual can best be \n contacted, such as a telephone number, an e-\n mail address, or a postal address.\n (iii) For which types of benefits and \n services the member would like to receive \n communication and outreach, such as health \n care, education, employment, and housing.\n (iv) From which of the following the member \n would like to receive the communication and \n outreach specified under clause (iii):\n (I) The Department of Veterans \n Affairs.\n (II) The agency or department of \n the State in which the member intends \n to reside after separation that is the \n primary agency or department of the \n State for the administration of \n benefits and services for veterans in \n the State.\n (III) A political subdivision of a \n State.\n (C) Notice.--The form developed under subparagraph \n (A) shall include notice of the following:\n (i) Information provided to agencies and \n departments described in subparagraph \n (B)(iv)(III) will only be provided as \n authorized and upon request by such agencies \n and departments.\n (ii) Political subdivisions of States that \n receive information under the program \n established under subsection (a) may--\n (I) share such information with \n such nonprofit organizations as the \n political subdivisions consider \n appropriate; and\n (II) work with such organizations \n to provide the veterans with relevant \n information about benefits and services \n offered by such organizations.\n (iii) Information provided on the form \n developed under subparagraph (A) will never be \n sold, provided to a for-profit entity, or used \n to send any sort of political communication.\n (D) Manner.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure \n that the form provided under paragraph (1) is not \n primarily electronic in nature.\n (3) Voluntary participation.--The Secretary of Defense \n shall ensure that completion of the form provided under \n paragraph (1) is voluntary and submittal of such form to the \n Secretary by a member of the Armed Forces shall be considered \n an indication to the Secretary that the member would like to \n receive information from participating entities under the \n program.\n (4) Transmittal of information to secretary of veterans \n affairs.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which a \n member of the Armed Forces who submitted information to the \n Secretary of Defense under this subsection separates from \n service in the Armed Forces, the Secretary of Defense shall \n transmit such information to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.\n (5) Privacy and security.--The Secretary of Defense shall \n take such actions as the Secretary considers appropriate to \n protect--\n (A) the privacy of individuals who submit \n information under this subsection; and\n (B) the security of such information--\n (i) while it is in the possession of the \n Secretary; and\n (ii) while it is in transit to the \n Secretary of Veterans Affairs.\n (6) Integration with transition assistance program.--The \n Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly \n take such actions as the secretaries consider appropriate to \n integrate the collection of information under this subsection \n into the Transition Assistance Program.\n (e) Report.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of \n the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs \n and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit to the \n appropriate committees of Congress a report on the program \n established under subsection (a)(1).\n (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) \n shall include an examination and assessment of the following:\n (A) The signup process and the effectiveness of the \n forms developed and provided under subsection (d).\n (B) The ways in which contact information is \n transferred from the Secretary of Defense to the \n Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the program and the \n plans of the secretaries to overcome challenges \n encountered by the secretaries in transferring such \n information.\n (C) The number of covered entities described in \n subsection (a)(2)(C) participating in the program and \n any challenges they report in receiving the contact \n information from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs \n under the program.\n (D) The effectiveness of efforts of the Secretary \n of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to \n protect the personal information of participating \n individuals.\n (E) The effectiveness of efforts of covered \n entities described in subsection (a)(2)(C) to protect \n the personal information of participating individuals.\n (F) Whether additional limitations on the use of \n information collected under the program are necessary \n to protect participating individuals from unwanted \n contact, or contact that is inconsistent with the \n program.\n (G) Whether participating individuals are \n benefitting by participating in the program and whether \n changing the program would improve such benefits.\n (H) The overall participation in the program, \n utilization of the program, and how such participation \n and utilization could be improved.\n (I) Such other matters as the secretaries consider \n appropriate.\n (3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this \n subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' \n means the following:\n (A) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the \n Committee on Armed Services, and the Subcommittee on \n Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related \n Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the \n Senate.\n (B) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the \n Committee on Armed Services, and the Subcommittee on \n Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related \n Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the \n House of Representatives.\n (f) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Participating entity.--The term ``participating \n entity'' means a covered entity that has indicated to the \n Secretary of Veterans Affairs that the covered entity would \n like to receive information about participating individuals \n from the national directory and has made no subsequent \n indication that the covered entity would like to stop receiving \n such information.\n (2) Participating individual.--The term ``participating \n individual'' means an individual with respect to whom \n information is stored in the national directory and who has \n indicated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Secretary \n of Defense that the individual would like to receive \n information from participating entities under the program and \n has made no subsequent indication that the individual would \n like to stop receiving such information.", "summary": "Connect with Veterans Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) establish a program to facilitate outreach to veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the primary agencies of states for the administration of veterans' benefits and services, political subdivisions of states, and Indian tribes; and (2) publicize such program and the benefits to such entities of participating. Requires the Secretary, to carry out such program, to: (1) establish a national directory of veterans, and (2) share information in the directory with any such entities from whom a participating individual has expressed interest in receiving information. Prohibits: (1) the Secretary from selling information collected under this Act, (2) the Secretary or any participating entity from sharing such information with a non-participating entity, or (3) any participating entity from using any such information for any political communication or from requiring any participating individual to purchase any product or service. Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to: (1) provide to each member of the Armed Forces separating from service a form for the collection of information to be included in the directory, (2) ensure that completion of the form is voluntary, and (3) protect the privacy of individuals who submit information and the security of information. Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Labor to jointly take appropriate steps to integrate the collection of information under this Act into the Transition Assistance Program.", "title": "Connect with Veterans Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 583, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Spaceport Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds that--\n (1) spaceport development is a national economic interest \n that should be pursued as part of a national transportation \n policy;\n (2) many nations around the world, including France, China, \n Russia, Japan, Canada, and Australia, have embarked on \n aggressive commercial space development programs;\n (3) the United States, once the leader in the commercial \n space market, is in danger of falling behind in the \n international commercial space market;\n (4) the Government must clearly demonstrate its commitment \n to support commercial space activity in America, thereby \n encouraging greater financial support from private industry;\n (5) the United States must develop a long-term, \n comprehensive, and aggressive policy to successfully compete in \n the international commercial space market, to return the United \n States to its position of primary world supplier of launch \n services; and\n (6) spaceport development is the key component in this \n endeavor because it provides the final piece--launch \n facilities--to the existing parts of the United States \n commercial space market.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITION.\n\n For purposes of this Act, the term ``spaceport'' means a space \nlaunch or recovery facility, or a supporting educational or research \nfacility providing space industry worker training or commercial \napplication research, designated by a State in an application approved \nunder section 5.\n\nSEC. 4. NATIONAL SPACEPORT OFFICE.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department of \nTransportation a National Spaceport Office.\n (b) Staff.--The National Spaceport Office shall have a staff \nconsisting of a director, 4 regional supervisors, and not more than 5 \nadditional support staff.\n (c) Duties.--The National Spaceport Office shall--\n (1) administer the application and assistance program under \n section 5; and\n (2) establish appropriate procedures for--\n (A) the competitive awarding of grants under \n section 5(b)(1); and\n (B) the transfer of excess Federal property to \n spaceports under section 5(b)(3), while ensuring that \n the spaceport compensates the Federal Government for \n the Federal expenses of operating facilities in \n connection with property so transferred.\nSEC. 5. SPACEPORT ASSISTANCE.\n\n (a) Application.--A State or State-designated entity, including a \nnonprofit organization, desiring assistance under this section shall \nsubmit an application to the National Spaceport Office requesting \nspecifically the Federal assistance sought and setting forth a \ncomprehensive plan for spaceport development, including the educational \ncomponents of such development.\n (b) Assistance.--The National Spaceport Office shall approve \nmeritorious applications submitted under subsection (a) and provide to \nthe successful applicants assistance, including--\n (1) grants, to the extent of available funding under \n section 9;\n (2) the use of excess Federal launch, recovery, launch \n vehicle, and support assets, consistent with applicable \n international agreements, for educational launches; and\n (3) excess Federal property, including research facilities, \n by transfer.\n\nSEC. 6. TAX-EXEMPT BOND FINANCING FOR SPACEPORTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 142 of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to exempt facility bonds) is amended by \nstriking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (11), by striking the period at \nthe end of paragraph (12) and inserting ``, or'', and by adding at the \nend the following:\n ``(13) spaceports (as defined in section 3 of the National \n Spaceport Act).''\n (b) Treatment Comparable To Airports.--\n (1) Subparagraph (A) of section 142(b)(1) of such Code is \n amended by striking ``or (12)'' and inserting ``(12), or \n (13)''.\n (2) Subsection (c) of section 142 of such Code is amended \n by striking ``or (11)'' each place it appears and inserting \n ``(11), or (13)''.\n (3) Paragraph (3) of section 146(g) of such Code is amended \n by striking ``or (12)'' and all that follows and inserting \n ``(12), or (13) of section 142(a), and''.\n (c) Treatment of Property Owned By Designated Tax-Exempt \nEntities.--Paragraph (1) of section 142(b) of such Code is amended by \nadding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(C) Spaceport facilities owned by designated tax-\n exempt entities.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), a \n spaceport shall be treated as owned by a governmental \n unit if it is owned by an entity which is exempt from \n tax under section 501(a) and which is designated by the \n State in which the spaceport is located to develop and \n operate the spaceport.''\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to obligations issued after the date of the enactment of this \nAct.\n\nSEC. 7. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW.\n\n Except as otherwise provided in this Act, activities of spaceports \nshall be subject to applicable provisions of chapter 701 of title 49, \nUnited States Code, relating to commercial space transportation.\n\nSEC. 8. REGULATORY EXEMPTION.\n\n The activities of the National Spaceport Office and of spaceports \nshall not be subject to regulation by the Federal Government except as \nprovided in--\n (1) this Act;\n (2) chapter 701 of title 49, United States Code; and\n (3) applicable laws relating to worker and workplace \n safety.\n\nSEC. 9. ANNUAL REPORT.\n\n The director of the National Spaceport Office shall annually \ntransmit to the Congress a report on its activities under this Act.\n\nSEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of \nTransportation, out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund established \nunder section 9502 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. \n9502), for carrying out this Act $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal \nyears 1996 through 2000.\n\nSEC. 11. TERMINATION OF NATIONAL SPACEPORT OFFICE.\n\n The National Spaceport Office shall terminate on October 1, 2000.", "summary": "National Spaceport Act - Establishes in the Department of Transportation a National Spaceport Office to administer a grant program of State-run spaceports. \nAmends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax-exempt bond financing for spaceports. \nAuthorizes appropriations. \nTerminates the Office on October 1, 2000.", "title": "National Spaceport Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 456, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``NATO Expansion Act of 1994''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) On January 10, 1994, the leaders of the NATO member \n nations meeting in Brussels, Belgium, issued an invitation to \n European countries that do not belong to NATO to participate in \n a program of expanded cooperation with NATO called the \n Partnership for Peace.\n (2) In that invitation, the leaders of the NATO member \n nations stated: ``We reaffirm that the Alliance, as provided in \n Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, remains open to the \n membership of other European states in a position to further \n the principles of the Treaty and to contribute to the security \n of the North Atlantic area. We expect and would welcome NATO \n expansion that would reach to democratic states to our East, as \n part of an evolutionary process, taking into account political \n and security developments in the whole of Europe.''.\n (3) The political and economic transformation of the \n formerly communist-ruled countries of Europe has been under way \n since 1989. In establishing a new Strategic Concept for NATO in \n November 1991, the leaders of the NATO member nations observed: \n ``All the countries that were formerly adversaries of NATO have \n dismantled the Warsaw Pact and rejected ideological hostility \n to the West. They have in varying degrees, embraced and begun \n to implement policies aimed at achieving pluralistic democracy, \n the rule of law, respect for human rights and a market \n economy.''.\n (4) In particular, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and \n Slovakia have made significant progress toward establishing \n democratic institutions, free market economies, civilian \n control of their armed forces, and the rule of law since the \n fall of their previous communist governments.\n\nSEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.\n\n It is the sense of the Congress that--\n (1) the leaders of the NATO member nations are to be \n commended for reaffirming that NATO membership remains open to \n European countries emerging from communist domination and for \n welcoming eventual expansion of NATO to include such countries;\n (2) Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia \n should be in a position to further the principles of the North \n Atlantic Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North \n Atlantic area not later than January 10, 1999, 5 years from the \n date of the establishment of the Partnership for Peace, and, in \n accordance with Article 10 of such Treaty, should be invited to \n become full NATO members not later than that date, provided \n these countries--\n (A) maintain their progress toward establishing \n democratic institutions, free market economies, \n civilian control of their armed forces, and the rule of \n law; and\n (B) remain committed to protecting the rights of \n all their citizens and respecting the territorial \n integrity of their neighbors;\n (3) the United States, other NATO member nations, and NATO \n itself should furnish appropriate assistance to facilitate the \n transition of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia \n to full NATO membership not later than January 10, 1999; and\n (4) other European countries emerging from communist \n domination may be in a position at a future date to further the \n principles of the North Atlantic Treaty and to contribute to \n the security of the North Atlantic area, and at the appropriate \n time they should receive assistance to facilitate their \n transition to full NATO membership and should be invited to \n become full NATO members.\n\nSEC. 4. AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM TO FACILITATE TRANSITION TO NATO \n MEMBERSHIP.\n\n (a) In General.--The President may establish a program to assist \nthe transition to full NATO membership of Poland, Hungary, the Czech \nRepublic, Slovakia, and other European countries emerging from \ncommunist domination designated by the President pursuant to subsection \n(e).\n (b) Conduct of Program.--The program established under subsection \n(a) shall facilitate the transition to full NATO membership of the \ncountries described in such subsection by supporting and encouraging, \ninter alia--\n (1) joint planning, training, and military exercises with \n NATO forces;\n (2) greater interoperability of military equipment, air \n defense systems, and command, control, and communications \n systems; and\n (3) conformity of military doctrine.\n (c) Type of Assistance.--In carrying out the program established \nunder subsection (a), the President may provide to the countries \ndescribed in such subsection the following types of security \nassistance:\n (1) The transfer of excess defense articles under section \n 516 of Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, without regard to the \n restrictions in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of \n such section (relating to the eligibility of countries for such \n articles under such section).\n (2) The transfer of nonlethal excess defense articles under \n section 519 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, without \n regard to the restriction in subsection (a) of such section \n (relating to the justification of the foreign military \n financing program for the fiscal year in which a transfer is \n authorized).\n (3) Assistance under chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign \n Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to the Economic Support Fund).\n (4) Assistance under chapter 5 of part II of that Act \n (relating to international military education and training).\n (5) Assistance under section 23 of the Arms Export Control \n Act (relating to the ``Foreign Military Financing Program'').\n (d) Additional assistance.--In addition to the security assistance \nprovided under subsection (c), the President may, in carrying out the \nprogram established under subsection (a), provide assistance from funds \nappropriated after the date of the enactment of this Act under the \nfollowing accounts:\n (1) The ``Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund'' account.\n (2) The ``Countries in Transition'' account.\n (e) Designation of Other European Countries Emerging From Communist \nDomination.--The President may designate other European countries \nemerging from communist domination to receive assistance under the \nprogram established under subsection (a) if the President determines \nand reports to the appropriate congressional committees that such \ncountries--\n (1) have made significant progress toward establishing \n democratic institutions, a free market economy, civilian \n control of their armed forces, and the rule of law; and\n (2) are likely, within 5 years of such determination, to be \n in a position to further the principles of the North Atlantic \n Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic \n area.\n\nSEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENTS.\n\n The President is authorized to confer, pursuant to agreement with \nany country eligible to participate in the Partnership for Peace, \nrights in respect of the military and related civilian personnel \n(including dependents of any such personnel) and activities of that \ncountry in the United States comparable to the rights conferred by that \ncountry in respect of the military and related civilian personnel \n(including dependents of any such personnel) and activities of the \nUnited States in that country.\n\nSEC. 6. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment \nof this Act, and at least once every year thereafter, the President \nshall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on \nthe implementation of this Act.\n (b) Contents.--Each such report shall include--\n (1) an assessment of the progress made by Poland, Hungary, \n the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other European countries \n emerging from communist domination designated by the President \n pursuant to section 4(e) toward meeting the standards for NATO \n membership set forth in Article 10 of the North Atlantic \n Treaty, including--\n (A) an assessment of the progress of such countries \n toward establishing democratic institutions, free \n market economies, civilian control of their armed \n forces, and the rule of law; and\n (B) the commitment of such countries in protecting \n the rights of all their citizens and respecting the \n territorial integrity of their neighbors;\n (2) a description of all assistance provided under the \n program established under section 4, or otherwise provided by \n the United States Government to facilitate the transition to \n full NATO membership of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, \n Slovakia, and other European countries emerging from communist \n domination designated by the President pursuant to section \n 4(e);\n (3) a description of all assistance provided by other NATO \n member nations or NATO itself to facilitate the transition to \n full NATO membership of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, \n Slovakia, and other European countries emerging from communist \n domination designated by the President pursuant to section \n 4(e); and\n (4) a description of any agreement entered into pursuant to \n section 5.\n\nSEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply:\n (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term \n ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on \n Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the \n Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and \n the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed \n Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.\n (2) NATO.--The term ``NATO'' means the North Atlantic \n Treaty Organization.\n (3) Other european countries emerging from communist \n domination.--The term ``other European countries emerging from \n communist domination'' means--\n (A) any member of the Conference on Security and \n Cooperation in Europe located--\n (i) in the territory of the former Union of \n Soviet Socialist Republics; or\n (ii) in the territory of the former \n Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; or\n (B) Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, \n or Albania.", "summary": "NATO Expansion Act of 1994 - Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to NATO membership of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. \nAuthorizes the President to establish a program to assist the transition to full NATO membership for Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other European countries emerging from communist domination designated pursuant to this Act. \nPermits the President to provide specified security assistance to such countries, including excess defense articles, economic support fund assistance, international military education and training, and foreign military financing. Authorizes the President to provide additional assistance from the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund and Countries in Transition accounts. Permits the President to designate other European countries emerging from communist domination to receive assistance under this Act if he reports to the appropriate congressional committees that such countries: (1) have made significant progress toward establishing democratic institutions, free market economies, civilian control of their armed forces, and the rule of law; and (2) are likely to be in a position to further the principles of the North Atlantic Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. \nAuthorizes the President to confer, pursuant to agreement with any country eligible to participate in the Partnership for Peace, rights with respect to the military and related civilian personnel and activities of that country in the United States comparable to those conferred by that country with respect to the United States.", "title": "NATO Expansion Act of 1994"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2472, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Grand Jury Reform Act of 2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Grand juries are typically used as the process by which \n allegations of police misconduct are prosecuted.\n (2) There exists a symbiotic relationship between local \n prosecutors and the law enforcement officers who regularly \n testify in routine grand jury investigations.\n (3) The closeness of this relationship creates public \n suspicion that accused police officers receive preferential \n consideration from grand juries when they are subject to grand \n jury investigations.\n (4) Police officers have the right to appear before the \n grand jury investigating allegations of wrongdoing by said \n officer, and give testimony not subject to a thorough cross \n examination.\n (5) Grand jury proceedings are by law secret proceedings.\n (6) The secret grand jury process has historically resulted \n in a refusal to indict when the subject of their investigation \n is a local law enforcement officer.\n (7) The recent grand jury proceedings following the deaths \n of Michael Brown and Eric Garner have followed historical \n tradition, ending with a refusal to indict the law enforcement \n officers involved in their deaths.\n (8) The American people have lost confidence in the \n secretive grand jury process when it is used to evaluate \n allegations of police misconduct.\n (9) The loss of confidence in our system of justice leads \n to the undermining of the principles of equality and justice \n upon which this country was founded.\n (10) Preliminary hearings are often replaced with direct \n presentments, whereby the prosecutor may send a case directly \n to the grand jury without a public preliminary hearing.\n\nSEC. 3. HEARING BEFORE A JUDGE REQUIRED.\n\n (a) Receipt of Grant Funds.--In order for a State or unit of local \ngovernment in a State to be eligible to receive Federal funding under \nsubpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe \nStreets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10151 et seq.), the State shall comply \nwith the requirements of this section.\n (b) Notification Requirements.--\n (1) Notification to prosecutor.--In the case of a law \n enforcement officer of a local law enforcement agency who uses \n deadly force against a person in the course of the officer's \n employment, and thereby causes the death of that person, not \n later than 24 hours after the death occurs, the chief officer \n of the law enforcement agency of the locality in which the \n death occurred shall report the death to the elected prosecutor \n of that locality.\n (2) Notification to governor.--Not later than 24 hours \n after receiving notice under paragraph (1), the elected \n prosecutor of the locality in which the death occurred shall \n report the death to the Governor of that State.\n (c) Hearing Requirement; Appointment of Special Prosecutor.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 3 days after receiving \n notice under subsection (b)(2), the Governor of the State in \n which the death occurred shall appoint a special prosecutor to \n present evidence on behalf of the State at a hearing before a \n judge in the appropriate court, in order to determine whether \n probable cause exists for the State to bring criminal charges \n against the law enforcement officer relating to the death of \n the person, which determination shall be made by the judge. The \n Governor shall use a random process to select the special \n prosecutor from among all of the elected prosecutors in the \n State, excluding the elected prosecutor of the locality in \n which the death occurred.\n (2) Timing.--The hearing described in paragraph (1) shall \n be held not later than 90 days after the appointment of the \n special prosecutor, unless the judge determines that good cause \n exists to delay the hearing.\n (3) Court to remain open to the public.--Except as \n determined appropriate by the presiding judge, in a hearing \n described in paragraph (1), the court shall remain open to the \n public, and upon scheduling the hearing the judge shall provide \n notice to the public of the date, time, and location of the \n hearing.\n (d) State Law Enforcement Agency To Have Exclusive Authority Over \nInvestigation.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 24 hours after receiving \n notice under subsection (b)(2), the Governor shall report the \n death to the chief officer of the State law enforcement agency \n of the State in which the death occurred, and the State law \n enforcement agency shall assume exclusive control of the \n investigation of the death during the pendency of the probable \n cause hearing.\n (2) Cooperation of local law enforcement agency.--The chief \n officer of the law enforcement agency of the locality in which \n the death occurred shall cooperate with the special prosecutor \n and the chief officer of the State law enforcement agency by \n responding promptly to requests for information related to the \n death.\n (e) Written Determination of Probable Cause.--Not later than 5 days \nafter the conclusion of a hearing described in subsection (c), the \njudge presiding over the hearing shall issue the determination \ndescribed in subsection (c) in writing, and shall submit such \ndetermination to the elected prosecutor of the locality in which the \ndeath occurred. Such determination shall be made available to the \npublic.\n (f) Recommendations of the Special Prosecutor.--Upon the conclusion \nof a hearing described in subsection (c), the special prosecutor shall \nsubmit written recommendations to the elected prosecutor of the \nlocality in which the death occurred, including a recommendation \nregarding whether criminal charges should be brought against the law \nenforcement officer relating to the death of the person.\n (g) Tolling of Procedural Deadlines.--Any applicable filing or \nother procedural deadlines are tolled during the pendency of the \nhearing described in subsection (c).\n (h) Preservation of Prosecutorial Discretion.--The hearing \ndescribed in subsection (c) shall be purely advisory, and shall have no \nbinding effect on the elected prosecutor of the locality in which the \ndeath occurred. After the conclusion of the hearing described in \nsubsection (c), the elected prosecutor of the locality in which the \ndeath occurred shall retain prosecutorial discretion as to whether to \nbring charges against the law enforcement officer, including whether to \nhold a grand jury proceeding in the appropriate court.", "summary": "Grand Jury Reform Act of 2017 This bill conditions a state or local government's receipt of funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program on the state's compliance with certain requirements following an incident involving the use of deadly force by a local law enforcement officer that results in a person's death. Specifically, the governor must appoint a special prosecutor to present evidence before a judge to determine whether probable cause exists to criminally charge the law enforcement officer. The hearing must be open to the public. ", "title": "Grand Jury Reform Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1444, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Manufacturing Advisory Council \nEstablishment Act of 2004''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Manufacturing is a critical component of the economy of \n the United States.\n (2) A strong manufacturing sector is important to \n maintaining a desirable standard of living for all United \n States citizens.\n (3) United States manufacturers can compete globally as \n long as they are not subjected to anti-competitive trade \n practices.\n (4) The United States manufacturing industry is presently \n facing many challenges, both domestic and international.\n (5) The President would benefit from regular, informed \n advice from a variety of sources within the Unites States \n manufacturing sector, including representatives of small and \n mid-sized businesses, on policies that affect manufacturing.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.\n\n There is established a council to be known as the ``President's \nCouncil of Advisors on Manufacturing''.\n\nSEC. 4. DUTIES.\n\n The duties of the Council shall be--\n (1) to advise the President on policy matters affecting the \n domestic manufacturing sector;\n (2) to assist in the development of policies that will--\n (A) reduce production costs within the \n manufacturing sector,\n (B) promote the competitiveness of products \n manufactured in the United States in international \n markets,\n (C) encourage innovation, investment, and \n productivity in the manufacturing sector, and\n (D) ensure an adequate supply of skilled workers in \n the manufacturing sector; and\n (3) to assist the Secretary of Commerce in securing private \n sector involvement for Department of Commerce activities.\n\nSEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.\n\n (a) Number and Appointment.--The Council shall be composed of 25 \nmembers appointed by the President as follows:\n (1) 1 member shall be an officer or employee of the Federal \n Government.\n (2) 24 members shall be individuals who--\n (A) are not officers or employees of the Federal \n Government;\n (B) have expertise in manufacturing; and\n (C) represent businesses of various sizes and \n industries within the manufacturing sector.\n (b) Continuation of Membership.--If a member was appointed to the \nCouncil as an officer or employee of the Federal Government and the \nmember ceases to be an officer or employee of the Federal Government, \nor was appointed to the Council because the member was not an officer \nor employee of the Federal Government and later becomes an officer or \nemployee of the Federal Government, that member may continue as a \nmember for not longer than the 90-day period beginning on the date that \nthe member ceases to be an officer or employee of the Federal \nGovernment, or becomes such an officer or employee, as the case may be.\n (c) Terms.--\n (1) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for a term \n of 2 years, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).\n (2) Terms of initial appointees.--As designated by the \n President at the time of appointment, of the members first \n appointed--\n (A) 8 shall be appointed for terms of 4 years;\n (B) 8 shall be appointed for terms of 3 years;\n (C) 8 shall be appointed for terms of 2 years; and\n (D) the member appointed under subsection (a)(1) \n shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.\n (3) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy \n occurring before the expiration of the term for which the \n member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for \n the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the \n expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken \n office.\n (d) Deadline for Appointment.--The appointments of the members of \nthe Council shall be made no later than 90 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.\n (e) Co-chairs.--The co-chairs of the Council shall be the member \nappointed under subsection (a)(1) and one member appointed under \nsubsection (a)(2) who is designated by the President at the time of \nappointment.\n (f) Meetings.--\n (1) First meeting.--The Council shall hold its first \n meeting on a date designated by the co-chairs which is not \n later than 30 days after the date on which all members have \n been appointed.\n (2) Subsequent meetings.--After the first meeting, the \n Council shall meet at least semi-annually upon the call of the \n co-chairs.\n (g) No Compensation for Service.--The members shall serve on the \nCouncil without compensation.\n (h) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses, \nincluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with \napplicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, \nUnited States Code.\n\nSEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COUNCIL.\n\n (a) Information and Advice.--As the Council finds appropriate, the \nCouncil may seek information and advice from persons who are not \nmembers of the Council.\n (b) Obtaining Official Data.--The Council may secure directly from \nany agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to \ncarry out this Act. Upon the request of either co-chair, the head of \nthat department or agency shall furnish that information to the \nCouncil.\n (c) Mails.--The Council may use the United States mails in the same \nmanner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies \nof the United States.\n\nSEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION.\n\n (a) Expenses.--Any expenses incurred by the Council shall be paid \nfrom the funds available to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce \nresponsible for manufacturing and services, as determined by the \nSecretary of Commerce.\n (b) Administrative Services.--The Assistant Secretary of Commerce \nresponsible for manufacturing and services, as determined by the \nSecretary of Commerce, shall provide any administrative support \nservices required by the Council.\n\nSEC. 8. NO TERMINATION.\n\n Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. \nApp.; relating to the termination of advisory committees) shall not \napply to the Council.", "summary": "Manufacturing Advisory Council Establishment Act of 2004 - Establishes the President's Council of Advisors on Manufacturing to: (1) advise the President on policy matters affecting the domestic manufacturing sector; (2) develop policies that will reduce manufacturing production costs, promote the international competitiveness of U.S.-manufactured products, encourage innovation, investment and productivity in the manufacturing sector, and ensure an adequate supply of skilled manufacturing workers; and (3) assist the Secretary of Commerce in securing private sector involvement for Department of Commerce activities.\n\nStates that provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act relating to the termination of advisory committees shall not apply to the Council.", "title": "To establish the President's Council of Advisors on Manufacturing."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3072, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Community Coordination And Resource \nEmpowerment Act'' or the ``Community CARE Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. EXTENSION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.\n\n (a) Community Health Centers Funding.--Section 10503(b)(1)(E) of \nthe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-\n2(b)(1)(E)) is amended by striking ``2017'' and inserting ``2019''.\n (b) Other Community Health Centers Provisions.--Section 330 of the \nPublic Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii), by striking ``abuse'' and \n inserting ``use disorder'';\n (2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by striking ``abuse'' and \n inserting ``use disorder'';\n (3) in subsection (c)--\n (A) by striking subparagraphs (B) through (D);\n (B) by striking ``(1) In general'' and all that \n follows through ``The Secretary'' and inserting the \n following:\n ``(1) Centers.--The Secretary''; and\n (C) in such paragraph (1), as amended, by \n redesignating clauses (i) through (v) as subparagraphs \n (A) through (E) and moving the margin of each of such \n redesignated subparagraph 2 ems to the left;\n (4) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:\n ``(d) Improving Quality of Care.--\n ``(1) Supplemental awards.--The Secretary may award \n supplemental grant funds to health centers funded under this \n section to implement evidence-based models for increasing \n access to high-quality primary care services, which may include \n models related to--\n ``(A) improving the delivery of care for \n individuals with multiple chronic conditions;\n ``(B) workforce configuration;\n ``(C) reducing the cost of care;\n ``(D) enhancing care coordination;\n ``(E) expanding the use of telehealth and \n technology enabled collaborative learning and capacity \n building models;\n ``(F) care integration, including integration of \n behavioral health, mental health, or substance use \n disorder services; and\n ``(G) addressing emerging public health or \n substance use disorder issues to meet the health needs \n of the population served by the health center.\n ``(2) Sustainability.--In making supplemental awards under \n this subsection, the Secretary may consider whether the health \n center involved has submitted a plan for continuing the \n activities funded under this subsection after supplemental \n funding is expended.\n ``(3) Special consideration.--The Secretary may give \n special consideration to applications for supplemental funding \n under this subsection that seek to address significant barriers \n to access to care in areas with a greater shortage of health \n care providers and health services relative to the national \n average.'';\n (5) in subsection (e)(1)--\n (A) in subparagraph (B)--\n (i) by striking ``2 years'' and inserting \n ``1 year''; and\n (ii) by adding at the end the following: \n ``The Secretary shall not make a grant under \n this paragraph unless the applicant provides \n assurances to the Secretary that within 120 \n days of receiving grant funding for the \n operation of the health center, the applicant \n will submit, for approval by the Secretary, an \n implementation plan to meet the requirements of \n subsection (l)(3). The Secretary may extend \n such 120-day period for achieving compliance \n upon a demonstration of good cause by the \n health center.''; and\n (B) in subparagraph (C)--\n (i) in the subparagraph heading, by \n striking ``and plans'';\n (ii) by striking ``or plan (as described in \n subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection \n (c)(1))'';\n (iii) by striking ``or plan, including the \n purchase'' and inserting the following: \n ``including--\n ``(i) the purchase'';\n (iv) by inserting ``, which may include \n data and information systems'' after ``of \n equipment'';\n (v) by striking the period at the end and \n inserting a semicolon; and\n (vi) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(ii) the provision of training and \n technical assistance; and\n ``(iii) other activities that--\n ``(I) reduce costs associated with \n the provision of health services;\n ``(II) improve access to, and \n availability of, health services \n provided to individuals served by the \n centers;\n ``(III) enhance the quality and \n coordination of health services; or\n ``(IV) improve the health status of \n communities.'';\n (6) in subsection (e)(5)(B), by striking ``and \n subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (c)(1) to a health \n center or to a network or plan'' and inserting ``to a health \n center'';\n (7) by striking subsection (s);\n (8) by redesignating subsections (g) through (r) as \n subsections (h) through (s), respectively;\n (9) by inserting after subsection (f), the following:\n ``(g) New Access Points and Expanded Services.--\n ``(1) Approval of new access points.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may approve \n applications for grants under subparagraph (A) or (B) \n of subsection (e)(1), subsection (h), subsection (i), \n and subsection (j) to establish new delivery sites.\n ``(B) Special consideration.--In carrying out \n subparagraph (A), the Secretary may give special \n consideration to applicants that have demonstrated the \n new delivery site will be located within a sparsely \n populated area, or an area which has a level of unmet \n need that is higher relative to other applicants.\n ``(C) Consideration of applications.--In carrying \n subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall approve \n applications for grants under subparagraphs (A) and (B) \n of subsection (e)(1) in such a manner that the ratio of \n the medically underserved populations in rural areas \n which may be expected to use the services provided by \n the applicants involved to the medically underserved \n populations in urban areas which may be expected to use \n the services provided by the applicants is not less \n than two to three or greater than three to two.\n ``(D) Service area overlap.--If in carrying out \n subparagraph (A) the applicant proposes to serve an \n area that is currently served by another health center \n funded under this section, the Secretary may consider \n whether the award of funding to an additional health \n center in the area can be justified based on the unmet \n need for additional services within the catchment area.\n ``(2) Approval of expanded service applications.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may approve \n applications for grants under subparagraph (A) or (B) \n of subsection (e)(1) to expand the capacity of the \n applicant to provide required primary health services \n described in subsection (b)(1) or additional health \n services described in subsection (b)(2).\n ``(B) Priority expansion projects.--In carrying out \n subparagraph (A), the Secretary may give special \n consideration to expanded service applications that \n seek to address emerging public health or behavioral \n health, mental health, or substance abuse issues \n through increasing the availability of additional \n health services described in subsection (b)(2) in an \n area in which there are significant barriers to \n accessing care.\n ``(C) Consideration of applications.--In carrying \n out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall approve \n applications for applicants in such a manner that the \n ratio of the medically underserved populations in rural \n areas which may be expected to use the services \n provided by the applicants involved to the medically \n underserved populations in urban areas which may be \n expected to use the services provided by such \n applicants is not less than two to three or greater \n than three to two.'';\n (10) in subsection (i) (as so redesignated)--\n (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and children \n and youth at risk of homelessness'' and inserting ``, \n children and youth at risk of homelessness, homeless \n veterans, and veterans at risk of homelessness''; and\n (B) in paragraph (5)--\n (i) by striking subparagraph (B);\n (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as \n subparagraph (B); and\n (iii) in subparagraph (B) (as so \n redesignated)--\n (I) in the subparagraph heading, by \n striking ``abuse'' and inserting ``use \n disorder''; and\n (II) by striking ``abuse'' and \n inserting ``use disorder'';\n (11) in subsection (l) (as so redesignated)--\n (A) in paragraph (2)--\n (i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting \n ``unmet'' before ``need'';\n (ii) in the matter preceding subparagraph \n (A), by inserting ``and an application for a \n grant under subsection (g)'' after ``subsection \n (e)(1)'';\n (iii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting \n ``unmet'' before ``need for health services'';\n (iv) in subparagraph (B), by striking \n ``and'' at the end;\n (v) in subparagraph (C), by striking the \n period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and\n (vi) by adding after subparagraph (C) the \n following:\n ``(D) in the case of an application for a grant \n pursuant to subsection (g)(1), a demonstration that the \n applicant has consulted with appropriate State and \n local government agencies, and health care providers \n regarding the need for the heath services to be \n provided at the proposed delivery site.'';\n (B) in paragraph (3)--\n (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph \n (A), by inserting ``or subsection (g)'' after \n ``subsection (e)(1)(B)'';\n (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``in \n the catchment area of the center'' and \n inserting ``, including other health care \n providers that provide care within the \n catchment area, local hospitals, and specialty \n providers in the catchment area of the center, \n to provide access to services not available \n through the health center and to reduce the \n non-urgent use of hospital emergency \n departments'';\n (iii) in subparagraph (H)(ii), by inserting \n ``who shall be directly employed by the \n center'' after ``approves the selection of a \n director for the center'';\n (iv) in subparagraph (L), by striking \n ``and'' at the end;\n (v) in subparagraph (M), by striking the \n period and inserting ``; and''; and\n (vi) by inserting after subparagraph (M), \n the following:\n ``(N) the center has written policies and \n procedures in place to ensure the appropriate use of \n Federal funds in compliance with applicable Federal \n statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of \n the Federal award.''; and\n (C) by striking paragraph (4);\n (12) in subsection (m) (as so redesignated), by adding at \n the end the following: ``Funds expended to carry out activities \n under this subsection and operational support activities under \n subsection (n) shall not exceed three percent of the amount \n appropriated for this section for the fiscal year involved.'';\n (13) in subsection (q) (as so redesignated), by striking \n ``grants for new health centers under subsections (c) and (e)'' \n and inserting ``operating grants under subsection (e), \n applications for new access points and expanded service \n pursuant to subsection (g)'';\n (14) in subsection (r)(4) (as so redesignated), by adding \n at the end the following: ``A waiver provided by the Secretary \n under this paragraph may not remain in effect for more than 1 \n year and may not be extended after such period. An entity may \n not receive more than one waiver under this paragraph in \n consecutive years.''; and\n (15) in subsection (s)(3) (as so redesignated)--\n (A) by striking ``appropriate committees of \n Congress a report concerning the distribution of funds \n under this section'' and inserting the following: \n ``Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions \n of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce \n of the House of Representatives, a report including, at \n a minimum--\n ``(A) the distribution of funds for carrying out \n this section'';\n (B) by striking ``populations. Such report shall \n include an assessment'' and inserting the following: \n ``populations;\n ``(B) an assessment'';\n (C) by striking ``and the rationale for any \n substantial changes in the distribution of funds.'' and \n inserting a semicolon; and\n (D) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(C) the distribution of awards and funding for \n new or expanded services in each of rural areas and \n urban areas;\n ``(D) the distribution of awards and funding for \n establishing new access points, and the number of new \n access points created;\n ``(E) the amount of unexpended funding for loan \n guarantees and loan guarantee authority under title \n XVI;\n ``(F) the rationale for any substantial changes in \n the distribution of funds;\n ``(G) the rate of closures for health centers and \n access points;\n ``(H) the number and reason for any grants awarded \n pursuant to subsection (e)(1)(B); and\n ``(I) the number and reason for any waivers \n provided pursuant to subsection (r)(4).''.\n (c) Application.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to this section for \nfiscal year 2018 or 2019 are subject to the requirements contained in \nPublic Law 115-31 for funds for programs authorized under sections 330 \nthrough 340 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-256).\n (d) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3014(h) of title 18, United \nStates Code, is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, as amended by section \n 221 of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of \n 2015,''; and\n (2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and section 101(d) of \n the CARE Act'' after ``section 221(c) of the Medicare Access \n and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015''.", "summary": "Community Coordination And Resource Empowerment Act or the Community CARE Act This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to extend funding through FY2019 for community health centers. Health centers that serve medically underserved populations may receive supplemental grant funds to increase access to primary care services.", "title": "Community Coordination And Resource Empowerment Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2202, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Primary Care Physician Reentry \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds as follows:\n (1) According to the Association of American Medical \n Colleges--\n (A) the shortage of primary care physicians will \n reach 45,000 by the year 2020, as fewer than 20 percent \n of medical students choose to enter primary care \n medicine; and\n (B) the overall shortage of physicians in the \n United States is expected to surpass 130,000 by 2025.\n (2) Medical schools in the United States train only \n approximately 16,000 new physicians every year.\n (3) The Department of Health and Human Services estimates \n that the United States needs at least 16,000 more primary care \n physicians.\n (4) According to a survey of 1,600 pediatricians over the \n age of 50 conducted by the Association of American Medical \n Colleges and the American Academy of Pediatrics, 22 percent of \n female pediatricians took extended leave (6 months or more) \n from medicine, compared to only 6.5 percent of male \n pediatricians. Seventy-one percent of the female pediatricians \n who took extended leave did so to care for a child or family \n member.\n\nSEC. 3. REENTRY PROGRAM FOR PHYSICIANS.\n\n (a) Activities of the Secretary.--\n (1) Establishment of demonstration program.--The Secretary \n of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as \n the ``Secretary'') shall establish a demonstration program to \n assist the development of innovative programs that facilitate \n physician reentry into clinical practice to provide primary \n health services. Under such demonstration program, the \n Secretary shall--\n (A) award one grant, on a competitive basis, to an \n eligible entity described in subsection (b) in each of \n the 10 regions served by a regional office of the \n Department of Health and Human Services to carry out \n physician reentry projects to assist reentering \n physicians participating in such projects through any \n of the activities described in subsection (d); and\n (B) in consultation with key stakeholders and \n subject to paragraph (2)(B), carry out the \n administrative activities described in paragraph \n (2)(A).\n (2) Administrative activities.--\n (A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), \n the administrative activities described in this \n subparagraph are the following:\n (i) Conduct a national needs assessment \n with regard to the supply of physicians who \n provide primary health services, using, to the \n extent feasible, information collected for use \n in other similar completed or forthcoming \n studies, such as studies conducted by the \n Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and \n the Health Resources and Services \n Administration.\n (ii) Develop a database that contains a \n directory of programs that help physicians \n reenter clinical practice.\n (iii) Disseminate evidence-based \n assessments and evaluation tools as such \n assessments and tools become available to \n measure the basic core competencies of \n physicians reentering clinical practice that \n are consistent with the guidelines published by \n the Federation of State Medical Boards for such \n physicians.\n (iv) Assist State regulatory authorities \n and hospital credentialing committees to \n structure requirements for physicians to return \n to clinical practice in a manner that ensures \n patient safety while addressing the burdens on \n such reentering physicians.\n (B) Limitation.--The Secretary shall use not more \n than 15 percent of the funds appropriated to carry out \n this section to carry out the activities described in \n subparagraph (A).\n (b) Eligible Entities.--Entities eligible to receive a grant under \nthis section are the following:\n (1) A State.\n (2) A hospital.\n (3) An academic medical center.\n (4) A medical school.\n (5) A health center (as defined in section 330(a) of the \n Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(a))).\n (6) A teaching health center.\n (7) A non-profit organization with a demonstrated history \n or expertise in providing physician education and with the \n ability to offer programs specifically targeted at reentering \n physicians.\n (c) Application.--In order to receive a grant under this section, \nan eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such \ntime, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary \nmay require.\n (d) Uses of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives funds under \nthis section shall use such funds to carry out a physician reentry \nproject to assist reentering physicians participating in the project \nthrough any of the following activities:\n (1) Training such reentering physicians to reenter clinical \n practice.\n (2) Paying credentialing fees and other fees that are \n necessary for such reentering physicians to reenter clinical \n practice.\n (3) Paying the salaries of such reentering physicians who \n are so eligible to reenter clinical practice during the period \n for which such physicians provide primary health services at a \n center described in subsection (e)(1).\n (4) Providing loan repayment assistance and other financial \n assistance, including scholarships and grants for education and \n training, to such reentering physicians.\n (e) Requirements of Reentry Physicians To Participate in \nProjects.--To be eligible to participate in a physician reentry project \ncarried out by an eligible entity under this section, a reentering \nphysician shall provide assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that \nthe physician will comply with the following:\n (1) Service locations.--The reentering physician shall \n provide primary health services at--\n (A) a health center (as defined in section 330(a) \n of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(a)));\n (B) a Veterans Administration Medical Center if the \n Secretary of Veterans Affairs certifies that there is a \n shortage of physicians at such medical center; or\n (C) a school-based health center (as defined in \n section 2110(c)(9) of the Social Security Act (42 \n U.S.C. 1397jj(c)(9))).\n (2) Length of service.--The reentering physician shall \n provide such services at such a center, consistent with \n paragraph (1), for not less than 2 years.\n (f) Liability Protections.--For purposes of section 224 of the \nPublic Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 233), a reentering physician \nparticipating in a physician reentry project under this section shall \nbe deemed to be an employee of the Public Health Service working within \nthe scope of such employment with respect to primary health services \nprovided by such reentering physician at a center described in \nsubsection (e)(1) under the terms of such participation in such \nproject. The remedy against the United States for a physician described \nin paragraph (2) who is deemed to be an employee of the Public Health \nService pursuant to the previous sentence shall be exclusive of any \nother civil action or proceeding to the same extent as the remedy \nagainst the United States is exclusive pursuant to subsection (a) of \nsuch section.\n (g) Annual Review and Report.--For any year during which the \ndemonstration program under this section is carried out, the Secretary \nshall conduct a review and comprehensive evaluation of such program and \nshall prepare and submit to Congress a report assessing such program, \nincluding an assessment of the performance of the reentering physicians \nwho participate in physician reentry projects under such program.\n (h) Reentering Physicians.--\n (1) Definition.--Subject to paragraph (2), for purposes of \n this section, the term ``reentering physician'' means an \n individual--\n (A) who is a doctor of medicine;\n (B) who received training in primary care or \n primary health services, including family medicine, \n internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and \n gynecology, dentistry, and mental health.\n (C) who was previously (and may currently be) \n legally authorized to practice medicine and surgery by \n a State;\n (D) who previously engaged in the clinical practice \n of medicine, but who is not currently engaged in the \n clinical practice of medicine and has not been engaged \n in such practice for a period of 2 years or such longer \n period determined to be sufficient by the Secretary; \n and\n (E) who provides assurances satisfactory to the \n Secretary and the respective State licensing board that \n the individual will return to clinical practice in the \n discipline in which such individual was trained or \n certified, including, if applicable, by regaining \n necessary training and certification for legal \n authorization to practice medicine and surgery by a \n State.\n (2) Exclusions.--For purposes of this section, the term \n ``reentering physician'' does not include an individual if--\n (A) such individual has failed to complete an \n obligation to provide health care services under a \n Federal, State, or local program (including any period \n of obligated service under subpart III of part D of \n title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. \n 254l et seq.));\n (B) a final adverse action regarding such \n individual has been reported to the data collection \n program under section 1128E of the Social Security Act \n (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7e); or\n (C) the individual has a debt due to the United \n States.\n (i) Primary Health Services Defined.--For purposes of this section, \nthe term ``primary health services'' has the meaning given such term in \nsection 331(a)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. \n254d(a)(3)).\n (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary \nfor fiscal year 2015.", "summary": "Primary Care Physician Reentry Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration program to facilitate physician reentry into primary care clinical practice in exchange for the physician providing primary care at an eligible health center for at least two years. Requires the Secretary to award one grant to an entity in each of the 10 administrative regions of HHS to carry out physician reentry projects. Directs grantees to assist reentering physicians by providing training, paying credentialing and other necessary fees, paying salaries, and providing loan repayment and other financial assistance. Requires the Secretary to: (1) assess the need for additional primary care physicians, (2) develop a directory of programs that help physicians reenter clinical practice, (3) disseminate evaluation tools to measure the core competencies of physicians reentering clinical practice, and (4) assist regulatory and credentialing authorities to structure requirements for reentering physicians that ensure patient safety while addressing the burdens on those physicians. Limits civil liability for physicians participating in a reentry project.", "title": "Primary Care Physician Reentry Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2061, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``PLO Accountability Act of 2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Mission \n office, representing the PLO, and by extension, the Palestinian \n Authority (PA), in Washington, DC, was opened in 1994 in order \n to implement the Oslo Accords, which initiated direct \n negotiations between the PLO and the Government of Israel.\n (2) Section 1003 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 (Public \n Law 100-204; 22 U.S.C. 5202), makes it unlawful to ``establish \n or maintain an office, headquarters, premises, or other \n facilities or establishments within the jurisdiction of the \n United States at the behest or direction of, or with funds \n provided by the Palestine Liberation Organization or any of its \n constituent groups, any successor to any of those, or any \n agents thereof''.\n (3) Using various authorities, the executive branch has \n waived the provisions of section 1003 of the Anti-Terrorism Act \n of 1987.\n (4) Article XXXI, clause 7, of the Israeli-Palestinian \n Interim Agreement on the Status of the West Bank and the Gaza \n Strip (September 28, 1995) states that ``Neither side shall \n initiate or take any step that will change the status of the \n West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the \n permanent status negotiations''.\n (5) In January 2009, the PLO sent a declaration to the \n International Criminal Court under Article 12(3) of the Rome \n Statute of the International Criminal Court on behalf of the \n Palestinian Authority.\n (6) On October 31, 2011, the United Nations Educational, \n Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted to admit \n the ``State of Palestine'' as its 195th full member. Since \n being admitted, the Palestinians have used UNESCO to pass anti-\n Israel resolutions, including a recent effort to deny the \n historical connection of the Jewish people to holy sites \n including the Temple Mount and Western Wall in Jerusalem.\n (7) On November 29, 2012, the United Nations General \n Assembly voted to accord the ``State of Palestine'' status as a \n nonmember observer State at the United Nations.\n (8) On April 2, 2014, the PLO joined the Geneva Conventions \n as well as 13 other organizations.\n (9) On January 2, 2015, the PLO acceded to the Rome \n Statute, and on January 16, 2015, the Prosecutor of the \n International Criminal Court opened a ``preliminary examination \n of the situation in Palestine'' after accepting jurisdiction of \n the International Criminal Court over ``alleged crimes \n committed in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East \n Jerusalem, since June 13, 2014''.\n (10) The PLO's decision to accede to the Rome Statute as \n well as several international organizations is an attempt to \n change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip outside \n of direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.\n (11) On January 7, 2015, the Department of State's Office \n of the Spokesperson stated, ``we have made clear our opposition \n to Palestinian action in seeking to join the Rome Statute of \n the International Criminal Court''.\n (12) On April 1, 2015, the ``State of Palestine'' \n officially became a member of the International Criminal Court.\n (13) The PLO and PA continue to engage in incitement and \n glorify terrorism, and reward terrorists, their families, and \n the families of those who died committing terrorist attacks \n with roughly $300,000,000 annually in salaries and benefits, \n providing a higher reward to those with longer jail sentences.\n (14) On August 30, 2016, Deputy Secretary of State, Anthony \n J. Blinken, submitted to Congress a report as required under \n section 804(b) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, \n Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 (Public Law 101-246), sections 603 \n and 604 of the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 \n (subtitle A of title VI of Public Law 107-228), and section 699 \n of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 \n (Public Law 107-228).\n (15) In this report, Deputy Secretary of State Blinken, \n acting under authority delegated to him as Deputy Secretary \n pursuant to the President's Delegation of Functions on April \n 30, 2009, made the determination that ``the PLO and PA are not \n in compliance with certain commitments to prevent violations, \n discipline violators, and assume responsibility over all PLO \n elements . . . thus the sanction specified in section 604(a)(2) \n of [Public Law 107-228], calling for a downgrade in status of \n the PLO office in Washington, DC, has been imposed''.\n (16) On January 31, 2017, then Acting Secretary of State, \n Thomas Shannon, pursuant to the President's Delegation of \n Functions dated April 30, 2009, submitted to Congress a similar \n report to Congress as required under section 804(b) of the \n Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and \n 1991, sections 603 and 604 of the Middle East Peace Commitments \n Act of 2002, and section 699 of the Foreign Relations \n Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003, in which the same \n determination was made that the PLO and PA are not in \n compliance with their commitments, and imposed the same \n sanction of a downgrade in the status of the PLO office in \n Washington, DC.\n (17) In both the August 30, 2016, and January 31, 2017, \n reports, the sanctions were immediately waived.\n (18) Section 604(a) of the Foreign Relations Authorization \n Act, Fiscal Year 2003 requires that if the President determines \n that the PLO or the Palestinian Authority has not complied with \n each of the commitments specified in such section, the \n President shall impose one or more of the following sanctions:\n (A) The denial of visas to PLO and PA officials.\n (B) The downgrade in status of the PLO office in \n the United States.\n (C) The designation as a foreign terrorist \n organization of the PLO, or one or more of its \n constituent groups (including Fatah).\n (D) The prohibition on United States assistance to \n the West Bank and Gaza (except humanitarian \n assistance).\n\nSEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.\n\n It is the sense of Congress that--\n (1) the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has failed \n to live up to its commitment to a bilateral peace process with \n Israel, renounce violence, accept Israel's right to exist, \n honor previous diplomatic agreements made by the Palestinians, \n and continues to circumvent a negotiated settlement with Israel \n by seeking unilateral statehood at the United Nations and from \n other countries, actively endorsing terror, and supporting \n boycotts, divestments, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel;\n (2) the Palestinian initiation of an International Criminal \n Court preliminary examination, investigation, or active support \n for such an investigation, that subjects Israeli nationals to \n an investigation for alleged crimes against Palestinians, is \n part of a deliberate effort to engage in diplomatic, legal \n warfare against Israel and would violate the Palestinians' \n commitment to not change the status of the West Bank and Gaza \n Strip;\n (3) the only path towards solving the conflict is through \n direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians;\n (4) the Palestinians should not turn to outside parties, \n including international organizations, to impose or otherwise \n influence a solution;\n (5) it is in the national security interests of the United \n States to close down the PLO office in Washington, DC; and\n (6) the executive branch should avail itself of the range \n of sanctions as allowed under the authority to impose sanctions \n under section 604 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, \n Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228) in order to hold the \n Palestinian leadership accountable.\n\nSEC. 4. PROHIBITIONS REGARDING THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION \n UNDER THE ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 1987.\n\n Section 1003 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 (22 U.S.C. 5202) is \namended--\n (1) by striking ``It shall be unlawful'' and inserting \n ``(a) In General.--It shall be unlawful''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(b) Waiver.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, \nincluding section 604 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, \nFiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228), the President may waive for a \nperiod of not more than 6 months the provisions of subsection (a) if \nthe President determines and certifies in writing to Congress, not \nlater than 45 days before the waiver is to take effect, that--\n ``(1)(A) the Palestinians have not, on or after January 1, \n 2017, obtained in the United Nations or any specialized agency \n thereof the same standing as member states or full membership \n as a state outside an agreement negotiated between Israel and \n the Palestinians;\n ``(B) the Palestinians have officially ceased to be members \n of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and have withdrawn \n from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;\n ``(C) any preliminary examination or ongoing investigation \n against Israel, the Government of Israel, the Israeli Armed or \n Security Forces, or any Israeli national initiated by, or on \n behalf of, the Palestinians, or referred to the ICC by a state \n party, the United Nations Security Council, or a Pre-Trial \n Chamber has been withdrawn and terminated;\n ``(D) the PLO and the Palestinian Authority no longer \n provide any financial award, payment, salary or benefit to \n Palestinians who have committed terrorist attacks, their \n families, or the families of those who died committing acts of \n terrorism;\n ``(E) the PLO and the Palestinian Authority has ceased to \n engage in a pattern of incitement against or with respect to \n the United States or Israel; or\n ``(2) the Palestinians have entered into a final negotiated \n peace agreement with, and have ceased all hostilities against, \n Israel.\n ``(c) Definition.--In subsection (b)(1)(E), the term `incitement' \nmeans to advocate, endorse, or express support for violence, martyrdom, \nor terrorism, or glorify, honor, or otherwise memorialize any person or \ngroup that has advocated, sponsored, or committed acts of terrorism, \nincluding the naming after or dedication to such person or group of any \nschool, community center, camp, sports team, stadium, public square, \nstreet, land, landmark, waterway, or other facility.''.", "summary": "PLO Accountability Act of 2017 This bill amends the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 to authorize the President to waive for up to six months the prohibition against establishment or maintenance of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) offices, headquarters, premises, or other facilities within U.S. jurisdiction if the President certifies to Congress that the Palestinians have entered into a final negotiated peace agreement with, and have ceased hostilities against, Israel or that: the Palestinians have not, on or after January 1, 2017, obtained state standing in the United Nations or any specialized agency thereof outside an agreement negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians; the Palestinians have officially ceased to be International Criminal Court (ICC) members and have withdrawn from the Rome Statute of the ICC; any ICC investigation against Israel initiated by, or on behalf of, the Palestinians has been withdrawn and terminated; the PLO and the Palestinian Authority (PA) no longer provide financial awards, payments, salaries, or benefits to Palestinians who have committed terrorist attacks, their families, or the families of those who died committing acts of terrorism; and the PLO and the PA have ceased to engage in a pattern of incitement against the United States or Israel. ", "title": "PLO Accountability Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1617, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Fort Stanton and Rio Bonito Corridor \nVegetation Management Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that--\n (1) the lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary \n surrounding Fort Stanton, New Mexico, contain historic and \n natural resources that warrant special management \n considerations by the Bureau of Land Management;\n (2) the adjudication process for establishing grazing \n preferences under the Act of June 28, 1934 (commonly known as \n the ``Taylor Grazing Act'') (43 U.S.C. 315 et seq.) and other \n applicable laws has not been conducted on lands acquired by the \n Secretary at and near Fort Stanton, New Mexico, including lands \n along the Rio Bonito in Lincoln County, New Mexico;\n (3) in the management of renewable forage resources on \n lands surrounding Fort Stanton, New Mexico, vegetation sales \n contracts would be a beneficial tool for the Bureau of Land \n Management to use to maintain and enhance the condition of the \n forage and other natural resources of the area;\n (4) the management of grazing animals under vegetation \n sales contracts requires fiscal resources and personnel that \n exceed that of the grazing preference system in place on other \n public domain lands; and\n (5) disputes over the legal description of lands acquired \n by the Secretary along the Rio Bonito in Lincoln County, New \n Mexico, make it necessary for the Bureau of Land Management to \n pursue reasonable legal remedies under existing authorities to \n resolve such disputes with adjacent landowners.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n (a) Fort Stanton.--The term ``Fort Stanton'' means land under the \nadministrative jurisdiction of the Secretary at Fort Stanton, New \nMexico, as depicted on the map entitled ``Fort Stanton and Rio Bonito \nCorridor, NM'', dated May 13, 1997.\n (b) Rio Bonito Corridor.--The term ``Rio Bonito Corridor'' means \nland under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary near Fort \nStanton, New Mexico, within the area identified as the ``Rio Bonito \nCorridor'', as depicted on the map entitled ``Fort Stanton and Rio \nBonito Corridor, NM'', dated May 13, 1997, which--\n (1) was acquired by the Secretary before May 13, 1997; or\n (2) is acquired by the Secretary (by purchase or exchange) \n from willing landowners after May 13, 1997.\n (c) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the \nInterior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.\n\nSEC. 4. MAPS.\n\n The maps referred to in section 3 shall be made available for \npublic inspection by the Bureau of Land Management at the Roswell \nDistrict Office in Roswell, New Mexico, and at the New Mexico State \nOffice in Santa Fe, New Mexico.\n\nSEC. 5. MANAGEMENT OF FORT STANTON AND RIO BONITO LAND.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of the Act of June \n28, 1934 (43 U.S.C. 315 et seq.), or any other law relating to the \nestablishment, leasing, or permitting of grazing under a grazing \npreference, the Secretary, in managing land within Fort Stanton and the \nRio Bonito Corridor that is under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, \nmay solicit competitive bids for and enter into vegetation sales \ncontracts for the purpose of using livestock grazing as a vegetation \nmanagement tool. Any such contracts entered into with respect to the \nland before the date of enactment of this Act are ratified.\n (b) Consistency With Land and Resource Management Plans.--\nManagement of Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor shall be \nconsistent with any applicable land and resource management plan under \nthe Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et \nseq.).\n (c) Distribution and Use of Proceeds.--Of the proceeds of \nvegetation sales contracts entered into under subsection (a)--\n (1) 12\\1/2\\ percent shall be paid to the State of New \n Mexico for distribution to Lincoln County, New Mexico, to be \n used for purposes authorized by section 10 of the Act of June \n 28, 1934 (43 U.S.C. 315i);\n (2) 12\\1/2\\ percent shall be deposited in the general fund \n of the Treasury of the United States; and\n (3) 75 percent shall be deposited in a special account in \n the Treasury of the United States and shall be available to the \n Secretary, without further Act of appropriation, for use in \n managing Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor and to \n achieve the management goals and prescriptions identified in \n applicable resource management plans for the Rio Bonito \n acquired lands and the Fort Stanton area of critical \n environmental concern, but none of the proceeds provided to the \n Secretary under this paragraph shall be available for land \n acquisition.", "summary": "Fort Stanton and Rio Bonito Corridor Vegetation Management Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in managing land within Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor that is under the Secretary's jurisdiction, to solicit competitive bids for and enter into vegetation sales contracts for the purpose of using livestock grazing as a vegetation management tool. Ratifies any such contracts entered into with respect to the land before the date of this Act's enactment. \nRequires management of Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor to be consistent with any applicable land and resource management plan under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. \nDirects that, of the proceeds of such vegetation sales contracts: (1) 12.5 percent be paid to the State of New Mexico for distribution to Lincoln County, New Mexico, for purposes authorized by the Act of June 28, 1934 (Taylor Grazing Act); (2) 12.5 percent be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury; and (3) 75 percent be deposited in a special Treasury account for use in managing Fort Stanton and the Rio Bonito Corridor and to achieve the management goals and prescriptions identified in applicable resource management plans for the Rio Bonito acquired lands and the Fort Stanton area of critical environmental concern, but not for land acquisition.", "title": "Fort Stanton and Rio Bonito Corridor Vegetation Management Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2596, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Super-Efficient Appliance Incentives \nand Market Transformation Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS OF ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCE CREDIT FOR \n APPLIANCES PRODUCED AFTER 2007.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 45M of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to applicable amount) is amended to read \nas follows:\n ``(b) Applicable Amount.--For purposes of subsection (a)--\n ``(1) Dishwashers.--The applicable amount is--\n ``(A) $45 in the case of a dishwasher which is \n manufactured in calendar year 2008 or 2009 and which \n uses no more than 324 kilowatt hours per year and 5.8 \n gallons per cycle, and\n ``(B) $75 in the case of a dishwasher which is \n manufactured in calendar year 2008, 2009, or 2010 and \n which uses no more than 307 kilowatt hours per year and \n 5.0 gallons per cycle (5.5 gallons per cycle for \n dishwashers designed for greater than 12 place \n settings).\n ``(2) Clothes washers.--The applicable amount is--\n ``(A) $75 in the case of a residential top-loading \n clothes washer manufactured in calendar year 2008 which \n meets or exceeds a 1.72 modified energy factor and does \n not exceed a 8.0 water consumption factor,\n ``(B) $125 in the case of a residential top-loading \n clothes washer manufactured in calendar year 2008 or \n 2009 which meets or exceeds a 1.8 modified energy \n factor and does not exceed a 7.5 water consumption \n factor,\n ``(C) $150 in the case of a residential or \n commercial clothes washer manufactured in calendar year \n 2008, 2009 or 2010 which meets or exceeds 2.0 modified \n energy factor and does not exceed a 6.0 water \n consumption factor, and\n ``(D) $250 in the case of a residential or \n commercial clothes washer manufactured in calendar year \n 2008, 2009, or 2010 which meets or exceeds 2.2 modified \n energy factor and does not exceed a 4.5 water \n consumption factor.\n ``(3) Refrigerators.--The applicable amount is--\n ``(A) $50 in the case of a refrigerator which is \n manufactured in calendar year 2008, and consumes at \n least 20 percent but not more than 22.9 percent less \n kilowatt hours per year than the 2001 energy \n conservation standards,\n ``(B) $75 in the case of a refrigerator which is \n manufactured in calendar year 2008 or 2009, and \n consumes at least 23 percent but no more than 24.9 \n percent less kilowatt hours per year than the 2001 \n energy conservation standards,\n ``(C) $100 in the case of a refrigerator which is \n manufactured in calendar year 2008, 2009 or 2010, and \n consumes at least 25 percent but not more than 29.9 \n percent less kilowatt hours per year than the 2001 \n energy conservation standards, and\n ``(D) $200 in the case of a refrigerator \n manufactured in calendar year 2008, 2009 or 2010 and \n which consumes at least 30 percent less energy than the \n 2001 energy conservation standards.\n ``(4) Dehumidifiers.--The applicable amount is--\n ``(A) $15 in the case of a dehumidifier \n manufactured in calendar year 2008 that has a capacity \n less than or equal to 45 pints per day and is 7.5 \n percent more efficient than the applicable Department \n of Energy energy conservation standard effective \n October 2012, and\n ``(B) $25 in the case of a dehumidifier \n manufactured in calendar year 2008 that has a capacity \n greater than 45 pints per day and is 7.5 percent more \n efficient than the applicable Department of Energy \n energy conservation standard effective October 2012.''.\n (b) Eligible Production.--\n (1) Similar treatment for all appliances.--Subsection (c) \n of section 45M of such Code (relating to eligible production) \n is amended--\n (A) by striking paragraph (2),\n (B) by striking ``(1) In general'' and all that \n follows through ``the eligible'' and inserting ``The \n eligible'', and\n (C) by moving the text of such subsection in line \n with the subsection heading and redesignating \n subparagraphs (A) and (B) as paragraphs (1) and (2), \n respectively.\n (2) Modification of base period.--Paragraph (2) of section \n 45M(c) of such Code, as amended by paragraph (1) of this \n section, is amended by striking ``3-calendar year'' and \n inserting ``2-calendar year''.\n (c) Types of Energy Efficient Appliances.--Subsection (d) of \nsection 45M of such Code (defining types of energy efficient \nappliances) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(d) Types of Energy Efficient Appliance.--For purposes of this \nsection, the types of energy efficient appliances are--\n ``(1) dishwashers described in subsection (b)(1),\n ``(2) clothes washers described in subsection (b)(2),\n ``(3) refrigerators described in subsection (b)(3), and\n ``(4) dehumidifiers described in subsection (b)(4).''.\n (d) Aggregate Credit Amount Allowed.--\n (1) Increase in limit.--Paragraph (1) of section 45M(e) of \n such Code (relating to aggregate credit amount allowed) is \n amended to read as follows:\n ``(1) Aggregate credit amount allowed.--The aggregate \n amount of credit allowed under subsection (a) with respect to a \n taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed $100,000,000 \n reduced by the amount of the credit allowed under subsection \n (a) to the taxpayer (or any predecessor) for all prior taxable \n years beginning after December 31, 2007.''.\n (2) Exception for certain refrigerator and clothes \n washers.--Paragraph (2) of section 45M(e) of such Code is \n amended to read as follows:\n ``(2) Amount allowed for certain refrigerators and clothes \n washers.--Refrigerators described in subsection (b)(3)(D) and \n clothes washers described in subsection (b)(2)(D) shall not be \n taken into account under paragraph (1).''.\n (e) Qualified Energy Efficient Appliances.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 45M(f) of such \n Code (defining qualified energy efficient appliance) is amended \n to read as follows:\n ``(1) Qualified energy efficient appliance.--The term \n `qualified energy efficient appliance' means--\n ``(A) any dishwasher described in subsection \n (b)(1),\n ``(B) any clothes washer described in subsection \n (b)(2),\n ``(C) any refrigerator described in subsection \n (b)(3), and\n ``(D) any dehumidifier described in subsection \n (b)(4).''.\n (2) Clothes washer.--Section 45M(f)(3) of such Code \n (defining clothes washer) is amended by inserting \n ``commercial'' before ``residential'' the second place it \n appears.\n (3) Top-loading clothes washer.--Subsection (f) of section \n 45M of such Code (relating to definitions) is amended by \n redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) as paragraphs \n (5), (6), (7), and (8), respectively, and by inserting after \n paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:\n ``(4) Top-loading clothes washer.--The term ``top-loading \n clothes washer'' means a clothes washer which has the clothes \n container compartment access located on the top of the machine \n and which operates on a vertical axis.''.\n (4) Dehumidifier.--Subsection (f) of section 45M of such \n Code, as amended by paragraph (3), is amended by redesignating \n paragraphs (6), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (7), (8) and (9), \n respectively, and by inserting after paragraph (5) the \n following new paragraph:\n ``(6) Dehumidifier.--The term `dehumidifier' means a self-\n contained, electrically operated, and mechanically refrigerated \n encased assembly consisting of--\n ``(A) a refrigerated surface that condenses \n moisture from the atmosphere,\n ``(B) a refrigerating system, including an electric \n motor,\n ``(C) an air-circulating fan, and\n ``(D) means for collecting or disposing of \n condensate.''.\n (5) Replacement of energy factor.--Section 45M(f)(7) of \n such Code, as amended by paragraph (4), is amended to read as \n follows:\n ``(7) Modified energy factor.--The term `modified energy \n factor' means the modified energy factor established by the \n Department of Energy for compliance with the Federal energy \n conservation standard.''.\n (6) Gallons per cycle; water consumption factor.--Section \n 45M(f) of such Code (relating to definitions) is amended by \n adding at the end the following:\n ``(10) Gallons per cycle.--The term `gallons per cycle' \n means, with respect to a dishwasher, the amount of water, \n expressed in gallons, required to complete a normal cycle of a \n dishwasher.\n ``(11) Water consumption factor.--The term `water \n consumption factor' means, with respect to a clothes washer, \n the quotient of the total weighted per-cycle water consumption \n divided by the cubic foot (or liter) capacity of the clothes \n washer.''.\n (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to appliances produced after December 31, 2007.", "summary": "Super-Efficient Appliance Incentives and Market Transformation Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the applicable amount of the tax credit for energy efficient appliances (i.e., dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators, and dehumidifiers which restrict water and energy consumption) produced after 2007.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the energy efficient appliance credit for appliances produced after 2007."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1152, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Launch Services Corporation Act of \n1994''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act--\n (1) the term ``Corporation'' means the Launch Services \n Corporation created under section 4 of this Act; and\n (2) the terms ``launch'', ``launch property'', ``launch \n services'', ``launch site'', and ``launch vehicle'' have the \n meaning given such terms under section 4 of the Commercial \n Space Launch Act (49 U.S.C. App. 2603), except that the \n provisions of this Act shall not apply to activities relating \n to suborbital trajectories.\n\nSEC. 3. FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITIES.\n\n (a) President.--The President shall--\n (1) coordinate the activities of Federal agencies with \n space launch responsibilities, so as to ensure that there is \n full and effective compliance at all times with this Act;\n (2) ensure that timely treaties, trade agreements, and \n other appropriate arrangements are made, and appropriate \n regulations are issued, to enable foreign customers to obtain \n launch services from the Corporation and to otherwise \n participate in the launch services system established pursuant \n to this Act; and\n (3) after consultation with appropriate Federal agencies, \n issue a statement of the technical requirements of the Federal \n Government for the system referred to in paragraph (2).\n (b) Research and Development.--The National Aeronautics and Space \nAdministration and the Department of Defense shall cooperate with the \nCorporation on research and development related to the purposes of the \nCorporation.\n (c) Federal Agencies in General.--The Federal Government shall--\n (1) procure, to the maximum extent feasible, needed launch \n services from the Corporation;\n (2) pay fair market value for services provided to the \n Federal Government by the Corporation;\n (3) extend to the Corporation first priority for access to \n launch property and launch sites in a mutually agreeable \n manner;\n (4) furnish range safety for launches from Government-owned \n facilities; and\n (5) to the extent feasible, furnish other services to the \n Corporation as may be required in connection with the \n establishment and operation of the Corporation.\n\nSEC. 4. LAUNCH SERVICES CORPORATION.\n\n (a) Creation.--There is authorized to be created a Launch Services \nCorporation, a for-profit corporation which shall not be an agency or \nestablishment of the United States Government and which shall be \nincorporated under the laws of a State of the United States.\n (b) Purposes.--(1) The purposes of the Corporation shall be--\n (A) to broaden and speed the economic use of space;\n (B) to enhance the economic competitiveness of the United \n States launch services industry and all industrial, commercial, \n and financial businesses related thereto;\n (C) to enhance national security;\n (D) to serve the launch needs of--\n (i) the Federal Government;\n (ii) private sector customers in the United States; \n and\n (iii) appropriate foreign customers; and\n (E) to remain a viable and competitive corporation.\n (2) It shall not be a purpose of the Corporation to construct \nlaunch vehicles.\n (c) Process of Organization.--The President shall, as expeditiously \nas possible, appoint incorporators, by and with the advice and consent \nof the Senate, who shall serve as the initial board of directors of the \nCorporation until the first annual meeting of stockholders or until \ntheir successors are elected and appointed under subsection (d) and \nqualified. Such incorporators shall arrange for an initial stock \noffering and shall take whatever other actions are necessary to \nestablish the Corporation, including the filing of articles of \nincorporation, subject to the approval of the President.\n (d) Directors and Officers.--\n (1) Directors.--The Corporation shall have a board of \n directors consisting of 15 individuals who are citizens of the \n United States, of whom one shall be elected annually by the \n board to serve as chairman. Three members of the board shall be \n appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent \n of the Senate, for terms of three years or until their \n successors have been appointed and qualified, except that one \n of the members first appointed under this sentence shall be \n appointed to a term of one year, and one of such members shall \n be appointed to a term of two years. Any member appointed to \n fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term \n of the director being replaced. The remaining 12 members of the \n board shall be elected annually by the stockholders.\n (2) Officers.--The Corporation shall have such officers as \n may be named and appointed by the board, at rates of \n compensation fixed by the board, and serving at the pleasure of \n the board. No individual other than a citizen of the United \n States may be an officer of the Corporation. No officer of the \n Corporation shall receive any salary from any source other than \n the Corporation while employed by the Corporation.\n (e) Financing.--\n (1) Stock.--The Corporation may issue and have outstanding, \n in such amounts as it shall determine, shares of capital stock, \n without par value, which shall carry voting rights and be \n eligible for dividends. The stock shall be sold in a manner to \n encourage the widest distribution to the public. No company, \n including any company controlling, controlled by, or under \n common control with such company, may hold more than 15 percent \n of the capital stock of the Corporation.\n (2) Additional instruments.--The Corporation may issue, in \n addition to the stock authorized by paragraph (1), nonvoting \n securities, bonds, debentures, and other certificates of \n indebtedness.\n (f) Powers.--In order to achieve its purposes, the Corporation \nmay--\n (1) plan, initiate, own, manage, and operate itself, or in \n conjunction with other business entities, a commercial launch \n services system;\n (2) furnish, for hire, launch services to public and \n private entities of the United States and, except as otherwise \n prohibited by law, to foreign customers;\n (3) own and operate launch property, launch sites, and one \n or more types of launch vehicle, provide or contract for range \n safety operations at those launch sites, and provide or \n contract for any other such services as may be required to \n carry out its purposes; and\n (4) conduct appropriate research and development.\n (g) Recoupment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the President shall establish procedures for the \nrepayment by the Corporation to the Federal Government of an amount \nequal to the amount of Federal funding that has been provided to the \nCorporation.\n\nSEC. 5. FOREIGN BUSINESS NEGOTIATIONS.\n\n Whenever the Corporation shall enter into business negotiations \nwith respect to launch property, operations, or services authorized by \nthis Act with any international or foreign entity, it shall notify the \nDepartment of State of the negotiations, and the Department of State \nshall advise the Corporation of relevant foreign policy considerations. \nThroughout such negotiations the Corporation shall keep the Department \nof State informed with respect to such considerations. The Corporation \nmay request the Department of State to assist in the negotiations, and \nthat Department shall render such assistance as may be appropriate.\n\nSEC. 6. REPORTS TO THE CONGRESS.\n\n (a) President's Report.--The President shall transmit to the \nCongress in January of each year a report which shall include a \ncomprehensive description of the activities and accomplishments of the \nFederal Government and the Corporation during the preceding calendar \nyear under this Act, together with an evaluation of such activities and \naccomplishments in terms of the purposes of the Corporation and any \nrecommendations for additional legislative or other action which the \nPresident may consider necessary for such purposes.\n (b) Corporation's Report.--The Corporation shall transmit to the \nPresident and Congress, annually and at such other times as it \nconsiders appropriate, a comprehensive and detailed report of its \noperations, activities, and accomplishments under this Act.\n\nSEC. 7. SUNSET.\n\n No Federal funding shall be provided to the Corporation after \nDecember 31, 2000, except as payment for services provided to the \nFederal Government by the Corporation.", "summary": "Launch Services Corporation Act of 1994 - Authorizes the creation of a non-Federal, for profit Launch Services Corporation to provide space launch services to the Federal Government and other domestic and foreign customers. \nEnds Federal funding (except for payment of services) for the Corporation after the year 2000.", "title": "Launch Services Corporation Act of 1994"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3189, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Race to the Top Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. RACE TO THE TOP.\n\n (a) In General.--Title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education \nAct of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7301 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating part C as part D;\n (2) by redesignating sections 6301 and 6302 as sections \n 6401 and 6402, respectively; and\n (3) by inserting after part B the following:\n\n ``PART C--RACE TO THE TOP\n\n``SEC. 6301. PURPOSES.\n\n ``The purposes of this part are to--\n ``(1) provide incentives for States and local educational \n agencies to implement comprehensive reforms and innovative \n strategies that are designed to lead to--\n ``(A) significant improvements in outcomes for all \n students, including improvements in student \n achievement, secondary school graduation rates, \n postsecondary education enrollment rates, and rates of \n postsecondary education persistence; and\n ``(B) significant reductions in achievement gaps \n among subgroups of students; and\n ``(2) encourage the broad identification, adoption, use, \n dissemination, replication, and expansion of effective State \n and local policies and practices that lead to significant \n improvement in outcomes for all students, and the elimination \n of those policies and practices that are not effective in \n improving student outcomes.\n\n``SEC. 6302. RESERVATION OF FUNDS.\n\n ``From the amounts made available under section 6308 for a fiscal \nyear, the Secretary may reserve not more than 10 percent to carry out \nactivities related to technical assistance, monitoring, outreach, \ndissemination, and prize awards that support the purposes of this part.\n\n``SEC. 6303. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.\n\n ``(a) In General.--From the amounts made available under section \n6308 for a fiscal year and not reserved under section 6302, the \nSecretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to States or \nlocal educational agencies, or both, in accordance with section \n6304(b), to enable the States or local educational agencies to carry \nout the purposes of this part.\n ``(b) Grant and Subgrant Eligibility Limitations.--\n ``(1) ARRA state incentive grants.--A State that has \n received a grant under section 14006 of division A of the \n American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-\n 5; 123 Stat. 283) may not receive a grant under this part \n during the period of its grant under such section.\n ``(2) Number of grants.--A State or local educational \n agency may not receive more than 1 grant under this part per \n grant period.\n ``(3) Number of subgrants.--A local educational agency may \n receive 1 grant and 1 subgrant under this part for the same \n fiscal year.\n ``(c) Duration of Grants.--\n ``(1) In general.--A grant under this part shall be awarded \n for a period of not more than 4 years.\n ``(2) Continuation of grants.--A State or local educational \n agency that is awarded a grant under this part shall not \n receive grant funds under this part for the second or any \n subsequent year of the grant unless the State or local \n educational agency demonstrates to the Secretary, at such time \n and in such manner as determined by the Secretary, that the \n State or local educational agency, respectively, is--\n ``(A) making progress in implementing the plan \n under section 6304(a)(3) at a rate that the Secretary \n determines will result in the State or agency fully \n implementing such plan during the remainder of the \n grant period; or\n ``(B) making progress against the performance \n measures set forth in section 6305 at a rate that the \n Secretary determines will result in the State or agency \n reaching its targets and achieving the objectives of \n the grant during the remainder of the grant period.\n\n``SEC. 6304. APPLICATIONS.\n\n ``(a) Applications.--Each State or local educational agency that \ndesires to receive a grant under this part shall submit an application \nto the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such \ninformation as the Secretary may reasonably require. At a minimum, each \nsuch application shall include--\n ``(1) documentation of the applicant's record, as \n applicable--\n ``(A) in increasing student achievement, including \n for all subgroups described in section \n 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II);\n ``(B) in decreasing achievement gaps, including for \n all subgroups described in section \n 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II);\n ``(C) in increasing secondary school graduation \n rates, including for all subgroups described in section \n 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II);\n ``(D) in increasing postsecondary education \n enrollment and persistence rates, including for all \n subgroups described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II); \n and\n ``(E) with respect to any other performance measure \n described in section 6305 that is not included in \n subparagraphs (A) through (D);\n ``(2) evidence of conditions of innovation and reform that \n the applicant has established and the applicant's proposed plan \n for implementing additional conditions for innovation and \n reform, including--\n ``(A) a description of how the applicant has \n identified and eliminated ineffective practices in the \n past and the applicant's plan for doing so in the \n future;\n ``(B) a description of how the applicant has \n identified and promoted effective practices in the past \n and the applicant's plan for doing so in the future; \n and\n ``(C) steps the applicant has taken and will take \n to eliminate statutory, regulatory, procedural, or \n other barriers and to facilitate the full \n implementation of the proposed plan under this \n paragraph;\n ``(3) a comprehensive and coherent plan for using funds \n under this part, and other Federal, State, and local funds, to \n improve the applicant's performance on the measures described \n in section 6305, consistent with criteria set forth by the \n Secretary, including how the applicant will, if applicable--\n ``(A) improve the effectiveness of teachers and \n school leaders, and promote equity in the distribution \n of effective teachers and school leaders, in order to \n ensure that low-income and minority children are not \n taught by ineffective teachers, and are not in schools \n led by ineffective leaders, at higher rates than other \n children;\n ``(B) strengthen the use of high-quality and timely \n data to improve instructional practices, policies, and \n student outcomes, including teacher evaluations;\n ``(C) implement internationally benchmarked, \n college- and career-ready elementary and secondary \n academic standards, including in the areas of \n assessment, instructional materials, professional \n development, and strategies that translate the \n standards into classroom practice;\n ``(D) turn around the persistently lowest-achieving \n elementary schools and secondary schools served by the \n applicant;\n ``(E) support or coordinate with early learning \n programs for high-need children from birth through \n grade 3 to improve school readiness and ensure that \n students complete grade 3 on track for school success; \n and\n ``(F) create or maintain successful conditions for \n high-performing charter schools and other innovative, \n autonomous public schools;\n ``(4)(A) in the case of an applicant that is a State--\n ``(i) evidence of collaboration between the State, \n its local educational agencies, schools (as \n appropriate), parents, teachers, and other \n stakeholders, in developing the plan described in \n paragraph (3), including evidence of the commitment and \n capacity to implement the plan; and\n ``(ii)(I) the names of the local educational \n agencies the State has selected to participate in \n carrying out the plan; or\n ``(II) a description of how the State will select \n local educational agencies to participate in carrying \n out the plan; or\n ``(B) in the case of an applicant that is a local \n educational agency, evidence of collaboration between the local \n educational agency, schools, parents, teachers, and other \n stakeholders, in developing the plan described in paragraph \n (3), including evidence of the commitment and capacity to \n implement the plan;\n ``(5) the applicant's annual performance measures and \n targets, consistent with the requirements of section 6305; and\n ``(6) a description of the applicant's plan to conduct a \n rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of activities carried \n out with funds under this part.\n ``(b) Criteria for Evaluating Applications.--\n ``(1) Award basis.--The Secretary shall award grants under \n this part on a competitive basis, based on the quality of the \n applications submitted under subsection (a), including--\n ``(A) each applicant's record in the areas \n described in subsection (a)(1);\n ``(B) each applicant's record of, and commitment \n to, establishing conditions for innovation and reform, \n as described in subsection (a)(2);\n ``(C) the quality and likelihood of success of each \n applicant's plan described in subsection (a)(3) in \n showing improvement in the areas described in \n subsection (a)(1), including each applicant's capacity \n to implement the plan and evidence of collaboration as \n described in subsection (a)(4); and\n ``(D) each applicant's evaluation plan as described \n in subsection (a)(6).\n ``(2) Explanation.--The Secretary shall publish an \n explanation of how the application review process under this \n section will ensure an equitable and objective evaluation based \n on the criteria described in paragraph (1).\n ``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants to local educational agencies \nunder this part, the Secretary shall give priority to--\n ``(1) local educational agencies with the highest numbers \n or percentages of children from families with incomes below the \n poverty line; and\n ``(2) local educational agencies that serve schools \n designated with a school locale code of 41, 42, or 43.\n\n``SEC. 6305. PERFORMANCE MEASURES.\n\n ``Each State and each local educational agency receiving a grant \nunder this part shall establish performance measures and targets, \napproved by the Secretary, for the programs and activities carried out \nunder this part. These measures shall, at a minimum, track the State's \nor local educational agency's progress in--\n ``(1) implementing its plan described in section \n 6304(a)(3); and\n ``(2) improving outcomes for all subgroups described in \n section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) including, as applicable, by--\n ``(A) increasing student achievement;\n ``(B) decreasing achievement gaps;\n ``(C) increasing secondary school graduation rates;\n ``(D) increasing postsecondary education enrollment \n and persistence rates;\n ``(E)(i) improving the effectiveness of teachers \n and school leaders, increasing the retention of \n effective teachers and school leaders; and\n ``(ii) promoting equity in the distribution of \n effective teachers and school leaders in order to \n ensure that low-income and minority children are not \n taught by ineffective teachers, and are not in schools \n led by ineffective leaders, at higher rates than other \n children; and\n ``(F) making progress on any other measures \n identified by the Secretary.\n\n``SEC. 6306. USES OF FUNDS.\n\n ``(a) Grants to States.--Each State that receives a grant under \nthis part shall use--\n ``(1) not less than 50 percent of the grant funds to make \n subgrants to the local educational agencies in the State that \n participate in the State's plan under section 6304(a)(3), based \n on such local educational agencies' relative shares of funds \n under part A of title I for the most recent year for which \n those data are available; and\n ``(2) not more than 50 percent of the grant funds for any \n purpose included in the State's plan under section 6304(a)(3).\n ``(b) Grants to Local Educational Agencies.--Each local educational \nagency that receives a grant under this part shall use the grant funds \nfor any purpose included in the local educational agency's plan under \nsection 6304(a)(3).\n ``(c) Subgrants to Local Educational Agencies.--Each local \neducational agency that receives a subgrant under this part from a \nState shall use the subgrant funds for any purpose included in the \nState's plan under section 6304(a)(3).\n\n``SEC. 6307. REPORTING.\n\n ``(a) Annual Reports.--A State or local educational agency that \nreceives a grant under this part shall submit to the Secretary, at such \ntime and in such manner as the Secretary may require, an annual report \nincluding--\n ``(1) data on the State's or local educational agency's \n progress in achieving the targets for the performance measures \n established under section 6305;\n ``(2) a description of the challenges the State or agency \n has faced in implementing its program and how it has addressed \n or plans to address those challenges; and\n ``(3) findings from the evaluation plan as described in \n section 6304(a)(6).\n ``(b) Local Reports.--Each local educational agency that receives a \nsubgrant from a State under this part shall submit to the State such \ninformation as the State may require to complete the annual report \nrequired under subsection (a).\n\n``SEC. 6308. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part \n$1,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2011 and such sums as may be necessary \nfor each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents for the \nElementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7301 et seq.) \nis amended--\n (1) by striking the items relating to part C of title VI; \n and\n (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 6234 \n the following:\n\n ``Part C--Race to the Top\n\n``Sec. 6301. Purposes.\n``Sec. 6302. Reservation of funds.\n``Sec. 6303. Program authorized.\n``Sec. 6304. Applications.\n``Sec. 6305. Performance measures.\n``Sec. 6306. Uses of funds.\n``Sec. 6307. Reporting.\n``Sec. 6308. Authorization of appropriations.\n ``Part D--General Provisions\n\n``Sec. 6401. Prohibition against Federal mandates, direction, or \n control.\n``Sec. 6402. Rule of construction on equalized spending.''.", "summary": "Race to the Top Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states and local educational agencies (LEAs) to implement reforms and innovations designed to improve educational outcomes significantly for all students and reduce achievement gaps significantly among specified student subgroups.\n\nRequires each grant applicant to have a comprehensive and coherent plan for doing so that includes, if applicable: (1) improving the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders and promoting their equitable distribution; (2) strengthening the use of data to improve education; (3) implementing internationally benchmarked, college- and career-ready elementary and secondary academic standards; (4) turning around its lowest-performing schools; (5) supporting, or coordinating with, early learning programs for high-need children from birth through third grade; and (6) creating or maintaining successful conditions for high-performing charter schools and other innovative, autonomous public schools.\n\nRequires each grantee to establish performance measures that track its progress in implementing its plan, and improving educational outcomes for students and specified student subgroups.\n\nGives grant priority to LEAs with the highest number or percentages of impoverished children and those that serve rural schools.\n\nRequires each state grantee to use at least 50% of its grant for subgrants to LEAs that participate in its plan. Allows LEAs to receive a grant and subgrant for the same fiscal year.", "title": "A bill to provide incentives for States and local educational agencies to implement comprehensive reforms and innovative strategies that are designed to lead to significant improvement in outcomes for all students and significant reductions in achievement gaps among subgroups of students, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1895, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as ``Jason's Law''.\n\nSEC. 2. TRUCK PARKING FACILITIES.\n\n (a) Establishment.--In cooperation with appropriate State, \nregional, and local governments, the Secretary of Transportation \n(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall implement a pilot \nprogram to address the shortage of long-term parking for commercial \nmotor vehicles on the National Highway System.\n (b) Allocation of Funds.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall allocate funds made \n available to carry out this section among States, metropolitan \n planning organizations, and local governments.\n (2) Applications.--To be eligible for an allocation under \n this section, a State (as defined in section 101(a) of title \n 23, United States Code), metropolitan planning organization, or \n local government shall submit to the Secretary an application \n at such time and containing such information as the Secretary \n may require.\n (3) Eligible projects.--\n (A) In general.--Funds allocated under this \n subsection shall be used by the recipient for projects \n described in an application approved by the Secretary.\n (B) Types of projects.--A project carried out using \n funds allocated under this subsection--\n (i) shall serve the National Highway \n System; and\n (ii) may include--\n (I) construction of safety rest \n areas (as defined in section 120(c) of \n title 23, United States Code) that \n include parking for commercial motor \n vehicles;\n (II) construction of commercial \n motor vehicle parking facilities \n adjacent to commercial truck stops and \n travel plazas;\n (III) the opening of existing \n facilities to commercial motor vehicle \n parking, including inspection and weigh \n stations and park-and-ride facilities;\n (IV) promotion of the availability \n of publicly or privately provided \n commercial motor vehicle parking on the \n National Highway System using \n intelligent transportation systems and \n other means;\n (V) construction of turnouts along \n the National Highway System for \n commercial motor vehicles;\n (VI) making capital improvements to \n public commercial motor vehicle parking \n facilities that, as of the date of \n enactment of this Act, are closed on a \n seasonal basis; and\n (VII) improvement of the geometric \n design of interchanges on the National \n Highway System to improve access to \n commercial motor vehicle parking \n facilities.\n (4) Priority.--In allocating funds made available to carry \n out this section, the Secretary shall give priority to \n applicants that--\n (A) demonstrate a severe shortage of commercial \n motor vehicle parking capacity in the corridor to be \n addressed;\n (B) have consulted with affected State and local \n governments, community groups, private providers of \n commercial motor vehicle parking, and motorist and \n trucking organizations; and\n (C) demonstrate that the proposed projects are \n likely to have positive effects on highway safety, \n traffic congestion, or air quality.\n (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report \non the results of the pilot program.\n (d) Funding.--\n (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated \n from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit \n Account) to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of \n fiscal years 2010 through 2015.\n (2) Contract authority.--Funds authorized under this \n subsection shall be available for obligation in the same manner \n as if the funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, \n United States Code, except that--\n (A) the funds shall not be transferable and shall \n remain available until expended; and\n (B) the Federal share of the cost of a project \n under this section shall be determined in accordance \n with subsections (b) and (c) of sections 120 of that \n title.\n (e) Treatment of Projects.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \nlaw, projects funded under this section shall be treated as projects on \na Federal-aid system under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code.", "summary": "Jason's Law - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) implement a pilot program to allocate funds to states, metropolitan planning organizations, and local governments that submit an application approved by the Secretary for eligible projects to establish long-term parking facilities for commercial motor vehicles (trucks) on the National Highway System; and (2) give priority to applicants that demonstrate a severe shortage of truck parking capacity and whose proposed projects are likely to have positive effects on highway safety, traffic congestion, or air quality.", "title": "A bill to implement a pilot program to establish truck parking facilities."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 976, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Harriet Tubman National Historical \nParks Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, \n MARYLAND.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Historical park.--The term ``historical park'' means \n the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical \n Park established by subsection (b)(1)(A).\n (2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled \n ``Authorized Acquisition Area for the Proposed Harriet Tubman \n Underground Railroad National Historical Park'', numbered T20/\n 80,001, and dated July 2010.\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Maryland.\n (b) Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park.--\n (1) Establishment.--\n (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), there \n is established the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad \n National Historical Park in Caroline, Dorchester, and \n Talbot Counties, Maryland, as a unit of the National \n Park System.\n (B) Determination by secretary.--The historical \n park shall not be established until the date on which \n the Secretary determines that a sufficient quantity of \n land, or interests in land, has been acquired to \n constitute a manageable park unit.\n (C) Notice.--Not later than 30 days after the date \n on which the Secretary makes a determination under \n subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall publish in the \n Federal Register notice of the establishment of the \n historical park, including an official boundary map for \n the historical park.\n (D) Availability of map.--The official boundary map \n published under subparagraph (C) shall be on file and \n available for public inspection in appropriate offices \n of the National Park Service.\n (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the historical park is to \n preserve and interpret for the benefit of present and future \n generations the historical, cultural, and natural resources \n associated with the life of Harriet Tubman and the Underground \n Railroad.\n (3) Land acquisition.--\n (A) In general.--The Secretary may acquire land and \n interests in land within the areas depicted on the map \n as ``Authorized Acquisition Areas'' by purchase from \n willing sellers, donation, or exchange.\n (B) Boundary adjustment.--On acquisition of land or \n an interest in land under subparagraph (A), the \n boundary of the historical park shall be adjusted to \n reflect the acquisition.\n (c) Administration.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the \n historical park in accordance with this section and the laws \n generally applicable to units of the National Park System, \n including--\n (A) the National Park System Organic Act (16 U.S.C. \n 1 et seq.); and\n (B) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et \n seq.).\n (2) Interagency agreement.--Not later than 1 year after the \n date on which the historical park is established, the Director \n of the National Park Service and the Director of the United \n States Fish and Wildlife Service shall enter into an agreement \n to allow the National Park Service to provide for public \n interpretation of historic resources located within the \n boundary of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge that are \n associated with the life of Harriet Tubman, consistent with the \n management requirements of the Refuge.\n (3) Interpretive tours.--The Secretary may provide \n interpretive tours to sites and resources located outside the \n boundary of the historical park in Caroline, Dorchester, and \n Talbot Counties, Maryland, relating to the life of Harriet \n Tubman and the Underground Railroad.\n (4) Cooperative agreements.--\n (A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into a \n cooperative agreement with the State, political \n subdivisions of the State, colleges and universities, \n non-profit organizations, and individuals--\n (i) to mark, interpret, and restore \n nationally significant historic or cultural \n resources relating to the life of Harriet \n Tubman or the Underground Railroad within the \n boundaries of the historical park, if the \n agreement provides for reasonable public \n access; or\n (ii) to conduct research relating to the \n life of Harriet Tubman and the Underground \n Railroad.\n (B) Visitor center.--The Secretary may enter into a \n cooperative agreement with the State to design, \n construct, operate, and maintain a joint visitor center \n on land owned by the State--\n (i) to provide for National Park Service \n visitor and interpretive facilities for the \n historical park; and\n (ii) to provide to the Secretary, at no \n additional cost, sufficient office space to \n administer the historical park.\n (C) Cost-sharing requirement.--\n (i) Federal share.--The Federal share of \n the total cost of any activity carried out \n under this paragraph shall not exceed 50 \n percent.\n (ii) Form of non-federal share.--The non-\n Federal share of the cost of carrying out an \n activity under this paragraph may be in the \n form of in-kind contributions or goods or \n services fairly valued.\n (d) General Management Plan.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on \n which funds are made available to carry out this section, the \n Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the \n historical park in accordance with section 12(b) of the \n National Park Service General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a-\n 7(b)).\n (2) Consultation.--The general management plan shall be \n prepared in consultation with the State (including political \n subdivisions of the State).\n (3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the \n preparation and implementation of the management plan with--\n (A) the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge;\n (B) the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park \n established by section 3(b)(1)(A); and\n (C) the National Underground Railroad Network to \n Freedom.\n (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.\n\nSEC. 3. HARRIET TUBMAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, AUBURN, NEW YORK.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Historical park.--The term ``historical park'' means \n the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park established by \n subsection (b)(1)(A).\n (2) Home.--The term ``Home'' means The Harriet Tubman Home, \n Inc., located in Auburn, New York.\n (3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Harriet \n Tubman National Historical Park'', numbered T18/80,000, and \n dated March 2009.\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of New York.\n (b) Harriet Tubman National Historical Park.--\n (1) Establishment.--\n (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), there \n is established the Harriet Tubman National Historical \n Park in Auburn, New York, as a unit of the National \n Park System.\n (B) Determination by secretary.--The historical \n park shall not be established until the date on which \n the Secretary determines that a sufficient quantity of \n land, or interests in land, has been acquired to \n constitute a manageable park unit.\n (C) Notice.--Not later than 30 days after the date \n on which the Secretary makes a determination under \n subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall publish in the \n Federal Register notice of the establishment of the \n historical park.\n (D) Map.--The map shall be on file and available \n for public inspection in appropriate offices of the \n National Park Service.\n (2) Boundary.--The historical park shall include the \n Harriet Tubman Home, the Tubman Home for the Aged, the Thompson \n Memorial AME Zion Church and Rectory, and associated land, as \n identified in the area entitled ``National Historical Park \n Proposed Boundary'' on the map.\n (3) Purpose.--The purpose of the historical park is to \n preserve and interpret for the benefit of present and future \n generations the historical, cultural, and natural resources \n associated with the life of Harriet Tubman.\n (4) Land acquisition.--The Secretary may acquire land and \n interests in land within the areas depicted on the map by \n purchase from a willing seller, donation, or exchange.\n (c) Administration.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the \n historical park in accordance with this section and the laws \n generally applicable to units of the National Park System, \n including--\n (A) the National Park System Organic Act (16 U.S.C. \n 1 et seq.); and\n (B) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et \n seq.).\n (2) Interpretive tours.--The Secretary may provide \n interpretive tours to sites and resources located outside the \n boundary of the historical park in Auburn, New York, relating \n to the life of Harriet Tubman.\n (3) Cooperative agreements.--\n (A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into a \n cooperative agreement with the owner of any land within \n the historical park to mark, interpret, or restore \n nationally significant historic or cultural resources \n relating to the life of Harriet Tubman, if the \n agreement provides that--\n (i) the Secretary shall have the right of \n access to any public portions of the land \n covered by the agreement to allow for--\n (I) access at reasonable times by \n historical park visitors to the land; \n and\n (II) interpretation of the land for \n the public; and\n (ii) no changes or alterations shall be \n made to the land except by mutual agreement of \n the Secretary and the owner of the land.\n (B) Research.--The Secretary may enter into a \n cooperative agreement with the State, political \n subdivisions of the State, institutions of higher \n education, the Home and other nonprofit organizations, \n and individuals to conduct research relating to the \n life of Harriet Tubman.\n (C) Cost-sharing requirement.--\n (i) Federal share.--The Federal share of \n the total cost of any activity carried out \n under this paragraph shall not exceed 50 \n percent.\n (ii) Form of non-federal share.--The non-\n Federal share may be in the form of in-kind \n contributions or goods or services fairly \n valued.\n (D) Attorney general.--\n (i) In general.--The Secretary shall submit \n to the Attorney General for review any \n cooperative agreement under this paragraph \n involving religious property or property owned \n by a religious institution.\n (ii) Finding.--No cooperative agreement \n subject to review under this subparagraph shall \n take effect until the date on which the \n Attorney General issues a finding that the \n proposed agreement does not violate the \n Establishment Clause of the first amendment to \n the Constitution.\n (d) General Management Plan.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on \n which funds are made available to carry out this section, the \n Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the \n historical park in accordance with section 12(b) of the \n National Park Service General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a-\n 7(b)).\n (2) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the \n preparation and implementation of the management plan with--\n (A) the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad \n National Historical Park established by section \n 2(b)(1); and\n (B) the National Underground Railroad Network to \n Freedom.\n (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act, except \nthat not more than $7,500,000 shall be available to provide financial \nassistance under subsection (c)(3).\n\nSEC. 4. OFFSET.\n\n Section 101(b)(12) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 \n(Public Law 104-303; 110 Stat. 3667) is amended by striking \n``$53,852,000'' and inserting ``$29,852,000''.\n\n Passed the Senate July 9, 2014.\n\n Attest:\n\n NANCY ERICKSON,\n\n Secretary.", "summary": "(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on April 22, 2013. Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act - Establishes in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System. Establishes in Auburn, New York, the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park also as a unit of the National Park System. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with certain entities for the historical preservation and interpretation of the parks. Requires the Secretary to complete a general management plan for the parks. Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 to decrease the federal share of project costs for navigation and safety improvements to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and Baltimore Harbor Connecting Channels in Delaware and Maryland. ", "title": "Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2362, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Government Audit Reform Act of \n2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.\n\n It is the sense of Congress that the Director of the Office of \nManagement and Budget should follow the recommendations of the \nGovernment Accountability Office report entitled ``Single Audit: \nOpportunities Exist to Improve the Single Audit Process and Oversight'' \n(GAO-09-307R), issued March 13, 2009.\n\nSEC. 3. OVERSIGHT OF THE SINGLE AUDIT PROCESS.\n\n (a) Amendment to Single Audit Act.--\n (1) In general.--Chapter 75 of title 31, United States \n Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new \n section:\n``Sec. 7508. Oversight and evaluation\n ``(a) Oversight and Evaluation.--The Director, or the head of the \noffice or entity designated by the Director under subsection (c), shall \nmonitor the risk, cost-benefit, efficiency, and effectiveness of the \nimplementation by Federal agencies of this chapter by--\n ``(1) evaluating such implementation governmentwide; and\n ``(2) identifying additional guidance and resources \n necessary to improve such implementation, including revisions \n to regulations, best practices, and processes.\n ``(b) Report.--The Director, or the head of the office or entity \ndesignated by the Director under subsection (c), shall submit to the \nCommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, \nthe Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of \nRepresentatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States a \nreport that includes the findings under subsection (a). The report \nshall be submitted not later than September 30 of each year and shall \ncover the previous year.\n ``(c) Designation of Oversight Entity.--The Director of the Office \nof Management and Budget shall designate an office in the Office of \nManagement and Budget or another Federal entity to act on behalf of the \nDirector under subsection (a) and submit to the Committee on Homeland \nSecurity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on \nOversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and \nthe Comptroller General of the United States a report that describes \nsuch office or entity and the resources made available to such office \nor entity to adequately implement the provisions of this section.''.\n (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the \n beginning of chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code, is \n amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7507 \n the following new item:\n\n``7508. Oversight and evaluation.''.\n (b) Simplified Audit Process.--\n (1) Evaluation.--The Director, or the head of the office or \n entity designated by the Director under section 7508(c) of \n title 31, United States Code, shall evaluate the process for \n the single audit and the program-specific audit under chapter \n 75 of title 31, United States Code, to identify simplified \n alternatives for achieving the purposes of the Single Audit Act \n of 1984 (Public Law 98-502; 98 Stat. 2327; 31 U.S.C. 7501 note) \n and the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (Public Law 104-\n 156; 110 Stat. 1396; 31 U.S.C. 7501 note) for the audits of \n small recipients that also achieve the proper balance between \n risk and cost-effective accountability for small and large \n recipients.\n (2) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the \n enactment of this Act, the Director, or the head of the office \n or entity designated by the Director under section 7508(c) of \n title 31, United States Code, shall submit to the Committee on \n Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the \n Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of \n Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United \n States, a report on the results of the evaluation under \n paragraph (1).\n (3) Definitions.--In this subsection:\n (A) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the \n Director of the Office of Management and Budget.\n (B) Large recipient.--The term ``large recipient'' \n means a non-Federal entity that expends a total amount \n of Federal awards equal to or in excess of $300,000 or \n such other amount specified by the Director under \n section 7502(a)(3) of title 31, United States Code, in \n any fiscal year.\n (C) Non-federal entity.--The term ``non-Federal \n entity'' has the meaning given that term under section \n 7501 of title 31, United States Code.\n (D) Small recipient.--The term ``small recipient'' \n means a non-Federal entity that expends a total amount \n of Federal awards of less than $300,000 or such other \n amount specified by the Director under section \n 7502(a)(3) of title 31, United States Code, in any \n fiscal year.\n (c) Implementation of Recommendations To Improve Audit Quality.--\n (1) Evaluation.--The Director of the Office of Management \n and Budget shall evaluate the implementation of the \n recommendations made to the Office of Management and Budget by \n the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency in the \n report entitled ``Report on National Single Audit Sampling \n Project,'' dated June 2007.\n (2) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the \n enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management \n and Budget shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security \n and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on \n Oversight and Government Reform of the House of \n Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United \n States a report on the results of the evaluation under \n paragraph (1).\n (d) Deadline for Designation of Oversight Entity.--Not later than \n60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of \nthe Office of Management and Budget shall designate an office in the \nOffice of Management and Budget or another Federal entity under section \n7508(c) of title 31, United States Code.", "summary": "Government Audit Reform Act of 2010 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) should follow the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report entitled \"Single Audit: Opportunities Exist to Improve the Single Audit Process and Oversight\" (GAO-09-307R), issued March 13, 2009.\n\nAmends the Single Audit Act of 1984 to require the OMB Director (or a designee) to monitor and report annually to specified congressional committees and the Comptroller General on the risk, cost-benefit, efficiency, and effectiveness of the implementation of this Act by federal agencies by: (1) evaluating such implementation governmentwide; and (2) identifying additional guidance and resources necessary to improve such implementation, including revisions to regulations, best practices, and processes.\n\nRequires the OMB Director to designate an OMB office or another federal entity (oversight entity) to act on OMB's behalf in such monitoring and reporting.\n\nRequires the OMB Director (or a designated oversight entity) to evaluate and report to specified congressional committees and the Comptroller General on the process for the single audit and the program-specific audit to identify simplified alternatives for achieving the purposes of the Single Audit Act of 1984 and the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 for the audits of small recipients that also achieve the proper balance between risk and cost-effective accountability for small and large recipients.\n\nRequires the OMB Director to evaluate and report to specified congressional committees and the Comptroller General on the implementation of the recommendations made to it by the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency in the report entitled \"Report on National Single Audit Sampling Project,\" dated June 2007.\n\nEstablishes a deadline for OMB to designate such oversight entity.", "title": "To amend title 31, United States Code, to direct the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to improve oversight of the single audit process, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1610, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Arlington National Cemetery Burial \nEligibility Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR BURIAL IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, is \namended by adding at the end the following new section:\n``Sec. 2412. Arlington National Cemetery: persons eligible for burial\n ``(a) Primary Eligibility.--The remains of the following \nindividuals may be buried in Arlington National Cemetery:\n ``(1) Any member of the Armed Forces who dies while on \n active duty.\n ``(2)(A) Any retired member of the Armed Forces.\n ``(B) Any member or former member of a reserve component of \n the Armed Forces--\n ``(i) who served on active duty;\n ``(ii) who was honorably discharged from such \n active duty service;\n ``(iii) who, at the time of death, was under 60 \n years of age; and\n ``(iv) who, but for age, would have been eligible \n at the time of death for retired pay under chapter 1223 \n of title 10.\n ``(3) Any former member of the Armed Forces separated for \n physical disability before October 1, 1949, who--\n ``(A) served on active duty; and\n ``(B) would have been eligible for retirement under \n the provisions of section 1201 of title 10 (relating to \n retirement for disability) had that section been in \n effect on the date of separation of the member.\n ``(4) Any former member of the Armed Forces whose last \n active duty military service terminated honorably and who has \n been awarded one of the following decorations:\n ``(A) Medal of Honor.\n ``(B) Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross, \n or Navy Cross.\n ``(C) Distinguished Service Medal.\n ``(D) Silver Star.\n ``(E) Purple Heart.\n ``(5) Any former prisoner of war who dies on or after \n November 30, 1993.\n ``(6) Any member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces \n who dies in the performance of duty while on active duty for \n training or inactive duty training.\n ``(7) The President or any former President.\n ``(b) Eligibility of Family Members.--The remains of the following \nindividuals may be buried in Arlington National Cemetery:\n ``(1) The spouse, surviving spouse (which for purposes of \n this paragraph includes any remarried surviving spouse, section \n 2402(5) of this title notwithstanding), minor child, and, at \n the discretion of the Superintendent, unmarried adult child of \n a person listed in subsection (a), but only if buried in the \n same gravesite as that person.\n ``(2)(A) The spouse, minor child, and, at the discretion of \n the Superintendent, unmarried adult child of a member of the \n Armed Forces on active duty if such spouse, minor child, or \n unmarried adult child dies while such member is on active duty.\n ``(B) The individual whose spouse, minor child, and \n unmarried adult child is eligible under subparagraph (A), but \n only if buried in the same gravesite as the spouse, minor \n child, or unmarried adult child.\n ``(3) The parents of a minor child or unmarried adult child \n whose remains, based on the eligibility of a parent, are \n already buried in Arlington National Cemetery, but only if \n buried in the same gravesite as that minor child or unmarried \n adult child.\n ``(4)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the surviving spouse, \n minor child, and, at the discretion of the Superintendent, \n unmarried adult child of a member of the Armed Forces who was \n lost, buried at sea, or officially determined to be permanently \n absent in a status of missing or missing in action.\n ``(B) A person is not eligible under subparagraph (A) if a \n memorial to honor the memory of the member is placed in a \n cemetery in the national cemetery system, unless the memorial \n is removed. A memorial removed under this subparagraph may be \n placed, at the discretion of the Superintendent, in Arlington \n National Cemetery.\n ``(5) The surviving spouse, minor child, and, at the \n discretion of the Superintendent, unmarried adult child of a \n member of the Armed Forces buried in a cemetery under the \n jurisdiction of the American Battle Monuments Commission.\n ``(c) Disabled Adult Unmarried Children.--In the case of an \nunmarried adult child who is incapable of self-support up to the time \nof death because of a physical or mental condition, the child may be \nburied under subsection (b) without requirement for approval by the \nSuperintendent under that subsection if the burial is in the same \ngravesite as the gravesite in which the parent, who is eligible for \nburial under subsection (a), has been or will be buried.\n ``(d) Family Members of Persons Buried in a Group Gravesite.--In \nthe case of a person eligible for burial under subsection (a) who is \nburied in Arlington National Cemetery as part of a group burial, the \nsurviving spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child of the member \nmay not be buried in the group gravesite.\n ``(e) Exclusive Authority for Burial in Arlington National \nCemetery.--(1) Eligibility for burial of remains in Arlington National \nCemetery prescribed under this section is the exclusive eligibility for \nsuch burial.\n ``(2)(A) In the case of an individual not otherwise eligible for \nburial under subsection (a) whose acts, service, or contributions to \nthe Armed Forces are so extraordinary as to justify burial in Arlington \nNational Cemetery, the President may deem such individual eligible for \nburial under subsection (a).\n ``(B) If the President deems an individual eligible for burial in \nArlington National Cemetery under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of \nthe Army shall immediately notify the chairmen and the ranking members \nof the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of \nRepresentatives.\n ``(C)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), the authority under \nsubparagraph (A) may not be delegated.\n ``(ii) The President may only delegate the authority under \nsubparagraph (A) to the Secretary of the Army.\n ``(f) Application for Burial.--(1) A request for burial of remains \nof an individual in Arlington National Cemetery shall be made to the \nSecretary of the Army or to any other Federal official that the \nSecretary of the Army may specify.\n ``(2) The Secretary, or other Federal official, may not consider a \nrequest referred to in paragraph (1) that is made before the death of \nthe individual for whom burial in Arlington National Cemetery is \nrequested.\n ``(3) The President, or the Secretary, as the case may be, may not \nconsider a request to deem an individual eligible for burial in \nArlington National Cemetery under subsection (e)(2) that is made before \nthe death of the individual for whom burial in Arlington National \nCemetery is requested.\n ``(g) Register of Buried Individuals.--(1) The Secretary of the \nArmy shall maintain a register of each individual buried in Arlington \nNational Cemetery and shall make such register available to the public.\n ``(2) With respect to each such individual buried on or after \nJanuary 1, 2002, the register shall include a brief description of the \nbasis of eligibility of the individual for burial in Arlington National \nCemetery.\n ``(h) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:\n ``(1) The term `retired member of the Armed Forces' means--\n ``(A) any member of the Armed Forces on a retired \n list who served on active duty and who is entitled to \n retired pay;\n ``(B) any member of the Fleet Reserve or Fleet \n Marine Corps Reserve who served on active duty and who \n is entitled to retainer pay; and\n ``(C) any member of a reserve component of the \n Armed Forces who has served on active duty and who has \n received notice from the Secretary concerned under \n section 12731(d) of title 10, of eligibility for \n retired pay under chapter 1223 of title 10, United \n States Code.\n ``(2) The term `former member of the Armed Forces' includes \n a person whose service is considered active duty service \n pursuant to a determination of the Secretary of Defense under \n section 401 of Public Law 95-202 (38 U.S.C. 106 note).\n ``(3) The term `Superintendent' means the Superintendent of \n Arlington National Cemetery.''.\n (b) Publication of Updated Pamphlet.--Not later than 180 days after \nthe date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall \npublish an updated pamphlet describing eligibility for burial in \nArlington National Cemetery. The pamphlet shall reflect the provisions \nof section 2412 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection \n(a).\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of \nchapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the \nend the following new item:\n\n``2412. Arlington National Cemetery: persons eligible for burial.''.\n (d) Technical Amendment.--Section 2402(5) of title 38, United \nStates Code, is amended by inserting ``, except section 2412(b)(1) of \nthis title,'' after ``which for purposes of this chapter''.\n (e) Conforming Repeal.--Section 1176 of the National Defense \nAuthorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (Public Law 103-160; 38 U.S.C. \n2402 note) is repealed.\n (f) Effective Date.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), \nsection 2412 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection \n(a), shall apply with respect to individuals dying on or after the date \nof the enactment of this Act.\n (2) In the case of an individual buried in Arlington National \nCemetery before the date of the enactment of this Act, the surviving \nspouse of such individual is deemed to be eligible for burial in \nArlington National Cemetery under subsection (b) of such section, but \nonly in the same gravesite as such individual.\n\nSEC. 3. PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR PLACEMENT IN THE COLUMBARIUM IN ARLINGTON \n NATIONAL CEMETERY.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, is \namended by adding after section 2412, as added by section 2(a) of this \nAct, the following new section:\n``Sec. 2413. Arlington National Cemetery: persons eligible for \n placement in columbarium\n ``The cremated remains of the following individuals may be placed \nin the columbarium in Arlington National Cemetery:\n ``(1) A person eligible for burial in Arlington National \n Cemetery under section 2412 of this title.\n ``(2)(A) A veteran whose last period of active duty service \n (other than active duty for training) ended honorably.\n ``(B) The spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, and, at \n the discretion of the Superintendent of Arlington National \n Cemetery, unmarried adult child of such a veteran.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of \nchapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding after \nsection 2412, as added by section 2(c) of this Act, the following new \nitem:\n\n``2413. Arlington National Cemetery: persons eligible for placement in \n columbarium.''.\n (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 11201(a)(1) of title 46, United \nStates Code, is amended by inserting after subparagraph (B), the \nfollowing new subparagraph:\n ``(C) Section 2413 (relating to placement in the \n columbarium in Arlington National Cemetery).''.\n (d) Effective Date.--Section 2413 of title 38, United States Code, \nas added by subsection (a), and section 11201(a)(1)(C), as added by \nsubsection (c), shall apply with respect to individuals dying on or \nafter the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. MONUMENTS IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, is \namended by adding after section 2413, as added by section 3(a) of this \nAct, the following new section:\n``Sec. 2414. Arlington National Cemetery: authorized headstones, \n markers, and monuments\n ``(a) Gravesite Markers Provided by the Secretary.--A gravesite in \nArlington National Cemetery shall be appropriately marked in accordance \nwith section 2404 of this title.\n ``(b) Gravesite Markers Provided at Private Expense.--(1) The \nSecretary of the Army shall prescribe regulations for the provision of \nheadstones or markers to mark a gravesite at private expense in lieu of \nheadstones and markers provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in \nArlington National Cemetery.\n ``(2) Such regulations shall ensure that--\n ``(A) such headstones or markers are of simple design, \n dignified, and appropriate to a military cemetery;\n ``(B) the person providing such headstone or marker \n provides for the future maintenance of the headstone or marker \n in the event repairs are necessary;\n ``(C) the Secretary of the Army shall not be liable for \n maintenance of or damage to the headstone or marker;\n ``(D) such headstones or markers are aesthetically \n compatible with Arlington National Cemetery; and\n ``(E) such headstones or markers are permitted only in \n sections of Arlington National Cemetery authorized for such \n headstones or markers as of January 1, 1947.\n ``(c) Monuments.--(1) No monument (or similar structure as \ndetermined by the Secretary of the Army in regulations) may be placed \nin Arlington National Cemetery except pursuant to the provisions of \nthis subsection.\n ``(2) A monument may be placed in Arlington National Cemetery if \nthe monument commemorates--\n ``(A) the service in the Armed Forces of the individual, or \n group of individuals, whose memory is to be honored by the \n monument; or\n ``(B) a particular military event.\n ``(3) No monument may be placed in Arlington National Cemetery \nuntil the end of the 25-year period beginning--\n ``(A) in the case of commemoration of service under \n paragraph (1)(A), on the last day of the period of service so \n commemorated; and\n ``(B) in the case of commemoration of a particular military \n event under paragraph (1)(B), on the last day of the period of \n the event.\n ``(4) A monument may be placed only in those sections of Arlington \nNational Cemetery designated by the Secretary of the Army for such \nplacement.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of \nchapter 24 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding after \nsection 2413, as added by section 3(b) of this Act, the following new \nitem:\n\n``2414. Arlington National Cemetery: authorized headstones, markers, \n and monuments.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply with respect to headstones, markers, or monuments placed in \nArlington National Cemetery on or after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n\nSEC. 5. PUBLICATION OF REGULATIONS.\n\n Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this \nAct, the Secretary of the Army shall publish in the Federal Register \nany regulation proposed by the Secretary to carry out sections 2 \nthrough 4.\n\nSEC. 6. APPLICATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BENEFIT FOR \n GOVERNMENT MARKERS FOR MARKED GRAVES OF VETERANS AT \n PRIVATE CEMETERIES TO VETERANS DYING ON OR AFTER \n SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (d) of section 502 of the Veterans \nEducation and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-103; 115 \nStat. 994; 38 U.S.C. 2306 note) is amended by striking ``the date of \nthe enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``September 11, 2001''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \ntake effect as if included in the enactment of such section 502.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives July 22, 2002.\n\n Attest:\n\n JEFF TRANDAHL,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Arlington National Cemetery Burial Eligibility Act - Allows the remains of the following persons to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery: (1) any member of the armed forces who dies while on active duty; (2) any retired member of the armed forces; (3) any member or former member of a reserve component of the armed forces who served on active duty, who was honorably discharged from active duty, who was under 60 years of age, and who, but for such age, would have been eligible for retired pay; (4) any former member who was separated for physical disability before October 1, 1949, who served on active duty, and who would have been eligible for disability retirement if such provisions had been in effect on such date; (5) any former member whose last active military service was terminated honorably and who has been awarded one of a number of specified military decorations; (6) any former prisoner of war who dies on or after November 30, 1993; (7) any reserve member who dies while on active duty for training or inactive duty training; (8) the President or any former President; (9) the spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, and, in the discretion of the Cemetery's Superintendent, unmarried adult child of an interred member (but only if buried in the same grave site); (10) the spouse, minor child, and unmarried adult child (discretionary) of a member on active duty if such person dies while the member is on active duty; (11) the individual whose spouse, minor child, and unmarried adult child (discretionary) is eligible under (10), above, but only if buried in the same grave site; (12) the parents of a minor child or unmarried adult child whose remains, based on the parent's eligibility, are already buried in the Cemetery, but only if buried in the same grave site; (13) the surviving spouse, minor child, and unmarried adult child (discretionary) of a member who was lost, buried at sea, or officially determined to be permanently absent in a status of missing or missing in action; and (14) the surviving spouse, minor child, and unmarried adult child (discretionary) of a member buried in a cemetery under the jurisdiction of the American Battle Monuments Commission.Authorizes the President to deem an otherwise ineligible individual as eligible for such burial for extraordinary acts, services, or contributions to the armed forces. Prohibits the consideration of a request for burial under such extraordinary circumstances that is made before the death of the individual involved.Directs the Secretary of the Army to: (1) maintain a register of each individual buried in the Cemetery that describes the basis of burial eligibility for individuals buried on or after January 1, 2002; and (2) publish an updated pamphlet describing eligibility for Cemetery burial.(Sec. 3) Authorizes the cremated remains of the following individuals to be placed in the Cemetery columbarium: (1) any person described above who is eligible for Cemetery burial; (2) a veteran whose last period of active duty service (other than for training) ended honorably; and (3) the spouse, surviving spouse, minor child, and, at the Superintendent's discretion, the unmarried adult child of a veteran whose last period of active service ended honorably.(Sec. 4) Requires a Cemetery grave site to be appropriately marked. Requires the Secretary to prescribe regulations for the provision of Cemetery headstones or markers at private expense in lieu of Cemetery headstones and markers provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Allows for the placement of Cemetery monuments for particular military service or a military event, but requires a 25-year wait after such service or event before the placing of such monument. (Sec. 6) Amends the Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 to make a provision authorizing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish a headstone or marker for the graves of eligible veterans buried in private cemeteries effective with respect to veterans dying on or after September 11, 2001 (currently December 27, 2001).", "title": "To amend title 38, United States Code, to enact into law eligibility requirements for burial in Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3210, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Justice Outreach Act of \n2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROGRAM OF COORDINATED OUTREACH \n FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.\n\n (a) Program Required.--\n (1) In general.--Subchapter III of chapter 20 of title 38, \n United States Code, is amended--\n (A) by redesignating sections 2022 and 2023 as \n sections 2023 and 2024, respectively; and\n (B) by inserting after section 2021A the following \n new section 2022:\n``Sec. 2022. Coordination of outreach for justice-involved veterans at \n risk of homelessness\n ``(a) Program Required.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to \nsupport veterans in contact with the criminal justice system by \ndiscouraging unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and other \nnonviolent crimes.\n ``(b) Partnership.--The Secretary shall carry out the program \nrequired by subsection (a) in partnership with local law enforcement, \njudicial, and community-based treatment and legal assistance \norganizations.\n ``(c) Authorized Activities.--In carrying out the program required \nby subsection (a), the Secretary may conduct the following:\n ``(1) Training for police, prosecutors, courts, public \n defenders, and other community-based support organizations on \n matters relating to psychological trauma associated with \n military service and mental health and substance abuse services \n available from the Department.\n ``(2) Support for courts and their officers, including \n physical presence in the courtroom setting, by facilitating \n mental health assessments, treatment planning, referrals to \n Department services, or such other services as may be requested \n by the courts.\n ``(3) Such other outreach and assistance as the Secretary \n considers appropriate for the provision of support described in \n subsection (a).\n ``(d) Justice Outreach Coordinators.--(1) In order to effectively \nassist veterans in contact with the criminal justice system, the \nSecretary shall establish coordinators to provide outreach under the \nprogram required by subsection (a).\n ``(2) The Secretary shall ensure that each coordinator established \nunder paragraph (1) is knowledgeable about psychological and \npsychiatric evaluation in relation to justice-based forensic matters, \nsuch as--\n ``(A) psychiatric diagnosis;\n ``(B) developmental disabilities;\n ``(C) medical issues, such as traumatic brain injury;\n ``(D) competency and sanity;\n ``(E) neglect and abuse;\n ``(F) parental rights; and\n ``(G) life threatening issues, such as suicidality and \n homicidally.\n ``(e) Veteran in Contact With the Criminal Justice System \nDefined.--In this section, the term `veteran in contact with the \ncriminal justice system' includes the following:\n ``(1) A veteran in contact with local law enforcement who \n can be appropriately diverted from arrest to mental health \n treatment.\n ``(2) A veteran in local jail either pretrial or serving a \n sentence.\n ``(3) A veteran in adjudication or monitoring by a \n court.''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 2023(f) of such title, \n as redesignated by paragraph (1)(A), is amended in paragraphs \n (2)(C) and (3)(C) by striking ``section 2023'' both places it \n appears and inserting ``section 2024''.\n (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the \n beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by striking \n the items relating to sections 2022 and 2023 and inserting the \n following new items:\n\n``2022. Coordination of outreach for justice-involved veterans at risk \n of homelessness.\n``2023. Coordination of outreach services for veterans at risk of \n homelessness.\n``2024. Referral and counseling services: veterans at risk of \n homelessness who are transitioning from \n certain institutions.''.\n (b) Report.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of \n the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs \n shall submit to Congress a report on the program carried out \n under section 2022(a) of such title, as added by subsection \n (a)(1).\n (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) \n shall include an assessment of the following:\n (A) The number of coordinators established under \n section 2022(d)(1) of such title, as added by \n subsection (a)(1).\n (B) The training of such coordinators.\n (C) The capabilities of such coordinators.\n (D) The capacity of the program carried out under \n section 2022(a) of such title, as so added, to meet the \n demand of veterans and courts for services under the \n program.", "summary": "Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a program to support veterans in contact with the criminal justice system by discouraging unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and other nonviolent crimes. The program shall be carried out in partnership with local law enforcement, judicial, and community-based treatment and legal assistance organizations. The VA shall establish coordinators to provide program outreach.", "title": "Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 641, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Senior Citizens Against Marketing \nScams Act of 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION.\n\n The Congress makes the following findings and declaration:\n (1) Unprecedented Federal law enforcement investigations \n have uncovered a national network of illicit telemarketing \n operations.\n (2) Most of the telemarketing industry is legitimate, \n employing over 3,000,000 people through direct and indirect \n means.\n (3) Illicit telemarketers, however, are an increasing \n problem which victimizes our Nation's senior citizens in \n disproportionate numbers.\n (4) Interstate telemarketing fraud has become a problem of \n such magnitude that the resources of the Department of Justice \n are not sufficient to ensure that there is adequate \n investigation of, and protection from, such fraud.\n (5) Telemarketing differs from other sales activities in \n that it can be carried out by sellers across State lines \n without direct contact. Telemarketers can also be very mobile, \n easily moving from State to State.\n (6) It is estimated that victims lose billions of dollars a \n year as a result of telemarketing fraud.\n (7) Consequently, Congress should enact legislation that \n will--\n (A) enhance Federal law enforcement resources;\n (B) ensure adequate punishment for telemarketing \n fraud; and\n (C) educate the public.\n\nSEC. 3. ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR TELEMARKETING FRAUD.\n\n (a) Offense.--Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by redesignating chapter 113A as chapter 113B; and\n (2) by inserting after chapter 113 the following new \n chapter:\n\n ``CHAPTER 113A--TELEMARKETING FRAUD\n\n``Sec.\n``2325. Definition.\n``2326. Enhanced penalties.\n``2327. Restitution.\n``Sec. 2325. Definition\n ``In this chapter, `telemarketing'--\n ``(1) means a plan, program, promotion, or campaign that is \n conducted to induce--\n ``(A) purchases of goods or services; or\n ``(B) participation in a contest or sweepstakes,\n by use of 1 or more interstate telephone calls initiated either \n by a person who is conducting the plan, program, promotion, or \n campaign or by a prospective purchaser or contest or \n sweepstakes participant; but\n ``(2) does not include the solicitation of sales through \n the mailing of a catalog that--\n ``(A) contains a written description or \n illustration of the goods or services offered for sale;\n ``(B) includes the business address of the seller;\n ``(C) includes multiple pages of written material \n or illustration; and\n ``(D) has been issued not less frequently than once \n a year,\n if the person making the solicitation does not solicit \n customers by telephone but only receives calls initiated by \n customers in response to the catalog and during those calls \n take orders without further solicitation.\n``Sec. 2326. Enhanced penalties\n ``An offender that is convicted of an offense under 1028, 1029, \n1341, 1342, 1343, or 1344 in connection with the conduct of \ntelemarketing--\n ``(1) may be imprisoned for a term of 5 years in addition \n to any term of imprisonment imposed under any of those \n sections, respectively; and\n ``(2) in the case of an offense under any of those sections \n that--\n ``(A) victimized 20 or more persons over the age of \n 55; or\n ``(B) targeted persons over the age of 55,\n may be imprisoned for a term of 10 years in addition to any \n term of imprisonment imposed under any of those sections, \n respectively.\n``Sec. 2327. Restitution\n ``In sentencing an offender under section 2326, the court shall \norder the offender to pay restitution to any victims and may order the \noffender to pay restitution to others who sustained losses as a result \nof the offender's fraudulent activity.''.\n (b) Technical Amendments.--\n (1) Part analysis.--The part analysis for part I of title \n 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the item \n relating to chapter 113A and inserting the following:\n\n``113A. Telemarketing fraud................................. 2325\n``113B. Terrorism........................................... 2331''.\n (2) Chapter 113b.--The chapter heading for chapter 113B of \n title 18, United States Code, as redesignated by subsection \n (a)(1), is amended to read as follows:\n\n ``CHAPTER 113B--TERRORISM''.\n\nSEC. 4. FORFEITURE OF FRAUD PROCEEDS.\n\n Section 982(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by \nadding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(6) The Court, in sentencing an offender under section \n 2326, shall order that the offender forfeit to the United \n States any real or personal property constituting or derived \n from proceeds that the offender obtained directly or indirectly \n as a result of the offense.''.\n\nSEC. 5. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR FRAUD AGAINST OLDER VICTIMS.\n\n (a) Review.--The United States Sentencing Commission shall review \nand, if necessary, amend the sentencing guidelines to ensure that \nvictim related adjustments for fraud offenses against older victims \nover the age of 55 are adequate.\n (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of \nthis Act, the Sentencing Commission shall report to Congress the result \nof its review under subsection (a).\n\nSEC. 6. REWARDS FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO PROSECUTION AND CONVICTION.\n\n Section 3059 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding \nat the end the following new subsection:\n ``(c)(1) In special circumstances and in the Attorney General's \nsole discretion, the Attorney General may make a payment of up to \n$10,000 to a person who furnishes information unknown to the Government \nrelating to a possible prosecution under section 2325 which results in \na conviction.\n ``(2) A person is not eligible for a payment under paragraph (1) \nif--\n ``(A) the person is a current or former officer or employee \n of a Federal, State, or local government agency or \n instrumentality who furnishes information discovered or \n gathered in the course of government employment;\n ``(B) the person knowingly participated in the offense;\n ``(C) the information furnished by the person consists of \n an allegation or transaction that has been disclosed to the \n public--\n ``(i) in a criminal, civil, or administrative \n proceeding;\n ``(ii) in a congressional, administrative, or \n General Accounting Office report, hearing, audit, or \n investigation; or\n ``(iii) by the news media, unless the person is the \n original source of the information; or\n ``(D) when, in the judgment of the Attorney General, it \n appears that a person whose illegal activities are being \n prosecuted or investigated could benefit from the award.\n ``(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(C)(iii), the term `original \nsource' means a person who has direct and independent knowledge of the \ninformation that is furnished and has voluntarily provided the \ninformation to the Government prior to disclosure by the news media.\n ``(4) Neither the failure of the Attorney General to authorize a \npayment under paragraph (1) nor the amount authorized shall be subject \nto judicial review.''.\n\nSEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1994 for \nthe purposes of carrying out this Act and the amendments made by this \nAct--\n (1) $10,000,000 for the Federal Bureau of Investigation to \n hire, equip, and train no fewer than 100 special agents and \n support staff to investigate telemarketing fraud cases;\n (2) $3,500,000 to hire, equip, and train no fewer than 30 \n Department of Justice attorneys, assistant United States \n Attorneys, and support staff to prosecute telemarketing fraud \n cases; and\n (3) $10,000,000 for the Department of Justice to conduct, \n in cooperation with State and local law enforcement agencies \n and senior citizen advocacy organizations, public awareness and \n prevention initiatives for senior citizens, such as seminars \n and training.\n\nSEC. 8. BROADENING APPLICATION OF MAIL FRAUD STATUTE.\n\n Section 1341 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``or deposits or causes to be deposited \n any matter or thing whatever to be sent or delivered by any \n private or commercial interstate carrier,'' after ``Postal \n Service,''; and\n (2) by inserting ``or such carrier'' after ``causes to be \n delivered by mail''.\n\nSEC. 9. FRAUD AND RELATED ACTIVITY IN CONNECTION WITH ACCESS DEVICES.\n\n Section 1029 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (3); \n and\n (B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following \n new paragraphs:\n ``(5) knowingly and with intent to defraud effects \n transactions, with 1 or more access devices issued to another \n person or persons, to receive payment or any other thing of \n value during any 1-year period the aggregate value of which is \n equal to or greater than $1,000;\n ``(6) without the authorization of the issuer of the access \n device, knowingly and with intent to defraud solicits a person \n for the purpose of--\n ``(A) offering an access device; or\n ``(B) selling information regarding or an \n application to obtain an access device; or\n ``(7) without the authorization of the credit card system \n member or its agent, knowingly and with intent to defraud \n causes or arranges for another person to present to the member \n or its agent, for payment, 1 or more evidences or records of \n transactions made by an access device;'';\n (2) in subsection (c)(1) by striking ``(a)(2) or (a)(3)'' \n and inserting ``(a) (2), (3), (5), (6), or (7)''; and\n (3) in subsection (e)--\n (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph \n (5);\n (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph \n (6) and inserting ``; and''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(7) the term `credit card system member' means a \n financial institution or other entity that is a member of a \n credit card system, including an entity, whether affiliated \n with or identical to the credit card issuer, that is the sole \n member of a credit card system.''.\n\nSEC. 10. INFORMATION NETWORK.\n\n (a) Hotline.--The Attorney General shall establish a national toll-\nfree hotline for the purpose of--\n (1) providing general information on telemarketing fraud to \n interested persons; and\n (2) gathering information related to possible violations of \n this Act.\n (b) Action on Information Gathered.--The Attorney General shall \nwork in cooperation with the Federal Trade Commission to ensure that \ninformation gathered through the hotline shall be acted on in an \nappropriate manner.\n\n Passed the Senate July 30 (legislative day, June 30), 1993.\n\n Attest:\n\n WALTER J. STEWART,\n\n Secretary.", "summary": "Senior Citizens Against Marketing Scams Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for enhanced penalties for telemarketing fraud that targets or victimizes persons over age 55. Directs the court to order offenders to: (1) pay restitution to persons who sustained losses as a result of the fraudulent activity; and (2) forfeit to the United States property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained as a result of the offense. \nRequires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if necessary, amend the sentencing guidelines to ensure that victim related adjustments for fraud offenses against persons over age 55 are adequate. \nAuthorizes the Attorney General to make awards for furnishing information leading to the prosecution and conviction of telemarketing fraud offenders. \nAuthorizes appropriations. \nMakes the mail fraud statute applicable to matter sent or delivered by any private or commercial interstate carrier. \nSets forth provisions regarding fraud and related activity in connection with access devices. \nDirects the Attorney General to establish a national, toll-free telemarketing fraud hotline.", "title": "Senior Citizens Against Marketing Scams Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 307, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Significant Regulation Oversight Act \nof 1996''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDING AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Finding.--The Congress finds that oversight of significant \nrules will be enhanced if they are subject to congressional review and \napproval after being proposed by an agency.\n (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to ensure that before a \nsignificant rule takes affect--\n (1) Congress is given an adequate opportunity to review the \n rule and ensure that it is in accordance with the intent of \n Congress in enacting the law under which the rule is proposed; \n and\n (2) Congress approves the rule in accordance with the \n procedures established by this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. REVIEW OF SIGNIFICANT RULES BY CONGRESS.\n\n (a) Congressional Approval of Significant Rules Required.--A \nsignificant rule shall not take effect before the date of the enactment \nof a joint resolution described in section 4(a) comprised solely of the \ntext of the significant rule.\n (b) Reporting and Review of Significant Rules.--(1) Before a \nproposed significant rule would take effect as a final rule, the agency \nproposing the rule shall submit to each House of Congress a report \ncontaining the following:\n (A) A copy of the proposed significant rule.\n (B) A concise summary of the proposed significant rule, its \n purpose, and anticipated effects.\n (C) A complete copy of any cost-benefit analysis report \n that has been prepared by the agency with respect to the \n proposed significant rule.\n (D) An explanation of the specific statutory interpretation \n under which a rule is proposed, including an explanation of--\n (i) whether the interpretation is expressly \n required by the text of the statute; or\n (ii) if the interpretation is not expressly \n required by the text of the statute, an explanation \n that the interpretation is within the range of \n permissible interpretations of the statute as \n identified by the agency, and an explanation why the \n interpretation selected by the agency is the agency's \n preferred interpretation.\n (E) Any other relevant information or requirements under \n any other Act and any relevant Executive order.\n (2) Upon receipt of a report under paragraph (1), each House of \nCongress shall provide a copy of the report to the Chairman and ranking \nminority party member of each committee with jurisdiction over the \nsubject matter of the report.\n (c) No Inference To Be Drawn Where Congress Fails To Approve.--If \nCongress fails to enact a joint resolution approving a proposed \nsignificant rule, no court or agency may infer any intent of Congress \nfrom any action or inaction of Congress with regard to such rule or \nrelated statute.\n\nSEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL PROCEDURE FOR SIGNIFICANT RULES.\n\n (a) Introduction.--Not later than 3 legislative days after the date \non which an agency submits a report under section 3(b) containing the \ntext of any proposed significant rule, the majority leader of each \nHouse of the Congress shall introduce (by request) a joint resolution \ncomprised solely of the text of that significant rule. If the joint \nresolution is not introduced in either House as provided in the \npreceding sentence, then any Member of that House may introduce the \njoint resolution.\n (b) Referral and Consideration.--(1) The joint resolution shall be \nreferred to the appropriate committee of the House in which it is \nintroduced. The committee may report the joint resolution without \nsubstantive revision and with or without recommendation or with an \nadverse recommendation, or the committee may vote not to report the \njoint resolution. If the committee votes to order the joint resolution \nreported, it shall be reported not later than the end of the period \n(not to exceed 45 legislative days) established for consideration of \nthe joint resolution by the Speaker of the House of Representatives or \nthe majority leader of the Senate, as the case may be. Except in the \ncase of a joint resolution which a committee votes not to report, a \ncommittee failing to report a joint resolution within such period shall \nbe automatically discharged from consideration of the joint resolution, \nand it shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.\n (2) A vote on final passage of the joint resolution shall be taken \nin that House on or before the close of the 90th legislative day after \nthe date of the introduction of the joint resolution in that House.\n (3)(A) A motion in the House of Representatives to proceed to the \nconsideration of a joint resolution under this section shall be highly \nprivileged and not debatable. An amendment to the motion shall not be \nin order, nor shall it be in order to move to reconsider the vote by \nwhich the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.\n (B) Debate in the House of Representatives on a joint resolution \nunder this section shall be limited to not more than 4 hours, which \nshall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the \njoint resolution. A motion further to limit debate shall not be \ndebatable. It shall not be in order to move to recommit a joint \nresolution under this section or to move to reconsider the vote by \nwhich the joint resolution is agreed to or disagreed to.\n (C) All appeals from the decisions of the chair relating to the \napplication of the Rules of the House of Representatives to the \nprocedure relating to a joint resolution under this section shall be \ndecided without debate.\n (D) Except to the extent specifically provided in the preceding \nprovisions of this subsection, consideration of a joint resolution \nunder this section shall be governed by the Rules of the House of \nRepresentatives applicable to other joint resolutions in similar \ncircumstances.\n (4)(A) A motion in the Senate to proceed to the consideration of a \njoint resolution under this section shall be privileged and not \ndebatable. An amendment to the motion shall not be in order, nor shall \nit be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion is \nagreed to or disagreed to.\n (B) Debate in the Senate on a joint resolution under this section, \nand all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be \nlimited to not more than 10 hours. The time shall be equally divided \nbetween, and controlled by, the majority leader and the minority leader \nor their designees.\n (C) Debate in the Senate on any debatable motion or appeal in \nconnection with a joint resolution under this section shall be limited \nto not more than 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and controlled \nby, the mover and the manager of the joint resolution, except that in \nthe event the manager of the joint resolution is in favor of any such \nmotion or appeal, the time in opposition thereto, shall be controlled \nby the minority leader or his designee. Such leaders, or either of \nthem, may, from time under their control on the passage of a joint \nresolution, allot additional time to any Senator during the \nconsideration of any debatable motion or appeal.\n (D) A motion in the Senate to further limit debate on a joint \nresolution under this section is not debatable. A motion to recommit a \njoint resolution under this section is not in order.\n (c) Amendments Prohibited.--No amendment to a joint resolution \nconsidered under this section shall be in order in either the House of \nRepresentatives or the Senate. No motion to suspend the application of \nthis subsection shall be in order in either House, nor shall it be in \norder in either House for the presiding officer to entertain a request \nto suspend the application of this subsection by unanimous consent.\n (d) Treatment if the Other House Has Acted.--If, before the passage \nby one House of a joint resolution of that House described in \nsubsection (a), that House receives from the other House a joint \nresolution described in subsection (a) comprised of the same text, \nthen:\n (1) The procedure in that House shall be the same as if no \n joint resolution had been received from the other House.\n (2) The vote on final passage shall be on the joint \n resolution of the other House.\n (e) Constitutional Authority.--This section is enacted by \nCongress--\n (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate \n and the House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it \n is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but \n applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in \n that House in the case of a joint resolution described in \n subsection (a), and it supersedes other rules only to the \n extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and\n (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of \n either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the \n procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and \n to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that \n House.\n\nSEC. 5. EXISTING RULES.\n\n (a) General.--Any existing rule may be revised or revoked in \naccordance with this section if a petition for review so requests.\n (b) Introduction.--If a petition for review is filed with the Clerk \nof the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate, the \nClerk or the Secretary shall determine whether the petition meets the \nrequirements of subsection (d). If the Clerk or the Secretary \ndetermines that a petition meets those requirements, he or she shall \nnotify the majority leader of that House. The majority leader so \nnotified shall, within 3 legislative days, introduce a joint resolution \n(by request) that makes the revision or revocation of existing rules \nproposed by the petition upon the enactment of that joint resolution. \nIf the joint resolution is not introduced as provided in the preceding \nsentence, then any Member of that House may introduce the joint \nresolution.\n (c) Procedures for Consideration in the House of Representatives \nand the Senate.--Any joint resolution introduced under subsection (b) \nshall be considered in the House of Representatives and the Senate in \naccordance with the procedures respecting a joint resolution set forth \nin section 4.\n (d) Petitions for Review.--A petition for review under subsection \n(a) shall contain the following:\n (1) Any rule affected by the petition and the contents of \n that rule as it would exist if a joint resolution revising or \n revoking that rule pursuant to the petition were enacted.\n (2) For a petition in the Senate, the signatures of 30 \n Senators, or for a petition in the House of Representatives, \n the signatures of 120 Members.\n\nSEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act:\n (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given that \n term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code (relating to \n administrative procedure).\n (2) Rule.--(A) The term ``rule'' has the meaning given such \n term by section 551 of title 5, United States Code, except that \n such term does not include--\n (i) any rule of particular applicability including \n a rule that approves or prescribes--\n (I) future rates, wages, prices, services, \n or allowances therefor,\n (II) corporate or financial structures, \n reorganizations, mergers, or acquisitions \n thereof, or\n (III) accounting practices or disclosures \n bearing on any of the foregoing, or\n (ii) any rule of agency organization, personnel, \n procedure, practice, or any routine matter.\n (B) The term ``final rule'' means any final rule or interim \n final rule.\n (3) Significant rule.--The term ``significant rule'' means \n any rule proposed by an agency that is specified or described \n as such in the Act that authorizes the rule.\n\nSEC. 7. EXEMPTION FOR MONETARY POLICY.\n\n Nothing in this Act applies to any rule concerning monetary policy \nproposed or implemented by the Board of Governors of the Federal \nReserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee.", "summary": "Significant Regulation Oversight Act of 1996 - Prohibits a significant rule (as so specified or described in the authorizing Act) from taking effect before the enactment of a joint resolution comprised solely of the text of such rule. \nProvides that, before a proposed significant rule takes effect as a final rule, the agency proposing the rule shall submit to each House of Congress a report containing a copy of the rule, a concise summary of its purpose and anticipated effects, any cost-benefit analysis prepared for the rule, the specific statutory interpretation under which the rule is proposed, and any other relevant information or executive order. \nBars a court or agency from inferring any intent of the Congress with regard to such a rule or a related statute if it fails to enact a joint resolution approving a proposed significant rule. \nProvides for the revision or revocation of an existing rule upon enactment of a joint resolution introduced pursuant to a petition for review signed by 30 Members in the Senate or 120 Representatives in the House and containing the rule affected and the rule as it would exist if the joint resolution were enacted. Sets forth congressional procedures for the introduction, referral, and consideration of such joint resolutions for the approval of significant proposed rules or the review of existing rules. \nExempts from this Act any rule concerning monetary policy proposed or implemented by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee.", "title": "Significant Regulation Oversight Act of 1996"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3152, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Permit Reassurances Enabling Direct \nImprovements for Conservation, Tenants, and Species Act of 2018'' or \nthe ``PREDICTS Act of 2018''.\n\nSEC. 2. CODIFICATION OF THE ``NO SURPRISES'' REGULATIONS.\n\n (a) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 \n(16 U.S.C. 1532) is amended as follows:\n (1) By inserting after paragraph (1) the following:\n ``(_) Changed circumstances.--The term `changed \n circumstances'--\n ``(A) means changes in circumstances affecting a \n species or geographic area covered by a covered plan or \n agreement that can reasonably be anticipated by \n developers of such plan or agreement, respectively, and \n the Secretary, and that can reasonably be planned for; \n and\n ``(B) includes--\n ``(i) additions of species to lists \n published under section 4(c); and\n ``(ii) a fire or other natural catastrophic \n event in an area prone to such an event.''.\n (2) By inserting after paragraph (3) the following:\n ``(_) Covered plan or agreement.--The term `covered plan or \n agreement' means a conservation plan required under section \n 10(a)(2)(A) or a candidate conservation agreement with \n assurances under section 10(k), respectively.''.\n (3) By inserting after paragraph (5) the following:\n ``(_) Conserved habitat areas.--The term `conserved habitat \n areas' means areas explicitly designated for habitat \n restoration, acquisition, protection, or other conservation \n purposes under a covered plan or agreement.''.\n (4) By inserting after paragraph (13) the following:\n ``(_) Operating conservation program.--The term `operating \n conservation program' means those conservation management \n activities that are expressly described in a covered plan or \n agreement and that are to be undertaken for the affected \n species when implementing the plan or agreement, respectively, \n including measures to respond to changed circumstances.''.\n (5) By inserting after paragraph (24) the following:\n ``(_) Unforeseen circumstances.--The term `unforeseen \n circumstances' means changes in circumstances affecting a \n species or geographic area covered by a covered plan or \n agreement that could not reasonably have been anticipated by \n plan developers and the Secretary at the time of the \n development of such plan or agreement, respectively, and that \n result in a substantial and adverse change in the status of the \n covered species.''.\n (6) By redesignating the paragraphs of such section as \n paragraphs (1) through (25), respectively.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 7(n) of such Act (16 U.S.C. \n1536(n)) is amended by striking ``section 3(13)'' and inserting \n``section 3(16)''.\n (c) Assurances Governing Permit, Plan, Candidate Conservation \nAgreement With Assurances, and Safe Harbor Agreement Issuance, \nModification, and Revocation.--Section 10 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 1539) \nis amended as follows:\n (1) Subsection (a)(2)(B) is amended in the matter following \n clause (v) by adding at the end the following: ``In addition, \n each permit issued under paragraph (1)(B), each candidate \n conservation agreement with assurances entered into under \n subsection (k), and each safe harbor agreement entered into \n under subsection (l) shall contain the assurances governing \n permit revocation, changed circumstances, and unforeseen \n circumstances set forth in subparagraph (2)(C) and paragraph \n (3) of this subsection.''.\n (2) Subsection (a)(2)(C) is amended by inserting ``(i)'' \n before the text, and by adding at the end the following:\n ``(ii) The Secretary may not revoke a permit issued under paragraph \n(1)(B) other than as required in clause (i), and may not terminate any \ncandidate conservation agreement with assurances under subsection (k) \nor safe harbor agreement entered into under subsection (l), unless the \nSecretary finds that--\n ``(I) continuation of the permitted activity or activity \n authorized under such an agreement, respectively, would be \n inconsistent with any of the criteria set forth in subparagraph \n (B); and\n ``(II) the inconsistency has not been remedied in a timely \n fashion.''.\n (3) Subsection (a) is amended by adding at the end the \n following:\n ``(3) Each permit issued by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(B), \neach candidate conservation agreement with assurances entered into \nunder subsection (k), and each safe harbor agreement entered into under \nsubsection (l) shall be subject to the following assurances addressing \nchanged circumstances and unforeseen circumstances:\n ``(A) If additional conservation and mitigation measures \n are deemed necessary to respond to changed circumstances and \n are specified in the operating conservation program of the \n conservation plan for the permit or in such agreement, \n respectively, the permittee shall implement such measures.\n ``(B) If additional conservation and mitigation measures \n are deemed necessary to respond to changed circumstances and \n are not specified in the operating conservation program of the \n conservation plan for the permit or in such agreement, \n respectively, the Secretary may not require any conservation \n and mitigation measures in addition to those specified in the \n plan or agreement, respectively, without the consent of the \n permittee.\n ``(C)(i) In negotiating unforeseen circumstances, the \n Secretary may not require the commitment of additional land, \n water, or financial compensation or additional restrictions on \n the use of land, water, or other natural resources beyond the \n level otherwise agreed upon for the species covered by the \n conservation plan or by such agreement, respectively, without \n the consent of the permittee.\n ``(ii) If additional conservation and mitigation measures \n are deemed necessary to respond to unforeseen circumstances, \n the Secretary may require additional measures of the permittee \n where the conservation plan or agreement, respectively, is \n being properly implemented, but only if such measures--\n ``(I) are limited to modifications within conserved \n habitat areas, if any, or to the conservation plan's or \n agreement's operating conservation program for the \n affected species;\n ``(II) maintain the original terms and structures \n of the conservation plan or agreement to the maximum \n extent possible; and\n ``(III) will not involve the commitment of \n additional land, water, or financial compensation or \n additional restrictions on the use of land, water, or \n other natural resources otherwise available for \n development or use under the original terms of the \n conservation plan or agreement, without the consent of \n the permittee.\n ``(iii) The Secretary shall have the burden of \n demonstrating that unforeseen circumstances exist, using the \n best scientific and commercial data available. The Secretary \n shall clearly document any finding that unforeseen \n circumstances exist, and shall base such finding on reliable \n technical information regarding the status and habitat \n requirements of the affected species. In making such finding, \n the Secretary will consider, among other matters, the following \n factors:\n ``(I) The size of the current range of the affected \n species.\n ``(II) The percentage of such range adversely \n affected by the conservation plan or agreement.\n ``(III) The percentage of such range conserved by \n the conservation plan or agreement.\n ``(IV) The ecological significance of that portion \n of the range affected by the conservation plan or \n agreement.\n ``(V) The level of knowledge about the affected \n species and the degree of specificity of the species' \n conservation program under the conservation plan or \n agreement.\n ``(VI) Whether failure to adopt additional \n conservation measures would appreciably reduce the \n likelihood of survival and recovery of the affected \n species in the wild.\n ``(iv) The Secretary shall--\n ``(I) present a record of the analyses of the \n status of unforeseen circumstances to the permittee \n before requiring any additional conservation or \n mitigation measures of the permittee or agreement party \n under clause (ii); and\n ``(II) include in the record a qualitative and \n quantitative analysis of each of the factors specified \n in subclauses (I) through (VI) of clause (iii).''.\n\nSEC. 3. CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS WITH ASSURANCES.\n\n (a) Permits.--Section 10(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of \n1973 (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(1)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (A);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) \n and inserting ``; or''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(C) any taking incidental to, and not the purpose \n of, the carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity \n pursuant to a candidate conservation agreement with \n assurances entered into under subsection (k) or a safe \n harbor agreement entered into under subsection (l).''.\n (b) Agreements.--Section 10 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 1539) is amended \nby adding at the end the following:\n ``(k) Candidate Conservation Agreements.--\n ``(1) In general.--At the request of any non-Federal \n person, the Secretary may enter into a candidate conservation \n agreement with assurances with the person for a species that \n has been proposed for listing under section 4(c)(1), is a \n candidate species, or is likely to be considered for listing in \n the near future on areas where the person has a fee simple, \n leasehold, or other property interest (including water or other \n natural resources) sufficient to carry out the proposed \n management activities, including on lands or waters under \n Federal ownership or control.\n ``(2) Review by the secretary.--\n ``(A) Submission to the secretary.--A non-Federal \n person may submit a candidate conservation agreement \n with assurances developed under paragraph (1) to the \n Secretary for review at any time prior to the listing \n described in section 4(c)(1) of a species that is the \n subject of the agreement.\n ``(B) Criteria for approval.--The Secretary may \n approve an agreement and issue a permit under \n subsection (a)(1)(C) for the agreement if, after notice \n and opportunity for public comment, the Secretary finds \n that--\n ``(i) for species proposed for listing, \n candidates for listing, or are likely to be \n considered for listing in the near future, that \n are included in the agreement, the actions \n taken under the agreement, would provide a \n beneficial contribution to the conservation of \n the species or its habitat during the duration \n of the agreement;\n ``(ii) the actions taken under the \n agreement will not appreciably reduce the \n likelihood of survival and recovery of an \n endangered species or a threatened species; and\n ``(iii) the agreement includes such \n monitoring and reporting requirements as \n reasonably necessary for determining whether \n the terms and conditions of the agreement are \n being complied with.\n ``(3) Effective date of permit.--A permit issued under \n subsection (a)(1)(C) shall take effect at the time the species \n is listed pursuant to section 4(c), if the permittee is in full \n compliance with the terms and conditions of the agreement.\n ``(4) Assurances.--A person who has entered into a \n candidate conservation agreement under this subsection, and is \n in compliance with the agreement, may not be required to \n undertake any additional measures for species covered by such \n agreement if the measures would require the payment of \n additional money, or the adoption of additional use, \n development, or management restrictions on any land, waters, or \n water-related rights that would otherwise be available under \n the terms of the agreement without the consent of the person \n entering into the agreement. The Secretary and the person \n entering into a candidate conservation agreement, by the terms \n of the agreement, shall identify--\n ``(A) other modifications to the agreement; or\n ``(B) other additional measures;\n if any, that the Secretary may require under extraordinary \n circumstances.''.\n\nSEC. 4. SAFE HARBOR AGREEMENTS.\n\n Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1539) \n(as amended by section 3) is further amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n ``(l) Safe Harbor Agreements.--\n ``(1) Agreements.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into \n agreements with non-Federal persons to benefit the \n conservation of endangered species or threatened \n species by creating, restoring, or improving areas as \n habitat or by maintaining currently unoccupied habitat \n for endangered species or threatened species. Under an \n agreement, the Secretary shall permit the person to \n take endangered species or threatened species included \n under the agreement on lands or waters that are subject \n to the agreement if the taking is incidental to, and \n not the purpose of, carrying out of an otherwise lawful \n activity, except that the Secretary may not permit \n through an agreement any incidental taking below the \n baseline requirement specified pursuant to subparagraph \n (B).\n ``(B) Baseline.--For each agreement under this \n subsection, the Secretary shall establish a baseline \n requirement that is mutually agreed on by the applicant \n and the Secretary at the time of the agreement that \n will, at a minimum, maintain existing conditions for \n the species covered by the agreement on lands and \n waters that are subject to the agreement. The baseline \n may be expressed in terms of the abundance or \n distribution of endangered or threatened species, \n quantity or quality of habitat, or such other \n indicators as appropriate.\n ``(2) Criteria for approval.--The Secretary may approve an \n agreement and issue a permit under subsection (a)(1)(C) for the \n agreement if, after notice and opportunity for public comment, \n the Secretary finds that--\n ``(A) the implementation of the terms of the \n agreement is reasonably expected to provide a \n beneficial contribution to the recovery of the species \n during the duration of the agreement;\n ``(B) the take will be incidental to an otherwise \n lawful activity and will be in accordance with the \n terms of the agreement;\n ``(C) the actions taken under the agreement will \n not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and \n recovery of an endangered species or threatened \n species; and\n ``(D) the agreement includes such monitoring and \n reporting requirements as reasonably necessary for \n determining whether the terms and conditions of the \n agreement are being complied with.\n ``(3) Effective date of the permit.--A permit issued under \n subsection (a)(1)(C) shall take effect on the day of issuance \n for species covered by the agreement.''.\n\nSEC. 5. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.\n\n Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1539) \n(as amended by section (4)) is further amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n ``(m) Financial Assistance.--\n ``(1) In general.--In cooperation with the States and \n subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary \n may provide a grant of up to $10,000 to any individual private \n landowner to assist the landowner in carrying out a candidate \n conservation agreement with assurances or safe harbor agreement \n under this subsection.\n ``(2) Prohibition on assistance for required activities.--\n The Secretary may not provide assistance under this paragraph \n for any action that is required by a permit, candidate \n conservation agreement with assurances, or safe harbor \n agreement under this Act or that is otherwise required under \n this Act or other Federal law.\n ``(3) Other payments.--A grant provided to an individual \n private landowner under this paragraph shall be in addition to, \n and not affect, the total amount of payments that the landowner \n is otherwise eligible to receive under Federal law.''.", "summary": "Permit Reassurances Enabling Direct Improvements for Conservation, Tenants, and Species Act of 2018 or the PREDICTS Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide statutory authority for requirements regarding habitat conservation plans, candidate conservation agreements, and safe harbor agreements. Those plans and agreements give nonfederal property owners incentives, such as assurances regarding resource use restrictions, if the owner contributes towards the recovery or conservation of an endangered species, a threatened species, or a species that is a candidate for listing as an endangered or threatened species. Under current regulations, a habitat conservation plan is required for entities to hold an incidental take permit for a project that may result in the incidental taking of an endangered or threatened species. Under candidate conservation agreements and safe harbor agreements, property owners enter into agreements with the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, to address the needs of endangered, threatened, or candidate species in exchange for assurances regarding resource use restrictions that might be imposed if circumstances change. Each incidental take permit, candidate conservation agreement, and safe harbor agreement must contain certain assurances governing permit revocation, changed circumstances, and unforeseen circumstances as prescribed by the bill. The departments may provide grants to individual private landowners to assist the landowners in carrying out candidate conservation agreements or safe harbor agreements.", "title": "Permit Reassurances Enabling Direct Improvements for Conservation, Tenants, and Species Act of 2018"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 278, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism \nSecurity Authorization Act of 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM SECURITY REGULATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et \nseq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new title:\n\n ``TITLE XXI--CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM SECURITY REGULATIONS\n\n``SEC. 2101. CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM SECURITY REGULATIONS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall maintain, and revise as \nnecessary, regulations to protect chemical facilities against terrorism \nand potential terrorist attacks. Such regulations shall include--\n ``(1) risk-based performance standards for chemical \n facility security;\n ``(2) requirements for chemical facility security \n vulnerability assessments; and\n ``(3) requirements for the development and implementation \n of chemical facility site security plans.\n ``(b) Facilities Regulated.--The regulations required by subsection \n(a) shall apply to any chemical facility that the Secretary determines \npresents a high level of security risk with respect to acts of \nterrorism, except that the Secretary may not apply such regulations to \nany of the following:\n ``(1) Any facility owned or operated by the Department of \n Defense.\n ``(2) Any facility owned or operated by the Department of \n Energy.\n ``(3) Any facility subject to regulation by the Nuclear \n Regulatory Commission.\n ``(4) Any facility regulated under chapter 701 of title 46, \n United States Code.\n ``(5) A public water system, as such term is defined by \n section 1401(4) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. \n 300f(4)).\n ``(6) A treatment works, as such term is defined by section \n 212(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. \n 1292(2)).\n ``(c) Security Measures.--The regulations required by subsection \n(a) shall provide that each such facility, in developing and \nimplementing site security plans, be permitted to select layered \nsecurity measures that, in combination, appropriately address the \nvulnerability assessment and the risk-based performance standards for \nsecurity for the facility.\n ``(d) Review.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall review and approve \n or disapprove each vulnerability assessment and site security \n plan required under this title or by the regulations required \n by subsection (a).\n ``(2) Standards for disapproval.--The Secretary may not \n disapprove such a site security plan based on the presence or \n absence of a particular security measure, but the Secretary may \n disapprove such a site security plan if the plan fails to \n satisfy the risk-based performance standards established by the \n Secretary.\n ``(3) Deadline for notification.--Beginning after the \n Secretary publishes final regulations to implement this \n section, not later than 180 days, to the greatest extent \n practicable, after the date on which the Secretary receives a \n security vulnerability assessment or site security plan under \n this title, the Secretary shall review and approve or \n disapprove such assessment or plan and notify the covered \n chemical facility of such approval or disapproval.\n ``(4) Notification of disapproval.--If the Secretary \n disapproves the security vulnerability assessment or site \n security plan submitted by a covered chemical facility under \n this title or the implementation of a site security plan by \n such a chemical facility, the Secretary shall provide the owner \n or operator of the covered chemical facility a written \n notification of the disapproval not later than 14 days after \n the date on which the Secretary disapproves such assessment or \n plan, that--\n ``(A) includes a clear explanation of deficiencies \n in the assessment, plan, or implementation of the plan; \n and\n ``(B) requires the owner or operator of the covered \n chemical facility to revise the assessment or plan to \n address any deficiencies and, by such date as the \n Secretary determines is appropriate, to submit to the \n Secretary the revised assessment or plan.\n ``(5) Reporting.--The Secretary shall submit to the \n Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives \n and the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs \n of the Senate, on an annual basis, information on the number of \n instances during the year covered by the report where the \n Secretary determined that the 180 day notification requirement \n under paragraph (3) was impracticable.\n ``(e) Alternative Security Programs.--The Secretary may approve any \nalternative security program established by a private sector entity or \nFederal, State, or local authority, or under another applicable law, if \nthe Secretary determines that the requirements of such program meets \nthe requirements of this title and any regulations issued or maintained \npursuant to this title.\n ``(f) Security Background Checks.--In any personnel surety \nregulation issued by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (a), the \nSecretary shall include provisions on how an owner or operator of a \ncovered chemical facility can meet, in whole or in part, the \nrequirements set forth in such regulations by submitting--\n ``(1) information on an employee or individual holding a \n valid transportation security card issued under section 70105 \n of title 46, United States Code;\n ``(2) an alternate security background check conducted by a \n private sector entity, including the owner and operator of a \n covered chemical facility and a non-profit personnel surety \n accrediting organization; and\n ``(3) an alternate security background check conducted \n under another applicable law.\n ``(g) Technical Assistance to Small Businesses.--The Secretary \nshall provide technical assistance to any owner or operator of a \ncovered chemical facility who requests such assistance to prepare a \nsecurity vulnerability assessment or site security plan required under \nthis title or by the regulations required by subsection (a), if the \ncovered chemical facility is a small business concern, under the \nmeaning given that term in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 \nU.S.C. 632).\n\n``SEC. 2102. INFORMATION PROTECTION.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, \ninformation developed pursuant to this title, or pursuant to the \nregulations required by section 2101(a), including vulnerability \nassessments, site security plans, and other security related \ninformation, records, and documents shall be given protections from \npublic disclosure consistent with similar information developed by \nchemical facilities subject to regulation under section 70103 of title \n46, United States Code.\n ``(b) Sharing of Information.--\n ``(1) State and local governments.--This section does not \n prohibit the sharing of such information, as the Secretary \n determines appropriate, with State and local government \n officials possessing the appropriate security clearances, \n including emergency response providers, for the purpose of \n carrying out this title, as long as such information may not be \n disclosed pursuant to any State or local law.\n ``(2) Congress.--Nothing in this title shall permit or \n authorize the withholding of information from Congress or any \n committee or subcommittee thereof.\n ``(c) Administrative and Judicial Proceedings.--In any proceeding \nto enforce this title, vulnerability assessments, site security plans, \nand other information submitted to or obtained by the Secretary under \nthis title, and related vulnerability or security information, shall be \ntreated as if the information were classified material.\n\n``SEC. 2103. ENFORCEMENT.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall audit and inspect chemical \nfacilities subject to regulation under this title for the purposes of \ndetermining compliance with this title and the regulations required by \nsection 2101(a).\n ``(b) Orders for Compliance.--If the Secretary determines that a \nchemical facility is not in compliance with this title or the \nregulations required by section 2101(a), the Secretary shall provide \nthe owner or operator of the facility with written notification \n(including a clear explanation of deficiencies in the vulnerability \nassessment and site security plan) and an opportunity for consultation, \nand issue an order to comply by such date as the Secretary determines \nto be appropriate under the circumstances.\n ``(c) Civil Penalties.--Any person who violates an order issued \nunder this title shall be liable for a civil penalty under section \n70119(a) of title 46, United States Code.\n ``(d) Order To Cease Operation.--If the owner or operator of a \nchemical facility subject to regulation under this title continues to \nbe in noncompliance, the Secretary may issue an order for the facility \nto cease operation until the owner or operator complies with the order.\n ``(e) Exception.--Nothing in this title confers upon any person \nexcept the Secretary a right of action against an owner or operator of \na chemical facility to enforce any provision of this title.\n\n``SEC. 2104. JOBS IMPACT.\n\n ``Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this \ntitle, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the \nCommittee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the \nCommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a \nreport that, at a minimum, includes--\n ``(1) an estimate of the potential jobs created or lost \n within the private sector as a result of the regulations \n required under section 2101 of this title; and\n ``(2) information on feedback received from owners and \n operators of covered chemical facilities about how the \n regulations required under section 2101 of this title could be \n revised to spur potential job creation or stem job losses.\n\n``SEC. 2105. SCOPE.\n\n ``Nothing in this title shall be construed to supersede, amend, \nalter, or affect any Federal law that regulates the manufacture, \ndistribution in commerce, use, sale, other treatment, or disposal of \nchemical substances or mixtures.\n\n``SEC. 2106. PREEMPTION.\n\n ``This title shall not preclude or deny any right of any State or \npolitical subdivision thereof to adopt or enforce any regulation, \nrequirement, or standard of performance with respect to chemical \nfacility security that is more stringent than a regulation, \nrequirement, or standard of performance required under this title, or \notherwise impair any right or jurisdiction of any State with respect to \nchemical facilities within that State, unless there is an actual \nconflict between this title and the law of that State.\n\n``SEC. 2107. TERMINATION.\n\n ``The authority provided by this title shall terminate on September \n30, 2018.\n\n``SEC. 2108. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry \nout this title $89,928,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through \n2018.''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of \nthe Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new items:\n\n ``TITLE XXI--CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM SECURITY REGULATIONS\n\n``Sec. 2101. Chemical facility anti-terrorism security regulations.\n``Sec. 2102. Information protection.\n``Sec. 2103. Enforcement.\n``Sec. 2104. Jobs Impact.\n``Sec. 2105. Scope.\n``Sec. 2106. Preemption.\n``Sec. 2107. Termination.\n``Sec. 2108. Authorization of appropriations.''.\n\nSEC. 3. CONFORMING REPEAL.\n\n (a) Repeal.--The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations \nAct, 2007 (Public Law 109-295) is amended by striking section 550.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \ntake effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. HARMONIZATION.\n\n Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this \nAct, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to Committee on \nHomeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on \nCommerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the \nextent to which the security requirements under title XXI of the \nHomeland Security Act of 2002, as added by this Act, have been \nharmonized with the security requirements for facilities regulated \nunder chapter 701 of title 46, United States Code.", "summary": "Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Security Authorization Act of 2011 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain regulations to protect chemical facilities against terrorism, which shall include: (1) risk-based performance standards for facility security, (2) requirements for facility security vulnerability assessments, and (3) requirements for the development and implementation of facility site security plans.\n\nApplies such regulations to any chemical facility that the Secretary determines presents a high level of security risk with respect to acts of terrorism, with the exception of Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE) facilities, facilities regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), port security facilities, public water systems, and treatment works.\n\nRequires such regulations to provide that each facility be permitted to select layered security measures that, in combination, appropriately address the vulnerability assessment and risk-based performance standards.\n\nDirects the Secretary to approve or disapprove each assessment and site security plan. Prohibits the Secretary from disapproving such a plan based on the presence or absence of a particular security measure, but allows the Secretary to disapprove a plan that fails to satisfy performance standards.\n\nRequires the Secretary to: (1) approve or disapprove a security vulnerability assessment or site security plan after publishing final regulations and no later than 180 days after receipt, and (2) provide to a facility owner or operator no later than 14 days after such disapproval written notification that includes a clear explanation of deficiencies and that requires the owner or operator to make revisions to address deficiencies by an appropriate date.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary to approve an alterative security program established by a private sector entity or federal, state, or local authority, or established under another applicable law, if the Secretary determines that the requirements of such program meet the requirements of this Act.\n\nRequires the Secretary to include in any personnel surety regulation issued pursuant to this Act provisions on how a facility owner or operator can meet regulation requirements by submitting: (1) information on an employee or individual holding a valid transportation security card, (2) an alternate security background check conducted by a private sector entity, and (3) an alternate security background check conducted under another applicable law.\n\nDirects the Secretary to provide, upon request, to any owner or operator of a covered chemical facility that is a small business concern technical assistance to prepare a security vulnerability assessment or site security plan.\n\nRequires information developed pursuant to this Act to be protected from public disclosure but permits information sharing with state and local government officials under specified circumstances.\n\nDirects the Secretary to audit and inspect chemical facilities and order compliance with such regulations. Imposes civil penalties for violations. Authorizes the Secretary to issue an order for a facility not in compliance to cease operations.\n\nRequires the Secretary to report annually on: (1) an estimate of the potential jobs created or lost within the private sector as a result of the regulations required under this Act, and (2) information on feedback from facility owners and operators about how the regulations could be revised to spur potential job creation or stem job losses.\n\nTerminates this Act on September 30, 2018. Authorizes appropriations for FY2012-FY2018.\n\n (Sec. 3) Repeals similar provisions of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007.\n\n(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to report on the extent to which the security requirements added by this Act have been harmonized with security requirements for facilities regulated under existing port security provisions.", "title": "To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to codify the requirement that the Secretary of Homeland Security maintain chemical facility anti-terrorism security regulations."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1306, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Voter Eligibility Verification \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. VOTER ELIGIBILITY CONFIRMATION SYSTEM.\n\n (a) In General.--Title IV of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 \nU.S.C. 1101, note) is amended by inserting after the chapter heading \nfor chapter 1 the following:\n\n ``voter eligibility confirmation system\n\n ``Sec. 401. (a) In General.--The Attorney General, in consultation \nwith the Commissioner of Social Security, shall establish a \nconfirmation system through which they--\n ``(1) respond to inquiries made to verify the citizenship \n of an individual who has submitted a voter registration \n application, by Federal, State, and local officials (including \n voting registrars) with responsibility for determining an \n individual's qualification to vote in a Federal, State, or \n local election; and\n ``(2) maintain a record of the inquiries that were made and \n of verifications provided (or not provided).\n ``(b) Initial Response.--The confirmation system shall provide for \na confirmation or a tentative nonconfirmation of an individual's \ncitizenship by the Commissioner of Social Security as soon as \npracticable after an initial inquiry to the Commissioner.\n ``(c) Secondary Verification Process in Case of Tentative \nNonconfirmation.--In cases of tentative nonconfirmation, the Attorney \nGeneral shall specify, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social \nSecurity and the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization \nService, an available secondary verification process to confirm the \nvalidity of information provided and to provide a final confirmation or \nnonconfirmation as soon as practicable after the date of the tentative \nnonconfirmation.\n ``(d) Design and Operation of System.--The confirmation system \nshall be designed and operated--\n ``(1) to be used on a voluntary basis, as a supplementary \n information source, by Federal, State, and local election \n officials for the purpose of assessing the eligibility of voter \n registration applicants, and administering voter registration, \n through citizenship verification;\n ``(2) to respond to an inquiry concerning citizenship only \n in a case where determining whether an individual is a citizen \n is--\n ``(A) necessary for determining whether the \n individual is eligible to vote in an election for \n Federal, State, or local office; and\n ``(B) part of a program or activity to protect the \n integrity of the electoral process that is uniform, \n nondiscriminatory, and in compliance with the Voting \n Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.);\n ``(3) to maximize its reliability and ease of use, \n consistent with insulating and protecting the privacy and \n security of the underlying information;\n ``(4) to permit inquiries to be made to the system through \n a toll-free telephone line or other toll-free electronic media;\n ``(5) to respond to all inquiries made by authorized \n persons and to register all times when the system is not \n responding to inquiries because of a malfunction;\n ``(6) with appropriate administrative, technical, and \n physical safeguards to prevent unauthorized disclosure of \n personal information; and\n ``(7) to have reasonable safeguards against the system's \n resulting in unlawful discriminatory practices based on \n national origin or citizenship status, including the selective \n or unauthorized use of the system.\n ``(e) Responsibilities of the Commissioner of Social Security.--\n ``(1) In general.--As part of the confirmation system, the \n Commissioner of Social Security shall establish a reliable, \n secure method, which compares the name and social security \naccount number provided in an inquiry against such information \nmaintained by the Commissioner in order to confirm (or not confirm) the \nvalidity of the information provided regarding an individual whose \nidentity and citizenship must be confirmed, the correspondence of the \nname and number, and whether the individual is a citizen of the United \nStates. The Commissioner shall not disclose or release social security \ninformation (other than such confirmation or nonconfirmation).\n ``(2) Provision of alien identification number.--In cases \n of tentative nonconfirmation of an individual's citizenship by \n the Commissioner of Social Security after an initial inquiry to \n the Commissioner, the Commissioner, as part of the confirmation \n system, shall provide to the person making the inquiry any \n information the Commissioner maintains regarding an alien \n identification or authorization number for the individual \n established by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The \n Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner, shall \n specify the information to be provided under this paragraph.\n ``(f) Responsibilities of the Commissioner of the Immigration and \nNaturalization Service.--As part of the confirmation system, the \nCommissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service shall \nestablish a reliable, secure method, which compares the name and alien \nidentification or authorization number described in subsection (e)(2) \nwhich are provided in an inquiry against such information maintained by \nthe Commissioner in order to confirm (or not confirm) the validity of \nthe information provided, the correspondence of the name and number, \nand whether the individual is a citizen of the United States.\n ``(g) Updating Information.--The Commissioners of Social Security \nand the Immigration and Naturalization Service shall update their \ninformation in a manner that promotes the maximum accuracy and shall \nprovide a process for the prompt correction of erroneous information, \nincluding instances in which it is brought to their attention in the \nsecondary verification process described in subsection (c).\n ``(h) Limitation on Use of the Confirmation System and Any Related \nSystems.--\n ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n law, nothing in this section shall be construed to permit or \n allow any department, bureau, or other agency of the United \n States Government to utilize any information, data base, or \n other records assembled under this section for any other \n purpose other than as provided for under this section.\n ``(2) No national identification card.--Nothing in this \n section shall be construed to authorize, directly or \n indirectly, the issuance or use of national identification \n cards or the establishment of a national identification card.\n ``(3) No new data bases.--Nothing in this section shall be \n construed to authorize, directly or indirectly, the Attorney \n General and the Commissioner of Social Security to create any \n joint computer data base that is not in existence on the date \n of the enactment of the Voter Eligibility Verification Act.\n ``(i) Actions by Voting Officials Unable to Confirm Citizenship.--\n ``(1) In general.--In a case where an official who is \n authorized to receive information through use of the \n confirmation system is unable, after completion of the \n secondary verification process, to confirm the citizenship of \n an individual, the official--\n ``(A) shall so notify the individual in writing; \n and\n ``(B) shall inform the individual in writing of the \n individual's right to use--\n ``(i) the process provided under subsection \n (g) for the prompt correction of erroneous \n information in the confirmation system; or\n ``(ii) any other process for establishing \n eligibility to vote provided under State or \n Federal law.\n ``(2) Registration applicants.--In the case of an \n individual who is an applicant for voter registration, and who \n receives a notice from an official under paragraph (1), the \n official may, subject to, and in a manner consistent with, \n State law, reject the application, or provisionally accept the \n application, pending the official's receipt of adequate \n confirmation of the citizenship of the individual.\n ``(3) Voter removal programs.--In the case of an individual \n who is registered to vote, and who receives a notice from an \n official under paragraph (1) in connection with a program to \n remove the names of ineligible voters from an official list of \n eligible voters, the official may, subject to, and in a manner \n consistent with, State law, remove the name of the individual \n from the list, or grant the individual provisional voting \n status, pending the official's receipt of adequate confirmation \n of the citizenship of the individual.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of the \nImmigration and Nationality Act is amended by inserting before the item \nrelating to section 402 the following:\n\n``Sec. 401. Voter eligibility confirmation system .''.\n\nSEC. 3. PERMITTING STATES TO REQUIRE APPLICANTS REGISTERING TO VOTE TO \n PROVIDE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.\n\n Clauses (i) and (vi) of section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security \nAct (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)) are amended by inserting ``voter \nregistration,'' after ``driver's license,''.", "summary": "Voter Eligibility Verification Pilot Program Act of 1998 - Directs the Attorney General to establish a voter eligibility pilot confirmation program to respond to, and maintain records of, State and local election officials' inquiries to verify a voter registrant's citizenship. Terminates such program on September 30, 2001. Provides for: (1) an initial confirmation or nonconfirmation by the Commissioner of Social Security; and (2) in the case of an initial nonconfirmation, a secondary verification process by the Attorney General. Requires such program to: (1) be voluntary; (2) provide safeguards against discrimination; and (3) be applied, at a minimum, in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Illinois. Directs the Commissioner of Social Security and the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to develop methods to confirm the reliability of the information provided. Prohibits Federal utilization of program information and related systems for purposes other than those authorized by this Act. Sets forth provisions regarding actions by officials unable to confirm an applicant's citizenship with respect to notification, registration, and ineligible voter removal programs. Authorizes State and local use of social security account numbers for purposes of this Act. Sets forth reporting requirements for the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Social Security. Authorizes appropriations.", "title": "Voter Eligibility Verification Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2600, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Health Empowerment Zone Act of \n2003''.\n\nSEC. 2. HEALTH EMPOWERMENT ZONES.\n\n (a) Health Empowerment Zone Programs.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human \n Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health \n Resources and Services Administration and the Director of the \n Office of Minority Health, and in cooperation with the Director \n of the Office of Community Services and the Director of the \n National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities--\n (A) shall designate health empowerment zones in \n accordance with paragraph (2); and\n (B) shall make grants in accordance with paragraph \n (3).\n (2) Designation of health empowerment zones.--The Secretary \n may designate a community as a health empowerment zone if--\n (A) a community partnership seeking a grant under \n this section requests that the community be designated \n as a health empowerment zone; and\n (B) the community partnership demonstrates, to the \n Secretary's satisfaction, that the community is a \n community of color that experiences disproportionate \n disparities in health status and health care.\n (3) Grants.--The Secretary shall make grants to community \n partnerships of private and public entities to establish health \n empowerment zone programs.\n (4) Use of funds.--Grants under this section shall be used \n for the establishment of a health empowerment zone program to \n assist individuals, businesses, schools, minority health \n associations, nonprofit organizations, community-based \n organizations, hospitals, health care clinics, and foundations \n in a health empowerment zone that are seeking--\n (A) to effectively access Federal programs to \n improve the health or environment of 1 or more minority \n individuals in the community and eliminate racial and \n ethnic disparities in health status and health care; \n and\n (B) to coordinate the efforts of governmental and \n private entities regarding the elimination of racial \n and ethnic disparities in health status and health \n care.\n (5) Establishment in territory or possession.--The \n Secretary shall make at least 1 grant under this section to a \n community partnership for a health empowerment zone program in \n a health empowerment zone that is located in a territory or \n possession of the United States.\n (6) Application.--To seek the designation of a community as \n a health empowerment zone and to obtain a grant under this \n section, a community partnership shall submit to the Secretary \n an application in such form and in such manner as the Secretary \n may require. An application under this paragraph shall--\n (A) demonstrate that the community to be served is \n a community of color that experiences disproportionate \n disparities in health status and health care;\n (B) set forth a strategic plan for the proposed \n health empowerment zone program, by--\n (i) describing the coordinated health, \n economic, human, community, and physical \n development plan and related activities \n proposed for the community involved;\n (ii) describing the inclusion of the \n community involved as a full partner in the \n process of developing, implementing, \n monitoring, and evaluating the strategic plan \n and the extent to which local institutions and \n organizations have contributed to the planning \n process;\n (iii) identifying the projected amount of \n Federal, State, local, and private resources \n that will be available in the area and the \n private and public community partnerships to be \n used (including any participation by or \n cooperation with universities, colleges, \n foundations, nonprofit organizations, medical \n centers, hospitals, health clinics, school \n districts, or other private and public \n entities);\n (iv) identifying the funding requested \n under any Federal program in support of the \n proposed health, economic, human, community, \n and physical development, and related \n activities;\n (v) identifying baselines, methods, health \n outcomes, and benchmarks for measuring the \n success of carrying out the strategic plan;\n (vi) demonstrating the ability to \n effectively reach and service the targeted \n underserved minority community populations in a \n culturally appropriate and linguistically \n responsive manner;\n (vii) demonstrating a capacity and \n infrastructure to provide long-term community \n response that is culturally appropriate and \n linguistically responsive to a community of \n color that experiences disproportionate \n disparities in health status and health care; \n and\n (viii) identifying the individuals who have \n agreed to serve as members of a health \n empowerment zone coordinating committee for the \n community involved; and\n (C) include such other information as the Secretary \n may require.\n (7) Preference.--In awarding grants under this subsection, \n the Secretary shall give preference to proposals from \n indigenous community entities that have an expertise in \n providing culturally appropriate and linguistically responsive \n services to communities of color that experience \n disproportionate disparities in health status and health care.\n (b) Federal Assistance for Health Empowerment Zone Grant \nPrograms.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, the \nAdministrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of \nAgriculture, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and \nthe Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall each--\n (1) where appropriate, provide entity-specific technical \n assistance and evidence-based strategies to communities of \n color that experience disproportionate disparities in health \n status and health care to further the purposes of a health \n empowerment zone program described in subsection (a)(5);\n (2) identify all programs administered by the Department of \n Health and Human Services, the Small Business Administration, \n the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, the \n Department of Labor, and the Department of Housing and Urban \n Development, respectively, that may be used to further the \n purposes of a health empowerment zone program described in \n subsection (a)(5); and\n (3) in administering any program identified under paragraph \n (2), give priority to any individual or entity located in a \n community served by a health empowerment zone program under \n subsection (a) if such priority would further the purposes of \n the health empowerment zone program described in subsection \n (a)(5).\n (c) Health Empowerment Zone Coordinating Committee.--\n (1) Establishment.--For each health empowerment zone \n program established with a grant under subsection (a), the \n Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of \n Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources \n and Services Administration, shall establish a health \n empowerment zone coordinating committee.\n (2) Duties.--Each coordinating committee established, in \n coordination with the Director of the Office of Minority Health \n and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services \n Administration, shall provide technical assistance and \n evidence-based strategies to the grant recipient involved, \n including providing guidance on research, strategies, health \n outcomes, program goals, management, implementation, \n monitoring, assessment, and evaluation processes.\n (3) Membership.--\n (A) Appointment.--The Director of the Office of \n Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health \n Resources and Services Administration, in consultation \n with the respective grant recipient, shall appoint the \n members of each coordinating committee.\n (B) Composition.--The Director of the Office of \n Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health \n Resources and Services Administration shall ensure that \n each coordinating committee--\n (i) has not more than 20 members;\n (ii) includes individuals from communities \n of color that experience disproportionate \n disparities in health status and health care;\n (iii) includes community leaders and \n leaders of community-based organizations;\n (iv) includes representatives of academia \n and lay and professional organizations and \n associations including those having expertise \n in medicine, technical, social and behavioral \n science, health policy, advocacy, cultural and \n linguistic competency, research management, and \n organization; and\n (v) represents a reasonable cross-section \n of knowledge, views, and application of \n expertise on societal, ethical, behavioral, \n educational, policy, legal, cultural, \n linguistic, and workforce issues related to \n eliminating disparities in health and health \n care.\n (C) Qualifications.--The Director of the Office of \n Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health \n Resources and Services Administration shall ensure that \n the members of each coordinating committee meet the \n following:\n (i) No member is employed by the Federal \n Government.\n (ii) Each member has appropriate \n experience, including experience in the areas \n of community development, cultural and \n linguistic competency, reducing and eliminating \n racial and ethnic disparities in health and \n health care, or minority health.\n (iii) A majority of the members reside in \n the health empowerment zone involved.\n (D) Selection.--In selecting individuals to serve \n on a coordinating committee, the Director of the Office \n of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health \n Resources and Services Administration shall give due \n consideration to the recommendations of the Congress, \n industry leaders, the scientific community (including \n the Institute of Medicine), academia, community based \n nonprofit organizations, minority health and related \n organizations, the education community, State and local \n governments, and other appropriate organizations.\n (E) Chairperson.--The Director of the Office of \n Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health \n Resources and Services Administration, in consultation \n with the members of the coordinating committee \n involved, shall designate a chairperson of the \n coordinating committee, who shall serve for a term of 3 \n years and who may be reappointed at the expiration of \n each such term.\n (F) Terms.--Each member of a coordinating committee \n shall be appointed for a term of 1 to 3 years in \n overlapping staggered terms, as determined by the \n Director of the Office of Minority Health and the \n Administrator of the Health Resources and Services \n Administration at the time of appointment, and may be \n reappointed at the expiration of each such term.\n (G) Vacancies.--A vacancy on a coordinating \n committee shall be filled in the same manner in which \n the original appointment was made.\n (H) Compensation.--The members of a coordinating \n committee shall serve without pay.\n (I) Travel expenses.--Each member of a coordinating \n committee shall receive travel expenses, including per \n diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with \n applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 \n of title 5, United States Code.\n (4) Staff; experts and consultants.--\n (A) Staff.--The chairperson of a coordinating \n committee may appoint and fix the pay of additional \n personnel as the chairperson considers appropriate.\n (B) Experts and consultants.--The chairperson of a \n coordinating committee may procure temporary and \n intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, \n United States Code.\n (5) Meetings.--A coordinating committee shall meet 3 to 5 \n times each year, at the call of the coordinating committee's \n chairperson and in consultation with the Director of the Office \n of Minority Health and the Administrator of the Health \n Resources and Services Administration.\n (6) Report.--Each coordinating committee shall transmit to \n the Congress an annual report that, with respect to the health \n empowerment zone program involved, includes the following:\n (A) A review of the program's effectiveness in \n achieving stated goals and outcomes, and overcoming \n challenges.\n (B) A review of the program's management and \n coordination of the entities involved.\n (C) A review of the activities in the program's \n portfolio and components.\n (D) An identification of policy issues raised by \n the program.\n (E) An assessment of program's results including \n that of capacity, infrastructure, number of underserved \n minority communities reached and retained in the effort \n in a defined time frame.\n (F) Recommendations for new program goals, research \n areas, enhanced approaches, community partnerships, \n coordination and management mechanisms, and projects to \n be established to achieve the program's stated goals, \n to improve outcomes, assessments, monitoring, and \n evaluation.\n (G) A review of the degree of minority entities \n participation in the program, and an identification of \n a strategy to increase such participation.\n (H) Any other reviews or recommendations determined \n to be appropriate by the coordinating committee.\n (d) Report.--The Director of the Office of Minority Health and the \nAdministrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall \nsubmit a joint annual report to the appropriate committees of the \nCongress on the results of the implementation of programs under this \nsection.\n (e) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Coordinating committee.--The term ``coordinating \n committee'' means a health empowerment zone coordinating \n committee established under this section.\n (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Health and Human Services.\n (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year \n2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 \nthrough 2010.", "summary": "Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2003 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate a community as a health empowerment zone if a participating community partnership: (1) requests such designation; and (2) demonstrates that the community is a community of color experiencing disproportionate disparities in health status and health care.\n\n Directs the Secretary to make: (1) grants to community partnerships of private and public entities to establish health empowerment zone programs to assist individuals, businesses, schools, minority health associations, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, health care clinics, and foundations in a health empowerment zone that are seeking to improve the health or environment of minority individuals and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health status and health care; (2) at least one grant in a health empowerment zone in a U.S. territory or possession; and (3) establish a health empowerment zone coordinating committee for each zone.\n\nDirects the Secretary, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide assistance for such programs.", "title": "To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish health empowerment zone programs in communities that disproportionately experience disparities in health status and health care, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 968, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Environmental Protection \nEncouragement Act of 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. ELECTION TO EXPENSE CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROPERTY.\n\n (a) In General.--Part VI of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding after section 179A \nthe following new section:\n\n``SEC. 179. ELECTION TO EXPENSE CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT \n PROPERTY.\n\n ``(a) Treatment as Expenses.--A taxpayer may elect to treat the \ncost of any environmental improvement property as an expense which is \nnot chargeable to capital account. Any cost so treated shall be allowed \nas a deduction for the taxable year in which the environmental \nimprovement property is placed in service.\n ``(b) Environmental Improvement Property.--For purposes of this \nsubsection--\n ``(1) In general.--The term `environmental improvement \n property' means tangible property which is acquired by purchase \n for use in the active conduct of a trade or business and which \n is--\n ``(A) of a character subject to the allowance for \n depreciation provided in section 167,\n ``(B) used for one or more of the following \n purposes--\n ``(i) source reduction,\n ``(ii) solid waste minimization,\n ``(iii) waste conversion or recycling,\n ``(iv) reduction of environmental hazards,\n ``(v) compliance with environmental \n permits, rules, and similar requirements,\n ``(vi) prevention, containment, or control \n of unplanned releases, or\n ``(vii) the manufacture, distribution, and \n sale of alternate fuels and blending stocks or \n fuel additives for reformulated fuels, and\n ``(C) located and used exclusively in the United \n States during the taxable year.\n If only a portion of property described in subparagraphs (A) \n and (C) is described in subparagraph (B), such portion shall be \n treated as environmental improvement property. For purposes of \n this paragraph, the term `United States' has the meaning given \n such term by paragraph (1) of section 638 (relating to \n continental shelf areas).\n ``(2) Other definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--\n ``(A) Source reduction.--The term `source \n reduction' means reduction of the amount of regulated \n substances or other pollutants from fixed or mobile \n sources released into the environment if such reduction \n reduces hazards to public health or environment.\n ``(B) Solid waste minimization.--The term `solid \n waste minimization' means the reduction in the \n generation of, or the recovery of commercially usable \n products from, residual materials which are classified \n as, or which if disposed would be classified as, solid \n wastes (within the meaning of the Resource Conservation \n and Recovery Act).\n ``(C) Waste conversion or recycling.--The term \n `waste conversion or recycling' means the processing or \n conversion of liquid, solid, or gaseous wastes into \n fuel, energy, or other commercially usable products, \n and the production of such products if production \n occurs at the same facility as the conversion.\n ``(D) Abatement of environmental hazards.--The term \n `abatement of environmental hazards' includes the \n abatement, reduction, monitoring, or stabilization of \n potential human exposure to toxic chemicals, hazardous \n or extremely hazardous substances, or harmful \n radiation.\n ``(E) Unplanned releases.--The term `unplanned \n releases' means any release of regulated substances \n (except federally permitted releases), including indoor \n releases.\n ``(F) Regulated substance.--The term `regulated \n substance' includes any substance the release or \n emission of which is prohibited, limited, or regulated \n by Federal or State law or by Federal regulations (as \n determined without regard to whether a particular \n release would have been prohibited or limited).\n ``(G) Release.--The term `release' means any \n spilling, leaking, pouring, discharging, escaping, \n dumping, or disposing into the environment, including \n the abandonment or discarding of barrels or other \n closed receptacles.\n ``(c) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) Purchase.--The term `purchase' has the meaning given \n such term by section 179(d)(2).\n ``(2) Cost.--The cost of property shall not include so much \n of the basis of the property as is determined by reference to \n the basis of other property held at any time by the person \n acquiring the property.\n ``(3) Coordination with other provisions.--This section \n shall not apply with respect to any property with respect to \n which an election under section 169 or 179 applies.''\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for part VI of \nsubchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding after the \nitem relating to section 179A the following new item:\n\n ``Sec. 179B. Election to expense certain \n environmental improvement \n property.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section applies to \nproperty placed in service in taxable years beginning after December \n31, 1993.", "summary": "Environmental Protection Encouragement Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the expensing of the cost of environmental improvement property.", "title": "Environmental Protection Encouragement Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2767, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n This Act may be cited as the ``Poison Center Support, Enhancement, \nand Awareness Act of 2008''.\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Poison control centers are the primary defense of the \n United States against injury and deaths from poisoning. Twenty-four \n hours a day, the general public as well as health care \n practitioners contact their local poison control centers for help \n in diagnosing and treating victims of poisoning. In 2007, more than \n 4,000,000 calls were managed by poison control centers providing \n ready and direct access for all people of the United States, \n including many underserved populations in the United States, with \n vital emergency public health information and response.\n (2) Poisoning is the second most common form of unintentional \n death in the United States. In any given year, there will be \n between 3,000,000 and 5,000,000 poison exposures. Sixty percent of \n these exposures will involve children under the age of 6 who are \n exposed to toxins in their home. Poisoning accounts for 285,000 \n hospitalizations, 1,200,000 days of acute hospital care, and more \n than 26,000 fatalities in 2005.\n (3) In 2008, the Harvard Injury Control Research Center \n reported that poisonings from accidents and unknown circumstances \n more than tripled in rate since 1990. In 2005, the last year for \n which data are available, 26,858 people died from accidental or \n unknown poisonings. This represents an increase of 20,000 since \n 1990 and an increase of 2,400 between 2004 and 2005. Fatalities \n from poisoning are increasing in the United States in near epidemic \n proportions. The funding of programs to reverse this trend is \n needed now more than ever.\n (4) In 2004, The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy \n of Sciences recommended that ``Congress should amend the current \n Poison Control Center Enhancement and Awareness Act Amendments of \n 2003 to provide sufficient funding to support the proposed Poison \n Prevention and Control System with its national network of poison \n centers. Support for the core activities at the current level of \n service is estimated to require more than $100 million annually.''.\n (5) Sustaining the funding structure and increasing \n accessibility to poison control centers will promote the \n utilization of poison control centers and reduce the inappropriate \n use of emergency medical services and other more costly health care \n services. The 2004 Institute of Medicine Report to Congress \n determined that for every $1 invested in the Nation's poison \n control centers $7 of health care costs are saved. In 2005, direct \n Federal health care program savings totaled in excess of \n $525,000,000 as the result of poison control center public health \n services.\n (6) More than 30 percent of the cost savings and financial \n benefits of the Nation's network of poison control centers are \n realized annually by Federal health care programs (estimated to be \n more than $1,000,000,000), yet Federal funding support (as \n demonstrated by the annual authorization of $30,100,000 in Public \n Law 108-194) comprises less than 11 percent of the annual network \n expenditures of poison centers.\n (7) Real-time data collected from the Nation's certified poison \n control centers can be an important source of information for the \n detection, monitoring, and response for contamination of the air, \n water, pharmaceutical, or food supply.\n (8) In the event of a terrorist event, poison control centers \n will be relied upon as a critical source for accurate medical \n information and public health emergency response concerning the \n treatment of patients who have had an exposure to a chemical, \n radiological, or biological agent.\nSEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF POISON CONTROL CENTERS NATIONAL TOLL-FREE \nNUMBER.\n Section 1271 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-71) \nis amended to read as follows:\n``SEC. 1271. MAINTENANCE OF THE NATIONAL TOLL-FREE NUMBER.\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide coordination and \nassistance to poison control centers for the establishment of a \nnationwide toll-free phone number, and the maintenance of such number, \nto be used to access such centers.\n ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 to carry out this section, \nand $700,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014 for the \nmaintenance of the nationwide toll free phone number under subsection \n(a).''.\nSEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONWIDE MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE POISON \nCONTROL CENTER UTILIZATION.\n (a) In General.--Section 1272 of the Public Health Service Act (42 \nU.S.C. 300d-72) is amended to read as follows:\n``SEC. 1272. NATIONWIDE MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE POISON CONTROL CENTER \nUTILIZATION.\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out, and expand upon, \na national media campaign to educate the public and health care \nproviders about poison prevention and the availability of poison \ncontrol center resources in local communities and to conduct \nadvertising campaigns concerning the nationwide toll-free number \nestablished under section 1271(a).\n ``(b) Contract With Entity.--The Secretary may carry out subsection \n(a) by entering into contracts with one or more public or private \nentities, including nationally recognized organizations in the field of \npoison control and national media firms, for the development and \nimplementation of a nationwide poison prevention and poison control \ncenter awareness campaign, which may include--\n ``(1) the development and distribution of poison prevention and \n poison control center awareness materials;\n ``(2) television, radio, Internet, and newspaper public service \n announcements; and\n ``(3) other activities to provide for public and professional \n awareness and education.\n ``(c) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall--\n ``(1) establish baseline measures and benchmarks to \n quantitatively evaluate the impact of the nationwide media campaign \n carried out under this section; and\n ``(2) on an annual basis, prepare and submit to the appropriate \n committees of Congress, an evaluation of the nationwide media \n campaign.\n ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary \nfor fiscal year 2009, and $800,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 \nthrough 2014.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall be \neffective on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to \ncontracts entered into on or after January 1, 2009.\nSEC. 5. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE POISON CONTROL CENTER GRANT PROGRAM.\n (a) In General.--Section 1273 of the Public Health Service Act (42 \nU.S.C. 300d-73) is amended to read as follows:\n``SEC. 1273. MAINTENANCE OF THE POISON CONTROL CENTER GRANT PROGRAM.\n ``(a) Authorization of Program.--The Secretary shall award grants \nto poison control centers certified under subsection (c) (or granted a \nwaiver under subsection (d)) and professional organizations in the \nfield of poison control for the purposes of preventing, and providing \ntreatment recommendations for, poisonings and complying with the \noperational requirements needed to sustain the certification of the \ncenter under subsection (c).\n ``(b) Additional Uses of Funds.--In addition to the purposes \ndescribed in subsection (a), a poison center or professional \norganization awarded a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under \nsuch subsection may also use amounts received under such grant, \ncontract, or cooperative agreement--\n ``(1) to establish and evaluate best practices in the United \n States for poison prevention, poison control center outreach, and \n emergency and preparedness programs;\n ``(2) to research, develop, implement, revise, and communicate \n standard patient management guidelines for commonly encountered \n toxic exposures;\n ``(3) to improve national toxic exposure surveillance by \n enhancing cooperative activities between poison control centers in \n the United States and the Centers for Disease Control and \n Prevention;\n ``(4) to develop, support, and enhance technology and \n capabilities of professional organizations in the field of poison \n control to collect national poisoning, toxic occurrence, and \n related public health data;\n ``(5) to develop initiatives to foster the enhanced public \n health utilization of national poison data collected by \n organizations described in paragraph (4);\n ``(6) to support and expand the toxicologic expertise within \n poison control centers; and\n ``(7) to improve the capacity of poison control centers to \n answer high volumes of calls and respond during times of national \n crisis or other public health emergencies.\n ``(c) Certification.--Except as provided in subsection (d), the \nSecretary may award a grant to a poison control center under subsection \n(a) only if--\n ``(1) the center has been certified by a professional \n organization in the field of poison control, and the Secretary has \n approved the organization as having in effect standards for \n certification that reasonably provide for the protection of the \n public health with respect to poisoning; or\n ``(2) the center has been certified by a State government, and \n the Secretary has approved the State government as having in effect \n standards for certification that reasonably provide for the \n protection of the public health with respect to poisoning.\n ``(d) Waiver of Certification Requirements.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may grant a waiver of the \n certification requirements of subsection (c) with respect to a \n noncertified poison control center that applies for a grant under \n this section if such center can reasonably demonstrate that the \n center will obtain such a certification within a reasonable period \n of time as determined appropriate by the Secretary.\n ``(2) Renewal.--The Secretary may renew a waiver under \n paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Limitation.--In no case may the sum of the number of \n years for a waiver under paragraph (1) and a renewal under \n paragraph (2) exceed 5 years. The preceding sentence shall take \n effect as of the date of the enactment of the Poison Center \n Support, Enhancement, and Awareness Act of 2008.\n ``(e) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts made available to a poison \ncontrol center under this section shall be used to supplement and not \nsupplant other Federal, State or local funds provided for such center.\n ``(f) Maintenance of Effort.--A poison control center, in utilizing \nthe proceeds of a grant under this section, shall maintain the \nexpenditures of the center for activities of the center at a level that \nis not less than the level of expenditures maintained by the center for \nthe fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the grant is \nreceived.\n ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section, $27,500,000 for fiscal year \n2009, and $28,600,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. The \nSecretary may utilize not to exceed 8 percent of the amount \nappropriated under this preceding sentence in each fiscal year for \ncoordination, dissemination, technical assistance, program evaluation, \ndata activities, and other program administration functions that do not \ninclude grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under subsections \n(a) and (b), which are determined by the Secretary to be appropriate \nfor carrying out the program under this section.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall be \neffective as of the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply \nto grants made on or after January 1, 2009.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "Poison Center Support, Enhancement, and Awareness Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide coordination and assistance for the maintenance of the nationwide toll-free phone number to access poison control centers.\n\nRequires the Secretary to carry out and expand upon a national media campaign to educate the public and health care providers about poison prevention and the availability of poison control center resources in local communities. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts with nationally recognized organizations in the field of poison control and national media firms for the development and implementation of a nationwide poison prevention and poison control center awareness campaign.\n\nExpands the poison control center grant program to allow the Secretary to award grants for poison control centers to comply with the operational requirements needed to sustain certification. Adds as the purposes for which such grants may be used: (1) to establish and evaluate best practices in the United States for poison prevention, poison control center outreach, and emergency and preparedness programs; (2) to implement standard patient management guidelines for commonly encountered toxic exposures; (3) to develop, support, and enhance technology and capabilities of professional organizations in the field of poison control to collect national poisoning, toxic occurrence, and related public health data; and (4) to develop initiatives to foster the enhanced public health utilization of national poison data. Eliminates matching requirements for such grants.\n\nAuthorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2014.", "title": "A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the poison center national toll-free number, national media campaign, and grant program to provide assistance for poison prevention, sustain the funding of poison centers, and enhance the public health of people of the United States."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1982, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Small Company Capital Formation Act \nof 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO EXEMPT CERTAIN SECURITIES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 3(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 \nU.S.C. 77c(b)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``(b) The Commission'' and inserting the \n following:\n ``(b) Additional Exemptions.--\n ``(1) Small issues exemptive authority.--The Commission''; \n and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) Additional issues.--The Commission shall by rule or \n regulation add a class of securities to the securities exempted \n pursuant to this section in accordance with the following terms \n and conditions:\n ``(A) The aggregate offering amount of all \n securities offered and sold within the prior 12-month \n period in reliance on the exemption added in accordance \n with this paragraph shall not exceed $50,000,000.\n ``(B) The securities may be offered and sold \n publicly.\n ``(C) The securities shall not be restricted \n securities within the meaning of the Federal securities \n laws and the regulations promulgated thereunder.\n ``(D) The civil liability provision in section \n 12(a)(2) shall apply to any person offering or selling \n such securities.\n ``(E) The issuer may solicit interest in the \n offering prior to filing any offering statement, on \n such terms and conditions as the Commission may \n prescribe in the public interest or for the protection \n of investors.\n ``(F) The Commission shall require the issuer to \n file audited financial statements with the Commission \n annually.\n ``(G) Such other terms, conditions, or requirements \n as the Commission may determine necessary in the public \n interest and for the protection of investors, which may \n include--\n ``(i) a requirement that the issuer prepare \n and electronically file with the Commission and \n distribute to prospective investors an offering \n statement, and any related documents, in such \n form and with such content as prescribed by the \n Commission, including audited financial \n statements and a description of the issuer's \n business operations, its financial condition, \n its corporate governance principles, its use of \n investor funds, and other appropriate matters; \n and\n ``(ii) disqualification provisions under \n which the exemption shall not be available to \n the issuer or its predecessors, affiliates, \n officers, directors, underwriters, or other \n related persons, which shall be substantially \n similar to the disqualification provisions \n contained in the regulations adopted in \n accordance with section 926 of the Dodd-Frank \n Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act \n (15 U.S.C. 77d note).\n ``(3) Limitation.--Only the following types of securities \n may be exempted under a rule or regulation adopted pursuant to \n paragraph (2): equity securities, debt securities, and debt \n securities convertible or exchangeable to equity interests, \n including any guarantees of such securities.\n ``(4) Periodic disclosures.--Upon such terms and conditions \n as the Commission determines necessary in the public interest \n and for the protection of investors, the Commission by rule or \n regulation may require an issuer of a class of securities \n exempted under paragraph (2) to make available to investors and \n file with the Commission periodic disclosures regarding the \n issuer, its business operations, its financial condition, its \n corporate governance principles, its use of investor funds, and \n other appropriate matters, and also may provide for the \n suspension and termination of such a requirement with respect \n to that issuer.\n ``(5) Adjustment.--Not later than 2 years after the date of \n enactment of the Small Company Capital Formation Act of 2011 \n and every 2 years thereafter, the Commission shall review the \n offering amount limitation described in paragraph (2)(A) and \n shall increase such amount as the Commission determines \n appropriate. If the Commission determines not to increase such \n amount, it shall report to the Committee on Financial Services \n of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, \n Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate on its reasons for not \n increasing the amount.''.\n (b) Treatment as Covered Securities for Purposes of NSMIA.--Section \n18(b)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77r(b)(4)) is \namended--\n (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; or'' at the end \n and inserting a semicolon; and\n (2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E), \n and inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:\n ``(D) a rule or regulation adopted pursuant to \n section 3(b)(2) and such security is--\n ``(i) offered or sold on a national \n securities exchange; or\n ``(ii) offered or sold to a qualified \n purchaser as defined by the Commission pursuant \n to paragraph (3) with respect to that purchase \n or sale.''.\n (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4(5) of the Securities Act of \n1933 is amended by striking ``section 3(b)'' and inserting ``section \n3(b)(1)''.\n\nSEC. 3. STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF STATE BLUE SKY LAWS ON REGULATION A \n OFFERINGS.\n\n Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, \nthe Comptroller General shall--\n (1) conduct a study on the impact of State laws regulating \n securities offerings (commonly referred to as ``Blue Sky \n laws'') on offerings made under Regulation A (17 C.F.R. 230.251 \n et seq.); and\n (2) transmit a report on the findings of the study to the \n Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives \n and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the \n Senate.", "summary": "Small Company Capital Formation Act of 2011 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to exempt from its regulation a class of securities for which the aggregate offering amount of all securities offered and sold within the prior 12-month period in reliance on such exemption is between $5 million and $50 million, subject to specified terms and conditions.\n\nLimits such an exemption to equity securities, debt securities, and debt securities convertible or exchangeable to equity interests, including any guarantees of such securities.\n\nAuthorizes the SEC to: (1) require an issuer of such exempted class of securities to make periodic disclosures available to investors regarding the issuer, its business operations, its financial condition, and its use of investor funds; and (2) provide for the suspension and termination of such a requirement with respect to that issuer.\n\nRequires the SEC to: (1) review and increase biennially such offering amount limitation, as appropriate; and (2) report to certain congressional committees on its reasons for not increasing the amount if it determines not to do so.\n\nTreats as a covered security with respect to a transaction exempt from registration requirements pursuant to a rule or regulation adopted under this Act any such security offered or sold: (1) on a national securities exchange, or (2) to a qualified purchaser.\n\nDirects the Comptroller General to study the impact of state laws regulating securities offerings (Blue Sky laws) on offerings made under Regulation A (which specifies the terms and conditions of exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933).", "title": "A bill to amend the Securities Act of 1933 to require the Securities and Exchange Commission to exempt a certain class of securities from such Act."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2254, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Telework Tax Incentive Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds as follows:\n (1) Federal, State, and local governments spend billions of \n dollars annually on the Nation's transportation needs.\n (2) Congestion on the Nation's roads costs over \n $74,000,000,000 annually in lost work time, fuel consumption, \n and costs of infrastructure and equipment repair.\n (3) On average on-road-vehicles contribute 30 percent of \n nitrogen oxides emissions.\n (4) It is estimated that staying at home to work requires 3 \n times less energy consumption than commuting to work.\n (5) It was recently reported that if an identified 10 to 20 \n percent of commuters switched to teleworking, 1,800,000 tons of \n regulated pollutants would be eliminated, 3,500,000,000 gallons \n of gas would be saved, 3,100,000,000 hours of personal time \n would be freed up, and maintenance and infrastructure costs \n would decrease by $500,000,000 annually because of reduced \n congestion and reduced vehicle miles traveled.\n (6) The average American daily commute is 62 minutes for a \n 44-mile round-trip (a total of 6 days per year and 5,808 miles \n per year).\n (7) The increase in work from 1969 to 1996, the increase in \n hours mothers spend in paid work, combined with a shift toward \n single-parent families resulted in families on average \n experiencing a decrease of 22 hours a week (14 percent) in \n parental time available outside of paid work they could spend \n with their children.\n (8) Companies with teleworking programs have found that \n teleworking can boost employee productivity 5 percent to 20 \n percent.\n (9) Today 60 percent of the workforce is involved in \n information work (an increase of 43 percent since 1990) \n allowing and encouraging decentralization of paid work to \n occur.\n (10) In recent years, studies performed in the United \n States have shown a marked expansion of teleworking, with an \n estimate of 19,000,000 Americans teleworking by the year 2002, \n 5 times the amount in 1990.\n\nSEC. 3. CREDIT FOR TELEWORKING.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart B of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to foreign tax credit, \netc.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 30B. TELEWORKING CREDIT.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an eligible taxpayer, \nthere shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this \nchapter for the taxable year an amount equal to the qualified \nteleworking expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer during such year.\n ``(b) Maximum Credit.--\n ``(1) Per teleworker limitation.--The credit allowed by \n subsection (a) for a taxable year with respect to qualified \n teleworking expenses paid or incurred by or on behalf of an \n individual teleworker shall not exceed $500.\n ``(2) Reduction for teleworking less than full year.--In \n the case of an individual who is in a teleworking arrangement \n for less than a full taxable year, the amount referred to \n paragraph (1) shall be reduced by an amount which bears the \n same ratio to $500 as the number of months in which such \n individual is not in a teleworking arrangement bears to 12. For \n purposes of the preceding sentence, an individual shall be \n treated as being in a teleworking arrangement for a month if \n the individual is subject to such arrangement for any day of \n such month.\n ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Eligible taxpayer.--The term `eligible taxpayer' \n means--\n ``(A) in the case of an individual, an individual \n who performs services for an employer under a \n teleworking arrangement, and\n ``(B) in the case of an employer, an employer for \n whom employees perform services under a teleworking \n arrangement.\n ``(2) Teleworking arrangement.--The term `teleworking \n arrangement' means an arrangement under which an employee \n teleworks for an employer not less than 75 days per year.\n ``(3) Qualified teleworking expenses.--The term `qualified \n teleworking expenses' means expenses paid or incurred under a \n teleworking arrangement for furnishings and electronic \n information equipment which are used to enable an individual to \n telework.\n ``(4) Telework.--The term `telework' means to perform work \n functions, using electronic information and communication \n technologies, thereby reducing or eliminating the physical \n commute to and from the traditional worksite.\n ``(d) Limitation Based on Amount of Tax.--\n ``(1) Liability for tax.--The credit allowable under \n subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed the excess \n (if any) of--\n ``(A) the regular tax for the taxable year, reduced \n by the sum of the credits allowable under subpart A and \n the preceding sections of this subpart, over\n ``(B) the tentative minimum tax for the taxable \n year.\n ``(2) Carryforward of unused credit.--If the amount of the \n credit allowable under subsection (a) for any taxable year \n exceeds the limitation under paragraph (1) for the taxable \n year, the excess shall be carried to the succeeding taxable \n year and added to the amount allowable as a credit under \n subsection (a) for such succeeding taxable year.\n ``(e) Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Basis reduction.--The basis of any property for which \n a credit is allowable under subsection (a) shall be reduced by \n the amount of such credit (determined without regard to \n subsection (d)).\n ``(2) Recapture.--The Secretary shall, by regulations, \n provide for recapturing the benefit of any credit allowable \n under subsection (a) with respect to any property which ceases \n to be property eligible for such credit.\n ``(3) Property used outside united states, etc., not \n qualified.--No credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) \n with respect to any property referred to in section 50(b) or \n with respect to the portion of the cost of any property taken \n into account under section 179.\n ``(4) Election to not take credit.--No credit shall be \n allowed under subsection (a) for any expense if the taxpayer \n elects to not have this section apply with respect to such \n expense.\n ``(5) Denial of double benefit.--No deduction or credit \n (other than under this section) shall be allowed under this \n chapter with respect to any expense which is taken into account \n in determining the credit under this section.''.\n (b) Technical Amendment.--Subsection (a) of section 1016 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``and'' at the end \nof paragraph (26), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (27) \nand inserting ``; and'', and by adding at the end the following new \nparagraph:\n ``(28) to the extent provided in section 30B(e), in the \n case of amounts with respect to which a credit has been allowed \n under section 30B.''.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart B of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of \n1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:\n\n ``Sec. 30B. Teleworking credit.''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to amounts paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act, in taxable years ending after such date.", "summary": "Telework Tax Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of up to $500 annually for \"qualified teleworking expenses.\" Defines such expenses.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against income tax for expenses incurred in teleworking."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 640, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Highway Fairness and Reform Act of \n2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. ELECTION TO RECEIVE STATE CONTRIBUTION TO HIGHWAY TRUST FUND IN \n LIEU OF PARTICIPATING IN FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAY PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is \namended by inserting after section 149 the following:\n``\u0006150. Direct Federal-aid highway program\n ``(a) In General.--Beginning with fiscal year 2011, the Secretary \nshall carry out a direct Federal-aid highway program in accordance with \nthe requirements of this section. Under the program, the Governor or \nchief executive officer of a State may elect, not less than 90 days \nbefore the beginning of the fiscal year, to have the State waive its \nright to receive amounts apportioned or allocated to it under the \nFederal-aid highway program for the fiscal year to which the election \nrelates; and to receive instead the amount determined under subsection \n(d) for that fiscal year. The election shall be made in such form and \nmanner as the Secretary may require and shall be irrevocable.\n ``(b) State Responsibility.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall accept an election \n under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that the \n State--\n ``(A) has an interstate maintenance program and \n agrees to maintain the interstate in accordance with \n that program;\n ``(B) submits a plan to the Secretary describing--\n ``(i) the purposes, projects, and uses to \n which amounts received under the program will \n be put; and\n ``(ii) which programmatic requirements of \n this title the State elects to continue;\n ``(C) agrees to obligate or expend amounts received \n under the program exclusively for projects that would \n be eligible for funding under section 133(b) of this \n title if the State were not participating in the \n program; and\n ``(D) agrees to report annually to the Secretary on \n the use of amounts received under the program and to \n make the report available to the public in an easily \n accessible format.\n ``(2) Safety requirements.--The Secretary may determine \n that requirements important for transportation safety continue \n to apply to a State that makes an election under subsection \n (a).\n ``(3) Surface transportation program.--A State that makes \n an election under subsection (a) shall continue to suballocate \n funds to urbanized areas and other areas using the formulae and \n rules under section 133(d)(3) of this title.\n ``(4) No limitation on use of funds.--Except as provided in \n paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), the expenditure or obligation of \n funds received by the State under the program are not subject \n to regulation under this title or title 49.\n ``(c) Effect on Pre-existing Obligations.--The making of an \nelection under subsection (a) shall not affect any obligation, \nresponsibility, or commitment of the State under this title for any \nfiscal year with respect to--\n ``(1) a project or program funded under this title (other \n than under this section); or\n ``(2) any project or program funded under this title in any \n fiscal year for which an election under subsection (a) is not \n in effect.\n ``(d) Transfers.--\n ``(1) In general.--The amount to be transferred to a State \n under the program for a fiscal year shall be the portion of the \n taxes appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund under section 9503 \n of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, other than for the Mass \n Transit Account, for a fiscal year for which an election is in \n effect under subsection (a) that is attributable to highway \n users in that State during that fiscal year, reduced by a pro \n rata share withheld by the Secretary to fund contract authority \n for programs of the National Highway Traffic Safety \n Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety \n Administration.\n ``(2) General fund amounts.--For purposes of paragraph (1), \n any amounts deposited in or credited to the Highway Trust Fund \n from the general fund of the Treasury shall be treated as if \n they were taxes appropriated to the Fund.\n ``(3) Transfers.--\n ``(A) In general.--Transfers under the program--\n ``(i) shall be made at the same time as \n deposits to the Highway Trust Fund are made by \n the Secretary of the Treasury;\n ``(ii) shall be made on the basis of \n estimates by the Secretary, in consultation \n with the Secretary of the Treasury, and proper \n adjustments shall be made in amounts \n subsequently transferred to the extent prior \n estimates were in excess of, or less than, the \n amounts required to be transferred.\n ``(B) Limitation.--An adjustment under subparagraph \n (A)(ii) to any transfer may not exceed 5 percent of the \n transferred amount to which the adjustment relates. If \n the adjustment required under subparagraph (A)(ii) \n exceeds that percentage, the excess shall be taken into \n account in making subsequent adjustments under \n subparagraph (A)(ii).\n ``(e) Application with Other Authority.--The Secretary shall \nrescind or cancel any contract authority under this chapter (and any \nobligation limitation) for a State for a fiscal year for which an \nelection by that State is in effect under subsection (a).''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The chapter analysis for chapter 1 of \ntitle 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item \nrelating to section 149 the following:\n\n``150. Direct Federal-aid highway program.''.", "summary": "Highway Fairness and Reform Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation, beginning with FY2011, to carry out a direct federal-aid highway program to permit a state governor or chief executive officer, at least 90 days before the beginning of a fiscal year, to elect to: (1) waive the state's right to receive apportioned or allocated funds under the federal-aid highway program; and (2) receive instead a prorated amount of the taxes appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund (other than from the Mass Transit Account) which are attributable to highway users in the state. Requires a pro rata reduction of such tax-equivalent amount in order to fund contract authority for programs of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).\n\nRequires the Secretary to accept a state's election if: (1) the state has an interstate maintenance program; (2) it submits a plan describing the purposes, projects, and uses to which such amounts will be put and the federal-aid highway programmatic requirements the state elects to continue; (3) the state agrees to obligate program amounts exclusively for projects that would be eligible for surface transportation program funding; and (4) it continues to suballocate surface transportation program funds to urbanized and other areas using certain formulae and rules.", "title": "A bill to permit a State to elect to receive the State's contributions to the Highway Trust Fund in lieu of its Federal-aid Highway program apportionment for the next fiscal year, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 183, "text": "67 with respect to deficit reduction are \namended to reflect the total reductions provided in section 2(b).\n (b) Defense Discretionary.--The assumptions included in the \nconference report on House Concurrent Resolution 67 with respect to \nreductions in defense discretionary spending shall be assumed to \ninclude the following:\n (1) Limit defense spending in fiscal year 1996 to \n $244,000,000,000, in fiscal year 1997 to $241,000,000,000, in \n fiscal year 1998 to $248,000,000,000, in fiscal year 1999 to \n $254,000,000,000, and in fiscal year 2000 to $261,000,000,000.\n (2) Terminate production of Trident D5 submarine launched \n ballistic missiles after 1996.\n (3) Phase out over five years the equivalent of two Army \n light divisions.\n (4) Deny unemployment compensation to service members who \n voluntarily leave the service.\n (5) Close the Uniformed Services University of the Health \n Sciences, with the last class admitted in 1995 and all \n activities halted on that class' graduation in 1999.\n (6) Rather than replacing or revitalizing existing \n Department of Defense Housing Stock, increase reliance on \n private-sector housing for military families by making service \n personnel eligible for a cash housing allowance regardless of \n whether they live in Department of Defense or private-sector \nunits and charging market-driven rent for Department of Defense \nhousing.\n (7) Reduce the Intelligence budget by $300 million in each \n of fiscal years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000.\n (8) Encourage private ownership of industrial assets used \n in defense production by granting the General Services \n Administration clear authority to negotiate sale of equipment \n to the holding contractor in situations in which continued \n Department of Defense ownership is not necessary, and by \n requiring contractors in the future to rent or lease such \n equipment from the Department of Defense if they demonstrate it \n is in the Department of Defense's interest to provide the \n equipment.\n (9) Increase burdensharing by the Republic of Korea by \n requiring it to increase its contribution to include all \n payments of Korean won-based labor costs of local employees \n working for the United States military and support services \n contracts.\n (10) Procure the most cost-effective mix of C-17's and \n commercial airlifters.\n (11) Cancel the Army's Tank Upgrade Program and lay-away \n production facilities, deactivating but preserving the \n Government-owned tank manufacturing facilities.\n (12) While retaining the number of nuclear warheads \n permitted by the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty II (START II), \n reduce the strategic delivery system structure to 300 Minuteman \n III ICBM's, 10 Trident submarines each carrying 24 missiles \n with 7 warheads; 66 B-52H bombers, each carrying 16 warheads; \n and 20 B-2 bombers, each carrying 16 warheads.\n (13) Repeal the Civilian Marksmanship Program.\n (14) Terminate all funding for the Selective Service System \n except to terminate the program.\n (15) Limit the mission of the Ballistic Missile Defense \n Organization to Theater Missile Defense and Terminate its other \n projects.\n (16) Terminate the National Aerospace Plane Program.\n (17) Scale back weapons production and maintenance \n activities at the Department of Energy to support an arsenal of \n 4,000 warheads.\n (c) Nondefense Discretionary.--The assumptions included in the \nconference report on House Concurrent Resolution 67 with respect to \nreductions in non-defense discretionary spending shall be assumed to \ninclude the following:\n (1) Terminate NASA's support for producers of commercial \n airlines.\n (2) Consolidate and downsize Overseas Broadcasting by \n capping funding to Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty at the \n level of $75 million per year.\n (3) Terminate funding for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard \n Recreational Facility and rescind all unobligated prior \n appropriations.\n (4) Terminate the International Space Station Program.\n (5) Terminate the High-Temperature Gas Reactor Program, \n also known as the Gas Turbine-Modular Helium Reactor.\n (6) Phase in over five years a reduction of 25 percent of \n fiscal year 1995 appropriations for research and development \n programs for fossil, nuclear, and fusion energy.\n (7) Allow private producers to build and operate co-\n generation facilities at Federal civilian installations, paying \n all construction costs and assuming all financial risks.\n (8) Reduce electrification and telephone credit subsidies \n to rural utilities services to levels calculated to result in \n electricity and telephone consumer costs equivalent to those \n for consumers in the service areas of unsubsidized electric and \n telephone companies.\n (9) Offer for sale the Naval Petroleum Reserve Number 1, \n located at Elk Hills, California.\n (10) Prohibit the sale of timber from national forests at a \n price insufficient to recover fully the Forest Service's \n associated costs for timber management, reforestation, \n construction, and maintenance of logging roads, payments to \n States, and other timber program costs.\n (11) Limit the level of Federal support for agricultural \n research and extension activities to 90 percent of the fiscal \n year 1995 level for fiscal years 1996 through 2000.\n (12) Terminate the Interstate Commerce Commission and \n transfer its motor carrier safety responsibilities to the \n Department of Transportation.\n (13) Terminate the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration \n in 1997.\n (14) Terminate the Pennsylvania Avenue Development \n Corporation.\n (15) Align the method of computing cost-of-living \n adjustment of the compensation for members of Congress with \n compensation for civil servants.\n (16) Limit the number of days Senior Executive Service \n employees may accrue as annual leave to 30.\n (17) Permanently reduce the number of political appointees \n to 2,000.\n\nSEC. 4. DIRECT SPENDING REDUCTIONS.\n\n (a) Sales of Electric Power By the Power Marketing \nAdministrations.--Notwithstanding any other law governing sales of \nelectric power by the Alaska Power Marketing Administration, Bonneville \nPower Marketing Administration, Southern Power Marketing \nAdministration, Southeastern Power Marketing Administration, or Western \nArea Power Marketing Administration (each of which is referred to in \nthis subsection as the ``Administration'')--\n (1) offers of sales of electric power by the Administration \n shall be made on a nonpreferential basis to public bodies and \n cooperatives and private persons;\n (2) sales of electric power by the Administration shall be \n made to the persons offering the highest price for the power; \n and\n (3) the Administration shall not be required to acquire for \n sale to any public body or cooperative or any other person any \n amount of electric power in excess of that generated by the \n projects from which the Administration sells power.\n (b) Spent Nuclear Waste Storage Fees.--Section 136(a)(3) of the \nNuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10156(a)(3)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``(3) Fees'' and inserting the following:\n ``(3) Fees.--\n ``(A) In general.--Fees''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(B) Adjustment for inflation.--On and after the \n date of enactment of this subparagraph, the amount of \n the storage fees established under subparagraph (A) \n shall be adjusted annually on October 1 to account for \n inflation since the date of enactment of this Act.\n ``(C) Deadline for payment.--The principal amount \n of all storage fees established under subparagraph (A) \n shall be paid by September 30, 1997, and all of the \n interest accrued or all storage fees shall be paid by \n September 30, 1998.''.\n (c) Expansion and Extension of Authority to Use Competitive \nBidding.--\n (1) Licenses and permits subject to competitive bidding.--\n Subsection (j) of section 309 of the Communications Act of 1934 \n (47 U.S.C. 309) is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (1), by striking out ``described \n in paragraph (2)''; and\n (B) by striking out paragraph (2).\n (2) Permanent authority.--Such subsection is further \n amended by striking out paragraph (11).\n (3) Conforming repeal of random selection authority.--Such \n section is further amended by striking out subsection (i).\n (d) Termination of Price Support and Production Adjustment Programs \nfor Sugar Beets and Sugarcane.--\n (1) Termination of price support program.--\n (A) Price support levels for designated nonbasic \n agricultural commodities.--Section 201(a) of the \n Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1446(a)) is amended \n by striking ``milk, sugar beets, and sugarcane'' and \n inserting ``and milk''.\n (B) Sugar price support.--Section 206 of the Act (7 \n U.S.C. 1446g) is repealed.\n (C) Benefits.--Section 401(e) of the Act (7 U.S.C. \n 1421(e)) is amended--\n (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1)''; \n and\n (ii) by striking paragraph (2).\n (D) Personal liability of producers for \n deficiencies.--Section 405 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 1425) \n is amended--\n (i) in subsection (a), by striking ``(a)''; \n and\n (ii) by striking subsection (b).\n (E) Powers of commodity credit corporation.--\n Section 5(a) of the Commodity Credit Corporation \n Charter Act (7 U.S.C. 714c(a)) is amended by inserting \n ``(except for sugar beets and sugarcane)'' after \n ``agricultural commodities''.\n (2) Termination of acreage allotments and marketing \n quotas.--\n (A) Termination.--Part VII of subtitle B of title \n III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 \n U.S.C. 1359aa et seq.) is repealed.\n (B) Conforming Amendment.--Section 344(f)(2) of the \n Act (7 U.S.C. 1344(f)(2)) is amended by striking \n ``sugar cane for sugar, sugar beets for sugar,''.\n (3) Conforming amendments regarding prevention of \n government accumulation of sugar.--Section 902 of the Food \n Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1446g note) is amended--\n (A) by striking subsection (a); and\n (B) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as \n subsections (a) and (b), respectively.\n (4) Conforming amendment regarding section 32 activities.--\n The second sentence of the first paragraph of section 32 of the \n Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) is amended by inserting \n ``(other than sugar beets and sugarcane)'' after ``commodity'' \n the last place it appears.\n (5) Prohibition on subsequent provision of price support.--\n (A) Prohibition.--After the effective date of this \n subsection, the Secretary of Agriculture may not make \n price support available, whether in the form of loans, \n payments, purchases, or other operations, for crops of \n sugar beets or sugarcane by using the funds of the \n Commodity Credit Corporation or under the authority of \n any law.\n (B) Exception.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), \n the Secretary shall settle any outstanding loans under \n section 206 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. \n 1446g) made before the effective date of this \n subsection.\n (6) Effect on existing liability.--The amendments made by \n this subsection shall not affect the liability of any person \n under any provision of law as in effect before the effective \n date of this subsection.\n (7) Effective date.--This subsection and the amendments \n made by this subsection shall become effective on October 1, \n 1996.\n (e) Elimination of Market Promotion Program.--\n (1) In general.--Section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act \n of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623) is repealed.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--\n (A) Section 211 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 5641) is \n amended by striking subsection (c).\n (B) Section 402(a)(1) of the Act (7 U.S.C. \n 5662(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``203,''.\n (C) Section 1302 of the Omnibus Budget \n Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-66; 7 U.S.C. \n 5623 note) is repealed.\n (f) Elimination of Export Enhancement Program.--\n (1) In general.--Section 301 of the Agricultural Trade Act \n of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5651) is repealed.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--\n (A) Section 103(d)(2) of the Act (7 U.S.C. \n 5603(d)(2)) is amended by striking ``(as amended) and \n the program under section 301''.\n (B) The title heading of title III of the Act (7 \n U.S.C. prec. 5651) is amended to read as follows:\n\n ``TITLE III--RELIEF FROM UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES''.\n\n (C) Section 303 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 5653) is \n amended by striking ``, such as that established under \n section 301,''.\n (D) Section 401 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 5661) is \n amended by striking ``sections 201, 202, and 301'' each \n place it appears in subsections (a) and (b) and \n inserting ``sections 201 and 202''.\n (E) Section 402(a)(1) of the Act (7 U.S.C. \n 5662(a)(1)) (as amended by section 301(b)(2)) is \n further amended by striking ``sections 201, 202, and \n 301'' and inserting ``sections 201 and 202''.", "summary": "Responsible Deficit Reduction Act of 1995 - Amends House Concurrent Resolution 67, 104th Congress to revise the definition of \"discretionary spending limit\" so as to reduce and specify new budget authority and outlay levels only for FY 1996 through 2000 (\nH. Con. Res. 67\n covered through FY 2002). \n(Sec. 3) Modifies the deficit reduction assumptions in the conference report on that resolution. \n(Sec. 4) Declares that, notwithstanding any other law governing sales of electric power by the Alaska Power Marketing Administration, the Bonneville Power Marketing Administration, the Southern Power Marketing Administration, the Southeastern Power Marketing Administration, or the Western Area Power Marketing Administration (each referred to as \"the Administration\"): (1) offers of power sales by the Administration shall be made on a nonpreferential basis to public bodies and cooperatives and private persons; (2) sales of power by the Administration shall be made to the persons offering the highest price; and (3) the Administration shall not be required to acquire for sale to any public body or cooperative or any other person any amount of power in excess of that generated by the projects from which the Administration sells power. \nAmends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to: (1) require annual inflation adjustment of storage fees; and (2) establish deadlines for the payment of principal and interest on storage fees. \nAmends the Communications Act of 1934 to modify license application competitive bidding requirements. Removes provisions terminating the authority of the Federal Communications Commission to grant a license or permit under specified provisions. \nAmends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to end the authority to provide price support for sugar beets and sugarcane. Removes provisions relating to security interests obtained by the Commodity Credit Corporation resulting from security agreements by sugar beet and sugarcane processors. Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to exclude sugar beets and sugarcane from the general power of the Commodity Credit Corporation to support agricultural commodity prices. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act to repeal marketing quota provisions relating to information reporting by sugarcane processors, cane sugar refiners, sugar beet processors, manufacturers of crystalline fructose, and producers of sugarcane or sugar beets. Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from making price support available (in the form of loans, payments, purchases, or other operations) for sugar beets or sugarcane under any law, except for settling outstanding loans under specified provisions. \nAmends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to repeal provisions mandating a commodity export market promotion program and provisions mandating a commodity export enhancement program.", "title": "Responsible Deficit Reduction Act of 1995"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2193, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``No Child Left Behind Reform Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS.\n\n (a) Definition of Adequate Yearly Progress.--Section 1111(b)(2) of \nthe Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n6311(b)(2)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (C)(vii)--\n (A) by striking ``such as'';\n (B) by inserting ``such as measures of individual \n or cohort growth over time based on the academic \n assessments implemented in accordance with paragraph \n (3),'' after ``described in clause (v),''; and\n (C) by striking ``attendance rates,''; and\n (2) in subparagraph (D)--\n (A) by striking clause (ii);\n (B) by striking ``the State'' and all that follows \n through ``ensure'' and inserting ``the State shall \n ensure''; and\n (C) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period.\n (b) Academic Assessment and Local Educational Agency and School \nImprovement.--Section 1116(a)(1)(B) of the Elementary and Secondary \nEducation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6316(a)(1)(B)) is amended by striking \n``, except that'' and all that follows through ``action or \nrestructuring''.\n\nSEC. 3. GRANTS FOR INCREASING DATA CAPACITY FOR PURPOSES OF AYP.\n\n Part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of \n1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n\n``SEC. 1120C. GRANTS FOR INCREASING DATA CAPACITY FOR PURPOSES OF AYP.\n\n ``(a) Grant Authority.--The Secretary may award grants, on a \ncompetitive basis, to State educational agencies to enable the State \neducational agencies to develop or increase the capacity of data \nsystems for accountability purposes and award subgrants to increase the \ncapacity of local educational agencies to upgrade, create, or manage \ninformation databases for the purpose of measuring adequate yearly \nprogress.\n ``(b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the \nSecretary shall give priority to State educational agencies that have \ncreated, or are in the process of creating, a growth model or \nproficiency index as part of their adequate yearly progress \ndetermination.\n ``(c) State Use of Funds.--Each State that receives a grant under \nthis section shall use--\n ``(1) not more than 20 percent of the grant funds for the \n purpose of increasing the capacity of, or creating, State \n databases to collect information related to adequate yearly \n progress; and\n ``(2) not less than 80 percent of the grant funds to award \n subgrants to local educational agencies within the State to \n enable the local educational agencies to carry out the \n authorized activities described in subsection (d).\n ``(d) Authorized Activities.--Each local educational agency that \nreceives a subgrant under this section shall use the subgrant funds to \nincrease the capacity of the local educational agency to upgrade \ndatabases or create unique student identifiers for the purpose of \nmeasuring adequate yearly progress, by--\n ``(1) purchasing database software or hardware;\n ``(2) hiring additional staff for the purpose of managing \n such data;\n ``(3) providing professional development or additional \n training for such staff; and\n ``(4) providing professional development or training for \n principals and teachers on how to effectively use such data to \n implement instructional strategies to improve student \n achievement.\n ``(e) State Application.--Each State educational agency desiring a \ngrant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary \nat such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the \nSecretary may require.\n ``(f) LEA Application.--Each local educational agency desiring a \nsubgrant under this section shall submit an application to the State \neducational agency at such time, in such manner, and containing such \ninformation as the State educational agency may require. Each such \napplication shall include, at a minimum, a demonstration of the local \neducational agency's ability to put such a database in place.\n ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section $80,000,000 for each of fiscal \nyears 2005, 2006, and 2007.''.\n\nSEC. 4. TARGETING TRANSFER OPTIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES.\n\n (a) Targeting Transfer Options and Supplemental Services.--Section \n1116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n6316) is amended--\n (1) in paragraphs (1)(E)(i), (5)(A), (7)(C)(i), and \n (8)(A)(i) of subsection (b), by striking the term ``all \n students enrolled in the school'' each place such term appears \n and inserting ``all students enrolled in the school, who are \n members of a group described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) that \n fails to make adequate yearly progress as defined in the \n State's plan under section 1111(b)(2),'';\n (2) in subsection (b)(1), by adding at the end the \n following:\n ``(G) Maintenance of least restrictive \n environment.--A student who is eligible to receive \n services under the Individuals with Disabilities \n Education Act and who uses the option to transfer under \n subparagraph (E), paragraph (5)(A), (7)(C)(i), or \n (8)(A)(i), or subsection (c)(10)(C)(vii), shall be \n placed and served in the least restrictive environment \n appropriate, in accordance with the Individuals with \n Disabilities Education Act.'';\n (3) in clause (vii) of subsection (c)(10)(C), by inserting \n ``, who are members of a group described in section \n 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) that fails to make adequate yearly progress as \n defined in the State's plan under section 1111(b)(2),'' after \n ``Authorizing students''; and\n (4) in subparagraph (A) of subsection (e)(12), by inserting \n ``, who is a member of a group described in section \n 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) that fails to make adequate yearly progress as \n defined in the State's plan under section 1111(b)(2)'' after \n ``under section 1113(c)(1)''.\n (b) Student Already Transferred.--A student who transfers to \nanother public school pursuant to section 1116(b) of the Elementary and \nSecondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6316(b)) before the \neffective date of this section and the amendments made by this section, \nmay continue enrollment in such public school after the effective date \nof this section and the amendments made by this section.\n (c) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this \nsection shall be effective for each fiscal year for which the amount \nappropriated to carry out title I of the Elementary and Secondary \nEducation Act of 1965 for the fiscal year, is less than the amount \nauthorized to be appropriated to carry out such title for the fiscal \nyear.\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITION OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS.\n\n Section 9101(23)(B)(ii) of the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 \n(20 U.S.C. 7801(23)(B)(ii)) is amended--\n (1) in subclause (I), by striking ``or'' after the \n semicolon;\n (2) in subclause (II), by striking ``and'' after the \n semicolon; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(III) in the case of a middle \n school teacher, passing a State \n approved middle school generalist exam \n when the teacher receives the teacher's \n license to teach middle school in the \n State;\n ``(IV) obtaining a State social \n studies certificate that qualifies the \n teacher to teach history, geography, \n economics, and civics in middle or \n secondary schools, respectively, in the \n State; or\n ``(V) obtaining a State science \n certificate that qualifies the teacher \n to teach earth science, biology, \n chemistry, and physics in middle or \n secondary schools, respectively, in the \n State; and''.", "summary": "No Child Left Behind Reform Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to revise certain requirements which were added by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, including ones relating to: (1) adequate yearly progress (AYP); (2) academic assessment and local educational agency and school improvement; (3) school choice and supplemental services options; and (4) teacher qualifications.\n\nAllows schools to be given credit for performing well on measures other than test scores when calculating student achievement.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to State educational agencies to: (1) develop or increase the capacity of data systems for accountability purposes; and (2) subgrants to increase the capacity of local educational agencies to upgrade, create, or manage information databases for the purpose of measuring AYP.\n\n Allows schools to target school choice and supplemental services to the students who are members of specified types of groups that fail to make AYP. Requires placement and service in the least restrictive environment for students who receive services under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act who use an option to transfer under ESEA.\n\nRevises the definition of highly qualified teacher to authorize States to: (1) use a generalist exam for middle school teachers; and (2) issue certificates that qualify teachers to teach a number of subjects in social studies or in science.", "title": "To improve the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2341, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Patient Safeguards Act of \n2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) The 2009 Medicare Trustees Report estimates that \n Medicare spending could grow from 3.2 percent of the U.S. \n economy to 11.4 percent during the next 75 years and warns of \n the significant cost burden growth of this magnitude would \n place on workers, Medicare beneficiaries, and the Federal \n budget.\n (2) In 2009, Congress provided $1,150,000,000 for \n comparative effectiveness research, including cost-\n effectiveness analysis.\n (3) The Medicare Payment and Advisory Commission suggested \n that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services use cost \n effectiveness analysis to look at groups of services used to \n treat specific illnesses that have small differences in quality \n but large differences in cost.\n (4) MedPAC has reported concerns that the rigid use of cost \n effectiveness analysis might limit Medicare beneficiaries' \n access to certain services, ration rather than promote \n appropriate care, slow innovation, and interfere with the \n practice of medicine.\n (5) MedPAC has listed methodological and reporting \n shortcomings of cost effectiveness analysis, including not \n using all available clinical evidence, not sufficiently \n reporting on the extent to which the results are applicable to \n the general population, selectively reporting results, and \n placing undue emphasis on certain results of such analysis.\n (6) While serving as the head of Congressional Budget \n Office, White House Budget director Peter Orszag said \n determining which treatment was most cost effective for a given \n population would involve placing a dollar value on an \n additional year of life.\n (7) While serving as the head of Congressional Budget \n Office, White House Budget director Peter Orszag suggested the \n possibility of limiting Medicare coverage for more effective \n but more expensive services.\n (8) CMS recently described cost effectiveness analysis \n expertise as one of its most critical needs to Medicare \n Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee, which \n advises CMS on national coverage determinations (NCDs).\n (9) CMS, through proposed rule making, has twice failed in \n attempts to formally incorporate cost effectiveness analysis \n into NCDs.\n (10) CMS officials report that the agency considers \n potential cost savings before deciding to make changes to a NCD \n that narrows coverage under the Medicare program.\n (11) AARP has stated that comparative effectiveness \n research is intended to help consumers and providers determine \n the best treatment, not just the least costly treatment. AARP \n warned that this information from comparative effectiveness \n research should not be used as a means to deny individuals \n access to appropriate therapeutic options.\n (12) The Congressional Black Caucus, focusing in particular \n on the exacerbating of health inequities across subpopulation \n groups, expressed concerns that comparative effectiveness \n research should not be used as rationale for limiting care to \n the care that works best for the average patient, rather than \n providing coverage for the care that works best for each \n individual patient.\n (13) Congressional New Democrats--\n (A) argued that any application of comparative \n effectiveness research must protect against the use of \n this research to deny access to care solely based on \n cost; and\n (B) urged Congress to ensure that clinical \n effectiveness and medical outcomes are the focus of \n comparative effectiveness research funding. \n (14) The American Heart Association--\n (A) urges Congress to include patient safeguards in \n legislation to prevent the misuse of cost effectiveness \n analysis; and\n (B) argues that the primary focus of comparative \n effectiveness research should be optimizing clinical \n outcomes and value for patients and society and not for \n the purpose of minimizing costs.\n\nSEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.\n\n It is the sense of the Congress that--\n (1) efforts to make the Medicare program financially \n sustainable, including the application of comparative \n effectiveness research, should not--\n (A) deprive patients of medically necessary care \n solely due to the cost of such care; or\n (B) limit access to needed health care services due \n to a patient's age, gender, ethnicity, or disability \n status; and\n (2) Congress should protect patients' access to needed care \n by ensuring that the Administrator of CMS relies on adequate \n clinical expertise when the Administrator proposes to narrow \n coverage for a product or service under the Medicare program \n under title XVIII of the Social Security Act.\n\nSEC. 4. PROCESS FOR CERTAIN NATIONAL COVERAGE DETERMINATIONS.\n\n (a) Requirements for the Issuance of Certain Medicare National \nCoverage Determinations.--Unless all of the conditions under subsection \n(b) are met, the Administrator may not issue a final national coverage \ndetermination (referred to in this Act as a NCD)--\n (1) if the NCD restricts local or national coverage for an \n item or service that, before the date of the issuance of such \n NCD, was routinely covered under the Medicare program under \n title XVIII of the Social Security Act;\n (2) if the NCD would result in significant cost savings for \n the Medicare program;\n (3) if there is controversy in the available peer-reviewed \n medical and scientific literature about the evidence supporting \n the NCD;\n (4) if the NCD restricts local or national coverage for an \n item or service that--\n (A) is supported by current clinical practice \n guidelines--\n (i) included in the National Guideline \n Clearinghouse maintained by the Agency for \n Healthcare Research and Quality; or\n (ii) maintained by a State medical society; \n or\n (B) is endorsed by the National Quality Forum or by \n another national organization that evaluates voluntary \n consensus-based provides quality measures and is \n designated by the Secretary for purposes of making an \n endorsement under this subparagraph; or\n (5) if the Administrator determines that--\n (A) significant differences in opinion exist among \n experts concerning--\n (i) what evidence should be reviewed in \n developing the NCD; or\n (ii) how data should be interpreted for \n purposes of developing the NCD; and\n (B) an independent analysis of the evidence and \n data analysis would be valuable in developing the final \n NCD.\n (b) Required Conditions.--The conditions under this subsection are \nas follows:\n (1) Request for review.--Before the start of the public \n comment period for a proposed NCD that contains all the \n restrictions on the coverage of products and services included \n in the final NCD, the Administrator makes a formal request to \n MEDCAC for a review of the scientific and clinical evidence \n supporting and opposing the NCD.\n (2) MEDCAC review subcommittee.--\n (A) In general.--MEDCAC convenes a subcommittee \n to--\n (i) review the evidence supporting the \n proposed NCD (including clinical practice \n guidelines published by medical specialty \n societies), taking into account--\n (I) the evidence related to \n subpopulations of beneficiaries \n (including men, women, racial and \n ethnic minorities, the elderly, \n individuals with disabilities, and \n individuals with genetic variations); \n and\n (II) the extent to which patient \n preference is a factor in the use of \n the item or service that is the subject \n of the NCD;\n (ii) conduct an evaluation of the clinical \n and scientific evidence relating to the \n clinical benefits and risks of a technology \n affected by such NCD; and\n (iii) determine if the NCD will limit the \n access of Medicare beneficiaries to medically \n necessary care.\n (B) Membership.--The subcommittee under \n subparagraph (A) shall have 15 members, each of whom--\n (i) shall be a clinical expert in the \n medical specialty or specialties that are most \n relevant to the topic of the NCD; and\n (ii) to the extent feasible, shall have \n expertise in the development of clinical \n practice guidelines.\n (C) Outside experts allowed.--MEDCAC may include \n individuals who are not members of MEDCAC in the \n membership of the subcommittee convened under \n subparagraph (A).\n (3) Subcommittee comment.--\n (A) In general.--Not later than the last day of the \n period under paragraph (1), the subcommittee convened \n under paragraph (3)(A) shall submit to the \n Administrator a public comment on the NCD that contains \n an evaluation of whether--\n (i) the NCD is appropriate based on the \n subcommittee's activities under paragraph \n (2)(A);\n (ii) the NCD is consistent with clinical \n guidelines;\n (iii) the NCD would adversely impact the \n access of subpopulations to items or services \n which may benefit such subpopulations; or\n (iv) the NCD would adversely impact access \n to treatment options that are primarily \n selected by patients, with their physicians, \n based on patient preference and quality of life \n criteria.\n (B) Ncds that prevent access to care.--If MEDCAC \n determines that the proposed NCD could prevent Medicare \n patients from receiving medically necessary care, the \n MEDCAC panel shall include in such public comment a \n recommendation that the proposed NCD not be issued as a \n final NCD.\n (c) Restriction on Additional Limitation on Coverage.--The \nAdministrator may not issue a final NCD that contains any restrictions \non the coverage of products and services that were not included in the \nproposed NCD reviewed under subsection (b).\n (d) Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed as \npreventing a Medicare beneficiary from using private funds to purchase \nsupplemental health insurance coverage or to directly purchase \nmedically necessary care.\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act:\n (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the \n Administrator of CMS.\n (2) CMS.--The term ``CMS'' means the Centers for Medicare & \n Medicaid Services.\n (3) MEDCAC.--The term ``MEDCAC'' means the Medicare \n Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee established \n by the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to \n section 222 of the Public Health Service Act.\n (4) Medically necessary services.--The term ``medically \n necessary care'' means health care services or products that a \n prudent physician would provide to a patient for the purpose of \n preventing, diagnosing, treating or rehabilitating an illness, \n injury, disease or its associated symptoms, impairments or \n functional limitations in a manner that is--\n (A) in accordance with generally accepted standards \n of medical practice;\n (B) clinically appropriate in terms of type, \n frequency, extent, site and duration; and\n (C) not primarily for the convenience of the \n patient, physician, or other health care provider.\n (5) MedPAC.--The term ``MedPAC'' means the Medicare Payment \n Advisory Commission established under Section 1805 of the \n Social Security Act.\n (6) National coverage determination.--The term ``national \n coverage determination'' has the meaning given such term in \n section 1869(f)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act.", "summary": "Medicare Patient Safeguards Act of 2009 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) efforts to make the Medicare program financially sustainable, including application of comparative effectiveness research, should not deprive patients of medically necessary care solely due to its cost or limit access to needed health care services due to a patient's age, gender, ethnicity, or disability status; and (2) Congress should protect patients' access to needed care by ensuring that the Administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) relies on adequate clinical expertise when the Administrator proposes to narrow coverage for a product or service under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.\n\nEstablishes a process for the issuing of Medicare national coverage determinations by the Administrator. Enumerates prohibitions and conditions.", "title": "To provide a process for public comment and Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee review of certain Medicare national coverage determinations, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 126, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Beneficiary Access to Care Act of \n2003''.\n\nSEC. 2. TREATMENT OF DRUGS AND BIOLOGICALS UNDER THE MEDICARE \n OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM.\n\n (a) Separate APCs for Most Drugs and Biologicals.--\n (1) In general.--Section 1833(t)(2) of the Social Security \n Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)(2)) is amended--\n (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph \n (F);\n (B) by striking the period at the end of \n subparagraph (G) and inserting ``; and''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(H) the Secretary shall treat as a separate group \n of covered OPD services--\n ``(i) any drug or biological that was \n treated as such a group as of December 31, \n 2002; and\n ``(ii) any drug or biological that has \n ceased to be eligible for transitional, pass-\n through payments under paragraph (6) by reason \n of the limited period of payment specified in \n paragraph (6)(C)(i).''.\n (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) \n shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January \n 1, 2004.\n (b) Payment Rates for Non-Pass-Through Drugs and Biologicals.--\n (1) Program payments.--Section 1833(t) of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)) is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (3), by amending subparagraph (D) \n to read as follows:\n ``(D) Calculation of medicare opd fee schedule \n amounts.--\n ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall \n compute a medicare OPD fee schedule amount for \n each covered OPD service (or group of such \n services) furnished in a year, in an amount \n that (except as provided in clause (ii)) is \n equal to the product of--\n ``(I) the conversion factor \n computed under subparagraph (C) for the \n year; and\n ``(II) the relative payment weight \n (determined under paragraph (2)(C) or \n paragraph (9)(A)) for the service or \n group.\n ``(ii) Special rules for 2004.--\n ``(I) In general.--Notwithstanding \n clause (i), the medicare OPD fee \n schedule amount for 2004 for a drug or \n biological that is treated as a \n separate group of covered OPD services \n and is--\n ``(aa) a single-source drug \n (as defined in section \n 1927(k)(7)(A)(iv));\n ``(bb) an innovator \n multiple source drug (as \n defined in section \n 1927(k)(7)(A)(ii)); or\n ``(cc) a biological product \n approved for marketing under \n section 351 of the Public \n Health Service Act (including \n any such product that is \n marketed by any cross-licensed \n producers or distributors),\n may not be less than 87.37 percent of \n the payment rate for the drug or \n biological under paragraph (6) as of \n December 31, 2002 (determined without \n regard to any reduction under \n subparagraph (E)(iii) of such \n paragraph).\n ``(II) No revision of relative \n payment weights.--The relative payment \n weights established under paragraph \n (9)(A) for 2004 for groups of covered \n OPD services other than those to which \n subclause (I) applies shall not be \n revised to take into account the \n application of such subclause (I).'';\n (B) in paragraph (4)--\n (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking \n ``Secretary, as computed under paragraphs \n (2)(D) and (2)(E)'' and inserting ``Secretary \n (as computed under paragraphs (2)(D) and \n (2)(E)), except that the medicare OPD fee \n schedule amount determined under paragraph \n (3)(D) for a drug or biological that is treated \n as a separate group of covered OPD services \n shall not be adjusted for relative differences \n in the cost of labor''; and\n (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking \n ``adjusted''; and\n (C) in paragraph (9), by adding at the end the \n following:\n ``(D) Use of external data.--In determining the \n relative payment weight for any drug or biological that \n is treated as a separate group of covered OPD services \n for any year after 2003, the Secretary shall adjust the \n weight otherwise determined under this paragraph with \n respect to the drug or biological to the extent that \n reliable and valid data collected and submitted by \n entities and organizations other than the Department of \n Health and Human Services (including data submitted in \n public comments on the proposed rule promulgated with \n respect to the system established under this subsection \n for 2004) demonstrate that such payment weight is \n inadequate or inaccurate. In the case of any \n adjustments made pursuant to the preceding sentence for \n 2004, the Secretary shall not revise the relative \n payment weights for other groups of covered OPD \n services for such year to take into account such \n adjustments, and the medicare OPD fee schedule amount \n determined under paragraph (3)(D) using a relative \n weight resulting from such an adjustment shall be \n subject to the minimum amount described in clause \n(ii)(I) of such paragraph.''.\n (2) Copayments.--Section 1833(t)(8)(E) of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)(8)(E)) is amended--\n (A) in the heading, by striking ``outlier and pass-\n through'' and inserting ``certain''; and\n (B) by striking ``paragraphs (5) and (6)'' and \n inserting ``paragraphs (3)(D)(ii), (5), and (6)''.\n (3) Exceptions to budget neutrality requirement.--Section \n 1833(t)(9)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n 1395l(t)(9)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following: \n ``In determining the budget neutrality adjustment required by \n the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall not take into \n account--\n ``(i) any expenditures that would not have \n been made but for the application of clause \n (ii) of paragraph (3)(D); or\n ``(ii) any expenditures made by reason of \n an adjustment required by subparagraph (D) for \n 2004.''.\n (c) Study of Pharmacy Services Used To Provide Cancer Drug \nTherapies in Hospital Outpatient Setting.--\n (1) In general.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a \n study of payments under part B of title XVIII of the Social \n Security Act for pharmacy service costs and related costs that \n are incurred in acquiring chemotherapy and supportive care \n drugs and providing these therapies to cancer patients in \n hospital outpatient departments. The study shall--\n (A) identify pharmacy costs, including the costs of \n storage, handling, processing, quality control, \n disposal, compliance with safety protocols and \n regulations, establishing dosage regimens that avoid \n drug interactions and contraindications, and pharmacy \n overhead;\n (B) include a review of the adequacy of the current \n payment methodology for pharmacy service costs and \n related costs (including the adequacy of the \n methodology used to estimate costs); and\n (C) identify any changes to that methodology that \n are necessary to ensure recognition of, and appropriate \n payment for, all of the services and functions inherent \n in the provision of cancer treatment in hospital \n outpatient settings.\n (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 12 months after the \n date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall \n submit to Congress a report on the results of the study under \n paragraph (1), including any recommendations for legislation \n that is necessary to implement the changes identified under \n paragraph (1)(C).", "summary": "Beneficiary Access to Care Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (OPD) to: (1) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to treat as a separate group of covered OPD services any drug or biological that was treated as such a group as of December 31, 2002, and any drug or biological that has ceased to be eligible for transitional, pass-through payments by reason of the limited period of payment specified; and (2) add special rules for 2004 for the calculation of Medicare OPD fee schedule amounts, among other payment-related changes.Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on pharmacy services used to provide cancer drug therapies in hospital outpatient setting.", "title": "A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for special treatment for certain drugs and biologicals under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services under the medicare program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2411, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Randy Barrett Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. WAIVER OF 5-MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR BENEFITS BASED ON \n DISABILITY IN CASES OF TERMINALLY ILL BENEFICIARIES.\n\n (a) Disability Insurance Benefits.--Section 223(a) of the Social \nSecurity Act (42 U.S.C. 423(a)) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new paragraph:\n ``(3)(A) In the case of any individual who is terminally ill and is \nnot entitled to disability insurance benefits under this section for \nany month solely by reason of the waiting period under clause (i) in \nthe first sentence of paragraph (1), the Commissioner of Social \nSecurity shall waive the application of the waiting period, and, \nnotwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii) of the first sentence of paragraph \n(1), such individual shall be entitled to disability insurance benefits \nfor each month, beginning with the first month during all of which such \nindividual is under a disability and in which such individual would \nbecome so entitled to such insurance benefits under such sentence but \nfor such waiting period, and ending as provided in paragraph (1).\n ``(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), an individual is considered \nto be `terminally ill' if the individual has a medical prognosis, \ncertified by a physician, that the individual's life expectancy is 12 \nmonths or less.''.\n (b) Widow's Insurance Benefits Based on Disability.--Section \n202(e)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(e)(5)) is amended by adding at the \nend the following new subparagraph:\n ``(C)(i) In the case of any individual who is terminally ill and is \nnot entitled to widow's insurance benefits under this section for any \nmonth solely by reason of the waiting period under paragraph (1)(F)(i), \nthe Commissioner of Social Security shall waive the application of the \nwaiting period, and, notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph \n(1)(F), such individual shall be entitled to widow's insurance benefits \nfor each month, beginning with the first month during all of which she \nis under a disability and in which she would become so entitled to such \ninsurance benefits under paragraph (1) but for such waiting period, and \nending as provided in paragraph (1).\n ``(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, an individual is \nconsidered to be `terminally ill' if the individual has a medical \nprognosis, certified by a physician, that the individual's life \nexpectancy is 12 months or less.''.\n (c) Widower's Insurance Benefits Based on Disability.--Section \n202(f)(6) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(f)(6)) is amended by adding at the \nend the following new subparagraph:\n ``(C)(i) In the case of any individual who is terminally ill and is \nnot entitled to widower's insurance benefits under this section for any \nmonth solely by reason of the waiting period under paragraph (1)(F)(i), \nthe Commissioner of Social Security shall waive the application of the \nwaiting period, and, notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph \n(1)(F), such individual shall be entitled to widower's insurance \nbenefits for each month, beginning with the first month during all of \nwhich he is under a disability and in which he would become so entitled \nto such insurance benefits under paragraph (1) but for such waiting \nperiod, and ending as provided in paragraph (1).\n ``(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, an individual is \nconsidered to be `terminally ill' if the individual has a medical \nprognosis, certified by a physician, that the individual's life \nexpectancy is 12 months or less.''.\n (d) Commencement of Period of Disability.--Section 216(i)(2)(A) of \nsuch Act (42 U.S.C. 416(i)(2)(A)) is amended--\n (1) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``(2)(A)'';\n (2) by inserting ``(I)'' after ``but only if'';\n (3) by inserting ``(II)'' after ``duration or''; and\n (4) by adding at the end the following new clause:\n ``(ii) In any case in which an individual is terminally ill and a \nmonth is not included within a period of disability of such individual \nsolely by reason of the 5-month duration requirement under clause \n(i)(I), the Commissioner of Social Security shall waive the application \nof such requirement, and, notwithstanding clause (i)(I), such month \nshall be included in a period of disability. For purposes of this \nsubparagraph, an individual is considered to be `terminally ill' if the \nindividual has a medical prognosis, certified by a physician, that the \nindividual's life expectancy is 12 months or less.''.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATES.\n\n The amendments made by subsection (a) of section 2 of this Act \nshall apply only with respect to benefits under section 223 of the \nSocial Security Act, or under section 202 of such Act on the basis of \nthe wages and self-employment income of an individual entitled to \nbenefits under such section 223, for months beginning after the date of \nthe enactment of this Act. The amendments made by subsections (b) and \n(c) of section 2 of this Act shall apply only with respect to benefits \nbased on disability under subsection (e) or (f) of section 202 of the \nSocial Security Act for months after the date of the enactment of this \nAct. The amendments made by subsection (d) of section 2 of this Act \nshall apply only with respect to applications for disability \ndeterminations filed under title II of the Social Security Act after \nthe date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Randy Barrett Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to require the Commissioner of Social Security to waive the five-month waiting period for entitlement to benefits based on disability in the case of any individual who is terminally ill and is not entitled to disability insurance benefits under OASDI for any month solely by reason of such waiting period.", "title": "To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require waiver of the 5-month waiting period for entitlement to benefits based on disability in the case of a terminally ill beneficiary."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 916, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Discredit Eternal Listing Inequality \nof Species Takings Act'' or the ``DELIST Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) The Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly (Rhaphiomidas \n terminates abdominalis) was listed as an endangered species \n under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et \n seq.) on September 23, 1993 (58 Fed. Reg. 49881).\n (2) Nineteen years have passed since the Delhi Sands \n Flower-loving Fly was listed as an endangered species.\n (3) The Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly's listing was based \n on a high degree of threat and a low potential for recovery for \n a listed subspecies that may be in conflict with construction \n or other development projects or other forms of economic \n activity.\n (4) On September 14, 1997, a recovery plan was issued for \n the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly. The plan claimed that the \n resolution of current population data is too poor to \n effectively evaluate abundance trends or population \n distributions due to the cryptic nature and rarity of the Delhi \n Sands flower-loving Fly. Thus, the recovery plan by definition \n could not establish delisting criteria.\n (5) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service's report \n entitled ``Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly (Rhaphiomidas \n terminatus abdominalis) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation'' \n (March 2008; referred to in this section as the ``5-year review \n report'') establishes that down-listing criterion 2 cannot be \n evaluated with current knowledge of the Delhi Sands Flower-\n loving Fly.\n (6) None of the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly conservation \n areas are currently managed to maintain perpetual sand supply. \n There is currently insufficient information to determine the \n extent or long-term importance of this impact to maintaining \n the dune ecosystem.\n (7) The cryptic nature and low density of Delhi Sands \n Flower-loving Fly complicate efforts to effectively monitor \n population abundance.\n (8) To date, it has proven difficult to conduct surveys \n that reliably quantify relevant population variables (e.g., \n density and relative abundance), and no populations are \n regularly surveyed with sufficient effort to effectively \n monitor population trends.\n (9) Public support for conservation of the sand dune system \n upon which the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly depends is \n limited.\n (10) The life history of the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly \n is largely unknown.\n (11) The 5-year review report asserts that the Delhi Sands \n Flower-loving Fly was not used to explain larval stages of such \n fly because the population was too low. Instead, a comparison \n of entomologists observed several larvae of Rhaphiomidas \n trochilus, and because R. trochilus is closely related to the \n Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly, these observations were used to \n understand larval biology of the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly.\n (12) A commenter mentioned in the 5-year review report \n suggested that the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly may be non-\n native to the Riverside/San Bernardino area and may have been \n accidentally introduced by the early settlers.\n (13) There is no new information in the scientific \n literature suggesting that the range of the Delhi Sands Flower-\n loving Fly is more extensive than initially identified.\n (14) Although the area of potentially suitable habitat has \n expanded, no newly discovered occupied site supports a major \n population of the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly that was not \n known at the time of the listing.\n (15) Within the section of the 5-year review report \n relating to abundance, it stated that no clear trends emerge \n from the demographic data that have been generated since the \n listing of the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly. Due to the \n cryptic nature and rarity of the Delhi Sands flower loving fly, \n it is difficult to accurately estimate abundance or density for \n this subspecies.\n (16) The 5-year review report claims range-wide surveys \n have not been attempted due to lack of funding and issues with \n access to privately owned properties.\n (17) The 5-year review report indicated that United States \n Fish and Wildlife Service biologists initiated a study in 2004 \n designed to improve Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly survey \n protocol recommendations. This study required the effort of 3 \n biologists working 6 days a week during the peak of the flight \n season, and the data were only marginally adequate to estimate \n abundance, density, and detection probability. This effort \n indicated that measurement of population demographic trends \n will likely require substantial effort unless new techniques \n prove effective.\n (18) Because most Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly habitat is \n in private ownership and no regulations are in place to address \n loss of unoccupied Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly habitat, the \n permanent loss of potential and restorable Delhi Sands Flower-\n loving Fly habitat important to recovery often proceeds.\n (19) Most of the existing Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly \n conservation sites are likely too small and fragmented to \n sustain Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly populations through time.\n (20) In addition, while protected from development, most of \n the existing conservation areas remain susceptible to invasion \n by nonnative grasses, off-road vehicle use, and other \n disturbances.\n (21) Most conservation areas do not have monitoring \n programs to track Delhi Sands flower-loving fly occupancy or \n habitat quality.\n (22) With at least 90 percent loss of historical Delhi \n Soils, potential and suitable Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly \n habitat available for conservation and restoration is extremely \n limited.\n (23) At the time of listing in 1993, there were only five \n small, isolated, extant populations of Delhi Sands Flower-\n loving Fly.\n (24) The 5-year review report states that recent \n observations, and the continued habitat loss and fragmentation, \n all suggest that population sizes of the Delhi Sands Flower-\n loving Fly are likely to be very small. Here, it is clear that \n the United States Fish and Wildlife Service does not know the \n size of the population. It may be possible that there is no \n longer a population to protect.\n (25) It is commonly accepted in conservation biology that \n small populations have higher probabilities of extinction than \n larger populations because their low numbers make them \n susceptible to inbreeding, loss of genetic variation, high \n variability in age and sex ratios, demographic stochasticity, \n and random naturally occurring events such as wildfires, \n floods, droughts, or disease epidemics.\n (26) Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly populations were \n considered to be at risk at the time the subspecies was listed \n because of their small size and habitat fragmentation. We have \n no information suggesting that these threats have been \n ameliorated since the time of listing.\n (27) Monitoring efforts since the time of listing, though \n limited, do not suggest population increases, and it is \n reasonable to believe that Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly \n populations are likely to be very small.\n (28) Together, small population size, isolation, \n populations in fragmented habitat, and increased vulnerability \n to introduced predators and competitors increase the risk of \n extirpation of the remaining Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly \n populations.\n (29) Continued listing of the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly \n as an endangered species is not based on the best scientific \n and commercial data available. The 5-year review report relied \n on research conducted in 1993 or 2002. The research is 19 and 9 \n years old, respectively. The 5-year review report has not shown \n that the Delhi Sands Flower-loving Fly exist nor has there been \n a substantial increase of population during the 19 years of \n protection by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. \n 1531 et seq.).\n\nSEC. 3. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN SPECIES AS EXTINCT.\n\n Section 4(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 \net sq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(4) Treatment of Certain Species as Extinct.--(A) A limited \nlisted species shall be treated as extinct for purposes of this Act \nupon the expiration of the 15-year period beginning on the date it is \ndetermined by the Secretary to be an endangered species, unless the \nSecretary publishes a finding that--\n ``(i) there has been a substantial increase in the \n population of the species during that period; or\n ``(ii) the continued listing of the species does not impose \n any economic hardship on communities located in the range of \n the species.\n ``(B) In this paragraph the term `limited listed species' means any \nspecies that is listed under subsection (c) as an endangered species \nfor which it is not reasonably possible to determine whether the \nspecies has been extirpated from the range of the species that existed \non the date the species was listed because not all individuals of the \nspecies were identified at the time of such listing.''.", "summary": "Discredit Eternal Listing Inequality of Species Takings Act or the DELIST Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) to treat a limited listed species as extinct for purposes of this Act upon the expiration of the 15-year period beginning on the date it is determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be an endangered species, unless the Secretary publishes a finding that: (1) there has been a substantial increase in the population of the species during that period; or (2) the continued listing of the species does not impose any economic hardship on communities located in the range of the species.\n\nDefines \"limited listed species\" as any species that is listed as an endangered species for which it is not reasonably possible to determine whether the species has been extirpated from the range of the species that existed on the date the species was listed because not all individuals of the species were identified at the time of such listing.", "title": "To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require that certain species be treated as extinct for purposes of that Act if there is not a substantial increase in the population of a species during the 15-year period beginning on the date the species is determined to be an endangered species, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1039, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Debt Collection Act Amendments of \n1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. IMPROVED DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES.\n\n (a) Use of Collection Agencies.--Section 3718(a) of title 31, \nUnited States Code, is amended by striking ``Under conditions'' and all \nthat follows through ``make'' and inserting ``The head of an executive \nor legislative agency shall make''.\n (b) Salary Offset.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 5514 of title 5, \nUnited States Code, is amended by striking ``may be collected'' and \ninserting ``shall be collected''.\n (c) Disclosure to Consumer Reporting Agencies.--Subsection (f)(1) \nof section 3711 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking \n``may disclose'' and inserting ``shall disclose''.\n (d) Administrative Offsets.--Subsection (a) of section 3716 of \ntitle 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ``may'' the first \nplace it appears and inserting ``shall''.\n (e) Report to the Internal Revenue Service of Debts Paid in Full.--\nSubchapter II of chapter 37 of title 31, United States Code, is amended \nby adding at the end the following new section:\n``Sec. 3720B. Report to the Internal Revenue Service of Debts Paid in \n Full\n ``The head of a Federal agency shall report any debt that has been \npaid in full to the Internal Revenue Service promptly after the agency \nhas determined that the debt has been paid in full.''.\n (f) Disclosure by Internal Revenue Service of Address \nInformation.--Section 6103(m)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n1986 is amended by inserting before the period ``, or any other law \ngranting a Federal agency the authority to collect or compromise a \nFederal claim against the taxpayer.''.\n (g) Audits and Report of Audit.--\n (1) Audits of federal agencies.--The Comptroller General of \n the United States shall annually conduct audits of each Federal \n agency to determine--\n (A) the amount of debt owed to the agency;\n (B) the amount of debt owed to the agency that is \n delinquent; and\n (C) any action taken by the agency to recover the \n delinquent debt.\n (2) Reports to congress.--The Comptroller General shall \n submit annually to the Congress a report containing the \n information obtained through the audits prepared pursuant to \n paragraph (1).\n (h) Extension of Pilot Debt Collection Project.--\n (1) Extension of pilot project.--Section 5 of Public Law \n 99-578 (31 U.S.C. 3718 note) is repealed.\n (2) Additional reporting requirements.--Section 3718(c) of \n title 31, United States Code, is amended--\n (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the \n end thereof; and\n (B) in paragraph (3)--\n (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking the \n period and adding at the end ``; and''; and\n (ii) by adding after subparagraph (C) the \n following new subparagraph:\n ``(D) the total cost of the pilot program \n established by Public Law 99-578 (100 Stat. 3305) as \n well as the total amount of debt recovered under that \n pilot program.''.\n (3) Use of recovered funds to reduce budget deficit.--\n Section 3718 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by \n adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(g) Except as provided by subsection (d), any amount recovered \nthrough a contract entered into under subsection (b) shall be used to \nreduce the budget deficit of the United States.''.\n Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a percentage (which is \n hereafter specified by law) of the amount recovered through \n such a contract shall be paid to the agency on whose behalf \n such amount was recovered for use by such agency in collecting \n indebtedness owed to such agency.\n\nSEC. 3. IMPROVED LOAN ORIGINATION PROCEDURES.\n\n (a) Improved Prescreening Procedures.--\n (1) Chapter 97 of title 31, United States Code, is amended \n by adding at the end the following new section:\n``Sec. 9704. Improved prescreening procedures\n ``The head of a Federal agency may not make a loan to a loan \napplicant until the applicant has been prescreened to determine if the \napplicant is creditworthy. The determination of creditworthiness shall \ninclude an evaluation of the ability and willingness of the applicant \nto repay the debt, the agency's level of acceptable risk, other agency \nor Federal Government obligations that could jeopardize or be \njeopardized by the loan under consideration, and the existence of other \ndebts owed by the loan applicant to the Federal Government, including a \ntax delinquent account with the Internal Revenue Service.''.\n (2) Section 6103(m)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n 1986 is amended by striking ``the Secretary may'' and inserting \n ``the Secretary shall''.\n (b) Denial of Credit to Applicants With Delinquent Debts.--Chapter \n97 of title 31, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), is \nfurther amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n``Sec. 9705. Denial of credit to applicants with delinquent debts\n ``The head of a Federal agency may not make a loan to a loan \napplicant who owes a delinquent debt to the Federal Government, \nincluding the Internal Revenue Service.''.\n\nSEC. 4. USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES TO IMPROVE CREDIT MANAGEMENT \n TECHNIQUES.\n\n Section 3717 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding \nat the end the following new subsection:\n ``(i) The Secretary shall deposit in a special fund any amounts \nreceived by a Federal agency to cover the cost of processing and \nhandling delinquent claims under subsection (e). The Secretary shall, \nwithout further appropriation and upon request by the agency, disburse \nmoney from such fund to the agency solely for the use of improving \ncredit management techniques, except that the access of each agency to \nfunds in the special account shall be limited to the amount that the \nagency received to cover the cost of processing and handling delinquent \nclaims under subsection (e).''.\n\nSEC. 5. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.\n\n (a) Chapter 37 Amendments.--The table of sections at the beginning \nof chapter 37 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting \nafter the item relating to section 3720A the following new item:\n\n``3720B. Report to the Internal Revenue Service of debts paid in \n full.''.\n (b) Chapter 97 Amendments.--The table of sections at the beginning \nof chapter 97 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at \nthe end the following new items:\n\n``9704. Improved prescreening procedures.\n``9705. Denial of credit to applicants with delinquent debts.''.", "summary": "Debt Collection Act Amendments of 1993 - Amends Federal law to require the head of an executive or legislative agency (who, currently, is merely authorized) to: (1) contract with a collection service to recover indebtedness owed to the United States; (2) collect such indebtedness from Federal employees in installment deductions; (3) disclose certain information to a consumer reporting agency when trying to collect a claim; and (4) collect such a claim by administrative offset. \nRequires the head of a Federal agency to report promptly to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) any debt that has been paid in full. \nAmends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the IRS to disclose address information in accordance with any law granting a Federal claim against a taxpayer. \nDirects the Comptroller General to report to the Congress after annual audits of each Federal agency on: (1) the amount of debt owed to the agency; (2) the amount that is delinquent; and (3) action taken by the agency to recover such debt. \nRepeals the termination date of the pilot debt collection project of the Department of Justice. Requires the Attorney General to include in the annual report to the Congress on activities to recover indebtedness the total cost of the pilot project and the total amount of debt recovered under it. Requires that recovered funds be used to reduce the Federal deficit. Requires a percentage of recovered funds to be used by the agency in collecting indebtedness. \nProhibits the head of a Federal agency from making a loan until the loan applicant has been prescreened to determine creditworthiness. \nRequires the IRS to disclose address information to a Federal agency for use in collecting a claim. \nProhibits the head of a Federal agency from making a loan to a loan applicant who owes a delinquent debt to the Federal Government, including the IRS. \nAllows the use of administrative charges by the Secretary of the Treasury for improving credit management techniques.", "title": "Debt Collection Act Amendments of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 965, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. ADJUSTMENTS IN MONTHLY EXEMPT AMOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF THE SOCIAL \n SECURITY EARNINGS TEST.\n\n (a) Increase in Monthly Exempt Amount for Individuals Who Have \nAttained Retirement Age.--\n (1) In general.--Section 203(f)(8)(D) of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 403(f)(8)(D)) is amended to read as \n follows:\n ``(D)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this \n subsection, the exempt amount which is applicable to an \n individual who has attained retirement age (as defined in \n section 216(l)) before the close of the taxable year involved \n shall be--\n ``(I) $1,208.33\\1/3\\ for each month of any taxable \n year ending after 1995 and before 1997,\n ``(II) $1,416.66\\2/3\\ for each month of any taxable \n year ending after 1996 and before 1998,\n ``(III) $1,666.66\\2/3\\ for each month of any \n taxable year ending after 1997 and before 1999,\n ``(IV) $1,875.00 for each month of any taxable year \n ending after 1998 and before 2000,\n ``(V) $2,083.33\\1/3\\ for each month of any taxable \n year ending after 1999 and before 2001,\n ``(VI) $2,291.66\\2/3\\ for each month of any taxable \n year ending after 2000 and before 2002, and\n ``(VII) $2,500.00 for each month of any taxable \n year ending after 2001 and before 2003.''.\n (2) Increased amounts subject to present law cost-of-living \n adjustment after 2002.--Section 203(f)(8)(D) of such Act (42 \n U.S.C. 403(f)(8)(D)), as amended by paragraph (1), is amended \n by adding at the end the following new clause:\n ``(ii) For purposes of this paragraph, the increase in the \n exempt amount provided under clause (i)(VII) shall be deemed to \n have resulted from a determination which shall be deemed to \n have been made under subparagraph (A) in 2001.''.\n (3) Conforming amendment.--The second sentence of section \n 223(d)(4)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 423(d)(4)(A)) is amended by \n striking ``the exempt amount under section 203(f)(8) which is \n applicable to individuals described in subparagraph (D) \nthereof'' and inserting the following: ``an amount equal to the exempt \namount which would have been applicable under section 203(f)(8), to \nindividuals described in subparagraph (D) thereof, if the amendments \nmade to such section by the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act had \nnot been enacted''.\n (4) Effective date of subsection.--The amendments made by \n this subsection shall apply with respect to taxable years \n beginning after 1995.\n (b) Compensation of Trust Fund for Increased Outlays.--\n (1) In general.--Section 201(d) of the Social Security Act \n (42 U.S.C. 401(d)) is amended--\n (A) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(d)'';\n (B) in the fifth sentence, by striking ``shall bear \n interest'' and inserting ``shall (subject to paragraph \n (2)) bear interest''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(2) In the case of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance \nTrust Fund, the Managing Trustee shall increase the rate of interest \n(otherwise specified in the fifth sentence of paragraph (1)) which is \nto be borne by obligations referred to in the fourth sentence of \nparagraph (1) issued after September 30, 1995, and before October 1, \n2002, by .25 percent point for each fiscal year beginning after \nSeptember 30, 1995, and before October 1, 2002. For purposes of this \nparagraph, any obligation in which any portion of such Trust Fund is \ninvested which was issued before October 1, 1995, shall be deemed to \nhave matured on September 30, 1995, and to have been reissued on \nOctober 1, 1995, with the same maturation date and same rate of \ninterest (subject to the increase provided under this paragraph).''.\n (2) Effective date of subsection.--The amendments made by \n this subsection shall apply with respect to obligations issued \n after December 31, 1995.\n (c) Additional Offsets.--\n (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n law, each nonexempt account within the discretionary spending \n category for each of the fiscal years 1996 through 2002 shall \n be reduced, if necessary, by the uniform percentage necessary \n to offset the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust \n Fund shortfall resulting from the amendments made to section \n 203(f)(8) of the Social Security Act by the Senior Citizens' \n Freedom to Work Act.\n (2) Effective date.--The reductions required by this \n subsection shall be implemented pursuant to a Presidential \n order as provided for a sequester to eliminate a budget-year \n breach under section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Deficit \n Control Act of 1985. The reductions required by this subsection \n shall be in addition to any reductions required by section 251 \n of the Balanced Budget and Deficit Control Act of 1985.\n (d) Report by GAO.--Not later than the date which is 2 years after \nthe date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the \nUnited States shall report to the Congress regarding an analysis of the \ndynamic effect of the reform of the social security earnings limit \nunder section 203(f)(8) of the Social Security Act, as provided by \nsubsection (a) of this section, and a calculation of the reform's true \neffect on the Federal budget.", "summary": "Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to increase the monthly exempt amount, under the earnings test, for individuals who have attained retirement age. Sets forth the schedule of monthly adjustments increasing from $1,208 for taxable year 1996 to $2,500 for taxable year 2002. \nSubjects such increased amounts to current law cost-of-living adjustments after 2002. \nRequires the Managing Trustee of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund to increase by a specified percentage per year the rate of interest borne by public-debt obligations issued for purchase by the OASDI trust funds between September 30, 1995, and October 1, 2002. \nProvides that each nonexempt account within the discretionary spending category for each of FY 1996 through 2002 shall be reduced, if necessary, by the uniform percentage necessary to offset the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund shortfall resulting from the amendments of this Act increasing the monthly exempt amount. \nDirects the Comptroller General to analyze and report to the Congress on the dynamic effect of the revision of the social security earnings limit made by this Act and a calculation of its true effect on the Federal budget.", "title": "Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 198, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Port of Entry Personnel \nand Infrastructure Funding Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Northern border.--The term ``Northern border'' means \n the international border between the United States and Canada.\n (2) Port of entry.--The term ``port of entry'' includes \n land, air, and sea ports of entry into the United States.\n (3) Southern border.--The term ``Southern border'' means \n the international border between the United States and Mexico.\n\nSEC. 3. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION PERSONNEL.\n\n (a) Staff Enhancements for Customs Officers.--In addition to \npositions authorized as of the date of the enactment of this Act, \nUnited States Customs and Border Protection shall hire, train, and \nassign to duty during fiscal years 2009 through 2012--\n (1) 2,000 full-time officers to serve on primary inspection \n lanes at land ports of entry on the Northern border and the \n Southern border;\n (2) 1,000 full-time officers to serve on primary inspection \n lanes at air and sea ports of entry on the Northern border and \n the Southern border;\n (3) 600 supervisory full-time officers to serve on the \n Northern border and the Southern border; and\n (4) 200 support staff for ports of entry along the Northern \n border and the Southern border.\n (b) Staff Enhancements for Customs Officers in Texas.--In addition \nto positions authorized on the date of the enactment of this Act, \nUnited States Customs and Border Protection shall hire, train, and \nassign to duty during fiscal years 2009 through 2012--\n (1) 750 full-time officers to serve on primary inspection \n lines at land ports of entry in Texas; and\n (2) 500 full-time officers to serve on primary inspection \n lines at air and sea ports of entry in Texas.\n (c) Waiver of FTE Limitation.--The Secretary of Homeland Security \nmay waive any limitation on the number of full-time equivalent \npersonnel assigned to the Department of Homeland Security in order to \nfulfill the requirements under subsections (a) and (b).\n (d) Secure Communication and Equipment.--The Secretary of Homeland \nSecurity shall, subject to the availability of appropriations for such \npurpose, ensure that all United States Customs and Border Protection \nagents and officers are equipped with secure 2-way communication and \nsatellite-enabled devices to ensure communication between agents and \nports of entry, patrol, and inspection stations, and other Federal, \nState, local and tribal law enforcement agencies.\n (e) Retention Incentives, Training, and Salaries.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, \n subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, \n ensure that the requirements under this subsection are met.\n (2) Training.--\n (A) New hires.--All new United States Customs and \n Border Protection officers (including new supervisory \n officers) shall receive initial law enforcement \n training at the Federal Law Enforcement Center. Such \n training shall include--\n (i) at least 30 hours of training on \n immigration and nationality law;\n (ii) language training to ensure \n proficiency in Spanish and in any other \n language frequently used by aliens on the \n Southern border, unless such officers have \n already demonstrated proficiency in such \n languages;\n (iii) training on the law and standards \n governing the use of force in apprehension and \n detention of aliens; and\n (iv) training on ethics and substance \n abuse.\n (B) Existing cbp officers.--All existing United \n States Customs and Border Protection officers shall \n receive annual law enforcement training in a manner, \n and at such locations, as prescribed by the \n Commissioner of United States Customs and Border \n Protection. Such refresher training shall include--\n (i) at least 10 hours on immigration and \n nationality law, including recent changes \n through legislative action, litigation, \n administrative regulations, and policy \n interpretations of the Department of Homeland \n Security;\n (ii) refresher training on the law and \n standards governing the use of force in \n apprehension and detention of aliens; and\n (iii) training on ethics and substance \n abuse.\n (3) Recruitment and retention bonuses.--To the extent \n necessary to retain qualified United States Customs and Border \n Protection port of entry officers and border patrol agents, the \n Secretary may pay recruitment incentives that are not less than \n $5,000 and not more than $10,000.\n (4) Special rules for incentive payments.--\n (A) In general.--Any recruitment incentive payment \n shall be paid to each new employee, in a lump sum, \n after the employee has entered on duty and completed 6 \n months of service.\n (B) Retention incentives.--A retention incentive \n payment shall--\n (i) be paid to an employee, in a lump sum, \n at the end of the fiscal year in which the \n qualified employee is selected by the \n Secretary, or a delegate of the Secretary, for \n receipt of such payment;\n (ii) not be limited solely to work \n performance, but may be based on criteria such \n as--\n (I) longevity of service and \n experience;\n (II) comparative salaries for law \n enforcement officers in other Federal \n agencies; and\n (III) costs for replacement and \n training of a new employee;\n (iii) be contingent upon the selected \n employee signing an agreement, under penalty of \n perjury, to remain in Federal service at his or \n her current location for at least 3 years;\n (iv) be subject to reimbursement if the \n employee fails to complete the required 3 years \n of Federal service due to voluntary or \n involuntary separation from service.\n (f) Salaries.--Section 101(b) of the Enhanced Border Security and \nVisa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (8 U.S.C. 1711(b)) is amended to read as \nfollows:\n ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations for CBP Employees.--There are \nauthorized to be appropriated to United States Customs and Border \nProtection such sums as may be necessary to increase, beginning January \n1, 2008, the annual rate of basic pay for United States Customs and \nBorder Protection employees who have completed at least 1 year of \nservice--\n ``(1) to the annual rate of basic pay payable for positions \n at GS-12 of the General Schedule under subchapter III of \n chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, for officers and \n agents who have been paid at the annual rate of basic pay \n payable for a position at GS-5, GS-6, GS-7, GS-8, or GS-9 of \n the General Schedule;\n ``(2) to the annual rate of basic pay payable for positions \n at GS-12, step 10, GS-13, or GS-14, step 1, respectively, of \n the General Schedule, for supervisory officers and supervisory \n border patrol agents who have been paid at an annual rate of \n pay payable for positions at GS-10, GS-11, or GS-12 of the \n General Schedule; and\n ``(3) to the annual rate of basic pay payable for positions \n at GS-8, GS-9, or GS-10, respectively, of the General Schedule, \n for assistants who have been paid at an annual rate of pay \n payable for positions at GS-5, GS-6, or GS-7 of the General \n Schedule.''.\n\nSEC. 4. PORTS OF ENTRY INFRASTRUCTURE.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may--\n (1) construct additional ports of entry along the Northern \n border and the Southern border; and\n (2) determine the location for new ports of entry, except \n as provided under subsection (c).\n (b) Consultation.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate \nlocations for new ports of entry after consultation with the Secretary \nof Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, appropriate representatives \nof States, local governments, and Indian tribes, and property owners in \nthe United States. Such consultations shall be designed to minimize the \nimpact of the new ports of entry on the environment, culture, commerce, \nand quality of life for the communities and residents located near the \nproposed sites at which the such ports of entry will be constructed.\n (c) Expansion of Texas Ports of Entry.--\n (1) Eagle pass.--The Secretary shall expand the vehicle, \n cargo, and pedestrian inspection lanes at the Eagle Pass, Texas \n port of entry by 6 additional primary and secondary inspection \n lanes by the end of fiscal year 2012.\n (2) Laredo.--The Secretary shall expand the vehicle, cargo, \n and pedestrian inspection lanes at the Laredo, Texas port of \n entry by 6 additional primary and secondary inspection lanes by \n the end of fiscal year 2012.\n\nSEC. 5. EXEMPTION FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT AND THE \n PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT.\n\n (a) Administrative Procedures Act.--Chapter 5 of title 5, United \nStates Code (commonly known as the ``Administrative Procedure Act''), \nand any other law relating to rulemaking, information collection, or \npublication in the Federal Register, shall not apply to any action to \nimplement this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, to the extent \nthe Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, the \nAttorney General, or the Secretary of Labor determines that compliance \nwith any such requirement would impede the expeditious implementation \nof this Act or the amendments made by this Act.\n (b) Paperwork Reduction Act.--Chapter 35 of title 44, United States \nCode (commonly known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act''), shall not \napply to any action to implement this Act or the amendments made by \nthis Act to the extent the Secretary of Homeland Security, the \nSecretary of State, the Attorney General, or the Secretary of Labor \ndetermines that compliance with any such requirement would impede the \nexpeditious implementation of such Act or the amendments made by this \nAct.\n\nSEC. 6. EXEMPTION FROM GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING AND HIRING RULES.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in \nimplementing this Act--\n (1) the competition requirements under section 303 of the \n Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 \n U.S.C. 253) shall not apply;\n (2) any executive agency entering into a contract to \n implement this Act may use noncompetitive procedures in \n accordance with section 303(c) of such Act;\n (3) the Secretary of Homeland Security may enter into \n contracts to implement the programs described in this Act in \n advance of the receipt of any fees imposed on any beneficiary \n or petitioner for benefits under this Act;\n (4) the Secretary may not collect fees in excess of the \n amount necessary to defray the costs of the programs described \n in this Act;\n (5) the Secretary may appoint employees on a term, \n temporary limited, or part-time basis without regard to--\n (A) the number of such employees;\n (B) the ratio between the number of such employees \n and the number of permanent full-time employees; and\n (C) the duration of such employees' employment; and\n (6) nothing in chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, \n shall affect the authority of any Department of Homeland \n Security management official to hire employees under this \n subsection on a temporary limited or part-time basis.\n (b) Limitations on Judicial Review.--The determination of an \nexecutive agency under section 303 of the Federal Property and \nAdministrative Services Act (41 U.S.C. 253(c)) shall not be subject to \nchallenge by protest to--\n (1) the Government Accountability Office under subchapter V \n of chapter 35 of title 31, United States Code; or\n (2) the Court of Federal Claims under section 1491 of title \n 28, United States Code.\n (c) Reports.--Any executive agency exercising the authority granted \nunder subsections (a) and (b) shall--\n (1) immediately submit written notification to the \n Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on \n the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and\n (2) submit a quarterly report on the estimated obligations \n incurred pursuant to the authority granted under subsection \n (b).\n\nSEC. 7. AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE LEASEHOLDS.\n\n Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of \nHomeland Security may acquire a leasehold interest in real property, \nand may provide in a lease entered into under this section for the \nconstruction or modification of any facility on the leased property, if \nthe Secretary determines that the acquisition of such interest, and \nsuch construction or modification, are necessary to facilitate the \nimplementation of this Act.\n\nSEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--In addition to any funds otherwise available, \nthere are authorized to be appropriated--\n (1) such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal \n years 2009 through 2012 to carry out subsections (a) and (b) of \n section 3;\n (2) $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through \n 2012 to carry out section 3(d);\n (3) $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through \n 2012 to carry out section 3(e)(1);\n (4) $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through \n 2012 to carry out section 3(e)(3);\n (5) such sums as may be necessary to carry out section 3(f) \n for fiscal year 2008 and for each succeeding fiscal year; and\n (6) $400,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through \n 2010 to carry out section 4.\n (b) International Agreements.--In addition to any funds otherwise \nmade available, there are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 \nfor each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for continued \nimplementation of--\n (1) the Secure Border Initiative, the Western Hemisphere \n Travel Initiative, and the US-VISIT program on the Northern \n border and the Southern border; and\n (2) the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.", "summary": "Emergency Port of Entry Personnel and Infrastructure Funding Act of 2007 - Directs the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for FY2009-FY2012 to hire, train, and assign additional customs and border protection personnel (with an additional allotment for Texas) for the Northern and Southern U.S. borders. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to ensure such personnel are equipped with secure two-way communication devices and that existing personnel and new hires receive law enforcement training.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary to: (1) construct additional ports of entry along the Northern and Southern U.S. borders; and (2) determine the location for new U.S. ports of entry. Requires expansion of the vehicle, cargo, and pedestrian inspection lanes at Eagle Pass, Texas, and Laredo, Texas.\n\nExempts the provisions of this Act from: (1) the Administrative Procedures Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act; and (2) federal competitive contracting and hiring requirements.\n\nAuthorizes appropriations, including for continued implementation of: (1) the Secure Border Initiative, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and the US-VISIT program; and (2) the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.", "title": "A bill to provide additional resources and funding to address inspection delays at United States ports of entry on the Southern border, open additional inspection lanes, hire more inspectors, and provide recruitment and retention incentives for United States customs and Border Protection officers who serve on the Northern and Southern borders."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1715, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Security Readiness Act of \n2003''.\n\nSEC. 2. MILITARY READINESS AND THE CONSERVATION OF PROTECTED SPECIES.\n\n (a) Designation of Critical Habitat.--Section 4(a)(3) of the \nEndangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)) is amended by \nstriking ``prudent and determinable'' and inserting ``necessary''.\n (b) Limitation on Designation of Critical Habitat.--Section 4(a)(3) \nof the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)) is \namended--\n (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses \n (i) and (ii), respectively;\n (2) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(3)''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(B)(i) The Secretary shall not designate as critical habitat any \nlands or other geographical areas owned or controlled by the Department \nof Defense, or designated for its use, that are subject to an \nintegrated natural resources management plan prepared under section 101 \nof the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a), if the Secretary determines that \nsuch plan addresses special management considerations or protection (as \nthose terms are used in section 3(5)(A)(i)).\n ``(ii) Nothing in this paragraph affects the requirement to consult \nunder section 7(a)(2) with respect to an agency action (as that term is \ndefined in that section).\n ``(iii) Nothing in this paragraph affects the obligation of the \nDepartment of Defense to comply with section 9, including the \nprohibition preventing extinction and taking of endangered species and \nthreatened species.''.\n (c) Consideration of Effects of Designation of Critical Habitat.--\nSection 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. \n1533(b)(2)) is amended by inserting ``the impact on national \nsecurity,'' after ``the economic impact,''.\n\nSEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO DEFINITION OF HARASSMENT UNDER MARINE MAMMAL \n PROTECTION ACT OF 1972.\n\n Section 3(18) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 \nU.S.C. 1362(18)) is amended by striking the matter preceding \nsubparagraph (B) and inserting the following:\n ``(18)(A) The term `harassment' means--\n ``(i) any act that injures or has the significant \n potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal \n stock in the wild; or\n ``(ii) any act that disturbs or is likely to \n disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the \n wild by causing disruption of natural behavioral \n patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, \n surfacing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering, \n to a point where such behavioral patterns are abandoned \n or significantly altered.''.\n\nSEC. 4. EXEMPTION OF ACTIONS NECESSARY FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE.\n\n Section 101 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. \n1371) is amended by inserting after subsection (e) the following:\n ``(f) Exemption of Actions Necessary for National Defense.--(1) The \nSecretary of Defense, after conferring with the Secretary of Commerce, \nthe Secretary of the Interior, or both, as appropriate, may exempt any \naction or category of actions undertaken by the Department of Defense \nor its components from compliance with any requirement of this Act, if \nthe Secretary determines that it is necessary for national defense.\n ``(2) An exemption granted under this subsection--\n ``(A) subject to subparagraph (B), shall be effective for a \n period specified by the Secretary of Defense; and\n ``(B) shall not be effective for more than 2 years.\n ``(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense may issue additional exemptions \nunder this subsection for the same action or category of actions, \nafter--\n ``(i) conferring with the Secretary of Commerce, the \n Secretary of the Interior, or both as appropriate; and\n ``(ii) making a new determination that the additional \n exemption is necessary for national defense.\n ``(B) Each additional exemption under this paragraph shall be \neffective for a period specified by the Secretary of Defense, of not \nmore than 2 years.''.\n\nSEC. 5. INCIDENTAL TAKINGS OF MARINE MAMMALS IN MILITARY READINESS \n ACTIVITY.\n\n Section 101(a)(5) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 \nU.S.C. 1371(a)(5)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A)--\n (A) by striking ``within a specified geographical \n region'';\n (B) by striking ``within that region of small \n numbers''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Secretary is not \n required to publish notice under this subparagraph with respect \n to incidental takings while engaged in military readiness \n activities authorized by the Secretary of Defense, except in \n the Federal Register.'';\n (2) in subparagraph (B)--\n (A) by striking ``within a specified geographical \n region''; and\n (B) by striking ``within one or more regions''; and\n (3) in subparagraph (D)--\n (A) in clause (i)--\n (i) by striking ``within a specific \n geographic region'';\n (ii) by striking ``of small numbers''; and\n (iii) by striking ``within that region''; \n and\n (B) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(vi) Notwithstanding clause (iii), the Secretary is not \n required to publish notice under this subparagraph with respect \n to an authorization under clause (i) of incidental takings \n while engaged in military readiness activities authorized by \n the Secretary of Defense, except in the Federal Register.''.\n\nSEC. 6. LIMITATION ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CIVILIAN \n WATER CONSUMPTION IMPACTS ON CRITICAL HABITAT OR \n ENDANGERED SPECIES.\n\n (a) Rule of Construction.--For purposes of section 7 of the \nEndangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536), the terms ``action'' \nand ``agency action'', when applied to any action of the Department of \nDefense, shall not include water consumption of any kind unless--\n (1) such water consumption occurs on a military \n installation, whether the source of the water consumed is \n located on or off the installation; or\n (2) such water consumption occurs off of a military \n installation and the source of the water is under the direct \n control of the Department of Defense.\n (b) Voluntary Efforts.--Nothing in this section shall prohibit a \nmilitary installation from voluntarily undertaking efforts to mitigate \nwater use and consumption.\n (c) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) The term ``military installation'' has the meaning \n given such term in section 2687(e) of title 10, United States \n Code.\n (2) The term ``water consumption'' means the use of water, \n from any source, for human purposes of any kind, including \n household or industrial use, irrigation, or landscaping.\n (d) Effective Date.--This section applies only to Department of \nDefense actions regarding which consultation or reconsultation under \nsection 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536) is \nfirst required on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "National Security Readiness Act of 2003 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior (or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate) from designating as critical habitat any land or geographical area controlled by the Department of Defense, or designated for its use, that is subject to an integrated natural resources management plan for a military installation under the Sikes Act, if the Secretary determines that the plan addresses special management considerations or protections.\n\nAmends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA) to redefine the term \"harassment\" as it relates to marine mammals to limit the meaning of: (1) any act that has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild to any act that has the significant potential to cause such an injury; and (2) any act that disturbs or is likely to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing a disruption of natural behavioral patterns to causing such a disruption to the point where such behavioral patterns are abandoned or significantly altered.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary of Defense, after conferring with the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior (as appropriate), to exempt any action undertaken by the Department of Defense from requirements of the MMPA, if the Secretary of Defense determines that the action is necessary for national defense. Limits such exemption to a renewable two-year period.\n\nRepeals the limitation to a specified geographical region or a region of small numbers of any allowance of incidental, but not intentional, taking of marine mammals by U.S. citizens engaged in a specified activity (including a military readiness activity) other than commercial fishing.\n\nExempts the Secretary of the Interior (or, as appropriate, the Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is operating) from the requirement to publish notice (except in the Federal Register) with respect to incidental takings of marine mammals and marine mammal products while engaged in military readiness activities authorized by the Secretary of Defense. (Currently, the appropriate Secretary is required to publish notice also in newspapers of general circulation, and through electronic media, in the coastal areas that may be affected.)\n\nLimits the Department of Defense responsibility under ESA for water consumption impacts on critical habitats or endangered species to: (1) water consumption occurring on a military installation, whether the source of the water consumed is located on or off the installation; or (2) water consumption occurring off of a military installation and the source of the water is under the direct control of the Department of Defense. (Exempts military installations from certain ESA requirements regarding official actions or agency actions with respect to civilian water consumption impacts on critical habitats or endangered species.) States that nothing shall prohibit a military installation from voluntarily undertaking efforts to mitigate water use and consumption.", "title": "To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to limit designation as critical habitat of areas owned or controlled by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1322, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``General Services Administration \nModernization Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FEDERAL ACQUISITION SERVICE.\n\n (a) Establishment.--\n (1) In general.--Section 303 of title 40, United States Code, \n is amended to read as follows:\n\n``Sec. 303. Federal Acquisition Service\n\n ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the General Services \nAdministration a Federal Acquisition Service. The Administrator of \nGeneral Services shall appoint a Commissioner of the Federal \nAcquisition Service, who shall be the head of the Federal Acquisition \nService.\n ``(b) Functions.--Subject to the direction and control of the \nAdministrator of General Services, the Commissioner of the Federal \nAcquisition Service shall be responsible for carrying out functions \nrelated to the uses for which the Acquisition Services Fund is \nauthorized under section 321 of this title, including any functions \nthat were carried out by the entities known as the Federal Supply \nService and the Federal Technology Service and such other related \nfunctions as the Administrator considers appropriate.\n ``(c) Regional Executives.--The Administrator may appoint Regional \nExecutives in the Federal Acquisition Service, to carry out such \nfunctions within the Federal Acquisition Service as the Administrator \nconsiders appropriate.''.\n (2) Clerical amendment.--The item relating to section 303 at \n the beginning of chapter 3 of such title is amended to read as \n follows:\n\n``303. Federal Acquisition Service.''.\n\n (b) Executive Schedule Compensation.--Section 5316 of title 5, \nUnited States Code, is amended by striking ``Commissioner, Federal \nSupply Service, General Services Administration.'' and inserting the \nfollowing:\n ``Commissioner, Federal Acquisition Service, General Services \n Administration.''.\n (c) References.--Any reference in any other Federal law, Executive \norder, rule, regulation, reorganization plan, or delegation of \nauthority, or in any document--\n (1) to the Federal Supply Service is deemed to refer to the \n Federal Acquisition Service;\n (2) to the GSA Federal Technology Service is deemed to refer to \n the Federal Acquisition Service;\n (3) to the Commissioner of the Federal Supply Service is deemed \n to refer to the Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service; \n and\n (4) to the Commissioner of the GSA Federal Technology Service \n is deemed to refer to the Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition \n Service.\n\nSEC. 3. ACQUISITION SERVICES FUND.\n\n (a) Abolishment of General Supply Fund and Information Technology \nFund.--The General Supply Fund and the Information Technology Fund in \nthe Treasury are hereby abolished.\n (b) Transfers.--Capital assets and balances remaining in the \nGeneral Supply Fund and the Information Technology Fund as in existence \nimmediately before this section takes effect shall be transferred to \nthe Acquisition Services Fund and shall be merged with and be available \nfor the purposes of the Acquisition Services Fund under section 321 of \ntitle 40, United States Code (as amended by this Act).\n (c) Assumption of Obligations.--Any liabilities, commitments, and \nobligations of the General Supply Fund and the Information Technology \nFund as in existence immediately before this section takes effect shall \nbe assumed by the Acquisition Services Fund.\n (d) Existence and Composition of Acquisition Services Fund.--\nSubsections (a) and (b) of section 321 of title 40, United States Code, \nare amended to read as follows:\n ``(a) Existence.--The Acquisition Services Fund is a special fund \nin the Treasury.\n ``(b) Composition.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Fund is composed of amounts authorized \n to be transferred to the Fund or otherwise made available to the \n Fund.\n ``(2) Other credits.--The Fund shall be credited with all \n reimbursements, advances, and refunds or recoveries relating to \n personal property or services procured through the Fund, \n including--\n ``(A) the net proceeds of disposal of surplus personal \n property; and\n ``(B) receipts from carriers and others for loss of, or \n damage to, personal property; and\n ``(C) receipts from agencies charged fees pursuant to rates \n established by the Administrator.\n ``(3) Cost and capital requirements.--The Administrator shall \n determine the cost and capital requirements of the Fund for each \n fiscal year and shall develop a plan concerning such requirements \n in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer of the General \n Services Administration. Any change to the cost and capital \n requirements of the Fund for a fiscal year shall be approved by the \n Administrator. The Administrator shall establish rates to be \n charged agencies provided, or to be provided, supply of personal \n property and non-personal services through the Fund, in accordance \n with the plan.\n ``(4) Deposit of fees.--Fees collected by the Administrator \n under section 313 of this title may be deposited in the Fund to be \n used for the purposes of the Fund.''.\n (e) Uses of Fund.--Section 321(c) of such title is amended in \nparagraph (1)(A)--\n (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i);\n (2) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of \n clause (ii); and\n (3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:\n ``(iii) personal services related to the provision of \n information technology (as defined in section 11101(6) of \n this title);''.\n (f) Payment for Property and Services.--Section 321(d)(2)(A) of \nsuch title is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (iv);\n (2) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); and\n (3) by inserting after clause (iv) the following new clause:\n ``(v) the cost of personal services employed directly \n in providing information technology (as defined in section \n 11101(6) of this title); and''.\n (g) Transfer of Uncommitted Balances.--Subsection (f) of section \n321 of such title is amended to read as follows:\n ``(f) Transfer of Uncommitted Balances.--Following the close of \neach fiscal year, after making provision for a sufficient level of \ninventory of personal property to meet the needs of Federal agencies, \nthe replacement cost of motor vehicles, and other anticipated operating \nneeds reflected in the cost and capital plan developed under subsection \n(b), the uncommitted balance of any funds remaining in the Fund shall \nbe transferred to the general fund of the Treasury as miscellaneous \nreceipts.''.\n (h) Conforming and Clerical Amendments.--\n (1) Section 322 of such title is repealed.\n (2) The heading for section 321 of such title is amended to \n read as follows:\n\n``Sec. 321. Acquisition Services Fund''.\n\n (3) The table of sections for chapter 3 of such title is \n amended by striking the items relating to sections 321 and 322 and \n inserting the following:\n\n``321. Acquisition Services Fund.''.\n\n (4) Section 573 of such title is amended by striking ``General \n Supply Fund'' both places it appears and inserting ``Acquisition \n Services Fund''.\n (5) Section 604(b) of such title is amended--\n (A) in the heading, by striking ``General Supply Fund'' and \n inserting ``Acquisition Services Fund''; and\n (B) in the text, by striking ``General Supply Fund'' and \n inserting ``Acquisition Services Fund''.\n (6) Section 605 of such title is amended--\n (A) in subsection (a)--\n (i) in the heading, by striking ``General Supply Fund'' \n and inserting ``Acquisition Services Fund''; and\n (ii) in the text, by striking ``General Supply Fund'' \n and inserting ``Acquisition Services Fund''; and\n (B) in subsection (b)(2)--\n (i) by striking ``321(f)(1)'' and inserting ``321(f)''; \n and\n (ii) by striking ``General Supply Fund'' and inserting \n ``Acquisition Services Fund''.\n\nSEC. 4. PROVISIONS RELATING TO ACQUISITION PERSONNEL.\n\n Section 37 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 \nU.S.C. 433) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubsection:\n ``(i) Provisions Relating to Reemployment.--\n ``(1) Policies and procedures.--The head of each executive \n agency, after consultation with the Administrator and the Director \n of the Office of Personnel Management, shall establish policies and \n procedures under which the agency head may reemploy in an \n acquisition-related position (as described in subsection (g)(1)(A)) \n an individual receiving an annuity from the Civil Service \n Retirement and Disability Fund, on the basis of such individual's \n service, without discontinuing such annuity. The head of each \n executive agency shall keep the Administrator informed of the \n agency's use of this authority.\n ``(2) Service not subject to csrs or fers.--An individual so \n reemployed shall not be considered an employee for the purposes of \n chapter 83 or 84 of title 5, United States Code.\n ``(3) Criteria for exercise of authority.--Polices and \n procedures established pursuant to this subsection shall authorize \n the head of the executive agency, on a case-by-case basis, to \n continue an annuity if--\n ``(A) the unusually high or unique qualifications of an \n individual receiving an annuity from the Civil Service \n Retirement and Disability Fund on the basis of such \n individual's service,\n ``(B) the exceptional difficulty in recruiting or retaining \n a qualified employee, or\n ``(C) a temporary emergency hiring need,\n makes the reemployment of an individual essential.\n ``(4) Reporting requirement.--The Administrator shall submit \n annually to the Committee on Government Reform of the House of \n Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and \n Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the use of the \n authority under this subsection, including the number of employees \n reemployed under authority of this subsection.\n ``(5) Sunset provision.--The authority under this subsection \n shall expire on December 31, 2011.''.\n\nSEC. 5. DISPOSAL OF FEDERAL SURPLUS PROPERTY TO HISTORIC LIGHT \n STATIONS.\n\n Section 549(c)(3)(B) of title 40, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in clause (vii), by striking ``or'' after the semicolon;\n (2) in clause (viii), by striking the period and inserting ``; \n or''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(ix) a historic light station as defined under \n section 308(e)(2) of the National Historic Preservation Act \n (16 U.S.C. 470w-7(e)(2)), including a historic light \n station conveyed under subsection (b) of that section, \n notwithstanding the number of hours that the historic light \n station is open to the public.''.\n\nSEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 60 \ndays after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "General Services Administration Modernization Act - (Sec. 2) Establishes a Federal Acquisition Service in the General Services Administration (GSA) to be headed by a Commissioner who shall be responsible for carrying out functions related to the uses of the Acquisition Services Fund (created by this Act), including any functions that were carried out by the Federal Supply Service and the Federal Technology Service.\n\nAuthorizes the Administrator to appoint Regional Executives in the Federal Acquisition Service to carry out such functions within that Service as the Administrator considers appropriate.\n\n(Sec. 3) Abolishes the General Supply Fund and the Information Technology Fund in the Treasury. Transfers remaining capital assets and balances in such Funds to the Acquisition Services Fund to be merged with, and be available for, the purposes of such Fund.\n\nRequires the Acquisition Services Fund to be credited with all reimbursements relating to personal property or services procured through the Fund, including: (1) the net proceeds of disposal of surplus personal property; and (2) receipts from carriers and others for loss of, or damage to, personal property; and (3) receipts from agencies charged fees pursuant to rates established by the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to determine cost and capital requirements of the Fund and develop a plan concerning such requirements in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer of GSA. Requires the Administrator, according to such plan, to establish rates to be charged agencies provided personal property and non-personal services through the Fund.\n\nAllows fees collected for recovering the costs of testing materials tendered for sale or lease to GSA or any procurement authority acting under GSA to be deposited in the Fund.\n\nProvides for: (1) the use of the Fund for personal services related to the provision of information technology; and (2) the Administrator to fix prices at levels sufficient to recover the cost of personal services employed directly in providing information technology.\n\nSets requirements for the transfer of uncommitted balances in the Fund.\n\n(Sec. 4) Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to direct the head of each executive agency to establish policies and procedures under which the agency head may reemploy in an acquisition-related position an individual receiving an annuity from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund without discontinuing such annuity, if unique needs exist. Prohibits considering an individual so reemployed to be a federal employee for the purposes of the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).\n\nRequires the Administrator to submit annual reports to specified congressional committees on the use of such authority, including the number of employees reemployed under such authority.\n\nTerminates such authority on December 31, 2011.\n\n(Sec. 5) Amends federal law relating to donation of personal property through state agencies to provide for the transfer of historic light stations, including historic light stations conveyed under the National Historic Preservation Act, to such agencies for education or public health (including research) purposes to a nonprofit educational or public health institution or organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code.", "title": "To amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a Federal Acquisition Service, to replace the General Supply Fund and the Information Technology Fund with an Acquisition Services Fund, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 639, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Money Laundering Prevention Act of \n1999''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Money laundering is a serious problem: between \n $100,000,000,000 and $300,000,000,000 in United States currency \n is ``laundered'' each year and the total dollar amount involved \n in international money laundering likely exceeds \n $500,000,000,000.\n (2) Money laundering is critical to the survival of the \n illicit drug trade, which has annual worldwide revenues of more \n than $400,000,000,000, more than 8 percent of the total value \n of international trade.\n (3) United States financial institutions are a critical \n link in our efforts to combat money laundering.\n (4) Highly secretive and loosely regulated private banking \n services that cater to wealthy clients are particularly \n vulnerable to use by drug traffickers for money laundering \n purposes, and it is estimated that private banking services \n have banking assets ranging from $200,000,000,000 to \n $300,000,000,000.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:\n (1) To ensure that United States financial institutions \n make combating money laundering the highest of priorities.\n (2) To close the existing gaps in law that allow money \n laundering to flourish in the private banking system.\n (3) To designate foreign high-intensity money laundering \n areas for the purpose of targeting areas of concentrated money \n laundering activities.\n (4) To require the Board of Governors of the Federal \n Reserve System to take into account money laundering activities \n in the consideration of applications under section 3 of the \n Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.\n\nSEC. 3. REPORT ON PRIVATE BANKING ACTIVITIES.\n\n (a) In General.--Before the end of the 1-year period beginning on \nthe date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, \nin consultation with the Federal banking agencies (as defined in \nsection 3(z) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) shall submit a \nreport on private banking activities in the United States to the \nCommittee on Banking and Financial Services of the House of \nRepresentatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban \nAffairs of the Senate.\n (b) Contents of Report.--The report required under subsection (a) \nshall include information on the following:\n (1) The nature and extent of private banking activities in \n the United States.\n (2) Regulatory efforts to monitor private banking \n activities and ensure that such activities are conducted in \n compliance with subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 31, United \n States Code, and section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance \n Act.\n (3) The policies and procedures of depository institutions \n that are designed to ensure compliance by such institutions \n with the requirements of subchapter II of chapter 53 of title \n 31, United States Code, and section 21 of the Federal Deposit \n Insurance Act.\n (c) Private Banking Activities Defined.--For purposes of this \nsection, the term ``private banking activities'' includes, with respect \nto a financial institution, personalized services, such as money \nmanagement, financial advice, and investment services, that are \nprovided to individuals with a high net worth and are not provided \ngenerally to all clients of the financial institution.\n\nSEC. 4. REQUIRE THAT ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAMS PROHIBIT MONEY \n LAUNDERING THROUGH CONCENTRATION ACCOUNTS AT FINANCIAL \n INSTITUTIONS BY REQUIRING THE AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN \n ACCOUNT INFORMATION.\n\n Section 5318(h) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by \nadding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(3) Availability of certain account information.--The \n Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe regulations under \n this subsection which require financial institutions to \n maintain all accounts in such a way as to ensure that--\n ``(A) the name of the account holder and the number \n of the account are associated with all account activity \n of the account holder; and\n ``(B) all such information is available for \n purposes of account supervision and law enforcement.''\n\nSEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF FOREIGN HIGH-INTENSITY MONEY LAUNDERING AREAS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 31, United \nStates Code (as added by the Money Laundering and Financial Crimes \nStrategy Act of 1998) is amended by adding at the end the following new \npart:\n\n ``Part 3--International Money Laundering and Related Financial Crimes\n\n``Sec. 5361. Designation of foreign high-intensity money laundering \n areas\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Federal \nbanking agencies, shall develop criteria for identifying areas outside \nthe United States in which money laundering activities are \nconcentrated.\n ``(b) Designation.--The Secretary shall designate as a high-\nintensity money laundering area any foreign country in which there is \nan area identified, in accordance with the criteria developed pursuant \nto subsection (a), as an area in which money laundering activities are \nconcentrated.\n ``(c) Notice and Warning.--Upon the designation, under subsection \n(b), of a country as a high-intensity money laundering area, the \nSecretary shall provide--\n ``(1) a written notice to each insured depository \n institution (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit \n Insurance Act), and each depository institution holding company \n (as defined in such section 3) that controls an insured \n depository institution, of the identity of the country \n designated; and\n ``(2) a written warning that there is a concentration of \n money laundering activity in such country.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of subchapters for chapter 53 of \ntitle 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing item:\n\n ``Part 3--International Money Laundering and Related Financial Crimes\n\n``5361. Designation of foreign high-intensity money laundering \n areas.''.\n\nSEC. 6. DOUBLE THE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS INVOLVING HIGH-\n INTENSITY MONEY LAUNDERING AREAS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 5322 of title 31, United States Code, is \namended by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(d) Doubled Penalty.--The court may double the sentence of fine \nor imprisonment, or both, that could otherwise be imposed on any person \nfor a violation described in subsection (a) or (b) if the person \ncommits the violation with respect to a transaction involving a person \nin, a relationship maintained for a person in, or a transport of a \nmonetary instrument involving a foreign country, knowing that a \ndesignation of the foreign country as a high-intensity money laundering \narea under section 5361 was in effect at the time of the violation.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply with respect to any violation committed on or after the date of \nthe enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 7. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3 OF THE BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 1956.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 3(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act of \n1956 (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following \nnew paragraph:\n ``(6) Money laundering.--In every case--\n ``(A) the Board shall take into consideration the \n effectiveness of the company or companies in combating \n and preventing money laundering activities, including \n in overseas branches;\n ``(B) the Board shall not consider any application \n under this section involving any company which is the \n subject of any--\n ``(i) pending Federal investigation of \n possible money laundering or other related \n financial crimes; or\n ``(ii) pending Federal prosecution for \n money laundering or other related financial \n crimes,\n until such investigation or prosecution is completed \n and a finding is made, except that this subparagraph \n shall not apply if the period for such completion and \n the making of findings exceeds 3 years; and\n ``(C) the Board shall disapprove any application \n under this section involving any company which has been \n found criminally or civilly liable for money laundering \n or any related financial crime during the 5-year period \n preceding the consideration of such application by the \n Board.''.\n (b) Scope of Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) \nshall apply with respect to any application submitted to the Board of \nGovernors of the Federal Reserve System under section 3 of the Bank \nHolding Company Act of 1956 after December 31, 1997, which has not been \napproved by the Board before the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Money Laundering Prevention Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a report to specified congressional committees on private banking activities in the United States. \n(Sec. 4) Amends Federal banking law to direct the Secretary to prescribe regulations which require financial institutions to maintain all accounts in such a way as to ensure that: (1) the the name of the account holder and the number of the account are associated with all account activity of such holder; and (2) all such information is available for purposes of account supervision and law enforcement. \n(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to develop criteria for identifying areas outside the United States in which money laundering activities are concentrated, designate such areas as high-intensity money laundering areas, provide a written notice to each insured depository institution and each depository institution holding company that controls an insured depository institution of the identity of the country designated, and provide a written warning that there is a concentration of money laundering activity in such country. \n(Sec. 6) Authorizes the court to double the sentence of fine, imprisonment, or both, that could be otherwise imposed if the person commits the violation with respect to a transaction involving a person in, a relationship maintained for a person in, or a transport of a monetary instrument involving a foreign country, knowing that a designation of the foreign country as a high-intensity money laundering area was in effect at the time of the violation. \n(Sec. 7) Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to direct that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System: (1) take into consideration the effectiveness of the company in combating and preventing money laundering activities, including in overseas branches; (2) not consider any application (regarding acquisition of bank shares or assets) involving any company which is the subject of any pending Federal investigation of possible money laundering or other related financial crimes, or pending Federal prosecution for such crimes, until such investigation or prosecution is completed and a finding is made, with an exception; and (3) disapprove any such application involving a company which has been found criminally or civilly liable for such a crime during the five-year period preceding consideration of such application by the Board.", "title": "Money Laundering Prevention Act of 1999"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 408, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Bias Crimes Compensation Act of \n1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. CIVIL RIGHTS.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--\n (1) bias-motivated crimes of violence constitute crimes in \n violation of the victim's right to be free from discrimination \n on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, gender, \n religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or \n physical or mental disability;\n (2) State and Federal criminal laws do not adequately \n protect against the bias element of bias-motivated crimes of \n violence, which separates these crimes from acts of random \n violence, nor do those laws adequately provide victims of bias-\n motivated crimes of violence the opportunity to vindicate their \n interests;\n (3) existing bias and discrimination in the criminal \n justice system often deprive victims of bias-motivated crimes \n of violence of equal protection of the laws and the redress to \n which they are entitled;\n (4) bias-motivated crimes of violence have a substantial \n adverse effect on interstate commerce, by deterring potential \n victims from traveling interstate, from engaging in employment \n in interstate business, and from transacting with business, and \n in places involved, in interstate commerce;\n (5) bias-motivated crimes of violence have a substantial \n adverse effect on interstate commerce, by diminishing national \n productivity, increasing medical and other costs, and \n decreasing the supply of and the demand for interstate \n products;\n (6) a Federal civil rights claim, as created in this \n section, is necessary to guarantee equal protection of the laws \n and to reduce the substantial adverse effects of bias-motivated \n crimes of violence on interstate commerce; and\n (7) victims of bias-motivated crimes of violence have a \n right to equal protection of the laws, including a system of \n justice that is unaffected by bias or discrimination and that, \n at every relevant stage, treats such crimes as seriously as \n other violent crimes.\n (b) Right.--All individuals within the United States, and the \nspecial maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, \nshall have the right to be free from bias-motivated crimes of violence.\n (c) Claim.--Any person, including a person who acts under color of \nany statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage of any State, who \ndeprives an individual of the right secured by subsection (b) shall be \nliable to the individual injured, in a civil action in any court of \ncompetent jurisdiction, for compensatory damages of not less than \n$100,000, punitive damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or \nany combination thereof.\n (d) Limitation, Procedure, and Rule of Construction.--\n (1) Limitation.--Nothing in this section entitles an \n individual to a claim under subsection (c) for random acts of \n violence unrelated to bias or for acts that cannot be \n demonstrated, by a preponderance of the evidence, to be bias-\n motivated crimes of violence.\n (2) No prior criminal action.--Nothing in this section \n requires a prior criminal complaint, prosecution, or conviction \n to establish the necessary elements of a claim under subsection \n (c).\n (3) Concurrent jurisdiction.--The Federal and State courts \n shall have concurrent jurisdiction over actions brought \n pursuant to this section.\n (4) Rule of construction.--Neither section 1367 of title 28 \n of the United States Code nor subsection (c) of this section \n shall be construed, by reason of a claim arising under such \n subsection, to confer on the courts of the United States \n supplemental jurisdiction of any State law claim seeking the \n establishment of a divorce, alimony, equitable distribution of \n marital property, or child custody decree.\n (e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n (1) the term ``bias-motivated'' means committed because of, \n on the basis of, and due to (at least in part) an animus based \n on, actual or perceived race, color, gender, religion, national \n origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical or mental \n disability of the victim;\n (2) the term ``crime of violence'' means--\n (A) an act or series of acts that would constitute \n State or Federal offense of a kind described in section \n 16 of title 18, United States Code, and punishable by a \n maximum term of imprisonment exceeding one year, but \n excludes an offense against property that presents no \n serious risk of physical or mental disability injury to \n an individual; or\n (B) one or more actions that would constitute such \n offense but for the relationship between the person who \n takes such actions and the individual against whom such \n actions are taken;\n whether or not such offense or such actions result in criminal \n charges, prosecution, or conviction and whether or not such \n actions were taken within the United States or the special \n maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States;\n (3) the term ``disability'' has the meaning given it in \n section 3(2) of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 \n U.S.C. 12102(2)); and\n (4) the term ``special maritime and territorial \n jurisdiction of the United States'' has the meaning given such \n term in section 7 of title 18, United States Code.\n (f) Limitation on Removal.--Section 1445 of title 28, United States \nCode, is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(d) A civil action in any State court arising under section 2 of \nthe Bias Crimes Compensation Act of 1993 may not be removed to any \ndistrict court of the United States.''.\n (g) Authority To Award Attorney's Fee.--Section 722(b) of the \nRevised Statutes of the United States (42 U.S.C. 1988(b)) is amended by \ninserting ``section 2 of the Bias Crimes Compensation Act of 1993,'' \nafter ``Public Law 92-318,''.", "summary": "Bias Crimes Compensation Act of 1993 - States that all U.S. individuals shall have the right to be free from bias-motivated crimes of violence (crimes arising from differences in race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability). Creates a Federal civil rights claim against anyone who deprives an individual of such right, with compensatory and punitive damages, and injunctive or declaratory relief. Provides limitations, procedures, and rules of construction, including the limitation that random acts of violence, as opposed to bias-motivated acts, shall not be a basis for such a claim.", "title": "Bias Crimes Compensation Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 512, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds that--\n (1) effective and impartial enforcement of the law is one \n of the most important functions of the government;\n (2) the preservation of our form of Government and the \n rights of our citizens are dependent upon competent and \n professional law enforcement agencies;\n (3) responsibility for law enforcement in the United States \n resides primarily with State and local governments;\n (4)(A) one-third of all Americans live in nonurban areas \n and 90 percent of all law enforcement agencies serve \n populations of fewer than 25,000 residents; and\n (B) 75 percent serve a population of fewer than 10,000 \n residents;\n (5) rural violent crime has increased over 35 percent from \n 1985 to 1995, and is taking a toll on rural citizens and rural \n law enforcement practitioners;\n (6) approximately 22,400 local government entities exist in \n the 50 States, and the needs of rural law enforcement in the \n areas of research, technical assistance, and the delivery of \n executive education and training programs have been jointly \n identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the \n Department of Justice, and the National Center for Rural Law \n Enforcement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; and\n (7) the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement at the \n University of Arkansas at Little Rock will continue to \n cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the \n Department of Justice to promote the development and \n implementation of training and education programs for rural law \n enforcement agencies.\n\nSEC. 3. NATIONAL CENTER FOR RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Title XVIII of the Violent Crime Control and Law \nEnforcement Act of 1994 is amended by adding at the end the following \nnew subtitle:\n\n ``Subtitle D--National Center for Rural Law Enforcement\n\n``SEC. 180401. ESTABLISHMENT.\n\n ``(a) In General.--There is established at the University of \nArkansas, at Little Rock, the National Center for Rural Law \nEnforcement.\n ``(b) Advisory Board.--\n ``(1) In general.--There shall be established within the \n National Center for Rural Law Enforcement an Advisory Board \n (referred to in this Act as the `Advisory Board') that shall be \n comprised of 15 members, of whom--\n ``(A) 10 shall be selected by the Attorney General \n of the United States, in consultation with the Director \n of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from personnel \n of rural law enforcement agencies serving communities \n with populations of less than 25,000 people, 2 from \n each of 5 regions (including the Northeast, Northwest, \n Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest);\n ``(B) 2 shall be selected by the Attorney General \n from personnel of State law enforcement agencies, 1 \n from training and 1 from law enforcement;\n ``(C) 2 shall be selected by the Director of the \n Federal Bureau of Investigation from employees of the \n Federal Bureau of Investigation; and\n ``(D) the Executive Director of the National Center \n for Rural Law Enforcement, who shall serve as a \n permanent member of the Advisory Board.\n ``(2) Powers.--\n ``(A) Terms of the Advisory Board members will be \n for 1 year, with 3 members rotating each year. The \n first Advisory Board members, at their first meeting, \n will draw lots from 1 to 5 years.\n ``(B) The Advisory Board members shall formulate, \n adopt, and publish guidelines governing the operation \n of the Center, consistent with its mission.\n ``(3) Travel expenses.--The members of the Advisory Board \n shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of \n subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies \n under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States \n Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business \n in performance of services for the Advisory Board.\n ``(c) Executive Director.--\n ``(1) Appointment.--The Attorney General shall appoint the \n Executive Director of the National Center for Rural Law \n Enforcement in consultation with the Director of the Federal \n Bureau of Investigation and the Chancellor of the University of \n Arkansas at Little Rock. The Executive Director shall serve a \n term not longer than 5 years.\n ``(2) Duties.--The Executive Director shall have the duties \n and responsibilities fulfilling functions as set forth in this \n Act, including the preparation and submission of a periodic \n report to the Advisory Board and the Chancellor of the \n University of Arkansas at Little Rock.\n ``(d) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The \nNational Center for Rural Law Enforcement, with the advice of the \nAdvisory Board, may procure temporary and intermittent services under \nsection 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals \nthat do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay \nprescribed for members of the Senior Executive Service, ES-6, Level V \nof the Executive Schedule as authorized by section 5352 of such title.\n\n``SEC. 180402. FUNCTIONS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Director of the National Center for Rural \nLaw Enforcement shall provide for--\n ``(1) the training of supervisory and executive managers of \n rural law enforcement in a systematic and effective manner;\n ``(2) the support of rural law enforcement agencies with \n technical assistance and practical and focused research;\n ``(3) equitable education and training opportunities for \n rural law enforcement personnel;\n ``(4) the delivery of training programs by Federal agencies \n and the Center;\n ``(5) the promotion, development, and adoption of a \n voluntary national system of education and training standards \n and certification;\n ``(6) the development and dissemination of information \n designed to assist States and units of local government in \n rural areas throughout the country;\n ``(7) grants to, and contracts with, Federal, State, and \n general units of local government, public and private agencies, \n educational institutions, organizations, and individuals to \n carry out this subtitle;\n ``(8) the establishment and continuation of a clearinghouse \n and information center for the collection, preparation, and \n dissemination of information on criminal justice and rural law \n enforcement, including programs for prevention of crime and \n recidivism, and management training of law enforcement \n personnel;\n ``(9) assistance and service in a consulting capacity to \n Federal, State, and local criminal justice agencies in the \n development, maintenance, and coordination of programs, \n facilities and services, training, research, and prevention \n with respect to crime in rural areas;\n ``(10) the encouragement and assistance to Federal, State, \n and local government programs and services, and programs for \n law enforcement officers, judges and judicial personnel, \n probation and parole personnel, correctional personnel, welfare \n workers, and other persons;\n ``(11) the development of technical training teams to aid \n in the development of seminars, workshops, and training \n programs within the States and with the State and local \n agencies that work with rural law enforcement managers;\n ``(12) the conduct, encouragement, and coordination of \n research relating to law enforcement and criminal justice \n issues, including the causes, diagnosis, and prevention of \n criminal activity;\n ``(13) the formulation and dissemination of rural law \n enforcement policy, goals, standards, and recommendations for \n Federal, State, and local criminal justice agencies, \n organizations, institutions, and personnel; and\n ``(14) evaluation programs that study the effectiveness of \n new approaches, techniques, systems, programs, and devices \nemployed to improve rural law enforcement systems.\n ``(b) Authority.--The National Center for Rural Law Enforcement \nmay--\n ``(1) enter into contracts with public or private agencies, \n organizations, or individuals for the performance of any of the \n functions of the Center;\n ``(2) enter into cooperative agreements with Federal, \n State, and local agencies and nonprofit entities to carry out \n the functions of the Center;\n ``(3) arrange with and reimburse the heads of Federal \n departments and agencies for the use of personnel, facilities, \n or equipment of such departments and agencies;\n ``(4) confer with and avail itself of the assistance, \n services, records, and facilities of State and local \n governments or other public or private agencies, organizations, \n and individuals; and\n ``(5) procure the services of experts and consultants in \n accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, at \n rates of compensation not to exceed the daily equivalent of the \n rate authorized for members of the Senior Executive Service, \n ES-6, Level 5, as authorized by section 5352 of title 5, United \n States Code.\n ``(c) Methods.--In carrying out its functions under this section, \nthe National Center for Rural Law Enforcement shall--\n ``(1) utilize consensus building;\n ``(2) work in cooperation with--\n ``(A) rural, nonurban law enforcement agencies;\n ``(B) agencies of Federal, State, and local \n governments; and\n ``(C) institutions of higher learning, law \n enforcement associations, and other not-for-profit \n organizations;\n ``(3) request and receive from other Federal departments \n and agencies such statistics, data, program reports, and other \n materials necessary for the Center to carry out its functions;\n ``(4) arrange with and reimburse the heads of other Federal \n departments and agencies for the use of personnel, facilities, \n or equipment of such departments and agencies; and\n ``(5) use the assistance, services, records, and facilities \n of State and local governments or other public or private \n agencies, organizations, and individuals.\n\n``SEC. 180403. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this \nsubtitle, as a separate line item in the Department of Justice \nAppropriations Act--\n ``(1) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1998; and\n ``(2) such sums as are necessary for each of the fiscal \n years 1999 through 2002.''.\n (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Violent \nCrime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 is amended by adding at \nthe end of the matter relating to title XVIII, the following:\n\n ``Subtitle D--National Center for Rural Law Enforcement\n\n``Sec. 180401. Establishment.\n``Sec. 180402. Functions.\n``Sec. 180403. Authorization of appropriations.''.", "summary": "Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1997 - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to establish: (1) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement; and (2) an Advisory Board to formulate, adopt, and publish guidelines governing the operation of the Center. \nSets forth provisions regarding the Center's: (1) functions (including the promotion, development, and adoption of a voluntary national system of education and training standards and certification); (2) authority (such as hiring experts and consultants); and (3) methods (including consensus building). \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "Rural Law Enforcement Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1857, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Health Protection Act of \n2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n (1) Access to safe, legal abortion services is essential to \n women's health and central to women's ability to participate \n equally in the economic and social life of the United States.\n (2) Access to safe, legal abortion services has been \n hindered in the United States in various ways, including \n blockades of health care facilities and associated violence; \n restrictions on insurance coverage; restrictions on minors' \n ability to obtain services; and requirements and restrictions \n that single out abortion providers and those seeking their \n services, and which do not further women's health or the safety \n of abortion, but harm women by reducing the availability of \n services.\n (3) In the early 1990s, protests and blockades at health \n care facilities where abortions were performed, and associated \n violence, increased dramatically and reached crisis level, \n requiring Congressional action. Congress passed the Freedom of \n Access to Clinic Entrances Act (Public Law 103-259) to address \n that situation and ensure that women could physically access \n abortion services.\n (4) Since 2010, there has been an equally dramatic increase \n in the number of laws and regulations singling out abortion \n that threaten women's health and their ability to access safe \n abortion services by interfering with health care \n professionals' ability to provide such services. Congressional \n action is now necessary to put an end to these restrictions. In \n addition, there has been a dramatic increase in the passage of \n laws that blatantly violate the constitutional protections \n afforded women, such as bans on abortion prior to viability.\n (5) Legal abortion is one of the safest medical procedures \n in the United States. That safety is furthered by regulations \n that are based on science and are generally applicable to the \n medical profession or to medically comparable procedures.\n (6) Many State and local governments are imposing \n restrictions on the provision of abortion that are neither \n science-based nor generally applicable to the medical \n profession or to medically comparable procedures. Though \n described by their proponents as health and safety regulations, \n many of these abortion-specific restrictions do not advance the \n safety of abortion services and do nothing to protect women's \n health. Also, these restrictions interfere with women's \n personal and private medical decisions, make access to abortion \n more difficult and costly, and even make it impossible for some \n women to obtain those services.\n (7) These restrictions harm women's health by reducing \n access not only to abortion services but also to the other \n essential health care services offered by the providers \n targeted by the restrictions, including contraceptive services, \n which reduce unintended pregnancies and thus abortions, and \n screenings for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted \n infections. These harms fall especially heavily on low-income \n women, women of color, and women living in rural and other \n medically underserved areas.\n (8) The cumulative effect of these numerous restrictions \n has been widely varying access to abortion services such that a \n woman's ability to exercise her constitutional rights is \n dependent on the State in which she lives. Federal legislation \n putting a stop to harmful restrictions throughout the United \n States is necessary to ensure that women in all States have \n access to safe abortion services, an essential constitutional \n right repeatedly affirmed by the United States Supreme Court.\n (9) Congress has the authority to protect women's ability \n to access abortion services pursuant to its powers under the \n Commerce Clause and its powers under section 5 of the \n Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution to enforce the \n provisions of section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment.\n (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to protect women's \nhealth by ensuring that abortion services will continue to be available \nand that abortion providers are not singled out for medically \nunwarranted restrictions that harm women by preventing them from \naccessing safe abortion services. It is not the purpose of this Act to \naddress all threats to access to abortion (for example, this Act does \nnot apply to clinic violence, restrictions on insurance or medical \nassistance coverage of abortion, or requirements for parental consent \nor notification before a minor may obtain an abortion) which Congress \nshould address through separate legislation as appropriate.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Abortion.--The term ``abortion'' means any medical \n treatment, including the prescription of medication, intended \n to cause the termination of a pregnancy except for the purpose \n of increasing the probability of a live birth, to remove an \n ectopic pregnancy, or to remove a dead fetus.\n (2) Abortion provider.--The term ``abortion provider'' \n means a health care professional who performs abortions.\n (3) Government.--The term ``government'' includes a branch, \n department, agency, instrumentality, or individual acting under \n color of law of the United States, a State, or a subdivision of \n a State.\n (4) Health care professional.--The term ``health care \n professional'' means a licensed medical professional (including \n physicians, certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, and \n physician assistants) who is competent to perform abortions \n based on clinical training.\n (5) Medically comparable procedures.--The term ``medically \n comparable procedures'' means medical procedures that are \n similar in terms of risk, complexity, duration, or the degree \n of sterile precaution that is indicated.\n (6) Pregnancy.--The term ``pregnancy'' refers to the period \n of the human reproductive process beginning with the \n implantation of a fertilized egg.\n (7) State.--The term ``State'' includes each of the 50 \n States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto \n Rico, and each territory or possession of the United States.\n (8) Viability.--the term ``viability'' means the point in a \n pregnancy at which, in the good-faith medical judgment of the \n treating health care professional, based on the particular \n facts of the case before her or him, there is a reasonable \n likelihood of sustained fetal survival outside the uterus with \n or without artificial support.\n\nSEC. 4. PROHIBITED MEASURES AND ACTIONS.\n\n (a) General Prohibitions.--The following limitations or \nrequirements are unlawful and shall not be imposed or applied by any \ngovernment because they single out the provision of abortion services \nfor restrictions that are more burdensome than those restrictions \nimposed on medically comparable procedures, they do not significantly \nadvance women's health or the safety of abortion services, and they \nmake abortion services more difficult to access:\n (1) A requirement that a medical professional perform \n specific tests or medical procedures in connection with the \n provision of an abortion, unless generally required for the \n provision of medically comparable procedures.\n (2) A requirement that the same clinician who performs a \n patient's abortion also perform specified tests, services or \n procedures prior, or subsequent, to the abortion.\n (3) A limitation on an abortion provider's ability to \n prescribe or dispense drugs based on current evidence-based \n regimens or her or his good-faith medical judgment, other than \n a limitation generally applicable to the medical profession.\n (4) A limitation on an abortion provider's ability to \n provide abortion services via telemedicine, other than a \n limitation generally applicable to the provision of medical \n services via telemedicine.\n (5) A requirement or limitation concerning the physical \n plant, equipment, staffing, or hospital transfer arrangements \n of facilities where abortions are performed, or the credentials \n or hospital privileges or status of personnel at such \n facilities, that is not imposed on facilities or the personnel \n of facilities where medically comparable procedures are \n performed.\n (6) A requirement that, prior to obtaining an abortion, a \n patient make one or more medically unnecessary in-person visits \n to the provider of abortion services or to any individual or \n entity that does not provide abortion services.\n (7) A requirement or limitation that prohibits or restricts \n medical training for abortion procedures, other than a \n requirement or limitation generally applicable to medical \n training for medically comparable procedures.\n (b) Other Prohibited Measures or Actions.--\n (1) In general.--A measure or action directed at \n restricting the provision of abortion services or the \n facilities that provide abortion services that is similar to \n any of the prohibited limitations or requirements described in \n subsection (a) shall be unlawful if such measure or action \n singles out abortion services or makes abortion services more \n difficult to access and does not significantly advance women's \n health or the safety of abortion services.\n (2) Prima facie case.--To make a prima facie showing that a \n measure or action is unlawful under paragraph (1) a plaintiff \n shall demonstrate that the measure or action involved--\n (A) singles out the provision of abortion services \n or facilities in which abortion services are performed; \n or\n (B) impedes women's access to abortion services \n based on one or more of the factors described in \n paragraph (3).\n (3) Factors.--Factors for a court to consider in \n determining whether a measure or action impedes access to \n abortion services for purposes of paragraph (2)(B) include the \n following:\n (A) Whether the measure or action interferes with \n an abortion provider's ability to provide care and \n render services in accordance with her or his good-\n faith medical judgment.\n (B) Whether the measure or action is reasonably \n likely to delay some women in accessing abortion \n services.\n (C) Whether the measure or action is reasonably \n likely to directly or indirectly increase the cost of \n providing abortion services or the cost for obtaining \n abortion services (including costs associated with \n travel, childcare, or time off work).\n (D) Whether the measure or action requires, or is \n reasonably likely to have the effect of necessitating, \n a trip to the offices of the abortion provider that \n would not otherwise be required.\n (E) Whether the measure or action is reasonably \n likely to result in a decrease in the availability of \n abortion services in the State.\n (F) Whether the measure or action imposes criminal \n or civil penalties that are not imposed on other health \n care professionals for comparable conduct or failure to \n act or that are harsher than penalties imposed on other \n health care professionals for comparable conduct or \n failure to act.\n (G) The cumulative impact of the measure or action \n combined with other new or existing requirements or \n restrictions.\n (4) Defense.--A measure or action shall be unlawful under \n this subsection upon making a prima facie case (as provided for \n under paragraph (2)), unless the defendant establishes, by \n clear and convincing evidence, that--\n (A) the measure or action significantly advances \n the safety of abortion services or the health of women; \n and\n (B) the safety of abortion services or the health \n of women cannot be advanced by a less restrictive \n alternative measure or action.\n (c) Other Prohibitions.--The following restrictions on the \nperformance of abortion are unlawful and shall not be imposed or \napplied by any government:\n (1) A prohibition or ban on abortion prior to fetal \n viability.\n (2) A prohibition on abortion after fetal viability when, \n in the good-faith medical judgment of the treating physician, \n continuation of the pregnancy would pose a risk to the pregnant \n woman's life or health.\n (3) A restriction that limits a pregnant woman's ability to \n obtain an immediate abortion when a health care professional \n believes, based on her or his good-faith medical judgment, that \n delay would pose a risk to the woman's health.\n (4) A measure or action that prohibits or restricts a woman \n from obtaining an abortion prior to fetal viability based on \n her reasons or perceived reasons or that requires a woman to \n state her reasons before obtaining an abortion prior to fetal \n viability.\n (d) Limitation.--The provisions of this Act shall not apply to laws \nregulating physical access to clinic entrances, requirements for \nparental consent or notification before a minor may obtain an abortion, \ninsurance coverage or medical assistance of abortion, or the procedure \ndescribed in section 1531(b)(1) of title 18, United States Code.\n (e) Effective Date.--This Act shall apply to government \nrestrictions on the provision of abortion services, whether statutory \nor otherwise, whether they are enacted or imposed prior to or after the \ndate of enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 5. LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION.\n\n (a) Liberal Construction.--In interpreting the provisions of this \nAct, a court shall liberally construe such provisions to effectuate the \npurposes of the Act.\n (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed \nto authorize any government to interfere with a woman's ability to \nterminate her pregnancy, to diminish or in any way negatively affect a \nwoman's constitutional right to terminate her pregnancy, or to displace \nany other remedy for violations of the constitutional right to \nterminate a pregnancy.\n\nSEC. 6. ENFORCEMENT.\n\n (a) Attorney General.--The Attorney General may commence a civil \naction for prospective injunctive relief on behalf of the United States \nagainst any government official that is charged with implementing or \nenforcing any restriction that is challenged as unlawful under this \nAct.\n (b) Private Right of Action.--\n (1) In general.--Any individual or entity aggrieved by an \n alleged violation of this Act may commence a civil action for \n prospective injunctive relief against the government official \n that is charged with implementing or enforcing the restriction \n that is challenged as unlawful under this Act.\n (2) Facility or professional.--A health care facility or \n medical professional may commence an action for prospective \n injunctive relief on behalf of the facility's or professional's \n patients who are or may be adversely affected by an alleged \n violation of this Act.\n (c) Equitable Relief.--In any action under this section, the court \nmay award appropriate equitable relief, including temporary, \npreliminary, or permanent injunctive relief.\n (d) Costs.--In any action under this section, the court shall award \ncosts of litigation, as well as reasonable attorney fees, to any \nprevailing plaintiff. A plaintiff shall not be liable to a defendant \nfor costs in an action under this section.\n (e) Jurisdiction.--The district courts of the United States shall \nhave jurisdiction over proceedings commenced pursuant to this section \nand shall exercise the same without regard to whether the party \naggrieved shall have exhausted any administrative or other remedies \nthat may be provided for by law.\n\nSEC. 7. PREEMPTION.\n\n No State or subdivision thereof shall enact or enforce any law, \nrule, regulation, standard, or other provision having the force and \neffect of law that conflicts with any provision of this Act.\n\nSEC. 8. SEVERABILITY.\n\n If any provision of this Act, or the application of such provision \nto any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the \nremainder of this Act, or the application of such provision to all \nother persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.", "summary": "Women's Health Protection Act of 2015 This bill prohibits any government from imposing on abortion services: a requirement that a medical professional perform specific tests or medical procedures; a requirement that the same clinician who performs a patient's abortion also perform additional tests, services or procedures; a limitation on an abortion provider's ability to prescribe or dispense drugs or provide services via telemedicine; a requirement or limitation concerning the physical plant, equipment, staffing, or hospital transfer arrangements of facilities where abortions are performed, or the credentials, hospital privileges, or status of personnel at those facilities; a requirement that, prior to obtaining an abortion, a patient make medically unnecessary in-person visits to any individual or entity; a limitation on medical training for abortion procedures; a prohibition prior to fetal viability; a prohibition after fetal viability when continuation of the pregnancy would pose a risk to the woman's life or health; a restriction on a woman's ability to obtain an immediate abortion when a delay would pose a risk to the woman's health; or a restriction on obtaining an abortion prior to fetal viability based on a woman's reasons or perceived reasons or that requires her to state her reasons before obtaining an abortion. A measure or action that is similar to a requirement or limitation listed above is prohibited if it singles out abortion services or makes abortion services more difficult to access and does not significantly advance women's health or the safety of abortion services.", "title": "Women's Health Protection Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 876, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Continuity of Electric Capacity \nResources Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DIVERSITY OF SUPPLY AND CONTINUITY OF ELECTRIC CAPACITY \n RESOURCES.\n\n Title II of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 224. DIVERSITY OF SUPPLY AND CONTINUITY OF ELECTRIC CAPACITY \n RESOURCES.\n\n ``(a) Definitions.--In this subsection:\n ``(1) Bulk-power system; transmission organization.--The \n terms `bulk-power system' and `transmission organization' have \n the meaning given the terms in section 215.\n ``(2) Electric capacity resource.--The term `electric \n capacity resource' means an electric generating resource, as \n measured by the maximum load-carrying ability of the resource, \n exclusive of station use and planned, unplanned, or other \n outage or derating.\n ``(3) Regional reliability coordinator.--The term `regional \n reliability coordinator' has the meaning given the term \n `reliability coordinator' (as defined by the Electric \n Reliability Organization).\n ``(b) Electric Capacity Resources Report.--\n ``(1) Notice.--Not later than 14 days after the date of \n enactment of this section, the Commission shall submit to each \n transmission organization with a tariff on file with the \n Commission that includes provisions addressing the procurement \n of electric capacity resources notice that the transmission \n organization is required to file with the Commission a report \n in accordance with paragraph (2).\n ``(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on \n which a transmission organization receives a notice under \n paragraph (1), the transmission organization shall submit to \n the Commission a report that--\n ``(A)(i) identifies electric capacity resources \n that are available to the transmission organization as \n of the date of the report; and\n ``(ii) describes the fuel sources and operational \n characteristics of each electric capacity resource \n identified under clause (i);\n ``(B) evaluates, using generally accepted metrics, \n the financial health, viability, and projected \n remaining years of service of the available electric \n capacity resources identified under subparagraph \n (A)(i);\n ``(C) identifies--\n ``(i) over the short- and long-term periods \n in the planning cycle of the transmission \n organization, announced and projected \n retirements of the available electric capacity \n resources;\n ``(ii) the projected future needs of the \n transmission organization for electric capacity \n resources; and\n ``(iii) the availability of transmission \n facilities and transmission support services \n necessary to provide for the transmission \n organization reasonable assurances of essential \n reliability services, including adequate \n voltage support;\n ``(D) assesses the current and projected status of \n the reliability of the elements of the bulk-power \n system under the control of the transmission \n organization, over the short- and long-term periods in \n the planning cycle of the transmission organization \n (including the current and projected status of electric \n capacity resources), as determined by the regional \n reliability coordinator that has been designated by the \n Electric Reliability Organization to have oversight \n over the bulk-power system elements under the control \n of the transmission organization; and\n ``(E) prior to the submission of the report, has \n been made available to members of the transmission \n organization and to the public for comment.\n ``(c) Tariff Amendments.--\n ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date \n on which the Commission receives a report submitted under \n subsection (b), the transmission organization that submitted \n the report shall file with the Commission--\n ``(A) 1 or more tariff amendments that would \n achieve each of the objectives described in paragraph \n (2) with respect to the transmission organization; and\n ``(B) supporting information that demonstrates the \n manner in which the amendments would achieve each of \n those objectives, taking into account the report \n submitted under subsection (b)(2).\n ``(2) Objectives.--The objectives referred to in paragraph \n (1) are the following:\n ``(A) A diverse generation portfolio and the \n availability of transmission facilities and \n transmission support services necessary to provide \n reasonable assurances of a continuous supply of \n electricity for customers of the transmission \n organization at the proper voltage and frequency.\n ``(B) An enhanced opportunity for self-supply of \n electric capacity resources by electric cooperatives, \n Federal power marketing agencies, and State utilities \n with a service obligation (as those terms are defined \n in section 217(a)), with the term `self-supply' to be \n defined in the supporting information filed under \n paragraph (1).\n ``(C) A reasonable assurance of short- and long-\n term reliability, with the terms `short-term \n reliability' and `long-term reliability' to be defined \n by the applicable regional reliability coordinator \n referred to in subsection (b)(2)(D).\n ``(D) A reasonable likelihood of prudent investment \n in, and adequate fuel supply for, existing and future \n electric capacity resources over the short- and long-\n term periods in the planning cycle identified in the \n applicable report submitted under subsection (b)(2).''.\n\nSEC. 3. ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT UNDER AN AUTHORIZATION DURING WAR OR \n EMERGENCY.\n\n Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824a(c)) is \namended--\n (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``(c) During'' and \n inserting the following:\n ``(c) Authorization During War or Emergency.--\n ``(1) In general.--During''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) No liability.--Any person subject to an order issued \n under this subsection shall not be liable for actions carried \n out in compliance with the order.''.", "summary": " Continuity of Electric Capacity Resources Act This bill amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to notify transmission organizations that they must file an electric capacity resources report if they have a tariff on file that addresses the procurement of electric capacity resources. Report contents must: identify electric capacity resources available to the transmission organization; describe the fuel sources and operational characteristics of each electric capacity resource; evaluate the financial health, viability, and projected remaining years of service of these available electric capacity resources; and assess the current and projected reliability of the elements of the bulk-power system under the transmission organization's control. Subsequent to this report, transmission organizations must also submit tariff amendments that would achieve specified objectives, including a diverse generation portfolio and the availability of transmission facilities and transmission support services that would provide a continuous supply of electricity for customers. The bill shields any person from liability for actions taken to comply with a FERC order for temporary connections and exchanges of facilities during war or an energy emergency.", "title": "Continuity of Electric Capacity Resources Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 260, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act shall be known as the ``Skill Game Protection Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds as follows:\n (1) Millions of Americans enjoy competing with other \n players in a variety of games of skill, including bridge, mah-\n jong, backgammon, and poker, over the Internet, where the \n operator provides the Internet venue for competition and \n receives a fee for such service.\n (2) For some Americans, these games provide their primary \n source of income.\n (3) While each of these games contains an element of \n chance, over any substantial interval, a player's success at \n any of these games is determined by that player's relative \n level of skill and is widely recognized as such.\n (4) Games where success is predominantly determined by the \n skill of the players involved, as a matter of law and of \n policy, are distinct from the games of chance traditionally \n described and addressed in Federal and State gambling statutes.\n (5) Despite the fact that the language in section 1084 of \n title 18, United States Code, commonly referred to as the \n ``Wire Act'', has been interpreted by Federal courts as \n applying only to betting on sports, some in law enforcement \n interpret the section as prohibiting the acceptance of both \n sports and non-sports betting through a communications device.\n (6) The Federal Government should take appropriate steps to \n ensure that, with respect to skill games--\n (A) minors are prevented from playing for money;\n (B) persons with compulsive behavior should be \n identified and referred to treatment;\n (C) operators of such games should not be \n vulnerable to, or participate in criminal or terrorist \n money laundering; and\n (D) appropriate taxes are collected.\n\nSEC. 3. CLARIFICATION.\n\n Section 1084 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding \nat the end the following new subsection: (f)\n ``(f) As used in this section, the term `bets or wagers' does not \ninclude operating, or participation in, poker, chess, bridge, mahjong \nor any other game where success is predominantly determined by a \nplayer's skill, to the extent that--\n ``(1) the game provides for competition only between and \n among participants, and not against the person operating the \n game; and\n ``(2) the operator is in compliance with regulations issued \n pursuant to section 5368 of title 31, United States Code.''.\n\nSEC. 4. SAFEGUARDS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 53 of title 31, United \nStates Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n``Sec. 5368. Games of skill\n ``Before the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the \nenactment of the Skill Game Protection Act, the Secretary shall \nprescribe regulations requiring each person who operates a game of \nskill on the Internet to maintain the following:\n ``(1) Appropriate safeguards to ensure that the individual \n participant depositing funds is 18 years of age or older.\n ``(2) Appropriate safeguards to ensure that the individual \n participant is physically located in a jurisdiction that does \n not bar participation in the particular Internet games of skill \n in which the individual participates at the time in the \n individual participates.\n ``(3) Appropriate mechanisms to ensure that all taxes \n relating to Internet games of skill due to Federal and State \n governments and to Indian tribes from individual participants \n are collected as required by at the time of any payment of any \n proceeds of Internet games of skill.\n ``(4) Appropriate safeguards to combat fraud and money \n laundering as may be prescribed by regulations issued by the \n Secretary or a designee of the Secretary.\n ``(5) Appropriate safeguards to combat compulsive \n participation in Internet games of skill.\n ``(6) Appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy and \n security of any person engaged in Internet games of skill.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter IV of \nchapter 53 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting \nafter the item relating to section 5367 the following new item:\n\n``5368. Games of skill.''.\n\nSEC. 5. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.\n\n (a) Nonapplicability to Games of Skill.--Section 5362(1)(E) of \ntitle 31, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (viii);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (ix) and \n inserting ``; or''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:\n ``(x) participation in any activity which \n does not constitute ``bets or wagers'' within \n the meaning of section 1084(f) of title 18 and \n is operated in compliance with the regulations \n issued pursuant to section 5368.''.\n (b) Nonapplicability to Non-Sports Wagering.--No provision of this \nAct, or amendment made by this Act to any other provision of law, shall \nbe construed as implying that section 1084 of title 18, United States \nCode, applies or applied to non-sports wagering before or after the \nenactment of this Act.", "summary": "Skill Game Protection Act - Amends federal criminal law to exempt from the prohibition against transmission of wagering information the operation or participation in poker, chess, bridge, mahjong or any other game where success is predominantly determined by a player's skill, to the extent that: (1) the game provides for competition only between and among participants, and not against the person operating the game; and (2) the operator is in compliance with federal regulations governing games of skill.\n\nAmends federal law governing monetary transactions to instruct the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations requiring each person who operates a game of skill on the Internet to maintain specified safeguards, including: (1) that the individual participant depositing funds is 18 years of age or older; (2) that the individual participant is physically located in a jurisdiction that does not bar participation in the particular Internet games of skill in which the individual participates; and (3) that all taxes relating to Internet games of skill due to federal and state governments and to Indian tribes from individual participants are collected at the time of any payment of any proceeds of Internet games of skill.", "title": "To amend subchapter IV of chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code, and section 1084 of title 18 of such Code to clarify the applicability of such provisions to games of skill, and establish certain requirements with respect to such games, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 702, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Preserving Patient Access to \nInpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2005''.\n\nSEC. 2. EFFECT ON ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 412.23(b)(2) of title 42, \nCode of Federal Regulations, during the period beginning on July 1, \n2005, and ending on the date that is 2 years after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services \n(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall not--\n (1) require a compliance rate, pursuant to the criterion \n (commonly known as the ``75 percent rule'') that is used to \n determine whether a hospital or unit of a hospital is an \n inpatient rehabilitation facility (as defined in the rule \n published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2004, entitled \n ``Medicare Program; Final Rule; Changes to the Criteria for \n Being Classified as an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility'' (69 \n Fed. Reg. 25752)), that is greater than the 50 percent \n compliance threshold that became effective on July 1, 2004;\n (2) change the designation of an inpatient rehabilitation \n facility that is in compliance with the 50 percent threshhold; \n or\n (3) conduct medical necessity review of inpatient \n rehabilitation facilities using any guidelines, such as fiscal \n intermediary Local Coverage Determinations, other than the \n national criteria established in chapter 1, section 110 of the \n Medicare Benefits Policy Manual.\n (b) Retroactive Status as an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility; \nPayments; Expedited Review.--The Secretary shall establish procedures \nfor--\n (1) making any necessary retroactive adjustment to restore \n the status of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation \n facility as a result of subsection (a);\n (2) making any necessary payments to inpatient \n rehabilitation facilities based on such adjustment for \n discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2005 and before the \n date of enactment of this Act; and\n (3) developing and implementing an appeals process that \n provides for expedited review of any adjustment to the status \n of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation facility made \n during the period beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on the \n date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON MEDICAL REHABILITATION.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Advisory council.--The term ``Advisory Council'' means \n the National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation \n established under subsection (b).\n (2) Appropriate federal agencies.--The term ``appropriate \n Federal agencies'' means--\n (A) the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality;\n (B) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;\n (C) the National Institute on Disability and \n Rehabilitation Research; and\n (D) the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation \n Research.\n (b) Establishment.--Pursuant to section 222 of the Public Health \nService Act (42 U.S.C. 217a), the Secretary shall establish an advisory \npanel to be known as the ``National Advisory Council on Medical \nRehabilitation''.\n (c) Membership.--\n (1) Appointment.--The Advisory Council shall be composed of \n 17 members, of whom--\n (A) 9 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, \n in consultation with the medical rehabilitation \n community, from a diversity of backgrounds, including--\n (i) physicians;\n (ii) medicare beneficiaries;\n (iii) representatives of inpatient \n rehabilitation facilities; and\n (iv) other practitioners experienced in \n rehabilitative care; and\n (B) 8 members, not more than 4 of whom are members \n of the same political party, shall be appointed jointly \n by--\n (i) the Majority Leader of the Senate;\n (ii) the Minority Leader of the Senate;\n (iii) the Speaker of the House of \n Representatives;\n (iv) the Minority Leader of the House of \n Representatives;\n (v) the Chairman and the Ranking Member of \n the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and\n (vi) the Chairman and the Ranking Member of \n the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of \n Representatives.\n (2) Date.--Members of the Advisory Council shall be \n appointed not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of \n this Act.\n (3) Period of appointment; vacancies.--Members shall be \n appointed for the life of the Council. A vacancy on the \n Advisory Council shall be filled not later than 30 days after \n the date on which the Advisory Council is given notice of the \n vacancy, in the same manner as the original appointment.\n (4) Meetings.--\n (A) Initial meeting.--The Advisory Council shall \n conduct an initial meeting not later than 120 days \n after the date of enactment of this Act.\n (B) Meetings.--The Advisory Council shall conduct \n such meetings as the Council determines to be necessary \n to carry out its duties but shall meet not less \n frequently than 2 times during each calendar year.\n (d) Duties.--The duties of the Advisory Council shall include \nproviding advice and recommendations to--\n (1) Congress and the Secretary concerning the coverage of \n rehabilitation services under the medicare program, including--\n (A) policy issues related to rehabilitative \n treatment and reimbursement for rehabilitative care, \n such as issues relating to any rulemaking relating to, \n or impacting, rehabilitation hospitals and units;\n (B) the appropriate criteria for--\n (i) determining clinical appropriateness of \n inpatient rehabilitation facility admissions; \n and\n (ii) distinguishing an inpatient \n rehabilitation facility from an acute care \n hospital and other providers of intensive \n medical rehabilitation;\n (C) the efficacy of inpatient rehabilitation \n services, as opposed to other post-acute inpatient \n settings, through a comparison of quality and cost, \n controlling for patient characteristics (such as \n medical severity and motor and cognitive function) and \n discharge destination;\n (D) the effect of any medicare regulations on \n access to inpatient rehabilitation care by medicare \n beneficiaries and the clinical effectiveness of care \n available to such beneficiaries in other health care \n settings; and\n (E) any other topic or issue that the Secretary or \n Congress requests the Advisory Council to provide \n advice and recommendations on; and\n (2) appropriate Federal agencies (as defined in subsection \n (a)) on how to best utilize available research funds and \n authorities focused on medical rehabilitation research, \n including post-acute care site of service and outcomes \n research.\n (e) Periodic Reports.--The Advisory Council shall provide the \nSecretary with periodic reports that summarize--\n (1) the Council's activities; and\n (2) any recommendations for legislation or administrative \n action the Council considers to be appropriate.\n (f) Termination.--The Advisory Council shall terminate on September \n30, 2010.\n (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of \nthis section.\n (h) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date of \nenactment of this Act.", "summary": "Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2005 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services, during the period between July 1, 2005, and the date two years after the enactment of this Act, from: (1) requiring a compliance rate, pursuant to the criterion (commonly known as the \"75 percent rule\") used to determine whether a hospital or hospital unit is an inpatient rehabilitation facility, that is greater than the 50 percent compliance threshold that became effective on July 1, 2004; (2) changing the designation of any inpatient rehabilitation facility in compliance with the 50 percent threshold; or (3) conducting medical necessity review of inpatient rehabilitation facilities using any guidelines other than the national criteria established in the Medicare Benefits Policy Manual.\n\nDirects the Secretary to establish procedures for: (1) making any necessary retroactive adjustment to restore the status of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation facility as a result of this Act; (2) making any necessary payments to inpatient rehabilitation facilities based on such adjustment for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2005, and before enactment of this Act; and (3) developing and implementing an appeals process that provides for expedited review of any adjustment to the status of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation facility made during such period\n\nDirects the Secretary to establish the National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation to provide advice and recommendations to: (1) Congress and the Secretary concerning the coverage of rehabilitation services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; and (2) appropriate federal agencies on how best to utilize available research funds and authorities focused on medical rehabilitation research.", "title": "To extend the 50 percent compliance threshold used to determine whether a hospital or unit of a hospital is an inpatient rehabilitation facility and to establish the National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1973, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``The Small Watershed Rehabilitation \nAmendments of 1998''.\n\nSEC. 2. REHABILITATION OF WATER RESOURCE STRUCTURAL MEASURES \n CONSTRUCTED UNDER CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE \n PROGRAMS.\n\n The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 \net seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 14. REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURAL MEASURES NEAR, AT, OR PAST \n THEIR EVALUATED LIFE EXPECTANCY.\n\n ``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:\n ``(1) Rehabilitation.--The term `rehabilitation', with \n respect to a structural measure constructed as part of a \n covered water resource project, means the completion of all \n work necessary to extend the service life of the structural \n measure and meet applicable safety and performance standards. \n This may include (A) protecting the integrity of the structural \n measure, or prolonging the useful life of the structural \n measure, beyond the original evaluated life expectancy, (B) \n correcting damage to the structural measure from a catastrophic \n event, (C) correcting the deterioration of structural \n components that are deteriorating at an abnormal rate, or (D) \n upgrading the structural measure to meet changed land use \n conditions in the watershed served by the structural measure or \n changed safety criteria applicable to the structural measure.\n ``(2) Covered water resource project.--The term `covered \n water resource project' means a work of improvement carried out \n under any of the following:\n ``(A) This Act.\n ``(B) Section 13 of the Act of December 22, 1944 \n (Public Law 78-534; 58 Stat. 905).\n ``(C) The pilot watershed program authorized under \n the heading `Flood Prevention' of the Department of \n Agriculture Appropriation Act, 1954 (Public Law 156; 67 \n Stat. 214).\n ``(D) Subtitle H of title XV of the Agriculture and \n Food Act of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3451 et seq.; commonly \n known as the Resource Conservation and Development \n Program).\n ``(3) Eligible local organization.--The term `eligible \n local organization' means a local organization or appropriate \n State agency responsible for the operation and maintenance of \n structural measures constructed as part of a covered water \n resource project.\n ``(4) Structural measure.--The term ``structural measure'' \n means a physical improvement that impounds water and was \n constructed as part of a covered water resource project.\n ``(b) Cost Share Assistance For Rehabilitation.--\n ``(1) Amount and use.--The Secretary may provide financial \n assistance to an eligible local organization to assist the \n local organization with the rehabilitation of structural \n measures originally constructed as part of a covered water \n resource project. The amount of the financial assistance for a \n particular rehabilitation project may not exceed 65 percent of \n the total rehabilitation costs for the structural measures \n included in the rehabilitation project. The total costs of \n rehabilitation may include financial assistance to pay for \n costs associated with the rehabilitation project, including \n land, easements, and rights-of-ways costs, costs of water, \n mineral and other resource rights, rehabilitation project \n administration, and contracting.\n ``(2) Relation to land use and development regulations.--As \n a condition on entering into an agreement to provide financial \n assistance under this subsection, the Secretary, working in \n concert with the eligible local organization, may require that \n proper zoning or other developmental regulations are in place \n in the watershed in which the structural measures to be \n rehabilitated under the agreement are located so that--\n ``(A) the completed rehabilitation project is not \n quickly rendered inadequate by additional development; \n and\n ``(B) society can realize the full benefits of the \n rehabilitation investment.\n ``(c) Technical Assistance For Watershed Project Rehabilitation.--\nThe Secretary may provide technical assistance in planning, designing, \nand implementing rehabilitation projects should an eligible local \norganization request such assistance. Such assistance may consist of \nspecialists in such fields as engineering, geology, soils, agronomy, \nbiology, hydraulics, hydrology, economics, water quality, and contract \nadministration.\n ``(d) Prohibited Use.--\n ``(1) Performance of operation and maintenance.--\n Rehabilitation assistance provided under this section may not \n be used to perform operation and maintenance activities \n specified in the agreement for the covered water resource \n project entered into between the Secretary and the eligible \n local organization responsible for the works of improvement. \n Such operation and maintenance activities shall remain the \n responsibility of the local organization, as provided in the \n project work plan.\n ``(2) Renegotiation.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), as \n part of the provision of financial assistance under subsection \n (b), the Secretary may renegotiate the original agreement for \n the covered water resource project entered into between the \n Secretary and the eligible local organization regarding \n responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the \n project.\n ``(e) Application For Rehabilitation Assistance.--An eligible local \norganization may apply to the Secretary for technical and financial \nassistance under this section if the application has also been \nsubmitted to and approved by the State agency having supervisory \nresponsibility over the covered water resource project at issue or, if \nthere is no State agency having such responsibility, by the Governor of \nthe State. The Secretary shall request the State dam safety officer (or \nequivalent State official) to be involved in the application process if \nState permits or approvals are required. The rehabilitation of \nstructural measures shall meet standards established by the Secretary \nand address other dam safety issues. Personnel of the Natural Resources \nConservation Service of the Department of Agriculture shall assist in \npreparing applications for assistance.\n ``(f) Justification For Rehabilitation Assistance.--In order to \nqualify for technical or financial assistance under this authority, the \nSecretary shall require the rehabilitation project to be performed in \nthe most cost-effective manner that accomplishes the rehabilitation \nobjective. Since the requirements for accomplishing the rehabilitation \nare generally for public health and safety reasons, in many instances \nbeing mandated by other State or Federal laws, benefit-cost analysis \nand a positive benefit cost-ratio will not be required. The benefits of \nand the requirements for the rehabilitation project shall be documented \nto ensure the wise and responsible use of Federal funds.\n ``(g) Ranking of Requests For Rehabilitation Assistance.--The \nSecretary shall establish such system of approving rehabilitation \nrequests, recognizing that such requests will be received throughout \nthe fiscal year and subject to the availability of funds to carry out \nthis section, as is necessary for proper administration by the \nDepartment of Agriculture and equitable for all eligible local \norganizations. The approval process shall be in writing, and made known \nto all eligible local organizations and appropriate State agencies.\n ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated $60,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2008 \nto carry out this section.\n ``(i) Assessment of Rehabilitation Needs.--Of the amount \nappropriated pursuant to subsection (h) for both fiscal year 1999 and \n2000, $5,000,000 shall be used by the Secretary, in concert with the \nresponsible State agencies, to conduct an assessment of the \nrehabilitation needs of covered water resource projects in all States \nin which such projects are located.\n ``(j) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit an annual report to \nCongress providing the status of activities conducted under this \nsection. An eligible local organization that receives rehabilitation \nassistance shall make an annual report to the Secretary giving the \nstatus of any rehabilitation effort undertaken using financial \nassistance provided under this section.''.", "summary": "Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 1998 - Amends the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial assistance to an eligible local organization for the rehabilitation of structural measures originally constructed as part of a covered water resource project. Limits the amount of such assistance to 65 percent of total rehabilitation costs. \nAuthorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance to a requesting organization in planning, designing, and implementing rehabilitation projects. \nProhibits any assistance authorized under this Act from being used to perform operation and maintenance activities. \nOutlines assistance application requirements. Directs the Secretary to establish a system of approving rehabilitation assistance requests from eligible organizations equitably. \nAuthorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2008. Earmarks funds authorized for the first two fiscal years for an assessment by the Secretary of the rehabilitation needs of covered projects.", "title": "Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 1998"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1805, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Nuclear Facility and Material \nSecurity Act of 2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. NUCLEAR REACTOR DESIGNS REGARDING AIRCRAFT IMPACT.\n\n (a) Final Rule.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment \nof this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall issue a final rule \nrequiring all commercial nuclear power reactors approved for \nconstruction after such date of enactment to be designed to withstand a \nlarge commercial aircraft impact. Such rule shall address the \nstructural response, shock and vibration effects, and fire effects of \nthe impact.\n (b) Required Design Features.--Such final rule shall require design \nfeatures to ensure that--\n (1) important safety functions will operate for a \n sufficient period of time after the impact of a large \n commercial aircraft so that the unit can be safely shut down \n and maintained in safe shutdown condition; and\n (2) the consequences of the impact will not result in a \n release of radioactive materials to the environment that causes \n a member of the surrounding community to receive a dose that \n triggers an evacuation recommendation, consistent with the \n levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency and \n the Public Protection Action Guide Limit for Evacuation and \n Shelter (EPA 400-R-92-001).\n\nSEC. 3. SPENT FUEL SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS.\n\n (a) Storage Rule.--Not later than 18 months after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall issue a \nfinal rule requiring--\n (1) the configuration of spent fuel assemblies stored in \n spent fuel pools to minimize the risk of fire in the event the \n spent fuel pools are drained during an accident or terrorist \n attack;\n (2) spent nuclear fuel to be transferred from a spent fuel \n pool into dry cask storage at the earliest possible time that \n the heat load of the spent fuel material allows for such \n transfer to occur safely; and\n (3) mitigation features such as water-spray systems to cool \n spent fuel in the event spent fuel pools are drained during an \n accident or terrorist attack.\n (b) Independent Installation Security.--\n (1) Rulemaking requirement.--Not later than 1 year after \n the date of enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory \n Commission shall issue an Independent Spent Fuel Storage \n Installation security final rule that makes such installations \n subject to the security evaluation requirements of section 170D \n of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210d).\n (2) Design basis threat.--The rule issued under paragraph \n (1) shall provide for incorporating Independent Spent Fuel \n Storage Installations into the design basis threat rule issued \n under section 170E of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. \n 2210e).\n\nSEC. 4. CONSIDERING THE RISK OF ACTS OF TERRORISM ON NUCLEAR \n FACILITIES.\n\n The Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall consider the likely \nconsequences of a potential terrorist attack in any review it is \nrequired to undertake under the National Environmental Policy Act of \n1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).\n\nSEC. 5. POTASSIUM IODIDE.\n\n (a) Repeal of Waiver Authority.--Section 127(f) of the Public \nHealth Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 \n(42 U.S.C. 300hh-12 note) is repealed.\n (b) Jurisdictional Authority.--The Secretary of Health and Human \nServices shall exercise all Federal authority over the distribution of \npotassium iodide as a medical prophylaxis for radiological exposure in \nhumans, including all activities under section 127 of the Public Health \nSecurity and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (42 \nU.S.C. 300hh-12 note).\n (c) NAS Studies.--Not later than June 30, 2011, and at least once \nevery 5 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services \nshall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences \nfor studies on appropriate emergency response plans to nonroutine \nreleases of radioactive materials, including from nuclear power plants, \nspent fuel storage facilities, radiological dispersal devices, and \nimprovised nuclear explosive devices. Such studies shall address \nevacuation, sheltering, food interdiction, and medical prophylaxes for \nradioiodine and other radioisotopes that are released in such events. \nSuch studies shall--\n (1) review relevant evacuations and food interdictions of \n the preceding five-year period for lessons learned;\n (2) identify the population that would be exposed by the \n release and evaluate the potential consequences of such \n exposure;\n (3) recommend best practices for emergency response to \n radiological releases; and\n (4) evaluate new research on medical prophylaxes for \n radioiodine and other radioisotopes released in such events and \n recommend whether additional medical prophylaxes should be \n procured for the Strategic National Stockpile or State and \n local stockpiles.\n (d) Secretary's Actions.--Based on the findings of the studies \nconducted under subsection (c), the Secretary of Health and Human \nServices shall--\n (1) consider the advisability of procurement for the \n Strategic National Stockpile, and distribution to State and \n local governments, of medical prophylaxes other than potassium \n iodide, against radioiodine and other radiological byproducts; \n and\n (2) update the Federal potassium iodide distribution \n guidelines, including with lessons learned from evacuation \n events, as necessary.\n (e) Guidelines.--Section 127(c) of the Public Health Security and \nBioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 300hh-12 \nnote) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(c) Guidelines.--Not later than 60 days after the date of \nenactment of the Nuclear Facility and Material Security Act of 2008, \nthe Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with \nindividuals representing appropriate Federal, State, and local \nagencies, shall establish guidelines for the stockpiling of potassium \niodide tablets, and for the distribution and utilization of potassium \niodide tablets in the event of a nuclear incident.''.\n\nSEC. 6. AUDIT OF SAFETY AND SECURITY ANALYSIS AND REVIEW ACTIVITIES.\n\n Title II of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5841 \net seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n ``audit of safety and security analysis and review activities\n\n ``Sec. 213. (a) There shall be established within the Office of \nthe Inspector General of the Commission a unit with appropriate and \nadequate technical staff, including degreed engineers with nuclear \npower plant experience, which shall audit the Commission's regulatory \noversight activities related to safety and security of civilian nuclear \nfacilities.\n ``(b) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission, \nfor carrying out this Act, such sums as may be necessary.''.\n\nSEC. 7. RADIATION SOURCE PROTECTION.\n\n (a) Categorization of Radiation Sources.--Section 170H f. of the \nAtomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210h(f)) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following new paragraph:\n ``(4) Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this \nparagraph, the task force shall--\n ``(A) complete an evaluation of the materials listed in the \n Code of Conduct;\n ``(B) make recommendations to amend the Commission's \n regulatory requirements for certain radiation sources or \n activity levels of certain radiation sources to account for--\n ``(i) risks associated with the deliberate \n dispersal of those materials from radiation sources, \n including dispersal for the purpose of causing the \n ingestion or inhalation of those materials; and\n ``(ii) the radiation source's potential to cause \n contamination of large areas, or economic and social \n disruption that could result from a terrorist attack; \n and\n ``(C) designate additional radiation sources for which the \n risks described in subparagraph (B)(i) and (ii) are \n particularly high as high-risk radiation sources for purposes \n of section 2(e) of the Nuclear Facility and Material Security \n Act of 2008.\nUpon completion of the recommendations under this paragraph, the \nCommission shall implement those recommendations by regulation.''.\n (b) Transportation of Radiation Sources.-- Not later than 18 months \nafter the date of enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory \nCommission shall publish a final rule revising its regulations on the \nsecurity requirements for the transportation of Category 1, 2, and 3 \nsources (as defined in the Code of Conduct referred to in section 170H \na.(1) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210h(a)(1))), \nincluding a requirement that shipments of Category 1, 2, and 3 sources \nbe equipped with covert technology that would enable location tracking \nand recovery in the event the shipments or sources are stolen or \ndiverted.\n (c) Radiation Source Licensing.--Not later than 18 months after the \ndate of enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall \nissue a final rule requiring carriers and transporters transporting \nwithin the United States radiation sources (as defined in section 170H \na.(2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210h(a)(2))) to be \nlicensed by the Commission.\n (d) National Radiation Source Tracking System.--Not later than 2 \nyears after the date of enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory \nCommission shall issue a final rule, pursuant to its authority to \npromote or protect the common defense and security under section 161 of \nthe Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2201), and in a manner that \nmaximizes the use of appropriate State government capabilities, to \nrevise Commission regulations with respect to the National Source \nTracking System to require technologies and systems that can provide \nreal-time tracking and enable locating--\n (1) Category 1, 2, and 3 sources (as defined in the Code of \n Conduct referred to in section 170H a.(1) of the Atomic Energy \n Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210h(a)(1))); and\n (2) radiation sources with \\1/10\\ or more of the activity \n threshold of such Category 3 sources.\n (e) High-Risk Radiation Sources Security and Replacement.--\n (1) Rule.--Not later than 2 years after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall \n issue a final rule, pursuant to its authority to promote or \n protect the common defense and security under section 161 of \n the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2201), to establish \n requirements leading to the replacement of all high-risk \n radiation sources. Such rule shall include provisions that--\n (A) discontinue licensing for each application of \n new high-risk radiation sources as soon as is \n practicable, but in no event later than 10 years after \n the date of enactment of this Act, unless \n technologically feasible alternatives are not \n available;\n (B) prescribe a new license fee structure, or other \n means of guaranteeing the availability of funds, for \n any new licenses of high-risk radiation sources to \n ensure that the costs of disposition of the high-risk \n radiation sources will be covered;\n (C) provide for incentives for decommissioning and \n replacing existing high-risk radiation sources;\n (D) prohibit the export of high-risk radiation \n sources to other countries; and\n (E) prescribe enhanced security measures for \n existing high-risk radiation sources.\n (2) Task force recommendations.--Not later than 4 years \n after the initial rule is issued under paragraph (1) or any \n update is issued under paragraph (3), the Task Force on \n Radiation Source Protection and Security established under \n section 170H f. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. \n 2210h(f)) shall review the rule or update and make \n recommendations for appropriate modifications to the rule or \n update to account for--\n (A) the emergence of new technologies that can be \n used to replace high-risk radiation sources; and\n (B) new security threats or intelligence \n information regarding the risk of a deliberate attack \n using these radiation sources.\n (3) Nuclear regulatory commission review.--Taking into \n consideration the recommendations of the task force under \n paragraph (2), the Commission shall review and update the rule \n issued under paragraph (1) not less frequently than once every \n 5 years to account for--\n (A) the emergence of new technologies that can be \n used to replace high-risk radiation sources; and\n (B) new security threats or intelligence \n information regarding the risk of a deliberate attack \n using these radiation sources.\n (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized \n to be appropriated to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for \n carrying out paragraph (1)(C) such sums as may be necessary for \n the fiscal years 2009 through 2013.\n (5) Department of energy program.--There are authorized to \n be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy $50,000,000 for the \n period encompassing fiscal years 2009 through 2018 for the \n acceptance, storage, and disposition of high-risk radiation \n sources by the Department's United States Radiological Threat \n Reduction Program.\n (6) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the term \n ``high-risk radiation source'' means cesium chloride and any \n other radiation source that is designated by the Task Force on \n Radiation Source Protection and Security under section 170H \n f.(4)(C) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. \n 2210h(f)(4)(C)).", "summary": "Nuclear Facility and Material Security Act of 2008 - Directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to issue a final rule requiring: (1) all commercial nuclear power reactors approved for construction after enactment of this Act to be designed to withstand a large commercial aircraft impact; and (2) certain spent fuel security enhancements.\n\nDirects the NRC to issue an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation security final rule that: (1) makes such installations subject to specified security evaluation requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954; and (2) incorporates such installations into a certain design basis threat rule.\n\nRequires the NRC to consider the likely consequences of a potential terrorist attack in any review it is required to undertake under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.\n\nAmends the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 to repeal the statement that certain requirements to make potassium iodide tablets available to state and local governments for stockpiling shall cease to apply if the President determines that there is an alternative and more effective prophylaxis or preventive measures for adverse thyroid conditions that may result from the release of radionuclides from nuclear power plants.\n\nVests the Secretary of Health and Human Services with all federal authority over the distribution of potassium iodide as a medical prophylaxis for radiological exposure in humans.\n\nDirects the Secretary to arrange with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for studies on appropriate emergency response plans to nonroutine releases of radioactive materials, including from nuclear power plants, spent fuel storage facilities, radiological dispersal devices, and improvised nuclear explosive devices.\n\nDirects the Secretary to establish guidelines for the stockpiling and distribution of potassium iodide tablets in the event of a nuclear incident.\n\nAmends the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to establish within the Office of the Inspector General of the NRC a unit with appropriate and adequate technical staff with nuclear power plant experience to audit NRC regulatory oversight regarding civilian nuclear facilities.\n\nAmends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require the NRC to promulgate final rules governing radiation source protection measures.\n\nDirects the NRC to publish final rules: (1) revising regulations on security requirements for transportation of radiation sources; (2) requiring carriers and transporters transporting radiation sources within the United States to be licensed by the NRC; (3) revising National Source Tracking System regulations to require technologies and systems that can provide real-time tracking and enable locating of specified radiation sources; and (4) establishing requirements leading to the replacement of all high-risk radiation sources.\n\nAuthorizes appropriations for the acceptance, storage, and disposition of high-risk radiation sources by the Department of Energy United States Radiological Threat Reduction Program.", "title": "To provide for upgrading security at civilian nuclear facilities and of nuclear materials that could be used to construct a dirty bomb."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1603, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``HSA Accessibility and Portability \nAct of 2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. PROMOTING ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF COVERAGE IN THE \n SMALL GROUP MARKET.\n\n Section 2711 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg-11) \nis amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``(f)'' and inserting \n ``(g)''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(g) Election of Alternative to Guaranteed Issue Requirement.--\n ``(1) Election.--\n ``(A) In general.--A health insurance issuer may \n elect, with respect to any small employer (as defined \n in section 2791(e)(4)), to meet the requirements of \n paragraphs (2) and (3) instead of complying with the \n guaranteed issue requirement of subsection (a).\n ``(B) Requirement of accepting or rejecting all \n eligible individuals within entire group at time of \n election.--An election made under subparagraph (A) with \n respect to a small employer shall apply with respect to \n all eligible individuals of that small employer at the \n time of such election.\n ``(C) Subsequent eligible individuals.--In the case \n of an individual who becomes an eligible individual \n with respect to a small employer after an election has \n been made under subparagraph (A), the health insurance \n issuer is not required to provide group health \n insurance coverage for such individual.\n ``(2) Portability for individuals covered.--If an election \n is made under paragraph (1)(A) and under such election group \n health insurance coverage is provided by a health insurance \n issuer for an eligible individual of a small employer, the \n health insurance issuer shall guarantee continuation of \n coverage to the individual (and to covered dependents), through \n issuance of individual health insurance coverage, after the \n date the individual no longer qualifies as an eligible \n individual of such employer, at a rate that does not exceed 150 \n percent of the standard individual rate applicable to such \n individual coverage in the State in which the policy was \n initially issued.\n ``(3) Information on elections.--Any health insurance \n issuer making an election under paragraph (1)(A) shall furnish \n to the Secretary such information as the Secretary may require \n in order to monitor the impact of such election on access to, \n and affordability, of health insurance coverage in the small \n group market and in the individual market. Such information \n shall include at least information relating to the following:\n ``(A) Rejection rate.--The characteristics of small \n employers denied health insurance coverage because of \n this subsection.\n ``(B) Premium rates.--The rates charged for \n coverage offered under an election made under this \n subsection (in comparison to rates that are otherwise \n charged if this subsection were not in effect).\n ``(4) Limitation.--An election under paragraph (1)(A) may \n only be made with respect to coverage of a small employer under \n health insurance coverage that consists of a high deductible \n health plan (as defined in section 223(c)(2) of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986) and a contribution to a health savings \n account (as defined in section 223(d) of such Code).\n ``(5) Report.--At least 6 months before the end of the 5-\n year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this \n subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on \n the impact of this subsection on the availability and \n affordability of health insurance coverage in the small group \n market and in the individual market. Such report shall include \n recommendations on whether this subsection should be extended \n beyond such period and whether it should be expanded to cover \n health insurance coverage in addition to the coverage described \n in paragraph (4).\n ``(6) Contingent sunset.--This subsection shall not apply \n to elections for small employers made by a health insurance \n issuer after the end of the 5-year period described in \n paragraph (5) if the Secretary, in the report to Congress under \n such paragraph, recommends that this subsection should not be \n extended beyond such period. If the Secretary makes such a \n recommendation, this subsection shall still continue to apply \n to elections made before the end of such 5-year period.''.", "summary": "HSA Accessibility and Portability Act of 2006 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize a health insurance issuer to elect, instead of complying with the guaranteed issue requirements (that require a health insurance issuer offering coverage in the small group market in a state to accept every small employer that applies and to accept all eligible individuals without certain restrictions), to: (1) guarantee continuation of coverage through individual health insurance for an individual who no longer qualifies as an eligible individual of the employer at a rate that does not exceed 150% of the standard individual rate applicable to individual coverage in the state; and (2) furnish information for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to monitor the impact of such election on access to, and affordability of, health insurance coverage in the small group market and in the individual market.\n\nRequires such an election to apply to all eligible individuals of that small employer at the time of such election, but does not require applicability to an individual who becomes eligible after such election. Allows an election under this Act to be made only with respect to coverage of a small employer under health insurance coverage that consists of a high deductible health plan and a contribution to a health savings account.", "title": "To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to permit a health insurance issuer an alternative to guaranteed issue of health insurance coverage in the small group market in order to promote affordable access to portable health insurance coverage."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2923, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire \nPrevention Act of 2004''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that--\n (1) there is an increasing threat of wildfire to millions of \n acres of forest land and rangeland throughout the United States;\n (2) forest land and rangeland are degraded as a direct \n consequence of land management practices, including practices to \n control and prevent wildfires and the failure to harvest \n subdominant trees from overstocked stands that disrupt the \n occurrence of frequent low-intensity fires that have periodically \n removed flammable undergrowth;\n (3) at least 39,000,000 acres of land of the National Forest \n System in the interior West are at high risk of wildfire;\n (4) an average of 95 percent of the expenditures by the Forest \n Service for wildfire suppression during fiscal years 1990 through \n 1994 were made to suppress wildfires in the interior West;\n (5) the number, size, and severity of wildfires in the interior \n West are increasing;\n (6) of the timberland in National Forests in the States of \n Arizona and New Mexico, 59 percent of such land in Arizona, and 56 \n percent of such land in New Mexico, has an average diameter of 9 to \n 12 inches diameter at breast height;\n (7) the population of the interior West grew twice as fast as \n the national average during the 1990s;\n (8) catastrophic wildfires--\n (A) endanger homes and communities;\n (B) damage and destroy watersheds and soils; and\n (C) pose a serious threat to the habitat of threatened and \n endangered species;\n (9) a 1994 assessment of forest health in the interior West \n estimated that only a 15- to 30-year window of opportunity exists \n for effective management intervention before damage from \n uncontrollable wildfire becomes widespread, with 8 years having \n already elapsed since the assessment;\n (10) healthy forest and woodland ecosystems--\n (A) reduce the risk of wildfire to forests and communities;\n (B) improve wildlife habitat and biodiversity;\n (C) increase tree, grass, forb, and shrub productivity;\n (D) enhance watershed values;\n (E) improve the environment; and\n (F) provide a basis in some areas for economically and \n environmentally sustainable uses;\n (11) sustaining the long-term ecological and economic health of \n interior West forests and woodland, and their associated human \n communities requires preventing severe wildfires before the \n wildfires occur and permitting natural, low-intensity ground fires;\n (12) more natural fire regimes cannot be accomplished without \n the reduction of excess fuels and thinning of subdominant trees \n (which fuels and trees may be of commercial value);\n (13) ecologically based forest and woodland ecosystem \n restoration on a landscape scale will--\n (A) improve long-term community protection;\n (B) minimize the need for wildfire suppression;\n (C) improve resource values;\n (D) improve the ecological integrity and resilience of \n these systems;\n (E) reduce rehabilitation costs;\n (F) reduce loss of critical habitat; and\n (G) protect forests for future generations;\n (14) although landscape scale restoration is needed to \n effectively reverse degradation, scientific understanding of \n landscape scale treatments is limited;\n (15) rigorous, objective, understandable, and applied \n scientific information is needed for--\n (A) the design, implementation, monitoring, and adaptation \n of landscape scale restoration treatments and improvement of \n wildfire management;\n (B) the environmental review process; and\n (C) affected entities that collaborate in the development \n and implementation of wildfire treatment.\n\nSEC. 3. PURPOSES.\n\n The purposes of this Act are--\n (1) to enhance the capacity to develop, transfer, apply, \n monitor, and regularly update practical science-based forest \n restoration treatments that will reduce the risk of severe \n wildfires, and improve the health of dry forest and woodland \n ecosystems in the interior West;\n (2) to synthesize and adapt scientific findings from \n conventional research programs to the implementation of forest and \n woodland restoration on a landscape scale;\n (3) to facilitate the transfer of interdisciplinary knowledge \n required to understand the socioeconomic and environmental impacts \n of wildfire on ecosystems and landscapes;\n (4) to require the Institutes established under this Act to \n collaborate with Federal agencies--\n (A) to use ecological restoration treatments to reverse \n declining forest health and reduce the risk of severe wildfires \n across the forest landscape; and\n (B) to design, implement, monitor, and regularly revise \n representative wildfire treatments based on the use of adaptive \n ecosystem management;\n (5) to assist land managers in--\n (A) treating acres with restoration-based applications; and\n (B) using new management technologies (including the \n transfer of understandable information, assistance with \n environmental review, and field and classroom training and \n collaboration) to accomplish the goals identified in--\n (i) the National Fire Plan;\n (ii) the report entitled ``Protecting People and \n Sustaining Resources in Fire-Adapted Ecosystems-A Cohesive \n Strategy'' (65 Fed. Reg. 67480); and\n (iii) the report entitled ``10-Year Comprehensive \n Strategy: A Collaborative Approach for Reducing Wildland \n Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment'' of the \n Western Governors' Association;\n (6) to provide technical assistance to collaborative efforts by \n affected entities to develop, implement, and monitor adaptive \n ecosystem management restoration treatments that are ecologically \n sound, economically viable, and socially responsible; and\n (7) to assist Federal and non-Federal land managers in \n providing information to the public on the role of fire and fire \n management in dry forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior \n West.\n\nSEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Adaptive ecosystem management.--\n (A) Definition.--The term ``adaptive ecosystem management'' \n means a natural resource management process under which \n planning, implementation, monitoring, research, evaluation, and \n incorporation of new knowledge are combined into a management \n approach that--\n (i) is based on scientific findings and the needs of \n society;\n (ii) treats management actions as experiments;\n (iii) acknowledges the complexity of these systems and \n scientific uncertainty; and\n (iv) uses the resulting new knowledge to modify future \n management methods and policy.\n (B) Clarification.--This paragraph shall not define the \n term ``adaptive ecosystem management'' for the purposes of the \n Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 \n (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.).\n (2) Affected entities.--The term ``affected entities'' \n includes--\n (A) land managers;\n (B) stakeholders;\n (C) concerned citizens; and\n (D) the States of the interior West, including political \n subdivisions of the States.\n (3) Dry forest and woodland ecosystem.--The term ``dry forest \n and woodland ecosystem'' means an ecosystem that is dominated by \n ponderosa pines and associated dry forest and woodland types.\n (4) Institute.--The term ``Institute'' means an Institute \n established under section 5(a).\n (5) Interior west.--The term ``interior West'' means the States \n of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.\n (6) Land manager.--\n (A) In general.--The term ``land manager'' means a person \n or entity that practices or guides natural resource management.\n (B) Inclusions.--The term ``land manager'' includes a \n Federal, State, local, or tribal land management agency.\n (7) Restoration.--The term ``restoration'' means a process \n undertaken to move an ecosystem or habitat toward--\n (A) a sustainable structure of the ecosystem or habitat; or\n (B) a condition that supports a natural complement of \n species, natural function, or ecological process (such as a \n low-intensity fire).\n (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of \n Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.\n (9) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--\n (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief \n of the Forest Service; and\n (B) the Secretary of the Interior.\n (10) Stakeholder.--The term ``stakeholder'' means any person \n interested in or affected by management of forest or woodland \n ecosystems.\n (11) Subdominant trees.--Are trees that occur underneath the \n canopy or extend into the canopy but are smaller and less vigorous \n than dominant trees.\n (12) Overstocked stands.--Where the number of trees per acre \n exceeds the natural carrying capacity of the site.\n (13) Resilience.--The ability of a system to absorb disturbance \n without being pushed into a different, possibly less desirable \n stable state.\n\nSEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF INSTITUTES.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary \nof the Interior, shall--\n (1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this \n Act, establish Institutes to promote the use of adaptive ecosystem \n management to reduce the risk of wildfires, and restore the health \n of forest and woodland ecosystems, in the interior West; and\n (2) provide assistance to the Institutes to promote the use of \n collaborative processes and adaptive ecosystem management in \n accordance with paragraph (1).\n (b) Location.--\n (1) Existing institutes.--The Secretary may designate an \n institute in existence on the date of enactment of this Act to \n serve as an Institute established under this Act.\n (2) States.--Of the Institutes established under this Act, the \n Secretary shall establish 1 Institute in each of--\n (A) the State of Arizona, to be located at Northern Arizona \n University;\n (B) the State of New Mexico, to be located at New Mexico \n Highlands University, while engaging the full resources of the \n consortium of universities represented in the Institute of \n Natural Resource Analysis and Management (INRAM); and\n (C) the State of Colorado.\n (c) Duties.--Each Institute shall--\n (1) develop, conduct research on, transfer, promote, and \n monitor restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments to \n reduce the risk of severe wildfires and improve the health of dry \n forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior West;\n (2) synthesize and adapt scientific findings from conventional \n research to implement restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction \n treatments on a landscape scale using an adaptive ecosystem \n management framework;\n (3) translate for and transfer to affected entities any \n scientific and interdisciplinary knowledge about restoration-based \n hazardous fuel reduction treatments;\n (4) assist affected entities with the design of adaptive \n management approaches (including monitoring) for the implementation \n of restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments; and\n (5) provide peer-reviewed annual reports.\n (d) Qualifications.--Each Institute shall--\n (1) develop and demonstrate capabilities in the natural, \n physical, social, and policy sciences; and\n (2) explicitly integrate those disciplines in the performance \n of the duties listed in subsection (c).\n (e) Cooperation.--Each Institute may cooperate with--\n (1) researchers and cooperative extension programs at colleges, \n community colleges, and universities in the States of Arizona, New \n Mexico, and Colorado that have a demonstrated capability to conduct \n research described in subsection (c); and\n (2) other organizations and entities in the interior West (such \n as the Western Governors' Association).\n (f) Annual Work Plans.--As a condition of the receipt of funds made \navailable under this Act, for each fiscal year, each Institute shall \ndevelop in consultation with the Secretary, for review by the \nSecretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, an \nannual work plan that includes assurances, satisfactory to the \nSecretaries, that the proposed work of the Institute will serve the \ninformational needs of affected entities.\n (g) Establishment of Additional Institutes.--If after 2 years after \nthe date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary finds that the \nInstitute model established at the locations named in subsection (b)(2) \nwould be constructive for other interior West States, the Secretary may \nestablish 1 institute in each of those States.\n\nSEC. 6. COOPERATION BETWEEN INSTITUTES AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.\n\n In carrying out this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the \nSecretary of the Interior--\n (1) to the extent that funds are appropriated for the purpose, \n shall provide financial and technical assistance to the Institutes \n to carry out the duties of the Institutes under section 5;\n (2) shall encourage Federal agencies to use, on a cooperative \n basis, information and expertise provided by the Institutes;\n (3) shall encourage cooperation and coordination between \n Federal programs relating to--\n (A) ecological restoration;\n (B) wildfire risk reduction; and\n (C) wildfire management technologies;\n (4) notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code, \n may--\n (A) enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and \n interagency personnel agreements to carry out this Act; and\n (B) carry out other transactions under this Act;\n (5) may accept funds from other Federal agencies to supplement \n or fully fund grants made, and contracts entered into, by the \n Secretaries;\n (6) may support a program of internships for qualified \n individuals at the undergraduate and graduate levels to carry out \n the educational and training objectives of this Act;\n (7) shall encourage professional education and public \n information activities relating to the purposes of this Act; and\n (8) may promulgate such regulations as the Secretaries \n determine are necessary to carry out this Act.\n\nSEC. 7. MONITORING AND EVALUATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment \nof this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in \nconsultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall complete and \nsubmit to the Committee on Resources and the Committee on Agriculture \nof the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and \nNatural Resources of the Senate a detailed evaluation of the programs \nand activities of each Institute--\n (1) to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the \n research, communication tools, and information transfer activities \n of each Institute are sufficient to achieve the purposes of this \n Act, including--\n (A) implementing active adaptive ecosystem management \n practices at the landscape level;\n (B) reducing unnecessary planning costs;\n (C) avoiding duplicative and conflicting efforts;\n (D) increasing public acceptance of active adaptive \n ecosystem management practices; and\n (E) achieving general satisfaction on the part of affected \n entities;\n (2) to determine the extent to which each Institute has \n implemented its duties under section 5(c); and\n (3) to determine whether continued provision of Federal \n assistance to each Institute is warranted.\n (b) Termination of Assistance.--If, as a result of an evaluation \nunder subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary \nof the Interior, determines that an Institute does not qualify for \nfurther Federal assistance under this Act, the Institute shall receive \nno further Federal assistance under this Act until such time as the \nqualifications of the Institute are reestablished to the satisfaction \nof the Secretaries.\n\nSEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry \nout this Act $15,000,000 for each fiscal year.\n (b) Limitation.--No funds made available under subsection (a) shall \nbe used to pay the costs of constructing any facilities.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 - (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to: (1) establish Institutes to promote the use of adaptive ecosystem management to reduce the risk of wildfires and restore the health of forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior West (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah); and (2) assist the Institutes in promoting the use of collaborative processes and adaptive ecosystems management. Requires, initially, the establishment of three Institutes, with: (1) one in Arizona, at Northern Arizona University; (2) one in New Mexico, at New Mexico Highlands University, while engaging the full resources of the consortium of universities represented in the Institute of Natural Resource Analysis and Management; and (3) one in Colorado.\n\nDefines the term \"adaptive ecosystem management\" to mean a natural resource management process under which planning, implementation, monitoring, research, evaluation, and incorporation of new knowledge are combined into a management approach that: (1) is based on scientific findings and the needs of society; (2) treats management actions as experiments; (3) acknowledges the complexity of these systems and scientific uncertainty; and (4) uses the resulting new knowledge to modify future management methods and policy. Prohibits the definition of such term for the purposes of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. Requires each Institute to: (1) develop, conduct research on, transfer, promote, and monitor restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments to reduce the risk of severe wildfires and improve the health of dry forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior West; (2) synthesize and adapt scientific findings from conventional research to implement such fuel reduction treatments on a landscape scale using an adaptive ecosystem management framework; (3) translate for and transfer to affected entities (land managers, stakeholders, concerned citizens, and States of the interior West) any scientific and interdisciplinary knowledge about such fuel reduction treatments; (4) assist affected entities with the design of adaptive management approaches (including monitoring) for the implementation of such fuel reduction treatments; and (5) provide peer-reviewed annual reports. Requires each Institute to: (1) develop and demonstrate capabilities in the natural, physical, social, and policy sciences, and explicitly integrate those disciplines in the performance of such duties; and (2) develop an annual work plan for review by the Secretary.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary to establish one institute in each of the other interior West States, if after two years, the Secretary finds that the Institute model would be constructive for those States.\n\n(Sec. 6) Provides for cooperation between the Institutes and Federal programs. Encourages cooperation and coordination between Federal programs relating to ecological restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and wildfire management technologies. (Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary to evaluate and report to specified congressional committees every five years on the programs and activities of each Institute. (Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations.", "title": "To establish Institutes to demonstrate and promote the use of adaptive ecosystem management to reduce the risk of wildfires, and restore the health of fire-adapted forest and woodland ecosystems of the interior West."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2833, "text": "SECTION 1. CONVEYANCE OF FT. LYON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS \n MEDICAL CENTER, COLORADO, TO THE STATE OF COLORADO.\n\n (a) Conveyance Authorized.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \nlaw and subject to the provisions of this section, the Secretary of \nVeterans Affairs may convey, without consideration, to the State of \nColorado all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to \na parcel of real property, including improvements thereon other than \nKit Carson Chapel, consisting of approximately 512 acres and comprising \nthe location of the Ft. Lyon Department of Veterans Affairs Medical \nCenter. The purpose of the conveyance is to permit the State of \nColorado to utilize the property for purposes of a correctional \nfacility.\n (b) Public Access.--(1) The Secretary may not make the conveyance \nof real property authorized by subsection (a) unless the State of \nColorado agrees to provide appropriate public access to Kit Carson \nChapel and the cemetery located on the real property.\n (2) The State of Colorado may satisfy the condition specified in \nparagraph (1) with respect to Kit Carson Chapel by relocating the \nchapel to Fort Lyon National Cemetery, Colorado, or another appropriate \nlocation jointly selected by the Secretary and the State of Colorado.\n (c) Replacement Facilities.--The Secretary may not make the \nconveyance authorized by subsection (a) until the date on which the \nSecretary opens not less than three health care facilities, and a \nnursing home care facility, in Veterans Integrated Service Network \n(VISN) 19, which shall serve as replacement facilities for the Ft. Lyon \nDepartment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.\n (d) Environmental Restoration.--The Secretary may not make the \nconveyance authorized by subsection (a) until the Secretary completes \nthe evaluation and performance of any environmental restoration \nactivities required by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, \nCompensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), and \nby any other provision of law.\n (e) Personal Property.--As part of the conveyance authorized by \nsubsection (a), the Secretary may convey, without consideration, to the \nState of Colorado any furniture, fixtures, equipment, and other \npersonal property associated with the property conveyed under that \nsubsection that the Secretary determines is not required for purposes \nof the Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities to be \nestablished by the Secretary in southern Colorado or for purposes of \nFt. Lyon National Cemetery.\n (f) Legal Description.--The exact acreage and legal description of \nthe real property to be conveyed under subsection (a), and of any \nfixtures and other personal property conveyed under subsection (e), \nshall be determined by a survey, and by such other methods, as are \nsatisfactory to the Secretary. Any costs associated with activities \nunder this subsection shall be borne by the State of Colorado.\n (g) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may require \nsuch other terms and conditions in connection with the conveyances \nauthorized by subsections (a) and (e) as the Secretary considers \nappropriate to protect the interests of the United States.\n\nSEC. 2. EFFECT OF CLOSURE OF FT. LYON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS \n MEDICAL CENTER ON ADMINISTRATION OF HEALTH CARE FOR \n VETERANS.\n\n (a) Payment for Nursing Home Care.--Notwithstanding any limitation \nunder section 1720 or 1741 of title 38, United States Code, the \nSecretary of Veterans Affairs may pay the State of Colorado, or any \nprivate nursing home care facility, for costs incurred in providing \nnursing home care to any veteran who is relocated from the Ft. Lyon \nDepartment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Colorado, to the State \nof Colorado or such private facility, as the case may be, as a result \nof the closure of the Ft. Lyon Department of Veterans Affairs Medical \nCenter.\n (b) Obligation To Provide Extended Care Services.--Nothing in this \nAct may be construed to alter or otherwise effect the obligation of the \nSecretary to meet the requirements of section 1710B(b) of title 38, \nUnited States Code, relating to staffing and levels of extended care \nservices in fiscal years after fiscal year 1998.\n (c) Extension of Voluntary Early Retirement Authority.--\nNotwithstanding section 1109(a) of the Department of Veterans Affairs \nEmployment Reduction Assistance Act of 1999 (title XI of Public Law \n106-117; 113 Stat. 1599; 5 U.S.C. 5597 note), the authority to pay \nvoluntary separation incentive payments under that Act to employees of \nthe Ft. Lyon Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center shall apply \nto eligible employees (as defined by section 1110 of that Act) at the \nFt. Lyon Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center whose separation \noccurs before June 30, 2001.\n (d) Report on Veterans Health Care in Southern Colorado.--Not later \nthan one year after the conveyance, if any, authorized by section 1, \nthe Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, \nacting through the Director of Veterans Integrated Service Network \n(VISN) 19, shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the \nSenate and the House of Representatives a report on the status of the \nhealth care system for veterans under the Network in the Southern \nColorado. The report shall describe any improvements to the system in \nSouthern Colorado that have been put into effect in the period \nbeginning on the date of the conveyance and ending on the date of the \nreport.", "summary": "Prohibits the Secretary from making the conveyance unless the State agrees to provide public access to the Chapel and the cemetery located on such property. Permits the State to satisfy such condition respecting the chapel by relocating it to Ft. Lyon National Cemetery, Colorado, or another appropriate location jointly selected by the Secretary and the State.\nProhibits the Secretary from making the conveyance until: (1) the date on which the Secretary opens not less than three health care facilities, and a nursing home care facility, in Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, which shall serve as replacement facilities for the Medical Center; and (2) the Secretary completes required environmental restoration activities.\nAuthorizes the Secretary to pay the State or any private nursing home care facility for costs incurred in providing nursing home care to any veteran who is relocated from the Medical Center as a result of the Medical Center's closure.\nStates that the authority to pay voluntary separation incentive payments under the Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Reduction Assistance Act of 1999 to employees of the Medical Center shall apply to eligible employees whose separation occurs before June 30, 2001.\nRequires the Under Secretary for Health of the Department, acting through the Director of VISN 19, not later than one year after the conveyance, to submit to congressional veterans affairs committees a report on the status of the health care system for veterans under VISN in southern Colorado describing any improvements to such system in southern Colorado that have been put into effect since the date of such conveyance.", "title": "A bill to provide for the conveyance of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Ft. Lyon, Colorado, to the State of Colorado, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 969, "text": "SECTION 1. INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 926A of title 18, United States Code, is \namended to read as follows:\n``Sec. 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms or ammunition\n ``(a) Notwithstanding any provision of any law, rule, or regulation \nof a State or any political subdivision thereof:\n ``(1) A person who is not prohibited by this chapter from \n possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm or \n ammunition shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any \n lawful purpose from any place where the person may lawfully \n possess, carry, or transport the firearm to any other such \n place if, during the transportation, the firearm is unloaded, \n and--\n ``(A) if the transportation is by motor vehicle, \n the firearm is not directly accessible from the \n passenger compartment of the vehicle, and, if the \n vehicle is without a compartment separate from the \n passenger compartment, the firearm is in a locked \n container other than the glove compartment or console, \n or is secured by a secure gun storage or safety device; \n or\n ``(B) if the transportation is by other means, the \n firearm is in a locked container or secured by a secure \n gun storage or safety device.\n ``(2) A person who is not prohibited by this chapter from \n possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm or \n ammunition shall be entitled to transport ammunition, or any \n detachable magazine or feeding device for ammunition, for any \n lawful purpose from any place where the person may lawfully \n possess, carry, or transport the ammunition, magazine, or \n feeding device to any other such place if, during the \n transportation, the ammunition, magazine, or feeding device is \n not loaded into a firearm, and--\n ``(A) if the transportation is by motor vehicle, \n the ammunition, magazine, or feeding device is not \n directly accessible from the passenger compartment of \n the vehicle, and, if the vehicle is without a \n compartment separate from the passenger compartment, \n the ammunition, magazine, or feeding device is in a \n locked container other than the glove compartment or \n console; or\n ``(B) if the transportation is by other means, the \n ammunition, magazine, or feeding device is in a locked \n container.\n ``(b) In subsection (a), the term `transport' includes staying in \ntemporary lodging overnight, stopping for food, fuel, vehicle \nmaintenance, an emergency, medical treatment, and any other activity \nincidental to the transport, but does not include transportation--\n ``(1) with the intent to commit a crime punishable by \n imprisonment for a term exceeding one year that involves the \n use or threatened use of force against another; or\n ``(2) with knowledge, or reasonable cause to believe, that \n such a crime is to be committed in the course of, or arising \n from, the transportation.\n ``(c)(1) A person who is transporting a firearm, ammunition, \nmagazine, or feeding device may not be arrested or otherwise detained \nfor violation of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any \npolitical subdivision thereof related solely to the possession, \ntransportation, or carrying of firearms, ammunition, magazine, or \nfeeding device unless there is probable cause to believe that the \nperson is doing so in a manner not provided for in subsection (a).\n ``(2) When a person asserts this section as a defense in a criminal \nproceeding, the prosecution shall bear the burden of proving, beyond a \nreasonable doubt, that the conduct of the person did not satisfy the \nconditions set forth in subsection (a).\n ``(3) When a person successfully asserts this section as a defense \nin a criminal proceeding, the court shall award the prevailing \ndefendant a reasonable attorney's fee.\n ``(d)(1) A person who is deprived of any right, privilege, or \nimmunity secured by this section, section 926B or 926C, under color of \nany statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage of any State or \nany political subdivision thereof, may bring an action in any \nappropriate court against any other person, including a State or \npolitical subdivision thereof, who causes the person to be subject to \nthe deprivation, for damages and other appropriate relief.\n ``(2) The court shall award a plaintiff prevailing in an action \nbrought under paragraph (1) damages and such other relief as the court \ndeems appropriate, including a reasonable attorney's fee.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such chapter is \namended in the item relating to section 926A by striking ``firearms'' \nand inserting ``firearms or ammunition''.", "summary": "This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise provisions related to the interstate transportation of firearms and ammunition. An individual may transport a firearm between two places (e.g., states) where it is legal to possess, carry, or transport the firearm. During transport, the firearm must be unloaded and secured or securely stored. Additionally, an individual may transport ammunition, or a detachable magazine or feeding device, between two places where it is legal to possess, carry, or transport the ammunition, magazine, or feeding device. During transport, the ammunition, magazine, or feeding device must not be loaded into a firearm and must be securely stored. This bill prohibits the arrest or detention of an individual for a state or local firearm or ammunition violation unless there is probable cause to believe the individual failed to comply with the provisions of this bill.", "title": "To amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to more comprehensively address the interstate transportation of firearms or ammunition."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1221, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Curecanti National Recreation Area \nBoundary Establishment Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Since 1965, the National Park Service has been co-\n managing the Curecanti National Recreation Area under \n agreements with the Bureau of Reclamation.\n (2) The Curecanti National Recreation Area has never been \n legislatively established.\n (3) Public Law 106-76 directed the National Park Service to \n conduct a study to assess the natural, cultural, recreational, \n and scenic resources within and surrounding Curecanti National \n Recreation Area, and to identify and recommend a variety of \n alternatives and tools to protect those resource values and the \n character of the land.\n (4) The Curecanti National Recreation Area includes an \n abundance of natural, historic, and archeological features in a \n setting of canyons, pinnacles, cliffs, and mesas, offering the \n public opportunities for recreation and reflection within its \n scenic landscape.\n (5) The National Park Service, in cooperation with the \n Bureau of Reclamation, completed the Curecanti Resource \n Protection Study/EIS, and prepared a Report to Congress, \n October 2009, which recommends that Congress pass enabling \n legislation for the National Recreation Area.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Map to \n Establish Curecanti National Recreation Area'', numbered 616/\n 100485, and dated March 5, 2010.\n (2) National recreation area.--The term ``national \n recreation area'' means the Curecanti National Recreation Area, \n established in section 4.\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n\nSEC. 4. CURECANTI NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, COLORADO.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established the Curecanti National \nRecreation Area in the State of Colorado, as a unit of the National \nPark System, consisting of approximately 51,830 acres, as generally \ndepicted on the map.\n (b) Conservation Opportunity Area.--There is established a \nconservation opportunity area, consisting of approximately 24,300 \nacres, as generally depicted on the map.\n (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and available \nfor public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park \nService.\n\nSEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer the national \nrecreation area in accordance with this Act, the cooperative agreements \ndescribed in this section, and with laws and regulations generally \napplicable to units of the National Park System, including the National \nPark Service Organic Act (39 Stat. 535, 16 U.S.C. 1).\n (b) Dam, Power Plant, and Reservoir Management and Operations.--\nNothing in this Act shall affect or interfere with the authority of the \nSecretary under--\n (1) the National Reclamation Act (Public Law 57-161; Stat. \n 388), as amended and supplemented, to operate the Uncompahgre \n Valley Reclamation Project; or\n (2) Public Law 84-485, as amended and supplemented, to \n operate the Wayne N. Aspinall Unit of the Colorado River \n Storage Project.\n (c) Cooperative Agreements.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into, or modify \n existing, management agreements involving the National Park \n Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land \n Management, or the Forest Service to manage Federal lands \n within the boundary of the national recreation area.\n (2) State lands.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative \n management agreements for any lands administered by the State \n of Colorado that are within or adjacent to the national \n recreation area, pursuant to the cooperative management \n authority found in section 802(a) of the National Parks Omnibus \n Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-391).\n (d) Recreational Activities.--The Secretary shall allow boating, \nboating-related activities, hunting, and fishing within the national \nrecreation area in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws. \nThe Secretary may designate zones where, and establish periods when, no \nboating, hunting, or fishing shall be permitted for reasons of public \nsafety.\n (e) Conservation Opportunity Area.--Within the boundaries of the \nconservation opportunity area established under this Act, the Secretary \nis authorized to acquire lands, or interests in lands, including \nconservation easements from willing sellers, and to provide technical \nassistance to landowners in order to conserve resources and values \nidentified as important to the national recreation area on lands that \nare outside but adjacent to the national recreation area.\n (f) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal \nlands within the national recreation area are withdrawn from all forms \nof entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; from \nlocation, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and from disposition \nunder all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing, and all \namendments thereto.\n (g) Grazing.--\n (1) State or private lands.--On State or private lands \n acquired for the national recreation area on which authorized \n grazing is occurring on the date of enactment of this Act, the \n Secretary, in consultation with the lessee, may allow the \n continuation of grazing on the land by the lessee at the time \n of acquisition, subject to applicable law (including \n regulations).\n (2) Federal land.--Where grazing is allowed on land that is \n Federal land on the date of the enactment of this section and \n is located within the boundary of the national recreation area, \n the Secretary is authorized to allow the continuation of such \n grazing unless the Secretary determines that grazing would harm \n the resources or values of the national recreation area.\n (3) Termination of leases.--Nothing in this section shall \n prohibit the Secretary from accepting the voluntary termination \n of leases or permits for grazing within the national recreation \n area.\n\nSEC. 6. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND BOUNDARY MANAGEMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to acquire from \nwilling sellers lands, or interests in lands, within the boundary of \nthe national recreation area or the conservation opportunity area \nnecessary for effective management of the national recreation area. \nLands acquired within the conservation opportunity area shall be added \nto the national recreation area and the boundary of the national \nrecreation area shall be adjusted accordingly.\n (b) Acquisition.--Lands identified in subsection (a) may be \nacquired by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, \ntransfer from another Federal agency, or exchange. Lands or interests \nin lands owned by the State of Colorado, or a political subdivision \nthereof, may only be acquired by donation or exchange.\n (c) Exchanges.--For purposes of management efficiency and expanded \nrecreational opportunities, the Secretary is authorized to conduct land \nexchanges with the Secretary of Agriculture and between the National \nPark Service and the Bureau of Land Management.\n (d) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.--The Secretary of \nAgriculture and the Bureau of Land Management shall transfer, without \nconsideration, administrative jurisdiction for lands to be added to the \nnational recreation area, as shown on the map, to the National Park \nService. The boundary of the Gunnison National Forest shall be modified \nto reflect the transfer of administrative jurisdiction from the \nSecretary of Agriculture.\n\nSEC. 7. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which \nfunds are made available to carry out this Act, the National Park \nService, in consultation with the Bureau of Reclamation, shall prepare \na general management plan for the national recreation area.\n (b) Inclusions.--The general management plan shall include, at a \nminimum--\n (1) measures for the preservation of the resources of the \n national recreation area;\n (2) requirements for the type and extent of development and \n use of the national recreation area;\n (3) identification of visitor carrying capacities for the \n national recreation area; and\n (4) opportunities for involvement by the Bureau of \n Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, \n the State of Colorado, and other local and national entities in \n the formulation of educational and recreational programs for \n the national recreation area and for developing and supporting \n the national recreation area.", "summary": "Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary Establishment Act of 2010 - Establishes a boundary for the Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado and designates it as a unit of the National Park System.\n\nEstablishes a conservation opportunity area within the Recreation Area.\n\nWithdraws all federal lands within the Recreation Area from specified public land, mining, and mineral and geothermal leasing laws.\n\nRequires the National Park Service (NPS) to develop a general management plan for the Recreation Area.", "title": "To establish the boundary of the Curecanti National Recreation Area, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 739, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``African Free Trade Initiative Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES.\n\n (a) Plan Requirements and Reporting.--Section 116 of the African \nGrowth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3723) is amended by striking \nsubsections (b) and (c) and inserting the following:\n ``(b) Plan Requirement.--\n ``(1) In general.--The President shall develop a plan for \n the purpose of negotiating and entering into one or more free \n trade agreements with all sub-Saharan African countries. The \n plan shall identify the 15 countries or groups of countries \n that are most ready for a free trade agreement with the United \n States.\n ``(2) Elements of plan.--The plan required by paragraph (1) \n shall include, for each sub-Saharan African country, the \n following:\n ``(A) The steps such sub-Saharan African country \n needs to be equipped and ready to enter into a free \n trade agreement with the United States, including the \n development of a bilateral investment treaty.\n ``(B) Milestones for accomplishing each step \n identified in subparagraph (A) for each sub-Saharan \n African country, with the goal of establishing a free \n trade agreement with each sub-Saharan African country \n not later than 10 years after the date of the enactment \n of the African Free Trade Initiative Act.\n ``(C) A description of the resources required to \n assist each sub-Saharan African country in \n accomplishing each milestone described in subparagraph \n (B).\n ``(D) The extent to which steps described in \n subparagraph (A), the milestones described in \n subparagraph (B), and resources described in \n subparagraph (C) may be accomplished through regional \n or subregional organizations in sub-Saharan Africa, \n including the East African Community, the Economic \n Community of West African States, the Common Market for \n Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Economic Community \n of Central African States.\n ``(E) Procedures to ensure the following:\n ``(i) Adequate consultation with Congress \n and the private sector during the negotiations.\n ``(ii) Consultation with Congress regarding \n all matters relating to implementation of the \n agreement or agreements.\n ``(iii) Approval by Congress of the \n agreement or agreements.\n ``(iv) Adequate consultations with the \n relevant African governments and African \n regional and subregional intergovernmental \n organizations during the negotiation of the \n agreement or agreements.\n ``(c) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 12 months after the \ndate of the enactment of the African Free Trade Initiative Act, the \nPresident shall prepare and transmit to Congress a report containing \nthe plan developed pursuant to subsection (b).''.\n (b) Millennium Challenge Compacts.--After the date of the enactment \nof this Act, the United States Trade Representative and Administrator \nof the United States Agency for International Development shall consult \nand coordinate with the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium \nChallenge Corporation regarding countries that have entered into a \nMillennium Challenge Compact pursuant to section 609 of the Millennium \nChallenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7708) that have been declared eligible \nto enter into such a Compact for the purpose of developing and carrying \nout the plan required by subsection (b) of section 116 of the African \nGrowth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3723), as amended by subsection \n(a).\n\nSEC. 3. COORDINATION OF USAID WITH FREE TRADE AGREEMENT POLICY.\n\n (a) Authorization of Funds.--Funds made available after the date of \nenactment of this Act to the United States Agency for International \nDevelopment under section 496 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 \nU.S.C. 2293) may be used in consultation with the United States Trade \nRepresentative--\n (1) to carry out subsection (b) of section 116 of the \n African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3723), as amended \n by section 2(a), including for the deployment of resources in \n individual eligible countries to assist such country in the \n development of institutional capacities to carry out such \n subsection (b); and\n (2) to coordinate the efforts of the United States to \n establish free trade agreements in accordance with the policy \n set out in subsection (a) of such section 116.\n (b) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Eligible country.--The term ``eligible country'' means \n a sub-Saharan African country that receives--\n (A) benefits under the African Growth and \n Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.); and\n (B) funding from the United States Agency for \n International Development.\n (2) Sub-saharan african country.--The term ``sub-Saharan \n African country'' has the meaning given that term in section \n 107 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3706).", "summary": "African Free Trade Initiative Act This bill amends the African Growth and Opportunity Act to revise certain plan and reporting requirements relating to the President's negotiating and entering into free trade agreements with interested beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. The President shall develop a plan for negotiating and entering into one or more free trade agreements with 15 of the sub-Saharan African countries that are most ready for a free trade agreement with the United States. The United States Trade Representative and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) shall coordinate with the Millennium Challenge Corporation regarding countries with shared development objectives that have entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact in order to develop and carry out such plans. USAID long-term development assistance funds for sub-Saharan Africa may be used to: carry out plans, including deployment of resources in individual eligible sub-Saharan African countries to assist them in the development of institutional capacities to carry out those plans; and coordinate U.S. efforts to establish free trade agreements in order to increase trade between the United States and sub-Saharan African countries, as well as investment in those countries. ", "title": "African Free Trade Initiative Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2173, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Head Start Improvement Act of \n2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS.\n\n The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended to read as \nfollows:\n\n``SEC. 635. SHORT TITLE.\n\n ``This subchapter may be cited as the `Head Start Act'.\n\n``SEC. 636. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.\n\n ``It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote the school \nreadiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, \nand emotional development in a learning environment that supports \nchildren's growth in language, literacy, mathematics, science, social \nand emotional functioning, creative arts, physical skills, and \napproaches to learning.\n\n``SEC. 637. DEFINITIONS.\n\n ``For purposes of this subchapter:\n ``(1) Delegate agency.--The term `delegate agency' means a \n public, private nonprofit (including a community-based \n organization, as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and \n Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)), or for-\n profit organization or agency to which an eligible entity has \n delegated all or part of the responsibility of the grantee for \n administering funds under this subchapter.\n ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means \n the recipient of a subgrant under section 639(d)(3)(A).\n ``(3) Financial assistance.--The term `financial \n assistance' includes assistance provided by grant, agreement, \n or contract, and payments may be made in installments and in \n advance or by way of reimbursement with necessary adjustments \n on account of overpayments or underpayments.\n ``(4) Grant recipient.--The term `grant recipient' means \n the recipient of a grant under section 639(a).\n ``(5) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' means any \n tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or \n community of Indians, including any Native village described in \n section 3(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 \n U.S.C. 1602(c)) or established pursuant to such Act (43 U.S.C. \n 1601 et seq.), that is recognized as eligible for the special \n programs and services provided by the United States to Indians \n because of their status as Indians.\n ``(6) Local educational agency.--The term `local \n educational agency' has the meaning given such term in section \n 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 \n U.S.C. 7801).\n ``(7) Low-income child.--The term `low-income child' means \n a child who is age 5 or younger, and is from a family with an \n income below 100 percent of the poverty line for the most \n recent fiscal year for which satisfactory data are available.\n ``(8) Poverty line.--The term `poverty line' means the \n official poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management \n and Budget)--\n ``(A) adjusted to reflect the percentage change in \n the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers, \n issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occurring in \n the 1-year period or other interval immediately \n preceding the date such adjustment is made; and\n ``(B) adjusted for family size.\n ``(9) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary \n of Health and Human Services.\n ``(10) State.--The term `State' means a State, the \n Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, \n American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and \n the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The term \n includes the Republic of Palau, except during any period for \n which a Compact of Free Association is in effect, contains \n provisions for early childhood education or development, and \n prohibits the assistance provided under this subchapter.\n\n``SEC. 638. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this \nsubchapter $8,598,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020.\n\n``SEC. 639. BLOCK GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE STATES AND INDIAN TRIBES.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this \nsubchapter, beginning on October 1 of the first fiscal year following \nthe date of enactment of the Head Start Improvement Act of 2015, from \nthe amounts appropriated to carry out this subchapter under section 638 \nfor a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible States \nand Indian tribes from allotments made under subsection (b) in \naccordance with this section.\n ``(b) Allotments.--\n ``(1) Formula.--The Secretary shall allot the amount \n appropriated under section 638 for a fiscal year among the \n eligible States and Indian tribes in proportion to the number \n of children, age 5 and younger, who are from families with \n incomes below 100 percent of the poverty line for the most \n recent fiscal year for which satisfactory data are available \n and who are in an eligible State or Indian tribe, compared to \n the number of such children for that fiscal year who are in all \n eligible States or Indian tribes.\n ``(2) Calculation.--For purposes of counting the number of \n children who are in an eligible State under paragraph (1), the \n children who are counted in an eligible Indian tribe in that \n State shall be excluded.\n ``(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this \nsection, a State or Indian tribe shall submit an application to the \nSecretary that includes the number of low-income children in the State \nor Indian tribe.\n ``(d) Use of Funds.--\n ``(1) In general.--A grant recipient under this section \n shall use 100 percent of the grant funds--\n ``(A) for prekindergarten education programs in the \n State or Indian tribe involved;\n ``(B) for the administration of the programs \n described in subparagraph (A); and\n ``(C) to provide direct technical assistance, \n oversight, monitoring, research, and training with \n respect to the programs described in subparagraph (A).\n ``(2) Certification.--The Governor, or other chief \n executive, of each grant recipient shall certify that all grant \n funds received under this section will be used to directly or \n indirectly provide comprehensive education and related services \n to low-income children and their families.\n ``(3) Grant recipient responsibilities.--A grant recipient \n shall--\n ``(A) award subgrants to eligible entities (as \n defined by the grant recipient) to enable such entities \n to provide, directly or through a delegate agency, \n prekindergarten education programs in the State or \n Indian tribe involved;\n ``(B) establish rules and standards for the \n entities awarded subgrants under subparagraph (A); and\n ``(C) monitor compliance by entities awarded \n subgrants under subparagraph (A).\n ``(4) Flexibility.--Notwithstanding any other provision of \n Federal law (other than this section)--\n ``(A) a grant recipient shall have full flexibility \n to use grant funds to finance a prekindergarten \n education provider, service, or program; and\n ``(B) in particular, to the extent permitted under \n State law, may use the grant funds to establish a \n portable voucher system that allows a parent of a low-\n income child to use a portion of the grant funds, other \n available public funds, or private funds to pay some or \n all of the costs of attendance at a private \n prekindergarten education program.\n ``(5) Members of indian tribes.--A member of an Indian \n tribe who is eligible to receive services pursuant to a program \n funded under this section may elect to receive such services \n from any eligible entity for the State or Indian tribe in which \n the member resides.\n ``(e) Matching Funds.--A grant recipient shall provide matching \nfunds from non-Federal sources equal to 20 percent of the amount of the \ngrant to carry out the activities described in this section.\n ``(f) Administrative Costs.--No eligible entity that receives a \nsubgrant to provide a program under this subchapter shall use more than \n15 percent of the subgrant funds for the administrative costs of the \nprogram.\n\n``SEC. 640. LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE.\n\n ``Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to require a grant \nrecipient to establish a publicly funded program of early childhood \neducation and development, or to require any child to participate in \nsuch a publicly funded program, including a preschool program funded by \na grant recipient, or to participate in any initial screening (other \nthan a health screening) before participating in a publicly funded \nprogram of early childhood education and development, except as \nprovided under sections 612(a)(3) and 635(a)(5) of the Individuals with \nDisabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3), 1435(a)(5)).\n\n``SEC. 641. GOALS; MONITORING.\n\n ``(a) Self-Assessments.--Not less frequently than once each program \nyear, each grant recipient shall conduct a comprehensive self-\nassessment of the effectiveness and progress of the grant recipient's \nprogram under this subchapter in meeting program goals established by \nthe grant recipient. The self-assessment shall include a determination \nof the number of low-income children served by the program carried out \nby the grant recipient under this subchapter.\n ``(b) Reports.--The grant recipient shall develop, and make \navailable to the public, an online and searchable report containing the \nself-assessment, and an improvement plan to strengthen any areas \nidentified in the self-assessment as weaknesses or in need of \nimprovement. The report shall include the number of low-income children \nserved by the program carried out by the grant recipient under this \nsubchapter.\n ``(c) Ongoing Monitoring.--Each grant recipient shall establish and \nimplement procedures for the ongoing monitoring of their respective \nprograms, to ensure that the operations of the programs work toward \nmeeting the program goals.\n\n``SEC. 642. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS.\n\n ``Each grant recipient shall make available to the public a report \npublished online at least once in each fiscal year that discloses the \nfollowing information, from the most recently concluded fiscal year, \nexcept that reporting such information shall not reveal personally \nidentifiable information about an individual child or parent:\n ``(1) The total amount of public and private funds received \n and the amount from each source.\n ``(2) An explanation of budgetary expenditures and proposed \n budget for the fiscal year.\n ``(3) The total number of children and families served, the \n average monthly enrollment (as a percentage of funded \n enrollment), and the percentage of eligible children served.\n ``(4) The results of the most recent self-assessment under \n section 641.\n ``(5) Information about parent involvement activities.\n ``(6) Information about the grant recipient's efforts to \n prepare children for kindergarten.\n\n``SEC. 643. RECORDS.\n\n ``Each recipient of financial assistance under this subchapter \nshall keep records, including records which fully disclose the amount \nand disposition by such recipient of the proceeds of such financial \nassistance, the total cost of the program or activity in connection \nwith which such financial assistance is given or used, and the amount \nof that portion of the cost of the program or activity supplied by \nother sources.\n\n``SEC. 644. RESEARCH.\n\n ``(a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall \nconduct a study--\n ``(1) of the different approaches and best practices used \n by States and Indian tribes in carrying out the program under \n this subchapter; and\n ``(2) that is limited to the information provided in the \n online reports made available by grant recipients under \n sections 641 and 642.\n ``(b) Report.--Not later than October 1 of the fourth fiscal year \nafter the date of enactment referred to in section 639(a), the \nComptroller General shall submit a report containing the results of the \nstudy to the appropriate committees of Congress.\n\n``SEC. 645. NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS.\n\n ``No grant recipient shall provide financial assistance for any \nprogram or activity under this subchapter unless the grant or contract \nrelating to the financial assistance specifically provides that no \nperson with responsibilities in the operation of the program or \nactivity will discriminate with respect to any such program or activity \nbecause of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, political \naffiliation, or beliefs, or because of a disability in violation of \nsection 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794).\n\n``SEC. 646. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.\n\n ``(a) Restrictions.--A program assisted under this subchapter, and \nany individual employed by, or assigned to or in, a program assisted \nunder this subchapter (during the hours in which such individual is \nworking on behalf of such program), shall not engage in--\n ``(1) any partisan or nonpartisan political activity or any \n other political activity associated with a candidate, or \n contending faction or group, in an election for public or party \n office;\n ``(2) any activity to provide voters or prospective voters \n with transportation to the polls or similar assistance in \n connection with any such election; or\n ``(3) assisting, promoting, or deterring union \n organization.\n ``(b) Registration.--No funds appropriated under this subchapter \nmay be used to conduct voter registration activities. Nothing in this \nsubchapter prohibits the availability of Head Start facilities during \nhours of operation for the use of any nonpartisan organization to \nincrease the number of eligible citizens who register to vote in \nelections for Federal office.\n\n``SEC. 647. ADVANCE FUNDING.\n\n ``For the purpose of affording adequate notice of funding available \nunder this subchapter, appropriations for carrying out this subchapter \nare authorized to be included in an appropriation Act for the fiscal \nyear preceding the fiscal year for which they are available for \nobligation.\n\n``SEC. 648. GENERAL PROVISIONS.\n\n ``(a) Limitation.--Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to \nauthorize or permit the Secretary or any employee or contractor of the \nDepartment of Health and Human Services to mandate, direct, or control, \nthe selection of a curriculum, a program of instruction, or \ninstructional materials, for a Head Start program carried out by an \neligible entity.\n ``(b) Special Rule.--Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed \nto authorize an eligible entity carrying out a program or activity or a \nlocal educational agency to require the other to select or implement a \nspecific curriculum or program of instruction.''.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendment made by this Act shall apply beginning on October 1 \nof the first fiscal year following the date of enactment of the \nImprovement Act of 2015.", "summary": "Head Start Improvement Act of 2015 This bill amends the Head Start Act to replace the existing Head Start program with block grants to states and Indian tribes for prekindergarten (pre-K) education. Instead of providing direct financial assistance to Head Start agencies, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall allot block grant funds for pre-K education among eligible states and Indian tribes in accordance with their relative proportions of children, age five and younger, from low-income households. Grant recipients shall use the grant funds to: (1) award subgrants to eligible entities that provide pre-K education programs; (2) administer such programs; and (3) provide technical assistance, oversight, monitoring, research, and training. Under current law, HHS is authorized to designate, monitor, and establish standards for Head Start agencies. The bill instead shifts pre-K program oversight and control to states and Indian tribes, which shall have full flexibility to use grant funds to finance the pre-K programs of their choice. In addition, grant recipients may use grant funds to establish portable voucher systems that allow costs to be paid for attendance at private pre-K education programs. Under current law, federal financial assistance for a Head Start program is generally limited to 80% of total program costs. The bill maintains this limitation by requiring grant recipients to provide matching funds equal to 20% of the grant amount.", "title": "Head Start Improvement Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2322, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Park Centennial Fund Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the National Park \n Centennial Fund established under section 3.\n (2) In-kind.--The term ``in-kind'' means the fair market \n value of non-cash contributions provided by non-Federal \n partners, which may be in the form of real property, equipment, \n supplies and other expendable property, as well as other goods \n and services.\n (3) Project or program.--The term ``Project or program'' \n means a National Park Centennial Project or Program funded \n pursuant to this Act.\n (4) Proposal.--The term ``Proposal'' means a National Park \n Centennial Proposal submitted pursuant to section 4.\n (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n\nSEC. 3. NATIONAL PARK CENTENNIAL FUND.\n\n There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund \nwhich shall be known as the National Park Centennial Fund. In each \nfiscal year from fiscal year 2009 through fiscal year 2018, the \nSecretary of the Treasury shall deposit into the Fund, from the general \ntreasury, $30,000,000 each fiscal year.\n\nSEC. 4. PROGRAM ALLOCATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Each fiscal year, the President's annual budget \nsubmission for the Department of the Interior shall include a list of \nproposals which shall be known as National Park Centennial Proposals. \nThe Secretary shall establish a standard process for developing the \nlist that shall encourage input from both the public and a broad cross-\nsection of employees at every level of the National Park Service. The \nlist--\n (1) shall include proposals having an aggregate cost to the \n Federal Government equal to the unobligated amount in the Fund;\n (2) shall include only proposals consistent with National \n Park Service policies and adopted park planning documents;\n (3) may include proposals for any area within the national \n park system (as that term is defined in section 2 of the Act of \n August 8, 1953 (16 U.S.C. 1c)), clusters of areas within such \n system, a region or regions of such system, or such system in \n its entirety;\n (4) shall cumulatively represent a nationwide array of \n proposals that is diverse geographically, in size, scope, \n magnitude, theme, and variety under the initiatives described \n in subsection (b);\n (5) shall give priority to proposals demonstrating long-\n term viability beyond receipts from the Fund;\n (6) shall include only proposals meeting the requirements \n of one or more of the initiatives set forth in subsection (b);\n (7) must contain proposals under each of the initiatives \n set forth in subsection (b); and\n (8) shall give priority to proposals with committed, \n nonfederal support but shall also include proposals funded \n entirely by the Fund.\n (b) National Park Centennial Initiatives.--The requirements \nreferred to in subsection (a)(6) are as follows:\n (1) Education in parks centennial initiative.--Proposals \n for the ``Education in Parks Centennial Initiative'' shall meet \n the following requirements:\n (A) Priority shall be given to proposals designed \n to increase National Park-based educational \n opportunities for elementary, secondary and college \n students particularly those from populations \n historically under represented among visitors to the \n National Park System.\n (B) Priority shall be given to proposals designed \n to bring students into the National Park System in \n person.\n (C) Proposals should include strategies for \n encouraging young people to become lifelong advocates \n for National Parks.\n (D) Proposals shall be developed in consultation \n with the leadership of educational and youth \n organizations expected to participate in the proposed \n initiative.\n (2) Diversity in parks centennial initiative.--\n (A) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of \n the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit \n to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of \n Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural \n Resources of the Senate a report detailing a service-\n wide strategy for increasing diversity among National \n Park Service employees at all levels and visitors to \n the National Park System.\n (B) Proposals.--Proposals for the ``Diversity in \n Parks Centennial Initiative'' shall meet the following \n requirements:\n (i) Each proposal shall be based on \n recommendations contained in the report \n required in subparagraph (A).\n (ii) Each proposal shall be designed to \n make National Park Service employees, visitors \n to the National Park System, or both, reflect \n the diversity of the population of the United \n States.\n (3) Supporting park professionals centennial initiative.--\n Proposals for the ``Supporting Park Professionals Centennial \n Initiative'' shall meet the following requirements:\n (A) Taken as a whole, proposals shall provide \n specific opportunities for National Park Service \n employees, at all levels, to participate in \n professional career development.\n (B) Proposals may include National Park Service-\n designed, internal professional development programs.\n (C) Proposals may also be designed to facilitate \n participation in external professional development \n programs or established courses of study by National \n Park Service employees.\n (4) Environmental leadership centennial initiative.--\n Proposals for the ``Environmental Leadership Centennial \n Initiative'' shall meet the following requirements:\n (A) Each proposal shall be designed to do one or \n more of the following:\n (i) Reduce harmful emissions.\n (ii) Conserve energy or water resources.\n (iii) Reduce solid waste production within \n the National Park System.\n (B) Each proposal shall include strategies for \n educating the public regarding Environmental Leadership \n projects and their results.\n (C) Priority shall be given to proposals with the \n potential to spread technological advances to other \n Federal agencies or to the private sector.\n (5) Natural resource protection centennial initiative.--\n Proposals for the ``Natural Resource Protection Centennial \n Initiative'' shall meet the following requirements:\n (A) Each proposal shall be designed to restore or \n conserve native ecosystems within the National Park \n System.\n (B) Priority shall be given to proposals designed \n to control invasive species.\n (C) Each proposal shall be based on the best \n available scientific information.\n (6) Cultural resource protection centennial initiative.--\n Proposals for the ``Cultural Resource Protection Centennial \n Initiative'' shall--\n (A) either--\n (i) increase the National Park Service's \n knowledge of cultural resources located within \n the National Park System through means \n including, but not limited to, surveys, \n studies, mapping, and documentation of such \n resources; or\n (ii) improve the condition of documented \n cultural resources within the National Park \n System;\n (B) incorporate the best available scientific \n information; and\n (C) where appropriate, be developed in consultation \n with Native American tribes, State historic \n preservation offices, or other organizations with \n cultural resource preservation expertise.\n (7) Health and fitness in parks centennial initiative.--\n (A) In general.--Proposals for the ``Health and \n Fitness in Parks Centennial Initiative'' shall fall \n into one or more of the following four categories:\n (i) Proposals designed to repair, \n rehabilitate, or otherwise improve \n infrastructure, including trails, that \n facilitates healthy outdoor activity within the \n National Park System.\n (ii) Proposals designed to expand \n opportunities for access to the National Park \n System for visitors with disabilities.\n (iii) Proposals to develop and implement \n management plans (such as climbing plans and \n trail system plans) for activities designed to \n increase the health and fitness of visitors to \n the National Park System.\n (iv) Proposals to develop outreach programs \n and media that provide public information \n regarding health and fitness opportunities \n within the National Park System.\n (B) Miscellaneous requirements.--All proposals for \n ``the Health and Fitness in Parks Centennial \n Initiative'' shall--\n (i) be consistent with National Park \n Service policies and adopted park planning \n documents; and\n (ii) be designed to provide for visitor \n enjoyment in such a way as to leave the \n National Park System unimpaired for future \n generations.\n (c) Funding.--In each of fiscal years 2009 through 2018, \nunobligated amounts in the Fund shall be available without further \nappropriation for projects authorized by this Act, but may not be \nobligated or expended until 120 days after the annual submission of the \nlist of proposals required under this section to allow for \nCongressional review.\n (d) Limitation on Distribution of Funds.--No more than 30 percent \nof amounts available from the Fund for any fiscal year may be spent on \nprojects that are for the construction of facilities that cost in \nexcess of $5,000,000.\n\nSEC. 5. PARTNERSHIPS.\n\n (a) Donations.--The Secretary may actively encourage and facilitate \nparticipation in proposals from non-Federal and philanthropic partners, \nand may accept donations, both monetary and in-kind for any Project or \nProgram pursuant to section 1 of the Act of June 5, 1920 (16 U.S.C. 6), \nand other authorities to accept donations existing on the date of \nenactment of this Act.\n (b) Terms and Conditions.--To the extent that private organizations \nor individuals are to participate in or contribute to any Project or \nProgram, the terms and conditions of that participation or contribution \nas well as all actions of employees of the National Park Service, shall \nbe governed by National Park Service Directors Order #21, ``Donations \nand Fundraising'', as in force on the date of the enactment of this \nAct.\n\nSEC. 6. MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.\n\n Amounts made available from the Fund shall supplement rather than \nreplace annual expenditures by the National Park Service, including \nauthorized expenditures from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and \nthe National Park Service Line Item Construction Program. The National \nPark Service shall maintain adequate, permanent staffing levels and \npermanent staff shall not be replaced with nonpermanent employees hired \nto carry out this Act or Projects or Programs carried out with funds \nprovided under this Act.\n\nSEC. 7. REPORTS.\n\n For each fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2009, the Secretary \nshall submit to Congress a report that includes the following:\n (1) A detailed accounting of all expenditures from the Fund \n divided by categories of proposals under section 4(b), \n including a detailed accounting of any private contributions, \n either in funds or in kind, to any Project or Program.\n (2) A cumulative summary of the results of the National \n Park Centennial program including recommendations for revisions \n to the program.\n (3) A statement of whether the National Park Service has \n maintained adequate, permanent staffing levels and what \n nonpermanent and permanent staff have been hired to carry out \n this Act or Projects or Programs carried out with funds \n provided under this Act.\n\nSEC. 8. REPEAL OF LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND CONTRACT AUTHORITY.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 9 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund \nAct of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-10a) is hereby repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act \nof 1965 is amended by redesignating sections 10 through 13 (16 U.S.C. \n460l-10b through 460l-10e) as sections 9 through 12, respectively.", "summary": "National Park Centennial Fund Act - (Sec. 3) Establishes in the Treasury the National Park Centennial Fund, into which there shall be deposited from the general treasury $30 million for each fiscal year from FY2009 through FY2018.\n\n(Sec. 4) Requires the President's annual budget submission for the Department of the Interior to include a list of National Park Centennial Proposals. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a standard process for the development of the list which shall encourage input from both the public and a broad cross-section of employees at every level of the National Park Service (NPS). Requires the list to, among other things: (1) give priority to proposals demonstrating long-term viability beyond receipts from the Fund; (2) contain proposals under each of the initiatives set forth in this Act; and (3) give priority to proposals with committed, nonfederal support, but to also include proposals funded entirely by the Fund.\n\nSpecifies that the list include proposals that meet the requirements of one or more of : (1) an Education in Parks Centennial Initiative; (2) a Diversity in Parks Centennial Initiative; (3) a Supporting Park Professionals Centennial Initiative; (4) an Environmental Leadership Centennial Initiative; (5) a Natural Resource Protection Centennial Initiative; (6) a Cultural Resource Protection Centennial Initiative; and (7) a Health and Fitness in Parks Centennial Initiative.\n\nRequires, with respect to the Diversity in Parks Centennial Initiative, submission of a report detailing a service-wide strategy for increasing diversity among NPS employees at all levels and visitors to the National Park System.\n\nMakes, from FY2009-FY2018, unobligated amounts in the Fund available for projects authorized by this Act, but bars such amounts from being obligated or expended until 120 days after the annual submission of the list of proposals to allow for congressional review.\n\nProhibits more than 30% of amounts available from the Fund for any fiscal year from being spent on projects that are for the construction of facilities the cost of which exceeds $5 million.\n\n(Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to encourage and facilitate participation in proposals from non-federal and philanthropic partners, and to accept donations.\n\n(Sec. 6) States that amounts made available from the Fund shall supplement rather than replace annual expenditures by the NPS. Requires the NPS to maintain adequate, permanent staffing levels and prohibits the replacement of permanent staff with nonpermanent employees hired to carry out this Act.\n\n(Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress a report that includes: (1) an accounting of expenditures from the Fund; (2) a cumulative summary of the results of the National Park Centennial program; and (3) a statement of whether the NPS has maintained adequate, permanent staffing levels and what nonpermanent and permanent staff have been hired to carry out this Act.\n\n(Sec. 8) Repeals requirements under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 permitting the obligation of up to $30 million during each fiscal year for the acquisition of lands, waters, or interests in the National Park System for recreation purposes.", "title": "To establish in the Treasury of the United States a fund which shall be known as the National Park Centennial Fund, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1861, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Seniors Real Property Tax Relief Act \nof 1998''.\n\nSEC. 2. ALLOWANCE OF DEDUCTION FOR STATE AND LOCAL REAL PROPERTY TAXES \n TO CERTAIN SENIORS WHO DO NOT ITEMIZE THEIR DEDUCTIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 62 of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to definition of adjusted gross income) \nis amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(18) Real property taxes of eligible senior taxpayers.--\n ``(A) In general.--In the case of an eligible \n senior taxpayer, the deduction for State and local real \n property taxes (within the meaning of section 164).\n ``(B) Limitation.--Subparagraph (A) shall apply \n only to the portion of State and local real property \n taxes which exceeds the aggregate amount distributed \n for the taxable year from the senior citizen real \n property tax account (as defined by section 222). The \n preceding sentence shall not apply to a distribution \n described in paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of section \n 222(e).\n ``(C) Eligible senior taxpayer defined.--For \n purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `eligible senior \n taxpayer' means a taxpayer--\n ``(i) who is not married or is married \n filing a separate return and--\n ``(I) who has attained age 65 \n before the close of his taxable year, \n and\n ``(II) whose modified adjusted \n gross income for such taxable year does \n not exceed $30,000, or\n ``(ii) who is filing a joint return or is a \n surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a)) \n and--\n ``(I) with respect to whom 1 of the \n spouses has attained age 65 before the \n close of the taxpayer's taxable year, \n and\n ``(II) whose modified adjusted \n gross income for such taxable year does \n not exceed $60,000.\n ``(D) Modified adjusted gross income.--For purposes \n of subparagraph (C), the term `modified adjusted gross \n income' means the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer \n for the taxable year determined--\n ``(i) without regard to sections 911, 931, \n and 933, and\n ``(ii) after the application of sections \n 86, 469, 219, 220, and 222.\n ``(E) Inflation adjustment.--\n ``(i) In general.--In the case of a taxable \n year beginning after December 31, 1999, each of \n the dollar amounts in subparagraphs (C)(i)(II) \n and (C)(ii)(II) shall be increased by an amount \n equal to--\n ``(I) such dollar amount, \n multiplied by\n ``(II) the cost-of-living \n adjustment determined under section \n 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which \n the taxable year begins, determined by \n substituting `calendar year 1998' for \n `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph \n (B) thereof.\n ``(ii) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted \n under clause (i) is not a multiple of $100 such \n amount shall be rounded to the next lowest \n multiple of $100.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n\nSEC. 3. SENIOR CITIZEN REAL PROPERTY TAX ACCOUNTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized \ndeductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 222 as \nsection 223 and by inserting after section 221 the following new \nsection:\n\n``SEC. 222. SENIOR CITIZEN REAL PROPERTY TAX ACCOUNTS.\n\n ``(a) Deduction Allowed.--In the case of an individual, there shall \nbe allowed as a deduction for the taxable year an amount equal to the \ncash contributions made for such taxable year to a senior citizen real \nproperty tax account maintained for the benefit of such individual.\n ``(b) Maximum Amount of Deduction.--The amount allowable as a \ndeduction under subsection (a) to any individual for any taxable year \nshall not exceed $2,000.\n ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Senior citizen real property tax account.--The term \n `senior citizen real property tax account' means a trust \n created or organized in the United States exclusively for the \n purpose of paying the qualified property tax expenses of the \n account beneficiary of the trust, but only if the trust is \n designated as a senior citizen real property tax account at the \n time created or organized and the written governing instrument \n creating the trust meets the following requirements:\n ``(A) No contribution (other than a rollover \n contribution described in subsection (e)(5)) will be \n accepted--\n ``(i) unless it is in cash,\n ``(ii) in excess of $2,000 for the taxable \n year, or\n ``(iii) after the date on which such \n beneficiary attains age 59\\1/2\\.\n ``(B) The trustee is a bank (as defined in section \n 408(n)) or another person who demonstrates to the \n satisfaction of the Secretary that the manner in which \n that person will administer the trust will be \n consistent with the requirements of this section or who \n has so demonstrated with respect to any individual \n retirement plan.\n ``(C) No part of the trust assets will be invested \n in life insurance contracts.\n ``(D) The assets of the trust shall not be \n commingled with other property except in a common trust \n fund or common investment fund.\n ``(2) Qualified property tax expenses.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified property tax \n expenses' means State and local, and foreign, real \n property taxes imposed on the account beneficiary \n (determined in accordance with section 164) with \n respect to the principal residence (within the meaning \n of section 121) of such beneficiary. Such term shall \n not include taxes imposed for any real property tax \n period ending before the date such beneficiary attains \n age 59\\1/2\\.\n ``(B) Jointly held property.--In the case of any \n residence which is held as joint tenants, tenants by \n the entirety, or community property by individuals who \n are married to each other, if one spouse satisfies the \n age requirement of subparagraph (A), then both spouses \n shall be treated as satisfying such requirement.\n ``(3) Account beneficiary.--The term `account beneficiary' \n means the individual for whose benefit the senior citizen real \n property tax account was established.\n ``(4) Certain rules to apply.--Rules similar to the \n following rules shall apply for purposes of this section:\n ``(A) Section 219(d)(2) (relating to no deduction \n for rollovers).\n ``(B) Section 219(f)(3) (relating to time when \n contributions deemed made).\n ``(C) Section 408(d)(6) (relating to transfer of \n account incident to divorce).\n ``(D) Section 408(g) (relating to community \n property laws).\n ``(E) Section 408(h) (relating to custodial \n accounts).\n ``(d) Tax Treatment of Accounts.--\n ``(1) In general.--A senior citizen real property tax \n account is exempt from taxation under this subtitle unless such \n account has ceased to be such an account. Notwithstanding the \n preceding sentence, any such account is subject to the taxes \n imposed by section 511 (relating to imposition of tax on \n unrelated business income of charitable, etc. organizations).\n ``(2) Account terminations.--Rules similar to the rules of \n paragraphs (2) and (4) of section 408(e) shall apply to senior \n citizen real property tax accounts, and any amount treated as \n distributed under such rules shall be treated as not used to \n pay qualified property tax expenses.\n ``(e) Tax Treatment of Distributions.--\n ``(1) In general.--If any distribution is made from a \n senior citizen real property tax account during the taxable \n year, the account beneficiary's tax imposed by this chapter for \n such taxable year shall be increased by an amount equal to--\n ``(A) 50 percent of any such distribution which is \n made before the date the account beneficiary attains \n age 59\\1/2\\, and\n ``(B) 25 percent of any such distribution which is \n made on or after such date.\n The increase in tax under the preceding sentence shall be in \n lieu of any inclusion in gross income.\n ``(2) Amounts used for qualified property tax expenses.--\n ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to \n the extent that the aggregate distributions during the \n taxable year from the senior citizen real property tax \n accounts of the account beneficiary do not exceed the \n aggregate qualified property tax expenses of such \n beneficiary for such year.\n ``(B) Exclusion from gross income.--Gross income \n shall not include any distribution excluded from \n paragraph (1) by reason of subparagraph (A).\n ``(3) Treatment after death of account beneficiary; \n disability.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a distribution--\n ``(A) which is made by reason of the death of the \n account beneficiary and is made (either directly or by \n the estate of such beneficiary) to any senior citizen \n real property tax account or individual retirement plan \n of any individual, or\n ``(B) which is attributable to the account \n beneficiary's being disabled (within the meaning of \n section 72(m)(7)).\n In the case of a distribution which is made by reason of the \n death of the account beneficiary and to which paragraph (1) \n applies after the application of the preceding sentence, the \n tax on such distribution shall be determined under paragraph \n (1)(A).\n ``(4) Excess contributions returned before the due date of \n return.--\n ``(A) In general.--If any excess contribution is \n contributed for a taxable year to a senior citizen real \n property tax account of an individual, paragraph (1) \n shall not apply to distributions from the senior \n citizen real property tax accounts of such individual \n (to the extent such distributions do not exceed the \n aggregate excess contributions to all such accounts of \n such individual for such year) if--\n ``(i) such distribution is received by the \n individual on or before the last day prescribed \n by law (including extensions of time) for \n filing such individual's return for such \n taxable year, and\n ``(ii) such distribution is accompanied by \n the amount of net income attributable to such \n excess contribution.\n Any net income described in clause (ii) shall be \n included in the gross income of the individual for the \n taxable year in which it is received.\n ``(B) Excess contribution.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (A), the term `excess contribution' means \n any contribution (other than a rollover contribution) \n that is not deductible under this section.\n ``(5) Rollover contribution.--An amount is described in \n this paragraph as a rollover contribution if it meets the \n requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B).\n ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to \n any amount distributed from a senior citizen real \n property tax account to the account beneficiary to the \n extent the amount received is paid into a senior \n citizen real property tax account for the benefit of \n such beneficiary not later than the 60th day after the \n day on which the beneficiary receives the payment or \n distribution.\n ``(B) Limitation.--This paragraph shall not apply \n to any amount described in subparagraph (A) received by \n an individual from a senior citizen real property tax \n account if, at any time during the 1-year period ending \n on the day of such receipt, such individual received \n any other amount described in subparagraph (A) from a \n senior citizen real property tax account which was not \n includible in the individual's gross income because of \n the application of this paragraph.\n ``(f) Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Married individuals.--The maximum deduction under \n subsection (b) shall be computed separately for each \n individual.\n ``(2) Time when contributions deemed made.--For purposes of \n this section, a taxpayer shall be deemed to have made a \n contribution to a senior citizen real property tax account on \n the last day of the preceding taxable year if the contribution \n is made on account of such taxable year and is made not later \n than the time prescribed by law for filing the return for such \n taxable year (not including extensions thereof).\n ``(g) Reports.--The Secretary may require the trustee of a senior \ncitizen real property tax account to make such reports regarding such \naccount to the Secretary and to the account beneficiary with respect to \ncontributions, distributions, and such other matters as the Secretary \ndetermines appropriate. The reports required by this subsection shall \nbe filed at such time and in such a manner and furnished to such \nindividuals at such time and in such manner as may be required by the \nSecretary.''.\n (b) Deduction Allowed Whether or Not Taxpayer Itemizes Other \nDeductions.--Subsection (a) of section 62 of such Code, as amended by \nsection 2, is amended by inserting after paragraph (18) the following \nnew paragraph:\n ``(19) Senior citizen real property tax accounts.--The \n deduction allowed by section 222.''.\n (c) Tax on Prohibited Transactions.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 4975(e) of such \n Code (relating to prohibited transactions) is amended by \n redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (F) \n and (G), respectively, and by inserting after subparagraph (D) \n the following new subparagraph:\n ``(E) a senior citizen real property tax account \n described in section 222(c),''.\n (2) Special rule.--Subsection (c) of section 4975 of such \n Code is amended by adding at the end the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(6) Special rule for senior citizen real property tax \n accounts.--The individual for whose benefit a senior citizen \n real property tax account is established shall be exempt from \n the tax imposed by this section with respect to any transaction \n concerning such account (which would otherwise be taxable under \n this section) if section 222(d)(2) applies with respect to such \n transaction.''.\n (d) Failure To Provide Reports on Senior Citizen Real Property Tax \naccounts.--Paragraph (2) of section 6693(a) of such Code (relating to \nfailure to provide reports on individual retirement accounts or \nannuities) is amended by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as \nsubparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively, and by inserting after \nsubparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:\n ``(C) section 222(g) (relating to senior citizen \n real property tax accounts),''.\n (e) Tax on Excess Contributions.--\n (1) In general.--Subsection (a) of section 4973 of such \n Code is amended by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as \n paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, and by inserting after \n paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:\n ``(3) a senior citizen real property tax account (as \n defined in section 222(c)),''.\n (2) Excess contributions defined.--Section 4973 of such \n Code is amended by adding at the end the following new \n subsection:\n ``(g) Excess Contributions to Senior Citizen Real Property Tax \nAccounts.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) In general.--In the case of senior citizen real \n property tax accounts maintained for the benefit of any 1 \n beneficiary, the term `excess contributions' means the amount \n by which the amount contributed for the taxable year to such \n accounts exceeds $2,000.\n ``(2) Special rules.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the \n following contributions shall not be taken into account:\n ``(A) Any contribution which is distributed out of \n the senior citizen real property tax account in a \n distribution to which section 222(e)(4) applies.\n ``(B) Any rollover contribution.''.\n (f) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for part VII of \nsubchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the last \nitem and inserting the following new items:\n\n ``Sec. 222. Senior citizen real property \n tax accounts.\n ``Sec. 223. Cross reference.''.\n (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "Seniors Real Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a deduction for State and local real property taxes paid by certain taxpayers aged 65 or older who do not itemize their deductions; and (2) provide for the establishment of \"senior citizen real property tax accounts\" (trusts created exclusively for the purpose of paying the qualified property tax expenses of qualified beneficiaries).", "title": "Seniors Real Property Tax Relief Act of 1998"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 768, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited at the ``Clean Air and Water Preservation Act \nof 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds that:\n (1) The oxygenate requirement of the reformulated gasoline \n (``RFG'') program has proven effective in reducing emissions of \n exhaust hydrocarbons, nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide, known \n precursors to smog.\n (2) One oxygenate chosen by gasoline refiners to comply \n with the Clean Air Act regulations, methyl tertiary butyl ether \n (``MTBE''), has been discovered in water sources throughout the \n nation.\n (3) MTBE renders water undrinkable and is considered a \n probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.\n (4) MTBE is highly soluble in water and slow to degrade. \n Only one gallon of MTBE is required to contaminate 26 million \n gallons of water.\n (5) An alternative oxygenate, ethanol, is a biobased \n product which produces the same reductions in emissions, is not \n as soluble in water, biodegrades rapidly, and is considered \n safe for the environment.\n (6) The oxygenate requirement of the RFG program requires 2 \n percent by weight of an oxygenate be added to gasoline. Ethanol \n contains approximately twice as much as oxygen as MTBE, \n therefore supplying the RFG program with sufficient ethanol to \n replace MTBE would require half the volume of MTBE currently \n used.\n (7) The ethanol industry is expanding rapidly. Production \n capacity in 1998 was estimated at 1.8 billion gallons. New \n production facilities that came on line in 1999 has greatly \n increased this capacity.\n (8) The Department of Agriculture projects the domestic \n ethanol industry will be able to produce the approximately 3.1 \n billion gallons of ethanol necessary to replace MTBE by 2004.\n (9) The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that \n replacing MTBE with ethanol will (A) increase the demand for \n corn for ethanol by more than 500 million bushels each year, \n improving the price of corn by 14 cents per bushel each year \n and increasing average total farm cash receipts by $1 billion \n each year; (B) create 13,000 new jobs; and (C) increase average \n US agricultural net export value by more than $200 million and \n reduce US import value of MTBE by $1.1 billion for an improved \n US trade balance of $1.3 billion each year.\n (10) Ethanol is an energy efficient fuel. A 1995 report by \n the USDA estimated one gallon of ethanol provides 25 percent \n more energy than production requires. Other studies show the \n net energy gain potential of ethanol could exceed 150 percent \n when state-of-the-art agricultural and production technologies \n are used.\n (11) Ethanol is proven to enhance the performance of \n automobiles. Currently, all vehicle manufacturers approve the \n use of 10 percent ethanol blended fuels.\n (12) Replacing MTBE with ethanol would maintain the \n emissions reductions obtained through the RFG program without \n the water contamination problems associated with MTBE.\n (13) When implementing the Clean Air Act Amendments of \n 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency required, by \n regulation, that each gallon of gasoline sold in the RFG \n program contain a minimum of 1.5 percent by weight of \n oxygenate. This was not the intent of Congress in passing the \n oxygenate requirement and prohibits the most efficient use of \n oxygenates. Lifting this regulatory requirement will provide \n refiners more flexibility for complying with the RFG program \n and provide high performance gasoline year-round.\n (14) Providing such flexibility in the use of oxygenates \n could lead to an increase in the use of aromatics, many of \n which are known carcinogens. Therefore, a limit on the amount \n of aromatics added to gasoline is necessary to protect public \n health.\n (15) Providing such flexibility in the use of oxygenates \n could lead to an increase in emissions. Therefore, a \n prohibition against an increase in emissions above the level \n achieved by RFG gasoline is necessary to protect air quality.\n\nSEC. 3. USE OF MTBE AS A FUEL ADDITIVE.\n\n (a) MTBE Ban.--Section 211(c) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. \n7545(c)) is amended by adding at the end of paragraph (1) the \nfollowing: ``The regulations under this paragraph shall prohibit the \nuse of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a fuel additive.''.\n (b) Regulations.--The Administrator of the Environmental Protection \nAgency shall amend the regulations under section 211(c)(1) of the Clean \nAir Act as promptly as practicable after the date of enactment of this \nAct to conform to the amendment made by subsection (a) of this section.\n (c) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) of this section shall take \neffect upon the expiration of the three-year period beginning on the \ndate of the enactment of this Act.\n (d) Labeling.--During the period beginning on the date of enactment \nof this Act and ending three years from the date of enactment, the \nAdministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall require any \nperson selling gasoline that contains methyl tertiary butyl ether at \nretail to prominently label the fuel dispensing system for the gasoline \nwith a notice that the gasoline contains methyl tertiary butyl ether \n(`MTBE').\n\nSEC. 4. EXISTING MTBE WATER CONTAMINATION.\n\n (a) State Source Water Assessment Programs.--Section 1453(a) of the \nSafe Drinking Water Act is amended by adding the following at the end \nthereof:\n ``(8) MTBE Contamination.--The Administrator shall amend \n the guidelines under this subsection to require that State \n source water assessment programs be revised to prioritize \n groundwater areas and aquifers that have been contaminated, or \n are most vulnerable to contamination, by methyl tertiary butyl \n ether (`MTBE'). Each such revision shall be submitted and \n approved or disapproved by the Administrator in accordance with \n the same deadlines as applicable to the original program under \n paragraph (3).''.\n (b) EPA Cleanup Guidelines.--Section 1442 of the Safe Drinking \nWater Act is amended by adding the following at the end thereof:\n ``(f) Cleanup Guidelines for MTBE.--The Administrator shall develop \na clear set of technical guidelines to assist States in the \ninvestigation and cleanup of methyl tertiary butyl ether (`MTBE') in \ngroundwater.''.\n\nSEC. 5. ALLOWING FOR OXYGEN AVERAGING WITHIN THE RFG PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Amendment of Clean Air Act.--Subparagraph (B) of section \n211(k)(2) of the Clean Air Act and clause (v) of subparagraph (A) of \nsection 211(k)(3) of such Act are each amended by inserting ``an \naverage of'' before ``2.0 percent''.\n (b) Regulation Invalidated.--The provisions of section 80.41(b) of \npart 80 of title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations establishing a \nper-gallon minimum oxygen content (percent, by weight) shall cease to \nhave any force and effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 6. ANTI-BACKSLIDING.\n\n (a) Ozone Forming Potential.--Section 211(k)(1) of the Clean Air \nAct is amended by adding the following at the end thereof: ``No later \nthan June 1, 2001, the Administrator shall revise the regulations under \nthis paragraph as necessary to ensure that the ozone forming potential, \ntaking into account all ozone precursors (including volatile organic \ncompounds, oxides of nitrogen, and carbon monoxide), of the aggregate \nemissions during the high ozone season (as defined by the \nAdministrator) from baseline vehicles when using reformulated gasoline \ndoes not exceed the ozone forming potential of the aggregate emissions \nfrom such vehicles when using reformulated gasoline that complies with \nthe regulations that were in effect on January 1, 2000, and applicable \nto reformulated gasoline sold in calendar year 2000 and thereafter.''.\n (b) Aromatic Hydrocarbon Content.--Section 211(k)(2) of the Clean \nAir Act is amended by adding the following new subparagraph at the end \nthereof:\n ``(E) Aromatic hydrocarbon content.--The aromatic \n hydrocarbon content of the gasoline shall be not \n greater than the average aromatic hydrocarbon content \n of reformulated gasoline sold in covered areas for use \n in such vehicles during the year 2000.''.\n\nSEC. 7. DEVELOPING OXYGENATE ALTERNATIVES TO MTBE.\n\n The Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental \nProtection Agency shall evaluate by December 31, 2001 and report to the \nPresident and the Congress on the potential for development of \noxygenate alternatives to methyl tertiary butyl ether (``MTBE'') not \notherwise identified in this Act, and shall evaluate what steps, if \nany, would be appropriate to foster development of such alternatives \nshould they be found to be an acceptable substitute for MTBE.\n\nSEC. 8. TRANSITION TO ETHANOL.\n\n It is the Sense of the Congress that the United States should \npromote renewable ethanol to replace methyl tertiary butyl ether \n(``MTBE'') and encourage oil refiners to make the transition from MTBE-\nblended fuel to ethanol-blended fuel as soon as possible.", "summary": "Clean Air and Water Preservation Act of 2001 - Amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a fuel additive. Makes such prohibition effective three years after this Act's enactment date. Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator to amend certain guidelines to require State source water assessment programs to be revised to prioritize groundwater areas and aquifers that have been contaminated, or are most vulnerable to contamination, by MTBE.Revises the oxygen content requirement for reformulated gasoline under the Clean Air Act to require the oxygen content to equal or exceed an average of two percent by weight (currently, equal or exceed two percent by weight). Invalidates Federal regulations that establish a per-gallon minimum oxygen content (percent, by weight). Limits the hydrocarbon content of reformulated gasoline to the average content of such gasoline sold in covered nonattainment areas during the year 2000.Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should promote renewable ethanol to replace MTBE and encourage oil refiners to make the transition from MTBE-blended fuel to ethanol-blended fuel as soon as possible.", "title": "To amend section 211 of the Clean Air Act to prohibit the use of MTBE, to provide flexibility within the oxygenate requirement of the Environmental Protection Agency's Reformulated Gasoline Program, to promote the use of renewable ethanol, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3036, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Service Members Student Loan Relief \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFERRAL FOR CERTAIN PERIOD IN CONNECTION WITH RECEIPT OF \n ORDERS FOR MOBILIZATION FOR WAR OR NATIONAL EMERGENCY.\n\n (a) Federal Family Education Loans.--Section 428(b)(1)(M) of the \nHigher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078(b)(1)(M)) is amended--\n (1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``, \n during any period'';\n (2) in clause (i), by striking ``during which'' and \n inserting ``during any period during which'';\n (3) in clause (ii), by striking ``during which'' and \n inserting ``during any period during which'';\n (4) in clause (iii)--\n (A) by striking ``during which'' and inserting \n ``during any period during which''; and\n (B) in the matter following subclause (II), by \n striking ``or'' after the semicolon;\n (5) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (vi);\n (6) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:\n ``(iv) in the case of any borrower who has \n received a call or order to duty described in \n subclause (I) or (II) of clause (iii), during \n the shorter of--\n ``(I) the period beginning on the \n date such call or order to duty is \n received by the borrower and ending on \n the first day of the service described \n in subclause (I) or (II) of clause \n (iii); and\n ``(II) the 180-day period preceding \n the first day of such service;\n ``(v) notwithstanding clause (iv)--\n ``(I) in the case of any borrower \n described in such clause whose call or \n order to duty is cancelled before the \n first day of the service described in \n subclause (I) or (II) of clause (iii) \n because of a personal injury in \n connection with training to prepare for \n such service, during the period \n described in clause (iv) and during an \n additional period equal to the duration \n of such service, as specified by or \n otherwise determined in the original \n call or order to duty; and\n ``(II) in the case of any borrower \n whose call or order to duty is \n cancelled before the first day of such \n service for a reason other than an \n injury described in subclause (I), \n during the period beginning on the date \n the call or order to duty is received \n by the borrower and ending on the date \n that is 14 days after such call or \n order to duty is cancelled; and''; and\n (7) in clause (vi) (as redesignated by paragraph (5)), by \n striking ``not in excess'' and inserting ``during any period \n not in excess''.\n (b) Direct Loans.--Section 455(f)(2) of the Higher Education Act of \n1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(f)(2)) is amended--\n (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking \n ``during any period'';\n (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``during which'' and \n inserting ``during any period during which'';\n (3) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``not in excess'' and \n inserting ``during any period not in excess'';\n (4) in subparagraph (C)--\n (A) by striking ``during which'' and inserting \n ``during any period during which''; and\n (B) in the matter following clause (ii), by \n striking ``or'' after the semicolon;\n (5) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (F);\n (6) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:\n ``(D) in the case of any borrower who has received \n a call or order to duty described in clause (i) or (ii) \n of subparagraph (C), during the shorter of--\n ``(i) the period beginning on the date such \n call or order to duty is received by the \n borrower and ending on the first day of the \n service described in clause (i) or (ii) of \n subparagraph (C); and\n ``(ii) the 180-day period preceding the \n first day of such service;\n ``(E) notwithstanding subparagraph (D)--\n ``(i) in the case of any borrower described \n in such subparagraph whose call or order to \n duty is cancelled before the first day of the \n service described in clause (i) or (ii) of \n subparagraph (C) because of a personal injury \n in connection with training to prepare for such \n service, during the period described in \n subparagraph (D) and during an additional \n period equal to the duration of such service, \n as specified by or otherwise determined in the \n original call or order to duty; and\n ``(ii) in the case of any borrower whose \n call or order to duty is cancelled before the \n first day of such service for a reason other \n than an injury described in clause (i), during \n the period beginning on the date the call or \n order to duty is received by the borrower and \n ending on the date that is 14 days after such \n call or order to duty is cancelled; and''; and\n (7) in subparagraph (F) (as redesignated by paragraph (5)), \n by striking ``not in excess'' and inserting ``during any period \n not in excess''.\n (c) Perkins Loans.--Section 464(c)(2)(A) of the Higher Education \nAct of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087dd(c)(2)(A)) is amended--\n (1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking \n ``during any period'';\n (2) in clause (i), by striking ``during which'' and \n inserting ``during any period during which'';\n (3) in clause (ii), by striking ``not in excess'' and \n inserting ``during any period not in excess'';\n (4) in clause (iii), by striking ``during which'' and \n inserting ``during any period during which'';\n (5) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (vi) \n and (vii), respectively;\n (6) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:\n ``(iv) in the case of any borrower who has received \n a call or order to duty described in subclause (I) or \n (II) of clause (iii), during the shorter of--\n ``(I) the period beginning on the date such \n call or order to duty is received by the \n borrower and ending on the first day of the \n service described in subclause (I) or (II) of \n clause (iii); and\n ``(II) the 180-day period preceding the \n first day of such service;\n ``(v) notwithstanding clause (iv)--\n ``(I) in the case of any borrower described \n in such clause whose call or order to duty is \n cancelled before the first day of the service \n described in subclause (I) or (II) of clause \n (iii) because of a personal injury in \n connection with training to prepare for such \n service, during the period described in clause \n (iv) and during an additional period equal to \n the duration of such service, as specified by \n or otherwise determined in the original call or \n order to duty; and\n ``(II) in the case of any borrower whose \n call or order to duty is cancelled before the \n first day of such service for a reason other \n than an injury described in subclause (I), \n during the period beginning on the date the \n call or order to duty is received by the \n borrower and ending on the date that is 14 days \n after such call or order to duty is \n cancelled;'';\n (7) in clause (vi) (as redesignated by paragraph (5)), by \n striking ``not in excess'' and inserting ``during any period \n not in excess''; and\n (8) in clause (vii) (as redesignated by paragraph (5)), by \n striking ``during which'' and inserting ``during any period \n during which''.\n (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in the amendments made by this \nsection shall be construed to authorize any refunding of any repayment \nof a loan.\n (e) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply \nwith respect to all loans made, insured, or guaranteed under title IV \nof the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).\n\nSEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.\n\n Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et \nseq.) is further amended--\n (1) in section 428B(d)(1)(A)(ii) (20 U.S.C. 1078-\n 2(d)(1)(A)(ii)), by striking ``428(b)(1)(M)(i)(I)'' and \n inserting ``clause (i)(I), (iv), or (v) of section \n 428(b)(1)(M)''; and\n (2) in section 493D(a) (20 U.S.C. 1098f(a)), by striking \n ``section 428(b)(1)(M)(iii), 455(f)(2)(C), or \n 464(c)(2)(A)(iii)'' and inserting ``clause (iii) or (iv) of \n section 428(b)(1)(M), subparagraph (C) or (D) of section \n 455(f)(2), or clause (iii) or (iv) of section 464(c)(2)(A)''.", "summary": "Service Members Student Loan Relief Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow members of the Armed Forces and National Guard to defer payments of principal on their Federal Family Education Loans, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Perkins Loans for the period (up to 180 days) beginning on the date they receive a call or order to duty in connection with a war, military operation, or national emergency and ending on their first day of service. (Currently, the payment of principal on those loans is also deferred during their period of service and for the 180-day period after their demobilization date.) Allows individuals whose call to duty is cancelled before their first day of service: (1) due to a service training injury, to defer payments of principal on those loans through what would have been their period of service; and (2) for a reason other than a service training injury, to defer payments of principal on those loans for 14 days after that cancellation.", "title": "Service Members Student Loan Relief Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2441, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Taking Our Health Privacy \n(STOHP) Act of 2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds as follows:\n (1) People in the United States are deeply concerned about \n the confidentiality of their health information. According to a \n recent survey conducted by the Princeton Survey Research \n Associates, 1 in 6 people in the United States has done \n something out of the ordinary to keep personal health \n information confidential, including withholding information, \n providing inaccurate information, or, in some cases, avoiding \n care entirely.\n (2) Pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and \n Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191; 110 Stat. 1936 \n et seq.) (commonly referred to as ``HIPAA''), the Clinton \n Administration issued comprehensive medical privacy regulations \n which were promulgated in final form in December 2000.\n (3) Such regulations established a sound foundation of \n privacy protections by prohibiting the use or disclosure of an \n individual's health information unless specifically authorized \n by the regulations or by the individual. The regulations also \n provided individuals with the right to be notified of the \n privacy practices of health plans, health care providers, and \n health care clearinghouses regarding disclosure of their health \n information, the right to access and copy their own health \n records, and the right to request corrections of their health \n records, among other provisions.\n (4) Such regulations took effect in April 2001 and require \n health care providers, health plans (other than small health \n plans) and health care clearinghouses to comply not later than \n April 2003.\n (5) In August 2002, the Bush Administration issued a final \n rule that significantly weakened medical privacy protections in \n the December 2000 medical privacy rule.\n (6) The Bush Administration undermined medical privacy \n protections by eliminating the rule's requirement that covered \n entities obtain patient consent before using and disclosing \n patient health information for treatment, payment, and health \n care operations. This change means that patients' medical \n records can be used and disclosed without their permission for \n a wide range of purposes including business activities that \n have nothing to do with the treatment of a patient, such as the \n sale or merger of a health maintenance organization. This \n change also allows the use and disclosure of information in \n existing medical records even though patients disclosed the \n information with the understanding and expectation that it \n would not be further used or disclosed without their consent. \n The elimination of consent compromises the confidentiality at \n the heart of physician-patient relationships, which is \n indispensable for the delivery of high-quality, thorough care.\n (7) The Bush Administration also undermined medical privacy \n protections by expanding the circumstances under which \n patients' information can be shared without their knowledge or \n consent to include activities that consumers typically consider \n marketing. This change was accomplished by narrowing the scope \n of activities that are regulated by the provisions of the rule \n governing marketing. Under this change, pharmacies and other \n providers can use a consumer's medical information without \n consent to mail the consumer unsolicited drug product \n recommendations, without having to disclose fees paid by drug \n companies for sending such communications or provide the \n consumer an opportunity to decline to receive such \n communications in the future.\n (8) The Bush Administration further undermined medical \n privacy protections by changing the language in the section of \n the rule governing public health to allow the disclosure of \n medical information without patient permission to entities \nregulated by the Food and Drug Administration, such as pharmaceutical \ncompanies and medical device manufacturers, for an expanded and broad \nrange of purposes which may include marketing campaigns. In contrast, \nthe December 2000 rule allowed nonconsensual disclosure of patient \nhealth information for an exclusive list of public health related \nactivities, such as for the purpose of reporting serious side effects \nfrom a prescription drug to the Food and Drug Administration.\n (9) Reversal of the Bush Administration's changes to the \n December 2000 medical privacy rule is integral to any effort to \n ensure medical privacy protection for consumers and preserve \n access to high-quality health care in the United States.\n (10) Core medical privacy protections of the December 2000 \n medical privacy rule should be restored by--\n (A) reinstating the patient consent requirement for \n treatment, payment, and health care operations, while \n ensuring that the requirement does not impede important \n health care activities such as filling pharmaceutical \n prescriptions and making referrals;\n (B) returning to the December 2000 definition of \n ``marketing'' and thus ensuring that activities \n typically considered marketing, such as drug companies \n paying pharmacies to send product recommendations to \n patients, fall under the rule's privacy protections \n relating to the use of patient health information for \n marketing activities; and\n (C) eliminating the broad ``public health'' \n exemption created by the August 2002 rule.\n\nSEC. 3. PURPOSE.\n\n The purpose of this Act is to restore patient privacy protections \nessential for high-quality health care that were undermined by the Bush \nAdministration's August 2002 modifications of the December 2000 medical \nprivacy rule.\n\nSEC. 4. RESTORATION OF PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.\n\n (a) Consent for Uses or Disclosures To Carry Out Treatment, \nPayment, or Health Care Operations.--\n (1) In general.--The modifications made to section 164.506 \n of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, by the August 2002 \n medical privacy rule shall have no force or effect.\n (2) Clarification regarding instances when consent is not \n required.--In addition to the circumstances described in the \n December 2000 medical privacy rule, and notwithstanding any \n provision to the contrary, such section 164.506 shall be \n construed and applied so as to permit a health care provider to \n use or disclose an individual's protected health information \n without obtaining the prior consent of the individual in the \n following circumstances:\n (A) A health care provider may use or disclose an \n individual's protected health information to fill or \n dispense a prescription, search for drug interactions \n related to that prescription, and determine eligibility \n and obtain authorization for payment regarding that \n prescription, if the health care provider obtains \n written consent from the individual as soon as \n practicable.\n (B) A health care provider may use or disclose an \n individual's protected health information to carry out \n treatment of that individual if--\n (i) the individual and the health care \n provider have not had in-person communication \n regarding such treatment;\n (ii) obtaining consent would be \n impracticable;\n (iii) the health care provider determines, \n in the exercise of professional judgment, that \n the individual's consent is clearly inferred \n from the circumstances, such as an order or \n referral from another health care provider; and\n (iv) the health care provider obtains \n written consent from the individual as soon as \n practicable.\n (b) Marketing.--\n (1) In general.--The modifications made by the August 2002 \n medical privacy rule to the definition of the term \n ``marketing'' in section 164.501 of title 45, Code of Federal \n Regulations, shall have no force or effect.\n (2) Treatment of certain communications.--The exception for \n oral communications in paragraph (2)(i) of the definition of \n the term ``marketing'' in section 164.501 of title 45, Code of \n Federal Regulations, as contained in the December 2000 medical \n privacy rule, shall have no force or effect.\n (3) Authorizations for marketing.--Section 164.508 of title \n 45, Code of Federal Regulations, shall be construed and applied \n so as to require that, if an authorization is required for a \n use or disclosure for marketing, the authorization shall be \n considered invalid unless it--\n (A) uses the term ``marketing'';\n (B) states that the purpose of the use or \n disclosure involved is marketing;\n (C) describes the specific marketing uses and \n disclosures authorized, including whether the protected \n health information involved--\n (i) may be used for purposes internal to \n the covered entity;\n (ii) may be disclosed to, and used by, a \n business associate of the covered entity; and\n (iii) may be disclosed to, and used by, any \n person or entity other than a business \n associate of the covered entity; and\n (D) states that the use or disclosure of protected \n health information for marketing will directly result \n in remuneration to the covered entity from a third \n party, in any case in which a covered entity expects, \n or reasonably should expect, that such remuneration \n will occur.\n (c) Public Health.--The modifications made to section \n164.512(b)(1)(iii) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, by the \nAugust 2002 medical privacy rule shall have no force or effect.\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS; EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n (a) In General.--For purposes of this Act:\n (1) December 2000 medical privacy rule.--The term \n ``December 2000 medical privacy rule'' means the final rule on \n standards for privacy of individually identifiable health \n information published on December 28, 2000, in the Federal \n Register (65 Fed. Reg. 82462), including the provisions of \n title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, revised or added by such \n rule.\n (2) August 2002 medical privacy rule.--The term ``August \n 2002 medical privacy rule'' means the final rule, published on \n August 14, 2002, in the Federal Register (67 Fed. Reg. 53182), \n that modified the December 2000 medical privacy rule.\n (b) Other Terms Defined.--For purposes of this Act:\n (1) Business associate; covered entity; health care \n provider.--The terms ``business associate'', ``covered \n entity'', and ``health care provider'' shall have the meaning \n given such terms in section 160.103 of title 45, Code of \n Federal Regulations, as contained in the December 2000 medical \n privacy rule.\n (2) Disclosure; individual, protected health information; \n treatment; use.--The terms ``disclosure'', ``individual'', \n ``protected health information'', ``treatment'', and ``use'' \n shall have the meaning given such terms in section 164.501 of \n title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, as contained in the \n December 2000 medical privacy rule.\n (c) Effective Date; No Regulations Required.--This Act shall take \neffect on the date of the enactment of this Act and does not require \nthe issuance of regulations.", "summary": "Stop Taking Our Health Privacy (STOHP) Act of 2002 - Declares that modifications made by an August 14, 2002, final rule affecting medical privacy to a Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section concerning consent for uses or disclosures to carry out treatment, payment, or health care operations shall have no force or effect. Directs that such CFR section shall be construed and applied to permit a health care provider to use or disclose an individual's protected health information without prior consent under specified circumstances, provided that the provider obtains written consent from the individual as soon as practicable.Declares that a CFR section dealing with uses and disclosures for which an authorization is required shall be construed and applied so that an authorization shall be invalid unless it meets specified criteria, including that it describes the specific marketing uses and disclosures authorized.States that the modifications made by the August 14 final rule dealing with permitted disclosures for public health activities shall have no force or effect.", "title": "To restore standards to protect the privacy of individually identifiable health information that were weakened by the August 2002 modifications, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2964, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Home Energy Conservation Act of \n2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION BONDS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart I of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new section:\n\n``SEC. 54G. HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION BONDS.\n\n ``(a) Home Energy Conservation Bond.--For purposes of this \nsubchapter, the term `home energy conservation bond' means any bond \nissued as part of an issue if--\n ``(1) 100 percent of the available project proceeds of such \n issue are to be used to make qualified residential energy \n efficiency assistance grants and loans,\n ``(2) not less than 20 percent of the available project \n proceeds of such issue are to be used to make qualified low-\n income residential energy efficiency assistance grants and \n loans,\n ``(3) not less than 10 percent of the available project \n proceeds of such issue are to be used to make qualified very \n low-income residential energy efficiency assistance grants,\n ``(4) repayments of principal and applicable interest on \n financing provided by the issue are used not later than the \n close of the 3-month period beginning on the date the \n prepayment (or complete repayment) is received to redeem bonds \n which are part of the issue or to make qualified residential \n energy efficiency assistance grants and loans,\n ``(5) the bond is issued by a State or local government, \n and\n ``(6) the issuer designates such bond for purposes of this \n section.\n ``(b) Limitation on Amount of Bonds Designated.--The maximum \naggregate face amount of bonds which may be designated under subsection \n(a) by any issuer shall not exceed the limitation amount allocated \nunder subsection (d) to such issuer.\n ``(c) National Limitation on Amount of Bonds Designated.--There is \na national home energy conservation bond limitation of $2,400,000,000.\n ``(d) Allocations.--\n ``(1) In general.--The limitation under subsection (c) \n shall be allocated by the Secretary among the States in \n proportion to the population of the States.\n ``(2) Allocations to largest local governments.--\n ``(A) In general.--In the case of any State in \n which there is a large local government, each such \n local government shall be allocated a portion of such \n State's allocation which bears the same ratio to the \n State's allocation (determined without regard to this \n subparagraph) as the population of such large local \n government bears to the population of such State.\n ``(B) Allocation of unused limitation to state.--\n The amount allocated under this subsection to a large \n local government may be reallocated by such local \n government to the State in which such local government \n is located.\n ``(C) Large local government.--For purposes of this \n section, the term `large local government' means any \n municipality or county if such municipality or county \n has a population of 500,000 or more.\n ``(e) Qualified Residential Energy Efficiency Assistance Grants and \nLoans.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) In general.--Qualified residential energy efficiency \n assistance grants and loans are any grant or low-interest loan, \n as the case may be, to acquire (including reasonable \n installation and testing costs) any of the following:\n ``(A) Any property which meets (at a minimum) the \n requirements of the Energy Star program and which is to \n be installed in a dwelling unit.\n ``(B) Any property not described in subparagraph \n (A) which meets (at a minimum) the requirements of the \n Water Sense program and which is to be installed in a \n dwelling unit.\n ``(C) Any improvements to a dwelling unit which are \n made pursuant to a plan which--\n ``(i) is developed by a Residential Energy \n Services Network (RESNET), Building Performance \n Institute (BPI), or equivalent, energy \n efficiency expert, and\n ``(ii) is certified by such energy \n efficiency expert (based on testing done before \n and after such improvements) as resulting in at \n least a 20 percent reduction in total household \n energy consumption related to heating, cooling, \n lighting, and appliances.\n For purposes of this subparagraph, improvements to a \n dwelling unit for basic health and safety may be taken \n into account to the extent that such improvements do \n not exceed 10 percent of the value of the grant or loan \n and are required under State or local law as a \n condition of making the other improvement described in \n this subparagraph.\n ``(2) Dollar limitations.--\n ``(A) Dwelling unit improvements.--\n ``(i) In general.--Such term shall not \n include any grant or loan for improvements \n described in paragraph (1)(C) with respect to \n any dwelling unit to the extent that such grant \n or loan (when added to all other grants or \n loans for such improvements) exceeds $5,000.\n ``(ii) Increased limitation for certain \n principal residences.--In the case of a \n dwelling unit which is used as a principal \n residence (within the meaning of section 121) \n by the recipient of the grant or loan referred \n to in clause (i)--\n ``(I) clause (i) shall be applied \n by substituting `$12,000' for `$5,000' \n if such grant or loan would satisfy the \n requirements of paragraph (1)(C) if \n such paragraph were applied by \n substituting `40 percent' for `20 \n percent', and\n ``(II) in any case to which \n subclause (I) does not apply, clause \n (i) shall be applied by substituting \n `$8,000' for `$5,000' if such grant or \n loan would satisfy the requirements of \n paragraph (1)(C) if such paragraph were \n applied by substituting `30 percent' \n for `20 percent'.\n ``(iii) Increased limitation for cash \n positive loans.--In the case of a dwelling unit \n which is used as a principal residence (within \n the meaning of section 121) by the recipient of \n a loan with respect to which the reduced energy \n costs which result from the improvements \n described in paragraph (1)(C) exceed the \n payments required under the terms of the loan--\n ``(I) clause (i) shall be applied \n by substituting `$12,000' for `$5,000', \n and\n ``(II) clause (ii) shall not apply.\n ``(B) Reduction in water consumption.--Such term \n shall not include any grant or loan for property \n described in paragraph (1)(B) with respect to any \n dwelling unit to the extent that such grant or loan \n (when added to all other grants or loans for such \n property) exceeds $500.\n ``(3) Low-interest loan.--The term `low interest loan' \n means any loan which charges interest at a rate which does not \n exceed the applicable Federal rate in effect under section \n 1288(b)(1) determined as of the issuance of the loan.\n ``(4) Exclusion of certain property.--The following \n property shall not be taken into account for purposes of \n paragraph (1):\n ``(A) Any equipment used in connection with a \n swimming pool, hot tub, or similar property.\n ``(B) Any television.\n ``(C) Any device for converting digital signal to \n analog.\n ``(D) Any DVD player.\n ``(E) Any video cassette recorder (VCR).\n ``(F) Any audio equipment.\n ``(G) Any cordless phone.\n ``(H) Any other item of property where there is \n substantial recreational use.\n ``(f) Qualified Low-Income Residential Efficiency Assistance Grants \nand Loans.--\n ``(1) In general.--Qualified low-income residential energy \n efficiency assistance grants and loans are any qualified \n residential energy efficiency assistance grant or loan, as the \n case may be, with respect to a dwelling unit which is occupied \n (at the time of the grant or loan) by individuals whose income \n is 100 percent or less of area median gross income. Rules \n similar to the rules of section 142(d)(2)(B) shall apply for \n purposes of this paragraph.\n ``(2) Restriction to grants and very low interest loans.--\n Such term shall not include any loan unless the rate of \n interest on such loan does not exceed the excess of--\n ``(A) the applicable Federal rate in effect under \n section 1288(b)(1) determined as of the issuance of the \n loan, over\n ``(B) 100 basis points.\n ``(g) Qualified Very Low-Income Residential Efficiency Assistance \nGrants.--For purposes of this section, qualified very low-income \nresidential energy efficiency assistance grants are any qualified low-\nincome residential energy efficiency assistance grant with respect to a \ndwelling unit which is occupied (at the time of the grant) by \nindividuals whose income is 50 percent or less of area median gross \nincome. Rules similar to the rules of section 142(d)(2)(B) shall apply \nfor purposes of this paragraph.\n ``(h) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) Applicable interest.--The term `applicable interest' \n means, with respect to any loan, so much of any interest on \n such loan which exceeds 1 percentage point.\n ``(2) Special rule relating to arbitrage.--An issue shall \n not be treated as failing to meet the requirements of section \n 54A(d)(4)(A) by reason of any investment of available project \n proceeds in qualified residential energy efficiency assistance \n loans.\n ``(3) Exclusion of administrative expenses.--The amount \n treated as used to make any grant or loan described in this \n section shall not exceed the amount of such grant or loan.\n ``(4) Population.--The population of any State or local \n government shall be determined as provided in section 146(j) \n for the calendar year which includes the date of the enactment \n of this section.\n ``(5) Reporting.--\n ``(A) Reports by issuers.--Issuers of home energy \n conservation bonds shall, not later than 6 months after \n the expenditure period (as defined in section 54A) and \n annually thereafter until the last such bond is \n redeemed, submit reports to the Secretary regarding \n such bonds, including information regarding--\n ``(i) the number and monetary value of \n loans and grants provided and the purposes for \n which provided,\n ``(ii) the number of dwelling units the \n energy efficiency of which improved as result \n of such loans and grants,\n ``(iii) the types of property described in \n subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (e)(1) \n installed as a result of such loans and grants \n and the projected energy savings with respect \n to such property, and\n ``(iv) the projected energy savings as a \n result of such loans and grants for \n improvements described in subsection (e)(1)(C).\n ``(B) Report to congress.--Not later than 12 months \n after receipt of the first report under subparagraph \n (A) and annually thereafter until the last such report \n is required to be submitted, the Secretary, in \n consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the \n Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, \n shall submit a report to Congress regarding the bond \n program under this section, including information \n regarding--\n ``(i) the aggregate of each category of \n information described in subparagraph (A) \n (including any independent assessment of \n projected energy savings), and\n ``(ii) an estimate of the amount of \n greenhouse gas emissions reduced as a result of \n such bond program.''.\n (b) Treatment as a Specified Tax Credit Bond for Purposes of Direct \nPayment Provisions.--Subparagraph (A) of section 6431(f)(3) of such \nCode is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (iii), by \nstriking ``and'' at the end of clause (iv) and inserting ``or'', and by \nadding at the end the following new clause:\n ``(v) a home energy conservation bond (as \n defined in section 54G), and''.\n (c) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (1) of section 54A(d) of such Code is amended \n by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (D), by inserting \n ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (E), and by inserting after \n subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph:\n ``(F) a home energy conservation bond,''.\n (2) Subparagraph (C) of section 54A(d)(2) of such Code is \n amended by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (iv), by \n striking the period at the end of clause (v) and inserting ``, \n and'', and by adding at the end the following new clause:\n ``(vi) in the case of a home energy \n conservation bond, a purpose specified in \n section 54G(a)(1).''.\n (3) The table of sections for subpart I of part IV of \n subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at \n the end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 54G. Home energy conservation bonds.''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to obligations issued after the date of the enactment of this \nAct.", "summary": "Home Energy Conservation Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the issuance of tax-exempt home energy conservation bonds to finance qualified residential energy efficiency assistance grants and loans and extend such grants and loans to low and very-low income taxpayers. Imposes a national home energy conservation bond limitation amount of $2.4 billion and allocates such amount to states in proportion to state population.\n\nDefines \"qualified residential energy efficiency assistance grants and loans\" as any grant or loan to acquire: (1) any property which meets (at a minimum) the requirements of the Energy Star program or the Water Sense program and which is to be installed in a dwelling unit; and (2) any improvement to a dwelling unit made under a plan which is developed by a Residential Energy Services Network, Building Performance Institute, or equivalent energy efficiency expert and is certified by such expert as resulting in at least a 20% reduction in total household energy consumption related to heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances.\n\n Imposes dollar limitations on such grants and loans and excludes certain types of property from such grant and loan program, including equipment used in connection with a swimming pool or hot tub, any television, any device for converting a digital signal to analog, any DVD player, video cassette recorder, audio equipment, cordless phone, or other property where there is a substantial recreational use.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for home energy conservation bonds."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 838, "text": "SECTION 1. TEACHER RECRUITMENT.\n\n (a) Future Math and Science Teacher Recruitment.--Title V of the \nHigher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1102 et seq.) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new part:\n\n ``PART G--FUTURE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER RECRUITMENT\n\n``SEC. 599A. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.\n\n ``(a) Short Title.--This part may be cited as the `Recruit and \nReward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 1998'.\n ``(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n ``(1) United States high school students rank 12th and \n 19th, respectively, in science and math out of 25 countries.\n ``(2) Of United States high school students who take \n physical science and math courses, 48 percent and 49 percent, \n respectively, are taught by teachers who did not prepare in \n that field.\n ``(3) Teachers' knowledge and skills powerfully influence \n student learning.\n ``(4) More than 2,000,000 teachers will need to be hired \n over the next decade.\n ``(5) The ability of the United States to place highly \n qualified math and science teachers specializing in their field \n of instruction will depend on proactive policies that increase \n funding for teacher training, recruitment, and induction.\n\n``SEC. 599B. PURPOSE; APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED.\n\n ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this part to make available, \nthrough a pilot program, 500 scholarship grants and stipends to \noutstanding students enrolled in a nationally accredited teacher \ntraining graduate program who are committed to pursuing careers \nteaching math and science at an urban or rural secondary level \nclassroom.\n ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this part $5,000,000 in each of the fiscal \nyears 1999, 2000, and 2001.\n\n``SEC. 599C. SCHOLARSHIP DESIGNATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA.\n\n ``(a) Scholarship Designation.--Funds made available under this \npart shall be designated as the `National Math and Science Teacher \nScholarships'.\n ``(b) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary of Education may award \nfunds for National Math and Science Teacher Scholarships on a \ncompetitive basis to qualifying higher education institutions with \ngraduate programs in teacher training. The Secretary may not provide \nany individual higher education institution more than $100,000 per \nacademic year for the purpose of the National Math and Science Teacher \nScholarships. An institution applying for such Scholarships may only be \neligible to receive funds if such institution--\n ``(1) meets nationally accredited teacher training graduate \n program standards; or\n ``(2) demonstrates to the Secretary that at least 90 \n percent of the graduates of such a graduate teacher training \n program take, and on their first attempt pass, the State \n teacher qualification assessments for new teachers.\n\n``SEC. 599D. INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.\n\n ``An individual may be eligible for a National Math and Science \nTeacher Scholarship only if such individual--\n ``(1) is a citizen or national of the United States or an \n alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent \n residence;\n ``(2) is majoring in a physical or life science or \n mathematics graduate teacher training program;\n ``(3) is enrolled in a higher education institution that--\n ``(A) meets nationally accredited teacher training \n graduate program standards; or\n ``(B) demonstrates to the Secretary that at least \n 90 percent of the graduates of such a graduate teacher \n training program who enter the field of teaching take, \n and on their first attempt pass, the State teacher \n qualification assessments for new teachers; and\n ``(4) is willing to be teacher certified or licensed and \n commit themselves to teaching math or science in a rural or \n urban public secondary school for no less than 3 full academic \n years.\n\n``SEC. 599E. SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT.\n\n ``(a) Amount of Award.--The amount of scholarship awarded by \nparticipating teacher training graduate programs under this part for \nany academic year shall be $10,000 per student.\n ``(b) Assistance Not To Exceed Cost of Attendance.--No individual \nshall receive an award under this part in any academic year which \nexceeds the cost of attendance. A scholarship awarded under this part \nshall not be reduced on the basis of the student's receipt of other \nforms of Federal student financial assistance, but shall be taken into \naccount in determining the eligibility of the student for those forms \nof Federal student financial assistance.\n\n``SEC. 599F. AGREEMENT; GRANT AND STIPEND REPAYMENT PROVISIONS.\n\n ``(a) Agreement.--Recipients of the National Math and Science \nTeachers Scholarships shall agree to teach in an urban or rural public \nsecondary school for no less than 3 full academic years.\n ``(b) Repayment for Failure To Fulfill Agreement.--Any recipients \nof a Scholarship found by the Secretary to be in noncompliance with the \nagreement entered into under subsection (a) of this section shall be \nrequired to repay a pro rata amount of the scholarship awards received, \nplus interest and, where applicable, reasonable collection fees, on a \nschedule and at a rate of interest prescribed by the Secretary by \nregulations.\n\n``SEC. 599G. EXCEPTIONS TO REPAYMENT PROVISIONS.\n\n ``An individual recipient of a Scholarship under this part shall \nnot be considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant \nto section 599F during any period in which the recipient--\n ``(1) is pursuing a full-time course of study in math and \n science at an accredited institution;\n ``(2) is serving, not in excess of 3 years, as a member of \n the armed services of the United States;\n ``(3) is totally disabled for a period of time not to \n exceed 3 years as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified \n physician;\n ``(4) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment \n for a single period not to exceed 12 months;\n ``(5) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as \n a math and science teacher in a public or private nonprofit \n elementary or secondary school or education program for a \n single period not to exceed 27 months; or\n ``(6) satisfies the provision of additional repayment \n exceptions that may be prescribed by the Secretary in \n regulations issued pursuant to this section.\n\n``SEC. 599H. REPORT TO CONGRESS.\n\n ``On or before January 29, 2002, the Secretary of Education shall \nsubmit a report to Congress evaluating the success of the National Math \nand Science Teacher Scholarships pilot program in recruiting math and \nscience teachers to teach in America's public secondary schools.''.", "summary": "Recruit and Reward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 1998 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a pilot program for recruitment and training of future secondary school mathematics and science teachers. \nMakes available 500 scholarship grants and stipends to outstanding students enrolled in nationally accredited teacher training graduate programs who are committed to pursuing such careers in secondary school mathematics and science teaching. \nAuthorized appropriations. Designates funds under this Act as National Math and Science Teacher Scholarships. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award funds for such scholarships on a competitive basis to qualifying higher education institutions with graduate programs in teacher training. Limits the amount of such funds in any academic year which may be awarded to any individual higher education institution. Requires such institutions to: (1) meet nationally accredited teacher training graduate program standards; or (2) demonstrate to the Secretary that at least 90 percent of the graduates of the graduate teacher training program take, and on their first attempt pass, the State teacher qualification assessments for new teachers. \nSets forth eligibility requirements for individual scholarships. Limits the scholarship amount per student to $10,000 per academic year. Requires scholarship recipients to agree to teach in an urban or rural public secondary school for at least three full academic years, or repay the pro rata amount of awards received, plus interest, for any failure to fulfill such obligation. Sets forth exceptions to such repayment requirements.", "title": "Recruit and Reward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 1998"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1060, "text": "SECTION 1. LIQUIDATION OR RELIQUIDATION OF CERTAIN ENTRIES OF TOP-OF-\n THE-STOVE STAINLESS STEEL COOKING WARE FROM THE REPUBLIC \n OF KOREA ENTERED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1999 AND JANUARY 22, \n 2003.\n\n (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of \n1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514) or any other provision of law and subject to the \nprovisions of subsection (b), the U.S. Customs and Border Protection \nshall, not later than 90 days after the receipt of the request \ndescribed in subsection (b), liquidate or reliquidate each entry \ndescribed in subsection (d) at the new rate of duty described in that \nsubsection, to the extent the former rate of duty described in that \nsubsection was applied to such merchandise on the date of entry.\n (b) Requests.--Liquidation or reliquidation may be made under \nsubsection (a) with respect to an entry described in subsection (d) \nonly if a request therefore is filed with the U.S. Customs and Border \nProtection not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n (c) Payment of Amounts Owed.--Any amounts owed by the United States \npursuant to the liquidation or reliquidation of any entry under \nsubsection (a) shall be paid not later than 90 days after the date of \nsuch liquidation or reliquidation.\n (d) Entries Described.--The entries referred to in subsection (a) \nare as follows:\n (1) Entry year 1999.--The following entries shall, to the \n extent an antidumping rate of duty of 8.10 percent or 7.39 \n percent was formerly applied, be reliquidated at an antidumping \n rate of duty of 1.67 percent:\n\n\nEntry number........................... Entry date\n 336 2596739-5........................ 2/4/1999\n 336 2596857-5........................ 2/9/1999\n 336 2596897-1........................ 2/9/1999\n 336 2596977-1........................ 2/11/1999\n 336 2597059-7........................ 2/11/1999\n 336 2597136-3........................ 2/17/1999\n 336 2597190-0........................ 2/17/1999\n 336 2597293-2........................ 3/1/1999\n 336 2597320-3........................ 3/1/1999\n 336 2597368-2........................ 3/9/1999\n 336 2597491-2........................ 3/18/1999\n 336 2597536-4........................ 3/18/1999\n 336 2597601-6........................ 3/18/1999\n 336 2597793-1........................ 3/19/1999\n 336 2597808-7........................ 3/25/1999\n 336 2597636-2........................ 3/25/1999\n 336 2597671-9........................ 3/31/1999\n 336 2597901-0........................ 3/31/1999\n 336 2597966-3........................ 4/7/1999\n 336 2598053-9........................ 4/7/1999\n 336 2598123-0........................ 4/14/1999\n 336 2598124-8........................ 4/23/1999\n 336 2598238-6........................ 4/23/1999\n 336 2598511-6........................ 5/3/1999\n 336 2598510-8........................ 5/4/1999\n 336 2598268-3........................ 5/11/1999\n 336 2598269-1........................ 5/11/1999\n 336 2598600-7........................ 5/12/1999\n 336 2598601-5........................ 5/12/1999\n 336 2598739-3........................ 5/18/1999\n 336 2598740-1........................ 5/18/1999\n 336 2598755-9........................ 5/25/1999\n 336 2598756-7........................ 5/25/1999\n 336 2598969-6........................ 6/4/1999\n 336 2598970-4........................ 6/4/1999\n 336 2599136-1........................ 6/4/1999\n 336 2599137-9........................ 6/4/1999\n 336 2599179-1........................ 6/11/1999\n 336 2599725-1........................ 6/21/1999\n 336 2599726-9........................ 6/21/1999\n 336 2599484-5........................ 6/30/1999\n 336 2599485-2........................ 6/30/1999\n 336 2599651-9........................ 7/6/1999\n 336 2599652-7........................ 7/6/1999\n 336 2599787-1........................ 7/14/1999\n 336 2599788-9........................ 7/14/1999\n 336 2599916-6........................ 7/19/1999\n 336 2600049-3........................ 7/30/1999\n 336 2600050-1........................ 7/30/1999\n 336 2600201-0........................ 8/5/1999\n 336 2600202-8........................ 8/5/1999\n 336 2600361-2........................ 8/12/1999\n 336 2600362-0........................ 8/12/1999\n 336 2600484-2........................ 8/18/1999\n 336 2600525-2........................ 8/18/1999\n 336 2600663-1........................ 8/31/1999\n 336 2600664-9........................ 8/31/1999\n 336 2600787-8........................ 9/3/1999\n 336 2600788-6........................ 9/3/1999\n 336 2600996-5........................ 9/23/1999\n 336 2600997-3........................ 9/23/1999\n 336 2601187-0........................ 9/29/1999\n 336 2601188-8........................ 9/29/1999\n 336 2601189-6........................ 10/1/1999\n 336 2601190-4........................ 10/1/1999\n 336 2601431-2........................ 10/5/1999\n 336 2601432-0........................ 10/5/1999\n 336 2601519-4........................ 10/8/1999\n 336 2601520-2........................ 10/8/1999\n 336 2601529-3........................ 10/12/1999\n 336 2601530-1........................ 10/12/1999\n 336 2601655-6........................ 10/19/1999\n 336 2601656-4........................ 10/19/1999\n 336 2601797-6........................ 10/22/1999\n 336 2601798-4........................ 10/22/1999\n 336 2601800-8........................ 11/3/1999\n 336 2601799-2........................ 11/4/1999\n 336 2601950-1........................ 11/10/1999\n 336 2601951-9........................ 11/10/1999\n 336 2602201-8........................ 11/16/1999\n 336 2602202-6........................ 11/16/1999\n 336 2602319-8........................ 11/22/1999\n 336 2602320-6........................ 11/22/1999\n 336 2602404-8........................ 12/1/1999\n 336 2602405-5........................ 12/1/1999\n 336 2602633-2........................ 12/6/1999\n 336 2602632-4........................ 12/8/1999\n 336 2602772-8........................ 12/15/1999\n 336 2602773-6........................ 12/15/1999\n 336 2602845-2........................ 12/22/1999\n 336 2602846-0........................ 12/22/1999\n 336 2602979-9........................ 12/29/1999\n 336 2602980-7........................ 12/29/1999\n \n\n (2) Entry year 2000.--The following entries shall, to the \n extent an antidumping rate of 7.39 percent was formerly \n applied, be reliquidated at an antidumping rate of duty of 1.26 \n percent:\n\n\nEntry number Entry date\n 336 2603169-6........................ 1/3/2000\n 336 2607879-6........................ 1/15/2000\n 739 6029431-9........................ 1/31/2000\n 739 6029704-9........................ 2/8/2000\n 739 6029699-1........................ 2/10/2000\n 739 6029930-0........................ 2/16/2000\n 008 0635322-3........................ 2/21/2000\n 739 6030272-4........................ 2/24/2000\n 336 2604255-2........................ 3/3/2000\n 739 6030562-8........................ 3/7/2000\n 739 6030738-4........................ 3/8/2000\n 336 2604432-7........................ 3/10/2000\n 739 6031041-2........................ 3/15/2000\n 739 6031221-0........................ 3/21/2000\n 739 6031220-2........................ 3/21/2000\n 739 6031198-0........................ 3/22/2000\n 336 2604516-7........................ 3/27/2000\n 008 0635935-2........................ 3/28/2000\n 739 6031554-4........................ 3/29/2000\n 739 6031329-1........................ 3/30/2000\n 739 6031484-4........................ 4/3/2000\n 336 2604723-9........................ 4/6/2000\n 336 2604895-5........................ 4/11/2000\n 336 2605088-6........................ 4/14/2000\n 739 6032412-4........................ 4/23/2000\n 008 0636281-0........................ 4/23/2000\n 739 6031967-8........................ 4/24/2000\n 739 6032414-0........................ 4/24/2000\n 739 6032703-6........................ 5/2/2000\n 739 6032745-7........................ 5/2/2000\n 336 2605234-6........................ 5/5/2000\n 739 6032999-0........................ 5/9/2000\n 739 6033467-7........................ 5/23/2000\n 739 6033484-2........................ 5/23/2000\n 336 2605320-3........................ 6/15/2000\n 336 2605636-2........................ 6/16/2000\n 739 6034538-4........................ 6/16/2000\n 336 2605656-0........................ 6/19/2000\n 336 2605691-7........................ 6/20/2000\n 336 2606008-3........................ 7/6/2000\n 336 2606173-5........................ 7/10/2000\n 739 6035525-0........................ 7/13/2000\n 739 6035507-8........................ 7/13/2000\n 336 2606449-9........................ 7/19/2000\n 739 6035801-5........................ 7/20/2000\n 739 6035707-4........................ 7/20/2000\n 336 2606538-9........................ 7/26/2000\n 336 2606646-0........................ 8/3/2000\n 739 6036406-2........................ 8/3/2000\n 739 6036408-8........................ 8/3/2000\n 739 6036384-1........................ 8/4/2000\n 336 2606921-7........................ 8/9/2000\n 336 2607439-9........................ 8/17/2000\n 336 2607447-2........................ 8/18/2000\n 336 2607838-2........................ 8/22/2000\n 739 6037536-5........................ 9/12/2000\n 739 6038089-4........................ 9/19/2000\n 739 6038497-9........................ 10/2/2000\n 739 6038899-6........................ 10/11/2000\n 739 6039461-4........................ 10/25/2000\n 739 6039311-1........................ 10/30/2000\n 336 2608716-9........................ 11/3/2000\n 336 2608719-3........................ 11/3/2000\n 739 6039841-7........................ 11/7/2000\n 739 6039718-7........................ 11/7/2000\n 336 2609709-3........................ 11/8/2000\n 336 2608722-7........................ 11/8/2000\n 336 9412013-2........................ 11/10/2000\n 336 2609529-5........................ 11/16/2000\n 739 6040100-5........................ 11/16/2000\n 336 9412016-5........................ 11/17/2000\n 336 9412019-9........................ 11/21/2000\n 739 6040227-6........................ 11/25/2000\n 739 6039607-2........................ 11/28/2000\n 336 9412334-2........................ 11/30/2000\n 336 9412337-5........................ 11/30/2000\n 739 6040875-2........................ 12/9/2000\n 739 6040981-8........................ 12/12/2000\n 336 9412631-1........................ 12/13/2000\n 739 6041062-6........................ 12/17/2000\n 336 9412634-5........................ 12/19/2000\n 739 6041145-9........................ 12/20/2000\n 336 9412637-8........................ 12/21/2000\n 336 9412899-4........................ 12/26/2000\n 336 9412965-3........................ 12/28/2000\n 739 6041516-1........................ 12/30/2000\n \n\n (3) Entry year 2001.--The following entries shall, to the \n extent an antidumping rate of duty of 7.39 percent or 1.67 \n percent was formerly applied, be reliquidated at an antidumping \n rate of duty of 0.90 percent:\n\n\nEntry number........................... Entry date\n 739 6041721-7........................ 1/3/2001\n 336 9412562-8........................ 1/5/2001\n 336 9413082-6........................ 1/5/2001\n 008 0641141-9........................ 1/5/2001\n 008 0641202-9........................ 1/11/2001\n 336 9413358-0........................ 1/12/2001\n 336 2608124-6........................ 1/15/2001\n 336 9413361-4........................ 1/15/2001\n 336 9412279-9........................ 1/16/2001\n 739 6042228-2........................ 1/18/2001\n 739 6042223-3........................ 1/18/2001\n 336 9413426-5........................ 1/19/2001\n 336 9413444-8........................ 1/19/2001\n 739 6042405-6........................ 1/23/2001\n 336 9413518-9........................ 1/25/2001\n 739 6042480-9........................ 1/26/2001\n 336 9413814-2........................ 2/5/2001\n 739 6042833-9........................ 2/5/2001\n 739 6042954-3........................ 2/7/2001\n 336 9413894-4........................ 2/8/2001\n 739 6042931-1........................ 2/10/2001\n 336 9414162-5........................ 2/23/2001\n 739 6043410-5........................ 2/24/2001\n 336 9414223-5........................ 3/7/2001\n 739 6043950-0........................ 3/7/2001\n 336 9414325-8........................ 3/20/2001\n 336 9414331-6........................ 3/28/2001\n 336 9414333-2........................ 3/29/2001\n 336 9415452-9........................ 4/2/2001\n 336 9415449-5........................ 4/4/2001\n 336 9415454-5........................ 4/25/2001\n 336 9415456-0........................ 4/25/2001\n 739 6047935-7........................ 6/12/2001\n 739 6047856-5........................ 6/14/2001\n 739 6047934-0........................ 6/14/2001\n 739 6048091-8........................ 6/21/2001\n 336 9567582-9........................ 6/25/2001\n 336 9415457-8........................ 7/6/2001\n 739 6048879-6........................ 7/9/2001\n 739 6048948-9........................ 7/10/2001\n 336 9568422-7........................ 7/13/2001\n 739 6049096-6........................ 7/16/2001\n 336 9568425-0........................ 7/19/2001\n 739 6049296-2........................ 7/20/2001\n 739 6049301-0........................ 7/20/2001\n 739 6049300-2........................ 7/20/2001\n 739 6049299-6........................ 7/21/2001\n 739 6049553-6........................ 7/25/2001\n 336 9568427-6........................ 8/1/2001\n 739 6049985-0........................ 8/8/2001\n 739 6050161-4........................ 8/14/2001\n 739 6050233-1........................ 8/14/2001\n 336 9568429-2........................ 8/16/2001\n 336 9568431-8........................ 8/27/2001\n 739 6050759-5........................ 8/29/2001\n 739 6050761-1........................ 8/29/2001\n 739 6050762-9........................ 8/29/2001\n 739 6050789-2........................ 8/29/2001\n 336 9568435-9........................ 9/5/2001\n 220 1012341-6........................ 9/19/2001\n 220 1012344-0........................ 9/19/2001\n 220 1012345-7........................ 9/19/2001\n 336 9568433-4........................ 9/20/2001\n 336 9568437-5........................ 9/21/2001\n 336 9568439-1........................ 9/21/2001\n 739 6051534-1........................ 9/21/2001\n 739 6051498-9........................ 9/24/2001\n 336 9568441-7........................ 10/1/2001\n 336 9568443-3........................ 10/2/2001\n 739 6052003-6........................ 10/5/2001\n 336 9568445-8........................ 10/8/2001\n 336 9568449-0........................ 10/11/2001\n 739 6052333-7........................ 10/11/2001\n 336 9568447-4........................ 10/17/2001\n 739 6052539-9........................ 10/17/2001\n 739 6052581-1........................ 10/18/2001\n 739 6052580-3........................ 10/19/2001\n 739 6052582-9........................ 10/19/2001\n 739 6052588-6........................ 10/20/2001\n 336 9568451-6........................ 11/5/2001\n 739 6053140-5........................ 11/7/2001\n 336 9568453-2........................ 11/12/2001\n 739 6053218-9........................ 11/12/2001\n 739 6053346-8........................ 11/12/2001\n 739 6053347-6........................ 11/12/2001\n 336 9568455-7........................ 11/14/2001\n 739 6053420-1........................ 11/14/2001\n 336 9568457-3........................ 11/23/2001\n 336 9568459-9........................ 11/30/2001\n 336 9568464-9........................ 12/5/2001\n 739 6054285-7........................ 12/7/2001\n 739 6054242-8........................ 12/11/2001\n 739 6054279-0........................ 12/11/2001\n 739 6054290-7........................ 12/11/2001\n 336 9573250-5........................ 12/17/2001\n 739 6054492-9........................ 12/18/2001\n 739 6054501-7........................ 12/18/2001\n 336 9573252-1........................ 12/26/2001\n \n\n (4) Entry year 2002.--The following entries shall, to the \n extent an antidumping rate of duty of 1.67 percent or 1.26 \n percent was formerly applied, be reliquidated at an antidumping \n rate of duty of 0.90 percent:\n\n\nEntry number........................... Entry date\n 739 6055104-9........................ 1/2/2002\n 336 9573254-7........................ 1/3/2002\n 336 2605850-9........................ 1/7/2002\n 336 9903585-5........................ 1/9/2002\n 336 9573496-4........................ 1/11/2002\n 739 6055356-5........................ 1/11/2002\n 739 6055488-6........................ 1/14/2002\n 336 9903640-8........................ 1/15/2002\n 739 6055586-7........................ 1/15/2002\n 336 9903642-4........................ 1/18/2002\n 336 9573258-8........................ 1/18/2002\n 739 6055963-8........................ 1/25/2002\n 739 6055954-7........................ 1/29/2002\n 739 6056226-9........................ 2/6/2002\n 739 6056338-2........................ 2/6/2002\n 739 6056433-1........................ 2/12/2002\n 739 6056623-7........................ 2/19/2002\n 739 6056968-6........................ 2/28/2002\n 739 6056967-8........................ 3/2/2002\n 739 6057410-8........................ 3/12/2002\n 739 6057409-0........................ 3/15/2002\n 739 6057973-5........................ 3/29/2002\n 739 6058682-1........................ 4/18/2002\n 739 6058950-2........................ 4/27/2002\n 739 6058971-8........................ 4/27/2002\n JG6 8804702-0........................ 5/9/2002\n 739 6059602-8........................ 5/15/2002\n 739 6059573-1........................ 5/15/2002\n 739 6059603-6........................ 5/15/2002\n JG6 8804788-9........................ 5/16/2002\n JG6 8804733-5........................ 5/16/2002\n 739 6059792-7........................ 5/22/2002\n JG6 8804897-8........................ 5/25/2002\n JG6 8805011-5........................ 5/30/2002\n JG6 8804965-3........................ 6/3/2002\n JG6 8804917-4........................ 6/3/2002\n 739 6060475-6........................ 6/10/2002\n 739 6060821-1........................ 6/14/2002\n 739 6060772-6........................ 6/18/2002\n 739 6061068-8........................ 6/22/2002\n 739 6061103-3........................ 6/23/2002\n 739 6061069-6........................ 6/23/2002\n 739 6061895-4........................ 7/10/2002\n 739 6061776-6........................ 7/12/2002\n 739 6062689-0........................ 7/28/2002\n 739 6063735-0........................ 8/20/2002\n 739 6063709-5........................ 8/20/2002\n 739 6063710-3........................ 8/20/2002\n 739 6064286-3........................ 9/3/2002\n 739 6065264-9........................ 9/22/2002\n 739 6065240-9........................ 9/22/2002\n 739 6065872-9........................ 10/6/2002\n \n\n (5) Entry year 2003.--The following entries shall, to the \n extent an antidumping rate of duty of 1.26 percent was formerly \n applied, be reliquidated at an antidumping rate of duty of 0.90 \n percent:\n\n\nEntry number........................... Entry date\n 739 6069860-0........................ 1/5/2003\n 739 6070029-9........................ 1/12/2003\n 739 6070500-9........................ 1/22/2003\n 739 6070760-9........................ 1/26/2003\n 739 6070759-1........................ 1/26/2003\n 739 6070914-2........................ 1/29/2003", "summary": "Directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to liquidate or reliquidate certain entries of top-of-the-stove stainless steel cooking ware from the Republic of Korea.", "title": "A bill to provide for the liquidation or reliquidation of certain entries relating to top-of-the-stove stainless steel cooking ware from the Republic of Korea entered between January 1, 1999 and January 22, 2003."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 927, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Conservation Opportunity Fund \nAct of 2008'' or the ``ECO Fund Act of 2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. REVOLVING FUND FOR LOANS TO STATES AND INDIAN TRIBES TO CARRY \n OUT RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ACTIVITIES.\n\n (a) Establishment of Fund.--There is established in the Treasury of \nthe United States a revolving fund, to be known as the ``Alternative \nEnergy Sources State Revolving Fund''.\n (b) Credits.--The Fund shall be credited with--\n (1) any amounts appropriated to the Fund pursuant to \n subsection (g);\n (2) any amounts of principal and interest from loan \n repayments received by the Secretary pursuant to subsection \n (d)(7); and\n (3) any interest earned on investments of amounts in the \n Fund pursuant to subsection (e).\n (c) Expenditures.--\n (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), on request by \n the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary \n of the Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the Secretary \n such amounts as the Secretary determines are necessary to \n provide loans under subsection (d)(1).\n (2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts in the Fund, \n not more than 5 percent shall be available for each fiscal year \n to pay the administrative expenses of the Department of Housing \n and Urban Development to carry out this section.\n (d) Loans to States and Indian Tribes.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use amounts in the \n Fund to provide loans to States and Indian tribes to provide \n incentives to owners of single-family and multifamily housing, \n commercial properties, and public buildings to provide--\n (A) renewable energy sources for such structures, \n such as wind, wave, solar, biomass, or geothermal \n energy sources, including incentives to companies and \n business to change their source of energy to such \n renewable energy sources and for changing the sources \n of energy for public buildings to such renewable energy \n sources;\n (B) energy efficiency and energy conserving \n improvements and features for such structures; or\n (C) infrastructure related to the delivery of \n electricity and hot water for structures lacking such \n amenities.\n (2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a loan under \n this subsection, a State or Indian tribe, through an \n appropriate State or tribal agency, shall submit to the \n Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and \n containing such information as the Secretary may require.\n (3) Criteria for approval.--The Secretary may approve an \n application of a State or Indian tribe under paragraph (2) only \n if the Secretary determines that the State or tribe will use \n the funds from the loan under this subsection to carry out a \n program to provide incentives described in paragraph (1) that--\n (A) requires that any such renewable energy \n sources, and energy efficiency and energy conserving \n improvements and features, developed pursuant to \n assistance under the program result in compliance of \n the structure so improved with the energy efficiency \n requirements under section 2(a) of the; and\n (B) includes such compliance and audit requirements \n as the Secretary determines are necessary to ensure \n that the program is operated in a sound and effective \n manner.\n (4) Preference.--In making loans during each fiscal year, \n the Secretary shall give preference to States and Indian tribes \n that have not previously received a loan under this subsection.\n (5) Maximum amount.--The aggregate outstanding principal \n amount from loans under this subsection to any single State or \n Indian tribe may not exceed $500,000,000.\n (6) Loan terms.--Each loan under this subsection shall have \n a term to maturity of not more than 10 years and shall bear \n interest at annual rate, determined by the Secretary, that \n shall not exceed interest rate charged by the Federal Reserve \n Bank of New York to commercial banks and other depository \n institutions for very short-term loans under the primary credit \n program, as most recently published in the Federal Reserve \n Statistical Release on selected interest rates (daily or \n weekly), and commonly referred to as the H.15 release, \n preceding the date of a determination for purposes of applying \n this paragraph.\n (7) Loan repayment.--The Secretary shall require full \n repayment of each loan made under this section.\n (e) Investment of Amounts.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest \n such amounts in the Fund that are not, in the judgment of the \n Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet needs for current \n withdrawals.\n (2) Obligations of united states.--Investments may be made \n only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.\n (f) Reports.--\n (1) Reports to secretary.--For each year during the term of \n a loan made under subsection (d), the State or Indian tribe \n that received the loan shall submit to the Secretary a report \n describing the State or tribal alternative energy sources \n program for which the loan was made and the activities \n conducted under the program using the loan funds during that \n year.\n (2) Report to congress.--Not later than September 30 of \n each year that loans made under subsection (d) are outstanding, \n the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress describing \n the total amount of such loans provided under subsection (d) to \n each eligible State and Indian tribe during the fiscal year \n ending on such date, and an evaluation on effectiveness of the \n Fund.\n (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to the Fund $5,000,000,000.\n (h) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the following \ndefinitions shall apply:\n (1) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the \n meaning given such term in section 4 of the Native American \n Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 \n U.S.C. 4103).\n (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Housing and Urban Development.\n (3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several \n States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of \n Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, \n Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Trust Territories \n of the Pacific, or any other possession of the United States.", "summary": "Energy Conservation Opportunity Fund Act of 2008 or the ECO Fund Act of 2008 - Establishes in the Treasury an Alternative Energy Sources State Revolving Fund.\n\nDirects the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to use amounts in the Fund to provide loans to states and Indian tribes to provide incentives to owners of single family and multifamily housing, commercial properties, and public buildings to provide: (1) renewable energy sources, such as wind, wave, solar, biomass, or geothermal energy, for such structures; (2) energy efficiency and energy conserving improvements and features for such structures; or (3) infrastructure related to the delivery of electricity and hot water for structures lacking such amenities.", "title": "To establish a revolving loan fund to provide loans to States and Indian tribes to provide incentives to undertake activities to provide renewable energy sources for housing and other structures."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 971, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Natural Disaster \nMitigation Act of 2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. NONREFUNDABLE PERSONAL CREDIT FOR NATURAL DISASTER MITIGATION \n PROPERTY.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after \nsection 25D the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 25E. NATURAL DISASTER MITIGATION PROPERTY.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an individual, there \nshall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter \nfor the taxable year an amount equal to 25 percent of the qualified \nnatural disaster mitigation property expenditures made by the taxpayer \nduring such taxable year in connection with a qualified principal \nresidence of the taxpayer.\n ``(b) Maximum Credit.--The credit allowed under subsection (a) with \nrespect to any principal residence of the taxpayer for any taxable year \nshall not exceed the excess of--\n ``(1) $5,000 (half such amount in the case of a married \n individual filing a separate return), over\n ``(2) the aggregate amounts allowed as a credit under this \n section to the taxpayer (or the taxpayer's spouse) with respect \n to such residence for all prior taxable years.\n ``(c) Limitation Based on Amount of Tax.--In the case of a taxable \nyear to which section 26(a)(2) does not apply, the credit allowed under \nsubsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed the excess of--\n ``(1) the sum of the regular tax liability (as defined in \n section 26(b)) plus the tax imposed by section 55, over\n ``(2) the sum of the credits allowable under this subpart \n (other than this section and sections 23, 24, and 25B) and \n section 27 for the taxable year.\n ``(d) Qualified Natural Disaster Mitigation Property Expenditure.--\nFor purposes of this section, the term `qualified natural disaster \nmitigation property expenditure' means an expenditure for--\n ``(1) property to improve the strength of a roof deck \n attachment,\n ``(2) property to create a secondary water barrier to \n prevent water intrusion,\n ``(3) property to improve the durability of a roof \n covering,\n ``(4) property to brace gable-end walls,\n ``(5) property to reinforce the connection between a roof \n and supporting wall,\n ``(6) property to protect openings from penetration by \n windborne debris,\n ``(7) property to protect exterior doors and garages,\n ``(8) property to improve the natural resiliency of the \n property, including the restoration, establishment, or \n enhancement of aquatic resources (having the meanings given \n such terms by part 332 of title 33 of the Code of Federal \n Regulations), as prescribed by the Secretary after consultation \n with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency \n and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works,\n ``(9) seismic retrofitting, including property to increase \n resistance to seismic activity, ground motion, or soil failure \n due to earthquakes, or\n ``(10) such other measures to mitigate natural disaster \n damage to homes, as prescribed by the Secretary after \n consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency \n Management Agency and, to the extent applicable, in accordance \n with section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and \n Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note; Public Law 104-\n 113).\n ``(e) Qualified Principal Residence.--For purposes of this section, \nthe term `qualified pricnipal residence' means the principal residence \nof the taxpayer (within the meaning of section 121) if such residence--\n ``(1) is assessed by the locality in which it is located at \n a value which does not exceed 300 percent of the national \n median home price (determined as of the close of the taxable \n year for which the credit determined under this section is \n allowed), and\n ``(2) is not severe repetitive loss property (as defined in \n section 1361A of the National Flood Insurance Act (42 U.S.C. \n 4102a(b))).\n ``(f) Rules Related to Inspections and Labor Costs.--For purposes \nof this section--\n ``(1) Inspection requirement.--An expenditure shall be \n taken into account in determining the qualified natural \n disaster mitigation property expenditures made by the taxpayer \n during the taxable year only if the installation of the \n property with respect to which such expenditure is made has \n been completed in a manner that is deemed to be adequate by an \n inspector that is licensed or certified by the State or other \n governmental authority, or its designee, having jurisdiction \n over inspectors in the area where the installed property is \n located.\n ``(2) Labor and inspection costs.--For purposes of this \n section, expenditures for labor costs properly allocable to the \n onsite preparation, assembly, or original installation of the \n property described in subsection (d) (including the cost of \n inspections referred to in paragraph (1)) shall be taken into \n account in determining the qualified natural disaster \n mitigation property expenditures made by the taxpayer during \n the taxable year.\n ``(g) Basis Adjustment.--For purposes of this section, if a credit \nis allowed under this section for any expenditure with respect to any \nproperty, the increase in the basis of such property which would (but \nfor this subsection) result from such expenditure shall be reduced by \nthe amount of the credit so allowed.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart A of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by \ninserting after the item relating to section 25D the following new \nitem:\n\n``Sec. 25E. Natural disaster mitigation property.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011.", "summary": "Natural Disaster Mitigation Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a nonrefundable tax credit for 25% of their qualified natural disaster mitigation property expenditures, as defined by this Act, made in connection with the taxpayer's principal residence.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit against tax for natural disaster mitigation expenditures."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 184, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``International Development Act of \n1994''.\n\nSEC. 2. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY.\n\n The Bretton Woods Agreements Act (22 U.S.C. 286-286mm) is amended \nby adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 61. CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY.\n\n ``(a) Contribution Authority.--\n ``(1) In general.--The United States Governor of the Bank \n may contribute $400,000,000 on behalf of the United States to \n the Global Environment Facility.\n ``(2) Subject to appropriations.--The authority provided by \n paragraph (1) shall be effective only to such extent and in \n such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.\n ``(b) Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.--For the \ncontribution authorized by subsection (a), there are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary of the Treasury not more than \n$400,000,000, without fiscal year limitation.''.\n\nSEC. 3. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FUND.\n\n (a) In General.--The African Development Fund Act (22 U.S.C. 290g-\n290g-15) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 217. SEVENTH REPLENISHMENT.\n\n ``(a) Contribution Authority.--\n ``(1) In general.--The United States Governor of the Fund \n may contribute $315,000,000 to the seventh replenishment of the \n resources of the Fund.\n ``(2) Subject to appropriations.--The authority provided by \n paragraph (1) shall be effective only to such extent and in \n such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.\n ``(b) Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.--For the \ncontribution authorized by subsection (a), there are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary of the Treasury not more than \n$315,000,000, without fiscal year limitation.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \ntake effect on the later of--\n (1) October 1, 1994; or\n (2) the date the Secretary of the Treasury notifies the \n Congress that the negotiations of the seventh replenishment of \n the resources of the African Development Fund have been \n concluded successfully.\n\nSEC. 4. INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AND FUND FOR SPECIAL \n OPERATIONS.\n\n The Inter-American Development Bank Act (22 U.S.C. 283-283z-9) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 38. CAPITAL INCREASE; INCREASE IN RESOURCES OF FUND FOR SPECIAL \n OPERATIONS.\n\n ``(a) Authority To Vote for Increase in Authorized Capital Stock of \nBank and Increase in Resources of Fund for Special Operations.--The \nUnited States Governor of the Bank may vote for resolutions which--\n ``(1) were transmitted by the Board of Executive Directors \n to the Governors of the Bank by resolution of __________;\n ``(2) are pending before the Board of Governors of the \n Bank; and\n ``(3) provide for--\n ``(A) an increase in the authorized capital stock \n of the Bank and subscriptions to the Bank; and\n ``(B) an increase in the resources of the Fund for \n Special Operations and contributions to the Fund.\n ``(b) Subscription and Contribution Authority.--\n ``(1) In general.--On adoption of the resolutions described \n in subsection (a), the United States Governor of the Bank may, \n on behalf of the United States--\n ``(A) subscribe to 760,644 shares of the increase \n in the authorized capital stock of the Bank, 12,738 of \n which shall be shares of paid-in capital stock and \n 747,906 of which shall be shares of callable capital \n stock; and\n ``(B) contribute $82,304,000 to the Fund for \n Special Operations.\n ``(2) Subject to appropriations.--The authority provided by \n paragraph (1) shall be effective only to such extent and in \n such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.\n ``(c) Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.--\n ``(1) Subscription.--For the subscription authorized by \n subsection (b)(1)(A), there are authorized to be appropriated \n to the Secretary of the Treasury, without fiscal year \n limitation--\n ``(A) not more than $76,832,001 for shares of paid-\n in capital stock of the Bank; and\n ``(B) not more than $4,511,156,729 for shares of \n callable capital stock of the Bank.\n ``(2) Contribution.--For the contribution authorized by \n subsection (b)(1)(B), there are authorized to be appropriated \n to the Secretary of the Treasury not more than $82,304,000, \n without fiscal year limitation.\n ``(d) Authority To Vote for Certain Resolutions.--The United States \nGovernor of the Bank may vote for a proposed resolution of the Board of \nGovernors entitled `Amendments to the Agreement Establishing the Inter-\nAmerican Development Bank, the Regulations of the Board of Governors, \nthe General Rules Governing Admission of Nonregional Countries to \nMembership in the Bank, and the Regulations for the Election of \nExecutive Directors', which was submitted to the Board of Governors \npursuant to a resolution of the Board of Executive Directors approved \non __________.''.\n\nSEC. 5. ENHANCED STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT FACILITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL \n MONETARY FUND.\n\n The Bretton Woods Agreements Act (22 U.S.C. 286-286mm), as amended \nby section 2 of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n\n``SEC. 62. CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTEREST SUBSIDY ACCOUNT OF THE ENHANCED \n STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT FACILITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL \n MONETARY FUND.\n\n ``(a) Contribution Authority.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the United \n States Governor of the Fund may make contributions on behalf of \n the United States in fulfillment of the United States \n commitment to contribute to the Interest Subsidy Account of the \n Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility of the Fund.\n ``(2) Subject to appropriations.--The authority provided by \n paragraph (1) shall be effective only to such extent and in \n such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.\n ``(b) Limitation on Authorization of Appropriations.--For the \ncontribution authorized by subsection (a), there are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary of the Treasury not more than \n$25,000,000, without fiscal year limitation.''.\n\nSEC. 6. MILITARY SPENDING BY RECIPIENT COUNTRIES; MILITARY INVOLVEMENT \n IN THE ECONOMIES OF RECIPIENT COUNTRIES.\n\n Title XV of the International Financial Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. \n262o) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 1502. MILITARY SPENDING BY RECIPIENT COUNTRIES; MILITARY \n INVOLVEMENT IN THE ECONOMIES OF RECIPIENT COUNTRIES.\n\n ``(a) Consideration of Commitment to Achieving Certain Goals.--The \nSecretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States Executive \nDirectors of the international financial institutions (as defined in \nsection 1701(c)(2)) to promote growth in the international economy by \ntaking into account, when considering whether to support or oppose loan \nproposals at these institutions, the extent to which the recipient \ngovernment has demonstrated a commitment to achieving the following \ngoals:\n ``(1) To provide accurate and complete data on the annual \n expenditures and receipts of the armed forces.\n ``(2) To end excessive military involvement in the economy.\n ``(3) To make substantial reductions in excessive military \n spending and forces.\n ``(4) To end corruption involoving members of the armed \n forces.\nThe Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Banking, Finance and \nUrban Affairs and on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and \nthe Committees on Foreign Relations and on Appropriations of the Senate \na report on the steps taken to determine appropriate definitions of the \ngoals set forth in subsection (a).\n ``(b) Steps to Achieve Goals Required.--The Secretary of the \nTreasury shall instruct the United States Executive Directors of the \ninternational financial institutions (as so defined) to promote a \npolicy at each institution under which--\n ``(1) the staff will include in its supporting documents \n for each proposed loan a report on military expenditures and an \n assessment of the steps taken by the recipient government to \n achieve the goals set forth in subsection (a);\n ``(2) the governing body will not approve proposed loans \n where insufficient effort has been made to achieve such goals, \n except in cases where the proposed loans are specifically \n designed to meet the basic human needs of the poor; and\n ``(3) a report on military expenditures and an assessment \n of the steps taken by the recipient government to achieve the \n goals set forth in subsection (a) will be included in regular \n policy consultations with developing countries.\n ``(c) Conditional Opposition to Loans to Indonesia.--In furtherance \nof the policy established by subsection (a), the Secretary of the \nTreasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall, not later \nthan May 1, 1995, submit to the Committees on Banking, Finance and \nUrban Affairs and on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and \nthe Committees on Foreign Relations and on Appropriations of the Senate \na report on the performance of the Government of Indonesia in achieving \nor implementing a credible plan to achieve the goals set forth in \nsubsection (a).''.\n\nSEC. 7. RESPECT FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.\n\n Title XVI of the International Financial Institutions Act (22 \nU.S.C. 262p-262p-5) is amended by redesignating section 1620 as section \n1621 and by inserting after section 1619 the following:\n\n``SEC. 1620. RESPECT FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.\n\n ``The Secretary of the Treasury shall direct the United States \nExecutive Directors of the international financial institutions (as \ndefined in section 1701(c)(2)) and the United States representative to \nthe council of the Global Environment Facility administered by the \nInternational Bank for Reconstruction and Development to use the voice \nand vote of the United States to bring about the creation and full \nimplementation of policies designed to promote respect for and full \nprotection of the territorial rights, traditional economies, cultural \nintegrity, traditional knowledge, and human rights of indigenous \npeoples.''.\n\nSEC. 8. FOCUS ON LOW-INCOME AREAS OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARRIBEAN.\n\n The Inter-American Development Bank Act (22 U.S.C. 283-283z-9) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n\n``SEC. 38. FOCUS ON LOW-INCOME AREAS OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE \n CARRIBEAN.\n\n ``The Secretary of the Treasury shall direct the United States \nExecutive Director of the Bank to use the voice and vote of the United \nStates to support an increased focus on the poorest countries in Latin \nAmerica and the Carribean, and on poorer areas of better off countries, \nand to support porgrams conducted by the Multilateral Investment Fund, \nparticularly in targeting low-income countries and populations, working \nwith nongovernmental organizations and training and assisting former \ncombatants from civil conflicts in Latin America.''.\n\nSEC. 9. GUARANTEE OF WORKER RIGHTS.\n\n Title XVI of the International Financial Institutions Act (22 \nU.S.C. 262p-262p-5), as amended by section 7 of this Act, is amended by \nredesignating section 1621 as section 1622 and by inserting after \nsection 1620 the following:\n\n``SEC. 1621. GUARANTEE OF WORKER RIGHTS.\n\n ``The Secretary of the Treasury shall direct the United States \nExecutive Director at each international financial institution (as \ndefined in section 1701(c)(2) of this Act) to use the voice and vote of \nthe United States to urge the respective institution to adopt policies \nto encourage borrowing countries to guarantee internationally \nrecognized worker rights (within the meaning of section 502(a)(4) of \nthe Trade Act of 1974).''.", "summary": "International Development Act of 1994 - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the World Bank to contribute a specified amount to the Global Environment Facility. \nAmends the African Development Fund Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the African Development Fund to contribute a specified amount to the seventh replenishment of the Fund. \nAmends the Inter-American Development Bank Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank, upon adoption of resolutions, to subscribe to an increase in the authorized capital stock of the Bank and contribute a specified amount to the Fund for Special Operations. \nAuthorizes the U.S. Governor of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to contribute to the Interest Subsidy Account of the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility of the IMF. \nAuthorizes appropriations. \nAmends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of certain international financial institutions to take into account, when considering whether to support or oppose loan proposals, the extent to which the recipient government has demonstrated a commitment to achieving the following: (1) providing accurate and complete data on the annual expenditures and receipts of the armed forces; (2) ending excessive military involvement in the economy; (3) making substantial reductions in excessive military spending and forces; and (4) ending corruption involving members of the armed forces. \nRequires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the Government of Indonesia's performance in achieving such goals. \nDirects the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors to bring about policies to promote respect for, and rights of, indigenous peoples. \nRequires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank to support an increased focus on the poorest countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and to support programs of the Multilateral Investment Fund. \nRequires the Secretary to direct the U.S. Executive Directors to urge their respective institutions to adopt policies to encourage borrowing countries to guarantee internationally recognized worker rights.", "title": "International Development Act of 1994"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1004, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``House Ethics Commission \nEstablishment Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF HOUSE ETHICS COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established an independent ethics \ncommission within the legislative branch of the Government to be known \nas the House Ethics Commission (in this Act referred to as the \n``Commission'').\n (b) Membership and Terms of Office.--(1) The Commission shall \nconsist of 12 individuals. Six former Democratic Members shall be \nappointed by the Republican leader and 6 former Republican Members by \nthe Democratic leader of the House of Representatives. Except as \nprovided by paragraph (2), the terms of all members of the Commission \nshall be 2 years and no member may serve for more than 6 years.\n (2) Of the members first appointed--\n (A) 2 appointed by each leader shall be for a term of 2 \n years;\n (B) 2 appointed by each leader shall be for a term of 4 \n years; and\n (C) 2 appointed by each leader shall be for a term of 6 \n years;\nas designated by each such leader at the time of appointment.\n (c) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The chairman and the vice chairman \nof the Commission shall be selected by the members of the Commission at \nits first meeting. No member may serve for more than one 2-year term as \nchairman and no member may serve for more than one 2-year term as vice \nchairman.\n (d) Qualifications.--Only former Members of the House of \nRepresentatives shall be eligible for appointment to the Commission.\n (1) Disqualifications for appointments.--\n (A) Lobbying.--No individual who has been a \n lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act \n of 1995 or engages in, or is otherwise employed in, \n lobbying of the Congress or who is an agent of a \n foreign principal registered under the Foreign Agents \n Registration Act within the 4-year period immediately \n preceding appointment shall be eligible for appointment \n to, or service on, the Commission.\n (B) Incompatible office.--No member of the \n Commission appointed under subsection (b) may be an \n elected public official or an officer or employee of \n the Government.\n (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled \n in the manner in which the original appointment was made.\n (e) Compensation.--Members shall each be entitled to receive the \ndaily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay in effect for \nLevel III of the Executive Schedule for each day (including travel \ntime) during which they are engaged in the actual performance of duties \nvested in the Commission.\n (f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall \nconstitute a quorum.\n (g) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the \nchairman or a majority of its members.\n\nSEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.\n\n The Commission is authorized--\n (1) to investigate any alleged violation, by a Member, \n officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, of any \n law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable \n to the conduct of such Member, officer, or employee in the \n performance of his duties or the discharge of his \n responsibilities, and after notice and hearing (unless the \n right to a hearing is waived by the Member, officer, or \n employee), shall report to the House of Representatives its \n findings of fact and recommendations, if any, upon the final \n disposition of any such investigation, and such action as the \n Commission may deem appropriate in the circumstances;\n (2) to issue any letter of reproval or admonishment with \n respect to such an alleged violation;\n (3) to report to the appropriate Federal or State \n authorities any substantial evidence of a violation, by a \n Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, \n of any law applicable to the performance of his duties or the \n discharge of his responsibilities, which may have been \n disclosed in a Commission investigation; and\n (4) to adopt rules governing its procedures to provide \n protections to respondents comparable to those that were \n provided by clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of \n Representatives in effect immediately before the amendments to \n such rule made by section 8.\n\nSEC. 4. POWERS OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Hearings and Evidence.--The Commission or, on the authority of \nthe Commission, the chairman or vice chairman, may, for the purpose of \ncarrying out this Act--\n (1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and \n places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer \n such oaths; and\n (2) subject to subsection (b), require, by subpoena or \n otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and \n the production of such books, records, correspondence, \n memoranda, papers, and documents, as the Commission or the \n chairman or vice chairman may determine advisable.\n (b) Subpoenas.--\n (1) In general.--A subpoena may be issued only under the \n signature of the chairman or the vice chairman, and may be \n served by any person designated by the chairman or the vice \n chairman.\n (c) Obtaining Information.--Upon request of the Commission, the \nhead of any agency or instrumentality of the Government shall furnish \ninformation deemed necessary by the panel to enable it to carry out its \nduties.\n\nSEC. 5. PROCEDURAL RULES.\n\n (a) Majority Approval.--No report or recommendation relating to the \nofficial conduct of a Member, officer, or employee of the House of \nRepresentatives shall be made by the Commission, and no investigation \nof such conduct shall be undertaken by the Commission, unless approved \nby the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission.\n (b) Investigations.--Except in the case of an investigation \nundertaken by the Commission on its own initiative, the Commission may \nundertake an investigation relating to the official conduct of an \nindividual Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives \nonly--\n (1) upon receipt of a complaint, in writing and under oath, \n made by or submitted to a Member of the House of \n Representatives and transmitted to the Commission by such \n Member, or\n (2) upon receipt of a complaint from the chairman of the \n Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of \n Representatives, in writing and under oath, made by that \n committee.\n (c) Prohibition of Certain Investigations.--No investigation shall \nbe undertaken by the Commission of any alleged violation of a law, \nrule, regulation, or standard of conduct not in effect at the time of \nthe alleged violation.\n (d) Disclosure.--No information or testimony received, or the \ncontents of a complaint or the fact of its filing, shall be publicly \ndisclosed by any member of the Commission or staff of the Commission \nunless specifically authorized in each instance by a vote of the \nCommission.\n\nSEC. 6. STAFF OF COMMISSION.\n\n The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such staff \nas the Commission considers necessary to perform its duties. The \ndirector shall be appointed jointly by the Speaker and minority leader \nand shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable \nfor Level III of the Executive Schedule.\n\nSEC. 7. ACTION ON COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.\n\n (a) Printing of Reports in Congressional Record.--Upon receipt by \nthe Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of \nRepresentatives of any report of the Commission, the Speaker of the \nHouse of Representatives shall have the report printed in the \nCongressional Record.\n (b) House Consideration of Independent Ethics Commission \nRecommendations.--Within 14 calendar days after a report referred to in \nsubsection (a) is printed in the Congressional Record, that portion of \nthe report recommending action by the House of Representatives \nrespecting any alleged violation, by a Member, officer, or employee of \nthe House of Representatives, of any law, rule, regulation, or other \nstandard of conduct applicable to the conduct of such Member, officer, \nor employee in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his \nresponsibilities shall be introduced (by request) in the House by the \nSpeaker of the House, for himself and the minority leader of the House \nin the form of a resolution. This resolution shall constitute a \nquestion of privilege under rule IX of the Rules of the House of \nRepresentatives. Any Member favoring the resolution may call it up as a \nquestion of privilege but only on the third day after the calendar date \nupon which such Member announces to the House his intention to do so.\n\nSEC. 8. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE TO CHANGE THE DUTIES OF \n THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.\n\n (a) House Rules Amendments.--Clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of \nthe House of Representatives is amended as follows:\n (1) In paragraph (a), strike subparagraphs (1), (2), and \n (3), and redesignate subparagraphs (4), (5), and (6), as \n subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.\n (2)(A) Paragraph (b)(1) is amended by striking ``(A)'', by \n striking ``a resolution, report, recommendation, or'' and \n inserting ``an'', and by striking ``, or, except as provided in \n subparagraph (2), undertake an investigation'', and by striking \n subdivision (B).\n (B) Paragraph (b) is further amended by striking \n subparagraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) and by redesignating \n subparagraphs (6) and (7) as subparagraphs (2) and (3), \n respectively.\n (3) Strike paragraphs (j) (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), and \n (q).\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 803 of the Ethics Reform Act of \n1989 (2 U.S.C. 29d) is amended by striking subsections (c) and (d).\n\nSEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act shall take effect upon the date of its enactment, except \nthat sections 3, 4, and 8 shall not take effect until the later of 6 \nmonths after such date of enactment or immediately prior to noon \nJanuary 3, 2009.", "summary": "House Ethics Commission Establishment Act of 2007 - Establishes an independent House Ethics Commission within the legislative branch.\n\nAmends Rule XI (Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to revise the duties of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to conform with this Act.", "title": "To establish the House Ethics Commission, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1413, "text": "SECTION 1. REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND DEFENSE \n CONTRACTORS FROM IRAQ.\n\n (a) Commencement of Redeployment.--Not later than 90 days after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall \ncommence the redeployment of units and members of the Armed Forces \ndeployed in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and contractors \noperating in Iraq and funded using amounts appropriated to the \nDepartment of Defense.\n (b) Completion of Redeployment.--The Secretary of Defense shall \ncomplete the redeployment of the Armed Forces and defense contractors \nfrom Iraq within 180 days beginning on the date of the commencement of \nthe redeployment required under subsection (a).\n (c) Prohibition on Use of Funds To Increase Armed Forces Serving in \nIraq.--Funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department \nof Defense under any provision of law may not be obligated or expended \nto increase the number of members of the Armed Forces serving in Iraq \nin excess of the number of members serving in Iraq as of January 1, \n2007, unless the increase has been specifically authorized in advance \nby an Act of Congress.\n (d) Authority To Determine Locations Outside of Iraq for \nRedeployment.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict \nthe locations outside of Iraq to which units and members of the Armed \nForces redeployed from Iraq may be transferred, including redeployment \nto an adjacent or nearby country at the invitation of the government of \nthe country or redeployment to bolster military forces deployed in \nAfghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.\n (e) Authority To Retain Armed Forces in Iraq for Limited \nPurposes.--The Secretary of Defense may retain in Iraq members of the \nArmed Forces for the purpose of providing security for the United \nStates Embassy and other United States diplomatic missions in Iraq; \nprotecting American citizens, including members of the Armed Forces; \nserving in roles consistent with customary diplomatic positions; \nengaging in targeted special actions limited in duration and scope to \nkilling or capturing members of al-Qaeda and other terrorist \norganizations with global reach; and training and equipping members of \nthe Iraqi Security Forces. At the request of the Government of Iraq, \nthe Secretary of Defense may retain in Iraq members of the Army Corps \nof Engineers and defense contractors engaged in reconstruction projects \nin Iraq, to the extent necessary to complete such projects.\n (f) Availability of Funds for Safe and Orderly Redeployment.--\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated or \notherwise made available in any Act are immediately available for \nobligation and expenditure to plan and execute a safe and orderly \nredeployment of the Armed Forces and defense contractors from Iraq, as \nrequired by this section.\n (g) Transfer of United States Military Facilities in Iraq.--The \nPresident of the United States shall transfer to the Government of Iraq \nall right, title, and interest held by the United States in any \nmilitary facility in Iraq that was constructed, repaired, or improved \nusing amounts appropriated to the Department of Defense and occupied by \na unit of the Armed Forces.\n (h) Prohibition on Use of Funds To Further Deploy United States \nArmed Forces to Iraq.--Beginning on the date of the completion of the \nredeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq under subsection (b), funds \nappropriated or otherwise made available under any provision of law may \nnot be obligated or expended to further deploy units or members of the \nArmed Forces to Iraq, including through participation in any \nmultinational force in Iraq, except as provided under subsection (e) or \nunless such deployment of units or members of the Armed Forces is \nspecifically authorized in advance by an Act of Congress.\n (i) Assistance to Iraqi Security Forces and Multinational Forces in \nIraq.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or \notherwise restrict the use of funds available to the Department of \nDefense for the purpose of providing financial assistance or equipment \nto the Iraqi Security Forces or multinational forces providing security \nor training in Iraq at the request of the Government of Iraq.\n (j) Continuation of Diplomatic, Social, and Economic Reconstruction \nActivities in Iraq.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to \nprohibit or otherwise restrict the use of funds available to any \ndepartment or agency of the United States (other than the Department of \nDefense) to carry out diplomatic, social, and economic reconstruction \nactivities in Iraq at the request of the Government of Iraq.\n (k) Asylum or Other Means of Protection for Iraqi Citizens.--\nNothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or otherwise \nrestrict the authority of the President to arrange asylum or other \nmeans of protection for Iraqi citizens who might be physically \nendangered by the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq.\n (l) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Armed Forces'' has the \nmeaning given the term in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States \nCode.", "summary": "Requires the Secretary of Defense: (1) within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, to commence the redeployment of units and members of the Armed Forces (U.S. forces) deployed in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and defense contractors operating in Iraq and funded using amounts appropriated to the Department of Defense (DOD); and (2) to complete such redeployment within 180 days after its commencement.\n\nProhibits the use of DOD funds to increase the number of U.S. forces serving in Iraq in excess of the number of U.S. forces serving in Iraq as of January 1, 2007, unless specifically authorized by Congress.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary to retain in Iraq U.S. forces for: (1) providing security for embassy and diplomatic missions; (2) protecting American citizens; (3) serving in roles consistent with diplomatic positions; (4) engaging in targeted special actions of killing or capturing members of al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations with global reach; and (5) training and equipping members of the Iraqi Security Forces.\n\nMakes funds immediately available to plan and execute a redeployment of U.S. forces and defense contractors from Iraq.\n\nRequires the President to transfer to the government of Iraq all right, title, and interest held by the United States in any military facility in Iraq that was constructed, repaired, or improved using amounts appropriated to DOD and occupied by U.S. forces.\n\nProhibits any funds from being used to further deploy U.S. forces to Iraq after completion of the redeployment, unless specifically authorized by Congress.\n\nProhibits anything in this Act from being construed to: (1) restrict the locations outside of Iraq to which U.S. forces redeployed from Iraq may be transferred; (2) prohibit or otherwise restrict the use of funds available to DOD for the purpose of providing financial assistance or equipment to the Iraqi Security Forces or multinational forces providing security or training in Iraq at the request of the government of Iraq; (3) prohibit or otherwise restrict the use of funds available to any department or agency of the United States (other than DOD) to carry out diplomatic, social, and economic reconstruction activities in Iraq at the request of the government of Iraq; and (4) prohibit or otherwise restrict the authority of the President to arrange asylum or other means of protection for Iraqi citizens who might be physically endangered by the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq.", "title": "To provide for the redeployment of United States Armed Forces and defense contractors from Iraq."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 497, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Hurricane Katrina Employment and \nTraining Assistance Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. SPECIAL RULES FOR NATIONAL EMERGENCY GRANTS RELATED TO \n HURRICANE KATRINA.\n\n (a) Use of Grants for Projects Outside Disaster Area.--Funds \nprovided to States that submit applications for assistance described in \nsection 173(a)(2) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. \n2918(a)(2)) to address the effects of Hurricane Katrina may be used to \nprovide disaster relief employment and other assistance under section \n173(d)(1) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2918(d)(1)) on projects that provide \nassistance in areas outside of the disaster area (as such term is \ndefined in section 173(a)(2) of such Act).\n (b) Expanded Eligibility for Disaster Relief Employment.--Funds \nprovided to States that submit applications for assistance described in \nsection 173(a)(2) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to address \nthe effects of Hurricane Katrina may be used to provide disaster relief \nemployment and other assistance under section 173(d)(1) of such Act, or \npublic sector employment authorized under subsection (c) of this Act, \nto individuals who were unemployed at the time of the emergency or \nmajor disaster involved and to individuals who are without employment \nhistory, in addition to individuals described in section 173(d)(2) of \nthe Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2918(d)(2)).\n (c) Authorization for General Public Sector Employment.--Funds \nprovided to States that submit applications for assistance described in \nsection 173(a)(2) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to address \nthe effects of Hurricane Katrina may be used to provide to eligible \nindividuals temporary employment by public sector entities for a period \nnot to exceed 6 months in addition to disaster relief employment \ndescribed in section 173(d)(1) of such Act.\n (d) Extension of the Duration of Disaster Relief Employment.--The \nSecretary of Labor may extend the 6-month maximum duration of \nemployment under this Act and under section 173(d) of the Workforce \nInvestment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2918(d)) for not more than an \nadditional 6 months due to extraordinary circumstances.\n (e) Priority for Disaster Relief Employment Funds.--In awarding \nnational emergency grants to States under section 173(a)(2) of the \nWorkforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2918(a)(2)) to address the \neffects of Hurricane Katrina by providing disaster relief employment, \nthe Secretary of Labor shall--\n (1) first, give priority to States in which areas that have \n suffered major disasters (as defined in section 102 of the \n Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act \n (42 U.S.C. 5122)) are located; and\n (2) second, give priority to the remaining States that have \n been most heavily impacted by the demand for services by \n workers affected by Hurricane Katrina.\n (f) Documentation.--In providing disaster relief employment under \nsection 173(a)(2) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. \n2918(a)(2)), an entity shall not deny such employment to a worker \naffected by Hurricane Katrina because of the worker's inability, due to \nthe effects of Hurricane Katrina, to provide at the time of application \nappropriate documentation of eligibility under section 173(d)(2) of \nsuch Act (29 U.S.C. 2918(d)(2)).\n (g) Eligibility for Needs-Related Payments.--Funds provided to \nStates that submit applications for asisstance described in section \n173(a)(2) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. \n2918(a)(2)) to address the effects of Hurricane Katrina may be used to \nprovide needs-related payments (described in section 134(e)(3) of such \nAct (29 U.S.C. 2864(e)(3))) to individuals described in subsection (b) \nwho do not qualify for (or have ceased to qualify for) unemployment \ncompensation, and who are not employed on a project described under \nsection 173(d) of such Act, for the purpose of enabling such \nindividuals to participate in activities described in paragraphs (2), \n(3), or (4) of section 134(d) of such Act.\n (h) Use of Available Funds.--With the approval of the Secretary of \nLabor, any State may use funds that remain available for expenditure \nunder any grants awarded to the State under section 173 of the \nWorkforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2918) or under this \nsection, to provide any assistance authorized under such section 173 or \nthis section, or personal protective equipment not otherwise available \nthrough public funds or private contributions, to assist workers \naffected by Hurricane Katrina, including workers who have relocated \nfrom areas for which an emergency or major disaster (as defined in \nsection 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency \nAssistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)) was declared, due to the effects of \nHurricane Katrina.\n (i) Expanded Eligibility for Employment and Training Activities.--\n (1) In general.--In awarding national emergency grants \n under section 173(a)(1) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 \n (29 U.S.C. 2918(a)(1)), the Secretary may award such a grant to \n an entity to provide employment and training assistance \n available under section 173(a)(1) of such Act to workers \n affected by Hurricane Katrina, including workers who have \n relocated from areas for which an emergency or major disaster \n (as defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster \n Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)) was \n declared, due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina.\n (2) Eligible entity.--In this subsection, the term \n ``entity'' means a State, a local board (as defined in section \n 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801)), \n or an entity described in section 166(c) of such Act (29 U.S.C. \n 2911(c)), that submits an application for assistance described \n in section 173(a)(1) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to \n address the effects of Hurricane Katrina.\n\nSEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.\n\n (a) Mobile One-Stop Centers.--It is the sense of Congress that \nStates that operate mobile one-stop centers, established as part of \none-stop delivery systems authorized under subtitle B of title I of the \nWorkforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2811 et seq.) should, where \npossible, make such centers available for use in the areas affected by \nHurricane Katrina, and areas where large numbers of workers affected by \nHurricane Katrina have been relocated.\n (b) Expanded Operational Hours.--It is the sense of Congress that \none-stop operators (as such term is defined in section 101 of the \nWorkforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801) should increase \naccess for workers affected by Hurricane Katrina to the one-stop \ndelivery systems authorized under subtitle B of title I of such Act, \nincluding through the implementation of expanded operational hours at \none-stop centers and on-site services for individuals in temporary \nhousing locations.", "summary": "Hurricane Katrina Employment and Training Assistance Act - Allows national emergency grant funds to states under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) for addressing the effects of Hurricane Katrina (HK) to be used to provide disaster relief employment on projects that provide assistance in areas outside of the HK-disaster area.\n\nAllows such funds to be used to provide disaster relief employment and other WIA assistance, or temporary general public sector employment, to HK-affected individuals, including those who have relocated from states in the disaster area, who were unemployed at the time of the disaster, or who are without employment history, in addition those who meet WIA eligibility requirements. \n \n Limits such general public sector employment to not more than six months in addition to such disaster relief employment. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor, however, to extend the duration of employment under this Act and WIA for up to an additional six months due to extraordinary circumstances. \n \n Directs the Secretary, in awarding WIA national emergency grants for disaster relief employment, to give priority: (1) first, to states with major disaster areas; and (2) second, to the remaining states that have been most heavily impacted by the demand for services by HK-affected workers. \n \n Prohibits an entity that is providing such disaster relief employment from denying such employment because of an HK-affected worker's inability, due to HK's effects, to provide documentation of eligibility. \n \n Allows any state, with the Secretary's approval, to use available WIA national emergency grant funds to assist HK-affected workers, including those who have relocated from states in the HK-disaster area. \n \n Authorizes the Secretary to award a WIA national emergency grant for employment and training assistance (ETA) for dislocated workers to an eligible entity to provide ETA to HK-affected workers, including workers who have relocated from HK-disaster areas. \n \n (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) states operating one-stop centers should make them available for use in HK-affected areas and areas where large numbers of HK's victims have been relocated; and (2) one-stop operators should increase access for HK-affected individuals, including through expanded operational hours and on-site services for those in temporary housing locations.", "title": "A bill to provide special rules for disaster relief employment under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 for individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1151, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Investing in Neighborhood-focused, \nVital, Evidence-based Strategies and Trust to Prevent Crime Act of \n2016'' or the ``INVEST to Prevent Crime Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe \nStreets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following:\n\n ``PART MM--DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM\n\n``SEC. 3031. DEFINITIONS.\n\n ``In this part--\n ``(1) the term `crime hot spot' means a defined geographic \n area within a target neighborhood where, for not less than 1 \n year, the occurrence of crime is so frequent that it is highly \n predictable;\n ``(2) the term `eligible entity' means a State, unit of \n local government, Indian tribe, tribal organization, non-profit \n organization, or institution of higher education that is a \n member of a community consortium, which includes not less than \n 1 partner law enforcement agency, that is committed to working \n with law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and research \n partners to develop an evidence-based or research-based, cross-\n sector strategy to revitalize a target neighborhood facing \n significant crime challenges;\n ``(3) the term `evidence-based practice' means a program, \n strategy, or procedure that has been demonstrated as effective \n by causal evidence, obtained through one or more outcome \n evaluations;\n ``(4) the terms `Indian tribe' and `tribal organization' \n have the meanings given those terms in section 4 of the Indian \n Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. \n 5304);\n ``(5) the term `institution of higher education' has the \n meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher Education \n Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002);\n ``(6) the term `State' means each of the 50 States, the \n District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the \n United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the \n Northern Mariana Islands;\n ``(7) the term `target neighborhood' means a defined \n geographic area that is the focus of a project funded by a \n grant awarded under this part; and\n ``(8) the term `unit of local government' means a county, \n municipality, city, town, township, village, parish, borough, \n or other unit of general government below the State level.\n\n``SEC. 3032. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.\n\n ``(a) In General.--The Attorney General may--\n ``(1) make grants to eligible entities to prepare a \n comprehensive plan for and implement enhancement of the \n capacity of local and tribal communities to effectively target \n and address significant crime issues through collaborative \n cross-sector approaches; and\n ``(2) provide training and technical assistance to eligible \n entities that receive grants under this part.\n ``(b) Project Goals.--Projects funded under this section shall--\n ``(1) identify a target neighborhood facing significant \n crime challenges;\n ``(2) use evidence-based practices or research-based \n practices;\n ``(3) encourage active involvement and leadership from \n neighborhood residents, business owners, organizations, and \n others who live, work, or conduct business in the target \n neighborhood; and\n ``(4) build cross-sector partnerships to address crime \n problems from multiple perspectives.\n ``(c) Applications.--\n ``(1) In general.--To receive a planning grant or an \n implementation grant under this section, an eligible entity \n shall submit an application to the Attorney General in such \n form and containing such information as the Attorney General \n may reasonably require.\n ``(2) Combined application.--The Attorney General may \n develop a procedure under which an eligible entity may apply at \n the same time and in a single application for a planning grant \n and an implementation grant under this section, with receipt of \n the implementation grant conditioned on the successful \n completion of the activities funded by the planning grant.\n ``(3) Research partner.--\n ``(A) In general.--An applicant for a grant under \n this section shall identify a research partner, such as \n an institution of higher education, research center, or \n State or local agency, to--\n ``(i) conduct a detailed crime analysis \n during the planning period described in \n subsection (d)(1)(A); and\n ``(ii) assist the grant recipient to select \n the most appropriate evidence-based practices \n or research-based practices to apply based on \n the research findings.\n ``(B) Continued assistance.--A research partner \n described in subparagraph (A) shall remain engaged \n throughout the duration of the grant by continuing to \n provide and analyze data to help inform project \n implementation.\n ``(d) Duration of Grants.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2)--\n ``(A) a planning grant awarded under this section \n shall be used by the recipient for a period not to \n exceed 12 months; and\n ``(B) an implementation grant awarded under this \n section shall be used by the recipient for a period not \n to exceed 36 months.\n ``(2) Extension of planning or implementation.--Upon \n request of a grant recipient, the Attorney General may allow \n the grant recipient to extend the planning period described in \n paragraph (1)(A) or the implementation period described in \n paragraph (1)(B) for a reasonable length of time, as determined \n by the Attorney General.\n ``(3) Limitation on additional funds.--If the Attorney \n General allows an extension under paragraph (2), the Attorney \n General may not award additional grant funds.\n ``(e) Planning Grants.--A grant awarded for the planning phase of a \nproject may be used to--\n ``(1) identify, verify, and prioritize crime hot spots \n within the target neighborhood;\n ``(2) build community partnerships and facilitate \n leadership to ensure residents are active participants in the \n strategy to address crime in the community;\n ``(3) collaborate with local law enforcement agencies, \n research partners, and the community to analyze the drivers of \n crime and assess the needs of the community and the available \n resources to meet those needs; and\n ``(4) work with community consortium partners to develop a \n comprehensive cross-sector strategic plan to reduce crime in \n the target neighborhood that is based on the findings made \n under paragraph (3).\n ``(f) Implementation Grants.--Funds awarded for the implementation \nphase of a project may be used to--\n ``(1) convene regular meetings of cross-sector partners and \n the project management team;\n ``(2) continue work with research partners to assess \n project implementation;\n ``(3) modify strategies developed during project planning \n as appropriate;\n ``(4) support personnel and program costs to implement \n strategies developed during project planning;\n ``(5) pursue community engagement and leadership \n development; and\n ``(6) identify and develop a long-term sustainable strategy \n to continue to achieve the project's goals after the conclusion \n of the implementation period.\n\n``SEC. 3033. REPORT TO CONGRESS.\n\n ``At the end of the first grant year, and each year thereafter, the \nAttorney General shall submit a report to the Committee on the \nJudiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House \nof Representatives that provides an overall assessment of the \noutcomes--\n ``(1) achieved by the demonstration projects funded under \n this part; and\n ``(2) achieved by any demonstration projects that--\n ``(A) received funding under the Byrne Criminal \n Justice Innovation program of the Department of Justice \n during fiscal years 2013 through 2016; and\n ``(B) were carried out during the grant year to \n which the report pertains.\n\n``SEC. 3034. GRANT ACCOUNTABILITY.\n\n ``(a) Accountability.--All grants awarded by the Attorney General \nunder this part shall be subject to the following accountability \nprovisions:\n ``(1) Audit requirement.--\n ``(A) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term \n `unresolved audit finding' means a finding in the final \n audit report of the Inspector General of the Department \n of Justice that the audited grantee has utilized grant \n funds for an unauthorized expenditure or otherwise \n unallowable cost that is not closed or resolved within \n 12 months from the date when the final audit report is \n issued.\n ``(B) Audits.--Beginning in the first fiscal year \n beginning after the date of enactment of this \n subsection, and in each fiscal year thereafter, the \n Inspector General of the Department of Justice shall \n conduct audits of recipients of grants under this part \n to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds by \n grantees. The Inspector General shall determine the \n appropriate number of grantees to be audited each year.\n ``(C) Mandatory exclusion.--A recipient of grant \n funds under this part that is found to have an \n unresolved audit finding shall not be eligible to \n receive grant funds under this part during the first 2 \n fiscal years beginning after the end of the 12-month \n period described in subparagraph (A).\n ``(D) Priority.--In awarding grants under this \n part, the Attorney General shall give priority to \n eligible applicants that did not have an unresolved \n audit finding during the 3 fiscal years before \n submitting an application for a grant under this part.\n ``(E) Reimbursement.--If an entity is awarded grant \n funds under this part during the 2-fiscal-year period \n during which the entity is barred from receiving grants \n under subparagraph (C), the Attorney General shall--\n ``(i) deposit an amount equal to the amount \n of the grant funds that were improperly awarded \n to the grantee into the General Fund of the \n Treasury; and\n ``(ii) seek to recoup the costs of the \n repayment to the fund from the grant recipient \n that was erroneously awarded grant funds.\n ``(2) Nonprofit organization requirements.--\n ``(A) Definition.--For purposes of this paragraph \n and the grant programs under this part, the term \n `nonprofit organization' means an organization that is \n described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section \n 501(a) of such Code.\n ``(B) Prohibition.--The Attorney General may not \n award a grant under this part to a nonprofit \n organization that holds money in offshore accounts for \n the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in \n section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\n ``(C) Disclosure.--Each nonprofit organization that \n is awarded a grant under this part and uses the \n procedures prescribed in regulations to create a \n rebuttable presumption of reasonableness for the \n compensation of its officers, directors, trustees, and \n key employees, shall disclose to the Attorney General, \n in the application for the grant, the process for \n determining such compensation, including the \n independent persons involved in reviewing and approving \n such compensation, the comparability data used, and \n contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and \n decision. Upon request, the Attorney General shall make \n the information disclosed under this subparagraph \n available for public inspection.\n ``(3) Conference expenditures.--\n ``(A) Limitation.--No amounts made available to the \n Department of Justice under this part may be used by \n the Attorney General, or by any individual or entity \n awarded discretionary funds through a cooperative \n agreement under this part, to host or support any \n expenditure for conferences that uses more than $20,000 \n in funds made available by the Department of Justice, \n unless the head of the relevant agency or department, \n provides prior written authorization that the funds may \n be expended to host the conference.\n ``(B) Written approval.--Written approval under \n subparagraph (A) shall include a written estimate of \n all costs associated with the conference, including the \n cost of all food, beverages, audio-visual equipment, \n honoraria for speakers, and entertainment.\n ``(C) Report.--The Deputy Attorney General shall \n submit an annual report to the Committee on the \n Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the \n Judiciary of the House of Representatives on all \n conference expenditures approved under this paragraph.\n ``(4) Annual certification.--Beginning in the first fiscal \n year beginning after the date of enactment of this subsection, \n the Attorney General shall submit, to the Committee on the \n Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and \n the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on \n Appropriations of the House of Representatives, an annual \n certification--\n ``(A) indicating whether--\n ``(i) all audits issued by the Office of \n the Inspector General under paragraph (1) have \n been completed and reviewed by the appropriate \n Assistant Attorney General or Director;\n ``(ii) all mandatory exclusions required \n under paragraph (1)(C) have been issued; and\n ``(iii) all reimbursements required under \n paragraph (1)(E) have been made; and\n ``(B) that includes a list of any grant recipients \n excluded under paragraph (1) from the previous year.\n ``(b) Preventing Duplicative Grants.--\n ``(1) In general.--Before the Attorney General awards a \n grant to an applicant under this part, the Attorney General \n shall compare potential grant awards with other grants awarded \n under this part to determine if duplicate grant awards are \n awarded for the same purpose.\n ``(2) Report.--If the Attorney General awards duplicate \n grants to the same applicant for the same purpose the Attorney \n General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the \n Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of \n Representatives a report that includes--\n ``(A) a list of all duplicate grants awarded, \n including the total dollar amount of any duplicate \n grants awarded; and\n ``(B) the reason the Attorney General awarded the \n duplicate grants.''.\n (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1001(a) of title I of \nthe Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. \n3793(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(28) For activities under part MM, there are authorized \n to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 \n through 2021.''.", "summary": "Investing in Neighborhood-focused, Vital, Evidence-based Strategies and Trust to Prevent Crime Act of 2016 or the INVEST to Prevent Crime Act This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a grant program for governments, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education to prepare a comprehensive plan and enhance community capacity to address crime through collaborative cross-sector approaches.", "title": "Investing in Neighborhood-focused, Vital, Evidence-based Strategies and Trust to Prevent Crime Act of 2016"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2367, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Monument Creation and \nProtection Act'' or the ``National Monument CAP Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. LIMITATION ON SIZE; CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE OBJECTS.\n\n Section 320301 of title 54, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``historic landmarks, \n historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of \n historic or scientific interest'' and inserting ``object or \n objects of antiquity'';\n (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``confined to the \n smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of \n the objects to be protected'' and inserting ``in accordance \n with the limitations outlined in subsections (e), (f), (g), and \n (h)''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(e) Limitation on Size of National Monuments.--Except as provided \nby subsections (f), (g), and (h), after the date of the enactment of \nthis subsection, land may not be declared under this section in a \nconfiguration that would create a national monument--\n ``(1) that is more than 640 acres; and\n ``(2) whose exterior boundary is less than 50 miles from \n the closest exterior boundary of another national monument \n declared under this section.\n ``(f) Exception for Monuments of Less Than 5,000 Acres.--Subsection \n(e) shall not apply to the designation of a national monument under \nthis section if the national monument so designated--\n ``(1) would be less than 5,000 acres;\n ``(2) would have all exterior boundaries 50 miles or more \n from the closest exterior boundary of another national monument \n declared under this section; and\n ``(3) has been reviewed under the National Environmental \n Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) by the Secretary of \n the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate.\n ``(g) Exception for Monuments of 5,000 Acres and up to 10,000 \nAcres.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subsection (e) shall not apply to the \n designation of a national monument under this section if the \n national monument so designated--\n ``(A) would be at least 5,000 acres but not more \n than 10,000 acres; and\n ``(B) would have all exterior boundaries 50 miles \n or more from the closest exterior boundary of another \n national monument declaration under this section.\n ``(2) Other requirement.--A monument described in this \n subsection shall be subject to the preparation of an \n environmental assessment or environmental impact statement as \n part of a review under the National Environmental Policy Act of \n 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The choice of environmental \n review document shall be within the discretion of the Secretary \n of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as \n appropriate.\n ``(h) Exception for Monuments 10,000 Acres and up to 85,000 \nAcres.--Subsection (e) shall not apply to the designation of a national \nmonument under this section if the national monument so designated--\n ``(1) would be at least 10,000 acres but not more than \n 85,000 acres;\n ``(2) would have all exterior boundaries 50 miles or more \n from the closest exterior boundary of another national monument \n declaration under this section; and\n ``(3) has been approved by the elected governing body of \n each county (or county equivalent), the legislature of each \n State, and the Governor of each State within whose boundaries \n the national monument will be located (and the Governor of each \n such State has transmitted a copy of each such approval to the \n President).\n ``(i) Exception for Emergency Designation.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subsection (e) shall not apply to the \n designation under this section of a national monument of any \n acreage amount if designation is made to prevent imminent and \n irreparable harm to the object or objects of antiquity to be \n protected by the designation.\n ``(2) One year limitation.--A national monument designation \n under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is one \n calendar year after the date of the designation.\n ``(3) One time designation.--Land designated as a national \n monument under this subsection--\n ``(A) may only be so designated one time; and\n ``(B) may not also be permanently designated as a \n national monument under this section.\n ``(4) Rights and uses.--Land designated as a national \n monument under this subsection shall remain subject to--\n ``(A) valid existing rights; and\n ``(B) uses allowed on the day before such \n designation under an applicable Resource Management \n Plan or Forest Plan.\n ``(j) Presidential Authority To Reduce Size of Declared \nMonuments.--The President may--\n ``(1) reduce the size of any national monument declared \n under this section by 85,000 acres or less; or\n ``(2) reduce the size of any national monument declared \n under this section by more than 85,000 acres only if the \n reduction--\n ``(A) has been approved by the elected governing \n body of each county (or county equivalent), the \n legislature of each State, and the Governor of each \n State within whose boundaries the national monument \n will be located (and the Governor of each such State \n has transmitted a copy of each such approval to the \n President); and\n ``(B) has been reviewed under the National \n Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et \n seq.) by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary \n of Agriculture, as appropriate.\n ``(k) Non-Federally Owned Property.--After the date of the \nenactment of this subsection, land may not be declared as a national \nmonument under this section in a configuration that would place non-\nfederally owned property within the exterior boundaries of the national \nmonument without the express written consent of the owners of that non-\nfederally owned property.\n ``(l) Effect of Declaration on Federal Funds.--No declaration under \nthis section shall be construed to increase the amount of Federal funds \nthat are authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year.\n ``(m) Water Rights Associated With a Declaration.--Water rights \nassociated with a declaration under this section--\n ``(1) may not be reserved expressly or by implication by a \n declaration under this section; and\n ``(2) may be acquired for a declaration under this section \n only in accordance with the laws of the State in which the \n water rights are based.\n ``(n) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:\n ``(1) Declaration; declared.--The terms `declaration' and \n `declared' shall only include the creation or expansion of a \n national monument under this section.\n ``(2) Land.--The term `land' shall not include submerged \n land or water.\n ``(3) Object or objects of antiquity.--\n ``(A) The term `object or objects of antiquity' \n means--\n ``(i) relics;\n ``(ii) artifacts;\n ``(iii) human or animal skeletal remains;\n ``(iv) fossils (other than fossil fuels); \n and\n ``(v) certain buildings constructed before \n the date of the enactment of this subsection.\n ``(B) The term `object or objects of antiquity' \n does not include--\n ``(i) natural geographic features; and\n ``(ii) objects not made by humans, except \n fossils (other than fossil fuels) or human or \n animal skeletal remains.''.", "summary": "National Monument Creation and Protection Act This bill amends the Antiquities Act of 1906 to allow the President to declare by public proclamation an object or objects of antiquity (currently, historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest) that are situated on lands owned or controlled by the federal government to be national monuments. "Objects of antiquity" means relics, artifacts, human or animal skeletal remains, fossils, and certain buildings constructed before enactment of this bill. The bill prescribes limits on land that may be declared to be a national monument based on acreage, proximity to other national monuments, whether it has been reviewed by the Department of the Interior or Agriculture (USDA) under the National Environmental Policy Act, and whether it has been approved by each county and state within whose boundaries it will be located. Such limitation shall not apply to a designation made to prevent imminent and irreparable harm to the object or objects of antiquity to be protected. Such exception shall end after one year and may be used only once. The President may reduce the size of any declared national monument: (1) by 85,000 acres or less; or (2) by more than 85,000 acres only if the reduction has been approved by each county and state within whose boundaries the monument will be located and reviewed by Interior or USDA under the National Environmental Policy Act. The bill prohibits any land from being declared as a national monument in a configuration that would place nonfederally owned property within the monument without first obtaining the owners' written consent. ", "title": "National Monument Creation and Protection Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1910, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``National Care Corps Act of 2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall apply:\n (1) Corps.--The term ``Corps'' means the National Care \n Corps established under section 3 of this Act.\n (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of \n the Corps appointed under section 3(b)(1) of this Act.\n (3) Local care corps program.--The term ``local Care Corps \n program'' means a program funded with a grant awarded under \n section 10(b) of this Act that hosts Corps members and arranges \n for them to provide approved services to individuals in need.\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Health and Human Services.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CARE CORPS.\n\n (a) In General.--There is established in the Department of Health \nand Human Services a program to be known as the ``National Care Corps'' \nthrough which Corps members provide approved services to individuals in \nneed via participation in local Care Corps programs.\n (b) Staff.--\n (1) Appointment of director.--The Secretary, acting through \n the Administrator for Community Living, shall appoint a \n Director of the Corps.\n (2) Duties of director.--The Director shall--\n (A) design, develop, and administer Corps programs;\n (B) manage the daily operations of the Corps; and\n (C) report to the Administrator for Community \n Living.\n (3) Authority to employ staff.--The Director may employ \n such staff as is necessary to carry out this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. SELECTION AND ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS.\n\n (a) In General.--\n (1) Selection.--The Director shall select eligible \n individuals for membership in the Corps.\n (2) Nondiscrimination.--In selecting Corps members, the \n Director shall comply with all applicable provisions of State \n and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to \n nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity.\n (b) Eligible Individuals.--To be eligible for membership in the \nCorps, an individual shall--\n (1) be at least 18 years of age on or before December 31 of \n the calendar year in which the individual begins participation \n in the Corps;\n (2) agree to participate in the Corps for a period of not \n more than 24 months;\n (3) submit an application to the Director at such time, in \n such manner, and containing such information as the Director \n may require;\n (4) pass a criminal background check as described in \n subsection (c); and\n (5) agree to comply with such terms and conditions as the \n Director may require.\n (c) Criminal Background Check.--\n (1) In general.--Before selecting any individual for \n membership in the Corps, the Director shall request a criminal \n background check of such individual.\n (2) Membership prohibitions.--An individual shall be \n ineligible to be a Corps member if--\n (A) such individual refuses to consent to the \n criminal background check; or\n (B) the criminal background check does not \n demonstrate to the Director's satisfaction that such \n individual is fit for Corps service.\n\nSEC. 5. AUTHORIZED BENEFITS FOR CORPS MEMBERS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Director shall provide for members of the \nCorps to receive allowances, health insurance, and post-service \neducational awards authorized by this section.\n (b) Allowances.--The Director shall provide each Corps member with \nsuch living, travel, and leave allowances, and such housing \ntransportation, supplies, equipment, and subsistence as the Director \nmay determine to be necessary for the member's maintenance and to \nensure the member's health and capacity to serve effectively.\n (c) Health Insurance.--\n (1) In general.--The Director shall provide for each Corps \n member to receive health insurance coverage.\n (2) Minimum essential coverage.--The health insurance \n coverage described paragraph (1) shall meet the requirements of \n section 5000A(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\n (d) Post-Service Educational Award.--\n (1) In general.--The Director shall establish an \n educational award for Corps members.\n (2) Amounts.--\n (A) Amount for full-time service.--In the case of a \n Corps member who completes a 12-month term of full-time \n service as determined by the Director, such member \n shall receive an educational award having a value equal \n to the maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant under \n section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 \n U.S.C. 1070a) that a student eligible for such grant \n may receive in the aggregate (without regard to whether \n the funds are provided through discretionary or \n mandatory appropriations) for the award year. A Corps \n member may receive up to 2 such awards.\n (B) Amount for other periods of service.--In the \n case of a Corps member who completes less than a 12-\n month term of full-time service as determined by the \n Director, such member may receive a portion of the \n educational award described in subparagraph (A) that \n corresponds to the quantity of service actually \n completed by the member.\n (3) Uses of award.--An educational award shall be used to \n pay--\n (A) costs of attendance at an institution of higher \n education; or\n (B) government or commercial loans received by an \n individual for costs of attendance at an institution of \n higher education.\n (4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection, the \n following definitions shall apply:\n (A) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of \n attendance'' has the meaning given such term by section \n 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n 1087ll).\n (B) Institution of higher education.--The term \n ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning \n given such term by section 101(a) of the Higher \n Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).\n (e) Regulations.--The Director shall issue any regulations that the \nDirector determines to be necessary to carry out this section.\n\nSEC. 6. ASSIGNMENT OF CORPS MEMBERS TO SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH \n DISABILITIES.\n\n (a) Assignment of Corps Members.--\n (1) In general.--The Director shall assign each Corps \n member to participate in a local Care Corps program.\n (2) Priority of assignment.--In assigning Corps members to \n local Care Corps programs, the Director shall assign not less \n than 20 percent of members to programs that serve geographic \n areas in which the Director determines there is a shortage of \n approved services available to individuals in need, with \n consideration given to low-income and minority populations.\n (b) Services Provided by Corps Members.--\n (1) In general.--Corps members may only provide approved \n services to individuals in need through participation in local \n Care Corps programs.\n (2) Approved services.--Approved services are services \n provided directly to individuals in need in home-based settings \n that--\n (A) result in person-to-person, supportive \n relationships with each individual served;\n (B) support the achievement and maintenance of the \n highest level of independent living for each individual \n in need;\n (C) are meaningful to the Corps member; and\n (D) are supported by appropriate orientation, \n training, and supervision.\n (3) Prohibited services.--In performing duties as a Corps \n member, no member shall provide--\n (A) professional medical services;\n (B) administrative support services to a local \n Corps program;\n (C) care in an institutional setting;\n (D) care prohibited under State law; or\n (E) any other services determined by the director \n to be inconsistent with the purposes of the Corps.\n (4) Guidance regarding scope of services.--The Director may \n issue guidance describing the scope of services that may be \n provided by Corps members. In issuing such guidance, the \n Director shall provide for a public notice and comment period \n of not less than 30 days before issuing the guidance in final \n form.\n (c) Individual in Need.--The term ``individual in need'' means an \nindividual who--\n (1) is at least 65 years of age or has a disability as \n defined in section 3 of the Americans With Disabilities Act of \n 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102);\n (2) has difficulty with self-care; and\n (3) meets such other criteria as the Director determines to \n be appropriate.\n\nSEC. 7. TRAINING AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.\n\n (a) Pre-Assignment Training Program.--The Director shall develop a \ntraining program that provides Corps members with instruction in the \nskills necessary to carry out an assignment in a local Care Corps \nprogram. Such training program shall include--\n (1) at least 20 hours of instruction for each Corps member; \n and\n (2) any other requirements the Director determines to be \n appropriate.\n (b) Standards of Conduct.--The Director shall establish and enforce \nstandards to promote proper conduct and discipline within the Corps.\n\nSEC. 8. STATUS OF CORPS MEMBERS UNDER FEDERAL LAW.\n\n (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, \nmembers of the Corps shall not, by reason of their status as members, \nbe treated as Federal employees or be subject to the provisions of law \nrelating to Federal employment.\n (b) Work-Related Injuries.--\n (1) In general.--For purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 \n of title 5, United States Code, relating to the compensation of \n Federal employees for work injuries, members of the Corps shall \n be treated as employees of the United States within the meaning \n of the term ``employee'', as defined in section 8101 of such \n title.\n (2) Special rule.--In the application of the provisions of \n subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to a \n member of the Corps, the member shall not be treated to be in \n the performance of duty while absent from the member's assigned \n post of duty unless the absence is authorized in accordance \n with procedures prescribed by the Director.\n (c) Tort Claims Procedure.--A member of the Corps shall be treated \nas an employee of the United States for purposes of chapter 171 of \ntitle 28, United States Code, relating to tort claims liability and \nprocedure.\n\nSEC. 9. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.\n\n The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the \nAdministrator for Community Living, shall transmit to Congress at least \nonce in each fiscal year a report on the Corps. At minimum, such report \nshall include--\n (1) a description of the population served by the Corps \n during the preceding fiscal year;\n (2) an evaluation of Corps operations; and\n (3) recommendations, if any, for improving Corps \n operations.\n\nSEC. 10. LOCAL CARE CORPS PROGRAMS.\n\n (a) Functions of Local Care Corps Programs.--Local Care Corps \nprograms shall--\n (1) conduct in-person orientation and training for Corps \n members;\n (2) develop and monitor member assignments, which shall \n include selecting the individuals in need to be served by Corps \n members, matching members to assignments, and supervising \n members;\n (3) maintain records and prepare reports as required by the \n Director; and\n (4) carry out any other activities determined to be \n appropriate by the Director.\n (b) Grants for Local Care Corps Programs.--The Director may award \ngrants to qualified entities for the operation of local Care Corps \nprograms.\n (1) Qualified entity.--The term ``qualified entity'' means \n a public or private nonprofit entity that is--\n (A) part of an aging network, as defined by section \n 102(5) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. \n 3002(5));\n (B) a time-banking or volunteer organizing agency;\n (C) a State, county, or local government; or\n (D) any other entity determined to be appropriate \n by the Director.\n (2) Application process.--To be eligible for a grant under \n this subsection, a qualified entity shall--\n (A) submit an application to the Director at such \n time, in such manner, and containing such information \n as the Director may require; and\n (B) abide by such terms and conditions as the \n Director determines to be appropriate.\n\nSEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated \n$350,000,000 for each of the fiscal years beginning after the date of \nthe enactment of this Act.\n (b) Continued Availability of Funds.--Amounts authorized to be \nappropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year are authorized to \nremain available for that fiscal year and the subsequent fiscal year.", "summary": "National Care Corps Act of 2014 - Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the National Care Corps through which Corps Members provide certain services to individuals in need who are age 65 or older or have a disability and have difficulty with self-care.", "title": "National Care Corps Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2459, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Completion \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds that--\n (1) in the early 1980s, James Doyle, doing business as \n Rocky Mountain Ventures and Environmental Land Technologies, \n Ltd., began assembling land for a massive real estate \n development in the rapidly growing St. George area of Utah;\n (2) the centerpieces of this development were 9 golf \n courses surrounded by luxury homes;\n (3) during the 1980s, James Doyle acquired 2,440 acres and \n held preferential rights to an additional 11,000 acres for this \n development;\n (4) throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, James Doyle \n invested large amounts of money to acquire and develop this \n land, including--\n (A) procuring the water rights and engineering \n studies;\n (B) developing proposals and designs for \n transportation corridors;\n (C) constructing 1 golf course and designing nine \n more;\n (D) developing utility layouts and placements;\n (E) installing necessary sewer, water, and power \n for the various properties; and\n (F) securing all necessary zoning adjustments and \n development permissions;\n (5) with planning and preparation essentially complete by \n 1989, James Doyle was prepared to break ground for the initial \n phase of his project;\n (6) on April 2, 1990, the United States Fish and Wildlife \n Service published a final rule listing the Mojave population of \n the desert tortoise as ``threatened'' under the Endangered \n Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);\n (7) on February 8, 1994, the United States Fish and \n Wildlife Service published a final rule designating all of \n James Doyle's land as critical habitat for the Mojave \n population of the desert tortoise;\n (8) the listing of the desert tortoise and designation of \n James Doyle's land as critical habitat for the tortoise made \n James Doyle's planned land development, as well as that of \n other nearby lands, unlawful without the issuance of an \n incidental take permit by the United States Fish and Wildlife \n Service;\n (9) in response to the designation, James Doyle, as a \n member of the Habitat Conservation Plan Steering Committee, \n worked with other landowners, as well as Federal, State, and \n county officials, to create a Habitat Conservation Plan \n covering Washington County that would have allowed James Doyle \n to develop a portion of his land;\n (10) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service rejected \n the plan, stating that the plan set aside insufficient land to \n protect the tortoise;\n (11) James Doyle and the Steering Committee prepared a \n revised Habitat Conservation Plan, which the United States Fish \n and Wildlife Service approved on February 23, 1996;\n (12) the approved Habitat Conservation Plan allowed the \n development of 350,000 acres of tortoise habitat, and set aside \n 61,022 acres, including all of James Doyle's land, as protected \n tortoise habitat reserve where no development was allowed;\n (13) to this end, the Habitat Conservation Plan expressly \n provided that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service would \n issue no incidental take permits for desert tortoises on \n reserve lands;\n (14) in return for placing the land in the tortoise \n reserve, the United States promised that it would acquire title \n to all of the private land, including James Doyle's, by \n exchange or purchase at fair market value;\n (15) despite extensive negotiations, the United States \n acquired only about 400 acres of James Doyle's land for the \n tortoise reserve, leaving the remainder of his acreage vacant \n and unproductive;\n (16) as the years passed, James Doyle's inability to \n develop or sell this remaining acreage resulted in severe \n financial limitations, leaving him unable to service the \n mortgages he had incurred on the land to finance acquisition \n and development costs;\n (17) on March 30, 2004, unable to develop, exchange, or \n sell the land, in which James Doyle had invested millions of \n dollars, James Doyle was forced to seek bankruptcy protection;\n (18) in 2010, James Doyle completed, and the bankruptcy \n court approved, a plan under which James Doyle was required to \n transfer to his creditors all but 274 acres of his land, which \n he still owns but cannot develop;\n (19) in 2015, James Doyle filed suit in the United States \n Court of Federal Claims, seeking just compensation for the land \n that has served as a tortoise reserve since 1996, and was taken \n without compensation;\n (20) the United States Court of Federal Claims dismissed \n James Doyle's claim, without prejudice, ruling that he must \n first seek and be denied a United States Fish and Wildlife \n Service permit to develop his land, even though it is within \n the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve where no development is allowed; \n and\n (21) the permit process would take several years and would \n be futile.\n\nSEC. 3. SETTLEMENT OF CLAIM.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall pay James \nDoyle, out of money not otherwise appropriated, a sum of money, in an \namount to be determined by the United States Court of Federal Claims, \nrepresenting the amount to which James Doyle may be entitled in order \nto make James Doyle whole for any damages and losses sustained by James \nDoyle by reason of the Federal Government's taking of approximately \n2,000 acres of his land located in the St. George area of Utah, now \ndesignated as the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and set aside as habitat \nfor the Mojave desert tortoise, a species listed under the Endangered \nSpecies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).\n (b) Full Satisfaction of Claims.--The payment made under subsection \n(a) shall be in full satisfaction of all claims of James Doyle against \nthe United States.", "summary": "Provides for the relief of James Doyle, doing business as Rocky Mountain Ventures and Environmental Land Technologies, Ltd.", "title": "Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Completion Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 536, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Computer Crime Enforcement Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. STATE GRANT PROGRAM FOR TRAINING AND PROSECUTION OF COMPUTER \n CRIMES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of amounts provided in \nadvance in appropriations Acts, the Office of Justice Programs shall \nmake a grant to each State, which shall be used by the State, in \nconjunction with units of local government, State and local courts, \nother States, or combinations thereof, to--\n (1) assist State and local law enforcement in enforcing \n State and local criminal laws relating to computer crime;\n (2) assist State and local law enforcement in educating the \n public to prevent and identify computer crime;\n (3) assist in educating and training State and local law \n enforcement officers and prosecutors to conduct investigations \n and forensic analyses of evidence and prosecutions of computer \n crime;\n (4) assist State and local law enforcement officers and \n prosecutors in acquiring computer and other equipment to \n conduct investigations and forensic analysis of evidence of \n computer crimes; and\n (5) facilitate and promote the sharing of Federal law \n enforcement expertise and information about the investigation, \n analysis, and prosecution of computer crimes with State and \n local law enforcement officers and prosecutors, including the \n use of multijurisdictional task forces.\n (b) Use of Grant Amounts.--Grants under this section may be used to \nestablish and develop programs to--\n (1) assist State and local law enforcement in enforcing \n State and local criminal laws relating to computer crime;\n (2) assist State and local law enforcement in educating the \n public to prevent and identify computer crime;\n (3) educate and train State and local law enforcement \n officers and prosecutors to conduct investigations and forensic \n analyses of evidence and prosecutions of computer crime;\n (4) assist State and local law enforcement officers and \n prosecutors in acquiring computer and other equipment to \n conduct investigations and forensic analysis of evidence of \n computer crimes; and\n (5) facilitate and promote the sharing of Federal law \n enforcement expertise and information about the investigation, \n analysis, and prosecution of computer crimes with State and \n local law enforcement officers and prosecutors, including the \n use of multijurisdictional task forces.\n (c) Assurances.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this \nsection, a State shall provide assurances to the Attorney General that \nthe State--\n (1) has in effect laws that penalize computer crime, such \n as penal laws prohibiting--\n (A) fraudulent schemes executed by means of a \n computer system or network;\n (B) the unlawful damaging, destroying, altering, \n deleting, removing of computer software, or data \n contained in a computer, computer system, computer \n program, or computer network; or\n (C) the unlawful interference with the operation of \n or denial of access to a computer, computer program, \n computer system, or computer network;\n (2) an assessment of the State and local resource needs, \n including criminal justice resources being devoted to the \n investigation and enforcement of computer crime laws; and\n (3) a plan for coordinating the programs funded under this \n section with other federally funded technical assistant and \n training programs, including directly funded local programs \n such as the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program \n (described under the heading ``Violent Crime Reduction \n Programs, State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance'' of the \n Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and \n Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (Public Law 105-\n 119)).\n (d) Matching Funds.--The Federal share of a grant received under \nthis section may not exceed 90 percent of the costs of a program or \nproposal funded under this section unless the Attorney General waives, \nwholly or in part, the requirements of this subsection.\n (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--\n (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to \n carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years \n 2000 through 2003.\n (2) Limitations.--Of the amount made available to carry out \n this section in any fiscal year not more than 3 percent may be \n used by the Attorney General for salaries and administrative \n expenses.\n (3) Minimum amount.--Unless all eligible applications \n submitted by any State or unit of local government within such \n State for a grant under this section have been funded, such \n State, together with grantees within the State (other than \n Indian tribes), shall be allocated in each fiscal year under \n this section not less than 0.75 percent of the total amount \n appropriated in the fiscal year for grants pursuant to this \n section, except that the United States Virgin Islands, American \n Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands each shall be \n allocated 0.25 percent.\n (f) Grants to Indian Tribes.--Notwithstanding any other provision \nof this section, the Attorney General may use amounts made available \nunder this section to make grants to Indian tribes for use in \naccordance with this section.", "summary": "Computer Crime Enforcement Act - Directs the Office of Justice Programs to make a grant to each State, subject to the availability of appropriations, which shall be used to: (1) assist State and local law enforcement agencies in enforcing State and local criminal laws relating, and in educating the public to prevent and identify, computer crime; (2) assist in educating and training State and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors to conduct investigations and forensic analyses of evidence and prosecutions of computer crime; (3) assist State and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors in acquiring computer and other equipment to conduct investigations and forensic analysis of evidence of computer crimes; and (4) facilitate and promote the sharing of Federal law enforcement expertise and information about the investigation, analysis, and prosecution of computer crimes with State and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors, including the use of multi-jurisdictional task forces. \nRequires a State, to be eligible to receive a grant, to provide assurances to the Attorney General that the State has: (1) in effect laws that penalize computer crime; (2) made an assessment of the State and local resource needs; and (3) a plan for coordinating the programs funded under this Act with other federally funded technical assistant and training programs. \nSets the Federal cost share at up to 90 percent, subject to a waiver. Authorizes appropriations. \nAuthorizes the Attorney General to use amounts made available under this Act for grants to Indian tribes.", "title": "Computer Crime Enforcement Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1324, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Classroom Safety Act of 2000''.\n\nSEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT.\n\n (a) Placement in Alternative Educational Setting.--Section 615(k) \nof the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1415(k)) \nis amended--\n (1) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11); and\n (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:\n ``(10) Discipline with regard to weapons.--\n ``(A) Authority of school personnel.--\n Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, school \n personnel may discipline (including expel or suspend) a \n child with a disability who--\n ``(i) carries or possesses a weapon to or \n at a school, on school premises, or to or at a \n school function, under the jurisdiction of a \n State or a local educational agency, or\n ``(ii) possesses or uses illegal drugs, or \n sells or solicits the sale of a controlled \n substance while at a school, on school \n premises, or to or at a school function, under \n the jurisdiction of a State or a local \n educational agency,\n in the same manner in which such personnel may \n discipline a child without a disability. Such personnel \n may modify the disciplinary action on a case-by-case \n basis.\n ``(B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in \n subparagraph (A) shall be construed to prevent a child \n with a disability who is disciplined pursuant to the \n authority provided under subparagraph (A) from \n asserting a defense that the carrying or possession of \n the weapon, or the possession of an illegal drug or \n sale or solicitation of the sale of a controlled \n substance, was unintentional or innocent.\n ``(C) Free appropriate public education.--\n ``(i) Ceasing to provide education.--\n Notwithstanding section 612(a)(1)(A), a child \n expelled or suspended under subparagraph (A) \n shall not be entitled to continue educational \n services, including a free appropriate public \n education, under this title, during the term of \n such expulsion or suspension, if the State in \n which the local educational agency responsible \n for providing educational services to such \n child does not require a child without a \n disability to receive educational services \n after being expelled or suspended.\n ``(ii) Providing education.--\n Notwithstanding clause (i), the local \n educational agency responsible for providing \n educational services to a child with a \n disability who is expelled or suspended under \n subparagraph (A) may choose to continue to \n provide educational services to such child. If \n the local educational agency so chooses to \n continue to provide the services--\n ``(I) nothing in this title shall \n require the local educational agency to \n provide such child with a free \n appropriate public education, or any \n particular level of service; and\n ``(II) the location where the local \n educational agency provides the \n services shall be left to the \n discretion of the local educational \n agency.\n ``(D) Relationship to other requirements.--\n ``(i) Plan requirements.--No agency shall \n be considered to be in violation of section 612 \n or 613 because the agency has provided \n discipline, services, or assistance in \n accordance with this paragraph.\n ``(ii) Procedure.--Actions taken pursuant \n to this paragraph shall not be subject to the \n provisions of this section, other than this \n paragraph.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 615(f)(1) of the \nIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1415(f)(1)) is \namended by striking ``Whenever'' and inserting the following: ``Except \nas provided in section 615(k)(10), whenever''.\n (2) Section 615(k)(1)(A)(ii) of the Individuals with Disabilities \nEducation Act (20 U.S.C. 1415(k)(1)(A)(ii)) is amended in the matter \npreceding subclause (I) by inserting before ``to an appropriate interim \neducational setting'' the following: ``except as provided in paragraph \n(10),''.", "summary": "Authorizes such personnel to modify the disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis. Permits assertion of a defense that the offense was committed unintentionally or innocently.\nAllows the local educational agency (LEA) responsible for providing educational services to a child with a disability who is expelled or suspended under this Act to choose to continue to provide educational services to such child, but specifies that an LEA that so chooses to continue to provide services: (1) is not required by IDEA to provide such child with a free appropriate public education, or any particular level of service; and (2) has discretion as to the location where it provides the services.", "title": "Classroom Safety Act of 2000"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 988, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help Act \nof 2017'' or the ``YOUTH Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT SERVICES FOR \n CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND YOUNG ADULTS.\n\n Section 514 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-7) is \namended--\n (1) in the section heading, by striking ``children and \n adolescents'' and inserting ``children, adolescents, and young \n adults'';\n (2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``children, \n including'' and inserting ``children, adolescents, and young \n adults, including''; and\n (3) by striking ``children and adolescents'' each place it \n appears and inserting ``children, adolescents, and young \n adults''.\n\nSEC. 3. ACCESS TO MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS AND \n YOUNG ADULTS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting \nthrough the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality \n(in this section referred to as the ``Director''), shall award grants \nto eligible entities to establish demonstration programs to--\n (1) expand access to medication-assisted treatment for \n opioid use disorders among adolescents and young adults;\n (2) identify and test solutions for overcoming barriers to \n implementation of medication-assisted treatment for adolescents \n and young adults; or\n (3) create and distribute resources on medication-assisted \n treatment training and implementation for providers of health \n care to children, adolescents, and young adults.\n (b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under \nsubsection (a), an entity shall--\n (1) be a State, political subdivision of a State, Indian \n tribe, or tribal organization, professional family medicine \n provider organization, professional pediatric provider \n organization or other organization representing providers of \n health care to children, adolescents, and young adults, \n professional addiction medicine provider organization, \n hospital, an institution of higher education, or other \n appropriate public or nonprofit institution; and\n (2) certify that it is in compliance with all applicable \n registration and licensing requirements.\n (c) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, an entity \nshall submit to the Director an application at such time, in such \nmanner, and containing such information as the Director may require.\n (d) Duration.--An eligible entity may receive funds under this \nsection to carry out a demonstration program described in this section \nfor a period of not greater than 3 years. After the first year for \nwhich funding is provided to an eligible entity for a demonstration \nprogram, funding may be provided under this section for a subsequent \nyear for such program only upon review of such program by the Director \nand approval by the Director of such subsequent year of funding.\n (e) Reports.--\n (1) By grant recipients.--Each eligible entity awarded a \n grant under this section for a demonstration program shall \n submit to the Director progress reports on such demonstration \n program at such times, in such manner, and containing such \n information as the Director may require.\n (2) By director.--Not later than one year after the date on \n which all demonstration programs funded under this section have \n been completed, the Director shall submit to the Committee on \n Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the \n Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of \n Representatives a report that--\n (A) describes the availability of medication-\n assisted treatment for adolescents and young adults \n with opioid use disorders in the United States, \n including barriers to such treatment;\n (B) describes the specific demonstration programs \n carried out pursuant to this section;\n (C) evaluates the effectiveness of such programs;\n (D) evaluates any unintended consequences of such \n programs; and\n (E) provides recommendations for ensuring that \n medication-assisted treatment is accessible to \n adolescents and young adults with opioid use disorders.\n (f) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) The phrase ``adolescents and young adults'' means \n individuals who have attained 10 years of age and not yet \n attained 26 years of age.\n (2) The term ``medication-assisted treatment'' means the \n combination of pharmacological treatments approved by the Food \n and Drug Administration, and counseling and behavioral \n therapies, for the treatment of substance use disorders.\n (3) The term ``opioid use disorder'' means a problematic \n pattern of opioid use leading to clinically significant \n impairment or distress occurring within a 12-month period.\n (4) The term ``pediatric health care provider'' means a \n provider of health care to individuals who have attained 10 \n years of age and not yet attained 26 years of age.\n (5) The term ``professional family medicine provider \n organization'' means a national organization whose members \n consist primarily of family medicine providers.\n (6) The term ``professional pediatric provider \n organization'' means a national organization whose members \n consist primarily of pediatric health care providers.\n (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section.", "summary": "Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help Act of 2017 or the YOUTH Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the grant program for substance abuse treatment services for children and adolescents to cover young adults. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) must award grants for demonstration programs to: (1) expand access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders among adolescents and young adults, or (2) create and distribute resources on medication-assisted treatment training and implementation for health care providers of children, adolescents, and young adults. AHRQ must report on the demonstration programs and the availability of medication-assisted treatment for adolescents and young adults. The report must include recommendations for ensuring such treatment is accessible.", "title": "Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1114, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Child Citizenship Act of 2000''.\n\n TITLE I--CITIZENSHIP FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN BORN OUTSIDE THE UNITED \n STATES\n\nSEC. 101. AUTOMATIC ACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN \n BORN OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act \n(8 U.S.C. 1431) is amended to read as follows:\n\n ``children born outside the united states and residing permanently in \n the united states; conditions under which citizenship automatically \n acquired\n\n ``Sec. 320. (a) A child born outside of the United States \nautomatically becomes a citizen of the United States when all of the \nfollowing conditions have been fulfilled:\n ``(1) At least one parent of the child is a citizen of the \n United States, whether by birth or naturalization.\n ``(2) The child is under the age of eighteen years.\n ``(3) The child is residing in the United States in the legal \n and physical custody of the citizen parent pursuant to a lawful \n admission for permanent residence.\n ``(b) Subsection (a) shall apply to a child adopted by a United \nStates citizen parent if the child satisfies the requirements \napplicable to adopted children under section 101(b)(1).''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections of such Act is \namended by striking the item relating to section 320 and inserting the \nfollowing:\n``Sec. 320. Children born outside the United States and residing \n permanently in the United States; conditions under which \n citizenship automatically acquired.''.\n\nSEC. 102. ACQUISITION OF CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP FOR CERTAIN \n CHILDREN BORN OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act \n(8 U.S.C. 1433) is amended to read as follows:\n\n``children born and residing outside the united states; conditions for \n acquiring certificate of citizenship\n\n ``Sec. 322. (a) A parent who is a citizen of the United States may \napply for naturalization on behalf of a child born outside of the \nUnited States who has not acquired citizenship automatically under \nsection 320. The Attorney General shall issue a certificate of \ncitizenship to such parent upon proof, to the satisfaction of the \nAttorney General, that the following conditions have been fulfilled:\n ``(1) At least one parent is a citizen of the United States, \n whether by birth or naturalization.\n ``(2) The United States citizen parent--\n ``(A) has been physically present in the United States or \n its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not \n less than five years, at least two of which were after \n attaining the age of fourteen years; or\n ``(B) has a citizen parent who has been physically present \n in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period \n or periods totaling not less than five years, at least two of \n which were after attaining the age of fourteen years.\n ``(3) The child is under the age of eighteen years.\n ``(4) The child is residing outside of the United States in the \n legal and physical custody of the citizen parent, is temporarily \n present in the United States pursuant to a lawful admission, and is \n maintaining such lawful status.\n ``(b) Upon approval of the application (which may be filed from \nabroad) and, except as provided in the last sentence of section 337(a), \nupon taking and subscribing before an officer of the Service within the \nUnited States to the oath of allegiance required by this Act of an \napplicant for naturalization, the child shall become a citizen of the \nUnited States and shall be furnished by the Attorney General with a \ncertificate of citizenship.\n ``(c) Subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to a child adopted by a \nUnited States citizen parent if the child satisfies the requirements \napplicable to adopted children under section 101(b)(1).''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections of such Act is \namended by striking the item relating to section 322 and inserting the \nfollowing:\n``Sec. 322. Children born and residing outside the United States; \n conditions for acquiring certificate of citizenship.''.\n\nSEC. 103. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 321 of the Immigration and Nationality Act \n(8 U.S.C. 1432) is repealed.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections of such Act is \namended by striking the item relating to section 321.\n\nSEC. 104. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this title shall take effect 120 days after \nthe date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to individuals \nwho satisfy the requirements of section 320 or 322 of the Immigration \nand Nationality Act, as in effect on such effective date.\n\n TITLE II--PROTECTIONS FOR CERTAIN ALIENS VOTING BASED ON REASONABLE \n BELIEF OF CITIZENSHIP\n\nSEC. 201. PROTECTIONS FROM FINDING OF BAD MORAL CHARACTER, REMOVAL FROM \n THE UNITED STATES, AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES.\n\n (a) Protection From Being Considered Not of Good Moral Character.--\n (1) In general.--Section 101(f) of the Immigration and \n Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(f)) is amended by adding at the end \n the following:\n``In the case of an alien who makes a false statement or claim of \ncitizenship, or who registers to vote or votes in a Federal, State, or \nlocal election (including an initiative, recall, or referendum) in \nviolation of a lawful restriction of such registration or voting to \ncitizens, if each natural parent of the alien (or, in the case of an \nadopted alien, each adoptive parent of the alien) is or was a citizen \n(whether by birth or naturalization), the alien permanently resided in \nthe United States prior to attaining the age of 16, and the alien \nreasonably believed at the time of such statement, claim, or violation \nthat he or she was a citizen, no finding that the alien is, or was, not \nof good moral character may be made based on it.''.\n (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall \n be effective as if included in the enactment of the Illegal \n Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public \n Law 104-208; 110 Stat. 3009-546) and shall apply to individuals \n having an application for a benefit under the Immigration and \n Nationality Act pending on or after September 30, 1996.\n (b) Protection From Being Considered Inadmissible.--\n (1) Unlawful voting.--Section 212(a)(10)(D) of the Immigration \n and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(10)(D)) is amended to read as \n follows:\n ``(D) Unlawful voters.--\n ``(i) In general.--Any alien who has voted in violation \n of any Federal, State, or local constitutional provision, \n statute, ordinance, or regulation is inadmissible.\n ``(ii) Exception.--In the case of an alien who voted in \n a Federal, State, or local election (including an \n initiative, recall, or referendum) in violation of a lawful \n restriction of voting to citizens, if each natural parent \n of the alien (or, in the case of an adopted alien, each \n adoptive parent of the alien) is or was a citizen (whether \n by birth or naturalization), the alien permanently resided \n in the United States prior to attaining the age of 16, and \n the alien reasonably believed at the time of such violation \n that he or she was a citizen, the alien shall not be \n considered to be inadmissible under any provision of this \n subsection based on such violation.''.\n (2) Falsely claiming citizenship.--Section 212(a)(6)(C)(ii) of \n the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(C)(ii)) is \n amended to read as follows:\n ``(ii) Falsely claiming citizenship.--\n\n ``(I) In general.--Any alien who falsely \n represents, or has falsely represented, himself or \n herself to be a citizen of the United States for any \n purpose or benefit under this Act (including section \n 274A) or any other Federal or State law is \n inadmissible.\n ``(II) Exception.--In the case of an alien making a \n representation described in subclause (I), if each \n natural parent of the alien (or, in the case of an \n adopted alien, each adoptive parent of the alien) is or \n was a citizen (whether by birth or naturalization), the \n alien permanently resided in the United States prior to \n attaining the age of 16, and the alien reasonably \n believed at the time of making such representation that \n he or she was a citizen, the alien shall not be \n considered to be inadmissible under any provision of \n this subsection based on such representation.''.\n\n (3) Effective dates.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall \n be effective as if included in the enactment of section 347 of the \n Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 \n (Public Law 104-208; 110 Stat. 3009-638) and shall apply to voting \n occurring before, on, or after September 30, 1996. The amendment \n made by paragraph (2) shall be effective as if included in the \n enactment of section 344 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and \n Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208; 110 Stat. \n 3009-637) and shall apply to representations made on or after \n September 30, 1996. Such amendments shall apply to individuals in \n proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act on or after \n September 30, 1996.\n (c) Protection From Being Considered Deportable.--\n (1) Unlawful voting.--Section 237(a)(6) of the Immigration and \n Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(6)) is amended to read as \n follows:\n ``(6) Unlawful voters.--\n ``(A) In general.--Any alien who has voted in violation of \n any Federal, State, or local constitutional provision, statute, \n ordinance, or regulation is deportable.\n ``(B) Exception.--In the case of an alien who voted in a \n Federal, State, or local election (including an initiative, \n recall, or referendum) in violation of a lawful restriction of \n voting to citizens, if each natural parent of the alien (or, in \n the case of an adopted alien, each adoptive parent of the \n alien) is or was a citizen (whether by birth or \n naturalization), the alien permanently resided in the United \n States prior to attaining the age of 16, and the alien \n reasonably believed at the time of such violation that he or \n she was a citizen, the alien shall not be considered to be \n deportable under any provision of this subsection based on such \n violation.''.\n (2) Falsely claiming citizenship.--Section 237(a)(3)(D) of the \n Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(3)(D)) is amended \n to read as follows:\n ``(D) Falsely claiming citizenship.--\n ``(i) In general.--Any alien who falsely represents, or \n has falsely represented, himself to be a citizen of the \n United States for any purpose or benefit under this Act \n (including section 274A) or any Federal or State law is \n deportable.\n ``(ii) Exception.--In the case of an alien making a \n representation described in clause (i), if each natural \n parent of the alien (or, in the case of an adopted alien, \n each adoptive parent of the alien) is or was a citizen \n (whether by birth or naturalization), the alien permanently \n resided in the United States prior to attaining the age of \n 16, and the alien reasonably believed at the time of making \n such representation that he or she was a citizen, the alien \n shall not be considered to be deportable under any \n provision of this subsection based on such \n representation.''.\n (3) Effective dates.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall \n be effective as if included in the enactment of section 347 of the \n Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 \n (Public Law 104-208; 110 Stat. 3009-638) and shall apply to voting \n occurring before, on, or after September 30, 1996. The amendment \n made by paragraph (2) shall be effective as if included in the \n enactment of section 344 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and \n Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208; 110 Stat. \n 3009-637) and shall apply to representations made on or after \n September 30, 1996. Such amendments shall apply to individuals in \n proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act on or after \n September 30, 1996.\n (d) Protection From Criminal Penalties.--\n (1) Criminal penalty for voting by aliens in federal \n election.--Section 611 of title 18, United States Code, is amended \n by adding at the end the following:\n ``(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to an alien if--\n ``(1) each natural parent of the alien (or, in the case of an \n adopted alien, each adoptive parent of the alien) is or was a \n citizen (whether by birth or naturalization);\n ``(2) the alien permanently resided in the United States prior \n to attaining the age of 16; and\n ``(3) the alien reasonably believed at the time of voting in \n violation of such subsection that he or she was a citizen of the \n United States.''.\n (2) Criminal penalty for false claim to citizenship.--Section \n 1015 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the \n end the following:\n``Subsection (f) does not apply to an alien if each natural parent of \nthe alien (or, in the case of an adopted alien, each adoptive parent of \nthe alien) is or was a citizen (whether by birth or naturalization), \nthe alien permanently resided in the United States prior to attaining \nthe age of 16, and the alien reasonably believed at the time of making \nthe false statement or claim that he or she was a citizen of the United \nStates.''.\n (3) Effective dates.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall \n be effective as if included in the enactment of section 216 of the \n Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 \n (Public Law 104-208; 110 Stat. 3009-572). The amendment made by \n paragraph (2) shall be effective as if included in the enactment of \n section 215 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant \n Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208; 110 Stat. 3009-\n 572). The amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply to \n an alien prosecuted on or after September 30, 1996, except in the \n case of an alien whose criminal proceeding (including judicial \n review thereof) has been finally concluded before the date of the \n enactment of this Act.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "Provides for issuance of a certificate of naturalization for a child born outside of the United States when the following conditions are met: (1) at least one parent is a U.S. citizen who has been present in the United States for not less than five years, at least two of which were after having attained the age of 14, or who has a citizen parent meeting such requirements; (2) the child is under 18 years old; and (3) the child is residing outside the United States in the legal and physical custody of the citizen parent, is temporarily and lawfully present in the United States, and is maintaining such lawful status. Applies such provision to an adopted child meeting certain definitional requirements who is adopted by a U.S. citizen parent.\nTitle II: Protections for Certain Aliens Voting Based on Reasonable Belief of Citizenship\n - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act respecting unlawful voting or false U.S. citizenship claims by permanent resident aliens under 16 years old having natural or adoptive U.S. citizen parents, to provide exceptions from certain provisions regarding deportability, moral character, inadmissability or related criminal penalties.", "title": "Child Citizenship Act of 2000"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1608, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act \nof 2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Correctional institution or facility.--The term \n ``correctional institution or facility'' means any prison, \n penitentiary, jail, or other institution or facility for the \n confinement of individuals convicted of criminal offenses, \n whether publicly or privately operated, except that such term \n does not include any residential community treatment center (or \n similar public or private facility).\n (2) Election.--The term ``election'' means--\n (A) a general, special, primary, or runoff \n election;\n (B) a convention or caucus of a political party \n held to nominate a candidate;\n (C) a primary election held for the selection of \n delegates to a national nominating convention of a \n political party; or\n (D) a primary election held for the expression of a \n preference for the nomination of persons for election \n to the office of President.\n (3) Federal office.--The term ``Federal office'' means the \n office of President or Vice President of the United States, or \n of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident \n Commissioner to, the Congress of the United States.\n (4) Non-violent criminal offense.--The term ``non-violent \n criminal offense'' means any offense that is not a crime of \n violence (as defined in section 16 of title 18, United States \n Code).\n (5) Probation.--The term ``probation'' means probation or \n parole supervision, imposed by a Federal, State, or local court \n or parole board, with or without a condition on the individual \n involved concerning--\n (A) the individual's freedom of movement;\n (B) the payment of damages by the individual;\n (C) periodic reporting by the individual to an \n officer of the court or parole board; or\n (D) supervision of the individual by an officer of \n the court or parole board.\n\nSEC. 3. RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.\n\n (a) Right To Vote.--The right of an individual who is a citizen of \nthe United States to vote in any election for Federal office shall not \nbe denied or abridged because the individual has been convicted of a \nnon-violent criminal offense, unless, at the time of the election, the \nindividual--\n (1) is serving a sentence in a correctional institution or \n facility; or\n (2) subject to subsection (b), is serving a term of \n probation.\n (b) Restoration of Voting Rights for Individuals on Probation.--An \nindividual who is serving a term of probation shall have the right to \nvote restored in any election for Federal office--\n (1) on the date on which the term of probation ends, if the \n term of probation is less than 1 year; or\n (2) on the date that is 1 year after the date on which the \n individual begins serving the term of probation, if the term of \n probation is 1 year or longer.\n (c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 1 year after \nthe date of enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. ATTORNEY GENERAL DESIGNATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment \nof this Act, the Attorney General shall determine which criminal \noffenses under Federal law and the laws of each State are non-violent \ncriminal offenses and establish a list of all such offenses.\n (b) Requirements.--The list established under subsection (a) shall \nbe--\n (1) made publically available, in a searchable format, on \n the website of the Department of Justice; and\n (2) updated no less frequently than every year.\n\nSEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT.\n\n (a) Attorney General.--The Attorney General may, in a civil action, \nobtain such declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to remedy \na violation of this Act.\n (b) Private Right of Action.--\n (1) In general.--A person who is aggrieved by a violation \n of this Act may provide written notice of the violation to the \n chief election official of the State involved.\n (2) Relief.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), if the \n violation is not corrected within 90 days after receipt of a \n notice under paragraph (1), or within 20 days after receipt of \n the notice if the violation occurred within 120 days before the \n date of an election for Federal office, the aggrieved person \n may, in a civil action, obtain declaratory or injunctive relief \n with respect to the violation.\n (3) Exception.--If the violation occurred within 30 days \n before the date of an election for Federal office, the \n aggrieved person need not provide notice to the chief election \n official of the State under paragraph (1) before bringing a \n civil action to obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with \n respect to the violation.\n\nSEC. 6. NOTIFICATION OF RESTORATION OF VOTING RIGHTS.\n\n (a) State Notification.--\n (1) Notification.--On the date determined under paragraph \n (2), each State shall notify in writing any individual who has \n been convicted of a non-violent criminal offense under the law \n of that State that the individual has, pursuant to this Act, \n the right to vote in an election for Federal office and to \n register to vote in any such election, subject to section 7(c).\n (2) Date of notification.--\n (A) Felony conviction.--In the case of such an \n individual who has been convicted of a felony, the \n notification required under paragraph (1) shall be \n given on the date on which the individual--\n (i) is sentenced to serve only a term of \n probation; or\n (ii) is released from the custody of that \n State (other than to the custody of another \n State or the Federal Government to serve a term \n of imprisonment for a felony conviction).\n (B) Misdemeanor conviction.--In the case of such an \n individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor, the \n notification required under paragraph (1) shall be \n given on the date on which the individual is sentenced \n by a State court.\n (b) Federal Notification.--\n (1) Notification.--On the date determined under paragraph \n (2), the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall notify in \n writing any individual who has been convicted of a non-violent \n criminal offense under Federal law that the individual has, \n pursuant to this Act, the right to vote in an election for \n Federal office and to register to vote in any such election, \n subject to section 7(c).\n (2) Date of notification.--\n (A) Felony conviction.--In the case of such an \n individual who has been convicted of a felony, the \n notification required under paragraph (1) shall be \n given on the date on which the individual--\n (i) is sentenced to serve only a term of \n probation by a court established by an Act of \n Congress; or\n (ii) is released from the custody of the \n Bureau of Prisons (other than to the custody of \n a State to serve a term of imprisonment for a \n felony conviction).\n (B) Misdemeanor conviction.--In the case of such an \n individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor, the \n notification required under paragraph (1) shall be \n given on the date on which the individual is sentenced \n by a State court.\n\nSEC. 7. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.\n\n (a) State Laws Relating to Voting Rights.--Nothing in this Act \nshall be construed to prohibit the States from enacting any State law \nwhich affords the right to vote in any election for Federal office on \nterms less restrictive than those established by this Act.\n (b) Certain Federal Acts.--The rights and remedies established by \nthis Act--\n (1) are in addition to all other rights and remedies \n provided by law; and\n (2) shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application \n of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.) or \n the National Voter Registration Act (42 U.S.C. 1973-gg).\n (c) State Laws Relating to Voter Registration.--Nothing in this Act \nshall be construed to preempt State laws relating to the timing of \nvoter registration for any election for Federal office.\n\nSEC. 8. FEDERAL PRISON FUNDS.\n\n (a) In General.--No State, unit of local government, or other \nperson may receive or use, to construct or otherwise improve a prison, \njail, or other place of incarceration, any Federal grant amounts unless \nthat person has in effect a program under which each individual \nincarcerated in that person's jurisdiction is notified, upon release \nfrom such incarceration, of that individual's rights under section 3.\n (b) State Non-Compliance With Notification Requirements.--No State \nmay receive or use, to construct or otherwise improve a prison, jail, \nor other place of incarceration, any Federal grant amounts unless the \nState is in compliance with the notification requirements under section \n6(a).", "summary": "Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act of 2014 - Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because the individual has been convicted of a non-violent criminal offense, unless, at the time of the election, the individual is serving a sentence in a correctional facility or a term of probation. Restores the right to vote of an individual on probation: (1) on the date the term of probation ends, if such term is less than one year; or (2) one year after the date the individual begins serving the term of probation, if such term is one year or longer. Directs the Attorney General to determine and establish a list of the criminal offenses under federal and state law that are non-violent criminal offenses. Provides for enforcement of, and remedies for violations of, this Act. Sets forth requirements for state and federal notification of individuals of their voting rights pursuant to this Act. Prohibits a state, local government, or other person from receiving or using federal grant amounts to construct or improve a place of incarceration unless that person has in effect a program under which each incarcerated individual is notified, upon release, of his or her rights under this Act.", "title": "Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3106, "text": "SECTION 1. TRANSPORTATION WORKER IDENTIFICATION CREDENTIAL SECURITY \nCARD PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS AND ASSESSMENT.\n (a) Credential Improvements.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation \n Security Administration shall commence actions, consistent with \n section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, to improve the \n Transportation Security Administration's process for vetting \n individuals with access to secure areas of vessels and maritime \n facilities.\n (2) Required actions.--The actions described under paragraph \n (1) shall include--\n (A) conducting a comprehensive risk analysis of security \n threat assessment procedures, including--\n (i) identifying those procedures that need additional \n internal controls; and\n (ii) identifying best practices for quality assurance \n at every stage of the security threat assessment;\n (B) implementing the additional internal controls and best \n practices identified under subparagraph (A);\n (C) improving fraud detection techniques, such as--\n (i) by establishing benchmarks and a process for \n electronic document validation;\n (ii) by requiring annual training for Trusted Agents; \n and\n (iii) by reviewing any security threat assessment-\n related information provided by Trusted Agents and \n incorporating any new threat information into updated \n guidance under subparagraph (D);\n (D) updating the guidance provided to Trusted Agents \n regarding the vetting process and related regulations;\n (E) finalizing a manual for Trusted Agents and adjudicators \n on the vetting process; and\n (F) establishing quality controls to ensure consistent \n procedures to review adjudication decisions and terrorism \n vetting decisions.\n (3) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment \n of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland \n Security shall submit a report to Congress that evaluates the \n implementation of the actions described in paragraph (1).\n (b) Comprehensive Security Assessment of the Transportation \nSecurity Card Program.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall \n commission an assessment of the effectiveness of the transportation \n security card program (referred to in this section as ``Program'') \n required under section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, at \n enhancing security and reducing security risks for facilities and \n vessels regulated under chapter 701 of that title.\n (2) Location.--The assessment commissioned under paragraph (1) \n shall be conducted by a research organization with significant \n experience in port or maritime security, such as--\n (A) a national laboratory;\n (B) a university-based center within the Science and \n Technology Directorate's centers of excellence network; or\n (C) a qualified federally-funded research and development \n center.\n (3) Contents.--The assessment commissioned under paragraph (1) \n shall--\n (A) review the credentialing process by determining--\n (i) the appropriateness of vetting standards;\n (ii) whether the fee structure adequately reflects the \n current costs of vetting;\n (iii) whether there is unnecessary redundancy or \n duplication with other Federal- or State-issued \n transportation security credentials; and\n (iv) the appropriateness of having varied Federal and \n State threat assessments and access controls;\n (B) review the process for renewing applications for \n Transportation Worker Identification Credentials, including the \n number of days it takes to review application, appeal, and \n waiver requests for additional information; and\n (C) review the security value of the Program by--\n (i) evaluating the extent to which the Program, as \n implemented, addresses known or likely security risks in \n the maritime and port environments;\n (ii) evaluating the potential for a non-biometric \n credential alternative;\n (iii) identifying the technology, business process, and \n operational impacts of the use of the transportation \n security card and transportation security card readers in \n the maritime and port environments;\n (iv) assessing the costs and benefits of the Program, \n as implemented; and\n (v) evaluating the extent to which the Secretary of \n Homeland Security has addressed the deficiencies in the \n Program identified by the Government Accountability Office \n and the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland \n Security before the date of enactment of this Act.\n (4) Deadlines.--The assessment commissioned under paragraph (1) \n shall be completed not later than 1 year after the date on which \n the assessment is commissioned.\n (5) Submission to congress.--Not later than 60 days after the \n date that the assessment is completed, the Secretary of Homeland \n Security shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and \n Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security and \n Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland \n Security and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of \n the House of Representatives the results of the assessment \n commissioned under this subsection.\n (c) Corrective Action Plan; Program Reforms.--If the assessment \ncommissioned under subsection (b) identifies a deficiency in the \neffectiveness of the Program, the Secretary of Homeland Security, not \nlater than 60 days after the date on which the assessment is completed, \nshall submit a corrective action plan to the Committee on Commerce, \nScience, and Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security and \nGovernmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security \nand the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of \nRepresentatives that--\n (1) responds to findings of the assessment;\n (2) includes an implementation plan with benchmarks;\n (3) may include programmatic reforms, revisions to regulations, \n or proposals for legislation; and\n (4) shall be considered in any rulemaking by the Department of \n Homeland Security relating to the Program.\n (d) Inspector General Review.--If a corrective action plan is \nsubmitted under subsection (c), the Inspector General of the Department \nof Homeland Security shall--\n (1) not later than 120 days after the date of such submission, \n review the extent to which such plan implements the requirements \n under subsection (c); and\n (2) not later than 18 months after the date of such submission, \n and annually thereafter for 3 years, submit a report to the \n congressional committees set forth in subsection (c) that describes \n the progress of the implementation of such plan.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 10, 2016. (Sec. 1) This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to commence actions to improve its process for vetting individuals with access to secure areas of vessels and maritime facilities. These actions shall include: conducting a comprehensive risk analysis of security threat assessment procedures, including identifying procedures that need additional internal controls as well as best practices for quality assurance at every stage of the assessment; implementing such internal controls and best practices; improving fraud detection techniques; updating the guidance provided to Trusted Agents (Credentialing Office) regarding the vetting process and related regulations; finalizing a manual for such agents and adjudicators on the vetting process; and establishing quality controls to ensure consistent procedures to review adjudication decisions and terrorism vetting decisions. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall commission a national laboratory, a university-based center within the Science and Technology Directorate's centers of excellence network, or a qualified federally-funded research and development center to conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Program at enhancing security and reducing security risks for maritime facilities and vessels that pose a high risk of being involved in a transportation security incident. The assessment shall review: the credentialing process, the process for renewing TWIC applications, and the security value of the TWIC program. If the assessment identifies a deficiency in effectiveness of the TWIC Program, DHS shall submit to Congress a corrective action plan that: responds to assessment findings and includes an implementation plan with benchmarks, and shall be considered in any DHS rulemaking with respect to the TWIC Program. The DHS Inspector General must review and report on the corrective action plan. ", "title": "To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to prepare a comprehensive security assessment of the transportation security card program, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3003, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Equal Opportunity for Residential \nRepresentation Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds that--\n (1) eviction prevention programs provide important and \n effective social and economic benefits;\n (2) such programs help protect low-income and at-risk \n households from the trauma and disruption of homelessness and \n save property owners from the high costs of forced eviction and \n re-occupancy; and\n (3) investing more resources in eviction prevention helps \n communities save on the high cost of homelessness by stopping \n homelessness before it starts--for example, according to 2015 \n data, the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance estimates \n that a homeless individual residing in Massachusetts creates an \n additional cost burden for State-supported services (such as \n shelters, emergency room visits, and incarceration) that is \n $9,372 greater per year than for a housed individual.\n\nSEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING ISSUES FOR LOW-\n INCOME FAMILIES.\n\n (a) Authority.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in \nthis section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a \nprogram under this section, through the Office of Community Planning \nand Development, to make grants to the extent amounts for such grants \nare made available pursuant to subsection (f) to eligible organizations \nunder subsection (d) to provide legal services and other related \nsupportive services under subsection (e) on behalf of eligible low-\nincome families under subsection (c).\n (b) Selection of Grantees.--The Secretary shall select eligible \norganizations under subsection (d) to receive grants under this section \ntaking into consideration factors, including--\n (1) factors necessary to ensure an equitable distribution \n of grants to grantees serving urban areas (as such term is \n defined by the Secretary) and to grantees serving rural areas \n (as such term is defined by the Secretary), except that the \n Secretary shall ensure that, of any amounts made available for \n any fiscal year for grants under this section, not less than 20 \n percent shall be used for grantees serving rural areas;\n (2) the number of rental units in the area served by the \n grantee that are affordable to low-income households having \n incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income and \n paying more than 30 percent of their incomes for rent;\n (3) the extent to which the population of the area served \n by the grantee uses eviction or other housing-related legal \n services or has a need for such services;\n (4) the extent to which tenants in the area served by the \n grantee are evicted;\n (5) the number of rental units in the area served by the \n grantee that are affordable to households having incomes at or \n below 80 percent of the area median income;\n (6) the extent of poverty in the area served by the \n grantee;\n (7) the number of renter households in the area served by \n the grantee that--\n (A) have incomes at or below 80 percent of the area \n median income;\n (B) are not provided rental assistance, such as \n rental assistance under section 8 of the United States \n Housing Act of 1937 or occupancy in a dwelling unit in \n public housing; or\n (C) live in severely inadequate housing, as \n measured using the American Housing Survey definition \n of housing having severe physical problems; and\n (8) any other factors that the Secretary considers \n appropriate for purposes of this section, except that the \n Secretary may not consider data from a point-in-time count of \n the homeless (as defined in section 103(a) of the McKinney-\n Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a))).\n (c) Eligible Low-Income Families.--Amounts from a grant under this \nsection may be used only to provide eligible services under subsection \n(e) with respect to families (including individuals and including \nvictims of domestic violence) who--\n (1) reside in a rental dwelling unit; and\n (2) have an income (as such term is defined in section 3(b) \n of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b))) \n that does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for the \n area in which the family resides.\n (d) Eligible Organizations.--Grants under this section may be made \nonly to--\n (1) a nonprofit organization that provides legal services \n on behalf of persons or families whose eligibility for such \n services includes a limitation on income, including any \n organizations that receive funding from the Legal Services \n Corporation (established under the Legal Services Corporation \n Act (42 U.S.C. 2996 et seq.)) to provide such services on \n behalf of such persons or families;\n (2) legal clinics sponsored by law schools or other \n organizations; and\n (3) such other institutions, organizations, and entities as \n the Secretary considers appropriate.\n (e) Eligible Services.--Amounts from a grant under this section may \nbe used only to provide, on behalf of eligible low-income families \nunder subsection (c), legal services and other related supportive \nservices in connection with--\n (1) an eviction of such a family;\n (2) the prevention of an eviction of such a family;\n (3) a dispute between the landlord and a tenant who is a \n member of such a family; or\n (4) enforcing the legal rights of such a family under \n Federal, State, or local laws regarding tenancy or fair \n housing.\n (f) Use of Mortgage Interest Deduction Savings for Grants.--\n (1) Determination of savings.--For each of fiscal years \n 2018 through 2022, the Secretary of the Treasury shall \n determine the amount of revenues accruing to the general fund \n of the Treasury by reason of the enactment of the amendment \n made by section 4 of this Act.\n (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized \n to be appropriated for grants under this section for each of \n fiscal years 2018 through 2022 the amount determined under \n paragraph (1) for such fiscal year.\n\nSEC. 4. REDUCTION IN LIMITATION ON MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION RELATING \n TO ACQUISITION INDEBTEDNESS FOR CERTAIN TAXPAYERS.\n\n (a) Acquisition Indebtedness.--Clause (ii) of section 163(h)(3)(B) \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:\n ``(ii) Limitation.--The aggregate amount \n treated as acquisition indebtedness for any \n period shall not exceed--\n ``(I) $1,000,000 in the case of a \n joint return ($500,000 in the case of a \n married individual filing a separate \n return), and\n ``(II) the applicable amount in any \n other case.\n ``(iii) Applicable amount.--For purposes of \n clause (ii)(II), the applicable amount is as \n follows:\n\n\n------------------------------------------------------------------------\n The applicable\n ``For taxable years-- amount is--\n \n------------------------------------------------------------------------\nBeginning in calendar year 2018......................... $900,000\nBeginning in calendar year 2019......................... $800,000\nBeginning in calendar year 2020......................... $700,000\nBeginning in calendar year 2021......................... $600,000\nBeginning in or after calendar year 2022................ $500,000.''.\n------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply to amounts paid or incurred after December 31, 2017.", "summary": "Equal Opportunity for Residential Representation Act This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) Office of Community Planning and Development to carry out a program to make grants to organizations to provide legal services and other related supportive services on behalf of low-income families (including individuals and victims of domestic violence) who reside in a rental dwelling unit and have an income that does not exceed 80% of the median income for the area in which the family resides. The following organizations may receive such grants: nonprofit organizations that provide legal services to persons or families of limited income, including organizations that receive funding from the Legal Services Corporation; legal clinics sponsored by law schools or other organizations; and such other entities as HUD considers appropriate. These grants may be used only to provide legal services and other related supportive services in connection with: (1) an eviction of such a family, (2) the prevention of such eviction, (3) a dispute between the landlord and a tenant who is a family member, or (4) enforcing the family's legal rights regarding tenancy or fair housing. Funds for such program shall be derived from revenues resulting from amendments by this bill to the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the limitation on the mortgage interest deduction for the acquisition indebtedness of certain taxpayers.", "title": "Equal Opportunity for Residential Representation Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2707, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Cancer Research Fund Act of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CANCER RESEARCH TRUST FUND.\n\n Part A of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 \net seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new \nsection:\n\n``SEC. 404F. ESTABLISHMENT OF CANCER RESEARCH TRUST FUND.\n\n ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the \nUnited States a trust fund, to be known as the `Cancer Research Trust \nFund' (hereafter in this section referred to as the `Fund'), consisting \nof such amounts as are credited or paid to the Fund as provided for in \nsection 6098 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and any interest \nearned on investment of amounts in the Fund.\n ``(b) Investment of Trust Fund.--\n ``(1) In general.--It shall be the duty of the Secretary of \n the Treasury to invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in \n the Secretary's judgment, required to meet current withdrawals. \n Such investments may be made only in interest-bearing \n obligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed \n as to both principal and interest by the United States. For \n such purpose, such obligations may be acquired--\n ``(A) on original issue at the issue price, or\n ``(B) by purchase of outstanding obligations at the \n market price.\n The purposes for which obligations of the United States may be \n issued under chapter 31 of title 31, of the United States Code, \n are hereby extended to authorize the issuance at par of special \n obligations exclusively to the Fund. Such special obligations \n shall bear interest at a rate equal to the average rate of \n interest, computed as to the end of the calendar month next \n preceding the date of such issue, borne by all marketable \n interest-bearing obligations of the United States then forming \n a part of the Public Debt; except that where such average rate \n is not a multiple of one-eighth of 1 percent, the rate of \n interest of such special obligations shall be the multiple of \n one-eighth of 1 percent next lower than such average rate. Such \n special obligations shall be issued only if the Secretary of \n the Treasury determines that the purchase of other interest-\n bearing obligations of the United States, or of obligations \n guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the United \n States on original issue or at the market price, is not in the \n public interest.\n ``(2) Sale of obligation.--Any obligation acquired by the \n Fund (except special obligations issued exclusively to the \n Fund) may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at the \n market price, and such special obligations may be redeemed at \n par plus accrued interest.\n ``(3) Credits to trust fund.--The interest on, and the \n proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held \n in the Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Fund.\n ``(c) Obligations From Fund.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human \n Services shall annually make available such sums as are \n available in the Fund (including any amounts not obligated in \n previous fiscal years) to the National Institutes of Health for \n the conduct of biomedical, intramural and extramural research.\n ``(2) Director of nih.--The Director of the National \n Institutes of Health may distribute amounts made available \n under paragraph (1) among the various research institutes and \n centers of the National Institutes of Health to enable such \n institutes and centers to conduct research that the Director \n determines is appropriate. The Director shall make awards from \n amounts available under paragraph (1) for research on cancer.\n ``(d) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts provided to an institute or \ncenter under subsection (c) shall be used to supplement and not \nsupplant other research conducted with Federal funds.\n ``(e) Limitation.--No expenditure shall be made under subsection \n(c)(1) during any fiscal year in which the annual amount appropriated \nfor the National Institutes of Health is less than the amount so \nappropriated for the prior fiscal year.''.\n\nSEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue \nCode of 1986 (relating to information and returns) is amended by adding \nat the end the following new part:\n\n ``PART IX--DESIGNATION OF OVERPAYMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANCER \n RESEARCH TRUST FUND\n\n ``Sec. 6098. Designation to Cancer \n Research Trust Fund.\n\n``SEC. 6098. DESIGNATION TO CANCER RESEARCH TRUST FUND.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Every individual (other than a nonresident \nalien) may--\n ``(1) designate that a portion (not less than $1) of any \n overpayment of the tax imposed by chapter 1 for the taxable \n year, and\n ``(2) provide that a cash contribution (not less than $1),\nbe paid over to the Cancer Research Trust Fund in accordance with the \nprovisions of section 404F of the Public Health Service Act. In the \ncase of a joint return of a husband and wife, each spouse may designate \none-half of any such overpayment of tax (not less than $2).\n ``(b) Manner and Time of Designation.--Any designation or payment \nunder subsection (a) may be made with respect to any taxable year only \nat the time of filing the original return of the tax imposed by chapter \n1 for such taxable year. Such designation shall be made on the page \nbearing the taxpayer's signature, and in close proximity to such \nsignature, and shall be labeled `Cancer Research Fund'.\n ``(c) Overpayments Treated as Refunded.--For purposes of this \nsection, any overpayment of tax designated under subsection (a) shall \nbe treated as being refunded to the taxpayer as of the last day \nprescribed for filing the return of tax imposed by chapter 1 \n(determined with regard to extensions) or, if later, the date the \nreturn is filed.''\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of parts for subchapter A of \nchapter 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at \nthe end the following new item:\n\n ``Part IX. Designation of overpayments \n and contributions to Cancer \n Research Trust Fund.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996.", "summary": "Cancer Research Fund Act of 1997 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish in the Treasury the Cancer Research Trust Fund (hereafter referred to as the \"Fund\") consisting of such amounts as are credited or paid to the Fund as provided for under the Internal Revenue Code (as amended by this Act) and any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund. \nDirects the Secretary of Health and Human Services to annually make available such sums as are available in the Fund (including any amounts not obligated in previous fiscal years) to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the conduct of biomedical, intramural, and extramural research. Prohibits an expenditure from being made during any fiscal year in which the annual amount appropriated for NIH is less than the amount so appropriated for the prior fiscal year. \nAuthorizes the NIH Director to distribute amounts made available among the various research institutes and centers to conduct research that the Director determines is appropriate. Requires the Director to make awards from such amounts available for research on cancer. \nRequires amounts provided to an institute or center to be used to supplement and not supplant other research conducted with Federal funds. \n(Sec. 3) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow every individual (other than a nonresident alien) to: (1) designate that a portion (not less than one dollar) of any overpayment of tax; and (2) provide that a cash contribution (not less than one dollar), be paid over to the Cancer Research Trust Fund in accordance with the Public Health Service Act. Allows each spouse, in the case of a joint return, to designate one-half of any such overpayment of tax (not less than two dollars).", "title": "Cancer Research Fund Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 728, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Andrew Carnegie Public Libraries \nAct''.\n\nSEC. 2. PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION AND MODERNIZATION.\n\n (a) In General.--The Library Services and Technology Act (20 U.S.C. \n9121 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating chapter 3 as chapter 4; and\n (2) by inserting after chapter 2 the following:\n\n ``CHAPTER 3--PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION AND MODERNIZATION\n\n``SEC. 241. GRANTS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION AND MODERNIZATION.\n\n ``(a) In General.--From amounts appropriated under section 244, the \nDirector may make grants for the construction or modernization of \npublic libraries to persons or entities submitting applications under \nsection 243.\n ``(b) Applicability.--The provisions of this subtitle (other than \nthis chapter) shall not apply to this chapter.\n ``(c) Definitions.--In this chapter:\n ``(1) Construction.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `construction' means--\n ``(i) construction of new buildings;\n ``(ii) the acquisition, expansion, \n remodeling, and alteration of existing \n buildings;\n ``(iii) the purchase, lease, and \n installation of equipment for any new or \n existing buildings; or\n ``(iv) any combination of the activities \n described in clauses (i) through (iii), \n including architect' fees and the cost of \n acquisition of land.\n ``(B) Special rule.--Such term includes remodeling \n to meet standards under the Act entitled `An Act to \n insure that certain buildings financed with Federal \n funds are so designed and constructed as to be \n accessible to the physically handicapped', approved \n August 12, 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.), commonly \n known as the `Architectural Barriers Act of 1968', \n remodeling designed to ensure safe working environments \n and to conserve energy, renovation or remodeling to \n accommodate new technologies, and the purchase of \n historic buildings for conversion to public libraries.\n ``(2) Equipment.--The term `equipment' means--\n ``(A) information and building technologies, video \n and telecommunications equipment, machinery, utilities, \n built-in equipment, and any necessary enclosures or \n structures to house the technologies, equipment, \n machinery or utilities; and\n ``(B) all other items necessary for the functioning \n of a particular facility as a facility for the \n provision of library services.\n ``(3) Modernization.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `modernization' means \n the purchase, rental, or lease of technological items, \n devices, or products (including upgrades)--\n ``(i) to improve access to library services \n or materials in a public library; or\n ``(ii) to maintain or improve the \n functional capabilities of individuals with \n disabilities in a public library.\n ``(B) Limitation.--Such term does not include--\n ``(i) the purchase of books, periodicals, \n audio or video recordings, or other similar \n library materials used by patrons; or\n ``(ii) costs for telecommunications or \n computer wiring undertaken in order to permit \n or improve the use of technological items, \n devices, or products.\n ``(4) Public library.--The term `public library' means a \n library that serves free of charge all residents of a \n community, district, or region, and receives its financial \n support in whole or in part from public funds. Such term also \n includes a research library, which, for the purposes of this \n sentence, means a library, which--\n ``(A) makes its services available to the public \n free of charge;\n ``(B) has extensive collections of books, \n manuscripts, and other materials suitable for scholarly \n research which are not available to the public through \n public libraries;\n ``(C) engages in the dissemination of humanistic \n knowledge through services to readers, fellowships, \n educational and cultural programs, publication of \n significant research, and other activities; and\n ``(D) is not an integral part of an institution of \n higher education.\n\n``SEC. 242. USES OF FEDERAL FUNDS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--A recipient of a grant under this chapter shall \nuse funds appropriated under section 244 to pay the Federal share of \nthe cost of construction or modernization of public libraries.\n ``(b) Maximum Amount.--The maximum amount of a grant under this \nchapter is $5,000,000.\n ``(c) Federal Share.--\n ``(1) In general.--For the purposes of subsection (a), the \n Federal share of the cost of construction or modernization of \n any project assisted under this chapter shall not exceed one-\n half of the total cost of the project.\n ``(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost \n of construction or modernization of any project assisted under \n this chapter may be provided from State, local or private \n sources, including for-profit and nonprofit organizations.\n ``(d) Special Rule.--If, within 20 years after completion of \nconstruction of any public library facility that has been constructed \nin part with grant funds made available under this chapter--\n ``(1) the recipient of the grant funds (or its successor in \n title or possession) ceases or fails to be a public or \n nonprofit institution, or\n ``(2) the facility ceases to be used as a library facility, \n unless the Director determines that there is good cause for \n releasing the institution from its obligation,\nthe United States shall be entitled to recover from such recipient (or \nsuccessor) an amount which bears the same ratio to the value of the \nfacility at that time (or part thereof constituting an approved project \nor projects) as the amount of the Federal grant bore to the cost of \nsuch facility (or part thereof). The value shall be determined by the \nparties or by action brought in the United States district court for \nthe district in which the facility is located.\n\n``SEC. 243. APPLICATION.\n\n ``Any person or entity desiring to receive a grant under this \nchapter for any fiscal year shall submit to the Director an application \nat such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the \nDirector may require, including a description of the public library \nconstruction or modernization activities be assisted under this \nchapter.\n\n``SEC. 244. LABOR STANDARDS.\n\n ``All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or \nsubcontractors in any construction, alteration, or repair, including \npainting and decorating, of projects, buildings, and works which are \nassisted under this chapter, shall be paid wages at rates not less than \nthose prevailing on similar construction in the locality as determined \nby the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Act of March 3, 1931 \n(40 U.S.C. 276--276a-5), popularly known as the Davis-Bacon Act. The \nSecretary of Labor shall have, with respect to such labor standards, \nthe authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered \n14 of 1950 (15 F.R. 3176; 64 Stat. 1267) and section 2 of the Act of \nJune 1, 1934, as amended (48 Stat. 948, as amended; 40 U.S.C. 276(c)).\n\n``SEC. 245. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry \nout this chapter $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and each of the 4 \nsucceeding fiscal years, to remain available until expended.\n ``(b) Administration.--Not more than 3 percent of the funds \nappropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year may be used to pay \nfor the Federal administrative costs of carrying out this chapter.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 210A of the Museum and Library \nServices Act (20 U.S.C. 9109) is amended by striking ``No funds'' and \ninserting ``Except as provided in chapter 3 of the Library Services and \nTechnology Act, no funds''.", "summary": "Andrew Carnegie Public Libraries Act - Amends the Library Services and Technology Act to authorize the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services to make grants for the construction or modernization of public libraries.\n\nSets forth application requirements for persons or entities desiring to receive such grants. Allows the non-federal share of project costs to be provided from state, local, or private sources, including for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Provides for recovery of funds if a grant recipient or successor ceases or fails to be a public or nonprofit institution, or if the facility ceases to be used as a library.", "title": "To provide for public library construction and modernization."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2668, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Employment Non-Discrimination Act of \n1995''.\n\nSEC. 2. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED.\n\n A covered entity, in connection with employment or employment \nopportunities, shall not--\n (1) subject an individual to different standards or \n treatment on the basis of sexual orientation,\n (2) discriminate against an individual based on the sexual \n orientation of persons with whom such individual is believed to \n associate or to have associated, or\n (3) otherwise discriminate against an individual on the \n basis of sexual orientation.\n\nSEC. 3. BENEFITS.\n\n This Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits to an \nindividual for the benefit of his or her partner.\n\nSEC. 4. NO DISPARATE IMPACT.\n\n The fact that an employment practice has a disparate impact, as the \nterm ``disparate impact'' is used in section 703(k) of the Civil Rights \nAct of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-2(k)), on the basis of sexual orientation \ndoes not establish a prima facie violation of this Act.\n\nSEC. 5. QUOTAS AND PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT PROHIBITED.\n\n (a) Quotas.--A covered entity shall not adopt or implement a quota \non the basis of sexual orientation.\n (b) Preferential Treatment.--A covered entity shall not give \npreferential treatment to an individual on the basis of sexual \norientation.\n\nSEC. 6. RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION.\n\n (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act \nshall not apply to religious organizations.\n (b) For-Profit Activities.--This Act shall apply with respect to \nemployment and employment opportunities that relate to any employment \nposition that pertains solely to a religious organization's for-profit \nactivities subject to taxation under section 511(a) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986.\n\nSEC. 7. NONAPPLICATION TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES; VETERANS' \n PREFERENCES.\n\n (a) Armed Forces.--(1) For purposes of this Act, the term \n``employment or employment opportunities'' does not apply to the \nrelationship between the United States and members of the Armed Forces.\n (2) As used in paragraph (1), the term ``Armed Forces'' means the \nArmy, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.\n (b) Veterans' Preferences.--This Act does not repeal or modify any \nFederal, State, territorial, or local law creating special rights or \npreferences for veterans.\n\nSEC. 8. ENFORCEMENT.\n\n (a) Enforcement Powers.--With respect to the administration and \nenforcement of this Act in the case of a claim alleged by an individual \nfor a violation of this Act--\n (1) the Commission shall have the same powers as the \n Commission has to administer and enforce--\n (A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 \n U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), or\n (B) sections 302, 303, and 304 of the Government \n Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202, 1203, \n 1204),\n in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a \n violation of such title or of section 302(a)(1) of such Act, \n respectively,\n (2) the Librarian of Congress shall have the same powers as \n the Librarian of Congress has to administer and enforce title \n VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) \n in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a \n violation of such title,\n (3) the Board (as defined in section 101 of the \n Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 \n Stat. 3) shall have the same powers as the Board has to \n administer and enforce the Congressional Accountability Act of \n 1995 in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a \n violation of section 201(a)(1) of such Act,\n (4) the Attorney General of the United States shall have \n the same powers as the Attorney General has to administer and \n enforce--\n (A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 \n U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), or\n (B) sections 302, 303, and 304 of the Government \n Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202, 1203, \n 1204),\n in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a \n violation of such title or of section 302(a)(1) of such Act, \n respectively, and\n (5) the courts of the United States shall have the same \n jurisdiction and powers as such courts have to enforce--\n (A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 \n U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) in the case of a claim alleged by \n such individual for a violation of such title,\n (B) sections 302, 303, and 304 of the Government \n Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202, 1203, 1204) \n in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a \n violation of section 302(a)(1) of such Act, and\n (C) the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 \n (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat. 3) in the case of a claim \n alleged by such individual for a violation of section \n 201(a)(1) of such Act.\n (b) Procedures and Remedies.--The procedures and remedies \napplicable to a claim alleged by an individual for a violation of this \nAct are--\n (1) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation \n of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e \n et seq.) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for \n a violation of such title,\n (2) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation \n of section 302(a)(1) of the Government Employee Rights Act of \n 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202(a)(1)) in the case of a claim alleged by \n such individual for a violation of such section, and\n (3) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation \n of section 201(a)(1) of Congressional Accountability Act of \n 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat. 3) in the case of a claim \n alleged by such individual for a violation of such section.\n (c) Other Applicable Provisions.--With respect to claims alleged by \ncovered employees (as defined in section 101 of the Congressional \nAccountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat. 3)) for \nviolations of this Act, title III of the Congressional Accountability \nAct of 1995 shall apply in the same manner as such title applies with \nrespect to a claims alleged by such covered employees for violations of \nsection 201(a)(1) of such Act.\n\nSEC. 9. STATE AND FEDERAL IMMUNITY.\n\n (a) State Immunity.--A State shall not be immune under the eleventh \narticle of amendment to the Constitution of the United States from an \naction in a Federal court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of \nthis Act. In an action against a State for a violation of this Act, \nremedies (including remedies at law and in equity) are available for \nthe violation to the same extent as such remedies are available in an \naction against any public or private entity other than a State.\n (b) Liability of the United States.--The United States shall be \nliable for all remedies (excluding punitive damages) under this Act to \nthe same extent as a private person and shall be liable to the same \nextent as a nonpublic party for interest to compensate for delay in \npayment.\n\nSEC. 10. ATTORNEYS' FEES.\n\n In any action or administrative proceeding commenced pursuant to \nthis Act, the court or the Commission, in its discretion, may allow the \nprevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney's \nfee, including expert fees and other litigation expenses, and costs. \nThe United States shall be liable for the foregoing the same as a \nprivate person.\n\nSEC. 11. RETALIATION AND COERCION PROHIBITED.\n\n (a) Retaliation.--A covered entity shall not discriminate against \nan individual because such individual opposed any act or practice \nprohibited by this Act or because such individual made a charge, \nassisted, testified, or participated in any manner in an investigation, \nproceeding, or hearing under this Act.\n (b) Coercion.--A person shall not coerce, intimidate, threaten, or \ninterfere with any individual in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on \naccount of his or her having exercised, enjoyed, assisted, or \nencouraged the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected \nby this Act.\n\nSEC. 12. POSTING NOTICES.\n\n A covered entity shall post notices for employees, applicants for \nemployment, and members describing the applicable provisions of this \nAct in the manner prescribed by, and subject to the penalty provided \nunder, section 711 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-\n10).\n\nSEC. 13. REGULATIONS.\n\n The Commission shall have authority to issue regulations to carry \nout this Act.\nSEC. 14. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.\n\n This Act shall not invalidate or limit the rights, remedies, or \nprocedures available to an individual claiming discrimination \nprohibited under any other Federal law or any law of a State or \npolitical subdivision of a State.\n\nSEC. 15. SEVERABILITY.\n\n If any provision of this Act, or the application of such provision \nto any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of \nthis Act and the application of such provision to other persons or \ncircumstances shall not be affected thereby.\n\nSEC. 16. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n This Act shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment \nof this Act and shall not apply to conduct occurring before such \neffective date.\n\nSEC. 17. DEFINITIONS.\n\n As used in this Act:\n (1) The term ``Commission'' means the Equal Employment \n Opportunity Commission.\n (2) The term ``covered entity'' means an employer, \n employment agency, labor organization, joint labor management \n committee, an entity to which section 717(a) of the Civil \n Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(a)) applies, an employing \n authority to which section 302(a)(1) of the Government Employee \n Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202(a)(1)) applies, or an \n employing authority to which section 201(a) of the \n Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 \n Stat. 3) applies.\n (3) The term ``employer'' has the meaning given such term \n in section 701(b) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. \n 2000e(b)).\n (4) The term ``employment agency'' has the meaning given \n such term in section 701(c) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 \n U.S.C. 2000e(c)).\n (5) The term ``employment or employment opportunities'' \n includes job application procedures, hiring, advancement, \n discharge, compensation, job training, or any other term, \n condition, or privilege of employment.\n (6) The term ``labor organization'' has the meaning given \n such term in section 701(d) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 \n U.S.C. 2000e(d)).\n (7) The term ``person'' has the meaning given such term in \n section 701(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. \n 2000e(a)).\n (8) The term ``religious organization'' means--\n (A) a religious corporation, association, or \n society, or\n (B) a college, school, university, or other \n educational institution, not otherwise a religious \n organization, if--\n (i) it is in whole or substantial part \n controlled, managed, owned, or supported by a \n religious corporation, association, or society, \n or\n (ii) its curriculum is directed toward the \n propagation of a particular religion.\n (9) The term ``sexual orientation'' means homosexuality, \n bisexuality, or heterosexuality, whether such orientation is \n real or perceived.\n (10) The term ``State'' has the meaning given such term in \n section 701(i) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. \n 2000e(i)).", "summary": "Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1995 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities, including an employing authority to which specified provisions of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 or the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 apply. \nDeclares that: (1) this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's partner; and (2) a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits quotas and preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except in their for-profit activities); (2) the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States liable for all remedies (except punitive damages) to the same extent as a private person. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Prohibits retaliation and coercion. Requires posting notices for employees and applicants.", "title": "Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1995"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2657, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Civil Rights Amendments Act of \n2003''.\n\nSEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.\n\n (a) Public Accommodations.--(1) Section 201(a) of the Civil Rights \nAct of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a(a)) is amended by striking ``religion,'' \nand inserting ``religion, affectional or sexual orientation,''.\n (2) Section 202 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000a-1) is amended by \nstriking ``religion,'' and inserting ``religion, affectional or sexual \norientation.''.\n (b) Public Facilities.--Section 301(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n2000b(a)) is amended by striking ``religion,'' and inserting \n``religion, affectional or sexual orientation,''.\n (c) Federally Assisted Programs.--Section 601 of such Act (42 \nU.S.C. 2000d) is amended by striking ``color,'' and inserting ``color, \naffectional or sexual orientation,''.\n (d) Equal Employment Opportunities.--(1) Sections 703(a), 703(b), \n703(c), 703(d), 703(e), 703(h), 703(j), 704(b), 706(g), and 717(a) of \nsuch Act (42 U.S.C. 2000e-2(a), 2000e-2(b), 2000e-2(c), 2000e-2(d), \n2000e-(e), 2000e-2(h), 2000e-2(j), 2000e-3(b), 2000e-5(g), and 2000e-\n16(a)) are amended by striking ``sex,'' each place it appears and \ninserting ``sex, affectional or sexual orientation,''.\n (2) Section 717(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(c)) is amended \nby striking ``sex'' and inserting ``sex, affectional or sexual \norientation,''.\n (3) Section 703(h) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000e-2(h)) is amended by \nstriking ``sex'' the first place it appears and inserting ``sex, \naffectional or sexual orientation,''.\n (4) The heading of section 703 of such Act is amended by striking \n``sex,'' and inserting ``sex, affectional or sexual orientation,''.\n (e) Intervention by Attorney General in Civil Rights Cases.--\nSection 902 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000h-2) is amended by striking \n``sex'' and inserting ``sex, affectional or sexual orientation,''.\n (f) Definition; Rules of Interpretation.--Title XI of such Act (42 \nU.S.C. 2000h et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsection:\n\n ``affectional or sexual orientation\n\n ``Sec. 1107. (a) Definition.--For purposes of titles II, III, VI, \nVII, and IX of this Act, the term `affectional or sexual orientation' \nmeans male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, and bisexuality by \norientation or practice, by and between consenting adults.\n ``(b) Rules of Interpretation.--(1) Nothing in this Act shall be \nconstrued to permit or require--\n ``(A) that a finding of discrimination on the basis of \n affectional or sexual orientation be based on any statistical \n differences in the incidence of persons of a particular \n affectional or sexual orientation in the general population as \n opposed to the incidence of such persons in the activity \n concerned; or\n ``(B) the use of any quota as a remedy for discrimination \n on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation.\n ``(2) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require any person \nto disclose a personal affectional or sexual orientation.''.\n\nSEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO FAIR HOUSING ACT.\n\n (a) Housing Sale and Rental, Residential Real-Estate-Related \nTransactions, and Brokerage Services.--(1) Section 804 of the Civil \nRights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3604) is amended by striking \n``religion,'' each place it appears and inserting ``religion, \naffectional and sexual orientation (as such term is defined in section \n802(p)),''.\n (2) Section 805 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3605) is amended by striking \n``religion,'' each place it appears and inserting ``religion, \naffectional or sexual orientation (as such term is defined in section \n802(p)),''.\n (3) Section 806 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3606) is amended by striking \n``religion,'' and inserting ``religion, affectional or sexual \norientation (as such term is defined in section 802(p)),''.\n (b) Prevention of Intimidation.--Section 901 of the Civil Rights \nAct of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3631) is amended by striking ``religion,'' each \nplace it appears and inserting ``religion, affectional or sexual \norientation (as such term is defined in section 802(p)),''.\n (c) Definition.--Section 802 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 \nU.S.C. 3602) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubsection:\n ``(p) `Affectional or sexual orientation' means male or female \nhomosexuality, heterosexuality, and bisexuality by orientation or \npractice, by and between consenting adults.''.\n (d) Rules of Interpretation.--(1) Title VIII of the Civil Rights \nAct of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new section:\n\n ``rules of interpretation regarding affectional or sexual orientation\n\n ``Sec. 821. (a) Findings of Discrimination; Quotas.--Nothing in \nthis Act shall be construed to permit or require--\n ``(1) that a finding of discrimination on the basis of \n affectional or sexual orientation be based on any statistical \n differences in the incidence of persons of a particular \n affectional or sexual orientation in the general population as \n opposed to the incidence of such persons in the activity \n concerned; or\n ``(2) the use of any quota as a remedy for discrimination \n on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation.\n ``(b) Protection of Privacy Rights.--Nothing in this Act shall be \nconstrued to require any person to disclose a personal affectional or \nsexual orientation.''.\n (2) Title IX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.) is amended by \nadding at the end the following new section:\n\n ``application of rules of interpretation regarding affectional or \n sexual orientation\n\n ``Sec. 902. The provisions of this title are subject to the rules \nof interpretation described in section 821 of this Act.''.\n \n\u001a", "summary": "Civil Rights Amendments Act of 2003 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation with respect to: (1) public accommodations; (2) public facilities; (3) federally assisted programs; (5) equal employment opportunities; (6) housing sales and rentals; and (7) brokerage services.", "title": "To amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1634, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Independent Bipartisan Commission on \nCampaign Finance Reform Act of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known \nas the ``Independent Bipartisan Commission on Campaign Finance Reform'' \n(referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'').\n (b) Duties.--The duties of the Commission are to study the law \nrelating to elections for Federal office and to report and recommend \nlegislation to reform that law.\n\nSEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Composition.--\n (1) Number.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 members \n appointed by the President not later than the date that is 15 \n days after the date of enactment of this Act.\n (2) Requirements.--The members shall be appointed from \n among individuals who--\n (A) are not incumbent Members of Congress; and\n (B) are specially qualified to serve on the \n Commission by reason of education, training, or \n experience.\n (b) Appointment.--\n (1) In general.--Members shall be appointed as follows:\n (A) 3 members (one of whom is a political \n independent (as defined in paragraph (3))) shall be \n appointed from among a list of nominees submitted by \n the Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n (B) 3 members (one of whom is a political \n independent) shall be appointed from among a list of \n nominees submitted by the Majority Leader of the \n Senate.\n (C) 3 members (one of whom is a political \n independent) shall be appointed from among a list of \n nominees submitted by the Minority Leader of the House \n of Representatives.\n (D) 3 members (one of whom is a political \n independent) shall be appointed from among a list of \n nominees submitted by the Minority Leader of the \n Senate.\n (2) Failure to submit list of nominees.--If an official \n described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph \n (1) fails to submit a list of nominees to the President during \n the 15-day period that begins on the date of enactment of this \n Act--\n (A) the applicable subparagraph shall no longer \n apply; and\n (B) the President shall appoint 3 members (one of \n whom is a political independent) who meet the \n requirements described in subsection (a) and such other \n criteria as the President may determine to apply.\n (3) Political independent.--In this subsection, the term \n ``political independent'' means an individual who at no time on \n or after January 1, 1992--\n (A) has held elective office as a member of the \n Democratic or Republican party;\n (B) has received any compensation from the \n Democratic or Republican party or from a Democratic or \n Republican party officeholder or candidate; or\n (C) has provided substantial volunteer services or \n made any substantial contribution to the Democratic or \n Republican party or to a Democratic or Republican party \n officeholder or candidate.\n (c) Chairperson.--At the time of the appointment, the President \nshall designate 1 member of the Commission as the chairperson of the \nCommission.\n (d) Period of Appointment.--A member of the Commission shall be \nappointed for the life of the Commission.\n (e) Vacancy.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the \nmanner in which the original appointment was made.\n (f) Political Affiliation.--Not more than 4 members of the \nCommission may be of the same political party (as defined in section \n301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431)).\n\nSEC. 4. POWERS OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Hearings.--\n (1) In general.--The Commission may, for the purpose of \n carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at such times \n and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as \n the Commission considers appropriate.\n (2) Open meetings.--In carrying out the preceding \n paragraph, the Commission shall ensure that a substantial \n number of its meetings are open meetings, with significant \n opportunities for testimony from members of the general public.\n (b) Quorum.--7 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, \nbut a lesser number may hold hearings.\n (c) Voting.--The approval of at least 9 members of the Commission \nis required when approving all or a portion of the recommended \nlegislation.\n (d) Power of Member.--A member of the Commission may, if authorized \nby the Commission, take an action that the Commission is authorized to \ntake under this section.\n\nSEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.\n\n (a) Pay and Travel Expenses of Members.--\n (1) Pay rate.--Each member of the Commission shall be paid \n at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of \n basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule \n under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day \n (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in \n the actual performance of duties vested in the Commission.\n (2) Travel expenses.--Members of the Commission shall \n receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of \n subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title \n 5, United States Code.\n (b) Staff Director.--The Commission shall, without regard to \nsection 5311(b) of title 5, United States Code, appoint a staff \ndirector, who shall be paid at the rate of basic pay payable for level \nIV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United \nStates Code.\n (c) Staff of Commission; Services.--\n (1) In general.--With the approval of the Commission, the \n staff director of the Commission may appoint additional \n personnel, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United \n States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, \n and may fix the pay of additional personnel, without regard to \n the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 \n of that title relating to classification and General Schedule \n pay rates.\n (2) Maximum rate of pay.--An an individual appointed under \n paragraph (1) may not receive pay in excess of the maximum \n annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the General \n Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code.\n (3) Experts and consultants.--The Commission may procure by \n contract the temporary or intermittent services of experts or \n consultants pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States \n Code.\n\nSEC. 6. REPORT AND RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION.\n\n (a) Report.--Not later than July 1, 1998, or the date that is 240 \ndays after the date on which the last of the members of the Commission \nis appointed under section 3 (whichever occurs earlier), the Commission \nshall submit to the President, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the \nHouse of Representatives, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the \nSenate a report of the activities of the Commission.\n (b) Recommendations; Draft of Legislation.--The report under \nsubsection (a) shall include--\n (1) any recommendations for changes in the law (including \n regulations) relating to elections for Federal office \n (including any changes in the rules of the Senate or the House \n of Representatives) to which 9 or more members of the \n Commission agree; and\n (2) at least 1 bill (including technical and conforming \n provisions) approved by the members of the Commission to \n implement the recommendations.\n (c) Goals of Recommendations and Legislation.--In making \nrecommendations and preparing legislation under this section, the \nCommission shall consider the following primary goals:\n (1) Encouraging fair and open Federal elections that \n provide voters with meaningful information about candidates and \n issues.\n (2) Eliminating the disproportionate influence of special \n interest financing of Federal elections.\n (3) Creating a more equitable electoral system for \n challenger and incumbent candidates.\n\nSEC. 7. EXPEDITED CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Each bill submitted under section 6(b) shall--\n (1) not later than 3 days after the Commission submits the \n bill under section 6(a), be introduced (by request) in the \n House of Representatives by the Majority Leader of the House \n and shall be introduced (by request) in the Senate by the \n Majority Leader of the Senate; and\n (2) be given expedited consideration under the same \n provisions and in the same way, subject to subsection (b), as a \n joint resolution under section 2908 of the Defense Base Closure \n and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2678 note).\n (b) Special Rules.--For purposes of applying subsection (a) with \nrespect to such provisions, the following rules shall apply:\n (1) Section 2908(a) of the Defense Base Closure and \n Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2678 note) shall not apply.\n (2) Any reference to the resolution described in subsection \n (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the bill submitted \n under section 6(b) of this Act.\n (3) Any reference to the Committee on National Security of \n the House of Representatives shall be deemed to be a reference \n to the Committee on House Oversight of the House of \n Representatives and any reference to the Committee on Armed \n Services of the Senate shall be deemed to be a reference to the \n Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.\n (4) Any reference to the date on which the President \n transmits a report shall be deemed to be a reference to the \n date on which the recommendation of the Commission is submitted \n under section 6(b).\n (5) Notwithstanding section 2908(d)(2) of the Act--\n (A) debate on the bill in the House of \n Representatives, and on all debatable motions and \n appeals in connection with the bill, shall be limited \n to not more than 10 hours, divided equally between \n those favoring and those opposing the bill;\n (B) debate on the bill in the Senate, and on all \n debatable motions and appeals in connection with the \n bill, shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, \n divided equally between those favoring and those \n opposing the bill; and\n (C) debate in the Senate on any single debatable \n motion and appeal in connection with the bill shall be \n limited to not more than 1 hour, divided equally \n between the proponent of the motion and the manager of \n the bill, except that if the manager of the bill is in \n favor of the motion or appeal, the time in opposition \n to the motion or appeal shall be controlled by the \n Minority Leader or the Leader's designee, and the \n Majority and Minority Leader may each allot additional \n time from time under such Leader's control to any \n Senator during the consideration of any debatable \n motion or appeal.\n\nSEC. 8. TERMINATION.\n\n The Commission shall cease to exist on the date that is 90 days \nafter the date of the submission of its report under section 6.\n\nSEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums \nas are necessary to carry out its duties under this Act.", "summary": "Independent Bipartisan Commission on Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1997 - Establishes the Independent Bipartisan Commission on Campaign Finance Reform to study the law relating to elections for Federal office and to report and recommend legislation to reform that law. \nProvides for expedited congressional consideration of legislation submitted under this Act. \nTerminates the Commission 90 days after submission of its report. \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "Independent Bipartisan Commission on Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1820, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Financial Crimes Resources Act of \n2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR RESOURCES TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE \n CRIMINAL ACTIVITY INVOLVING COMPUTERS, CRIMES OF FRAUD \n INVOLVING FEDERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF \n PROGRAMS, AND FINANCIAL CRIMES.\n\n (a) Additional Funding for Resources.--\n (1) Authorization.--For the purposes described in \n subsection (b), there are authorized to be appropriated for \n each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2012--\n (A) to the Director of the United States Secret \n Service, $20,000,000;\n (B) to the Director of the Federal Bureau of \n Investigation, $100,000,000;\n (C) to the Attorney General, for--\n (i) the Criminal Division of the Department \n of Justice, $20,000,000;\n (ii) the Civil Division of the Department \n of Justice, $15,000,000;\n (iii) the Tax Division of the Department of \n Justice, $5,000,000; and\n (iv) the offices of the United States \n Attorneys, $50,000,000;\n (D) to the Inspector General of the Department of \n Housing and Urban Development, $30,000,000;\n (E) to the Chief Postal Inspector of the United \n States Postal Inspection Service, $30,000,000; and\n (F) to the Director of the Administrative Office of \n the United States Courts, $20,000,000.\n (2) Additional funding and availability.--The amounts \n authorized under paragraph (1) are in addition to amounts \n otherwise authorized in other Acts, and shall remain available \n until expended.\n (b) Use of Additional Funding.--Funds made available under \nsubsection (a)(1) shall be used--\n (1) by the recipients described in subparagraphs (A) \n through (E) of such subsection, to provide for resources to \n investigate and prosecute criminal activity involving \n computers, crimes of fraud involving Federal economic \n assistance and relief programs, and financial crimes, including \n mortgage fraud, securities fraud, and financial institution \n fraud; and\n (2) by the recipient described in subparagraph (F) of such \n subsection, for costs associated with providing defense \n services in cases in which a defendant is charged with criminal \n activity involving computers, crimes of fraud involving Federal \n economic assistance and relief programs, and financial crimes, \n including mortgage fraud, securities fraud, and financial \n institution fraud.\n\nSEC. 3. GRANTS FOR STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of amounts provided in \nadvance in appropriations Acts, the Assistant Attorney General for the \nOffice of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice may award \ngrants to States to establish and develop programs to increase and \nenhance enforcement against criminal activity involving computers and \nfinancial crimes, including mortgage fraud, securities fraud, and \nfinancial institution fraud.\n (b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under subsection (a), \na State shall submit an application to the Assistant Attorney General \nfor the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice at such \ntime, in such manner, and containing such information, including as \ndescribed in subsection (d), as the Assistant Attorney General may \nrequire.\n (c) Use of Grant Amounts.--A grant awarded to a State under \nsubsection (a) shall be used by a State to establish and develop \nprograms to--\n (1) assist State and local law enforcement agencies in \n enforcing State and local criminal laws relating to criminal \n activity involving computers and financial crimes;\n (2) assist State and local law enforcement agencies in \n educating the public to prevent and identify criminal activity \n involving computers and financial crimes;\n (3) educate and train State and local law enforcement \n officers and prosecutors to conduct investigations, forensic \n analyses of evidence, and prosecutions of criminal activity \n involving computers and financial crimes;\n (4) assist State and local law enforcement officers and \n prosecutors in acquiring computer and other equipment to \n conduct investigations and forensic analysis of evidence of \n criminal activity involving computers and financial crimes;\n (5) assist public defenders with providing defense services \n to defendents in cases in which the defendant is charged with \n criminal activity involving computers or a financial crime, \n including mortgage fraud, securities fraud, and financial \n institution fraud; and\n (6) facilitate and promote communication between Federal, \n State, and local law enforcement to improve the sharing of \n Federal law enforcement expertise and information about the \n investigation, forensic analysis of evidence, and prosecution \n of criminal activity involving computers and financial crimes \n with State and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors, \n including the use of multi-jurisdictional task forces.\n (d) Assurances and Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant \nunder subsection (a), a State shall provide assurances to the Assistant \nAttorney General for the Office of Justice Programs of the Department \nof Justice that the State--\n (1) will provide an assessment of the resource needs of the \n State and units of local government within that State, \n including criminal justice resources being devoted to the \n investigation and enforcement of laws related to criminal \n activity involving computers and financial crimes;\n (2) will develop a plan for coordinating the programs \n funded under this section with other federally funded technical \n assistance and training programs; and\n (3) will submit to the Assistant Attorney General for the \n Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice \n applicable reports in accordance with subsection (f).\n (e) Matching Funds.--The Federal share of a grant received under \nthis section may not exceed 90 percent of the total cost of a program \nor proposal funded under this section unless the Assistant Attorney \nGeneral for the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice \nwaives, wholly or in part, the requirements of this subsection.\n (f) Reports.--For each year that a State receives a grant under \nsubsection (a) for a program, the State shall submit to the Assistant \nAttorney General for the Office of Justice Programs of the Department \nof Justice a report on the results, including the effectiveness, of \nsuch program during such year.\n (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--\n (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to \n carry out this section $250,000,000 for each of the fiscal \n years 2010 through 2012.\n (2) Limitations.--Of the amount made available to carry out \n this section in any fiscal year, not more than 3 percent may be \n used for salaries and administrative expenses for the \n Department of Justice.\n (3) Minimum amount.--Each State submitting an application \n for, and eligible to receive, a grant under this section for a \n fiscal year shall be allocated under this section, in each such \n fiscal year, not less than 0.75 percent of the total amount \n appropriated in such fiscal year for grants pursuant to this \n section, except that not less than 0.25 percent of such total \n amount shall be allocated to the United States Virgin Islands, \n American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, \n collectively.\n (4) Grants to indian tribes.--Notwithstanding any other \n provision of this section, the Assistant Attorney General for \n the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice may \n use amounts made available under this section to make grants to \n Indian tribes for use in accordance with this section.", "summary": "Financial Crimes Resources Act of 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2012 to the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and other federal agencies for the investigation and prosecution of criminal activity involving computers, crimes of fraud involving federal economic assistance and relief programs, and financial crimes, including mortgage fraud, securities fraud, and financial institution fraud.\n\nAuthorizes the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs of DOJ to award grants to states to establish and develop programs for enforcement against criminal activity involving computers and financial crimes.", "title": "To provide for resources for the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 763, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Commercial Driving \nTraining and Technical Assistance Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--\n (1) despite the availability of abundant natural resources \n on land under the jurisdiction of Indian tribes and the \n existence of a rich cultural legacy that accords great value to \n self-determination, self-reliance, and independence, Native \n Americans suffer higher rates of unemployment, poverty, poor \n health, substandard housing, and associated social problems \n than any other group in the United States;\n (2) the United States has an obligation to assist Native \n American communities in the establishment of appropriate \n economic and political conditions;\n (3) the economic success and material well-being of Indian \n communities depend on the combined efforts of the Federal \n Government, tribal governments, the private sector, and \n individuals;\n (4) commercial vehicle driving programs are currently \n offered at several tribal colleges and universities;\n (5) the American Trucking Association reports that at least \n until 2005, the trucking industry will need to hire 403,000 \n truck drivers each year to fill vacant positions;\n (6) according to the Federal Government Occupational \n Handbook, the commercial vehicle driving industry is expected \n to expand at the average rate of expansion for all occupations \n through the year 2008 because of economic growth and an \n increase in the quantity of freight carried by trucks; and\n (7) a career in commercial vehicle driving offers a \n competitive salary, employment benefits, job security, and a \n profession.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--\n (1) to foster and promote job creation and economic \n opportunities for Native Americans; and\n (2) to provide education, technical, and training \n assistance to Native Americans who are interested in commercial \n vehicle driving careers.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Commercial vehicle driving.--The term ``commercial \n vehicle driving'' means the driving of--\n (A) a vehicle that is a tractor-trailer truck; or\n (B) any other vehicle (such as a bus or a vehicle \n used for the purpose of construction) the driving of \n which requires a commercial license.\n (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the \n meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-\n Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).\n (3) Native american.--The term ``Native American'' means an \n individual who is a member of--\n (A) an Indian tribe; or\n (B) any people or culture that is indigenous to the \n United States, as determined by the Secretary.\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Labor.\n\nSEC. 4. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVING TRAINING PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Grants.--The Secretary may provide grants, on a competitive \nbasis, to entities described in subsection (b) to support programs \nproviding training and certificates leading to the licensing of Native \nAmericans with respect to commercial vehicle driving.\n (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under \nsubsection (a), an entity shall--\n (1) be a tribal college or university (as defined in \n section 316(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. \n 1059(b)(3)); and\n (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at \n such time, in such manner, and containing such information as \n the Secretary may require.\n (c) Priority.--In providing grants under subsection (a), the \nSecretary shall give priority to grant applications that--\n (1) propose training that exceeds proposed minimum \n standards for training tractor-trailer drivers of the \n Department of Transportation;\n (2) propose training that exceeds the entry level truck \n driver certification standards set by the Professional Truck \n Driver Institute; and\n (3) propose an education partnership with a private \n trucking firm, trucking association, or similar entity in order \n to ensure the effectiveness of the grant program under this \n section.\n (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.\n\n Passed the Senate September 17, 2002.\n\n Attest:\n\n Secretary.\n107th CONGRESS\n\n 2d Session\n\n S. 1344\n\n_______________________________________________________________________\n\n AN ACT\n\n To provide training and technical assistance to Native Americans who \n are interested in commercial vehicle driving careers.", "summary": "Native American Commercial Driving Training and Technical Assistance Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to award grants to eligible entities (tribal colleges and universities) to support commercial vehicle (tractor-trailer truck) driving training programs.Requires the Secretary to give priority to grant applications that propose: (1) training that exceeds proposed minimum standards for training tractor-trailer drivers of the Department of Transportation; (2) training that exceeds the entry level truck driver certification standards set by the Professional Truck Driver Institute; and (3) education partnerships with private trucking firms, trucking associations, or similar entities.Authorizes appropriations.", "title": "A bill to provide training and technical assistance to Native Americans who are interested in commercial vehicle driving careers."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 625, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Homebuyer Tax Credit Improvement Act \nof 2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. PROVISIONS TO ENHANCE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FIRST-TIME \n HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT.\n\n (a) Age Limitation.--\n (1) In general.--Subsection (b) of section 36 of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end \n the following new paragraph:\n ``(3) Age limitation.--No credit shall be allowed under \n subsection (a) with respect to the purchase of any residence \n unless the taxpayer has attained age 18 as of the date of such \n purchase. In the case of any taxpayer who is married (within \n the meaning of section 7703), the taxpayer shall be treated as \n meeting the age requirement of the preceding sentence if the \n taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse meets such age \n requirement.''.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (g) of section 36 of \n such Code is amended by striking ``subsections (c) and \n (f)(4)(D)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(3), (c), and \n (f)(4)(D)''.\n (b) Documentation Requirement.--Subsection (d) of section 36 of \nsuch Code is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (1), by \nstriking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting ``, or'', \nand by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(3) the taxpayer fails to attach to the return of tax for \n such taxable year a properly executed copy of the settlement \n statement used to complete such purchase.''.\n (c) Restriction on Married Individual Acquiring Residence From \nFamily of Spouse.--Clause (i) of section 36(c)(3)(A) of such Code is \namended by inserting ``(or, if married, such individual's spouse)'' \nafter ``person acquiring such property''.\n (d) Certain Errors With Respect to the First-Time Homebuyer Tax \nCredit Treated as Mathematical or Clerical Errors.--Paragraph (2) of \nsection 6213(g) of such Code is amended by striking ``and'' at the end \nof subparagraph (M), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph \n(N) and inserting ``, and'', and by inserting after subparagraph (N) \nthe following new subparagraph:\n ``(O) an entry on a return claiming the credit \n under section 36 if--\n ``(i) the Secretary obtains information \n from the person issuing the TIN of the taxpayer \n that indicates that the taxpayer does not meet \n the age requirement of section 36(b)(3),\n ``(ii) information provided to the \n Secretary by the taxpayer on an income tax \n return for at least one of the 2 preceding \n taxable years is inconsistent with eligibility \n for such credit, or\n ``(iii) the taxpayer fails to attach to the \n return the form described in section \n 36(d)(3).''.\n (e) Effective Date.--\n (1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this \n subsection, the amendments made by this section shall apply to \n purchases after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (2) Documentation requirement.--The amendments made by \n subsection (b) shall apply to returns for taxable years ending \n after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (3) Treatment as mathematical and clerical errors.--The \n amendments made by subsection (d) shall apply to returns for \n taxable years ending on or after April 9, 2008.\n\nSEC. 3. CERTAIN TAX RETURN PREPARERS REQUIRED TO FILE RETURNS \n ELECTRONICALLY.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (e) of section 6011 of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new \nparagraph:\n ``(3) Special rule for tax return preparers.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall require than \n any individual income tax return prepared by a tax \n return preparer be filed on magnetic media if--\n ``(i) such return is filed by such tax \n return preparer, and\n ``(ii) such tax return preparer is a \n specified tax return preparer for the calendar \n year during which such return is filed.\n ``(B) Specified tax return preparer.--For purposes \n of this paragraph, the term `specified tax return \n preparer' means, with respect to any calendar year, any \n tax return preparer unless such preparer reasonably \n expects to file 100 or fewer individual income tax \n returns during such calendar year.\n ``(C) Individual income tax return.--For purposes \n of this paragraph, the term `individual income tax \n return' means any return of the tax imposed by subtitle \n A on individuals, estates, or trusts.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraph (1) of section 6011(e) of such \nCode is amended by striking ``The Secretary may not'' and inserting \n``Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Secretary may not''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to returns filed after December 31, 2010.", "summary": "Homebuyer Tax Credit Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the first-time homebuyer tax credit, to: (1) deny such credit to taxpayers under the age of 18; (2) require a taxpayer claiming such credit to attach to their returns a properly executed copy of the settlement statement used to purchase their residence; and (3) prohibit a credit for residences acquired from a spouse.\n\nRequires tax return preparers to file tax returns electronically unless they reasonably expect to file 100 or fewer individual income returns in a calendar year.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to enhance the administration of, and reduce fraud related to, the first-time homebuyer tax credit, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2284, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``NEPA Reciprocity Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. USE OF ALTERNATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCEDURES \n UNDER STATE LAWS FOR RAIL AND HIGHWAY PROJECTS.\n\n (a) Establishment.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program to \n eliminate duplicative environmental reviews and approvals under \n State and Federal law of projects. Under this program, a State \n may use State laws and procedures to conduct reviews and make \n approvals in lieu of Federal environmental laws and \n regulations, consistent with the provisions of this section.\n (2) Participating states.--All States are eligible to \n participate in the program.\n (3) Scope of alternative review and approval procedures.--\n For purposes of this section, alternative environmental review \n and approval procedures may include one or more of the \n following:\n (A) Substitution of one or more State environmental \n laws for one or more Federal environmental laws, if the \n Secretary determines in accordance with this section \n that the State environmental laws provide environmental \n protection and opportunities for public involvement \n that are substantially equivalent to the applicable \n Federal environmental laws.\n (B) Substitution of one or more State regulations \n for Federal regulations implementing one or more \n Federal environmental laws, if the Secretary determines \n in accordance with this section that the State \n regulations provide environmental protection and \n opportunities for public involvement that are \n substantially equivalent to the Federal regulations.\n (b) Application.--To participate in the program, a State shall \nsubmit to the Secretary an application containing such information as \nthe Secretary may require, including--\n (1) a full and complete description of the proposed \n alternative environmental review and approval procedures of the \n State;\n (2) for each State law or regulation included in the \n proposed alternative environmental review and approval \n procedures of the State, an explanation of the basis for \n concluding that the law or regulation meets the requirements \n under subsection (a)(3); and\n (3) evidence of having sought, received, and addressed \n comments on the proposed application from the public and \n appropriate Federal environmental resource agencies.\n (c) Review of Application.--The Secretary shall--\n (1) review an application submitted under subsection (b);\n (2) approve or disapprove the application in accordance \n with subsection (d) not later than 90 days after the date of \n the receipt of the application; and\n (3) transmit to the State notice of the approval or \n disapproval, together with a statement of the reasons for the \n approval or disapproval.\n (d) Approval of State Programs.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve each such \n application if the Secretary finds that the proposed \n alternative environmental review and approval procedures of the \n State are substantially equivalent to the applicable Federal \n environmental laws and Federal regulations.\n (2) Exclusion.--The National Environmental Policy Act of \n 1969 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et \n seq.) shall not apply to any decision by the Secretary to \n approve or disapprove any application submitted pursuant to \n this section.\n (e) Compliance With Permits.--Compliance with a permit or other \napproval of a project issued pursuant to a program approved by the \nSecretary under this section shall be considered compliance with the \nFederal laws and regulations identified in the program approved by the \nSecretary pursuant to this section.\n (f) Review and Termination.--\n (1) Review.--All State alternative environmental review and \n approval procedures approved under this section shall be \n reviewed by the Secretary not less than once every 5 years.\n (2) Public notice and comment.--In conducting the review \n process under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide notice \n and an opportunity for public comment.\n (3) Extensions and terminations.--At the conclusion of the \n review process, the Secretary may extend the State alternative \n environmental review and approval procedures for an additional \n 5-year period or terminate the State program.\n (g) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of \nenactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall \nsubmit to Congress a report that describes the administration of the \nprogram.\n (h) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:\n (1) Environmental law.--The term ``environmental law'' \n includes any law that provides procedural or substantive \n protection, as applicable, for the natural or built environment \n with regard to the construction and operation of projects.\n (2) Federal environmental laws.--The term ``Federal \n environmental laws'' means laws governing the review of \n environmental impacts of, and issuance of permits and other \n approvals for, the construction and operation of projects, \n including section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental \n Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), section 404 of the \n Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), section \n 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f), \n and sections 7(a)(2), 9(a)(1)(B), and 10(a)(1)(B) of the \n Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2), \n 1538(a)(1)(B), 1539(a)(1)(B)).\n (3) Project.--The term ``project'' means any project \n eligible for federal assistance under title 23, subtitle V of \n title 49, or chapter 53 of title 49 of the United States Code, \n or involves the participation of more than one Department of \n Transportation modal administration or secretarial office.", "summary": "NEPA Reciprocity Act Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to eliminate duplicative environmental reviews and approvals under state and federal law for rail and highway transportation projects. Authorizes a state to use state environmental review and approval laws and procedures, consistent with certain requirements, in lieu of federal environmental laws and regulations. ", "title": "NEPA Reciprocity Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 281, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Affordable Housing Preservation and \nRevitalization Act of 2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION AND REVITALIZATION PROGRAM.\n\n Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. \n1437f) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(ff) Affordable Housing Preservation and Revitalization \nProgram.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban \n Development shall ensure that funds in the residual receipts \n account of an eligible multifamily housing property are \n transferred, at the time of a qualified sale or exchange, to a \n preservation entity.\n ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is to \n facilitate the transfer of multifamily housing projects with \n expiring housing assistance payments contracts to preservation \n entities that are committed to maintaining the affordability \n and preservation of such projects by allowing expanded access \n to existing residual receipts to assist with the acquisition \n and rehabilitation of the project.\n ``(3) Use of funds.--A preservation entity that acquires an \n eligible multifamily housing property through a qualified sale \n shall, subject to the approval of the housing agency, use the \n funds in the residual receipts account transferred to it, or \n for its benefit--\n ``(A) to pay for rehabilitation costs approved by \n the housing agency;\n ``(B) to deposit funds into the replacement reserve \n account of the property;\n ``(C) to pay for social and other services that \n directly benefit the tenants of such property, but in \n any 1 year such payments may not exceed 10 percent of \n the balance of the residual receipts account of the \n property at the end of the prior fiscal year;\n ``(D) to pay for costs associated with the \n acquisition of the property, but such payments may not \n exceed 50 percent of the amount in the residual \n receipts account of the property at the time of \n acquisition; and\n ``(E) to pay for any other costs that have been \n approved by the housing agency and will directly \n benefit the tenants of the property.\n ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following \n definitions shall apply:\n ``(A) Affordability and use restrictions.--The term \n `affordability and use restrictions' means the \n affordability and use restrictions in connection with \n project-based housing assistance payments made under \n this section.\n ``(B) Extended use period.--The term `extended use \n period' means the later of--\n ``(i) 30 years after the close of the sale \n of an eligible multifamily housing property to \n a preservation entity, or\n ``(ii) upon the expiration of the remaining \n useful life of the eligible multifamily \n property taking into account any rehabilitation \n undertaken in connection with the acquisition \n of said property by the preservation entity, as \n such remaining useful life is determined by the \n housing agency,\n provided that, such extended use period shall terminate \n in the event that the Secretary of Housing and Urban \n Development is unable to provide Section 8 assistance \n on terms at least as advantageous to the preservation \n entity as exist at the time of the acquisition of such \n eligible multifamily housing property.\n ``(C) Eligible multifamily housing property.--The \n term `eligible multifamily housing property' means a \n project that--\n ``(i) is receiving project-based housing \n assistance payments under this section; and\n ``(ii) was financed pursuant to part 883 of \n title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, on or \n after February 29, 1980.\n ``(D) Housing agency.--The term `housing agency' \n means, with respect to any eligible multifamily housing \n property, the housing agency which administers housing \n assistance with respect to such property.\n ``(E) Preservation entity.--The term `preservation \n entity' means an entity--\n ``(i) that is--\n ``(I) a nonprofit corporation under \n State law that is exempt from Federal \n income taxation pursuant to paragraph \n (3) or (4) of section 501(c) of the \n Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or\n ``(II) a limited partnership or \n limited liability company where the \n sole general partner or sole managing \n member of such ownership entity is a \n nonprofit corporation under State law \n which is exempt from Federal income \n taxation pursuant to paragraphs (3) or \n (4) of section 501(c) of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986; and\n ``(ii) approved by the housing agency that \n has the capacity to acquire and preserve an \n eligible multifamily housing property.\n ``(F) Qualified sale.--\n ``(i) In general.--The term `qualified \n sale' means the sale of an eligible multifamily \n housing property to a preservation entity which \n agrees to maintain affordability and use \n restrictions regarding the property that are--\n ``(I) for a term of not less than \n the extended use period; and\n ``(II) legally enforceable.\n ``(ii) Future applicability of \n restrictions.--The restrictions under \n subparagraph (A) shall be--\n ``(I) binding on all successors and \n assigns of the preservation entity; and\n ``(II) recorded as a restrictive \n covenant on the property pursuant to \n State law.\n ``(G) Residual receipts.--The term `residual \n receipts' means--\n ``(i) funds generated by a property in \n excess of the amount needed for operating \n expenses, operating reserve requirements, and \n allowable distributions to project owners; and\n ``(ii) includes any other funds that the \n Secretary, in his or her discretion, designates \n as residual receipts.\n ``(5) Residual receipts not treated as federal funds.--For \n the purposes of section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of \n 1986, residual receipts used or transferred under this section \n shall not be considered Federal funds.''.", "summary": "Affordable Housing Preservation and Revitalization Act of 2009 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ensure that funds in the residual receipts account of an eligible multifamily housing property are transferred, at the time of a qualified sale or exchange, to preservation entities.\n\nRequires that funds in the residual receipts account be used, subject to housing agency approval, to: (1) pay for rehabilitation costs approved by the housing agency; (2) deposit funds into the property's replacement reserve account; and (3) pay for social and other services, associated acquisition costs, and any other costs that have been approved by the housing agency and will directly benefit such tenants.\n\nDefines \"preservation entity\" as: (1) a nonprofit tax-exempt corporation; or (2) a limited partnership or limited liability company where the sole general partner or sole managing member of such ownership entity is a nonprofit tax-exempt corporation; and (3) that has the capacity to acquire and preserve an eligible multifamily housing property.\n\nStates that, for purposes of the low-income housing credit under the Internal Revenue Code, residual receipts used or transferred under this Act shall not be considered federal funds.", "title": "A bill to allow for the use of existing section 8 housing funds so as to preserve and revitalize affordable housing options for low-income individuals."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3090, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; AMENDMENT OF 1986 CODE.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Puerto Rico \nEconomic Activity Credit Improvement Act of 1999''.\n (b) Amendment of 1986 Code.--Except as otherwise expressly \nprovided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in \nterms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, \nthe reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other \nprovision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\n\nSEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS OF PUERTO RICO ECONOMIC ACTIVITY CREDIT.\n\n (a) Corporations Eligible To Claim Credit.--Section 30A(a)(2) \n(defining qualified domestic corporation) is amended to read as \nfollows:\n ``(2) Qualified domestic corporation.--For purposes of \n paragraph (1)--\n ``(A) In general.--A domestic corporation shall be \n treated as a qualified domestic corporation for a \n taxable year if it is actively conducting within Puerto \n Rico during the taxable year--\n ``(i) a line of business with respect to \n which the domestic corporation is an existing \n credit claimant under section 936(j)(9), or\n ``(ii) an eligible line of business not \n described in clause (i).\n ``(B) Limitation to lines of business.--A domestic \n corporation shall be treated as a qualified domestic \n corporation under subparagraph (A) only with respect to \n the lines of business described in subparagraph (A) \n which it is actively conducting in Puerto Rico during \n the taxable year.\n ``(C) Exception for corporations electing reduced \n credit.--A domestic corporation shall not be treated as \n a qualified domestic corporation if such corporation \n (or any predecessor) had an election in effect under \n section 936(a)(4)(B)(iii) for any taxable year \n beginning after December 31, 1996.''\n (b) Application on Separate Line of Business Basis; Eligible Line \nof Business.--Section 30A is amended by redesignating subsection (g) as \nsubsection (h) and by inserting after subsection (f) the following new \nsubsection:\n ``(g) Application on Line of Business Basis; Eligible Lines of \nBusiness.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Application to separate line of business.--\n ``(A) In general.--In determining the amount of the \n credit under subsection (a), this section shall be \n applied separately with respect to each substantial \n line of business of the qualified domestic corporation.\n ``(B) Exceptions for existing credit claimant.--\n This paragraph shall not apply to a substantial line of \n business with respect to which the qualified domestic \n corporation is an existing credit claimant under \n section 936(j)(9).\n ``(C) Allocation.--The Secretary shall prescribe \n rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this \n paragraph, including rules--\n ``(i) for the allocation of items of \n income, gain, deduction, and loss for purposes \n of determining taxable income under subsection \n (a), and\n ``(ii) for the allocation of wages, fringe \n benefit expenses, and depreciation allowances \n for purposes of applying the limitations under \n subsection (d).\n ``(2) Eligible line of business.--The term `eligible line \n of business' means a substantial line of business in any of the \n following trades or businesses:\n ``(A) Manufacturing.\n ``(B) Agriculture.\n ``(C) Forestry.\n ``(D) Fishing.\n ``(3) Substantial line of business.--For purposes of this \n subsection, the determination of whether a line of business is \n a substantial line of business shall be determined by reference \n to 2-digit codes under the North American Industry \n Classification System (62 Fed. Reg. 17288 et seq., formerly \n known as `SIC codes').''\n (c) Repeal of Base Period Cap.--\n (1) In general.--Section 30A(a)(1) (relating to allowance \n of credit) is amended by striking the last sentence.\n (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 30A(e)(1) is amended by \n inserting ``but not including subsection (j)(3)(A)(ii) \n thereof'' after ``thereunder''.\n (d) Application of Credit.--Section 30A(h) (relating to \napplicability of section), as redesignated by subsection (b), is \namended by striking ``January 1, 2006'' and inserting ``January 1, \n2009''.\n (e) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 30A(b) is amended by striking ``within a \n possession'' each place it appears and inserting ``within \n Puerto Rico''.\n (2) Section 30A(d) is amended by striking ``possession'' \n each place it appears.\n (3) Section 30A(f) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Qualified income taxes.--The qualified income taxes \n for any taxable year allocable to nonsheltered income shall be \n determined in the same manner as under section 936(i)(3).\n ``(2) Qualified wages.--The qualified wages for any taxable \n year shall be determined in the same manner as under section \n 936(i)(1).\n ``(3) Other terms.--Any term used in this section which is \n also used in section 936 shall have the same meaning given such \n term by section 936.''\n (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1998.\n\nSEC. 3. COMPARABLE TREATMENT FOR OTHER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY CREDIT.\n\n (a) Corporations Eligible To Claim Credit.--Section 936(j)(2)(A) \n(relating to economic activity credit) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(A) Economic activity credit.--\n ``(i) In general.--In the case of a \n domestic corporation which, during the taxable \n year, is actively conducting within a \n possession other than Puerto Rico--\n ``(I) a line of business with \n respect to which the domestic \n corporation is an existing credit \n claimant under paragraph (9), or\n ``(II) an eligible line of business \n not described in subclause (I),\n the credit determined under subsection \n (a)(1)(A) shall be allowed for taxable years \n beginning after December 31, 1995, and before \n January 1, 2002.\n ``(ii) Limitation to lines of business.--\n Clause (i) shall only apply with respect to the \n lines of business described in clause (i) which \n the domestic corporation is actively conducting \n in a possession other than Puerto Rico during \n the taxable year.\n ``(iii) Exception for corporations electing \n reduced credit.--Clause (i) shall not apply to \n a domestic corporation if such corporation (or \n any predecessor) had an election in effect \n under subsection (a)(4)(B)(iii) for any taxable \n year beginning after December 31, 1996.''\n (b) Application on Separate Line of Business Basis; Eligible Line \nof Business.--\n (1) In general.--Section 936(j) is amended by adding at the \n end the following new paragraph:\n ``(11) Application on line of business basis; eligible \n lines of business.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(A) Application to separate line of business.--\n ``(i) In general.--In determining the \n amount of the credit under subsection (a)(1)(A) \n for a corporation to which paragraph (2)(A) \n applies, this section shall be applied \n separately with respect to each substantial \n line of business of the corporation.\n ``(ii) Exceptions for existing credit \n claimant.--This paragraph shall not apply to a \n line of business with respect to which the \n qualified domestic corporation is an existing \n credit claimant under paragraph (9).\n ``(iii) Allocation.--The Secretary shall \n prescribe rules necessary to carry out the \n purposes of this subparagraph, including \n rules--\n ``(I) for the allocation of items \n of income, gain, deduction, and loss \n for purposes of determining taxable \n income under subsection (a)(1)(A), and\n ``(II) for the allocation of wages, \n fringe benefit expenses, and \n depreciation allowances for purposes of \n applying the limitations under \n subsection (a)(4)(A).\n ``(B) Eligible line of business.--For purposes of \n this subsection, the term `eligible line of business' \n means a substantial line of business in any of the \n following trades or businesses:\n ``(i) Manufacturing.\n ``(ii) Agriculture.\n ``(iii) Forestry.\n ``(iv) Fishing.''\n (2) New lines of business.--Section 936(j)(9)(B) is amended \n to read as follows:\n ``(B) New lines of business.--A corporation shall \n not be treated as an existing credit claimant with \n respect to any substantial new line of business which \n is added after October 13, 1995, unless such addition \n is pursuant to an acquisition described in subparagraph \n(A)(ii).''\n (3) Separate lines of business.--Section 936(j), as amended \n by paragraph (1), is amended by adding at the end the following \n new paragraph:\n ``(12) Substantial line of business.--For purposes of this \n subsection (other than paragraph (9)(B) thereof), the \n determination of whether a line of business is a substantial \n line of business shall be determined by reference to 2-digit \n codes under the North American Industry Classification System \n (62 Fed. Reg. 17288 et seq., formerly known as `SIC codes').''\n (c) Repeal of Base Period Cap for Economic Activity Credit.--\n (1) In general.--Section 936(j)(3) is amended to read as \n follows:\n ``(3) Additional restricted reduced credit.--\n ``(A) In general.--In the case of an existing \n credit claimant to which paragraph (2)(B) applies, the \n credit determined under subsection (a)(1)(A) shall be \n allowed for any taxable year beginning after December \n 31, 1998, and before January 1, 2006, except that the \n aggregate amount of taxable income taken into account \n under subsection (a)(1)(A) for such taxable year shall \n not exceed the adjusted base period income of such \n claimant.\n ``(B) Coordination with subsection (a)(4)(B).--The \n amount of income described in subsection (a)(1)(A) \n which is taken into account in applying subsection \n (a)(4)(B) shall be such income as reduced under this \n paragraph.''\n (2) Conforming amendments.--\n (A) Section 936(j)(2)(A), as amended by subsection \n (a), is amended by striking ``2002'' and inserting \n ``2006''.\n (B) Section 30A(e)(1), as amended by section \n 2(c)(2), is amended by striking ``subsection \n (j)(3)(A)(ii)'' and inserting ``the exception under \n subsection (j)(3)(A)''.\n (d) Application of Credit.--\n (1) In general.--Section 936(j)(2)(A), as amended by this \n section, is amended by striking ``January 1, 2006'' and \n inserting ``January 1, 2009''.\n (2) Special rules for applicable possessions.--Section \n 936(j)(8)(A) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(A) In general.--In the case of an applicable \n possession--\n ``(i) this section (other than the \n preceding paragraphs of this subsection) shall \n not apply for taxable years beginning after \n December 31, 1995, and before January 1, 2006, \n with respect to any substantial line of \n business actively conducted in such possession \n by a domestic corporation which is an existing \n credit claimant with respect to such line of \n business, and\n ``(ii) this section (including this \n subsection) shall apply--\n ``(I) with respect to any \n substantial line of business not \n described in clause (i) for taxable \n years beginning after December 31, \n 1998, and before January 1, 2009, and\n ``(II) with respect to any \n substantial line of business described \n in clause (i) for taxable years \n beginning after December 31, 2006, and \n before January 1, 2009.''\n (e) Effective Dates.--\n (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall \n apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1998.\n (2) New lines of business.--The amendment made by \n subsection (b)(2) shall apply to taxable years beginning after \n December 31, 1995.", "summary": "Puerto Rico Economic Activity Credit Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the requirements for corporations to be eligible for the Puerto Rico economic activity credit. Requires that, in determining the credit amount, the credit provisions be applied separately to each substantial line of business of the corporation. Removes provisions limiting, in taxable years beginning after 2001, the aggregate taxable income taken into account in determining the amount of the credit. \nAmends provisions relating to the Puerto Rico and possession tax credit to modify, with respect to possessions other than Puerto Rico, corporate eligibility requirements. Requires that, in determining the credit amount, the credit provisions be applied separately to each substantial line of business of the corporation. Modifies additional restricted credit requirements. Sets forth credit rules applicable to Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.", "title": "Puerto Rico Economic Activity Credit Improvement Act of 1999"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 207, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Facilities Clean Water \nCompliance Act of 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. APPLICATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS TO FEDERAL FACILITIES.\n\n Section 313(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 \nU.S.C. 1323(a)) is amended by striking the third sentence and all that \nfollows through the period at the end of the last sentence and \ninserting the following: ``The Federal, State, interstate, and local \nsubstantive and procedural requirements, administrative authority, and \nprocess and sanctions referred to in this subsection include, but are \nnot limited to, all administrative orders and all civil and \nadministrative penalties and fines, regardless of whether such \npenalties or fines are punitive or coercive in nature or are imposed \nfor isolated, intermittent, or continuing violations. The United States \nhereby expressly waives any immunity otherwise applicable to the United \nStates with respect to any such requirement, administrative authority, \nand process and sanctions (including, but not limited to, any \ninjunctive relief, administrative order or civil or administrative \npenalty or fine referred to in the preceding sentence, or reasonable \nservice charge). The reasonable service charges referred to in this \nsubsection include, but are not limited to, fees or charges assessed in \nconnection with the processing and issuance of permits, renewal of \npermits, amendments to permits, review of plans, studies, and other \ndocuments, and inspection and monitoring of facilities, as well as any \nother nondiscriminatory charges that are assessed in connection with a \nFederal, State, interstate, or local water pollution regulatory \nprogram. No agent, employee, or officer of the United States shall be \npersonally liable for any civil penalty under any Federal, State, \ninterstate, or local water pollution law with respect to any act or \nomission within the scope of the official duties of the agent, \nemployee, or officer. An agent, employee, or officer of the United \nStates shall be subject to any criminal sanction (including, but not \nlimited to, any fine or imprisonment) under any Federal or State water \npollution law, but no department, agency, or instrumentality of the \nexecutive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Federal Government \nshall be subject to any such sanction.''.\n\nSEC. 3. FEDERAL FACILITY ENFORCEMENT.\n\n Section 309 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. \n1319) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(h) Federal Facility Enforcement.--\n ``(1) Compliance orders.--\n ``(A) In general.--Whenever on the basis of any \n information available to him--\n ``(i) the Administrator determines that any \n department, agency, or instrumentality of the \n United States has violated or is in violation \n of section 301, 302, 306, 307, 308, 311, 318, \n or 405 of this Act, or has violated or is in \n violation of any permit condition or limitation \n implementing any such section in a permit \n issued under section 402 of this Act by the \n Administrator or by a State, or in a permit \n issued under section 404 of this Act by a \n State, or any requirement imposed in a \n pretreatment program approved under section \n 402(a)(3) or 402(b)(8) of this Act;\n ``(ii) the Secretary of the Army determines \n that any department, agency, or instrumentality \n of the United States has violated or is in \n violation of any condition or limitation in a \n permit issued under section 404 of this Act;\n ``(iii) the Secretary of the department in \n which the Coast Guard is operating determines \n that any department, agency, or instrumentality \n of the United States has violated any provision \n of section 311 of this Act or any of its \n implementing regulations;\n the Administrator or Secretary, as applicable, may \n propose an order to assess a civil penalty for any past \n or current violation or require compliance immediately \n or within a specified time period, or both.\n ``(B) Required terms.--Any order issued under this \n subsection --\n ``(i) by the Administrator may include a \n suspension or revocation of any permit issued \n by the Administrator or a State under sections \n 402 and 404 of this Act; and\n ``(ii) by the Secretary of the Army may \n include a suspension or revocation of any \n permit issued by the Secretary of the Army or a \n State under section 404 of this Act; and\n shall state with reasonable specificity the nature of the \n violation. Any penalty assessed in the order shall not exceed \n $25,000 per day for each violation.\n ``(2) Public hearing.--Any order under this section shall \n become final unless, not later than 30 days after the order is \n served, a Federal department, agency, or instrumentality of the \n United States named therein requests a public hearing. Upon \n such request, the Administrator or Secretary, as applicable, \n shall promptly conduct a public hearing. Such public hearing \n shall be conducted in accordance with section 554 of title 5, \n United States Code. In connection with any proceeding under \n this subsection, the Administrator or Secretary may issue \n subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the \n production of relevant papers, books, and documents and may \n promulgate rules for discovery procedures.\n ``(3) Violation of compliance orders.--If a violator fails \n to take corrective action within the time specified in an order \n issued under paragraph (1)--\n ``(A) the Administrator or Secretary, as \n applicable, may assess a civil penalty of not more than \n $25,000 for each day of continued noncompliance with \n the order; and\n ``(B)(i) the Administrator may suspend or revoke \n any permit issued pursuant to section 402 or 404 of \n this Act which is the subject of the order, whether \n issued by the Administrator or the State; and\n ``(ii) the Secretary of the Army may suspend or \n revoke any permit issued pursuant to section 404 of \n this Act, whether issued by the Secretary of the Army \n or a State.\n ``(4) Determination of amount of penalty.--In determining \n the amount of any penalty assessed under this subsection, the \n Administrator or Secretary, as the case may be, shall consider \n the seriousness of each violation or violations, the violator's \n economic benefit or savings (if any) resulting from each \n violation, any history of prior violations, any good-faith \n efforts to avoid noncompliance or to comply with the applicable \n requirements, the violator's ability to pay the penalty, and \n such other matters in mitigation and aggravation as justice may \n require.\n ``(5) Limitation on actions and right of intervention.--Any \n violation with respect to which the Administrator or the \n Secretary, as applicable, has commenced and is diligently \n prosecuting an action under this subsection, or for which the \n Administrator or the Secretary has issued a final order and the \n violator has paid a penalty assessed under this subsection, \n shall not be the subject of a civil enforcement action under \n section 505 of this Act. In any action under this subsection, \n any citizen may intervene as a matter of right.\n ``(6) Penalty fund.--Penalties received under this \n subsection shall be deposited into a special fund in the United \n States Treasury for licensing and other services. Amounts in \n the fund are authorized to be appropriated and shall remain \n available until expended for allocation by the Administrator to \n finance water remediation and other restorative and preventive \n projects at Federal facilities. The Administrator shall \n annually report to Congress about the sums deposited into the \n fund, the sources thereof, and the allocations thereof.''.\n\nSEC. 4. DEFINITION OF PERSON.\n\n (a) General Definitions.--Section 502(5) of the Federal Water \nPollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362(5)) is amended by inserting \nbefore the period at the end the following: ``and includes any \ndepartment, agency, or instrumentality of the United States''.\n (b) Oil and Hazardous Substance Liability Program.--Section \n311(a)(7)) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(a)(7) is amended by inserting \nbefore the semicolon at the end the following: ``and any department, \nagency, or instrumentality of the United States''.\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITION OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL.\n\n Section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. \n1362) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(21) The term `radioactive materials' includes source materials, \nspecial nuclear materials, and byproduct materials (as such terms are \ndefined under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954) which are used, produced, \nor managed at facilities not licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory \nCommission.''.", "summary": "Federal Facilities Clean Water Compliance Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to waive immunity of the United States with respect to Federal, State, interstate, and local requirements, administrative authorities, sanctions, and penalties concerning water pollution control. Absolves Federal employees of personal liability for civil penalties under water pollution control laws for acts or omissions within the scope of official duties. Makes Federal employees subject to criminal sanctions under Federal or State water pollution control laws, but prohibits applying criminal sanctions to Federal agencies. \nPermits the imposition of civil penalties or the issuance of compliance orders against Federal agencies determined to be in violation of specified water pollution control or permit requirements. Authorizes the suspension or revocation of permits. Provides for the deposit of penalties into a fund to be used for water remediation and other restorative and preventive projects at Federal facilities. \nIncludes Federal agencies within the definition of \"person\" for purposes of such Act.", "title": "Federal Facilities Clean Water Compliance Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1760, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Public Infrastructure Modernization \nAct of 2013''.\n\nSEC. 2. EXPEDITED PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS TO CONDUCT \n PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECTS.\n\n (a) Approval and Disapproval of Permits.--\n (1) Deadline.--The Secretary of the Army shall approve or \n disapprove a covered permit application for a public safety \n project on or before the last day of the 2-year period \n beginning on the date of submission of the application.\n (2) Failure to meet deadline.--If the Secretary does not \n approve or disapprove a covered permit application for a public \n safety project on or before the last day specified in paragraph \n (1)--\n (A) the application shall be considered under the \n expedited process established under subsection (b); \n unless\n (B) the Governor of the State in which the project \n is to be located issues a declaration of emergency with \n respect to the project under subsection (c), in which \n case the requirements of subsection (c) shall apply to \n the application.\n (b) Expedited Process.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish, by \n regulation, a process to expedite the consideration of a \n covered permit application for a public safety project.\n (2) Specifications for expedited process.--The expedited \n process shall provide for the following:\n (A) In complying with the requirements of the \n National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. \n 4321 et seq.) with respect to the project, the \n Secretary shall--\n (i) prepare an environmental assessment or \n an environmental impact statement in accordance \n with paragraph (3);\n (ii) weigh the public safety aspects of the \n project as greater than the environmental \n costs; and\n (iii) complete consultation with other \n agencies, as necessary, not later than 6 months \n after the last day specified in subsection \n (a)(1).\n (B) In issuing a permit under the expedited \n process, the Secretary may not require mitigation costs \n in an amount that exceeds 20 percent of the total cost \n of the project.\n (C) In issuing a permit under the expedited \n process, the Secretary may implement species relocation \n for the project, as described in subsection (d).\n (3) Environmental assessment or impact statement.--In \n preparing an environmental assessment or an environmental \n impact statement under paragraph (2)(A)--\n (A) the Secretary shall study, develop, and \n describe the proposed action and the alternative of no \n action; but\n (B) the Secretary is not required to study, \n develop, or describe any alternative actions to the \n proposed agency action unless the municipality in which \n is the project is to be located submits an alternative \n action.\n (4) Judicial review.--A person may obtain judicial review \n of any determination made for a public safety project under the \n expedited process only in the United States district court for \n the judicial district in which the project is to be located.\n (c) Emergency Declaration.--\n (1) In general.--If the Secretary has not approved or \n disapproved a covered permit application for a public safety \n project on or before the last day specified in subsection \n (a)(1), the Governor of the State in which the project is to be \n located may issue a declaration of emergency with respect to \n the project.\n (2) Alternative arrangements.--If the Governor of a State \n issues a declaration of emergency with respect to a public \n safety project under paragraph (1), the State or municipality \n that submitted a covered permit application for the project may \n request that--\n (A) the application be considered under the \n expedited process established under subsection (b); or\n (B) the President, acting through the Council on \n Environmental Quality, establish alternative \n arrangements for conducting the project.\n (3) Deadline.--Pursuant to a request received under \n paragraph (2)(B), the Council on Environmental Quality, on or \n before the last day of the 90-day period beginning on the date \n of the request shall--\n (A) create an alternative to the proposed public \n safety project; or\n (B) approve the project.\n (4) Failure to meet deadline.--If, after receiving a \n request under paragraph (2)(B), the Council on Environmental \n Quality does not establish alternate procedures for conducting \n a public safety project or disapprove the project on or before \n the last day specified in paragraph (3)--\n (A) the covered permit application submitted for \n the project shall be deemed approved; and\n (B) the requirements of the National Environmental \n Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) relating to \n the project shall be deemed satisfied.\n (5) Judicial review.--The deemed approval of a covered \n permit application pursuant to paragraph (4)(A) shall not be \n subject to judicial review.\n (6) Relationship to other laws.--Any alternative \n arrangements established for a public safety project under \n paragraph (2)--\n (A) shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of \n section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act \n (33 U.S.C. 1344) and the National Environmental Policy \n Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to \n the project; and\n (B) shall not be subject to judicial review.\n (d) Species Relocations.--In the case of a covered permit \napplication for a public safety project that authorizes species \nrelocation pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(C), the Secretary, acting \nthrough the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, any Federal land \nmanagement agency, the National Marine Fisheries Service, or a State \nconservation agency, shall relocate from the project any the members of \na threatened or endangered species of plant or animal that the relevant \nFederal agencies determine would be taken in the course of the project.\n (e) Applicability.--This section shall apply to a covered permit \napplication for a public safety project submitted after the date of \nenactment of this Act.\n (f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of \nenactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall \nsubmit to Congress a report on the implementation of this section.\n (g) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:\n (1) Covered permit application.--The term ``covered permit \n application'' means an application for a permit to discharge \n dredge or fill material submitted by a State or municipality \n under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act \n (33 U.S.C. 1344).\n (2) Municipality.--The term ``municipality'' has the \n meaning given that term in section 502 of the Federal Water \n Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362).\n (3) Person.--The term ``person'' has the meaning given that \n term in section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act \n (33 U.S.C. 1362).\n (4) Public safety project.--The term ``public safety \n project'' means a project that has one of the following as its \n primary purpose:\n (A) The construction of a levee, self-closing flood \n barrier, seawall, or flood gate.\n (B) Slough and stream construction and dredging for \n flood control.\n (C) The construction of a retention pond for a \n residential area.\n (D) The construction of a road or bridge to be used \n for evacuation purposes in the case of a hurricane, \n wildfire, or other extreme weather event.\n (E) The construction of a storm water conveyance \n facility.", "summary": "Public Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of the Army to approve or disapprove a covered permit application for a public safety project within two years after the application is submitted. Requires an application upon which the Secretary fails to act within such time to be considered under an expedited process, unless the governor of the state in which the project is to be located issues a declaration of emergency with respect to the project. Defines "covered permit application" as an application for a permit to discharge dredge or fill material submitted by a state or municipality under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act).Directs the Secretary to establish such an expedited process, under which the Secretary shall: (1) prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement, (2) weigh the public safety aspects of the project as greater than the environmental costs, and (3) complete consultation with other agencies within six months. Provides that the Secretary, in issuing a permit under the expedited process: (1) may not require mitigation costs in an amount that exceeds 20% of the project's total cost, and (2) may relocate from the project any of the members of a threatened or endangered species of plant or animal that the relevant federal agencies determine would be taken in the course of the project. Authorizes the state or municipality that submitted a covered permit application for a project, if a governor issues a declaration of emergency with respect to the project, to request that: (1) the application be considered under the expedited process; or (2) the Council on Environmental Quality approve the project or create an alternative, which must be done within 90 days or the application shall be deemed approved and the environmental requirements shall be deemed satisfied.", "title": "Public Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2013"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 92, "text": "SECTION 1. TEACHER RECRUITMENT.\n\n (a) Future Math and Science Teacher Recruitment.--Title X of the \nElementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1102 et seq.) \nis amended by adding at the end the following new part:\n\n ``PART L--FUTURE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER RECRUITMENT\n\n``SEC. 10995A. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.\n\n ``(a) Short Title.--This part may be cited as the `Recruit and \nReward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 2000'.\n ``(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n ``(1) United States high school students rate 16th and \n 19th, respectively, in science and math out of 21 countries.\n ``(2) Of United States high school students who take \n physical science and math courses, 56 percent and 27 percent, \n respectively, are taught by teachers who did not prepare in \n that field.\n ``(3) Teachers' knowledge and skills powerfully influence \n student learning.\n ``(4) More than 2,000,000 teachers will need to be hired \n over the next decade.\n ``(5) The ability of the United States to place highly \n qualified math and science teachers specializing in their field \n of instruction will depend on proactive policies that increase \n funding for teacher training, recruitment, and induction.\n\n``SEC. 10995B. PURPOSE; APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED.\n\n ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this part to make grants \navailable, through a pilot program, to eligible institutions described \nin section 10995C, to enable such institutions to provide 500 \nscholarship awards to outstanding students enrolled in an accredited \nteacher training graduate program who are committed to pursuing careers \nteaching math and science at an urban or rural secondary level \nclassroom.\n ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this part $5,000,000 in each of the fiscal \nyears 2001, 2002, and 2003.\n\n``SEC. 10995C. SCHOLARSHIP DESIGNATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA.\n\n ``(a) Scholarship Designation.--Funds made available under this \npart shall be designated as the `National Math and Science Teacher \nScholarships'.\n ``(b) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary of Education may award \nfunds for National Math and Science Teacher Scholarships on a \ncompetitive basis to qualifying higher education institutions with \ngraduate programs in teacher training. The Secretary may not provide \nany individual higher education institution more than $100,000 per \nacademic year for the purpose of the National Math and Science Teacher \nScholarships. An institution applying for such scholarships may only be \neligible to receive funds if such institution is ranked by the \nSecretary in the top 25 percent of schools in the State in which the \ninstitution is located with the highest percentage of graduates passing \nthe State teacher qualification assessment for new teachers. \nNotwithstanding the preceding sentence, if there are fewer than 4 such \ninstitutions in a State, only the institution with the highest \npercentage of such graduates shall be eligible to receive funding.\n ``(c) Priorities.--The Secretary shall give priority to eligible \ninstitutions that meet 1 or more of the following criteria:\n ``(1) Provide a year long internship program in a \n professional development school.\n ``(2) Provide mentoring programs for novice teachers in \n their first 3 years.\n ``(3) Demonstrate a history of placing graduates in rural \n and urban schools.\n ``(4) Demonstrate that there is a high retention rate of \n teachers that the institution places in teaching positions.\n\n``SEC. 10995D. INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.\n\n ``An individual may be eligible for a National Math and Science \nTeacher Scholarship only if such individual--\n ``(1) is a citizen or national of the United States or an \n alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent \n residence;\n ``(2) is majoring in a physical or life science or \n mathematics graduate teacher training program;\n ``(3) is enrolled in a higher education institution that--\n ``(A) is ranked by the Secretary in the top 25 \n percent of schools in the State in which the \n institution is located with the highest percentage of \n graduates passing the State teacher qualification \n assessment for new teachers; or\n ``(B) if there are are fewer than 4 such \n institutions in a State, is the institution with the \n highest percentage of such graduates; and\n ``(4) is willing to teach math or science in a rural or \n urban public secondary school for no less than 3 full academic \n years.\n\n``SEC. 10995E. SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT.\n\n ``(a) Amount of Award.--\n ``(1) In general.--The amount of a scholarship awarded by \n participating teacher training graduate programs under this \n part for any academic year shall be $10,000 per student, except \n that in no case shall the total amount of the scholarship \n exceed the total cost of attendance.\n ``(2) Insufficient funds.--In any fiscal year in which the \n amount appropriated to carry out this part is insufficient to \n award 500 scholarships, the Secretary shall reduce the number \n of awards to eligible institutions.\n ``(b) Assistance Not To Exceed Cost of Attendance.--No individual \nshall receive an award under this part in any academic year which \nexceeds the cost of attendance. A scholarship awarded under this part \nshall not be reduced on the basis of the student's receipt of other \nforms of Federal student financial assistance.\n\n``SEC. 10995F. AGREEMENT; SCHOLARSHIP REPAYMENT PROVISIONS.\n\n ``(a) Agreement.--Recipients of the National Math and Science \nTeachers Scholarships shall agree to teach in an urban or rural public \nsecondary school for no less than 3 full academic years.\n ``(b) Repayment for Failure To Fulfill Agreement.--Any recipients \nof a Scholarship found by the Secretary to be in noncompliance with the \nagreement entered into under subsection (a) of this section shall be \nrequired to repay a pro rata amount of the scholarship awards received, \nplus interest and, where applicable, reasonable collection fees, on a \nschedule and at a rate of interest prescribed by the Secretary by \nregulations.\n\n``SEC. 10995G. EXCEPTIONS TO REPAYMENT PROVISIONS.\n\n ``An individual recipient of a Scholarship under this part shall \nnot be considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant \nto section 10995F during any period in which the recipient--\n ``(1) is pursuing a full-time course of study in math and \n science at an accredited institution;\n ``(2) is serving, not in excess of 3 years, as a member of \n the armed services of the United States;\n ``(3) is temporarily disabled for a period of time not to \n exceed 3 years as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified \n physician;\n ``(4) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment \n for a single period not to exceed 12 months;\n ``(5) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as \n a math and science teacher in a public or private nonprofit \n elementary or secondary school or education program for a \n single period not to exceed 27 months;\n ``(6) satisfies the provision of additional repayment \n exceptions that may be prescribed by the Secretary in \n regulations issued pursuant to this section; or\n ``(7) is permanently totally disabled, as established by \n sworn affidavit of a qualified physician.\n\n``SEC. 10995H. REPORT TO CONGRESS.\n\n ``Three years after the date on which funds are first made \navailable to carry out this part, the Secretary of Education shall \nsubmit a report to Congress evaluating the success of the National Math \nand Science Teacher Scholarships pilot program in recruiting math and \nscience teachers to teach in America's public secondary schools.''.", "summary": "Makes available 500 scholarship grants and stipends to outstanding students enrolled in nationally accredited teacher training graduate programs who are committed to pursuing such careers in secondary school mathematics and science teaching.\nAuthorizes appropriations. Designates funds under this Act as National Math and Science Teacher Scholarships. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award funds for such scholarships on a competitive basis to qualifying higher education institutions with graduate programs in teacher training. Limits the amount of such funds in any academic year which may be awarded to any individual higher education institution.\nMakes an institution eligible for such funds only if it is ranked by the Secretary in the top 25 percent of schools in its State with the highest percentage of graduates passing the State teacher qualification assessment for new teachers. Directs the Secretary to give priority to eligible institutions that have one or more of these: (1) a year-long internship program in a professional development school; (2) mentoring programs for novice teachers in their first three years; (3) a history of placing graduates in rural and urban schools; and (4) a high retention rate of teachers that the institution places in teaching positions.\nSets forth eligibility requirements for individual scholarships. Limits the scholarship amount per student to $10,000 per academic year. Requires scholarship recipients to agree to teach in an urban or rural public secondary school for at least three full academic years, or repay the pro rata amount of awards received, plus interest, for any failure to fulfill such obligation. Sets forth exceptions to such repayment requirements.", "title": "Recruit and Reward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 2000"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2523, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Restoring the Partnership for County \nHealth Care Costs Act of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) The United States Supreme Court has interpreted the 8th \n Amendment to require governmental entities to provide medical \n care to persons involuntarily confined in jails, detention \n centers, and prisons.\n (2) The Federal Government does not provide health benefits \n under Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), \n or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to inmates \n even if the person is awaiting trial in jail and has not been \n convicted. However, beneficiaries who are released after \n posting bond, or who are released under their own recognizance, \n or who are released under house arrest may continue to receive \n Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, and CHIP benefits.\n (3) The cost of providing health care in prisons and jails \n has increased exponentially due in part to high incarceration \n rates, infectious diseases, chronic conditions, substance abuse \n treatment, mental illness, aging prison populations, rising \n prescription drug costs, and mandatory sentencing laws.\n (4) Providing health care for inmates constitutes a major \n portion of local jail operating costs. Requiring county \n governments to cover health care costs for inmates who have not \n been convicted places an unnecessary burden on local \n governments who have been negatively impacted by recession, \n widespread budget deficits, and cuts to safety net programs and \n services.\n (5) Jails generally have a higher instance of mentally ill \n inmates because jails frequently serve as holding places for \n low-income persons who are waiting placement in a mental \n facility and for mentally ill persons who commit nuisance \n crimes because of inadequate access to treatment in their \n communities.\n (6) The rising cost of bail has also contributed to an \n overall increase in the jail population and health care costs \n for inmates. The high cost of bail has contributed to the \n disproportionate rate of incarceration among African-Americans \n and Latinos.\n (7) Terminating benefits to people in county jails who are \n awaiting trial violates the presumption of innocence, because \n it does not distinguish between persons awaiting disposition of \n charges and those who have been duly convicted and sentenced.\n (8) Otherwise eligible individuals who have been charged \n with a crime and incarcerated, but not convicted, should \n continue to be eligible for Federal health benefits, such as \n Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, or CHIP, until such time as they may \n be convicted and sentenced to an institution. SSI payments \n should be held until the inmate has been acquitted and \n released, or until the inmate has completed his or her sentence \n and been released.\n\nSEC. 3. REMOVAL OF INMATE LIMITATION ON BENEFITS UNDER MEDICAID, \n MEDICARE, SSI, AND CHIP.\n\n (a) Medicaid.--The subdivision (A) of section 1905(a) of the Social \nSecurity Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)) that follows paragraph (29) is \namended by inserting ``or in custody pending disposition of charges'' \nafter ``patient in a medical institution''.\n (b) Medicare.--Section 1862(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 1395y(a)(3)) is amended by inserting ``in the case of services \nfurnished to individuals who are in custody pending disposition of \ncharges,'' after ``1880(e)''.\n (c) SSI.--Section 1611(e)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n1382(e)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubparagraph:\n ``(K)(i) As used in subparagraph (A), the term `inmate of a public \ninstitution' does not include an individual who is in custody pending \ndisposition of charges.\n ``(ii) In the case of an individual who is an eligible individual \nor eligible spouse for purposes of this title only because of the \napplication of the definition in clause (i), any supplemental security \nincome benefits otherwise payable shall be withheld until such time as \nthe individual is no longer either in custody pending disposition of \ncharges or an inmate of a public institution or shall be paid to the \nindividual's estate if the individual dies before the pending charges \nare disposed of or while the individual is an inmate of a public \ninstitution.''.\n (d) CHIP.--Section 2110(b)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 1397jj(b)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting ``(except as an \nindividual in custody pending disposition of charges)'' after ``inmate \nof a public institution''.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect on the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning more \nthan 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall \napply to items and services furnished, and supplemental security income \nbenefits paid, for periods beginning on or after such date.", "summary": "Restoring the Partnership for County Health Care Costs Act of 2015 This bill amends titles XVI (Supplemental Security Income), XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), and XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP) to allow an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending charges to receive SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP benefits. Any SSI benefits payable to such an individual: (1) must be withheld until the individual is no longer in custody; and (2) if the individual dies while in custody, shall be paid to the individual's estate. ", "title": "Restoring the Partnership for County Health Care Costs Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 505, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Broadband Regulatory Parity Act of \n2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) The cable modem service offered by cable operators for \n high-speed access to the Internet is functionally equivalent \n to, and competes with, digital subscriber line service offered \n by local exchange carriers.\n (2) Cable modem services and digital subscriber line \n services are subject to disparate regulatory treatment by the \n Federal Government and by State and local governments.\n (3) Competing and functionally equivalent products and \n services should be regulated, or not regulated, in the same \n manner, regardless of who provides such products or services.\n (4) The Federal Communications Commission is best \n positioned to determine which, if any, regulatory requirements \n for broadband access services should be retained and which, if \n any, should be eliminated.\n (5) The Commission should be required to ensure that \n providers of broadband services are regulated in an equivalent \n manner, regardless of the platform used to provide such \n services.\n (6) Government regulation should not favor or advantage one \n class of competitors among competitors offering similar \n products or services.\n (7) The deployment of digital subscriber line service has \n been restrained by regulatory requirements that are \n inappropriate for a competitive service offered by various non-\n dominant providers.\n (8) Inappropriate regulation imposes needless costs and \n results in higher consumer costs.\n (9) Lower consumer costs will accelerate demand for high-\n speed Internet access services.\n (10) Regulatory certainty and parity will provide \n incentives to increase deployment of high-speed Internet \n services, bringing the benefits of such services to communities \n in the form of enhancements in medicine, education, national \n security, work from home, and other benefits.\n (11) The United States lags behind many other countries in \n the deployment of high-speed data services.\n (12) When all providers of broadband services compete under \n the same rules, consumers will benefit from increased choices \n and lower prices.\n\nSEC. 3. PARITY IN REGULATORY TREATMENT OF BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS \n AND BROADBAND ACCESS SERVICE PROVIDERS.\n\n (a) In General.--Part II of title II of the Communications Act of \n1934 (47 U.S.C. 251 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing new section:\n\n``SEC. 262. PARITY IN REGULATORY TREATMENT OF BROADBAND SERVICE \n PROVIDERS AND BROADBAND ACCESS SERVICE PROVIDERS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the \nCommission shall, not later than 120 days after the date of the \nenactment of the Broadband Regulatory Parity Act of 2002, prescribe \nregulations to ensure that--\n ``(1) all broadband services, and all broadband access \n services, are subject to the same regulatory requirements, or \n no regulatory requirements;\n ``(2) all providers of broadband services, and all \n providers of broadband access services, are subject to the same \n regulatory requirements, or no regulatory requirements, with \n respect to the provision of such services and the facilities \n and equipment used to provide such services in the provision of \n such services; and\n ``(3) paragraphs (1) and (2) are implemented without \n increasing the regulatory requirements applicable to any \n provider of broadband services, or broadband access services, \n on any such service or on any facilities or equipment used to \n provide any such service in the provision of such service.\n ``(b) Prohibition on State Jurisdiction.--Notwithstanding any other \nprovision of law, broadband services and broadband access services, and \nthe facilities and equipment used to provide such services in the \nprovision of such services, shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of \nany State.\n ``(c) Obligations of Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers to Internet \nService Providers.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), each incumbent \nlocal exchange carrier has the duty to provide all Internet service \nproviders with the telecommunications necessary for such provider to \nprovide broadband access service to its subscribers. Such \ntelecommunications shall be offered on rates, terms, and conditions \nthat are just and reasonable.\n ``(d) Savings Provisions.--(1) Nothing in this section affects the \nrequirements of section 271.\n ``(2) Nothing in this section affects the obligations of incumbent \nlocal exchange carriers under section 251(c) to provide requesting \ntelecommunications carriers with services and access to facilities and \nequipment necessary for the provision of switch-based voice \ntelecommunications service.\n ``(3) Nothing in this section precludes or affects any tariff filed \nby the National Exchange Carrier Association or any rural telephone \ncompany, and any such tariff may continue to include broadband \nservices.\n ``(4) Nothing in this section affects section 251(f).''.\n (b) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 \nU.S.C. 153) is amended--\n (1) by redesignating paragraphs (20) through (52) as \n paragraphs (22) through (54), respectively; and\n (2) by inserting after paragraph (19) the following new \n paragraphs:\n ``(20) Broadband service.--The term `broadband service' \n means any service that is used to provide access to the \n Internet and consists of or includes the offering of a \n capability to transmit information at a rate that is generally \n not less than 256 kilobits per second in at least one \n direction.\n ``(21) Broadband access service.--The term `broadband \n access service' means a service that combines computer \n processing, information storage, protocol conversion, and wire \n routing with transmission to enable users to access Internet \n content and services.''.", "summary": "Broadband Regulatory Parity Act of 2002 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe regulations to ensure that: (1) all broadband services and broadband access services are subject to the same regulatory requirements (or no such requirements); (2) all providers of such services are subject to the same regulatory requirements with respect to such services and the facilities and equipment used to provide such services; and (3) the above requirements are met without increasing current regulatory requirements with respect to such services, facilities, or equipment. Prohibits such services and related facilities and equipment from being subject to the jurisdiction of any State.Requires each incumbent local exchange carrier to provide all Internet service providers with the telecommunications necessary for the provision of broadband access service to subscribers at just and reasonable rates.", "title": "A bill to provide for parity in regulatory treatment of broadband services providers and of broadband access services providers, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1811, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Regulatory Capture Prevention Act of \n2011''.\n\nSEC. 2. OFFICE OF REGULATORY INTEGRITY.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 31, United States Code, is \namended by inserting after section 507 the following:\n``Sec. 508. Office of Regulatory Integrity\n ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--\n ``(1) the term `Administrator' means the Administrator of \n the Office of Regulatory Integrity;\n ``(2) the term `agency'--\n ``(A) means each authority of the Government of the \n United States, whether or not it is within or subject \n to review by another agency; and\n ``(B) does not include--\n ``(i) the Government Accountability Office; \n or\n ``(ii) the Congressional Budget Office; and\n ``(3) the term `relevant committees of Congress' means--\n ``(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and \n Governmental Affairs of the Senate;\n ``(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the \n Senate;\n ``(C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;\n ``(D) the Committee on Oversight and Government \n Reform of the House of Representatives;\n ``(E) the Committee on Appropriations of the House \n of Representatives;\n ``(F) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House \n of Representatives; and\n ``(G) with respect to a report other than the \n annual report, any committee in the Senate or House of \n Representatives that exercises oversight authority over \n an agency discussed in the report.\n ``(b) Office of Regulatory Integrity.--\n ``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Office of \n Management and Budget an office to be known as the Office of \n Regulatory Integrity.\n ``(2) Administrator.--There shall be at the head of the \n Office of Regulatory Integrity an Administrator who shall be \n appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent \n of the Senate.\n ``(c) Functions of Administrator.--\n ``(1) In general.--In order to defeat regulatory capture \n and related threats to the integrity of Federal agencies, the \n Administrator shall investigate and report on the influence of \n concentrated economic interests on Federal agencies, and \n components thereof, that results in--\n ``(A) agency action or inaction that fails to \n advance the congressionally assigned mission of the \n agency or is otherwise inimical to the public interest;\n ``(B) regulation, licensing, adjudication, grants, \n or other agency action that--\n ``(i) favors a limited number of economic \n interests at the expense of the agency's \n congressionally assigned mission; or\n ``(ii) is otherwise inimical to the public \n interest;\n ``(C) enforcement priorities that are not \n reasonably calculated to accomplish the goals of the \n regulatory program in question; or\n ``(D) a loss of confidence in the integrity of the \n regulatory process.\n ``(2) Recommendations by the administrator.--When reporting \n on the influence of concentrated economic interests on an \n agency, the Administrator shall include recommendations that, \n if implemented, would restore integrity to the regulatory \n process by enhancing the capacity of the agency to resist such \n influence.\n ``(3) Comments by federal agencies.--Unless the \n Administrator determines that the public interest requires \n immediate release, the Administrator shall--\n ``(A) provide a copy of a report to the relevant \n Federal agencies not less than 30 days before the \n completion of a report by the Administrator; and\n ``(B) include the comments of the relevant Federal \n agencies as addenda to the report upon release.\n ``(4) Coordination with inspectors general.--The \n Administrator shall inform the inspectors general of the \n relevant Federal agencies upon initiation of an investigation \n and may coordinate with the inspectors general as the \n Administrator concludes is appropriate to fulfill the \n responsibilities established by this section.\n ``(d) Authority of Administrator.--\n ``(1) In general.--In addition to the authority otherwise \n provided by this section, the Administrator, in carrying out \n the provisions of this section, is authorized to--\n ``(A) have access to all records, reports, audits, \n reviews, documents, papers, recommendations, or other \n material available to the applicable agency which \n relate to regulatory activities with respect to which \n the Administrator has responsibilities under this \n section;\n ``(B) make such investigations and reports relating \n to the administration of the programs and operations of \n the applicable agency as are, in the judgment of the \n Administrator, necessary or desirable;\n ``(C) request such information or assistance as may \n be necessary to carry out the duties and \n responsibilities provided by this section from any \n Federal, State, or local governmental agency or unit \n thereof;\n ``(D) require by subpoena the production of all \n information, documents, reports, answers, records, \n accounts, papers, and other data in any medium \n (including electronically stored information, as well \n as any tangible thing) and documentary evidence \n necessary in the performance of the functions assigned \n by this section, which subpoena, in the case of \n contumacy or refusal to obey, shall be enforceable by \n order of any appropriate United States District Court, \n except that procedures other than subpoenas shall be \n used by the Administrator to obtain documents and \n information from Federal agencies;\n ``(E) administer to or take from any person an \n oath, affirmation, or affidavit, whenever necessary in \n the performance of the functions assigned by this \n section, which oath, affirmation, or affidavit when \n administered or taken by or before an employee of the \n Office of Regulatory Integrity designated by the \n Administrator shall have the same force and effect as \n if administered or taken by or before an officer having \n a seal;\n ``(F) have direct and prompt access to the head of \n the agency involved when necessary for any purpose \n pertaining to the performance of functions and \n responsibilities under this section;\n ``(G) select, appoint, and employ such officers and \n employees as may be necessary to carry out the \n functions, powers, and duties of the Office of \n Regulatory Integrity subject to the provisions of title \n 5, governing appointments in the competitive service, \n and the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of \n chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and \n General Schedule pay rates;\n ``(H) obtain services as authorized by section 3109 \n of title 5 at daily rates not to exceed the equivalent \n rate prescribed for a position at level IV of the \n Executive Schedule; and\n ``(I) the extent and in such amounts as may be \n provided in advance by appropriations Acts, enter into \n contracts and other arrangements for audits, studies, \n analyses, and other services with public agencies and \n with private persons, and to make such payments as may \n be necessary to carry out the provisions of this \n section.\n ``(2) Information and assistance.--\n ``(A) Information and assistance by head of \n agency.--Upon request of the Administrator for \n information or assistance under paragraph (1), the head \n of any agency involved shall, insofar as is practicable \n and not in contravention of any statutory restriction \n or regulation of the agency from which the information \n is requested, furnish to the Administrator, or to an \n authorized designee, such information or assistance.\n ``(B) Information and assistance by inspectors \n general.--Upon request of the Administrator for \n information or assistance under paragraph (1), the \n Inspector General of any agency involved shall, insofar \n as is practicable and not in contravention of any \n statutory restriction or regulation of the agency from \n which the information is requested, furnish to the \n Administrator, or to an authorized designee, such \n information or assistance.\n ``(C) Reports of inspectors general.--The inspector \n general of each agency shall provide copies of all \n reports issued by that inspector general to the \n Administrator in a timely manner, and may provide the \n Administrator at any time with information the \n inspector general believes relevant to the performance \n of the Administrator's duties.\n ``(D) Details of employees.--Upon request of the \n Administrator, the head of any agency shall, to the \n extent reasonably practicable, and on a reimbursable \n basis, detail personnel of that agency to the Office of \n Regulatory Integrity to assist it in carrying out its \n duties under this section.\n ``(E) Reports to heads of agencies.--Whenever \n information or assistance requested under paragraph (1) \n is, in the judgment of the Administrator, unreasonably \n refused or not provided, the Administrator shall report \n the circumstances to the head of the agency involved \n without delay.\n ``(3) Limitation on authority.--Except as provided in \n paragraphs (1) (A) and (F) and (2) (A), (B), and (D), the \n Administrator may not control or direct any law enforcement \n agency, including the Department of Justice, in the exercise of \n the Administrator's investigative authority.\n ``(e) Consultation With Government Accountability Office.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Administrator may consult with the \n Government Accountability Office as to the scope and focus of \n an investigation.\n ``(2) Comments by the government accountability office.--\n Unless the Administrator determines that the public interest \n requires immediate release, the Administrator shall--\n ``(A) provide a copy of a report to the Government \n Accountability Office not less than 30 days before the \n completion of a report by the Administrator; and\n ``(B) include the comments of the Government \n Accountability Office as addenda to the report upon \n release.\n ``(3) Availability of reports.--Subject to the restrictions \n under subsection (g), the Administrator shall make all reports \n available to the Government Accountability Office.\n ``(4) Comments by government accountability office.--Not \n later than 60 days after receipt of a report from the \n Administrator, the Government Accountability Office shall \n publish written comments on the methodology and conclusions of \n the report.\n ``(5) Further investigations by administrator.--Upon \n request for further investigation by the Government \n Accountability Office, the Administrator shall--\n ``(A) perform the requested investigation as \n promptly as reasonably feasible; or\n ``(B) provide the Government Accountability Office \n with a written explanation why the Administrator has \n chosen not to pursue further investigation.\n ``(6) Further investigations by the government \n accountability office.--Except as otherwise proscribed by law, \n the Government Accountability Office may perform any further \n investigation it determines appropriate.\n ``(f) Consultation With Administrative Conference of the United \nStates.--\n ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date \n of enactment of the Regulatory Capture Prevention Act of 2011, \n the Administrative Conference of the United States shall \n provide the Administrator with written guidance on--\n ``(A) the principal means by which concentrated \n economic interests wield influence across the Federal \n agencies;\n ``(B) the most salient threats to regulatory \n integrity arising from that influence; and\n ``(C) effective measures to minimize regulatory \n capture.\n ``(2) Guidance.--On a continuing basis, the Administrator \n shall develop, in consultation with the Administrative \n Conference of the United States, written guidance describing \n the most pervasive threats to regulatory integrity and the \n factors that primarily inform the exercise of the \n Administrator's investigatory discretion.\n ``(3) Comments.--The Administrative Conference of the \n United States shall, to the extent it determines appropriate, \n comment upon reports issued by the Administrator.\n ``(g) Reports to Congress; Public Release.--\n ``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after completion \n of each report, the Administrator shall submit that report to \n the relevant committees of Congress. The relevant committees of \n Congress shall hold hearings on the report as the committees \n determine appropriate.\n ``(2) Annual reports.--\n ``(A) In general.--Not later than April 30 of each \n year, the Administrator shall prepare and provide to \n the relevant committees of Congress an annual report \n summarizing the activities of the Office of Regulatory \n Integrity during the immediately preceding 12-month \n period ending March 31.\n ``(B) Contents.--Reports under this paragraph shall \n include--\n ``(i) a description of significant \n problems, abuses, and deficiencies relating to \n the undue influence in agencies of concentrated \n economic interests during the reporting period;\n ``(ii) a description of the recommendations \n for corrective action made by the Office of \n Regulatory Integrity during the reporting \n period with respect to significant problems, \n abuses, or deficiencies identified under clause \n (i);\n ``(iii) an identification of each \n significant recommendation described in \n previous semiannual reports on which corrective \n action has not been completed;\n ``(iv) a summary of each report issued by \n the Office of Regulatory Integrity; and\n ``(v) a financial report for the Office of \n Regulatory Integrity.\n ``(3) Public disclosure.--\n ``(A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the \n transmission of the annual report to the Congress, the \n Administrator shall make copies of such report \n available on a publicly available Internet website.\n ``(B) Limitations on disclosures.--Nothing in this \n paragraph shall be construed to authorize the public \n disclosure of information which is--\n ``(i) specifically prohibited from \n disclosure by any other provision of law;\n ``(ii) specifically required by Executive \n order to be protected from disclosure in the \n interest of national defense or national \n security or in the conduct of foreign affairs; \n or\n ``(iii) a part of an ongoing criminal \n investigation.\n ``(C) Information in public record.--\n Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), any report under this \n subsection may be disclosed to the public in a form \n which includes information with respect to a part of an \n ongoing criminal investigation if such information has \n been included in a public record.\n ``(D) No withholding of information from \n congress.--Nothing in this section shall be construed \n to authorize or permit the withholding of information \n from the Congress, or from any committee or \n subcommittee thereof, except as otherwise authorized by \n law.\n ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to \ncarry out this section.''.\n (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for \nchapter 5 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting \nafter the item relating to section 507 the following:\n\n``Sec. 508. Office of Regulatory Integrity.''.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by section 2 shall take effect 90 days after \nthe date of enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Regulatory Capture Prevention Act of 2011 - Establishes the Office of Regulatory Integrity in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to be headed by an Administrator. Requires the Administrator to investigate and report on the influence of concentrated economic interests on federal agencies that results in: (1) agency action or inaction that fails to advance the mission of the agency or is otherwise inimical to the public interest; (2) regulation, licensing, adjudication, grants, or other agency action that favors a limited number of economic interests or is otherwise inimical to the public interest; (3) enforcement priorities that are not reasonably calculated to accomplish regulatory goals; and (4) a loss of confidence in the integrity of the regulatory process.\n\nGrants certain powers to the Administrator to carry out this Act, including access to agency records, subpoena power, direct and prompt access to the head of a relevant agency and access to information and assistance by such agency.\n\nRequires the Administrative Conference of the United States to provide the Administrator with written guidance on the principal means by which concentrated economic interests wield influence on federal agencies, the most salient threats to regulatory integrity arising from such influence, and effective measures to minimize regulatory capture.", "title": "A bill to amend chapter 5 of title 31, United States Code, to establish the Office of Regulatory Integrity within the Office of Management and Budget."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 610, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Fracture Prevention and \nOsteoporosis Testing Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Since 1997, Congress has recognized the importance of \n osteoporosis prevention by standardizing reimbursement under \n the Medicare program for bone mass measurement.\n (2) One decade later, osteoporosis remains underdiagnosed \n and untreated despite numerous Federal initiatives, including \n recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task \n Force, the 2004 United States Surgeon General's Report on Bone \n Health and Osteoporosis, and inclusion of bone mass measurement \n in the Welcome to Medicare exam.\n (3) Even though osteoporosis is a highly manageable \n disease, many patients lack access to early diagnosis that can \n prevent debilitating fractures, morbidity, and loss of \n mobility.\n (4) Although Caucasians are most likely to sustain \n osteoporosis fractures, the cost of fractures among the \n nonwhite population is projected to increase by as much as 180 \n percent over the next 20 years.\n (5) Black women are more likely than White women to die \n following a hip fracture.\n (6) Osteoporosis is a critical women's health issue. Women \n account for 71 percent of fractures and 75 percent of \n osteoporosis-associated costs.\n (7) The World Health Organization, the Centers for Medicare \n & Medicaid Services, and other medical experts concur that the \n most widely accepted method of measuring bone mass to predict \n fracture risk is dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (in this Act \n referred to as ``DXA''). Vertebral fracture assessment (in this \n Act referred to as ``VFA'') is another test used to identify \n patients at high risk for future fracture.\n (8) Unlike other imaging procedures, bone mass measurement \n testing remains severely underutilized with less than 20 \n percent of eligible Medicare beneficiaries taking advantage of \n the benefit.\n (9) Underutilization of bone mass measurement will strain \n the Medicare budget because--\n (A) 55 percent of the people age 50 and older in \n 2002 had osteoporosis or low bone mass;\n (B) more than 61,000,000 people in the United \n States are projected to have osteoporosis or low bone \n mass in 2020, as compared to 43,000,000 in 2002;\n (C) osteoporosis fractures are projected to \n increase by almost 50 percent over the next 2 decades \n with at least 3,000,000 fractures expected to occur \n annually by 2025;\n (D) the population aged 65 and older represents 89 \n percent of fracture costs; and\n (E) the economic burden of osteoporosis fractures \n are projected to increase by 50 percent over the next 2 \n decades, reaching $25,300,000,000 in 2025.\n (10) Underutilization of bone mass measurement will also \n strain the Medicaid budget, which funds treatment for \n osteoporosis in low-income Americans.\n (11) Reimbursement under the Medicare program for DXA \n provided in physician offices and other non-hospital settings \n was reduced by 40 percent and will be reduced by a total of 75 \n percent by 2010. This drop represents one of the largest \n reimbursement reductions in the history of the Medicare \n program. Reimbursement for VFA will also be reduced by 50 \n percent by 2010.\n (12) The reduction in reimbursement discourages physicians \n from continuing to provide access to DXA or VFA in their \n offices. Since two-thirds of all DXA scans are performed in \n nonfacility settings, such as physician offices, patient access \n to bone mass measurement will be severely compromised when \n physicians discontinue providing those tests in their offices, \n thereby exacerbating the current underutilization of the \n benefit.\n\nSEC. 3. MINIMUM PAYMENT FOR BONE MASS MEASUREMENT.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1848(b) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 1395w-4(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(5) Treatment of bone mass scans.--Notwithstanding the \n provisions of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish a \n national minimum payment amount for CPT code 77080 (relating to \n dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) and CPT code 77082 (relating \n to vertebral fracture assessment), and any successor to such \n codes as identified by the Secretary. Such minimum payment \n amount shall not be less than 100 percent of the reimbursement \n rates in effect for such codes (or predecessor codes) on \n December 31, 2006.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply to bone mass measurement furnished on or after January 1, 2008.\n\nSEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT BY THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall \nenter into an arrangement with the Institute of Medicine of the \nNational Academies to conduct a study on the following:\n (1) The ramifications of Medicare reimbursement reductions \n for DXA and VFA on beneficiary access to bone mass measurement \n benefits in general and in rural and minority communities \n specifically.\n (2) Methods to increase use of bone mass measurement by \n Medicare beneficiaries.\n (b) Report.--The agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall \nprovide for the Institute of Medicine to submit to the Secretary and \nthe Congress, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act, a report containing a description of the results of the study \nconducted under such subsection and the conclusions and recommendations \nof the Institute of Medicine regarding each of the issues described in \nparagraphs (1) and (2) of such subsection.", "summary": "Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a national minimum payment amount for CPT code 77080 (relating to dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, or DXA, the most widely accepted method of measuring bone mass to predict fracture risk) and CPT code 77082 (relating to vertebral fracture assessment, or VFA), and any successor to such codes as identified by the Secretary (bone mass scans).\n\nDirects the Secretary to arrange with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies to conduct a study for a report to the Secretary and Congress on: (1) the ramifications of Medicare reimbursement reductions for DXA and VFA on beneficiary access to bone mass measurement benefits; and (2) the methods to increase use of bone mass measurement by Medicare beneficiaries.", "title": "To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to, and increase utilization of, bone mass measurement benefits under the Medicare part B Program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1478, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Transition to Teaching Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds as follows:\n (1) School districts will need to hire more than 2,000,000 \n teachers in the next decade. The need for teachers in the areas \n of mathematics, science, foreign languages, special education, \n and bilingual education, and for those able to teach in high-\n poverty school districts will be particularly high. To meet \n this need, talented Americans of all ages should be recruited \n to become successful, qualified teachers.\n (2) Nearly 28 percent of teachers of academic subjects have \n neither an undergraduate major nor minor in their main \n assignment fields. This problem is more acute in high-poverty \n schools, where the out-of-field percentage is 39 percent.\n (3) The Third International Math and Science Study (TIMSS) \n ranked United States high school seniors last among 16 \n countries in physics and next to last in mathematics. It is \n also evident, mainly from the TIMSS data, that based on \n academic scores, a stronger emphasis needs to be placed on the \n academic preparation of our children in mathematics and \n science.\n (4) One-fourth of high-poverty schools find it very \n difficult to fill bilingual teaching positions, and nearly half \n of public school teachers have students in their classrooms for \n whom English is a second language.\n (5) Many career-changing professionals with strong content-\n area skills are interested in a teaching career, but need \n assistance in getting the appropriate pedagogical training and \n classroom experience.\n (6) The Troops to Teachers model has been highly successful \n in linking high-quality teachers to teach in high-poverty \n districts.\n\nSEC. 3. PURPOSE.\n\n The purpose of this Act is to address the need of high-poverty \nschool districts for highly qualified teachers in particular subject \nareas, such as mathematics, science, foreign languages, bilingual \neducation, and special education, needed by those school districts, \nby--\n (1) continuing and enhancing the Troops to Teachers model \n for recruiting and supporting the placement of such teachers; \n and\n (2) recruiting, preparing, placing, and supporting career-\n changing professionals who have knowledge and experience that \n will help them become such teachers.\n\nSEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.\n\n (a) Authority.--Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary is \nauthorized to use funds appropriated under subsection (c) for each \nfiscal year to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to \ninstitutions of higher education and public and private nonprofit \nagencies or organizations to carry out programs authorized by this Act.\n (b) Troops to Teachers.--\n (1) In general.--Before making awards under subsection (a) \n for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall first--\n (A) consult with the Secretary of Defense and the \n Secretary of Transportation regarding the appropriate \n amount of funding needed to continue and enhance the \n Troops to Teachers program; and\n (B) upon agreement, transfer that amount to the \n Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support \n (DANTES) to carry out the Troops to Teachers program.\n (2) Continuation of program.--The Secretary may enter into \n a written agreement with the Departments of Defense and \n Transportation, or take such other steps as the Secretary \n determines are appropriate to ensure effective continuation of \n the Troops to Teachers program.\n (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying \nout this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $18,000,000 for \neach of fiscal years 2000 through 2005.\n\nSEC. 5. APPLICATION.\n\n Each applicant that desires an award under section 4(a) shall \nsubmit an application to the Secretary containing such information as \nthe Secretary requires, including--\n (1) a description of the target group of career-changing \n professionals upon which the applicant will focus in carrying \n out its program under this Act, including a description of the \n characteristics of that target group that shows how the \n knowledge and experience of its members are relevant to meeting \n the purpose of this Act;\n (2) a description of how the applicant will identify and \n recruit program participants;\n (3) a description of the training that program participants \n will receive and how that training will relate to their \n certification as teachers;\n (4) a description of how the applicant will ensure that \n program participants are placed and teach in high-poverty local \n educational agencies;\n (5) a description of the teacher induction services (which \n may be provided through existing induction programs) the \n program participants will receive throughout at least their \n first year of teaching;\n (6) a description of how the applicant will collaborate, as \n needed, with other institutions, agencies, or organizations to \n recruit, train, place, and support program participants under \n this Act, including evidence of the commitment of those \n institutions, agencies, or organizations to the applicant's \n program;\n (7) a description of how the applicant will evaluate the \n progress and effectiveness of its program, including--\n (A) the program's goals and objectives;\n (B) the performance indicators the applicant will \n use to measure the program's progress; and\n (C) the outcome measures that will be used to \n determine the program's effectiveness; and\n (8) an assurance that the applicant will provide to the \n Secretary such information as the Secretary determines \n necessary to determine the overall effectiveness of programs \n under this Act.\n\nSEC. 6. USES OF FUNDS AND PERIOD OF SERVICE.\n\n (a) Authorized Activities.--Funds under this Act may be used for--\n (1) recruiting program participants, including informing \n them of opportunities under the program and putting them in \n contact with other institutions, agencies, or organizations \n that would train, place, and support them;\n (2) training stipends and other financial incentives for \n program participants, not to exceed $5,000 per participant;\n (3) assisting institutions of higher education or other \n providers of teacher training to tailor their training to meet \n the particular needs of professionals who are changing their \n careers to teaching;\n (4) placement activities, including identifying high-\n poverty local educational agencies with a need for the \n particular skills and characteristics of the newly trained \n program participants and assisting those participants to obtain \n employment in those local educational agencies; and\n (5) post-placement induction or support activities for \n program participants.\n (b) Period of Service.--A program participant in a program under \nthis Act who completes his or her training shall serve in a high-\npoverty local educational agency for at least 3 years.\n (c) Repayment.--The Secretary shall establish such requirements as \nthe Secretary determines appropriate to ensure that program \nparticipants who receive a training stipend or other financial \nincentive under subsection (a)(2), but fail to complete their service \nobligation under subsection (b), repay all or a portion of such stipend \nor other incentive.\n\nSEC. 7. EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.\n\n To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall make awards under \nthis Act that support programs in different geographic regions of the \nNation.\n\nSEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) High-poverty local educational agency.--The term \n ``high-poverty local educational agency'' means a local \n educational agency in which the percentage of children, ages 5 \n through 17, from families below the poverty level is 20 percent \n or greater, or the number of such children exceeds 10,000.\n (2) Program participants.--The term ``program \n participants'' means career-changing professionals who--\n (A) hold at least a baccalaureate degree;\n (B) demonstrate interest in, and commitment to, \n becoming a teacher; and\n (C) have knowledge and experience that are relevant \n to teaching a high-need subject area in a high-need \n local educational agency.", "summary": "Authorizes the Secretary of Education to use funds under this Act to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to institutions of higher education (IHEs) and public and private nonprofit entities to carry out Transition-to-Teaching programs.\nRequires the Secretary, before making such awards, to: (1) consult with the Secretaries of Defense and of Transportation with respect to the appropriate amount of funding necessary to continue and enhance the Troops-to-Teachers program; and (2) transfer such amount to the Department of Defense to carry out such program. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a written agreement with the Departments of Defense and of Transportation, or take other appropriate steps to ensure effective continuation of such program.\nAuthorizes appropriations.\nSets forth requirements for applications for Transition-to-Teaching program assistance. Authorizes use of such funds for: (1) recruitment of program participants; (2) training stipends and other financial incentives for program participants; (3) assistance to IHEs or other teacher training providers to meet particular needs of professionals changing their careers to teaching; (4) placement activities, including identifying high-poverty local educational agencies (LEAs) with needs for particular skills and characteristics of the newly trained program participants and assisting those participants to obtain employment in those LEAs; and (5) post-placement induction or support activities for program participants. Requires program participants who complete training to teach in a high-poverty LEA for at least three years, or else repay all or a portion of their training stipend or other incentive.", "title": "Transition to Teaching Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1271, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n This Act may be cited as the ``North Korean Human Rights \nReauthorization Act of 2008''.\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) The North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-\n 333; 22 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.) (in this section referred to as ``the \n Act'') was the product of broad, bipartisan consensus in Congress \n regarding the promotion of human rights, transparency in the \n delivery of humanitarian assistance, and refugee protection.\n (2) In addition to the longstanding commitment of the United \n States to refugee and human rights advocacy, the United States is \n home to the largest Korean population outside of northeast Asia, \n and many in the two-million strong Korean-American community have \n family ties to North Korea.\n (3) Human rights and humanitarian conditions inside North Korea \n are deplorable, North Korean refugees remain acutely vulnerable, \n and the findings in section 3 of the Act remain accurate today.\n (4) The Government of China is conducting an increasingly \n aggressive campaign to locate and forcibly return border-crossers \n to North Korea, where they routinely face torture and imprisonment, \n and sometimes execution. According to recent reports, the Chinese \n Government is shutting down Christian churches and imprisoning \n people who help North Korean defectors and has increased the bounty \n paid for turning in North Korean refugees.\n (5) In an attempt to deter escape attempts, the Government of \n North Korea has reportedly stepped up its public execution of \n border-crossers and those who help others cross into China.\n (6) In spite of the requirement of the Act that the Special \n Envoy on Human Rights in North Korea (the ``Special Envoy'') report \n to the Congress no later than April 16, 2005, a Special Envoy was \n not appointed until August 19, 2005, more than four months after \n the reporting deadline.\n (7) The Special Envoy appointed by the President has filled \n that position on a part-time basis only.\n (8) Since the passage of the North Korean Human Rights Act, \n Congress has on several occasions expressed interest in the status \n of North Korean refugees, and on February 21, 2006, a bipartisan \n group of senior Members of the House and Senate wrote Secretary of \n State Condoleezza Rice ``to express [their] deep concern for the \n lack of progress in funding and implementing the key provisions of \n the North Korean Human Rights Act'', particularly the lack of North \n Korean refugee admissions to the United States.\n (9) Although the United States refugee resettlement program \n remains the largest in the world by far, the United States has \n resettled only 37 North Koreans in the period from 2004 through \n 2007.\n (10) From the end of 2004 through 2007, the Republic of Korea \n resettled 5,961 North Koreans.\n (11) Extensive delays in assessment and processing have led \n numerous North Korean refugees to abandon their quest for United \n States resettlement, and long waits (of more than a year in some \n cases) have been the source of considerable discouragement and \n frustration among refugees, many of whom are awaiting United States \n resettlement in circumstances that are unsafe and insecure.\n (12) From 2000 through 2006, the United States granted asylum \n to 15 North Koreans, as compared to 60 North Korean asylum grantees \n in the United Kingdom, and 135 in Germany during that same period.\nSEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.\n It is the sense of Congress that--\n (1) the United States should continue to make it a priority to \n seek broader permission and greater cooperation from foreign \n governments to allow the United States to process North Korean \n refugees overseas for resettlement in the United States, through \n persistent diplomacy by senior officials of the United States, \n including United States ambassadors to Asia-Pacific nations;\n (2) at the same time that careful screening of intending \n refugees is important, the United States also should make every \n effort to ensure that its screening, processing, and resettlement \n of North Korean refugees are as efficient and expeditious as \n possible;\n (3) the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues \n should be a full-time position within the Department of State in \n order to properly promote and coordinate North Korean human rights \n and humanitarian issues, and to participate in policy planning and \n implementation with respect to refugee issues, as intended by the \n North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-333; 22 \n U.S.C. 7801 et seq.);\n (4) in an effort to more efficiently and actively participate \n in humanitarian burden-sharing, the United States should approach \n our ally, the Republic of Korea, to revisit and explore new \n opportunities for coordinating efforts to screen and resettle North \n Koreans who have expressed a wish to pursue resettlement in the \n United States and have not yet availed themselves of any right to \n citizenship they may enjoy under the Constitution of the Republic \n of Korea; and\n (5) because there are genuine refugees among North Koreans \n fleeing into China who face severe punishments upon their forcible \n return, the United States should urge the Government of China to--\n (A) immediately halt its forcible repatriation of North \n Koreans;\n (B) fulfill its obligations pursuant to the 1951 United \n Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 \n Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and the 1995 \n Agreement on the Upgrading of the UNHCR Mission in the People's \n Republic of China to UNHCR Branch Office in the People's \n Republic of China; and\n (C) allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees \n (UNHCR) unimpeded access to North Koreans inside China to \n determine whether they are refugees and whether they require \n assistance.\nSEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.\n Section 5(1)(A) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 \n(Public Law 108-333; 22 U.S.C. 7803(1)(A)) is amended by striking \n``International Relations'' and inserting ``Foreign Affairs''.\nSEC. 5. SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAMS.\n Section 102(b)(1) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 \nU.S.C. 7812(b)(1)) is amended by inserting after ``2008'' the \nfollowing: ``and $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through \n2012''.\nSEC. 6. RADIO BROADCASTING TO NORTH KOREA.\n Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this \nAct, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) shall submit to the \nappropriate congressional committees, as defined in section 5(1) of the \nNorth Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7803(1)), a report \nthat describes the status and content of current United States \nbroadcasting to North Korea and the extent to which the BBG has \nachieved the goal of 12-hour-per-day broadcasting to North Korea \npursuant to section 103 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 7813).\nSEC. 7. ACTIONS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION.\n Section 104 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 \nU.S.C. 7814) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``2008'' and inserting \n ``2012''; and\n (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``in each of the 3 years \n thereafter'' and inserting ``annually through 2012''.\nSEC. 8. SPECIAL ENVOY ON NORTH KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.\n Section 107 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. \n7817) is amended--\n (1) in the section heading, by striking ``human rights in north \n korea'' and inserting ``north korean human rights issues'';\n (2) in subsection (a)--\n (A) in the first sentence--\n (i) by striking ``human rights in North Korea'' and \n inserting ``North Korean human rights issues''; and\n (ii) by inserting before the period at the end the \n following: ``, by and with the advice and consent of the \n Senate'';\n (B) in the second sentence, by inserting before the period \n at the end the following: ``who shall have the rank of \n ambassador and shall hold the office at the pleasure of the \n President'';\n (3) in subsection (b), by inserting before the period at the \n end the following: ``, including, in coordination with the Bureau \n of Population, Refugees, and Migration, the protection of those \n people who have fled as refugees'';\n (4) in subsection (c)--\n (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (6) as \n paragraphs (2) through (7), respectively;\n (B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, \n the following new paragraph:\n ``(1) participate in the formulation and the implementation of \n activities carried out pursuant to this Act;''; and\n (C) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking \n ``section 102'' and inserting ``sections 102 and 104''; and\n (5) in subsection (d), by striking ``for the subsequent 5 year-\n period'' and inserting ``thereafter through 2012''.\nSEC. 9. REPORT ON UNITED STATES HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.\n Section 201(a) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 \nU.S.C. 7831(a)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by \nstriking ``in each of the 2 years thereafter'' and inserting ``annually \nthereafter through 2012''.\n SEC. 10. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED OUTSIDE OF NORTH KOREA.\n Section 203(c)(1) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 \nU.S.C. 7833(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``2008'' and inserting \n``2012''.\n SEC. 11. ANNUAL REPORTS.\n Section 305(a) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 \nU.S.C. 7845(a)) is amended--\n (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and Refugee'' \n before ``Information'';\n (2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--\n (A) by striking ``for each of the following 5 years'' and \n inserting ``through 2012''; and\n (B) by striking ``which shall include--'' and inserting \n ``which shall include the following:'';\n (3) in paragraph (1)--\n (A) by striking ``the number of aliens'' and inserting \n ``The number of aliens''; and\n (B) by striking ``; and'' at the end and inserting a \n period;\n (4) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the number of aliens'' and \n inserting ``The number of aliens''; and\n (5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(3) A detailed description of the measures undertaken by the \n Secretary of State to carry out section 303, including country-\n specific information with respect to United States efforts to \n secure the cooperation and permission of the governments of \n countries in East and Southeast Asia to facilitate United States \n processing of North Koreans seeking protection as refugees. The \n information required under this paragraph shall be provided in \n unclassified form, with a classified annex, if necessary.''.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to the resettlement of North Korean refugees.\n\nAmends the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 to authorize appropriations through FY2012 for: (1) activities to support human rights and democracy and freedom of information (by increasing the availability of non-government controlled sources) in North Korea; and (2) assistance to North Koreans who are outside North Korea.\n\nDirects the Broadcasting Board of Governors to report respecting U.S. broadcasting to North Korea and the extent to which the Board has achieved the goal of 12-hour-per-day broadcasting to North Korea.\n\nStates that the Special Envoy on North Korean human rights issues (as renamed by this Act) in North Korea shall have the rank of ambassador. Extends the Special Envoy's annual congressional reporting requirement through FY2012.\n\nExtends the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) congressional reporting requirement respecting U.S. humanitarian assistance to North Koreans and efforts to improve transparency and monitoring in the provision of such assistance inside North Korea through 2012.\n\nSets forth specified reporting provisions.", "title": "To amend the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 to promote respect for the fundamental human rights of the people of North Korea, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 458, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``ED 1.0 Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Access to technology can improve grade and test \n averages, graduation rates, and retention rates, in addition to \n increasing the number of graduates in science and technology \n disciplines.\n (2) Minority-serving institutions historically have an \n important role in reaching an underserved population, and \n minority-serving institutions in economically disadvantaged \n areas face particular hardships in acquiring funds to sustain \n and expand their technological resources.\n (3) Low-income areas are technologically underserved.\n (4) Congress and the technological community should do all \n they can to find new and creative ways to bridge the current \n technology gap.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the \n Administrator of the National Telecommunications and \n Information Administration.\n (2) Eligible educational institution.--The term ``eligible \n educational institution'' means an institution that is--\n (A) a historically Black college or university;\n (B) a Hispanic-serving institution as that term is \n defined in section 502(a)(5) of the Higher Education \n Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5));\n (C) a tribally controlled college or university as \n that term is defined in section 2(a)(4) of the Tribally \n Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978 \n (25 U.S.C. 1801(a)(4));\n (D) an Alaska Native-serving institution as that \n term is defined in section 317(b)(2) of the Higher \n Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)(2)); or\n (E) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution as that \n term is defined in section 317(b)(4) of the Higher \n Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)(4)).\n (3) Historically black college or university.--The term \n ``historically Black college or university'' means a part B \n institution as that term is defined in section 322(2) of the \n Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)).\n\nSEC. 4. MINORITY ONLINE DEGREE PILOT PROGRAM.\n\n (a) Pilot Program Established.--\n (1) In general.--There is established within the National \n Telecommunications and Information Administration a pilot \n program under which the Administrator shall award 4 grants to \n eligible educational institutions to enable the eligible \n educational institutions to develop digital and wireless \n networks for online educational programs of study within the \n eligible educational institutions.\n (2) Grant number, duration, and amount.--\n (A) Number.--The Administrator shall award a total \n of 4 grants under this section.\n (B) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall \n be awarded for a period of 6 years.\n (C) Annual grant payment amounts.--The \n Administrator shall make grant payments under this \n section in the amount of--\n (i) $1,000,000 for the first fiscal year of \n a grant awarded under this section;\n (ii) $600,000 for each of the second \n through fifth such fiscal years; and\n (iii) $100,000 for the sixth such fiscal \n year.\n (b) Priority.--\n (1) In general.--In awarding grants under this section the \n Administrator shall give priority to an eligible educational \n institution that, according to the most recent data available \n (including data available from the Bureau of the Census), \n serves a county--\n (A) in which 50 percent of the residents of the \n county are members of a racial or ethnic minority;\n (B) in which less than 18 percent of the residents \n of the county have obtained a baccalaureate degree or a \n higher education;\n (C) that has an unemployment rate of 7 percent or \n greater;\n (D) in which 19 percent or more of the residents of \n the county live in poverty;\n (E) that has a negative population growth rate; or\n (F) that has a median family income of $32,000.\n (2) Highest priority.--In awarding grants under this \n section the Administrator shall give the highest priority to an \n eligible educational institution that meets the greatest number \n of requirements described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of \n paragraph (1).\n (c) Use of Funds.--An eligible educational institution receiving a \ngrant under this section may use the grant funds--\n (1) to acquire equipment, instrumentation, networking \n capability, hardware, software, digital network technology, \n wireless technology, or wireless infrastructure;\n (2) to develop and provide educational services, including \n faculty development; or\n (3) to develop strategic plans for information technology \n investments.\n (d) Matching Not Required.--The Administrator shall not require an \neligible educational institution to provide matching funds for a grant \nawarded under this section.\n (e) Report.--Not later than November 1 of each year, the \nAdministrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and \nTransportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce \nof the House of Representatives, a report evaluating the progress, \nduring the preceding fiscal year, of the pilot program assisted under \nthis section.\n (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--\n (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to \n carry out this section--\n (A) $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;\n (B) $2,400,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 \n through 2012; and\n (C) $500,000 for fiscal year 2013.\n (2) Availability.--Funds appropriated under paragraph (1) \n shall remain available until expended.\n (g) Limitation on Use of Other Funds.--The Administrator shall \ncarry out this section only with amounts appropriated in advance \nspecifically to carry out this section.", "summary": "ED 1.0 Act - Establishes a pilot program requiring the Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to award six-year grants to four minority-serving educational institutions, enabling them to develop digital and wireless networks for online programs of study within the institutions.\n\nGives grant priority to institutions serving counties: (1) that meet specified criteria of economic depression; (2) less than 18% of whose residents have a higher education; and (3) at least half of whose residents are minorities.", "title": "A bill to establish digital and wireless networks to advance online higher education opportunities for minority students."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2288, "text": "SECTION 1. EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION DISASTER ASSISTANCE FUND.\n\n (a) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Emergency watershed protection program.--The term \n ``emergency watershed protection program'' means the emergency \n watershed protection program established under section 403 of \n the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203).\n (2) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Emergency Watershed \n Protection Disaster Assistance Fund established by subsection \n (b).\n (3) Natural disaster.--The term ``natural disaster'' \n means--\n (A) a natural disaster declared by the Secretary \n under section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural \n Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961(a)); or\n (B) a major disaster or emergency designated by the \n President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief \n and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Agriculture.\n (b) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the \nUnited States a fund to be known as the ``Emergency Watershed \nProtection Disaster Assistance Fund'', to be administered by the \nSecretary to carry out activities under the emergency watershed \nprotection program.\n (c) Purpose and Availability of Fund.--\n (1) In general.--Subject to subsection (d), amounts in the \n Fund shall be available to the Secretary, until expended, to \n provide additional amounts for authorized activities described \n in subsection (b) in areas affected by a natural disaster.\n (2) Maintenance of funding.--Amounts in the Fund shall \n supplement (and not supplant) other Federal funding for natural \n disasters.\n (d) Directly Appropriated Amounts.--Amounts appropriated directly \nto the Fund by this Act or any subsequent Act for a specific purpose \nshall be available only for that purpose until such time as the \ntransfer authority provided by subsection (f) takes effect with regard \nto the amounts.\n (e) Transfer of Prior Appropriations to Fund.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary may transfer to the Fund, \n and merge with other amounts generally appropriated to the \n Fund, the available unobligated balance of any amounts \n described in paragraph (2) if, in advance of the transfer, the \n Secretary--\n (A) determines that the unobligated amounts are no \n longer needed to respond to the natural disaster for \n which the amounts were originally appropriated; and\n (B) provides a certification of that determination \n to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of \n Representatives and the Senate.\n (2) Amounts.--\n (A) In general.--Amounts described in this \n paragraph are amounts for the emergency watershed \n protection program that--\n (i) except in the case of funds described \n in subparagraph (B), remain unobligated as of \n the date of enactment of this Act; or\n (ii)(I) are made available under the \n Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 \n (division A of Public Law 113-2; 127 Stat. 4); \n and\n (II) are not necessary to fulfill any \n eligible request for the funds made in \n accordance with that Act.\n (B) Emergency designations.--\n (i) Emergency designation for statutory \n paygo.--This subsection is designated as an \n emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) \n of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 \n (Public Law 111-139; 2 U.S.C. 933(g)).\n (ii) Emergency designation for \n congressional enforcement.--In the Senate, this \n subsection is designated as an emergency \n requirement pursuant to sections 403(a) and \n 423(b) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the \n concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal \n year 2010.\n (3) Certain funds.--\n (A) Preliminary deposit.--Not later than 30 days \n after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary \n shall transfer to the Fund all amounts described in \n paragraph (2)(A)(ii) that are in excess of amounts \n requested in applications received by the Secretary on \n or before April 18, 2014, in accordance with the \n Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (division A of \n Public Law 113-2; 127 Stat. 4).\n (B) Final deposit.--As soon as practicable after \n the Secretary has made final determinations on all \n applications described in subparagraph (A), the \n Secretary shall transfer to the Fund all remaining \n unobligated amounts described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii).\n (f) Transfer of Other Appropriations to Fund.--\n (1) In general.--Unless otherwise specifically provided in \n an appropriations Act, the Secretary may transfer to or within \n the Fund, and merge with other amounts generally appropriated \n to the Fund, the available unobligated balance of any amounts \n that are appropriated for fiscal year 2014 or any subsequent \n fiscal year for the emergency watershed protection program to \n respond to a natural disaster or are designated by the Congress \n as an emergency requirement if, in advance of the transfer, the \n Secretary--\n (A) determines that the unobligated amounts are no \n longer needed to respond to the natural disaster for \n which the amounts were originally appropriated; and\n (B) provides a certification of that determination \n to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of \n Representatives and the Senate.\n (2) Timing.--A transfer of unobligated amounts with respect \n to a natural disaster may not be made under this subsection \n until after the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date \n on which the amounts were originally appropriated for that \n natural disaster.\n (g) Availability of Funds.--Amounts transferred into the Fund under \nthis section shall be available to the Secretary for obligation without \nfurther appropriation.\n (h) Administrative Expenses.--In addition to any other funds \navailable to the Secretary to cover administrative costs, the Secretary \nmay use up to 3 percent of the amounts allocated from the Fund for a \nspecific natural disaster to cover administrative costs of the State \nand local offices of the Department of Agriculture in the areas \naffected by the natural disaster to carry out disaster-related \nactivities.\n (i) Limitation on Per Disaster Obligations.--\n (1) In general.--Amounts in the Fund, except for amounts \n described in subsection (d) that are appropriated to the Fund \n and obligated in accordance with that subsection, may not be \n obligated in excess of $1,000,000 for a natural disaster until \n at least 15 days after the date on which the Secretary notifies \n the Committees on Appropriations of the House of \n Representatives and the Senate of the determination of the \n Secretary to obligate additional amounts and the reasons for \n the determination.\n (2) Specific and extreme need.--The Secretary may not \n obligate more than 50 percent of the amounts in the Fund for \n any 1 natural disaster unless the Secretary declares that there \n is a specific and extreme need for additional funds to be \n provided in response to that natural disaster at time of the \n obligation.\n (j) Quarterly Reports.--The Secretary shall submit, on a quarterly \nbasis, to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of \nRepresentatives and the Senate a report describing the status of the \nFund and any transactions that have affected the Fund since the \nprevious report.", "summary": " Establishes in the Treasury the Emergency Watershed Protection Disaster Assistance Fund to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to carry out emergency watershed protection activities in natural disaster-affected areas. Sets forth limitations on per disaster obligations.", "title": "A bill to establish an emergency watershed protection disaster assistance fund to be available to the Secretary of Agriculture to provide assistance for any natural disaster."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 438, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Reinvigorating Antibiotic and \nDiagnostic Innovation Act of 2015''.\n\nSEC. 2. CLINICAL TESTING EXPENSES FOR QUALIFIED INFECTIOUS DISEASE \n PRODUCTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new section:\n\n``SEC. 45S. CLINICAL TESTING EXPENSES FOR QUALIFIED INFECTIOUS DISEASE \n PRODUCTS.\n\n ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, the qualified \ninfectious disease product credit determined under this section for the \ntaxable year is an amount equal to 50 percent of the qualified clinical \ntesting expenses for the taxable year.\n ``(b) Qualified Clinical Testing Expenses.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) Qualified clinical testing expenses.--\n ``(A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in \n this paragraph, the term `qualified clinical testing \n expenses' means the amounts which are paid or incurred \n by the taxpayer during the taxable year which would be \n described in subsection (b) of section 41 if such \n subsection were applied with the modifications set \n forth in subparagraph (B).\n ``(B) Modifications.--For purposes of subparagraph \n (A), subsection (b) of section 41 shall be applied--\n ``(i) by substituting `clinical testing' \n for `qualified research' each place it appears \n in paragraphs (2) and (3) of such subsection, \n and\n ``(ii) by substituting `100 percent' for \n `65 percent' in paragraph (3)(A) of such \n subsection.\n ``(C) Exclusion for amounts funded by grants, \n etc.--The term `qualified clinical testing expenses' \n shall not include any amount to the extent such amount \n is funded by any grant, contract, or otherwise by \n another person (or any governmental entity).\n ``(D) Special rule.--For purposes of this \n paragraph, section 41 shall be deemed to remain in \n effect for periods after enactment of this section.\n ``(2) Clinical testing.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `clinical testing' \n means any human clinical testing--\n ``(i) which is carried out under an \n exemption for a drug being tested as an \n antibiotic or antifungal drug under section \n 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic \n Act (or regulations issued under such section),\n ``(ii) which occurs before the date on \n which an application with respect to such drug \n is approved under section 505(b) of such Act \n or, if the drug is a biological product, before \n the date on which a license for such drug is \n issued under section 351 of the Public Health \n Service Act, and\n ``(iii) which is conducted by or on behalf \n of the taxpayer to whom exemption under section \n 505(i) of such Act is granted.\n ``(B) Testing must be related to use as qualified \n infectious disease product.--Human clinical testing \n shall be taken into account under subparagraph (A) only \n to the extent such testing is related to the use of the \n drug as a qualified infectious disease product.\n ``(c) Coordination With Credit for Increasing Research \nExpenditures.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any \n qualified clinical testing expenses for a taxable year to which \n an election under this section applies shall not be taken into \n account for purposes of determining the credit allowable under \n section 41 for such taxable year.\n ``(2) Expenses included in determining base period research \n expenses.--Any qualified clinical testing expenses for any \n taxable year which are qualified research expenses (within the \n meaning of section 41(b)) shall be taken into account in \n determining base period research expenses for purposes of \n applying section 41 to subsequent taxable years.\n ``(d) Definitions and Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Qualified infectious disease product.--For purposes \n of this section, the term `qualified infectious disease \n product' means any drug or biological product for human use \n that--\n ``(A) is intended to treat a serious or life-\n threatening infection, including those caused by--\n ``(i) an antibacterial or antifungal \n resistant pathogen (including novel or emerging \n infectious pathogens), or\n ``(ii) qualifying pathogens listed by the \n Secretary of Health and Human Services under \n section 505E(f) of the Federal Food, Drug, and \n Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 351 et seq.), and\n ``(B) is intended to treat an infection for which \n there is an unmet medical need as defined by the \n Secretary of Health and Human Services.\n ``(2) Special limitation on foreign testing.--\n ``(A) In general.--No credit shall be allowed under \n this section with respect to any clinical testing \n conducted outside the United States unless--\n ``(i) such testing is conducted outside the \n United States because there is an insufficient \n testing population in the United States, and\n ``(ii) such testing is conducted by a \n United States person or by any other person who \n is not related to the taxpayer to whom \n exemption under section 505(i) of the Federal \n Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is granted.\n ``(B) Insufficient testing population.--For \n purposes of this section, the testing population in the \n United States is insufficient if there are not within \n the United States the number of available and \n appropriate human subjects needed to produce reliable \n and timely data from the clinical investigation.\n ``(3) Certain rules made applicable.--Rules similar to the \n rules of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 41(f) shall apply \n for purposes of this section.\n ``(4) Election.--This section shall apply to any taxpayer \n for any taxable year only if such taxpayer elects (at such time \n and in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations \n prescribe) to have this section apply for such taxable year.\n ``(e) Transferability.--\n ``(1) In general.--Any taxpayer holding a credit under this \n section may transfer for valuable consideration unused but \n otherwise allowable credit for use by a qualified \n pharmaceutical research taxpayer. A taxpayer that transfers any \n amount of credit under this section shall file a notification \n of such transfer to the Secretary in accordance with procedures \n and forms prescribed by the Secretary.\n ``(2) Use of transferred credit.--Any qualified \n pharmaceutical research taxpayer that receives credit that has \n been transferred shall use such credit for the taxable year in \n which the transfer occurred. Any unused amounts of such credit \n may be carried back or forward to other taxable years in \n accordance with section 39.\n ``(3) Definition of qualified pharmaceutical research \n taxpayer.--For purposes of this section, the term `qualified \n pharmaceutical research taxpayer' means any domestic \n corporation the primary mission of which is pharmaceutical \n research or development.''.\n (b) Made Part of Business Credit.--Section 38(b) of such Code is \namended by striking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (35), by striking \nthe period at the end of paragraph (36) and inserting ``, plus'', and \nby adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(37) the qualified infectious disease product credit \n determined under section 45S(a).''.\n (c) Clerical Amendments.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding \nat the end the following new item:\n\n``45S. Clinical testing expenses for qualified infectious disease \n products.''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto amounts paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of this \nAct.\n\nSEC. 3. CLINICAL TESTING EXPENSES FOR RAPID INFECTIOUS DISEASES \n DIAGNOSTIC TESTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 2, is \namended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 45T. CLINICAL TESTING EXPENSES FOR RAPID INFECTIOUS DISEASES \n DIAGNOSTIC TESTS.\n\n ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, the credit \ndetermined under this section for the taxable year is an amount equal \nto 50 percent of the qualified clinical testing expenses for the \ntaxable year.\n ``(b) Qualified Clinical Testing Expenses.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) Qualified clinical testing expenses.--\n ``(A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in \n this paragraph, the term `qualified clinical testing \n expenses' means the amounts which are paid or incurred \n by the taxpayer during the taxable year which would be \n described in subsection (b) of section 41 if such \n subsection were applied with the modifications set \n forth in subparagraph (B).\n ``(B) Modifications.--For purposes of subparagraph \n (A), subsection (b) of section 41 shall be applied--\n ``(i) by substituting `clinical testing' \n for `qualified research' each place it appears \n in paragraphs (2) and (3) of such subsection, \n and\n ``(ii) by substituting `100 percent' for \n `65 percent' in paragraph (3)(A) of such \n subsection.\n ``(C) Exclusion for amounts funded by grants, \n etc.--The term `qualified clinical testing expenses' \n shall not include any amount to the extent such amount \n is funded by any grant, contract, or otherwise by \n another person (or any governmental entity).\n ``(D) Special rule.--For purposes of this \n paragraph, section 41 shall be deemed to remain in \n effect for periods after enactment of this section.\n ``(2) Clinical testing.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `clinical testing' \n means any human clinical testing--\n ``(i) which is carried out under an \n exemption for a device being tested under \n section 520(g) of the Federal Food, Drug, and \n Cosmetic Act (or regulations issued under such \n section),\n ``(ii) which is related only to such use as \n a qualified rapid infectious diseases \n diagnostic test,\n ``(iii) which occurs before the date on \n which an application with respect to such \n device receives premarket approval, if \n required, under section 515 of such Act, or \n receives clearance, if required, under section \n 510(k) of such Act, and\n ``(iv) which is conducted by or on behalf \n of the taxpayer to whom the exemption under \n section 520(g) of such Act was granted.\n ``(c) Coordination With Credit for Increasing Research \nExpenditures.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any \n qualified clinical testing expenses for a taxable year to which \n an election under this section applies shall not be taken into \n account for purposes of determining the credit allowable under \n section 41 for such taxable year.\n ``(2) Expenses included in determining base period research \n expenses.--Any qualified clinical testing expenses for any \n taxable year which are qualified research expenses (within the \n meaning of section 41(b)) shall be taken into account in \n determining base period research expenses for purposes of \n applying section 41 to subsequent taxable years.\n ``(d) Definitions and Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Qualified rapid infectious diseases diagnostic \n test.--For purposes of this section, the term `qualified rapid \n infectious diseases diagnostic test' means an in-vitro \n diagnostic (IVD) device that provides results in less than four \n hours and that is used to identify or detect the presence, \n concentration, or characteristics of a serious or life-\n threatening infection, including those caused by (1) an \n antibacterial or antifungal resistant pathogen, including novel \n or emerging infectious pathogens or (2) qualifying pathogens \n listed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under \n Chapter V (21 U.S.C. 351 et seq.) section 505E(f).\n ``(2) Special limitation on foreign testing.--\n ``(A) In general.--No credit shall be allowed under \n this section with respect to any clinical testing \n conducted outside the United States unless--\n ``(i) such testing is conducted outside the \n United States because there is an insufficient \n testing population in the United States, and\n ``(ii) such testing is conducted by a \n United States person or by any other person who \n is not related to the taxpayer to whom the \n exemption under section 520(g) of Federal Food, \n Drug, and Cosmetic Act was granted.\n ``(B) Insufficient testing population.--For \n purposes of this section, the testing population in the \n United States is insufficient if there are not within \n the United States the number of available and \n appropriate human subjects needed to produce reliable \n and timely data from the clinical investigation.\n ``(3) Certain rules made applicable.--Rules similar to the \n rules of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 41(f) shall apply \n for purposes of this section.\n ``(4) Election.--This section shall apply to any taxpayer \n for any taxable year only if such taxpayer elects (at such time \n and in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations \n prescribe) to have this section apply for such taxable year.\n ``(e) Transferability.--\n ``(1) In general.--Any taxpayer holding a credit under this \n section may transfer for valuable consideration unused but \n otherwise allowable credit for use by a qualified diagnostics \n research taxpayer. A taxpayer that transfers any amount of \n credit under this section shall file a notification of such \n transfer to the Secretary in accordance with procedures and \n forms prescribed by the Secretary.\n ``(2) Use of transferred credit.--Any qualified diagnostics \n research taxpayer that receives credit that has been \n transferred shall use such credit for the taxable year in which \n the transfer occurred. Any unused amounts of such credit may be \n carried back or forward to other taxable years in accordance \n with section 39.\n ``(3) Definition of qualified diagnostics research \n taxpayer.--For purposes of this section, the term `qualified \n diagnostics research taxpayer' means any domestic corporation \n that derives--\n ``(A) any gross income from research or development \n on diagnostic tests used to identify or detect the \n presence, concentration or characteristics of a serious \n or life-threatening infectious disease or pathogen; or\n ``(B) any gross income from research or development \n on qualified infectious disease products within the \n meaning given to such term in section 505E(g) of the \n Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; or\n ``(C) more than 50 percent of its gross income from \n activities related to health care.''.\n (b) Made Part of Business Credit.--Section 38(b) of such Code, as \namended by section 2, is amended by striking ``plus'' at the end of \nparagraph (36), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (37) and \ninserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the end the following new \nparagraph:\n ``(38) the credit determined under section 45T(a).''.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code, as amended by \nsection 2, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 45T. Clinical testing expenses for rapid infectious diseases \n diagnostic tests.''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto amounts paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of this \nAct.", "summary": "Reinvigorating Antibiotic and Diagnostic Innovation Act of 2015 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits for 50% of the clinical testing expenses for: (1) infectious disease products that are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening infection, including one caused by an antibacterial or antifungal resistant pathogen or a qualifying pathogen listed by the Department of Health and Human Services as having the potential to pose a serious threat to public health; and (2) in-vitro diagnostic devices that identify in less than four hours the presence, concentration, or characteristics of a serious or life-threatening infection. ", "title": "Reinvigorating Antibiotic and Diagnostic Innovation Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1002, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Mortgage and Rental Disaster Relief \nAct of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. DISASTER RELIEF.\n\n Section 408(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and \nEmergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following:\n ``(5) Temporary mortgage and rental payments.--\n ``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph--\n ``(i) the term `adjusted gross income' \n means the adjusted gross income (as that term \n is defined in section 62 of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986) of the relevant \n individual or household for the last taxable \n year that such individual or household filed a \n tax return; and\n ``(ii) the term `financial hardship caused \n by a major disaster' means that an individual \n or member of a household--\n ``(I) is employed by a business, or \n owns a business, located in the area \n for which the President declared the \n relevant major disaster;\n ``(II) became unemployed, or lost \n significant income, because the \n employer or business of that individual \n or member of a household has or, on the \n day before the date of the relevant \n major disaster, had a significant \n business relationship with a business \n located in the area for which the \n President declared the relevant major \n disaster; or\n ``(III) resides in the area for \n which the President declared the \n relevant major disaster and has \n suffered financially due to travel \n restrictions or station or road \n closures in effect after the date of \n that major disaster.\n ``(B) Authorization.--In accordance with this \n paragraph, the President may provide assistance on a \n temporary basis in the form of mortgage or rental \n payments to or on behalf of individuals and households \n who, as a result of financial hardship caused by a \n major disaster, have received written notice of \n dispossession or eviction from a residence by reason of \n a foreclosure of any mortgage or lien, cancellation of \n any contract of sale, or termination of any lease, \n entered into before such major disaster.\n ``(C) Eligibility.--\n ``(i) Income.--\n ``(I) In general.--Except as \n provided in subclause (II), an \n individual or household may receive \n assistance under this paragraph if the \n adjusted gross income of that \n individual or household was not more \n than $75,000.\n ``(II) Areas with a high cost of \n living.--An individual or household \n that, on the day before the date of the \n relevant major disaster, resided in an \n area with a high cost of living, as \n determined by the President, may \n receive assistance under this paragraph \n if the adjusted gross income of that \n individual or household was not more \n than $100,000.\n ``(ii) Adjustment.--The President shall \n adjust the limits established under clause (i) \n annually to reflect inflation.\n ``(D) Period of assistance.--Assistance under this \n paragraph shall be provided for the duration of the \n period of financial hardship caused by a major \n disaster, not to exceed 18 months.\n ``(E) Procedures.--\n ``(i) In general.--An individual or \n household seeking assistance under this \n paragraph shall submit an application in such \n manner and accompanied by such information as \n the President shall establish, which shall \n include a requirement that such an individual \n or household sign a statement indicating that \n individual or household meets the eligibility \n requirements under subparagraph (C).\n ``(ii) Lack of records.--If an individual \n or household does not have access to records \n necessary to demonstrate eligibility under \n subparagraph (C), that individual or household \n shall submit such records not later than 6 \n months after the date that individual or \n household applies for assistance under this \n paragraph.\n ``(iii) Ineligible recipients.--If an \n individual or household receives assistance \n under this paragraph and was not eligible to \n receive such assistance, that individual or \n household shall return the full amount of that \n assistance to the Government.''.\n\nSEC. 3. APPLICABILITY.\n\n The amendment made by this Act shall apply to any major disaster \n(as that term is defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford \nDisaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)) declared \non or after October 21, 2007.", "summary": "Mortgage and Rental Disaster Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide temporary assistance in the form of mortgage or rental payments to or on behalf of individuals and households who, as a result of financial hardship caused by a major disaster, have received written notice of dispossession or eviction from a residence because of a foreclosure of mortgage or lien, cancellation of sales contract, or lease termination, entered into before such disaster.\n\nDefines such a \"financial hardship\" to include: (1) the loss of employment or significant income because a job, a business, or a business interest was located in a disaster area; or (2) suffering financially because of travel restrictions or station or road closures affecting residents of such area.\n\nRestricts eligibility for such assistance to individuals or households who have an adjusted gross income of not more than $75,000 ($100,000 for individuals or households who resided in an area with a high cost of living). Directs the President to adjust the limits annually to reflect inflation. Allows assistance to be provided for the duration of the period of financial hardship caused by the disaster, not to exceed 18 months. Requires recipients determined to be ineligible to return the full amount of assistance to the government.\n\nMakes this Act applicable to any major disaster declared on or after October 21, 2007.", "title": "A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, to authorize temporary mortgage and rental payments."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 26, "text": "SECTION 1. PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY DEPARTMENT OF \n VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WITH \n LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.\n\n (a) In General.--\n (1) Requirement.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States \n Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the following \n new section:\n``Sec. 1713. Mental health services; languages other than English\n ``(a) Availability of Counseling in Languages Other Than English.--\nIn providing counseling and other mental health services authorized by \nlaw to a veteran who has limited proficiency in English, the Secretary \nshall ensure that such counseling and services are available to that \nveteran in both English and a language other than English in which the \nveteran is proficient, if requested by the veteran.\n ``(b) Identification of Limited English Proficient Veterans.--For \npurposes of this section, the Secretary shall develop procedures for \nidentifying veterans who have limited proficiency in English and of \ninforming those veterans of the provisions of subsection (a).''.\n (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the \n beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the \n item relating to section 1712B the following new item:\n\n``1713. Mental health services; languages other than English''.\n (b) Family Members.--Section 1782 of such title is amended by \nadding at the end the following new subsections:\n ``(e) Additional Counseling.--In addition to services authorized by \nsubsections (a) and (b), the Secretary shall, in connection with the \nservice of a veteran in the active military, naval, or air service, \nprovide to an individual described in subsection (c) such counseling \nand mental health services as are requested by the individual, except \nto the extent that the Secretary determines that such counseling and \nmental health services are not needed.\n ``(f) Bilingual Counseling.--(1) In providing counseling and mental \nhealth services under this section and bereavement counseling under \nsection 1783 of this title, the Secretary shall ensure, in the case of \nan individual who has limited proficiency in English, that such \ncounseling and services are available to that individual in both \nEnglish and a language other than English in which the individual is \nproficient, if requested by the individual.\n ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, the Secretary shall develop \nprocedures for identifying individuals who have limited proficiency in \nEnglish and of informing those individuals of the provisions of \nparagraph (1).''.\n (c) Effective Date.--Section 1713 of title 38, United States Code, \nas added by subsection (a)(1), and subsections (e) and (f) of section \n1782 of such title, as added by subsection (b), shall take effect at \nthe end of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n\nSEC. 2. CODIFICATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF REQUIREMENTS \n OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 13166.\n\n (a) System for Access to Services.--The Secretary of Veterans \nAffairs shall implement a system by which persons with limited English \nproficiency can meaningfully access the services provided by the \nDepartment of Veterans Affairs consistent with, and without unduly \nburdening, the fundamental mission of that Department. The Secretary \nshall work to ensure that recipients of financial assistance under \nprograms of the Department provide meaningful access to applicants and \nbeneficiaries with limited English proficiency.\n (b) Plan.--The Secretary shall implement a plan to improve access \nto programs and activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs by \neligible persons with limited English proficiency. The plan shall be \nconsistent with the standards set forth in the guidance issued by the \nAttorney General and shall include the steps the Secretary will take to \nensure that eligible persons with limited English proficiency can \nmeaningfully access the programs and activities of the Department.\n\nSEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION.\n\n In developing and implementing the plan under section 2(b), the \nSecretary shall, at a minimum, carry out the following:\n (1) The Secretary shall conduct a thorough assessment of \n the language needs of the population served by the Department \n of Veterans Affairs, including identifying the non-English \n languages that are likely to be encountered.\n (2) The Secretary shall develop and implement a \n comprehensive language assistance program, which shall \n include--\n (A) hiring bilingual staff and interpreters for \n patient and client contact positions; and\n (B) translating written materials (such as consent \n forms, notice of free language assistance, and outreach \n materials) into languages other than English.\n (3) The Secretary shall train staff of the Department on \n the access policy of the Department with respect to persons \n with limited English proficiency and on carrying out that \n policy.\n (4) The Secretary shall establish vigilant monitoring and \n oversight to ensure that persons with limited English \n proficiency have meaningful access to health care and services.\n (5) The Secretary shall establish a task force to evaluate \n implementation and to prioritize needed actions to implement \n the access plan for persons with limited English proficiency.\n (6) The Secretary shall develop a specific plan to ensure \n seamless transition of veterans and their families from \n benefits and services provided by the Department of Defense to \n benefits and services provided by the Department of Veterans \n Affairs, including bilingual readjustment and bereavement \n counseling.\n (7) The Secretary shall establish a process to translate \n vital documents and other materials, including materials on the \n World Wide Web, brochures distributed as part of outreach \n efforts to servicemembers transitioning into civilian life, and \n the post-deployment health reassessment program.\n (8) The Secretary shall conduct outreach to veterans and \n their families in communities which may have higher proportions \n of populations with limited English proficiency to ensure they \n are aware of eligibility for benefits and services from the \n Department of Veterans Affairs.\n\nSEC. 4. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION BY VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION OF \n DIRECTIVE ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR PERSONS \n WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.\n\n (a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit \nto the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of \nRepresentatives a report on the implementation by the Veterans Health \nAdministration of the Department of Veterans Affairs of the directive \nof the Veterans Health Administration designated ``VHA Directive 2002-\n006'' that was issued by the Under Secretary for Health of the \nDepartment of Veterans Affairs on January 31, 2002, and that issued \npolicy to implement prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of \nnational origin for persons with limited English proficiency in \nFederally-conducted programs and activities and in Federal financial \nassisted programs.\n (b) Capacity to Provide Services to LEP Servicemembers.--The \nSecretary shall include in the report an analysis of the capacity of \nthe Department of Veterans Affairs to provide services to members of \nthe Armed Forces with limited English proficiency.", "summary": "Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in providing counseling and other mental health services to a veteran who has limited proficiency in English, to ensure that such services are available in both English and a language in which that veteran is proficient, if requested by the veteran. Requires such availability also for the family members of such a veteran.\n\nRequires the Secretary to implement a system by which persons with limited English proficiency can access services provided by the Department of Veterans consistent with, and without unduly burdening, the Department's fundamental mission.\n\nRequires a report from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on the implementation by the Department's Veterans Health Administration of a specified directive to implement prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of national origin for persons with limited English proficiency in federally-conducted programs and activities and in federal financial-assisted programs.", "title": "To require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mental health services in languages other than English, as needed, for veterans and family members with limited English proficiency, to expand the scope of mental health services provided to family members of veterans, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1250, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Camera Accountability Maintenance \nand Transparency in Policing Act of 2017'' or the ``CAM TIP Act of \n2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. BODY-WORN CAMERA GRANTS.\n\n Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 \n(42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n\n ``PART MM--BODY-WORN CAMERA GRANTS\n\n``SEC. 3031. IN GENERAL.\n\n ``From amounts made available to the Bureau of Justice Assistance, \nthe Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance may make grants to \nStates, units of local government, and Indian tribes for the \nacquisition, operation, and maintenance of body-worn cameras for law \nenforcement officers. In making such grants, the Director shall assess \nthe program proposed by the applicant for the elements described in \nsection 3033.\n\n``SEC. 3032. USES OF FUNDS.\n\n ``Grants awarded under this part shall be--\n ``(1) distributed directly to the State, unit of local \n government, or Indian tribe; and\n ``(2) used for the program described under section 3033.\n\n``SEC. 3033. PROGRAM DESCRIBED.\n\n ``The program described in this section is any program implemented \nby a grantee requiring the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement \nofficers in that jurisdiction, which--\n ``(1) establishes policies and procedures for when law \n enforcement officers should wear, activate, and deactivate \n body-worn cameras;\n ``(2) ensures the protection of the civil liberties of \n members of general public relating to the use of body-worn \n cameras by law enforcement officers;\n ``(3) establishes policies limiting the use of recordings \n of body-worn cameras to monitor the conduct of law enforcement \n officers outside of their interactions, in an official \n capacity, with members of the general public;\n ``(4) establishes or proposes to develop standards relating \n to the effective placement, on a law enforcement officer's \n body, of a body-worn camera;\n ``(5) describes the best practices for receiving an \n accurate narrative from the recordings of body-worn cameras;\n ``(6) establishes policies for the collection and storage \n of the recordings of body-worn cameras;\n ``(7) establishes policies relating to the availability of \n recordings of body-worn cameras--\n ``(A) to the general public;\n ``(B) to victims of crimes; and\n ``(C) for internal use by the law enforcement \n agency; and\n ``(8) has in place guidelines and training courses for law \n enforcement officers relating to the proper management and use \n of body-worn cameras.\n\n``SEC. 3034. MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.\n\n ``(a) Federal Share.--The portion of the costs of a program \nprovided by a grant under this part may not exceed 50 percent. Any \nfunds appropriated by Congress for the activities of any agency of an \nIndian tribal government or the Bureau of Indian Affairs performing law \nenforcement functions on any Indian lands may be used to provide the \nnon-Federal share of a matching requirement funded under this \nsubsection.\n ``(b) Non-Federal Share.--The non-Federal share of payments made \nunder this part may be made in cash or in-kind fairly evaluated, \nincluding planned equipment or services.\n\n``SEC. 3035. FUNDING.\n\n ``Grants under this part may be made using the funds that are \navailable under section 506(a)(1).''.\n\nSEC. 3. STUDY ON THE COST OF THE PURCHASE AND USE OF BODY-WORN CAMERAS \n BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.\n\n (a) Study.--The Attorney General shall conduct a study on the cost \nto State and local law enforcement agencies of purchasing and using \nbody-worn cameras or other similar cameras, including gun-mounted \ncameras.\n (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a \nreport that contains the results of the study conducted under \nsubsection (a).\n\nSEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE ON COMMUNITY POLICING AND BODY \n CAMERA ACCOUNTABILITY.\n\n There shall be established in the Department of Justice a task \nforce to do the following:\n (1) The task force shall be created to provide \n recommendations on community policing, including best practices \n for creating accountability and transparency.\n (2) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment \n of this Act, the task force shall provide a report to the \n Congress, which shall include the recommendations under \n paragraph (1).\n (3) Membership shall include representatives of civil \n rights organizations, Federal, State, and local law enforcement \n personnel, and community policing experts.\n (4) The task force shall develop proper body-worn camera \n training protocol.\n (5) The task force shall study the impact that citizen \n review boards could have on investigating cases of alleged \n police misconduct.\n (6) Not later than 1 year after implementation of the body \n camera requirement policy under section 3033 of title I of the \n Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1968, the task force shall conduct \n a survey to determine best practices and effectiveness of the \n policy with findings to be reported back to the Congress.\n\nSEC. 5. GAO REPORT ON PENTAGON'S 1033 PROGRAM.\n\n Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the \nComptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Congress a \nreport on the Department of Defense Excess Personal Property Program \nestablished pursuant to section 1033 of the National Defense \nAuthorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 (Public Law 104-201), that \nincludes information on--\n (1) which jurisdictions equipment is sent to;\n (2) the value of equipment sent to each jurisdiction;\n (3) the level of training provided to officers; and\n (4) how the equipment is used in the jurisdiction.", "summary": " Camera Accountability Maintenance and Transparency in Policing Act of 2017 or the CAM TIP Act of 2017 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a grant program for state, local, and tribal governments to acquire, operate, and maintain body-worn cameras for law enforcement officers. Additionally, it establishes a task force in the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide recommendations on community policing, including best practices for accountability and transparency. DOJ must study the cost to purchase and use body-worn cameras. Finally, the Government Accountability Office must study and report on the Department of Defense Excess Personal Property Program. ", "title": "Camera Accountability Maintenance and Transparency in Policing Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2282, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Amtrak Reauthorization Act of \n2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n Section 24104 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read \nas follows:\n``Sec. 24104. Authorization of appropriations\n ``(a) Capital Expenses.--\n ``(1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be \n appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation, for the \n benefit of Amtrak, $800,000,000 for fiscal year 2003 for \n capital expenditures.\n ``(2) Payment to amtrak.--\n ``(A) New capital projects.--The Secretary shall \n make payments to Amtrak of amounts authorized under \n paragraph (1) for capital projects not begun before the \n date of the enactment of the Amtrak Reauthorization Act \n of 2002 only if the Secretary has received, either in \n an annual work plan or a supplement thereto, a \n description of the work to be funded, a work timetable, \n cost estimates, and a list of other funding sources if \n the project is not entirely funded by the Federal \n Government, with an identification for each project as \n to which business unit described in subsection (e)(1) \n it is associated with. The Secretary shall determine, \n within 30 days after receiving a work plan or \n supplement, whether each of the capital projects \n proposed is sufficiently justified. To the extent that \n the Secretary determines that a project is justified, \n the Secretary shall make payments under this \n subparagraph within 30 days after receipt from Amtrak \n of a request for funds for the project.\n ``(B) Ongoing capital projects.--In the case of \n capital projects begun before the date of the enactment \n of the Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2002, Amtrak shall \n transmit to the Secretary within 180 days after such \n date of enactment a description of the work funded, a \n work timetable, cost estimates, and a list of other \n funding sources if the project is not entirely funded \n by the Federal Government. The Secretary shall \n determine, within 30 days after receiving a description \n of the work funded, whether each of the capital \n projects proposed is sufficiently justified. To the \n extent that the Secretary determines that a project is \n justified, the Secretary shall make payments under this \n subparagraph within 30 days after receipt from Amtrak \n of a request for funds for the project. The Secretary \n shall not provide any further funding for a project \n until the Secretary receives a description required \n under this subparagraph.\n ``(3) Project oversight.--\n ``(A) Notice of changes.--If the scope, timetable, \n or cost of a project funded under paragraph (2) \n substantially changes, Amtrak shall notify the \n Secretary within 30 days after Amtrak learns of the \n change.\n ``(B) Oversight.--The Secretary shall conduct \n oversight activities, including inspections as \n necessary, to ensure appropriate progress of projects \n funded under paragraph (2).\n ``(b) Operating Expenses.--\n ``(1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be \n appropriated to the Secretary, for the benefit of Amtrak, \n $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2003 for operating expenditures.\n ``(2) Payment to amtrak.--The Secretary shall make payments \n to Amtrak of amounts authorized under paragraph (1) as follows:\n ``(A) 50 percent on October 1.\n ``(B) 25 percent on January 1.\n ``(C) 25 percent on April 1.\n Payments under this paragraph may only be made after 30 days \n have expired after receipt by the Secretary of all documents \n due under subsection (e).\n ``(c) Excess RRTA.--\n ``(1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be \n appropriated to the Secretary, for payment to the Treasury by \n the Secretary on behalf of Amtrak, for fiscal year 2003 an \n amount equal to the amount Amtrak is required to pay under \n section 3221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is more \n than the amount needed for anticipated benefits for individuals \n who retire from Amtrak and for their beneficiaries.\n ``(2) Request for transfer of funds.--The Secretary shall \n make payments to the Treasury of amounts authorized under \n paragraph (1) only after the Secretary has received from Amtrak \n a request for the transfer of such funds, which shall include \n materials supporting, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, the \n amount of the request.\n ``(d) Rail Security.--In addition to amounts authorized under \nsubsections (a), (b), and (c), there are authorized to be appropriated \nto the Secretary of Transportation for fiscal year 2003--\n ``(1) $375,000,000 for grants to finance the cost of \n enhancements to the security and safety of Amtrak intercity \n rail passenger service; and\n ``(2) $400,000,000 for grants for life safety improvements \n to 6 New York Amtrak tunnels built in 1910, the Baltimore & \n Potomac Amtrak tunnel built in 1872, and the Washington, D.C. \n Union Station Amtrak tunnels built in 1904 under the Supreme \n Court and House and Senate Office Buildings.\n ``(e) Annual Business Plan and Quarterly Assessments.--\n ``(1) Business plan.--Not later than September 1, 2002, \n Amtrak shall transmit to the Secretary a comprehensive business \n plan for fiscal year 2003, including targets for ridership, \n revenues, and capital and operating expenses. The plan shall \n include a separate accounting of such targets for each of the \n following business units:\n ``(A) Northeast Corridor.\n ``(B) Autotrain.\n ``(C) Amtrak West.\n ``(D) Each other long-distance intercity train \n route, accounted for separately.\n ``(E) Contract Operations.\n ``(F) Mail and Express.\n ``(G) Corporate.\n ``(2) Quarterly assessments.--Not later than 30 days before \n the beginning of each fiscal quarter, Amtrak shall transmit to \n the Secretary--\n ``(A) an assessment of the extent to which each \n goal identified in the plan transmitted under paragraph \n (1) has been achieved;\n ``(B) an explanation of any failure to achieve such \n a goal; and\n ``(C) a description of any deviation from the \n business plan.\n The assessment required under subparagraph (A) shall be \n prepared by an outside financial consultant, which shall not be \n an entity that has assisted Amtrak in the preparation of a \n business plan under paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Certification.--The President of Amtrak shall certify \n each business plan and quarterly assessment transmitted under \n this subsection, and any other document required by this \n section to be transmitted to the Secretary.\n ``(f) Availability of Amounts and Early Appropriations.--(1) \nAmounts appropriated under this section remain available until \nexpended.\n ``(2) Amounts for capital acquisitions and improvements may be \nappropriated in a fiscal year before the fiscal year in which the \namounts will be obligated.\n ``(g) Limitations on Use.--Amounts appropriated under this section \nmay not be used to subsidize operating losses of commuter rail \npassenger or rail freight transportation.''.", "summary": "Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2002 - Authorizes appropriations for Amtrak for FY 2003 for: (1) capital expenditures; (2) operating expenses; (3) payment to the Treasury in an amount equal to the tax Amtrak must pay as an employer under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act that is more than the amount needed for anticipated benefits for Amtrak retirees and for their beneficiaries; and (4) certain rail security projects.Requires Amtrak to transmit to the Secretary of Transportation a comprehensive business plan, including targets for ridership, revenues, and capital and operating expenses, and quarterly assessments of the extent to which the business plan goals have been achieved.", "title": "To authorize appropriations for the benefit of Amtrak for fiscal year 2003, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2045, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; ETC.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Growing Our \nManufacturing Employment Act'' or the ``GoMe Act''.\n (b) Amendment of 1986 Code.--Except as otherwise expressly \nprovided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in \nterms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, \nthe reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other \nprovision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\n\nSEC. 2. MANUFACTURER'S JOBS CREDIT.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \n(relating to business-related credits) is amended by adding at the end \nthe following:\n\n``SEC. 45O. MANUFACTURER'S JOBS CREDIT.\n\n ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, in the case of an \neligible taxpayer, the manufacturer's jobs credit determined under this \nsection is an amount equal to the lesser of the following:\n ``(1) The excess of the W-2 wages paid by the taxpayer \n during the taxable year over the W-2 wages paid by the taxpayer \n during the preceding taxable year.\n ``(2) The W-2 wages paid by the taxpayer during the taxable \n year to any employee who is an eligible TAA recipient (as \n defined in section 35(c)(2)) or an eligible alternative TAA \n recipient (as defined in section 35(c)(3)) for any month during \n such taxable year.\n ``(3) 31.7 percent of the W-2 wages paid by the taxpayer \n during the taxable year.\n ``(b) Limitation.--The amount of credit determined under subsection \n(a) shall be reduced by an amount which bears the same ratio to the \namount of the credit (determined without regard to this subsection) \nas--\n ``(1) the excess of the W-2 wages paid by the taxpayer to \n employees outside the United States during the taxable year \n over such wages paid during the most recent taxable year ending \n before the date of the enactment of this section, bears to\n ``(2) the excess of the W-2 wages paid by the taxpayer to \n employees within the United States during the taxable year over \n such wages paid during such most recent taxable year.\n ``(c) Eligible Taxpayer.--For purposes of this section, the term \n`eligible taxpayer' means any taxpayer--\n ``(1) which has domestic production gross receipts for the \n taxable year and the preceding taxable year, and\n ``(2) which is not treated at any time during the taxable \n year as an inverted domestic corporation under section 7874.\n ``(d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, W-2 wages and \ndomestic production gross receipts shall be determined in the same \nmanner as under section 199.\n ``(e) Certain Rules Made Applicable.--For purposes of this section, \nrules similar to the rules of section 52 shall apply.\n ``(f) Termination.--This section shall not apply to any taxable \nyear beginning after December 31, 2009.''.\n (b) Credit To Be Part of General Business Credit.--Section 38(b) \n(relating to current year business credit) is amended by striking \n``plus'' at the end of paragraph (30), by striking the period at the \nend of paragraph (31) and inserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the \nend the following:\n ``(32) the manufacturer's jobs credit determined under \n section 45O.''.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by adding at the end \nthe following:\n\n``Sec. 45O. Manufacturer's jobs credit''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.\n\nSEC. 3. EXTENSION OF RESEARCH CREDIT.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 41(h)(1)(B) is amended by striking \n``2007'' and inserting ``2012''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 45C(b)(1)(D) is amended by \nstriking ``2007'' and inserting ``2012''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to amounts paid or incurred after December 31, 2007.\n\nSEC. 4. CLARIFICATION OF ECONOMIC SUBSTANCE DOCTRINE.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 7701 is amended by redesignating \nsubsection (p) as subsection (q) and by inserting after subsection (o) \nthe following new subsection:\n ``(p) Clarification of Economic Substance Doctrine; Etc.--\n ``(1) General rules.--\n ``(A) In general.--In any case in which a court \n determines that the economic substance doctrine is \n relevant for purposes of this title to a transaction \n (or series of transactions), such transaction (or \n series of transactions) shall have economic substance \n only if the requirements of this paragraph are met.\n ``(B) Definition of economic substance.--For \n purposes of subparagraph (A)--\n ``(i) In general.--A transaction has \n economic substance only if--\n ``(I) the transaction changes in a \n meaningful way (apart from Federal tax \n effects) the taxpayer's economic \n position, and\n ``(II) the taxpayer has a \n substantial nontax purpose for entering \n into such transaction and the \n transaction is a reasonable means of \n accomplishing such purpose.\n In applying subclause (II), a purpose of \n achieving a financial accounting benefit shall \n not be taken into account in determining \n whether a transaction has a substantial nontax \n purpose if the origin of such financial \n accounting benefit is a reduction of income \n tax.\n ``(ii) Special rule where taxpayer relies \n on profit potential.--A transaction shall not \n be treated as having economic substance by \n reason of having a potential for profit \n unless--\n ``(I) the present value of the \n reasonably expected pre-tax profit from \n the transaction is substantial in \n relation to the present value of the \n expected net tax benefits that would be \n allowed if the transaction were \n respected, and\n ``(II) the reasonably expected pre-\n tax profit from the transaction exceeds \n a risk-free rate of return.\n ``(C) Treatment of fees and foreign taxes.--Fees \n and other transaction expenses and foreign taxes shall \n be taken into account as expenses in determining pre-\n tax profit under subparagraph (B)(ii).\n ``(2) Special rules for transactions with tax-indifferent \n parties.--\n ``(A) Special rules for financing transactions.--\n The form of a transaction which is in substance the \n borrowing of money or the acquisition of financial \n capital directly or indirectly from a tax-indifferent \n party shall not be respected if the present value of \n the deductions to be claimed with respect to the \n transaction is substantially in excess of the present \n value of the anticipated economic returns of the person \n lending the money or providing the financial capital. A \n public offering shall be treated as a borrowing, or an \n acquisition of financial capital, from a tax-\n indifferent party if it is reasonably expected that at \n least 50 percent of the offering will be placed with \n tax-indifferent parties.\n ``(B) Artificial income shifting and basis \n adjustments.--The form of a transaction with a tax-\n indifferent party shall not be respected if--\n ``(i) it results in an allocation of income \n or gain to the tax-indifferent party in excess \n of such party's economic income or gain, or\n ``(ii) it results in a basis adjustment or \n shifting of basis on account of overstating the \n income or gain of the tax-indifferent party.\n ``(3) Definitions and special rules.--For purposes of this \n subsection--\n ``(A) Economic substance doctrine.--The term \n `economic substance doctrine' means the common law \n doctrine under which tax benefits under subtitle A with \n respect to a transaction are not allowable if the \n transaction does not have economic substance or lacks a \n business purpose.\n ``(B) Tax-indifferent party.--The term `tax-\n indifferent party' means any person or entity not \n subject to tax imposed by subtitle A. A person shall be \n treated as a tax-indifferent party with respect to a \n transaction if the items taken into account with \n respect to the transaction have no substantial impact \n on such person's liability under subtitle A.\n ``(C) Exception for personal transactions of \n individuals.--In the case of an individual, this \n subsection shall apply only to transactions entered \n into in connection with a trade or business or an \n activity engaged in for the production of income.\n ``(D) Treatment of lessors.--In applying paragraph \n (1)(B)(ii) to the lessor of tangible property subject \n to a lease--\n ``(i) the expected net tax benefits with \n respect to the leased property shall not \n include the benefits of--\n ``(I) depreciation,\n ``(II) any tax credit, or\n ``(III) any other deduction as \n provided in guidance by the Secretary, \n and\n ``(ii) subclause (II) of paragraph \n (1)(B)(ii) shall be disregarded in determining \n whether any of such benefits are allowable.\n ``(4) Other common law doctrines not affected.--Except as \n specifically provided in this subsection, the provisions of \n this subsection shall not be construed as altering or \n supplanting any other rule of law, and the requirements of this \n subsection shall be construed as being in addition to any such \n other rule of law.\n ``(5) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such \n regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the \n purposes of this subsection. Such regulations may include \n exemptions from the application of this subsection.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to transactions entered into after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "Growing Our Manufacturing Employment Act or the GoMe Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow certain employers with domestic production gross receipts in the current and preceding taxable year a manufacturer's jobs tax credit through 2009 for annual increases in wages paid to their employees and to employees eligible for benefits under the Trade Adjustment Act; (2) extend through 2012 the tax credit for increasing research expenses; and (3) set forth rules for the application of the economic substance doctrine.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a manufacturer's jobs credit, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 469, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Nuclear Innovation Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Advanced fission reactor.--The term ``advanced fission \n reactor'' means a nuclear fission reactor with significant \n improvements over the most recent generation of nuclear \n reactors, which may include inherent safety features, lower \n waste yields, greater fuel utilization, superior reliability, \n resistance to proliferation, and increased thermal efficiency.\n (2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the \n Department of Energy.\n (3) National laboratories.--The term ``National \n Laboratories'' has the meaning given the term in section 2 of \n the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Energy.\n\nSEC. 3. HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTATION AND SUPPORTIVE RESEARCH.\n\n (a) Modeling and Simulation.--The Secretary shall carry out a \nprogram to enhance the Nation's capabilities to develop new reactor \ntechnologies through high-performance computation modeling and \nsimulation techniques. This program shall coordinate with relevant \nFederal agencies through the National Strategic Computing Initiative \ncreated under Executive Order 13702 (July 29, 2015) while taking into \naccount the following objectives:\n (1) Utilizing expertise from the private sector, \n universities, and National Laboratories to develop \n computational software and capabilities that prospective users \n may access to accelerate research and development of advanced \n fission reactor systems, nuclear fusion systems, and reactor \n systems for space exploration.\n (2) Developing computational tools to simulate and predict \n nuclear phenomena that may be validated through physical \n experimentation.\n (3) Increasing the utility of the Department's research \n infrastructure by coordinating with the Advanced Scientific \n Computing Research program within the Office of Science.\n (4) Leveraging experience from the Energy Innovation Hub \n for Modeling and Simulation.\n (5) Ensuring that new experimental and computational tools \n are accessible to relevant research communities.\n (b) Supportive Research Activities.--The Secretary shall consider \nsupport for additional research activities to maximize the utility of \nits research facilities, including physical processes to simulate \ndegradation of materials and behavior of fuel forms and for validation \nof computational tools.\n\nSEC. 4. ENABLING NUCLEAR ENERGY INNOVATION.\n\n (a) National Reactor Innovation Center.--The Secretary shall carry \nout a program to enable the testing and demonstration of reactor \nconcepts to be proposed and funded by the private sector. The Secretary \nshall leverage the technical expertise of relevant Federal agencies and \nNational Laboratories in order to minimize the time required to enable \nconstruction and operation of privately funded experimental reactors at \nNational Laboratories or other Department-owned sites while ensuring \nreasonable safety for persons working within these sites. Such reactors \nshall operate to meet the following objectives:\n (1) Enabling physical validation of novel reactor concepts.\n (2) Resolving technical uncertainty and increasing \n practical knowledge relevant to safety, resilience, security, \n and functionality of first-of-a-kind reactor concepts.\n (3) General research and development to improve nascent \n technologies.\n (b) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date \nof enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the \nNational Laboratories, relevant Federal agencies, and other \nstakeholders, shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and \nTechnology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy \nand Natural Resources of the Senate a report assessing the Department's \ncapabilities to authorize, host, and oversee privately funded fusion \nand advanced fission experimental reactors as described under \nsubsection (a). The report shall address the following:\n (1) The Department's safety review and oversight \n capabilities, including options to leverage expertise from the \n Nuclear Regulatory Commission and National Laboratories.\n (2) Potential sites capable of hosting activities described \n under subsection (a).\n (3) The efficacy of the Department's available contractual \n mechanisms to partner with the private sector and Federal \n agencies, including cooperative research and development \n agreements, strategic partnership projects, and agreements for \n commercializing technology.\n (4) Potential cost structures related to physical security, \n decommissioning, liability, and other long term project costs.\n (5) Other challenges or considerations identified by the \n Secretary.", "summary": "Nuclear Innovation Act This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to carry out a program for enhancing the U.S. capability to develop new reactor technologies through high-performance computation modeling and simulation techniques. Such program shall coordinate with relevant federal agencies through the National Strategic Computing Initiative while taking into account specified objectives. DOE shall also carry out a program to: enable the testing and demonstration of reactor concepts proposed and funded by the private sector, and leverage the technical expertise of relevant federal agencies and national laboratories to minimize the time required to enable construction and operation of privately funded experimental reactors at national laboratories or other DOE-owned sites. These reactors shall operate to: enable physical validation of novel reactor concepts; resolve technical uncertainty and increase practical knowledge relevant to safety, resilience, security, and functionality of first-of-a-kind reactor concepts; and generate research and development to improve nascent technologies. ", "title": "Nuclear Innovation Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1276, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Nursing Home Staff Improvement Act \nof 2000''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Part I of the Health Care Financing Administration's \n Report to Congress: Appropriateness of Minimum Nurse Staffing \n Ratios in Nursing Homes was completed in August of 2000 and \n showed the following:\n (A) Quality of care may be significantly impaired \n when staffing thresholds fall below 2.0 nurse aide \n hours per resident day, 1.0 registered nurse and \n licensed practical nurse hours per resident day and \n 0.45 registered nurse hours per resident day.\n (B) Below this threshold, residents are more likely \n to suffer life threatening illnesses secondary to \n pressure sores, weight loss and preventable infections, \n and rates of avoidable hospitalization increase \n significantly.\n (C) Fifty-four percent of nursing home facilities \n do not provide 2.0 nurse aide hours per resident day \n and approximately \\1/2\\ of nursing home facilities \n would require greater than a 10 percent change in \n staffing to meet this minimal standard.\n (D) The 2.0 nurse aide hours per resident day is a \n threshold below which residents lives are at risk, not \n a standard for the provision of appropriate care.\n (2)(A) A minimum of 2.9 nurse aide hours per resident day \n are necessary to deliver 5 necessary daily care services.\n (B) Over 92 percent of nursing home facilities fall below \n the 2.9 nurse aide hours per resident day standard and would \n require a 50 percent increase in staffing to meet this \n standard.\n (C) The 2.9 nurse aide hours per resident day standard is \n based on a conservative assumption and understates the real \n staffing levels necessary for a nurse aide to complete all \n tasks that constitute adequate care.\n (3)(A) Facilities that serve residents with more complex \n medical conditions will require higher staffing levels.\n (B) Minimum staffing levels that take into account case mix \n have not yet been established.\n (C) Part II of the Health Care Financing Administration \n report, which has not yet been completed, will report to \n Congress on minimum staffing levels according to the facility's \n resident acuity level.\n\nSEC. 3. COMPLETION OF REPORT TO CONGRESS ON ADEQUATE NURSING FACILITY \n STAFFING REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 4801(e)(17)(B) of the Omnibus Budget \nReconciliation Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 1396r note) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``January 1, 1999'' and inserting ``July 1, \n 2001'';\n (2) by inserting ``and optimal minimum'' after ``minimum'' \n each place it appears;\n (3) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon;\n (4) by striking ``such study recommendations'' and \n inserting ``such study--\n ``(i) recommendations''; and\n (5) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(ii) an examination of the cost and \n benefits associated with establishing staffing \n minimum and optimal minimum ratios;\n ``(iii) a description of the data used in \n Phase II of the study to expand the \n multivariate analysis from 3 States to a more \n representative national sample;\n ``(iv) an analysis of proposed refined case \n mix classification methods considered in Phase \n II of the study;\n ``(v) a description of the case studies \n used to validate the Phase I findings of the \n study; and\n ``(vi) an examination of other issues that \n impact the recruitment and retention of \n certified nursing assistants.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) take \neffect as if included in the enactment of section 4801 of the Omnibus \nBudget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-508; 104 Stat. 1388-\n211).\n\nSEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF APPROPRIATE MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.--Not later than 6 months after \nthe date that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this \nsection referred to as the ``Secretary'') submits the report to \nCongress required under section 4801(e)(17)(B) of the Omnibus Budget \nReconciliation Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 1396r note) regarding the study \nof establishing appropriate minimum caregiver to resident levels and \nappropriate minimum supervisor to caregiver levels for skilled nursing \nfacilities participating as providers of services under the medicare \nprogram under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et \nseq.) and nursing facilities receiving payments under the medicaid \nprogram under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) that \nincludes recommendations regarding appropriate minimums for such \nlevels, the Secretary shall issue a notice of proposed rule-making with \nrespect to the promulgation of a final regulation requiring compliance \nwith appropriate minimum caregiver to resident levels and appropriate \nminimum supervisor to caregiver levels as a condition for such \nfacilities to receive payments under such programs.\n (b) Final Regulation.--Not later than 6 months after the issuance \nof the notice required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue \nthe final regulation (to be effective upon publication) that was the \nsubject of such notice.\n (c) Definition of Appropriate.--In this section, the term \n``appropriate'' means the staffing threshold level required to attain a \ngood or optimal quality outcome with respect to a resident of a skilled \nnursing facility participating as a provider of services under the \nmedicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 1395 et seq.) or of a nursing facility receiving payments under \nthe medicaid program under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et \nseq.), as opposed to avoiding a bad outcome with respect to such a \nresident.\n\nSEC. 5. GRANTS TO IMPROVE STAFFING LEVELS AND THE QUALITY OF CARE IN \n NURSING FACILITIES.\n\n (a) Authority To Award Grants.--The Secretary of Health and Human \nServices shall award grants to States on a competitive basis for the \npurpose of improving staffing levels in nursing facilities in order to \nimprove the quality of care to residents of such facilities.\n (b) Applications.--Each State that wishes to receive a grant under \nthis section shall submit an application at such time, in such form, \nand complete with such information as the Secretary may require, except \nthat any such application shall include at least a certification that \nthe application was developed through an open, public process.\n (c) Requirements for Use of Funds.--\n (1) Permissible uses.--\n (A) In general.--A State awarded a grant under this \n section shall use funds provided under the grant to \n provide financial support or technical assistance for \n projects operated by nursing facilities, labor \n organizations, nonprofit organizations, community \n colleges, or other organizations, or through joint \n efforts of such entities and organizations, that are \n designed to do any or all of the following:\n (i) Enhance staff recruitment and retention \n efforts.\n (ii) Establish centers of expertise and \n training.\n (iii) Establish career ladders for \n certified nurse assistants, including \n additional or advanced training opportunities.\n (iv) Provide additional training for \n nursing facility direct care staff.\n (v) Improve workplace safety.\n (vi) Improve nursing facility management.\n (vii) Conduct other staffing initiatives to \n improve patient outcomes, as approved by the \n Secretary.\n (B) Applicability of nursing home reform \n provisions.--Funds made available under a grant awarded \n to a State under this section may only be used to \n provide financial support or technical assistance for \n any project described in subparagraph (A) to the extent \n that the activities conducted under the project are \n consistent with the requirements of sections 1818 and \n 1919 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-3, \n 1396r).\n (C) Prohibition.--No funds made available under a \n grant awarded to a State under this section may be used \n to provide financial support or technical assistance \n for any project described in subparagraph (A) that is \n conducted at, or for the benefit of, a nursing facility \n that is owned or operated by a State, county, or local \n government.\n (2) No supplantation of funds.--Funds made available under \n a grant awarded to a State under this section may only be used \n to supplement, not supplant, other funds that the State expends \n to carry out activities described in paragraph (1)(A).\n (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary for purposes of carrying out this section \n$500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002. Funds appropriated \nin accordance with this subsection for a fiscal year shall remain \navailable through the end of the succeeding fiscal year.\n (e) Reports and Secretarial Evaluation.--\n (1) State final reports.--Each State that is awarded a \n grant under this section shall submit a final report to the \n Secretary on the use of funds awarded under the grant not later \n than 3 months after the earlier of--\n (A) the completion of the project or projects \n provided financial support or technical assistance with \n funds received under the grant; or\n (B) the conclusion of the 2-year period that begins \n on the date that the State receives such grant funds.\n (2) Secretarial evaluation and report.--Not later than 6 \n months after the final State report is submitted to the \n Secretary under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to \n Congress a report evaluating the extent to which the grant \n program established under this section assists States in \n improving staffing levels in nursing facilities.\n (f) Definitions.--In this section:\n (1) Nursing facility.--The term ``nursing facility'' means \n a skilled nursing facility participating in the medicare \n program established under title XVIII of the Social Security \n Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) or a nursing facility receiving \n payments under the medicaid program established under title XIX \n of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).\n (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Health and Human Services.\n\nSEC. 6. PROVIDING ACCURATE INFORMATION ON STAFFING.\n\n (a) Medicare.--\n (1) Data on staffing levels.--Section 1819(b) of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-3(b)) is amended by adding at the \n end the following new paragraph:\n ``(8) Submission of data on staffing levels.--\n ``(A) In general.--A skilled nursing facility shall \n submit to the Secretary, at such time as the Secretary \n shall specify and on a standard reporting format \n developed by the Secretary, data with respect to \n nursing staff that--\n ``(i) includes the total number of nursing \n staff hours and coverage levels per shift \n furnished by the facility to residents for \n which payment is made under section 1888(e), \n broken down by total certified nurse aide \n hours, total licensed practical or vocational \n nurse hours, and total registered nurse hours; \n and\n ``(ii) is attested to in writing by the \n facility as accurate.\n ``(B) Publication of data.--The Secretary shall \n provide for the publication on the Internet Site of the \n Department of Health and Human Services known as \n Nursing Home Compare the facility-specific nursing \n staff information described in subparagraph (A). The \n Secretary shall update such information \n periodically.''.\n (2) Information concerning patient classification.--Section \n 1819(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-3(b)(4)) \n is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(D) Information concerning residents.--The \n skilled nursing facility shall provide the Secretary, \n in such form and manner and at such intervals as the \n Secretary may require, a classification of all \n residents of the skilled nursing facility that accords \n with the resident classification system described in \n section 1888(e)(4)(G)(i), or such successor system as \n the Secretary may identify.''.\n (b) Medicaid.--\n (1) Data on staffing levels.--Section 1919(b) of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r(b)) is amended by adding at the \n end the following new paragraph:\n ``(8) Submission of data on staffing levels.--\n ``(A) In general.--A nursing facility shall submit \n to the Secretary, at such time as the Secretary shall \n specify and on a standard reporting format developed by \n the Secretary, data with respect to nursing staff \n that--\n ``(i) includes the total number of nursing \n staff hours and coverage levels per shift \n furnished by the facility to residents for \n which payment is made under the State plan, \n broken down by total certified nurse aide \n hours, total licensed practical or vocational \n nurse hours, and total registered nurse hours; \n and\n ``(ii) is attested to in writing by the \n facility as accurate.\n ``(B) Publication of data.--The Secretary shall \n provide for the publication on the Internet Site of the \n Department of Health and Human Services known as \n Nursing Home Compare the facility-specific nursing \n staff information described in subparagraph (A). The \n Secretary shall update such information \n periodically.''.\n (2) Information concerning patient classification.--Section \n 1919(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r(b)(4)) \n is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(D) Information concerning residents.--The \n nursing facility shall provide the Secretary, in such \n form and manner and at such intervals as the Secretary \n may require, a classification of all residents of the \n nursing facility that accords with the resident \n classification system described in section \n 1888(e)(4)(G)(i), or such successor system as the \n Secretary may identify.''.\n\nSEC. 7. INFORMATION ON NURSING FACILITY STAFFING.\n\n (a) Medicare Amendments.--Section 1819(b) of the Social Security \nAct (42 U.S.C. 1395i-3(b)), as amended by section 6(a), is further \namended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(9) Information on nurse staffing.--A skilled nursing \n facility shall post daily for each nursing unit of the facility \n and for each shift the current number of licensed and \n unlicensed nursing staff directly responsible for resident care \n and the number of residents per unit and per shift. The \n information shall be displayed in a uniform manner and in a \n clearly visible place.''.\n (b) Medicaid Amendments.--Section 1919(b) of the Social Security \nAct (42 U.S.C. 1396r(b)), as amended by section 6(b), is amended by \nadding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(9) Information on nurse staffing.--A nursing facility \n shall post daily for each nursing unit of the facility and for \n each shift the current number of licensed and unlicensed \n nursing staff directly responsible for resident care and the \n number of residents per unit and per shift. The information \n shall be displayed in a uniform manner and in a clearly visible \n place.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take \neffect on the first day of the first month that begins at least 6 \nmonths after the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Directs the Secretary to award competitive grants to States for improving staffing levels in nursing facilities.\nAmends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require skilled nursing and nursing facilities to report to the Secretary on nurse staffing levels and information regarding patient classification.", "title": "Nursing Home Staff Improvement Act of 2000"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1068, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom and Human Rights for the \nEnclaved People of Cyprus Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) The respect for fundamental freedom and human rights, \n especially in those countries that are allies of the United \n States, is a cornerstone of United States foreign policy.\n (2) Among the purposes of United States foreign assistance \n is to promote human rights.\n (3) United States foreign assistance should be utilized to \n end the imposition of restrictions on the freedoms and human \n rights of the enclaved people of Cyprus.\n (4) Among the restrictions of freedom and human rights to \n which the enclaved people of Cyprus are subjected are the \n following:\n (A) Restrictions on the freedom to worship, \n including restrictions on times and places for such \n worship.\n (B) Restrictions on communication with individuals \n living outside the area of the enclaved, including a \n requirement that an individual from among those in \n control be present during any such communication.\n (C) Prohibition on the possession of telephones in \n homes.\n (D) A requirement that an enclaved individual \n receive permission from an individual from among those \n in control before leaving the enclaved area.\n (E) Censorship of mail sent to and from the \n enclaved area.\n (F) A requirement that enclaved males aged 18 to 50 \n report once a week to those in control.\n (G) Restrictions on the provision of educational \n services, including--\n (i) lack of replacement elementary school \n teachers and lack of educational facilities \n beyond elementary school;\n (ii) a requirement that an enclaved \n individual who chooses to leave home for \n education beyond elementary school may return \n home not more than three times a year; and\n (iii) a requirement that enclaved males 16 \n years of age or older and enclaved females 18 \n years of age or older who choose to leave home \n for education beyond elementary school may not \n return home at all.\n (H) Violation of property rights, including \n confiscation of property without compensation.\n (I) Lack of compensation for work performed.\n (J) Harassment, beating, rape, and murder without \n adequate protection or investigation.\n\nSEC. 3. UNITED STATES EFFORTS TO ALLEVIATE AND ELIMINATE THE \n RESTRICTIONS ON THE ENCLAVED PEOPLE IN CYPRUS.\n\n (a) In General.--The President shall take steps--\n (1) to inform the United Nations, foreign governments, and \n the appropriate departments and agencies of the United States \n Government of the restrictions on the enclaved people of \n Cyprus,\n (2) to enlist the United Nations and foreign governments in \n efforts to end restrictions on the freedom and human rights of \n the enclaved people of Cyprus, and\n (3) to establish United States Government programs of \n assistance to the enclaved people of Cyprus, consistent with \n subsection (b), and to undertake efforts for the alleviation \n and elimination of restrictions on the enclaved.\n (b) Establishment of Assistance Programs.--\n (1) In general.--The President--\n (A) shall, to the extent practicable, use funds \n allocated for a fiscal year to the government or ethnic \n community participating directly or indirectly in \n imposition of restrictions on the freedom and human \n rights of the enclaved people of Cyprus to assist such \n people, or\n (B) in the absence of such funds, shall establish a \n foreign assistance program for the enclaved people of \n Cyprus.\n (2) Use of funds.--Assistance for the enclaved people of \n Cyprus under paragraph (1) shall include--\n (A) programs to eliminate specific aspects of the \n restrictions of freedom and human rights on the \n enclaved people of Cyprus; and\n (B) programs to return ancestral homes and lands to \n the enclaved people, including United States citizens, \n who have been forcibly expelled, or those individuals \n who have fled the enclaved areas or other areas of \n Cyprus in fear of severe restrictions of freedom, human \n rights abuses, or violation of property rights.\n (c) Notification of Opposition to Restrictions of Freedom and Human \nRights Abuses.--The President--\n (1) shall notify in writing each fiscal year the head of \n government of any foreign country that is participating, \n directly or indirectly, in the restrictions on freedom and \n human rights of the enclaved people of Cyprus of the opposition \n by the United States to that government's participation in such \n restrictions; and\n (2) shall urge the head of such government to cease \n participation in such restrictions and to work to eliminate \n such restrictions.\n (d) Monitoring and Reporting Requirements.--The Secretary of State \nshall include a report on the enclaved people of Cyprus as part of the \nannual Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.\n\nSEC. 4. UNITED NATIONS EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE \n ENCLAVED PEOPLE IN CYPRUS.\n\n The President shall direct the United States representative to the \nUnited Nations--\n (1) to urge the United Nations High Commissioner for \n Refugees to address and solve the plight of those enclaved on \n Cyprus; and\n (2) to call upon the United Nations Human Rights \n Commissioner to investigate the plight of the enclaved on \n Cyprus and to implement appropriate and effective corrective \n action.", "summary": "Freedom and Human Rights for the Enclaved People of Cyprus Act - Directs the President to establish U.S. efforts to: (1) inform the United Nations, foreign governments, and appropriate Federal departments and agencies of the freedom and human rights restrictions on the enclaved people of Cyprus; (2) enlist the United Nations and foreign governments in efforts to end such restrictions; (3) establish U.S. Government programs of assistance to the people of Cyprus and efforts for the elimination of the restrictions; and (4) use funds allocated to the government or ethnic community participating in the imposition of such restrictions on the promotion of freedom and human rights for the people of Cyprus, or in the absence of such funds, establish a foreign assistance program for them. \nRequires the President to direct the U.S. representative to the United Nations to: (1) urge the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to address and solve the plight of those enclaved on Cyprus; and (2) call upon the U.N. Human Rights Commissioner to investigate their plight and implement appropriate corrective action.", "title": "Freedom and Human Rights for the Enclaved People of Cyprus Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1939, "text": "SECTION 1. DISTRIBUTIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT PLANS MAY BE USED \n WITHOUT PENALTY TO PURCHASE FIRST HOMES OR TO PAY HIGHER \n EDUCATION EXPENSES.\n\n (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 72(t) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to exceptions to 10-percent additional \ntax on early distributions from qualified retirement plans) is amended \nby adding at the end thereof the following new subparagraph:\n ``(D) Distributions from individual retirement \n plans for first home purchases or educational \n expenses.--Distributions to an individual from an \n individual retirement plan--\n ``(i) which are qualified first-time \n homebuyer distributions (as defined in \n paragraph (6)); or\n ``(ii) to the extent such distributions do \n not exceed the qualified higher education \n expenses (as defined in paragraph (7)) of the \n taxpayer for the taxable year.''\n (b) Definitions.--Section 72(t) of such Code is amended by adding \nat the end thereof the following new paragraphs:\n ``(6) Qualified first-time homebuyer distributions.--For \n purposes of paragraph (2)(D)(i)--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified first-time \n homebuyer distribution' means any payment or \n distribution received by an individual to the extent \n such payment or distribution is used by the individual \n before the close of the 60th day after the day on which \n such payment or distribution is received to pay \n qualified acquisition costs with respect to a principal \n residence of a first-time homebuyer who is such \n individual or the spouse, child, or grandchild of such \n individual.\n ``(B) Qualified acquisition costs.--For purposes of \n this paragraph, the term `qualified acquisition costs' \n means the costs of acquiring, constructing, or \n reconstructing a residence. Such term includes any \n usual or reasonable settlement, financing, or other \n closing costs.\n ``(C) First-time homebuyer; other definitions.--For \n purposes of this paragraph--\n ``(i) First-time homebuyer.--The term \n `first-time homebuyer' means any individual \n if--\n ``(I) such individual (and if \n married, such individual's spouse) had \n no present ownership interest in a \n principal residence during the 3-year \n period ending on the date of \n acquisition of the principal residence \n to which this paragraph applies, and\n ``(II) subsection (a)(6), (h), or \n (k) of section 1034 did not suspend the \n running of any period of time specified \n in section 1034 with respect to such \n individual on the day before the date \n the distribution is applied pursuant to \n subparagraph (A)(ii).\n ``(ii) Principal residence.--The term \n `principal residence' has the same meaning as \n when used in section 1034.\n ``(iii) Date of acquisition.--The term \n `date of acquisition' means the date--\n ``(I) on which a binding contract \n to acquire the principal residence to \n which subparagraph (A) applies is \n entered into, or\n ``(II) on which construction or \n reconstruction of such a principal \n residence is commenced.\n ``(D) Special rule where delay in acquisition.--If \n any distribution from any individual retirement plan \n fails to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) \n solely by reason of a delay or cancellation of the \n purchase or construction of the residence, the amount \n of the distribution may be contributed to an individual \n retirement plan as provided in section 408(d)(3)(A)(i) \n (determined by substituting `120 days' for `60 days' in \n such section), except that--\n ``(i) section 408(d)(3)(B) shall not be \n applied to such contribution, and\n ``(ii) such amount shall not be taken into \n account in determining whether section \n 408(d)(3)(A)(i) applies to any other amount.\n ``(7) Qualified higher education expenses.--For purposes of \n paragraph (2)(D)(ii)--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified higher \n education expenses' means tuition, fees, books, \n supplies, and equipment required for the enrollment or \n attendance of--\n ``(i) the taxpayer,\n ``(ii) the taxpayer's spouse, or\n ``(iii) the taxpayer's child (as defined in \n section 151(c)(3)) or grandchild,\n at an eligible educational institution (as defined in \n section 135(c)(3)).\n ``(B) Coordination with savings bond provisions.--\n The amount of qualified higher education expenses for \n any taxable year shall be reduced by any amount \n excludable from gross income under section 135.''\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to distributions received after the date of the enactment of this \nAct.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow penalty-free distributions from eligible individual retirement plans for qualified first-time home purchases or qualified higher education expenses.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit penalty-free withdrawals from individual retirement accounts to purchase first homes or pay higher education expenses."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1369, "text": "SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Adult Education Instructor \nRecruitment and Retention Act of 2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Adult literacy and remedial education teachers provide \n adults and out-of-school youths basic skills that equip them to \n solve problems and become active participants in our society, \n to hold a job, and to further their education.\n (2) Students in adult literacy and remedial education \n classes are made up of those who dropped out of school or have \n passed through the school system without an adequate education. \n It also includes students who want to take the General \n Educational Development examination and, increasingly, \n immigrants whose native language is not English.\n (3) In the year 1998, there were over 4,000,000 students \n enrolled in adult education programs throughout the United \n States.\n (4) Nearly one-fourth of the 4,000,000 students enrolled \n were unemployed. Another 24 percent were working poor. Welfare \n recipients comprised almost 10 percent of all students in 1998.\n (5) That same year, there were 177,943 adult education \n instructors. Nearly 23,000 of those were working full-time, \n with another 69,129 working part-time. The remaining 85,924 \n teachers were volunteers.\n (6) Adult education has been shown to assist persons in \n achieving job skills and gain or advance in employment. For \n example, in 1998, over 150,000 adult education students went on \n to do other training; nearly 300,000 students retained, \n advanced, or gained employment.\n (7) As employers increasingly require a more literate \n workforce, workers' demand will grow for all types of literacy \n and remedial classes.\n (8) A softening economy may require more students to obtain \n additional education to get a job.\n (9) Adult education instructors often feel they are not as \n respected by education departments as their general education \n peers. Funding is generally inadequate, and resources are often \n old or nonexistent. Funding level changes can cause the number \n of teaching jobs to fluctuate from year to year.\n (10) Median hourly earnings of adult literacy and remedial \n education teachers and high school equivalency instructors were \n $16.12 in 2000. Yet, many adult education teachers have high \n student loans that they need to repay.\n\nSEC. 3. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR ADULT EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS.\n\n (a) Guaranteed Student Loans.--Part B of title IV of the Higher \nEducation Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 428K (20 \nU.S.C. 1078-11) the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 428L. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR ADULT EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS.\n\n ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section--\n ``(1) to bring more highly trained individuals into the \n adult education profession; and\n ``(2) to keep more highly trained adult education \n instructors in the adult education field for longer periods of \n time.\n ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) Adult education facility.--The term `adult education \n facility' means a facility that provides any of the following \n types of educational instruction for individuals 16 years old \n and older:\n ``(A) Education for adults with limited English \n proficiency.\n ``(B) Adult secondary education.\n ``(C) Literacy education for older adults.\n ``(D) Adult basic education programs for adults \n with disabilities.\n ``(2) Year.--The term `year', when applied to service as an \n adult education instructor means any period of 365 consecutive \n days.\n ``(3) Low-income family.--The term `low-income family' \n means a low-income family, as determined by the local \n educational agency for purposes of allocating funds to schools \n under section 1113(c)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary \n Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(c)(1)).\n ``(4) Low-income community.--An adult education facility is \n serving a low-income community if at least 70 percent of the \n students enrolled at the facility are from low-income families.\n ``(5) Full-time.--The term `full-time' means employment \n that includes at least 30 hours per week of adult education \n teaching.\n ``(c) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall carry out a program, \nthrough the holder of the loan, of assuming the obligation to repay a \nqualified loan amount for a loan made under section 428 or 428H, in \naccordance with subsection (d) of this section, for any borrower who--\n ``(1) has been employed as a full-time teacher for 3 \n consecutive years in an adult education facility that serves a \n low-income community; and\n ``(2) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower \n seeks forgiveness.\n ``(d) Loan Repayment.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall assume the \n obligation to repay a qualified loan amount for each year of \n employment described in subsection (c)(1) completed after the \n date of enactment of this section, but counting consecutive \n years before or after such date for purposes of determining the \n number of consecutive years. Such qualified loan amount shall \n be equal to--\n ``(A) $500 for the third consecutive year of \n employment;\n ``(B) $1,000 for the fourth consecutive year of \n such employment;\n ``(C) $1,500 for the fifth consecutive year of such \n employment; and\n ``(D) $2,000 for the sixth consecutive year of such \n employment.\n ``(2) No refunds.--Nothing in this section shall be \n construed to authorize the refunding of any repayment of a loan \n made under this part.\n ``(3) Interest.--If a portion of a loan is repaid by the \n Secretary under this section for any year, the proportionate \n amount of interest on such loan which accrues for such year \n shall be repaid by the Secretary.\n ``(4) Ineligibility of national service award recipients.--\n No student borrower may, for the same service, receive a \n benefit under both this section and subtitle D of title I of \n the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 \n et seq.).\n ``(e) Repayment to Eligible Lenders.--The Secretary shall pay to \neach eligible lender or holder for each fiscal year an amount equal to \nthe aggregate amount of loans which are subject to repayment pursuant \nto this section for such year.\n ``(f) Application for Repayment.--\n ``(1) In general.--Each eligible individual desiring loan \n repayment under this section shall submit a complete and \n accurate application to the Secretary at such time, in such \n manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may \n require.\n ``(2) Conditions.--An eligible individual may apply for \n loan repayment under this section after completing each year of \n qualifying employment. The borrower shall receive forbearance \n while engaged in qualifying employment unless the borrower is \n in deferment while so engaged.\n ``(g) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to prescribe such \nregulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this \nsection.\n ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year \n2003, and such sums as may be necessary for succeeding fiscal years.''.\n (b) Direct Loans.--Part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act \nof 1965 is amended by inserting after section 460 (20 U.S.C. 1087j) the \nfollowing new section:\n\n``SEC. 460A. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR ADULT EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS.\n\n ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section--\n ``(1) to bring more highly trained individuals into the \n adult education profession; and\n ``(2) to keep more highly trained adult education \n instructors in the adult education field for longer periods of \n time.\n ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:\n ``(1) Adult education facility.--The term `adult education \n facility' means a facility that provides any of the following \n types of educational instruction for individuals 16 years old \n and older:\n ``(A) Education for adults with limited English \n proficiency.\n ``(B) Adult secondary education.\n ``(C) Literacy education for older adults.\n ``(D) Adult basic education programs for adults \n with disabilities.\n ``(2) Year.--The term `year', when applied to service as an \n adult education instructor means any period of 365 consecutive \n days.\n ``(3) Low-income family.--The term `low-income family' \n means a low-income family, as determined by the local \n educational agency for purposes of allocating funds to schools \n under section 1113(c)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary \n Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(c)(1)).\n ``(4) Low-income community.--An adult education facility is \n serving a low-income community if at least 70 percent of the \n students enrolled at the facility are from low-income families.\n ``(5) Full-time.--The term `full-time' means employment \n that includes at least 30 hours per week of adult education \n teaching.\n ``(c) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall carry out a program \nof cancelling the obligation to repay a qualified loan amount for \nFederal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford \nLoans in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, for any \nborrower who--\n ``(1) has been employed as a full-time teacher for 3 \n consecutive years in an adult education facility that serves a \n low-income community; and\n ``(2) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower \n seeks forgiveness.\n ``(d) Loan Repayment.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall cancel the \n obligation to repay a qualified loan amount for each year of \n employment described in subsection (c)(1) completed after the \n date of enactment of this section, but counting consecutive \n years before or after such date for purposes of determining the \n number of consecutive years. Such qualified loan amount shall \n be equal to--\n ``(A) $500 for the third consecutive year of \n employment;\n ``(B) $1,000 for the fourth consecutive year of \n such employment;\n ``(C) $1,500 for the fifth consecutive year of such \n employment; and\n ``(D) $2,000 for the sixth consecutive year of such \n employment.\n ``(2) No refunds.--Nothing in this section shall be \n construed to authorize the refunding of any repayment of a loan \n made under this part.\n ``(3) Interest.--If a portion of a loan is repaid by the \n Secretary under this section for any year, the proportionate \n amount of interest on such loan which accrues for such year \n shall be repaid by the Secretary.\n ``(4) Ineligibility of national service award recipients.--\n No student borrower may, for the same service, receive a \n benefit under both this section and subtitle D of title I of \n the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 \n et seq.).\n ``(e) Repayment to Eligible Lenders.--The Secretary shall pay to \neach eligible lender or holder for each fiscal year an amount equal to \nthe aggregate amount of loans which are subject to repayment pursuant \nto this section for such year.\n ``(f) Application for Repayment.--\n ``(1) In general.--Each eligible individual desiring loan \n repayment under this section shall submit a complete and \n accurate application to the Secretary at such time, in such \n manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may \n require.\n ``(2) Conditions.--An eligible individual may apply for \n loan repayment under this section after completing each year of \n qualifying employment. The borrower shall receive forbearance \n while engaged in qualifying employment unless the borrower is \n in deferment while so engaged.\n ``(g) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to prescribe such \nregulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this \nsection.\n ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year \n2003, and such sums as may be necessary for succeeding fiscal years.''.", "summary": "Adult Education Instructor Recruitment and Retention Act of 2002 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish student loan forgiveness programs for adult education instructors.", "title": "To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish student loan forgiveness programs for adult education instructors."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2836, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Accountability and \nOversight in Syria Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 \n mandates that no security assistance may be provided to any \n country the government of which engages in a consistent pattern \n of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.\n (2) Section 523 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 \n states that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made \n available pursuant to this Act shall be obligated to finance \n indirectly any assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, \n Iran, Syria, North Korea, or Sudan, unless the President of the \n United States certifies that the withholding of these funds is \n contrary to the national interest of the United States.\n (3) Under the terms of Resolution 2043 of April 21, 2012, \n the United Nations Security Council established a United \n Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), for an initial \n period of 90 days, under the command of a Chief Military \n Observer, comprising an initial deployment of up to 300 unarmed \n military observers as well as an appropriate civilian component \n to fulfill the following mandate: To monitor a cessation of \n armed violence in all its forms by all parties and to monitor \n and support the full implementation of the UNSMIS' six-point \n plan.\n (4) On June 15, 2012, UNSMIS suspended its activities owing \n to an intensification of armed violence across the country.\n (5) On July 20, 2012, the Security Council extended UNSMIS \n for a final period of 30 days. According to Resolution 2059, \n the Council would only consider further extensions to the \n mission ``in the event that the Secretary-General reports and \n the Security Council confirms the cessation of the use of heavy \n weapons and a reduction in the level of violence sufficient by \n all sides'' to allow UNSMIS to implement its mandate.\n (6) As the conditions set by the Security Council had not \n been met, UNSMIS mandate ended at midnight on August 19, 2012.\n (7) The al-Nusrah Front is designated by the Department of \n State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.\n\nSEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.\n\n It is the sense of Congress that--\n (1) the Government of Syria should immediately cease the \n use of heavy weapons in population centers;\n (2) all parties within Syria should bring about a cessation \n of armed violence in all its forms;\n (3) the Secretary of State should continue to list Syria as \n a state sponsor of terrorism;\n (4) in accordance with international law, the Government of \n Syria should immediately cease the use of chemical weapons; and\n (5) if the President considers initiating military action, \n including imposition of a ``no fly'' zone or other military \n operations on Syrian territory, airspace, or waters--\n (A) according to article I, section 8, of the \n United States Constitution, ``The Congress shall have \n Power To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and \n Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land \n and Water.'';\n (B) according to the War Powers Resolution, ``The \n constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-\n Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into \n hostilities, or into situations where imminent \n involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the \n circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a \n declaration of war, (2) specific statutory \n authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by \n attack upon the United States, its territories or \n possessions, or its armed forces.''; and\n (C) the President should adhere to the War Powers \n Resolution and obtain specific statutory authorization \n for the use of the United States Armed Forces in \n response to the war in Syria.\n\nSEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE TO CONDUCT MILITARY OR PARAMILITARY \n OPERATIONS IN SYRIA.\n\n (a) Authorization.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no \nassistance of any kind may be provided by any United States Government \nagency for the purpose, or which would have the effect, of promoting, \naugmenting, directly or indirectly, the capacity of any nation, group, \norganization, movement, or individual to conduct military or \nparamilitary operations in Syria, unless and until Congress expressly \nauthorizes such assistance by law enacted after the date of enactment \nof this section.\n (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) does not apply to assistance that is \nsolely provided for humanitarian purposes.", "summary": "Congressional Accountability and Oversight in Syria Act - Prohibits assistance (except for humanitarian assistance) for the purpose, or which would have the effect, of promoting the capacity of any nation, group, organization, movement, or individual to conduct military or paramilitary operations in Syria, unless and until Congress expressly authorizes such assistance by law.", "title": "Congressional Accountability and Oversight in Syria Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 847, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Multilingual Education and \nTechnological Advancement Act of 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. GRANTS FOR COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION.\n\n (a) Grants Authorized.--Subject to the availability of \nappropriations, the Secretary of Education may award grants, on a \ncompetitive basis, to local educational agencies to provide financial \nassistance to elementary and secondary schools for obtaining computer \nsoftware for multilingual education.\n (b) Preference.--In awarding grants under subsection (a), the \nSecretary shall give preference to local educational agencies that \nserve an elementary or secondary school in which--\n (1) a majority of the students are from families with \n incomes below the poverty line, as defined by the Office of \n Management and Budget and in effect under section 673(2) of the \n Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)); or\n (2) there is a high concentration of students with low \n levels of English proficiency.\n (c) Eligible Schools.--A grant under this section may be used to \nprovide financial assistance only to an elementary or secondary school \nthat meets the criteria of paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b).\n (d) Study.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct an annual \n study of the effectiveness of the grant program under this \n section.\n (2) Report.--By the end of each fiscal year for which \n appropriations to carry out this Act are available, the \n Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report that includes \n the following:\n (A) Findings on the effectiveness of this grant \n program, including the effectiveness of the computer \n software.\n (B) Recommendations for improving this grant \n program.\n (e) Application.--To seek a grant under subsection (a), a local \neducational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary at such \ntime, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary \nmay require.\n (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary for grants under this section $80,000,000 \nfor fiscal years 2002 through 2006.\n\nSEC. 3. GRANTS FOR COMPUTERS.\n\n (a) Grants Authorized.--Subject to the availability of \nappropriations, the Secretary of Education may award grants, on a \ncompetitive basis, to local educational agencies to provide financial \nassistance to elementary and secondary schools for obtaining computers.\n (b) Mandatory Grants.--The Secretary shall award a grant under \nsubsection (a) to any local educational agency that--\n (1) submits an application under subsection (c); and\n (2) serves elementary or secondary schools in which, \n cumulatively, a majority of the students are from families with \n incomes below the poverty line, as defined by the Office of \n Management and Budget and in effect under section 673(2) of the \n Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)).\n (c) Eligible Schools.--A grant under this section may be used to \nprovide financial assistance only to an elementary or secondary school \nin which--\n (1) a majority of students are from families with incomes \n below the poverty line, as defined by the Office of Management \n and Budget and in effect under section 673(2) of the Community \n Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)); or\n (2) there are fewer computers than the greater of--\n (A) 6 computers; or\n (B) a number of computers for that type school \n established by the Secretary by a regulation under this \n paragraph.\n (d) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, a local \neducational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary at such \ntime, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary \nmay require.\n (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary for grants under this section \n$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.\n\nSEC. 4. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINING AND MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION \n PROGRAM GRANTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the \nSecretaries may make grants to eligible partnerships to pay the Federal \nshare of the cost of establishing and carrying out--\n (1) information technology training programs for former \n participants in information technology training programs who \n have not received information technology certification, \n minorities, women, older individuals, veterans, Native \n Americans, and dislocated workers; and\n (2) multilingual education programs.\n (b) Partnerships.--To be an eligible partnership under subsection \n(a), a partnership shall consist of--\n (1) an institution of higher education; and\n (2) a private organization, such as a certified commercial \n information technology training provider or an information \n technology trade or professional association.\n (c) Application.--To seek a grant under subsection (a), an eligible \npartnership shall submit an application to the Secretaries at such \ntime, in such manner, and containing such information as the \nSecretaries may require.\n (d) Federal Share.--\n (1) In general.--The Federal share of the cost described in \n subsection (a) shall be 50 percent.\n (2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost \n shall be provided in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated by the \n Secretaries, and may include plant, equipment, or services.\n (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretaries to carry out this section $100,000,000 \nfor fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for each \nsubsequent fiscal year.\n\nSEC. 5. BONUS GRANTS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the \nSecretary of Education may make grants to local educational agencies to \nassist such agencies in awarding bonuses to teachers who achieve \ninformation technology certification.\n (b) Limitation on Amount.--The amount of a grant to a local \neducational agency under subsection (a) shall not exceed the product \ndetermined by multiplying $5,000 by the number of teachers described \npursuant to subsection (c)(2) in the application for the grant.\n (c) Application.--\n (1) In general.--To seek a grant under this section, a \n local educational agency shall submit an application to the \n Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such \n information as the Secretary may require.\n (2) Contents.--The application shall include information \n describing the number of teachers employed by the local \n educational agency who--\n (A) have achieved information technology \n certification, including such certification for \n integrating information technology into the classroom \n or a curriculum; and\n (B) have not previously received a bonus under this \n section.\n (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary of Education to carry out this section \n$120,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.\n\nSEC. 6. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TEACHER TRAINING.\n\n (a) Grants Authorized.--Subject to the availability of \nappropriations, the Secretary of Education may award grants, on a \ncompetitive basis, to institutions of higher education to provide \nscholarships to any eligible student.\n (b) Eligible Students.--For purposes of this section, the term \n``eligible student'' means a student who--\n (1) is preparing to enter the teaching workforce; and\n (2) meets the criteria established under subsection (c).\n (c) Criteria.--For purposes of subsection (b)(2), the Secretary \nshall establish criteria that require a student to obtain both \ntechnological and multilingual education.\n (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $100,000,000 \nfor fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the \n4 succeeding fiscal years.\n\nSEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Certified commercial information technology training \n provider.--The term ``certified commercial information \n technology training provider'' means a private sector provider \n of educational products and services utilized for training in \n information technology that is certified by 1 or more software \n publishers or hardware manufacturers (the products of which are \n the subject of the training) with respect to--\n (A) the curriculum that is used for the training; \n or\n (B) the technical knowledge of the instructors of \n such provider.\n (2) Dislocated worker.--The term ``dislocated worker'' has \n the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Workforce \n Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801).\n (3) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has \n the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the Elementary \n and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).\n (4) Information technology certification.--The term \n ``information technology certification'' means certification in \n information technology, in accordance with such standards as--\n (A)(i) the Computing Technology Industry \n Association or the Information Technology Training \n Association may issue, after consultation with chief \n education officers of States, State boards, entities \n that certify or license teachers, and other entities \n affected by the standards; or\n (ii) a State board or entity that certifies or \n licenses teachers may issue, after consultation with \n chief education officers of States, and other entities \n affected by the standards; and\n (B) the Secretaries may approve.\n (5) Information technology training program.--The term \n ``information technology training program'' means a program for \n the training of--\n (A) computer programmers, systems analysts, and \n computer scientists or engineers (as such occupations \n are defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics); and\n (B) persons for such other occupations as are \n determined to be appropriate by the Secretaries, after \n consultation with a working group broadly solicited by \n the Secretaries and open to all interested information \n technology entities and trade and professional \n associations.\n (6) Institution of higher education.--The term \n ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the \n term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 \n U.S.C. 1002).\n (7) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational \n agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the \n Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n 8801).\n (8) Native american.--The term ``Native American'' means an \n Indian or a Native Hawaiian, as defined in section 166(b) of \n the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2911(b)).\n (9) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has \n the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the Elementary \n and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).\n (10) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the \n Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor, acting \n jointly.\n (11) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given \n the term in section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 \n (29 U.S.C. 2801).", "summary": "Multilingual Education and Technological Advancement Act of 2001 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide financial assistance to elementary and secondary schools for obtaining: (1) computer software for multilingual education, with preference given to schools with a majority of students from poor families or a high concentration of students with low levels of English proficiency; and (2) computers, with grant awards mandatory for schools where a majority of students meet poverty criteria or where there are a specified low number of computers for students.Authorizes the Secretary, jointly with the Secretary of Labor, to make matching grants for: (1) information technology training programs for former participants in such programs who have not received information technology certification, minorities, women, older individuals, veterans, Native Americans, and dislocated workers; and (2) multilingual education programs. Requires a partnership, to be eligible for such a grant, to consist of: (1) an institution of higher education; and (2) a private organization, such as a certified commercial information technology training provider or an information technology trade or professional association.Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to LEAs to assist them in awarding bonuses to teachers who achieve information technology certification.Authorizes the Secretary to make competitive grants to institutions of higher education to provide scholarships to students who: (1) are preparing to enter the teaching profession; and (2) meet criteria established by the Secretary that requires them to obtain both technological and multilingual education.", "title": "To provide grants to local educational agencies to provide financial assistance to elementary and secondary schools for obtaining computer software for multilingual education, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 435, "text": "SECTION 1. MODIFICATIONS TO ENCOURAGE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CAPITAL GAIN \n REAL PROPERTY MADE FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES AND \n QUALIFIED CONSERVATION CONTRIBUTIONS.\n\n (a) Contributions of Capital Gain Real Property Made for \nConservation Purposes and of Qualified Conservation Contributions Not \nSubject to Special Limitation on Contributions of Capital Gain \nProperty.--Subparagraph (C) of section 170(b)(1) of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to special limitation with respect to \ncontributions described in subparagraph (A) of capital gain property) \nis amended by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v) and by inserting \nafter clause (iii) the following new clause:\n ``(iv) In the case of charitable \n contributions described in subparagraph (A) of \n capital gain property, clauses (i) and (ii) \n shall not apply to--\n ``(I) any qualified conservation \n contribution (as defined in section \n 170(h)), or\n ``(II) any other contribution of \n capital gain property which is real \n property if the contribution is of the \n donor's entire interest in such \n property and is to a qualified \n organization (as defined in section \n 170(h)(3)) which is organized for \n conservation purposes (as defined in \n section 170(h)(4)(A)) and which \n provides the taxpayer, at the time of \n such donation, a letter of intent which \n contains an acknowledgment of the \n donee's intent that the property is \n being acquired for any such \n conservation purpose.''.\n (b) Unlimited Carryover for Contributions of Capital Gain Real \nProperty for Conservation Purposes and of Qualified Conservation \nContributions of Capital Gain Property.--Paragraph (1) of section \n170(d) of such Code in amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubparagraph:\n ``(C) Unlimited carryover for contributions of \n capital gain real property for conservation purposes \n and of qualified conservation contributions of capital \n gain property.--The 5 taxable year limitation in \n subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any charitable \n contribution to which clauses (i) and (ii) of \n subsection (b)(1)(C) do not apply by reason of clause \n (iv) thereof. For purposes of this paragraph, the \n excess described in the material preceding clause (i) \n of subparagraph (A) shall be treated as attributable to \n contributions described in the preceding sentence of \n this subparagraph to the extent of such \n contributions.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto contributions made in taxable years beginning after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF RULES RELATING TO ESTATE TAX EXCLUSION FOR LAND \n SUBJECT TO QUALIFIED CONSERVATION EASEMENT.\n\n (a) Repeal of Certain Restrictions on Where Land Is Located.--\nClause (i) of section 2031(c)(8)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of \n1986 is amended to read as follows:\n ``(i) which is located in the United States \n or any possession of the United States,''.\n (b) Repeal of Limitation on Exclusion.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 2031(c) of such \n Code is amended by striking ``the lesser of--'' and all that \n follows and inserting ``the applicable percentage of the value \n of land subject to a qualified conservation easement, reduced \n by the amount of any deduction under section 2055(f) with \n respect to such land.''\n (2) Conforming amendments.--\n (A) Subsection (c) of section 2031 of such Code is \n amended by striking paragraph (3) and by redesignating \n paragraphs (4) through (10) as paragraphs (3) through \n (9), respectively.\n (B) Paragraphs (2) and (6) of section 2031(c) of \n such Code, as redesignated by subparagraph (A), are \n each amended by striking ``paragraph (5)'' and \n inserting ``paragraph (4)''.\n (C) Paragraphs (1), (6), and (7)(A)(iii) of section \n 2031(c) of such Code, as redesignated by subparagraph \n (A), are each amended by striking ``paragraph (6)'' and \n inserting ``paragraph (5)''.\n (c) Date for Determining Value of Land and Easement.--Paragraph (2) \nof section 2032(c) of such Code (defining applicable percentage) is \namended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The values \ntaken into account under the preceding sentence shall be such values as \nof the date of the contribution referred to in paragraph (7)(B).''\n (d) Certain Commercial Recreational Uses Permitted.--Subparagraph \n(B) of section 2031(c)(7) of such Code, as redesignated by subsection \n(b), is amended to read as follows:\n ``(B) Qualified conservation easement.--\n ``(i) In general.--The term `qualified \n conservation easement' means a qualified \n conservation contribution (as defined in \n section 170(h)(1)) of a qualified real property \n interest (as defined in section 170(h)(2)(C)), \n except that clause (iv) of section 170(h)(4)(A) \n shall not apply, and the restriction on the use \n of such interest described in section \n 170(h)(2)(C) shall include a prohibition on \n more than a de minimis use for a commercial \n recreational activity.\n ``(ii) Special rules.--For purposes of this \n paragraph--\n ``(I) Retained rights.--Rights \n retained in the conservation easement \n to lease the land for hunting and \n fishing, so long as such leases are not \n inconsistent with the conservation \n purpose of the easement, shall be \n deemed to be de minimis use.\n ``(II) Pre-effective date \n easements.--Easements otherwise \n qualifying under the provisions of this \n subsection that were donated on or \n before the date of the enactment of \n this subclause, shall be deemed to \n allow no more than de minimis use for a \n commercial recreational activity unless \n by their terms they expressly provide \n for commercial recreational activity in \n excess of that otherwise allowed by \n this subparagraph.\n ``(III) Authority to extinguish \n right of commercial recreation \n activity.--For purposes of this \n section, if the executor of an estate \n and every person in being who has an \n interest in the land execute an \n agreement to amend or extinguish any \n right under the easement of commercial \n recreation activity in the land so as \n to ensure that such land is used for no \n more than de minimis commercial \n recreational activity, such agreement \n shall be treated as in effect as of the \n date of the election described in \n paragraph (5).''\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to estates of decedents dying after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude contributions of any qualified conservation contribution or capital gain real property made for conservation purposes from the application of the special limitation on contributions of capital gain property and from the application of the five-year carryover limitation. Repeals specified property location restrictions on the estate tax exclusion for property subject to a qualified conservation easement.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage contributions by individuals of capital gain real property for conservation purposes, to encourage qualified conservation contributions, and to modify the rules governing the estate tax exclusion for land subject to a qualified conservation easement."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1492, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``E-Centives Act of 2009''.\n\nSEC. 2. INCREASED MATCHING PAYMENTS UNDER MEDICAID FOR HEALTH \n INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.\n\n Section 1903 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b) is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (a)(3)(E), by inserting ``(other than \n costs attributable to programs described in subsection (bb))'' \n after ``costs incurred during such quarter''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:\n ``(aa) Enhanced Payments for Certified Health Information \nTechnology Incentives.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide for payments \n to each State that provides incentive payments to physicians, \n hospitals, community health centers, rural health clinics, and \n community mental health centers that exhibit meaningful use of \n health information technology certified under this subsection, \n as determined by the measures for meaningful use of health \n information technology under paragraph (5). No payment may be \n made to a State for incentive payments made by a State for \n meaningful use of health information technology that occurs \n before January 1, 2010.\n ``(2) Application.--To qualify for payments under paragraph \n (1), a State shall submit an application in a time and manner \n specified by the Secretary and containing the following:\n ``(A) A description of the incentive payments.\n ``(B) A description of the method the State will \n use to allocate such incentive payments among \n physicians, hospitals, community health centers, rural \n health clinics, and community mental health centers, \n including how the State will prioritize payments to \n providers serving a high percentage of Medicaid, SCHIP, \n and uninsured patients.\n ``(C) A time line for implementing such payment \n incentives.\n ``(D) A plan for disseminating information to \n physicians, hospitals, community health centers, rural \n health clinics, and community mental health centers \n about the availability of such payment incentives.\n ``(E) An assessment of the current level of use of \n health information technology by physicians, hospitals, \n community health centers, rural health clinics, and \n community mental health centers in the State, using a \n standard assessment form developed by the Secretary.\n ``(F) Any other information required by the \n Secretary.\n ``(3) Amount of payments to states.--\n ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the \n payment made to a State under this subsection for a \n quarter, with respect to sums expended by such State \n during such quarter that are attributable to providing \n incentive payments under paragraph (1), shall be in an \n amount equal to the following:\n ``(i) For any quarter in 2010, the enhanced \n FMAP (as defined in section 2105(b)) of such \n sums.\n ``(ii) For any quarter in 2011 or 2012, \n such sums multiplied by a percentage equal to \n such enhanced FMAP minus 1.5 percentage points.\n ``(iii) For any quarter in 2013 or 2014, \n such sums multiplied by a percentage equal to \n such enhanced FMAP minus 3 percentage points.\n ``(iv) For any quarter beginning after \n 2014, 0.\n ``(B) Limitation.--\n ``(i) Fiscal year limitation.--The total \n amount of payments made under this subsection \n shall not exceed $500,000,000 for any fiscal \n year.\n ``(ii) Allocation.--If the amounts \n otherwise payable under this subsection for a \n fiscal year exceed the amount specified in \n clause (i), the Secretary shall reduce the \n amounts payable under this subsection, in a \n manner specified by the Secretary, to comply \n with the limitation under such clause.\n ``(iii) Duplicative payments prohibited.--\n No payment shall be made under any other \n provision of this title for expenditures for \n which payment is made under this subsection.\n ``(C) Manner of payment.--Payment to a State under \n this subsection shall be made in the same manner as \n payments under subsection (a).\n ``(4) Certification requirements for health information \n technology.--\n ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation \n with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health \n Information Technology and the Certification Commission \n of Health Information Technology, shall determine the \n requirements for certification of health information \n technology under this subsection.\n ``(B) Interim certification requirements.--During \n any period in which the Secretary has not determined \n such certification requirements, the Secretary, for \n purposes of this subsection, shall use the \n certification requirements for health information \n technology established by the Certification Commission \n for Health Information Technology.\n ``(5) Measures for meaningful use of health information \n technology.--\n ``(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, \n the Secretary shall publish standard measures of \n meaningful use of health information technology to be \n used by providers to demonstrate meaningful use of \n certified health information technology. Such measures \n may include--\n ``(i) self-certification of operational use \n of such technology;\n ``(ii) the submission of (or ability to \n submit), in a form and manner specified by the \n Secretary, such information on clinical \n measures and data (that do not include \n individually identifiable health information) \n from such technology as indicates a meaningful \n utilization of such technology; and\n ``(iii) such other means as the Secretary \n may specify.\n ``(B) Alternative measures.--The Secretary may \n establish and apply different measures based on the \n stage of implementation or adoption of the certified \n health information technology involved.\n ``(bb) Payments for Electronic Information and Eligibility Systems \nand Patient Registries.--\n ``(1) In general.--In addition to the payments provided \n under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide for payments \n to each State that establishes a program to--\n ``(A) design, develop, install, maintain, and \n operate--\n ``(i) electronic information and \n eligibility systems; and\n ``(ii) patient registries for the purpose \n of disease screening;\n ``(B) coordinate benefits and services under this \n title and under title XVIII for individuals under the \n State plan who are full-benefit dual eligible \n individuals.\n ``(C) train providers in the use of such systems \n and registries.\n ``(2) Application.--To qualify for payments under paragraph \n (1), a State shall submit an application in such time and \n manner as required by the Secretary and containing such \n information as the Secretary specifies and include, at a \n minimum, a description of the electronic information and \n eligibility systems and patient registries covered by the \n program described in paragraph (1).\n ``(3) Amount of payments to states.--\n ``(A) In general.--The payments made a State under \n this subsection shall be an amount equal to--\n ``(i) 90 percent of so much of the sums \n expended by such State during any quarter \n commencing on or after January 1, 2010, as are \n attributable to--\n ``(I) the design, development, or \n installation of electronic information \n and eligibility systems and patient \n registries under paragraph (1); and\n ``(II) training staff employed by \n providers on the use of such system or \n registry during the three-year period \n beginning on the date such system or \n registry is installed; and\n ``(ii) 75 percent of so much of the sums \n expended by such State during any quarter \n commencing on or after January 1, 2010, as are \n attributable to--\n ``(I) the maintenance of such \n systems and registries; and\n ``(II) training for staff employed \n by providers on the use of a system or \n registry that occurs after the last day \n of the end of the period described in \n clause (i)(II).\n ``(B) Manner of payment.--Payment to a State under \n this subsection shall be made in the same manner as \n payments under subsection (a).\n ``(4) Electronic information and eligibility system \n defined.--For purposes of this subsection, the term `electronic \n information and eligibility system' means a system for \n determining eligibility and exchanging information that meets \n such requirements as the Secretary shall specify. Such \n requirements for a system shall include a requirement that the \n system--\n ``(A) be interconnected and interoperable with \n other electronic systems and registries, including--\n ``(i) systems administered by the Centers \n for Disease Control for disease reporting \n purposes;\n ``(ii) systems that exist for the purpose \n of determining eligibility for the Medicare \n program under title XVIII; and\n ``(iii) systems that exist for the purpose \n of determining eligibility for the Temporary \n Assistance for Needy Families program under \n title IV, free and reduced price lunches under \n the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch \n Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), or other \n federally funded programs targeted to low-\n income populations; and\n ``(B) can be used to automatically send, receive, \n and integrate data (including laboratory results and \n medical histories) from systems and registries \n administered by other providers or organizations or \n through a health information exchange.''.\n\nSEC. 3. MEDICAID TRANSFORMATION PAYMENTS REPORT.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than June 30, 2009, the Secretary of \nHealth and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on Medicaid \ntransformation payments under section 1903(z) of the Social Security \nAct (42 U.S.C. 1396b(z)).\n (b) Contents.--The report under subsection (a) shall include--\n (1) a description--\n (A) of the financial costs and benefits of the \n Medicaid transformation payments;\n (B) of the entities to which such costs and \n benefits accrue; and\n (C) of any reduction in duplicative or unnecessary \n care resulting from methods adopted by States and \n funded by such payments; and\n (2) an analysis of the information contained in the reports \n submitted to the Secretary by States under section \n 1903(z)(3)(C) of the Social Security Act during the two-year \n period ending on December 31, 2008, including--\n (A) the impact of the methods funded by the \n payments on--\n (i) health care quality and safety; and\n (ii) the privacy and security of \n identifiable health information;\n (B) the effect of such methods on furthering \n interconnectedness between--\n (i) providers and State Medicaid programs; \n and\n (ii) State Medicaid programs and other \n programs for low-income populations \n administered by State and Federal entities;\n (C) the extent to which such methods reduce the \n administrative burden on such programs; and\n (D) the contribution of the payments to the goals \n of public health and public health reporting.", "summary": "E-Centives Act of 2009 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for payments to each state that provides incentive payments to physicians, hospitals, community health centers, rural health clinics, and community mental health centers that exhibit meaningful use of certified health information technology.\n\nDirects the Secretary to provide for payments to each state that establishes a program to: (1) design, develop, install, maintain, and operate electronic information and eligibility systems and patient registries for the purpose of disease screening; (2) coordinate benefits and services under Medicare and Medicaid for full-benefit dual eligible individuals under the state plan; and (3) train providers in the use of such systems and registries.\n\nDirects the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a report on Medicaid transformation payments to states for the adoption of innovative methods to improve effectiveness and efficiency in providing medical assistance.", "title": "A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to encourage the use of certified health information technology by providers in the Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 71, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; ETC.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Freedom and \nEconomic Prosperity Act''.\n (b) Reference to 1986 Code.--Except as otherwise expressly \nprovided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in \nterms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, \nthe reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other \nprovision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\n (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents; etc.\n TITLE I--REPEAL OF ENERGY TAX SUBSIDIES\n\nSec. 101. Repeal of credit for alcohol fuel, biodiesel, and alternative \n fuel mixtures.\nSec. 102. Early termination of credit for qualified fuel cell motor \n vehicles.\nSec. 103. Early termination of new qualified plug-in electric drive \n motor vehicles.\nSec. 104. Repeal of alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit.\nSec. 105. Repeal of credit for alcohol used as fuel.\nSec. 106. Repeal of credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel used as \n fuel.\nSec. 107. Repeal of enhanced oil recovery credit.\nSec. 108. Termination of credit for electricity produced from certain \n renewable resources.\nSec. 109. Repeal of credit for producing oil and gas from marginal \n wells.\nSec. 110. Termination of credit for production from advanced nuclear \n power facilities.\nSec. 111. Repeal of credit for carbon dioxide sequestration.\nSec. 112. Termination of energy credit.\nSec. 113. Repeal of qualifying advanced coal project.\nSec. 114. Repeal of qualifying gasification project credit.\n TITLE II--REDUCTION OF CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATE\n\nSec. 201. Corporate income tax rate reduced.\n\n TITLE I--REPEAL OF ENERGY TAX SUBSIDIES\n\nSEC. 101. REPEAL OF CREDIT FOR ALCOHOL FUEL, BIODIESEL, AND ALTERNATIVE \n FUEL MIXTURES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 6426 is repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (1) of section 4101(a) is amended by striking \n ``or alcohol (as defined in section 6426(b)(4)(A)''.\n (2) Paragraph (2) of section 4104(a) is amended by striking \n ``6426, or 6427(e)''.\n (3) Section 6427 is amended by striking subsection (e).\n (4) Subparagraph (E) of section 7704(d)(1) is amended--\n (A) by inserting ``(as in effect on the day before \n the date of the enactment of the Energy Freedom and \n Economic Prosperity Act)'' after ``of section 6426'', \n and\n (B) by inserting ``(as so in effect)'' after \n ``section 6426(b)(4)(A)''.\n (5) Paragraph (1) of section 9503(b) is amended by striking \n the second sentence.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter B of \nchapter 65 is amended by striking the item relating to section 6426.\n (d) Effective.--\n (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the \n amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to \n fuel sold and used after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (2) Liquefied hydrogen.--In the case of any alternative \n fuel or alternative fuel mixture (as defined in subsection \n (d)(2) or (e)(3) of section 6426 of the Internal Revenue Code \n of 1986 as in effect before its repeal by this Act) involving \n liquefied hydrogen, the amendments made by this section shall \n apply with respect to fuel sold and used after September 30, \n 2014.\n\nSEC. 102. EARLY TERMINATION OF CREDIT FOR QUALIFIED FUEL CELL MOTOR \n VEHICLES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 30B is repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Subparagraph (A) of section 24(b)(3) is amended by \n striking ``, 30B''.\n (2) Paragraph (2) of section 25B(g) is amended by striking \n ``, 30B,''.\n (3) Subsection (b) of section 38 is amended by striking \n paragraph (25).\n (4) Subsection (a) of section 1016 is amended by striking \n paragraph (35) and by redesignating paragraphs (36) and (37) as \n paragraphs (35) and (36), respectively.\n (5) Subsection (m) of section 6501 is amended by striking \n ``, 30B(h)(9)''.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart B of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by striking the item \nrelating to section 30B.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after December 31, 2014.\n\nSEC. 103. EARLY TERMINATION OF NEW QUALIFIED PLUG-IN ELECTRIC DRIVE \n MOTOR VEHICLES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 30D is repealed.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto vehicles placed in service after the date of the enactment of this \nAct.\n\nSEC. 104. REPEAL OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE REFUELING PROPERTY CREDIT.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 30C is repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Subsection (b) of section 38 is amended by striking \n paragraph (26).\n (2) Paragraph (3) of section 55(c) is amended by striking \n ``, 30C(d)(2),''.\n (3) Subsection (a) of section 1016, as amended by section \n 102 of this Act, is amended by striking paragraph (35) and by \n redesignating paragraph (36) as paragraph (35).\n (4) Subsection (m) of section 6501 is amended by striking \n ``, 30C(e)(5)''.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart B of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by striking the item \nrelating to section 30C.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n\nSEC. 105. REPEAL OF CREDIT FOR ALCOHOL USED AS FUEL.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 40 is repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Subsection (b) of section 38 is amended by striking \n paragraph (3).\n (2) Subsection (c) of section 196 is amended by striking \n paragraph (3) and by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (14) \n as paragraphs (3) through (13), respectively.\n (3) Paragraph (1) of section 4101(a) is amended by striking \n ``, and every person producing cellulosic biofuel (as defined \n in section 40(b)(6)(E))''.\n (4) Paragraph (1) of section 4104(a) is amended by striking \n ``, 40''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to fuel sold or used after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 106. REPEAL OF CREDIT FOR BIODIESEL AND RENEWABLE DIESEL USED AS \n FUEL.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 40A is repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--\n (1) Subsection (b) of section 38 is amended by striking \n paragraph (17).\n (2) Section 87 is repealed.\n (3) Subsection (c) of section 196, as amended by section \n 105 of this Act, is amended by striking paragraph (11) and by \n redesignating paragraphs (11), (12), and (13) as paragraphs \n (10), (11), and (12), respectively.\n (4) Paragraph (1) of section 4101(a) is amended by striking \n ``, every person producing or importing biodiesel (as defined \n in section 40A(d)(1)''.\n (5) Paragraph (1) of section 4104(a) is amended by striking \n ``, and 40A''.\n (6) Subparagraph (E) of section 7704(d)(1) is amended by \n inserting ``(as so in effect)'' after ``section 40A(d)(1)''.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by striking the item \nrelating to section 40A.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to fuel produced, and sold or used, after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 107. REPEAL OF ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY CREDIT.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 43 is repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Subsection (b) of section 38 is amended by striking \n paragraph (6).\n (2) Paragraph (4) of section 45Q(d) is amended by inserting \n ``(as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of \n the Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act)'' after \n ``section 43(c)(2)''.\n (3) Subsection (c) of section 196, as amended by sections \n 105 and 106 of this Act, is amended by striking paragraph (5) \n and by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (12) as paragraphs \n (5) through (11), respectively.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by striking the item \nrelating to section 43.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to costs paid or incurred after December 31, 2014.\n\nSEC. 108. TERMINATION OF CREDIT FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCED FROM CERTAIN \n RENEWABLE RESOURCES.\n\n (a) Wind.--Subsection (d) of section 45 is amended by striking \n``January 1, 2014'' in paragraph (1) and inserting ``the date of the \nenactment of the Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act''.\n (b) Indian Coal.--Subparagraph (A) of section 45(e)(10) is amended \nby striking ``8-year period'' each place it appears and inserting ``7-\nyear period''.\n (c) Effective Date.--\n (1) Wind.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply \n to property placed in service after the date of the enactment \n of this Act.\n (2) Indian coal.--The amendments made by subsection (b) \n shall apply to coal produced after December 31, 2012.\n (3) Other qualified energy resources.--For termination of \n other qualified energy resources for property placed in service \n after December 31, 2013, see section 45 of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986.\n\nSEC. 109. REPEAL OF CREDIT FOR PRODUCING OIL AND GAS FROM MARGINAL \n WELLS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 45I is repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (b) of section 38 is amended \nby striking paragraph (19).\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by striking the item \nrelating to section 45I.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to production in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.\n\nSEC. 110. TERMINATION OF CREDIT FOR PRODUCTION FROM ADVANCED NUCLEAR \n POWER FACILITIES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subparagraph (B) of section 45J(d)(1) is amended \nby striking ``January 1, 2021'' and inserting ``January 1, 2015''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after December 31, 2014.\n\nSEC. 111. REPEAL OF CREDIT FOR CARBON DIOXIDE SEQUESTRATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 45Q is repealed.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto carbon dioxide captured after December 31, 2014.\n\nSEC. 112. TERMINATION OF ENERGY CREDIT.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 48 is amended--\n (1) by striking ``January 1, 2017'' each place it appears \n and inserting ``January 1, 2015'', and\n (2) by striking ``December 31, 2016'' each place it appears \n and inserting ``December 31, 2014''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after December 31, 2014.\n\nSEC. 113. REPEAL OF QUALIFYING ADVANCED COAL PROJECT.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 48A is repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 46 is amended by striking \nparagraph (3) and by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as \nparagraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart E of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by striking the item \nrelating to section 48A.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after December 31, 2014.\n\nSEC. 114. REPEAL OF QUALIFYING GASIFICATION PROJECT CREDIT.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 48B is repealed.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 46, as amended by this Act, is \namended by striking paragraph (3) and by redesignating paragraphs (4) \nand (5) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively.\n (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart E of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by striking the item \nrelating to section 48B.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service after December 31, 2014.\n\n TITLE II--REDUCTION OF CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATE\n\nSEC. 201. CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATE REDUCED.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe a \nrate of tax in lieu of the rates under paragraphs (1) and (2) of \nsection 11(b), section 1201(a), and paragraphs (1), (2), and (6) of \nsection 1445(e) to such a flat rate as the Secretary estimates would \nresult in--\n (1) a decrease in revenue to the Treasury for taxable years \n beginning during the 10-year period beginning on the date of \n the enactment of this Act, equal to\n (2) the increase in revenue for such taxable years by \n reason of the amendments made by title I of this Act.\n (b) Effective Date.--The rate prescribed by the Secretary under \nsubsection (a) shall apply to taxable years beginning more than 1 year \nafter the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal: (1) the excise tax credits for alcohol fuel, biodiesel, and alternative fuel mixtures; (2) the tax credits for the purchase of alternative motor vehicles and new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles; (3) the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property tax credit; (4) the income tax credits for alcohol, biodiesel, and renewable diesel used as fuel; (5) the enhanced oil recovery tax credit and the tax credit for producing oil and gas from marginal wells; (6) the tax credits for producing electricity from renewable resources and from advanced nuclear power facilities; (7) the tax credit for carbon dioxide sequestration; (8) the energy tax credit; and (9) the tax credits for investment in qualifying advanced coal projects and qualifying gasification projects. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe a flat income tax rate for corporations, in lieu of the existing marginal tax rates, based upon the overall revenue savings from the repeal of energy tax expenditures by this Act. ", "title": "Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 431, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation \nTherapy Act of 2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:\n (1) Intensive, coordinated medical rehabilitation provided \n in inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units is critical to \n Medicare beneficiaries with injuries, illnesses, disabilities, \n and chronic conditions in order to return to health, full \n function, independent living, and a high quality of life.\n (2) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (in this \n section referred to as ``CMS'') uses an ``intensity of \n therapy'' requirement to help determine which Medicare \n beneficiaries are appropriate for treatment in an inpatient \n rehabilitation hospital or unit. CMS has interpreted the \n intensity of therapy requirement through application of the so-\n called ``Three Hour Rule'' (42 C.F.R. 412.622(a)(3)(ii)) which \n requires the patient to be able to participate in three hours \n of rehabilitation therapy per day, five days per week, or 15 \n hours of rehabilitation therapy over a one-week period.\n (3) Before 2010, CMS regulations explicitly stated that \n physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and/or \n orthotics and prosthetics were counted toward the Three Hour \n Rule on an as-needed basis. In addition, CMS regulations stated \n that ``other therapeutic modalities'' that were determined by \n the physician and the rehabilitation team to be needed by the \n patient ``on a priority basis'' would qualify toward \n satisfaction of the rule (HCFA Ruling 85-2).\n (4) This language allowed recreational therapy to count \n toward satisfaction of the Three Hour Rule for patients who \n required this mix of therapies on a priority basis in the \n inpatient rehabilitation hospital or unit setting.\n (5) CMS by regulation (74 Fed. Reg. 39811 (August 7, 2009)) \n revised these prior regulations, effective January 1, 2010, by \n limiting the Three Hour Rule to recognize only four services \n (namely, physical, occupational, and speech therapy as well as \n orthotics and prosthetics) and removing the discretion of the \n physician and the rehabilitation team to count other \n therapeutic services needed by the patient toward satisfaction \n of the Three Hour Rule. As a result, recreational therapy \n services are often not available to patients who require \n medically necessary recreational therapy as part of their plan \n of care.\n (6) Recreational therapy is a treatment service designed to \n restore, remediate, and rehabilitate a patient's level of \n functioning and independence in life activities, to promote \n health and wellness as well as to reduce or eliminate the \n activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life \n situations caused by an illness or disabling condition. \n Recreational therapy in the inpatient rehabilitation hospital \n and unit setting is provided by qualified recreational \n therapists when required by the patient's condition and \n prescribed by a physician as part of a patient's plan of care.\n (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to restore reliance on \nthe professional judgment of the treating physician and the \nrehabilitation team when determining whether a Medicare patient meets \nthe intensity of therapy requirement of an inpatient rehabilitation \nhospital or unit in order for that patient to gain access to the \nappropriate mix of medically necessary therapeutic rehabilitation \nservices in that setting, including physical therapy, occupational \ntherapy, and, as needed, speech therapy, orthotics and prosthetics, and \nrecreational therapy.\n\nSEC. 3. INCLUDING RECREATIONAL THERAPY AMONG THE THERAPY MODALITIES \n THAT CONSTITUTE AN INTENSIVE REHABILITATION THERAPY \n PROGRAM IN DETERMINING THE MEDICAL NECESSITY OF SERVICES \n IN AN INPATIENT REHABILITATION FACILITY (IRF).\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1886(j) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 1395ww(j)) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nparagraph:\n ``(9) Including recreational therapy among therapy \n modalities that constitute an intensive rehabilitation therapy \n program in a rehabilitation facility.--The Secretary shall \n include recreational therapy services among the therapeutic \n modalities that constitute an intensive rehabilitation program \n in determining (pursuant to applicable regulations) whether \n inpatient services in a rehabilitation facility are reasonable \n and necessary under section 1862(a)(1)(A).''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by section (a) shall apply \nto services furnished on or after January 1, 2018.", "summary": "Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act of 2017 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, for purposes of determining whether inpatient rehabilitation-facility services are reasonable and necessary under Medicare, to include recreational-therapy services among the therapeutic modalities that constitute an intensive rehabilitation-therapy program. ", "title": "Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 586, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Consumer Financial Protection \nCommission Act of 2013''.\n\nSEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION.\n\n Section 1011 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 is \namended--\n (1) by striking subsections (b), (c), and (d);\n (2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (j); and\n (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new \n subsections:\n ``(b) Establishment of the Commission.--\n ``(1) In general.--There is hereby established a commission \n (hereinafter referred to in this section as the `Commission') \n that shall serve as the head of the Bureau.\n ``(2) Authority to prescribe regulations.--The Commission \n may prescribe such regulations and issue such orders in \n accordance with this title as the Commission may determine to \n be necessary for carrying out this title and all other laws \n within the Commission's jurisdiction and shall exercise any \n authorities granted under this title and all other laws within \n the Commission's jurisdiction.\n ``(c) Composition of the Commission.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of the \n Vice Chairman for Supervision of the Federal Reserve System and \n 4 additional members who shall be appointed by the President, \n by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among \n individuals who--\n ``(A) are citizens of the United States;\n ``(B) have strong competencies and experiences \n related to consumer financial protection; and\n ``(C) should want to protect service members and \n their families who are sacrificing their lives for this \n country from abusive financial practices.\n ``(2) Staggering.--The members of the Commission appointed \n under paragraph (1) shall serve staggered terms, which \n initially shall be established by the President for terms of 1, \n 2, 4, and 5 years, respectively.\n ``(3) Terms.--\n ``(A) In general.--Each member of the Commission \n appointed under paragraph (1), including the Chair, \n shall serve for a term of 5 years.\n ``(B) Removal for cause.--The President may remove \n any member of the Commission appointed under paragraph \n (1) only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or \n malfeasance in office.\n ``(C) Vacancies.--Any member of the Commission \n appointed under paragraph (1) appointed to fill a \n vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term to \n which that member's predecessor was appointed \n (including the Chair) shall be appointed only for the \n remainder of the term.\n ``(D) Continuation of service.--Each member of the \n Commission appointed under paragraph (1) may continue \n to serve after the expiration of the term of office to \n which that member was appointed until a successor has \n been appointed by the President and confirmed by the \n Senate, except that a member may not continue to serve \n more than 1 year after the date on which that member's \n term would otherwise expire.\n ``(E) Other employment prohibited.--No member of \n the Commission appointed under paragraph (1) shall \n engage in any other business, vocation, or employment.\n ``(4) Roles and responsibilities of commissioners.--One \n member of the Commission shall have as their primary \n responsibility the oversight of the Bureau's activities \n pertaining to protecting consumers, with a focus on consumers \n who are older, minorities, youth, or veterans, from unfair, \n deceptive, and abusive lending practices. The designated \n commissioner shall be responsible for--\n ``(A) ensuring the Bureau conducts regular outreach \n to consumers regarding industry lending activities;\n ``(B) researching and reporting to the full \n Commission, on a regular basis, the impact of new loan \n and credit products and services on consumers; and\n ``(C) ensuring the Bureau coordinates with State-\n level consumer protection agencies on enforcement \n measures that protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, \n and abusive lending practices.\n ``(d) Affiliation.--With respect to members appointed pursuant to \nsubsection (c)(1), not more than 2 shall be members of any one \npolitical party.\n ``(e) Chair of the Commission.--\n ``(1) Appointment.--The Chair of the Commission shall be \n appointed by the President from among the members of the \n Commission appointed under paragraph (1).\n ``(2) Authority.--The Chair shall be the principal \n executive officer of the Bureau, and shall exercise all of the \n executive and administrative functions of the Bureau, including \n with respect to--\n ``(A) the appointment and supervision of personnel \n employed under the Bureau (other than personnel \n employed regularly and full time in the immediate \n offices of members of the Commission other than the \n Chair);\n ``(B) the distribution of business among personnel \n appointed and supervised by the Chair and among \n administrative units of the Bureau; and\n ``(C) the use and expenditure of funds.\n ``(3) Limitation.--In carrying out any of the Chair's \n functions under the provisions of this subsection the Chair \n shall be governed by general policies of the Commission and by \n such regulatory decisions, findings, and determinations as the \n Commission may by law be authorized to make.\n ``(4) Requests or estimates related to appropriations.--\n Requests or estimates for regular, supplemental, or deficiency \n appropriations on behalf of the Commission may not be submitted \n by the Chair without the prior approval of the Commission.\n ``(f) No Impairment by Reason of Vacancies.--No vacancy in the \nmembers of the Commission shall impair the right of the remaining \nmembers of the Commission to exercise all the powers of the Commission. \nThree members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the \ntransaction of business, except that if there are only 3 members \nserving on the Commission because of vacancies in the Commission, 2 \nmembers of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction \nof business. If there are only 2 members serving on the Commission \nbecause of vacancies in the Commission, 2 members shall constitute a \nquorum for the 6-month period beginning on the date of the vacancy \nwhich caused the number of Commission members to decline to 2.\n ``(g) Seal.--The Commission shall have an official seal.\n ``(h) Compensation.--\n ``(1) Chair.--The Chair shall receive compensation at the \n rate prescribed for level I of the Executive Schedule under \n section 5313 of title 5, United States Code.\n ``(2) Other members of the commission.--The 3 other members \n of the Commission appointed under subsection (c)(1) shall each \n receive compensation at the rate prescribed for level II of the \n Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States \n Code.\n ``(i) Initial Quorum Established.--During any time period prior to \nthe confirmation of at least two members of the Commission, one member \nof the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of \nbusiness. Following the confirmation of at least 2 additional \ncommissioners, the quorum requirements of subsection (f) shall \napply.''.\n\nSEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.\n\n (a) Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010.--\n (1) In general.--The Consumer Financial Protection Act of \n 2010 is amended--\n (A) in section 1002, by striking paragraph (10);\n (B) in section 1012(c)(4), by striking ``Director'' \n each place such term appears and inserting ``Commission \n of the Bureau'';\n (C) in section 1013(c)(3)--\n (i) by striking ``Assistant Director of the \n Bureau for'' and inserting ``Head of the Office \n of''; and\n (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking \n ``Assistant Director'' and inserting ``Head of \n the Office'';\n (D) in section 1013(g)(2)--\n (i) by striking ``Assistant director'' and \n inserting ``Head of the office''; and\n (ii) by striking ``an assistant director'' \n and inserting ``a Head of the Office of \n Financial Protection for Older Americans'';\n (E) in section 1016(a), by striking ``Director of \n the Bureau'' and inserting ``Chair of the Commission'';\n (F) in section 1017(c)(1), by striking ``Director \n and other employees'' and inserting ``members of the \n Commission and other employees'';\n (G) in section 1027(l)(1), by striking ``Director \n and the''; and\n (H) in section 1066(a), by striking ``Director of \n the Bureau is'' and inserting ``first member of the \n Commission is''.\n (2) Global amendments.--The Consumer Financial Protection \n Act of 2010 is amended--\n (A) by striking ``Director of the'' each place such \n term appears, other than in--\n (i) subparagraphs (A) and (E) of section \n 1017(4);\n (ii) section 1043;\n (iii) section 1061(b)(3);\n (iv) section 1062;\n (v) section 1063(f);\n (vi) subparagraphs (E) and (G) of section \n 1064(i)(2); and\n (vii) section 1065(a); and\n (B) by striking ``Director'' each place such term \n appears and inserting ``Bureau'', other than in--\n (i) section 1063(f)(2); and\n (ii) section 1065(a).\n (b) Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.--The \nDodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is amended--\n (1) in section 111(b)(1)(D), by striking ``Director'' and \n inserting ``Chair of the Commission''; and\n (2) in section 1447, by striking ``Director of the Bureau'' \n each place such term appears and inserting ``Bureau''.\n (c) Electronic Fund Transfer Act.--Section 921(a)(4)(C) of the \nElectronic Fund Transfer Act, as added by section 1075(a)(2) of the \nConsumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is amended by striking \n``Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection'' and \ninserting ``Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection''.\n (d) Expedited Funds Availability Act.--The Expedited Funds \nAvailability Act, as amended by section 1086 of the Consumer Financial \nProtection Act of 2010, is amended by striking ``Director of the \nBureau'' each place such term appears and inserting ``Bureau''.\n (e) Federal Deposit Insurance Act.--Section 2 of the Federal \nDeposit Insurance Act, as amended by section 336(a) of the Dodd-Frank \nWall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, is amended by striking \n``Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau'' each place \nsuch term appears and inserting ``Chair of the Commission of the Bureau \nof Consumer Financial Protection''.\n (f) Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of \n1978.--Section 1004(a)(4) of the Federal Financial Institutions \nExamination Council Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3303(a)(4)), as amended by \nsection 1091 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is \namended by striking ``Director of the Consumer Financial Protection \nBureau'' and inserting ``Chair of the Commission of the Bureau of \nConsumer Financial Protection''.\n (g) Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act.--Section 513 \nof the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act, as amended by \nsection 1013(d) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is \namended by striking ``Director'' each place such term appears and \ninserting ``Chair of the Commission''.\n (h) Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975.--Section 307 of the Home \nMortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, as amended by section 1094(6) of the \nConsumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is amended by striking \n``Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection'' each place \nsuch term appears and inserting ``Bureau of Consumer Financial \nProtection''.\n (i) Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act.--The Interstate Land \nSales Full Disclosure Act, as amended by section 1098A of the Consumer \nFinancial Protection Act of 2010, is amended--\n (1) by amending section 1402(1) to read as follows:\n ``(1) `Chair' means the Chair of the Commission of the Bureau of \nConsumer Financial Protection;'';\n (2) in section 1416(a), by striking ``Director of the \n Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection'' and inserting \n ``Chair''; and\n (3) by striking ``Director'' each place such term appears \n and inserting ``Bureau''.\n (j) Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974.--Section 5 of \nthe Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974, as amended by \nsection 1450 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer \nProtection Act, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``The Director of the Bureau of Consumer \n Financial Protection (hereafter in this section referred to as \n the `Director')'' and inserting ``The Bureau of Consumer \n Financial Protection''; and\n (2) by striking ``Director'' each place such term appears \n and inserting ``Bureau''.\n (k) S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008.--The S.A.F.E. Mortgage \nLicensing Act of 2008, as amended by section 1100 of the Consumer \nFinancial Protection Act of 2010, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``Director'' each place such term appears \n in headings and text and inserting ``Bureau''; and\n (2) in section 1503, by striking paragraph (10).\n (l) Title 44, United States Code.--Section 3513(c) of title 44, \nUnited States Code, as amended by section 1100D(b) of the Consumer \nFinancial Protection Act of 2010, is amended by striking ``Director of \nthe Bureau'' and inserting ``Bureau''.", "summary": "Consumer Financial Protection Commission Act of 2013 - Amends the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (title X of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act), to replace the position of Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection with a five-member Commission whose members are appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Prohibits the Chair of the Commission from making requests for estimates related to appropriations without prior Commission approval.", "title": "Consumer Financial Protection Commission Act of 2013"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1450, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Health Quality Advisory \nCommission Act of 2007''.\n\nSEC. 2. RURAL HEALTH QUALITY ADVISORY COMMISSION AND DEMONSTRATION \n PROJECTS.\n\n (a) Rural Health Quality Advisory Commission.--\n (1) Establishment.--Not later than 6 months after the date \n of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and \n Human Services (in this section referred to as the \n ``Secretary'') shall establish a commission to be known as the \n Rural Health Quality Advisory Commission (in this section \n referred to as the ``Commission'').\n (2) Duties of commission.--\n (A) National plan.--The Commission shall develop, \n coordinate, and facilitate implementation of a national \n plan for rural health quality improvement. The national \n plan shall--\n (i) identify objectives for rural health \n quality improvement;\n (ii) identify strategies to eliminate known \n gaps in rural health system capacity and \n improve rural health quality; and\n (iii) provide for Federal programs to \n identify opportunities for strengthening and \n aligning policies and programs to improve rural \n health quality.\n (B) Demonstration projects.--The Commission shall \n design demonstration projects to test alternative \n models for rural health quality improvement, including \n with respect to both personal and population health.\n (C) Monitoring.--The Commission shall monitor \n progress toward the objectives identified pursuant to \n paragraph (1)(A).\n (3) Membership.--\n (A) Number.--The Commission shall be composed of 11 \n members appointed by the Secretary.\n (B) Selection.--The Secretary shall select the \n members of the Commission from among individuals with \n significant rural health care and health care quality \n expertise, including expertise in clinical health care, \n health care quality research, population or public \n health, or purchaser organizations.\n (4) Contracting authority.--Subject to the availability of \n funds, the Commission may enter into contracts and make other \n arrangements, as may be necessary to carry out the duties \n described in paragraph (2).\n (5) Staff.--Upon the request of the Commission, the \n Secretary may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the \n personnel of the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health \n Resources and Services Administration, the Agency for Health \n Care Quality and Research, or the Centers for Medicare & \n Medicaid Services to the Commission to assist in carrying out \n this subsection.\n (6) Reports to congress.--Not later than 1 year after the \n establishment of the Commission, and annually thereafter, the \n Commission shall submit a report to the Congress on rural \n health quality. Each such report shall include the following:\n (A) An inventory of relevant programs and \n recommendations for improved coordination and \n integration of policy and programs.\n (B) An assessment of achievement of the objectives \n identified in the national plan developed under \n paragraph (2) and recommendations for realizing such \n objectives.\n (C) Recommendations on Federal legislation, \n regulations, or administrative policies to enhance \n rural health quality and outcomes.\n (b) Rural Health Quality Demonstration Projects.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of \n the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation \n with the Rural Health Quality Advisory Commission, the Office \n of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services \n Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, \n and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall make \n grants to eligible entities for 5 demonstration projects to \n implement and evaluate methods for improving the quality of \n health care in rural communities. Each such demonstration \n project shall include--\n (A) alternative community models that--\n (i) will achieve greater integration of \n personal and population health services; and\n (ii) address safety, effectiveness, \n patient- or community-centeredness, timeliness, \n efficiency, and equity (the six aims identified \n by the Institute of Medicine of the National \n Academies in its report entitled ``Crossing the \n Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st \n Century'' released on March 1, 2001);\n (B) innovative approaches to the financing and \n delivery of health services to achieve rural health \n quality goals; and\n (C) development of quality improvement support \n structures to assist rural health systems and \n professionals (such as workforce support structures, \n quality monitoring and reporting, clinical care \n protocols, and information technology applications).\n (2) Eligible entities.--In this subsection, the term \n ``eligible entity'' means a consortium that--\n (A) shall include--\n (i) at least one health care provider or \n health care delivery system located in a rural \n area; and\n (ii) at least one organization representing \n multiple community stakeholders; and\n (B) may include other partners such as rural \n research centers.\n (3) Consultation.--In developing the program for awarding \n grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with \n the Administrator of the Agency for Healthcare Research and \n Quality, rural health care providers, rural health care \n researchers, and private and non-profit groups (including \n national associations) which are undertaking similar efforts.\n (4) Expedited waivers.--The Secretary shall expedite the \n processing of any waiver that--\n (A) is authorized under title XVIII or XIX of the \n Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.); and\n (B) is necessary to carry out a demonstration \n project under this subsection.\n (5) Demonstration project sites.--The Secretary shall \n ensure that the 5 demonstration projects funded under this \n subsection are conducted at a variety of sites representing the \n diversity of rural communities in the Nation.\n (6) Duration.--Each demonstration project under this \n subsection shall be for a period of 4 years.\n (7) Independent evaluation.--The Secretary shall enter into \n an arrangement with an entity that has experience working \n directly with rural health systems for the conduct of an \n independent evaluation of the program carried out under this \n subsection.\n (8) Report.--Not later than one year after the conclusion \n of all of the demonstration projects funded under this \n subsection, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress \n on the results of such projects. The report shall include--\n (A) an evaluation of patient access to care, \n patient outcomes, and an analysis of the cost \n effectiveness of each such project; and\n (B) recommendations on Federal legislation, \n regulations, or administrative policies to enhance \n rural health quality and outcomes.\n (c) Appropriation.--\n (1) In general.--Out of funds in the Treasury not otherwise \n appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary to carry \n out this section $30,000,000 for the period of fiscal years \n 2008 through 2012.\n (2) Availability.--\n (A) In general.--Funds appropriated under paragraph \n (1) shall remain available for expenditure through \n fiscal year 2012.\n (B) Report.--For purposes of carrying out \n subsection (b)(8), funds appropriated under paragraph \n (1) shall remain available for expenditure through \n fiscal year 2013.\n (3) Reservation.--Of the amount appropriated under \n paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reserve--\n (A) $5,000,000 to carry out subsection (a); and\n (B) $25,000,000 to carry out subsection (b), of \n which--\n (i) 2 percent shall be for the provision of \n technical assistance to grant recipients; and\n (ii) 5 percent shall be for independent \n evaluation under subsection (b)(7).", "summary": "Rural Health Quality Advisory Commission Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Rural Health Quality Advisory Commission to develop, coordinate, and facilitate implementation of a national plan for rural health quality improvements. Requires that such plan: (1) identify objectives for rural health quality improvement; (2) identify strategies to eliminate known gaps in rural health system capacity and improve rural health quality; and (3) provide for federal programs to identify opportunities for strengthening and aligning policies and programs to improve rural health quality.\n\nDirects the Commission to: (1) design demonstration projects to test alternative models for rural health quality improvement, including with respect to both personal and population health; and (2) monitor progress towards identified objectives.\n\nRequires the Secretary to make grants for demonstration projects to implement and evaluate methods for improving the quality of health care in rural communities that include: (1) alternative community models; (2) innovative approaches to the financing and delivery of health services; and (3) the development of quality improvement support structures to assist rural health systems and professionals. Directs the Secretary to: (1) expedite Medicaid and Medicare waivers as necessary to carry out such demonstration projects; and (2) provide for an independent evaluation of such projects.", "title": "To provide for the establishment of the Rural Health Quality Advisory Commission, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 34, "text": "SECTION 1. LIMITATION ON INTEREST DEDUCTION ALLOWED CORPORATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 163 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n(relating to deduction for interest) is amended by redesignating \nsubsection (k) as subsection (l) and by inserting after subsection (j) \nthe following new subsection:\n ``(k) Limitation on Corporate Interest Payments.--\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), in \n the case of a corporation, the amount otherwise allowed as a \n deduction under this chapter for interest paid or accrued \n during the taxable year by such corporation shall be reduced by \n 20 percent.\n ``(2) Exception for certain corporations.--\n ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply \n for any taxable year to any corporation the earnings \n and profits of which for such taxable year (computed as \n of the close of the taxable year without diminution by \n reason of any dividend distributions made during such \n taxable year) do not exceed the lesser of--\n ``(i) the corporation's tax liability under \n this chapter for such taxable year (determined \n after the application of paragraph (1)), or\n ``(ii) $100,000.\n ``(B) Controlled group.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (A), all component members of a controlled \n group (as defined in section 179(d)(7)) shall be \n treated as 1 corporation.\n ``(3) Exception for farming businesses.--Paragraph (1) \n shall not apply to any corporation substantially all of the \n assets of which are used in the active conduct of a farming \n business (as defined in section 448(d)(1)).''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1993.\n\nSEC. 2. DIVIDEND PAID DEDUCTION.\n\n (a) General Rule.--Part VIII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to special deductions for \ncorporations) is amended by striking the table of sections and section \n241 and inserting the following:\n\n ``Subpart A. Dividend paid deduction.\n ``Subpart B. Dividend received deduction.\n ``Subpart C. Miscellaneous provisions.\n\n``SEC. 230. ALLOWANCE OF SPECIAL DEDUCTIONS.\n\n ``In addition to the deductions provided in part VI (section 161 \nand following), there shall be allowed as deductions in computing \ntaxable income the items specified in this part.\n\n ``Subpart A--Dividend Paid Deduction\n\n ``Sec. 231. Dividend paid deduction.\n ``Sec. 232. Qualified dividend account.\n ``Sec. 233. Ineligible corporations.\n ``Sec. 234. Special rules.\n\n``SEC. 231. DIVIDEND PAID DEDUCTION.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Deduction.--In the case of a corporation, there \nshall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to 50 percent of the \ndividends paid by such corporation during the taxable year.\n ``(b) Limitation Based on Amount in Qualified Dividend Account.--\nThe amount of the dividends paid during any taxable year which may be \ntaken into account under subsection (a) shall not exceed the amount in \nthe corporation's qualified dividend account as of the close of such \ntaxable year determined after the application of section 232(b)(1) for \nthe taxable year but before the application of section 232(b)(2) for \nsuch taxable year.\n\n``SEC. 232. QUALIFIED DIVIDEND ACCOUNT.\n\n ``(a) Establishment of Account.--Each corporation shall establish a \nqualified dividend account. The opening balance of such account shall \nbe zero.\n ``(b) Adjustments to Accounts.--As of the close of each taxable \nyear beginning after January 1, 1993, the qualified dividend account--\n ``(1) shall be increased by the adjusted taxable income of \n the corporation for the taxable year, and\n ``(2) shall be reduced by the amount of the dividends paid \n by the corporation during the taxable year to the extent the \n amount so paid does not exceed the limitation of section \n 231(c).\n ``(c) Adjusted Taxable Income.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) In general.--The term `adjusted taxable income' means \n taxable income adjusted as provided in this subsection.\n ``(2) Adjustment for certain qualifying dividends.--Taxable \n income shall be increased by the deduction allowed under \n section 243 with respect to that portion of any qualifying \n dividend (as defined in section 243(b)(1)) for which such \n deduction is determined at a rate of less than 100 percent. \n Similar rules shall apply in the case of dividends for which \n deductions are allowable under section 245(b).\n ``(3) Adjustment for tax credits.--\n ``(A) In general.--Taxable income shall be reduced \n by the deduction equivalent of the tentative \n nonrefundable credits for the taxable year.\n ``(B) Deduction equivalent.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (A), the deduction equivalent of the \n tentative nonrefundable credits for any taxable year is \n the amount which (if allowed as a deduction for the \n taxable year) would reduce the tax liability (as \n defined in section 26(b)) for the taxable year by an \n amount equal to the tentative nonrefundable credits.\n ``(C) Tentative nonrefundable credits.--For \n purposes of this paragraph, the term `tentative \n nonrefundable credits' means the amount of the credits \n which would have been allowable under part IV of \n subchapter A of this chapter for the taxable year \n (other than the credit allowable under section 34) if \n no deduction were allowable under section 231.\n ``(4) Adjustment for corporate minimum tax.--If tax is \n imposed by section 55 on the corporation for any taxable year, \n taxable income for the succeeding taxable year shall be \n increased by an amount equal to \\35/100\\ of the amount of tax \n so imposed.\n ``(5) Dividend paid deduction not taken into account.--\n Taxable income shall be determined without regard to the \n deduction allowed under section 231.\n\n``SEC. 233. INELIGIBLE CORPORATIONS.\n\n ``(a) General Rule.--No deduction shall be allowed under section \n231 with respect to any dividend paid by--\n ``(1) a regulated investment company,\n ``(2) a real estate investment trust,\n ``(3) an S corporation,\n ``(4) any organization taxable under subchapter T of this \n chapter (relating to cooperative organizations), or\n ``(5) a FSC or DISC.\n ``(b) Foreign Corporations.--In the case of a foreign corporation--\n ``(1) no deduction shall be allowed under section 231 for \n dividends paid by such corporation during any taxable year \n unless the corporation meets the requirements of section 245(a) \n for such taxable year,\n ``(2) only adjusted taxable income effectively connected \n with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States \n and attributable to the uninterrupted period referred to in \n section 245(a) shall be added to the qualified dividend \n account, and\n ``(3) any distribution shall be treated as made ratably out \n of income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or \n business in the United States and other income.\n\n``SEC. 234. SPECIAL RULES.\n\n ``(a) Certain Distributions Not Treated as Dividends.--For purposes \nof this subpart, the term `dividend' does not include--\n ``(1) any distribution in redemption of stock, in \n liquidation, or in a reorganization (whether or not such \n distribution is treated as a distribution to which section 301 \n applies), and\n ``(2) any dividend described in section 244 (relating to \n dividends received on certain preferred stock).\n ``(b) Deduction Not Taken Into Account for Purposes of Certain \nLimitations Based on Taxable Income.--For purposes of sections 246(c), \n613, 613A, and 593, taxable income shall be determined without regard \nto the deduction allowed under section 231.\n ``(c) Treatment of Dividends Received by 5-Percent Tax-Exempt \nShareholders.--\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of part III of subchapter F \n (relating to taxation of unrelated business income of certain \n exempt organizations), any dividend received by a tax-exempt \n organization from a corporation in which such organization is a \n 5-percent shareholder shall be treated as unrelated business \n taxable income to the extent of the amount of the deduction \n allowable under section 231 to such corporation with respect to \n such dividend. Except as provided in regulations, the amount of \n such deduction shall be determined on the basis of the return \n filed by the corporation for the taxable year.\n ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--\n ``(A) 5-percent shareholder.--The term `5-percent \n shareholder' means any tax-exempt organization which \n owns (or is considered as owning within the meaning of \n section 318)--\n ``(i) 5 percent or more (by value) of the \n outstanding stock of the corporation, or\n ``(ii) stock possessing 5 percent or more \n of the total combined voting power of all stock \n of the corporation.\n ``(B) Tax-exempt organization.--The term `tax-\n exempt organization' means any organization which is \n exempt from the tax imposed by this chapter.\n ``(C) Related entities.--A tax-exempt organization \n and 1 or more other tax-exempt organizations which \n have--\n ``(i) significant common purposes and \n substantial common membership, or\n ``(ii) directly or indirectly substantial \n common direction or control, shall be treated \n as 1 tax-exempt organization for purposes of \n this paragraph.\n ``(d) Treatment of Subsequent Adjustments.--If there is any \nadjustment which affects the amount of the adjusted taxable income of a \ncorporation for any taxable year (whether by reason of any carryback to \nsuch taxable year or otherwise) for purposes of this subpart and \nsubpart B, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as made as of \nthe close of such taxable year.\n ``(e) Allocation of Qualified Dividend Account in Corporate \nSeparations, Reorganizations, and Redemptions.--Adjustments similar to \nthe adjustments provided in subsection (h) or (n)(7) of section 312 \nshall be made to the qualified dividend account in the case of a \ntransaction described in either of such subsections.\n ``(f) Mutual Life Insurance Companies.--\n ``(1) General rule.--In the case of a mutual life insurance \n company, for purposes of this subpart, 80 percent of the \n differential earnings amount (as defined in section 809(a)(3)) \n shall be treated as a dividend paid to a shareholder.\n ``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary may prescribe regulations \n applying rules consistent with this subpart to mutual life \n insurance companies. Such regulations may include rules \n treating an appropriate portion of the recomputed differential \n earnings amount (as defined in section 809(f)(3)) as an \n adjustment to the amount described in paragraph (1).\n\n ``Subpart B--Dividend Received Deduction\n\n ``Sec. 243. Dividends received by \n corporations.\n ``Sec. 244. Dividends received on certain \n preferred stock.\n ``Sec. 245. Dividends received from \n certain foreign corporations.\n ``Sec. 246. Rules applying to deductions \n for dividends received.\n ``Sec. 246A. Dividends received deduction \n reduced where portfolio stock \n is debt financed.\n ``Sec. 247. Dividends paid on certain \n preferred stock of public \n utilities.''.\n (b) Compensatory Withholding Tax on Dividends Paid to Nonresident \nAliens or Foreign Corporations.--\n (1) General rule.--Subpart D of part II of subchapter N of \n chapter 1 (relating to miscellaneous provisions) is amended by \n adding at the end thereof the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 899. ADDITIONAL TAX ON DIVIDENDS TO REFLECT DIVIDEND PAID \n DEDUCTION.\n\n ``(a) General Rule.--In addition to any tax imposed by section 871 \nor 881, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 30.4 percent of the \ndividends received from sources within the United States by a \nnonresident alien individual or foreign corporation.\n ``(b) Tax Not To Apply to Shareholder's Effectively Connected \nItems.--The tax imposed by this section shall not apply to any dividend \nto the extent such dividend is effectively connected with the conduct \nof a trade or business by the shareholder within the United States.\n ``(c) Corresponding Increase in Withholding Tax.--In the case of \nany dividend subject to tax under subsection (a), the tax imposed by \nsection 1441 or 1442 (as the case may be) shall be increased by an \namount equal to the applicable percentage of such dividend.\n ``(d) Exception for Certain Treaty Countries.--The tax imposed by \nsubsection (a) shall not apply to any dividend paid to a resident or \ncorporation of a foreign country during any period--\n ``(1) in which an income tax treaty between such country \n and the United States is in effect, and\n ``(2) during which there is in effect a certification by \n the Secretary that--\n ``(A) such income tax treaty has adequate \n provisions to prevent treaty shopping, and\n ``(B) if such foreign country imposes an income tax \n comparable to the tax imposed by this subtitle and \n grants relief from such tax to its residents, such \n country grants relief equivalent to that provided in \n section 231 with respect to dividends paid to United \n States persons.\nThe requirements of paragraph (2) shall not apply to dividends paid \nbefore January 1, 1994.''.\n (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for subpart \n D of part II of subchapter N of chapter 1 is amended by adding \n at the end thereof the following new item:\n\n ``Sec. 899. Additional tax on dividends \n to reflect dividend paid \n deduction.''.\n (c) Section 381 To Apply to Qualified Dividend Account.--Subsection \n(c) of section 381 (relating to items of the distributor or transferor \ncorporation) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new \nparagraph:\n ``(27) Qualified dividend account.--Under regulations \n prescribed by the Secretary, the acquiring corporation shall \n take into account (to the extent proper to carry out the \n purposes of this section and subpart A of part VIII of \n subchapter B of this chapter) the qualified dividend account of \n the distributor or transferor corporation.''.\n (d) Clerical Amendment.--Part VIII of subchapter B of chapter 1 is \namended by inserting after section 247 the following:\n\n ``Subpart C--Miscellaneous Provisions\n\n ``Sec. 248. Organizational expenditures.\n ``Sec. 249. Limitation on deduction of \n bond premium on repurchase.''.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the deduction for corporate interest payments by 20 percent. Excepts small corporations and farming businesses from such reduction. \nAllows corporations a deduction of 50 percent of the dividends paid during a taxable year. Limits such deduction to the amount in the qualified dividend account established by the corporation for the payment of such dividends. \nProhibits the following corporations from using such deduction: (1) regulated investment companies; (2) real estate investment trusts; (3) an S corporation (certain small business corporations); (4) cooperative organizations; and (5) foreign sales corporations and domestic international sales corporations. \nProvides for an increase in the withholding tax on dividends paid to nonresident aliens or foreign corporations to reflect the dividend paid deduction. \nRequires, in the case of the acquisition of assets of a corporation by another corporation, that the acquiring corporation carryover the qualified dividend account.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to limit the interest deduction allowed corporations and to allow a deduction for dividends paid by corporations."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1528, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act of \n2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) According to President George W. Bush, ``America's \n leadership and national security rest on our commitment to \n educate and prepare our youth for active engagement in the \n international community.''.\n (2) According to former President William J. Clinton, \n ``Today, the defense of United States interests, the effective \n management of global issues, and even an understanding of our \n Nation's diversity require ever-greater contact with, and \n understanding of, people and cultures beyond our borders.''.\n (3) Congress created the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln \n Study Abroad Fellowship Program in section 104(a) of Division H \n of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public Law 108-\n 199). Pursuant to its mandate, the Commission has submitted to \n Congress and the President a report of its recommendations for \n greatly expanding the opportunity for students at institutions \n of higher education in the United States to study abroad, with \n special emphasis on studying in developing nations and \n nontraditional study abroad destinations.\n (4) Studies consistently show that United States students \n score below their counterparts in other advanced countries on \n indicators of international knowledge. This lack of global \n literacy is a national liability in an age of global trade and \n business, global interdependence, and global terror.\n (5) By numbers ranging from 77 to more than 90 percent, \n Americans believe that it is important for their children to \n learn other languages, study abroad, attend a college where \n they can interact with international students, learn about \n other countries and cultures, and generally be prepared for the \n global age, according to a December 2005 national survey \n conducted by Lake Research Partners and the Tarrance Group.\n (6) In today's world, it is more important than ever for \n the United States to be a responsible, constructive leader that \n other countries are willing to follow. Such leadership cannot \n be sustained without an informed citizenry with much more \n knowledge and awareness of the world than most Americans tend \n to possess.\n (7) Study abroad has proven to be a very effective means of \n imparting international and foreign-language competency to \n students.\n (8) In the 2003-2004 academic year, an estimated 16,910,000 \n students were enrolled in United States postsecondary \n institutions, yet only 191,321, representing approximately 1 \n percent of those students, studied abroad for academic credit, \n according to the National Center for Education Statistics and \n the Institute of International Education, respectively.\n (9) Less than 10 percent of the students who graduate from \n United States institutions of higher education with bachelors \n degrees have studied abroad.\n (10) Far more study abroad must take place in the \n developing countries. Ninety-five percent of the world's \n population growth is anticipated to occur outside of Europe in \n the future. Yet in the academic year 2003-2004, 61 percent of \n United States students studying abroad studied in Europe, and \n 46 percent studied in the 4 countries of the United Kingdom, \n Italy, Spain, and France, according to the Institute of \n International Education.\n (11) Study abroad helps to build mutual understanding among \n nations and serves to promote national leadership in the United \n States, international effectiveness, and economic \n competitiveness by helping to create a globally literate \n citizenry.\n (12) The Senate designated 2006 as the Year of Study \n Abroad, raising awareness of the importance of study abroad.\n (13) To complement such worthwhile Federal programs as the \n Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program and the \n National Security Education Program, a broad-based \n undergraduate study abroad program is needed that will \n democratize study abroad and make opportunities of study abroad \n accessible to all undergraduate students, regardless of their \n field of study, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or gender.\n (14) A majority of barriers to study abroad are due to \n institutional policies at the campus level, according to a \n report of the Strategic Task Force on Education Abroad issued \n by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.\n (15) To make study abroad an integral part of undergraduate \n students' education, regardless of field of study, ethnicity, \n socio-economic status, or gender, institutions of higher \n education should address institutional barriers that stand in \n the way of study abroad.\n (16) According to the Institute of International Education, \n the percentages of African-American, Asian-American, and \n Hispanic-American students among individuals studying abroad \n are extremely low and underrepresentative of the numbers of \n those students in the general student population.\n (17) The majority of students who study abroad are students \n in the social sciences, humanities, and foreign languages, \n while students who major in engineering, mathematics, computer \n science, or education are underrepresented in study abroad \n programs. Within the total enrolled United States undergraduate \n population, approximately 10.7 percent of United States \n students majoring in business have studied abroad, 8 percent of \n United States students majoring in engineering have studied \n abroad, and 5.9 percent of United States students majoring in \n education have studied abroad.\n (18) Recognizing that the international scope of scientific \n research in United States institutions of higher education and \n government facilities is often conducted by foreign-born \n scientists, the effectiveness of their work will be greatly \n enhanced by United States researchers who have similarly spent \n time studying abroad.\n (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act--\n (1) to encourage not less than 1,000,000 undergraduate \n students in United States institutions of higher education to \n study abroad for academic credit within 10 years of the date of \n enactment of this Act; and\n (2) to establish an Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Program \n that--\n (A) reflects the demographics of the United States \n undergraduate population, including undergraduate \n students in technical and scientific fields of study;\n (B) ensures an increasing portion of study abroad \n takes place in nontraditional study abroad \n destinations, with a substantial portion of such \n increases taking place in developing countries; and\n (C) is accessible by students at diverse types of \n institutions of higher education, including 2-year \n institutions, minority-serving institutions, and \n institutions that serve nontraditional students.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Institution of higher education.--The term \n ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the \n term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 \n U.S.C. 1001(a)).\n (2) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-\n serving institution'' means--\n (A) a part B institution, as defined in section 322 \n of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061);\n (B) a Hispanic-serving institution, as defined in \n section 502(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)); or\n (C) another school that traditionally serves a \n racial or ethnic minority, as determined by the \n Secretary after consultation with the Secretary of \n Education.\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of State.\n\nSEC. 4. ABRAHAM LINCOLN STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to establish and carry \nout an Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Program to facilitate the \nparticipation of undergraduate students in study abroad for academic \ncredit. The program shall consist of the following:\n (1) Fellowships for undergraduate students.--\n (A) Fellowships.--From amounts made available under \n section 5(1), the Secretary shall award fellowships to \n undergraduate students to enable the students to study \n abroad for academic credit.\n (B) Designation.--Fellowships awarded under this \n paragraph shall be known as ``Lincoln Fellowships''.\n (2) Grants to institutions of higher education.--\n (A) In general.--From amounts made available under \n section 5(2), the Secretary shall award grants to \n institutions of higher education--\n (i) to enable the institutions of higher \n education to award fellowships to undergraduate \n students to enable the students to study abroad \n for academic credit; and\n (ii) for the reform of academic programs \n and institutional policies that inhibit \n participation by students in study abroad.\n (B) Designation.--Grants awarded under this \n paragraph shall be known as ``Lincoln Institutional \n Leverage Grants''.\n (C) Limitation.--Each institution of higher \n education that receives a grant under this paragraph \n shall use not less than 85 percent of the grant funds \n to award fellowships to students under subparagraph \n (A)(i).\n (b) Fellowship Award Rules.--The Secretary shall ensure that--\n (1) fellowships awarded under subsections (a)(1)(A) and \n (a)(2)(A)(i) reflect the demographics of the United States \n undergraduate population; and\n (2) there is an annual increase in the number or percentage \n of fellowships awarded under subsections (a)(1)(A) and \n (a)(2)(A)(i) for study abroad taking place in nontraditional \n study abroad destinations, with a substantial portion of such \n increase taking place in developing countries.\n (c) Program Development and Implementation.--The Secretary shall, \nto the extent practicable, consult with nonprofit and private \norganizations with experience in programs involving study abroad for \nacademic credit, in establishing and carrying out the Abraham Lincoln \nStudy Abroad Program.\n (d) Coordination With Other Federal Study Abroad Activities.--The \nSecretary may integrate the activities assisted under this section with \nother undergraduate study abroad activities supported by the Department \nof State, the Department of Education, and the Department of Defense.\n\nSEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such \nsums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008 and for each of the 4 \nsucceeding fiscal years, of which--\n (1) 25 percent of such sums shall be available to carry out \n section 4(a)(1) for each fiscal year; and\n (2) 75 percent of such sums shall be available to carry out \n section 4(a)(2) for each fiscal year.", "summary": "Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Act of 2006 - Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish an Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Program to facilitate undergraduate study abroad for academic credit. States that the Program shall consist of: (1) undergraduate fellowships (Lincoln Fellowships); and (2) grants to institutions of higher education (Lincoln Institutional Leverage Grants).", "title": "A bill to establish the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2952, "text": "SECTION 1. LIMITED AUTHORITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PERSONNEL WHO \n ARE FACULTY MEMBERS AT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SCHOOLS OR \n OTHER ACADEMIES TO SECURE COPYRIGHTS FOR CERTAIN \n SCHOLARLY WORKS.\n\n (a) Authority.--(1) Chapter 53 of title 10, United States Code, is \namended by inserting after section 1033 the following new section:\n``Sec. 1033a. Faculty of service academies and Department of Defense \n professional schools: limited authority to secure \n copyrights for certain works\n ``(a) Authority.--Subject to regulations prescribed under \nsubsection (f), a person who is a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, \nor Marine Corps, or a civilian employee of the Department of Defense, \nand is a faculty member of an institution described in subsection (e) \nmay, notwithstanding section 105 or 201(b) of title 17, secure \ncopyright protection under title 17 for a qualifying work, but only for \nthe purposes of submitting such work for publication in a scholarly \njournal, publication, or other edited work for which such a copyright \nis a requirement for consideration for publication or otherwise as may \nbe prescribed under regulations under this section.\n ``(b) Qualifying Works.--A work is a qualifying work for purposes \nof this section if the work--\n ``(1) is prepared as part of a person's official duties; \n and\n ``(2) meets such criteria as the Secretary of Defense may \n prescribe by regulation as a scholarly work for which copyright \n protection as provided in subsection (a) is warranted.\n ``(c) Transfer of Copyright.--Upon acceptance for publication of a \nwork for which copyright protection exists by reason of subsection (a), \nthe person holding the copyright shall transfer the copyright to the \nowner or publisher of the medium in which the work will be published.\n ``(d) Royalties, Etc.--No royalties or other compensation may be \naccepted by a person described in subsection (a) by reason of copyright \nprotection that exists by reason of subsection (a).\n ``(e) Covered Institutions.--The institutions referred to in \nsubsection (a) are the following:\n ``(1) The United States Military Academy, United States \n Naval Academy, and United States Air Force Academy.\n ``(2) The National Defense University.\n ``(3) Any war college of the armed forces.\n ``(4) Any graduate-level college or university of the \n Department of Defense.\n ``(5) The Coast Guard Academy.\n ``(6) The United States Merchant Marine Academy.\n ``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe \nregulations for the purposes of this section. Such regulations shall \ninclude provisions specifying the types of works for which copyright \nprotection may be secured by a person described in subsection (a).''.\n (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is \namended by inserting after the item relating to section 1033 the \nfollowing new item:\n\n``1033a. Faculty of service academies and Department of Defense \n professional schools: limited authority to \n secure copyrights for certain works.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--Section 1033a of title 10, United States Code, \nas added by subsection (a), shall apply only with respect to works \nthat, as determined under regulations prescribed under that section, \nare produced after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (c) Deadline for Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall \nprescribe regulations under subsection (f) of section 1033a of title \n10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), not later than 180 \ndays after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 2. LIMITED AUTHORITY FOR FACULTY MEMBERS AT COAST GUARD ACADEMY TO \n SECURE COPYRIGHTS FOR CERTAIN SCHOLARLY WORKS.\n\n (a) Authority.--(1) Chapter 9 of title 14, United States Code, is \namended by inserting after section 196 the following new section:\n``Sec. 197. Limited authority for faculty members to secure copyrights \n for certain works\n ``(a) Authority.--Subject to regulations prescribed under \nsubsection (f), a person who is a member of the Coast Guard, or a \ncivilian employee of the Coast Guard, and is a faculty member of an \ninstitution described in subsection (e) may, notwithstanding section \n105 or 201(b) of title 17, secure copyright protection under title 17 \nfor a qualifying work, but only for the purposes of submitting such \nwork for publication in a scholarly journal, publication, or other \nedited work for which such a copyright is a requirement for \nconsideration for publication or otherwise as may be prescribed under \nregulations under this section.\n ``(b) Qualifying Works.--A work is a qualifying work for purposes \nof this section if the work--\n ``(1) is prepared as part of a person's official duties; \n and\n ``(2) meets such criteria as the Secretary may prescribe by \n regulation as a scholarly work for which copyright protection \n as provided in subsection (a) is warranted.\n ``(c) Transfer of Copyright.--Upon acceptance for publication of a \nwork for which copyright protection exists by reason of subsection (a), \nthe person holding the copyright shall transfer the copyright to the \nowner or publisher of the medium in which the work will be published.\n ``(d) Royalties, Etc.--No royalties or other compensation may be \naccepted by a person described in subsection (a) by reason of copyright \nprotection that exists by reason of subsection (a).\n ``(e) Covered Institutions.--The institutions referred to in \nsubsection (a) are the following:\n ``(1) The Coast Guard Academy.\n ``(2) The United States Merchant Marine Academy.\n ``(3) The United States Military Academy, United States \n Naval Academy, and United States Air Force Academy.\n ``(4) The National Defense University.\n ``(5) Any war college of the armed forces.\n ``(6) Any graduate-level college or university of the \n Department of Defense.\n ``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for \nthe purposes of this section. Such regulations shall include provisions \nspecifying the types of works for which copyright protection may be \nsecured by a person described in subsection (a).''.\n (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is \namended by inserting after the item relating to section 196 the \nfollowing new item:\n\n``197. Limited authority for faculty members to secure copyrights for \n certain works.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--Section 197 of title 14, United States Code, \nas added by subsection (a), shall apply only with respect to works \nthat, as determined under regulations prescribed under that section, \nare produced after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (c) Deadline for Regulations.--The Secretary of the department in \nwhich the Coast Guard is operating shall prescribe regulations under \nsubsection (f) of section 197 of title 14, United States Code, as added \nby subsection (a), not later than 180 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. LIMITED AUTHORITY FOR FACULTY MEMBERS AT UNITED STATES MERCHANT \n MARINE ACADEMY TO SECURE COPYRIGHTS FOR CERTAIN WORKS.\n\n (a) Authority.-- Title XIII of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 \nApp. U.S.C. 1295 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following \nnew section:\n\n``SEC. 1308. LIMITED AUTHORITY FOR FACULTY MEMBERS TO SECURE COPYRIGHTS \n FOR CERTAIN WORKS.\n\n ``(a) Authority.--Subject to regulations prescribed under \nsubsection (f), a person who is an employee of the Department of \nTransportation and is a faculty member of an institution described in \nsubsection (e) may, notwithstanding section 105 or 201(b) of title 17, \nsecure copyright protection under title 17 for a qualifying work, but \nonly for the purposes of submitting such work for publication in a \nscholarly journal, publication, or other edited work for which such a \ncopyright is a requirement for consideration for publication or \notherwise as may be prescribed under regulations under this section.\n ``(b) Qualifying Works.--A work is a qualifying work for purposes \nof this section if the work--\n ``(1) is prepared as part of a person's official duties; \n and\n ``(2) meets such criteria as the Secretary of \n Transportation may prescribe by regulation as a scholarly work \n for which copyright protection as provided in subsection (a) is \n warranted.\n ``(c) Transfer of Copyright.--Upon acceptance for publication of a \nwork for which copyright protection exists by reason of subsection (a), \nthe person holding the copyright shall transfer the copyright to the \nowner or publisher of the medium in which the work will be published.\n ``(d) Royalties, Etc.--No royalties or other compensation may be \naccepted by a person described in subsection (a) by reason of copyright \nprotection that exists by reason of subsection (a).\n ``(e) Covered Institutions.--The institutions referred to in \nsubsection (a) are the following:\n ``(1) The United States Merchant Marine Academy.\n ``(2) The Coast Guard Academy.\n ``(3) The United States Military Academy, United States \n Naval Academy, and United States Air Force Academy.\n ``(4) The National Defense University.\n ``(5) Any war college of the armed forces.\n ``(6) Any graduate-level college or university of the \n Department of Defense.\n ``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe \nregulations for the purposes of this section. Such regulations shall \ninclude provisions specifying the types of works for which copyright \nprotection may be secured by a person described in subsection (a).''.\n (b) Effective Date.--Section 1308 of Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as \nadded by subsection (a), shall apply only with respect to works that, \nas determined under regulations prescribed under that section, are \nproduced after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n (c) Deadline for Regulations.--The Secretary of Transportation \nshall prescribe regulations under section 1308 of Merchant Marine Act, \n1936, as added by subsection (a), not later than 180 days after the \ndate of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Authorizes a faculty member of a military service academy (including the Coast Guard Academy and Merchant Marine Academy) or Department of Defense professional school (including the National Defense University) to secure Federal copyright protection for a scholarly work prepared as part of that person's official duties, but only for purposes of submitting such work for publication in a scholarly journal, publication, or other edited work for which such a copyright is required. Requires the faculty member to transfer such copyright to the owner or publisher of the medium for which the work will be published. Prohibits the acceptance of royalties or other compensation by reason of such copyright protection.", "title": "To amend title 10, United States Code, to allow faculty members at Department of Defense service academies and schools of professional military education to secure copyrights for certain scholarly works that they produce as part of their official duties in order to submit such works for publication, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2381, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Land Management Workforce \nFlexibility Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. PERSONNEL FLEXIBILITIES RELATING TO LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart I of part III of title 5, United States \nCode, is amended by inserting after chapter 95 the following:\n\n ``CHAPTER 96--PERSONNEL FLEXIBILITIES RELATING TO LAND MANAGEMENT \n AGENCIES\n\n``Sec.\n``9601. Definition.\n``9602. Competitive service; time-limited appointments.\n``Sec. 9601. Definition\n ``For purposes of this chapter, the term `land management agency' \nmeans--\n ``(1) the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture;\n ``(2) the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of \n the Interior;\n ``(3) the National Park Service of the Department of the \n Interior;\n ``(4) the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of \n the Interior;\n ``(5) the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the \n Interior; and\n ``(6) the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the \n Interior.\n``Sec. 9602. Competitive service; time-limited appointments\n ``(a) Notwithstanding chapter 33 or any other provision of law \nrelating to the examination, certification, and appointment of \nindividuals in the competitive service, an employee of a land \nmanagement agency serving under a time-limited appointment in the \ncompetitive service is eligible to compete for a permanent appointment \nin the competitive service under that agency's merit promotion \nprocedures if--\n ``(1) such individual was appointed initially under open, \n competitive examination under subchapter I of chapter 33 to the \n time-limited appointment;\n ``(2) the employee has served under 1 or more time-limited \n appointments by such agency for a period or periods totaling \n not less than 24 months without an intervening break of 2 or \n more years; and\n ``(3) the employee's performance has been at an acceptable \n level of performance throughout the period or periods (as the \n case may be) referred to in paragraph (2).\n ``(b)(1) For purposes of this subsection, the term `successor \npermanent position' means, with respect to a time-limited position, a \npermanent position in the competitive service with the same or \nsubstantially similar major duties and qualification requirements in \nthe same major subdivision of the same agency as the time-limited \nposition.\n ``(2) Notwithstanding chapter 33 or any other provision of law \nrelating to the examination, certification, and appointment of \nindividuals in the competitive service, an employee of a land \nmanagement agency serving under a time-limited appointment in the \ncompetitive service shall be offered any successor permanent position \nthat the agency decides to fill and, upon his or her concurrence, be \nappointed to such position if--\n ``(A) such individual was appointed initially under open, \n competitive examination under subchapter I of chapter 33 to the \n time-limited appointment;\n ``(B)(i) the job announcement for the time-limited position \n stated that there was potential for the position to become \n permanent; or\n ``(ii) the employee's first time-limited appointment by \n such agency occurred before the date of enactment of this \n chapter;\n ``(C) the employee has served under a time-limited \n appointment or appointments in a position or positions in such \n agency with the same or substantially similar major duties and \n qualification requirements as the successor permanent position \n for a period or periods totaling not less than 24 months \n without an intervening break of 2 or more years; and\n ``(D) the employee's performance has been at an acceptable \n level of performance throughout the period or periods (as the \n case may be) referred to in subparagraph (C).\n ``(3) If 2 or more employees are eligible for conversion under this \nsubsection, then any preference eligible veterans shall be given \npriority.\n ``(4) If 2 or more employees have equal priority for conversion \nunder this subsection, then placement shall be determined by \ncompetitive procedures consistent with merit system principles.\n ``(c) An employee selected or converted under this section becomes \na career-conditional employee, unless the employee has otherwise \ncompleted the service requirements for career tenure.\n ``(d) An employee appointed under this section acquires competitive \nstatus upon appointment.\n ``(e) The provisions of this section shall apply with respect to \ntime-limited employees who have been separated for reasons other than \nmisconduct or unacceptable performance. For such a separated employee, \nthe provisions of this chapter shall apply as if such separated \nemployee occupied the time-limited position from which such employee \nwas most recently separated. An agency shall be deemed to have met its \nobligation under this section if notice is sent to the last known \naddress of such individual 21 or more days before a successor permanent \nposition for which he or she is eligible is filled.\n ``(f) For purposes of this section, time-limited appointments \ninclude temporary appointments and term appointments, as defined by the \nOffice of Personnel Management.\n ``(g) The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe such \nregulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for part III of title 5, \nUnited States Code, is amended by inserting after the item for chapter \n95 the following:\n\n``96. Personnel flexibilities relating to land management 9601''.\n agencies.", "summary": " Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act - Makes an employee of a land management agency who served under a time-limited appointment in the competitive service eligible to compete for a permanent appointment in the agency if the original appointment was competitive, totaled a period of at least 24 months, and the employee's performance was satisfactory. Requires such an employee's appointment to a full-time position, if such a position is offered and the employee agrees to such employment, if the original position stated that there was the potential for the position to become permanent.", "title": "Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1146, "text": "SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOR POSITIONS WITHIN THE \n COMPETITIVE SERVICE.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 3321 of title 5, United States Code, is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``The President'' and \n inserting ``Subject to subsections (c) and (d), the \n President'';\n (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and\n (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:\n ``(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the length of a \nprobationary period established under paragraph (1) or (2) of \nsubsection (a) shall be--\n ``(A) with respect to any position that requires formal \n training, a period of 2 years beginning on the date that such \n formal training is completed;\n ``(B) with respect to any position that requires a license, \n a period of 2 years beginning on the date that such license is \n granted; and\n ``(C) with respect to any position not covered by \n subparagraph (A) or (B), not less than 2 years.\n ``(2) The length of a probationary period established under \nparagraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) in the case of a preference \neligible shall be not longer than--\n ``(A) if the appointment (as referred to in subsection \n (a)(1)) or the initial appointment (as referred to in \n subsection (a)(2)) is to a position that exists on the \n effective date of this subsection, the length of the \n probationary period which applies to such position as of such \n effective date; or\n ``(B) if the appointment (as referred to in subsection \n (a)(1)) or the initial appointment (as referred to in \n subsection (a)(2)) is to a position that does not exist on the \n effective date of this subsection, such length of time as the \n President may establish, consistent with the purposes of this \n subparagraph.\n ``(3) In paragraph (1)--\n ``(A) the term `formal training' means, with respect to any \n position, a training program required by law, rule, or \n regulation, or otherwise required by the employing agency, to \n be completed by the employee before the employee is able to \n successfully execute the duties of the applicable position; and\n ``(B) the term `license' means a license, certification, or \n other grant of permission to engage in a particular activity.\n ``(d) The head of each agency shall, in the administration of this \nsection, take appropriate measures to ensure that--\n ``(1) any announcement of a vacant position within such \n agency and any offer of appointment made to any individual with \n respect to any such position shall clearly state the terms and \n conditions of the probationary period applicable to such \n position;\n ``(2) any individual who is required to complete a \n probationary period under this section shall receive timely \n notice of the performance and other requirements which must be \n met in order to successfully complete the probationary period; \n and\n ``(3) upon successful completion of a probationary period \n under this section, certification to that effect shall be made, \n supported by a brief statement of the basis for that \n certification, in such form and manner as the President may by \n regulation prescribe.''.\n (b) Technical Amendment.--Section 3321(e) of title 5, United States \nCode (as so redesignated by subsection (a)(2)) is amended by striking \n``Subsections (a) and (b)'' and inserting ``Subsections (a) through \n(d)''.\n (c) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this \nsection--\n (1) shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment \n of this Act; and\n (2) shall apply in the case of any appointment (as referred \n to in section 3321(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code) and \n any initial appointment (as referred to in section 3321(a)(2) \n of such title) taking effect on or after the date on which this \n section takes effect.\n\nSEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOR POSITIONS WITHIN THE \n SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE .\n\n (a) In General.--Section 3393(d) of title 5, United States Code, is \namended by striking ``1-year'' and inserting ``2-year''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3592(a)(1) of such title is \namended by striking ``1-year'' and inserting ``2-year''.\n\nSEC. 3. APPEALS FROM ADVERSE ACTIONS.\n\n (a) Subchapter I of Chapter 75 of Title 5.--Section 7501(1) of \ntitle 5, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``1 year'' the first place it appears and \n inserting ``not less than 2 years''; and\n (2) by striking ``1 year'' the second place it appears and \n inserting ``2 years''.\n (b) Subchapter II of Chapter 75 of Title 5.--Section 7511(a)(1) of \ntitle 5, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``1 year'' the \n first place it appears and inserting ``not less than 2 years''; \n and\n (2) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking ``2 years'' the \n first place it appears and inserting ``not less than 2 years''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and \n(b)--\n (1) shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment \n of this Act; and\n (2) shall apply in the case of any individual whose period \n of continuous service (as referred to in the provision of law \n amended by paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b), as the case \n may be) commences on or after the date on which this section \n takes effect.", "summary": ". (Sec. 1) This bill requires the probationary period before an appointment in the competitive civil service or an initial appointment as a supervisor or manager becomes final to be: (1) with respect to any position that requires formal training, a period of two years beginning on the date that such training is completed; (2) with respect to any position that requires a license, a period of two years beginning on the date that such license is granted; and (3) with respect to any other position, at least two years. The probationary period for a preference eligible (i.e., a veteran) initially appointed to a position that exists as of 180 days after the enactment of this Act shall not be longer than the period that applies on such date. The probationary period for a preference eligible appointed to a position that does not exist on such date shall not be longer than the length of time the President establishes. Each agency must ensure that: (1) announcements of vacant positions and offers of appointment clearly state the terms and conditions of the probationary period, (2) individuals who are required to complete probationary periods receive timely notice of requirements to successfully complete the probationary period, and (3) certification of such successful completion is made. (Sec. 2) The bill increases from one to two years the probationary period after which an individual's appointment as a career appointee in the Senior Executive Service becomes final. (Sec. 3) The definition of \"employee\" for purposes of adverse action provisions is revised to mean an individual in the competitive service or in the excepted service who has completed at least two years (currently, one year) of current continuous service in the same or a similar position.", "title": "To amend title 5, United States Code, to modify probationary periods with respect to positions within the competitive service and the Senior Executive Service, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1756, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Nonprofit Hospital \nProtection Act of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. DISQUALIFICATION FROM MEDICARE PAYMENT OF NON-PROFIT HOSPITALS \n THAT TRANSFER ASSETS OR CONTROL TO A FOR-PROFIT ENTITY \n WITHOUT APPROVAL.\n\n (a) In General.--Part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act \nis amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n ``disqualification of certain nonprofit hospitals from payment if \n assets or control transferred to a for-profit entity without approval\n\n ``Sec. 1821. (a) Requirement.--No payment may be made under this \npart with respect to inpatient hospital services of a hospital if the \nhospital, on or after January 7, 1997, was owned or controlled by a \nnonprofit entity and there is an impermissible transfer (as defined in \nsubsection (b)) with respect to the hospital or the entity.\n ``(b) Impermissible Transfers.--\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term \n `impermissible transfer' means any covered transfer (as defined \n in paragraph (2)) that has not been considered to be approved \n in accordance with subsection (c).\n ``(2) Covered transfer defined.--For purposes of this \n section, the term `covered transfer' means, with respect to a \n hospital that is owned or controlled by a nonprofit entity--\n ``(A) the sale, transfer, lease, exchange, option, \n conveyance, or other disposition of, the assets of the \n hospital (or of the entity in relation to the hospital) \n to a for-profit entity, if a material amount of the \n assets relating to the hospital are involved in such \n disposition; or\n ``(B) the transfer of control, responsibility, or \n governance of a material amount of the assets or \n operation of the hospital (or of the entity in relation \n to the hospital) to any for-profit entity.\n Transfers described in this paragraph may be effected through \n sale, joint venture, joint operating agreement, or any other \n means.\n ``(3) Other definitions.--For purposes of this section:\n ``(A) The term `acquired hospital' means, with \n respect to a covered transfer, the non-profit hospital \n the assets or control of which are the subject of the \n transfer.\n ``(B) The term `acquiring entity' means, with \n respect to a covered transfer, the for-profit entity \n that is involved in the transfer.\n ``(c) Conditions for Approval.--Subject to subsection (d)--\n ``(1) In general.--A covered transfer with respect to an \n acquired hospital owned or controlled by a nonprofit entity is \n not considered to be approved in accordance with this \n subsection unless--\n ``(A) the acquiring entity has disclosed to the \n Secretary, in a form and manner specified by the \n Secretary, the information described in paragraph (2) \n relating to the transfer;\n ``(B) there has been an independent fairness review \n conducted of the proposed transfer and the report on \n the review concludes that no assets of the acquired \n hospital in relation to the nonprofit entity have \n inappropriately benefited any private parties; and\n ``(C) the Secretary has approved the transfer.\n ``(3) Information to be disclosed.--The information \n described in this paragraph is a complete description of the \n terms of covered transfer, together with a description of all \n collateral arrangements, including information describing--\n ``(A) the acquired hospital and the nonprofit \n entity that owns or controls the hospital;\n ``(B) the acquiring entity;\n ``(C) other parties to the transfer;\n ``(D) terms of the proposed transfer;\n ``(E) the value of consideration to be provided in \n connection with the transfer (including details as to \n the basis for the valuation);\n ``(F) copies of documents relating to the transfer;\n ``(G) the identity of individuals and persons who \n are officers, directors, or affiliates of the nonprofit \n entity and whether they have any direct or indirect \n economic interest in the transfer (including any \n promise or discussion of future employment); and\n ``(H) such other information as the Secretary may \n require.\n ``(3) Public disclosure.--The Secretary shall provide for \n public disclosure (including disclosure through electronic \n means on the Internet) of information described in paragraph \n (3) provided under paragraph (1)(A) and the report on the \n transfer described in paragraph (1)(B).\n ``(4) Conditions for approval of transfers.--The Secretary \n may not approve a covered transfer relating to an acquired \n hospital owned or controlled by a nonprofit entity unless, \n after completion of the public hearing described in paragraph \n (6), the Secretary determines that the following conditions are \n met:\n ``(A) Due care was exercised by the nonprofit \n entity in deciding to enter into the transfer, \n selecting the acquiring entity, and negotiating the \n terms of the transfer.\n ``(B) The nonprofit entity sought appropriate \n expert assistance in making decisions in relation to \n the transfer.\n ``(C) The nonprofit entity took all reasonable \n steps to avoid conflict of interests.\n ``(D) The nonprofit entity will receive fair market \n value for its assets transferred in connection with the \n covered transfer.\n ``(E) No charitable funds are placed at risk in \n connection with the covered transfer.\n ``(F) The amount of any compensation under any \n management contract entered into in connection with the \n covered transfer is fair.\n ``(G) The proceeds to the nonprofit entity in \n connection with the covered transfer will be used only \n for appropriate charitable purposes consistent with the \n entity's non-profit charter and for the promotion of \n health in the affected community and such proceeds will \n be controlled as charitable funds independent of the \n acquiring entity.\n ``(H) Any charitable corporation established to \n hold proceeds of the acquired hospital in connection \n with the covered transfer will be broadly based in the \n community.\n ``(I) There are sufficient safeguards to assure the \n affected community continues to have access to \n affordable hospital services.\n ``(J) The acquiring entity has made a commitment to \n provide comparable care to the disadvantaged, the \n uninsured, and the underinsured, and to provide \n benefits to the affected community.\n ``(K) The acquiring entity has no contractual right \n to receive or direct future grants in relation to the \n acquired hospital.\n ``(L) The acquiring entity has paid the Secretary, \n with respect to the covered transfer, a fee sufficient \n to cover the costs of the Secretary in administering \n this section in relation to such transfer.\n ``(6) Public hearing.--Before approving a covered transfer, \n the Secretary shall provide for notice and a public hearing to \n take place in the community of the acquired hospital concerning \n the transfer and publication of a public report on testimony \n received at the hearing.\n ``(d) Application of Alternative State Law Requirements.--A covered \ntransfer is deemed to meet an applicable requirement of subsection (c) \nrelating to the transfer to the extent that the Secretary determines \nthat there is a State law that imposes a requirement at least as \nstringent as the requirement involved with respect to the transfer.\n ``(e) Delegation of Authority.--The Secretary may exercise the \nSecretary's authority under this section through any appropriate \nofficial in the Department of Health and Human Services.\n ``(f) No Effect on Other Rights.--The fact that the Secretary has \napproved a covered transfer under this section shall not supersede \nother rights that any entity (including the federal government or a \nState or local government) may have to challenge the transfer on any \ngrounds.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nwith respect to covered transfers for which agreements or transactions \nare entered into on or after January 7, 1997.", "summary": "Medicare Nonprofit Hospital Protection Act of 1997 - Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to disqualify for Medicare payment any non-profit hospital that transfers assets or control to a for-profit entity without appropriate approval by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.", "title": "Medicare Nonprofit Hospital Protection Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3200, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Equity \nPayment Index Reform Act of 2003''.\n (b) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Variations in the physician work adjustment factors \n under section 1848(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. \n 1395w-4w(e)) result in a physician work payment inequity \n between urban and rural localities under the medicare physician \n fee schedule.\n (2) The amount the medicare program spends on its \n beneficiaries varies substantially across the country, far more \n than can be accounted for by differences in the cost of living \n or differences in health status.\n (3) Since beneficiaries and others pay into the program on \n the basis of income and wages and beneficiaries pay the same \n premium for part B services, these payments result in \n substantial cross-subsidies from people living in low payment \n States with conservative practice styles or beneficiary \n preferences to people living in higher payment States with \n aggressive practice styles or beneficiary preferences.\n (4) Congress has been mindful of these variations when it \n comes to capitation payments made to managed care plans under \n the Medicare+Choice program and has put in place floors that \n increase monthly payments by more than one-third in some of the \n lowest payment counties over what would otherwise occur. But \n this change addresses only a very small fraction of medicare \n beneficiaries who are presently enrolled in Medicare+Choice \n plans operating in low payment counties.\n (5) Unfortunately, Congress has only begun to address the \n underlying problem of substantial geographic variations in fee-\n for-service spending under traditional medicare.\n (6) Improvements in rural hospital payment systems under \n the medicare program help to reduce aggregate per capita \n payment variation as rural hospitals are in large part located \n in low payment counties.\n (7) Many rural communities have great difficulty attracting \n and retaining physicians and other skilled health \n professionals.\n (8) Targeted efforts to provide relief to rural doctors in \n low payment localities would further reduce variation by \n improving access to primary and tertiary services along with \n more equitable payment.\n (9) Geographic adjustment factors in the medicare program's \n resource-based relative value scale unfairly suppress fee-for-\n service payments to rural providers.\n (10) Actual costs are not presently being measured \n accurately and payments do not reflect the costs of providing \n care.\n (11) Unless something is done about medicare payment in \n rural areas, as the baby boom cohort ages into medicare, the \n financial demands on rural communities to subsidize care for \n their aged and disabled medicare beneficiaries will progress \n from difficult to impossible in another 10 years.\n (12) The impact on rural health care infrastructure will be \n first felt in economically depressed rural areas where the \n ability to shift costs is already limited.\n\nSEC. 2. PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE WAGE INDEX REVISION.\n\n Section 1848(e)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-\n4(e)(1)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraphs (B) \n and (C)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B), (C), and (E)''; \n and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(E) Floor for work geographic indices.--\n ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding the work \n geographic index otherwise calculated under \n subparagraph (A)(iii), in no case may the work \n geographic index applied for payment under this \n section be less than--\n ``(I) 0.976 for services furnished \n during 2004;\n ``(II) 0.987 for services furnished \n during 2005;\n ``(III) 0.995 for services \n furnished during 2006; and\n ``(IV) 1.000 for services furnished \n during 2007 and subsequent years.\n ``(ii) Exemption from limitation on annual \n adjustments.--The increase in expenditures \n attributable to clause (i) shall not be taken \n into account in applying subsection \n (c)(2)(B)(ii)(II).''.", "summary": "Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish a minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services furnished under the Medicare program.", "title": "A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services furnished under the medicare program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2100, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Contact Lens Consumer Health \nProtection Act of 2016''.\n\nSEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF CONTACT LENS PRESCRIBER VERIFICATION PROCESS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 4 of the Fairness to Contact Lens \nConsumers Act (15 U.S.C. 7603) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:\n ``(7) A toll-free telephone number and email address for \n prescribers to call or email with questions relating to a \n verification request, as required under subsection (i).'';\n (2) in subsection (d)(3)--\n (A) by striking ``, or a similar time as defined by \n the Federal Trade Commission,'';\n (B) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``The prescriber''; \n and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(B) If a prescriber communicates a question or concern \n about the accuracy of the prescription, or any other matter \n relating to the verification of the prescription, to a seller \n through the toll-free telephone service or dedicated email \n address required under subsection (i) before such 8-business-\n hour period has ended, the prescription shall be considered \n unverified until the seller obtains affirmative confirmation of \n the accuracy of the prescription from the prescriber.'';\n (3) by redesignating subsections (e) through (g) as \n subsections (f) through (h), respectively;\n (4) by amending subsection (f), as redesignated by \n paragraph (3), to read as follows:\n ``(f) Invalid Prescriptions and Questions Concerning Accuracy.--\n ``(1) Invalid prescriptions.--If a prescriber informs a \n seller before the deadline set forth in subparagraph (A) of \n subsection (d)(3) that the contact lens prescription is \n inaccurate, expired, or otherwise invalid--\n ``(A) the seller shall not fill the prescription; \n and\n ``(B) the prescriber shall specify the basis for \n the inaccuracy or invalidity of the prescription.\n ``(2) Questions concerning accuracy.--If a prescriber \n communicates a question or concern about the accuracy of a \n prescription as described in subsection (d)(3)(B) before the \n deadline set forth in such subsection--\n ``(A) the seller shall not fill the prescription; \n and\n ``(B) the prescriber shall provide the seller with \n an accurate prescription.\n ``(3) Correction.--In any case, if the prescription \n communicated by the seller to the prescriber is inaccurate, the \n prescriber shall correct it.'';\n (5) by adding after subsection (d) the following:\n ``(e) Prescriber Preferred Method of Communication.--\n ``(1) In general.--A prescriber may provide written \n notification to a seller requesting that all requests for \n verification from that seller be communicated to that \n prescriber by that prescriber's preferred method or methods of \n communication, selected from among the methods of communication \n offered by the seller pursuant to paragraph (2).\n ``(2) Methods offered.--Each seller shall offer a \n prescriber methods for communication for selection as the \n prescriber's preferred method or methods of communication under \n paragraph (1). Such offer--\n ``(A) shall include--\n ``(i) live telephone;\n ``(ii) facsimile; and\n ``(iii) email; and\n ``(B) may include such additional methods of \n communication as the seller considers appropriate.\n ``(3) Requirement.--In a case in which a prescriber, \n pursuant to paragraph (1), provides written notification to a \n seller indicating a preferred method or methods of \n communication as described in such paragraph, the seller may \n only request verification from the prescriber through the \n method or methods indicated.''; and\n (6) by inserting after subsection (h), as redesignated by \n paragraph (3), the following:\n ``(i) Telephone Service and Dedicated Email Address.--\n ``(1) In general.--A seller of contact lenses who requests \n verification of any contact lens prescription shall provide--\n ``(A) a toll-free telephone service that is \n operable during regular business hours and operated by \n live persons; and\n ``(B) a dedicated email address for the sole \n purpose of responding to prescribers' questions and \n concerns regarding verification requests.\n ``(2) Capacity.--Such toll-free telephone service shall \n maintain a sufficient number of working telephone lines \n operated by live persons to enable ready access by prescribers \n to the service.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall \ntake effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF PROHIBITION ON ALTERATION OF CONTACT LENS \n PRESCRIPTIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (f) of section 4 of the Fairness to \nContact Lens Consumers Act (15 U.S.C. 7603) is amended to read as \nfollows:\n ``(f) No Alteration.--\n ``(1) In general.--A seller may not alter a contact lens \n prescription and when dispensing a contact lens prescription, \n may only dispense such prescription exactly as written by the \n prescriber.\n ``(2) Private labels.--In a case in which a private label \n contact lens is included on the contact lens prescription and \n the same contact lens is manufactured by the same company and \n sold under multiple labels to individual providers, the seller \n may fill the prescription with a contact lens of exactly the \n same material, design, and power as manufactured by that \n company under another label.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall \ntake effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPROVED RECORDKEEPING BY SELLERS OF CONTACT \n LENSES.\n\n Section 4(b) of the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (15 \nU.S.C. 7603(b)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``A seller'' and inserting the following:\n ``(1) Communications generally.--A seller''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) Prescriptions.--Each seller shall maintain a database \n that includes, for each prescription received by a seller, the \n following:\n ``(A) The date on which the prescription was \n issued.\n ``(B) The specified expiration date of the \n prescription.\n ``(3) Preferred methods of communication.--For each written \n notification that a seller receives under subsection (e)(1), \n the seller shall keep a copy of such notification for a period \n of not less than 3 years.''.\n\nSEC. 5. PROHIBITION ON REPRESENTATION IN ADVERTISING THAT PRESCRIPTIONS \n FOR CONTACT LENSES MAY BE FILLED AFTER EXPIRATION DATE.\n\n Section 6 of the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (15 U.S.C. \n7605) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``that contact'' and inserting the \n following: ``that--\n ``(1) contact'';\n (2) in paragraph (1), as designated by paragraph (1) of \n this section, by striking the period at the end and inserting \n ``; or''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) a prescription for a contact lens may be filled after \n the expiration date of the prescription.''.\n\nSEC. 6. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR SELLERS OF CONTACT LENSES WHO VIOLATE \n REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO PRESCRIBER VERIFICATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 9 of the Fairness to \nContact Lens Consumers Act (15 U.S.C. 7608) is amended by striking the \nperiod at the end and inserting ``, except that fines imposed for a \nviolation of section 4 of this Act may be in an amount up to $40,000 \nper violation.''.\n (b) Clarification of Applicability.--Such section is further \namended by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(c) Applicability.--This chapter shall apply to all sales of \ncontact lenses in the United States and the sellers involved in such \nsales, notwithstanding where the seller is located.''.\n\nSEC. 7. CONTACT LENS CONSUMER COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY STUDY.\n\n (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, \nacting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and \nPrevention, shall conduct a study to examine the adverse and \npotentially adverse effects on consumers of violations by sellers of \nthe Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (15 U.S.C. 7601 et seq.), as \namended by section 2, particularly with respect to matters regarding \nprescription verification, business practices, and enforcement by the \nFederal Trade Commission of such Act.\n (b) Elements.--The study required by subsection (a) shall \nspecifically address the following:\n (1) The overfilling of prescriptions with quantities of \n lenses such that the normal expiration dates of the \n prescriptions will be exceeded.\n (2) The dispensing of prescriptions that have expired or \n are inaccurate.\n (3) The failure by a seller to allow prescribers to contact \n the seller within 8 business hours to advise that a \n prescription is inaccurate or expired.\n (4) The health risks to the consumer of receiving an \n incorrect prescription from a seller, or issues with patient \n access to the medically prescribed contact lenses.\n (5) The economic risks to the consumer of receiving an \n incorrect prescription from a seller.\n (6) The improper advertising to consumers about what \n constitutes a valid prescription or valid prescription \n information, or advertising that no prescription is needed.\n (7) Such other matters regarding the effects on the health \n of the consumers from violations of the verification or sales \n requirements of the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (15 \n U.S.C. 7601 et seq.) as the Secretary considers appropriate.\n (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment \nof this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress and the Federal \nTrade Commission a report on the study required by subsection (a).\n\nSEC. 8. MODIFICATION OF DEFINITIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 11 of the Fairness to Contact Lens \nConsumers Act (15 U.S.C. 7610) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (3), by amending subparagraph (E) to read \n as follows:\n ``(E) Power, material, manufacturer, or device \n name.''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(4) Business hour.--The term `business hour' means, with \n respect to a prescriber, any hour during a business day within \n the period beginning at 9:00 in the morning and ending at 5:00 \n in the evening in the time zone of the prescriber.\n ``(5) Business day.--The term `business day' means any day \n other than Saturday and Sunday and other than a legal holiday \n (within the meaning of section 7503 of the Internal Revenue \n Code of 1986).''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall \ntake effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act.", "summary": "Contact Lens Consumer Health Protection Act of 2016 This bill amends the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act to require contact lens sellers to provide a toll-free telephone number and email address that prescribers can use to ask questions about a seller's prescription verification request. Under current law, a prescription is considered verified if the prescriber fails to communicate with the seller within eight business hours after receiving the seller-provided verification information. The bill requires the prescription to be considered unverified until the seller obtains affirmative confirmation of the accuracy of the prescription from the prescriber in cases where a prescriber communicates a question or concern about the accuracy or verification of the prescription to a seller through the toll-free telephone service or email address before the end of that eight-hour period. The bill removes the Federal Trade Commission's authority to adjust the eight-hour period. If a prescriber communicates a question or concern about the accuracy of a prescription before the deadline: (1) the seller shall not fill the prescription, and (2) the prescriber shall provide the seller with an accurate prescription. Sellers must offer prescribers different communication methods that the prescribers may select as their preferred method for verification requests. The bill allows a seller to alter a prescription only if: (1) a private label contact lens is included on the prescription and the same contact lens is manufactured by the same company and sold under multiple labels to individual providers; and (2) the seller fills the prescription with a contact lens of exactly the same material, design, and power as manufactured by that company under another label. Sellers must maintain a database of the issuance and expiration dates of each prescription they receive. The bill prohibits advertisements representing that a contact lens prescription may be filled after the prescription expires. Sellers violating certain prescriber verification requirements are subject to increased penalties of up to $40,000 per violation. Such requirements apply to all contact lens sales in the United States, notwithstanding where the seller is located. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must examine the potentially adverse effects of seller violations on consumers.", "title": "Contact Lens Consumer Health Protection Act of 2016"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3031, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Civic Participation and \nRehabilitation Act of 1999''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) The right to vote is the most basic constitutive act of \n citizenship and regaining the right to vote reintegrates \n offenders into free society. The right to vote may not be \n abridged or denied by the United States or by any State on \n account of race, color, gender or previous condition of \n servitude. Basic constitutional principles of fairness and \n equal protection require an equal opportunity for Americans to \n vote in Federal elections. Congress has ultimate supervisory \n power over Federal elections, an authority which has repeatedly \n been upheld by the Supreme Court.\n (2) Congress finds three areas where discrepancies in State \n laws regarding felony convictions lead to unfairness in Federal \n elections: (A) there is no uniform standard for voting in \n Federal elections which leads to an unfair disparity and \n unequal participation in Federal elections based solely on \n where a person lives; (B) laws governing the restoration of \n voting rights after a felony conviction are unequal throughout \n the country and persons in some States can easily regain their \n voting rights while in other States persons effectively lose \n their right to vote permanently; and (C) State \n disenfranchisement laws disproportionately impact ethnic \n minorities.\n (3) Although State law determines the qualifications for \n voting, Congress must ensure that those laws are in accordance \n with the Constitution. Current laws vary throughout the country \n resulting in discrepancies regarding which citizens may vote in \n Federal elections.\n (4) An estimated 3,900,000 Americans, or one in fifty \n adults, currently cannot vote as a result of a felony \n conviction. Women represent about a half million of this total. \n Disenfranchisement results from varying State laws that \n restrict voting while under some form of criminal justice \n supervision or after the completion of a felony sentence in \n some States. Four States do not disenfranchise felons at all \n (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont). Forty-six \n States and the District of Columbia have disenfranchisement \n laws that deprive convicted offenders of the right to vote \n while they are in prison. In thirty-two States, convicted \n offenders may not vote while they are on parole and in twenty-\n nine States probationers may not vote. Fourteen States \n disenfranchise ex-offenders who have fully served their \n sentences, regardless of the nature or seriousness of the \n offense. Three-fourths (73%) of the 3,900,000 disqualified \n voters are not in prison, but are on probation, parole or are \n ex-offenders.\n (5) In those States that disenfranchise ex-offenders, the \n right to vote can be regained in theory, but in practice this \n possibility is often illusory. In eight States, a pardon or \n order from the Governor is required. In two States, ex-\n offenders must obtain action by the parole or pardon board. \n Offenders convicted of a Federal offense often have additional \n barriers to regaining voting rights. In at least 16 States, \n Federal offenders cannot use the State procedure for restoring \n their civil rights. The only method provided by Federal law for \n restoring voting rights to ex-offenders is a Presidential \n pardon. Few persons who seek to have their right to vote \n restored have the financial and political resources needed to \n succeed.\n (6) Thirteen percent of the African American adult male \n population, or 1,400,000 African American men, are \n disenfranchised. Given current rates of incarceration, three in \n ten of the next generation of black men will be disenfranchised \n at some point during their lifetime. Hispanic citizens are also \n disproportionately disenfranchised since they are \n disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system.\n (7) These discrepancies should be addressed by Congress. \n Basic concepts of fundamental fairness and equal protection \n require an equal opportunity for Americans to vote in Federal \n elections. This Act will restore fairness in the Federal \n election process and promote reintegration of former offenders \n into a life as law abiding citizens of the United States.\n\nSEC. 3. RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.\n\n The right of an individual who is a citizen of the United States to \nvote in any election for Federal office shall not be denied or abridged \nbecause that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless \nsuch individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional \ninstitution or facility at the time of the election.\n\nSEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT.\n\n (a) Attorney General.--The Attorney General may, in a civil action, \nobtain such declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to remedy \na violation of this Act.\n (b) Private Right of Action.--\n (1) A person who is aggrieved by a violation of this Act \n may provide written notice of the violation to the chief \n election official of the State involved.\n (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), if the violation \n is not corrected within 90 days after receipt of a notice under \n paragraph (1), or within 20 days after receipt of the notice if \n the violation occurred within 120 days before the date of an \n election for Federal office, the aggrieved person may, in a \n civil action obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with \n respect to the violation.\n (3) If the violation occurred within 30 days before the \n date of an election for Federal office, the aggrieved person \n need not provide notice to the chief election official of the \n State under paragraph (1) before bringing a civil action to \n obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the \n violation.\n\nSEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act--\n (1) the term ``correctional institution or facility'' means \n any prison, penitentiary, jail, or other institution or \n facility for the confinement of individuals convicted of \n criminal offenses, whether publicly or privately operated, \n except that such term does not include any residential \n community treatment center (or similar public or private \n facility);\n (2) the term ``election'' means--\n (A) a general, special, primary, or runoff \n election;\n (B) a convention or caucus of a political party \n held to nominate a candidate;\n (C) a primary election held for the selection of \n delegates to a national nominating convention of a \n political party; or\n (D) a primary election held for the expression of a \n preference for the nomination of persons for election \n to the office of President; and\n (3) the term ``Federal office'' means the office of \n President or Vice President of the United States, or of Senator \n or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, \n the Congress of the United States.\n\nSEC. 6. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.\n\n (a) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the States \nenacting any State law which affords the right to vote in any election \nfor Federal office on terms less restrictive than those established by \nthis Act.\n (b) The rights and remedies established by this Act are in addition \nto all other rights and remedies provided by law, and neither rights \nand remedies established by this Act shall supersede, restrict, or \nlimit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 \net seq.) or the National Voter Registration Act (42 U.S.C. 1973-gg).", "summary": "Civic Participation and Rehabilitation Act of 1999 - Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for Federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense, unless the individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility at the time of the election. \nAuthorizes the Attorney General, in a civil action, to obtain such declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to remedy a violation of this Act. Creates a private right of action, subject to specified requirements.", "title": "Civic Participation and Rehabilitation Act of 1999"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 363, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Hurricane Katrina Disaster Inquiry \nCommission Act of 2005''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITION.\n\n For purposes of this Act, the term ``Commission'' means the \nCommission established under this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The President shall establish an independent, \nnonpartisan Commission within the executive branch to discover and \nassess the circumstances related to the damage caused by Hurricane \nKatrina on or between Friday, August 26, 2005, and Tuesday, August 30, \n2005.\n (b) Deadline for Establishment.--The President shall issue an \nexecutive order establishing a Commission within 30 days after the date \nof enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Number of Commissioners.--The Commission shall consist of 15 \nmembers.\n (b) Selection.--The members of the Commission shall be chosen in \nthe following manner:\n (1) The President of the United States Conference of Mayors \n shall be a member of the Commission.\n (2) The President shall appoint the remaining 14 members, \n and shall designate the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the \n Commission from among its members.\n (3) Five of the 14 members appointed by the President shall \n be selected by the President in the following manner:\n (A) The majority leader of the Senate, the minority \n leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of \n Representatives, the minority leader of the House of \n Representatives, and the President of the collective-\n bargaining organization including the largest number of \n emergency medical responders, shall each provide to the \n President a list of candidates for membership on the \n Commission.\n (B) The President shall select one of the \n candidates from each of the 5 lists for membership on \n the Commission.\n (4)(A) No officer or employee of the Federal Government \n shall serve as a member of the Commission.\n (B) No member of the Commission shall have, or have \n pending, a contractual relationship with the Federal Emergency \n Management Agency.\n (C) The President may waive the prohibitions in \n subparagraphs (A) and (B) with respect to the selection of not \n more than 2 members of the Commission.\n (5) The President shall not appoint any individual as a \n member of the Commission who has a current or former \n relationship with the Federal Emergency Management Agency that \n the President determines would constitute a conflict of \n interest.\n (6) To the extent practicable, the President shall ensure \n that the members of the Commission include some individuals \n with experience relative to local government administration, as \n well as some individuals with investigative experience and some \n individuals with legal experience.\n (7) To the extent practicable, the President shall seek \n diversity in the membership of the Commission.\n (c) Deadline for Appointment.--All members of the Commission shall \nbe appointed no later than 60 days after issuance of the executive \norder establishing the Commission.\n (d) Initial Meeting.--The Commission shall meet and begin \noperations as soon as practicable.\n (e) Quorum; Vacancies.--After its initial meeting, the Commission \nshall meet upon the call of the Chairman or a majority of its members. \nEight members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. Any vacancy \nin the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in \nthe same manner in which the original appointment was made.\n\nSEC. 5. TASKS OF THE COMMISSION.\n\n The Commission shall, to the extent possible, undertake the \nfollowing tasks:\n (1) Chronicle the trajectory of Hurricane Katrina, \n including the timetable and locations of its path, and the \n responses made by the Federal, State, and local governments.\n (2) Issue a statement of an estimate as to the loss of \n life, physical and structural damage, and displacement of \n residents as a result of the disaster.\n (3) Make recommendations for corrective actions.\n (4) Provide any additional findings or recommendations \n considered by the Commission to be important, whether or not \n they are related to emergency disaster management.\n (5) Prepare a report to Congress, the President, and the \n public.\n\nSEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) In General.--\n (1) Hearings and evidence.--The Commission or, on the \n authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member \n thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act--\n (A) hold such hearings and sit and act at such \n times and places, take such testimony, receive such \n evidence, administer such oaths; and\n (B) subject to paragraph (2)(A), require, by \n subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of \n such witnesses and the production of such books, \n records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and \n documents,\n as the Commission or such designated subcommittee or designated \n member may determine advisable.\n (2) Subpoenas.--\n (A) Issuance.--\n (i) In general.--A subpoena may be issued \n under this subsection only--\n (I) by the agreement of the \n Chairman and the Vice Chairman; or\n (II) by the affirmative vote of 8 \n members of the Commission.\n (ii) Signature.--Subject to clause (i), \n subpoenas issued under this subsection may be \n issued under the signature of the Chairman or \n any member designated by a majority of the \n Commission, and may be served by any person \n designated by the Chairman or by a member \n designated by a majority of the Commission.\n (B) Enforcement.--\n (i) In general.--In the case of contumacy \n or failure to obey a subpoena issued under \n subparagraph (A), the United States district \n court for the judicial district in which the \n subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be \n found, or where the subpoena is returnable, may \n issue an order requiring such person to appear \n at any designated place to testify or to \n produce documentary or other evidence. Any \n failure to obey the order of the court may be \n punished by the court as a contempt of that \n court.\n (ii) Additional enforcement.--In the case \n of a failure of a witness to comply with a \n subpoena or to testify when summoned under \n authority of this section, the Commission may, \n by majority vote, certify a statement of fact \n constituting such failure to the appropriate \n United States attorney, who may bring the \n matter before a grand jury for its action, \n under the same statutory authority and \n procedures as if the United States attorney had \n received a certification under sections 102 \n through 104 of the Revised Statutes of the \n United States (2 U.S.C. 192 through 194).\n (b) Contracting.--The Commission may, to such extent and in such \namounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to \nenable the Commission to discharge its duties under this Act.\n (c) Information From Federal Agencies.--\n (1) In general.--The Commission may secure directly from \n any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, \n office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the \n Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics \n for the purposes of this Act. Each department, bureau, agency, \n board, commission, office, independent establishment, or \n instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish \n such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics \n directly to the Commission, upon request made by the Chairman, \n the chairman of any subcommittee created by a majority of the \n Commission, or any member designated by a majority of the \n Commission.\n (2) Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination.--\n Information shall be received, handled, stored, and \n disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff \n consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and \n Executive orders.\n (d) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--\n (1) General services administration.--The Administrator of \n General Services shall provide to the Commission on a \n reimbursable basis administrative support and other services \n for the performance of the Commission's tasks.\n (2) Other departments and agencies.--In addition to the \n assistance prescribed in paragraph (1), departments and \n agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission \n such services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support \n services as they may determine advisable and as may be \n authorized by law.\n (e) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States \nmails in the same manner and under the same conditions as departments \nand agencies of the United States.\n\nSEC. 7. PUBLIC MEETINGS, INFORMATION, AND HEARINGS.\n\n (a) Public Meetings and Release of Public Versions of Reports.--The \nCommission shall--\n (1) hold public hearings and meetings to the extent \n appropriate; and\n (2) release public versions of the reports required under \n this Act.\n (b) Public Hearings.--Any public hearings of the Commission shall \nbe conducted in a manner consistent with the protection of information \nprovided to or developed for or by the Commission as required by any \napplicable statute, regulation, or Executive order.\n\nSEC. 8. STAFF OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) In General.--\n (1) Appointment and compensation.--The Chairman, in \n consultation with Vice Chairman, in accordance with rules \n agreed upon by the Commission, may appoint and fix the \n compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as \n may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its \n functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United \n States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, \n and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and \n subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to \n classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no \n rate of pay fixed under this paragraph may exceed the \n equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of the \n Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States \n Code. Employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency \n shall not be appointed to the staff of the Commission.\n (2) Personnel as federal employees.--\n (A) In general.--The executive director and any \n personnel of the Commission shall be considered \n employees under section 2105 of title 5, United States \n Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, \n 89, and 90 of that title.\n (B) Members of commission.--Subparagraph (A) does \n not apply to members of the Commission.\n (b) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee, except for an \nemployee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, may be detailed to \nthe Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, and such \ndetailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her \nregular employment without interruption.\n (c) Consultant Services.--The Commission may procure the services \nof experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, \nUnited States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a \nperson occupying a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under \nsection 5315 of title 5, United States Code.\n\nSEC. 9. COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.\n\n (a) Compensation.--Each member of the Commission may be compensated \nat not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay \nin effect for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under \nsection 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day during which \nthat member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the \nCommission.\n (b) Travel Expenses.--While away from their homes or regular places \nof business in the performance of services for the Commission, members \nof the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem \nin lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed \nintermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under \nsection 5703(b) of title 5, United States Code.\n\nSEC. 10. SECURITY CLEARANCES FOR COMMISSION MEMBERS AND STAFF.\n\n The appropriate Federal agencies or departments shall cooperate \nwith the Commission in expeditiously providing to the Commission \nmembers and staff appropriate security clearances to the extent \npossible pursuant to existing procedures and requirements. No person \nshall be provided with access to classified information under this Act \nwithout the appropriate security clearances.\n\nSEC. 11. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND TERMINATION.\n\n (a) Interim Reports.--The Commission may submit to the President \nand Congress interim reports containing such findings, conclusions, and \nrecommendations for corrective actions as have been agreed to by a \nmajority of Commission members.\n (b) Final Report.--The Commission shall submit to the President and \nCongress, and make concurrently available to the public, a final report \ncontaining such findings, conclusions, and recommendations for \ncorrective actions as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission \nmembers. Such report shall include any minority views or opinions not \nreflected in the majority report.\n (c) Termination.--\n (1) In general.--The Commission, and all the authorities of \n this Act with respect to the Commission, shall terminate 60 \n days after the date on which the final report is submitted \n under subsection (b).\n (2) Administrative activities before termination.--The \n Commission may use the 60-day period referred to in paragraph \n (1) for the purpose of concluding its activities, including \n providing testimony to committees of Congress concerning its \n reports and disseminating the final report.\n\nSEC. 12. FUNDING.\n\n Such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act are authorized to \nbe appropriated. Sums authorized by this Act shall remain available \nuntil the termination of the Commission.", "summary": "Hurricane Katrina Disaster Inquiry Commission Act of 2005 - Directs the President to establish an independent nonpartisan Commission within the executive branch to discover and assess the circumstances relating to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina on or between Friday, August 26, 2005, and Tuesday, August 30, 2005.\n\nDirects the Commission to: (1) chronicle the trajectory of Hurricane Katrina, including the timetable and locations of its path, and the responses made by the federal, state, and local governments; (2) estimate the loss of life, physical and structural damage, and displacement of residents; (3) recommend corrective actions; and (4) prepare a report to Congress, the President, and the public.", "title": "To provide for the establishment of an independent, Presidentially-appointed Commission to assess the circumstances related to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina on or between Friday, August 26, 2005, and Tuesday, August 30, 2005."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 567, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Secondary Metal \nTheft Prevention Act of 2009''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\nSec. 2. Findings.\nSec. 3. Sense of the Congress.\nSec. 4. Purposes.\nSec. 5. Purchase transaction requirements.\nSec. 6. Protection of personal information.\nSec. 7. Enforcement by Federal Trade Commission.\nSec. 8. Enforcement by State Attorneys General.\nSec. 9. Civil penalty.\nSec. 10. State and local law not preempted.\nSec. 11. Definitions.\nSec. 12. Effective date.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Since 2006, metal theft has been on the rise, largely \n due to a surge in the global demand for scrap metal and a \n historic increase in the price of metal commodities.\n (2) Theft of metal components is jeopardizing the integrity \n of critical infrastructure in the United States through theft \n of metal in transportation, electrical, and telecommunications \n networks.\n (3) Theft of manhole covers, storm water grates, highway \n guard rails, railroad tracks, automobile components, and street \n lamps pose a significant public safety risk.\n (4) Many State laws call on secondary metal recyclers to \n help deter this crime and assist law enforcement by documenting \n transactions and collecting information in order to identify \n the sellers of scrap metal and the material they are selling. \n These laws have been a significant deterrent to the problem of \n metal theft.\n (5) Although many States have enacted metal theft laws, \n metal theft is a nationwide crime that crosses state lines.\n (6) An overarching Federal law is necessary to deter metal \n theft across the country.\n (7) Combating the problem of metal theft will require \n improved communications between metal businesses and law \n enforcement agencies.\n (8) The secondary metal recycling industry should be \n commended for educating the public and law enforcement to the \n problems related to metal theft, issuing ``Do Not Buy'' lists, \n partnering with the National Crime Prevention Council, and \n creating a Theft Alert System.\n\nSEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.\n\n It is the sense of the Congress that Federal, State, and local \ngovernment agencies should work with representatives of the secondary \nmetal recycling industry to develop and improve effective \ncountermeasures to combat the theft and sale of stolen secondary metal.\n\nSEC. 4. PURPOSES.\n\n The purposes of this Act are--\n (1) to protect consumers, businesses, critical \n infrastructure, and State and local governments from the \n problem of secondary metal theft;\n (2) to regulate interstate commerce by limiting trafficking \n in stolen secondary metal sold for the purpose of recycling or \n reuse;\n (3) to permit legitimate secondary metal transactions to \n continue to take place; and\n (4) to establish a system to document secondary metal \n transactions between sellers and buyers while addressing the \n growing problem of secondary metal theft.\n\nSEC. 5. PURCHASE TRANSACTION REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) Do-not-buy List.--Unless the seller establishes by written \ndocumentation that the seller is the owner, or an employee, agent, or \nother person authorized to sell on behalf of the owner, it is unlawful \nfor a secondary metal recycling agent to purchase for recycling any \nsecondary metal that is--\n (1) marked with name, logo, or initials of a railroad, an \n electric, gas, or water company, a telephone company, cable \n company, or a public utility or that has been altered to \n remove, conceal, or obliterate such a name, logo, or initials \n through burning or cutting of wire sheathing or other means;\n (2) marked with the name of a city, county, or State \n government entity;\n (3) a street light pole or fixture;\n (4) a road or bridge guard rail;\n (5) a highway or street sign;\n (6) a water meter cover;\n (7) a storm water grate;\n (8) unused or undamaged building construction or utility \n material;\n (9) an historical marker;\n (10) a grave marker or cemetery urn or vase;\n (11) a utility access cover; or\n (12) a bulk container for beer with a capacity of 7.75 \n gallons or more.\n (b) Record Keeping.--\n (1) In general.--A secondary metal recycling agent shall \n maintain a written or electronic record of each secondary metal \n purchase. The record shall include--\n (A) the agent's name and address;\n (B) the date of the transaction;\n (C) a description of the secondary metal purchased, \n including--\n (i) a general physical description;\n (ii) a product description, such as wire, \n tubing, extrusions, casting, or other kind of \n product; and\n (iii) the weight, quantity, or volume \n purchased;\n (D) the amount paid by the agent;\n (E) the name and address of the person to which the \n payment was made;\n (F) the name of the person delivering the secondary \n metal to the agent, including a distinctive number from \n a Federal or State government-issued photo \n identification card and a description of the type of \n the identification; and\n (G) the license tag number, State-of-issue, make, \n and model, if available, of the vehicle used to deliver \n the secondary metal to the agent.\n (2) Repeat sellers.--A secondary metal recycling agent may \n comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) with respect to \n the second or a subsequent purchase of secondary metal from the \n same person by--\n (A) reference to the existing record relating to \n the seller; and\n (B) recording any information for the transaction \n that is different from the existing record for that \n person.\n (3) Record retention period.--A secondary metal recycling \n agent shall maintain any record required by this subsection for \n not less than 2 years from the date of the transaction to which \n the record relates.\n (c) Purchases in Excess of $75.--\n (1) In general.--A secondary metal recycling agent may not \n pay cash for a single purchase of secondary metal in excess of \n $75. For purposes of this paragraph, more than 1 purchase in \n any 48-hour period from the same seller shall be considered to \n be a single purchase.\n (2) Payment method.--\n (A) Occasional sellers.--Except as provided in \n subparagraph (B), for any purchase of secondary metal \n in excess of $75 a secondary metal recycling agent \n shall make payment by check that--\n (i) is payable to the seller; and\n (ii) includes the name and address of the \n seller.\n (B) Established commercial transactions.--A \n secondary metal recycling agent may make payments for \n purchases of secondary metal in excess of $75 from a \n governmental or commercial supplier of secondary metal \n with which the agent has an established commercial \n relationship by electronic funds transfer or other \n established commercial transaction payment method \n through a commercial bank if the agent maintains a \n written record of such payments that identifies the \n seller, the amount paid, and the date of the purchase.\n (d) Public Notice Requirement.--A secondary metal recycling agent \nshall display, at its principal place of business and at any site at \nwhich secondary metal is accepted by or for the agent, a printed notice \nadvising the public that the sale of stolen secondary metal is \nprohibited under Federal and State laws.\n\nSEC. 6. PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.\n\n (a) In General.--A secondary metal recycling agent or the agent, \nemployee, or representative of a secondary metal recycling agent may \nnot disclose the identity of any person from which the agent purchases \nsecondary metal without the consent of the seller except in response to \na request from a law enforcement agency or judicial process.\n (b) Safeguards.--A secondary metal recycling agent shall implement \nreasonable safeguards--\n (1) to protect the security of information required under \n section 5(b)(1) maintained by that agent; and\n (2) to prevent unauthorized access to or disclosure of that \n information.\n (c) Limits on Liability.--A secondary metal recycling agency shall \nnot be liable to any seller for a disclosure of information required \nunder section 5(b)(1) if the secondary metal recycling agent has met \nthe requirements of subsection (b) of this section.\n\nSEC. 7. ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.\n\n (a) In General.--Violation of any provision of this Act shall be \ntreated as a violation of a rule under section 18 of the Federal Trade \nCommission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or \npractices. The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this Act in the \nsame manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, \nand duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal \nTrade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and \nmade a part of this Act.\n (b) Regulations.--\n (1) In general.--The Commission may promulgate such \n regulations as it finds necessary or appropriate under this \n Act.\n (2) Initial guidance.--Within 6 months after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate a final \n rule--\n (A) setting forth the minimum requirements for the \n documentation required by section 5(a);\n (B) establishing criteria for record retention \n under section 5(b)(3);\n (C) establishing requirements for treatment of a \n seller as a governmental or commercial supplier with an \n established commercial relationship under section \n 5(c)(2)(B);\n (D) establishing public notice requirements under \n section 5(d); and\n (E) establishing criteria for safeguards under \n section 6(b).\n\nSEC. 8. ENFORCEMENT BY STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL.\n\n (a) In General.--A State, as parens patriae, may bring a civil \naction on behalf of its residents in an appropriate district court of \nthe United States to enforce the provisions of this Act whenever the \nattorney general of the State has reason to believe that the interests \nof the residents of the State have been or are being threatened or \nadversely affected by the violation of this Act or a regulation under \nthis Act by a secondary metal recycling agent doing business in that \nState.\n (b) Notice.--\n (1) Notice required.--At least 30 days before filing an \n action under subsection (a), the attorney general of the State \n involved shall provide to the Federal Trade Commission--\n (A) written notice of the action; and\n (B) a copy of the complaint for the action.\n (2) Authorization to proceed.--The State may bring the \n action if it does not receive a request from the Federal Trade \n Commission, within 30 days after the Commission receives the \n notice, not to proceed with its action.\n (c) Federal Proceedings.--After receiving notice under subsection \n(b), the Commission may--\n (1) request that the State not proceed with the action \n pending the final disposition of a pending Federal proceeding \n or action;\n (2) initiate an action in the appropriate United States \n district court and move to consolidate all pending actions, \n including State actions, in such court;\n (3) intervene in the action brought under subsection (a); \n or\n (4) file petitions for appeal of a decision in such action.\n (c) Pending Federal Proceedings.--If the Federal Trade Commission \nhas instituted an enforcement action against a secondary metal \nrecycling agent for a violation of this Act or any regulation under \nthis Act, a State may not bring an action, during the pendency of the \nCommission's enforcement action, under this section against that \nsecondary metal recycling agent for any violation alleged in the \nCommission's enforcement action.\n (d) Construction.--For purposes of bringing any civil action under \nsubsection (a), nothing in this section regarding notification shall be \nconstrued to prevent the attorney general of a State from exercising \nthe powers conferred on such attorney general by the laws of that State \nto--\n (1) conduct investigations;\n (2) administer oaths or affirmations; or\n (3) compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of \n documentary and other evidence.\n (e) Venue; Service of Process.--\n (1) Venue.--Any action brought under subsection (a) may be \n brought in--\n (A) the district court of the United States that \n meets applicable requirements relating to venue under \n section 1391 of title 28, United States Code; or\n (B) another court of competent jurisdiction.\n (2) Service of process.--In an action brought under \n subsection (a), process may be served in any district in which \n the defendant--\n (A) is an inhabitant; or\n (B) may be found.\n\nSEC. 9. CIVIL PENALTY.\n\n The knowing violation of any provision of this Act is punishable by \na civil penalty of not to exceed $10,000.\n\nSEC. 10. STATE AND LOCAL LAW NOT PREEMPTED.\n\n Nothing in this Act preempts any State or local law regulating the \nsale or purchase of secondary metal.\n\nSEC. 11. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Secondary metal.--The term ``secondary metal'' means--\n (A) wire or cable commonly used by communications \n and electrical utilities; and\n (B) copper, aluminum, or other metal (including any \n metal combined with other materials) that is valuable \n for recycling or reuse as raw metal.\n (2) Secondary metal recycling agent.--The term ``secondary \n metal recycling agent'' means any person engaged in the \n business of purchasing secondary metal for reuse or recycling, \n without regard to whether that person is engaged in the \n business of recycling or otherwise processing the purchased \n secondary metal for reuse.\n\nSEC. 12. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n Except as required by section 7(b)(2), this Act shall take effect 6 \nmonths after the date of enactment.", "summary": "Secondary Metal Theft Prevention Act of 2009 - Expresses the sense of Congress that government agencies should work with representatives of the secondary metal recycling industry to combat the theft and sale of stolen secondary metal. Defines \"secondary metal\" as: (1) wire or cable commonly used by communications and electrical utilities; and (2) copper, aluminum, or other metal (including when combined with other materials) that is valuable for recycling or reuse as raw metal.\n\nMakes it unlawful to sell certain secondary metal unless the seller documents ownership and maintains written or electronic records of each secondary metal purchase. Includes within the prohibition: (1) secondary metal that is marked with the name, logo, or initials of a railroad, a utility company, or a state or local government; (2) highway or street poles, fixtures, rails, or signs; (3) unused or undamaged building construction or utility material; (4) historical markers or grave markers; and (5) large bulk containers for beer. Prohibits cash purchases of secondary metal in excess of $75 or small multiple cash purchases within a 48-hour period. Requires purchasers of secondary metal in excess of $75 to pay by check.\n\nEmpowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to enforce this Act. Imposes a civil penalty for violations.\n\nDeclares that this Act does not preempt any state or local law regulating the sale or purchase of secondary metal.", "title": "A bill to require secondary metal recycling agents to keep records of their transactions in order to deter individuals and enterprises engaged in the theft and interstate sale of stolen secondary metal, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1624, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``American Community Renewal Act of \n2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. ADDITIONAL DESIGNATIONS OF RENEWAL COMMUNITIES.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1400E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n(relating to designation of renewal communities) is amended by \nredesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g) and by inserting after \nsubsection (e) the following new subsection:\n ``(f) Additional Designations Permitted.--\n ``(1) In general.--In addition to the areas designated \n under subsection (a), the Secretary of Housing and Urban \n Development may designate in the aggregate an additional 20 \n nominated areas as renewal communities under this section, \n subject to the availability of eligible nominated areas. Of \n that number, not less than 5 shall be designated in areas \n described in subsection (a)(2)(B).\n ``(2) Period designations may be made and take effect.--A \n designation may be made under this subsection after the date of \n the enactment of this subsection and before January 1, 2004. \n Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (b)(1), such \n designations shall remain in effect during the period beginning \n on January 1, 2004, and ending on December 31, 2011.\n ``(3) Modifications to eligibility determinations.--The \n rules of this section shall apply to designations under this \n subsection, except that population and poverty rate shall be \n determined by using the 2000 census.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect on the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 3. NONRECOGNITION OF GAIN ON PROCEEDS OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY \n WHICH ARE INVESTED IN RENEWAL COMMUNITY, ETC. BUSINESSES.\n\n (a) In General.--Part III of subchapter O of chapter 1 of the \nInternal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to common nontaxable exchanges) \nis amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 1046. NONRECOGNITION OF GAIN ON PROCEEDS OF SALE OF REAL \n PROPERTY WHICH ARE INVESTED IN RENEWAL COMMUNITY, ETC. \n BUSINESSES.\n\n ``(a) Nonrecognition of Gain.--In the case of a sale of real \nproperty held by the taxpayer for more than 1 year and with respect to \nwhich the taxpayer elects the application of this section, gain from \nsuch sale shall be recognized only to the extent that the amount \nrealized on such sale exceeds--\n ``(1) the cost of any qualified asset purchased by the \n taxpayer during the 60-day period beginning on the date of such \n sale, reduced by\n ``(2) any portion of such cost previously taken into \n account under this section.\n ``(b) Qualified Asset.--For purposes of this section, the term \n`qualified asset' means--\n ``(1) any qualified empowerment zone asset (as defined in \n section 1397B),\n ``(2) any qualified community asset (as defined in section \n 1400F(b)), and\n ``(3) any property which would be a qualified empowerment \n zone asset (as so defined) if enterprise communities and HUB \n zones were treated as empowerment zones.\n ``(c) Special Rules.--\n ``(1) Ordinary income not eligible for rollover.--This \n section shall not apply to any gain which is treated as \n ordinary income for purposes of this subtitle.\n ``(2) Purchase.--A taxpayer shall be treated as having \n purchased any property if, but for paragraph (4), the \n unadjusted basis of such property in the hands of the taxpayer \n would be its cost (within the meaning of section 1012).\n ``(3) Basis adjustments.--If gain from any sale is not \n recognized by reason of subsection (a), such gain shall be \n applied to reduce (in the order acquired) the basis for \n determining gain or loss of any qualified asset which is \n purchased by the taxpayer during the 60-day period described in \n subsection (a). This paragraph shall not apply for purposes of \n section 1202.\n ``(4) Holding period.--For purposes of determining whether \n the nonrecognition of gain under subsection (a) applies to any \n qualified asset which is sold--\n ``(A) the taxpayer's holding period for such asset \n and the asset referred to in subsection (a)(1) shall be \n determined without regard to section 1223, and\n ``(B) only the first year of the taxpayer's holding \n period for the asset referred to in subsection (a)(1) \n shall be taken into account for purposes of paragraphs \n (2)(A)(iii), (3)(C), and (4)(A)(iii) of section \n 1400F(b) or comparable rules under section 1397B.''.\n (b) Technical Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (23) of section 1016(a) of such Code is \n amended is amended--\n (A) by striking ``or 1397B'' and inserting ``1397B, \n or 1046'', and\n (B) by striking ``or 1397B(b)(4)'' and inserting \n ``1397B(b)(4), or 1046(c)(4)''.\n (2) Paragraph (15) of section 1223 is amended by striking \n ``or 1397B'' and inserting ``, 1397B, or 1046''.\n (3) The table of sections for part III of subchapter O of \n chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the \n following new item:\n\n``Sec. 1046. Nonrecognition of gain on proceeds of sale of real \n property which are invested in renewal \n community, etc. businesses.''\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to sales after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. LOCAL ALLOCATION OF COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION DEDUCTION AMOUNTS \n WHERE STATE FAILS TO ADOPT ALLOCATION PLAN.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (e) of section 1400I of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to commercial revitalization deduction) \nis amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(3) Local allocation of revitalization amount where state \n fails to adopt allocation plan.--If a qualified allocation plan \n with respect to any State is not approved as provided in \n paragraph (1) before the 120th day after the date of the \n enactment of this paragraph, then, beginning on such 120th \n day--\n ``(A) subsection (d)(3) shall cease to apply, and\n ``(B) the term `commercial revitalization agency' \n means, with respect to any renewal community, any \n agency authorized to carry out this section by the \n local governmental unit having within its jurisdiction \n the largest portion of such community.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take \neffect the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "American Community Renewal Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide for the designation of 20 additional renewal communities; (2) permit the nonrecognition of gain on proceeds of sales of real property which are invested in qualified renewal community zone assets; and (3) provide for the local allocation of commercial revitalization expenditure amounts if a State fails to adopt a qualified allocation plan.", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for additional designations of renewal communities and to allow nonrecognition of gain on sales of real property if the proceeds are invested in renewal and similar community businesses."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 175, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Department of \nEnergy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\nSec. 2. Definitions.\nSec. 3. Savings clause.\n TITLE I--INNOVATION MANAGEMENT AT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY\n\nSec. 101. Technology transfer and transitions assessment.\nSec. 102. Sense of Congress.\nSec. 103. Nuclear energy innovation.\n TITLE II--CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANT COMPETITIVENESS\n\nSec. 201. Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program.\nSec. 202. Public-private partnerships for commercialization.\nSec. 203. Inclusion of early-stage technology demonstration in \n authorized technology transfer activities.\nSec. 204. Funding competitiveness for institutions of higher education \n and other nonprofit institutions.\nSec. 205. Participation in the Innovation Corps program.\n TITLE III--ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT\n\nSec. 301. Report by Government Accountability Office.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the \n Department of Energy.\n (2) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' \n means a Department of Energy nonmilitary national laboratory, \n including--\n (A) Ames Laboratory;\n (B) Argonne National Laboratory;\n (C) Brookhaven National Laboratory;\n (D) Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory;\n (E) Idaho National Laboratory;\n (F) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory;\n (G) National Energy Technology Laboratory;\n (H) National Renewable Energy Laboratory;\n (I) Oak Ridge National Laboratory;\n (J) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory;\n (K) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory;\n (L) Savannah River National Laboratory;\n (M) Stanford Linear Accelerator Center;\n (N) Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility; \n and\n (O) any laboratory operated by the National Nuclear \n Security Administration, but only with respect to the \n civilian energy activities thereof.\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Energy.\n\nSEC. 3. SAVINGS CLAUSE.\n\n Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by this Act abrogates or \notherwise affects the primary responsibilities of any National \nLaboratory to the Department.\n\n TITLE I--INNOVATION MANAGEMENT AT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY\n\nSEC. 101. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND TRANSITIONS ASSESSMENT.\n\n Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and \nannually thereafter, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on \nScience, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the \nCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report which \nshall include--\n (1) an assessment of the Department's current ability to \n carry out the goals of section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of \n 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391), including an assessment of the role and \n effectiveness of the Director of the Office of Technology \n Transitions; and\n (2) recommended departmental policy changes and legislative \n changes to section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 \n U.S.C. 16391) to improve the Department's ability to \n successfully transfer new energy technologies to the private \n sector.\n\nSEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS.\n\n It is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should encourage \nthe National Laboratories and federally funded research and development \ncenters to inform small businesses of the opportunities and resources \nthat exist pursuant to this Act.\n\nSEC. 103. NUCLEAR ENERGY INNOVATION.\n\n Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, \nthe Secretary, in consultation with the National Laboratories, relevant \nFederal agencies, and other stakeholders, shall transmit to the \nCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of \nRepresentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of \nthe Senate a report assessing the Department's capabilities to \nauthorize, host, and oversee privately funded fusion and non-light \nwater reactor prototypes and related demonstration facilities at \nDepartment-owned sites. For purposes of this report, the Secretary \nshall consider the Department's capabilities to facilitate privately-\nfunded prototypes up to 20 megawatts thermal output. The report shall \naddress the following:\n (1) The Department's safety review and oversight \n capabilities.\n (2) Potential sites capable of hosting research, \n development, and demonstration of prototype reactors and \n related facilities for the purpose of reducing technical risk.\n (3) The Department's and National Laboratories' existing \n physical and technical capabilities relevant to research, \n development, and oversight.\n (4) The efficacy of the Department's available contractual \n mechanisms, including cooperative research and development \n agreements, work for others agreements, and agreements for \n commercializing technology.\n (5) Potential cost structures related to physical security, \n decommissioning, liability, and other long-term project costs.\n (6) Other challenges or considerations identified by the \n Secretary, including issues related to potential cases of \n demonstration reactors up to 2 gigawatts of thermal output.\n\n TITLE II--CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANT COMPETITIVENESS\n\nSEC. 201. AGREEMENTS FOR COMMERCIALIZING TECHNOLOGY PILOT PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out the Agreements for \nCommercializing Technology pilot program of the Department, as \nannounced by the Secretary on December 8, 2011, in accordance with this \nsection.\n (b) Terms.--Each agreement entered into pursuant to the pilot \nprogram referred to in subsection (a) shall provide to the contractor \nof the applicable National Laboratory, to the maximum extent determined \nto be appropriate by the Secretary, increased authority to negotiate \ncontract terms, such as intellectual property rights, payment \nstructures, performance guarantees, and multiparty collaborations.\n (c) Eligibility.--\n (1) In general.--Any director of a National Laboratory may \n enter into an agreement pursuant to the pilot program referred \n to in subsection (a).\n (2) Agreements with non-federal entities.--To carry out \n paragraph (1) and subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall \n permit the directors of the National Laboratories to execute \n agreements with a non-Federal entity, including a non-Federal \n entity already receiving Federal funding that will be used to \n support activities under agreements executed pursuant to \n paragraph (1), provided that such funding is solely used to \n carry out the purposes of the Federal award.\n (3) Restriction.--The requirements of chapter 18 of title \n 35, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Bayh-Dole \n Act'') shall apply if--\n (A) the agreement is a funding agreement (as that \n term is defined in section 201 of that title); and\n (B) at least 1 of the parties to the funding \n agreement is eligible to receive rights under that \n chapter.\n (d) Submission to Secretary.--Each affected director of a National \nLaboratory shall submit to the Secretary, with respect to each \nagreement entered into under this section--\n (1) a summary of information relating to the relevant \n project;\n (2) the total estimated costs of the project;\n (3) estimated commencement and completion dates of the \n project; and\n (4) other documentation determined to be appropriate by the \n Secretary.\n (e) Certification.--The Secretary shall require the contractor of \nthe affected National Laboratory to certify that each activity carried \nout under a project for which an agreement is entered into under this \nsection--\n (1) is not in direct competition with the private sector; \n and\n (2) does not present, or minimizes, any apparent conflict \n of interest, and avoids or neutralizes any actual conflict of \n interest, as a result of the agreement under this section.\n (f) Extension.--The pilot program referred to in subsection (a) \nshall be extended until October 31, 2017.\n (g) Reports.--\n (1) Overall assessment.--Not later than 60 days after the \n date described in subsection (f), the Secretary, in \n coordination with directors of the National Laboratories, shall \n submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of \n the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and \n Natural Resources of the Senate a report that--\n (A) assesses the overall effectiveness of the pilot \n program referred to in subsection (a);\n (B) identifies opportunities to improve the \n effectiveness of the pilot program;\n (C) assesses the potential for program activities \n to interfere with the responsibilities of the National \n Laboratories to the Department; and\n (D) provides a recommendation regarding the future \n of the pilot program.\n (2) Transparency.--The Secretary, in coordination with \n directors of the National Laboratories, shall submit to the \n Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of \n Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural \n Resources of the Senate an annual report that accounts for all \n incidences of, and provides a justification for, non-Federal \n entities using funds derived from a Federal contract or award \n to carry out agreements pursuant to this section.\n\nSEC. 202. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR COMMERCIALIZATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary \nshall delegate to directors of the National Laboratories signature \nauthority with respect to any agreement described in subsection (b) the \ntotal cost of which (including the National Laboratory contributions \nand project recipient cost share) is less than $1,000,000, if such an \nagreement falls within the scope of--\n (1) a strategic plan for the National Laboratory that has \n been approved by the Department; or\n (2) the most recent Congressionally approved budget for \n Department activities to be carried out by the National \n Laboratory.\n (b) Agreements.--Subsection (a) applies to--\n (1) a cooperative research and development agreement;\n (2) a non-Federal work-for-others agreement; and\n (3) any other agreement determined to be appropriate by the \n Secretary, in collaboration with the directors of the National \n Laboratories.\n (c) Administration.--\n (1) Accountability.--The director of the affected National \n Laboratory and the affected contractor shall carry out an \n agreement under this section in accordance with applicable \n policies of the Department, including by ensuring that the \n agreement does not compromise any national security, economic, \n or environmental interest of the United States.\n (2) Certification.--The director of the affected National \n Laboratory and the affected contractor shall certify that each \n activity carried out under a project for which an agreement is \n entered into under this section does not present, or minimizes, \n any apparent conflict of interest, and avoids or neutralizes \n any actual conflict of interest, as a result of the agreement \n under this section.\n (3) Availability of records.--Within 30 days of entering an \n agreement under this section, the director of a National \n Laboratory shall submit to the Secretary for monitoring and \n review all records of the National Laboratory relating to the \n agreement.\n (4) Rates.--The director of a National Laboratory may \n charge higher rates for services performed under a partnership \n agreement entered into pursuant to this section, regardless of \n the full cost of recovery, if such funds are used exclusively \n to support further research and development activities at the \n respective National Laboratory.\n (d) Exception.--This section does not apply to any agreement with a \nmajority foreign-owned company.\n (e) Conforming Amendment.--Section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler \nTechnology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as \n subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting \n the subparagraphs appropriately;\n (B) by striking ``Each Federal agency'' and \n inserting the following:\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), \n each Federal agency''; and\n (C) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2) Exception.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in \n accordance with section 202(a) of the Department of Energy \n Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015, \n approval by the Secretary of Energy shall not be required for \n any technology transfer agreement proposed to be entered into \n by a National Laboratory of the Department of Energy, the total \n cost of which (including the National Laboratory contributions \n and project recipient cost share) is less than $1,000,000.''; \n and\n (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``subsection (a)(1)'' \n each place it appears and inserting ``subsection (a)(1)(A)''.\n\nSEC. 203. INCLUSION OF EARLY-STAGE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION IN \n AUTHORIZED TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES.\n\n Section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391) is \namended by--\n (1) redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and\n (2) inserting after subsection (f) the following:\n ``(g) Early-Stage Technology Demonstration.--The Secretary shall \npermit the directors of the National Laboratories to use funds \nauthorized to support technology transfer within the Department to \ncarry out early-stage and pre-commercial technology demonstration \nactivities to remove technology barriers that limit private sector \ninterest and demonstrate potential commercial applications of any \nresearch and technologies arising from National Laboratory \nactivities.''.\n\nSEC. 204. FUNDING COMPETITIVENESS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION \n AND OTHER NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS.\n\n Section 988(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. \n16352(b)) is amended--\n (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Except as provided in \n paragraphs (2) and (3)'' and inserting ``Except as provided in \n paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(4) Exemption for institutions of higher education and \n other nonprofit institutions.--\n ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to \n a research or development activity performed by an \n institution of higher education or nonprofit \n institution (as defined in section 4 of the Stevenson-\n Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. \n 3703)).\n ``(B) Termination date.--The exemption under \n subparagraph (A) shall apply during the 6-year period \n beginning on the date of enactment of this \n paragraph.''.\n\nSEC. 205. PARTICIPATION IN THE INNOVATION CORPS PROGRAM.\n\n The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the Director of the \nNational Science Foundation to enable researchers funded by the \nDepartment to participate in the National Science Foundation Innovation \nCorps program.\n\n TITLE III--ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT\n\nSEC. 301. REPORT BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.\n\n Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the \nComptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a \nreport--\n (1) describing the results of the projects developed under \n sections 201, 202, and 203, including information regarding--\n (A) partnerships initiated as a result of those \n projects and the potential linkages presented by those \n partnerships with respect to national priorities and \n other taxpayer-funded research; and\n (B) whether the activities carried out under those \n projects result in--\n (i) fiscal savings;\n (ii) expansion of National Laboratory \n capabilities;\n (iii) increased efficiency of technology \n transfers; or\n (iv) an increase in general efficiency of \n the National Laboratory system; and\n (2) assess the scale, scope, efficacy, and impact of the \n Department's efforts to promote technology transfer and private \n sector engagement at the National Laboratories, and make \n recommendations on how the Department can improve these \n activities.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives May 19, 2015.\n\n Attest:\n\n KAREN L. HAAS,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015 TITLE I--INNOVATION MANAGEMENT AT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Sec. 101) Directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to: (1) report annually on its ability to improve the technology transfer and commercialization of energy technologies, including an assessment of the role and effectiveness of the Director of the Office of Technology Transitions; and (2) recommend changes to improve the ability to successfully transfer new energy technologies to the private sector. (Sec. 102) Expresses the sense of Congress that DOE should encourage the nonmilitary national laboratories (national laboratories) and federally funded research and development centers to inform small businesses of the opportunities and resources that exist pursuant to this Act. (Sec. 103) Requires DOE to report on its capabilities to authorize, host, and oversee privately funded fusion and non-light water reactor prototypes and related demonstration facilities at DOE-owned sites. Instructs DOE, for purposes of such report, to consider DOE's capabilities to facilitate privately-funded prototypes of up to 20 megawatts thermal output. TITLE II--CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANT COMPETITIVENESS (Sec. 201) Directs DOE to carry out the Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program in accordance with this Act, including by giving the contractors of the DOE nonmilitary national laboratories increased authority to negotiate contract terms and making every such facility eligible for the program. Permits the directors of the national laboratories to execute agreements with non-federal entities, provided that such funding is only used to carry out the purposes of the federal award. Subjects agreements that are funding agreements to the requirements of the Bayh-Dole Act (concerning patent rights to inventions arising from federally-supported research and development). Imposes contractor certification requirements for the avoidance of direct competition with the private sector and conflicts of interest. Extends the pilot program until October 31, 2017. Requires DOE to report to Congress on the overall effectiveness of the pilot program and to annually account for, and justify, incidences of use by non-federal entities of funds derived from a federal contract or award to carry out agreements pursuant to the pilot program. (Sec. 202) Requires DOE to delegate to the directors of the national laboratories signature authority with respect to certain agreements the total cost of which is less than $1 million, if such an agreement falls within the scope of: (1) a strategic plan for the national laboratory that has been approved by DOE; or (2) the most recent congressionally approved budget for DOE activities to be carried out by that laboratory. Makes this section inapplicable to any agreement with a majority foreign-owned company. (Sec. 203) Permits the directors of national laboratories to use funds authorized to support technology transfer within DOE to carry out early-stage and pre-commercial technology demonstration activities to: (1) remove technology barriers that limit private sector interest, and (2) demonstrate potential commercial applications of any research and technologies arising from national laboratory activities. (Sec. 204) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to exempt institutions of higher education and nonprofit institutions from the cost-sharing requirements for research and development for six years. (Sec. 205) Authorizes DOE to enter into an agreement with the National Science Foundation to enable the participation of DOE researchers in the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program. TITLE III--ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT (Sec. 301) Requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on the results of projects developed under this Act and on the impact of DOE efforts to promote technology transfer and private sector engagement at the national laboratories. ", "title": "Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 130, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Pharmacist Services \nCoverage Act of 2001''.\n\nSEC. 2. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF PHARMACIST SERVICES.\n\n (a) Coverage.--Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 \nU.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)), as amended by section 105(a) of the Medicare, \nMedicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 \n(114 Stat. 2763A-471), as enacted into law by section 1(a)(6) of Public \nLaw 106-554, is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (U), by striking ``and'' at the end;\n (2) in subparagraph (V), by inserting ``and'' at the end; \n and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(W) pharmacist services (as defined in subsection \n (ww));''.\n (b) Services Described.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act \n(42 U.S.C. 1395x), as amended by section 105(b) of the Medicare, \nMedicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 \n(114 Stat. 2763A-471), as enacted into law by section 1(a)(6) of Public \nLaw 106-554, is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubsection:\n\n ``Pharmacist Services\n\n ``(ww) The term `pharmacist services' means such drug therapy \nmanagement services furnished by a pharmacist, individually or on \nbehalf of a pharmacy provider, and such services and supplies furnished \nas an incident to the pharmacist's drug therapy management service, \nwhich the pharmacist is legally authorized to perform (in the State in \nwhich the individual performs such services) in accordance with State \nlaw (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by State law).''.\n (c) Payment.--\n (1) In general.--Section 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security \n Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)), as amended by section 223(c) of \n the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and \n Protection Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2763A-489), as enacted into \n law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law 106-554, is amended--\n (A) by striking ``and'' before ``(U)''; and\n (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end \n the following: ``, and (V) with respect to pharmacist \n services under section 1861(s)(2)(W), the amounts paid \n shall be 80 percent of the lesser of the actual charge \n or the amount established under section 1834(n);''.\n (2) Establishment of fee schedule; payments prior to \n implementation of fee schedule.--Section 1834 of the Social \n Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m), as amended by section 223(b) of \n the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and \n Protection Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2763A-487), as enacted into \n law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law 106-554, is amended by \n adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(n) Fee Schedules for Pharmacist Services.--\n ``(1) Development.--The Secretary shall develop--\n ``(A) a relative value scale to serve as the basis \n for the payment of pharmacist services (as defined in \n section 1861(ww)) under this part; and\n ``(B) using such scale and appropriate conversion \n factors, fee schedules (on a regional, statewide, \n locality, or carrier service area basis) for payment \n for pharmacist services under this part, to be \n implemented for such services furnished during years \n beginning after the expiration of the 3-year period \n which begins on the date of enactment of this \n subsection.\n ``(2) Considerations.--In developing the relative value \n scale and fee schedules under paragraph (1), the Secretary \n shall consider differences in--\n ``(A) the time required to perform types of \n pharmacist services;\n ``(B) the level of risk associated with the use of \n particular out-patient prescription drugs or groups of \n drugs; and\n ``(C) the health status of individuals to whom \n pharmacist services are provided.\n ``(3) Consultation.--In developing the fee schedule for \n pharmacist services under this subsection, the Secretary shall \n consult with various national organizations representing \n pharmacists and pharmacies and share with such organizations \n the relevant data and data analysis being used in establishing \n such fee schedule, including data on variations in payments \n under this part by geographic area and by service.\n ``(4) Payments prior to implementation of fee schedule.--In \n the case of a pharmacist service (as defined in section \n 1861(ww)) that is furnished before the implementation of the \n fee schedule developed under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary \n shall pay an amount equal to 80 percent of the amount that the \n Secretary would pay for such service under the fee schedule \n established under section 1848 if the service were furnished by \n a physician or as an incident to a physician's service.''.\n (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall \nsubmit to Congress a report on the relative value scale and fee \nschedules developed under section 1834(n)(1) of the Social Security Act \n(as added by subsection (c)(2)) for pharmacist services furnished under \npart B of the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security \nAct.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2002.", "summary": "Medicare Pharmacist Services Coverage Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, to provide for Medicare coverage of pharmacist services.", "title": "To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of pharmacist services under part B of the Medicare Program."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2695, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND REFERENCE.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Fair Pay Act of \n1997''.\n (b) Reference.--Whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is \nexpressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other \nprovision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or \nother provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Wage differentials exist between equivalent jobs \n segregated by sex, race, and national origin in Government \n employment and in industries engaged in commerce or in the \n production of goods for commerce:\n (2) The existence of such wage differentials--\n (A) depresses wages and living standards for \n employees necessary for their health and efficiency;\n (B) prevents the maximum utilization of the \n available labor resources;\n (C) tends to cause labor disputes, thereby \n burdening, affecting, and obstructing commerce;\n (D) burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in \n commerce; and\n (E) constitutes an unfair method of competition.\n (3) Discrimination in hiring and promotion has played a \n role in maintaining a segregated work force.\n (4) Many women and people of color work in occupations \n dominated by individuals of their same sex, race, and national \n origin.\n (5)(A) A General Accounting Office analysis of wages in the \n civil service of the State of Washington found that in 1985 of \n the 44 jobs studied that paid less than the average of all \n equivalent jobs, approximately 39 percent were female-dominated \n and approximately 16 percent were male dominated.\n (B) A study of wages in Minnesota using 1990 Decennial \n Census data found that 75 percent of the wage differential \n between white and non-white workers was unexplained and may be \n a result of discrimination.\n (6) Section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 \n prohibits discrimination in compensation for ``equal work'' on \n the basis of sex.\n (7) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits \n discrimination in compensation because of race, color, \n religion, national origin, and sex. The United States Supreme \n Court, in its decision in County of Washington v. Gunther, 452 \n U.S. 161 (1981), held that title VII's prohibition against \n discrimination in compensation also applies to jobs which do \n not constitute ``equal work'' as defined in section 6(d) of the \n Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Decisions of lower courts, \n however, have demonstrated that further clarification of \n existing legislation is necessary in order effectively to carry \n out the intent of Congress to implement the Supreme Court's \n holding in its Gunther decision.\n (8) Artificial barriers to the elimination of \n discrimination in compensation based upon sex, race, and \n national origin continue to exist more than 3 decades after the \n passage of section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 \n and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Elimination of such barriers \n would have positive effects, including--\n (A) providing a solution to problems in the economy \n created by discriminating wage differentials;\n (B) substantially reducing the number of working \n women and people of color earning low wages, thereby \n reducing the dependence on public assistance; and\n (C) promoting stable families by enabling working \n family members to earn a fair rate of pay.\n\nSEC. 3. EQUAL PAY FOR EQUIVALENT JOBS.\n\n (a) Amendment.--Section 6 (29 U.S.C. 206) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following:\n ``(g)(1)(A) No employer having employees subject to any provisions \nof this section shall discriminate between its employees on the basis \nof sex, race, or national origin by paying wages to employees or groups \nof employees at a rate less than the rate at which the employer pays \nwages to employees or groups of employees of the opposite sex or \ndifferent race or national origin for work in equivalent jobs, except \nwhere such payment is made pursuant to a seniority system, a merit \nsystem, or a system which measures earnings by quantity or quality of \nproduction.\n ``(B) An employer who is paying a wage rate differential in \nviolation of subparagraph (A) shall not, in order to comply with the \nprovisions of such subparagraph, reduce the wage rate of any employee.\n ``(2) No labor organization or its agents representing employees of \nan employer having employees subject to any provision of this section \nshall cause or attempt to cause such an employer to discriminate \nagainst an employee in violation of paragraph (1)(A).\n ``(3) For purposes of administration and enforcement of this \nsubsection, any amounts owing to any employee which have been withheld \nin violation of paragraph (1)(A) shall be deemed to be unpaid minimum \nwages or unpaid overtime compensation under this section or section 7.\n ``(4) As used in this subsection:\n ``(A) The term `labor organization' means any organization \n of any kind, or any agency or employee representation committee \n or plan, in which employees participate and which exists for \n the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers \n concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, \n hours of employment, or conditions of work.\n ``(B) The term `equivalent jobs' means jobs that may be \n dissimilar, but whose requirements are equivalent, when viewed \n as a composite of skills, effort, responsibility, and working \n conditions.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 13(a) (29 U.S.C. 213(a)) is \namended in the matter before paragraph (1) by striking ``section 6(d)'' \nand inserting ``sections 6(d) and 6(g)''.\n\nSEC. 4. PROHIBITED ACTS.\n\n Section 15(a) (29 U.S.C. 215(a)) is amended by striking the period \nat the end of paragraph (5) and inserting a semicolon and by adding \nafter paragraph (5) the following:\n ``(6) to discriminate against any individual because such \n individual has opposed any act or practice made unlawful by \n section 6(g) or because such individual made a charge, \n testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an \n investigation, proceeding, or hearing under section 6(g); or\n ``(7) to discharge or in any other manner discriminate \n against, coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any \n employee or any other person because the employee inquired \n about, disclosed, compared, or otherwise discussed the \n employee's wages or the wages of any other employee, or because \n the employee exercised, enjoyed, aided, or encouraged any other \n person to exercise or enjoy any right granted or protected by \n section 6(g).''.\n\nSEC. 5. REMEDIES.\n\n Section 16 (29 U.S.C. 216) is amended--\n (1) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(f) In any action brought under this section for violation of \nsection 6(g), the court shall, in addition to any other remedies \nawarded to the prevailing plaintiff or plaintiffs, allow expert fees as \npart of the costs. Any such action may be maintained as a class action \nas provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.'';\n (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``section 15(a)(3)'' \n each place it occurs and inserting ``paragraphs (3), (6), and \n (7) of section 15(a)''; and\n (3) in the fourth sentence of subsection (b), by striking \n ``No employees'' and inserting ``Except with respect to class \n actions brought under subsection (f), no employees''.\n\nSEC. 6. RECORDS.\n\n Section 11(c) (29 U.S.C. 211(c)) is amended by inserting ``(1)'' \nafter ``(c)'' and by adding at the end the following:\n ``(2)(A) Every employer subject to section 6(g) shall preserve \nrecords which document and support the method, system, calculations, \nand other bases used by the employer in establishing, adjusting, and \ndetermining the wages paid to the employees of the employer. Every \nemployer subject to section 6(g) shall preserve such records for such \nperiods of time and shall make such reports therefrom to the Equal \nEmployment Opportunity Commission as shall be prescribed by the Equal \nEmployment Opportunity Commission by regulation or order as necessary \nor appropriate for the enforcement of the provisions of section 6(g) or \nany regulations promulgated thereunder.\n ``(B) Every employer subject to section 6(g) shall file annually \nwith the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission a report signed by its \npresident, treasurer, or corresponding principal officer containing \ninformation in such detail as may be necessary accurately to disclose \nthe wage or salary rates paid to each classification, position, job \ntitle, or other wage or salary group of employees employed by the \nemployer, as well as the sex, race, and national origin of employees at \neach wage or salary level in each classification, position, job title, \nor other wage or salary group. The report shall not contain the name of \nany individual employee.\n ``(C) In order to carry out the purposes of this Act, the contents \nof the reports filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission \npursuant to subparagraph (B) shall be public information, and the Equal \nEmployment Opportunity Commission may publish any information and data \nwhich it obtains pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (B). The \nEqual Employment Opportunity Commission may use the information and \ndata for statistical and research purposes, and compile and publish \nsuch studies, analyses, reports, and surveys based thereon as it may \ndeem appropriate.\n ``(D) In order to carry out the purposes of this Act the Equal \nEmployment Opportunity Commission shall by regulation make reasonable \nprovision for the inspection and examination by any person of the \ninformation and data contained in any report filed with it pursuant to \nsubparagraph (B).\n ``(E) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall by \nregulation provide for the furnishing of copies of reports filed with \nit pursuant to subparagraph (B) to any person upon payment of a charge \nbased upon the cost of the service.\n ``(F) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall issue rules \nand regulations prescribing the form and content of reports required to \nbe filed under subparagraph (B) and such other reasonable rules and \nregulations as it may find necessary to prevent the circumvention or \nevasion of such reporting requirements. In exercising its authority \nunder subparagraph (B), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may \nprescribe by general rule simplified reports for employers for whom it \nfinds that by virtue of their size a detailed report would be unduly \nburdensome.''.\n\nSEC. 7. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; REPORT \n TO CONGRESS.\n\n Section 4(d) (29 U.S.C. 204(d)) is amended by adding at the end the \nfollowing:\n ``(4) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall undertake \nstudies and provide information and technical assistance to employers, \nlabor organizations, and the general public concerning effective means \navailable to implement the provisions of section 6(g) prohibiting wage \ndiscrimination between employees performing work in equivalent jobs on \nthe basis of sex, race, or national origin. Such studies, information, \nand technical assistance shall be based upon and include reference to \nthe declared policy of such section to eliminate such discrimination. \nIn order to achieve the purposes of such section, the Equal Employment \nOpportunity Commission shall further carry on a continuing program of \nresearch, education, and technical assistance including--\n ``(A) undertaking and promoting research with the intent of \n developing means to expeditiously correct the conditions \n leading to section 6(g);\n ``(B) publishing and otherwise making available to \n employers, labor organizations, professional associations, \n educational institutions, the various media of communication, \n and the general public the findings of studies and other \n materials for promoting compliance with section 6(g);\n ``(C) sponsoring and assisting State and community \n informational and educational programs; and\n ``(D) providing technical assistance to employers, labor \n organizations, professional associations and other interested \n persons on means of achieving and maintaining compliance with \n the provisions of section 6(g).\n ``(5) The report submitted annually by the Equal Employment \nOpportunity Commission to Congress pursuant to paragraph (1) shall \ninclude a separate evaluation and appraisal regarding the \nimplementation of section 6(g).''.\n\nSEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall take effect upon the \nexpiration of one year from the date of its enactment.", "summary": "Fair Pay Act of 1997 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin. (Allows payment of different wages under seniority systems, merit systems, or systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production.) \nProhibits the discharge of or any other discrimination against an individual for opposing any act or practice made unlawful by this Act, or for assisting in an investigation or proceeding under it. \nDirects courts, in any action brought under this Act for violation of such prohibition, to allow expert fees as part of the costs awarded to prevailing plaintiffs. Allows any such action to be maintained as a class action. \nRequires employers subject to such prohibition to: (1) preserve records which document and support the method, system, calculations, and other bases used by the employer in establishing, adjusting, and determining the wages paid to their employees, for periods of time prescribed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); and (2) make reports to the EEOC. \nDirects the EEOC to: (1) undertake studies and provide information and technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning effective means available to implement this Act; (2) carry on a continuing program of research, education, and technical assistance with specified components related to the purposes of this Act; and (3) include a separate evaluation and appraisal regarding the implementation of this Act in its annual report to the Congress.", "title": "Fair Pay Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 708, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Workforce Training Enhancement Act \nof 2016''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) The viability of the domestic steel industry is crucial \n to the United States economy and national security.\n (2) The steel and taconite iron mining industries have been \n severely impacted by the foreign dumping and overproduction of \n steel and are continually faced with unfair trade practices.\n (3) In 2014, United States imports of steel and steel \n products increased by 36 percent and captured 28 percent of the \n total United States steel market. In 2015, United States \n imports of steel and steel products continued to increase, and \n captured 29 percent of the total United States steel market.\n (4) In 1974, Congress enacted the Trade Act of 1974 (19 \n U.S.C. 2101 et seq.), which established the trade adjustment \n assistance program under chapter 2 of title II of that Act (19 \n U.S.C. 2271 et seq.) to assist workers who have been adversely \n affected by trade.\n (5) The trade adjustment assistance program provides vital \n benefits and services to workers whose employment has been \n adversely affected by foreign trade. Those benefits and \n services include education and training, income support, \n relocation assistance, job search assistance, and the health \n coverage tax credit.\n (6) Since the inception of the trade adjustment assistance \n program, more than 5,000,000 United States workers have been \n certified as eligible for benefits and services under the \n program.\n (7) As of September 30, 2015, the trade adjustment \n assistance program had served more than 2,200,000 workers.\n (8) In fiscal year 2015, the Department of Labor certified \n 413 petitions for eligibility for the trade adjustment \n assistance program, which provided access to trade adjustment \n assistance benefits for 57,631 workers.\n (9) In 2015, more than 13,000 new participants were \n enrolled in the trade adjustment assistance for workers program \n and the program provided services and benefits to more than \n 47,000 workers.\n (10) From fiscal year 2012 through fiscal year 2015, the \n average processing time for a petition under the trade \n adjustment assistance for workers program was 49.1 days and the \n average processing time for fiscal year 2015 was 47.2 days.\n (11) The trade adjustment assistance program provides vital \n education and training services to assist trade-affected \n workers to acquire new skills and prepare for new employment.\n (12) From 2012 through 2015, more than 9,800 steelworkers \n and iron ore miners in 17 States lost their jobs as a result of \n increases in imports of steel and steel products and were \n certified as eligible to apply for the trade adjustment \n assistance program.\n (13) In fiscal year 2015, more than 6,500 steelworkers were \n certified as eligible for trade adjustment assistance, \n including workers who were laid off or furloughed in 2014.\n (14) In order to empower workers who have been adversely \n affected by foreign trade, States should have the option of \n providing the funding for vital educational and training \n programs for workers while their petitions for certification of \n eligibility for trade adjustment assistance is pending.\n\nSEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF STATES TO REIMBURSE CERTAIN COSTS OF PROVIDING \n TRAINING TO WORKERS AFTER A PETITION FOR TRADE ADJUSTMENT \n ASSISTANCE IS FILED.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 236(a)(6) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 \nU.S.C. 2296(a)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(C)(i) If the conditions described in clause (ii) are met, a \nState may use the funds distributed to the State under paragraph (2) to \nreimburse the costs of providing training to a worker before the worker \nis approved for training under paragraph (1) paid by--\n ``(I) the State from funds provided by the State;\n ``(II) the State or local workforce development areas \n within the State from funds available under subtitle B of title \n I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. \n 3151 et seq.); or\n ``(III) an eligible entity under section 170 of that Act \n (29 U.S.C. 3225) in the State from funds available under that \n section.\n ``(ii) The conditions described in this clause are met if--\n ``(I) as of the date of the reimbursement under clause (i) \n the worker is covered by a certification for eligibility under \n subchapter A; and\n ``(II) the training, the costs of which are being \n reimbursed--\n ``(aa) commenced after the date on which the total \n or partial separations of the group of workers covered \n by the certification for eligibility began or \n threatened to begin; and\n ``(bb) meets the requirements for approval of \n training under paragraph (1).''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 236(a)(4)(B) of the Trade Act of \n1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296(a)(4)(B)) is amended by striking ``No'' and \ninserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (6)(C), no''.", "summary": "Workforce Training Enhancement Act of 2016 This bill amends the Trade Act of 1974, with respect to trade adjustment assistance (TAA) for training to adversely affected workers, to authorize a state to use certain funds distributed by the Department of Labor to reimburse the costs of providing training to an adversely affected worker before the worker is approved for training under the Act if those costs have been paid by: the state from state funds, the state or local workforce development areas within the state from funds available for workforce investment activities and providers under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, or another entity eligible in the state under the national dislocated worker grants program from funds available for that program. The use of funds under this Act shall be conditioned, however, on the worker's coverage by a certification for TAA eligibility for training meeting approval requirements which commenced after the date on which the total or partial separations of the group of workers covered by the certification for eligibility began or threatened to begin.", "title": "Workforce Training Enhancement Act of 2016"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 726, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``New England \nWilderness Act of 2006''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSection 1. Short title; table of contents.\nSec. 2. Definition of Secretary.\n\n TITLE I--NEW HAMPSHIRE\n\nSec. 101. Definition of State.\nSec. 102. Designation of wilderness areas.\nSec. 103. Map and description.\nSec. 104. Administration.\n\n TITLE II--VERMONT\n\nSec. 201. Definitions.\n\n Subtitle A--Designation of Wilderness Areas\n\nSec. 211. Designation.\nSec. 212. Map and description.\nSec. 213. Administration.\n\n Subtitle B--Moosalamoo National Recreation Area\n\nSec. 221. Designation.\nSec. 222. Map and description.\nSec. 223. Administration of National Recreation Area.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.\n\n In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of \nAgriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.\n\n TITLE I--NEW HAMPSHIRE\n\nSEC. 101. DEFINITION OF STATE.\n\n In this title, the term ``State'' means the State of New Hampshire.\n\nSEC. 102. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS.\n\n In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the \nfollowing Federal land in the State is designated as wilderness and as \ncomponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System:\n (1) Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service, \n comprising approximately 23,700 acres, as generally depicted on the \n map entitled ``Proposed Wild River Wilderness--White Mountain \n National Forest'', dated February 6, 2006, which shall be known as \n the ``Wild River Wilderness''.\n (2) Certain Federal land managed by the Forest Service, \n comprising approximately 10,800 acres, as generally depicted on the \n map entitled ``Proposed Sandwich Range Wilderness Additions--White \n Mountain National Forest'', dated February 6, 2006, and which are \n incorporated in the Sandwich Range Wilderness, as designated by the \n New Hampshire Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-323; 98 Stat. \n 259).\n\nSEC. 103. MAP AND DESCRIPTION.\n\n (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment \nof this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and a legal description of \neach wilderness area designated by section 102 with the committees of \nappropriate jurisdiction in the Senate and the House of \nRepresentatives.\n (b) Force and Effect.--A map and legal description filed under \nsubsection (a) shall have the same force and effect as if included in \nthis Act, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and \ntypographical errors in the map and legal description.\n (c) Public Availability.--Each map and legal description filed \nunder subsection (a) shall be filed and made available for public \ninspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service.\n\nSEC. 104. ADMINISTRATION.\n\n (a) Administration.--Subject to valid existing rights, each \nwilderness area designated under this title shall be administered by \nthe Secretary in accordance with--\n (1) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 \n U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and\n (2) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).\n (b) Effective Date of Wilderness Act.--With respect to any \nwilderness area designated by this title, any reference in the \nWilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) to the effective date of the \nWilderness Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of \nenactment of this Act.\n (c) Fish and Wildlife.--As provided in section 4(d)(7) of the \nWilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)), nothing in this title affects \nany jurisdiction or responsibility of the State with respect to \nwildlife and fish in the State.\n (d) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal land \nin the wilderness areas designated by section 102 are withdrawn from--\n (1) all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the \n public land laws;\n (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and\n (3) disposition under the mineral leasing laws (including \n geothermal leasing laws).\n\n TITLE II--VERMONT\n\nSEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this title:\n (1) Management plan.--The term ``Management Plan'' means the \n Green Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.\n (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Vermont.\n\n Subtitle A--Designation of Wilderness Areas\n\nSEC. 211. DESIGNATION.\n\n In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the \nfollowing areas in the State are designated as wilderness areas and as \ncomponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System:\n (1) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest \n Service, comprising approximately 22,425 acres, as generally \n depicted on the map entitled ``Glastenbury Wilderness--Proposed'', \n dated September 2006, which shall be known as the ``Glastenbury \n Wilderness''.\n (2) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest \n Service, comprising approximately 12,333 acres, as generally \n depicted on the map entitled ``Joseph Battell Wilderness--\n Proposed'', dated September 2006, which shall be known as the \n ``Joseph Battell Wilderness''.\n (3) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest \n Service, comprising approximately 3,757 acres, as generally \n depicted on the map entitled ``Breadloaf Wilderness Additions--\n Proposed'', dated September 2006, which shall be known as the \n ``Breadloaf Wilderness''.\n (4) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest \n Service, comprising approximately 2,338 acres, as generally \n depicted on the map entitled ``Lye Brook Wilderness Additions--\n Proposed'', dated September 2006, which shall be known as the ``Lye \n Brook Wilderness''.\n (5) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest \n Service, comprising approximately 752 acres, as generally depicted \n on the map entitled ``Peru Peak Wilderness Additions--Proposed'', \n dated September 2006, which shall be known as the ``Peru Peak \n Wilderness''.\n (6) Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest \n Service, comprising approximately 47 acres, as generally depicted \n on the map entitled ``Big Branch Wilderness Additions--Proposed'', \n dated September 2006, which shall be known as the ``Big Branch \n Wilderness''.\n\nSEC. 212. MAP AND DESCRIPTION.\n\n (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment \nof this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and a legal description of \neach wilderness area designated by section 211 with--\n (1) the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives;\n (2) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of \n Representatives; and\n (3) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of \n the Senate.\n (b) Force of Law.--A map and legal description filed under \nsubsection (a) shall have the same force and effect as if included in \nthis Act, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and \ntypographical errors in the map and legal description.\n (c) Public Availability.--Each map and legal description filed \nunder subsection (a) shall be filed and made available for public \ninspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service.\n\nSEC. 213. ADMINISTRATION.\n\n (a) Administration.--Subject to valid rights in existence on the \ndate of enactment of this Act, each wilderness area designated under \nthis subtitle and in the Green Mountain National Forest (as of the date \nof enactment of this Act) shall be administered by the Secretary in \naccordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).\n (b) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this subtitle affects the \njurisdiction of the State with respect to wildlife and fish on the \npublic land located in the State, including the stocking of fish in \nrivers and streams in the State to support the Connecticut River \nAtlantic Salmon Restoration Program.\n (c) Trails.--The Forest Service shall allow the continuance of--\n (1) the Appalachian National Scenic Trail;\n (2) the Long Trail;\n (3) the Catamount Trail; and\n (4) the marking and maintenance of associated trails and trail \n structures of the Trails referred to in this subsection, consistent \n with the management direction (including objectives, standards, \n guidelines, and agreements with partners) established for the \n Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Long Trail, and Catamount Trail \n under the Management Plan.\n\n Subtitle B--Moosalamoo National Recreation Area\n\nSEC. 221. DESIGNATION.\n\n Certain Federal land managed by the United States Forest Service, \ncomprising approximately 15,857 acres, as generally depicted on the map \nentitled ``Moosalamoo National Recreation Area--Proposed'', dated \nSeptember 2006, is designated as the ``Moosalamoo National Recreation \nArea''.\n\nSEC. 222. MAP AND DESCRIPTION.\n\n (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment \nof this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and a legal description of \nthe national recreation area designated by section 221 with--\n (1) the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives;\n (2) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of \n Representatives; and\n (3) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of \n the Senate.\n (b) Force of Law.--A map and legal description filed under \nsubsection (a) shall have the same force and effect as if included in \nthis subtitle, except that the Secretary may correct clerical and \ntypographical errors in the map and legal description.\n (c) Public Availability.--Each map and legal description filed \nunder subsection (a) shall be filed and made available for public \ninspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service.\n\nSEC. 223. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.\n\n (a) In General.--Subject to valid rights existing on the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary shall administer the Moosalamoo \nNational Recreation Area in accordance with--\n (1) laws (including rules and regulations) applicable to units \n of the National Forest System; and\n (2) the management direction (including objectives, standards, \n and guidelines) established for the Moosalamoo Recreation and \n Education Management Area under the Management Plan.\n (b) Fish and Wildlife.--Nothing in this subtitle affects the \njurisdiction of the State with respect to wildlife and fish on the \npublic land located in the State.\n (c) Escarpment and Ecological Areas.--Nothing in this subtitle \nprevents the Secretary from managing the Green Mountain Escarpment \nManagement Area and the Ecological Special Areas, as described in the \nManagement Plan.\n\n Speaker of the House of Representatives.\n\n Vice President of the United States and \n President of the Senate.", "summary": "New England Wilderness Act of 2006 - Title I: New Hampshire - Designates specified federal lands managed by the United States Forest Service in the White Mountain National Forest area of New Hampshire as wilderness areas and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (lands to be known as the Wild River Wilderness and lands to be incorporated in the Sandwich Range Wilderness).\n\nTitle II: Vermont - Subtitle A: Designation of Wilderness Areas - Designates specified federal lands managed by the Forest Service in Vermont as wilderness areas and National Wilderness Preservation System components (lands to be known as the Glastenbury Wilderness, the Joseph Battell Wilderness, the Breadloaf Wilderness, the Lye Brook Wilderness, the Peru Peak Wilderness, and the Big Branch Wilderness). Requires the Forest Service to allow the continuance of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Long Trail, the Catamount Trail, and the marking and maintenance of associated trails and trail structures consistent with the management direction established under the Green Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.\n\nSubtitle B: Moosalamoo National Recreation Area - Designates specified federal lands managed by the Forest Service in Vermont as the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to administer the Area in accordance with laws applicable to National Forest System units and the management direction established for the Moosalamoo Recreation and Education Management Area under such Management Plan.", "title": "A bill to designate certain land in New England as wilderness for inclusion in the National Preservation system and certain land as a National Recreation Area, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1161, "text": "SECTION 1. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) Although a 1991 Sudanese criminal law prohibited \n abduction, kidnapping, forced labor, unlawful confinement, and \n unlawful detention, and although Sudan categorically denies the \n practice of slavery in Sudan, slavery continues unabated in \n Sudan.\n (2) The United States Department of State's Country Human \n Rights Report for 1995 noted that ``government forces carried \n out massacres, extrajudicial kidnapping, forced labor, and \n slavery'' in Sudan.\n (3) Amnesty International reports that the Government of \n Sudan abducted women and children from Northern Bahr al-Ghazal \n and the Nuba Mountains and during one of the raids of April and \n May of 1995 in the Babanusa to Wau area, 500 women and 150 \n children were taken as slaves.\n (4) In April 1996, a report by the United Nations Special \n Representative for Sudan, Gaspar Biro, reported ``an alarming \n increase in cases of slavery, servitude, slave trade and forced \n labor''. The taking of slaves, particularly in war zones, and \n their export to parts of central and northern Sudan, continues \n in Sudan.\n (5) Amnesty International reports that Sudan is party to \n the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the \n African Charter on Human and People's Rights, the Slavery \n Convention, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Yet, \n despite being a party to these agreements, slavery still exists \n in Sudan.\n\nSEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE, MILITARY ASSISTANCE, OR \n ARMS TRANSFERS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN AND THE \n GOVERNMENTS OF CERTAIN OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES.\n\n (a) Prohibition on Assistance to Government of Sudan.--The \nPresident may not provide economic assistance, military assistance, or \narms transfers to the Government of Sudan unless the President \ncertifies to the Congress that such Government has taken appropriate \naction to eliminate chattel slavery in Sudan, including--\n (1) the enactment of antislavery laws that provide \n appropriate punishment for violators of such laws; and\n (2) the rigorous enforcement of such laws.\n (b) Prohibition on Assistance to Governments of Certain Other \nForeign Countries.--The President may not provide economic assistance, \nmilitary assistance, or arms transfers to the government of any foreign \ncountry that participates, or is otherwise involved, in the \nestablishment or conduct of slavery originating from Sudan, directly or \nindirectly.\n (c) Definitions.--As used in this section:\n (1) Economic assistance.--The term ``economic assistance'' \n means any assistance under part I of the Foreign Assistance Act \n of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) and any assistance under \n chapter 4 of part II of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.) \n (relating to economic support fund), except that such term does \n not include humanitarian assistance.\n (2) Military assistance or arms transfers.--The term \n ``military assistance or arms transfers'' means--\n (A) assistance under chapter 2 of part II of the \n Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2311 et seq.) \n (relating to military assistance), including the \n transfer of excess defense articles under sections 516 \n through 519 of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2321j through \n 2321m);\n (B) assistance under chapter 5 of part II of the \n Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.) \n (relating to international military education and \n training);\n (C) assistance under the ``Foreign Military \n Financing Program'' under section 23 of the Arms Export \n Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763); or\n (D) the transfer of defense articles, defense \n services, or design and construction services under the \n Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), \n including defense articles and defense services \n licensed or approved for export under section 38 of \n that Act (22 U.S.C. 2778).\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF SLAVERY MONITOR IN SUDAN.\n\n The Secretary of State shall designate an individual who is \nassigned to the diplomatic mission in Khartoum, Sudan, to be \nresponsible for monitoring slavery in Sudan, when such diplomatic \nmission is reestablished.\n\nSEC. 4. REPORT ON SLAVERY IN SUDAN.\n\n Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, \nand every 6 months thereafter, the President shall prepare and transmit \nto the Congress a report that describes all forms of covert and overt \nforms of slavery in Sudan.\n\nSEC. 5. MULTILATERAL MEASURES TO ELIMINATE SLAVERY IN SUDAN.\n\n (a) Requirement To Oppose Assistance to Sudan From Certain \nInternational Financial Institutions.--The President shall instruct the \nUnited States representative to each international financial \ninstitution to which the United States is a member to use the voice and \nvote of the United States to oppose any assistance from that financial \ninstitution to Sudan until the Government of Sudan has taken the \nactions described in section 2(a) to eliminate chattel slavery in \nSudan.\n (b) Cooperation With Other Countries To Apply United States \nSanctions Against Sudan.--The President shall instruct the United \nStates permanent representative to the United Nations to actively \npursue the passage of any resolution by the United Nations Security \nCouncil that enhances the cooperation of other countries in the \napplication of the spirit and intent of the sanctions against Sudan \ndescribed in this Act and in any other Act.\n (c) Sense of the Congress Relating to Access by Humanitarian \nAssistance Organizations Within Sudan.--It is the sense of the Congress \nthat the President should work with foreign countries and appropriate \ninternational organizations to ensure that humanitarian assistance \norganizations have access to all parts of Sudan for the purpose of \nassisting individuals who have been enslaved to resettle in Sudan.", "summary": "Prohibits the President from providing economic assistance, military assistance, or arms transfers to Sudan (or to any foreign country involved in chattel slavery in Sudan) unless he certifies to the Congress that Sudan has taken action to eliminate chattel slavery, including: (1) enactment of antislavery laws that punish violators; and (2) rigorous enforcement of such laws. \nDirects the Secretary of State to designate an individual from the diplomatic mission in Khartoum, Sudan, for monitoring slavery there. \nRequires the President to report to the Congress on all forms of covert and overt forms of slavery in Sudan. \nDirects the President to instruct: (1) the U.S. representative to each international financial institution to oppose any assistance to Sudan until it has taken action to eliminate chattel slavery; and (2) the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations to pursue passage of any U.N. Security Council resolution that enhances cooperation of other countries in applying sanctions against Sudan. \nExpresses the sense of the Congress that the President should work with foreign countries and appropriate international organizations to ensure that humanitarian assistance organizations have access to all parts of Sudan for the purpose of assisting individuals who have been enslaved to resettle in Sudan.", "title": "To prohibit economic assistance, military assistance, or arms transfers to the Government of Sudan until appropriate action is taken to eliminate chattel slavery in Sudan, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 535, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of \n2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 34 \n percent of adults aged 65 and over were obese in the period of \n 2009 through 2012, representing almost 15 million people.\n (2) Obesity increases the risk for chronic diseases and \n conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, \n certain cancers, arthritis, mental illness, lipid disorders, \n sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes.\n (3) More than half of Medicare beneficiaries are treated \n for 5 or more chronic conditions per year. The rate of obesity \n among Medicare patients doubled from 1987 to 2002, and Medicare \n spending on obese individuals during that time more than \n doubled.\n (4) Men and women with obesity at age 65 have decreased \n life expectancy of 1.6 years for men and 1.4 years for women.\n (5) The direct and indirect cost of obesity is more than \n $450 billion annually.\n (6) On average, a Medicare beneficiary with obesity costs \n $1,964 more than a normal-weight beneficiary.\n (7) The prevalence of obesity among older individuals in \n the United States is growing at a linear rate and, if nothing \n changes, nearly half of the elderly population of the United \n States will have obesity in 2030 according to a Congressional \n Research Report on obesity.\n\nSEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO EXPAND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS QUALIFIED TO FURNISH \n INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY.\n\n Section 1861(ddd) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ddd)) \nis amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(4)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may, in \n addition to qualified primary care physicians and other primary \n care practitioners, cover intensive behavioral therapy for \n obesity furnished by any of the following:\n ``(i) A physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)) \n who is not a qualified primary care physician.\n ``(ii) Any other appropriate health care provider \n (including a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, \n or clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are \n defined in subsection (aa)(5)), a clinical \n psychologist, a registered dietitian or nutrition \n professional (as defined in subsection (vv))).\n ``(iii) An evidence-based, community-based \n lifestyle counseling program approved by the Secretary.\n ``(B) In the case of intensive behavioral therapy for \n obesity furnished by a provider described in clause (ii) or \n (iii) of subparagraph (A), the Secretary may only cover such \n therapy if such therapy is furnished--\n ``(i) upon referral from, and in coordination with, \n a physician or primary care practitioner operating in a \n primary care setting or any other setting specified by \n the Secretary; and\n ``(ii) in an office setting, a hospital out-patient \n department, a community-based site that complies with \n the Federal regulations concerning the privacy of \n individually identifiable health information \n promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health \n Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, \n or another setting specified by the Secretary.\n ``(C) In order to ensure a collaborative effort, the \n coordination described in subparagraph (B)(i) shall include the \n health care provider or lifestyle counseling program \n communicating to the referring physician or primary care \n practitioner any recommendations or treatment plans made \n regarding the therapy.''.\n\nSEC. 4. MEDICARE PART D COVERAGE OF OBESITY MEDICATION.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 1860D-2(e)(2)(A) of the Social Security \nAct (42 U.S.C. 1395w-102(e)(2)(A)) is amended, in the first sentence--\n (1) by striking ``and other than'' and inserting ``other \n than''; and\n (2) by inserting after ``benzodiazepines),'' the following: \n ``and other than subparagraph (A) of such section if the drug \n is used for the treatment of obesity (as defined in section \n 1861(yy)(2)(C)) or for weight loss management for an individual \n who is overweight (as defined in section 1861(yy)(2)(F)(i)) and \n has one or more related comorbidities,''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall \napply to plan years beginning on or after the date that is 2 years \nafter the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.\n\n Not later than the date that is 1 year after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of \nHealth and Human Services shall submit a report to Congress describing \nthe steps the Secretary has taken to implement the provisions of, and \namendments made by, this Act. Such report shall also include \nrecommendations for better coordination and leveraging of programs \nwithin the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal \nagencies that relate in any way to supporting appropriate research and \nclinical care (such as any interactions between physicians and other \nhealth care providers and their patients) to treat, reduce, and prevent \nobesity in the adult population.", "summary": "Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2017 This bill allows coverage, under Medicare, of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity furnished by providers other than primary care physicians and practitioners. Additionally, it allows coverage under Medicare's prescription drug benefit of drugs used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss management for individuals who are overweight.", "title": "Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1254, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Incentive Access Act of \n2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. INCENTIVE PAYMENT IN MEDICARE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE \n AREAS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.\n\n Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) is \namended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n ``incentive payments in medicare health professional shortage areas \n demonstration project\n\n ``Sec. 1897. (a) Establishment.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a \n demonstration project under which--\n ``(A) pursuant to paragraph (3), the Secretary \n designates areas in a State selected under paragraph \n (5) as medicare health professional shortage areas; and\n ``(B) an incentive payment is provided under part B \n to primary care physicians for each physician's service \n (as defined in section 1861(q)) that is furnished in a \n medicare health professional shortage area to an \n individual enrolled under such part.\n ``(2) Primary care physician defined.--For purposes of this \n section, the term `primary care physician' has the meaning \n given such term for purposes of designating health professional \n shortage areas under section 332(a) of the Public Health \n Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)).\n ``(3) Designation of areas.--The Secretary shall designate \n an area in a State selected under paragraph (5) as a medicare \n health professional shortage area if the Secretary determines, \n using the methodology established under subsection (b)(1)(B), \n that individuals enrolled under part B and residing in the area \n have inadequate access to primary care physicians.\n ``(4) Terms and conditions.--\n ``(A) Incentive payment in addition to payment \n otherwise made.--\n ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), \n the incentive payment made under the \n demonstration project for a physician's service \n shall be in addition to the amount otherwise \n made for the service under part B.\n ``(ii) No payments under the incentive \n payment program in a demonstration state during \n operation of the demonstration program.--\n Subject to subparagraph (D), notwithstanding \n section 1833(m), during the operation of the \n demonstration project in a State selected under \n paragraph (5), the Secretary may not make any \n incentive payment to any physician under such \n section for any service furnished in any part \n of such State, regardless of--\n ``(I) whether the physician is \n eligible for bonus payments under the \n demonstration program; and\n ``(II) where the service was \n furnished in the State.\n ``(B) Amount of incentive payment.--The amount of \n the incentive payment for a physician's service \n furnished under the demonstration project shall be an \n amount equal to 40 percent of the payment amount for \n the service under part B.\n ``(C) No effect on amount of coinsurance an \n individual is required to pay.--The amount of any \n coinsurance that an individual enrolled under part B is \n responsible for paying with respect to a physicians' \n service furnished to the individual shall be determined \n as if this section had not been enacted.\n ``(D) No effect on payments to critical access \n hospitals.--The amount of payment for outpatient \n critical access services of a critical access hospital \n under section 1834(g) shall be determined as if this \n section had not been enacted.\n ``(5) Demonstration sites.--The Secretary shall conduct the \n demonstration project in 5 States selected by the Secretary as \n demonstration sites.\n ``(6) Automation of incentive payments.--\n ``(A) In general.--Under the demonstration project, \n incentive payments under paragraph (1)(B) to a primary \n care physician shall be made automatically to the \n physician rather than the physician being responsible \n for determining when a payment is required to be made \n under that paragraph.\n ``(B) Incentive payment based on zip codes.--In \n order to comply with subparagraph (A), the Secretary \n shall establish procedures in which the amount of \n payment otherwise made for a physician's service is \n automatically increased by the amount of the incentive \n payment under the demonstration project if the service \n was furnished in any zip code that is entirely \nor partially in a designated medicare health professional shortage area \nin a State selected under paragraph (5).\n ``(7) Duration.--The demonstration project shall be \n conducted for a 3-year period. The period for establishing the \n methodology under subsection (b) shall not be counted for \n purposes determining such 3-year period.\n ``(b) Establishment of Methodology for Assisting Secretary in \nDesignating Medicare Health Professional Shortage Areas.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall select 1 or more \n Federal rural health research centers within the Health \n Resources Services Administration to establish a methodology to \n assist the Secretary in designating areas within the States \n selected under subsection (a)(5) as medicare health \n professional shortage areas pursuant to subsection (a)(3).\n ``(2) Rules for establishing methodology.--\n ``(A) In general.--The methodology established \n under paragraph (1) shall address--\n ``(i) how to measure the percentage of the \n total population in an area that consists of \n individuals enrolled under part B; and\n ``(ii) the appropriate ratio of such \n individuals to primary care physicians in an \n area in order to ensure that such individuals \n have adequate access to services furnished by \n such physicians.\n ``(B) Methodology may be similar to methodologies \n used under the public health service act.--The \n methodology established under paragraph (1) may be \n similar to methodologies utilized by the Secretary for \n designating areas, and population groups within areas, \n as health professional shortage areas under section \n 332(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. \n 254e(a)).\n ``(C) Consultation.--The Federal rural health \n research centers selected under paragraph (1) shall \n consult with the State and local medical societies of \n the States selected under subsection (a)(5) in \n establishing the methodology under paragraph (1).\n ``(c) No Effect on Designation as a Health Professional Shortage \nArea.--Except as provided in subsection (a)(4)(A)(ii), the designation \nof an area as a medicare health professional shortage area under \nsubsection (a)(3) shall have no effect on the designation of such area \nas a health professional shortage area under section 332(a) of the \nPublic Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)).\n ``(d) Waiver Authority.--The Secretary may waive such requirements \nof title XI and this title as may be necessary for the purpose of \ncarrying out the demonstration project.\n ``(e) Report.--\n ``(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the \n completion of the demonstration project, the Secretary shall \n submit to Congress a report on such project.\n ``(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) \n shall contain--\n ``(A) an evaluation of whether the demonstration \n project has had the effect of stabilizing, maintaining, \n or increasing access of individuals enrolled under part \n B to physicians' services furnished by primary care \n physicians, including whether the amount of the \n incentive payment is adequate to stabilize, maintain, \n or increase such access and if not, then what amount \n will;\n ``(B) a comparison of the effectiveness of the \n demonstration project in stabilizing, maintaining, or \n increasing such access with the effectiveness of other \n Federal, State, and local programs, such as the \n incentive program under section 1833(m), that are \n designed to stabilize, maintain, or increase such \n access;\n ``(C) recommendations for such legislation and \n administrative actions as the Secretary considers \n appropriate; and\n ``(D) any other items that the Secretary considers \n appropriate.\n ``(f) Funding.--\n ``(1) Incentive payments.--The Secretary shall use funds in \n the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under \n section 1841 to make the incentive payments under this section.\n ``(2) Establishment of methodology.--\n ``(A) In general.--There is authorized to be \n appropriated $6,000,000 to establish the methodology \n under subsection (b)(1).\n ``(B) Availability.--Any amounts appropriated \n pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall remain available \n until expended.''.", "summary": "Medicare Incentive Access Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) to establish a three-year demonstration project under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall: (1) select one or more Federal rural health research centers within the Health Resources Services Administration to develop a methodology for designating Medicare health professional shortage areas; (2) select five States as demonstration sites and designate Medicare health professional shortage areas in them; and (3) provide incentive payments to primary care physicians to service those shortage areas.", "title": "A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a medicare demonstration project under which incentive payments are provided in certain areas in order to stabilize, maintain, or increase access to primary care services for individuals enrolled under part B of such title."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1434, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Conservation Corps \nAuthorization Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Corps.--The term ``corps'' means the veterans \n conservation corps established under section 3(a).\n (2) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means \n a veteran (as the term is defined in section 101 of title 38, \n United States Code) that, as of the date on which the \n application for the corps is submitted--\n (A) is unemployed;\n (B) is not enrolled in any other Federal training \n program; and\n (C) meets any other criteria that the Secretary \n determines to be appropriate.\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n\nSEC. 3. VETERANS CONSERVATION CORPS.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the \nSecretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Commerce, shall \nestablish a veterans conservation corps--\n (1) to provide training and employment to eligible \n veterans;\n (2) to assist eligible veterans in the transition from \n service in the Armed Forces to civilian life; and\n (3) to assist the Federal Government in maintaining Federal \n land and water.\n (b) Employment of Eligible Veterans.--\n (1) Long-term employment.--\n (A) Initial period.--The Secretary shall employ in \n the corps eligible veterans for a 1-year period to \n carry out work projects assigned under subsection (c).\n (B) Extension of employment.--The Secretary may, on \n a case-by-case basis and as the Secretary considers \n appropriate, extend the employment of an eligible \n veteran under subparagraph (A) for an additional 1-year \n period.\n (2) Temporary employment for student veterans.--\n (A) In general.--The Secretary may establish a \n program in the corps for the short-term employment of \n eligible veterans that are attending institutions of \n higher education.\n (B) Terms.--The employment of an eligible veteran \n under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed 16 weeks in \n total.\n (3) Compensation.--An eligible veteran employed by the \n corps under paragraph (1) or (2) shall receive a stipend and \n living allowance in an amount to be determined by the \n Secretary, in consultation with Secretary of Veteran Affairs.\n (c) Work Projects.--\n (1) Assignment.--Each eligible veteran employed under \n subsection (b)(1) shall be assigned to a work project that--\n (A) furthers the purposes described in subsection \n (a); and\n (B) falls within 1 or more of the following \n categories:\n (i) Transportation improvements, such as \n improving wilderness trails.\n (ii) Erosion control.\n (iii) Landscape and recreation.\n (iv) Habitat protection and restoration, \n including removal of invasive species.\n (v) Data collection.\n (vi) Any other specific project category \n identified under paragraph (2).\n (2) Specification of additional project categories.--Not \n later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, \n the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce shall identify \n additional project categories that the Secretary and the \n Secretary of Commerce consider appropriate to further the \n purposes described in subsection (a).\n (3) Leveraging of military skills.--To the maximum extent \n practicable, an eligible veteran in the corps shall be assigned \n to a work project under paragraph (1) that enables the eligible \n veteran to use the skills that the eligible veteran developed \n as a member of the Armed Forces.\n (4) Development and supervision of work projects.--The \n Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce shall develop and \n supervise the work projects under the corps that relate to the \n respective jurisdiction of the Secretary and the Secretary.\n (d) Education and Training.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the \n Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Commerce, \n shall establish a program as part of the corps to provide to \n eligible veterans employed under the corps any education or \n training that is necessary to enable the eligible veterans to \n carry out the work projects assigned under subsection (c)(1).\n (2) Use of existing facilities.--To the maximum extent \n practicable, the Secretary, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, \n and the Secretary of Commerce shall use existing facilities of \n the Federal Government to provide the education and training \n required under paragraph (1).", "summary": "Veterans Conservation Corps Authorization Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a veteran conservation corps (corps) to: (1) provide training and employment to unemployed veterans not enrolled in any other federal training program, (2) assist veterans in their transition from military service to civilian life, and (3) assist the government in maintaining federal land and water. Directs the Secretary to employ such veterans for a one-year period, with an option for employment for an additional one-year period.\n\nAllows the Secretary to establish a corps program for the short-term employment of veterans attending institutions of higher education.\n\nDirects the Secretary to establish a program to provide to such veterans any education or training necessary to carry out assigned work projects.", "title": "A bill to direct the Secretary of Interior to establish a veterans conservation corps, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2863, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Wildlife Without Borders \nAuthorization Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--\n (1) our Nation has a long-standing commitment to assisting \n other countries with the conservation of wildlife species and \n limited wildlife conservation resources, including trained \n wildlife professionals, are often unavailable in many foreign \n countries containing globally important biological resources;\n (2) conservation activities, both overseas and in \n neighboring countries, are required to meet the Federal \n Government's obligations under numerous international treaties, \n laws, agreements, and cooperative programs;\n (3) since 1989, the Wildlife Without Borders Program, an \n administratively-created program within the United States Fish \n and Wildlife Service, has provided wildlife conservation \n assistance throughout the world by developing locally-adapted \n wildlife management and conservation programs, in coordination \n with non-governmental organizations, governments, private \n businesses, and community leaders, in an effort to maintain \n global species diversity;\n (4) activities under the Wildlife Without Borders Program \n is responsible for implementation of over 800 conservation \n projects around the world that address grass-roots threats to \n numerous endangered species, habitats, and ecosystems and that \n complement the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's \n existing programs for African elephants, rhinoceros and tigers, \n Asian elephants, great apes, migratory birds, and marine \n turtles;\n (5) activities under the Wildlife Without Borders Program \n provide education, training, and outreach to strengthen \n capacity for habitat and wildlife conservation throughout the \n world and serve a key role in facilitating international \n dialogue; and\n (6) although the Secretary of the Interior is generally \n authorized to undertake partnering and capacity building \n activities, a specific authorization will reinforce our \n Nation's long-term commitment to the Wildlife Without Borders \n Program.\n (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide capacity \nbuilding, outreach, education, and training assistance in endangered \nspecies and strategic habitat conservation to other nations by \nproviding international wildlife management and conservation programs \nthrough the Wildlife Without Borders Program.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Conservation.--The term ``conservation'' includes--\n (A) the methods and procedures necessary to bring a \n species to the point at which there are sufficient \n populations in the wild to ensure that the species does \n not become extinct; and\n (B) all activities associated with protection and \n management of a species, including--\n (i) maintenance, management, protection, \n and restoration of species habitat;\n (ii) research and monitoring;\n (iii) law enforcement;\n (iv) community outreach and education;\n (v) conflict resolution initiatives; and\n (vi) strengthening the capacity of local \n communities, government agencies, non-\n governmental organizations, and other \n institutions to implement conservation \n programs.\n (2) Fish or wildlife.--The term ``fish or wildlife'' means \n any member of the animal kingdom, including any mammal, fish, \n bird, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, or arthropod.\n (3) Plant.--The term ``plant'' mean any member of the plant \n kingdom, including seeds, roots, and other parts thereof.\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n (5) Species.--The term ``species'' includes any subspecies \n of fish or wildlife or plants, and any distinct population \n segment of any species of vertebrate fish or wildlife.\n\nSEC. 4. WILDLIFE WITHOUT BORDERS PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out the Wildlife Without \nBorders Program within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to \nprovide international wildlife conservation assistance through the \ninitiation, facilitation, and promotion of locally adapted wildlife \nmanagement and conservation programs in coordination with non-\ngovernmental organizations, governments, private businesses, and \ncommunity leaders. Such program shall include, but shall not be limited \nto, partnership programs for grass roots capacity building, applied \nscientific conservation research, and wildlife management training.\n (b) Program Components.--The program authorized under this section \nshall include the following:\n (1) Species program.--A species program, which shall \n comprise administration of the programs and funds authorized \n by--\n (A) the African Elephant Conservation Act of 1988 \n (16 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.);\n (B) the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 \n U.S.C. 4261 et seq.);\n (C) the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of \n 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);\n (D) the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 (16 \n U.S.C. 6301);\n (E) the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 (16 \n U.S.C. 6601); and\n (F) any similar, future authority provided to the \n Secretary and implemented by the Fish and Wildlife \n Service.\n (2) Regional program.--A regional program, which shall--\n (A) address grass-roots conservation problems \n through a regional grants program focused on building \n in-country human and institutional capacity to achieve \n comprehensive conservation in a manner adapted to the \n particular needs of a partner country;\n (B) facilitate and guide delivery of other \n international United States Fish and Wildlife Service \n programs; and\n (C) coordinate, develop, and implement regional \n treaties, conventions, and accords, including regional \n coordination mechanisms, on behalf of the United States \n Fish and Wildlife Service.\n (3) Global program.--A global program, which shall, through \n programs under the jurisdiction of the secretary and that are \n implemented through the United States Fish and Wildlife \n Service--\n (A) implement global habitat and conservation \n initiatives; and\n (B) address the international aspects of global \n conservation threats, such as invasive species and \n wildlife disease.\n (c) Coordination.--The Secretary shall operate the program \ncomponents authorized under this section in a coordinated fashion to \nensure efficient and cost-effective implementation.\n (d) Additional Components.--The Secretary may include such \nadditional components in the program authorized under this section as \nthe Secretary considers appropriate.\n\nSEC. 5. ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF DONATIONS.\n\n In administering the Wildlife Without Borders Program, the \nSecretary may accept donations of funds and to use such funds for \ncapacity building, grants, and other on-the-ground uses carried out by \nthe program components authorized under paragraphs (2) and (3) of \nsection 4.\n\nSEC. 6. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.\n\n The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply \nto any advisory committees established under this Act.\n\nSEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n To carry out this Act there is authorized to be appropriated to the \nSecretary $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.", "summary": "Wildlife Without Borders Authorization Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a Wildlife Without Borders Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide international wildlife conservation assistance through the initiation, facilitation, and promotion of locally adapted wildlife management and conservation programs in coordination with non-governmental organizations, governments, private businesses, and community leaders.\n\nSpecifies the species, regional, and global program components that shall be included in the Wildlife Without Borders Program. Permits the Secretary, in the administration of the Wildlife Without Borders Program, to accept donated funds and to use them for capacity building, grants, and other on-the-ground uses carried out under the regional and global program components authorized by this Act.", "title": "To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide international wildlife management and conservation programs through the Wildlife Without Borders Program in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2842, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Blueprint for \nHealth Act of 2009''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\nSec. 2. Purpose.\nSec. 3. Establishment of a Blueprint for Health for disease prevention, \n health promotion, and education about and \n better management of chronic conditions.\nSec. 4. Strategic plan.\nSec. 5. Chronic care management programs.\nSec. 6. Incentives for prevention of chronic disease.\nSec. 7. Health information technology.\nSec. 8. Recommendations to Congress; annual report.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSE.\n\n It is the purpose of this Act to establish a Blueprint for Health \nwhich is designed--\n (1) to create a national integrated medical home model of \n care that enhances primary care, encourages multidisciplinary \n coordination, and promotes disease prevention, health \n promotion, and education about and better management of chronic \n conditions;\n (2) to increase Americans' access to affordable, \n appropriate, high quality care through the use of the \n integrated medical home model; and\n (3) to reduce costs to the United States health care system \n through the application of such model.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF A BLUEPRINT FOR HEALTH FOR DISEASE PREVENTION, \n HEALTH PROMOTION, AND EDUCATION ABOUT AND BETTER \n MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in \nthis Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall create consistent with \nthis Act a program (in this Act referred to as the ``Blueprint for \nHealth'') that provides a national infrastructure for disease \nprevention, health promotion, and education about and better management \nof chronic conditions through the use of a nationwide integrated \nmedical home model of care (in this Act referred to as the ``integrated \nmedical home model of care'') in a manner that is designed to initiate, \ncoordinate, and evaluate measures for promoting health and preventing \ndisease in the United States.\n (b) Elements of Blueprint.--The Blueprint for Health shall include \nthe following elements:\n (1) Strategic plan.--A strategic plan described in section \n 4 for designing the integrated medical home model of care.\n (2) Chronic care management programs.--Chronic care \n management programs described in section 5.\n (3) Prevention incentives.--Incentives for the prevention \n of chronic disease described in section 6.\n (4) Assessment of hit initiatives.--A plan described in \n section 7 for the assessment of current health information \n technology initiatives.\n (c) Executive Committee.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall convene an executive \n committee to advise the Secretary on the creation and \n implementation of the Blueprint for Health.\n (2) Composition.--The executive committee shall include \n representation from national and State medical, hospital, and \n pharmaceutical associations, consumer and patient advocacy \n groups, labor groups, employer and other purchasing groups, and \n the health insurance industry.\n\nSEC. 4. STRATEGIC PLAN.\n\n The Blueprint for Health shall include a strategic plan for \ndesigning the integrated medical home model of care that includes the \nfollowing:\n (1) Recommended elements of an integrated coordinated \n chronic care management model that incorporates the following:\n (A) Medical practices acting as medical homes in \n being primary caregivers in close coordination with \n other elements. The elements for such homes may be \n based on guidelines developed for such homes by the \n National Committee for Quality Assurance.\n (B) Early disease detection and risk \n stratification.\n (C) Community care teams that provide care support \n for medical homes and assist in coordinating care among \n medical homes, hospitals, prevention programs, \n multidisciplinary specialists, and others.\n (2) A plan for the formation of such community care teams \n that may include panel managers, public health prevention \n specialists, nurse coordinators, social workers, dieticians, \n community health workers, care coordinators, behavioral health \n specialists, and other patient support personnel.\n (3) Incentives for patient self management, community-based \n initiatives, and system and information technology reforms, \n intended for use by all providers and health plans, including \n Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal employees health benefits \n program, and other Federal programs.\n (4) A description of recommended prevention programs and a \n strategy for integrating them into the integrated medical home \n model of care.\n (5) A plan to ensure that chronically ill patients have a \n low level of cost sharing under the integrated medical home \n model of care.\n (6) Alignment of health care information technology \n initiatives with information technology needs.\n (7) Development and use of outcome and reporting measures \n designed to track the progress of patients meeting clinically \n recommended treatment goals.\n (8) A strategy for ensuring the broad support of the \n integrated medical home model of care by health insurers, \n hospitals, and health care professionals, including specialists \n and other physicians.\n (9) Recommendations for better integrating specialty care \n services into primary care practices to ensure care \n coordination and the use of best practices.\n (10) Recommendations for the consultation of providers \n experienced with the development and implementation of an \n integrated medical home model of care as this Act's care \n coordination model is developed.\n (11) A strategy for standardizing outcome and financial \n measures to ensure consistency among all health plans, \n including Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal employees health \n benefits program, and other Federal programs.\n\nSEC. 5. CHRONIC CARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS.\n\n The Secretary shall include in the Blueprint for Health chronic \ncare management programs which provide for at least the following:\n (1) Methods for identifying and enrolling chronically ill \n patients and for encouraging primary care physicians, \n specialists, hospitals, and others to participate in such \n programs.\n (2) Development of health risk appraisal or assessment for \n individuals enrolled under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Federal \n employees health benefits program.\n (3) A process for coordinating care among health \n professionals including multidisciplinary care teams and \n specialty care providers.\n (4) Methods for increasing communication among health care \n professionals and patients, including patient education, self-\n management, and follow up plans.\n (5) Process and outcome measures to provide performance \n feedback for health care professionals and information on the \n quality of care.\n (6) Payment methodologies to create financial incentives \n for patient participation and to allow primary care physicians \n to meet specific standards of a medical home program. Such \n financial incentives shall include--\n (A) enhanced payment to medical practices, such as \n a per member per month fee, based on standards for a \n medical home, such as the National Committee for \n Quality Assurance standards for a patient centered \n medical home;\n (B) payment for care support services, such as \n community care teams or other applicable approaches, \n across all insurers, including multi-payer private \n plans and Medicare, Medicaid, and other public plans; \n and\n (C) the support of a community based savings \n sharing and reinvestment model, such as an accountable \n care organization, which incorporates a balanced set of \n financial and quality incentives, such as the Institute \n for Healthcare Improvement's Triple Aims.\n\nSEC. 6. INCENTIVES FOR PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASE.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary shall include in the Blueprint for \nHealth a plan to provide incentives to prevent chronic diseases, \nincluding investments in healthy and sustainable local and regional \nfood systems as well as the broader use of lifestyle changes, such as \nthrough diet, exercise, and smoking cessation in the schools, \ncommunities, and workplace.\n (b) Compilation of Effective Practices.--Based on recommendations \nset forth by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the \nSecretary shall compile a list of effective practices that would serve \nas a basis for establishing programs to prevent chronic disease and \nthat could be included in the Blueprint for Health.\n (c) Recommendations.--The plan under subsection (a) may include the \nfollowing:\n (1) Grant opportunities and Federal tax credits for \n localities to conduct community assessment, intervention, and \n activation plans in which public health data are collected and \n analyzed to identify areas in greatest need of prevention and \n wellness programs.\n (2) Federal tax credits and incentive grants to local \n education agencies, businesses, local departments of public \n health, communities, hospitals, health care providers, and \n other entities so that they may adopt effective models of \n wellness shown to lower costs and improve health.\n (3) Incentives for individuals to take proactive \n preventative measures, including weight management and smoking \n cessation.\n (4) Federal tax credits and incentive grants to local \n education agencies, businesses, local departments of public \n health, communities, hospitals, health care providers and other \n entities to promote the development of healthy and sustainable \n local and regional food systems.\n\nSEC. 7. HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.\n\n (a) In General.--The Blueprint for Health shall promote the \neffective, efficient, national use of health care information \ntechnology initiatives.\n (b) Assessment.--As part of the Blueprint for Health, the Secretary \nshall commission an assessment to be presented to Congress not later \nthan two years after the date of the enactment of this Act that \nexamines the implementation of the health information technology \nprovisions enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment \nAct of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). This assessment shall evaluate the \nimplementation of such provisions as they apply to chronic care \nmanagement, and determine if further action is needed to ensure that \nthe funding provided in such Act under such provisions is used \neffectively and efficiently to help ensure the effective management of \nchronic disease.\n\nSEC. 8. RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS; ANNUAL REPORT.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Secretary shall present to Congress \nrecommendations for legislation to implement the Blueprint for Health, \nincluding the establishment of programs designed to enhance primary \ncare, promote multidisciplinary care coordination, prevent disease, \nimprove quality, contain costs, more effectively manage chronic \nillness, and promote good health and prevention initiatives.\n (b) Annual Report.--The Secretary shall submit an annual report to \nCongress on the status of the implementation of the Blueprint for \nHealth.", "summary": "Blueprint for Health Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create the Blueprint for Health program to provide a national infrastructure for disease prevention, health promotion, and education about, and better management of, chronic conditions. Sets forth elements to be included in the Blueprint, including: (1) a strategic plan for designing an integrated medical home model of care; (2) chronic management programs; (3) incentives for the prevention of chronic diseases, including investments in health and sustainable local and regional food systems; and (4) a plan for the assessment of current health information technology initiatives. Requires the Secretary to convene an executive committee to advise the Secretary on the creation and implementation of the Blueprint for Health.\n\nRequires the Blueprint for Health to promote the effective, efficient, national use of health care information technology initiatives. Directs the Secretary to commission an assessment that examines the implementation of the health information technology provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.\n\nRequires the Secretary to recommend to Congress legislation to implement the Blueprint for Health, including the establishment of programs designed to enhance primary care, promote multidisciplinary care coordination, prevent disease, improve quality, contain costs, more effectively manage chronic illness, and promote good health and prevention initiatives.", "title": "To establish a Blueprint for Health in order to create a comprehensive system of care incorporating medical homes to improve the delivery and affordability of health care through disease prevention, health promotion, and education about and better management of chronic conditions."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2314, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Desalination Energy Consumption \nReduction Act of 2006''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n For purposes of this Act:\n (1) Qualified desalination facility.--The term ``qualified \n desalination facility'' means a facility that--\n (A) produces for sale to domestic customers \n desalinated seawater, brackish groundwater, or surface \n water whose source water is greater than 1000 \n milligrams per liter total dissolved solids;\n (B) is owned or operated by--\n (i) a State or any political subdivision, \n agency, authority, or instrumentality of a \n State;\n (ii) an Indian tribe; or\n (iii) a corporation responsible for \n providing municipal water service pursuant to \n State or tribal law;\n (C) is first used to produce commercial desalinated \n water for sale during the 10-year period beginning on \n October 1 of the first fiscal year occurring after the \n date of enactment of this Act; and\n (D) uses the best available technology as \n determined by the Secretary.\n (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the \n meaning given that term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-\n Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)).\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of Energy.\n (4) State.--The term ``State'' means the several States, \n the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the \n Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.\n\nSEC. 3. DESALINATED WATER ENERGY CONSUMPTION REDUCTION INCENTIVE \n PAYMENTS.\n\n (a) Incentive Payments.--The Secretary shall make incentive \npayments in an amount determined under subsection (d) to the owners of \nqualified desalination facilities to encourage the utilization of the \nbest available technology to reduce the consumption of electrical \nenergy in the desalination process.\n (b) Agreement; Deadline.--The Secretary may not make any payment to \nthe owner or operator of a quailfied desalination facility under this \nsection unless, not later than the end of fiscal year 2018, the \nSecretary enters into a written agreement with the owner or operator to \nmake such payment.\n (c) Payment Period.--The Secretary may make payments to the owner \nor operator of a qualified desalination facility under this section for \na period not to exceed 10 years--\n (1) beginning on the date on which the facility is first \n used to produce desalinated water; and\n (2) ending not later than September 30, 2028.\n (d) Amount of Payment.--\n (1) In general.--Payments made by the Secretary under this \n section to the owner or operator of any qualified desalination \n facility shall be based on the amount of electrical energy \n conserved by the facility below the benchmarks included in the \n formula established under paragraph (2) during the payment \n period described in subsection (c), adjusted as provided in \n paragraph (3).\n (2) Base payment.--The Secretary shall establish a formula \n for making incentive payments to owners of qualified \n desalination facilities producing potable water from source \n waters ranging from 1,000 to 35,000 milligrams per liter total \n dissolved solids or more. The payment shall range from 30 cents \n per 1,000 gallons of potable water produced for any facility \n that can demonstrate a savings of .25 kilowatt hours per gallon \n to 90 cents per 1,000 gallons of potable water produced for any \n facility that can demonstrate a savings of 4.75 kilowatt hours \n per gallon from a benchmark for energy consumption by such \n facilities that ranges along a linear scale from 1.8 kilowatt \n hours per gallon for facilities utilizing source water of 1,000 \n milligrams per liter total dissolved solids to 14 kilowatt \n hours per gallon for facilities utilizing source water of \n 35,000 milligrams per liter total dissolved solids or more.\n (3) Adjustments.--In the case of any payment made to any \n person under this subsection in a fiscal year beginning after \n calendar year 2008, the amount of such payment shall be \n adjusted by multiplying such amount by the inflation adjustment \n factor (determined under section 45K(d)(2) of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986 by substituting ``2008'' for ``1979'' in \n subparagraph (B) thereof) for the calendar year in which the \n payment is made.\n (e) Application.--The Secretary may not make a grant to the owner \nor operator of a qualified desalination facility under this section \nunless the facility submits an application to the Secretary in such \nform, at such time, and containing such information and assurances as \nthe Secretary may require. Further, as a part of the application the \napplicant shall provide a written assurance to the Secretary that the \nfinancial benefit of any incentive payments received by the applicant \nwill be utilized for the benefit of the rate payers.\n (f) Limitation.--In any fiscal year not more than 60 percent of the \nfunds made available by the Secretary under this section shall be made \navailable to the owners or operators of qualified desalination \nfacilities that obtain source water directly from the sea, an estuary, \nor from in-bank extraction wells that are of seawater origin.\n (g) Priority.--In awarding incentive payments under this section, \nthe Secretary shall give priority to any application for a project \nthat--\n (1) uses innovative technologies to reduce the energy \n demand of the project;\n (2) uses renewable energy supplies in the desalination \n process;\n (3) provides regional water supply benefits;\n (4) provides a secure source of new water supplies for \n national defense activities;\n (5) reduces the threat of a water supply disruption as a \n result of a natural disaster or acts of terrorism;\n (6) uses technologies that minimize the damage to marine \n life; or\n (7) provides significant water quality benefits.\n (h) Budget Act Compliance.--The authority provided by this section \nmay be exercised only in such amounts or to such extent as is provided \nin advance in appropriations Acts.\n (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be \nappropriated to the Secretary $200,000,000 to carry out this section \nfor the period encompassing fiscal years 2008 through 2018.", "summary": "Desalination Energy Consumption Reduction Act of 2006 - Requires the Secretary of Energy to make specified incentive payments to the owners of qualified desalination facilities for up to ten years to encourage the utilization of the best available technology to reduce the consumption of electrical energy in the desalination process. Limits to 60% the amount of available funds to be provided to facilities that obtain source water directly from the sea, an estuary, or from in-bank extraction wells that are of seawater origin.\n\nDirects the Secretary, in awarding incentive payments, to give priority to projects that: (1) use innovative technologies to reduce its energy demand; (2) use renewable energy supplies; (3) provide regional water supply benefits; (4) provide a secure source of new water supplies for national defense activities; (5) reduce the threat of a water supply disruption as a result of a natural disaster or acts of terrorism; (6) use technologies that minimize the damage to marine life; or (7) provide significant water quality benefits.", "title": "To authorize the Secretary of Energy to make energy consumption reduction incentive payments to encourage the utilization of the best available technology in the development of desalination facilities, and other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1949, "text": "SECTION 1. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., on January 17, 1942, \n in Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali was the first child of \n Cassius, Sr., and Odessa Clay.\n (2) Muhammad Ali was one of the most celebrated athletes of \n the 20th century. He produced some of America's greatest sports \n memories, from winning a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics \n to lighting the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics.\n (3) After an impressive amateur career, during which he \n recorded 131 wins and only 7 losses and won 2 National AAU \n light heavyweight titles, Muhammad Ali became the first \n professional boxer in history to capture the heavyweight title \n 3 separate times.\n (4) Muhammad Ali defeated every challenger he faced in the \n ring. But, on April 28, 1967, he was stripped of his boxing \n title and barred from competing for being a conscientious \n objector to the war in Vietnam on religious and moral grounds. \n However, following a unanimous United States Supreme Court \n decision in 1971, Muhammad Ali's conscientious objector status \n was confirmed, his boxing license was reinstated, and he was \n cleared of any wrongdoing.\n (5) As an African-American and a Muslim who lived in an era \n that continued to question his civil rights, Muhammad Ali \n battled issues of race and religion, and received recognition \n as one of the champions of the Civil Rights Movement in the \n United States.\n (6) Muhammad Ali was the recipient of many awards for his \n sporting prowess and his support of racial harmony, including \n the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Award, the Spirit of \n America Award, the Amnesty International Lifetime Achievement \n Award, the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, the Essence Living \n Legend Award, the Rainbow Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award, \n the XNBA Human Spirit Award, the Presidential Citizens Medal, \n and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.\n (7) Muhammad Ali was acknowledged by many organizations for \n his achievements both inside and outside the boxing ring, \n including being crowned ``Sportsman of the Century'' by Sports \n Illustrated, being named ``Athlete of the Century'' by GQ \n magazine, being named ``Sports Personality of the Century'' by \n the British Broadcasting Corporation, being named ``Kentucky \n Athlete of the Century'' by the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, \n being named ``Kentuckian of the Century'' by the State of \n Kentucky, being named ``Louisvillian of the Century'' by the \n Advertising Club of Louisville, being named ``Boxer of the \n Century'' by the World Sports Awards of the Century, being \n recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and \n receiving honorary doctorate degrees from Muhlenberg College \n and Western Kentucky University, as well as an honorary \n doctorate of humanities at Princeton University's 260th \n graduation ceremony.\n (8) Muhammad Ali received the prestigious ``Otto Hahn Peace \n Medal in Gold'' from the United Nations Association of Germany \n for his work with the United Nations and the Civil Rights \n Movement in the United States.\n (9) Muhammad Ali was selected by the California \n Bicentennial Foundation for the U.S. Constitution for \n personifying the vitality of the Bill of Rights in various \n high-profile activities.\n (10) Despite having been diagnosed with Parkinson's \n Syndrome in the early 1980s, Muhammad Ali dedicated his life to \n the cause of universal human rights and freedom. His commitment \n to equal justice and peace touched the lives of hundreds of \n thousands of people worldwide.\n (11) President Jimmy Carter asked Muhammad Ali to meet with \n African leaders in Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia, and \n Senegal as part of President Carter's diplomatic efforts on \n behalf of human rights in the 1980s.\n (12) In 1990, Muhammad Ali traveled to the Middle East to \n seek the release of American and British hostages that were \n being held as human shields in the first Gulf War. As a result \n of his intervention, 15 United States hostages were freed on \n December 2nd of that year.\n (13) In 1998, Muhammad Ali was chosen as the ``U.N. \n Messenger of Peace''.\n (14) Several Presidents of the United States recognized \n Muhammad Ali, including President George W. Bush who, on \n November 17, 2002, called him ``a man of peace'' and stated \n that ``across the world, billions of people know Muhammad Ali \n as a brave, compassionate, and charming man, and the American \n people are proud to call Muhammad Ali one of our own'', \n President Bill Clinton who stated that Muhammad Ali ``captured \n the world's imagination and its heart. Outside the ring, \n Muhammad Ali has dedicated his life to working for children, \n feeding the hungry, supporting his faith, and standing up for \n racial equality. He always fought for a just and more humane \n world, breaking down barriers here in America and around the \n world. There is no telling how many tens of millions of people \n had their hearts swell with pride and their eyes swell with \n tears in 1996 when Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic torch, because \n we know, now and forever, he is the greatest'', President Jimmy \n Carter who cited Muhammad Ali as ``Mr. International \n Friendship'', and President Barack Obama who, as a Senator, had \n a framed picture of Muhammad Ali hanging in his office, and \n before announcing his intentions to run for President, Obama \n visited with Muhammad Ali at the Ali Center in Louisville, \n Kentucky.\n (15) Muhammad Ali encouraged humanity through his \n perseverance and the support of thousands of people. He helped \n such organizations as the Chicago-based adoption agency, The \n Cradle; the Make-A-Wish Foundation; the Special Olympics' \n organization, Best Buddies; and Herbert E. Birch Services, an \n organization that runs a school for handicapped children and \n young adults, in addition to a summer camp for children with \n AIDS.\n (16) Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie were the founding \n directors of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, \n Arizona, and helped raise over $50,000,000 for Parkinson's \n research. The Center's mission is to provide excellence in \n treatment, research, and education for patients and families \n affected by Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, \n regardless of their ability to pay.\n (17) Muhammad Ali was an inspiration to countless \n individuals with Parkinson's disease, including members of the \n Rock Steady Boxing Foundation in Indianapolis, Indiana, which \n was founded to give people with Parkinson's disease hope by \n improving their quality of life using boxing for fitness.\n (18) Muhammad Ali was one of the founding members of \n Athletes for Hope, an organization created by a few very \n successful athletes of exemplary character who have a deep \n commitment to charitable and community causes.\n (19) Muhammad Ali also established the Muhammad Ali Center \n in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, which promotes \n respect, hope, and understanding, and inspires people \n everywhere to be as great as they can be. A visitor of the \n Muhammad Ali Center experiences the ``hows'' of Ali's life: How \n he found the courage, the dedication, and the discipline to \n become a world champion; how he found the conviction to stand \n up for what he believed; and how he turned his passion for \n excellence in the ring to a passion for peace on the world \n stage.\n (20) Like Muhammad Ali himself, the Muhammad Ali Center \n focuses on what brings individuals together, not what sets them \n apart, and is a ``global gathering place'' to which people can \n come, both online and in person, to learn, share, and celebrate \n our commonalities as human beings and to formulate ways of \n advancing humanity.\n (21) Muhammad Ali helped to provide more than 22,000,000 \n aid packets to assist people in need, and until the last years \n of his life, he traveled, on average, more than 200 days per \n year for humanitarian causes.\n (22) Muhammad Ali, known simply as ``the greatest,'' \n transcended the glamour and glory of being a sports champion to \n become not only one of the greatest sports figures, but one of \n the greatest role models of our time.\n (23) On June 3, 2016, Muhammad Ali died at the age of 74.\n\nSEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.\n\n (a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of \nRepresentatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make \nappropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, \nof a gold medal of appropriate design, to Muhammad Ali, in recognition \nof his contributions to the Nation.\n (b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the presentation \nreferred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury \n(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall strike \na gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be \ndetermined by the Secretary.\n (c) Transfer of Medal After Presentation.--Following the \npresentation of the gold medal in honor of Muhammad Ali under \nsubsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to his wife, Lonnie Ali.\n\nSEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.\n\n Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the \nSecretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal \nstruck pursuant to section 2 at a price sufficient to cover the cost of \nthe bronze medals (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, \nand overhead expenses) and the cost of the gold medal.\n\nSEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.\n\n The medals struck under this Act are national medals for purposes \nof chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.", "summary": "This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Muhammad Ali.", "title": "To posthumously award a Congressional gold medal to Muhammad Ali, in recognition of his contributions to the Nation."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 831, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Commission to Study the Potential \nCreation of a National Women's History Museum Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the \n Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National \n Women's History Museum established by section 3(a).\n (2) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the National Women's \n History Museum.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) In General.--There is established the Commission to Study the \nPotential Creation of a National Women's History Museum.\n (b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, of \nwhom--\n (1) 2 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of \n the Senate;\n (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the \n House of Representatives;\n (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of \n the Senate; and\n (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of \n the House of Representatives.\n (c) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be appointed \nto the Commission from among individuals, or representatives of \ninstitutions or entities, who possess--\n (1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the research, study, or \n promotion of women's history, art, political or economic \n status, or culture; and\n (B)(i) expertise in museum administration;\n (ii) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit or cultural \n institutions;\n (iii) experience in the study and teaching of women's \n history;\n (iv) experience in studying the issue of the representation \n of women in art, life, history, and culture at the Smithsonian \n Institution; or\n (v) extensive experience in public or elected service;\n (2) experience in the administration of, or the planning \n for, the establishment of, museums; or\n (3) experience in the planning, design, or construction of \n museum facilities.\n (d) Prohibition.--No employee of the Federal Government may serve \nas a member of the Commission.\n (e) Deadline for Initial Appointment.--The initial members of the \nCommission shall be appointed not later than the date that is 90 days \nafter the date of enactment of this Act.\n (f) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission--\n (1) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and\n (2) shall be filled in the same manner as the original \n appointment was made.\n (g) Chairperson.--The Commission shall, by majority vote of all of \nthe members, select 1 member of the Commission to serve as the \nChairperson of the Commission.\n\nSEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Reports.--\n (1) Plan of action.--The Commission shall submit to the \n President and Congress a report containing the recommendations \n of the Commission with respect to a plan of action for the \n establishment and maintenance of a National Women's History \n Museum in Washington, DC.\n (2) Report on issues.--The Commission shall submit to the \n President and Congress a report that addresses the following \n issues:\n (A) The availability and cost of collections to be \n acquired and housed in the Museum.\n (B) The impact of the Museum on regional women \n history-related museums.\n (C) Potential locations for the Museum in \n Washington, DC, and its environs.\n (D) Whether the Museum should be part of the \n Smithsonian Institution.\n (E) The governance and organizational structure \n from which the Museum should operate.\n (F) Best practices for engaging women in the \n development and design of the Museum.\n (G) The cost of constructing, operating, and \n maintaining the Museum.\n (3) Deadline.--The reports required under paragraphs (1) \n and (2) shall be submitted not later than the date that is 18 \n months after the date of the first meeting of the Commission.\n (b) Fundraising Plan.--\n (1) In general.--The Commission shall develop a fundraising \n plan to support the establishment, operation, and maintenance \n of the Museum through contributions from the public.\n (2) Considerations.--In developing the fundraising plan \n under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider--\n (A) the role of the National Women's History Museum \n (a nonprofit, educational organization described in \n section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n that was incorporated in 1996 in Washington, DC, and \n dedicated for the purpose of establishing a women's \n history museum) in raising funds for the construction \n of the Museum; and\n (B) issues relating to funding the operations and \n maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity without \n reliance on appropriations of Federal funds.\n (3) Independent review.--The Commission shall obtain an \n independent review of the viability of the plan developed under \n paragraph (1) and such review shall include an analysis as to \n whether the plan is likely to achieve the level of resources \n necessary to fund the construction of the Museum and the \n operations and maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity without \n reliance on appropriations of Federal funds.\n (4) Submission.--The Commission shall submit the plan \n developed under paragraph (1) and the review conducted under \n paragraph (3) to the Committees on Transportation and \n Infrastructure, House Administration, Natural Resources, and \n Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the \n Committees on Rules and Administration, Energy and Natural \n Resources, and Appropriations of the Senate.\n (c) Legislation To Carry Out Plan of Action.--Based on the \nrecommendations contained in the report submitted under paragraphs (1) \nand (2) of subsection (a), the Commission shall submit for \nconsideration to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, \nHouse Administration, Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the \nHouse of Representatives and the Committees on Rules and \nAdministration, Energy and Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the \nSenate recommendations for a legislative plan of action to establish \nand construct the Museum.\n (d) National Conference.--Not later than 18 months after the date \non which the initial members of the Commission are appointed under \nsection 3, the Commission may, in carrying out the duties of the \nCommission under this section, convene a national conference relating \nto the Museum, to be comprised of individuals committed to the \nadvancement of the life, art, history, and culture of women.\n\nSEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Director and Staff.--\n (1) In general.--The Commission may employ and compensate \n an executive director and any other additional personnel that \n are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of \n the Commission.\n (2) Rates of pay.--Rates of pay for persons employed under \n paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the rates of pay allowed \n for employees of a temporary organization under section 3161 of \n title 5, United States Code.\n (b) Not Federal Employment.--Any individual employed under this Act \nshall not be considered a Federal employee for the purpose of any law \ngoverning Federal employment.\n (c) Technical Assistance.--\n (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), on request of \n the Commission, the head of a Federal agency may provide \n technical assistance to the Commission.\n (2) Prohibition.--No Federal employees may be detailed to \n the Commission.\n\nSEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.\n\n (a) Compensation.--\n (1) In general.--A member of the Commission--\n (A) shall not be considered to be a Federal \n employee for any purpose by reason of service on the \n Commission; and\n (B) shall serve without pay.\n (2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Commission shall be \n allowed a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates \n consistent with those authorized under subchapter I of chapter \n 57 of title 5, United States Code.\n (b) Gifts, Bequests, Devises.--The Commission may solicit, accept, \nuse, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of money, services, or \nreal or personal property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the \nwork of the Commission.\n (c) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Commission shall not be \nsubject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).\n\nSEC. 7. TERMINATION.\n\n The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after \nthe date on which the final versions of the reports required under \nsection 4(a) are submitted.\n\nSEC. 8. FUNDING.\n\n (a) In General.--The Commission shall be solely responsible for \nacceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the \nCommission.\n (b) Prohibition.--No Federal funds may be obligated to carry out \nthis Act.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives May 7, 2014.\n\n Attest:\n\n KAREN L. HAAS,\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum Act - Establishes the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum. Requires the Commission to: (1) report recommendations for a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Women's History Museum in Washington, D.C.; (2) develop a fundraising plan to support the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the Museum through public contributions; (3) obtain an independent review of such fundraising plan, including an analysis of the resources necessary to fund the construction of the Museum and its operations and maintenance in perpetuity without reliance on federal funds; and (4) submit a legislative plan of action to establish and construct the Museum. Directs the Commission's recommendations to address issues including the impact of the Museum on regional women history-related museums, whether it should be part of the Smithsonian Institution, and the cost of constructing, operating, and maintaining the Museum and acquiring its collections. Prohibits federal funds from being obligated to carry out this Act.", "title": "Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3026, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Video Competition and Consumer \nChoice Act of 1998''.\n\nSEC. 2. CABLE PROGRAMMING SERVICES REGULATION.\n\n Section 623(c)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. \n543(c)(4)) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(4) Sunset of upper tier rate regulation.--\n ``(A) Programming choice required.--The authority \n to regulate rates under this subsection shall not apply \n to cable programming services provided after March 31, \n 1999, by a cable system unless the franchising \n authority for such cable system, after notice and \n opportunity for a public hearing at which the operator, \n subscribers, and other interested persons may appear \n and present evidence, certifies to the Commission that \n the cable operator of such system is not providing to \n subscribers an acceptable range of programming choices \n to the extent technically feasible and economically \n reasonable.\n ``(B) Basis for certification.--Any franchising \n authority making such a certification shall include \n with the statement the factors upon which the \n franchising authority bases its determination. Such \n factors may include (but are not limited to) the \n factors described in paragraph (2) and any one or more \n of the following:\n ``(i) delivery of the packages is \n technically feasible based on the current and \n expected capability of the system;\n ``(ii) delivery of the packages is \n economically reasonable based on the technical \n requirements for delivery of the packages;\n ``(iii) delivery of the packages can be \n performed without jeopardizing security of \n multichannel video programming and other \n services offered over the system, or impeding \n the legal rights of the system operator to \n prevent theft of service;\n ``(iv) any revenues received by the cable \n operator and cable programming providers from \n advertising, including the economic effect of \n offering additional programming choices on \n advertising revenues and subscriber rates;\n ``(v) the packages permit subscribers to \n subscribe to significantly less than the \n majority of upper tier programing services \n available; and\n ``(vi) the packages are related to the \n program category interests of groups as \n demonstrated by polling, surveys, referenda, \n statistics, or other comparable means based on \n statistics from the franchising area.\n ``(C) Commission review.--Upon receipt of a request \n for review from a cable operator, the Commission may \n review any certification submitted under subparagraph \n (A) and may rescind such certification if the \n Commission determines that the determination of the \n franchising authority is arbitrary and capricious.\n ``(D) Duration.--A certification under subparagraph \n (A) is effective for one year, unless earlier withdrawn \n by the franchising authority or rescinded by the \n Commission.\n ``(E) No effect on effective competition test.--\n Notwithstanding any certification under this paragraph, \n a cable system that is subject to effective \n competition, as determined under subsection (a)(2), \n shall not be subject to regulation under this \n subsection.''.\n\nSEC. 3. PROGRAM ACCESS.\n\n (a) Amendments To Extend and Revise Program Access Requirements.--\nSection 628 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 548) is \namended--\n (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``satellite cable \n programming and satellite broadcast programming'' and inserting \n ``multichannel video programming'';\n (2) in subsection (b)--\n (A) by striking ``cable operator, a satellite cable \n programming vendor in which a cable operator has an \n attributable interest, or a satellite broadcast \n programming vendor'' and inserting ``multichannel video \n programming distributor''; and\n (B) by striking ``satellite cable programming or \n satellite broadcast programming'' and inserting \n multichannel video programming'';\n (3) in subsection (c)--\n (A) by striking ``Within 180 days after the date of \n enactment of this section, the Commission'' in \n paragraph (1) and inserting ``The Commission'';\n (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the \n following:\n ``(2) Minimum contents of regulations.--The regulations to \n be promulgated under this section shall--\n ``(A) establish effective safeguards to prevent any \n multichannel video programming distributor from unduly \n or improperly influencing the decision of any \n multichannel video programming vendor to sell, or the \n prices, terms, and conditions of sale of, multichannel \n video programming to any other multichannel video \n programming distributor;\n ``(B) prohibit discrimination by a multichannel \n video programming vendor in the prices, terms, and \n conditions of sale or delivery of such programming \n among or between cable systems, cable operators, or \n other multichannel video programming distributors, or \n their agents or buying groups; except that a \n multichannel video programming vendor shall not be \n prohibited from--\n ``(i) imposing reasonable requirements for \n creditworthiness, offering of service, and \n financial stability and standards regarding \n character and technical quality;\n ``(ii) establishing different prices, \n terms, and conditions to take into account \n actual and reasonable differences in the cost \n of creation, sale, delivery, or transmission of \n multichannel video programming;\n ``(iii) establishing different prices, \n terms, and conditions which take into account \n economies of scale, cost savings, or other \n direct and legitimate economic benefits \n reasonably attributable to the number of \n subscribers served by the distributor; or\n ``(iv) entering into an exclusive contract \n that is permitted under subparagraph (D);\n ``(C) prohibit practices, understandings, \n arrangements, and activities, including exclusive \n contracts for multichannel video programming between a \n multichannel video programming distributor and a \n multichannel video programming vendor, that prevent any \n multichannel video programming distributor from \n obtaining such programming for distribution to persons \n in areas not served by a cable operator;\n ``(D) with respect to distribution to persons in \n areas served by a cable operator--\n ``(i) prohibit exclusive contracts for \n multichannel video programming between a cable \n operator and a multichannel video programming \n vendor in which a cable operator has an \n attributable interest, unless the Commission \n determines (in accordance with paragraph (4)) \n that such contract is in the public interest;\n ``(ii) not prohibit exclusive contracts for \n multichannel video programming between a \n multichannel video programming distributor, \n other than a cable operator, and a multichannel \n video programming vendor, other than a \n multichannel video programming vendor in which \n a cable operator has an attributable interest, \n unless the Commission determines (in accordance \n with paragraph (4)) that such contract is \n contrary to the public interest.''; and\n (C) in paragraph (5), by striking ``enactment of \n this section'' and inserting ``enactment of the Video \n Competition and Consumer Choice Act of 1998'';\n (4) in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following \n new paragraph:\n ``(3) Other contracts.--No contract to grant exclusive \n distribution rights to any person with respect to multichannel \n video programming may be entered into on or after the date of \n enactment of the Video Competition and Consumer Choice Act of \n 1998, except as permitted under subsection (c)(2)(D). No \n contract entered into after June 1, 1990, and before such date \n of enactment that grants such rights may continue in effect \n after 120 days after the date of enactment of the Video \n Competition and Consumer Choice Act of 1998.'';\n (5) in subsection (i), by adding at the end the following \n new paragraphs:\n ``(5) The term `multichannel video programming' means video \n programming which is transmitted by any means and which is \n primarily intended for the direct receipt by multichannel video \n programming distributors for retransmission to their \n subscribers.\n ``(6) The term `multichannel video programming vendor' \n means a person engaged in the production, creation, or \n wholesale distribution for sale of multichannel video \n programming.''.\n (6) by striking subsection (j) and inserting the following:\n ``(j) Common Carriers.--Any provision that applies to a \nmultichannel video programming distributor or multichannel video \nprogramming vendor under this section shall apply to a common carrier \nor its affiliate that provides multichannel video programming.''.\n (b) Deadlines for Revised Regulations.--The Federal Communications \nCommission shall prescribe such revisions to its regulations as may be \nnecessary to implement the amendments made by subsection (a) within 120 \ndays after the date of enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. LIFELINE CABLE SERVICE TIER.\n\n Section 623(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 543(b)) \nis amended--\n (1) in the subsection heading by inserting ``and Lifeline'' \n after ``Basic''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(9) Lifeline service tier.--\n ``(A) Contents.--Each cable operator of a cable \n system shall make available for sale to its subscribers \n a separately packaged lifeline service tier. Such \n lifeline service tier shall consist exclusively of the \n following:\n ``(i) All signals carried in fulfillment of \n the requirements of sections 614 and 615.\n ``(ii) Any public, educational, and \n governmental access programming required by the \n franchise of the cable system to be provided to \n subscribers.\n ``(iii) Any signal of a local television \n broadcast station that is provided by the cable \n operator to any subscriber, except that a \n digital television service signal shall not be \n required to be carried as part of the lifeline \n service tier pursuant to this clause (iii) \n unless such carriage is required by regulations \n prescribed by the Commission.\n ``(B) Prohibition on additions.--A cable operator \n may not add additional video programming signals or \n services to the lifeline service tier.\n ``(C) Rate regulation.--The Commission shall \n prescribe regulations concerning the rates for the \n lifeline service tier. Such regulations shall be \n designed to achieve the goals of--\n ``(i) ensuring that rates for the lifeline \n service tier are reasonable; and\n ``(ii) promoting multichannel video \n programming distribution competition.''.", "summary": "Video Competition and Consumer Choice Act of 1998 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate cable television service rates inapplicable to services provided after March 31, 1999, by a cable system unless the franchising authority for such system, after notice and opportunity for a public hearing, certifies to the FCC that the cable operator of such system is not providing subscribers an acceptable range of programming choices to the extent technically feasible and economically reasonable. Outlines factors to be considered for such certification. Authorizes FCC review of such certifications. Makes such certifications effective for one year, unless earlier withdrawn or rescinded. \nReplaces references to \"satellite cable programming\" and \"satellite broadcast programming\" with \"multichannel video programming (MVP).\" Repeals a deadline for FCC regulations concerning the development of competition and diversity in MVP distribution. Outlines minimum requirements for such regulations, including prohibited actions by an MVP vendor with respect to the sale or delivery of such programming among cable systems, cable operators, and other MVP distributors. \nProhibits entering into contracts to grant exclusive distribution rights to any person with respect to MVP after the date of enactment of this Act, except for certain exclusivity contracts granted by the FCC in the public interest. Prohibits any such contract (other than the public interest contract) already entered into before such date of enactment to continue after 120 days after such date. \nDefines MVP as video programming which is transmitted by any means and which is primarily intended for the direct receipt by MVP distributors for retransmission to their subscribers. \nRequires the revision of MVP regulations as necessitated by this Act within 120 days after enactment. \nRequires each cable operator of a cable system to make available for sale to its subscribers a separately packaged lifeline service tier consisting exclusively of: (1) FCC-required local commercial television and noncommercial educational television programming; (2) any public, educational, and governmental access programming required by the cable system franchise; and (3) any signal of a local television broadcast station provided by the cable operator to any subscriber (with an exception). Prohibits a cable operator from adding additional video programming signals or services to the lifeline tier. Directs the FCC to prescribe regulations for lifeline tier rates.", "title": "Video Competition and Consumer Choice Act of 1998"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 540, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; AMENDMENT OF 1986 CODE.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Minimum Tax Reform \nAct of 1993''.\n (b) Amendment of 1986 Code.--Except as otherwise expressly \nprovided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in \nterms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, \nthe reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other \nprovision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.\n\nSEC. 2. DEPRECIATION ADJUSTMENT USED IN COMPUTING ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM \n TAXABLE INCOME.\n\n (a) 150-Percent Declining Balance Method.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 56(a) (relating \n to depreciation) is amended to read as follows:\n ``(1) Depreciation.--\n ``(A) 150-percent declining balance method.--\n ``(i) In general.--In the case of property \n not described in clause (ii), the depreciation \n deduction allowable under section 167 shall be \n determined as provided in section 168(a), \n except that the applicable depreciation method \n under section 168(a)(1) shall be--\n ``(I) the 150-percent declining \n balance method (200-percent declining \n balance method in the case of computer \n or peripheral equipment (as defined in \n section 168(i)(2)(B)),\n ``(II) switching to the straight \n line method for the 1st taxable year \n for which using the straight line \n method with respect to the adjusted \n basis as of the beginning of the year \n will yield a higher allowance.\n ``(ii) Property not using 150-percent \n method.--Property described in this clause is \n section 1250 property (as defined in section \n 1250(c)) or any other property if the \n depreciation deduction determined under section \n 168 with respect to such other property for \n purposes of the regular tax is determined by \n using the straight line method.\n ``(B) Normalization rules.--With respect to public \n utility property described in section 168(i)(10), the \n Secretary shall prescribe the requirements of a \n normalization method of accounting for this section.''.\n (2) No adjustment for adjusted current earnings system.--\n Clause (i) of section 56(g)(4)(A) (relating to depreciation \n adjustments for computing adjusted current earnings) is amended \n by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The \n preceding sentence shall not apply to property placed in \n service in taxable years beginning after December 31, 1992, and \n the depreciation deduction with respect to such property shall \n be determined under the rules of subsection (a)(1)(A).''.\n (b) Exception for Environmental Property.--\n (1) In general.--Section 56(a)(1) (relating to depreciation \n adjustments), as amended by subsection (a)(1), is amended by \n adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(C) Environmental improvement assets.--This \n paragraph shall not apply to environmental improvement \n assets (as defined in section 59(k)).''.\n (2) Environmental improvement assets.--Section 59 (relating \n to definition and special rules) is amended by adding at the \n end the following new subsection:\n ``(k) Environmental Improvement Assets.--\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 56(a)(1)(B), the \n term `environmental improvement asset' means tangible property \n which is--\n ``(A) of a character subject to the allowance for \n depreciation provided in section 167;\n ``(B) used for, or is functionally related to \n property used for, one or more of the following \n purposes--\n ``(i) source reduction,\n ``(ii) solid waste minimization,\n ``(iii) waste conversion or recycling,\n ``(iv) reduction of environmental hazards,\n ``(v) compliance with environmental \n permits, rules, and similar requirements, \n including requirements with respect to noise \n pollution such as the reduction of aircraft \n noise level to stage 3 noise level (as defined \n in 14 CFR Sec. 36.1(f)(5)),\n ``(vi) prevention, containment or control \n of unplanned releases, or\n ``(vii) the manufacture, distribution and \n sale of alternate fuels and blending stocks or \n fuel additives for reformulated fuels, and\n ``(C) except in the case of property used for the \n reduction of aircraft noise levels described in \n subparagraph (B)(v), located and used exclusively in \n the United States during the taxable year.\n If only a portion of property described in subparagraphs (A) \n and (C) is described in subparagraph (B), such portion shall be \n treated as an environmental improvement asset.\n ``(2) Other definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--\n ``(A) Source reduction.--The term `source \n reduction' means reduction of the amount of regulated \n substances or other pollutants from fixed or mobile \n sources released into the environment if such reduction \n reduces hazards to public health or environment.\n ``(B) Solid waste minimization.--The term `solid \n waste minimization' means the reduction in the \n generation of, or the recovery of commercially usable \n products from, residual materials which are classified \n as, or which if disposed would be classified as, solid \n wastes (within the meaning of the Resource Conservation \n and Recovery Act).\n ``(C) Waste conversion or recycling.--The term \n `waste conversion or recycling' means the processing or \n conversion of liquid, solid, or gaseous wastes into \n fuel, energy, or other commercially usable products, \n and the production of such products if production \n occurs at the same facility as the conversion.\n ``(D) Abatement of environmental hazards.--The term \n `abatement of environmental hazards' includes the \n abatement, reduction, monitoring, or stabilization of \n potential human exposure to toxic chemicals, hazardous \n or extremely hazardous substances, or harmful \n radiation.\n ``(E) Unplanned releases.--The term `unplanned \n releases' means any release of regulated substances \n (except federally permitted releases), including indoor \n releases.\n ``(F) Regulated substance.--The term `regulated \n substance' includes any substance the release or \n emission of which is prohibited, limited, or regulated \n by Federal or State law or by Federal regulations (as \n determined without regard to whether a particular \n release would have been prohibited or limited).\n ``(G) Release.--The term `release' means any \n spilling, leaking, pouring, discharging, escaping, \n dumping, or disposing into the environment, including \n the abandonment or discarding of barrels or other \n closed receptacles.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to property placed in service in taxable years beginning after \nDecember 31, 1992.\n\nSEC. 3. PRE-1993 MINIMUM TAX ALLOWED AS CREDIT AGAINST MINIMUM TAX FOR \n CERTAIN TAXPAYERS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 53(c) (relating to limitation) is amended \nby adding at the end the following new paragraph:\n ``(2) Special rule for certain taxpayers with pre-1993 \n unused minimum tax credits.--\n ``(A) In general.--If a taxpayer had an unused \n minimum tax credit for at least 3 of the taxable years \n in the testing period, then, subject to the limitation \n of subparagraph (B), the limitation under paragraph (1) \n for any taxable year following the testing period shall \n in no event be less than 50 percent of the excess (if \n any) of--\n ``(I) the tentative minimum tax for \n such taxable year, over\n ``(II) the sum of the credits \n allowable under subparts A, B, D, E, \n and F of this part.\n ``(B) Limitation.--\n ``(i) In general.--The aggregate increases \n in the limitation under paragraph (1) by reason \n of subparagraph (A) shall not exceed the pre-\n 1993 unused minimum tax credits.\n ``(ii) Ordering rule.--For purposes of \n clause (i), any credit under subsection (a) for \n taxable years following the testing period \n shall be treated as allocated to pre-1993 \n unused minimum tax credits until such credits \n are used up.\n ``(C) Definitions.--For purposes of this \n paragraph--\n ``(i) Testing period.--The term `testing \n period' means the 5-taxable year period ending \n with the taxpayer's last taxable year beginning \n in 1992.\n ``(ii) Pre-1993 unused minimum tax \n credits.--The term `pre-1993 unused minimum tax \n credits' means the credits allowable under \n subsection (a) remaining unused as of the close \n of the testing period.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 53(c) (as in effect before the \namendment made by subsection (a)) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``The'' and inserting:\n ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), \n the'', and\n (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as \n subparagraphs (A) and (B).\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1992.\n\nSEC. 4. ALLOWANCE OF GENERAL BUSINESS CREDIT AGAINST PORTION OF MINIMUM \n TAX.\n\n (a) In General.--Subparagraph (A) of section 38(c)(1) (relating to \nlimitation based on amount of tax) is amended by inserting ``75 percent \nof'' before ``the tentative minimum tax''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto taxable years beginning after December 31, 1992.", "summary": "Minimum Tax Reform Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise adjustments in computing alternative minimum taxable income and allow companies to use the 150-percent declining balance method to compute depreciation, except for environmental assets. Allow\ns a 200\n percent declining balance method in the case of computer or peripheral equipment. \nAllows companies to use pre-1993 minimum tax credits against alternative tax liability for up to 50 percent of that liability, with limitations. \nAllows businesses to reduce up to 25 percent of their minimum tax liabilty with general business credits.", "title": "Minimum Tax Reform Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2005, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``William H. Gray, III, College \nCompletion Challenge Grant Program of 1999''.\n\nSEC. 2. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.\n\n Subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 \n(20 U.S.C. 1132a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the \nfollowing new chapter:\n\n ``CHAPTER 4--WILLIAM H. GRAY, III, COLLEGE COMPLETION CHALLENGE GRANT \n PROGRAM\n\n``SEC. 408A. FINDINGS.\n\n ``Congress makes the following findings:\n ``(1) Students from low-income families are significantly \n more likely to leave a 4-year institution of higher education \n without a baccalaureate degree than are students with higher \n incomes.\n ``(2) Even among students with above average grades, low-\n income students are still more likely to leave a 4-year \n institution of higher education without a baccalaureate degree \n than are students with higher incomes, especially low-income \n students enrolled at private institutions.\n ``(3) This lack of persistence to completion of a \n baccalaureate degree continues to contribute to the gap in \n educational attainment and ultimate income levels between \n disadvantaged students and their more affluent classmates.\n ``(4) While the focus of Federal student financial \n assistance and higher education programs has traditionally been \n to ensure access to postsecondary education, the Federal \n Government should expand its role in student financial \n assistance programs for postsecondary education to address this \n lack of persistence to baccalaureate degree completion.\n ``(5) The amount of grant assistance provided to \n postsecondary students is critical to their persistence and \n degree attainment.\n ``(6) In addition to economic disadvantage, the following \n factors significantly contribute to a student dropping out of a \n 4-year institution of higher education:\n ``(A) A delayed entry into postsecondary education \n after graduating from high school.\n ``(B) A low grade point average.\n ``(C) Working full-time while enrolled.\n ``(D) Being a first-generation college student.\n ``(E) Being less engaged with an academic program.\n ``(7) Most students who drop out of college, particularly \n those at the greatest risk of leaving their programs of study \n without a baccalaureate degree, do so during the first 2 years \n of study.\n ``(8) At-risk students who receive targeted academic \n support services persist to degree completion at higher rates \n than at-risk students who do not receive such services.\n ``(9) Educators interested in student retention have long \n viewed intensive academic summer programs for incoming first-\n year students as very important in helping students from \n disadvantaged backgrounds become acclimated to college life and \n in improving retention.\n\n``SEC. 408B. PURPOSE AND PROGRAM AUTHORITY.\n\n ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this program is to assist \ninstitutions of higher education to help students who are at risk of \nending their postsecondary education prior to obtaining baccalaureate \ndegrees, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged, to stay \nin school until they obtain those degrees.\n ``(b) Program Authorized.--From funds appropriated pursuant to \nsection 408G for each fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized, in \naccordance with the requirements of this chapter, to award competitive \ngrants to eligible institutions to enable them to pay the Federal share \nof the costs of carrying out programs designed to meet the purpose of \nthis chapter.\n ``(c) Duration of Grant.--A grant made under this chapter shall be \nawarded for a period of 3 years.\n\n``SEC. 408C. INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY.\n\n ``(a) In General.--An institution of higher education is eligible \nto receive a grant under this chapter if the institution--\n ``(1) meets the requirements of section 102; and\n ``(2) awards baccalaureate degrees, or, subject to \n subsection (b)(1), associate degrees.\n ``(b) Limitations.--\n ``(1) Associate degree-granting institutions.--An eligible \n applicant that awards only associate degrees may apply for a \n grant under this chapter only as part of a consortium that \n includes one or more institutions of higher education that \n awards baccalaureate degrees.\n ``(2) Multiple grants.--An institution that receives a \n grant under this chapter may compete to receive a subsequent \n grant, but may not receive more than two grants under this \n chapter.\n\n``SEC. 408D. APPLICATION PROCESS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--\n ``(1) ____.--Each eligible applicant that desires a grant \n under this chapter shall submit to the Secretary an application \n for that grant at such time and containing such information as \n the Secretary may prescribe.\n ``(2) Demonstration of prior commitment.--In order to \n receive a grant under this chapter, an applicant shall \n demonstrate in its application, to the satisfaction of the \n Secretary, its successful prior commitment to the purposes of \n this chapter, through the prior support of at least one of the \n activities described in section 408E(a).\n ``(b) Matching Requirement.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Federal share of the cost of \n programs assisted under this chapter shall not be more than 50 \n percent, and the matching funds shall be from non-Federal \n sources.\n ``(2) Consortia.--The Secretary may establish in \n regulations the matching requirement applicable to a consortium \n of institutions in which some of the institutions are eligible \n for a waiver of the matching requirement pursuant to section \n 395 or section 515.\n ``(c) Coordination Requirement.--Each eligible institution shall \nensure that the activities provided under this chapter are, to the \nextent practicable, coordinated with, complement, and enhance related \nservices under other Federal and non-Federal programs, and do not \nduplicate the services already provided at that institution.\n ``(d) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Funds under this chapter shall be \nused to supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds expended for \nexisting programs.\n\n``SEC. 408E. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.\n\n ``(a) In General.--An eligible institution that receives a grant \nunder this chapter shall, except as provided in subsection (b), use the \ngrant to provide services or assistance to students at risk of leaving \ntheir programs of study without baccalaureate degrees, particularly \neconomically disadvantaged students, by carrying out one or more of the \nfollowing:\n ``(1) Implementing an intensive summer program for incoming \n first-year students (or students entering their second or third \n year of postsecondary education if the institution can \n demonstrate that it is addressing the needs of first-year \n students and that a summer program could help retention of \n second- or third-year students at risk of dropping out), \n provided that the institution demonstrates in its application \n that it has a strong commitment to student retention through \n additional activities.\n ``(2) Developing a strong student support service program, \n targeted to students in their first 2 years of postsecondary \n education, that includes activities such as--\n ``(A) peer tutoring;\n ``(B) mentoring programs involving faculty and \n upper class students;\n ``(C) activities to assist students currently \n enrolled in a 2-year institution to secure admission \n and financial assistance in a 4-year program of \n postsecondary education;\n ``(D) activities to assist students in securing \n admission and financial assistance for enrollment in \n graduate and professional programs; and\n ``(E) assistance in course selection.\n ``(3) Providing grants to students in their first 2 years \n of postsecondary education, in an amount not less than required \n under subsection (c), except that a recipient that provides \n grants under this paragraph shall also provide services under \n paragraphs (1) or (2), or both.\n ``(b) Special Rule.--A recipient of funds under this chapter may \nserve students who have completed their first 2 years of postsecondary \neducation if it demonstrates in its application, to the satisfaction of \nthe Secretary, that--\n ``(1) these students are at high risk of dropping out; and\n ``(2) it will first meet the needs of all its eligible \n first- and second-year students for services under this \n chapter.\n ``(c) Grant Size.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may, by regulation, \n establish minimum student grant award levels for purposes of \n subsection (a)(3), taking into account such factors as the \n different costs of attendance associated with public and \n private institutions.\n ``(2) Exception.--If the Secretary does not establish \n minimum student grant award levels under paragraph (1), or if \n an institution wishes to provide grants under subsection (a)(3) \n in an amount less than the minimum set by the Secretary, the \n institution shall demonstrate in its application, to the \n satisfaction of the Secretary, that the size of the grants it \n will provide is appropriate and likely to have a significant \n effect on the persistence problem at that institution.\n\n``SEC. 408F. RELATION TO OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.\n\n ``A grant provided to a student by an eligible institution from an \naward made under this chapter shall not be considered in determining \nthat student's need for grant or work assistance under this title, \nexcept that in no case shall the total amount of student financial \nassistance awarded to a student under this title exceed that student's \ncost of attendance, as defined by section 472.\n\n``SEC. 408G. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry \nout this chapter $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, and such sums as may \nbe necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.--\n ``(b) Special Rule.--From the amounts appropriated under subsection \n(a) for any fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve up to 1 percent of \nsuch amount for that fiscal year in order to carry out an evaluation of \nthe program authorized by this chapter.''.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendment made by section 2 shall be effective on October 1, \n1999.", "summary": "Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make competitive matching grants to such institutions or consortia (which may include associate degree-granting institutions belonging to a consortium that also includes baccalaureate degree- granting institutions). Limits to two the number of such grants to any institution.\nRequires institutions to use grant funds to provide services or assistance to students, particularly economically disadvantaged students, at risk of leaving their programs of study without baccalaureate degrees. Requires this to be done through one or both of the following: (1) intensive summer programs for incoming first-year students (and, under certain conditions, second- or third-year students); and (2) student support service programs, targeted to students in their first two years of postsecondary education. Allows institutions, if they carry out either or both of those required programs, to use such funds also for grants to students in their first two years of postsecondary education. Allows use of such funds to serve students who have completed their first two years of postsecondary education if they are at-risk and the institution will first meet the needs of all its eligible first- and second-year students for services under this Act.\nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "William H. Gray, III, College Completion Challenge Grant Program of 1999"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 752, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Taxpayers Right to Know Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO ANNUAL REPORT ON COST OF, PERFORMANCE \n BY, AND AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.\n\n (a) Requirement To Identify and Describe Programs.--Each fiscal \nyear, for purposes of the report required by subsection (b), the head \nof each agency shall--\n (1) identify and describe every program administered by the \n agency;\n (2) for each such program--\n (A) determine the total administrative expenses of \n the program;\n (B) determine the expenditures for services for the \n program;\n (C) estimate the number of clients served by the \n program and beneficiaries who received assistance under \n the program (if applicable); and\n (D) estimate--\n (i) the number of full-time employees who \n administer the program; and\n (ii) the number of full-time equivalents \n (whose salary is paid in part or full by the \n Federal Government through a grant or contract, \n a subaward of a grant or contract, a \n cooperative agreement, or another form of \n financial award or assistance) who assist in \n administering the program; and\n (3) identify programs within the Federal Government \n (whether inside or outside the agency) with duplicative or \n overlapping missions, services, and allowable uses of funds.\n (b) Relationship to Catalog of Domestic Assistance.--With respect \nto the requirements of subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2)(B), the head of an \nagency may use the same information provided in the catalog of domestic \nand international assistance programs in the case of any program that \nis a domestic or international assistance program.\n (c) Report.--Not later than February 1 of each fiscal year, the \nhead of each agency shall publish on the official public website of the \nagency a report containing the following:\n (1) The information required under subsection (a) with \n respect to the preceding fiscal year.\n (2) The latest performance reviews (including the program \n performance reports required under section 1116 of title 31, \n United States Code) of each program of the agency identified \n under subsection (a)(1), including performance indicators, \n performance goals, output measures, and other specific metrics \n used to review the program and how the program performed on \n each.\n (3) For each program that makes payments, the latest \n improper payment rate of the program and the total estimated \n amount of improper payments, including fraudulent payments and \n overpayments.\n (4) The total amount of unspent and unobligated program \n funds held by the agency and grant recipients (not including \n individuals) stated as an amount--\n (A) held as of the beginning of the fiscal year in \n which the report is submitted; and\n (B) held for five fiscal years or more.\n (5) Such recommendations as the head of the agency \n considers appropriate--\n (A) to consolidate programs that are duplicative or \n overlapping;\n (B) to eliminate waste and inefficiency; and\n (C) to terminate lower priority, outdated, and \n unnecessary programs and initiatives.\n (d) Definitions.--In this Act:\n (1) Administrative expenses.--The term ``administrative \n costs'' has the meaning as determined by the Director of the \n Office of Management and Budget under section 504(b)(2) of \n Public Law 111-85 (31 U.S.C. 1105 note), except the term shall \n also include, for purposes of that section and this section, \n with respect to an agency--\n (A) costs incurred by the agency as well as costs \n incurred by grantees, subgrantees, and other recipients \n of funds from a grant program or other program \n administered by the agency; and\n (B) expenses related to personnel salaries and \n benefits, property management, travel, program \n management, promotion, reviews and audits, case \n management, and communication about, promotion of, and \n outreach for programs and program activities \n administered by the agency.\n (2) Services.--The term ``services'' has the meaning \n provided by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget \n and shall be limited to only activities, assistance, and aid \n that provide a direct benefit to a recipient, such as the \n provision of medical care, assistance for housing or tuition, \n or financial support (including grants and loans).\n (3) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the same meaning given \n that term in section 551(1) of title 5, United States Code, \n except that the term also includes offices in the legislative \n branch other than the Government Accountability Office.\n (4) Performance indicator, performance goal, output \n measure, program activity.--The terms ``performance \n indicator'', ``performance goal'', ``output measure'', and \n ``program activity'' have the meanings provided by section 1115 \n of title 31, United States Code.\n (5) Program.--The term ``program'' has the meaning provided \n by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and \n shall include, with respect to an agency, any organized set of \n activities directed toward a common purpose or goal undertaken \n by the agency that includes services, projects, processes, or \n financial or other forms of assistance, including grants, \n contracts, cooperative agreements, compacts, loans, leases, \n technical support, consultation, or other guidance.\n\nSEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.\n\n (a) Addition of International Assistance Programs.--\n (1) In general.--Section 6101 of title 31, United States \n Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(7) The term `international assistance' has the meaning \n provided by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget \n and shall include, with respect to an agency, assistance \n including grants, contracts, compacts, loans, leases, and other \n financial and technical support to--\n ``(A) foreign nations;\n ``(B) international organizations;\n ``(C) services provided by programs administered by \n any agency outside of the territory of the United \n States; and\n ``(D) services funded by any agency provided in \n foreign nations or outside of the territory of the \n United States by non-governmental organizations and \n entities.\n ``(8) The term `assistance program' means each of the \n following:\n ``(A) A domestic assistance program.\n ``(B) An international assistance program.''.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--\n (A) Section 6102 of title 31, Untied States Code, \n is amended--\n (i) in subsection (a), in the matter \n preceding paragraph (1), by striking \n ``domestic'' both places it appears; and\n (ii) in subsection (b), by striking \n ``domestic''.\n (B) Section 6104 of such title is amended--\n (i) in subsections (a) and (b), by \n inserting ``and international assistance'' \n after ``domestic assistance'' each place it \n appears; and\n (ii) in the section heading, by inserting \n ``and international'' after ``domestic''.\n (b) Additional Information Required To Be Included Catalog.--\nSection 6104(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and \n inserting a semicolon; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:\n ``(4) the information required in paragraphs (1) through \n (4) of subsection (b) of the Taxpayers Right to Know Act;\n ``(5) the budget function or functions applicable to each \n assistance program contained in the catalog;\n ``(6) with respect to each assistance program in the \n catalog, an electronic link to the annual report required by \n section 2(b) of the Taxpayers Right to Know Act by the agency \n that carries out the assistance program; and\n ``(7) the authorization and appropriation amount provided \n by law for each assistance program in the catalog in the \n current fiscal year, and a notation if the program is not \n authorized in the current year, has not been authorized in law, \n or does not receive a specific line item appropriation.''.\n (c) Report Related to Compliance With Catalog Requirements.--\nSection 6104 of title 31, United States Code, is further amended by \nadding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(e) Compliance.--On the website of the catalog of Federal \ndomestic and international assistance information, the Administrator \nshall provide the following:\n ``(1) Contact information.--The title and contact \n information for the person in each agency responsible for the \n implementation, compliance, and quality of the data in the \n catalog.\n ``(2) Report.--An annual report compiled by the \n Administrator of domestic assistance programs, international \n assistance programs, and agencies with respect to which the \n requirements of this chapter are not met.''.\n (d) Bulk Downloads of Data.--Section 6103 of such title is amended \nby adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(d) Bulk Downloads.--The information in the catalog of domestic \nand international assistance under section 6104 of this title shall be \navailable on a regular basis through bulk downloads from the website of \nthe catalog.''.\n (e) Revision to Agency Definition.--Section 6101(2) of such title \nis amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: \n``except such term also includes offices in the legislative branch \nother than the Government Accountability Office''.\n\nSEC. 4. REGULATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION.\n\n (a) Regulations.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and \nBudget shall prescribe regulations to implement this Act.\n (b) Implementation.--This Act shall be implemented beginning with \nthe first full fiscal year occurring after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "Taxpayers Right to Know Act - Requires the head of each federal agency in each fiscal year to: (1) identify and describe every program administered by such agency; (2) determine the total administrative expenses and expenditures for services for each program; (3)\u00a0estimate the number of clients served by each program and the beneficiaries who received assistance under each program;\u00a0(4) estimate the number of full-time federal and contract employees\u00a0who administer\u00a0each program; and (5) identify federal programs with duplicative or overlapping missions, services, and allowable uses of funds.\n\nRequires agency heads to publish on agency websites the information required by this Act, the latest performance reviews of each agency program, improper payment rates,\u00a0the total amount of unspent and unobligated program funds held by the agency and grant recipients, and recommendations for consolidating duplicative programs, eliminating waste and inefficiency, and terminating lower priority, outdated, and unnecessary programs and initiatives.\n\nExpands the scope of information required in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance to include: (1) programs providing assistance to foreign nations, international organizations, and services provided or funded\u00a0by\u00a0agencies operating outside the United States; (2) information required by this Act; and (3) budget functions and authorization and appropriation amounts for each assistance program in the Catalog.", "title": "A bill to provide taxpayers with an annual report disclosing the cost of, performance by, and areas for improvements for Government programs, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 185, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Business Bribery Prohibition \nAct of 2016''.\n\nSEC. 2. ACTIONS AUTHORIZED.\n\n (a) Prohibited Foreign Practices by Domestic Concerns.--Section 104 \nof the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (15 U.S.C. 78dd-2) is \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(j) Private Right of Action Authorized.--\n ``(1) Authorized plaintiffs.--Any person that violates \n subsection (a) shall be liable in an action brought in \n accordance with this subsection in any court of competent \n jurisdiction to any issuer that is subject to section 30A of \n the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, domestic concern that is \n subject to this section, or other person that is a United \n States person, that is damaged by the violation of subsection \n (a) of this section, for damages caused to such issuer, \n domestic concern, or other person by the violation.\n ``(2) Proof of damages.--For purposes of this subsection, \n the court may not find for the plaintiff in an action under \n this subsection unless the plaintiff alleges and proves that--\n ``(A) the defendant violated subsection (a); and\n ``(B) the defendant's violation of subsection (a)--\n ``(i) prevented the plaintiff from \n obtaining or retaining business for or with any \n person; and\n ``(ii) assisted the defendant in obtaining \n or retaining such business.\n ``(3) Measure of damages.--\n ``(A) In general.--The damages that a plaintiff may \n obtain in an action under this subsection may be equal \n to the higher of the two following amounts that are \n established by the plaintiff's allegations and proof:\n ``(i) The total amount of the contract or \n agreement that the defendant gained in \n obtaining or retaining business by means of the \n violation of subsection (a).\n ``(ii) The total amount of the contract or \n agreement that the plaintiff failed to gain \n because of the defendant's obtaining or \n retaining business by means of the violation of \n subsection (a).\n ``(B) Treble damages.--In assessing damages under \n subparagraph (A), the court shall enter judgment for \n three times the amount determined under clause (i) or \n (ii) of such subparagraph (whichever is greater), \n together with a reasonable attorney's fee and costs, \n for the violation of subsection (a).\n ``(4) Exception for routine governmental action.--The \n exception in subsection (b) shall apply to an action under this \n subsection.\n ``(5) Affirmative defenses.--The affirmative defenses in \n subsection (c) shall apply to an action under this subsection.\n ``(6) Contribution.--Each person who becomes liable to make \n payment under this subsection may recover contribution as in \n cases of contract from any person who, if joined in the \n original suit, would have been liable to make the same payment.\n ``(7) Statute of limitations.--No action may be maintained \n to enforce any liability created under this subsection unless \n brought within 3 years after the discovery of the facts \n constituting the cause of action and within 6 years after the \n cause of action accrued.\n ``(8) United states person defined.--In this subsection, \n the term `United States person' has the meaning given that term \n in subsection (i)(2).''.\n (b) Prohibited Foreign Practices by Other Persons.--Section 104A of \nthe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (15 U.S.C. 78dd-3) is \namended--\n (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and\n (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:\n ``(f) Private Right of Action Authorized.--\n ``(1) Authorized plaintiffs.--Any person that violates \n subsection (a) shall be liable in an action brought in \n accordance with this subsection in any court of competent \n jurisdiction to any issuer that is subject to section 30A of \n the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, domestic concern that is \n subject to section 104 of this Act, or other person that is a \n United States person, that is damaged by the violation of \n subsection (a) of this section, for damages caused to such \n issuer, domestic concern, or other person by the violation.\n ``(2) Proof of damages.--For purposes of this subsection, \n the court may not find for the plaintiff in an action under \n this subsection unless the plaintiff alleges and proves that--\n ``(A) the defendant violated subsection (a); and\n ``(B) the defendant's violation of subsection (a)--\n ``(i) prevented the plaintiff from \n obtaining or retaining business for or with any \n person; and\n ``(ii) assisted the defendant in obtaining \n or retaining such business.\n ``(3) Measure of damages.--\n ``(A) In general.--The damages that a plaintiff may \n obtain in an action under this subsection may be equal \n to the higher of the two following amounts that are \n established by the plaintiff's allegations and proof:\n ``(i) The total amount of the contract or \n agreement that the defendant gained in \n obtaining or retaining business by means of the \n violation of subsection (a).\n ``(ii) The total amount of the contract or \n agreement that the plaintiff failed to gain \n because of the defendant's obtaining or \n retaining business by means of the violation of \n subsection (a).\n ``(B) Treble damages.--In assessing damages under \n subparagraph (A), the court shall enter judgment for \n three times the amount determined under clause (i) or \n (ii) of such subparagraph (whichever is greater), \n together with a reasonable attorney's fee and costs, \n for the violation of subsection (a).\n ``(4) Exception for routine governmental action.--The \n exception in subsection (b) shall apply to an action under this \n subsection.\n ``(5) Affirmative defenses.--The affirmative defenses in \n subsection (c) shall apply to an action under this subsection.\n ``(6) Contribution.--Each person who becomes liable to make \n payment under this subsection may recover contribution as in \n cases of contract from any person who, if joined in the \n original suit, would have been liable to make the same payment.\n ``(7) Statute of limitations.--No action may be maintained \n to enforce any liability created under this subsection unless \n brought within 3 years after the discovery of the facts \n constituting the cause of action and within 6 years after the \n cause of action accrued.\n ``(8) United states person defined.--In this subsection, \n the term `United States person' has the meaning given that term \n in subsection (i)(2).''.\n (c) Prohibited Foreign Practices by Issuers.--Section 30A of the \nSecurities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78dd-1) is amended by adding \nat the end the following:\n ``(h) Private Right of Action Authorized.--\n ``(1) Authorized plaintiffs.--Any person that violates \n subsection (a) shall be liable in an action brought in \n accordance with this subsection in any court of competent \n jurisdiction to any issuer that is subject to this section, \n domestic concern that is subject to section 104 of the Foreign \n Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (15 U.S.C. 78dd-2), or other \n person that is a United States person, that is damaged by the \n violation of subsection (a) of this section, for damages caused \n to such issuer, domestic concern, or other person by the \n violation.\n ``(2) Proof of damages.--For purposes of this subsection, \n the court may not find for the plaintiff in an action under \n this subsection unless the plaintiff alleges and proves that--\n ``(A) the defendant violated subsection (a); and\n ``(B) the defendant's violation of subsection (a)--\n ``(i) prevented the plaintiff from \n obtaining or retaining business for or with any \n person; and\n ``(ii) assisted the defendant in obtaining \n or retaining such business.\n ``(3) Measure of damages.--\n ``(A) In general.--The damages that a plaintiff may \n obtain in an action under this subsection may be equal \n to the higher of the two following amounts that are \n established by the plaintiff's allegations and proof:\n ``(i) The total amount of the contract or \n agreement that the defendant gained in \n obtaining or retaining business by means of the \n violation of subsection (a).\n ``(ii) The total amount of the contract or \n agreement that the plaintiff failed to gain \n because of the defendant's obtaining or \n retaining business by means of the violation of \n subsection (a).\n ``(B) Treble damages.--In assessing damages under \n subparagraph (A), the court shall enter judgment for \n three times the amount determined under clause (i) or \n (ii) of such subparagraph (whichever is greater), \n together with a reasonable attorney's fee and costs, \n for the violation of subsection (a).\n ``(4) Exception for routine governmental action.--The \n exception in subsection (b) shall apply to an action under this \n subsection.\n ``(5) Affirmative defenses.--The affirmative defenses in \n subsection (c) shall apply to an action under this subsection.\n ``(6) Contribution.--Each person who becomes liable to make \n payment under this subsection may recover contribution as in \n cases of contract from any person who, if joined in the \n original suit, would have been liable to make the same payment.\n ``(7) Statute of limitations.--No action shall be \n maintained to enforce any liability created under this \n subsection unless brought within 3 years after the discovery of \n the facts constituting the cause of action and within 6 years \n after the cause of action accrued.\n ``(8) United states person defined.--In this subsection, \n the term `United States person' has the meaning given that term \n in subsection (g)(2).''.\n\nSEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of \nthe enactment of this Act and shall apply to causes of action accruing \non or after such date of enactment.", "summary": "Foreign Business Bribery Prohibition Act of 2016 This bill amends the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) to authorize private rights of action against persons that violate the FCPA's anti-bribery provisions, which prohibit giving things of value to foreign officials or political parties for purposes of obtaining or retaining business. A person that violates the FCPA's anti-bribery provisions shall be liable for up to treble damages to a securities issuer, domestic business concern, or U.S. person damaged by the violation. A plaintiff must prove an FCPA anti-bribery violation by the defendant that: (1) prevented the plaintiff from obtaining or retaining business, and (2) assisted the defendant in obtaining or retaining such business.", "title": "Foreign Business Bribery Prohibition Act of 2016"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1222, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Transit Accessibility Innovation Act \nof 2014''.\n\nSEC. 2. TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY INNOVATION PROGRAM.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is \namended by inserting after section 5307 the following:\n``Sec. 5308. Transit accessibility innovation program\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a transit \naccessibility innovation program in accordance with the requirements of \nthis section to encourage public transit systems to take actions to \naddress deficiencies in service for individuals with disabilities.\n ``(b) Grants Authority.--\n ``(1) In general.--In carrying out the program, the \n Secretary shall distribute amounts made available to carry out \n this section as competitive discretionary grants to public \n transit agencies for eligible projects.\n ``(2) Selection criteria.--The Secretary shall develop \n criteria to ensure that projects receiving funding under the \n program are innovative and replicable in other communities, and \n will result in a substantive improvement in service for \n individuals with disabilities.\n ``(c) Applications.--\n ``(1) In general.--In order to be eligible to receive a \n grant under the program, a public transit agency shall submit \n to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and \n containing such information as the Secretary may require.\n ``(2) Contents.--An application for a grant under the \n program shall contain, at a minimum, a description of--\n ``(A) the project for which the applicant is \n seeking funding;\n ``(B) the anticipated benefits the project will \n deliver for the following long-term outcomes: community \n integration, safety, accessibility, quality, \n coordination, and customer service;\n ``(C) the expected contribution of the project to \n the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the \n delivery of public transportation and ADA paratransit \n service;\n ``(D) the ability of the project to facilitate \n innovation in providing public transportation to \n individuals with disabilities; and\n ``(E) the ability of the project to attract new \n partnerships and non-Federal funding, including State, \n local, private, and philanthropic funding.\n ``(3) Community coordination requirements.--\n ``(A) Certification.--To ensure that projects \n receiving funding under this section address the needs \n of individuals with disabilities in a geographic area, \n an application for a grant under the program shall \n contain a certification that--\n ``(i) each project for which the applicant \n is seeking funding is included in a locally \n developed, coordinated public transit-human \n services transportation plan; and\n ``(ii) the plan was developed and approved \n through a process that included community \n participation, including by--\n ``(I) seniors;\n ``(II) individuals with \n disabilities;\n ``(III) representatives of public, \n private, and nonprofit transportation \n and human service providers; and\n ``(IV) other members of the public.\n ``(B) Use of existing plans.--A plan used to \n coordinate the funding of projects under section 5310 \n may be used to satisfy the requirements of subparagraph \n (A).\n ``(C) Limitation.--The requirements of this \n paragraph shall not apply to the transportation \n promotion pilot program established under this section.\n ``(d) Factors.--In providing grant funds for projects under the \nprogram, the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum, the ability of the \nproject to--\n ``(1) enhance accessibility to rail and fixed route bus \n service;\n ``(2) promote paratransit coordination with other programs \n and utilize other revenue streams;\n ``(3) increase service quality to address customer \n complaints;\n ``(4) provide fixed route travel training for passengers \n and specialized training for paratransit personnel;\n ``(5) reduce turnover through increased wages and benefits, \n and increase monitoring, in the provision of ADA paratransit;\n ``(6) provide ADA complementary paratransit services in a \n way that maximizes quality, reliability, safety, customer \n satisfaction, and a stable workforce by determining what \n factors within contracting might impact the quality of ADA \n paratransit services;\n ``(7) improve ADA paratransit on-time performance and \n interoperability with other transportation services available \n to people with disabilities, both public and private;\n ``(8) delay or suspend proposed ADA paratransit service \n cuts triggered by the elimination or cutting of fixed route bus \n routes;\n ``(9) delay or suspend cuts for paratransit services that \n exceed ADA requirements, except that grant funds may not be \n issued under this section more than once for the same route (or \n a significantly similar route);\n ``(10) increase opportunities for community integration and \n independence of people with disabilities by promoting access to \n employment and other resources; and\n ``(11) augment passenger safety, without compromising \n passengers' rights under the ADA.\n ``(e) Practices To Promote Successful Outcomes and Sharing of \nInformation.--\n ``(1) Priority.--In providing grant funds for eligible \n projects under the program, the Secretary shall give priority \n to projects that are replicable in other communities using \n existing resources.\n ``(2) Set aside for activities to promote sharing of best \n practices.--For each fiscal year, the Secretary shall--\n ``(A) set aside 2 percent of the funds made \n available to carry out this section; and\n ``(B) use those amounts to carry out activities to \n ensure that innovative practices, program models, and \n new service delivery options are collected, reviewed, \n and disseminated to other public transit agencies, so \n that the practices, models, and options can be \n replicated in other communities.\n ``(3) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide \n technical assistance to recipients of grant funds under the \n program to ensure that the projects carried out using the funds \n are successful.\n ``(f) Maintenance of Effort.--\n ``(1) ADA minimum standards.--Funds received under the \n program may not be used to meet the minimum standards of the \n ADA, including ADA complementary paratransit service \n requirements.\n ``(2) Certification.--To ensure that grant activities are \n not supplanting existing, budgeted services and that public \n transit agencies are upholding maintenance of effort on \n existing programs, a public transit agency receiving grant \n funds under the program shall--\n ``(A) certify that the funds will not be used to \n pay for existing services; or\n ``(B) provide an explanation as to why the existing \n services are justified grant activities.\n ``(g) Grant Requirements.--A grant under this section shall be \nsubject to the same requirements as a grant under section 5307, except \nthat any public transit agency may use grant funds received under the \nprogram for operating expenses.\n ``(h) Transportation Promotion Pilot Program.--\n ``(1) Set aside.--For each fiscal year, the Secretary \n shall--\n ``(A) set aside 1 percent of the funds made \n available to carry out this section or $100,000, \n whichever amount is greater; and\n ``(B) use those amounts to carry out a \n transportation promotion pilot program under this \n subsection.\n ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the transportation promotion \n pilot program shall be to ensure that--\n ``(A) public transit agencies fulfill their \n requirements under the ADA; and\n ``(B) individuals with disabilities have advocates \n to ensure greater opportunities for integration and \n access into transit systems.\n ``(3) Grant authority.--\n ``(A) In general.--In carrying out the \n transportation promotion pilot program, the Secretary \n shall make grants to--\n ``(i) agencies implementing a system \n established under section 143 of the \n Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill \n of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15043) that \n have demonstrated histories of transportation \n expertise or advocacy; and\n ``(ii) nonprofit organizations that have \n demonstrated histories of transportation \n expertise or advocacy.\n ``(B) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a \n grant under this paragraph, an agency or organization \n shall demonstrate to the Secretary that the agency or \n organization--\n ``(i) has a mission that includes \n individual or systemic advocacy and monitoring \n to address the transportation needs of \n individuals with disabilities; and\n ``(ii) has the support of other \n organizations in the disability community.\n ``(C) Use of grants.--Grants funds received under \n this paragraph shall be used to fund individual or \n systemic advocacy and monitoring to address the \n transportation needs of people with disabilities.\n ``(i) Limitation on Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this \nsection may be construed to affect projects or activities carried out \nunder section 5310 or the funding of such projects or activities.\n ``(j) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions \napply:\n ``(1) ADA.--The term `ADA' means the Americans with \n Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).\n ``(2) ADA paratransit.--The term `ADA paratransit' means \n the provision of nonfixed route paratransit transportation \n services in accordance with section 223 of the ADA (42 U.S.C. \n 12143).\n ``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal \nyears 2015 through 2020.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended \nby inserting after the item relating to section 5307 the following:\n\n``5308. Transit accessibility innovation program.''.\n\nSEC. 3. RAISING CAPS ON USE OF FORMULA FUNDS FOR PROVISION OF NONFIXED \n ROUTE PARATRANSIT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.\n\n Section 5302(3)(I) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by \nstriking ``10 percent'' and inserting ``15 percent''.", "summary": "Transit Accessibility Innovation Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to implement a transit accessibility innovation program by distributing competitive discretionary grants to public transit agencies for eligible projects in order to encourage public transit systems to take action to address deficiencies in service for individuals with disabilities. Directs the Secretary, for each fiscal year, to use 2% of funds made available under this Act to carry out activities to ensure that innovative practices, program models, and new service delivery options are collected, reviewed, and disseminated to other public transit agencies for replication in other communities. Directs the Secretary, for each fiscal year, also to use certain funds to carry out a transportation promotion pilot program to ensure that: (1) public transit agencies fulfill their requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and (2) individuals with disabilities have advocates to ensure greater opportunities for integration and access into transit systems. Requires the Secretary to make grants to: (1) agencies implementing a system established under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 that have demonstrated histories of transportation expertise or advocacy, and (2) nonprofit organizations that have also demonstrated such histories. Increases from 10% to 15% the limitation on the use of a recipient's annual formula apportionment for provision of nonfixed route paratransit transportation services in accordance with the ADA.", "title": "Transit Accessibility Innovation Act of 2014"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1137, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Fulfilling the Potential of Women in \nAcademic Science and Engineering Act of 2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) In its 2007 report, Beyond Bias and Barriers, the \n National Academies state that, to maintain its scientific and \n engineering leadership amid increasing economic and educational \n globalization, the United States must aggressively pursue the \n innovative capacity of all of its people--women and men.\n (2) Women make up an increasing proportion of science and \n engineering majors at all institutions of higher education, \n including at top-rated programs such as those at the \n Massachusetts Institute of Technology where women make up 51 \n percent of its science undergraduates and 35 percent of its \n engineering undergraduates.\n (3) Despite this progress, however, women still receive \n only 20 percent of all bachelor's degrees awarded in \n engineering and physics.\n (4) For women to participate to their full potential across \n all science and engineering fields, they must see a career path \n that allows them to reach their full intellectual potential; \n much remains to be done to achieve that goal.\n (5) The Federal Government provides over 60 percent of \n research funding at institutions of higher education.\n (6) Women are a small portion of the science and \n engineering faculty members at major research universities, and \n they typically receive fewer institutional resources for their \n research activities than their male colleagues.\n (7) Unintentional biases and outmoded institutional \n structures are hindering the access and advancement of women in \n science and engineering.\n (8) Women hold a small portion of leadership positions in \n our institutions of higher education, scientific and \n professional societies, and honorary organizations.\n (9) Neither our institutions of higher education nor our \n Nation can afford such underuse of precious human capital in \n science and engineering.\n\nSEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:\n (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of \n the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive \n Office of the President, acting through the National Science \n and Technology Council.\n (2) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science \n agency'' means any Federal agency that is responsible for at \n least 2 percent of the total Federal obligation for research \n and development at institutions of higher education, according \n to the most recent data available from the National Science \n Foundation.\n (3) Institution of higher education.--The term \n ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such \n term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 \n U.S.C. 1001(a)).\n\nSEC. 4. WORKSHOPS TO ENHANCE GENDER EQUITY IN ACADEMIC SCIENCE AND \n ENGINEERING.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Director shall develop a uniform policy for \neach Federal science agency to carry out a program of workshops that \neducate program officers, members of grant review panels, institution \nof higher education department chairs, and other federally funded \nresearchers about methods that minimize the effects of gender bias in \nevaluation, including of Federal research grants, for hiring, tenure, \nand promotion, and for selection for any other honor based on academic \nmerit. Each Federal science agency shall establish a program of \nworkshops according to this policy.\n (b) Interagency Coordination.--The Director shall ensure that \nprograms of workshops across the Federal science agencies are \ncoordinated and supported jointly as appropriate. As part of this \nprocess, the Director shall ensure that at least 1 workshop is \nsupported every 2 years among the Federal science agencies in each of \nthe major science and engineering disciplines supported by those \nagencies.\n (c) Scientific and Professional Societies.--Federal science \nagencies may carry out the program of workshops under this section by \nmaking grants to eligible organizations. In addition to any other \norganizations made eligible by the Federal science agencies, the \nfollowing organizations are eligible for grants under this section:\n (1) Nonprofit scientific and professional societies and \n organizations that represent one or more science and \n engineering disciplines.\n (2) Nonprofit organizations that have the primary mission \n of advancing the participation of women in science and \n engineering.\n (d) Characteristics of Workshops.--The workshops shall have the \nfollowing characteristics:\n (1) Invitees to workshops shall include at least--\n (A) the chairs from at least the top 50 institution \n of higher education departments in the relevant \n discipline, as determined by the amount of Federal \n research and development funds obligated to each \n department in the prior year based on data available \n from the National Science Foundation;\n (B) members of any standing research grant review \n panel appointed by the Federal science agencies in the \n relevant discipline;\n (C) in the case of major science and engineering \n disciplines supported by the Department of Energy, the \n individuals from each of the Department of Energy \n National Laboratories with personnel management \n responsibilities comparable to those of an institution \n of higher education department chair; and\n (D) Federal science agency program officers in the \n relevant discipline, other than program officers that \n participate in comparable workshops organized and run \n specifically for that agency's program officers.\n (2) Activities at the workshops shall include research \n presentations and interactive discussions or other activities \n that increase the awareness of the existence of gender bias in \n recruitment, hiring, tenure review, promotion, grant \n evaluation, award selection, and other forms of formal \n recognition of individual achievement and provide strategies to \n overcome such bias.\n (3) Research presentations and other workshop programs, as \n appropriate, shall include a discussion of the unique \n challenges faced by women from historically underrepresented \n groups.\n (4) Workshop programs shall include information on best \n practices and the value of mentoring undergraduate and graduate \n women students as well as outreach to girls earlier in their \n science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.\n (e) Report.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date of \n enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit to the \n Committee on Science and Technology of the House of \n Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and \n Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating the impact of \n the program carried out under this section to reduce gender \n bias towards women engaged in research funded by the Federal \n Government. The Director shall include in this report any \n recommendations for improving the evaluation process described \n in paragraph (2).\n (2) Minimum criteria for evaluation.--In determining the \n effectiveness of the program, the Director shall consider, at a \n minimum--\n (A) the rates of participation by invitees in the \n workshops authorized under this section;\n (B) the results of attitudinal surveys conducted on \n workshop participants before and after the workshops;\n (C) any institutional policy or practice changes \n reported by participants from institutions of higher \n education; and\n (D) for institution of higher education department \n chairs and Department of Energy National Laboratory \n employees who participated in at least 1 workshop 3 or \n more years prior to the due date for the report, trends \n in the data for the department represented by the chair \n or employee including--\n (i) the number and percent of women \n faculty;\n (ii) the number and percent of women in \n tenure-track positions by rank;\n (iii) tenure promotion outcomes by gender;\n (iv) years in rank by gender;\n (v) time at institution by gender;\n (vi) attrition by gender;\n (vii) the number of women who are in \n nontenure-track positions, including teaching \n and research;\n (viii) the number and percent of women \n faculty in endowed or named chairs; and\n (ix) the number and percent of women \n faculty on promotion and tenure committees.\n (f) Minimizing Costs.--To the extent practicable, workshops shall \nbe held in conjunction with national or regional disciplinary meetings \nto minimize costs associated with participant travel.\n (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--Each Federal science agency \nis authorized to contribute funds, from funds which are otherwise \nauthorized, to support the workshop and evaluation requirements under \nthis section, including--\n (1) providing grants to organizations, including the \n organizations identified under subsection (c), to plan and \n organize the workshops; and\n (2) reimbursing the travel and lodging costs of invited \n speakers and workshop participants.\n\nSEC. 5. EXTENDED RESEARCH GRANT SUPPORT AND INTERIM TECHNICAL SUPPORT \n FOR CAREGIVERS.\n\n (a) Policies for Caregivers.--Not later than 6 months after the \ndate of enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop a uniform \npolicy to--\n (1) extend the period of grant support for federally funded \n researchers who have caregiving responsibilities; and\n (2) provide funding for interim technical staff support for \n federally funded researchers who take a leave of absence for \n caregiving responsibilities.\n (b) Report.--Upon developing the policy required under subsection \n(a), the Director shall transmit a copy of the policy to the Committee \non Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and to the \nCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.\n\nSEC. 6. COLLECTION OF DATA ON FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Each Federal science agency shall collect \nstandardized annual composite information on demographics, field, award \ntype and budget request, review score, and funding outcome for all \napplications for research and development grants to institutions of \nhigher education supported by that agency.\n (b) Reporting of Data.--\n (1) The Director shall establish a policy to ensure \n uniformity and standardization of data collection required \n under subsection (a).\n (2) Not later than June 30, 2010, and annually thereafter, \n each Federal science agency shall submit data collected under \n subsection (a) to the National Science Foundation.\n (3) The National Science Foundation shall be responsible \n for storing and publishing all of the grant data submitted \n under paragraph (2) in conjunction with the biennial report \n required under section 37 of the Science and Engineering Equal \n Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d).\n\nSEC. 7. PUBLICATION OF LIST OF INSTITUTIONAL PARTICIPATION IN WORKSHOPS \n TO ENHANCE GENDER EQUITY IN ACADEMIC SCIENCE AND \n ENGINEERING.\n\n The Director, on the basis of data reported by the Federal science \nagencies, shall publish annually a list of institutions of higher \neducation science and engineering departments represented by \nindividuals who attend the workshops described in section 4. The list \nshall be publicly available through the website of the Office of \nScience and Technology Policy. Any institution of higher education \nscience and engineering department that is publicized on the list may \npublicize its receipt of such recognition on its website, in printed \nmaterials, or through other means.", "summary": "Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 2008 - Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a policy for federal science agencies to carry out a program of workshops that educate specified federally funded researchers about methods that minimize the effects of gender bias in evaluation, including of federal research grants, for hiring, tenure, and promotion, and for selection for any other honor based on academic merit.\n\nRequires the support of at least one workshop every two years among the federal science agencies in the major science and engineering disciplines.\n\nAuthorizes federal science agencies to carry out such program by making grants to eligible organizations as described in this Act.\n\nRequires the Director to transmit a report evaluating such program's impact in reducing gender bias towards women engaged in research funded by the federal government.\n\nRequires the Director to develop a policy to extend research grant support and provide interim technical support for federally funded researchers who are caregivers. Requires transmission of a copy of such policy to specified congressional committees.\n\nRequires federal science agencies to collect specified standardized annual data for all applications for research and development grants to institutions of higher education and to submit the data collected to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Makes the NSF responsible for storing and publishing all such grant data.\n\nRequires annual publication of a list of the institutions of higher education science and engineering departments represented by individuals who attend the workshops described above.", "title": "To increase awareness of the existence of and to overcome gender bias in academic science and engineering through research and training, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2591, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS; PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Federally Impacted \nSchool Improvement Act''.\n (b) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) In 1950 Congress recognized its obligation, through the \n passage of Public Law 81-815, to provide school construction \n funding for local educational agencies impacted by the presence \n of Federal activities.\n (2) The conditions of federally impacted school facilities \n providing educational programs to children in areas where the \n Federal Government is present have deteriorated to such an \n extent that the health and safety of the children served by \n such agencies is being compromised, and the school conditions \n have not kept pace with the increase in student population \n causing classrooms to become severely overcrowded and children \n to be educated in trailers.\n (3) Local educational agencies in areas where there exists \n a significant Federal presence have little if any capacity to \n raise local funds for purposes of capital construction, \n renovation and repair due to the nontaxable status of Federal \n land.\n (4) The need for renewed support by the Federal Government \n to help federally connected local educational agencies \n modernize their school facilities is far greater in 2000 than \n at any time since 1950.\n (5) Federally connected local educational agencies and the \n communities the agencies serve are willing to commit local \n resources when available to modernize and replace existing \n facilities, but do not always have the resources available to \n meet their total facility needs due to the nontaxable presence \n of the Federal Government.\n (6) Due to the conditions described in paragraphs (1) \n through (5) there is in 1999, as there was in 1950, a need for \n Congress to renew its obligation to assist federally connected \n local educational agencies with their facility needs.\n (c) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide matching grants \nto local educational agencies for the modernization of minimum school \nfacilities that are urgently needed because--\n (1) the existing school facilities of the agency are in \n such disrepair that the health and safety of the students \n served by the agency is threatened; and\n (2) increased enrollment results in a need for additional \n classroom space.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Modernization.--The term ``modernization'' means the \n repair, renovation, alteration, or construction of a facility, \n including--\n (A) the concurrent installation of equipment; and\n (B) the complete or partial replacement of an \n existing facility, but only if such replacement is less \n expensive and more cost-effective than repair, \n renovation, or alteration of the facility.\n (2) Facility.--The term ``facility'' means a public \n structure suitable for use as a classroom, laboratory, library, \n media center, or related facility, the primary purpose of which \n is the instruction of public elementary school or secondary \n school students.\n (3) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational \n agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the \n Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.\n (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means--\n (A) with respect to funds made available under \n paragraph (1) or (3) of section 4(a) for grants under \n section 6 or 8, respectively, the Secretary of \n Education; and\n (B) with respect to funds made available under \n paragraph (2) of section (4)(a) for grants under \n section 6, the Secretary of Defense.\n\nSEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the \nDepartment of Education to carry out this Act $50,000,000 for fiscal \nyear 2001 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 \nsucceeding fiscal years.\n (b) Prohibition.--None of the funds authorized to be appropriated \nunder subsection (a) shall be available to a local educational agency \nto pay the cost of administration of the activities assisted under this \nAct.\n\nSEC. 4. FEDERAL DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING.\n\n (a) In General.--From amounts appropriated under section 3(a) for a \nfiscal year the Secretary of Education--\n (1) shall use 45 percent to award grants under section 6 to \n local educational agencies--\n (A) that are eligible for assistance under section \n 8002(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act \n of 1965; and\n (B) for which the number of children determined \n under section 8003(a)(1)(C) of the Elementary and \n Secondary Education Act of 1965 constitutes at least 25 \n percent of the number of children who were in average \n daily attendance in the schools of such local \n educational agency during the school year preceding the \n school year for which the determination is made;\n (2) shall make available to the Secretary of Defense 45 \n percent to enable the Secretary of Defense to award grants \n under section 6 to local educational agencies for which the \n number of children determined under subparagraphs (A), (B), and \n (D) of section 8003(a)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary \n Education Act of 1965 constitutes at least 25 percent of the \n number of children who were in average daily attendance in the \n schools of such local educational agency during the school year \n preceding the school year for which the determination is made; \n and\n (3) shall use 10 percent to award grants under section 8.\n (b) Department of Defense Funding.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date the \n Secretary of Education receives funds appropriated under \n section 3(a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary of Education \n shall make available to the Secretary of Defense from such \n funds the portion of such funds described in subsection (a)(2) \n for the fiscal year. The Secretary of Defense shall use the \n portion to award grants under section 6 through the Office of \n Economic Adjustment of the Department of Defense.\n (2) Limitations.--\n (A) Administrative expenses.--No funds made \n available under subsection (a)(2) shall be used by the \n Secretary of Defense to pay the costs of administration \n of the activities assisted under this Act.\n (B) Special rate.--No funds made available under \n subsection (a)(2) shall be used to replace Federal \n funds provided to enhance the quality of life of \n dependents of members of the Armed Forces as determined \n by the Secretary of Defense.\n\nSEC. 5. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--A local educational agency shall be eligible to \nreceive funds under this Act if--\n (1) the local educational agency is described in paragraph \n (1) or (2) of section 4(a); and\n (2) the local educational agency--\n (A) received a payment under section 8002 of the \n Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 during \n the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the \n determination is made, and the assessed value of \n taxable property per student in the school district of \n the local educational agency is less than the average \n of the assessed value of taxable property per student \n in the State in which the local educational agency is \n located; or\n (B) received a basic payment under section 8003(b) \n of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 \n during the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for \n which the determination is made, and for which the \n number of children determined under subparagraphs (A), \n (B), (C), and (D) of section 8003(a)(1) of the \n Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 \n constituted at least 25 percent of the number of \n children who were in average daily attendance in the \n schools of such local educational agency during the \n school year preceding the school year for which the \n determination is made.\n (b) Special Rule.--Any local educational agency described in \nsubsection (a)(2)(B) may apply for funds under this section for the \nmodernization of a facility located on Federal property (as defined in \nsection 8013 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) \nonly if the Secretary determines that the number of children determined \nunder section 8003(a)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act \nof 1965 who were in average daily attendance in such facility \nconstituted at least 50 percent of the number of children who were in \naverage daily attendance in the facilities of the local educational \nagency during the school year preceding the school year for which the \ndetermination is made.\n\nSEC. 6. BASIC GRANTS.\n\n (a) Award Basis.--From the amounts made available under paragraphs \n(1) and (2) of section 4(a) the Secretary shall award grants to local \neducational agencies on such basis as the Secretary determines \nappropriate, including--\n (1) in the case of a local educational agency described in \n section 5(a)(2)(A), a high percentage of the property in the \n school district of the local educational agency is nontaxable \n due to the presence of the Federal Government;\n (2) in the case of a local educational agency described in \n section 5(a)(2)(B), a high number or percentage of children \n determined under subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of \n section 8003(a)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education \n Act of 1965;\n (3) the extent to which the local educational agency lacks \n the fiscal capacity, including the ability to raise funds \nthrough the full use of the local educational agency's bonding capacity \nand otherwise, to undertake the modernization project without Federal \nassistance;\n (4) the need for modernization to meet--\n (A) the threat the condition of the facility poses \n to the safety and well-being of students;\n (B) the requirements of the Americans with \n Disabilities Act of 1990;\n (C) the costs associated with asbestos removal, \n energy conservation, and technology upgrading; and\n (D) overcrowding conditions as evidenced by the use \n of trailers and portable buildings and the potential \n for future overcrowding because of increased \n enrollment;\n (5) the facility needs of the local educational agency \n resulting from the acquisition or construction of military \n family housing under subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, \n United States Code, and other actions of the Federal Government \n that cause an adverse impact on the facility needs of the local \n educational agency; and\n (6) the age of the facility to be modernized regardless of \n whether the facility was originally constructed with funds \n authorized under Public Law 81-815.\n (b) Grant Amount.--In determining the amount of a grant the \nSecretary shall--\n (1) consider the relative costs of the modernization;\n (2) determine the cost of a project based on the local \n prevailing cost of the project;\n (3) require that the Federal share of the cost of the \n project shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the \n project;\n (4) not provide a grant in an amount greater than \n $3,000,000 over any 5-year period; and\n (5) take into consideration the amount of cash available to \n the local educational agency.\n (c) Administration of Grants.--In awarding grants under this \nsection the Secretary shall--\n (1) establish by regulation the date by which all \n applications are to be received;\n (2) consider in-kind contributions when calculating the 50 \n percent matching funds requirement described in subsection \n (b)(3); and\n (3) subject all applications to a review process.\n (d) Section 8007 Funding.--In awarding grants under this section, \nthe Secretary shall not take into consideration any funds received \nunder section 8007 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of \n1965.\n\nSEC. 7. APPLICATIONS REQUIRED.\n\n (a) In General.--Each local educational agency desiring a grant \nunder this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary.\n (b) Contents.--Each application shall contain--\n (1) a listing of the school facilities to be modernized, \n including the number and percentage of children determined \n under section 8003(a)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary \n Education Act of 1965 in average daily attendance in each \n facility;\n (2) a description of the ownership of the property on which \n the current facility is located or on which the planned \n facility will be located;\n (3) a description of each architectural, civil, structural, \n mechanical, or electrical deficiency to be corrected with funds \n provided under this Act, including the priority for the repair \n of the deficiency;\n (4) a description of any facility deficiency that poses a \n health or safety hazard to the occupants of the facility and a \n description of how that deficiency will be repaired;\n (5) a description of the criteria used by the local \n educational agency to determine the type of corrective action \n necessary to meet the purposes of this Act;\n (6) a description of the modernization to be supported with \n funds provided under this Act;\n (7) a cost estimate of the proposed modernization;\n (8) an identification of other resources (such as unused \n bonding capacity), if applicable, that are available to carry \n out the modernization, and an assurance that such resources \n will be used for the modernization;\n (9) a description of how activities assisted with funds \n provided under this Act will promote energy conservation; and\n (10) such other information and assurances as the Secretary \n may reasonably require.\n (c) Continuing Consideration.--A local educational agency that \napplies for assistance under this Act (other than section 8) for any \nfiscal year and does not receive the assistance shall have the \napplication for the assistance considered for the following 5 fiscal \nyears.\n\nSEC. 8. EMERGENCY GRANTS.\n\n (a) Waiver of Matching Requirement.--From the amount made available \nunder section 4(a)(3) the Secretary shall award grants to any local \neducational agency for which the number of children determined under \nsection 8003(a)(1)(C) constituted at least 50 percent of the number of \nchildren who were in average daily attendance in the schools of such \nagency during the school year preceding the school year for which the \ndetermination is made, if the Secretary determines a facility emergency \nexists that poses a health or safety hazard to the students and school \npersonnel assigned to the facility.\n (b) Certification of Emergency.--In addition to meeting the \nrequirements of section 7, a local educational agency desiring funds \nunder this section shall include in the application submitted under \nsection 7 a signed statement from a State official certifying that a \nhealth or safety deficiency exists.\n (c) Grant Amount; Prioritization Rules; Continuing Consideration.--\n (1) Grant amount.--In determining the amount of grant \n awards under this section, the Secretary shall make every \n effort to fully meet the facility needs of the local \n educational agencies applying for funds under this section.\n (2) Prioritization rule.--If the Secretary receives more \n than 1 application under this section for any fiscal year, the \n Secretary shall prioritize the applications based on when an \n application was received and the severity of the emergency as \n determined by the Secretary.\n (3) Continuing consideration.--A local educational agency \n that applies for assistance under this section for any fiscal \n year and does not receive the assistance shall have the \n application for the assistance considered for the following \n fiscal year, subject to the prioritization requirement \n described in paragraph (2).\n\nSEC. 9. REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) Maintenance of Effort.--A local educational agency may receive \na grant under this Act for any fiscal year only if the Secretary finds \nthat either the combined fiscal effort per student or the aggregate \nexpenditures of that agency and the State with respect to the provision \nof free public education by such local educational agency for the \npreceding fiscal year was not less than 90 percent of such combined \nfiscal effort or aggregate expenditures for the fiscal year for which \nthe determination is made.\n (b) Supplement Not Supplant.--An eligible local educational agency \nshall use funds received under this subsection only to supplement the \namount of funds that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be \nmade available from non-Federal sources for the modernization of school \nfacilities used for educational purposes, and not to supplant such \nfunds.\n\nSEC. 10. GENERAL LIMITATIONS.\n\n (a) Real Property.--No part of any grant funds awarded under this \nAct shall be used for the acquisition of any interest in real property.\n (b) Maintenance.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to \nauthorize the payment of maintenance costs in connection with any \nfacilities modernized in whole or in part with Federal funds provided \nunder this Act.\n (c) Environmental Safeguards.--All projects carried out with \nFederal funds provided under this Act shall comply with all relevant \nFederal, State, and local environmental laws and regulations.\n (d) Athletic and Similar Facilities.--No funds received under this \nAct shall be used for outdoor stadiums or other facilities that are \nprimarily used for athletic contests or exhibitions, or other events, \nfor which admission is charged to the general public.", "summary": "Federally Impacted School Improvement Act - Provides matching grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for construction, renovation, and repair of school facilities in areas affected by Federal activities. \nAuthorizes appropriations. \nDirects the Secretary of Education to distribute such funds as follows: (1) 45 percent for basic matching grants to LEAs eligible for impact aid assistance as serving children from Indian lands, if the number of such children is at least 25 percent of the total number in attendance; (2) 45 percent to the Secretary of Defense for basic matching grants to LEAs serving children from military bases, if the number of such children is at least 25 percent of the total number in attendance; and (3) ten percent for emergency non-matching grants in cases of health or safety hazards at facilities of LEAs which have a number of impact aid eligible children equal to at least 50 percent of their total attendance. \nSets forth requirements for: (1) LEA eligibility; (2) basic grant awards and amount limits; (3) applications; and (4) emergency grant certifications, amounts, and priorities.", "title": "Federally Impacted School Improvement Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1692, "text": "SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG INITIAL ENROLLMENT \n PERIODS FOR 2006 AND 2007; SUSPENSION OF LATE ENROLLMENT \n PENALTY THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2007.\n\n (a) Extension of Medicare Prescription Drug Initial Enrollment \nPeriods for 2006 and 2007.--Section 1860D-1(b)(1) of the Social \nSecurity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-101(b)(1)) is amended--\n (1) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by inserting ``subparagraph \n (D) and'' after ``Subject to''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:\n ``(D) Extension of initial enrollment periods.--For \n purposes of subparagraph (B)(iii), in applying section \n 1851(e)(1), with respect to the annual, coordinated election \n period--\n ``(i) for 2006, such period shall begin on November \n 15, 2005, and end on November 14, 2006; and\n ``(ii) for 2007, such period shall begin on \n November 15, 2006, and end on November 14, 2007.''.\n (b) Suspension of Late Enrollment Penalty Through December 31, \n2007.--Section 1860D-13(b)(3)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-\n113(b)(3)(B)) is amended by inserting ``(after December 2007)'' after \n``any month''.\n\nSEC. 2. OPEN ENROLLMENT AND DISENROLLMENT IN PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS \n ALLOWED DURING FIRST 12 MONTHS OF ENROLLMENT.\n\n Section 1860D-1(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-\n101(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new \nsubparagraph:\n ``(D) Open enrollment and disenrollment period for \n first 12 months of enrollment.--In establishing the \n process under subparagraph (A), in the case of a part D \n eligible individual who initially enrolls under section \n 1860D-1(a) in a prescription drug plan on or after the \n date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary \n shall permit such individual to change such enrollment \n into another prescription drug plan once at any time \n during the first 12 months of such initial enrollment \n (other than during an annual, coordinated election \n period referred to in section 1860D-\n 1(b)(1)(B)(iii)).''.\n\nSEC. 3. LIMITATIONS ON CHANGING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN FORMULARIES; \n NOTICE OF CHANGE IN FORMULARY.\n\n (a) Limitation on Removal or Change of Covered Part D Drugs From \nthe Prescription Drug Plan Formulary.--Section 1860D-4(b)(3)(E) of the \nSocial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-104(b)(3)(E)) is amended to read \nas follows:\n ``(E) Removing a drug from formulary or imposing a \n restriction or limitation on coverage.--\n ``(i) Limitation on removal, limitation, or \n restriction.--\n ``(I) In general.--Subject to \n subclause (II) and clause (ii), \n beginning with 2006, the PDP sponsor of \n a prescription drug plan may not remove \n a covered part D drug from the plan \n formulary or impose a restriction or \n limitation on the coverage of such a \n drug (such as through the application \n of a preferred status, usage \n restriction, step therapy, prior \n authorization, or quantity limitation) \n other than at the beginning of each \n plan year except as the Secretary may \n permit to take into account new \n therapeutic uses and newly covered part \n D drugs.\n ``(II) Special rule for newly \n enrolled individuals.--Subject to \n clause (ii), in the case of an \n individual who enrolls in a \n prescription drug plan on or after the \n date of enactment of this subparagraph, \n the PDP sponsor of such plan may not \n remove a covered part D drug from the \n plan formulary or impose a restriction \n or limitation on the coverage of such a \n drug (such as through the application \n of a preferred status, usage \n restriction, step therapy, prior \n authorization, or quantity limitation) \n during the period beginning on the date \n of such enrollment and ending on \n December 31 of the immediately \n succeeding plan year except as the \n Secretary may permit to take into \n account new therapeutic uses and newly \n covered part D drugs.\n ``(ii) Exceptions to limitation on \n removal.--Clause (i) shall not apply with \n respect to a covered part D drug that--\n ``(I) is a brand name drug for \n which there is a generic drug approved \n under section 505(j) of the Food and \n Drug Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j)) \n that is placed on the market during the \n period in which there are limitations \n on removal or change in the formulary \n under subclause (I) or (II) of clause \n (i);\n ``(II) is a brand name drug that \n goes off-patent during such period;\n ``(III) is a drug for which the \n Commissioner of Food and Drugs issues a \n clinical warning that imposes a \n restriction or limitation on the drug \n during such period; or\n ``(IV) has been determined to be \n ineffective during such period.\n ``(iii) Notice of removal under application \n of exception to limitation.--The PDP sponsor of \n a prescription drug plan shall provide \n appropriate notice (such as under subsection \n (a)(3)) of any removal or change under clause \n (ii) to the Secretary, affected enrollees, \n physicians, pharmacies, and pharmacists.''.\n (b) Notice of Change in Formulary and Other Restrictions or \nLimitations on Coverage.--\n (1) In general.--Section 1860D-4(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. \n 1395w-104(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(5) Annual notice of changes in formulary and other \n restrictions or limitations on coverage.--Each PDP sponsor \n offering a prescription drug plan shall furnish to each \n enrollee at the time of each annual coordinated election period \n (referred to in section 1860D-1(b)(1)(B)(iii)) for a plan year \n a notice of any changes in the formulary or other restrictions \n or limitations on coverage of a covered part D drug under the \n plan that will take effect for the plan year.''.\n (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) \n shall apply to annual coordinated election periods beginning \n after the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) extend the 2006 and 2007 initial enrollment periods for the Medicare prescription drug benefit; (2) suspend the late enrollment penalty through December 31, 2007; and (3) permit Medicare beneficiaries to change enrollment in a prescription drug plan during the first 12 months of enrollment.\n\nProhibits a PDP sponsor, beginning with 2006, from removing a covered part D drug from the plan formulary, or imposing a restriction or limitation on the coverage of such a drug, other than at the beginning of each plan year, except as the Secretary may permit to take into account new therapeutic uses and newly covered part D drugs.\n\nRequires each PDP sponsor to furnish to each plan enrollee, at the time of each annual coordinated election period, a notice of any changes in the formulary or other part D drug coverage restrictions or limitations that will take effect for the upcoming plan year.", "title": "To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend the 2006 and 2007 initial enrollment periods for the Medicare prescription drug benefit and suspend the late enrollment penalty through December 31, 2007, to permit Medicare beneficiaries to change enrollment in a prescription drug plan during the first 12 months of enrollment, and to prevent changes in formularies other than at the time of open enrollment periods and only with advance notice."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3011, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Pakistan Security and \nStability Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Congress supports the following elements outlined in \n the President's White Paper of the Interagency Policy Group's \n Report on United States Policy Toward Afghanistan and Pakistan:\n (A) The core goal of the United States must be to \n disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its \n affiliated networks and their safe havens in Pakistan.\n (B) The threat that al Qaeda poses to the United \n States and its allies in Pakistan--including the \n possibility of extremists obtaining fissile material--\n is all too real.\n (C) The United States must overcome its trust \n deficit with Pakistan and demonstrate that it is a \n reliable, long-term partner.\n (2) The Government of Pakistan is facing significant \n security and socio-economic challenges that set the conditions \n for greater radicalization and may threaten Pakistan's \n viability. Such challenges include the following:\n (A) Al Qaeda's and other extremist groups' campaign \n of violent attacks throughout Pakistan, including the \n Red Mosque incident, the assassination of Benazir \n Bhutto, and the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in \n Islamabad.\n (B) Pakistan's population growth at a rate of \n approximately 2 percent a year, with nearly half of its \n 172 million residents illiterate, under the age of 20, \n and living near or below the poverty line.\n (3) Security and stability to Pakistan is further \n complicated given the prevalence of ungoverned spaces between \n Pakistan and Afghanistan in which state control has not been \n fully exercised given ethnic and tribal affiliations.\n (4) The security and stability of Pakistan is vital to the \n national security of the United States, and the consequences of \n failure poses a grave threat to the security of the American \n people, the region, and United States allies.\n (5) The objectives of United States policy toward Pakistan \n are to empower and enable Pakistan to--\n (A) develop into a prosperous and democratic state \n that is at peace with itself and with its neighbors;\n (B) actively confront, and deny safe haven to, al \n Qaeda, the Taliban, and other extremists;\n (C) implement the economic, legal, and social \n reforms required to create an environment that \n discourages violent Islamic extremism; and\n (D) maintain robust command and control over its \n nuclear weapons technology.\n\nSEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE INTERAGENCY STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR \n PAKISTAN.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the \nenactment of the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, the President \nshall develop and transmit to the appropriate congressional committees \na comprehensive interagency strategy and implementation plan for long-\nterm security and stability in Pakistan which shall be composed of the \nelements specified in subsection (b).\n (b) Elements.--The comprehensive interagency strategy and \nimplementation plan required by subsection (a) shall contain at least \nthe following elements:\n (1) A description of how United States assistance described \n in section 4 will be used to achieve the objectives of United \n States policy toward Pakistan.\n (2) Progress toward the following:\n (A) Assisting efforts to enhance civilian control \n and a stable constitutional government in Pakistan and \n promote bilateral and regional trade and economic \n growth.\n (B) Developing and operationally enabling Pakistani \n security forces so they are capable of succeeding in \n sustained counter-insurgency and counter-terror \n operations.\n (C) Shutting down Pakistani safe havens for \n extremists.\n (D) Improving Pakistan's capacity and capability to \n ``hold'' and ``build'' areas cleared of insurgents to \n prevent their return.\n (E) Developing and strengthening mechanisms for \n Pakistan-Afghanistan cooperation.\n (3) A financial plan and description of the resources, \n programming, and management of United States foreign assistance \n to Pakistan, including the criteria used to determine their \n prioritization.\n (4) A complete description of both the evaluation process \n for reviewing and adjusting the strategy and implementation as \n necessary, and measures of effectiveness for the implementation \n of the strategy.\n (c) Intelligence Support.--The Director of National Intelligence \nshall provide intelligence support to the development of the \ncomprehensive interagency strategy and implementation plan required by \nsubsection (a).\n (d) Updates of Strategy.--The President shall transmit in writing \nto the appropriate congressional committees any updates of the \ncomprehensive interagency strategy and implementation plan required by \nsubsection (a), as necessary.\n\nSEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR PAKISTAN.\n\n (a) Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.--There is authorized to be \nappropriated to the President, for the purposes of providing assistance \nto Pakistan under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et \nseq.), $1,500,000,000 or such sums as may be necessary for each of the \nfiscal years 2010 through 2013.\n (b) Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund.--There is \nauthorized to be appropriated to the President, for the purposes of \nbuilding a more effective counterinsurgency capability in Pakistan's \nsecurity forces, up to $700,000,000 for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency \nCapability Fund, for fiscal year 2010.\n (c) Use of Funds.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated under this \nsection or otherwise made available to carry out this Act shall be used \nto the maximum extent practicable as direct expenditures for programs, \nprojects, and activities, subject to existing reporting and \nnotification requirements.\n\nSEC. 5. CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.\n\n (a) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the \ntransmission of the comprehensive interagency strategy and \nimplementation plan required by section 3, and quarterly thereafter \nthrough December 1, 2013, the President, acting through the Secretary \nof State and the Secretary of Defense, shall brief the appropriate \ncongressional committees on the status of the comprehensive interagency \nstrategy and implementation plan.\n (b) Notification.--The President shall notify the appropriate \ncongressional committees not later than 30 days prior to obligating any \nassistance described in section 4 as budgetary support to the \nGovernment of Pakistan or to any persons, agencies, instrumentalities, \nor elements of the Government of Pakistan and shall describe the \npurpose and conditions attached to any such budgetary support \nassistance. The President shall notify the appropriate congressional \ncommittees not later than 30 days prior to obligating any other type of \nassistance described in section 4.\n\nSEC. 6. DEFINITION.\n\n In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' \nmeans--\n (1) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed \n Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent \n Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of \n Representatives; and\n (2) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed \n Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select \n Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.", "summary": "United States-Pakistan Security and Stability Act - Directs the President to develop and transmit to the appropriate congressional committees, with intelligence support from the Director of National Intelligence, a comprehensive interagency strategy and implementation plan for long-term security and stability in Pakistan.\n\nAuthorizes appropriations for: (1) Pakistan; and (2) the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund.", "title": "To require the President to develop a comprehensive interagency strategy and implementation plan for long-term security and stability in Pakistan, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2128, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Sugar Competitiveness Act of 1995''.\n\nSEC. 2. MARKET-ORIENTED SUGAR PROGRAM LOANS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 206 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 \nU.S.C. 1446g) is amended--\n (1) by striking the section heading, subsections (a) \n through (h), and subsection (j);\n (2) by inserting before subsection (i) the following:\n\n``SEC. 206. RECOURSE LOANS TO PROCESSORS OF SUGARCANE AND SUGAR BEETS.\n\n ``(a) Sugarcane Processor Loans.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make recourse loans \n available to processors of sugarcane on raw cane sugar \n processed from the 1995 and succeeding crops of sugarcane.\n ``(2) Loan rates.--Recourse loans under this subsection \n shall be make at the rate of 18 cents per pound of raw cane \n sugar for the 1995 crop of sugarcane; 16 cents per pound of raw \n cane sugar for the 1996 crop of sugarcane; 14 cents per pound \n for the 1997 crop of sugarcane; and 12 cents per pound for the \n 1998 and succeeding crops of sugarcane.\n ``(b) Sugar Beet Processor Loans.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make recourse loans \n available to processors of sugar beets on refined sugar \n processed from the 1995 and succeeding crops of sugar beets.\n ``(2) Loan rates.--Recourse loans under this subsection for \n sugar refined from a crop of sugar beets shall be made at a \n rate, per pound of refined sugar, that reflects--\n ``(A) an amount that bears the same relation to the \n loan rate in effect under subsection (a)(2) as the \n weighted average of producer returns for sugar beets \n bears to the weighted average of producer returns for \n sugarcane, expressed on a cents per pound basis for \n refined beet sugar and raw cane sugar, for the most \n recent 5-year period for which data are available; plus\n ``(B) an amount that covers sugar beet processor \n fixed marketing expenses.\n ``(c) Administrative Rules.--\n ``(1) National loan rates.--Recourse loans under this \n section shall be made available at all locations nationally at \n the rates specified in this section, without adjustment to \n provide regional differentials.\n ``(2) Length of loans.--Each recourse loan made under this \n section shall be for a term of 3 months, and may be extended \n for additional 3-month terms, except that--\n ``(A) no loan may have a cumulative term in excess \n of 9 months or a term that extends beyond September 30 \n of the fiscal year in which the loan is made; and\n ``(B) a processor may terminate a loan and redeem \n the collateral for the loan at any time by payment in \n full of principal, interest, and fees then owing.\n ``(d) Prohibition on Price Support.--The Secretary may not make \nprice support available, whether in the form of nonrecourse loans, \npayments, purchases, or other operations, for the 1995 or subsequent \ncrops of sugarcane or sugar beets by using the funds of the Commodity \nCredit Corporation.\n ``(e) Use of Commodity Credit Corporation.--The Secretary shall use \nthe funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit \nCorporation to carry out this section.''.\n (b) Effect on Existing Loans.--\n (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), section 206 of the \n Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1446g), as in effect on the \n day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall \n continue to apply with respect to nonrecourse loans made under \n such section before such date.\n (2) Any loan in effect on the day before the date of the \n enactment of this Act that is extended on or after the date of \n enactment shall be converted, when extended, into a recourse \n loan at the loan rate specified in section 206(a), as amended \n by this Act, and any loan made on or after the date of \n enactment shall be a recourse loan.\n (c) Extension and Modification of Marketing Assessment.--Subsection \n(i) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1446g) is amended--\n (1) by striking ``(i)'' and inserting ``(f)'';\n (2) in paragraph (1)--\n (A) by striking ``1992 through 1996'' and inserting \n ``1992 through 2003'';\n (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subsection \n (b)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)''; and\n (C) in subparagraph (B)--\n (i) by striking ``subsection (b)'' and \n inserting ``subsection (a)'';\n (ii) by striking ``1998'' and inserting \n ``2003'';\n (iii) by striking ``1.1 percent'' and \n inserting ``1.5 percent''; and\n (iv) by striking ``(but not more than .198 \n cents per pound of raw cane sugar)'' and \n inserting ``as of October 1, 1995'';\n (3) in paragraph (2)--\n (A) by striking ``1992 through 1996'' and inserting \n ``1992 through 2003''; and\n (B) in subparagraph (B)--\n (i) by striking ``1998'' and inserting \n ``2003'';\n (ii) by striking ``1.1794 percent'' and \n inserting ``1.6083 percent'';\n (iii) by striking ``(but not more than \n .2123 cents per pound of beet sugar)'' and \n inserting ``as of October 1, 1995''; and\n (iv) adding at the end the following new \n paragraph:\n ``(7) Imported sugar.--Effective only for imports of raw \n cane sugar and refined sugar during the 1996 through 2003 \n fiscal years, each exporter of raw cane sugar or refined sugar \n to be imported into the United States shall remit to the \n Commodity Credit Corporation a nonrefundable marketing \n assessment in an amount equal--\n ``(A) in the case of imports of raw cane sugar, 1.5 \n percent of the loan level established under subsection \n (a) per pound of raw cane sugar as of October 1, 1995;\n ``(B) in the case of imports of refined sugar, \n 1.6083 percent of the loan level established under \n subsection (b) per pound of refined sugar as of October \n 1, 1995.''.\n (d) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Price support for designated nonbasic agricultural \n commodities.--Section 201(a) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 \n U.S.C. 1446(a)) is amended by striking out ``milk, sugar beets, \n and sugarcane'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``and milk''.\n (2) Price support benefits to producers.--\n (A) In general.--Section 401(e) of such Act (7 \n U.S.C. 1421(e)) is amended by striking out ``(1)'' in \n paragraph (1) and striking out paragraph (2).\n (B) Technical amendment.--Section 405(b) of such \n Act (7 U.S.C. 1425(b)) is amended by striking out the \n last sentence.\n (3) Title iii of the agricultural act of 1949.--Section 301 \n of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1447) is amended by \n inserting ``(other than sugarcane and sugar beets)'' before \n ``at a level''.\n (4) Powers of commodity credit corporation.--Section 5(a) \n of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. \n 714c(a)) is amended by inserting ``(except for sugarcane and \n sugar beets of the 1996 and subsequent crops)'' after \n ``agricultural commodities''.\n (5) Section 32 activities.--The second sentence of the \n first paragraph of section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 \n U.S.C. 612c) is amended by inserting ``(other than sugarcane \n and sugar beets)'' after ``commodity'' the last place it \n appears.\n (e) CCC Sales Price Restrictions.--Section 407(c) of such Act (7 \nU.S.C. 1427(c)) is amended by adding at the end a new paragraph as \nfollows:\n ``(6) Sugar.--The Corporation may sell for unrestricted use \n sugar surrendered to it under the loan programs provided for in \n section 351 at such price as the Corporation determines \n appropriate to maintain and expand export and domestic markets \n for sugar and to avoid undue disruption of commercial sales of \n sugar.''.\n (f) Assurance of Adequate Supplies of Sugar.--Effective October 1, \n1996, section 902(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1446g \nnote) is amended to read as follows: ``Beginning with the quota year \nfor sugar imports that begins after the 1994/1995 quota year, the \nPresident and the Secretary of Agriculture shall use all authorities \navailable to the President and the Secretary, as the case may be, to \nensure that adequate supplies of raw cane sugar are made available to \nthe United States market at prices no greater than the higher of--\n ``(1) the world sugar price (adjusted to a delivered \n basis); or\n ``(2) the raw cane sugar loan rate in effect under section \n 206(a) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (plus interest).''.\n\nSEC. 3. TERMINATION OF MARKETING QUOTA AND ALLOTMENTS.\n\n (a) Termination.--\n (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), part VII of \n subtitle B of title III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of \n 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359aa-1359jj) is repealed.\n (2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall be effective \n October 1, 1996, for sugar marketed on or after such date.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 344(f)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. \n1344(f)(2)) is amended by striking out ``sugar cane for sugar; sugar \nbeets for sugar;''.", "summary": "Sugar Competitiveness Act of 1995 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to replace current sugar price support provisions with recourse loans to sugarcane and sugar beet producers. Reduces sugarcane loan rates from 18 cents per pound to 12 cents per pound over three years. \nProhibits sugar price supports. Provides for the conversion of any current nonrecourse loans that are extended into recourse loans. \nExtends and increases sugar marketing assessment provisions. Includes imported sugar within such provisions' scope. \nProvides for the regulation of imported raw sugarcane at prices not greater than the world sugar price or the raw sugarcane loan rate. \nAmends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to terminate sugar marketing quota and allotment provisions.", "title": "Sugar Competitiveness Act of 1995"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1304, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Skilled Workforce Enhancement Act of \n1998''.\n\nSEC. 2. CREDIT FOR EXPENSES FOR TRAINING EMPLOYEES IN HIGHLY SKILLED \n METALWORKING TRADES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business-related \ncredits) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 45D. EXPENSES FOR TRAINING EMPLOYEES IN HIGHLY SKILLED \n METALWORKING TRADES.\n\n ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, the highly skilled \nmetalworking trades training credit determined under this section is an \namount equal to 80 percent of the training expenses paid or incurred by \nthe taxpayer during the training period with respect to each qualified \ntrained employee of the taxpayer. Twenty percent of the credit \ndetermined under the preceding sentence shall be taken into account \nunder section 38 for each of the first 5 taxable years after the \ntaxable year in which the training period ends.\n ``(b) Limitations.--\n ``(1) Maximum credit per employee.--The total amount of \n credit determined under this section with respect to each \n qualified trained employee for all taxable years shall not \n exceed $100,000.\n ``(2) Employer must be small employer.--Training expenses \n may be taken into account under subsection (a) only if the \n taxpayer is a small employer for the taxable year in which such \n expenses are paid or incurred.\n ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Qualified trained employee.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified trained \n employee' means any employee (or former employee) of \n the taxpayer if--\n ``(i) the employee received at least 8,000 \n hours of training (including on-the-job \n training) from the taxpayer (or any \n predecessor) during the training period as an \n apprentice in any highly skilled metalworking \n trade, and\n ``(ii) the employee is employed by the \n taxpayer in a journeyman capacity in any highly \n skilled metalworking trade on a full-time basis \n throughout at least the 1-year period beginning \n at the end of such employee's training period.\n ``(B) Highly skilled metalworking trades.--For \n purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `highly skilled \n metalworking trades' means the trades traditionally \n recognized as such, including precision machinists, die \n makers, mold makers, and tool and die designers in the \n tooling and machining industry.\n ``(2) Training expenses.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `training expenses' \n means wages paid or incurred to an employee of the \n taxpayer for services performed in a highly skilled \n metalworking trade while the employee is an apprentice \n in such trade.\n ``(B) Wages.--The term `wages' has the meaning \n given such term by section 3401(a).\n ``(3) Training period.--The term `training period' means \n the period of 4 years beginning on the date that the employee \n begins employment with the taxpayer as an apprentice in a \n highly skilled metalworking trade.\n ``(4) Small employer.--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `small employer' means, \n with respect to any taxable year, any employer who \n employed an average of 500 or fewer employees on \n business days during such taxable year.\n ``(B) Controlled groups.--For purposes of \n subparagraph (A), all persons treated as a single \n employer under subsection (b), (c), (m), or (o) of \n section 414 shall be treated as 1 employer.\n ``(d) Coordination With Other Credits.--Wages taken into account \nunder subsection (a) shall not be taken into account in determining the \ncredits under sections 51(a) and 1396(a).''.\n (b) Credit Made Part of General Business Credit.--Subsection (b) of \nsection 38 of such Code is amended by striking ``plus'' at the end of \nparagraph (11), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (12) and \ninserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the end the following new \nparagraph:\n ``(13) the highly skilled metalworking trades training \n credit determined under section 45D(a).''.\n (c) Denial of Double Benefit.--Section 280C of such Code is amended \nby adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(d) Credit for Training Expenses for Employees in Highly Skilled \nMetalworking Trades.--No deduction shall be allowed for that portion of \nthe expenses otherwise allowable as a deduction for the taxable year \nwhich is equal to the amount of the credit determined for such taxable \nyear under section 45D(a).''.\n (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of \npart IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding \nat the end the following new item:\n\n ``Sec. 45D. Expenses for training \n employees in highly skilled \n metalworking trades.''.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to expenses paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act in taxable years ending after such date.", "summary": "Skilled Workforce Enhancement Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide small employers with an income tax credit for certain long-term training of employees in highly skilled metalworking trades.", "title": "Skilled Workforce Enhancement Act of 1998"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 483, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Vaccine Accessibility for Children \nand Seniors Act of 2005'' or the ``VACS Act of 2005''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:\n (1) Vaccines represent one of the most significant public \n health advances in history. They have saved millions of lives \n and prevented millions of disabilities.\n (2) Vaccines are now available for preventing once common \n childhood diseases, such as polio, chicken pox, and measles, \n and for preventing diseases responsible for high rates of \n sickness and death among adults, including influenza, \n pneumonia, and hepatitis.\n (3) Vaccines reduce future medical costs and prevent the \n need for more expensive drugs. Vaccines not only provide a \n health benefit to the individual receiving the vaccine, they \n benefit others in the community by reducing their chances of \n exposure to a disease.\n (4) The threat of litigation, coupled with the high cost of \n manufacturing a vaccine, has forced many manufacturers to limit \n or cease production of life-saving vaccines.\n (5) In 1967, there were 26 companies in the United States \n making these vital vaccines. A litigation crisis in the 1980's \n drove many companies away from the vaccine business. Today, \n there are only 4 companies that make the vast majority of \n vaccines used in the United States, making the system fragile \n and limiting access to vaccines.\n (6) In October 2004, the Secretary of Health and Human \n Services announced a flu vaccine shortage in the United States. \n The Secretary indicated that the souring of the vaccine \n manufacturing marketplace was due, in part, to ``costly \n liability lawsuits''.\n (7) The Congress intervened in 1986 by creating a no-fault \n compensation system called the National Vaccine Injury \n Compensation Program, which was intended to lower the legal \n risk to vaccine manufacturers, encourage a stable supply of \n vaccine, and ensure that injured patients are rapidly and \n appropriately compensated.\n (8) Under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, \n individuals who believe they have been injured by a vaccine may \n file a claim in the United States Court of Federal Claims. If \n found eligible, they can receive unlimited economic damages for \n medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, and lost earnings, \n as well as pain and suffering damages subject to a $250,000 \n cap. Over 1,800 claims have been paid totaling over \n $1,500,000,000 for vaccine-related injuries and complications \n under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, with \n many awards amounting to more than $1,000,000 each, and some as \n high as $7,500,000.\n (9) Notwithstanding the intent of the National Vaccine \n Injury Compensation Program, vaccine companies still face \n significant and expensive litigation exposure, in part, \n because--\n (A) the National Vaccine Injury Compensation \n Program allows all individuals to ``opt out'' of this \n system and pursue individual and class action lawsuits \n in State and Federal courts;\n (B) trial attorneys continually seek to bypass the \n the Program and elect to go to trial by alleging that a \n particular vaccine is not covered under the Program, or \n that the Program does not apply to certain \n preservatives, components, or ingredients of any such \n vaccine; and\n (C) the Program does not preclude an individual who \n is otherwise ineligible to file a claim under the \n Program (such as family members of injured individuals) \n from pursuing civil litigation.\n (10) To ensure that litigation involving federally approved \n vaccines is based on valid scientific evidence and does not \n undermine the Federal public health policy of creating and \n developing life saving vaccines, it is imperative that any \n litigation involving vaccines, and related preservatives, \n ingredients, and components, that takes place outside of the \n National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program shall take place \n exclusively in the district courts of the United States, where \n all procedures and expert testimony shall be subject to the \n rules and requirements set forth by the United States Supreme \n Court in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. \n 579, 113 S.Ct. 2786 (1993).\n (11) To ensure that injured patients with legitimate claims \n are more rapidly and fairly compensated by the National Vaccine \n Injury Compensation Program in a less adversarial manner so as \n to avoid the need for traditional civil litigation, it is \n imperative that the Secretary of Health and Human Services and \n the Attorney General of the United States, in consultation with \n the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines, jointly study \n and submit a report to the Congress within one year regarding \n their recommendations.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--\n (1) establish reasonable legal reforms that will facilitate \n the manufacture of vital, life-saving vaccines;\n (2) establish certain legal rules and procedures to better \n assure that litigation involving federally approved vaccines is \n based on valid scientific evidence;\n (3) discourage frivolous litigation; and\n (4) ensure that injured patients are rapidly and fairly \n compensated in the appropriate forum.\n\nSEC. 3. FEDERAL COURT REMEDY.\n\n Section 2122 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C 300aa-22) \nis amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:\n ``(a) Federal Cause of Action.--\n ``(1) In general.--There shall exist a Federal cause of \n action for claims arising from a vaccine-related injury or \n death associated with the administration of a vaccine after \n October 1, 1988. The substantive law for decision in any such \n action shall be derived from this section and, unless \n inconsistent with or preempted by Federal law, from the law, \n including choice of law principles, of the State in which such \n vaccine was administered. Except for a proceeding for \n compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation \n Program, the cause of action established by this paragraph \n shall constitute the exclusive cause of action or remedy for \n any vaccine-related injury or death associated with the \n administration of a vaccine after October 1, 1988, including \n any related injury or loss sustained by any person (including \n any relative or other third party).\n ``(2) Jurisdiction.--Except for a proceeding in the United \n States Court of Federal Claims pursuant to section 2112, the \n district courts of the United States shall have original and \n exclusive jurisdiction over all actions for damages arising \n from a vaccine-related injury or death associated with the \n administration of a vaccine after October 1, 1988, including \n any related injury or loss sustained by any person (including \n any relative or other third party). If any civil action subject \n to this section is brought or is pending in a State court, and \n the action is not dismissed by the State court, the action may \n be removed at any time before final judgment by any defendant \n to the district court of the United States for the district and \n division embracing the place where such action is pending. An \n order remanding an action removed pursuant to this subsection \n is an appealable order. Except as provided herein, the removal \n of any such action shall proceed in accordance with sections \n 1446 through 1451 of title 28, United States Code.\n ``(3) State actions.--All State causes of action for \n damages arising from, or equitable relief relating to, a \n vaccine-related injury or death associated with a vaccine \n administered after October 1, 1988, including for any related \n injury or loss sustained by any person (including any relative \n or other third party) are hereby preempted.\n ``(4) Vaccine defined.--For purposes of this section, the \n term `vaccine' includes any preservative, ingredient, or \n component of a vaccine.''.\n\nSEC. 4. SANCTIONS FOR FRIVOLOUS VACCINE LITIGATION; 3-STRIKES RULE FOR \n SUSPENDING ATTORNEYS WHO COMMIT MULTIPLE RULE 11 \n VIOLATIONS.\n\n (a) Mandatory Suspension.--Whenever a district court of the United \nStates in connection with an action for damages arising from a vaccine-\nrelated injury or death associated with a vaccine administered after \nOctober 1, 1988 (in this section referred to as a ``vaccine suit''), \ndetermines that an attorney has violated Rule 11 of the Federal Rules \nof Civil Procedure, the court shall determine the number of times that \nthe attorney has violated that rule in connection with a vaccine suit \nin that district court during that attorney's career. If the court \ndetermines that the number is 3 or more, the district court of the \nUnited States--\n (1) shall suspend that attorney from the practice of law in \n that district court for 1 year; and\n (2) may suspend that attorney from the practice of law in \n that district court for any additional period that the court \n considers appropriate.\n (b) Appeal; Stay.--An attorney has the right to appeal a suspension \nunder subsection (a). While such an appeal is pending, the suspension \nshall be stayed.\n (c) Reinstatement.--To be reinstated to the practice of law in a \ndistrict court of the United States after completion of a suspension \nunder subsection (a), the attorney must first petition the court for \nreinstatement under such procedures and conditions as the court may \nprescribe.\n\nSEC. 5. TRIAL PROCEDURE.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 2123 of the Public Health Service Act (42 \nU.S.C. 300aa-23) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (a)--\n (A) by striking ``three'' and inserting ``four''; \n and\n (B) by inserting ``, including any related injury \n or loss sustained by any person (including any relative \n or other third party),'' after ``the effective date of \n this part'';\n (2) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e) as \n subsections (c), (d), (e) and (f);\n (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:\n ``(b) Causation in Fact.--The first stage of such civil action \nshall be held to determine whether competent and reliable scientific \nevidence demonstrates that the plaintiff's alleged vaccine-related \ninjury or death was caused in fact by the vaccine.'';\n (4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), by striking \n ``The first'' and inserting ``If the trier of fact finds that \n the alleged vaccine-related injury or death was caused in fact \n by the vaccine, a second'';\n (5) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), by striking \n ``second'' and inserting ``third''; and\n (6) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by striking \n ``third'' and inserting ``fourth''.\n (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subparagraph (A) of section 2122(b)(2) \nof the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300aa-22) is amended by \nstriking ``2123(d)(2)'' and inserting ``2123(e)(2)''.\n\nSEC. 6. TRANSITION RULES.\n\n (a) Notice.--If on the date of the enactment of this Act, any State \nlaw claim for damages arising from, or equitable relief relating to, a \nvaccine-related injury or death associated with a vaccine administered \nafter October 1, 1988, including any related injury or loss sustained \nby any person (including any relative or other third party), is pending \nin any State or Federal court prior to the entry of final judgment, the \nplaintiff may, within 30 days of such date of enactment, file a notice \nwith the court in which the claim is pending electing to treat the \nState law claim as a Federal law claim arising under section 2122 of \nthe Public Health Service Act, as amended by section 3, and subject to \nthe amendments made by this Act.\n (b) Failure to File Notice.--If no notice is filed for a claim \ndescribed in subsection (a) within the 30-day period described in such \nsubsection, and the claim is pending in State court, the claim shall be \ndismissed with prejudice.\n (c) Notice Filed.--If a notice is filed for a claim described in \nsubsection (a) within such 30-day period described in such subsection, \nand the claim is pending in State court prior to the entry of final \njudgment, any plaintiff or defendant may remove the action to the \ndistrict court of the United States for the district and division \nembracing the place where such action is pending by filing a notice of \nremoval signed pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil \nProcedure and containing a short and plain statement of the grounds for \nremoval, together with a copy of all process, pleadings, and orders \nserved or previously filed in such action. Promptly after the filing of \nsuch notice of removal, the removing party shall give written notice \nthereof to all other parties and shall file a copy of the notice with \nthe clerk of such State court, which shall effect the removal, and the \nState court shall proceed no further unless the case is remanded. An \norder remanding an action removed pursuant to this subsection is an \nappealable order. Except as provided herein, the removal of any such \naction shall proceed in accordance with sections 1446 through 1451 of \ntitle 28, United States Code. If a case is not properly removed within \n40 days of the date of the enactment of this Act, any claim subject to \nsubsection (a) that remains pending in State court or that is remanded \nto State court shall be promptly dismissed with prejudice.\n\nSEC. 7. STUDY AND REPORT.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:\n (1) The Congress intended the National Vaccine Injury \n Compensation Program to be a flexible, no-fault, less \n adversarial system to handle claims in a quick, easy, and \n generous manner so as to avoid the need the for civil \n litigation, and to avoid the rancor and substantial delays \n often associated with traditional litigation.\n (2) Although the National Vaccine Injury Compensation \n Program maintains it has an excellent record of promptly and \n appropriately compensating valid claims, recent reports of some \n individuals seeking compensation under the Program allege that \n some legitimate claims have taken 5 to 10 years to resolve, the \n process has become more adversarial, the Program has made \n claims harder to prove, and the process has drifted toward \n full-blown litigation and away from Congress' intent as a \n positive alternative to tort litigation.\n (b) Study.--After considering the findings in subsection (a), and \nafter consulting with the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines, \nthe Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General of \nthe United States shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, jointly submit a report to the appropriate \ncommittees of the Congress concerning their recommendations to ensure \nthat injured patients with legitimate claims are rapidly and \nappropriately compensated in a less adversarial manner.", "summary": "Vaccine Accessibility for Children and Seniors Act of 2005 or the VACS Act of 2005 - Establishes an exclusive Federal cause of action for claims arising from a vaccine-related injury or death associated with the administration of a vaccine after October 1, 1988, except for a compensation proceeding under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (the Program). Preempts all State actions for damages arising from such an injury or death.\n\nDefines \"vaccine\" to include any preservative, ingredient, or component of a vaccine.\n\nRequires a district court to suspend an attorney from the practice of law in such court for one year if the attorney has violated the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requiring the attorney to certify the validity of claims filed in connection with a vaccine suit three times during that attorney's career. Allows the court to suspend the attorney for any additional period that the court considers appropriate.\n\nAmends Federal vaccine civil trial procedures to insert a new first stage to determine whether competent and reliable scientific evidence demonstrates that the plaintiff's alleged vaccine-related injury or death was caused in fact by the vaccine.\n\nRequires the dismissal with prejudice or removal to a Federal court of all pending State vaccine cases.\n\nRequires the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to jointly submit a report to Congress concerning recommendations to ensure that injured patients with legitimate claims are rapidly and appropriately compensated through the Program in a less adversarial manner.", "title": "To establish reasonable legal reforms that will facilitate the manufacture of vital, life-saving vaccines, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 84, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Technology for the Classroom Act of \n1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSE.\n\n It is the purpose of this Act to establish a program to develop and \nexpand the use of high quality curriculum-based learning resources \nusing state-of-the-art technologies and techniques which are or can be \ndesigned to increase the achievement levels of students in subject \nareas including mathematics, science, geography, history and language \narts.\n\nSEC. 3. ACHIEVEMENT GRANTS.\n\n (a) Competitive Grants.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants, on a \n competitive basis, to eligible consortia to enable such \n eligible consortia to develop instructional programs or \n technology-based systems for complete courses or units of study \n for a specific subject and grade level, if such programs or \n systems are commercially unavailable in the local area served \n by such eligible consortia.\n (2) Eligible consortium.--For the purpose of this section \n the term ``eligible consortium'' means a consortium consisting \n of--\n (A) State or local educational agencies in \n partnership with businesses; and\n (B) institutions of higher education or other \n public or private nonprofit organizations.\n (b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary \nshall give priority to applications describing programs or systems that \nare developed--\n (1) so that the program or system may be adapted and \n applied nationally; and\n (2) to raise the achievement levels of students, \n particularly disadvantaged students who are not realizing their \n potential.\n (c) Duration and Amount.--Each grant made under this section shall \nbe awarded for a period not to exceed 3 years and in an amount not to \nexceed $3,000,000.\n (d) Matching Requirement.--The Secretary may not make a grant to an \neligible consortium under subsection (a) unless the eligible consortium \nagrees that, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the eligible \nconsortium in carrying out the program or system for which the grant \nwas awarded, the eligible consortium will make available (from private \nsources) non-Federal contributions in an amount not less than 25 \npercent of the Federal funds provided under the grant.\n (e) Application.--\n (1) In general.--Each consortium desiring a grant under \n this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at \n such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information \n as the Secretary may prescribe.\n (2) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to \n paragraph (1) shall include--\n (A) a description of how the program or system \n shall improve the achievement levels of students;\n (B) a description of how teachers associated with \n the program or system will be trained to integrate \n technology into the classroom; and\n (C) an assurance that the program or system shall \n effectively serve a large number or percentage of \n economically disadvantaged students.\n (f) Criteria for Awarding Grants.--In awarding a grant under this \nsection to develop a program or system, the Secretary shall consider \nthe appropriateness and quality of the following elements of the \nprogram or system:\n (1) Identification of specific learning objectives and \n strategies of the proposed course or unit of study, that take \n into consideration the national education standards for various \n disciplines as such standards are developed.\n (2) Incorporation in creative ways of a variety of \n technology-based learning resources such as computer software, \n databases, films, transparencies, video and audio discs, \n telecommunications (including educational radio and \n television), and print materials.\n (3) Design that allows tailoring of the program or system \n to meet individual needs of students, particularly students at \n greatest risk of not reaching their educational potential.\n (4) Flexibility of use by teachers or local schools.\n (5) Methods for updating or revising information and \n material.\n (6) Programs or materials to train and guide teachers.\n (7) Coordination with teacher training programs.\n (8) Explanatory materials for students and parents.\n (9) Field testing and evaluation in terms of stated \n learning objectives.\n (10) Plans for pricing technology-based materials that are \n affordable for public schools and agencies.\n (11) Plans for distribution that ensure access for the \n poorest schools and school districts.\n (12) Demonstration of cost-effectiveness in relation to \n existing programs and to achieving stated learning objectives.\n\nSEC. 4. GRANTS TO STATES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.\n\n (a) Grants Authorized.--\n (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award \n grants to States to enable States to carry out the activities \n described in the plan submitted pursuant to subsection (c).\n (2) Amount of grant.--(A) Except as provided in \n subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall award grants under this \n section to each State having a plan approved under subsection \n (c) in an amount which bears the same relationship to the \n amount reserved to carry out this section under section 9 as \n the amount such State received under chapter 1 of title I of \n the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 bears to the \n amount received under such chapter by all States.\n (B) No State shall receive a grant pursuant to subparagraph \n (A) in an amount which is less than $100,000.\n (b) Use of Grant.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used \nto--\n (1) identify schools or school districts which have a large \n number of educationally disadvantaged students and limited \n access to technology-based learning resources; and\n (2) develop jointly, with local education agencies or \n individual schools, strategies to improve the accessibility and \n use of technology-based learning resources, including specific \n plans for--\n (A) training of teachers and school personnel;\n (B) acquisition of hardware or software, if such \n acquisition presents a major barrier for accessibility \n to participation in the activities assisted under this \n section; and\n (C) partnership arrangements with businesses, \n institutions of higher education, or other public or \n private nonprofit organizations.\n (c) Plan.--\n (1) In general.--Each State desiring a grant under this \n section shall submit to the Secretary a plan at such time, in \n such manner and accompanied by such information as the \n Secretary may reasonably require.\n (2) Contents.--Each plan submitted pursuant to paragraph \n (1) shall--\n (A) describe the activities and services for which \n assistance is sought;\n (B) indicate how such State shall identify schools \n in need of the assistance provided under this section;\n (C) include a strategy for providing such \n assistance; and\n (D) contain assurances that such grant funds shall \n be focused on schools with a large percentage of \n educationally disadvantaged students.\n\nSEC. 5. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.\n\n The Secretary shall coordinate and share information regarding \ncurriculum-based educational technology programs assisted under this \nAct with other Federal agencies which administer programs that support \nthe development of such programs, including the National Science \nFoundation, the Department of Defense, the Office of Technology \nAssessment, the Department of Energy, and the Department of \nAgriculture.\n\nSEC. 6. CONSUMER REPORT.\n\n The Secretary shall collect information about products developed \npursuant to provisions of this Act and the evaluation of such products, \nand shall disseminate such information in regular reports to State and \nlocal educational agencies, and other organizations or individuals as \nthe Secretary determines to be appropriate.\n\nSEC. 7. ROYALTIES.\n\n Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any royalties paid to \nany State or local educational agency as a result of assistance \nprovided under this Act shall be used by such agency for further \ndevelopment of curriculum-based learning resources authorized by this \nAct.\n\nSEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.\n\n As used in this Act--\n (1) the terms ``institution of higher education'' and \n ``local educational agency'' have the same meanings given such \n terms by subsections (a) and (g), respectively, of section 1201 \n of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141); and\n (2) the term ``Secretary'', unless otherwise specified, \n means the Secretary of Education.\n\nSEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS.\n\n For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there are authorized to \nbe appropriated $90,000,000 for the fiscal year 1994 and such sums as \nmay be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years, of which--\n (1) 50 percent of such funds shall be available in each \n such fiscal year to award grants pursuant to section 3; and\n (2) 50 percent of such funds shall be available in each \n such fiscal year to award grants pursuant to section 4.", "summary": "Technology for the Classroom Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to eligible consortia to develop instructional programs and technology-based systems for complete courses or units of study for a specific subject and grade level, if these are commercially unavailable locally. \nRequires that an eligible consortium consist of: (1) State or local educational agencies in partnership with businesses; and (2) institutions of higher education or other public or private nonprofit organizations. Requires priority to be given to applications describing programs that are developed: (1) so that the program may be adapted and applied nationally; and (2) to raise the achievement levels of students, particularly disadvantaged students who are not realizing their potential. \nAuthorizes the Secretary to award grants to: (1) identify schools or school districts which have a large number of educationally disadvantaged students and limited access to technology-based learning resources; and (2) develop jointly, with local educational agencies or individual schools, strategies to improve accessibility and use of technology-based learning resources, including specific plans for teacher and school personnel training, hardware or software acquisition (if this is a major barrier to accessibility), and partnership arrangements with businesses, institutions of higher education, and other public or private nonprofit organizations. Sets forth State plan requirements. \nDirects the Secretary to: (1) coordinate and share information regarding these curriculum-based educational technology programs with other Federal agencies; and (2) collect and disseminate information about such developed products and their evaluation. \nRequires that any royalties paid to any State or local educational agency as a result of assistance provided under this Act be used for further development of curriculum-based learning resources authorized by this Act. \nAuthorizes appropriations.", "title": "Technology for the Classroom Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2039, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Student Athletes from \nConcussions Act of 2010''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Involvement in sports can have tremendous benefits for \n the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of \n students.\n (2) All students have the right to know the risks of \n concussions because concussions, though a mild traumatic brain \n injury, present such a significant risk to not only the \n physical well-being of a developing student, but also the \n academic performance of the student.\n (3) Mild traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, \n represent 80 to 90 percent of all traumatic brain injuries.\n (4) Children and adolescents are more vulnerable to brain \n injury than adults because their brains are still developing.\n (5) Surveys suggest that the prevalence of sport-related \n concussions is much higher than reported and the occurrence of \n concussions is higher at the high school level than at the \n collegiate level. According to recent research, 400,000 \n students sustained a concussion while participating in five \n different sports in a high school athletics program during the \n 2005-2008 school years. Few statistics are available for the 41 \n million children participating in non-scholastic youth sports, \n but schools report that concussions are occurring on the \n playground and during physical education classes.\n (6) A recent study estimated that more than 40 percent of \n high school athletes return to participate in school athletics \n before they have fully recovered from concussions, which \n increases the susceptibility of the student athlete to greater \n injury or death.\n (7) The failure to recognize brain injuries and the \n mismanagement of such injuries increases the vulnerability of a \n student athlete to successive injury, cumulative negative \n health consequences, or chronic impairment.\n (8) Timely recognition and response to concussions aids \n recovery and helps prevent successive injury, chronic \n impairment, or death. Only 42 percent of schools have access to \n an athletic trainer and only 53 percent of schools meet the \n nurse-to-student ratio recommended by the Federal Government.\n (9) Concussion treatment and management is sporadic in \n schools and often neglects the athlete's role as a student.\n (10) Medical care from hospitalization and emergency room \n visits due to a concussion is costly, and treatment is often \n arbitrary.\n (11) Students should gradually return to physical activity \n and academic activities only as the symptoms of a concussion \n permit because research suggests that overexertion from \n physical activity and academic activities exacerbates symptoms \n and protracts recovery time for student athletes.\n (12) Instituting best practices offers a reasonable means \n for protecting student athletes from the risks and consequences \n of concussions.\n\nSEC. 3. MINIMUM STATE REQUIREMENTS.\n\n Beginning with fiscal year 2013, in order to be eligible to receive \nfunds for such year or a subsequent fiscal year under the Elementary \nand Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) each State \neducational agency shall issue regulations establishing the following \nminimum requirements:\n (1) Local educational agency concussion safety and \n management plan.--Each local educational agency in the State, \n in consultation with members of the community in which such \n agency is located, shall develop and implement a standard plan \n for concussion safety and management that includes--\n (A) the education of students, parents, and school \n personnel about concussions, such as--\n (i) the training and certification of \n school personnel, including coaches, athletic \n trainers, and school nurses, on concussion \n safety and management; and\n (ii) using and maintaining standardized \n release forms, treatment plans, observation, \n monitoring and reporting forms, recordkeeping \n forms, and post-injury fact sheets;\n (B) supports for students recovering from a \n concussion, such as--\n (i) guiding such student in resuming \n participation in athletic activity and academic \n activities with the help of a multi-\n disciplinary team, which may include--\n (I) a health care professional, the \n parents of such student, a school \n nurse, or other relevant school \n personnel; and\n (II) an individual who is assigned \n by a public school to oversee and \n manage the recovery of such student;\n (ii) providing appropriate academic \n accommodations; and\n (iii) referring students whose symptoms of \n concussion reemerge or persist upon the \n reintroduction of cognitive and physical \n demands for evaluation of the eligibility of \n such students for services under the Individual \n with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 \n et seq.) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 \n U.S.C. 701 note et seq.); and\n (C) best practices designed to ensure, with respect \n to concussions, the uniformity of safety standards, \n treatment, and management, such as--\n (i) disseminating information on concussion \n management safety and management to the public; \n and\n (ii) applying uniform standards for \n concussion safety and management to all \n students enrolled in public schools.\n (2) Posting of information on concussions.--Each public \n elementary school and each secondary school shall post on \n school grounds, in a manner that is visible to students and \n school personnel, and make publicly available on the school \n website, information on concussions that--\n (A) is based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence \n (such as information made available by the Centers for \n Disease Control and Prevention);\n (B) shall include--\n (i) the risks posed by sustaining a \n concussion;\n (ii) the actions a student should take in \n response to sustaining a concussion, including \n the notification of school personnel; and\n (iii) the signs and symptoms of a \n concussion; and\n (C) may include--\n (i) the definition of a concussion;\n (ii) the means available to the student to \n reduce the incidence or recurrence of a \n concussion; and\n (iii) the effects of a concussion on \n academic learning and performance.\n (3) Response to concussion.--If any school personnel, \n including coaches and athletic trainers, of a public school \n suspects that a student has sustained a concussion during a \n school-sponsored athletic activity--\n (A) the student shall be--\n (i) immediately removed from participation \n in such activity; and\n (ii) prohibited from returning to \n participate in school-sponsored athletic \n activities--\n (I) on the day such student \n sustained a concussion; and\n (II) until such student submits a \n written release from a health care \n professional stating that the student \n is capable of resuming participation in \n school-sponsored athletic activities; \n and\n (B) such personnel shall report to the parent or \n guardian of such student--\n (i) the date, time, and extent of the \n injury suffered by such student; and\n (ii) any actions taken to treat such \n student.\n (4) Return to athletics and academics.--Before a student \n who has sustained a concussion in a school-sponsored athletic \n activity resumes participation in school-sponsored athletic \n activities or academic activities, the school shall receive a \n written release from a health care professional, that--\n (A) states that the student is capable of resuming \n participation in such activities; and\n (B) may require the student to follow a plan \n designed to aid the student in recovering and resuming \n participation in such activities in a manner that--\n (i) is coordinated, as appropriate, with \n periods of cognitive and physical rest while \n symptoms of a concussion persist; and\n (ii) reintroduces cognitive and physical \n demands on such student on a progressive basis \n only as such increases in exertion do not cause \n the reemergence or worsening of symptoms of a \n concussion.\n\nSEC. 4. REPORT TO SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.\n\n Not later than 6 months after promulgating regulations pursuant to \nsection 3 in order to be eligible to receive funds under the Elementary \nand Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), each \nState educational agency shall submit to the Secretary of Education a \nreport that contains--\n (1) a description of the State regulations promulgated \n pursuant to section 3; and\n (2) an assurance that the State has implemented such \n regulations.\n\nSEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.\n\n Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or supersede State \nlaw with respect to education standards or procedures or civil \nliability.\n\nSEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Concussion.--The term ``concussion'' means a type of \n traumatic brain injury that--\n (A) is caused by a blow, jolt, or motion to the \n head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly in \n the skull;\n (B) disrupts normal brain functioning and alters \n the mental state of the individual, causing the \n individual to experience--\n (i) any period of observed or self-reported \n --\n (I) transient confusion, \n disorientation, or impaired \n consciousness;\n (II) dysfunction of memory around \n the time of injury; and\n (III) loss of consciousness lasting \n less than 30 minutes;\n (ii) any one of four types of symptoms of a \n headache, including--\n (I) physical symptoms, such as \n headache, fatigue, or dizziness;\n (II) cognitive symptoms, such as \n memory disturbance or slowed thinking;\n (III) emotional symptoms, such as \n irritability or sadness; and\n (IV) difficulty sleeping; and\n (C) can occur--\n (i) with or without the loss of \n consciousness; and\n (ii) during participation in any organized \n sport or recreational activity.\n (2) Health care professional.--The term ``health care \n professional'' means a physician, nurse, certified athletic \n trainer, physical therapist, neuropsychologist or other \n qualified individual who--\n (A) is a registered, licensed, certified, or \n otherwise statutorily recognized by the State to \n provide medical treatment;\n (B) is experienced in the diagnosis and management \n of traumatic brain injury among a pediatric population; \n and\n (C) may be a volunteer.\n (3) Local educational agency; state educational agency.--\n The terms ``local educational agency'' and ``State educational \n agency'' have the meanings given such terms in section 9101 of \n the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. \n 7801).\n (4) School personnel.--The term ``school personnel'' has \n the meaning given such term in section 4151 of the Elementary \n and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7161).\n (5) School-sponsored athletic activity.--The term ``school-\n sponsored athletic activity'' means--\n (A) any physical education class or program of a \n school;\n (B) any athletic activity authorized during the \n school day on school grounds that is not an \n instructional activity; and\n (C) any extra curricular sports team, club, or \n league organized by a school on or off school grounds.", "summary": "Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act of 2010 - Requires each state educational agency, in order to be eligible to receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 in FY2013 or subsequent fiscal years, to issue regulations establishing the following minimum requirements for the prevention and treatment of concussions.\n\nRequires each local educational agency in the state to develop and implement a standard plan for concussion safety and management that includes: (1) the education of students, parents, and school personnel about concussions; (2) supports for students recovering from a concussion; and (3) best practices designed to ensure the uniformity of safety standards, treatment, and management.\n\nRequires each public elementary and secondary school to post on school grounds and make publicly available on the school website information on concussions, including information on risks, responses, symptoms, and effects.\n\nRequires public school personnel who suspect that a student has sustained a concussion during a school-sponsored activity to: (1) remove the student from the activity and prohibit such student from participating in school athletic activities until the student submits a written release from a health care professional; and (2) report to the student's parent or guardian regarding such injury and the treatment provided.\n\nProhibits a student who has sustained a concussion in a school-sponsored athletic activity from resuming participation in school-sponsored athletic or academic activities until the school receives a written release from a health care professional that: (1) states that the student is capable of resuming participation; and (2) may require the student to follow a plan designed to aid such individual in recovering and resuming participation in a manner that is coordinated with periods of cognitive and physical rest, and that reintroduces cognitive and physical demands on a progressive basis, based on the student's symptoms.", "title": "To promote minimum State requirements for the prevention and treatment of concussions caused by participation in school sports, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1263, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Check the Box for Homeless Veterans \nAct of 2013''.\n\nSEC. 2. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOMELESS VETERANS ASSISTANCE FUND.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue \nCode of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new part:\n\n ``PART IX--CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOMELESS VETERANS ASSISTANCE FUND\n\n``Sec. 6098. Contributions to the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund.\n\n``SEC. 6098. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOMELESS VETERANS ASSISTANCE FUND.\n\n ``(a) In General.--Every individual, with respect to the taxpayer's \nreturn for the taxable year of the tax imposed by chapter 1--\n ``(1) may designate that a specified portion (not less than \n $1) of any overpayment of tax shall be paid over to the \n Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund in accordance with the \n provisions of section 9512, and\n ``(2) in addition to any payment (if any) under paragraph \n (1), may make a contribution to the United States of an \n additional amount which shall be paid over to such Fund.\n ``(b) Manner and Time of Designation and Contribution.--A \ndesignation and contribution under subsection (a) may be made with \nrespect to any taxable year--\n ``(1) at the time of filing the return of the tax imposed \n by chapter 1 for such taxable year, or\n ``(2) at any other time (after such time of filing) \n specified in regulations prescribed by the Secretary.\nSuch designation and contribution shall be made in such manner as the \nSecretary prescribes by regulations except that, if such designation is \nmade at the time of filing the return of the tax imposed by chapter 1 \nfor such taxable year, such designation shall be made either on the \nfirst page of the return or on the page bearing the taxpayer's \nsignature.\n ``(c) Overpayments Treated as Refunded.--For purposes of this \ntitle, any portion of an overpayment of tax designated under subsection \n(a) shall be treated as--\n ``(1) being refunded to the taxpayer as of the last date \n prescribed for filing the return of tax imposed by chapter 1 \n (determined without regard to extensions) or, if later, the \n date the return is filed, and\n ``(2) a contribution made by such taxpayer on such date to \n the United States.''.\n (b) Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund.--Subchapter A of chapter 98 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end \nthe following new section:\n\n``SEC. 9512. HOMELESS VETERANS ASSISTANCE FUND.\n\n ``(a) Creation of Trust Fund.--There is established in the Treasury \nof the United States a trust fund to be known as the `Homeless Veterans \nAssistance Fund', consisting of such amounts as may be appropriated or \ncredited to such fund as provided in this section or section 9602(b).\n ``(b) Transfers to Trust Fund.--There are hereby appropriated to \nthe Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund amounts equivalent to the amounts \ndesignated and contributed under section 6098.\n ``(c) Expenditures.--\n ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), \n amounts in the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund shall be \n available (and shall remain available until expended) to the \n Department of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the \n Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service \n and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, for the \n purpose of providing services to homeless veterans, through--\n ``(A) the development and implementation of new and \n innovative strategies to prevent and end veteran \n homelessness, and\n ``(B) any homeless veteran program administered by \n the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of \n Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service, and \n the Department of Housing and Urban Development.\n ``(2) Additional allocations.--The Secretary of Veterans \n Affairs is authorized to make transfers from the amounts \n described in paragraph (1) to the Department of Labor Veterans' \n Employment and Training Service and the Department of Housing \n and Urban Development for the purpose of supporting programs \n that serve homeless veterans.\n ``(3) Advance notice.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, \n in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor and Secretary of \n Housing and Urban Development, shall submit a detailed \n expenditure plan for any amounts in the Homeless Veterans \n Assistance Fund to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs and \n Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives \n and of the Senate not later than 60 days prior to any \n expenditure of such amounts.\n ``(d) President's Annual Budget Information.--Beginning with the \nPresident's annual budget submission for fiscal year 2014 and every \nyear thereafter, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of \nLabor, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall \ninclude a description of the use of funds from the Homeless Veterans \nAssistance Fund from the previous fiscal year and the proposed use of \nsuch funds for the next fiscal year.''.\n (c) Clerical Amendments.--\n (1) The table of parts for subchapter A of chapter 61 of \n the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the \n end the following new item:\n\n ``PART IX--Contributions to the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund''.\n\n (2) The table of sections for subchapter A of chapter 98 of \n such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new \n item:\n\n``Sec. 9512. Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund.''.\n (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.", "summary": "Check the Box for Homeless Veterans Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish in the Treasury the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund; and (2) allow individual taxpayers to designate on their tax returns a specified portion (not less than $1) of any overpayment of tax, and to make a contribution of an additonal amount, to be paid over to such Fund to provide services to homeless veterans.", "title": "Check the Box for Homeless Veterans Act of 2013"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2183, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Incentives to Educate American \nChildren (I Teach) Act of 2002''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.\n\n (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) An estimated 2,000,000 new teachers will be needed over \n the next decade.\n (2) Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, States must \n recruit qualified teachers by 2006, yet schools in rural areas \n and public schools with high poverty have trouble attracting \n and retaining teachers.\n (3) Fourteen percent of America's school children attend \n rural schools, and according to the Rural School and Community \n Trust 2000 report, ``Why Rural Matters'', rural education is \n crucial or very important to overall education performance in \n 25 States, so recruitment and retention of teachers is \n essential.\n (4) A 2000 study by the Education Trust reports that high \n poverty schools are twice as likely not to have teachers \n certified in their fields than other schools, which highlights \n that high poverty schools will need special help to meet the \n goals of No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.\n (5) The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards \n was founded in 1987, as a follow up to the landmark 1983 \n report, ``A Nation at Risk'', by the Carnegie Task Force on \n Teaching. The National Board for Professional Teaching \n Standards is an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan \n organization the mission of which is to establish high and \n rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know \n and be able to do.\n (6) Over 16,000 teachers from all 50 States and the \n District of Columbia have completed certification by the \n National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, which \n certification is a rigorous assessment process for teachers.\n (7) Recent data from the Accomplished Teaching Validation \n Study have demonstrated that teachers who are certified by the \n National Board for Professional Teaching Standards \n significantly outperform their peers who are not National Board \n certified on 11 of 13 key measures of teaching expertise.\n (8) Teacher salaries have remained stagnant over the past \n decade, according to a study by the National Education \n Association, and \\2/3\\ of the States do not meet the national \n average of $40,582 for teacher salaries.\n (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:\n (1) To encourage teachers, through a refundable tax credit, \n to work in public elementary and secondary schools located in \n rural areas or schools with high poverty.\n (2) To provide an additional tax credit to teachers who \n achieve certification from the National Board for Professional \n Teaching Standards in order to recruit and retain highly \n qualified teachers in public elementary and secondary schools.\n\nSEC. 3. REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT FOR INDIVIDUALS TEACHING IN ELEMENTARY \n AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS LOCATED IN HIGH POVERTY OR RURAL \n AREAS AND CERTIFIED TEACHERS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable credits) \nis amended by redesignating section 35 as section 36 and by inserting \nafter section 34 the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 35. TAX CREDIT FOR INDIVIDUALS TEACHING IN ELEMENTARY AND \n SECONDARY SCHOOLS LOCATED IN HIGH POVERTY OR RURAL AREAS \n AND CERTIFIED TEACHERS.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an eligible teacher, \nthere shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this \nsubtitle for the taxable year an amount equal to the applicable amount \nfor the eligible academic year ending during such taxable year.\n ``(b) Applicable Amount.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Teachers in schools in rural areas or schools with \n high poverty.--\n ``(A) In general.--In the case of an eligible \n teacher who performs services in a public kindergarten \n or a public elementary or secondary school described in \n subparagraph (B) during the eligible academic year, the \n applicable amount is $1,000.\n ``(B) School described.--A public kindergarten or a \n public elementary or secondary school is described in \n this subparagraph if--\n ``(i) at least 75 percent of the students \n attending such kindergarten or school receive \n free or reduced-cost lunches under the school \n lunch program established under the National \n School Lunch Act, or\n ``(ii) such kindergarten or school has a \n School Locale Code of 7 or 8, as determined by \n the Secretary of Education.\n ``(2) Certified teachers.--In the case of an eligible \n teacher who is certified by the National Board for Professional \n Teaching Standards for the eligible academic year, the \n applicable amount is $1,000.\n ``(3) Certified teachers in schools in rural areas or \n schools with high poverty.--In the case of an eligible teacher \n described in paragraphs (1) and (2), the applicable amount is \n $2,000.\n ``(c) Eligible Teacher.--For purposes of this section, the term \n`eligible teacher' means, for any eligible academic year, an individual \nwho is a kindergarten through grade 12 classroom teacher or instructor \nin a public kindergarten or a public elementary or secondary school on \na full-time basis for such eligible academic year.\n ``(d) Additional Definitions.--For purposes of this section--\n ``(1) Elementary and secondary schools.--The terms \n `elementary school' and `secondary school' have the respective \n meanings given such terms by section 9101 of the Elementary and \n Secondary Education Act of 1965.\n ``(2) Eligible academic year.--The term `eligible academic \n year' means any academic year ending in a taxable year \n beginning after December 31, 2002.''.\n (b) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United \n States Code, is amended by inserting before the period ``, or \n from section 35 of such Code''.\n (2) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of \n subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n is amended by striking the item relating to section 35 and \n inserting the following new items:\n\n``Sec. 35. Tax credit for individuals teaching in elementary and \n secondary schools located in high poverty \n or rural areas and certified teachers.\n``Sec. 36. Overpayments of tax.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to academic years ending in taxable years beginning after \nDecember 31, 2002.", "summary": "Incentives to Educate American Children (I Teach) Act of 2002 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a tax credit of $1,000 for: (1) teachers in public elementary or secondary schools or public kindergartens in rural areas or areas with high poverty; and (2) teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Grants a credit of $2,000 for a teacher meeting both criteria.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax incentive to individuals teaching in elementary and secondary schools located in rural or high unemployment areas and to individuals who achieve certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2637, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Medicaid and CHIP Quality \nImprovement Act of 2016''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds the following:\n (1) Despite the fact that Federal and State governments \n spend hundreds of billions of dollars every year on care for \n Americans through the Medicaid and CHIP programs, there is no \n nationwide, systematic method of reporting, collecting, \n evaluating, or improving the quality of care across all payment \n and delivery systems (fee-for-service, managed care, primary \n care case management, or other mechanisms).\n (2) Although the quality of care delivered through Medicaid \n health plans is frequently measured, there is no method or \n mechanism to systematically improve the quality of care \n provided to all Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries.\n (3) For the majority of Medicaid and CHIP enrollees who are \n served by primary care case management or fee-for-service \n arrangements, there are no Federal requirements for comparable \n quality monitoring or improvement. Thus there currently is no \n ability to make fair assessments across all modes of care for \n Medicaid and CHIP enrollees.\n (4) State flexibility and the resulting opportunities for \n innovation are hallmarks of the partnership between Federal and \n State governments in the Medicaid and CHIP programs. Without a \n way to systematically measure quality, however, policymakers \n cannot know which innovations are the most effective.\n\nSEC. 3. MEASURING AND REPORTING ON COMPARABLE HEALTH CARE QUALITY \n MEASURES FOR ALL PERSONS ENROLLED IN MEDICAID.\n\n (a) Quality Assurance Standards.--Section 1932(c)(1)(A) of the \nSocial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396u-2(c)(1)(A)) is amended by \ninserting ``or comparable primary care case management services \nproviders described in section 1905(t) as well as health care services \nfurnished in fee-for-service settings or other delivery systems'' after \n``1903(m)''.\n (b) Adult Health Quality Measures.--Section 1139B of the Social \nSecurity Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-9b) is amended--\n (1) in subsection (b)--\n (A) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as \n paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and\n (B) by inserting after paragraph (3), the \n following:\n ``(4) Quality reporting for medicaid eligible adults.--\n Beginning not later than January 1 of the calendar year that \n begins on or after the date that is 2 years after the date of \n enactment of the Medicaid and CHIP Quality Improvement Act of \n 2016, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall require \n States to use the measures and approaches identified in \n paragraph (3) to report on the initial core set of quality \n measures for Medicaid eligible adults identified in paragraph \n (2), subject to revisions made in accordance with paragraph \n (6)(B). Such reporting shall be stratified by delivery system, \n including managed care organizations under section 1932, \n benchmark plans under section 1937, primary care case \n management services providers described in section 1905(t), \n health care services in fee-for-service settings, and other \n delivery systems, except that the Secretary may determine that \n reporting on certain measures should not be stratified by \n delivery system because such stratification would not be \n feasible or the delivery systems are not comparable with \n respect to the application of such measures. In addition to the \n stratification required under the previous sentence, the \n Secretary shall have the discretion to further stratify \n reporting on certain measures based on factors such as \n eligibility category, income level, or other differentiating \n factors that could have an impact on the comparability of the \n measure.''; and\n (2) in subsection (d)--\n (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``under the \n such plan'' and all that follows through ``subsection \n (a)(5)'' and inserting ``under such plan or waiver, \n including measures described in subsection (b)(2), \n subject to revisions made in accordance with subsection \n (b)(6)(B)'';\n (B) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ``, or \n comparable primary care case management services \n providers described in section 1905(t), as well as \n health care services furnished in fee-for-service \n settings or other delivery systems'' after ``section \n 1937''; and\n (C) in paragraph (2), by inserting before the \n period the following: ``, including analysis of \n comparable quality measures for Medicaid eligible \n adults who receive their health services through \n managed care, primary care case management, and fee-\n for-service settings or other delivery systems''.\n (c) Pediatric Health Care Measures.--\n (1) In general.--Section 1139A of the Social Security Act \n (42 U.S.C. 1320b-9a) is amended--\n (A) in subsection (a)--\n (i) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through \n (8) as paragraphs (6) through (9), \n respectively; and\n (ii) by inserting after paragraph (4), the \n following:\n ``(5) Reporting of pediatric health care measures.--\n Beginning not later than January 1 of the calendar year that \n begins on or after the date that is 2 years after the date of \n enactment of the Medicaid and CHIP Quality Improvement Act of \n 2016, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall require \n States to use the measures and approaches identified in \n paragraph (4) to report on the initial core child health care \n quality measures established under this subsection and as such \n measures subsequently are updated under subsection (b)(5). Such \n reporting shall be stratified by delivery system, including \n managed care organizations under section 1932, benchmark plans \n under sections 1937 and 2103, primary care case management \n services providers described in section 1905(t), health care \n services in fee-for-service settings, and other delivery \n systems, except that the Secretary may determine that reporting \n on certain measures should not be stratified by delivery system \n because such stratification would not be feasible or the \n delivery systems are not comparable with respect to the \n application of such measures. In addition to the stratification \n required under the previous sentence, the Secretary shall have \n the discretion to further stratify reporting on certain \n measures based on factors such as eligibility category, income \n level, or other differentiating factors that could have an \n impact on the comparability of the measure.''; and\n (B) in subsection (c)--\n (i) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking \n ``measures described in subparagraphs (A) and \n (B) of subsection (a)(6)'' and inserting ``the \n core measures described in subsection (a), as \n revised in accordance with subsection (b)(5)'';\n (ii) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting \n before the period the following: ``, or \n comparable primary care case management \n services providers described in section \n 1905(t), as well as healthcare services \n furnished in fee-for-service settings or other \n delivery systems''; and\n (iii) in paragraph (2), by inserting before \n the period the following: ``, including \n analysis of comparable quality measures for \n children eligible for medical assistance under \n title XIX or child health assistance under \n title XXI who receive their health services \n through managed care, primary care case \n management, and fee-for-service settings or \n other delivery systems''.\n (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection \n shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section \n 1139A of the Social Security Act, as added by section 401(a) of \n the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of \n 2009 (Public Law 111-3).\n\nSEC. 4. PERFORMANCE BONUSES FOR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT IN MEDICAID AND \n CHIP QUALITY PERFORMANCE.\n\n Section 1903 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b) is \namended by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(aa) Performance Bonus for Quality Performance Achievement.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a Medicaid \n Quality Performance Bonus fund for awarding performance bonuses \n to States for high attainment and improvement on a core set of \n quality measures related to the goals and purposes of the \n Medicaid program under this title.\n ``(2) Quality performance bonus methodology.--Not later \n than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Medicaid and \n CHIP Quality Improvement Act of 2016, the Secretary shall \n establish a methodology for awarding Medicaid quality \n performance bonuses to States not less than annually in \n accordance with paragraph (3) and subject to the availability \n of appropriations. Medicaid quality performance bonuses shall \n be awarded on the basis of the annual State reports required \n under sections 1139A and 1139B and in accordance with \n regulations promulgated by the Secretary.\n ``(3) Quality performance measurement bonuses.--Medicaid \n quality performance bonuses shall be awarded to the following \n 10 States:\n ``(A) The top 5 States achieving the designation of \n superior quality performing State under criteria \n established by the Secretary.\n ``(B) The 5 States that--\n ``(i) are not among the States described in \n subparagraph (A); and\n ``(ii) demonstrate the greatest relative \n level of annual improvement in quality \n performance under criteria established by the \n Secretary.\n ``(4) Initial appropriation.--\n ``(A) In general.--The total amount of Medicaid \n quality performance bonuses made under this subsection \n for all fiscal years shall be equal to $500,000,000, to \n be available until expended.\n ``(B) Budget authority.--This paragraph constitutes \n budget authority in advance of appropriations Acts and \n represents the obligation of the Secretary to provide \n for the payment of amounts provided under this \n paragraph.\n ``(5) Use of quality performance bonus funds.--\n ``(A) Designation for quality improvement \n activities.--As a condition of receiving a Medicaid \n quality performance bonus under this subsection, a \n State shall agree to designate at least 75 percent of \n the bonus funds paid to the State under this subsection \n for a fiscal year for the development and operation of \n quality-related initiatives that will directly benefit \n providers or managed care entities participating in the \n State plan under this title or under a waiver of such \n plan, including--\n ``(i) pay-for-performance programs;\n ``(ii) collaboration initiatives that have \n been demonstrated to improve performance on \n quality;\n ``(iii) quality improvement initiatives, \n including those aimed at improving care for \n special and hard-to-reach populations, and \n those directed to managed care entities; and\n ``(iv) such other Secretary-approved \n activities and initiatives that a State may \n pursue to encourage quality improvement and \n patient-focused high value care.\n ``(B) State option to establish criteria.--A State \n may establish criteria for the State performance \n program carried out under subparagraph (A) that limits \n the award to a particular provider or entity type, that \n limits application to a specific geographic area, or \n that directs incentive programs for quality-related \n activities for specific populations, including \n individuals eligible under this title and title XVIII \n and hard-to-reach populations.\n ``(C) Remaining bonus funds.--A State may designate \n up to 25 percent of the bonus funds paid to the State \n under this subsection for a fiscal year for activities \n related to the goals and purposes of the State program \n under this title.''.", "summary": "Medicaid and Chip Quality Improvement Act of 2016 This bill amends titles XI (General Provisions) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to expand reporting requirements with respect to the quality of care provided under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Current law requires a state that contracts with a Medicaid managed organization to develop and implement a quality assessment and improvement strategy. The bill extends this requirement to state contracts with providers of comparable primary care case management services and other health care services under Medicaid. With respect to adults eligible for Medicaid and children enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, a state must report annually on quality measures identified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Such reporting shall be stratified by service delivery system. CMS shall establish a Medicaid Quality Performance Bonus fund to award states for high attainment and improvement on a core set of quality measures. A state must designate at least 75% of any bonus funds for the development and operation of quality-related initiatives that will directly benefit providers or managed care entities participating in, or under a waiver of, the state plan for medical assistance. A state may use the remainder of such funds for activities related to the goals and purposes of the state plan.", "title": "Medicaid and CHIP Quality Improvement Act of 2016"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3093, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Middle Class Tax \nRelief Act of 2006''.\n (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as \nfollows:\n\nSec. 1. Short title; table of contents.\n TITLE I--TAX RELIEF FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES\n\nSec. 101. Middle class families tax relief credits.\nSec. 102. Double the child tax credit for middle class families.\nSec. 103. Eliminate the middle class surcharge.\n TITLE II--SURTAX FOR FAMILIES WITH INCOMES OVER $1 MILLION\n\nSec. 201. Surtax for families with incomes over $1 million.\n\n TITLE I--TAX RELIEF FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES\n\nSEC. 101. MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES TAX RELIEF CREDITS.\n\n (a) In General.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 \nof the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to nonrefundable \npersonal credits) is amended by inserting before section 26 the \nfollowing new section:\n\n``SEC. 25E. MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES TAX RELIEF CREDIT.\n\n ``(a) 10 Percent Tax Reduction for the Middle Class.--\n ``(1) In general.--In the case of any natural person, there \n shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this \n chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to 10 percent of \n the amount of such tax.\n ``(2) Income limitation.--The amount allowable as a credit \n under paragraph (1) for any taxable year shall be reduced (but \n not below zero) by an amount which bears the same ratio to the \n amount so allowable (determined without regard to this \n paragraph) as--\n ``(A) the amount (if any) by which the taxpayer's \n adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 ($150,000 in the \n case of a joint return), bears to\n ``(B) $5,000 ($10,000 in the case of a joint \n return).\n ``(b) Zero Tax Bracket for the Poor.--\n ``(1) In general.--In the case of any natural person, there \n shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this \n chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to the excess of--\n ``(A) the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax \n liability for the taxable year and the tax imposed by \n section 55(a) for the taxable year, over\n ``(B) the sum of the credits allowed under this \n part (other than this subsection) for the taxable year.\n ``(2) Income limitation.--The amount allowable as a credit \n under paragraph (1) for any taxable year shall be reduced (but \n not below zero) by an amount which bears the same ratio to the \n amount so allowable (determined without regard to this \n paragraph) as--\n ``(A) the amount (if any) by which the taxpayer's \n adjusted gross income exceeds $12,500 ($25,000 in the \n case of a joint return), bears to\n ``(B) $2,500 ($5,000 in the case of a joint \n return).''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections of subpart A of part \nIV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting \nbefore the item relating to section 26 the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 25E. Middle class families tax relief credits.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n\nSEC. 102. DOUBLE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES.\n\n (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 24 of the Internal \nRevenue Code of 1986 (relating to child tax credit) is amended to read \nas follows:\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--\n ``(1) In general.--There shall be allowed as a credit \n against the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year \n with respect to each qualifying child of the taxpayer an amount \n equal to the sum of--\n ``(A) the basic credit for the taxable year, plus\n ``(B) the additional credit for the taxable year.\n ``(2) Basic credit.--For purposes of this section, the term \n `basic credit' means--\n ``(A) $1,000 in the case of any taxable year \n beginning before January 1, 2011, and\n ``(B) $500 in the case of any other taxable year.\n ``(3) Additional credit.--For purposes of this section, the \n term `additional credit' means--\n ``(A) $1,000 in the case of any taxable year \n beginning before January 1, 2011, and\n ``(B) $500 in the case of any other taxable \n year.''.\n (b) Limitation on Additional Credit Based on Adjusted Gross \nIncome.--Subsection (b) of section 24 of such Code is amended by adding \nat the end the following new paragraphs:\n ``(4) Limitation on additional credit based on adjusted \n gross income.--The amount of the additional credit determined \n under subsection (a)(3) shall be reduced (but not below zero) \n by an amount which bears the same ratio to such amount \n (determined without regard to this paragraph) as--\n ``(A) the amount (if any) by which the taxpayer's \n adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 ($150,000 in the \n case of a joint return), bears to\n ``(B) $5,000 ($10,000 in the case of a joint \n return).''.\n (c) Conforming Amendments.--Paragraph (1) of section 24(b) of such \nCode is amended--\n (1) by striking ``the credit allowable under subsection \n (a)'' and inserting ``the basic credit determined under \n subsection (a)(2)'', and\n (2) by inserting ``on basic credit'' after ``Limitation'' \n in the heading thereof.\n (d) Coordination With EGTRRA Sunset.--Section 901 of the Economic \nGrowth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 shall not apply to the \namendment made by section 201(a) of such Act.\n (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n\nSEC. 103. ELIMINATE THE MIDDLE CLASS SURCHARGE.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 55 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n(relating to alternative minimum tax imposed) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following new subsection:\n ``(f) Exemption for Individuals for Taxable Years Beginning in \n2007.--For any taxable year beginning in 2007, in the case of an \nindividual--\n ``(1) In general.--The tentative minimum tax of the \n taxpayer shall be zero if the adjusted gross income of the \n taxpayer (as determined for purposes of the regular tax) is \n equal to or less than the threshold amount.\n ``(2) Phasein of liability above exemption level.--In the \n case of a taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds the \n threshold amount but does not exceed $112,500 ($225,000 in the \n case of a joint return), the tax imposed by subsection (a) \n shall be the amount which bears the same ratio to such tax \n (determined without regard to this subsection) as--\n ``(A) the excess of--\n ``(i) the adjusted gross income of the \n taxpayer (as determined for purposes of the \n regular tax), over\n ``(ii) the threshold amount, bears to\n ``(B) $12,500 ($25,000 in the case of a joint \n return).\n ``(3) Threshold amount.--For purposes of this paragraph, \n the term `threshold amount' means $100,000 ($200,000 in the \n case of a joint return).\n ``(4) Estates and trusts.--This subsection shall not apply \n to any estate or trust.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply \nto taxable years beginning after December 31, 2005.\n\n TITLE II--SURTAX FOR FAMILIES WITH INCOMES OVER $1 MILLION\n\nSEC. 201. SURTAX FOR FAMILIES WITH INCOMES OVER $1 MILLION.\n\n (a) General Rule.--Section 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 \n(relating to imposition of tax on individuals) is amended by adding at \nthe end the following new subsection:\n ``(j) Surtax for Families With Incomes Over $1,000,000.--\n ``(1) In general.--If the adjusted gross income of a \n taxpayer exceeds $500,000 ($1,000,000, in the case of a joint \n return), the tax imposed by this section (determined without \n regard to this subsection) shall be increased by an amount \n determined in accordance with the following tables:\n ``(A) Joint returns.--In the case of a joint \n return:\n\n``If taxable income is: The tax is:\n Over $1,000,000 but not over \n $1,000,000,000.\n 7% of the excess over \n $1,000,000\n Over $1,000,000,000............\n $69,930,000, plus 10% of the \n excess over \n $1,000,000,000\n ``(B) Other returns.--In the case of any other \n return:\n\n``If taxable income is: The tax is:\n Over $500,000 but not over \n $500,000,000.\n 7% of the excess over $500,000\n Over $500,000,000..............\n $34,965,000, plus 10% of the \n excess over \n $500,000,000\n ``(2) Tax not to apply to estates and trusts.--This \n subsection shall not apply to an estate or trust.\n ``(3) Special rule.--For purposes of section 55, the amount \n of the regular tax shall be determined without regard to this \n subsection.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n (c) Section 15 Not to Apply.--The amendment made by subsection (a) \nshall not be treated as a change in a rate of tax for purposes of \nsection 15 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.", "summary": "Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow individual taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of less than $75,000 ($150,000 for joint returns) a tax credit for 10% of their income tax; (2) eliminate income taxes for individual taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of less than $12,500 ($25,000 for joint returns); (3) double the child tax credit for individual taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of less than $75,000 ($150,000 for joint returns); (4) eliminate the alternative minimum tax in 2007 for certain individual taxpayers; and (5) impose an income tax surtax on individual taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of over $500,000 ($1 million for joint returns).", "title": "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide middle class tax relief, impose a surtax for families with incomes over $1,000,000, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1486, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Wall Street Fair Share Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. TRANSACTION TAX.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 36 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is \namended by inserting after subchapter B the following new subchapter:\n\n ``Subchapter C--Tax on Securities Transactions\n\n``Sec. 4475. Tax on securities transactions.\n\n``SEC. 4475. TAX ON SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS.\n\n ``(a) Imposition of Tax.--There is hereby imposed a tax on each \ncovered transaction with respect to any security.\n ``(b) Rate of Tax.--\n ``(1) Security.--\n ``(A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in \n this subsection, the rate of such tax shall be equal to \n 0.25 percent of the fair market value of the security.\n ``(B) Derivatives.--In the case of a security \n described in subsection (d)(1)(D), the rate of such tax \n shall be equal to 0.25 percent of the fair market value \n of the underlying property with respect to, or the \n notional principal amount of, the derivative financial \n instrument involved in such transaction.\n ``(C) Short-term debt instruments.--In the case of \n a covered transaction with respect to a security \n described in subsection (d)(1)(C) which has a fixed \n maturity date not more than 1 year from the date of \n issue, the rate of such tax shall be equal to 0.02 \n percent of the fair market value of such security.\n ``(2) Hedging transaction.--In the case of any covered \n transaction which is a hedging transaction (within the meaning \n of section 1221(a)(7)), subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph \n (1) shall each be applied by substituting `0.02 percent' for \n `0.25 percent'.\n ``(c) Covered Transaction.--For purposes of this section, the term \n`covered transaction' means--\n ``(1) except as provided in paragraph (2), any purchase \n if--\n ``(A) such purchase occurs on a trading facility \n located in the United States, or\n ``(B) the purchaser or seller is a United States \n person, or\n ``(2) any transaction with respect to a security described \n in subsection (d)(1)(D), if any party with rights under such \n security is a United States person or if such transaction is \n facilitated by a United States person, including a trading \n facility located in the United States or a broker.\n ``(d) Security and Other Definitions.--For purposes of this \nsection--\n ``(1) In general.--The term `security' means--\n ``(A) any share of stock in a corporation,\n ``(B) any partnership or beneficial ownership \n interest in a widely held or publicly traded \n partnership or trust,\n ``(C) any note, bond, debenture, or other evidence \n of indebtedness issued by a nongovernmental entity the \n beneficial ownership of which is traded on an \n established market, or\n ``(D) any evidence of an interest in, or a \n derivative financial instrument in--\n ``(i) any security described in \n subparagraph (A), (B), or (C),\n ``(ii) any specified index, or\n ``(iii) any other note, bond, or debenture \n issued by a nongovernmental entity.\n ``(2) Derivative financial instrument.--The term \n `derivative financial instrument' means any option, forward \n contract, short position, notional principal contract, credit \n default swap, or any similar financial instrument.\n ``(3) Specified index.--The term `specified index' means \n any 1 or more of any combination of--\n ``(A) a fixed rate, price, or amount, or\n ``(B) a variable rate, price, or amount, \n which is based on any current objectively determinable \n information which is not within the control of any of the \n parties to the contract or instrument and is not unique to any \n of the parties' circumstances.\n ``(e) Exceptions to Imposition of Tax.--\n ``(1) Exception for initial issues.--No tax shall be \n imposed under subsection (a) on any covered transaction with \n respect to the initial issuance of any security described in \n subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of subsection (d)(1).\n ``(2) Exception for retirement accounts, etc.--No tax shall \n be imposed under subsection (a) on any covered transaction with \n respect to any security which is held in any plan, account, or \n arrangement described in section 220, 223, 401(a), 403(a), \n 403(b), 408, 408A, 529, or 530 (including assets held in a \n segregated asset account described in section 817 as part of \n any such plan, account, or arrangement).\n ``(3) Exception for certain mutual fund transactions.--No \n tax shall be imposed under subsection (a) on any covered \n transaction--\n ``(A) with respect to the purchase of any interest \n in a regulated investment company (as defined in \n section 851) which issues only stock which is \n redeemable on the demand of the stock holder,\n ``(B) by a regulated investment company (as so \n defined) which is 100 percent owned by 1 or more plans, \n accounts, or arrangements described in paragraph (2), \n and\n ``(C) to the extent such tax is properly allocable \n to any class of shares of a regulated investment \n company (as so defined) which is 100 percent owned by 1 \n or more plans, accounts, or arrangements described in \n paragraph (2).\n ``(f) By Whom Paid.--\n ``(1) In general.--The tax imposed by this section shall be \n paid by--\n ``(A) in the case of a transaction which occurs on \n a trading facility located in the United States, such \n trading facility,\n ``(B) in the case of a transaction not described in \n subparagraph (A) which is executed by a broker, such \n broker,\n ``(C) in the case of a transaction not described in \n subparagraph (A) or (B), with respect to a security \n described in section (d)(1)(D), the party identified by \n the Secretary, or\n ``(D) in any other case, the purchaser with respect \n to the transaction.\n ``(2) Withholding if purchaser is not a united states \n person.--See section 1447 for withholding by seller if \n purchaser is a foreign person.\n ``(g) Administration.--The Secretary shall carry out this section \nin consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the \nCommodity Futures Trading Commission.\n ``(h) Guidance; Regulations.--The Secretary shall--\n ``(1) provide guidance regarding such information reporting \n concerning covered transactions as the Secretary deems \n appropriate, and\n ``(2) prescribe such regulations as are necessary or \n appropriate to prevent avoidance of the purposes of this \n section, including the use of non-United States persons in such \n transactions or the improper allocation of taxes to classes of \n shares described in subsection (e)(3)(C).''.\n (b) Credit for First $100,000 of Stock Transactions Per Year.--\nSubpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is \namended by inserting after section 36A the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 36B. CREDIT FOR SECURITIES TRANSACTION TAXES.\n\n ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of any individual who is a \npurchaser with respect to a covered transaction, there shall be allowed \nas a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for the taxable \nyear an amount equal to the lesser of--\n ``(1) the aggregate amount of tax imposed under section \n 4475 on covered transactions during the taxable year with \n respect to which the taxpayer is the purchaser, or\n ``(2) $250 ($125 in the case of a married individual filing \n a separate return).\n ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, any term used in \nthis section which is also used in section 4475 shall have the same \nmeaning as when used in section 4475.''.\n (c) Withholding.--Subchapter A of chapter 3 of such Code is amended \nby adding at the end the following new section:\n\n``SEC. 1447. WITHHOLDING ON SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS.\n\n ``(a) In General.--In the case of any outbound securities \ntransaction, except as provided in subsection (b), the transferor shall \ndeduct and withhold a tax equal to the tax imposed under section 4475 \nwith respect to such transaction.\n ``(b) Derivatives.--In the case of any outbound securities \ntransaction with respect to a security described in section \n4475(d)(1)(D), the party identified by the Secretary shall so deduct \nand withhold.\n ``(c) Outbound Securities Transaction.--For purposes of this \nsection, the term `outbound securities transaction' means any covered \ntransaction to which section 4475(a) applies if--\n ``(1) such transaction does not occur on a trading facility \n located in the United States, and\n ``(2) the purchaser with respect to such transaction in not \n a United States person.''.\n (d) Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Section 6211(b)(4)(A) of such Code is amended by \n inserting ``36B,'' after ``36A,''.\n (2) Section 1324(b)(2) of title 31, United States Code, is \n amended by inserting ``36B,'' after ``36A,''.\n (e) Clerical Amendments.--\n (1) The table of subchapters for chapter 36 of the Internal \n Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item \n relating to subchapter B the following new item:\n\n``Subchapter C. Tax on securities transactions.''.\n (2) The table of sections for subchapter A of chapter 3 of \n such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new \n item:\n\n``Sec. 1447. Withholding on securities transactions.''.\n (3) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of \n subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting \n after the item relating to section 36A the following new item:\n\n``Sec. 36B. Credit for securities transaction taxes.''.\n (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to transactions occurring after December 31, 2010.", "summary": "Wall Street Fair Share Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on securities trading facilities, brokers, and purchasers for certain securities transactions. Sets such tax at .25% of the fair market value of the security traded. Defines \"security\" to include stock in a corporation, partnership interests, debt instruments, or interests in certain derivative financial instruments. Exempts from such tax an initial issue of securities, transactions in certain retirement, education, and health savings accounts, and transactions in mutual funds. Allows the purchaser of securities a credit against the excise tax for the lesser of the tax incurred or $250 ($500 for married couples filing joint tax returns). Requires withholding of excise tax amounts by the transferor of securities subject to the tax.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a tax on certain securities transactions to fund job creation and deficit reduction, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1601, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Accountability Act of \n2013''.\n\nSEC. 2. SEMIANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON COST OF CERTAIN TRAVEL.\n\n (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 5 of title 38, United \nStates Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:\n``Sec. 518. Semiannual reports to Congress on cost of certain travel\n ``(a) Semiannual Reports.--Not later than June 30, 2014, and not \nlater than 60 days after each 180-day period thereafter, the Secretary \nshall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of \nRepresentatives and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate a \nsemiannual report on covered travel made during the 180-day period \ncovered by the report.\n ``(b) Matters Included.--Each report under subsection (a) shall \ninclude the following:\n ``(1) With respect to each instance of covered travel made \n during the period covered by the report--\n ``(A) the purpose of such travel;\n ``(B) the destination;\n ``(C) the name and title of each employee included \n on such travel;\n ``(D) the duration of such travel;\n ``(E) the total cost to the Department of such \n travel; and\n ``(F) with respect to covered travel described in \n subsection (d)(2), the identity of the person or entity \n that paid or reimbursed for such travel.\n ``(2) The final costs to the Department with respect to all \n covered travel made during the period covered by the report, \n including costs relating to--\n ``(A) transportation, including fares for travel by \n air, rail, bus, ferry, cruise ship, taxi, mass transit, \n or other mode of transportation;\n ``(B) expenses or reimbursements relating to \n operating and maintaining a car, including the costs of \n fuel and mileage;\n ``(C) passport and visa fees;\n ``(D) lodging;\n ``(E) per diem payments;\n ``(F) baggage charges;\n ``(G) computer rental fees;\n ``(H) rental of halls, auditoriums, or other \n spaces;\n ``(I) entertainment;\n ``(J) contractors;\n ``(K) registration fees; and\n ``(L) promotional items.\n ``(c) Duplicative Information.--Each report under subsection (a) \nshall include the information described in subsection (b) regardless of \nwhether such information is also included in a report under section 517 \nof this title.\n ``(d) Covered Travel Defined.--In this section, the term `covered \ntravel' means travel made by an employee of the Department of Veterans \nAffairs, including an employee who is stationed in a foreign country, \non official business to any of the following locations:\n ``(1) If the Department or other element of the Federal \n Government pays for such travel, a location outside of--\n ``(A) the several States;\n ``(B) the District of Columbia;\n ``(C) a territory, commonwealth, or possession of \n the United States;\n ``(D) Indian lands (as defined in section 4(4) of \n the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703(4))); \n or\n ``(E) the territorial waters of the United States.\n ``(2) If any person or entity other than the Federal \n Government pays (or reimburses) for such travel, any location, \n regardless of whether the location is inside or outside of the \n United States.''.\n (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of \nsuch chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section \n517 the following new item:\n\n``518. Semiannual reports to Congress on cost of certain travel.''.\n\nSEC. 3. REPORT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE AT MEDICAL FACILITIES OF \n DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.\n\n (a) In General.--Section 7311 of title 38, United States Code, is \namended by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(f)(1) The Secretary shall report to the appropriate entity each \ncase of a notifiable infectious disease or condition that is diagnosed \nat a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs in \naccordance with the laws of the State in which the facility is located.\n ``(2) In addition to reporting each case of a notifiable infectious \ndisease or condition at a medical facility of the Department pursuant \nto paragraph (1), the Secretary shall report each such case that is \nclassified as a health-care-associated infection sentinel event to the \naccrediting organization of such facility.\n ``(3)(A) If the Secretary fails to report a case of a notifiable \ninfectious disease or condition at a medical facility of the Department \nin accordance with State law pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary \nshall--\n ``(i) take any remedial action required under the laws of \n the State to correct such failure; and\n ``(ii) if the Secretary does not correct such failure \n pursuant to clause (i), pay to the State an amount equal to the \n amount that a medical facility not owned by the Federal \n Government that is located in the same State would pay as a \n penalty to such State for such failure.\n ``(B) The State may file a civil action against the Secretary in \nthe United States district court for the district in which the medical \nfacility is located to recover from the United States the amount \ndescribed in subparagraph (A)(ii).\n ``(C) A civil action under subparagraph (B) may not be commenced \nlater than two years after the cause of action accrues.\n ``(4)(A) In any case in which the Inspector General of the \nDepartment suspects that a director of a Veterans Integrated Service \nNetwork has failed to comply with an applicable provision of this \nsubsection, the Inspector General shall conduct an investigation to \ndetermine whether such director failed to comply with an applicable \nprovision of this section.\n ``(B) If the Inspector General determines under subparagraph (A) \nthat a director has failed to comply with a provision of this \nsubsection, the Secretary shall suspend such director for such period \nas the Secretary considers appropriate under subchapter I or subchapter \nII of chapter 75 of title 5, as the case may be. In addition to such \nsuspension, the Secretary may impose such other administrative \ndisciplinary action on the director as the Secretary considers \nappropriate and for which the Secretary is otherwise authorized.\n ``(5) The Secretary shall--\n ``(A) maintain records of each notifiable infectious \n disease or condition reported pursuant to paragraph (1); and\n ``(B) submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the \n House of Representatives and the Senate a notification of each \n such notifiable infectious disease or condition.\n ``(6) In this subsection, the term `notifiable infectious disease \nor condition' means any infectious disease or condition that is--\n ``(A) on the list of nationally notifiable diseases or \n conditions published by the Council of State and Territorial \n Epidemiologists and the Centers for Disease Control and \n Prevention; or\n ``(B) covered by a provision of law of a State that \n requires the reporting of infectious diseases or conditions.''.\n (b) Effective Date.--The reporting requirement under section \n7311(f) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), \nshall apply with respect to a case of a notifiable infectious disease \nor condition diagnosed at a medical facility of the Department of \nVeterans Affairs on or after the date that is 60 days after the date of \nthe enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 4. PROHIBITION OF VISUAL RECORDING WITHOUT INFORMED CONSENT.\n\n Section 7331 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``The Secretary, upon'' and inserting ``(a) \n In General.--The Secretary, upon''; and\n (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:\n ``(b) Visual Recording.--(1) The Secretary shall prescribe \nregulations establishing procedures to ensure that, except as provided \nby paragraph (2), any visual recording made by the Secretary of a \npatient during the course of furnishing care under this title is \ncarried out only with the full and informed consent of the patient or, \nin appropriate cases, a representative thereof.\n ``(2) The Secretary may waive the requirement for informed consent \nunder paragraph (1) with respect to the visual recording of a patient \nif such recording is made--\n ``(A) pursuant to a determination by a physician or \n psychologist that such recording is medically necessary or \n necessary for the safety of the patient;\n ``(B) pursuant to a warrant or order of a court of \n competent jurisdiction; or\n ``(C) in a public setting where a person would not have a \n reasonable expectation to privacy, such as a waiting room or \n hallway, and such recording is for general security purposes \n not particularized to the patient.\n ``(3) In this subsection, the term `visual recording' means the \nrecording or transmission of images or video, but does not include--\n ``(A) medical imaging, including such imaging produced by \n radiographic procedures, nuclear medicine, endoscopy, \n ultrasound, or other similar procedures; or\n ``(B) images, video, and other clinical information \n transmitted for the purposes of providing treatment through \n telehealth and telemedicine technologies.''.\n Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to amend title 38, \n United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs \n to submit to Congress semiannual reports on the cost of certain \n travel made by employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, \n and for other purposes.''.", "summary": "Veterans Accountability Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report semiannually to the congressional veterans committees on covered travel made by VA employees while on official business. Defines covered travel as travel: (1) outside the United States or its territories, possessions, or territorial waters, if paid for by the VA or another element of the government; or (2) to any location, if paid for by any person or entity other than the government. Requires each report to include the name of each employee and the destination, purpose, duration, total cost, and identity of a payor other than the government. Directs the Secretary to report each case of reportable infectious disease or condition (a disease or condition that a state requires to be reported) that occurs at a VA medical facility to the appropriate state entity and to report to the accrediting organization of such facility each case classified as a health-care-associated infection sentinel event. Requires the Secretary, upon a failure to report, to pay to a state the same penalty that a non-federal facility of such state would pay for a failure to report. Allows a state to file a civil action against the VA for the recovery of such amount. Requires the VA Inspector General to investigate and suspend and impose other appropriate administrative disciplinary action against a director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network who has failed to comply with such requirement. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations to ensure that any visual recording made by the Secretary of a patient during the course of furnishing care through the VA is carried out only with the full and informed consent of that patient. Allows the Secretary to waive such requirement if the recording is made: (1) upon a determination by a physician or psychologist that the recording is medically necessary or necessary for the patient's safety, (2) pursuant to a warrant or order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or (3) in a public setting where a person would not have a reasonable expectation to privacy (such as a waiting room or hallway) and the recording is for general security purposes not particularized to the patient.", "title": "Veterans Accountability Act of 2013"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1616, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Price Stability Act of 2008''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.\n\n (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:\n (1) Price stability is a prerequisite for sustainable long-\n term economic growth, job creation, and moderate interest \n rates.\n (2) Inflation erodes the value of Americans' income and \n savings.\n (3) Inflation distorts the pricing system and the efficient \n allocation of resources in the economy.\n (4) Inflation makes long-term planning difficult and raises \n the effective tax rate on capital, thereby impeding investment.\n (5) Through its determination of monetary policy, the Board \n of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is ultimately \n responsible for controlling the long-run rate of inflation in \n the economy.\n (6) The multiple policy goals of the Full Employment and \n Balanced Growth Act of 1978 cause confusion and ambiguity about \n the appropriate role and aims of monetary policy, which can add \n to volatility in economic activity and financial markets.\n (7) There is a need for the Congress to clarify the proper \n role of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in \n economic policymaking, in order to achieve the best environment \n for long-term economic growth and job creation.\n (8) An explicit price stability goal would promote \n transparency, accountability and credibility in monetary \n policy.\n (9) Price stability should be the primary long-term goal of \n the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.\n (b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States \nthat--\n (1) the principal economic responsibilities of the \n Government are to establish and ensure an environment that is \n conducive to both long-term economic growth and increases in \n living standards, by establishing and maintaining free markets, \n low taxes, respect for private property, and the stable, long-\n term purchasing power of the United States currency; and\n (2) the primary long-term goal of the Board of Governors of \n the Federal Reserve System should be to promote price \n stability.\n\nSEC. 3. MONETARY POLICY.\n\n (a) Amendment to the Federal Reserve Act.--Section 2A of the \nFederal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 225a) is amended to read as follows:\n\n``SEC. 2A. MONETARY POLICY.\n\n ``(a) Price Stability.--The Board and the Federal Open Market \nCommittee (hereafter in this section referred to as the `Committee') \nshall--\n ``(1) establish an explicit numerical definition of the \n term `price stability'; and\n ``(2) maintain a monetary policy that effectively promotes \n long-term price stability.\n ``(b) Market Stability and Liquidity.--Subsection (a) shall not be \nconstrued as a limitation on the authority or responsibility of the \nBoard--\n ``(1) to provide liquidity to markets in the event of a \n disruption that threatens the smooth functioning and stability \n of the financial sector; or\n ``(2) to serve as a lender of last resort under this Act \n when the Board determines such action is necessary.\n ``(c) Congressional Consultation.--Not later than February 20 and \nJuly 20 of each year, the Board shall consult with the Congress at \nsemiannual hearings before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban \nAffairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the \nHouse of Representatives, about the objectives and plans of the Board \nand the Committee with respect to achieving and maintaining price \nstability.\n ``(d) Congressional Oversight.--The Board shall, concurrent with \neach semiannual hearing required by subsection (c), submit a written \nreport to the Congress containing--\n ``(1) numerical measures to help assess the extent to which \n the Board and the Committee are achieving and maintaining price \n stability in accordance with subsection (a);\n ``(2) a description of the intermediate variables used by \n the Board to gauge the prospects for achieving the objective of \n price stability; and\n ``(3) the definition, or any modifications thereto, of the \n term `price stability' established in accordance with \n subsection (a)(1).''.\n (b) Compliance Estimate.--Concurrent with the first semiannual \nhearing required by section 2A(b) of the Federal Reserve Act (as \namended by subsection (a) of this section) following the date of \nenactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve \nSystem shall submit to the Congress a written estimate of the length of \ntime it will take for the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee \nto fully achieve price stability. The Board and the Committee shall \ntake into account any potential short-term effects on employment and \noutput in complying with the goal of price stability.\n\nSEC. 4. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISIONS.\n\n (a) Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978.--The Full \nEmployment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978 (15 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) is \nhereby repealed.\n (b) Employment Act of 1946.--The Employment Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. \n1021 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) in section 3 (15 U.S.C. 1022)--\n (A) in the section heading, by striking ``and \n short-term economic goals and policies'';\n (B) by striking ``(a)''; and\n (C) by striking ``in accord with section 11(c) of \n this Act'' and all that follows through the end of the \n section and inserting ``in accordance with section \n 5(c).'';\n (2) in section 9(b) (15 U.S.C. 1022f(b)), by striking ``, \n the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978,'';\n (3) in section 10 (15 U.S.C. 1023)--\n (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``in the light \n of the policy declared in section 2'';\n (B) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``section 9'' \n and inserting ``section 3''; and\n (C) in the matter immediately following paragraph \n (2) of subsection (e), by striking ``and the Full \n Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978'';\n (4) by striking section 2;\n (5) by striking sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; and\n (6) by redesignating sections 3, 9, 10, and 11 as sections \n 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.\n (c) Congressional Budget Act of 1974.--Title III of the \nCongressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended--\n (1) in section 301--\n (A) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (1) \n and redesignating paragraphs (2) through (9) as \n paragraphs (1) through (8), respectively;\n (B) in subsection (d), in the second sentence, by \n striking ``the fiscal policy'' and all that follows \n through the end of the sentence and inserting ``fiscal \n policy.'';\n (C) in subsection (e)(1), in the second sentence, \n by striking ``as to short-term and medium-term goals''; \n and\n (D) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the \n following:\n ``(f) Repealed''; and\n (2) in section 305--\n (A) in subsection (a)(3), by inserting before the \n period at the end ``, as described in section 2 of the \n Price Stability Act of 2008'';\n (B) in subsection (a)(4)--\n (i) by striking ``House sets forth the \n economic goals'' and all that follows through \n ``designed to achieve,'' and inserting ``House \n of Representatives sets forth the economic \n goals and policies, as described in section 2 \n of the Price Stability Act of 2008,''; and\n (ii) by striking ``such goals,'' and all \n that follows through the end of the paragraph \n and inserting ``such goals and policies.'';\n (C) in subsection (b)(3), by inserting before the \n period at the end ``, as described in section 2 of the \n Price Stability Act of 2008''; and\n (D) in subsection (b)(4)--\n (i) by striking ``goals (as'' and all that \n follows through ``designed to achieve,'' and \n inserting ``goals and policies, as described in \n section 2 of the Price Stability Act of \n 2008,''; and\n (ii) by striking ``such goals,'' and all \n that follows through the end of the paragraph \n and inserting ``such goals and policies.''.", "summary": "Price Stability Act of 2008 - Declares it is US policy that the principal economic responsibilities of the Government are to establish both long-term economic growth and increases in living standards, maintain free markets, low taxes, respect for private property, and the stable, long-term purchasing power of US currency.\n\nDeclares that the promotion of price stability should be the primary long-term goal of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.\n\nAmends the Federal Reserve Act to revise the mandate of the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee to require them to: (1) establish a numerical definition of the term \"price stability\"; and (2) maintain a monetary policy that promotes long-term price stability.\n\nRequires the Board to consult with, and report to, Congress semi-annually about Board and Committee objectives and plans to achieve and maintain price stability.\n\nRepeals the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978.", "title": "To require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to focus on price stability in establishing monetary policy to ensure the stable, long-term purchasing power of the currency, to repeal the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978, and for other purposes."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2526, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Telephone Call Privacy Act of \n1999''.\n\nSEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO USE AND DISCLOSURE OF \n CUSTOMER PROPRIETARY NETWORK INFORMATION.\n\n (a) Modification of Requirements.--\n (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 222(c) of the \n Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 222(c)) is amended to \n read as follows:\n ``(1) Privacy requirements for telecommunications \n carriers.--\n ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in \n subparagraph (B) or as required by law, a \n telecommunications carrier that receives or obtains \n customer proprietary network information by virtue of \n its provision of a telecommunications service may use, \n disclose, or permit access to customer proprietary \n network information that identifies a customer as \n follows:\n ``(i) In the provision of--\n ``(I) the telecommunications \n service from which such information is \n derived; and\n ``(II) services necessary to, or \n used in, the provision of such \n telecommunications service, including \n the publishing of directories.\n ``(ii) In the case of the use of such \n information by the telecommunications carrier \n for the provision of another of its products or \n services to the customer, only if the \n telecommunications carrier--\n ``(I) provides the customer a clear \n and conspicuous notice meeting the \n requirements set forth in subparagraph \n (C);\n ``(II) permits the customer to \n review such information for accuracy, \n and to correct and supplement such \n information; and\n ``(III) does not receive from the \n customer within 15 days after the date \n of the notice under subclause (I) \n notice disapproving the use of such \n information for the provision of such \n product or service to the customer as \n specified in the notice under such \n subclause.\n ``(iii) In the case of the use, disclosure, \n or access of or to such information by another \n party, only if the telecommunications carrier \n that originally receives or obtains such \n information--\n ``(I) meets the requirements set \n forth in subclauses (I) and (II) of \n clause (ii) with respect to such \n information; and\n ``(II) receives from the customer \n written notice approving the use, \n disclosure, or access of or to such \n information for the provision of the \n product or service to the customer as \n specified in the notice under subclause \n (I) of this clause.\n ``(B) Customer disapproval.--Notwithstanding the \n previous approval of the use, disclosure, or access of \n or to information for a purpose under clause (ii) or \n (iii) of subparagraph (A), upon receipt from a customer \n of written notice of the customer's disapproval of the \n use, disclosure, or access of or to information for \n such purpose, a telecommunications carrier shall \n terminate the use, disclosure, or access of or to such \n information for such purpose.\n ``(C) Notice elements.--Each notice under clause \n (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall include the \n following:\n ``(i) The types information that may be \n used, disclosed, or accessed.\n ``(ii) The specific types of businesses or \n individuals that may use or access the \n information or to which the information may be \n disclosed.\n ``(iii) The specific product or service for \n which the information may be used, disclosed, \n or accessed.''.\n (2) Conforming amendments.--Paragraph (3) of such section \n is amended by striking ``paragraph (1)'' both places it appears \n and inserting ``paragraph (1)(A)(i)''.\n (b) Judicial and Law Enforcement Purposes.--Such section is further \namended by adding at the end the following:\n ``(4) Judicial and law enforcement purposes.--\n ``(A) In general.--A person that receives or \n obtains consumer proprietary network information may \n disclose such information--\n ``(i) pursuant to the standards and \n procedures established in the Federal Rules of \n Civil Procedure or comparable rules of other \n courts or administrative agencies, in \n connection with litigation or proceedings to \n which an individual who is the subject of the \n information is a party and in which the \n individual has placed the use, disclosure, or \n access to such information at issue;\n ``(ii) to a court, and to others ordered by \n the court, if in response to a court order \n issued in accordance with subparagraph (B); or\n ``(iii) to an investigative or law \n enforcement officer pursuant to a warrant \n issued under the Federal Rules of Criminal \n Procedure, an equivalent State warrant, or a \n grand jury subpoena, or a court order issued in \n accordance with subparagraph (B).\n ``(B) Requirements for court orders.--\n ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in \n clause (ii), a court order for the disclosure \n of customer proprietary network information \n under subparagraph (A) may be issued by a court \n of competent jurisdiction only upon written \n application, upon oath or equivalent \n affirmation, by an investigative or law \n enforcement officer demonstrating that there is \n probable cause to believe that--\n ``(I) the information sought is \n relevant and material to an ongoing \n criminal investigation; and\n ``(II) the law enforcement need for \n the information outweighs the privacy \n interest of the individual to whom the \n information pertains.\n ``(ii) Certain orders.--A court order may \n not be issued under this paragraph upon \n application of an officer of a State or local \n government if prohibited by the law of the \n State concerned.''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take \neffect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.", "summary": "Outlines provisions authorizing a person that receives or obtains customer proprietary information to disclose such information to criminal law enforcement and judicial personnel for criminal law enforcement and related judicial proceedings. Provides requirements for court orders for investigative or law enforcement officers to obtain such information, including that: (1) the information sought is relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation; and (2) the law enforcement need for such information outweighs the privacy interest of the individual involved.", "title": "Telephone Call Privacy Act of 1999"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2949, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``HELP Commission Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. PURPOSE.\n\n The Congress finds that, despite the long-standing efforts and \nresources of the United States dedicated to helping needy people around \nthe world, despair remains and in many areas is growing. Therefore, a \ncommission should be established to bring together the best minds \nassociated with development and humanitarian assistance to make a \ncomprehensive review of--\n (1) policy decisions, including why certain development \n projects are funded and others are not;\n (2) delivery obstacles, including the roles of United \n States agencies and other governmental and nongovernmental \n organizations;\n (3) methodology, including whether the delivery of United \n States development assistance always represents best practices \n and whether it can be improved; and\n (4) results, including measuring improvements in human \n capacity instead of in purely economic terms.\nAn examination of these issues should present new approaches and ideas \nto ensure that United States development assistance reaches its \nintended recipients.\n\nSEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Establishment.--There is established the Helping Enhance the \nLivelihood of People (HELP) Around the Globe Commission (in this Act \nreferred to as the ``Commission'').\n (b) Functions.--The Commission shall--\n (1) identify the past and present objectives of United \n States development assistance, identify cases in which those \n objectives have been met, identify the beneficiaries of such \n assistance, and what percentage of the funds provided actually \n reached the intended beneficiaries;\n (2) identify cases in which United States development \n assistance has been most successful, and analyze why such \n successes have not been transferable to other countries or \n areas;\n (3) study ways to expand educational opportunities and \n investments in people, and assess infrastructure needs;\n (4) because of the difficulty in measuring results in \n lesser developed countries, study whether additional resources \n should be dedicated in order to bring about tangible results;\n (5) analyze how the United States could place conditions on \n governments in countries receiving United States development \n assistance, in light of and notwithstanding the objectives of \n the Millennium Challenge Account;\n (6) analyze ways in which the United States can coordinate \n its development assistance programs with those of other donor \n countries and international organizations;\n (7) analyze ways in which the safety of development \n assistance workers can be ensured, particularly in the midst of \n conflicts;\n (8) compare the effectiveness of increased and open trade \n with development assistance, and analyze the advantages and \n disadvantages of such trade and whether such trade could be a \n more effective alternative to United States development \n assistance;\n (9) analyze ways in which the United States can strengthen \n the capacity of indigenous nongovernmental organizations to be \n more effective in grassroots development;\n (10) analyze how political pressures affect the \n decisionmaking process on providing development assistance;\n (11) analyze ways in which decisions on providing \n development assistance can involve more of the people of the \n recipient countries;\n (12) analyze ways in which results can be measured if \n United States development assistance is targeted to the least \n developed countries;\n (13) recommend standards that should be set for \n ``graduating'' recipient countries from United States \n development assistance;\n (14) analyze whether United States development assistance \n should be used as a means to achieve United States foreign \n policy objectives;\n (15) analyze how the United States can evaluate the \n performance of its development assistance programs not only \n against economic indicators, but in other ways, including how \n to measure the success of United States development assistance \n in democratization efforts; and\n (16) study any other areas that the Commission considers \n necessary relating to United States development assistance.\n\nSEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.\n\n (a) Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 21 members as \nfollows:\n (1) Six members shall be appointed by the President, of \n whom at least two shall be representatives of nongovernmental \n organizations.\n (2) Four members shall be appointed by the majority leader \n of the Senate, and three members shall be appointed by the \n minority leader of the Senate.\n (3) Four members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the \n House of Representatives, and three members shall be appointed \n by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.\n (4) The Administrator of the United States Agency for \n International Development shall serve as a member of the \n Commission, ex officio.\nMembers under paragraphs (1) through (3) shall be appointed for the \nlife of the Commission.\n (b) Selection.--Members of the Commission shall be selected from \namong individuals noted for their knowledge and experience in foreign \nassistance, particularly development and humanitarian assistance.\n (c) Time of Appointment.--The appointments under subsection (a) \nshall be made not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of \nthis Act.\n (d) Chair.--The President shall designate one of the members of the \nCommission from private life as the Chair of the Commission.\n (e) Regional Subcommittees.--In order to facilitate the workload of \nthe Commission, the Commission shall divide the membership of the \nCommission into three subcommittees representing the different regions \nof the world to which the United States provides development \nassistance, the membership of each subcommittee to be proportional to \nthe percentage of United States development assistance provided to the \nregion represented by the subcommittee. Each subcommittee shall elect \none of its members as Chair of the subcommittee.\n (f) Quorum and Meetings.--\n (1) Commission.--Eleven members of the Commission shall \n constitute a quorum for purposes of transacting the business of \n the Commission. The Commission shall meet at the call of the \n Chair.\n (2) Subcommittees.--A majority of the members of each \n regional subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of \n transacting the business of the subcommittee. Each subcommittee \n shall meet at the call of the Chair of the subcommittee.\n (g) Vacancies.--Any vacancy of the Commission shall not affect its \npowers, but shall be filled in the manner in which the original \nappointment was made.\n (h) Administrative Support.--The Administrator of General Services \nshall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis (or, in the \ndiscretion of the Administrator, on a nonreimbursable basis) such \nadministrative support services as the Commission may request to carry \nout this Act.\n (i) Compensation.--\n (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), members of the \n Commission shall serve without pay.\n (2) Prohibition on additional compensation of federal \n employees.--Members of the Commission who are full-time \n officers or employees of the United States or Members of \n Congress may not receive additional pay, allowances, or \n benefits by reason of their service on the Commission.\n (j) Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission shall be allowed \ntravel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates \nauthorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 \nof title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular \nplaces of business in the performance of services for the Commission.\n (k) Staff.--\n (1) In general.--The Chairman of the Commission may, \n without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, \n appoint and terminate an executive director and such other \n additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the \n Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an \n executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the \n Commission.\n (2) Compensation.--To the extent or in the amounts provided \n in advance in appropriations Acts--\n (A) the executive director shall be compensated at \n the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule \n under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code; and\n (B) the Chairman of the Commission may fix the \n compensation of other personnel without regard to the \n provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter \n 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to \n classification of positions and General Schedule pay \n rates, except that the rate of pay for such personnel \n may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the \n Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.\n\nSEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.\n\n (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of \ncarrying out its functions under this Act, hold hearings, sit and act \nat times and places in the United States and in countries which receive \nUnited States development assistance, take testimony, and receive \nevidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out the \npurposes of this Act.\n (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure \ndirectly from any Federal department or agency such information as the \nCommission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. \nUpon request of the Chair of the Commission, the head of such \ndepartment or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission, \nsubject to applicable law.\n (c) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States \nmails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other \ndepartments and agencies of the Federal Government.\n (d) Administrative Procedures.--The Commission may adopt such rules \nand regulations, relating to administrative procedure, as may be \nreasonably necessary to enable it to carry out the provisions of this \nAct.\n (e) Travel.--\n (1) In general.--The Members of the Commission may, with \n the approval of the Commission, conduct such travel as is \n necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Each trip must \n be approved by a majority of the Commission.\n (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of the Congress \n that members of the Commission should, in order to carry out \n the functions of the Commission most effectively, travel to \n countries that receive United States development assistance. \n The Commission is encouraged to invite Members of Congress to \n accompany members of the Commission on such travel.\n (f) Staff and Services of Other Federal Agencies.--Upon the request \nof the Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may \ndetail, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, any of the \npersonnel of that department or agency to the Commission to assist it \nin carrying out its functions under this Act. The detail of any such \npersonnel shall be without interruption or loss of civil service or \nForeign Service status or privilege.\n\nSEC. 6. REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.\n\n (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the members of the \nCommission are appointed under section 4(a), the Commission shall \nsubmit a report to the President, the Secretary of State, and the \nCongress setting forth its findings and recommendations under section \n3(b).\n (b) Classified Form of Report.--The report may be submitted in \nclassified form, together with a public summary of recommendations, if \nthe classification of information would further the purposes of this \nAct.\n (c) Individual or Dissenting Views.--Each member of the Commission \nmay include the individual or dissenting views of the member.\n\nSEC. 7. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS.\n\n The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply \nto the Commission.\n\nSEC. 8. DEFINITION.\n\n In this Act, the term ``United States development assistance'' \nmeans--\n (1) assistance provided by the United States under chapters \n 1, 10, 11, and 12 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of \n 1961; and\n (2) assistance provided under any other provision of law to \n carry out purposes comparable to those set forth in the \n provisions referred to in paragraph (1).\n\nSEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.\n\n (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the \nCommission such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.\n (b) Availability of Funds.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated \nunder subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until expended, \nbut not later than the date of termination of the Commission.\n\nSEC. 10. TERMINATION.\n\n The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the submission of its \nreport under section 6.", "summary": "HELP Commission Act - Establishes the Helping Enhance the Livelihood of People (HELP) Around the Globe Commission to: (1) identify objectives and beneficiaries of U.S. development assistance; (2) evaluate cases in which assistance has been successful; (3) study ways of expanding educational opportunities and investments in people, coordinating U.S. assistance programs with those of other countries and international organizations, ensuring the safety of development assistance workers, strengthening indigenous nongovernmental organizations in grassroots development, placing conditions on governments receiving assistance, and measuring results of targeting U.S. assistance to the least developed countries; (4) assess infrastructure needs; (5) study whether additional resources are needed for tangible results; (6) compare the effectiveness of increased and open trade with development assistance; (7) analyze how political pressures affect the assistance decision making process and how assistance decisions can involve more people of the recipient countries; (8) recommend standards for graduating recipient countries from U.S. assistance; (9) analyze whether assistance should be used to achieve foreign policy objectives; and (10) analyze how to evaluate the performance of the U.S. assistance programs, including in democratization efforts.", "title": "To establish a commission to improve United States development assistance and food aid around the globe."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1457, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom From Government Competition \nAct of 1997''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress finds and declares that--\n (1) private sector business concerns, which are free to \n respond to the private or public demands of the marketplace, \n constitute the strength of the American economic system;\n (2) competitive private sector enterprises are the most \n productive, efficient, and effective sources of goods and \n services;\n (3) government competition with the private sector of the \n economy is detrimental to all businesses and the American \n economic system;\n (4) government competition with the private sector of the \n economy is at an unacceptably high level, both in scope and in \n dollar volume;\n (5) when a government engages in entrepreneurial activities \n that are beyond its core mission and compete with the private \n sector--\n (A) the focus and attention of the government are \n diverted from executing the basic mission and work of \n that government; and\n (B) those activities constitute unfair government \n competition with the private sector;\n (6) current laws and policies have failed to address \n adequately the problem of government competition with the \n private sector of the economy;\n (7) the level of government competition with the private \n sector, especially with small businesses, has been a priority \n issue of each White House Conference on Small Business;\n (8) reliance on the private sector is consistent with the \n goals of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 \n (Public Law 103-62);\n (9) reliance on the private sector is necessary and \n desirable for proper implementation of the Federal Workforce \n Restructuring Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-226);\n (10) it is in the public interest that the Federal \n Government establish a consistent policy to rely on the private \n sector of the economy to provide goods and services that are \n necessary for or beneficial to the operation and management of \n Federal Government agencies and to avoid Federal Government \n competition with the private sector of the economy; and\n (11) it is in the public interest for the private sector to \n utilize employees who are adversely affected by conversions to \n use of private sector entities for providing goods and services \n on behalf of the Federal Government.\n\nSEC. 3. RELIANCE ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR.\n\n (a) General Policy.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, \nexcept as provided in subsection (c), each agency shall procure from \nsources in the private sector all goods and services that are necessary \nfor or beneficial to the accomplishment of authorized functions of the \nagency.\n (b) Prohibitions Regarding Transactions in Goods and Services.--\n (1) Provision by government generally.--No agency may begin \n or carry out any activity to provide any products or services \n that can be provided by the private sector.\n (2) Transactions between governmental entities.--No agency \n may obtain any goods or services from or provide any goods or \n services to any other governmental entity.\n (c) Exceptions.--Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to goods or \nservices necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of \nauthorized functions of an agency under the following conditions:\n (1) Either--\n (A) the goods or services are inherently \n governmental in nature within the meaning of section \n 6(b); or\n (B) the Director of the Office of Management and \n Budget determines that the provision of the goods or \n services is otherwise an inherently governmental \n function.\n (2) The head of the agency determines that the goods or \n services should be produced, provided, or manufactured by the \n Federal Government for reasons of national security.\n (3) The Federal Government is determined to be the best \n value source of the goods or services in accordance with \n regulations prescribed pursuant to section 4(a)(2)(C).\n (4) The private sector sources of the goods or services, or \n the practices of such sources, are not adequate to satisfy the \n agency's requirements.\n\nSEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.\n\n (a) Regulations.--\n (1) OMB responsibility.--The Director of the Office of \n Management and Budget shall prescribe regulations to carry out \n this Act.\n (2) Content.--\n (A) Private sector preference.--Consistent with the \n policy and prohibitions set forth in section 3, the \n regulations shall emphasize a preference for the \n provision of goods and services by private sector \n sources.\n (B) Fairness for federal employees.--In order to \n ensure the fair treatment of Federal Government \n employees, the regulations--\n (i) shall not contravene any law or \n regulation regarding Federal Government \n employees; and\n (ii) shall provide for the Director of the \n Office of Management and Budget, in \n consultation with the Director of the Office of \n Personnel Management, to furnish information on \n relevant available benefits and assistance to \n Federal Government employees adversely affected \n by conversions to use of private sector \n entities for providing goods and services.\n (C) Best value sources.--\n (i) Standards and procedures.--The \n regulations shall include standards and \n procedures for determining whether it is a \n private sector source or an agency that \n provides certain goods or services for the best \n value.\n (ii) Factors considered.--The standards and \n procedures shall include requirements for \n consideration of analyses of all direct and \n indirect costs (performed in a manner \n consistent with generally accepted cost-\n accounting principles), the qualifications of \n sources, the past performance of sources, and \n any other technical and noncost factors that \n are relevant.\n (iii) Consultation requirement.--The \n Director shall consult with persons from the \n private sector and persons from the public \n sector in developing the standards and \n procedures.\n (D) Appropriate governmental activities.--The \n regulations shall include a methodology for determining \n what types of activities performed by an agency should \n continue to be performed by the agency or any other \n agency.\n (b) Compliance and Implementation Assistance.--\n (1) OMB center for commercial activities.--The Director of \n the Office of Management and Budget shall establish a Center \n for Commercial Activities and Privatization within the Office \n of Management and Budget.\n (2) Responsibilities.--The Center--\n (A) shall be responsible for the implementation of \n and compliance with the policies, standards, and \n procedures that are set forth in this Act or are \n prescribed to carry out this Act; and\n (B) shall provide agencies and private sector \n entities with guidance, information, and other \n assistance appropriate for facilitating conversions to \n use of private sector entities for providing goods and \n services on behalf of the Federal Government.\n\nSEC. 5. STUDY AND REPORT ON COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT.\n\n (a) Annual Performance Plan.--Section 1115(a) of title 31, United \nStates Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (5);\n (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (6) and \n inserting ``; and''; and\n (3) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(7) include--\n ``(A) the identity of each program activity that is \n performed for the agency by a private sector entity in \n accordance with the Freedom From Government Competition \n Act of 1997; and\n ``(B) the identity of each program activity that is \n not subject to the Freedom From Government Competition \n Act of 1997 by reason of an exception set forth in that \n Act, together with a discussion specifying why the \n activity is determined to be covered by the \n exception.''.\n (b) Annual Performance Report.--Section 1116(d)(3) of title 31, \nUnited States Code, is amended--\n (1) by striking ``explain and describe,'' in the matter \n preceding subparagraph (A);\n (2) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``explain and \n describe'' after ``(A)'';\n (3) in subparagraph (B)--\n (A) by inserting ``explain and describe'' after \n ``(B)''; and\n (B) by striking ``and'' at the end;\n (4) in subparagraph (C)--\n (A) by inserting ``explain and describe'' after \n ``infeasible,''; and\n (B) by inserting ``and'' at the end; and\n (5) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(D) in the case of an activity not performed by a private \n sector entity--\n ``(i) explain and describe whether the activity \n could be performed for the Federal Government by a \n private sector entity in accordance with the Freedom \n From Government Competition Act of 1997; and\n ``(ii) if the activity could be performed by a \n private sector entity, set forth a schedule for \n converting to performance of the activity by a private \n sector entity;''.\n\nSEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.\n\n (a) Agency.--As used in this Act, the term ``agency'' means the \nfollowing:\n (1) Executive department.--An executive department as \n defined by section 101 of title 5, United States Code.\n (2) Military department.--A military department as defined \n by section 102 of such title.\n (3) Independent establishment.--An independent \n establishment as defined by section 104(1) of such title.\n (b) Inherently Governmental Goods and Services.--\n (1) Performance of inherently governmental functions.--For \n the purposes of section 3(c)(1)(A), goods or services are \n inherently governmental in nature if the providing of such \n goods or services is an inherently governmental function.\n (2) Inherently governmental functions described.--\n (A) Functions included.--For the purposes of \n paragraph (1), a function shall be considered an \n inherently governmental function if the function is so \n intimately related to the public interest as to mandate \n performance by Federal Government employees. Such \n functions include activities that require either the \n exercise of discretion in applying Federal Government \n authority or the making of value judgments in making \n decisions for the Federal Government, including \n judgments relating to monetary transactions and \n entitlements. An inherently governmental function \n involves, among other things, the interpretation and \n execution of the laws of the United States so as to--\n (i) bind the United States to take or not \n to take some action by contract, policy, \n regulation, authorization, order, or otherwise;\n (ii) determine, protect, and advance its \n economic, political, territorial, property, or \n other interests by military or diplomatic \n action, civil or criminal judicial proceedings, \n contract management, or otherwise;\n (iii) significantly affect the life, \n liberty, or property of private persons;\n (iv) commission, appoint, direct, or \n control officers or employees of the United \n States; or\n (v) exert ultimate control over the \n acquisition, use, or disposition of the \n property, real or personal, tangible or \n intangible, of the United States, including the \n control or disbursement of appropriated and \n other Federal funds.\n (B) Functions excluded.--For the purposes of \n paragraph (1), inherently governmental functions do not \n normally include--\n (i) gathering information for or providing \n advice, opinions, recommendations, or ideas to \n Federal Government officials;\n (ii) any function that is primarily \n ministerial or internal in nature (such as \n building security, mail operations, operation \n of cafeterias, laundry and housekeeping, \n facilities operations and maintenance, \n warehouse operations, motor vehicle fleet \n management and operations, or other routine \n electrical or mechanical services); or\n (iii) any good or service which is \n currently or could reasonably be produced or \n performed, respectively, by an entity in the \n private sector.", "summary": "Freedom From Government Competition Act of 1997 - Requires Federal agencies to obtain all goods and services necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of their authorized functions by procurement from private sources, unless except as specified. \n(Sec. 4) Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish a Center for Commercial Activities and Privatization within OMB to: (1) be responsible for the implementation of and compliance with the policies, standards, and procedures that are set forth in this Act or are prescribed to carry out this Act; and (2) provide agencies and private sector entities with guidance, information, and other assistance appropriate for facilitating conversions to use of private sector entities for providing goods and services on behalf of the Federal Government. \n(Sec. 5) Amends Federal law to require that each agency shall include in its annual performance plan the identity of each program activity that is: (1) performed for the agency by a private sector entity in accordance with this Act; and (2) not subject to this Act by reason of an exception, together with a discussion specifying why the activity is determined to be covered by the exception. \nRevises requirements regarding program performance reports to require each agency, in its annual program performance report, in the case of an activity not performed by a private sector entity, to: (1) explain and describe whether an activity not performed by a private sector entity could be performed by a private sector entity in accordance with this Act; and (2) if the activity could be performed by a private sector entity, set forth a schedule for converting to performance of the activity by a private sector entity.", "title": "Freedom From Government Competition Act of 1997"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 391, "text": "SECTION 1. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.\n\n The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) is amended--\n (1) in section 308, by striking subsections (a) through \n (c)(1) and inserting in lieu thereof the following:\n ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Under \nSecretary for Science and Technology, shall carry out the \nresponsibilities under section 302(4) through both extramural and \nintramural programs.\n ``(b) Extramural Programs.--\n ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Under \n Secretary for Science and Technology, shall operate extramural \n research, development, demonstration, testing, and evaluation \n programs so as to--\n ``(A) ensure that colleges, universities, private \n research institutes, and companies (and consortia \n thereof) from as many areas of the United States as \n practicable participate;\n ``(B) ensure that the research funded is of high \n quality, as determined through merit review processes \n developed under section 302(14); and\n ``(C) distribute funds through grants, cooperative \n agreements, and contracts.\n ``(2) University-based centers for homeland security.--\n ``(A) Designation.--The Secretary, acting through \n the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall \n designate a university-based center or several \n university-based centers for homeland security. The \n purpose of the center or these centers shall be to \n establish a coordinated, university-based system to \n enhance the Nation's homeland security.\n ``(B) Criteria for designation.--Criteria for the \n designation of colleges or universities as a center for \n homeland security, shall include, but are not limited \n to, demonstrated expertise in the following:\n ``(i) The training of first responders.\n ``(ii) Responding to incidents involving \n weapons of mass destruction and biological \n warfare.\n ``(iii) Emergency and diagnostic medical \n services.\n ``(iv) Chemical, biological, radiological, \n and nuclear countermeasures or detection.\n ``(v) Animal and plant health and \n diagnostics.\n ``(vi) Food safety.\n ``(vii) Water and wastewater operations.\n ``(viii) Port and waterway security.\n ``(ix) Multi-modal transportation.\n ``(x) Information security and information \n engineering.\n ``(xi) Engineering.\n ``(xii) Educational outreach and technical \n assistance.\n ``(xiii) Border transportation and \n security.\n ``(xiv) The public policy implications and \n public dissemination of homeland security \n related research and development.\n ``(C) Discretion of secretary.--With respect to the \n designation of any given university-based center for \n homeland security, the Secretary may except certain \n criteria as specified in section 308(b)(2)(B) to the \n extent they are unnecessary to further homeland \n security interests for the purpose of that designation, \n and consider additional criteria beyond those specified \n in section 308(b)(2)(B) if necessary to meet the needs \n of homeland security. Upon designation of a university-\n based center for homeland security, the Secretary shall \n that day publish in the Federal Register the criteria \n that were excepted or added in the selection \nprocess and the justification for the set of criteria that were used \nfor that designation.\n ``(D) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall \n report annually, from the date of enactment, to \n Congress concerning the implementation of this section. \n That report shall indicate which center or centers have \n been designated and how the designation or designations \n enhance homeland security, as well as report any \n decisions to revoke or modify such designations.\n ``(E) Authorization of appropriations.--There are \n authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be \n necessary to carry out this paragraph.\n ``(c) Intramural Programs.--\n ``(1) Consultation.--In carrying out the duties under \n section 302, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary \n for Science and Technology, may draw upon the expertise of any \n laboratory of the Federal Government, whether operated by a \n contractor or the Government.''; and\n (2) in subsection 835(d) by striking all after the word \n ``security'' and inserting in lieu thereof a period.\n\nSEC. 2. NON-PREJUDICIAL REPEAL OF SECTIONS 1714 THROUGH 1717 OF THE \n HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002.\n\n (a) Repeal.--In accordance with subsection (c), sections 1714 \nthrough 1717 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) \nare repealed.\n (b) Application of the Public Health Service Act.--The Public \nHealth Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) shall be applied and \nadministered as if the sections repealed by subsection (a) had never \nbeen enacted.\n (c) Rule of Construction.--No inference shall be drawn from the \nenactment of sections 1714 through 1717 of the Homeland Security Act of \n2002 (Public Law 107-296), or from this repeal, regarding the law prior \nto enactment of sections 1714 through 1717 of the Homeland Security Act \nof 2002 (Public Law 107-296). Further, no inference shall be drawn that \nsubsection (a) or (b) effects any change in that prior law, or that \nLeroy v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Office of Special \nMaster, No. 02-392V (October 11, 2002), was incorrectly decided.\n (d) Sense of the House of Representatives.--It is the sense of the \nHouse of Representatives that--\n (1) the Nation's ability to produce and develop new and \n effective vaccines faces significant challenges, and important \n steps are needed to revitalize our immunization efforts in \n order to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines and to encourage \n the development of new vaccines;\n (2) these steps include ensuring that patients who have \n suffered vaccine-related injuries have the opportunity to seek \n fair and timely redress, and that vaccine manufacturers, \n manufacturers of components or ingredients of vaccines, and \n physicians and other administrators of vaccines have adequate \n protections;\n (3) prompt action is particularly critical given that \n vaccines are a front line of defense against common childhood \n and adult diseases, as well as against current and future \n biological threats; and\n (4) not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment \n of this Act, the Committee on Energy and Commerce should report \n a bill addressing the issues described in paragraphs (1) \n through (3).\n\nSEC. 3. WAIVERS RELATING TO CONTRACTS WITH CORPORATE EXPATRIATES.\n\n Section 835 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-\n296) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:\n ``(d) Waivers.--The Secretary shall waive subsection (a) with \nrespect to any specific contract if the Secretary determines that the \nwaiver is required in the interest of homeland security.''.\n\nSEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.\n\n The amendments made by this Act shall take effect as though enacted \nas part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296).", "summary": "Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, to designate one or more university-based centers for homeland security. (Currently, the Secretary is required to establish one or more centers within one year after enactment of the Act.) Includes diagnostic medical services and information engineering as criteria for such designation. Authorizes the Secretary to except certain criteria and to consider additional criteria with respect to such designation in order to further homeland security interests.Repeals provisions of the Act which amend the Public Health Service Act to revise definitions of vaccine, vaccine manufacturer, and vaccine-related injury or death.Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Committee on Energy and Commerce should report a bill addressing: (1) revitalizing immunization efforts by ensuring an adequate supply of vaccines and encouraging the development of new vaccines; and (2) ensuring that patients who have suffered vaccine-related injuries have an opportunity for fair redress and that vaccine manufacturers, physicians, and other administrators have adequate protections.Removes the authority of the Secretary to waive a prohibition on contracts with corporate expatriates when the Secretary determines that the waiver will prevent either the loss of jobs in the United States or costs that the Government otherwise would not occur.", "title": "To make certain amendments to the Homeland Security Act of 2002."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2786, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``University Transit Rider Innovation \nProgram Act of 2015'' or ``UTRIP Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. FORMULA GRANTS TO INCREASE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDERSHIP BY \n COLLEGE STUDENTS.\n\n (a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is \namended--\n (1) by inserting after section 5307 the following:\n``Sec. 5308. Formula grants to increase ridership by college students\n ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--\n ``(1) the term `covered student' means an undergraduate or \n graduate student attending an institution of higher education;\n ``(2) the term `eligible entity' means--\n ``(A) a recipient or subrecipient that provides \n covered students a discounted fare for public \n transportation that meets the requirements under \n subsection (d)(1); or\n ``(B) a recipient that allocates amounts provided \n to the recipient under a grant under this section to a \n subrecipient described in subparagraph (A);\n ``(3) the term `institution of higher education' has the \n meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education \n Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);\n ``(4) the term `large urbanized area' means an urbanized \n area with a population of not less than 200,000 individuals, as \n determined by the Bureau of the Census;\n ``(5) the term `recipient' means a designated recipient, a \n local governmental authority, or a State;\n ``(6) the term `small urbanized area' means an urbanized \n area with a population of less than 200,000 individuals, as \n determined by the Bureau of the Census; and\n ``(7) the term `subrecipient' means a State or local \n governmental authority, a private nonprofit organization, or an \n operator of public transportation services, including a private \n operator of public transportation services.\n ``(b) General Authority.--\n ``(1) Grants.--The Secretary may make grants under this \n section to recipients that are eligible entities to increase \n the use of public transportation by covered students in \n accordance with subsection (c).\n ``(2) Subrecipients.--A recipient that receives a grant \n under this section may allocate the amounts provided under the \n grant to subrecipients that are eligible entities to increase \n the use of public transportation by covered students in \n accordance with subsection (c).\n ``(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use amounts provided \nunder a grant under this section to--\n ``(1) offset decreased revenue resulting from providing \n discounted fares to covered students;\n ``(2) provide general operating assistance to public \n transportation services and routes designed to better serve \n institutions of higher education; or\n ``(3) pay for capital costs associated with expanding and \n maintaining public transportation services and routes designed \n to serve institutions of higher education.\n ``(d) Discounted Fare.--\n ``(1) In general.--In order to qualify as an eligible \n entity described in subsection (a)(2)(A), a recipient or \n subrecipient shall provide to covered students a discounted \n fare for public transportation that is--\n ``(A) not more than 75 percent of the fare; and\n ``(B) applicable to both monthly and single-ride \n fares.\n ``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in paragraph (1) shall \n be construed to prohibit a recipient or subrecipient that, as \n of the date of enactment of the University Transit Rider \n Innovation Program Act of 2015, provides a discounted fare to \n covered students that meets the requirements under paragraph \n (1), including a discounted fare that is lower than 75 percent \n of the fare, from qualifying as an eligible entity described in \n subsection (a)(2)(A).\n ``(e) Apportionment and Transfers.--\n ``(1) Formula.--The Secretary shall apportion amounts made \n available to carry out this section as follows:\n ``(A) Large urbanized areas.--Sixty percent of the \n funds shall be apportioned among designated recipients \n for large urbanized areas in the ratio that--\n ``(i) the number of full-time equivalent \n covered students in each such urbanized area; \n bears to\n ``(ii) the number of full-time equivalent \n covered students in all such urbanized areas.\n ``(B) Small urbanized areas.--Twenty percent of the \n funds shall be apportioned among the States in the \n ratio that--\n ``(i) the number of full-time equivalent \n covered students in small urbanized areas in \n each State; bears to\n ``(ii) the number of full-time equivalent \n covered students in small urbanized areas in \n all States.\n ``(C) Rural areas.--Twenty percent of the funds \n shall be apportioned among the States in the ratio \n that--\n ``(i) the number of full-time equivalent \n covered students in rural areas in each State; \n bears to\n ``(ii) the number of full-time equivalent \n covered students in rural areas in all States.\n ``(2) Areas served by projects.--\n ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in \n subparagraph (B)--\n ``(i) funds apportioned under paragraph \n (1)(A) shall be used to serve covered students \n or institutions of higher education in large \n urbanized areas;\n ``(ii) funds apportioned under paragraph \n (1)(B) shall be used to serve covered students \n or institutions of higher education in small \n urbanized areas; and\n ``(iii) funds apportioned under paragraph \n (1)(C) shall be used to serve covered students \n or institutions of higher education in rural \n areas.\n ``(B) Exceptions.--A State may use funds \n apportioned to the State under subparagraph (B) or (C) \n of paragraph (1)--\n ``(i) to serve covered students or \n institutions of higher education in an area \n other than an area specified in subparagraph \n (A)(ii) or (A)(iii), as the case may be, if the \n Governor of the State certifies that all of the \n objectives of this section are being met in the \n area specified in subparagraph (A)(ii) or \n (A)(iii); or\n ``(ii) to serve covered students or \n institutions of higher education anywhere in \n the State, if the State has established a \n statewide program for meeting the objectives of \n this section.\n ``(C) Consultation.--A recipient may transfer an \n amount under subparagraph (B) only after consulting \n with responsible local officials, publicly owned \n operators of public transportation, and nonprofit \n providers in the area for which the amount was \n originally apportioned.''; and\n (2) in section 5338(a)--\n (A) in paragraph (1)--\n (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking \n ``$9,347,604,639'' and inserting \n ``$9,597,604,639'';\n (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking \n ``$9,534,706,043'' and inserting \n ``$9,784,706,043'';\n (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking \n ``$9,733,353,407'' and inserting \n ``$9,983,353,407'';\n (iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking \n ``$9,939,380,030'' and inserting \n ``$10,189,380,030''; and\n (v) in subparagraph (E), by striking \n ``$10,150,348,462'' and inserting \n ``$10,400,348,462''; and\n (B) in paragraph (2)--\n (i) in subparagraph (M), by striking \n ``and'' at the end;\n (ii) in subparagraph (N), by striking the \n period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and\n (iii) by adding at the end the following:\n ``(M) $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 \n through 2020 shall be available to carry out section \n 5308.''.\n (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--\n (1) Table of sections.--The table of sections for chapter \n 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the \n item relating to section 5308 and inserting the following:\n\n``5308. Formula grants to increase ridership by college students.''.\n (2) Obligation ceiling.--Section 3018 of the Federal Public \n Transportation Act of 2015 (title III of Public Law 114-94) is \n amended--\n (A) in paragraph (1), by striking \n ``$9,347,604,639'' and inserting ``$9,597,604,639'';\n (B) in paragraph (2), by striking \n ``$9,733,706,043'' and inserting ``$9,983,706,043'';\n (C) in paragraph (3), by striking \n ``$9,733,353,407'' and inserting ``$9,983,353,407'';\n (D) in paragraph (4), by striking \n ``$9,939,380,030'' and inserting ``$10,189,380,030''; \n and\n (E) in paragraph (5), by striking \n ``$10,150,348,462'' and inserting ``$10,400,348,462''.", "summary": "University Transit Rider Innovation Program Act of 2015 or the UTRIP Act This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to make grants to designated recipients, local or state governmental authorities, private nonprofit organizations, or operators of public transportation services (recipients) to increase the use of public transportation by undergraduate or graduate students attending an institution of higher education (covered students). A recipient may use amounts provided under a grant to: offset decreased revenue resulting from providing discounted fares to covered students, provide general operating assistance to public transportation services and routes designed to better serve institutions of higher education, or pay for capital costs associated with expanding and maintaining public transportation services and routes designed to serve such institutions. To be eligible for a grant, a recipient must provide to covered students a discounted fare for public transportation that is: (1) not more than 75% of the fare, and (2) applicable to both monthly and single-ride fares. DOT shall apportion amounts made available to carry out this Act to large urbanized areas, small urbanized areas, and rural areas based on the relative numbers of full-time equivalent covered students in such areas, according to a specified formula, with specified exceptions. ", "title": "UTRIP Act"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 3043, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Alaska Peninsula Subsurface \nConsolidation Act of 1993''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n As used in this Act:\n (1) Agency.--The term agency--\n (A) means--\n (i) any instrumentality of the United \n States; and\n (ii) any Government corporation (as defined \n in section 9101(1) of title 31, United States \n Code); and\n (B) includes any element of an agency.\n (2) Alaska native corporation.--The term ``Alaska Native \n Corporation'' has the same meaning as is provided for ``Native \n Corporation'' in section 3(m) of the Alaska Native Claims \n Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(m)).\n (3) Koniag.--The term ``Koniag'' means Koniag, \n Incorporated, which is a Regional Corporation.\n (4) Koniag account.--The term ``Koniag Account'' means the \n account established under section 4.\n (5) Property.--The term ``property'' has the same meaning \n as is provided in section 12(b)(7)(vii) of Public Law 94-204 \n (43 U.S.C. 1611 note).\n (6) Regional corporation.--The term ``Regional \n Corporation'' has the same meaning as is provided in section \n 3(g) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. \n 1602(g)).\n (7) Secretary.--Except as otherwise provided, the term \n ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior.\n (8) Selection rights.--The term ``selection rights'' means \n those rights granted to Koniag, pursuant to subsections (a) and \n (b) of section 12, and section 14(h)(8), of the Alaska Native \n Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1611 and 1613(h)(8)), to \n receive title to the oil and gas rights and other interests in \n the subsurface estate of the approximately 275,000 acres of \n public lands in the State of Alaska identified as ``Koniag \n Selections'' on the map entitled ``Koniag Interest Lands, \n Alaska Peninsula'', dated May 1989.\n\nSEC. 3. ACQUISITION OF KONIAG SELECTION RIGHTS.\n\n -(-a-) -I-n -G-e-n-e-r-a-l-.--\n -(-1-) -T-e-n-d-e-r -o-f -r-e-l-i-n-q-u-i-s-h-m-e-n-t \n -a-n-d -a-c-c-e-p-t-a-n-c-e-.----I-f -t-h-e -S-e-c-r-e-t-a-r-y \n -r-e-c-e-i-v-e-s -f-r-o-m -K-o-n-i-a-g -a -t-i-m-e-l-y \n -t-e-n-d-e-r -o-f -r-e-l-i-n-q-u-i-s-h-m-e-n-t -o-f -t-h-e \n -s-e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n -r-i-g-h-t-s-, -t-h-e -S-e-c-r-e-t-a-r-y \n -s-h-a-l-l---\n -(-A-) -a-c-c-e-p-t -t-h-e -t-e-n-d-e-r -n-o-t \n -l-a-t-e-r -t-h-a-n -6-0 -d-a-y-s -a-f-t-e-r -t-h-e \n -d-a-t-e -o-f -t-h-e -r-e-c-e-i-p-t -o-f -t-h-e \n -t-e-n-d-e-r-; -a-n-d\n -(-B-) -n-o-t-i-f-y -t-h-e -S-e-c-r-e-t-a-r-y -o-f \n -t-h-e -T-r-e-a-s-u-r-y -o-f -t-h-e \n -a-c-c-e-p-t-a-n-c-e -o-f -t-h-e -t-e-n-d-e-r-.\n -(-2-) -T-i-m-e-l-i-n-e-s-s-.---\n -(-A-) -I-n -g-e-n-e-r-a-l-.----F-o-r -t-h-e \n -p-u-r-p-o-s-e -o-f -p-a-r-a-g-r-a-p-h -(-1-) -a-n-d \n -s-u-b-j-e-c-t -t-o -s-u-b-p-a-r-a-g-r-a-p-h -(-B-)-, \n -a -t-e-n-d-e-r -b-y -K-o-n-i-a-g -s-h-a-l-l -b-e \n -t-i-m-e-l-y -i-f -t-h-e -t-e-n-d-e-r -i-s \n -r-e-c-e-i-v-e-d -b-y -t-h-e -S-e-c-r-e-t-a-r-y -n-o-t \n -l-a-t-e-r -t-h-a-n -1-8-0 -d-a-y-s -a-f-t-e-r -t-h-e \n -l-a-t-e-r -o-f---\n -(-i-) -t-h-e -d-a-t-e -o-f -t-h-e \n -r-e-c-e-i-p-t -b-y -K-o-n-i-a-g -o-f -t-h-e \n -d-e-t-e-r-m-i-n-a-t-i-o-n -b-y -t-h-e \n -S-e-c-r-e-t-a-r-y -o-f -t-h-e -v-a-l-u-e -o-f \n -t-h-e -s-e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n -r-i-g-h-t-s \n -p-u-r-s-u-a-n-t -t-o -s-u-b-s-e-c-t-i-o-n \n -(-b-)-; -o-r\n -(-i-i-) -t-h-e -d-a-t-e -o-f -t-h-e \n -f-i-n-a-l -r-e-s-o-l-u-t-i-o-n -o-f -a-n-y \n -d-i-s-p-u-t-e -r-e-g-a-r-d-i-n-g -t-h-e \n -v-a-l-u-e -o-f -t-h-e -s-e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n \n -r-i-g-h-t-s -u-n-d-e-r -s-u-b-s-e-c-t-i-o-n \n -(-b-)-.\n -(-B-) -M-o-d-i-f-i-c-a-t-i-o-n-.----T-h-e \n -S-e-c-r-e-t-a-r-y -a-n-d -K-o-n-i-a-g -m-a-y \n -a-g-r-e-e -t-o -m-o-d-i-f-y -t-h-e -d-e-a-d-l-i-n-e \n -e-s-t-a-b-l-i-s-h-e-d -u-n-d-e-r \n -s-u-b-p-a-r-a-g-r-a-p-h -(-A-)-.\n (a) The Secretary shall determine, pursuant to subsection (b) \nhereof, the value of Selection Rights which Koniag possesses within the \nboundaries of Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, Alaska \nPeninsula National Wildlife Refuge, and Becharof National Wildlife \nRefuge.\n (b) Value.--\n (1) In general.--The value of the selection rights shall be \n equal to the fair market value of--\n (A) the oil and gas interests in the lands or \n interests in lands that are the subject of the \n selection rights; and\n (B) in the case of the lands or interests in lands \n for which Koniag is to receive the entire subsurface \n estate, the subsurface estate of the lands or interests \n in lands that are the subject of the selection rights.\n (2) Appraisal.--\n (A) Selection of appraiser.--\n (i) In general.--Not later than 90 days \n after the date of enactment of this Act, the \n Secretary and Koniag shall meet to select a \n qualified appraiser to conduct an appraisal of \n the selection rights. Subject to clause (ii), \n the appraiser shall be selected by the mutual \n agreement of the Secretary and Koniag.\n (ii) Failure to agree.--If the Secretary \n and Koniag fail to agree on an appraiser by the \n date that is 60 days after the date of the \n initial meeting referred to in clause (i), the \n Secretary and Koniag shall, by the date that is \n not later than 90 days after the date of the \n initial meeting, each designate an appraiser \n who is qualified to perform the appraisal. The \n 2 appraisers so identified shall select a third \n qualified appraiser who shall perform the \n appraisal.\n (B) Standards and methodology.--The appraisal \n shall--\n (i) be conducted in conformity with the \n standards of the Appraisal Foundation (as \n defined in section 1121(9) of the Financial \n Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement \n Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 3350(9)); and\n -(-i-i-) -u-t-i-l-i-z-e -t-h-e \n -m-e-t-h-o-d-o-l-o-g-y -c-u-s-t-o-m-a-r-i-l-y \n -u-s-e-d -b-y -t-h-e -M-i-n-e-r-a-l-s \n -M-a-n-a-g-e-m-e-n-t -S-e-r-v-i-c-e -o-f -t-h-e \n -D-e-p-a-r-t-m-e-n-t -o-f -t-h-e \n -I-n-t-e-r-i-o-r-.\n (ii) utilize risk adjusted discounted cash \n flow methodology.\n (C) Submission of appraisal report.--Not later than \n 180 days after the selection of an appraiser pursuant \n to subparagraph (A), the appraiser shall submit to the \n Secretary and to Koniag a written appraisal report \n specifying the value of the selection rights and the \n methodology used to arrive at the value.\n (3) Determination of value.--\n (A) Determination by the secretary.--Not later than \n 60 days after the date of the receipt of the appraisal \n report under paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary shall \n determine the value of the selection rights and shall \n notify Koniag of the determination.\n (B) Alternative determination of value.--\n (i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), if \n Koniag does not agree with the value determined \n by the Secretary under subparagraph (A), the \n procedures specified in section 206(d) of the \n Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 \n (43 U.S.C. 1716(d)) shall be used to establish \n the value.\n (ii) Average value limitation.--The average \n value per acre of the selection rights shall \n not be more than $300.\n\n-S-E-C-. -4-. -K-O-N-I-A-G -A-C-C-O-U-N-T-.\n\n -(-a-) -E-s-t-a-b-l-i-s-h-m-e-n-t-.--\n -(-1-) -I-n -g-e-n-e-r-a-l-.----I-f -t-h-e \n -S-e-c-r-e-t-a-r-y -o-f -t-h-e -T-r-e-a-s-u-r-y -i-s \n -n-o-t-i-f-i-e-d -p-u-r-s-u-a-n-t -t-o -s-e-c-t-i-o-n \n -3-(-a-)-(-1-)-(-B-)-, -o-n -O-c-t-o-b-e-r -1-, -1-9-9-7-, \n -t-h-e -S-e-c-r-e-t-a-r-y -o-f -t-h-e -T-r-e-a-s-u-r-y-, -i-n \n -c-o-n-s-u-l-t-a-t-i-o-n -w-i-t-h -t-h-e -S-e-c-r-e-t-a-r-y-, \n -s-h-a-l-l -e-s-t-a-b-l-i-s-h -i-n -t-h-e -T-r-e-a-s-u-r-y -o-f \n -t-h-e -U-n-i-t-e-d -S-t-a-t-e-s -a-n -a-c-c-o-u-n-t -t-o -b-e \n -k-n-o-w-n -a-s -t-h-e -`-`-K-o-n-i-a-g -A-c-c-o-u-n-t-'-'-.\n -(-2-) -I-n-i-t-i-a-l -b-a-l-a-n-c-e-.----T-h-e \n -i-n-i-t-i-a-l -b-a-l-a-n-c-e -o-f -t-h-e -K-o-n-i-a-g \n -A-c-c-o-u-n-t -s-h-a-l-l -b-e -e-q-u-a-l -t-o -t-h-e \n -v-a-l-u-e -o-f -t-h-e -s-e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n -r-i-g-h-t-s -a-s \n -d-e-t-e-r-m-i-n-e-d -p-u-r-s-u-a-n-t -t-o -s-e-c-t-i-o-n \n -3-(-b-)-.\n\nSEC. 4. KONIAG ACCOUNT.\n\n (a) In General.--\n (1) The Secretary shall enter into negotiations for an \n agreement or agreements to exchange Federal lands or interests \n therein which are in the State of Alaska for the Koniag \n Selection Rights referred to in section 3.\n (2) If the value of the Federal lands to be exchanged is \n less than the value of the Koniag Selection Rights established \n in section 3, then the Secretary may exchange the Federal lands \n for an equivalent portion of the Koniag Selection Rights. The \n remaining selection rights shall remain available for \n additional exchanges.\n (3) For purposes of this section, the term ``Federal \n lands'' means lands or interests therein located in Alaska, \n administered by the Secretary and the title to which is in the \n United States but excluding all lands and interests therein \n which are located within a conservation system unit as defined \n in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act section \n 102(4).\n (b) Account.--\n (1) In general.--With respect to any Koniag Selection \n Rights for which an exchange has not been completed by October \n 1, 2004 (hereafter in this section referred to as ``remaining \n selection rights''), the Secretary of the Treasury, in \n consultation with the Secretary, shall, notwithstanding any \n other provision of law, establish in the Treasury of the United \n States, an account to be known as the Koniag Account. Upon the \n relinquishment of the remaining selection rights to the United \n States, the Secretary shall credit the Koniag Account in the \n amount of the appraised value of the remaining selection \n rights.\n (2) Initial balance.--The initial balance of the Koniag \n Account shall be equal to the value of the selection rights as \n determined pursuant to section 3(b).\n (3) Use of account.--\n (A) In general.--Amounts in the Koniag Account \n shall--\n (i) be made available by the Secretary of \n the Treasury to Koniag for bidding on and \n purchasing property sold at public sale, \n subject to the conditions described in this \n paragraph; and\n (ii) remain available until expended.\n (B) Assignment.--\n (i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii) and \n notwithstanding any other provision of law, the \n right to request the Secretary of the Treasury \n to withdraw funds from the Koniag Account shall \n be assignable in whole or in part by Koniag.\n (ii) Notice of assignment.--No assignment \n shall be recognized by the Secretary of the \n Treasury until Koniag files written notice of \n the assignment with the Secretary of the \n Treasury and the Secretary.\n (C) Bidding and purchasing.--\n (i) In general.--Koniag may use the Koniag \n Account to--\n (I) bid, in the same manner as any \n other bidder, for any property at any \n public sale by an agency; and\n (II) purchase the property in \n accordance with applicable laws, \n including the regulations of the agency \n offering the property for sale.\n (ii) Requirements for agencies.--In \n conducting a transaction described in clause \n (i), an agency shall accept, in the same manner \n as cash, an amount tendered from the Koniag \n Account.\n (iii) Adjustment of balance.--The Secretary \n of the Treasury shall adjust the balance of the \n Koniag Account to reflect each transaction \n under clause (i).\n (4) Special procedures.--The Secretary of the Treasury, in \n consultation with the Secretary, shall establish procedures to \n permit the Koniag Account to--\n (A) receive deposits;\n (B) make deposits into escrow when an escrow is \n required for the sale of any property; and\n (C) reinstate to the Koniag Account any unused \n escrow deposits if a sale is not consummated.\n -(-b-) (c) Treatment of Amounts From Account.--The Secretary of the \nTreasury shall--\n (1) deem as a cash payment any amount tendered from the \n Koniag Account and received by an agency as a proceed from a \n public sale of property; and\n (2) make any transfer necessary to permit the agency to use \n the proceed in the event an agency is authorized by law to use \n the proceed for a specific purpose.\n -(-c-) (d) Requirement for the Administration of Sales.--\n (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of \n the Treasury and the heads of agencies shall administer sales \n described in subsection (a)(3)(C) in the same manner as is \n provided for any other Alaska Native Corporation that--\n (A) is authorized by law as of the date of \n enactment of this Act; and\n (B) has an account similar to the Koniag Account \n for bidding on and purchasing property sold for public \n sale.\n (2) Prohibition.--Amounts in an account established for the \n benefit of a specific Alaska Native Corporation may not be used \n to satisfy the property purchase obligations of any other \n Alaska Native Corporation.\n -(-d-) -D-i-v-i-s-i-o-n -o-f -R-e-v-e-n-u-e-s-.----T-h-e \n-s-e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n -r-i-g-h-t-s -s-h-a-l-l -b-e -d-e-e-m-e-d -t-o -b-e \n-a-n -i-n-t-e-r-e-s-t -i-n -t-h-e -s-u-b-s-u-r-f-a-c-e -e-s-t-a-t-e \n-f-o-r -t-h-e -p-u-r-p-o-s-e -o-f -s-e-c-t-i-o-n -7-(-i-) -o-f -t-h-e \n-A-l-a-s-k-a -N-a-t-i-v-e -C-l-a-i-m-s -S-e-t-t-l-e-m-e-n-t -A-c-t \n-(-4-3 -U-.-S-.-C-. -1-6-0-6-(-i-)-)-.\n (e) Revenues.--The Koniag Account shall be deemed to be an interest \nin the subsurface for purposes of section 7(i) of the Alaska Native \nClaims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).\n\nSEC. 5. CERTAIN CONVEYANCES.\n\n (a) Interests in Land.--For the purpose of section 21(c) of the \nAlaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1620(c)), the following \nshall be deemed to be an interest in land:\n (1) The establishment of the Koniag Account and the right \n of Koniag to request the Secretary of the Treasury to withdraw \n funds from the Koniag Account.\n (2) The receipt by a Settlement Trust (as defined in \n section 3(t) of such Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(t)) of a conveyance by \n Koniag of any right in the Koniag Account.\n (b) Authority to Appoint Trustees.--In establishing a Settlement \nTrust under section 39 of such Act (43 U.S.C. 1629e), Koniag may \ndelegate the authority granted to Koniag under subsection (b)(2) of \nsuch section to any entity that Koniag may select without affecting the \nstatus of the Settlement Trust under this section.\nS 855 RS----2", "summary": "Alaska Peninsula Subsurface Consolidation Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to determine the value of rights granted to Koniag, Incorporated, purusant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to receive title to the oil and gas rights and other interests in the subsurface estate of specified public lands in Alaska (selection rights) which Koniag possesses within the boundaries of Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge, and Becharof National Wildlife Refuge. \nSpecifies that the value of such rights shall be equal to the fair market value of: (1) the oil and gas interests in the lands that are the subject of the selection rights; and (2) in the case of the lands for which Koniag is to receive the entire subsurface estate, the subsurface estate of the lands that are the subject of such rights. \nDirects the Secretary and Koniag to meet to select a qualified appraiser to conduct an appraisal of the selection rights in conformity with the standards of the Appraisal Foundation of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, utilizing a risk adjusted discounted cash flow methodology. \nSets forth provisions regarding: (1) submission of the appraisal report; (2) determination of the value of the selection rights; and (3) an alternative determination of value if Koniag disagrees with the value determined by the Secretary. \nDirects: (1) the Secretary to enter into negotiations for an agreement to exchange Federal lands in Alaska for the Koniag selection rights; and (2) the Secretary of the Treasury, regarding any such rights for which an exchange has not been completed by October 1, 2004, to establish within the Treasury the Koniag Account and, upon relinquishment of such remaining rights to the United States, to credit the Account in the amount of the appraised value of such rights. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to make amounts in the Account available to Koniag for bidding on and purchasing property sold at public sale.", "title": "Alaska Peninsula Subsurface Consolidation Act of 1993"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1073, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Lavender Offense Victim Exoneration \nAct of 2017'' or the ``LOVE Act of 2017''.\n\nSEC. 2. FINDINGS.\n\n Congress makes the following findings:\n (1) During the so-called ``Lavender Scare'', at least 1,000 \n people were wrongfully dismissed from the Department of State \n for alleged homosexuality during the 1950s and well into the \n 1960s.\n (2) According to the Department of State's Bureau of \n Diplomatic Security, Department of State employees were forced \n out of the Department on the grounds that their sexual \n orientation ostensibly rendered them vulnerable to blackmail \n and made them security risks.\n (3) In addition to those wrongfully dismissed, many other \n patriotic Americans were prevented from joining the Department \n due to a screening process that was put in place to prevent the \n hiring of those who, according to the findings of the Bureau of \n Diplomatic Security, ``seemed like they might be gay or \n lesbian''.\n (4) Congress bears a special measure of responsibility as \n the Department's actions were in part in response to \n congressional investigations into ``sex perversion of Federal \n employees'', reports on the employment of ``moral perverts by \n Government Agencies'', hearings and pressure placed on the \n Department through the appropriations process and congressional \n complaints that Foggy Bottom was ``rampant with homosexuals who \n were sympathetic to Communism and vulnerable to blackmail''.\n (5) Between 1950 and 1969, the Department of State was \n required to report on the number of homosexuals fired each year \n as part of their annual appeals before Committees on \n Appropriations.\n (6) Although the worst effects of the ``Lavender Scare'' \n are behind us, as recently as the early 1990s, the Department \n of State's security office was investigating State personnel \n thought to be gay and driving them out of government service as \n ``security risks''.\n (7) In 1994, Secretary of State Warren Christopher issued a \n prohibition against discrimination in the Department of State, \n including that based on sexual orientation.\n (8) In 1998, President William Jefferson Clinton signed \n Executive Order 13087 barring discrimination on the basis of \n sexual orientation.\n (9) On January 9, 2017, Secretary of State John Kerry \n issued a statement regarding the ``Lavender Scare'', saying, \n ``On behalf of the Department, I apologize to those who were \n impacted by the practices of the past and reaffirm the \n Department's steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion \n for all our employees, including members of the LGBTI \n community.''.\n\nSEC. 3. DIRECTOR GENERAL REVIEW.\n\n (a) Review.--The Director General of the Foreign Service and \nDirector of Human Resources of the Department of State, in consultation \nwith the Historian of the Department of State, shall review all \nemployee terminations that occurred after January 1, 1950, to determine \nwho was wrongfully terminated owing to their sexual orientation, \nwhether real or perceived.\n (b) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, the Director General shall, consistent with \napplicable privacy regulations, compile the information compiled under \nsubsection (a) in a publicly available report. The report shall include \nhistorical statements made by officials of the Department of State and \nCongress encouraging and implementing policies and tactics that led to \nthe termination of employees due to their sexual orientation.\n\nSEC. 4. REPORTS ON REVIEWS.\n\n (a) Reviews.--The Secretary of State shall conduct reviews of the \nconsistency and uniformity of the reviews conducted by the Director \nGeneral under section 3.\n (b) Reports.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the \nenactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 2 years, the \nSecretary shall submit to Congress a report on the reviews conducted \nunder section 3. Each report shall include any comments or \nrecommendations for continued actions.\n\nSEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF RECONCILIATION BOARD.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State shall establish, within \nthe Office of Civil Rights of the Department of State, an independent \nReconciliation Board to review the reports released by the Director \nGeneral of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Services under \nsection 3(b).\n (b) Duties.--The Reconciliation Board shall--\n (1) consistent with applicable privacy regulations, contact \n all employees found to be fired due to the ``Lavender Scare'' \n or, in the case of deceased former employees, the family \n members of the employees, to inform them that their termination \n from the Department of State has been deemed inappropriate and \n that, if they wish, their employment record can be changed to \n reflect these findings;\n (2) designate a point of contact at a senior level position \n within the Office of the Director General of the Foreign \n Service and Director of Human Resources to receive oral \n testimony of any employees or family members of deceased \n employees mentioned in the report who personally experienced \n discrimination and termination because of the actual or \n perceived sexual orientation in order that such testimony may \n serve as an official record of these discriminatory policies \n and their impact on United States lives; and\n (3) provide an opportunity for any former employee not \n mentioned in the report to bring forth a grievance to the Board \n if they believe they were terminated due to their sexual \n orientation.\n (c) Review of Claims.--\n (1) In general.--The Board shall review each claim \n described in subsection (b) within 150 days of receiving the \n claim. Lack of paperwork may not be used as a basis for \n dismissing any claims.\n (2) Cooperation.--The Department of State shall be \n responsible for producing pertinent information regarding each \n claim to prove the employee was not wrongfully terminated.\n (d) Termination.--The Board shall terminate 5 years after the date \nof the enactment of this Act.\n\nSEC. 6. ISSUANCE OF APOLOGY.\n\n (a) Finding.--Secretary of State Kerry delivered the following \napology on January 9, 2017:\n ``Throughout my career, including as Secretary of State, I have \nstood strongly in support of the LGBTI community, recognizing that \nrespect for human rights must include respect for all individuals. \nLGBTI employees serve as proud members of the State Department and \nvalued colleagues dedicated to the service of our country. For the last \nseveral years, the Department has pressed for the families of LGBTI \nofficers to have the same protections overseas as families of other \nofficers. In 2015, to further promote LGBTI rights throughout the \nworld, I appointed the first ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of \nLGBTI Persons.\n ``In the past--as far back as the 1940s, but continuing for \ndecades--the Department of State was among many public and private \nemployers that discriminated against employees and job applicants on \nthe basis of perceived sexual orientation, forcing some employees to \nresign or refusing to hire certain applicants in the first place. These \nactions were wrong then, just as they would be wrong today.\n ``On behalf of the Department, I apologize to those who were \nimpacted by the practices of the past and reaffirm the Department's \nsteadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion for all our employees, \nincluding members of the LGBTI community.''\n (b) Congressional Apology.--Congress hereby offers a formal apology \nfor its responsibility in encouraging the ``Lavender Scare'' and \nsimilar policies at the Department of State, as these policies were in \npart a response to congressional investigations into ``sex perversion \nof Federal employees'', reports on the employment of ``moral perverts \nby Government Agencies'', and hearings or pressure otherwise placed on \nthe Department of State through the appropriations process.\n\nSEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT OF PERMANENT EXHIBIT ON THE LAVENDER SCARE.\n\n (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall work with the current \npublic-private partnership associated with the Department of State's \nnew United States Diplomacy Center to establish a permanent exhibit on \nthe ``Lavender Scare'' in the museum to assure that the history of this \nunfortunate episode is not brushed aside.\n (b) Specifications.--The exhibit--\n (1) shall be installed at the museum not later than one \n year after the date of enactment of this Act;\n (2) should provide access to the reports compiled by the \n Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human \n Resources under section 3(b); and\n (3) shall readily display material gathered from oral \n testimony received pursuant to section 5(b)(2) from employees \n or family members of deceased employees who were subject to \n these discriminatory policies during the ``Lavender Scare''.\n\nSEC. 8. GUIDANCE ON ISSUING VISAS.\n\n To demonstrate the Department of State's commitment to ensuring \nfairness for current employees, not later than 100 days after the date \nof the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to \nCongress a report on countries not issuing visas to the spouses of all \nForeign Service personnel posted overseas due to their sexual \norientation. This report shall include any comments or recommendations \nfor actions, including eliminating visa reciprocity with countries \nfound to be instituting these practices against the spouses of Foreign \nService personnel, that will lead to ensuring that all spouses of \nForeign Service personnel receive visas for the country their spouse is \nassigned, regardless of sexual orientation.\n\nSEC. 9. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVANCEMENT BOARD.\n\n (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State shall establish, within \nthe Office of the Director General of the Department of State, a board \ncomprised of senior-level officials to address the issues faced by \nLGBTQI Foreign Service employees and their families.\n (b) Hearing of Testimony.--The Advancement Board shall hear \ntestimony from any willing LGBTQI Foreign Service employees and their \nfamilies regarding any discrimination they have faced due to their \nsexual orientation.\n (c) Report.--\n (1) In general.--Not later than 100 days after completing \n collection of testimony described under subsection (b), and \n annually thereafter for 5 years, the Advancement Board shall \n submit to Congress a report based on the testimony.\n (2) Content.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall \n include any comments or recommendations for continued actions \n to improve the Department of State to ensure that no employee \n or their family members experience discrimination due to their \n sexual orientation.\n (3) Privacy.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall \n remain private and will only be accessible to Members of \n Congress, their appropriate staff, and members of the \n Advancement Board.", "summary": "Lavender Offense Victim Exoneration Act of 2017 or the LOVE Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of State to review employee terminations at the State Department in the 1950s and 1960s to determine who was wrongfully terminated due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation (known as the Lavender Scare). The bill contains an apology from Congress for its role in encouraging the termination of State Department employees based on sexual orientation. The State Department is required to: create a reconciliation board to change the employment records of those affected, to receive oral testimony of those affected, and to allow former employees to bring a grievance if they believe their termination was due to their sexual orientation; create an advancement board to address employment issues of current LGBTQI Foreign Officers; establish a permanent exhibit about the terminations in the State Department's U.S. Diplomacy Center; report to Congress about countries refusing to issue visas to spouses of Foreign Service personnel because of  their sexual orientation.", "title": "Lavender Offense Victim Exoneration Act of 2017"}, {"Unnamed: 0": 1881, "text": "SECTION 1. DEDUCTION FOR STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS \n PRACTICING IN RURAL AREAS.\n\n (a) Interest on Student Loans Not Treated as Personal Interest.--\nSection 163(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining \npersonal interest) is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of \nsubparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) \nand inserting ``, and'', and by adding at the end thereof the following \nnew subparagraph:\n ``(F) any qualified medical education interest (within the \n meaning of subsection (k)).''.\n (b) Qualified Medical Education Interest Defined.--Section 163 of \nthe Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to interest expenses) is \namended by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l) and by \ninserting after subsection (j) the following new subsection:\n ``(k) Qualified Medical Education Interest of Medical Professionals \nPracticing in Rural Areas.--\n ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (h)(2)(F), \n the term `qualified medical education interest' means an amount \n which bears the same ratio to the interest paid on qualified \n educational loans during the taxable year by an individual \n performing services under a qualified rural medical practice \n agreement as--\n ``(A) the number of months during the taxable year \n during which such services were performed, bears to\n ``(B) the number of months in the taxable year.\n ``(2) Dollar limitation.--The aggregate amount which may be \n treated as qualified medical education interest for any taxable \n year with respect to any individual shall not exceed $5,000.\n ``(3) Qualified rural medical practice agreement.--For \n purposes of this subsection--\n ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified rural \n medical practice agreement' means a written agreement \n between an individual and an applicable rural community \n under which the individual agrees--\n ``(i) in the case of a medical doctor, upon \n completion of the individual's residency (or \n internship if no residency is required), or\n ``(ii) in the case of a registered nurse, \n nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant, \n upon completion of the education to which the \n qualified education loan relates,\n to perform full-time services as such a medical \n professional in the applicable rural community for a \n period of 24 consecutive months. An individual and an \n applicable rural community may elect to have the \n agreement apply for 36 consecutive months rather than \n 24 months.\n ``(B) Special rule for computing periods.--An \n individual shall be treated as meeting the 24 or 36 \n consecutive month requirement under subparagraph (A) \n if, during each 12-consecutive month period within \n either such period, the individual performs full-time \n services as a medical doctor, registered nurse, nurse \n practitioner, or physician's assistant, whichever \n applies, in the applicable rural community during 9 of \n the months in such 12-consecutive month period. For \n purposes of this subsection, an individual meeting the \n requirements of the preceding sentence shall be treated \n as performing services during the entire 12-month \n period.\n ``(C) Applicable rural community.--The term \n `applicable rural community' means--\n ``(i) any political subdivision of a State \n which--\n ``(I) has a population of 5,000 or \n less, and\n ``(II) has a per capita income of \n $15,000 or less, or\n ``(ii) an Indian reservation which has a \n per capita income of $15,000 or less.\n ``(4) Qualified educational loan.--The term `qualified \n educational loan' means any indebtedness to pay qualified \n tuition and related expenses (within the meaning of section \n 117(b)) and reasonable living expenses--\n ``(A) which are paid or incurred--\n ``(i) as a candidate for a degree as a \n medical doctor at an educational institution \n described in section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii), or\n ``(ii) in connection with courses of \n instruction at such an institution necessary \n for certification as a registered nurse, nurse \n practitioner, or physician's assistant, and\n ``(B) which are paid or incurred within a \n reasonable time before or after such indebtedness is \n incurred.\n ``(5) Recapture.--If an individual fails to carry out a \n qualified rural medical practice agreement during any taxable \n year, then--\n ``(A) no deduction with respect to such agreement \n shall be allowable by reason of subsection (h)(2)(F) \n for such taxable year and any subsequent taxable year, \n and\n ``(B) there shall be included in gross income for \n such taxable year the aggregate amount of the \n deductions allowable under this section (by reason of \n subsection (h)(2)(F)) for all preceding taxable years.\n ``(6) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection, the \n terms `registered nurse', `nurse practitioner', and \n `physician's assistant' have the meaning given such terms by \n section 1861 of the Social Security Act.''.\n (b) Deduction Allowed in Computing Adjusted Gross Income.--Section \n62(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting \nafter paragraph (14) the following new paragraph:\n ``(15) Interest on student loans of rural health \n professionals.--The deduction allowable by reason of section \n 163(h)(2)(F) (relating to student loan payments of medical \n professionals practicing in rural areas).''.\n (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall \napply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1992.", "summary": "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an itemized deduction for personal interest paid on an education loan by a health care professional (medical doctor, registered nurse, nurse-practitioner, or physician's assistant) performing services in a rural community or on certain Indian reservations for at least 24 consecutive months under a written agreement. Limits such deduction to $5,000. \nAllows the computation of such deduction in determining adjusted gross income.", "title": "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for amounts paid by a health care professional as interest on student loans if the professional agrees to practice medicine for at least 2 years in a rural community."}, {"Unnamed: 0": 2086, "text": "SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.\n\n This Act may be cited as the ``Historically Women's Public Colleges \nor Universities Historic Building Restoration and Preservation Act''.\n\nSEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.\n\n In this Act:\n (1) Historically women's public college or university.--The \n term ``historically women's public college or university'' \n means a public institution of higher education created in the \n United States between 1836 and 1908 to provide industrial \n education for women, including the institutions listed in \n clauses (i) though (viii) of section 3(d)(2)(A).\n (2) Historic building or structure.--The term ``historic \n building or structure'' means a building or structure listed \n (or eligible to be listed) on the National Register of Historic \n Places, designated as a National Historic Landmark, or located \n within a designated historic district.\n (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary \n of the Interior.\n\nSEC. 3. PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION GRANTS FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND \n STRUCTURES AT HISTORICALLY WOMEN'S PUBLIC COLLEGES OR \n UNIVERSITIES.\n\n (a) Authority To Make Grants.--\n (1) In general.--From amounts made available under \n paragraph (2), the Secretary shall award grants in accordance \n with this section to historically women's public colleges or \n universities for the preservation and restoration of historic \n buildings and structures on their campuses.\n (2) Source of funding.--Grants under paragraph (1) shall be \n awarded from amounts appropriated to carry out the National \n Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) for fiscal \n years 2001 through 2005.\n (b) Grant Conditions.--Grants made under subsection (a) shall be \nsubject to the condition that the grantee agree, for the period of time \nspecified by the Secretary, that--\n (1) no alteration will be made in the property with respect \n to which the grant is made without the concurrence of the \n Secretary; and\n (2) reasonable public access to the property for which the \n grant is made will be permitted by the grantee for interpretive \n and educational purposes.\n (c) Matching Requirement for Buildings and Structures Listed on the \nNational Register of Historic Places.--\n (1) In general.--Except as provided by paragraph (2), the \n Secretary may obligate funds made available under this section \n for a grant with respect to a building or structure listed on \n the National Register of Historic Places, designated as a \n National Historic Landmark, or located within a designated \n historic district, only if the grantee agrees to provide for \n activities under the grant, from funds derived from non-Federal \n sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the costs of the \n program to be funded under the grant with the Secretary \n providing 50 percent of such costs under the grant.\n (2) In-kind contributions.--In addition to cash outlays and \n payments, in-kind contributions of property or personnel \n services by non-Federal interests may be used for the non-\n Federal share of costs required by paragraph (1).\n (d) Funding Provisions.--\n (1) Amounts to be made available.--Not more than \n $16,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2005 may \n be made available under this section.\n (2) Allocations for fiscal year 2001.--\n (A) In general.--Of the amounts made available \n under this section for fiscal year 2001, there shall be \n available only for grants under subsection (a) \n $2,000,000 for each of the following:\n (i) Mississippi University for Women in \n Colombus, Mississippi.\n (ii) Georgia College and State University \n in Milledgeville, Georgia.\n (iii) University of North Carolina in \n Greensboro, North Carolina.\n (iv) Winthrop University in Rock Hill, \n South Carolina.\n (v) University of Montevallo in Montevallo, \n Alabama.\n (vi) Texas Woman's University in Denton, \n Texas.\n (vii) University of Science and Arts of \n Oklahoma in Chickasha, Oklahoma.\n (viii) Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia.\n (B) Less than $16,000,000 available.--If less than \n $16,000,000 is made available under this section for \n fiscal year 2001, then the amount made available to \n each of the institutions listed in subparagraph (A) \n shall be reduced by the same amount.\n (3) Allocations for fiscal years 2002-2005.--Any funds \n which are made available during fiscal years 2002 through 2005 \n under subsection (a)(2) shall be distributed by the Secretary \n in accordance with the provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) \n of paragraph (2) to those grantees named in paragraph (2)(A) \n which remain eligible and desire to participate, on a uniform \n basis, in such fiscal years.\n (e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations \nas are necessary to carry out this Act.\n\n Passed the House of Representatives October 3, 2000.\n\n Attest:\n\n Clerk.", "summary": "Sets forth: (1) grant conditions; (2) a 50 percent non-Federal funds matching requirement, including in- kind contributions; and (3) a limitation on the total amount of such grants in a fiscal year. Requires such amount for FY 2001 to be distributed equally among the following institutions: (1) Mississippi University for Women; (2) Georgia College and State University; (3) University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina; (4) Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina; (5) University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama; (6) Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas; (7) University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha, Oklahoma; and (8) Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. Requires such amounts for FY 2002 through 2005 also to be distributed among such institutions if they remain eligible and wish to participate, on a uniform basis, for such fiscal years.", "title": "Historically Women's Public Colleges or Universities Historic Building Restoration and Preservation Act"}]}